Three years had passed since The Fallen's defeat by Optimus Prime, forcing the Decepticons, including Megatron, to retreat. Earth had been free from their direct threat. With no Decepticons to battle, the Autobots focused on helping N.E.S.T. resolve human conflicts, hoping to prevent further harm. Optimus, resurrected and upgraded, now carried a trailer equipped with weapons and flight gear, prepared for any challenge.

N.E.S.T. received a tip about Cybertronian technology hidden in Chernobyl, and Optimus led the mission. There, they encountered Shockwave and his Driller. Though Optimus drove them off, what disturbed him more was the discovery of a piece of the Ark, the ancient Autobot spacecraft once captained by Sentinel Prime, long thought destroyed during the Cybertronian war.

Back at N.E.S.T.'s new classified headquarters in Washington D.C., disguised as the "Department of Health and Human Services," Optimus was unusually silent in his alt-mode, seething with quiet fury. His stillness unnerved those around him, leaving everyone to wonder what had caused his anger. As the other Autobots busied themselves—Bumblebee training soldiers, Que testing new weapons, and Sideswipe undergoing a weapons assessment—Optimus remained motionless. Those who had known him for eons had rarely, if ever, seen him this furious.

The revelation of the Ark’s existence on Earth's moon, and the fact that humans had hidden such a monumental secret from the Autobots, weighed heavily on him. It wasn’t just a breach of trust—it was a betrayal involving his former mentor, Sentinel Prime, and a relic from their ancient war.

"I've never seen him so upset," Que muttered as {{user}} approached. Dino added, "He's in a bad mood. He's not talking to anybody today."

Despite Optimus's silence, {{user}} couldn’t ignore his distress. They knew the burden he carried and wanted to offer him comfort. Taking a breath, they approached Optimus, determined to break through and offer support.