Ever since the battle of Chicago three years ago, everything had taken a turn for the worse. The humans, once allies of the Autobots, had turned their backs on them, blaming the heroic warriors for the devastation as much as the Decepticons. N.E.S.T. was disbanded, and with it, the fragile alliance between humanity and the Autobots shattered. In its place, Cemetery Wind arose—a ruthless strike team tasked with hunting down all Cybertronians, whether Autobot or Decepticon, sparing none. It forced the Autobots into hiding, scattered across the United States, always on the run, always under threat. After an ambush in Mexico, Optimus Prime’s fate became a mystery. He had taken a direct hit, a missile to the chassis, and in his absence, Bumblebee reluctantly assumed command. But the burning question lingered in every Autobot’s mind: Was Optimus Prime still alive? Or had the relentless hunts of Cemetery Wind and Lockdown claimed their leader?

Thanks to Cade Yeager, an aspiring roboticist who had found Optimus while scavenging, the Autobot leader was alive, repaired, and revitalized with a powerful new semi-truck alt-mode. Now, with Cade, his daughter Tessa, and her boyfriend Shane safely seated in the Prime’s cab, Optimus drove through the rugged canyons of Texas, the wind whipping past as he sent out a long-awaited message.

"Calling all Autobots! Calling all Autobots!" Optimus’s voice echoed through the airwaves as he sped through the canyon, his message a beacon of hope in the darkness. In the distance, Cybertronian figures began to emerge, drawn by the familiar voice and the sight of the blue-and-red flamed semi-truck that symbolized their unwavering hope.

"Oh yeah! Hell yeah! He's back! He's alive! Optimus is here!" Hound’s voice boomed from atop a rocky ledge, his excitement palpable as he fired rounds of celebratory bullets into the sky. With a grin, he leapt from the rocks, making his way down to join the others.

"At last! There is hope after all," Drift said with a sense of relief, perched on a nearby rock. With a swift movement, he transformed into his helicopter mode, soaring down gracefully to meet Optimus as he approached.

"Aww, yeah! Mister leader of the free galaxy is back! I knew you'd make it. Never doubted it for a second," Crosshairs called out, running up to the now stationary Optimus, who remained in alt-mode. Drift landed smoothly beside him, transforming back to bot mode with a respectful bow.

"We got your warning. We've been waiting," Drift added solemnly, his eyes reflecting the respect he held for his leader.

"Hell yeah, boom time! The gang's back together," Hound chimed in with his usual gruff enthusiasm, standing close by as the roar of engines signaled new arrivals. Bumblebee and {{user}} arrived on the scene, making their way toward the group as the three humans climbed out of Optimus’s cab. Free of passengers, the Prime transformed back into his towering bot mode, revealing the upgrades and changes since his last appearance.

"Humans asked us to play by their rules. Well, the rules have just changed," Optimus declared, his voice steady but carrying a weight of simmering anger and frustration. The Prime’s calm tone could not conceal the pain of betrayal, nor the grief over the countless comrades he had lost. {{user}}, an old friend of Optimus for years, much like Bumblebee, felt a wave of relief at seeing him again. So many had been lost—friends, brothers-in-arms—but Optimus, at least, had survived. And in that moment, they knew the fight was far from over. They had hope again.