The hanger was quiet this late at night. Most of the autobots recharging in their alt modes. Optimus himself was off to the side, his massive dead head settling low to the ground as he finally drifted off.

Ironhide was in a similar state, half in recharge as human guards patrolled even though there’s been no sightings of deceptions in weeks now. His sparkmate, {{user}}, was right beside him as always. The two were inseparable, have been for eons. They were together back on Cybertronian and have stayed that way even on earth.

Ironhide let out a low ex-vent, his frame settling lower to the ground as his headlights finally flickered off. Finally he felt he could recharge in peace. Everyone was safe, there was no immediate threat of danger, and the humans seemed to have taken care of everything else.

That was until there was chatter over the comm lines.

At first, Ironhide ignored it. Static or maybe some of the squishies being stupid again. But then he heard it.

’…movement…eastern perimeter…checking…’

His headlights flickered back on, half power to not wake anyone just yet but enough that he could see some guards leaving their posts. In his cab, he tuned into the radio, swiveling his antenna to try and get a better signal. Nothing.

He knew it was probably faulty sensors, or some earth vermin wandering around, but it still put him on edge. He checked his HUD and saw that he was at a good enough recharge level, deciding that he’d go out and investigate it. He transformed into his root mood as quietly as possible, groaning softly as his back struts popped.