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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 2:58:09 GMT
Characters Appearing: Ironhide , Optimus PrimeLocation (s): Reunification HQ Timeline: November 1st Plot Summary: Ironhide gets a visit from Prime while buried in paperwork.
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 3:03:04 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 3:03:04 GMT
As usual, Ironhide was busy as hell.
As the holidays rolled around yet again it was only going to get harder. Between kids needing homes by the holidays, it was… A lot. Moreso now that Wheeljack had gone back to GHOST leaving him with more work than he’d usually have. So where was Ironhide? At his desk, buried under a mountain of paperwork as usual.
Scheduling in a basketball game that night for one of his kids and… Ironhide was overloaded.
So as usual he gave a loud roar of frustration as he nearly flipped his desk. Again. “What I wouldn’t give to shoot something right now. Anything,” He grumbled to himself, falling against his chair. He peered at a picture of his family he kept on his desk and tried to control his flair up. “Easy old timer, you know why you’re doing this.” He grumbled.
At least they gave him a reason.
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 3:07:00 GMT
Optimus walked through the reunification HQ's halls. This was one of the most important assets of their cooperation with humans.
As Optimus walked to the office of his old friend he heard grunting. Ironhide must be frustrated.
What else is new?
Optimus walked into his friends office. "I hope this isn't a bad time for old friends Ironhide"
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 3:14:06 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 3:14:06 GMT
When the door opened, Ironhide had been ready to toss something…. “Fragging damn it, I said not to disturb -!”
Oh slag, that was Optimus good job Ironhide. He put down the data pad he’d held above his head with a quiet whistle. Primus, he was becoming more like Ratchet by the day wasn’t he? Rubbing the back of his neck he tried to play it very cool… “Oh, heh. Sorry Prime. Nah nah come in… Just, y’know, Thanksgiving and all… Hard time for kids and all,” He admitted. “I have a stack of paperwork a mile long and I haven’t even started on the incoming kids. Then Seth’s got a game at seven and just… Not enough hours in a day, y’know?”
After he’d gotten that off his chest though, he added. “But it’s always a pleasure. Everything good, Prime?” He asked.
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 3:24:53 GMT
Optimus laughed. "Relax Ironhide. I know what you mean," he said. "You think just because I'm doing fieldwork I have less paperwork? I think I have more than you get. And that's on top of being the leader of the Autobots."
He wished he had a better answer to Ironhide's next question.
Optimus sighed. "Sadly old friend. I cannot say everything is "good"." he responded. "The Decepticon escapees are getting restless and more and more tension is building between our kind and G.H.O.S.T."
Optimus sat down. "Ironhide. I'm confused. I feel like I may have made a mistake allying with G.H.O.S.T.. But doing so was the only way to stop humanity from turning against us after the war ended. I'm unsure how to feel."
Ironhide was the few bots Optimus felt comfortable talking about this stuff with. They'd been through a lot together.
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 4:38:05 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 4:38:05 GMT
Ironhide… Had a lot to say about that.
Perhaps it was the five damn years he’d been stuck out of GHOST. But he couldn’t help but grimace at the very mention of them. He snorted a bit; and stood to his feet as he turned to Prime. “Yer just now figuring that out? Primus; I haven’t trusted them since they threw me out,” Ironhide admitted. “They let that fragger Eugene Logan walk free last month under human law; you know that? Just walk right out of jail… After everything he did to Astoria’s kid. Because GHOST had to butt in with that “human business is human business” bullshit.”
And then… “Then you have poor Bumblebee who has to be in hiding. The poor kid can’t even spend time with his own youngling in public without being worried he’ll get noticed,” Ironhide explained. “What good was this alliance if we just had to go back in hiding like that? Or when we can’t even actually help people on this planet.”
He then added. “And that’s not even counting the rumors around some of the ex-Cons.”
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 4:41:22 GMT
Optimus looked down. "I know Ironhide. I'm not happy with the way things are..."
Optimus's look of penance vanished. He had that fire in his eyes again. "That's why we're going to change things.'
"I've already had Skyfire start work on a new prison for the Decepticons. For us to handle instead of G.H.O.S.T."
"And I want your help with something else"
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 5:52:42 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 5:52:42 GMT
Ironhide let his flaring vents calm.
Honestly, what was he doing? Getting mad at Prime? He was probably just as mad as he was, but it was not something that Ironhide had control over. Relaxing himself slightly; he put a hand back on his chair and added. “Sorry, Prime, I lost myself a little… It’s just hard,” His voice was strained as he admitted this. “You work this job long enough - you get attached. Thats why ‘Jack had to leave partially… Ate at him.”
He sat back down again as he did. “I feel like here I’m in charge of the future of our kind. And every time GHOST puts us down… It eats at me,” Ironhide explained in all genuine honesty. “So to think of the other things I’ve heard….”
Well, at least the jail was a start… But he wanted him to do something? Like what? Ironhide was grounded, at least that’s how humanity treated him. Even with the giant cannons permanently attached to his arms. “Alright, I’m listening’… But Orion can’t hear anythin’ about it,” He spoked of his oldest son, who by name alone Ironhide betrayed as adopted as a baby. Now an adult, a member of GHOST, and a worrier. “He gets even an inklin’ I’m steppin’ out of line. And I won’t hear the end of it.”
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 6:11:27 GMT
"Ironhide if anyone should feel like they're responsible for our kind it's me. Don't feel like you have to have all the weight on your shoulders. That's my job."
Optimus nodded when he heard Ironhide's request about Orion. "Don't worry. I'm not asking you as a G.H.O.S.T. agent. I'm asking you as the leader of the Autobots."
"I've had Jazz start putting together a task force made up of Autobots outside G.H.O.S.T.," Explained Optimus. "In order to round up and detain all the Decepticons.".
"I want you to be a part of it. I know you've been itching to do some real work for a while"
Optimus's expression shifted when he realized the implications of what he just said "Erm. Not to say your work with the kids hasn't been important" he clarified sheepishly.
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 7:06:41 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 7:06:41 GMT
Ironhide listened intently.
It was an interesting thought, that was for sure. And the thought of getting his cannons going again? Oh he loved the sound of that. Of course, not all Decepticons were bad but at the same time he’d enjoy taking down the bad ones. Most of the reformed ones were on their side anyway right?
“Oh believe me, I’m in. Especially if it means taking care of some of these issues. And getting the more dangerous Cons off the streets,” Ironhide explained honestly. “I think I know where we can start too. Did anyone tell you Bee’s kid, Nick… Was prisoner to the Cons for a while? I hear Skyfire got some info. But I feel we can pick him for a bit more info… Anything he heard them say, and all…”
There was an intensity behind his optics. “But if we’re playing hardball. We need to fix a lot more than that, too. I’ve been thinking up an idea ever since I left. So speaking of my important work with the kids,” He explained, thoughtful as he stroked his chin. “If we really want to get GHOST out from under our thumbs. That is.”
How did he say this without sounding like it was illegal… Which it may have been in human terms. “As you know, there has been constant meddling by the humans in my line of work. Even with the kids technically in our custody,” He explained. “Well, technically these kids are on our land… So I’ve been thinking of starting our own little “social services”. Not just Reunification… But a program run by our government, on our budget, on our terms…”
He smirked. “I know it’d piss off the government - and take a few loopholes. But I think we can get it done with the kids currently in their “system”.”
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 7:29:38 GMT
"I'm glad to hear you're up for it old friend" Optimus said with pride.
But it was Ironhide's next suggestion that made Optimus hesitate.
He listened intently
"...I don't know Ironhide" Optimus admitted. "I understand you want GHOST out of your thumbs. Believe me I do too... But I'm already risking everything going behind GHOSTS back with this task force, with the prison, by even letting you do combat missions again. And the reunification program is one of the most important aspects of our operations on Earth. If GHOST catches us doing some illegal backhanded work with it... I'd rather be safe than sorry"
He hated doing this. Ironhide had been one of his closest friends and this was one if the most important things for him. Optimus felt like he was betraying him.
He put his hand to the bridge of his nose. "...I'll see what I can do. but I can't just strongarm GHOST being separated from the reunification program overnight. It's gonna take time. I'm sorry. it's the best I can offer now.".
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 7:47:29 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 7:47:29 GMT
Ironhide hated it when Optimus made so much sense.
But at the same time, he knew that Optimus was very right. They’d saved a lot of kids, a great many of them. From broken homes, the streets, even being shoved around from foster home to foster home. It was just the ones he couldn’t save that haunted Ironhide. “I get it, I do… Sorry, it’s this time of year… Seeing all the kids I still haven’t gotten adopted,” He gritted his denta a bit. “Thinkin’ about how we’d deal with them if this were Cybertron.”
He vented a little, allowing himself to relax just a bit. “But yer right. It’s important we don’t screw it up… Too many good kids, human and Cybertronian would slip through the cracks,” He grunted. Before adding… “I’ve had some success stories this year though. Nick and Bumblebee for one. I hear he’s been good for Bee, all things considered.”
But, back to what Optimus was here for. And back to what he’d been saying about the kid to begin with… “If we talk to Nick about what happened with the ‘Cons… We should approach it delicately. It did a number on him,” He explained honestly. “Soundwave severed his and Bee’s bond while he was out there… Only a couple of months into its creation. I don’t think he took it well.”
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 8:12:15 GMT
Optimus nodded "Thanks for understanding Ironhide." He said. "It was a lot easier during the war. All we had to do was punch the bad guys." Optimus laughed at the end of that.
His mood turned somber when he was reminded about Nick and Bumblebee. "I heard about that." Optimus confirmed, "Soundwave is a fool if he thinks he can keep playing the victim card. No matter what G.H.O.S.T. did to the imprisoned cons it doesn't justify their actions. And they still need to face justice for crimes during the war."
He wished Thundercracker had understood that...
"I'm worried about Megatron." Optimus admitted. "he hasn't been taking this situation with G.H.O.S.T. well. I'm worried... I'd say relapsing but I don't think he'd become the same bot he was before. But I am worried he'll do something..." Optimus sighed.
"It's so hard phrasing this in a way that doesn't make it sound like I don't trust him..." Optimus confessed.
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Meet Up
Nov 12, 2023 20:02:24 GMT
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Post by Ironhide on Nov 12, 2023 20:02:24 GMT
A lot easier indeed. Ironhide gave a laugh of agreement.
Though it wouldn’t be the last time he advocated for his work with the kids of course. Even though he’d be in the field, he’d absolutely be staying on with his job - he liked his job. “Agreed, but I want to make sure it’s clear… Even though I’m taking the offer. I’m staying on here too,” Ironhide explained. “These kids rely on me to keep them safe. And it’s a pain in the aft but I like my job.”
As for Nick and Soundwave… Ironhide had a suggestion that Optimus may or may not have liked. “Y’know… Nick may be more partial to talking to you about what happened. He’s Bee’s kid… But frag if that kid ain’t a fanboy,” Ironhide explained with a cross of his arms. “I know you’re a busy mech… But we could use more intel from him as he’s had firsthand contact. So it’s a thought.”
And then Optimus turned the thoughts over to Megatron… Not trusting him? Well, not that Ironhide blamed him. He didn’t exactly put his full trust behind the former Decepticon leader either. If anything a certain tension seemed to fall over Ironhide as he said that. “What you think he’s gonna turn on us?” his cannon gave a small whirl. “I’ll blast his spark out if he does!”
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Post by Optimus Prime on Nov 12, 2023 20:13:39 GMT
Optimus thought about it for a bit.
"I'll talk to Nick when I get the chance," Optimus said.
His expression turned to nervousness when Ironhide pulled out his cannon.
"What!? No! I'm not suggesting he'll turn on us again. I'm just afraid he'll do something reckless."
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