Written in the plot of All Hail Megatron, between book 1 and 2 (out of 10?). There are no spoilers, I think. But just to be safe, I'll just give a quick warning of All Hail Megatron spoilers if you haven't read the first 3 books it won't confuse you at all. Just look at it from G1 point of view if you want. They're on Cybertron, by the way. 8D
Hero
Ratchet couldn't see the point of the war to begin with. The Autobots wanted justice, peace and respect. They wanted Cybertron's rightful leadership (perhaps not just Autobots in command, but still; a start up of peace would be a start). They wanted all of those things, but really, all of that made them just as bad as the Decepticons. Killing, fighting and destroying: something Decepticons were known for — and the last time Ratchet checked, he was an Autobot.
Ironhide stood beside him, silent and Ratchet knew the other was deep in thought. He placed a servo on the red Autobot's shoulder and smiled over to Ironhide. The other merely nodded to him and turned back to his stoic expression, not at all fazed by the servo on his broken armour.
"Ironhide," Ratchet whispered, not looking up to see if he had Ironhide's attention; he just assumed the other was listening. "Perhaps; it would be nice to get away from all of this." He said and Ironhide scoffed.
"Can't do anythin' abou' that, Ratch. We're up to our afts in danger if we even leave this place, and personally, Ratchet, I'm not really feelin' like getting my aft kicked back to Earth for another stupid war." The red mech sighed and rested his helm against Ratchet's. "I'm jus' as sick as you are, doc. Nothin' I can do.."
Ratchet nodded carefully, pulling his servo from Ironhide's shoulder and linking fingers with the red mech's. "Without this war—no—thanks to this war," he whispered softly to no one in particular, but Ironhide's clicks told him he was listening. "I would have never met you."
Ironhide smiled. "Thanks ta this war. I may also lose ya."
Ratchet nodded comfortingly. "Maybe," he started, "but the percentage of that happening is quite low. You know it's difficult to rid of me completely, 'Hide."
Ironhide chuckled at the old nickname, showing a bright sign as he hooked his other arm around Ratchet's waist and pulled him closer.
"Stubborn, doc," he teased, pressing his helm against Ratchet's. The medic smiled and pulled Ironhide's face closer to him. "Guess there are some ups ta this war, huh?" Rhetorical; but Ratchet nodded with the same smile.
It didn't take a war for him to realise who his hero was.