A/N - The scenes with Megatron and Starscream on the roof, the Decepticons attacking Earth, Sam becoming a wanted man, etc. progress as normal. This chapter picks up between Leo trying to back out of the situation and Optimus's body being delivered to the New Jersey base.
Ironhide, Ratchet and Sideswipe arrived at an air base in New Jersey several hours after separating from Bumblebee, Skids and Mudflap. Jolt and the Arcees were waiting by a hangar, emerging from their mission victorious but damaged. The three arriving Autobots transformed into robot mode.
"Our 'cons stayed in open terrain, no one saw us." Said the purple Arcee.
"Good. I see you four didn't emerge without damage." Said Ratchet as he hit the purple Arcee with a regenerative plasma beam.
"They didn't feel like going down without a fight. It's a good thing the humans arrived when they did, or we might've been damaged even more." Said the blue Arcee.
"Well, what they did manage to do is nothing a good power-down can't handle. And at least your mission was without loss." Said Ratchet as he hit the other two Arcees and Jolt with regenerative plasma beams.
"Megatron's back, and Optimus is dead. I take it you got my transmission and have been shielding your signals?" Asked Ironhide.
Jolt nodded.
"Good. The less chance Megatron has of finding us with his new army, the better."
"I don't get it. Have all those new 'cons been hanging out in space all this time?" Asked Sideswipe.
"That would explain why it kept seeming like they were coming out of nowhere during our other-continental missions." Said Ratchet.
"But if they had all these big numbers, why wait to come at us?"
"Because with Optimus gone, we now lack our leader and our strongest warrior." Said Ironhide.
"I think we can fix one of those things." Said the pink Arcee.
"Ironhide, you were Optimus's second-in-command. I think it'd be best if you took over as our leader." Said the blue Arcee.
"They have a point. You've got the experience none of us have, you're the only logical choice." Said Sideswipe.
"Right, then. Autobots, it would seem I'm in charge now." Said Ironhide.
(The scene with Optimus's body being delivered and the confrontation between NEST and the military plays out as normal.)
"Autobots, report to hangar for transport."
"Ironhide, we should leave this planet." Said Ratchet.
"That's not what Optimus would want." Said Ironhide.
"So what are you saying? That we should just let ourselves be controlled by a jerk we could easily squish right here, right now?" Said Sideswipe.
"I see no reason not to do just that." Said Ratchet.
"Optimus wouldn't want unnecessary violence in the wake of all these new Decepticons. I don't like him either, but this isn't our world." Said Ironhide.
"Maybe, but it is our fight. The Decepticon conflict has always been with Autobots, why should we sit back and do nothing as their numbers grow?"
Ironhide paused. Now that he was in charge of the Autobots, he was gonna have to make decisions that Optimus normally would.
"Autobots, we cannot generate further tension with human authority. But, I know good that can come out of this."
"We're listening." Said Sideswipe.
"If we lay low, Megatron will get a false sense of security. Then when the humans finally decide to let us attack, we'll catch him off guard and deal major damage." Said Ironhide.
"I see your point. But mark my words, if that director doesn't let up or go away soon, I'll take matters into my own hands. If he honestly thinks he'll have success negotiating with Decepticons, he's an even bigger fool than I already think he is." Said Ratchet.