Under The Aegis
By SMYGO4EVA

Even on Earth, the Autobots were most vulnerable on moonless nights. The opalescent glow was lost from the charcoal sky to the natives of the planet they were protecting, much stranger than the primeval world of Cybertron.

Except one, who seemed to regard that light as merely an inconvenience to him; any light would let him see his own failure that cost him one of his hands. Optimus stood a few feet from Ultra Magnus, and looked down on the earthen ground.

Tired, drained.

And more discouraged.

Optimus understood the unspoken request. "Something weighs on you."

"Hope," Ultra Magnus replied quietly. "Having hope almost seems impossible now, even when we have not lost yet."

Optimus Prime studied the stars a while, and said, "I promise you that I will make an end to this long war, old friend. We all will, as you are a part of this team, and we all have to stay as one unit moving."

The commander knew that Optimus was correct about that. They were one unit moving, and even a silent welcome was very much needed.