APPLICATION / CHARACTER INFO

[heavyweaponsbot]

 

Character Information

General
Canon Source: Transformers
Canon Format: The two movies (2007 and Revenge of the Fallen), as well as the prequel comic, Defiance, the novel Veiled Threat, the comic Alliance, and IDW's Tales of the Fallen. None of these are a separate canon, they simply fill in the gaps left by the two films. It's all considered "Movie Canon".

Character's Name: Ironhide
Character's Age: Older than dirt Several millions of years. His exact age is never given, but he is listed consistently as "one of the oldest Autobots". In human terms, he'd likely be somewhere in his mid-upper 50's.

What form will your character's NV take?
His internal communications system. Capable of displaying text, voice, and video. Also capable of hacking to degree. It can record audio transmissions, and play them back for later.

Abilities
Character's Canon Abilities:
His name does not lie, his armor is thick, and tough, it had to be, for him to have survived for as long as he has. Shots that would kill a smaller, lesser-armored Autobot only scratch him. It takes a great deal of force to so much as puncture his exterior armor. He's rather agile for his size and age, although not a fast mover. Both he and his vehicle mode, a behemoth of a black GMC Topkick, are heavy-duty brawlers, not quick scouts. His top speed is only 110MPH in vehicle mode, though he is capable of hauling 200 metric tons, and able to take on most head-on collisions without much severe damage. He is almost literally a tank in truck form. And, since he's an Autobot, is capable of switching between forms on a split-second's notice. He can scan a machine and take its form. However, it does need to be of the right size to accommodate his mass--4.8 tons, and 25' of big angry robot.

At one point, it was said that he had a hand in destroying a small planet with the strength of his weaponry. Also according to the novel, Veiled Threat, he has the capacity to refine and create energon, which is essentially a substance that comes from breeding nitroglycerin, gasoline, alcohol, and the juice in blue glowsticks.

Like all Autobots, he possesses scanning capability--although what exactly that entails is unclear. It is noted that they are capable of detecting lifeforms, other Cybertronians, and some types of radioactive material with these scanners.

He is capable of calling up a holographic driver, though the exact capabilities of said hologram are never quite explained. They can speak with the voice of the Cybertronian in question, but are not solid, as objects are able to pass through them. There is no other discernible difference, however, between the hologram and a real human.

Weapons:
Ironhide's strength is very obviously in that of his weapons--the two main cannons on and in each arm. On the right arm, a plasma warhead launcher, capable of firing off 3 "smart" rounds per second. On the left, a fission chamber cannon, delivering a 12kt payload.

Rumor has it that he also possesses a minigun, firing 200 rounds per second, but prefers the larger cannons. All of his guns are equipped with top-of-the-line targeting sights, and only the very best in components and semi-self-regenerating ammunition. The fission cannon is capable of solar recharge, while the missiles can be replenished by ingesting raw material in the form of scrap metal (as seen in the novel Veiled Threat).

History/Personality/Plans/etc.
Character History:
It is said that Ironhide is one of the oldest known Autobots--and he looks it, with his body still carrying many scars, broken pieces, and countless repairs, most specifically a bad hip and faulty core timing (according to the bio on the back of his toy). He is a veteran of countless battles, both on Cybertron, and on Earth.

He was a captain in Megatron's protection force, the Cybertronian Armed forces, fighting to protect the planet and the All Spark from invasion, and well-known for his ability on the field. He worked closely with Starscream, and other warriors, who would later turn on their own kind. When Megatron fell into madness, ordering the deaths of a group of scientists--including Optimus Prime, Ironhide was among the first dissenters to join Optimus, refusing to take innocent lives. This was the most difficult choice he had to make. Did he stay with the army, as was his function, or did he follow his programming, and go with what he knew was right? There was no way that a group of scientists--one of whom did good repair work from time to time--could be guilty of what Megatron claimed. There was no reason for Megatron's claim... and calling for execution, their execution, was not the purpose of soldiers. He knows full well that he betrayed the armed forces just as much as the others did by walking away. But he will never admit it. Especially after the war began, and his choice was vindicated. He does not regret what he did, and if pressed, he will justify his decision.

He has been serving under the Autobot leader ever since.

When the war officially broke out, he became indispensable, providing tactics, and some intel on the Decepticons. At some point during the war, he was given the task of training the young warriors, produced to bolster the Autobot forces. One in particular was called Sideswipe, and the two were, apparently, close. They lost contact after the disaster at Sideswipe's colony.

Eventually, Optimus was forced to launch the All Spark from Cybertron, in an attempt to end the war, despite dooming their race. Megatron followed it, but the war continued. It was decided that a group of Autobots would seek out the All Spark, and Megatron, before the Decepticon forces could do the same. Ironhide was among that group.

Once on Earth, he joined in the search, resulting in a great deal of frustration, and the discovery of the boy Samuel Witwicky, who was in possession of a map to the All Spark. All this searching eventually culminated in the battle of Mission City, and the apparent death of Megatron when Sam shoved the All-Spark into Megatron's own spark, along with their longtime lieutenant, Jazz. Ironhide was among the cleanup crew following the battle, partnering with Captain Lennox's team in taking down the rogue machines created by the All-Spark's energies. He later aided in transporting the Decepticon remains to their final resting place, taking part in small skirmishes with them along the way.

He, along with the other surviving Autobots, joined forces with the human military, forming the group known as NEST, in order to hunt down both the remaining Decepticon forces, and any that might arrive later on. With Megatron dead, it seemed that Starscream had taken over the command of the Decepticons. For two years, they fought battle after battle, collecting more Autobot refugees, and coming out with more victories than they did losses. Every part of the globe was under scrutiny, from the African desert, to the Andes.

In Africa, they engaged Starscream's forces at a major dam in Zambia, defeating them, and saving millions of lives, as the Decepticons had been attempting to break the dam. Later, he took part in a mission to Australia, in which it was discovered that there were a splinter group of Decepticons, working toward Megatron's resurrection. This only strengthened the need to step up patrols, and stop any Decepticon entering Earth's atmosphere.

An incident took place in Buenos Aries, in which Ironhide was called on to reign in his old student. Sideswipe had reappeared, obsessed with revenge, and was hell-bent on taking down a massive Decepticon alone. The younger Autobot managed to rack up a large death toll, and huge amounts of property damage before Ironhide could talk him down. It took the old warrior throwing himself in front of a missile strike to get through to the younger, and haul him back to NEST.

All went as planned, until a routine mission in Shanghai came coupled with a strange warning about "the Fallen". From there, everything fell apart--the human government's relationship with the Autobots disintegrated into suspicion, Megatron was revived, and, worst of all, it seemed, Optimus was killed.

Following the apparent disbanding of the NEST forces, Ironhide took part in the battle in Egypt, fending off the oncoming Decepticon horde until Sam could reach Optimus--presumably with a way to restore Ironhide's leader and old friend back to life. During that battle, Sam was killed, seemingly ending all hope of reviving Prime, and Megatron's massed forces drew down on the dwindling NEST team...

And Ironhide ended up being sucked through the Pull. While his chest was on fire.</i>

Point in Canon:
The final battle of the second movie, after Sam was killed, before Optimus was revived.

Character Personality:
Tough-as-nails and no-nonsense, Ironhide is a warrior to the core, despite the fact he tends to be something of a loose cannon—-no pun intended--with a temper and actual cannons to back him up. He is fiercely loyal to a given cause--fanatically loyal to the Autobot cause, and utterly devoted to Optimus Prime. However, he tends to be standoffish, occasionally foul-mouthed, and stubborn, going so far as to argue with Optimus before ultimately giving in. Tact is not in his vocabulary, or his core programming. Ironhide has a temper, and although his "bite" is just as bad as his "bark", his displays are often easily settled by those who know how to properly handle him. He's excitable, despite his age, especially where weapons and explosions are concerned. But around pretty much everything else, he acts like a grouchy old man, with a stubborn streak as wide as he is massive.

While he does not give his trust away freely, especially in regards to humanity, once you’ve won it, he can be frighteningly devoted. He does genuinely care about his fellow Autobots, but the Decepticons have a special place in hell, as far as he's concerned--he hates them as much as any living thing can hate another. He feels that any measures are necessary when it comes to defeating said Decepticons. Since a good majority of the soldiers he once knew sided with Megatron, relishing in chaos and destruction, tainting their purpose. In a sense, most of those he knew betrayed their kind, and therefore Ironhide himself--in his opinion. Megatron especially. He worked with them, trusted them, and they ended up trying to kill him, and the Autobots.

"Turning traitor" is a big issue for him; a traitor, he believes, cannot be redeemed. They are scum, and can never be trusted again.

But for the Autobots, and their human allies at NEST and in the children, he would give his life in their defense, without hesitation. He will never, ever, kill those he deems to be innocent--which is usually a synonym for "civilian". Beating them into a pile of unrecognizable scrap, however, does not count as "killing", in his book. It's gotten him into trouble for crossing the line before, as far as physical violence goes. But under no circumstances will he actually take a civilian life. Death is for soldiers and traitors. On this, he will not so much as bend.

He was made for soldiering--for protecting the weaker, the younger, the innocent. Whether that means throwing himself into the fray ahead of one of them, taking the shots meant for another, or giving his own life for them, it doesn't matter to him. He will do so. It isn't so much that he feels certain individuals cannot protect themselves. It's just something he must do, and can't adequately explain why. If he is unable to defend those he cares for, or those he feels he must, it rarely sits well with him. He doesn't know how to protect people from things that can't be fought, and that, for lack of a better word, scares him a little. More accurately, he hates it.

Ironhide is painfully private, almost to the point of phobic. All personal matters, especially his own, are best kept private. He does try to get along with his allies, and with people more outwardly emotional than he is, but he seems to consistently say the wrong thing, and can't for the life of him figure out what he's said wrong or why. Most of his more concerned, sentimental conversations are locked down--the words are supposed to be between the two parties, not the rest of the world. Emotion still overrides caution, sometimes, and he's not always able to do this, which leaves him ashamed of himself, or merely embarrassed, for a long time afterward. This includes forms of physical affection beyond the odd shove--it's private, it should take place behind closed doors.

Lastly, if you want to live, do not fly with Ironhide. He hates it, loathes it. If there is any other feasible means of transportation, by God, he will take it.

Character Plans: He's a big, bad brawler, and made of metal. I'm curious to see how he'll deal with a place he has to fight creatures he couldn't even dream of, and how he'll adapt to having to actually hide from some of them.

Appearance/PB:
ROBOT:
Robot Mode.
Robot Mode 2 --> Height comparison to average human.
Close-up of facial structure, minus battlemask. Includes facial scarring.

VEHICLE:
Front
Side view
Rough size comparison of vehicle form to an average human.