Headcanons
My headcanons aligned with the events of the transformers one movie because I feel like those events help better understand the whole rescue bot system and the reasons why the system fell.
These are kinda all over the place soo-
The Academy is a replica of the academies they had back on cybertron. Its not very accurate since their memories are foggy on how they've been in stasis for a long time and haven't been on Cybertron but after Quickshadow arrived, she was able to help them distinguish majority parts they were forgetting.
When Cybertron first fell, Hightide knew he wouldn't have a high chance of surviving due to his age plus servo is a mini-con and knowing how small he is, he wouldn't have survive. So they chose to run away, found earth, found his love for the ocean and chose to live out his days in the sea.
When Bumblebee first meets the rescue bots, Heatwave ask him to explain the events that led up to the great war and question if they were really still active or if they were really wipe out. Bumblebee explains the events that lead up the war from his point of view but feels like it isn't his place to explain what happened to the rescue bots. (Mainly because he took part of killing his people- not to eliminate them but for survival reasons. ) He believes that Someone else should be the one explaining this, not him.
There's been alot of speculation that Quickshadow name isn't her real name and is just using another allies but I believe that Quickshadow actually forgot her real name during war and lean towards the name "Quickshadow" because it literally describes how well she's able to move in the dark. Plus, the academies were destroyed or taken over mainly by Decepticons, so many files were deleted or destroyed, which included the database that held many files of rescue workers.
During the first days of war, there was alot of propaganda spread about the Rescue bots stating that they knew about Prime doing and were helping him hide it from the general public. After Sentinel was killed, many started bombing the academies and were specifically targeting them now being seen as traitors towards cybertron. This was because their system was run by the prime and they only took orders from them.
When Boulder first found out about painting, he tried to paint out his happiest moments back on cybertron or little things that reminded him of home but all look horrible since he wasn't the best at it. As the years went by his paintings have improved but his memories back on cybertron were slowly fading away and now can't perfectly recall the moment in his paintings like he wants to.
Heatwave tends to feel some guilt towards the situation because he's the one who gave the order for them to get in stasis but Blades also feels that same guilt since hes the one who gave Heatwave the idea in the first place.
Quickshadow tends to feel different from the group or out of place since she's the only one who fought, and the majority of them were in stasis. Yes, Heatwave, Chase, Boulder, Blades, and Quickshadow all have the same pain of losing their people and wishing they could have done more to protect their home but Quickshadow was there from start to finish. She witness the destruction, the abuse, the falling of their people- and im not comparing their trauma, but the best way I can describe it is cognitive empathy. You are able to identify and understand their Emotional view point without you feeling those emotions. The same goes towards Quickshadow for them. Yes, she understands their perspective but can't feel those Emotions of being in stasis for such a long time and waking up in a middle of a war. They can't relate on certain levels but understand each other on different levels.
Heatwave, Boulder, Chase, and Blades are unhappy on how their life turn out to be. Now, im not saying that they hate how their life turn out to be. Them staying on earth and training the new recruits. But dont feel fulfilled on the things they truly wanted to experience in their lifetime. They obviously made peace with themselves and tried to bring positive outcomes but for them to do that, they had to come to the realization that Cybertron doesn't need them. Their was no reason to go back knowing things would be different and also seeing that they had no purpose over there. Which is why they chose to stay on earth. Do they like earth? Yes. Do they like the recruits? One hundred percent. But its this unshake feeling knowing you can't live the life you truly wanted for yourself.
Cybertron doesn't know about Quickshadow and I'd say its for the best because the rescue bots are supposed to be pacifist. Heatwave, Chase, Boulder, and Blades didn't fight in the war nor chose a side. Either did Salvage or Blurr. I think it will cause a little commotion since many will question on 'how Quickshadow was able to stay a rescue bot despite having killed many during the war.' I know she did it to survive but still. Many might say its hypocritical or will question what side she fought it. Which tanks their reputation as well.
Okay, this is it for now. I still have many more but I think those deserve their own posts. Sorry for any mistake and feel free to ask questions about this. Its kinda all over the place but ig.
Im still trying to figure more about Salvage and Blurr and what really works for them so maybe a future post.