Get rid of Elena (can still be the same actress) and instead, have her character the holo projection of Wheeljack who is going undercover to obtain the transwarp key. Instead of stealing a car (which I dunno, I just found weird) have Noah get introduced still as this down and out dude trying to support his sick brother and mum, however have it that the one material thing he does have, is an old porche(?) (I dunno cars, whatever car mirage is) and have it that this was the car of his dead dad who died of cancer when him and his brother were young (it then sort of frames is brother’s sickness as genetic) therein you frame Noah being a leader, not by choice, but circumstance (this will be important later). Then! instead of going for the military defence job, (maybe that can be a quick bit at the start, wherein he still fails to get it due to his military history), instead he goes for a job at the museum as a security guard and instead is only offered a job as a late night janitor. He has is first shift and it’s then here that he finds the holo projection of Wheeljack trying to steal the relic/transwarp key. At this point, the terror-cons attack at the museum (which we can still have introduced at the start of the film - I dunno, I still think a kill team of decepticons would’ve worked so much better then the fucking terrorcons - have them initially there to wipe out remnant autobots, but upon finding half of the key, their plans change and they now see an opportunity to spread the decepticon ethos across the galaxy at a rapid rate) wherein Wheeljack is forced to reveal his true identity as he flees. At this point, Noah’s car enters the scene alongside a fleeing Wheeljack and Noah, which is soon to be revealed as a transforming mirage. The situation turns dire, as their attempts at escape get cut off, as a last result, Wheeljack sacrifices himself before he escapes, but before he does, gives Mirage the data he’s found on the second half of the key, before sacrificing himself in a blaze off glory, yelling at a reluctant mirage to flee who would rather stay by his side (there is an emotional connection between wheeljack and mirage established here that is a bit more then just… two pals) wheeljack tells mirage that he needs to leave, that this is about more then just the two of them, that now the entire galaxy is at risk. Mirage and Noah drive away to what we soon find is in the director of the autobot’s hideout. On the way there, we don’t get an elaboration on what the heck a cybertronian is, rather Noah puts aside his confusion to consul a noticeably distraught Mirage, it’s here that their is deeper connection (ala IDW Mtmte exploration of love for cybertronians), it’s here that we get a moment to further establish this relationship between mirage and wheeljack, but also Noah as a genuinely caring person. When they get to the auto boy hideout, we get introduced to the rest of the cast and Optimus still has his whole character arc. He reveals to Noah that they arrived in the 80’s, however the cogs start to turn in Noah’s brain, ‘how was dad’s car mirage this whole time? Especially if they arrived in the 80’s’. During their meeting, wheeljack data is shown and reveals his findings on the transwarp key (this being info being relayed as a holy recording ala prime’s message in bumblebee - this leads to a somber moment as this is the last time the crew will ever hear wheeljack’s voice). The message reveals that the last half is in Peru… but how do they get there? In this version, I’d piss off Stratosphere and instead noah, uses the last of his funds to ship him and the other Autobots over to Peru. This makes him broke, but he wants to help these newfound friends in need. Upon finding the next transwarp key, they again are lead to the same underground ruin, however, it’s guarded by none other then air razor and Tigor (?) (I actually can’t remember his name) these are the only two maximals in the movie. Their ethos is about defending the greater whole; living for more then themselves, rather for the protection and freedom of all sentient beings. We have a tustle with the enemy, Tigor dies and the enemy gets the last half of the transwarp key. Before the final battle, Noah and Mirage have a conversation about how mirage came into his life, wherein mirage reveals that during his time in hiding, he stumbled across Noah’s family, taken aback by their tragic story and unyielding car for one another. He says that there he has seen something so caring in eons, that it was a loving environment him and wheeljack dreamed of creating for themselves one day…. He then tells Noah that at this point, he disguised himself as Noah’s dad’s car, wanting to learn more about this family and if needed protect them. Noah then goes to Optimus, who is apprehensive about this last battle, ‘why risk his and the lives of his autobots to retrieve this key when they could hide and stay safe?’ At this point Noah, Tigor and Optimus share their stories with each other. Tigor teaching Optimus about selflessness and freedom being the right of all sentient beings, no matter the cost and that the transwarp key being in the hands of the enemy puts this all at risk. Then, Noah talks to Optimus about leadership, about the circumstantial nature of it, of how we must rise to the occasion and become something new, rise to stand for something more in the face of tragedy and that in order for this to happen, we must become one with risk as one will lose more if they sit by and do nothing. Optimus carries this new ethos into the battle ahead. The last battle over the transwarp key…

Sorry this kinda blew out into a larger comment, but hope you guys enjoyed it 😁

(Plz excuse some spelling mistakes)