Atlas

Volume 7 Ep. 1 - The Greatest Kingdom

Manta Airship
Y/N

"Manta 5-1. Welcome home. Please continue your approach to Atlas docking bay Omega-12. A security team will meet you there. Over."

"I don't understand..." Ruby started. "What's happening here?" She asked to everyone aboard the ship. "I don't know." Qrow answered. "But we are here. We got the lamp to Atlas, so, I guess we land and get some answers." Jaune proposed.

"Not when it looks likes this..." I muttered. "I agree. I've never seen our forces deployed so aggressively before. If we land in a stolen ship, there's no way the security team will let us anywhere near Ironwood." Weiss implicated. "They might even take me back to my father..." She dreaded.

Her teammates look towards her direction with concern on their face. "So..." Blake started. Suddenly, Weiss brightened a little and took out her scroll. "Winter!" She let out in realization.

"Put some distance between us and the fleet." Weiss turns to Maria. "You don't have to tell me twice." She replied. Weiss walks away and starts to contact her sister. Maria maneuvers the ship into the city of Mantle.

. . .

The city of Mantle was the complete opposite of the city above them. Several airships flew past. My eyes wandered until it stopped at a projected General Ironwood. He looked different from the last I saw from him. He looks less... pristine. Sporting a disheveled swept hair, he grew a beard. Which was surprising to see.

"...cannot express our appreciation enough. Many describe these as uncertain times, and while that may be the case for the rest of the world, I can tell you what is certain. The Kingdom of Atlas will remain strong, and it will remain safe. That is my promise." He announced.

"General Ironwood. He looks..." Yang started. "Tired." Ruby finished. "James, what have you been doing?" I heard Qrow mutter. Averting my eyes from General Ironwood, I looked down at the streets of Mantle.

Trash scattered on the sidewalk. Four Atlesian Knights walk down the street on patrol. To the side, I watch a pair of kids run and hide in an ally. A small drone passes by them.

Disrupting the drone's path, one of the kid throws a pebble at it, scaring them into the safety of the wall. The drone spins and attempts to locate the disruption, before turning back and continuing on its path.

"This isn't right. None of this is right." I heard Weiss muttered.

"Manta 5-1, we've noticed a detour in your route. You are to make your way to docking bay Omega 12 immediately. Do you copy? Over."

"We're kind of running out of time here, kids." Maria warns. "We need to ditch the ship." Yang let out. "Agreed. Get lost in Mantle and buy ourselves some time." Qrow added.

"I'm telling you, my sister can take us to Ironwood." Weiss interjected. "Uh, Weiss?" Blake calls to her teammate. Weiss walks over to the Faunus' side and looks through the window. I did the same and looked out the window to see a projected Winter.

"A reminder." Winter started. "Failure to cooperate with Atlas military personnel is a punishable offense. If your sector is under lockdown..."

"Winter?" Weiss lets out in disbelief. "No offences, Weiss. I'm not sure that's a good idea anymore." Qrow commented. Weiss turns towards him tensely, hands fisted.

"There's obviously something very wrong. If we can just talk to her, then we -- "

"Look, I'm not even sure we should be talking to Ironwood until we know exactly what's going on with Mantle." Qrow cuts. "But -- " "Everyone, calm down." Maria sighs. "I know someone who can help with both." She stated.