Y/N POV:
Since following Penny through Atlas Academy Clover and the Ace Ops lead us to a room for a mission briefing.
Clover: All right, gather 'round. Our mission today is to secure the launch site for the Amity Communications Tower.
Clover: The designated area is an abandoned Dust mine. Since its closure, the Grimm have moved in.
He brings up a screen as it shows the overview of the mission showing a photograph of Huntsmen fighting against an Ice Geist.
The screen changes to the map of the area with the list of Active Huntsmen along with the Ace Ops and main review of the mission.
"Reported Petra Geist near Huntsman Post North. Huntsmen secured area but were unable to eliminate Petra Gigas. The Grimm was seen retreating to abandoned SDC Mines No. 2 located in Zone 3. No casualties were reported, three Huntsmen suffered minor injuries."
With recommended course of action to send the Ace Ops to clear out the mine.
The map changes to show the Zones around the mind with only one being cleared as the screen adds my team name along with RWBY and JNPR.
Clover: The good news is all that untouched Dust is still down there, too. Science team says they'll need it for the first phase of their launch.
Clover: The good news is all that untouched Dust is still down there, too. Science team says they'll need it for the first phase of their launch.
Clover: Atlas military Huntsmen are already hard at work clearing out the surrounding tundra. But recon has identified a powerful Geist that's managed to evade destruction and take several lives.
Clover: After we increased our numbers, the Geist was smart enough to retreat into the mine itself, meaning it's old and extremely dangerous.
He makes the photograph expand to show the Petra Geist.
Clover: This is our target.
Clover: The mine was a labyrinth back in the day. There's all sorts of tunnels and chambers the Geist can move between, so if we're gonna kill this thing, we'll have to split up and corner it.
Clover: General Ironwood says you've seen your fair share of combat.
Clover: I trust that man with my life, so tomorrow, I'll be trusting you all, too.
Clover: Let's make it happen, people
Pietro and Maria come into the room.
Pietro: Now if you'll will follow me.
He leads us to a laboratory.
Pietro: Apologies for the mess and for holding onto your weapons for so long.
Pietro: The upgrades you requested were, uh... well, they were more than I anticipated. (laughs)
Pietro: There's some additional enhancements I'd like to suggest. Oh, but for now, these should serve you well enough.
He leads us to a shelf with a narrow row of Briefcases.
I head over to mine.
Pietro: Y/N are you sure about not getting upgrades for your weapons?
Y/N: I'm sorry...but my weapons have a little "condition" that can't be resolved easily.
Y/N: Is the thing I asked for in there?
Pietro: Yes, but I don't understand why you need a weapons book.
Y/N: You'll see.
I grab my briefcase and open it to see everything I requested in there.
Y/N: (This is gonna be fun)
Timeskip~
After putting on my new outfit I get on a Airship with Karen heading towards the mines.
(Ignore the floating book)
Karen: You ready?
Y/N: Always.
The ships door opens up as we both jump off and I spin and make an Ice ramp sliding down and backflip landing on my feet.
Karen uses her fire to hover and land gracefully on the ground.
Karen: Not bad.
Y/N: Same to you.
I place a finger on my ear piece as Karen does the same.
Clover: You've all got fancy new Scrolls, so don't forget to use 'em. Keep your eyes and ears open. I want an update if you encounter the target. Alpha out.
We continue into the mines as I summon Yue and my Empress Sword.
Karen: So that's why you didn't want any upgrades.
Y/N: Heh, yeah I've got a lot of explaining to do.
Karen: Can't wait to hear all about it when we get back.
We continue on until I sense multiple negative aura.
Karen: (readies her sword) You feel that?
Y/N: Yeah.
On cue multiple Centinals erupt from the ground.
Y/N: (Let's go...)
We run at the group and split off to handle our own sides.
I slash through one of the Centinals and freeze two of them attempting to rush me.
Y/N: (Yue ready?)
Yue: (Yes!)
She splits off and changes to Pistols as I fire off multiple shots of aura bullets taking down the frozen Centinals.
Y/N: Nice...
More erupt from the ground.
Yue: (I'm ready!)
She changes to a Assault Rifle and I gun down the incoming reinforcements.
Y/N: (You really are amazing Yue)
Yue: (Thanks Mom!)
I see Karen taking down her side with White Flames incinerating them all.
Y/N: (She's gotten stronger)
Koyuki: (I can't wait for our rematch)
We continue on our way through the tunnel.
Karen: So your weapon can disappear and change into different types?
Y/N: Another thing I'll explain later.
Quick Flashback~
Y/N: So why do you need a weapons book?
I see Yue put the book down and smirk.
Yue: So I can do this!
She changes to dual pistols.
Y/N: (What?!)
Yue: (I thought that if I knew the type of weapons in my mind I could change in to it)
Yue: (Seems like I'm right)
Y/N: (Your amazing!)
Flashback End~
As we continue on the way the ground starts to shake we two loud booms.
Clover: (Over ear piece) Contact! Two Petra Geist!
Karen: Two?!
Clover: One's heading east the other south.
Y/N: It's heading our way!
Karen: Yeah!
We pull out our weapons as a Petra Geist covered in Red Dust.
Y/N: (It has Dust on its body!)
Karen: Be careful not to trigger the Dust!
Y/N: So just separate it's body parts, got it.
Yue switches to her sword mode.
Karen: I'll take the left.
Y/N: And I'll take the right.
We split off as the Gigas goes to punch me but I roll out of the way and jump and run on it's arm and cut the Grimm part of it clean off and I backflip off the arm.
Yue: (Here!)
She changes to a Sniper as I take aim and fire the Grimm part of its leg separating it as Karen slices the other leg off.
The Gigas tries to rebuild itself as she cuts the other arm off and gets on its face stabbing it's mask and then let's out white flames burning it from the inside out.
Y/N: Wow...
The Grimm evaporates.
Karen: That's one down.
She gets down and we high five before heading another loud boom.
Karen: Guess they made contact already.
Y/N: Yeah.
We head to the heart of the mine to see the Ace Ops along with Team RWBY and JNPR with Clover and Harriet finishing off the other Geist.
As Purple Dust starts to fall off from its body with each of the Ace Ops catching one until another one starts to fall.
Clover: Harriet!
She rushes over to grab it but Ruby uses her Semblance to catch just before it hits the ground and she lands sitting holding the crystal in her arms.
Harriet then helps her up.
Harriet: Thought you said your Semblance was like mine.
Ruby: (confused) It... is?
Harriet: I've seen other speed Semblances before, but that was different. I think there's more going on than you think.
Yang: Wait until she sees what she can do with her eyes.
Clover then heads to me and Karen.
Clover: The other Geist?
Karen: Eliminated.
Clover: Wow...You two most certainly live up to your mantles.
Y/N: (nervous laughter while rubbing the back of her head) Oh, ya know.
I look at Team RWBY's new outfits and head over to them.
Y/N: You guys look great.
Y/N: (To Blake and Weiss) Love the hair.
As they blush at my remark and Yang gets really close to me.
Yang: You don't look that bad yourself~
My face starts to heat up.
Y/N: Hehe.
Miyuki and Koyuki: (Your Blushing)
Y/N: (I know)
After getting out of the mines we walk out to see multiple Atlas ships and vehicles and Ironwood outside.
I look to see Jaune, Ruby, and Nora stare at the Ace Ops wide eyed from their performance.
Nora: (high pitched) Aaaah!
Jaune runs over to Clover and Qrow.
Jaune: (To Clover) You guys were incredible!
Jaune: Oh, the way you took down that Geist without needing to plan your tactics out, you just knew exactly what to do!
Clover: Well, Ace-Ops are hand-picked to perfectly compliment one another. So we can focus on our assets and leave our liabilities behind.
Marrow walks over to them with a salute.
Marrow: Some of us are all asset, zero liability.
Elm just scoffs and walks away.
Marrow: Wha-- Yeah? Think I've got some liabilities, Elm?
Elm: Your brains, for one.
As the rest of the Ace Ops laugh and walk away.
Vine: You did ask.
Nora walks over to Elm with wide eyes.
Nora: Hi. Do you need a new best friend? (moving closer) Our pair name can be...
Nora: (voice echoing dramatically) THUNDER THIGHS!!!
Only for Harriet to sigh as Ruby walks over to her.
Ruby: Perfect complementary teamwork. Oh, yeah, I want to have my friends' backs just like that.
Harriet: (raising an eyebrow) Friends?
Elm: (laughs) This isn't the schoolyard, kid.
Nora: (husky) Thunder Thighs...
Yang: But, I mean, when you go through so much with someone, it kind of changes things, doesn't it?
Harriet: We get along well enough, sure. I count on them to keep me alive. They do the same. But that's the job. We don't confuse the two.
Y/N: (So their relationship is all professionalism)
Miyuki: (It doesn't seem that effective when it really counts)
Koyuki: (Well Atlas is full of soldiers so that must be their viewpoint on comrades)
I hear Karen scoffs at her remark and walk away with her eyes changing to Bloody red for a second.
Y/N: (Guess we're not the only ways who disagree on that viewpoint)
Clover: Speaking of the job...
Clover: Duty ever beckons. You all hang back a second. (gesturing to Jaune and Qrow)
As he walks over to Ironwood.
Ruby: What do you guys want to do when we get back to Atlas? Sightseeing? (gasp) Oh, what should we visit first?
Y/N: I was kinda hoping to see all the weapons.
Ruby: Really?!
Y/N: I need to get some (summons Yue) ideas.
Blake: (yawns) How about our beds?
Ruby: Oh, come on, guys! This is a great time to go exploring! We haven't done that in so long!
Weiss: Ruby, we just explored a whole continent on foot before flying to this one.
Ruby: Well, yeah, but... it was only the boring parts.
Yang: (arms crossed) We almost died.
Yang: Some more than others.
As she looks at me.
Y/N: (nervous laughing) I'm sorry.
Only for her to kiss my cheek as they all walk away.
Qrow: Hey. Heads up.
Ironwood: Can I get the team leaders over here? There's something I'd like to discuss with you. You too, Qrow.
Ruby, Jaune, and I walk over to him.
Ironwood: (to Clover) I need you on the ground, but be subtle. If people see too many Huntsmen milling around, they'll get nervous.
Clover salutes and walk away until Ironwood calls him back.
Ironwood: Don't take Marrow.
As he gestures to Marrow showing off to a soldier.
Qrow: New problems in Mantle?
Ironwood: (sighs) More of the same, unfortunately.
He withdraws and deploys his Scroll, using it to generate a hologram screen in the air in front of him. The left side of the screen displays an Atlas Military Police mugshot of Forest, while the right side displays a photograph of Forest's corpse in an alleyway somewhere in midtown Mantle.
Ironwood: Someone in Mantle is taking out public leaders who speak out against Atlas. Specifically, people who speak out against me. It didn't look like a pattern at first. But this is the third murder of its kind in the last week.
Jaune: (stepping forward) Wait a minute. That's the guy that rode with us after we were arrested.
Ruby: (upset) He died?
Qrow: Your opposition in Mantle dropping dead isn't exactly a good look for you, huh
Ironwood then turns off his scroll.
Ironwood: Not really worried about my public image, but it is causing unrest. I think someone's trying to frame me and, by extension, Atlas. And it's working.
Jaune: Well, if it wasn't for the embargo making everybody so mad, people probably wouldn't be so quick to blame you for everything else.
Jaune: S-Sir.
Ironwood: (rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers) No. No, you're right. Things in Mantle have been... hard to manage lately. I'm not blind to its issues. In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about.
His communicator goes off and he turns his back.
Ironwood: (surprised) What? Already? Here? No, it's fine. Let him land. I'll deal with him myself.
Qrow: More Mantle problems?
Ironwood: No. This one's an Atlas problem.
A ship lands as Jacques walks down the ramp and glares at Ironwood.
Jacques: So let me get this straight, James. In addition to this nonsensical embargo of yours crippling my business, you've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property?
Only for Ironwood to calmly put his hand behind his back.
Jacques: When the Council hears about this, you will never-- (aggressively pointing at Ironwood)
Ironwood: Actually, I've already informed them. As this is now the site of a classified military operation, it didn't even require a vote.
Jacques: Didn't require a vote?!
Ironwood: You might want to brush up on Council law before you lose this upcoming election, Jacques. Now. I've allowed you to land here once as a courtesy. The next time, it won't be a friendly reception.
Jacques: Lately, you seem to forget who your friends really are. I'm going to get that Council seat, James, and maybe then, you'll--
He looks at Weiss.
Jacques: You...
Jacques: You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours, too?
Jacques: (angrily) How long has she been back in Atlas? Did Winter know about this?
Weiss: It was my decision to come here. Just like it was my decision to leave. Or have you forgotten all about that?
Jacques: If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, then you've misjudged the man your father is.
Weiss: Believe me, I know exactly the kind of man you are.
Jacques: (angrily) How dare you speak to me that way!? I have half a mind to--
I send a low pulse of Aura to shut him up.
Jacques: You know... your mother was devastated when you left.
I see him fake his sadness to see Weiss's reaction.
Y/N: (This Bastard!)
Jacques: Didn't leave her room for days. You know how... she gets... when she's upset.
Jacques: I knew one day, you would overextend your reach. I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you...
We along with Ruby, Yang, and Blake walk to her side.
Jacques: ...for personally handing me the noose to hang you.
Jacques: So these are the little friends you threw everything away for?
Weiss: (shaking her head) Not friends.
Weiss: Family.
Jacques: Hmm...
He tries to take his leave as I make a small Ice puddle to make him slip before he gets back and leaves while trying to look professional.
A truck arrives as Winter gets out.
Weiss: (with a joking smile) Oh, now you show up, Winter. You just missed father.
Winter: I wouldn't say I missed hi--
Penny lands sending Team RWBY while I stand their surprised.
Y/N: (She could kill someone with that strength!)
Penny: Surprise!
Penny: Uh, did we not start yet?
Winter: (sighs) Apparently, we haven't.
Chapter End