"Have you contacted those on your dossiers we've received?"
"Even better."
"Do go on."
"Four of the original five agreed outright."
"And the fifth?"
"Attacked unprovoked and was dealt with accordingly."
"A shame. Oh well. Four was the minimum. Who did you contact first?"
"The gunman, as requested. Lloyd Markus."
"Read the dossier for me."
"Brown hair, cut short, hazel eyes, six foot two, long range weapons expert, charismatic, observant, works as an outside contractor. His resume includes several successful missions for not only criminal organizations, but, most recently, he's been taking honest jobs, as opposed to the better paying ones. On paper, perfect leader material."
"In practice?"
"..."
"I won't hold it against you."
"He's brash, impatient, and rude..."
"But."
"...But, his effectiveness can't be denied."
"Tell me how the meeting went."
"He was... rather cagey at first."
"Yes?"
Two months ago...
Vaccuo
Lloyd frowned, looking around the empty city streets. Of course nobody would be awake, not at this ungodly hour. Checking his pocket watch for the seventh time in the space of twenty minutes, he took a moment to inspect the timepiece. It was gold in color, ornately decorated, and keeps perfect time. Meaning that someone was late. Annoyingly late.
"Where is this guy?" He wondered to himself, noticeably aggravated. It wasn't necessarily the that they were late, whoever they are. It was that they felt the need to call him at three in the morning, hang up as soon as he answers, and text him a time and place. Who does that? Cops? Doubtful.
"I'm done with dirty work." Lloyd grumbled. "I might actually go in to be a cop." He laughed. "Imagine that. A cop with his aura unlocked." And a criminal record to boot. Yeah. Probably not. He shrugged. "Either way. If this is a "Job" I know where they can shove it. Right up their-"
"Excuse me."
Lloyd spun on his heel, his hand reaching into his dusty brown cloak, before he froze. Well. Shit.
"Good morning. My name is Winter Schnee. I was hoping I could have a word with you."
"..." Dumbfounded, Lloyd could only stare at the white haired woman before him. Of course he knew who she was. He wasn't some backwoods moron. He knew the Schnee name as well as the next, and if the stark hair color wasn't enough, the four armed robots around her were.
"You are Lloyd Markus, correct?" She asked, without a hint of any actual question. She knew exactly who he was.
"Yeah, that's me." Lloyd sighed. "What's with all this? I don't think I've done anything to warrant a reaction like this." Recently, he didn't add. "What does the Atlas military want with a footnote like me?"
"We have a... program, of sorts." Replied the specialist. "One that involves former career criminals whom made the choice to leave of their own volition."
"First off, I've never been a career criminal. I'm a mercenary. " Replied Lloyd.
"Mercenary? One week, you're taking high profile jobs for syndicates and gangsters, now you're suddenly working security detail for relief efforts, chasing gangs out of the poorer markets, and keeping regular nightly patrols around the shopping districts." Winter tilted her head, ever so slightly. "Why the change of heart?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." The self proclaimed Mercenary denied. "I was payed for all of those jobs. Work's work. Who cares if it's honest or not?" He frowned as the woman gave a light chuckle.
"If that were true, you wouldn't be making a quarter of what you used to." Replied the Schnee. "I think something happened. Maybe on a recent job, but you've changed..." She paused. "Seen the... error... of your ways." Monty, it looked like she had to drag the words out.
"You don't believe that, do you?" He crossed his arms, staring her down.
"My personal feelings do not matter." She replied. "I am merely doing as I was ordered."
"Fair enough." Lloyd nodded. "Alright. Tell me about this program."
...Now...
"It was that simple?"
"Not exactly. He was perceptive, and could see my hesitation to explain the program. However, he quickly agreed after being assured he wouldn't be doing anything morally wrong. And shown his weekly paycheck."
"..."
"Sir?"
"I'm sorry. I just found that humorous. What of the others?"
"Next, I met with the stealth expert. E.Z."
"Ah. Her."
"Yes. She was... eccentric, to say the least."
"And the Dossier?"
"Electric blue hair, cut shoulder length, light blue eyes, five foot five, stealth and reconnaissance expert, with a long list of infractions and thefts on her record. The only reason she's not rotting in prison is because nobody has been able to even touch her. Lately, she's been setting her sights on criminals, robbing them blind and giving to charity. She's even returned a few other previously stolen goods, though not nearly as much as she's taken."
"Tell me about her."
...Six weeks ago...
Mistral
E.Z. was bored. Out of her frigging mind. If she doesn't rob someone soon, she's going to flip. Not like the acrobatic flips she absolutely adores doing across buildings. No, this was the kind of flip that made her think about backsliding. Pickpocketing. Thieving. She shook her head, dropping silently from the rooftops.
"I could always try hitting up a club." She mused to herself as she walked along. It was eerily quiet on this side of town, which wasn't exactly unexpected. This time of day, everyone's usually at work. "Maybe I should get a job."
"Well, it's lucky I happen to have one." Winter stepped behind the spy, shocking the girl, before needing to suddenly step back.
"Helloooo, nurse." E.Z. grinned, her face mere inches from Winters own.
"Excuse me?" Winter didn't know what she expected upon meeting the infamous spy, but the lecherous grin plastered across the younger girls face definitely wasn't it.
"Lady, you don't need an excuse. You have my permission to do whatever you want." E.Z. smiled lightly, giving Winter some much needed breathing space.
"I... appreciate that." She tried. Clearing her throat, Winter continued. "My name is Winter Schnee. I work for-"
"The Atlas military, and a Specialist, if I recall." E.Z. smiled. "What would a high class hottie like you be doing in a place like this?" Her smile widened, gaining a slight tint of pink to her cheeks. "You're not looking for lil' ol' me, are you?"
"Actually..."
"You are!?" E.Z. squealed in joy, before coughing. "I mean, cool, cool. Why wouldn't you be?" She paused, before tilting her head questioningly. "Why are you looking for me?"
Winter sighed.
She did not sign up for this.
...Now...
"..."
"Don't look at me like that."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Ahem. Who was next?"
"..."
"..."
"... I approached Neils Marney, next."
"I see."
"I assume that you know her dossier, though I'll read it for you, if you wish."
"Please."
"Long, bright brown hair, worn loosely, green eyes, five foot three, a security and close to mid range specialist. She's been implicated in several crimes, though she's never had a fatality, unlike the others. Recently, she's tried signing up for the Atlas military."
"And she's been denied every time."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, I assume she jumped at the idea."
"Not exactly..."
...Five weeks ago...
Winter was surprised by her surroundings. Having lived a wealthy life before quickly joining the military, she never realized Atlas had such seedy apartments. This place was a pit. A disgusting pit, that was definitely not up to code.
"A professional lives here?" The frosty woman glanced around. She'd left her robotic guards behind, to avoid any possible trouble. Raides made by the Atlas military were not rare, and she didn't want to cause a panic.
"A-7, this is it." She knocks, but no answer comes. She tries again, but again, there's just silence. "That's strange. She should be here." Winter reached for the doorknob, but froze, feeling a presence behind her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Neils stepped past her, gently unlocking the door. Suddenly, she slammed the door open, snatching a rope that was set free by the opening of the door. The rope lead to a small pulley, which fed through to suspend a large stone over a small cache of combustible fire Dust. If that had fallen and hit...
"That could take out the entire floor." Winter frowned at the girl. "You'd endanger innocents just to keep your secrets?"
"Nobody but me lives on this floor." Neils shrugged. "When somebody moves in, I'll tone it down." With that, the girl enters her domicile, quickly disarming her trap, and motioning for Winter to come in. "Well, Specialist Schnee? I'm sure you have better things to do than stand on my doorstep."
"Yes, actually." Winter stepped inside. "I understand that you have signed up for the Atlas military."
"Seven times." Neils cut in, pushing her square glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "Not that I'm counting." She sat, motioning for Winter to join her on the ratty love seat. Winter made the decision to stand.
"Indeed." Winter nodded awkwardly. "Well, I happen to be recruiting for an Atlas run program, for reformed criminals."
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
"You just used the words Atlas and criminal in the same sentence, and you're not talking about arresting someone." Neils gave a skeptical look. "That just doesn't make sense."
"We're trying something new."
"Riiiiiight."
"Wether you believe me or not, you'll be actively working for the safety of the Kingdoms." Winter summed up. "Isn't that what you want?"
Neils held her gaze for a moment, letting no hint of her inner thoughts. Then, she sighed, straightening her glasses.
"Where do I sign up?"
...Now...
"Interesting. She'll be a wonderful addition."
"Lastly was the Faunus. Dominic Silo."
"I know of him, but not much."
"Short, black hair, brown eyes, four foot eleven, skilled martial artist and close combat expert. Used to work for a gang out of Vale, before he went vigilante."
"And his behavior?"
"Calm. Almost professional. In fact, he was the easiest to persuade."
"Go on."
...Three weeks ago...
The man slid to the ground, going unconscious, before the next was smashed headfirst into the wall next to the first. Both men were dressed in the uniform of Juniors Hatchet men. The man responsible for the beating?
"I love my job." Dominic laughs, dusting his hands off. He expertly checks the two, taking their wallets and scrolls, before exiting the alley. "This is almost too easy." The young man sighs, pulling the ski mask from his face. His tan colored lion ears twitching vigorously at their newfound freedom. "Where's the challenge anymore?"
"I know how that can be provided." Winter stepped from a side street, accompanied by her mechanized enteruge.
"That's high profile protection, there, miss..." Dominic trailed off.
"Specialist Winter Schnee." She replied, shaking his outstretched hand.
"A little strange for a person of your caliber to be skulking the streets at night, don't you think?" Asked the Faunus.
"Not as strange as a known criminal suddenly turning to vigilante justice." Winter retorted.
"Hah, you got me there." Dominic laughed, breaking his mask of stoicism with a smile. "Well, I don't suppose this is a social call."
"You are correct." Winter supplied. "As a representative of the Atlas military, I have been tasked with running a small program. This includes recruiting promising ex criminals, such as yourself."
"For?"
"As of yet, preparation." Winter took a breath. "We've recently received word that dangerous forces are seeking out and rooting themselves in, here. In Vale. Why, we don't know, but we can't be sure."
"And you think hiring former criminals is the way to go?"
"Personally, not in the slightest." Replied the Specialist. "That, however, is not my decision."
"Glad to see the person with brains is in charge." Dominic stated. "Alright, Specialist. You've convinced me."
...Now...
"Simple."
"And deliberate. Something changed after I mentioned Vale. It appears that, even if I weren't there, he'd likely be involved anyway."
"It's a possibility."
"Are you sure that this is a good idea?"
"Hm?"
"Trusting these people, I mean. Isn't this dangerous?"
"Perhaps, but we need something. A hand that can operate and work under the uninformed eye of Ozpin. And, thanks to you, we have one."
"I hardly did a thing, sir. I merely met with the potentials, as you asked."
"And in doing so, you've secured their cooperation, at least for now."
"Yes, sir."
"Make sure their each briefed. Classes start in less than a week. Be sure that they're prepared."
"Of course, General."