A/N: Yes I know the chapter is short but it does advance the story quite a bit :) Hope you all enjoy the chapter.
The trio stared back at the small group of soldiers encircling them, Nikolai pulling the scientist closer as a result. Ironwood emerged from the APC, a discontent look on his face as a sigh graced his mouth. Simmons spoke as Ironwood placed himself between his men and the Helldivers.
"Ironwood, did you by chance tell your men we were coming?" Simmons deadpanned as the soldiers looked at each other, Simmons words slightly confusing them.
"Stand down men! As of this moment these men are to be considered political ambassadors." Ironwoods voice rang out across the base as the men hesitantly lowered their weapons.
The soldiers started to disperse, casting glares at the trio as they did so. Ironwood turned towards the trio and bowed slightly. Simmons nodded at the silent apology. Noticing the nod, Ironwood stood up before turning on his heels and motioning for the trio to follow.
"If you men would follow me, and unhand the doctor…" Ironwood motioned to the Doctor, Nikolai's pistol still pushed into the base of his spine.
Nikolai looked to Simmons who waved his hand at his waist. Nikolai nodded upon seeing the signal and pulled his pistol away from the man's neck before holstering it. The doctor stumbled a bit before gaining his footing, his face contorting slightly as he put slight pressure on his broken leg. A medic made his way over and took the doctor, supporting him on his shoulder.
Wulff watched the medic take the doctor away as they entered the building, the doors sealing behind them. The trio looked around and found the building to be stark white on the interior. The simple receptionist's desk and lobby held little more architectural expression than an Mental Hospital.
"Do your employees feel like prisoners here?" Nikolai spat as Ironwood turned around, giving him a hard glare.
"Alright… note taken…" Nikolai quipped as Ironwood approached a double door to the left of the front desk.
The General typed on the keypad as the elevator opened. Two guards stood at the panel on the opposite side of the elevator. Simmons entered, his face neutral as Ironwood nodded to the guards. The guards silently pressed the top button on the panel labeled "Landing Pad".
Simmons grumbled as he watched the dial spin, the elevator nearing the top of the rather short structure. The elevator let out a solid ding as the door shuttered, opening slowly. They all exited the elevator and moved towards the glass door exiting onto the landing pad, an Atlas VTOL waited patiently for their arrival.
"Why haven't you killed us yet…" Simmons questioned bluntly as they exited the building onto the landing pad.
"If I had a say in this matter," Ironwood let out a frustrated sigh before continuing, "I would have had you all shot when we arrived." Ironwoods statement caused a smirk to float onto Simmons face.
"If you had a say? What do you mean?" Wulff questioned, however, Ironwood wasn't the one that answered.
"He does, oh he does… just not the final say." The trio looked towards the back of the VTOL and saw an old friend.
Ozpin and his assistant, Goodwitch, walked towards Simmons and his men. The coffee mug planted firmly in Ozpin's hand and the neutral look on his face almost made the trio forget they were standing on a landing pad about to board a VTOL with their near-enemies. To be fair, Simmons liked the way Ozpin approached them, not by means of verbal fisticuffs but by visual jousting.
Simmons and Ozpin ended their match as Ozpin spoke. His coffee mug resting level with his chest.
"James, I assume they came willingly?" Ozpin questioned as he took a sip, looking up over the rim of the mug.
"They did… not before threatening to destroy a moderate chunk of the Atlas commercial District." Ironwood forced out that last part as Ozpin let out a content hum.
"It's about time we left…" The third voice wafted from the shuttle, the usual slight slur in his speech missing.
"You!" Nikolai shouted out in mild anger at the man that showed them around Beacon before their demise at the hands of Glynda.
"You?" Qrow questioned as he looked at the Helldiver, his mind trying to figure out where they knew each other from.
Qrow and Nikolai locked eyes, one confused and the other mildly upset as Ozpin broke them up by tapping his cane firmly on the ground. Once he had everyone's attention he cleared his throat.
"Now that everyone is here why don't we get on our way?" Ozpin turned abruptly before stepping onto the ramp of the shuttle.
Everyone present followed suit and boarded the shuttle. The three Helldivers sat next to each other as their hosts took their own seats alongside several Atlas soldiers. Qrow sat down, his mind still searching for the memory of ever meeting the short armored man before. The shuttle ramp closed as the VTOL lifted up from the pad, the engines throttling up as they streaked off.
The city grew smaller and smaller as the mountains started to grow on the horizon. The shuttle was filled with an eerie silence as the Helldivers refused to speak for the entire trip so far. Ironwood, on the other hand, wanted to know how one of the three had known Qrow.
"I didn't know you had ever had contact with these men before." Ironwood questioned as Qrow and the three Helldivers looked towards Ironwood.
"I haven't seen these three. Sure, there were the four that infiltrated Beacon, but these three…" Qrow was interrupted as Nikolai laughed, his joyus outburst making Glynda and some of the soldiers flinch.
"Oh come on, you haven't pieced it together? We both have flasks we carry around, we bonded." Nikolai strained the last part in mock sadness as he pulled his flask from his belt.
It took a second but it dawned on both Ozpin and Glynda. Surprise snaked it's way onto Glynda's face as skeptical look broke Ozpin's usual facade of indifference.
"That's impossible. We watched you…" Glynda started as Wulff cleared his throat.
"Yes, impossible… to your people, I will not repeat what has been said to the General on technological differences. Despite this, we have a lot to tell you." Wulff finished his small disclaimer as he folded his arms and leaned back.
"So it seems… You three only succeeded in dodging the question and creating more." Ozpin stated as he took a sip from his coffee mug, his finger tapping his cane lightly.
"It really does seem that way… Where are we headed anyways. I realize that you haven't told us." Simmons inquiry was quickly answered by the General.
"Atlas is currently the most advanced kindom on Remnant and as a result we have dedicated research facilities to work on our most secretive projects." Ironwood paused before continuing, "This includes the study of Aura and it's properties." This piqued Simmons interest as he pushed himself up in his seat.
Simmons looked out the window and saw that they were closing in on a landing pad embedded in the side of a mountain. Upon further study he could see a large observatory planted on the peak. The VTOL descended onto the platform as the co-pilot entered the passenger bay.
"Alright General, we're here." The co-pilot saluted as the General passed him, the ramp dropping down.
As the ramp dropped, a gust of icy wind circulated through the VTOL causing Qrow and Glynda to shudder slightly. The Helldivers and Ozpin remained unfazed as they approached the ramp. Directly to their front was a large blast door carved into the mountainside.
"Some hell of a door…" Nikolai quipped as the General nodded, waving towards the door with his hand.
The door groaned before a small gap appeared in the metal. After a few seconds the gap opened to 10 feet wide before the door stopped. Ironwood walked forward, not saying a word, as the guards standing just inside the door gave him a firm salute.
Simmons, Nikolai and Wulff followed closely. Ozpin, Glynda and Qrow secured the rear as the door slowly started to groan closed. Giving one final grunt the door clanged shut, Simmons and his team now sealed inside the mountain base brimming with Atlas Soldiers.
"For all the stupid shit we've done," Wulff started as he turned on suit to suit coms, "This has to be one of the most impulsive of them." Nikolai chuckled in agreement as Simmons just gave a curt nod.
They continued forward past a large security checkpoint and what looked like a tram station before coming to a large door. Lights on both sides of the door flashed as the door parted, revealing what looked like a large elevator.
Situated on the large platform were two thin pedestals on each side with guards standing next to them. The group moved onto the platform, Ironwood giving the guards a salute. The guards saluted back before moving. One guard pulled out his scroll and placed it on one of the pedestals. The other guard placed his on the other pedestal. The pedestals turned green and the platform started to move downwards.
A large blast door opened below them, the platform stopping only to allow the track to bridge the gap caused by the door before their movement continued. The rock face in front of them was quickly replaced by large glass windows that opened up into massive hollowed out caverns filled with equipment, scientists and engineers all scrambling around.
"Quite and operation you have here General." Simmons commented as he pointed at the droves of workers.
"Yes, we are working around the clock to solve everything from dust stability to understanding the creatures of Grimm." Ironwoods voice took on a hint of pride that was noticed by all present.
Ironwoods face soon fell and the expression soon disappeared from his face as the platform reached it's destination. The windows to their front were replaced by the same rock face they had seen before.
"This is your stop, Level -2." One of the guards started with a salute as Ironwood returned the salute.
The door to the platform opened and they were met with swarms of scientists buzzing about. The personnel were all too busy to notice the new arrivals.
"Stay close to me." Ironwood said over his shoulder as he stepped out into the hive, the rest of them following closely behind.
Ironwood led the others through the swarm that seemed to part as he moved. It felt like leaving Ironwoods side would mean being lost to the swarm of facility personnel. They all followed the General closely, minus one member of Hunter.
Wulff could have sworn he was right behind Nikolai but he soon found he was wrong. He was somewhere else with not a single soul in sight. Seeing the section of the base he was just in this made him slightly uncomfortable.
Looking up and down the hallway he noticed several windows on either side of the hallway. Each window had a door next to it with a number. Walking over he looked through the windows and saw one of the bear-like Grimm sitting on the floor, an Ursa as he recalled. Other cells held Beowolves and Boarbatusk all in varying states of activity. Turning a corner he noticed movement.
Ducking back behind the corner he peaked out and saw four men in protective gear enter one of the cells. He wondered what would warrant the scientists need for that much protection.
As he moved on the room he noticed the scientists from before standing around a table in the middle with a rather large block of ice on it. As he watched the scientists marking on their clipboards he saw something that made his blood run cold. The long front claws curled up in front of it's abdomen. Wings slightly separated from its body and six legs laying frozen in a disorganized pattern.
His eyes moved up the slim thorax before landing on the familiar face. The two flaps of orange flesh that jutted off just above the neck only confirmed his fears. He took a step backward. He had to find Simmons and Nikolai… fast.
"A god damned Stalker… my God, they're here." Wulff mumbled under his breath as he turned around rapidly, his legs pumping as he sprinted back the way he came.
As he pounded down the hallway, he pressed his hand to the side of his helmet. Hearing the tone of the communicator, he spoke out.
"Major, Atlas is in possession of a captured Stalker. I repeat, Atlas has a Stalker in their possession!" Wulff removed his hand from his head as he neared the crowded central hallway.
Whatever Atlas was doing, they needed answers… fast.
A/N: Sometimes I wonder if you guys just want the inhabitants of Remnant to have a little more than just the Grimm to deal with... fair enough... the bugs it is.