RWBY: MRRN
Volume 6, Chapter 30: Preparing for Battle
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. All rights go to Rooster Teeth.
"All citizens, please move to the safe zones in a calm and orderly fashion," a projection broadcast of David Brownwood instructed. "Please do not take unnecessary items. Take only what provisions you need. Atlas soldiers will provide you with supplies such as food, blankets, and other necessities."
As the citizens made their way to the safe zone entrances underneath the city, the defenders prepared any and all weapons they had at their disposal. Pilots were ordered to stand by at the aircraft and make sure they were all properly fueled and fully weaponized. The crews manning the Force Field generator, Argus Mech, and manual defenses systems oversaw the necessary transportation of Dust, tech and other necessities to ensure they were ready for the incoming battle.
As for the Bushi Militia, many of them were assigned to the front wall to aid in the front lines and the transportation of manual guns to the top, where Pyrrha and Weiss were using their Semblances to make it easier for them to be pushed.
"How many guns do they have?" Weiss asked as she used her Glyphs on the ground to make pushing the guns easier for the crews pushing them. Pyrrha was using her own to lighten the weight of the guns as they passed by, preventing them from falling should any one of the people moving it lose their grip.
"They have quite a lot," the redhead Amazon replied. "Argus needed them in the past until they received automated systems from Atlas years ago. The city's in a very good position for strategic and trade purposes, but because it's rather far from both of the Kingdoms, we often had to rely on ourselves to deal with immediate threats in the past."
"I see," Weiss replied. Her eye caught sight of a familiar symbol on a crate being carried by a militiaman: the snowflake of the SDC, the symbol of the same company that was stolen by her father years ago when he married Willow Schnee.
"Weiss?" Pyrrha asked the Schnee fighter, noticing her lack of concentration. "Are you well?"
"What do you think will happen when I present this evidence to the Council?" Weiss asked, regaining her composure and focusing on her Glyphs. "I knew he had done some things, but that scroll...everything on it..."
"They'll have to put him in prison for what he's done," Pyrrha insisted. "Murder, human and Faunus trafficking, domestic violence, fraud, bribery...the list goes on. He won't be able to walk away from this, especially if your family members testify against him. Your sister, your mother and your brother will all testify against him, right?"
"Not my brother," Weiss replied. "Whitley wants nothing to do with me. He's just like my father."
"What if he's only that way to protect himself?" Pyrrha suggested. "You said it yourself: no one was safe from his cruelty, not even his own family. Wouldn't that extend to him as well?"
"I..." Weiss tried to answer, but it fell flat. It would've extended to Whitley as well because he was his biological son, just as Jacques' abuse went to his wife and two daughters.
"Weiss, you said that after your mother turned to alcoholism, she barely had any presence in your lives," Pyrrha brought up to Weiss. "That means that there may not have been anyone to protect your brother from your father. You know that your sister protected you, but did she do the same for him? Did you?"
Again, Weiss couldn't provide an answer. She couldn't remember a time when she or Winter protected their young brother from their father's cruelty and manipulation. The servants wouldn't do so out of fear of losing their jobs and their mother was too dependent on alcohol to intervene on her children's behalf.
In the end, there was no one to protect her brother; he was all alone with an abusive father and a negligent mother.
It became very clear why Whitley held such disdain for his two sisters: they had each other to lean on, but they didn't stop to consider Whitley's own safety. Being left all alone with no one, he perhaps felt that the only way to avoid his father's wrath was by becoming what his father wanted him to become.
What did Jacques want Whitley to be? A reflection of himself, a racist against Faunus, a person who prioritized wealth and glory over the welfare of those less fortunate than themselves, a tool for his own ego. That was the only way he had to avoid suffering his father's abusive behavior.
Weiss now felt terrible for not considering her brother's welfare sooner. Perhaps if she had, then he'd be a much different person than who he was now. But once the evidence was presented, Whitley could be free of his father's influence.
In the end, no matter what the consequences were, Jacques Schnee needed to be stopped. His crimes had gone unpunished for far too long and he had committed great atrocities to ensure he remained on his seat of power.
But when the world inevitable learn of these crimes, it'd mean justice and freedom for thousands of victims, many unnamed. But what would it mean for the Schnee name itself? Would the people of the world give the Schnee name a second chance or would they believe that Jacques' crimes made the name irredeemable?
It was risky, no matter which route she took, but she was done running from her father. It was time to confront him snd take back the family name that was never his to take.
She felt comfort when Pyrrha put a hand on her shoulder, offering a warm smile to her friend.
"Whatever happens, we'll all have your back," she assured, earning a smile back from Weiss.
"Mistral airships inbound!" an Argus soldier called out.
"Hold your fire!" an Argus lieutenant ordered, calming down any soldiers who were prepared to shoot the aircrafts down. "Those ships are Bushi militia. Silvio Steel is with them."
"Silvio's here?" Pyrrha gasped. "Thank Oum. We need all the help we can get."
When the Mistral airships passed over Argus's wall, seven total were counted; three appeared to be transport ships while the other four looked like assault ships. They flew towards the airfield of the Argus Base, but only the transports landed, allowing Silvio Steel and Benjamin Steel to step out, along with an additional 200 Bushi Militia and 50 Steel Elites.
"Silvio?!" Math gasped, having been helping to arm the soldiers and militia alongside Safirlas, Ruo, Yang and Jaune. "You got here quick."
"Good to see you too," Silvio greeted. "We brought who we could as quick as possible. Two hundred Bushi Militia and fifty Steel Elites."
"I definitely feel better with them here," Jaune stated. "Those Steel Elites were pretty strong back when we routed the Iron Knights."
"What about Huntsmen?" Safirlas asked. "Were you able to bring any here?"
"Only a few," Silvio replied regretfully. "We didn't have time to mobilize a large enough army when we received the warning from the survivors. We gathered who we could and flew here to Argus."
"We'll take any help we can get," Saf replied. "And I understand, so I'm grateful all the same."
"If introductions are out of the way, we need information," Benjamin interrupted. "How many Iron Knights could we be going up against? How many ships, tanks, weapons?"
"From what the survivors said, they'll definitely bring artillery and possibly airships," Math replied. "We could be looking at an entire army, possibly thousands of them."
"Where is the Commander of the Argus Base?" Benjamin requested to know.
"He's inside the base, overlooking everything," an Atlas soldier answered. "He may be very busy right now, sir."
"I'll talk to him anyway," Benjamin responded before walking off in the direction of the Argus Base.
"Will Mistral send more troops to help?" Jaune asked Silvio as he handed a rifle to one of the militiamen.
"They'll send who they can," Silvio responded. "With everything going on back in the Kingdom, they cannot afford to divert too many warriors and soldiers, especially since almost all of Mistral's Huntsmen are dead. They'll need time to mobilize their troops."
"But if Argus falls, the Iron Knights will control the northern coast of Anima," Yang brought up. "It's under much worse threat than the Kingdom itself; they can't just wait."
"They're doing what they can," Silvio insisted. "My father himself is helping to move mobilization along, but they will come to our aid. Will Atlas send troops as well?"
"Well, we think Commander Brownwood sent word to General Ironwood," Jaune replied. "Hopefully, he'll send help."
Math became distracted when he heard the name 'Brownwood' again, that same name that belonged to his deceased father. Even now, he was still dealing with this shocking revelation that Donovan was never his true father, that his mother was going to leave him for Trenton.
"Math?" Saf asked her brother. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," he responded, though his tone was uncertain. "I still can't believe Mom...well...you know."
"Why didn't she just leave him?" Saf wondered. "Why didn't she leave him before starting another relationship? She must've known he'd never change, that he'd never stop blaming us for his choices."
"I don't know," Math responded. "She...I don't get it anymore."
While Saf wouldn't say it, she was definitely mad at Corcra as well. She had kept Math's parentage a secret from him for years and didn't even tell him the truth before he left with Glaucus. They were only half-siblings due to coming from different fathers, something that they were both struggling with accepting.
But they'd have to put their angered thoughts aside for now. The city of Argus was about to come under siege and that's where their attention was needed for now.
-0-
"Your Grace," Chaos addressed Salem as he entered the meeting room and knelt before her.
"Rise, Chaos," Salem replied, granting the Archon permission to rise to his feet. "What news?"
"The Relic has undoubtedly been taken to Argus," Chaos informed. "If it enters Atlas, then getting it will be much harder than we hope."
"That is why I am going," Watts spoke as he walked into the room, followed by Despair and Tyrian. "Despair and Tyrian will be accompanying me, of course, as per Her Grace's wishes."
"Will you be able to get into Mantle's systems?" Despair asked the Atlesian scientist, making him scoff.
"Oh, please, I helped design the original system myself years ago when I worked for Atlas's Science Division. Atlas has undoubtedly been upgraded as scheduled, but Mantle's hasn't been touched for years. It's been neglected, left flawed, meaning that I can still get in without problem."
"If the Atlas system has been upgraded, then how will you get in there?" Despair questioned.
"Dear girl, do you ever shut up?" Watts replied, annoyed by Despair's questions.
"Dr. Watts," Salem addressed. "She is merely making sure how our plan will succeed. She is not being a nuisance, she's being cautious, something that Cinder isn't anymore. I see no reason why you cannot answer her questions. How will you get into Atlas's system without getting caught?"
"Jacques Schnee owes me a favor," Watts answered in a much respectful tone. "I've been keeping some tabs on him for a long while now and I assure you two things, Your Grace: he can help us and he will help us."
"Good," Salem replied. "Despair, are all the miasma bombs ready?"
"Just about," Despair answered. "Hunger's been overseeing it as we speak, and as you instructed, they were made much more volatile than the normal miasma."
"Well done," Salem responded with a sinister smile. "Make sure they're all prepared before leaving for Atlas. We must act before General Ironwood does."
"Of course," Watts agreed. "Though from what I've been hearing from the Iron Knights, Ironwood seems to be up to something concerning Amity Colosseum."
"Amity?" Tyrian questioned, rather confused by this information. "What would he be hoping to make with the stadium? Laser? Ship? Oooohhh! Perhaps he's making-"
"Tyrian," Salem calmly addressed, hushing the Scorpion Faunus to silence.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," Tyrian apologized. "I'm just confused is all."
"As am I," Watts agreed. "They haven't been able to get anywhere close to Amity Colosseum due to how heavily guarded it is. They're completely in the dark as to what Ironwood plans to do with it."
"If you can, find out what it is before acting on it," Salem ordered the Atlesian scientist. "It may not be worth our attention, but after what happened with Cinder, I'm not taking that risk again. Find out what you can about Amity Colosseum and what Ironwood plans to do with it."
"As you wish, Your Grace," Arthur complied. "Also, I understand that Nachtfel has ordered his Iron Knights to cease operations in Solitas. May I ask why?"
"The tide has turned against them in Solitas," Salem informed. "They've been suffering many casualties ever since the production of Aura Breaking ammo was completely halted. The only Iron Knight forces active will be the Hunter Killers." Watts' usual aura of arrogance completely faded when he heard the words 'Hunter Killers'.
"The...the Hunter Killers?" Watts asked shakily. "They're...they're free?"
"Oh, is the great Dr. Arthur Watts scared of something?" Tyrian mocked, smiling sadistically.
"How could they...how could they be free? No one could've entered the facility without my password."
"They've been free for about two years now," Salem informed. "Before Nachtfel came to Vale, he found your facility in Solitas and freed the Hunter Killers. They've served as the tip of the spear in the Iron Knights' campaign in Solitas for a long time now."
"Why wasn't I informed?" Watts asked rather panicked. "If those machines find me..."
"I'm perfectly aware of what they'd do to you," Salem responded. "You did experiment on them, after all. Luckily, most of their missions have been away from Mantle and Atlas, so as long as you stay there, you should be safe."
"Who are the Hunter Killers?" Chaos questioned.
"Four mechanical nightmares that will kill me if they find me," Watts responded. His arrogant behavior was completely replaced by fear and a hint of panic from the knowledge that the Hunter Killers had been free for two years now. When he was assigned to go to Atlas, Watts saw it as a perfect opportunity to get back at the Kingdom he believed never appreciated his genius and years of hard work he contributed. He relished in the idea of seeing Atlas fall from the sky like a burning meteor.
That idea was changed now that he knew the Hunter Killers were free and at Nachtfel's command. How he managed to convince them to serve him, Watts had absolutely no idea, but he doubted anything would protect him from them should they find him.
"Your Grace," a Disciple greeted at the door, kneeling before the Grimm Queen. "The children are awake. They're wanting to see you."
"They're awake?" Salem questioned. "My darlings..." For a small moment, her malicious behavior was replaced with motherly love. That part of her heart had never left her, even after all these thousands of years; she always held on a form of love for the children created by the miasma, who looked up to her as their mother.
"Your Grace?" Tyrian questioned. "Say the word and I shall silence those brats-"
Salem stretched out her hand; in an instant, Tyrian was pulled to the floor by Grimm arms, digging their sharpened nails into his skin. Two of the arms grabbed Tyrian's tail and pulled on it, causing the Scorpion Faunus a great deal of pain that even he couldn't enjoy.
"Touch my children and I will make you suffer," Salem threatened angrily. "They are my flesh, my children, and you will NEVER harm them for any reason. Am I made clear?"
"Yes, yes, Your Grace!" Tyrian hastily answered. "I'm so sorry for being disrespectful! I did not mean to imply killing them!"
"Good," Salem responded before releasing Tyrian, allowing him to recover from the pain.
"Despair, you have the most important task of all: taking the Fall and Winter Maidens' powers. Only with them can we unlock the Relics of Choice and Creation. Once you find Cinder, kill her and make sure you are in her thoughts last. Failure is not an option."
"Yes, ma'am," Despair complied.
"What of Vacuo?" Chaos brought up. "Have we found the Summer Maiden? I can take some Disciples if-"
"Not yet," Salem interrupted. "We will not send a simple strike force...we shall send an army of my Disciples. Make sure they're mobilized; I want them armed and ready to depart by the time we're done with Atlas and Mantle."
"As you wish," Chaos complied. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Return to your objectives. Watts, Tyrian, Despair, I want you ready to leave for Atlas by the time the miasma bombs are complete. Chaos, start the mobilization of the Disciples." They all bowed their heads and left the Grimm Queen alone. After a few moments, she walked off in the direction of the nursery, where her children were. Upon opening the door, one of them smiled at her, leading her to smile warmly in return.
-0-
"Ready, sis?" Dagger asked Cloak as they walked through the main camp south of Argus, walking towards the main tent where Nachtfel had summoned them.
"I'm ready," Cloak assured as she followed her sister. The two sisters walked into the tent, where Renegade, Mercury and Emerald already were.
"It's about time," Mercury groaned in a mocking manner. "I was getting bored."
"Shut up, Mercury," Nachtfel demanded before grabbing his scroll and placing it on the table, causing a projection of a map of Argus to appear.
"Thanks to our infiltrator at the Argus outpost, we've learned the majority of Argus's numbers, defenses, and current conditions. As of right now, they've about eight hundred soldiers, three hundred militia and we should probably assume less than a hundred Huntsmen. The odds are in our favor, but it may not remain that way for long."
"Because of the survivors that escaped," Renegade pointed out. "They'll have alerted Argus and Mistral by now."
"Indeed," Nachtfel confirmed. "The Argus Base commander is sure to have alerted General Ironwood; he'll undoubtedly send reinforcements. If the Atlas soldiers arrive before we take the city, it could easily turn the tide of the battle. That is why your part is essential to a swift victory." Nachtfel clicked on an area on the map, possibly a good mile or two from Argus and along the coast.
"Their Force Field generator is located here, positioned as to protect both the land and sea from assaults. If activated, it's strong enough to deflect any bombardment; tanks, airships, assault ships...nothing will be able to penetrate it. They'd be able to just hold out until reinforcements arrive."
"So we destroy the generator," Dagger assumed.
"No," Nachtfel responded. "If we're to keep the city after we take it, we need that generator intact. You must only deactivate it."
"Sounds boring," Mercury groaned, much to Nachtfel's anger.
"If you do not wish to be a part of this, Mercury, then feel free to leave," the demon swordsman demanded. "If not, then shut your mouth."
"Just tell us what to do," Mercury responded.
"If you'll let me finish," Nachtfel growled. "You will need to travel by land vehicle or else you'll get picked up by their radar. As for defense, expect possibly thirty, forty soldiers fully armed to the teeth. Kill each and every last one of them and quickly before they can alert the defenders." Nachtfel then deactivated the scroll and placed it back in his robes.
"Time is a major factor as of right now. We must take the city before the reinforcements from Atlas show up. You have your objective, now go." The five warriors walked out of the tent, heading towards the land vehicles.
"What do you see in that guy?" Mercury questioned the three Iron Knights. "Seriously?"
"He's fighting for a better world," Dagger claimed. "Unlike Cinder, he doesn't consider us expendable." Mercury stopped for a moment, his expression full of shock and surprise. In a few moments, Mercury started chuckling and then laughing as if told a hilarious joke.
"Doesn't consider you expendable?" the assassin asked, wondering if he heard correctly before laughing more.
"What is so funny?" Dagger questioned.
"What's funny is how wrong you are," Mercury answered. "If Nachtfel doesn't consider your lives expendable, then why would he let his own Knights die for someone else's cause? Why would he allow them to experiment on themselves like the Oni and Berserkers? I've seen them and those transformations aren't something they'll come back from."
"They...they chose to do that," Dagger responded. "They accepted those risks." Mercury looked over to Cloak and smirked deviously.
"So what if Nachtfel ordered your sister to be turned into one? After all, in his endless wisdom-"
"No!" Dagger quickly shouted. "I...I wouldn't let that happen, even if he ordered it."
"Why not?" Emerald asked, joining Mercury. "After all, he's only 'making the world a better place', isn't he?"
"I..." Dagger fell flat. If Nachtfel ordered Cloak to be turned into a Berserker or Oni, she'd be against it. She swore to protect her sister, no matter what she had to do, no matter how vile it was. She felt that by joining the Iron Knights, not only would she protect her, but also make the world a better place.
"Open your eyes," Mercury spoke directly. "Nachtfel's not some savior who was sent from the heavens to save us all, not some great leader. He's a man who's taking out his anger on the world, all the while pretending to be a saint about it while he destroys millions of lives."
"That's high and mighty from an assassin like you," Dagger shot back with contempt. "Especially since you helped orchestrate the Fall of Beacon."
"Yeah, I'm a killer, an assassin, a murderer," Mercury admitted. "But at least I don't pretend to be a saint about it. I seriously can't stand that guy any longer."
"You don't know what we went through," Cloak spoke up. "You have no idea the hardships we endured because of society."
"Let me guess: bullied, harassed, nearly killed just for being Faunus?" Mercury mocked the two Lynx sisters. "Yeah, I've heard that story all around while I've been here. You honestly think they're freedom fighters or some crap? No; they're people taking out their anger on the world, killing people just because they don't like them, just like Nachtfel, just like you."
"If you hate it here, then why are you still here?" Renegade questioned.
"Well, for one, Nachtfel wasn't going to just let me go," Mercury answered. "I'd be a 'loose end'; it was either stay here or go back with Salem, so I chose the former. At least here I don't have to put up with Tyrian and Watts."
"That's enough!" Renegade silenced. "We've wasted enough time; let's go." As the group continued walking, Cloak grabbed her sister's arm.
"I...I wouldn't want to become one of those things," she confessed. "If he let it happen to them, what would stop him from doing it to us?"
"He...he wouldn't do that," Dagger tried to assure her sister, but Cloak didn't feel convinced. Nachtfel had indeed allowed his Knights to turn themselves into Oni and Berserkers, putting them through transformations they'd never return from. What would stop him from subjecting them to the same fate? Mercury's words were harsh and criticizing, but they did make the sisters finally wonder for the first time.
Were they on the right side to ensure a better society? Or were they just needlessly killing people, deserving and not deserving?
Author's Notes: Good news and bad news!
Good news is I got a MacBook Air for my 24th birthday on Monday! I'm loving it so far!
Bad news is that I'm having trouble installing Word Documents, so updates may be a bit slow for a while.
I also came up with new names for the pairings in MRRN.
Mathdon Kendrick + Pyrrha Nikos = Auburn Heart
Robin Kendrick + Coco Adel = Hot Flirt
Ruo-Jian Bai Hu + Yang Xiao Long = Yin and Yang
Nasser Achdarr + Octavia Ember = Childhood Love
