Carl Strikz sat in his office, scowling at Zachariah Alabaster. A scroll containing various intel on the teams CRMN and SPRJ sat on the desk between them, projecting a full overview around the room of everything Zachariah had uncovered regarding them, be it contacts, allies, semblances, even favorite foods and frequented locations.

"How much evidence do they have?" Carl asked.

"Enough." Zachariah responded. "...there's one more thing. Ozpin knows."

Carl sighed. "Of course he does, but he's just as interested in keeping up appearances as I am."

"When do we make our move?" Zachariah asked.

"The Vytal festival." Carl didn't even hesitate. "We can perform our first large scale test then as well."

Zachariah looked confused. "You'll give them that long to prepare for you? With Atlas already on its way here with the arena-"

"I'm giving them nothing!" Carl shouted. "There are very delicate pieces in play here, Alabaster! You don't see the picture I see, the big picture! We're already pieces in the game, I'm trying to become a player, do you understand?!"

"No. Because you never tell me anything. You leave Riza, Yoko, and me in the dark, and expect us to follow you blindly." Zachariah stated.

"Yes, I do!" Carl growled. "The three of you are only alive today because of me. I am your general, you are my soldiers. Follow your orders, and then after we win, you can have all the answers you want."

Zachariah scowled. "Listen here, I'm not just going to roll over and-"

Carl grabbed him by the throat. "And what?" His aura flared up, and a light began to seep from Zachariah into Carl. "What's given can be taken away. Power, trust, agency...I gave you your life, Alabaster. Do. You. Understand?"

Zachariah struggled to speak. "Yes...sir..."

With that, Carl dropped him. Zachariah gasped for breath, shuddering as his aura flickered.

"We make our move during the Vytal festival." Carl stated. "Any sooner is too filled with uncertainty, and any later would be too late. The Vytal Festival is the only time where things are certain."

"What...do you want...me...to do..." Zachariah coughed out.

Carl examined the data collected of the two teams. "We can't wait for the boy to come around on his own. It's time to start pulling some strings. Keep recruiting, more vigorously if you have to."

"I'm a wanted man, now." Zachariah stated.

"You can also go unseen whenever you like." Carl replied. "Just do your damn job...and let me do mine."