In the infernal battlefield that was about to be darkened by the imminent night, Ruby and Yang fought against the Grimm together with the soldiers, approaching, little by little, Monstra.
"Get down!" Ruby exclaimed to a man who had a Grimm behind him.
The girl decapitated the beast with a single blow and then, turning to Yang, asked her:
"Can you keep up?"
"Are you joking? I'm just warming up."
Yang smashed one Grimm's head with one punch then killed another with a volley of punches and then threw one Grimm at Ruby, who sliced it in half.
"Monstra is near," Ruby said looking at the giant Grimm who was ahead.
"How are you going to save Oscar? We're only two."
"I know, but that doesn't worry me."
A soldier then exclaimed in exaltation:
"They're retreating!"
The two girls looked at each other a little confused but didn't waste precious time. Ruby grabbed Yang and used her Semblance to get past the Grimm and enter Monstra's mouth. The rescue mission had officially begun.
Meanwhile, in the airport of the Atlas Academy, Camilla, escorted by some soldiers, reached an aircraft in which she met James Ironwood. The woman, frightened, immediately realized she was in danger and sought a way out but the soldiers dragged her into the aircraft and locked her up with Ironwood.
"Damn you, James! What are you going to do?" she screamed.
"I want to give you a choice, Camilla, that's all."
"A choice? What kind of choice?"
"I will detonate the bomb that was built by the scientists and end the war once and for all. If I asked you to let yourself be locked up in prison as a precaution, would you do it?"
"Are you afraid of me, James?"
"I'm afraid you might ruin my plan and, considering our situation, I've to be sure everything is going well. So, I ask you again: do you accept to be locked up in a prison?"
"You're crazy… you're completely crazy, James. I can't believe you really think I'm desperate enough to trust a criminal. Unlike you, I still have values."
"So this is your final answer?" He took out the gun.
"Yes. I'm not going to collaborate with a monster."
"I accept it. Know that I respect your decision." He released the safety. "It will be a quick and painless death."
"Who cares? Even if you eliminate me, nothing will change. You can't be above the law, James Ironwood."
"I know and in the past I would've agreed with you, Camilla, but things have changed as you can see. And for tonight …" He pointed the gun at the woman's head. "... I am the law." He fired.
The woman's body made a thud and then the soldiers entered.
"Give her a proper burial … even if it doesn't matter that much now."
The men took her body away, then Harriet entered along with other soldiers, from Atlas' army, that Ironwood didn't know.
"These will be our support for the mission," the girl said.
"Who are they?"
"This is the pilot, Ian Ward, these are officers Manuel Kent, Pierre Laberge, Elizabeth Rajewsky and Charles Covell. They are all from the Fourteenth Division."
"Your commander was Lieutenant Chillmoon, right? Where is he?"
Laberge came forward and replied abruptly:
"Chillmoon is dead. Killed by a fucking Grimm."
"I understand ... these things happen." He turned to the rest of the team. "Do you understand what the mission is, right?"
"We will end the war," Covell replied.
"Exactly."
Ironwood turned to Harriet Bree and said to her:
"You must rally the Ace Operatives and initiate the retreat."
"Yes sir. Good luck."
"You too and … be careful out there."
"Very well, then we can leave" Ian said turning on the controls.
The aircraft took off and left the airport. Shortly thereafter, the evacuation message from the Council reached the Scrolls of all the soldiers. Many welcomed the news with joy but others with confusion and perplexity.
When the message also reached General Schnee's Scroll, the girl was struck by a shiver of terror and she immediately tried to contact Camilla. No reply. She then contacted Ironwood.
"Yes? Did you read the message? You must have the troops withdraw" Ironwood said.
"Why? What's going on? Where's Camilla?"
"Camilla … is dead."
The news hit Winter like a bolt from the blue. With Camilla's death, Ironwood had become, de facto, the absolute leader of Atlas. He was in effect a dictator. This didn't cheer Winter. No man was to have so much power, especially not a man as dangerous and unstable as James Ironwood.
"Why are you ordering the retreat?"
"I've a plan to end the war."
"What is it about?"
"We will use the bomb."
Those words froze the blood in the girl's veins.
"Where?" she asked.
"In the vault. I will destroy the relic. I will destroy the Winter Maiden. I will end this war."
"But ... there's still Oscar to save."
"Oscar? Oh… you mean Ozpin. I know. It means that he will die too, but I don't think it will be a problem, after all he can reincarnate, so why worry?"
"But he's just a kid! You don't have to-"
"Winter, I don't have time for useless sentimentality. We've sacrificed too many soldiers in this war and if the only way to end it is to accept the death of that 'little boy' so be it" he exclaimed gravely.
"Ironwood, with all due respect, this is a drastic choice. You will destroy all our technologies, the academy and much more just for-"
"Just for …? Our army is in pieces, the Grimm don't stop attacking, and Salem is determined to have the relic. But at best, even if we were to be able to stop her here, she would still spark a new conflict in another kingdom. We have to put an end to all of this, do you understand that? It's not about me, it's not about Atlas or Mantle ... it's about the whole world. I'm willing to sacrifice everything to save the world from Salem." He paused. "Winter … if you don't leave Atlas then I will have to sacrifice you too. I don't want to do it. Don't make me choose between you and the world. Get out. Live. Please."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good plan. I can't let you do it. It's too risky. And then ... it's clear that you're losing control of the situation. Stop while you're in time. Please."
Ironwood didn't answer. There was a long moment of silence. Finally the man said:
"Winter ... don't get in my way."
The call ended.