Cover art by /u/JazzRen47
Action was far greater than inaction. That was what his father had told him before he entered Atlas Combat School. A huntsman, a soldier, always knew to do the right thing and that the most important thing was to do it. His father had said that doing nothing was tantamount to doing evil yourself. James didn't care for much of what his father said, but that one stuck with him. James thought of his mother for a moment, wondering what she'd think of all this. His father had said that it didn't matter now, that she was gone and dwelling on it was worthless. That never sat well with him. It wasn't like she was dead, yet his father acted that way anyway. James thought back to his mother's words, right before he went to Atlas Academy.
'My beautiful little huntsman,' she had said, ruffling the dark black hair of her only son. James had pushed her off lightly, embarrassed.'Mom!' James grumbled to the amusement of his mother. "Let me go! I've got to get to Atlas by twelve sharp!" he complained, then was met by more showered adoration and motherly love.'I know. I know. I just love you so much. My boy is going to be a huntsman. Just know James, you don't have to be everyone's hero when you're there. You can just focus on being you!'James shook his head, standing tall and proud as any other seventeen-year-old boy. Due Process and Habeas Corpus rested carefully in his holsters, his dust bandolier tightly clutched to his chest. 'I'm going to be everyone's hero! Just you watch!'
"Captain Ironwood" his comm-link went off, breaking his memories and bringing his attention to the unfamiliar voice repeating his name.
Today was a day of action. Without a doubt, the attack was happening today. Round Two of the Vytal Tournament would be trudging along without delay, all while putting themselves in danger without even realizing it. But he knew he could stop it. This can work. This will work. Clover had come up with the plan to grab Ghira and Shido before they could enact whatever plans they had. Then, James would move to prevent Lagune from striking as well. It would require perfect timing and could only be done once.
"I read you" he responded, snapping a finger to his comm-link. The comms scrambled for a second before the ground teams were patched in again. Damn CCT overflow. Military comms were routed through their own closed-loop, but it still ran through the CCT. All the traffic lately had been messing things up, fudging them, and causing brief connection issues. Pietro had said he was working on it with Arthur a few days ago.
"Sir, Colonel Rhyt is en route to the coliseum as we speak sir.'' James narrowed his eyes as the operator spoke. So soon? I thought he'd wait at least another day.
It was looking like Lagune was sending Rhyt to do the dirty work, per usual. James grit his teeth and responded, tensing as he spoke. "Understood. Making my way there now. Send a detachment to meet me there."
"Yes sir." The line went silent and the horns of the tournament erupted. Refocus. You have a job to do. So do it.
Clasping his arms behind his back, he sternly stomped off to the landing pad. Down a series of elevators and then stairs, James pushed past scores of energetic fans. So many of them were Atlas Academy students, but there were just as many students from other schools as well. Dozens of citizens from Mantle, Atlas, Vale, Mistral, and even Vacuo flooded the corridors. An unending flow poured from the landing pads.
The trickle of people began to siphon off. Then they simply disappeared, leaving only soldiers and engineers. A squadron of men was waiting at the restricted landing pads. They were arranged in parade formation, snapping to attention with rifles in tow. Ironwood stood expectantly as the ship arrived.
The vessel was a large transport, a mix between a bullhead and an airship typically meant for troop landings. Whatever Rhyt meant to say with such an entrance, James couldn't say.
A soft hiss signaled the opening of the side ramp. Out from the ship came Colonel Rhyt and his staff. James' arm cracked into a salute, stiffening instantly.
"Sir. Welcome to Amity Coliseum!" he shouted, waiting for the Colonel to speak.
"At ease captain."
Ironwood loosened, lowered his arm, and turned about-face. He whirled two fingers and signaled the men to turn and fall in behind the officers. All of them marched forward into the arena. "The progress you've made in the past half month has been incredible, captain. Your steadfast determination has caught the General's attention."
Ironwood silently beamed, keeping his composure outwardly. The hard work and sleepless nights sounded like they were paying. No. I can't get distracted now.
"Thank you, sir. The tournament has been going flawlessly so far. I have to ask, what's brought you on the second day? It's only the third day that officials ever arrive. Traditionally, of course."
Rhyt made a face that was a mix between a sneer and a pout. James flinched at the sight of such a recoiling visage.
"The General is ill. So he has sent me early to take stock of the tournament and represent the Kingdom of Atlas. I would like to meet with the men sometime later as well."
Ironwood nodded and stepped forward, motioning the Colonel through a set of automatic doors. Leading the way, Ironwood pushed through and found one of the many side doors, typically used by security personnel or engineers. It also led right to the restricted seating area. A thousand thoughts ran through Ironwoods' mind while walking.
I can't let Rhyt stay here. He's got to be the prime target for Shido now! Nor can I leave Rhyt on his own! Dammit!
James grit his teeth. "This way, sir. You'll be seated with the other guests of honor."
"Excellent. Lead on Captain" Rhyt commended and passed from the dark maintenance hallway into the atmosphere of the tournament. Team STRQ was just finishing up their doubles round. Raven Branwen and Summer Rose made quick work of the opposition from Shade.
Much like yesterday, Shido and Ghira were seated in the same spot as before. Ozpin was nowhere in sight. "Ah, the ambassadors are here. Excellent." James followed the Colonel and in turn, was followed by the Colonel's staff. Ironwood sat down comfortably by his superior officer. Shido had an unreadable face.
"Colonel. Captain. How good to see you again" Shido greeted with a false peasantry that was so expertly rehearsed that you'd be none the wiser.
"As am I, ambassador. Say, where is Deputy Ozpin? Wasn't he here yesterday?" James cleared his throat and answered for the Colonel.
"The professor found the climate a bit much. The flu, I believe. He told me himself."
Shido raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Oh? Did he tell you himself? My, Captain, you've made friends! Since when have you and Ozpin been so close?" James didn't know what the faunus was after, but unlike yesterday, Ironwood was not going to be caught off guard.
"He and I went for drinks. We happen to think similarly on a great deal of topics."
"And those topics being?"
"A multitude of things," James said curtly. "Things I don't believe I have to share with you, ambassador." Rhyt frowned, casting a haughty glare upon Ironwood.
"That is no way to speak with an envoy, Captain."
Shido snickered. "Oh I don't take offense. Captain Ironwood has been an excellent companion so far. A fine conversationalist, I must say." Shido glanced down at the ring of his scroll. "Ah, if you'll excuse me. I've got to take this. It's my husband you see."
Ironwood didn't want the faunus out of his sight. "Why don't you answer here?" he snapped. Shido curiously looked at the soldier.
"I cannot hear him over the noise."
"Then take the call after."
Shido puffed his chest. "Do you have a problem with my having a husband, Captain?" Ironwood shook his head and tightened his fist.
"Of course not I-"
"Or is it a faunus taking care of his own business that bothers you? I thought you had said you were a tolerant man?"
"It's not that either, I don't think you should-"
"Then what is the problem, Captain?"
"Captain" Rhyt snapped. "Contain yourself! Ambassador, I apologize for Captain Ironwood's behavior. I had thought he'd learned a thing or two from his command here. Ambassador, go and speak to your husband. We can carry on when you return!" Shido nodded and snapped the scroll to his ear and began walking away and out of the stands and finally disappearing into the crowd.
Turning from the envoy he lowered his voice and spoke to James. "Listen now, James. Don't make any stupid decisions you'll regret. Remember what I told you a month ago?"
"That I'm still an officer of the Atlesian military," James remembered well. Rhyt ensured that. Being a huntsman was secondary to being a soldier, and good soldiers followed orders.
"Now, I'm doing this for your sake. Leave us. Let me handle the talking and you go and do your job. Don't ruin your career because of your pride."
James was given a forcible cue to leave by Rhyt. Frustrated, he saluted and rose. Then he doubled back and returned to the maintenance hall. Ironwood held his breath and timed his scream with the roar of the crowd. He nearly punched the concrete walls of Amity. A second yell roared out. Nothing was going right. Panting, he tried contacting Watts. "Arthur, come in."
Nothing. James frowned. It wasn't uncommon for Watts to brush Ironwood off. But this wasn't the time. James tried again. "Arthur. Report. Now."
Silence again. "Arthur! Brothers, pick up!"
Ironwood went from furious, to concerned, to worried, all in an instant. Something was wrong. Watts was conceited but not stupid. The doctor would have answered the first time. Either he was away or something, or someone, had incapacitated him. But if he was attacked the alarm system would have gone off. But wait. The intrusion was in the sound systems….
No alarm.
"Ebi" he spoke into his comm. "Get yourself up here now. I want eyes on Rhyt and Shido. I'm going to check on Arthur. He's not picking up."
"Copy! Should I bring a team?"
"Negative. We don't want to let either of them know we're striking now." Ironwood quickly cut the transmission and with a quick pace marched to Arthur. A panic set in, deep and unassailable. Mettle. He had to trust Mettle would fix him. It took all his might not to burst into a run and barrel through a crowd of civilians.
"Arthur come in. Do you read me? Please respond."
Finally out of sight from the crowds, Ironwood started running. Up the stairs, James reached the upper levels of Amity Arena.
"And what a match that was! Up next is Team TYRN of Mistral vs Team LIME!"
Turning the corner to both the announcer's box and server rooms, Ironwood gasped at the sight of Arthur, beaten and bloodied, barely conscious.
Think. See. Hear.
Ironwood breathed.
"Ebi. Detain Shido Belladonna"
"Sir, what for?"
"Do it. Arthur has been attacked. Bring Rhyt with you."
"Yes sir. I've been trailing Shido for a while now, but
"Detain Ghira too."
"But sir?"
"That's an order. Ironwood out." The captain left little room for negotiation. Shido and Ghira could be given their due process later. James knelt by Arthur and pulled him against the cold wall. "Arthur. Arthur are you still there? Come on, hang on. Who attacked you?"
Watts gasped for air, blood dripping down his eye. He was beaten badly. "I don't... I don't know. Never saw. He…" Arthur coughed up blood. James held the doctor in place and tried to assuage his wounds.
"I need a medical team on the level alpha, immediately" he ordered, open broadcasting to his security staff. "Be on high alert, there's been a security breach and-"
His blood went cold. Someone he'd seen before stood before him in the hallway. No, a faunus, he'd seen before.
"You.."
A mix of guilt and anger was visible on the youth's face. Flashes of disgust and regret. Complex thoughts all etched in a brief moment upon his face. It was one of the faunus from Menagerie, the one that was combative on the landing pad.
"But.. You're not supposed to be here," James said, standing up and in front of Arthur to protect him. The faunus had just left the announcer's room. How? How did he go in and out without anyone noticing a thing? "Shido took you back to Menagerie."
"I'm sorry" the faunus squeaked. "This is for all of us. I'm doing what's right" he half pleaded, trying to convince himself more than anything. "We're doing what's right. You can't get in the way."
James hovered a hand over his holster, slowly stepping closer to the faunus. Fear crept up the faunus's face. "He knew. Knew you'd be dangerous. I'm sorry" the faunus repeated. "The faunus have to win this war!" The boy stepped two steps back and tried to run. Ironwood took three steps forward before realizing the trap.
Click.
Without hesitation, James leaped back and only just missed being blasted to pieces from the series of explosions that tore through the upper hallways. The blowback was still strong enough to send the captain flying into a wall. The server room was utterly vaporized while the announcer's room burst outwards and launched flame and metal into the air. Ironwood coughed loudly and pulled himself up weakly. A third explosion, not one nearby, went off from what sounded like inside the arena. Where… what…. How…
Have to fight. James stumbled toward the blown-out remains of the announcer's room, a clear view of the stadium appearing.
Explosion. Willow was on her feet at the sound of rumbling earth and the smell of flame and soot in the air. Pulling her curved swords from her sheathes, she prepared to find a ship that would take her from the school fairgrounds to the stadium.
"Willow!" Jacques said, trying to pull her back. "Willow where are you going? Did you hear that? It came from inside the arena. We have to go the other way and-"
Willow put a hand over his mouth calmly. "Get to safety. I'm a huntress. It's my duty. I'll be alright."
"But-" Willow silenced him with a quick peck on the cheek.
"I'll be back. Go. Get to safety."
Screaming. There was screaming everywhere. Ones of terror and panic, but those of pain and death as well. Three explosions had wracked the crowd and triggered a torrent of civilians trampling over one another to reach the exits. One explosion destroyed the announcer's room, leaving only smoke and rubble. Another one had presumably gone off near it, as from the stands one could see a blackened gap where a room must have been. A third explosion had gone off in the stands and killed the entire staff of the visiting Colonel Rhyt and about a dozen or so civilians and businessmen.
Gunfire cracked through the crowds. A few bodies could be heard hitting the ground if you were to listen closely. "Citizens of Atlas!" the voice of Shido Belladonna chorused through the loudspeakers of the coliseum. "It is my pleasure, to announce that a state of war exists between the Kingdom of Atlas and the Nation of Menagerie! Good day!"
His message was brief as it was shocking. Menagerie had attacked and was doing so in force. Armed men, baring the standards of nearby faunus villages and even those of Menagerie were revealing themselves in the crowds. Iguana faunus, cat faunus, and a dozen other types of faunus with traits easy to hide. They were armed with stolen Atlesian weapons for the most part. More bullets ripped into both the air and the crowd. Several gunmen were rushing the stands to find any more high-profile Atlesians to kill or capture.
Shido strolled lazily back into the stands from out of the carnage and chaos. His weapon hung proudly from his arms. A massive gravity hammer that was brown and grey. "You may begin your attack major" he ordered into a radio set. Moments later, the distant sound of artillery could be heard. In a moment, the six to seven thousand Atlesian men entrenched and several miles off were being bombarded from all sides without warning. "Find me Rhyt!" he roared. "And go make sure the captain is dead." There was a certain glee to the way he ordered his commands, a certain mask finally coming off and the true man beneath it revealing itself.
"General, I don't think you'll have to look far." one of the faunus attackers said while pointing to the burned-out announcer's room. Captain Ironwood stood defiantly, unbroken and furious. Parts of the huntsman uniform were shredded or blackened with soot. There was no peaked cap on the soldier's crown.
"What?" Shido exclaimed. "I thought he was dead? How are you still alive?" the faunus leader roared in anger. Narrowing his eyes, Shido prepared for the next move. James glared at Shido with killing intent, though neither man could see the other quite well.
Silently he removed Habeas Corpus, the revolver shining black and grey, then took a forward stance. The revolver was aimed at the ground behind him. James pulled the alternate trigger and fired a gravity-dust round to propel himself into the air. Another round sent the man shooting toward the ground and the faunus attackers stationed there. Every so often he'd fire again to adjust his angle, trying to fling himself straight towards Shido. The huntsman had a single-minded fury and intended to carry it out.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Shido screamed, furiously watching the huntsman shoot towards them. "Open fire on him!" His faunus soldiers raised their rifles and unleashed a torrent of dust rounds toward him. Adjusting his angle, he fired again and shot away from Shido and down to the arena area itself.
"You're worthless! Where did father even find you lot?" he growled and stepped up, pushing some of the men aside. Mecha-shifting his gravity hammer, he opened fire on Ironwood with his now gun, a heavy machine gun with a belt of dust rounds.
James had only a second before his aura was pelted with a non-stop stream of nearly unavoidable machine gunfire. He shot down one more time and finally landed on the arena floor. Looking up all around him, Ironwood saw enemies. The gunfire stopped for some reason. He took the moment to reload Habeas Corpus.
"Captain!" Shido said, a hand in the air calling off his attacking men. "I would recommend you cease your attack, lest you draw out your death any longer!" Shido made his intention clear. James had the option of a quick, painless death or a long, excruciating one.
Ironwood replied silently by removing Due Process from its holster. Shido grinned.
"This is what I hoped you'd do. Execute him!" he roared. The faunus attacked again. Raising their rifles and their pistols to shoot, the faunus did not expect James to be faster. Three explosive dust rounds came from Due Process. Three explosions followed and the screams of faunus attackers. By the time the faunus were able to start firing, Ironwood was shooting hi. himself up in the stands, disappearing into the smoke.
"How did he-" a faunus grunt explained before a bullet pierced through his chest. Gurgling blood, he fell.
"There, there, in the smoke! Fire!" Three of the disoriented faunus began shooting into the slowly disappearing smoke. A flash of purple gravity dust shot the captain toward the nearest enemy. The butt of Due Process smashed into the temple of a bunny faunus and brought them crumpling to the ground.
Ironwood glared at the next one, a woman with a sharp black tail. Spinning the revolver, James shot a fire dust round into the faunus. Flames spread across her aura and broke it. A second bullet pierced her neck. Finally, James fired Habeas Corpus at the last faunus and launched the trooper back with gravity dust.
Shido. Shido. Shido.
There was death in his lifeless eyes, death that tore through everything in his path. Melee combat broke out, Ironwood pistol-whipping or punching his way through soldiers armed with swords and scythes. Some had an aura. Many did not. It made no difference to Ironwood. Bones cracked and he heard the distinct snap of ribs from the last woman he'd kicked.
Ironwood kept running through the stands, fighting his way through toward Shido. "What the hell is with this guy? Someone kill him!"
Ironwood ducked behind a seat, two bullets shredding most of the padding. Ironwood holstered Habeas Corpus and gripped Due Process with both hands. Four shooters. Two above me, one in front and another below. Three coming from behind.
Rolling out from his cover, Ironwood targeted the first two with explosive dust. The once cheerful seating was ripped apart with fiery destruction, flinging debris and body parts alike with it. Snapping his head, James swung his pistol behind his back, putting a bullet into the leg of the lower tier of the attackers. Spinning around, James aimed at the last attacker and pulled the trigger. Without looking, he heard the thump of the body slamming into the floor.
He swung his pistol around his back toward the attackers at his rear and found his revolver was out of ammo.
"Shit."
The faunus smirked, but only for a brief moment before their weapons were ripped from their hands. A swinging hook flung them away before bullets shot the men dead.
"Clover!" Ironwood exclaimed as his first in command stepped forward in triumph. Behind the soldier were the forces of Atlas, the security detail responding in force. "Thanks for the save."
"Kill all of them! Let's go!" James heard Shido roar. The man must have been near. Ironwood had lost track of Shido during the fighting.
"Lucky you" Clover snipped before turning toward the battle. "Now we've got a battle to win sir!"
"Right" James said, reloading his twin revolvers and running into the fray with his men at his side. Both faunus and Atlesians crashed into one another, bullets flying in the air. Outnumbered , the faunus slowly began to recognize their position. James cared little for the battle at large and continued to cut a path toward Shido.
If he dies, we can end this war before it spreads!
"Clover! With me! We're fighting our way to Shido!"
Clover nodded, bringing Kingfisher down onto a snake faunus with a forked tongue. Turning, he ran with James. Together they unleashed gunfire on the slowly retreating faunus. Ironwood slid under an attacker, fired up into the man's chest and then kicked the body into a gaggle of fleeing soldiers. "Forward!" he shouted to his men. The faunus attackers were being funneled back into the entrance and exits of the stadium, others into the engineering hallways. Some were throwing down their arms and surrendering.
"Stand your ground! Stand and fight you wretches!" Shido roared. Two Atlesian security men approached, guns aimed at the large faunus man. Shido roared and swung his heavy machine gun back into its gravity hammer form. Then he smashed it into the two Atlesians and sent what was left of their bodies flying across the stadium and into the arena.
"Shido!" he heard from behind him. He turned around and stared down at James Ironwood. Shido didn't like what he saw in those blue orbs. They were empty, devoid of light.
"Captain Ironwood. I've been waiting for this" he growled.
"You wanted to see me fight? Here I am!" Ironwood held up both his revolvers. Shido let out a terrifying war cry and rushed the captain with his hammer. Ironwood began unloading his guns into Shido, but the faunus' aura just ate the bullets. Leaping back, James dodged two swings of the hammer before holstering his guns and raising both fists. "Come get me!"
Shido raised the hammer again and swung downwards, causing the metallic floor tiles and a dozen seats to be blasted away. James shifted right and delivered a right hook followed by a series of kicks to the chest. Shido grunted and replied with a leftward swing of the hammer. James jumped, but Shido lunged out with his right arm and grabbed the captain by the neck.
"Urk-" James sputtered, struggling to break free from the terrible grasp he was in. Shido squeezed hard, digging into Ironwood's aura and caused it to shimmer.
Ironwood clawed at Shidos' arms to try and free himself. Unable to break out, James made a desperate play. Snatching Due Process out of its holster. Pulling on the alternate trigger, Ironwood fired an explosive dust round that blasted the pair apart and heavily damaged their auras. Both auras shimmered, crackling energy displayed in the air. Shido let out a gasp of air, looking around himself. James, meanwhile, struggled to stand and grabbed the nearest thing he could, a melted carcass that was once prime seating.
Shido, up first, saw an opportunity to attack and took it. Raising his gravity hammer, he swung it down onto James. Instead of destroying the huntsman, Shido found himself blocked by a wall of ice.
"Schnee" he said, narrowing his eyes. Willow Schnee stood on top of the wall of ice with a glint of anger on her face.
She brought her sabre up high and summoned a glyph, black as night and then shot forward, almost faster than Shido could react. The tip of the sword touched the top of the hammer. The two forces balanced the other, keeping them nearly still. Willow surrounded Shido with other glyphs, dropping to the ground and unleashing a slew of fire and ice dust toward Shido.
The faunus man roared in pain as his aura broke. Frantically he looked for escape. Willow took the initiative and lunged. Her sword found its mark, piercing through flesh and taking first blood. Shido, angered, grabbed the sword and pulled Willow into a punch that threw the woman back into the ice she'd summoned.
Frantically, he sought an escape. Running, Shido ran to the same door Ironwood had arrived through with Rhyt earlier in the day. Meanwhile, James rose from the ground and weakly reloaded his weapons. He'd caught sight of the faunus fleeing and leapt to pursue.
"James," he heard Willow say from behind him. The woman had reached out and grabbed his arm. "Your aura is bound to be low. Stay."
He realized she was begging. If he could hesitate in that moment, he would have. Curtly pulling his arm out of Willow's grasp Ironwood began to run after Shido. Willow lowered her head with her eyes shut. "Damn fool. Damn fool and his semblance."
'He really wants to win' echoed in her mind, a terrible voice from their past.
Running with his right shoulder forward James burst the tore open. Both revolvers were in the air, aimed down the hallway. But there were no targets. James listened carefully and heard the sound of running men. James was moving once more. I have you. No more running away Shido!
"Sir, we've done all we can, it's time we leave" a voice pleaded. Shido gruffly brushed the faunus off him, but grunted in agreement.
"Load the men. Leave anyone else behind" he ordered. "Including the injured. Menagerie has no need for the weak."
"Yes sir, of course sir." The other faunus widened his eyes and put himself in front of Shido and exclaimed "Look out!" before his chest was shredded by bullets. Shido growled in surprise and shock, throwing the dead body across and bracing himself. Ironwood flew out of the smoke with a jump kick so powerful it made Shido skid across the flooring of the hallway. James delivered fist after fist into the faunus before being thrown off, Ironwood flying into a wall and shattering his aura.
Rising in pain, Shido shouted "Why don't you just stay down?" before bursting toward the landing pads. James screamed out after him, crawling toward the burly faunus, firing a few dust rounds at him before the man turned a corner.
Struggling to his feet, James caught his breath before chasing Shido again. Finishing up with reloading another cylinder into Due Process, his hunt resumed. Ironwood finally reached the door that led back into the main structure and toward the landing pads. James pushed the door open and led with his pistol first. He was met with gunfire immediately. James grunted and returned fire, peering out his gun to shoot back.
Glancing to and fro, James rolled through the bulletstorm and into the relative safety of a buttressing alcove near the other side of a hallway. A sharp pain made him gasp, air leaving his chest. A bullet had found its mark in his leg. "Grrraah!" James yelped.
James retaliated with a few well placed shots and took down a couple of the enemy soldiers before leaning back into cover. He dropped his gun and assessed the damage in his leg. The bullet had bore into him and torn away flesh and fabric with it.
"Open fire!" a familiar voice commanded. Multiple sets of rifles fired from behind him. The security forces had arrived. Leading the charge, Clover shot at the fleeing faunus with Kingfisher before noticing the captain.
"Captain!" he gasped, running over to James' side. He reached out to the huntsman, who in turn took his hand. Pulling Ironwood up and sliding his arm under the man's shoulder, Clover pulled the captain back. "Medic! We have wounded!"
"Shido" James groaned. "You have to stop Shido! That's an order!"
"Shido? Your aura is broken and your leg has been shot. There's no way you're going after Shido sir" Clover told him, keeping the wounded captain steady, but more importantly he kept the man still.
"Enough! Quit moving sir or you'll make your injury worse!"
Ironwood struggled to move but couldn't. His aura was gone and he'd been shot and thrown all over the arena. It was finished. The battle was over. They'd won.
James walked out of the hospital room feeling tired, but spry and able. The nurse told him that his aura had healed most of it and that any other man would be in recovery for far longer.
Ironwood saw his friends in the reception room. "James!" Willow grinned at his sight. Clover was standing by too, a relieved look on his face. The corporal tried to conceal his happiness, but ultimately failed. "How are you feeling? The doctors told us you'd be out soon, but I didn't expect you to recover this fast."
Ironwood frowned and took a grim look. "Where's Arthur?" he asked, concern deep in his voice. Clover looked crestfallen.
Clover led the three of them to Arthurs' cot. The man was wrapped up in casts, with stitches and bruises all over his face. "Docs told me he's got a couple of broken bones and some bad internal bleeding. It was worse earlier, but with enough time he should recover" Clover explained to James, who was crestfallen at the sight of a close friend in such a terrible state.
Ironwood exhaled and clenched his fists. My failure. "Who else?" he spoke again, turning to Clover with an expectant glance. Clover tightened up and reported to his superior.
"We took two hundred and ten fatalities sir. Professors Ermine and Lebele were killed in the initial blast, while Rhyt's staff were all killed in the subsequent explosions. Twelve huntsmen were also killed in the fighting, as were a dozen students."
Ironwood grimaced and lowered his head. It's all my fault. He cursed himself and his indecision. If I just acted on my suspicions….
"What about Shido?"
"He escaped sir. Along with many of his fighters. We took many of them into custody. Some of their wounded are being cared for here. We captured Ghira Belladonna however."
James lifted a brow but before he could speak, Willow interrupted the pair of soldiers with a sharp tone and a bold glance.
"I am sorry to break up your military matters, but shouldn't our concern right now be on Arthur?" Willow pointed toward the wounded man and beckoned the two to return to the matter in front of them.
"Right. Right…" James sighed, running a tired hand through his black hair. "Has anyone else visited him?" James questioned his friends. Arthur was a very private man and there were maybe a handful of people he could name that would ever visit Watts.
"Doctor Polendina," Winter began. "And Doctor Valois. They seemed… close."
Clover appeared surprised but James wasn't. Arthur had talked about his… feelings for the doctor before. It looked like things had been working out well before the attack. James figured he'd thank the old Brother Gods for that, just as his mother used to do.
A ringing broke their reprieve. James and Clover glanced down to their buzzing scrolls. Duty was calling. Apologizing to Willow, who huffed unhappily, though understanding in the end. James and his former partner shared a quick hug before the soldiers departed.
"Rhyt wants us for debriefing" Ironwood told Clover. His friend looked displeased about it, but there was nothing that could be done.
Back on the base, James and Clover waited for the Colonel in the man's office. Ironwood was tapping his foot impatiently while Clover suffered in silence not wanting to point out just how annoying the captain's tapping was. Fortunately for the both of them, the Colonel wasn't far behind.
Both men snapped to salute the Colonel. "At ease" the man said, returning their salute and taking a seat behind his sleek brown wood desk. He stretched his hands out before clasping them together. "Gentlemen. I would like to know how exactly this tournament has suffered such a monumental failure."
James shared a look with Clover, the other huntsman shrinking into the seat. Ironwood pulled at his uniform. "There was a security failure" he began, tersely speaking. "The enemy utilized an unknown semblance."
"Unknown?"
"Correct sir. We did not identify the user nor the exact semblance, though I have some suspicions." Rhyt leaned forward and narrowed his thin eyes. He had green irises that seemed jagged. They were always pointed toward someone, something, with disdain.
"A faunus student. We believed them to have all departed earlier, but it appears not" James continued, detailing the events that transpired before the attack. Rhyt didn't look pleased.
"Why was he not detained?"
"We had no reason to suspect the boy was hostile, sir." James knew what Rhyt was getting at. It all came down to the faunus.
"Very well. I suppose then not all the blame can be placed on you two. Your security plan was excellent. It seems there were one too many variables involved" Rhyt whinged in that oh so grating voice of his, that sounded like an ax against hard stone. "While I must say I was intent on punishing you, the General has other plans." Rhyt raised a gloved hand to stop James from speaking again. "You're heroes. The world saw the daring of Captain Ironwood and Corporal Ebi. Atlas needs good soldiers, good huntsmen and good officers in the field. We are at war, gentleman."
Neither of them were stunned by the revelation. Shido had made his point very clear when he'd blown half the arena to hell. All that was left to do was making it official.
"The council is voting tonight to declare war in turn. We have several divisions fighting as we speak."
Ironwood finally had a chance to speak and asked "What are our orders sir?" He was ready for the next assignment, his next shot at stopping Shido. Clover looked on eagerly as well, young and hungry. Their first battle had awoken something inside them.
Rhyt smiled that miserable little smile of his. "Excellent. You're both being sent to the defensive positions in Atlas." Clover and James, both having thought they'd be sent straight into the action, were puzzled. "Oh don't worry. There will be plenty of fighting." Rhyt tapped his scroll, dimmed the lights and pulled up a map of the battlefield. "Our intelligence has failed us. What we thought was just a series of villages and hamlets is more of a heavily fortified series of defenses, all guarding a city. A city filled with faunus. It seems Menagerie had been arming them all along. All along the trench line there's been heavy bombardment and none of the new airships can attack either. They've gotten a long range cannon that punches a hole right through our hulls. Science teams are working on getting their proposed hardlight shields up and running but everything is just theoretical for now."
"And the ships are too slow to maneuver," Clover noted, taking in the briefing of their next assignment. He'd come fearing the worst, punishment, perhaps even a discharge, but now? Now his blood was running hot. Excitement bubbled in his veins. "That means a ground attack is the only way to pierce their defenses?"
"Yes the current model is far too slow to avoid their cannon. That means the old fashioned way."
"Why not just send in our bullheads with the ground forces? They can't be that well armed" Ironwood noted, looking at the intricate hologram of both defense lines. A web of trenches, bunkers and ditches that ran back for miles painted the tundra. He imagined them as they were now, taking fire from high explosive dust shells shot out by a drum barrage of artillery.
"We're currently trying to hold the positions for now. Offensive plans were being made before the attack, rest assured. However the bulk of the army will be coming with us."
"Us?" James questioned. Rhyt responded with a smirk.
"The General and I. The main army is being taken to Mistral. It turns out Menagerie attacked more than one kingdom. The main thrust of the faunus seems to be there. General Lagune intends to crush them."
Ironwood leaned back in his chair, having realized how close he'd been getting to Rhyts desk. He counted to three and exhaled. Shido. That's where Shido will be. He wouldn't even be near the man during the war.
"I can sense your apprehension. Understand that the Special Division and all the huntsmen it contains will be vital for protecting Atlas itself. This is no easy task. Consider this your chance to make up for the failure at Amity."
Ironwood pieced it together slowly.
"Wait, if you're going to Mistral, then who is in command of the Special Division."
"You, Captain. Or should I say commander?" Ironwood did not respond. A promotion? Already? And being put in command of the entire Special Division? The elite arm of the Atlesian military and the Specialists?
It had to be a joke. "Sir I," Rhyt glared at him again. "I accept sir. Truly, I'm honored."
"Good. It was Lagune's decision not mine." Rhyt grumbled. "As for you, Corporal Ebi. Your request to be transferred into the Specialists has been accepted. Congratulations are in order, Specialist Ebi."
Ironwood smiled, looking over to Clover who was in shock. James pat his friend on the back. All the work Clover put in was finally paying off.
"Now, I want you both to get accustomed to your new commissions and prepare to ship out. You have a month. Dismissed."
"Sir Yes sir!" the newly promoted huntsmen shouted, crisp salutes being given to the Colonel. Clover, now Specialist Ebi, turned about face and marched to the door in an effort to hide the grin plastered all over his face.
Ironwood followed after Clover but paused at the door. He did not follow the freshly minted specialist out. Turning, he looked back at Rhyt, who bluntly said "What?"
"Sir. I have to ask. Why did you plan to start a war with Menagerie?"
It was bold. It was aggressive. But that was Ironwood's style by now and no one could take that away from him. He had to know why.
"Ah, I figured you'd learn that bit at some point. I told Lagune that you'd see right through it, but did he listen? No, he never does" he grumbled. There was the brief hint of pride in his voice, as if he were ecstatic at James for figuring out his little conspiracy.
"Well?"
"We wanted a war commander, that's why" he casually explained, waving it off like nothing. "We weren't certain if Shido Belladonna was going through with any attack. So we planned to do one ourselves and take out the ambassadors. Though I'm afraid he beat us to the punch."
Liar Ironwood fumed. He saw the wreckage of the reserved seats. That was not the work of a faunus dirty bomb. That was Atlas tech. It was sloppy.
"But why sir? The faunus have a point. Restricting them to Menagerie is only causing more problems" Ironwood stood his ground and pressed the point. He had to know why.
He had to, or his failure would have all been pointless.
"That may be" Rhyt shrugged. Ironwood's pressing questions didn't bother the man one bit. In fact, he was intrigued by it. "But the people of Atlas, or rather a select few in Atlas, disagree." Rhyt sighed, taking a deep breath and beckoned Ironwood to sit again. James glared daggers at the Colonel before accepting his offer. The commander walked methodically toward his seat and then slowly sat in it. Then he crossed his arms.
Rhyt joined his fingers as he began his explanation. "In Atlas, who provides the dust?"
A simple question. "The dust corporations. The SDC, Marigold and Son's, the Atlesian Mining Corporation" he listed, naming some of the largest miners of dust in Remnant.
"That's right James. May I call you James?" Ironwood hesitated before consenting to the request. "Well you see James, the Atlesian military survives off one thing. Dust. Dust fuels our machines, dust provides us ammo. We fly on dust, we shoot on dust, we do everything with dust. The men that mine the dust, what do they think about the faunus?"
A simple rhetorical. They both knew the answer.
"That's right. They despise them. They want them trapped on Menagerie. I couldn't tell you why. Cheap faunus labor would increase dust output ten fold if they were permitted. But Lagune doesn't risk any damage to our intricate arrangement. And I agree. You see James, you must understand this. Without dust the Atlesian military is nothing."
Rhyt shut his eyes and exhaled, releasing the tight grasp on his chair arms.
"And without the Atlesian military, Atlas is nothing. Commander Ironwood, you are too smart for your own good. Too brash, too reckless. But I see great potential, to be a great leader of men. It's undeniable your soldiers obey you, respect you. But I told you before. You are an Atlesian officer. The good of Atlas comes from the military. The other kingdoms have their huntsmen, but ever since the Great War there have been less and less huntsman staying in Atlas. In the past four years its been you and Specialist Ebi. That's it."
A staggering statistic. He'd known about other Specialists in the army, Commandant Cordovin for one, but she was older than himself. Just two?
His surprise must have shown on his face, as Rhyt had picked it up. With a snarl on his lips and anger rising, he continued. "There are more and more Willow Schnee and Nicholas Arc's than James Ironwood's and Clover Ebi's in our kingdom. What does that mean, commander?"
Ironwood understood the colonel's point. The fewer huntsmen they had, the less protection they all had. Atlas, Mantle. That meant Grimm. Catastrophe.
"The Grimm…" James spoke barely above a whisper.
"That's right. Without the military there is Grimm. There is panic, chaos, civil war. So that is why we started this war commander. Because Atlas must prevail and for Atlas to prevail, it must have an army that is stronger than ever. And that means dust."
Rhyt finally leaned back. "Does that answer why?"
Ironwood didn't face the Colonel. He didn't want to. So much of what he said made sense. Atlas needed it's military. But to kill innocent civilians? Starting an unjust war to oppress the faunus even further? It was wrong. Reprehensible. He was a huntsman. He was meant to save people, to be a hero.
This was anything but heroic.
Yet, he was also an officer in the military. He knew his duty. James slinked his way up, but did not answer. How could he?
He saluted, turned, and left.
The die had been cast now. The only choice was to fight.
Amity Arc: Fin
Long overdue, but here it is. James, Clover and Arthur have all grown over the past year during the Amity Arc, learning about themselves and the world and fighting their first battle.
As always, please leave your comments in the reviews and follow/favorite. I hope you all enjoy the next major arc: THE FAUNUS WAR.