Book 2, Chapter 6

Negotiations

It was no secret that the Vice Headmistress of Beacon had been taken prisoner in the raid, nor was it a secret any longer that both New Saunders and Vale were now pointing their guns at each other. Tensions were almost as high as they were during the Great War, and it now the world waited with bated breath to see who would make the next daring move. Would New Saunders maintain the initiative and strike again, or would Vale retaliate?

Even if it wasn't on such a scale as the Great War, all knew that the next move could very well serve to alter the course of history going forward. Either the world would be plunged into another bloody conflict, or the decapitation of one or the other would be swift and decisive, permanently erasing a Nation from the face of Remnant.

A sigh escaped his lips as those were the two most likely conclusions that the news drew up, knowing well enough that for how much the world's "experts" got things wrong, they were on the nose with this one. He also knew that they weren't mistaken in drawing up odds in favor of New Saunders. The raid on the Kingdom was indeed brutal and they may have found their footing once again, but that didn't mean they weren't still bleeding. By all means, if Vale had thrown a rock at New Saunders, they had thrown a grenade in retaliation, and said grenade blew up right in Vale's face.

That being said, war wasn't either side's only option, but neither side could press for peace without looking weak in the process. If Vale called for an end to hostilities, they'd be the ones without any cards on the table, ending the long Cold War in defeat. At the same time, he knew New Saunders would not surrender, especially when they held most of the deck.

"Well played, Saunders... well played indeed... but I don't need to end the war to bring a temporary end to hostilities, and I don't need to bring about war to get my people out of your custody." Ozpin muttered, pressing his fingers together as he rested his elbows on the glass of his desk. A trade, perhaps. He knew there were things they wanted that he kept from them, things still valuable but less so than Glynda.

In this way, while he might need to sacrifice a secret or two, he'd have one of his best returned to him. A fair trade, in his eyes, but now was just the matter of figuring out what they did and did not know. He knew they pulled much off of those databanks, but he didn't know what they had pulled, and he knew that Yang had made away with VERY important files...

"I suppose the best way to find out what they do and don't know would be to ask them... of course, while not revealing anything on my end. Revealing the true nature of each inquiry would only backfire." He spoke to himself, before turning on his computer and sifting through to where he could open a line...

The call to open negotiations came only three days after their weeklong holiday, and the prospect of the trade he proposed was truly an intriguing one. Though it was doubtlessly suspicious, they'd learned that Glynda's knowledge was still limited in regards to the Academy, even after they broke through. She'd been informed that there were five probable routes into the Academy, but that only one actually led down to it. To put matters worse, she only knew of three of five ways, and did not know which of the five were the correct way down.

They'd already checked all three avenues down, and all proved false. Any further questioning proved pointless as the President's Semblance made her truthfully admit that what she had told them was truly all she knew. Now, they were narrowed down to two paths, paths they could not locate.

However, with this offering of a trade, secrets for a return of personnel, they couldn't help but be intrigued at the prospect. Ozpin knew, that they knew for a fact, and if they could get him to part with those secrets, then they'd be set...

"I know it isn't my place to say, but are you really sure about taking him up on this offer, ma'am?" An unsure yet respectful voice cut through the room, bringing a smile to her face as she idle spun around in her chair to face the buxom blonde. The girl stood with her hands folded behind her back and and an uncertain look across her face. She currently wore an apprentice armorer's uniform, consisting of brown leather boots, flame retardant pants, a brown layered leather skirt that ran down to just above her knees, a heat resistant long sleeve gray shirt with a brown leather front, and brown leather gloves. Her gear had fresh soot marks on it, implying she was recently busy.

"We've already extracted everything we can from his Vice Headmistress, and the info proved useless for actually reaching the facility beneath the earth. Three of five routes down eliminated, we need to know how to get down there." She explained, pressing her fingers together and she idly contemplated.

"Well... if it were anyone else I'd say you can't trust anything he says, but your semblance assures that won't be a problem." Yang shrugged, before looking at the other student council members present, noting the Mercenary Guildmaster look especially menacing and brooding.

"The hitman who assaulted Rose is still at large. He hasn't attempted to strike again, but I'll be damned if I let that bastard get away with hurting one of our own." Kamina growled, slamming his fist against the arm of his seat, bending yet another council chair's arm out of shape. "Just give the word, Alicia, and I can lead an attack to wipe them off the face of the earth."

"Negative Sukahiro, it would leave us too vulnerable on the home front, and both Vacuo and Mistral want us dead just as badly as Vale does. Guild is too small to sustain a siege AND hold out against reinforcements. Need to handle THAT front of events delicately." Alicia warned, before settling down a bit. "We'll have justice for Ruby yet, but we must proceed cautiously. We may currently have the deck stacked in our favor, but we mustn't forget that that could all change within seconds of making the wrong move."

She cleared her throat, refocusing on the upcoming event and pulling up a timeline on a sort of holographic calendar. "There's an international forum held in Atlas every year, that is where the trade is taking place. General Ironwood had sent out an invitation to Rose, but she won't be attending for obvious reasons... that being said, of course..."

"We have a task for you." Alecdora interjected, weaving his fingers through each other as he reclined in his own chair. "We want Rose's employer to have every advantage she can get before she acts to ensure the Kingdom of Vale and Beacon Academy's total destruction. We also want to ensure transparency on both ends. To this end, we're sending you with a copy of the decrypted information on Beacon Academy."

"This is a simple delivery task. Low risk, but we'll be sending four of the Lone Wolves to act as escort for you. Deliver the information and return. That's all there is to it." Alison explained further, receiving a nod from the blonde armorer. She somehow doubted it would be so cut and dry, after all, she used to stand in stark opposition to these people... and the rest of Team RWBY were likely still in pursuit of Torchwick... but Alecdora specifically said she, so that must mean that he wasn't the one really in charge.

"Consider it done, we'll be in and out like ghosts." Yang affirmed, before receiving a simple dismissive nod, signaling for her time to leave...

"I must say, your transformation at New Saunders has been much more dramatic than I could've possibly anticipated." Jacques Schnee spoke as he leaned against the dresser, watching his son go through the motions of intense physical training. He had to give one thing, Whitley had raw determination in ample supply and smarts enough to amplify results and accelerate healing.

"Trying to impress the Pariah you've been consistently hiring has certainly been no walk in the park, what can I say?" He joked lightly, rising up from his 250th rep of push-ups. He was built like a brick now, and had to replace the entirety of his old wardrobe since his muscles had become large enough to where they just wouldn't fit. His sense of style hadn't changed much, but he was rolling up his sleeves more often now, showing off his gains. The only real difference besides that is that he preferred to keep his hair swept back and he really didn't wear the vest or tie anymore.

"You said you gifted her a few new weapons for her kit, right?"

"Yeah. On top of her already sizable arsenal, she now totes a micro-missile launcher on her left wrist with a dozen missile payload, a twin blaster on her right gauntlet to compliment the dart gun, and four more micro missiles on her knees, two each. A considerable addition to her arsenal." He idly listed off the augmentations, before leaping up a small bit and grasping the handles of his pull-up bar. Currently he was in his full battle armor aside from his helmet, meaning there was some weight resistance to his exercises just how he liked it.

"Fitting for one such as she is. I pity anyone she hunts... still, it is curious that of all the women in the world, a Pariah caught your eye." His father laughed, watching him perform muscle-ups with little difficulty.

"Far more than just a pretty face, nice bod and deadly skills, what can I say? Besides, on the company's end her reputation would serve as a greater benefit to the bottom line than detriment. After all, the name 'Ruby Rose' and 'Devil' are more associated with the hyper lethal mercenary part and less the pariah part where it matters." He felt uncomfortable speaking of her from a business standpoint, but knew that if he wanted to be named heir to the company, he'd have to show that he did in fact have the company's bottom line in mind at all or most times.

"This is true. In Atlas and New Saunders her fame is quite substantial, and I wager will only continue to grow as soon as she's recovered. Not to mention that those two are our biggest buyers, I approve. A smart play indeed."

Whitley remained silent as he pumped out his twenty muscle-ups, before dropping down and immediately transitioning into burpees at a fast pace. A knock on the door had taken his attention but not halted him from his workout, as but a moment before he could rise, his father opened it, revealing Weiss in a more... business-like dress than usual.

"Whitley, what are you doing? Father told you that you'd be attending the forum with us, and here you are, goofing off!" She chastised, though only getting a smug chuckle in initial response.

"Trust me sis, I'm fresher after an intense workout. We gonna spar afterwards?" He flashed her a cheeky grin, making her grunt indignantly.

"Believe me when I say I won't lose next time, Whitley..." Weiss growled with clear aggression, drawing a hearty laugh out of her younger brother.

"Good to hear you're so fired up! Just make sure you back up that claim with steel this time!" He returned with a taunt, dropping off the bar and cracking his neck to either side before following suit with his knuckles. Without a word, he punched a panel on the wall and started speaking. "Hey Clyde, my suit come in?"

"Yes sir, it arrived just minutes ago. Would you like me to deliver it to your quarters?"

"Yeah, sounds perfect. Bring it e're." He spoke so nonchalantly, once again catching Weiss off guard with his far less professional mannerisms. In short order, Clyde had arrived with a black suit, tailored specifically to his new measurements. It didn't take him long to change, finishing the look by running a hand back through his hair and slicking it back. Looking himself over a few times, he grunted in dissatisfaction as he made note of the budding facial hair. It's not that he didn't want anything like a beard or mustache, but in such a fresh state it looked ratty. "Damn... ah well, just gotta be gentle with it aaaaaand..." He'd proceeded to take his knife out and cut the hairs with its razor-sharp edge, smiling in satisfaction as he'd managed it without irritating the skin. "Boo yeah, that's the shit."

"Whitley, could you talk... normally? Please? You're weirding me out here." Weiss complained, eliciting little more than a snide chuckle from her younger brother.

"I think you mean to talk 'formal,' Sis. Don't worry, I'll be talking all business-like at the forum." He affirmed, flexing a few times in the mirror and admiring how his new suit bulged just so slightly from the action. Finally, donning a smug grin, he moonwalked back, doing an about face at the end and facing his family. "Alright, let's get a move on. We got a forum to attend..."

The flight back into Vale was an uneasy one, especially since they had to land so far off their normal landing site. So many guns on constant alert for any attack, the city was currently under Martial Law. It, of course, wasn't surprising given how their previously off-guard state had left them open to get utterly pummeled by the Mercenaries Guild. Now heavily armed patrols marched through normally clear spots, making any landing within the city impossible.

"Five miles southwest of the city, better start trekking. We're expected within the hour." One of the Mercenaries spoke, rising up from a knee and leading the way towards Vale. All others including herself followed suit, forming a single column that kept low despite a fairly rapid pace, less a walk and more of a slow jog. It was stormy, with thick black clouds looming overhead, a roaring downpour and cackling thunder every couple of paces illuminating the path for anyone who didn't have the proper equipment.

Nonetheless, they all had the proper gear, so it wouldn't have mattered so much even if there wasn't any ambient lighting. Ruby's old helmet gave her a sense of comfort, knowing well that if a sniper took a shot at them and she couldn't detect them, a shot to the head would only concuss her at the most. Indeed, this was Yang's life right now. Silently trekking through the dense foliage and forcing herself to ignore the signs of Grimm activity.

They had to take risky paths to avoid premature detection, putting them right in the collision path of many Grimm. Even still, better to encounter the off Grimm pack or an alpha than bring the whole Vale Army down upon them, so she didn't say anything. There were a few unavoidable encounters, but none that forced them to use their blasters. She smashed a few Beowolves and Ursa with her hammer and grappled them with her tongs, and although it wasn't her normal style she was at least competent fighting like this.

It was about 40 minutes before they arrived at the city walls, successfully infiltrating in another five and giving them fifteen minutes to be right on time. They kept to shadows, carefully avoiding all possible contact with the patrols that filled the streets, only dispatching them when there was on other option...

"Freeze!" A voice called from just ahead, stopping the group dead in their tracks as they were crossing through an alleyways. A low groan of frustration crossed their lips as they halted, awaiting the people who caught them sneaking around to show themselves. Sure enough, they did show themselves, stepping out from around the corner and dumpsters with weapons drawn, revealing themselves to be young, no older than Yang... and obviously students.

The mercenaries didn't need anything more, rushing forward and engaging the students head on. She recognized this group to be Team GTLG, or, "Gatling." A fellow freshman team that consistently gave her own previous team a run for their money once they started working together.

"But they're not much of a threat on their own." Yang thought as she closed the distance, deadset on joining the fight. Though she didn't want to fight her one-time peers, she realized she had little choice in the matter. If she wanted to remain undetected and finish the mission, she couldn't waste time trying to deal with them non-lethally.

As the leader stabbed at her with her pike, Yang pressed forward, looping her tongs' handles around the pike and forcing it aside, dropping an overhead swing with her hammer in an attempt to hit the girl in the head. The leader of Gatling managed to lean back just in time to avoid getting hit by the Hammer, but was soon shoulder-checked into the wall behind her as Yang pressed the offensive, turning the swing of her weapon to strike them in the side of their right knee, making her buckle down while she removed her to tongs, folded them down and slammed the tool against her throat to keep her from making a noise.

Kicking the weapon out of her grasp, Yang brought the hammer down against the girl's shoulder with full force, making the arm she'd been trying to use to push the tongs pressing her throat away go limp before striking the other side. With all resistance out of the way, Yang dropped the hammer and pressed both hands against the tongs, and within just a few more short moments, the leader of Gatling's movement began to gradually slow and weaken, until she finally went limp. She took a moment to look down upon the now dead girl's teary face, and idly wondered just how far she must've pushed Ruby to make such an act not bother her.

"Oh... if there's a god out there, may he have mercy on my soul for that I've taken..." She lamented, before looking to the Mercenaries that had escorted her. Not a single shot had been fired, and seemingly no alarms raised. Her escort had easily dealt with the other three, as evident by the three other fresh corpses that littered the alley.

"Come on, we've got a job to finish." One of the mercs called, gesturing with a soft glue hand to follow. With a deep sigh, Yang picked herself up and followed suit, leaving behind the scene of what she couldn't help but feel was four needless murders...

"So this is the rogue, huh?" A boy with silver hair and dark gray clothing mused, idly wandering back and forth in a small section of the warehouse. He wasn't the leader by any means, and evidently neither was Torchwick, his dual-colored henchman or the mint-haired girl who spun pistols on her fingers as she lazily leaned up against a crate. No, the leader was the very woman she believed Roxanne had encountered the night she first battled Torchwick. Nevertheless, the mission came first, and no matter how this fiery lady may have intimidated her, she had to deliver the Intel.

"Yep, that's me... Yang Xiao Long. Former huntress in training." She spoke cautiously, pulling up an encrypted scroll and opening the folder containing the sensitive information for them to peruse at their leisure. "This is all noteworthy information I pulled off Ozpin's personal computer as well as updated layouts of the campus including hidden passageways. If you're ever gonna commit to a siege, these will be helpful."

"Well well, the wonders a traitor can bring to the table... tell me, why did you defect? It didn't happen to have anything to do with last time you fought the Mercenary, did it?" She questioned with a dangerous look. She was threatening enough with those eyes beholding an inferno, but the smooth, almost seductive tone her voice carried that buried the sinister side so well was truly terrifying. Nevertheless, she knew that this woman, while once an enemy, was an ally now, and she had to be as transparent as she could if she wanted to keep these new allies.

"It was the day my eyes were opened, I'll admit. Everything I've learned since then, the darkness I was supposed to stand against. I refuse to live a lie any longer, and that is why I stand here today. I'm no Huntress, in training or otherwise. Now I'm just me, and my only goal now is setting the record straight." She answered firmly, not backing down under the gaze after taking her helmet off, tucking it under her shoulder and meeting the ringleader's gaze eye-to-eye...

"Hmm... how unalike you and she are. Nevertheless, you seemingly have some backbone and that's more than can be said about most if placed in your shoes. I am Cinder Fall, leader of this organization. As I'm sure you've already deduced or been told, Roman Torchwick and the White Fang answer to me."

"I'd figured as much." Yang stated flatly, before transferring all files over to Cinder's scroll as she held it up to her own. "If you'll humor me this much, how soon do you plan on striking? Ozpin plans to strike New Saunders soon, and I'd like to prevent such a bloody conflict if at all possible."

"With this new information, our action will be delayed... however, losing at New Saunders will greatly weaken Ozpin's defenses, making the siege on our end far more successful." Cinder stated, although Yang was at least quick enough to pick up on the point she was making. Although she hadn't stated such directly, she'd made it clear enough that they would attack after or during the battle for New Saunders... it wasn't news she'd enjoy reporting to the Student Council, but she supposed there wasn't much she could do about that.

"Well... the Student Council won't be pleased, but I'm sure they'll understand." The woman looked her up and down after her final statement, circling her once before stepping away and turning from Yang.

"I have all I wanted. Go on back to New Saunders and prepare your defenses. You may not be facing the Atlesian Fleet, but I'm sure Ozpin will have more than his fair share of dirty tricks he'll be bringing to the playing field when it's time for worlds to collide." And like that, their business was done, the woman and all her lackeys retreating back into the dark and disappearing from view. This kind of business, she felt, was incredibly unsettling... but supposed it just came with the territory.

With nothing left for them here, a simple nod to the Mercenaries that had escorted her was all that was needed to get them into gear, and for their exfiltration to begin...

The Forum was about what he expected, with all the big names in each government having a seat in a long, somewhat D-shaped room. There were five rows for seating with whoever was to currently present having to move up to the front to be in everyone's field of view. Normally, New Saunders' presence was somewhat minor, as they mostly kept to themselves and their business with Atlas and Menagerie. However, this year was different. Very Different. Where normally they sat off to either far side and remained quiet, their recent scuffles with Vale had put all attention on them, and so that so appropriately sat in the central row for all to see, a spot usually held by the very Kingdom they'd so savagely beaten down.

"...with that said, I do believe all Kingdoms affected by this are in agreement that Official Contracts available to both Hunters and Mercenaries should be increased in interest of lowering Grimm Population, and further ensuring the ongoing safety of the people of Remnant." An official from Atlas finished, adjusting his papers as he looked up from that which he read from. Most hands from every Kingdom were raised, although only a small minority from Vale and a Majority from Atlas. New Saunders, as they were unaffected by the Grimm, abstained from the vote as the Student Council briskly reviewed their own notes and information.

At the end of the day, New Saunders was usually just present for show, even if that was not the goal for today. No, unlike the norm, New Saunders had made it abundantly clear that they came here with a purpose this time. As the formal stuff was being wrapped up, the President of New Saunders having spoken and reaffirmed trading relations between the island-nation, Atlas and Mantle, the Student Council eagerly awaited their turn to speak, get this tradeoff out of the way so they could get on with the fun part, then return home and get down to business. They were looking forward to the party, as it'd be a chance to ease up a little after so much political jargon.

"...and now, I believe it's New Saunder's turn to speak. Student Council President Chrysler, you may proceed." He finally finished, making her roll her eyes in annoyance that it had taken so long. A whole day of political nonsense and trade-talk, now it was finally time to get what she'd come for.

"As you're all aware, in the retaliatory action New Saunders executed upon the Kingdom of Vale, Vice Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch was taken as a Prisoner of War. To cut to the chase and avoid taking too long, we have accepted the terms of Vale's trade offer of a Prisoner for Information. To ensure honesty in the transaction, Robyn Hill, a former Mantle Politician with a truth validating Semblance, is in attendance." Alicia spoke plainly into her own microphone, standing with the rest of her Student Council filing in behind her as she left her seat and made for the front. Taking the mic at the front podium, she continued. "Guildmaster Sukehiro, please bring the prisoner in. Miss Hill, Headmaster Ozpin, please come to the front."

The tension in the air was palpable as the two leaders actively seeking the demise of the other gathered in front of the forum for all the world to see, almost as if one could reach out and cut it with a knife. The whole world was watching, and this specifically seemed to put all present on edge. Within a few short moments after both had uneasily shaken hands, Robyn, Kamina, and Glynda all stepped upon the stage, the Vice Headmistress still cuffed with aura-inhibiting restraints, and the main event had begun.

"President Chrysler. You've accepted my offer for a trade. Miss Goodwitch, for Information. What do you wish to know?" He spoke through grit teeth, physically looking down upon the smaller lady. With a few small, cocky tsks, Alicia crossed her arms and adopted a smug grin.

"The Dark Foundry. The Dark Reliquary. The Academy below Mount Vulcan." Her words, so simply spoken, had forced Ozpin into a sweat as his expression sharpened. It's clear he didn't expect her to know any of this, and even clearer that that much would likely make him more liable to attempt to deceive her. Her satisfaction only grew as she watched his eyes flash to Robyn for a split second, then back to her, the realization of exactly why she was here finally dawning on him. "You told of five ways available to reach it. Glynda knew of three, and they all turned up as dead-ends. You know the true way down to the academy, we want to know how to get down there, what this Dark Foundry and Dark Reliquary are. We know that you know the way down, and what they are. This is the information we seek in exchange for your Vice Headmistress. Take Robyn's hand before you speak, so that only truth may be known."

She knew the corner she was forcing him into. He would look awful and weak before the whole world if he showed hesitation or reluctance to take her hand, to go through with the trade. Not to mention, he was the one who made the offer for a trade. To cancel would make him seem a coward before the whole world, something a man in his position could not afford.

"...Very well." He set his hand in Robyn's making only brisk eye contact before scanning the room, knowing that the cameras rolling around him put him at the judgement of the whole of Remnant. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he knew there was no way out of this now, that there was no backing out, and no preventing New Saunders from learning what he hoped they'd never know. He idly wondered how it had all come to this, what mistakes he must've made for it all to come around in such a manner... but snapped back to the present in an instant, returning his eyes to lock his gaze with Alicia's own.

"Now, tell me what I wish to know."

"The Dark Foundry is an ancient forge and foundry. The only place that can create and work Blackforged Steel. The Dark Reliquary is an ancient repository of powerful technology long lost to the ages." Ozpin answered, Robyn's semblance showing his words to be true. "The Academy is a sanctum of knowledge long since lost to us... but such things are honestly better lost to time."

"Cut to the chase. We want to know how to get in there, not why it's secrets should remain buried. We will decide that for ourselves." Kamina interjected, his cigarette hanging just slightly out of his mouth.

"Fine... The path inside is through a cave deep beneath the waves, three kilometers North on 360 from the main island, seven and a half kilometers deep underwater, in a trench deep within the Abyssal Plains. Only a descendant of it's creators may open the gate, and without one, you may find the path, but you'll never open the doors to access it's treasures." He answered with a sneer, Robyn still not detecting the faintest lie within him. He held a slight smirk as he said this, yet had his smirk wiped right off when his statement only drew a victorious chuckle from the Student Council President.

"Then I suppose it's a good thing they're so plentiful back home! Thank you, friend." Her voice was laced with venom, and with a simple nod, Kamina broke off the aura inhibitors on Glynda before shoving her over to Ozpin, unbound and within her colleague and boss's care once more. Neither her nor her present colleagues regarded the furious and hateful glares he sent back her way, more concerned with documenting the information and individually theorizing how to go about reaching the destination...

A/N: Hello all! Apologies if this is rather... rough. after being in writer's block for so long, I just needed to get *something* out there to break it, y'know? I promise to do everything within my skill to ensure next chapter is more refined... and out in a timelier manner XD

As always, I am incredibly grateful for every single one of you as my readers, even the haters! Thank you, everyone, for giving me the motivation to continually strive to be greater.