a/n: So... I wrote a prequel to this story. It's titled "Like Judas Thereupon Kissed" and covers some of the events Bumblebee brushed over back in "World of Cybertron". Feel free to check it out.

TW: Adam is, as always, an abusive scumbag.

Chapter 6: And the Rest

Amber clung to her horse's reins like her life depended on it as the trees blurred past her. She glanced over her shoulder, and the piercing red eyes of her shadowy pursuers chilled her to the bone.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted, golden flames jutting from her eyes as a blast of wind sent the Grimm flying. She turned her attention on the road ahead, her powers flaring and ripping leaves from the trees she passed, until she saw two Ursai blocking her path. A jolt of terror shot down her spine even as a bolt of lightning vaporized one of them. She pulled on the reins to try and turn around as the remaining Ursa charged, only for a crow to fly right past her head and transform into a man who proceeded to stab the Ursa through the chest.

"Keep going!" the former bird shouted, "The village militia can handle the Beowolves!"

"Oh! Right…" Amber chuckled nervously as she cracked the reins, and her horse galloped right past her escort, the Beowolves she had forgotten chasing after her, "Sorry! Forgot about them!"

"... I'm too sober for this," Qrow groaned as he shifted back into bird form and flew after the Fall Maiden, the Beowolves snapping at his tail feathers.


"And that's why I told you not to pick fights with packs of Grimm," Qrow remarked as soon as he and Amber were in their inn room, "I can handle any Grimm that tries to sneak up on you, but if you try to take on the whole pack, there's not a lot I can do for you!"

"I thought I could use my powers on them!" Amber protested.

"Is that why you panicked when you saw the rest of the pack?" Qrow asked.

"Erm…"

"All the power in the world won't help you if you don't know how to use it," Qrow continued, "Remember, all it took was one slip up for your predecessor to kick the bucket! Do you want to end up like her?"

"N-No!" Amber answered.

"Then be more careful!" Qrow shouted, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to give the town one more sweep. Try to get some sleep, we've got a long day tomorrow!" He shifted back into bird form and flew out the window. I hope things are going more smoothly on Oz's end…


Maybe the Transformers were created by the Brother of Light?

No, he'd never allow them to become a spacefaring race if he was. He chose to smite the first people who tried for "abandoning the land gifted to them".

Then perhaps it's because they took the form of machines created by human and Faunus hands?

That… Would actually explain it. Perhaps we should press Bumblebee on the brother gods of his religion. It might shine a light on this… Unique situation.

I can only hope that whatever other gods might exist in the cosmos will be more benign than the Brothers.

Indeed, otherwise… Our situation is far bleaker than we imagined…

As it stands, there is the issue of what to say to the others.

That's an issue for tomorrow, after a night of rest. This isn't news to be delivered while on a sleep-deprived and weary mind.


The following morning, Ozpin sat at his desk, hooking his scroll up to the holographic monitor projector. The sun hadn't even risen yet, so he wasn't surprised when Theodore looked about ready to strangle him when the other three headmasters' faces appeared on the screen.

"Oz… You'd better have a good reason for getting me up at this ungodly hour," Theodore growled.

"It's… Erm… Perfectly fine here in Mistral," Leonardo replied, the light of the sun shining through the window behind him, "If not a little late…"

"I was originally only going to speak with the General," Ozpin opened, "But I'm afraid that this is a matter that concerns all four of us."

"Oz please, we're friends," Ironwood insisted, "To you, it's James."

"Are we friends, General?" Ozpin asked, "Because I'd like to know why you weren't the one I learned about B-127 from." Ironwood froze.

"B-127?" Theodore questioned.

"Where did you hear that name?" Ironwood asked, "I ordered Winter to keep that encounter classified!"

"So… B-127 wasn't lying about his encounter with Winter," Ozpin remarked, "And I'd think you'd have more trust in your second in command, James." Ironwood wilted in his seat.

"Listen to me Oz, B-127 is dangerous," the General started, "He's part of a rebellion against his people's government, there's no telling what sinister plans he might hold for Rem-"

"And yet he saw fit to warn me about a potential threat to my Kingdom while you tried to keep me unaware, General!" Ozpin interrupted.

"Hang on, what exactly are you two talking about?" Theodore asked as Leonardo nervously glanced over his shoulder.

"B-127 is an autonomous robotic lifeform from another world," Ozpin explained, "He has Aura, and last night, he alerted me to the enemy he and his fellow 'Autobots' are fighting."

"What are you talking about?" Ironwood asked as Lionheart glanced nervously at Ozpin's position on his screen.

"The Decepticon Empire," Ozpin explained, "Just last night, two agents of this empire attacked B-127, disguised as Atlesian military hardware. B-127 believes that the Decepticons have infiltrated public transportation, emergency services, and the military."

"How?" Theodore asked.

"Simple, B-127's species are called 'Transformers' and as the name implies, they are capable of transforming from a humanoid robot mode, to an alternate mode based on different machines," Ozpin explained, "The 'Mantlite Bomb' Ironwood deployed Specialist Schnee's division to disarm was actually B-127, and his homing beacon was stolen by the White Fang while he was fighting the Decepticons."

"... I see…" Ironwood remarked.

"Hang on, homing beacon?" Theodore asked.

"It's the device that lets him track down his ship," Ironwood answered, "Now, are the White Fang working with these 'Decepticons?'"

"Unlikely, considering that one of the Decepticons slaughtered most of the group present," Ozpin remarked.

"And the Autobots?"

"Considering that B-127 was fighting the White Fang when the Decepticons attacked, I consider that possibility laughable," Ozpin answered.

"So… In summary, Ironwood botched Remnant's first contact with an alien species, we're being invaded, and the only reason we know this is because B-127 found a way to contact you?" Theodore asked.

"That's the gist of it," Ozpin answered.

"Have you brought this to the Vale Council's attention?" Ironwood asked.

"I think I'll wait until Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader, is awake," Ozpin explained, "I'm going to need to provide evidence of the existence of shapeshifting alien robots without causing a panic, after all."

"It's certainly hard to believe," Theodore replied, "I probably wouldn't have believed it if James hadn't verified your claims by mistake. I mean, a robot with aura? Come on!"

"Yeah... It's just ridiculous…" Ironwood chuckled nervously.

"There's also the issue of avoiding a diplomatic disaster between Atlas and Vale," Ozpin continued, "The Vale Council will not be pleased if it gets out that you tried to hide this from us, James."

"Erm… Yes, that would be bad…" Ironwood replied, "How exactly did B-127 contact you?" Ozpin took a sip of hot chocolate.

"I'm afraid that's strictly 'need-to-know' James," he answered, "And until I'm sure I can trust you, you don't need to know. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," Ironwood replied as he wilted.

"What about Autumn?" Leonardo asked.

"I have my best Huntsman escorting her," Ozpin replied.

"Does he know about the Decepticons?" Leonardo pressed.

"No," Ozpin answered, "I highly doubt that they're aware of her existence, nor the existence of the four. Otherwise, they would've already demolished our Academies. Keeping him ignorant of their existence is the best way to ensure his and Autumn's safety."

"I see…" Leonardo replied.

"Is that all?" Theodore asked.

"Yes, that was all I wished to bring to your attention," Ozpin answered, "Keep your eyes peeled, try to root out which vehicles have been replaced, but do so discreetly. If the Decepticons resort to open warfare, the Grimm will prioritize killing our kind over theirs. Is that clear?"

"Of course Oz!"

"Crystal!"

"I'll make note of it…"

"In that case, meeting adjourned."


Lionheart let out a sigh of relief as the transmission ended.

"This… Could be a problem," he remarked as he rose from his seat, and made his way to a secret door in the back of his office. He opened the door and crossed the threshold into the secret room, coming face to face with the crystalline, jellyfish-like Grimm housed within. "My Queen, are you there?"

"Lionheart, have you gotten any further information on the Fall Maiden's location?" her voice echoed from the Seer.

"Unfortunately not, just that she's on her way to Beacon," Lionheart answered, "But I have some bad news."

"Oh?"

"Ozpin knows about the Decepticons!"

.

"... This is… Inconvenient…" she remarked as soon as Lionheart had finished passing along what he had learned from Ozpin, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll make sure Cinder knows not to bring her chauffeur to the White Fang encampment, we want their fear and loyalty, not their anger and hatred, after all…"


As soon as Adam let her out of bed, Blake got dressed for the day, placed three items into a small bag, and set out to complete her task. She tried and failed to block out the wolf-whistles, even as her whole body ached and she struggled to keep focused on the task she should have completed before attending to more… "Domestic" concerns. Soon, she was out of the camp, and made her way down to the creek. Carefully, she set her bag down, unfurling it to reveal the candlestick, lighter, and makeshift boat she had just managed to finish the previous night before…

Blake shuddered, and placed the candle in the boat, before activating the lighter and bringing it to the wick. As soon as the wick was burning, Blake set the boat in the water, and watched as the current carried the candle downstream.

I hope that one light is enough for the twelve souls we lost, she thought to herself as she extinguished and pocketed the lighter, before returning to camp. Adam seemed so… Distracted, Blake reflected, I get that he can be passionate, but he's never attacked me in the middle of an operation before… She shook her head as she crossed through the gate in their makeshift walls. And he seemed to care more about getting that device than the lives we lost, it's almost like he didn't care… Whatever conclusion Blake was about to come to when she saw the tears pouring down Adam's face from under his mask upon reentering the camp. Or maybe he's just grieving in his own way…

.

It's not fair! Adam thought, My Semblance should've reduced that machine to scrap! If it hadn't interfered, I would've been able to take that human's head as a trophy! It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair! IT'S NOT FAIR!

"Sir!" Adam's Lieutenant announced, startling him out of his seething, "The High Leader wishes to speak with you and Blake."

"Tell her we'll be there shortly," Adam replied, "Belladonna!"

.

High Leader Sienna Khan was an imposing figure, and the holographic screen did little to diminish that. People lived and died on her word, and she was very aware of that.

"How may we be of service, High Leader?" Adam asked as he and Blake knelt before the holographic image.

"I was hoping for a status report," Sienna Khan answered, before her golden eyes skimmed the top of Blake's head, "Blake, why are you hiding your ears?"

"Adam found them distracting," Blake answered as Adam flinched, "I didn't want to hurt his performance on the field, High Leader."

"Blake, you're like family to me, to you, it's just Sienna," Sienna replied,

"Of… Of course…"

"And stand up! It's unbecoming for the chieftain's daughter to kneel to anyone."

"Of… Of course," Blake replied as she stood. Adam grit his teeth, barely containing the urge to snarl in envy as he kept kneeling.

"Now, how is the situation in Vale?" Sienna asked, "I hope the Atlesian Military hasn't been giving you trouble?"

"No, they haven't," Adam replied, "Even when a third party stole a part of the 'Mantlite Bomb' we were able to sneak into Patch to retrieve the stolen piece."

"You WHAT?!" Sienna shouted, making Adam flinch, "Have you lost your mind? If news gets out that we have even a piece of a Mantlite Bomb, the Four Kingdoms will stop at nothing to eradicate us! General Ironwood has been itching for an excuse to 'civilize' Menagerie ever since he was promoted, and if he finds out you have that piece he'll take it as an excuse to bring the full wrath of the Atlesian Air Fleet down on Kuo Kuanna!" The High Leader pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sabotaging the bomb so that it won't detonate is one thing, but actually taking it? That's starting a war we can't hope to win!"

"If it went off in Atlas, we could've crippled their military!" Adam protested.

"And the survivors across the globe would be united by their hatred of us to wipe Faunuskind off the face of Remnant!" Sienna snapped, "We want humanity to fear us Adam, not unite against Faunus kind!"

"It's a moot point anyway," Blake cut in, "Because whatever we stole, wasn't part of a bomb."

"Oh, really?" Sienna Khan remarked, "So not only did Adam risk starting a war, but he couldn't even be bothered to steal a bomb correctly?"

"It's not his fault!" Blake insisted, "The Atlesian Military were specifically trying to cover-up something else."

"And that is?" Sienna Khan asked.

"A living robot that can turn into a motorcycle," Blake answered.

Sienna fell silent.

"She's not going to believe you without proof, Bla-"

"They can turn into vehicles too?!" Adam and Blake both stood a little straighter.

"I'm sorry… What?" Blake cut in.

"Tell me everything about the operation," Sienna Khan ordered.

.

"I… I see…" Sienna Khan remarked as soon as Adam and Blake were done recounting the previous night's disastrous mission, "Adam, carry on with planned operations, but only if you can avoid direct conflict with the Atlesian Military, and let me know immediately if you encounter any more of these robots in disguise." Her gaze hardened into a glare. "I need to know if Razorclaw lied to me…"

"Razorclaw?" Blake questioned.

"And Adam," Sienna continued, her voice cold, "You and I will be having words about your conduct as soon as this mess is sorted out, understood?"

"Yes… High Leader…" Adam replied.

"And Blake."

"Hmm?"

"Take care of yourself," Sienna concluded, "That will be all." The holographic screen fizzled out.

"Oh darling…"

"Yes Adam?" Blake asked as she turned to face him.

SMACK!

"What were you thinking?!" Adam shouted as Blake rubbed her cheek, "Are you trying to get me in trouble with the High Leader?"

"N-No, I just thought that-"

"That what? The woman who can't commit to the path she's set us on wouldn't get cold feet at the idea of actually finishing this war?" Adam asked, "Face it darling, we're already at war with humanity, and the longer it takes the High Leader to realize that, the harder winning will be!" He stormed out of the tent, leaving Blake to wonder why the giant robots didn't scare her as much as her boyfriend's bad moods did.


"Why did Starscream want to meet us out here?" Dropkick asked as he and Shatter soared over the ruins of Mountain Glenn, "Just because those blasted Grimm actually like him doesn't mean we don't still have to fend them off!"

"Oh quit your complaining and keep an optic open for Merlot Tower," Shatter replied, "We haven't encountered any flying Grimm yet and I'd rather not have a repeat of the Lancer incident."

Dropkick grumbled, but otherwise remained silent as they soared over the Grimm infested ruins.

.

Finding Starscream didn't take long, not when he was in robot mode and standing on top of Merlot Tower as two Nevermores circled overhead.

"Let's get this over with," Shatter remarked as she and Dropkick flew up to the top of the tower and shifted into robot mode, landing on the roof across from Starscream, "How can we help you, Air Commander Starscream?"

"You could start by explaining why you weren't the ones I learned about B-127's presence from," Starscream replied.

"... W-What?" Shatter remarked, "I assure you Starscream, we have it completely under control!"

"Then why is it that the White Fang have his homing beacon, while we still have no idea where the Ark is?" Starscream asked.

"Wait, that's where his Beacon disappeared to?" Dropkick remarked as he shifted his right arm into an Energon Canon, "Perfect, now all we have to do is locate their camp and pop everyone there to-"

"You will do no such thing!" Starscream interrupted, "I have plans for the White Fang, and the Predacons are trying to forge an alliance with their High Leader."

"Why should we care about what those animals want?" Dropkick asked, "We can handle Razorclaw's band of savages easily."

"Razorclaw's 'band of savages' commands the only military that could possibly pose a threat to our hold on the galaxy, especially now that our forces are spread so thin!" Starscream shouted, "Aside from that, your ill-advised attempt at capturing B-127 has alerted the Academies' head teachers have been alerted to our existence, to our infiltration! And one of those head teachers is also the head of the Atlesian Military!" Starscream snapped his fingers, and the two Nevermores dove down to perch on either side of him. "If Ironwood uncovers Tidal Wave, all of our efforts will have been for nothing!"

"We have the firepower to topple this world, easily," Shatter insisted.

"Strength alone will not bring victory!" Starscream shouted as the Nevermores fixed their glares on the Triple Changers, "Yes, we could overwhelm them through numbers alone, but with how thinly our forces are spread, we'd have to give up dozens of worlds just to pull that off! We need to be subtle until we've replaced enough military hardware!"

"Oh come on, how hard can popping a few humans be?" Dropkick asked.

"Every time the Autobots have defeated us, it was because they got the native life forms to put aside their differences and unite against us," Starscream answered, "Aside from that, Optimus' return could inspire rebellions across the galaxy! Do you want the Maximals to gain the upperhand?"

Dropkick scoffed.

"Very well then, what do you propose we do instead?" Shatter asked.

"When allied together, they do pose a threat to us," Starscream remarked, "But divide them with doubt, that will all wash away…"

"Erm…"

"Just some advice I got from a friend," Starscream replied, "Now, while Megatron is away, I am the highest ranking officer on this planet, so listen close, and listen well…" Starscream stepped forward, walked between Shatter and Dropkick, and folded his hands behind his back. "You are not to pursue the White Fang for B-127's homing beacon, I want you to track him down, capture him alive, interrogate him, and exterminate him."

"But he didn't even fold when we tortured his human pet," Dropkick replied. Starscream snarled, and threw a cord at Dropkick's feet.

"Then just use that!" he snapped.

"I'd been meaning to retrieve the Cortical Psychic Patch…" Shatter remarked.

"Now, if that's all, I have a… Personal project to attend to," Starscream remarked before jumping off the roof of Merlot Tower. His body shifted and folded into an Atlesian Manta before flying off into the distance, the two Nevermores taking to the skies to flank him.

"How does he make them listen?" Dropkick asked as he put the Cortical Psychic Patch away.

"Nevermind that," Shatter replied, "Let's see if Patch's communication channels have any useful information…"


Winter sat down at her desk in the old hangar the Atlesian Military was using as a base while operating out of Vale, her airship parked outside, the headline from the morning news still fresh in her mind.

Fire on Patch, did the Mantlite Bomb Detonate?

The article went into detail about how shattered and melted White Fang masks had been found in the ashes when the fire department extinguished the flames, with a number of people questioning the Atlesian Military's competence and/or compliance.

Idiots, Winter thought with a scowl, If a Mantlite bomb had been detonated, fire would've been the least of their worries… Her musing was interrupted when her Scroll vibrated in her pocket. Winter groaned as she took out and opened her Scroll.

"Specialist Schnee," General Ironwood opened.

"What do you need, sir?" Winter asked.

"I have good news and bad news," Ironwood explained, "The bad news is that Ozpin has been compromised."

"Sir?"

"B-127 has contacted him, and Ozpin, in his naivety, took everything the fugitive said at face value," Ironwood explained, "Additionally, the government that these Autobot renegades are rebelling against have come looking for him, which is where the good news comes in."

"I'm not sure I understand," Winter replied.

"The Decepticon Empire has sent agents to apprehend B-127, and got into a firefight with the White Fang in the process," Ironwood explained, "I need you to contact these 'Decepticons' and establish that we have a common enemy in B-127, before Ozpin needlessly antagonizes them!"

"Uh… Sir, are you sure we can trust these 'Decepticons'?" she asked, "From the sounds of thing, they're name is only a letter or two away from 'Deception'?"

"... Specialist Schnee," Ironwood opened, his voice cold and stern, "Have I ever steered you wrong?"

"N-No sir!" Winter quickly replied, "You always know what to do!"

"Then I don't see how this is any different," Ironwood reiterated, "Ozpin's armchair military tactics will doom us all if he provokes the Decepticons into open warfare. He thinks he can defeat them in warfare from his office, that these renegade Autobots will aid him. I suppose I could try to get him to see reason, but with how stubborn he is that could take weeks. Try to do what you can to stall for time."

"Of, of course sir," Winter replied, her voice shaking.

"Is something wrong, Specialist?"

"Do we… Have the authority to do this?" Winter asked.

"Of course, this is a military operation," Ironwood replied, "Atlas is the most bountiful Kingdom in the world. It is our duty to see this through to the end, and in the end Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral will thank us for it. And if we can forge an alliance with the Decepticon Empire, and use that technology to pierce the heavens and expand across the stars, even Ozpin will have to admit that I had a point."

"Of course, sir," Winter replied, "Is there anything else?"

"No, that will be all for now," Ironwood answered, "Good luck, Specialist Schnee." He hung up, and Winter lowered her Scroll with a sigh.

"This mission just got a lot more complicated."


a/n: So... That scene with Qrow and Amber wasn't originally planned, but it felt like a natural starting point. The chapter title is just the one I decided on, it had the working titles of "The Atlesian Burden", "Welcome to the Darkside", "Take my Hand", "Rogues Gallery Role Call", before I realized that Qrow's and Oz's scenes kept it from being a Villain Episode. Heck, before Taiyang got Ozpin involved, this was going to be a completely different chapter, titled "Mad Love" and focused entirely on Adam and Blake. As for Adam's sobbing? It's a reference to something he actually does in the DC Comics, I kid you not.
And now for reviews:
Z-King: It's funny that you asked that question when you did.
Therecklessone: I'm glad you enjoyed. And as for if Knock-Out will appear... Spoilers.
merendinoemiliano: Well... I'm not sure if Yang and Bee would be too happy to see the Ace Operatives, considering the orders Ironwood just gave Winter.

I hope you all enjoyed, and remember, this story has a prequel now!

Update 9/25/2020: Cleaned up Ironwood's language when he jumps to conclusions, and made a few minor corrections throughout the chapter as well.

Update 4/8/2021: Tweaked Ironwood's dialogue to make him more respectful to Winter while also changing his nationalism from open disdain for the other Kingdoms to just viewing Atlas as the best Kingdom ever!