Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Cold Compassion. Enjoy the 1100-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.

(Atlas, Atlesian Medical Faculty, 'M3'.)

The inside of the hospital was a war zone. One soldier watched a Manta shoot down a flock of Manticores before a Nevermore tackled it and slammed it into another building

"Move up, get to the next line!" One soldier yelled before a Blue Beowolf charged forward and slammed 2 White Fang soldiers to the ground.

"General Schnee?" The 2 remaining White Fang soldiers blinked before they were shot by the Atlesian soldiers.

"Report." Winter ordered. Slater looked at the bullet marked walls and shattered windows.

"I'd make a joke, but this is just disgusting…" Slater muttered as the soldier looked at the officers.

"A girl with an umbrella called in a White Fang airship hidden in the clouds. We just dealt with the last of the airborne Grimm but a few groups of Sabyr and Beowolves breached the middle levels. Our beam canons are knocking out the bigger Grimm." The soldier reported before a scroll message played.

"Alpha group proceed to M3 wing… Lady better be right about the hoard of medical supplies here, we already lost 3 Bullheads to those Mantas." They heard before Slater hummed as Penny landed in the room.

"The last of the Grimm in the sky are gone, they came because of the panic… We still have enemy Bullheads and the airship." Penny reported.

"Salem is after the maiden. How did they find out and get reinforcements behind us?" Slater asked, Winter hummed.

"This plan isn't tactical, its crude… Someone ordered it after the Grimm invasion… Salem doesn't know about the maiden, someone spied on us until they found out about the maiden…" Winter said before turning to the soldier.

"Lock down the rest of the hospital and call for the Ace-Ops and others." She said before Slater put his hand on his communicator.

"Sir. Someone is after Fria. We cleared out the majority of Grimm but White Fang units have pierced the hospital, we're going to need reinforcements." Slater stated before Winter gave orders.

"Clear a perimeter and try and get that airship within range of our guns. We're handle the M3 wing. You keep the landing pad clear for reinforcements." Winter ordered before the trio headed off.

(M3 Wing)

The group of Atlesian AK-200s took cover. They continued to exchange fire with their 130 counterparts.

3 down, 1 AK-200 Knight destroyed. Another unit of Atlesian soldiers rushed down the halls, taking cover behind groups of fallen ceiling.

"Move up, move up damn it!" One soldier yelled before a trio of headshots decapitated 3 AK-130s.

"Form a line!" Slater commanded. Penny rushed inward and slashed all but 6 AK-130s to ribbons as shattered metal crashed to the ground.

"This is so damn annoying!" Slater yelled; a quick check of the cameras showed another Manta shot down by the enemy Bullheads. He also saw a few dead Atlesian soldiers and destroyed AK-200s.

"Ugh, we've taken good loses." Slater muttered before General Ironwood spoke up.

"Slater, we're dealing with Tyrian and possible security problems. I can't send team RWBY, JNR, Qrow, or many more reinforcements. We need the relics secure. The Ace-Ops are going to arrive in 10 minutes, I'm sending them to take down the White Fang airship. They've seemed to have sent any non-essential personal to the hospital attack. I've ordered a single airship guarding the transports to support you." Slater heard before nodding.

"Only Salem would attack a damn hospital in the middle of an evacuation…" Slater muttered before he looked at the crumbling line.

(With Winter)

Winter watched Clover's Manta board the Vale variant airship while the airel battle continued.

"Who would cause this?" Winter asked, she checked her sword. Her blades had a vial of Hard Light Dust and Gravity Dust. Each blade could hold one Dust type.

"They're pulling back to the lower levels for now, we took losses. Sergeant, take the group and move up… Someone make sure those AK-130s stay down, these older models are a lot sturdier." She heard from Slater. She looked at her Beowolf group who killed a group of White Fang soldiers.

She walked toward the hallway where Penny and Slater were busy, both opened the door for Fria's room.

"Who would have planned an attack on Fria? I thought the White Fang were splintered after Adam died." Penny asked, they looked at the pod of the Winter Maiden.

"I thought I'd never find her…." They heard and stepped into the hallway.

"Oh, crap…" Slater said, he turned Umbra into a halberd while mentally preparing himself.

The figure had an eye that showed nothing short of sheer sinister energy. A black tank top, a black pair of heels, gold trimming on them, along with a blue feather, a black band on her wrist, black shorts. Slater would have laughed at how emo it made her seem if he didn't know who she was.

"Cinder." Winter said, the Fall Maiden stepped over bodies of Atlas, White Fang, AK-200, AK-130s… They were trash to her, nothing but pawns to sate herself.

"3 of Ironwood's puppets… Tell me, while you were busy defending Atlas from Salem… Did you ever think to keep your mouths shut and not rely on your technology?" Cinder asked.

"You, you're the one who is responsible for Vale… For what happened to me." Penny said, Winter drew Frostbite while Penny fire dup her jets, hovering a foot off the wall.

"I apologize for not finishing the job… What do you think of that?" She asked, a fireball in her human hand.

"I think… It gives me personal feelings." Penny stated. Slater and Penny prepared for combat.

"This is going to suck… How do we win?" Slater asked. Winter prepared for combat with the Fall Maiden.

"Hold her off. She can't reach Fria." Slater flexed a fist before the door slammed shut. He needed to program the gloves better when it came to technology. He couldn't rely on them at the fight.

"That won't hold her, you know." Slater said, Winter nodded. Penny revved up her jets before rushing forward with her jets to punch Cinder.

Author Notes

Phew, another chapter done! I wanted to set up the fight with Cinder and since none of my stories will have Ironwood go paranoid and carry out his plans for Atlas. Next chapter will be the fight with Cinder in 'Enemy of Trust' and will be the biggest chapter in the story. Until them, Lighting Wolf out!

Ps: The romance between Slater and Winter begins next chapter.