Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of The Dragon and her rook. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum, and Rooster Teeth do.

(Atlesian Airship Blizzard.)

Yang was silent along with the others as the 3 ships transmitted their codes, Yang counted at least 35 cruisers, all floating like silent guardians over Atlas and Mantle, hungry to swoop down and obliterate anything that could harm the city.

"I want you to know as I said before Atlas is on lockdown… all authority is going to the military until it's secure. General Ironwood will meet with us at the Academy, Atlas Academy is both the training ground for new students and the headquarters for the military to be commanded from." Skyler stated and crossed his arms.

"That means we can give him the relic from there?" Ruby looked at the garment attached to her belt while Skyler shook his head.

"I would only introduce the lamp if it's important. My uncle is… not in the best state of mind mentally considering how things nearly went for Beacon. I suggest Qrow and Oscar speak to him first before the rest of you do." Skyler stated before the console got a response from the fleet.

"Colonel? Mantle right now is suffering from reports of dissent, your cruiser is to dock at Atlas Academy and stay there until further orders, acknowledge?" Skyler held down the button.

"We're doing that, acknowledged," Skyler responded while the trio of cruisers float through the air.

The others noticed lights from Atlas, they weren't natural. Skyler noticed them, but he said nothing.

He knew they'd ask about the fires and call him out if something wasn't done. he turned to Winter while the others gazed over to the Black Ops Colonel.

"Winter? Take a unit and check out Mantle, then meet us at the academy." Skyler ordered while rubbing his head before starting to explain things.

"I don't know if Mantle is under attack if it is? I'll do everything to try and handle it… but I'm going to guess that Mantle is just suffering from the same state of being rundown that it's always had over the years." Skyler turned back to the window.

He could feel Yang's eyes burrowing into the back of his head, the Black Ops officer knew they wanted to go help Mantle. Skyler would be lying if he said he didn't want to go and help the city, but he also knew the problem with that.

Even if their hearts are in the right place? They'd be arrested for operating in Atlas without clearance from the kingdom. he also knew the council hadn't spoken to his uncle, he didn't hear anything from Sleet and Carmilla when the shutdown of the kingdom had occurred.

Skyler took that to mean his uncle was planning something. General Ironwood was many things, but a coward? That was something he wouldn't be and something he wasn't.

Still, he wanted to go down there, but if he did? It risked getting the group arrested, trying to save Atlas and the rest of the planet wouldn't be helped by the fact that the kingdom had fugitives at the moment.

"I can see Atlas cares for its citizens." Qrow deadpanned while Slater glared at him. Yang looked at him before looking at Skyler.

"I don't know what's going on, Qrow… I haven't been home in months if you forgot. Mantle has always been rundown, and the last time I saw it? it wasn't much better, you want to raise a complaint? Talk to the council, I'd like to stop Merlot before his rampage claims my home." Skyler sounded clipped, on edge, like something was clawing at him.

Yang could see that her fiancée wanted to go into town and investigate, but there was a reason he was keeping them here.

Well, keeping them on the bridge, if they wanted to leave and steal a ship to go to Mantle? There was very little to keep them from doing so.

Still, she said nothing. It was eating Skyler up to see such disarray and pain from his home kingdom.

Skyler watched as Blizzard and its escorts headed to the academy, Winter was still gone, having departed to go and handle Mantle.

Skyler got a few buzzes here and there from his earpiece about what was happening in the city.

He could hear nothing but military orders and deployments… had Atlas fallen into the gutter over a few months? Did Merlot attack while he was gone and use the attack on Argus to try and draw attention away?

Skyler was worried if Merlot could strike Atlas from Vale? Something was wrong, a lot more wrong than he'd normally wish for things to be.

"We're going to get answers from my uncle, if anyone has anything they'd wish to do? I'd get it done before we arrive. General Ironwood isn't going to want to hear anything short of the entire truth about what's going on."

Author notes

Phew, another chapter is done! I want to apologize and say the chapter after the next chapter will be in a week or so and will show Skyler and the others arriving at the Academy. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

Ps: Tock is on Sunday or so alongside Summer. Ruby will be 1500 words… also Weiss might be on Friday next week.