AN: Hey everybody. Given how this story drastically expanded from the original plan, I took the time to make a full-on written plan to see how many chapters there would still be. Unless things change drastically (either it being cut down or new important things needing to be added) then there are fifteen chapters left including this one.

AN2: As many of you have noticed, Jaune and Ciel are growing closer. The original plan was admittedly Jaune and Weiss, but the story wasn't designed around that pairing, it was just what I considered the best fit from the original idea. Expanding it as I have though has lit the spark of chemistry between Jaune and Ciel so I am admittedly considering making them the final pairing, but we shall see.

To Be Relentless

Chapter 12

-Ironwood-

Scowling, Ironwood repeatedly tapped a finger against his robotic arm, silently trying to will the shuttle to go faster as he raced towards the Atlas Academy along with his Ace Ops team. They'd called ahead to have Marrow prepared to meet them but even the slightest delay was grating on him given the severity of the situation. "Approaching the Academy General." Tortuga called out from where he sat at the shuttle controls. A glance down at the landing pad thankfully showed Marrow Amin waiting for them, the Faunus Huntsman in training taking a running leap to get up into the still airborne shuttle, Harriet and Elm grabbing his arms to fully pull him in.

"Sir, the Academy said this was urgent?" Marrow asked, face confused but serious.

"There's a Grimm horde approaching one of the perimeter defense forts." Ironwood pulled out a file as he spoke, including the location of the map that, while several miles away from Atlas or Mantle itself, was crucial to keeping large scale incursions out. "It's an airborne horde containing the largest gathering of Stymphalians recorded for decades." The file included details on the Grimm in question in case the student hadn't heard of them.

"They make shields, right?" the young canine faunus frowned as he pulled out the breakdown of the flying Grimm. The monster, their appearance resembling a condor, were one of the few Grimm species actually able to manipulate energy. Unlike a Leviathan or Sphinx, who would breathe fire or lighting, these would project shield like barriers to protect other Grimm they travelled with. They weren't that dangerous offensively, at least not compared to other Grimm species, but the more of them that were together the stronger the barrier they could create at a moment's notice.

"Indeed." Ironwood nodded "And every time we try to fire on the horde, they make a shield and stop the attack. Your Semblance would stop them if we could use it to freeze the Horde."

"Sir, this horde is too big." Marrow frowned as he read the report "My semblance can't affect something…this…GET US TO THE PREP ACADEMY NOW!" Marrow's eyes lit up "I know how to do this!"

"Tortuga, go!" Ironwood was willing to act on a little faith "Why are we going there?" but just a little.

"Jaune, we need him to make this work." Marrow continued flipping through the reports to get more details as he spoke.

"Jaune, wasn't he the kid with the healing semblance from the Malfoy incident?" Harriet frowned as she worked to remember, crossing her arms, just as jittery and impatient as Ironwood himself was.

"It's not a healing semblance." Marrow's smirk was damn near predatory "We recently figured out that it amplifies aura. Everything, about aura. The shield, the healing, how fast it replenishes, how strong or fast it makes you, and even the semblance. If he boosts me then we have a shot at this."

"Tortuga, I want us there now!" Ironwood banged on the shuttle, encouraging the leader if his Ace ops to fully open up the throttle, the shuttle rocketing through traffic with military sirens going to get the other air vehicles out of the way.

"Aura amplification." Ironwood shook his head, he could think about this and the future uses or implications later. For now, he had to focus on saving his Kingdom.

-Jaune-

Sitting by the School's landing pad, Jaune's leg bounced nervously. He'd been spending time studying with Ciel and Penny when he got a message on his Academy Scroll, an urgent notice that he was to report to the landing pad immediately. Penny and Ciel hadn't heard anything about this in advanced so they couldn't shed any light and, as it just called for him, they weren't able to come along. His mind was racing too much to be able to properly absorb any of the medical text he was trying to review, wanting to be prepared for the extra courses in first aid the academy offered to enroll in. Feeling the wind pick up, Jaune narrowed his eyes at the sudden flurry of cold blown into his face, looking up to see a military shuttle hovering above the landing pad, the doors open to reveal Marrow, some Atlesian Specialists, and General Ironwood.

"Jaune, come on!" Marrow waved as one of the specialists, a pale bald man, reached out, arms of aura extending to grab Jaune and pull him into the shuttle, "We need to move!"

"What's going on?" Jaune grasped for support as the shuttle rocketed off the moment he was inside, the vehicle moving faster than Jaune knew was possible for this model.

"There's a Grimm horde coming." Marrow tossed him a file "They need my semblance to freeze some of them so they can't create a barrier but there's too many for my semblance alone to get. But your semblance should make it possible." Nodding in understanding, Jaune started reading the report, if for nothing else than to distract him from his nerves at the fact that a damned Grimm Horde was approaching his new home.

"Steel your nerves young man." Ironwood's firm voice had Jaune's head snapping up to the military leader, the man's expression form but also understanding "If you just think about how things could go wrong, you're setting yourself up for failure. Envision your end goal and start thinking ways to get there. If you think of how it would go wrong then congratulations, you found a path not to take and can move on to a new idea."

"R-right." Jaune straightened, forcing out a breath "Thank you sir." He could do this, he had to.

"We should arrive at the fort in a little over five minutes." The specialist at the helm announced, the shuttle still rocketing over the white Atlesian landscape "Radio chatter indicates the Grimm horde will be fully visible on the walls by the time we arrive."

"Have them start preparing every long range and heavy weapon available." Ironwood ordered instantly, "Tell them we're bringing a method that should neutralize the shields of the Stymphalians."

"Understood General." The specialist nodded, relaying the message before frowning "They've reported that the horde is bigger now, and more diverse. Along with the Sphinxes and Manticores that got reported before behind the Stymphalian wall we're now getting word of Teryxs, Griffons, and even the odd Valean Nevermore or Ravager from Vacuo."

"So, most of the known Flying Grimm." A specialist with a fishing pole frowned, "And a horde this big…was something drawing them you think?"

"Our Kingdom sadly has misery aplenty to lure these bastards." Ironwood frowned, "Clover, I want increased patrols around the various labs and strategic points of both Mantle and Atlas proper. If this is just from the general misery the citizens feel, then there's not much we can do but keep up as we were with our changes. If there's someone deliberately drawing in Grimm though then I want them in a cell yesterday."

"Sir!" the Specialists all salute as the shuttle starts to descend. Looking out the window Jaune saw the Horde on the approaching horizon. A boiling, writhing, black cloud of murderous intent. The sight was more unsettling than anything Jaune had ever laid eyes on before.

"General Ironwood." A Major approached, "I hope that solution of yours is…" the man trails off upon seeing Jaune and Marrow.

"These two are the solution. Their semblances are the best shot we have at this." Ironwood moved past the man, ushering Jaune and Marrow up onto the walls, the cold wind biting at Jaune's face as he climbed up higher. "Reay weapons, prepare to fire!" Ironwood's orders echoed as the various guns on the fort walls locked onto their targets as did the various sniper riffle carrying soldiers.

"Come on Jaune, we've got this." Marrow gave him a reassuring smile before turning to face the Grimm. Jaune readied his semblance, a faint white glow leaving his hand as he placed it by Marrow's shoulder while his mentor took a deep steadying breath "FREEZE!" Marrow thrust both hands outward, his semblance directed at the Grimm while Jaune almost buckled from the pull at his own, having linked his Aura with Marrow's. It was only the Albino specialist catching him that helped him stay up as he grit his teeth, forcing his semblance to keep going.

"FIRE!" Ironwood ordered as it became clear the Grimm were frozen, for now. Jaune could see Marrow shaking, barely able to hold the strain even with Jaune's semblance boosting it, could see Marrow beginning to falter.

"No." Jaune grit out, locking his legs in place as he grasped Marrow's shoulder, forcing his own semblance into overdrive.

It was agonizing. His body was still getting used to even having aura and no matter how large his natural aura pool was, it still could only take so much abuse so fast. But Jaune kept pushing past that. The glow on his hand grew brighter and brighter, shining like the sun itself was on Marrow's shoulder, any groans of pain Jaune let out drowned out by the thunderous sound of heavy artillery fire as the heavy turrets and machine guns cut through the horde. With Marrow freezing them the Grimm wouldn't shield or dodge making it like shooting fish in a barrel. Even still, Jaune kept his grip on Marrow's shoulder, vision blurring as his body grew more and more heated, the pain in his hand unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

"Sir, scans reveal all Stymphalians destroyed." The same Major from before, likely the one in charge of the fort, reported to Ironwood, the canons still firing at the other Grimm that had come. Jaune barely registered the words as he just kept pushing his semblance, forcing it to boost his own Aura regeneration and Marrow's reserves.

"Boys, you can stop." Ironwood's words reached Jaune's ears, but the words didn't register, Jaune's body shaking even as he saw Marrow's arms drop. Why were they dropping?

"Jaune we did…Jaune?!" Marrow turned, seeming relieved before he looked at Jaune, his eyes widening. The turn broke Jaune's grip as his semblance flickered and finally gave out, any strength in his legs vanishing as he fully collapsed into the arms of the albino specialist who'd caught him before.

"My glove is steaming." Jaune noted with a somewhat delirious chuckle as he saw the steam rising out from his glove and jacket sleeve. A specialist hastily pulling away his jacket showed bright angry red marks like the rippling pattern of his aura "Does anyone else smell cooked meat?" Jaune's question slipped out with another chuckle before the pain caught up with him and he felt his vision going black.

The last thing's he processed before darkness overcame him was General Ironwood ordering 'Winter' and Marrow to get Jaune back to Atlas.

-Watts-

Sitting in his personal Laboratory, Arthur waited for his new 'Colleague' to arrive, his spy systems letting him remain aware of the goings on at the Fort being attacked by Salem to allow for his 'extraction'. "Good Lord." Arthur muttered as he saw the kind of force his new 'employer' could muster.

"So, you see what she is capable of." Spinning around, Arthur saw the giant of a man that was Hazel Rainart watching the screens as well, the giant somehow moving silently enough that Arthur hadn't heard any sign of his entry.

"I do." Arthur gulped, but knew his bed was made. At least with Salem he'd have the respect he deserved. "I wrapped up the loose ends I mentioned before. I assume you have something planned to ensure we aren't followed?" in response, Hazel zipped open a large back revealing a corpse that was identical to Arthur himself. "Well…that's disturbing."

"It was simple for Salem." Hazel grunted "It just needs an excuse for the 'Death'."

"Simple enough." Arthur gestured to a large robot he'd been building "I'll claim I heard of the incursion and fired up my prototype 'Paladin' to fight any of the Horde that got through but it malfunctioned and cost me my life." He knew how to adjust its programming to allow such a malfunction and have it seem unintended.

"Then do so and fast, we need to be out before anyone comes looking for you." Hazel nodded satisfied.

"Goodbye Atlas." Arthur smirked as he set up the Paladin and got ready to fake his death. Things were about to get very interesting.

-Alexander-

Adjusting his telescope, Alexander continued his observation of the Branwen bandit tribe. He could see why Little Miss Malachite would want them dealt with. "Any sign of the Queen Bitch herself?" Alexander scowled darkly at the thought of Raven as he and Roman observed, Neo waiting nearby for their signal to get going. Roman had thankfully gotten her to understand how important it was that she not to go running off before the signal and that if she made sure things went to plan it would result in more entrainment later.

"I think I saw a glimpse of her in her tent." Roman grunted, the trained sniper's town carrying a frown "And that kind of hostility sounds personal. I don't remember anything from before we tossed our licenses that would have done that. Or is it about her leaving her kid?"

"After Evie died, Raven came to me." Alexander scowled as he spotted her where Roman had mentioned "Tried to get me to dishonor my wife's memory and give her a 'new strong child'."

"Queen Bitch indeed." Alexander could hear Roman's murderous intent as he shared the hated memory.

"I threw her out." Alexander hated that he hadn't been able to do more back then "I didn't want to fight her and risk orphaning my children, let along the chance of her allies coming after my kids for payback if I did something." It was the reason why he couldn't use his standard weapon or semblance in case Raven saw their marks and recognized the marks of their usage.

"Think it's too much to hope our scapegoat will kill her?" Roman asked hopefully as they saw Raven exit her tent, speaking to a young woman she seemed closest to at camp, the young redhead nodding to whatever Raven said.

"No way we're that lucky." Alexander snorted as Raven turned and slashed open a portal with her sword, the past week of observation having allowed them to figure out her system. Her clan was split into two groups, one who stayed to guard the camp while the other roamed to find targets to raid. Whenever they found a target, they'd send word back and Raven would portal to the leader of the roaming group, a young woman who Roman had described as 'cusses more than she breathes'.

"Alright, it's go time." Roman smirked as Raven stepped through the portal, signaling Neo who approached the redhead while disguised. Raven was a cagey bitch and didn't bond with many people, but even still they'd been sure to find out if she had more than just this one bond back at the camp. As it was then all it would take is a sharp knife from Neo and Raven's one way back here would be gone.

They watched with their scopes, the vantage point letting them see the small secluded clearing to the side of Raven's tent where the redhead was practicing with her blade, the other bandits unable to see her as Neo got closer and closer. He saw her appear in front of the read head, saw her knife enter the bandit girl's throat as Neo let her true face get shown, saw flames suddenly go from her eyes as the bandit girl fell over limp.

"The fuck?!" Alexander hissed as he saw Roman's ally flail in what was clearly panic and not pain.

"I don't know!" Roman snarled, opening fire with his sniper riffle on the bandit camp, "Kill these bastards fast so we can find out!" not even bothering to argue, Alexander grabbed the weapon he'd brought for this, a spiked club, and ran into the camp, while firing an EMP so the bandits couldn't try calling Raven. He felt nothing as his club smashed through the skull of the first bandit, the scum not even showing a hint of aura. Showed how little Raven trusted her own people at any rate.

Alexander smashed his way through the camp, crushing skulls and shattering bones while Roman rained ballistic hell on the scrambling bandits who seemed unused to fighting back against someone with any real skill. The bandits, most of them having recently returned from being on their own raid trips and were still drained, were cut down without much difficulty as Roman rocketed past him to check on Neo. Trusting his old partner to handle that, Alexander began grabbing the corpses they'd smuggled in with them from another bandit tribe, leaving the frozen bodies remain here, thawing out and seemingly have died in the fight. The bandits wouldn't have the tools to tell otherwise and this way they'd think it was another bandit tribe attacking them so any retribution would be directed that way.

"Alexander, we need to leave now!" Roman snarled, holding Neo up, the girl panicking as her eyes flickered with flames that continued to change colors. Somehow, Alexander knew this had something to do with Ozpin.