In the joint council chambers, the legally elected representatives of both cities argued. Word of the now approaching mega-horde had reached the general populous. Fear had escalated so high that Atlas' air defence batteries were under nearly constant action, purging the air from small murders of nevermore.
"We need to bring all our resources to bear, and protect Atlas!"
"And what leave the citizen's of Mantel defenceless? That's no only immoral, but monstrous."
"So? Let those faunus animals rely on those Happy Huntresses and the White Fang for protection. Atlas should look after Atlas!"
"Your bigotry is on full display. Did your money get you a seat?"
"How dare you? I'll see you in court for slander!"
"Ladies! Gentlemen! We have a kinmgdom wide threat moving against us. We need to be united!"
"Atlas for Atlas!"
"Atlas owes Mantle for its very existence!"
"We can not abandon Mantle. United we stand!"
"How about evacuating Mantle. Arrange temporary shelters, and housing. Bring every behind our defensive abilities?"
"The pure numbers of people cannot be accommodated, besides it would take weeks to move that many people, even if we commandeered every air-transport into the action!"
"Then put our..."
The door to the council chamber slammed open, as the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Army entered, leading the Chief of Defence Staff. The trio quickly arrayed themselves at the head of the council chamber's table. The CDS flanked by the CNO and CSA.
"What is the meaning of this interruption? We are in a session, and none of your offices was asked to attend."
"Gentlemen. Ladies. As per articles of the Atlas and Mantle Unified Self-defence Charter, and the Emergencies Act, the High command of the Atlas Military are now in charge of this situation. We thank you for your service. Effective immediately, and until the current crisis is declared contained, your judicial and governing powers are rescinded." spoke the stern looking and greying haired woman who held the seat of CDS.
"You can't do that!"
"Who decided when this crisis is contained?"
"As your last official act, you will convene an oversight tribunal, who will make the final decision as to when the situation has reached the point when the currently enacted articles will be deemed invalid to continue following. Again ladies and gentlemen we thank you for your service and ask you to stand by for the opportune time to step back into your duties and obligation once the situation has passed."
"What are your plans? How are you intending to hold back this tide of grimm?"
"We are in the process of shoring up and repairing the walls, in addition in installation of various defence systems. We are also reactivating mothballed resources, while starting a general evacuation of everyone not capable of contributing the general defence of both cities, as per the Mantle Militia Act."
"You're arming the general populace? That is insane! They could..."
"That is a possibility that will be addressed when the time comes, if it materializes. That is all."
/=/
Word of the gathering horde sent Mantle and Atlas into a near frenzy of panic. In an attempt to stamp down on the growing unease and negativity, Atlas began to a rapid deployment of resources. The edges of Atlas and the walls of Mantle suddenly started to brim with CIWS pods. Behind the walls SRBM batteries quickly were arranged and established. Civil and military contractors were pressed into service, and resources commandeered to start the rushed process to bolster the integrity of the wall.
Missives were sent out, requesting Huntsman and Huntress aid, while mothballed and antiquated equipment was once again brought forward into operational service. Soon the streets and roadways of Mantle and Atlas played host to shining Paladins and T-34 Saybre Tanks. Militia units were formed, and given defensive positions supported the general military forces.
Air defence was also bolstered as Naval command echoing the example of the Army pulled the precursors of the backbone of Atlas air superiority. Squads of P-51D Griffons and A-10 Boartusks soon appeared in the sky, and quickly began preemptive strikes against the closing mass of negativity. Twenty four thousand five hundred feet above the paired cities the formidable and stalwart Lancaster-Nevermores cruised in the near freezing air, accompanied by the looming forms of AC-130 Wyverns.
These older resources were limited, and those who volunteered to man them knew the chances of return from the preemptive combat operations was minimal; if at all.
/=/
Winter stood slightly behind Marrow, who was in turn standing to the side of Allison. They had been summoned to the Judge Advocate's office. Sitting behind his desk, he let his eyes travel about the trio arrayed before him. Clearing his throat he prepared to speak.
"The extradition of Jaune Arc has been agreed to, and in arrangements are being made for Specialist Amin and Schnee to escort him to the authorities in Vale."
"What about my request sir?"
"In light of not wishing to lose such a devoted, talented and shining star to the civil sector. Vale has approved your request to accompany Mr. Arc as his designated council, however you will serve under the supervision of a licensed Vale lawyer. In addition you are there to offer legal opinion only. The Vale attorney will be in charge of all legal proceedings in regards to Mr. Arc's situation in Vale."
"Understood Sir."
"When will the transport happen, sir?" asked Marrow.
"Two days."
"Why so soon, if I may ask, sir?"
"With the encroaching horde, Tactical command and our office has been instructed by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, to remove his polarizing presence, to theoretically allow for a unified defence of Mantle and Atlas."
"He's a distraction." Allison commented.
"He is, and the resources we are expending for his security are best allocated elsewhere." the Judge Advocate clasped his fingers on his desk. "Because of the crisis, you three will be Mr. Arc's only escort once he boards the transport to Vale. Again our resources are being spread thin, and we can no longer spare additional personnel to him."
"If that is everything, sir."
"Our office has also been informed that due to the nature of the situation, the CDS has adjusted the Rules of Engagement with regard Mr. Arc's situation. Lethal Force is Authorized."
"What?" all three of them asked in unison.
"If Mr. Arc attempts to escape; if persons unknown try and harm him; or affect his escape you are directed to use lethal force to regain control of the situation." the Judge Advocate unclasped his hands, and started to drum his freed fingers on his desk. "Transport will be ready at 08:00, in two days time. Please prepare appropriately for the journey. So if there are no further questions, you are dismissed."
"But why the ord..." Marrow tried to ask, butting in before Allison could raise a legal objection.
"You are dismissed."
/=/
"Report. Estimated Time of Arrival for the grimm."
"With in fourteen hours the grimm will be visible from the wall. If speed remains constant, sir."
"Status of wall operations."
"Work on the walls is proceeding ahead of schedule, however the ETA of the horde will supersede those completion estimates by twenty-four hours. Installation of CWIS pods is however complete."
"Assign a Saybre and Paladin troop to each compromised segment."
"Status report on auxiliary perimeter defensive structures."
"Third line of razor wire is being installed now, and should be complete prior to 20:00 hours. All pre-Vytal anti-personnel and anti-armour measures have been deployed, sir. "
"Deployment of knight units."
"Eight platoons per access point. All units have been scrubbed, and fresh base operative protocols loaded. They will focus only on grimm, all other target parameters have been deleted, sir."
"Hunter reinforcements?"
"CCT coverage is limited but we have received responses. Mistrel has declined, slating limited resources. Vacuo has reported the dispatch of fifteen teams, unconfirmed ETA. Vale has confirmed but like Mistrel is indicated limited vailability. Confirmed they will send five teams."
"So we're basically on our own. Air operations."
"Thirty percent causality rate with Griffon and Boartusk strafing and bombing runs. Five percent causality rate for Nevermore and Wyvern operations. Cruisers are in a holding pattern above Atlas, sir."
"Effectiveness of preemptive operations."
"Incendiary payloads appear to the most effective. Estimates put current attrition rate at about fifteen percent of estimated original total mass."
"Cease Griffon and Boartusk operations. I want all remaining units grounded and prepped for danger close operations. Nevermore and Wyvren sorties will continue until causality rate is ten percent or the horde is with in sight of the walls. Evacuation status."
"We are at sixty percent emergency shelter occupancy, with an estimated forty percent of the designated Mantle population having been transferred, sir."
"Munitions."
"Standard ballistic munitions are exceeding normal stockpiles by thirty five percent. Dust munitions at normal stockpile levels. SAM munitions at seventy-five percent normal stockpile. Ballistic and Dust artillery stockpiles at sixty percent of base levels. Strategic ammo dumps are established, sir."
"Chemical and incendiary agents?"
"Twenty percent of pre-Vytal levels for chemical. Non-dust incendiary at fifty-five percent pre-Vytal levels, sir."
"I want installation of the entire chemical agent stockpile, behind auxiliary perimeter. Rig for remote deployment, and issue counter agents, and protective gear to all on ground forces."
"At once, sir."
"Sir!"
"Report."
"Observational reports indicate there is a large mass breaking off from the main, and rapidly approaching our perimeter. ETA six hours. Estimated size fifteen percent of main mass, sir."
"Alert all air defence batteries. Scramble all squads, and sound general quarters on all navel units. It's starting. Engage intercept operations at two thousand metres from the wall."
"At once, sir."
The CDS leaned forward on the rail of the command platform. Her weary eyes watching the real time Doppler showing a mass moving ahead of the main horde. Sh gave a silent prayer to the Brothers, before standing up and adjusting her uniform jacket.
/=/
Jaune was awoken with a start. Loud bangs, and rapid pops filled the air, followed by a barring alarm. Scrambling from his bed, he yanked on a set of sweats. He was in the process of yanking on set of sneakers, when the sound of fist banging against his door echoed about his private quarters. Ever since his trial he had been given a little autonomy, though anything requiring him to leave his room only happened with an escort. Twisting the lock, he pulled the door open.
"Grab your bag. We're going." Marrow told him with rushed words.
"What's happ...?"
"We've been engaged by aerial grimm. We need to get to the airstrip before they breech the air-defences."
Nodding Jaune rushed over grabbed his Atlas provided rucksack, that contained just a couple of clothing changes; and returned to the open door.
"Stay on my ass, and keep up."
"What about...?"
"No time. My direct orders are to get you onto that transport and off to Vale." Marrow informed him as he began to move down the hall, "The others will be waiting for us."
Jaune didn't waste his breath to ask who the others would be, but instead picked up his pace, matching the jogging pace that Marrow had adopted. One thing did begin to bother Jaune as he kept pace with Marrow. If the air was suddenly filled with grimm why were they rushing to get him off Atlas? Certainly they knew that a lone airship would become an instant target. Was he that important to take that type of risk? Jaune was confused, none of this was making sense; unless...
"They're trying to get kill of me!" Jaune blurted out the thought as he skidded to a stop.
"Jaune!" Marrow yelled as he skidded to a stop of the tiled floor, upon noticing that the blond was no longer following him. "We have to get to the airstrip!"
"It's the only answer." Jaune started to mutter as he began to pace back and forth between the walls of the corridor. "It's the only thought that makes sense, but why? That was the one link he couldn't put in place."
"Jaune, get over here!" Marrow "We don't have time for this."
"I'm not going!"
"What?"
"I'm not going to let them kill me off!"
"No one is trying to..."
"What is it then? Putting me on a shuttle in the middle of a grimm attack. What you would call it, a lone air-ship would be the perfect target!"
"Jaune, I've been authorized to use lethal force if you resist! Don't make me..."
"SEE!" Jaune screamed. "Why? Why are they trying..."
"No one..."
"Am I such a threat? Just a monster to be gotten rid of?"
"You're not a monster." Marrow shouted, before making his way back to the agitated teen.
"Then why? Why like this? Why now?"
"I don't know, okay. I'm following my orders." Marrow spoke in what he hoped was a reassuring tone, "The final decision to leave is up to the pilots. We just need to get there."
"It makes no sense, even you have to..."
The barracks shook as something with mass collided with the building. Both Marrow and Jaune jumped at the off. sound of rending metal, and the muted thud of an explosion somewhere in the distance. A second alarm started up.
"That's the evacuation alert. We need out of here now. So stay on my ass, and let's get out of here."
Jaune was breathing rapidly. Fear, worry, and agitation running wild through his body. He heard Marrow's words. He understood them, but still he wanted to ignore them. Nothing about this situation felt right. He had just started to feel accepted, tolerated; and now those feelings that had been his constant companions for months filled his mind. To Marrow it looked like Jaune was on the verge of panicking. He needed to distract the young man. He had to get his friend to focus on something other than the probably paranoid thoughts rolling around in his head.
"We need out of the building Jaune. So follow me, okay?" Marrow reached out and placed a hand on young man's shoulder. "I'm on your side. So is Allison. That's at least two people that have your back. Two people that know without a doubt you are not what you think. So will you follow?"
Jaune just nodded, as once again the building was rocked by a heavy impact, followed by a massive rending sound. Jaune looked Marrow in the eyes and nodded. Without a further word, Marrow clapped Jaune on the shoulder. The pair moved at a rapid clip to get out of the building, as sirens and alarms filled the air.
/=/
"Air-defences are slowly being overwhelmed. We have reports of grimm landing in Atlas and Mantle. Ground units are engaging, sir!"
"Sir, the main mass land speed had increased again. ETA two hours!"
"Multiple reports of CIWS pods shutting down, sir."
"Priority command. Any available personnel are to get those units operational. We must keep up the pressure. Report casualty rates."
"Minimal, less that one percent of on ground forces. Thirty percent of airborne forces, sir."
"And this cloud of grimm?"
"Twenty-five percent of estimated mass, sir."
She closed her eyes. The main host of grimm was closing much faster than anticipated. Their air-defences were being overwhelmed. If they couldn't get the aerial threats whittled down, they would lose essential support for the ground forces when the main host arrived.
"Order all non-engaged armour, to switch to air-burst munitions, and to fire-at-will!"
"At once, sir."
She knew this was going to be close. This battle was one of attrition. Would this flood of death overwhelm and outlast the might of the Atlean military. Would their technology be enough to turn the tide, or were all those brave and stout souls willing to stand against this darkness be nothing more than sacrificial lambs. They needed to outlast. They need to decimate, and obliterate. But their resources were finite.
/=/
Marrow went to push Jaune into cover when a pair of Griffons landed after scattering the fire team that was trying to bring them done. Marrow reached for his weapon, only to stop in mid motion as the large beast fell apart before his eyes. The only way his brain could process what happened as the pieced of the monsters evaporated, was to akin them being hit by an industrial sized Slap-Chop. Looking to his side, he saw Jaune standing there, his eyes hard. With a slight tilt of his head, the young blond gazed into the sky, at a swirling murder of nevermore that looked like it was preparing to dive bomb into the main yard.
"Shit." Marrow uttered as the up to doberman sized birds burst and were bisected mid air. It was awe inspiring, and disturbing to see the utter annihilation of the grimm around Jaune. Marrow moved from cover and opened the driver side door of an armoured sedan "Winter and Allison should be at the transport by now. We need to get to the air strip. Jump in."
/=/
A sparrow sized nevermore slid past the defences, and flitted through the streets of Mantle. In it's claws a tiny jellyfish like creature. It had been ceaselessly travelling from Evernight since being dispatched by the queen. It's special cargo destined for a single individual. Its mistress had made several decisions, and needed to relay them to her most faithful servant.
/=/
"Grimm host is with in one hour of the wall , sir."
"Scramble all Nevermore units still capable of flight. I want them in the air now. Target is the middle of the horde, use of FAEs is authorized." she ordered as her hands white knuckled the railing before her. "Scramble all available Boartusks. Target front edge of horde. We need to break their advance."
"All Wyvren units in the air on standby. Standing order to engage once horde is with in five thousand metres of the perimeter defences. What are the weather conditions?"
"Stable. Minimal winds at less than one knot, sir.""
"Direction."
"Easterly, sir."
"Good. Status of aerial threats."
"Thirty-five percent of estimated mass, sir. Air-defence units starting to report ammo reserves reaching critical levels, sir."
"Order them to hold out, and keep up the pressure. Switch to small arms if required. Support units?"
"Reporting, difficulties. Grimm starting to land and harassing lighter armed units, sir."
"Airstrips are being overwhelmed. Requesting any available support. Grounded aircraft unable to lift off, and taking heavy damage, sir."
"Dispatch all hunter teams. Have them clear the supply routes and hold the airstrips. Paladin units to prioritize on ground grimm."
She pressed her thin lips together. There resources were finite, but they needed to hold out. Mantle and Atlas must remain standing; they would remain strong. They would break this horde, and prove the might of the Atlean forces.
/=/
Marrow weaved the sedan through and around the engaged units. He concentrated hard, trying to ignore Jaune hanging out the window. Wispy fragments of grimm rained down before the speeding car. Marrow was impressed, at how versatile Jaune was proving to be, along with how devastating to the encroaching grimm, he was. He always seemed to be able to track and engage targets, regardless how many and how fast or large they were.
He kept most of his attention on his own task, but couldn't help but be drawn to the utter decimation Jaune was unleashing. Murders of miscellaneous sized nevermore just vanished from existence. griffons, manticores, and even a sphinx had their wings clipped, and the tops of their heads cleaved off.
The larger bodies crashed into buildings and the streets, threatening to Marrow to nearly over compensate. The air was filled with flack, and tracer rounds. The odds of survival seemed astronomical, yet Atlean forces stood strong. They continued to fight back, determined to teach these mindless beasts the steel and fire that formed the core of Atlas military strength.
Before them the airstrip grew closer. Marrow doubted that the transport pilots would risk lift off. The air was too think with hostiles. Vale would have to wait. The world would have to wait. Right now Atlas and Mantle were engaged in a battle of survival. The farce of Jaune's upcoming trial was not of any consequence or current importance.
/=/
"Grimm host ten thousand metres from the walls, sir."
"Alert all wall based units. Mortar teams prep for White Phosphorus and Chemical munitions. Activate knights. Have battleships prepare for air to surface bombardment. Status aerial threats."
"Forty-three percent of estimated mass. Minor threats are nearly removed, larger targets proving resistant to current munitions, sir."
They were making a dent, but considering the soon to be split in the focus of her resources, the end results still seemed disheartening. She offered another silent prayer to the Brother Gods. Hopefully the gambles the defence council had come up with would work. There were too many unknowns with grimm and much of what they were going to bring to bear was designed for use against human and faunus targets. This would be the greatest test of the strength of Atlas and Mantle. This would either become the shining moment, or turn into their hour of demise.
"Do not go gentle into that good night." she uttered as her tired eyes watched the Doppler. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
/==/
So this is way overdue, and smaller than the normal chapters. The poll (the last time I checked it) is showing that more of you want "Monster" to get to a conclusion. So while I'm still leaving the poll up for the next couple of weeks, I will be doing my best to focus on moving "Monster" forward.
There will be errors in this chapter. (I have the bad habit of posting as soon as I finish.) So IF there are plot holes please bring them to my attention. Between work and some other RL things, I dind't have the time prior to writing this to read my story, so if things seem out of sync please, please tell me.
I'm finding RWBY, as I'm doing my stories has very little "sensible" technological progression (from medieval warfare and in eighty years having firearms, mechashift weapons and floating battleships), plus the information (understandable to a point) is very limited in regards to grimm and their biology.
So I've thrown some additional kind of middle ground tech into the military might of Atlas. (Which from what I have researched is a very uninspired fighting force.) So I grabbed some resources to boost it, in what I hope is a believable manner. Below is a list of what I based the tech on. I could have added way more (like The F-16 Hornet, more tanks like the M-1 Abrhams, and some more primitive VTOL like the AH-64 Apache) but to totally rebuild the Atlas Military would be a huge undertaking, and would be akin to it's own story.
T-34 Sybre is based on the WW2 Soviet T-34 medium tank.
PD-51 Griffon is based on the WW2 American Fighter/Bomber Aircraft the PD-51 Mustang
Lancaster-Nevermore is based on the WW2 Avro Lancaster Strategic Heavy Bomber
A-10 Boartusk is based on the A-10 Warthog
AC 130 Wyvren is based around the AC-130 Hercules "Spooky/Angel of Death" Gunship
Some of the other weapon acronyms I used also based on current weapon tech.
CIWS = Close In Weapon System
SRBM = Short-Range Ballistic Missile
FAE = Fuel Air Explosive
Again if my use of these to boost what is supposedly the "greatest" military force on Remnant's abilities; bothers you, please let me know. I will re-write this chapter if I need to. Basically from what I read on the wiki (which does not have a lot of information about this subject) and saw in the show up to the Battle of Mistral (I do know of the "Mech" but have only now remembered its existence.) Atlas' forces are poorly fleshed out.
Anyway sorry for the long Author Note, but I think I needed to explain what I was doing and why. As always comments, critiques, and suggestions are more than welcome and encouraged.
Hope you enjoyed.
