First off, I will admit it. I suck. I promised more chapters and didn't deliver. Hopefully this one goes towards mending that bridge.

Shout out and a HUGE thanks to GeraltRex for stepping in and giving me advice on how to proceed. Without the assist, "Monster" still would be waiting for an update. So thank you.

/==/

The CDS stood beside a day old cold pot of coffee. ON the conference table behind her, a series of four tablets, two each for a specific branch of the military. Army, Naval Air force, one for Huntsmen-Huntresses, and the final for the civilian population. Each was constantly being updated remotely with debriefing reports, and casualty estimates. She knew, even before looking at any of those damnable devices, that the numbers would be backbreaking, and she had serious doubts that any of the military branches would be able to recover in her lifetime, or if even Atlas as a whole would.

She took a sip of the cold sludge in her mug, wishing that this past day had never happened. In her mind, one of the many similar type communications, played.

"This is S17-DL... Broken Arrow! Repeat Broken Arrow!" Came a young woman's voice. Fear tinted her words.

"This is Wyvern three inbound. Pop smoke and evac. Repeat Wyvern three inbound. Pop smoke and evac."

"Drop it right on this transmission!" CDS grit her teeth as she continued to remember, reliving that moment, unable to help.

"Say again! Did not copy!"

"We've got sabyrs in our midst!"

"Pop smoke and evac! Pop smoke and evac!"

"Negative... Broken Arrow. We've got twelve hundred civilians, families with children... to keep these fuckers off of. Drop it on us." they could hear the emotion in the woman's voice as she spoke. "Drop it on us."

"Roger... Wyvern three inbound..."

"This is Jackal seven inbound..."

"Command S17 will need immediate reinforcement. We'll see you on the other side... kill 'em all."

The radio cutout at that point.

"Wyvern three... direct hit. Repeat direct hit."

"Jackal seven... direct hit. Repeat direct hit."

She had closed her eyes as she recalled that specific transmission. Opening them again, she placed her mug, down on the counter next to the coffee maker, and made her way to the tablets spread out on the table.

Picking up the tablet for the Naval Air Force, she sighed and started to read the after action reports. Under normal operations, only ten to twenty percent of the sixty percent of combat capable individuals would be assigned to actual combat. But this instance was an outrider, and Atlas had committed the full might of its forces to the defence of Atlas and Mantel.

There was no MIA, the grimm didn't take prisoners, so the all the numbers were actual casualties. Twenty-nine thousand plus had given themselves to the defence. That wasn't only the fighter pilots, who ran sorties outside the walls. It included the support staff, who defended then air strips, and the loss of five destroyers, fifteen hundred souls there alone. Plus the seven frigates that, another twenty-one hundred souls.

She skipped the estimated numbers for spent ordnance, and moved to the remains of the various squadrons. Out of ten warthog squads, they had three still complete and two incomplete, that left five, one hundred twenty aircraft and pilots gone. The P-51D were even worse off. A mothballed turboprop aircraft, they had limited numbers. No more than three squadrons worth, seventy-two aircraft and pilots able to fly them, all gone.

Those were just a fraction of the losses in materials and aircraft. The number of ground crews who stood and died defending airstrips, and as collateral when trying to pull stricken pilots from downed aircraft. Little Bird and Black Hawk squads, running close air support with in Mantel, had suffered heavily as well.

The bulk of the Naval Air Force, the Manta's took the brunt of the losses. Fifty squadrons, of twenty-four aircraft… and twenty-one, remain operational. Eight hundred sixteen aircraft, another sixteen hundred plus personnel gone.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the tablet down, and lifted the one for the Army. The numbers were still being compiled, and like the Naval Air force, Atlas had committed the full might for the defence. Three hundred fifty-six thousand men and women. Estimates placed the causality rates close to thirty percent. Just over one-hundred thousand, torn apart, crushed… or in many cases eliminated by friendly fire… she didn't feel that was the right term in this case. Each and every case was done in a moment of desperation, to hold positions, to make one final stand against the monsters that threatened everything they held dear.

The CDS was having a hard time stomaching the reports. So she set the tablet aside. She knew she would need to review them, but there was time. Let the final numbers be calculated. The tablets for Huntsmen-Huntress numbers, and Civilian losses she left untouched. Instead, she turned her thoughts inward. It was the air superiority that allowed them to hold out. It allowed them to thin the horde's numbers to a more manageable amount, and if that airstrip hadn't been cleared… things would have been so much worse. She moved across the room and stood at the windows. In the distance, she could see the smoke from the multiple structure fires still burning out of control.

They were still checking body-cam footage, to compile a proper report on Arc's actions. It was an accepted fact, without Jaune Arc basically securing an airstrip on his own, Atlas' air power would have been crippled. As of last report, he was in the ICU, in critical but stable condition. She was sure that she would be getting hit with summons, and legal pressure to justify the reason for Jaune's attempted extradition during the peak of the conflict. She really had none, aside from wanting the menace out of Atlas' hands, and that was going to look bad. Furthermore, she was sure the lawyer that had taken Jaune's case as a crusade would attempt to have her crucified, and she couldn't blame her. It was a stupid action, to follow through with the Civil Council's plan. She should have postponed it, but in hindsight, if she had… that airstrip might have never been secured.

The extent of his injuries, was still being determined, he had lost a lot of blood, and until further tests are done, the consensus is that he was going to lose his left arm. Without his efforts, the possibility that they would have been overrun by the grimm was a chilling near reality. Because of them, the Atlas Military, he almost died, and was facing the probability of becoming an amputee. Reparations would need to be made, even if they were too little too late. Removing her personal scroll from the pocket of her jacket, she thumbed the contact for her assistant.

"Mam?"

"I want a full status report on Mr Arc, including all his injuries, and any possible treatments medical staff suggest." She spoke in a clear and calm tone. "Also, I need to know the status of Doctor Polendina and the Penny project. Have those files assembled on a separate secured tablet."

"Yes, mam." The young's voice was crisp and in control, even though she knew his whole family had perished in a Mantel shelter that was breached, by the grimm. "Do you require anything else, mam?"

"No. Just have those reports compiled as soon as possible."

"Mam." he replied, before closing the connection. Once again alone, she choked back a sob. How many families had been broken, or completely annihilated. How many would never see this day? With that thought, she put away her scroll, and raised her hands to her face. The full cost had yet to be established, and still its weight broke her.

/=/

"I'm sorry I can't…"

"You damn well can and will!" Snapped Alison as she squared off against the larger Doctor. "I am his legal council…"

"Be that as it may, that does not give me the right to…"

"I ALSO…" Alison pulled out her scroll, and thumbed it to a signed PDF document. "Have the authority of his family to act in his benefit, at any point when he can not make decisions for himself. So You are going to tell me what is going on with Jaune, or so help me… your grandchildren are going to need lawyers."

"The threats are unnecessary." The doctor gave Alison a look, as he took her scroll and reviewed the legal document shown on the screen. "My apologies… we've been more than a little inundated with cases, as you can well imagine."

"Accepted, and my apologies as well, this is a rough time and I know I'm pulling you away from more important duties." Alison responded as she took back her scroll. "I don't need all the details, I just would like to know his general condition."

"He is in the ICU, stable but critical. We've sedated him heavily. Once he's further stabilized a surgeon will examine him, and make the final determination, but as it is right now. He's going to lose the arm." The Doctor commented, "Now, once things have settled, I will sit down with you and go over everything. Okay?"

"Thank you." The doctor just nodded, and moved off, back into the chaos that filled the corridors of the hospital.

Winter and Marrow approached as Alison turned to move back to the uncomfortable waiting room. Alison nodded in their direction, and then indicated the line of hard plastic seats. The pair followed, and soon Alison was seated between the two specialists.

"So?" Marrow asked.

"Critical but Stable." Alison replied before looking at Winter. "How did your family make out?"

"The manor took a Manta to the north wing, but everyone was in the bunker, so luckily no casualties." Winter replied. "Everyone is shaken, especially Weiss and Whitley."

"You?"

"Don't know… I haven't been able to reach anyone…" Marrow responded.

"Were they in Mantel?" Alison asked, concern clouding her tone.

"They were. There's a chance, but not much I can do, aside from trying to call them, which I have been doing."

"I could get you a leave of…"

"No. My duty is here right now… I know they're okay, just… busy. Yeah, just busy." Marrow's face and tone showed that even he didn't believe his own words. "So?"

"We wait, and I work on how to make Atlas take responsibility for what happened." Alison replied. "If I subpoena the body cam footage…"

"Enough about work. It can wait. What about your family?" Marrow asked.

"Dad passed years ago. Mom was sheltered in the Academy. So she's okay." Alison sighed. "I'm surprised we survived. Considering what was happening."

"Did we though?" Marrow asked.

"What would you call it? We're still here. Mantel and Atlas are still relatively in one piece." Winter inquired.

"I don't know." replied Marrow, "Surviving just doesn't seem like the correct term."

"Regardless." Alison chimed in, "We're still here, and we have jobs to do. No matter how difficult they are."

"You're right." Marrow conceded. "So what now? What is the situation with Jaune?"

"I'm going to have to wait and see what the medical staff says, and then see what High Command does before I act."

"You were talking about getting hold of the body cam footage. Why?" Winter asked.

"I was thinking it would be useful to help sway public opinion on Jaune." Alison replied.

"How?" Marrow cut in.

"Maybe Lisa can do something with it, I'm just not sure yet."

"So you're going to leak the footage, to a Vale journalist?" Winter asked her tone low to prevent any casual listeners from hearing her.

"If I have to." Alison replied. "I'll try to legally do it first, but if I get roadblocked… Jaune deserves good press for once. People see him as a Monster. He's not."

"He was overcome by his semblance activating. He's a victim of circumstance, as much as those he…"

"He is, and it's my job, to fix it." Alison commented.

"That's a big job. You're barely making a dent here in Atlas. Vale is going to be ten times worse, if not more." Marrow commented.

"I'll worry about Vale, when we're there." Alison responded, "For now, Atlas has to be my focus."

/=/

Doctor Arthur Watts was terrified. She had found him. He had attempted to wait out the attack, barricaded in the basement of an abandoned convenience store; but now he was backed into a corner, two sabyrs… and something much worse. Tyrian sat on his haunches, flanked by the grimm beasts. His face decorated by a cruel, mirthful grin. A fourth entity was there as well. A miniature seer floated between Watts and his possible executioners.

"Mistress…" Watts swallowed nervously as the pale faced image of the Grimm Queen was visible.

"You disappoint me, Watts." Her voice was cold and passionless. Her black and red eyes showing hints of anger. "You had a job, and you have failed… multiple times."

"He could be of use." Watts stammered. "If he was unleashed… forced to lose himself, the chaos he would sow… he could…"

"I am well aware of your desire to see Atlas burn… and I HAVE plans to make that happen, but you have forced me to play my hand early… before I had time to recoup the losses we suffered in Vale."

"I'm…"

"No your not. You are no apologetic for going against my wished… you are sorry that you are now going to face the consequences of those actions."

"Please…"

"I am disappointed, Doctor."

"I can…"

"Maybe you can, maybe you can't." her stare was unwavering, making Watts start to sweat profusely. "The question truly is, whether I can afford to let you correct your recent actions… and I am not convinced I can."

"I have…"

"You have what, Doctor?"

"I have his sister… if I can pass that information to him… we could force him to…"

"No." that single word was delivered with a tone of absolute finality. "You are still attempting to twist this boy… to make him act out to further YOUR goals."

"But…" Watts stammered.

"My goals are much more encompassing, than just the fall of Atlas." Salem's glare hardened. "The world must burn… the gods returned… and the final judgement given."

"But…"

"This boy, is too dangerous. He is gaining control, which makes him an even greater threat. He conquered one of my mightiest grimm when he was out of control." Salem leaned forward in her throne. "I can not allow him to gain any more strength."

"We… we… we COULD use his sister to lead him into a trap!" Watts stuttered as he shouted out a quickly concocted idea as an attempt to save his own skin. "I could have them transferred to Vale… and when he's there I can leak the location to him. Make him break out, cause fear and chaos, and then kill him when he reached them."

"That could be an option. I shall consider it."

"Thank you…"

"Tyrian." Salem cut off Watts.

"Yes, my goddess?"

"Punish him. Show him my displeasure." Watt's face grew pale, as Salem uttered those words, eliciting a twisted giggle from the scorpion faunus. "But… keep him alive."

"Yes, my goddess." Tyrian responded as he rose and stepped forward, his wicked tail poised to strike, and his weapons deployed.

"Please." Watts whimpered as he pressed his back against the wall.

/=/

Lisa Lavender sat in the small conference room, that Alison had arranged for her. She was currently looking at her propped up, expanded scroll, rereading the words she had just written. She had weathered the grimm assault in the retaliative safety of Atlas Academy, with a few thousand other Atlas individuals and families. Currently, she was using this space to work on her next report. The fingers of her right hand drummed the table-top next to the flexible keyboard she had linked to her scroll. She had three pages of her personal observations, made from behind the armoured windows of the main entrance way. While she had no way of knowing what transpired in Mantel, she had watched the tempest of an air battle that was waged.

"I need to get some interviews, and comments from soldiers and survivors." she muttered to herself. "This has no meat."

Lisa was tempted to reach out to Alison for comments and maybe some assistance, she felt indebted to the military lawyer already, and didn't want to push her luck. She knew, and had already reached out to VNN's Atlas affiliated, and was waiting for access to the inevitable press packet that Atlas would be releasing in the next few days. Yet, she couldn't remain idle until that time. Packing up her gear, she rose and shouldered her bag. With her scroll in hand, she prepared to leave. To wander about Atlas, to get a better understanding of what had happened out of her sight, and just maybe she would be able to get an interview or at least a few comments from those who had faced the threat head on.

/=/

"Mam?" came the voice of the CDS' assistant. HE was standing in the doorway, awaiting permission to enter.

"Enter."

"I just came to inform you that the Hunter contingent from Vale has finally arrived, and are awaiting deployment instructions."

"Have Clover deal with it." she responded.

"Clover Ebi died, mam."

"When? Where? How?"

"At airstrip twenty-three, mam."

"Strip twenty-three? Isn't that near…"

"It is mam. A temporary runway near the edge of Atlas." her assistant was still standing at attention, as he relayed the information. "From what the report states, it was griffons, mam. He intercepted one, as it went for the onsite ammo dump, and a second hit him from behind. The full report is available on your tablet, mam."

"Humour me. Continue, please."

"I didn't proof the entire report, so I don't know the specifics, but he had subdued his original target, but the second one hit and carried them all over the edge, mam."

"Fuck." She was going to have to review the compiled reports, to avoid another mistake like this. "Who do we have left in Ace-Ops, besides Winter and Marrow?"

"Elm Ederne, and Harriet Bree, mam."

"Alright, issue a directive to Ederne and Bree. They are to take command of the Vale contingent, and use them as needed to help clear Mantel."

"Understood, mam."

"Dismissed."

"Mam."

Once she was alone, she moved to the table, and the set of four tablets. It couldn't be put off any longer. She needed to start reviewing the data, and then convene her senior staff, and make the needed decisions, to jump start the recovery of both cities. Her hand shook as she lifted the tablet dedicated to Huntsmen and Huntresses. She knew she didn't need to do it personally. That she could delegate out the reports, and then be briefed after the fact. But so many had made the ultimate sacrifice. So many had heeded her orders, standing fast and making the grimm pay for every step they took towards and within the walls of Mantel. She knew questions would be asked, and accusations levelled at her. It was always the case after an operation. She would have to defend her decisions, to those who had no clue what it took, to direct men and women to face their deaths for the benefit of those who couldn't or wouldn't understand the true cost of their survival.