Chapter 19: Lend Lease
Remnant, Evernight Castle
POV: Cinder Fall
Premise: As Salem's Inner Circle make a discovery, the Reds and Blues hope to get troops and resources from the planet Chorus…
Cinder stood within one of many of Evernight Castle's sparring rooms, sharpening one of her swords. Emerald, Mercury, and Hazel were there as well keeping themselves.
Mercury looked at Cinder, who was in a state of anger.
"Man, still angry?" he asked her, "That was days ago."
Cinder pointed her sword at Mercury's neck and sneered at him, "Watch your mouth."
The door to the room then opened and the sound of an 'ahem' caught their attention. Standing in the door was Watts.
"She is ready for us." he said to them
The trio looked at one another before following the scientist.
All of the inner circle were now sitting in the great hall in their respective seats. Salem on the other hand, was staring out into the window.
"Um...your grace?" Tyrian asked her
"Can you tell me all, what this is I am holding?" Salem asked everyone, turning around to reveal a crystal-like object in her hand.
"A dust crystal ma'am." Hazel answered her
"That's correct." said Salem, "But what type?"
"May I have a look at it?" Watts asked politely, to which Salem handed him the sample. The former Atlas scientist analyzed it carefully.
"Hmm, nothing I've ever seen." he shrugged as he gave the sample back to Salem, "Your grace, if I may ask, where did you get this?"
"One of my children came to me from an old SDC mine in Atlas." Salem explained, "The Reds and Blues were there trying to find this specific dust. My child came back with this sample and some blood from one of the soldiers themselves."
"Why would they go looking for dust?" Mercury questioned
"Because it is important to them, and it is now important to us as well."
"Why is that?" Watts asked
"It is the answer to all our problems." Salem explained, "These Reds and Blues just show up out of the blue. Why do you ask? Because they are not from here."
Everyone gave her a confused look.
"Ma'am." Hazel said to her, "We don't understand."
"They are not from this world." Salem put it simply, "This dust brought them here."
"Y-you can't be serious." Watts accused her
"Are you questioning our grace?" Tyrian asked him
Watts stuttered before straightening himself, "Right. Uh...continue."
"The Reds and Blues may have begun to shut the door on us here on Remnant." Salem began, "But it has also opened a door to new opportunities."
"What are you suggesting?" Cinder asked
"If the Reds and Blues are heroes in their home, then they are bound to have enemies there as well…"
POV Change: The Prowler
The Prowler flew through the skies over Vale as Grif piloted the craft via the cockpit. Yang was sitting next to him as his co-pilot. The Reds and Blues, along with Teams RWBY, JNPR, Glynda and Ironwood were making their
"Alright we just passed Vale I'm setting the engines for orbital flight!" Grif shouted to the back of the craft
"Got it!" Wash shouted back as he, Tucker, Ironwood, Glynda, Weiss, and Sarge all looked through files regarding Jacques Schnee.
"Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie." Sarge muttered as he went through various files that depicted Jacques as a 'good man' who was trying to make the world a better man, "Great Samson's back hair! Why do people even believe this bastard!?"
"My father lets his money and power do most of the talking." Weiss sighed, "Which also keeps him from ever being arrested by the authorities."
"Jacques would have to do something to piss off the Atlas Council big time. Only then we can bring him to justice." Ironwood added, "At least for now the reforms we issues across the world are slowly starting to remove his control."
"He seems to be pretty buddy-buddy with the other councilmen." Wash muttered
"Indeed." Ironwood replied, "That's mostly because they all seem skeptical of you people. I'm the only member of the Atlas Council who supports you all. The only reason they haven't said anything, is because I hold two seats on the council. One for the military and other for Atlas Academy."
"So we have an angry businessman who holds a lot of power, and has a good relationship with the rest of your government?" Sarge questioned
"It shouldn't be a problem." Wash assured them
"I'm still not sure we should ask for your 'friend's' help." Glynda protested, "What if she says no?"
Tucker shrugged, "Then we'll wing it. Bride we still have stockpiles of old tech at our old bases. Well except for Valhalla, it was turned into a place for condos."
Suddenly Yang then shouted from the cockpit, "Alright we're about to do...whatever the hell this ship does to get to Chorus!"
"So you're all gonna wanna sit down for this!" Grif added
Everyone proceeded to sit down in the cockpit. The window displayed the black void of space and small dim-lit stars. The shattered moon of Remnant orbiting Remnant was nearby.
"Ok. This is pretty cool." Jaune muttered as he looked at the black void
"There's...nothing." Weiss muttered, "How is that cool?"
"I don't know." Grif replied as he pushed several buttons, "Maybe there's no Ice Queen floating in the cold vacuum of space."
"Hmph." Weiss huffed
"Alright." Grif muttered before speaking to everyone, "We are all set for slipspace, just one question. Who here hasn't been to space?"
All of the Remnant natives proceeded to awkwardly raise their hands. Grif just stared at them in silence.
"Ya better not throw up on my ship." he replied before turning back to face the Prowler's controls.
Lopez had converted the ship with a dust filter so the Prowler could travel between their universe and Remnant. It was the first time using this device, but Lopez assured them it was safe.
Grif fired up the engines and a portal appeared in front of the Prowler. The ship was immediately sucked in before the portal disappeared.
POV Change: Planet Chorus
It wasn't long until the Prowler exited slipspace and were back in real space. This time in orbit of the Planet Chorus.
"That…" Nora muttered, "...was weird."
"Hey! Don't throw up on my ship!" Grif hissed
"Just take us down numbnuts." Sarge ordered
Grif flew the Prowler passed Chorus' orbital defense fleet, which consisted of a few Autumn-Class Frigates and Marathon-Class Light Cruisers. Of course Ironwood took immediate interest in them.
"I know what you're thinking." Tucker said to him, "Don't bother. We're only asking for troops and light armored craft. I'd rather not scare your people with large obnoxious ships."
"Right." Ironwood replied
Suddenly, a voice came through the comms, "UNSC Prowler this Chorus Control Tower, state your business here."
Grif then responded, "This Captain Dexter Grif, I'm here with my team to speak with Kimball."
"Understood." the voice responded, "Welcome back to Chorus."
Grif flew the Prowler towards the direction of New Armonia, past Donald Doyle General Hospital, and towards the Chorus Parliament building. The ship then landed and everyone disembarked the ship.
They were all greeted by several individuals. Like the Reds and Blues, each of them wore armor. Some wore a clean sleek white-armored design with green markings and an orange visor, while a lone figure had purple markings and visor. Others wore a desert tannish armor that seemed and white visor, while four individuals had aqua, maroon, orange, and blue markings, along with dark amber visors. That last figure figure wore armor similar to the tan soldiers, but with slightly sleeker armor, and a blue visor with markings.
"See?" Tucker said to everyone, "My friend."
Tucker then walked up towards the tan and blue soldier in the crowd.
"Kimball, I assume you got our message?" Tucker asked
"As a matter of fact yes, and we have a lot to talk about." Kimball replied before gazed past Tucker shoulder to have a look at her additional guest. The one she took the most interest into was Ironwood, as the latter was of course part of the Atlas military.
Kimball then looked back at Tucker, "Shall we continue this in my office?"
"Yes." Tucker replied, "Oh and one more thing. Have uh, Dr. Grey do some tests on Wash and Kai, will you. Also, have Palomo and the gang give the eight kids here a tour of Chorus."
Kimball smiled, "That can be arranged."
POV Change: Kimball's Office
"Tucker and his friends have briefed me a bit about you people, General." Kimball said from behind her desk
Ironwood nodded, "May I ask, what exactly did he tell you?"
Kimball shrugged, "Your planet, Remnant, is suffering from political and social instability. Terrorists, criminals, and bandist run supreme in the wilderness. Now you need support from an outside source."
"Alright, you are correct." Ironwood replied
Carolina then spoke up, "Kimball, are you going to help us or not?"
"Of course I will." Kimball replied, "But I want to know the real reason why General Ironwood needs help."
Glynda frowned and glared at what she thought was 'disrespect', "Somethings don't have to be known."
"Everybody calm down." Doc interjected, "What I believe Kimball is trying to say, is that she wants to know a little more about the current situation."
"Learn, you idiots." O'Malley added while looking at Glynda
"Despite O'Malley's rude interjection, Doc is correct." said Kimball, "I can't just send in troops and supplies with half of the information. I need to know the truth."
Ironwood sighed, but understood nonetheless, "The truth is, Remnant is like a fire. Many people have tried to put said fire out and cover it up so the commoners could go about their daily lives. In doing so, we created an illusion, an illusion that has angered some very bad people. Terrorists, bandits, criminals, corrupt business officials, they are all responsible for this. There more you must know, but we have someone back on Remnant who can explain it."
"Hmm." Kimball muttered before looking towards a nearby wall, "...Santa is he telling the truth?"
Suddenly a hologram in the form of a red alien appeared, "General Ironwood is telling the truth."
"I see." Kimball muttered, "Anything else?"
"Would you like to know what he's afraid of?" Santa asked her
Kimball chuckled, "Another tie."
"It's currently me."
"Santa!' Caboose shouted, "IfI knew you were here I would've bought cookies!"
"Alien AI." Ironwood muttered, "Both teams told us of Santa's existence. Didn't hink it would be possible."
"I shall prepare mobilizing troops as soon as possible." Kimball replied, "As for weapons to arm your military General. That is going to take some time, I hope you understand."
"I do." Ironwood replied, "Thank you."
"You are welcome." Kimball replied back, "Oh and one thing guys."
The Reds and Blues looked at her.
"The other day we apprehended Gene and Lorenzo." Kimball announced They're currently in a cell along with the rest of the Blues and Reds."
This caught the Blood Gulch Crew by surprise.
"You found them?" Sarge questioned
"That's great. 'Bout time we caught them all." Grif added
"I plan on sending them to a more secure prison on Earth." Kimball added, "As for Temple, he's going to a different prison on Reach."
"You think we see them one last time?" Sarge asked
"That can be arranged." Kimball replied
POV Change: Donald Doyle General Hospital
"...And this is Donald Doyle General!" Charles Palomo announced to RWBY and JNPR as he and the rest of the Lieutenants stood, "It was built after the war against Charon and named after the late General Donld Doyle of the Federal Army of Chorus."
"Why bring us here?" Weiss asked
"I thought it would be nice to see Wash and Kai." Palomo replied, "Dr. Grey has been putting tests on them."
"Does seem like a bad idea." Blake muttered
Everyone entered the building and soon found the room in which Wash and Kai were in. They were joined by the purple soldier from before.
"Ah lieutenants!" she shouted, "You're here!"
"Hello Dr. Grey." the four Chorus soldier muttered unison
"Oh and you brought the Reds and Blues' friends! How nice! I'm Dr. Emile Grey Chorus's top scientist!"
"So she's like a medic that saves people." said Nora
"Dr. Grey helped your friends during the war." Smith continued, "Her brains and...what goes on inside that head of her's is one of the reasons we're still alive."
"I thought you were a doctor?" Weiss questioned
"I have an IQ of 240, a prodigy can only cut open people so many times before she needs to find a hobby." Grey replied
"Did you try cross-stitching?" Blake jokingly asked
"I sewed them back up, thank you very much." Grey answered
"So how's Wash doing?" Ruby asked, changing the subject
"It's fascinating!" Grey exclaimed, "Aura is truly the most unique thing I've ever seen. The wound on Wash's neck has completely healed. Oxygen levels are normal and are circling the brain properly. It's like he was never shot at all."
"Screw that medication I needed." Wash quipped
"And what of Kai?" Bitters asked
"Kai has clearly been the most interesting subject I've ever seen." Grey explained, "Whatever power source she absorbed is symbiotic in nature. The source gives her power, and only she can harness it."
"So she's Eddie Brock and Venom?" Jensen questioned
"More or less." Grey replied, "Only one can guess what she can do with it. She could fart out a nuclear explosion for all I know."
"Cool!" Kai shouted, "Just like my 8th birthday party!"
"Yeah...wait what?"
POV Change: Chorus Maximum Security Prison
The Reds and Blues, RWBY and JNPR were all led through a dark hallway. Since the Blood Gulch Crew's departure for Remnant, the Blues and Reds were transferred to new holding cells that separated each member. This was done to avoid them coming up with a plan.
The groups arrived in a circular room. A glass window covered each wall that showed off each holding cell holding the Blue and Reds.
"Temple." Tucker muttered, getting the terrorists' attention
"Heheheh, well well well. If it isn't Lavernius Tucker and the fuck-tard loyalist of the United Nations Space Command." Temple snickered
The cobalt soldier then noticed RWBY and JNPR, "Oh and you brought friends. How nice. Though, I didn't picture you as parental units."
"We're not their kids." Jaune replied
"Oh." Temple muttered, "Whoops...Unless…"
Temple narrowed his eyes through his visor and noticed Ruby's new pin, and how it bore resemblance to a pendant Caboose wore when he posed as a good guy.
"So…" Temple muttered, "The rumors were true. The great Team RWBY is real. Caboose Sarge told me alot about you. You all killed the Meta, one of the most dangerous Freelancers...you have my thanks."
"For what?" Ruby asked
"Hmph, for avenging all my soldiers who were used by the Freelancers, and in turn the UNSC."
"Well, we don't want your thanks." Yang intervened
"I see that these idiots have gotten to your heads." Temple chuckled, "Overtime they can make the brain got nuts."
Temple then set his sights back on the Reds and Blues, "I'm going to get out of here, and when i do, I will destroy your world piece by piece until you're all in hell."
"Starting to sound like Felix now." Locus muttered
"HAHAHAHAHAH!" Temple laughed hysterically, "Felix! The great Issac Gates! No...I am way different than your late partner Ortez. Gates only cared about money, this galaxy needs a new class of criminal."
"Don't bother." Grif spoke up, "Cause you're all being transferred to a new prison on Earth. Except for you Temple, you're being transferred to Reach where there's enough fish for you there."
Temple sneered beneath his helmet as the Reds and Blues and huntsmen all left.
"I"LL GET YOU ALL FOR THIS! YOU WILL ALL BURN IN HELL!"
POV Change: Beacon Academy
Ozpin was standing by the bullhead docking port as the Prowler landed nearby. The Reds and Blues, RWBY, JNPR, Ironwood, Glynda, and several newcomers exited the craft.
"I presume your diplomatic mission proved successful?" Ozpin asked
"As a matter of fact it did." Carolina replied, "Professor, meet Vanessa Kimball of Chorus. She has agreed to send aid for our cause."
"Professor, it's about time we've met." said Kimball
"Same here." Ozpin replied
POV Change: UNSC Prison Transport
Temple and the Blues and Reds all sat within their holding cell aboard a prison transport. The first stop was to be Reach to drop off Temple before heading to Earth to drop off the rest of the terrorists.
In the midst of their silence, the sound of gunfire and slashes filled the air, many of fellow inmates began to question if someone broke out of their cell. A single UNSC soldier appeared in front of their cell and fired at an unknown target before being shot in the head.
Temple stood up as two figures appeared in front of the cell. The first wore a grayish-blue suit with yellow linings. He was of middle age, had slightly tanned skin, grayish black hair, a thick mustache and eyebrows, and green eyes. Lastly was a man in a brown coat with a white shirt underneath. He had dark brown hair, fair skin, and yellow eyes. But the weirdest thing was that a scorpion tail stuck out of his back.
"Mark Temple." the first man asked
Temple stared at them both, "Who's asking?"
Welp, there you having it! The Blues and Reds are the new villains in the story! We'll see them integrate themselves into Salem's Inner Circle in the next two chapters.