Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout or RWBY both belong to their respective creators.

Bold: Robot or other speaking

"Hi": Robot or other thinking

Hi: used for normal speech

'hi : used to convey thought

Enjoy

"Besides a few corpses that could be recovered, most of personal and equipment were destroyed by the Grimm" answered Redcliff as he waited for the general's response.

"Hmm, and you say that there was no evidence" asked Ironwood.

"I would say the TA would be the ones responsible but due to the rise of bandit activity around the globe as well as said bandits seemed to be coming in contact with more modern military equipment I find it will be hard to blame them for it" replied Redcliff.

"While I did not ask for your opinion I do see what you are saying specialist" said Ironwood as he leaned back on his chair. Indeed, in the recent years there has been a spike on the amount of bandits around remnant but to say that these bandits have gotten their hands on modern military tech is a bit over exaggerated, most the tech these new bandits seem to have are supposedly post WW-2 tech.

"Continue your search, specialist, when you have something inform me" order ironwood. Redcliff gave a curt nod before ending the call.

As the call ended ironwood leaned back in his chair as his shoulders sagged showing a weary side of the general.

This wasn't the first time ironwood felt very tired but ever since he became general, after the war, it seemed like the world wanted to constantly throw more problems at his face.

"Looks like we need to increase our patrols near Vale again" muttered ironwood to himself as he thought over what redcliff said.

While what the specialist said does have merit, without any solid evidence such accusations to the TA would only strain the already tense relationship they have. And while the general was many things going to war with the TA is the last thing he wants to do. Such a war could cause ruin to not only the two nation's but for all of remnant.

"Or worse, they think about using a nuke" thought ironwood as a shiver run up his spine. A nuke, once a word that was barely heard of was now one that brought fear and worry to those who heard it. A weapon that could destroy a kingdom in a single instant would naturally bring such emotions out.

While such a weapon could be extremely useful against the endless hordes of Grimm the kingdoms face daily the potential for said weapons to used against each other were even greater, just look at the TA if one wanted an example.

Taking a deep breath ironwood calmed himself down as he looked through his offices window, down to where multiple hunters-in-training we're currently running through basic combat stances.

A bit of respect wormed its way into ironwood's heart at sight. Seeing many young men/women training to one day risk their lives to protect the innocent. But only for the mood to become bitter as memories from the recent council meeting resurfaced.

A few members have once again voice the question of whether hunters were worth the cost they required. Hunters were not cheap things, it requires years and thousands of lien just to produce one. It takes a lifetime to create a truly formidable Hunter.

But ever since the war and the witness of handheld laser/plasma weapons some have once again question their value. In theory a single soldier equipped with a laser/plasma gun could kill a huntsman who spent years honing their skills with a good shot.

They also argued that money spent on the huntsman program could be spent on more important things like military, infrastructure, welfare etc…

However, the main problem to their plan is that atlas is somehow able to acquire the technology to produce laser/plasma. The TA is quite notorious for their ability to keep the secret of laser/plasma technology to themselves for all this time. Atlas had sent many spies to there territory but coupled with the fact the TA are quite isolationist as well the production facilities themselves are kept in the mainland have made it next to impossible.

Not only that but even if they did somehow acquire the tech it will still take time to actually produce the actual weapon, and even than ironwood doubted that they could give one to every soldier, heck not even the TA has been able to do that.

Before ironwood could continue his train of thought the sound of his door opening broke through. Turning his head he soon realized who was there.

Clad in a white uniform similar to his was a female human, with black hair that cascaded down to her shoulders, pricing emerald eyes, and a smug smirk etched on her face. It was none other that Alice Frost, head of the atlas office of intelligence or A.O.I for short.

"Director, what an unhappy surprise" said James in a dull tone. It wasn't a secret that the general of the land forces did not like the director of the A.O.I. The reason so was the acts the director authorized during the war, some of which would have placed her in a military tribunal had it been in peace times.

"Oh come now Jimmy, there's need that kind of tone. Can't a good friend come to visit you time to time" cheerfully replied Alice.

James gave Alice a leveled stare,"What do want director, we both know you that you would never come here unless it was a matter of national security.

"Geez, ruin the mood will yea" muttered Alice as she took a seat. "Fine, if you want to be serious than so be."

...

"What do think of the grimm problem in vale" asked Alice.

"What about the situation director" asked James with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"You know what I said" answered Alice.

...

"Hmm … its a little worrying but I doubt it's something that is anything to severe" answered Ironwood.

"Well I concur Ironwood …" replied Alice as her voice became colder "... I have evidence that Vale may be in great danger general."

"Oh? And how so director" asked Ironwood curious with what the intelligence director has to offer. For had this come from anyone of lower rank he would have kicked them out.

Instead of answering Alice pulled into her coats pockets pulling out a small book as she placed near Ironwood with saying one word "read".

Ironwood gave the director an odd look as he pulled the book open, as Ironwood he say that the book was filled with military reports but old ones, there where even a few that almost dated back before the great war. Confusion filled his mind as he read the book not seeing the directors reasoning.

However, as he continued to read the reports a … pattern began to show, at first the general did not see as he thought that these reports where about an odd spike in grimm activity. But from his own personal knowledge as well as the dates of there reports there was something else, for all these reports of unexpected grimm activity it would be months later that said civilization would disappear. Of course not all civilizations followed this pattern but a few did as Ironwood placed the book.

...

"So you know see what I'm trying to say now general" said Alice.

"Hmm … what you bring up director is something to look over but I want to ask something" said ironwood as he looked Alice in the eye "why do you believe that this would happen to Vale of all places, both the TA and our own fleets are around Vale."

"Hmph, please, you can barely call that a fleet general, if the Grimm actually committed than that fleet would have been a pile of scrap by now. To answer the second question, I honestly don't know if it will happen to Vale but it doesn't hurt to come prepared, think what would happen if it did happen and the repercussions."

"First the economics, if Vale, one of the few bastions of civilization, were to fall than we will see a global recession at best and depression at worse. The markets will plummet as global trade will come to a near standstill. Business may go bankrupt or become incredibly weakened as a major consumer base is destroyed which in turn means layoffs in numbers not seen before and how will these workers react general?"

"Second, the international level, if Vale were to fall than think how the international community will react. People are going to point fingers general and who do you think will get the blame? With our's and the TA's fleets around Vale people will blame them for the fall of Vale and I don't think I need to say that neither the TA or atlas will take it lightly. There going to throw the blame at each other and it doesn't take much for war to start and I think we both know that a war is the last thing we need."

"Finally, the sheer logistics. If Vale were to ever fall where would all the citizens go? Patch may be a good idea at first but with the possible amount of refugees that would pour in it wouldn't be long till not even Patch can house all of them, which means we and the other kingdoms have to. The TA would definitely not allow them in America not with their isolationist tendencies towards the landmass and I can't be sure that Menagerie would either, Vale doesn't exactly have the best faunus relations out there so I doubt many would be accepted, a few probably would if I had to guest."

"That means the rest of the three kingdoms will have to bear the burden. Vacuo might not get much in refugees due to both its location, limited resources, and stance with the TA. Mistral and Atlas would probably take the rest, the sheer negatively they would bring will mean a spike in Grimm activity as well as our forces would need to be spread out further to compensate. And don't let me get started with food and other basic necessities." Finished Alice as she took a deep breath now waiting for the generals response.

Ironwood curled his fingers together as his mind was in deep thought from what the director explained. While such an act could be possible the sheer chance was astronomically low, such an action would require years of planning as well as millions if not billions of lien to pull off only someone with the all the time on their hand … time ….

The director saw ironwood eyes widen by a bit, she placed that bit of knowledge away as she saw the general placed his hands down on his desk.

"You truly do believe something big is going to happen don't you director … I can't say I believe you, this seems so unlikely, however, I can't say that you presented has merit … I'll think on what you said." Answered ironwood.

"Good enough for me general, I didn't you expect you to believe me immediately. But to answer your question ironwood, yes, I truly believe this, even if I may be wrong the consequences are too severe to ignore." Replies the director as she left the office.

Ironwood waited after the door closed before releasing a long sigh as he sagged back on his chair. "Oum, I feel like I'm getting to old for this" muttered ironwood.

Ironwood and Ozpin always knew that the chance of an agent of Salem taking advantage of the current situation was very possible … or at least ironwood would like to believe so.

Personally, James found it hard to believe Ozpin that Salem was truly dead after the war. He doubted anyone from Atlas was part of the witch's supposed death, and there was no way it could have been the other kingdoms, Ozpin would have known if such an act was taken which meant that it must have been the TA. That did not bode well for the general or Ozpin and his group. As it opened up another can of worms in itself, does the TA know about the maidens, the relics, or oum knows what else Ozpin maybe hiding about?

Than again the the TA did recently announced about there space program, which opens up the possibility that it must have been them, but that statement brought all kinds of fear the general.

To have weapons in space itself, where no foreign weapon could ever hope to reach it as well as allow said weapon to paratically fire anywhere in the globe with no moments notice brought a shiver down the generals spine.

Under normal circumstances something would have been done when dealing with weapons in space … under normal circumstances of course. The TA would never dismantle there space weapons and would most likely ignore the kingdoms like they do with nukes. All the kingdoms, including there trading friend Vacuo have all tried to bring the TA to talks about dealing with nuclear weapons, yet each attempt has failed as the TA would never do something that could weaken there unofficial chokehold over the world.

A single order, a single order is all that is needed for for the TA to unleash their weapons upon those would try to strike against it. While Atlas could stop the TA nuclear missiles if it ever came to that, the chance of stopping a weapon or even a nuke coming from space is simply next to impossible. The destruction of anyone of the kingdoms will send the rest of the world spiraling into darkness as people, infrastructure, and communication would vanish in flash of nuclear fire, allowing the TA to roll over any remaining resistance giving them the ability to from a new world order from the ashes of millions.

It is that knowledge and understanding that allows TA to go almost unopposed as the kingdoms could pray and hope the TA never turn their weapons against them.

Of course the chance of that actually happening where surprisingly quite low and it was a few reason. The biggest reason why they wouldn't do such a thing is simple, look what happened to them, while it wasn't exactly a secret nobody from the TA would like to talk about the nuclear wasteland that they call home. One only needs to go a few miles or more from the main cities to see the vast wasteland that hasn't been terraformed yet, it was a constant reminder of the danger of nukes and the desires for that not to happen again.

Another reason was the the logistics. To actually take over AND occupied the large territory that makes up the kingdoms will would take an enormous amount of manpower that the TA neither has nor afford such, the TA themselves were still recovering from the war, they still haven't reached pre-war levels but they however, are quite close. Reports show that the TA is more focused on upgrading there soldiers who still needed much in the way of upgrades with their equipment.

The last reason was economics. If they were for some insane reason where to destroy the kingdoms the economic repercussions will be severe to put it very lightly. Most Atlas economic analyst predict if such an event were to happen the TA would suffer a depression far greater than any of the kingdoms have ever seen. Trade would stop immediately as dozens of workers would be laid off, such an action will eventually cause mass civil dissent and if that were to happen than Grimm will be right around the corner for the TA.

Overall the chance of the TA going nuclear against the kingdoms was practically next to nothing, they would rather have the hanging threat than actually do the act.

"Than again that threat, may not last for so long" whispered ironwood to himself as he pulled out a folder from his desk with words PROJECT: EQUALIZER imprinted on it.

"May oum give us mercy for what we are doing" whispered ironwood as let a small prayer.

Hey guys, me here again. Like i said last time I'm not dead, yet, and for reasoning it took so long …. I believe you should know by know. Anyway on a different note after this chapter I'm going to be doing some rewriting with older chapters of my other stories. Anyway, now onto Doctor Oobleck and his assistant Ruby Rose.

"Thank you very much still mysterious voice in the sky" spoke Doctor Oobleck as he turned his attention back to the viewers. Now I do hope you are ready to continue where we left off dear viewers, ~ahem~ Miss Ruby is may" said Oobleck as ruby quickly appeared as she began draw today's lesson.

COMBAT DRONES PART 3

"Today we will be finishing our discussion on combat drones before heading to our next subject" said Oobleck as he grabbed a piece of chalk and proceeded draw a small floating robot with a three digit arm on one side and a submachine gun on the other.

"This here Miss Rose and viewers is a swarmbot, a unique type of combat bot seen only a few time during the war, they were primarily used in hit & run tactics employed by TA officers during time of heavy fighting" explained Oobleck.

"Um, Pro-Doctor Oobleck, why were swarmbots not used much during the war?" asked Ruby.

"An excellent question Miss Rose, to answer you question the reason why swarmbots were not used often was primarily the cost. Swarmbots were generally equipped with light armor as they were designed for speed than defense, as result swarm bot are considered the easiest of TA combat robots to destroy."

"Now replacing a combat drone is not easy on resources no matter how much cheap materials you use to create it. Back than the TA's production capability was just starting to rise and did not have the capability to meet the demands the swarmbots needed as there were being destroyed faster than the TA could make. Because of that swarmbots were generally not used very often as the TA were more focused on quality than quantity when dealing with robots." explained Oobleck.

"Now while they weren't exactly the strongest or most durable of TA combat robots they did make up with numbers, speed and sheer ferociousness. In combat swarmbots begin with using their ranged weapons to whittle their attackers while zooming around the battlefield to avoid attacks. When they start to become low on ammo they do either of the two things, go into melee or flee."

"If they are going into melee than that usually means they have done a significant amount of damage to their enemies to the point their logic machine allows them to head into close combat. Otherwise, the swarmbots would proceed to flee and restock on munitions before coming back or their operators order them the head back" spoke Oobleck.

"Anyway, off to the next and last subject" said Oobleck as he drew the last machine.

This one resemble like that of an eye yet was also had like radio antennas sticking out of the back of it with speakers built into the front.

"What's this type of robot, looks like a scouting variant of some sort" asked Ruby.

"This here Miss Rose is an eyebot, originally designed before the great war for media and propaganda purposes it was later redesigned for long range reconnaissance."

"While eyebots are considered the weakest combat robots next to swarmbots their modular design gives them a edge when it comes to versatility. There versatility allows them to fill a number of roles, to mechanics all the way to combat nurses."

"Eyebots are equipped with either a laser pistol or a 10mm pistol for defense. They also are equipped with hover technology that allows them to traverse a vast range of terrains with incredible ease as well as avoid possible traps as well" explained Oobleck.

Oobleck took a glance at his watch as he turned back to face the viewers. "Well class, it seems that we have reached the end of this session, I hope you take good care to study up by yourself to supplement what we are learning here. Now before I end this video I understand while I did not go over all the different robot out there and I apologize for that but I wish not focus to long on a single subject as I wish to go over a wdie range of subjects as well for next class will focus on Synths afterword we will head to the kingdom of Atlas" explained Oobleck as he turned the recording off.