AN: Okay so...I was wrong about having 14 Hunters mostly done before returning to this. 14 Hunters has been kinda put on hold while I play Destiny, Elder Scrolls Online, Titanfall, Arkham Knight, Mad Max...well you get the point. Plus with two jobs and being on the road for about 2 hours every day on any day that I do work, time and motivation to write have been severely lacking. Once I have time constraints lessened I will have much more time to play video games and write when I get bored of them. The biggest reason I am getting back into these three (Cinders on the Meadow and Color of Life) are because I have been watching lots of movies with great source material, playing video games with epic fight sequences I can use as inspiration, and of course the confirmation of RWBY Volume 3 this month. This one did not receive the most favorite or follows but did receive the most views and also the most interest in PMs. Also trying to get a slew of new chapters out fairly soon so that I have plenty of new material for you guys to read and enjoy. Also revisited the description of the story based upon some of the new information Rooster Teeth has given. So let's get back to the story!
Hidden Agendas
Cinder flew the Bullhead low and fast over the forest south of the mountain. An occasional bird flew startled from the treetops into the sky behind the aircraft. A small beep emitted from the screen on her left and announced that the rear door had been opened. Glancing at the screen of the interior showed Ruby sitting on the edge of the door with her sniper rifle up watching out the back for any Atlas followers. Returning her faze to the cockpit, she resumed her contemplation of the Atlas intel. Given that Dust was already incredibly potent and downright deadly in most applications, compiling that much Dust into one canister, even without the addition of the primers and other chemicals to the mix, would be an extremely dangerous to create. Any kind of mistake or slip could be potentially deadly to the workers and surrounding area should the Dust ignite. That would mean the experiments would have to be isolated and far from most natural disaster hot zones like coasts and fault lines. Before she could think of any possible locations, several blips appeared on her radar.
"Alright guys, we have bogies incoming!" Scanning the horizon before her, Cinder noted a fleet of aircraft flying above them and closing ground fast. "Incoming 11 high." Coco appeared at the door, slid into the seat behind Cinder and fired up the fore turrets. The seat slid into the floor and a bulge appeared below the cockpit, four turret guns extending and locking into place. Two more notices on her screen told Cinder that both side bay doors had been opened and the turrets were moved into place, Fiore and Manx, the team's resident cat Faunus, strapped to the seats and priming the barrels.
"We are ready Cinder." Manx's voice was little more than a growl over the intercoms.
"We have Atlas converging behind!" Ruby announced loudly loading a new magazine into the weapon in her hand. "Yang I will need you!"
"Cinder, gain altitude. Otherwise I am all but useless." Coco announced as she stared through her view screens at a blur of green leaves. Cinder obliged and pulled on her control stick, pulling the Bullhead into a steady climb.
"Hold on everyone! We need to get higher." Cinder pulled the Bullhead into a steeper climb, pointing the nose at about 50º above the treetops. The craft soon broke the altitude of the rapidly approaching air craft and climbed higher still. "Light em up boys!" Fiore and Manx obliged and began peppering the oncoming aircraft with hell fire, causing them to break formation and scatter. As they split, Cinder caught a glimpse of the seal on the side of the closest ship. "Mistral craft! Beware the storm." Referencing the infamous rumors of the Mistral air force utilizing lightning Dust to wreak havoc on the systems of their enemies.
Fiore quickly trailed the other craft as they streaked past his gun placement. "These are not their scout craft. These were set up in ambush."
"That's what I was afraid of." Cinder muttered more to herself than to her comrades. Straightening out she began watching the much faster craft dart back and forth across her cockpit window. "This isn't right…"
Ruby and Yang stood side by side at the back of the craft firing at the approaching Atlas strike crafts. "They are quick!" Yang shouted at her sister.
"Not quick enough." Ruby called back, scoring a perfect shot to the pilot of the nearest ship's head. The craft took a sharp right and succeeded in smashing directly into its wingman, causing a large explosion that the others dodged nimbly. Yang fired two fireballs directly where the explosion happened and caught another fighter unaware as they resumed formation, blasting off one engine and putting it into a steep nose dive. As the craft broke the canopy and exploded against a tree, a small flock of Nevermores took wing and rose directly behind the Atlas craft.
"Fuck! We have birds!" Yang called down the craft. One Nevermore flew up and threw its wings forward, causing a storm of flechettes to strike several craft including a couple of the Mistral craft intercepting the Atlas fleet. "And that takes care of some of our other problems."
"This isn't true Mistral air forces." Cinder called sharply to the crew. "They have neither regained formation nor have they begun the strafes their fleets are trained to do. These are someone else."
"Doesn't matter if we shoot them down though!" Manx called as he gained a lead on a circling craft and managed to kill the pilot, dooming the craft. "Chock one more for Vale!" A sudden lurch caught every one by surprise and called to attention the Nevermores again. One brash bird had done a dive-bomb and managed to put long gashes in the top of the craft. "We have problems!"
"I got this." Yang grabbed a pair of mag lock boots from a nearby crate and strapped them to her feet. Running toward Fiore's turret, she performed a running leap and after grabbing the top rail, swung her body out the door and onto the ship, boots engaging automatically. Stepping slowly to the middle of the craft, she called to the Nevermores. "Come get me birdies!" Seeing an opportunity, one Nevermore performed a dive-bomb only to be deflected to the side by a monster punch from Yang, blinding the bird in one eye.
"I'm going to get her." Yatsuhashi grabbed his sword and his pair of boots. Performing the same movement, Yatsu managed to swing to the roof with one hand and latch to the hull. Spinning his massive blade, Yatsu sliced off the foot of another Grimm that attempted to attack the ship. A scream of fury from the injured bird was quickly silenced as it slammed into a Mistral fighter attempting to perform a strafe along the Vale ship. The two toppled to the ground and exploded in a small fireball.
"They are breaking off!" Cinder called over the comms, noting the Atlas ships falling back toward Rand's military base and the Mistral craft heading south and slightly east. Even the Nevermores seemed to cut their loses and return to their nests. "Yatsu. Yang. Get back in here." A small whir behind her announced the return of Coco's seat to it's normal position and she leaned back and sighed.
"Mark two confirmed kills for me." Coco seemed put out and disinterested in the mission anymore. "First the Schnees. Now Mistral has some kind of mole in our ranks that tipped the air force off."
"Those weren't Mistral pilots." Cinder growled to Coco. "I have been in plenty of dog fights with the Empire. Those were completely different tactics. That was closer to Vacuo's guerrilla style. But since when did they get ahold of Mistral equipment?"
"You got me there Cinder. I don't remember any Vacuo and Mistral battles in recent months. And that was their newest model." Coco nodded and stood up to return to the cargo hold.
[They Move on Tracks of Never-Ending Light - They Will Destroy You]
"We have a rogue fighter!" Ruby's shout caused everyone to stare out the rear ramp at a silver streak fast approaching. A burst of gunfire raked over the ship, jostling it greatly. Yatsuhashi's hand appeared at the port opening and he swung into the craft, landing hard on a bloody left leg that gave way beneath him. "Now Yang!"
However, Yang's body appeared before her. Not supported by anything except the empty air behind the ship. Yang's left arm had a large bloody gash from the elbow to the shoulder and her left boot was sparking, a gun shot hole evidently rendering the mag locks inoperable. Yang's lilac eyes were wide with terror as she passed out of their field of view. "YANG! NO!" Ruby ran to the edge of the ramp and prepared to jump but Manx's slender form sprang cat-like to her side and a roundhouse kick to the stomach launched her back into the ship. The strike ship reappeared, evidently preparing another strafe and Fiore slammed his hand against the emergency button, closing and sealing all the bay doors.
"Ruby stop! We can't help her now." Coco held onto the small thrashing figure in her arms, restraining her in an attempt to keep her from launching herself out of the ship to search for Yang. Ruby did break free but was immediately seized by Fiore's enormous arms who wrapped her in his signature bear hug and picked the small screaming girl up and held her tight.
"Enough!" Fiore's deep voice was enough to silence the squirming girl. "We have to get out of here. We cannot risk the rest of our lives for her. She is strong. She will manage." The large man dropped to the ground and wrapped his arms even tighter around the now sobbing Ruby. With one hand, he slowly rubbed her hair attempting to calm her. All around the pair, the crew solemnly replaced all the equipment and helped Yatsu into the small room with the briefcase to be patched up.
"This is Nevermore, calling home. Come in. Stand by with medics. We have injured" Cinder radioed the ship waiting off shore.
"We read you Nevermore. Climb to forty thousand and head due south. The nest awaits." The crackle of the responder came over the system and Cinder began a shallow climb to 40,000 feet. Upon reaching the proper altitude, Cinder hit a sequence of codes into her transponder and before the ship appeared a large opening bay door. The door appeared seemingly out of thin air as its optic camouflage decloaked and stood open. Once past the threshold, the doors slid quickly closed and Cinder docked at the open bay.
Immediately all doors opened and the carrier's waiting crew rushed in. Yatsu limped out, supported by Coco and a large burly medic. Fiore carried the small, curled, unintelligibly muttering ball that was Ruby and Cinder left her ship clutching the sealed briefcase and stalked to the bridge. Upon reaching it, she was met by a stern Glynda Goodwitch.
"Just what the hell happened? Ruby risks her life by running after the dropped case, you were ambushed by Mistral and tailed by Atlas, and Yang is MIA!?" Glynda was shouting at Cinder who stared her directly in he face with the same level of fury.
"I have no idea how this was botched this bad. I do have one suggestion. Why don't you start interrogating your staff and find the moles that we obviously have. That road force was entirely too ready for us. The Mistral force, if they even are, were ready with an ambush, and that last ship was prototype. There was too much risked with that for little to no return with that prototype. They expected something." Cinder spoke in a low voice that did nothing to hide her anger and easily carried around the silent bridge. "Here's your fucking intel. It cost the life of a fine young woman." Cinder's voice dropped to a whisper. "And you better bring her home." Cinder turned on her heel and marched back down the hall to her crew's quarters to a now sleeping Ruby and stiff Fiore in a chair.
"Finally passed out. Just kept muttering 'Yang' and something else I didn't catch." Fiore looked up at his leader, his eyes betraying his steady voice. "What are we going to do about Yang?"
"That's first up to Ozpin. If he gives us the green, we move in a hot extract. If not, well we stick to that plan." Cinder sat on the bed next to the sleeping girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am not letting her lose her sister." Fiore nodded and leaned back in his chair.
"Get some rest. We have a long flight home." Cinder motioned to Fiore, her own voice cracking with exhaustion.
A Few Hours Later
Ironwood marched along the hall of the military base built into the side of the mighty mountain of Atlas's heart. The hallway was long and narrow, no one except his personal guard and the two sentries posted outside a door were present. The hall was brightly lit and the floor and walls gave off a silver glare, the same as the metal pieces built into his uniform and the uniforms of his army. Both sentries saluted the General as he stopped at the door and turned toward it.
"Open it." Ironwood's stern order bounced off the walls all the way down the hallway. The guard on his left entered a code and the door disappeared upward into the wall. Inside, a motionless yet slowly breathing figure lay strapped to a table surrounded by machines measuring various vital signs and two of his most trusted military doctors. "Anything yet?"
"No sir." Both doctors jumped to attention when the General spoke but he waved them off. "She has seemed to have stabilized but we are not getting anywhere with her otherwise. She appears to be comatose but with enough brain function to continue healing her wounds inflicted upon her fall."
"What were the injuries sustained during the attack?" Ironwood leaned over the mysterious woman before him and examined her bruising beneath the sheets. Several gashes on her abdomen were attempting to stitch themselves closed leaving brilliant black and purple bruising. Touching one gently, the flesh below the skin was hard as a rock, indicating substantial internal swelling.
"One bullet managed to leave a considerable gash on her right arm, deep enough to scratch the bone. Another bullet lodged in her left foot, rendering the equipment useless and no doubt causing her fall. As for the gashes, we are assuming that was caused by tree branches as she fell, and the broken bones from the collision. We count 13 broken ribs, a shattered left elbow, skull fractures and possible pelvic breaks." The second doctor spoke up.
"Nasty little tumble." Ironwood held a sick look, halfway between cruel satisfaction for her meddling and punishment, and slight compassion knowing the pain that rendered her comatose, on his face. "I want regular updates. Reports on her healing, this will give me an insight on her Aura and power. I also want reports of any possible mutterings or clues as to her allegiance."
"Do you have any suspicions on where that might lie?" The first doctor cut in.
"I have very little doubt that she is not one of Ozpin's fabled Huntresses." Ironwood straightened himself with pride. "If this manages to be true, then we have proof that we can make them bleed." Ozpin turned and headed for the door. "Oh, and reopen some wounds. Really make her Aura work to fix her."
Ironwood marched back into the hall to see his lieutenant holding a scroll and a frown. Offering the scroll to Ironwood, he fell into step beside him as they made their way back down the corridor.
"We have an unidentified individual residing in the Nightshade Hotel in Rand. The name she gave does not match any on official records of Atlas. Nor is her face in our databases either."
"So we have a fugitive of some kind or merely a refugee." Ironwood stared down at the images of a rather good looking young woman with amber eyes and black hair with a bow. "Can't imagine she would be able to afford that place if she was a refugee though."
"Further more sir." The lieutenant was eager to get to what he came for. "The Nightshade has a prime overlook of the freeway where the battle took place this morning." Ironwood frowned but did not speak up. "Also, we detected an outgoing signal from the same hotel not 10 minutes following the clean up of the scene with the Schnee girls. The signal was encrypted with an unknown key and with a foreign yet unfamiliar language. The language resembled that found in both East Vale and also most of Mistral."
"Must have been a look out for the enemy squad. Left behind to deter suspicions on their actions." Ironwood reached the end of the corridor and hit the button for the elevator, which immediately opened to allow them inside. As they ascended from the detention level, Ironwood asked. "Do we have anyone going to investigate this?"
"We have special forces assembled and waiting for your permission to commence an attack on the individual." The young man drew himself up proudly. "Hand picked by me for this mission, they will see it through."
"I want this quiet until it is carried out. Alert the staff to get as many bystanders as possible out of the building. Or get the entire building evacuated and snatch her from the crowd." Ironwood stepped out into the gleaming sunlight reflecting off his hangar's floors and aircraft. Before him stood two teams of eight men and women a piece. "You have my blessing and my luck. Keep this quiet. Get the innocents out and snatch her from the crowd. Quick, clean, quiet." Ironwood waved them off and they immediately jumped into their vehicles and exited the military base.
"Please fetch Schnee. We have items we need to discuss going forward." Ironwood sent off his man and stepped onto his private elevator. The elevator exited into his office, a simple modern silver room with windows to allow him to watch over his army. Ironwood strode behind his desk and sat down just as Mr. Schnee entered the room.
"You wished to speak to me General." Schnee still looked worried and anxious beneath his professional stare. Ironwood nodded and gestured toward a chair.
"I wish to talk to you about our bomb." Ironwood leaned forward over his desk, hands clasped and looked intently at Schnee. "What can we do to express mail it to Ozpin?"
Meanwhile
Winter sat next to Weiss's bed with her feet resting on the side rail. Weiss was irritably pulling on her IV cords and other hook ups.
"Stop it sis. You have those in for a reason." Winter looked up and lightly kicked the rail jostling the bed and jerking Weiss out of her stupor.
"I'm fine. I shouldn't be here." Weiss was irked at having to be set on the bed when she could be out doing something, anything. "I need to make sure that intel doesn't escape."
"Already has. The documents mad it off shore and they are currently headed toward Vytal." Weiss looked over at Winter with raised eyebrows. "What? You know how much of a code monkey I am. Not to mention I was able to use my Semblance to trace anything and everything once I have its signature."
"I didn't know you had a Semblance yet?!" Weiss looked throughly more alive than she previously felt.
"Yup, and it can also allow me certain amount of control or monitoring depending on what I track." Winter pulled her Scroll from an internal pocket on her white leather jacket on the side table and opened the device. The Scroll displayed a small map with three blips currently highlighted. Pointing to the southern most blip, Winter spoke. "The documents are currently headed toward Vytal Island. It's almost out of range so I won't be able to track it any farther." Just as she spoke, the blip disappeared with a small pop. "If they continue their course, they should end up just east of the city Vale, around near Beacon and their Emerald Forest base."
"How did you find this?" Weiss took the Scroll and proceeded to zoom in upon the remaining two dots which appeared to be currently residing in the Rand military base.
"Couple weeks ago I noticed that when I touched something I really wanted or wanted to remember, I noticed that our crest would appear briefly before fading. Pretty soon I learned that they could be tracked as long as I had control over my Scroll. Basically allows primitive access to the device from a distance. Like with the case, I can get the specs on it even with the documents inside. However I cannot see what the documents are. Those other two dots are the girl who secured the documents and Daddy's Scroll." Winter's large impish grin perfectly portrayed how proud she was with her new ability. Weiss, still thunderstruck, handed the Scroll back.
"Why are you tracking Dad's Scroll?" Weiss now looked skeptically over at her younger sisters who began to fidget a little bit.
"I wanted to be able to know what he was up to. He has been gone so often and he always looks so tired. I worry about you two. You are always running slave to Ironwood's whims and Dad is being stressed a lot by him." Winter looked at her boots and clicked the heels together a couple times. "I also can send messages to his Scroll and get transcripts of his meetings if I want." Weiss, now throughly startled, grabbed the Scroll and began tapping on the dots.
The enhanced image of the base, put her father's blip in the middle of Ironwood's office. The blip for their attacker placed her somewhere in the middle of the base. Finding the 3D imagery button, Weiss was able to get a complete layout of the base. Sure enough, Mr. Schnee was sitting in Ironwood's office. However, instead of being in the middle of the military base, the second blip was roughly 100 feet below the surface, in what Weiss knew as the Dungeons, Ironwood's "interrogation" chambers. Cold beads of sweat began rolling down her brow and she tapped the first blip again.
"What Weiss?" Winter now looked scared and ran around the bed to read the Scroll over her sister's shoulder. A transcript of the meeting between their father and the General was being listed.
What can I do to express mail it to Ozpin.
General, we still need more time to perfect the recipe. Currently the device is too unstable to be mounted on the missile.
Then you work your eggheads overtime until it is stabilized. I want the world to know that we will not be played with like this.
Why Ozpin sir? Unless my memory deceives me, he has been focused on Vacuo. I propose we attempt to drop the device on the Emperor.
That has crossed my mind recently, however I am sure that it is Ozpin's Huntress that we currently have captured. If he did indeed send a team into my Kingdom, then I will return the favor ten thousand fold.
What of the trace that came from the Nightshade? The Mistral language encryption? What if it was indeed Mistral that attacked? Their "boss" as my daughters' attacker mentioned could be some high ranking Centurion within their ranks seeking favor with the Emperor.
Unless it was a rogue squadron of Mistral air forces that attacked them en route to the sea, I doubt it was a Centurion and his Legion. And how do you know of that signal?
General I have been on the base since I saw my daughters to the hospital. I have been trying to learn what I can about the attackers.
Well we do have two teams moving on the hotel. I will give you an update on what we find.
Thank you General. Shall I take my leave now?
Yes, thank you Schnee. Remember, I want that bomb ready as soon as possible. Maybe we can pick a target after we know where this little rat at the Nightshade hails from.
[Ding of elevator doors]
Weiss put down the Scroll and stared wide eyed at her sister, staring back just as frightened.
"Why do you have this?!" Weiss hissed at her sister. "If Ironwood, hell if Dad finds it, you are going to be seen as the mole." Weiss's eyes took on a steely glare. "Have you been feeding sensitive information to the other Kingdoms?"
"NO!" Winter screamed, unable to keep the terror out of her voice. "I only wanted to know why you guys are being worked so hard. I don't want any one to die." Winter reached for her Scroll but now that she had switched sides of the bed, she was unable to grab it from Weiss, who held it out of reach.
"We delete these transcripts and if Dad finds out your Semblance you just tell he that it was an accident you were able to track the blonde from the attack. You are still young enough to get away with the innocence act." Weiss's stern tone had returned firmly to her voice. "Understand?"
"Yeah sis. I understand." Winter's eyes dropped to the bed and she kicked one boot against the ground.
"Good." Weiss began wiping the database of her sister's device of any and all transcripts of their father's meetings. She noticed various transcripts where it just seemed to be her father muttering to himself about Ironwood. Some seemed to be about how his military rule was going to destroy their Kingdom. Others about how he gives no care for any innocents in the opposing Kingdoms and how he would see them annihilated with their homeland. A sick feeling in her stomach began to develop and she found herself losing respect for the leader of their Kingdom and military. "Done."
"Thanks." Winter held her hand out for her Scroll but Weiss dropped it onto the chair where Winter had been sitting.
"Come here." Weiss pulled her sister into her bed and wrapped her arms around her. "I know you are no traitor." Winter met her gaze with a blank questioning look. Knowing full well what it meant, Weiss continued. "You don't look like one. You look like some lost dorky little punk that needs a hug and some sleep." Winter smiled and snuggled into her sister's side.
Five minutes later
Blake awoke with a start to a blaring alarm and flashing lights. The fire alarm system seemed to have detected a fire and were broadcasting a warning throughout the building. Jumping out of bed and grabbing her knapsack, she glanced out the window on a hunch. Below there did not seem to be any smoke nor could she smell anything as her window was slightly ajar to allow the cool Atlas summer breezes in. However, aside from the emergency vehicles arriving, she did see two large police vans arrive.
Why would they show up like that? And how were they so fast?
Blake looked back at the ground and found that there were only a handful of residents waiting on the sidewalk below. While she watched the police officers, each of whom held a small piece of paper, were stopping the guests and asking talking briefly with them. Some were holding the papers up to the side of guests' faces but shaking their heads.
Shit! They know I am here.
Blake grabbed Gambol Shroud from the place where it rested against the wall and fixed it to her back. Pulling out her Scroll, she entered the emergency code she had been given during her briefing. Putting the Scroll to her ear, she exited her room and headed for the nearest stairwell. The line connected and she heard the familiar voice.
"What? What happened?" Adam's voice sounded from the earpiece as she began climbing the stairs, heading for the roof instead of the lobby.
"I've been found out. Must have traced the last call. That or they are acting on a hunch of some kind. I have special forces outside waiting for me." Blake's voice was still quiet and collected even though she was sprinting up the stairs, two at a time.
"Fuck, alright. Going with escape plan Bravo. Are you headed for the roof?" Adam called to someone on his end after asking Blake.
"Yes." Blake arrived back at the roof she had left a few hours previously and kicked the door open. Only to be met with an airship and the second squad of Spec Ops forces. "Send the boy right along. Had some unexpected guests." Before she could hear his response, Blake dropped the Scroll and ground it into the roof with her heel. Shattering the screen and snapping the motherboard and memory bank with the initial kick, she proceeded on grinding as much of the White Fang tech as she could so they could not identify it.
The first operative lunged for her, twin longswords arced high over her head and brought down with incredible speed. Blake sidestepped and pulled her large cleaver from her back. Crossing the blade before her, she brought the hilt of her blade to the woman's side and fired three shots directly into her abdomen. The loud crack of broken bones told the entire rooftop that one shot had penetrated the spinal column of the woman and she fell to the ground, legs limp and lifeless. Blake solemnly grabbed the handle of the blade and separated the cleaver from the smaller katana and again pointed the gun at the sprawled and sobbing woman, putting one bullet into the back of her head with a mercy kill.
"You fucking bitch!" A cry sounded from the remaining Atlas soldiers and two more ran at her, both wielding automatic pistols and long sharp daggers. Making one pass, they jumped at Blake and sunk both daggers into her back, only to have Blake dissolve and reappear to their left with both swords swinging sideways at their exposed flanks. A soldier at the other end of the rooftop quickly brought his sniper to his shoulder and fired a shot, deflecting the cleaver and causing it to jump from Blake's grip. Instinctively Blake hissed and sunk the katana in the closest soldier's side, ripping it out viciously to leave a long deep gash in his side. His partner was too quick for Blake's second attack, which he ducked and delivered an upward jab with his dagger, stabbing the back of Blake's hand, the second half of Gambol Shroud flying out of her grasp.
However, Blake quickly jerked her hand back and the pistol in the hilt fired, recoil moving the blade back along her ribbon and impaling the second soldier just to the left of his spine. The soldier fell forward coughing on his blood and Blake used her uninjured hand to collapse the blade down and cock the weapon. Throwing it behind her, she retrieved her other fallen weapon and fitted her left hand into its grip. Once again dual wielding her weapons, this time with her ribbon wrapped tightly around her right hand to stem the bleeding, she leapt toward the rest.
Gunfire rent the air as the remaining operative scattered and leveled their guns at the lone woman. Blake spun, jumped, and flipped through the air, avoiding the Dust rounds spitting from the surrounding guns. One of the soldiers she had killed had a pistol with the same caliber and form laying next to her. Using her cleaver, she knocked the magazine out and with a ring, her own pistol's magazine ran dry. Sliding her gun along the ground, she scooped up the magazine and began firing again. This magazine seemed to have an assortment of Dust bullets because all around her small fires, icicles, and arcs of electricity began sprouting up. However, Blake did not have time to relish in the new fortune because a familiar and terrifying sound grew slowly louder. The whir of a minigun spinning up was filling the air around her and she remember the Bullhead that had deposited the forces on the roof. Now that she was alone in the middle of the rooftop, the gunners has clear shots on the spy and were preparing to fire.
Before the first bullet fired, a different stream of hellfire raked across the roof, killing a half dozen men and women before peppering the side of the Bullhead and knocking out the starboard engine. Turning her head, Blake saw her escape plane drawing close. Remembering the trick Adam had taught her years before when she was still in training, Blake threw her right hand in the air. The aircraft passed over the hotel just close enough for it to catch the ribbon attached to Blake's gun and yank the gun down to lodge in the special fuselage designed to that exact purpose. Blake's feet left the ground and she was airborne, right arm still the only thing that kept her from dropping hundreds of feet into the streets below. Pulling a swift and complicated maneuver, the aircraft jerked forward briefly and Blake sailed into the open rear door and onto the cargo bay floor as the door closed and the craft climbed steadily above the clouds and south east to Menagerie.
"I hope this is worth it in the end." The accented voice Blake knew well echoed over the comms and Blake laughed quietly to herself before getting up and walking to the cockpit. Upon entering the space, the brown rabbit ears twitched while Blake sat in the seat behind them. Velvet Scarlatina leveled out the aircraft and spun in her seat to look at the cat Faunus behind her. "Your bow is gone by the way."
Blake's hand jumped to her hair and she was surprised to find that her bow was indeed missing. "This isn't good. This could clue them in that I am not only Mistral." Velvet shrugged and turned back to the window.
"I doubt they will even find it."
Back at the hotel
Russel Thrush was one of the few soldiers searching the room abandoned by Blake just minutes before. While Blake did pack light and had managed to grab everything of importance pertaining to her mission and her superiors, she had missed one small but potentially crucial piece of evidence, her black ribbon. Grabbing the strip of cloth, he returned to the hallway where his partner Sky Lark stood nursing a sparking gash on his arm.
"Fucking Faunus bitch. I am going to rip those pretty little ears from her head someday." Sky turned to his partner and saw his holding the piece of cloth.
"She must have been trying to hide those under this and forgot it when she left." Russel crumpled the black cloth in his hand and the two started down the hall to the elevator bank. Waiting there was Ironwood's lieutenant and Russel offered what he had found. "This was found on the floor beside the bed. My partner here reports that she was a Faunus."
"We will have this ID'd to try and narrow down where it could come from. Thank you for your service gentlemen. The medics downstairs will patch you up." Both Russel and Sky saluted the lieutenant and entered the elevator that was waiting for them.
"I better be selected to go on any mission to hunt this bitch down. I have some stuff I need to settle with her." Russel laughed and cast a sideways glance to Sky to find his face contorted with a sick half smile half grimace. "Maybe once I finish with her I will have left you a toy to play with." The two of them laughed as they exited the elevator and emerged into the bright lobby.
AN: So there we go! Plot! Exposition! Action! Inspiration! Other -ions! Possible foreshadowing?! Fair warning! There is a high probability of character deaths within the story. I personally prefer stories with a fair amount of surprises and especially in this case, a World War will have a very high body count. Some characters may appear among that number but as of right now, with no deaths of main or even secondary characters, you have not need to worry...yet.
And Fiore and Manx are two original characters I had drawn up some months ago as possible teams in various stories. As I did say before, any of them have a given chance of appearing in my other stories that are based upon RWBY. Fiore is just a few inches shorter than Yatsuhashi but is another tank kind of character but with an ability that includes growing plant life for sustenance and even producing oxygen (because he is a flower). Manx on the other hand is a lithe cat Faunus with tawny hair and ears, bright green eyes and abilities similar to that of a cat that I will not go into too much right now.
Anyway thanks for reading. Please favorite, follow, and review if you enjoyed it. I may have need of characters for the various Kingdoms down the line that I will call upon you guys for.