Ever since her arrival back into Remnant, the small camp had now turned into a fortified settlement. Pyrrha remembered that a few days ago, the camp only consisted of tents and watchtowers to protect the rest of the soldiers living among this community of theirs. Now, it was complete with barbed wires for a fence mixed with fields filled with mines. From the watchtowers, there were emplacements which consisted of mortars and large caliber guns. It was strange for her to see that these cannons held a great field of fire on this part of Remnant, even through the Grimm didn't make any attacks. However, they were also supported by smaller caliber guns referred by the British soldiers as 'ack-ack.' She didn't know what that meant, but Captain Edwards did explain to her after he returned from helping the town that those guns were used for shooting down air targets and can be used against ground targets.

After those events with the town, these soldiers from another world were somewhat surprised by the appearance of the townspeople they rescued. Could it be that they were surprised to see the faunus among their number or was it the strange differences she took for granted. That being said, she was organized to help the townspeople resettle into this place when she stood outside of a captain's tent.

The man slipped out through the small opening as he strapped his helmet on. "It's about building houses for those people, isn't it?" He asked.

Pyrrha nodded while she still wore the coat one of the soldiers gave her. "Yes, Colonel Strudwick told me to help you." She answered. "He said that you specialized in engineering."

"Ha." He scoffed. "I build defenses not houses." The older man replied before he gave out his hand. "The boys call me Captain Derby, but you can call me Derby for short."

She shook his hand as he brought a toothpick between his lips. "Good to meet you, Derby." Pyrrha said with a nervous smile.

"I'll gather my boys to start getting the materials on the other side of that portal-thing." He said while walking past her. "Tell those people to settle their stuff at the mess hall, I'm sure Edwards' men need some company after that fiasco."

Listening to his request, Pyrrha made her way to the mess tent through the small spaces between the tents while dodging a soldier carrying a crate. "Hey, watch it!" He called her out.

She turned back to see him and apologize. "Sorry." As she continued on, Pyrrha looked up to the sky and was met with a familiar sight shadow over her. It brought her a smile when the Atlas Bullhead had proceeded to find a landing spot within the camp.

Colonel Strudwick straightened himself as his hand rested on his cane while Captain Argall and Captain Durante was beside him. He was met with the sight of snow blowing in the wind while the ariel transport had touched the ground with its engines still on. Thankfully, they were not in the way as the colonel asked him a question. "Captain, am I presentable enough for this occasion?"

Argall shifted his attention and gave him a quick look. "Yes sir, I think you look well in your uniform."

Turning away from the captain's complement, Strudwick smiled with pride.

When the aircraft crushed the snow and landed, it showed its rear side before dropping a ramp down. Then two people exited from their transportation and revealed their respective white uniforms. There was a man who lead a duo whose hair showed signs of age, but he seemed to still have some youth in him. Behind him was a fairly young lady whose hair matched what he wore.

Durante began to speak up. "That's Specialist Schnee." He commented. "The gal who managed to rescue my ass."

Then Strudwick smiled and chuckled. "Quite embarrassing to be rescued by a lady, captain."

"You don't have to tell me."

After the man and the specialist had managed to trudge through the snow, they met the gazes of the two captains and the colonel. The man dressed in a white suit was clean-cut and with a distinct style he held for himself. "Allow me to introduce myself." He began. "I am General Ironwood of the Atlas Military and my subordinate beside me is Specialist Schnee."

Colonel Strudwick stepped forth and brought his hand out in good faith with a smile. "Colonel Strudwick of the Office of Strategic Services, it is good to finally meet with someone in this world and a friendly face at that. What brings a general such as yourself within this fortified camp?" The colonel questioned.

"I think we should talk about our business somewhere... private."

Strudwick nodded his head in agreement. "Of course, I'll show you the way." Then he turned to his captains. "Captain Argall, lead us back to the command tent. That should be a place where the general and I can have a decent conversation without any prying eyes or curious ears."

"Yes sir." Acknowledged Captain Argall before he turned to the general in front of him. "General, please follow me."

General Ironwood looked over to the specialist. "Specialist Schnee, you are dismissed." He said. "I'll call you once I finish with my business with the colonel." The white-haired specialist nodded in acknowledgement to his orders.

Then Captain Durante began to speak up. "Sir, what about me?"

Just before Colonel Strudwick could leave off with his guest, he turned over to the captain of Fox Company with a smile. "Captain, you are dismissed or maybe you can provide Specialist Schnee some company." He answered before leaving off into the ocean of tents.

He turned to the specialist and waved his hand. "Well... hello." He said with a nervous smile. "So how was your day?" Monte asked her.

She came with a cold response. "Fine." She answered. "I don't need you to escort me, captain. I can take care of myself."

"I know, but a conversation with a person from another world would be nice for a time."

"If you plan to bring a lengthy conversation with me, I would refuse the offer."

"Well, we could formally introduce each other." Monte replied. "That would be a nice start to begin with."

"You already know my name." Schnee answered. "But if you need to hear it again, I am Specialist Winter Schnee of the Atlas Military. Is that all you want from me?"

"Winter, that sounds like a lovely name." Then he brought out his hand to her. "I'm Captain Monte Durante." However, Winter didn't show any signs of greeting him in this manner. "Say, you want something to eat or warm to drink?"

"You are offering a meal after you introduce yourself?"

He shook his head. "Yeah, but I hear the mess hall has hot chocolate, a fresh batch of coffee, and some pancakes for the people we brought back from that town the other day. I just thought you might enjoy a good meal from our side of the world."

Then he took note of the specialist's curiosity. "You took civilians into a secure military facility?" She questioned him. "That is not a responsible way to handle things. Those people still have homes to go back to." She argued.

"That is where I disagree with you." Monte replied. "If they get attacked again, I doubt we would respond in force to kick those monsters out, even if we tried."

"You have trouble fighting the Grimm?" She scoffed at his limitation. "Explains why you needed a help of a specialist. Don't you have a huntsman or a huntress with you."

"Um, what? I don't know what you are talking about."

"You don't have people who fight monsters."

"Ma'am, this is our first time trying fight them. All I have to say is that my company and I should consider ourselves lucky we didn't end up getting half of our company's strength eaten away."

Before she could reply, the officer and the specialist turned over to three trucks filled with paratroopers, singing a song Durante already knew of. Thanks to his close friendship with Vastano and his company, he knew a bit or two about the paratroopers as they began to pass by.

He was just a rookie troop and he was surely shook with fright.

He checked off of his equipment and made sure his pack was tight.

He had to listen to those awful engines roar.

You ain't gonna jump no more!

Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,

Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,

Gory, gory what a hell of a way to die,

he ain't gonna jump no more!

The rest of the lyrics disappeared when the last of the trucks turned around the corner. However, Specialist Schnee gave out her thoughts on the matter. "Who are they and why are they singing such a song?" Winter questioned. "For a military from another world, I expected better from your soldiers." Captain Durante chuckled at her response. "Why are you laughing?"

He stopped himself from laughing any further before answering her question. "Well ma'am, they're paratroopers."

"Paratroopers, I never heard of them."

"Then let me enlighten you." He replied. "These guys are ordered by HQ to be dropped behind enemy lines and destroy anything they can find before the rest of the ground forces catches us with them." Monte explained to her. "For these guys, this is the song which brings both officer and enlisted together since they happen to be in the same plane together going into combat together."

"Then why do they sing such a song? It shouldn't fit the military in any way."

"When an officer has a same chance as a private to snap his neck from the fall, I think its a good way to have officers and NCOs to have a good time with a song they don't like. Though, I don't blame them since Captain Vastano went missing before the town of Lorch got attacked by those faunus people."

"Wait-what?" Winter questioned him. "Could you please repeat that last part?"

"What, the faunus people attacking the town?"

"No, before that. His name started with a v."

"Captain Vastano?"

"Yes." Winter answered. "You said he was an officer."

"Yep." Monte replied. "He was given an officer's commission to be the rank of captain thanks to his actions back in the Ardennes. It's all because he was given captain's job, but he was a lieutenant and the Army didn't see any sense in not bringing him to be a captain. Why do you ask?"

"Because Colonel Jackson found him." The blood from Monte's face felt drained when he learned of this revelation.

"Jackson's alive, how?"

"Well... we called him back." She answered. "He worked for Atlas and was placed in your world for information, but he seemed to be caught in your conflict."

"Son of a bitch, I'm going to give that bastard an earful."

Once they had reached the command tent, Colonel Strudwick presented two chairs for General Ironwood and himself before turning to his subordinate. "Captain Argall, you are dismissed." The captain slipped out of the tent in acknowledgement to the colonel's orders.

General Ironwood looked around to see the scales and the maps rolled together and placed on a table in the back of the corner. "I must say, your world is interesting for me to study." He began before taking his seat across the colonel. "I might consider organizing a visit to your world if you are willing to give me permission."

He smiled. "That depends on the higher echelons of the OSS and Allied Command." Strudwick replied. "It might happen, based upon the events after Germany capitulated to the Soviets."

"The Soviets?" Ironwood questioned. "Who are they to begin with?"

"They are an ally to my nation, Great Britain, and to the Americans." He explained. "Our nations shared a common goal in defeating the Germans and liberate Europe from their occupation. The Soviets seemed to be angry enough to bring the war to Berlin and force Jerry to surrender, which I am glad they did so. Problem is, after Allied Command and the Soviet Union started to occupy Germany, these creatures-or the Grimm as your world calls it-started appearing throughout Germany and have been causing enough havoc that I have to cooperate with the Soviets to find and settle this matter once and for all."

"How is this related to our world? I am sure you can handle the Grimm if you had huntsmen with your soldiers to eliminate them."

"You see general, there is a problem we face that I hope you can understand well." Colonel Strudwick began. "Based off of a man named Doctor Sauer-"

"Doctor Sauer?" Ironwood wondered. "Where is he?"

"Excuse me sir, but let me explain the situation."

"Forgive me colonel, but that man deserves to be under surveillance. He cannot walk freely for he is the father of monsters." The general placed a great emphasis on the title at the end.

"I know." Strudwick's cold gaze focused on the general. "However, he has helped my men long enough for me to trust him."

General Ironwood brought his response. "Trust him, don't you understand. He is the father of the Grimm and would destroy man and faunus if he had the chance." He explained. "I cautioned a friend not to easily trust his words, for his abilities threatens our existence and you so easily trust him. Are you that ignorant of how much of a threat he is on Remnant?" Ironwood confronted him.

"General, when the first wave of men landed on this world of yours. He saved 3rd Battalion from being wiped out." The colonel stated. "I think it is safe to say he can be trusted well enough. After all, he had many chances to wipe out the battalion and four companies who are currently deployed into this world."

"Then tell me, why do you trust him?"

"Doctor Sauer was willing to help us find the man responsible for unleashing the Grimm into our world." He answered. "A Soviet captain is already dead as a result of this and the Soviets are uneasy allies when they believe we deliberately allowed him to die."

"Colonel Strudwick, I understand your need to use him, but he cannot be trusted." Replied Ironwood. "He has a history of trying to wipe out humanity and you are in the way of ending the threat of the Grimm on Remnant."

The tension within the tent was enough for the colonel to sigh. "You know, there is another reason why I trust him. Do you know anyone who goes by the name of Pyrrha Nikos?"

The general's eyes shot out in surprise at his knowledge. "Yes, but how do you know her? Its impossible for anyone in your world to know who she is."

"I don't, but Doctor Sauer does." He replied. "He was the one who I would like to believe to have saved her life from death's hand." Strudwick began. "I have a feeling you know a bit more about the lass as the tabs on Sauer have only told me she was a girl from Mistral."

"Colonel, Pyrrha Nikos was a student at Beacon Academy." The facts had begun to fall into place. "However, it was attacked by a rogue force and another student witnessed that she was... killed."

"Yet, she was teleported to our world all thanks to Sauer when my men found him. Since then, I've noticed he has watched over her like a guardian of sorts." Strudwick commented. "Luckily, she is alive thanks to him and I don't blame him. He saved a life."

"Pyrrha Nikos is alive, where is she?" General Ironwood asked of the colonel. "I need to know, it's important."

"Don't fret, Ms. Nikos is currently in this camp helping Dog Company assist the civilians in settling in." He explained. "She is alive and well and happens to have her... aura back thanks to our arrival in this world. Is she important to something?"

"Yes." He answered. "You have no idea what kind of situation you are stepping into."

"You are talking to a colonel who charged into a war with horses and survived with tanks." Colonel Strudwick replied. "You will have to make the effort to convince me."