The world of the ballroom was completely different than the battlefield. Captain Durante stepped into the ballroom as he was met by many of the Atlesian elite. Many of whom, wore high-class dresses and outfits which the Ranger was familiar with.

However, he recognized General Ironwood talking to a man older than him in his suit. After he noted his presence, the general made his way over to the captain and stopped him right there. "Good evening, captain. I am sure you and your fellow officers did not have a rough time coming into Mr. Schnee's mansion."

The American replied with a smile. "No sir, but I did get snow on me."

Before the general could continue, the older man came forward and stood beside Ironwood with a glass in on hand and a smile upon his lips. "Welcome to my home." He began. "I am honored to meet you foreigners from another world. I almost forgot, please allow me to introduce myself, I am Mr. Schnee of the Schnee Dust Company."

Monte looked back to see the faces of Bill and Johnny before he looked back to the father of Winter. He brought out his hand with a hope of understanding. "Captain Durante. I am glad to see you as my host." He replied.

"I am satisfied to hear that from you." Then he looked around the ballroom until he turned towards his left.

The captain noted where his eyes were looking at, only to see Winter and two other children standing beside her.

"My children, you have finally arrived on time to meet our guests." Mr. Schnee stated. "Winter, I understand that you have met the captain before."

The young lady smiled towards him as she stepped forward. "Yes father, I have." Then she looked to her siblings. "Captain, this is my sister and my brother."

The younger sister bowed in respect. "I am Weiss."

Then the brother made the same honor of respect to the captain. "And I am Whitley, it is good to meet you, sir." He then brought out his hand.

In return, the captain shook his hand as he looked over his shoulder and saw his two friends standing there. "Do you two want to meet my friends?" He asked.

"Of course." Answered Whitley. "I am interested in meeting people from another world."

Then Monte pointed out to the paratrooper officer. "That's Johnny Vastano of Able Company." Immediately, Johnny waved his hand with a smile. Then he made a head gesture to his other friend. "That's Bill Edwards of Baker Company."

"What's your company?"

Turning around, Monte found the person asking the question was Weiss. "Excuse me?"

"What's your company's name?" The younger lady asked. "I'm just curious."

"Fox Company, I'm the captain of Fox Company." He answered.

Soon after, Bill chuckled. "Oddly enough, him and his men live up to the animal's name?"

"Excuse me?"

"What I am saying ma'am, his company sort of acts like a fox. They scavenge across the battlefield for weapons and supplies." The officer answered. "Though, Johnny and I have to suffer his shenanigans when he steals weapons from us."

"Your friend is a thief?" Questioned Whitely as he was taken aback by the news.

However, Monte raised his hands up. "Guilty as charged, I have a bit of notoriety among the German units and friendly companies."

"Winter, your friend is a brigand?" Asked Mr. Schnee.

"Forgive me father, but I did not wish to ruin your mood." Answered the eldest daughter.

Looking back to the father, the American officer could only reply with an uneasy smile. "I am sorry to say, but she has indeed befriended someone like me."

Disgusted at his presence, the father shook his head. "I expected you to be a gentleman."

Before the situation could get any worse, an older soul entered the room. "Despite the captain's notorious reputation, he is a gentleman." Everyone looked away from the three American officers, only to see Colonel Strudwick making his way into the ballroom with his cane helping him lean forward on his right side. "It is a fact that the Americans, Soviets, and my fellow British officers share."

"Ah, Colonel Strudwick. I expected you to arrive earlier, but I am surprised you would protect this terrible example of an officer." Replied the CEO.

"Did your daughter explain to you about him?"

"No, not at all."

Then he turned his single eye to Winter. "Specialist Schnee, you should have. It would save you the trouble." The colonel turned his back as another officer arrived into the room. "Mr. Schnee, allow me to introduce my friend, Colonel Churkin. We are here to have a gentleman's conversation with General Ironwood, I was told."

Mr. Schnee acknowledged with a nod. "Yes, please follow me." Then he gave a look to his eldest daughter. "Winter, please introduce the captains to the lounge where they may introduce themselves to your mother."

Monte noticed a cold composure of Winter return as she acknowledged her father's orders. "Yes father." She replied. Then she looked to the captain, only to give off an expression of emotionless. "Officer's please follow me."

As she went off with Bill following her lead, Johnny joined the Ranger officer. "Did you notice that?" He wondered. "She doesn't seem to be happy."

"I know that." He replied. A thought occurred him about her position as she walked out of the room with her siblings. There is something that ails her.

After Mr. Schnee had introduced the three military professionals into his office, he held the door open for the two foreign gentlemen as General Ironwood followed them into the room. Then he closed the door and locked it shut. "Colonel Strudwick, now that we have the time to talk about important manners, I hope you have been enjoying yourself." The business man walked over to his desk and took his seat as General Ironwood stood beside him.

The one-eyed British colonel stepped forward. "I would have preferred that we enjoy this party of yours before you conducted business."

"Forgive me, but I am here to bring out a proposition for you and your soldiers. One that might interest you."

Afterwards, Colonel Churkin scoffed at his statement. "We are soldiers, not business men. I do not see why you would suggest this idea to us. We should let the politicians do the talking."

The CEO smiled. "True, but why deal with bureaucracy when you could acquire my products first-hand."

"What is this product you speak of?" Questioned Strudwick.

"Here on Remnant, everything in our technology relies on a resource known as Dust. It leads to the most efficient technological advancement for man and faunus alike." He answered.

"Get to the point."

"I have been wondering, would you be interested in being on researching Dust for your people's sake?"

Churkin stepped forward, but was stopped by the officer. "Sadly, I must deny this agreement."

"What could possibly stop you from achieving our way of level in technology?" Questioned Mr. Schnee.

"From my own reports and those who were sent to Earth by pure accident, I have been told by a very intelligent fellow that any Dust-based technology would be nullified by our atmosphere."

Immediately, General Ironwood joined the conversation. "Who told you about this information?" He asked.

Turning his attention to the Atlas general, he smiled. "You know him as Doctor Sauer."

"He is alive?" Asked Mr. Schnee. "How did you stumble upon him?"

"Mr. Schnee, do you remember Captain Durante and his companions?"

"That brigand, what about him?"

Strudwick stared into his soul. "That young man rescued the doctor from the Germans before the war came to the close." He answered. "Despite his reputation, I wouldn't disrespect his efforts to get him out that castle alive. Besides, I desire to know who he is to you?"

"Yes, he is a scientist who once worked for my company before he disappeared from a during a disaster."

The colonel looked over his shoulder towards the Soviet who stood there. "Forgive me for leaving you out."

The Soviet shrugged his shoulder. "No I am fine. The fact that this capitalist is trying to impress me with his equipment is quite pathetic."

"How dare you?!" The CEO demanded. "I don't know how you people do things in your world, but we show respect to our peers."

"Do not blame Churkin's political view." The British officer replied. "It is part of his country's national policy." Then he looked around to see Ironwood and the Soviet. "Is there anything else we need to take care of?"

However, he noted Mr. Schnee's agitation. "No." He answered. "I do not have any other matters to discuss with you."

"Then we shall take our leave and enjoy the party." The colonel nodded to the Soviet beside him as they both walked to the doorknob and slipped out of the doorway.

Mr. Schnee leaned back in his chair as he turned his gaze to General Ironwood. "James, I was assured that we would be able convince them to an agreement." He began as he turned his chair. "Why didn't you tell me of this information?"

The general turned to face him with his hands behind his back. "Jacques, I could only assure that you could get a meeting with the colonel." He stated. "However, I did not assure you that the meeting would benefit you."

"General, understand this. I am dealing with competition who would pay millions of lien to have a contract with these people." Jacques stated. "However, I want to know if he says what is true."

Ironwood sighed. "Don't fret, I'll see if I can find a way to see if that is true." He stated.

Monte found himself in the lounge, only to see more of the Atlesian elite gossiping and having their own little conversations as he sat back on the couch beside his friend. "Johnny, do you know how much I hate gossiping?"

The paratrooper rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know it is a pet-peeve of yours, but show some little restraint. We don't want to cause enough trouble."

"Do you know where Bill went?"

"Right now, he's talking to some fat cats about the money in their purses." Answered Johnny. "Turns out that he's making friends with them."

"Good, making new friends is always nice."

"Heard from Kurt that you don't like the rich life. Is that true?"

A smile enlightened the captain's evening. "Definitely, I got sick and tired of living up to expectations that I decided to volunteer for the Army. Plus, most of the guys in my hometown were being recruited. It's kind of hard to have a fun time when your pals are gone."

"You know if anyone might come back?"

"Don't look at me, I'm not the guy from logistics trying to keep track of every poor man who got caught up fighting the krauts." Just as Monte finished his sentence, Winter and Weiss arrived on the scene with four small plates of cake with silver spoons on the side. "Winter, did you just leave us here to get cake?" He asked.

The daughter of the Schnee company grabbed her saucer as she cut deep into the slice of the chocolate cake with her fork. "Yes. You don't like cake?"

Monte shook his shoulders. "Well, I don't mind. I just didn't think you would do that for us." He said as he leaned forward and grabbed his saucer and made his first cut into the cake. "Johnny, get your slice."

Once the party had finally enjoyed themselves in their cake, the Ranger captain noticed that the specialist was far from enjoying the chocolate cake. She displayed expressions of passion for each taste in her mouth as small brown crumbs rested upon her lips.

"Weren't you supposed to introduce us to your mother?" He asked. "I sort of expected it."

Winter swallowed her piece as she cleared her throat. "I would, but currently she is seen with a group of businessmen and is drinking. I wouldn't want to disturb her."

"Your mom drinks?" Questioned Johnny. "Never thought I would hear those words coming from a gal like yourself."

Weiss began to join into the conversation after she did the similar exact action as her older sister. "Hey, don't be calling my sister like some girl on the street."

Monte simply tapped him by the shoulder. "He's from Chicago, it is sort of expected from a guy like him."

The paratrooper turned his head to him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Look, I don't want to insult you, but you do have a tendency to refer the lovely ladies like Winter like that." He answered.

After the four had finished eating their cake, Winter placed her saucer on the table in between the two opposite-facing couches. "Captain Durante, may I have a word with you?" Questioned Specialist Schnee. "In private."

"Of course, give me a moment."

The two soldiers of their respective armed forces rose from their seats and began to leave Johnny and Weiss within the lounge and into the hallways of the Schnee mansion. Soon she turned to the right, only to lead the American officer out to the balcony. "Captain, have you ever desired to break away ties with a family member?" She asked as she stood closer near the edge.

However, Monte leaned on the stone railings as the snow began to come in. "You're not cold?"

"No, I've lived long enough on Atlas to get used to the cold." Answered Winter. "However, you didn't answer my question."

"Why are you asking me for advice?" He wondered. "I might have had something, but advice is not one of them."

"Captain, how did you deal with your family back in your world?"

"It's a bit complicated." Answered Monte.

"Excuse me?"

"It's complicated. Let me leave it right there."

"Are you simply avoiding my question?"

"Yes, because it is personal." He answered. "I don't exactly have to tell you about it."

Winter turned her head at that very moment. "Pardon me, but I'm just simply curious how other people handle their families. I would think you would be a person to talk to since you're the only person I enjoy talking to."

A slight smile rose on his lips. "Now that you just said that, I will answer that." Monte replied. "Turns out that my mother had the same reaction as my dad and abhorred the idea that another one of their children was going into the military." He added.

"You had siblings?" She saw him nod his head.

"Yes, but my brother died on Pearl Harbor, the day my country was attacked. So they had a reason to be worried about me." Then he looked to the snowing buildings off in the distance. "Oddly enough, I should have joined the navy if I knew I was going to be fighting the Germans."

"I find it awfully strange that you had a brother. What happened to him?" The captain sighed.

"Winter, don't you think you are going a bit too far with the questions?" He asked. "This is personal for me and I like you enough that talking about my brother would hurt our little conversations."

Little did the captain know, that he made the cold-hearted princess blush. "You like me?"

After realizing what he said, Monte regained his composure as he turned to his left to face the specialist. "Shit, did I say just that?"

Winter placed a finger in front of her lips. "Don't make a fuss about it, if my father heard about what you said. He would talk endlessly to me about trying to be a lady. Though, I am a bit surprised that you would say that as I still remember that one time you called me a 'cold bitch'. Didn't you say that?"

"Look, I'm sorry that I called you that." He stated as he shook his head in shame. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"Actually, yes. There is something you can do. Could you please refrain from obtaining Atlas equipment?"

The American expressed confusion on his face. "Wait-you saw that as a problem?"

"Yes, because the Atlas Military won't have to suffer any friendly losses in logistics."

A sudden thunder echoed off in the distance. "Did you hear that?"

"No, I didn't hear anything."

"Shut up and listen." Once again, there was thunder echoing from afar.

"What do you make of it?" Asked Winter. "It doesn't seem much to me."

"Of all my years as a soldier, ma'am, I can recognize an explosion when I hear one."

Captain Derby found himself alone in the same room as the radio operators found were at their station communicating from the hotel to the base camp. However, the old man was about to take a nap when he notice one of the young men took off his headset and looked to him. "Captain, you may want to hear this."

Raising an eyebrow, Kurt was curious. "What's so important that you had to get my attention?"

The operator increased the volume as he could hear the distinct accent speaking up. "To anyone who is hearing this transmission, this is Captain Berger of the Kampfgruppe Lehr. We need help whether it be Allied or German, please hel-" Static followed afterwards as the old man rose from his seat and spoke up.

"Son, try and reach those boys at the mansion. They need to know about this."

The operator acknowledged him with a nod as he covered his ears with his headset. "To all idle units, get your weapons and gear in check. Get a runner to the company commanders of Fox, Able, and Baker back to the hotel. We have an immediate emergency."