Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Roots and the Rock. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY. Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.
Atem looked up at the ceiling of his dimly lit room. They were given the least number of resources for the maximum number of results.
"Her hammer hits hard," Atem stated before he turned and looked around. "I'm exhausted, why couldn't they invent better pillows?" Atem questioned as he shook his head.
"Specialist?" Atem heard as he slowly groaned before his eyes widened. "I need a word with you if that was alright." Atem heard as he slid out of his bed.
"Give me a second, I'll be right there, sir." Atem said, pulling himself across the room.
He made himself as presentable as he could be in Atlesian pajamas, they weren't exactly a proper uniform. He pulled open the door, saluting with his other hand as he did so.
"At ease, specialist," Ironwood stated. "If that was why I was here? Specialist Schnee would be with me currently. I'm here to talk about your assignment to the Ace Operatives." Ironwood stated before he crossed his arms behind his back.
"You mean Specialist Ebi's team." Atem stated to which there was a nod. "What would you like to ask me about with them, sir? I haven't formally been inducted into the squadron yet. I don't know if they plan too anytime soon." Atem added as Ironwood was silent, unsure of what to say.
"Specialist Ebi and Ederne are headed this way today." Ironwood stated, looking down the hall. "I need the best Atlas has to offer if we're going to win this war, specialist. The longer we end up being delayed from finishing this fight? The harder it becomes to stop HER." Ironwood added as he sighed to himself.
Atem was silent. He knew who the enemy was. The master of the Grim, the one who masterminded the attacks on Vale and Mistral. However? From What Atem knew? Their plan wasn't to engage her in combat when it came down to it.
"I've not met Specialist Ebi, sir." Atem stated as he paused to stifle a yawn. "I'm familiar with Ederne, we clashed before, this was just one more thing I've grown accustomed to when I think about it." Atem stated as he rubbed at his temples.
"Yes, she told me about your match yesterday." Ironwood stated as he paused to pull his scroll. "I have the combat data. You both make an excellent pairing; does she know about your semblance? I believe we conducted reports on studying it." Ironwood questioned as he shook his head.
Ironwood was quiet as was Atem. Both had plenty on their minds. He turned to look at the door, turning to look down the hallway at someone. Atem looked down the hallway to see a squadron of soldiers approaching him.
"The Ace Ops, sir?" Atem questioned to which Ironwood nodded. "I suppose this was our introduction… Or mine, at the moment, I suppose?" Atem questioned as he paused to let Ironwood nod.
"Indeed, I'll speak to you later, soldier." Ironwood stated before he turned to look at the Ace Operatives. "Specialist Ebi? This is Specialist Nisse Atem. He's your newest member of the team. There's plenty of soldiers I need to attend to, I'll leave you to talk about it with them." Ironwood stated as he turned to look around as he hummed.
"There's plenty of people who needed it, sir?" Clover stated before he hummed, nodding as he shook his head. "I'm going to guess that there's something when it comes down to it." Clover stated as he passed to let Ironwood pass him.
"Make sure to take care of this one." Ironwood said before he dusted off his hands. "Every specialist within our ranks? They exist to serve under the most elite of soldiers. There will not be more when it comes down to it. We don't have the ability to create more powerful and skilled soldiers." Ironwood added as he walked away, unsure of what to do next.
There were many details to address. He knew that if something wasn't handled? They'd be busy drowning in thousands of Grimm who were busy being cut down. There was plenty of battles to address.
"Get to work, specialists." Ironwood ordered as Atem turned towards the other soldiers. "I don't want to hear about anything unless it's mission details…. And I scheduled another training match to test a theory I have. We will need every able-bodied soldier in the army to play their part, anything less and we'd be destroyed fully and utterly." Ironwood added before he turned to leave.
Atem wanted to speak, but there was very little he could say or do at the moment. There was too much at stake for them to be thrown in the deep end when it came down to it. Atem questioned what came next, however. They were the tip of the spear at the moment sadly
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be longer. Next chapter will end up being in 2-10 months and will show another training match as well as set up the events of season 7 and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter will be 900-6500 words at the moment and will sadly be delayed.