Qrow Branwen was sitting in Ozpins office with the headmaster and Glynda. This was a pre-meeting before the two other senior members of the faculty would join them to discuss the latest developments in the admissions process. Qrow was looking forward to the second meeting. He was not entirely certain what was going happen, but he had been told by Ozpin that he should he take all three of the other attendees for a stiff drink afterwards.

He and Glynda were the only members of the faculty who knew that Ozpin reincarnated and that the stories about the maidens were true. Well, strictly Qrow was only an honorary Professor at Beacon, but he was Ozpin's main agent in Remnant. Both he and Glynda made allowances for the fact that being virtually immortal had left Ozpin with a low boredom threshold and that he tended to occasionally throw stones in glasshouses just to make life more amusing for himself. Qrow was aware that this was less stressful for him than Glynda. The problem was that she had to run an academy which involved an attention to detail which Ozpin was all too happy to delegate to her. It also made things worse that Salem was clearly planning something. Ozpin was focusing on trying to work out what it was and relieving tension by messing everyone else about on the things he thought were only of temporary importance. Gallows humour was the phrase which Bart used. Certainly, having an odd number of students in a course centred on the team of four was not something he got upset about.

Glynda had been suspicious when this week Ozpin had arranged for all the senior members to be out of Beacon at the same time. He had sent Glynda to Atlas, and she had returned two hours ago. Dr Oobleck to Vacuo returning last night, and he had been sent to Mistral returning this morning. Peter had returned the day before yesterday after a week Grimm hunting with Teams CFVY and PLUM.

His experiences in Mistral had convinced him that he had been right to be suspicious. Normally Bart would have been sent if Ozpin had simply wanted a political update on what was happening or to talk to Lionheart. However, because of the need to discuss how Amber's movements might have leaked (including speaking to Little Miss) it needed to be him or Glynda.

Glynda was not a good person to speak to Little Miss as she lacked a certain moral flexibility. Besides which Glynda got on better with Winter and Jimmy than he did. Well, she and Winter were polite to each other while he could not resist winding Winter up and, as far as Qrow was aware, Jimmy was not attracted to him. Glynda and the Ice Queen were a little bit too similar to really let their hair down with each other although Glynda was far easier to get along with. Unlike the Ice Queen she was not looking for a replacement father figure and so recognised and could be exasperated by Ozpin's failings. He also suspected but had not yet felt provoked enough to unleash the comment that the Ice Queen was jealous of Glynda's ambiguous friendship with Jimmy.

In relation to the visit to Lionheart, Ozpin had withheld a vital piece of information from him on student recruitment. Qrow knew about the Kurohari orphans, but Ozpin had not warned Qrow about the other recruit. Luckily, the poached student had made it clear to Leo that she had made the first approach to Ozpin. The fact that Qrow could understand Leo's exasperation, had genuinely looked surprised, and was also known not to be a fan of the Vytal Festival had helped. Qrow had been told that he could bore for Remnant when inebriated about how it was too much about showboating and in his view learning to fight people with aura was a distraction from fighting Grimm.

In retrospect, when it became clear that Ozpin was not blaming Leo for what had happened to Amber and was merely seeking information about the people she had spoken to while in Mistral, Leo had quickly moved to working out how he could spin the situation to his advantage in his fights with his own faculty rather than complaining.

Anyway, Ozpin had told him not to mention the new recruit to Glynda until Peter and Bart were present. Ozpin had long ago worked out that Glynda kept her exasperation in check when others were present and only let rip when alone with Ozpin or when Qrow was the only other witness.

Qrow thought more about Glynda and Atlas. The woman spent at least a week each vacation in Atlas and Argus. It helped that Jimmy respected and was attracted to her. The man was still an obsessive on the security of Atlas and the honour of his military and school, but unlike his predecessor in both the military and headmaster roles he believed that Atlas included Mantle. He also thought it was wasteful not to try and harness the abilities of the Faunus citizens in defence of the realm.

He did pass on one piece of news to Glynda and Ozpin which had surprised him. Little Miss had told him that someone had asked some of the same questions as he had asked.

Ozpin looked up at him, "She volunteered the information."

"Yes. Someone had been playing her, and she resented it. She said that they had forfeited the right to full confidentiality."

"Go on."

"It is standard for her not to reveal the identity of a person who buys information from her or to reveal that the question was asked. She has a flexible moral compass to say the least, but as a matter of business policy she tries to keep customer's secrets."

"So, why say something to you?"

"Three things. First, she later worked out that someone in the building had used an illusion semblance on her when the customer had been talking to her. She has someone in the casino whose semblance can detect when someone is using a semblance. No one at the tables was that evening but someone in the bar area was. As no one was having a suspicious lucky streak, he had not made a fuss at a time, but did report it. Second, some of the people who she had obtained the information from died within days. She had not identified them by name to her questioner."

He looked at Glynda who worked out the implications. She said, "The person who asked the questions knew who they were already and just wanted to work out whether there were any identifiable loose ends."

Qrow nodded, "That was her call as well. She wouldn't have minded that, but the woman who had asked for the information had left clues to the identity of their principal which were a little too obvious and also the hits weren't the style of the person being framed. The person being incriminated was also a business associate."

Ozpin, who had his chin balanced on his hands, was now fully engaged, "Your sister perhaps?"

"Little Miss did not directly confirm this herself but said that she had warned her client that either a subordinate had gone rogue, or someone was trying to frame her."

Glynda said, "There's more, isn't there."

Qrow laughed ruefully. "She had been instructed that if I came round asking questions in the ballpark, I was to be given a sealed letter. It was to be burnt after I read it, but that, unless I was absolutely sozzled, I would remember the gist."

Glynda half smiled and raised a quizzical eyebrow. OK, one reason he preferred Glynda to the Ice Queen was because she had a sense of humour.

He pretended to be mildly insulted and said, "No, I was only half cut. The message was in an old tribe code from twenty-five years back. It was that the Queen has two new bishops and four new pawns."

"No names, I assume."

"Of course not. Still the fact that someone employed by Salem tried to use Raven as a cover meant that she felt justified in warning us of their existence. She made it clear after Summer's death that she had no desire to get involved in the fight on either side and that provided she was left alone she would be neutral."

"I will pass this on to James, of course without reference to the source. Qrow, just play along when I say you brought me the information and that the sources are confidential. We must assume that one of the new bishops and two of the pawns were responsible for the attack on Amber."

Glynda coughed, "Headmaster, the other bishop may have been in Atlas recently. Someone had leaked false schematics to the lunatic fringe of the local White Fang. Nothing concrete, but the plan was audacious and the schematics convincing."

"Then I suggest that we ask Dr Oobleck to join us to discuss his Vacuo trip and the current analysis about Mistral and the White Fang. Professor Port will no doubt prefer to avoid the political discussions."

Bart arrived and confirmed that Vacuo was much the same as ever. The White Fang were still not an active threat there and indeed Mistralians (apart from the Vassilias family) were still top of the distrusted index. Most of the new junior-executives and military personnel seconded to Vacuo now came from Mantle rather than Mistral or Atlas and that reduced the strains significantly. The local humans and Faunus had rationally decided long ago to fight the Grimm, wildlife, and the desert in preference to each other. Admittedly the Mohawk tribe were still antsy around Faunus they didn't know, but that was manageable. It even meant that Theodore and Rumpole did not mind the fact that Beacon had recruited Russel Thrush next year and indeed had guided him to Beacon. This was for distinct reasons than those which had led them to point Fox Alastair in their direction the previous year.

Qrow then took a breath. He had spoken to some of Bart's contacts in Mistral on his behalf and hoped that he had asked all the questions that Bart would have asked and enough of the follow up questions Bart would have asked. He was about to start when Glynda pre-empted him.

"Dr Oobleck, while I was there a number of arrests in Mantle were made. James confirmed that they have rolled up some additional White Fang networks in Mantle. He asked me to thank Professor Ozpin for the new information which confirmed information already obtained from White Fang suspects."

Ozpin said, "In the absence of you and Bart, I just relayed the information received from a recent defector via diplomatic bag from the Atlas embassy here.

Bart looked up and before he could let loose a barrage of questions, Glynda continued, "James and Clover hinted that the initial arrests from about a month ago were because of information received that one of the local White Fang brigades had become convinced that the Mantle B power plant provided the energy which allows Atlas to hover rather than being the main power station for keeping Mantle remotely habitable. Reading between the lines the saner members of the Fang arranged for the authorities to be notified of the threat. Arrests have been made, but the nature of the threat was not publicised. The informants tried to limit the damage to the organisation, but after interrogation the official unofficial story is that enough of the insane ones took revenge by fingering the people they blamed for betraying them to allow James to wrap up more of the networks and put others under surveillance. James said that they were trying to get the balance right between showing they knew who supported the White Fang and only charging the real psychopaths."

Bart rattled off an analysis that the White Fang was undergoing a power struggle between Sienna Khan and Adam Taurus with the Albains and others waiting to decide which way to jump. There was in effect a truce on Menagerie whereby the Belladonnas allowed White Fang proxies to operate as ostensible raisers of money for aid and the White Fang were not too blatant about recruiting for soldiers. Both had decided that most Menagerie residents preferred a quiet life and whichever group tried to crush the other one would forfeit the tolerance of the grumbling majority.

He confirmed that all his sources had said that Adam Taurus was now in Vale and that it should be expected that there would be an upsurge in terrorist activity over the next few months. In Mistral Sienna Khan controlled operations and he was increasingly convinced that the Branwen Tribe had vetoed operations in Mistral being escalated beyond the economic disruption and the targeted assassinations they had successfully carried out for the last few years. This accounted for the exile of Adam. He acknowledged that he had to be beware of wishful thinking but was beginning to wonder whether the theory which Qrow's and Port's friend from Mistral had shared with them might be true.

He then asked Qrow some questions about his trip to Mistral and when he heard the answers said, "I suspect that the majority of the political factions in Mistral City are resigned to losing Kurohari to the Branwen Tribe but aren't saying so and hopes someone else gets the blame. Some in the current coalition hope that it will last until at least after the next set of regional elections, but others would prefer for it to fall by the end of January rather than just before the local elections next June."

Qrow let the rest of the discussion wash over him. The fact that a militant wing of the White Fang was now in Vale meant trouble ahead, but it was unlikely that it would require his personal involvement. Mistral as ever was in a semi-crisis, but it was hard to say that it was more serious than normal. Ozpin said privately that in his view Salem had decided that Mistral would fall apart on its own and that trying to nudge it along was not worth the effort, especially when Raven following her agenda was already doing the heavy lifting. Qrow knew that Raven reacted badly to orders, but would consider suggestions on their merit.

Eventually Peter Port was invited to join the meeting. The new term was only about ten days away from starting. Ozpin had managed, despite Glynda's best efforts, to ensure that they did not know how many students they had coming. It was preferable for the students to be in multiples of four. Admittedly some students dropped out or asked for deferments. The fact that Beacon had the largest percentage of students from outside the jurisdiction increased the chances of complications. The normal class was around fifty-six nowadays, but sixty was doable and this year they could apparently house sixty-four students this year if need be although two of the dorms were a bit manky unless there was an emergency redecoration.

As Peter arrived he was clearly distracted by something he saw out of the window. The rest of them followed his gaze and saw a high-speed military aircraft approaching the landing bay.

Glynda and Ozpin played chicken with each other and Qrow knew it was his job to state the obvious.

Qrow said, "Is that the Ice Queen's jet?"

Glynda shot a glance at him and glared at Ozpin. Ozpin said, "James alerted me that she was coming. Elm Edirne and an officer from the Diplomatic Protection Squad are accompanying her."

Glynda looked at Ozpin who pushed his glasses up his nose and said, "Glynda you were right to smell a stainless titanium rat during your visit. Perhaps you can fill the others in on the background."

Glynda swore under her breath and then slightly brightened. "At least the numbers may work."

Ozpin looked a little shifty at this point.

Glynda said, "As well as allowing me to assess the candidate who had applied to both academies, James and Winter asked me to provide independent individual assessments on an additional politically sensitive individual candidate and two late applicant mustangs."

Qrow said, "I know Jimmy likes to be seen to avoid using the academy as a means of conveying favours."

Glynda said, "Yes, but all were strong to good candidates. Two of them struck me as strong Vytal festival quarterfinalist team members and another was a potential semi-finalist and perhaps more. There was no reason to call me in to evaluate them and Pink or Rumpole would have been better cosmetic choices if it had been."

Ozpin looked at her. "There must be something more."

"Ozpin, the mustangs were from army intelligence and the diplomatic protection squad."

Qrow said, "Well, you were there, Glynda and Pink and Rumpole weren't. Perhaps you were chosen because there was no real doubt." Qrow avoided winding Glynda up to much. They dealt with each other too often to snipe at each other viciously. Besides which he remembered her as a young student and while she took her work seriously, she did have a sense of humour and an affectionate side which the Ice Queen did not. It was a pity for Glynda and Jimmy that both had been let into Ozpin's secrets.

Ozpin said, "Perhaps there is some history which means an independent assessment was seen as helpful. And the aristocrat?"

"He is the best sniper I've seen. A strong addition to most teams. He is definitely coming here, by the way."

Ozpin then asked Bart, "Dr. Oobleck, can you refresh my mind as to why you were so confident that the Atlas aristocrat would choose Beacon?"

Dr Oobleck's historical and political fascinations meant that the rest of them only had to tinker in the field. "Brede Campion is the second son of one of five richest men in Atlas and an old-fashioned aristocrat. He is the spare and is meant to be cleverer than his older brother. His family will not want him going to Atlas in case he goes native like Winter. The general will not want to have a member of the old aristocracy having a potentially high-flying military career. Unlike most young aristocrats the boy is rumoured to be capable, sensitive, intelligent and has already killed in self-defence. In ten to fifteen years' time, he could be a challenge to the General's position."

Peter said, "According to the Remnant Enquirer the family want to marry the heir off and feel that there is a better chance of that happening if the spare is not around. He's bedded at least one of his brother's girlfriends, according to the Enquirer."

Qrow laughed, "He's not another Taiyang, is he? Are you certain you want him?"

Bart looked over his glasses, "I've read the same articles as Peter has, but the Remnant enquirer is not renowned for its adherence to the truth. It sounds that the problem is that he takes after his uncle Parsifal in actually liking and listening to women and likes literature, theatre, and the arts."

Qrow laughed, "If he is like the uncle he probably did bed one to make certain that his parents wanted him well away from Atlas and chose someone who was equally trying to escape family expectations."

Glynda nodded, "I've met the uncle and the father. That rings true."

Peter was clearly wanting to ask whether the uncle had tried it on with Glynda.

Ozpin said, "Bart, Glynda, I won't blame you if you don't know, but how well will he fit in here?"

Glynda said, "Better than most Atlesians. He is polite and so confident in his abilities that he feels no need to boast about them."

"Why did he apply to both academies rather than just to us, Bart?"

"He's his uncle's nephew. He presented his father and the General with three choices and agreeing to send him here was better than rejecting him outright or joining Atlas."

Glynda coughed, "A representative of the Campion family has offered to contribute a sizeable amount to the refurb of the oldest residential wing. James is calling in this as a return for the favour he did us last year with taking Biff and Unity off our hands. James has asked us to accept a member of the ADPS as a mustang. I evaluated the man, and he is good enough to merit a place."

"That seems a little generous of him to regard it as full repayment. He took a serious problem away from us."

"He regards it as only a partial return. The Campions have also asked us to accept an ex-member of the Atlas diplomatic squad as the man's valet."

Qrow wondered if Glynda had waited until he was taking a swig from his flask before announcing that. If so, then good on her. The spit take it provoked was embarrassingly messy.

Ozpin asked, "How big is the donation?"

Glynda said "200,000 lien."

Ozpin waivered and then said, "Fine."

Qrow, knowing that Ozpin already had at least one ambush planned for Glynda, asked, "Something's bothering you, G."

"The valet is the Campion's choice of bodyguard. There is good reason for him to keep close to Mr Campion. I don't understand why they are asking for the Mustang. I've read his CV and he's spent more time with Jacques Schnee than with the Campion family."

They all looked at Dr Oobleck. "The older Campions are amongst those in Atlas who treat Jacques Schnee as a gigolo and his wife as a nouveau riche lush."

Peter added, "Salutations has published pictures of Brede Campion and Weiss Schnee meeting at society balls. They do both smile. The Remnant Enquirer has speculated on the depth of the friendship."

Ozpin smiled, "Perhaps we should add subscriptions to both journals to the librarian's budget next year. Glynda why did you think the choice of mustang bodyguard was important?"

"One of the people I assessed was Weiss Schnee. Her father refused to allow her to become a huntress unless she showed that she was worthy. She defeated an Arma Gigas Grimm inhabiting a suit of armour at the Schnee mansion. James asked me to attend because he was worried that Winter would interfere too early to protect her sister."

Even Ozpin looked shocked. Peter looked impressed and asked if Glynda had any footage. Qrow whistled, "Was Jacques trying to kill her or just frighten her off?"

"Probably the latter. He looked annoyed when she decided to fight and angry when she won. To be fair he did not seem disappointed, and the younger brother applauded. She had a scar on one eye after the fight."

Qrow asked, "How good is she?"

"Technically talented, physically weak and with a weaker than average aura. Not as good a fighter as her sister was at her age, but then few are."

Qrow thought about it. "Do you think that she's applying here?"

Glynda glared at him with a look which said that she had come to that conclusion as well.

Dr Oobleck said, "I think Jacques would not be happy about Weiss going to Atlas. He has already lost one heir to the military there."

Ozpin nodded, "And why not Haven?"

"Security. She has had two kidnap attempts against her which I know about. In the first her mother released her aura to keep her alive. She would be a prime kidnap or assassination target for the White Fang and the criminal gangs. Haven is an easy stroll from the centre of town. We are only accessible by an awfully long walk or by shuttle."

Ozpin looked up and said, "Ok, that makes sense."

Ozpin turned to them and said, "Qrow, Bart, Glynda, I think you are right, and that Winter is coming here to ask for her to attend. Qrow, I have no objection to you to gently winding up Winter when she arrives. We can keep Winter and friends waiting downstairs for up to an hour if need be. She is an uninvited if honoured guest."

Glynda said, "It seems you know the intelligence officer, Qrow."

"What?"

"He served with Winter in Vacuo. His accent is pure Atlas aristocrat, but he says that you two met there."

"Do you have a picture?" Glynda showed him her scroll and Qrow laughed.

Qrow looked at the picture and then laughed, "Did he wear the hat throughout the trial?"

"Yes, he did it in full uniform. He's good at dodging."

Qrow said, "Atlas will want you to take him as well."

Ozpin said, "I don't mind helping James sidestep a quarrel with the SDC. Why will they want us to take the Intelligence officer?"

Qrow said, "He's an Vacuoan Faunus who speaks with an aristocratic Atlesian accent. He was the one who was assaulted by a colonel for being politely insolent."

Glynda looked annoyed, although not at him. James and Winter had kept stuff from her and that understandably annoyed her."

Bart said, "If he went to Atlas they would need to give him a DNA blood test under the rules there."

Qrow laughed, "I can see why they wouldn't want to risk the results of that one. Half the squaddies were convinced he was the bastard son of an Atlas Toff."

"Fine. We'll take both of them. We owe James for dealing with our bullying problem from last year before Team CFVY half-killed the culprits."

Glynda said, "That'll take us to sixty students next year. Fifteen teams."

"Sixty-two." This was from Ozpin.

Glynda looked at him with disbelief. Qrow said, "One of those at least is not his fault for once, Glynda."

Ozpin looked at them all. "This is top secret. No blabbing until the day the new students arrive, but Pyrrha Nikos is coming to Beacon."

Peter's arm pump and cry of triumph meant that any subtler reactions passed him by. He suspected that Glynda was relieved that they had an even number of students. Bart blinked a couple of times and then nodded to himself. "She is an Argus resident."

Ozpin sipped his coffee and said, "Apparently our emphasis on teamwork and the random team selection process appealed to her. Besides which she has beaten virtually everyone in Mistral already. She is looking for new challenges."

Port coughed, "Valkyrie."

"And, indeed, she is coming here as well. Having spoken to Miss Nikos I believe that it was not her desire or fault that the two have not fought since the first year at combat school. Indeed, Bart, it was your recruitment of Miss Valkyrie and Mr Lie Ren which caused Miss Nikos to consider us as an option."

Port announced, "The drinks are on me tonight, Barty and Qrow. Of course, Glynda you are invited as well."

"And the sixty-second?"

"One of my wild card choices. She turned up while you were away. A refugee from the Badlands of Mistral. Qualifies as a Mustang, but…."

Glynda stared suspiciously at him. Peter intervened, "I evaluated Blair Nightshade with Ozpin yesterday, Glynda. She's top quarter of our intake. A marvellous defensive semblance." Peter handed round a photograph to them all.

Ozpin said, "I'll explain the background later, Glynda." As Qrow sipped from his flask he was intrigued to see that it was Barty who was looking the most thoughtful. He had obviously also spotted the bow and refused to believe it. Suddenly it dawned on Qrow who the woman might be. He glanced with disbelief at Ozpin who looked over his glasses at him with a look which unsuccessfully tried to be innocent and then winked at him. Glynda and Bart might think that he wouldn't dare, but Qrow knew better.

Ozpin turned to Bart. "Peter was already back in Kingdom when she appeared."

Glynda coughed.

Qrow suspected that the subject should be changed and said, "Glynda, how good do you think the Lynx Faunus is? I rated him when I met him three years ago in the desert."

"Makes the best of a good but not great talent. Would be a strong contender in the quarter-final round of the Vytal Festival, but not in the singles rounds. Probably would be a good team leader."

Ozpin stared at his deputy. "I would be delighted if that were true. Why do you say so?"

"He survived as a Faunus auxiliary with the Atlas military contingent in Vacuo for six years and got commissioned after being an auxiliary working as a guide. He must have people skills."

Qrow said, "I did give Winter a recommendation for him as a Mustang after working with him in Vacuo."

"Ok. Time to see our friend from the north. While I am going to accept James's suggestions despite the numbers issue, let's see if we can get some more money out of it."

Qrow watched the Ice Queen's reaction at entering Ozpin's office. She was flanked by Elm Edirne who was the Ace-Op who was taken along when someone was needed to tactfully say that the general or Winter meant what they said, but the details were up for investigation. As always she looked serious but human. She was also flanked by a captain in the Atlas Army in dress uniform who was introduced as Thaddeus Corkran. He looked amused.

Winter had obviously been expecting Glynda, was disappointed, but not totally surprised to see Bart and Peter, and was horrified to see him. He took a deliberately deep looking swig from his flask and winked at her.

As normal she responded to the wind up and said, "He's drunk."

Glynda of all people defended him "He's always drunk. Somehow it doesn't stop him from being good at his job."

Ozpin attempted to pre-empt the conversation. "We owe James for taking Biff and Unity off out hand last year. We were always going take Brede Campion and are happy to allow him to bring his battle butler. We had already agreed to take the ADPS Mustang. I suspect you want to ask me and Glynda for some additional favours."

Winter reddened and Ozpin said, "Qrow, perhaps you can sit this meeting out. Don't go too far."

Qrow nodded and left. Ozpin had hinted that Qrow should transform himself and listen in as a crow.

Five minutes later he was perched in the office. It was odd, especially knowing that Ozpin had already decided to take the two new candidates despite the fact that it messed up the numbers for team selection, seeing Winter asking for it as a favour.

They'd discussed the two new candidates' qualifications and Ozpin had said, "I have no doubt having heard from Glynda here that both candidates are qualified. You agree, Professor Port and D. Oobleck."

Both assented in their respective ways.

Ozpin then rested his head on his folded hands, "Glynda says that both candidates are potential strong members of Vytal Festival contending teams. I am mystified as to why Atlas does not want to keep them for itself."

Elm said, "There is a good chance that Biff and Unity will represent Atlas at the Vytal Festival next year."

Glynda said, "At best as the fourth seeded team with little chance of getting through to the second round and next to no hope of reaching the quarter finals."

Ozpin held a hand up. "Peter, I think they want to talk politics at us. I suspect you will want to skip this next bit. Bart, could you stay for the time being."

Peter took the hint and left saying that he would be in his office and that Bart should call him when he was ready to go into Vale for a drink. He mentioned that he was meeting an old friend of Winter's, Amber Arc that night. Not for the first time Qrow wondered whether Peter was just pretending to be oblivious of the fact that just because the two had some of the best fights at the Vytal festival in the last decade did not mean that they were best friends or really thought that way.

Winter kept a straight face, Elm frowned, and Thaddeus smiled and shook Professor Port by the hand. "Delighted t' meet you, sir. Your commentaries at the Vytal festival are much appreciated by the cognoscenti, don't cha know."

Qrow was behind Ozpin so could only guess why the man moved his hand in front of his face. Port accepted the remark at face value and left.

Ozpin then looked at Winter. "Dr. Oobleck has suggested to me possible reasons why your father would not want your sister to attend Atlas academy and that Haven Academy would have security issues. I can see that Vacuo would be the bottom of the list for someone with a background of privilege. Why would he favour us?"

Winter said, "The least bad choice. The best for security and the Kingdom where the SDC has a more or less neutral reputation."

Ozpin looked at Bart who nodded.

Ozpin said, "While I am flattered, I am aware that even in Atlas your sister has been attacked at least twice before the age of twelve. We do have the largest percentage of Faunus students in the four kingdoms with only Vacuo remotely rivalling us."

"Can I speak to you as a sister?"

Qrow could tell that Ozpin was a little surprised at this request. "Of course."

"My sister has hardly left the family home after the second attack and has not been in Mantle since the first attack. The only people she knows are fellow aristocrats and servants. The latter indulge her every whim and the former vary between those who flatter her because she is the heiress and those who despise her because she is our parent's child."

"The same background as you."

"I don't think that following in my footsteps would be good for her or Atlas. She needs approval more than I do and to be blunt lacks confidence. She also needs friends from outside the Atlas elite to grow as a person."

Glynda then said, "You want us to take on the responsibility for the potentially wealthiest heiress in Remnant who is hated by many just because of her last name. Whatever Jacques Schnee thinks he can demand of us, we' re not going to get rid of all our Faunus or dissident students."

"My father has my younger brother as a fallback. My belief is that he thinks that Weiss is more motivated and diligent than my brother but will not be heartbroken if she dies. He also has two bastards who could be brought into the family business if need be."

Qrow was not entirely certain if feeling sorry for Winter suited him. It always worried him when his family started making sense to him in comparison with others.

Thaddeus raised a languid arm, "Sir, my recruitment is in part an answer t' your concerns."

"Captain Corkran, I am not certain that a member of the Atlas Intelligence service is a major contribution to student safety. You are in an organisation where the end is known to justify the means." This was from Glynda.

"I am now co-opted to the ADPS."

Oobleck laughed, "Makes sense. Choose a thief to catch a thief."

Ozpin said, "Elm, Bart, could you leave us, please? I think we are getting into need-to-know territory."

Bart looked slightly upset, but if Elm was being asked to leave than he decided it was fair. Besides which he was probably counting on Ozpin telling him most of the truth.

Glynda started with "Mr Corkran, why aren't you going to Atlas?"

"Because I will fit in better here. No one will know how to deal with me there. I am a Faunus who is already a senior officer and speaks like an aristocrat. Everybody will guess on whom my father is and like Weiss no one would react to me naturally. Here there will be no need for me to wear the uniform and the belief that I am an embarrassment to a wealthy family will gain me some sympathy rather than fear or disdain."

Ozpin snorted, "Bart was right when he said that thing about catching a thief."

"That's true. Professor Goodwitch, whatever the results of this afternoon's discussion I would be grateful if you could take me round the dorms allocated to first years and nominate the one which is safest for Weiss."

The captain looked at Winter. She took a deep breath, "Thaddeus here has been undercover with the White Fang for three years. He joined them as a self-proclaimed double agent."

"My call. Sienna Khan is not stupid, and I thought it more sensible t' play the role of a Vacuoan Faunus bastard son of an Atlesian aristocrat who wanted vengeance for the behaviour of the Mistralian overseers in the mines of Vacuo. My motivations were personal not political."

Winter said, "He was sent back to us with orders to betray the plot to destroy Mantle B. By the way thank you for the intelligence from the defector. It allowed us to arrest our secondary targets without blowing Mr. Corkran's cover."

"For what it is worth Adam Taurus signed off on me betraying the names of the Atlas White Fang leadership. He sensed that the intelligence that they were acting on was false and wanted me out of the picture."

"And who are you really, Thaddeus Corkran?"

"I'm a Vacuoan on the make. The Atlas government and the Campion family owe me and seem prepared to reward me reasonably if not extravagantly."

"You are also a Faunus."

"You know how irrelevant the White Fang is in Vacuo. I'm also a half-breed. Most Faunus assume my mother was either rented by the hour or a pet with benefits. I'm despised by them almost as much as I am by humans. From the age of 8 to 14 I was brought up by the Mohawk Tribe. I've worked for the Atlas military for nine years."

Glynda asked the question "You say the Campions owe you?"

Winter said, "Without him Parsifal Campion, Brede Campion, and twenty Atlas soldiers would have died. He bought the time needed for us to finish off the attackers."

The Faunus smiled, "I'm not a big picture idealist. I defend my friends and my squad, even if half of them are jerks. I do my duty. Besides which who better than an assassin to work out the threats which Weiss and Brede will need defending against."

Glynda glared at the Faunus. "What do you want from us?"

"Brede, Weiss, me, and the Atlas ADPS mustang to be in the same wing of dorms. I'm not looking for team control or to veto your students. I will want to look at the files of those in the four teams housed in those dorms. I would be grateful if Professor Goodwitch could show me the wings likely to be allocated in case there are significant advantages with one wing rather than the other."

Ozpin stared at the Faunus and looked at Glynda. "In principle, that is fine. Winter, you are forcing me to increase the number of students."

Winter sighed, "My father is willing to pay two million lien over four years to Beacon if you take my sister."

Ozpin said, "Perhaps Glynda can take Captain Corkran on a tour of the dorms now?"

The two left the office and Ozpin stared at Winter. "Is he your half-brother?"

"As far as I know, no. My father has many failings, but he believes in family. It's just that he wants total obedience from his full children and ambition from his bastards. Besides which he is rude to the help but does not take advantage of them."

"And so?"

"Arranging for the mother to be killed and leaving the son to die would not be his style."

"It's a deal, Winter. However, do make it clear to James that beacon is taking a huge risk. Your family is not universally popular."

"I am well aware of that. My sister wants to be the best Schnee she can be and believes that Beacon gives her the best chance. I don't disagree."

"You do know that I won't bend my rules to prevent your sister being on the same team as a Faunus."

"Perhaps you can reduce the risk of her being partnered with one who will have particular difficulty with her."

"I will consider that. The launch pads are calibrated to reduce the risk of mid-air collisions. I cannot promise anything on teaming."

"Understood."

"Can you give me half an hour Winter just to think through the implications. I doubt that I will change my mind but perhaps some help from your end would be helpful. I will need an up-to-date risk assessment of the threats to Weiss and Winter and an unredacted file on your Captain Thaddeus would help alleviate Glynda's concerns. It could be read and returned in your presence or that of specialist Elm."

"Understood."

After Winter had left, Ozpin turned round and nodded at Qrow. "You've met the Faunus before, Qrow?"

"Yes, I rate him and enjoyed getting drunk with him. He was close to the Mohawk tribe and his squaddies trusted him. Still, they've just told you that you are taking on a double agent who has been a terrorist for the last three years. Not saying that the people he killed did not deserve it, but…"

"Qrow, ideally I have nine days to find two additional students. After having recruited an ex-terrorist, a double agent plus two Atlas aristocrats with family problems, I would be really glad if I could find a couple of smaller, more honest souls to fill the places."

A few hours later in a bar in Vale, Qrow Branwen was sitting with Peter Port, Bart Oobleck and Glynda Goodwitch. Peter was still over the moon about Pyrrha being recruited although he was careful not to say the name. Glynda was freaking out over being kept in the dark by Ozpin, being deceived by James, and having to renovate two extra dorms by the start of term while Bart was being Bart and speaking very quickly trying to make sense of things.

Just then he saw an old friend Amber Arc walk in accompanying by a tall, blonde, and distinctly straggly young man. After momentarily toying with the idea that Amber had a toy boy, he decided that it must be the brother. At the back of his mind, he recalled Amber telling him about releasing his aura a few months back. She had been very inebriated at the time, but luckily his semblance had worked against his short-term interests that night to his ultimate relief. Still perhaps introducing the young man to Peter might be a long shot at filling the gap and doing his friend a favour.

I can justify this in my own mind as explaining why Ozpin was happy to recruit a student the night before initiation, the fact that Weiss went to Beacon rather than Atlas or Haven and making it clear that Ozpin knew who Blake was before she started. It also shows why in my version of the RWBY universe there was room for Jaune at Beacon. The next (and perhaps the last) chapter is back to Jaune's POV when, finally, the fates have come together on his side.

Implicitly I am also imagining Ironwood as a man who believes that Atlas includes mantle although still leaving room for the Happy Huntresses to say he is getting the balance wrong.