Next week here is meant to be ice, snow and slush on the roads.

That has me a little panicked even though I'm driving as safely as I possibly can lol. There's a real temptation to book time off work for it just to avoid it, but I'm going to force myself to go out. It'd be too easy to try and limit driving everywhere given what happened and I live in the middle of nowhere so giving up on that isn't an option.


Cover Art: Mysterywhiteflame

Chapter 15


"-and Vale are still stonewalling out requests to search the city for the stolen paladin," explained Ironwood. His command team scowled, annoyed but unsurprised. Even the Council of Atlas were irritated by the move from their allies, though everyone could understand why it was made. "They're hoping the lack of pressure will make the White Fang transport it out the city; they can't comprehend of the fact that Vale might well be their target. Intelligence believes this could be a calculated move to drive a wedge between our alliance with Vale."

"So, it's designed to weaken us in the long run," said Clover. "Isolate Atlas."

"That's the theory. We could be wrong but the White Fang haven thus far been focused on Atlas. Vale is a less favourable target since it hasn't really done much to upset faunus worldwide."

"That could change with the Vytal Festival being held there. Enemy or not, making a scene at a global event is a big deal."

"Hence why I will be pushing for us to handle security for the event."

"Is that a good idea, sir?" asked Winter. "We're already hamstrung when it comes to how much we can do there, but if we take over security and something goes wrong then Vale will offload all the blame onto us."

"They'll be doing that anyway if our prototype robot runs rampant across the city. At least this way we'll have some leeway to prepare for and try to stop it. This is all a show of force anyway. The White Fang won't back off if Vale takes a wait and see approach, but they might think twice if we three airships in the air and enough soldiers and mechs on the ground to make any move by them a suicide mission."

It was a calculated risk of course because the White Fang always had been fanatical, but a terrorist organisation that based itself on making a "better life" for faunus couldn't be seen as grinding through them like an abattoir. The whole point of a better life was that you got to be alive to experience it at the end of your service, and vast losses to Atlas wouldn't help them there. Sienna was a terrorist, but she wasn't a fool.

"There's also our other option for locating the Paladin ahead of time," remarked Winter. "The Specialists may not be able to move freely but our students can."

General Ironwood smiled. "Your specialists-in-training, yes. How are they doing? I had wanted to ask Penny, but she's becoming more and more human – enough to be quite defensive of her teammates and not give me an unbiased opinion."

Far from be annoyed about the fact, Ironwood was pleased. It meant Project Penny was progressing far beyond expectations. He could almost imagine she was a normal girl, albeit unusually defensive of her new teammates. They were some of her first "real" friends after all. Soleil likely didn't count in Penny's head as she'd been assigned to her.

"The simulation mission ended in their capture," said Clover, "but we expected that. It would have taken skill and leadership beyond their level to come out of that unscathed."

"You know I don't agree with no hope scenarios for tests," said Winter.

"It wasn't no hope. I also think they're a stupid idea. All an impossible mission does is crush your confidence. This was exceedingly difficult, not impossible, and they did better than I'd have expected cadets their age to. They waited out the night to put themselves on equal footing, used teamwork well to storm the compound, and they only came undone when the huntsmen revealed themselves. That's about the same time my team came to pieces. The only difference is we were older and more combat capable, and most of us got out alive."

Ironwood hummed to break up an argument. Winter and Clover were professional at the best of times, and many thought Winter robotic, but he knew better. In private, she wasn't afraid to share her thoughts and be critical. It was why he granted her position; not only for her critical thinking, but the wisdom to not show any disagreement in public. To outside eyes, they were of unified minds and purposes.

"How have they handled the loss?" asked Ironwood.

Here, Clover grinned. "Well. They've handled it well. They were pretty beat up about it at first – as you'd expect – and I was worried for a moment they wouldn't bounce back."

"They have?" Ironwood waited for their nods and smiled himself. "Good."

They could teach their students many things in Atlas: how to fight, how to train, how to lead, how to prepare. One of the things they could not wholly teach, however, was how to deal with failure. It was why their assessment tests were so difficult. Early failure could become a learning experience, and the longer a person went without experiencing it, the less likely it became that they'd know how to get through. There were so many huntsmen and huntresses across the kingdoms who were exceptional until something went wrong, and then fell apart. Teams imploding because one member died, or academically brilliant people falling to despair because they failed once and blamed themselves for it. Ozpin's own favoured team, STRQ, was a perfect example of that. Multiple implosions at once because he'd coddled them and never taught them how to adequately deal with disagreements, loss, or failure.

You couldn't win all the time. The metallic itch of the cybernetic arm where it met his shoulder was a stark reminder of that. He, too, had failed, and paid the price for it on both a physical and mental level. It wasn't about being resilient or thick-skinned; it was about a team coming together and supporting one another through hard times. He was pleased to hear they'd achieved that, because a Specialist team needed to be capable of bouncing back from defeat.

Their missions were the harshest after all.

"Do you think they're ready?" asked Ironwood.

"To become Specialists?" asked Winter. "No. To win the Vytal Festival? Also no. To represent us to a competent degree, and to do a little investigation on the side at our behest? I think so, sir. Clover?"

"They'd need to be fully briefed as to the importance of it and what's expected, and I imagine Arc will want a lot of Intel. He's protective of his team and a bit of an over-planner. It's something he'll get over in time, but for now he likes to feel he's covered every angle. I expect if you open resources to them and make it clear they can call on manpower, equipment and resources as needed, he'll feel more comfortable."

"Manpower is the issue," said Ironwood. "We can't dispatch teams or soldiers across Vale without causing an incident."

"There's Soleil, sir," said Winter. "Her team might not be ready yet, but she's more than capable of supporting, and last I checked she has a strong rapport with Team JCKP."

"Sometimes all you need is an extra pair of hands," offered Clover. "And hers are a little more capable than most. Plus, they're against basic White Fang in a high-density population centre. This isn't going to be open warfare. They should be fine."

"Sir." added Winter. "I think it might work better if they were briefed ahead of time. Let them know how serious this is. I believe they can be trusted to keep a secret if necessary."

Ironwood considered that.

/-/

Jaune wasn't sure what they'd done to warrant a meeting with General Ironwood but Miss Schnee assured them they weren't in any trouble. That said, she asked them to attend in school uniform, so the four of them arrived at the door and saluted in full white and grey, with Atlas' emblem emblazoned on their left breasts over their hearts. "Ma'am."

"Cadets." Winter did not tell them to be at ease because they'd be expected to salute for General Ironwood anyway. "Thank you for your punctual arrival. The general will see you now." With a push of a button, the door swished open, and Winter stepped first into the room and beckoned them to follow. Four wooden seats had already been set out for them in front of Ironwood's large desk, but they knew better than to take them uninvited.

"Sir!" they chorused.

"Team Jackpot." Ironwood nodded. "At ease. Sit if you please." The chairs scraped back as they sat. "Thank you all for coming today. I'm sure you have matters you wish to attend to seeing as how it's the weekend, so I shall make this as concise as it can be. That said, the meeting ahead is important. Beyond that, it's also confidential. I need you all to state that you understand what that means."

Confidential? This definitely wasn't any of them being in trouble then since the only thing Jaune could think of to be an issue would be his forged transcripts, and that would be a meeting between him and Ironwood, or him and the police. "I understand, sir," said Jaune, and the others muttered their own agreement.

There was nothing to sign because signatures would create a paper trail. In the end, their word would have to do, and that probably meant this was on the lower end of confidential matters. More of a military secret, rather than codes to the city's armaments or anything else that would be far too big a deal to share with four students.

"As the four of you are no doubt aware, the Vytal Festival will be taking place in Vale soon. We're to be expected to send a number of teams to compete and represent Atlas. This will be a long-distance and long-term trip for the teams sent. They'll be accommodated in Beacon Academy, granted temporary residence in Vale, and allowed to roam, attend lessons and continue their education there while exploring a new city. It's not a holiday, but more of a transfer program surrounding an international competition."

He wanted them to compete? Even as Jaune thought it, he dismissed it. They were first years, and not even the strongest team in their year, and this sounded like the kind of opportunity that would be much better suited to older teams. There was too much to learn in your first year that suddenly entrusting your education to another academy with its own rules could upset, or undo, a lot of the work Atlas had done. On the other hand, Ironwood hadn't brought them here to talk about it for no reason.

"At the same time as this," said Ironwood, "we have had a problem of some concern. This is the confidential part. A prototype anti-Grimm weapon has been stolen by the White Fang." There was a gasp from Neon. "This weapon was being secretly tested outside the city when its convoy, which was heavily disguised, was attacked by an overwhelming force. Obviously, we have traitors in our midst. The weapon was stolen and taken in the direction of Vale, and we fully believe it has been smuggled into the city via ocean routes."

"Does Vale know, sir?" asked Flynt.

"They do. They are refusing to provoke the White Fang for fear of unleashing it."

Jaune's mouth hung open. "What…? They're… They're doing nothing?"

"Their politicians are hoping to avoid the problem by ignoring it, cadet. That is how politics work. If they ignore it and it goes away then there is no problem. If they ignore it and it runs rampant then they can blame us and wash their hands of it. The Council of Vale are more interested in making sure the festival runs than dealing with our problems. They are also refusing to let any teams, military or huntsmen, of our own into the city to investigate. Specialist involvement has been rejected, even after we offered to send Clover and the Ace-Ops. They claim they do not want Vale to turn into a warzone, but the real reason is that they are afraid we will push the White Fang into using the weapon."

"What kind of weapon is it, sir?" asked Flynt.

"That is classified but I can tell you it is a piloted vehicle. A walker."

Atlas mechs. Jaune had seen a few around the floating academy when he'd been jogging with the others. He'd never seen one in use, but they were still awesome. It reminded him of the cartoons he used to watch when he was younger, though these were a lot less sleek and more mechanical than those cartoon robots. They were functional weapons after all, and it was important they actually work and be robust enough to take some hits. He could imagine how much damage they could do unleashed in a city centre; it would be like a tank roaming around over cars, shooting at crowded storefronts and into masses of people.

"That's awful," said Jaune. "But, sir, with all due respect, where do we come into this?"

General Ironwood hummed and placed his hands upon the table. "Officially, Atlas is not allowed to investigate the matter nor the White Fang operating within Vale. Specialist involvement has been rejected as I said. Officially, you are not specialists, nor are you military or huntsmen. You are students. And students are authorised to have free access to Beacon, Vale, and anything else a team sent to represent Atlas in the tournament would have."

The dots connected. "You… You want us to fight the White Fang!?"

"No," said Winter. "We want you to investigate the matter and gather information. Ideally, we want you to locate the White Fang and then report that location so that a strike team can deal with the matter under the Council's nose and disarm or disable the weapon."

"If you were chosen to represent us then you would have the right to explore Vale as you wish," explained Ironwood. "We would ask you to use that right to look into this matter for us. Not alone. You would be given intelligence reports from a dedicated team; you would be able to request support, equipment, and resources almost without limit. If you asked for detailed maps of any building in Vale, we could grant it. If you asked for a cache of weapons, we could grant it. If you asked for Vale's own police to be diverted to a location in order to cause a distraction, we could more than likely provide it. You would have a lot of support behind you, logistical, strategic, and more. We are not asking you to wage a four-man war on the White Fang. We are asking you to act on our behalf in a clandestine – but hopefully quiet – operation in an allied city."

"Ideally, combat would be limited," added Winter. "We can't afford to start a fight on allied land. We'd much rather you back off if you were ever in danger, and we believe the White Fang will have the same goal in mind. They don't want to start anything in a city centre either. They have their own reputation to try and preserve, and they won't want to provoke us any more than we want to provoke them. Their goal is to stay hidden. Furthermore, they are comprised of mostly volunteer members of the local faunus communities. Most of them wouldn't be able to stand up to you even if they did choose to fight."

It would be like the mission all over again, except this time without huntsmen pouring out, and with all the faunus in the quarry being untrained and probably not equipped half as well as those soldiers had. Given this new information, Jaune wondered if that assessment hadn't been specifically tailored that way to give them a taste of what it was like going against faunus, and to prep them for this. It was a little convenient that they'd been tested in an operation against fake White Fang mere days before they were asked to go against real White Fang.

We had to destroy a stationary objective too, which isn't too dissimilar to what we might have to do here. Replace that AA emplacement with a big mech and you basically have the same mission. This isn't some wild idea they just came up with. They've been planning this.

"Why us?" asked Jaune. "We're first years. There are stronger teams in our year, let alone the older ones."

"We are not looking for raw strength," said Ironwood. "Which should prove to you our point that you getting into a battle with the White Fang is not our objective here. We want a team that can avoid combat, think on its feet, plan ahead, and process information on the fly. We also need a team that can be trusted to keep this under wraps, and one that won't draw too much attention. We also need a team that won't get distracted with other matters – the Vytal Festival for instance. Sending you is ideal because, and no offence meant, you have next to no chance of winning the event and you know that."

Jaune didn't even wince. He did know that. They all did. Just imagining them winning in the biggest tournament they could enter, when they couldn't even beat Ciel's team, was ridiculous. Ironwood said no offence meant, but he wasn't even sure how they could be offended by such obvious truth.

"We're to get ourselves knocked out in the first round then?"

"You're welcome to try your best as long as you keep the priority mission in your mind. Who knows, you might even complete the mission early and at that point we'll let you do as you wish." Ironwood smiled faintly. "Losing on purpose is likely to be noticed anyway; it's surprisingly difficult to fake a defeat. At least in a convincing manner. The main factor is that, as a first year team, you're the last ones anyone in authority would think we would be entrusting with a job like this. Our fourth year teams are likely to be watched quite closely. The Council of Vale knows that we're annoyed, and they know we'll try and take matters into our own hands."

But they wouldn't expect a team of first years.

It made sense.

"I want it made clear that you're welcome to reject this," said Ironwood. "It won't impact your involvement in the specialist programme. That said, accepting will be a positive mark on your records, and successfully completing the mission will lead to meaningful rewards. This is a classified mission for now, but we're willing to declassify it once the matter is dealt with. Your achievements will be noted and rewarded handsomely. Protecting the kingdom from an international crisis is no small feat."

"How dangerous do we think this is?" asked Jaune.

"Honestly, it's less dangerous than fighting Grimm." The answer surprised him. "Human foes can plan and react in unpredictable ways, but we're talking about untrained faunus civilians. They won't be a huge problem for you. The real danger is less to you and more to the people of Vale, our reputation, and to our diplomatic standing. Your failure at this will be bad for Atlas rather than bad for your team. Your performance will be judged," added General Ironwood, "but we do not punish failure. We punish negligence, disobedience, and betrayal. If you tried your best and failed because of actions by the White Fang, or because they were somehow beyond you or even because they broke the weapon out early before you could react, then no fault will fall on your shoulders. Missions go wrong. And quite frankly, the consequences of your failure here are practically the same as the consequences for us doing nothing at all."

Atlas was damned if they did nothing and damned if Team JCKP failed, but they would be in a great position if they succeeded. It wasn't hard to see why they were taking the approach that it was better to ask forgiveness than permission with that in mind. Vale might be upset, but that could be smoothed over later. Dead civilians because of an Atlas-funded weapon running rampant among the populace wouldn't be nearly so simple.

"You mentioned support before," said Flynt. "How much are we talking?"

"Within limits, anything and everything. We can't offer huntsmen or manpower for reasons you're already aware of. What we can offer is a whole division back home dedicated to support. Hackers, intelligence officers, translators, negotiators. You won't be expected to roam aimlessly across Vale. We already have hot spots picked on a map where intelligence division have narrowed down areas the mech could or could not be safely stored in. We also have faunus officers who masquerade as disillusioned faunus who can try and feed you information about White Fang recruitment meetings in the city."

"You can also have support in terms of specialised equipment," added Winter. "Breach charges, electronic warfare, armour, weaponry, the lot. We cannot put people on the ground but you're a team competing in the tournament. There's no reason you shouldn't have a lot of gear, nor that we can't provide our favoured teams with more."

"Nothing too crazy," said Ironwood. "Vehicles will be off-limits."

"What about motorbikes?" asked Flynt.

The sound Ironwood made was like a low growl mixed with a groan deep in his throat. "I can perhaps stretch to transportation around Vale, but if you are granted a motorbike then it won't be equipped with weapons. This is a city. Respect its laws."

"Funds won't be an issue," said Winter. "You'll be paid full Specialist wages while on this mission and also given a war chest to use for transport, supplies, food, and even bribery if you need it."

"Bribery of whom?"

"White Fang. You'd be surprised how many faunus join up less because they believe the cause and more because they have poor jobs, or no job, and want better for their families. We're even happy to let you negotiate with legal pardons in some cases. As long as they haven't killed anyone we're fine to brush anything under the rug if it helps us reclaim, or neutralise, the weapon."

That was a lot. Not just the pardons but the support and the money and the people who would be working under them if they accepted. It sounded more and more like something a whole division would be working on rather than just the four of them, which was a bigger relief than he could put into words. Four first years against a terrorist group sounded ridiculous, like a bad cartoon, but four kids acting as agents so that smarter and more knowledgeable people could act through them was more reasonable. At best, they'd be told where to go and act as eyes and ears for much more qualified people. And they've made it clear the last thing they want is for us to get into a fight.

Maybe that was another reason they were better than a stronger team. Other teams might get arrogant or think they could handle this on their own, whereas no one in his was like that. Flynt wanted a good job and career, and Neon, for all her fun-loving attitude, was not a risk-taker. Neither was Penny, and he certainly wasn't. Their team was one that wanted to get through every assessment alive and in one piece. They'd be the first to back off if things got hairy, and that was what Atlas needed right now. Not a team of kickass monsters, but a team they could trust to follow orders and not be reckless.

"Can we have some time to think about this?"

"Yes. Take the weekend. We'll need an answer by Monday. If not you, we'll need to find someone else who can do this."

"We were chosen first?"

"You were," said General Ironwood. "Both Winter and Clover recommended your team specifically. I hope you will take that into account. They felt your team would be best suited to this mission, and they are some of my most experienced officers. They would not make such a decision lightly."

Jaune didn't know what to say to that.

/-/

The four of them retreated to their dorm in a state of shock. It wasn't a bad kind of shock; a part of Jaune felt happy they'd been chosen because it meant they were doing well. It was also a boost to their self-esteem, which had been flagging a little since their catastrophic failure in Clover's latest assessment test. They'd all bucked it off and done their best to act like it hadn't bothered them, but it obviously had. To now have General Ironwood, Winter and Clover say they were the first choice in a secret mission was a big boost.

But it was also scary. It was a heavy thing to be told.

"So," said Jaune, sat on the soft carpet with the others in a circle. "Thoughts?"

"This is insane," said Flynt.

Jaune laughed. "I meant thoughts we weren't all already having."

"Bloody White Fang," said Neon. "They give us a bad name. I mean, protests are fine – admirable, even – but stealing a freaking robot and taking it to a population centre? That's nuts! Think of all the people that could die."

"I am thinking of them," said Flynt. "I'm thinking of them being on our conscience."

"Same," admitted Jaune. "If we mess up…"

"It will be bad if we do not do anything at all as well," said Penny. "The White Fang have the robot, whatever our involvement. They would not steal it and take it to Vale if using it was not in some way their intention. Our refusing this does not better protect anyone."

"Yeah, but it lets us avoid the guilt," said Flynt. "Which sounds scummy, I know, but… I mean… we're first years!"

"It doesn't sound like they want us to fight," said Jaune. "We're really just following their orders and doing what they say. Even if something does go wrong, won't it be them blamed before us? Our job is to do what they tell us to do."

"I know that. You know that. They know that…"

Flynt trailed off, but Neon finished it for him. "But you'll still blame yourself?"

"Yeah. I'll know up here we did our best, but down here in my heart I just know I'll be hating myself forever for messing this up." He scoffed. "And I'll probably hate myself if we say no now, and someone else tries and fails and people die. What if we are the best squad for this? What if they're right and we really are their best shot? It's catch-22. We're screwed either way."

"I have heard it say that it is better to try and fail than to never try at all," said Penny. "But I must admit that I, too, feel concern here. I do not doubt General Ironwood when he says we came recommended, and I do not doubt any of you, but it is still a worrying prospect to be put into action so soon. And for so great a task."

"We're training to be Specialists, though," said Jaune. "And it was all of you that wanted that. Specialists get the hardest missions. This is the kind of thing we'll be expected to do, and we won't have half as much support in the future as they're offering us right now."

Flynt looked up. "You're saying we should take this for the experience?"

No. That sounded much too selfish when people's lives were at stake. It was hard to put exactly what he meant into words, and he'd never been good at explaining himself. "I'm saying we should take it at face value maybe. They think we're best for this. Maybe we are. They want a first year team, so if it's not us then it'll be someone else. Or no one, and then we're just hoping the White Fang won't use that thing."

"They will," said Neon. "Penny is right; you don't steal something like that to not use it. They have a plan for it."

"If not us then someone else will be forced to make this choice," said Penny. "I think we should take it."

"Are we ready?" asked Jaune.

"We will always have the option to flee. We're not entering a war against them."

"We can play it safe," said Neon. "Explore Vale, have a look around, back off at the first sign of danger and follow the leads we're given. Competing in the tournament would be a huge boost for our team as well." She nudged Flynt with her elbow. "Think of your resume if we have both a specialist mission and a Vytal Festival performance on it."

"Oh man." Flynt cupped his face. "Don't get me excited, Neon. Not for this. I'm freaking out enough already. Jaune, man, what's your call? Are you for it or against it?"

That was a good question. He'd have to say he was against it, but then he was also against the idea of forcing it on someone else who might be less able to pull it off. The other teams, barring maybe Ciel's, were way too headstrong, and even Ciel had some difficulties with her teammates at times. Theirs was one of the few teams to actually complete all their assessments thus far, and as much as he felt like he wasn't worth the recognition, Team JCKP had earned it. He didn't think Winter and Clover would have recommended them otherwise.

"I think… I think…" He closed his eyes and thought. "I think we should consider it. Like Flynt says, if we refuse this and someone else takes it and fails…" He winced. "I'd always be asking myself if those people couldn't have been protected if we'd just been a little braver." He let that sink in. "I know this isn't the best reason for us to accept, but it's how I feel."

"You're right," said Flynt. "It's a shit reason. Even shitter that I feel the same way."

"Guilted into a mission," complained Neon, with a faint smile. "That sounds so like us, doesn't it? Ugh. Fine. I'm in. At least it'll be warmer in Vale."

"Yeah, but we won't have our pod beds."

Neon froze.

"Is it too late to tell Ironwood to shove it up his ass?"

"Yes," said Penny, smiling faintly. "I'm afraid so."


We're on our way to Beacon. I've not really established what point the cast in Beacon are at, but you'll get an idea of that once the Atlas crew arrive in Vale.


Next Chapter: 21st January

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