Red made it back to base the moment the sun was slowly going down on the horizon. Which meant she was in the nick of time back at HQ. Any longer and her boss might start asking questions and potentially punish her for her long outing. Regardless, she was happy to be back. Well, as happy as she could be knowing full well that she does not consider her boss an ally. Nonetheless, that matter little. Since despite the clear hostile nature she gave her boss, while being as robotic as she could be, that didn't mean she had no allies in the base. In fact, most of the mutated soldier type civilians and the mutated civilian type civilians, considered her the true commander of the base. It took lots of training to get everyone to call her that, since they sometimes tended to call her general instead.
But all of this, all the hostilities she held against her superiors, was soon going to matter very little. It took Red ten years. Ten years to get this project going. Codename Golden. She used the 'Fake' promise her boss made at the early days of Red's forced employment, as a way to force a way out. Project name, Golden Kite. Her boss promised her to go kiting after her one thousand's mission. Of course that was a lie, a way to entice Red, or Ruby back in the day, to get her to do their bidding. And impressively, it worked. Only for a second though. She was smart enough to realize the abnormality of such promise. Seeing that she was in a military base. Still, Red would like to hope for the sake of the soldiers of other bases, that such requests weren't bullshit elsewhere. But right now, it was. And god, it was perfect. She has created the perfect cover story for her escape, even if everything took ten years to prepare.
But then, the most unusual situation occured. When she was outside, she, per chance, got the help of some very capable people. People that unintentionally created this organization, but not for this. Back then, this facility was for training war children for the Great War. And despite what most might believe, and despite how awful such an organization is. It was still magnitudes better than what it's used for now. Kidnap random civilians, turning them into slaves, then turning those slaves into part robot part human. The part human part being specifically targetted towards Faunus obviously. Then brainwashing them into an eternal servitude. Well, the last part didn't work out. Something Red found out quite quickly once people started look up to her.
"Hey Red!" Helpy said. Meet Helpy, Red's personal robot. Unlike those brainwashed and mutated into robots. This one was born robot and raised as such. It was Red's helper bot. A little bot that Red made herself, in the early days. Back then, she was still somewhat unstable. Though her love to build things persisted until she began doing missions Afterwards that part of her personality became... less prevalent as she also began losing emotions as a result. Though secretly she still loved building things.
"Helpy. Is something wrong?" Red ask curiously. Helpy almost never greeted Red outside and at the gate. It disliked the dust that would get into its trusters, trusters of which allowed it to move around since wheels in this terrain was... Not very smart.
"I have good news. Everyone has kites! They are ready whenever you are!" Helpy said. Though despite that sentence being rather plain and boring. In actuality, that was a sentence filled with code language. An undergound language only used by those that followed Red. Which spoiler alert, was everyone that was enslaved. The ones intentionally kept out of the loop was their masters and mistresses. Red did translate it for herself though, it meant. "Everyone is read to go. They all have their weapons."
"What about the fireworks?" Again, that was code language. It actually meant, "What about the ammo?"
"All live and set. I placed it on the boat. People have their kites ready, ready to take flight whenever." Red once again translated that, "Everyone is in position. Escape route is clear, plans have been established. Your command!"
"What about... the special kites? Fire colored ones? Yellow colored ones? Blue ones?" Red said, Helpy translated that, "Are the bombs in place? Fire bomb? EMP bombs? Emergency bombs?"
"All set! We await your permission."
"Also I have good news. More kites are coming from Patch and Vale. They will want some soon. Get ready for them as well." Red said, again, when translated it gave a more complete picture. "One more thing. I managed to secure allies. They will exfil us. Prepare for that."
"That is perfect news! When and where?" Helpy asked.
"Unknown. Watch the sky for the kites." Red replied.
"Understood, boss!" Helpy said, they suddenly turned towards the barracks that is owned by Ruby's bosses, alerted. Helpy chose to make itself scarce as fast as possible. Much to the pleasure of the boss, and displeasure of Red.
"Commander!" Red gave a robotically salute and statement.
"What is this about kites?" The commander asked confused. Which confirmed towards Red that they were in fact watching her.
"Remember your promise? My one thousand's mission was finished yesterday. I can finally fulfill that promise. I already prepared the kites. When can we go boss?" Red asked with some excitement in her robotically voice.
Red noticed the commander facepalm as he seemed to have atleast remembered it. Then with an annoyed look, he looks at Red. "Denied. I promised, yes, but it was merely to get you back into the mood."
Red moved her head sideways slightly in 'fake' confusion. "Wait... so all this time... That was a lie?" She drooped slightly in sadness.
"Yes. Now Red. what is the golden rule?" the commander asked.
"Yes commander, sorry commander." Red apologized.
"Very good. Dismissed." The commander left Red to wallow in her 'fake' sadness.
Red watched the commader like a hawk as her left back into the the commander's barracks. Her powerful enhanced ears, heard the sounds of bullheads in the background. Causing Red to give the nearest camera an evil smile. "Helpy. The time is Golden." She ordered.
Helpy saluted as they immediately transfered the order to Red's many allies. Causing the bombs to go off, all around Red. The resulting mayham turned all the cameras off all at once. As the fire bombs lit up the Barracks. Which was only part of the reason why the cameras stopped recording. Another far more simple reason was one of the many EMP bombs to go off. Turning off things they required. Like SAM systems and the like.
"Commander?"
"Tenet go ahead."
"All the emergency cargo pods are a-go. Orders?" Tenet, Red's left hand asked.
"James, give me the coordinates on those approaching Bullheads." Red ordered.
"West Canyon, commander!" James replied.
"Exfil location at West Canyon. Tenet send those coords to all allies. Prepare for mass exfil. Double time."
"Reasons?" Another voice asked, it was Jane, Jane Schnee. Red's feet.
"I will do the honors of destroying the facility. Which means, I want everyone out, now! The fire is spreading to the nearby forest. Hurry!" Red ordered.
"Yes, Commander." The three responded.
"If I may ask, Commander. What are you going to do?" Tenet asked worried.
"Don't worry. I will hold back."
"That doesn't answer my question commander."
Red sighed, "I will use the ultimate toy they gave me, back to them. God protocol. Number 666, part 12, function 6."
Red could hear Tenet gasp, "Scarlet Devil protocol... I am Her, Loneliest of them all." Tenet stated shocked, "Isn't that a Yokai Move?"
"Tenet. Get everyone out of here as soon as physically possible. I will hold back, but it might still destroy atleast one tenth of Patch as a result. Tenet this is an order. Get everyone on those bullheads as soon as you can. Or face possible erasure if you miss that window. I will give you thirty minutes." Red ordred with a bit more force.
"Yes Commander!" Red could hear Tenet salute before the line went dead. She then spread Her wings. These pretty wings were made of crystals, but those crystals held immense power. 'Tenet. Please hurry.' Red though.
Meanwhile at the West Canyon.
Ozpin with his people has finally arrived near the base. Just as Summer and Qrow were about to search for Ruby, a bunch of heavily mutated faunus and humans come out the bushes. They look at the exfil people for a moment. The then seemingly strongest person of the group approach Ozpin.
"Are you sir Ozpin?" the burly man asked.
"Ozpin is fine. But yes. Who are you?" Ozpin asked politely.
"I wish I could perform small talk with you, sir. But I got ordered to exfill off Patch with your aid. Is that correct?" The man asked.
"That is correct." Ozpin confirmed.
"Then we must hurry." Said a different person. A faunus girl... or what is left of it anyways, said in a hurry. "Commander Red is about to finish off the base. We need to get out of here, or else we will get caught by the explosion." she said. A bunch of armed allies was with her.
"Is this everyone?" Summer asked faster.
"Almost. We are still missing about thirty people. But we should try to leave immediately." The faunus girl requested.
"Alright. Qrow, which ones were going to be used for exfil?" Ozpin asked.
"The ones with a red cross."
"Please enter those. When they are full, they will leave automatically." Ozpin explained.
While the group that was already there began to exfil, Specialist Winter's aircraft also finally touched down. As Winter exits the plane, she spots a familiar looking face. And without much hesitation, she approached the familiar face.
"Who are you miss?" Winter requested. The girl in question instantly saluted.
"My name is Jane Schnee madam. I am Commander Red's feet. One of her weaker personal soldiers. But one quick on my feet. Why? Who are you?"
The moment she called herself that, Winter's mouth hit the ground agape. The famous grandmorther of the Schnee family that went missing fifty years ago, had been kidnapped by these bastards all those years ago. It honestly want to made her swear. But she held it in as she replied, "My name is Winter Schnee. I am a specialist of Atlas's military force, madam."
"Wait Winter Schnee? Who is your mother?" Jane asked shocked.
"Willow Schnee, madam." Winter replied. Jane gasped, then carefully gave Winter a hug. A hug that though unexpected, but not unwelcoming.
"To think I have a Great Grand daughter... That is amazing. I wish we could speak more. But we need to go." Jane replied.
"Alright." Winter replied, she then proceeded to assist in guiding the people into the right bullheads.
But then, out of nowhere. Tenet, Red's left hand storms out of the bushes. With her was Red's right hand and the remaining thirty people. Her face was pale. The group immediately looked at Tenet. "There is no time to explain! We need to go! Commander Red is performing one of her god abilities! Which will wipe out one tenth of Patch! We need to go, NOW!" Tenet barked as an order.
"We got thirty minutes to get out. Or face erasure!" She added.
Ozpin pales at both the mention of a 'God ability' and the fact that they might face erasure if they don't hurry. Ozpin orders everyone into the bullheads without a single hesitation. He almost dragged, pulled and forced people into the bullheads without listing to their requests. Luckily most listened, as they should. But Summer realized that her daughter was still out there.
"What about Ruby?!" Summer shouted over the sound.
"Ruby Rose or Commander Red, will be fine. She can fly and is nearly indestructable." Tenet said over the radio. "Let's just watch the fireworks."
As the exfill bullheads left the area to head towards Vale. The specialist bullhead and Ozpin's personal bullhead stayed in the area. They looked towards the distance and saw Ruby just flying in the sky. As Summer looked closer, she saw Ruby smiling at them. She then turns around and summons a spear that is on fire besides herself. She then increased the amount of spears, before simply throwing them towards the base. And what happened next, confused everyone besides Jane and Ozpin.
As they watch the spears hit the ground, massive cracks form at the mere drop of the spear, then a massive mushroom cloud appeared as it engulfs the entire base, an mountain and an abandoned village nearby in the cloud. For the first few moments, nothing happened, then roughly five seconds later, the aircraft got juggled around by the sheer shockwave and the hardest explosion rocked everyone's eardrums. *KABOOM!* which was quickly followed by cracking sounds as debris was thrown for thousands of miles all around Patch. Summer didn't give the explosion much mind. As the appearance of her long lost daughter took priority, that said, she was impressed at the sheer scale of the explosion. She wondered who Ruby got that from.
Ruby then turned around, those strange wings she had, disappeared for the wind, only to get replaced by massive trusters on her back. She then looked at Ozpin's personal bullhead as she began to slowly approach it. As soon as she is next to it, she knocked on the door. Summer opens the door, and Ruby slowly enters the bullhead. As soon as her feet touched the floor of the bullhead, she turns her massive trusters off. And collapsed it into her back. She then looks at the group. Summer and Ozpin. The only two recognizable. Something that Ozpin didn't miss, he then gave her a sad smile.
"Nice to finally see you, Ruby Rose. My name is Ozpin. And this is your mother, Summer Rose. Besides her is Taiyang Xiao Long, your dad. Besides him stands, Qrow Branwen, your uncle." Ozpin introduced.
"Ah. So that is who this man with golden hair and that man with black hair is. My father and my uncle. Sorry for my lack of response. My memories have been lacking... And my emotions module might have gotten damaged during that... ability. Since I suddenly lack a bunch of emotions. I am sorry about that." Red, no, Ruby apologized for her own shortcomings. Much to the sadness of Ozpin.
"Ruby... Can I... hug you?" Summer asks carefully.
Ruby moves her sideways for a moment to process that unusual request. "Give me a moment. Need to check if I am safe to touch yet." Ruby said after a solid moment.
"Why does she need to wait?" Taiyang asked confused.
"When I used that ability. My... shielding might have gotten damaged. And since that blast generated a lot of radiation heat. My body might not be safe to touch yet. By human flesh I mean." Ruby explained.
"I see. And?" Ozpin asked, his tone continued to hold a sad undertone. But he was not appearing as sad anymore.
"Hm... No damage to shield. And yet my systems are telling me that I still took a bit of radiation heat. So... I would wait atleast one hour longer before asking me that again. As a precaution. I am sure you understand, no?" Ruby replied, causing Summer to droop saddened, though she still nodded in turn.
"I suppose it can't be helped." Ozpin stated off-handedly. "What is your people going to do now?"
"Oh right. I should probably call that in." Ruby said, "Commander Red here. Mission has been a success. No need for a damage report. I will leave that to the authorities. In the mean time, all civilian personal, please make your way to the nearest city. Vale, in this case. And prepare for migration back to the society of your choice. Meanwhile, soldiers, you are going to follow me to Beacon. No questions asked. That means you Jane. You are going to Beacon whether you like it or not."
"Sir! Yes sir!" Everyone shouted over the comms.
"There we go. The civilians are free to go, Ozpin. Meanwhile the battle-hardened soldiers and combatants are going to Beacon for further processing." Ruby informs.
"Very good." Ozpin replied pleased, "Rough count?"
"Hm. About three hundred civilians. I'd say about a dozen or so combatants. Soldiers wise, we have sixty squads. Sixty commanders, twenty lieutenant, five commander lieutenant. And finally two ultra specialists. My left and right hand. With finally, counting myself. One general." Ruby replied. "So... Soldiers wise? Roughly? Over a thousand or so. Give or take."
This caused miss Goodwitch to sharply inhale. That was a lot of soldiers. Like, Atlas levels of soldiers. But Ruby wasn't quite done yet. There were a few unaccounted for. Something Ruby realized before Glynda had a time to speak.
"Wait! There are... two operatives unaccounted for. There were both send on a mission by me, days before our escape. My two... partners. Both are not as strong as me. But dangerous nonetheless. You probably noticed my... protocol, right? Well someone had to come up with it. My two partners... aren't really a part of the force. Honorary at best, enlisted at worst. They are... powerful in their own right. One a Yokai, the other... well... an Angel. Yes, an angel." Ruby explains, "Their actual status with this facility is... complicated. Fact is, people call them illusionary friends. Nobody but me can see them. But their powers are very real. As you saw a moment ago."
"Where are they now?" Ozpin asked.
"I am unsure. Either back home or in combat. The Yokai is currently facing an extremely powerful human. Even more powerful, than her. Meanwhile the Angel... is stuck in eons long war with... something. The initial one will only take... about a year? The latter one about the same time. Time is funny across dimensions." Ruby casually replied.
"Magic?" Summer asked suddenly. Her expression suggested at she was shocked by that information. It confused Ruby.
"Is that such a weird thing?" Ruby asked confused. "I used to live with two magically powerful beings. And a massive army of people with mechanically mutated people."
"Yes. Nobody but a select few has magic." Ozpin replied. Causing Ruby to look incredulous at Ozpin.
"Even though all the Grimm in the world are magical constructs?" Ruby replied confused even more.
"Wait what?!" Summer replied even more confused.
"Ruby, Summer... Please, let's explain this further once we are done sorting out the survivors." Ozpin replied, his voice betrayed his shock. But only Ruby seemed to pick up on it. Nobody else replied. Clearly feeling his authority on the matter. Ruby being the only exception to that, since she technically out-ranked Ozpin in Military ranks alone. But that didn't matter at the moment. She was just happy she finally could go home.