Geoff declares war on Atlas and Remnant in the name of freedom.
Five months ago
Captain Ob Sidian was in his office, contemplating his role in this most current war. Ironwood wanted him hunting down people that he knew were not traitors and arresting them. He wanted Ob to enslave Faunus. He couldn't do that, wouldn't do that.
His thoughts were interrupted when his Scroll rang. "This is Captain Sidian." He said when he answered it.
"Captain Sidian! Bring Ace Operative Clover and Ace Operative Vine with you to my office." General Ironwood said over the Scroll.
"Yessir!" Ob Said before heading for the barracks to get Clover and Vine. He didn't find them in the barracks, he found them training. He smiled as they had taken him seriously on them needing to get better. They still needed work, but they were getting there. "Listen up Aces!" He called to them. "The General needs to see us in his office."
"What about Elm?" Clover asked.
"I assume that she's already there. Now, let's go." They headed for Ironwood's office and walked in when they arrived, standing at attention in front of Ironwoods desk. "Ace Ops reporting for duty, Sir!" Ob Said.
"At ease. Captain Sidian. Operative Ederne Just Witnessed the traitors talking about a place called Beacon II. I want you to find it, raid it, bring me the traitors, and bring the Faunus back. I want Atlas up and running as soon as possible."
"With all due respect sir!" Ob snapped to attention. "We are still on truce for another two hours sir!"
"Then they should have thought about that before they attacked Mantle." Ironwood Said coldly.
"Sir! With all due respect, why are you so adamant on getting the Faunus back? We have people in Atlas and Mantle who could make Atlas run, why the Faunus?"
"Are you disrespecting my orders and my Authority Captain Sidian?"
"Sir no sir!" Ob snapped to attention. "Respectfully asking for clarification!"
"I see. The reason I am looking for the Faunus is that without the Faunus, Atlas is only on emergency power and rations. The Faunus make up ninety percent of the work force, and the humans make up ten percent of the work force."
"Sir! I respectfully request to call bullshit!"
"Denied! Now, get the traitors and the Faunus!"
"With all due respect sir?" Ob Said. Now was the time to stand up for what was right. He wouldn't enslave a group of people because he was told to.
"What is it, Captain?"
"Fuck That sir! I would rather see the Faunus free than enslaved. I respectfully decline the mission to enslave the Faunus again. Make the work more equal and increase pay and benefits for the Faunus to meet the pay of the humans, and I will request that the Faunus come back, but I am not a Bounty Hunter. I am a Soldier in the Atlesian Military and will not take part in the hunting down and murder of Faunus because we humans are too lazy to get up off our asses."
The Ace Ops looked at Ob in horror.
Ironwood looked at Ob. "Ace Operative Elm!"
"Sir yes sir!" Elm shouted, snapping to attention.
"Arrest Captain Sidian."
"Sir Yes sir!" Elm turned to Ob. "Captain Sidian. You Are Under Arrest for treason against the kingdom of Atlas."
"Captain Ob Sidian!" Ironwood declared. "You Are to be put to death for committing treason against the Kingdom of Atlas. Do you have any last words?" He leveled 'Nature's Domain' at Ob.
"I refuse to serve a fascist kingdom." Ob Said, tossing his Captain's bars on Ironwoods desk. "I fought for the freedom of others, and I will die for the freedom of others. Fuck you and your Kingdom, James."
Ironwood nodded and shot Ob.
Ob began writhing as pain became his very existence. He felt agonizing pain. Pain that made him wish he could die because this pain was too much for him to take.
Eventually the pain overwhelmed him, and he passed out.
Present day.
General James Ironwood stood in front of a cell, looking at the Topiary Statue that had been Captain Ob Sidian. It made his blood boil to know that Ob would side with those traitors. It had been months and the Ace Ops hadn't found anything that led them to Beacon II.
"Captain Sidian. Do you know where Beacon II is?"
Captain Sidian shook his head in resignation. Not because he didn't know anything, but because Ironwood wouldn't believe him.
"I'm trying to be reasonable Sidian." Ironwood said.
"No." Sidian growled. "You Just want to enslave the Faunus again. Even if I knew where Beacon II or the Faunus were, I wouldn't tell you."
"Damn it Sidian! Atlas is dying! You have a duty to Atlas! Why are you letting Atlas die!?"
"I am not killing Atlas, you are. You and Cordovin with your toxic viewpoints of Faunus. Faunus are people too, and if the traitors are traitors because they are offering the Faunus freedom then I will be a traitor and fight for freedom too!"
Ironwood grit his teeth and glared at Ob. "Damn it! I've been more than patient! Now, tell me where they are!"
Ob glared back. Ironwood was probably going to torture him, so what the hell. "Okay, fine. I'll tell you. Just promise me that you won't torture me if you don't like the answer."
"Of course." Ironwood Promised.
"Okay, they're hiding in the ninth level of hell. You'll need to fight through the first eight levels and then lead them back out."
Ironwood pressed a button on the side of the cell and the oxygen was ripped from the cell.
Ironwood spun on his heel and walked out of the room, but heard a loud...
CRAAAACK!
...in the distance followed by a whistling sound that ended in a...
CRASH!
...and Atlas shook.
Ironwood grit his teeth and ran for a window. 'Those cowards attacked.' He thought. 'Those traitorous cowards attacked! Well! They won't live long enough to regr...' Ironwood stopped in his tracks and looked outside to see a massive cloud of dirt and dust. They watched as the dust cloud dissipated, leaving a massive ship in its wake.
The ship was massive. Ten stories tall, two miles long, so long that they couldn't see where it ended in either direction. How was it still flying? It should have split in half and fallen.
Twenty massive turbines kept it aloft and generated enough wind to kick up a sandstorm.
"How did Patrick build that!" Ironwood shouted in outrage.
There was the sound of a P.A. System coming on and Ironwood heard Patrick's annoying voice.
Geoff stood on the Bridge and smiled before activating the P.A. System. The Kingdom of Hope had risen and was staying aloft.
Clearing his throat, he began speaking:
"To all th' citizens o' both Atlas and Mantle:". He began.
"There is no need ta panic or distress, I'll keep thin's brief. My name is Geoffrey Patrick, former mechanic an' weapons designer o' th' Atlesian military, an' acting Admiral o' th' airship Beacon II...
Ironwood grit his teeth. Beacon II was an Airship, not a Building.
" ...Most importantly, I'm an advocate fer th' Faunus an' anyone else tha' has been robbed o' their rights as equal citizens o' both Mantle an' Atlas.
Fer too long, these people, both human an' Faunus, have been viciously mistreated by those tha' consider themselves above both their actions an' th' law. This mistreatment, rangin' from simple yet sickenin' discrimination to abominable acts o' cruelty an' abuse, have plagued th' kingdom an' its settlements, giving way ta unofficial second-class citizens an' a rift tha' has been dividing th' people ever since.
I'm sure tha' many o' you can remember th' White Fang: a terrorist group tha' ravaged the kingdoms o' Remnant. However, their organization didn' start tha' way. In th' beginnin', they were merely a group o' free-thinkin' individuals tha' simply wanted their voice ta be heard. But when peace failed ta make a real difference between them an' their abusers, this organization's peaceful cries turned inta a violent roar, an' th' protests, once fronted by well-meanin' leaders, turned ta violence as th' people were led by more dynamic tyrants tha' wished ta see humans brought low, th' same way tha' they were brought low by those in power.
Once again, we see th' government sit idly by as our people are grossly mistreated, as if they were less than human, by those who want nothin' more than power and subjugation. No more. We cannot allow these atrocities ta continue to our people. So, I ask all those in Atlas, Mantle, an' anyone else tha' can hear this message on th' continent o' Solitas, all those tha' wish ta see a new Atlas, free o' this arrogance, hatred, an' prejudice, ta join our cause as we fight ta see a brighter future. This fight is not against th' common man, but against th' principles tha' have led this kingdom down th' wrong path fer too long. Those who are merely innocent bystanders will not be harmed.
However, ta those tha' believe tha' they an' their twisted principles are above both the common man and th' law, including those within th' government and th' military, we will not stop until our voice is heard. Ye may call us radicals, traitors, or even terrorists, but we know what we stand fer.
This world has seen too much war an' bloodshed, with too many lives lost. However, if our Council and General, whose impassivity an' arrogance has allowed fer these crimes ta continue, wish ta cling to th' broken shards o' an Atlas, rottin' to th' core an' in desperate need o' either reformation or replacement, then let them an' those tha' follow in their twisted way bleed. Let this message be our declaration of war."
Ironwood glared at Beacon II and wanted that ship for himself. "Battles stations! I want that ship captured! That's where they are holding the Faunus! Get them!"
The Ace Ops took off before Ironwood could shoot them with 'Natures Domain'. They would get Ironwood the ship, and he would be happy.
Geoff left the Bridge and found his brothers before they made their way to the outside of the ship.
"Good speech." Scott encouraged a burn mark stretching from his hand, up his arm, up towards his chin. He kept it exposed to remind him of the cost his actions had.
Geoff nodded. Now was the time for doing, not speaking.
They stood on the deck, looking out, watching, waiting. They waited until a Bullhead landed on the deck and the three remaining Ace Ops stepped out onto the deck.
"I'm pretty sure that you were supposed to request permission to come aboard." Gale said. "And Permission to Cum." He smiled an evil little smile.
"Shut the fuck up!" Elm shouted. "You Are all under Arrest. You will Hand this ship over to General Ironwood and come along quietly!"
"If we're coming..." Gale said. "...it won't be quiet."
"Here's my counter offer lass," Geoff said. "Join us, an' we won't throw ya in th'... not brig, what's another word fer brig?"
"Holding cells?" José asked.
"It's better than brig." Geoff shuddered. "I still have nightmares about tha' place. Ye can ask Velv."
"We believe you." Scott said. "Seeing a place like that would scare anyone shitless."
"HEY!" Elm shouted. "Pay attention to us."
"Feck ye an' yer Entourage!" Geoff shouted. "Join us or be thrown in the holdin' cells!"
"Get them!" Elm shouted.
"STAY!" A familiar yet different voice shouted, freezing the Ace Ops in place.
A well-built Marrow walked from the shadows of the entryway and glared at the Ace Ops. "You people disgust me." He snapped bitterly. "You allowed Harriet to have her way with me and other Faunus! You treated us like objects to be used! I won't ever forget what you let happen to me, but if you want to change sides, I can at least forgive you."
"What!" Elm shouted. "We didn't know what Harriet was doing!"
"And Dr. Anya says I need to forgive you for that, but I'm not ready for that yet. Maybe later. Now. Come along quietly before I let them do whatever they want to you as petty revenge for what you let Harriet put me through."
"You still have us frozen in your Semblance!"
"Oh, right." Marrow Said. "Do you guys have them."
"Sure do." Scott said.
"Let's get them taken care o' an' then we'll talk ta Ironwood." Geoff said.
"Let's Go!" José Said.
They led the Ace Ops to the holding cells in the bowels of the Beacon II.
"Please stay here until we get back." Geoff said. "If ye'll stay here, then when we get back ye'll have a chance ta join us on th' Kingdom o' Hope."
"Let us out and we'll try talking Ironwood out of killing you."
"Maybe I should let Jason talk ta th' lot o' ya. Ye'd be takin' him away from th' birth of his daughter, an' he wouldn't want ta miss tha'."
"He'd be pissed off." Gale said.
"I wouldn't even stop him." Scott added.
Elm gulped. She didn't know if she and the others were even able to take on Jason. They had spent the last five months training, but since Geoff was able to beat them just now, she didn't think that they could go toe-to-toe with Jason.
Bowing her head, she sighed. "No. You don't have to call Jason."
"Good. Now, let's leave."
They left and headed for the bullhead.
Elm waited ten minutes before she kicked the door to the cells open.
"That was too easy." Clover said.
"No. It's just your Semblance. Let's go. We'll take control of this ship for Ironwood."
They left the holding cells with Elm in the lead, making their way to the bridge when they felt the temperature drop more than ten degrees.
"Look what we have here." A voice said from the shadows.
"Guess they came here to die. They should have stayed in their holding cells where it was safe."
"Knock it off Todd!" Elm shouted. "We know your Semblance allows you to utilize the shadows!"
The corridor fell into an ominous red light.
"We would feel insulted that you compared us to Jason!"
"But Jason is pretty kick ass and meant to be terrifying, so we'll let it pass."
"Whoever you are! We are the Ace Ops! You're under Arrest! Everyone here is under arrest! We are capturing this ship and everyone aboard it in the name of General James Ironwood!"
The lights flickered and Shadows appeared across every wall.
"Then I suppose you leave us no choice."
"We'll have to kill you. We don't want to, but you are a threat to everyone on board. Just be glad it's us and not Jason."
"Yeah. I'll just scare you to death. Jason would torture you to death for threatening Weiss while she's in labor and his newborn daughter."
"Fear tactics won't work on us." Vine said.
The corridor was plunged into darkness.
"They won't? Oh, that's a shame. Because that means that we actually have to kill you."
"We don't actually like killing. Even though your propaganda says we love killing and bathing in the blood of our victims."
"Actually, I think I will enjoy killing you. Your propaganda attacked Jason when he was in a coma and couldn't defend himself. Someone has to pay. Might as well be you. Should have stayed in your cages!"
The corridor was filled with the sounds of terrifying wails before the lights turned on and Elm looked down to see Vine and Clover lying on the ground, dead.
"What did you do to them!" Elm shouted.
"Killed them." A voice said from behind her, causing her to spin around to see nothing. "Isn't that what we do? Kill?"
"Aren't we blood thirsty Monsters who kill regardless of who's in front of us?" A voice whispered in her ear causing her to spin around to try and find the source only to be unable to find the source.
Something pushed her to the floor and into broken glass, the glass shattering and stabbing into her hands, face, and left eye. She pulled the glass out of her eye and spun around.
"Aren't we Just Monsters That torture, Murder, rape, and pillage whatever we want?"
"We're just being the monsters Ironwood said we are. Starting with you."
"No!" Elm shouted, pushing herself away from the voices until she was backed against a wall, shoving the glass deeper into her palms, but she didn't care, she needed to get away from whatever was happening. Her heart was beating so fast, her adrenaline was coursing through her veins. She needed to get away. It was the only thing she could think of.
"Funny thing about propaganda..." someone said from behind her. "...It's usually wrong."
"Just be grateful that Jason didn't learn about the Propaganda. He would likely kill everyone still alive in Atlas and Mantle. He has a thing about being called a rapist. He doesn't like it."
"Do you want to know something?" Loki asked, walking in front of Elm. "My Semblance evolved again over the last five months. Do you know what it does now."
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Elm shrieked in terrified horror.
"I can now kill people with my Semblance."
That was the last thing Elm heard before she lost consciousness, never to wake up again.
Loki and Coral looked at each other before nodding and disappearing into the shadows.
Jason and Weiss were in the infirmary, Weiss lying in bed with her legs in the Stirrups and a Jason holding her hand on either side. Another Jason was in the corner reading books on giving birth on his scroll.
"Okay, the book says that you need to find whatever position is comfortable for you. You don't need to stay in the position the healer says you need to. If you want to squat, then you can squat. If you want to stand up, then you can stand up."
"You're not helping Jason!" Weiss snapped.
"I'm sorry! I'm not sure what to do! I'm panicking! This isn't something I can fight my way out of! I think I'm hyperventilating!"
"The most dangerous man in the world." Weiss motioned at Jason with a wince.
"Most husbands are useless in the delivery room." Healer Grey Said. "Did your healer give you any breathing to use during labor?"
"Yes. Jason should be back with Healer Brown shortly.
A Portal opened and Jason walked through. "Sorry Weiss." Jason Said apologetically. "Healer Brown is in surgery. He can't come."
"Then I guess it's up to me."
"Sorry Grey." Jason Said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's just nice to be finished with the victim's who'd been mutilated. I'm glad they are doing better, but some of them won't ever return to normal, and I'm just sorry for the ones we lost."
Jason bowed his head, but looked up when he heard Weiss groan as another contraction hit.
"Weiss. What do you want me to do? I have one clone who's panicking, one clone who's stoically holding your hand, one clone who's supportively holding your hand, what else should I do?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe get me some food, drink, and maybe a massage."
Jason pulled snacks, a 24 pack, and a neck pillow out of his shadow. He began feeding Weiss, letting her sip from the drink, and placed the neck pillow around her neck before arms appeared from her shadow and began massaging her body.
"Is that better?"
Grey looked at Jason and Weiss. "You're sure you haven't done this before?"
"First time." Jason said. "Why do you ask."
"First time parents aren't this... calm."
"One of my Clones Are panicking over there in the corner." Jason said.
"Yes, well I've used my Semblance to make Weiss more comfortable, so, as soon as her contractions start coming closer together, we can start."
"How close."
"You'll know when they start."
Weiss was hit with another contraction, and Jason gave her hand a squeeze, rubbed her shoulders, held up a chip and a drink, and waited.
"I feel that I should tell you that there will be some tearing, some blood, and some bruising." Grey said. "It varies, but it happens."
Jason held Weiss. "How long?"
"Some Labors can take as little as two minutes and some can take as long as two days, but after that we tend to go to the cesarean or C-Section."
"C-Section?" Jason and Weiss asked.
"We make an incision into through the stomach, into the womb, and pull the baby and placenta out before letting the Placenta drain for a healthy baby, and your Aura should seal you up nicely. If it doesn't, we'll either have to use sutures or staples."
Jason and Weiss looked horrified and on the verge of raging in Jason's case.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. It's completely safe."
"You're going to cut Weiss open!?" Jason shouted at the same time Weiss shouted: "You're going to cut me open?!"
"Only if it's absolutely necessary." Healer Grey Said.
"What constitutes "absolutely necessary" in this instance?" Weiss asked.
"If the baby is too big, if you go over the 48 hour mark, though sometimes we allow a 72 hour mark, in rare occasions."
Weiss felt another contraction. "That one felt shorter than the last one!" She grit her teeth.
"Jason! Do the breathing with Weiss!" Healer Grey ordered.
"Breathing? What breathing!?"
"Jason..." Weiss grabbed Jason's face and held it to hers. "...breathe like I breathe."
Jason listened to Weiss's breathing and mimicked her. "Why... am... I... getting... light... headed?" he asked through the breathing.
"Because you don't have my endurance because you were in a coma while I was taking the classes." Weiss explained.
"That's... my... fault?"
"Maybe you'll..." Weiss was cut off by another contraction.
"They're coming closer, and we should see the head soon."
"WHAT!?" Jason asked.
"Jason!" Weiss snapped. "I'm pushing a baby..." she took in a deep breath as another contraction hit. "... the size of a watermelon out of my Vagina! Don't faint..." Weiss was cut off as another contraction hit. "...otherwise, I'm going to tell the others that you're a little..." she gripped Jason's hand so hard that he could feel it on his soul. "...bitCH!" She snarled in agony.
Jason dropped to his knees. "What the fuck was that?" he asked, looking from Weiss to Healer Grey.
"I think Weiss is transferring some of the pain to you across your soul bond." Healer Grey explained.
Jason looked at Weiss. "If that was a taste then I'm so sorry." He closed his eyes and let their soul bond strengthen, and he urged her to pass her pain to him.
"Don't be selfless!" Weiss shouted. "I hate that about you! You're too fucking selfless! BE SELFISH SOMETIMES!" She shouted as the pain hit and Jason was forced to his knees.
"No." Jason Whispered. "Your pain is my pain, and my pain is your pain. You kept me alive when I died, let me get you through this."
Weiss looked at Jason as tears rolled down her cheeks as she felt something tear.
Jason held Weiss's hand and cried with her. He'd felt the tear through her soul and wanted to take the pain from her, but she wouldn't let him.
"Okay." Healer Grey Said. "I see the head. Now, Weiss. I need you to take a breath and push with the exhale."
Weiss took in a breath and with Jason holding her hand, pushed.
Geoff crashed the Bullhead on Atlas Academy and Team SAPH walked out.
General Ironwood glared at them.
"Go." Geoff nodded at Atlas Academy. "Find anyone being held against their will, grab anyone who'll join us, an' take down th' rest."
"What about Ironwood?" Gale asked.
"He's mine." Geoff said.
The Brothers held their hands out in a circle.
"In Fearful Day..." Scott Said.
"...in Raging Night..." Gale Continued.
"...with strong hearts full, our souls ignite..." José continued.
"...when all seems lost in th' war o' light..." Geoff continued.
"...look to the stars- FOR HOPE BURNS BRIGHT!" They finished in unison.
Scott, Gale, and José nodded and ran towards Atlas Academy while Geoff stared Ironwood down.
"Do you really think a little chant will help you out?" Ironwood asked.
"No." Geoff said. "I know it will." He said, taking a weapon off his back to reveal 'Indentured Servitude'.
Ironwood glared at Geoff and drew 'Natures Domain'. "Only one of us will walk away from this."
"Yer right General. One will stand. One will fall. I Just pity you if'n ya kill me."
"Why?"
"Cause my brother's'll kick yer ass seven ways from Sunday."
"Not if I kill them first."
"Not likely... James."
Ironwood snarled, aimed at Geoff, and fired.
