The trip back to Atlas was quiet and uneventful, something that Ruby was very thankful for, she spent the trip working on Crescent Rose. Cleaning and maintaining the weapon that she had been forced to neglect in use.
"Summers we're approaching the landing zone, looks like you've got company." Annette called ahead from the cockpit. Ruby groaned, company meant one of two things, either there were enemies at the landing zone, or Ironwood was there. Considering their destination was an airdock in the heart of Atlas proper, it was probably the latter.
"Alright take us down," Ruby told Annette, "let's see what he wants, you should probably keep it running" Annette nodded and brought the gunship down onto the landing pad, and Ruby jumped out the back.
"Summers!" Ionwood called out, "I hear congratulations are in order! Walk with me for a bit." Ruby nodded and matched stride with the taller man.
"One week." Ironwood laughed, "If only all your missions went that smoothly, we'd already have them by now if that was the case!"
"If all my missions went that smoothly, I'd be graduating this year, and you'd have a dozen more key terrorists to deal with." Ruby reminded him, then quickly changing the subject, "on that note there was a small hiccup."
"If it was the rather dramatic takedown I understand that those can be unavoidable sometimes." Ironwood told her.
"No that wasn't it," Ruby answered, "Neo's alias was vetted, Haven academy verified everything themselves." Ironwood stopped walking and turned to the young huntress.
"Are you saying that someone in Haven is an enemy operative?" he asked.
"It's the only logical explanation I can think of." Ruby told him, "It's going to be my next stop."
Ironwood seemed to be deep in thought for a minute, he then looked back at Ruby, "I can appreciate that Summers, but I have another mission for you, and this one is time sensitive." Ruby looked at him and motioned for him to continue, "We located a White Fang base of operations nearby, within striking distance of Atlas itself. We need it taken out."
"You're a general, you have an army for that sort of thing." Ruby retorted.
"The base is built into the mountains, It's got a particularly narrow entrance." Ironwood answered, "If I sent troops in there it would be a bloodbath that would last months." Ruby nodded in understanding.
"Gloves off?" She asked.
"Whatever you need to complete the mission and get back on task A-S-A-P" Ironwood said while nodding.
"Then I won't waste any more time here." Ruby said and briskly walked off in another direction.
"Summers!" Ironwood shouted back. Ruby paused and turned around with an annoyed look on her face, "Be careful." Ironwood said. Ruby's eyes narrowed and she flipped an obscene gesture at him before turning and continuing to walk away.
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Ironwood chuckle to himself as he saw Ruby walk away. He knew she legitimately hated him, and was the most disrespectful person he had ever met, military or not, but she had started to grow on him. She got the job done regardless of her personal feelings. That was something he could respect about her. Ironwood walked back to his car from the airdock and had the driver take him to his home. As he approached the door he noticed something off. If you were to ask him, Ironwood would say that he wasn't paranoid. So what if his house was armored like a bunker, so what if he had six different lock types on all the outside doors, and so what if he left a slip of paper in the front door whenever he left. 'After all one isn't paranoid if they're right' Ironwood thought as he picked up the simple piece of paper from the front porch. He activated an audio recorder he always kept on his belt and drew his pistol before entering the house. The initial entryway was clear, so he began to systematically check every room in the house. When he got to the study he saw a familiar set of dark red hair and silver iris staring at him.
"Summers!" Ironwood growled. "You have my scroll number, if you needed something you could have called instead of breaking in!" He said while turning off the recorder. "Now what did you need." Ironwood looked back up at the girl to see a wicked looking chain sickle fly at him. It wrapped around his throat and the blade dug into the Aura around his neck. The illusion shimmered and faded revealing a girl with mint green hair and red eyes.
"Em-er-ald Sus-trai" Ironwood croaked out while bringing his pistol to bear.
"Ah-ah-ah" Emerald said as she used another chain sickle to knock it away. She then switched the weapon back to a pistol and pointed it at Ironwood's head. "Goodbye General, you were always a pain in the rear." Emerald fired three shots and watched as the combined attack shattered the Generals Aura. The moment his Aura shattered the blade around his neck dug deep and slit his throat. After that Emerald fired another shot and the General was no more.
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Winter sighed as the military police rushed back and forth. She had given a statement of what happened at least three times already and could practically recite it like a speech. "When general Ironwood didn't show up for work today I came to his house to check on him." "I'm his assistant that's part of my job." "Yes I was alone." "Of course, I was armed." "I use a dueling saber and a parrying dagger." "No I don't use a gun." She had answered this way so many times it was saddening how inefficient the MPs were being. It was well into the afternoon by now and they were still acting so frantic. 'It is somewhat understandable.' thought Winter, 'Not only was it the General of the Atlesian military murdered but it was Ironwood himself.' As she was contemplating this another officer came up to her.
"General Adelram." Winter greeted as he approached.
"Schnee." He simply said before sitting next to her. "The council held an emergency session today." Winter nodded. She had figured as much, the loss of their main military commander and headmaster of the academy would have to be dealt with immediately. "They named me as his military successor," Winter nodded again, he was the next highest ranked. "They named you as his successor for the academy." Now it was time for Winter to be surprised.
"Why did they do that?" Winter asked.
"He put you forward a while ago as a possible replacement for him should something happen." the General told her. "So congratulations." There was no joy in his tone however. That was something Winter could sympathise with. While they sat there in silence the lead MP came over to talk with them.
"Sir. Ma'am." the soldier said. "We found something." intrigued the General and Winter walked over to a mobile scroll terminal someone had brought. On it was an audio file recording. They listened to quiet footsteps and the occasional sound of a door opening.
"He recorded entering his own house?" one of the MP's voiced. No one answered the MP as they heard Ironwood suddenly sigh.
"Summers!" Ironwood growled. "You have my scroll number, if you needed something you could have…" the recording shut off at that point.
There were murmurs amongst the MPs present.
"Winter, who is this Summers?" Adelram asked. Winter didn't get a chance to respond as one of the MPs spoke up.
"Sir. Summers is a ghost," the MP said gaining the General's attention. "She supposedly heads up InOps but no one there ever sees her." The General considers for a moment before responding.
"How do you know that soldier?" he asks.
"Sorry didn't introduce myself." the MP answers, "I'm Ranger, Captain Reg Ranger. I'm in charge of security for InOps. I was just getting off duty when they called for any available MP's to come down here." The General took a moment to think.
"Captain Ranger, I want you to find this 'Summers' and bring her in." The General answered, "You will report only to myself and Operative Schnee for this mission, understand?"
"Uh, Y-yes sir, but um," Ranger was clearly searching for words. "I wasn't kidding when I said she was a ghost. She only ever deals with Ironwood and there was no schedule for her on any databases we have access to. It will be next to impossible to find her." Winter thought for a moment.
"Maybe not." The two Atlesian officers turned towards her. "She usually only delivers periodic untraceable reports and requisition requests to Ironwoods office. But Ironwood gave her a specific mission just recently." she told them. "If she has gone rogue she probably won't be there but it's still worth a shot."
"Probably the best one we've got." Ranger said. "I'll need some support."
"Take a company of shock troops with you." the General said. "Do your best to bring her in alive."
"Yes sir."
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A/N Hello everyone! Guess who's back! I really appreciate all those who have been patiently waiting for this to come out. I'm not quite done with school yet, but I am on break right now so I will do my best to update as often as possible for this next month until school starts again. College, right? Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this, I will probably be updating shadows rage next. I may also work on putting some new stuff I've thought about up as well.