'This sounds insane,' Ironwood said, sitting back in his chair.
'I can assure you I know just how hard this is to believe. But its the truth. Or at least what I currently know about it,' Watts said, facing him.
'So the First Minister knew about Salem. And he chose to make a deal with her?'
Watts sighed, 'Yes and yes. And before you ask, no, I do not know the details. Just that Salem put her plans on hold as part of it.
'That is interesting,' Ironwood remarked, 'What about Merlot you said he took them and the Hammer components to Umbral. Where exactly is that?'
'Bring up a map and I'll point it out.'
Ironwood tapped on his desk, a projected map of Remnant appearing over it. Watts pointed to what seemed to be a blank patch of ocean. It was south of the Dragon's Tail, putting it to the west of Menagerie.
'You're sure that location is correct?' Ironwood asked.
'I'm confident that is the place they were taken. We both know Remnant's maps aren't very detailed, far from the current Kingdoms,' Watts said, putting his hands behind his back.
'That's true. But we can't scout that area. It's too far from any reasonable flight path. If there has been an internal struggle as you've suggested any request could tip them off.'
'Then we just need t-'
A blaring alarm cut Watts' off. Behind him Emerald and Mercury sat up in their seats. Ironwood hit a control on his desk.
'Report!'
'Sir,' A watchstander replied, 'We're getting reports of contact with Swarm forces everywhere.'
'Everywhere is not good enough which part of the perimeter is under attack?' Ironwood snapped.
'They're inside the perimeter, sir.'
Ironwood took a breath, 'I'll be there in a moment. Order all our ships to lift off now! Don't let them catch us on the ground.'
'Sir,' The watchstander replied before the connection closed.
'You two get out there and help,' Ironwood ordered looking at Mercury and Emerald.
'Hey I'm not here to die,' Mercury said, holding up his hands.
'It wasn't a request,' Ironwood growled, checking the action on his revolver before shooting the teen a glare.
'Alright, alright fine. Let's go,' Mercury said, stepping back slowly as he nodded to Emerald..
'I'll send someone to keep an eye on you both. Wouldn't want you to get lost,' Ironwood shouted as they ran out of the office.
'You know I kind of thought he was going to shoot you,' Emerald said as they ran back to the ramp at the rear of the ship.
'Me too. Still we'll give our would-be nanny the slip and get out of here. I'm not getting killed for Atlas,' Mercury said quietly.
'You think he'll send a Huntsman? That could be a problem.'
'Problem yeah right. Who could keep track of us?' Mercury said confidently as he strode down the ramp.
Something impacted ahead of him, throwing up a cloud of sand and knocking him off balance. A figure slowly stood up inside the cloud. Both Emerald and Mercury readied for a fight.
'Salutations!' The figure called waving to them.
'Oh you have got to be kidding me,' Mercury groaned as the sand cloud dispersed enough for them to see the red headed girl inside.
'I am Penny. The General has ordered me to assist you both. Though he didn't say anything about being your nanny. You seem a little old to need a caregiver,' Penny said tilting her head.
'You heard that?' Mercury groaned.
Emerald snorted next to him, 'Be careful what you ask for baby boy. Perhaps she can help change yo-'
'Don't you start.' Mercury snapped stomping away, 'I'm just going to go kill something.'
'Aggression is not a healthy outlet. Have you tried breathing exercises!' Penny called after him.
'Please don't talk to me!' Mercury shouted without looking back.
'Don't mind him, he's just cranky from the flight,' Emerald said.
An explosion that shook the ground went off making a set of crates fall over. Before Emerald could ask if Penny knew what that was, the Airship started taking off. Sand blasted out as the engines engaged the new cloud so dense Emerald couldn't see her hand in front of her.
A firm hand grabbed her wrist dragging Emerald through till she was able to see again. Penny had dragged her out without needing to see. Suddenly it started to click why Ironwood had assigned her to keep track of them.
Aboard the ship Ironwood entered the bridge with Watts behind him. Orders and reports were being shouted across the room as the crew tried to get control of the situation. The General took up his position at the main station.
'Sir,' The captain said, saluting, 'Swarm forces tunnelled right up inside our camp. Multiple breach points, we're working to contain them now.'
'How did they pull that off? I thought we'd set up seismic sensors,' Ironwood said looking at the display.
'We did sir. They reported nothing until just before they broke the surface. By that point…'
'I see. Carry on.'
Watts leaned over to Ironwood, 'Those sensors. Were they made in Atlas?'
'Of course they were. You think I'd put our peoples lives on the line with equipment we couldn't trust. Not that it's made much difference,' Ironwood muttered.
'I wonder,' Watts said tapping his chin, 'Those sensors. Do they use the regular Atlas datalinks? The ones that are based on the CCT system.'
'I believe so. Why?' Ironwood asked.
'I need to check the system logs,' Watts said, looking around for a free station.
'I'm not letting you near anything,' Ironwood said firmly, 'You faked your death, humiliated Atlas and sided with her. Why would I let you access the ship systems?'
'Because I think I know how to prove Altas is innocent of killing the First Minister,' Watts replied.
'You what? How?' Ironwood demanded.
'I helped make the CCT system. Part of that work includes a few backdoors. I used some to give some of Salem's agents a key that would let them through any lock. They lost it at Beacon during the battle at Vale.'
'Of course you did,' Ironwood muttered, not specifying which part of Watts' statement he was referring to.
'Regardless, it's worth checking. If your equipment is being interfered with…' Watts' left the idea to hang for a moment.
'Do it,' Ironwood snapped, waving Watts off, 'I have a battle to win.'
The Atlas camp had changed significantly. Before there had been a level of order in the neat rows of tents and occasional solid structure. Now most of it was on fire, blown apart or some mix of both.
They'd both figured that Atlas of all Kingdoms should have been ready for something like this. That the moment the Swarm showed up they'd be gunned down. That was how it had been in the movies, shows and anything else they could recall, Atlas was good at fighting.
Reality had not been notified of this it seemed. There were Atlas troopers, both Army in their nice white armour and Auxiliary in their older scuffed stuff scattered around. All laying still enough you knew they were not going to get up. Gunfire was coming all around them with seemingly no pattern to it.
The air above them suddenly flashed red and a wash of heat slammed into them as one of the airships fired at something. For a moment their minds were stunned as much as their eyes by the light. Where were they meant to go, what was the airship fighting, should they just wait here?
'We need to get to the motorpool,' Penny announced.
'Wh… What why?' Mercury asked as he regained his wits.
'To ensure the Paladins can be readied for combat,' Penny replied walking off.
'Wait, those things aren't ready to go?' Emerald asked, her eyes wide as she jogged to catch up.
'Not all of them, no. Most are stood down when not in use, they'll need to be loaded with munitions, have their Hard-Light power plant's cells installed-' Penny started listing off the process.
'How long does that take?' Emerald asked, cutting her off.
Penny cocked her head, 'A fully trained support crew can complete the process in about ten minutes. However the crews may not have been at the motorpool when the attack started so they may have to try and work with less people or whoever they can draw on. I estimate it could be fifteen to twenty minutes before one is fully ready.'
'How can it take that long? Those things are weapons? Who fights with something that takes that long to get ready!?' Mercury shouted.
'The Paladin is,' Penny stops holding her arms out catching both of them as a shot passes right in front of them.
It goes with a fierce crack burying itself into something in the distance. Penny's head moves even before the sound has finished, rotating smoothly to look at the Sniper that is in the process of cycling the bolt on its rifle. There's a soft click as what both Mercury and Emerald assumed was a backpack opened.
A set of blades lept out forming into clusters of four. Within one a green glow formed before it fired. The beam of light striking the Sniper and vaporising its head along with the scope of its rifle.
It was hard to say what was scarier. Nearly getting shot, Penny's reaction speed or the fact that she could apparently control flying swords that shoot green lasers. Both of them spared the other a glance.
'Oh sorry. I didn't notice till the last moment. My senso- Senses!' Penny suddenly corrected before hiccuping, 'Hic. My senses are having trouble with all the fire and interference from the Swarm.
Neither Emerald nor Mercury wanted to ask her what she meant, both just nodded slowly. Unsure if everyone from Atlas was like this or if it was just her. Given they'd only really met the General and her their pool of Atlesians wasn't very broad or deep.
A few more times they would come across a lone or a handful of Swarm troops. Most meeting their end the same as the Sniper had. Rapidly at the receiving end of another beam attack.
Then Penny stood upright pressing a finger to her ear. She nodded a couple of times before turning to face them. Her smile seemed more forced than when they'd first met.
'I have to go for a few moments. The Swarm has taken the southern gate and the General has ordered me to help retake it. I'll be back as soon as I can,' She said before crouching.
'Wait how ar-' Mercury didn't get to finish his question. Penny shot into the air before zipping off looking more like a green bolt then anything else.
'Okay… She can fly too… That's normal…' Emerald said slowly.
'When did the world get this crazy again?' Mercury muttered.
'I'm not sure but let's keep going. I don't want to piss her off by trying to ditch right now,' Emerald said carrying on the way they'd been heading.
'Agreed. I'm not picking that fight,' Mercury said, joining her.
As they carried on there was a scream that seemed to cut the air. Looking to the side they saw what must have been a barricade or a set of crates had fallen across the path before the attack. The last defender who wore the uniform of the Atlas Auxiliary was holding their arms above their head as a Scion raised its' weapon like a club.
'Em,' Mercury snapped, already sure of what she was going to do.
Emerald had already started sprinting. Drawing both her weapons and switching them to sickles she focused on the towering monster. Finding its mind and feeding it an illusion was hard, like pushing a picture into a slot that was too small.
But she managed it, making the thing see the floor fall away from under it making it stubble back. She leapt up, using the crates as steps before, stabbing one blade down into each side of its neck. The thing's roars turned to gurgles before it fell to its knees.
Pulling the blades out she was panting. She'd trained with Cinder, spared with Grimm but never had she drawn blood like this. Before she'd avoided fights or just knocked someone over.
Emerald stared at her blades, now slick with dark crimson. Somehow her mind took a few seconds to understand she'd become a killer. Mercury suddenly appeared by her side grabbing her shoulders firmly.
'Snap out of it,' He said looking around, 'Do what you have to and move on. Understand?'
'What?' Emerald muttered, hearing the words but not quite parsing them.
'You're standing there like an idiot. Get your head in the game! What the hell has Cinder been teaching you! Are you a lousy student or is she a shit teach-'
There was a firm smack as she struck him across the face. His aura taking the hit. Rather than be angry he chuckled.
'I… I… Don't you talk about her like that!' Emerald said, trying to sound determined.
'There you are. Welcome back to reality,' Mercury said, stepping back, 'Not that I can say it's an improvement.'
'Damn it,' She hissed, realising she had frozen up.
'Relax, just breathe. It will get easier… Or not depends how you take it,' Mercury said with a shrug.
Managing to shake off the feeling Emerald looked down at the Auxiliary trooper. Who was shaking and hugging his knees to his chest. His steel helmet rapping against his knee pads.
'What should we do?' Emerald asked.
'Leave him,' Mercury replied.
'What? Just leave him out here? He'll die.'
'People die all the time. And we can't protect him if we want to stay alive. You look out for yourself first, that's the most important rule,' He said, sounding angry as he said it.
'Oh really? So why did you stop to help me?' Emerald asked, glaring at him.
'Because you're a known value Em. I don't know anything about this guy,' Mercury waved to the trooper, 'For all I know he just used to get the coffee.'
'We're not just going to leave him here. Look, I'll keep an eye on him. Just keep an eye out,' Emerald said, crouching down to try and get the guy's attention.
'This is a really bad plan,' Mercury groaned, but turned to keep watch all the same.
'Hey,' Emerald said, 'What's your name?'
The trooper didn't respond to start with. Just kept staring ahead as if looking at something far off. It took him a moment to look over at her.
'W… Wy… Wynn… F… Fr…' He stuttered, turning slightly to face her.
Emerald's eyes flicked down to the tag on his chest, 'Frost? You're Wynn Frost?'
'Y… Yes,' Wynn nodded his jaw working out to time as he spoke.
'Arlight Wynn its' not safe to stay here. We've got to go okay?' Emerald said, making sure to sound comforting.
'R… Right,' Wynn said, shaking as he leaned forwards grabbing a rifle at his feet.
'Are you crazy? He looks as likely to shoot us as them,' Mercury hissed.
'Shut. Up,' Emerald ordered.
'Whe…' Wynn paused for a moment, 'Where are we going?'
'We need to get to the motorpool,' Emerald said, turning and giving him a confident smile, 'Do you know the way?'
Wynn nodded, taking a few shaky steps to start off. Emerald turned with a pleased look on her face. Mercury rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.
Above them the airships seemed to be winning. It was hard to tell given whilst most of them had stopped with their main beams others had smaller turrets studded along their hulls that were letting off ribbons of Hard-Light fire. All of which was going around the camp but that wasn't much comfort.
There wasn't any warning of the Corpser appearing somehow. They only knew it was there when it burst through a wall of smoke ahead of them. The thing's multi eyed head tilted down as it noticed them.
'Oh crap,' Mercury muttered as the thing raised its legs and roared.
Wynn fired off, the rifle rounds hitting the monster making it lower its legs to protect itself. Now hitting the hardened crystal growths the rounds sparked off fruitlessly. Emerald joined in firing off both revolvers trying to get at a gap between the legs but the thing kept its guard up well as it started to creep towards them.
Of all things being crushed by a giant spider thing from another world had not been on the list of how any of them expected to die. And as it turned out, it wasn't to be. There was another roar from behind the Corpser, but this one wasn't that of a beast.
The sound of an engine straining to the limit suddenly grew before peaking. Coming around the corner was a mech. But not a Paladin with its nice shiny new sleek build, this one was older and weathered.
Cavaliers were the last mech that Atlas had made. Much like their successor at the time they were revolutionary. But much like the AK-130 they were several decades old. It shared some parts of the design but was from a time where thicker armour was the only means to avoid being destroyed.
That made it somewhat of a walking brick. Slow compared to the Paladin, but also very hard to stop once it started moving, something the pilot of this machine was counting on it seemed. The Cavalier lowered its shoulder locking its arm as it slammed into the Corpser knocking the thing off balance.
Before it could recover the mech brought its other arm around the autocannon set into it booming as it pumped shells into the things soft underbelly. After a few rounds the Corpser stopped screaming as its insides stopped being inside. Despite how imposing it had been and how tough things from Sera had proven to be, armour piercing high explosives had a way of rending things dead.
Moving back from its victim the Cavalier turned to look at them, the arm used as a ram hanging loosely by its side. It strode closer the ground shaking with each step. There was a screech of feedback as the speakers on the machine clicked on.
'Frost? That you kid?' A woman's voice called.
'Yes Ma'am,' Wynn said, giving a shaky salute.
'You look like hell son. Get back there and get your ass somewhere safe,' The Cavalier's pilot said, moving the one working arm to point back the way it had come, 'Take your pals with you.'
Without waiting for a reply the mech set off. The smell of exhaust followed it as its engine rumbled with each step. Wynn started walking at once while the two assassins took a moment to realise they were really alive before moving to join him.
'I thought it was going to take ages to get any Mechs moving,' Mercury grumbled.
'Cavalier's are cheaper t… Too run. We use th.. Them as support in… The Auxiliary,' Wynn said as he walked, 'No need to handle the Hard-Light s… Stuff. Just fuel it up and t… Turn the key,' Wynn said.
'Huh. Guess running on regular old fuel has its advantages.'
'What was that about wasting time,' Emerald whispered pleased with herself.
'He didn't do anything. The freaking mech did all the work,' Mercury whispered back.
'And if we didn't stop we'd have been right in front of that thing when it walked out of the smoke,' Emerald pointed out.
Arriving at the motorpool they found a ring of Cavaliers guarding the place as the first few Paladins started moving out. Despite all the trial getting here, there hadn't been much point it seemed. The place had been protected and the equipment was being deployed without them doing anything.
Wynn was checked by a medic who took him to get some proper support. That left Emerald and Mercury sat watching as Atlas, in the words of one guy shouting orders, got its head out of its ass. The whole event had left them drained somehow.
'There you are,' A cheery voice called.
'Oh great… Hi Penny,' Mercury groaned.
'I detect a hint of sarcasm in your voice. I shall reciprocate,' Penny said before speaking again, 'Hello Mercury.'
'Oh great you found a sense of humour,' Emerald said half heartedly.
'You really think so?' Penny said suddenly, appreciating very close to Emerald's face.
'Penny. Personal space.'
'Oh right. Sorry,' The redhead said backing up, 'I read a report saying you diverted to help a comrade in need. I think that was very good of you both.'
'Great now we're heroes. Yay,' Mercury said sarcastically.
'Sometimes the smallest acts can have great effects.'
'You read that from a book didn't you?' Emerald asked.
'No I parsed it from the CCT ne- I mean yes I read it,' Penny said, correcting herself again before hiccuping.
'I hope Watts is making some progress,' Mercury sighed, laying on his back and looking up at the ships overhead.
