This battle was over, once more Ironwood was sitting in his office, glaring at the screen in front of him. This time however it wasn't because of the casualties, those were still being reported. Right now it was because of betrayal.

Looking aside from the screen he let his eyes bore into Watts for a few moments. Most people under his command would have wilted or shrunk back a bit. But Watts just sat there like the cat that had caught a particularly bloated rat.

Ironwood's eyes moved back to the screen. On it the records from the prior battle were playing. He watched it again.

There was the sudden attack, Swarm forces breaching the surface with little to no warning. Followed by chaos as their communications became overloaded and struggled to work. It was every commander's nightmare.

Then about a third of the way through everything changed. The sensors that had struggled to track the Swarm, suddenly corrected and were able to highlight their staging ground in a series of natural caves nearby. He'd had the fleet blast the place till the entrances to their tunnels were buried.

Even now a group of Military Huntsmen with semblances related to earth and rock were sweeping the area for any stragglers. They'd found larger tunnel systems carved into the stone under the sand. And the whole warren of smaller tunnels that had been dug under the camp for the attack.

Right as the sensors were corrected the faults with their communications had cleared up. He'd assumed it was down to the ambient interference the Swarm generated before, a fact of the enemy they were facing. But it wasn't, someone had deliberately inserted some malignant code into their systems to cause it all.

'I take it you've checked about the incident with Blue-5,' Ironwood asked, recalling the horror as one of his ships fired on and killed the First Minister.
'Naturally,' Watts replied, pulling out a scroll and tapping it, 'It seems that was when this all started.'
'You're sure?'

Watts looked offended, 'Yes I'm sure. See right here in the logs. This is how it got into our systems.'
'Atlas systems,' Ironwood corrected, 'I'm still deciding what to do with you.'
'Hmm. Very well. This is how it got into Atlas systems,' Watts said with emphasis as he sent over the file.

Another recording, this time split between a bridge camera and a console window. He recognised Captain Sapphire and her crew from the debriefing that he'd done afterwards. The console was mostly scrolling text though he could pick out parts where commands were entered into the ship's systems and executed. The clip started.

'Ma'am. COG ships are pinging us for bascule protocol,' A watchstander called.
'As expected,' Sapphire said with a nod, 'Standard rules keep it monitored but approve the link up.'
'Yes Ma'am.'

The command sequence jumped slightly as the airship systems linked with the COG's. Watts froze the replay. A section of text was highlighted.

'That,' Watts said, 'Is my little key from Beacon. It seems someone made some adjustments and loaded it in with the handshake sequence. The moment our systems talked to theirs it slipped in and started taking control.'
'It took over the whole ship?' Ironwood muttered.
'Oh yes. You might not be very well versed in how our ships work James, but you're aware you can input course changes from your office. Hell you could do it with your scroll if you wanted.'

'Why the hell would you make our security so lax? Were you working for her when you set it up?!' Ironwood shouted, slamming his hands onto the desk.
'I set up the system the way you asked,' Watts said, folding his arms, 'You wanted something secure, only authorised devices able to connect. But at the same time you wanted it all to talk through the CCT, I warned you then James. It's a global network made to let anything onto it, putting gates on parts of it implies there were keys to unlock them. Even you as unaware as you are must have realised all those times I fixed things for you I was doing it over the CCT. Or did you imagine I was working from my terminal in my office every waking hour?'
'How do we plug the gaps?' Ironwood asked.

'You can't. Not unless you want to rewrite the whole system from start to finish. I worked on every part of the network on both military and civilian components. My little trapdoors are there to let me move about when I need to,' Watts said with a wave of his hand.
'If you know where they are then you can fix them. So do it,' Ironwood said, tapping the desk.
'Hmm. No,' Watts replied, rolling his eyes, 'Because if I close those gaps in our security they'll go looking for new ones. Right now they're using my own code, I've already set up a proxy shell and an alert for if they try again.'

'You've done what?' Ironwood snapped.
Watts sighed, 'Let me translate this for you. I'm not going to board up the doors they know about that let them in. I've put a decoy up so we can see what they think is happening. When they try to mess with it again I'll be notified and we can decide how to respond.'
Ironwood glared for a moment, his mind seeing the logic, 'And how about the proof around who really killed the First Minister?'

'Oh we can show the ship was under the control of someone else when it fired. But the questions need to be asked. Who do we blame and do we want to?' Watts said with a shrug.
'They framed us for murdering the leader of the COG? Why wouldn't we show our innocence?' Ironwood asked exasperated.
'Because we don't know who did it. And it would look even worse for us to say one of our ships was taken over and used but we can't say who by. What kind of message does that send? Anyone who believed we were telling the truth will be accepting our ships can be turned against us on a whim. Whilst those that don't believe us will think we're trying to play the victim by making up a story about our systems being breached.'

Ironwood sat back in his chair with a sigh, 'So we're damned either way. Fine, we'll keep quiet about that for now. What about trying to find out how they're going to use those Hammer Of Dawn parts Merlot was making.'
'That has proven quite a challenge. There's no easy way to search the COG systems, not without tipping off whoever is behind this. I've looked at all the ways they could try to launch but I'm stumped,' Watts said running his hands through his hair, 'All of the launch pads the UIR and COG have built don't seem to be active since they were stood down following the First Minister's death. The inspection and monitoring teams still assure us the communications and imaging satellites all remain unchanged in their hangers disconnected from any means of launching them.'
'What about some sort of rushed launch? Could someone take control of a site and bring in the Hammer satellites?'

'That would mean taking out both our forces and the UIR, potentially the COG as well given we don't know if the people working with Merlot have the ability to stand them down,' Watts listed off, 'They'd be racing to prepare the satellites before a response force could stop them, and even that could only be done if the place wasn't damaged in the fighting. One stray shot into the fuel farm or the damage to the assembly building and they'd be scuppered.'
'Well that's something at least. Still there must be something we're missing,' Ironwood muttered.
'All I know for sure is the COG's quality control seems to be slipping with their upper stage sections.'

'Wait… What do you mean by that?' Ironwood asked, looking up quickly.
'It's right here in the reports,' Watts said, holding out his scroll to show Ironwood, 'Right here. DBI issues recall on upper section booster, serial number attached, unit returned to Drake bay for servicing and or recycling. Replacement standby booster, serial number attached, taken from storage and moved to hanger.'
'They're having problems with their equipment? How many have been recalled like this?'

'About two dozen give or take a few, they get sent back after a few weeks at the factory being serviced or another one is being made to replace it,' Watts said, scrolling back through the list.
'Doesn't that seem odd… Those are very high end parts, why would they keep failing so constantly?' Ironwood said feeling something was off in his gut, 'Could someone launch a Hammer satellite with one of those?'
'From the ground? No. They're configured for lofting the payload the last stretch between the atmosphere and space. There is some leeway in their maths for heavier things needing a longer burn, but that's it. The booster would need to already be at high altitude for it to function.'

'Still… It might be worth looking into. I'll get things arranged,' Ironwood said with the air of making a decision.
'Get what, arranged?' Watts asked, his eyes narrowing.
'You said it yourself it's hard to search their systems, but you're smart enough to work things out on the ground Arthur. I'll get you set up as another inspector you can go and see if there is anything else we're missing.'

Watts gave a very satisfying impression of a fish for a moment, 'W… Wh… You what?! I'm not some lackey you can just send to do your bidding, James. Why send me anyway? Don't you have Huntsmen for this sort of thing?'
'What I have is one of Atlas' greatest minds, who I've had to explain has been working covertly after faking his death. Or did you forget that I'm having to give some reason for why you're walking around? If you don't want to, I can always tell them you're on another mission, a nice long one with no contact,' Ironwood said, the venom making the threat all the more clear.
'But Merlot thinks we're dead. If I show up, with those brats marching around behind me, asking questions, the people he's working for will try to silence me.'

'Then at least you won't need to go looking for them,' Ironwood said with his voice level.
'Oh you have found a sick sense of humor haven't you?' Watts grumbled.
'I'll get your Bullhead approved for the flight down along with having it restocked,' Ironwood said nodding to the door, 'You're dismissed.'

Watts stood up and strode out. Outwardly annoyed but inwardly full of rage. This wasn't how it should have been, he'd planned to taunt Ironwood as he watched Atlas burn. Not become some… Agent in his service. He exited the airship, finding Cinders helpers sat with Pietro's pseudo daughter.

'Uncle Watts,' It shouted green optics zeroing in on him.
Mercury snorted, 'Wait Uncle? For real, he's related to you?'
'No and no,' Watts said, ignoring how the android drew back.

'Sooo. The meeting didn't go well?' Emerald ventured, folding her arms.
'No. We've been press ganged. James wants us to… Are you still here?' Watts said, turning around.
'Uh Penny is with us for the moment,' Mercury said, glancing aside, 'She got her orders whilst you were on the way here.'

'Oh brilliant. Just brilliant,' Watts sighed, pinching his nose. With her following them around there was no way they could just slip off. Not unless he could make some modifications to stop her from interfering.

He lowered his hand, 'We're leaving, the Bullhead is being resupplied. I'll explain on the flight.
'Where are we going now? We're still on the run right. Do you have a plan?' asked.
'We're going to the Dragon's Tail.'

'You see. That is the exact opposite of where we should be going,' Mercury said.
'Oh. I've never been to the COG. I'd better check if the General has cleared it with father,' Penny muttered.
'I'm sure James is being as diplomatic with him as he was with me,' Watts said, finding a faint trace of satisfaction knowing how Pietro
would react.

'Absolutely not! Penny can't go there! Now with Watts and those… criminals. Are you out of your mind, James!' Pietro shouted, his face on the screen scrunched up in a look of rage Ironwood had rarely seen.
'I know its a risk,' James said trying to be diplomatic, 'But-'
'But nothing! She's my daughter. Do you have any idea how much risk you're putting her at?!'
'You may have raised her but she is joint property of the Military and Atlas academy. She's given me assurances on multiple occasions she wants to serve the Kingdom,' Ironwood said, taking a firm tone.
'James you and I both know you're using her desire to help to make her agree. It's how you made her agree to being given weaponry, why she got those upgrades after the battle at Vale and why she's with you right now,' Pietro said, his hands shaking as he gripped the desk in front of him.
'I did what I did to help her. Now she's helping Atlas. I was just notifying you as a personal favor.'

'It's not a favor when you're sending my little girl into danger. Why not send the Ace Ops or Winter? Isn't she your best operative? She's been loitering around Atlas for months wearing out the floors,' Pietro said.
'The Ace Ops are committed to eliminating any Swarm incursions onto Solitas. Winter is acting in my stead whilst I'm away. Both are on critical duties and can't be reassigned. Penny is the only one I can call on for this,' Ironwood said, unable to say what other duties Winter was doing.
Pietro sighed, 'When did you turn into this? I remember when you wanted us to build and protect. Now you're just twisting an innocent girl into some weapon. And to send her with Watts? The man faked his own death, took your arm off in the process, how can you trust him?'

'I don't,' Ironwood replied, feeling his old arm itch, he crushed the feeling in his mind, 'That is why I'm sending Penny. If anyone can help us get into the COG systems it's her.'
'And that's what scares me James… When they brought that robot in with its core burned out I wondered what kind of person would build a machine that could think with a bomb in its brain. We've never, never let Penny near the COG networks because we don't know how much of the substrate we duplicated could have held code. Yes Penny's processor is far in advance of other Androids thanks to what we took from the JACK. But if there's something buried in there she could be taken over, or erased or something worse!'

'I've considered it, but we still don't have another option. Penny is going, we've given her all the forewarning we can. She's got a clean bill of health. If anything she seems to be looking forward to traveling,' Ironwood said, trying to put a positive spin on it.
'She's traveling with a man we know to be unstable, a known criminal who seems to be oddly well trained as a fighter and a boy who I can't find any records of before he appeared as a Haven student! It would not call them good company,' Pietro said.
'I'm going to forget you admitted to running background checks on people without approval. And those three have their own motivation to do as I've instructed. Penny is if anything their protector.'

Pietro sat back a bit, finally giving up, 'I can't lose her, James. I just can't.'
'I know. And I'll do all I can to give her what protection we're able to. But she was going to leave at some point. I do wish it were under better circumstances though,' Ironwood said, glancing at his desk.
'I'll call her before she leaves. I want to make sure I talk to her before they get out of CCT range.'

'I understand, but once you do that, I have a new project for you,' Ironwood said with a nod.
'It's a little late in the day, James,' Pietro said, adjusting his glasses, 'I assume this isn't just something to keep me distracted?'
'No. It's not. You recall that work I asked you to undertake when the COG first arrived? Around the potential to create some means of countering a threat from orbit?'

'Y… Yes,' Pietro nodded, 'We had some ideas but… They're theoretical. After the scare when we first found out things calmed down and focus turned to other things. The prototypes were put into storage.'
'How long would it take to move them from theory to practical?' Ironwood asked.
'James… You're scaring me…'

'Good. I can't prove anything. But I've received some information that indicates we might need those options soon. Whatever you need it's yours, but keep it as quiet as you can please. I don't want to start a panic,' Ironwood said with a nod.
'There are a few ideas still kicking around on the systems. And I recall a few of the students were looking at projects around it, they might have kept working in their own time,' Pietro muttered, 'I'll have a few questions asked around to see what we've got. For staff at a minimum I'll draw on Scarlatina and Coal. Will's still got that fine touch with the Hard-Light and Chert can get our dust mixes to a grade that makes the SDC wish they had bought out rather then force down his family's business.'
'Do it. If this is for nothing then we'll be fine. But better we have the means and no reason to use it then the reverse.'

'We'll probably need Blue-5,' Pietro said, 'Most of the ideas hinged on using an airship and it's already at the yards from all those checks that were being run after the incident. They've gutted it and put it back together a few times already trying to figure out what went wrong.'
'Do it. That should cover any work you need to do,' Ironwood affirmed.
'I have to ask… As a father… Is this something to do with why you're sending Penny?'

Ironwood thought of holding back then nodded, 'Yes. She's the best option of the few we have.'
'Then I'll get this done at once. There's no time to waste,' Pietro said, looking determined as he cut the call off.

For a few moments Ironwood stared at the now blank screen. He felt off… Not because he'd leaned on Penny to get Pietro motivated… But because that was the second time Pietro ever hung up on him.

The first had been when Cent was killed. Pietro had thrown himself into his work. Locking himself into the lab and making bounds in her creation as he channeled his grief.

If he had even a fraction of that same drive from his desire to protect Penny… Well… Ironwood made a note to have someone check up on him and keep him from working himself to exhaustion.