Sorry for long wait, been streaming a lot lately and some other things came up but I finally managed to get this out. I hope the wait was worth it and I'll try not to let the updates take this long in the future.

Heart to Heart

Chapter 44: Under the Ice

Everyone had been called to Ironwood's office very early in the morning. It had been sudden with Winter arriving banging on doors telling everyone to suit up and get ready for a briefing in ten minutes. They hadn't had chances to shower or even have breakfast before they walked in looking still half for some of them. They noticed the Ace Ops were also there who looked just a ragged, well not Clover the leader of the team he looked just like he always did with a cup of coffee.

Apparently, he had been lucky enough to wake up early for some reason and was able to get refreshed beforehand.

There was also Penny but as a robot she never got tired so she didn't really count.

Ironwood stood before them as he engaged the hologram as a map of the kingdom showed up on the screen.

"Late last night our oil production facility was overrun by Grimm." The General stated.

"Casualties?" Qrow asked knowing how these things went.

"Unknown, we do know some of the workers got to the shelters and triggered the alarm which is how he knew about it." Winter told him.

"We need this facility back online," Ironwood told them.

"Why? It's just oil," Yang stated. "Wouldn't rescuing the people there be our main focus?"

"Normally it would be," Ironwood sighed as the image of the Amity Colosseum in its complete form showed up. "As you know we plan to launch Amity into orbit but to do that we needed something extra. Dust loses its unique ability when it leaves the atmosphere as you know. So our scientists have come up with a way around that issue."

"Before the discovery of dust, most energy needs were used by burning wood, coal or oil." Winter continued on. "After we moved to dust these became less in use, so someone came up with the idea to use a refined oil under pressure as a way to give us the boost we need once the dust rockets fail."

"Wait if we used oil before why are you still drilling for it if it's no longer used?" Ruby asked.

"Because it's still used," Yang answered for her sister. "My bike used oil for the pistons for instance."

"The streets you use also have oil in them," Blake nodded. "There are a lot of products that use it but not enough to require lots of oil drilling sites, plus there's the other problem of finding such places."

She knew this because of how her parents were in charge of Menagerie. Resources they could use was a constant thing they had to figure out since they had to import a lot of goods. Trying to find such resources was a very costly and time-consuming process.

"Yeah, no kidding," Qrow ran a hand through his hair. "I've been hired a few times to protect people looking for resources in the past. You got to fund the expedition and security like Huntsmen since you could run into Grimm while searching and if you come up with nothing that ends up being a waste of time and money. There's also the problem that maybe the resources are unattainable, like a Grimm nest is sitting on top of it or the terrain would just cost too much to mine through so it wouldn't be profitable."

"It's also why sometimes it's a very small group that try and chart out deposits that can be used. Sometimes they don't even hire Huntsmen as a cost saving measure."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Nora asked.

"When you don't hear back from those groups you know why." Qrow finished with a nod.

"As you can see, we need this facility back in order," Ironwood continued on. "It's the only drilling station we have close by, we need that fuel for the booster rockets or else we'll never break orbit with just dust."

"What's the plan sir?" Clover asked him.

The image changed back into the map. "We'll have to sweep the area in teams from different locations. This landing pad will be used to air lift the crews out while the operation is going on. Penny you'll protect the aircraft since you can fly and hopefully there won't be any air type Grimm but if there are, take them out."

"Roger," the robot girl nodded.

"These areas are the shelters," several blue dots appeared. "Once the landing pad is secured, you'll next move here and find out whose surviving, get them to safety. Once that's done, we mop up what's left. A crew will be on standby to help with repairs and adding more security to the site after your mission is finished."

"Failure is not an option here, the facility must also be kept as intact a possible. So, Nora, Elm. You both are forbidden to use your weapons outside of melee modes."

"What? Why!?" Nora's shoulders slouched at that.

"Because of these," Winter increased the image to show several very large tanks. "These hold crude oil and while not as volatile as raw dust one errant explosion will cause this entire area to explode and go up in flames."

"Ohhhh…yeah that would be bad," Nora grimaced at that thought.

"Well looks like it's up close and personal then," Elm shrugged seeing the logic in it. Her missiles were powerful but a stray shot with them in that area would be very bad. Granted she was a good shot but in battle you never know what could happen.

"What about the rest of us?" Marrow asked. "I mean most of our weapons shoot dust rounds."

"You'll have to be very selective of your targets," Ironwood told them all looking them over. "Use short range mostly if you can, if you have to shoot…be sure you're not shotting in this general direction or the pipelines."

"Man, for once I'm glad my weapons don't fire anything," Jaune sighed at hearing this.

"Sounds fun," Qrow sighed. He didn't mine he preferred up close and personal but the option of a gun was always handy.

"Any questions?" Ironwood asked.

A rumbling sound was heard from a stomach as a few embarrassed looks were passed around.

"So, about breakfast?" Ruby asked hesitantly.

"You'll get the greatest meals that Atlas Military has to offer," Ironwood smiled.

-On Route-

"Greatest meals my ass," Yang grumbled as she finished off the 'food' that was in the small box.

"This is yet another reason I don't like the military," Qrow stated throwing the finished military ration to the ground.

"People eat this stuff?" Weiss groaned.

"It's not so bad once you get used to it," Harriet shrugged finished off her bread, which was hard.

"Yes it is," Marrow sulked. "This is why I hate field missions, the rations always suck."

"Well the breakfast ones do," Elm nodded. "Some of the lunch and dinner ones are actually decent."

"Coming up on the target people," Clover's voice said through the ear pieces.

The three aircraft came in as they planned to do a sweep of the area to see where the Grimm were stationed first before landing in case their landing point was already overrun. That was the idea until one of the pilots noticed objects coming at them quickly from the direction of the plant.

"We got contacts, they are coming in fast, most likely flyers."

"So much for no flying Grimm," Yang sighed.

"Penny, you know what to do." Clover told her.

"Rodger," Penny got up as she went to the door of her craft and jumped out. The jets in her feet started up as she flew on ahead of the aircraft. Her eyes zoomed in ahead of her as she could see a group of manticore flying at her. There didn't seem to be an alpha among them so their threat level was reduced. Her systems locked onto the Grimm as she closed the distance waiting for the most optimal firing solution.

When they were in range, she let loose several emerald beams of intense energy. With her upgrades she was able to be more effective in battle although she had to be careful on her energy supplies. Running out of energy was something she was warned about. She saw her beams slice into most of the Grimm, those that dodged flew at her faster in a rage.

Calmly she got out her swords as she waited for the last three to get into range. Just when they were a dozen feet into her, she increased her jets for a burst of speed as she surprised the Grimm with her sudden speed as she made lethal slices into their bodies. One she was able to decapitate as the Grimm all turned into the blackened ash/dust that happened to them on their deaths.

"Area is clear," She reported.

"Good work Penny, is the landing site clear?"

Penny's eyes adjusted as they went into a maximum zoom to look around the area. "Yes, it appears clear."

"Land first and secure the area," Clover looked at those in the craft. "Alright after the pass if everything is good, we jump, just like last time."

"Sounds good to me," Qrow readied himself as the others in their craft did.

They did one pass as they could see at least Sabyr Grimm on the ground. With the pass done they all jumped into their landing areas. Just like their mission at the mines, they used their own way of landing onto the ground. Jaune felt the impact of the ground with a slight grunt as he bent his knees to take in most of the impact.

Taking a look around he could see the others landing around him. He moved forward with the rest he felt the cold of the air biting his lungs as his feet hit the snow-covered ground. He kept his eyes scanning around for any place the Grimm could jump out of. He soon found one of the Sabyrs rush around a corner at him. It jumped at him, a year ago this would have been worrying.

Now with experience and training he was more confident, without even thinking about it he fell onto his knees letting his momentum push him along as he slid under the beast and with a slash of his sword cut through the neck. It wasn't a decapitating shot like he had hoped but it went deep enough that it died as it landed.

Jaune stopped as he pushed up while cool, he really felt his knees grinding against the ground like that.

"Maybe I should get taller boots or knee pads." Jaune muttered rubbing them.

"Yahoo!" Nora's cry rang out as she slammed her war hammer into one of the Grimm nearby sending it flying.

Ren was close by as well as he quickly and nimbly made his way through the facility with everyone. Jaune pushed on as well given he knew things had only just now started. He saw the others carving a path to the shelters. The Ace Ops were as in synch with each other as usual as was everyone else. All the training they did together seemed to help them cover each other without saying much.

Ruby was nearly flying about taking sniper shots from various spots only taking a few shots before relocating. Weiss was using her skills to help keep control of the area, Blake was guarding their blind spots as Yang was in the front dealing out damage.

As they pushed on Jaune could see what looked like the heavily reinforced shelters. They had Grimm about them looking like they were either waiting for those trapped inside to get out or to find a way in. He could see a few of the cat like Grimm had been clawing at the outsides but still hadn't managed to get through the thick armoring.

"There is it!" Jaune pointed with his sword.

"Got it," Ruby used her semblance to get up high and take a look through her scope. "I see a bunch of them around it."

"Most likely more hiding or where we can't see too," Clover said over the communication line. "Alright Ace Ops we'll take the vanguard duty once the others deal with the Grimm. I want you all to get the civilians out while we got a clear path to the evacuation ships."

"What if there's wounded?" Qrow asked over the line.

"Then we'll have to move those that can be moved, we need to get them out of this area first to secure it. A medical team can be called in quickly but in the case, some can't be moved we'll need to keep a guard on that area."

"We got this," Ruby confidently told him. "Alright you heard him, we go in fast, I'll take out any that I can see now."

Ruby cocked her weapon as she fired, each shot hitting the head of each Grimm killing it as she didn't waste a shot. She calmly took aim, held a breath and squeezed the trigger. As soon as her weapon finished kicking back, she found another target and repeated the same motions she had done thousands of times before.

"Time to smash through them," Yang grinned as she rushed forward launching herself with her gauntlets. She was flying at one Grimm that she lashed out with a powerful kick sending it into another. She saw another of the creatures charging as she jumped and fired down once to send her higher into the air. She fired again at the Grimm as it passed under her launching herself again as the creature took the lethal damage to its back and spine.

Yang twisted and started to do a falling axe kick, firing her weapons up to now launch her down as her heel crashed into the head of another Grimm crushing its head into the ground shattering it and the ground under it.

The others weren't too far away, Weiss had summoned a pair of her own sabyr Grimm as they ran forward to maul their dark mirrored versions as Weiss followed up with several shards of ice shooting out impaling the other creatures.

Blake was being quick and graceful as she dashed through the Grimm cutting a path through them, using her clone to dodge, boost off of or take attacks meant for her. She slashed with her right hand and used her gun in her left.

Jaune, Nora and Ren weren't to be out done as they too went into the melee with their own skills. A Grimm launched itself at Jaune who raised his shield. The glowing hard light dust enhancement stopping it in its place as he activated another part of the shield as a force came out of it and knocked it back into a few others. Ren and Nora took advantage of the Grimm on the ground and slashed, shot or in Nora's case, just smashed them into pieces.

Jaune saw a few more running up to him as she readied himself. He waited until the right moment as he used his shield to deflect the leader and slashed at it, this time cleaving the neck clean off as he twisted with the momentum and bashed the next one with his shield in a backhand stunning it. He stabbed it through the eye as it cried out before dying as he pulled out the blade to ready for the last one.

A yellow blur landed on its back as a crunching sound was heard over its painful cry before Yang sent a punch into the masked skull and fired at the same time killing it.

"I had that," Jaune's shoulders sagged.

"Too slow stud," Yang winked at him. "But good moves so far."

"Well, I have been improving." Jaune told her.

"Oh yeah, maybe you can show me some of those moves later tonight," she blew him a kiss before rushing off leaving a blushing Jaune behind.

They finally made their way to one of the shelters as several of them were covering the entrance. Jaune found Blake by the controls as she punched in the code they were given. There was a hissing sound as doors unsealed and slowly started to pull apart.

"We're Huntsmen here to help!" Jaune shouted inside hoping that knowing this would calm people down if they thought the Grimm were getting in. "Is anyone alive in there?"

"We're here! We're in here!" A voice called out as others shouted out as well.

Jaune and Blake stepped into the room, it was a single large room not exactly built for comfort with what looked like a dozen people inside.

"Is this everyone?" Blake asked seeing the people in the room were a bit ragged looking. Some had bloodied bandages and other injuries.

"In this shelter yeah," one of them spoke up. "I'm one of the foremen, there's a communication line to the other shelters and they had people too."

"Okay listen up," Jaune told them feeling a bit nervous but maybe this was just like taking the kids to school. He just had to keep them organized and get them from point A to point B, he just needed to keep it simple.

"The Grimm are still here but we have a path to rescue vehicles, we're going to get you all to them and fly you out," Jaune told them all. "We'll get you all out but you have to keep with us, no running off and stay with the group. Can all of you walk?"

"A few might need some help," The foreman admitted.

"Okay one or two people help each injured person," Jaune quickly started to sort them all out.

Blake looked on somewhat impressed by his ability to take charge like this, was Jaune always like this? She was a bit disappointed to realize she hadn't really known much about him or his team in their Beacon days. She spent most of her time with her team or with Sun. She was very hard to open up to new people back then.

Suddenly a loud shaking and booming sound was heard as the structure shook.

"Not again!" Someone shouted out.

"Again? This has happened before?" Blake asked.

"Yeah, for the last hour we've been hearing it." The foreman told them.

"It sounds like something is digging under us," one of the drill workers said. "This whole area has a bunch of underground gaps from drilling and mining over the years."

"We got to get them out of here," Jaune said to Blake who nodded. He reached for his communicator in his ear. "Guys I think the Grimm are up to something we got to get them out now."

Another shake rocked the building.

"Yeah, we feel it out here too." Harriet said as she nearly tripped moving at high speed when the ground shook caught her by surprise but thankfully, she caught herself. She learned early on that losing control of her speed was not healthy given the amount of times she slammed into things at full speed and the hit her aura took from the crash when growing up and learning her semblance taught her that much.

"I would have liked to have dealt with the Grimm first but I think the kid is right, something smells here." Qrow stated. "Alright start getting them out and to the ships, we'll just have to make sure everyone is safe."

Jaune hearing this nodded. "Alright everyone line up and get everyone ready to move now. We're going to have to quickly move just follow everyone else and those in the front the Huntresses and Huntsmen will lead the way!"

People started to be led out of the structure as they rushed forward. The teams would lead them to the aircraft as Blake and Jaune went from shelter to shelter to get everyone ready. More and more of those quakes were heard and felt and everyone wasn't sure what was happening.

The only thing they did know was that nothing good was going to happen so they needed to get people out as soon as possible. As the civilian workers moved as best, they could through the facility, Ruby and her team with Nora and Ren covered them while the Ace Ops made a perimeter defense. Any Grimm that got through them the others would handle.

It was a stressful time as people crammed into the ships while Penny protected the landing zone but soon most of the ships were filled and flew off.

Blake and Jaune were at the last shelter getting the last survivors out when it happened. The ground shook even more violently than any of the other times as they felt the armored building shift to the side.

"Guys, what's going on out there?" Jaune asked feeling the tilt of the building as he and Blake helped the last few injured up to be taken by their co-workers.

"Trouble," Yang called back as from outside most of the sabyr Grimm were taken care of. That was when it happened, out of the ground burst huge hulking creatures. They had on large white claws with two large tusk like teeth with white armor over most of the body.

"Damn it, Abominable," Elm stated.

"I'm not familiar with those," Ruby stated not liking all the armor they had on them.

"They usually are found in Atlas," Harriet supplied. "Big, tough and they burrow through the ground. Must had made a way in for the sabyrs since we haven't seen any holes in the walls."

The large creatures roared as one of them was on the shelter that Jaune and Blake were in. It jumped and pounded on the structure with great force as the people running out of it screamed in terror.

"Pull them away or we can't get the civilian workers out." Clover said of the line.

"On it," Ruby aimed and fired her rifle several times but sound that the armor on them was thicker than it looked.

"Aim for the gaps in the armor," Marrow stated seeing Ruby's shots from his place on the ground bounce off the thick armor.

"Stay!" he shouted as the Grimm in front of him stopped from his semblance. "Go for it, you got a clear shot!"

Ruby adjusted her aim and found one and fired as the Grimm roared in pain. The problem was the gaps weren't very big and the armored seemed to cover a lot of the body protecting whatever Grimm had internally. Even to this day they still knew so little about how the Grimm worked only that certain wounds could be lethal like with any other living creature.

So, she took aim at one of the universal weaknesses the eye. She fired the round as it went easily into its head destroying whatever was inside of it as it fell dead as it no longer was under Marrow's control.

Meanwhile, Blake and Jaune were helping the last people out of the final shelter looking around to make sure they hadn't missed anyone.

"I think we're good." Jaune said.

Blake nodded her head as the last person ran out of the doorway. "We should join the others."

Before he could reply that's when the ground suddenly shook under them as the Grimm on top was smashing into the roof. That's when they heard it, the loud groaning sound followed by breaking sounds as the building seemed to shift slightly down.

"Something's wrong!" Blake shouted as the both of them looked at the open doorway. Both of them took one step towards the door as suddenly it seemed the world tilted as the floor went out from under them. It was so suddenly and fast they couldn't really process what was happening.

From outside everyone else turned from the loud sound as they looked on in horror as the final shelter slightly sunk before the whole thing suddenly sank under the ground. The Grimm on top toppled over onto the ground as it collapsed as the snow, ice and rock buried it and the shelter.

"Jaune! Blake!" Yang screamed out not knowing if they were inside.

"Where they still inside?" Ruby yelled out.

"I don't see them," Weiss looked around as the workers panicked and were running forward in blind terror.

"What happened?" Clover asked not having eyes on the situation.

"The Grimm somehow buried the last shelter!" Ruby told him as the snow and dust was clearing up. "I can't see the shelter anymore I think it's underground!"

"Was anyone inside?" He asked.

"We can't see Blake and Jaune." She replied. "I…I think they were still inside."

"If they were inside there might be a chance," Qrow told her hearing the worry in his youngest niece. "Those things are built to withstand a bomb blast."

"He's right, we get the civilians out first and then we can get a rescue underway." Clover told her.

"We're just leaving them!?" Yang's anger and worry could be heard over the communications line.

"Yeah, we can't leave them down there!" Nora shouted next.

"We are not abandoning them but we need to get the civilians out first." Clover sternly said. "Then we can focus on them, if they were still in the shelter, they should be able to survive until then. They are designed to withstand a lot and with the civilians out of the way we can fully concentrate on them."

Yang bit her lip in frustration as she knew that the people here needed them but it was her boyfriend and best friend down there. She pulled out her scroll to see if she could get in touch with them. She saw their profile pictures but she saw 'no connection' with them.

"The hell? Why can't I get to them, they're not that far!" She angrily looked at the screen.

"There might be interference," Weiss said as she landed next to her. She swept her blade sending ice dust out to freeze one of the new Abominable Grimm as it struggled before breaking free with its large strength.

Yang's eyes turned red as she saw the Grimm, the ones that were responsible for Jaune and Blake being in trouble.

"Get out of my way!" She screamed at it as she launched herself forward. She tried to land a punch with her new arm but it brought its arms up to block it. So, she fired round, it sent her back but she twisted, flipping with backwards and using her food kicked the arms apart. As she landed, she fired again and landed a huge powerful blow to the face blowing it back.

She broke off one of the tusks as she grabbed it and was quickly jumped on top of it and stabbed it through the eye with its own tusk.

It slowly started to dissipate beneath her as she stood up the flames coming off her hair as she looked around for more Grimm to fight. The sooner they got rid of them the sooner they could get to Jaune and Blake.

Weiss looked on worried as Yang seemed to have gone off on the Grimm. She watched her back as Yang most likely had tunnel vision and might not see what was going on around her. She cast a worried look to the place where the shelter had been. It was totally gone now, only a bit of broken ice and rock was where it was with cracks in the ground around it.

Nora cried out as she smashed her hammer against one of the new Grimm as it staggered back, she was about to do more when Ren appeared behind it and slashed behind the knees which were unguarded. It roared in anger and pain as it fell to its knees

Nora leaped forward and smashed her hammer into its face since it was now more at her level. She felt the impact but threw all her strength behind it as the metal hammer crushed the skull of the beast.

Nora breathed hard as she looked at the dying Grimm before casting a look to where the shelter had been.

"Nora?" Ren asked getting her attention.

"We're not leaving them, right? Please tell me we're not," She begged him. After losing Pyrrha she wasn't sure she could lose Jaune too and Blake on top of that as well. She felt fear swelling up inside of her and she didn't like it. It felt like that day back in the village when it was attacked when they were kids all over again. Her cowering alone with no one there, she hated this feeling and had hoped she would never feel it again.

Ren caressed one of her shoulders. "We would never do that Nora, but Jaune would want us to protect these people. When that's done, we can get him and Blake."

Nora silently looked at him as she nodded her head. She ran to the group of fleeing workers to help protect them as Ren silently watched her. He knew that Nora wore her heart on her sleeve and this was hurting her not being able to help them. It wasn't easy for him either as he too cast a worried look but he was right about what Jaune would want.

He just hoped that everything would work out in the end.

Blake groaned feeling the cold metal floor and something on top of her. Blinking her eyes, she noticed with her dark vision that there were no lights as even she could barely make anything out. She felt some injuries, nothing major but she was going to be feeling them for some time. Even her aura felt taxed, she must have hit pretty hard. Feeling around it felt like a cot was on top of her body as she pushed it off.

"Jaune?" She asked the darkness as she strained her hearing. She could hear someone else in the room with her. Digging out her scroll she turned on the light making sure it was facing away from her eyes. She quickly found Jaune laying on the floor with cots and other material scattered about.

Then she paused, something wasn't right, the area didn't look the same. Looking around she quickly guessed why, the entire building was on its side now. The 'floor' was actually the wall, looking up at the doorway she could see nothing but ice and snow up there.

She managed to get up feeling the pains in her body but pushing it aside as she reached Jaune and shook him. "Jaune are you okay?"

He groaned as he turned onto his back and blinked up. "Blake? What happened?"

"I think the Grimm dug under the building or something."

"What's makes you say that?"

She pointed around with her light as Jaune looked at their state. "Oh…this is bad."

"Yeah it is."

"Can you climb up there to the doorway?" Jaune asked as she was way more nibble than he was.

Blake made for a jump but as soon as she bent her leg she hissed in pain. "I don't know."

"Can we call out?"

Blake looked at her scroll and frowned. "This place is heavily fortified, I think it's blocking the signal."

"Well, I'm sure they'll get us out." Jaune tried to get up but winced feeling his own pain as he decided to sit down.

"Yeah I know…" Blake trailed off looking around the place.

"What is it?" Jaune asked her.

"It's…it's nothing." She lied.

Jaune looked around and thought it out. They were underground and it looked like the doorway was covered. They had no power and they were on their side. Wait these shelters were enclosed so if the door was sealed then…

"We have limited air, don't we?" Jaune knew it but he had to ask at any rate.

Blake's ears dropped as she had hoped he wouldn't figure it out and worry about it. "Yeah…we do. Since if the whole building is buried then the vents for air would be clogged like the doorway and the vents are most likely on the roof with is…"

"Which is now facing that way," Jaune pointed to the left. "Which is most likely covered if the door is too."

Blake nodded her head looking around, the whole place was a mess from them falling, how far down she wasn't sure. She hoped it wasn't too far down given she wasn't sure how much air they had and she doubted they could dig their way out. Besides digging would only make them use up more air.

"So…should we just sit down and wait?" Jaune asked.

"I guess so," Blake pulled the remains of a cot as Jaune mirrored her actions the two of them sitting in the dark. "We have no idea how much air we have here and how long it will take them to get to us since there were Grimm still up there."

"Yeah, best I guess to rest and not exert ourselves." Jaune nodded as the oppressive darkness and quiet of the building seemed to press in on them as both hoped this building wouldn't become a tomb for them.

TBC…