Čierna stepped off the skiff as it arrived at the small base. The commanding officer was waiting and gave a good attempt at a salute, but the tiredness in the gesture could be forgiven. Like the other UIR positions out in the deserts of Vacuo the place had been under attack for most of a day.

This base was little more than a ring of razor wire around the edge of a mesa with a set of prefabricated buildings clustered together. A pair of guard towers, with one's top blown off, stood on each side.

Someone had strung the UIR flag alongside the local tribal banner from the still standing tower. Both had a few holes where they'd caught their own share of the fighting. That was good, the people who lived here liked the Union enough to consider them proper allies.

After a quick word she headed inside, finding signs of battle as expected. Bullet holes, scorch marks, craters all tallied the battle for this place. There were two shot up, but intact APCs sitting on what passed for the motor pool.

'You are the crew who brought our guests from the COG?' Čierna asked as she walked over.
'Yes, Ma'am,' One of them said as they all stood at attention.
She waved them to ease, 'There was a report about one of them "vanishing into thin air" is that correct?'

Three of them looked aside to the last member of their little group. He coughed into his hand and nodded. The look in his eyes said he still didn't believe it, but he knew what he saw.

'I was sweeping the gun around, trying to watch for any follow up attacks,' The crewman said, 'I saw the COG arguing about something, it got heated and I paused the sweep to try and ask what they were doing. That's when the one with the yellow markings disappeared.'
'You're aware that some people have semblances that do such things? Yet you seem rather off put,' Čierna said, narrowing her eyes.
The crewman shook his head, 'I've seen someone with a semblance before, he could open doorways between two places, had to see both ends but could do it. But he never had to press a button on his armour to do it. No. This wasn't a semblance, he used something that was built into his equipment I'm sure of it.'

Čierna studied him for a moment more, seeing no sign of deception, 'Very well. We'll need a copy of the recording from your gunsight. Where are our guests now?'
'The mess hall,' Another crew member said, pointing to a long, low building.

With a nod to one of her subordinates to get the recording sorted Čierna started walking towards the mess. This was getting very worrying indeed. Recent events were starting to align in a very bad pattern.

The First Minister was killed in what was dubbed a terrible accident. The Deputy who should have stepped into his position was being challenged it seemed. Now a team of the COG leaders' private army were trying to help a group of Huntsmen and Huntresses along with one known criminal, escape to Atlas.

With the highlight being that one of their party had shown access to teleportation technology. Something the COG had made clear it didn't have. With all known examples presumed destroyed during their travel to this world.

It had taken an entire base to move them during that incident. Now someone was walking around with something that could fit into combat armour. Who was to say that an attacker wouldn't appear without warning at any moment?

Čierna's mind ticked over with the possibilities. One could do a great deal of damage with the ability to move a human sized object anywhere. Troops, equipment and other means of war.

But then there was the other side of such a tool. How did one protect against an enemy who could put a bomb in your bed as you lay in it? She recalled the explosion inside Phoenix Bay, in a building the UIR had suspected was being used by the COG Ministry of Security.

Right now the COG was claiming that the Minister of Security had stood down and they were getting a replacement in. Has someone been cleaning the house? A bomb appearing right at a desk was quite a way to take someone out.

If that was the case Crena didn't know if it had worked. What information about Clarke the UIR had was that she had been a field agent, a quite effective one. Someone like that with enough warning could have escaped after all, even if one could teleport bombs they couldn't know if the target was in the room when it went off.

Pushing the thoughts of the less savoury part of her work aside Čierna entered the mess. It had seen its own share of the fighting. A few tables still wedged into a hole in the wall where they'd been used as cover.

And finally she saw the people she was here to see, they were a confusing mix of COG uniforms and armour blended in with clothing that was decisively not up to code. Cloaks, skirts and she had to blink to be sure but heels, in this desert?

The white haired young lady with the pointed footwear was doing a good attempt at melting into the table. With the hole in the wall this place was getting up to daytime temperatures. The others were in their own stages of exhaustion from heat and lack of rest.

'You our ride?' One of the Onyx asked as he sat up from where he'd been laying on a bench.
'I am here to collect you. Seems things have gotten very, very complicated,' Čierna said looking around the group.
'That is one way of putting it,' A lanky man, who her intel said was Qrow Brawnwen, sighed.

'You have a JACK do you not?' Čierna said, looking around the room.
'We do,' A young man in green trimmed COG armour said with a slight nod.
'I must ask that it decloak. We can't have it bobbing about without us knowing where it is.'

Witha worried bleat the robot appeared as it floated down from where it had been hiding. Čierna looked over the machine, seeing one up close like this was quite rare. She'd only seen two this close back on Sera and both times she'd been trying to capture it.

But there was no struggle that ended when the machine was scuttled this time. Instead she reached into a pocket and took out a small transmitter. Holding it out to the robot to let it scan it.

'It's an IFF beacon. Set for our systems. It will let us know where this one is if it needs to be cloaked,' Čierna said, 'You're welcome to take it apart if you'd like, but that's a condition of you coming with me.'
'Rex if it's fine keep it,' The other Onyx, the woman said with a sigh.

The machine ran a few checks and scanned the device before retracting the arm holding it into its case. The limb re-emerged having left the device inside the casing. Čierna nodded as she looked around their little band.

'I hope none of you get sick on trips. We have a long sail to reach Union City,' With that said she turned and walked out.
'Did she say sail?' Blake asked as they all exchanged looks.

All but Ruby, who was hugging her knees again and just staring off as if looking through the wall in front of her. She's been quiet since she'd woken up after being knocked out when her aura broke. The camp medic and Rex had checked but there weren't any physical wounds to treat beyond bruises and scratches.

They boarded the large skiff and set out south west, making a wide circle around the COG areas heading for the UIR's capital. Once they were underway most of them nodded off as the cool interior of the craft's hold. Hickman however tapped on Ruby's shoulder and held up a finger to the front of his helmet.

Confused and unable to muster an objection Ruby just sighed. He signalled for her to don her own helm and then led her out the hatch into the deck. A few of the UIR crew glanced at them but returned to what they were doing after a moment. Hickman reached up to her helmet, opening a cover built into part of it and clicking something before connecting a lead between both of their helmets.

'Can you hear me fine?' He asked, his voice coming through the radio speakers.
'I can,' Ruby muttered back.
'Good. Before I say anything more both our rigs aren't recording. Only people who can hear what we're saying are us right now.'

'Why would that matter?' Ruby asked with a sigh.
'Because I said I'd talk to you. Then about half a minute later you got shot, how's the head by the way?' Hickman asked.
'It's fine… I'm fine.'

'Nobody who's actually fine says that,' Hickman said, turning to look out across the sand, 'You slipped, it does happen. But even before then you've had a cloud over your head. Only time you perked up was when you were out shopping with Weiss.'
'I'm a girl… Girls like shopping,' Ruby replied.
'Normally I'd say I have no fucking business pushing you. But you know that's not an answer. So instead of dancing around this, how about you just blurt out what is crushing you?'

'I said I'm fine. I don't want to talk any-more,' Ruby said, reaching up to pull the cable out.
Hickman grabbed her hand, 'I've heard that sort of thing before. It doesn't end well. So stop pretending you're just being a moody teen.'
Ruby sniffed for a moment, 'I'm… I'm… No… I don't want to talk.'

'Okay then I'll talk. I like running my mouth. You haven't got to say anything but perhaps you'll hear something that will help you,' Hickman said, letting her hand go, 'Back on Sera I used to be an Outsider, not in the sense that people didn't like me, that was true enough, I mean the whole deal. Grew up outside the COG walls, spent my childhood learning at a little village school house and later years found I was quite good with a rifle.'

He waited a moment to see if Ruby would object but she didn't so he carried on, 'There was an old guy who lived around our village. He'd been in all the wars, I mean like all of them, Pendulum, Locust and Lambent. Didn't talk much if he was sober, spent most of his time drunk or on something else when he could. Folks kept trying to reach out to him, offering a warm meal and he was never turned away from a house when he was found passed out in the doorway.'

Hickman looked out over the sands again as he took a breath, 'One night he ended up at my family home. We took him in, no question and got him settled into a bed. I thought he was just weird up to that point, I was still a kid you see, and didn't know what a war can do to someone. Then he started screaming in the middle of the night.'

His head turned back to look at Ruby, 'I mean the kind of howling like someone who's been stuck in the guts. Real crazy, totally terrified. He came out of the room swinging and crying out like he was surrounded. Took my parents and older siblings all together to pin him down till he came out of it. He'd made it through all that fighting, but not without it leaving its marks.'

'He got help though, a couple of folks made sure to talk to him, let him know he wasn't alone. He took up painting in the end, I still find it amazing he was able to hold those little brushes with such massive hands,' Hickman said looking up into the sky.

'Why are you telling me this?' Ruby asked finally.
'Because I think you're stuck in the same place he was,' Hickman said, turning to look at her, 'Guilt that you're alive and unharmed when others aren't, shame that you didn't do more and fear that you're going to lose whatever you hold dear. You're stuck with something in the back of your mind eating at you.'
'You don't know that!'

'Okay first of all. Ow,' Hickman said, putting a hand to the side of his head, 'You're yelling right into my ear you know.'
'Ah… Sorry,' Ruby said, sinking back.
'And two I read your file. You used to be the bright eyed ball of passion about protecting everyone. But the whole time I've known you you've been withdrawn and by yourself. Hell, your teammates seem worried about you.'

'I… I know… But… Urrrr,' Ruby growled, 'I wanted to be a Huntress. But I don't see how I can anymore. What's even the point? I'm just one person… I can't even protect myself anymore. What kind of Huntress can't even manage that?
'You could give up if you wanted,' Hickman pointed out.
'What!? Y… You're not meant to say that!'

'Ah again with the yelling,' Hickman grunted, 'What do you want me to say? You're meant to ignore the fear. Push on through till you drop. That's bullcrap. There are limits, everyone has them. You just need to know yours.'
'But… But… My mom…' Ruby muttered.
'Yeah your mom was a Huntress. Mine used to be a drill instructor, doesn't mean I have to be just like her, I could never yell for that long.'

'I want to protect people though. My family, my friends are counting on me. If I can't fight then what good am I?' Ruby asked.
'You ain't gotta fight to help people, kid, hell even if you do fight there's no requirement to be fearless whilst you do it,' Hickman looked around for a moment before whispering, 'This is top secret. Frankie will kill me if she finds out I told you, so keep it quiet, understand?'
'Why are you whispering?' Ruby asked, pointing to the cable.

Hickman shushed her, 'You remember the First Minister right? My boss?'
'Yeah…' Ruby nodded somewhat confused.
'How brave do you think he could be?'

Ruby shrugged, 'I… I don't know… I guess he must have been brave… He ran your Kingdom didn't he?'
'Yep,' Hickman nodded, 'He also puked right after his first firefight with us.'
'Wait… He just threw up?'

'I figure he wasn't ready for all the emotions and stress that come with being in combat. Took a moment for it to kick in but he emptied his guts into a busted toilet,' Hickman said, 'But that didn't matter, he didn't need to be a fighter. His thing was way bigger than just fighting. He got people motivated, led on without showing any fear or tiredness though I bet he was terrified and exhausted at times.'
'You really think so?' Ruby asked.
'Oh yeah. I spent enough time around him to know he let things weigh on him. That's what I think made people like him, he didn't just belt out orders and get mad if it didn't work. He wanted to protect people, regardless of if they even liked him.'

'Huh… So… Even someone like that can be scared,' Ruby muttered.
'Yep. Don't think you're meant to be perfect, no one really is. But focusing on that just tires you out faster,' Hickman signed, 'If you want to keep fighting and leading do it, but don't keep throwing yourself down because things didn't turn out like how it does in stories. You're human… Even if you can do the whole glowy aura stuff.'
Ruby stood quietly for a moment in thought then snorted, 'Glowy aura stuff.'

'Oh great. Seems I've managed to reach you,' Hickman sighed, 'Yeah yeah laugh it up. I'm not a poet.'
'Clearly… But uh… Thanks for the talk… It did help I think,' Ruby said, wobbling her head.
'You're welcome, and if you need to talk then I'm sure your team will be happy to help you.'
'Yeah. I guess I just needed some time to unpack things,' Ruy sighed.

'You going to be alright then?' Hickman asked.
'Yeah… I just need a bit… I'll be down in a moment,' Ruby said, unplugging the cable.
'Okay, don't take in too much of the view. I hear there's some sand up ahead that's just amazing,' Hickman laughed as he headed back below.

Ruby stood for a moment looking out over the sand. She took a long breath and held it before letting it back out. Hickman was right, somehow that feeling on her shoulders did feel a bit lighter after talking.

Acting First Minister Kristen Evangelina dearly wanted to have someone shot. Preferably that ass from the Ministry of Agriculture. The worm had spent most of the meeting making the same slimy comments he had when Emmerich was in-charge, but with more venom.

It very much felt like the sharks were circling. She kept up her composure till she reached the relative safety of the First Ministers office, which had only just been cleared of Emmerich's personal effects. She dropped into the chair with a resigned sigh.

Running the day to day things as a deputy had been hard. But now it was her ass in the big chair. And she was not savouring the experience.

There was the question of whether Emmerich was getting a state funeral. If they should be looking to hold it until a proper Tomb of the unknowns could be built. A Lot of people had already received folded COG flags after losing loved ones, so having a site that could be used for remembrance was fast becoming a policy issue.

'Ma'am,' Hudson said, his voice coming from the intercom, 'They're here.'
Evangelina hit the button so hard it nearly broke,'Good send them in.'
'At once First Minister.'

She didn't know what was stranger. The fact some people were arguing over if she was actually meant to be in-charge. Or that Hudson of all people was now the Captain of the Onyx guard.

The doors opened admitting Ramos and O'Connor into the room, the latter pausing to render a salute. Despite the near mythical status of them both being enemies to begin with they both nodded and sat without any sign of trouble. They were all faintly in shock still.

'We have a number of problems,' Ramos started holding out a tablet.
'Please tell me you have a short list. Time is not something I have a great amount of,' Evangelina sighed.
'Before Emmerich left he had us trying to chase down some problems within both DBi's and the military systems,' O'Connor said, nodding to the tablet in Ramos' hand.

Evangelina took it and started scrolling, 'What did you find?'
'A number of concerning things. There are a number of budgets which seem isolated and minor at first glance. But when we take them all together there's a significant amount of resources being allocated to programs that return perfect responses when checked,' Ramos said, tapping the screen to highlight the sections.
'So we're on budget… Which sounds very unusual given how little attention these programs sound like they should be getting. What exactly is "Improved airframe testing" anyway?'

'That's another thing, all the program names are basically mashed together with phrases that don't explain what they are. When we tried to dig into them we got blocked and told that the matter was secured, by order of the First Ministers Office,' O'Connor said in his jaw tense.
'So… They're claiming that everything they're doing got Emmerich's personal sign off to be kept off the books,' Evangelina tapped the desk, 'Do we know about any of the results from these programs?'
'We do,' Ramos nodded, bringing a video clip up on the tablet, 'This was taken by one of my people, who is now missing.'

On it a mech was being moved out of a factory along a cart rail towards a waiting cargo plane. Going by the number of planes waiting and the series of mechs following the first one the whole factory must have been given over to making them. The clip cut off sharply as the camera was grabbed by a security DeeBee that burst into view shouting about trespassing.

'What the hell? I didn't know we had any combat mechs being made,' Evangelina said looking up to O'Connor.
A vein bulged on his temple, 'Neither did I. I have never requested that we even consider making a squad of combat mechs. We felt that more focus should be on smaller equipment that we can use more of.'
'So someone put these into production without us knowing. And is doing under Emmerich's name.'

'Not only that, they've had them deployed without my approval nor oversight,' O'Connor hissed, 'They apparently have turned up at a number of locations being unloaded and taking up guard positions without orders. They'll obey the local officers but we don't know who ordered them to turn up in the first place.'
'How the hell could they do that? Surely someone raised questions around pilots being trained and allocated? And can't you order the crews to stand down?' Evangelina asked in shock.
'That would be the other part, these units are unmanned it seems. Much like our construction mechs they're running off an on board AI. No pilots needed,' Ramos explained.

Evangelina pulled up the clip of the mechs being loaded again. There were DeeBees moving around. But no people, the entire process was automated.

'I really don't like this,' She muttered, 'Okay so something is definitely taking place. What is our plan of action?'
'I'm putting our people on alert. We can't just order them to open fire so I'll be… Leaking a report about the new mechs going haywire. And requesting we keep anti-armor units near any of them,' O'Connor said with a bad taste in his mouth.
'And I'm going to Drake Bay, something has been bugging me about the reports coming out of there. I'm starting to think that place is the heart of these… Shadow factories,' Ramos said, frowning.

'Good. And if anyone gives you comments about things being off limits contact me. I'm not going to accept anyone playing behind our backs,' Evangelina said looking between them.
'Yes Ma'am,' They both said before leaving, O'Connor stopping to salute.

At least she had those two backing her up, Evangelina thought to herself. Emmerich had often been quite secretive about some things. But not to the level that he'd build secret factories and projects without involving people who had every reason to know about them.

'Ma'am Day is here, she says she has critical intel about the incident with Emissary,' Hudson's voice called from the intercom.
'She what?!' Evangelina shouted before pressing the button and repeating herself, 'She what?'
'She's here with a sealed report about the incident. She says it's for your eyes only.'
'Send her in.'

Day marched into the room giving a salute as the doors closed, 'Deputy Min- Acting First Minister. I have some intel we were able to scrounge up.'
'Show me,' Evangelina said leaning forwards.

Opening a folder, Day put down a series of still photos marked as maintenance space cameras. On it two figures in Onyx Guard armour riding a cart through a tunnel accompanied by several other people. Most quite colourful in their outfits whilst two were wearing full COG sets with green and pink trim.

'Who is this?' Evangelina asked, examining a picture.
'That is Lieutenant Frankie Figueroa and Sergeant Major Gabe Hickman currently AWOL. The people they're meeting with are quite… Questionable. Two are members of a Bandit tribe known as the Branwens,' Day said, pointing two out.
'They were meeting with criminals? Just before Emmerich was killed?'

Day nodded, 'Yes. Of the other persons known to us are several former students who didn't graduate from Beacon and have ties to the Branwens. The current Heiress to the SDC. A member of the White Fang and two COG Huntsmen who turned on a member of their squad before absconding with the others.'
'That is quite a line up,' Evangelina muttered, 'We need to bring them in.'
'It's already being arranged, Ma'am. Though we'll need your sign off of course. They're fleeing towards the UIR and we may need to… Get into some grey areas,' Day said, holding out a tablet with a signature area.

Evangelina signed quickly, 'Get them back here. Alive. We have a lot of questions that need answering.'
'Of course. We'll get it done. You can trust me,' Day said, turning and walking out.