Chapter 30
All Fall down
Jonathan savoured his third cup of coffee for the day. No matter the similarity caf was not coffee. He slowly made his way from the chaos of the dining room were Monica Sapphron and Sapphire were valiantly trying to ride herd on the Arc girl and the associated younglings with them, despite slowly losing the battle. Despite having returned at three in the morning all of them were unending balls of energy. He was thankful that he had the excuse of having to go and prepare for the opening ceremony of the Vytal festival. For a moment he was tempted to turn around and go back and deal with rambunctious kids instead of the hours of tedium of dealing with politicians that awaited him.
He noticed his daughter in law coming down the stairs scroll against her ear as she tried to shoulder the strap of the lapscroll carrier bag
"Run both the standard anti virus software and the modified program. I will be there in an hour." She said shortly
"…."
"That is the quickest I can be there, unless you can get a bullhead to come pick me up." Terra snapped
"…"
"I thought so. Listen it is not my fault that traffic is messed up. Repeatedly run the programs hopefully it will sort the problem before I get there." Terra replied
She disconnected the call and finally managed to control the wayward carrier bag
"Problems?" Jonathan asked
" Mostly pre festival jitters from the programmers. That someone is sending viruses into the system is not helping. Soemhow they got the idea the White Fang is behind the virused " Terra replied
" Not really their style." Johnathan remarked
"More a lack of skill to do so. Most likely it is some bored kids screwing around." Terra replied absently
"How are you getting to the tower?" Johnathan asked
" Derrick has his motorcycle outside he has to go in to the bank so he will drop me off and collect me later," Terra answered
" Just tell him to drive carefully." Jonathan said
"With the amount of traffic I actually think I will be quicker walking." Terra said
"Adrian and Katherine still asleep?" Jonathan asked starting up the stairs
" Just got them asleep, that crib Yara build for them, really spoiled them."
"Yes, however can they go back to a simple mattress and blankets instead of form adapting anti gravity bedding and air conditioner." Jonathan remarked
"Don't remind me I am already missing the conforming gel mattresses of our room on the Dawn."
"That and the droids that can help control the ravaging horde in the dining room." Jonathan chuckled
"So glad I am not dealing with today. Dealing with panicking technicians and demanding bosses seem so much easier." Terra grinned
Terra opened the front door and moved outside where Derrick was already sitting on his motor cycle. He handed her his helmet as she climbed up behind him. With a quick revving of the engine he was out of the opening gates and merging into the heavily congested traffic.
The Ace Ops freshly returned from Mistral were standing at loose parade rest in complete silence in the empty SDC Concession room of the Vytal stadium. The staff having been unceremoniously relieved of their duties on Winter's orders for the duration of this meeting. Their two newest members were systematically sweeping the room for surveillance devices. Marrow closed his sweeper down and looked to Clover.
"We are clear sir." He reported
The door opened and Ironwood entered, Winter two paces behind him and to the left as per Atlas army protocol. The specialists got to attention. Clover saluted and Ironwood returned the salute
"At ease specialists." Ironwood said
The group returned to parade rest. Ironwood helped himself to the coffee standing on the counter to the serving area
"You all did well in both Mistral and here. The information you retrieved will prove invaluable to the safety and security of Atlas."
"Sir why are we standing by for deployment in the stadium. I was under the impression Vale would be attending to security?" Clover asked
"The detachment from the fleet found no traces of the White fang in mountain Glen. There had been significant casualties due to traps left behind by the terrorist. What is more troubling is the fact that the recent system errors in the CCT network is in fact nor errors but cyber attacks. With most of the dust stolen unaccounted for still and Taurus on the loose we need all hands on deck if they should attempt an attack." Ironwood explained
"It is a significant variation from the White Fangs modus oppurandi. Are we certain they are behind the cyber attacks?" Vine Zeki asked
"They are the most likely perpetrators, as per Vale Police department computer specialists the cyber attacks do not have the same electronic signature as known hackers." Winter said
"And with the recent collapse of the ticket system we are guessing they are using this as an opportunity to infiltrate the stadium, I assume." Marrow said thoughtfully
"We do. With the size of the expected crowd we can not search all who enter the stadium. And with being over the city of Vale itself we can not do an emergency landing of the stadium in case of an attack which is why you and other select units are on standby." Ironwood nodded to the canine specialist
"Has Headmaster Ozpin and the Council been made aware of the threat?" Harriet Bree asked
"Yes. Though only the Headmaster is giving it the concern needed. He has instructed the students to be armed and in their combat uniforms despite tradion stating that the students take part in the opening ceremony dressed in their school uniforms. The Council has blown off our concerns." Winter replied stiffly
"What of the Vale police department and stadium security, are the aware of the threat?" Harriet asked
"They are and we will be coordinating with them" Ironwood replied
"Where do you wish us to deploy, sir." Clover asked
"You can use this concession stand as your base of operations. The commanders of the other units will contact you here, the Vale police department and stadium security will send liaisons to here, Technicians from the Pride of Solitas will be here shortly to help set up a command centre in adjunct to the stadium system. Commander Ebi I will leave you in charge of this. Winter and myself will be with the Council and the other headmasters and if any incidents occur we will most likely be cut of from contacting you." Ironwood said
Ironwood nodded to his specialist before turning on his heels and moving towards the door. Winter moved forward and opened the door for him before falling back into her position following in his wake.
The dining room of Beacon was nearly completely quiet as the students were served breakfast. Most were not eager to eat due to a mixture of nervousness and excitement as the festival was due to kick off in a few hours time. Teams RWBY,KHYA CFVY and Brow were sharing table bur four of them seemed more on edge than the rest of them. Yang looked at Jaune as he pushed his untouched plate of food back
"Scared of throwing up before all the people?" She asked teasingly
"Partly. A lot of it is nervousness but I cant help but feel there is something…" Jaune said musingly
"More. Something elusive yet dangerous." Velvet completed, raking her spoon through her uneaten porridge
"I feel like something is really wrong, but I can not explain why." Pyrrha said
"Or you are already afraid of being beaten by us in the first round." Yang said trying to lift the mood
"As if. With how much we practiced for this you do not stand a chance." Nora snorted in reply
"Really, with how suntanned you all are I think you did not practice at all. You probably just lazed about" Ruby jumped in
"True we did not practice continuously, but we go a lot done between relaxing on the beach." April spoke up
"Just how far do those tans go?" Yang asked suggestively
"Unused beaches. Unused nude beaches." Nora grinned at Yang, wiggling her eyebrows
Yang lifted an eyebrow trying hard to control her blush at that image. Ruby and Weiss were a quick crimson. Blake pinched her nose to stop a nosebleed, her little notebook held tightly in a white knuckled grip in her other hand
"Perverts." Weiss hissed in scandalous fascination
"You just wish you were there too." Pyrrha said teasingly
" Nope, nope, nope." Ruby replied covering her ears poorly
"A Pair of hard yet gentle and another pair of soft yet string and nimble hands rubbing in sunscreen in all those hard to reach places. Then later getting washed to get all that sand out by the same sets of hands" Velvet whispered in Ruby''s direction
"EEP"
Ruby Rose exited the conversation in a dead faint. Pyrrha grudgingly handed Velvet a purple Lien card
"What was that about?" Yang asked, holding Ruby up as she mttered incoherently
"They had a bet whether they can make Ruby pass out by being "Filthy" as Ruby would put it." Jaune explained
"So you were just messing with her?" Yang asked
"Some people simply can not handle the truth." Jaune smirked
Blake clamped down on her nose again. Weiss was looking close to joining Ruby in fainting. Yang pointed to where Lien was being exchanged by BROW and KHYA
"They were betting on whether Velvet would have the courage to describe her sex life in public. They simply don't know enough not to bet on the bunny. She may seem shy, but it is always the quiet ones " Coco said nonchalantly
"Velvet was till being tame. It is not as if she, Jaune and Pyrrha joined us" Yara pointed out
"True." Coco grinned
"And what did you do that's more scandalous than that?" Yang said challengingly
"A large naked cuddle pile before a fire under the moonlight." April said with a distant yet fond smile
"Those were great." Coco said with the same smile
"EEP"
Weiss dropped forward as she fainted. Despite her white knuckled grip on her nose droplets of blood ran down Blake's mouth, her eyes distant and clouded. Yang lost her composure and turned fire hydrant red in a furious blush
"Virgins." Cameron smirked in her coffee
The doors to the room opened and Ozpin and Goodwitch entered. The minimal conversation stopped
"Students prepare yourselves, we depart for the Amity coliseum in half an hour." Ozpin informed the silent room
Despite being on a more compact and mobile vehicle it took Derrick two hours to get Terra close to the CCT Tower. He was forced to let her get off and walk the last half mile to the tower being escorted by two soldiers of Atlas and another four tower security guards that had been send to get her through the masses waiting for their turn to be airlifted to the stadium by the constant stream of bullheads shuttling between the docks and the stadium. He turned the bike around hoping to get to the bank a lot quicker but not really holding his breath in hope either
It took Terra another hour to get through the security checkpoints that had been set up. A really frazzled senior technician ran over to her as she finally entered the secure control room for the tower accompanied by two Atlas soldiers
"Thank you. No one in the network is able to purge this virus. We had the other towers staff looking at the code to help break and isolate it " The woman babbled
"None of the anti virus plans worked?" Terra asked
"We tied the new programs, the old programs, hell we even used the archives old anti virus programs." The woman reported
"So what you are saying is this something no one has seen or heard of." Terra said
"Yes, and to make it worse a section of it looks like a countdown."
Terra froze.
"Show it to me on the main screen now, the entire code." She demanded
The technician rushed to her terminal and moments later the central big screen lit up and symbols and figures started appearing on it
"We lost contact with Amity!" A panicked cry came
Terra dropped her lapscroll and grabbed her scroll and started dialling.
"Mam, you can not phone from in here." Another called to her
Terra ignored him and pushed the technician roughly aside as he tried to grab her scroll
"Hi babe, you missing me? Caught that nasty virus yet?" Sapphron said teasingly having finally answered
"It is not a virus. The Empire is here, warn everyone and get to safety. I think we are being invaded." Terra said rapidly
"Terra?!" Sapphron shouted
"Warn them!" Terra shouted
Her scroll was wrestled from her hand by a soldier, the other slamming her onto a desk as she twisted her arm behind her shoulder. Terra cried out in pain at the brutal handling
"Terrra!" She heard Sapphron shout from the scrool on the ground
" I love you!Get out while you can!" Terra shouted
Handcuffs clicked around her wrists and she was hauled upright. The other soldier slammed his boot on the scroll shattering the device
"You are in deep shit now. Atlas knows how to deal with traitors" The soldier growled in her ear
"You and Atlas are nothing to what is coming." Terra scoffed through gritted teeth
Derrick stopped his motorcycle as His scrolled buzzed insistently
"Sapphron?" He asked
"Terra is in trouble! She called me from the tower then her scroll cut out."
"It could be a bad connection." Derrick pointed out
"She sounded like she was in pain!" Sapphron cried out
"Did she say anything else before she cut out?" Derrick said urgently
"She said it was not a virus, she said it was the Empire."
"Get out of the residency and get everyone to the hotel I told you about. I will get Terra out of there. Hurry!" Derrick ordered
"Please get her." Sapphron begged
"I will. Now do as I say. Try and reach Jaune and your dad once you are out of the residency."
Derrick ended the call. He phoned another much more secured number
"This is Nightingale. Seven four five five six seven one. Code Amber. i need direct access to the Banker. Unsecure line in use"
The Director looked up as her secretary drew her attention by flashing a light at her. She motioned for the woman to enter
"I thought is said no interruptions." She said reprovingly as the secretary entered
"Agent Nightingale on line two. He called in a code Amber. The line is unsecure." The secretary said succinctly
The Director lifted the handset and pressed two
"I am here." She said
"We have an asset in danger. I need assistance to extract her from Atlas tower with extreme prejudice. The CCT tower."
"Explain."
"The CCT virus issue is not a virus. It is the bigger threat, our asset has on the ground information. Despite that I think it is already too late to use that information."
The director took a moment to consider
"Get the asset. We have units in place at the tower they will meet you. Extreme prejudice authorised."
She cut the call and looked to her secretary
"Get DEI and DGO in here immediately. Initiate Lockdown on all facilities. We are at Condition Alpha." She ordered
The secretary moved to a glass covered box by her desk. Using her elbow she smashed the glass and pressed the red button it contained. Red lights started strobing and a siren started wailing. Ignoring the cut caused by shattering the glass she dailed the extensions for the two requested department directors.
Terra found herself handcuffed to a chair in an office. A junior officer was standing before her
"What is this empire you spoke off. Is it a code name for the group attacking the CCT." The officer demanded
"I am a Valean citizen, you have no right to detain me." Terra replied
Her head rocked as she was struck
"Answer me." The officer demanded
Terra shook her head to clear it. The officer lifted her head by her hair and struck her again
"Answer me!" The officer shouted
Terra started chuckling, The officer struck her again
"You think you are tough bitch? I have broken tougher terrorists than you. You think Atlas cares that you are from Vale"
Terra looked up and motioned him closer with a cock of her head. She spat blood from her mouth into his face
"Fuck you. Fuck Atlas. Vale forever." She said with a bloody grin
Derrick strode into the empty foyer of the CCT tower entering from the maintenance door after having picked the outside door lock. Walking around the side of the wall he kept clear of the cameras hidden by various tall pot plants An Atlas soldier was gossiping with the camera operator at the main desk. Leaning on the counter engrossed in a magazine
"Heard they caught a fang sympathiser up at six." He said
"Probably getting the shit beat of them already. Marshall is bucking for promotion." The operator spoke lazily pouring coffee from a mug
He froze as a pistol barrel was placed behind his head
"For your sake she had better be untouched." He heard a voice speak behind him
The other soldier tried to bring his weapon up. The pistol moved and a shot rang out. The operator pressed the panic button and opened the intercom
"We are under attack, fo…"
The pistol cracked again
Derrick ejected the clip and placed a fresh magazine in before cocking his pistol. He lined up on the door as he heard noised coming from the direction of the offices behind the foyer
The Atlas troops attached to the foyer rushed towards where the shots had originated. The ignored the maintenance guy working on a hinge at an office cupboard, just as they ignored the Faunus janitor where she was pushing her cleaning cart into an empty office.
They did notice as bullets tore into them from behind. The chatter of automatic fire stopped and the janitor moved to the door and took cover by the wall. The maintenance man going prone and aiming at the door
"Vale forever." She called out
"We live to serve" A male voice called out
"Countersign" She called
"Nightingale"
"Sparrowhawk." She called out
"Tabbycat with you?" The call was returned
The two agents relaxed and the faunus nudged the door open. Derrick strode in. The faunus pulled another automatic weapon and three flak jackets from the cleaning cart
"Have you been briefed?" Derrick asked
"Orders state you will be brief us. We were only given your handle and told we were weapons free." Tabbycat answered
"Right we are to extract an asset, last known position was on six." Derrick said
"Twelve floor Atlas has checkpoints on every second floor." Sparrowhawk supplied
"We are to extract the target all costs. If it is not us or the target and it points in your direction it dies." Derrick said
Tabbycat slapped a new mag into the automatic
"Let us go before they get bunkered down,"
The officer reeled back as the intercom message ended in a familiar sound. He rushed to the radio and toggled the all use channel
"All points report in." He demanded
"Two all clear."
"Three all clear."'
"Four, no hostiles."
"Five clear,"
The officer pressed the coms key
"Station one report in." He demanded
"Station one can not answer. Their brains are all over the floor." A female voice answered
The officer blanched. A male voice spoke up next
"As of a few minutes ago all outside communication has been cut. No one is coming to help you. Send our comrade down unharmed and we will let you live."
"Atlas does not negotiate with terrorists."
"You are not in Atlas. Vale Forever."
The trio moved into the foyer, they took cover by the elevator after Tabbycat locked the front doors. Derrick spooling a fire hose with him as he moved. Sparrowhawk covering the stairway after leaving an explosive charge by the maintenance door to deny entry to any who might try to come in. The elevator pinged and the door opened. Derrick and Tabbycat held their fire, A clangin noise came as two grenades were dropped from the emergency access hatch of the elevator. The grenades bounced against the wall and started rolling into the foyer
Derrick opened the firehose and washed the grenades back into the elevator. He dropped the hose and lifted his automatic, the trio looked to the side as the grenades blew. Tabbycat threw a fragmentation grenade into the open cab. Cries of surprise came as it blew. Sparrowhawk fired a burst from her automatic and a body dropped into view another burst had an agonised cry reverbate before it ended in a harsh gurgle
Detecting no further movement Tabbycat broke covernad dragged the body into the doors of the elevator after firing a few burst into the roof to prevent the door being closed or the elevator being called up.
"The other elevators?" Derrick asked
"Locked down in the basement on Atlas's order. They only wanted one elevator operational. And I have the keys for the elevators" Tabbycat answered
The trio moved up the staircase, Sparrowhawk bent down to check for a pulse on her second target before straightening up and motioning to go forward
Terra was ignored as the officer was exclusively concerned with his radio now. The man was sweating buckets as he demanded updates. Stations two and three had gone silent. The radio crackled and the female voice returned
"You really should have listened." The voice was almost sultry
The officer was about to answer when the radio crackled again
"But Atlas does not negotiate. Do you mind if I sing you a quick song?" The voice was now teasing
The officer was silent. The radio crackled
"I will take that as a yes. Bear with me my sister was the real singer in our family. She should have been famous, but she disappeared in Atlas. Anyway I hope you enjoy this."
The radio crackled
"I will be blowing your head off when I come.
I will be blowing your head of when I come
Oh I will blow your head off
I will blow your head ff
I will blow your fucking head of when I come"
The radio fell silent. The officer and the soldier with him were now extremely pale. Terra kept quiet not to draw attention to herself. The radio crackled and cries came over it. The chatter of automatic weapons were clearly audible
"That makes four and five. You are next." The male voice was back
The officer shakily drew his side arm. Terra shifted in the chair preparing to tip it onto its side. Automatic fire came from much closer. She tipped the chair. Fire raked through the glass walls of the office shredding the drapes. The officer and soldier jerked repeatedly.
Terra closed her eyes. Gentle hand reached her and pulled her upright. The handcuffs fell away
"I got you honey. You are safe." Derrick spoke in her ear
He led her from the room and kept her head in his shoulder as he led the way to the stairs. Sparrowhawk and Tabbycat taking point on the extraction. Rapidly they made their way dwn the stairs. In the locked control rooms technicians were hiding underneath their terminals. No one paying attention to the countdown being displayed on the centre screen
Ozpin nodded to Governer Arc and his wife as they were standing in the corner looking bored to death along with two other regional Governers. None of them wanting to be there a sentiment Ozpin shared. The Councillers , their wives and or mistresses were in the centre of the room Ironwood and the other headmasters mixed in with them. Winter was occupying the other corner, her eyes scanning constantly for danger. Glynda left his side and took position next to Winter. Looking at his watch he noticed it was time to begin. Sending a text to Port he approached the podium as Port's voice echoed over the stadium announcing him. He stepped up and the crowd cheered mostly out of thankfulness for the show to begin
"Welcome citizens of Vale and our visitors from the other Kingdoms. Welcome to the start of the Vytal festival. I present to you the future defenders of Remnant. I present to you the students of Shade academy from the endless desserts of Vacuo, the students of Haven from the steppes of Mistral, From Atlas and Mantle I present Atlas Academy and finally I give you the pride of Beacon."
The crowds cheered as the students marched out to face the crowds and assembled on the now grass covered pitch of the stadium. No one seemed to notice that the students were nor dressed in their school uniforms. The crowd seemed to enjoy the multiple bright colours of their outfits and the weapons on open display. The sound of the different anthems of the Kingdoms played as the students assembled by schools
As the last anthem played Ozpin spoke again but no sound was heard. The large overhead monitors went black. Now one noticed as the fire doors swung shut and locked down. Nor did they notice groups of men entering the entrances to the exits all being handed short stubby weapons.
That is all not in the security offices, the operators tried to call to their units but received complete silence. The door to the room sprung open and groups of men swarmed in weapons at the ready
Clover swore as the security office went silent. He swung around as the door was brutally opened. Reaching for Kingfisher he was truck by a blue blast. The rest of the Ace Ops were taken down moments later.
Below in the arena the students were growing uncomfortable as the silence descended. The overhead screens flickered and a new Symbol appeared. The four off worlders took one look before sprinting towards the entrance they had just stepped from, their teams following a moment later. The sprint was joined by a rabbit Faunus and her team. A solitary figure sprang from the crowd seating above a blue blade ligting as it descended. The figure was encased in metal armour. The four in the advance stopped short, By now several men were rapelling down the wall to get to the arena floor, stubby carbines slung across their backs. The lines being protected by others pointing their weapons at the crowd
In the teachers concession doors the mergency shielding had sprung up in front of the entrance to the stadium and the fire doors well and truly locked. Another group of men took position before the shield weapons held at hip level
The armoured figure gave a chuckle. Close up they could notuce the figure was female.
"Going somewhere?" She spoke up
A thunderclap echoed over Amity stadium. A dagger shaped object grew larger rapidly. It grew exponentially larger as it approached. It dwarfed the large ships Atlas had posted near the stadium. Those knowledgeable about that type of ship knew it could be only of four and none of them were friendly to them
Jaune unclipped his lightsaber
"Who are you? I thought the clans did not serve the Empire." He demanded
"The clans don't. As for who I am. I am Keira Aliit Wren, Jaune No Name. Surrender now and no harm will come to you and yours."
"As if the Empire can be trusted." Yara sneered
"Are you willing to risk all the innocents in here?"Keira sked
Jaune tossed his lightsaber at her feet foolowed by his blaster and the DC17. He dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his neck
"I surrender. Let my family and friends go. They have nothing to do with this"
"I wish I could but Vader wants you and the other two. Curiously I see three carrying lightsabers. All of you disarm." She spoke. Her tone regretfull
Reluctantly the eleven followed Jaune's example and took position on their knees. In the group Beacon students RWBY was being held back By BROW
"We have to help them." Ruby said struggling against Cameron
"Till we know more there is nothing we can do. Wait for the right time." Cameron retorted
The crowd was not paying attention to the scene on the stadium floor. To a person they were looking up at the massive ship dwarfing the stadium. Streams of smaller ships exited the largeform. A curious screeching sound came as they swept over the stadium. Several started circling the Atlas ships while the rest circled the stadium Three triangular white shapes exited the ship, moments later two large wings wer lowered breaking the triangle appearance. The three ships descended to the stadium and hovered over the arena floor before lowering in formation.
Streams of white armoured figures came from two of the craft and took up formation. Apart from keeping their weapons trained on the students no actions were made nor any words spoken. This continued as the students edged away to edged of the stadium floor. A group exited the second craft and rapidly strode into the access tunnels to the stadium proper
The door to the room containing the headmasters and the Council opened and three grey uniformed men entered at the head of a group of white armoured men
"Lord Vader requests your presence." The one in the lead spoke up
Total silence ruled in the stadium by this point. A soft murmer went up as the headmasters and Council members were shepherded onto the stadium floor. The door to the last shuttle opened and a ramp slid down before an all black figure descended. Sound was restored to the stadium as they all heard a harsh mechanical wheezing. The figure stopped at the bottom of the ramp
Ozpin stepped forward and approached the figure
"I am Ozpin Headmaster of Beacon Academy. Who are you to interrupt here." Ozpin demanded
The Figure made a motion and Ozpin felt an invisible hand on his neck cutting of his air supply. Gagging he dropped to his knees as he was blacking out. Moments later the pressure disappeared and he could breathe again
"I bring greetings from My Master. He was overjoyed to learn of your existence. Welcome Remnant. The Galactic Empire welcomes its newest member. You all have much to learn."
Hundreds of thousands of eyes were locked on the figure speaking. Be it from the stadium itself or from televisions across households and businesses spanning Remnant