Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
Mantle and Atlas' perfectly planned and executed evacuation plan had a little but serious flaw. The CCT-Tower and thus the communications affecting the entire kingdom had been disabled. The JNR team, Lance, Oscar, Emerald and Neo had taken control of the tower, but somehow, someone was able to remotely shut and lock down the systems.
Jaune, just when he was about to inform the residents about the plan, everything went dark and it was impossible to warn the people.
- What do we do now? - Oscar asked the legitimate question.
While everyone just shrugged or shook their heads in confusion, one of the space gates that the RWBY team had created with the Staff of Creation appeared.
- We'll stick to the plan. - Ren answered.
- But how? - Nora didn't understand how they were supposed to warn the population of two cities, several thousand people in just a few hours. - Without the CCT, we can't tell whole Atlas to enter through a bunch of weird, magical doors.
- Yes, we can. - Ren had an idea. - We'll use the portals ourselves and spread the word on foot.
- The old way. - Lance agreed.
- And are you sure these things will work? - Emerald stepped closer to the space gate and looked at it worriedly.
- Why, - Lance laughed. - what's the worst that could happen? Some weird, black, snotty stuff will cover us?
At that comment, Neo took a step back, indicating that she had no intention of going through first.
Everyone immediately looked at Jaune and he understood that the team had designated him to be the first to cross.
- We'll help clean the hot, black snot off you. - Lance encouraged, to no avail, and then Jaune entered the space gate.
Jaune was sucked into the gate at that moment and was hurtling at incredible speed to a distant, bright spot that grew larger as he approached it. As soon as he reached it and fell through it, he fell flat on his stomach and found himself in a strange, otherworldly place.
The entire area was like a large, night sky, but there were no stars or moon, just black or dark blue clouds everywhere. The only thing that stood out from the large and dark place were the other blue and yellow-edged space gates and the golden, shimmering, winding roads that led to a single, much larger space gate that they were sure led to Vacuo.
As he stood up, he swallowed back the nausea that was coming over him and couldn't help but marvel at the magical beauty of the place and only later did he realize that the rest of the team had also passed through.
- Wow, - Lance also stepped through, Neo following behind. - at least there's no black snot.
- Okay, - Jaune breathed a sigh of relief and continued confidently. - we can do it. Nora and I will start leading people out the main gate. - He turned to the team. - Everyone else stick to their roles. Remember, - He emphasized his point. - evacuation is our primary task, no matter what happens.
- Are you sure you don't need more help? - Ren was worried that Nora and Jaune would be too few.
- Maybe Neo and I could stay. - Lance suggested. - She's such a big speaker, Neo can't be much help with the evacuation. - At this, Neo just rolled her eyes wearily.
- Shade's military is armed to the teeth, full of Hunters and Huntresses and from what I understand, even the civilians are pretty tough. - Nora was confident, but clearly worried. - But now we're going to bring a whole kingdom of problems and negativity to their doorstep. If anyone needs help, it's them. - Ren nodded confidently at his girlfriend, who always thought of others first.
The task began, Ren, Lance, Neo, Emerald, and Oscar each headed to a space gate to warn the residents of Atlas and Mantle, although Neo, unable to speak, she stayed with Lance.
In the underground subway passages of Atlas, where the civilian population of the upper city had gathered, they were now hiding in fear from the strange space gate, which they hadn't the faintest idea of how it had been created, where it led, and what could come through it.
- What is that? - The people didn't dare to approach it, but the space gate didn't move and no one or nothing came through it.
After much thought, someone decided to gather their courage to push someone else over to take a closer look.
The man, if he was angry with him, but he didn't go against the will of the majority and slowly walked towards the gate, picked up and tried to throw a stone over it.
- Everyone... Ouch! - Jaune came out of the space gate and the stone hit him squarely, before everyone hid in fear back in their hiding places. As things calmed down, they looked out and took a good look at Jaune, who, after a headache, held up his Hunter's license. - I need your attention.
Team RWBY and Penny both stepped through the gate and were pleased to see that Ambrosius had done a good job. They looked confidently along the gleaming golden paths that led to a single large gate.
Fiona, one of Robyn's Huntress, had just stepped through a smaller gate next to them, holding Mantle together and waving happily to the girls.
Civilians began to flock through the other gates, accompanied by the remaining Hunters or their friends, but there were also deserted soldiers who, defying the general's orders and wanted to protect their families.
- I knew you wouldn't let us down! - - Unbelievable, but May could also be seen smiling happily.
- I was hoping there would be more people by now. - Weiss, although she was happy that the evacuation had begun, was a little worried that it had started so slowly.
- The most important thing is to get Penny and the Staff to Vacuo. - Ruby was determined and headed towards the large space gate with the team. - Until then, we have to trust the others. I'm sure they can handle it.
While Jaune, Nora, Lance and Neo were still helping the refugees, Oscar, Emerald and Ren went through the large space gate to scout the area ahead.
- There will be enough space for the refugees, - Oscar explained. - but we still need to be within communication range.
- Okay, - Ren knew well what his task would be. - I will concentrate with all my strength on masking emotions for as long as I can. Call for help as soon as we get through.
As soon as they stepped through the large space gate, they found themselves in a huge sandstorm and couldn't even see up to their noses.
- You're just kidding me, aren't you? - Emerald had to cover her eyes with her arm to keep the sand from getting in.
- Where's the city?! - Ren desperately tried to look through the thick sand, but in vain, it was so thick that he could barely see a few meters.
- It must be somewhere this way! - Oscar didn't give up either, but he was starting to despair.
- Guys, - Emerald worriedly took out her Scroll, which still had no sign. - the sandstorm doesn't just reduce visibility.
Before they could go back to warn the others, the first refugees from the civilian population had already crossed the space gate and were just as terrified by the thick sandstorm as they were.
- Where are we?!
- Welcome to Vacuo. - Ren tried to calm the refugees' fears, but he feared it would be too little.
The evacuation, despite the blocked communication network, went according to plan and thousands of refugees made their way along the glittering, gold-plated roads and through the great space gate.
Unfortunately, a major flaw in the plan was signaled by a massive explosion, injuring several civilians and causing the others to panic.
Before Penny and Team RWBY could even step through the gate, they knew they had to go back and protect the civilians.
- You go ahead, - Blake instructed Penny, who still had the Staff of Creation with her. - We'll take care of it!
The cause of the explosion was Cinder, who appeared at the most unexpected and worst moment possible, clearly still craving the power of the Winter Maiden. For now, she spotted Team RWBY, who had a personal grudge against her leader, and began flying towards them.
Ruby didn't hesitate, she used her Semblance on her team, which made them dash through the crowd of panicked civilians to the central platform, but Cinder immediately appeared in front of them, two black glass swords in her hands.
- Your little friend, Oscar was right! - Cinder smiled evilly, as she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. - But the easy part is over now! - The RWBY team looked at each other in horror, as Cinder said exactly what Oscar had said when he had developed the plan. - "How did you know about this?!" - She imitated Ruby, who didn't even answer, just turned her scythe, then launched herself and immediately threw herself at Cinder.
The streets of Atlas were quiet and that was perfect, since Cinder and Watts could easily meet the two fauns, Adam and Mandy, who had brought her the Lantern.
- I promise you both, - Cinder glared at the Lamp Mandy handed her. - that we'll all get what we want today. - Her gaze flicked between Mandy and Watts. - The destruction of Atlas, - Then to Adam. - You get Yang and Blake, I get the power of the Winter Maiden and Salem gets the Staff of Creation. But to do that, I have to ask the Lamp a question.
- Jinn. - Mandy replied. - That's her name.
- What are the Ruby and her friends' planning? - Cinder asked the Lamp, but it didn't do anything. - Are we doing something wrong?
- You have to say it. - Mandy helped her.
- What? - Cinder asked nervously.
- Her name. Jinn. - Mandy replied.
- You just said it. - Cinder angrily held up the Lamp.
- It only works if the person holding it says its name, - Adam was starting to lose patience. - right now, it's you.
- Oh, - Cinder finally understood. - Jinn?
Time stopped, the Lamp began to spin and float, then began to emit a strange, blue smoke and float further and further away. As soon as it got far enough, it stopped, but it was still in the air and the blue smoke, which completely flooded it, grew larger, enveloping the Lantern and a huge, female figure formed from it, which solidified and a giant, light blue-skinned woman appeared, her naked body was only covered in golden chains and broken shackles. She had long, pointed ears and dark blue hair that reached down to her bare waist.
The woman, floating in the air, stretched pleasantly, as if she had woken up from a long sleep.
- Do you have a question for me? - Jinn asked.
- Yes. - Cinder answered and asked the last question. - What are Ruby and her teammates planning.
Jinn was stunned for a moment, knowing full well that if he answered this question, she would be aiding evil and putting many lives in danger. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to answer any question, regardless of who asked her or what their intentions were.
She began to spin in the air, creating a huge, blue smoke curtain that covered the entire street and they couldn't even see as far as their noses. Cinder and the others tried to get through the smoke curtain, but it began to dissipate and they immediately found themselves in the Schnee mansion.
- We were so worried about keeping the Vault closed, - They heard someone's voice in the distance. - that we didn't even think about using what was inside. - Jaune was the one who planned with Team RWBY and the others how to save the people of Atlas.
- The Staff of Creation. - Ozpin answered.
- Maybe we could use it to save Penny and get everyone out of Atlas and Mantle. - Ruby suggested.
Cinder just watched with a wide, evil smile, like she was watching a movie, but when she saw Emerald among them, helping Ruby and her family, she clenched her fists in anger.
- Oh, yeah, - Mandy said quickly. - Emerald betrayed us too.
- Then we won't spare her either. - Cinder knew that much. She wasn't attached to the girl at all, she just saw her as an annoying factor, like she had just lost a tool. - But now just listen.
The presentation lasted a few minutes, but they learned how Ruby and the others planned to overthrow Ironwood, obtain the Staff of Creation, which would turn Penny into a human, and open more portals from Atlas to Vacuo, and that Robyn, Qrow, Marrow, and Winter were secretly helping them.
- You almost tore this kingdom apart with your mind and skills. - Cinder glanced at Watts. - What if we finished what you started without Torchwick stopping you this time?
Watts just smiled evilly and the two fauns supported Cinder, after the vision ended, Jinn went back in the Lamp and time began to move again.
- What are you thinking? - Mandy was curious about the plan.
- Arthur, - Cinder looked at Watts. - could you hack the CCT system?
- If I could get into the academy's control center, I could do basically anything. - The scientist assured them.
- Excellent. - Cinder smiled. - Then we'll arrange to get you in there.
Since the city was still empty, neither the military nor civilian onlookers were able to stop them, so they made it to the academy without any trouble, where the guards couldn't stand in their way. Cinder, Adam, Mandy, and Watts joined forces to storm the academy while the general's main force and the Ace Ops were busy capturing Penny.
Only a handful of soldiers remained in the control center, as they were mostly scientists going about their daily routines overseeing the proper functioning of the academy's systems.
Just a few seconds later, they noticed four armed individuals standing at the only exit door, and the door closed behind them, blocking all entry and exit.
As Cinder summoned a fireball into her right human hand, Adam took out Wilt, Mandy put an arrow on the string of her bow, and Watts aimed his rifle he had looted on the way, the scientists began to flee in panic.
Unfortunately, there was nowhere to run, in just a few minutes, the most diligent and bustling room of the academy turned into a deserted slaughterhouse, blood, fire, electrical sparks and corpses lying everywhere.
- Do you have everything you need? - Cinder asked, sitting at one of the computer tables.
- Believe me, - Watts took the leader scientist's card and his ID gave access to the largest computer. - this is everything I ever wanted.
Adam stabbed a man on the ground with a maniacal grin, while Mandy preferred to stand behind the scientist.
- I... - Mandy looked around hesitantly at the bodies. - I'd stay here, if that's okay.
- What's wrong? - Cinder really didn't want to lose Mandy after Emerald.
- I just want to see Atlas' destruction. - Mandy replied. - I'll stay here to protect Watts if something happens.
- Okay. - Cinder wasn't happy about being one less. - Adam, are you coming?
- Of course. - The faunus man didn't need any convincing and followed Cinder towards the exit.
- You deserve this, Arthur, Mandy. - Cinder looked back at them with another empathetic smile, then she and Adam left the room. - We'll be back.
Watts began to press the main terminal keypad with pleasure when he heard an interesting, live broadcast.
- You're in live. - The voice came from the terminal, but it wasn't the computer.
- Yes, I'm alive. - Mandy recognized the voices and knew that they were Jaune and Ren.
- He meant that everyone could see you. - The third voice was Emerald and it didn't take long for Jaune's face to appear on the screen.
- Oh... - Jaune looked to the side nervously, then cleared his throat and began his speech. - Citizens of Atlas and Mantle, what we are about to tell you is very important. Atlas is going to fall, but... - Watts, seeing and picked up and bit into an apple, turning off the CCT systems in the kingdom with a single press of a button, preventing Jaune from sending messages to people.
- Would you like a coffee? - Mandy, feeling a little redundant, saw a coffee machine.
- A long one, with milk and two sugars. - Watts replied, while the faun girl was already heading for the machine.
Watts remembered that Qrow, Robyn, and Marrow were heading towards the hangar, so he quickly checked the surveillance systems there and saw that they had already caught the members of the Ace Ops. Suddenly, the entire building shook.
- So they just used the Staff, right? - Mandy returned with the coffee.
- Certainly. - Watts took control of an unarmed robot while sipping his coffee.
- They used the Staff?! - Through the surveillance system, it was possible to see how the members of the Ace Ops realized that they had used the Staff and that there were only a few hours left until Atlas would crash.
- What do you think, - Robyn and Qrow handcuffed them. - what is a kingdom?! Its people or just a piece of rock they live on?!
- Either way, it's over. - Qrow also helped and was about to handcuff Vine. - Ironwood fell. - Hearing the news, Vine turned off the aura around his hand.
Meanwhile, Watts directed the robot, which he had taken control of, towards it and carefully assessed the situation. The members of the Ace Ops were kept in stasis by Marrow, Elm was already handcuffed, but the robot had caught their attention too much and they forgot about handcuffing Harriet and Vine.
But what caught Watts' attention the most was that the bomb that Ironwood wanted to destroy Mantle with was on the ramp of a plane waiting to take off. He knew very well that it's impossible for him to get on the plane with the robot, but someone who wasn't yet handcuffed and whose mind was clouded by anger could still get on.
He set the robot to self-destruct and started to run full speed towards the group. Qrow and Robyn opened fire immediately, but the robot didn't slow down, even after losing both arms.
- No! - Marrow jumped between them and the robot, to protect the others from the explosion.
Boom
The robot exploded, knocking Marrow out and a bright blue flash around his body indicated that his aura had been drained.
The explosion damaged the hangar enough to cause its base to tilt and everything that wasn't secured began to slide out towards the exit, including the plane with the bomb on it.
As Watts had predicted, Harriet, who wasn't yet handcuffed, immediately ran up to the cockpit using her Semblance, turned on the plane and started its engine.
Vine, who also wasn't handcuffed in time, quickly ran after his teammate, extending his arms and grabbing onto the closing ramp.
The explosion that had occurred in the hangar was also felt in the academy prison. Ironwood, after being betrayed by Winter, his most trusted soldier, was forced to face the fact that he was left alone.
His eyes quickly popped open and he sat up on the bench he had been laid on and took alarm that he had been locked in his own prison.
- I see you've finally woken up. - The first person he saw was none other than Jacques Schnee, the spineless and greedy man who had almost brought the destruction of the kingdom, out of sheer greed. - Atlas is going to fall under your watch. - Having no choice but to remind the general of his defeat with relish. - How does it feel, James?
- They... - Ironwood jumped up in panic. - they got the Staff!
- That's right. - Jacques just nodded, although he slightly misunderstood what his former rival was saying and continued to torment him. - You lost. - He remembered where he was and what fate awaited him once this was all over. - We both lost.
- They worked for her all along. - Panic and paranoia gripped Ironwood, and he thought the entire kingdom he had come to save had betrayed him from the start. He felt helpless and weak and his whole being wished he could be freed.
Incredibly, his pleas were answered and with a small spark, his cell's energy shield was deactivated.
- What?! - Jacques could hardly believe his eyes that he would be alone in prison again.
Ironwood didn't know if he could believe his eyes, maybe this was another of Salem's tricks or his cell had simply malfunctioned and he was given one last chance to save this kingdom.
He didn't care which, he just left the cell and went for the laser cannon lying on the ground, which Winter, unusually carelessly left there for him.
- You are opening my cell too, right? - Jacques begged desperately.
Ironwood didn't answer, he just inserted the two pistols into the mechanism, which reactivated it, raised it and pointed the deadly weapon at Jacques' cell and pressed the loading button, which caused a strong, green energy to concentrate in the barrel of the cannon.
- Sure. - Ironwood fired the weapon without the slightest remorse, which shot a super-powerful laser beam at Jacques and not even the cell's energy shield could protect the man from the explosion.
Dark green smoke covered everything in the cell and bright green flames ignited on its floor and nothing remained of Jacques Schnee but ashes.
The general felt no guilt at all for murdering his cellmate, it only felt like he had pulled a splinter out of his body and turned with relief and headed for the exit.
In the space gate passage, team RWBY fought Cinder on the central platform, but the one-eyed woman easily held her own against all four girls, then stabbed her two glass swords into the ground and summoned a tornado of flames around her.
- I knew your plan would be bold, - Cinder just soared high on top of the tornado. - but I had no idea it would border on madness! - She looked around at the RWBY team, who all had their weapons pointed at her, with a smug smile. - At least, not without Jinn's help. I think I can thank you for one last lesson. - No one attacked, they just glared at Cinder. - Sometimes, if you want to win, you can't do it alone.
Blake's cat ears fluttered and she saw a hooded figure pull a familiar red katana from its sheath as it charged towards Yang. The blade glowed and Blake knew that its wielder was about to shoot.
- YANG! - Blake didn't hesitate, not wanting her girlfriend to have to endure any more pain, so without thinking, she stepped into the path of the red energy beam.
Blake was hit full-on by the blow, a purple beam of light flashed around her, causing her aura to drain and she fell to the ground, somersaulting towards the edge of the platform. Everyone watched with bated breath.
Adam just glared at the girl angrily, as he wasn't aiming for her, while Ruby and Weiss watched frozen as their faunus companion got closer and closer to the edge of the platform, but Yang didn't hesitate and without thinking rushed towards her girlfriend to catch her, but it was too late.
Blake somersaulted over the edge of the platform and was horrified to realize that she was falling to who knew where. Desperately, she took Gumbo Shroud in two and threw it towards the platform, hoping with all her might that Yang would catch it.
Unfortunately, she was already too deep, Yang lay on her stomach and stretched out her arm from the edge of the platform to catch the katana flying towards her, but it stopped just a few inches from her hand and fell back.
Blake fell helplessly into the depths, she was already so far and deep that she couldn't see anything, only a yellow flash and she disappeared from her sight.
- BLAKE! - Yang screamed with tears in her eyes, her heart was broken that she was unable to save her girlfriend.
- Blake... - Ruby could hardly believe that Blake had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Yang didn't have much time to grieve, because she was Adam's next target.
At first, the girl was afraid that she would have to face the person who tortured her last night again, but the fact that her girlfriend died because of him made her forget her fear and rushed towards the man without thinking.
- I kill you! - Yang shouted with red eyes and flaming hair. - You hear what I said?! - She landed several punches on Adam, who blocked the blows with Wilt. - I'll take your life!
- Just try. - Adam just jumped back and spun Wilt in his hands.
Yang didn't hesitate and shot half a dozen fireballs towards Adam, but his sword absorbed all the shots and it began to glow again.
Adam was ready to throw Wilt away at any moment, but he waited until Yang rushed towards him again and when she was already there, a few inches away from him, he took out Wilt to shoot with it.
To Yang's great luck, Ruby, transformed to a pile of rose petals, kicked Adam in the side, which caused the beam to shoot in the wrong way and Yang was able to punch him in the face, causing him to fall backwards.
- I know you're angry! - Ruby stood between Adam and her sister. - But if you don't think, you'll lose again!
Yang understood when she saw her sister's tearful face that she also wanted to avenge Blake, but unlike her, she was able to keep her composure.
- What do you say, Yang? - Adam was back on his feet and ready to continue the fight. - Could you lose another body part? - He laughed, making Yang shiver as she thought about how she lost her arm in Beacon and when he beat her up and cut off one of her fingers in the Monstra Grimm. - Or a loved one? - Adam stared at Ruby this time, who Yang cared about just as much as Blake.
- You're done now. - Yang sighed, completely calm and charged at Adam again.
Ruby was ready to join her sister, but seeing that Weiss was forced to fight Cinder alone, she was faced with a serious dilemma.
- Hey, queen b*tch! - Suddenly, Lance joined the fight, against Cinder, after parachuting from another platform using his shield. - You still haven't taken down this pawn!
- Why did you have to come back?! - From a distance, Penny flew towards them to help them.
Neo was the third to parachute behind Cinder with Hush and as soon as she hit the ground, she folded her parasol and pointed it at Cinder.
- Penny, no! - Weiss shouted worriedly.
- You brought the Staff here?! - Lance scolded her angrily.
- Why didn't you just learn your lesson?! - Penny ignored what her friends said and charged straight at Cinder and knocked her back in the air with a punch.
- Oh, Penny, - Cinder just faked a smile and summoned another black glass sword into her hand. - I did. - She nodded behind the girl's back, before she looked back in horror.
After realizing that there was nothing behind her, she quickly turned back towards Cinder, but a plume of fire was already heading towards her and pushed her to the ground, among the fleeing civilians.
Fighting as a human was different for Penny, she didn't have a radar in her head that would alert her if something or someone was behind her, she couldn't fly without the power of magic and many of her other abilities had been lost since she became human.
She was forced to summon eight dark green glass swords, similar to Cinder's, only much more irregular and clumsy, but she knew they would suit the purpose. She set off and, kicking off the platform, flew towards Cinder.
- I have an idea! - Weiss summoned several runes under herself, Lance and Neo.
- What are you... - Lance couldn't even finish and together with Neo, the runes seemed to pull them, towards Weiss, who skillfully and gracefully, as if she were just skating, glided along the path her runes took her.
Penny, not yet able to properly handle her human body, had a hard time keeping up with Cinder. As a result, the one-eyed woman easily overtook her and pushed Penny back with a jet of fire. Before she could pursue her further, Weiss pulled her back from the ground with a black gravity rune.
Cinder had had enough of the Schnee sisters' runes and summoned creatures, so she fired at least two dozen black glass, pointed shards at her and the refugees behind her.
Lance transformed his shield and Neo opened Hush, which blocked several shards, but most were blocked by Weiss' ice knight's sword, thus protecting the innocent.
Unfortunately, what no one expected was that the shards that she just shot heated up and quickly exploded. Neo quickly dodged this with her Semblance, but Lance wasn't so lucky, as the shards pierced his shield. The force of the explosion pushed Lance sideways, off the edge of the road and straight into the abyss.
The Red Knight tried to activate the gravity Dust on his shield so he could parachute to a nearby platform, but the explosion damaged the Dust converter and before he knew it, the abyss had swallowed him up and he had disappeared with a yellow flash.
Weiss didn't escape the explosion easily either, but while Neo blocked it and Lance fell to the side, she flew high, but was caught by a black gravity rune, only to realize too late that Lance had already fallen into the abyss and there was nothing she could do to protect him.
- Queen. Hit. Pawn. - Cinder grinned smugly, as another of her opponents fell into the abyss.
She didn't have much time to celebrate, because Penny's clumsy swords flew past her head and she was only able to dodge at the last moment and the battle between the two Maidens continued.
The situation was no better on the other side of the passage, because Ruby and Yang were still fighting Adam and the faunus man skillfully held his own against the two sisters.
Adam easily blocked Ruby's scythe with Blush and hit her in the head with Wilt's pommel and pushed her back with a kick. Next came Yang, who attacked strongly and aggressively and Adam easily dodged her blows and shot her with Blush, which made her fall backwards.
Yang didn't give up, she jumped to her feet and this time she was forced to defend herself from Adam's blows.
Ruby stood up with an aching head and was ready to help her sister, but Penny's distant scream and the sight of Lance falling into the abyss made her realize that she now had to make a serious decision.
Help her sister deal with the guy who had mutilated her several times, pushed her girlfriend into the abyss, or help Penny against Cinder.
Penny and Cinder's fight seemed balanced at first, but Ruby quickly realized that Penny with her new human body was nowhere near as strong as she was as a robot and she didn't have much of a chance against Cinder alone.
She took one last look at her sister fighting Adam and felt a terrible guilt for leaving her sister behind and rushing to Penny's aid with her Semblance.
Drop the bomb and destroy Mantle. This was the order General Ironwood had given her, in case Penny and her friends tried something.
Harriet followed this order without a second thought, as soon as she had the chance, she ran up to the transport plane and led it out of the academy hangar and headed for Mantle. She didn't care how many people would die, she had an order and there was no way she would refuse it.
Suddenly, the plane's proximity sensor started to alert her that someone had entered the cargo bay. Worried that Qrow and Robyn had somehow managed to follow her, she switched to robot pilot and coded the computer to prevent anyone from taking control and headed for the cargo bay.
After climbing down the ladder, she was relieved to see that it was her companion, Vine, who was holding onto the cargo bay door and panting as she managed to pull herself inside, and the cargo bay door closed behind her.
- Vine, - Harriet was relieved that it wasn't the enemy who had come up. - I'm glad you're here at least. - She started toward the bomb to activate it. - Watch our backs, I need to make sure this thing is still armed. - Before she could activate the bomb, Vine's extended aura hand grabbed hers.
- I'm not sure this is the most logical move anymore. - Vine, who always believed in logical and rational solutions, now knew full well that this wasn't the right decision.
- Is this really what you want, Zeki? - Harriet glared at her teammate, clearly refusing to stop.
- No. - VIne deactivated his arm extension. - I don't want it. - She tried to reason. - Harriet, the general is no longer in command and I don't think he's thinking straight. Ruby and the others used the Staff to evacuate the kingdom, Atlas will fall, but its people will be safe. Unless you...
- This is our duty, Vine! - Harriet angrily slammed the bomb. - Our loyalty dictates it! Clover understood this! Clover would have done it!
- Then I think Clover was wrong too. - Although Vine missed their captain just as much, he didn't let anger and pain blind him.
- Don't you dare! - Harriet, on the other hand, was driven solely by anger. - Clover... he...
- He was important to you. - Vine understood exactly, he knew his teammate as well as himself and knew that Harriet had always looked up to Clover, but perhaps felt even more for him.
Harriet didn't want Vine to see her crying for anyone, so she just turned to the side so he wouldn't see her.
- Harriet, - Vine, although he didn't understand much about human feelings, understood that his companion needed emotional support right now, so he moved closer to her. - you're not the only one who... - Before he could touch her shoulder, the plane shook, which meant only one thing. That they were under attack.
Harriet ignored what her companion said, she just activated her Semblance, ran past the bomb, which she quickly activated and opened the cargo door with a button, sending Vine flying out.
However, Vine grabbed the two edges of the door with his outstretched arms, but Harriet was there too and kicked him in the face, causing him to fall out of the plane. Vine still didn't give up and grabbed one of the wings of the plane.
Harriet didn't care who she had to run over, as long as she carried out the order and wiped Mantle off the face of the Remnant, as the general wanted, she wouldn't stop. She took control of the plane again and headed straight for Mantle.
In front of the plane, she saw a bird in the clouds flying straight towards her, which was strange, since she had never seen a bird in Atlas before and every time, flying creatures dodged human-made machines.
The bird got closer and closer and still didn't dodge, but Harriet blinked and instead of the flying creature, Qrow appeared, flying straight towards the cockpit window with his sword pointed forward.
Harriet didn't even have time to react when Qrow broke through the windshield and threw himself at her. The two Hunters tumbled into the cargo hold and Qrow was on top, his sword stuck in the floor next to Harriet's head, kneeling on one hand while holding the other with his right hand.
- Looks like you're gonna get that fight after all! - Qrow knew full well that Harriet had been wanting this fight for a long time. Ever since she falsely accused him of Clover's death.
Harriet kicked Qrow back with her foot, freeing herself and attacking again with her amplifiers on her fist, which Qrow blocked with his sword. Harriet's mind was filled with anger and she didn't care what was happening around her, she just wanted to finish Qrow, who quickly picked up the pace and launched a counterattack.
Unfortunately, no one noticed that someone had taken control of the plane's systems and remotely directed the plane towards Mantle again.
After the general was locked in a cell, Atlas' army became seriously chaos, as there was no one to lead and protocol dictates that in the absence of the academy headmaster, the highest-ranking military officer should take control. In this situation, it was Winter.
Winter went around the academy and personally called on everyone she could find to surrender.
Unfortunately, since the CCT system had been blocked, she had been unable to command the entire army, as those in the city, fleet, or colonies had no idea that Ironwood was no longer in command.
The one-third of the army that were at the academy and didn't agree with Ironwood's orders had laid down their weapons and headed for the space gates. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do for the soldiers outside the academy.
After circling the academy three times, she decided to go down to the nearest space gate, which was in the Winter Maiden's, at this time empty Chamber and prepared to leave.
- I repeat, - She tried one last time to reach the rest of the army with her Scroll. - is anyone receiving this transmission? - Unfortunately, there was no response. - Can anyone report on the evacuation status? - If she hadn't reached the army, she hoped she could reach the others who were already evacuating. Unfortunately, she didn't get an answer this time either and started towards the gate.
She saw a red dot moving back and forth on the floor, which slowly drifted to her chest and she realized with horror that a green laser beam was heading towards her.
At the last moment, Winter took out her sword and summoned a rune in front of her, using it to raise a shield against the beam. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough, as the laser broke through the rune and knocked her back, straight to the floor.
Winter survived and her aura remained, but she raised her gaze anxiously through the green flames and looked in horror at the elevator on which General Ironwood came down, smoking laser cannon in his hand, his eyes radiating madness and his whole body shaking with anger and fear.
- I have chased many shadows and faced many betrayals over the years. - The elevator arrived and the general stepped off it. - Many people I cared about have turned against me and I have often assumed the worst about others. - He raised the laser cannon again and began to charge it. - But I never, ever thought you would be one of them. - Finally he stopped in front of the woman and pointed the charged laser cannon at her and just waited to fire. - I know what's best for Atlas and I will do anything to get the Staff! - The general was no longer able to think clearly, fear and paranoia had overwhelmed his common sense and the only thing he could focus on was escaping from Salem. - Consider this my last order. - The general secretly hoped that he wouldn't have to fight Winter. - Stand aside.
Winter saw the madness in the general's eyes and also that he no longer knew what he's talking about as she stood up.
- I've never backed down from the enemies of this kingdom. - Winter refused to let this madman through the space gate, where her sister and thousands of innocent civilians were fleeing to safety. She folded her sword in two and defiantly met the general's cold, hard gaze. - And I will not start now.
The general's face was still hard, shedding only a single tear at the thought of being forced to kill his best soldier and perhaps his friend, since she was the only one standing in his way of obtaining the Staff.
Ironwood sacrificed the last spark of his humanity as he raised and fired his laser cannon.
The situation was also difficult on the other side of the gate, where the army of refugees who had no idea where they were was growing. The sandstorm was getting stronger and the civilians were increasingly filled with fear.
Unfortunately, with so many people, without Jaune's amp, Ren didn't have a chance to disguise themself for long and in a flash of purple, his aura drained.
- I'm out...
- Where's Penny?! - Emerald looked worriedly towards the space gate after the last refugee had made it out, but the former robot girl was still nowhere to be found. - She could do something about this storm.
- Wait a minute, - Oscar came to his senses in horror and realized that something was wrong. - Penny should be here by now! Something's wrong! - He ran back to the space gate, but as soon as he jumped in to return to the passage, he simply bounced back to the ground. - What the... Why can't I...
"Oh my," suddenly, Ozpin remembered a little thing that could cause a serious problem now, "Ambrosius."
"What are you talking about?", Oscar asked the spirit in his head.
""People from Atlas and Mantle enter on one side and exit Vacuo on the other side with a one-way ticket.""
"One-way?!", Oscar also realized what the mistake was.
- We can't go back! - He warned Ren and Emerald. - The portal only works one way!
- You have a plan, right? - One of the Atlas soldiers looked at the young Hunters in horror and pointed his gun at the sandstorm.
From a distance, they heard the growls and footsteps of Grimms and from the sandstorm, winged monsters emerged, sensing the fear of the refugees and with only three Hunters and the remnants of Atlas' army protecting them, they felt like they had found a feast for themselves.
Oscar, Ren and Emerald, along with the remaining soldiers, took up the fight against the Grimm army.
Thank you for reading. Please sign it to follow and as favourite and don't forget to write reviews.