The group still felt sour from how the previous episode ended, but it was completely overshadowed by their joy that Penny was alive and that she retained all her memories of them! If her "death" ever truly came, which they would make sure that it didn't, they would be able to handle it with a much leveler head. All they would need to do is retrieve her core and have it sent to Atlas for Dr. Polendina to fix! All of them were officially over the moon, and they didn't think they could ever stop voicing it as they saw Penny with them. Unbeknownst to them, Raider was biting the inside of her cheek so harshly at their happiness, knowing very well what happens to Penny; it only hurts more.

"Once again, I have to be the voice of reason, and I hate to cut into the celebrations, but we did just get captured by the Ace-Ops," Weiss addressed. A few of them groaned at the reminder, hoping for it all to turn out alright. The notion had to bring all of them down from their elatedness and back to the present. Why couldn't they just have one good thing happen to them? All it's been so far is tragedy, fighting, dealing with the authorities, and backstabbers. Need they go on?

"Weiss, this is the first good thing that's happened to them in a long time. Could you at least let us enjoy it as well?" Yang asks with a sigh.

"Please?" Ruby asks, giving Weiss puppy eyes. A flush appeared on her cheeks as she looked away from Ruby, her resolve crumbling in a matter of seconds. Winter raised an eyebrow as she watched the interaction with amusement. She never thought she would see her sister act this way.

"I-uh…" Weiss stammered as Ruby got closer. Weiss looked to Raider, who was smiling at the two, and frowned when she saw she was of no help. Raider chuckled but relented. Why am I so weak towards you?!

"You all do need to move on to the next episode." Weiss released a breath of relief as the rest of them complained. Weiss sent a thankful look in Raider's direction before turning her attention back to the screen as it began to play the next episode.

(Volume 7 Intro)

The view of Mantle sped past as Ruby stared out the window of the transport ship, looking down with dejection.

Once more, the students groaned as they now had to deal with the results of the last episode. This is what they all wanted to avoid. "You all did steal an Atlas airship," Winter reminded them, as the Ace-Ops were only doing their jobs.

"We know," Nora whined. They didn't really have much against the Ace-Ops, just that they were a bunch of mood killers.

Ruby looked up at her friends. Jaune and Ren were sitting while Nora was trying to tear away at the cuffs with her teeth, struggling to do so.

A couple of people in the room clicked their tongues. Ren looked like he expected something like this to happen. Nora didn't know if she should laugh or be slightly offended that none of her friends seemed that surprised by her actions.

Ruby looks over at her teammates, who are just as downtrodden. "Where do you think they're taking us?" Ruby asks.

"Prison."

"The slammer."

"Jail."

All of them give their own version, but the sentiment is all the same. They broke the law and will be facing the repercussions of their actions. What else would it be? They figured their choices would have caught up to them at some point; a few of them didn't think it would have happened so late.

"I say, we assert our dominance by beating up the toughest guy there!" Nora declares. Jaune, Weiss, and Oscar were about to have a breakdown at the mere thought of going to jail. They couldn't go to prison!

Qrow is gonna go with jail.

That would be the most logical and reasonable of outcomes.

"I still can't believe that fishing-pole guy took us out like it was nothing," Jaune mutters, and Weiss welcomes him to Atlas. They were Ironwood's Ace Operatives.

Winter did tell them they were Atlas's elite huntsmen and huntresses. It would make sense for them, not even graduating students, to be taken down so easily compared to them with years of training and experience.

Next to them, a man's eyes widen in shock that they came across the Operatives. "Ironwood must really have a bone to pick with you."

Yang raises her hand. "Alright, pal, we did not ask for your input."

Weiss rolled her eyes, commenting they weren't that big of a deal. "'Not that big of a deal?!' The Ace-Ops are the elite of elite military huntsman and Ironwood's personal attack dogs."

Winter's eyes widened. "Excuse me? 'Dogs'?!" Winter Schnee is not someone's dog, and she refuses to be called as such. Simply because Winter works under General Ironwood's order does not make her some kind of obedient animal!

"My sister is not a dog!" Weiss angrily retorts.

Unfortunately, Raider thought to herself, due to Winter's actions and standing during the current volumes, the evidence says otherwise.

"So they got you too, huh?" Nora speaks, peering out behind Ren.

"Pfft, I wouldn't let myself get caught by them! I'm here because I've been speaking out against Atlas's exploitation of Mantle, and General Ironwood is trying to silence me!"

None of them were buying it. "So, they did get him," Blake deadpanned.

The two militants driving transport slowly looked back as they knew otherwise.

"They're not buying your boloney," Yang says, referring to the two officers up front. "They're probably about to tell us he did something real petty, and the Ace-Ops caught him."

"You threw a brick at our ship," one of them says.

Yep, something stupid.

"It's worth it if it gets people talking about our cause!" The man exclaims. The officer sighs, and Blake asks him to clarify "our cause". "Yes! Our fight for better conditions in Mantle, led by the charismatic, talented, lovely, Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses!"

So that was going to be the role that would play in this volume. Her views and values would be much more different than General Ironwood's; they would clash, and that and the continuing issues with Mantle would set up her storyline for the volume. Sure, later on down the volume, it would get much more specific, but that was merely the broader sense of it.

But in the intro, it showed Robyn glaring at an image of Jacque Schnee, so what would he have to do with any of it? They guessed they would need to pay a lot closer to the smaller details like they had done back with Volume 6. Also, it sounded like this guy has a massage crush on Robyn Hill.

The officer driving pressed a button, and the window divider slowly raised to block them out.

"I would like to do the same, but he's giving us some important information on people we're going to meet later on," Yang said.

"They were all top Atlas Academy graduates who could have signed up for the military, but Robyn and the huntresses chose to stay in Mantle. She's gunning for a seat on the kingdom's Council!"

That would explain the flyers with her face in the intro. It was only a second, but Winter came to a horrifying realization. "Is father planning to run for the seat on the Council?" Everyone's blood ran cold at the mere thought of what would happen if that were true and he won. "You're the one who knows what happens next, is this true?!" Winters shouts with urgency.

"We've tried that many times before, but she won't say a peep. She keeps her mouth shut when it comes to things like spoilers. She doesn't tell us if something does or doesn't happen in the future," Weiss informs her sister. Winter glares, but Raider doesn't back down.

"And when she gets it, she's gonna put an end to Ironwood's tyranny!" The man jumps up and down as the window finally shuts. Oscar is curious about the Happy Huntresses, Yang asks if that's their real name, and Weiss calls his comment about 'tyranny' dramatic.

Seeing how Mantle is being handled at the moment and from what Raider had warned them, that man might not be so dramatic as counterpart Weiss is claiming.

The man turns back to them. "Easy to say for a Schnee Heiress, living comfortably up in Atlas."

Weiss is a little surprised that the news about her heiress title hadn't made it to Mantle. It's been months, and they still see her as the heiress. "Not anymore, for her, at least," Weiss mumbles.

Weiss let out a sigh, whispering that she wasn't anymore. The transport makes up to Atlas, and the scene is breathtaking.

All Weiss's friends marvel at the sight, but Weiss herself doesn't think it's all that great. She sees the entire city as more than cage than actual cell would. Ruby takes hold of Weiss's hand, squeezing it as she knows this isn't a pleasant place for her to come back to.

The group is amazed, and Ruby calls it gorgeous. "Don't let that fool you," Weiss murmured. The man gets up and comments that this wasn't the police station as they begin to land. Qrow remarks that it's Atlas Academy.

They guessed General Ironwood wanted to arrest them himself personally? Or was this a strange escort all along to the General?

The ship lands, and the doors are opened by two guards. Atlas military are on patrol, and stepping in front of them are two guards; one them uses their head to gesture for them to follow. "I guess we will be seeing the General, for better or worse."

They were sure this was going to be a pleasant meeting between them all, no problems whatsoever.

Ren asks what they're going to do as they ride the elevator. Ruby isn't sure, but they should be careful with what they say. Upon hearing this, one of the guards looks over his shoulder.

Ruby got a strong feeling that that one decision was going to tumble down into a series of bad events. A moment where she'd look back and tell herself that she wishes she hadn't done that. It was a good thing they were here to learn from the mistakes they've made so none of the horrible things can be repeated.

Blake leans close and tells Ruby that they'll follow her lead. They made it to their floor, and the guards began to escort them to the General's office when Ironwood himself mumbled about Council members as Penny and Winter followed.

"Penny!"

"Winter!"

Maybe one of the two could possibly get them out of their predicament with just a bit of explanation. Weiss is so happy that she and her sister get to interact again, and she's even more excited that they might finally be able to spend some time together now that they'll be seeing each other more frequently.

Winter is still apprehensive about her sister being in the same room as her counterpart. After that message she sent out to Mantle, she doesn't quite fully trust herself and her sister and her friends are trying to accomplish. Especially more so with Raider's warning and that she is on the same side as him.

Penny gasps upon seeing them. "Yay! You're here!"

They all loved Penny. She wasn't even going to question the fact that they're all in cuffs and being escorted by militants?

General Ironwood turns and looks back at the group from Penny's shout. Weiss steps out from behind Ruby, stunned to meet her sister again. Winter is just as surprised. "Anyone want to give us a hand with these?" Nora asks, raising her wrists and wiggling her fingers to emphasize her point.

"Sorry, my bad," Nora says as the two sisters were clearly having a moment of reuniting after so long. Winter grumbles from the disturbance.

Winter regains her composure. "You have ten seconds to take those off before I start hurting you." The two guards share a quick look before rushing to remove the cuffs, all the while apologizing profusely.

"Your sister can be really scary," Ruby leans over to whisper into Weiss's ear. Winter scoffed, just wait and see what I have in store for Cinder, then you'll be able to call me scary.

General Ironwood invites them into his office and states that it's so good to see all of them.

Before, they would have liked to have shared the sentiment, but once more, Raider's warning about watching General Ironwood and keeping an eye on him has got them all a bit on edge. They supposed they should calm down as he hasn't changed, as far as they know, and that this is only the start. They should give him the slight benefit of the doubt for now until he begins to have them think otherwise.

Yang rubs her wrists, stating their reception didn't really convey that.

They figured they couldn't entirely blame the military. Based on Clover's curiosity of the Lamp, he and the other Ace-Ops must be kept in the dark about its purpose. In addition, they don't know why they are there and just see them as a group trying to sneak their way into the city. Yet another example of knowing both points of view and finding it frustrating on both ends.

General Ironwood sighed, "I sincerely regret how you were treated by my team." Qrow rolled his eyes. "When a rogue ship entered our space, it raised some…red flags. We assumed the ship was stolen." Ironwood sits at his desk while Penny and Winter stand off to the side.

A couple of students laugh nervously, and Winter pinches the bridge of her nose. "About that, funny thing…" Sun trails off, chuckling nervously.

"We promise not to steal an airship!" Ruby shouts, looking back at Winter.

"Don't. I would appreciate it if a personal message of your location is given so a team can arrive to escort you to General Ironwood," Winter says sternly. A loud ding rung throughout the room, and the students looked toward Raider in confusion.

"Oh, just updating your contacts, adding Winter to your lists, no biggie," Raider waves off-handedly. Winter didn't think she'd ever get used to this entity's abilities.

"Stolen?" Ruby laughs nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "Okay, yeah…it was stolen." General Ironwood's eyes widened in surprise, but if one were to look closely, they could see the slight shake of his shoulders.

"You stole an Atlas Airship?" Winter said in disbelief, looking directly at Weiss, who wasn't facing her. "What were you thinking?! You might have been shot down! How unbelievably irresponsible–!" Winter was cut off by Weiss rushing her into a hug.

Winter tensed herself, her fists clenching upon rehearing the same possibilities that went through her own head. Weiss could have been hurt or, worse, killed! Winter wouldn't know what to do if the news of her sister's death was brought to he– Winter froze as two arms wrapped around her. It took a moment for it to register that it was Weiss holding her. Winter, slowly, returned the embrace, glad to feel her sister in her arms.

She couldn't bear the thought of her sister being hurt any more than she's already seen. And while he may not be here, she wishes she could tell her young brother the same thing. Ruby internally gushed at the sister moment between her girlfriend and Winter.

"I'm sorry I worried you, but we did what we had to do," Weiss says. Winter supposes that she understands, then turns to Qrow, not being able to believe that he let them go through with it.

"It was my idea to steal the ship, not Qrow's, so if you're going to blame someone, then blame me!" Jaune said, looking back at Winter with eyes full of apology. "Qrow went along with my idea, don't get mad at him." Winter frowned, getting the urge to punish him, but refrained as he was still his past self and hadn't committed this crime. None of them had.

"You try stopping these kids when they have their minds set on something," Qrow says, pointing his thumb specifically at Ruby. "Speaking of which, we have some important information for you that's…confidential." Penny asks if it's about the Relics, and Winter suggests it's about the Winter Maiden.

The students weren't that surprised by the two's knowledge as they're both close to the General, so they must know a lot more information than the rest. The question they are curious about is how long have they known about the Relics and the Maidens?

Qrow was shocked that they were informed, making Ironwood chuckle. He reaches into his desk and pulls out the Lamp.

So the other Ace-Ops were aware of the Relics. Clover might have been curious earlier as to why they had the Relic. They believed his curiosity came from a place of intrigue on an interesting object. Now they really wanted to know how long they've known about the Relic.

"Did you really think you were the only one who got to work on a new plan after Beacon?" General Ironwood asked. "With Ozpin gone, I needed my own team of people I could trust. So yes, I told them, the Ace-Ops too, which is why I'm so glad you're here with this. Until now, I believed it was impossible to truly turn the tide against Salem. Oz has pushed her back, kept victory out of her claws, but she will keep returning, stronger and stronger."

They've witnessed how much stronger. The quick memories of creating an army of Beringels with wings. Who knows how many more of those she's creating, and of different types of Grimm. They're seeing her become a bigger and bigger threat.

"Unless we destroy her," Ironwood concludes, setting the Relic in front of them.

They tried coming up with ways to do that, but they came up blank for the most part. It's pretty difficult to come up with a permanent solution when your enemy is immortal with only one real way to get rid of her immortality. She has to learn the values of life and death for her to be mortal again, but she's been alive for a long time as she hasn't come any closer to that conclusion, farther really.

Ruby wonders about the Atlas Relic. "You mean the Staff of Creation," Ironwood clarifies. Penny tells them it's safe inside the vault, and Qrow asks about the Winter Maiden. Winter informs she is secure and in stable condition.

The students were shocked that Penny and Winter were involved in the knowledge of Salem. Winter, not so much, as she knew she was going to need to be told at some point in time. Penny…that is a surprise to her.

"What does she mean by stable condition?" Sun asks. What were the implications of that?

"She isn't as young as the other Maidens are," Winter states. All of them let out a noise of understanding.

Yang wants to know what that means, but Qrow cuts her off, telling her she isn't exactly a spring chicken. General Ironwood sighs, "I know how this all looks, recalling my military, the embargo. I probably don't seem like the most trustworthy right now."

Ruby's reaction was obvious. That look seemed to have solidified her resolve to keep things close to her chest. They got that same feeling that this was going to result in a terrible chain of events between all of them. But from their counterparts' point of view, the General was right; he didn't seem that trustworthy to them, and they knew this divide was going to hurt everyone, especially those who had nothing do to with this.

Blake asks why he continues it, and Nora adds that the people of Mantle are hurting. "I needed to ensure Salem couldn't infiltrate Atlas, and I wanted my military here, protecting my people."

A feeling of immense dread crept inside of them. After seeing how Salem is experimenting with her Grimm, would it even matter if their fortifications were set? Salem was going to find one way or another into Atlas, and the fact of Watts and Tyrian didn't help either. Everything was just a giant mess.

It's going to get a whole lot messier, and you think what she did with the beringels is an experiment? Man, are they in for a very rude awakening.

"But it's not protecting them," Yang retorts, "It's making everyone hate you." The General sighs and calls it a price he is willing to pay. Ironwood taps a button on his desk, and shades began to come down on the windows.

"Just as you all have been entrusted with the knowledge of Salem's existence, I need you all to trust me."

This was it; the next words that came out of their mouths were going to seal the fates of not only what will happen in their counterpart's future, but will affect the people of Atlas and Mantle. None of them were going to be prepared to watch any of the outcomes, but they knew they had to suffer through it all the same. Raider's warning kept ringing, but it's because of what they say now might be responsible for the events later. Or would the events they'll see later happen anyway, even if they decided to trust him or not?

"I have a plan." Part of the floor begins to rise, and Ruby, Qrow, and Oscar step off. Ironwood steps out from behind his desk and toward the giant table forming. "Ozpin believed the best way to fight Salem was to do so in secret. Whether that was the right choice or not isn't for me to say, but we find ourselves in a position of needing, well, a new approach."

There was the title of the episode. So, what was this new approach that General Ironwood had in mind, exactly? If he didn't want to fight Salem in secret, then what would be his game plan?

Qrow wants to know what he suggests. Ironwood presses a button that produces a visual structure of his project,

"Isn't that the Amity Colosseum?" Jaune asks.

The visual reminds Jaune of the Amity Colosseum. Oscar asked further as he added where the Vytal Festival was held. "Indeed, when Beacon fell, and everyone on Remnant lost contact with one another, I knew our current system was outdated. Amity was built to bring the nations together, and it will serve that purpose once again."

"I know he's about to explain it, but how would it serve that purpose?" Nora asks. They all thought it would have been overrun by Grimm. How had the world not been aware that Atlas was bringing Amity Colosseum to its kingdom?

A large antenna forms on the top of the colosseum.

"So, they plan to rebuild Amity Colosseum like a giant satellite or a giant tower to connect to the world?" Ruby asks. It would appear that way.

"Isn't it great? We're not just going to replace Beacon Tower; building a new tower on top of Amity Colosseum will reestablish global communications!" Penny exclaims.

"By launching the tower high into the atmosphere, our scientists believe we can create a sort of…satellite. Out of reach from the Grimm and capable of maintaining global communications even if we were able to lose another tower," Winter further explains.

This seems like a great idea! Essentially, this creates a safe backup tower if another one is destroyed or fails. Also, with this tower, they will easily be able to communicate to the world of the threat of Salem so they will all be able to prepare themselves for the inevitable war.

But as things go, they know something is going to go terribly wrong, which makes everything go downhill. The idea sounds good in retrospect, but they're just a little apprehensive of it all.

Ruby appears even more suspicious as she agrees that this is great. Qrow tells Ironwood that he doesn't need the entire military for this. "I will for the next part, where I finally tell the people about Salem."

She can't be kept a secret forever. She's a force that will show herself no matter what, and they can either have the people be ready or leave them vulnerable and at the mercy of a powerful enemy that could kill an entire nation by herself. The people have a right to know who she is.

The room went dead silent. Qrow laughs, but there's no humor. "So that's why you withdrew your troops to handle the panic that would break out in Atlas."

"Yes, panic is inevitable, and panic brings Grimm, but I believe we are ready," the General states firmly.

He hasn't seen what the rest of them have seen. If he thinks he's ready, they to be the bearer of bad news, but he is poorly mistaken.

"Once Atlas has come to grips with the fight ahead, I'll use Amity Tower to spread the message to allofRemnant." Weiss jumps in and says that everything will fall apart and Grimm would be everywhere.

They hated to admit it, but everything was going to fall apart one way or another; nothing was going to stop that with a force like Salem on the way.

"You're right, but Atlas is willing and prepared to assist," Winter agrees.

"Trying to hide the truth from the world will eventually kill us all," the General adds.

The whole world was going to end up in shambles and disarray one way or another, it would only make it worse by keeping the knowledge of Salem a secret. They were hesitant before because of all the distress, but learning about a threat like Salem would cause that reaction no matter what. The General is right that it would be best to come forward sooner rather than later.

The people of Remnant deserve to know the truth and what's coming.

Ironwood turns off the visual of Amity Colosseum, and light is brought back into the office. "Ozpin, his whole life, many lives, keeping this secret," Qrow says. The General is aware, but since Beacon, things have changed.

"Without him here to guide us, all I can do is use my best judgment." Ironwood turns around when he's met with silence.

"Yeah, Ozpin has, um, reincarnated, and our souls are sharing the same body," Oscar explains to the screen as if the General would be able to hear him. "But he's not really present at the moment. The last he has made himself known was to help me steer the crashing airship."

Ironwood is curious about the silence, so Oscar steps up and tells him that Oz isn't completely gone. "Uh, Oscar here is…is the next Ozpin." The General is so relieved to hear this and is about to talk to him like he's there, even kneeling down, but Oscar stops him.

"Not quite, he's kinda, um, gone at the moment," Oscar explains. Ironwood shakes his head, muttering that that's not normal.

As much as the students were still a bit wary of Ozpin, that led them to worry. They've only known the experience from Oscar and with him, and also from the small moments of his previous reincarnations, but they haven't seen enough of them to gauge if it was reoccurring.

The General is about to ask how when Ruby interrupts him. "We don't know."

None of them liked this. Plus, everything was silent, and when Ruby spoke, only the sound of strings began to hum in the background. Ruby felt a sickening sensation in her stomach, she was doing the same thing Ozpin had done to them. Though it was obvious that things were turning to a rough patch, he still deserved enough to know the truth of everything he was up against.

The only reason they know is because they had used Jinn. All of them knew this was just going to lead to further tensions between them and the General. A sudden rush of guilt flooded through Ruby. Are all the events following this meeting…because of…me? Am I the catalyst that will cause the downfall of Atlas? Mantle? All of Remnant?! Because I won't tell General Ironwood the truth?! Ruby tried to remain calm, but the thoughts only continued to get worse and worse. "Hey, Ruby, are you okay?" The voice of her sister seemed to drag her out of her head. She looked at her with worry; all of them did. Raider's expression hardened. She knew this was going to happen and dreaded the moment it would all begin.

"Your breathing was starting to get heavy. It still is." Weiss softly took her hand, rubbing her thumb against the skin, and gave a gentle squeeze. Ruby didn't say a word as she stared into Weiss's eyes. Yang took Ruby's other hand, and Ruby felt her breathing slow down. Ruby's friends grew increasingly troubled. Ruby was about to have another episode, and they were all deeply concerned. They sincerely hope this wouldn't continue to become a regular thing.

"We were…in a train crash, and ever since…well, suddenly Oz wasn't there anymore." While General Ironwood was looking at Ruby, Oscar gained a look of understanding that they weren't going to tell him.

Everyone's expressions began to harden as everything was going to be kept a secret from the General. Ruby felt that gnawing feeling and hoped it would go away at some point.

The General sighs and calls it the worst news yet. He asks if they learned anything from him about the Relics before he disappeared. "He told us the Lamp can answer three questions, but all the questions were used up already." Blake and Yang sent each other a look before focusing back on Ruby.

This was it, they were really going to keep everything from him. Ruby chewed her lip, wondering if it was really a good idea to not tell the General.

"Right, right," Ironwood began to make his toward his window and looked down at the city. "Ozpin told us that too, once upon a time. At least we have you here, Oscar; you're safe here in Atlas. Maybe together we can figure out a way to bring Ozpin back." Oscar thanks him but doesn't know what to address him as.

Oscar was sure both would work, but it would be best to stick to General. Oscar didn't want to say the wrong thing or upset him in any way.

General Ironwood took the Lamp and presented it to Ruby, who was confused. "After what happened with the Ace-Ops, I don't want you to think I'm keeping anything from you. Especially something as important as this."

Everyone frowned, gaining a gut-wrenching feeling. After blatantly lying to his face, twice, and he tells them that? This was going to lead to so many problems in their future, just a disaster waiting to happen.

"For the time being, I think it's safest with the people who brought it here." Ruby took back the Lamp and thanked him. Oscar holds a look of displeasure.

Ruby doesn't exactly like what she's done either.

"We must work together if we are to fight Salem and win. Now, if you're all on board?" Ruby is quiet for a moment, and Ruby asks how they can help. "Good, because getting Amity Tower ready to launch won't be easy. But first, I think we need to get those weapons of yours up to our stands." A video plays of Blake pulling out a broken Gambol Shroud. Blake nervously laughs.

Nora gasps in excitement. "Weapon upgrades?!"

"We're going to advance our weapons!" Yang shouts enthusiastically.

Blake copies her counterpart, looking away from the screen.

"Remember, this is Atlas. While assisting the military, we will provide you with the best equipment our scientists can devise." After the group hears this from Winter, they are all more than pumped.

For them, it was surely going to be an interesting adjustment. First-year students working with the military in Atlas? They were sure in for an experience.

The group steps out of Ironwood's office as Marrow is telling the times he's gotten banned with his team. "Alright, cut the chatter," Clover interjects. "I would like to sincerely apologize for the miscommunication down in Mantle."

It's a situation where the Ace-Ops were only doing their jobs, but they appreciate the apology. The students were intrigued with how the story between them and the Ace-Ops would progress. It would be great if they could remain on the same side with no hostility.

Clover is about to continue when Elm pushes him out of the way and heavily apologizes, all while lifting Ruby off the ground by her hand and shaking her.

Ruby could already feel the dizziness, and she wasn't even the one being shaken. All her friends wince with empathy.

Ruby's vision tries to refocus as she stands and tells Elm she understands and they were just following orders. "I mean, you could have asked us some questions first." Ruby is rapidly spun by two of Weiss's fingers before she stops her.

"Weiss…" Ruby whined. "Not you, too!"

Marrows joins and states that questions are for the weak, but they're all on the same team. Though, not that he's happy about it. His tail says otherwise as it wags. Harriet snickers after Marrow stops it.

Blake and Sun couldn't help their own chuckles. He can say all he wants, but their Faunus traits speak for them.

"We just wanted to say we're sorry, and we're looking forward to working with you on our next mission," Clover states.

On their next mission?! An Ace-Ops mission?! They were worried they would be underprepared. When is it?

"You might be students, but you've been fighting just as hard as we have, if not harder."

"Exactly when I'm looking forward to seeing what you kids can do," Harriet adds, and Vine sighs, telling her that not everything was a competition.

"Speak for yourself! I'm down to challenge her!" Nora exclaims.

Penny swiftly appeared in front of them and would be the one to show them around campus.

"This going to a prolonged tour, isn't it?" Jaune asks.

"Yep," all of them agree.

"But, at least we're getting to spend more time with Penny," Weiss joins.

"Yep."

Well, this is something they'd all happily endure.

Qrow goes to follow the others when Ironwood stops him, making his way towards him. Ironwood meant what he said about it being good to see Qrow again. Qrow doesn't know what to say, but he holds the sentiment. James brings Qrow into a hug, and the man freezes, then rolls his eyes and pats his back.

Ruby and Yang both decided that the next time they saw their uncle, they were going to give him the biggest and strongest hug. Out of missing him and they felt like whatever happen,s the hug would be much needed for the both of them.

Teams RWBY and JNOR are guided by Penny as she shows them the cafeteria, the training room, and the classrooms. With each room they pass, they get more and more tired.

"Could she show us where the dorms are? Specifically the beds? I'd be real interested to visit those for the next 8 or 9 hours," Yang says. Her counterpart looks ready to fall on the floor. They love Penny, and they love that they're getting to spend so much more time with her, but they could all seriously use the rest.

"I'm already asleep," Nora says as her counterpart is leaning on Ren's shoulder with her eyes closed.

"Speaking of rest…" Ruby trails.

"Yes, you can all rest once this episode is over," Raider nods.

Ruby yawns. "This all looks great, Penny, but where are we staying?"

"Remember, you're in Atlas now. As the most funded school on Remnant, every team at Atlas Academy gets their own room. As if that wasn't enough–"

"So we're staying in the dorms," Ren tiredly states.

"It'll be just like Beacon again!" Penny shouts excitedly. Nora slides down Ren's arm, fully spent.

"I think it's really time they all get some sleep; it's been a looooong day," Yang says as she stretches.

It's rainy down in Mantle as people traverse the streets. Both Winter and Ironwood's message repeats.

"They hear that same message all day?" Blake whispers. That message being repeated…it's like the people of Mantle are being constantly threatened of what would happen if they stepped out of line, even just a little bit. Winter frowned as dread and disappointment washed over her, hearing her counterpart's "reminder".

Watts walked with a briefcase in hand.

Everyone was immediately on edge at the sight of him. All the worry from what he and Tyrian would be up to in the next coming volumes came over them. Winter straightened, on high alert as Raider's warning ran through her head, and Raider couldn't help but frown. She'd only told the group, specifically Winter, to watch for Tyrian, Watts, and Ironwood. She didn't want her words to completely alter their thinking with suspicion and paranoia; that's exactly what happened to Ironwood.

"For the last time, a singular hideout makes us more susceptible to discovery," Watts says to Tyrian. Tyrian retorts about if they're seen or recognized. "We stay mobile."

"Walking around this city with a thousand eyes. " Watts walks in the middle of traffic, and cars honk, rapidly coming to a halt so they don't hit him.

All of them were given a rapid thought on if someone had actually hitten him. How would that affect things?

Watts sighs, "Though cybersecurity has been stepped up in Atlas, as usual, none of the code has been updated in Mantle."

They're using Atlas's negligence of Mantle to stay hidden. Winter's eyes narrowed; Winter was going to have a serious discussion with the General about the treatment of Mantle.

Watts walks across a street, and a car smashes into a barrier that rises from the ground. Two people rush to help the person in the car as Tyrian chuckles, calling that information useful. Watts laughs, "It should be," he clicks a button, and the cameras shut off. "I helped write that code after all."

Everything just seems to keep slowly falling into Salem's hands more and more. They hoped it wouldn't come to the point where they couldn't stop it.

A scream comes from inside a building, and Tyrian steps out with a smile. "I suppose we all have our talents." He walks down the alleyway, his mechanical tail wrapping around him as something comes out from under the door. From the camera above, it's a flowing puddle of blood.

The students gasped at how awful the episode ended, and this was where they were going to take a break? None of them think they'll be able to go to sleep. All of them felt so tense after knowing that Tyrian and Watts were hiding in Mantle and using the poor condition of the city against them. Winter's fists clenched in anger.

The students slowly make their way to their dorms, but Winter wishes to speak with Raider for a moment. When all the doors have been shut, and Winter is sure the two won't be disturbed, she asks about her curiosity. "You advised me to keep an eye on General Ironwood, Tyrian, and Watts." Raider nodded but stayed quiet as Winter continued, "Why wouldn't my father be included in the group? He wants to run for the seat on the Council, but you don't tell me to worry about him."

Raider, outwardly, doesn't show any reactions that Winter can use. She's a smart and perceptive woman, and Raider doesn't want to give anything away. On the inside though… oh, that? It's because he gets murdered in an Atlesian jail cell by General Ironwood himself, and he would no longer become an issue.

"That isn't something I can give you," Raider replies and leaves at that. Raider goes back to the theater room while Winter scowls but retreats to her room.