Ruby And you gazes out the window of the police airship as it flies over Mantle, then turns and looks at her friends. Nora chews at the bolas restraining her wrists, while everyone else sits silently, the only sounds being Nora's growling and the muffled chattering of the guards piloting the ship.

Ruby: Where do you think they're taking us?

Quill: I'm gonna go with jail.

You: probably interrogation.

June: I still can't believe that fishing pole girl took us out like it was nothing.

Weiss Schnee: Welcome to Atlas. Those were Ironwood's Ace Operatives.

An unfamiliar man sitting with the group finally speaks up. The man had a beard, pony tailed hair and Winter coat

Forest: Hmm? You guys had a run-in with the Ace-Ops? Ironwood must really have a bone to pick with you.

Weiss: (rolling her eyes) They're not that big of a deal.

Forest: Not that big of a deal!? The Ace-Ops are the elite-of-elite military Huntsmen and Ironwood's personal attack dogs.

Nora: So they got you too, huh?

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

Pilot: You threw a brick at her ship!

Forest: (proudly) It's worth it if it gets people talking about our cause!

The pilot sighs in annoyance.

You: "cause"?

Forest: Yes, the fight for better conditions in Mantle! Lead by the charismatic, talented, lovely Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses!

The main pilot presses a button, causing the window between the cab and the back of the ship to begin slowly closing. Forest notices this, stands up and begins frantically shouting to the window so the guards can hear him.

Forest: They were all top Atlas Academy graduates, who could've 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, and when she gets it, she's gonna put an end to Ironwood's tyranny!

Octavia: Happy... Huntresses?

Yang: Is that their real name?

Pyrrha: doesn't sounds all that threatening.

Weiss: Don't you think "tyranny's" a little dramatic?

Forest turns around to respond and looks surprised upon realizing who had just spoken.

Forest: Easy to say for a Schnee heiress, living comfortably up in Atlas.

Weiss: (sighing sadly) Not anymore.

The airship finally makes it up to the City of Atlas, and Ruby looks out at the city in awe, while Nora is once again chewing her restraints.

You: Nora quit it.

Nora: but I need to get them off

Pyrrha: they'll probably take it of once we reach a cell.

Ruby: Whoa, it's gorgeous up here!

Ruby's comment causes June, Pyrrha and Nora to leave their seats and look out the window with her.

Weiss: Don't let that fool you.

Forest: (looking at Weiss) Hm?

Forest stands from his seat and looks outside and realized something.

Forest: This isn't the police station.

Quill: It's... Atlas Academy.

The ship docks on a landing pad in front of Atlas Academy and is met by a pair of guards, who open the ship's rear double doors to let Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, you and Quill exit. Ruby gazes up at the towering academy while more guards line up along the path leading to the building.

Ruby: I guess we will be seeing the General. For better or worse.

You: I hope better.

The group heads up to the school while Forest watches in confusion and curiosity from the airship.

Rin: So, what do we do?

The group finds themselves riding a rising elevator inside the academy with their wrists still restrained, accompanied by guards.

Ruby: I don't know yet. But we should be careful with what we say.

One of the guards looks over his shoulder at them.

Blake: (quietly) We'll follow your lead, Ruby.

you: (quietly) we'll always follow you

Ruby smiles and blushes but then starts to look worried again. The elevator beeps as it arrives at its destination, and the guards escort the group out into a hallway and down a flight of stairs. They arrive in a room just as Ironwood walks through, speaking to someone else.

Ironwood: I swear if I have to sit through one more council meeting like that...

She turns toward a small flight of staistairs her way to her office, accompanied by Winter Schnee and Penny Polendina. The latter notices the group and stops with a gasp.

Penny: Yay, you're here!

Her celebratory greeting catches Ironwood and Winter's attention, causing them to stop and look. Weiss steps out from behind Ruby and approaches them.

Weiss: Winter.

Winter gasps lightly in surprise, and the sisters' reunion is quickly interrupted by Nora leaning in and holding up her bound wrists, grinning and waving her fingers.

Nora: Anyone wanna give us a hand with these?

Winter takes a moment to collect herself, returning to her usual stern demeanor and addressing the guards.

Winter: You have ten seconds to take those off before I start hurting you.

Guards: (looking at each other in confusion) Huh?

Finally understanding the situation, the guards frantically begin removing the bolases from everyone's arms, while Ironwood watches with a smile.

Guard 1: Sorry!

Guard 2: Please, let us help you!

Guard 1: Forgive us!

The bolases fall to the floor, giving off a purple glow and retracting the ropes before emitting a beep noise. You feel your wrists a little

Ironwood: Please, come in.

The group follows Ironwood, Winter and Penny into her office.

Ironwood: It is so good to see all of you.

Yang: (massaging her wrist) Our reception didn't really convey that.

Ironwood: (sighs) I sincerely regret how you were treated by my team.

Qrow rolls his eyes with a small huff. Ironwood walks behind his desk to sit down, and Penny and Winter take positions standing at either side of the desk.

Ironwood: When a rogue airship entered our airspace, it raised some... red flags. We assumed the ship was stolen.

Ruby: Stolen?

Ruby laughs awkwardly, before taking an apologetic tone you look yo her and spoke.

You: well in honesty, it was stolen.

Ironwood's eyes widen in surprise. He then smiles, and his shoulders move a tiny bit with a silent chuckle. Winter, meanwhile, finds no humor in the situation and begins scolding Weiss.

Winter: You stole an Atlas airship?

Weiss watches with a frown as Winter approaches her.

Winter: What were you thinking!? You might've been shot down! How unbelievably irresponsib--

Weiss surprises and interrupts Winter by hugging her.

Weiss: I'm sorry I worried you. But we did what we had to do.

Winter: I...

Winter sighs and hugs back, calming down.

Winter: I suppose I understand.

She then turns her head to glare at Quill.

Winter: But I cannot believe that you allowed this to happen, Quill.

Quill: You try stopping these kids when they have their mind set on something. Speaking of which... (looking at Ironwood) We have some important information for you that's... confidential.

Winter returns to her position beside Ironwood's desk.

Penny: (moving beside Ironwood) Oh, is it about the Relics?

Winter: (moving to Ironwood's other side) Or perhaps the Winter Maiden?

Quill: (surprised) You told them?

Ironwood: Hm.

Ironwood stands from her desk and retrieves the Relic of Knowledge from a drawer, making it grow to its normal size as she holds it up.

Ironwood: Did you really think you were the only one who got to work on a new plan after Beacon? WIth Ozpina 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. (gesturing to the Relic) Until now, I believed it was impossible to truly turn the tide against Salem. Oz has pushed her back, has kept victory out of her claws, but she will keep returning stronger and stronger... unless we destroy her.

You look away little thinking of something about "destroying her". She places the Relic atop her desk, while Ruby looks deep in thought.

Ruby: But... what about the Atlas Relic?

Ironwood: You mean the Staff of Creation?

Penny: It's safe inside the Vault!

Quill: And the Winter Maiden?

Winter: She is secure and in stable condition.

Yang: Stable condition? What does that--

Quill: She's, uh, not exactly a spring chicken.

Ironwood: I know how this all looks. Recalling my military? The embargo? I probably don't seem the most trustworthy right now.

Pyrrha: Then why continue it?

Nora: The people of Mantle are hurting!

You: and really not a good look to Atlas.

Ironwood: I needed to ensure Salem couldn't infiltrate Atlas. And I wanted my military here, protecting my people.

Yang: But it's not protecting them! It's making everyone hate you.

Ironwood: It's a price I'm willing to pay.

Ironwood reaches over to a glowing panel of buttons on her desk and taps a button that resembles a table emitting light from its surface.

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

Shutters come down outside the windows, darkening the room. A circle in the center of the floor bearing Atlas' emblem begins to rise up, prompting Ruby and Octavia to step off of it. As Ironwood talks and makes her way over to it, the circle continues to rise and transforms into a table.

Ironwood: Ozpina 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.

Quill: And what do you suggest?

Ironwood brings out a tiny remote and presses a button, activating a hologram display of Amity Colosseum, which hovers above the table.

June: That's... Amity Colosseum.

Octavia: Where the Vytal Festival is held?

Ironwood: 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.

She presses the button again, and the hologram Amity Colosseum gains an antenna atop it. Ruby and her friends stare at the hologram and look at each other.

Penny: Isn't it great? We're not going to just replace Beacon Tower. Building a new tower on top of Amity Colosseum will re-establish global communications!

you: your attempting to turn it into a satellite 

Everyone looks to you in slight confusion not understanding that earth accomplished space travel.

You: its an earth thing

Winter: By launching the tower high into the atmosphere, our scientists believe we can create a sort of... satellite as you put it, out of reach of the Grimm and capable of maintaining global communications even if we were to lose another tower.

Ruby: That is great.

Quill: Jenny... you don't need the entire military for this.

Ironwood: I will for the next part, where I finally tell the people about Salem.

Quill: Huh, so that's why you withdrew your troops, to handle the panic that would break out in Atlas.

Ironwood: Yes, panic is inevitable, and panic brings Grimm. But I believe we are ready. Once Atlas has come to grips with the fight ahead, I'll use Amity Tower to spread the message to all of Remnant.

Weiss: But everything will fall apart. Grimm will be everywhere!

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

Ironwood: Trying to hide the truth from the world will eventually kill us all.

Ironwood presses a button on her remote, and the hologram disappears, the table transforms and recedes into the floor and the shutters pull away from the windows.

Quill: Oz spent her whole life, many lives, keeping this secret.

Pyrrha: by telling people you'll be putting them in danger.

Ironwood: I know. But since Beacon, things have changed.

Ironwood begins heading back to her desk and you look to the relic as it shine and you could've sworn you saw Jinn who winks.

Ironwood: Without her here to guide us, all I can do is use my best judgment.

Behind her, Octavia shifts uncomfortably. As if sensing something, Ironwood stops and looks back.

Ironwood: What is it?

Octavia: Actually, Oz isn't completely gone.

You: Uh, Jen, I'd like you to meet Octavia... she the next Ozpina.

Ironwood: Oz?

Smiling, Ironwood quickly and eagerly approaches Octavia, who looks nervous.

Ironwood: I'm so glad you're here. I didn't think you--

Octavia puts her hands up and interrupts Ironwood, as the latter crouches to her level.

Octavia: Not quite. She's kind of, um, gone... at the moment.

Ironwood's smile fades, and lowers her head a little in confusion.

Ironwood: That's not normal. (looking back up) How did she--

You: We don't know exactly.

Ironwood, Quill and Octavia look at you.

You: We were in a train crash, then we had the talk about salem, then we yelled at her and Oz retreated in Octavia's mind

Ironwood: That's the worst news yet. (rising to her feet) Did you learn anything from her about the Relics before...?

Ruby: she told us the lamp can answer three questions. But all the questions were used up already.

Blake, you and Yang shared a look to each other.

Ironwood: Right, right.

Ironwood walks back behind her desk and stares out the window.

Ironwood: Ozpina told us that too, once upon a time. (turning to face them) At least we have you, Octavia. You're safe here in Atlas. Maybe together we can figure out how to bring Ozpina back.

Octavia: (grinning) Thank you, sir. (stands at attention) I mean, uh, general. Uh, Ironwood? (smiling awkwardly)

Ironwood picks up the Relic of Knowledge, walks over to you and offers it to you.

You: You're giving it back to me?

Ironwood: 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. For the time being, I think it's safest with the people who brought it here.

She places the relic in your hands.

You: thank you, Jen.

You shrink the Relic and hooks it onto your belt, exchanging a look with Octavia and gave a wink.

Ironwood: We must work together if we're to fight Salem and win. Now, if you're all on board...

You think it over for a few seconds, then looks at Ironwood.

You: Tell us how we can help.

Ironwood: Good, because getting the Amity Tower ready to launch won't be easy. (walking back to desk) But first, I think we need to get those weapons of yours up to our standards.

A hologram screen appears, showing footage of Blake drawing her broken katana before their fight against the Sabyrs in Mantle. Blake reacts with embarrassment.

Winter: Remember, this is Atlas. While assisting the military, we will provide you with the best equipment our scientists can devise.

Nora: Ooh!

Rin: Really?

Yang: (fist in the air) Yeah!

Weiss: come on let's go team.

The team go to the doors of Ironwood's office.

You: before anyone goes.

Everyone stops and looks to you now holding a brief case in hand.

Ironwood: where did you get that.

You place it on a table and clip the locks and place your thump on the lid, scans then opens up revealing twenty-five separate cards in a line.

You: while I was cloned from the rest of you all, my clones been working on something in an old Atlesian bunker,  still there.

You pick up a random card and placed it on the table. You pressed the center and a hologram appears of a small robot with a shield on one arm and artillery cannons on the other arm.

Everyone gathers around as you placed a finger and moved it like a joystick and the robot moved to one side of the desk

You: I call them the mechas. before I was transported here, months ago. I was a science student, robotics and had a bit of help with my powers. Functioning armour, acts like a paladins but more personality.

Ironwood: impressive.

She then noticed the other twenty-four cards.

You: they're all different each one perfect for different terrain and battle. This one is called northern knight, modeled it after Nicholas and Atlas forces

You pressed something on the card and the mecha smashes both cannon and sheild together and an energy sheild forms infront.

It fires a few shots of holo bullets hitting Winter in the stomach and exploding though not doing anything since it was a hologram.

Winter then gives you a look, you then chuckle sheepishly before turn the card off and put it back in the case. You then turn to the rest of the team.

You: I modeled some of these after you, hoping to give you these as an extra punch to the grimm. They could even remote controlled.

Ironwood: how big are these things.

You: um. A roughly a paladins hight.

Ironwood pats you on the shoulder.

Ironwood: you might wanna go to Pietro for this one, he's more on the robotics. But what we'll see if we can implement them into plans from grimm attacks.

You take the case and bowed a little before walking with the team. Ironwood's smiles a little but fulters just a little.

(Later)

Upon exiting Ironwood's office, the group encounters the Ace-Ops once more.

Marrow Amin: So, that was the second time I got banned. Then there was the third time when--

Clover: Alright, cut the chatter.

You look around the room noticing a bulletin board. Administration restroom due to flooding. Upcoming monthly all hands meeting where they will honour penny good for her. Ironwood holds open office hours once a month and to reach Stephanie Santiago to schedule a fifteen minute slot with her. Another was about the election of Robyn Hills vs Jacque Schnee

You and your friends walk down the stairs, the Ace-Ops approach them. You get a good look at the team leader Clover. They're was a short girl, almost Ruby's height 

Dark-skinned, platinum blonde and brown hair shaved on the sides and dark pink eyes. She wearing a very short-sleeved Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a sleeveless white double-breasted vest with silver buttons and dark blue accents. It has a white and dark blue-collar, a dark blue short-sleeved t-shirt, a red tie and white shorts. She wears dark blue chaps that presumably connect to the tops of her shorts. The chaps expose the inner part of the thighs and the backs of her calves. She also wears blue fingerless gloves and dark gray trainers with black accents and a white stripe accompanied with red socks. She also has white calf pads and dark blue knee pads as well. There are also dark blue straps fastened around the top of her vest. The blond portions of her hair are styled in a way that resembles a rabbit's ears.

The next was a young female Faunus with long greenish-black hair tied in a bun and blue eyes. Her trait is a dark gray canine tail.

She wears an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a white double-breasted coat with silver buttons, dark blue accents, collar, shoulder flaps with matching cuffs that have two silver buttons. The coat's tail splits, allowing her tail to move freely. She has a dark blue belt with a silver buckle around the waist with a dark blue pouch on the right side. She has a red ascot tied around the neck, wears a red shirt under the coat. She wears dark blue trousers tucked into the black knee-high boots.

The next was a tall girl with short comed gray hair, deathly pale skin and light blue eyes, has a visible tattoo, third eye tattoo along the center of the forehead and chin. Wearing an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consisted of a white double-breasted, partially unbuttoned coat with a broad tail, navy blue accents, collar and shoulder flaps, a red sash running diagonally over her left shoulder meeting a second red sash around her waist under a large blue belt, and navy blue fingerless gloves that go up to the brachium. She wore navy blue pants tucked into a pair of navy blue thigh-high boots with steel toe and heel plating, a small pouch on the sides and kneepad detailing, wearing beaded necklaces around her neck and beaded bracelets around the right arm alongside two silver bands, one small, one large on her left forearm.

The last member was tall young muscular woman with medium brown hair in a short ponytail, light brown skin, and brown eyes, wears an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of an open white, one-sleeved crop jacket with dark blue accents, shoulder flaps and collar and a dark gray armor shirt. She has silver vambraces over her forearms. On her back, she has a magnet used to carry her weapon.

She has a red belt around her white pants and goes barefoot save for some martial arts footwraps alongside dark blue calf plates that cover the tops of her feet, the plates have three red straps tied around them; the soles of her feet are appropriately dirty as a result. She also has a silver hoop earring on her right ear.

Clover comes over and shakes your hand

Clover: I'd like to sincerely apologize for the miscommunication down in Mantle. We didn't intend to--

Suddenly, Elm Ederne pushes her way past Clover and Marrow and begins frantically shaking your hand, accidentally flailing her about in the air.

Elm: I feel so bad, honestly! If we had known who you were, we'd be laughing over a hot meal right now and--

Partway through her second sentence, Elm drops the now dazed you on the floor.

You: I understand. You were just following orders.

You gets to her feet, groaning, only to be spun around by Weiss.

Weiss: I mean, you could have asked us some questions first.

Marrow: Questions are for the weak. But we're all on the same team now. Not that I'm happy about it.

Marrow crosses her arms and soon realizes that her tail is wagging. She reaches back and grabs it, much to Harriet's amusement.

Clover: We just wanted to say we're sorry. And that we're looking forward to working with you on our next mission. You might be students, but you've been fighting just as hard as we have, if not harder.

Harriet: Exactly why I'm looking forward to seeing what you kids can do.

Vine Zeki: Not everything's a competition, Hare.

Penny enters the room and slides in front of Ruby, throwing her hands up in excitement.

Penny: C'mon! Let me show you around campus.

She enthusiastically marches away, with Ruby and friends following her. Ironwood exits her office just as Quill begins to walk away from the stairs in front of the office.

Ironwood: Quill.

Quill stops and turns around, and Ironwood descends the stairs and approaches her.

Ironwood: I meant it when I said it was good to see you again.

Qrow: (awkwardly) Uh, yeah, you too.

Ironwood steps forward and hugs Quill, who looks confused at first but then hugs back with a smile and an eye roll. Elsewhere in the school, Penny leads Team RWBY, Team JNPR and Octavia through various hallways, while the group becomes more and more tired as the tour goes on.

Penny: So that way's the cafeteria, and that way is the training rooms. Oh, and over there are the classrooms!

Ruby stretches, yawning loudly. The group comes to a stop, with everyone looking exhausted. Nora leans against Rin, asleep on her feet.

Ruby: This all looks great, Penny. But where are we staying?

Penny: Remember, you're in Atlas now. As the most well-funded school on Remnant, every teen at Atlas Academy gets their own room! And if that wasn't enough--

RIn: So we're staying in the dorms?

Penny: (with an excited dance and hop) It'll be just like Beacon again!

Nora collapses but you catch her by the back of her uniform who snores a little.

(Meanwhile)

Down in Mantle, it has begun raining. Ironwood and Winter's broadcast videos continue to play on screens around the city.

Ironwood: The Kingdom of Atlas will remain strong, and it will remain safe. That is my promise.

Carrying a bag and an umbrella, with a set of new rings on his fingers, Arthur Watts walks along a sidewalk while talking to Tyrian Callows through a communication device that is placed in his ear.

Watts: For the last time, a singular hideout makes us susceptible to discovery.

Watts hacks the traffic post across the street to change it to allow pedestrians to cross as he walks across the street.

Tyrian: But what if we're seen? What if we're recognized?

Watts: We stay mobile.

The sound of multiple stabbings can be heard over the communication device.

Tyrian: We're walking around a city with a thousand eyes.

Watts changes another traffic signal and crosses the street without pause, causing cars to come screeching to a halt.

Watts: (sighs) While cybersecurity has been stepped up in Atlas, as usual, none of the code was updated in Mantle.

He walks across another street, hacking another system to make a blockade of posts rise up from the road, which a car crashes into as it swerves to go around him.

Woman: Oh no! Gosh! (running to check on the driver) Are you okay!?

Tyrian: (chuckling) That certainly sounds useful.

Watts: It should be.

Watts pauses and presses his thumb to one of his rings, which glows cyan. All nearby security cameras power down.

Watts: I helped write that code, after all.

Muffled screaming is heard from inside a building, while the camera next to its door powers down. The door opens, and Tyrian steps out, shutting the door behind him with a happy sigh.

Tyrian: Well, I suppose we all have our talents.

Tyrian walks away down an alley, while a pool of blood flows out from under the door, he then wra. The blood slowly makes its way into the view of the hacked security camera.

(Meanwhile)

You were wondering through the Atlas Academy and you bumped into someone when rounding the corner.

A: oh sorry

You look to see an all too  familiar person.

You: Amber?!

Amber: Y/N!?

You: your in Atlas.

Amber: yeah, you too.

You get back up and grabbed her hand getting her back as well.

You: I'm glad you made it here.

Amber: after the fall Jenny was kind enough to bring me here. How's Pyrrha

You: she's doing good, we even found your other half, Cinder Fall.

Amber then get displeased

Amber: the bitch that stole half of the maiden

You: yes but she's changed.

Amber: is she here

You: no, no she's not so far she's on her way here hoping to surrender.

You then continued to walk with Amber following by your side.

Amber: and Oz.

You: Oz is now Octavia you'll meet her later.

P: y/n?

You look up ahead to see Pyrrha who gasps when seeing Amber.

Amber: Pyrrha, the kid who would replace me.

Pyrrha: hello

Pyrrha stretched out a hand and the two shook hands.