After Ironwood got Ryder and Kairos briefed on his plan to use Amity Colosseum as a new CCT to reestablish global communications, the two got their own dorm room within Atlas Academy. After that, Ryder and Kairos did their part in helping Atlas and Mantle City. During this time, Ryder met the newly upgraded Penny Polendina. It turns out, Penny was rebuilt by her father Pietro once her core returned to Atlas. Ryder also decided to upgrade his gauntlets and boots to be more effective, or Atlas standard according to Ironwood. His new upgrades include a grappling hook and reinforced armor for added defense. Nothing flashy. But after he received his upgrades, Ryder and his teammate were sent down to Mantle to help keep the peace. Boy oh boy were they effective.
Right now, Ryder is with Kairos standing on top of a roof in Atlas. Both Ryder's and Kairos' outfits were different. Ryder now wore a hooded orange leather jacket with jet black accents and designs on it. He now also wore jet black tactical pants with a belt filled with pouches for additional Dust cartridges. Kairos returned to wearing a black trench coat, but it was more futuristic, and he wore futuristic purple armor on his arms and chest. Kairos also had black leather gloves alongside black tactical pants and boots. His trench coat had a turtleneck that hugged Kairos's neck comfortably. The two of them had finished a patrol and delt with some criminals so now they were waiting for the next events.
It would come as Ryder's earpiece crackled to life. Both he and Kairos now had earpieces curtesy of the Atlas Military.
"Team RK, it's Ironwood." Ironwood said from the earpiece.
Ryder pressed his finger onto the earpiece to respond.
"Ryder here, what is it General?" Ryder asked.
"An Airship landed in Mantle, and it didn't respond to any communications. I've already dispatched the Ace Ops, but I need you ahead of them to make sure it isn't Salem." Ironwood explained over the earpiece.
"We'll get to it, James." Ryder said.
With that, Ryder moved his finger away from the earpiece and looked at Kairos.
"Got all that?" Ryder asked.
"Sure did." Kairos confirmed. "Let's go."
Both of them rocket into the sky using their own methods for flight. They make their way to Mantle from Atlas and along the way the hear the Grimm attack alarms going off. But before they arrived, they heard the alarms stop meaning it was solved. But they still approach the area just in case. When they arrive, they watch as Penny flew away, but they also see the group on the street below. Both Ryder and Kairos drop from the sky and land in front of the group causing them to turn to the two. Thinking it was more Grimm, the group had their weapons ready, but they lowered them when they saw Ryder and Kairos.
"Ryder, Kairos!" Ruby called out, happy to see them.
"Glad you guys made it, but uh, why are you in Mantle?" Ryder asked, getting straight to the point.
"Have you seen how Atlas is right now?" Blake asked.
"Yes. We have." Kairos replied dryly.
"Love the new looks you two." Yang compliments.
"Figured it was time for an outfit change." Ryder said in response to Yang's compliment.
Ryder heard people land behind him and Kairos, so he turned slightly to see who it was. It was the Ace Ops. Clover approached both Ryder and Kairos as he looked at the group.
"So, I take it these are your friends?" Clover asked.
"Yep." Ryder answered. "This is them."
"Great, seems like we weren't need then." Clover said, glad things went well. "Well, get them up to Atlas and to Ironwood. We'll meet you there."
"They'll need a ship, i can't teleport more than 2 people." Ryder said.
"We can use the one we flew in on." Ruby said.
"If it hasn't been confiscated yet." Weiss mutters.
"Then let's make haste." Ryder said. "See you up in Atlas, Clover."
"You too." Clover said.
With that, the Ace Ops each left the area in their own fashion. Each a bit flashy. Kairos shakes his head at this before the group makes their way back to their Ship. Once they find it, thankfully it wasn't confiscated but Atlas Soldiers were around it but thanks to Ryder's honorary Specialist badge that he still has, the Soldiers allowed them to use the ship. With the ship secure, they take it up to Atlas. Once they reached the City of Atlas, the others besides Weiss, Ryder, Qrow and Kairos were in awe at the sight. Once they arrived at Atlas Academy, the ship lands and they step off the airship.
"Follow me, I'll lead you guys to Ironwood's office." Ryder said.
With that he leads the group through Atlas. They eventually have to take an elevator that brings them to the same floor as Ironwood's office. Ryder though wished he could've just teleported everyone here. Saves the travel time. The group reaches a large room with connected hallways that each lead in different directions. Ryder stopped the group as Ironwood, Winter and Penny walked past them, unaware of their presence. Well, not Penny. She knew.
"Yay! Your here!" Penny said, excitedly.
Ironwood and Winter stop walking and turn to see who Penny was talking to. Once Ironwood saw Ryder and Kairos with the group behind them, he was surprised yet glad to see them. Weiss stepped around Ruby and revealed her presence to Winter.
"Winter." Weiss greets.
Winter gasps lightly, seeing her sister. She straightened her posture and returned to her professional stance. The group then followed Ironwood into his office.
"Please, come in." Ironwood said as everyone walked into his office. "it's good to see you all have arrived safely."
"Couldn't lay the red carpet, James?" Qrow asked jokingly.
Ironwood surprisingly let a smile come to his face as he approached his desk.
"Had I have known that ship was yours, I most likely would've." Ironwood said as he sat down at his desk.
Winter stood to the side of Ironwood's desk while Penny stood on the other side of the desk. The group now were before Ironwood's desk and remained stationary.
"I take it Ryder briefed you on the situation?" Qrow asked.
"He did. He also told me about Ozpin's lies." Ironwood said, slightly bitter but he calms down.
Qrow and the others were surprised. Jaune looked at Ryder.
"You told him?" Jaune asked.
"Of course. He deserved to know." Ryder admits.
Qrow then focuses on Ironwood.
"We have more things we need to discuss. Stuff that's confidential." Qrow said.
"Oh! Is it about the Relics?" Penny asked, enthusiastically.
"Or Perhaps the Winter Maiden?" Winter asked.
This surprised everyone besides Ryder and Kairos.
"You told them?" Qrow asked, surprised by such a development.
"Did you really think you were the only one who got to work on a new plan after Beacon?" Ironwood asked. "With Ozpin gone, I needed my own team of people I could trust. So yes, I told them. The Ace Ops too."
Everyone absorbed this new information coming from Ironwood. They were surprised that he willingly told them, then again. It gives them more allies against Salem.
"Which is why I'm so glad your here." Ironwood said before gesturing to the Relic of Knowledge that rests on Ruby's belt. "With that and the Dragon Balls."
Ruby looked at the Relic. Ryder did inform Winter, Penny and the Ace Ops on everything Dragon Balls, so they were at least informed.
"Until now I believed it was impossible to truly turn the tide against Salem." Ironwood admitted. "Oz has pushed her back, kept victory out of her claws, but she will keep returning. Stronger and stronger."
Ironwood takes a pause to let the info sink into everyone's minds.
"Unless we destroy her." Ironwood declared.
"What about the Atlas Relic?" Ruby asked.
"You mean the staff of creation?" Ironwood asked.
"It's safe inside the Vault!" Penny answered.
"And the Winter Maiden?" Qrow asked, adding onto the previous question asked by Ruby.
"She's secure, and in stable condition." Winter revealed.
"Stable condition?" Yang asked. "What does-"
"She's not exactly in good health." Ryder revealed.
Another pause ensues as everyone absorbs this new information. Ironwood sighs as he can tell the others besides Ryder and Kairos are on edge.
"I know how this looks." Ironwood acknowledges. "Recalling my military, the embargo. I probably don't seem the most trustworthy right now."
"Then why continue it?" Blake challenged.
"The people of Mantle are hurting." Nora adds.
"I needed to ensure Salem couldn't infiltrate Atlas." Ironwood answered. "And I wanted my military here. Protecting my people."
"But it's not protecting them." Yang argued. "It's making everyone hate you."
Ironwood takes this in and sighs.
"It's a price I'm willing to pay." Ironwood admits.
Ironwood pressed a button on his desk and shutters began to close around the windows.
"Just as you all have been entrusted with the knowledge of Salem's existence, I need you all to trust me." Ironwood said as the shutters fully closed. "I have a plan."
He begins to walk around his desk as a platform begins to rise up from the center of the room. It was a holographic projection table. Ruby and Oscar step off it as it rose up.
"Ozpin believed the best way to fight Salem is to do so in secret." Ironwood explained as he walked towards the table. "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."
"Then what do you suggest?" Qrow asked.
Ironwood brought out a small remote and pressed a button. A hologram of Amity Colosseum appeared above the table and illuminated the room with a comforting glow of blue light.
"That's... Amity Colosseum." Jaune pointed out.
"Were the Vytal Festival is held?" Oscar asked, sounding confused.
"Indeed." Ironwood confirmed. "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."
Ironwood pressed another button on the remote and the hologram of Amity changed. Adding a tower to the top of the colosseum. Ryder looked at everyone's faces before he felt someone grab his hand. He looked and saw it was Weiss, she must've instinctively grabbed his hand. He didn't mind as he closed his hand around hers as he returned his gaze to the hologram. Winter noticed the two holding hands and let a smile come to her face as she quickly realized what this meant.
"Isn't it great?" Penny asked. "Were not just going to replace Beacon tower, building a new tower on top of Amity colosseum will reestablish global communications."
"By launching the tower high into the atmosphere, our scientists believe we can create a sort of, satellite as Ryder put it." Winter added. "Out of reach of the Grimm and capable of maintaining global communications even if we were to lose another tower."
"Back home, we had countless Satellites for all kinds of purposes." Ryder comments.
"That is great." Ruby comments as well.
Qrow looked at Ironwood.
"James, you don't need the entire military for this." Qrow said, scrutinizing Ironwood.
"I will for the next part." Ironwood reveals. "Where I finally tell the people about Salem."
Silence enters the room as everyone takes this in. Now knowing the stakes at hand.
"So that's why you withdrew your troops." Qrow pointed out. "To handle the Panic that would break out in Atlas."
"Yes." Ironwood confirmed. "Panic is inevitable, and panic brings Grimm. But I believe we are ready. Once Atlas has come to grips with the fight ahead. I will use Amity tower to spread the message to all of Remnant."
"But everything will fall apart." Weiss argues, worried for the outcome. "Grimm will be everywhere."
"Your right." Winter confirmed. "But Atlas is ready and prepared to assist."
"Then comes the next part." Ironwood said before looking at Ryder. "You're up."
Ryder lets go of Weiss's hand and steps forward.
"With the Dragon Balls I've collected so far, I only need to find the last one. The Seventh Dragon Ball. With it, we can make a Wish to remove Salem's immortality allowing us to kill her." Ryder explained.
"How do you intend to find the last one?" Qrow asked.
"It's somewhere in Atlas, that much I know. All i need is time, time to find the last Orb and time to make that wish." Ryder explained.
"Trying to hide the truth from the world will eventually kill us all." Ironwood stated.
Ironwood pressed a final button, and the hologram vanished. The shutters began to rise up and allow light to flood back into the room.
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Author's Note: Longer than usual, But that's okay.