After a while of waiting, the Atlas Military arrived at the mine with Amity Colosseum. A small convoy of Military trucks pull up to the mine while Amity floats overhead. The Ace Ops, Team RWBY, JNPR, Qrow and Team RK step outside of the mine. While the large group walks away from the entrance, Ryder's friends were still in awe at how he and Kairos took down the Geist. The Ace Ops were also impressed to a degree.
"Must say, you two handled that Geist pretty well." Harriet comments.
"Also Plan 15?" Marrow asked. "How many plans do you two have?"
"Many." Ryder answered. "Some of them need others to operate such as Sun Battery."
"I remember that one." Yang said as she had a flash back in her mind to when Sun Battery was used.
That was back during their Beacon days when Roman Torchwick was a threat. Ryder then grabs the Dragon Radar and looked at it. He then got curious and pressed a button expanding the radar's range. Unfortunately, he sees nothing. Finding that last Dragon Ball will be a challenge. Ryder sighed and put the Radar away into a pouch on his belt. He then hears Ironwood's voice.
"Can I get the Teams leaders over here?" Ironwood asked. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you. You too Qrow."
Ryder, Ruby, Jaune and Qrow walk over to Ironwood who gives an order to Clover before he walks away.
"And Clover." Ironwood said making Clover look at him. "Don't bring Marrow."
Clover nods and heads towards the nearest ship. Qrow got straight to the point.
"New Problems in Mantle?" Qrow asked.
"More of the same unfortunately." Ironwood answered before he brought out his scroll which projected a holographic screen for the others to see. "Someone in Mantle is taking out public leaders who speak out against Atlas. Specifically, people who speak out against me."
The situation slowly sank in for the team leaders and Qrow.
"It didn't look like a pattern at first, but this is the third murder of its kind in the last week." Ironwood explained.
"Your opposition in Mantle droppin' dead isn't exactly a good look for you." Qrow points out.
"Not really worried about my public image." Ironwood said. "But it is causing unrest. I think someone is trying to frame me and by extension, Atlas... and it's working."
"Well, if it wasn't for the embargo making everybody so mad people probably wouldn't be so quick to blame you for everything else." Jaune pointed out.
Ironwood simply looked at Jaune and it caused Jaune to stumble and clear his throat before correcting himself.
"S-Sir." Jaune said nervously.
"No. No. Your right." Ironwood admits. "Things in Mantle have been hard to manage lately. I'm not blind to its issues, in fact, that's what I want to talk to you about. With the launch of this mobile communications tower, and tensions down in Mantle, i think there's a lot of good your teams can do here."
"General." Ryder said getting Ironwood's attention. "Could these murders be caused by one of Salem's people?"
"I hope not." Ironwood said.
Ironwood is then hailed on comms causing him to answer.
"What?" Ironwood asked, surprised. "Already? Here?"
Ryder, Ruby and Jaune look at each other, worried.
"No, it's fine. Let him land." Ironwood said. "I'll deal with him myself."
"More Mantle problems?" Qrow asked.
Ironwood looked up at an incoming ship and Ryder followed his gaze to look at the ship as well.
"No." Ironwood answered. "This one's an Atlas problem."
Team RWBY and Ryder rallied together at a landing pad with Ironwood in front of them. The ship landed and Ryder could see an emblem with the letters SDC on it. He immediately knew it was a Schnee Dust Company ship meaning it was somewhat related to Weiss. He briefly looked at his girlfriend before returning his attention to the ship. A ramp extended from the ship and touched the ground before the door opened and Jacques Schnee stepped out.
"So let me get this straight James." Jacques said, not sounding happy as he walked down the ramp. "In addition to this nonsensical embargo of yours crippling my business you've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property?"
Jacques now stood before Ironwood who didn't seem worried nor effected by Jacques' words.
"When the Council hears about this you will never-"
"Actually. I've already informed them." Ironwood reveals. "As this is now the site of a classified Military operation it didn't even require a vote."
"Didn't require a vote!?" Jacques asked in surprise.
"You might want to brush up on Council law before you lose this upcoming election, Jacques." Ironwood warns. "Now I've allowed you to land here once as a curtesy. The next time it won't be a friendly reception."
"Lately you seem to forget who your friends really are." Jacques points out. "I'm going to get that Council seat, James and maybe then you'll-"
He stopped talking as he spotted Weiss behind Ironwood standing beside Ryder. Jacques seemed surprised to see Weiss after she went "missing."
"You...." Jacques walked around Ironwood. "You roped my missing Daughter into these schemes of yours too?"
Jacques then turns to Ironwood furiously.
"How long has she been back in Atlas!? Does Winter know about this-"
"It was my decision to come here." Weiss said, having enough of Jacques as she stepped forward.
Jacques turned to face his daughter.
"Just like it was my decision to leave." Weiss stated. "Or have you forgotten all about that?"
"If you think I'm one to forget anything girl, then you've miss judged the man your father is." Jacques said.
"Believe me. I know exactly the kind of man you are." Weiss retorted.
"How dare you speak to me that way!" Jacques scolds. "I have half a mind to..."
"Half a mind to what, Jacques?" Ironwood asked.
This question stopped Jacques immediately but not entirely. He just changed up his approach.
"You know.... your mother was devastated when you left." Jacques said, trying to mess with her.
From Weiss's reaction, it seemed to work a little. Ryder glared at Jacques and clenched his fists.
"Didn't leave her room for days." Jacques said, with a faked tone. "You know how she gets. When she's upset."
Jacques words did indeed effect Weiss. Ryder growled lowly and was holding himself back from activating his Semblance. Jacques saw Weiss's reaction and seemed satisfied before turning to Ironwood.
"I knew one day you would overextend your reach." Jacques began. "I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you."
Ironwood simply glared at Jacques. His hatred for Jacques hidden but evident. Weiss felt a hand grab her own comfortingly. She looked and saw it was Ryder who was glaring at Jacques. She then interlocked her fingers with his and smiled at him. She then saw her team standing beside her.
"For personally handing me the noose to hang you." Jacques threatens. "You'll regret this."
Jacques then looked at Weiss and saw her team and Ryder standing beside her or in Ryder's case, holding her hand.
"So, these are the little friends you threw everything away for?" Jacques asked.
"Not friends." Weiss said before looking directly at Ryder who in turn looked at her. "Family."
Jacques scowled at this answer before he decided to leave. He walked back up the ramp and into his ship before the ship departed leaving the mine behind. Weiss let go of the breath she was holding in.
"You did good, Weiss." Ryder said.
"Thanks." Weiss said.
A military truck pulls up onto the landing pad in place of the SDC Ship and from it comes Winter.
"Oh, now you show up Winter." Weiss said jokingly. "You just missed father."
Winter approaches her sister.
"I wouldn't say I missed him." Winter said.
Then suddenly, Penny lands like a meteor in front of Team RWBY and Ryder causing RWBY to fall backwards with Ryder.
"Surprise!" Penny said with holographic words saying 'congratulations' appearing above her.
Penny then realized something was off and the holographic words disappeared.
"Uh, did we not start yet?" Penny asked, sheepishly.
"Apparently we haven't." Winter said, sounding frustrated for some reason.
Team RWBY and Ryder get up off the ground while JNPR laughed. Kairos cracked a smile and held in a laugh of his own. But Nora noticed and gasped.
"He can laugh!" Nora shouted.
Kairos's smile quickly was erased as he glared at Nora.
"And you ruined it." Ren said jokingly.