3rd Person POV

The Dinobots, Team JNPR, Penny and most of Team RWBY are hold up in a Happy Huntress hideout.

News Reporter: *on-screen* The Huntsmen and Huntresses, as well as our planets supposed alien allies, have now been branded fugitives of Atlas, the reason for this is still unclear, but the bigger question is, why has Atlas stopped evacuations in Mantle?

Grimlock: *angered* Turn it off.

Weiss turns the news off, then the door opens and Ruby walks through with Oscar in tow. Nora was the first to approach, Oscar braced himself for the tackle ge thought was coming, instead Nora gently pulls him into a hug. He relaxes and hugs back, while Ruby and Weiss smile at the scene. Grimlock coughs again.

Ruby: Grim? Are you sure you're okay?

Grimlock: Grimlock fine.

Slash: No you're not. You're bleeding from your mouth.

Grimlock quickly wipes away the blood from his lip and reiterated.

Grimlock: Grimlock fine!

Yang: Slag knock him out if you have to, or even if you just want to.

Slag: Yup.

Blake: *to Oscar* When we heard you went off after Ironwood on your own, we...

Nora let's go of Oscar and walks away.

Weiss: How did you end up down in the slums?

Oscar: It's a... *sighs* long story. I get the feeling there's been a few of those tonight.

Grimlock looks away in both self-disappointment and frustration over the loss of the Winter Maiden.

Ozpin: *in Oscars mind* You're not going to tell them?

Oscar: *in his mind* You and I aren't done talking yet.

Oscar's eyes widen as he notices one member of the group is missing.

Oscar: Where's Qrow?

Ren, Blake and Yang lower their gazes, Jaune looks towards Blake and Yang before looking down as well.

Ruby: We don't know. The last we heard, he was with Robyn, but now....

Joanna then enters the room from the kitchen.

Joanna: Alright, your friend is back now.

She walks further into the room and stands in front of them.

Joanna: You ready to work?

She is met with silence, Joanna turns to look through a box of supplies and continues talking.

Joanna: *sighs* The largest Grimm horde ever seen is hovering over the tundra, and out there is a city full of people with no heat and, from what you told us, no more military protection. And while we're happy to give you guys a place to lie low for a while... It's time to get those people some help.

Ren: How? Ironwood is stopping all evacuations to Atlas. And we can't get them out of the city with Salem's forces surrounding us.

Joanna: The crater. Beneath Atlas. It's not safe, but it's warm, and with everyone in one place, we can do a better job protecting them. May can send you where you're needed most. We've got to get everyone down into that crater before nightfall. In the slums we might have a chance.

She turns and heads back towards the kitchen.

Weiss: We're never gonna sleep again, I just know it.

Joanna stops with her hand on the door and turns back to Weiss.

Joanna: Either you're helping... or you're baggage.

Snarl: *angered* Watch your mouth, pipsqueak.

Swoop: Yeah, we've been saving your asses all night long, so cut us a little slack.

Joanna simply walks away, Yang then stands up in front of everyone.

Yang: I think it would be best if we let the kids rest while we get to work on next steps.

Pyrrha: Agreed.

Ruby: Penny, can you find some beds for the kids to sleep on.

Grimlock: Grimlock no need rest.

Ruby: This is not up for debate Grimlock. You're hurt, let your Aura and body recover a little. We'll call if we need you.

Grimlock finally relents and is sent to bed with the other kids. Yang then adresses the group after the kids are gone.

Yang: We need to get out there and do what we can for Mantle.

While Yang speaks, a view of the near future shows Yang running through an alley in Mantle. As present day Ruby begins speaking, future Yang spots a pair of Saybrs around the corner and hides against the wall.

Ruby: We need to do what we can for everyone. What about Amity? And telling the world about Salem? We can't do this alone. We need help.

Future Yang tries to sneak away from the Saybrs but is distracted when she steps on a watch on the sidewalk. It is then that she notices an abandoned suitcase and a photo of three friends.

Blake: Ruby's right. The Happy Huntresses are handling the evacuation better than we could. And there's a bigger picture.

The view switches back to present day Yang.

Yang: But Amity isn't even finished. It was still under construction.

Ruby turns to Pietro.

Ruby: Doctor? What would you need to launch Amity now?

Pietro: Uh.... We've made decent progress on construction and fuel collection, all potentially manageable, but uh... hm... Amity was desgined so it couldn't launch itself without first being granted clearance from General Ironwood's terminal.

Yang turns to Ruby with her arms crossed and lowers her arms as she speaks, Ruby, meanwhile, is thinking.

Yang: Ruby, there is now way Ironwood will cooperate with us.

Ruby: He doesn't have to. We just need the green light from his terminal, right?

Yang: You want to go back to the academy?

The view changes to Ruby on a Mantle rooftop in the near future, as she hurries with her hood on her head and hides from a drone camera behind an air conditioning unit.

Pietro: Actually... there is more than one terminal. The one in his office and uh... one in the main Atlesian Military Compund... at the base of the city.

Future Ruby lowers her hood and peeks over the air conditioning unit to look up at the underside of Atlas. She then starts contemplating, and the view changes back to present day Pietro.

Pietro: You'd have to get into the compound somehow, then, uh, get inside the operations room, and then... hoo boy... I might need to think about this some more.

Oscar looks at Ruby.

Oscar: And just to clarify, this is the easy option?

Yang: What you're saying is it can't be done. It's pointless. And even if you got the message out, there's no guarantee help would come.

Ruby becomes annoyed as Yang speaks.

Ruby: It's not pointless! Atlas is only Salem's current target. She's not hiding anymore and once she's done here she'll move on to the rest of Remnant. We need to warn them!

Yang stands in silence for a moment.

Yang: Ruby... when we came here, we said we'd follow your lead... but... things haven't exactly worked out.

Ruby recoils somewhat with a mix of emotions on her face. Yang's statement elicits various reactions from Weiss, Nora, Oscar, Pyrrha and Penny, as well.

Yang: I just--

Ren steps forward, interrupting Yang.

Ren: There are people who need us right now.

The view changes back to Yang in the near future, as future Ren approaches her. They nod to each other.

Ren: That's something we can actually do.

Nora: But this isn't about just Atlas. Ruby's right. This is about all of Remnant.

Future Yang looks away from Ren, who looks somewhat saddened. The view changes to future Ruby, still looking over the air conditioning unit, as future Nora places her hand on her shoulder and future Pyrrha smiles and nods at the pair.

Pyrrha: They need to know in Vacuo, in Mistral, in Vale, what's coming.

The view shifts back to present day Pyrrha.

Pyrrha: So they can prepare.

Jaune steps between Ren and Nora, putting his hands up to each of them.

Jaune: Okay. Okay... Then let's go for both. *gestures to Nora then to Ren* Get Amity up and running and evacuate Mantle.

Ruby: But that's how Salem got this far - by dividing us. We need to stick together.

Oscar: No. What Salem wants is to turn us against one another. Just like this. Jaune has a point. We can work seperately and still be united.

Penny: But now that Cinder has the Winter Maiden power Salem will makee a stronger push to get to the vault.

Weiss: I pretty sure the General will not be asking for our help anytime soon.

Ruby: We'll get to that when the attack comes, right now, we have to get the warning out.

Yang: And no one's turning you over Penny, we can all at least agree on that.

Everyone nods in agreement.

Ruby: *sighs* Okay. Then I guess we're going to Atlas. *to Pietro* Can you help get us to that terminal?

Pietro: I... suppose someone need to help you bypass security.

Ruby: Brains can get in, right?

Brains: Sure can, Little Red.

Penny: I'm going too.

Pietro: Penny, I'm not sure it's wise to-

Penny: *determined* I'm going.

Yang: *sighs* You do what you've got to do. I'm going out there to see what I could do.

Yang walks towards the kitchen while Blake looks on with a sad expression.

Pietro: Yang.

Yang stops and looks back at Pietro, he tosses her a key. As she looks at the key, the view changes again to future Yang, who looks at Pietro's pharmacy.

Pietro: Go by my pharmacy. I was developing some new tools for tou all before... this happened. You're going to need them.

Future Yang turns and looks at Ren, who turns to share a nod with Juane and Oscar.

Ren: Nora?

Nora: I'm going with Ruby.

Future Ren looks somewhat sad.

Ren: But what about Mantle?

Nora: Oh, I'm saving Mantle! Because I actually believe we can do this.

On the rooftop with future Ruby, future Nora has a somewhat sad expression, but then musters up a look of determination. She walks over to Ruby, Blake and Weiss. The view returns to the present and sees Jaune walk up to Pyrrha.

Jaune: Where are you going?

Pyrrha: I... think I'm gonna stay with Ruby.

Jaune: All right. Stay safe up there.

Pyrrha then hugs Jaune, he returns it and rubs her back a little before pulling away. The pair look at each other with confidance and the view changes to future Pyrrha standing with Ruby and Nora. This view becomes the new present as Blake puts her hand on Ruby's shoulder.

Blake: Hey, we're still united.

Ruby: I hope so.

Maria: *over ear-piece* I can get Pietro out to Amity to prepare, I'll bring the kids too so they'll be safer, but that still doesn't answer how we're getting all of you to Atlas.

Weiss: I actually have an idea for-

Weiss is cut off by a sudden beeping sound on a Scroll. The girls look confused, Weiss, Blake, Ruby, and Nora all check their scrolls. The five girls then turn to look at Penny, who is holding her ringing scroll, unsure of what to do. The scroll screen says:

Incoming Call

General Ironwood

Penny nervously taps the talks button, accepting the call.

Ironwood: *calmly* Hello, Penny. I'm worried for your safety. Tell me where you are and I'll have you picked up right away. Atlas needs you, Penny. Salem is here.

Ruby walks over to Penny, who allows her to take the scroll.

Ruby: She's not going anywhere until you change your mond about Mantle. There is still a chance for Remnant to be--

Ironwood: Mantle... You're still worried about Mantle?! Remnant is doomed, Ruby. Unless we leave, Salem will destroy Atlas and with it, any hope Humanity has left. We need to think about the future. If she makes it through our defenses, everything that follows will be on your hands.

Ruby: No, it'll be on you because you lost faith in humanity. You're only trying to save your own skin, now unless you're ready to actually being helpful, you know how to get in touch. *ends call*

Penny tenses up on Ironwood's final statement but was comforted by Ruby gently pulling into a hug. Ruby's brave face then falters at the thought of Grimlock, he wasn't being straight with her, maybe because he has no idea what is happening to him, but Ruby starts to worry it's something really bad.

Up in Altas, Winter is standing in the hallway with Ironwood, she is still upset that Cinder had stolen the Winter Maiden's powers, all because of Grimlock. Meanwhile, the Ace Ops stand over the body of their leader, Clover, Marrow is sad, Vine is stoic, Elm and Harriet are angry.

Ironwood: You did your best Winter, but those Dinobots are proving more of a menace than an ally. We'll need to proceed carefully on how to take them down. But right now, we have to deal with Salem. The hard-light barriers will hold, but not forever. Winter mobilize all forces into defensive positions and await further instructions.

Winter: Yes, sir. What will you?

Atlas Technician: Hey, you can't go in there!

The door at the end of the hallway bursts open and both Councilman Sleet and Camilla storm towards Ironwood.

Ironwood: Protect this kingdom, no matter the cost.

Camilla: What in God's name do you think you're doing, James?!

Sleet: And what's this about martial law? Have you lost your damn mind?!Are you that scared of what--

Ironwood turns to Sleet, quickdraws his revolver and shoots Sleet. Camilla brings her arms up and screams in terror at what Ironwood just did. Vine maintained his stoic expression, while Elm and Marrow's eyes widen in shock. Ironwood holstered his gun and turned back to the window of his office. Winter was still in shock before she looked down and frowned.

Inside the Monstra, Cinder returned to Salem, who was pleased that she managed to grab the powers of the Winter Maiden and the Relic of Knowledge.

Salem: I have questions for you.

She holds the lamp out to a Grimm, whose only features shown is it's large jaw. It sniffs the relic and opens it's gaping maw slightly.

Salem: But first I need the one who can show me how. *to the Grimm* Bring him to me...

Grimm: *growls menacingly*

(A/N): Alright! Cut! Great work. This is going to our most exciting season yet, so get rest and water when you can, I need everyone in top form for what's to come.

What is to come? Well, you'll just have to read and find out. I'm sorry for the long absence, but I want to make sure this whole volume is good enough for a final volume. Also, I am in the middle of moving out of my apartment, finally. So in August, I'll start releasing the rest of this volume by one chapter a week, so stay tuned. I love you all.

Have a great rest of your day/night and I'll see y'all in the next one. PEACE OUT!!!