"Hello, I'm Lisa Lavender and today, we have a special guest on our program: James Ironwood, General and Councilmember of Atlas. Welcome." 

"Thank you for having me, Lisa." 

Ironwood was never one for cameras and spotlight, but he had a message that needed to be heard. Sat in a comfortable chair across from his host, he wore his usual face of stoicism. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see the cameras panning over and focusing on him. 

"I wanted to speak with you and get your opinion on a matter that I'm sure that everyone at home can relate with: The growing crime rate across every kingdom," Lisa asked, "Atlas alone has seen an almost 40% increase in the rate of violent crimes over the last five years. What is your response to this crisis?" 

"It is indeed true that Atlas and the other kingdoms suffer from an increased rate in organized crime," Ironwood nodded in solidarity, "And I wanted to make my response to this problem clear on your platform." 

Ironwood shifted away from Lisa, turning directly to the cameras and speaking to the people. 

"I am proposing a new bill to the Atlas Council later this week to increase military spending in an effort to stamp out these criminal gangs. For too long, these elements have dwelled in the underworlds, taking advantage of the common citizen. The lack of a hard response from us have only emboldened these gangs. No more. I will deal with these criminal elements, push them back, and protect our people. The Kingdom of Atlas will not stand idly by while drugrunners and murderers bully us. I implore all other kingdoms to consider a more active response to this threat." 

Ironwood turned back to Lisa with a face of stone. 

"That is all I have to say." 

His declaration of war was heard loud and clear to every part of Remnant. 

Later that evening, Ironwood found himself back in his office at Atlas Academy, going over his proposal to the Atlas Council. He had spent weeks drafting the bill and was making the finishing touches to his solution. He had hoped that his appearance on television would garner the citizenry to his cause. Ironwood wanted to at least get the situation under control before the 39th Vytal Festival, which was just a short two years away. 

A chime over the communications system rang out as Ironwood worked away. 

"What is it," asked Ironwood, clear strain in his voice. 

"You have a visitor, sir," replied his top operative, Winter, from the other side. 

"I'm not taking visitors right now. I'm busy." 

"It's Bray, sir." 

"Damn it..." he muttered under his breath as he straightened his tie, "Send him in." 

The doors to the office swung open as a well-dressed man in an expensive suit sauntered into the room, followed closely by two elite guards. 

"Hello, James," said the man with a mischievous grin. 

"Clovis..." replied an apprehensive Ironwood. 

"I saw your interview and I must say that I feel inspired. Pushing out crime is such a noble goal," he feigned, "I can certainly help with that. Have you thought on my offer?" 

Clovis Bray of the Bray Exoscience Corporation carried an air of superiority to him wherever he went. At first, Ironwood believed Clovis to be similar in statue to another corporate billionaire that he knew. However, upon interacting with him, Ironwood learned that Clovis was nothing like Jacques Schnee. While the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company was all bark and no bite, Clovis had the cutthroat mindsight and dangerous ingenuity to follow through. 

His company, while not as financially successful as the SDC, had its own merits. It worked primarily in the field of robotics, aiming to push the envelope in developing technology. In that effort, Clovis had suggested a partnership with the Atlesian Military to develop freestanding attack frames that could fight the Grimm without the loss of human life.  

The prototype, The Atlesian Knight-130, had seen recent success as a battle unit, leading Clovis to push for a full military contract. 

"I have actually thought about your offer," replied Ironwood with a sigh, "And we've decided to build the new Atlesian Knight-200 model in-house." 

"In-house?" questioned Clovis, genuinely surprised at his answer, "And sacrifice the quality that our company can assure?" 

"Yes. Our talented team of engineers have made their own strides in the robotics field. We won't be needing any assistance from the Bray Exoscience Corporation." 

"I see. What a shame," Clovis shrugged as he turned around to leave, "Just know that my offer is always on the table, James. You'll see soon enough that my help will be much appreciated." 

As Clovis left with his personal guard in tow, Ironwood let out a weary sigh as he rubbed his eyes. 

"You should really get some rest, sir." 

Winter Schnee had come in after Clovis, an expression of worry on her face. 

"No time," huffed Ironwood as he looked to the evening sky, "How is the Elite Response Team coming along?" 

"We've found multiple candidates for training and review," Winter replied, "The very best of the best." 

"Good," sighed a relived Ironwood, "Now more than ever, I need a team of elites that I can deploy at the drop of a dime. You're still up for leading them?" 

"Yes, sir," Winter replied, standing at attention, "I will lead our new Ace Operatives." 

He nodded as Winter left him to his business, letting out a sigh as burdens were added to his shoulders. 

Meanwhile in Mistral, Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart had his own burdens weighing down on his shoulders. However, unlike Ironwood, who's burden was stress, Lionheart's was one of guilt. 

As the initiation wrapped up for the new students, Haven Academy's Headmaster took the pleasure of revealing the teams that the students would form for the next four years of their education. What would have been a momentous occasion was replaced by guilt as his gaze was fixed on (y/n). 

"And for our final team of the day..." Lionheart awkwardly chuckled, "A team comprising of the students Violet Evergreen, Eleanor Vance, Rio Harland... And (y/n) Alinso." 

The three young women simultaneously turned to (y/n), who seemed to be blankly staring into space as opposed to paying attention. Eleanor realized that this entire time, she had no idea what his name was. He had never told her. The three were more dumbfounded than anything.

"You all, for the rest of your duration at Haven Academy, will be known as Team VERA, lead by Rio Harland." 

As sparce claps rang out from the auditorium that the students found themselves in, Lionheart struggled to keep his composure. He had almost fallen out of his chair when he got the call that (y/n) was alive. An overwhelming amount of guilt rose up in his heart, knowing that he was the one responsible for the state that (y/n) was in now. 

Lionheart sheepishly dismissed the new students to their new dorms as he shamefully walked back to his office. Thanks to Eleanor's prior knowledge of the school, it didn't take much time at all for them to arrive at their dorm. 

"So, (y/n)... That's your name, huh?" Eleanor smiled as the group approached their dorm, "It's nice." 

(y/n) gave a curt nod in response as he palmed one of the four keys meant to get into their room. After Eleanor got the door open, the four of them peered into the room to see their living situation for the next four years. Unlike Beacon, which just comprised of one room that everyone slept in together, the dorm was segmented with each student having their own room with a common area in the center connecting them.

"I guess since the City of Mistral is well-off, we get to enjoy our own rooms," Violet said, "I came from Vale and apparently the dorms are just one big room." 

"Well, that doesn't sound enjoyable," Eleanor chuckled as they all went in. 

Their bags and personal belongings had already been placed in their dorm. Everyone except for (y/n), who had no personal belongings beyond the small set of clothes and necessities that Qrow had bought for him. (y/n) didn't waste any time, immediately picking the room closest to the left, disappearing behind the door and leaving the three there. 

"I'll be honest, I was caught off guard when I heard his name," said Rio. 

"I know right?!" huffed Eleanor in disbelief, "It had only just hit me then that I had gone through the entire initiation without even knowing his name!" 

"Guess he just keeps his cards close to his chest," replied Violet as she chose the room farthest on the right, "Can't blame him." 

Eleanor let out a slight sigh as she picked up her bags and took the room farthest to the left next to (y/n)'s. As she closed the door behind her and began to unpack, she thought back earlier in the day during their fight in the maze. 

"A silver burst of light that killed all those Grimm instantly... What the hell was that?" she wondered. 

Seeing him writhe on the ground wasn't comfortable for her either. Perhaps in her overall excitement, she didn't even notice his silver eye, scarred and marked. She didn't even think to ask, knowing full well that she would never receive a response. 

Rio, on the other hand, had a completely different set of thoughts running through her mind. Taking the room closest to the right, across from (y/n)'s and next to Violet's, she let out a weary sigh as she plopped down on her bed. She was their leader and therefore, they were her responsibility. Rio had yearned for the opportunity to prove herself and it had landed right in front of her. 

But instead of being excited, she felt terrified. What if she failed? What if she wasn't all that she said she was? 

"I will prove my quality..." Rio thought, desperate to show the world all that she could do.