The Atlas weather, for once since the Banshee's arrival, becomes naturally hellish. With the flying winter nymph pushed back to the frozen hills, the rest of Atlas can now worry about this ongoing war.

Within the streets, dozens of Children APCs barrel through the snow coated roads. Making their final push on the last remaining district still held by the Atlas government, the R&D facilities. Not very many aircrafts taking part in the siege partly due to the mass anount of AA weaponry in their way.

Far out to the edge of the city, the Raptor remains stationed in the air. Safely out of range of the AA guns. Within the bridge, Comnander Joshua looks upon multiple screens in front of him. Viewpoints ranging from the perspectives of ground troopers to cameras mounted on both APCs and droids.

Off to his left, a holographic screen forms as it emanates a familiar blue color.

Joshua: Cypher, once my men make contact with Atlas forces, what exactly is this plan of yours afterwards?

Text begins to immediately form on the screen. The A.I. explaining its plan.

Cypher: 《With the R&D district being the last bastion of control for Atlas, along with you making a final push, they will try to rush their new line of combat droids to fend off your attacks. However, with the current combat matrix not fully updated to integrate with the different models, they will be desperate for a work around.》

Joshua: And that's where you come in.

Cypher: 《Precisely. I will convince them to upload my data to their combat matrix, giving me full control of all droids and facility defence systems.》

Watts: Pardon me, but I'm going to have to object to that idea.

Joshua snaps his head over to a new screen that has just popped up. Revealing the static face of one Arthur Watts.

Joshua: Doctor? How did you-

Watts: I got bored and decided to muck around your systems. I couldn't help but overhear you agreeing to give this A.I. absolute control of everything that has a gun attached?

Joshua: To put it bluntly, yes.

Watts: Well I hope you don't mind me if I put this bluntly also. That's a horrible idea. I have worked on A.I.s before in the past, and most of them seem to sport a sort of slight homicidal tendency towards living people when presented with a GUN!

Cypher: 《Doctor Watts, I can assure you that I am still bound to my main directive of preserving Remnant. As long as you and the Children remain to your directive as well, it would be counterintuitive for me to wish you harm.》

Watts: If you say so, but I'll be keeping an eye on you once I arrive.

Joshua: Speaking of which, doctor, are you sure it's a good idea for you to take part in this siege?

Watts: And miss out on all the secret goodies Atlas will try to purge once we arrive? I think not! Also, I must thank you for assigning me a personal guard who looks like he can actually do his job.

Joshua: Fair enough. Just stick close to the back until we breach the facilities. Cypher, once you have control of the defence systems, signal us and we'll send in air reinforcements.

Watts gives a nod as he disconnects. Cypher shuts off the screen and continues his soon to be former duties in R&D. The commander looks back to the multiple screens of the oncoming battle. If the Children succeed here, Atlas will be the first of the four kingdoms to fall under their control.

Back down to the streets, at the back of the large APC convoy, Watts shuts off his scroll as he bundles up in his thick jacket. A silver "W" visible on the back of it. He glances across the interior of the APC, all he sees are the battle helmets of a half dozen Children followers seated with him. Sitting across from him, however, is a member assigned to protect him on this siege. Adorned in attire completely different compared to the rest.

Sitting opposite from the doctor, cleaning his nails with his knife, a fairly lengthy man sports a pale white mask with no discernable features besides two eye holes. A white plain suit covered over by a black cloak.

Watts: "ahem" Hadrian Origion, correct?

Hadrian: That's right.

The well dressed follower responds without taking his eyes away from his half clean fingers.

Watts: All right, Hadrian, as soon as we arrive to our destination, we'll quickly make our way to the main-

Hadrian: I'm gonna stop you right there, doc.

He half haveredly points his knife towards Watts to address him.

Hadrian: I've been tasked with making sure you make it to the main facility unharmed. If that's the case, than I'm the one in charge. I say run, you run. I say duck, you duck. You stay behind me and close at all times until the commander says otherwise. You end up dead, it's my ass on the line. Understand?

Hadrian says. That last bit not so much a question, but a statement. Watts just looks at him with a little bit of shock. His lack of response gives his masked guardian a chance to talk again. The sound of faint explosions echo through the APC.

Hadrian: We should be near. The Children should give us some leeway to get us close to the facility.

A mile away from them, an absolute war zone rages on in the outskirts of the R&D districts. The harsh weather raging along as well. The Children, along with their new-ish battle droids, continue to fire upon Atlas soldiers and what little they have of Atlesian Knights. Makeshift barricades, hastily dug trenches, and bodies of both sides litter the fields. Snow slowly covering them. The occasional burning tank being used as cover and warmth.

The APC containing Watts and Hadrian finally makes its way to the edge of the battle zone and comes to a stop. The backdoor of the vehicle swings open, Children followers pouring out and rushing into the battlefield with their brothers and sisters. Hadrian gets up and makes his way to the exit, signaling Watts to follow him. As they step out, the doctor shields his face from the cold wind.

Hadrian: Get moving!

He grabs Watts by the shoulder and begins to push him towards the R&D district. With a full on war in the way. They make a good few yards in until they duck behind a barricade. A few bullets clanging off the metal protection. Some Children followers rush past, returning fire, shifting the attention of the enemy. Seeing this, Hadrian signals Watts to follow him as they make their way further in.

As they run, snow and bullets flying through the air, Hadrian looks around. Bodies of both Children and Atlas soldiers are scattered all about. Blood seeping in the snow. That catches his attention the most. Watts sees him slowing down to a halt.

Watts: What in blazes are you doing?!

Not listening, Hadrian soon extends his arms out and concentrates on his semblance. A moment later, the corpses begin to slightly move. Almost being dragged towards him. Soon after, it is seen that the bodies aren't being moved themselves. Immediately, blood begins to seep from the wounds. Streams flowing through the cold air and circling Hadrian's hands. Soon enough, orbs of blood encircle the two.

Watts: What in the damn?

Through concentration, Hadrian wills the blood orbs and forms a wall in front of both of them. The sound of bullets striking a somewhat wet substance is immediately heard.

Hadrian: Follow close, doc.

Moving forward, the duo continue to press on along with any followers not being mowed down. In the mean time, a strange figure flies through the air. The blizzard making it difficult to spot. A minute later, it lands right on top of the main facility. A mass of shadow like wind taking refuge on the roof. The mass soon dissipates and reveals a young man. Reasonably decked out in winter clothing, he sports a set of black apparel. A small assortment of weaponry adorning his figure.

Looking around, the stranger spots what appears to be a roof access. Rushing over, he tries to open the door only to find it locked. He raises a hand up and concentrates. Small gusts of wind begin to swirl in his hand. Slowly turning to black. Concentrating even more, it soon becomes compressed into a thin needle of wind. A high pitch whistle ringing out. Placing it between the door and the frame, he slashes downward. Destroying whatever lock was there.

Door now unlocked, the stranger swings it open. Stepping inside, he removes a black mask and goggles from his face. Revealing a head with pitch black hair and a set of dark brown eyes. He pulls a rifle off his back and takes aim down a flight of stairs.

Static buzzes from his earpiece as he soon hears a female voice.

Follower: Remember, Victor, cause enough ruckus so the staff will become desperate. The Commander is counting on you.

The earpiece goes silent as the stranger, now known as Victor, descends further into the facility.

Even further in the building, several units of Atlas soldiers rush about as they prepare themselves for battle. Among the ranks, a second year Huntress follows behind a squad of soldiers. Hailing from the Atlas Academy, she is one of the few students to volunteer to stay and fight.

This Huntress, decked out in a full set of personal armor, pulls out her shotgun and makes her way to the head of her unit.

She spots her commanding officer and begins to walk side by side with him.

Commander: All right, listen up! Those Children bastards are hitting us hard from the front. So we are tasked with giving reinforcement to the front entrances. The squad will be split into two teams and take position on the east and west entry ways-

The Commander receives a message through his communication device. He places a finger on the side of his helmet and listens in. He quickly turns to his entire squad.

Commander: Team A, make your way to the west entrance. Team B, to the east. Eleanor.

He looks over to the Huntress in training. She stand immediately to attention.

Eleanor: Sir?

Commander: You're with me. There's a breach in the upper levels we need to check out.

Eleanor gives him a nod and follows him. The rest rush to their destinations as the last two make their way to a set of stairs. Their weapons at the ready, Eleanor and the Commander quickly travel to the upper levels. Checking every corner for intruders.

As the two traverse the halls, Victor takes his position behind a corner. Hearing their footsteps echo through the halls. He takes out a dagger from his waste, holding it out just enough to not be obviously spotted.

Holding it at just the right angle, he can be able to see the reflection of the hallway. Across the way, he spots Eleanor and the Commander make their journey past the hall. Deciding to go for it, Victor sheathes his dagger and silently makes his way behind them. Doing his best to match their foot falls.

As Victor draws near, almost completely silent, he pulls back an arm. Black wind whipping across his palm. Snapping her head up, Eleanor suddenly hears the sound of wind and swings her shotgun around. Before she could pull the trigger, the assailant launches his palm out, releasing the compact ball of wind right into her chest.

The attack launches the Huntress across the hall, crashing into a wall and creating hairline fractures along it. Knocking the wind out of her lungs. The Commander sees her form fly pass him and soon turns around as well. Now facing Victor.

Commander: Motherfu-

Wasting no time, Victor opens fire on the Commander as he vocalizes his surprise. Thanks to his armor, he shrugs off the first few shots. Now knowing this, Victor starts aiming for the joints. Shoulders, hips, and exposed elbow are all hit with well placed shots.

The Commander feels a sharp pain in his left hip. His torso whips back to the right as another round pierces his shoulder. He tries to return fire, but two more rounds make home in his elbow. Causing him not only pain, but to lose control of everything below the elbow of that arm, and let go of his rifle. Soon after, his legs become riddled with bullets and forces him to fall prone.

With the Commander fallen, Victor reloads his rifle and sets it on his back. Walking over, he looks down to his struggling foe and pulls out his pistol.

Aiming for the Commander, Victor soon looks back down the hall and sees Eleanor getting back up. Collecting her bearings, she looks up with shotgun in hand and sees her assailant pointing a gun to her commanding officer.

*BANG BANG*

With two shots, Victor shoots the Commander in the throat. Making him gasp for air as he chokes on his own blood. Dying not long after. Seeing this happen, the Huntress lifts her shotgun and starts flinging lead, making a run at him. Victor quickly lifts up a hand and forms a shield made of dark wind. Pellets from the shotgun flying off course and hitting the walls to the side and behind him.

She just holsters her shotgun and brings a fist back. Launching it forward, the fist actually busts through the wind shield and hits Victor square in the chest. This sends him back several feet before he catches his footing and comes to a halt. Eleanor goes for another punch to his head, but is caught mid air and countered with a punch from him square in the throat. Stumbling back, she shakes off the shock of the strike and goes for another swing.

Victor dodges to the side and jabs Eleanor's ribs. Swinging another to her head. Her helmet takes most of the hit, but she feels the sharp pain to her ribs. She quickly swings her arm in a back hand attack and actually swats him away by a few feet. She pulls out one of her two bladed revolvers and takes aim at her foe.

Seeing this, Victor ducks to the side, a shot barely scraping his ear, and rushes at her. He raises a small wind shield and deflects another shot. Eleanor, now getting pissed off, tries to fire again but sees him swing his arm to the side. Not long after, her form is launched against a wall to the side from a mysteriously strong gust of wind.

As she stumbles to the ground, Victor pounces upon her and grabs her revolver. Pointing it away from him. He brings a knee up and bashes it into Eleanor's stomach. She lets out a pained cough as she keels over from the force. He grabs the back of her head and soon tosses her across the hall. Ripping the pistol from her grasp.

She tumbles across the floor. Instead of falling prone, she expertly gets back up and pulls out her other revolver. As she swings it back around, she is immediately greeted with a tall thin black mass. It strikes her form with great force, slicing through her chest armor and helmet. The force of the strike launches her all across the hallway until she hits the far wall with a loud crash.

She falls to the ground. Landing feet first, then falling to her knees. Blood dripping from the gash in her armor and helmet. As Eleanor falls forward, she shakely catches herself on the ground with her hands. Her head sags downward from pain and exhaustion. Her helmet, a large gash opened up a little to the side, comes loose and falls to the floor. Revealing an almost snow white complexion with short ink black hair... A pair of wolf ears adorned on top of her head, fading to white. She slowly raises her head up and stares at an approaching Victor. Piercing emerald green eyes glaring at him as she bares her teeth in a snarl. The last attack leaving a bloody gash in the side of her mouth, revealing even more teeth from the right. Almost like a toothy grin.

Victor tosses the revolver to the side as he stares down Eleanor, intent on killing her right then and there. As he reaches for his own pistol, he stops suddenly and tilts his head up. The sound of footsteps and shouting echoing down the hall. He looks back down at the faunus for a second before immediately turning around and running. Disappearing around the corner just in time for a squad of Atlas soldiers to arrive and see Eleanor injured on the ground.

As they rush to her aid, Eleanor reaches out to where Victor ran off to. A moment later, she crumbles to the floor and looses conscious from blood loss. The Atlas soldiers make their way to her form, one of them with a red cross on his arm quickly aiding her wounds. Another looks down to her still form and glances over to the corpse of the dead Commander. He reaches a finger up to the side of his helmet and presses a button.

Soldier: Security breach in the upper levels.

Deeper in the facility, within the main computer room, General James Ironwood stares down at his makeshift war table as he hears this knews through a nearby intercom. Atlas soldiers and engineers rushing about the grounds.

Soldier: I repeat, security breach in the upper levels.

James: God DAMN IT!

He smashes his fists down on the table, denting the surface out of anger. Standing at the side, with a slight bit of worry showing on her face, Winter Schnee watches the general lose his temper for a second. Knowing well to keep quiet for the moment.

James: They're already inside... The most militarily superior kingdom in all of Remnant, and we are being slaughtered street by street each day. This can't be happening.

Winter steps forward.

Winter: What about the new Atlesians? We already have several hundreds built. If we launch them now, we can be able to hold them off until we get more reinforcements from the other kingdoms.

Cypher: 《The combat matrix is still not yet ready to interface with the new model Atlesians, Specialist Winter.》

A mechanical monotone voice echoes through the computer room. Both Ironwood and Winter turn around and look upon a separate terminal to the side. Several cables connected from the terminal to the walls adjacent to it. A familiar blue screen forming over it.

Cypher: 《Estimated update completion to matrix will be 3 days 17 hours 33 minutes and 19 seconds.》

James: Atlas doesn't have that kind of time anymore! Our best course of action now will be to retreat back to Argus as soon as possible.

Cypher: 《If I may make a suggestion, General. I have been looking over the software of both the Atlesians and the combat matrix for several days. If you will allow me to upload my data to the defence systems, I can be able to hasten the update process to an exceptional timeframe.》

The two silently look at Cypher's screen as they think over on what he just said.

James:..... How long will it take?

Cypher: 《Recalculating estimated update completion to combat matrix. One moment...... Recalculation complete. Estimated update completion, 5 minutes.》

James: Do it.

Cypher: 《Please recite authorization code, General.》

James: Authorization code Ironwood-Omega-746614-Beta. Code phrase, Ad Victoriam.

Cypher: 《Authorization code accepted. Beginning data update.》

The blue screen disappears as the cables begin to glow a bright neon. Seeping further into the walls.

Back outside in the war zone, doctor Watts is taking cover behind an over turned APC near the main entrance. Trying to bypass the terminal to gain entrance. Standing a little ways away, Hadrian stands guard as streams of blood float around him. Acting mostly as a shield. Just ahead of him, an Atlesian Paladin-290 slowly makes its way to him with both arm mounted energy guns aimed right at him. He brings every ounce of blood in front of him to form a thick shield. Not soon after, a barrage of energized projectiles bombard the red barrier.

Hadrian: Anytime, doc!

Watts: I'm going as fast as I can here!

The Atlesian ceases fire, catching Hadrian's attention. He sees the mech neal down just a bit as it aims its mounted rocket launchers. Quickly taking action, he forms a blood javelin in hand and tosses it at the mech. As the ports of the launchers open, the javelin easily pierces the cockpit dead center. It stumbles back from the impact. Before anything else, the javelin quickly sprouts spikes and pierces multiple sensitive components within the mech. Including the pilot inside.

As the mech falls over motionless, Hadrian reforms his shields as more Atlas soldiers open fire on him from the right. He makes several pellets of blood in hand and starts shooting back at them. Taking down a few and forcing the rest to take cover.

Hadrian: COME AT ME, BRO!

As the battle rages on outside, Ironwood and Winter look over the security cameras with great worry. The General soon turns to the terminal emitting a bright blue glow.

James: Cypher!

Cypher: 《Uploading... Uploading... Upload complete. Initiating Atlesian Sentinels and Atlesian Runners now.》

From the mere mention of the two Atlesians, the General snaps his attention back to the monitors. A little hint of hope glimmering in his eye.

Back to Hadrain and Watts, the blood bender continues to hold off Atlas forces with the aid of a few followers that were able to make it to them. All of a sudden, the sound of several distant booms can almost be heard overhead. Catching Hadrian and some others attention.

Watts: Almost... Ha! I got it!

Task complete, Watts looks over to the entrance and sees it begin to slide open. His small celebration is quickly cut short as he soon sees several Atlas soldiers standing at the entrance. Among a dozen strange Atlesians he has never seen before standing a foot taller than the rest. Rifles all at the ready.

Watts: Oh.... shi-

*BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM*

Back out into the field, several dozens of strange metallic figures crash into the snow. Immediately catching the attention of everyone. The figures soon stand tall. Revealing large machines with inverted legs and mounted guns at their sides. A few Atlas soldiers actually cheering.

Hadrian stands there in shock as one or two quickly stare him down. Guns pointed at him. He takes a battle stance and prepares for another fight........ The new Atlesians immediately aim for nearby Atlas soldiers and start gunning them down. Leaving him and the followers completely alone.

Watts watches on in shock as the new Atlesians at the entrance begin to shoot their own alleys. Catching them all off guard.

Hadrian: Uuuuuuuhhhhh... What in the hell is going on?! Are these bots actually helping us?

Watts: The plan actually worked.... Come on! This is the final push we need!

Wasting no time, Watts rushes between the Atlesians as they continue to kill the soldiers. Hadrian and several followers making their way inside as well. Leaving the droids to finish off any stragglers.

Back inside, General Ironwood starts to lose his shit from what he's seeing.

James: No. NO!

Every monitor in front of him soon reveals what he thought was Atlas' last salvation quickly turn on them all. Almost as if they're helping the Children. As Winter looks on in horror, James snaps his attention to the terminal containing the A.I.

James: What the fuck are you doing, Cypher!?

Cypher does not respond as gunshots can be heard from outside the room. Screams almost over lapping the shots. An engineer rushes into the room, only to be riddled with bullets from behind as several Atlesian Sentinels begin to flood the room. Gunning down any and all Atlas officials.

Winter, quickly taking initiative, summons three white Beowolves and sends them to attack. She turns to Ironwood and grabs his arm.

Winter: General! We need to leave, NOW!

James glares at the terminal for a second before lifting up his scroll. He presses a button and begins to speak. His voice echoing throughout the whole facility.

James: This is General Ironwood! All forces, retreat! Atlas is lost! I repeat; Atlas. Is. Lost!

The two quickly run to a side entrance to escape as more Sentinels rush inside, killing more workers. After a minute, Cypher reappears on his personal terminal with his blue screen.

Cypher: 《Ad Victoriam, General Ironwood... Commander Joshua, the R&D district has been acquired. Send in aerial reinforcement.》

Right outside the city, the Raptor and half a dozen other airships begin flying towards the final location they need to control. Within the Raptor, Commander Joshua sees, just off in the distance, several Atlas airships being shot down by their own AA guns.

Joshua: I'll be damned, it actually worked.

He looks down to the panels in front of him and starts accessing security cameras to the battle down below. Instead of Children dominating the battle, he sees what appears to be new droids gunning down Atlas forces along side them.

Follower: Comannder, we've spotted several Atlas airships make it out of AA range. Should we pursue?

Joshua brings up a monitor showing about half a dozen Atlas airships making a be line for the shoreline. Knowing his brother, James survived the siege and might be in one of them. As easy as it is to catch up to them and finish the job... he still can't stand the idea of killing his own brother.

Joshua: Leave them. There's nothing they can do now... Atlas is ours.

Follower: Commander, we also have reports of the Banshee making it's way back in the city.

Joshua:...... One sec.

He reaches over and hits a button to contact someone.

Joshua: Doctor Watts, can you read me?

Several seconds later, static fills the air as Watts finally answers.

Watts: Yes, hello? I've made my way inside the facility. Lots of dead bodies. What do you need?

Joshua: I need you and Cypher to figure out a way on how to kill the Banshee. With an entire R&D district, you should have something of an idea.

Watts: Once I gain access to all of the files and secret projects, I'll figure something out.

Cypher: 《This facility has several thermal and weather altering projects under development. There are sufficient methods in acquiring this goal, Commander Joshua.》

Watts: Oh yeah, I forgot about you. I guess some sort of cooperative assignment is acceptable. I will talk with you in due time.

Joshua: Good luck, you two.

He disconnects the call and looks back over the monitors. A single thought running through his mind right now.

Joshua: 'One down, three to go...'

----

A/n: Aaaaaaaaaannnnndd we are back! Thank God!

Warlider: Congratulations. You've defeated procrastination for now.

A/n: How's your RWBY story coming along?

Warlider: Eat my Polish ass.

p0zi0ner: I just had a thought. You put this story on hold because you had two other stories to finish. Right?

A/n: Yeah?

p0zi0ner: And since then, you've made two more new stories in the process. Right?

A/n: Yeah?

p0zi0ner: So after finishing the previous two stories, you came back to this story, now with two new stories. Right?

A/n: Yeah?

p0zi0ner: So you just restarted this process of procrastination and neglect all over again. Just with two different stories. Right?

A/n:.......

Warlider: Ha!