Atlas

After the group took the rest of the day off, the next day they began their approach to Atlas. Well, kinda. Ryder decided he would teleport to Atlas first to prepared Ironwood for their arrival. The others would take the Airship to Atlas. Kairos decided to join Ryder in the teleportation route. Now you might ask, why not just teleport everyone to Atlas? Well because he can't do more than two people at once. When he did it with Kairos from Vale to Argus, it drained him significantly. He guesses he didn't fully master teleportation. So, the plan was for Kairos and Ryder to get to Atlas first and brief Ironwood on the others' approach before they arrived in Atlas. Right now, Ryder and Kairos stood in the military base with the group around them. They stood beside one of the airships. 

"Make sure to tell James what he needs to know before we arrive." Qrow said. 

"Will do." Ryder said. 

"Be safe." Weiss instructed. 

"I will." Ryder said with a brief chuckle before looking at Kairos. "Ready Kairos?" 

"Ready." Kairos said. 

"See you guys in Atlas." Ryder said. 

Ryder placed two fingers on his forehead and held a hand out for Kairos. Kairos didn't grab it and instead put his hand on Ryder's shoulder. After that, Ryder focused on Ironwood's Aura signature before he activated his magic and teleported. Once he and Kairos vanished into thin air, the group boards the airship. 

[Atlas] 

Within his office, Ironwood was speaking to Winter Schnee about recent Grimm activity, and it wasn't looking good. Yet again, Grimm breached Mantle and like before they were repelled. 

"We lost several AK-200s in the most recent attack." Winter reports. "Other than that, no civilian casualties." 

"Good. The last thing we need is a mass casualty incident." Ironwood said. 

Suddenly, Ryder and Kairos appear out of thin air before Ironwood. Winter was startled and grabbed her weapon but quickly stood down as she recognized Ryder. Ironwood smiled seeing him again. Ironwood noticed the satchel that Ryder carried and was curious what was inside but didn't ask. He stood up and walked around his desk. 

"Your back. I take it something important happened?" Ironwood asked. 

"You could say that." Ryder said. "But what I'm going to say is what you'd consider classified." 

Ironwood looked at Winter before returning his gaze to Ryder. 

"It's alright. I've already told her about Salem." Ironwood said. 

Kairos crossed his arms. 

"Makes things easier." Kairos said before looking at Winter. "Welcome to the War." 

Winter just gives a slight nod. 

"I suppose you haven't told her about the Orbs?" Ryder said. 

"No, not yet." Ironwood said. 

"Orbs?" Winter asked, confused by the use of the word. 

Ryder reached into his satchel and pulled out a Dragon Ball. He tossed it to Ironwood who caught it with one hand and looked at it. Ryder then looked at Winter. 

"They're called Dragon Balls; they're basically magical wish orbs from my home planet." Ryder said. 

"Wait, home planet?" Winter asked. 

Kairos groaned in annoyance, not wanting to explain. 

"Long story short, we're not from Remnant." Ryder told to Winter. "We're from a planet called Earth, transported here from mysterious circumstances." 

Winter was about to press for more information, but Ironwood started talking and it cut her off. 

"Where are the others?" Ironwood asked. 

"On their way. I could only teleport two people at once as it drains my mana, so they took the airship." Ryder said. 

"Who is all in your group?" Winter asked. 

"Team RWBY, JNPR, Qrow, a kid named Oscar, and an old lady named Maria." Ryder answered. 

"Once Ozpin gets here, we can prepare for our next move." Ironwood said. 

Ryder's expression changed to hate, and Ironwood noticed. 

"Is something wrong?" Ironwood asked. 

"Yeah. A lot." Ryder said bitterly. 

Ironwood and Winter were confused before Ryder told them Ozpin's lies. Ironwood was furious to hear that Ozpin lied to him, lied to everyone. But Ryder calmed him down saying that they're not in a hopeless war because of the Dragon Balls. When he heard that, Ironwood calmed down. 

"So, what now?" Winter asked. 

"We wait for the others to reach Atlas." Ironwood said. "We'll need them for the battles ahead." 

"Till then, what do we do now?" Kairos asked. 

"First, we get you situated into Atlas Academy. There is much you need to know before we can begin." Ironwood explained. 

Both Ryder and Kairos accept it with a nod. Then the door to Ironwood's office opens and a group of Huntsmen walk in all with the same color scheme. Ryder and his teammate turn around and see this new group. The new group didn't expect Team RK to be present. 

"General, who are your guests?" One of them asked. 

"Ace Ops, this is Ryder Falcone and Kairos Hawthorne. Both of them are allies of mine who know about Salem." Ironwood explained to the new group now named the Ace Ops. 

"Ace Ops?" Ryder asked. 

"We're an elite team of Huntsmen. The names Clover Ebi." Clover introduced before gesturing to his team. "This is Harriet Bree, Elm Ederne, Vine Zeki and Marrow Amin." 

"Pleasure to meet you all." Ryder said, his eyes shifting from person to person within the Ace Ops. 

"So, General. If you don't mind me asking, what makes these two special?" Vine asked. 

"Both Ryder and Kairos have Evolutionary Semblances, but Ryder can use Magic." Ironwood said. 

"But I thought only the Maidens could use Magic?" Harriet asked, confused. 

"I thought so too, until it was revealed that Ryder can do the same." Ironwood said. 

"So, you're saying we have a powerhouse on our side?" Marrow asked. 

"If that's how you want to put it." Ironwood answered. "Yes." 

Harriet got a challenging look in her eyes as she looked at Ryder. 

"I look forward to seeing what you can do, kid." Harriet said. 

"Is that a challenge?" Ryder asked, sounding interested. 

"Perhaps." Harriet answered vaguely. 

"Not everything is a challenge, Harriet." Vine said, reminding Harriet. 

[Grimm Lands] 

Frost walked into the dungeon of Salem's fortress with Salem leading him. Frost is rarely down here as he never honestly had a need. The dungeon isn't really used any way as they don't necessarily take prisoners. But they did make an exception with one person. But they didn't seek them out, this prisoner sought out Salem. They arrive at a cell that is blanketed with darkness not allowing anyone to see the cell's occupant. Frost turned to it. He narrowed his eyes and tried to see what was inside but couldn't. 

"So, tell me again why you brought me here?" Frost asked. 

"Ever since she came to us, foolishly attempting to stop me. She's proven use in other means." Salem said. 

"She?" Frost asked. 

He knew about the prisoner but never their gender or anything about them, so this was a first. With the wave of her hand, Salem makes the darkness vanish as a light ignites inside the cell to reveal a humanoid figure. They sat up against the wall with an emotionless gaze in her eyes. Frost saw this person and saw they had the same Grimm skin as Salem. Frost's eyes widened. 

"Did you..." Frost tried to ask but his words fell short. 

"She once had such free will. Now, she bends a knee to my commands." Salem said. "As do all the Grimm." 

"Who are they?" Frost asked. 

"She was a Silver eyed warrior, a prized possession of Ozpin's." Salem said, almost mockingly. "Now, she's mine." 

Salem looked into the cell as the Grimmified woman looked at Salem. 

"Isn't that right, Summer?" Salem asked. 

The woman, now named Summer, kept her soulless gaze at her new master before speaking. 

"Yes." Summer said, her voice void of emotion.