A new dawn in Remnant: Volume 7

Worst Case Scenario

In Ironwood's office after he spreaded out a message to Atlas.

Ironwood: This is the worst case scenario.

He angrily slammed his fist on his desk.

Ironwood: More people are dead, Penny's been framed, and somehow, Jacques Schnee is sitting on the council. How is Byleth doing by the way?

Qrow: Still in his room with a high fever. Oscar is taking care of him.

Azura: Maybe it's because of overexertion. You've told us he acted totally different. *Ruby, Ren and Nora nod*

Ren, Nora, Ruby, Qrow, Azura, Winter and Clover were present in Ironwood's office.

Clover: That's the second shipment for Amity that was hit today. It seems election night was the last push Robyn needed to go from hometown hero to full-on vigilante.

Winter: I'm afraid the problem is more complicated than that.

Ironwood sighed and began pacing behind his desk.

Ironwood: It seems Robyn has emboldened our suppliers in Mantle. They're refusing to sell us provisions until the city is adequately repaired. With Robyn redistributing the goods her team has stolen, the Amity Project is completely stalled.

Ruby: But we're so close. There has to be some way we can finish the tower.

Winter: There is - declaring martial law.

Azura: What? You can't be serious!

Ruby and Nora's eyes widened, and they looked at Ironwood, who stared outside through the window.

Nora: You're not actually considering that, are you?

Ironwood: What's more important? Establishing communications, unite the world? Or appeasing a few city blocks?

Nora: *emotional* Don't make it sound trivial when you know it isn't. You keep talking about how we just need a little more time, but you're not the one having to struggle.

Ironwood: *turns around to face Nora* We have all had to make sacrifices for the greater good. Mantle has had to bear a lot of the burden, yes, but--

Nora interrupted him and approached his desk, becoming even more upset.

Nora: They're bearing all of it! The longer this waiting game goes on, the harder each day gets for people down there and now you wanna send in more soldiers? You can't just force people to fall in line. If you do that, you'll just be trading all of these problems for the Grimm!

Ironwood stepped forward and stared at her, eyes narrowed, while she stared back, panting. He lowered himself into his chair and rested his face in his hands. Ruby walked forward to stand next to Nora.

Ruby: Please, General Ironwood. Squeezing Mantle this way... That kind of division plays right into Salem's hands. *rests a hand on Nora's shoulder* That's why Tyrian is here framing you.

Clover: Right, the reason we called you here in the first place. You're sure this was the man you saw?

Clover stepped toward Ruby, brought out his Scroll, and pressed a button to project a screen that displayed a file about Tyrian. 

Azura: Isn't that this maniac who attacked us in Mistral?

Winter: Tyrian Callows was accused of murders all across Anima. A homicidal maniac who escaped justice when his prison transport was attacked by Grimm. After that, he was never seen again.

Ruby: Well, he works for Salem and he's here.

Qrow: If we ever had any doubts Atlas was Salem's next target, I think those are officially out the window.