The Sadistic Inquisition: A RWBY Story.

Chapter 34: Treachery

Dark clouds hung over the city of Atlas and Mantle as the lone bullhead landed on of the open bays of the floating fortress of the Academy. As the bullhead's doors open, Kreel is the first to step out, followed closely by Adam, Neo, and Winter.

Adam: "How mad do you think he is?"

Winter: "Judging by the fact that the Relic of Creation was stolen from a highly secure facility by fugitives with the help of Penny Poledina. It might be wise to assume he is."

Kreel: "Then let us make sure not to provoke him. Winter, I hope you convinced your sister to stay at the manor."

Winter: "It was difficult, but Mother ended up being the deciding factor in convincing Weiss."

Kreel: "Thank you. *sigh* Now let's see how we can salvage this mess."

The four head into the central tower. Entering, they see soldiers and huntsmen racing through the halls. The theft of the Staff of Creation had created a mild panic. Reaching Ironwood's office, they saw the door was wide open, and they could hear Ironwood shouting orders.

Kreel: "Let me go first. Try and calm him down." Heading into the office, Kreel immediately catches a stapler thrown at the door. "I see we're at the throwing stage of aggression."

Ironwood: "Kreel?! Good, you're here. Did you receive the news?" Kreel heads over to the desk, and sets down the stapler.

Kreel: "Specialist Schnee informed me of what transpired last night. It seems we've been deceived." Winter, Adam, and Neo walk into the room. Neo closed the door behind them.

Ironwood: "Specialist, you should've been there to prevent this from happening." He sternly talks to the young woman.

Winter: "Yes, sir. It was an error of judgment on my part."

Kreel: "Leave the poor girl alone, Ironwood. She had no inclination that Qrow and the rest of them would do something like this. Let alone have assistance from your prized android."

Ironwood: "How did they even get her allegiance? Could they have hacked her?"

Adam: "Maybe they just convinced her." Ironwood seems to take some offense to that.

Kreel: "Perhaps Adam is onto something. Penny was made to appeal to the people of Mantle by being approachable and compassionate. This design could've easily been exploited and manipulated into going against the Atlas military." Ironwood seems to calm down slightly.

Ironwood: "Kreel, tell me you have some kind of plan."

Kreel: "I suggest that a kingdom-wide lockdown is administered. Martial law is to be declared under the pretense that the vigilantes known as the Happy Huntresses have murdered Atlas military personnel. From there, we find and assault Robyn and her subordinates."

Winter: "Well, where are they at?"

Kreel: "Neo." Neo taps on her scroll and brings up a large-scale hologram of Mantle. "This hologram is a replica of Mantle from the last week. The red dots represent where Robyn and her vigilantes had committed their attacks. Cross-referencing them with positions closest to the city that remain in the outskirts. This narrows down our search area to three surrounding abandoned dust mines that they could use as hideouts."

Ironwood: "So we'll have to split up. Winter, get in touch with Clover. Have him and Ace Ops take one of the hideouts. You and I and a company of soldiers will take another hideout. Kreel? Can I trust you and your companions to care of the last one?"