Son of the Branwen

Chapter 65: The Greatest Kingdom

Airships flew across the skies in tight patrols around the Atlas, communications echoing across every radio so everyone stayed informed. Even the ship that the team was flying in. Hawk and Weiss took hold of each other's hands as they watched the surrounding ships.

Atlas Air Control: "Manta 5-1. Welcome home. Please continue your approach to Atlas docking bay Omega-12. A security team will meet you there. Over."

Nobody paid the woman over the radio any thought as they stared at the army flying in front of them. Ruby held onto the back of Qrow's chair as she tried to understand why every ship in Atlas needed to be on the defence.

Ruby: "I don't understand. What's happening here?"

Qrow: "I don't know."

Hawk: "Is anyone else getting a very bad feeling about this?"

Jaune: "But we are here. We got the lamp to Atlas, so I guess we land and get some answers."

Weiss: "I'm not so sure. I've never seen our forces deployed so aggressively before. If we land in a stolen ship, there's no way the security team will let us anywhere near Ironwood. They might even take me back to my father."

Hawk squeezed Weiss' hand gently, causing her to meet his eyes. He raised her hand so her engagement ring was visible to him.

Hawk: "I'll never let that happen."

He gave a kiss on her hand, getting a small blush and reassured smile from Weiss. Blake gazed out the window, having a sad and troubled look on her face as she stared at Mantle that was below the floating city. Ruby and Yang exchanged worried looks, not sure what to do next.

Blake: "So... what do we do then?"

Weiss perked up suddenly.

Weiss: "Winter!"

Weiss pulled her scroll from her pocket.

Weiss: "Put some distance between us and the fleet."

Maria: "You don't have to tell me twice."

Weiss walked back into the back, looking out that window while trying to contact Winter. Maria quickly steered the ship to fly above Mantle, letting everyone realize how bad it was down there. A large amount of Atlas androids patrolled the streets, with security drones patrolling. And projected on every holo screen, was General Ironwood.

Ironwood: "...cannot express our appreciation enough. Many describe these as uncertain times, and while that may be the case for the rest of the world, I can tell you what is certain. The Kingdom of Atlas will remain strong, and it will remain safe. That is my promise."

Yang: "General Ironwood. He looks..."

Ruby: "Tired."

Qrow: "James, what have you been doing?"

Hawk: "What could have happened to cause... this?"

Hawk looked down below as a Weiss kept staring at her scroll. Winter still wasn't answering her scroll, which was getting Weiss even more nervous.

Weiss: "This isn't right. None of this is right."

Atlas Air Control: "Manta 5-1, we've noticed a detour in your route. You are to make your way to docking bay Omega 12 immediately. Do you copy? Over."

Maria: "We're kind of running out of time here, kids."

Yang: "We need to ditch the ship."

Qrow: "Agreed. Get lost in Mantle and buy ourselves some time."