Ahsoka, Din, Ruby, Nora, Ren, and Qrow are all gathered within Ironwood's office. Din had lost Tyrian in the alleyways after giving chase and was still disappointed about that, he thought back to the events prior.

Din ran through the alleyways, blaster in one hand, and spear in the other. As he round a corner, he felt a kick collide with his chest.

Tyrian: You... saw too much!

Tyrian drew his blades and tried attacking Din, he raised his gauntlets deflecting the blades. Holstering his blaster, he gripped his beskar spear with both hands.

Tyrian began growing frustrated, his opponent's armor not letting him land a hit. An idea came to mind, one that made him chuckle evilly.

Spinning, he lifted the spear up with his legs, allowing Din's chest to become exposed. Reaching forward, with his arm's glowing purple his hand collided with the beskar plate.

Tyrian smiled gleefully, waiting for Din's aura to flicker but was surprised when nothing happened.

Din: Suprised?

Tyrian looked up to see a fist colliding with his face, he reeled back from the blow still confused about his semblance.

Deciding to ask Watts about this, he ran away, eventually losing Din to the Grimm in the city.

Din comes out of his memories, seeing everyone with worried looks on their faces as the general overlooks security cam footage of Robyn's truck suddenly becoming invisible. Ironwood angrily slams his fist into the table.

Ironwood: This is the worst-case scenario! More people are dead, Penny's been framed, and somehow, Jacques Schnee is sitting on the council.

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.

Ahsoka: This doesn't make any sense...

Ironwood: Which part, Robyn showing her true colors or the truck suddenly going invisible?!

Ahsoka: Calm yourself, "General". I am talking about how suddenly the tides turned in Jacques' favor. Robyn was clearly in the lead so how did that change so briefly?

On queue, a call comes into the desk. It was Vader.

Ironwood: Hello Vader, what is it?

Vader: I have seen the video of Penny... Do not worry, I know she isn't the one responsible. Even if I might not know who killed those people, I may know who made it seem like she did.

Vader: Arthur Watts is one of Salem's closest supporters... and a technological genius of himself. He must have used some sort of hologram technology disguising the true killer. His presence in Atlas would also explain how Jacques Schnee was able to win the election.

Ironwood: But, Watts died in the paladin incident! And how would he have access to the Atlas database?

Vader: He was very much alive when I was at Salem's castle. I do not how he may have access to Atlas, I would look into that.

Ironwood: Very well, thank you, Vader. Hurry back once you have finished with your mission *ends call*

Winter: While that may solve one problem, there is a more complicated one.

Ironwood sighs at this, 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.

Ahsoka sighs, Ruby and Nora's eyes widen over the elder Schnee sister's comment, meanwhile, Din crosses his arms and sighs as well.

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?

Ahsoka: This will not please the people of Mantle and only cause more trouble.

Winter: We do not have a choice in the matter.

Ahsoka: There is always a choice.

Ironwood suddenly stops pacing, looking out his window with his hands clasping behind his back.

Nora: Ahsoka is right! 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. Mantle. Is Suffering!

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

Nora: They're bearing all of it! The longer this waiting game goes on, the harder each data gets for people down there and now you want to 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!

Nora shot back at the General, walking in front of the group while he stepped forward, staring at her with a stern expression. Nora stood her ground and returned the stare while she panted angrily. The General dropped the stern expression, allowing himself to lower down onto his chair and rest his face in his hands. Ruby walks next to Nora, placing a hand on her shoulder.

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

Qrow: Kid's right, what's going on here... we're practically playing right into her hands, James.

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

Clover stepped forward with his scroll in hand, he presses a button that deploys a screen with Tyrian's file.

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.

Din: That's him alright, I tracked him after the incident. I would've killed him if he hadn't turned tail and ran.

Ahsoka: From what we heard, he's without a doubt working for Salem.

Qrow: Called her his "queen"

Ruby: He's here, General. We're sure of it.

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

Ruby: But now we have two suspects. We can tell the people.

Clover: That a long-lost serial killer is loose in Mantle along with an Atlas scientist thought to have died years ago? And the military has no idea where he is - might make things worse before they get better.

Din: This goes against my better judgment, but they have a point. If the citizens hear about a serial killer on the loose... it'd create more panic. More panic means...

Ahsoka: Grimm...

Nora: I am so tired of secrets! If we just told everyone about Amity, about Salem - !

Ironwood: We can't! If we walk about Amity now, we risk Salem's forces, who we know are here, working to sabotage it. If we tell them about Salem now, we risk falling to the Grimm before we can reunite Remnant. We have to finish the tower! I want Robyn Hill in custody! We can offer her a deal if she gets Mantle to cooperate.

Ironwood finishes, leaving Ruby and Nora to widen their eyes in surprise of his order.

Clover: We'll figure it out.

Ironwood: Anyone not assisting with Robyn needs to focus on Tyrian. I want to know who he's truly working with, where he's hiding, what he's planning, and how exactly that video of Penny got all over my kingdom.

Ironwood heads for the door, hands still clasped behind his back.

Din: Of course, "General."

Ironwood suddenly stopped, peering over his shoulder at Din. Din stared back, his stern expression masked by his helmet.

Ironwood: Do I make myself clear?

Clover/Winter: Yes, sir.

Ahsoka: Understood.

Ren: (sternly) Yes, sir.

Ruby and Nora look over at him in shock, while Din looks with disappointment. The rest exit, leaving only Din, Clover, Winter, and Ironwood.

Ironwood: Anything else you wish to add...?

Din: The path to hell is paved with good intentions.

With that, Din left as well.

Afterward, Din is seen standing with Ahsoka in an empty hallway. Ahsoka telling him about how Clover asked her to travel with Yang and Blake to confront Robyn.

Din: Are you serious? This is how he wants to deal with Robyn?

Ahsoka: I know, it's not the route I would've gone as well. Ironwood's paranoia seems to be getting to him.

Din: I don't understand, without Vader, Maul and I would've been the best suited for this mission.

Ahsoka: I know, but I didn't exactly ask for the specifics.

Din sighs, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Din: Sorry, it's just... it hasn't been good out there.

Ahsoka: You're telling me. Mantle might as well be served on a plate for the Grimm with how much stress the people are in.

Din: This is bad...

Ahsoka smiles reassuring at Din, he looks over at the force-wielder and does the same.

Ahsoka: Don't worry too much. I'm sure Robyn will be will to help us out.

Din: I sure hope so. Right now... with the way things are... Salem has the upper hand again.

Ahsoka: For now...

Din: For now...

They then hear someone rounding the corner, both turn their attention to Ruby as she slowly makes her way towards the two.

Ruby: Uh... am I interrupting?

Din/Ahsoka: No.

Ruby: Oh, uh...

Din: Is something wrong, Ruby?

Ruby: Well, Weiss and I are gonna go check up on Penny. She's with Pietro and MAria in his laboratory...

Din: I'll tag along.

Ahsoka: I'll be seeing you when we get back.

Ruby: And Yang, and Blake?

Ahsoka: I'll find them, Clover won't wait on us forever.

Din and Ahsoka walk in separate directions, sharing one last glance.

They finally reached Pietro's laboratory, Penny stood unconscious in a large machine with a cable hooked onto the back of her Head. Din crosses his arms while he and Weiss both share sad glances.

Ruby: How is she doing?

Pietro: She's confused, scared. We'll have her recorded visual data shortly. That should prove her innocence, but the damage has already been done.

Pietro responded to Ruby as he and MAria sat behind a counter, overlooking the obviously edited footage of Penny supposedly slaying the party guests. Din furrows his brow as he knew who truly killed those people.

Pietro: The things people are saying about her...

Pietro lets out a frustrated grunt.

Pietro: If PEnny hadn't been there, Robyn would be -

Pietro stops as he began to cough, Din patted his back gently, resting a hand on his shoulder as he did so.

Din: Easy Pietro.

Ruby: I don't think Robyn was their target. Salem's goal has always been to divide us. I think Penny was exactly where they wanted her, just like at the Vytal Festival.

Pietro stops coughing. Din released the scientist and took a few steps back as he turned to face the young Huntsmen.

Pietro: And just like back then, someone is using our own technology against us. This doctored footage of Penny came from her work all around Mantle, stolen straight from our surveillance network.

Maria: Ugh, hacking, technology.... why can't people just do what they used to and fight to the death? A lot simpler if you ask me.

Din: I can agree with you on that.

Pietro: Well, if we're dealing with the same enemy from Beacon, hacking into Mantle's system would be easy. Fortunately, the rest of Atlas is running on an upgraded network.

Weiss: And how would someone get access to that network?

Pietro then takes off his glasses, cleaning them with a piece of fabric over his thumb as he answered Weiss's question.

Pietro: Well, only a few people have clearance. Ironwood, the Council, our cybersecurity and surveillance leads, and maybe a select few who oversee critical systems like sewage of the heating grid.

Din rubs his chin out of thought.

Din: (hm, if what Vader said is true... Maybe this Watts person is one of these people)

Weiss: The heating grid run in partnership with the Schnee Dust Company.

Din: What are you thinking?

Weiss: I don't know yet, but something isn't right.

Maria: Understatement of the century.

Din: My thoughts exactly.

Ruby sighed, looking over at Pietro.

Ruby: And how are you doing?

Pietro put his glasses back on with a sigh as he walked over next to Din and the girls, staring up at his daughter.

Pietro: If Maria hadn't offered to help me these past weeks, I'd have likely collapsed by now. Getting a communications tower into the sky seems impossible on its own, but now, to think of what people wanna do to my girl...

Pietro stares at the unconscious Penny, tears slowly began to form in his eyes as his bottom lip wobbled. Din looked in sadness before the scientist began to cough once more.

Ruby: Even if the worst does happen, you can always reactivate her again, so maybe try not to worry so much.

Din: Ruby...

Din whispered over how insensitive her comment was.

Pietro stopped coughing, peering up at the group/

Pietro: There's a reason why Penny is the only one of her kind...

Ruby and Weiss look back at each other as the scientist walked back to his desk, picking up a framed photograph of himself and other scientists in his hands.

Din, Ruby, and Weiss all walked over to him.

Ruby: You wanted a protector with a soul...

Pietro: That I did... when I presented the Penny project to Ironwood, I was just as surprised when he saw the same thing. He chose my project over the others...

Weiss: Well, why wouldn't he? You created an artificial Aura.

Pietro: Not exactly...

Pietro's Aura flickers on, showing the damage done to it. While most people's aura covers their entire body, there were large holes in spots that should have gone back.

Din: You gave her part of yours...

Pietro began coughing again, this time Maria patted his back.

Pietro: Yes, and every time I rebuild her it takes a little more... and if they destroy her again, I... might not be able to give enough Aura.

Pietro begins coughing again, leaving a somber expression on the huntsmen.

Afterward, Ahsoka, Yang, and Blake returned from their mission, Ahsoka wanting to speak with Din as the team RWBY reunited.

Din: How did it go?

Ahsoka: Good, I think we can trust her for the time being.

Din: Why? What happened?

Ahsoka: We... we told her about Amity.

Din raised his eyebrows out of suprise.

Din: And?

Ahsoka: *sigh* We couldn't tell her everything, she used her semblance on me to see if I was telling the truth though. Hopefully, it will get her to cooperate.

Ahsoka remembered the meeting, and once they told her about Amity, Robyn had even offered a spot for Ahsoka so she could join the happy huntresses.

Weiss: Um, Ahsoka? Din?

Ahsoka: Yes?

Weiss: This is for you.

Weiss handed her what seemed to be an invitation, before walking into team RWBY's dorm with her own.

Din: What is it?

Ahsoka: It seems... that we've been invited.