That season finale.... whoa.

[shining_beacon]

I will admit, I had no information that would have indicated a move like this. How the White Fang set up that attack without bringing the Grimm down on their own heads is something I'd be extremely interested in. However, the actual number of Grimm that came through the breach was relatively low, given what their intent was.

I am thankful CFVY was available to aid RWBY and JNPR, and they all have my personal thanks for their efforts in containing the threat. That said, I'm sure that Beacon's faculty and Hunters stationed within Vale would be able to keep damage to a minimum.

However, it seems I know who I can trust a bit more now.

Comments

[mobilizes]

[ Hey, don't forget that the military presence ended up being for the best after all! Because, you know. Ironwood sure won't. ]

It's no small miracle that everything turned out so well, considering how bad it could have gotten.

[shining_beacon]

[Oh, that's actually part of what has him so worried.]

Yes. It was very... fortunate that your forces showed up as fast as they did. It was almost as if your ships had begun preparations for intervention before the sirens even sounded.

[Sips on his coffee.]

[mobilizes]

I train my men to be ready at less than a moment's notice. When you're dealing with a threat whose moves you can't predict yet, it's the only way to have a chance.

Or is there something else you'd like to say?

[shining_beacon]

Still, to mobilize that many ships, that fast should have taken longer for troops that were ostensibly on low alert.

Don't worry, James. I'm not foolish enough to think you had anything to do with the attack. I know you better than that.

[He takes a sip of his coffee.] However, I wonder if there's something you know that I don't. Ever since arriving at Beacon you've been on edge. Urging me to move before I had enough information, as if you already knew what the outcome would be. And the speed with which the Council acted in naming you head of the Vytal Festival's security was.... surprising.

[mobilizes]

Surprising? You really think so? Ever since we received that warning - Queen has pawns - I've done nothing but act in the interest of the protection of our people. I've always acted in that interest.

You're a man of thought, Oz, and an exceptional one at that. I'm a man of action. It just happened that this time the cards are falling in favor of my methods instead of yours.

[shining_beacon]

Yes, actually I do. They did not stop to investigate, review footage, or assess damage before handing down their ruling. Based on your reports.

I know you've done what you thought was right, James. I know that when it comes to protecting the people, you're all heart.

[He sighs, looking rather tired.] ...But why are we being dealt separate hands, James? I want to protect the people just as much as you do. We need to be collaborating, not... keeping our hands close to our chest.

[mobilizes]

If we're going to keep the festival anywhere near its intended schedule, decisions have to be made quickly. After an incident like this, we need the festival to bring people's spirits back up. My forces are already in place - who else is better suited to handle defense right now?

[ He offers a sigh of his own, his gaze lowering briefly. ]

Since the moment I arrived, my choices in regards to positioning my troops have been entirely correct. Bringing my forces to Vale, wanting to send them to investigate the White Fang base - if you had allowed me to do that we could have stopped that train before it even left the station. All of this could have been avoided.

You want to protect the people, Oz. But I'm better at it.

[shining_beacon]

Remember how we got any information regarding the whereabouts of the base, James. If you had sent your men into that rally, they would have been walking into a firefight that would've made martyrs out of anyone injured or arrested during it. Your men would have stood out far too much, and Torchwick would've gone to ground.

But, for the sake of argument, let's say you managed to get the information out of a prisoner. How would you have kept that train from leaving the station? I cannot think of any plausible way to mount an assault on something with that geography, surrounded by that many Grimm, short of caving the entire mountain in.

Or would you have sacrificed those inside?

[whitexrose]

Thank you very much, sir! (Despite the semi-pleased response, Ruby's expression could convey other emotions. She knows their victory didn't come without a price.)

We could've done more to help out...

[shining_beacon]

You did exceptionally well, given the circumstances, Ruby. A threat of that scale was not something that any one team could have handled alone, and yet you were willing to.

You've earned some rest.