Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-27234079-20191221163921/@comment-5430952-20200101202738

MobiusEternal1 wrote: You’re thinking in the short term negative effects, or rather more akin to Ozpin’s overly passive strategy.

- Watts might have contingencies in place if they are discovered, but throwing him off balance and being sought after can disrupt their plans. Considering his demeanor so far, he may very well think no one can foil him.

- Also, there’s no press in the room as of yet.

-And no one was suspicious of the upset win besides Weiss? I imagine Mantle citizens already suspect foul play. And would it not be better for relations if you tell them that Robyn, their hometown hero, is the true winner and has a rightful place at the council?

Now let’s argue why it should happen.

-Ironwood and the council need to know this NOW. They are discussing Ironwood’s place on the council as Weiss watches the vid. They need to know they have a mole in their council. Assuming Watts doesn’t know about Amity, given he has only hacked Mantle’s equipment thus far and implied that’s what he can control, he cannot find out through his pawn about it. Furthermore, Ironwood’s position is in serious danger right now. Jacques may very well manipulate the council to boot Ironwood and appease Robyn by giving her the seat instead. You can’t let the pawn advance enough to get promoted unless it plays to your advantage. Letting Jacques and therefore Watts consolidate his power gives them nothing.

-Through Jacques, Watts has access to SDC and the heating as we saw. This is already a significant breach, not counting the fact that Watts is responsible for a new problem. You can’t sit by and allow this to happen. You need to cut him off from as many sources as possible.

-These actions would help change Robyn’s opinion of Ironwood, or at least Team RWBY when one of his people took initiative and basically did Robyn’s mission, specifically ending the status quo and doing what is right no matter what. It would also help her get to her rightful place at the council. If anything, ousting Jacques and putting Robyn in could improve public opinion.

-Ironwood’s lockdown on public gatherings, as wrong as it is in many ways, negates public backlash from that.

-Mantle has bigger problems right now. I don’t think the public will be distracted from imminent danger from arctic conditions.

Frankly, the good guys gain nothing by sitting on this new information for any stretch of time. The bad guys have initiative and are gaining momentum. Their plans need to be blunted. In this scenario, the longer you wait, the worse the situation will get.

But it will likely not go that way, not due to strategy, but because we need more entertaining drama and bad news. Precisely, if the heroes don't act, it'll cause more harm than good in the long run. And Mobius gave us very plausible reasons why they should, doing things the Ozpin way won't help anyone. Though I fear they'll become aware of the heating crisis and act on it before they're able to slap the cuffs on Herr Schnee. I also fear that even if Watts is found out and caught, he'll deny any involvement with Salem and pass all the blame onto Herr Schnee, thus making him take the fall of everything that's happened in Volume 7. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. And being connected to a fugitive of justice? Yeah, that's bound to tank Schnee's reputation something fierce. Though in the end, Schnee would've brought it on himself, trying to win at all costs.