Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-14138255-20140912002450/@comment-24994749-20140914190046

Zolnir wrote: Because they weren't by his side when he went out alone? What, the almighty general of Atlas who clearly can handle things on his own, is going to be a wuss and run back to the ball when every second wasted means a second more for the culprit to escape?

You said he isn't on his guard, but there's no way to determine that. Ironwood's a general who obviously seen a lot of battle - even during his first meeting with Ozpin, he has a small bandage on his head indicating a fight, so he's well practiced - he can probably walk into an army of Hunters and still look completely unfazed. Besides, the guards would've told him that it's a just one black suited woman who had taken them down. There's zero reason for him to be afraid at all.

He didn't ask for the building to be sealed, because again, time is of the essence. Make any obvious moves like that, and even the stupidest spy will realize that they've been found out and make a quick escape. Rushing up there on first notice is the best move, and because of Ruby delaying Cinder they almost cornered her too, if she hadn't had another trick up her sleeve. Ironwood's pose is relaxed: he is looking to the floor, not ahead of him watching out for what be behind the doors or as if expecting an enemy and his arms are hanging by his side and his hands are empty.

The guard that was knocked out outside couldn't have told him anything about the assailant either because he was still knocked out when Ironwood arrived (Ironwood arrives on the lift seconds after Ruby, so he didn't leave the dance so much after her) or simply because he didn't see anything (Cinder knocked him from behind). As for the guards inside, assuming they had recovered enough to talk, the first one shot at her with some sort of machine gun at short range and she was able to dodge the bullets, the others saw her summon weapons with fire so they should have reported dust manipulation. She isn't just "a black suited woman". We assume they are incompetent because they are canon-fodder but in-universe Ironwood surely expect his soldiers to be able to do an efficient job, otherwise Atlas and SDC would have gone down a long time ago.

Emerald saw him walking out of the ball with Ozpin. If at that point he had already decided there was something going on at the CCT (he had received distress signals from his soldiers), he could have casually walked out with him without causing a wuss. Or with Glynda, since they had been dancing together moments before. Also, he could have used his scroll to send a message or ring.