User blog comment:Zathronas/Speculative author: What is Cinder's plan?/@comment-114.108.222.195-20140808050331

Her plan might be to start a war...

It is a time of peace but war could happen at any moment and it only needs a slight push for it to start, and what better time to do that than during the Vytal festival where representatives of different countries would be arriving. Foreign casualties will lead to controversy.

[Ozpin's conversation with James implies that a war might happen. And Cinder could've done this plan any time but she chose this time out of all the times. Also during the OP where she watches a lot of Bullheads fly in the sky which might imply some sort of large attack]

Why does she need dust? Probably to destroy something... What does she want to destroy that could cause a lot of casualties? It can either be the place where everyone gathers during the Vytal festival.

[Do note that they are posing as people from Haven, so if 'Haven' were blamed to cause the casualties then war would break out. Or Vale may also be blamed for this]

Why does she want to start a war? I think it's not Cinder who wants to start a war but rather she's ordered to by someone powerful; the fact that she has money to influence the WF and manipulate Roman might be because she is backed up by someone in authority or royalty

[Remember that the "Queen has pawns", she isn't the queen but she may actually be just another pawn or official.]

Why hire the WF? Probably for manual labor and as a distraction. While everyone is busy dealing with the Grimm, WF, and the stolen mecha, Cinder's team might as well set up everything they need to commence their plan.

It's just a theory I came up based on the facts you've provided and what was shown in the series.