Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-1599757-20151212162645/@comment-26018514-20151217072543

SpiritedDreaming wrote: ^^^ This is exactly what they're doing. RWBY has been a thorn in their sides since before the school year started...

Hardly, RWBY is a very small thorn in their side, if you recall, breach was considered by Cinder a "success"... this is not about RWBY, this is deeper planning.

I believe this was what Cinder told Mercury was plan "B"... I can hardly see him choosing this outcome willingly, however Cinder appears invested in this for power, no matter what the cost... so I can see her always planning to backstab him this way as her "A" plan.

That then brings us to the "why"... she wouldn't do this to stop RWBY... they've barely meddled... and mercury and Emerald were here only pawns in the finals... that makes a horrible sacrifice play. No, I would wager this happens to be about Yang... or more specifically just who would come to save her in the 11th hour. As we already have significant hints Raven is a maiden, and we know she seemingly went off-grid yet still appears when Yang needs her(which Neo should have told Cinder about) Yang becomes a valid target for two reasons, one of which gets Cinder what she wants... more power.