AN: Figured I'd try some new pairings and actually see if I could write this story how I had originally planned. Those of you who have read VKS: Beacon know what I'm talking about. The first few chapters will follow the BSG story line but then deviate sharply from it. As for the team organization I just couldn't see Ruby as an Apollo and could see Weiss filling the role better. So the team command structure is dismantled but it was the only way it could work. There will be a little OOC-ness as the situation demands. This story will not have frequent or consistent updates unless I find a way to work it into my schedule. For now it will fill gaps between other updates as needed. Enjoy the journey, keep moving forward, don't feed the guard dogs. - Phoenix Commander signing off

I DO NOT OWN RWBY IT IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF ROOSTERTEETH PRODUCTIONS


Chapter One: The Price

One-hundred years had passed since the Grimm declared war on humanity, a war that had ended in a tenuous peace. Since that time, an outpost had been built, and once a year, humanity would send a representative. The Grimm would send no one. In the hundred years since the end of the war, no human had ever set eyes on a Grimm.

The representative looked at the doors across from him, then at his watch. "It's the same thing every year. I come out here and wait for their representative, Then I leave. Why do we ke-?" His grumbling was cut off as the once silent doors slid open. The sound of steel claws on the deck plate cut through the still air. The representative held his breath, a shout locked in his throat, as the metallic hound prowled into the room. It looked at him, then at a pair of Ursai, the large bear modeled robots, growled, and moved to block the doors. Their movement was followed by a piercing metallic howl from the Beowolf. Before he could reach for something to use as a weapon, the Beowolf lunged at the startled representative. The sound of tearing flesh filled the conference room and blood sprayed against the wall.

As the Beowolf released it's prey, the dying man heard the footsteps of another person. As his vision narrowed from the blood loss, he could just make out a red dress, followed by the sound of of a pistol being drawn. A woman's voice quickly followed. Her voice was smooth, sweet, and dripping with contempt. "This is the price your kind must pay for playing God." She said, as she raised the firearm. The man reached weakly for the pistol before the figure pulled the trigger, and released him from the world. As she looked at the three Grimm, They growled at her, and moved as if to strike. Her amber eyes flashed red. "See to your tasks and destroy the station. It's time we finished what we started." As the Grimm went about causing havoc, the woman pulled out a grenade. "Humanity will not survive the crushing weight of its crime for long." She thought, before pulling the pin and destroying the conference room in a blast of fire.


In Orbit Over Vale

As the Paladin Dropship began its boarding approach to enter the starboard hangar of the R.C.S: Beacon, it circled the Glyph-Class Carrier. The pilot, clad in a black and white flight suit, looked over her shoulder at her co-pilot. "What do you think, Reaper, pretty good view huh?"

The construction of the R.C.S: Beacon had been finished a week ago, and tomorrow would be it's official christening ceremony. The 1450m carrier supported a crew compliment of five thousand, with 50 primary batteries, 525 dual point defense cannons, and 14 missile tubes. It supported 20 Paladin-class Dropships, 160 Hunter-class fighters, and 1000 Marines. Out of the four other ships that had arrived to watch the official launching of the Glyph-class carrier, the Beacon easily dwarfed them with its size and firepower. However, despite its size, it was also quick to maneuver. It's twin FTL drives, 6 sublight engines, and 40 maneuvering thrusters were more than enough to get the ship where it needed to go. While it's dual flight decks, dual hangar bays, and 80 Hunter launch tubes would be able to place the pilots that called the ship home exactly where they needed to be.

"You're not wrong, Shadow. Then again, seeing a Glyph-Class Carrier always gives off that impressive feel. As if nothing wrong can happen as long as the fleet is watching," Reaper replied. Knowing she couldn't reach them, the red-clad pilot had to resist the urge to try and rub her red tipped wolf ears, as the flight helmet had flattened them uncomfortably against her head.

The black-clad pilot noticed her co-pilot's discomfort. "We're on final approach now Ruby, you'll have that helmet off soon." She said, trying to get her friend's mind off the offending helmet.

"I know, Blake. I just wish there were variants that were a better fit for faunus." The co-pilot replied.

"If it helps, I'm just as uncomfortable. Now come on and focus, don't want to screw up our first landing on the R.C.S: Beacon now do we?" The pilot said, turning her attention to the task at hand.

"Mom and Yang would never let me live it down."

"Exactly." Blake replied with a smirk before tuning her comm to the Beacon's frequency. "RCS: Beacon, this is the BlackRose requesting clearance to land."

"We see you, BlackRose. You are clear for hands on approach into the starboard landing-bay. Welcome to the Beacon." A cheery voice replied.

"Hands on, eh? Well at least it'll keep us from getting rusty." Blake thought with a shrug.

"Shadow, we have a Hunter coming in on our six. Better land quick, no need to start the day off by having someone break their approach because we took too long." Reaper said, glancing at the short range radar at her station.

"Not a bad idea." The black-clad pilot replied, before increasing power to the dropship's engines and pulling into the hangar moments before the Hunter-class fighter entered behind them.


Weiss Schnee

"Why did they have me on a hands on approach? No ship uses hands on approach protocols anymore!" The white-clad pilot thought, annoyed as the canopy of her white painted Hunter-class fighter opened. She pulled off her flight helmet, shook out her long white braid, and stepped down the ladder that was wheeled to her fighter. She approached one of the deck crew intending to get answers.

The Ensign snapped to attention at her approach. "Can I help you, Capt. Schnee?" he asked, as her irritated gaze looked him up and down.

"Why was I on a hands on approach? No active ship uses that protocol anymore." Capt. Schnee asked, still with the irritation in her voice.

"Commander Ozpin's orders, he wants all the pilots at their sharpest, and that includes the basics." The Ensign replied stiffly.

"I see, thank you Ensign." Weiss replied cooly before turning on her heel to head to the Bridge of the Beacon to report for duty. But not before seeing a gold Hunter-class fighter cut its engines and land on the deck with a thud, causing the white haired pilot to wince slightly. "I thought I'd seen the last of her when we left flight school." Weiss thought with a groan, as a gold dressed pilot slid down the rails of the ladder to the deck and removed her helmet. "Yang Xiao Long…"

"Hey there, Ice Queen, I wasn't expecting to see you here!" The blonde haired pilot called out.

"It's Captain now, Lt. Xiao Long" Weiss growled out through clenched teeth.

Yang blinked twice and immediately snapped to a salute. "Sorry, Capt. I didn't realize."

Weiss' posture softened a bit. "It's fine, Dragon. How's your family doing?" The pilot asked. While the two had not exactly been friends while at flight school, they had made a little headway towards the end of it.

"Pretty good, my step-mother is still with my old man at the ninth fleet. Reaper should actually be somewhere around here. I saw her and Shadow's Paladin when I landed." Yang replied perking up somewhat.

"So Ruby and Blake are joining us as part of the crew. Should've known I'd never get away from the three of you." Weiss jokingly replied as the pair headed toward a lift that would take them to the bridge.

The white and gold uniformed pilots met their red and black counterparts enroute to the lift. "Hey Ruby, hey Blake, how was the flight in?" Yang asked as they waited for the lift.

"Not too bad, sis. Was that your Hunter coming in behind us?" The red-clad wolf faunus replied.

"Yup, not too bad for your first landing in the hangar of the Beacon. Keep up the good work guys." Yang replied with a smile.

"We intend to, Dragon. After all, while you guys clear the cosmos, we get the ground pounders where they need to be." Blake said pridefully. Piloting a Paladin was just as serious as a Hunter, because you didn't just have yourself and your co-pilot to look after. You had your passengers as well, and most of the time those passengers would prefer you avoid the AA-fire.

"That's the right attitude, Shadow. Now come on people, let's go report to the Commander." Weiss replied with a nod.


Bridge

As the lift doors slid open, the four pilots stepping out onto the bridge, they were met with a much more advanced bridge layout than they had seen before. All of the major ship systems that would normally fill an older vessel were condensed into three major stations. From their position, the four pilots could see the tactics officer, a Lt. Commander named Port, directing power and maintaining the ship's defenses. Scanning the bridge, they could see the comms station manned by Lt. Peach, a short auburn-haired woman with a light hearted expression, scanning the comms chatter. Lastly, they could see the DRADIS, which filled the navigation station, and was centered in the middle of the bridge manned by Lt. Commander Oobleck, as he was maintaining the ship's position and keeping a watchful eye on their perimeter. It seemed Commander Ozpin's expectations for the pilots were the same for the rest of the crew, even though the practice was not necessary.

"Commander Ozpin, sir! Capt. Weiss Schnee, Lt. Xiao Long, Lt. Rose, and Lt. Belladonna reporting as ordered." Weiss said as she and the others snapped to attention and saluted the grey haired Commander who stood by the DRADIS.

"At ease, welcome to the Beacon. I do hope the reports about the four of you were not exaggerated." Ozpin said, looking at each of them in turn.

"If anyone will vouch for them, you know it'll be me Commander" the XO said with a light smirk.

"That you will, Colonel Branwen." Ozpin said, turning to face the dark haired marine who had spoken. Then he turned back to face the four pilots, "Take the day to get settled and learn your way around the Beacon. Tomorrow we will be holding the ceremony. I look forward to working with you four."

"Thank you, Commander." The four pilots said in unison before leaving the bridge.

"You know Ozpin, those four were the best in their class. My nieces will fly through hell and back. Captain Schnee certainly has the drive to be CAG, and there is no one else I'd rather trust with Summer's pup than Lt. Belladonna." Colonel Qrow said when the door slid closed.

"I trust your judgment Qrow, that's why you're here. Now let's finish pre-" Ozpin started only to be cut off by Lt. Peach.

"COMMANDER, WE HAVE REPORTS OF GRIMM ATTACKS ON ALL THE COLONIES!" The shocked cry was confirmed as multiple contacts appeared on the DRADIS, followed by bright flashes of light from the surface of Vale. The Grimm had started their genocide.