Aftermath

Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.

The ticking of the multiple cogs echoed up the hollowed tower. The endless array of cogs, nuts and bolts was built masterfully into the structure, stretching into what seems like gateway that led to the sky. The view would normally leave the guests staring in awe at such a complex yet graceful display of engineering, did not yield a single praise from the three students who had just entered. To them, it just seems like an endless tunnel, a gaping maw with metal teeth slowly descending upon the occupants below.

A primal fear engulfed one of the members below. Although he made no show of it, he had subconsciously bared his teeth in a silent snarl, a challenge against his cowardice. The eternal ticking of the mechanism did little to ease the tension, each rotation sending a groan or a rumble through the already brittle atmosphere. All the occupants of the room, save for one, stood ready. Their bodies semi crouched and coiled like a spring, ready to leap into action at the briefest hint of danger.

They stood at irregular intervals, not bothering to form a line. One had chosen to hang back near the door, as if watching for any thing that might burst through. Two of them are leaders of their assigned team. One is a temporary replacement.

None of the teams escaped unscathed.

The blond boy, Jaune Arc, leader of Team JNPR, had always been a shy person, his lack of confidence covered up by a false front that was easily shattered. Weiss Schnee, and Cardin Winchester carried themselves with arrogance and confidence that betrayed fine breeding, although the aura of perfection Schnee possessed was not the same as the authority emitted by Winchester.

However now, an unremitting intensity radiates off Jaune Arc, a constant state of readiness. Any air of arrogance was gone from Weiss Schnee. Now she seemed subdued and uncertain. Her natural paleness and snow white hair made the girl look even more fragile than she previously was. Perhaps the absence of team RWBY's usual leader had affected her much greater than anticipated. Yet her cold blue eyes were alert and focused, burning with the fires that should not be seen in a child.

The promise of violence and hate now shrouded Cardin Winchester, ready to be unleashed at the moment's notice. His large frame further emphasized the air of brutality, and his normally well kept brown hair was now messy and unkempt. Team CRDL had suffered a huge blow from the mission, arguably the worst.

It was chastening to see children so changed by one failure. Ozpin regretted sending these children on that mission. Unexpected as it was, they had handled the situation remarkably. He felt pride towards his students, for they have performed exceptionally.

But at what cost?

'Arc, Schnee, Winchester.' Ozpin acknowledged their presence. He gestured to the three seats arranged in front of his ornate desk, 'Please, sit.'

Awkwardly, two students did as they were told. The situation did not suit them. While the students had changed back to their uniforms, their hands fell subconsciously to where their weapons would be. Cardin refused to sit at all, choosing to stand, his eyes darting to the entrance every few seconds.

'I have read the reports provided by each of you, and you have all done remarkably under the circumstances given.' Ozpin stated, his voice level as he leaned forward.

When the boys did not reply, Weiss spoke up, her voice barely a whisper, 'We failed.'

Ozpin nodded, 'True, though currently unimportant. Come, tell me what happened. I'll send for refreshments.'

'There is no need, sir.'

'Very well. I want to talk to the students that have sacrificed so much for such an important mission. It was unfair that the White Fang were involved, no one saw that coming.'

Cardin growled, his face twisting into a mask of rage. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it.

'Cardin…' Jaune hissed.

Ozpin held up a hand 'It's alright. Speak your mind, Winchester.'

Cardin hesitated.

'Was it worth it? Your students…our friends…was it worth it, Headmaster?' Cardin spat out Ozpin's title. 'This was your fault.'

'Cardin!' This time, Jaune shouted, standing up from his seat, 'Respect-'

'To hell with respect!' Cardin roared, turning to face Jaune as he advanced him, his fists balled and shaking. 'We lost people today and you expect me to respect the man who sent them to die?'

'Calm yourself, Cardin!' Weiss had bolted up from her seat, and was pushing Cardin back, attempting to restrain him. The vast size and strength difference between the pair was almost laughable, but it was enough for Cardin to snap out of his anger.

He looked away in shame, and stepped back, cursing under his breath. He dropped himself into a seat, and the others slowly followed suit.

Ozpin sighed. The young man's question was one he had not hoped to answer.

The Mission had gone wrong, despite Ozpin's careful calculation. While the White Fang was an unexpected development, the chances were good. However chance was something that is never set in stone. The package was taken, and there will be dire consequences. A team will have to be sent out to hunt and recover the package, although this time he won't be the one making the call.

'I made no mistake, Mr Winchester. But the casualties of my students will haunt me like it always had.' Ozpin allowed a sad smile to cross his face, 'As for the wounded, we spared no expenses.'

'Is Pyrrha notified?' Jaune asked, 'I need to tell her that her team is…'

Jaune hesitated, and did not finish his sentence. Ozpin saved him the trouble, 'Yes, she has. Her Airship is inbound for Beacon as we speak.'

A silent nod from Jaune indicated acknowledgement.

'All of you did admirably, despite mission failure.' Ozpin reassured, 'The package will be recovered in due time, but-'

'Are we just acceptable losses…?' Jaune muttered as he cut Ozpin off, he smirked mockingly as he said so.

'There is no such thing, Mr Arc,' Ozpin said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, 'I know what all of you are feeling right now. Every Hunter has to go through it at one point.'

'Then,' Weiss hesitated, 'will you at least tell us what we bled for?'

Ozpin closed his eyes. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't. The contents were classified for a reason. How the White Fang found out was beyond him at the point, but that was a problem for another time.

Weiss took the Headmaster's silence as denial. She simply hung her head, like a disappointed child. They accepted his silence, of which Ozpin is grateful of.

'Sir…' Jaune spoke up, ' before we continue.'

'What is it?'

'Promise us. Never ask our teams to do such a thing again.'

He looked into the eyes of his students. The eyes told everything Ozpin needed to know. He drank in the details, and the emotions they conveyed. He was getting too old for this.

Conflict, hate, sorrow, anger, determination he saw it all. He could read much of a person's state simply by the eyes alone. Ozpin knew all too well, after the last mission, these children are children no longer.

Ozpin nodded. It was a simple request. He could comply.

'On my life, I promise,' He straightened his back, and watched as his students mirrored his actions. 'Now, from the beginning. tell me everything.'

No one saw the attack coming, despite their best efforts. The Mission was to guard a train shipment, carry a vital package for the higher ups in Atlas. To the layman, the train cutting through the forest of Forever Fall was business as usual. What the layman would not know is the presence of three groups Hunters in training, disguised as train crew. The mission was to simply ride out the train into Atlas territory, where the men of General Ironwood would be there to secure the package.

Goodwitch herself has reassured the team, if the Grimm were to attack the train, the automated defense systems would be more than enough. Outdated as it was, the AK-103 droids were sufficient enough to handle even a small army of Grimm.

But it was not the Grimm that had set their sights on the train.

AN: Hello all. First FF here, so let me know what you think in the reviews.

Let it be said that the quality will fluctuate depending on how much brain juice I have. English is not my first language, so feel free to fire away at mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.