A/N: Happy New Year!


1700 Hours
Vale River
Beacon Academy

Beneath the boats docked at the school port, the submersible passed in silence. It distanced itself from them and headed to a river cave situated beneath a waterfall. There in the gloom it surfaced, and the hatch swung open with a pressurised hiss.

The agent inside gathered his suitcase and climbed out. He wore a full-body waterproof suit and strapped climbing gear on his hands and feet. He swam out of the cave and stared at the cliff looming high above him. Without hesitation he walked up to the wet stone and began scaling it. The mist rising from the waterfall served to conceal his ascent, and he reached the top in twenty minutes.

Surveying his surroundings, the agent ensured his isolation. Moving behind a nearby bush, he shed his stealth gear and put them in his briefcase, revealing the dry, traditional dapper suit and tie outfit he was wearing underneath. Keeping low to the ground, he sneaked towards Beacon, a dozen meters off to his right.

After slipping past the perimeter guards, he peeked over an enormous rock hill and found himself some distance away from the main avenue. Upon closer observation, he noticed a commotion. Pulling out a pair of spyglasses from his pocket, he discerned what was happening.

A fight between two individuals had broken out. One, a caped man with a massive blade, fighting well despite his inebriated state. The other, a female Atlesian specialist of some description, fighting with a dueling saber. He watched as the two took their fight further down the avenue, damaging portions of the main path. Then he watched as General Ironwood, Ozpin and Glynda all arrived at the scene to end the brawl. Using this distraction, he inserted himself into the crowd of visitors and moved into the campus towards his objective: the Beacon Tower.

1730 Hours
Beacon Academy
Ozpin's Office

Ozpin, Glynda, Ironwood and Qrow were all gathered around the headmaster's table. Winter Schnee had just left, but the discussion wasn't over.

"So you tell me James," Qrow ranted. "When you brought your army to Vale, did you think did you think you were being discreet, or did you just not give a damn!?"

"Discreet wasn't working." Ironwood replied. He placed his scroll down on Ozpin's table, and a hologram of Beacon Academy, Vale, the Colosseum and the Atlesian Fleet appeared at the center of the room.

"Yes well, seeing as how Qrow brazenly demolished the campus on arrival, I doubt he's the best person to discuss discretion right now."

The four were surprised to hear another voice in the room with them, despite it being clear that there was nowhere in the office to hide.

"My sincerest apologies for letting myself in, Professor Ozpin," Said the voice. The wall next to the elevator shimmered and revealed a debonair man with wild, swept-back white hair and a crisp black suit, his briefcase behind his feet. His right hand was tinkering with a device on his left wrist; a high-tech cloaking device. He'd been standing there even before the others arrived.

"But it's in all of our best interest that I remain undetected." He took his briefcase and walked out of the shadows towards them.

"Nigel," Said Ozpin. "We weren't expecting you."

Nigel set his briefcase on the table and opened it, revealing it to be a laptop computer.

"Sorry to cut the pleasantries short, but we need to get down to business. That infiltrator, as Qrow and I have confirmed, is the same individual responsible for Fall's predicament."

"Where were you anyway?" Qrow asked, opening his flask for another sip.

"Had a few more ditties to settle before I could regroup. Let's just say things got dicey."

"Are you absolutely sure about the person?" Glynda asked.

"I've intercepted some rather telling messages and characters over the course of my investigation, and they all seem to indicate that the heart of the conspiracy is focused around Beacon."

Ironwood interjected, refusing to believe it. "How could they slip through my heightened security?"

"Haven't you all taken a retrospection at the events that have been happening? Heightened crime rate, White Fang activity on the rise, the breach of the CCT, the recent Grimm incursion after the arrival of additional international military forces, all of which preceding the Vytal Festival? These things don't just happen out of coincidence. There is a plan in motion and we're all pawns in it."

"Nigel I know you can be overzealous. Your boys get that from you. But with my additional forces, our enemies wouldn't dare make a move."

Qrow took this moment to laugh sardonically. "You think they're scared of your little ships? We've been out there and we've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you - they are fear."

"And fear will bring the Grimm." Ozpin stood up. "A guardian is a symbol of comfort. But an army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a question in the back of everyone's minds. If this is the size of our defenses, what is it we're expecting to fight?"

Ironwood sighed and took his scroll, causing the hologram to vanish.

"So then, what would you suggest we do?"

"I suggest we find our guardian." The headmaster replied.

While everyone was turned to Ozpin, Nigel's eyebrow twitched as he noticed his computer detecting something odd. Quickly he closed his briefcase.

"And while you're out looking for this guardian of yours, I shall be continuing my mission here at Beacon. With any luck I can root out this menace before the hammer falls on us all. Professor Ozpin, I will need complete access to your network."

"Alright Nigel. I'm confident you'll keep your operations under wraps."

The agent moved to the elevator. "It is my first priority." As he entered the elevator, he swung around and saluted. "Cheerio." Ozpin nodded as the doors closed in front of him.

"But first," Nigel thought to himself. "It's time to pay the lads a visit."

-
Beacon Academy Fairgrounds
1800 Hours

Team SKPR returned to the fairground after Team SSSN defeated Team NDGO. There were a few more hours of sunlight remaining, so they spent their time eating and playing among the numerous game stalls scattered throughout. Currently they were at a shooting gallery, dominating it to earn Private a large plush unicorn for his collection. In many respects it was everyone else who were more at risk, as the boys' affinity for shooting could easily spiral into mayhem. But their trained discipline, honed by a semester of Atlesian Academy training, kept everyone safe.

After they handed Private the plush toy, a beeping sound emanated from Kowalski's wrist. He pulled up his arm to show a blinking red bulb on his watch and showed it to Skipper.

The leader proclaimed. "Analysis."

"It's an incandescent bulb, designed to indicate something out of the ordinary, like an alarm."

"I find it pretty and somewhat hypnotic. But what does it mean, soldier?"

"Our room's security systems have been triggered."

"That ain't going to fly! Rico, engage emergency recall!"

Rico regurgitated a high-tech foldable skateboard and dropped it on the ground, where it proceeded to unfurl to full size, revealing a pair of rear thrusters.

The four boys leaped on as Kowalski pressed a button on his device, and instantly the four zoomed down the path. With Skipper at the lead, they faced the challenge of navigating through a crowded fairground at high speed.

They swerved left and right as passersby dodged to avoid them. Some shouted, but they moved too fast to even register. Then Skipper gave out an order. "Go all terrain!"

They leaped up onto the roof of a stall and continued from their elevated position, riding and grinding along the roofs to avoid any further accidents. Once they cleared the fairgrounds, they leaped back down to ground level and hit the turbo all the way back to their dormitory.

Stopping at the main doors, the four took up formation, but without their weapons they readied for close-quarters combat. In their team battle stance they carefully went up the stairs and approached their door. Splayed against the wall, the team was on stand by as Skipper unlocked the door with their keycard. Then he passed a hand signal to Rico, who quickly regurgitated a flashbang, who handed it to his leader.

Skipper lightly tossed it the grenade into their room. The four looked away as it exploded and swooped inside immediately after it burst. The room was unlit, so Private went to turn on the lights.

As Private reached out to flick the switch, he was kicked down to the floor by an unseen force. His grunts of pain were heard by his brothers, who looked back to see the open door close on its own accord behind the floored Private. Panicking, Rico broke their battle stance by instinctively regurgitating a dozen weapons, among which was a stink bomb. In the mayhem, none could stop the stink bomb from exploding, so its foul stench quickly flooded their dorm.

"Rico!" Skipper shouted while coughing. "That was an unauthorized detonation!"

Kowalski rushed to open the window to let the gas out. Among the coughing was a louder, older-sounding cough, not coming from any of the four boys.

"Well that's certainly one way to deter a sneak attack." The voice said.

Private got up and finally turned on the lights. Nigel shimmered into visibility in front of his nephews, and greeted them with a smoothness to his voice.

"Hello, lads!"

Private quickly leaped over and wrapped his arms around his uncle, while Skipper, Kowalski and Rico saluted to recognize their commanding officer.

"I saw your match today. Brilliant coordination! I see the Academy has not hammered out your individuality for Atlesian protocol."

"Good to see you too, sir." Skipper replied.

"What brings you here Uncle Nigel?" The happy Private asked.

Nigel double-checked their dorm, locking the doors and shutting the windows. After making sure that they had absolute privacy, he took out his briefcase computer from under Private's bed. He spoke with an urgency in his voice.

"Well lads, that's classified. I can't give you the full details, but if you think you're up to it, your skills would be most valuable."

The four boys saluted.

"At your command!" Skipper proclaimed.

"That's what I was hoping to hear." Nigel smiled. He pointed to each of them as he gave out orders.

"Skipper, since you'll be heading to the doubles round, you'll have to take Rico with you. I require Kowalski's computer skills for this mission."

"Affirmative." The leader replied. Rico was overjoyed with the opportunity to get into the arena again.

"And me, Uncle Nigel?" Private stepped up.

"Private, my boy, for now you're on reserve. But can we count on your espionage skills when the time comes?"

"Wait I'm confused." He pondered.

Nigel ruffled his nephew's hair. "We're in a strict need-to-know basis here, lad! The less you know about the finer details, the better. But don't worry, you'll be kept in the loop in due time. Now I must ask you again: Can I call upon your skills in the covert sector?"

"Yes sir!" Private's enthusiasm returned.

"Excellent! Now all of you, get some rest. The mission begins tomorrow at dawn."


A/N: Sorry it took so long. So many external distractions, like Legendary skins and stupid holiday plans.