Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or any related properties please don't sue me! Now if yall want to use what I put in go for it!
"Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back."― Heraclitus
A RWBY universe story
The 8th squad: The tunnels of Mountain Glenn
Sargent Cobalt Bale opened his eyes to the early morning darkness in his room, glancing over to his alarm clock his pale gray eyes focused in on the floating numbers. He already knew what it was going to say zero fourth thirty, the same time he had for the past four years he had woken. It something left over from his days at the Vale Military Forces boot camp just after his dismissal from Beacon Academy. He pushed back the memory as he ran a hand through his short auburn hair setting up in bed clicking his room's lights on with a touch of his scroll pad.
Cobalt rolled out of his bed stretching out as his feet walking across the cold tile floor, rubbing the sleep from his eyes making his way to his wall locker. He opened it up pulling out his black eighth squad shirt workout shirt and workout pants pulling them on. He looked himself over in the mirror, the black shirt had the squad's block letter eight along with his name and three upside down chevrons. It still surprised him every time he saw the chevrons even after two years of being the squad's sergeant. When he first started he thought just a two year stent then go back to helping with his family's bakery. That had all changed for him after the first few missions and now leading a squad he was committed lifer now. He looked down at his scroll as he pulled his running shoes out of his locker, seeing it lighting up with dozens of mass messages from the VMF command all dealing with the breach from two days ago.
Cobalt has been in the unit wide squad briefings after the breach at the old Mountain Glenn tunnel system that came as a surprise for everyone. No one ever thought that the White Fang group would use such a tactic or had the means to do it. It was only thanks to a group of Beacon academy students and their instructors that the Grimm that had infiltrated the city where taken out. The Vale military had been completely caught off guard by the attack and where to slow to react to the situation. That was when the Atlas military stepped in to "save the day" by the time Cobalt and his team had arrived it was mainly help pick up the pieces. Adding insult to injury the Vale counsel had decided that the Vytal Festival security was to be handled by the Atlas military, with the Vale military only providing minimal support.
A knock at Cobalt's door shook him out of his daze as he slipped on his shoes, he already knew who it was his squad mate and constant running partner Indigo White. Indigo stood at his door clad in the same workout outfit, with a small waist bag on her hip. Her ears perked up and tail wagging happily as she pressed her chest out showing off the two new white stripes under her name. She had finally made corporal after their last action in the agricultural district, and was to be the assistant squad leader when they reached their full strength. Cobalt knew that it was even more meaningful to her. As one of the few faunus that served the promotion was a sign to others that their where not any differences when you put the uniform on.
Indigo stretched out flexing her fingers "Well ready to go boss? The place is a bit crowed and looks like some poor reservists are out their sweating under second regiment's tutelage." She said as Cobalt locked the door behind him entering the squad's barracks.
"Well better they sweat now, than bleed later…wow I remember hating that phrase in boot," Cobalt said shaking his head as they passed by the closed doors of his fellow squad members. The barracks where nice for all the active duty personnel, a ten room building with a kitchen and small open living room style area for the weeks they spent here on base.
"As long as they learn to shoot straight, all that matters to me I remember helping them training last year. At least after my training they had an eighty percent passing rate," Indigo said with a little shrug as they left the building the cold morning air hitting them.
Cobalt and Indigo started with a few quick stretches then began their run across the base to the main entrance flag pole. The Vale Military Forces base was by no means the biggest base in all of Remnant, with the kingdoms in a time of peace it had been reduced down to a small peninsula of land on the south west side of the industrial district. Their where rows of barracks for the three full time regiments with their support personnel, buildings for their motor and airship pool, along with their training grounds.
Cobalt knew on a normal day the facility was usually only half full but, with the recent events and the Vytal Festival almost here the Vale counsel had called up all the Vale city reserve units. Now roughly three thousand personnel where running around the base, most just support or tech personnel still it gave the base a cramped feeling.
Cobalt and Indigo ran around a formation of struggling reservist as they were making an early morning march towards the training grounds. After two miles Cobalt tried to keep pace with Indigo but, seeing the end goal in sight she powered on ahead.
"No fair..you..and your natural skill." Cobalt managed to huff out as she slapped the pole with the Vale kingdom flag on top of it. "No excuses, you need to stop doing all that paperwork and come running more. Hey why are they here?" Indigo said digging into her waist bag tossing Cobalt a bottle of water pointing over towards the main gate.
As Cobalt caught the bottle he looked over seeing three Atlas military vehicles moving into the base and driving off. "No clue, bad enough their doing the security for the festival now we got to share our space with them." Cobalt said as he took a long drink from the bottle feeling his scroll vibrating in his pocket. He looked down at the screen seeing that it was the company's commanding officer Captain Amber Jade, and quickly pushed the butting seeing her face come onto the screen.
Captain Jade was five foot six with short amber hair. Her bangs sloped forward to her chin on that showed off the sharp features of her face. A pair of dark blue eyes where behind her dark framed glasses, "Sargent Bale, there will be a briefing in command room in twenty, we have an operation tomorrow." she was dressed in the light blue dress uniform her silver square bars on her collar a matching garrison hat on top.
"Yes Ma'am be there in ten, hey you got any clue what the Atlas guys are doing at the base?" Cobalt asked as he looked away for a moment seeing indigo stretching. Cobalt knew it was an act as he could see her hears twitching towards him listening in as Jade responded
"That will be part of the briefing, I'm not too happy with it either but they will be gone tomorrow if all goes well. Also I hate to do this to you but I am assigning new squad member to you this morning, a private Cyan Carrigan. She is to be your new communications expert, and should be arriving this morning." Jade said as a screen popped up next to her showing the portrait of a woman.
From the picture Cobalt could see that Cyan still had that young fresh faced look to her most had when they entered the military. She had white hair tied up a bun, with a pair of mixed colored eyes of blue and brown.
"Ah ah fresh meat! Hey think that is her by the gate," Indigo piped up from behind Cobalt before she began to run off towards the gate. Cobalt looked up to see Cyan checking in at the main gate, to his surprise she was a tall lanky woman that towered over Indigo's petite form.
"Try to go easy on her, see you in the briefing" Jade said as her picture disappeared on the scroll as Cobalt looked up to see Indigo and Cyan jogging over. Cyan was struggling with a large duffle bag over her shoulder with another in her other hand as she came to attention saluting quickly,
"Private Carrigan reporting for duty sergeant Bale!" Cyan said enthusiastically her voice had a slight accent to it that Cobalt could not place.
Cobalt saluted back looking her over for a moment, "Ok private Carrigan welcome to the squad. Normally we would get you integrated in better but, we have a mission tomorrow. Hope you're ready for an interesting first day," Cobalt said.
"Yes Sargent Bale I'll be ready to go!," Cyan said enthusiastically even if their was a slight quiver in her voice.
"Also when not on mission just being here call me Cobalt, Indigo here will get you set up in the barracks alright," Cobalt said with a smile and a soft nod to Indigo.
Indigo had a grin on her face as she said "Cobalt, do we at least introduce her to lord Monty?". Cobalt smiled back crossing his arms looking at Cyan,
"Yep we can't skip that tradition, no worry's Cyan lord Monty's a good guy," Cobalt said with a soft tap on Cyan's shoulder as he started to run back towards the barracks.
Cyan stood their for a moment a look of confusion on her face, "Umm..w..who is lord Monty?". Indigo just gave a grin back as she picked up one of Cyan's bags "Oh you'll find out in a moment, lets go rookie…"
Cobalt stood in the back of the briefing room, their where a few scattered chairs around a large projection table in the middle of the room. The room was packed with all of the third regiment's squad leaders, and a few of the reserve squad leaders. The literal white elephant in the room was the one white armored clad Atlas soldier sitting alone near the projection table. He had bored look about him and was obviously not happy to be here. The room came to attention as captain Jade walked in setting her scroll down on the viewer, and giving a wave of her hand everyone in the room sat back down.
With a few taps of her scroll the projection table lit up showing a map schematic with the words "Mountain Glenn tunnel system" above it. Captain Jade held the scroll close as she began to speak as the lights in the room dimmed.
"As we all know two days ago there was a breach from the old Mountain Glenn tunnel system that allowed various Grimm to enter the city proper. They were beaten back by Beacon academy students and their instructors with the hole being sealed up by Huntress Goodwitch," The screen began to flash back to the footage of the Beacon students and instructors fighting the Grimm in the city as Jade spoke.
"While this is a good temporary measure the tunnel it is still open for Grimm or another force to infiltrate the same way. The Vale counsel has ordered that the tunnel be collapsed completely and we will be the ones to do it. The operation will consist of two forces, the tunnel force and the surface force." With a few more taps of her hand the screen split into two images, showing the long tunnel along with a large hole out beyond the wall.
"The Tunnel team mission will be to enter the tunnel, placing demolition charges at key points along the seven mile stretch to the first entrance hole. It will be led by myself, with third regiment's second and eighth squads along with two reserve units from the fourth. Sargent Bale you will be the senior squad leader and in charge if something happens to me." Before Jade could continue their as a audible cough from the Atlas military soldier, Jade narrowed her eyes a bit before continuing.
"As a show of kingdom solidarity, the tunnel team will also be accompanied by one of the Atlas military's Atlesian Paladin-290 pilots and a few of their new Atlesian Knight -200's. This is Lieutenant Gray he will be assisting us with clearing the tunnel of any Grimm that may still remain down there," Cobalt watched as he stood up. Gray had a medium build to him with short cropped brown hair. He had a boyish round face and dark eyes that made him look like he was fresh from the academy.
"According to our simulations we ran, we should be able to clear the tunnel out with minimal contact in three hours. That was of course just using our robots and one of the two ninety's," Gray said in a slightly high pitched voice before he sat down with a smug look. Jade peered at him intensely tapping a finger impatiently on her scroll,
"We thank you for that analysis and assistance in our effort. Now.." she waved her hand across her scroll the picture changing to an overhead view of a large hole out in a forest.
"The surface force will be led by the rest of third regiment, they will secure the hole that is closest from the Vale city wall. That will be the extraction point for the tunnel team, our estimates is for a total clear out in four hours even with heavy contact. Any questions at this time?" Jade said looking around the room at all the squad leaders.
One of the squad leaders raised his hand as Jade looked over at him, "Are we getting any huntsmen or huntress support?" he said. Jade shook her head slowly "Not this time, this is to be a strictly military operation,"
Cobalt raised his hand as Jade looked over to him giving a soft nod of her head "Regarding our Atlesian ally, Lieutenant Gray how many Grimm operations do you have you undertaken?" Cobalt said as everyone turned to look at Gray. Gray's face blanched a bit as he stood up looking at Cobalt,
"I have been in over three hundred simulations, including this operations more than six simulations. "He said softly.
"I was asking about operations, not simulations. " Cobalt responded but, already knew the answer before Gray could speak.
"I have not been on any, but my commanders have every faith in me that will perform as needed." Gray said as his eyes met Cobalt's coldly. Their where a few scant muttering around the room between the squad leaders, and a few shaking their heads. Cobalt held his stair as Gray broke off and sat back down as Jade spoke up,
"Alright on your feet!" the chairs scraped on the floor as the room as a whole stood up at attention as Jade continued.
"Now I have send all squad leaders the data needed for the operation tomorrow to your scrolls. All teams will mount up in the morning, use this time to get anything you need for the mission. Dismissed!" The room yelled back "Fight back the darkness! For Vale!" as Jade made her way out the door.
Cobalt mingled for a moment with his fellow squad leaders discussing the mission to come as Gray approached him.
"Sargent Bale, I believe it to be more proper way to ask of an officer's experience in more of a private setting than a briefing," Gray said crossing his arms standing back from the group.
"Well Sir..its just to get a base line of exactly who you are. Where not use to having such "help" in our operations. Most of us have fought Grimm before, it's much more different than any simulation can provide," Cobalt said curtly.
"I highly doubt that, Atlas has some of the most prevalent data regarding the grim that goes into our training. More than I can say from what I have seen from here, it's clear to me to see why now where doing the security for the Vytal Festival," Gray said with a smirk shaking his head.
Cobalt knew better than to get goaded into this debate "And…as the official line is where happy to have your help. Now if you will excuse me, we have to get our squads ready. You know the ones with well real combat experience," Cobalt said with a smile as he and this fellow squad leaders turned their backs to him sharply.
"Excuse me Sargent's I believe you are supposed to salute before leaving," Gray said watching them walking away. "You're not in our chain of command, Sir." One of the squad leaders called back to him shaking his head going back to their own conversation. Gray stood there for a moment fuming before leaving the room, determined now to show these dated soldiers what he could do.
Cyan looked over at Indigo through her helmet visor, she stood in the squads living area at attention. Cyan was fully suited up in her armor, rifle, communications backpack and equipment looking nervously at Lu, Aero and Vermillion. The group had a smile as Indigo had a large metal dust ammo box in her hand with the words, "Lord Monty" spray painted on the side. Indigo set the box down and slowly opened it pulling out a large stuffed red rooster with a pair of comical teeth embroided on its chest.
"Now as squad tradition this is our mascot Lord Monty. You will treat lord Monty with respect at all times. You will not drop Lord Monty, get him dirty or mistreat Lord Monty. Understand?" Indigo said with a smile as she placed the stuffed toy into Cyan's hands. Cyan handled it carful giving a soft nod,
"I..I will," Cyan said softly looking back at Indigo. "Now to show your undying loyalty to the squad and more importantly Lord Monty. You should exalt his greatness to the world by running around the barracks area three times shouting "Lord Monty is the best!" Indigo said with another bright smile as Cyan blanched a bit.
"I need to do..what?" Cyan said looking over at Indigo as she yelled "Ready go! Go! Go!" giving Cyan a gentle push towards the door as Lu,Aero and Vermillion joined in yelling "Go! Go! Go!". Cyan gave a little cry as they pushed her out the door, holding Lord Monty over her head to keep it from falling in the dirt. Cyan started to run all the while yelling out "Lord Monty is the best!". The commotion had caused several soldiers to come out watching Cyan running around, some shouting on with her "Lord Monty is the best!" as she ran on by.
Cobalt came back from the briefing watching the scene with a small smile watching Cyan making another lap yelling out as others cheered her on. Cobalt came over to the squads barracks as Indigo shouted out over the gathering crowd "Last lap!" as Cyan ran by still yelling. Cobalt could not help but chuckle a bit looking at all this as Cyan came up to them panting holding the stuffed toy up.
Cobalt took to toy from Cyan as other soldiers crowed around her, Indigo tossed one of them a folded up unit flag. One of the soldiers unfolded the regiment's flag holding it out in front of Cyan, it was a large shield outlined in gold, on a black background. A pair of silver crossed swords, and a torch in the middle of it with the units motto on bottom, "Fight back the darkness" in delicate scroll script.
"Third regiment we have a new addition to eight squad. This is Private Cyan Carrigan give her a welcome," Cobalt said as the soldiers picked Cyan up in the unit flag as she gave a little surprised yell. They tossed her up as a group a few times catching her in the flag yelling out the unit motto "Fight back the darkness!" as they set her down clapping.
Cobalt watched as Cyan's cheeks blushed a bit as she stood up among the crowd someone handing the flag to her. Cyan was giving her thanks to all of them, shaking hands and getting friendly slaps on her shoulder. Making Cobalt remember back to when he was introduced to the unit, he smiled gently for a moment before he yelled out,
"Alright alright, come on now squad briefing in five," Cobalt said turning and walking into the barracks. Cobalt knew the elation would not last, there was a job to be done tomorrow and it was going to be a hard one.
Cobalt took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air blowing it out slowly watching it mist in front of him as he watched the ground vehicles lining up. Cobalt knew his squad was ready but, as normal they went through a final check on each other. It was much to work off the nervous pre-mission jitters as to make sure everything they needed was properly secured to their bodies. They all did a few quick jumps checking for noise, one or two tightening down a loose piece of equipment before they patted each other down.
They formed back up as Cobalt went down the line checking his squad, Lu was as always looking like the calm mountain readying for the storm. Aero had an anxiousness about him, just wanting to get this started. Indigo was looking indifferent to the whole situation as she re-counted the magazines on her belt. Vermillion was taking a few short breaths before recounting the bandages in his spare medical bag as Cobalt approached,
"Boss got a bad feeling about this one, "Vermillion whispered as Cobalt checked over the rest of his gear.
"I know, cool head steady hands right?" Cobalt said as the medic strapped the spare back to his side as Cobalt giving him a reassuring slap on the shoulder. Vermillion smirked and gave a little nod as Cobalt moved over to check on Cyan. Cyan was checking over the scroll attached to her arm then to her radio set she had attached on her backpack. Cobalt could hear Cyan muttering the radio codes over and over again until she looked up surprised to see him standing in front of her.
"Nervous?" Cobalt asked her directly as he checked her gear over, feeling a little wobble in her rifle magazine he tapped it in place. "Yes sarg..I mean yes Cobalt, but I won't let the squad down," Cyan said softly taking a deep breath.
"You'll do fine just stick close to me, if I got to go somewhere stick close to Indigo we'll get you through it. First mission is always the hardest," Cobalt said with a smile as his head set cracked to life. "All squads load up," Jades voice came in as they rushed to the vehicles climbing into the back and settling down into the seats. Cobalt took one last look as the back hatch closed up and the vehicle jerked into motion. Overhead the roar of the bullhead engines could be heard, as they rumbled out the main gate into the city proper.
The ride was short as they soon pulled up into the plaza where the breach occurred, Cobalt and his squad piling out of the back of the armored vehicles to the flash of police lights. The police had cordoned off the area leaving the plaza deserted with the exception of the military vehicles. Cobalt and his team quickly ran into position, they would be one of the front two squads with the reserves guarding the rear. Lieutenant Jade and her squad would be in the center with the large Atlesian Paladin leading the way. As the other soldiers quickly dismounted forming up quickly into their defensive ring just the large Atlesian Paladin-290 stomped off its trailer. The squads parted as large bipedal mech made its way to the front of the formation its small escort of Atlesian Knight -200's marching alongside it.
"Everyone ready?" Cobalt said over his head set as his squad unslung their weapons, loading and chambering them in response. Cobalt looked over to his left and right along the line seeing that everyone was focused. Cobalt saw Cyan shake a bit leaning over to whisper into her ear,
"Take the safety off, calm down you'll do fine,". Cyan gave a small nod flicking the safety off her rifle taking another small slow breath as she did.
"Everyone get ready, huntress Goodwitch is about to re-open the hole you are green light on any targets that may come out," Lieutenant Jade said over the radio, as Cobalt stiffened a bit. Cobalt turned his head to see Glynda Goodwitch stride confidently in front of the group, her riding crop in hand she slowly began to thrust it in a slow circle. With a slow rumble Cobalt watched the pieces of concreate parted and broke apart leaving a large hole in the ground causing dust scattering into the air.
As the dust cleared the Lieutenant Gray's Atlesian Paladin stomped forward, gun arms tracking back and forth as the smaller androids rushed ahead. "All clear," Cobalt heard over the radio as the large mech ducked into the hole.
"All squads advance, call out all contacts before engaging first demolition port is one kilometer a head," Lieutenant Jade said over the radio as Cobalt and the other squad leader started to move head in a long line. As they moved towards the hole Cobalt glanced over at Glynda seeing recognition flash across her face for a brief moment.
"You should come see me some time stu…sergeant Bale," Glynda said quickly as Cobalt passed by her.
"When I'm ready to Huntress Goodwitch," Cobalt said as he came by her entering the tunnel.
As soon as the last of the group was in the tunnel, the hole behind them closed plunging the group into darkness as Indigo looked over at Cobalt, tapping on her head set to a private line, "Hey boss what was that about?" Indigo said softly.
"Mission first, don't worry about it," Cobalt said back shutting the line down as they marched down a muddy incline. Beams of light started to search out in the murky darkness from under their rifle barrels, as they walked down to the base of the rail line. The group reformed up passing half destroyed rail cars with debris scattered around them, up ahead the Paladin lifted up one of the turned over cars clearing a path. Cobalt heard Cyan suddenly gasp her light falling on a few scattered Grimm masks with dried red splashes on them.
Indigo came forward kneeling down to pick one up, "White Fang masks…guess they did not get out such a shame.." Indigo said over the radio before she dropped the mask spitting on it as her tail flicked angrily behind her.
"No complaints their but, where the hell are the bodies?" Aero chimed in as they kept walking forward fanning out into their defensive line.
"Claw marks on the ground, red splashes even a bright guy like you can figure that one out," Vermillion said as he moved around where one of the said red splashes.
"Everyone cut the chatter, ears and eyes open," Cobalt said into his radio as the squad got quiet rifles raised up each one of them searching around the wide expanse. The large group kept walking slowly through the tunnel expanse for the next three hours, with only a few false alarms from excitable reservists. Every time they stopped to place charges they expected to encounter the Grimm, but none had shown as of yet. Yet the tension in the group kept mounting as the longer they walked, the silence, the lack of an enemy kept them guessing at each shadow their weapon lights ran across.
"All squads halt, Gray one why are you not stopping?" Captain Jade commanded over the radio, as the two forward squads came to a halt as one. Up ahead Cobalt could see Lieutenant Gray's paladin kept marching head, with no lights on the Paladin it and its robot escort soon vanished into the darkness.
"I am simply scouting forward..wait..contact ita a..!," Gray's voice said over the radio net as he cut out only the sound of as his heavy mech's guns started to fire sending echoes down the tunnel ahead. Ahead in the sudden explosions of light Cobalt could see the outlines of Grim advancing, followed by the rapid fire of the smaller Atlesian Knight's.
Cyan was breathing heavily next to him and asked "W… happens now?" as she aimed her rifle out into the tunnel.
"Now the fighting starts," Cobalt said softly as he aimed down his rifle into the inky blackness.
To Lieutenant Gray this operation was turning out to be more of a field trial than the battle that the simulations projected. The whole thing had yet to even produce a skirmish, aside from the jumpy Vale troopers the mission was a bore to him. The constant marching along for the past few hours had made him zone out a bit, staring passively at his scanners. He made sure to keep at his thirty meters interval front of the two lead squads. Hoping that he would be the first to see the dreaded Grimm, but more importantly make his first kill.
Gray was determined to show these people what the future was. Lightly armored troops, huntsmen and huntresses where the old way. The new suit mech suits and robots where the future the solution at least in his mind. When the halt was called he barely registered to him in his zoned out state but, what did snap him out of the apathy as the scanners finally got a hit. Gray pressed the control petals forward pushing out ahead of the group.
"Gray one why are you not stopping?" It was the annoying Captain Jade on his coms her high pitched voice made Gray grit his teeth when it came over his helmet.
"I am simply scouting forward..wait..contact its a..!," Gray said quickly as his scanners lit up with contacts. Gray looked up his scanners showing the green low light vision of groups of Beowolf's and Boarbatusk's heading their way. As soon as the computer locked in on the first group, Gray started to fire seeing the grimm getting blown into small chunks with each press of his trigger. Gray quickly sent a command to his robot escort to start firing as well, letting their own AI systems take over as they joined in on the fight.
"Watch and learn you obsolete army, this is how it is really done. Just like in the simulator." Gray whispered to himself as he targeted another group and fired watching them disappear in a haze of dust. Gray just smiled as he kept firing as some of the grimm managed to rush past,
"See I'll even let you think you're doing something," Gray said with another smile that quickly vanished as the sensor picked up movement from above him. Gray managed to look up the camera's tracking his helmet's movement, to see the coiled up solid black body of a King Taijitu descend upon him.
The fight was short but, fierce in its intensity as along the line of the two forward squad's gun fire erupted. Small groups of Grimm flashed in their rifle lights before being cut down, only to have more take their place. As Cobalt sighted in on another rushing Beowolf, sending two quick bursts into its chest dropping the creature only to have another clamber over it. A single shot from Indigo's rifle knocked its head back sending it tumbling to the ground, as she switched to another target firing again. Cyan hesitated for a moment by startled by the sudden clamor of gunfire, seeing a beowolf rushing towards her she gunned it down in a long spray of gunfire. Lu at the far end of their portion of the line, let out a steady stream of fire, his machine gun cutting down a group of three in the short spray.
"Boarbatusk charging! Look out doc!" Aero yelled out as a few of his rounds glanced off the boardtusk's armored face as it charged suddenly. Vermillion was switching over to fire at the charging grimm but, was knocked over. As Vermillion tried to get back on his feet, the grimm quickly pouncing on top of him bearing its teeth snapping at his face. Vermillion struggled keeping his rifle pressed between him and its snapping jaws trying to reach down for his belt knife.
Aero gunned down another charging boardusk before switching over the one on top of Vermillion trying to get a clean shot. Vermillion pushed back with one hand on his rifle as he snatched his knife from his belt, yelling out as he stabbed the boarbatusk through one its red blinking eyes. With a twist of his knife the boardtusk let out a low groan and collapsed on top of him unmoving as the Vermillion pulled the knife out with a grunt. A still silence suddenly filled the air as the gunfire stopped abruptly, Aero running over helping Vermillion up by kicking the evaporating corpse off.
"Close one doc," Aero said as he pulled Vermillion up the medic panting softly, "Told you bad feeling…" Vermillion responded as he whipped some errant drool off his rifle.
"Eighth squad sound off!" Colbalt said into his head set as he looked around checking on his surroundings. The replies came back one by one showing that his squad was ok, Cobalt turned to Cyan
"Report back no casualties from eighth, ready to proceed," Cobalt said quickly watching the Grimm bodies dissipating around them.
Cyan was shaking next to Cobalt, taking in sharp breaths still clutching her rifle, Cobalt put a hand on her shoulder.
"Cyan..You're alright,where alright send the message." Cyan blinked a few times before giving a short nod talking into her head set as his radio crackled to life with Jades voice. "All units fighting advance, surface team reports that there is a large group of grimm heading our way. Second and eighth squads do you have eyes on Gray one?"
Cobalt peered through the darkness trying to see the outline of the large paladin mech with the squads dancing lights as they started to advance.
"No eyes on command one, we are advancing," Cobalt said into his radio as they started to jog ahead. They quickly came across the first of the wrecked atlesian knight robot bodies, their white metal armored arms and legs torn to pieces. One was crushed against the wall still sparking, as the squads heard a large hiss ahead of them. They raised their guns lights dancing over the large black body of a King Taijitu wrapped around the large mech. The large thirty meter long snake like grim was snapping at the mech's cockpit, its white armored face slamming against it. The only thing keeping it from ripping the cock pit open was one of the mech's mechanical arm that kept bashing the head back.
"Open fire!" Cobalt yelled as he aimed for the creatures snapping head sending a burst along its white armored face one of its red eyes bursting. The squad responded at once taking carful aim at the creatures long body trying to avoid hitting the mech. Rounds hit the creature with thick heavy thumps as it quickly uncurled its self from the mech hissing out, quickly slithering towards them. Cobalt grabbed Cyan pulling her out of the way as the king Taijitu struck, the Grimm brushed passed him knocking him to the ground.
As Cobalt struggled to get back up, he saw the Taijitu's head turn towards him its mouth open ignoring the rounds from the squad's weapons hitting's its body. It suddenly stopped with an annoying sounding hiss as it was suddenly yanked back its head slamming into the ground. Cobalt quickly got to his feet firing from the hip at the large beast. He looked to see that Gray's mech had grabbed the Grimm's tail yanking it back smoke hissing from the mech's arms as it did.
"Kill the bloody thing already!" Gray yelled through the loudspeakers from the mech as the taijitu was trying to curl back towards him.
"Focus your fire on the head," Cobalt radioed to his squad as Lu's heavy machine gun raked up the Grimm's long body smacking into its head. Soon the squad's fire was slamming into the Taijitu's head rocking it back a dozen times before with a weak hiss escaped its jaw slamming into the ground. The Taijitu squirmed a few times as it died, Indigo and Aero each fired one last shot into its head as it began to evaporate.
"This is eight squad, we found gray one he's still…" Cobalt started to say into his radio before he was cut off.
"This is second squad there in our lines, came from a side tunnel we need help!" came a frantic voice as Cobalt looked over towards the second squad. The squad was on their left a scant thirty meter's away, but in the darkness Cobalt could see that some beowolf's had scattered into the formation.
"Eight squad assist second, I'm also sending some of my personnel from command one to that location as well," Captain Jade radioed in as Cobalt started to move.
"Indigo you're in charge, Cyan stay with her! Lu brought your ax buddy?" Cobalt yelled out to his squad as he started to jog, pulling his combat knife attaching it to the front of his rifle. Lu just gave a grin as he jogged alongside Cobalt, pulling the hand ax from his waist belt cradling the heavy machine gun in his other arm.
"A warrior never leaves without his personal weapon," Lu said calmly just before letting out a wild battle cry as they joined the fray.
Lieutenant Gray was panting inside of his cockpit taking in deep breaths to calm himself down. Sweat rand down the back of his neck as the screens around him flashed red with damage warnings, one being his climate control. Gray had the sudden realization of what was happing, he had almost died in the past few moments. Despite all his training Gray had gone through, the simulations, rigorous training in officer school could not have prepared him for this feeling.
Gray remembered in the simulations if you screwed up the simulation ended screen then you got another try. Not here not in a real battle, no do overs you were simply dead. Gray's rush of adrenalin was wearing off normalcy and fear was setting in. That was when Gray realized that he had urinated all over himself just before Sargent Bale's group came to his rescue. Ignoring the stink Gray looked up clearing out as many of the damaged screens as he could, trying to get a better grasp on the situation. Gray watched as Sargent Bale and one of his teammates rush over to the other squad, they clashed with a beowolf head on. The larger trooper next to Bale hacking away at the beast with an ax, before finishing it off with a burst from his machine gun. Sargent Bale ducked under a swipe from another, coming back up firing point blank into the beowolf the creature jerking back with each shot.
Another warning screen popped up in Gray's vision he had cleared out the screen just in time to see a Vale trooper get tossed through the air by a beowolf. Gray watched as the man hit the ground with a thud, zooming in on him seeing blood trickle from the side of his mouth. To Gray the man did not look that injured as he made a few slow movements, then he was just still. Gray watched as the skirmished ended with the last of the beowolf's went down in a hail of close shot gunfire, a medic ran over to the man on the ground.
The medic bend down checking him over then just shook his head, "Second squad here, threats down. We got one KIA private Almond, Richards," The radio call came over his internal speakers.
"Killed in action," Gray said softly to himself, it was the first time he had ever seen someone die in battle as he felt bile coming up this throat. Gray choked it back down with a sharp grasp, as he heard a banging resounding into his cockpit. Gray looked down to see the wolf faunus woman, stepping back,
"Hey point your guns that way, we still got bad things coming," She shouted as she moved back into line with the rest of her squad.
"I uhh..yea.." was all that Gray could manage to say as he moved the mech slowly one eye still on the downed man. Gray watched the medics pulled his rifle and placed him on a stretcher draping a dark sheet over him carrying him back to the center of the formation.
"All units continue the advance only one demolition points left. Gray one get in-between squads two and eight understand. Do not break from formation again, is that clear." Captain Jade's voice said into his helmet.
"Under stood ma'am.." Gray radioed back with a slow gulp his previous bravado gone now tempered by the somber experience.
Cobalt and Lu jogged back to their line as the whole group started to advance down the tunnel. Off in the near distance they could see a large poor of murky light from the blown open celling. Along with the distance pops and explosions of the surface team fighting above.
"Lu you're bleeding," Cobalt said seeing the long cut on the stout man's arm. Lu looked down and gave a little shrug,
"Pain is merely weakness leaving the body…that hurts.." Lu said letting out a little grown as Vermillion ran over pulling a bandage from his waist belt. The medic walked along side Lu tying the bandage tight pulling an injector out. Lu waved him away,
"No med's dock got to be focused," Lu said raising his heavy gun back up as Vermillion nodded getting back into the line.
"Boss Almond from second squad bought it," Vermillion said softly as Cobalt passed by him.
"I know, saw it happen just keep moving where almost through this," Cobalt said with a grimace as walked back into position. Cobalt glanced over to Lieutenant Gray's mech seeing it steaming and smoking from a few places, Cobalt tapped on his head set pulling up a private channel.
"That tin can of yours going to make it lieutenant?" Cobalt said into his head set keeping his eyes fixed ahead of him sweeping his sector.
"I…yes it should Sargent. I..y..you where right about this not being like a simulation I see that now." Gray said softly as he panned the mech left and right searching for targets. Cobalt let out a breath of air as they kept moving,
"Glad you understand that now…also thanks for the save back there," Cobalt said as he gave a soft nod towards the mech. Gray's mech just raised a sparking arm in acknowledgment as Cobalt's line was cut suddenly,
"Contact rear contact rear! The big group is coming up from behind us! How did they get.." a woman's voice cut in as gunfire erupted from the rear line.
"Contact front oh shit," Aero yelled as a roar echoed ahead of them. In the pool of light a group of ursa's scurried towards them, but what caught Cobalt's eye was the larger Ursa Major. The large grimm roared out again charging towards them as bot his and second squad started to fire. Gray's big mech guns joined in but only managed to cough out two shots before stopping,
"Malfunction, my guns are down so are missiles. Wait I got an idea," Gray said over the radio as his mech's gun arms changed into fists. Gray's mech suddenly charged forward Gray yelling out over the loudspeakers as he met the Ursa Major head on, slamming into each other with such force the ground shook around them. The titan of metal and the titan of flesh grappled with each other as the squads around them fired into the rushing hoard. Gray's mech strained as it pushed the Ursa Major back behind the hole's opening into the dark, the two trading blows in the darkness.
Cobalt fired at a rushing ursa cutting one its legs, before shooting it center mass blasting it back as the radio hissed into his ear "Bale how is it looking at the front, where almost done setting the last of the charges." Captain Jade said as Cobalt heard his gun go dry. Cobalt quickly switched over to his pistol firing it into the Ursa's head watching it finally die,
"It's a bit sporting right now captain we can hold the opening," Cobalt replied as he hosted his pistol quickly switching the magazine in his rifle.
"I'm splitting my command element up, I's sending lead squads and the rear element my men. Where evacuating the wounded and dead first with the evac lines. Shit fourth's squad sergeant is reported down. Their corporal is not answering, Bale break contact and get over there," Jade saidas Cobalt fired at another ursa as Cyan was changing magazines' next to him.
"Understood heading over. Indigo take charge Cyan with me," Cobalt radioed as gunfire echoed around them. Indigo just gave a curt nod firing at another Ursa as Cobalt and Cyan broke off, running through the light from above to the rear squad.
As Cobalt and Cyan ran towards the rear squad he could see the downed man being pulled from the firing line by one his squad mates. The young man with a private's stripe on his sleeve was already wounded with a gash on his leg as he stumbled back into a sitting position. Cyan quickly took up their position firing at advancing grimm creeps. Cobalt could see the wounded man was the reserve squad's sergeant Teel and had three long claw marks down the front of his chest. Crimson blood leaked out from his shattered armor staining the front of his uniform, Cobalt knew that type of wound was fatal.
As Cobalt approached could see the downed sergeant talking quietly to the young man holding him for a moment before his head slumped and the sergeant was gone. The young private started to cry rocking the dead man in his arms panic in his voice,
"He's dead! He's dead! what do I do!?" he started to yell as Cobalt knelt down next to him. Cobalt looked at the young man and could see the fight was gone from his eyes. He looked around quickly spotting the corporal of the squad reading the name on his sleeve
"Corporal McMuffen!" Cobalt yelled over the constant rattle of gunfire as the squad around him fired at the hoard of advancing Grimm. Cobalt saw the corporal fire a quick burst taking down an advancing Creep, before turning to see Cobalt waving him over. The corporal came running over to him a shocked expression coming to his face as he laid eyes on his sergeant. Cobalt pulled the radio from the sergeants pouch and pushed it into Corporal Mcmuffen's arms,
"You're in charge of the squad now, listen I need to you to keep up the pressure here we only got two miles left alright," he yelled as Mcmuffen fumbled with the radio in his hands. He looked back at the downed sergeant then to Cobalt taking a breath responding "Y…yes sergeant we can hold," running back to the line of infantrymen.
Cobalt looked back to the shocked young man giving him a firm shake, "He's gone alright, and I need you to carry him to the other wounded. You can do it, come on get on your feet." Cobalt said as the young man rocked for a few more moment before slowly getting to his feet with Cobalt's help.
"Y..yes sergeant.." he said over the rifle fire pulling the dead man up into his arms and started to walk towards the center of the formation. Cobalt stood up running to Cyan's side firing as another creep crawled over its disappearing comrade.
"Captain Sergeant Teel, Cacy is KIA. They say they can hold. " Cobalt quickly said into his head set sighting in on another Creep blasting it back.
"Understood Sargent, explosives are done we are getting out of here. All units collapse the circle inward and get to the evac lines," Captain Jade said into the radio as they started to fall back towards the circle of light. Cobalt heard a large crash and another roar as he looked back to see Lieutenant Gray's mech stumble back. The mech and the massive grimm fell back unmoving, one of the mech's mechanical arms shoved into the Ursa Major's mouth. The cockpit whooshed open the canopy falling with a clatter as a battered looking Lieutenant Gray stumbled out collapsing on the ground. Cobalt watched as Vermillion and Aero moved forward grabbing the injured Gray hauling him back quickly tying one of the evac lines to him.
"Come on come on lets go get to the lines," Cobalt yelledas he grabbed Cyan pulling her back as she fired a few more bursts. Cobalt's squad quickly clipped onto the long lines leading up to the surface each of them giving a tug, as they started to be lifted up. Below him Cobalt saw Captain Jade pull the last of the squads onto the lines beforeattaching one to herself being hauled up.
As Cobalt reached the surface arms reached out pulling him and his squad over the lip, all around them where the roaring engines of bull heads. The surface team was still firing in all directions cutting down Grimm, and had flattened most of the forest around the entrance. The tangy sting of wood smoke permeated the area as they ran over into an awaiting bull head, piling inside. As soon as the rest of his squad was inside the ship the doors closed, and stared to lift off.
Cobalt peered out the window watching other squads do the same until everyone was in the air, the crump of explosions reverberated inside of the ship. As fire leapt from the open hole, a long line of earth collapsing in on itself stopping just short of the Vale city wall. Cobalt leaned back in the seat letting out a long breath as he looked over his squad. They were all hurt in one way or another, a cut here bruise there, faces smudged with burnt dust powder but alive. Lieutenant Gray was in the corner with Vermillion wrapping a bandage around his head, their eyes met for a moment and Gray just gave a simple nod.
Cobalt returned it pulling his sweat soaked field cap off, holding it in his hand relief washing over him even as he saw his hand begin to shake. Cobalt watched it for a moment hoping no one would notice, only to have Indigo's dirty slender hand clasp it. Cobalt did not look up not wanting to meet her gaze she held it for a moment until his hand stopped and let go. Cobalt just looked out the window at the passing forest as they made their way back home.
About doomtrooper28: The author's first foray into the world of fan fiction/OC fiction. He spent seven years in the Texas State Guard as a 38B civil affairs specialists before leaving in 2014 with the rank of Sargent. Is an active outdoorsman and tactical shooter, currently working in the private security field while finishing a college degree.
Special thanks to: Curay for helping come up with Captain Amber Jade, and to CPL_ McMuffen for the use of his name.
The 8th squad will return in their next adventure
"Shadow in Oaksmith"