Weiss was walking in front of the door leading to the captain's quarters when she heard the distinct voice of the captain yelling through the door.

"I don't know how they did it in the academy, Rose, but I will not have you wasting the lives of your fellow pilots so you can play hero!"

"But, sir," a much quieter voice, clearly belonging to Ruby, replied, "I had the entire maneuver calculated! As long as they followed the flight plan, they would have-"

"And what if they didn't follow your 'flight plan?'" A pause. "I rest my case."

"Well, sir, if I hadn't sent any of my pilots, the Beacon might have taken some hull damage. I mean, the shields were already down to about fifty percent when-"

"Quiet!" the captain yelled, even louder than before. "I will say this only once! You will toe the line on this ship, or you will be scrubbing the decks of the Remnant shipyards! Do I make myself perfectly, crystal, clear?"

"Yes, sir!" Ruby replied. Weiss almost thought she heard the girl crying.

"Good. Now get the hell out of my sight!"

Ruby stormed through the door and nearly ran into Weiss.

"Sorry Lieutenant, I didn't see you there," she said, her voice cracking a little. "Is there something you need?"

"No, ma'am," Weiss replied politely. "I was just on my way to my quarters."

"Very well," Ruby said as she turned to leave, but Weiss placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Ma'am, I feel I should apologize," Weiss started.

Ruby sighed. "You have nothing to apologize for, Lieutenant Schnee."

"Actually, I do," Weiss stated, looking down at her feet. "When I first heard that you were the CAG, I had immediately assumed that you would prove inept and get us all killed. Instead, you proved to not only be a capable combat pilot, but also managed to prove the fact that you can easily manage the entire wing of fighters on board. So, consequently, I do owe you an apology."

Ruby smiled. "Thanks Weiss. I really appreciate it. Especially after..." Ruby paused.

"Just so you know," Weiss said, "I'm not going to make this a habit."

Ruby laughed. "Don't worry, I've already heard that you have an image to uphold."

"Good," Weiss stated. "How much longer until your patrol shift?"

"Not until oh-eight-hundred tomorrow, why?"

"Well, it's custom aboard the Beacon for the ship's top scoring ace to buy a drink for the newest ace on the ship. And, if I recall, you got five kills during your last mission, correct?"

Ruby nodded. "Well, actually six, but yeah."

"So, then it seems I owe you a drink."

Ruby threw back another drink and nearly fell over the bar in the officer's mess when she put the glass down.

"Ruby, are you alright?" Weiss asked her.

"Yer really pretty," the she slurred in reply.

Weiss blushed a little. Did she really mean that? I mean, she is drunk...But some are more truthful when they're drunk."Ruby, you're drunk," Weiss said finally.

"And you're blushing," Ruby replied, her words still barely understandable. "You're so cute when you blush."

She and looked at the clock on the wall. Twenty hundred. And her patrol shift is at oh-eight-hundred. It would be a good idea for her to get some sleep before tomorrow. "Come on, let's get you back to your quarters before you do anything stupid."

Weiss rolled her eyes as she grabbed Ruby's arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. She stood from her seat and began to walk over to the doorway, followed by the stares of several other crew members. Weiss shot them each a glare, causing them to all look back to what they were doing, and Weiss walked through the door. Eventually, she managed to find her way to the section of the ship that held the officer's quarters. Spotting Ruby's last name, she walked over to the sliding door and placed Ruby's hand on the control, causing the door to hiss open automatically. Weiss looked around the room, which had several unpacked boxes, but was as of yet still undecorated.

"Hey, when did we get back to my quarters?" Ruby asked tiredly, as Weiss gently set the girl down on her bed.

"Just now," Weiss replied.

"Oh, thanks Weiss," she slurred as she closed her eyes with a smile. "You're really awesome."

I should probably stay here with her, Weiss thought to herself as she found a single chair to sit down on. At least until she's asleep. It is, afterall, partially my fault she's like this.

Weiss listened as Ruby's became slower and steadier. She found herself smiling as she watched the younger pilot drift off to sleep. Weiss settled back in the chair and closed her own eyes.

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay here a little while longer just to make sure she's all right, she thought.

Ruby winced as she woke up, feeling like someone had decided to cleave her head open with a battle-axe.

Ugh, I really need to learn to not drink that much, she thought to herself. I will have to thank Weiss for getting me back here though.

Suddenly, she remembered what she had told Weiss just before they had left the officer's mess. Aw, crap. That was probably the worst possible way for that to come out.

Ruby looked around her room until her eyes fell upon the aforementioned pilot. Why is she still here? Ruby thought to herself. Just as she finished that thought, however, Weiss's eyes began to flutter open.

"Ruby?" Weiss whispered as she looked at the black-and-red haired girl, "Are you alright?"

"Not really," she replied with a wince. "Why are you here, by the way? I mean, not that I mind, it's just..."

Weiss blushed. "Well, you were really drunk, and I helped you back to you room. I must have fallen asleep here."

"I remember, but thanks anyways," Ruby replied, giving her a weak smile. "What time is it?"

Weiss pulled out her scroll and looked at the clock on the display. "Oh-five hundred. You've still got a few hours before our patrol shift."

Ruby sighed. "Good, maybe I can get rid of this headache in that time."

"Out of curiosity, how much do you remember of last night?" Weiss asked after a brief pause.

"Heh, funny story about that," Ruby said, blushing a little. "I tend to remember almost everything I did while drunk."

"So, you remember..."

"Calling you pretty? Yeah..."

Weiss blushed again. "Did you actually mean it?"

Ruby sighed. "Well, I'm also generally honest when I'm drunk. So..."

"You actually meant it," Weiss confirmed.

"Yeah..."

Weiss sighed. "So that means that you're a lesbian?"

"Yup." Ruby chuckled a little before holding her head in a desperate attempt to stop the throbbing pain. "Not really how I wanted that to come out, but oh well. You don't...You don't mind, right?"

"Why would I?" Weiss asked. "You've already proven yourself as a capable combat pilot."

"Well, I know there's still some people out there who believe that I would start...coming on to them," Ruby said sadly.

"Ruby, let me put it this way for you:" Weiss stated. "The only thing that matters to me or anyone else on board is your skill. You've already proven yourself more than capable in that department. Furthermore, it would be hypocritical of me to think of you negatively for being gay, since I am as well."

"Y-You are?"

Weiss nodded. "Yes," she replied before chuckling a little. "I actually asked your sister out on a date a few days after I was assigned to the Beacon."

"Man, what a way to learn that she's straight, huh?" Ruby said with a laugh.

She's certainly looking much better now, Weiss thought as she laughed a little as well. "Well, I suppose that's one way of looking at it." Weiss chuckled. "Anyway, you're starting to look a bit better."

"Feeling better too. Thanks, Weiss," Ruby replied, giving her a small smile. "Anyway, I should probably get up and get some breakfast before we have to go out on patrol. We're still pretty deep in pirate territory, so the last thing I want to be worried about is my stomach growling while vaporizing pirates."

Ruby yawned as she took one last look around the space outside of her cockpit. Man, I would have thought that we'd at least see a fighter squadron here this deep into pirate controlled space.

She keyed her comm link. "All active fighters, this is the CAG, stand by to return to the ship as soon as the next patrol is out." Her helmet echoed with a chorus of replies. With a sigh, Ruby leaned back in her seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a brilliant flash of light, followed by several more. She flipped her fighter to face that direction.

"Oh shit," she muttered. "All units hearing this transmission, this is Reaper! Multiple pirate warships inbound! One Ursa-class cruiser, and three Taijitu-class destroyers!"

"Reaper, this is the Beacon, roger that. Launching all fighters now," the captain replied.

"Sir, with all due respect," Ruby said, "I don't think it's a good idea for us to stay here and fight. There's far too many of them."

"Your concern has been noted, Lieutenant Commander," he replied, anger lacing his voice.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "All fighters, form a skirmish line between the pirates and the Beacon. Range, twenty-hundred. Divert all power to your fore shields."

Ruby watched outside her canopy as all of the Beacon's fighters formed a wall between the incoming pirates and their home base. The front of each fighter began to shimmer a pale blue color as they directed all of their shield power to the side that would be facing the brunt of the pirate's fire. The lights from the pirate's engines slowly started to grow larger. Ruby closed her eyes and started to count silently to herself.

Three...Two...One...

"Fire!" she yelled into her helmet.

The space all around her blazed to life as bullets, particle gun shots, and laser blasts illuminated the night sky. The wave of pirate fighters flew past the line Ruby's fighters had formed and turned around. All at once, The fighters belonging to the Beacon flared their main engines and maneuvered away from each other, quickly turning around to engage their foes.

Ruby picked out a target that seemed to be turning a little sluggishly as compared to its comrades. She locked her fighter's speed to match her prey's, and cut loose with a barrage of fire across its nose. Suddenly, the fighter flipped around, presenting its well armed front to Ruby, causing her to have to quickly pull away. Soon, she was on the defensive, as the pirate followed her every move. Ruby threw her craft left, then right, and the pirate continued to follow her.

"Reaper, you've got one on your tail!" Weiss's voice crackled through her helmet.

"Yeah, I can see that, Ice Queen!" Ruby yelled back.

"Holy shit, I think that's Payday!" Yang said.

"Payday?" Ruby asked as she yanked her fighter into an evasive roll. "Who's Payday, Inferno?"

"Top pirate ace," Yang replied. "Real name's Roman Torchwick. Supposed to have somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty kills. Navy's actually got a pretty impressive bounty pool for whoever bags 'em. You might wanna get outta there, Reaper!"

Ruby smirked, even as more of the pirate's plasma cannon blasts sailed over her head. Thinking quickly, she strafed her fighter up slightly and pulled her craft into a sudden stop, causing her to start to feel light-headed. Even as her vision began to grey out, however, the pirate surged in front of her, and Ruby punched her fighter back up to combat speed. She followed the Pirate as he ducked and weaved through the battle as well as in to a small asteroid field that was in the area. After what felt like several minutes of pursuing the fighter, Ruby finally had the pirate in her sight. She depressed the trigger on her flight stick, and a barrage of gatling and particle cannon blasts surged away from her fighter, cleaving into the pirate's shields. They shimmered a brilliant red, and suddenly dropped, allowing Ruby's projectiles free rein to do their work on the pirate's hull until finally, the ship died in a fiery explosion.

"Holy shit. Did you just..." Yang started.

"Very good work, Reaper," Blake said calmly.

"Thanks, Shadow," Ruby replied as she turned her ship back to the fight.

"Attention all fighters on this net!" her helmet crackled suddenly. "Multiple torpedoes inbound on the Beacon! Any available units, respond immediately!"

Ruby looked at her sensors display and swore silently to herself when she saw all of her fellow pilots still locked in a tight battle with the pirates. She looked again for anyone who appeared to be in good shape before finally finding one unit of fighters.

"Black squadron, flight three, break off you current engagement and go help the Beacon out with those torps!" she called.

"Copy!"

"White squadron, flight one, pick up the slack left by Black three!"

"On it!" Weiss replied.

Ruby continued to weave through the fight, occasionally taking a shot at a pirate fighter here and there. Several moments later, she heard a frantic yell through her helmet.

"One torp got through!" one of the pilots she had sent to help the carrier called, "Beacon control, evade, evade!"

Ruby looked over to the warship, and watched begin to turn ponderously away in a desperate attempt to evade the torpedo. Too late, she thought, just as the projectile slammed into the ship with a brilliant flash. When the blast cleared, there was significant damage to the hull, as well as a large hull breach spanning multiple decks. Her helmet was silent for what felt like a long time.

Finally, Commander Goodwitch spoke up. "Attention all hands, this is the X.O. The Captain has been killed in action, I repeat the Captain is down. I am hereby taking overall command of the Beacon and attached fighter units. Lieutenant Commander Rose, do you have any units that you can break off the fight?"

Ruby studied her sensors display. "I can pull two squadrons, why?"

"Stand by. Flight deck, launch all available bombers. Reaper, I want you to escort those bombers to the pirate warships so that we can end this engagement quickly and before we take any more damage."

"Yes ma'am," Ruby replied. "Red Squadron, White squadron, form up on me. All other fighter squadrons, fill in the gap."

Ruby flared her engines and sped toward the carrier and away from the main dogfight. She watched intently as the wave of bombers gently floated out of the landing bay on the bow of the ship and formed up for an attack.

"I hope you've got an idea for getting those bombers to the enemy fleet!" Weiss yelled through her helmet.

Ruby thought for a moment before an idea came to her. "All bombers, this is Reaper, maintain velocity at two-hundred meters per second. All fighters, form into an ellipsoid formation around the bombers, zoom to two-hundred meters per second, decouple, point your nose out away from the formation, and direct all power to your forward shields. If any pirates get closer than fifteen hundred, vape 'em. Otherwise, don't break formation until I say so!"

Ruby's placed her fighter at the head of the formation and pushed every last ounce of power she could into her forward shield, causing it to glow outside of her canopy. The formation slid implacably forward, obliterating any pirates that happened to get close. Finally after what felt like an eternity, they were finally right on top of the pirate fleet.

"All fighters, break now!" Ruby called. "All bombers, launch everything you've got!"

Ruby's fighter sped away from the formation of bombers and watched with grim satisfaction as the torpedoes launched from the bomber wing. Though the projectiles were slow, the bombers were more than close enough that their targets simply could not maneuver away from or intercept the torpedoes. They slammed into the hulls of the pirates, causing brilliant explosions as their antimatter warheads annihilated their targets. When the blasts cleared, nothing remained of the pirate fleet aside from several clusters of debris.

"Beacon control, this is Reaper, all hostile warships have been eliminated," Ruby called.

"Affirmative," Commander Goodwitch replied. "Once you have finished with the enemy fighters, return to base."

Ruby stood near the fighter launch tube, where a coffin sat as though it were about to be launched out, wearing her formal dress uniform. It was black as the sky just beyond the hull of the ship, with gold trimming. On her shoulder shimmered her rank insignia, though this set was made of metal, as opposed to the cloth of her regular uniform's set. Ruby sighed as she took her place next to the other senior officers of the Beacon.

"Attention on deck!" the commander of the Beacon's marine complement called.

Commander Goodwitch stepped forward. As she did so, all of the other personnel who had gathered bowed their heads, and Ruby followed suit.

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality," Commander Goodwitches voice rang out clear as a bell in the silent hangar deck. "Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all else, infinite in distance and unbound by death." The coffin slid through the tube and out into the inky blackness of space as Commander Goodwitch finished. "I release your soul."

The gathered personnel flashed a parade-perfect salute, then slowly started to file out. Ruby continued to stand there, letting out a sad sigh as she did so.

"Hey," a voice called from behind her, causing Ruby to jump a little.

"Weiss, hey," Ruby replied as she turned around, "Sorry, didn't hear you there."

"Are you all right?" Weiss asked.

Ruby shook her head. "I just feel like I could have done more, ya know? Maybe if I had sent another flight, or if I had been watching more closely at the Beacon's situation I could have-"

"Stop," Weiss said, "You did everything you could have done. You know it, Commander Goodwitch knows it, the rest of the crew knows it, and I know it."

"You know it?" Ruby asked, her head tilted slightly.

Weiss blushed a little. "Yeah, I do. You've more than proven yourself. Eliminating Payday shows that you do truly know what you're doing here. Anyway, come on. We're going to be heading back to drydock for a little while because of the damage we suffered here, and to pick up our new captain."

Ruby nodded. "Yeah, okay," she replied. Weiss turned to walk away, but Ruby grabbed her shoulder to stop her "Hey, thanks again for helping back to my quarters last night."

Weiss rolled her eyes, even as a smile began to appear on her face. "You may be a good pilot, but you can be such a dunce sometimes."

"You can be such a dunce sometimes...?"

Weiss looked furious. "You can be such a dunce sometimes ma'am."

Ruby laughed. "Copy that, Lieutenant."

A/N: 43 follows, 20 favorites, and six reviews in five days. For the first chapter. Damn. I just...wow...Seriously guys, you all are awesome. I really was not expecting that level of support for this story. I mean...I would have been happy with a sixth of the following this story has already. Combine that with the fact that Lone White Rose is near the top of page six of the most followed stories on this site? Really guys, you all are awesome.

Anyways, story stuff:

Yeah, Ruby and Weiss already know that they're gay. Honestly, I don't feel that this story could add much in that department without it feeling forced. Is it a bit of a cop-out? Yeah, but I'd rather have that than try to force something I don't really think would work well for the direction I'm taking this story. Plus, this has a bonus: More White Rose moments! What's not to love?

Also, yeah, Yang's straight here. No Bumbleby for you. Sorry, but once again, I think it would just feel forced given the direction I want this one's plot to go.

Anyways, with all that said, be on the look out for the next chapter to A Lone White Rose!