"Hold on! I just realized that Hansel said something about Milk." Yang said as Ruby's eyes widen.
"It's about fucking time someone noticed!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Ruby language!" Taiyang yelled but on the inside he dreaded that Hansel noticed the benefits of Ruby's milk consumption.
"Sorry Dad." Ruby meekly said.
Qrow and Yang chuckled as she started to read.
The castle lacked in gothic architecture and anything that resembled it being an actual fortress and not just a schola, a fact that made Hansel speculate that there might be defenses hidden underground. It wouldn't be the first time he's seen entire structures hide defenses that could make an hour long siege last years.
"My guess is that it's referring to the vault where the Fall Witch resides." Ibram said as those of Ozpin's circle glared at him.
"I wouldn't call her a Witch Ibram Firem did show us that her power do not have Warp Origins but it's origin comes from the season of fall itself." Cain said.
"Thank you Commissar Cain." The deputy headmistress said to the instructor.
Kriegan propaganda films would often show very informative documentaries of Death Korps campaigns, specifically the Siege of Vraks Prime, their first war as a planet reborn. How to charge over the lines, how high your bayonet should be raised, how to properly burn a heretic using a hair spray can with a lighter and many more were covered in those films.
"Really how can hair spray burn people?" Weiss asked sarcastically.
"It depends on which brand of hairspray you use." Ruby and Yang said at the same time.
"Truly miss Rose?" Winter and Glynda asked at the same time both curious about this.
"Ahem can we get back to reading." Firem said to the others.
Hansel always loved watching them. He also loved reading Kriegan history, idolizing Colonel Jurten over the incredibly hard decision he had to make; he could only pray to be half the loyal guardsman he was.
"Who's colonel Jurten?" Ironwood asked just as the commissars were about to say who he was Firem intervened.
"In a later chapter. General BucketBrain." Firem said as Qrow chuckles while Ironwood pinches his nose for he knew that Firem was not letting that one go anytime soon though he could not blame him after seeing the disaster known as the Battle of Beacon and the cataclysmic losses that came with it and Firem chewing him out in front of everyone and stopping the Imperials from executing him for Tactical incompetence. Ironwood would be doing few things when he gets back. One put the most advance cyber defenses on the knights, Two deny all attempts to atomize the Paladins, Three daily inspections on the CCT during the time of the Vytal festival Four contract huntsmen to help with security preferably a couple from each Kingdom.
The re- Ruby, yes that was her name. Ruby had eventually let go of Hansel's hand along the way noticing that he was able to keep up and didn't need to be dragged around like a doll. He still had the chainsword handy, leaning it against his shoulder like a rifle marching as per regular Krieg guardsmen tend to do.
Cue sweatdrops from those of Remnant.
He's a solder what did you expect. Firem said as Yang went back to reading.
"So I was thinking, since you don't have a locker yet if you would like to put your weapons in mine?" Ruby asked, pressing her forefingers together while giving the guardsman a nervous smile.
"Of course my niece would ask that." Qrow said as Winter raises an eyebrow.
"Are weapons all your niece ever thinks about?" Winter asked as Weiss answers her.
"She cradles Crescent Rose like a mother would her child and she even calls it her baby." Weiss said while Ruby blushed.
He tapped his fingers against the chainsword's handle as if he was weighing the decision, "Alright, but realize theft of Imperial Guard property is punishable by death, so give it back when I request it and we shouldn't have any problems."
"A little excessive don't you think." Winter said as the imperials shrugs.
To Hansel his terms were very generous, very few people ever got a Kriegsman's permission to touch his weaponry. To them however it was another threat that didn't bode well with the blonde brawler.
"Of course it would happen to me." Yang said as read about the reckless thing she was about to do.
"(At least she's trying to curb her recklessness)" Glynda thought as she is reminded of her failure in defending her students.
"How about you watch your threats to my sister bub!" However Yang made two errors with her threat, one Kriegers cannot be intimidated. Two, they very much dislike being touched by someone that tries to threaten them, which is why she was on her knees because Hansel had her wrist at a breaking point.
She really shouldn't poke a Kriegsman's mask.
"Owowowowowowow!"
"Do not ever and I mean ever touch myface without my permission. Are we at an understanding? Dummkopf?" Hansel asked leaning forward to make his point clear with Yang.
Yang sighs as she sees this knowing that this was the kind of reckless behavior that cost her arm.
"It's ok Yang Adam won't know what hit him after were done here." Ruby said as her half sister smiles and gets back to reading.
"Y-yes! Let go!" She yelped with desperation.
Hansel let her wrist go casually as if he wasn't about to straight up make her hand useless a second ago. A fact Yang was still reeling from silently cursing as she rubbed her wrist vigorously, "Asshole!" She cursed underneath her breathe glaring holes through the trench wearing bastard.
"Yang! Don't taunt him like that!" Ruby chastised waving her finger at her older sister with a disapproving look.
"Are you kidding Ruby? He threatened you three times already, nearly decapitated you, and on top of all that he's a freaking psycho!" She growled pointing at Hansel's back as he was currently admiring or criticizing the statue in the main courtyard because it lacked any references to the God Emperor.
"I'm really of considering killing Hansel right now." Taiyang said while Qrow sighs.
"If you do that summer will have company" Qrow said making Tai flinch.
Ruby looked Yang directly in her lilac eyes, "Did you forget everything he told us on the Bullhead?"
Yang blinked, not expecting the serious tone in her little sisters voice, "He had nobody growing up, not only that but he was told at a young age all he was good for was fighting and dying. So of course he's going to be difficult for a while, just give him a chance. Please?"
"You know once you think about it Ruby makes a good point." Nora surprisingly said as the others from Remnant nodded in agreement.
It was an incredible thing to see Ruby act so grown up, very rarely has Yang ever seen her this serious so it has to be a worthy cause, "Alright… just be careful around him, I'll pummel him if he hurts you." She made her point with a smile and punching her fist into her open palm.
"That goes for any boy that you like sis." Yang said as she cracked her knuckles while Blake and Weiss giggled.
"That goes double for me young lady and for you too Yang." Taiyang said as he was in Father mode while Yang rolled her eyes and went back to reading.
Ruby smiled pulling her sister into a hug, "Thanks sis." She turned around to find Hansel waiting by the statue patiently.
"What my other said Yang." Ruby said as Yang smiled.
'This statue is lacking horribly in design, this planet must've been separated from the Imperium for at least ten Millennia for gothic art style to be this butchered.' Hansel thought stroking the tube that connected to his mask; it wasn't uncommon to find Imperial worlds that lost contact with the Imperium since the Horus Heresy, but it was still highly troubling to find unfaithful humans.
"Horus Heresy? What is that?" Ozpin asked as Firem answered.
"The Horus Heresy, also known as the Age of Darkness, was the first and most devastating civil war in Imperial history. Occurring in early M31 and lasting several years, it divided and nearly destroyed the fledgling Imperium. It marked the end of the Great Crusade and the encasing of the Emperor of Mankind into the Golden Throne." Firem said as Ozpin nodded.
"Well it's a good basic summery Firem." Selena said.
"Hey Hansel!" He turned around to find Ruby skipping towards him, "C'mon, let's put your weapons away and get something to eat!"
"Quickest way through a man's heart is through his stomach." Firem said while Jaune, Coco and Taiyang get nervous the former is for the 50 grand they might lose while the latter is for Ruby's innocence.
The Kriegsman followed after her silently, not minding the other three girls that trailed behind still disapproving of him and his attitude.
"Well he did threaten Ruby and Yang so it's not surprising." Weiss said.
Ruby's locker on the outside was just like any other but on the inside it had several photos of her and the friends she's made, "Oh you haven't been properly introduced to team JNPR yet! They were the other four first years you met in the forest with us."
Hansel stared at the locker's wall of pictures, he recognized the people but didn't really care for their names, but for the short amount of time he's known Ruby it was only a matter of time before she told him.
"I was kinda hoping you wouldn't mention us." Jaune said as Pyrrha pats his back.
"It needs to be done sooner rather than later." Firem as Team JNPR nods.
"But we'll see them at lunch anyway, so hurry up!" Heading her instructions he put the following in the locker; three frag grenades, two photon flash grenades, two smoke grenades, a bolt pistol with its ammunition, the chainsword, the M39 trench shovel, Monoknife, Steel Legion dagger (a gift from a friend), and finally his Krieg issued back pack. Excluding the Uplifting Primer of course.
"All of those weapons." Ruby said as she drooled a bit.
"How the hell would a shovel be classified as a weapon?" Qrow asked as Firem shows Qrow the recording of the chapter 1 and a video by Gaijin Goomba about Shovels.
"Now I have a newfound respect and fear for shovels." Taiyang said.
"Me too." Qrow said.
The team took notice of the black book with the two headed eagle on it, "What's that" Blake asked, interested in the type of reading material someone from space would read.
"It is 'The Imperial Infrantryman's Uplifting Primer' one of the newer editions I managed to get, it tells a guardsman everything he needs to know about life in the Imperial Guard. This includes regimental regulations, regulations on sanitization of equipment, prayers and litanies, and the descriptions of the foes of Mankind." Hansel said flipping past a couple of pages showing them to team RWBY.
"Why not keep it in the locker?" Weiss asked.
"Being without the Primer is a serious offense, one hundred lashes is the most lenient punishment, and death by burning is the most severe."
"Umm… Okay… l-let's get going…" Ruby suggested with a deadpan, 'Wow that's a serious punishment for not having a rule book.'
"Um do you have said Primers?" Blake asked the Imperials only for the Commissars and Governor-Militant to put them out of nowhere.
"Wait the punishment is real?" Firem asked.
"It actually depends on the condition of the Primer." Ciaphas said as Firem and the others nod.
Lunchroom…
The lunchroom surprisingly like the mess halls on Krieg… except there was actual food, there wasn't any dim lighting, everyone had a different personality… ok so it was nothing like a Krieg mess hall.
"That's obvious mon-keigh." Macha said.
"Man she needs get laid." Yang said.
"I do not need to get laid and from the looks of it I think you laid a bit to much." Macha.
"FYI you anal loving space elf I'm a virgin." Yang said thus shutting up the Eldar and gaining some of Selena's respect.
"(With that kind of body yeah right virgin my sweet pale Atlesian ass)." Weiss thought not believing Yang's words.
But the food really was something, Ruby told her team to go and find their regular table and to find an extra seat for Hansel because she decided that he was sitting with them and JNPR.
"Pick whatever you want Hansel it's all pretty good!" Ruby chimed with a tray of her own in hand piling on sweets and an entrée.
"Oh Oum damn it." Jaune and Coco said at the same time.
"How in Remnant do you not get fat Ruby?" Weiss asked her cookie addicted partner.
"I don't use my semblance just for fighting Grimm it's makes a good cardio especially when I carry the heavy bags from Coco's shopping trips." Ruby said as Coco looked at her.
"Huh that would explain the sweaty bag handles and speedy deliveries." Coco said as the second year gave Ruby a smile.
Hansel was a bit nervous with his choice; he had no frakking clue on what any of this would taste like, "Perhaps you could recommend something? I'm rather unfamiliar with this food."
A bright smile crossed her face, "No problem Hansel!" In no time at all he had a tray of food, fewer sweets than Ruby with the exception of a chocolate bar; Kriegers would charge a Blood Thirstier Daemon with a spoon if it meant getting a chocolate ration. A Commissar would be rather disturbed when they would return tattered and beaten but carrying a Daemon head, expecting a chocolate ration.
"Do they do that?" Velvet and Yatsuhashi asked at the same time only to receive nods from the Guardsmen.
The table they arrived at already had JNPR waiting with their food; some were eating while the others were whispering around each other sneaking looks at him and Ruby every couple of seconds but stopped dead and acted like their food was far more interesting.
"Hi guys!" Ruby said enthusiastically, "Allow me to formally introduce you to Hansel! Our new classmate!" The reaction wasn't exactly a warm one.
Jaune had just barely avoided choking on his sandwich, Pyrrah gave a nervous friendly smile, and Nora was hiding behind Ren who also had visual discomfort on his usually stoic face.
"New classmate…" Ruby said one again this time weaker, "C'mon guys!" She whispered yelled.
"Obvious reactions on seeing a Death Korp of Krieg." Firem said as the Imperials nodded.
"Oh, um welcome to Beacon." Pyrrah said awkwardly not getting any response from Hansel.
He blankly stared at team JNPR and then turned his head at Ruby cocked to the side, "Oh, right he doesn't know your names yet!"
"I'm Pyrrah Nikos."
"Jaune Arc.
"Lie Ren."
"Nora!" The orange haired girl shouts gleefully jumping up with her fists in the air, annoying Hansel slightly.
"Good you introduced yourselves now run like you can." Jaune said as the rest of the team did the same.
Hansel regarded them with a nod; he honestly didn't care about their names, he didn't really care about team RWBY's names either but they were of course assigned to guide him through the schola.
Removing his helmet once more he set it on his knee and began to remove his gas mask drawing curious glances from team JNPR. Those curious glances turned into disturbed and concerned stares.
"Hansel, what happened to your face?" Jaune asked a bit inconsiderately earning him an elbow from both Pyrrah and Ruby.
"I'm such a dumbass." Jaune said.
"I was in a fist fight with mutant in a trench. Said mutant received a snapped neck and impalement on a palisade for his troubles." Hansel answered not taking his eyes off of the strange food before him, there were so many colors on the plate differing greatly from the usual grey colored food.
It also tasted marginally better, he was also starving so even oatmeal would've tasted a thousand times better, the only reason why he wasn't scarfing it down was that he was a disciplined Krieg guardsman.
"Is it that bad?" Ruby asked as Firem made Imperium Rations appear and those of Remnant tried them and faster than Ruby's top speed they spat them out.
"Yes there that bad Ruby." Firem said as he made bottles of water appear.
"Enjoying the food?" Ruby asked between mouthfuls of her own food swallowing hard every time she was done with some.
Hansel nodded, "Significantly better than the rations given to my regiment."
"Understatement of the millennium." Qrow and Winter said at the same time still trying to get the taste out of their mouths.
"Speaking of your regiment how many men are in it?" Ren asked taking a small sip of tea from his mug.
"The 263th siege regiment will have two to forty eight hundred thousand men at a time depending upon how lengthy and brutal a siege is and against whomever we're fighting."
"Impressive numbers." Ironwood said.
"Who do you usually fight?!" Nora asked leaning over the table at Hansel with a childish curiosity.
"Any of the unfortunately many races of xenos; Orks, Eldar, Dark Eldar, Tau Empire, world eating Tyranids, Nercons, and many other filthy heathen species." He growled out his expression turning hateful at every name he listed off, "But none of them can compare to the Ruinious Powers of Chaos or their dark gods. I personally hate them more than all of the xenos combined."
"That's a big list of enemies." Qrow said.
"The Ruinious what?"
"A discussion for another time, Chaos should not be discussed at a time of eating. Less it bitters your food." The two Huntsmen in training teams gave a perplexed and semi-terrified looks towards the Krieg soldier but he seemed to be done with talking with them.
"That's true we don't talk about Chaos around mealtime since it really does bitter the food." Firem said.
After eating the teams showed him the insides of the campus; the library, infirmary, and even a few classrooms before it was time for them to turn in for the night. Ruby's scroll rang out drawing Hansel's curiosity as to why data pads were issued out to non-Mechanicus adepts, oh yeah they weren't apart of the Imperium of Man.
"Mechanicus adepts?" Ruby said.
"Those are the agents of Adeptus Mechanicus. It is a technological organisation, often known as the Priesthood of Mars. It holds a monopoly on technological knowledge in the Imperium. Their Forge Worlds turn out the Imperium's most powerful and advanced weaponry and equipment. The organisation's adepts, the Tech-priests, are vital in maintaining much of the Imperium's more technologically advanced equipment, not the least of which is the Emperor's life-sustaining Golden Throne." Firem said to Ruby.
"Rrreeennn." Nora begged.
"No Nora you are not getting an Imperator-Class War titan." Ren said as Nora pouted.
"Not even a small one?" Nora asked with the puppy-dog eyes in full effect.
"Maybe you'll a small one. On Christmas." Ren said as Nora cheered.
"I'll help you buy one Ren." Firem said as Ren nodded in thanks.
"Ms. Rose is Mr. Hansel still with your party?" The voice came from Professor Goodwitch, Hansel moved his head over the screen so that she could see him, "I see, Mr. Hansel I will escort you to the guest dorms for tonight. Tomorrow after your initiation you will be assigned to a pre-existing team for the remainder of your time at Beacon Academy."
"Wow that's so cool! I wonder what team you'll be a part of, how do you feel about that Hansel?" Ruby asked jumping up and down like a monkey on a sugar high.
"We hope not." The WBY of RWBY said as Yang once again prays to both Oum and the God Emperor. And like last time her prayers are ignored.
Hansel stared blankly at her and crossed his arms, "I don't like it, because I am the only one that will die fighting instead of retreating. From what you've shown me about your society all you do is retreat."
The words Hansel spoke stung the group fiercely, he had just basically called them cowards, not just them but all four kingdoms.
Weiss sneered and pointed her finger at him, "W-who do think you are?! How dare you say that about us?!"
He walked up into Weiss's face staring her coldly in the eyes, "I am a servant of Mankind, I have lived only to serve Mankind, I and everyone from my world has had their humanity stripped from them for Mankind. I am a weapon for Mankind. Nothing more."
At first they were insulted but then Firem explained that for the Imperium Retreat is not an option for them and that they must press on Hansel being no exception.
Hansel said nothing more as he walked away from Weiss; she herself couldn't find anything to stay either it was like she was being talked down to by a killing machine; she wasn't actually too far from the truth on that one.
"That might be true other me." Weiss said.
But Hansel had grown tired of these people, that and he was actually really tired and the only real rest he had was when he was knocked out after being blown from the Warp Gate. So of course he was going to be a bit cranky and storm off.
"Well that's true I have 5000 alarm clock wrecks to my name." Yang said with a grin.
"All because you wanted to sleep more." Weiss said as her eyebrow twitched as she was the one who had to pay for them.
"That would explain the bill Father received." Winter said.
"Hansel! Wait up!" Ruby called, but her efforts were in vain, trying to get an angry Kriegsman attention was a futile if not suicidal effort.
"Forget about him Ruby, he obviously doesn't like us." Jaune said staring at the fleeting form of the skull gas masked boy angrily.
Ruby nodded her head to the sides, "I know that it may look like that but, but have you taken time to consider maybe he's having a bit of a culture shock?"
Team JNPR gave Ruby confused looks, "He just came here from fighting in a war, he's from a culture that's all about war, and on top of that he was probably raised to be disciplined and cold.
Around people that never cared about him, he's going to have some issues guys, I already asked my sister but now I'm asking all of you to give him a chance."
"That seems good I mean anyone who was raised that way would act that way." Pyrrha said.
"That and he's cranky he needs sleepies." Nora said in a happy tone.
"He might be better later on." Ren said.
Yang smiled throwing her arm around Ruby's shoulders, "Aw, look at my little sister all grown up! Fighting against the Grimm, leading her own team, and defending a boy she thinks is cute!"
Ruby visually bristled and elbowed Yang in her ribs, "Shut up Yang I am not defending him!"
Weiss tried covering her mouth as she chuckled, "Yes you are Ruby, you've been defending him all day."
Blake even decided to chime in, "We all saw you get nervous when he shook your hand, and how you dragged him around the school."
"Oh no." Jaune, Coco and Taiyang.
"Oh and how you picked out his food like a cute little couple~" Yang singsonged pulling Ruby's red as roses cheeks."
Ruby smacked Yang's hands away and crossed her arms with a pout, "He didn't know what food to pick!"
"Didn't think you'd be into the moody, trench coat wearing, 'I'm a warrior for Mankind' type of bad boy." Yang said laughing off her sisters little hands punching her arm.
"Good bye upgrades to Crocea Mors." Jaune said as a raincloud above his head.
"All those poor clothes unbought." Coco lamented
"I don't want to give Ruby away in the wedding alter just yet." Taiyang said as Ruby blush.
Back with Hansel…
The Professor was waiting patiently for him but she had a scowl on her face,
"Where is team RWBY? I thought they were escorting you."
"I left them to get here faster Professor; it is no cause for a disciplinary action if anything I should be punished for abandoning them."
"No you shouldn't." Glynda said in a sad tone.
Goodwitch's scowl lightened up just slightly, "That's very noble of you to cover for them Mr. Hansel, let's not waste any more time its late enough as it is."
She pulled out a small data pad pressing a few numbers on the screen and the door opened up,
"This will be your dormitory for tonight, tomorrow night you'll be sharing one with three other students for the next four years."
Hansel nearly scoffed at that, he had little faith that he would live to see the next four years but that was a fact that he didn't need to bring up, "Thank you Ms. Goodwitch, I appreciate the room."
"At least he's polite." Glynda said.
"Goodnight Hansel." Before she left Goodwitch peeked her head around the doorway to see Hansel kneel by the bed side pulling up a small black book; his head was bowed with his fingers in a steeple, a closer look and she saw that he was praying in front of a picture of a golden figure in a suit of armor.
'Poor boy.' She thought seeing the row of soldiers marching in front of the figure.
"Well then Gabriel it's your turn." Yang said as Firem snapped his fingers and a High Gothic version of the story appeared on Gabriel's hands.
"You have my thanks Firem." Gabriel said.