"Good morning, Weiss," Ruby called as Weiss sat up in the couple's bed.
"You're up early," Weiss replied with a yawn.
"Well, I wanted to get to breakfast before they were out of pancakes," Ruby stated.
"Well, that's a first," Weiss muttered as she stood from the bed and started to gather her clothes. "Come, Ruby," she said when she was finally dressed. "We should probably get to the cafeteria."
The two women walked out of their room and found their way to the elevator. Ruby and Weiss walked through the halls until they finally arrived in the cafeteria. The two women stood and waited for their meal, holding hands and smiling slightly. By the time they got their food, most of the tables were already full, so they chose a seat with Blake and Yang.
"What's up sis?" Yang asked.
"Getting breakfast!" Ruby said cheerfully.
"Good thing it's Saturday," Yang said, stretching. "We already completed our practice for the week."
"And who's saying that I wasn't going to make you do more?" Ruby replied, sticking her tongue out at her sister.
"Aww, come on," Yang whined.
"Well, your marksmanship could use some work," Blake pointed out.
"I shot the main satellite dish one time!" Yang shouted. "One! Time!"
Ruby chuckled. "Don't worry, we won't be doing any more training today," she said. "Just keeping you on your toes, sis."
Yang rolled her eyes and continued eating her pancakes.
"Hey, looks like the dorks might be joining us," Weiss said, nodding over to the tank crew.
Blake, Yang, and Ruby all looked up from their meals and saw Sun, Sage, Neptune, and Scarlet approaching the table, with Sun flashing a wink at Blake, causing the other Faunus to blush.
"Emphasis on 'dork,'" Blake said as she looked down out of embarrassment.
"'Sup losers," Sun said as he and his team sat at the table. "Hey Blake."
"Hey, Sun," Ruby said. "How are you guys doing?"
"Oh, alright," he replied. "We're gearing up for a mission in Mistral tomorrow, so Sheila getting moved into one of the assault ships."
"I thought your callsign was Monkeylord?"
"Well, yeah, but the tank's name is Sheila."
"Why?" Weiss asked.
Sun shrugged. "Why not?" he replied.
"Fair enough," Ruby replied with a chuckle.
"So, I'm curious, how did you guys even get recruited?" Weiss asked.
"Kind of a long story," Neptune replied.
"Well, our patrol isn't for a couple hours, so we've got time," Ruby replied.
"Well, to preface, we joined the Mistralian army when we graduated school what was it, five years ago now?" Sun started.
"Yep," Neptune replied. "And we only served about a year before getting recruited
"Wait, so you never went to a University?" Weiss asked.
"Nah," Sun replied. "Served a year in the Mistralian army, as Neptune said, then got recruited here. You guys have been here for about a year now yourselves, right?"
Ruby nodded. "Eleven months, almost to the day," she replied. "Been a heck of a ride so far."
"So I've heard," Sun said, chuckling slightly. "Anyway, we were going to be taking out a White Fang outpost inside the nation's borders, and the Beacon Company was hired to help us out. We were supposed to have another tank helping us in the operation but they had a mechanical breakdown about halfway there, so it was just us, the Mistralian army infantry, and the Beacon company infantry."
"How much longer," Sun complained over the rumbling of the Challenger rolling over the plains.
"'Bout ten more minutes," Neptune replied. "Quit complaining."
Sun slouched down in his chair. "I really wish Tiger two hadn't broken down."
"Not much we can do about that," Scarlet stated.
"Yeah."
The tank rumbled along for what felt like hours until they hear a dull thud form outside the tank.
"Hostile contact, left flank! Incoming armor!" the radio blared.
"Roger, Tiger one inbound!" Sun called into the radio. "Ready up, guys, we're going in."
"Count, six T-72 tanks with White Fang insignia!" the radio blared.
"Six?" Scarlet said, paling. "Intelligence didn't say anything about this!"
"Relax, we can take 'em," Sun said. "Neptune, roll us in. Scarlet, Sage, I've got an idea."
"Go ahead," Scarlet replied, getting ready to load the first shell into the gun of the Challenger 2.
"Go ahead and load the first shell, then set one at your feet and hold a third," Sun said. "As soon as Sage shoots one, you need to load the one you're holding and pick up the next one. When that one gets shot, load the last one."
The tank rolled over the hills, speeding across the hilly terrain. Suddenly, as it crested one hill, six other tanks seemingly appeared at the base.
"First tank, twelve o'clock!" Sun called. "Fire!"
The rifled cannon echoed out with a loud THUD as it sent the first shell flying through the air. The shot quickly tore through the weaker T-72, exploding inside of the tank and crippling it instantly. The turret rotated to the left to face the next tank, and echoed out with another shot, again crippling the tank. A third shot rang out, this time slamming into the Challenger.
"Damage?" Sun yelled out.
Neptune looked over to where it sounded like the shell had impacted. "Doesn't look like it penetrated," he called.
"Well I'd think so, considering the fact that we're still talking!" Sun yelled.
"Next shot loaded!" Scarlet interrupted before Neptune could reply.
"Target at two o'clock!" Sun called. "Ready... Fire!"
The shell sped away from the gun barrel and punched clean through the tank and exploded in the ammunition storage, blowing the tank's turret into the air.
"Neptune, get us behind the hill," Sun called out.
The tank quickly backed behind the hill, disappearing from the view of the remaining three tanks.
"Same deal as before, guys," Sun called. "Load one, ready two more!"
"Got it!" Scarlet replied as he reached for another shell. Finally, after a tense few moments, they were finally ready to crest the hill again, just as the three remaining tanks appeared.
"Damn," Sun muttered as another shot slammed into the tank. "Damage?"
"Still didn't penetrate!" Neptune replied.
"Alright, first one, eleven o'clock. Fire!"
The cannon echoed out, and one of the tanks exploded as the shell detonated in its magazine. The turret rotated, its cannon bearing down on a tank that was attempting to get around behind the tank. A second shot rang out, this one shredding the tank's engine, and the vehicle slowly ground to a halt. Seeing its allies taken down so easily, the third tank turned around and attempted to drive over the hill to escape the superior Challenger 2.
"What should we do, Sun?" Neptune asked, glancing up from the tank's controls.
"I say we finish 'em off," Sun said. "Follow them over the hill. Sage, start lining up for the next shot."
The Challenger surged forward, following the other tank over the hill. As they came to the peak, they stopped, and the tank's turret rotated to follow its prey.
"Got the shot?" Sun asked, to which Sage nodded. "Fire!"
The gun echoed out on final time, punching through the tank's engine and detonating within its ammunition storage, causing it to explode in a violent inferno.
"Woo!" Sun yelled. "Six shots, six kills! Nice job, guys!"
"Come in, Captain Wukong, this is Falcon with the Beacon company," a heavily distorted voice said through the radio. "Come in, over?"
"Receiving you, Falcon. Go ahead," Sun replied, glancing around the interior of the tank.
"Roger that. Just witnessed that little stunt you pulled there. Just wanted to say thanks for pulling our asses out of the fire."
"Just doing what we're paid to," Sun replied.
"Speaking of, do you think you could meet with us at the F.O.B. when we're done here?" Falcon asked. "I've got an offer that might interest you and your crew."
"Nice job out there today," a distorted voice said from behind Sun as he and his crew climbed out of the tank.
"You must be Falcon," Sun replied as he landed on the ground.
"Yeah," the woman said as she removed his helmet and balaclava, revealing stark grey eyes, short, brown hair, and the face of someone who had seen combat before and somehow managed to keep a sense of humor. "Thanks again for saving our asses out there."
"So, you said you had an offer for us?"
"Yeah, I was talking to my boss about what was going on during the mission," she replied, "and told him how you managed to take out all of those tanks yourself. So, he told me to make you the offer."
"And that offer is?" Neptune asked skeptically.
"We want you to join us," Falcon replied.
"Why?"
"If you're asking why we're making the offer," Falcon said, "it's because the Beacon Company consists of the best men and women from all over the world, regardless of previous combat experience, and, clearly, that includes you. If you're asking why you should join, allow me to say this: You'll get access to the very best equipment in the world, more action, better pay, and you'll be employed by a group that genuinely cares about you, not just whether or not you bring the tank back without two blast marks on the hull."
"Huh?" Neptune questioned.
"Look," Falcon said, clearly getting annoyed, "chances are, we'll treat you better than the Mistralian army, we'll pay you better, there are some serious signing benefits, and we can get you the best equipment in the world, so do you want in or not?"
Sun looked at the other three members of his crew. "What do you guys think?"
"Well, I suppose it might be nice to get more money," Scarlet said.
"Eh, I don't see why not," Neptune said, as Sage gave a simple nod.
"I guess we're in," Sun said, turning back to Falcon.
"And that's how we joined up," Sun said. "Two and a half months of basic, plus another two months training on the tanks, and we were officially in."
"I take it basic is what we went through?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah," Neptune replied. "Everyone needs to be able to fight in infantry combat, so we went through just like everyone else."
"Must've been fun," Blake said, chuckling slightly.
"Eh, could've been worse," Sun replied with a shrug. "'Least for our survival was on a beach."
"Easy for you to say," Neptune muttered."
"Right, forgot, you're afraid of water," Sun said with a laugh.
"I am not!" Neptune yelled.
"And I'm still trying to get sand out of my shoes," Scarlet muttered.
Ruby chuckled. "Come on, we need to get our gear, guys," she said. "Our patrol is coming up-"
"Ow, that hurts!" someone nearby interrupted.
Ruby whirled around and saw a group of four other mercenaries pulling on one of Velvet's rabbit ears.
"Please, stop," Velvet begged as she tried to pull away from her tormentors.
"What a freak," their apparent leader said with a snicker.
"Y'know, she asked you to stop, Sergeant Winchester," Ruby said as she walked up to the four mercenaries.
"And why should we, freak," Cardin said with a sneer as he glared at Ruby while still holding Velvet tight.
"Captain Rose, at your service," Ruby said, with a grin as she flashed a salute. "And I'm pretty sure Lieutenant Scarletina doesn't exactly appreciate you hurting her."
"And what are you going to do about it?"
"Not me," Ruby said, nodding to someone standing behind the Sergeant.
Cardin quickly turned around, only to have a fist slam into his face.
"Hey, Coco," Ruby said.
"Ruby," the older captain replied. "Good to see you. You three, pick up your 'friend,' and get him out of here. And if I hear about anything like this again, all four of you will be having a word with Commander Ozpin."
The other three mercenaries quickly picked up their leader and ran away.
"Sorry about that, V," Coco said.
"It's fine," she replied. "You've been telling me I need to stand up for myself more, I've just never really been very good at it."
"Hey, just keep trying," Coco said. "You'll get it eventually." the heavy gunner then turned to Ruby. "Thanks for sticking up for her."
"No problem," Ruby replied, smiling. "Glad I could help. Come on, guys, we need to get ready for our patrol."
"Sounds good, Rubes," Yang said as she and the rest of Ruby's team stood from their table and prepared to leave the room.
"Another day, another uneventful patrol," Ruby said, practically throwing herself onto the bed. "I wonder if mom'll let us do some target practice while we stand there waiting."
"Not a good idea, Ruby," Weiss replied, rolling her eyes slightly as she closed the door behind them.
"Well, let's face it Yang does need to work on her accuracy," Ruby said with a chuckle.
"True," Weiss said. "But I don't think scaring the wildlife is a good way to get her to improve. Which includes you, by the way."
"Hey!"
"I'm joking, Ruby," Weiss said, rolling her eyes. "I love you, you know."
"I love you too, Weiss," Ruby replied, smiling slightly. "Even if you are a pain sometimes."
"I could be a different kind of pain, if you'd like," Weiss replied with an evil grin.
"Sounds good to me," Ruby said with a laugh. "Now, come here so I can-"
"Ahem," a voice on the other side of the door called.
"Come in," Ruby said, wincing as she pulled away from her girlfriend
The door opened, revealing none other than Ruby's mother standing in the doorway.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Summer said slyly.
"Come on, mom," Ruby moaned. "This is the fourth time!"
"Sorry, pup," the older Faunus replied with a chuckle. "Just wanted to let you know that Ozpin wants to see you for a briefing."
"Thanks, mom," Ruby replied.
"I love you, Ruby," Summer said, smiling slightly
"I love you too, mom," the younger Faunus replied.
"Don't be late," Ruby's mother replied as she walked away.
A/N: There you folks go! I was almost going to delay this chapter, because reviews were busted this morning, so new reviews weren't showing up, but they got fixed this afternoon, so everything's good to go.
Anyway, quick announcement here: In case you haven't heard, I've been part of the gigantic collab called Room 205 with some of the greatest authors on the site. And as a part of that, we're going to be doing a podcast called Legion 205! We don't have the first episode up yet, but if you'd like to meet some of your favorite authors, that would be a great place to look! I'll shout about it again when it finally gets uploaded, so stay tuned for that!
As always, everyone, thanks for reading! You guys are awesome! Up next is the next chapter of Flight of a Rose! Until then!
