"What do you make of the gunpowder plan?" I asked Watts, a robotics scientist by trade, I convinced him, bribed him, to work for me as the head engineer on the arms design team in the army technical bureau, the mother group to the Army Corp of Engineers. It's been about a month since I let young emerald into my home, besides wrecking havoc at signal with cinder, apparently the school has put out a bulletin on the chocolate smuggling problem. Life has been going steady. I had summer watch over the kids, and I booked a flight to atlas, made discussions with the current chief of the armed forces in atlas about various topics, mostly about joint military training exercises and the problem of vacuo's civil war. Because who would have thought a militant group demanding for governmental reform would cause a civil war to happen? See I'm playing it smart and playing the election game, sooner rather than later Congress and the other branches of office will have enough influence to where the council will be legally defunct, and the kingdom of vale will officially become a republic. Vacuo is doing it the hard and bloody way. The leaders of their monarchist movement are certainly not the brightest bulbs in that regard. What were we talking about again...oh right gunpowder.

"It's plausible, if at all volatile. we need to determine its power compared to dust, as is, it's not a guarantee that gunpowder burns any better than fire dust," he said sitting across from my desk in the main headquarters building in Vale.

"Then we need to make a batch of ammunition to test on, what's the problem in this so far?" I asked him concerned.

"The problem is not the end product it is getting to it, as is we are breaching into a field only just being scratched at by the scientific community in atlas, with the world far more concerned with the ability to live another day, defense is more important than innovation, what is happening here in Vale is an anomaly compared to Atlas or Mistral," he explained carefully. I understood what he meant, while technological innovation isn't anything new, scientific innovation remains lacking. The CCT is a modern scientific miracle, however at its core, is still far behind anything back home.

"Perhaps I should personally oversee this project then, this way you can focus on the T1 Battle rifle and T1 Submachine gun," I offered.

"And let you take away what could be a great scientific discovery in the making, I think not Captain, I'll be deal with this problem personally, though I won't say no to some beneath the table help," he said scoffing at the offer, I simply nodded and dismissed him, letting him go off to work on the equipment for the troops. As is currently however , the staff of the army is lacking, so is the total man power. A grand total of 13 officers and 250 men are the force of the Army of the Republic. All of them are engineers or scientists so far, working on the problems of designing the standard equipment to be used by the infantry division, and armored battalion.

I'm technically in charge of the procurement of equipment. It's just until the situation alleviates itself and there are enough men in the field to form the first infantry regiment though. So until then, I sit in my little office, talking with either the general, Watts, or one of the many engineers and scientists in our employ.

— two months later —

"Here's the first batch of gunpowder, it's of the smokeless variety as you asked for, this is an achievable in chemistry in itself, now we only need to test fire it," Watts took the small batch shown on a clear dish, and put it with the rest of the first batch. Handing me an M1 Cobalt pistol, I load a magazine of .45 caliber dust ammunition. Firing it, it's apparent of its lack of power, enough to kill a man for sure, however it's not penetrating even basic body armor. I suppose that's why firearms are out of reach for the civilian population, if they don't know they can't protect against it. Granted it seems like a short sighted idea, and definitely wrong.

"And here is your planned munitions," he hands me a magazine of .45 caliber gunpowder rounds. Loading it in, I made sure to double check for my earplugs being in. Firing it, the pistol sharply kicks back, and the bullet flies quickly to the target.

"Testing has shown nearly doubled velocity and power, however its usage as anything other than ammunition is limited. Even a basic pack of explosives is far too unstable with this as the source of energy," he said while taking out his ear plugs. I nod in agreement, the good thing about dust is how it functions well in many environments, such as fire dust creating fire in even heavy rain. It's drawback is the limited power in its use as a propellant or explosive. It simply doesn't burn very hot, due it not burning at all. I suppose being magical in nature will do that, it burns even when it shouldn't, and it burns long. But those would never translate to burning hot.

"We would need a different source for explosives then," I said, trying to think of what goes into plastic explosives. I'm not an engineer by any means, as such I have no idea what goes into producing it nor how it functions. So I'm searching for a good way to describe it.

"Yes, if we want something more powerful than dust munitions and explosives, we need something better than it. Munitions have now been taken care of, if at all with a great risk involved in producing it. Explosives procurement is a different problem, something we're now working on," Watts said with a sigh.

"For what it's worth, you're making a world of difference to the people of remnant. Though I think you'll be happier with the pay bonus I'll be sending your way for this," I said placing the handgun down. He nodded in agreement, shortly after this he shooed me out of the firing range and lab. Something about needing peace and quiet to work properly.

I walk out of the headquarters building, which funny enough is located across the street from the old Army building that vale used during the Faunus Revolution. Unintentionally a spit to the face of vale all considered. I take a short stroll over to the Army training yard and observe the volunteer force train up with the Atlesian liaison force sent over to help with the general fitness and target practice training. So While the general staff get to mull about their office debating doctrine and equipment, I get to supervise farmers, clerks and various other civilians while they train to become soldiers. Part of me is annoyed, a different part is reasonable and knows this is what I signed up for. I sigh and start on my job of whipping these lot into the first infantry company.

— one month later —

"So what do you think of the captain?" I overhear as I pass by a barracks.

"Me I think he needs to lighten up a little, it's all stand up straight, clean your rifles, shine your boots," I roll my eyes at the comment.

"So private, you think that a clean rifle is unnecessary?" One of the sergeants asked.

"No sir," I chuckle and continue on my way to the main office building. Walking in I see the general sitting out front waiting for me.

"Can i help you sir?" I asked him.

"Yes actually, The press has been breathing down my neck on a press statement on the purpose of this army, don't think I should be openly stating that we exist as a means to defend the republic from the kingdom of vale in the event that they decide we're a threat and try to rally an army together," Macnamara said with a chuckle.

"No that wouldn't be in proper order General, I suppose you wish me to give the statement?" I asked.

"No, only to prepare me a speech or get me a secretary who can," he said getting up, "now then you seem like you're busy, I'll leave you be for the moment captain," he walked out of the lobby and outside. Now then I suppose I should make a call to Ozpin, it's been a while. I go to my office and take a seat pulling up my scroll. I make a call to Ozpin's office.

"Captain Nash, always a pleasure to receive a call from you," Ozpin greeted and he picked up the phone.

"Hardly a pleasure, I'd say I'm quite a prickly person," I said with a light smile.

"You and your wit, now then is this business or pleasure?" He asked.

"Pleasure, mostly wanted to check on how things are on your end," I said leaning back into my chair.

"Quite fine, Beacon tower stands strong, Miss Rose has taken up a position as a combat instructor," he said before taking a drink from his, I swear, endless cup of coffee. "Young Fall decided to make her way here to see what Beacon was like, so I had Glynda give her a tour," he said nodding, I smiled with a shake of my head.

"And? Did she enjoy it?" I asked after regaining a semblance of composure.

"Quite so, she mentioned showing pictures to her sister, didn't know you had a kid since I last talked with you," he said with an eyebrow raised.

"Adopted, this time a homeless kid from the streets," I said rolling my eyes.

"You are quite the Samaritan aren't you?" He jabbed.

"More than you are mr millennia," I said with a laugh.

"In other news the kingdom of atlas has recently announced the recognition of the Congress of vale, and its formation into a republic," he said smiling.

"You're quite happy about this outcome," I said with a raised eyebrow this time.

"Indeed, the old system has been showing its flaws, certainly yours is quite similar, but you seem like the sort to keep a head of these things," he said in support.

"I try to be, but I think amongst all the action this year, people might have forgotten that I'm just an army captain, hardly a politician. Activist and revolutionary I suppose, hardly a man worthy of his position. Either way they still recognize the kingdom of vale as well, and with the Vacuan Civil war in full swing, there is as much going right as it is going wrong," I said with a sigh. Much like the world to have something go wrong when more things need to go right, the monarchists look to be winning, with reports coming back stating that even huntsmen have rallied against the council. Somehow I doubt those huntsmen are that dissatisfied with the council to actually take a side on the matter, something else is going on there and I can't do anything about it unfortunately.

"But they are going right, that is more than what the white fang had mere months prior. Do remember that the cold of winter has long passed now, and the growth of spring shall bring with it new ideas and horizons," he said smiling, I nodded in silent agreement. I suppose a millenia would give a person some level of wisdom.

"Now if only vacuo we're such die hard monarchists," I said rolling my eyes. He chuckled at the jab.

"Indeed, I have to get back to work now though, I'm sure you are quite busy yourself, have a good day Captain," he said before hanging up. I put the scroll back into my desk, and start working on that speech for the general.

- end -

Sorry about the time in between chapters, I'm getting really sidetracked with various projects and classes. Anyways this one was just to move the time along, since I still have 10 years before canon, and that's a lot of story to cover. Just for reference, at the end of this story it's only 3 months passed since the start of it.

In any case, I hope everyone enjoyed, and leave a review if there is anything you want me to know.