Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY though I wish I do. It belongs to Roosterteeth
Arc 1: The Thin Gray Line
Chapter 2: The Illusion of Peace
The Citadel, Vacuo
The Day after OPERATION COIN FLIP
General Hassan Alraml
Commander of the Vacuan Army
"It is within my beliefs that a gentleman must look presentable, even when facing pieces of trash."
Within an office inside the Citadel which houses the headquarters of Vacuo's Armed Forces, an aging man with light skin straightened his tie in front of a mirror. His brown eyes wandered to his graying beard on his reflection to make sure it was as straight as it can be. The uniform he wore was a gray-green, typical for all army officers, with a black leather strap belt with one across his chest connecting to another across his waist, a leather holster where a pistol resides, black leather boots that went up to below his knees, custom black gloves that had a metal plating around his wrist which had buttons, and a cloak of the same color of his uniform.
On top of his head was a peaked cap with a silver eagle on it. Golden epaulettes with 5 stars on either side of the neck area of his uniform indicated his rank as the Commander of Vacuo's Army. Of course, he had other titles such as Marshal of Vacuo, Defender of the Sands, The Commonor's Count, The Desert Fox, but Hassan Alraml was more accustomed to being called a General.
Alraml's eyes glanced at his many ribbons to make sure they were properly placed. Most notably among his ribbons included the Distinguished Graduation Ribbon (earned from graduating from the Atlesian Army Academy), the Specialist's Star which (earned from passing Specialist Training), the Knight's Shield with Golden Swords (highest award for the Atlesian military which was awarded to him for rescuing the Atlesian Council from rioters in Mantle), the Order of the Manticore (awarded for saving Vacuo from multiple rebellions), and the Cross of Gallantry (awarded for his many years in Vacuo's Army and being the architect of the Armed Forces modernization).
For 10 years, Alraml served in both the Atlesian Specialist and Officer corps, and another 30 years serving faithfully for his homeland in Vacuo. 40 years of fighting the Grimm as well as Humans and he would be damned if he looked unprofessional at any moment.
"And yet, to this day, I think you worry too much about looks."
Seated on a chair with his feet up a large desk, was another officer wearing the same uniform but had goggles on his peaked cap. His rank also indicated he was a General.
Alraml shook his head at the comment.
"Sobieski, the day I look like a slob is the day Vacuo falls to the Grimm. I'm sure the Atlesian delegation was pleased when your tanks blew dust into their lunch."
General Leblanc Sobieski was the commander of the army's 1st Armored Division, also known as the "Winged Hussars". He was a valuable Commander but he never hid his disdain for his Atlesian counterparts. Countless calls from Atlesian officers and politicians were dismissed by Alraml and Admiral Sterling Silver for his valued tactical mind in armored warfare.
Sobieski, while nearly the same age as his friend, kept a youthful look on his clean shaven face. There were a few fading scars on his light skin from shrapnel but underneath his cap, there was a long scar noticeable when he isn't wearing any headwear due to the missing presence of hair. This was due to shrapnel from an exploding car that nearly took his life.
Like his friend Hassan, Leblanc Sobieski was also trained in Atlas. In fact, much of Vacuo's high ranking officers were trained by the Atlesians. None of them forgot their roots however, and remembered the destruction Atlesian greed brought to their homeland.
"Come," Alraml said, grabbing his scroll from the desk. "Our esteemed guests are waiting for us."
Sobieski grumbled as he got out of his office chair.
"The day we wipe those arrogant looks from their faces can't come soon enough."
"Patience my friend." His fellow General said. "The day will come, and you will have your part."
1 Hour Later
Alraml, Sobieski, and a group of both Vacuan and Atlesian officers stood on a stage as Vacuan soldiers marched passed them. They sat facing the ocean where the Vacuan Naval ships laid anchored. At its current state, the Vacuan Navy consisted mainly of Destroyers with plans for airships. However, the surprise for the Atlesians were the 3 new warships anchored in the middle of the fleet.
Starting with the smallest was the Triumph-class Cruiser. Over 200 meters in length, the VN Triumph boasted twelve 203mm Railguns mounted in 4 Triple turrets as well as 4 torpedo tubes on either side, and an array of secondaries consisting of 5in. guns and 20mm rotary cannons.
The next warship was called the Resurrection-class Battlecruiser. VN Resurrection was listed at around 270 meters in length and armed with nine 305mm Railguns in 3 triple turrets, six 130mm guns on both sides of the ship, and multiple 40mm and 20mm cannons meant to blanket the skies.
Lastly was the biggest oceangoing warship in Remnant's history; the Devastator-class Battleship. At 300 meters in length, the VN Devastator had six 508mm Railguns in 3 dual turrets, three 155mm guns on either side of the ship, a total of ten 100mm guns, and the ship was littered with 30mm and 20mm rotary cannons.
General Alraml glanced at his naval counterpart, Admiral Scipio Aureum who looked on proudly at his ships. Despite having the largest Dust reserves in the world, Vacuo still lacked abundance in Gravity Dust meaning oceangoing vessels are much more cost effective than airships.
He also noted the various Atlesian officers whispering about the lack of metallic armor on the marching Vacuan troops. The reason is really simple; unless they had aura, wearing such armor like what Atlesian troops where would be useless and be a burden in the hot, desert climate of Vacuo.
"A shame. These boys look like they won't last long against the Grimm. I suppose you shouldn't spend much on cannon fodder anyways."
Alraml glared at the offending Atlesian General who said that. He identified him as General Archibald Morningstar, a man he knew who was born rich, and bought his way up the military hierarchy. The Vacuan officers looked at the General with shock and anger. Surprisingly, some Atlesian officers stared at Morningstar with disapproval. However, the overweight General completely ignored them.
"For your information General Morningstar," said Admiral Aureum. "Vacuan troops do not wear full body armor due to the climate of our kingdom. Instead, they wear body vests to protect their torso with armor plating underneath. Everything else is to allow them to be more mobile."
Aureum like other Vacuan Naval Officers, wore a black uniform with a white peaked cap. The golding rings on his sleeves identified his rank as Admiral. Also like Alraml, Aureum was trained in Atlas but he also received additional training from Mistral and served in the Mistralian Navy for a period of 5 years.
Morningstar continued to ignore the Admiral. Luckily, a young officer decided to step in.
"Excuse General Morningstar sirs. The majority of officers in Atlas are unaware of how things work here. I'm sure he does not mean to insult you. We are grateful to you as our hosts and are impressed with the modernization of the Vacuan military."
Which the Atlesian government funded for the sole purpose of protecting their assets. Alraml thought before he approached the officer.
"Well said,'' responded Alraml. "And you are?"
The young officer snapped to attention.
"Colonel James Ironwood sir. Atlesian 6th Army."
"Ah, so you're in Morningstar's staff then. If I'm not mistaken, you come from a long line of military officers and nobles?"
"Yes sir, that's correct."
Alraml smiled before turning to an individual away from the crowd of officers who was sitting on a chair and reading from his scroll.
"Then I believe you know Commander Alonzo Redwood of the King's Imperial Guards? The Redwoods after all, was a cadet branch of House Ironwood."
Ironwood grimaced slightly before regaining his composure.
"Yes sir, Commander Redwood and I grew up together."
This was when Commander Redwood got up and walked towards his relative. He was the same height and complexion as Ironwood, but had a mustache, dark hair with long sideburns, wore blue clothing reminiscent of the Atlesian Nobility of old, a red sash across his chest, a shoulder coat, black boots and gloves, and he has armor plating protecting the shin areas of his legs, and another pair of armor plating covering the areas on his arms from his wrists to his elbows. Strapped to his back was a battle axe.
"Aye, ole James here and I were a wild duo." Redwood put a hand on Ironwood's shoulder which the latter tried to ignore. "We used to pull pranks, go out hunting without our parents knowing, and we were petty thieves for a bit. Being born rich didn't matter, but we were addicted to the thrill."
"And then the both of you attended the Academy together?" Alraml asked.
"Yes sir." Ironwood answered. "We were the best."
"Yup," Redwood patted Ironwood's head much to the latter's great annoyance. "We always went on missions together without fail. Things were good."
Alraml noticed Redwood's face fell slightly. He knew the reason why. Between the two, Redwood was outspoken against the wrongdoings of Atlas. While Ironwood always stayed silent, even when Faunus were being abused before him, Redwood was always ready to take action. However, his military training and advice from his friend kept him from doing anything rash. One day, he witnessed a woman who was a cat Faunus, being beaten by one of the Atlesian corporate CEOs. Something about forgetting to bring something important to that man, but Redwood didn't care. He couldn't stand by and do nothing anymore, so he beat the man senseless and helped the poor woman escape. After eluding authorities, Redwood managed to find the woman a transport so she could be smuggled to Menagerie.
She was forever grateful, and Alraml knew that the Imperial Guard Commander stayed in contact with her. After her escape, Redwood turned himself in. While some members of the Upper Class wanted him imprisoned, the Atlesian High Command instead chose to have him exiled to Vacuo. They couldn't have someone wasting away in prison, so they sent him to Vacuo where he could teach the Vacuans with the intention of protecting Atlesian assets better.
The man remained bitter towards Atlas and worked to undermine their power. He saw the sorry state the King's Imperial Guards were after the fall of the monarchy, and he helped turn them into Vacuo's most elite unit.
"Oh, so these are the famous Imperial Guards?" Remarked one of the Atlesian officers. "Their armor doesn't look graceful, but one can understand considering Vacuo's harsh environment."
Turning back to the parade, Alraml could see the fearsome Imperial Guards marching by with pride. Completely decked in black suits, armored chest piece and shoulder pads, black helmets, and a black mask with a vertical blue visor, these men and women were the cream of the crop of the Vacuan Armed Forces. Once, they were a proud unit protecting the King of Vacuo. After the fall of the monarchy, the Imperial Guards fell in prestige and became glorified guards with obsolete equipment.
Along came an exiled Alonzo Redwood who molded them and returned the unit to its former glory. Of course, what the Atlesian officers see was actually just a charade. They didn't know the entire unit had their auras unlocked, thought not all have found their semblances. Redwood being a former Specialist, trained the guards to be at the same level of the Atlesian Specialists. Perhaps even better. The armor they wore was just for show. Their real armors were classified, only seen by the top brass of the Vacuan Military. If the Atlesians found out, or even the Vacuan Council, they would demand they be handed over to Atlas. Such is the sad life of a nation mostly in control of another. At least, that's what Alraml wants everyone to think for now.
"Aye," Started Redwood which got the Atlesians' attention. "Proud of those lads. From being a glorified guard unit, to smashing Grimm skulls with their fists."
As Redwood boasted about the abilities of the Imperial Guards, at least those he was authorized to say, Alraml noticed a Naval Officer run up to Aureum and whisper to his ear. The dark-skinned Admiral momentarily looked surprised before whispering back to the officer and turned back towards the parade.
Alraml was immediately alarmed. When emergencies occur in Vacuo, it was either him or Air Chief Marshal Sombra Asuman of the Vacuan Air Force. That's because emergencies are usually involved on the ground or the air. An emergency at sea was a rarity.
Hopefully, it's nothing too serious. He thought.
Captain Toro Vermilion
Sea of Souls
VN Greyhound
Commander of all Escort ships of SDC Convoy RX23
Captain Vermilion stared out the viewport of the Greyhound's bridge in silence. This was the 5th year serving as Captain of the Greyhound, a Spring Moon-class Destroyer. These ships were by all means, pretty old having 8 100mm auto-reloading cannons with 4 torpedo tubes and loads of depth charges, but were highly effective against attack Sea Feilongs and pirates. However, all 98 Destroyers of the Spring Moon-class and any old generation ships were to be retired soon and scrapped.
Vermilion loved this little tin can and he treated the crew like his family. In return, the crew would follow their middle-aged Captain to hell if needed.
The crew of the Greyhound were on their 25th escort mission. Something about this mission however, gave Captain Vermilion a bad feeling. Thankfully, the engineers installed something new called a "sonar" that is suppose to help them detect any Sea Feilongs trying to sneak their way to the SDC ships which carried not just dust, but also many SDC employees.
Along with Greyhound was Eagle and Akizuki, both Spring Moon-classes, and the two Klewang-class Corvettes Wasp and Udaloy. Just 5 ships to escort 15 cargo and passenger ships.
"All crew at their stations?" asked Captain Vermilion. He was responded with a bunch of 'aye sir' from the various crew on the bridge. "Good, have Mr. Woods keep an eye on the sonar."
"You think something will happen sir?" asked a nervous Seaman. Vermilion continued to watch the waves.
"Probably. I don't have a good feeling about all this."
Vacuo's Navy usually performed escort duties, regular patrols, or conducting operations against pirate groups which were rampant in the Southern hemisphere. The people of the desert were meant to be on solid ground, the harsh environments of Vacuo. From what Vermilion knew from High Command, they wanted to change that. No Kingdom had any advantages at sea. Atlesians strived to conquer in all terrains, but with their capital and main shipyards on a floating city, they never felt they needed to. That didn't stop them though to at least build a wet navy consisting of Destroyers with some Cruisers.
Weak. That's why the Navy got a huge budget. The ocean is relatively left wide open because of Atlesian arrogance. He thought.
"Contact bearing 240 at 1200 yards sir." One of the Seamen said. He wore an earphone to relay any information from the sonar operator.
Vermilion quickly moved to the other side of the bride to look out the viewport. The rest of the crew were on high alert when the Seaman spoke up again.
"Contact bearing 011 at 700 yards sir."
The Captain turned to the helmsman.
"Right standard rudder."
"Right standard rudder aye sir."
He then went back to looking out the viewport.
"Contact bearing 012 at 600 yards sir."
"Ms. Twilight standby with a medium pattern."
A woman holding a microphone nodded.
"I'm ready sir."
"Sonar contact 001 range 500 yards sir."
Hearts thumping, things were getting incredibly tense. They knew this had to be a Sea Feilong as the Leviathans never bothered with Human ships. If they were truly Leviathans, they would surface to see if they were ships or some kind of food. Sea Feilongs didn't need to. They knew the ships carried prey.
"Contact very dead ahead 300 yards sir."
Despite this, Vermilion was very calm. He's killed Sea Feilongs before but this was the first time using the new sonar equipment.
"Contact inside minimum sonar range."
To Vermilion, that meant the Sea Feilong was either targeting his ship, or trying to sneak by to get the more vulnerable civilian ships.
"Hydrophone strong, very strong."
The Captain tensed up. It meant the Grimm is basically right in front of them.
"Overwrapping screws-"
"HE'S TRYING TO SLIP UNDER US!" Yelled the sonar operator from the room next door.
Music: Greyhound OST "Torpedoes"
"NOW MS. TWILIGHT!" Vermilion yelled as he rushed to the door of the bridge.
"ROLLING FIRE, MEDIUM PATTERN!" She yelled into the mic which echoed throughout the ship and heard from all nearby ships.
At the stern of the ship, crewmembers rolled off depth charges or fired them into the air. Vermilion used his binoculars from a balcony to see four large underwater explosions.
"Someone tell Eagle to come up and follow through." He turned to an officer inside the bridge. "I want all mounts to load HE-FRAG Airburst. No telling if that Grimm will-"
"SIR LOOK!" Yelled a crewmember.
The Vacuan Captain turned back to where the explosions were and witnessed a sight that gave the crew a sigh of relief. On the ocean surface, the body of a Sea Feilong floated as it slowly disintegrated. Cheers rang out from the crew. A dead Sea Feilong was always a welcoming sight. Still though, Vermilion couldn't shake the feeling that something's wrong.
"CONTACT! ANOTHER RIGHT BELOW US!" Another yell came from the sonar operator.
"HARD RIGHT RUDDER! HARD OVER!" Vermillion shouted.
Greyhound turned along with all of its guns. They've dealt with Sea Feilongs before, this one shouldn't be any different.
"GRIMM SURFACING!"
A gush of water shot up into the air and amidst it, a Sea Feilong floated. Its eyes bore on the ship that killed its brethren.
"ALL MOUNTS, FIRE AT WILL!"
In unison, the guns fired at the great beast. To Vermilion, it was too close to his liking. He watched and his eyes widened when the cannon rounds bounced off and the airburst rounds from the 100mms did nothing. They tore up the wings but the Grimm didn't even seem fazed.
Vermilion finally got a good look and his heart skipped a beat. This particular Grimm had more armor than a typical Sea Feilong and noticed an ugly scar that crossed its right eye which was sign that this wasn't its first sorte.
This Sea Feilong is an elder. Experienced and battle hardened. He thought.
Its mouth opened and a yellow beam of lightning hit the veteran Greyhound midships.
"Someone alert all escorts to converge on our position right now!." Vermilion ordered. "We're dealing with an Elder Grimm here. We need all the help we can get and alert all civilian ships to make for Papa Beacon. Get them out of here!"
"At once sir." responded a Lieutenant.
Before he turned back to the stationary Grimm that was content with just watching the Destroyer futility try to crack its armor, Vermilion's eyes noticed electricity dancing all around the armor of the ship. It was then when his skin paled. At the middle of the ship, the torpedo tubes were engulfed with bolts of electricity. Nearby crewmembers noticed this too and abandoned their stations immediately.
The torpedoes-
Vermilion couldn't finish his thought, before an explosion engulfed the majority of the ship. The last thing he remembered before he blacked out were the cloudy skies, filled with smoke from his beloved ship.
1 Hour Later
"Hey, he's waking up!"
When the Captain came to, he felt pain all around his body. He groaned while trying to get up, but a hand stopped him.
"Sir, with all due respect, you must rest."
His eyes laid on the Vacuan serviceman before him and recognized the medical armband on the sailor's arm.
"My-my ship." Vermilion managed to say.
The medic stopped before he shook his head.
"I'm sorry sir, you were the only one alive we pulled out."
He didn't want to believe it, but deep down, he knew the medic was right. Vermilion turned his head towards the ocean. Greyhound was nearby, in half with fires engulfing the waters around it. The rest of the fleet was devastated as well. SDC ships and Vacuan warships alike felt the wrath of an Elder Sea Feilong. Once the sky was cloudy and white, now it was orange from the fires everywhere.
"Eagle is the only ship standing sir. We were too late to save the SDC ships, but the rest of us tin cans managed to take down the Sea Feilong. Survivors were scarce. Bloody Grimm specifically targeted areas where the magazines were stored." The Medic said.
Just like it targeted our torpedo tubes. The Captain thought.
"Cap said we need to leave the area immediately before more Grimm showed up. The Valerian Coast Guard VTOLs couldn't find any more survivors. We're all what's left."
He couldn't respond. All those people, gone and it was all by a single Grimm. Vermilion has never felt so helpless, but at this moment, there was nothing he could do. Just a reminder of what Humanity has been dealing with for centuries.
Lieutenant Shepherd "Prophet" Quartz and Lieutenant Obsidi "Obi" Umkhonto
Illegal fighting pits, Vacuo
"Wake up Obi."
*SNORT*
In a darkened room illuminated only by a lamp, two men found themselves stuck inside a giant cage. One of them wore a monk's cloak with a hood over his head. The other wore dark gray body armor with a black scarf around his neck. However, he was without a helmet which laid not far from him. Its skull-like appearance was enough to put the fear in many people.
"Christ's sake, I forgot that you snore super loudly." Said the monk.
"Who's Christ?" Asked the groggy man in armor. "Is he a character in that fantasy book of your Prophet?"
"It's the bible Obi. You should read it sometime."
Prophet and Obi stared at each other. The former had light skin, dark brown hair, and a full beard. His companion was dark skinned, bald, and had a stubble.
"Yeah you tell that god of yours I'll pray to him if I win the lottery." Obi said which Prophet responded by shaking his head.
"That's not how it works dipshit. You gotta earn your keep and be a good person."
"Are we good? I mean, we all got blood in our hands. Only god I pray to is Death because only Death is certain."
Prophet wanted to argue more, but he did have a point. Death claims everyone no matter what. Meanwhile, Obi looked around at their surroundings.
"So, caged up like animals in a dark room with only a single lamp so we can see each other. I think the last time this happened was back at Arkham."
"Hopefully this means we're in the right place. Huntsmen everywhere busted their asses trying to find these illegal fighting pits. Guess we'll be the first."
There was a loud bang before the mechanical sounds echoed throughout the room. They tensed up, preparing for what's to come. All of a sudden, they felt the cage they were in move upwards.
"Times like these makes me wish I was a Faunus." Obi gripped the bars and tried to see into the darkness. "Still think Shockwave should've come with us."
As the cage continued rising, the duo became aware of the growing sounds of cheering. Obi's eye twitched which didn't go unnoticed by Prophet.
"Hey, Obi." The armored man flinched when a hand was placed on his left shoulder. He turned only to find the reassuring smile from his old friend. "It'll be okay. If anything happens, I'll keep you calm."
Prophet always felt pity, but also for his friend. Obi was born to parents forced to fight in illegal fighting rings in Mistral. He witnessed both of his parents get killed as a child and was forced to kill others the same age as him. To the delight of the showrunners, they found a kid who could take on those above his age and weight. "The Gladiator", a nickname he was given for his undefeated streak. It wasn't until Mistralian Huntsmen found the fighting ring, arrested those responsible, and freed the captives. Seeing the potential, Obi was offered to attend Haven Academy which was where he met Prophet, his very first friend.
Meanwhile, Obi was forever grateful for how Prophet watched over him like a little brother in the Academy days. Teaching him things he was denied growing up, and preparing him for the future. Prophet was the only son of cult leaders. They wanted him to be a preacher due to his orator skills and his semblance. This wasn't what he wanted, for Prophet was born a fighter just like his grandfather who was a Huntsmen. He joined Haven Academy so he can lead the "Pure Militant", the militant branch of his parents' cult.
Hand in hand, the duo were together through thick and thin. Just the two were able to give problems to both Altan's and Grau's teams during the Vytal Festival. That was something worth respect, and Altan never forgot about them when he formed Jaeger 130.
"I know." Obi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Just some bad memories."
"And it's behind us now yes?"
Both shielded their eyes when the cage was lifted out of the darkness. Once their vision cleared, they found their cage in the middle of an indoor arena. Cheers rang out among the audience which consisted of a wide variety of people, from crime lords to the international elite and even ordinary people.
"Well shit." Prophet commented. "It's just like the Vytal Festival."
A loud bang was heard before the walls of their cage fell apart.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. For the final fight of the day, I present to you with a special gift."
The Jaeger Lieutenants looked up at a booth where an old man in a black business suit stood with a microphone. Also above them were catwalks formed into a square, and standing on them was a large group of criminals with guns pointed at them.
"Our men have found these 2 passed out drunk in a bar. Warriors, the locals in the town they were found in said. I'm sure these men are experienced considering their attire, or perhaps they were at a costume party."
This got a laugh from the audience.
"So let us test to see if they are truly warriors. They will have the honor to fight our very best. If they live, then you'll see them in future fights to come. Defeat, well, the animals need to eat."
"I'm a bit offended that they don't know who we are." Obi said to Prophet among the cheering crowd. "We gotta do a little more. This is just embarrassing."
"On the upside Obi, they don't know what they're dealing with."
In front of them, a giant gate opened up and a large group of men and women walked out carrying various types of weapons.
"That beacon in your helmet active?" Prophet asked.
"Check." Obi put on his helmet and checked over his armor to make sure everything was there. "I don't think I'll be needing my weapons here."
Prophet nodded and reached for something inside his cloak. Audiences noted it was some sort of thin, circular object, until there was a click and a staff appeared in his hand. Made of Titanium, the top of the staff featured a Pentagram with a Cross in the middle. It was there did the audience became aware that Prophet was a member of the Purist Cult, officially called the Church of the Pure.
"You have your fun Obi." said Prophet as he sat down with his legs crossed. "We're in the right place, but I think I'll just sit back and enjoy the moment."
Agent Cross
Vacuan Intelligence Agent
Illegal Fighting Pits, Vacuo
Up on the catwalks, a man looked down at the fight. No, not a fight. Child's play. Tanned skin from the Vacuan heat and having short, white hair, he was the only one to recognize the duo the traffickers stupidly brought here. Agent Cross looked over his black business suit to make sure he didn't get pickpocketed. Here, trust no one, not even the guards.
It was nothing short of a massacre, Cross observed. Despite having aura, not a single solid blow could land on Obsiti "Obi" Umkhonto. That was one of the great attributes of his "Mimicry" Semblance. A passive type, Obi can instantly recognize one's fighting styles and match or counter it blow for blow, even if he's never seen the style before.
It didn't matter if the opponent was using an unfamiliar weapon, like Qrow Branwen's scythe. Obi didn't always have weapons that matched his opponents and it was impossible to copy one's semblance. Many times he has countered and defeated his opponents without a hit on his aura.
The main weakness was it did not take account to Semblances. In the Academy days, many students made the mistake of trying to fight hand to hand with him. It wasn't until he faced Altan Zaffre in the tournament was he finally defeated. He became much more lethal after joining Jaeger 130 and having the intelligence gathering of Roxa Pantera at his disposal.
Down there, Obi was utterly decimating the thugs. Even when ganged up on, he was able to avoid any hits without even looking. Every 5 seconds, a thug was sent to the ground moaning in pain.
Cross winced when a woman came at him with a flying kick from behind, but Obi merely grabbed her leg, and slammed her to the ground head-first. Then he proceeded to use her as a makeshift weapon, hitting others with her body.
Some thugs did get through Obi and made a beeline to his partner.
Shepherd "Prophet" Quartz, Cross was impressed at the kind of company Altan Zaffre gathered. Son of cult leaders who he defied, his Semblance allowed him to toy with people's emotions. Certainly something powerful his parents wanted him to use as a preacher, but their son apparently wasn't comfortable with it.
From what Cross gathered, he can calm an entire town to avoid attracting Grimm. Only the strongest mentally can withstand the worse of his Semblance. How strong, Cross doesn't know. What he does know is that Prophet isn't much of a fighter against the Grimm. His best tactic was using his Semblance to avoid getting the attention of Grimm to begin with. Besides that, Prophet was excellent as Jaeger 130's Public Relations expert.
There was one rumor that in a fit of rage where a large bandit group injured his parents, he used his Semblance to force all of the bandits to commit suicide. Cross couldn't confirm it since all he had were the words of Cult members as well as traveling merchants.
The main issue was these numbskulls actually brought in 2 Jaeger 130 Lieutenants here without realizing. He would have words with their leader.
Turning away from the fight, Cross left the catwalks and the noises behind and made a beeline down a hallway where there was a set of doors. 2 thugs sat nearby playing a card game on a table. They noticed him and moved for an intercept. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't let out a word before Cross took out a suppressed pistol and shot both in the head with precision.
*BANG*
Cross kicked the door in and saw their leader standing fearfully. His right hand was on his white business suit, thinking it was an intruder.
"Oh, it's you." The man said, letting out a sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that. I was half-expecting Atlesians."
"You do know your gang just brought in 2 Jaeger Lieutenants right?" Cross asked.
"Huh?" He looked confused for a second and noticed the pistol on the Agent's hand. "Don't worry. The lads will take care of them. Tell Alraml that everything's okay."
Agent Cross noted how the man was now sweating nervously. Good, the Vacuan military isn't seen as a joke anymore.
"You don't understand. Alraml made a deal with all of you. Now, you just broke it."
"Wait-"
He didn't get to finish as a bullet tore through his stomach. Sounds of blood gurgling echoed in the room while Cross stared at the dying man.
"Your life was forfeited the moment your gang brought them in. Don't break your deals with Alraml."
General Alraml throughout the years, have made many deals with criminal groups all over Vacuo. They may attack SDC and all Atlesian properties, but they must leave all Faunus alone and may do what they wish with the rest. If they ever did something foolish like attacking Huntsmen from Vale or Mistral, then Alraml will make sure their groups are gone by morning.
For every attack, Atlas sends money in the form of military aid so Vacuo can deal with them. Usually in the billions. Of course, Alraml already had the tools to begin with. His troops were trained for these situations. Instead, the money was being used in projects and the excess money was being stored for infrastructure projects after Alraml's grand plan.
But that won't happen for a little while. Cross glanced at a computer that was still logged in.
Good, means I don't need to hack it.
Alraml will be pleased.
With Prophet and Obi
To the thugs, the Huntsmen before them was a blur despite wearing armor. They became apprehensive, but thoughts of the money they could win clouded their judgment.
A man to Obi's right brought his sword down to his target. Obi stepped back as the sword passed before jabbing the man's neck and leaving him on the ground, gasping for air. Another man rushed in with brass knuckles and launched a series of jabs at Obi. With his semblance, Obi knew exactly where those hits would go and dodged each one with ease. Having enough, the Lieutenant sent a Haymaker that sent the man flying and landing on another 2 thugs.
He didn't have time to observe his victory when he sidestepped a kick from behind. Another thug, this time a woman, was caught off guard when Obi grabbed her leg. She let out a yell when he lifted her body over him and slammed her to the ground face first.
*CLANG*
A glance to his left showed Obi a man with his hands raised and a shield on the ground.
"Look man, I surrender okay?"
Before Obi could respond, the man was hit at the back of the head and tumbled over, unconscious. Behind the knocked out criminal stood Prophet who looked proud of himself. Quite a few goons were also knocked out behind him.
"How far are they?" Prophet asked Obi.
Both stopped when the audience started yelling. Some threw food, some shouted and pointed, and some were smart enough to inch towards the exits. Up above, the guards lined at the edge of the catwalks and pointed their rifles down at them.
"Above, but too long. PROPHET!" Obi yelled.
Immediately, the cult leader rose a hand in the air and the room went into complete silence. No matter how many times he's seen it, Obi always had a shiver down his spine whenever Prophet used his semblance. At almost the exact same time, everyone inside the room but them turned white as a sheet. Many went into a fetal position but some cried out in fear. The wails of multiple people, it was a scary sight to behold.
*BOOM*
The duo looked up to see a hole blown into the ceiling exposing the arena to the sun. They couldn't see the people roping downwards, but it was the cue for Prophet to release his captives.
"Right on cue huh?" muttered Obi.
They didn't wait too long before Prophet and Obi identified their reinforcements. Black uniforms, khaki tan plate carriers, gray helmets, pads, and gear, Vacuan soldiers roped down and quickly began apprehending the audience members and the guards. One roped down in front of the two and saluted.
"Jaegers Prophet and Obi?" The soldier asked.
"Yeah that's us." Responded Prophet. "Where's our team?"
"Lieutenant Lyon. Vympel Unit. Your teams are topside battling some Grimm that got curious. General Alraml sent us to assist."
"Well," Obi started and glanced at the other Vympels who were arresting everyone. "Send some troops to secure the holding pens below us. Should be some captives down there. The others can sweep the complex. Let us know if you guys run into trouble."
"Will do." Lyon turned to a Vympel who was motioning for more troops to rope down. "Sergeant! Send Disciple Squad downstairs and free the captives. Oxide and Butcher are to sweep the area with extreme prejudice. Cross is in play so watch your fire. Au pas de course!"
"Cross?" Prophet turned to Obi who shrugged.
"Whatever, as long as we get paid right?"
Prophet had no problems with getting his pay, but he had the sinking feeling that something wasn't right.
Altan Zaffre
Vale
With the morning sun in the air, Altan leaned on the wall of his house, watching his daughter have at it at training dummy hanging from a tree. Today, he decided to have a bit of a "throwback" to his outfit he used in his Academy days. Wearing a black kevlar vest with nothing underneath, bare arms with shoulder pads, tactical gloves, dark pants, and black boots, the only missing pieces was a half balaclava stored in his pocket as well as his cloak and straw hat which were in his office.
Lila meanwhile was only wearing a white shirt with sweatpants and dark shoes. She was practicing fighting moves she learned from her parents, but as a parent, he was noticing the frustration behind her punches and kicks.
"Something wrong sweetie pie?" He asked his daughter. She stopped momentarily and hunched over to catch her breath.
"Daddy, when will I unlock my Semblance?"
Altan shrugged.
"It varies. Maybe you'll find yours by accident. Hopefully in training and not in a fight."
"Then...how can I find it if you won't let me use my Aura in training?"
She did have a point, but Altan had his reasons. He glanced at the metallic bracelet on her right wrist. The device was an Aura Suppressor, designed by Atlas originally for locking up criminals with Aura. Altan found use of it for training.
"Lila, do you know how most Huntsmen die?" The little girl turned to her father and shook her head. "When their Aura is depleted, they become weak, helpless, easy pickings for enemies. Doesn't matter if they're Human or Grimm, but Huntsmen end up either too weak to fight back or to run."
"So we should be careful and not let our Auras to run out to begin with, right?"
He huffed in annoyance. Not because of Lila, but because that question brought up a bad memory.
"Pumpkin, anything can happen out of nowhere. You can get ambushed, surrounded, or even find an opponent that outclasses you." Altan clenched his fist. "That's what took your Uncles Samson and Victor away."
Lila then felt nothing but guilt. She knew Samson's and Victor's deaths were a sore subject for her parents.
"Oh, I'm sorry for asking dad."
To her credit, from Altan's view, she immediately recognized her mistake and apologized. Most kids her age would either continue pestering or move on without apologizing.
"It's okay." He kneeled in front of her. "I want you to be strong. Stronger than your parents, stronger than your Aunt Summer."
Altan grasped her right hand with his left and patted her bicep with his right.
"A strong body…"
He then placed his hand on top of her head.
"...a strong mind…"
Following that, he placed his hand over her heart.
"...and a strong heart. One must achieve balance to be truly the strongest. I don't like to insult friends and family, but some are lacking in one or two categories. Aunt Summer has a very strong heart, but her mental and physical strength is lacking. Too susceptible to what her heart says. Your Aunt Raven has a strong body and a strong mind, but she is nearly devoid of a heart. I never knew my parents. Summer's dad trained me, I became a man in Beacon, traveled through the deserts of Vacuo and the forests of Vale, fought enemies both man and Grimm, having the guts to marry your mother, but by far, my greatest achievement is right before me."
The Jaeger Commander poked his daughter's stomach which resulted in giggles from her.
"Your mother and I will provide you with everything you would ever need. When you're in a bad situation, you will think of a way out. When people you love are in danger, you will be there to help them. When the cards are against you, you will fight because you will not give up. Do you know why I know?" Lila shook her head as Altan stood up. "Because you are my blood. You are Glynda's blood. Giving up? Abandoning others? We don't know what that means. It's not in our DNA."
He paused for a bit in thought.
"Okay, that probably sounds a bit cheesy and maybe I've been watching too many action movies. My point still stands. You're going through this training for your own good. Your mom and I both know you can do it, and you'll be better than us. The fact that you started off early and with the support of your parents? There isn't any excuse on why you can't be better. I had to train your mom back at Beacon. She complained at first but-"
"Oh! Where's mommy at? She told me she's getting me a sundae from Burger Town!" Lila interjected with excitement.
And there's that short attention span I had when I was small. Altan looked down at Lila and raised an eyebrow. His daughter looked away sheepishly. Still, where is Glynda? She should've been back by now.
Bedlam Square
Vale
Glynda Goodwitch
"-no response from the Vacuan Council. In other news, we've received reports of Atlesian Settlers supported by their local police and military units, violently kicking out more than 500 Faunus families out of their homes. Journalists on the ground reported swift brutality. Faunus families were kicked out of their ancestral homes, and those who resisted were beaten and sent off to prison. The Atlesian Council responded by saying, 'These Faunus have rioted and are being put down as peacefully as possible. They resided on land meant for Humans by the rights given by the gods.' Civil Rights leaders strongly condemn the actions of Atlas and have-"
"It's like we never learn do we?" muttered Glynda. Slowly driving through the crowded area known as Bedlam Square, the Beacon Professor just finished shopping when she decided to listen to the radio. Needless to say, she didn't have a very high opinion of Atlas whenever they made the news. Admiral Sterling Silver, who is part of Ozpin's circle like her, was the living embodiment of Atlas. Strong, yet arrogant. The more she was around Silver, the more she felt like tearing their kingdom apart single-handedly. She'll take a drunk Qrow and a sugar high Summer any day.
"Lets see here." Glynda swiped the touch screen of her car and opened up a long list. "Steak, got that. Altan said he was going to make Filet Mignon. Mac & Cheese. He's an adult and is still addicted to it. Vitamin C gummies for Lila. Cold Air Intake? He can get that himself because I don't know what that is."
The sounds of car horns grabbed her attention. It was there did she find out why some drivers were sounding their car horns enthusiastically. Up ahead, a group of people holding up Anti-Faunus signs were crossing the street. Cheers rang out from some of the pedestrians throughout the street. The Faunus that were present glared hatefully, but the large majority of bystanders just continued what they were doing like normal.
Glynda hated that. There's so many problems with the status quo but people are content with it. Just like what her husband said, people are only okay with "good enough" which is why society can never be the best it could be. Change can happen, and she convinced Altan to ease things peacefully. To create change suddenly would also create violence and discourse thus attracting Grimm.
The car before hers started shaking. Confused at first, Glynda saw some of the protestors approaching the sides of the car and shaking it. From the silhouettes in the car's tinted windows, she deduced that its occupants were Faunus.
"Ugh, enough of this." Glynda said, having enough. Other drivers noticed the Beacon Professor stepping out her car and approaching the protestors. Some recognized her, but most did not. Those that knew who she was knew she was once a Jaeger 130 Lieutenant who operated mostly in Vale's wilderness, but resigned and became one of Beacon's newest Professors.
"All of you, back away from the car." Goodwitch commanded.
Some of the men and women brushed her off and continued bothering the Faunus inside.
"What are you going to do about it animal fucker?" One of the men said. He and 3 others broke away and slowly walked towards her. To the surprise of nearly everyone around, a purple glow emitted from the trio plus all of the rowdy protestors and they floated into the air.
"That was not a suggestion." Glynda said with an impassive look on her face. With a flick of a finger, the group was hurtled to the feet of the crowd. They groaned in pain while some more protestors tended to them. "You are lucky to live in a time with freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences. Protest as you wish, but do not lay your hands on innocent bystanders."
Seeing that it was a Huntsmen they were dealing with, the protestors grumbled and moved on. Glynda continued watching them and ignored the insults thrown at her. It seemed these Anti-Faunus hates it when another Human stands in their way.
"Oh my gosh, is she a Huntsmen?"
Glynda whirled around to see many people on the sidewalks pointing their scrolls at her.
"I heard Beacon had a new Professor, think that's her?"
"Hey she looks familiar."
"I think she's a Jaeger if memories serves me right."
Glynda's eye twitched. She wasn't supposed to attract attention. Her being a Beacon Professor, married to a Councilor who is also a Huntsmen Commander would always paint a target on their backs. If anyone were to follow them home…
She didn't want to think about any scenarios that would endanger her daughter. Altan definitely isn't going to be a happy camper.
Altan Zaffre
30 minutes later
"You must know your absolute limits."
Lila launched at him with her fists which he sidestepped away.
"Know your enemy…"
She launched a high kick which he caught.
"...and know yourself…"
With her foot still in her dad's hand, she twirled around and sent her other foot towards his face. This one was also caught by his other hand.
"...you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."
Altan threw his daughter and watched as she tumbled through the grass.
"That was a good move actually." He commented. Lila got up and got into another fighting stance. "You may be strong for your age, but not yet strong enough. Fighting someone bigger and stronger than you, one must be faster and think quicker. Use every advantage, including your surroundings."
Her eyes darted at the ground and saw loose dirt from where she fell. Thinking quickly, Lila scooped it up and threw it at her dad's face. The dirt just sailed past his face when he sidestepped, but his eyes widened when he heard her charging him.
The veteran Huntsmen crouched down and caught a kick aiming at his knee. Surprise and pride was shown at his face when Lila used her momentum to send a kick with her other foot, aiming for his chin. Unfortunately for her, Lila's father caught that kick with his other hand and pushed her away from him.
"Excellent." Altan said, dusting himself. "Aiming to limit a bigger opponent's mobility. Remember that while aura can protect you, it doesn't protect you from everything. A strong enough force can cause internal damage."
Lila got up and flicked some grass off her.
"Is that why you preferred Donryu over anything else?" She asked.
Altan nodded.
"Indeed. While it is an exceptional weapon, especially against heavily armored Grimm, my warhammer is very lethal against aura users. Through my travels, I came to learn that at times, other people are much more dangerous than Grimm. It's one of the reasons why I created Donryu."
She looked at him confusingly.
"But mom said you had that idea when you had a concussion after getting punched by Uncle Grau even with 100% Aura. It was the first year in combat class, I think mom said."
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Well...yeah. Forgot about that."
That and Glynda nearly broke my pelvis and the whole bed frame but she doesn't need to know that. Altan thought.
The sounds of metal scraping got his attention and he whirled towards the driveway. Altan's jaw hit the floor to see the front of their new sedan completely totaled.
"Glynda?" He asked his wife who climbed out of the car. She held her right wrist with an embarrassed look on her face. "Wha-what the hell happened? This is an E63 AMG. Brand new."
"Altan, I can explain." Glynda said, trying to calm him down. "I may have accidentally got some attention from the public, and the paparazzi followed me."
Her husband shook his head to make sense of what he was seeing.
"Did you at least lose them?"
His question was answered when a car drove by. Photographers snapped shots at them and sped away.
"Glynda?"
"Yes?"
"...I think it's time we invest on a wall."
Kabut, Rempah Archipelago, Kingdom of Mistral, Southern Anima
Grass Mier
Ace Operative Specialist
"Fuck Vale, Fuck Atlas, Fuck Mistral too. They don't give a fuck about you!"
Down at the ground level of the forest city, massive crowds of people marched through the streets while chanting. Banners, picket signs, red flags, and some even brough drums with them.
The reason why they were marching?
Rempah Archipelago was the last independent kingdom to fall to Mistral in the ancient times. They always had a sense of their own separate identity from Mistral. During these times, the population was tired of Mistral ignoring them.
They were more or less seen as an Exploitation Colony. The government of Mistral only wanted Rempah's natural resources and manpower, but little money went to improving the region. Most of the money went to Mistral's capital region.
All of Southern Anima is in an outcry against the Mistralian leaders, but it was the Rempah Archipelago that was the most vocal. That was why Operative Grass Mier was here. Silence their leaders to give the Mistralian military an easier time to put down the population.
Easier said than done however, as the rebellious leaders were smart enough to conceal their identity. All Grass knew was the face of the rebels was an individual that went by the Codename "Fox".
There's like a hundred Fox Faunus here. What a load of shit. Grass thought.
Grass was a veteran Ace Operative of average height, in his mid-30s, light skin, brown slicked backed hair, wore the standard Specialist uniform, and wore black aviator glasses. He was leaning on the railing of a balcony halfway up a massive Bishop Tree.
Kabut was a very unique city. The most populated city in Southern Anima, they utilized these massive trees the size of skyscrapers as their homes. While the ground level did have some tall buildings and residential areas, nearly every Bishop Tree in the vicinity had buildings built onto the sides of the trees. Some even reached above their canopies.
The Ace Operative was in one such dwelling. He, along with a few other Specialists who recently graduated, were hanging around the home belonging to one Sirius Faux.
Sirius was a former politician, but the old man has since been retired and lived quietly. His son however, Shane Faux, was a former local police officer. Both were seated at a table in the middle of the room behind Grass, being questioned by the other Specialists.
"Enough." Grass called out to his comrades. "None of these questions are going anywhere. We're not getting anywhere so stop asking the same questions."
The other Specialists complied and moved away from the table when Grass approached and stared at the father and son. On the left, the elder Faux was a wrinkled old man with white hair and wore glasses. He was wearing a green shirt with black pants and sandals. To the right, Shane Faux was shirtless, had tanned skin, long black hair, wore cargo pants, and black boots. The younger Faux was very well-muscled with red tribal tattoos on his arms and chest. Both were Fox Faunus with orange tails.
"You both seem competent, and have a history of abiding with the law. Know anything?" The Operative asked.
"People are angry Atlesian." Shane commented with a very deep voice. "They've had enough of being exploited. Want to change that? Call your bosses to meet with the leaders of Mistral. This all started because of their incompetence."
Grass couldn't find any fault in that. Atlas has massive influence on Mistral, but they didn't force the Mistralian Council to lower wages nor threaten the region with martial law. Blame solely rested on the Mistralian Council for their greed. However, Mistral was the biggest trading partner for Atlas. Dust especially, was vital. While their Dust reserves are only half of Vacuo's, they have the biggest reserves of the valuable Gravity Dust needed to power Airships. That was why Grass and his squad of Specialists were here. While this was Mistral's mistake, Atlas could not afford for the kingdom to be destabilized.
"That may be." Grass said. "But you must understand that we cannot allow Mistral to be destabilized. Find this so-called 'Fox' and this may end before it gets lucky. Hopefully, Admiral Silver and Headmaster Lionheart may have a word with the Council about their folly."
"So you came to us." The elder Faux finally spoke up. "An old man trying to get some peace and quiet after years of political battles, and a man who quit the law enforcement to find a less stressful life. Operative, the people of Rempah Archipelago have a very laid back culture. You must understand that to anger its people is a sign of incredible incompetence."
"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika." Muttered his son. "We come from all kinds of backgrounds from all corners of Remnant. I do not mean to offend, but I don't believe your leaders nor the Mistralian Council understand the people here."
The Atlesian Operative smirked.
"We shall see. Thank you for your hospitality, but we must be elsewhere."
Sirius bowed his head.
"Then until next time good sir."
Mier motioned for the other Specialists to follow him and the group walked out of the building. All that could be heard was the sound of the crowds outside.
"He sounds like a nice fellow." Sirius commented.
"Quit joking dad." Responded Shane. "Atlas is here, we must tread carefully."
"I agree. Contact everyone. Is your cousin, Izulu, still running around with Vale's Jaegers?" Shane confirmed by nodding. "Then notify him of what has transpired. Maybe he can get that Kriegshammer to donate some arms to us."
*BONUS*
Admiral Scipio Aureum
Watchtower Naval Base, Kingdom of Vacuo, Northwestern Sanus
Everyone was silent. Admiral Aureum stood at attention along with a few other Vacuan Admirals. Behind them, was a crowd of mourning civilians with the Navy's marching band playing a solemn tune to the side.
The occasion? Before them near the water's edge, a statue of a Vacuan Naval Officer saluting and facing into the ocean. Around the statue were names of warships that never made it home, etched onto the marble ground. Along with the Destroyers lost in Vermillion's convoy, one of Vacuo's Submarines went MIA after a malfunction.
Efforts to find the submarine were in vain, even with an entire fleet assisting in the search. That's why they were here today, to honor the Naval personnel lost recently.
Aureum himself was deeply saddened. It was the second submarine commissioned in Vacuo's history. Atlas was unaware of Vacuo's usage of submarines and they would like it to stay that way.
After the band stopped playing, the Admiral approached the marble floor with a wreath at hand. He crouched and laid it in front of the memorial's newest addition. With that done, he stood up and saluted. Behind him, relatives of the lost personnel barely held their composure. Except for the mothers that is.
Scipio stared long at the names. Too many ships lost, but they will be honored, for Vacuo will rise again.
On Eternal Patrol: Fair Winds and Following Seas
"Steadfast to the End"
Nanggala-402
Boom, here's Chapter 2. Next chapter we'll see even more action. There are parts I really really want to get to, but I gotta be patient with it. Rushing would just ruin it. Got so many ideas planned.
Btw I know there's so many fans of Jaune fics, more than I'm comfortable with. Last chapter, I showed my disdain for them but rest assured, that doesn't mean I'm going to ignore and bash him.
I'm going to give him his own character development. None of this Hero Mentality. He will grow up to be a real man and a real Huntsman.
That being said, please comment if you have any suggestions. I'm always learning to improve myself so all criticisms are welcomed.
Just don't be an asshole about it.
Also do try and be patient for updates. I'm working to get my Bachelor's next year in History and will pursue my Master's afterwards.
Song for today: The Golden Age by Woodkid