Jaune stood in the visiting room of the ICU ward of Walter Ward Military Hospital in D.C. Pyrrha was currently hooked up to various machines that were keeping her alive. The doctors said she just barely survived, the bullet just barely missed her heart. Jaune was too deep in thought to realize Ruby had entered.
"You did all you could," Ruby said resting a hand on his shoulder. "Constantly thinking of the could have, would have, and should haves will only lead to a loop of constant doubt and regret"
"You know this how?!" Jaune said through his gritting teeth clearly agitated by Ruby's statement.
"You don't go through as much trauma as my family did and not come out with some knowledge," She said pausing for a bit contemplating her next words carefully "I was there for when Yang had her breakdown, A mission went south and lost a very close friend to her."
"What happened when she got back?" Jaune asked slightly calming down
"I don't know what went through her head but one day she broke, was crying, screaming. It took her several months of therapy for her to be fit for service again. One of the only things I've learned is that you can't keep dwelling on the past. It's difficult I know dat but if you keep going on and on and on on the could'ves, should'ves, would'ves, you'll end up going in a constant downward spiral"
Jaune sat for a moment contemplating what she had just said. He was many things, dense as hell, a little slow at times but also adaptable. He put his hands in his pockets before speaking " Thanks Ruby, you're really good at this. The whole psychological help thing"
"I've been through enough of it to be able to make a psychologist go insane, you don't survive that without picking up a few tricks. Come one you gotta rest up we have a mission in a few days." Ruby said trying to keep Jaune's spirits up
"No rest for the weary," he said under his breath
"Not in this profession," Ruby said heading towards the door. Jaune began to follow her towards the door.
"So where are we going next," he said finding new determination
"Northern Norway, There's a compound on the Russian border near the small town of Nikel," Ruby said recalling some of the info she had read in the file "The compound is heavily fortified and has possible Biological weaponry."
"So cold winter tundra and CBRN gear sounds like a tasty shit sandwich"
"It gets better, insertion is vis HALO and extraction is in Norway so wetsuits too," Ruby said giving a wide sarcastic smile
"Lovely, this is gonna suck," Jaune said slumping his shoulders
"Ain't It always," Ruby said somehow still cheerful
Meanwhile in Russia
The compound in the Russian tundra was nestled between the small mountains and the river shared by the two nations. It was an abandoned mineshaft with various rooms and tunnels spider webbing into the mount with guard posts and barbed wire on the outside perimeter.
Cinder sat in the center of the compound looking over Dr. Watts's findings on his experimentations. His attempts to enrich uranium with the equipment they've managed to steal have been unsuccessful. It was then a Faunus grunt entered
"Ma'am I have news of Taurus's arrival," She said with a hint of hesitation in her voice
" Very well," She said not even caring to look up from the report "Why are you still here is there anything else you wish to relay," She said with irritation slowly growing in her voice
"No Ma.." The grunt began saying before she was interrupted by Cinder yelling "Then leave" causing the faunus to leap in surprise before leaving
Cinder returned to her report
DC Pentagon Briefing Room
"We've located a compound located near the small Russian town of Nikel that has shown evidence of Biological or Nuclear weapons, if you would please," Ironwood said letting Penny to front
It was a simple board room with a large table in the middle and a screen upfront. Naturally, both fireteams were situated upfront while Ozpin, Penny, and Ironwood sat behind them.
Penny brought up a satellite map of the location with different areas marked out. She pointed to two red circles near the bottom of the screen "The compound is a repurposed iron mine on the side of a small mountain near the town. There's a barbed wire and chain link fence perimeter with routine patrols in the main entrance of the mine. There is however a ventilation shaft nearby but is still heavily guarded. Based on the surveillance photos taken by operative Qrow," she said changing to a digital photo of a White Fang dog faunus guard, they wore white winter clothing with a black hood but their infamous mask was missing, instead replaced by a heavy-duty gas mask. He carried a simple AK in his arms "All personnel entering or leaving the compound have been seen with gas masks and or completely sealed suits"
She changed the screen again, seeing various soldiers in similar attire to the one previously shown as well as several people in sealed hazmat suits. Several scientists have been seen entering and leaving the compound so handle everything with extreme care. The main priority is the elimination of the HVT Adam Taurus, other targets include Cinder Fall, Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, Neapolitan, and Roman Torchwick. Equipment wise you'll all be equipped with CBRN protective gear, as well as a respirator for insertion via HALO insertion with a modified Chinook with a jump altitude of 30,000 feet. Ruby this will be a close quarters operation so a DMR is advisable Any questions?" Penny asked
Jaune raised his hand "In the mission folder I was given it said we had extraction via underwater extraction to Norwegian waters?" he asked
"Weather conditions have made that extraction impossible. But has allowed you to cross the border into Norway with the frozen River," Ironwood responded "Any more questions for ?"
"Isn't HALO insertion normally with a fixed winged plane at an average cruising altitude of 32,000 feet?" Ruby asked
"This is a very special mission, to maintain secrecy, we will be using Callsign CVFY with a specially made chinook to avoid detection by the Russian government. This is what you all have signed up for. Any more questions?" The room remained silent " Good, time is of the essence the HPV is only going to be there for only a short time. We must act now. May I wish you the best of luck Huntsmen" Ozpin said before all of team RWBY and JNPR stood and saluted before leaving.
"So HALO jumping from a Helicopter…." Weiss said
"Not the craziest nor most impossible feat," Ren said casually.
"Hell yeah it ain't," Coco interjected
"AHH where the hell did you come from," Nora said jumping a bit
" Down the hall, we just finished up our briefing, Id suggest you pack some heavy winter clothes," Coco said
"We're going to Russia in an unpressurized craft I'm pretty sure that's a given" Ruby respond
They continued their conversation till each went their way in preparation for the upcoming missions
"How is progress on the particle accelerator?" Ironwood asks Dr. Gray. They were back in the command room of the Accelerator. Ironwood was standing in front of the observation window with to his right side. It was clear by the unkempt white shirt, the coffee stain on his lab coat, and his unkempt short grey hair that he and his staff have been up longer than most.
"We have made great progress on construction and seem to still be on schedule. It should be ready for its first test in two weeks, Right on time" Dr. Gray said looking down at his clipboard "By the way have you heard about the decision made by Ozpin"
"I'm very much aware , while one must admire the skill she has displayed, a Huntsman Academy is Grueling and demanding, I'm still unsure of if she'll be able to keep up, but nevertheless I trust Ozpin's choice," Ironwood asked letting the silence permeate for a little "If you don't mind Doctor, why has become the subject of your interest?"
"It's simple really, She may have saved this program's budget, with Roman on his rampage stealing every speck of dust from under the sun and moon, prices have risen and the supply chain is getting clogged up as I assume you know," the Doctor said
"I'm very well aware, I've already had countless complaints from Jacques about his product going missing," Ironwood said in a neutral tone
"Ahh I see, then ill assume you know where most of the newer shipments of dust go to then"
"The stores that have been looted"
"Exactly, normally if his robbery was successful, the newest shipment would have gone to the stores rather than some experiment"
"Ahh I see now"
"Indeed, come along now sir there is much more to be seen today"
Howdy yall sexy motherfuckers
I'm back finally. WOOOOOO. It's been so long since I wrote and thanks to the people who stuck it through the long ass hiatus, Aight first things first we have some good news and some bad news. Bad news is Reemergence is still going to be on hiatus due to a large unhealthy dose of writer's block, I'll continue to try and get yall updates on that. The good news is I have a decent overview on how I want this story to pan out, as well as have a few cheeky and funny ideas for one shots or short stories so I might delve into those later. Operation Beacon Fall is going to receive some new updates, and a few more stories are gonna come out so yeah enjoy. This is a shorter chapter than previous ones due to the fact that I'm trying to return to the flow of writing but should increase in length in the near future Thank yall so much for the support and can't wait to see you in the next story.
Till Next Time
CBRN-Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear
HALO- High Altitude Low Opening
DMR-Designated Marksman Rifle