Ruby woke early, hungry and with sore eyes. She cringed the moment she did and pressed her forehead harder into James' chest. Everything felt so raw. James had been keeping her busy after her first drop, not really letting her think about the Grimm. Now it pressed in on from all sides, the Grimm nest they found birthing those new monsters. The fight on the front where she got people killed, even if she didn't yet know what happened after she used her magic. Ruby wondered if James would even let her review the footage.

James grumbled in his sleep and tightened his arm around her. Then awoke with a groan. "It feels too early to be awake."

"I'm hungry and my eyes hurt and…" She sniffed. "I can't stop thinking."

James cuddled her and kissed her head. "If you don't want to go back to Beacon, I'm sure I can make an argument to the council that you need more time."

"I want to help. But…" Her breath shook. "I feel like I've made such a mess of things and I don't know what's going on."

"To be fair, I know what's going on just about as much as you do. We're both out of the loop." James stroked up and down her back. "It will be alright Ruby, those new Grimm are terrifying but the more we fight them the less frightening they will become. Come on, our bellies aren't going to get any less grumpy from ignoring them." He flicked the duvet back.

Ruby huffed and sat up. "I guess we are wearing our armour."

"Looks like, from what Jacques said, I think he'll be taking us straight back to Beacon." James got up and grabbed the under-suit from a table next to the armour. "Come on, food will help you feel better too."

The petite female hauled herself out of bed and got dressed. James quickly stepped over to help her, the armour was lighter then before and just that little bit roomier in the chest region that she did appreciate. Her emblem was already painted on the left breast in red. She reached up and touched it. "Why… what do you think this armour is?"

"Something Jacques made with magic, it's too light to be steel and I can't damage it." James reframed from jesting about Jacques being upset with watching his old armour get destroyed.

It didn't help though the tears were quick to return. James dropped to his knees and pulled her into another hug. "Hey now, it turned out alright."

Ruby hugged him back, tucking her face against his neck. "Only because we were lucky."

James pulled back and cupped her cheeks, clearing away the tears with his thumbs. "Sometimes that's just what you need." He kissed her briefly. "It will be okay, we are too damn lucky to die and pretty."

Ruby giggled as he kissed her again. "You admitted that you're pretty."

James rolled his eyes and slung her weapon belts on. "Just for you." He magnetized her helmet to her hip. "Let's go find Jacques and food."

"Okay." Ruby took his hand again as they headed out. Part of her was afraid to let him go now, but he clearly didn't mind. She wondered if he planned to come clean about their relationship to everyone. It would be one less thing to stress about and she wasn't sure she would be able to curb affectionate urges. Not after he came so close to dying.

They weren't the only ones roused by their stomachs and they found Jacques, Sarif, Taiyang, Qrow, Raven, Ozpin, Weiss, Winter and Frigga already waiting by the ship. Ruby let James go to shoot over to uncle who was also in armour and hug him tight.

Qrow petted her head with a hand and purred in the back of his throat how she liked it. He felt her sag deep into him, regardless of the thick layers between them. "Bad night?" He whispered.

She nodded against his chest and tried to squeeze him tighter. She wanted to not be afraid and Qrow had always helped with that, but having him wear armour for once just made the danger all the more real.

"It will get better, you'll see. It's pretty amazing what's been happening while you've been out."

Meanwhile Frigga had crossed her arms over her armoured chest and was regarding James with a truly unimpressed look. "This explains why Qrow was coming to me for her school work and not you."

James cringed. "Well there was a bit more to it then just this but yes… I've been avoiding anything to do with Ruby's education for a reason."

She rubbed a temple with two fingers. "I can't believe I didn't see it. You were moping after Qrow pulled her out of Atlas."

"I was not!"

"You were James." Winter cut in.

James growled but Ruby pulled away from Qrow to tuck herself into his side and he aborted the sound in favour of holding her with a soft purr. He tried to replicate the sound Qrow had made and could tell he got it right when she responded with a happy hum.

Raven was trying not to smile and failing, she leaned over to her mate. "You sure Qrow isn't her sire?"

"Yes!" Qrow snapped. "I never did Summer!

Taiyang reached up and patted his head. "You're just a good uncle."

Qrow preened slightly under the praise. Ruby looked over with a smile and pounced. "The best!"

"Ack!" Qrow let her knock him down a flail of limbs.

Frigga was still very much not amused by James. "How long?"

"Since we went to Mistral together."

Taiyang set a hand on Frigga's broad shoulder. "Relax, I gave him my blessing then. Aside from keeping it on the down low, this has been above board."

Frigga grumbled but her shoulders dropped. "Fine, it's not like you spend much time being headmaster anyway and I'll lock you out of her file just for when the press catches wind of this."

"Thank you Frigga."

She just rolled her eyes and tapped her axe. "Just don't make me regret this."

"Ruby!" Weiss shot from the hall and tackled her friend off of Qrow. "Good morning cousin!"

Ruby giggled up a storm. "You know people are gonna get really confused if you call me that and James your brother. He already asked Winter if she wanted to be his sibling." She pushed Weiss off of her and the heiress perched with her legs under her.

"I know but I thought it would be less confusing then sister." Weiss tapped a finger on her chin. "But calling you a cousin so many times removed it doesn't count anymore doesn't sound like as much fun."

Ruby lurched upright. "Friends might just be best. Nothing has really changed… and I'm sure you'll continue to try and spoil me rotten."

Weiss clapped her hands together. "Oh absolutely! I am so dressing you in Schnee colours someday!"

Jacques chuckled. "Her grandmother was a Salvador."

"Sweet! We'll be sister in laws!" Weiss bounced up and pulled Ruby to her feet.

Ruby was a little amazed that Weiss managed it, seeing her friend in armour. White and red, not black and grey like hers, was very strange. "You could call me sister after you are married then, that would be a bit less confusing."

"What's confusing?" Blake asked as she and Yang walked into ear shot.

"Our family tree!" Weiss said and hugged Ruby again. "We're like magical line cousins many times removed! I am determined to find an appropriate term!"

Yang was more than a little jealous that Ruby had cousins. Jacques spoke up. "We're all here now, let's go."

They piled into the ship and Ruby didn't even try to hold back the urge to sit beside James. She snuggled into his side with a sigh and closed her eyes. She felt the ship sway under her but didn't really care. Her mind was quick to offer up the image of the Grimm wave of rats and she snapped upright.

James looked down as she rubbed her eyes, he huffed but almost everyone here already knew about them. He wrapped an arm around her and lifted her with ease into his lap. Ruby didn't waste a second curling into a ball and claiming his neck as a source to breath his soothing scent from. James watched mildly amused when Blake and Yang's brows shot up. He raised one at them daring them to speak.

Neither of them took him up on it. Yang looked at her father but he only smiled, she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She felt terribly out of the loop.

Ruby meanwhile was trying to rest, it was much easier said than done. Snuggling up as much as armour allowed did help but she ended up staring at the edge of James' collar. Closing her eyes really was hard when the Grimm were so fresh in her mind. The flight took what felt like too long for her, for such a fast ship anyway. She found it likely Jacques was taking a scenic route to throw off Blake for example on how far away his estate was from Atlas or Vale. Eventually he spoke up. "Coming into the Agamemnon.

James huffed and tapped Ruby's thigh. She extracted herself from his lap. "I should come to the briefing with you right?"

"I think they would be surprised if you're not present." James said with a sigh.

Winter spoke up. "I'll take everyone else on a tour."

"Thank you Winter." James dipped his head to her.

The ship swung about and joined with the port. A hiss later and it opened up into the docking hall. Clover was standing to attention already waiting. James led the way off and took the hug the leader of the Ace Ops was so clearly itching to give. Clover took several deep breaths before pulling himself with clear effort away. "Nice to see you again sir."

James smiled with a shrug. "Sorry for casting doubt on that."

"The council of allied armies is waiting for you." He said.

James blinked in surprise. "Council of- good grief people really have been busy."

"Yes sir."

Frigga moved away from Winter. "Have fun with the newbies."

Ruby hugged her dad and Qrow. "See you later."

Qrow ruffled her hair. "Stay safe kiddo." Taiyang dipped down to kiss her temple. "We only just got you back."

"I will."

They two groups parted and Ruby stuck close to James' right. The steel corridors were just the same as last time and just as busy. Only this time when people saw them it wasn't just salutes, it was bows and touches from heart to temple. Ruby could feel a shiver run down her spine, she had a feeling those gestures weren't for James. Clover took them down several halls and took a large and what appeared to be a dark room. There were eight white circles arranged in it in a circle. James took Ruby's hand and gave it a squeeze, before walking into one of the circles and guiding her to the one beside him. "General James Ironwood." He spoke clearly to the room.

On his other side Frigga stepped into a circle. "Deputy Headmistress Frigga Orion." Jacques did the same in another circle.

In the other circles one by one blue holograms appeared, each announcing themselves. Headmistress Maria Calavera, Headmaster Theodore, General Verdant, Lieutenant General Windhelm. Ruby swallowed thickly and thought very much that she shouldn't be here. She had only seen Theodore on tv before, he was tall with dark, close cut hair which was almost shaved off, and a checkered vest that showed off his wiry frame thin but with sharp lines of muscle like he had been chiseled from stone. Ruby couldn't make out the details of his clothing in the hologram. James put a fist on his left breast and bowed from the waist. "I would like to first formally thank you for your speedy assistance."

Theodore snorted. "We all watched you die on live television of course we came."

"Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

With that the ice broke and a soft laugh went through the group. Even Windhelm cracked a smile. "I will begin. At eleven hundred I mobilized the fleet to Beacon, and began a rotating barrage while sending out an S.O.S to all available ships and huntsmen in Remnant. By fourteen hundred forces from Mistral had arrived to join our bombardment. By this time the Grimm nest was beginning to slow and withdraw. We held this pattern till Headmaster Theodore arrived." He dipped his head to Theodore.

"My students have formed a wall between Beacon and the wreckage of the White Star. Allowing Captain Aral to send teams to begin salvaging the White Star."

Jacques spoke up. "I've deployed half my ships to Mount Glenn, shortly after Miss Rose used her magic our scans picked up an uptick of Grimm movement within the confines of the city by three hundred percent. I suspect that we will have a major Grimm offensive from Vale's underground within three days."

"I am afraid I can assist very little." Maria said. "Presently I do not have any students I am willing to risk against these new Grimm."

"We understand Maria." James said. "Mistral has been hit the hardest by Salems… forward team."

"Salem?" Windhelm asked sharply.

Ozpin put a hand on James' shoulder and stepped into the light by him, their bodies making a wedge that only lovers or dancers could be comfortable with. "As you are now aware I am an immortal, proper immortal not just not aging. I have an equal and opposite in the world by the name of Salem. We are reasonably sure that she is responsible indirectly for Beacon's current state. To what end we don't know."

"Her agents have killed ninety six percent of Mistral Huntsmen forces. We are down to students from Vale and a fresh crop of first years."

Verdant pursed his lips. "Do you think she's orchestrating the Grimm in Beacon?"

Ozpin shook his head. "No, that Wyvern is more than old enough to do all this on it's own. If Miss Rose hadn't frozen it in place it would be off doing the same in a location of it's choice."

All eyes briefly turned to Ruby, who shrank in on herself. "Oops."

Theodore chuckled. "Worry not Miss Rose, it was the Grimm that picked that tower to attack. You just happened to be in it. It's likely the Wyvern would have nested in Beacon regardless of your involvement."

Ruby sagged with relief. "Oh, so I just hampered it."

"Exactly, well done Miss Rose." Theodore grinned and it helped her relax.

"To get back on topic." Jacques said. "After the destruction of the White Star it has become clear that the Grimm are cannibalizing the Atlas dreadnaughts still left in the city. I propose that our collective focus should be on salvage. Finding what they have taken and taking it back, while collecting as much as possible from Vale itself."

There was an unease silence but Theodore spoke up. "It is a shame we have no Vale representative here."

"I was on the council." Ozpin said. "I'm the only council member left and I agree with Jacques. We can't leave Vales' resources because of some misguided guilt or idea of theft. Yes Vale citizens will be upset but Vale has no military and minimal huntsmen. There is no one but me to speak for them and I think anyone with two brain cells to rub together will understand that if we ever want our home back. That we must support the Altas military to the fullest. How much did we seize from VRB?"

Windhelm spoke up. "Twenty million."

James blinked sharply. "I take it you've paid Mistral back?"

"Of course, scouts have been sent out into the tundra for new steel mines as we speak." Windhelm said.

"That was only one bank, the biggest mind you but by my guess there is at least another thirty million stored throughout the city. That's just in bullion, not counting Dust, weapons or medical equipment we could take." Ozpin said.

James hmmed as he stood at ease. "I will have to speak with Camilla but Jacques, I believe we should set about updating Mantle. It will sooth the unrest and we are going to need to scale up our dry docks several times over. I have a feeling the White Star was just the beginning."

Jacques stroked a finger over his chin. "It would help, as much as building anything this time of year is more trouble than it's worth. On the other hand with the fresh influx of funding we can deal with our Mantle problem."

"And you could use the equipment salvaged from Vales hospitals to update Mantles. Free of charge." Ruby chimed in, everyone looked at her and she cringed. "Sorry."

James chuckled. "I wouldn't have put you in that spot if I didn't think your opinions would be valued." He pointed at Oz with a finger. "This one for example would have enjoyed having it."

Ozpin draped an arm over James' shoulder. "Na we can share."

"To get back on topic I agree with Miss Rose. Unless the rest of the council has a better idea for Vale's medical equipment."

"No Mantle and the White Fang are already causing Atlas problems." Windhelm said as he looked to the representatives of the other kingdoms. "Unless you have anything to say."

Theodore spoke up. "There is the problem of trade, the Vale channel is to dangerous to ship anything through. We need a new Valean port city, that can not wait. I propose we look into Vales' east coast and I will bring it to the Vacou council that we need a southern city as well."

"Such a city would cut Mantle and Atlas out of the trade routes." Windhelm snarled.

"As it stands you have the largest dry dock in the world. And you are seeking to expand it, so long as Mantle and Atlas maintain their technological and manufacturing levels you'll have nothing to worry about." Theodore raised his hand and a hologram of the planet appeared in the middle of the room. Small enough so everyone could see everyone else clearly. He spun it with a hand and marked a red pin on the northern edge of Dust Runners Bay. Then he spun the globe and put three more makers on Vale's eastern coast. "My scouts report these as viable locations. Vacou will handle Dust Runners Bay, with some Atlas assistance we could push the pirates out of Singdren and take it for ourselves."

"Windhelm what do you think?" James asked, it was moments like this where he loved having a second in command.

"Two dreadnaughts at most. We are still recovering from our losses in Vale, the fleet is not at full strength."

"There are the dreadnaughts within the Ag-."

"No." James cut Theodore off. "Those are for emergency response only, if we use them for something we can plan like this I am sure we will regret it later."

Theodore nodded sharply. "Alright." He set the globe to spin. "Out of our three options only one is already settled."

"I would prefer not to build a new major city on the site of the start of the Great War." James said. "To sound rather silly, to do so would be bad luck."

Maria chuckled. "I agree with James." She lifted a finger and struck that red dot from the map. "It has only been a century and vendetta's can fester for considerably longer. If we are to make a new multicultural city, a clean slate is wisest."

Jacques tapped the location solidly in the middle of Vale's eastern coast. Then pinched it with two fingers and splayed them out. The map zoomed in considerably to show them the terrain. It showed a large inlet river with flat forests on either side. "The town of Byren is at the end of the river against the mountains. That could be useful."

"How's the ocean depth?" Verdant asked.

Jacques tapped the map and it showed the gradient. "Not terrible, not grand either. It would need substantial ocean defenses."

James reached over and turned the map so it faced him. "It would need something new. Our current Hard Light Towers are far too vulnerable for something like this. That's not counting the increased intelligences of the Grimm, I think we should assume they are studying us as much as we are studying them. We have to build with that in mind."

Ozpin tapped his fingers together. "Jacques… Do you remember the Pillars of Hell?"

Jacques looked over sharply, blinked twice and then burst into laughter. "My word you are never going to be subtle are you? We can't power them, even if we could make them."

"Why not use Dust? It didn't exist before the Brothers of Pettiness left us, nor did Aura. Between those two things we should be able to work out power and focus."

Jacques rubbed the corners of his eyes. "Do you even comprehend what you are asking? It would be me designing them, you were an uncouth country knight."

"Would it work though?"

"Explain." Snapped Windhelm.

"To make a long story short, I've been around just as long as Ozpin and both of us predate the world as it currently is. Before the Brothers left us Grimm were still a threat, one way we defended coastal cities was with Pillars of Hell. Think of them as massive turrets fueled by magic that would fire… well large single shot lasers. Extremely effective against large Grimm. The last Pillar was destroyed two thousand years ago by a leviathan." Jacques pinched his nose. "It might be possible to design one to Aura and Dust, but the cost of firing it would be enormous."

"It could be an option though." Ozpin said hopefully.

"Yes, if I can find time to sit down and work it through."

James was still looking at the map. "Noted." He turned the map to look at the river from the ocean. "We could line the bay with weapons and make proper gates, close the river if need be. It would also be useful in the event of a tsunami, in the worst case that would slow any Grimm invasion up the river."

"Does Atlas have such technology?" Verdant asked, he knew Mistral didn't.

"No but I am sure we can make it. The real difficulty will be in supplies and keeping people safe while they work. Bryen will not be able to support the task force needed for this."

"Amity arrived a week ago." Windhelm said. "We retrofit it for habitation and storage."

"Perfect." James said and released the map. "Do we have anything else to discuss?"

"There is one currently minor thing that I believe could become a problem if we don't keep an eye on it." Maria said. "I've had no less than three priests of the Elder Brother arrive on my doorstep and demand I bring Miss Rose to them. They are seeing her existence as blasphemous, apparently they've worked out she isn't baptized under their god. Her popularity and well… saint-like status among the people is ruffling many feathers."

James groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "A ruffled clergy is the last thing we need."

"They do know that being a Silver Eyed Warrior is a genetic trait right?" Ruby asked.

"I have told them as much several times." Maria said. "I'd not be surprised if part of this was due to jealousy. That an avatar of their god appeared and it had nothing to do with them. They are envious of your status and power."

"Well I hate The Brothers, I could mention in an interview somewhere that I want nothing to do with them."

"I doubt that would help, it would only further divorce you from the church. What uptick in believers they are currently getting would desert in favour of you. I wouldn't be surprised if something new begins to crop up around you Ruby. Which would only make matters worse."

"Well I'm not going to lie and give the church any support." Ruby crossed her arms over her chest. "If there are any gods that don't deserve worship it's The Brothers."

Maria tapped her cane against the ground. "I will tell them as much, maybe if they know they can not bully you they will leave you alone. But people are rallying around you Ruby, consider your actions going forward with care."

"The only thing I intend to do is keep supporting Atlas and General Ironwood."

"Just say as little as possible. Everything you say can and will be used against you, by saying little you can appeal to the broadest amount of people by letting them believe in you how they wish to."

"That just feels like another way to lie."

"Think of it as people have no right to know who you are. They can have their angel but Ruby Rose belongs to you and only you. Not them." Maria said softly.

Ruby looked down at her boots, saying less would also mean less responsibility for other people acting on her words. Not that she could truly be responsible for the actions of others at the best of times. "Okay I understand."

Verdant spoke up. "We should discuss orders, Headmaster and Generals."

Maria bowed. "I will depart then."

"A word of reminder to the council." James said. "Watts still has his fingers in the CCT, further plans should be conducted either in person or through other means."

Theodore grumbled. "The big one really has upped her game. I intend to keep my students on the ground but will take orders from Atlas Command. It's just easier for everyone that way."

Windhelm dipped his head to James. "How are you intending to serve?" His gaze flicked to Ruby. "We would like to deploy her to Beacon again and we thought it a safe assumption that you intended to remain with her as a Special Operative."

"That remains my intent. There is no good reason for me to disrupt the Agamemnon's chain of command. I will be happy to assist in the crafting of orders here but I will be following them, not giving them."

Windhelm nodded with a slight smile. "Alright, this is what I have so far."

Ruby's brain felt like it was melting by the time they left the council room. She didn't know so much effort went into crafting good orders or how hard it was to organize what amounted to two armies and two companies. Over ten thousand people when all was said and done. She had new respect for the Headmasters, Generals and the chain of command. Between what happened when she disobeyed an order and witnessing that. She was never going to disobey an order again. She felt young and dumb. She felt a brush against her side and looked up to James.

"You've been very quiet." He said as they walked to the mess hall. Ozpin and Frigga were behind them involved in their own conversation.

"I feel stupid and small and out of my depth."

"Welcome to my life." James said with a smirk.

Ruby giggled. "Thanks, but seriously that was amazing. I don't think I will ever want that sort of responsibility. How do you manage it?"

"I didn't very well, if anything I am being rather selfish by serving as a Special Op and not as a General."

"The orders are still yours though, you're just doing them rather than watching them be done." Ruby flicked her hands out. "If anything that makes you even more awesome. Like your the General that is leading from the front, rather than the back. You're following your own orders and everyone gets to see you being just like them. That you're a part of the mission with them. If anything this is even better then it would have been if you were just being a General. Because Atlas has you in the field responding to what is going on, so you can talk directly to Major General Windhelm and he can deploy new orders up to date by seconds from the field. It's like the ultimate order General system."

James laughed in earnest. "I hadn't thought of it that way. But I suppose you are right, having someone of my position in the thick of things would speed up new orders. While Windhelm is in a position to see the whole picture and take my recommendations into account."

"I think it's really cool."

"I'm glad you found it entertaining." They arrived at the busy mess hall, as they did a silence fell over it.

Ruby sidestepped to hide behind James partly. Everyone stood as if on command and saluted, then touched three fingers to their hearts then to their brows and bowed. "At ease." James ordered and everyone went back to their food and conversations. Ruby didn't move, hearing Maria say it was one thing, seeing it was totally another. James shifted to hug her with an arm. "Just pretend they are all naked."

Ruby giggled halfheartedly and closed her eyes as Ozpin petted her head. "It will get easier." He said. "I used to have people doing the same thing for me all the time. Let's get something to eat."

Ruby was grateful that the two huge males did their best to hide her from sight. They ended up in one of the very few empty corners. Ruby's mouth watered at the smell of the spaghetti on her tray. She tucked in for once forgetting about everyone else in favour of the hunger that had been pushed to the back burner for way too long. James was only slightly less obvious about how hungry he was as he ate across from her. Frigga sat beside her while Ozpin sat beside James, also hungry as breakfast had passed them by.

As she ate Ruby thought about her orders. After eating she and James were going to go to their quarters, sync their Scrolls to their new helmets and grab their weapons. They were then going to be dropped with Qrow and Taiyang to team up with Theodore to assault one of the Grimm cannons. The Ace Ops were going to be their sword, taking the brunt of the Grimm forces so they could save their strength for the canon's defenses but move on when they arrived to thin out the horde that would come. Once they had the cannon disabled, another two Special Ops squads would be deployed with a platoon to help hold the territory and protect the pair of salvage crews that would follow.

While they were doing that Ozpin had volunteered to take another squad to raid another of the banks. Winter, Frigga and the rest of RWBY would be on that team. They would clear the area, the platoon would come in followed by the salvaging team. This was going to be repeated with six other teams all simultaneously. The idea was that so many targets would force the Grimm to spread thinner. If that wasn't working she was under orders to use her eyes and draw the Grimm to her. Ruby had a big bite of bread, she kinda liked the idea of being bait. Even if she ended up unconscious, she also had the strongest team around her. Unlike before the Generals were actively planning her defense after she was out cold.

"RUBY!"

Ruby snapped up and grinned, bouncing out of her seat to hug Violet. "Violet! I never thought I'd see you again!"

The rabbit fanus hugged her tight. "Me either, when I saw you on the stream I knew we just had to come and help. Lucky for us Headmaster Theodore called for volunteers to go back to Beacon."

Ruby pulled back and looked over Violet's shoulder, sure enough her whole team was there. "Oh gosh I'm so glad you guys are okay!" She sniffed as tears gathered in her eyes.

Coco walked up and hugged her. "Hey now none of those."

"Sorry." Ruby attempted to make them stop. "I just haven't seen anyone from Vale not on my team."

"Most of us went to Vacou." Coco said then signed. "By the time we got there our numbers had halved."

Ruby hugged herself with another sniff. "I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"Gods Ruby you're just one girl, not everything is your fault." Coco rolled her eyes. "We've got to go, Theodore wants us on the ground for a new mission. See you down there." She dipped her head to Ozpin. "Headmaster."

"Miss Adel."

Ruby sat back down and stared at her plate as team CFVY walked away. "They are going to be part of our team aren't they?"

"Yes, Theodore said he'd pick his teams and get them ready after all." James said and nodded at her plate. "Finish eating, you'll regret it later if you don't."

He was right so she did, then they split up and headed to their quarters. It was just how they had left them, only with their weapons on the end of the bed with their Scrolls and the wall had been fixed. Ruby picked her way over the bed, she pulled her helmet off her belt and tapped her Scroll to it. A little light went green and she put it back on her hip before putting her weapons on their holsters. James had followed her and repeated the processes. He watched her closely before sitting on the end of the bed and tugging her to sit down in his lap.

Ruby snuggled in with a soft sigh, the stress and worry was building in her. That someone would die trying to protect her, that the mission would go wrong again. She could see that swarm of Grimm in her mind's eye. James stroked under her ear and she hummed happily.

"If you're not ready for this just say so." James said softly.

"I want to help."

"You once said that if I break it would be really bad for a lot of people. The same goes for you, we can't have you breaking. You were so excited before, this timid afraid huntress is not the same one I took into Vale last time."

Ruby curled into a ball tighter. "It all just seems so much bigger now. People want things from me and I have to do them or people could die. Before it was just us and the Ace Ops, they kick ass. I didn't worry about them."

"It's not your responsibility to worry about losses Ruby. No matter what you do people are going to die today, this is war and people die. You can't save everyone." James hugged her gently to his chest. "If you can't come to terms with that then this isn't the profession for you."

"I'm a huntress, we aren't supposed to do things like this."

"The lesson still applies. You can't always be fast enough or strong enough, or just lucky enough to save everyone. You can't take responsibility for those deaths, whether you are soldier or huntress, you have to understand that one moment you could have your friend at your side the next they could be torn to bits. That's just the reality of our line of work."

Ruby sniffed and rubbed her nose. "The stories lied."

"They always do." James petted her head some more. "So I'll ask you again. Can you handle that? Can you go out there knowing that someone will die today? Maybe saving you, maybe not or they'll just be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"If I don't go then it would be worse."

"That's more than likely." James rested his cheek on her head. "But you can't go down there in tears."

"I'm trying to get a grip." Ruby took deep and slow breaths. "It's just hard, I don't want anyone else to die."

"Then you should go back to Atlas and become an engineer."

Ruby flinched, his words were said kindly but flatly and truthfully. "People would still die if I did that."

"But you wouldn't be beside them drawing Grimm with your emotions."

"How do you not get upset over it then?"

"I do. You've seen me do it, I just wait till I'm safe before I feel anything. That funeral for example, I am deeply upset about the loss of life but I don't let it control my emotions. I did my duty."

Ruby took another deep shaky breath. "I should do my duty too. As a huntress and to Vale." She looked up at him and did feel better at the sight of his soft smile.

"Now you're getting it." He dipped down and Ruby purred into the soft kiss. The stubbly beard tickled her chin and she giggled. James rolled his eyes. "You keep that up and I'll make a note to attack you with it later."

"I'd like that." Ruby dropped her head onto his chest. "When do you think… this force on Beacon. It's not sustainable."

"It will only take us a few weeks to strip the city. Then yes I do imagine most of the forces here will leave. Mantle will still run the danger of having a Grimm nest so close on its southern border so it's likely we will make a permanent outpost on Vale but even the Agamemnon will have to move on."

"No one thinks we can take the Wyvern out."

"Not at this time, my fleet is weak and Jacques' is already being spread out and like the Atlas military just doesn't have the firepower. Beyond that we know that our rail guns can't kill the Wyvern. Maybe in a few years if we manage to make several more goliath ships, it might be worth trying again. Especially if we can sneak you into the tower to light it up and break the outer shell." James sighed. "But as it is the more pressing issue is restoring global trade and by the looks of it will be easier, cheaper and wiser to build a new city then the prolonged campaign the Wyvern seems to be baiting us into."

Ruby sighed. "So maybe in a few years we'll try to free Vale."

"And you get a few more years to practice and grow stronger. We all will be in a better place to launch a war by then."

Their helmets beeped together and they sighed together. Ruby shifted to straddle him and kissed him hard once more, before hopping off his lap and pulling her helmet on. James got up and did the same. "What bay are we in?"

"Twenty seven." Aral said, then he paused. "Welcome back sir and how are you doing Miss Rose?"

"Okay, a bit rough but I'm trying to get it under control sir."

"Alright, if you can't manage it just say so."

"Thank you sir."

He ended the call and they headed out again. Ruby noticed it didn't seem so bad to have people staring at her while she was in full armour. It was as if her helmet made her less exposed. Qrow and Taiyang were already waiting by the port of the ship. Both of which were in armour and smiled when they saw her. "Ready to rumble kiddo?" Qrow asked.

"Not really, being a huntress is a lot harder than the stories made it out to be." She stepped up and hugged him as they walked into the manta.

Qrow rubbed her back. "Sorry about that, maybe I should have told some of the bloodier stories."

Taiyang growled at him. "I don't think so."

Ruby giggled and strapped in. "Come on dad, I'm not a kid anymore and I do wish I had more of the messy stories as a kid. It would have set more realistic expectations."

Taiyang huffed but strapped in beside Qrow. "How rough is this going to be James?"

"More than a little." James raised up on his toes and knocked his heels together. He dropped back down and his boots magnetized to the floor.

The manta unlocked and set off, Ruby grabbed the belts of her seat. They listened to the engine revved up and braced themselves. The manta shuddered and they could hear ordnance all around them. Taiyang closed his eyes. "I remember why I never joined Vale's military now."

"Ha still can't fly." Qrow snorted.

There was a thunderous crash below them, the light went green and James hit the bay door. Ruby was first out of her seat, under them the Grimm canon was firing and nevermores were swarming. She didn't think just jumped, she whipped Crescent Rose out in it's sword form and sliced into the nevermores as she fell. Their talons scraped against her new armour but were completely ineffective. She saw team CFVY and Headmaster Theodore at the base of the cannon battling back waves of Grimm. She switched to glaive form and stabbed a titian right down the middle.

It thrashed in surprise but she rose-petal-burst off of it before it could hit her. Instead James did an instantly later, the yellow blast from his landing strategy turned the titian into goo. Theodore roared a laugh, as Qrow came down swinging, his scythe and strength quickly giving the ground team some much needed breathing room. Taiyang skidded down the cannon before jumping off to slide down behind it's protective casing.

Theodore popped the spent Dust crystals out of his ruby red gauntlets and put new ones in. "Nice landing James."

The Grimm were cautiously forming a half circle around them. James clenched the fist of his right hand and his sword shot out of its casing. The absence of black metal had him glancing at it. Rather the half meter it had been it now almost reached the ground. It's edge tapered to a longer point and it had a long silver edge. James smirked and drew Due Process. "What can I say? There are perks to losing limbs sometimes."

Several bangs came from behind them accompanied by hisses. A meter above their heads the crystal casing exploded outwards sending shards flying as a range spiker was sent crashing through it. Taiyang's blue gauntlets were thicker than his arm by several times over, with long fingers that extended well past his hands. As he stepped into the hole and grabbed the crystal with one hand he said. "Now which one of you bastards was giving my baby girl a hard time?" His gauntlets let out a high hiss of steam.

Qrow slowly grinned and turned to the Grimm. "Muhahaha! Oh Tai~."

The Grimm snarled and charged, James shot forward with a roar. Stabbing straight up through a gryphon, Due Process blew apart the head of a beowulf that came in for his side. Theodore was right at his side. His own gauntlets were empowered by impact Dust and Gravity dust. He boxed his way through a Grimm fast and furious.

Qrow was still grinning as he cut loose, red slices of Aura extended out past Harbinger as he sliced Grimm apart with single swings. Ruby's heart pounded as she melted into his form to dance with him. What only a couple minutes ago was scary was suddenly exhilarating. A giggle bubbled up from her as she stabbed into a beowolf then switched to scythe mode as she ripped it out. Her muscles strained but she was happy fighting. Taiyang smashed his fist into a titans middle, the gantlets upper plates flared and a white shockwave sent the titan crashing through the horde of Grimm to turn a building to rumble. The gauntlets let out a hiss as they clicked back to closed mode. Tai looked at Qrow and flicked his head. "Qrow, Jimmy, wanna play drop forty?"

Theodore laughed again. "Pull back CVFY, to you Ruby." He punted a Grimm away. "And take notes."

Ruby didn't know what drop forty was but pulled back and switched to her rifle. James smirked and rolled his shoulders as he moved to Taiyang's right. "Thought you'd never ask."

Qrow swung his scythe as he walked, the long slices of red Aura continued to maim Grimm. "At least there is enough Grimm here to get to forty."

Taiyang turned a hand over and Qrow stepped into it. "First to forty, get all expenses paid vacation to Iki Island."

James drew his black gun. "Now I have to win, Ruby asked me to take her there for midwinter." He fired blasting off the ground to swing into the Grimm, his sword a whirlwind of destruction. Taiyang tossed Qrow at the withdrawn line of Grimm in the same moment. "BATTER UP!"

Qrow slammed his sword straight through a Creeps head and twisted over it, Harbinger switched to scythe mode as he went. He fired the shotguns and ripped himself free of the Grimm. Taiyang swept in under the claws of a beowulf and punched straight up into its head only for Qrow to take it off a second later.

It took a minute for Ruby to see the game, the objective was to kill Grimm while they were in the air from another blow. She twitched back and forth bouncing on her heels but Theodore had told them to hold. Team CVFY had yet to pulled their jaws up off the floor.

A pair of titans came charging forward and James shot himself up into the air. Spun around and shot again driving his sword down between the armour plates. "Ruby! Same as last time!"

Ruby snapped too and opened fire, at this range her rifle was even more devastating. The titans hips exploded into bits as James helped unloading the silver gun of Due Process into the Grimm as the cut into three pieces.

"Doesn't count!" Qrow bent like a reed under a sharp club of a titan arm.

Taiyang punched it in the middle again but this one was ready and was only staggered by it. He dodge under an arm and unleashed a flurry of blows into its torso. The thick armour crunched under the heavy blows. Harbinger swung in and cleaved through the barrage taking advantage of the weakened armour.

A new wave of Grimm came in swarming, ranged units shooting spikes for fire at them. "Attack!" Theodore ordered.

Team CVFY launched into action, Coco thinned the horde. Yataschi drew the attention of the bigger Grimm with Fox helping him while Velvet held back in support. Ruby shot at the spikers, she knew were way worse for amour then fire was. It felt good to see the Grimm explode into bits, she couldn't admire James half as much as she would have liked but with her uncle and dad in the field with her. Her fear vanished.

James holstered his empty gun, he wondered where the rest of the new Grimm were. Most of this horde was easy Grimm they knew how to deal with. With Qrow and Tai playing by his side the titans were much easier to handle. He spun under a beowulf arm and sliced it in half. His new sword wasn't too shabby either. He pulled back trying to get the lay of the land. Something was wrong, a target like this the Grimm would be protecting better. "Ruby blast them!"

"Now?" Ruby snapped up in surprise.

"Close an eye or something, try and keep it small." James jumped out of the throng to skid to a stop beside her, he reloaded Due Process as he spoke.

"Okay." Ruby took off her helmet and attached it to her belt. "Small right." She closed an eye and thought back to Pyrrha. A small silver flashed burst forth a moment later. The Grimm around them froze but did not turn to stone. "Oww." She hissed but pulled her helmet on.

Coco didn't waste a second applying her Semblance and shearing the line of Grimm down. She jumped as several howls filled the air. James cocked his gun. "I thought this was too easy."

The teams pulled in to form a circle. Aral's voice came in over the com. "James, I think you jumped the gun there. The whole city just started to seethe and it's all coming your way."

"Ruby's still conscious. She can do another if we need it."

"You're going to need it, I've got three of those things that almost killed you coming in hot and a… mass pouring through the streets."

"I had a feeling it was holding back till it had Ruby's position. How are the other teams doing?"

"All there Grimm have pulled back, I'm sure you can guess where they are going."

Ruby took a deep breath and reloaded her rifle. "Ten four ready for more." She shouldered her gun with a huff.

The mass exploded out over the top of the buildings in a wave and poured down towards them. Taiyang snapped his gauntlets up and a yellow sphere appeared around them. The black wave crashed into it and they could see dozens of rat-like ivory claws scratch at it. Qrow turned Harbinger to sword form and swung it up before his face, his face was stony as the edge of the blade glowed red. "Ready when you are Tai."

"They'll come back around."

The swarm did just that, Taiyang dropped his gauntlets. Coco opened fire with a scream while Qrow swung an underhand strike straight up through the middle of the mass. The red slice of Aura cleaved it into two, the rats losing their structure. James shot a step forward and raised his arms. Small pellets exploded from the ports on his arms shredding yet more of the swarm. Velvet swept up with a copy of Coco's minigun and helped mow them down.

The Blood-starved beasts arrived, Ruby shrieked as one pounced on them from from the cannon above. They scattered to avoid getting eviscerated, the swarm gathered during their distraction and withdrew. Velvet was to slow and caught between it's hands as it raised her up. Coco, Fox and Yatashi attacked but the bullets were useless. James shot into motion only to get smashed flat over the head by another beast, he snapped his arms up and blasted it's face full of pellets. Taiyang snapped in and grabbed it by the middle his gauntlets whistled as he crushed it's ribcage in his hands.

Another beast was charging Qrow, who met it head on. Keeping pace with the monster and dodging and weaving around it. They were matched, Qrow clued in to how the monster worked far faster than Ozpin had. Theodore charged the beast that had Velvet but it jumped up onto the canon and ripped the faunus into two pieces. Blood spraying down on the huntsmen below.

"VELVET!" Coco screamed and tried to fire but was out of ammo. The beast howled and grey liquid sprayed from it's skin. It jumped down and cleaved into Yatashi. Theodore shot in but it dodged away. Then prowled around them, Coco screamed and raced forward. What was left of her team forming up with her.

"Coco, get back here!" Theodore yelled but was forced to follow the team.

"James somethings coming." Aral said. "I don't have any words for it."

James hesitated but Qrow was doing unfairly well with the monster. He and Taiyang jumped to the top of the canon. A black ooze was racing towards them as it approached it drew up as if a string was attached to it's back. It's body was long and reptilian but its head was flat, the ooze dripped off of it to show it was completely armoured. Four glowing red eyes opened with a wet squelch. It was about half a kilometer long with six limbs four in the front and two at the rear a long three pronged tail was another half kilometer long.

Ruby squeaked. "Where the heck did that come from?"

"The river." James looked up but the hole that had been made in the canopy for their entrance had already sealed. "This is why I had you bait them. Aim for its eyes."

Ruby opened fire but her bullets were ineffective. The chimera lumbered towards them, crawling over rubble and crushing Grimm to slow to get out of it's way under it. Taiyang raised his gauntlets. "What's your plan?"

"Bait it into range and get Ruby to blast it. Everyone said the Grimm got weaker after the second shelling but their strength surged after Ruby's blast."

"So you're hoping that this has been the only project the Wyvern's finished while you were gone?"

"Correct." James shot it a pair of times.

It opened its mouth and they all saw the yellow light building within it and jumped off the cannon just in time for the electric blast to disintegrate it. A moment later Theodore crashed into the foundation, his armour smoking from the grey gunk. A pair of titans thundered to the beasts aid, Yatashi was smashed away and Fox fled. Coco was sliced open by the blood-starved beast as she tried to retreat. James and Taiyang raced forward to help while Ruby opened fire on the beast still dancing with Qrow.

"New orders everyone, keep the Grimm distracted as long as you can." Aral's voice came over the coms. Above them the barrage started again, it made the whole canopy echo with the crashing blows.

Qrow kept close and snapped Harbinger up through it's spine. It went down with a wail but he cut it's head off. "Keep close to them!" Ruby and Qrow dodged as a massive clawed hand swiped for them. The chimera's tongue oozed out from the side of its mouth. Squat thick Grimm oozed out of it, their torso's lined with teeth. They snapped open and screamed a howl so long Ruby felt her ears bleed. "Gaa." She stumbled away.

Qrow grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder as another yellow blast of lightning was on his heels. The titans and beast withdrew running away when the blast came towards them. James, Theodore, Fox and Yatashi all started to run. Aral's voice was in their ears. "Go east down the main road. Yes that one, follow that to the end. Don't use your eyes Miss Rose."

Qrow dropped Ruby as they ran, all around them Grimm started to swarm. Qrow, Ruby and James all fired at the ones that threatened to close in on their road. The chimera jumped and crawled faster than they could run after them. They dived down as a blast of electricity came in over their heads but were quick to scramble up again. Ahead of them the purple wall came into view Ruby could just make out blinking lights on the other side before the wall exploded.

The party raced through the chimera seconds after them, only for a large boulder several meters across to fall directly on its head. It crashed to the ground with a scream. From the sides of the walls a small army of scientists shot forward and began to gather samples. This only lasted for a few seconds before the Grimm groaned and tried to move.

"Foxholes!" Aral shouted and everyone was in a trench a second later as a railgun made the chimera explode into bits. Killing many of the Grimm that had been attempting to follow it. Ruby curled into James' side as the dust settled. The sound of carriers had her looking up. Half a dozen were already there and people were racing to board them. James grabbed her by the back of her armour and pulled her in with him. Her family was quickly in there with them and in seconds everyone was evacuated off the ground. "What just happened?" She asked as the bay doors closed behind them.

"You pulled all the attention off of our salvage teams. Then spared yourself several days of unconsciousness by following my brilliant plan." Aral said smugly. "We even got samples. All in all a successful mission."

James snorted. "And you say I should have been a mercenary you aren't any better."

"Everything is air-droppable at least once." Aral said with a cheeky tone.

That made giggles resounded through the hold. James rolled his eyes. "We still lost two huntresses."

"We saw, I'll have their names added to the wall."

Theodore had his arms crossed over his chest, his blue cap stained with blood. "That shouldn't have happened."

"That's why I don't like to bring huntsmen into the field." James said. "You ordered them and Coco didn't listen. Violet was just unlucky."

Theodore nodded solemnly. Qrow leaned back in his seat as the silence stretched on. "So who won?"

"I don't think any of us hit forty." Taiyang leaned forward and released a gauntlet, it fell to the ground with a loud thud and he rotated his hand.

Ruby pulled off her helmet and tried not to cry. James hadn't been kidding when he said one moment your friends could be by your side and the next they were torn to shreds. She sniffed and had a little hiccuping cough. "I think I'll take you up on that offer for no more missions in Beacon James."

James pulled her against him and she curled up. "I've got some mine guard duty with your name on it."

"Then we should go back to the cities. You've got school work to catch up on." Qrow said.

Ruby smiled faintly. "I think that sounds good, a mission to cool off and then out of the line of fire."

Taiyang smiled sadly at his daughter. "I'll have to head back to Mistral as well, Maria is covering my classes."

Ruby crossed over and snuggled into his side. "It was nice to see you fight and have you be here."

Taiyang rubbed her arm. "Hey what else are dads for? Coming in to kick butt and support you."

"Thanks dad." Ruby was very tired, she didn't know how long they had been fighting Grimm but it sure seemed like a long time. She yawned and dropped her head on his cuirass. His scent made her eyes drop and she fell into a light sleep.