Reviews:
Cheshire1999: It seems that you did not read the notes section for chapter fifteen, where I mentioned that the chapter would be mostly canon and where I apologized for if it is boring. You may be wonder why this chapter was so close to canon, that is because the Adeptus Mechanicus does not see a school dance as anything important. The dance was the students' time to relax, that means that they forgot about the Ad Mech. That means it does not deviate from canon except for a few lines. The Magos Dominus already gave his reason for not arresting Cinder on the spot in that chapter so no need to explain that.
Aquaticmammals: I know this was review was on Chapter Fourteen (17) but it was posted after I published Chapter Fifteen (18). No offence, but the CULT Mechanicus is a cult. If you don't believe me here is the definition of a cult: a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. In this case the object/figure is the machine trinity (Omnissiah, Emperor, and Motive Force).
Janee Rolfe Jalandont: I appreciate your concerns, but remember that I am more metal than flesh. Even if I die, the machine is immortal and will live on in this story. Glory to the Omnissiah. (I am saying this all in a jest, it you cannot tell)
Forge Master 00: Another great omake, can't wait for the next one. Might feature your modified baneblade in the next special.
Speech Syntaxes:
-Speech- Lingua-Technis
"Speech" Low Gothic/English
"Speech" Demon/Possessed
Notes: Since I received nothing on the Easter Special there was none, next one will be on Halloween. Sorry for not getting this chapter out faster, but my friends are starting up a Dungeon and Dragons campaign that I am a party member.
Chapter Sixteen: Field Testing
General Ironwood argued with his comrade, "Ozpin, they were here! And very coincidently the Adeptus Mechanicus was not here to catch them." The name of the foreign organization spat out of his mouth like venom out of a snake's.
"We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James," berated the professor. Ozpin started to rub his temples because of his subordinates were arguing.
The Atlesian turned his rage onto Glynda, "Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to confront this cult about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!" Ozpin silently stood up from his seat as the doors to his office revealing one of the students.
"Sorry it took so long. Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here. It wasn't me," stammered Ruby as she approached the table.
Ozpin greeted her, "Thank you for coming, Ruby. How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three," she attempted to joke. After an awkward silence she commented, "Okay, so that's the tone we're going for, got it."
The General commended the student, "Ruby, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could." Ruby nodded in reply.
"Now, the general here has already informed us of the events that…transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add," debriefed the headmaster.
Ruby informed them, "Some of my teammates think that the Adeptus Mechanicus was behind this because they left day the infiltration happened. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked. None of it points to the Adeptus Mechanicus, except that they left Beacon earlier that day."
"Save for the glass, that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby," remembered the Professor. She turned to face Ironwood as she informed him, "Which was before the Adeptus Mechanicus found this planet."
The General only glared at his comrade as the crimson teen questioned, "You think this girl is connected to the White Fang?"
"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together. Maybe the Adeptus Mechanicus know something about this?" pondered the headmaster as he called the Magos Dominus on his scroll.
Within a second the call was answered, "What is the problem Ozpin?"
"Who said there was a problem?" countered the headmaster.
Pugnus reasoned, "You never called before to check up on me, I have always called you. Since my soldier were removed from Beacon to allow the students to relax during the dance I can only assume that worst had happened while my soldiers were away. I ask again headmaster, what is the problem?"
Ozpin relented, "An unknown figure broke into the CCT Tower last night, any ideas who she is or why she was there?"
"That sounds like your problem, but I will assist. Now why would anyone want to break into the CCT Tower?" questioned the tech-priest.
"There is nothing of value inside that tower," countered Ironwood.
Pugnus laughed as he explained, "I swear you feudals are not the brightest. The CCT System is programmed that if one should fall, all of them will. One of the most retarded ideas that I have seen, and I have studied greenskin inventions. Should a single terrorist destroy or tamper with on the towers programs then none of the four kingdoms can contact the other. Divide and conquer."
The call abruptly ended as the room was silent. Ozpin was the first to break the silence, "Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you."
She started to head back to the elevator, "Anytime."
"And Miss Rose, please try and be…discreet about this matter," requested the headmaster as she entered into the elevators. Ruby only nodded in reply.
Miss Rose opened the door to her dorm, her entire team were waiting to in the middle of the room. "What happened?" asked her sister as they, Ruby remembered what Ozpin last told her to do as she entered her dorm.
After she finished with the explanation of what happened in the headmaster's office Blake questioned with venom in her voice, "So Ozpin does not believe it is the Adeptus Mechanicus' plot?"
"There is nothing connecting them to the criminal Blake," retorted Ruby.
Weiss reminded them, "We all know they are planning something evil, and they so happen to disappear from Beacon the night someone breaks into the CCT Tower in Beacon."
"But the criminal was completely human and used aura," countered the team leader.
Blake glared as she spat out, "She could have been a mercenary they hired to do their dirty work." The crimson reaper looked at her feet as her sister approached behind her.
"I know what will cheer you up!" commented Yang as she produced a cylinder. She continued, "Dad sent it to us. I thought we could open it together!"
Her voice became high pitched, "Ooooh! Something from home!" She jumped on her sister's back and attempted to snatch the package out of her hands. A ball of black fur fell out of the cylinder, after a second it formed into a familiar shape of a dog. "Zwei!"
Blake disappeared as Weiss questioned, "He sent a dog in the mail?"
Yang dismissed her concerns as Ruby played with the dog in her hands, "Oh, he does stuff like this all the time!"
"Your father or your dog?" inquired the cat who was hiding on the top bunk.
Weiss stepped up to her partner and glared at Zwei as she demanded, "Are you telling me that this mangy…drooling…mutt is going to wiv wif us foweva? Oh, yes he is, yes he is! Oh, isn't he adorable!"
The Faunus requested, "Please keep it away from my belongings."
A crackle of static stopped the conversation, "Would all first year students please report to the amphitheater?"
"Come on girls, Zwei will be here when we get back!" said Yang as she began to leave the room. Blake jumped from the bed to the table, and landed at the door.
Weiss spoke to the corgi as if it were a baby as she slowly exited the room, "Oh, I'll miss you so much, we're going to be best friends, I can't wait to see you." The crimson teen stayed behind as stared at her beloved dog, even more than cookies but less than Crescent Rose, an evil smile grew upon her face as she reached for her school bag.
Team RWBY entered the auditorium with the other students, mindless chatter echoed against the walls. A loud screech came from the speakers as the headmaster checked to see if the microphone was working. The room quieted down as he gave his speech, "Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your best."
Pugnus could not help but to scoff at his speech. -They celebrate a peace that is not there, they promote individualism that will only lead to conflicting ideas, and the fear a 'war' that was eighty years ago which was nothing but a small skirmish that they will eventually face. If I knew the feudals were this pathetic at the start of this operation I would have just invaded them.-
Team RWBY approached one of the holographic screen and began scrolling thru the missions. The team leader exclaimed, "Here we go! Quadrant 5 needs Grimm cleared out! And it is in the southeast!"
"We can finally put a stop to the White Fang there and find out what the Adeptus Mechanicus is doing as well," commented the Faunus.
The blonde bombshell added on, "Sounds perfect!" After Ruby pressed a few buttons on the screen to accept the mission a message popped up. 'Available for second year students and up.'
Blake asked, "Any other ideas?"
With nothing to lose the crimson teen jested, "We mail ourselves there!"
"Well, that's one option," stated the headmaster as he approached team RWBY from behind the screen. He continued, "Unfortunately, the Adeptus Mechanicus, Atlas Military, and Beacon Staff have determined that the concentration of Grimm was too extreme for first year students. It seems that particular region is rather popular. In fact, I have the sneaking suspicion that you four will make your way there no matter which job you choose."
Ruby turned to her friends to see them all glaring at her. With none of the students saying anything, Ozpin decided to show them how much he knows of their activities, "I'm still curious how you all found yourself at the docks last semester. I'm interested to know how you really learned about a hideout in the southeast. And I certainly wonder why witnesses reported seeing robots and rose petals in a dance club some time ago. I doubt I'll ever find the exact answers I'm looking for. So how about this: instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, why don't we just bend them?"
Ozpin pressed a few button on his scroll, which caused the hologram screen to show that the mission accepted team RWBY. Ruby turned from the screen to the old man while telling him, "We won't let you down. Thank you, professor."
His voice became stern, "Do not thank me for this. Teamwork and persistence have carried you far. But you must understand, the things that await you beyond the protection of the Kingdom will not care. Stay close to your Huntsman at all times, and do exactly as he says. He will be leading you on this mission, and he can have you sent back to Beacon, if he finds your skills to be unsatisfactory. I will be glad to hear anything you find out about the Adeptus Mechanicus on your mission as well. Good luck."
-Last time I checked, team RWBY is not a second year team. The deal is off! Magos Ferrum, assist the foolish feudals with a squad of Skitarii. Magos Decium, focus the remaining soldiers to the south of Vale in case of an enemy attack in the near future. You will be supported by the two Enginseers and the Datasmiths, - yelled the Magos Dominus over the vox channel. They were waiting for the enemy to make their first move, but it appears that Ozpin choose to act first. A change in his attitude that Pugnus thanks him for, now they can move and blame the headmaster if anything goes wrong.
A tech-priest questioned his orders, -What about the Sicarian Killclade, should we change their orders?-
-What about them? Last time I checked they were missing in action during the last raid against the White Fang, weird that they would disappear right before we started our first major operation. Isn't that right? - retorted the Magos Dominus.
Team RWBY left the auditorium and reached the docks, slowly heading for the airship that will take them to their mission. "That wasn't exactly uplifting," commented Yang.
Her partner countered, "But it's the truth."
"It's gonna to be tough, but I know we can do it!" assured the team leader as a bullhead landed and a famous second year team exited the aircraft. Team CFVY.
The Faunus quickly approached her fellow and questioned, "Velvet? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I had Yatsuhashi to look out for me," explained the rabbit as she gestured to her towering team mate as he walk past them.
Weiss tried to pry more information out of her due to concern rather than pride, "Your mission was supposed to end a week ago! What happened?"
"Nothing happened. It was just…there were just so many," explained Velvet but once she saw their concerned glances she assured them, "Oh, but don't worry. You first years are just shadowing Huntsmen, so you should be fine. I should go. Be safe, okay?" The Faunus disappeared into the crowd to join back with her team.
Knowing that her team were secretly questioned if they were prepared for the mission, she herself was asking the same questioned but they did not need to know that, Ruby started to give an inspiring speech before they left, "We can do this. We've never backed down before, and we're not going to start now. Besides, it won't only be us out there! We'll be fighting alongside a genuine Huntsman!"
Their hopes all died when they realized who was going to be their huntsmen, Professor Oobleck. He greeted them with a grin running ear to ear, "Why, hello girl! Who's ready to fight for their lives?"
To add to the problem, a cold and monotone metallic voice answered his question, "We are prepared to slain the enemies of man, but some of the Skitarii Rangers under my command are male." Dominus Ferrum approached the teacher with ten soldiers armed with their signature rifles and handed him a piece of paper.
Oobleck read the message on the parchment out loud, "Due to Ozpin breaking the contract with the Adeptus Mechanicus about having to send a second year team to the Grimm hoard in Quadrant 5, a patrol detachment of Adeptus Mechanicus forces will be sent to assist the unprepared students. Tech-Priest Dominus Ira Ferrum, who will be accompanying the Skitarii Ranger squad, will act as a second huntsmen with the same amount of authority over the mission as Doctor Oobleck. Failure to comply will result in…"
The words died in the professor's agape mouth as he crumpled the note, his shaking hand moved to hide the rest of the message in his coat pocket. His eyes could not meet that of the half metal incarnation of terror standing in front of him. Out of his fear he attempted to joke to the students, "At least you got my title correct and did not call me Professor Oobleck."