Remnant Goes to the Movies 9
Disclaimer; I do not own RWBY. Sure wish I did, though.
Author's Notes; I'm back to writing and I've a new job that'll be full time. On with the movies!
Down Periscope
As Bleiss sighs happily in her kiss with Jaune, Weiss feels her own lips, almost as if she's feeling the passion between her imaginary twin sister and the knight. The tender moment ends, however, as Bleiss reluctantly ends the kiss and gazes into Jaune's eyes.
"That was our very first kiss, Darling."
"Yeah… it was." Bleiss grins widely before turning around and lounging back against Jaune's torso, still in his lap, getting a freshly recovered Jacques' attention before he bellows.
"Wha… I will not have any daughter of mine, real or 'imaginary', behave in such a manner with a lower being!" Bleiss, however, flips him off with her left middle finger.
"Ah, blow it out your ass, Jacques-ass. Besides, I think 'Racer' used up what power he had regained in bringing me out. So, until he can gather up the needed power to make another seat for me to sit in, I've the best seat in the house." The smug tone in Bleiss' voice rankles Jacques before he regains his composure and looks to 'Racer' before speaking.
"I trust you can gather energy quickly enough."
"It took me two movies to gather the power needed to bring Bleiss out. I should have enough to make another seat for her when the movie's over with. So, for now, she's okay where she is." As Bleiss cackles in glee, Jacques grumbles and goes back to his seat as 'Racer' starts the next one.
As music starts playing, the screen is black until a tugboat and submarine come into view, along with the title.
DOWN PERISCOPE
Ironwood's interest can't help but be grabbed before he chimes in.
"That doesn't look like Remnant. I'm guessing it's Earth again."
"It is, General. That area is part of Norfolk, VA in the United States of America."
The scene transitions to a Naval shipyard where submarines are being repaired or refueled. The scene soon changes to a conference room where a male voice is audible before the speaker comes into view.
"Moving on, the last name on the list. Lieutenant Commander Jaune Arc."
Bleiss smiles gleefully as she tilts her face back and happily peppers the right side of Jaune's face with kisses, with Pyrrha, Weiss and Ruby gleefully giggling, while Ozpin's eyes go wide at his other before he smiles softly. Salem echoing the smile.
'You certainly look good, My Dearest.'
"Third in his class at Sub School." Folders are passed out as Ozpin goes on. "Did even better in the Advanced Course. Cited for Tactical Excellence in Joint NATO Exercise."
"Just like 'Fearless Leader' is meant to be!" Curious, Nora asks, "What is 'NATO', anyway?"
"It means 'North Atlantic Treaty Organization', Miss Valkyrie. It was founded after WW2 to ensure peace is kept across the region on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean." Nora nods, finding it interesting.
The view goes back outside to where a submarine's sail can be seen, a lookout with binoculars peering through them before it pans down to Jaune and several other personnel. One of them, Ensign Oscar Pine, is looking through a pair of binoculars himself before he calls out.
Oscar's eyes go wide at how he looks.
"1-8-0 and closing, sir." Jaune looks up to the lookout and calls out.
"Ahead 1/3rd. Steady on course."
"Ahead 1/3rd, steady on course. Aye, sir." Oscar chimes back in.
"Target at 1-7-5 and closing, sir." Mulling it over, Jaune nods.
"Let's try a shot." The scene goes back to the conference room as Ozpin resumes.
"This is the third time Jaune Arc has come up for Command." The view goes to Vice Admiral James Ironwood, his face stoic, as Ozpin goes on. "If we don't give him a 'Boat', he'll be dropped from the Command Program." Rear Admiral Arthur Watts can be seen smiling snidely as Ozpin finishes. "Which'll be a personal tragedy for him and a mistake for us, given the years and dollars we spent training him." Watts speaks up at that.
"Well, I have to disagree with you, Admiral Ozpin. Arc's fitness report also presents a man who, three years ago, brushed against a Russian missile sub he was tracking just off Murmansk. Not exactly a promotional bell ringer."
The scene goes back to Jaune as Oscar calls out.
"Target at 1-6-0, sir. 5 knot headwind." Jaune mulls it over before making his decision.
"Delivery 7." Turning to Petty Officer Nadir Shiko, he hears Oscar call out after lowering his binoculars.
"We have a shooting solution!"
"What exactly are they getting ready to shoot at, 'Racer'? Shouldn't they be within the sub?" Ironwood's query gets a hidden smirk from 'Racer', getting him to roll his eyes.
Back in the conference room, Watts goes on.
"More to the point, I simply don't approve of his Command style." Watts looks around at the gathered Admiralty as he goes on. "He's impulsive. He's undisciplined, even reckless at times."
Back outside, Oscar calls out.
"Fire One!"
Jaune, wearing a kilt with his uniform, swings a golf club, hitting a golf ball off a patch of synthetic green, Nadir and Oscar both watching.
Roman can't help but burst out laughing, Neo right beside him before he yells out.
"What the heck are you wearing, kid?! Even more, what is golf?!" Jaune's at a loss as Bleiss glares at Roman and Neo for laughing, finding what he's wearing interesting, before 'Racer' chimes in.
"That, Mr. Torchwick, is a kilt. Scottish garb. Even more, the game of golf was created in Scotland."
"Ah. Is that version of the kid Scottish?"
"Has yet to be determined, actually." Neo softly giggles and Roman nods in understanding.
As the ball flies, Jaune grimaces before yelling.
"Oh get up there, you miserable little puke!" The scene then changes to a golf course, with the sub Jaune's on in the background.
Awed, Roman can't help but applaud, an equally-awed Neo following suit, with Bleiss repeatedly kissing Jaune again, before Roman chimes in.
"That was quite a distance. That was, what… just under a mile?"
"Something like that." Ruby eyes the Jaune on screen intently before turning to 'Racer', a query on her mind.
"How old is Jaune in this one?"
"38 years old. Joined the Navy right out of high school."
The ball rolls to a stop ten feet away from the hole before it goes back to Jaune's face as Oscar whistles.
"It's a fine shot, sir." The scene shoots back up to the top of the sail where Commander Clover Ebi is seen before he calls down.
"Well, what the heck?! Why don't we pull in so you can putt out?!"
Clover's eyes go wide as Ironwood beams at the sight of another of his Ace-Ops making an appearance.
Chagrined, Jaune sheepishly hands the golf club to Nadir, acting as his caddy. The scene goes back to the conference room, with Ironwood in the picture as Watts goes on before coming into view.
"I will simply remind the Selection Board of one irrefutable fact that seems to sum up Arc's character. There is physical evidence that as an Ensign, Arc became so physically intoxicated, that he not only allowed himself to be tattooed… but tattooed on his genitalia." During Watts' words, the Selection Board members are seen before Watts finishes.
"Now call me a prude if you want, but I don't think it's good policy for the Navy to hand over a billion-dollar piece of equipment to a man who has 'Welcome Aboard' tattooed on his penis!" Ozpin's struggling mightily to not burst out laughing during Watts' words. Ironwood's barely able to keep his mirth contained, with Rhodes right behind.
Uneasy, Ironwood looks over at Qrow, with Qrow noticing before sighing.
"I'll put it to you like this, Jimmy. I may be a drinking man, but I've never, ever, even been that hammered." Ironwood, still uneasy, arches an eyebrow.
"Are you sure, Qrow?"
"Very. I'd have to be extremely hammered to have that done to me. So far, no tattoos like that." Ironwood sighs in relief at the words from the chronic drunk.
"That's… somewhat reassuring." Winter echoing the sentiment before smirking sultrily. Bleiss, however, has a gleam in her eye before she sultrily whispers into Jaune's ear.
"I think I know a way to actually put one on you there without you feeling any pain at all. Then you'd definitely have a tattoo worth gossiping about." Jaune's face goes bright red as Bleiss giggles naughtily.
As the sub Jaune and Clover are on goes under the drawbridge, the view goes to inside the sub, with Jaune coming down the ladder, speaking to a waiting Clover.
"Captain, sir, after 80 days under the ice pack, I felt a little recreation might be in order." Petty Officer Scarlett David, a radio operator, hands Clover a sheet of paper while speaking.
"Priority message, sir." Clover walks on, Jaune behind him while the latter goes on.
"It's not endangering the 'Boat'. I'm trying to have a little fun, for Oum's sake."
"But your actions were totally inappropriate. It's not the way a prospective Captain acts. A failing I noted more than once in your FitRep." Picking up and rearranging files before handing one to Jaune, Clover adds, "As much as I'd like to see my men advance, I have an obligation to the service to be as honest as I possibly can."
"Well, I'm in trouble." Jaune's sardonic tone as he looks the file over slightly irritates Clover.
"This wreck you call your career is entirely of your own making." Jaune finishes looking the file over before speaking again.
"This is a confirmed kill. 20 years down the fucking drain." With that, he throws the file down onto Clover's desk, with Clover protesting as he looks over the message.
"Watch your language, Arc. You know how I hate that."
"Oh, gee, now I've gone and done it. Ruined my career."
"Apparently not." Clover's tone is filled with disbelief as he goes on. "This just in from COMSUBLANT." Handing the message to Jaune, he brokenly adds, "You're to report to Norfolk immediately… to take Command of your own submarine." Jaune grimaces at the words.
"That's not funny."
"No, it's not. That's why they decoded it twice."
Yang bursts out snickering, finding their disbelief at Jaune being a Commander too funny to not snicker at. Weiss following suit after mulling it over. Bleiss, however, squeals in delight before peppering again.
Jaune looks the message over for himself while Clover massages his forehead before standing up from his desk.
"Congratulations." Extending a hand for a congratulatory handshake, Clover's relieved that Jaune's graceful enough to accept it before exiting. A cry of triumph is quickly heard.
"AH-HAH!"
The scene goes to a sign that says;
'COMSUBLANT'
'UNITED STATES NAVY'
'NORFOLK VA'
Navy personnel walking along before a turquoise 1956 Ford Thunderbird enters the scene and barely misses one of the personnel as it enters the grounds before Jaune exits the car.
"Oh… yeah. I just hope they have one in turquoise. Thank you!"
Winter arches a curious eyebrow before looking to 'Racer' herself.
"Is such a color really possible for a submarine?"
"I'll put it to you like this, Specialist Schnee. If the movie 'Operation Petticoat' had a submarine painted pink due to having to mix two paints together since grey was unavailable… who really knows?" Winter arches the same eyebrow even more before shrugging it off.
'Probably another Earth-based movie.' Curious, she adds, 'I think I'll ask to see that. It should be… interesting to see a pink sub.'
A naval launch then comes into view, with different vessels anchored in place before Watts' voice is heard.
"It's good to see you again, Arc. Been about 4 years."
"Something like that, sir. Not since we were both at King's Bay." Watts 'smiles pleasantly' before speaking again.
"Well, you're about to join the elite of the Submarine Service. The best the United States Navy has to offer."
"Damn good feeling, sir." Watts looks aside before his smile widens.
"As a matter of fact, there she is right now. Your new 'Boat'." Pointing the direction for Jaune to look, he relishes the look of shock Jaune has on his face before going on. The 'Boat' coming into view. "USS Stingray. SS-161." His new sub is old and covered in patches of rust.
"You're kidding! 'Fearless Leader' is being put in an old rust pile?!"
"I hope your other throttles him, Darling!"
"I look forward to doing it." Jaune's words are said with a snarl, getting Bleiss to grin.
"Not to worry, Miss Valkyrie, Bleiss, Mr. Arc. That version of Watts is in for a nasty surprise." The words from 'Racer' placate them. Ironwood, however, is curious.
"What was the name of the sub Mr. Arc was on?"
"The USS Orlando, a Los Angeles Class nuclear attack sub."
"That… This can't be my 'Boat', sir." Watts slightly chortles before speaking again.
"It most certainly is. Balao-class. Refitted 1958."
"Balao-class?! But that's a diesel sub." Looking back to Watts, he asks, "This is a joke, right? The Navy doesn't even use diesels anymore." Maintaining his smiles, Watts gives his rebuttal.
"They do now. She's been recommissioned." Looking back at the 'Stingray', Jaune protests even more.
"Well, no disrespect to the 'USS Rustoleum' here, but I'd be better off with the 'Merrimack'! I was trained to Command a nuclear 'Boat'!" During his ending words, he's looking back at Watts, who is in disbelief at the words bordering on insubordination.
"Are you refusing to take Command?"
Finding himself in a Catch-22 in which he'd be Court-Martialed for refusing to take Command, Jaune sighs in surrender before looking back at 'Stingray'.
"No, sir."
"Good. Meet your crew here tomorrow morning. 0700."
"They also left over from World War 2, sir?"
"No, Captain. They've been hand-picked. By me."
Cinder's eyes narrow before she sighs.
'It'd be just like Watts to do something to rig odds in his favor!' Smirking, she adds, 'I'm looking forward to Jaune humiliating him in the worst way possible!'
The scene goes to inside COMSUBLANT, with Jaune coming into view at VA Ironwood's office door and lightly knocking.
"Come on in."
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Admiral Ironwood." They both exchange a salute and get down to business.
"Certainly, Captain. Take a seat."
"Thank you, sir." Once both men have seated, Ironwood opens up.
"Well, how do you like your 'Boat'?"
"It's a complete piece of…" Noting the look on Ironwood's face, Jaune decides against what he was going to say and selects different words.
"…antiquated equipment, sir. I dedicated a significant portion of my life to getting my own 'Boat'. I was wondering why the Navy chose to embarrass me in this way."
"No embarrassment intended, Captain. You've been chosen for a specific mission." Jaune's baffled by it.
"To turn her into a museum, sir? 'The Wonderful World of Corrosion'?"
Winter, Qrow and Ironwood burst out laughing, finding the query far too accurate given the state of the 'Stingray'. Weiss and Bleiss both giggle, enjoying Jaune's gentle snark. Whitley, however, softly snorts in mirth, getting an irritated glare from Jacques.
"Hardly." Standing up, he picks up a stack of photos and hands them to Jaune before going on as Jaune looks through the contents. "These are satellite photos of Russian Naval bases. Particularly where the Russians have their diesel sub fleets docked. But each week, there are fewer. Because they're selling them off like hotcakes. To countries like Iran, Iraq and Libya… to name a few."
Jaune finishes looking the photos over before speaking again.
"With all due respect, sir, but one American nuclear attack sub could defeat several diesels."
"In conventional battle, certainly, that's true. But what if you had one renegade diesel Captain that decided to hit us? Bam! Suddenly, without cause or warning. Like a terrorist intent on getting a nuclear warhead into one of our harbors. Do you think we can catch and kill a bogie like that in time?"
"Absolutely."
"Well, the Department of Defense and most of the Admiralty. They would agree with you. But me, personally? I'd like to know for sure. So that's why you're going to clean up the 'Stingray' and take her off the Atlantic Coast for a series of war games." Jaune looks up at Ironwood as he adds, "One rebel diesel against the US nuclear Navy. Come on."
Stepping to the wall behind jaune, he waits for Jaune to get up and join him at a map.
"First, you're going to attempt to invade Charleston Harbor. And if you're good enough to evade further pursuit, you're going to attempt to sink shipping right here in the Naval Base in Norfolk." Turning from the map and to Jaune, he adds before walking away. "Simulated, of course. What do you think, Mr. Arc?" Jaune follows Ironwood's movement before replying.
"I think I'm going to get my ass kicked, sir." Ironwood quickly turns back at that.
"No… don't think like that! Dammit to Hell, don't go by the book!" Pointing his right index finger upward, he adds, "Think like a pirate! I want a man with a tattoo on his dick!" Slightly frowning, he then asks, "Now, have I got the right man?"
"By a strange coincidence, you do, sir." Ironwood nods as Jaune goes on before looking at the map even more. "However, the task you've given me is close to impossible." Mulling it over, he looks back to Ironwood before adding, "If I pull it off… and just get both ports… I would like Command of my own nuclear sub." Ironwood gives a soft frown at that.
"Setting terms, now?"
"No, sir. But without Command, once this exercise is over, I'm headed for a desk job. Which means I'm out of the Navy." Mulling it over, Ironwood gives his reply.
"I can't make you any guarantees, Arc, but this is what I'll do." Ironwood then gives a smile that belongs on a used car salesman before going on. "I'll give you two live torpedoes. I'll set up a dummy ship in Norfolk Harbor. If I see that baby go up, then we'll talk about your 'Boat'."
"Thank you, sir."
A gleeful Tyrian jumps up and calls out.
"Now taking bets!"
"My lien's on 'Darling' kicking Watts' ass in the exercise." Straddling to give Jaune a passionate lip-lock, Bleiss reluctantly ends it and adds, "There's more where that came from, 'Darling'."
"Well… that's one way to show encouragement." Tyrian's visage takes on a gleeful smirk as most of the audience bet against Watts, with Watts sighing and betting solo in his own favor, before Tyrian starts cackling madly before a glimmer of 'rational' thought enters. "Hey, 'Racer', how'd you feel about a penalty for Arthur here if the bets go against him?" Watts can't help but be indignant.
"I beg your pardon!"
"You can beg all you like, Arthur, but you'll get no pardon from me." Tyrian erupts into crazed cackles, prompting Salem and Cinder both to roll their eyes while smirking before 'Racer' chimes in.
"What penalty do you have in mind, Mr. Callows?" Tyrian then goes right to his side and whispers into the right side of the helmet before the visor turns toward him. "Mr. Callows, that is the most cruelly undignified penalty I've ever heard of. I like it!" Tyrian cackles once more and goes back to his seat as the movie goes on.
The scene changes to the next day, along with 'Stingray', with its crew gathering/standing on the dock alongside it. Jaune strides along in front of them, speaking when he sees something to comment about.
"Nice pants."
"Lose the cigar."
"Oh, you better burn that shirt, sailor." Letting out a soft puff of air, he adds, "It's the crew from Hell."
Saluting as the Junior Officer salutes, he hears the Junior Officer speak. Loudly.
"Good morning, sir! Lieutenant Whitley Schnee, Executive Officer of the 'Stingray', sir!"
Whitley's eyes are wide and Jacques, Willow and Winter beam proudly before they slightly fade given how loud on-screen Whitley is. Klein, Bleiss and Weiss, however, can only blink before shrugging.
"Come with a volume control, Schnee?"
Adam can't help but snicker, with Klein, Whitley, Winter, Bleiss and Weiss following behind.
"Excuse me, sir?" Whitley's query is baffled before Jaune speaks again.
"Lieutenant Commander Jaune Arc." Extending his hand for a greeting shake, he's gratified when Whitley accepts before going on. "You're kinda young for an XO, aren't you?" Whitley's voice is somewhat less loud as he replies.
"Excellence knows no age, sir."
"Uh-huh. Thinking of age, what do you think about our 'Boat', Schnee?" Whitley looks back at it before looking back at him and speaking again.
"I feel I need a tetanus shot just from looking at it. The only thing holding her together are the bird droppings, sir."
Maria, Klein, Adam, Roman and Whitley erupt into raucous laughter while Neo, Willow, Weiss, Bleiss and Winter's shoulders bounce in silent mirth. Jacques, however, facepalms.
'I never thought I'd hear Whitley speak of… that.'
"Mmm-hmm. We have our crew here, I see. What do you say we board them?"
"Yes, sir. Seaman Neptune Vasilias, sir." Up steps a young man, walking with a nervous twitch in his step.
"Welcome aboard, Vasiliansi."
"It's… Vasilias, sir."
"Ah." Noticing his twitching, he asks, "You okay, there?"
"Yes, sir. Just undergoing immersion therapy to get over my fear of water."
Neptune can only facepalm at the very idea.
"Grab a bunk."
"Thank you, sir." As Neptune edgily goes up the gangway, Jaune calls out.
"Next!" Only for a voice to sound from down the dock.
"Hey! Hey! Get your hands off of me!" The scene goes to a young man with burnt orange hair wearing a black sleeveless mesh shirt and cargo jeans that's accompanied by SP Petty Officers Fennec and Corsac Albain. Jaune quickly takes not before sarcastically speaking.
"Oh good. Our chaplain has arrived."
Ruby and Pyrrha both cringe at the thought of Cardin being a Chaplain. Corsac and Fennec, however…
"That's… what we look like… as regular humans… brother?" Fennec's query gets a mute nod from Corsac before he sighs and mutters. "At least we look nice in white."
Cardin looks back and 'lunges' at Fennec, only for Fennec to draw back slightly before they resume their walk.
"Sonarman 2nd Class, A. Taurus, sir!" As the reddish-brown-haired young man steps up, Whitley goes on. "He goes under the name 'Sonar'."
"Welcome aboard, 'Sonar'." However, as 'Sonar' draws near, he speaks up in query.
"Excuse me, sir, but this is an actual Navy submarine? Not a float in a parade or something?"
"Afraid so, 'Sonar'." A disbelieving 'Sonar' accepts it, somewhat.
"Huh. Isn't that odd?" As he goes up, Jaune softly speaks.
"Don't tell me. Deaf as Beethoven." Just as softly, Whitley gives his reply.
"Oh no, great ears, sir. Watch what you say around him. He hears everything. His last CO thought he was a security problem." Up on the deck of 'Stingray', 'Sonar' calls down.
"Excuse me, sir!" Jaune and Whitley both look up as 'Sonar' goes on. "I don't hear everything! And I'm… quite trustworthy, too!"
"Right!"
Adam is both amused and awed at his other's hearing. Blake softly snickering gets him to softly snicker too.
Putting what just happened out of his mind, Jaune goes on.
"Shoot."
"Engineman 1st Class, Cardin Winchester!"
As Cardin and the Albains draw near, with Corsac setting Cardin's duffle bag down onto the dock as Fennec passes Cardin's orders, Cardin speaks.
"Sit on it and rotate, sir." Whitley quickly goes ballistic at those words.
"What?! What did you say, sailor?! You can't say that!" Looking back at Jaune, he adds, "He can't say that!"
"Schnee, down! Down! Heel!" Setting Whitley gently aside, he goes to in front of Cardin before Cardin goes on.
"By Uniform Code of Military Justice, that constitutes Gross Insubordination, punishable by one month in the brig." Bringing his wrists forward to be cuffed, he adds, "I'm ready to go, sir." Jaune gives a sardonic smirk.
Ruby blinks before smirking and looking at Cardin.
"I don't know what's funnier. You knowing what your other did and the punishment or your willingness to go through with it." Cardin grumbles before his lips twitch in a smirk for he doesn't know either.
"Board the 'Boat'. I like a challenge."
"You'll throw me off within a week. I'm a dedicated pain in the butt, sir."
"Winchester."
"What?" Speaking to just where he'd be audible to Cardin, Jaune speaks.
"If I throw you off, it'll be in the middle of the Atlantic. Board the damn 'Boat'." Disappointed that his new CO didn't go for it, Cardin groans while grabbing his bag.
"Oh, man. What's our mission? Rescue Gilligan?"
"Gilligan? Who's that? And why would Gilligan be needing rescue?" The movie pauses at a baffled Ilia's question before 'Racer' replies.
"An iconic figure from a classic comedy series named 'Gilligan's Island', Miss Amitola." Somehow, 'Racer' has a nostalgic tone that can easily be heard before he goes on. "It's about seven people stranded together on a deserted island and their trials and other occurrences as they try to get back to society."
"Do they… ever get back?"
"Yes, Miss Rose. In a movie set 15 years afterward. But, we'll save that for another time." Upon Ruby nodding, 'Racer' resumes the movie.
"You're mine, maggot!" Whitley's yell gets a scoff of derision from Cardin as Jaune goes on.
"I love this job! And who is our next contestant?!"
Down in the sub's berth area, one sailor collides with another, causing a grunt, before looking back and apologizing.
"Sorry. Name's Bronzewing."
"Nitro, hi."
"Ah, interesting nickname. What's your real name?"
"Nitro." Bronzewing's baffled before Nitro goes on. "I'm working on a nickname, though."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah. Um, listen to this. Russ."
Cardin, Dove and Sky all laugh in hilarity at Russell's other while Russell softly chuckles himself. Finding it funny he'd use the short version of his name for a nickname.
A still-twitching Neptune sets up his berth while behind him, another sailor digs through his bag before Neptune notices.
"You're 'Stoneball' Wukong, aren't you?"
"Who the Hell are you calling 'Stoneball'?"
"I'm talking about your performance in that Army-Navy game, butterfingers."
"For your information, I was mugged."
"Yeah, right. I saw the replay. I saw the slow motion. There was no one near you. The mascot could've done a better job than you did."
"Oh… that's cute. But it's on now."
Jaune steps along the corridor to his quarters, being mindful of the cobwebs. Opening the hatch, he steps in, looking around it before sighing.
"It's old, but… filthy." Looking to the wall to his right, he sees a picture of one of the previous Captains of the sub. Just as Whitley appears in the hatchway and knocks on the open hatch. Jaune looks back and sees his XO.
"Hell of a day, huh, Whitley?"
"Um… it's… not over yet, sir. But Lieutenant Fall is here, sir."
Cinder's attention is grabbed by that.
"Show him a bunk."
"Um… There's… There's a problem, sir." Just as Whitley finishes speaking, a female Navy Lieutenant appears in Jaune's hatch.
Cinder's eyes go wide before she smirks sultrily.
'Damn… I look hot!' Rhodes, however, grins as he ruffles her hair. Her EAF, however, all scoff. Finding the thought of Cinder as an Officer to be an affront much like the idea of the Faunus being accepted.
"Lieutenant Fall, reporting for duty, sir. And there is no problem." Jaune blinks and gapes before he chuckles and speaks.
"Oh, I get it. Please, don't take off your clothes." Cinder's face back comes into view, with her losing some composure at the insinuation. "It's nice of the guys to get me a stripper, but, uh… I've a lot of work to do and, uh…" Whitley's wiping his eyes in exhausted exasperation before Jaune finishes. "Thank you, though. Thank you. That's… Nice job on that uniform, though." Cinder regains her composure, fully convinced Jaune's not trying to be offensive.
"I am not a stripper, sir. I am Lieutenant Cinder Fall, your new Dive Officer."
Puzzled, Jaune ponders it before speaking again.
"Well… that's impossible, Lieutenant. They must be confusing you with Cicero Fall. Women aren't allowed on submarines."
"They are now. Admiral Watts instituted a trial program. I'm it." Cinder brings out her orders and hands them to Jaune, with him snidely speaking.
"Good old Watts."
"Is it just me, 'Racer', or does that version of Watts have it in for that version of Mr. Arc?"
"It's not you, General Ironwood. That version of Watts views Jaune as a Maverick when it comes to submarine warfare. Let alone Military life."
"What a jerk." Harriet's words get a nod of agreement from 'Racer' before he expands.
"In fact, Specialist Bree, the crew that version of Watts had selected? They were picked because they had their own factors against them."
"Even… myself, 'Racer'?" Whitley's query gets a nod from 'Racer' before he sighs. "It's my lack of volume control… isn't it?"
"More like your overly enthused demeanor, paired with your ambition. Your hunger for Command no matter who you come across. Which, of course… well, you'll see."
In the berth area, the rest of the crew is socializing before Jaune and Cinder come into view.
"Men! At ease!" Jaune's voice gets their attention as he goes on. "I'd like to introduce our newest crew member. Lieutenant Cinder Fall. Cinder is part of a pilot program to test the feasibility of women serving on submarines. She's going to be our Diving Officer." Not willing to let a chance to be offensive go by, Cardin speaks up.
"Can she do a backward one and a half in a layout position?"
Ruby, ever curious, kinks her head to the side before a smirking Vernal whispers into her left ear, eliciting another deep red blush before she screeches.
"FFFIIILLLTTTHHH!" Vernal slightly giggles and Yang scowls at Vernal, yet the bandit girl puts it out of her mind.
His query gets chortles from the others, yet Jaune and Cinder aren't amused before Jaune goes on.
"Now look, gentlemen. I know this is an unusual situation. It can't be easy for Lieutenant Fall here to be thrown into a jungle such as this. Now I know this will make things hard on all of us…" Laughter at Jaune's unintentional double entendre erupts, prompting Jaune to speak quickly.
"Let me rephrase that. It'll make things difficult on all of us as well. But if we just work together, as a team, I'm sure we can handle ourselves…" More laughter erupts before Jaune rephrases once again. "Comport ourselves as professionals. That is all." With that, he exits, Cinder behind him, leaving the crew catcalling after her.
"I'm guessing that version of Watts doesn't like the idea of women serving on subs, let alone in the military."
"Your guess is quite accurate, Specialist Bree."
Harriet grits her teeth, Elm cracks her knuckles and Winter's icy blue eyes narrow at the Watts in the audience. Watts gulps uneasily before looking and seeing Salem glaring at him. Along with Cinder, Neo and Emerald.
The next morning, the crew is hard at work in getting 'Stingray' cleaned up and prepped for what's to come. Whitley looking over a checklist before he sees a Petty Officer working on getting the sub's water cannon cleaned up, but without success.
"C'mon, put some muscle into it!" Jaune, however, steps along deck when he sees a lounging Cardin, wearing swim trunks and sunning himself, while the other sailors are hard at work.
"Winchester, what're you doing?"
"As little as possible, sir. I'm a detriment to the entire operation. Total morale crusher."
"You know, of course, the Submarine Service is entirely volunteer. All you have to do is quit." Cardin gives a scoff before he looks toward Jaune.
"My old man won't let me. He's friends with an Admiral. Think sub duty will shape me up. Ha!" He then looks away just before Jaune speaks again.
"Well, I'm afraid you leave me no choice, son, but to relocate you." Eagerly, Cardin looks back up at him.
"Really?!"
"Really." Just then, Bronzewing is passing by, mops in hand. "Bronzewing!"
"Yes, sir?!" Bronzewing turns to face Jaune, the mop heads striking Cardin across the left side of his face and knocking him into a tub filled with a dark liquid alongside the sub. Startling three other sailors positioned outside it. Jaune nods before looking back at Bronzewing.
"Thank you, Bronzewing. That'll be all." Shrugging it off, Bronzewing moves on.
Nora bursts out laughing in crazed glee, with Coco and Velvet right behind her. Cardin, however, looks over at Dove, incredulous look on his face, before he sighs.
Next to come into view is 'Nitro', multimeter in hand as he tests the wiring.
"1B… cold. 1C…" Sparks suddenly fly, knocking him back. "Hot." Up above, Jaune and Whitley are watching as he goes back to work before the former speaks.
"Let me guess. Our electrician." Whitley softly sighs before replying.
"Yes, sir." Sparks then fly once again as 'Nitro' jolts back again.
While sailors are scrubbing on another part of the sub's deck, 'Sonar' is rinsing with the water cannon, with Whitley standing close by. Sun and Neptune soon come into view, lugging a long cylinder, with the latter needling the former as the former's up front while the latter's back at the end.
"Naturally you'd take the light end."
"What's the matter? Too heavy for you, sweetheart?"
"Hey, this is the Navy. Don't call me sweetheart."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." As they reach the deck, Neptune calls out to 'Sonar'.
"Hey, 'Gomer', can you get this hatch for us?!" Sun chimes in as well.
"This week?"
"Yeah."
With that, 'Sonar' turns and lifts up the grated hatch. However, as he moves, his back slowly pushes against the water cannon to where the still-open nozzle's facing Whitley. As he sees the nozzle being accidentally aimed at him, Whitley gasps before the water hits him, knocking him off the deck and screaming down into the water below. 'Sonar' looks back and sees the XO in the water.
"Uh-oh."
Whitley facepalms before softly chortling. Adam following suit.
A short time later, a fully-dry Whitley enters the Galley and sees Bronzewing stocking the pantry.
"Bronzewing! What the Hell do you think you're doing?!" Stopping what he's doing, Dove turns to face Whitley.
"Stocking the pantry, sir!" Whitley has barely-concealed rage on his face before he explodes into a tirade.
"You forgot like an idiot, Bronzewing, because you're stocking the pantry like an idiot!" Reaching up, he brings down two different containers. "What are in these cans, Bronzewing?!"
"That one's coffee. That one looks like cooking lard, sir."
"And which one do you think we'll be using more often, sailor?! The coffee or the lard?!" Before Bronzewing can even reply, Whitley goes on. "You think we're all going to jump out of bed in the morning and have a big hot steaming cup of pig fat?!"
"Well, that depends. If it's a cold morning, sir…"
"The lard… is in your head, Bronzewing!" Whitley starts knocking the shelves clear before he grabs Bronzewing's head, ignoring the yelp as he points his face toward a wall and goes on. "Now you take a look at that Galley chart! 'Cause I want that cabinet repacked, regulation-style, by 1100! Do you know what time 1100 is?!"
"That'd be after 1000, sir."
"Whitley."
"What?!" A still-irate Whitley looks back and becomes quickly timid upon seeing Jaune. "Sir?"
"Can we speak, my cabin?" Forcing himself to calm down, Whitley manages.
"Carry on." He then exits the Galley, leaving Bronzewing to his task.
"Whitley, I'm a little worried about your health. You're not exactly a 'people person', are you? I'm afraid you're headed straight for an ulcer if you can't ease up a little bit." As Jaune speaks, Whitley closes the hatch before speaking himself.
"I… I… I'm not happy… with this 'Boat', sir." Regathering himself, Whitley goes on. "Requesting permission… for a transfer."
"What?"
"Commander… this… this 'Boat' is… it's a rust-bucket! It's a shit-box! This crew is the most incompetent bunch of retards and assholes in Naval history! I mean… I know why you're here… but I don't know why I was even considered for such an assignment…" Curious, Jaune interrupts Whitley's rant.
"Excuse me… Excuse me… why am I here?"
"You know… your thing."
"What thing?" Whitley goes tentatively bashful before he responds.
"The weenie tattoo." Jaune gives a soft chortle at that.
"Wow. Look, Schnee, I hate to disappoint you, but I may have had some other things going for me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I believe you, sir. Now, about my transfer. This post can seriously jeopardize my chances for advancement. I am this close to Command, sir…"
"Forget it. You think you're the only one embarrassed to be here? You think this is the Command I dreamed about? Well, we're all in this mess together, Mister, and you and your career are in the hands of those very assholes. Including this one. Does that answer your question?"
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed." Jaune can only watch smugly as an abashed Whitley exits the cabin.
"Wow, Darling, I never thought you could bring little brother low like that." Bleiss lightly rubs under his chin with a finger as she sultrily whispers, "That makes me so fucking hot." Weiss blushes beet red as she feels the heat herself and lightly fans herself.
That night, Neptune, Cardin and Dove go to the laundry area and rifle through the laundry bin before Dove speaks.
"You sure her clothes are in there?" Neptune grins triumphantly before he brings up a black jog top bra.
"Uh, unless this is yours." Dove and Cardin both look to each other before the scene changes to the next morning.
A fully-refreshed 'Stingray', with the artwork on the front on both sides being a red circle with a stingray smoking a cigar and wearing a Cracker Jack hat with 'SS-161' at the top and 'Stingray' at the bottom.
Ruby and Nora's eyes go wide in awe at how nice the sub looks now. Ironwood's own eyes go warm at the sight before Winter chimes in.
"It looks… magnificent, sir."
"Yes, Specialist. It certainly does."
"Well done, guys. She may not be the youngest girl at the ball, but she'll turn a head or two. She drives as well as she looks, we may even survive. Dive test, tomorrow morning, 1000. The rest of you are on Leave until…"
His trail off upon seeing Cinder's discomforted visage, along with her manner of dress, in which she's barely within a uniform, prompts his next words.
"Lieutenant Fall, you are almost out of uniform. Either you're confused about your dress size or there's been some foul play." Cardin raises his right hand at that.
"Hey, if it's a disqualifying offense, I'd like to take full and sole responsibility, sir." Acting like he didn't hear Cardin's 'offer', Jaune goes on.
"Gentlemen, I want to know who did this or Shore Leave is canceled tonight." When no one else speaks, Jaune goes on. "Very well. Everybody, back into the 'Boat'." As the crew groans, Whitley chimes in.
"You heard the Captain! Back on the 'Boat'!" As the groaning crew reboards, Cinder right behind, Jaune stops her.
"Lieutenant Fall." She stops and crisply, yet stiffly, turns around before Jaune goes on. "Sorry. It won't happen again."
"Thank you, sir, but I can take care of myself." That said, she then stiffly turns around again and makes her way up the gangway.
(Anchors Aweigh starts)
A short time later, Jaune's on the sail's bridge before he yells out.
"All right, gentlemen! Let's kick this pit!"
As the linemen doff the dock lines, the lines splash into the water. In the engine room, a hand pulls the start lever, bringing the diesel motors to action before a familiar face comes into view, listening to the motors, nodding to their rhythm.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby and Yang's gleeful yell gets Qrow to blink in disbelief. Winter is torn between giggling and groaning at the thought of Qrow being a sailor.
The view goes to 'Stingray', moving at a steady pace, a gleefully smiling Jaune enjoying the ride as it exits the Norfolk Base Harbor.
(Anchors Aweigh Ends)
Jaune descends into the control room and turns to Whitley, who hands him a mug of coffee.
"Okay, Whitley, let's get the lookouts below and button her up."
"Aye, sir. Prepare to rig for dive!"
"Dive! Rig for dive!" As echoes of the dive command erupt, Jaune goes to Cinder's side, with her in a properly-fitting uniform, before speaking.
"Watch your drift here, Lieutenant. Strong cross currents here."
"I'm aware of that, sir. I've already compensated."
"Excellent. So, you ever dived a 'Boat' before, Lieutenant? I mean on purpose."
"I've done over 300 on a simulator, sir. 75 of them were strong current dives."
"I'm sure you scored high, but..."
"Higher than you, sir."
"Oh… how would you know that?"
"I looked up your scores. I have a printout if you'd like."
"I have no doubt." Cinder nods before Jaune goes on. "Still, a simulator's not a 'Boat'. Nobody talks about brave men and their proud simulators."
"Way to go, sir." Whitley gives a soft chortle before Jaune speaks again.
"Alright, gentlemen, let's take her down." With that, Whitley takes his cue.
"Prepare for dive!" As the 'dive' alarm blares, 'Nitro' looks uneasily toward Cardin.
"Uhh… does he mean… underwater?" Not quite sure what to make of him, Cardin brings up his right index finger and, after getting 'Nitro' to follow it, presses it against his forehead before moving away, sneer on his face.
At the comm panel, Whitley picks up the intercom mike and broadcasts.
"Dive, dive. Rig for deep submergence." Jaune, in turn, turns to Cinder before tacking on.
"Make your depth 6-2 feet."
"6-2, aye. Stern-men, down 6-2." Turning to engine control, she adds, "Full ahead, 2/3rd.Blow negative to the mark." At his station, 'Sonar' has a musing look on his face.
The view then goes to the top of the sub going down into the sea before going to the engine room where Qrow shuts off the diesel engines, switches to battery and faces Cardin, Hazel at Qrow's seven.
"Okay, boys… down we go." Qrow then chortles as 'Stingray' finishes submerging.
Once submergence is completed, however, 'Stingray' starts listing starboard, throwing everyone and everything in the control room and galley off balance. In the engine room, Qrow braces himself while Cardin and Hazel fall forward, catching their falls on the starboard engine housing.
Back in the Control Room, 'Nitro' and 'Sonar' fall down as 'Stingray' lists even more. In the galley, dishes fall to the flooring and shatter. Cinder regains her equilibrium and faces away from the panel her head had made contact with.
Cinder can't help but wince in sympathy for her other.
'With no semblance, my other's lucky to only wind up with a headache.'
Back in the engine room, Cardin looks around before Neptune and Sun come into view, with Neptune starting with an accusation.
"What the Hell did you do?" With Sun firing back.
"What the Hell did you do?" Neptune pays him no mind before going on.
"We're dead… this all says we're dead." Unsteadily, Cinder moves toward the helm as 'Nitro' looks toward 'Sonar'.
"Cool. Did we hit an iceberg?" In disbelief at the query, 'Sonar' returns serve.
"Off the coast of Virginia?"
Starting to feel rattled, Cinder makes her report to Jaune.
"Sir, we have 12 degrees tilt starboard."
"Lieutenant Fall, check all emergency vents open."
"The board indicates all vents are open, sir."
"I can see that." Whitley then comes up, starting to feel frazzled.
"Captain, maybe it's not a vent. Maybe we're taking on water."
"Mr. Schnee, it must be a vent." Meanwhile, 'Nitro' and 'Sonar' are trying to get back to their stations, but with no luck due to the tilt. The intercom then comes up.
"Emergency vent 2-Bravo appears shut." Going to the intercom, Jaune gives his reply.
"Well then open it."
"Roger."
Outside the sub, bubbles emerge from the port, allowing 'Stingray' to recenter from the tilt before the view goes back to the control room. Jaune grinning softly before nodding as his D and XOs recover their balances. Finally able to return to their stations, 'Sonar' looks back at 'Nitro', getting a look from him.
"What?"
Jaune, however, crosses to Cinder and notes her injury.
"Lieutenant Fall, that bump looks bad. You better get to sickbay."
"I'd rather not, sir. I want to finish this dive."
"Very well. Continue the dive. Let's take her down to… oh… say… 500 feet."
"Yes, sir." Turning back to the helm, she goes on. "Make your depth 5-0-0 feet, 7 degree down bubble."
Sun and Neptune, however, uneasily look back at her before Sun crosses himself. The hatch then opens, revealing Bronzewing, getting Jaune's attention.
"This is good coffee, Bronzewing."
"Thank you, sir." Next thing he knows, 'Nitro' goes to in front of the hatchway.
"I'd better go see if any of the other rooms are still tilted." He then bolts out of the hatch, barely avoiding colliding with Bronzewing before calling back. "This room's alright."
The sub's depth gauge comes into view, with the needle nearing 120 feet before Sun speaks.
"1-0-0 feet, ma'am." Cinder repeats it as per protocol to Jaune and Whitley.
"Passing 100 feet."
The view then goes to outside, with 'Stingray' coming into view before going back to the engine room, where Qrow's taping one of a string to the bulkhead before he turns back to Cardin, with Hazel looking back at him.
"Now, keep an eye on this string. Because the water pressure is gonna squeeze the hull of this 'Boat' like an empty beer can." Qrow then chortles, slightly unnerving Cardin before the view goes back outside as 'Stingray' descends even further.
In the control room, Sun, watching the gauge, calls out.
"2-8-0 feet, ma'am." An edgy Neptune's teeth slowly starts chattering, as does the sub's hull, as Sun looks back to Cinder as she confirms.
"Passing 280 feet, Captain. Wukong, adjust trim." Suddenly unsure, Cinder adds, "No, it's okay." Watching the gauge, she adds, "Passing 300 feet." The chattering of the sub's hull becomes even more pronounced, with 'Sonar' grimacing at the sound. "Passing 350 feet, sir."
In the engine room, the string Qrow had taped is now sagging, with Cardin watching uneasily and Qrow noticing before commenting.
"Bet you never saw anything like that on one of them big nukes?" Cardin quietly shakes his head in negation before 'Nitro' chimes in.
"Oh, no… we didn't have clotheslines. We had those dryer things… with the window in the front."
Cardin looks toward Russell, his right eyebrow arched incredulously.
"Just how fried is your other's brain, man?" Russell can only shrug, baffled by it himself.
The view goes to the gauge before Whitley calls out.
"400 feet… no leaks." As Jaune nods, Cinder turns around, concern on her visage.
"Sir, I believe this is crush depth for this particular 'Boat'." Jaune, however, is calm.
"I have to know what she can do, Fall. You nervous?"
"No, sir." Whitley arches his eyebrows, as if saying, 'I sure am!' Accepting, Jaune tilts his head for her to proceed. She turns around, a nervous expression on her face.
"If my other had semblance, her underwear would be on fire right about now." Not wary, Cinder adds, "It's making me nervous."
"Maintain 7 down."
The view goes to outside as the sub's propellers come into view before it goes back to inside, with the hull creaking and groaning. As water starts seeping in, with some of the sub's equipment coming out of place, the crew is nervous, yet Jaune is still calm.
"My other's… he's been doing this for a while, then."
"Indeed he has, Mr. Arc. He's finding that despite his earlier misgivings, the Balao is still a formidable piece of hardware." A curious Ironwood chimes in at that.
"I take it Balao was a very common class, then."
"Oh, yes, General. Also very successful. 120 of the Balao class were built before they were succeeded by the Tench."
"So… Balao is a successor for another class, then."
"Yup. Gato. Why don't I send you some info on them?"
"That'd be nice, 'Racer', thank you."
The creaking and groaning ultimately get to where a bolt pops out of place and flies in ricochet around the control room, shattering a lit red warning bulb, before landing on the map table.
"Bingo!" Jaune's ecstatic as he goes on. "500 feet! Oum, I love this job!" As everyone lets out a gusty sigh of relief, Jaune adds, "Alright, everybody, I think that's enough for today. Let's get the Hell out of here. Mr. Schnee, please, periscope depth." Sighing himself, Whitley speaks again.
"Periscope depth!" As Whitley speaks, Jaune goes to the PA and toggles the switch.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me be the first to congratulate you on a textbook dive." Looking around, he gives Cinder a soft grin, getting a slight smile from her in turn before the view goes to the engine room. With 'Nitro' snoring away.
At COMSUBLANT, Watts is in his office with Clover, the former giving the latter the parameters.
"Clover, you and the 'Orlando' are about to take part in a highly experimental war game conceived by Admiral Ironwood. Now the objective is for the 'Orlando' to protect Charleston against an unknown submarine that'll try to invade the Harbor." Lightly chuckling, he adds, with Clover appearing as he speaks.
"I would love to be able to tell you more, but the conditions of the exercise prohibit it. However, I can tell you this. Given the nature of the intruder, you won't have much trouble." During the last sentences, Watts comes back into view, snide smile on his face before it goes back to Clover.
"We'll be more than ready, sir."
Cardin rolls his eyes before smirking.
"Watts, Watts, Watts… when're you gonna learn? When it comes to Jauney boy, it's never a good idea to underestimate him." Slightly snickering, he adds, "I made that mistake myself."
"Cardin…"
"No… No… No, Jauney boy. It's like 'Racer' said. You've come a long way ever since you started and you're doing great. Who knows? Headmaster Ozpin just might do a certificate citing you as 'Most Improved Student' when we graduate."
Jaune can only laugh sheepishly before blushing as Bleiss softly kisses him under his chin.