A Light Against The Darkness

by nightbringer24

Remnants of a world called Cadia. A world called Remnant. Fate thrusts them together, and common cause finds them allied; the protection of humanity. But what awaits the forces of the Imperium of Man in this strange new world, cut off from humanity? What awaits Team RWBY and friends with these strange new visitors from the stars? But in the end, there is only war.

15. Chapter 11

AN: Ooof, this took a long time to get done. This took me out of my comfort zone a few times and I think it shows.

Remember, or do note, if you want more current updates, then follow the story on Space Battles, and also my , Ciaran's Curios, for more up to date info.

---

For the Imperial Guardsmen of the Astra Militarum, there is one single facet of life that is shared by all seasoned veterans; enjoy the few comforts that you can get. A guardsman is subject to privations during a campaign; lack of good food, lack of warm showers. Lack of sleep. So the veterans in a regiment always teach the same lesson to all the FNGs in their regiments; sleep whenever you can and sleep like the dead.

For the Cadians of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 598th regiment, they take it to heart. Never before has a Humpback airship had so many passengers on it at one time sleeping so soundly.

Compared to a Tetrarch Lander though, a Humpback is divine comfort.

Not that Doctor Bartholemew Oobleck, PhD in history and professional Huntsman of Beacon Academy knows that. He has been unable to start a full conversation with any of the Cadians on the airship, mainly because so many of them are asleep in their seats. The dead do tell their stories in their own ways, but the sleeping do not. And the soldiers he does manage to ask do not give him very good answers.

It is a struggle for the man. He is not a man prone to sulking, but he feels that it is close to happening. With Professor Goodwitch conversing with the Herald Ordinary and the officers of the company, there is not much else that Oobleck can do.

And always that man in black, watching him intently though at a distance. Oobleck feels that there is something to that man, but he can't say for sure. From the information he had been given from Team CFVY before the departed from Beacon, the man was called a 'commissar', though what that rank meant or entailed, none of them could really say. They dealt with security, that much is known to the professor-doctor but to what end… Oobleck can't really say. Even the military police for the Atlesian army weren't as overt as this man.

"What's up, doc?" Fox Alistair asks directly and with no small hint of snark in his voice.

Speaking of Team CFVY, Oobleck finds that he's gravitated to the team's seating arrangement near the starboard side of the Humpback, the side facing the ocean. The group of second-years are all seated by the large window, surrounded on several sides by Cadian soldiers, the latter's drab khaki uniforms a direct contrast with the team's bright clothing.

"First off: I thank you for using my correct title, Mister Alistair." The historian says quickly and honestly. "But, to answer your question… no-one will talk to me! It's like trying to get a molar from an Ursa!"

The last words are nearly shouted out, making some of the sleeping soldiers flinch but it does nothing to rouse them. It does rouse Velvet Scarlatina from her sleep, the girl lifting her head from its place on Coco Adel's shoulder, the girl looking very tired and grumpy.

"Professor, can you keep it down?" The Faunus girl asks. "I didn't get enough sleep."

The phrase makes the soldiers around the group chuckle warmly, even as some of them nod their head in agreement.

"She's got a point, doc." One of the Cadians, a man with deep tanned skin and the small green lanyard of a marksman attached to his uniform says in a soft voice, especially as he keeps the other rabbit Faunus in their group close to him. "There's a saying we Cadians have for this sort of thing."

Instantly, Oobleck's ears pick up as his curiosity is piqued. A chance to learn!

"Never run when you can walk."

Another soldier, a woman with a handsome face and a warm smile, chimes in. "Never walk when you can stand."

"Never stand when you can sit." Another man adds in.

"Never sit when you can lay down." Another woman adds in.

"And never lay down when you can sleep." All the soldiers in their small area chime in as one before they all begin to chuckle loudly. Though the sound quickly falls away as the smallest figure among them stirs groggily from their sleep.

"What's going on?" The young child, Carmen, Oobleck remembers, asks in confusion, their eyes still slightly lidded from sleep.

"Sorry about that, little one." The handsome woman says, reaching a hand out to stroke her hair gently. "Go back to sleep."

The suggestion is taken quickly and easily as the child nods her head and lowers it down to her makeshift pillow again before she begins to snooze gently.

"And that is the best example of that creed." The soldier with her says , a smile on his face. The comment makes the ground around him chuckle warmly, Team CFVY included, though at a lower volume than before. Shifting his body slightly so as to not disturb the child, the soldier holds out a hand towards the professor. "Tychos Litten, sir. Trooper, marksman class."

"Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck. Huntsman and professor of history." Oobleck says warmly, shaking the hand in that universal gesture of greeting.

Quickly, Trooper Tychos lists off the soldiers round them: Sophia Kall, Reinhardt Starke, Kian Vorster, among others, each one raising a hand or nodding their head in greeting. They're courteous and sincere in their greetings, though Oobleck sense a feeling of unease and uncertainty from them. Why though, he can't truly say. But, he pushes through it. History demands it!

"So…" Oobleck begins, moving to stand beside Team CFVY. "I feel the need to ask: is it a regular occurrence for your people to take in orphans you meet?"

"A lot more often than you think, actually." Trooper Tychos responds. "We Cadians do end up picking a lot of kids without homes or parents. If they're on worlds that we aren't from, we generally hand them off to local authorities after the fighting is done. If they're from our own world though, they get brought into the regiment that finds them then… well, they usually end up as soldiers themselves. Though that's what any Cadian ends up being really."

Oobleck feels his eyebrows raise in surprise, though it's Mister Yatsuhashi Daichi that gives words to his thoughts.

"Is it really that bad on your world?"

At the question, the group falls silent, an uncomfortable and uncertain silence. Some of them look to each other, while others turn to look past Oobleck. Shifting his vision slightly, using the combined reflection of his glasses and the bay windows, the teacher is able to clearly see the presence of the commissar behind him. The man says nothing, just standing at the place by the large window and looking out of it.

But it's the manner in how he does it that easily catches Oobleck's eye. It's so pointed. So obvious that he is listening to the conversation without looking like he is listening.

It has the soldiers on edge. So, Oobleck decides to steer them away from the edge.

"I think that no matter what your planet is like, it still speaks highly of your people that you are willing to help orphans in need." He shifts his attention to the smallest member of the group. "And it is especially good of you to take in a Faunus orphan so readily."

The look on Trooper Tychos' face shifts to a small smile, though a hint of sadness is in it as he looks down at the sleeping child.

"It wouldn't have been right to leave her. We went to Marysville to want to help the people there, but… those Grimm got there before us. One person out of… what, several hundred? Not a chance in hell we would be leaving her there."

Shifting his arm slightly, the soldier pulls the child closer to him.

"Besides, we all know what it's like to lose a home."

All the Cadians nod their head solemnly at the comment. Oobleck can feel the melancholy radiating from the group, and it is quite profound. Looking at his side, he even sees Team CFVY being effected by it, the teens looking glumly at the group.

"But," Trooper Tychos continues, moving his hand to rest on the child's head softly. "Carmen's one of us now. We won't leave her for anything."

That earns positive mutters from the Cadians, each one nodding their heads in agreement.

Trooper Sophia chirps up, a warm smile on her face. "Do you think we found the next Ursarkar?"

Again, more laughter, low and subdued, comes out at the question, most of it pointedly at the woman, who only smiles unabashedly in return.

"Who's… 'Ursarkar'?" Mister Yatsuhashi asks, the strange name making his brows furrow.

All the Cadians present snap their heads around to look at the giant teen, even the commissar behind them joining, if Oobleck's reading of the reflection in his glasses is to be believed, all of them having incredulous stares on their faces, though they quickly fall.

"Oh yeah, you guys aren't in the Imperium." Trooper Sophia comments, a small smile on her face. "Ursarkar E. Creed was the Lord-Castellan of our planet, the commanding officer of the Cadian 8th, and one hell of a good commander. And… he was an orphan, like Carmen here."

The small girl stirs gently but doesn't do anything else at hearing her name, so the woman continues to speak.

"He was a tactical genius. There wasn't an enemy he couldn't defeat, no fort he couldn't bring down and no siege he couldn't break. He was the Lord Solar Macharius reborn!" She quickly stops herself from shouting too loudly, so as not to wake up Carmen, before she continues more quietly. "And, he was found as an orphan in Kasr Gallan, one of the cities in our world, after it was attacked by the enemy."

Another Cadian joins in. "Yeah, but he was Cadian. No way he wouldn't have survived if he wasn't. Tychos found Carmen in a well. Bit different to old Creed."

Oobleck opens his mouth to interject on wanting to learn more about who this Ursarkar Creed fellow is since he sounds very important to the Cadians, but he doesn't get a chance as Trooper Sophia continues to speak with a huff.

"And? She's six! She's more than young enough for someone to teach her strategy and tactics. Heck, I bet by the time she's ten, she can pull a Leman Russ out of her ears like a… Oh. Hello, sleepy head."

The group falls silent as the young Faunus child sits upright. Her ears are down and she has a VERY unamused look on her face.

Trooper Sophia tries to smile warmly, though it falls as one of Carmen's hands move and connect with the older woman's forehead, making her grunt in shock.

"General Carmen leads the counter attack!" She calls out, her eyes closed as she presses her hands to her forehead, earning a laugh from the others.

"You're all too loud." The child says in the flat manner of the sleep deprived.

"We're sorry, Carmen." Trooper Tychos says honestly and earnestly, though it does nothing to alleviate the scowl on the child's face.

"Oh, come here, little one." Miss Coco says softly, standing up and making her team-mate loll her head into wakefulness, Miss Velvet giving a soft but sleepy smile of her own at the young child. "Come to big sis Coco."

Groggily, Carmen gets up from her perch and moves towards Miss Coco, who carefully takes the child into her arms before moving away from the group to the side window. "Let's see if we can see the sea from here."

Oobleck smiles fondly as he watches the second-year cadet stand with the child in her arms, even as she moves so brazenly to stand next to the commissar. The black-clad man is taken aback for a second as he sees them both, but soon, even he smiles at the young child and he turns his head to look out of the window. Sure enough, the azure waves of the ocean stretch all the way to the horizon. So peaceful and calm, with a few ships seen on the water's surface.

The view is blocked for a few seconds as, with a loud roar of engines, another aircraft bangs past the side of the Humpback. An Imperial fighter jet, Oobleck understands. It is in every ways the antithesis to Remnite design (well, technically Atlesian, since the designer of the Humpback airship was an Atlesian national before she moved to Vale) in both form and colour, the aircraft is all dark colours and hard aggressive lines. It's fast and angry, and it and the other two like it are their escort from Fort Tempest to Beacon.

---

The Thunderbolt rights itself slightly as it pulls out of its turn around the Humpback.

Miro Jax sighs into her oxygen mask. She hates pulling escort duty. Especially on dignitaries. They aircraft are always so big and slow, so much slower than the Thunderbolt or the Lightning, meaning that the fighters always ran the risk of overshooting and leaving the aircraft behind. And of course, on escort duty, you can't fly far away from what you're protecting.

So, all Jax and her squadron can do is fly loose circles around the local airship and hope that any Grimm come near it to alleviate the boredom she knows they're all feeling.

At least they have extra fuel reserves in the tanks underneath the wings.

It is weird though to know that, even though they are guarding the airship, Jax and her squadron as also present as representatives of the Aeronautica Imperialis after their performance at the siege of Carterstown. Jax herself is getting something important, apparently, for her becoming the first Imperial ace on Remnant.

'I hope it's a nice drink.' She thinks to herself.

A ping goes off in her headset, showing an incoming radio message. Moving her hand, she activates the two-way radio.

"This is Vale Air Traffic Control to party arriving from north. Please confirm ident code."

Jax doesn't need to respond to this one. The message is for the airship pilot, not her. Quickly, said pilot responds with the necessary combination of letters and numbers authenticating who they are, meaning… well, Jax has no real idea of what would happen if they weren't able to respond, but she mainly imagines that it would have the group shot out of the sky by some weapon that the city they're going to has defending them.

Somethings never change.

Her radio pings again, this time indicating that it's a message of her.

"Ogre Leader, this is VH-One-Two-Four. Just to let you know, we are sixty minutes out from Vale city boundaries. Repeat; sixty mikes out from Vale city boundaries. How copy? Over."

Jax nods her head as she responds. "Copy that, VH-One-Two-Four. Sixty minutes. Over and out."

Clicking off the radio, Jax leans back in her seat a bit. This was going to be a long sixty minutes.

---

As one transport leaves the northern reaches of Vale, another enters. This one comes in from orbit, its hull cooling down from atmospheric entry, marring it's once steel hull black as it blasts through their air on burning engines.

It communicates with no-one in Vale, and only sends a short, quick message to Fort Tempest, giving an ident code and authentication serial to air control before it continues on its path.

Soon, the Thunderhawk pilot sights their designated landing zone and begins the process for landing. Inside its hull, the occupants prepare for landing and departure.

Veteran-Sergeant Thaddeus gives his bike the last and final checks, citing the Supplication of the Machine Spirit to the vehicle, even as he feels the Thunderhawk shift downwards before landing hard on the ground, the aircraft bouncing slightly as its landing struts take the weight. The veteran Astartes does not shift from his position by the bike.

"Opening ramp." One of the Thunderhawk crewmen, a chapter serf, says loudly as he pulls down the handle to open the ramp, letting natural light begin to spill into the aircraft.

"Detach and mount up!" Thaddeus calls out to his neophytes, each one following his orders as they go about removing the securing straps from their bikes before climbing onto their seats. The hold of a Thunderhawk is large, but not cavernous, meaning that, along with Thaddeus himself, there are nine other neophytes mounted on bikes, all of whom gun their engines as soon as they are onboard their bikes. Though the engines of an Astartes scout-pattern bike are muffled, the noise inside the aircrafts hold is still a thunder, especially when the wheels begin to roll across the metal deck plating as the Scouts disembark.

Exiting the Thunderhawk, Thaddeus rolls his bike round and stops as he watches his neophytes line up before him. Their steely armour reflects the light, the colour not being dulled with dirt or oil, though their left pauldron is bare of insignia. Their cloth uniforms are still the same woodland camouflage scheme they used when first stepping foot on this world, though their camo-cloaks have been stowed on their bikes. There are no sniper rifles, no missile launchers or heavy bolters carried by Thaddeus' scouts this time.

The time for such tactics are over.

That fact is made even more apparent as the final apparatus of war comes down the ramp of the Thunderhawk into the open air. Even with its muffled engine, the Land Speeder Storm is still loud enough to rattle the metal plating and Thaddeus' teeth as it descends the ramp and takes its place behind the line of bikers. It bobs up and down like a ship on the sea behind the line of bikers, the scouts piloting the machine and the pintle mounted heavy bolter not taking their eyes off their veteran sergeant the whole time.

Their cargo now fully exited and out, the ramp of the Thunderhawk closes, but not before the serf gives the veteran sergeant a quick signal in hand signs:

Good luck and good hunting

With that done, the ramp closes fully, and, with a loud roar and a blast of heat and dust, the Thunderhawk rockets back into the heavens, leaving Thaddeus alone with his scouts.

Raising a hand to his neck, Thaddeus gives the signal for them all to cut the engines of their machines. The idling bikes fall silent, and the Land Speeder settles to the ground as the veteran sergeant dismounted from his bike.

Thaddeus fixes the group with a hard stare before he speaks. "Again, we are the eyes and ears of our chapter, and that of the Imperium on this world. Our mission is simple and clear: force reconnaissance. There will be no hiding in the shadows, waiting and watching for the enemy. We will drive straight at the enemy, hit these beasts of Grimm with force and fury and ascertain what we can about them."

All the neophytes nod their head in understanding before one raises their hand to speak. Scout Maanus.

"Rules of engagement, brother-sergeant?"

"Seek out active groups of Grimm, the larger the better, engage in hit and run tactics and see how they react. We will not be engaging in any protracted fights. We do not have the numbers nor the firepower to make such a thing happen. Any groups that I deem too large, we will bypass completely and send their coordinates for the Cadians to hit with artillery or the Imperial Navy. That is our primary objective.

"Our secondary objective is to locate any settlements in the area, allowing us to get a full picture of the lay of the land. If I feel that we can make contact with them, then we will do so. If not, again; bypass and earmark for the Cadians to approach. If we find settlements being attacked by the Grimm, we will engage with discretion while contacting Fort Tempest for support."

"What about bandits, brother-sergeant?" Justus asks, speaking up from on top of his bike. The boy still has a vivid red, two piece scar down the left side of his face from the fighting at Carterstown. A good mark of honour. "I remember the dossier that we got from the Herald Ordinary and I…"

Thaddeus cuts him off. "I know. I know. To know that even on this world, other humans would fall to the lures of piracy and banditry and prey on their fellow man… it's sickening."

None of the recruits blanche at the veteran-sergeant's words. All of the three recruiting worlds in the Sigilis system, from the feudal worlds of Sigilis IV and V to the sprawling hive world of Sigilis Primus, know the stain on humanity that was the bandit, the thief, the cutthroat and the murderer. Though it was no lie to say that good people came from such stock (Veteran-Sergeant Dassian was recruited from such a group on Sigilis V after all, as were many others of the chapter, and Neophytes Maanus and Olarus too), the culture of the chapter abhorred them.

To be strong in the face of the enemy, to be without fear and without doubt in the face of death. Those were some of the key tenets that were taught to the neophytes of the 10th Company. But also, as the new blood matured and grew into what would become true Astartes, they learnt. They learnt not just the truth of the galaxy at large and the foes they faced, but also the wisdom of the elders and Terran ancients. Philosophers and scribes whose writings survived into the 41st Millennium and the lessons they taught. They learnt that, for all their vaunted status and power, they were susceptible to the foleys of humanity as any normal man was.

Anger is one foley that all Astartes knew. It is bred into them, moulded in them, melded with their arms and armour. Is their greatest strength, and their greatest weakness too. For the Steel Drakes, such a thing was more potent due to the presence of the gene-seed of the Black Templars within the chapter.

One of the teachings of the chapter was to keep such choler under control. And one of the teachings was not to go looking for unnecessary fights.

"The matter of the bandits in this kingdom is an internal affair." Thaddeus says simply and coolly, his steely gaze casting out over each neophyte in turn. "Our mission is not to concern ourselves with them. They are Remnites, and the Remnites can deal with them."

The scouts nod their heads in agreement and understanding. They have all been told the necessity to not start a political problem on this planet.

"But," The veteran-sergeant says quickly and sharply, a sly grin pulling at his mouth. "If we do end up encountering any bandits during our travels here, and they feel that we are worthy of being the subject of their misplaced ire… then we show them why that is a very bad idea."

At his words, the other scouts can't help but chuckle darkly. Anger could be a very dangerous tool if let out in the incorrect manner, but the same could be said if anger was locked tight and not allowed the correct release. Temperance and control.

Not saying anything else, Thaddeus turns and mounts his bike. With a swift kick from his booted foot, he starts the engine and the machine roars to life. At his example, the other scouts start their bikes while the Land Speeder Storm rises back to hover behind them.

"Earn your teeth, my brothers!" Thaddeus calls out as he slews the bike around and guns the engine, propelling him forward through the forest. The world around him echoes with a host of mechanical roars as his neophytes follow him.

Their mission has begun.

---

There is an air of expectation and anticipation outside the walls of the Beacon Academy. The entire student body and all of the faculty are out in force as they stand in ordered rows, arranged by teams and by year group. Instead of the riot of colours that would be expected, the entirety of the students are dressed in their uniforms. Even though Vale, and Remnant at large, values self-expression, there are times when appearances must be maintained.

Put together by team name, Ruby finds herself next to Weiss again, the white haired Atlesian heiress who is staring fixedly ahead at the empty space in front of everyone. It is actually unnerving how fixed the girl's blue eyes are looking off into nothing over the area of Beacon grounds chosen as the assembly point.

"Weiss?" Ruby asks, her voice jolting the girl at her side. "Is… are you okay?"

Weiss turns her head quickly to look at Ruby, a surprised look on her face. "What's wrong, Ruby? I'm all right. Why?"

"Well…" Ruby begins, not really sure what to say. "You were just… staring into space, not moving at all… Is this because of me and Blake?"

Weiss looks at Ruby in confusion for a second as she processes what she's heard before understanding comes to her face. "Oh. Oh! No, that's not it at all. It's…"

The white-haired girl lets out a weary sigh.

"Something I had to do a lot when I was in Atlas at events for the SDC. Stand there, look pretty, and say nothing unless spoken to."

Ruby feels her eyes open wide in shock. "Was… was that what the SDC told you to do?"

For a moment, a sad look flashes across Weiss' face. "No… it was my father."

Ruby doesn't really know what to say. "So… it's not because of me and Blake getting caught, right?"

Another look flashes across Weiss' face, a look that Ruby knows a bit too well; a look of annoyance, though it quickly passes as the white-haired girl puts on a calm face.

"No, it's not, Ruby. I… I've come to terms with what happened. And you two are getting punished for it, which is better than you two nearly being killed!"

The last word is hissed out as Weiss turns her head sharply to look at her teammate and friend, who flinches from the words slightly, though Weiss thankfully wasn't loud enough for anyone else to hear. Although it isn't hard to see Blake cringe on the other side of the heiress.

Yeah, there was no way that Ruby and Blake could have kept what they had done, or their punishment being kept hidden from Weiss or Yang. Especially when the pair had been called away by a personal visit by Professor Goodwitch for some 'after hours tutoring'.

'After hours tutoring'. Some tutoring! Four hours spent in the kitchen of Beacon Academy, cleaning pots, pans and all other stuff that the teachers and students had used during the evening meal, to Professor Goodwitch's standards, and also answering a pop-quiz to boot! And each time one of them got a question wrong, the professor would add extra dishes to their loads! Although Ruby had to admit that she doubted that Professor Port coming in for extra chocolate cake was not a planned event.

But still, those four hours left Ruby feeling grimy, sweaty, clammy and very, very punished for what she'd done, and she knew that Blake felt the same way. And it wasn't a good thing to hear at the end of it, that Goodwitch had more 'tutoring' sessions planned for them.

That had scared them both.

Though it has not scared them as much as the glowering look on Yang's face when she had heard about what had nearly happened to her little sister. Beacon had to be thankful that she had only smashed a fist-sized hole in the wall (fist sized, but deep enough to make a dent on the hallway side of the wall) before the rest of RWBY managed to get her under control.

The look hasn't left Yang's face, though her eyes are no longer blood red.

"If I see one of those robot men, I swear…" Yang says with a growl from her end of the line. Her eyes and hair are their normal colour, but Ruby can feel the tension coming from her sister. Especially from how Yang's knuckles whiten as she clenches her fists.

"Come on, Yang." Nora says from behind the group. "Cheer up! Look, the press are here!"

The energetic girl raises a hand to point at an area towards the academy proper, drawing all eyes to the crowd of journalists and camera crews, grouped together in an area closer to the fourth year students and Professor Ozpin and the other members of the teaching staff. All of them are waiting in quiet excitement, many of the news people prepping themselves up with their camera crews, the easy to spot form of Lisa Lavender is putting the last final touches onto her makeup.

And Professor Ozpin… he is just standing there, his hands on his cane as always. Standing and waiting.

"At least they're not going for me this time…" Pyrrha whispers out behind RWBY, sounding quite glad.

Not much else is said for a few good minutes, the area lapsing into silence as over a hundred teens fall into the habits of teens made to wait in a semblance of order. Talking together, general fidgeting. Some of the boys are close to messing around with each other, before a sound fills the air. A familiar but expected sound.

"All right, everyone!" Professor Port calls out as he walks his way in front of all the students. "Line up now! Nice and smart! Best behaviour!"

A ripple of movement comes from the crowd as all the teens fall into their lines, standing straight and orderly as they do so, though each one makes a point to turn their heads towards the dock as they see the Humpback airship glide in for landing.

The fear of her and Blake's punishment vanishes as Ruby can hardly contain her excitement, though she does restrain herself to bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet from her place. Shiftily, she turns her head to look towards the landing dock, though she sees a lot of people following her line of sight too, though the dock is slightly hidden from view. On the other end of the line, Ruby can hear the news people getting into their own excitement.

Silence fills the world again as the engines of the airship die down, an expectant hush falling.

A shout comes from the direction of the dock, loud but wordless at their distance, making the students jump slightly.

Then, against the ground, they all hear a drumbeat. A loud and steady drumbeat, advancing towards the academy, towards them. It's a noise so different to anything that Ruby has heard before, the noise of mass marching feet in unison.

Part of it sends a chill down Ruby and she doesn't know why. So she watches, waiting to see what comes towards Beacon.

First, to her surprise, is a flag. It blows proudly on the breeze, letting everyone see a blue cross against a blue field, set underneath a golden icon on the pole carrying it. There's a few holes in it, and it looks a bit ragged, but it's still a sight that catches everyone's attention.

And then they see the people behind the flag.

They come in silence, just over a hundred of them, each one dressed in dark khaki armour and clothing. Over a hundred Cadians. Each one is a soldier, with a rifle held against their shoulder as they march in perfect order towards the academy. Their feet tramp across the ground at a perfectly measured pace and rhythm, kicking up a small cloud of dust as they march forward.

At the distance she's at, Ruby can't see any identifiers on their uniforms, or the soldiers themselves. It's just a broad, straight line of khaki, only broken up by white numbers on their shoulder pads: 598. There's also smaller icons that Ruby can just about pick out, but other than those… it's all so uniform. Some seem to be officers, judging from headgear, and the single person wearing black, but that's all the individuality that the young girl can see.

Not a single one of the soldiers looks to the side as they continue their march, their arms moving perfectly in time, their feet striking the ground in perfect order.

It's… robotic in a way. Not one movement out of place, not one misstep out of time. It is definitely a spectacle, and it has everyone's attention.

Soon, the soldiers have made their way to be parallel with the student body, nearly matching them in length before the man leading the column suddenly and quickly shouts: "Company! Halt!"

As one, the soldiers stop, the sound of leather shod boots striking the ground heavily. It sounds like one giant foot striking the ground.

And it has the journalists and camera crews attention fully. Each person with a Scroll has them focused on the soldiers as the man in command calls for the soldiers to turn to the right, making them face the student body of Beacon Academy.

It's less than a hundred yards between the group, but Ruby's well trained eyes see everything clearly. These men and women… They look so tired, so worn down. They look haggard, like they've gone through the worst things possible. Their eyes are all varying shades of purple or violet, almost exactly like Yang's, but they're all… Ruby really is stuck on words now, but tired is the one word that repeats in her head.

But not one of them looks down or looks pitiful. Each man and woman holds their heads straight and proud, even as their commanding officer orders them to lower their rifle butts to the ground beside them.

Movement out of the corner of her eye makes Ruby turn her head to see another smaller group moving in front of the soldiers. This one Ruby instantly recognizes, since it's Team CFVY, Doctor Oobleck, Professor Goodwitch and the giant spaceman, the 'Herald Ordinary', that she saw at Beacon a few days ago. He's still as big and as imposing as he looked back then. It still boggles her mind that someone can get so big.

The smaller group continues walking forward, the commanding officer moving quickly but purposefully to join them as they approach Professor Ozpin, the headmaster himself moving towards the group. Their every move is shadowed by the screens of nearly a dozen Scrolls, trying to keep everything in view.

Professor Goodwitch, Doctor Oobleck and Team CFVY stop short at a word from the professor, allowing the Herald Ordinary to join the officer as they approach the headmaster. With a few paces to go between each other, the trio stop.

It's impossible for Ruby to hear a word that is being said between them but she and everyone else can see the Herald gesturing to Ozpin in a friendly manner, a smile on his face, especially when the pair reach towards each other and clasp hands. It is a friendly gesture, made more prevalent by the smiles on the men's faces. The meeting with the officer is more stiff and formal, the man standing straighter (if that was possible) as he salutes, before giving his hand to shake.

The meeting is short and simple, but it has the attention of Ruby, her team, everyone at the school and the press. Professor Ozpin, shaking hands with men from space.

Soon, Professor Ozpin speaks up, his voice loud, clear and steady for all to hear. "On behalf of the council, the city and the Kingdom of Vale, and as headmaster of Beacon academy; I, Professor Ozpin, greet you as friends and welcome you to our fair city and academy, in the spirit of friendship and unity."

The two spacemen, both listening patiently to the headmaster's speech, nod their heads in appreciation of the comments before the tall herald speaks up, his deep baritone voice rolling easily among the quiet crowds.

"As Herald Ordinary of the Steel Drakes chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, and as a representative of the 57th Imperial Fleet, on behalf of the Imperium of Man; I, Herald Antorus, thank you for the magnanimity and generosity in allowing us this tour of your academy and of your city."

The statement draws excited and confused murmuring from both the crowd of journalists and also the student body of Remnant, though all have the semblance of mind to not raise any questions loudly.

From her position in the line of students, Ruby is able to see Professor Ozpin accompany the herald and the officer of the soldiers as they give him a short tour of the soldiers. It reminds the girl of something she saw once on VNN when General Ironwood was made headmaster of Atlas Academy. It's got the same sort of ceremony to it, though without the brass-band. She can't hear what is being said, but Ruby sees Ozpin nod his head many times as he listens to what the officer is telling him. Each soldier they pass stands as still as a statue, their heads held high and facing forward, eyes staring unerringly forward.

The students of Beacon could only ever hope to achieve that level of discipline as Professor Ozpin soon leads the Imperials on their own short parade of the students. Ruby can't help herself but look up when the headmaster leads the two spacemen past them. The Herald was gigantic before but up close, Ruby really feels how small she is in comparison to him. His face is friendly, reminding her of her own father, but up close it feels… off. Like the face is stretched over something too big beneath. It's not outright scary, but when the Herald smiles and nods his head at the young girl when she and her team is picked out, a shudder runs down her spine.

The officer is much more bearable to deal with, though still no less scary. As tall as Professor Ozpin, the man is old, the large moustache and mutton-chops of thick, black hair giving him an elderly air to him, though on his face, Ruby can see the wrinkles and age lines around his eyes, even a few faint scars on his face here and there. He has a thick block of ribbons and medals on his chest, an impressive myriad of colours and brass. And those eyes… those strong, bright violet eyes, almost like Yang's in colour, but stronger, more scrutinizing of what he sees as he's lead along the line of students. His face shows nothing as he looks each boy and girl up and down.

After what feels like hours though it would only have been minutes, the small inspection is finished and the group has stopped at the end of the line, near the fourth year students, in clear sight of the press group.

"I am sure, Captain Thade," Professor Ozpin says clearly. "That your Cadians are more than capable of standing out here all day. Although I doubt that it would be something they would enjoy doing."

That earns a ripple of laughter from the press group, but even Ruby can see that the captain isn't fazed by the joke, except for a small, polite smile on his face. If Ozpin sees it, he says nothing as he turns to look at Professor Goodwitch, her, Oobleck and Team CFVY standing near the journalists. Coco is holding something but Ruby can't see what.

"Professor Goodwitch, I believe that the auditorium has been set up ready for these fine men and women to rest in. That is correct?"

The blonde woman nods her head. "That is correct. Captain Thade, if your soldiers would follow me?"

The man nods his head once before turning swiftly to face the soldiers under his command before, with a voice that makes Ruby and others flinch, Captain Thade orders the soldiers to move out. Again, they move in perfect unison, their feet stamping together, arms raising their rifles to rest against their shoulders, before they turn to face Beacon Academy.

As they move forward, Professor Port's voice calls out. "Okay, students! Back to school now! Smartly forward! No running!"

With no small amount of muttering, the entire student body turns and begins to walk back to the school, their procession looking decidedly less smart than the soldiers.

"Well…" Yang speaks up, her former anger seemingly forgotten by the spectacle of everything that was going on. "No classes for the day though, right?"

An enthusiastic chorus sounds up around her from other students, Nora and Team CRDL joining in loudly, which makes Ruby smile, although the silver-eyed, red-cape wearing girl quickly turns her attention back to the soldiers ahead, along with Team CFVY at their head.

The distance makes it hard to see fully, but it looks to Ruby like… Coco has a large set of ears of her own. Like Velvets! But that's not right. Coco's not a Faunus. Unless she hides it very well.

This day just kept getting weirder for the girl.

---

The flash of a camera bulb goes off in the room again, temporarily blinding Fidor again, though he's seen worse flashes in his life as a captain of infantry. Still makes the Cadian blink his eyes quickly to clear the stars from his vision. Suppressing a weary sigh, Fidor sets his face at the best parade group visage he can manage as he looks around the room before him.

It's some kind of classroom, as Professor Ozpin had pointed out as he lead the group into the academy buildings proper, the Astartes herald standing next to the captain as the pair come under the scrutiny from the Remnite press arrayed in the tiers in front of them.

It is not the first time that Fidor has been exposed to the press. Many completed campaigns were ended under the flash of bulbs from commissariat propaganda teams and chosen planetary press as they answered pre-approved questions. Control of media and control of information. That was the Imperial way.

But this… this was something new entirely.

"Okay, if we can all settle down, everyone. Please." Professor Ozpin says from the other side of Herald Antorus, one hand off his cane to wave down the excited crowd into some semblance of order. "We are all excited to be here, I know. This truly is a momentous occasion, for the Kingdoms and for Remnant itself: contact with humanity from beyond our world. Writers can only dream of such a thing. But as you can see…"

"How do we know they're from outer space?" A man suddenly asks, standing up from the seated crowd to further be seen. His face is aristocratic, though on the too-thin side (Thor's blood, Fidor can definitely see the cheek and jaw bones of the man!), with light blue hair just a shade lighter than the suit he's wearing. He holds a personal data-pad, a Scroll, in one hand and a stylus in the other, and a small label on his suit tells Fidor the man is from Atlas. "Is there any way of truly verifying that these people before us have come from outer space, Professor Ozpin? I mean… online images are not all that hard to fake with the right knowhow."

Cadian discipline stops Fidor scoffing out loud at the question, though he can't help the unimpressed look that comes to his face. Though thankfully, Herald Antorus speaks up before the man can say anything… undiplomatic.

"Your question is valid, sir," The Astartes says placatingly. "It would be difficult to accept that myself and my fellow Imperials are not from your world, and I assure…"

"That actually raises another question." The man says quickly, interrupting the Herald Ordinary quickly and without a thought. "Why, of all places in Remnant, did you choose to land in Vale? Why not Atlas? Or Mistral?"

"Or Vacuo." A woman with deeply tanned skin and a deep red shawl wrapped around her head, letting only small peaks of black hair peek out from underneath, adds on testily. "Or Menagerie."

Once again, Ozpin holds a hand up for silence. "Ladies and gentlemen, please. Let us stay civil in this situation."

The man from Atlas sits down, an annoyed expression on his face. Fidor's mind takes in what he saw play out before him, though it's Antorus who gives it voice when he leans down slightly and whispers to the Cadian in High Gothic.

"Internal politics are not as wholesome as we imagined."

Before Fidor can reply, Antorus stands up straight again and looks out at the crowd as he addresses the room.

"To answer your questions in reverse order: The kingdom of Vale was chosen primarily for its climate. Temperate and warm, it is the closest climate that the proud soldiers of Cadia can call closest to that of their home planet, allowing them to operate at their fullest potential when in combat against the beasts of this world.

"As for the question on whether I and my fellows are from… 'outer space'? I'm afraid that is a statement that is to be taken on faith."

At that, Fidor feels himself smile. "I doubt the Navy boys would appreciate us having a cruiser come in low atmosphere just to show we're from 'space'."

Antorus nods his head at the comment, smiling softly through it all. "Though I do feel that the fact of our… alienness to you people of Remnant is quite clear to you in the know. From the groups that we have already encountered on this world, we know that… well, nearly everything about us is not the same as your world."

Fidor resists the urge to roll his eyes at the comment, knowing that the Herald Ordinary is definitely playing to the group before them.

"But I assure you: we will answer any questions you put to us, to the best of our abilities. For we all here united for one purpose: the joining of our two disparate peoples."

His statement seems to mollify the journalists somewhat, some of them quickly writing the Astartes herald's words onto their devices.

"So." Professor Ozpin says simply, smiling that thin, small smile of his as he looks at the crowd. "Shall we begin. Miss Lisa Lavender, I see your hand."

A woman quickly stands up from the crowd, and Fidor cannot help but see that the name is apt. Even underneath a professionally cut black jacket, the Cadian can see the purple of her shirt, along with her bob-cut of white hair that shifts into purple at the tips. It's hard for Fidor to guess her age, but she looks to be in her late twenties, early thirties. Her golden brown eyes look at the pair of Imperials inquisitively as she speaks.

"Lisa Lavender, Vale News Network. Mister Herald, if I may ask: you say you come from the 'Imperium of Man', an empire of man. How large is this empire of yours, if you can cite a number, please?"

A smile forms on Antorus' lips as he lifts his hands up slightly in an all-encompassing gesture. "As many stars in the sky, Miss Lavender. For every star in the universe, human life exists there in some shape or form, be it a military listening post, an out of the way trading post, or simple frontier life seeking to eke out a new life, all the way to mighty worlds of industry and commerce. But to give as close to an exact figure, the official total of planets under the purview of the Imperium of Man stand at one million."

Shocked silence fills the room as all the journalists look at the giant being in amazement. Fidor can sympathise with that. He's seen a million soldiers of Cadia's finest on the parade grounds and muster fields, and that a sight one does not forget. Nor a million orks streaming across a kill zone.

To replace that with planets though? Hell, Fidor had only set foot on twelve himself. Thirteen if you counted Remnant.

Miss Lavender recovers quickly from her shock even to speak again, but her eyes still remain wide. "That… that is a lot of planets. Umm… are you two from… from different planets?"

Antorus nods his head. "Yes, we are. I myself hail from one of the recruiting worlds of my Chapter in the Sigilis System, Sigilis IV. The good captain beside me, however, hails from one of the most famous worlds in the Imperium; Cadia."

That comments makes Fidor smile warmly at the praise. Being honoured in such a way by a member of the Emperor's Angels of Death? It did much to boost a man's spirit. Though as quickly as it appeared the smile fell again as Fidor remembered the Fall…

Would Cadia be famous now in the Imperium, or would it become infamous?

Not noticing what is happening in Fidor's mind, Antorus continues to speak. "It is a common facet of the Imperium that soldiers, merchants, builders and other such peoples vital to the running of the Imperium from one world to others, to aid other worlds in their operations, especially in the case of defence."

A small smirk plays on the herald's face.

"The universe is a big place, and there are many in it who do not believe that humanity should exist."

"W-Worse than Grimm?" A man with tawny skin, short black hair and a red double-breasted shirt says falteringly, sounding fearful at the notion. The look on his face definitely shows the fear in him, and it's not helped by the Herald Ordinary nodding his head.

"I am afraid so. But from the reports given, I would say that the Grimm can definitely be considered warranting a significant threat level in their own right. Would you not agree, Captain Thade?"

This time, Fidor feels himself fall under all eyes and lenses as all the journalists turn to look at him proper. It's not a feeling that the man cares for.

"The Grimm are… there are many comparisons that I can draw on for the other enemies that I've fought in my time as a soldier of the Imperial Guard, and that alone does make me feel that they are not a threat that can be treated lightly. I say that with some certainty because, if it wasn't for the efforts of Beacon's own Team CFVY, I would not be standing here now."

From the corner of his eye, Fidor sees Professor Ozpin smile at the praise given to one of his team. And it is honest praise too. Strength, courage and honour are traits valued in the Imperium, especially its fighting forces. Selflessness to action, refusing to retreat, Team CFVY performed as well as any child of Cadia. He hopes the other students are just as good when the metal meets the meat.

For the next few minutes, the journalists ask all manner of questions they can think of, ranging from what Herald Antorus' planet is like ("A world not too dissimilar from Remnant, though we do have our own problems to contend with."), to how such an entity as the Imperium can operate on such a wide scale as the herald said to be (which made even Fidor's hurt at how complex the Imperial bureaucracy is) and various other questions about the Imperium itself. Technology, engineering, whether they have Dust technology or not, parts of human history outside of Remnant, especially the times involving the Great Crusade.

One question stands out, this one asked by a member of the press nearly hidden away to the side. When he stands, Fidor is surprised that they missed the pair of curled horns standing out from his head of blonde hair, a black hat with a red band nestled between them. A label containing the word 'Menagerie' stands out on his shirt breast.

"Captain, sir, I have to ask, as a representative of Menagerie, on what your thoughts towards the Faunus are."

Fidor should have expected that question, considering his company's involvement with Huntress Velvet. So he shrugs his shoulders as he speaks. "I can't say for them all, since I've only really met two, but Huntress Velvet Scarlatina is a fine fighter and a nice young woman. A good representative of abhumans if I've ever seen one. I hope the others we meet are as pleasant to work with as she is."

Silence fills the room, taking Fidor by surprise as he looks at the group in confusion. Especially when he sees the horned-man's face harden slightly.

"I'm sorry, captain, but what was that term? 'Abhumans'?"

Confused, Fidor nods his head. "Yes. Abhuman. It means 'abnormal humanity'."

The reporter now looks offended, while some other reporters look astounded or dismayed at the term. Fidor feels like he's walked into a minefield.

"If I may," Antorus quickly butts in, drawing all attention to him. "Captain Thade is unfortunately quoting an incorrect definition of the term, one that does bear expanding on. You see, when humanity was expanding out from Terra before the time of the Great Crusade, both natural evolution and also forced genetics allowed certain populations to change their genetic makeup to fit better on other worlds that were more unsuitable for the basic human genome to function.

"When those populations were brought into the fold of the Imperium during the time of the Great Crusade, a new classification system was needed to differentiate these populations from the aliens encountered by the Imperium, since they were still humans, just… changed. Thus, the phrase 'Ab Humanis', to use its official High Gothic term was created, which in regular parlance means 'From Humans'. This has, as languages do, evolved to unfortunately to be taken to mean 'abnormal humans' to the average lay person."

Fidor looks at Antorus out of the corner of his eye, certain that the Astartes herald is groxshitting to the group but he can't say for certain if he is, and it is working as the journalists become more mollified.

"It is a flaw of language, and not to be taken as a term of offence. I know that Captain Thade would not speak so disparagingly about a person who not only aided his own soldiers, but also a person that through his own words was given a commendation from the commanding general of the Cadians on this planet. Correct, Captain?"

Fidor nods his head quickly as the words sink in. "Absolutely, my lord Herald. I was not trying to be insulting towards Huntress Scarlatina or other Faunus, such as yourself." He addresses the words to the journalist from Menagerie, the man looking quite calmer now. "I'm just a simple lasman, a soldier. We're more used to plain speaking and simple terms."

Also, if the rest of the Faunus are anything like Miss Scarlatina or little Carmen, then this world might be better than Fidor thought. Those two are much better on the eyes than the average Ogryn or Ratling.

That sparks an idea in Fidor's mind.

"Also, if we had a problem with Faunus, we wouldn't have rescued young Carmen from Marysville."

Confused and excited murmurs come from the room, before the journalist from Menagerie speaks up again.

"Is… Is this the young Faunus child that's been seen in photos alongside your soldiers?"

Fidor nods his head, smiling slightly as he sees the best way into these peoples better graces. "Indeed, she is. Nice girl. Quiet, but she gets on well with my company. We did rescue her, after all."

Confused by excited muttering fills the air, many of the journalists leaning forward and speaking at once to try and ask the same question. It's Miss Lavender who asks it the loudest.

"Can you please tell us the story of how you rescued that child, Captain Thade?"

Fidor smiles again, though the smile falls as he remembers that day in Marysville.

He hopes these people like a good story.

---

The sound echoed around the space from six different mouths.

"DAWWW!"

It was a sound Velvet expected to hear, but it still took her by surprise at how loud it was. And the fact that it came from Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Norra, Pyrrha and Jaune takes her by surprise. Though not unpleasantly.

"Yup." Coco says smugly and warmly. "She is adorable."

Velvet finds it hard to disagree, standing directly behind Carmen as CFVY stands with Teams RWBY and JNPR.

"She's so cute." Pyrrha says happily, her green eyes wide with joy at seeing the young Faunus girl.

For her part though, Velvet knows that Carmen is… it doesn't look like she hates the attention she's getting, but it's clear that the young girl has no real idea how to react to it. Her hands are gripping the front of her dress as they wring the material slightly, her wide golden eyes looking at the other teams in confusion and worry.

"It's all right, little one." Lie Ren, the black haired Mistralan with the pink streak through his hair, says calmly and gently. "We're friends of Team CFVY."

Nora Valkyrie chimes in quickly, in her usually excitable fashion. "Yeah! So we're your friends too! That's… that's twelve friends!"

Leaning her head down and to the side, Velvet can't help but smile as she sees Carmen's face scrunch up slightly as she does the necessary mental calculations to show what that means.

"Hey, Velvet?"

The ask draws the Faunus teenager's attention back to the present as she sees the blonde haired bruiser from Team RWBY, Yang, gesturing her closer, letting her hear what she has to say.

"I just want to ask: Carmen… she isn't related to you, right?"

For a second, Velvet is fully prepared to react in shock… but then she simply heaves a small sigh and relaxes as she shakes her head. She'd heard enough of that question from her time in Fort Tempest.

"No, we're not related."

"She's cute enough to be your sister." The voice of Coco Adel chimes in from beside her, making Yang smile and chuckle, even as red creeps up Velvet's face.

Fox's voice chimes in. "With the way you fawn over here, I'm starting to think you wish she was your sister."

That comment makes Velvet, and the others, laugh loudly, even as Coco points out that she doesn't mind that in the slightest at that idea, earning a confused look from the young Faunus child.

Though to Velvet's ears, it is currently the only sound of laughter she can hear. Looking around her, she can see a clear demarcation between the students of Beacon Academy and the soldiers of Cadia. There are some small pockets of students that had plucked up the courage to approach and talk with the soldiers, mainly older years, swapping stories about Grimm killing, and younger students wanting to learn more about the men from space. But there's no mass meeting of the two groups.

Even looking over her shoulder behind her, Velvet sees Tychos, Sophia and their squadmates standing near each other, away from the group. The pair of Cadians are keeping a protective eye on Carmen, but they smile and wave at the teenage Faunus when she looks at them.

A loud bout of laughter draws Velvet's attention, along with a few others, as they hear the loud and distinct laugh of Professor Port, joined together in the sound of polite laughter from the two other teaches present, Professor Goodwitch and Doctor Oobleck, and the senior Cadian officers still present with the company. Though whether the soldiers find Port's stories actually amusing or are just being polite, it is hard to tell.

A small squeal of shock gets Velvet's attention again as she sees Carmen getting her face squished by Nora.

"Oh, so cute!" The orange-haired Huntress-in-training says happily and joyfully as she has her hands on the child's face. "Why are you so cute?"

The sight is funny, though it's equally as weird to see Weiss Schnee behind the girl, her body… trembling?

"You okay there, Weiss?" Yang asks, sidling up to the white-haired girl with a concerned smile on her face, while the Atlesian heiress has a look of extreme conflict on her face.

"Must… resist… but want to squeeze…"

That gets a bemused smile from Velvet. The seemingly high and haughty Weiss Schnee wants to squeeze the cheeks of the Faunus child.

"I didn't think you cared for cute stuff, Ice Queen?" Coco asks, moving her sunglasses down her nose slightly, an amused smile on her face.

"What do you mean?" Weiss asks indignantly, the shock bringing back her posh attitude back to the fore. "I have a younger brother, and he was adorable when he was her age. I loved him when he was that young."

That gets everyone to stop and look at her in confusion, Nora still holding onto Carmen's cheeks.

"What?" Weiss asks in genuine confusion.

"You never said you had a little brother." Yang says simply.

"I didn't?" The white-haired girl asks in disbelief, earning shakes of heads from those around her. "I could have sworn I had."

A soft but audible (to her Faunus hearing) shuffling of feet gets Velvet's attention.

Carmen is now free of Nora's hands, and she's looking at Blake expectantly. It doesn't look like everyone else is focused on Weiss right now, so Velvet decides to eve's drop. Very easy to do with her ears.

"I have to ask," Blake says, looking down at the young Faunus girl. "Where are your parents?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Velvet sees Coco look at her in worry as Carmen drops her head in silence. Then there's a sniffle, and then Carmen bursts into tears, taking everyone except Team CFVY by surprise. Well, almost. The young girl is a loud crier.

It sets off Teams RWBY and JNPR in their own way.

"Gaah! Yang, what do we do?" Ruby asks in shock.

Pyrrha and Jaune speak up soothingly to the child at the same time. "It's okay, little one!" "We're sorry!"

"Blake, what did you do?" Yang asks her black-haired team-mate.

"I just asked where her parents are!" The girl responded in equal parts indignation and confusion.

Through the whole display, Nora and Ren had moved closer to the child to comfort her, Carmen bringing a hand up to her face to wipe at her eyes as she bawls her eyes out.

Around them, Velvet can feel the various eyes of the other students looking at them in confusion, and behind her, she can hear confused and worried muttering, even as Velvet hears the sound of moving boots coming towards them.

Spinning around, Velvet is prepared to say something to whoever is coming towards them… and she stops herself as she sees Tychos coming towards them. Even At her side, Coco is taken aback too, she knows it, because the Faunus teen is terrified of the Cadian as he walks towards them.

His stride is quick but steady, his body held rigid and tall as he moves, his fists held at his side as he walks towards the group, although more specifically the crying Faunus child. But it's his eyes that take Velvet back, those purple eyes of the Cadians that Velvet has come to know… they're cold. So ice-cold and stern, they speak of violence… and it terrifies Velvet, enough that she fully backs away from the Cadian as he moves closer to her and the others.

At hearing his footsteps, Carmen turns around, her golden eyes shining while her cheeks are streaked with tears. At such a young age, there's only one thing for her to do.

"Big bro…" Carmen says simply, holding her hands out towards the soldier.

"Hey, little one. Come here." In an instant, any fear Velvet feels from the Cadian is dispelled quickly as, kneeling down, Tychos puts his hands underneath the child's armpits and lifts her up towards him in a hug. A hug Carmen quickly reciprocates as she wraps her arms around his neck and nuzzles into the neck as she is lifted up. "What's wrong?"

"We're sorry, Tychos." Coco says, acting as the team-leader here, being diplomatic. "We got caught up in… Carmen being cute that we didn't get a chance to tell the others about her… situation. Blake here… she asked about her parents…"

Looking at the fashionista Huntress, Tychos nods his head in understanding, letting his eyes look at all the other students close by.

As expected, each of the students looks at the man with wide eyes and no small amount of trepidation. Even in what Velvet knows to be their dress uniform, Tychos is still as alien to the students of Beacon Academy as he could be. His armour, though slightly buffed up for appearances sake to make it look less grimy and damaged than it would be, still speaks of readiness for violence, along with the weapon slung at his back . He's taller than the majority of the people around him, with only Jaune and Pyrrha able to look him in the eyes, and it's also with the others that Velvet sees how strong the man actually is. Not overly muscled, but facing someone without Aura, the soldier would be more than a match.

Compared to Blake, the black-haired teen getting a good visual pat-down from the Cadian, Velvet sees the disparity easily. It doesn't help that teen actually shrinks from the view.

"S-sorry." Blake says timidly, her voice sounding tiny. "I… I didn't mean to make her cry. I just… her parents…"

Tychos is silent for a few seconds, his violet eyes never leaving the girl's face before he turns his attention back to the young child in his arms, a hand coming up to brush the tears on her cheeks. "It's all right, girl. I get it."

A voice calls out from the side, behind Velvet, a woman's voice that the Faunus teen identifies as Sophia's. "Oi, Tychos! You got everything under control over there?"

"Yeah, I'm good!" The Cadian calls back, his voice travelling clear. "Actually… come here a second."

Velvet hears the sound of footsteps coming up from behind her before the woman in question appears past the teen and moves close to the other trooper. Again, Velvet sees the disparity in the height and bulk between the Cadians as Sophia moves next to her friend, Tychos handing her the young child with some whispered words.

"All right. Come here, little one." Sophia says to Carmen as she takes her out of the man's arms. "Come on. Let's get something to nibble on. Something nice."

Carmen tries to resist but she is easily moved from arms to arms, though at least Tychos gives Carmen a small rub on the cheek before the pair go, leaving Teams CFVY, RWBY and JNPR with him.

"So…" Jaune asks unsurely. "Why is that little girl with you guys?"

Looking at his face, Velvet watches as Tychos tracks Carmen and Sophia moving away before he turns to face the group.

"It was five days ago…" Tychos says suddenly, his voice flat as he speaks. "We were sent out to reconnoitre the area and also give aid to a town that got attacked by the Grimm. It… wasn't pretty. A whole town wiped out in a night.

"She was the only survivor."

The words still hit hard, even if Velvet has heard them before. And from the looks of the other's faces, she can see that it hits them hard too. Eyes open wide in shock as faces fall, though for Ren and Nora, they just hang their heads quietly in mute sorrow.

"She's been with us since then." Tychos says simply and finally. "We'll protect her."

The words are forceful and truthfully said, Velvet knows that for a fact. She's seen the way Tychos cares for the young child, along with the other soldiers of the regiment, and Velvet knows the truth of his words.

It works on the others, especially as Blake raises her head to look at the Cadian. "I'm sorry."

At the words, Tychos just shrugs. "You're not the first person to ask, and you won't be the last."

The comment makes Blake smile slightly, which in turn makes the others smile.

Weiss speaks up. "I think it says a lot about your character that you're willing to help those less fortunate."

The comment makes Tychos chuckle, the sound deep but friendly. "You're professor said the same thing, my lady."

Beside Velvet, Coco laughs loudly, which earns sniggers from the other two in the Atlesian's group, which in turn makes the white haired girl splutter slightly, her cheeks turning red.

Tychos looks confused as he looks back and forth between the group. "I'm confused. Is… is she not nobility?"

"Well…" Yang drawls out, a snarky smile on her lips. "She's something, but she ain't nobility, I'll say that."

"You should see her wake up in the morning." Ruby chimes in earnestly. "Definitely not a noblewoman in the morning."

"Hey!" Weiss calls out indignantly, an unamused look on her face. "You're ones to talk, Yang Xiao-Long and Ruby Rose!"

Before an argument is set to erupt, or a back and forth snark session between the two girls, a familiar voice breaks the situation.

"Yeah, I have no idea where any food is and that blonde professor and Lieutenant Deckard say that there's still a way to go for lunch."

Turning her head, Velvet sees Sophia reappear beside her, Carmen held in her arms. Whether the talk about food was something genuine or a ploy to just get the child to calm down, it has worked. Carmen has gone from bawling her eyes to just sniffling, an act that, beyond all of Velvet's sensibilities as a Faunus, reminds her heavily of a little rabbit sniffling its nose.

Yang perks up at the comment. "Need something to eat? Ruby usually has something stashed away in her cloak. Don't you, Ruby?"

"You bet." The girl wearing the red cloak answers, stepping towards the mismatched pair of soldier and child, as she reaches into her cloak and pulls out a small, but definitely edible chocolate chip cookie. "Here. I was going to have it, but I can wait till lunch."

The young Faunus looks at the offered cookie with an expectant look, clearly wanting the treat, but she restrains herself as she looks at Tychos for permission to take the food. When he nods his head, Carmen reaches out and takes the food quickly but gently.

"Thank you." Carmen says softly, a small smile on her face before she begins to nibble appreciatively at the food.

The scene is… it's nice, Velvet notes, smiling. It's all very… human.

Stepping forward, Yang stands next to her sister as she smiles at Carmen. "We're sorry you got upset, Carmen. Blake only asked that question because she got worried for you, and I know she's sorry too. Right, Blake?"

Turning her head, the blonde Huntress-in-training looks at her teammate, the black-haired girl's eyes opening wide in a very cat-like look of shock before they soften.

"I-I am, Yang. I'm… I'm sorry, Carmen."

A small smile comes to Blake's face, a smile that warms her face up slightly as she looks at the young child. Though it falls quickly as Carmen responds in the most child-like but deadpan voice Velvet has ever heard.

"Don't like you." Carmen's face is a picture of annoyance as she pouts before moving to finish off the cookie.

"Oh…" Is all Blake says, the word sounding like a balloon losing its air, her body seemingly deflating too.

Velvet feels her heart sink for the other girl, since the question had come from a place of concern. It is a bit of a mood killer.

Coco once again proves to be the master of breaking the ice. "Since we have them here, anyone have any questions for… the 'spacemen'?"

The Cadians roll their eyes at the name, Tychos even muttering under his breath something that sounds like "Thor's Blood…", though it's immediately replaced by shock as Ruby quickly and loudly calls out: "How do your guns work?!"

Yeah, that was a question coming a mile away. It also draws a few laughs from around the group.

Still holding the child, Sophia smiles sweetly. "Well, you need to pull the trigger, but that's only after…"

If there was ever a look that shows sheer betrayal of everything they know, Ruby's face shows it in her watery eyes and puffed up cheeks as she looks up at the Cadian woman.

"Knock it off, Sophia." Tychos said, nudging her slightly with his arm. "The girl obviously knows about guns if she goes here. Might as well tell her."

Ruby's mood does a complete one-eighty as her eyes widen in delight, her mouth open slightly in joy. "Yes, please! I want to know about your space guns!"

"It's not a 'space gun'," Tychos replies testily, even as he unslings the rifle from his shoulder and moves in front of him to rest butt first against the floor. "This, is an M36 Kantreal pattern Lasgun, Cadian designation."

Ruby looks at the gun, a gun Velvet is quite familiar with now too, looking at its dark khaki casing and butt-stock, the metal barrel and sight aperture, along with the steel, stamped, twin-headed eagle towards the front end of the handgrip. It is a nice looking gun, in a utilitarian, brutal sort of way.

"That's a boring name." Ruby responds bluntly, looking up at the man holding the gun.

Sophia nods her head. "Yeah, it is a boring name. Hence why we call them lasguns."

Tychos nods his head before he continues speaking. "Yeah, that is true. But you can't knock these guns for what they do. I'll not trade my lasgun for anything else in the Imperium. She works like a charm when she's in combat."

Ruby giggles. "Sounds like my Crescent Rose. So… how does it work? I don't see an ejection port, or even a bolt release or… anything."

"Because it fires a laser." Sophia replies quickly smartly, though there is a hint of smarminess in her voice, which does not endear herself to Ruby.

"… Basically." Tychos says as he moves the lasgun to rest in his arms, shifting his hands to cradle the butt as the barrel points upwards. "In more technical terms, it's a beam of super-charged photons that come out as a beam of light that we see. The only moving parts are the trigger and the cell release catch."

The sound of intrigue Ruby lets out makes Velvet chuckle slightly, the young girl looking at the gun appreciatively. Looking at her friends, it seems like Ruby is the only one who can really make sense of what's going on.

"Does that make the gun heavy though?" Ruby asks.

"Nope." Tychos answers quickly and easily, turning the rifle to lay it above both hands before tossing it gently up and down in the air, showing off how easy it is to do. Velvet can't help but nod her head along with him. A lasgun is a light weapon.

A light weapon that fires light. Velvet chuckles at her own joke.

"Can I see?" Ruby asks innocently, holding her arms straight and her hands flat. It's not hard to see the expectant look on her face. Nor is it hard to see the look of apprehension on the Cadian's face.

"I probably shouldn't…" Tychos' hands grip the rifle protectively, pulling it gently towards him.

Yang speaks up. "Hey, buddy. If you want someone to handle a gun, it's my sister. She's a gun nut in the best sense of the word. She'll be careful."

Tychos looks at the girl for a few seconds before turning his head to look at Velvet. The act takes Velvet by surprise… but she quickly understands why the Cadian is doing it. Only Team CFVY has interacted with the Cadians in any way, shape or form, and that makes them a kind of benchmark for the Huntsmen-in-training at Beacon Academy.

So Velvet nods her head before Tychos turns his head back. With practiced ease, he spins the rifle around before he ejects the power cell, before handing the rifle to the young girl.

"Be careful with it."

Ruby takes the gun carefully before, with the same ease as the man in front of her, she spins the gun around to have the lasgun set against her shoulder, hand on the grip, finger off the trigger, barrel pointed directly at the floor. Perfect gun safety. Even her reaching up to check the chamber is perfectly in line with firearms safety, though on a weapon without one, it looks silly.

At least Ruby realizes that she smiles sheepishly at the Cadians. "Sorry. I've only handled guns that use solid ammunition until now."

"Happens all the time." Tychos responds with a well-meaning chuckle and a wave of his hand. "What do you think of it?"

"It is light!" Responds, shifting the rifle in her hands to hold it more easily. The rifle is much too oversized for her, though she handles the lasgun easily. "Much lighter than I expected."

"It's wonderfully accurate too." Tychos adds, a small smile on his face. "No need to account for bullet drop or windage. Just a straight line of sight and a full charge is all you need."

Ruby's face lights up in eager joy. "Really? Can we try it? Here? Now?"

Weiss butts in quickly. "Hold on, Ruby. Remember the last time you did something without a teacher knowing."

The sheepish look returns to Ruby's face, especially as she puts a hand to rub at the back of her head.

"Let's get permission to use the firing range from Professor Goodwitch." Pyrrha says calmly, turning her head to look for the teacher in question.

"Yes!" Ruby calls out in glee, handing the rifle back to the Tychos. "I can't wait to show off Crescent Rose. She'll blow you away."

The man turns his head to look at Sophia next to him, with a confused look on his face, which makes Velvet smile warmly.

This is going to be a learning experience for sure.

---

The space is large. Giving it a quick eye, Tychos estimates it to be maybe five-hundred yards in width and a thousand yards in length of paved stone, sided on both of the long sides with small amounts of woodland and shrubbery, while the furthest edge away from him and the others backs onto the walls of the mountain behind Beacon Academy. A very pockmarked and scarred mountain.

Yes, this is definitely a training field if Tychos has ever seen one. Perfect place for some lasgun training.

Or… whatever sort of training this is going to be.

Standing on the ready line, Tychos focuses on the small optics set onto the top of his lasgun. Not a full-sized scope as would be given to snipers of the Cadian Shock Troops, the miniature combat scope is the perfect sort of work for a designated marksman like himself. Lifting the gun to his shoulder, Tychos spies down the scope again, just to check the magnification is right.

"And… we're set." He says loudly to himself, a smile ghosting his lips.

"Ready to go?"

The small voice at his side makes Tychos turn to look down beside him, which in turn makes the smile fall and be replaced with a look of confusion tinged with concern.

He still has no idea what to make of this girl, Ruby Rose's outfit. It's just… it's not a combat uniform. Not at all.

There's too much lace on the large skirt she wears, too many ties and buttons on the torso. Tycho's critical eye sees no easy way for her to attach anything else to her outfit apart from the large belt she wears at her waist and the cape is a hazard in of itself. But it has a hood, so that's something, and the boots she wears are the good sort of 'shit-kickers' that Cadians would love.

Still… it is all just weird.

And that's not mentioning those rose petals from before. From the quick explanation that was given by her teammates and classmates, there are an expression of her 'Semblance', the power that all Huntsmen and Huntresses possess that makes this worlds premier and unique fighting force.

It still explained nothing about how quickly and easily it was for the young girl to… zip off faster than a las-shot from an angry commissar and then return just as quickly in a flurry of… rose petals?

"It's just how Semblances are." Coco had said when asked, and to be honest… Tychos really can't argue against that logic. He couldn't then and he can't now.

Though, to be fair, lasmen are not paid to think too hard. That always lead to trouble. So, mentally shrugging, he just accepts that this girl is a sanctioned non-sanctioned sort-of maybe pysker, and leaves it at that.

At least she's cute to look at.

Tychos quickly realises that a lot of people are looking at him. "Umm… yeah. Yeah, we're good to go. Here."

Carefully, he hands off the lasgun to the red caped girl, again watching her go through the well-practiced motions of checking the gun to make sure it's safe, again checking the non-existent chamber of the gun which draws a chuckle from Tychos and the others.

"You'll get used to it. I've got the sight dialled in for five-hundred yards. Should be a cakewalk for you."

"Easy!" Ruby says as Tychos hands her an energy cell. Even if Tychos hasn't shown her how to load it, he bets that the girl can load the weapon all by herself easily and without problem. She calls out "Weapon hot!" as she presses the switch to make the weapon ready to fire.

With the weapon set and loaded, Ruby pulls the stock of the gun into her shoulder, taking a text-book rifleman's stance.

And instantly, Tychos is hit by a nostalgic feeling.

It was a hive world, Marden's Bay they called it (apparently it had something to do with an old nautical term for ships, but there weren't any ships when he and the 598th had been sent there to assist in the suppression of a hive uprising that turned into the suppression of a cult) and the first time that Tychos had been to fight in a hive since he'd joined the 598th. The experience had been exactly as his instructors had told him and the other former Whiteshields what urban combat would be like; fast, brutal, loud and horrible.

But one moment stuck out to Tychos, amidst all of that.

Hives in the Imperium were as stratified, or probably even more than the wider Imperium, with various 'hive gangs' carving out their niches in the structures and plots of the giant continent spanning urban sprawls. When the uprising had begun, the governor of Marden's Bay had ended up getting many of the gangs to… 'enlist' in the defence of the Imperium.

One gang had been all female, and all had been dressed almost exactly the same as Ruby Rose. Their outfits had been more garish then hers, Tychos remembers, but they had still taken to combat with the same style as the girls, with absolute glee and delight. They'd ended up jumping into the fray with their own lascarbines, shotguns and autorifles, much to the amazement and confusion of the disciplined Cadians and Vostroyans sent to aid the PDF.

The sound of a las-shot ringing out fills the air, snapping Tychos from his reverie just as he hears a whoop of joy coming from behind him at the same time as a lasbolt connects with a metal plate.

"That's my little sis!" The blonde girl, Yang, calls out. She's got her hands above her head in joy as she sits on a nearby bench with the others. Along with Coco, she's taken over as Carmen's caretaker for the time being. "Dead on hit!"

"Bull, five o'clock, for Miss Rose." Anton calls out simply and flatly, the commissar taking on the role of spotter for the duration, a pair of magnoculars at his eyes. "Fine shooting for a first-timer with a lasgun, miss."

"It's weird though." Ruby says as she lowers her arms to look at the rifle in her hands. "The only recoil is from me pulling the trigger, so I'm compensating for something that isn't there."

Tychos nods his head at the comment. "Makes sense. You've been using slug throwers until now. Just keep practicing until you get the hang of it, is all I can say."

Again, Ruby chuckles at the comment before she raises the rifle to her shoulder again. "That's what my uncle said. All right, let's do this again."

Watching the girl again, Tychos watches Ruby ready herself to fire again. The movements she makes to get ready to fire are minute, almost easy to miss unless he looks for them, but Tychos knows she's adjusted herself just right.

The lasgun fires again, the bolt of light striking metal once more.

"Bull, dead centre." The commissar calls out, his voice flat again, while the other students and even some of the Cadians give a small cheer and a round of applause. Two shots to get a dead centre shot with a gun she's never used before?

"This is a good academy." Tychos can't help but say with a sincere smile.

Giving a small giggle, Ruby lowers the lasrifle. "I've been training since I was young. My Uncle Qrow got me my first BB gun when I was six for my birthday. Dad took it away after two weeks before he let me actually train with it."

"What's a 'bee-bee' gun?" Tychos asks in confusion, looking down at the girl.

"Wha-What? Ball-bearings! You know?" Ruby holds up a hand, her thumb and forefinger apart by millimetres. "Little plastic pellets, about this big. They're used for training and… and fun… you don't have them in space?"

Tychos shakes his head. "They probably exist somewhere in the Imperium, but not on Cadia. We trained with one of those." He points a finger down at the lasgun in Ruby's hands. "When I was five, I could strip that gun down and put it back together. When I was six, I could do it blindfolded."

Turning slightly, Tychos lets his eyes cross over the training field in front of him as his hand falls to his side. So similar to that of Kasr Drak… but so different as well. So very different.

"We didn't have… fun, like you children do." Tychos finds himself saying unexpectedly. "We had… games. Sports. Scrumball, rounders. But everything was done to the Cadian system, the Cadian way. We were born to be soldiers."

He's silent as he fixes his eyes on the target that Ruby has been shooting at. Eyes that have seen enough death, destruction and madness to render most men insane see the silhouette of a human on the field.

Something similar, but so different.

Quicker than he or anyone expects, Tychos reaches down and snatches the lasrifle in the girl's hands back and raises it to his shoulder, as he aims down the sight.

Three blasts of concentrated photonic light are fired from the gun.

Two to the chest, one to the head.

Tychos follows the motions by rote, the practice drilled into him seamlessly from the Whiteshields onwards. Even as he ejects the spent energy cell and quickly snaps a fresh one into place, he continues to fire, the sound of his solitary lasgun firing again and again and again in the space.

Two rounds to the chest, one to the head.

By the time Tychos has finished firing and the target has been transported to his position, sinking into the ground before re-emerging in front of him and Ruby, the hits from Ruby's time on the lasgun are indistinguishable under the melted mass of metal from the Cadian's own shots.

Ruby gawks in wide eyed amazement. "That's so cool…"

---

Several hours have passed, and the training area has changed. No more are there the singular or paired sounds of weapons firing as Huntsmen work on their solo skills or pairs of cadets spar with one another on a multi-level, modular battlefield. That was the beauty of Beacon academy's training fields. Through the combination of specialized engineering works for moveable platforms and fake environments, along with powerful holographic displays, any battlefield anywhere on Remnant could be simulated for the purposes of the training of Beacon's Huntsmen-in-training.

A fact the Cadians have taken full advantage of.

"Frag out!"

A small explosion rocks a partially blown out cottage, the explosive perfectly thrown into the building to contain the worst of its fragments inside while flushing out the holographic Creep Grimm. The creature, just coming up to the chest of a full-grown man and twice the girth, is bipedal on two short stocky limbs. Like some sort of nightmarish, featherless bird; skin as black as tar and white bone armour. All of it was rendered with luminescent blue lines, kind of offsetting the natural unnaturalness of the Grimm.

Did not help it at all from being perforated by four lasguns firing on fully automatic.

"Creep down!"

"Beowolf, left! Shift fire!"

"Ursa coming in, my eight o'clock!"

"Sniper, engage that Ursa!"

"You got it!"

Joining the crack and snap of multiple lasguns firing, the heavier, sharper sound of Crescent Rose firing joins the bedlam of noise. A shot rings around, and the hologram of the Ursa has the top part of its skull stripped off cleanly. The hologram flickers briefly before disappearing, joining the tally of kills for the joint Cadian-RWBY 'kill-team'. Glynda doesn't care for the moniker. Too… violent, too evil sounding, but she lets it slide as the cooperation between the groups is good.

Weiss Schnee has her rapier ready, the blade held high in her head, almost parallel with her eye, like she is sighting down its length at the holographic Grimm charging down a side street at them. With practised ease, she activates her Semblance in concert with her weapon. A glyph, large enough to fill the street from side to side and as pale blue as Atlesian ice, appears spinning in the air. With a fluid flick of her wrist, a wall of ice appears in the street, blocking off the Grimm while trapping a Beowolf and Boarbatusk that managed to get partway through the glyph.

The Cadians dispatch those two with ruthless and cold efficiency, grenades thrown over the wall of ice to explode behind.

The sight makes Goodwitch smile. The cooperation is very good. Though she does not miss the hard, scrutinising looks the soldiers near Miss Schnee give her before they move on to the next target.

That had been a worrying development for Professor Goodwitch.

It had been a simple demonstration of Team RWBY's Semblances, to show the Cadians present what they would be working with in terms of combat ability. Though the men and women present had seen Miss Scarlatina and Miss Adel's Semblances in action, and Miss Rose had given a small showing of hers, the Cadians were largely ignorant of the true scope of Semblances.

Going in team order, Miss Schnee was the next, showing off her various array of glyphs, the hereditary Semblance of the Schnee family, showing how she could use them to alter the situation for her or others. She had shown this off by using her propulsion glyphs to essentially blast her team-leader back and forth across the training area. While it was unorthodox for sure (though to be expected of Team RWBY, especially someone related to Summer), Goodwitch knew it was a good way to demonstrate a power that Huntsmen possessed.

Which completely fell away as the professor saw the looks of disdain and hate that the Cadians directed at the unknowing Miss Schnee as she continued to show off her power. Much of it was focused on the young Atlesian herself, the others were directed at the glyphs she projected.

Instantly, Professor Goodwitch had moved up behind Weiss to protect her, though not in a manner to be provocative or dangerous. Especially when she saw the commissar, the man in black, eying the girl and her glyphs suspiciously.

"Is there a problem, Commissar?" The woman asked as calmly as she could.

Her sudden voice and appearance behind the teenager had made Miss Schnee's concentration slip, making her take her eyes off her glyphs, disrupting their formation and allowing her team-leader to be sent flying off at speed before impacting against something. "I'm okay!" Was shouted out in a muffled voice, but Glynda Goodwitch had missed it as she stared down the commissar.

The man in black had not answered right away, his gaze stuck hard on the space that Miss Schnee's glyphs had occupied, no trace of them being left after they vanished. He had given a perfunctory sniff of the air before turning to look at the professor, his face hard and impassive… before he sniffed again. A proper sniff, one to smell the air with.

A few more times he smelt the air, a confused look coming to his face.

Any feeling of worry Professor Goodwitch had had vanished as she had watched Commissar Schreiber smell the air, confusion plain on his face before he had turned to one of the soldiers at his side, the squad's sergeant. A tough looking woman, she had been one of the original defenders of Carterstown. The pair quickly began to talk in their own language, a clipped and almost angular sounding language, back and forth, both looking confused for a moment before the woman's face somehow softened as she spoke one of the few words Professor Goodwitch recognized; 'Astartes'.

The commissar had nodded his head, his face softening as he gave a few more words to the sergeant who turned to her soldiers and spoke to them all.

"My apologies, professor." Commissar Schreiber had said sincerely and calmly. "I regret to say that this is… merely a result of a clash of our two very different cultures."

"Have I done something offensive?" Miss Schnee had asked, turning to face the two with a look of worry on her face. Behind her, Miss Rose had tottered forward unsteadily, her nose red and covered in a small sheen of red light as her aura went to work repairing the damage from her impact.

The commissar had given the young girl a disarming smile. "Not intentionally, I'm afraid. It's just that… your Semblance bears a very similar appearance to a symbol considered… very, very unlucky and dangerous on our world."

Behind him, Professor Goodwitch could see the soldiers relaxing at what they were being told by their sergeant, some even looking bashful about it, while the man in black continued to speak.

"Because of how fast your glyphs spun, it was hard to differentiate its shape, but as was pointed out, your symbol only has six points." The man shrugged unsurely. "That, and there was… something else that I should have noticed."

"The smell?" The professor had asked, surprise and intrigue in her voice. A nod came as her reply.

"The smell should have been the tip-off. It's… very different to the smell of the… the smell associated with that symbol. The young huntress' Semblance smells sharp, fresh, like deep ice."

The professor had no words for that comment, though it made some sense. Semblances were the expressions of the Huntsman or Huntress' individuality, and oftentimes, that took on the characteristics of their home life and their home kingdom. Though throughout her life as a teacher, Professor Goodwitch had gotten used to it heavily, all the smells joining together each time.

But still… how could a symbol warrant such looks of anger from the Cadians?

So Professor Goodwitch watches the Cadians carefully as they move around Miss Schnee, the soldiers gunning down any holographic Grimm that they had missed, the white-haired girl dashing back and forth with her rapier to take down any they couldn't.

"URAAAAAAAH!"

The call shakes the area almost as much as the sound of the impact of Miss Yang Xiao-Long punching an Ursa through two parallel walls. Though the training area had been built with such destruction in mind, it still made Professor Goodwitch grimace as she sees the building collapse in on itself. That's an extra memo in the budget…

"Don't go too far ahead, Huntress Yang!" The Cadian sergeant calls out, even as she fires a couple of rounds from her shotgun into an Ursa's brain pan, blasting it to pieces. "Keep together!"

The professor can't suppress the sigh that comes from her lips as she hears the blonde brawler give her response. "You need to keep up!"

Impetuous. Brave. Foolhardy. Three main words that Professor Goodwitch would use to describe Yang's fighting style. Watching the girl move forward, punching and beating down fake Grimm with ease, Goodwitch concedes that it is a strategy that has its merits, especially for a fighter such as her. Her Semblances takes the hits, catalysing the absorbed energy to fuel Miss Xiao-Long's own hits. It's good.

"Behind you, Huntress Yang!"

Though it leaves her open a bit too much.

The pair of Beowolves bowl into the Cadian's flank, knocking down some of the soldiers. One goes down hard, the claws of the holographic Grimm blurring red as they 'gore' one of the soldiers ('Thank the SDC for creating holograms that know the difference between Aura users and those without Aura' Goodwitch thinks to herself.) before it is put down by concentrated laser fire along with a shot from Miss Rose's Crescent Rose.

The second one comes up behind Miss Xiao-Long, its claws and teeth ready to hit her.

The blonde fighter turns to engage it.

There is a flash of metallic light, and the hologram disappears and Miss Belladonna stands where it once was, her weapon, Gambol Shroud, unsheathed and ready for fighting.

"At least I've got someone who can keep up." Miss Xiao-Long says with a cocky grin as she winks at her teammate.

The black haired girl says nothing, rolling her eyes before launching herself at another Grimm.

The action continues for several more minutes, and throughout all of it, Goodwitch watches over it all with a critical eye. Seeing how the Cadians integrate with Team RWBY and how Team RWBY integrates with the Cadians.

The difference is semantic, the professor knows in her head, but it is important to note.

And her thoughts are…

"You Cadians do an excellent job for supporting fire." Goodwitch says, turning to look at the commissar beside her. "No offense."

The man smiles slightly. "None taken in the slightest. We Cadians often play second fiddle to those more powerful than us. Like the honoured Astartes."

A look of surprise can't help but come to the woman's face. It wasn't rare to hear soldiers not caring that they were in support roles, especially with regards to working with Huntsmen, for a militaristic society like these Cadians seem to come from?

"Oh, don't take what I say to be wrong." Commissar Schreiber says quickly, a slightly alarmed look on his face. "We Cadians are at our proudest when we're at the forefront of our own battles; fighting alongside other sons and daughters of our world as the first line of defence.

"But we know what we are. We're simple humans, with all the foibles and problems that comes with being human. We don't have your Huntsmen's Aura or Semblances, nor the Astartes mighty armour or guns."

The commissar looks at the soldiers and Huntsmen-in-training as their exercise winds down, all of them gathered around the soldier that was 'killed', allowing them to catch a snippet of the conversation being had.

("Come on, get up, you lazy sod."

"Can't. I'm dead."

"Dead people don't talk." Miss Rose adds in unsurely.

"Still dead, miss."

"… so you don't want lunch then?" Miss Xiao-long asks.

"I'm up!")

"We're weak individually," The man continues, not taking his eyes off the display before him. "Especially against these Grimm of yours. But together… with all our guns, all our weapons and vehicles, we can form a shield that will guard whoever is behind it. We're the anvil."

Commissar Schrieber turns to look at Professor Goodwitch, and she has to stop herself jumping slightly at the force in the man's purple eyes. The conviction is almost palpable.

"And when we work with the holy Astartes, or even your Huntsmen, as the hammer, I assure you that only the devils of hell themselves might stand before us."

Goodwitch says nothing as she looks at the commissar flatly. So much of the man's words, of the Imperial's words, are so poetic and religious. 'Holy Astartes', 'God-Emperor', 'devils of hell', 'Cult Mechanicus'. No wonder they have such a superstition to a simple symbol being dangerous, or worthy of hate.

"Professor Goodwitch?" The deep voice from behind her makes the woman turn, seeing the form of Professor Port behind her, along with the lieutenant of the Cadians.

"Is something wrong, professor?" Goodwitch asks quickly but calmly. Gods, she hopes there hasn't been another problem.

"Oh, no problem at all, my good woman." The moustachioed Huntsman says warmly, placing his hands against his substantial girth. "We just noticed that you were taking some time with your students and the Cadians to have some… cross-training, shall we say. And Lieutenant Deckard here was wondering…"

"If it might be possible for me to send some other squads down too." The Cadian officer adds in. "We are very much used to standing around on parade ground duty, but we don't take inaction well. And we'd also like to work alongside these other teams too. See if they're up to snuff with Team CFVY."

A short bark of laughter from the direction of the aforementioned team, sitting on the side-lines. They'd just sat and watched the whole display, though Goodwitch can understand why. They've dealt with the Cadians before as allies.

Although, the words do hit something. Professor Glynda Goodwitch likes to think that she is not a prideful woman when it comes to herself, but when her students are involved…

"I believe that my first years can more than keep the pace with your Cadians. Can your Cadians keep the pace with my first years?"

Lieutenant Deckard smiles a toothy grin, her purple eyes alight with glee.

---

The sun is still high in the sky, signalling noon on Remnant, the shattered moon just visible in the sky as it shows its unblemished side to the world below it.

Midday was never an optimum time for reconnaissance work. The position of the sun rendered all but the deepest shadows gone, while it also heightened the glare of the light striking metal surfaces. Defenders would be on their highest alert at noon, rather than the relaxed timing of the early morning or late evening, having just woken from sleep or looking forward to sleep.

Though, standing tall on a high hillock, Thaddeus has no worry about that as he gazes out across the land through his magnoculars at his target.

His target is a writhing, roiling mass of Grimm, a full horde if Thaddeus has ever seen one. Equal in number to the horde that attacked Carterstown, this horde however lacks the sense of direction and purpose that the former had. It is animalistic, the veteran Astartes notes through his magnoculars, with each creature doing what they do. Which… really is not a lot.

Quite disappointing, Thaddeus notes to himself, some small part of his gene-memory wishing for his blade to become wet with xenos blood.

But his more analytical, Astartes-honed mind remembers his mission, especially as he raises a voice-coder to his lips, not taking the view finder from his eyes.

"Note number thirteen, local time twelve-nineteen-thirty; have encountered the sixth horde of Grimm equal in size to Carterstown horde. As before, horde shows no internal hostility consistent with base animal forms. Grimm designated as Beowolf do not compete with the other for dominance, nor do Grimm designated as Ursa. Nor do either creatures prey on the Grimm designated as Boarbatusk, as their base animal forms would suggest. Grimm does not kill Grimm, nor do they willingly attack or damage the environment around them.

"As this is sighting number six, I am forced to conclude that the information given to us by the Remnites of the Grimm is indeed accurate and truthful."

The veteran Astartes removes the magnoculars from his eyes, letting him see the unmagnified image of the mass of creatures over a kilometre away from his position in a low rise.

He speaks without turning.

"We're bypassing this horde. Call it in, Justus." Quickly and effortlessly, Thaddeus rattles off the coordinates. "It's too far for the Cadian guns to hit it, so I suggest we call in the Navy."

"Recommended load-out, brother-sergeant?" The neophyte asks as he readies the portable long-range vox-caster attached to his bike, the aerial rising tall and spindly above him.

"Cluster and flame munitions." The veteran responds easily as he pockets the view-finder into one of his pouches and moves towards the cluster of bikes. "Burn and blast the beasts to kingdom come."

Justus nods his head as he unclips the handset and begins to relay the coordinates and message that would bring the fury of the Imperial Navy onto the heads of the Grimm.

As he moves towards his own bike, he looks at all of his scouts around him. Arrayed in a rough circle, with their bikes turned lengthwise as makeshift barricades yet ready to dash off at a moment's notice, and the Land Speeder Storm hovering in the centre of the impromptu laager ready to act as fire support. A text-book example of Codex compliant scout work.

A much better result than their last attempt at scout work, Thaddeus concedes to himself. Still, no plan survives contact with the enemy.

"Ten minutes until contact, brother-sergeant." Justus calls out, earning a nod from Thaddeus.

Wordlessly, Thaddeus pulls a small dataslate from another of his pouches. A special model of dataslate, he presses a button on the side which makes the screen fold out to double its length and width, allowing him an expanded view of the map Thaddeus has used. Taking out a small stylus from the top, he begins to make a mark, a circle with a saltire through it.

Another Grimm horde, the sixth one of great size that has forced the Steel Drakes to bypass it. The eighth one in total.

Letting his eyes scan the map quickly, Thaddeus notes the marks of the five villages and towns that they have encountered on their ride through the forest. Five settlements, all once populated. All now barren of human and Faunus life. Two more recently than the others.

"Brother-sergeant, a question, if I may?"

The voice makes Thaddeus turn to look at Neophyte Markis, the former sniper trooper kneeling leaning against his bike, bolter held ready while his eyes scan the surrounding area through his own magnoculars.

"Speak."

"Why can we not call in fire support directly from the Imperial Navy? Have them blast the beasts from orbit with a lance strike. Put the fear of Terra into these beasts. And these people."

Before the scout can even process it, Thaddeus is behind him, along with the back of his fist against his ear. The hit is strong enough to spin the Scout around and crash against his bike, nearly knocking it over. It stays upright, giving Markis a barrier to lean against as blood that is now drying trickles down the side of his head.

Even as a neophyte of the Adeptus Astartes, some semblance of fear is still recognisable in his eyes as he looks up at the uncompromising glare directed at him from the veteran-sergeant.

"I refuse to believe that you would be so stupid as to say such a thing, Neophyte Markis, but I guess that even at my age, I can still be surprised."

Thaddeus takes in a breath through his teeth, working to keep his choler in check, lest any stray Grimm catch wind.

"A lance strike is not as accurate as you like to think, nor is it an easy manoeuvre to pull off. Even if the coordinates are spot-on, there is always the chance that the shot will go wide and hit outside of the target, which will include us. That is also ignoring the fact that the horde is not an active target. While it would be prudent to destroy it, as we have done so by ordering in the bombers of the Imperial Navy, to call in a ship of the line would be a waste of fuel, and ordinance. A waste that, for the foreseeable future, we cannot afford.

"As for fear…" Thaddeus lets his gaze move to wander at the mass of creatures in the distance. "Fear is not something for them to feel. It is their bread and butter, their source of nourishment. They are drawn to it as a scavenger to carrion. How can you hope to instil fear into something that thrives off fear itself, is drawn to it?"

A short bark of laughter from the direction of the Land Speeder Storm, as Neophyte Ollarus leans against the heavy bolter in the gunner's position, pulling on the handle of the weapon to point its muzzle upwards. "A point-nine-nine-eight mass reactive round would do the trick!"

His jest falls short as Thaddeus turns his steely gaze onto him. Though the gaze is tempered with a small smile, especially as he casts his gaze around him at the other scouts.

"Yes. Yes, neophyte. Our guns and blades will help keep the Grimm at bay, as they do against the ork, the drukhari, the Tyranid, and the traitor. But, remember that we do not face all of those enemies alone. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the ranks of the Astra Militarum, the soldiers of humanity. Even here on this world, we stand with the proud soldiers of Cadia.

"And… we also need these Huntsmen as our allies if we wish to prevail against the Grimm."

The comment draws confused looks from the young Astartes around him, but Thaddeus is pleased to note that none of them say anything against his words. Good. They're learning.

"Remember our situation here, my young charges. We are adrift in the sea of the void, far from any Imperial outpost, far from the light of the Astronomican. We cannot rely on aid from the rest of the Imperium, so all we can do is rely on ourselves. And that means that we must work to get the people of Remnant on our side as soon as we can."

Pointedly, Thaddeus turns to look at Markis as the neophyte moves to push himself fully off of his bike as he wipes the blood away from the side of his face. Shame is on his face, but he makes the effort to look the veteran-sergeant in the eye, grey meeting grey. The act makes Thaddeus smile.

"Learn, my neophytes. Learn, survive, and fight."

Casting his eyes around him, Thaddeus sees all the scouts nod their understanding and agreement with the statement, Markis giving his with a spoken "Aye, brother-sergeant."

Deciding that all had needed to be said, Thaddeus turns away and moves to consult his data-slate again, plotting the next path for him and his scouts. Around him, the neophytes wait, their eyes turned outwards to scan the area around them, even Justus on his vox-caster, one ear occupied by the reports from the Imperial Navy, has one hand ready on his bolter. They won't make a move until their sergeant orders them to.

"Marauder wing incoming, brother-sergeant." Justus suddenly speaks up. "They're in visual range of the target, sixty-seconds out, from the north-north-west. Though they have company."

Quickly turning his gaze in the direction, Thaddeus pockets his data-slate and retrieves his magnoculars. Raising them up, he quickly sees what the issue is.

A flight of Marauder bombers, six of the large bomber aircraft painted in a mix of greens on the top and blues on the bottom, intersected with thick white stripes on the wings, are coming in, flying fast and low. The lack of any serious anti-aircraft firepower from the Grimm allows them to fly unimpeded through the sky.

Though as Thaddeus continues to look, he sees that the Grimm have their own ways of dealing with aircraft.

The bombers point defence turrets, two twin-linked heavy bolters on the top and the rear of the planes with a twin-linked lascannon at the front, are firing away heavily at the flock of Nevermores surrounding the craft, thick as flies on carrion. These ones were only the size of ravens or hawks, so big enough to be a bother, but not big enough to be immediately detected by Imperial scans. Novel, and obviously one learnt by repeated trial and error on the aircraft of this world.

Thaddeus has seen such similar tactics used by the creatures under the control of the Hive Fleets of the Tyranids. Lesser flying broods mob heavy Imperial flyers, interfering with their guns and their engines, leaving them open for attacks by larger creatures.

Said larger Nevermores are currently being kept at bay by a flight of silver Lightnings, the fast interceptors blasting quickly through the sky, chasing and being chased by Nevermores of the same size and larger. Lascannon bolts and autocannon rounds rip through the air, their sounds joining in the distant doppler screams of aircraft engines and Grimm wings as the two forces duel.

An explosion blooms in the sky as a Lightning is torn asunder from a Nevermore's beak and talons, the sharp blades each as long as a man from waist to head ripping through the engine easily. Though the explosion engulfs the creature in flame, there's no sign of an ejection.

New operating procedure against the Grimm: only under the best circumstances; i.e. within Imperial or Huntsman cleared territory is an Imperial pilot to eject. The ones who did were swarmed en masse by Nevermores. They never reached the ground alive. Any that did reach the ground alive never stayed that way for long.

As the Steel Drakes watch the duel though, they see that the mechanical might of the Imperium of Man wins through. Even as one Marauder's engine bursts into flames before gushing thick black smoke, the six aircraft break through the curtain of bird-creatures towards their target. Below them, the horde stirs in uncertainty at the new arrivals above them.

"Bombers have good visual on target." Justus speaks out, his headset pressed hard against his ear even as he watches the Marauders continue their flight. "They're opening bomb bay doors…"

There's no need to hear what follows next as Thaddeus and his neophytes watch it all unfold before their eyes.

Dropping their altitude, the Marauders shift their positioning, moving into two V-shaped lines of three aircraft, as they fly closer to the horde. The front lascannons cease firing, the heavy bolter turrets still roaring their anger and defiance at thee Grimm behind them as they reach their perfect position.

Their bellies open wide… and they drop their bombs.

The noise that follows is a rolling thunder as the bombs fall onto the horde of Grimm, the sound eclipsing all other noise. The scream of the Marauder engines, the roar of dying Grimm, the whistling of the bombs; are all overcome by the sound of the explosions that erupt in the Valean wilds.

Ollarus lets out a deep-throated roar of joy at the sight, standing up in the cockpit of the Land Speeder Storm, the vehicle dipping slightly under the shift of weight as he punches the sky with one hand. "Yes! Burn, you filth! Burn!"

Even Thaddeus can't suppress the feeling of satisfaction he feels as he watches the Grimm horde be blasted into oblivion by high explosive bombs, their bodies blasted along with the earth beneath them, limbs sent spiralling into the air before engulfed in promethium flames. Hundreds of kilos worth of bombs are dropped in a single square kilometre of Vale.

Only some of the Grimm manage to escape the slaughter, their hides singed, burned and bloodied from the explosions.

To see the enemies of mankind, those that would destroy and despoil humanity's works, broken and beaten, that was a joyous sight in of itself.

"Good effect on target." Thaddeus says simply, Justus relaying the message to the Marauders as the aircraft turn away from their targets back to home, their armour plating rent and torn in many places but no less proud looking as they turn away from their slaughter. Above them, through quick manoeuvres and use of flares and ammunition, the Lightnings manage to disengage from the Nevermores attacking them, some of the beasts falling to the ground, dissolving as they went. Revenge for the pilots lost comrade.

The horde is now scattered and broken. It will take time for such a concentration of creatures to emerge again, Thaddeus knows, so he replaces his magnoculars with his dataslate again. Horde six of six, destroyed by the guns of the Imperial Navy. Thaddeus will have to put in a notification with Lieutenant de Pikalov for recommendations for those pilots.

Their job done, Thaddeus gives the new order. "Mount up! We continue south."

The scouts move quickly, slinging bolters across their backs or into special holsters on their bikes before the climb onto seats. Engines roar into life, throttles loosened and ready. Among them all, the Land Speeder Storm rises swiftly, hovering well over their heads as its pilot turns it to the new direction.

Slewing his bike around, Thaddeus guns the engine as he powers down the hill. There's a good forest path they can take, and Astartes bikes are perfect for off-road work.

As they ride, the unit's vox crackles into life, as Maanus speaks up.

"Anyone want care to make a wager on whether we'll find the next settlement inhabited or not?"

A dark chuckle comes from many of the other neophytes, before Karis speaks up. "Well, that would be a nice change of pace."

Thaddeus cuts in quickly. "Silence on net. Keep your eyes open and alert."

Affirmations come through quickly and readily as the Steel Drake scouts forge their way through the wilds of Vale again.

---

Several hours after lunch, with the sun moving past its apex in the sky, Jaune Arc, leader of Team JNPR is lying on the grass. His eyes are closed, his clothes soaked through with sweat, as he breathes in deep lungfuls of breath as he feels his body aches.

And, oh brothers, how it aches! Aura protects his body, heals his injuries, but it still hurts!

"You doing okay there, Jaune?"

Nora's perpetually upbeat voice comes from Jaune's side, making him turn his head. The girl is lying next to him on her front, her legs kicking in the air as she rests her head against her hands. A smile is on her face.

"That was fun, wasn't it?" The ginger haired girl asked, completely sincere in her question. She tilts her head as she closes her eyes and grins at her team-leader.

"Y-yeah." Jaune gasps out, trying to shift his body into a sitting position. Ow! Something twinges in his back, making him lie back down. "It was fun. At first."

And it had been. In a weird, mad sort of way. Though he knows from Professor Goodwitch and Professor Oobleck that Huntsmen had and do operate alongside soldiers when the time calls for it, Jaune doesn't imagine that it was the Cadians they had in mind.

The holographic Beowolf had charged Jaune, the creature singling him out, even as lasfire peppered around it. The beast did not care for it in the slightest, even as it hurtled over obstacles and barricades thrown up in preparation by the Cadians.

Jaune drew on his training and the lessons from Pyrrha. Shield extended in front of him, elbow bent ready to take the hit. His sword was held at mid-guard; blade at the chest and pointed straight.

'Nerves don't fail me now.' Jaune thought to himself as the beast came closer, the details of the Grimm's body getting clearer. Man… the designers really did a good job at getting them to look right!

It reached for him with one giant, torso spanning claw, and that was enough!

The shield came up, catching the paw. But, where such a hit would have come straight back and hit Jaune square in the face before, the blonde Huntsman-cadet lets the blow ride, turning the shield to let the paw slide past his body, tipping the charging Beowolf off balance. Jaune didn't let it recover as he rammed his sword home, right into the beast's chest.

It roared right next to his head, a loud roar that nearly ruptured Jaune's eardrums.

This thing wasn't dead! His sword gotten stuck in a rib, and… yeah, the Grimm was beginning to buck and thrash itself to get free. Not good. Not good at all.

"Hang in there, lad!" Someone with either a good sense of irony or bad sense of humour called out, before…

"Gah!"

Jaune couldn't help but cry out in shock and horror as a… a whirling, roaring, razor-lined two-and-half-feet long length of metal is jammed up through the Beowulf's head, shredding it to pieces. The shock, and death of the holographic Grimm, let Jaune pull his sword free. The sudden shock left the teenager breathing in deeply, his adrenaline spiking heavily enough that he nearly forgot where he was.

The feeling of another body at his back made Jaune start, before his mind quickly reminded himself where he was. He was ready to think it's Pyrrha, but seeing her to his left side, throwing her shield into the face of a charging Ursa then retrieving it on the bounce told him that it was not Pyrrha at his back.

A loud, joy-filled laugh behind him told it wasn't Nora either, but they had the same sense of humour as her.

"Now this is training!"

The soldier at Jaune's back was as tall as him, but definitely thinner, which made the fact that he was holding the chainsword with one hand, a pistol held in the other, even more amazing.

"We'd have begged the Mechanicus man and boy for something like this in the Whiteshields!" The man called out jovially, a sound completely at odds with the simulated battle raging around him.

Jaune couldn't respond, the words dying on his lips. Partially because he had to quickly turn aside a swipe from an Ursa before punching his sword into its holographic skull, and partially because… there was nothing he could say.

He'd heard of some stories about the battles of the Great War that his great-great-grandfather had taken part in. Stories that had been heavily sanitized by his dad for his mom's sake, battles that he'd read about in history books. All of those battles that the man could have fought in, he'd recreated them when he was younger with toy soldiers against Grimm, soldiers against soldiers, seen movies about the battles.

But now, in the middle of his own battle, simulated though it was… it was an entirely different experience.

All the noise surrounding him. Enemies coming from the front, supporting fire coming from behind. Blasts around him, his teammates zipping back and forth around him.

Nora hitting a Boarbatusk right at him and the Cadian…

"DUCK!"

"Still mad about the Boarbatusk?" Nora asks, seemingly reading his mind, a pout on her lips, which quickly shifts into her usual happy-go-lucky smile. "Want Ren to make you some pancakes as an apology?"

That earns a small laugh from Jaune, the blonde Huntsman cadet waving a hand slightly at Nora to tell her no.

"You doing all right there, son?"

The voice draws Jaune's attention, the teen tilting his head up slightly to look at the speaker. It's one of the Cadians, an older man. He still wears the same dress uniform, though this one is altered by a white shoulder pad with a red, twisted and ringed rod on it. Definitely a medic.

"I'm fine, sir." Jaune breathes out with a small smile and a grimace. "My Aura will take care of it. Just… I've never been hit like that before."

The comment earns a chuckle from the Cadian. "I'll say. The last time I saw someone get a hit like that… well, let's just say that it's a good thing you're still in one piece."

That makes the smile fall quickly and sharply from Jaune's face. That's not a mental image that the teen needs in his head.

Again, all the Cadian does is laugh, even as he reaches a hand down and pats Jaune on the shoulder. "Still, you need some help? Just call out for old Valim."

With that, the Cadian stands up and walks off, stopping to talk to the members of other student teams who received some kind of injury and his own men too.

"They seem like a friendly sort of people." Pyrrha says happily, from her position on her knees next to Jaune's side, and Jaune can't help but nod his head. Mainly because he's focusing on getting his strength back.

Abruptly, a cheer comes up around them, making the teens focus on the new event around them.

After their display of 'military skill', as said by Professor Goodwitch, the Cadians were allowed to show off a cultural facet of their own planet. Or Imperial culture. Jaune wasn't overly sure. But he knew it involved two teams of thirteen people, all chasing an oval-shaped ball around an impromptu pitch. Jaune still doesn't know where the sports-locker in Beacon is. It's the only place that Jaune hasn't been shoved into yet.

Scrumball. That was the name Jaune heard.

And he isn't overly sure of the rules, but it makes for good entertainment.

Right now, the ball has just gone out of the field, prompting the soldiers playing to form two short lines. It's not so much shirts versus skin, but hats vs non-hats (and how the former keep theirs on, Jaune has no idea), so it's not hard to differentiate the two teams. One of the hatters is at the edge of the field, ball raised above his head, before he quickly throws it at the two lines.

With a small roar, a Cadian from each team is quickly lifted up their fellows, arms outstretched to grab the ball. The no-hats get it, as their player quickly throws the ball towards another player who quickly runs forward with the ball.

A resounding cheer comes up from the Cadians not playing and the Beacon staff and students watching the game as the soldier runs a mad dash down the impromptu field, followed by members of their own team and opposed by the other team coming towards them. Quickly and easily, the soldier tosses the ball behind them to another player before they're smashed off their feet in a brutal tackle. The ball continues in play, as its passed back again and again to other players, before the final Cadian, a woman that Jaune quickly sees is the one called Sophia, sprints hard towards the final line.

"Come on! Run for it!" Nora calls out from behind Jaune, Pyrrha and Team RWBY joining in with their own cheers before they all join in with the roar of approval as Sophia places the ball on the line at the run, slowing to a jogging U-turn to slow herself down.

Jaune pushes himself up slightly onto his elbows, his Aura finally removing the worst of the pain in his back, and letting him watch the display as Sophia runs back to her teammates for a congratulatory hug. It's all smiles and back-pats, the same thing he got from the Cadians after JNPR's turn at the simulation.

It's a nice thing to watch… but something feels off to Jaune.

He still can't shake the feelings he got from the simulated battle, both from JNPR's, and RWBY's and CRDL's too, from watching the Cadians fighting against the Grimm. It's weird, but Jaune can't help but see a sort of… parallel between the way they move in the game, and the way the Cadians fight too.

The way they run on the scrumball field is similar to the way they moved from cover to cover. Their shouts to each other sound the same as giving orders on the battlefield.

"Do they see war like a game or a game like war?"

A small surprised laugh from Pyrrha to his side makes Jaune start and his cheeks flush. That should have been a thought, not a sentence!

"That was an insightful comment, Jaune! Where did that come from?"

Finally able to sit upright, Jaune can only laugh uneasily as he brings his hand up to scratch at his nose unsurely.

"I… I don't know. I think that Boarbatusk might have rattled something."

The comment earns another chuckle from behind the pair, the only sound that Ren has made since the simulated battle. He doesn't say anything else, but it's enough to get Nora to gasp in hurt shock.

"Ren!"

That gets Jaune and Pyrrha laughing, even as they join in for another cheer as the Cadians kick off again, the ball getting punted into the bright sky.

---

Dusk falls over the world of Remnant, the sky tinging with pink and orange hues as the sun sinks below the horizon.

It is hard to really judge if today has been a good day in terms of diplomacy for the regular Cadian in the ranks of the 598th or for the students at Beacon. Either way, no-one had died or got into a serious fight, so that was good. There was the incident involving one Cardin Winchester of Team CRDL getting a lasround to his arse cheek, but that was put down to a ricochet from the angle, and the fact that his Aura protected him from the hit meant no foul was found.

Lunch and dinner were quiet periods, with the lovely summer weather in Vale allowing Professor Ozpin to let the combined student body and military company have their meals outside under the lovely weather, albeit under some conveniently placed tarpaulin awning tents, kindly put up by the Cadians. Well, they were ordered to put them up, but they did it without complaint. And the extra food needed to feed an extra hundred-plus people was going to be an extra drain on academy funds, but Minister Gale said that the council would cover it.

This allows the assembled reporters, most of whom were working separately to their colleagues talking to Professor Ozpin, Herald Ordinary Antorus and Captain Fidor Thade, the chance to talk to the various soldiers and students and professors about the goings on around them. The students reply with the standard statements of whimsy and awe that teenagers would about meeting men from space (the 'spacemen' moniker had quickly fallen out of favour among the Cadians), while the Cadians give only non-committal answers, mainly in praise of their surroundings and the food. The burgers are a fond favourite, as are the fishcakes surprisingly.

Any attempts at further questioning are met with simple comments about the weather and location, or noncommittal answers about the state of politics between Remnant and the Imperium.

After lunch, the Cadians are allowed to show off their combat skills on the training fields before the eyes of the Remnant international press and the Beacon student body. Operating as fire-teams, squads, platoon, all the way up to a full company combat deployment, the Cadians show what they can do with their lasguns, grenades and bayonets. They demonstrate their close quarters techniques, both on themselves and some (relatively) willing volunteers from Beacon and the press, which results in many of them ending up on their back or their front with a knee pressing them down. Though they lack the more esoteric weaponry available to the soldiers of the Cadian Gate, the display is more than enough to impress the watchers and get many of the students at Beacon to want to see more of the Cadians.

As the evening winds on, the talks lead by Professor Ozpin and Herald Ordinary Antorus wind down, allowing the Remnite press to return to their accommodations and their workplaces for the night to begin the publishing of the information that they have been given. Which means sleep for many, especially those on the Beacon campus.

But even that has its problems for a few.

Professor Goodwitch has her arms crossed over her chest and a stern look on her face, which Velvet knows is not a good thing at all.

"Professor Ozpin, I am sorry, but I just cannot accept that as a good reason."

The bespectacled head of Beacon Academy holds up a placating hand to his assistant. "Professor, I understand, but I feel that you might run the risk of being offensive to our guests."

Turning slightly, his hand dropping, Ozpin looks at Captain Thade.

"I apologise for this, captain, but I feel that you understand that I have to stand by one of my fellow teachers."

Captain Thade's face is impassive, even as he holds his smoking pipe in his hand simply. "I understand, and no offense taken. But I fail to really see what the issue here is? Why can't young Carmen continue to bunk with us?"

And there is the issue, and Velvet has seen it coming a mile away ever since they arrived at Beacon. Though the teacher was more than professional to not say anything directly, Velvet could see the looks the blonde professor would oftentimes direct at Team CFVY while they had the young Faunus child with them.

Looks of worry, apprehension. Distrust.

Right now, Carmen is standing in front of Velvet, clutching a small bag in her hands holding her necessities for the night-time, which looks amazingly silly next to the hefty rucksacks favoured by the Cadians. Tychos stands to one side, her de facto guardian watching over her safely, though he is also looking simply and impassively at Professor Goodwitch.

It's unnerving to Velvet on so many levels. She is thankful that the other teams aren't around to witness this.

Professor Goodwitch does not care in the slightest from the gazes directed at her as she addresses the group.

"I know that you have looked after the girl for some time, and you have done so ably. But that was the situation then. And now I feel the situation has changed.

"I feel that, as a citizen of the Kingdom of Vale, that it would be best for Carmen to be brought into our temporary custody for the time being. That means, letting her sleep in accommodations of our choosing."

Wordlessly, Captain Thade brings the pipe to his lip. It's not lit, so he just chews the end thoughtfully for a few seconds before he speaks.

"Mamzel, I fail to see the problem. It's a nice night, the weather report looks good, and we've got the awnings over us."

Taking the pipe from his lips, the Cadian shrugs his shoulders.

"It'd be like camping."

Despite herself, Velvet can't help but chuckle, even though she suppresses it as she sees Professor Goodwitch begin to glare at the Cadian as he chews the tip of his pipe again before he speaks.

"Professor Goodwitch, as I said to those… journalists before; I'm a simple guardsman. A lasman through and through, even as an officer. I don't have time nor the skill of tiptoeing around issues like so many others can. So I'd appreciate it if you just come out and say it."

The pipe is removed from his mouth and he puts it into a pocket on his belt as Thade looks at the blonde professor flatly.

"One soldier to another, Mamzel. I know what your worry is. A young girl, an orphan, in the company of strange soldiers? A lot of them men? It'd worry anyone. Hell, if I was in your position, I'd be adamant that Carmen be put somewhere safe too."

Velvet feels her ears droop as her mood falls too. The captain made a good point, but so did Professor Goodwitch. Man, this brings back memories, not wholly pleasant ones either.

Seeming to be content to act as an impartial observer, the large Astartes herald steps forward, his footsteps a soft but distinct "thoom" sound as he moves.

"If I can make a suggestion; why not simply ask the child where she would rather sleep?"

That comment gets Carmen's attention as she turns her head from side to side to look at the people around her. "What's going on? What's everyone talking about?"

"They want to know where you want to sleep, little bun." Coco says, lowering herself down slightly to talk to Carmen. Though the explanation does nothing to help the confused look on the young girl's face.

"… I don't get it. I sleep where big brother sleeps."

This time, it's Professor Goodwitch's turn to lower herself down to be level with Carmen, moving herself elegantly. When she speaks, her tone is softer and gentler than anything that Velvet or Coco has heard. "I know, Carmen. But since you're here, we were just wondering if you'd like to… maybe bunk with Velvet and Coco?"

"Wh-why?" Is all Carmen can say in response, the confusion on her face deepening.

"It's just so… Well, you see…" It's here that the professor's speech falters, allowing the young Faunus to speak up with worry on her face.

"I like sleeping with my big brother! He keeps me safe, and he's never done anything to hurt me! None of them has!" Quickly, even as tears begin to form in her eyes, an angry look comes to Carmen's face. "I won't go!"

"It's all right, little one." Captain Thade says softly, stepping closer, his hands held up in a placating pose. "No-one is going to force you to go where you don't want to go. Professor Goodwitch is just wondering if you want to sleep somewhere different, that's all. Somewhere nice!"

"No!" The cry from the girl is loud, especially the sound of her foot striking the floor in a strong stomp, making all of the small group start. "I won't go!"

Velvet quickly looks around in shock, not sure what to say. Was that… was that her Semblance just then?

In the lull of the conversation, Tychos steps forward to speak. "Carmen, it's okay. We'll sort it o-UGH!"

The Cadian's voice falls away to a pained grunt as, oblivious to her height and in her desperate need for a steady rock, Carmen has accidentally headbutted Tychos in the crotch. It's enough to get him nearly doubling over, only quick thinking from Coco to give him a steadying hand. Though it's not missed by any of the others, Professor Goodwitch putting a hand over her mouth in shock, while Captain Thade puts his up to hide an obvious look of mirth.

"I'm okay…" The man groans out, his eyes thinning in pain, as he looks down at the young girl hugging him tightly at the waist, not wanting to let go.

"I don't want to be alone…" Carmen whimpers out softly, her voice almost unheard but heard by all, especially by Tychos as he puts a comforting hand onto her head.

Letting out a soft sigh, Professor Goodwitch pushes herself to her feet, smoothing out her dress. "Well, this will be a problem."

"With an easy solution." Captain Thade speaks up suddenly, the mirthful look still on his face. "Now, all of the soldiers here are here because of their part in… how did you put it, Professor Ozpin? 'In aiding and defending the people of Carterstown, the soldiers of Cadia have shown their commitment to valour and courage, and should be praised and rewarded as such.'"

For a moment, the headmaster of Beacon is silent as he looks at the Cadian before a small smile comes to his face, a smile he keeps as he turns to look at the Cadian soldier standing next to a young Faunus child and two student Huntsmen.

"And this soldier, by your own words, has shown much valour in aiding and defending one small soul on Remnant. I do believe that he does deserve a reward for that."

---

In the small room housing Team CFVY, the sound of laughter is not unusual to hear. But now, it has a new pitch to it, the addition of a new voice.

"And up we go!" Coco calls out loudly, as she bellyflops onto her bed, acting as a weight to spring the other side up, launching the giggling young Carmen up towards the ceiling. "Touch the ceiling, Carmen!"

The young girl springs upwards into the air, the bounce perfectly done to push her up so her hands can press against the ceiling without impacting it fully. It's enough to get her laughing heartily though.

"I got it!" Carmen calls out in delight, laughing as she falls back with gravity, down onto the mattress. She continues to laugh even as she bounces off the mattress and rolls towards the end, and she laughs even as she's caught by Velvet, the teenager quickly and easily lifting her up with a smile on her face. "Again!"

Velvet can't contain her own laughter. After the slightly tense conversation before, to suddenly have Carmen go from near tears to wide-eyed joy at seeing the room she'd be sleeping in was a joy in of itself. Even the look on Tychos' face as he looked at Team CFVY's shared dorm room was a sight to remember.

Right now, said Cadian soldier is in the shower. He had originally been in there for all of a few minutes, but at the (very physical) insistence of Coco, he had been forced back into the shower to properly appreciate the experience of an actual shower. Carmen has already had hers and is just having a moment of fun before bed. Yatsuhashi is on the floor meditating while Fox is on his bed messing with another puzzle cube.

"All right, little bun." Coco says as she pushes herself up off the bed, Velvet's bed actually, and moves towards her own. "We really should get you ready for bed. And I have just the thing."

Still holding onto Carmen, both rabbit Faunus watch CFVY's teamleader kneel down next to and then rummage under her bed before quickly pulling out a bag with the word SPACE written on it.

"I picked these up just exactly for this situation!" Coco says triumphantly as she springs back to her feet and fishes out the contents of the back. "For you, Carmen."

"… Pyjamas?" The youngest Faunus asks in surprise, though she can't take her eyes off the present.

"With X-Ray and Vav's Mogar!" Velvet says, holding up the clothing. In contrast to the young girl's simple blue dress, the night wear is definitely more elaborate: made to look like the shirtless barbarian warrior from the cartoon, it even has a hood styled like a bear's head.

"Come on, let's try it on." Coco says quickly, moving forward, before she suddenly stops and snaps her head around to look at the two boys in the room. "Face the wall!"

"Already done." Yatsuhashi's head quickly shifts to look away.

"I'm blind!" Fox calls out impertinently, sounding quite offended. Not that it matters to either Velvet or Coco.

"Face the wall!"

As the Vacuon teen turns to his side with a grumble, the sound of the shower cuts off and the door opens a peek.

"Is everything…" The sound of Tychos' voice is quickly cut off by the two elder girls calling out: "Stay in there!"

After the door is closed and the sound of rustling fabrics, Velvet calls out that it's all right to look. Yatsuhasi is the first to say the words.

"Now that's adorable."

Velvet can't help but agree. Barbarians have never looked cuter, especially when they're slightly fluffy and clearly not historically accurate. But when the 'barbarian' in question has large rabbit ears and a happy grin, it's hard to call it adorable.

"She looks fine to me." Fox says sullenly as he fiddles with his cube, the bathroom door opening to let Tychos out.

"Now that was worth the wait." The Cadian says happily, walking into the room barefooted and wearing his trousers.

That's when Velvet pauses. So does Coco, and the others in the room who can see him.

No Aura.

That's the first thing that springs to Velvet's mind as she looks at Tychos as he towels his hair dry.

His body is lean and strong, with the sort of physique that can only come from a lifetime of regimented physical activity, and it's pocked and marked with a story that tells of a lifetime of war. Starburst scars dot his arms and stomach in a myriad of places, many of them small, but his stomach has a large scar, about the size of a closed fist, to the left of his belly button. There's slashes, vertical and angled, across the front of his right shoulder, and a nasty looking scar below his neck at his collar bone.

And then there's the tattoos. Over his left breast, where his heart would be, a jet black two-headed eagle is tattooed, below which is a string of numbers and digits. On his right breast, Tychos has the symbol of the Cadian Gate on display; a skull surrounded on its sides and top with blocks. He has both symbols tattooed onto his biceps too, with his right arm bearing a list of names that don't make sense to Velvet, but they look like they could be places.

"Yeah…" Tychos drawls out, his voice catching everyone off guard a bit. "Coco basically locked me in the shower so fast I forgot to take a new vest from my bag."

All the others can do is nod in vague assurances, letting Tychos move to his bag and his gear. He's left in the corner of the room, near the mattress that Beacon Academy has given him for his bed (the room isn't big enough for five proper beds), so he turns his back to the group.

Velvet's hands shoot to her mouth at what she sees.

The tattoo is huge, going from shoulder to shoulder and down his spine to the small of his back. And it's intricate too. Again, it's the twin-headed eagle and the symbol of Cadia that take precedence, but this time, instead of being separate, the pair are joined, combined together along with a sunburst, and skulls and scrollwork. Scrollwork that reads "In Memoriam", and there's three ovals, displayed like a pyramid, with three faces, side on in shadow. Each one different, but each one… similar. And then there's the figure below them; haloed and with large wings, the man's face looks sorrowful as he holds his hands upwards to the tattoo above.

The visuals are ruined a bit with the sights of the large and nasty looking scar tissue forming in long lines across his back, but its still a sight to see, even as he covers it with a new vest.

"Light's out?" The Cadian asks as he stands by his mattress, his bag used as a makeshift pillow for himself, the proper pillow set beside it.

"Um. Yeah, sure." Coco answers, looking at the clock on the wall. "It is quite late, and tomorrow will be a big day, I bet, so we need our sleep."

It doesn't take long for each person to be in their bed, Carmen nestled comfortably in her new pyjamas next to the Cadian (the hood kept down to stop her ears from hurting), while the other have changed into their preferred bed wear for the night before the light is dimmed.

"Night-night, everyone." The young girl says sleepily, prompting everyone to respond in kind.

Soon, the room falls silent as sleep takes hold.