M42
Segmentum Solar
Unknown Sector
Remnant System
Somewhere in Sanus
Four bullheads group up in formation just above the treeline. Their screeching engines shake the leaves of every tree they pass. Two of them break away from the others and start heading towards opposite directions. Qrow's was followed by a singular thunderhawk gunship. As the bullhead drops off team RWBY in the distance, the Thunderhawk follows as it opens its ramp to unload a squad of five Astartes clad in power armor bedecked in the full regalia of the Salamanders. The harsh crackle of the Sergeant Sibusiso's MK 7 Armor's Vox grill came with the first words the Remnants would hear from the Green clad warriors.
"Brother Bongani, take two brothers with you and rendezvous with squad Schnee. Take charge of Operations there and report anything out of the blue."
At a word of command, three gave a salute to their sergeant before rushing into the woods to join up with team FNKI. The heavy thud of their ceramite boots echoing as throughout the forest.
"What was that about?" asked Yang.
"Beats me." Replied Blake.
Suddenly the marine turned his attention towards the rest of team RWBY. Sibusiso could practically cut the air with a knife as it was thick with the sense of mistrust between the two. Thusly he grabbed his helmet firmly and began to lift it up. As the pressurized air from his armour hissed and the locks loosen, he removes his helmet. Underneath was skin as dark as ebony and eyes that glowed a deep and vibrant shade of red.
They were apprehensive at first due to the inhuman like details of the man's face. But sibusiso simply chuckled. Everyone was confused but the Sergeant calmed himself.
"I'm sorry for shocking you. But the look on your faces was priceless." He said.
Qrow interjected. "What's so funny about that?"
"You see, every time that me and my brothers reveal ourselves the shock in the faces of those who bear witness brings me a certain joy." Sibusiso replied.
"Oh, I get it!" Ruby exclaimed
"What exactly was the joke?" she then whispered to Yang's ear.
"Perhaps we should introduce ourselves?" The Sergeant proposed.
"Allow us to go first. I am Sergeant Subusio and these are my battle brothers; Brothers Mosegi and Kontar."
The team followed suite.
"I'm Ruby Rose!"
"Blake Belladona."
"Weiss Schnee" which she followed with a flourish.
"Yang Xiaolong."
"Qrow…"
The marine clapped his hands together in jubilation.
"Excellent!" said Sibusiso. "Now that we are acquainted let us begin our mission."
"Yeah." Said Qrow. "You've got some info on our targets."
Subusiso nodded. He pulled out an auspex device. The holographic projection had pulsing red masses on its display as well as blue circles.
"What is that thing?" Asked Qrow.
Sibusiso was quick to respond. He said: "This, my friend, is an auspex device. It shows us a live feed of where we are and where our targets are."
"So you mean those red thing are…?" Qrow didn't even finish his question before Sibusiso nodded.
"Then we have our work cut out for us."
They then begin their long walk towards one of the highly infested zones. The heavy thud of the marching astartes shook the very earth with each stride. The same level of awkwardness settled once more. That was until Ruby noticed brother Mosegi's weapon.
"Whoa!" She exclaimed. "Did you make that yourself?"
Mosegi replied, saying: "Ah, yes, Miss Ruby Rose. No, I did not make it but I have modified it extensively."
"OOOOOOH! What kind of modifications? Does it have a custom bolt? Lighter materials for the frame? Tell me please!" she begged Mosegi.
The marine could feel a kindred spirit with her, and so he indulged the question. Soon after the rest of the team was now asking both battle brothers question after question, much to Qrow's annoyance and to Sibusiso's joy. Qrow kept a close eye on team RWBY and constantly kept his guard up. The Sergeant felt it necessary to break the ice between himself and Qrow and so he began to strike up a conversation.
"So, mister Branwen…"Said Sibusiso. "I'd like to ask why you harbour such distrust towads others."
"It's none of your business." He coldly remarked.
"Oh but it is, Mister Branwen. It most certainly is." Sibusiso reiterated.
"Yeah? And why is that?" Qrow asked.
"For the sake of knowing my ally." Sibusiso replied.
Just then the klaxons inside the helmets of the marines went off. Upon rechecking the auspex scanner, the large cluster of Grimm seemed to be approaching them.
"Perhaps battle will allow us to prove our worth." The sergeant proudly declared. For in his mind he repeated the words of his Primarch. For on the Anvil of War are the strong tempered and the weak made to perish, thus are men's souls tested as metal in the forge's fire.
He ordered everyone to get ready for the imminent tide of enemies that sook to overwhelm them with numbers unending, but this was what the Salamanders were hoping for. The first to show their faces were packs of beowolves rushing at them with claws ready to cut. Before any of the Remnants could react Sibusiso unleashed his melta gun into the vile creatures.
His marines then let loose their Bolt Rifles, sending massive bolter rounds straight into the enemy. Team RWBY unanimously decided that they weren't going to be shown off that easily. They all looked at Qrow with eager eyes, and the grizzled old huntsman gave them the approval to go wild.
The marines continued with their volley when Ruby rushed to the front with crescent rose. Right behind her was Weiss who was using her glyphs to boost her own speed. The two moved with the grace of Aeldari warriors that left the marines in awe. Soon came Yang punching an Ursa through a tree. Then finally Blake, who slew Grimm after Grimm in a dazzling series of attacks. Seeing this display of prowess, the marines were invigorated. They remained vigilant, keeping close tabs on the young ones and obliterating any threats to them.
But the Astartes were doing some impressing of their own. Yang couldn't help but notice the path of carnage Sibusiso was creating on his own. As a martial artist, she could see that every punch and kick the marine made even in such armour was done with careful consideration of which enemy he would hit next. And Ruby admired the skill and accuracy with which the marines unleashed controlled bursts of fire from their weapons. Even Qrow was impressed by Sibusiso's skill with a chainsword.
Team RWBY felt a little more confident. They looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Checkmate!" Ruby yelled.
And was followed by Blake and Weiss unleashing a combination of practiced cuts and thrusts amplified by Weiss' glyphs. Just as they were getting bogged down by the weight of the enemy, Ruby yelled: "Lady bug!"
Weiss quickly retreated and Ruby cleaved through the horde with her scythe. Blake followed suite and they were cutting down the lesser Grimm wheat on a field. When a large nevermore appeared in the skies above Sibusiso had to act. His load out was for punching through thick hides and his brothers did not have the ammunition to spare. He ordered both of his brothers to charge into the thick lines of Grimm. The three Astartes barrelled into them with earth shattering force. Sibusiso caught the girls' attention and pointed towards the nevermore. They acknowledged and went off to deal with the threat.
With knife and chainsword the marines used every bit of skill they had but there was just too many for the three of them. But hope arrived in the form of Qrow taking to the field. With harbinger in hand, the huntsman was cutting down grimm left and right. And in the rear Ruby's voice could once again be heard.
"Ice flower!"
And a hail of ice dust bullets sent the nevermore down to the earth and was expedited by a downward punch from Yang. All traces of their foe was scattered by the winds.
Qrow looked at his charges and said with a grin: "Show offs."
While everyone else celebrated, Sibusiso and his marines knew that it was too early to be rejoicing. And so did Qrow, but he didn't want to spoil the kids' fun. What kind of teacher would he be if he did that?
Meanwhile in Astartes Rapid Strike Cruise 'Vulkan's Shield' Captain T'sen was monitoring the entire event through a large display on his bridge. He adjusted for the lack of viable Marines by sending the two Veteran first born to lead the mission. But more had just been added to his plate than a simple strike mission. He was now overall commander of Imperial military assets in the area. Having to keep a single Intercessor Squad in duty is a strain on his limited number of marines, a good portion of which is still relatively unexperienced.
Another issue which also plagued him is his vastly diminished force of guardsmen. Now numbering roughly around 15,000 Cadians, most of whom were Whiteshields. The formation of a pdf or any sort of planetary militia was out of the question for the next few decades. The adeptus mechanicus was not likely to allow the conscription of workers for their forges which compounded his dilemma even more. Available firepower had also been reduced to near nothing as only a hundred chimeras, a few dozen artillery pieces, and a dozen or so leman Russ tanks were left. Most are being repaired by servitors as all of the serviceable machines were taken.
If the Remnants would sense their weakness now, it could throw the entire effort into disarray. He knew the answer, but questioned himself if they had the resources to pull it off. In order to secure the Imperium and Mankind's future in this planet he would have to work with his counterpart who managed the diplomatic front. And so, he reviewed the situation of teams Xh'osa and Xolani one more time and deemed them stable for the time being as he departed for the surface.
Solomon, on the other hand, was swamped in complaints as managing an undersupplied unit of ornery guardsmen proved quite the challenge. Most of the remaining citizens of Imperium resurgent are soldiers and the few bureaucrats and some representatives of the ecclesiarchy residing within its walls were busy with maintaining the functions of the government and of the church. It was in the middle of deciding which regiment would gain rights to the training fields for the week that word of T'sen's arrival reached the Rouge Trader's ears.
He quickly settled the matter and had all of his appointments cancelled. If the space marines come, then they come for a reason. He would not be disappointed.
To be continued…
Hello, Author here. It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I sort of got lost in my other works. But I'm not going to abandon the story. No sir! Another reason for me to halt was the release of Ice Queendom...yeah that didn't sit well with me. But what really brought me back is the amount of people who favorited the story which is a big deal for an amateur like myself. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
If you've ever watched RWBY, I'm assuming you did or else you wouldn't be here, then I might suggest watching the "RWBY:Ice Queendom" reboot which made Weiss the villain (albeit via a nightmare) and ends with the infamous food fight scene.
Well, that's all for now. The Emperor Protects!
