Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. I wish I did. All characters, terms, and settings are property of Rooster Teeth. This is just a Fan creation. No profits are had. So enjoy this detour into my odd fascination with irrational Ships.

Chapter 6

Jaune had spent the last two days practically alone in the Ace Ops firing range. He had taken Clover's advice to heart and was learn how to handle his new weapon, his custom built, lever action shotgun. Atlas Tech, age old functionality. After the first half day with it he had received a message from Sergeant Major Gungnir Rockwell, or Gunny as Clover had introduced him. It was a detail schematic of the weapon that Gunny had drawn up after the fact. Having completely memorized the entire make of the weapon as he was building it.

Gunny had suggested that Jaune familiarize himself with it, so he could handle his own maintenance. Jaune had only screwed up reassembling it once and found an extra screw once he thought he was finished. After that he slowed down and took his time. Looking at the blueprints thoroughly as he examined his weapon. Afterwards Jaune continued with his firing down range. He had move on to moving targets and had set the Hard Light pylons to move at random.

It was still challenging. Once he felt himself getting comfortable with the exercises, he'd repeat them with his shield in his other hand. By the end of the second day his wrist was throbbing. He messaged Clover about it, deciding that his embarrassment wasn't worth not taking proper care of himself.

Yeah, that's bound to happen if you've never fire anything like that before. Ice it for as long as you can, head to medical and just ask for a brace. Some pain meds before bed, and take the next day off from shooting. This is new territory for you. Take it easy. I'll send you some literature tomorrow to keep you busy. That R&R I mentioned should be scheduled for you and your team in a few days. No break yet I'm afraid.

-Clover

So Jaune did exactly that. He took the time, iced his wrist and talked with Team RWBY about his new equipment. Predictably Ruby was enamoured by it. She had a slew of questions that Jaune simply gave her the blueprints. Blake was polite, but uninterested. Weiss was complimentary and said that she'd be willing to let him practise with her and her summons, for when moving pylons became too simple for him. Yang was the one he wanted to discuss it the most with. She was the inspiration for his choice after all.

She told him the story how how she came to the idea of Ember Celica back at Signal. She told him about the types of Ammunition she tried out, and still used to this day. Jaune took notes. Eventually Yang pried it out of Ruby's hands and appraised it. "This is incredible. Short and balanced. I'm sure it kicks like a mule. Explains the ice." Yang said holding it up and looking down the iron sights. She pumped the lever, expelling shell after shell until it was empty. "Okay, now that its not loaded." Then proceeded to twirl it like a pro and pull the trigger after each flourish.

"Yeah, I had something like this at first. Way back. The professors at Signal had us try out a bunch of things before we settled into what we were most comfortable with. It was like the second week when Professor Chiron pulled out this old and busted, double barrel shotgun and just destroyed one of the wooden targets." Yang said with a sort of revelry in her voice. "It was that moment that I knew I had to have one. The next day was a pump shotgun, and the next was a lever action. I spent that entire term learning the ins and outs of shotguns. Eventually dad said something off hand about me punching shotguns shells. I know he wasn't serious, but it lite a fire in me and the only way to let it was, was well, to punch with shotgun shells."

"Yeah, then you put a hole in the kitchen and dad made up the rule about no guns in the house. Thanks a lot Yang!" Ruby said, sulking still looking over the blueprints.

Yang looked sheepish and rubbed her neck. "Yeah, I did do that." She said embarrassed. "Anywho, This is a solid build Jaune. You should be happy to have it. Until you get some slugs or long ranged dust shells, you should dial in your effective range. I'm guessing you've got like a max range of, 45 meters." She flipped the gun and held it up at arms lengths, looking down it. But you should probably stick to no further then, 25 or 30 to be effective."

Jaune just gave her a look like a deer caught in headlights. "Wow, you really know your stuff." Jaune said as she gave the gun back to him. "Like I always knew you were impressive, but I never considered that was anything more then raw skill. I hadn't considered there was experience behind your "punch it really hard with a shotgun" technique."

Yang scoffed and punched him in the shoulder. "Heck yeah there's experience. Jaune I did the exact same thing you did to you wrist, but both, at the same time." Yang said seriously. "Dude, that seriously sucked for like a week."

Jaune spent the next few hours just hanging out with Team RWBY, talking about how their training with the Ace Ops was going, how their missions regarding Amity were like, and just enjoying each others company. There was a sombering moment when Blake mentioned that they were all officially and actually Huntresses, or Huntsmen in Jaune's case, and yet they were still as relaxed and playful as they were back at Beacon. There was a collective silence when they realized that the weight of the world didn't have to be crushing all the time.

Before long Weiss decided to be the voice of reason and reminded Ruby, and by extension everyone else, that they had a mission together in the morning and they needed to up very early. Jaune politely excused himself and headed back to his own dorm. But was not remotely expecting to find what he found.

Oscar was just starring at the door, with an awkward and perplex expression. He saw Jaune approached and look so relieved. "Oh you're here. I'm not sure what this is, but I've heard things." Oscar said dragging Jaune towards the door.

Jaune was also aghast, but he knew exactly what he was looking at. It was one of Nora's socks, on the doorknob. "Oh, well. That just means you and I have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight." Jaune said a matter-of-factly. He left no room for discussion.

Jaune lead Oscar by the shoulder and started walking. He didn't have a plan or destination in mind, he just wanted to put some distance between himself and their dorm room. Eventually after giving it some thought, they ended up in front of the temporary arrangements given to Qrow. A spare staff quarters. Jaune sighed heavily and knocked on the door.

"Just a minute" Qrow shouted from the other side. Eventually the door opened and there was Qrow, in shorts and a t-shirt. "Yeah, so that was what like 35.99 right? Oh, hey. You're not my delivery. What's going on?"

Jaune took a long breath and sighed again. "Well, Oscar found a sock on our doorknob and we need a place to crash for the night." Jaune said with a frustrated expression. Oscar still wasn't entirely sure what was going on and looked back and forth between Jaune and Qrow. The later grew a rather insidious smirk and started chuckling, which then grew into a hearty laugh.

"Oh, that's rich. Yeah, yeah. Come on in." Qrow said before quickly resuming his laughing. "Honestly, not the pair I was expecting. I thought it would have been Yang and the emo one. But life is full of surprises."

Much to Oscar's confusion and Jaune's annoyance, Qrow was amused. The rest of the evening turned out to be pretty alright. An unintentional Guys Night of sorts, omitting Ren for obvious reasons. Aside from "What does the sock have to do with anything?" from Oscar, they spent most of the night swapping stories. Now that Jaune knew the true fight and wasn't one of his nieces, Qrow delighted him with stories of what his younger days were like. Back when he started working for Oz and travelling the world solo. Jaune then told Oscar what Beacon was like. Then Qrow made a comment about landing strategies and started laughing again.

"But you were drunk right?" Jaune asked incredulously. "I mean why would you willingly pick a fight with her in the middle of our courtyard?

Qrow put his hands up in defence. "Yeah, I might have been drunk, and sure I was a little pissed off at James, but, well I mean. Okay, yeah. I got nothing." Qrow said before slumping in defeat. "It was a dumb idea."

"But you did win, right?" Oscar said with a smirk.

There was a brief silence before Qrow laughed a little. "Let's just say it was a tie. James and Oz showed up before things got real."

"Wait, like an actual dress? Did you wear heels?" Oscar asked between bites of pizza.

Jaune scowled and shook in frustration. "No I didn't wear heels. But yeah, an actual dress."

"Tai said it was a kilt. What did I know. I grew up with Bandits and Hillbillies. I didn't know any better." Qrow said with a smile. "Although the girls did say I had nice legs."

"So then the guys starts cutting and Yang is perfectly content, humming a little tune from one of her cartoons. But then all of a sudden she see her own hair, just casually falling to the ground in front of her and proceeds to have this epic tantrum!" Qrow said waving his arms around. "Tai was attempting to console her when all of a sudden her hair just starts well, flaming! I'm trying not to laugh and Summer just elbows me in the ribs. Now I'm on the ground, Tai is trying to calm Yang down, and the poor Salon guy is just cowering in the corner."

"Why are you so good at this?! Jaune yelled at Qrow. Frustrated. He thought his youth and experience would give him the upper hand. "Come on Oscar. He can't take us both on at the same time."

"Yeah! You're going down Qrow!" Oscar yelled with exuberance.

"SOARING NINJA WINS"

"Told you. I'm just that good."

Slowly Jaune began to stir awake. "Hey, this isn't my bed." He said in a stupor. Slowly he rolled over in an attempt to take in his surroundings and rolled off the couch. "Definitely not my bed. Ow." Acutely awake now, Jaune took in his surroundings and remember where he was and what happened. Over on the other couch was Oscar, with Qrow's jacket draped over him.

"Oh you're up. Yeah, we did kind go a bit late."Qrow said walking into the room with a cup of coffee. "You can head out whenever you want. Showers in there. James wanted me to look over some debriefs and other boring paperwork." Qrow throw his thumb over his shoulder and started looking at his scroll.

Jaune nodded and accepted the invitation. It was nice to have a shower, alone, in a bathroom not designed for half a dozen people. The Atlas dorms while meeting their needs, lacked for privacy. Showering hadn't really been an issue, it had only been himself, Ren, and Oscar in their wing. Jaune was drying off his hair as he walked out back into the main room when he saw the General Ironwood was there talking with Qrow. "Oh, General Ironwood. I didn't know you were here." Jaune said with a pleasant surprise in his voice. "Everything alright?"

Ironwood gave a noncommittal sort of grimace. "Things could be better, but I'm glad you're here. Saves me the trouble of coming to see you." Ironwood said before placing his scroll on the table and projecting a holographic image of Mantle. "Atlas intelligence has been investigating potential threats to the upcoming election. As much as it would be in our benefit to maintain things as is, I'll lose all support if I use my power to delay or prevent it any manner. So I've had agents looking into some unsettling rumours. Specifically that those outspoken against me going missing, and/or turning up dead."

Several locations in Mantle highlighted red and a small profile popped up of those that were very vocal with anti-Atlas sentiment. All dead. "I've spoke with the Ace Ops, and I'd like to you and your team to investigate." Ironwood said with a smile. "You're, uhm, on-going assignment in Mantle hasn't gone unnoticed. I put out feelers, and you're quite appreciated and well known in Mantle. People like you, and most importantly, you're not of Atlas."

Jaune nodded and looked over the map and profiles. "You think this has anything to do with Amity, or Salem?" Jaune trying to see if any of the names or faces popped out at him.

There was a tense silence. "I'm not sure. I want to say its not, but it doesn't matter. Anything that weakens us and makes it easier for them to attack is an issue." Ironwood said as he added more information to the holographic map. "All of these killings were reported to and recorded by the local law enforcement. I'd suggest starting there. The four of you head out tomorrow."

Jaune looked at Oscar momentarily. "I thought Oscar wasn't going to be put on field assignment. You guys wanted to have him assist with planning and coordination to try to knock some Ozpin stuff loose." Jaune said, still not entirely content with the lie they had given Ironwood regarding Ozpin's absence.

"Oscar won't be joining you. You'll have a different 4th." Ironwood said with a smirk. On que the front door opened revealing a standing, Winter Schnee. "The doctors have given Winter permission to handle field mission, permitting that she refrain from combat. Seeing as this is an investigation, I've allowed her to join you. Her expertise and experience should be a big asset to your assignment." Ironwood emphasized that last part. "To be clear, this is your assignment. Winter has been instructed to follow your lead, and only in the most dire of situations will she be authorized to assume command."

Winter silently nodded to Jaune. "You're a Team Leader for a reason. I think its time that we appreciate it in action." Winter said entering the room, albeit with a slightly noticeable limp.

"You want me to do my thing?" Jaune asked holding up a pair of glowing hands.

Winter pursed her lips slightly but eventually nodded. "That would be appreciated." She said taking a seat. "Anything that can expedite my recovery would be most prudent. Though I'm not sure how, effective you're semblance is in regards to healing."

Jaune scoffed and walked over. "Oh its pretty neat. I mean I fully healed Weiss' impalement in a few minutes. This should be a cake walk." Jaune said as he took a knee in front of Winter and applied his Aura Amp to her leg. Only to immediately feel a chill run down his spine. The room had gotten several degrees colder in a matter of seconds. He looked up to Winter and saw her starring at him with a chilling, murderous look.

"Her what?!"

Eventually after an uncomfortable explanation regarding Weiss being impaled at Haven, the unscheduled meeting was concluded. Jaune was about to leave but was called aside by Ironwood. "I heard from Qrow the, hmm, circumstances relating to you staying with him for the night." Ironwood said, equally as uncomfortable as Jaune. "If you'd like, I can see to assigning you your own quarters. I understand interpersonal relationships, and what we, that is Huntsmen and Huntresses, do to, alleviate stress."

Jaune was also feeling rather awkward about the conversation, but as his dad would call it, he pulled up his big boy pants and talked it about it plainly. "That would be appreciated, sir. Ren and Nora have been through just as much as the rest of us and are happy together. They deserve to have their moments, whenever they can." Jaune said firmly.

Ironwood nodded. "That's a mature and reasonable view of the situation. I'll see to it that one of the spare prefects rooms is prepared. I'll find accommodations for Oscar was well." Ironwood said looking past Jaune and at Oscar who was at that moment shoeing Qrow away from attempting to fix his collar. "He's still not entirely up to this, so giving him some time and comfort makes me feel less like a monster for expecting him to be the next Ozpin. Walk with me" Ironwood led Jaune down the hall. Not seeming to be in any rush or heading in any particular direction.

"Is that why you're keeping him out of the field?" Jaune asked dolefully. "You keep him busy and in the loop enough to feel like he's a part of the mission, but not in danger?" There was a quiet understanding to the situation. Oscar was the next Ozpin. The next inheritor of Ozma's eternal mission, but we was also just Oscar Pine, 15 year old boy that didn't ask for any of this. Unlike the two of them, he didn't sign up for this. They chose this life, while it was thrust onto Oscar.

"Its mostly guilt. For how I treated Ozpin and my part to play in the Fall of Beacon." Ironwood said before kneading his brow in one hand. "I know you were there, but you don't know everything. Oz and I were at odds, for most of my time at Beacon. Oz, in his infinite wisdom, wanted to wait and assess the situation, even with the clear danger that, who we know know was Cinder, represented. I was vocal about being proactive. I brought my ships, and my mechs to Beacon to defend it. To show our enemy the strength we had."

"But ultimately, Ozpin was right. My ships and my army didn't matter, they didn't help in the slightest. Our enemy turned them against us. I was powerless, but most of all I betrayed him." James said almost in a whisper. "I betrayed his trust, I did exactly what he was worried about it it didn't just hurt me. It hurt everyone in Vale and Beacon. People are dead because I wouldn't listen to him."

Jaune wanted to say something comforting, that Ozpin would understand, that he wasn't that kind of a man, but, he just couldn't bring himself to Ozpin's defence right now. "So when I see Oscar, with all this responsibility just waiting for him. He needs protecting." Ironwood mustered through some hitched breaths. "Oz or not, he's gonna need all the help he can get."

The was a moment of silence when are group of students passed them by and salute the General.

"Sir, James." Jaune said, hoping to have a less professional moment. "I don't think you betrayed him. Ozpin had a plan, that involved keeping you in the dark. It involved not telling you why he did the things he did, but asked of you to trust him. So when you brought your army to Vale with the intention of keeping everyone safe, you did that right thing. Could you have know that Cinder had the means to turn those mechs against everyone?"

James looked at Jaune for a moment. "Did Ozpin order you to send your forces into to assist us when the Breach happened? Cause I was there. I remember seeing the terror and fear on the people's face when the Grimm poured out of that hole. You sent your mechs and ships to assist. When the attack on Beacon started, you rallied us, motivated us to defend out school and home. Did you do that because of Ozpin, or did you do that because that's who you are."

"You don't give yourself enough credit and, in my opinion, you don't own Ozpin anything." Jaune said firmly before wiping a tear from his eye. "But you were right about one thing. Oscar, he doesn't deserve the burden that been placed on him, and if we can help him prepare for it, to lessen the load, then we should."

They just stood in silence for a moment. James was speechless. A few more students passed by before James collected himself. "You know you're only the second person to attempt to reassure me that what I did was right. I didn't want to believe it then." James said, then straightened his perfect straight tie. "But now, it feels more earned. Thank you Jaune Arc."

Oh boy, who's cutting onions? Well another chapter done. Really intent on keeping to a schedule, so expect another chapter in 7 days. As always please comment, leave a kudos, blah, blah, blah. You all are the wind in my sail... You know what I mean.