AN: I want to offer a quick apology for any confusion that may have happened over the last week or so regarding the updated status of Glyph Runner. There was a hiatus notice put up as the technical "chapter three" while I was getting back into writing after a break for a few medical issues. I deleted the note on the 26th of August as I was beginning to work on this story again. Unfortunately I forgot FanFiction flags any removal of a chapter or posting of a chapter as an update of the story, otherwise I would have waited until the chapter was ready. That is also the case with Pedigree, which Shadow Nightblade and I are working on once more. Again I'm sorry for the confusion. And I leave you now with the real third chapter of Glyph Runner! Enjoy the journey, keep moving forward, and don't feed the guard dogs! - Phoenix Commander signing off!
Chapter Three: Regroup
Major Summer Rose turned her white and red Hunter, circling the last military vessel of the 9th Fleet of the Remnant Colonies, a Knight-Class dreadnaught, finishing the third circuit of her patrol around the fallback point of the survivors of the Grimm's genocide. The wolf Faunus could see the scars left from the fighting, jagged gouges in the hull of various locations left open to the vacuum of space and cripplingly large holes near the engineering deck. The CAG of the Solarius was sure the vessel would not see combat again and survive. We were not prepared for any of this. Without the orbital grids that defended the planets we were left wide open after the bombs first fell. The red haired wolf Faunus thought, tears of rage in her silver eyes, out of four hundred and fifty other pilots that had been tasked with defending the 9th Fleet and the civilian ships as they prepared for the emergency jump, she was one of only twenty that survived. I couldn't do anything to help them! No matter what my skills are they all died because we were not prepared for this, I was not prepared for this!
Summer's comm chirped inside her helmet as she blew past one of her check in locations, "Ghost, this is Solarius actual. You're running hot, advise you cut back on the fuel. We don't want you floating out there if we get any contacts."
"Acknowledged, Solarius actual. Cutting back on my speed." The wolf Faunus replied, letting up on the throttle of her ship as her personal comm chimed almost immediately after.
"Summer, I know you're upset; so am I but as long as we are alive then so are the colonies." Admiral Taiyang said, his voice cracking slightly. Summer could tell he was gritting his teeth, he'd unloaded his service pistol into his desk after giving the order to abandon the colonies in his anger. "And as long as the colonies are alive then we can still be a thorn in the Grimm's side."
"You mean while we run with our tails between our legs?!" The white and red helmeted pilot hissed.
"You and I both know that fighting them would be futile now. Even more so than it was at the start of their attack." The admiral said calmly. Tai was just as distraught at the attack as his wife was, but at the same time as the highest ranked military officer in the fleet he needed to maintain some level of emotional control. Even at the risk of sounding as if he didn't care.
"We were foolish to think the Grimm couldn't get past the grids!" Growled the CAG, her gloved fist hitting the canopy of her Hunter with a muffled thump.
Summer heard Tai give a few orders to his tactics officer before he replied, "Yeah and we've paid for it. Right now though fighting them is off the board indefinitely, we need to focus solely on survival and if that means we have to run then we will run. Even to the end of the universe."
"I… I know Tai I'm just…" Summer sighed trailing off, finally calming down slightly after venting her frustration.
The fleet admiral's voice filled with remorse at the loss of life and at the orders he had given to contribute to the losses, "I know dear. But you didn't give the order for all Hunters to deploy, I did. I went over you and you had to suffer seeing them die alongside you. I will never be able to apologize enough for doing that but they knew what they were getting into and died heros. Because of them we were able to hold back the Grimm long enough to save eleven civilian ships, each with thousands of lives aboard them."
"Heros… we don't need heros anymore. Heros die and we don't need more people dying." The white and red suited pilot said, her eyes still glistening with tears. If her wolf ears could have moved within the confines of her helmet they would have flattened themselves tighter to her head.
"Agreed, I just hope my message reached Vale. They still haven't responded and with the Solarius' aura drive going into meltdown after the jump we made I'd sure as Hell appreciate the Beacon's presence. We could use their firepower to cover us until we can get this fixed and we can all jump again." The colonial fleet admiral said, doing his best to keep his movements from coming across his comm as he slipped something into his pocket, Or failing that, they can jump with the civilians while I blow away any toaster that shows its face here with an aura reactor sized surprise. One way or another Summer we don't have much more time together. Even if we get the Solarius mobile again and if the Beacon does show up I'm transferring you to them. If you don't take command of the CAP and leave the role to Capt. Schnee I will not complain, because you'll at least be safe and with our girls.
"Do you really think they made it out Tai?" Ghost asked, her worry coming through the comm as she made her next checkpoint.
"Don't start going down that path, Major. Our girls are fine and so are Blake and Weiss. They were the best in your class and you trained them to the best of your ability." Summer's husband said, a little firmly. The last thing he wanted was for her to start thinking about what if scenarios.
Summer could hear that something suddenly grabbed Tai's attention on the bridge. As the pilot switched back to fleet wide comms chatter she started berating herself again, You mean my ability that was worth next to nothing against-, until Tai's voice blared through her comm.
"This is Solarius Actual to all ships in the fleet, long range DRADIS contacts on approach, set condition yellow throughout the fleet!"
Summer's short range DRADIS pinged the location of the approaching contacts, "Five in all. Well if it's the Grimm I'm at least going to give them Hell before the end for what they did to our homes." The Solarius CAG muttered as she white knuckled her firing controls, broke from her patrol and sped off in the direction of the contacts. "This is Ghost I'm breaking my patrol to confirm contact identification."
"Acknowledged Ghost, stay safe out there." Solarius Actual replied, as the crippled dreadnaught slowly turned with its thrusters to bring its broadside batteries to bear. Even if it could barely move the capital ship and its crew would still cover the civilians escape if it needed to.
R.C.S: Beacon
"Cmdr. Ozpin, jump successful and all vessels are accounted for." LtCmdr. Oobleck called from his station on the bridge. "DRADIS is showing twelve contacts on long range scans."
"Very good, LtCmdr. Set condition yellow throughout the ship and let us see who's here to welcome us." Ozpin said, eyeing the contacts on the DRADIS systems. It would be a few more moments until they were identified by the their FoF tags.
"Sir, a moment." Qrow said pulling Ozpin's gaze from the projections. "What is the plan now that we're here?"
"I don't know, but if Admiral Tai is here waiting for us he'll have the answers." The black and green clad officer replied returning his gaze to the DRADIS projections. "We've got a craft on approach we'll soon see who's here."
A few tense moments later a voice piped through the ship wide comms as a hail was received, "This is Maj. Summer Rose, CAG of the Solarius you have no idea how good it is to see you lot. Welcome back to the fleet!"
A resounding cheer filled the decks from the crew of the Beacon no doubt the same was happening on the Signal, Vale, Mountain Glenn and Patch as their own sensors confirmed Ghost's FoF. Ozpin replied on a fleet wide channel, "This is Beacon Actual, it's good to hear your voice Major. If you're in need of a refuel our starboard landing bay is ready to receive you and we're prepared to add the Beacon's CAP to your patrol routes immediately."
"Much obliged, Beacon Actual, I'm short on both pilots and fuel, maintain your current heading and I'll debrief you when I get to the bridge." Summer replied, her smile audible over the comm.
Closing the line, Ozpin switched to the Beacon's ship wide comms, "Capt. Schnee, Lt. Rose, Lt. Xaio-Long, and Lt. Belladonna report to the starboard landing bay to receive Solarius' CAG."
"You know Yang and Ruby will be sprinting there right?" Col. Branwen asked, a slightly tear stained smile plastered on his face.
"After what we've just gone through there is no way in Hell I'm going to be the one to keep them from being reunited. I'd rather face an Ursa with nothing but a knife." Ozpin chuckled, giving his XO a brief pat on the shoulder before turning to his navigations officer. "Mister Oobleck, what's the status on our aura drive?"
"Spinning up and readying for another jump. Twelve minutes and counting, Cmdr!" The lithe green haired officer replied.
"LtCmdr. Port, first sign of trouble I want us broadside, ready to cover the fleet and to scrap anything that jumps in that is not one of us!" The bespectacled Commander ordered.
"Aye, Sir!" Came the rotund officer's reply as he picked up his station's comm and began relaying orders to the deck crew.
Turning to his comms officer, Ozpin leaned toward her whispering, "Lt. Peach get me a line directly to Admiral Tai. Once Major Rose joins us on the bridge we need to start making a plan either for fighting back or failing that, then where we're going from here."
"Yes, Sir. We've got a line through I'll open it when you're ready. Sir?" Peach replied before starting to ask a question.
"Yes, Lieutenant?" The commander asked, slightly arching an eyebrow.
"We won't go back to fight will we?" The comms officer asked, she knew that if they did it be the end of them all.
"No, Peach. We won't, I want very badly to do so but I'd be dooming us all if I gave that order and I won't do that. I can't give that order." Ozpin sighed, his fists tightening around his cane as if trying to strangle it.
The petite woman gave her superior a small smile. Trying to raise his spirits, "I know, you won't Sir. But we're alive because of your orders and the Admiral's which means we at least have a chance to make things better for ourselves again."
"Keep that optimism, Lt. Because until things do get better it's the only thing that will keep everyone from despair." The gray haired man said returning the smile with one of his own. Smart woman, keep looking for the better lot in life, and who knows? Maybe we'll get there.
"You damn well better believe I'll keep looking for a silver lining. Oh, sorry, Sir." Lieutenant Peach blushed embarrassed at her candid reply.
"No worries, now let's be ready for that debrief. You may have to transmit the orders to the civilians." Ozpin chuckled, willing to let the outburst slide. If the bridge crew were to break out into a dance he would have let them, for a few minutes at least. The good news they had received warranted a small amount of leniency.
"Aye, Sir." The comms officer said, returning her focus to her station as she monitored the fleet's comm traffic in case the Beacon was told to make any changes in their course.
Beacon Starboard Landing Bay
As Summer wheeled her Hunter into the bay her eyes widened in shock at the sight before her, ten of the Beacon's twenty Paladin-class dropships were housed there and were in the process of unloading their passengers. If the others in the port bay are full just like these ones that means they saved two hundred and eighty people. But if they'd had time for more trips it would have been so much better. The sight of four pilots entering the bay caught her attention as her landing gear hit the deck. Thank God they made it! As the CAG climbed out of her craft she felt most of her worry leave her.
Forgetting military decorum Ruby threw herself at her mother just as her boots hit the deck plate, wrapping the older wolf Faunus in tight embrace, "Mom! We weren't sure if we'd-"
Tearing off her helmet as quickly as she could and tossing it into her cockpit Summer returned the embrace and cut her daughter off, she could smell blood. "I'm fine but what about you?!" Looking over the Paladin pilot quickly the Solarius CAG could see the blood spatter on her flight suit.
"I-It's not mine." Ruby stammered, still trying to come to terms with her actions.
Ruby's mother turned her questioning gaze to Blake, "One of the civilians was desperate to leave Vale. He drew a firearm and Reaper reacted as needed." The feline Faunus rattled off instinctually.
"I don't want or need a formal report Lt. Belladonna! Just tell me if you and everyone else is alright." The white and red suited pilot said turning her gaze to each in turn.
Weiss replied for them, "We're all fine. Shaken certainly but fine."
"We should be asking you that too, Summer." Yang said hugging her stepmother and her sister. Tears of joy at seeing her parent alive filling her lilac eyes.
"Yeah, Little Dragon, I'm fine. My CAP was decimated though. Four hundred and twenty Hunters and there's only twenty of us left." The Solarius pilot sighed, seeing her children and their friends alive was a blessing but it would take a long time for the pain at seeing those under her die to fade.
"Hundred and eighty actually. You heard the Commander, Ma'am." Weiss said before keying into the Beacon's ship wide comm, while trying to maintain her composure at hearing of the losses. "This is Capt. Schnee to Hunter squadrons Sentinel and Hammer, get your birds into the water and link up with the Solarius Hunter patrol. I want a full parameter set up in ninety seconds!"
As the dull thump of the launch tubes reverberated through the deck plates, over Ruby's shoulder Summer recognized Dr. Torchwick and Glynda Goodwitch stepping off the ramp of BlackRose. "You found them both? Amazing job indeed." Summer said, her ears perked in amazement, giving Ruby a prideful smile.
"I just wish I didn't have to kill someone to keep them safe." Ruby replied, releasing her mother and making her way toward Torchwick and Glynda.
"I know but you and them are alive, and a threat is not because of your actions." The Solarius CAG replied, her ears flattening slightly.
"Still doesn't make it easy." The red and black suited Paladin pilot sighed, her flattened ears still unmoving as she continued to try and sort her emotions.
"It never should be." Summer said, gently placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder before addressing Glynda and Roman. "Dr. Torchwick, Ms Goodwitch it's good to see you both are alright. Do you know if President Ironwood made it out?"
"No Major Rose, James is dead." Torchwick answered, helping Glynda down the ramp. "We were just on our way to the bridge to tell the Commander."
"I see... I'll come with you, there are things on my end that he should hear from me as well." Maj. Rose said, pausing at the news. She glanced quickly at Ironwood's replacement as they walked. Flanked on either side by Weiss, Yang, Ruby, Blake. So that means we'll need to swear in Glynda as his replacement. Poor woman, she's covered in blood looks like she performed her last act to try and save him. Not the way I'd want to become the leader of the colonies, or what's left of them. A marine fireteam met them halfway.
The fireteam leader saluted Summer as she started speaking, "We can escort you three rest of the way to the bridge, Ma'am." Ruby could see from her name patch that it was Coco Adel, "You four look like you could use a little bunk time." Coco said looking at the four pilots.
Looking at Ruby and Yang, Summer could see they didn't want to leave her side just yet. "It's for the best right now girls. We'd be crowding the bridge otherwise."
"The Major's right. We still have jobs to do, I'll see if I can at least get you both off for a shift or two once things are… somewhat calmer." Weiss said, sensing a possible outburst from Yang.
"I, yeah. Alright we'll catch up later." Yang said realizing they were both right. As Summer, Glynda and Roman continued to the bridge with the fireteam, the blonde pilot looked at the alabaster haired CAG as the four of them headed to the crew quarters and their shared cabin, "You were right. They both did make it."
"I told you." Weiss replied, giving Yang a brief smile.
"You know it's entirely possible your family is with the fleet too." The blonde pilot continued.
"You think so?" The Beacon's CAG asked, blinking in surprise at Yang's comment.
"At the very least your sister is. She's as tough as us. Remember that story you told me about how she literally stitched herself up after a mishap in her infirmary?" Dragon asked, with a growing smirk.
"Yeah, if anyone of them made it out it would be Winter." Weiss agreed as the four pilots stepped into the Beacon's crew quarters. "Alright girls, hit the bunks. No telling when we'll get another chance for some shuteye."
"Copy that Capt." Yang said, hoisting herself up into a bunk.
Blake paused a moment and held Ruby back. "We'll get some shuteye in a bit, Ice Queen. Reaper you got a sec to check something out on the BlackRose?" The feline Faunus asked her copilot.
"What…? Oh, Sure thing, Shadow." The wolf Faunus answered distractedly, following her copilot out of their quarters.
Weiss looked from the door to Dragon and back again, as the door closed behind the Paladin pilots. "What was that about?"
Yang stared at the ceiling of their shared cabin as she replied, "Probably going to try and help her figure out how to cope with killing that civie. Ruby's mind is probably still racing."
Capt. Schnee pursed her lips as she thought back to her days in flight school, "I remember a few instances while at the academy that they'd disappear for a bit if something got Reaper riled up. I didn't realize Shadow was talking her down each time."
"Yup, though sooner or later those two probably won't just be talking." Dragon squadron's leader replied, with a short chuckle.
"What do you mean?" The blue eyed pilot asked, laying back onto a lower bunk across from Yang.
The lilac eyed Hunter pilot glanced down at her captain, "I mean, eventually we may want to avoid the BlackRose on occasion or risk permanent mental scarring."
"What are y-, oh… I had no idea they were..." Weiss' eyes widened as she pieced together what Yang was saying.
"Gayer than a rainbow? Yeah, they've been beating around the bush for the last few months now. They'd better hurry up and finally notice each other, times like this we need to take our happiness where we can get it." Dragon said, shaking her head slightly as she went back to staring at the ceiling. If I lose it like some of the others probably are now I'm not going to be at my best. I won't let what's happening get to me. Summer and Dad are alive, so are the others. All that matters now is being the best in the cockpit to make sure they, and everyone else, stay that way. Yang thought, burying and sealing off her tumultuous thoughts as they tried to rise to the surface now that her adrenaline from her earlier fight was dying off.
She seems… off. I would expect you to be just as shaken about this, Dragon. Either you're actually tougher than I thought you were or you're bottling this up. We may need to have a talk later. Weiss rolled over to face the wall, trying to hide her now worried look from her lieutenant, as she closed her eyes to catch a short nap before she'd have to be on her feet again, replying as she did so. "As long as their performance doesn't suffer I agree. We should take every opportunity given to us."