"It's a standard search and destroy mission," Ozpin spoke from the center passenger seat of the helicopter. Both side doors were open as they hurled over the wilds outside of Vale, and strong winds thrashed everyone's clothes as they hung on to restraining loops... except for Ozpin, who remained serene and unmoving, no different here than at his desk at Beacon.
"Standard except for...?" Tai turned back to face Ozpin, after having been almost leaning out of the chopper, scanning the ground for Grimm. "We've gone through nearly a dozen search-and-destroys by now, there has to be more than that for our final licensing exam."
Ozpin gave the slightest smile, but remained unmoving. "The measure of a Huntress or Huntsman is not always in the unusual size or nature of the Grimm they face, but the skill and speed with which they accomplish their task. Or perhaps there will be something... unique today, and it would defeat the purpose of the exercise by telling you in advance what it is. Indeed, there are many possible metrics by which one could evaluate Huntsman candidates, and I am quite certain we have never told students what we specifically look for. Merely perform to the best of your abilities, and hope that you pass."
Raven rolled her eyes, impatient to get past the Headmaster's posturing and to her missions for the day.
"Just let us know when to get off, we'll handle the rest!" Summer yelled over the wind, eyes still scanning the trees below. Qrow was similarly focused, but Raven could imagine him grunting in agreement.
"And indeed, I see that we are over the test area already," Ozpin replied. "Out you go! Your test commences now and ends when you report to the checkpoint area at the town to the south; we certainly hope to see you there before sundown, with all Grimm in the area eliminated."
"You're not landing?" Qrow asked, grinning, already aware of the answer.
"Of course not. You all survived an equally long fall at the very beginning of your time here; we expect at least as much from you now."
"Team STRQ! See you down below," Tai yelled, falling backward, giving two thumbs-up as he left the airship. Qrow was immediately behind him, and Summer followed a second after, her cloak somehow wrapping tight around her rather than acting as a parachute.
Raven stood to her full height, which required leaning her head out of the doorway. She took one long glance at Ozpin, who looked back at her calmly, then looked back down at the ground and dove down, headfirst.
She allowed herself to free fall for a few moments, remembering the first time she'd done this at the beginning of her Beacon training. She'd been so focused on finding Qrow, so certain that her semblance would put her right on top of him, that she'd been literally dumbfounded when the first thing she saw upon touching the ground was Summer's silver eyes. The girl had latched on to her, figuratively and physically, and led her through their first mission together with Raven still scrambling to catch up. Only dumb luck had put her and Summer on the same team as Qrow and his new partner, Tai.
And now working with Summer was second nature. She focused for a moment and sliced at the air in front of her with her sword, immediately falling down through the blood-red portal that appeared. On the other side she came out parallel to the ground, downward momentum instantly transformed into horizontal speed which she turned into a long, circular skid that brought her to rest facing Summer.
Summer's affect changed entirely when in combat; the bubbly, cuddly girl became a silent and ruthless Huntress who communicated largely in sign. Then again, after all these years they barely had to talk; as soon as they established they didn't see Tai or Qrow, they were off searching, Raven running through the trees and Summer dashing from branch to branch above.
They hit some Beowolves before finding the others - literally, since they were moving too quickly for the creatures to detect them before their attacks landed. Summer used her usual attack with Needle, her lance/sniper rifle hybrid, ramming into her enemies using semblance speed, usually completely tearing through them and coming out clean on the other side as they vaporized behind her. Raven's running sword strikes were less showy and slightly slower, but no less lethal.
Shortly after that they found themselves at a clearing, finding Tai and Qrow who'd clearly also come across - and quickly dispatched - their own Grimm.
"Good to see you, team," said Tai, showily stretching his arms to ready for more combat. "Let's get this done quick: everybody scatter in the cardinal directions, run out about two, three kilometers, and then quarter circle clockwise before returning back here. Take out anything small you see on the way, but don't be afraid to make a ruckus - we'll draw in anything else we don't immediately kill, and take it all on, together, as a team."
"Reckless," observed Raven, not arguing so much as providing a counterpoint to Tai's plan. "Ozpin probably does have some surprises for us lined up; we could end up running across something dangerous with no backup, or have a horde approaching from all directions when we reunite."
Tai grinned in response. "I don't think it's anything we can't handle... and I'd rather find out what we're dealing with sooner rather than later. I think you're right - Ozpin's got something planned that he thinks will catch us if we're reckless. Let's show him we're strong enough to burst through his trap, no matter what it is."
Summer remained silent, but Raven could see Qrow grinning at Tai's proposal. Raven shrugged, then made eye contact with Qrow. Even after all this time, she doubted Tai or Summer would have been able to tell that she'd just wordlessly instructed Qrow to meet up with her in the forest, after they scattered. And indeed, without another word they all started running away from the clearing, Tai to the north, Raven to the south, Qrow to the east and Summer to the west.