Welcome to Ch 47 of TPA

"Allright, let's go." Ruby nodded and stepped to the side, beside panel of reinforced glass.

Jaune took a deep breath and extended his right arm, focusing on his Aura. A metal plate slid to the side, and the twin barrels of his cannon extended, letting out soft hum. His fingered the cylinder at the base of barrels, activating the Dust stored there.

Then, a nearly fifteen meter long stream of fire burst out, covering several training droids standing in front of him. Jaune focused on stabilizing the flow of his Aura to his gauntlet. It wasn't too hard, but he still wasn't used to it yet. After nearly minute of continuous fire, he cut off the Aura flow and took off the protective goggles he was wearing.

Nothing exploded, he didn't run out of Aura in seconds, the flame had good range and, judging by the melted scraps of metal that the training drones turned into, was hot enough to actually do some decent damage.

Ruby let out a relieved breath. It was her first time working with such Aura-sensitive fibers, and the first test had left a lot to be desired. Jaune was quick to assure her it was just him needing time to get used to it, but it quickly became apparent that the device itself needed some work. It took too much time to charge it up, it was prone to prematurely releasing stored Aura, and the release mechanism sometimes failed. But biggest problem was efficiency. It consumed almost ten percent of Jaune's Aura with every shot - far too much for what it did.

Thankfully, all of RWBY and JNPR were exempted from patrol duties on account of suffering major injures. Since lessons were still suspended, Jaune and Ruby had a lot of free time, and they happily used it to look after their baby.

Ruby frowned. For some reason Jaune was getting embarrassed when she was said that out loud.

When she first started working on it, she had asked herself one simple question - what would Jaune need in a gun?

She liked to think she knew her fellow team leader well enough to know the answer to this questions, but just to be sure, she consulted her uncle and Jaune's teacher. She was able to make a list of the most desirable properties for her new project.

The ability to be used without occupying both hands.

Quick to deploy, and the ability to deploy in the middle of combat.

The ability to retain effectiveness in harsh conditions with minimal maintenance.

The ability to use improvised ammo.

With no small amount of pride, Ruby could say she met all of those guidelines. The construction was fairly simple, and used a minimal amount of moving and delicate parts. It had two canisters for powdered Dust, and a simple supply mechanism ensured even crudely milled crystals could be used without risk of malfunction. Even without it, the weapon had its uses. It could shoot out burst of pure Aura that, even if didn't do much damage, was enough to knock people, or Grimm, around. And If any solid object was loaded in the barrel - it could be shot out with significant force.

Ruby smiled happily to herself, flipping through several pages of text and numbers on her scroll. The tests look good, it appeared that Jaune would be able to use his new toy in the next team sparring session RWBY and JNPR had planned in two days.

"So, how does it look?" Jaune asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"Good. Readings are good, it seems we fixed the problem with Aura transfer. Heatsinks work, judging by results, you should be able to keep a flame of this temperature for around two minutes, though I wouldn't advise it."

She scrolled a few more pages, analyzing the results of the various diagnostic programs she had running, before giving an approving nod.

"Well, activation time is a bit slow, but I suppose it will get better once you get used to it. If not, I could always replace the trigger mechanism using more Dust-sensitive fibers, but that would make it more prone to failure. Overall, I'd say it's ready for use in combat." She shot him a smile. "Though I would test it in more controlled environments first, before you take it to the field."

Jaune nodded. After yesterday's checkups, he and Yang had finally received doctor's permission to start training again. To celebrate this, both teams agreet for joint training session.

Jaune smiled. This sounded like perfect opportunity to give his and Ruby bab… creation, a test drive.

The blond sighed, shooting a quick glance at younger girl. Why the hell she did she have to keep saying things like that? It didn't take long for someone to overhear, make a very wrong conclusion, and start spreading rumors. This led to several… awkward conversations. First was with Miss Goodwitch. Thankfully, she was convinced pretty quickly the rumors were false. Next was Yang.

The blonde brawler was much harder to calm down, but she eventually let out a tired sigh and walked away, muttering something about 'the talk'.

Mey and his mother however, were totally different story. How they learned about it, he had no idea, but they informed him that he doesn't have to worry about finding a nanny, because both women had already made a schedule. They also sent him a list of fifty names for both girls and boys. Thankfully, his sisters weren't infected by this madness, and promised to calm them down before something embarrassing happened.

Jaune sighed. The first few days were tough, what with most of the first years giving him evil glares. He wasn't sure why, but thankfully rumors started dying out quickly. Partially because of his friends' efforts, partially because everyone had more important things on their minds.

"So, now that it's ready, there is one more thing we need to do." Ruby said, closing her scroll and looking him in the eyes.

"Name it?"

She nodded.

"Well, I gave it some thought… how about Aegis?"

Ruby hummed.

"It's not bad." She said, after a moment of thought. "But I think a bit too.. Simplistic. And don't really fit that well, since its primary function is offense, not defense." She shrugged. "Let's think about it later, these things can't be rushed. For now…" she grinned, opening a black case she was holding and revealing several small, colorful balls. "Let's see how these babies work out."

Jaune grinned. Working on his gauntlet wasn't the only think they'd been doing for this past week. He also shared some of his ideas with her. Ruby shot down most of them as impractical, or too dangerous, but a few earned her approval. Th small, round object he was holding was one of them.

Jaune smiled. There was a time, shortly after he made his first Elixirs, that he got interested in developing other tools for use against the many types of monsters he would face in the future, desperate for any edge in a fight he could get. Dust bombs, makeshift grenades, poisons that would work on Grimm or Harrowed. The results were mixed. Explosives proved useful, poisons less so. But the resources required, and how dangerous they were to store and use, led to Jaune mostly abandoning these type of tools. He still would sometimes use them when he had time to prepare, but that was it.

But now, with his new weapon, things had changed.

Ok, let's see how it work.

He loaded one such ball, painted in black, green and red into his cannon. He focused his Aura, and shot it out. The projectile flew out, and after traveling nearly fifty meters it burst out, letting out a mixture of finely ground Wind and Fire Dust. The green crystals activated, forming a circular current that ensured the red particles stayed in the air, and did not spread out over too large of an area.

Half a second later, the miniature detonator hidden inside the ball activated, igniting the Fire Dust powder.

A wave of rapidly expelled air and heat hit Jaune like hammer, knocking him back. He staggered to his feet and grinned. When you asked anyone on Remnant what a dust explosion was, they would look at you strange, and then answer that it was when crystals, or powdered Dust exploded. Afterall, it wasn't uncommon to hear about such accidents happening in mines, claiming lives of multiple miners. But, while traveling with Leon, Jaune learned that even something as common as flour could cause a massive explosion, if right conditions were met. All you needed was small particles of an easily flammable substance spread in the air, and a way to ignite it.

He spent some time experimenting with this idea, and had some limited success. He did manage to make what he called a dust-cloud bomb, but it turned out to be failure. Sure, it was powerful, too powerful in fact. Too dangerous to be used in an enclosed space, since the violent explosion and heat would easily deplete the oxygen, while in open areas it was way too unreliable, since a strong gust of wind could spread the mixture over too large an area, preventing it from exploding. On top of that, he couldn't figure out how to make a reliable ignition mechanism - a simple fuse that he used for most of his hand bombs wasn't good enough. He used it only twice, and abandoned the project.

But now, with Ruby's help, things had changed. They were able to develop a reliable way to form a cloud, keep it in place even in windy conditions, and ignite. And with his new weapon, he had a means to deliver the payload over greater distances.

Jaune giggled happily, loading the next ball, taking aim and firing. The next explosion was smaller, and didn't knock him down, but he could still feel a wave of heat wash over him.

I think I'm starting to understand why Nora seems so happy every time she gets to fire a few grenades. This is so much fun!

He thought, firing a third one.

A small hand on his shoulder stopped him from firing a forth. He glanced at Ruby, who gave him an apologetic smile.

"I think this is enough tests for now."

Jaune pouted, but took off his gauntlet. Oh well, he was certain he would get plenty of opportunities to use it in near future. Then an idea struck him.

"Hey, Ruby…"

"No, we can't make it rapid fire." She said, without even looking at him.

He tsked. There went that idea. Why did life have to deny him even the simplest pleasures? All he wanted to to was to blow up some shit and watch the remains burn to ash. Jaune sighed, and started cleaning his new weapon under Ruby's watchfull gaze. He couldn't' help but chuckle. She was very strict when it came to taking care of your weapons, and while he understood its importance, he listened carefully to the younger girl's instructions. Afterall, swords didn't have many moving parts, and even though his shield could collapse into a sheath, it was a really simple mechanism.

A few minutes later, when Ruby judged his work good enough, they packed their things and left Beacon's shooting range. It never ceased to amaze him just how much money went into maintaining a Hunter academy. He wasn't sure if Bacon was some kind of exception, but the amount of facilities it had was staggering. Forget the classrooms, dorms, massive library, infirmary with equipment some hospitals would kill to have, or high class meals they were served.

The foundry, training rooms, weapon tasting rooms, and shooting range was what had Jaune shaking his head in disbelief. There is so much equipment there, that if you were to man all the work tables, they could gear up a small army in a matter of weeks.

Then again, maybe that was the intent. Hunter academies were much more than simple schools. Even since they arrived, Atlas personnel were a constant sight in the foundry, performing weapon maintenance, producing ammo and so on. It felt less like a school, and more like some military facility.

Then again, we are basically in a state of war.

While the situation was mostly under control, with most of the smaller settlements evacuated, and the bigger ones heavily defended, The White Fang was still threat, even after their base in Mountain Glenn was destroyed, most of its members captured or killed, there was still a few squads of Fang Knights roaming around, determined to cause as many casualties as possible.

From what he learned from his team, the siege of Mountain Glenn went relatively quickly. The first assault was stopped by the combined force of Faunus, Grimm and Harrowed. Not wanting to waste his soldiers lives, General Ironwood ordered a retreat, and then surrounded the ruined city with his fleet. One day was given for the hiding terrorists to surrender, with a promise of fair treatment.

To many people's surprise, many of the Faunus took this offer. They were more than willing to talk, and their tales of cruel treatment of new recruits, as well as inhuman experiments performed at those who were suspected of not being loyal enough to the cause quickly spread. That's why, when the promised day passed, there were not many who opposed Ironwood's decision to drop several high-yield bombs on the White Fang base. After that, several squadrons of Atlas mechs were sent in to mop up any survivors. The reason only mechanized troops were sent were warnings some of the prisoners had given about large amounts of toxic substances the White Fang was accumulating in the base.

Just one day after General Ironwood announced the successful elimination of the White Fang's main base of operation, and promised that the current crisis will be resolved in a matter of days, several squad of Fang Knights performed a suicidal raid on several of Vales Tv and radio stations. They announcement was simple enough - we are not done yet, and we will soon hit you back. Hard.

Seven days were given to Vale to make peace with the gods, before divine retribution will be delivered." Many people didn't take it seriously. The White Fang was beaten, and this was surely their last ditch effort to instill fear in Vale's populace. There was nothing to worry about.

The fact that there were more soldiers, and the Huntsmen guarding Atlas' walls ought to put people at ease.

As did the fact that most all of the attacks from the rogue White Fang cells stopped right after the announcement was made.

But as the time of the supposed 'judgment day' came closer, people started getting nervous. They still laughed, still joked, many already declared the crisis over. But no one could deny the feeling of tension in the air.

Jaune sighed, and checked his scroll. Two days, one hour, and twenty five minutes until whatever the Fang had planned would be put in motion. Of course, despite the public announcements to not panic, the Atlas military and Hunters were on high alert. Several squads were still going through the wreckage of Fang abscess, looking for any clues as to what they might have planned. So far, with little result.

He sighed and shook his head, as he and Ruby entered Beacon's cafeteria, the usual hum of cheerful conversation filled the massive hall. But it all felt just a bit to forced. Everyone was nervous, even if they didn't want to admit it.

Jaune smiled when Pyrrha waved to him, and both team leaders joined their teams to enjoy dinner. They joked, laughed, and tried their best to ignore the feeling of unease they all felt. None of them believed it was over. Something was going to happen, soon.

Jaune checked his scroll again. If the White Fang were to be believed, in one day, and twenty three hours.

All thing considered, they were very well prepared, Jaune thought, leaving the training room with the rest of his friends. His Aegis (name pending) survived its first live performance, and while the activation time was still as a bit slow, it was much better than before. The injuries they suffered didn't leave any lasting effects, proving one more time that Aura was one hell of a drug.

Vale itself was protected by not only Huntsmen, but also Atlas soldiers. Almost seventy Witchers responded to the call for aid - and honestly this was the most Jaune had ever seen gathered in a single place.

So, all things considered, they were as prepared for anything the White Fang had in store for them as they could be.

Or at least they thought they were.

Approximately nineteen hours before the appointed time, a terrified scream sounded from one of many refugees camps. A team of peacekeepers rushed in, only to report that some kind of monster was attacking people. A ream of Hunters was sent in to investigate, and they reported that some kind of Harrowed appeared, requesting Witcher support.

A few minutes later, all hell broke loose. Multiple Harrowed sightings were reported all around the city, mindless monsters attacking everyone in sight. No one knew where they were coming from, but there were so many of them that many sections of the city had to be abandoned. It was hard to evacuate so many people, and the fact that many of the refugees turned out to be White Fang operatives further complicated matters. They charged at soldiers and Hunters without a hint of hesitation or fear, and even though they were dispatched quickly, they still managed to cause casualties among civilians.

Even then, thanks to swift reaction, by the end of the night the situation was mostly under control. Civilians were evacuated into safe regions, every White Fang operative was killed or apprehended, and teams were formed to clean the Harrowed infested parts of the city.

And then, on one of main squares, the earth shook, and just a few moments later, a train burst out of the ground. Grimm, Harrowed, and White Fang burst out of hole in the ground, killing everyone in sight.

And thus, the battle for Vale began.

And here it is. Nothing much happened here, expect Jaune channeling his inner Nora, but it was more of set up. Next week, the final battle in what most probably will be last chapter of TPA. I might write some short epilogue after that, but I'm not sure about it.

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See you all next week.