: AN Here we go! The next brand new chapter of Bastion! Here we get the first new arc that's going to compell the story forward! To death or-

Well death. A lot of people die. Really. This was not going to be a happy fic.

"So what exactly is the mission exactly sir?"

Jaune asked as team ARKM stood in the well-furnished office of the Bastion headmaster Ludo as the man smirked sharply at him.
"Your mission! Should you choose to accept it-

'They don't have a choice."

The searing voice of Miss Heil said as Jaune kept her burning glare while still flinching internally. The woman was terrifying; her entire appearance was like a sword, sharp and pointed. Her glare looked like it could cut a hole in adamantium and her burning red eyes made holding her stare near impossible, all of it was covered up by a surprising youthful beguiling figure as Jaune stared at her.

"Miss Heil. I know you like to give our students the occasional shiver, but I must insist! This is a voluntary mission! If you do not want to go on it, you don't have to!"

"So we have a choice?" Jaune asked as regretted the words less than a second later as the headmaster baleful silver eyes locked on to him.

"But of course! Mister Arc I would never force my student to do anything against their will! Here in Bastion, we respect your right to self-determination and seek to make you the best you possible!"

The man said as Jaune glared at him.

"So if we refuse this mission there will be no consequences for my team or me?"

"None whatsoever."

"And if we accept?"

"There will be boons for you. As you already know, I can be quite a generous Mister Arc if you did not know. My agreement to send you back to Beacon really should be proof enough of that!"

"Although, I do suggest that you consider the fact that while I am generous not that you do well by me, I am considerably less to those who do not, before making a decision." The man said as Jaune glared at him.

"So what exactly are we doing on the mission?" Jaune asked as the man brought out a scroll and shifted through its contents.

"You are going to be assisting a Bastion Death Kops mission to a far-off nation called Arcadia. You will be going along with a contingent of Arcadian paratroopers to assault and reinforce an Arcadian position that is under white fang assault."

"What is the plan after that?"

"Then you will assist them with cleaning out a small white fang contingent of men assaulting one of their colonies. Do this and Arcadia will not only give us access to their foods stocks they have also offered to share with us their weaponry for our initiations students."

The man said as Jaune raised an eyebrow at him.

"Foodstuffs? Why does Bastion need Arcadian food stocks?"

"Well as you see, the successful running and management of a school is an incredibly difficult endeavor. It is insanely complicated and complex undertaking that through no fault of my own is now in jeopardy of collapsing and-

"He forgot to order food for the school, and you are all going to starve." The dean said as she glared at him.

"Miss Heil! I wouldn't say that I forgot! I would say-

"What would you say then? That you misplaced our weekly budget? That the thousands of thousand of lien just disappeared? What would you say happened to our food reserves?"

The dean said in a smoldering voice an s the man began to sweat.

"Wel! I would say that this is a key opportunity for school unity! I believe that this mission will allow Bastion students to fight for a common cause and bring them together!"

The man said as the dean put a hand to her face as she glared at team ARKM.

"You four will if you want to. That is, go to Arcadia help them with a problem and in return, you get to not starve to death."

"What about you?" Jaune asked as the dean cocked her head to him as her fiery glare burned into him.

"What about me?"

"I mean the teachers. Won't you starve too?"

"Why would we be under threat from starvation? Are you suggesting that the teachers are in some way equal to the students? If you starve the teachers will be fine, do not presume to be our confederates let alone equals."

"Miss Heil do not scare the boy! Now Jaune do you want this mission? If so I can guarantee you that you will be well compensated for it…

"So what is Arcadia?" Jaune asked as he packed his travel bag as he and his team began packing their outfits.

"It's nothing. A small fringe colony in the ass end of nowhere filled with xenophobic isolation9ist with a penitent for gun making and no social graces. The people there are known for two things, not liking other people who don't look the same and are known for build some of the best weapons in history." Kage said as he packed a suitcase full of clothes and spare ammunition. As he forced his luggage shut with a grunt.

"You know a lot about it. How?" Jaune asked as Kage finished packing his bag his crimson armor shining in the team ARKM light.

"Long story."

"Tell me," Jaune said in a steely tone as he flexed a leaderly tone towards Kage as he flexed his authority.

"Well, when you live in Vacuo for as long as I do and spend as much time doing, extracurricular activities in this hell hole you tend to become well informed. Arcadia is not a good place Jaune. Even if it's a simple drop, we are going to be in for a rough time."

"We get to jump out of an airplane!?" Ruby asked suddenly appearing by Venke's side silver eyes gleaming up at him as he sighed.

"Red have you ever been on a plane before? Let alone jump out of one?"

"Yes! I have! When I first came to Beacon, I was on a bullhead and-

"No Ruby. I meant a plane, a combat ship, not a bullhead. There's a difference."

"What's the difference?' Ruby asked in an innocent tone as Kage sighed.
"Speaking of that what's Arcadia like. Tell me everything."

Jaune said as Kage nodded.

"When we get off the plane you can expect extreme temperature drops; it's going to be cold. Arcadia is located just north of Atlas in the most ass-backward corner of Remnant. No one goes there; no one lives there that's not in a specialized habitat or batshit crazy. Arcadian's are both."

"They seem pleasant," Jaune said as Kage gave a dark chuckle.

It was grating sound like rocks rubbing over real as the boy gave his telltale laugh.

"That's an understatement. Arcadian's are strong; they have weapons that will put the rest of the word to shame and are so obsessed with guns that they carved out a society more than a hundred miles from the nearest human outpost. They are an insular and sullen people. They don't trust strangers and will regard us with suspicion at best and hostility at worst. When We get there I suggest doing our jobs, get up quick and go home. Every second we spend there is another chance of us getting frostbite."

"So dress warmly?"

"Extreme temperatures remember?"

Kage asked tapping a pistol against his forehead.

"Expect highs in the low twenties and a wind chill factor of minus thirty."

Kage said as Jaune noded.

"So long sleeves and pants?"

"Dress in layers," Kage advises as Ruby fidgeted.

"I don't have layers…. I only have my old Beacon clothes."

"That's a problem," Jaune said as Kage nodded.

"A skirt's not going to cut it Red. You need something warmer or getting shot to death is the least of your worries."

Kage said before look to his right.

"Maybe Mika has some clothes for you?" Kage asked his best friend as she clapped her hands and tackled Ruby dragging the poor girl off to the bathroom muttering twitterings about fashion and friends, trying out clothes together as Kage and Jaune were left alone.

"At least they're getting along."

Kage admitted as Jaune nodded his head.

"Never thought I'd see the day."

"What her and Mika being friends?"

Kage asked dryly as his leader laughed. It was just another thing that was changing about the boy after Bastion. Jaune's once nervous fear filled laugh was replaced by a raspy hollow version, which reminded him of stones on sandpaper as the boy chuckled lowly.

"That this would work. Kage we… we are doing it. We're actually doing it. We're becoming a real team. An actual unit at this rate I think he has a real chance of getting out of this."

"What? You mean you were lying to Ruby all this time about that whole we can get through this Ruby! Just believe!" Kage said in a sarcastic tone as Jaune gave a low chuckle.

"That was a pipe dream at best. I never thought we'd get this far. I just needed to calm her down when she was at her lowest point. We have less than two months to go before we can go home! If we keep this up with reduced missions and better equipment? Kage, we can do this." Jaune said as the boy nodded his head.
"I'm happy for your two really.' Kage said before going back to his bag and lugging it over his shoulder.

"I'll be going to the doc area. I got some stuff to settle on the way."

"See you there," Jaune said as the boy nodded and left him alone.

Jaune had to be honest things were going well. No better than well it was damn near perfect! Team ARKM had come together they worked and fought as a unit, and they were actually starting to become friends. The thought of that was near anathema to Jaune weeks ago but now?

Things were different.

He and Kage actually hung out ate together talked and joked! Well, Jaune jokes Kage made sarcastic comments and tended to have a range of emotional expression of a doorknob and was full suspicious and sullen snarks, with a steely glare on his face that he kept up all the time.

Even Jaune and Zach had got along better. The boy seems to be perpetually followed by the initiation student Six. Who was now a part of their group or boys as Zach called and there was a strange but real sense of brotherhood between them.

And Ruby was in a much similar place. Her and Mika spent almost every day together, eating, laughing and just being friends. The girl branched out to accept the odd girl with a flamethrower and hatchet as her sister and had even let Krc and Hino into her heart as well.

And for the first time in a long item, Ruby seemed happy. She laughed and smiled brightly far brighter the Jaune had ever seen the girl smiled back in Beacon and seemed to be actually enjoying her Bastion life, and Jaune couldn't even remember the last time he heard Weiss or any other name in their past hopefully future friends as he got ready to pack.

"So sir, what is our exact operation?"

Jaune asked Ludo fishing for any additional information as the man gave him a broad grin of twin flow of far too white teeth.

"Well like I said you are going to be leaving Bastion along with a contingent of Arcadian paratroopers to assist an Arcadian colony under attack. Do this, and we secure a powerful potential ally in the north and ensure that not only will the majority not resort to barbarism and cannibalism to survive!"

The man said smiling braodly as Jaune grimaced and the dean sighed.

"Why do I work here?"

Miss Heil asked as Ludo gave her an enigmatic smile.

'Because you want to." He replied as Jaune stepped in.

"Sir if you don't mind me asking, what did we win?"

"Win? Where?"

"Our last mission. We fought the fang there, and I assumed them dead and done. I was always told that the Fang were a fringe group. A radical but generally small and under-equipped terrorist organization but now? They have artillery, men, fortified positions? How did they get all of this equipment, funding, and resources for a fringe group of radicals?"

"AH! Now that is a good question! To answer the first part, as you know Bastion is not an official school! And as such are not publicly know, but! We are still a hunter academy light damn it! And as such we have our talents. Mainly people like you! Students who find themselves in precarious situations, with either, lose moral fiber or strong self-preservation instincts that we use to cultivate favors with major groups in the world."

"Favors? Sir? What do you mean by that?"

"Simple! You see the Fang that you know and love as a fringe group is just that! They are not reflective of the fang as a whole! The majority of fang and other terrorist organizations exit int he wilds! Mainly due to the vast number of resources there and! The sheer lack of supervision has led to several enemy redoubts, and forts existing without the government notice!"

"But how? How do they have the time resources to set up a base, take materials from wherever and build? What about Grimm? The wilds are full of dangerous, and unknown Grimm variants and should be a death trap!"

"Mister Arc! I'm surprised at you! You of all people underestimate what human spirit and ingenuity can accomplish! Especially when it's combined with resources, strategy, and expendable forces!"

"The governments like to say that the wilds are an uninhabitable wasteland and, but nothing can be farther than the truth! If you ignore the Grimm, and harsh climate rangest the wilds are a lush and fertile land that is just waiting to be explored and settled!"

"If it's so lush hoe come the governments are settling it?"

"Simple! They lack the resources too!"

"And fringe terrorist don't? I mean they have what? Maybe some rich patrons backing them up while the government has thousands plus miles of territory and millions of lien?"

"Ah, Mister Arc! You forget one crucial thing about governments!"

"And that is?"

"They are inefficient! Bogged down by traditions, political parties and the crushing weight of bureaucracy! The government could settle the lands but one any serious territory acquisition would probably lead to a world war the likes we had not seen since the great war many years ago! And two! A small group of determined men has been shown to get done what thousands of others can not."

"Now! Just because Bastion does not exist does not mean we are unheard of mind you! In fact, several prominent organizations, people and government bodies are well aware of our existence and ask us of favors to deal with delicate situations often in the wilds that they can not touch and the provide us with rewards if we are successful!"

"Like what?"

"Resources! While Bastion does acquire-

"He means steal. We steal things from other kingdoms."

"Miss Heil! It is not stealing! It is simply reappropriating! We take recourses from them to train hunters who fight Grimm to protect them! We are doing them a service! If you ask me!"

"If you say so."

"I do. Anyways! Our reward form out last forward was not only a mountain of resources but! We are now in possession f several armored units! Personal carries, and light combat vehicles of the sort! That have put full hours of life expectancy to our initiation students!"

"Personal carriers?"

"Infantry fighting vehicles to be specific. They are currently being used to shepherd our fourth years in the assault on the Fan fortress in front of your objective."

"Fortress?" Kage asked setup up as the man nodded his pure white hair at him.

"Yes, mister Kage the fang have a substantial garrison with a massive mountain fortress in the area near your drop zone. Fear not, however, as with limited Arcadian support along with some borrowed air assets we plan to launch a sizeable Death Korps assault against them to break it."

"I thought we were not going to take missions with regular Death Kops members?"

Jaune asked as Ludo gave a confused stare.

"You are not. You will be flown to the battle zone! Over the Kernel as we are calling it. We can't risk our elite forces, after all, can we? You are far too valuable to loose with the rest of the chaff!"

The man said at the meeting ended as team ARKM accepted the mission, as they left Ludo called out for Jaune one last time.

"Remember Mister Arc! This is optional! You always have a choice...

"It's cold!" Ruby said shivering her small head off as the fourth member of team ARKM stood in the back of titanic aircraft. As they all shivered in varying degrees of discomfort as the craft flew through the air.

The ship was admittedly cold, it was easily below thirty degrees, and there was a sharp chill filling the air followed by the low drone of the engines filled the air as the ship flew through the clouds.

They were in the back of a massive arcadian transport plane that housed dozens of paratroopers in its belly. Who stood tall and impassive as statues dressed in light blue fatigues, as they ships interior was lightly buffeted by turbulence as the members of team ARKM fought to stay upright as Ruby shivered.

In her defense, Ruby never took any of her Beacon clothes to Bastion, and the only reason her clothes were not in complete shambles was the fact that she kept her aura up and Kage out of all people knew how to knit.

And was therefore responsible for keeping Ruby's clothes in some semblance of functioning order as the fact that Kage was responsible for keeping her from being stark naked was a crucial factor in cementing their friendship.

"I can't feel my legs!" Ruby whined shaking her skinny limbs rapidly training and failing to use her semblance to keep warm as she was chattering her teeth openly in the ships hull.

"You should have dressed warmer.' Kage said dryly as Ruby shot him a dirty glare.

"I tried!"

Ruby shot back as Jaune looked down at her. She was currently wearing her usual Beacon uniform but now with a long fur scarf around her neck. And a long row of pelts across her legs that covered up less than half of them and had Ruby constantly fidgeting back and forth trying to warm her legs up.

"It's ok Ruby. You can hold onto me to keep warm." Jaune said as the girl blushed deeply before latching onto Jaune pressing herself into his side, wedging her soft breast into his side making him freeze.

Happy thoughts Jaune. Think happy thoughts!
Not that happy! Jaune thought as he felt a sudden tightening in his pants.
Just ignore the-

"Sound off!"

A loud bellowing voice called from the front of the craft as ever soldier shouted off in one rolling voice that took Jaune off guard as Kage began to sigh.

"What's going on?"

Jaune asked as several doors opened across the craft letting in harsh bone-chilling winds to the already frigid interior dropped, even more, making Ruby attempt to merge with Jaune as Kage sighed.

"It's the other bad thing about Arcadians; They love to sing," Kage said before a tune began to carry over the craft.

"~He was just a rookie trooper, and he surely shook with pride!~"

A loud bellowing voice called out as Ruby coked her head teeth chattering.

"Wh- WH- What's going on?'

The reaper asked as Kage sighed.

"They are going to sing."

"Why?" Ruby asked as Kage gritted his teeth.

"For Moral." He replied sullenly as the tune began.

"~He checked off his equipment and made sure his pack was tight!~"

"~He had to sit and list to those awful engines roar he ain't gonna jump no more!~"

"~Gory gory what a helluva way to die!~"
"~ Gory gory what a helluva way to die!~"

"What are they singing?" Rubya sked as Kage signed

"Don't worry about it Red just sit back and-

FITUM!

A massive blast impacted the ship as something long and hard stuck its side slamming into it as the telltale sound of gunfire filled the air as the craft began to shake.

"Is everybody happy now?"

A large man deemed the lieutenant said as he stared down the ranks of assembled soldiers smiling broadly she did so. Bullets struck the craft as the night sky was light up by giant orange flashes as flak exploded all over the air the craft began to shake.

"We're under attack?!"

Ruby squealed as Kage nodded once

"Looks like it. What? You didn't think the fang would just let us fly over them now, did you? Be glad that we aren't down there with that." Kage asked they now worried reaper as the song started back up.

"~Our hero feebly answered yes, and they stood him up.~"

"~He jumped into the icy blast his static line unhooked.~"

"~And he ain't gonna jump no more!~"

"Why are they singing," Jaune asked as Kage sighed rubbing his pistol on his arm as he checked for blemishes on its freshly polished surface.

"I think they think it sounds good. Besides, what's the problem? Red like it." Kage said point to a fiercely concentrated Ruby was grinning like a madman.

"I like this song!" She said once as it kept droning.

"~He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock.~"
"~He felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop.~"
"~The silk from his reserve spilled out and wrapped around his legs.~"
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more.~"

"Wait what?" Ruby asked as her previous enjoyment of the song was brought into question as it reached its darker parts.

"Just wait for it Red, it's going to get a lot worse," Kage claimed as it droned on.

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.~"
"~He ain't gonna jump no more.~"

The cant droned on as Jaune looked out the now open side doors, wind flew into the ships bay as he tugged on his chute. He was briefly comforted by the fact that for one his air sickness was not acting up fear of death seemed like a good suppressant.

And two he took a small glint of humor in seeing Ruby weighed down by a parachute as the poor girl was practically hunched over by the large pack. Even if Ruby looked hilariously small compared to the pack on her pack. As the poor girl looked like a half-folded pretzel as she struggled to keep upright.

Jaune never liked flying but the fact that he was on the plan for less than an hour certainly helped. Although the fact that the wood soon is jumping out of said aircraft did not help his prospects as dropping out of a perfectly good plane was still in his opinion a terrible idea.

"~The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome,~"
"~Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones;~"
"~The canopy became his shroud; he hurtled to the ground.~"
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more.~"

"What!? What are they talking about?" Ruby asked as the song finally reached its halfway point.

"They are talking about what might happen to all of us," Kage said with s grimace as he shot a steely glare forward brown eyes shooting into the dim light of the ship rock left and right as munitions struck it. All along its hole as it rocked back and forth.

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

"I don't like this song anymore…

Ruby said as another large bloom of orange filled the cabin as some massive armament climaxed nearby rocking the entire ship to the left as the paratroopers stood ramrod straight aa ARKM struggled to keep a straight stance.

SKREAW!

A roar filled the cabin as a monstrous roar filled the cabin. As Ruby paled.

"Grimm!? Why are there Grimm here?!" Ruby asked as Jaune looked to Kage who grimaced.

"There's a battlefield down there Red. That means lot's of death and dying. It's practically a feast for them down there." Kage said as more monstrous screeches filled the cabin making the girls augmented eye squint as it struck out of her skull.

"Will they reach us up here!?"

"Not likely Red. Where flying too high for them to catch." Kage lied easily as Jaune gave him a small nod of thanks.

"Well, atleast that's good. I mean I don't want to know what would happen if-

FIT! FIT! FIT!

Ruby was interrupted as three never more feathers penetrated several glass windows shooting into the cabin filling it with roaring winds and the sounds of shattering glass filled the cabin.

"Down!"

Jaune yelled grabbing Ruby and tackling her to the floor as Kage id the same to Mika as three feathers ripped into the cabin two passing harmlessly in front of them embedding themselves straight into the ceiling of the craft. The third feather, however, found it's marked and eviscerated a soldier tearing him in two and showering team ARKM in steaming blood as the man was brutally ripped apart, his comrades barely seemed to notice as they kept singing.

"~The days he'd lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind, ~"
"~He thought about the girl back home, the one he'd left behind;~"
"~He thought about the medic corps, and wondered what they'd find,~"
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more.~"

"What?! I thought you said we were safe!"

Ruby yelled as Jaune let her up as the eviscerated man laid motionless on the floor as the gore-soaked teens stood up on shaking limbs.,

" We are, once we reach cruising altitude," Venke admitted slowly as Ruby balked and went to comment further as the craft rocked again.

Two more strikes rocked the ship as Jaune gritted his teeth as two missile streaks rocketed past the craft leaving twin missile wisps in their wake as the rounds narrowly missed the plane skitting it winds by a razor's edge missing the ship and exploding into the sky as it flew forward and the song continued.

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

"~The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild,~"
"~The medics jumped and screamed with glee, they rolled their sleeves and smiled,~."
"~For it had been a week or more since last a 'Chute had failed,~."
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more.~"

"That's not good! Why would they sing this!?" Ruby asked trying and failing to get the blood and ore off of her but reluctantly relenting as the steaming viscera did wonders from keeping her shivering acting as a macabre heating system as Jaune grimaced.
"I don't know Ruby. I think they like it? I mean we sing when we run right? This is more or less the same no?' Jaune said attempting to calm the blood smeared girl wiping off a smear of gore form her hair as she shook her head.

"That's different! We sing songs to make us run better! This is just depressing!"

Ruby shouted as the song went on.

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

"~He hit the ground, the sound was "SPLAT!", his blood went spurting high;~"
"~His comrades, they were heard to say "A HELL OF A WAY TO DIE!"~"
"~He lay there, rolling 'round in the welter of his gore,~"
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more.~"

"What!? Why would they say that!?" Ruby shouted as the girl finally began to panic as the chant, blood smeared clothing and ever increasing rattle of bullets and ars fire on their hull finally began to get to her.

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

The song went from a strong upbeat chorus as it went from strong and sturdy to a slow and somber tune as the chanters began to go into a near funeral dirge.

"~There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute,~"
"~Intestines were a-dangling from his paratroopers suit,~"
"~He was a mess, they picked him up, and poured him from his boots,~"
"~And he ain't gonna jump no more!~"

The tune finally died down completely as only the sounds of droning engines, whooshing air and bullets impacting the hull of the craft filled the air as Jaune sighed.

"There Ruby. You see it's over. You don't have to-

"Second verse!"

The lieutenant yelled as Ruby quaked and Kage sighed.

"Told you they like to sing."

Kage said nonchalantly wiping off a piece of brain from his pistol as an more upbeat tone entered the ship as the men continued to sing.

"~There was one a man was born in twenty! Twenty four!~"
"~He slaughtered Lumals day and night, and then he killed some more!~"
"~He shot!~"
"~He based!~"
"~He killed!~"
"~He slashed!~"

"But never did he die! They never did come home!"

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

The song went as a glaring red light filled the cabin with harsh warning klaxons filled the room with a glaring whining noise as the first wave of men leaped out of the plane as the first drop began .

"There are those who love the light and treat its word as lord!"
"They wash their hands in other's blood and never did they morn!'
"They shot!"
"They bashed!"
"They killed!"
"They slashed!"
"But never did we die!"
"We always do come home!"

"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~."
"~Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,~"
"~He ain't gonna jump no more!~"

The song rang as another titanic blast rocked the ship send team ARKM scattering across the floor as Jaune's already shaky grasp on the metal was tossed out the window with his now blood-soaked sneakers, as he lost his balance was tossed out to the side of the ship.

No. No. NO! NO! NO! Jaune thought as he found his face slapping hard against the floor as the paratroopers while rocked were still stand by the cords connecting them to the floor time stopped and ground to a screeching halt as everything went into the distorted view of a man about to die as Jaune saw his body sliding ever closer to the open door.

"Jaune!?" Ruby yelled as Jaune stood up at the last second before the ship tilted to the right as Jaune feel his fell leave the ground before he tripped to the door and began to fall…

"Gotcha!"

Kage yelled jumping forward gripping Jaune's hand as he leaped forward holding the boy's hand as his gauntlet hand gripped his leader's arm.

Keeping him grounded as the boy gripped his falling leader keeping him onboard the ship by a hair's breadth before a misle stuck the craft sending the entire thing rocketing off the right as Kage lost his footing on board as he and Jaune were sent sprawling forward and out of the craft and into the night.

"JAUNE!?" The voice of Ruby yelled as the boy's last vision of the craft as of shining silver eyes being tackled by a girl in furs before Jaune and Kage fell from the ship and hurdled to the ground.

"RUBY!" Jaune yelled as he heard one last "~What a helluva way to die!~" From the craft as Jaune saw the massive nearly a mile long aircraft flying forward through the sky as fire fell off its belly as Jaune's was teared up as wailing wind filled his heard a VATHUM!

Followed by a rush of air so fast and hot it nearly took his head from his neck as it left second degree burn marks along his cheek as a bullet nearly the size of his entire leg shot past his face in a glowing orange steer as Jaune looked down to what seemed to be the literal end of the word.

Below him was a massive bleak mountain that was easily half a mile tall with massive jagged snow filled peaks, that shout and burst out of it in jagged brutal angels that were overseeing a insanely long treeline that was easily over seven miles of foliage and filled with trees that put the ones in the Emerald forest to shame in size.

Coming from the tree line was a massive blur of missile and rounds that shot out from the tree line in blazing pinions of destruction as wisps of missiles and rounds exploded from the tree line. As bright orange flashes of light shot out from the forest in furious contrails of death and hatred as they slammed into their designated areas.

On the opposite of the tree line was an ever-encroaching line of moving shuddering mass of people. Reacting just as viciously restrung fire and trading bombardment with he defenders entrenched position. As a massive force of infantry assaulted the tree line.

The forces struggled forward as angry missiles shot back from the offender as bullets and other projectiles shot out from the ranks answering the enemies rounds as twin side duel in a massive exchange of mutinous throwing up gigantic columns of dirt and mud filled with dead and dying students as the battle raged.

"JAUNE! DON'T PULL YOUR CHUTE!"

Kage yelled at the top of his lungs as the two fell through the air as bullet shipped past their face as tracer rounds lit up the sky as Jaune grimaced.

"WHAT?!"
Juan yelled as the boy grimaced.

"DON'T OPEN YOUR CHUTE!"

"WHY!?"

"THAT!"

Kage yelled pointing up to a man who cute was deployed and was floating gently to the ground before a blur of black sped past them and reduced him to blood satin as a nevermore ripped him to pieces.

"THE HELL!?"

"THE GRIMM WILL RIP YOU APART IF YOU PULL EARLY! WAIT FOR ME!"

Kage yelled as Jaune saw swarms of Grimm flowing into the battlefield picking off straggling paratroopers and making staffing run across the battlefield as angry weapons retorts from both sides tracked the raving Griffons, and Nevermore's racking them with anti aircraft fire as the Grimm screeched in defiance as the boys hurtled down to the ground.

"NOW!"

Kage yelled as they both ripped their chutes out as Jaune felt the shock of the pull as his chute flew open with a surprisingly silent Whoosh! As Jaune file, a massive hand grips his chest as he swore his ribs were broken as the cute halted his decent as the boy was in a brief deadfall stage hovering for ten seconds before he slammed into the ground with a massive thud! As he felt, his legs nearly break before aura and weeks of training kicked in as he bent them at the right moment and rolled with his drop landed surprisingly soft grass.

He gained a moment of clarity before the angry sound of bullets maps fire filled his ears as Kage tacked him to the ground.

"Get down!" Kage yelled tackled his leader as bullets ripped into the earth as the two huddle behind a self-made crater as they shuffled into its crest. If Jaune thought he had trouble hearing in the air in the crater of the assault, it was now deafening.

FIT! FIT! FIT!

Bullets impacted the crater as Jaune was greeted with a vision of sheer anarchy. Everywhere around him as far as he could look was flooded with people running into a wall of death, firing all types of weapons as bullets, rockets, and mortar rounds impacted them as men and woman on both sides.

Soldiers on both sides were ripped into tattered pieces, or blasted into shreds as mortar rounds found clumped together masses of students turn them into a red paste, or much more were yanked back by an invisible hand as the sharp retorts of sniper fire filled the air.

Jaune gritted his teeth as rolling balls of artillery fire racked both sides of the attack as huge blossoms of yellow appeared on both sides of the line churning up tons of soil, machinery and death as Jaune grimaced

BANG!"

FIT!

Jaune saw Oum as a sniper bullet nearly took off his head as a projectile brushed his scalp as Kage tackled him.

"Down! Sniper!"

Kage yelled as they hugged the soft earth, that was remarkably vibrant in stark contrast to the badlands could dead variant.

"There! We need to get there!"

Kage yelled point to a group of Death Korps students who were currently pinned down in a trench under a barrage of gunfire as they fought their way to the front of the tree line.

"Why there?!"

Jaune yelled ducking his head a sniper round nearly found his head he curse loudly.

"We can't stay here! That sniper has our position! We need to find the rest of the Death Krops! If we don't, we are going to die!"

Kage shouted as Jaune grimaced as yet another sniper round came to their position as a bullet skimmed across the top of his head, as it smoothed his blonde hair as Jaune bit his tongue.

"Fair enough!"
The boy yelled as both of them leaped over the crater as a mass of shaped flashed into them as their aura flashed blue.

"Move! NOW!"

Jaune yelled taking his shield and raising it over the two covering them from enemy fire as they began a desperate print between them and the crated.

As the boys sprinted across the blasted hellscape of soft earth, as mortar rounds and artillery fired reigned down on all side of them as the sharp PIT! PIT! As bullets stuck into Jaune' shield ricocheting off them in violent yellow sparks as the two ran a deadly gauntlet of fire shrapnel and bullets before they jumped head first into the Death Korps trench.

"Incoming!"

A voice yelled Jaune landed belly first into the trench as the initiation student next to him suddenly had his brain blown out as he dropped his assault rifle to the ground as a rough group of a dozen fang charged them.

"Keep them back!"

A loud voice yelled as Jaune finally seeing no use for his sword put it to the side as he gripped the assault rifle from the boys still warm hands as he took the assault rifle and aimed it at the charging fang. Jaune had never fired a gun before his entire life and as he rested the base of it on his shoulder before pulling the trigger.

BANG!

The assault rifle fired bucking wildly as it kicked up and down spitting bullets into the fang. The grand majority of the weapons fired went wild most hitting the ground or air around the fang as one three shots his the charge mass as a bullets speed and head into a pinky-grey pul as two more fang stumbled.

Luckily Jaune's atrocious accuracy was more the mane up for by the hail of bullets from the other member of the Death Korps students as the fang were shredded as Jaune hear the telltale CRACK! Of Kage's heavy pistols along with green energy, bolts supplemented the fire onto the enemy assault as the fang was cut to bloody ribbons as the assault faltered as a familiar voice filled his ears.

"I don't fucking believe it. Of all the luck."

An irritated sharp voice filled Jaune's head as he turned around to see a pair of mercurial pair of black eyes staring at them.

"Zach?"

Jaune asked das the family boy dress in stark black Death Korpscombat armor with strange golden wings planted on his chest as he glared at him twin green pistols still steaming. "Look what the cat dragged in! We got the elites! The boys who are too good to die with the rest of us!"

Zach said as another familiar form came from behind him "Hello, sirs! How are you doing today?"

Six asked as the initiation student strut forward trademark bulky Vox caster still strapped to his back artillery rounds impacted far to comfort as it covered the trench in a shower of dirt.

"Zach? The hell are you doing here?"

Kage asked as the boy snorted as he walked forward to Kage clasping shoulders with him.

"Staying alive! In case you moody ass is suddenly blind."

"No, I'm just wondering how the hell my karma is this bad that I end up meeting you on a mission twice."

"What? You too good to die with the rest of us? That elite life made you soft?"

"No, I'd just rather not jump form my plane until I get to the drop zone."

Kage said as the boys hit the deck as another wave or artillery filled thee my tree lines decimate them before the harsh sound of grinding gears filled the air as another familiar voice came from their back.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is. It looks like I might get to see you shot either way."

The voice of the Death Korps lieutenant still clad in his trademarked jet black storm coat and gas mask said as several tanks?! Filled forward as a mass of students began to gather for a charge.

"Sir?" Jaune asked not sure how to address as the man as he sighed heavily.

"You are no longer under my direct command Mister Arc. Though since you are separated from your unit, I am assuming you wish to assist our assault? If so, please get behind an IFV and prepare to charge. We are breaking this front or dying in the process."

The man said before turning to Zach as he sheathed his plasma pistol.

"Major, B what is the situation of the men?"

"Sir! We have twenty men up and ready for combat sir!"

Zach replied as the man's grim face gas masked now smeared with mud and blood nodded his head.

"Good. The armor arrives in less than four minutes, I want everyone ready for a charge. The enemy has held this tree line for far too long and I intend to rectify that."

The man said as Jaune grimaced as the four boys began to form up.

"I must say it is glad to be back with you!"

Six said as he jogged behind Jaune who was currently jogging behind the armored personnel carrier, as they began to jog behind it. The tall bland colored machine trudged slowly up the muddy hillside it's grinding tracks flinging up scores of mud as Jaune grimaced as a disgusting skulking sound filled the air as the personnel carrier moved up.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The cannon on the front of the thing fired over a steady line of rounds into the tree line bathing it in orange fire, as Jaune looked to his left where dozens of other similar formation were all making their way to the tree line.

FIT FIT!

The sound of bullets striking the carrier filled the air as it acted like a giant shield for the approaching Bastion students who all jogged behind it using it for cover as they approached the devastated tree line. The scene was repeated several times over as a mass of Bastion student lined up for an armored spearhead, that was attempting to break through a section of the treelines, it was a sound strategy. Gather your forces into one solid spear then thrust into an already weakened enemy line it made sense, even if there was going to be heavy casualties.

Jaune grimaced as all of the Bastion training paid off as he uses his song training drill to follow the grinding tracks of the machine with near machine-like accuracy before he stuck the tree line and the word turned into chaos.

Jaune's world was turned inside out as it was consumed by a devastating cacophony of sound it became a whirring blur of noise, bullets, and shrapnel as soon as they hit the tree line the APC swerved to the side letting out, however, the hell it as caring into the tree line before forming an armored perimeter behind the students and giving covering fire for the Bastion students filling the air with heavy caliber ammunition as they fought their way into the trees.

The enemy in the tree line had been devastated by the artillery strike leaving nothing left alive as the ground was a charred black mass of craters and scars on a bleached and sterile forest floor. As the hard arcid smell of gunsmoke and the smell of burning flesh entered his nose as the four boys fought together until they reach the mountain...

It was if the very mountain itself had come alive. As bullets and mortars fell like rain from it as the four students fought against the hail of deaf spewed from the mountain. It was a literal wall of death, the hard mountains edifice had been completely covered by pillboxes, redoubts, mortar dens and snipers nest rains pure hell onto the students as they sprinted for a makeshift trench hastily erected by the attacking students that were offering a margin of protection to them as they huddled close.

FIT FIT VATHUM!

A storm of bullets ripped into the makeshift trench line that had been erected beath the towering fortifications of the mountain making Jaune swear as the desecrated body of an initiation student slammed into him vox cast squealing out a string of commands as Six yelled to him.

"Sir! That's the strike caller! Read his code!"

Six yelled form roughly ten feet to Jaune's left as the boy was too far to reach the body as a hail of bullets rained into the trench from above.

"His what!?"

Jaune yelled back ducking his head as his shield deflected another sniper round with a familiar Ping!

"In his hands! The white piece of paper! Read it to the vox!"

He swore as Jaune felt over the dead body gagging as a half blown apart face spilled pink brains onto his armor as the still remaining ghostly pale face had an odd tranquil gaze to it, as he gripped out a piece of dirty white paper from its hands and began reading a string of coordinate into the vox before he came to a blood and dirt smeared sentence that he couldn't make heads or tails of as he cursed aloud attempting to read the note as he fumbled out the words.

"Alpha! Pie! Epsilon!"

Jaune yelled reading out the last muddied string of words on the paper as a confused voice squared back.

"Epsilon!? Confirm Epsilon strike field correspondent!"

"Epsilon confirmed!"

Jaune yelled before he heard Six swear.

"Epsilon!? NO!"

He yelled leaping over the trench line braving a storm of metal falling onto Jaune's lap pushing the corpse of his fellow initiation student aside and yanking the Vox from his hands yelling into body swearing.

"Sir! Sir just got us killed!"

"What?! The fuck blondie! What did he do!?" Zach yelled angrily firing his energy pistols into the mountain as Six swore.

'He just called in a damned daisy cutter strike and not the bunker buster!"

Six yelled as Zach stopped firing his pistols for one second as he mouth fell open in a gapping motion as he looked like he was going to strangle someone.

"He what?! Blondie the hell is wrong with you!?"

" I didn't know! I was just reading the paper!"

"Goddammit! Now I got to save everyone's sorry ass! Again!"

Zach yelled before leaping out of the trench and running down its line dodging gunfire and cursing at the top of his lungs as he ran down its length.

"Ok! Ok! You lazy shits! This is your senior officer Major B speaking! I need everybody to gather up your piercing explosives! I want all of them! I want all of the Bangalore's, melta bombs, fusion cutters and every another explosive you got!"

Zach yelled into a scroll on his arm as he ran back and forth along the trench collecting a variety of weaponry form the students before carrying a stack of bombs to the frown to the trench line. Right as a low droning sound of airplanes came overhead.

"Ok! Follow my lead!" He yelled as the boys ran out from the trench line as they reached the base of the mountain were Zach was reading out from a small piece of paper as they slammed into the wall. Barely avoiding the hail of bullets and shrapnel as they got under the base of the guns as the spread out and began to prepare the weapons.

"Here! There! And there! Put the bombs there!"

Zach yelled as they planted the bombs on what he claimed to be a weak spot on the mountains defenses.

"Wait! Zach! What's the plan!?" Jaune yelled as Zach grimaced as he and Kage struggled to string together the assorted bombs onto a spot on the mountain.

"Saving our asses! We got to get out before that damned fire bombing comes!"

"What about the rest of the men?!"

"Forget them! Death Korps only cares about one thing! Mission success! As long as this fort is leveled they don't care how it goes down!"

Zach said as Jaune gained a furious glare at the blatant disregard for life as be began to shout back a response to the boy.

"Cover your ears and nose!"

Zach yelled as the two boys finished setting up the explosives before Jaune grimaced as they all covered their ears as blinding flash of light opened into the air, filling it whit a searing yellow glow along with the harsh acrid smell of burning earth as Jaune opened his eyes to a shocking sight.

There was a simmering hole of burning mountain and burned in the mountain as there was now an four by four-foot hole leading into what looked like a small room in the fort.

"In! Everybody in!"

Jaune yelled as the boys leaped into the hole before the loud that was really a supply room of some type just as the drone of planes filled the air. As a large shadow fell overhead. The boys slammed into the room, as Kage and Zach wasted no time breaking down a bulkhead inside of the mountain base as the four sprinted past the door slamming into another dark plain room as Kage and Zach slammed the bulkhead door shut as the whine of bombs falling filled the air followed by a whooshing of flames came as they slammed the door shut sealing them off inside the base as an inferno raged outside.

"We made it!" Jaune yelled as Zach swore.

"No, it's not done yet, kid. We were supposed to destroy the base not take it! We just used our one airstrike to take down the enemy, and we killed our own people! At this point, we're presumed KIA surrounded by Fang and completely cut off! Our choices are simple, we fight our way out of this place, or we die. Simple as that."

"I hate to say it but we need to be some real Oum damned heroes for the next couple of hours."

Zach said as blaring red light filled the air as Six grimaced.

"Sirs! I have multiple contacts on Scroll!"

The boy yelled as his smoking Vox caster sputtered speaks and belched smoke as he hooked up a scroll to his back.

"Boss this is going to be ugly."

Kage said as the sounds of falling feet filled the air as Jaune sighed drawing his sword and shield grateful to be a close area for a change as the sound of falling feet filled the air, the boy took a final breath and got ready to fight.

AN: There we go! Another day another chapter! This chapter is the push part of the story and marks the halfway point till the return! Now with the boys outgunned outmanned and cut off from their friends with nothing but the weapon on their back and sheer spite to survive let's see how much death we can deal in one chapter!

Well, that's it for now, the stories picking up so if you like it thanks for reading! Our of all my fics I think I'm most proud of this one. It's probably the most noncanon fic I have and the fact that it has a decent amount of followers is amazing. Thanks.

Since it's doing so well I'm going to work on Game On next so until next time!

Have you an Omake.

Omake. Hero of Remnant! Parth three. Chilled welcome.

"I'd say that went well. Wouldn't you Ren?"

"Yes, commissar. That went as well as one could hope. Tea sir?"

Ren asked leaning forward his dark drab black coats flowing as Jaune smiled His plan was working, so far. At least as far as he could tell. The plan was simple. He never intended to shoot the girl. He was just checking her and her second. Jaune's plan was this. When two warring groups are in conflict and you need to bring them together. Nothing works better then a common enemy, even if the enemy was him.

"What should we do now sir? I believe that the commanders will be having a change of heart within the hour, and the regiment soon after."

"I hope so. I'd hate to half to shoot them." Jaune said with a smirk as he leaned back tipping hie great har downward as he grinned into his tea. He had seen two things about the regiment that today. One. Ruby was a good commander. Even when faced with a summary execution one that even if it was a bluff was a threat that was real enough and stood her ground shaking given but still holding firm in the face of death.

Second. Her second Yatsuhashi had, more importantly, had stepped up to defend her. Showing that he wanted to protect the girl. And that the real issues with the regimental command chain were just that Ruby was young and inexperienced not that she was a woman, well girl but still. That meant that whatever their differences they were all imperial citizens in the end. They all fought for Oum and they all had a common vow keeping them together.

Now Jaune just had to sit and wait. Soon the regiment would come together seeing him as a common threat, put aside their petty differences and become a smooth and efficient fighting force! Or so Jaune though. He knew that while his plan was solid he knew that Oum had a sick sense of humor. And that at this rate it was only a matter of time before something went horribly wrong and he would be risking his own hide to preserve his completely fictitious and utterly faux reputation as a so-called hero of Remnant.

"Well, Ren no sense waiting around here. What do you say about checking the rest of the barracks yeah? Let's see if they have some decent food for a change."

"Very good commissar. I am a tad famished my self."

Ren said phlegmatically as Jaune grinned. He knew Ren being famished meant he was beyond starvation. Ren had the appetite of the men and the table manners of an Ursa. As the two stood up to walk out the room. Jaune had a brief feeling of dread as he left the warmth of the heating coils. Mediocre as it was as they opened the door to a bright pair of silver eyes.

"Sir!? I'm sorry!"

The sharp voice of Ruby said as Jaune raised an eyebrow at her.

"Assaulting a superior officer Rose? If you wanted you execution so bad you could just ask you know?"

Jaune asked teasing the girl who balked at his word as her face lost the few bits of color it had left as she began to stutter.

"No! No! NO! I didn't mean that! Please! I was just waiting for you to come out So I could...

"So you could?"

"Not attack you?"

"Right... Since you are here walk with us Rose. We are looking for the cafeteria I am assuming you know where it is?"

"Yes! I know exactly where the cafeteria is! Follow me, sir!"

The girl said as the three members of the one of eight began to walk down the bland frigid barrack corridors.

"So sir! Tell me what it's like to be a hero!"

"Hero Rose?"

"You are a hero of remnant! I me-

"Flattery get's you nowhere. And it won't stop my pistol in a week if you have not whipped you group inot shape."

"Of course not! I was not trying to bribe you I was just-

Whatever words she was going to say were cut off as a wall of red and white slammed into Jaune knocking him to the floor.

"The hell!?"

Jaune asked as he saw a pair of teal eyes staring down at him.

"Falka! What are you doing!?"

Ruby shouted as Jaune saw a small woman with ginger hair, pale skin a freckled face and teal eyes looking down at him.

"Get off the commissar. Now."

Ren said calmly as he pushed the barrels of his twin hell pistols to the girls head who gasped.

"Oh, my Oum! Who are you tall dark and handsome!" She said as Jaune could not stop the first thought that entered his head.

Mouth breather. Jaune thought as the girl breathed a great gasp of air inot her mouth as Ruby began to panic.

"Falka! Get off the commissar! NOW!"
Ruby yelled in the most authoritarian tone Jaune had ever heard the girl use as the girl shot up.l

"Sorry commissar! SIR!" The girl yelled leaping up flashing a salute to Jaune who grimaced as Ren helped him up.

"Are you ok commissar?"

Ren asked in his usual phlegmatic tone as Jaune nodded his head.

"I'm fine. But who are you?"

"I'm Falka! Falka Valkyrie! Reportign for duty sir!"

The girl said as Ruby panicked.

"Lieutenant Falka Valkyrie! I'm sorry sir! She's our heavy weapons expert! She's a bit of a klutz but she's the best we have!"

"You best heavy weapons exper is a bit of a klutz? Well at least she's not blind."

Jaune said dryly as the girl began to suck great amounts of air into her mouthas he grimaced at her.

"Why is-

"She had an accident as a girl! She can't use her nose to breathe! She's limtied to her mouth and can not smell either." Ruby explained to Jaune as the girl jumped to Ren

"Hey there! I'm Falka! And you are handsome!"

The girl said as time stooped.

"What?"
Ren asked as a bright blush that was at complete odds with his face a appeared as Jaune grew a shit-eating grin.

A girl was hitting on Ren!? Ren!? It's not that Ren was unattractive it was just his rater pungent aroma beat whichever potential suitor away with a metal bat. But this? An admittedly cute girl with no sense of smell? Of this was too good."

"Excuse me?" Ren asked attempting and failing at it as the woman pushed on.'

"I'm Falka! Falka Valkyrie! I think we should hang out!"

"I- I Can't! I'm

"Nonsense! Ren, there is a beautiful woman asking for your hand! Indulge her commissar's orders." Jaune said with a shit eating grin as Oum came to pay him a visit as Ruby's Vox went off as Yatsuhais voice broke past it.

"Rose! Ther is a brawl in the mess hall! Multiple injuries potential fatalities!"

"What?!"

Ruby yelled as Jaune sighed

"Well come on now. It won't sort itself out."

Jaune said as the hand of Oum pressed into his shoulder as the group began to sprint towards the mess hall.