CTDK and VRDN walked to the office formation, expecting four other teams from the other areas to join them in the meeting place. The Viking team is quieter than usual, understanding the severity of the impending mission.
Everyone knows if all six Patrols are en massed in a "war room" the situation is usually serious.
"Do you know what's go'n on?" Jakob Volduner, the fearless leader of VRDN asked Cindy.
"I only know as much as you do, Jakob." Cindy shrugged as they approached the large brass doors.
Inside were the other teams, each speaking among another. Everyone in the Patrols knows one another, due to the organization being quite small. They did not talk loud, only enough to keep voices from echoing in the large steel war room. VRDN immediately went off to chat with team MLCT of Haven, spitting out old jokes and greetings with the other heavy weaponed team. Needless to say, VRDN, MLCT and HLTP are the heavy muscle of the six.
CTDK mingled in with the other groups, catching up on the latest news and so on.
"Nice to see you Eric," Kelly bumped knuckles with Eric Valence of SLTE from Vacuo. The two of them are the heavy range and close combaters of CTDK and SLTE. "Been a long time since we've met."
"Long it has been, little dragon." Eric patted her shoulder. "How's the missions?"
While everyone is chattering away, curious of the urgent meeting- the brass bobble doors opened, Headmaster Ozpin, General Ironwood, and Glynda Goodwitch strolled in.
"Attention!" Emily Echo, leader of EBNY shouted.
All six teams stood in formation, legs shoulder width apart, back straight with hands clasped behind their backs and chins up.
"VRDN of Vale, in duty." Jakob spoke loudly, he and his team saluting quickly.
"CTDK of Vale, in duty." Cindy and her team crossed their right arm across their chest.
"SLTE of Vacuo, reporting." Saurman and his team did a military salute.
"EBNY of Vacuo, reporting." Emily and her team replicated the military salute.
"MLCT of Mistral, ready." Mike and his team raised their left arm at the elbow before dropping to their side.
"HLTP of Mistral, ready." Hanna and her team mirrored their partner team, but with the opposite arm.
General Ironwood raises his hand, the teams loosened their stances a little. The four turned to walk into another room with a large holographic display table inside. Without saying anything, the leaders of the six respective teams walked in after them, their team members relaxed from their stances as the double doors closed behind them.
The members of the meeting gathered around the holographic display, waiting for the four to speak. Headmaster Ozpin cleared his throat, the leaders of the six teams stood attention again, watching as he placed his scroll onto the table, a video or rather a documentary flashed to life for them all to see.
"This was taken weeks ago by team RWBY during a Mountain Glenn mission." He began. "Originally the mission is supposed to be for grimm purposes, but White Fang presence was noted from the discovery by Ruby Rose when she was doing a night walk."
The video changed to show an underground rail system that was captured by the scroll. It showed, several White Fang members walking around, hauling machinery, dust crates and what seem to be loading into a train.
"Roman Torchwick was discovered along with Atlesian Paladins and a rigged train that led into the city," Ozpin continued, signaling Goodwitch to pull up the individual fighting video feeds. "During their encounter, RWBY was aboard that train with Professor Oobleck to hold some of the White Fang back."
The video split into four sections, displaying each individual battles on the screens. The leaders took mental note on the opponents and fighting styles.
"From what Qrow has gathered from his work in the field, the enemy is among the tournament." General Ironwood announced to them. Murmurs broke out among them for a few seconds before subsiding again.
The rest of the meeting was pouring over video feeds and talking amongst themselves on the situation. The information and video feeds were sent to the awaiting team members outside.
"Alright, so what's the task at hand?" Emily asked as they all finished the review.
Headmaster Ozpin pulled up a map of the entire area. He nodded to Goodwitch who cleared her throat.
"At this point, we the tracker teams VRDN and MLCT to check Mountian Glenn to anything left behind. SLTE and HLTP will do street patrol for anything suspicious. CTDK and EBNY will take the tunnels and underground city." She passed out the files to the teams to read over. "A copy has been sent to your teams."
They scanned through the given materials- maps of all kinds, a compass, black light scanners, four ear phones and dust bottles.
"Failure is not an option, gather what you can," General Ironwood spoke to them. "This is the largest mission you all will undergo."
"Dismissed."
The double doors opened, the leaders regrouping with their partner teams and teammates, reviewing all the materials and tasks.
"Okay, we have to go investigate a old tunnel that is now infested with grimm," Cindy read her scroll carefully. "That is so safe."
"Hardly, this is something I normally would not mind at all," Emily scoffed, rereading the file again as her team checked their ammo supply for the long run. "But this is something we never done before."
"I'll agree with that, Emily." Jay rotated the barrel of Falling Sky before sheathing it on her lower back.
The teams chatted among one another again, but their conversation grim like their mission itself. It is no longer keeping the borders safe and the civilians safer- it is now the world's weight upon their shoulders as they have to go within the safe kingdom of Vale and scour within before the clock reaches zero.
They cannot fail, as failing would mean the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. Including theirs.
The clacking of the heavy boots and cane resonated as they all turned to the three older members. Their faces grim as well, knowing the burden is placed upon these twenty four young men and women. They all understood the risks of being a part of this special services, always going where no one dare go for feats, never looking to tomorrow knowing they may not return from the missions.
"Students of the Remnant Frontier Patrol," Headmaster Ozpin started. "We know this is a mission that is the first you've encountered in your time. We know you all understand the risk of carrying the burden of being the guardian of the people, knowing when to look to a new day, but never anticipate it to come back. You've seen things no one else have, and accomplished what is difficult."
"We wish you all the hope and luck for this mission as the world sees you as their guardian now. Failure is not an option as lives will be lost, possibly yours," He continued. "You are used to fighting Grimm, White Fang, other groups. But now you will have to fight the people you all protected once, it will not be easy, but this is what a Hunter or Huntress will go through."
The air felt heavy as the six teams stood still, eyes down casted as they absorbed the words.
Never in their life they anticipated that they will encounter this.
"Starting tomorrow, your task will begin."
All six teams sat in a private room of Junior's club. Drinks of various kinds scattered on the large table. They all decided to spend their days enjoying a bit before starting the mission. Talking about old times, speaking tales of their adventures, boasting of their team feats and so on. Just something to remember them all by.
VRDN and MLCT downing their tankards of sweet red sap mead, laughing at memories and stories. The two teams seemingly can never get drunk or tipsy from drinking large amounts of any kind of drinks.
EBNY and HLTP gathered around the table, Emily and Hanna arm wrestling, their teams cheering their respective leader on. Besides them were bottles of Rakk, juniper flavored light beer. Even Emily's small white Nevermore, Tryggr squawked for his master to win.
CTDK and SLTE engaged in a light wrestling match between Kelly and Leona, both the largest of the team. The two testing skill on the wrestling mat on the floor, with Kelling having Leona in a tight armbar.
Their laughs echoes deep into the night as they gathered around to drink the last time. Celebrating with a special drink they all favor and know of- Mistral's coconut palm ale or Grimm Blood as they call it. Every time they all meet up, they usually go to a fancy lounge and order this drink if served and catch up on what's been happening.
But tonight, they would drink for what may be the final time. The wood carved steins slid across the table to each person, each filled to the brim with a opaque reddish drink topped with frothy red foam, courtesy of the red sap added into the drink. Coconut palm ale is not strong nor weak, but pleasant after a long day. It held a tropical taste with the texture of evaporated milk that's slightly thicker.
They all stood up, steins raised as Jakob cleared his throat. He has always been the moral and motivator of all of them.
"Through all our hardships and rocky start, we are now a family, we grieve together, laugh together, hell, we would take a bullet for each other. And swearing upon the moon, if we fall, we will meet each other on the other side."His words always brought the spirits of everyone up, filling them with the excitement of the fight. " Brothers and sisters, tomorrow is a new deal which no one has ever done before. The road will be hard, spirits will be broken and people we have protected will be killed be it us or not. Either way we stand tall and we will stand together even when the sky rains blood and bullets on us. We are a part of humanity's shield."
"To tomorrow, and whatever is going on the day after." He let out a hearty laugh raising the stein high.
"To tomorrow." The rest mirrored him before downing the entire mug in a few gulps and slamming onto the table top with a loud bang.