It was a peaceful morning, around the same time people would start going about their day. For Team RWBY it was their hours of sleep and rest. The training was tough but for one little reaper, the rest had to be delegated later.
"Yang, Yang, Yang, Yang, Yang!" Ruby pestered her sister, shaking her from her slumber as a passionate sense of excitement overcame her.
Yang, in response, groaned. She'd always ask herself why Ruby for some reason always had something to do whenever she valued her beauty sleep. "Wuh, Ruby? I don't want to wake up please… we practised for so long yesterday."
"But Yang! Ironwood just said they're arriving today!" Ruby yelled back.
"Who?"
"The tanks! Have you forgotten that they're out in Atlas for repairs and upgrades? I can't wait to see what Ironwood did to them! I've got snippets of what they could have but they said it's a secret, ooooh I can't wait!"
Yang took a while to process it, after a few seconds she simply took the cover of her bed and swung it overhead before snuggling back into a sleeping position. "Oh… give me 30 minutes then."
Ruby pouted before a smirk crosses her mouth.
"Nope! Maus, show Yang what it means to face German steel." She takes out the tank and hovers it over Yang as her eyes snapped open.
"Ja." He replied, in complete monotony, so Yang didn't even know if he was serious, I mean they had aura so Ruby could totally drop a casual ton on her if they wanted.
"Okay, okay! I'm up!" Yang hastily got up and shoved away the blanket overhead before standing up with a swerving head, still weary from the sudden change from rest to active. "Mhhhhm… What about the others?"
"I'll get them up too, you just go on ahead because I know you take the longest to prepare for the day."
"...Hey!" Yang tries denying it before realizing Ruby did have a point. "Nevermind, you're right. Welp, I'm off to take a bath."
Soon, most of Team RWBY was awoken, mainly by the threat of getting crushed but someone like Weiss was the most understanding at this point and woke up without much trouble from Ruby. No one could ever pry Ruby's attention away with weapons, now that her interdimensional magical armoured death machines had some upgrades.
They headed to the headmaster's office after taking a short shower or bath, depending on who we are talking about.
Weiss started hearing the sound of light humming, she thought it was the engines of the Maus but she knew their individual sound signatures by ear, she wasn't trained as a singer for anything - recognizing a pattern in rhythmic humms and puffs was simple for the heiress.
"Ruby, I know you're excited, but please stop vibrating in place. We all miss them and their antics but you shouldn't creep out everyone by doing that."
Ruby seized her actions, the jitters of her feet coming to a halt. She rubbed her head in embarrassment but started doing it again without her notice. Weiss just let it go after a short ding announced their arrival.
*DING*
The metallic doors opened, and the others saw Ironwood, Glynda and the headmaster himself in the room. It was the usual bunch that always called on Ruby.
"Hello, Miss Rose." Ozpin greeted.
A zip of a red blur was all everyone saw before Ruby slammed into the desk, and with a clenched fist and widened eyes, she couldn't hold in the eagerness.
"Where are they?!" Ruby started the conversation in the most unusual, therefore usual, way.
"Don't speak to the headmaster like that, can you relax?!" Weiss reprimanded, quickly running over and holding Ruby by wrapping her arms around the crazed girl's waist.
"Specialist, there's no need to rush for everything, although if you knew what we changed then maybe it is understandable. Do keep in mind you are supposed to be wearing your rank with respect." Ironwood advised with a hint of the classic disciplinary touch to it.
Ruby quieted down, and the 100 beats per minute settled to an 80 before she apologizes. "Sorry… but… can I see them now?" still, she couldn't hold in the pressure of her love for weapons, inevitably.
"Not here, do you mean to see what we changed in this space? With all the upgrades and fixes in mind, I've sent your scroll the details, although it is much better if you see them for yourself. Glynda here will lead you to the grounds we designated, it's a bit private and out of the way so don't worry."
"Oh, that makes sense. Off to the proving grounds!" Ruby declares, not even waiting for Glynda to follow as she bolts to the elevator. She notices something odd, the door was being used as indicated by the panel to the side. "Someone's coming up, are you expecting someone else?"
"Glynda, do we?" Ozpin asked, not even hiding that he doesn't know despite being the headmaster of the entire academy.
Glynda simply sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Of course, lately you don't even keep track of who you meet. It is odd, we aren't supposed to meet anyone else until 6:00 PM."
*DING*
The doors open, and a drunken man walks in. A drunken man that everyone knew and some were not expecting.
"Sup, did I miss anything?" Qrow took a shot from his hip flask.
"Qrow?" Ironwood stated. "Where were you these past few weeks? You've been gone for-"
"Unnncllllleeee Qqqqrrrrrooooowwww!" Ruby tackles the Qrow's arms as she gets lifted up in the air. "Hi. Did you miss me?! Because I do!" she declares.
Qrow stared at her with a teasing face before saying, "...Nope! How's school going, kiddo?" He rubs her head as he lets her down from his arms.
"...That's your uncle? Considering how you act, I'm not even surprised." Weiss finally got a whiff of the old liver killer liquid and she staggers back in horror. "He reeks of alcohol!"
Ozpin took note of the other people inside the room as he spoke to his informant. "Qrow, how unexpected… we will talk more later, Glynda will you please lead Team RWBY outside? We have a lot to talk about."
"No can do Ozzy, you have a lot of explaining to do." Qrow denied, walking up to the table as the others looked on in curiosity.
"What do you wish to know?"
"Lots." Qrow gave an impressed smile towards Team RWBY. "First, when did my anti-social little pipsqueak become the bees' knees by becoming a hero of Vale?" To the others inside the room, it was a proud tone but Ozpin read between the lines.
"I believe Miss Rose would know."
Ruby answered with as much a summary as she could remember. "Uhh… stopped Torchwick with tanks. Got offered to become a 'special' specialist by the headmaster and the general, it's so that they get credited and the damages we cause will be their responsibility. Foiled a mystery attempt on the CCT and finally, we stopped a train that might have caused a big mess in the middle of Vale."
Qrow laughed. "Hah… Would you look at that, you really did become a big deal," he said, confirming the details he read on Winter's scroll.
"Wait, I still need to see my tanks! Oh… uh… uncle, you probably don't know who they are and what I'm talking about but-"
Qrow cuts her off with his unexpected knowledge of the foreign-born vehicles. "They're interdimensional beings with supernatural powers and they find their way to you to serve you… got anything wrong, pipsqueak?"
Ironwood interjected. "Qrow? You know about Miss Rose's tanks?"
"Tanks… those are the ones with tracks, thick armour and a cannon on them, right? Not exactly, I don't know who specifically but I have guessed, also, it's not just tanks. I met them along my way."
"Them?" Ironwood asked. More vehicles to do research and replicate? That's for sure a gold mine, but it came from Qrow so it's more cursed ancient artefacts.
"I'll send you a picture, Jimmy."
A few seconds later, two pings were heard from Ironwood's scroll. The others could see the general's face turning from neutral to frowning.
"Qrow? Answer me truthfully, why is there a selfie of you and another picture of what looks like aircraft… and that it's being sent by Specialist Winter's scroll number?" He shows the picture in question to everyone else. "This is a security breach!" Ironwood added, sternly opposing Qrow's misuse of Winter's scroll.
"Selfie, you sent him a selfie?" Blake added.
"Winter's scroll?! Why would this… awful smelling… debauched excuse of a man with my sister's scroll!" Weiss was livid.
"Aircraft?!, you met aircraft?! Who?! Gimmie!" Ruby dashes for the scroll in Qrow's hands, her desire for weapons of mass destruction has not ceased. Though she was stopped by Qrow lifting the scroll over his head and preventing Ruby from reaching it, making their height difference all the more apparent. "...No fair!"
Qrow ruffled Ruby's hair further as her short stature couldn't hope to reach the scroll in his hands. "Heh, try a little harder, pipsqueak. Ice Queen's scroll has been… borrowed without a suitable process and I left Veltro and Sagittario with her, don't worry, I think she'd enjoy the company."
"You stole Atlesian government property?!" Ironwood said, his distaste for Qrow showing further as the team was growing wary of the conversation.
"We're on the same side, aren't we?"
Weiss walked straight to Qrow and tried doing her whole 'I am the boss' attitude to him. "You! How dare you steal my sister's-"
She failed miserably as her head gets rocked back and forth by Qrow ruffling Weiss' hair, the same as how he was doing it to Ruby. "Shush... The adults are speaking, Snow White. Hey, I think this happened to your sister a while ago... eh whatever. Ruby, I left Veltro and Sagittario in with her, go on now and enjoy your tanks, we'll hang around for a while as I discuss some boring stuff."
Taking the signal for a private talk, Ozpin encouraged them further to leave. "Miss Rose, I believe you have friends that need their new properties observed."
"Ah!" Ruby yells. "I'll catch up on some stuff later, uncle! C'mon, girls!"
"Hold on a moment! I still need to speak my mind on your uncle-"
"Be uptight later, Weiss!"
"Hey-" She couldn't finish her sentence as Ruby yanked her away while Blake and Yang followed without much qualm. The doors closed and Iornwood, Ozpin and Qrow were left.
Silence permeated.
A gulp of more alcohol broke the stale atmosphere.
"Hmm, kind of messed up isn't it? A 15-year-old girl is part of the military, I didn't know times were dire enough for Ol' Jimmy to get some action on conscripting child soldiers-"
"You know that isn't the case." Ironwood countered.
Qrow purses his lips. "And I'm supposed to accept that? Oz, Jimmy, I know Ruby is very motivated about saving the world and that she can get herself in fights, I'm not gonna deny her dream of being a huntress but I thought we are supposed to keep fighting her in secret."
"Qrow-" Ozpin tried answering.
"Don't you Qrow me, you know how Summer… died. When I signed up for this decade after decade, I thought I was the only one who was going to work my ass off. Now that I saw the reports in Winter's scroll, I couldn't believe it, you're involving Ruby in our whole shadow war."
Ozpin looked guilty. "Look, I am sorry for not being able to contact you about your niece's status in the curriculum. It's been relatively difficult to send messages in weaker areas, so I had no choice but to limit what I could send."
"You're deflecting, the reason why I even work so hard is so that she can enjoy her life without needing to worry about Salem!" He slams his flask on Ozpin's table making some liquid splatter out in a harsh pattern.
Ironwood took a step closer as the conversation started going more aggressive. "Qrow, we're not trying to involve her directly! Her tanks are a game changer, the ability to remain unseen and untouchable is incomprehensible. The technology that the tanks have brought from their world has also made dozens of new prototypes ready for field tests."
"Oh, now we're building up a military again? Is that why you're here? To send the dogs to guard Vale? Ready to scare the shit out of the population again? Encourage another damn war?"
Ozpin sighed. "I understand where you're coming from, believe me, we and the other professors have had a long debate on the history of Earth."
"Yet you allow Atlas to just show up. What do you think the people would feel, Oz? Haven't you always been saying that a military would make the wrong impression and all that?"
It was hypocritical of Ozpin although it was a product of compromise between the desire of Ozpin to keep the shadow war unseen by the masses and Ironwood's forceful desire to have an impact.
Ozpin nodded with complete assurance. "...That I can concede. I was opposed to it but James and I considered what we could do. Force is necessary but knowing when, where and at what capacity it should be concentrated on. I made sure that James could only send the minimum."
"Sure, minimum. An opportunity presented itself and you took it, I can't let her fight Remnant's greatest threat, not when she's still a child. She's got more than enough problems by being with people around her 2 years her senior."
"We plan on involving the tanks even more, after the events of the breach, a show of military force isn't widely seen as a negative outcome. With you here, we could do more. So, pray tell how you managed to delay your appearance."
"Ruby? Again? You're making it more dangerous for her by making the conflict so near to her without her knowing. I trust you Oz but I need answers and don't just ask another question to make me ignore the issue."
"It's simply too much of a strategic loss for the tanks to not be involved. I try to make Miss Rose not directly intervene but there's only so much I can do for their determination to help the world."
Qrow settled down but not before emptying the rest of his flask, down to the last drop. He wipes his mouth and with a crack in his voice, he spoke the last of his opinions.
"...At least let her enjoy what she can, Oz - if it's unavoidable. About Salem… she's moving more people around. Almost everyone close to her is on the move, I got delayed because of that."
Qrow took his own scroll this time and left it on the table. Ozpin eyed the device as they got ready to discuss what happened in the past few weeks.
"Then… we shall take precautions."
Team RWBY had trouble keeping Ruby from destroying the hallways with subsonic speeds. With the help of Yang's strength and Glynda's Telekinesis, she calmed down. They reach an isolated part of the campus right next to but not within the Emerald Forest. The group finds someone unexpected as they slowly move their eyes to a missed sight.
Tiger.
"Guten Morgen! I hope Ruby hasn't blitzed her way here without rest!"
Iosif.
"Kraut, it's Ruby, of course she'd be racing here."
Sherman.
"Oh God, look at her, she's being treated like a mental ward patient."
Pershing.
"Well, I'll be sick for my aunt's birthday. It's like we haven't been gone for even an hour during thanksgiving."
Centurion.
"My dear Pershing, whilst you're a most agreeable companion, one must confess that one finds oneself at a loss to comprehend your speech, and this comes from a Brit, no less."
...Penny?
"Salu-tations, everyone! I have had the most wonderful times seeking out mechanical implants for my non-machine and human-like appearance with your tank friends!"
"Penny?" Blake asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I am required to by the general as there are many things my father has done to improve the combat readiness of your friends!"
Glynda let go of Ruby who immediately tore from Yang's grasp. "I'll leave you here Team RWBY, I have some organization to do for the qualifiers. Remember not to set fire to the forest if possible. And I do mean… if possible."
"Uh… yes, Miss Goodwitch!" As soon as Glynda was out of view Ruby ran towards her tanks and Penny. "I'm going ahead!"
"Ruby don't speed up too-" Yang got left in the dust while the rest of the team sighed. "We should really invest in chill pills, do you think Snow White would have some?"
Weiss didn't contest the name but was still miffed. "What did you just call me? At least it's not that horrible nickname anymore but why the change?"
Yang smiled. "Aww, Weiss actually pays attention to what I call her? That's cute, it's because I can't call you Ice Queen anymore because of your older sister and Tiger did already tell us your name meant Snow White in his language."
The heiress crossed her arms. "Hmph, I'm not happy you call me by nicknames. I already got called that by Torchwick, I don't want to see you doing the same."
"So you're annoyed? That means I'm doing something right." Yang joked.
"Weiss, you shouldn't feed Yang more kindling," Blake advised as they got closer to the sounds of Ruby quite literally drooling all over the tanks. "She just uses it as more motivation to tease you."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's just get to Ruby before she bursts a ventricle."
"Look at them! They're bigger!" Ruby yelled, pointing at specific parts of different tanks.
"That's what she said," Yang whispered.
"Not in front of your sister," Blake said.
A larger grin appears. "...That's what she also said."
""Ugh…"" Both Weiss and Blake facepalmed while Yang chortled frantically.
"With all those horrible jokes thrown out to the sidestep, I am curious as to what the Atlesian engineers back at home did to improve you all. I can already see some major differences."
Sherman wiggled his new gun, "Yep, the biggest change they got me was an upgrade to my gun. Although, I am not very happy about it."
"Why not?" Weiss asked.
"Cause I look like a Firefly! I'm not British! I know the radio isn't useful anyways but they scrapped almost everything non-essential in the turret and tried fitting a bigger gun! They cut a hole in the back, stuck in a mechanism that unloads spent shells forwards instead of backwards and the recoil is being absorbed by gravity dust pulling from the inside! It's just a Firefly but with tech!"
Centurion gave an airy laugh. "Ha. Well, for someone uncouth, I'm not going to be surprised that our Yank friend feels that way, don't you Miss Rose?"
"Nope! A medium tank like him can't have that much space in the turret, I think the engineers wanted to keep his shape intact, so Sherman has a point, your silhouette looks so much different than before and that's without looking at your undercarriage!"
"That's what she said," Yang whispered, again.
Blake pinched Yang's sides which made her squeal. "Yang, it's not funny, you've repeated that for so long."
"Ow… and I'll keep doing it until I die of old age."
Tiger suddenly catches their attention. "Oh, and before we tell you our features… we kind of have a major announcement."
"What is it?" Ruby asked the instant Tiger had something to say.
"We have aura now apparently. It's how we could start firing dust rounds without people. With some dust involved, our armour is better and we are lighter when we want to in enlarged form but we need you to read what Ironwood sent to talk into specifics."
Ruby stood still, everyone was concerned, this was Ruby, usually, she'd be jumping for joy right about now.
Yang noticed this and walked to her sister's side, and braced for a catch as she turns to her partner. "Blake, get some electric dust."
"Why?"
"I think we may need to restart Ruby's heart."
*THUD*
"Whoops... I guess people can fall sideways."