As soon as I stepped out of the door into the outside world, I saw the most amazing sight. The Order's Air Force had arrived, along with our flagship, S.A.F. Citadel, flanked by several cruisers, carriers, and squadrons of fighters. Students were looking up in amazement as the Order of Steel approached Beacon University, ships in perfect formation as dropships loaded with Knights unloaded and flew back towards the carriers. I saw a Knight stopping to offer Ruby a chocolate bar, which she gladly accepted, and the Knight rushed to join back with his squad and they walked off for patrol. And there, in the middle, was several old friends. I rushed forward in excitement, now in my power armour with my newly appointed rank on it. I stopped and saluted Knight-Sergeant Wallace, my commanding officer.
"Paladin Lance, Reporting for Active Duty. Sir!" I said, and Wallace nodded.
"Alright soldier, listen up. I've already debriefed Juggernaut, Punisher and Demolisher but you we're absent. We're on patrol duty while the Order builds up our base in Vale. Anything you hear or see, you report it and we'll check it out. And for god's sake, don't shoot curious civilians. Even if they get annoying and start pestering you for information. As for the reporters, …. I have no qualms. Do what you wish." That was what I liked about Knight Sergeant Wallace; the promotions didn't get to his head, and he still remembers his days as a grunt. I nodded and gave him a salute, and he dismissed me. I turned around and there was my squad; Sixes, Jack, Dimitri and Hans. They all had their helmets off while Dimitri, his blue eyes shining with laughter drank from a bottle of vodka.
"Ai, Lance! Snagged any ladies yet unlike Sixes, my boy?" Jack said jovially, clapping me on the back. Hans facepalmed muttering 'dummkopf', Sixes ignored the comment and continued to smoke his cigarette, and Dimitri promptly drained the entire bottle, and reached over to grab another one.
"Actually, I have. she's back in the dorm."
"Getting naughty, aren't we?"
"Oh you wish." I turned towards Hans, who was busy cleaning his assault rifle.
"Hans! Man, I missed ya!" I exclaimed, and Hans promptly glared, his blue eyes looking into my soul.
"Lance, do you vant to see ze showers?" He threatened (AN: Apologies for anyone who was offended by this, but expect more to come) and I promptly paled. Dimitri choked on his vodka, Sixes burned himself and Jack muttered, "Not cool mate. Not cool."
Sixes, always the big brother of mine, glared at Hans.
"Would you prefer that I 'dropped' some grenades into your bunk?" (AN: WWII references. I'm calling it the Great War.) Hans paled at that comment, and began muttering apologies and put his helmet back on. Sixes tossed the cigarette and began to resume his duties.
"Arright troops, listen up." We stood at attention, and Sixes resumed.
"We're going on patrol. Lance's hunter team will follow us." Sixes pulled back the charging lever of his rifle.
"Haul ass. We're moving out." Patrolling was more fun than I expected—Jack trying to pick up girls, Dimitri doing the same, while Sixes, me and Hans were the only ones actually doing our duty. I felt someone knock against my armour and turned around. It was Jaune, along with Pyrrha.
"Is this what the Order of Steel is?" Pyrrha questioned, pointing at Jack and Dimitri. Sixes obviously heard, because he gave a frustrating groan.
"Jack, Dimitri. Get the hell back into formation and do your duty! We aren't soldiers of fortune."
"Sixes is right. Ve are on patrol and you are tarnishing our reputation!" Hans glared, and…. cue the massive argument. I sighed and turned towards Jaune.
"Anyways, I think we should make sure everyone is here. Wait…. Where's Nora and Ren?"
"Right behind u— wait, where did they go?!" I facepalmed. Seriously, more problems?
"Everyone just shut it. Sixes, just threaten Jack with a demoting him, threaten to take away Dimitri's stash of booze, and also burn all of Hans's books. Meanwhile, Me, Jaune and Pyrrha will go look for our missing teammates while Juggernaut resumes patrol duties. clear?"
Jack mockingly gave me a salute. "Aye aye, captin!" Hans glared at me, and glanced at the lighter that he knew was in Sixes' pocket, While Dimitri looked horrified. Sixes nodded approvingly.
"Alright, team Juniper. Lets go find our deserters."
We found them in a shopping mall.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Why the shopping mall? IM IN MY POWER ARMOUR!"
"Oh, don't be such a child Lance. At least no one would dare to pickpocket us."
"Besides, any other steel soldier would see you easily in case we needed backup."
"But still…" I whined, as we moved through the crowds, all the people parting before me. Well, I guess a soldier in a dark painted model T-60 Power Armour with the Steel crest while wielding a weapon that looked considerably dangerous was frightening.
"Let's split. It'll make it easier to find them." I walked off and began to walk down the long hall, the targeting HUD in my helmet marking each person as a friendly or a hostile. All I saw were green outlines so far, and no orange or red ones.
"Damnit. I'll have to requisition a upgrade from Gren for my helmet…" I muttered, and I felt someone tap on my shoulder.
"Excuse me, but can you help?" I swivelled around and saw what seemed to be a six year old girl.
"I can't find my mommy…." she whimpered. and I realised with understanding.
"Don't worry kiddo, I'll find you your mom. meanwhile, do you want to go for a ride?" Her face brightened instantly, and she nodded. I held her and hoisted her onto my shoulders, the height of the power armour now allowing her to see from above the crowd. Needless to say, the mother came pretty quick.
"Thank you sir! I panicked when little Elizabeth went missing!"
"It's fine ma'am. It's the Order's duty to help the innocent." After the pair went off on their way, I contacted Jaune.
"I can't find them anywhere."
"I can't either, and Pyrrha isn't responding. I think she's in trouble."
"Im on it."
I began to double time towards her last known location, Righteous Justice in it's machine gun form as I ran. I reached her location just in time to see about five rough looking teenagers advance on her. I realised I couldn't do anything. Everything I had was made to kill to protect, which mean't that pulling the trigger would effectively kill five civilians. And so, I used the authority card.
"By the Order of Steel, put down your weapons!" I yelled, Righteous Justice ready to fire. the five teens took one look and promptly dropped their armaments, knives and pipes falling to the ground. I decided to call in Juggernaut.
"Sixes, this is Lance. I have five men who need to be escorted for sexual harassment and assault. Over."
"Roger that, We're on your way. Stay put."
"Jaune, found Pyrrha. Get over here."
"And you five, the hell were you thinking? She would have left all five of you with broken spines. Do you know who she is?" They nodded.
"Then what the hell were you trying to do?"
"We were just looking for some fun, and then we saw her." I internally facepalmed at the sheer stupidity I had just encountered.
"Face the wall with your hands on your head. And don't even try anything. I don't want to deal with telling your parents that their sons were shot up for sexual harassment." Jaune came rushing in, and bumped into Pyrrha.
"Oh Pyrrha! You're okay!" Pyrrha giggled, and put a hand to his arm.
"Don't worry Jaune, Im fine."
Juggernaut came rushing in, rifles at the ready, and relieved me from duty.
"You boys are in deep shit." Sixes muttered, and one of the teens shivered.
"Alright, hand over your phones." the teens didn't budge.
"Mein Gott, geben Sie mir die Telefone oder ich schieße Sie, wo Sie stehen!" And there goes Hans's mind.
"Hans, calm down. They won't understand what your saying. Mates, just hand us your phones so we can call your parents. We'll give em right back." Jack winked, and they reluctantly handed over the phones.
"Is this the house of Yung?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"Your son has been caught along with four of his friends for sexual harassment and assault. They are currently at the nearest Order of Steel checkpoint." Sixes ended the call, and handed the phone back to the teen.
That was when I realised something.
"Crap! We still haven't found Ren or Nora!"
We ran off, leaving Juggernaut behind with the teens.
"Did he just…."
"Da. Reminds me of childhood."
Approximately three hours later
"Where the hell are they?"
We had arrived at a abandoned warehouse that held no signs of life. It was then that I heard voices. And they didn't sound friendly. I took our Righteous Justice, still in Machine gun form and took out solid defender. Now I had a fully automatic weapon and a Riot shield. Jaune had Crocea Mors at ready, and Pyrrha had Akoúo and Miló at hand. I used the zoom feature of my helmet to see what it was.
"A smuggling operation?" Pyrrha bonked me over the head with Akoúo.
"Their stealing something, not transporting something."
"Isn't that the same thing—"
"Don't question me."
"Yes ma'am."
I looked at the cargo that they seemed to be stealing.
"Little miss princess and the king is going to have a fit…" I muttered sarcastically, noticing the marking on the containers.
"There's too many!" Jaune panicked, and began to shift backwards. I rolled my eyes.
"Jaune, when the Order of Steel is here, there is never such thing as 'no backup'." I opened my communications gear.
"Paladin Lance, requesting infantry support at my position. over."
"Understood. Twenty on the way."
moments later, twenty infantry armed with combat rifles and armour came, their combat armour allowing them to make not as much noise.
"Paladin, your support is here."
"good. we'll split into groups of two. I'll lead one. Knight Sergeant, you'll lead the other. Our objective is to eliminate any hostiles and end this smuggling operation."
"Understood. Alright rangers, let's move out." I turned to Pyrrha and Jaune.
"We'll, this'll be easy. You guys have guns, right?" Pyrrha nodded, while Jaune shook his head.
"Alright then." I tossed Jaune a rifle and turned around.
"On my mark. 3, 2, 1. Engage."
Lead rained down on the unsuspecting targets, the terrorists seemingly caught by surprise. the sounds of bullets and the stench of blood caused Jaune to puke, most likely scarring him for life.
"Hostiles down. targets eliminated."
"Contact! two O'clock! OH GOD! FALL BACK! SHE'S FUCKING INSANE! GAHHH!"
"Delta One, Delta One. Do you copy. Delta One down." I turned towards two O'clock and saw something completely shocking. There, lying in a crumpled heap, was Delta One. Standing over him was Neo, her Parasol covered in blood.
"Neo? What are you doing here?" Neo simply tilted her head, and raised her Parasol.
Which then spat bullets straight at me.
My eyes widened and I ducked, the bullets shredding through my power armour and my armour itself, and I collapsed.
"This… Is Alpha. I'm down, and requesting support. I—I need more time…" And my vision went dark.
AN: Alright, I apologise for being slow with these uploads. However, I need to know one thing. Do you prefer short chapters, which would be uploaded frequently or long chapters with slower upload rates? add a review or message me.