Besh-6, going dark... because that's soldiering!
Chapter 7: Going Dark
Beacon Academy, Vale
At the bullhead hangars of Beacon Academy, a black LAAT/i gunship landed. Not a soul could be seen as the entire area had been cleared, at least to the average individual. However, the passengers of the gunship were not the average individuals. These men, in their black Katarn-class armor, disembarked from their gunship and began to survey their surroundings, but when they saw the door open, all eyes were trained on it. Fortunately, they knew better than to raise their blasters as Field Marshal Azure revealed himself in his black and white uniform. He was flanked by two guardsmen of Toro Company, each armed with their DC-15A rifles.
"Captain, welcome back to Beacon Academy," The Marshal smiled as he led the commandos of the elite Besh 6 to another room.
"You usually call Foxtrot for special assignments on Remnant. Must be a high-stakes mission if you thought to call us this time," Captain Price mused under his helmet as they continued their walk.
Azure turned to a corridor where he found the HQ of the security forces. After inputting his code, the commandos were met with the sight of a holo table with several uniformed field officers busying themselves with varying tasks. The Marshal turned to the Captain and began to explain "Now, let's cut to the chase, shall we? I have been asked to send a small force to infiltrate a facility run by an organization called the White Fang."
"White Fang? The Faunus Rights extremists?" Price's Sergeant asked.
Azure nodded "Indeed. These Faunus have recently stolen a shipment of Atlesian weaponry and the good Headmaster of Atlas Academy has approached me for help."
Price grunted, "So, what are we dealing with then?"
A small hologram appeared which presented a medium-sized outpost with a wall surrounding it. Several red figures could be seen in what looked like a storage facility.
"While you have yet to arrive, I already sent reconnaissance droids to map out the entire facility," The Marshal explained, "From what we have gathered, they have a simple security rotation, mostly to look out for Grimm."
Several red dots appeared on the outskirts of the facility's hologram, Azure continued his briefing "The guards rotate every 4 hours, and we have also confirmed that they have a radio check every 30 minutes. The assets that you are looking for are the size of an AT-DP."
"I assume we're going in dark then?" Price asked to which the Marshal nodded.
"Indeed, you will time your entry when the next rotation is in place. If possible, try to get the Grimm to attack to mask your presence. Once you have the assets on sight, contact us."
The Besh 6 Captain allowed himself a smirk behind his helmet before crossing his arms "Sounds like my kind of night sir, when do we leave?"
Emerald Forest, Vale
B6C-4481 otherwise known as Soap checked his DC-17m's systems one more time. It was a habit that Captain Price drilled into the commandos of Besh 6, and most recently, him. After making sure that his weapon modules were in tip-top shape, he returned the rest of the kit to his pack.
"Rules of engagement sir?" Sergeant Gaz asked as the Captain continued to read the mission dossier on a datapad.
"We were never here," he replied cooly as he put the datapad away as their gunship's pilot began to radio in.
"Hammer 5-2, to Besh 6 actual, we are approaching the AO. ETA is 2 minutes."
"Roger that, have the Wolf Bait on stand-by," The Captain ordered as he checked his own weapons.
Soap watched as the rest of the Besh 6 commandos got ready to deploy. One of the commandos was seen brandishing a launcher-type of weapon. Just then, the doors of the LAAT opened up.
"Griffin, get the Wolf Bait ready," Price ordered as the commando who had the launcher nodded and leaned out of the LAAT.
"Wolf Bait is ready sir," Griffin informed as he aimed the weapon.
"Sync on my mark. Mark"
"Sync."
The pilot of the LAAT once again spoke up "Hammer 5-2, to Besh 6 actual, you have a 30-second window to launch that weapon before we make touch down. Window approaching in 20 seconds."
Price tapped Griffin before replying "Roger that 5-2, actual out. Griffin, on my signal..."
"Ready sir."
Not long after, the Besh 6 Captain gave the signal. Griffin pulled the trigger and a projectile launched from the weapon. The projectile traveled far and managed to land right where the commandos had wanted it. When the device landed, it began to emit a sound akin to that of a beowulf cry. The White Fang soldiers guarding the front entrance looked towards the source of the sound disturbance, Unfortunately for them, the sound disturbance became a threatening disturbance.
Just then, several beowulves began to emerge from the forest in front of the base. Soon enough, the base guards were now preoccupied with the unexpected attack of the Grimm. Amidst the chaos, they failed to notice several dark figures drop into their walled outpost. The 12 commandos of Besh 6 surveyed their surroundings and once they were sure that the Fang were distracted, they began to split into a group of 8 and 4.
"Griffen, your team stays at our exit, make sure that no one sees you."
"Rog, actual."
"5-2, Actual, you're good to clear out."
"5-2 copies, clearing out now. Happy hunting Captain."
"Besh 6, going dark."
The team of 8 began to probe around the facility, using the dimly lit outpost to their advantage. It wasn't long before they found a warehouse with 2 Fang grunts guarding the entrance.
"Griffen, do you see the next sentries?"
"Affirmative sir, we have eyes on them, North East of your position. Marking on your HUDs now."
Within the Commando Captain's HUD, 2 blips appeared which signified the 2 approaching Faunus guards.
"I have eyes, Gaz, get their voices when they relieve the next sentries."
"Roger."
It wasn't long before the current sentries were relieved. Price began to enact his plan to infiltrate the warehouse.
"Warehouse 1, are you at your posts?" the White Fang watch operator asked.
"Ugh... yeah we're here. Areas all clear here boss,"
"Alright, we won't be able to see you through the cams for a while. We're diverting some of the base's power to the automatic guns. Grimm just keep coming."
"Right... Warehouse 1 out."
The second the comm beeped off, the two Faunus then disappeared. Price and another Besh 6 commando tended to the one who was on the radio. Gaz took care of his partner by covering the grunt's mouth. The cat faunus got the message as he dared not to speak while Soap kept his DC-17M on his forehead, ready to fire the second he makes a sound. Back with Price, his prisoner tried as he might, but he eventually touched the Captain's patience. Not wanting to make this longer than it should be, Price kept one hand on the Fang grunt's mouth while he pulled his fist back before extending his hidden wrist blade. The young wolf faunus realized a bit too late what his fate was when he felt the blade pierce his neck as the Captain aimed right for his neck with the punch he threw.
One moment he was full of struggle and panic, the next, he now lays slumped on the floor. Price looked at the remaining grunt, his visor giving off a sinister look. The cat faunus was now sweating bullets as he was approached. Price pressed a button on his helmet which now allowed him to speak to the shaking faunus in front of him "I'll make it slower for you if you don't give me what I want."
A weak plead for mercy was made through Gaz's hand which still covered the mouth. A nod from the Captain prompted the Sergeant to remove his hand to allow the grunt to speak.
"Name, what is your name?"
"Ca-carol S-stew sir," came his hushed, yet panicked reply.
"That's all we needed to know Stew."
Before he could even scream, he heard a shot close to him, yet when he began to open his eyes, expecting to be dead, he found himself still alive.
"Wha-what?"
Unfortunately, that was all he could register until Gaz knocked him out with his blaster.
Price nodded as he gestured to the rest of the team who were still keeping an eye out.
"Soap, take Newcastle, Wallcroft, and Mac. Watch our six while we look into the warehouse. Gaz, you, Barton, and Arem are with me."
The commandos nodded as they began to take their positions. Price then looked at the warehouse doors and noticed a combination lock. He signaled to Gaz to get the door open and he did as such by grabbing a thermite charge from his belt. Securing the device on the door, he returned back to formation and the team waited as the charge began to spark as it melted the door's lock.
"Go. Check those corners!"
Price's team soon began to sweep the warehouse and just as they expected, they found the missing Atlesian equipment. He began to switch up his comm channel to call for reinforcements when he heard blaster fire outside.
"Captain, the Wolfbait expired too early. Fang are now heading back to the warehouses. Soap's holding them, but our window's closing fast." Griffen informed through the comms.
"Gaz, you and Arem secure the entrance. Newcastle, check the mechs out and see if you can do anything with them."
Outside the warehouse, Soap ducked as a few dust rounds went flying towards him. While he knew that his armor's shields could take them, he still preferred not to be hit. After checking his blaster, he reemerged and returned fire, nailing a grunt on the head. His team was first spotted when a squad of Fang soldiers came around. Griffen was not able to track them as they were still monitoring their exfil point and the Fang's rotation.
More soldiers began to show up, firing at the commandos' position. A grenade flew towards their position, but Mac managed to catch it before throwing it back, killing several grunts.
While the Fang was a whole new level of low compared to the commandos, what they lacked in skill, they made up with numbers. Now and then, they would jeopardize their position when a Fang would leap on them and try to take them down. Despite this, their wrist blades made quick work of them. However, Soap knew that they couldn't keep this up forever. Every minute, the Fang got closer to their position, and their munitions were already depleting.
After dispatching yet another Faunus, Soap contacted the Captain "Captain, we're holding the line as best as we can but they got more numbers than anticipated, do we have the assets secured?"
His question was answered when the blast doors of the warehouse flew open to reveal a large mechanized battlesuit. The suit aimed its weapons toward the White Fang members who were caught off guard by the sudden arrival of the mech. A flurry of dust rounds and rockets flew as the suit began to open fire, right behind it were the 3 other commandos of Besh 6.
Price approached Soap's team as he surveyed the carnage that their newly commandeered weapon "Job's not done yet commandos, I just came into contact with HQ, we are to keep their focus on us. Griffen, regroup with us at the warehouse."
"Roger sir, we're on our way."
As the commandos continued their defense, something else was transpiring outside the base.
...
"Base is just ahead boys, get into positions," Sixers said as he lead the entirety of Toro Company towards the White Fang's outpost. Just around the company were fading Grimm which the Fang kindly took care of.
As the platoons went to their positions, The Guard Captain continued to observe the White Fang's movements.
"I count 5 sentries all equipped with Heavy Machine Guns. Sharpshooters, I have them marked for you," he then raised his range finder before taking his rifle and relaying his next words "Alright boys, these people are murderous zealots, we dealt with far worse back in Mimban. Stick to your training, stand with your brothers and you won't go wrong. Right... fix bayonets."
Around him, the guardsmen began to fix their bayonets silently. Sixers checked his mission clock and spoke "BG Actual to all platoon leaders, commence the attack! All units move in!"
Next to him, a guardsman raised his helmet, exposing his mouth before bringing a bugle to it, and blowing a series of notes which emphasized the Sixers' orders. Upon hearing the bugle and their Captain's orders, the men of Toro Company let out a massive war cry as they emerged from the forest. The White Fang found themselves off-guard by the sudden arrival of more soldiers. One of the guardsmen armed with a rocket launcher aimed his RPS-6 towards the Fang's gate and blasted it open, creating a breach for the rest of Toro Company to storm into. Some of the guardsmen began to fire upon the Fang's heavy machine gunners who created a small amount of injured within the company's ranks.
Captain Sixers found himself fighting one of the larger faunus, panther to be specific. While his opponent was undeniably strong, he made short work as he swung his bayonet towards the faunus, making him leap back, just where he wanted him. Sixers then put his finger on the trigger as he fired his rifle, the shot going through his opponent's leg. Without sparing a second thought, he stabbed the struggling faunus, neutralizing him.
His company saw similar results with clones either outclassing the White Fang with well-placed shots or through their superior bayonet combat training. As the Fang fell one by one, many began to surrender, accepting the reality that they were beaten. As the fight raged on, the guardsmen were slowed by a shower of bullets from the faunus who managed to scramble to better defensive positions. Sixers readied himself to order a charge on the position when it was blown to bits by rocket fire.
"Was that one of ours?" he heard Lieutenant Loch ask.
"Negative sir!" one of the troopers yelled back.
Sergeant Gambit pointed in a direction "Look over there, heading 219!"
The officers looked in the direction of where Gambit pointed and much to their surprise, a mechanized battle suit continued to fire on the remaining White Fang. Feeling threatened, some guardsmen leveled their rifles towards the mech but held their fire as a group of clone commandos came from behind it. One of the black-armored commandos came up to Sixers and signaled him to follow him.
Sixers complied, recognizing the authority they carry, most notably the slightly visible marking of a "B6C-81." He nodded towards Loch who ordered the troops to continue their mission. It wasn't long before he met who he assumed was the team leader who was currently checking the vitals of an unconscious White Fang member. The commando looked at Sixers and then began to ask "Right, what's your name?"
"Sixers, Captain of Toro Company, Guard Regiment," Sixers replied ", I've already been briefed by the Marshal on your orders, just never who was the unit that got sent. Can't believe it's actually Besh 6 we're relieving."
Price raised his hand "Save the pleasantries for now Sixers," he then tossed the guard captain a datapad ", that should be most of the assets we've recovered. Once you're done here, make sure the assets are secured for reception by the huntsmen they're sending over."
Sixers scanned through the datapad's contents, and nodded "Right, this is hush-hush?"
"What's hush-hush?"
Sixers nodded before pressing his comms device "BG Actual to Golfshed, assets have been secured."
"We read you Actual, what is the status of our external units?"
"Nothing on our end Golfshed, Actual out."
When Sixers looked up from the datapad, there was no sign of the Besh-6 commandos anywhere. He shook his head before calling for Loch to finish off the mission.
Beacon Academy, Vale
Azure nodded as the operator advisors took off their headsets. Some began cheering while others settled for a smile. As the remainder continue to monitor the progress, Azure pulled out his scroll and dialed Ozpin's number "It's done Ozpin. Send in your hunters now."
"Excellent, but I do hope they won't find it too messy. I am aware that you sent out Mister Sixers and his men."
The Marshal smiled, "Worry not Ozpin, my men can do the job aggressively and cleanly."
"Very well, do you have anything else to report?"
Azure read his datapad on a separate hand and replied "No... I don't believe so. Good night Ozpin."
The Headmaster returned the greeting before closing the line. Putting away his scroll, he read the report of Captain Price on Besh 6's findings. After tapping a few buttons, the report was now gone, only to be found in an undisclosed data bank. Satisfied, the Marshal allowed the operator advisors to clean up before leaving their command post.
As he walked out, he took a look at the time and sighed. He would need Sixers and Toro Company back here soon. They still had to deal with the Student Initiation that following morning and he would rather they be well rested to prepare for anything. However in the event that his men are not available, he supposed he could rotate them out for another company.
"We'll see... we'll bloody see..." The Marshal thought as he walked back to his quarters.
It's been like 3-4 months since I last checked the story, and I gotta admit, I'm glad to see that some really liked the concept. I apologize for my recent absence, but I savor my summer vacations with trips I'm afraid. Anyhow, next up is the initiation, let's see what challenges will Azure's Aurek Corps face.
In other news, some people were pleasant enough to give me ideas for future chapters including side characters, inclusion of battalions and ships. I'll let them know that I WILL heavily consider them, but I implore them to not be too hopeful as this story has already been planned ahead of time.
Until then, stay frosty because that's soldiering!