Something something soldiering...

Chapter 9: First Order of Business

Beacon Academy, Vale

The sun began to rise over Beacon Academy, marking the new and first day of Beacon's classes. In the dorms, the students slept peacefully while the staff were preparing their lectures. The Headmaster himself was enjoying his newest brew of coffee. The Beacon Security Forces? Well... let's just say a lot of ears are about to bleed.

"Alright son, just like you practiced," Sixers said as he patted the company's bugler in the back. The two were currently near the student and teacher's dorms on open ground.

The bugler nodded before raising his helmet, bringing his bugle to his mouth, and then playing the loudest wake-up call known to all the soldiers of the GAR. Noise filled the air as clones of the Toro Company rushed out of the building near the staff dorms. As they began to fall in, some fixed various pieces of their armor, like their helmets, and shoulder pads, and one even had to fix his leg plating due to how flimsily he put it back on. Soon, they were formed into their 4 platoons.

The company's sergeants began to bark out orders to keep the men in order with the staff sergeants making sure that everything ran like clockwork between the platoons. Sixers then drew his ceremonial sword before shouting.

"Company! Attention!"

The second the orders came in, the clones soon fixed themselves with a single unifying foot stomp.

"Good morning boys!"

The company soon replied with their own pleasantries before Sixers spoke again.

"Alright, look sharp boys. Marshal's coming to inspect us before we head on out to our stations. Sergeants, make sure your squads are ready for parade."

"Yes sir!" the Sergeants replied as they began to move up and down the lines of the assembled troops.

Sergeant Gambit took a look at his squad before he began to pull out three troopers.

"Killdane, fix your shoulder, it's sticking out like a fly's wing."

"Yes sir."

Gambit then looked at the second trooper "Have that helmet scrubbed Jest. That dirt's staining the bull."

"Sir."

Finally, he gave the last trooper an up and down look "Slick... how many times do I have to tell you to keep belt tighten."

The trooper coughed a bit "Right... sorry sir..."

Gambit did not look convinced in the slightest "Listen here Slick and listen good. The only reason that you were even allowed to fall in with this army again was because of the Trooper's Rights Act. You're still on the watch list and every infraction you get is a negative mark on your record."

"Yes sir," the disgraced trooper replied.

"Fall in Slick and for your sake, don't mess up your chance of freedom eh?"

Slick nodded before he stepped back into the formation. Soon, the rest of the company was organized into their formations again. Lieutenant Loch then turned to see the Marshal walking up in his fully crisp white and black uniform "Marshal's coming sir."

Sixers snapped to attention, drawing his sword as he faced away from the company in a single turn.

"Field Marshal on parade, general salute! Present arms!"

The troopers of Toro Company soon held their weapons vertically in front of them as Azure walked in front of them before stopping in front of the Captain who announced "2nd Toro Company of Guards reporting for duty sir!

Garreth looked at the captain and his men "Very good Sixers. Men look ready for battle. Good... stand the men at ease."

"Ground arms!" Sixers shouted as the men placed the butt of their rifles on the ground "Stand at ease!"

The company then stood at ease as the Azure walked up and down between the platoons, inspecting the squads one by one. After making sure that the troopers were in tip-top shape, The Marshal stood at the very front of the formation again "Now gentlemen, as you are no doubt aware, this is the first day of Beacon's classes where they have an active security detail. We will primarily be patrolling the premises and making sure that the students aren't breaking any rules. 1st and 2nd Platoons will take the first shift, 3rd and 4th will be staying at the barracks before their shift at 1830 hours."

He then continued "We will be acting as a police force on these grounds. Make sure the students don't cause any trouble. If you think the situation demands force, you may go as far as non-lethal, anything further is unacceptable. Do I make myself clear bulls?"

"YES SIR!" the troopers answered.

The Marshal smiled "Good," turning to Sixers, "Dismiss them, Captain. They'll have work to do.

The Captain nodded before shouting "Parade dismissed! 1st and 2nd Platoons, split into your squads and patrol the campus. 3rd and 4th return to the barracks."

The troopers moved to their assignments, now prepared to start the day.

...

Elsewhere, Weiss Schnee began to wake up peacefully. Despite the noises of the security forces from earlier almost waking her up, she managed to block it out to continue her slumber. However, her peace would not last long as her apparent leader blew a whistle right next to her ears.

"Good morning team RWBY!"

She still cannot believe that this is her leader. As Ruby began to explain the first order of business, a knock on the door was heard.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! It must be here!" The leader of RWBY exclaimed as she rushed for the door, opening it, she found herself face to face with one of Beacon's Guards, helmet gazing down on her. Behind him was a tray filled with white boxes with another trooper nearby.

"This is team RWBY's dorm right?" he asked to which the Reaper nodded. The trooper soon handed her one of the large boxes before closing the door behind him.

"What on earth is that?" Weiss asked as she approached her leader.

Ruby removed the tape of the box and uncovered it "Breakfast! Since we're going to be fixing up our room, we won't have time to get to the cafeteria so I asked for our food to be brought up here!"

Yang smiled as she took her batch of pancakes "Cool! Think those soldier boys do other deliveries?"

"I don't know, but it's best that we eat before we do anything else to the room," Blake said as she also took her share.

"And what WILL we do to the room?" the Heiress asked skeptically.

Ruby handed Weiss her share before replying "Well, we still haven't settled in properly yet. So we'll be taking our spare time to fix the place up!"

The Heiress had to admit, it was a good idea. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. As she ate her pancakes, the rest of her team began to unpack their various belongings.

It wasn't long before they finished. There was just one small problem...

"I think we have to rework our floor plan..." Weiss muttered.

"Or... we can turn our beds into bunk beds?" Ruby suggested.

"And how exactly do you propose we turn them into bunk beds?"

Ruby then zipped around the room, grabbing various supplies before stopping in front of them with some rope, books nails, and sheets.

Weiss raised an eyebrow "Those materials look dangerous..."

"And extremely awesome!" Yang cheered.

"It does seem more efficient," Blake said in support.

"Well, I think we should put it into a vote!" The Heiress exclaimed, but was answered by her leader "I think we just did! 3 to 1! Bunk beds it is!"

The four girls soon rushed back in to make their bunk beds. It wouldn't be long until they were done with Ruby giving the new beds a prideful smile.

"Mission accomplished girls! Now onto the next order of business... classes!" she then ran through her notebook "Alright, so we have Grimm Studies with Professor Port at 9 AM-"

"Wait, did you say 9 o clock?"

"Yeah, why?"

Weiss opened the door "We're gonna be late, it's 8:55 you dunce!" she then rushed out of the room.

Ruby realized this as she yelled out "To class!" with her remaining teammates following behind her. The door next to them opened to reveal the four members of JNPR, with their leader rushing out "We're gonna be late! C'mon guys!"

Soon, the eight teenagers were in the courtyard, running as fast as they could. Across from them stood the Headmaster, Miss Goodwitch and Azure, the later of the two had unamused expressions.

"They're taking the long route..." Azure said, disappointment in his voice ever so evident.

"Very interesting..." Ozpin mused.

"I want to heavily question what you call interesting sometimes," the Marshal said as he walked off.

...

"We're almost there guys! I think we'll make it!" Ruby shouted. The eight teens soon arrived at the lecture hall with Ruby opening the doors to reveal Professor Azure looking down on them. His face spelled doom for the students.

"You're about 4 minutes late now when you could've gotten from the dorms to the hall in 3 minutes," he stated coldly as he pulled out his scroll, "Congratulations, first mark on your attendance. Now get in there."

"Yes sir... sorry sir."

The Chief of Beacon's Security pointed a thumb inside "Well, what are you waiting for? Get in." The students promptly obeyed as they took their seats while their Grimm Studies teacher, Professor Port began his lesson "Now that we're all here, I would like to welcome you to Grimm Studies! Now, what are the Grimm you may ask? Well, they are monsters! Demons! Prowlers of the night! Yes, the Grimm go by many names, but I personally like to refer to them as prey!"

Azure, who stayed in the room to observe, felt his soul leave his body. "I agreed to this..." the Marshal thought bitterly. The rest of the class remained silent at the poor attempt at a joke that the Portly Professor made. He then continued his discussion "And so will you when you have graduated from this prestigious academy! Now as you all know, Vale and the other 3 Kingdoms are safe havens in our dangerous world. Remnant is teething with Grimm who would want nothing more than to tear into your flesh and feast upon it!" Port said as he made gestures of tearing.

"And that's where we come in, Huntsmen and Huntresses!" he continued, giving Yang a wink, "Individuals who have sworn to protect those who cannot! From what you might ask? Why the very world if you think about it!"

"Yeah!" a student cheered loudly, causing the entire room to stare at him. Realizing his situation, he slowly disappeared under his desk, embarrassment filling in the buckets.

"Now, before the lesson, here is a story of when I was a handsome young boy!" Port said with pride. Azure at this point wanted nothing more than to take a jetpack and fly out the window. However, he knew that he cannot afford to act so unprofessionally in front of the students. Hence, here he stood, observing the class and trying to drown out Port's winded story.

As the Grimm Studies Professor continued his tale, Azure noticed Ruby scribbling on a paper, and he cannot help but shake his head at RWBY's Leader. She had drawn a crude picture of Port with the title of "Professor Poop" on the top. He took the drawing from the teen and crumpled it before gesturing for her to stay focused on the lesson as he walked away to throw her crude drawing out.

Fortunately, it wouldn't be long until Port finished his remarks "A true huntsman must be honorable! Dependable! Strategic, wise, and well-educated!" The Marshal had to look at Miss Rose once more as she did several contradictory antics, much to her partner's evident frustration. Then, Port challenged the class "Now, which one of you believes that you represent these traits?"

Weiss' hand shot up, anger in her voice slightly evident "I do sir!"

"Very well Miss Schnee, gear up for the arena while Professor Azure and I set up your challenge!"

The Heiress stood up as Azure made his way to Port. "What do you have in mind Peter?" Azure asked, as he and the 2 guardsmen who were near the doors approached.

Port gave the Marshal a wink "I have a Grimm in this box. If memory serves me correct, this is a Boarbatusk so it shouldn't be too hard, eh?"

Garreth had to give the other professor a look as if he were mad. However, he had to concede if he managed to catch one alive without too much issue. He soon nodded as he signaled his guards back to their posts while he himself stood next to Port. He crossed his arms as they watched Weiss reenter the classroom in her full battle attire. As her teammates cheered her on, Ruby, who was yelling louder than the rest much to the Heiress' disdain, the Grimm Studies Professor then asked.

"Are you ready Miss Schnee?

She nods as Azure points his blaster pistol towards the cage's lock.

"Do you need a count down?" The Marshal asks.

Weiss was caught off guard by the question "No? I don't believe I do-"

Before she could finish, Azure shot the lock off, unleashing the creature on the Heiress who stumbled due to the sudden attack.

"Ha-ha! Didn't expect that didn't you?" Port chuckled as Azure holstered his weapon.

The Grimm then unrolled itself and began to charge Weiss as fast as its legs can carry it. Weiss charged ahead as well, but when they met, she found her sword stuck in the Grimm's bone armor. It began to flail about as the Heiress struggled to get her sword unleashed. "Come on! Show it who's boss Weiss!" Ruby cheered as her partner finally got her sword unstuck, but unfortunately lost her grip. Now unarmed, she rolled out of the way, as the Grimm tried to hit her with its tusks. "Oho! You're now without your weapon? How will you act now?" Weiss responded by dashing away from a follow-up attack and sliding to reach her sword again.

"Go for its belly Weiss! There's no armor ther-" Ruby tried to say, but was cut off when Weiss snapped at her. She then readied herself as the Boarbatusk began to charge her once again, but this time, she hit it in the right spot as she slashed past it, leaving it immobilized and dying. Azure nodded at a Guard who marched up to the dying Grimm before taking his bayonet from his back and stabbing it into the Grimm, making it fade into a black mist. The Guard saluted Azure who in turn saluted back as he marched back to his post.

"Bravo!," Port clapped slowly, "Bravo indeed! It seems that we are in the presence of a true Huntress-in-training!" The bell rang, signaling the end of classes.

"It seems that's all the time we have for this class today. Be sure to go over your readings and remember... stay vigilant!"

As the class left, Azure noted the RW of RWBY run out of the room, with Weiss wearing a bitter expression. He was pondering if he should investigate if everything was alright when he was approached by one of his guards "Sir, message from the Headmaster. He wishes to meet you outside the room."

The Marshal nodded "Thank you Hops," as he then left the room and was met by Ozpin. "Alright Oz, do you need anything?"

"Nothing in particular just wanted to chat. Come," he said as the two men began to walk around the campus. "So how are you finding your first time as a staff member of Beacon?" the Headmaster asks as he takes a sip of his coffee.

"Well, it's not much, but it does remind me of my time in the GAR Officer's Academy..." Azure mused, "Still, it's an interesting change of pace."

Ozpin smiled "I'm glad to hear it. I hope Peter's tales didn't put you to sleep."

The Marshal chuckled "Nearly, but I had to make sure none of the students do so first."

"Quite right..."

As they continued their walk, discussing the various matters of Beacon, the two overheard an argument.

"That's just it! You've done nothing! Nothing to earn the position of leader! When we fought in the forest, you acted like a child! Here you are, still acting like one!" a voice yelled. Weiss Schnee's voice, the Marshal noted. He could only assume the person who she was yelling at was her partner, the poor girl.

"What about all that talk about working together? I thought you wanted to work as a team, Weiss!" Ruby tried, a hint of crying beginning to emerge.

Weiss looked at the Rose in the eye "Not a team led by you." She then marched off, leaving a dejected Ruby alone. Azure and Ozpin came up behind her, the latter remarking "That certainly didn't end well don't you think Mister Azure?"

The Marshal nodded as Ruby faced the two men "Professor Ozpin... is she right? Did you make a mistake?" she asked sadly. Azure shifted his expression to a look of concern as he faced Ozpin who replied "Well... that doesn't seem to be certain yet? What do you think Azure?"

"Rough around the edges, but I feel like she'll get there," the Marshal replied with a small smile as he adjusted his cap, showing his dark blue eyes. Ozpin nodded in agreement "Indeed, it's still the first day. Understand Miss Rose that I have made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet and beyond," he secretly shifted his looks at Azure as well, "but I don't consider this appointment as one of them. Do you?"

Ruby looked confused but also understanding of what the Headmaster is saying. "You see Miss Rose, being a leader is not a title you carry around. It's a badge that you wear constantly. If you don't perform at your best, then how do you expect others to follow you?"

Azure then spoke "I understand that being a leader is a daunting task, but trust me when I say this. When you learn how to uphold your duty to your team, then it won't be as difficult as you are experiencing right now."

Ruby smiled, finally understanding what she needed to do "Thank you, professors!" The two men smiled as she ran off only to run into a Guardsman who yelled at her to watch where she was running. Azure couldn't help but shake his head, but this time not in disappointment. "What of Miss Schnee?" he asked the Headmaster who was looking into his scroll. "I believe Port has handled that," he said as he put it away.

The Marshal then had to ask "Ozpin, about what you said. Making more mistakes than any man, woman, and child in this galaxy, what do you mean by that?"

He did not fail to notice the rather downed expression "While I want to know, if it brings a rather personal discomfort, I shan't press on further." Ozpin shook his head "No, you're right. Remnant has existed for a very good while now, and there was a time when the moon was a whole. I was around during that time... Yet how could I be here then?"

"Reincarnations? I'm not too well studied on how the force works, but I have heard a theory about such a thing," Azure offered. The Headmaster remained silent before speaking "The enemy we face now is also one of that forgotten era..."

"I see... I think you need not say anything any further," Azure said as he pondered about the talk with Ruby, "I hope she learns earlier. As much as I see her troublesome behavior, she is still a student and a child who has not grasped the reality of a warrior. Let us hope she doesn't learn the lessons of failure in the worse way possible..."

Ozpin looked at the Chief of Security with curiosity "It stirs up some old memories?" The Marshal nodded "Indeed... it reminds me of a younger and more foolish version of myself... 5 years ago... at one of my first battles..."

5 Years Ago... Battle of Muunilist

The fields beyond the city were a jumbled mess of clone troopers and battle droids as a younger Colonel Azure surveyed the battlefield. His eyes watched the enemy's movement like a hawk as the droids advanced toward their landing site. Prior to the battle, he had been given orders by one of the Jedi Generals to hold the position so that the rest of the Brigade could land without issue. For this task, he was given command of a regiment of the 501st Legion. When his men first deployed, they met minimal resistance, but soon, the droid forces began to increase.

During that time, Azure stubbornly held the line despite the overwhelming number of droids that were thrown at him. The battle began to take its toll on the Regiment as men died left and right. However, just when he thought the pressure was about to come off, did things turn for the worse.

"Sir! There, by the outskirts!" his clone major said, pointing towards the ruble of the city. Azure followed his major's finger and what he saw shook him. It was an entire contingent of cavalry droids. Their lances promised pain and death as the line charged toward them. Clones began to fall back to better defensive positions, but there was barely anything to use as Azure deemed them unnecessary since they would be on the offensive soon. This misjudgment costed him dearly. The lancers crashed into the barely defended regiment, killing by the tens as squads were wiped out left and right. Azure and his major had drawn blasters, trying desperately to defend themselves to order the troops around into a better defensive stance.

The Major would not survive as Azure heard a sickening crunch of plastoid and flesh and turned to see the Clone grasping his chest wound. The lance had gone through and cut a large hole in his chest. The blue markings of his armor had all been stained by red as he looked up to the Colonel, his visor staring right back into Azure's eyes. Finally, he fell as Azure knelt by him, trying to catch him, but deep down, he knew that there was no hope. A captain ran up to them, and gave the dead Major a look of pity before looking towards Azure "Major Spotts is dead sir, we need you to lead us, Colonel!"

Azure could not respond, shock still in effect at seeing the gruesome display before him. The captain asked again for orders, and finally Azure ordered for them to form a square formation. The Captain had to confirm if that's what he truly wanted, and Azure said yes.

"FORM SQUARE!" the Captain yelled as the scattered men began to rally towards his voice. The men were soon in formation, firing at droid lancers. Azure stood there still distressed as his men held firm. The Captain did his best into making sure that the men did not falter. Soon, the remainders of the Regiment saw the positive results of the tactic as droids swerved to not get thrown off their bikes. With them swerving, they unintentionally exposed their sides, which the clones took advantage of, firing their blasters at any given chance.

"HOLD THE LINE TROOPERS!" the Captain continued to yell.

Just when Azure felt like he and the men were going to die, did reinforcements finally arrive as gunships unloaded fresh troopers and tanks. The men of the Regiment let out a sigh of relief. Azure looked at the Captain and shook his hand "I cannot tell you enough how your efforts saved the men Captain... I was a fool to think that they wouldn't commit to a counter-offensive of this magnitude."

"I'm just glad that we survived sir... despite all that," the Captain remarked.

Azure nodded lightly "I know you troopers have names... what is yours?"

"Uh... Moris sir... Captain Moris of B Regiment," the trooper replied, surprised that the Colonel wanted to know his name.

"This Regiment is in your debt Captain, or should I say, Major?" The Colonel said, as he finally gave a weak smile.

Moris looked surprised "I-it would be an honor, sir... but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be a Major yet." Azure dismissed him "N-nonsense Captain... I don't think I'm ready to be Colonel after this fiasco, but I sure as hell will still try. I think you should out to do the same."

"Well, I guess we'll both be learning as we go?" the Captain tried, to which Azure nodded.

A new clone trooper approached the two men "Sir! New orders from the General!"

The two looked at each other before following the trooper to the new mobile command post. As they walked, Azure couldn't help but touch the blood on his uniform.

Present, Beacon Academy

"From that day forward, I pray that no one makes the same mistakes as I did. I know that it wasn't possible in war, but I could only pray," Azure said, finishing his tale. Ozpin understood what he meant before he encouraged them to continue their stroll. The Marshal nodded in agreement and off they went again. In the distance, one could hear the sounds of the assembly call for the third and fourth platoon. Sunshine began to fade as the sun began to set, thus seeing the end of the first day of classes.

It may be the first day, but many experiences have already been learned, and many more are to come in the following days. Both students and staff shall see the next day, learning how to beat the foes of today.

Over the hills and far away...

And cut! Another chapter! I certainly hope you found this one entertaining. I'll be getting the next chapter soon! Feel free to leave reviews and criticisms in the reviews. We know what the next chapter is and you know how much I love to put our boy Jaune up!

Until then, stay frosty because that's soldiering!