Beacon CCT
The fired slug hit a specialist in the shoulder, knocking him down. Jaegers jumped from their positions, their weapons drawn, and engaged in a deadly melee with the remaining specialists. Eckhard and Lyz readied their weapons as two specialists jumped in front of them and drew their own sabers.
"Guess you guys aren't about diplomacy and talking?" One of them sneered.
"Guess you guys aren't about winning?" Eckhard snarled back, firing a slug into the midsection of the specialist that sneered at him.
The specialist sliced the bullet in half, but the sliced projectile still flew into his body, knocking him down. "Ugh!"
"Quill!" The other shouted, but was shocked, literally, by Lyz's lightning powers. She fell as well, her Aura depleted. The specialist raised her arms in a feeble attempt at mercy, but was met with a clip full of Volt bullets.
"Guess they were newbies." Lyz assumed.
"Agreed." Eckhard said, pointing at specialists who were fighting rather well against the Jaegers. "Oh well, at least they're not cadets."
"Oops." Lyz said, not caring about her kills. She activated her communication device on her wrist. "17 Actual, shit's gone sideways up here. "ETA?"
"We were delayed, the elevator had a code we had to crack. And this is a painstakingly long ride down."
"Hurry, Atlas's going hardcore up here. We got specialists trying to stop us-" She launched a bolt of lighting at a specialist lunging towards Eckhard, who was firing Aura killing shrapnel shots into the crowd. "-and I think they're mad at us killing the second CCT crew."
"I didn't kill the first."
"Uh huh, cams say otherwise."
"Okay, you got me. We're here, going to retrieve the body." The communication line went dead, and Lyz went back to providing sporadic covering fire with her Volt.
Ironwood's Airship Bridge
"What the hell are those things?!" Ironwood shouted as he watched his forces be decimated by the Jaegers.
"Data analysts are saying those are the same things that stole one of our Paladin mechs and engaged in combat with Teams RUBY and SSSN." An officer reported. "No information is present about the two others."
"I think they're wetworks." A senior officer surmised. "They are proficient at CQC and know what to do in a massive fight such as this."
Another specialist's vitals flatlined on the screen, three dead and unknown amount injured. "I take it back, now they're just murderers."
"Orders?" Another officer asked.
"Send in specialist teams E to H, if we can't beat them with smarts then beat them with numbers." Ironwood ordered. "I need that tower secured. NOW!"
Back on the ground
Eckhard pumped another round into his shotgun and fired at a specialist. The Aura killing round completely depleted the specialist's Aura, even though it only hit his hand. A burst of Volt rounds to the back finished him off. "Thanks Lyz."
"Hey, never turning down the chance to show Atlas who's boss." Lyz smirked.
Eckhard opened his mouth to say something, but aimed his shotgun at Lyz and fired.
Lyz felt the slug fly past her ear and heard the pained yell as a soldier behind her was hit with said slug round. "Thanks sergeant."
"What are friends for?" Eckhard said. "Unrelated note, I'm running out of slugs."
"Aura killing works, you know."
"Yeah, but it's not as effective." Eckhard sighed. He fired an Aura killing round into a specialist who was fighting a Jaeger, catching her off-guard. The Jaeger quickly finished her by kicking her into the air and punching her back to the ground.
"Was that necessary?" Lyz asked.
"Yes." Eckhard said, putting his shotgun away. "Now, excuse me. I'm gonna try out the rest of this suit." He ran towards the fight, while Lyz sighed and joined him. The two jumped off the stairs of the CCT and Eckhard brought out his grand weapon. He landed on top of a specialist, a wrist blade impaled in the specialist's head. The Jaegers grouped around the two, their weapons humming.
"Who's next?" Eckhard asked.
Ozpin's office
The headmaster was having, to be blunt, a shitty night. Not only was the CCT under attack, but the forces that attacked the two Atlesian armies had not left, but had gotten bolder and better.
Oh, and they had the Summer Maiden. What made the slap in the face even worse was the fact she was actively involved with their mission, and even had a mastery of her powers better than Amber ever did.
"Ozpin."
The headmaster turned around to face the video chat he was having with Ironwood. "Yes, I know. You were right."
"That's not what I wanted to say. I'm telling you Specialist Teams E to H are deploying to the CCT."
"Where is AceOps? They could do some major good here." Ozpin asked. It wasn't a new thing with AceOps not leaving Atlas. Ironwood was a real stickler with keeping his best forces in Atlas and not where the fight was.
"They are busy looking for the Winter Maiden."
"Oh. Well, good job." Ozpin sincerely said. "That would be better than them here, actually."
"Yes, but this attack doesn't make sense. Why are they trying to enter the CCT? To shut it down?"
"I have no idea-" Ozpin looked towards his security cameras, and went silent when they flipped to Amber. Except Amber wasn't in her pod, or alone. There were three armored beings performing medical work on her. "Oh no."
"Ozpin?"
"They knew." Ozpin whispered. "James! They knew about Amber!"
In the Secret Vault
17 Actual was scanning the target's vitals as 09 and 10 Actual worked to wake her up. "How long till she wakes?"
"Unknown, the stimpack should be waking her up soon though." 09 Actual answered.
"Amazing what our technology can do." 10 Actual said. "Hey, her eyes are fluttering!"
"You mean eyelids, dumbass." 09 Actual deadpanned. "But yes, she is waking."
Coming out of her haze, Amber opened her eyes slowly. She looked up to see robots hovering over her, and she almost screamed when one of them put a hand over her mouth, and made a shushing sign. "We're here to rescue you." It removed its hand.
"R-rescue me?" Amber asked. "Who are you? Are you with Ozpin?"
"Ozpin?" One of the other robots whispered to another. "Who's that?"
"That would be the headmaster here." The original replied. "Now, help her up. We need to go. Atlas is up above and leaving is going to be a hassle."
"Wait! You didn't answer my question." Amber said, getting up with assistance from the other two robots.
The original was walking towards the elevator. "All will be explained later. We need to get you out of here first."
"17 Actual, sensors are picking up the elevator coming down with one occupant." 09 Actual reported. It handed Amber off to 10 Actual.
17 Actual activated his plasma sword. "I had a feeling leaving this vault was gonna be harder than leaving the tower and school itself."
The doors opened, and Ozpin walked out. His cane was in hand and the coffee mug was gone.
"Good evening, Headmaster Ozpin." 10 Actual said, holding Amber in a bridal carry.
"Good evening to you as well." Ozpin said. "What a polite robot. Well, polite for stealing a young maiden."
09 Actual walked up to stand side by side with 17 Actual. "Headmaster, it's not what it looks like."
"Oh?"
"We were reviving her. Saving her." 09 Actual explained.
"For your own machinations?" Ozpin narrowed his eyes.
"Er…"
"What did you offer the Summer Maiden?" Ozpin asked.
"Nothing, actually." 17 Actual said. "We killed her captor robot, and she trusted our side bit by bit."
"Interesting." Ozpin put his hand to his chin. "I will be blunt, though. What you are doing is clearly a crime and you three need to be punished."
"Ozpin!" Amber said. "They saved me!"
"Yes, but they will use you. Just like the Summer Maiden right now." Ozpin responded.
"Uh...she's doing that on her own volition." 10 Actual responded. "We've given her tasks that she is free to deny, but she was really into doing this one."
"She hates Atlas." 17 Actual finished. "We don't really know why."
"Whatever the case, you aren't leaving with the Fall Maiden." Ozpin concluded.
"You mean half of it?"
Ozpin stiffened.
"We're aware of the other one, but she will be dealt with at a later date." 17 Actual explained. It twirled its plasma sword. "Now move."
09 Actual's right arm split open, and revealed a spinning gatling cannon. "Preferably without us 'helping' you."
Ozpin grimaced, and got into a fighting stance.
"Very well." 17 Actual said. "Just for the record, I will try not to kill you. I feel that would be unwise in your current situation."
Outside the CCT
Eckhard landed on the ground with a hard THUD. "Godammit, I need to pack more of those slugs! Lyz!"
The specialist that hit Eckhard lunged at his down form was hit to the side by a lightning bolt. "Sergeant, could you please not get your ass kicked right now?" Lyz asked, annoyed.
"These are specialists, they're like diet Jaegers!" Eckhard shouted back. "I only have three Aura piercing slugs left!"
"Well, kill three more specialists!" Lyz shouted as she fired her Volt into the crowd. "Jaeger! Cover me!" A Jaeger jumped next to her and proceeded to fire a Flatline rifle into the fight while Liyz reloaded her Thunderbolt.
"Well, I better find three more good specialists-" Eckhard's suit and Aura screamed at him, and he whirled around and fired an Aura killing shell.
Behind Eckhard
Ella crept up behind the armored being, her chainsword in hand. She wasn't one for stealth, but considering how specialists who charged this being died on the spot due to his weapon, she made an exception. She moved behind him, and lunged at him.
He whirled around, and fired. The shrapnel missed her. She swung her weapon at him. The blade sliced his armor, and the armored figure recoiled.
"Son of a bitch!" He shouted. His balance faltered, and he fell.
'Got you.' Ella thought, and she swung for his head.
Eckhard
Eckhard stared up at the blonde figure in Cadet clothes bringing her blade onto him, his eyes widening. He was about to be killed by a person probably the same age as him. Suddenly, a blue ball of electricity hit the Cadet's body. She dropped the blade, and froze. Eckhard, before he could realize, let his training kick in as he deployed his wrist blade and jammed into the Cadet's midsection. The blade protruded out of the backside of the Cadet.
Ella
Ella felt the blade pierce through her, her breathing becoming shallow. Was this...was this it?
"Help me…" She whimpered.
Eckhard
Eckhard pulled the blade out of the Cadet, and let the body fall onto the ground. He got up, and dusted himself off. "Thanks Lyz."
"No problem." The Summer Maiden responded. "The Jaeger Commanders have run into trouble. 10 Actual has the Fall Maiden, but we need to meet him at the elevator."
"What trouble?" Eckhard asked.
"The headmaster is fighting 17 and 09 Actual."
The Vault
17 Actual blocked each of the headmaster's strikes with ease. The man didn't even try to hide his muscle movements, making it easy for 17 Actual to block and counter. 09 Actual was off to the side firing potshots with it's gatling cannon. The headmaster's Aura would flare from time to time to show that 09 Actual was making progress, but way too little for it to help 17 Actual in any way.
"Stop resisting!" 17 Actual shouted as it landed a right straight to the headmaster's head. "Out of our way!"
"You won't be taking her." Ozpin said, barely fazed by the punch. "You will be stopped." Ozpin took a couple of hits from 09 Actual before jumping away.
"Slippery bastard." 09 Actual mumbled, putting the gatling away to pull out a Flatline.
17 Actual dashed up to Ozpin and launched a kick at his legs. Ozpin countered with jabbing his cane at 17 Actual, knocking the robot back.
10 Actual was running towards the elevator. "Shit, the operation wasn't supposed to go like this!"
"How was it supposed to go?" Amber, who was in the arms of 10 Actual, asked.
"Oh, you know, no interference, no Atlas, and certainly no Ozpin!" 10 Actual responded. "Whatever, we need to get you out of here!"
"Why am I the important one?"
10 Actual didn't respond. They reached the elevator, with 10 Actual pressing the call button. It turned around, its own gatling cannon spinning.
"You're not gonna answer my question, are you?" Amber asked.
"The previous one, no." The elevator dinged, and 10 Actual motioned Amber to go inside. The Jaeger Commander decided that this fight had gone on long enough, and put away it's gatling cannon. 10 Actual raised its left arm, which opened up to reveal a long recoilless rifle. "Hope the Headmaster likes this surprise."
17 Actual landed on its back, with 09 Actual running next to it. "We need a new plan, 17." The Jaeger Commander said, raising its Flatline.
"I have a plan. It's called 'fire your rifle on my mark'."
09 Actual looked down at 17 Actual. "Okay, on your mark."
Ozpin dusted himself off, and raised his cane.
"Mark!" 09 Actual fired, which the headmaster blocked with his Aura on his arms. Ozpin failed to account for 10 Actual and his recoilless rifle. He was hit by the shell, a small amount of Aura keeping him from being bisected by the projectile.
17 and 09 Actual ran past the down Headmaster, towards the 10 Actual and the waiting elevator. The two Jaeger Commanders ran into the elevator, and 10 Actual closed the door.
"Well, that went well." 10 Actual said as it turned around to face the two injured Jaeger Commanders. "Did you have fun getting your asses kicked?"
"No." The two said, which elicited a small chuckle from Amber.
"You robots are very vibrant. Much different from the Atlas kind." Amber said.
"Glad you didn't assume us to be Atlas." 10 Actual said, loading another shell into its recoilless rifle. "But we pretty much have to fight Atlas to get out of here."
"Huh?"
"Like, all of their deployed specialists."
Outside
Eckhard fired his last shell of his Mossberg, and put the shotgun back on his back mag-lock. He looked down at the final Specialist he killed, the face of a rookie on his first job.
"What a damn waste." Eckhard sighed.
"Are you feeling sympathy towards your enemy?" Liz said, walking towards Eckhard. "Considering how I, someone from this planet, don't feel anything and you do is amazing and oddly absurd."
"These people sent out newbies, rookies, and trainees to fight us." Eckhard said. "They sent nothing worth the person they were protecting."
"What do you mean? They ran away, cut their losses and are regrouping right now." Liz countered. "These poor saps didn't run fast enough. I suggest we don't make the same mistake and go, the Jaeger Commanders have our package and are coming up the elevator right now."
"You don't get it, do you?" Eckhard asked. "They sent greenhorns against us, mixed some veterans in there to kick morale up but that was it."
"So?"
"These people are no better than the things they fight." Eckhard took out his pistol, and shot the statue in the courtyard. "They'll send everything they have at us for little to no gain."
"Was this a 'no gain' then?"
"No, they were testing us." Eckhard said, dropping the bomb. "They were just seeing how far we would go to reach our goals."
"And?"
Ironwood's Flagship Office
"We showed them everything." Eckhard said, while Ironwood watched on his screen in his office.
"Quite." Ironwood sighed. "Unfortunately it took the deaths of so many to get so little. Crew! Head for the Academy! We will intercept their ride, no matter the cost."
Back on the ground
"So...now what?" Liz asked.
"Oh. Yeah, we go now." Eckhard emphasized. "The next force will be here soon. Like you said."
The squad of Jaegers were already signalling their ride while the Jaeger Commanders acquired a jacket from a fallen Specialist for Amber to wear. The SR-71 Mk. 2 landed in the courtyard, and the group got into the plane. Eckhard turned around, looking at the destroyed courtyard. The bodies of the fallen laid still, save for one near the base of the CCT. Eckhard would've missed it with his normal armor, but the new one highlighted the person for him. He narrowed his eyes, but let the door close and the plane lifted up from the ground and took to the skies.
Eckhard was walking back to his seat when his comm devices sounded off. "Sergeant, Atlesian battlecruiser moving to attacking position." The pilot reported. Eckhard ran to the cockpit, seeing what his pilots were seeing.
They were diagonally under a battlecruiser, it's guns moving to aim at them. Two more broke from the clouds, one on the left and one on the right, directly level to them.
"Shit! I'm calling this one in!" Eckhard shouted. "Take evasive maneuvers!"
RWBY Dorm
"Guys, we gotta go!" Ruby shouted. Her team lagged behind as they ran towards the CCT.
They weren't prepared when the first shouts went off, the Atlesian soldiers held them back saying it was a training exercise. They believed it until Atlesian teams ran past them, fully armed, one team was done a person and had one person on the phone shouting frantically.
Now, the soldiers were securing the area. Team RWBY had arrived on the scene to find the courtyard and CCT grounds desecrated with dead bodies, bullet holes, and burnt flora. The soldiers shooed them away, telling them to move on. They were going to ask Ozpin in the morning, the first thing if Ruby had a say.
Until an Atlesian battlecruiser flew over the Academy. Wiess then spotted two more performing a pincer maneuver on an unseeable target.
Now the team was running to the edge of the Bullhead docks to see what was going to happen. They saw the ships start to fire at something, the center of the three ships being lit up. Ruby was amazed at the sight of so much firepower in one area. The rest of the team seemed indifferent to it entirely.
HNV Exiled God
The hangars of the ship opened up. 8 battleships came out of them and flew to Remnant, their weapons warming up to destroy their target.
Ironwood was going to have a bad day.
