Quick note that there will be no chapter tomorrow of Eternal Crown because I have a big family event I have to attend. Basically, I've become a great uncle to my most irresponsible and not-at-all-ready-to-be-a-father nephew because he's an idiot, and my sister (his mom) needs me there to show support (mostly in case my nephew goes off on one and gets aggressive) as she stresses the things he needs to keep in mind.

It's a messy situation for sure and he's got aggression and drink problems; it's a complete mess, and he hasn't even bought a crib or pyjamas for the baby and just acts as if things will sort themselves out because that's how life works. I've already paid for clothes, baby supplies, and such. Will be delivering those as well.

Anyway, family drama. No one wants to know, I'm sure, but here I am venting anyway because it's got me moody. xD No Sunday update. Sorry.

Why is it always Sunday update dragged into these? Because Sunday is when no one works, shops are mostly closed, and it's convenient for my family to call on me.


Cover Art: Mysterywhiteflame

Chapter 19


It was the plume of smoke that Jaune and Ciel saw first.

The smoke could be seen even in the dark sky thanks to the tongues of fire flickering within its mass; whatever was burning was burning ridiculously hot to produce that kind of effect. The two of them stood with other onlookers, many of whom raised voices in fear and concern. "Should we call the authorities?" asked Jaune.

"It looks like some people are already," said Ciel. "What do you think it is?"

"No idea. Should-" His scroll went off angrily before he could finish. Jaune drew it out and looked down. "Huh. It's Penny. I wonder if she and her friends have found Blake yet." He pressed the accept button. "Hey, it's Jau-"

Gunfire tore down the line and out the speaker, making not only Jaune but Ciel flinch as well. There was a sound like screaming – of metal twisting, and then a mighty boom that he heard not only through the scroll but also off in the distance toward the smoke. And then, Penny's voice came through, bright and airy.

"I'm sorry. I had to cut a Bullhead out the air."

"Penny, what-!?"

"Could you come to the Vale docks, please? There is a bit of a situation."

The call ended with a click.

"A situation, she calls it," groaned Ciel. "What has that girl gotten herself into? Is it even safe to call our rocket lockers in a civilian city?" He didn't know. "I told my team those rocket lockers were stupid ideas. What if they hit a building on the way down?" Growling, Ciel touched a wristwatch on her left wrist. "I have a weapon. Do you?"

"I have my fists."

"Are you trained for that?"

"Well, no, but fist goes in face, right?"

Ciel sighed again, stuck a hand under her skirt, and brought out a short knife, the blade of which was only two inches long, to give to him. He wanted to ask where exactly she'd hidden that, and why, but it didn't feel like the right moment.

The Vale docks was not an area either of them were familiar with so Penny's instructions would have been all but useless if not for the very helpful landmark that was a literal inferno burning in the distance. They jogged down the streets and off the main roads past a chain link fence and then onto an industrial lot where shipping containers had been stacked atop one another taller than the warehouses they sat between.

A singular Bullhead was hovering in the air facing away from them. With a whirr, it opened fire with its miniguns, proving itself very much not a unit piloted by any of the local authorities. Ciel jumped and scaled a container and then another like an agile cat, and Jaune clambered up a little less gracefully behind her. The sound of their boots on metal should have given them away, but everyone on the docks was a little too distracted for that. Plus, that nose-mounted minigun was loud. Deafening, almost.

"I see them," said Ciel, and pointed. He caught a red cloak and some orange hair. Two sets of orange hair, in fact.

"That's Roman Torchwick – some local thief. And that's… White Fang? What?"

They were working together. Damn it, they were actually working together after all. Warden hadn't predicted this, but he had a feeling they'd appreciate the news.

"I'm the only one of us that's properly armed," said Ciel. "I'll go after the crook and keep him busy. He's clearly got some training. You work with the rest to handle the White Fang." Ciel flashed a predatory smile their way. "They have plenty of guns so that ought to solve your not having a weapon situation. I expect my knife back."

Her piece said, Ciel leapt from the container and raced into combat. Jaune would have followed, then winced as the Bullhead opened up again. Maybe he could help deal with that. Ripping out his scroll he quickly switched and swiped through the app. "Warden! I have White Fang fighting alongside Roman Torchwick at the docks. One of our team is being engaged and I am moving to support. Do you have any answers to the Bullhead shooting the place up?"

"Copy that. We have visual through CCTV. Situation should be dealt with in 48 seconds. You are free to engage."

No details but there was no need for them. Better he get involved now than waste time listening to an explanation. Leaping down off the containers, he landed on one knee and pushed up into a sprint toward the gunfire. Ciel was right to say he needed a weapon, and the White Fang were already distracted by Ruby's teammate, Blake. He rounded the corner and came upon two looking the other way, firing. The sound of the gunfire prevented them hearing him approach.

He stepped up and slid his hands around the first, flipping the gun out the man's hands. A soldier would have kept a tighter grip, or worn a strap, but this guy didn't know what he was doing and the gun span away from him. While he yelped, Jaune slammed a hand onto the head of the second and smashed him against the cargo container. He groaned and slid down to the ground.

"Human scum!" screamed the first, lashing out with a meat cleaver. Jaune hopped back, then darted in once the weapon had swung by. He caught the man's wrist and jabbed Ciel's knife down into the meat of his forearm, drawing a scream and making him drop the weapon. His hand then struck under the faunus' chin to both knock the mask off and send him onto his ass.

"Sorry about this," said Jaune, gripping the knife handle. "But I promised to give this back." The faunus screamed and wept as his arm bled. "Apply pressure and stay there," said Jaune. "You're only going to make it worse if you try and fight."

"F-Fuck you…"

Jaune ignored the beaten man and picked up the rifle. It wasn't modern by any means – it was another one of those old and beaten models that had gone out of fashion twenty years ago. Still, a gun was a gun and it wasn't like it worked on unknown means. He took a spare mag from the other, tossed it atop a container where the faunus couldn't get to it easily, and moved on. He came face to face with a blonde faunus.

A staff nearly broke Jaune's nose as he dodged back.

"Friendly! Friendly!" yelped Jaune.

Sun Wukong looked jumpy, but he finally took note of the lack of the mask and a familiar face. "Bro," he breathed out, shoulders slumping. "Don't come round a corner pointing a gun at a man like that. What am I supposed to think?"

"Yeah, my bad." It wasn't, but it was easier than arguing. "I'm here to help. Where am I needed?"

"Got something that can take that out?" asked Sun, nodding at the Bullhead.

"Uh…"

As if summoned by thought alone something struck the side of the Bullhead trailing a thick plume of smoke. There was no explosion, the missile acting more like a battering ram. It smacked the thing out the air and to the side, sending it spinning end over end until it crashed down into the ocean. Sun stared at it, then at Jaune. "I meant that as a joke."

"That wasn't me!" Plausible deniability. "Vale must have finally taken notice."

"And, what, fired a surface to air missile!?"

"I don't know. Look, let's just deal with the White Fang and then help the others."

"Heh. Sure. You support while I go in."

Jaune reached out to stop the faunus but it was too late. Sun's idea wasn't an awful one but it wasn't much of a plan either. They had no experience working together and Jaune didn't even know how he fought, so not hitting him by accident would be a challenge. Zero strategy. Just run in. Are all Haven students like this or did I get unlucky? Jaune groaned and chased after him, barrel pointed down. If nothing else he could take on the White Fang Sun wasn't dealing with. It'd be less teamwork and more them taking half the opponents each, but it'd have to do.

It would do, in fact. The White Fang were untrained volunteers picked up from unhappy locals. They were the kind of person Jaune had been before, thinking a gun an impossibly powerful weapon just because you could squeeze the trigger. Their shots went high, low, and into the containers around them and they sprayed instead of bursting, ruining their already poor accuracy. What's more, they sprayed at Sun, as the more frightening threat, and in doing so actually hit some of their own people in the crossfire. It was horrible to watch.

He picked his shots instead, tight and controlled bursts of fire into legs and arms where he could. They didn't have aura and they went down hard, screaming the whole way. The White Fang didn't stand a chance, but then they weren't the main threat either. Once the fifteen or so faunus were put down, many bleeding out, Sun and Jaune jogged back to the main action in time to see Roman Torchwick escaping on a new Bullhead. He had to assume Warden hadn't been prepared for the second or couldn't replicate the missile trick they had before.

Though even that wasn't subtle. I thought we were meant to be staying quiet. A literal missile taking out an aircraft over Vale is anything but.

"Penny! Ciel!" Jaune jogged up to them. They looked unhurt, but best to be sure. "Are you alright?"

"Unharmed," reported Ciel. "He made a quick retreat once it was clear the tide was turning against him. Penny?"

"I am unharmed and fully operational! And look Ruby!" she called. "We helped you find your missing teammate. Mission accomplished!"

Ruby Rose looked at the burning and broken docks, the fires, the sinking Bullhead, the crying and injured faunus, and then at Penny. "Yeah," she said, shrinking in on herself as Vale's own aircraft approached. "Yay for us…"

/-/

"There's no response from Jaune and Penny, sir," said Neon.

"There's no need," said Warden. "We've patched into Vale's police system and it turns out there's an altercation elsewhere in the city. Footage shows them active there."

"What?"

"Limited risk, cadet, and it looks to be in hand. You focus on your own mission."

"Sir!" saluted Neon. She looked over to Flynt, who was fiddling with an antennae system. "They say Penny and Jaune are in some big fight somewhere in the city."

"Lucky bastards. When do we get to have a little fun?"

Ideally, never. Not for them of course – Neon would have liked to scrap as well – but Atlas would prefer they deal with the White Fang quietly. She had to wonder if Jaune and Penny hadn't been contacted for some secret mission from Warden, but it seemed unlikely they'd have not told them. If this really was a freak accident then it had some hellish timing.

"All right," said Flynt. "I've got it up. Are you guys getting a signal?"

"Give it time," said Warden. "We need- ah, yes. We have signal. Good job. How hidden is it?"

The antennae system was a bulky black box with a silver metal rod sticking up acting as an aerial. It was three feet tall, which was an awkward height for hiding, but necessary given the extreme distance the signal would have to travel. At least it wasn't that stupid version they had to use in the assessment tests.

As for hiding, well, there weren't many places you could hide something like this in an abandoned warehouse. They'd considered the roof but the buildings nearby were taller, which meant it'd stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, they'd had to sneak inside – a simple task given it wasn't in use – and find somewhere inside.

"We've stuck it in an upstairs office behind some filing cabinets," said Neon. "It's not going to be seen unless someone comes in here, but it won't be hard to find if they do. There's not much else we can do, sir. Even if we tried to hide it in the rafters, a faunus would spot the reflection of the antenna with ease."

"It'll have to do, then. We'll be using this as a listening device for the warehouse. You have two more to plant tonight."

Flynt groaned. Those two were meant to be Jaune and Penny's jobs. "What's so special about this place?" asked Flynt.

"We tracked one of the vehicles making a stop here before moving on. The stop lasted one full hour. Much too long to be a coincidence. We can't rule out the possibility it was their attempt to throw us off the trail and that this was a decoy, but we can't ignore the opportunity either."

"And the truck Jaune tagged?"

"Parked at a civilian home. We're digging up details on the individuals living there now and looking for ammunition you can use."

"Oooh. We're going in with the threats and blackmail?"

"Approaching the individual at their home is a bad idea, but we can put together a dossier of a suspected member. He may well be our way into the organisation. We'll survey first and approach later."

Flynt was fine with that but Neon was much more worried. Fighting terrorists was fine because they were bad guys and masked and even if they were faunus like her she could argue they'd made terrible life choices. She didn't want to have to look at the face behind the mask; what if she felt sorry for them? What if it humanised them? It would make things so much harder.

"Change of orders!" Warden barked suddenly. "The altercation elsewhere is concluding and Beacon is sending pick-up for your teammates. They will no doubt look into where the two of you were. Abandon mission and secure suitable alibi immediately."

"What? Now? How!?"

"Go to a nightclub. Take photos. Be seen."

Neon blinked. "You're telling us to get blitzed, sir? On Atlas taxpayer funds?"

"You're free to spend your own money, cadet."

Flynt grinned. "Ah, but sir, we don't really want to go spend our money and you are ordering us to as part of a mission…"

"Ugh. Fine. Bring back a receipt."

"I take it back!" cheered Flynt, already moving quickly. "This is the best mission ever."

"I saw a club on the way here," cheered Neon. "We should make it really convincing that we were out drinking so they can't doubt it when we come back. I say we start with shots and move onto expensive cocktails."

"For Atlas!"

Neon cackled. "For Atlas!"

/-/

Jaune stood to attention in the office of a foreign headmaster. Professor Goodwitch stood to the right of Team RWBY, who looked more than a little chastised, while he, Ciel, and Penny stood flanked by their superior officer, Winter. Winter Schnee looked as imposing as ever but had not fixed them with an angry scowl like Goodwitch had her students. He knew she couldn't afford to side with them however, not when she officially was supposed to have agreed with Vale's decision to allow no interference toward the White Fang.

"-and that's what happened," finished Ruby, re-telling the story with a worried frown.

"I see." Ozpin steepled his fingers together. "And you, Mr Arc? You represent your team. Only the three of you, I see."

"Ciel Soleil is not a part of my team, sir. My teammates weren't involved as we had no plans to get involved in a combat situation, nor any expectation we would be involved in one. We were only alerted to this at all after being called by my teammate, Penny, who requested immediate help due to a situation she'd been dragged into."

It was harsh of him to dump the blame so squarely on the shoulders of Penny's new friend, but it was true in every way that mattered. Their team wouldn't have been there if not for Team RWBY. On the other hand, they'd gained vital intel that Warden would be interested in, and odds were that Flynt and Neon had been on their own mission tonight. The fact that Torchwick actually was working with them would rattle the department, and earn Flynt a lot of praise for having tagged one of his vehicles.

Poor Team RWBY, on the other hand, collectively winced.

"If I may ask, what exactly were the three of you doing out in Vale?"

"They are entitled to visit the city," interrupted Winter.

"I know that. I am merely curious."

"Penny was trying to make some local friends and Team RWBY were the ones to show us around Beacon," said Jaune. "Penny thought they'd be the best place to start. There's obviously no way she could have ever known that would lead to a tussle with terrorists. As for Ciel and I, we went out for dinner in the city and to spend time together."

Penny's head swivelled to him and Ciel and shouted – quite loudly, "You went on a date!?"

"It wasn't a date, Penny," said Jaune, while Ciel fidgeted beside him, blood rushing up her neck. "And I think we're supposed to be focusing on more important things right now."

"Oh. Ah." Penny bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Mr Ozpin, sir."

Mr Ozpin sir smiled behind his fingers. "That's no problem. So, to see if I understand correctly, the two of you were on a not-date in Vale when you heard the explosion. Did you choose to investigate?"

"No sir. Ciel raised the idea of calling the authorities to report the fire."

"It didn't cross your minds to take a look?"

"Should it?" asked Ciel. "There are a thousand reasons for why a fire might start in a city, sir, and with all due respect we're not the correct service to deal with that. We had no reason to expect nefarious purposes, and several other people on the scene were calling the fire departments."

Winter looked pleased with her answer, which was fortunate since Ciel wasn't even involved in Warden and was siding with them. To be fair, they were telling the truth here. Ozpin could check their scrolls and whatever surveillance the Council of Vale had at the docks and see that for himself.

"Penny called me and asked for help because her and her – and I quote – new best friend was under attack and needed help. We weren't even aware of who they were under attack by until we got there. We decided to get involved all the same in defence of our teammate. We did our best to limit damage and protect our team. I am afraid I have no idea what took down the Bullhead threatening the area, and I assumed it to have been called in by Vale."

Glynda cleared her throat. "Mr Winchester's rocket locker suffered a malfunction and launched itself. The locker impacted the Bullhead in the air, cutting through one engine and driving the vehicle down into the water. Efforts are underway to retrieve bodies and Mr Winchester's weapon."

Ah, so that was what Warden had done. He'd expected them to hack the Bullhead but maybe that wasn't possible; hacking a rocket locker in Beacon, when they were all patched into a scroll-operated system, obviously was. They must have faked a signal to the locker as if this Winchester guy had summoned it, then scrambled the location until it resembled the co-ordinates for where the Bullhead was hovering. Clever.

"I did what I felt was right," said Jaune. He stood a little taller, on purpose, and said, "And I stand by that decision, sir."

"As well he should," added Winter. "Ozpin, with all due respect, I find your questioning of one of our students as to why they risked their lives to defend their teammates to be of some concern. I feel your first concern should be as to how and why terrorists are freely operating in your city."

"It's not my city, Winter. I am the headmaster of Beacon. I don't rule Vale."

"Yet you are still putting my students on the spot for what I can only assume to be political reasons tied to matters beyond their understanding." Not beyond, as it were, but Jaune did his best to look clueless and confused by what she was saying. "I will not allow you, whether it be on the orders of another or not, to make an example of one of our teams for doing the right thing. If the Council of Vale wishes to raise a protest then they can do so directly to me."

"I will be sure to pass that message onto them." A buzzing sound came from a speaker on the man's desk, and he pushed the button. "Ozpin here."

"Ozpin," said the voice of another teacher. Port if he wasn't mistaken. "The two students you were looking for just staggered back into Beacon. Coal and Katt, I believe."

Flynt and Neon. Jaune tensed.

"Staggered?" asked Ozpin. "Have they been in a fight?"

A chuckle came down the line. "Only with a bottle. The two have come back from sampling Vale's clubbing scene and look to have enjoyed themselves a little too much. They've come back with Team CFVY, who were also out celebrating their last mission. Quite the loud karaoke they were singing as they stumbled off the Bullhead."

There was silence in the office, broken by a muffled laugh from Yang that Goodwitch ended with a glare. Jaune smiled and couldn't help but say, "Well it is a Saturday night. Neon did say she wanted to take Flynt clubbing at one point and show him why dance is better than jazz."

"Shall I send them up to you, Ozpin?"

"No need. Let's not ruin their night." He pressed a button to end the call and looked up to them. "Team Jackpot, you are dismissed. Thank you for supporting one of our teams and I apologise for the poor end to your night." His head turned. "Team RWBY, I am going to have to ask you to stay. I'm afraid there will be some detentions in order for this, especially after dragging a foreign team into this matter. Winter, can you take your students away?"

"Of course, sir. Team Jackpot. Soleil. With me."

"Ma'am," they echoed.

Once they were in the elevator and away, Winter made a swift motion as if tugging the collar of her coat. It was a subtle gesture that they all knew – a basic signal for no comms. They didn't have any here, but he could guess it was a warning not to discuss any personal matters where they might yet be recorded. Winter kept the topic safe instead.

"You did well tonight. All three of you. General Ironwood would praise you all for standing up for your teammates and for defending the citizens of an allied kingdom."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Jaune.

"It was no problem," added Ciel.

"Were you really on a date?" asked Penny.

"P-Penny, please," whined Ciel. "Leave it be."

Winter's eyes closed and she looked to be holding back a laugh at their expense. Jaune felt a little embarrassed himself but not too shocked. Penny was Penny after all, and this level of bluntness was just like her. "Will Team RWBY be all right, ma'am?" he asked. "I know they brought us into that mess but I don't think they meant to."

"I'm sure they won't be suspended or expelled if that's what you mean. Right or wrong, reckless or not, the White Fang should not have been operating within the city, and you can hardly fault students for seeking to stop them, nor for defending themselves when they come under attack. Rest assured I will be complaining directly to the Council of Vale over this – and specifically to ask how the Council let this come about."

And to put pressure on them, no doubt. Sort of a "told you so" moment to the Council claiming that Atlas would only provoke the White Fang into action. It hadn't taken much provocation for them to already be active and acting illegally in the city. He doubted it would change anything or let Ironwood step in with a greater response, but it'd put them on the back foot and have them scrambling to solve that issue, which would mean Team Jackpot could operate more freely behind the scenes.

/-/

"I've received preliminary reports from Warden." Winter Schnee addressed the four of them in their dorm, but only after both a scan from them for surveillance, a scan from her, and then a remote scan from Warden. The room was secure. "You've done well so far and put us closer than ever to finding and dealing with the White Fang. Arc, Polendina, good job today on adapting to an unexpected situation – and Arc, good work on putting Ozpin on the back foot. You've given us plenty of ammunition to use if they try and pin this on you."

"N-Not going to congratulate us?" asked Flynt, with a hiccup.

Winter chuffed and offered the duo a wry smile. "I'm not sure you need congratulations for having gotten yourselves sloshed on taxpayer money. Good work on the receivers, though. It's also good you tagged one of Torchwick's vehicles because he is now a priority target for us. We need him captured alive as soon as possible. The man has vital information and is a career criminal with no reason to hold allegiance to the White Fang; he'll roll on them the second we offer a plea deal."

"Will we be making a play for him, ma'am?" asked Penny.

"Not unless Warden tells you to. I can't be involved too much in this as it'll draw attention. I just wanted you all to know that the General, Clover, and I, are all being briefed, and we have been impressed with your performance thus far."

The four of them saluted, two more drunkenly than usual, and Neon slapping herself in the face.

As Winter left, Penny turned to Jaune and asked, "Did you really go on a date with Ciel?"

"Eh?" asked Flynt.

"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh!?" howled Neon, eyes lighting up.

"Damn it, Penny…"


Next Chapter: 11th February

Like my work? Please consider supporting me, even if it's only a little a month or even for a whole year, so I can keep writing so many stories as often as I do. Even a little means a lot and helps me dedicate more time and resources to my work.

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur