All of them started firing, first at the Androids then at the Grimm as the cages opened. The most recognisable were Creeps which charged towards the students the moment they were free.
Normally they would have anyway. But now after taking enough damage they would detonate. Showing the area with the same mix of contaminated Grimm matter and the same glowing gunk.
'Why do they all explode!' Yang shouted as she sent another shot into one.
'They're Lambent! When the imulsion inside decides its host is too damaged, it triggers some reaction that causes the blast. It's trying to become airborne to spread or at least hurt whatever it's fighting,' Jaune called as he reloaded and started firing into the next group.
'So any Grimm that glows is now a walking bomb?!' Wiess shouted.
'Yep!' Nora shouted, aiming at the centre of the horde and half pulling the trigger.
'Hey wha-' Ruby started to ask.
A blue beam had appeared pointing out from Magnhild. It wasn't real given it had odd squares and arrows along its length. At the end was a large flashing red area. Nora pulled the trigger fully.
The round left the barrel with a soft pop, the rocket motor on the rear ignited. The micro missile arced up and over the Grimm before its sides popped open. A set of sub munitions ejected before kicking off their own motors causing them to slam into the ground. The chain reaction ran back to the cages and derailed the train.
'Ha. Ha. Did you see that! Got them in one shot!' Nora shouted.
'That wa-' Weiss started looking at the scorched ground.
'SO COOL!' Ruby cried, 'That was like a Lancer GL! But you've built the underslung launcher into your weapon! Did you start with one!? Can we only see the targeting beam with the HUD on?! Wha-'
'Aaaaand she's gone,' Yang announced.
'Hey if it helps her keep her mind off this,' Jaune waved to the island, 'Then I don't mind her geeking out.'
Ruby had been quite excited when she'd run into them, literally on the way to initiation. She'd gone from babbling about "her being mad", which turned out to be Weiss. To trying to ask every question she could about their equipment.
Is it hard tracking all your ammo? What about changing weapons? Why doesn't the COG issue weapons with an alternative form?
It was her way of coping with stress, she'd focus on what she knew. Which it turned out was everything there was publicly about weapons. It wasn't a surprise to find out she'd devoured all the information she could about a whole new world's arsenal.
'So what next? We have a respite whilst the Doctor gets another train ready or it would have been here already,' Ren asked.
Jaune turned and nodded to the tower nearby. 'Those towers. They're probably jamming our communications. We head for the base of it, secure it and let Rex do his thing. If he can turn it off, that will let us use his transmitter to call for help.'
'It's a plan,' Blake agreed with a sigh.
'No it's half a plan. You and Ren go on ahead to scout the path. We don't want to walk into a trap,' Jaune said nodding to Blake, 'The rest of us follow behind. If you find something you can't deal with, fall back and join us or hold till we reach you.'
'Got it,' Ren said, checking his pistols and looking at Blake.
'Why not just take the rooftops? We'd avoid most of the Grimm,' Weiss asked, pointing to a ladder.
Blake shook her head, 'Not a good idea. We go up, we're in the open. Any androids can fire on us from any angle, we'd be outnumbered and outgunned. If we stick to the ground we can use cover and reduce their advantage in numbers.'
'That's nearly right out of the textbook,' Jaune noted, 'Where did you learn small unit tactics?'
'I must have read it in a book,' Blake replied, glad the helmet was hiding her face. She cursed herself inside, why did she nearly give away that she'd learned how to fight people instead of Grimm?
The two headed off, using their aura to boost their movements, vanishing between the buildings towards the tower. After waiting for them to confirm it was clear the others followed behind. Moving through they encountered a few androids, mostly performing tasks like moving cargo or cages with Grimm inside.
'Why aren't they doing something? Surely Dr. Merlot would have ordered them to be on alert?' Wiess asked as they passed a set of beheaded red androids.
'He can't. The same jamming that's stopping us must be blocking his own communications. Otherwise our radios should have found the frequency they're using,' Jaune answered.
'So what happens when we turn the jamming off?'
'Then we hope the rescue team is ready and waiting.
Reaching the base of the tower they caught up with Blake. At her feet were a few more of the Androids now destroyed before they could react. Before anyone could ask, Ren popped back into view as his cloak dropped and he stepped out of a small shed connected to the tower by thick cables.
'I think that,' He pointed back to the shed, 'Is the local controls for the tower.'
'Rex, take a look we'll keep any company busy,' Jaune said looking over the area.
The JACK beeped, unfolding and decloaking as he floated into the small structure.
The sound of another train coming closer reached their ears. They checked their weapons and braced themselves. This was starting to get tiring.
'Qrow!' Winter shouted.
'Wah. What! Ow' He cried sitting up too fast, hitting his head on the bunk above.
They'd taken turns to wait for news. One resting whilst the other remained in the cockpit. He rubbed his head, aura already soothing the bruise and healing it.
'We've got a signal,' She said oddly without any mirth at his injury, 'Get ready and come up to the cockpit.'
Qrow already had his boots on and stepped on Harbinger and his Boltok before she'd finished. They walked to the front finding Smokey examining a set of monitors to his side. His ursine ears flicked around as they stepped through the hatchway.
'Hold on… Hold on…' The pilot muttered as he watched the display, a sudden series of tones played from the radio. Three short, three long before the pattern repeated again.
'Got it,' He pressed something on the controls, 'This is VB-06 receiving your distress call. To any members of Squad JNPR or Team RWBY on this channel please respond.'
There was a quiet moment before a static filled voice replied, '-tual. Requ- -port.'
'Say again. Singal is degraded,' Smokey called back trying to tune the controls.
'Th- -s JN- Actual. Requ- im- -iate a- -ce any reciv-' The voice repeated.
'This is VB-06 to JNRP Actual. Your signal is poor but is clearing up. We're homing in now standby,' Smokey replied.
'Where are they?' Winter asked.
'No clue. We're following their transmission. But there's no islands out this way on the maps. Radar is throwing up weird returns. Might be a ship or something,' Smokey suggested.
'Perhaps. How do we get aboard if it is? Can this thing hover?' Qrow asked.
'No way Six is a plane not an airship. But I can drop you anywhere flat enough. Failing that, we'll have to wait for Aquanox to get close enough to launch its Sea Ravens or Marlins.'
Jaune crouched down as another hail of bullets chewed into the shrinking wall that he was using as cover. Rex had managed to tap into the tower and whilst it had stopped the local jamming the other towers were still scrambling long range. For a moment he'd heard a reply. He pressed transmit again.
'Repeat this is JNRP Actual. Requesting immediate assistance from any receiving unit,' Jaune shouted.
'I don't think it's working,' Yang shouted as she punched one of the red androids. The machine fell back with its chest caved in.
'We need to-' Weiss started.
A pair of twin roars drown her out. From further inside the compound two objects tore into the sky leaving smoke trails behind.
'SAM LAUNCH! ANY RECEIVING AIRCRAFT EVADE! REPEAT SAM LAUNCH!' Jaune shouted.
-AM LAUNCH!' The voice shouted from the Radio.
'Buckle up!' Smokey shouted, grabbing the controls, 'Six take the countermeasures!'
Qrow was already in his seat but not wearing his belt. Winter had been looking over Smokey's shoulder. She turned and stepped towards her seat as Qrow buckled in and felt his stomach flip.
The Vulture dropped its nose sharply as alarms started sounding. Winter half-lept half-fell into her seat pulling the restraints closed. Ahead the view had gone from the horizon to the surface of the sea.
'Alert! Alert! Incoming threat! Countermeasures activated!' The Vulture's voice announced.
On one of the screens showing the outside a burst of smoke mixed with metal and burning dots shot out of the hull.
'Oh crap we're hit!' Qrow called.
'No we're not. It's meant to do that.' Smoky shouted, not even glancing over.
'What wh-'
A pair of twin explosions followed by the whole plane shaking made Qrow pause. Glancing at the screen showing the rear view, the odd smoke cloud now had two large gaps.
'Chaff, multispectral flares and smoke. A quick change of place and those missiles can't tell us from the returns that stuff puts out,' Smokey said, levelling the plane out.
'What if they fire again?' Winter asked.
'We'll hug the water on the way. That should stop another shot on our approach. Good news though. If those were the same missiles they saw launched, we're in the right place.'
'This is VB-06 to JNPR Actual. Thanks for the warning. We're still here,' A voice called in Jaune's ear.
'Good to hear!' Jaune answered reloading his Lancer, 'Are you our ride home?'
'That's an affirmative. Full CSAR loadout plus two huntsmen.'
'Slight issue. We're on an island of some sort, there's imulsion down here. It's turning the Grimm Lambent.'
'Damn,' Smoky said, not transmitting that part.
'What's imulsion? Like paint or something?' Qrow asked.
'No. It's not,' Winter said, her quiet voice, 'This is Specialist Schnee. Can you confirm that the Grimm are Lambent?'
'Yes Ma'am,' Jaune replied.
Smoky turned his head to look over at them, 'I can't land if that stuff is down there. If something Lambent gets aboard Six will go up like a firework.'
'Can you still drop us off?' Winter asked, her tone clear that a negative was not an option.
'Yeah but you'll need helmets and chutes. Locker should have some,' Smoky replied pointing to the crew area.
'I can get us down without a problem,' Winter replied.
Winter and Qrow unbuckled themselves and headed back. Set against one of the walls was a set of lockers. Pulling the first one open they found a pair of Enforcers and an EMBAR in the main section.
At the top were two COG helmets. Qrow took one and started adjusting it before turning to see Winter already had hers on. Before he could make a remark Smokey's voice came over the radios inside their new headgear.
'Get down to the cargo bay. We're almost there.'
They passed through the airlock and into the cargo area. Which was moving and not just because of the fact they were airborne. The bomb racks clattered as a set of munitions was selected and lowered into position.
Much to Qrows horror it also dispensed a set of Trackers. These were blue instead of white but his last encounter wasn't going to leave any time soon. Rather than let them roll out the back they were moved to join the other machines.
The DeeBees already on the racks jerked to life before folding for the pods to enclose around them. The humanoid ones moved their limbs, weapons and heads in, above them the flying units retracted their repulsors. Each was then encased in a drop capsule made of pentagonal panels. A siren sounded as the rear ramp opened the wind outside roaring by. A solid red light came on right by the exit.
'Get set! Yellow is when the DeeBees go! You go on green! Clear!' Smokey shouted over the radio.
'Understood,' Winter answered walking over to the now open ramp.
To one side a screen came on showing the view from the front. Waves crashed below with a smudge that was getting larger in the middle. Smokey wasn't kidding when he said he was hugging the water.
Over their heads the first group of pods were moved into place. As they did they reached the island the ground below shooting by on the screen. The place was like something out of a horror story.
They rose over a hill to see some kind of industrial area surrounded by a high fence. A series of bangs and thuds echoed through the craft seconds later. Followed by a series of overlapping roars. Off to one side a set of machines cluttered as a set of ammo belts shot out of the top into a set of feed channels that vanished upwards to each side.
'What's happening?' Qrow asked, worried he already knew. Flashes of light were appearing on the screen.
'We're taking fire. Small arms so the armour is good. Turrets are giving them some pepper and need a fresh load,' Smokey replied as the spent casings returned via other channels, 'I can see them. Count of ten.'
Smokey started counting down. At seven they could make out the outline of the buildings where the kids must be. By four they could pick out the layout and the battle around the antenna.
Winter cast a glyph on the deck next to them. A white and blue Griffon formined out of it before bowing its head to her. She climbed on and grabbed hold of its neck. Qrow climbed on behind her and held onto her shoulders. Normally he'd have made a quip but that might be unwise with her needing to focus on flying, and not wanting her to drop him.
As their pilot called out three the light flicked to yellow. The siren sounded and the pods were released. They shot out the rear like cannon balls vanishing from view. They felt the deck rise as the Vulture started to pull up.
'One. GO! GO! GO!' Smokey cried as the light went green.
Winter's Griffon leapt out the back and spread its wings. Wheeling around they watched the Vulture carry on away guns blazing at the ground below. Below the pods were slamming into buildings, androids and Grimm using their mass, armour and speed as a weapon even before opening.
Some enemies were crushed by falling pods whilst others were crushed as the capsules rolled over them. A few smashed through weak walls or roofs ending up inside. As they slowed, Qrow noticed they were all coming to a rest on one particular side.
Panels blew off one the pods had stopped. The DeeBees came out firing, no delay or moment of pause. Each android was online and fighting even as anything nearby was still recovering from the sudden assault.
DR-1's armed with triple barreled gatling guns carved out a perimeter. Any point of resistance was met with flurries of rockets from the other heavy weapons units armed with quad tube rocket launchers.
They landed near the middle of the androids. Just in time to watch one of the DR-1s bash a red android through the wall of a building and finish it off with its Overkill shotgun. A Peacemaker turned to look at them.
'Good Afternoon. The area has been pacified. Standing by to proceed at your order,' It announced the calm level voice out of sync with the remains of the brutal fight.
'Proceed then,' Winter instructed, slipping into the role of an officer.
'What she said,' Qrow added, feeling more out of place than ever.
The androids formed around them and started to march towards the antenna. The formation changed as they travelled. The DR-1s kept to the outside, their bulk and weapons forming an armoured ring. Peacemakers moved along from cover to cover with their Enforcers ready, whilst weak alone they plugged the gaps and didn't hesitate to draw fire for the others.
A sharp crack overhead along with a bright flash showed the Deadeyes were moving along the tops of the buildings, their railguns picking off any opposition they found. Trackers were already at work searching ahead and clearing a path judging by the blast from around the corner of the next junction.
The place had gone from barren industrial park to warzone in a matter of minutes. Qrow took in the sight. These things were powerful and just how many was the COG making? They'd thrown all this together fast enough to have it halfway to vale before he'd even known the girls were missing.
Another roar overhead warned them the Vulture was making another pass. More pods, more DeeBees this time with some of the flying ones. They rose into the air activating some kind of orange field over their fronts.
Some moved to hover along with their growing group. A second group formed together before turning their gimbaled engines rearwards and tore off over to some section of the compound. Qrow watched as they strafed something on the ground.
First with a series of long bursts of bullets then rockets. Whatever had their attention it made quite an explosion. The blast sent a faint tremor through the ground.
'Be advised Sentinels just dealt with that SAM site. This airspace is now ours,' Smokey reported, 'I'm moving to hit those other towers and try to get the signal cleared up.'
'Copy that. We'll meet up with the students and try to find a way to leave,' Winter replied.
They kept moving. It was weird, normally he'd be moving way faster. But with the androids and flying robots overhead crushing all opposition it was like walking inside a bubble of twisted tranquillity.
Turning the last corner they could see the antenna proper. Qrow could pick out Ruby at the back picking her shots so they passed through one attacker and into others behind it. Yang was up front, of course, dealing with any of the red ones that tried to get close.
Between the two were the others, two with shields helping cover Ruby. Another pair dressed in the brightest COG armour he'd ever seen in the middle. That left one that had to be Winter's sister making barriers of stone and ice as fast as they were broken. She was being covered by a girl who sidestepped leaving a shadow to take a shot intended for her.
'We are here to help!' One of the DeeBees shouted as they joined the fight.
Dr. Merlot watched the screens with a mix of glee and anger. Yes he was getting plenty of data from the battle. But the loss of so many subjects saddened him.
The androids didn't matter. He could get more of them easy enough. This island however was a loss which stung.
Keeping his operations close to the Kingdom had been a risk. One that had paid its share of dividends. Now however he would need to leave and report back on his failure.
The ship was already being made ready. He would be taking all the Imulsion serum he could along with all his best specimens. Well not quite all of them.
Typing away at a console he started the self-destruct process. The timer was set long enough for him to get clear and to give Scorpio a chance to stretch its legs. It was a real shame.
He would have loved to bring along one of his greatest works. But needs must and with the data from the battle he would be able to make its successor. That thought brought a smile to his face as he turned to leave.
Those hostile androids left became little more than piles of well ventilated scap. Crushed between the students' small but surprisingly stubborn defence and the reinforcements. Winter surveyed the area for a moment before lowering her weapon.
'Is everyone alright?' She asked, 'Any injuries?'
'Oh we're just peachy,' Yang replied with a snort.
'Winter?' The girl in white asked, definitely her sister.
'Wiess,' Winter said with a respectful nod.
'Who's this?' Weiss asked, pointing to Qrow.
'I'm-' He started before a crimson torpedo slammed into him.
'UNCLE QROW!' Ruby shouted, 'What are you doing here?'
'Heard you kids might have gone a little further than planned,' He said, giving her a smile, before remembering he was wearing a helmet.
'You could say that,' The gloomy one said, wanding over.
'Squad JNPR and team RWBY all accounted for,' The one in yellow announced walking down to meet them.
'Thank you for getting here so quick,' The girl by his side said with a nod.
'You-' Qrow said.
A loud explosion cut him off. Off deeper into the facility a cloud of smoke was rising.
'Smoky are you still bombing?' He shouted.
'No. Something just came out of one of the buildings. One se-' Smoky's message cut off with a shout.
A series of glittering yellow projectiles tore into the sky narrowly missing the plane. Its guns started firing back. The duel lasted only for a few moments before the Vulture passed out of range.
'Death Stalker! You've got a very very big Lambent Death Stalker! Advise you to run like hell!' Smokey shouted.
'Just my luck,' Qrow grumbled.