A/N - I took off a pair of guest reviews recently due to them stating I've deleted the story before re-uploading it. As I noted on Chapter 72 the reviewer in question is encountering an error with the site. Seems right after I load a new chapter the fic is wigging out and reports as deleted. It does come back after a while but I'm not sure what is causing it.
Its a known issue with the site and as much as I'd like to reply to whoever it is like I have other reviewers there is no option to reply to guest reviews. I've also not heard back from support but I don't know if they're just as unsure how to fix it as I am.
With an unerring abruptness the last of the jamming lifted. The moment it did the Tac-Com system started working fully. Every COG military network point started communicating.
Helmets, body armour, DeeBees and VB-06 all linked securely and started sharing data. The Vultures onboard command suite drank in everything, processed it and then sent back the refined information.
The effect for those on the ground was a large red outline of the Lambent Death Stalker appeared on their HUD. One with an approximate distance that was slowly counting down.
'Smokey can you drop some bombs on that thing? Or fill it with holes at least?' Qrow asked.
'That's a negative. Our rounds are just bouncing off. That last shot nailed engine three's secondary fuel line so whatever its shooting is getting through the armour. I can't risk another low run. Not unless you want to see if Six turning into a fireball when it hits the munitions rack stops it. We can't risk a high drop. I don't want to chance a stray bomb landing on your heads.'
'Damn it. We need to move. That thing will be here sooner or later and we don't have anything to stop it,' Qrow acounced.
'Agreed. Smokey, what was our exit plan since you're unable to land?' Winter asked.
Smokey's voice came back over the link, 'Aquanox is sending Sea Ravens to drop you a ride. They'll have Kestrels as backup.'
'Okay it's coming from the middle of the complex. We can move faster than it can. If we head out and across the island. There's some hills we can use for cover and make for this bay here,' Jaune said studying his holo-vambrace.
'I can drop the rest of the DeeBees ahead of you. That will give you a clear run and they'll slow down the Death Stalker and give you time to get picked up,' Smoky suggested.
'Alright then what are we waiting for,' Qrow said, starting to head towards the perimeter wall.
'Uh one problem with that plan,' Yang said holding up Ember Celica, 'We're running low on ammo and dust. I'm sure there's a lot of Grimm between us and that bay.'
'Then let's get you rearmed,' Jaune said, turning to face a DR-1 Protector, 'Pass Yang your weapon and ammo. Everyone else pick a gun and let's get moving.'
'Oh! Oh! Question! I have a question,' Ruby shouted holding her hand up, 'Can I-'
'Yes you can take one of the EMBA-' Jaune started.
'YEEESSSS!'
The girl was already by a Deadeye holding her hands out. The DeeBee presented its weapon and ammo. Ruby took both sticking the new clips into her pockets and cackling as she cradled the weapon.
'You know she's never giving that back right?' Wiess asked.
'Oh I know. Just hope we're going to live long enough for her to refuse,' Jaune said, checking his own ammo.
Blake took an Enforcer from a Peacemaker, Pyherra opted for another EMBAR and Wiess frowned at the options. They'd all been allowed to try the COG guns back at Beacon. But none had really clicked with her personally.
'Hey,' Qrow said, causing her to turn to face him, in his hand was a heavy revolver.
'Are you sure?' Wiess asked, tilting her head.
'Eh. It's the closest thing we got to your weapon,' Qrow said, holding it up for her.
She took it, feeling the weight. It was rather hefty. Which seemed oddly fitting. Qrow passed her a set of ready speedloaders which she added to the spent ones from Myrtenaster. Off to the side Jaune watched the exchange without a word.
They started for the wall. Behind them the DeeBees took what cover they could and waited. Their survival wasn't worth calculating, but it would tip the odds for those escaping.
A few more androids tried to block their path. Which unfortunately for them meant they also got to be target practice. Not that any of them had a mind to object.
Yang found the Overkill had a nice kick and did plenty of damage. Mostly because she was forgetting that pulling the trigger and releasing it each fired a shot. While she was burning through ammo one couldn't argue with the results.
Moving with her Blake found the Enforcer far too loud and unstable. Rather than moving close and picking her targets well she was made to let off bursts of rounds. Until Ren reminded her of the fire selector and she started using it in semi-auto.
Towards the rear Ruby and Pyherra were providing cover. Or at least Pyrrha was. Ruby was having more trouble adjusting.
'Who makes a sniper rifle without a scope?' Ruby cried trying to use the HUD zoom to compensate, a large crosshair appeared in her vision.
'Well the androids don't need it so they must have left it out,' Pyherra replied before putting a shot through a white android.
'Stupid robots, cheating me out of an awesome railgun,' Ruby muttered, pulling the trigger to charge the weapon. The crosshair started getting smaller as it built up to fire. Once it was small enough she let go of the trigger. Sending a round into the weapon of another white android.
It exploded quite dramatically. Taking out not only her target but the others that had been either side of it. Ruby stared at the destruction for a moment, she'd been aiming at its chest.
'I… Er… Meant to do that.'
'Of course you did,' Wiess said from behind them.
The heiress took aim down an alley and fired twice. A red android dropped to the ground with a neat hole punched through its head. She had to admit as inelegant as this was compared to using dust, it worked quite well.
'Urgh. Is anyone else finding this HUD is off?' Ruby grumbled, snapping open her EMBAR and reloading.
'You'd need to be wearing more armour. The helmet is estimating as best it can, but the system was set assuming it was using more reference points,' Ren started firing off bursts from his pistols.
'But your armour weighs like a ton,' Ruby called back as she took aim again.
'It doesn't have to. Look at your uncle. He's wearing soft armour,' Nora pointed out with a nod towards Qrow.
Said huntsman cursed internally. He'd taken every marking he could off this vest but they'd still spotted it was seran. All he needed was questions about where he'd got his gear and the last few months would fall apart.
'Focus guys! We're almost there,' Jaune called halting any further discussion.
The outer wall was what divided Dr. Merlot's base from the rest of the island. Three metres tall and electrified the mesh fence hummed faintly. No doubt it was enough to deter the Grimm from outside from entering, keeping Nora in not so much.
'He he,' Nora chuckled, dropping her weapons as she cracked her knuckles.
'Are you sure we can't just look for the substation?' Ren sighed.
'Too late,' She replied, grabbing onto the barrier.
Arcs of electricity danced around her hands. As they crackled up her arms the energy shifted from blue to pink. Nora let out a building roar as the power coursed through her.
On top of the fence lights flickered and sparked as the system tripped its limits. An alert blared out and the power cut suddenly. Nora remained upright for a moment, a faint layer of steam rising off her.
'Nora? Nora!?' Ren called darting towards her as she stepped away from the fence, 'Are you alright?'
Nora wobbled from side to side for a moment before putting her hands on his shoulders. She pulled him towards her so their helmets touched a faint spark of pink lighting jumping from her to him.
'Boop,' She said in a singsong voice.
Ren sighed, 'She's fine.'
'You sure? I could do with some mou-'
'Fine.' Ren reaffirmed scooping up her weapons and throwing them over.
Jaune shook his head and started his Lancers chainsaw up. The bayonet made quick work of the now grounded fence. He cut a section away letting them step out onto the tainted ground beyond.
What little banter had lasted this long died off as they headed away from the lab. The dirt was grey and lifeless without grass or sign of plants beyond ones corrupted by Imulsion. Ahead of them Smokey made a set of passes dropping the last of the DeeBees to clear their path.
That took care of the smaller Grimm. But behind them the Death Stalker had reached the antenna. The DeeBees had had time to pick their positions, it didn't help much.
Jaune glanced down at his vambrace checking the feed. Bullets bounced off the thing's body like pebbles and even the rockets from the Salvo launchers just chipped its bone like armour. Nora did have some rounds that might work, but they were made for taking out armour that was an inch or so thick. Would they work on something like that?
'Heads up,' Smokey called out, 'Sea Kestrels are here.'
The screen updated from a live DeeBee feed to the overhead view from the Vulture. Four gunships came into view on the display as they approached the island. Jaune looked up as they came around into view flying just above the water.
'Aww yeah. Kick that bug's butt!' Nora shouted, pumping a fist.
'It's a bit premature to celebrate isn't it?' Weiss asked.
'Who cares. I'm just happy that thing is about to get squished.'
Each Kestrel opened their weapons bay racks of four missiles moved into place ready to fire. They throttled up, tearing over the compound as they fired. Missiles raced downwards guided by each craft's laser targeting.
Sixteen missiles were launched. Three lost tracking due to dust and smoke and went wide. One struck a building when it tried to adjust its impact point.
That left twelve multipurpose missiles to strike home. Two homed in on the Grimm's tail splitting it into two ragged halfs. Four hit its main body where its white carapace was too thick and gouged craters in the Grimm's armour. Three managed to get to the weaker outer edge of the armor and cleaved into its body. The last few took off the legs on its right side.
'Yes! That is what I like to see,' Yang cheered.
'I was certainly… Impressive,' Winter remarked.
'It's not over,' Qrow said as he lent over Jaunes shoulder watching the feed.
The Lambent Death Stalker was writhing. No. The parasite within it was.
'Oh no,' Blake whispered.
The holes in its body filled in then started to bulge outwards. What looked like cysts started to balloon out of the former wounds. Once they were large enough they burst, releasing more Lambent Grimm.
Each half of its tail started to move as the Grimm's body started to knit the wounds closed. Rather than merge the two halves back they reformed into separate tails each ending with a barbed stinger with an eye set into it.
By this time the Kestrels had come back around. They lined up for another run. The Death Stalker shot first.
One shot passed right through a Kestrel and out the other side. The robotic helicopter shuddered as the projectile passed through it. Others jerked in the air as the attacks pierced their armour.
The lead craft lost control as its main rotor was hit. Falling like its strings had been cut as the blades came apart. It slammed into the ground nose first and slid into a building.
Its three fellows tried to break off their runs but the Grimm was keeping up the hail of shots. Each craft was brought down one by one. The beast let out a screech as it strode over the remains following its prey.
'Ah damn it. I got a ship bolting from some covered berth,' Smoky called.
'What are the odds that it's just a coincidence that boat is leaving now?' Qrow asked mockingly.
'About zero. Those Kestrels might have been able to break off and chase it but if I go after it you'll be all alone against that big mother. A slim chance is better than none'
'Does it matter? We can't fight that thing?' Blake said, holding her head in her hands.
'Blake is right. We're going to need bigger guns,' Yang said as they watched the carnage.
'You're right!' Jaune shouted as an idea formed, 'VB-06 can you head towards Aquanox and link us to their Tac-Net?'
'Sure thing. But why do you want that?' Smoky asked as the Vulture turned overhead.
'Their main battery can hit this island right?' Jaune asked checking the map again.
'Should be able to. But how are they going to aim? They can't see their target and if they miss their fire might land on you,' Smokey queried.
'Oh don't you worry about that. Nora, still remember your training?'
'Oh ho ho. I most certainly do,' Nora laughed, flipping a switch on Magnhild.
'Wait a second. That ship has to be over the horizon. There's no way they can aim even with Nora guiding them,' Weiss protested.
'I bet you a month's supply of pancake ingredients I can,' Nora replied.
'What? Okay fine! If you can pull this off I'll get you a month's worth of ingredients.'
Off to the side Winter leaned over to Qrow whispering, 'Do you think they can do it?'
'I think they can. Or at least they believe they can,' He replied as Jaune pointed to a hilltop that should give them cover.
'I was afraid you'd say that.'
A short while later, and after speaking with the captain of Aquanox, they were laying on the crest of the hill. Out ahead of them was the plain that separated the lab from the hills around it. If the Lambent Death Stalker wanted to follow them the shortest route would be right across it.
'Here it comes,' Blake said as the Grimm reached the fence.
It pushed against the barrier crushing it under its sheer mass. Sparks of electricity danced over its body but didn't even slow it. As it cleared the way the other Grimm following it poured out racing towards the huntsmen and students.
Some were trampled by the monstrosity that had birthed them. Others ran towards the DeeBees that were setup on the closer hills. The machines were firing with the same efficient precision. But the number of Lambent Grimm still seemed to be growing.
'Nora?' Jaune asked, concern creeping into his voice.
'Signal is still bad,' She replied, keeping Magnhild aimed.
'The moment it clears up fire.'
'Got it.'
Below them Death Stalker lead its horde onwards adding its own fire to other projectiles the mutants were launching. Each tail swung around spitting out more of the yellowish shots. One struck a DR-1 tearing a hole right through the machines torso.
The projectile carried on embedding itself into the dirt behind. It was about the length of a forearm and made of glittering crystal. Despite its passage and the force behind it there was no sign of wear.
'Oh crap. Its shooting imulsion crystals,' Jaune muttered as he started at the crystalline bolt.
'What? I thought this stuff was alive? If that's the case how hard could it be?' Yang asked.
'It is. Well most of it. But when it turns into a crystal like that it's tougher than diamonds.'
'Great. At least we'll be pretty pincushions.'
'Any time now Nora,' Jaune said leaning towards her.
'Just another second… got it,' Nora said, pulling the trigger half-way.
Once more a blue beam stabbed out from the emitter built into Hammer. But rather then a red impact point a few metres across this one covered most of the plain. A large notice appeared on their HUDS: WARNING! DANGER CLOSE! SEEK COVER OR WITHDRAW!
'Nor-' Jaune started to say, second guessing this plan.
She pulled the trigger before he could. That sent the fire support request. It left Magnhild and bounced through Rex's transmitter.
From there it was sent to VB-06 which broadcast it to the Sea Ravens already en-route. Their system retransmitted it to Aquanox proper. It entered the ship's network and arrived at the weapons officers station in less than a second.
Even as the request appeared on the screen it was being analysed and calculated by the computer. A suggested firing sequence appeared alongside the request. With the touch of a button it was approved.
The orders were sent to the main guns which started to move to face the target. Fine adjustments were done as the ammo was selected and hoisted up to the guns. The ship had three heavy railguns set in a staggered line on its foredeck highest at the back.
Each fired three times. The first shots were followed by a pause before the second and third were fired. Nine shots were hurled beyond the speed of sound at the coordinates. They'd been fired with slight changes in aim and rate of fire. The first three would arrive first followed by the six follow up rounds.
'-a should we pull back further…' Jaune trailed off.
The red area had gone solid along with a pair of timers appearing over it. The first hit zero and the Death Stalker vanished. It was like a magic trick, one moment it was there, the next it and the Grimm around it had been replaced with three geysers of earth thrown into the air.
Those had been solid rounds intended for use against armoured targets or hardened structures. Relying on their mass and speed to destroy single targets. The six rounds behind them were more broad in their area of effect.
Even as they plunged downwards towards their target a countdown was running. Not to impact but to flight time. When it hit zero the outer casing of the shells burst open and each let out a dense cloud of spheres about the size of a marble.
The cloud landed a heart beat after the solid rounds. Each tiny submunition hitting with a fraction of the force but still enough to shatter rock, rend flesh and break bone. It reduced the Grimm to a fine mist mixed with dirt.
Right after the impacts a set of booms echoed over the hilltop. Not the report of the guns, but the sonic booms of the rounds catching up. After that it was quiet except for the sounds of dirt pattering down as gravity pulled the debris back to Remnant.
Yang let out a long whistle, 'Deals a deal Weiss. You owe Nora all the pancake stuff she wants.'
'He he.' Nora giggled.
Weiss sighed, 'Alright fine. How bad could it be?'
'I'll get you a list,' Ren said leaning over to her.
Just as Weiss was about to start asking why he seemed sympathetic a series of explosions sounded. The lab was blowing up, building by building section by section. The blasts started within the buildings before levelling them entirely.
'That's not you is it?' Qrow asked, turning to glance at Nora.
'No. No it's not,' Nora replied, checking her designator was off anyway.
'Looks like demolition not shell fire. Seems the owner didn't want to leave anything behind,' Smokey reported.
'Copy we'll head to the beach. No point standing around,' Jaune said, setting off towards the bay.
They walked the rest of the way. What Grimm remained were being cleared up by the DeeBees which were sweeping ahead of them. Trudging down the sand the rhythmic beat of rotor blades reached their ears.
Two Sea Ravens were approaching. Even from a distance on could tell they were slightly larger and wider than their regular siblings. The two helicopters flared their rotors to stop over the water.
'What are they doing? Are we meant to swim to them?' Weiss asked.
'Not quite,' Ren said as the Ravens landed on the surface.
At the rear of each a ramp dropped and a craft rolled out onto the sea. To most of them the new vehicles seemed strange. A small enclosed cabin sat at the front with a ducted fan at the rear. To each side of the fan were two turrets which were already scanning.
With a sudden roar the fan on the back burst to life and the craft rose out of the water coming to rest on an inflated skirt. Their cargo unloaded, the Sea Ravens lifted off and headed off to try and find the ship that had fled. Meanwhile the Marlins headed to the shore line.
'Hey Second Lieutenant,' A voice called over the radio, 'It's been awhile.'
Jaune tilted his head recognizing the voice, 'Andesite? You're our ride?
'Sure am. Seems you got lost army. Don't worry the marines are here now.'
'You're never going to let me live this down are you?'
'Not in your life. Now get aboard. This place creeps me out and it's a nice long ride back to home.'
'What was that about?' Ruby asked as they walked towards the hovercraft.
'Interservice rivalry. The marines, gears and airmen all like to make fun of each other whenever we need each other's help,' Jaune said as he took an offered hand and climbed aboard.
'What he means is that for the rest of my career I get to remind him about that time he got stuck on an island and needed a pickup,' Andesite announced over the radio.
'Yeah that too,' Jaune admitted.
Most of the ride to Aquanox was the usual after mission sitdown. The marines were already asking about the Lambent Death Stalker, the video having leaked into their network, somehow. The kids were talking about how much butt they kicked whilst Qrow and Winter kept to the side, they had a little too much to think about.
Coming up to the ship proper they could see just how large it was. Up front were the railguns, locked forward for now. Behind them was the main superstructure which rose up covered with sensors and communications equipment. At the rear was the landing area, another Sea Raven being raised up to the deck for take-off.
The Marlins continued around to the back where a large hatch had opened to let them enter the well-deck. Inside instead of the metal interior the whole thing was covered by bright plastic sheets. A set of what looked like tents were set up at the top of the ramp they were approaching.
'Decon?' Jaune asked.
'Decon, ' Andesite confirmed.
They were herded off the Marlins by a set of Medics in bright plastic suits of their own. A set of crew were bringing over sprayers to clean the hovercraft. They were directed to file through the tents for decontamination.
'What? Why? We wore these helmets for nothing?' Yang shouted, refusing to go through with it.
'You wore that helmet to stop breathing in any airborne imulsion. But that doesn't mean you didn't get exposed. So please step through the tent and get processed,' The ship's doctor ordered.
'Or what?' Yang said, bracing herself.
'Or you'll be assisted.'
The thunk of a DR-1 stepping out behind the doctor made clear what kind of assistance she would be getting. Amusingly someone had taken the time to put a set of shoe covers over the machine's feet. Ruby reached out grabbing Yang's shoulder.
'She'll be fine. Just fine, right Yang?' Ruby said, pulling her older sister along.
'What wait, no. No no no,' Yang protested.
'It's just like a spa day. It will be over before you know it,' Ruby said, dragging the blonde behind her.
'We'd better go help her,' Weiss said, rolling her eyes.
They all filled through. In place of what they might have expected there weren't any showers waiting for them. Just a series of chambers with open doors facing them. Two medics were there one by a terminal, the other standing by the chambers.
'Huh… Figured there would be more,' Yang said looking around suspiciously.
'Please enter the decontamination chambers. You can group up if you wish,' The medic said, waving them along.
'See it's fine, nothing to worry about,' Ruby said walking into one.
Stepping inside the door closed behind them. A slight hum started followed by a crackle as a wave formed at one end of the chamber and passed over them. It felt tingly as it passed over them, a faint wave of steam following it. With a chime the other door opened.
'Wait… that's it? What the hell was that?' Yang asked, stomping out.
The medic by the terminal shrugged, 'Lightmass pulse. Kills any imulsion on contact. Not like we can wash your cells so it's just a targeted radiation wave. Way faster and less invasive.'
'So what if we were Lambent?' Blake asked.
The two medics looked at one another before one shrugged, 'You'd have turned to ash.'
A moment of quiet settled over them before Yang started shouting, 'THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARNED ABOUT!'
'That would take a crap ton of imulsion. You'd have been glowing already!' One medic protested.
It took a few minutes to calm them down. Once they'd steeled in somewhat all the new arrivals were shown to a wardroom with food and drink. At which point most complaints and frustrations vanished at the offer of food. It had been a long day and hunger pangs seemed to start at the sight of a cooked meal.
Off to the side Winter and Qrow were muttering quietly, hoping to avoid any eavesdropping. Jaune watched them out of the corner of his eye. After a short while he excused himself and left the room, he needed to file an after action report and no doubt Qrow would have some questions in his near future.
Even as he vanished another issue arose. They'd all been wearing their helmets up till now and took them off to eat. For a moment everything seemed normal but then they started to stare at Blake. She'd forgotten to take the bow off and move it back to her ears.