Star Wars The Clone Wars and RWBY do not belong to me! They belong to LucasFilms and Rooster Teeth respectively! On with the show!
Chapter 4: Day in the Office
Azure's Office, Beacon Academy
It was a rather slow day in Beacon for Azure. So far, his first week on the job as head of security was to assign posts, rotations, breaks, and any of the like for the Toro Company, and the 5th Fleet Marines Detachment that accompanied the field officers that worked as the command units in the command center. Now that most of the work was done, and all he had left was a series of paperwork, he found himself bored. Deciding to hold off his paperwork, he pulled out his military-issued holo tablet and searched for one of the reports he filed during his Teran expedition. He turned to a specific page that spoke of the old Kingdom of Prussia. In a matter of minutes, his eyes were glued to the report, ignoring his paperwork entirely.
It was already nighttime when Glynda finally arrived at Azure's office. Looking around the room, she spotted a small stack of papers that were clearly not signed. She sighed as the Marshal looked up from his tablet and then outside.
"Evening Miss Goodwitch," he then looked at his paperwork "Oh... terribly sorry about this... I'll get back to work on it in..."
Azure looked at his personal watch and continued "Let's say in a few minutes after 7? Yes, I think that works."
"Just get it done before my shift ends Garreth." Goodwitch groaned as she left him in his office.
"Yes ma'am."
With that, he began to work on signing what remaining documents needed signing. As he was finishing up, he heard a knock on the door.
"Enter." He said as he signed another document.
The door opened to reveal Headmaster Ozpin "Ah, Mister Azure. How are we this fine evening?"
"Not feeling any different. The boys and Glynda are just about done with the construction of our headquarters," Azure said as he clicked his pen, finishing his paperwork.
"I still wonder why you refuse to use any of our camera technology."
"For one, so that my boys don't have to figure the whole system out. For another, so that we have extra cameras if yours are compromised." He explained as he compiled all of his paperwork in a folder.
Ozpin nodded "Fair. Oh and Glynda told me that you owe her one for your headquarters."
Azure sighed "Very well. The least I could do after the fiasco when we first met. That and the construction."
"I'll leave you to your devices then. Have a nice evening Garreth." Ozpin greeted as he went for the door, but was stopped by Azure.
"Since you're already here, you might as well collect the paperwork I signed," he said as he handed Ozpin the folder "Here. Take it."
Ozpin smiled "That would be most convenient."
He took the folder and finally left the office, leaving Azure to himself. Just then, a ring from his comlink made itself known. The Marshal didn't waste a second to answer it.
"Indie to Aurek Actual, please respond."
"Aurek Actual speaking. What is it, Moris?"
"Sir, I checked the galactic calendar, and apparently the 4th battalion of the guard regiment is due for renewal."
Azure looked at the camera monitor in his office "Which companies didn't make it?"
"Ox Company and Kraken Company didn't make the cut sir," Moris explained.
"You know the drill, transfer most of them to A Regiment, choose 5 to be sent to another Guard Company. We'll be holding selections when I'm available."
"Yes sir. Oh, and the Admiral reports that our communications array is still not reaching any signals beyond Remnant."
"Very good Commander. I'll see you soon. Aurek Actual out."
Azure put away his comlink and was about to leave his office to get dinner when his Beacon-issued scroll rang. Sighing, he picked up his scroll and answered the call "Good evening, to whom am I speaking?"
"It's Glynda, Azure."
"Ah, Miss Goodwitch. What can I do for you?" he replied as he began to lock his computer.
"One of our initiating students recently got in trouble in Downtown Vale. The Vale Police Department is holding her in a precinct. Normally, I would handle such a task, but I decided to ask you to go instead."
"Very well. I'll be down there shortly." The Marshal replied as he exited his office and locked the door. When the call ended, he switched to his comlink again, dialed a frequency, and was met by the familiar voice of a clone.
"Sir?" A clone officer asked.
"Prepare a gunship at the courtyard and have a squad of Toro Company ready to accompany me," Azure ordered.
The officer confirmed the orders and replied with an affirmative. Azure soon made his way from the faculty offices to Beacon's courtyard. Sure enough, his gunship was waiting, alongside the squad he requested. The squad formed up as they saluted the Field Marshal to which he returned with his own. He motioned for the men to get moving to which they did dutifully. When they boarded the gunship, the squad's sergeant informed the pilot that they were ready to go. The gunship soon rose from the courtyard and took off without issue. Azure looked at the sergeant and asked "What is your name sergeant?"
"Sergeant Gambit, sir. This is Ord Squad." The sergeant replied, gesturing to his men as he referred to them.
"Strange, do you happen to be the same squad who lead the charge at the Tower at Ord Mantel? I could've sworn I heard your names at one point while I came up from behind." Azure asked with more curiosity.
"Yes sir, that was my squad who charged with Captain Sixers."
Azure frowned "I heard that the company had some casualties when they stormed in. I wasn't particularly fond of hearing that."
Gambit nodded, his tone rather somber now, "Yes sir, we did. Before we could take the enemy, they managed to set up a turret. They took down some 12 troopers, and an additional 17 were wounded..."
"I see... I'm sorry to hear that. I try to keep the men alive as much as I can, but in battle, you can never expect things to go your way all the time."
"It's alright sir. The boys and I already came to terms with what happened. Shit happens in battle, pardon my language sir." Gambit replied.
Azure smiled "It is quite alright sergeant."
"Sir, if I may ask, what's the job?" The sergeant asked the Marshal.
"An initiate got in trouble downtown. We're picking her up to return her to her family."
The sergeant shook his head "Ah teenagers. This reminds me of a story one of the guardsmen told me while we were on shore leave."
Azure was interested "Go on. I haven't had time to catch up with today's military gossip."
Sergeant Gambit continued his story as the gunship soared above the city of Vale.
Vale Police Precinct, Vale
Yang Xiao Long was not a happy camper. A few minutes ago, she trashed the club, Junior's, and after fighting the security staff, a pair of twins, and the owner himself, she found herself in a holding room in the Vale Police Precinct. So far, she hadn't been slapped with cuffs, but she couldn't help but feel that this would probably hurt her chances of getting into Beacon. It didn't help her when she heard from an officer that a professor from Beacon was coming. Would they revoke her right to enroll in the academy? Would this hurt Ruby's chances of getting into Beacon too?
Her train of thought was interrupted when an officer knocked on her door "Miss Xiao Long? This way, please. The professor from Beacon is here to see you."
Yang waited as the door opened wider to reveal a man in a crisp white coat and black pants entered. He had a badge on his chest and was adorned with a black cap and high boots. He had an air of authority and he most likely did hold authority as she managed to catch a glance of an armored soldier outside. The man thanked the officer before instructing, Yang presumed to be the soldier outside, to stay outside. Finally, he closed the door and looked at a folder in his hands.
"Miss Yang Xiao Long?" he asked.
"Uh... yeah that's me..." she replied with uncertainty.
"Very good. Now, please stay comfy as we'll be asking a few questions about what happened." The man said as he then pulled out a pen and sat down on the table she was at. After writing a few lines, he began to speak "Now before I start this small inquiry, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Garreth Azure, Chief of Security at Beacon Academy."
"If I may ask professor, since when did Beacon get its own security?" Yang asked rather abrasively.
Professor Azure chuckled at this "We're new to the Academy Miss Xiao Long. Ozpin took an interest in us and hired us to act as Beacon's security. Now, it's time for me to ask my own questions. What were you doing at a place like Junior's? At this time no less?"
"Well... the owner was an information breaker and I was kind of thinking about asking him about the whereabouts of someone." Yang retold her story, but Azure didn't look too amused by this.
"And how did the fight start?"
Yang was now grinning sheepishly "Well... I was just playing around when he sent his men to take me on..."
The professor raised an eyebrow "Continue Miss Xiao Long."
"Well... I believe that we have a right to self-defense... so I kind of punched all of them..."
Azure dropped a file in front of her "This report from the authorities differs rather greatly from your account," he then began to read the report "The authorities, with evidence from the Club's cameras, report that you busted in the club without proper ID and demanded free drinks."
Yang began to wince at this "Ah crap... I'm screwed..."
"They then say that you provoked the fight by..." The professor paused. Yang could've sworn he saw him shiver at what the report said: "You attacked the owner, then his security before attacking the owner again because they didn't have the information you wanted?"
"Uh... sorry?" she tried very lamely.
Azure sighed at the initiate "Do you know they could charge you with the destruction of private property, assault, and endangering the lives of civilians?"
Yang stayed silent this time.
"You are very fortunate that I managed to convince the police and Mister Xiong to not press charges. I told them that Beacon would deal with you which was miraculously more than enough for them to let this case go. However, after I reported to Ozpin what had transpired, he told me that if you pass initiation you will be subjected to a few weeks in detention and your weekends during those few weeks will be used for anger management with Miss Goodwitch." Azure sternly said as Yang felt very small "Do I make myself clear Miss Xiao Long?"
"Y-yes professor! I'm sorry for what happened!" She nodded frantically.
Azure sighed before writing a few things on a file. Afterward, he closed the folder and stood up "We're done here. See you at Beacon Miss Xiao Long, your father will pick you up soon," he went for the door "Oh, and try to stay out of trouble. God forbid that Miss Goodwitch scolds you instead of me."
With that, he leaves the room and closes the door behind him.
"Damn... and I thought my night couldn't get any shittier..."
"Language Miss Xiao Long!" She heard Azure call from outside the room.
Yang decided to shut up then and there.
...
Outside the room, Azure, Gambit, and the rest of Ord Squad shared a quiet laugh as they made their way to the rooftop. The officers had just finished filing the appropriate forms for Azure to take back to Beacon, and now that they were done, Azure and his men could go on their way. As the group climbed the stairs, Sergeant Gambit asked The Marshal "Can I ask a question, sir?"
Azure raised an eyebrow but nodded for him to ask anyway.
"How'd you manage to grill the kid like that? No offense sir, but when one of the officer cadets from the volunteers made a mistake, you didn't exactly have the best reaction..."
8 months ago...
"WHY IN BLAZES WOULD YOU MOVE THE ARMORED UNITS IN AN EXPOSED FIELD WHEN THERE'S A CLEAR PATH IN THE FOREST THAT CAN MASK THE TANKS WELL?!" A furious Azure yelled at the unfortunate volunteer cadet that came under his command some few weeks ago. The cadet was shaking as the Marshal's bloodshot eyes were focused on him and him alone. The other officers around them watched in silence as Azure tore the cadet a new one.
"S-s-sir! I-It would g-get the tanks from one point to another much faster! Not to m-mention that it w-would strike fear in the hearts of the e-enemies!" he tried, but Azure was having none of it.
"DID I NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT ARTILLERY WILL SPOT YOU IF YOU WERE TOO OBVIOUS?! FOR GOD'S SAKE MAN, IF YOU SENT THE COLUMN THROUGH THE FIELD, YOU'D EITHER HAVE TOO MANY CASUALTIES TO EVEN MAKE A DENT OR YOU'D LOSE ALL THE TANKS AND THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE!"
"Si-sir!"
"GET OFF MY SHIP!"
"Sir?!"
"DID I STUTTER?!"
Present...
"Ah... that. I'll admit, the cadet caught me in a rather foul mood that day, but I still maintain that I was right about reassigning him to System's Army Alpha. Anyways, to answer your question, it was during a meeting with the rest of the Third System's Army command. This was actually around the time when Mister Skywalker visited our corps. You see, he brought his son to the meeting, and during the meeting, the little mongrel apparently drew a smiley face on my cloak. WITH a permanent marker I might add."
Sergeant Gambit and his men chuckled at this.
"Now when I saw the face, I was furious and asked if any of the command staff thought this was funny. That's when Skywalker's son came forth and apologized. After that, I started to warm up the youth. I began to tolerate their little mishaps and even began to become friends with some of the young padawans of the Jedi. Certainly better than what Captain Tarkin did, if I may add."
Gambit smirked under his helmet "Certainly sir. What happened to the captain anyway?" he asked as he boarded the LAAT gunship with Azure and his squad.
Azure pondered before answering "Last I heard, he already entered retirement after he was shut down for his proposed Tarkin Doctrine."
"Well, if the rumors are as true as they said, then I'm glad it was rejected. I couldn't imagine myself in any other armor asides from my armor," Gambit chuckled as the gunship took off.
Marshal Azure smiled at the sergeant. Ah... nothing could ruin this evening any further.
Beacon Academy, Vale
Azure wore his full battle armor, now completed with a sword that he clipped to his belt. He was very sure that some external force was laughing at him for jinxing himself earlier, but if that was ever the case, Azure could hardly care now.
He was on the comm with Captain Sixers, his 4 Lieutenants, and the command center officers who acted as their eyes and ears during this emergency. A few minutes ago, a patrol spotted a figure trespassing into Academy grounds. The men were hot on the trail until they rounded a corner. They assumed the trespasser to have climbed the rooftops and had requested gunships to be dispatched. Unfortunately, this request was denied due to the commotion it might cause. A call from a marine squad that was in the area had given them a trail as to where their intruder was.
Azure had already messaged Ozpin about the situation, but strangely enough, the Headmaster hasn't replied to either message or call.
"Negative Aurek Actual, no vision of the assailant near the Headmaster's office." One of the command center officers replied.
"Copy that Golf Shed. Keep me updated. Aurek Actual, out."
The Marshal checked his HUD again before he continued to make his rounds on the campus. That was when he spotted a bush near Ozpin's tower move. He engaged his helmet's thermal vision and sure enough, he spotted a female crouched in the bushes. He silently called for his men to converge on his position as he then quickly drew his pistol, set for stun, and fired towards the female intruder. His shot was a near miss as the intruder managed to dodge just at the last second. The figure flew out of the bushes and glared at the Marshal with amber eyes.
The two were at a stand-off and were about to make the first move when a familiar voice called out to Azure, Blake, and the incoming troopers of Toro Company.
"Now, now. Let's all pause for one bit before this situation gets out of hand," the Headmaster said as he took a sip out of his coffee mug. Azure and the rest of the men looked at the Headmaster questioningly, but after a few seconds, Azure ordered his men to stand down. The intruder did the same.
"Miss Belladonna, Professor Azure, follow me to my office," Ozpin said. Marshal Azure looked at Captain Sixers "Tell the men to resume their posts, and tell Captain Murray of the marines to send a 10 man squad outside the tower."
"Sir." Captain Sixers affirmed before walking off to carry out the orders.
With that done, Ozpin led the two to his clockwork office. Azure removed his helmet as he took up position behind Ozpin's desk. Miss Belladonna sat on a chair in front of the desk. The Headmaster sat on his own seat and began to speak "Miss Belladonna, Mister Azure, I apologize for not being very specific on a few details for tonight."
Azure scoffed "You expect me to run security but fail to notify me on things like this?"
"For which I apologize," Ozpin repeated.
Miss Belladonna sighed "I also apologize Headmaster. I should have approached you more properly. I was just caught off guard by the presence of Atlas Soldiers."
"Atlas? We're not Atlesian," Azure said.
"Oh... sorry, sir."
Azure finally became less tense and replied "It's quite alright Miss Belladonna. We've been getting that a lot since we deployed here."
"Now that we've settled that issue, I believe introductions are in order. Professor Azure, this is Blake Belladonna, an ex-White Fang infiltrator. She recently left the organization after no longer being able to abide by its way of operations."
Marshal Azure raised an eyebrow upon hearing that their guest was a former infiltrator, but decided to keep quiet for now.
"Miss Belladonna, this is Professor Garreth Azure. He is our new chief of security here in Beacon. Now, that we have those out of the way, professor Azure?"
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"You may leave now."
"Yes sir."
With that, he left the office and took the elevator down. Upon exiting, he met with the Captain of the 5th Fleet Marine detachment that he sent for. Captain Murray was a no-nonsense member of the 5th Fleet Security. He had a reputation for making brothers clean the hull of the RAF Yoric while it was in space when they were caught being mischievous.
"Captain Murray."
"Field Marshal."
"You may dismiss the men now. We're done for tonight. Make sure the night watch sentries are sharp and after that, get yourself some rest as well."
"Yes sir."
And thus, the first of many days in the office of Beacon's Security was finally over.
A bit of a filler chapter, but I suppose it also starts to set the area of Azure's operations don't you think? Hope this chapter didn't disappoint, but if there were some expectations not met, feel free to let me know and maybe I could sort it out. The next chapter may involve the first episode of RWBY.
Until then, this is where I get off. Stay frosty because that's soldiering!
PS: I made a play of a line from Sharpe here! It might be obvious, but if it's not, try and guess it.