"Fear can serve a purpose, but the weak let fear control them. The strong… The strong can embrace fear, master it and realize it doesn't control them. And then anything is possible."

Kad struck again and again, chips flying off from the dead tree trunk. Torn by the steel tip of his javelin as he listened to Cinder talk.

His coat matched a few shades of color splattered in the leaves on the ground. The brightly colored leather had stood out to him in the town market place. Plus the orange covering was one of the few things he found that he could probably keep wearing for a while as his growth spurts continued.

Trees in the Mistral forest rustled as their drying leaves shriveled and fell to the ground. Cinder had told him this happened every year. She calmed his fears of the unknown, reassured him the death of the bright green forests did not mean the world was ending.

But her words were only a half-step. A gentle nudge in the correct direction. She expected him to master his emotions and mind on his own. That was the reason they were out here in the forest. A test of a different kind of strength.

Strength of heart and mind.

How long could they stay out in the forest before the Grimm took greater interest in their presence?

And the black beasts were attracted to only one thing.

"The schools are afraid of our birthright."

His mentor calmly sat on top of a tall rock jutting out from the ground a short ways away. Black hair blowing in the gentle breeze. Settling the brown vest down a little more as she observed and critiqued his style.

"Move your feet. Never let anything catch you flat footed."

Kad shouted and struck again, a loud crack echoed through the forest as his weapon split the wood. He set his boots and ripped the spear tip out from the tree, spun it above his head and then struck with the blunt back end.

He still wasn't completely fluent in Vytan even after almost a whole year on the planet. Some little phrases kept catching him off guard, and some phrases escaped his understanding entirely. He turned to meet her eyes,

"Birth what?"

"What we were meant to be. Masters of the world and our own destiny. The strong, the powerful, not scraping and bowing to a government who are content with only survival."

Cinder stood up, "To have a future beyond complacency." She crossed her arms and looked to the horizon through the trees.

"But only for the brave, and only the bold… Are you one of those Kad?"

Screeching in the distance broke Kad's train of thought. The Grimm were coming.

And he was ready.

Kad smiled when he looked to his teacher again.

And for once Cinder actually smiled back.

People quickly stepped out of the way of the two junior Hunters walking down the streets of Vale. Not out of fear or any special form of deference. Just wary of getting in the way of the giant following close behind Alicia and Co'Balt.

Kad knew exactly where they should have been going, but he was letting his two teammates navigate through the metropolis. Yes they could have been dropped off directly at their destination, the police headquarters. But Kad knew that they could use a little more time to prepare themselves for the meeting.

At least he assumed so on the part of his teammates, the giant was busy taking in the city.

How many people were out and about, where the Atlas security appeared to be thickest, major construction that he would need to avoid if he had to bolt through town. He took a deep breath of the city air, drinking in the usual mix of aromas from the man made environment.

Asphalt, exhaust from vehicles and buildings.

The perfume Emerald usually wore, as the thief reaching out to try and pick his pocket. With Mercury not far behind her quietly holding his breath.

Her hand was mere inches away from his right leg when his own flew backwards and latched onto her right wrist.

Alicia and Co'Balt turned around in alarm at the sudden feminine shout of outrage. But neither knew how to respond to the sight of Kad raising the green haired girl up to his eye level.

He gave Emerald a knowing smile, "That's not even where I keep my money…"

"Can't blame a girl for trying?" She tried to joke back with a nervous grin and what shrug she could manage.

Mercury couldn't help but throw his head back and howl with laughter. Emerald tried to pry her hand free from the iron grip with little success.

"Could you put me down?" She asked before going wide eyed at her choice of words, "Gently!... Please?"

She knew how literal Kad could get and how his sense of humor tended to work. He shrugged his head and massive shoulder and did as she asked. Emerald rubbed her sore arm and tried to smile at the two others flicking their gazes back and forth between their leader and the newcomers.

Co'Balt held out his left hand for an explanation, "And you are?"

Kad coughed into his fist and cleared his throat, "Ali, Co'Balt… Mercury, Emerald… Merc, Em… Alicia, Co'Balt."

Co'Balt taped his fist against the one Mercury offered in greeting. Emerald forced herself not to look so angry when she waved to Alicia. The red head reciprocated but not with the suppressed tone.

"What brings you two out today?" Alicia asked,

"Moral support." Mercury replied, "Cinder said you were in a bind, maybe, so here we are."

"You know," Emerald tried to add "Just in…"

Kad cut her off, "Yeah, I get it," He gently patted the little thief's shoulder. "Thanks."

It had been a while since the three of them had worked together, but it felt good to know that they still had his back. The two girls met eyes for a second. Emerald seemed to shrink back for a moment trying to put her thoughts to words.

"Listen…" Alicia began, scratching the back of her head, "No hard feelings about the tournament?"

Emerald shrugged, "Nothing to worry about,"

"Great," Alicia said now smiling, adding in a compliment to Kad's old friend, "You've got a mean jab by the way."

She brought up her fists and feinted a rush forward. Emerald flinched, half crouching reaching for her weapons. All the boys just laughed for a moment. And Emerald had to force down another snarl as she saw that little grin on Alicia's face.

"Alright!" Kad clapped his hands together and started walking, "Let's be on our way…Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Kad and I will be your guide through this lovely little city. Today we'll be looking at all manner of historic trees, buildings, walls, benches and sidewalks on our journey."

He stopped and turned back, raising his right hand to point across the street, "As we get going in the right direction."

Co'Balt huffed, "Easy…"

Ozpin hadn't been down to this building in a very long time. The police station wasn't exactly as he remembered it, there were a thousand subtle touches over his last blurry memory that made this place feel completely different to him. In layout not so much, there was rarely any remodeling ever going on in important government structures..

He ignored all of the decorations, awards and newspaper articles dedicated to the men and women of the police force. They worked in a completely different world then Hunters. He was partially surprised that Szary had chosen this place for their meeting. But the marshal could hardly confront Ozpin in the heart of his power base at Beacon.

The headmaster tried to calm himself, focusing on the footsteps of his companions close behind. The loud boot steps of the heavy set Professor Port walking to his right. And the lighter sounds of Doctor Oobleck's own foot wear to his left. His two close friends and confidants were present in case the additional weight of their words was needed to sway the marshal.

The halls appeared to be deserted. Although he could not say the same for the rest of the old building. The dim grey washed décor certainly had an atmosphere that Ozpin found unsettling. At least some natural light shined in front the late morning sun. Outlining the man hunched over the conference table, standing with his back turned to the door the trio of teachers passed through.

Marshal Szary Wilde was a tall man. Broad shouldered and bulky from a hard life of hunting before taking the post directing the defenders of Vale. He still had the same shoulder length brown hair that had sat atop his head since the earliest years of career. But now prematurely streaked gray from stress and work.

Szary had never worn suits, preferring to keep his deep red coat and more casual tan shirts and black pants beneath that. Along with his thick brown belt from which his plain black hilted longsword hung low.

However familiar his physical appearance, Ozpin remembered him as quite different man in spirit. Much more enthusiastic and optimistic than the bitter, tired bureaucrat that stood before them.

The one whom Ozpin had considered inducting into his personal circle once.

Professor Port cleared his throat, thinking the marshal hadn't noticed the three of them.

The other Huntsman spoke without turning around. "Well, it's been a while hasn't it old boys?"

"Hello Marshal," Ozpin replied politely.

"Jobs still yours if you want it Oz..."

The professor didn't answer this time. Szary sighed in resignation. The sound of creaking leather went through the room as he clenched his fingers together into fists. Finally he stood straight and turned around.

"How 'bout you Peter? Bart?" The man asked.

Neither of them spoke as well. Quietly waiting for the man to get to his point.

"Funny…" Szary began, "What was it you said to me all those years ago Oz?"

"You'll have to be specific, sir." The headmaster replied.

The marshal chuckled, "Meh, probably wasn't that important any way if you just decide to go against it now."

Doctor Oobleck spoke up, "Szary, why have you brought us here?"

"I didn't bring you here, Doctor." He countered, stunning the history teacher by actually remembering his P.H.D, "You followed him."

He pointed one finger over to Ozpin, "And I didn't even bring him here. I asked and he decided to… I guess pity me and show up."

Ozpin blinked, surprised, "I do not pity you."

"I suppose you don't envy me either. Which is why you passed the bureaucrat's hat to me while you had more important things to do."

"You were always going to be the right man for the job," Professor Port added in.

"And what exactly was this job Peter?"

None of them wanted to answer that, Szary carried on, "I supervise hundreds of Huntsmen and Huntresses across all the kingdoms. The ones who work for Vale directly and the others from across the planet that feel like chipping in. Do you think that is easy?"

"What do you mean?" Port asked.

"I mean," the marshal said looking back at Ozpin. "That your little cabal, Qrow, Taiyang, you two, Glynda and yourself, screwed up."

Despite recent words shared between the two men, Szary had been dreading this moment. Ozpin had been one of his role models coming through Beacon. He had just as much respect for the headmaster as anyone else. But he had finally had enough.

The marshal took a deep breath, "Tell me… why have you been going behind my back about this threat?"

Ozpin took a step forward, placing both hands on his cane in front of him, "We didn't know enough… Any heavy handed action would have tipped our hand and brought a panic."

"Not as much of a one that has been brewing lately. It's not full blown yet but it's coming... Have you walked through the streets lately? Full of people who look to us for protection."

"I've told James and I will tell you if he has not, those security forces…"

"Are necessary," Szary cut him off abruptly, "Because you forgot we have this system for a reason. And now everything is out of hand."

Professor Ozpin attempted to continue, "There was never any need for you…"

Again he was silenced by the marshal's iron tone. Szary held up his right hand and started flicking up fingers to mark his points, "The largest string of robberies Vale has ever seen. Stolen paladins rampaging through the streets. Schnees kidnapped in broad daylight using stolen Atlas explosives."

Szary scowled even harder, but keeping his voice under tight control, "Grimm loose in the gods damned streets… I'd say those are some pretty fucking good reasons for me to know what is going on. And take the kid gloves off."

"Sir," Ozpin tried to intervene.

"I am the Marshal. I decide how best to handle these situations. Not some teacher who hasn't been out of Beacon in Thirty years."

"I have been searching…"

"You have now, you run a school, you are jeopardizing far more than what you may think you are fixing. Trying to be secretive and subtle. Manipulating children into doing your dirty work before they are ready… Again."

"Ironwood has gotten you on his side hasn't he?"

"He sees the necessity of action. As do I."

"Or…" Ozpin corrected his last thought, "Are your powerful new friends just swaying you towards this course?"

"This is a different world now Oz… As I said there are these systems for a reason. You can't just play by them when you want to and ignore them when you don't. Keeping me away from this little plot you've been trying to hide and deal with as quietly as possible."

Szary took in a deep breath trying to calm himself. "This situation can't continue. You can't place the fate of the world in the hands of so few. I am the marshal of Vale and I need to handle this not some aging pen pushing teacher, who…"

His tirade was interrupted by the sound of Szary's scroll vibrating from where he had left it on the conference table. The three professors shared a nervous look as the man turned around to answer.

The only side of the conversation they heard consisted of several brusque words, each snarled in an increasingly angry tone.

"Yes… When... No, dammit… No… No get the general and wait for me."

With that, Szary took one long look at the device in his hand. Snarled and threw it as hard as he could against the far wall before turning to the men from Beacon.

"We have a fucking problem…"

Twenty minutes ago

"Did you hear that?" Penny moved closer to the lab door. Her father and Ruby looked up from the computer station at her question.

"Hear what?" Ruby asked.

The android girl touched the holographic control pad, but nothing happened.

"The doors locked," She said thumbing the activation switch again and again, "I thought I heard something on the other side…"

To the right of the sliding door there was a long window set at average chest height. It showed the narrow corridor with the bay windows on the outer hull of the warship.

And a figure in black that suddenly bolted up the hallway, too fast to make out any solid details. Other than the rifle clutched to his chest. And his featureless combat helmet hiding his face.

"Odd," Doctor Geppetto mused. His fingers flew across the key board. "Oh dear, communications are down…"

There wasn't a lot of background noise in the lab. Just the dull hum of the engines that was always present except for the rare times that the ship was landed. But everyone in the lab heard the rapid pops and cracks that split the not really silence.

Penny blinked, trying to put a name to the sound, "That's-"

"Gunfire…" Ruby said, reaching for her scythe.

The attack group moved with all possible speed. Sweeping the corridors, locking down key areas and moving onto their objective.

Unfortunately several Atlesian met their ends by silent blades as the group set about their purpose.

At another hallway junction and lift station providing several routes into the rest of the ship. Their leader Neopolitan turned back to give a flurry of hand signals to her men. Splitting the force. Half were to follow the plan and lock down the hangar where the bulk of the Atlas troops were. The other half to follow her to the holding cells, and their boss.

One Atlas technician was leaving the hangar bay for his break. Stretching his arms up over his head as he moved to one of the little doors that led to rest of the ship. Following the route he ran through a dozen times a day. No need to worry, nothing ever changed.

Except for today. As he moved through the portal a black figure came from crouching in the shadows right by the door to the small rectangle room and rammed a short sword up into soldier's back. Crimson blood spilt under his armor, matching the same shade as the highlights across his suit.

The assassin didn't spare the soon to be dead man another thought as he closed the steel door and attached a locking device the size of a dinner plate on the seam where the two halves met. Small screws burrowed into the metal making sure that no one else would pass through.

There were three other exits from the hangar towards the front of the ship. The rest of the strike force was busy moving through to seal those off as well. Preventing the sizeable force present from coming to the aid of the rest of the ship.

Everything was proceeding as planned.

One android in the sprawling open hangar turned on its heels precisely when its programming told it to in its planned path. Its vision scanned over everything under its supervision until it came to one unknown.

Another intruder. Either more careless or less quick then his comrade, caught dead in the middle of the door frame he was attempting to close.

Subroutines kicked in at the speed of thought. Sending a warning across its combat network to the other androids on a separate system linked directly through the Communication tower in Vale. In a millisecond all of the robots on the ship were alerted and at action ready.

Another set of codes spun the servos in its arms and hands bringing its energy carbine up and aiming at the intruder. The Human personnel all glanced at the odd movement from the droids. Their own slower reactions eventually drawing their focus to what was happening,

Before the droid could call for the interloper to surrender, its preservation programming kicked in as it saw the weapon being drawn and aimed at it.

A bolt of energy shot forward and gouged through the black combat clothing. Scraping across the ex-hunter's aura. He staggered and brushed his burned chest. Blindly aiming his rifle onehanded and letting loose a full auto spray.

Many bullets went wide, slamming into gunships armor and other innocuous items. A handful struck the knight that had shot him. Puncturing exposed hydraulic pistons and cracking through its armor.

The gunman staggered backwards, two other knights zeroed in and fired. The second powerful bolt burned away the last bits of aura, and the third sliced through his chest and out his back.

Another intruder, crouched close to the next door fumbling with his lock and attempting to close the door at the same time. As the panels slid together and he reached up with the device, and a robotic arm snaked through the gap and seized him by the throat.

The android pulled him back and cracked his helmet against the door, the portal continued to try and close. Crushing the metal limb which only tightened its grip. The man's own desperate free right hand went to the choking hold.

Three bullets from his partner behind him knocked the knight's head backwards followed by the butt of the rifle that had shot them. Still the knight didn't let go. Until the second attacker slammed the rifle down on the arm breaking it away from its robotic owner. The door slid shut as the bot fell back.

Bolts sunk into the metal. Blocking off another escape route.

Atlesian soldiers dove for cover and readied what weapons they had on them as more androids moved towards the last two doors.

One closed before the droids could even make three more steps. At the last, one intruder primed and threw a small black satchel as close as he could towards the nearest gunship. Moments before his body was riddled with laser fire.

The half burnt corpse fell into the doorway, preventing it from closing. But that small victory was soon forgotten as the satchel charge detonated with a thunderclap of fire.

Fuel canisters ruptured, shaking the while cruiser up to the command deck. The fire quickly spread along the puddles of fuel. Swallowing carts of ordinance and the crew that had sheltered behind them.

Explosion followed explosion, one secondary went off directly beneath the turbine tipped wing of a gunship. The craft rolled from the force of the blast, crashing into two paladins parked next to it. Shockwaves stumbled the droids moving towards the intruders. Creating an opening long enough for one to drag his dead comrade out of the door and quickly seal it too.

People scrambled to begin the new battle against the blaze rapidly consuming the hangar. Meanwhile soldiers got out of the way to rally the knights and plot out their next move. As soon as they could talk with the rest of the ship again.

As important a prisoner as Roman Torchwick was, he couldn't stay locked up in what was essentially a closet on the bridge forever. Shortly after his capture General Ironwood had him transferred down to more appropriate quarters for holding until the Atlesian could figure out what to do with him.

But the guards were under strict orders not to speak with the prisoner. Ironwood could have posted androids and gotten the desired results. But he had wanted the criminal kingpin to have a line directly to him if Torchwick decided to be more talkative.

Which was why one of his up and coming majors was standing, or rather sitting guard. On a chair in the very narrow little hallway in front of the plexi-glass wall and door behind which Roman laid on his bunk in the slightly larger but more decently furnished cell.

Decently furnished as at least it had a steel table and two chairs bolted to the floor, and a sink for water on the left hand wall. The major was busy watching a tournament fight on his scroll. Torchwick hadn't spoken in ages, and the soldier didn't see that changing anytime soon.

Two other Human guards were actually standing flanking the door opposite of the major, eyes wandering shifting the stances trying to make sentry duty as tolerable as possible.

No alarms signaling the invasion of their ship had gone off yet, so the two men had no reason to expect anything when the door behind them slid open smoothly with a hiss of pressurized gas.

Light flashed between them, and one tri colored criminal appeared a good step off the ground in mid-air between them.

The adrenaline rush reached their brains in warning moments before Neo slid her slender blade out of her parasol. Spun and in the blink of an eye slashed both of their throats to the bone.

She turned as she fell, narrowly dodging the first arterial spurts and landing in a crouch.

The major shot to his feet, everything completely forgotten except the girl in front of him. He reached for the collapsing short sword behind his back. Pulling the other hand up to his helmet to activate the comms embedded in the armor.

Shivers ran through his spine at the little grin plastered on Neo's face. From the supposedly vacant hallway another black clad intruder raised his rifle and fired four bursts over his commander.

The first shredded through the major's breast plate knocking him back down onto his chair, the second, third and fourth went directly into his head and face, killing him instantly after his light aura broke.

Roman didn't even budge at the sound of gunfire. Hands on the pillow behind his head tapping his feet, imagining listening to one of his favorite songs while lying on the clean white linens. All of his usual clothing articles were in a box out in the hall along with his weapon. He wore only a tight fitting black shirt and black pants. No shoes or socks to speak of.

He only flinched when the acrid stench of burning metal drifted over from his cell door as the charge placed there began its work, melting through the lock.

Roman smiled when he felt the shadow of Neo fall on his face, picturing her ever present smirk as she waited for him to move.

"About damn time woman. Where have you been?" He questioned her finally opening his eyes.

She quietly shrugged and pointed to the door. Roman shook his head, standing and rolling his shoulder back to loosen the muscles.

"Alright, alright… But first things first. My effects. Then we are going to pay a little visit to the good general."

"Marshal calm down, we need to organize. Keep calm," Professor Port held out his hands as he attempted to reason with Szary. But the red clad Huntsman had enough.

"Now you want to work together…" He hissed.

"A show of force will only…"Port tried to continue.

Szary chopped his left hand down, "It's too late Peter. The only thing we can do now is prepare for the worst."

Ozpin stepped forward again and seized Szary right wrist, "I know how you feel but please listen."

But he staggered as Szary ripped his hand free. "No Oz, not this time. I will handle this. And I have half a mind to arrest you right now."

"And what purpose would that serve?"

"To remind you who is really in charge here," He laid a hand on the hilt of his sword, "So what will it be?"

A/N I thought that this chapter was going to be longer until I looked back over what I had read and realize it was already at four thousand words. And anything else I have planned would just take too long to tack on and just feel a little... Overextended

And looking at the three or four college essay's I have put off until now expect the next chapter later next month.

But I think I am satisfied with how this turned out mostly. Any way I also had this little tangent written down a bit ago. so it would be nice if you suffer through my rant for a little bit but feel free to skip if you wish.

alrighty then… Gonna get my note on today. Yeah like I said I'm just making this up as I go. Finally getting over my little writer's block. And I guess what they say is true. You are your own worst critique but it also appears that I am my only critique, go figure… And fuck I've never censored anyone with an honest thing to say.

So, one plot element here on my fic has always felt a little half-baked to me. Not hard to guess which one.

Little background of having the marshal here. It just didn't seem to me like a headmaster of a school could have so much more responsibility outside of their institution.

Recently revealed information in the world of remnant has changed a few things. And other things foreshadowed has caused no small amount of speculation. And just Meh… Not going back now.

Well I'd call this chapter at least the dominoes are tipping a little bit more, I'd describe what I have planned next as the actual freefall.

And just to quit while I'm ahead. OC submitting is closed. Officially, finito, doneski, no mas. Probably… It's been a good few months alright, time enough to those interested.

Big thanks to all the guys who chipped in, You know who you are. The rest of you will see soon enough.

Poll on my profile is closed. Just a thought I had during one of my little pondering sessions. I've made my decision

And and, (to many fucking ands) Special thanks to Nemris who has been a pal with his regular reviews. And for one other thing. It would mean a lot if you could go to his profile or the RWBY/Warhammer crossover section here and take a look at his first story Chaos is the prize,

You took a chance here with me a first time writer. I think a few of you would be interested in what he is writing, tell him who sent you. (Many thanks mate.)

Oh yeah, Maybe also if you felt that I could have taken this concept Primarch in RWBY in another direction. Go see what's up with The Eleventh Champion by Magisking. Same deal in location, No I'm not bitter, the internet is a big place, and I've got nothing to loose by saying he might deserve a second look.

it was a surprise he had the same idea but whateves, give him a chance. I'm sure you'd all be surprised by what Mag has in store. I'm sure he's still lurking around here somewhere.

So any way… Holy shit this has taken a while. The whole year and plus ride up to here… personal ups and downs, couple of people leaving without anything said. Can't decide if they're dicks or not… Long story long time.

uuuuuuhhhhhhhh… Yeah ignore me, Pretty sure I've just attracted a bunch of other internet introverts right here. Ramble ramble ramble.

Thank you all again, and onwards we go.