Glad you all enjoyed the chapter, and I really enjoy the speculation and comments in the reviews, always pleasant to hear you guys chat.
However, I do need to say one thing.
Xealchim and Squasher, I'll never say I don't approve of reviews, but I don't care for opinions regarding OTHERS opinions. Regardless of what other people think and say, I believe in making your own choices and beliefs regarding things rather then assembling to a single ideal. If you have anything you want to say, I'm more then willing to chat with my reviewers, but please don't insult other people just stating their thoughts on the fic. I make this because I enjoy the idea and because others think it would be interesting concept, not to cause conflict over the overall thoughts regarding 40K's perception regarding Abhumans, because if this was basically any other Chapter bar the Salamanders and their successors, Teo would be right and that any other Astartes would have probably just committed a one man genocide against Remnant.
While I'll never say I don't want you guys to discuss Those We Will Cherish together, I don't want to be seeing reviews directed at other reviewers if you don't want to be productive or at least being civil about it.
Rant aside, I always appreciate your guys comments and thoughts, but I got enough issues IRL to want to deal with reviewers being petty regarding the ideas of others. While I'm always opens to ideas to add should they prove valid, I have my plans for the fic and how characters will think and react to their circumstances given the situation and being petty over other people's opinions when it isn't hurting anyone or going to convince me otherwise is a waste of both my time and yours. Besides, sometimes the truth isn't always what we think or want to hear. I'd rather hear an unpopular opinion that is correct, then a popular opinion that is wrong.
Anyway, time for things to get a bit more hands on...
The Codex Astartes probably doesn't support this action...but I can't re-!
Oh wait...
It seemed this world was quite fond of their celebrations. Santus could admit, many worlds in the Imperium had their high-born parties and social events, but even within his sealed domain, he could still hear the music and general noise coming from the Schola's halls for their 'school dance'. A most unusual circumstance both within the ships owned by his brothers, and his time on Sacred Mars.
It disturbed the Techmarine of the Lamenters Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.
In truth, Santus wasn't entirely sure why.
Perhaps it was the lack of practical efficiency such an event would lead to, though Santus could logically judge such as both being a mortal weakness as well as an effort to raise the morale of the schola's neophytes. Or perhaps it was the tactical vulnerability lowering one's defences for simple entertainment?
Yet, as Santus whispered the rites of maintence over his bolt pistol, the words of Ruby Rose seemed to echo in his enhanced mind.
"And I doubt the headmaster would want me walking around with a holster on the whole time."
Was it merely a case of the Imperium's paranoia of treason that had Santus on edge? Or was there more that he was not seeing to fill the pict before him? Inquisitor Forthax had once told him, 'Sometimes, what you should fear most is not the dagger in the night, but the sword under the cover of righteousness.'
Despite his hands reverently overseeing his chosen sidearm, Santus' conscious found itself spreading to the machinery around him as he whispered prayers for guidence from the Omnissiah in Holy Binary.
Perhaps he was being merely paranoid, though as the age old maxim of the Angels of Death went...
Only in Death does Duty End...
Ruby felt naked.
Well, to be fair, she was in quite a cute dress, but without her cloak on her back, Crescent Rose on her hip and Thorn's Light by her side, she sure as hell felt like it as she stumbled briefly on her heels for trying to stand by the punch bowl while Jaune went off to be...Jaune...
He may have been her best friend, and she'd happily follow him into a horde of Grimm, but no one would ever say Jaune understood women.
Men...or maybe just Jaune and Ren...
"I do hope you are enjoying yourself tonight, Miss Rose?" The voice of the Headmaster suddenly came from behind the redhead, who flinched and almost fell over again out of shock. She gave the headmaster an unimpressed glare, one that thankfully, the older man seem to take in stride with a smile and a nod of his head. "Though in all honesty, I am quite surprised to see you so unusually unarmed given more...recent developments." He gave her a sly wink as he poured her a glass of punch.
Ruby accepted it with a thankful smile, taking a sip of the fruity drink before saying, "Well, I figured it would probably not be acceptable to have it at the dance. And my team didn't want me carrying a holster around..."
Surprisingly, the Headmaster just chuckled at her confession.
"Well, some would argue that it is worth being prepared at any time for conflict. I know the Good General definately approves." Professor Ozpin explained with a gesture off to the side of the hall, where Ruby spotted Penny excitedly talking the Atlesian General who simply listened with an attentive expression. Penny must have noticed her staring, because she looked over at the two of them and waved happily. General Ironwood also looked over, and gave the two a polite nod before turning his attention back to Penny.
It must have been the atmosphere because the General seemed to be listening to Penny more closely then she thought.
"And I am sure there is also a few other people that would come to mind with the same mindset." The Headmaster then added as he nodded over at the General before looking at her.
Ruby sighed.
"Yeah, Uncle Qrow definately would be that kind of person..." Ruby admitted with an embarrassed blush while memories of formal occasions where her Uncle was...well...her Uncle. Then, her memories turned back to little bit earlier that day when the Techmarine had mentioned making a custom concealed holster like she was some kind of super spy.
The treasonous blush on her face must have told the Headmaster her thoughts as he laughed but gave her a quick, stern look.
"Miss Rose, I would like to remind that sometimes, we want to keep our thoughts unspoken." He warned, though the warm smile on his face took the heat out of it as he continued in a quiet voice, "Did our guest actually offer to do that?"
Ruby, blush still on her face at the thought of the Techmarine's offer, nodded quickly.
"He said that he had to do it before someone, some 'acolyte' of someone called Inquisitor Forthax?" Ruby admitted honestly, though Professor Ozpin had the best poker face she had ever seen, as other then his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise, Ruby had no idea of what he thought about that.
"Well, isn't that curious?" The Professor seemed to whisper to himself, though Ruby barely noticed in her embarrassment.
"It was so embarrassing since he was offering to make one to fit under my dress and Jaune AND Ren were there, so I just know Nora will find out and then my team will find out and then Yang will go weird again..." Ruby pouted as the inevitable Beacon Rumour mill might not know the who, but she'd be lucky if people didn't think she was pregnant by the time they got back from the first year missions...
Damn Beacon and it's wild rumours...
The Headmaster laughed again, and Ruby blushed again as she realised she spoke outloud.
Again.
It was Yang's fault, Ruby just knew it somehow, it would be Yang's fault.
"Well, I hope you enjoy the evening, Miss Rose. Your team put quite the effort into this, and you should take the chance to relax and enjoy yourself with your peers." The Headmaster said affably before walking off, his cane tapping the ground in a steady cadence despite the music being played.
Well, the headmaster ceratinly wasn't wrong, at least in Ruby's eyes. With a final sip from her drink, she confidently walked towards where she could spot Ren and Nora were despite her heels' best efforts to stop her.
Maybe Techmarine had a point about going out of her way to keep herself safe.
Well, at least her reputation for whatever it was worth...
"Ozpin just had nice chat with Red. Seemed like they didn't want eavesdroppers."
"Curious, but ultimately no concern."
"Well, if it helps, Red isn't carrying around that weird pistol of hers and the headmaster did seem to note that if I was reading his lips right."
"Is that so? Hmm..."
A silent moment passed.
"The plan is unchanged, are things going well on your end?"
A smirk.
"Yeah, everyone is nice and happy, even dour old Ironwood. Seemed like he wanted to take off but looks like the Ginger from the docks has his full attention."
"Excellent, hopefully by the time we are done, he won't even realise it until tomorrow."
The feeling of foreboding was not going away.
This was unacceptable for both an servant of the Omnissiah and an Astartes.
Santus was knelt before the symbols of both the Emperor and Omnissiah, binaric prayers echoing around his domain as he beesched the Machine God and his avatar for guidence and insight, Omnissian axe held before him in supplication. The machine spirits of his forge seemed ill at ease, though whether or not these humble and innocent machines were merely uncertain regarding his seemingly unnatural concern or had warnings to give him was as of yet unclear.
As he prayed, he thoughts turned back to his memories, memories of pain, of lost, and grave danger he failed to predict...
His Bolt Pistol barked loudly as the head of a Genestealer exploded into a shower of gore.
He had no time to acknowledge the kill, nor the need as decades of experience had him swiftly turn on his heels, bisecting a lunging abomination clean in half even as his servo-arm slammed another aside while his mechadendrites flew around him, lasbolts and power tools ripping through the surrounding genestealers. Beside him, Brother Helmor of the Space Wolves laughed gleefully as he swung his duel power claws around him in a fierce, almost barbaric fashion if not for the calculated efficency behind every movement the Fenrisian did. Behind him, the roar of Sargaent Talas' heavy bolter continued to pour holy retribution down a corridor full of the vile Tyranid infiltrators, scripture coming from his vox-speakers as the Black Templar Devastator calmly walked along, spewing death in his wake.
"They are putting up quite the defence! This has to be the location of the Patricarch!" The voice of Inquisitor Forthax echoed through his vox, the Inquisitor leading his retinue and a force of PDF Guardsmen down another route. It had been the Inquisitor's plan, attack from above with Astartes while the mortals came from below to locate the undefended monster that directed these vile hordes towards the Angels of Death.
"My scans indicated a small mass just north of your position, Inquisitor Forthax, logic circuits read a 97% chance of it being the Patriarch's lair." Santus informed as a readout ran out in front of his augmented vision.
"Understood, I will strike once I have confirmed the location of the Patriarch, continue to sweep and cleanses this facility." The Inquisitor declared, despite such having had been planned in advance.
"Understood." Santus confirmed as his vox turned while his helm's vox-speakers activated to ensure the Kill team could hear him in the event of damages. "We continue forward, the situation is going as expected."
Behind him, he heard the sound of bolter rounds echo past him as a pair of heretical hybrids suddenly appeared down the corridor before them armed with launchers. The two, however, were left as little more then worthless piles of meat as bolter rounds impacted against their chests, their explosives unused and falling to the ground.
"Well, that would be a change for us, Brother." Brother Leante, his fellow Lamenter within the kill team spoke with an amused tone, a smirk likely hidden behind his black helmet.
The four Astartes quickly found themselves surrounded by dead xenos as Santus knelt before a cogitator, requesting the machine grant them passage.
"So, how many of the filthy buggers did you lot claim this time?" The Space Wolf asked as he shook the gore from his power claws, his bare face a vicious and victorious smirk.
"Fifty nine of the foul Xenos." Brother Leante told Helmor, who smirk grew wider as he looked over at Santus.
"Combat recordings indicate fourty five confirmed kills." Santus replied even as his eyes and hands never once faulted.
Helmor must have turned to face Sargaent Talas as he repeated, "And how many did your great big gun claim Talas? Or did you end up having to appreciate the same melee combat your brothers love?"
"A hundred and eighty six." The quiet Black Templar informed the Wolf as Santus listened as the Templar's chains rattled against the heavy casing of his unusual choice of weapon.
"That many? I'd say I can see why you choose the Heavy Bolter, but something is always just wrong seeing one of you Black Templars not screaming everywhere and swinging swords like it's going out of style." Helmor joked as he marched up to Santus. "Any luck with the door or shall I?"
Santus shook his head.
"That is unnessecary, and while the leader of these monsters may not be here, there are still threats to us that we should take care to avoid." Santus chastised as Helmor scoffed, before merely crossing his arms patiently.
Besides him, Leante chuckled.
"I, for one, appreciate the Sargaent for both his aim and his throughness." The younger Lamenter said, "After all, he saved us having to cut down so many of the filthy traitors. I'd hate to hear you couldn't have a victory drink because you're too tired Helmor."
Behind him, Santus heard the Devasator Sargaent hum appreciatively as the Space Wolf laughed laughed out loud.
"Aye! I'd never be able to step on Fenris again if I couldn't have some Mjod after good fight!" He commented as a series of confirmations from the door's machine spirit returned to Santus.
"The door is unlocked." He informed his fellow Astartes, who prepared their weapons as Santus sent a command for the door to open.
The door slid open, though the corridor was dark even to an Astartes.
"This darkness is unnatural. Prepare yourselves for ambush." Sargaent Talas declared as he marched forward at the centre of their formation, Helmor and Santus either side of him with close combat weapons ready while Brother Leante raised his bolter to cover their advance.
The Kill team slowly made their way through the corridor, though no unaugmented mortal would be capable of matching their pace and level of caution. As the team reached an intersection, Helmor raised his lightning claw in a signal to stop.
"Hold, I smell something coming this way." He said, his eyes narrowing at the dark corridor that not even Santus' augments could see through. Overlays of the building's layout gave him an holographic outline, though not the ability to see through the dark itself.
The Black Templar took centre postion, Heavy Bolter braced and levelled, ready to deliver righteous fury on whatever foul creation roamed these halls, while Leante took position just behind and to the side of him. Meanwhile, Santus and Helmor deactivated their power weapons and took position by the walls, unseen from whoever was about to walk into the most lethal force the Imperium had in the sector.
"Do we have reports of psykers amongst their numbers?" Sargaent Talas asked quickly. Santus shook his head.
"No hybrid psykers have been identified, though it is likely they might have a few in reserve. This might be some lasting sorcery as an emergency defence system installed by the Patriarch." Santus replied as reports connected to the Inquisitor's cogitator systems ran across his eyes.
Suddenly, Santus could hear the shuffling of feet, as did the Astartes around him as they braced themselves.
He gripped his Omnissian axe tight as he prepared to activate the weapon within mere milliseconds, when a faint light appeared before them. The Sargaent went to open fire at the light, when Brother Leante suddenly stepped forward and pushed the heavy weapon down.
"Hold, it's civillians." The Lamenter quickly explained, even as he stepped forward. "Hold there. Identify yourselves now!" He shouted into the darkness. A moment later, gasps of shocked relief echoed down the eerie corridors as a small huddle of mortal, local workers by their uniforms, came into sight of the Astartes.
"Space Marines? We're saved!" A young female exclaimed as she eagerly rushed forward towards them, only to pause in fear as Talas raised his Heavy Bolter once more, to squadmates' surprise.
"Get that thing down, Templar, they ain't no hybrids." Helmor told the Sargaent, stepping in front of the man before Santus could, even as he moved next to the two.
Talas did not lower his weapon however.
"This is a genestealer nest. If these mortals were brought here, either they are being inducted, they are infiltrators, or they have been implanted." Talas explained, his tone taking a warning edge. "Anyone of them could be carrying explosives."
The mortals must have heard the Templar's words, as they stopped and started whispering uncertainly to each other. The young female, having more courage or less intelligence to realise the situation, looked at the Astartes aghast.
"W-What? What do you m-mean? We are loyal servants of the Emperor, I swear!" She shouted back, her silver eyes becoming teary as customary amongst the unaugmented yet she did not flinch even as the Heavy Bolter was levelled at her directly.
Santus stepped towards Talas, a hand raised placatingly.
"Prelimarlary scans do not detect tell-tale signs of implants or mutation amongst the civilians. Inquisitor Forthax would like appreciate any first-hand insight to how this cult operates should they prove untainted." Santus explained in a mechancial tone, even as to not betray his own frustration at the Templar's ruthless mindset that did not serve them most effectively in these situations. "Also, Mithras XI belongs to the Adeptus Mechanicus, as such these mortals serve the Omnissiah. I would not see this holy world's workforce depleted by unnessecary measures that would negatively impact production quotas more then already nessecary."
His logical information, as usual, convinced the Sargaent somewhat, as he began lowering his Heavy Bolter...
There was no transition, one moment, Santus turned to face the civilians as he began to step towards them when all of a sudden he was rushing forward, arm outstretched to grab the courageous young woman that dare to stand before Astartes so bravely as a hellbolt slammed into his forearm. He could feel the heat of the weapon sink into arm plate yet felt nothing in mind as he knelt over the girl to shield her body with his own. Even then, his brothers unleashed their fury as Helmor and Leante rush forwards with warcries even as the mob of loyal humans before them was mercilessly gunned down by ambushers behind them.
Hybrids, Guardsmen in fact, with a pair of Stormtroopers amongst their platoon. Despite their concentrated fire at the Astartes, they quickly were torn apart by bolter and blade as Leante and Helmor tore through them while Talas laid destructive firepower into their ranks. It was over in mere seconds, yet that was all it took for the loyal servants of the Emperor that had stood before them to be gunned down.
"Santus, report." Talas immediately ordered as the last traitor guardsmen was ripped in two by Brother Leante's bare hands.
"The girl is safe and uninjured." He quickly replied as he ran his helmet's autosenses over the girl and found her unharmed.
The female, however, merely stared up at him with shock and awe.
"Y-You...saved m-me?" She stuttered fearfully. Yet despite her obvious fear, the Techmarine could see steel in her eyes as she saw what become of her former allies.
"I am sorry we could not save the rest." Brother Leante muttered quietly to the girl as he marched up to them. His voice was low and simmered with rage, though Santus was well aware of what it was directed at. Even Helmor had a scowl on his face as he spat on one of the dead Stormtrooper hybrids.
At this point, Santus' vox reactivated, and the panting yet concerned tone of Inquisitor Forthax reached him.
"Kill Team, alert, the Patriarch was not at the suspected location. Lock down the entrences and do NOT let it escape!" Forthax demanded quickly, even as Santus' eyes widened in shock that he had in fact been incorrect, and now the entire operation was at risk...
"Inquisitor, we have located a loyal mortal, Santus is confident they are pure from the genestealer's influence. What shall we do wi-" Talas began to report when an ear-spliting roar and psychic pressure weighed on Santus' mind even as the girl in his arm hissed loudly in pain.
"PRIMARY TARGET SPOTTED AT OUR LOCATION! FOR THOSE WE CHERISH, WE DIE IN GLORY!"
"ALL FORCES, MOVE TO SUPPORT THE SPACE MARINES!"
"Excellent, hopefully by the time we are done, he won't even realise it until tomorrow..."
What?
Santus' eyes suddenly snapped open.
Despite her sneaky phrasing and warning glances usually being seen as cute, Ruby could confidently claim she had at least delayed the chance of being the butt of the rumour mill when Jaune Arc had come back in a dress for some syncronised dancing with JNPR, and hopefully Ren wouldn't completely rat out his team leader's bestest friend in Beacon when she could hold this over their heads.
With a satisifed smile, Ruby relaxed as she leaned against an outdoor railing, taking in the evening light and cool air while music continued to play behind her. Blake had shown up, Yang was happy and having fun, and even Weiss seemed to be enjoying a casual chat with Neptune. She might have had no idea how Jaune pulled it off, but if the price of doing it was to wear a dress in front of the school, well, who was she to judge? JNPR was laughing together last she had seen and her own team was happy.
Even Ruby could feel the cheer, but for some reason, she felt like there was something missing. Like there was something she had forgotten to do...
Well, she did need to go and get Thorn's Light after this, and maybe Santus would be willing to tell her about the mission where he had to make a dress holster? Surely it had to be some kind of super spy thing going on and that sounded so cooooo-
What was that?
That was what Ruby thought as she watched a shadow moving over the rooftops of Beacon. She rubbed her eyes a moment, but there was definately something up there, and definately something moving towards the CCT.
The Techmarine and her Headmaster's words ran through her mind, but Ruby quickly looked behind her and saw no one was there, before vaulting over the railing, and with a touch of her semblence, walking faster then most people could as she landed. It only took her a short moment to reach the CCT, even in her dress and heels. As she arrived before the CCT, she looked around the rooftops, but couldn't see anything moving. As she turned to face the CCT's doors, she spotted what looked like...
A leg?
An armoured leg?
In a bush?
Ruby rushed forwards and pulled the shrubery aside, revealing an Atlesian soldier laying motionless on the ground. She quickly pushed a hand against his neck, then sighed in relief as she felt a pulse from the merely unconscious soldier. As she stood up and made to move towards the CCT, she pulled at her scroll and went to call her locker when she heard a faint banging sound.
It was...familiar...
She turned around as she heard a door slam open.
"Ruby Rose? Why do you...? Wait, there is an infiltrator?" Techmarine suddenly exclaimed, his suit of armour whirling mechanically even as electricity hummed down his raised axe. His helmet's lens, a dreadful red glare quickly flicked between her and the unconscious soldier, before he stepped forward, heavy boots banging loudly against pavement as he quickly walked up to her.
"W-W-What are you doing here!?" Ruby hissed despite the nine foot tall super soldier towering over her and being far more scary. "W-W-What i-if someone saw you?"
Techmarine quickly shook his head.
"The machine spirits have guided my path and hidden my movements from unwanted eyes. They revealed to me there is an unknown element on the schola's grounds, and your communications center is the most logical target for sabotage." He explained cryptically, but Ruby's eyes went wide when he mentioned sabotage as she looked up at the CCT in fright.
"We need to get to up there!" Ruby shouted as she went to call her beloved Crescent Rose, but instead she found herself catching something passed to her by Techmarine. It was Thorn's Light.
"I suspected I may require a weapon more suitable for human hands should someone here require a weapon." He admitted as she swung the holster across her back and withdrew Thorn's Light, the weapon humming eagerly as it warmed her hand. The two shared a brief glance as silver met red and Ruby nodded appreciatively for his forethought, and they marched into the CCT. The bottom floor was vacant, no one was present.
The Techmarine swiftly marched up to the elevator while Ruby quickly kicked off her heels and examined the room, laspistol raised in a strong and comfortable grip as she double checked the room. The Lamenter behind her quickly ran a hand across the control panel, his metalic fingers running across the screen faster then even she could watch.
"The infiltrator is on the main communications level." He announced as the elevator began descending as he turned to face Ruby. "They will no doubt be aware the elevator is returning to the ground level, so be prepared for combat."
Ruby stared at him with amazement.
"How do you know all that?" She couldn't help but ask, but the giant man seemed to still for a moment, before he turned to face the elevator.
"Perhaps one day...I shall tell you..." He replied ambigiously. Before Ruby could respond, the doors opened for the elevator, and two stepped in. Ruby leaned against the wall as Techmarine drew his bolt pistol and aimed directly at the door, waiting.
The elevator quickly ascended, and Ruby felt her body shake as the familiar sense of adrenaline ran through her body. She steadied herself quickly, and noticed the Techmarine nod approvingly.
A moment later, the door opened.
Ruby peeked out a moment, and saw no one.
The Techmarine, on the other hand, merely adjusted his aim to behind some computers.
That same bark that she heard back in the Emerald Forest echoed out even as Ruby's aura worked to dampen the pain in her ears from firing such an explosive weapon in close range, but she watched as the computers exploded into shrapnel and a black shape was sent flying back with pained yelp from the sudden flames and flying fragments of metal. Techmarine, seeing them move, immediately stepped out the elevator, bolt pistol barking three more times as he fired without hesitation.
The black shape, which Ruby quickly discovered to be a woman in black with dark hair, quickly twisted in the air, managing to dodge two of the shots, but the third hit her square in the back, slamming her into another computer. Aura rippled heavily across her body even as Techmarine began to lower his bolt pistol.
"She has aura!" Ruby quickly shouted and opened fire, red lances flying through the air towards the woman. However, she managed to launch herself to the side and dodge Ruby's shots, though one grazed her side, leaving a burn that quickly healed despite the woman's hiss of pain. She drew a dust cylinder and launched a fireball at them, Ruby activated her semblence and rushed forwards, ducking behind a computer, while Techmarine merely let the fire explode against his armour harmlessly.
Smoke trailed around his chest and fire licked at his arms, but the Lamenter merely holstered his bolt pistol and grasped his axe and both hands, rushing forward in a blur of speed. The woman quickly recovered and backflipped to her feet before drawing a pair of swords and just managed to deflect the electric axe. Despite that, the weapons shattered in her hands even despite the deflection, and the woman was forced to leap back before the axe could bisect her. She looked over at Ruby, then Techmarine, face hidden behind a black masqurade mask and a fierce snarl on her face as she suddenly turned and lept from the building, glass shattering around her as she began to fall.
Despite this, Techmarine ran up to the window and drew his bolt pistol, took aim and fired another series of shots at her. Ruby rushed to the edge as well, and despite the darkness, she could barely make out the sight of the woman rushing off behind a building and out of their line of fire.
A series of strange, almost robotic sounds came from the Techmarine beside her as he lowered his bolt pistol. Ruby looked over at him in confusion, but the Techmarine merely turned around and marched over to the main desk, which thankfully was intact. He began running his hands across the screen of the main computer, moving as if he had practiced with this exact machine countless times despite never being here before.
She quickly ran up next to him, even as she holstered her own weapon.
"Do you have any idea who that was?" Techmarine questioned, but Ruby shook her head.
"I'm not sure, I don't think I know them but to be honest, with the mask it could be a lot of people." Ruby admitted freely, before a thought came to her. "But...I know a thief that was working with a woman with the same hair colour, and he was doing buisness with the White Fang..."
Techmarine paused, his hands stilled.
"This thief...I presume he is not a faunus?" He asked quietly. Questioningly.
Ruby nodded.
A moment of silence passed between the two, before Techmarine continued to interact with the main computer.
"What are you doing Techmarine?" Ruby asked curiously as she looked over his shoulder.
The Techmarine said nothing for a moment as he drew up a screen, revealing a black chess piece on a white background, that quickly spread to the rest of the screens around them to Ruby's shock. However, soon all the screens fizzled a moment, before the chess piece emblem was replaced in a flicker by the cogwheel sign that Techmarine had.
"Some kind of primative scrap-code, far weaker compared to what I usual encounter." Techmarine explained as he stood straight and finally looked at her. "It seems that someone had need of control over the communication systems of your hive city."
Ruby narrowed her eyes at the screen, as some kind of anger rose up in her.
How dare someone sneak into Beacon during the dance so they could put some kind of virus on the CCT! Even the Faunus needed and used it! Where was the equality in that? What did infecting one of the most important pillar of modern society with a virus achieve?!
It was then she realised that Techmarine was looking at her still, and as she looked back at him, he nodded once.
"Whoever dared to desecrate these sacred machine spirits has nothing but malice and destruction in mind of mankind." Techmarine whispered, his modulated voice coming out as a low, threatening growl. But despite the terrifying nature of it, Ruby found herself in full agreement as she nodded back.
Maybe...maybe he could help her and her team if he was as eager to stop the White Fang and Torchwick's scheme as much as they seemed to want to...?
Then, Ruby heard the elevator ding as it's doors closed and began to descend.
She made to draw Thorn's Light again, but Techmarine merely raised a hand in peace.
"It is Huntress Goodwitch. No doubt come to investigate the disturbance." Techmarine informed her as she let go of the sidearm's grip. A few moments later, the elevator returned, and Professor Goodwitch stepped out with an angry scowl, only for her face to change into shock as the sight of the room and probably the presence of Techmarine.
"W-What the hell happened here?!" Miss Goodwitch exclaimed with barely a stutter even as she marched up to them, her hand on her riding crop.
Before Ruby could explain, Techmarine raised his hand to pause the professor.
"I suggest you call for Ozpin and the General. We have much to discuss."
"This is..."
"THIS proves that I was right! Damn it Ozpin, this isn't something you just ignore!"
James slammed his hand against the workbench of Techmarine's forge. They decided it would be for the best if they had withdrawn back to the foreign soldier's living space to protect his identity from any wandering students, and it had the added benefit that no one would likely think to look for them here.
And that suited the General of Atlas just fine.
"James, I am just as shocked by this as you ar-" Ozpin began, but James jabbed a finger at him, silencing him.
"No, Ozpin, no excuses. You told me that you were confident about handling this discreetly. You have always wanted to be the one to investigate and scout. But guess what? The enemy struck first, and if not for the Techmarine and the actions of your own STUDENT, we'd have no idea that the entire CCT system could have been compromised!" James shouted lividly. Ozpin was a good man, but despite all his years, it seemed he forgotten some of the basics behind the art that was war, and that was not something he was willing to accept if it put the people at risk.
To the side of him, he watched Miss Rose shuffle awkwardly next the quiet Techmarine, who had just finished his combat report regarding this infiltrator. James turned his gaze to the brave young girl, and his hard glare softened as he looked at her.
"I don't you fault you for actions, Miss Rose. You saw a potental threat, and you sought to investigate it, as a proper huntress should." He added comfortingly to the girl, who gave him an appreciative little smile. Next to Ozpin, Glynda sighed tiredly.
"Ozpin, as much as he can overreact, James is right. They attacked his soldiers and planted some kind of virus in our own school under our own noses. We need to be proactive now." Glynda admitted as James crossed his arms and gave his friend a thankful nod. Ozpin leaned against the bench with a deep sigh, as if feeling the weight the immortal man must have had to carry with his curse.
At this point, Techmarine removed his helmet and placed it on the bench, revealing the cybernetics across his face.
"Tell me. What do you intend to do?" The yellow armoured giant asked in a quiet tone.
James faced the man's unflinching gaze and met it.
"I'll have my forces attend the Vytal Festival as security where we can impliment checks and constant surveilance over both the Amity and Beacon, as well as checkpoints and other entrences into Vale." James explained quickly and clearly. He had this plan in mind ever since he heard about the suspecious activity going on in Vale and Ozpin's seeming lack of regard for the protection of his own kingdom. Though in hindsight, such a plan would have likely been circumvented by this hidden virus.
James was not afraid to admit that, it just made him more determined.
Techmarine nodded a few times, before crossing his arms.
"Acceptable precautions, if lackluster in my experience." He said simply.
"How so?" James questioned back at the man. But he merely shook his head.
"It is not my place to suggest such things. The Imperium has long suffered the curse of traitors hidden amongst us, so the degrees of...scrutiny we usually invoke would likely cause mass revolt, which would not aid us in this situation." Techmarine elaborated, though his tone suggested that while he did not exactly approve such methods, he could not debate the effectiveness of.
It was a familiar feeling the Atleisan General had felt before, even though he knew it was for the best as a society. And who was he to critique this soldier on his people's ways when he didn't know the full image?
It seemed Ozpin did not share his open mind, as the immortal briefly and discreetly glared at the giant while he was distracted with James. Although, given the slight change to the Techmarine's eyebrow, Ozpin was not as cunning as he had thought. Regardless, Techmarine gestured for Ruby to pass him his scrollpad, and used the device to open up a map of Vale as a kingdom.
"Tell me, these White Fang, they would be unlikely to have permantant storage facilities within the hives of this world. The logistics and requirement for stealth would make large scale arms movements trackable and noticeable." He paused for a moment as he watched James nod in confirmation. It was common strategy for the White Fang to have small, temporary caches for when they had objectives within a city, while major stores were kept in the wilderness or hidden in minor towns and villages with either sympathetic elements or a lack of consideration over suspecious individuals regularly moving around the area. "Then, given the fact they have been confirmed to be in league with a known dissident and ganger responsible for the theft of your Dust crystals, it is likely there is a major staging zone outside the hive limits so that they don't risk losing the majority of their stolen material."
James nodded once more, he thought as much himself, but there was many, many hiding places in the wilderness.
"That's right, but due to the Grimm much of the wilderness is hard to record and even harder to search when the hunter teams are constantly having to fight the Grimm. They could be using a ruined village or town, but then many are set up and fall faster then kingdoms can record them." James admitted. Techmarine stared at the map with a frown.
"While my logic circuits could likely determine a probably base of operation, the fact they could be hidden anywhere means we may lack the time to properly investigate for the insurgents." Techmarine said frustratingly, a feeling James commonly related to when it came to the White Fang.
It was at this point, however, a solution came from a rather unexpected source.
"Um..." Ruby Rose spoke up for the first time since she was asked about her fight. "Well...when me and my team went to investigate the rally where Torchwick had the paladin...Blake said that Torchwick said they would be sending them off to do something in the south east of Vale..." She whispered quietly, almost ashamedly as if breaking some kind of trust.
James and Glynda looked at the girl with surprise, while Ozpin's eyes narrowed in his typical manner, while the Techmarine merely centered the map on his scrollpad to focus on the South East. He looked at the map for a moment while James examined the student.
She was uncertain, her arms were crossed across her dress, swaying slightly side to side while she looked towards the floor.
"Why didn't you tell anyone until now, Miss Rose?" James asked simply, his tone even and balanced to lure her into a sense of calm.
"Well...it was Blake's idea, and she didn't feel like the police or anyone was doing anything...and we agreed so we wanted to use the first year missions to investigate the South East while we did our assignment..." Ruby confessed, and with countless times having been forced to use interrogation as a Specialist told him the girl told him no lie. Foolish and self-sighted, perhaps. But an honest soul seeking to protect.
"I respect your dedication, however students shouldn't be looking to commit vigilantism with important information like that." James explained in the same tone he took to his junior officers many a time. "Although I still don't think you were wrong per-say to investigate, I think we can both agree the matter has clearly escalated, and so shall we."
Rose nodded her head in understanding.
"Hmm..." The Techmarine hummed thoughtfully, before zooming his scroll onto a single location as Glynda looked over at it.
"Mountain Glenn?" She asked, her voice taking on an edge of familiar dread that many of the survivors of that terrible event had.
Techmarine nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes...isolated...infested with Grimm...but with infrastructure needed to house a military force. Also the site of an international incident that people would expect to be left undesecrated..." He muttered quietly, before nodding decisively. "Logic circuits estimate a 97% odds that would be their primary base of operations, given it's relative proximity and influencing factors."
James nodded a few times as the logic came to him as well. The soldier was right, it would have just about everything they could need for a base, and given this recent shift from the White Fang, desecrating the dead city in Mountain Glenn just might be how low they were willing to go now if they were under Her influence. Despite this, James noticed a familar hardness in his jaw, that something the Techmarine had said had left him paranoid and uncertain regardless of his certainty.
It's something he saw everytime James looked into a mirror, when the promise of victory had been made sour.
"Um...so what now?" Miss Rose asked uncertainly. Glynda turned to speak to the girl, but instead, Ozpin replied instead.
"Well, we have a goal, first we need to see if we are right in our predictions before we dedicate force to locating them." The Headmaster of Beacon flicked his gaze between everyone in the room. "Despite what James might say about my methods, I do believe that perhaps, it is time to send in the scouts?"
The Techmarine and James nodded in agreement.
"So, how soon can I move my Specialists in? Or do you want to get Qrow involved as well?" James asked his ally.
"Uncle Qrow?" Miss Rose suddenly piped up in surprise as both Ozpin and James nodded, while the Techmarine raised an eyebrow at the two.
"That is correct, Miss Rose. Your Uncle occasionally does a few jobs for me, jobs like this where dangerous people need to be taken down by professional huntsmen rather then police or soldiers." Ozpin explained to the girl as James nodded in confirmation. She seemed shocked to hear this, rather curious given how often Qrow did missions for Ozpin. Did she just never realise?
Glynda sighed, before looking once more at Rose.
"In that case, I do believe it's time Miss Rose returned to her team before they start to tear about the school looking for her. I shudder to think what rumours I'll have to contend with hearing now, and you have been privy to much a student should not be." Glynda declared, but much to the redhead's credit, she didn't argue back and simply nodded disappointedly while a hand fiddled with the holster latch of the miraculous device she had been given as a gift.
However, Ozpin raised a hand.
"On the contrary, I believe Miss Rose and her team have proven themselves both beyond suspecion and determined to involve themselves in combating the White Fang. In fact, we have mission scheduled for the higher year students to do a Grimm Extermination at Mount Glenn to keep the Grimm numbers from massing." He explained cryptically even as Miss Rose blushed in embarressment at her Headmaster outright calling her out for her team's previous vigilantism.
"Ozpin. No." Glynda deadpanned, but despite knowing the deputy had nothing but the utmost care for her students, James was forced to shake his head, and even the Techmarine raised an eyebrow at her.
"Glynda, he raises a valid point. If these girls are going to go behind the law's back to do the right thing, we might as well have them work with us." James explained even as she glared at him.
Techmarine stared at the scroll for a moment as he spoke, "Also, the ganger Torchwick is a known entity to these four, and each has direct combat experience against him and insurgent forces. Furthermore, it will grant them a level of avoidence from the enemy, thinking them as a regular action against the Grimm to give them more time to scout the ruins."
At this point, Glynda was staring at Ozpin, eyes hard and unflinching even as she seemed to shake slightly.
"Ozpin..they are only children, we can't ask this of them!" She whispered harshly, even if everyone could hear the deputy clearly.
"We can do!" Miss Rose declared in a voice that was uncertain but also determined. "We can do it Miss Goodwitch. We are one of the best teams in combat and like Techmarine said, we've fought them before and won. If General Ironwood has his men ready, we can just find them, finish our mission and have them come in to arrest them all."
Glynda looked uncertain, and James stepped around the table and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm no less ashamed to have children fight our fights, but I won't stop them from doing the right thing, and I'll see that they are outfitted with enough gear and equipment they could need for an emergency, and I'll have the Indestructable maintain constant battle readiness until they get back." James offered in a quiet, understanding tone.
At this point, Techmarine close the scrollpad and turned to look at the three teachers.
"If it is any consolation, I would be willing to join in aiding the forces sent should they require reinforcements." The Lamenter offered generously.
In fact, it was too generous for someone with his level of skill and genius to offer freely.
"I presume you have something you'd like from us for your aid?" James asked in a carefully neutral tone, though to his shock, the giant man chuckled.
"No, General Ironwood. I do not require repayment. I have advocated this as my advice and such should be ready to assist them if I am wrong. As for why? I only serve three things: The Emperor, The Omnissiah and Mankind's continued survival and supremacy in the galaxy."
An Emperor, an 'Omnissiah', and mankind's survival and supremacy?
A slight shiver ran down Ironwoods spine, like a ghost breathing down his back.
Two detectives of Vale were stood in a wrecked Dust shop. The place looked like it had been completely ransacked and destroyed, and unlike the White Fang and Torchwick's usual MO, the owner had been found with his head ripped off and left discarded behind a shelf. The first of the pair was looking over the wrecked counter, gun resting in his hand while he scratched his black facial hair with the other while the second detective looked through the back office behind the counter. The sound of clanking cabinets and shuffling papers was all the first man could hear or see.
"Damn city really has turned into a jungle huh. First Torchwick, then the Fang, now Torchwick AND the Fang AND a psycho?"
"Yeah no shit, you think I got promoted for my good looks and skills as a cop? I got this position because they gunned down the last guy in a street fight."
"Damn, that's rough...at least you get a better idea what's going on. Wanna go get coffee and some dounts?"
"Na, I gotta lose some weight. Fang's gonna have target on my now seeing how I gotta actually direct other people. Still, down for dinner at yours this Sunday?"
There was silence while he waited for a reply.
"Hey Joel? You all good in there buddy?"
He did not get a reply.
The detective got up and aimed his pistol at the door.
"Hey dumbass, cut the shit. If you don't wanna have dinner just tell me asshole."
There was no response. He started walking towards the door.
Joel was gone.
And then all he saw was a flash of black, and then nothing at all.
Dun dun dun...
So, quite the chapter. The Dance has been had, we get a little insight into Santus' past with the Inquisition, Ruby makes her case to go the Mountain Glenn, and uh...wonder what happened to the detectives from Season 1 huh?
And because I KNOW it's coming, I refuse to do the physics to determine whether or not a bolter shot or las round would penetrate Aura. Now I could give you a long and detailed explanation behind the physics and then have to impliment them constantly and if it proves that they just completely negate Aura in a 40k that revolves around being on Remnant, that would be boring because Ruby is now the most dangerous person on Remnant.
Or, we could go with the fun choice, and summerise it with four words: Basically Just Psyker Bullshit.
Tzeentch would agree.
However, that is not to say I am going to nerf 40k's stuff into uselessness. If you reading closely and look back on RWBY, you'll realise a few things regarding the sheer power these weapons still have even if they aren't gibbing instantly. A bolter or lasgun is still going to be a VERY dangerous weapon.
Personally, I like the depiction of 40k weapons against Aura in the fic A World of Bloody Evolution by RedrumSprinkles. If you haven't read it, GO READ IT. It's great and if you love RWBY and 40k, you'll probably love it too. Also because Yang is such a badass and [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], although the part at [REDACTED] always is such a really great moment. No I won't spoil it, it's gooood.
Also complete random side note, but that fic LITERALLY updated as I was finish this, and that makes me both excited and greatly amused. THE GODS CLEARLY APPROVE!
Or trying to kill my views, I dunno it's fuckin Tzeentch man.
Anyway, any advice or criticism is always appreciated, A.D.