Chapter 3: Counterattack (rewritten)
Disclaimer: I do not in any way or form own Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There or RWBY. They belong to their respective owners, Takumi Yanai and RoosterTeeth Animations respectively.
A/N: Partially rewritten this chapter to reflect the changes in the previous one.
"The Grimm have mostly been killed. The stragglers are being hunted down."
"Good work," General Ironwood commented, "Casualties?"
"No human fatalities, sir, but we've got plenty of injured troops. None life-threatening. Several Huntsmen are also injured. All are receiving treatment."
"Two Paladins destroyed, the others are repairable. About 30% of the Knights fell to the Grimm, but the majority is still ready for service."
"Current civilian casualties unknown, sir, but many are safe within Beacon Academy. There were about a thousand people in the fairgrounds, sir, but only 900 are accounted for. Estimated 100 dead or missing."
Too many. "Send the Knights to sweep the area. Detain any enemies, kill all Grimm and locate survivors," Ironwood ordered. Then, he added, "I'm going to visit the prisoners. Let's see what information we can get out of them."
"So, what have you found out from the prisoners, James?" Ozpin asked. He was in his office, the general's figure projected into the air in front of him. The prisoners, a few hundred of them, had been disarmed and contained within a temporary prison on the outskirts of the Emerald Forest. A good portion of the Atlas forces, as well as many Huntsmen, patrolled it, both to prevent escape attempts and to kill any Grimm that was drawn in by the prisoners' negativity.
Ironwood sighed, "Not much, I'm afraid. They speak a completely foreign language. My linguists are working on transcribing it, but I'm afraid that my best one is missing. It would be quite some time before we can get anything."
"I see," Ozpin replied. To him, that confirmed that the Gate, whatever it was, seemed to be a pathway to a different world altogether. "And this Gate, what have you found out about it?"
"Nothing."
The blunt answer took Ozpin by surprise, "Excuse me?"
"We know nothing about this Gate," Ironwood repeated, "Our most detailed scans reveal nothing. It has no identifiable power source. It has no machinery. It's solid rock. We have no idea how it got here, or what's sustaining it. I think it's time we took a look on the other side."
"You want to send troops beyond the Gate?"
"Don't sound so surprised, Ozpin. There's an entire world out there. And judging by the reactions of their soldiers to Grimm, its safe to say that they've never seen them. A world without Grimm, Ozpin. We can't just let this opportunity slip by," Ironwood declared.
Ozpin took a moment to consider that. Before he could reply, a voice came from behind Ironwood, "Sir, activity at the Gate. More soldiers are coming out."
"We'll talk later," Ironwood said, cutting off the transmission.
The second attempt at invading Vale failed and failed spectacularly. The invaders had poured through the Gate, screaming in their unknown language. They were met with hails of bullets and dust, completely annihilating anything that moved.
Within minutes of the beginning of the second attempt, the Gate was quiet and surrounded by corpses.
"Get the cleanup crews here immediately," General Ironwood ordered, "Once that's done, send a squad of Knights through."
"Sir? Through the Gate?"
"Until we secure the other side, there's no telling what our enemy is up to," Ironwood said. There was no time to wait for the prisoners' interrogation to be complete, or to get Ozpin's support. "We must act quickly to prevent any further assault and loss of life. Prepare to send the droids through, then personnel once it is safe."
"Yes, sir!"
The cleanup crew was fast. Less than an hour later, the group had removed the hundreds of bodies from the warzone. They would be cataloged, before being buried in a mass grave. The crew had also sanitized the area, leaving no trace of the massacre that had happened earlier.
The squads of Knights gathered outside the Gate, awaiting the command to move in. Some had been specially modified. In the short time available, engineers had attached various data collectors on several of the Knights, as well as more powerful radios.
The order was given, and the mechanical soldiers marched fearlessly into a new world.
They arrived through the Gate without issue, appearing on a hill. Their presence was unwanted, apparently, for hostile soldiers immediately set upon them with rusty swords and spears. The primitive weapons did mostly cosmetic damage - unless they struck vital components - while the Knights mowed them down with a few rounds.
"Hostiles eliminated. Area secure," the leading Knight reported back to the General, who was still back on Remnant, on the other side of the Gate. They then spread out, scanning the area.
"All systems functioning perfectly, sir," a technician added.
"Good. Send in more Knights and begin constructing fortifications. Gets Paladins through as soon as possible," Ironwood ordered.
"Sir? Are we expecting trouble?"
Ironwood glared at the soldier who spoke out, "We just destroyed their army and walked into their home. Yes, I expect trouble. Move!"
"Sir!"
"Ruby?"
The subject in question looked up from her bed to see the blonde man enter team RWBY's dorm. He was wearing brown cargo shorts and a brown leather vest over a tan dress shirt, with the right sleeve cut off.
Ruby recognized him immediately. "Dad?" she asked, wiping her eyes. Without waiting for a reply, she darted over and enveloped him in a crushing hug.
Taiyang Xiao Long, having raised the energetic girl, was used to such acts and managed to brace himself. Nevertheless, he could feel that something was wrong. For one, the room felt strangely empty. "Where's the rest of your team?" he asked, setting Ruby down.
"Weiss is with her sister, Yang's in the gym. Blake, she..." Ruby's voice hitched. "Blake," she finished sadly.
His daughter's tone set off warning bells in his head. Cautiously, Tai asked, "What happened?"
"We... we were at the fairgrounds, then that Gate appeared. To get to Beacon, we had to go through them. We could have just ran past. But... but I tried to be the hero. I told the team to fight, to buy time for General Ironwood's guys to come. It was my fault, dad! All my fault..."
"No," a new voice denied. Tai and Ruby turned to see Weiss at the door, a stern expression on her face. It was obvious that she had heard everything. "You did not force us to fight. Me, Blake and Yang chose to follow you, Ruby. This is not on you."
"Wait, what happened, exactly?" Tai asked, still confused.
"She didn't tell you?" Weiss asked. Before Tai could answer, she continued, "No matter. Blake went missing during the fight. We believe that she was taken through the Gate, and Ruby's uncle Qrow confirmed it."
Tai's first thought was 'Qrow was there?' Before he could articulate it, Ruby blurted out, "I got Blake captured, dad!"
"Nope," Tai denied. Without allowing time for Ruby to refute it, he continued, "You did exactly as a Huntress would, Ruby. You recognized a threat, you took action, and you did the very best you could."
"It wasn't good enough! People still died, and Blake got taken. We should have just run."
"You can't save everyone, Ruby. Besides, the actions of your team saved numerous people. You brought them time to get to safety. You knew the risks of going in, and so did the others," Tai reassured her, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"But Blake..."
Weiss cut in sharply, "Wouldn't have changed a thing. Even if she knew that she would get captured, but could save who knows how many others, she would have charged in anyway."
"How can you be so calm, Weiss? Our teammate is missing!" Ruby cried out.
"I am calm because I know that she can survive," Weiss replied, "Blake will escape her captors. She will get to safety. It is our task to find her."
"Weiss is right. Don't dwell on the past. Look forward, and you'll get Blake back in no time," Tai added.
Ruby nodded, silver eyes now filled with determination instead of tears. Now with a goal for the future, the young leader seemed much more focused. "Yeah," she decided, "Get Blake back. But how can we get Ozpin to allow us through?"
"Don't worry about that, Ruby. I'll talk to him myself," Tai said.
"You're coming with us?"
"Of course. There's no way I'm just letting my daughters wander an unknown world without supervision!" Tai declared.
Ruby finally smiled. "Thanks, dad," she said. Then the smile slipped. "Yang, she didn't take it well either."
"I'd thought not. Don't worry, I'll go knock some sense into that thick skull of hers. Now, where's the gym?"
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The blows caused the punching bags to shudder and shake, despite being filled with sand. Growling, Yang kept at it, repeatedly slamming her fists into the bag. Her hair glowed brightly, illuminating the otherwise empty gym. Her crimson eyes burned with deadly intensity.
"Yang."
Her hair spluttered out as the unexpected voice reached her ears. Spinning, her gaze landed on Taiyang immediately.
"Dad?" she asked, incredulous, "What are you doing here?"
Tai shrugged, walking to join his daughter, "Ozpin called in every active Hunter in the kingdom and even encouraged many to come out of retirement, all to gather at Beacon. Whatever's going on, it's big."
That was the wrong thing to say, apparently, because Yang turned back to the punching bag and sent a violent blow into it, nearly tearing the thing off its hinges.
"Blake will be fine," Tai assured.
"You don't know that!" Yang shouted, resuming her barrage on the bag with vigor. A spinning kick threatened to knock it straight off its hook. "I'm going to get her back! But those stupid. Atlesian. Guys. Won't. Let. Me!" Yang punctuated her words with punches that dented the bag.
"Not in that state. You can't even land a good punch," Tai said, stepped over to place a calming hand on his daughter's shoulder. Fired up, Yang instinctively spun, fist flying for Tai's face.
The blow never landed, Tai expertly catching her fist with his palm. Nevertheless, Yang looked mortified, stepping back in shock as her eyes reverted to lilac. "I'm so sorry!"
Tai shook his head. "Don't be," he said, "You have every right to be mad. Those guys did kidnap your partner. But you can't let that anger consume you."
The very mention of Blake brought Yang's rage flaring up again. "I'm not going to just sit around!"
"And I'm not asking you to. But before you go charging head-first into another world, you must calm down," Tai replied. Seeing how Yang's hair still shimmered with flame, he got into a fighting stance facing her and invited, "Come on, then. Let's spar."
Yang frowned at the unexpected offer. "Why?"
"You're still mad. A good match ought to get some of it out of your system."
Yang smirked, getting into a mirror of her father's stance, "I won't go easy on you."
The two leaped into action. Yang immediately took the offensive, launching a series of powerful punches. Tai blocked them with no issue, though each blow slowly pushed him back. Yang then lashed out with a kick, which Tai managed to deflect while taking the offensive.
Yang held her hands at the ready, batting away her father's punches before she spun around and launched a wide kick at him. Taiyang stretched back, his feet in a wide lunge as he leaned back and avoided her foot's arc before he came back in with a quick but forceful punch. Yang crossed her arms in a block, catching the fist even as it forced her back a few feet in a slide.
Tai suddenly mimicked Yang's move with a kick of his own. Yang blocked the spinning leg with her crossed arms, then thrust them out. Tai used the momentum to flip in the air, but even as his feet hit the ground, Yang was on him, unleashing a powerful blow with a mighty cry.
Now Tai slid back, absorbing the blow. "Not bad," he commented, "But you're still distracted."
"Of course I'm distracted! My partner's gone!" Yang shouted, charging forth once more. Those red eyes burned once more as she threw all her strength into a single punch.
Tai dodged it effortlessly. While she was off-balance, he countered with a few quick jabs, sending Yang stumbling. "You can't afford to be distracted, Yang. Not now."
"What do you know?" Yang growled. Recovering, she lashed out again, fists seeking to strike down her opponent. Blinded by rage, her attacks became predictable, allowing Tai to prepare and block each strike. "Your partner was never taken from you!"
Wrong thing to say. Suddenly on the attack, Tai pushed past her guard, sending a heavy strike that sent Yang stumbling back once again. "I don't know?" he challenged, "Have you forgotten already?"
"I -"
Tai cut his daughter off with a flurry of strikes, forcing her to dedicate her full concentration to blocking. Landing a particularly hard strike that sent Yang skidding back, Tai strode after her, continuing, "Raven left. My partner, my wife, left me!"
"She -"
Again, Yang broke off, forced to bring her arms up to prevent the fist from slamming into her head. "Summer helped me recover. She was perfect for me. And fate took her too!"
"I'm -"
"I let my losses destroy my life, Yang," Tai spoke straight over her, in a softer, regretful tone - a vast difference from his anger just moments ago. Yang blinked, trying to clear the tears that suddenly threatened to form. Another punch sought her out; she barely managed to deflect it. "I will not let you do the same," he growled, sweeping Yang's feet out from under her. She was taken completely by surprise. Her balance lost, she fell backwards, bracing for the impact with the ground.
It never came. Tai stopped her fall, his calloused hands clamping over hers. With a grim smile, he finished, "You're stronger than your anger, Yang. Don't let it control you."
He let go, but Yang had recovered. She found her balance quickly, standing to face her father. "Thanks, old man. But I'm getting Blake back."
"Don't call me that," Tai responded almost automatically, then grinned, "I know. Your sister pretty much said the same thing. And I'm coming with you."
"Well then, I hope you can keep up, old man," Yang teased.
"May I remind you that I just kicked your ass?" Tai pointed out.
Yang laughed. Then she realized, "You know, this feels a lot like when I got Blake to stop stressing herself out about the White Fang a couple of weeks ago. Thanks, dad."
Tai waved it away. "I've not been a very good father for you, Yang. It's about time I started."
"Yeah, about that," Yang winced, "Sorry for-"
"It's fine," Tai cut her off. Before she could press the issue, he continued, "Go take a shower, then find Ruby. She could do with her sister nearby."
Tai internally congratulated himself as he watched Yang leave. He had brought both his daughters back on track in a day. That definitely called for a celebration. Then he sighed. He still had to actually talk to Ozpin about actually going through the Gate. Where was his office again? And where was Qrow?
An emergency meeting was called in the Empire's capital days after the attack. Opening the discussions was the main speaker. "Your Majesty, forgive my rudeness, but it seems that there has been a grave error - the loss of a sixth of our Empire's total fighting strength. How do you intend to compensate for this unprecedented disaster? Your Majesty, just how does the Emperor intend to lead this country?"
As a senator as well as a noble, Marquis Casel did not mince his words as he addressed Emperor Molt Sol Augustus, who was sitting on the throne.
Adjusting himself on his throne, Emperor Molt, spoke with an almost bored tone," Marquis Garcel, I share your concerns. I, too, spend sleepless nights, worried about foreign lords rising against us as one. Yet in each time of crisis, have we not pulled together and struggled through? Such as during the Artec War two-hundred and fifty years ago. Do not accuse me of failing to be invincible, or would you be one to play the court day after day until the enemy has come all the way to our front door?"
The other members present chose to take this chance to voice their concerns.
"But it's been two days since the enemy counterattack! Our expeditionary force was destroyed and the gate has been seized!"
"The enemy used invisible magic arrows. Our soldiers were completely annihilated! I have never seen such terrifying magic!"
"And they had the service of Apostles! Many of them!"
"Then fight! If our forces are insufficient then we can just gather more troops from our vassal states!"
The bickering continued for some time, steadily degrading as insults flew. The meeting was on the verge of turning into a brawl when the Emperor slowly stood from his throne, having had enough. The chatter died, and all present listened to what Molt had to say.
"We cannot remain idle at this point! That leaves us no choice but to fight! Send envoys to request reinforcements from our vassals! In order to combat these invaders from another world seeking to conquer our continent, we will muster the full might of the Army of Unified Kingdoms and recapture Alnus Hill!" Molt declared. The military leaders cheered.
A/N: Watch out, Falmart, Taiyang 'steal-your-girl' Xiao Long is here!
Chapter 4 in a few hours.