Armored Core Flames of Life
Chapter 34 a fight between the Raven and the Wolf, signs of manipulation, a forgotten city
(86 The nameless tragedy)
After the terrible battles that took place in the depths 1 and 2, what was left of the Redguns along with the captured prisoners of the huntsmen and I.S pilots. The operators of Rhodes island started taking care of them and saving those who was badly injured along with having those who mourn the people that have died in this Coral war.
Jaune: Michigan, Ren…
Nora: Ren…
Iguazu: curse you old man… just… dammit…
Redguns soldiers: …
As the group mourns the loss of there comrades, Kal'tsit, doctor and Flatwell were having a talk with the survivors of the other factions.
Charlotte: what are you going to do with us?
Kal'tsit: nothing but there is something I must tell you both.
Kanzashi: what is it?
Kal'tsit: … the wives and children of Ichika Orimura… are dead.
Charlotte: what…?
Kanzashi: our children and everyone else are… dead?
Kal'tsit: I understand that you don't want to believe it's true but this photos and what's left of them should be proof of their deaths.
Charlotte and Kanzashi saw the photos and the pieces of what was left of their family as they break into tears and sadness upon learning of their deaths.
Then they turned to Blake who has lost and a leg as a result of the battle in depths 2, the huntress prepares for the news she was about to hear.
Kal'tsit: … one of your team members from RWBY… is dead a person named Weiss Schnee…
Blake: no… no! You must be lying!
Doctor: I'm sorry but we checked the body and confirmed that it is definitely Weiss Schnee… I'm sorry…
Blake: …
Tears start to form in Blake's eyes as she cried for the death of her team mate and friend. Soon Flatwell spoke up in order to tell her something important.
Flatwell: Ms. Blake there's something I want to know.
Blake: what is it?
Flatwell: did the government from Remnant tell you to continue the survey for the Coral?
Blake: ? Yes they did why do you ask that?
Flatwell: … Mr. Luke you can come in now.
Charlotte: Luke?
Then the door opened up and Luke along with Maggie walked in the moment Charlotte and Kanzashi saw him they knew immediately who he was. The only son of there family who disappeared and was never found.
Charlotte: Luke is that you?
Kanzashi: why are you with an A.C pilot? What's going on?
Luke: … it's because I chose to become an A.C pilot. Right after I saw how bad things has gotten back on earth including how corrupt the I.S pilots has become.
Charlotte: Luke…
Kanzashi: what do you mean corruption?
Luke: isn't it obvious the people are completely divided. Both men and women mistreat one another with no respect and more importantly not respecting each other as equals. How do you think the I.S lost in the second war of independence?
Kanzashi: that… that can't be right the news said we won the war.
Doctor: wait what?
Kal'tsit: the I.S won the war? Sorry to tell you this but that information is false.
Charlotte: what?
Doctor: the A.C won the war. Not the I.S were going to guess that the people on earth were lied to and was given false information.
Charlotte: no… it can't be…
Kanzashi: we were… lied to…
Luke: anyway back on topic. Blake the orders given to the huntsmen was fabricated.
Blake: what?
Maggie: this here is the true orders from Remnant. And it says to abandon the mission immediately due to how many lives has been killed.
Blake: they wanted us to abandon the mission? But our orders told us to continue the mission.
Luke: did you find order suspicious?
Blake: yes I did… Glynda would never tell us to continue the mission if it got to dangerous. Or if many huntsmen were killed as a result of what was happening.
Luke: so it really was her.
Charlotte: her?
Luke: … Tabane.
Charlotte: what!?
Kanzashi: why?-why would she do this?
Luke: isn't it obvious that woman doesn't care about anyone other then herself. She would sacrifice anyone, be it friend or family member, she even hired an assassin and works with Phantom task in order to continue her selfish fantasy of good versus evil.
Maggie: believe us when we tell you that trouble making rabbit is without a doubt. Is helping Phantom task no one knows how an I.S works other then her.
Blake's world was shattered and so was Charlotte and Kanzashi, upon hearing that. Tabane Shinonono the self proclaimed genius was responsible for getting so many people involved and manipulated them in this war and got so many killed all in her obsession of getting her hands on the Coral. And now there scared for there comrades who doesn't know that they will be used to continue the pointless war.
(End of music)
The scene changes to 621 resting after the battles that he was in then Walter called him.
Walter: 621 I know you tried your hardest to save the Redguns and Michigan… but you should know no matter how hard you try. You can't save everyone what happens next to them now is unknown but I believe Balam will have them all be registered as killed in action.
621: …
Walter: where there's Coral there's blood. That's how it always been 621.
Walter soon hung up, then Ayre spoke.
Ayre: … Raven are we doomed to spark conflict wherever we go?
621: … I… I don't know…
621 continues to rest for bit a more then hours later he soon gets himself ready to take another mission. He then started the briefing to know more about the mission.
Walter: 621. We're picking up where we left off. Now that you've dealt with the laser barrier, we can explore deeper underground.
621: …
Walter: we've received a request from Arqubus to continue the advance survey.
621: … Arqubus…
Walter: there was something else too…
621: ?
Snail: orders for Raven, advance survey Squad.
621: … Snail…
Snail: we've received some concerning information that an A.C has been quietly following your trail. Arqubus cannot tolerate unauthorized surveys that will put it's Coral interests at risk. If you spot this rogue agent eliminate them.
Walter: … " where there's Coral there's blood" remember that 621.
621: …
Ayre: who could be following you? The Liberation Front? Another mercenary?
Then 621 is sent to the mission area. Meanwhile back with Rhodes Island Blake is visited by Jaune and Nora when she saw them she was very angry with them.
Blake: why are you two doing here?
Jaune: we've… came to check on you.
Blake: why so you can tell me you were in the right, while we were in the wrong? I know you were the one who killed Weiss, Jaune.
Jaune: …
Nora: … well, Weiss killed Ren I guess that makes us even then. No we lost Pyrrha during our time back on Remnant, don't go thinking we've forgotten the pain of losing our team mates Blake.
Blake: I guess we are even now that we've lost two of our friends… I to know why. Why did you all give up on being huntsmen? What possessed you guys to abandon it!?
Jaune: … the same reason. You left White Fang, Blake.
Blake: what? But that can't be… the huntsmen would never turn bad and become corrupt.
Jaune: are you really that blind by your love for Yang and the happy ending you thought everyone would have!? Blake, the huntsmen slowly started turning bad without anyone including us and team RWBY even noticing it. Ozpin knew about it, the headmaster's knew about it, even the council knew about it as well.
Blake: but… but… the huntsmen are-
Jaune: Blake… the huntsmen were going to go bad sooner or later. We were no different from White Fang and Atlas, Ozpin and the council always made sure to bury the truth so that no one would know of the disaster that was going to happen.
Blake: …
Nora: I thought that when we defeated Salem everyone would be happy… but we we're wrong there was a lot of problems that we didn't know was happening. Most of them… caused by huntsmen with their crimes being hidden away so no one would know or speak of it…
Blake: this… this can't be…
Jaune: me and my team worked with Michigan… he felt similar to Ironwood. A man who saw just how terrible war really was, sure Ozpin had experience with war as well but he never talked about it even though he lived forever. Michigan, he had this comedy air to him, he would call us maggots and would train us to the bone but he deeply cared about us even someone like Iguazu who is a jerk.
Blake: …
Jaune: trust me when I say this Blake. Even though Michigan may look like an idiot or just like Ironwood he is no fool, he knows how corporations, governments maybe even the council acts but he would make sure everyone gets out alive… it makes wonder if Ruby didn't push the general to insanity perhaps things would have been different but she, you and the rest of team RWBY made your choice. You can't go back and undo it, just like the choice I and my team made do I regret it yes, do I regret killing people and Weiss yes, would kill those who harm or kill the ones I love the answer… is yes I might do so.
Blake: …
Jaune: I'm going with the others to recover the bodies of those who died in depths 1 to 2. If you still hate us for what happened point that resentment you have towards me and no one else.
Soon Jaune and Nora left the room as Blake starts to break down into tears as her world falls apart and questions what she was fighting for if the huntsmen were going to become just as bad as the groups they fought against.
(Halo 3 odst Rain)
The scene returns to 621 entering depths three and prepares to go even further down as he does he spots a an A.C used by the Liberation Front sees the dead body of Houki. He approached the A.C It's logs says they have to stop the two before they destroy each other. This confused 621 but he continues on and enters the hole that leads further inside as he explores he sees a bunch of Worms that has grown large in size by the Coral.
They then started to explode 621 quickly hurries through them all as each one of them explode one by one. He soon found an opened space and continues on until Ayre speaks up.
Ayre: Raven I've detected an A.C and it's getting closer.
621: …
Just as 621 reached the other side of the area the A.C that was approaching him was none other then Rusty and his A.C Steal Haze.
Rusty: go deal with a mercenary that went in alone they said. Hmph figures guess were both too dangerous to keep around.
621: … Rusty…
(Armored Core 4 fall)
Rusty: and the higher-ups wouldn't miss the chance to kill two birds with one stone.
621: … it looks… like it…
Rusty: I couldn't agree more… hate to say it but Rubicon still needs me. So buddy who needs you.
Then the two started fighting each other as they try to take the other down. Walter learns that Arqubus has set them both up to fight each other. As the two continue to fight Flatwell soon arrived.
Flatwell: Rusty wait!
621: Flatwell?...
Flatwell: Rusty that Mercenary is more then just a hound, he helped both the Liberation Front, Rhodes Island and the Redguns against the other factions.
Rusty: I know but he could be a great ally to us or a threat…
Flatwell: … your right about that. Raven… it's too late now forgive me.
621: …
The fight continues as both Rusty and Flatwell try to take 621 down as they noticed how powerful he's become. And sees how dangerous he is, however Flatwell would be the first to be taken down but he retreats then the battle continues between the two war buddies.
Rusty: your strong and threat but your missing something, you still haven't found a purpose have you buddy.
621: … a purpose?...
The two continue to exchange fire against each not holding back but 621 soon strikes with his pulse blade and finishes it with his grenade launcher, Rusty's A.C is pushed back and loses an arm as a result.
Rusty: you never fail to impress. I know you helped the Liberation Front but we still don't know we can trust you or whose side your on buddy.
Then Steel Haze was about to activate its assault armor.
Rusty: find your purpose. Then we'll settle this!
(End of music)
The assault armor is released and Rusty escaped from the area with his speed 621 choose not to pursue him and continues the survey. He finds a big hole and jumps down and falls further and further down until he lands on solid ground. He then sees a light and heads in that direction as he does he finds an underground city.
Ayre: this is…
Walter: institute city… of course no wonder we couldn't find it.
621: …
Walter: I need to prepare when the corps moves in. Head back to base and rest up.
621 soon leaves the area. Meanwhile with the I.S faction Ichika is seen looking at the ceiling completely heartbroken upon seeing his wives and children killed by the mercenaries. Kana is also heart broken by the loss of her mothers and siblings, as this happens Chifuyu is seen pining Tabane to the wall with anger and resentment of what her so called friend did.
Tabane: hey calm down Chifuyu.
Chifuyu: calm down? Calm down!? You just got a bunch of children including my students killed! We even confirmed that Houki is dead!
Tabane: yes… it's a sad loss but her sacrifice will not be in vain.
Chifuyu throws the scientist to the ground and walks out of the room but Tabane is not worried at all as she prepares to get into the city that has been found.
Meanwhile at depths 2 a hole is seen… then an A.C hand sticks out and grabs the ledge then everything fades to black.
End of Chapter 34 a fight between the Raven and the Wolf, signs of manipulation, a forgotten city
That's another Chapter done. Blake, Charlotte and Kanzashi is told of those who died in the Coral war and learns they were manipulated by Tabane. Blake learns why Jaune and his team quit being huntsmen, 621 enters further into the depths and fights both Rusty and Flatwell. And finds institute city, Chifuyu is seen completely angry with Tabane with what she's done and a A.C hand is seen at depths 2. Now on to the reviews.
To Gojira: thank you and I hope this answers your question. Yup Chifuyu is pissed by what Tabane has done not caring about what she's done.
To Kitsune of white: oh trust me Tabane is definitely going to meet her end I won't spoil it but it's going to happen. Charlotte isn't the only one who survived so did Kanzashi and Blake.
To Guest: well the fight against Flatwell and Rusty did happen but no one dies this time but we all know it's going to happen again in institute city.
To ABS120: yup many of the enemy forces are either killed, broken minded, or captured. And 621 is beginning to spread his wings, and Jaune is beginning to walk his own path differently from when he was a huntsmen, you could say that Michigan somehow brought out his true potential. Ichika and Ruby are without a doubt shaken by how terrifying war really is as this isn't like the shadow war with Salem this is much, much worse. Like I said this is a fusion of all three paths.
Blagoj Pejov1: I hoped you liked the battle between the two of them in this Chapter.
MaxHD2490: yup war is cruel there are no winners of losers it's just about surviving and many people who have died in them are forgotten to history only those who lived through it are the only ones who will tell the tale of what happened. War drives people mad.
Okay that's all I hope you all liked this Chapter and everything that happened take care and be safe and I will see you next time bye.