A/N: All Characters, Settings, and Macaroons are property of Rooster Teeth (Rights may change to Warner Bros.). Original characters, settings, and cookies are owned by me, myself, and I.

[Knights of the Sky]

Act 1 - Episode 1: Start the Clock

Quote of the Chapter: "You learn to know a pilot in a storm." - Lucius A. Seneca

A week and a half had passed. A week and a half of no calls and no flying. All because initiation was drawing near and Gavin couldn't thin the grimm migrations for it.

In a way he saw it as respite from his actions nearly two weeks prior, but there's only so much maintenance one could do on an aircraft that hasn't left the hanger for such a time and the only damage sustained from the event being a mildly cracked windshield.

His living space, a relatively large maintenance shack tucked away into the corner of the launch hanger, had grown to be disorganized in the time he had spent grounded. The layout within was simple: a briefing table with a digital display top and a flight tracker whiteboard on the side of the room closest to the door, with the other side of the room outfitted with all of his necessary living standards such as... a fridge, TV, and a bed.

Actually, he technically lived with his mother and with the rest of the school's staff on campus, however he had grown to be quite anxious when separated from his bulkhead for long periods of time, along with the fact his mother being an iron-fisted disciplinarian when it comes to the maintenance of his room within their home. Which is why he spends as much time as he can within the hanger, mainly because he was able to be as messy as necessary within his little maintenance shack.

Was it lonely at times? Perhaps, but no pilot flies alone as on occasion he would see fuelers and ammo loaders pass through the hanger on his request when preparing for his missions. They didn't stay long however as he had gotten a bit of reputation from his protective mother and his strict attitude when it comes to anything involving his aircraft. Though there is one who stuck around his hanger no matter what, though it wasn't like she had much of a choice.

Just then the briefing table lit up with a pale green light, it's surface quickly turning into a holographic grid as a figure now stood upon it. A small human female had took it's shape upon the table, well dressed in an office uniform of black slacks and a formally dressed top with a Windsor tie tucked into her jacket. Once fully solidified, she held a holographic clip board and pen and began to scan down the list in front of her.

"A.A.S.L.I. online and fully operat-" Her announcement was quickly cut off by a groan from across the room. Her eyes shot up and narrowed at the bundle of blankets upon the single twin bed. "Mister Goodwitch." She called out, only to get another groan in return. Her virtual eyebrow twitched as she once more spoke with impatience in her voice. "Gavin!" She tapped her foot, letting the clipboard dissipate from her hands and letting them fall to her hips. Once more she was met without an answer and the final straw was the sound a faint snoring.

She then felt a twinge in her system as she gave herself access to the shack's alert intercom. "ALERT ALERT, SNOOZING PILOT WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE SHACK WITHIN FIVE SECONDS!" Her voice blared from the intercom along with the sounds of the alarm as Gavin sprung out of bed with a solid few seconds of air time, right before crashing straight onto the floor.

The holographic woman smirked at him as he now gave a pained groan. "Green Sky down, I repeat Green Sky crashed and burned." She chuckled, using his mission callsign as he slowly pushed himself up and dusting himself off.

"Oum Ashley, you couldn't have NOT made me deaf to wake me up?" He hissed while pressing a finger against his ear as the small digital woman shrugged. "Meh." She replied in a sing-song tone as Gavin rolled his eyes and walked towards the fridge. "What a strange way to start the morning Gavin. Didn't realize energy drinks substituted breakfast." The woman spoke sarcastically as he set his hand on the fridge's handle.

"Well, there's a lot of things not normal about this place. Besides you don't even eat, how would you kno-" His voice died as when he opened his fridge he saw nothing.

He whipped his head around and saw the little green woman sitting on the table, kicking her feet as she smirked at him. "Oops, it seems I've miscalculated then with miss Goodwitch's orders to wake you up and get you a proper breakfast." Gavin stared in shock, wondering how an AI without any access to an actual body could throw away his stash, before just letting out a pitiful groan as he stared at the coveralls he had hung up beside his bed.

"Ashley. I hate you so much." He stated as he drug his feet over to the hung up clothes and began to put on his uniform while the little green woman watched, her holographic chin resting in her palm.

"Love you too Gav." She giggled, a sound he'd normally enjoy to hear if it didn't come from an infuriating little green woman, all the while Gavin gave her a pointed glare over his shoulder while pulling his coveralls up to his waist. " Still doing the creepy 'watching while changing' thing?" He grumbled loud enough for her to hear. "It isn't like I record the times I do." She replied as Gavin turned to glare once more, the coveralls pulled up and tied around his waist and a light green shirt in hand. However once he saw the smug look on her face again, he just opted to show her his special finger instead of giving a reply.

Putting on his shirt, he couldn't help but wonder why he put up with such a troublesome AI, at least until he remembered the man who gave her to Beacon and the years he's spent with her since he first started flying. Doctor Polendina was a genius then and still a genius now, and given how effective she was he couldn't just pull the plug on her.

"Did anyone ever tell you your bed feathers make you look like you lost a fight with an ursa?" No matter how much he wanted to at times.

Smoothing said gold-tipped feathers down and finishing his dressing with a pair of black combat boots, he walked out of his shack to be greeted by the faint and eerie hum of the quiet hanger. In a way it was depressing as usually the sound of fuelers and loaders keeping his aircraft loaded and ready always made him feel more normal.

That status however will forever be out of his reach, as turned back inside briefly to grab his scroll and keys, he was then met with a concerned looking Ashley staring back at him. "What's wrong?" She spoke out as she saw the somewhat glum look that had slightly taken to his face.

"Just tired of all the waiting. I'll talk to you after breakfast ok?" He sighed and gave her a light smile of reassurance, to which the AI just hummed with a neutral look on her face. "Be safe and remember that initiation is today." She spoke before blinking out, leaving the room in silence as Gavin put a hand to his face. "Damn it."

The lift shuttered to a stop as its doors slid open, Gavin stepping out with slump in his shoulders and an irritated look on his face. Dismissing the fact he lounged around yesterday and missing Ozpin's introduction speech, he knew he was about to be called in for freshman pick ups. However before he could continue his silent moping, the sound of his scroll beeping and buzzing caught his attention.

With haste he grabbed his phone and turned on the screen, eyes focusing on the new text messages. "Are you awake young man?" A message from Ozpin, and of course this has to happen before breakfast. Moving his fingers and tapping the screen to reply, he started to walk once more towards the cafeteria.

"I'm up grand-uncle. Any missions lined up?" He replied and watched the phone update with a file sent from the headmaster.

"A demonstration and demolition mission. Since no one other than miss Rose has seen you, I want them to know who'll be looking after them." Gavin scanned the text and felt his mood improve and small grin came to his face.

It didn't last long, as upon turning the corner he bumped into someone who came from the ballroom. The someone happened to be much smaller but just as sturdy as Gavin as they both stumbled backwards. "Shit! Sor-" He was then cut off with a rather indignant tone of voice. "Excuse me! Didn't anyone teach you not to walk while distracted!?" The girl he had bumped into began to tell him off, but had stopped as she observed his attire.

"Oum I'm sorry you short tempered imp!" He barked back with narrowed eyes, as he looked down at the girl. A dainty blueish-white dress and heels that almost looked like glass. What stood out most however, was her white silky hair wrapped into a sideways ponytail and ice cold eyes that rested a beautiful face. "How DARE you!? Y-You greasy haired bird brain!" She snapped back as Gavin now felt his skin begin to run hot and his feathers rise in his upset.

"You little-" The sound of his scroll however began to blare, and his upset left him in a second.

Snatching it from the floor he looked down and saw the call for today's mission.

"Damn that was quick! Couldn't even get breakfast!" He doubled back towards the lift to his hanger in a sprint, leaving the agitated girl behind. She stood there confused, tired, and angry as she watched his form disappear around the corner. She then checked her own scroll and clicked her tongue. "Looks like I'm not getting breakfast either." She grumbled as she stalked away.

Once in the lift and heading down towards the hanger, he spoke out. "Ashley! Need a refuel and loader team on standby please. Care to do the run-up checks as well while I grab my gear?" He spoke while untying his coverall top and slipping his arms into the freed sleeves, an intercom attached to the roof of the lift. "Checks underway and crews have been dispatched. Strike package: "Battery" is being assembled per Ozpin's request." She rattled off as the lift came to a stop and Gavin ran out to his crew shack the minute the lift doors opened.

As he ran he saw maintenance crews rushing around, moving missiles and gun pod payloads. One of them, the maintenance lead Rayman, saw him and called out. "Boss! Ratio and type on your guns!?" He barked out a d Gavin yelled back, now in the doorway of his shack. "One-to-five, make it gravity rounds!" He called as the maintainer echoed his orders to his team. "Behemoth hunting special boys!"

Gavin was in and out quick, snatching his pilot helmet and webbing kit and rushing back into the bay. Maintenance crews immediately began to clear out as he opened the side hatch and stepped passed the passenger bay and into his cockpit. At the sound of the bulkhead's hatches shutting his cockpit lit up, displays showing fuel, engine condition, and power distribution through out the aircraft. "Boss! Payloads are set and rounds racked. Five-to-one grav' round belts and AAGM laser guided bombs are on your belly." His radio crackled with Rayman's voice.

The pilot smiled as he flipped a few switches for his batteries and fuel pumps. "Copy ground team, switching on and ready to rumble." He spoke as his finger now rested on the auxiliary power unit switch. Only to hear Ashley in his headset. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" She spoke in a sing-song tone and Gavin rolled his eyes. Unzipping his leg pocket to reveal a USB stick with a clocktower emblem engraved into it. Taping his finger on a port within the console, it opened and extended for him to slot in the USB.

Suddenly the light blue interior of the aircraft shifted into a faint green hue. "Advanced Aircraft System Level Intelligence recognized." A computerized female voice echoed through the cockpit as Gavin rolled his eyes. "Annoying and creepy mor-" He was cut off by the bulkhead shifting and jostling as it became hooked into the hanger's catapult assembly. "Say something dear pilot?" Ashley responded with a sweet tone that sent a chill under his feathers. "J-Just linking the catapult launch system." He muttered nervously as he began to fiddle with the controls, not wanting to provoke the AI while she had access to his aircraft.

The catapult began to pull him in line with the runway out of the hanger, watching the doors ahead split open once again as the ground teams watched from the far ends of the hanger. "Catapult is set and waiting on your mark boss! Happy hunting!" The maintenance lead called out before disconnecting the commlink. Settling into his seat and clasping his harness down, he began to spool the engines to full throttle. The aircraft strained against the brake of the catapult, ready to shoot off into the sky as Gavin set the frequency of his radio to the CCT air traffic controllers. "This is Green Sky to Tower, radio check. Over." He called to the tower through the radio piece in his helmet. "This is Tower, we have you Green Sky. Flight path as been confirmed and mission area highlighted. Have a pleasant flight mister Goodwitch." Tower responded back in a cool and calm tone.

With a flick of his finger, his sun visor came down and gave a thumbs up to the ground crew. His engines wined and screeched as the now came to full throttle, the ground crews now wearing earmuffs headphones as the leader shouted a barely audible command. On the team lead's say so he felt his entire body compress into his seat, hands firmly on the flight wheel as the bulk head shot forward.

The air around the his windshield blurred and the cackling sound of electricity and pressure releasing hisses followed his launch from the catapult as he rocketed down the runway. The bulkhead shot from the cliff-face doors and roared as it began to climb further and further into the air, bleeding momentum as quickly as it gained altitude.

Setting a new frequency on his radio, he shifted into a new heading towards the Emerald Forest. "Chess Master this is Green Sky, I'm Oscar Mike and enroute to the initiation grounds. What's the conditions of the targets?"

Ozpin was looking over the cliff edge into the deep green sea of the Emerald Forest. "Green Sky this is Chess Master, behemoths have been tagged with targeting darts the night prior and are migrating bearing, break." Ozpin pulled a compass from his coat pocket and narrowed his eyes a bit further into the forest. Lumbering black masses poked out of the tree canopy and moved slowly, crushing all in there path and uncaring of what they step through. "Approach for south-west, current migration path is bearing thirty-five degrees north-east." He spoke calmly to the pilot, his radio crackling in response.

"Copy Chess Master. ETA in fifteen seconds. Will establish orbit and wait on your signal. Green Sky out." He heard Gavin reply professionally, but the headmaster could only chuckle at the fact he could still hear some giddiness in the young man's voice. Turning to his left, he could see his assistant lightly tapping the side of her tablet, glancing at the sky on occasion to spot her son. The two then turned around at the approaching sound of footsteps, seeing their potential students arrive being anxious and eager in anticipation of the coming trial.

Ozpin smiled as he turned to the students and gestured to the small plates on the grassy floor as they stepped up. Ozpin then began to troop the line up in front of him. "For years you have trained to become warriors. All leading up to today, where you will be evaluated in the Emerald Forrest." He stared down each of the trainees, each with their own expressions of excitement.

Ruby was the first he saw with a nervous smile and giddy posture. She seemed eager to prove and ready to jump into action at a moment's notice. Next to her was Jaune, a naive boy who had thought to try and trick him with some forged transcripts. Of course he found them, but the boy was here because Ozpin saw great potential within him. He was not going to squander the opportunity his parent's had to train or nurture him in the was of being a huntsman. Yang was on the other side of Ruby with a confidant and cocky posture, as if the initiation ahead would be a walk in the park. Perhaps to fully trained huntsman, but she had a long way to go and he hoped the confidence doesn't give way to arrogance.

Ozpin smiled as he glance further down the line, many more students and remarks to be made should they make it through the trials ahead. He then gestured for Glynda to address them now as she narrowed her gaze across the line. "I'm sure many of you have heard rumors of the assignment of teams. As well as the recent surge of grimm within the forest." She spoke as she pushed her glasses up further. "To put an end to the confusion, each of you will be given teammates as of today."

Ruby whined as Ozpin continued to address their concerns. "These teams will be with you during your time here at Beacon, so it should be in your best interest to pair yourself with someone who you can work well with." He hummed as Ruby once more made small sounds of social discomfort as he then turned to Glynda. "However there is the other matter of the grimm surge." He mentioned as Glynda turned her tablet around to face the initiates.

An image came across its screen to show a behemoth class grimm, its figure similar to that of a elephant or mammoth. Tusks jutted outward from beneath its trunk, serrated and massive. Across it's back laid thick armored plates and spikes that came from between their spaces. "These are behemoth class grimm. And will make your initiation impossible." Ozpin stated as he began to hear protests from the trainees.

"How do you expect us to finish an impossible mission then!?" The bullheaded Cardin, demanded in outrage as others joined in his comment. "Did we just sign up for a suicide mission!?" Another initiate shouted in fear further down the line as Glynda felt a tick mark become visible on her brow.

"NONE of you will be fighting these grimm!" She shouted, her tone quickly silencing the crowd as Ozpin nodded. "Yes. We know none of you have neither have the current skill nor equipment to deal with behemoths yet. Which is why we will showcase something you will have access to in you second year here." Ozpin finished as he raised his radio and turned the output volume up on it. "Green Sky, you have permission to engage and eliminate the behemoth column." He spoke into the radio as the students stared at the headmaster.

"Copy Chess Master, precision strike inbound."

Gavin felt his blood begin to pump as he set his radio on standby, a massive grin coming across his face as Ashley spoke through his console. "Can I pleaseeeeee pick the music this time? Please please pl-" She began begging him as he rolled his eyes. "Fine fine! But it has to be from the 'fire support' playlist." He spoke back as she gave a cackle as she set the selection. As he heard the music, he rolled his aircraft over into a dive straight towards the forest.

"Until I should die. Until I should break. Not a god, not a devil my soul shall take." The airframe began to creak and shutter as he picks up speed, the dive bringing in momentum as the bulkhead now screeched through the skies towards the ground.

"If I should lie to betray myself, then I would damn myself and my soul forsake." The music blared as he dove from the clouds at highspeed, nearly a blur as he breathed and adjusted to maintain steady approach.

As his altitude dropped he could now see his flight path. He was coming from behind the cliff edge where the initiates were being held, and with adjustments to his bearing he could see his targets further into the sea of trees beyond the cliff. "Ashely use the designator camera and paint the circus!" Called to his AI as he flicked his thumb on the left side of his flight wheel to reveal a weapon release button.

"I don't want fifteen minutes, I want a whole lot more! Don't want to suffer the fools or the spoils of war!" He veered his path towards the silhouettes that stuck out of the forest, hearing his bulkhead the elder grimm began to attempt a retreat.

"I don't want fifteen minutes or a reason why. I want a stainless steel road stretching up to the sky!" He adjust the swing of his turn as his speed bottomed out, pulling up and focusing his breathing as the g-force restrained his entire body to the seat. He rocketed over the initiation field in a split second, as he corrected his flight path to align straight against the retreating behemoths

"I don't need sentiment, want, or hate on my mind. No crimes of passion, or obsessions in kind!" He glanced at his display for his speed, reaching around five-hundred miles an hour as he would be on the grimm in a few seconds and with a finger just over his release button. "Targets tagged and locked for AAGM!" Ashley notified him as he gave a nod.

"Don't want restraints of momentary thrill, I want blood on my hands and no time to kill! I want more body, I want more soul. Flip the switch to automatic: I! WANT! CONTROL!" Slamming his thumb on the release and ripping the wheel towards his chest, his payload dropping onto the unfortunate grimm below.

Ruby didn't know what to think of Gavin when she had first met him. She didn't know what to think when she heard his voice over the headmaster's radio.

She did know what to think in the second his bulkhead cut through the air just over the initiates heads, the aircraft screeching as it chased after the grimm behemoths that poked their forms from out of the trees. However when he got there, nearly scraping the canopy with belly of the bulkhead, he cut away while dropping something on top of the monster.

Then should could only let her jaw drop.

Crack-THOMB

Whatever Gavin had dropped on the behemoths made it known to the them and the entire forest as a shockwave washed over the line-up and a massive cloud rose from the trees. Eyes wide and almost shaking, Ruby could only mutter a comment at the display.

"So cooooool." She whispered her thoughts as a red head further down the line jumped up and down at the sight of it. "THAT. WAS. AWESOME! CAN I DO THAT!? PLEASE PL-" Said redhead had to be restrained by a boy wearing a green tunic as Glynda cleared her throat.

Ozpin turned and narrowed his eyes in an effort to see any remaining movement within the impact zone. "This is Green Sky to Chess Master. Strike and impact confirmed. Further tasking? Over." His voice blared from the radio, Ozpin putting the radio up once more replied. "This is Chess Master. Perfect job as always young man. Please remain in the area for the first iteration of initiate pick up. Out." He hummed back as he turned to the rest of the initiates. "Should you make it to the first year, or at Gavin Goodwitch's discretion, you will be given regular access to fire support capabilities provided by Beacon while on missions." He spoke as many seemed to perk up at the pilot's last name.

"W-Wait Goodwitch as in-" Weiss Schnee, the mean girl Ruby had ACCIDENTALLY blown up yesterday morning, questioned with surprise in her voice. However Glynda's glare was turned onto her as the assistant headmistress gritted her words out through clenched teeth. "Why yes miss Schnee. My son. Any further comments on him should be saved until after the trials have completed." She spoke, shifting said glare further down the line, silencing any who would dare speak further.

Ozpin now saw the chance to quickly change the subject. "Now then, I hope you've taken this time to plan your landing strategies." He pepped up as Jaune had now begin to sweat. "Saywhatnow?" He spoke quickly as Ozpin continued. "To be clear, there's still plenty of danger within the forest. Grimm of countless numbers flock to behemoths for both protection and to pick from their scraps. You will meet opposition and you have free reign to destroy all that opposes you." His eyes sharpened with the warning as students drew their weapons as they prepared for their launch.

Jaune once more started to pester the headmaster a bit. "I-I'm sorry but you said something about a landing strategy?" He spoke anxiously as one-by-one the students were launched deep into the forest to their objectives. "Why yes mister Arc." Ozpin spoke in a neutral tone, handing the radio to Glynda while speaking to Jaune. "Y-Yeah so do they require a parachute o-or- AGHHAHHHAHHHHHH" Mid-sentence Jaune was launched along with the rest of the students into the forest, Ozpin smirking as he went. "No mister Arc, you must find your own way." He hummed as he turned to Glynda now speaking into the radio to her son.

"This is Sorceress to Green Sky, current fuel and weapons status?" She hummed neutrally as she waited his reply. "Sorceress this is Green Sky, I've got an hour and a half on fuel. Two remaining anti armored grimm MOAB's and full belts for the chain gun. Everything ok down there Sorceress?" He spoke, finishing with a tone of 'why ask?' as Glynda lightly tapped the side of the radio with mild concern. "Green Sky, a potential horde is in the area. While we won't interfere with the initiation I want you to provide fire support to anyone who makes it to the rendezvous." She spoke, a period of silence hung between the chatter before she got an answer back.

"Copy all Sorceress. First groups already seems to be enroute. Out," He called back, a small smile came and went over Glynda's face as Ozpin smiled as well.

In a way he still couldn't believe how far he's come since they've taken the boy in. From a child from a ruined village in the outskirts of Vale, scared yet courageous, to a soon-to-be young man with a goal and mission to aid the purpose of huntsmen and huntresses alike. Every step was difficult for Gavin, with only the aide and support of the teachers and faculty. Some would mistake such outlook as privileged, but only if he wished to be a huntsman. Though the way he refused the offers made for him made him even more proud.

A/N:

Chapter completion date - 4/8/2024 (02:48 AM)

Editing status - Majority complete, tweaks will continue as chapters progress and will be revisited. Major faults/ misspelling will be immediately addressed following initial publishing period.

Next Chapter Status - 5% Establishing Continuity and setting up drafting.

Song lyrics portion credit: [VNV Nation - "Control"]