The ruins of Vale stretched out around them, the once-bustling city now a hollow shell of its former self. Jaune sat with his back against a stack of SDC crates, casually shuffling a deck of cards while his Paladin stood motionless behind him, its massive frame casting a long shadow over the makeshift camp they established on the airship port as their base of operations in the City. The Paladins were under autonomous control, guarding the perimeter as the soldiers took a moment to rest. It had been a long day of clearing out Grimm, securing assets, and dealing with the general chaos that had become their daily lives.
Most of the Atlas soldiers stationed in Vale had pulled back to the airship port, consolidating their forces around the only means of extraction they had left. Officially, they were under the protection of the Schnee Dust Company now, not Atlas. It was a political technicality, but one that the Vale Council wasn't too happy about. Jaune couldn't blame them — Atlas had made a mess of things when they'd arrived in the festival, and now they were one of the few things holding the city together, for better or worse.
"LT, it's fucked up," one of the privates muttered, drawing Jaune's attention away from the cards. The private was a scrappy-looking kid, barely out of his teens, his face gaunt from too many sleepless nights and too few hot meals.
Jaune raised an eyebrow, pausing his shuffling. "What's fucked up, Private?"
The kid shrugged, looking out past the camp toward the ruins of Vale. "All them people... they're living in fear. I get that Vale's stretched thin—hell, we all know it. Their militia sucks, their police barely held it together before the Grimm came, and now? Now, they curse at us like we're the problem. Then when the Grimm show up, they scream for us to come back like we owe them something."
Jaune let out a breath, tossing a card onto the SDC crate beside him. "Don't switch your card, brah. I dare you."
The private flinched as Jaune's Paladin turned its head ever so slightly, its optics trained on him. The kid's face paled.
"LT, can you not turn that thing toward me? I almost shat myself on sight!" the private exclaimed, his hands rising defensively.
Jaune chuckled. "Then don't cheat, asswipe."
Before the private could respond, Gray slapped the back of Jaune's head, his aura flaring ever so slightly. "Arc, can you not try to kill our guys with your giant robot?" she quipped, her voice dripping with playful annoyance.
Jaune grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Nah, he'd survive it. The standard armor should held."
"Yeah, if I had aura maybe," the private muttered, his nerves finally starting to settle.
Gray rolled her eyes, then leaned against Jaune's shoulder, eyeing the cards scattered on the crate. "Heard anything from Carson?" she asked, her tone a bit more serious now.
"Nope," Jaune replied, tossing another card onto the pile. "After we cleared some Grimm near the commercial district, he and Lt. Scarlet got called in by the Council of Vale. Heard it was partly because of a request from the Headmistress."
Gray's eyebrows shot up. "Wait — Goodwitch asked for them?"
"Yup," Jaune said, scratching his chin.
"What did she want? I thought she was all 'this is Huntsmen territory' and didn't want us involved?"
Jaune shrugged, his fingers absently fiddling with the cards in his hand. "From what I hear, she's been doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to protecting Vale. Killing Grimm, defending the city — basically doing the job of an entire military force single-handedly, while managing Huntsmen of Vale to actually obey. Guess she's finally decided that cooperation's the only option."
Gray squinted at him. "Really? After all that 'stay out of our city' crap?"
"Be reasonable, sis," Jaune replied. "If I had to protect an entire city while watching it fall apart, I'd probably act like a bitch, too."
Gray considered this for a moment, then sighed. "Yeah, I guess I can accept that reasoning."
Jaune looked back at his cards, his face falling as he realized his hand was trash. "Damn it. I fold."
The private snickered and reached for the pile of Lien they'd been using to bet with. "Thanks for the win, LT."
Gray smirked. "You really suck at this, J."
Jaune groaned, leaning back against the crate. Outside the perimeter, a few Valean civilians were huddled together, watching them warily. Their eyes flicked toward the Paladins with a mixture of fear and resentment, as if unsure whether to be thankful for the protection or angry at the presence of Atlas forces.
Gray followed Jaune's gaze, sighing. "Look at them. They tell us to fuck off, but when we actually try to fuck off, they come crawling back, begging us to help."
Jaune unwrapped an energy bar and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully before replying. "It's emotions running wild. Stress and fear make people act like idiots. They know we're not the same Atlas soldiers who screwed up Vale, but they're too scared to admit they're just as powerless. So they lash out, blame us because they can't blame themselves or the people in charge."
Gray blinked, looking at Jaune as if he'd suddenly sprouted a second head. "Huh. Not bad, Arc. You're not as dumb as I thought."
Jaune ignored the backhanded compliment, focusing instead on the civilians. A few of the younger privates were getting restless, one of them at the gate starting to argue with a group of Valeans who had approached, clearly frustrated by the tension between the two sides.
The private at the gate, a burly guy with a temper to match, shouted at the approaching civilians. "Back off! We're not here to hand out supplies or play babysitter. Take it up with your council if you've got a problem!"
Jaune glanced at Gray. "I better handle this before it escalates."
He stood up, tossing the half-eaten energy bar aside and walking toward the gate. The Paladin's autonomous systems followed his movements, its massive metal form taking a step forward, as if to shadow Jaune's approach.
The civilians stiffened as Jaune came closer, their eyes darting between him and the towering Paladin behind him. One of them, an older man with deep lines etched into his face, stepped forward, glaring at Jaune with barely contained anger.
"This is all Atlas's fault," the man spat. "You and your military... you brought this upon us!"
Jaune stared at the man, his expression unreadable. He could feel the tension radiating from the group, the fear and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. But he didn't flinch. He kept his tone calm, professional, but firm.
"We're not here to argue," Jaune said. "You can blame Atlas all you want. But now get off our perimeter before we are forced to deal with your act of inciting violence.. This is a military area under SDC, so please kindly stay out."
The man opened his mouth to protest, but Jaune's icy blue gaze and the looming presence of the Paladin behind him seemed to drain the fight from him. He took a step back, muttering something under his breath before turning to leave with the rest of the group.
The Valean civilians had barely left when Carson returned to camp, his expression grim but unsurprised. Jaune, Gray, and the others could see the weariness in his eyes as he approached, his armor dusty from the trek back through the city.
"Well, you'll love this," Carson said, voice thick with sarcasm. He dropped onto one of the SDC crates, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair.
Gray, leaning back against her Paladin, raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
"The Council of Vale is requesting some of the dust supplies we've secured."
Jaune frowned, shuffling his cards again to keep his hands busy. "And what did our officers say?" he asked.
Carson shrugged, his tone flat. "Told them we don't have jurisdiction over it. Those SDC assets we've been guarding? They're getting shipped back to Atlas. Nothing we can do about it."
Jaune nodded. It wasn't surprising. The people of Vale were desperate for supplies, but the Schnee Dust Company wasn't about to let anything go without a fight. Dust was too valuable, especially in times of crisis… but in their case, they weren't going to hand over their assets.
"Figures," Gray muttered. "They curse us when we're here, but beg us when they need dust."
Jaune leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So what's the plan now, then?"
Carson sighed, leaning back. "General Ironwood's closing Atlas's borders. Effective immediately, there's a dust embargo about to be enforced. No more dust shipments are allowed out. He wants Atlas to keep its resources to itself."
Gray whistled, low and impressed. "Damn. That'll piss off the SDC. They're gonna hate that."
"They already do," Carson said. "There's already talking about how to deal with it. But honestly, we don't have to worry about it. We're not the ones who'll be stuck negotiating with a pissed-off Jacques Schnee and his army of lawyers and bureaucrats."
Jaune let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "So what are we doing, then?"
Lt. Scarlet strolled up, having overheard the conversation. She crossed her arms, leaning against her Paladin. "We're going to be on standby for a while," she said. "With the dust shipments delayed and the White Fang still sniffing around, the SDC's taking its sweet time moving the cargo."
Jaune and Gray exchanged a glance, both feeling the same mix of frustration and relief. On the one hand, they hated sitting around doing nothing, but on the other, it was nice to have a break from the constant chaos.
"I can live with that," Gray said, stretching her arms above her head. "Let's face it, I could use a few days without Grimm clawing at my face."
Jaune nodded in agreement, though a part of him felt restless. Sitting around felt wrong, especially when the city outside their camp was still in shambles. But they had their orders, and for now, that meant staying put.
Thank the Brothers there was no fucking sand, Jaune thought.
"Carson, what's the word on the White Fang?" Jaune asked, flipping his cards absentmindedly.
"They're still lurking around the city," Carson said. "We haven't had any direct encounters with them yet since most retreated after the Festival, but the SDC is nervous. They've already had a few shipments hit. Command's keeping us on alert, but as far as I know, we're staying put unless something changes."
Scarlet shook her head, her frustration clear. "I hate it when we're on defense. Feels like we're waiting for something bad to happen."
"Yeah, well, you're not the only one," Carson muttered, glancing toward the perimeter where their Paladins stood silently. "But we've got a job to do. Let's just hope things don't get worse before they get better."
Jaune watched the horizon, the ruins of Vale barely visible in the distance. The city was a mess, and it wasn't just the Grimm that had torn it apart. Politics, greed, fear—all of it had combined to make this situation even more dangerous than it needed to be.
"We'll see," Jaune muttered. "But if I know anything about how things have been going lately, worse is coming."
Days passed, and Jaune found himself settling into the routine of camp life. It wasn't glamorous, but it was better than being out in the open, constantly watching his back. The civilians who had come to the camp for help had quieted down, and the tension with the Valean locals had simmered for the moment.
Still, Jaune couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Gray sat beside him on one of the crates, playing with her knife, flipping it lazily between her fingers. "So, how's it feel, Arc?" she asked with a smirk.
Jaune rolled his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Being in charge. Having to deal with all these assholes coming at you with their problems? You're the big guy now. Enjoying it?"
He shrugged, watching as one of the soldiers patrolled the perimeter. "I don't know. I'm just doing what I have to do. What about you?"
Gray leaned back, her eyes flicking to the sky. "I'll be happy when we're off standby and back in the action. I hate waiting."
"You and me both," Jaune muttered. "Feels like we're just sitting here, waiting for the next disaster. Shit, is this why you'd rather be Steel 4 than 3?"
"Holy fuck, took you long enough, Arc," Gray chuckled, then flipped her knife into the air, catching it effortlessly. "Well, we know it's coming. Question is, how big?"
They fell into a comfortable silence, both of them lost in their thoughts. Jaune couldn't help but wonder what the future held. The dust embargo, the White Fang, the tension in Vale — it all felt like a ticking time bomb, and they were stuck in the middle of it.
By the end of the week, Jaune's fears were confirmed. The White Fang had made another move, this time hitting a convoy just outside of Vale's industrial district. The SDC was pissed, and Command wasn't far behind.
"Looks like our vacation's over," Carson announced, walking into camp with a grim expression.
Gray, who had been napping on a crate, sat up quickly. "What happened?"
"White Fang ambushed an SDC convoy. Took out a few trucks, stole some dust. They're getting bolder."
Jaune stood up, feeling a mix of frustration and anticipation. "So what now?"
"We're going back out," Carson said. "Command wants us to beef up security around the remaining SDC assets. We're not letting them get away with another hit."
Gray grinned, her earlier boredom replaced with excitement. "Finally. Some action."
"Don't get too excited," Carson warned. "This is going to be a shit show if the White Fang keeps pushing. They're desperate, and that makes them dangerous. Fanatics, remember?"
Jaune nodded, already mentally preparing himself for the mission ahead. The waiting game was over, and it was time to get back to work.
Later that day, Jaune stood in front of his Paladin, checking the systems and ensuring everything was ready. The autonomous control had been working fine during their downtime, but now that they were heading back into the field, he wanted to be sure he could count on it.
Gray appeared beside him, her helmet tucked under her arm. "Ready to go?"
Jaune nodded. "Yeah. Just finishing up."
She tilted her head, watching him for a moment before speaking. "You've been quiet lately."
"Just thinking," Jaune replied, his voice steady. "About what comes next."
Gray frowned. "You worried?"
Jaune shook his head. "Not worried. Just… trying to figure out how we're supposed to act and do."
Gray sighed, crossing her arms. "That's easy, J. We do what we're told. That's the job."
"I know," he said, glancing over at her. "But that doesn't make it any easier. I doing what we're told makes me lose my brothers and sisters again, then I won't fucking do it."
She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You're overthinking. Come on, we've got a mission to focus on. Let's just get through this."
Jaune gave her a small smile, grateful for her presence. "Yeah. Let's do this."
They climbed into their Paladins, the machines roaring to life as the boosters engaged. The rest of Steel Squadron followed suit, their Paladins lining up in formation as they prepared to move out.
Carson's voice crackled over the comms. "Alright, people. We're heading to the industrial district. Let's keep this clean and quick. White Fang's not gonna know what hit 'em."
Jaune tightened his grip on the controls, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as the Paladin surged forward.
Steel Squadron surrounded the warehouse on high alert. The tension was thick, like the heavy dust swirling around the industrial district of Vale. Their Paladins stood silently, weaponry readied and pointed, while the soldiers remained on foot, crouching behind cover, waiting for orders. Jaune sat in his Paladin, optics scanning the building ahead, the flickering heat signatures from inside revealing the White Fang holed up within.
Nearby, Atlas soldiers were in a shouting match with the White Fang extremists, who had taken refuge in the warehouse. The slurs and curses echoed off the surrounding walls, blending with the distant sounds of gunfire and the rumbling engines of Mantas flying overhead.
"Filthy human!" one White Fang member screamed from the other side of the barricades.
A sergeant in Jaune's area returned fire with his words, yelling, "Terrorist filth! You animals are the reason we're here! If you want to act like Grimm, how about fucking die like Grimm too, huh?"
Jaune sighed, gripping the controls of his Paladin but holding himself back from intervening. Beside him, Gray scoffed, her voice low but sharp. "Here we go again. Every time. Same story."
One of the privates, a gung-ho young soldier itching for action, said fiercely, "Sir, can we just shoot these White Fang bastards? They're just going to keep pushing."
Jaune turned, giving him a sharp look. "Stand down, Private. We're not shooting unless they give us a reason." His voice was calm but commanding. This wasn't the time for itchy trigger fingers.
From across the way, one of the Atlas sergeants stepped forward, raising his voice to speak over the chaotic exchange. "You don't have to die here! Stand down and surrender, and we'll give you a fair trial!"
For a brief moment, the shouts from inside the warehouse quieted. It seemed like there might be a chance for reason, a moment of hope that this wouldn't end in more bloodshed.
But that hope was shattered in an instant.
Out of the corner of Jaune's optics, he saw movement — one of the White Fang fanatics, armed with an RPG, leapt to his feet, his face contorted in rage. "FOR FAUNUS FREEDOM!" he screamed, hoisting the launcher onto his shoulder and taking aim at the soldiers.
"RPG!" Jaune yelled into his comms, but it was too late. The fanatic fired.
Everything moved in slow motion. The rocket propelled forward, cutting through the air toward the soldiers. Lt. Scarlet reacted in a flash, stepping in front of the men, her Paladin's hard-light shield snapping into place just in time. The rocket impacted the shield with a deafening explosion, sending a shockwave rippling through the street.
"SHIELD UP!" Scarlet roared, pushing back against the explosion, her shield absorbing most of the impact. But that was it. The moment of restraint was gone. The soldiers opened fire.
Jaune didn't wait for orders. He engaged his chain dust cannons, the familiar hum of the weapon charging, sending vibrations through his seat. His targeting reticle locked onto the White Fang fanatics inside the warehouse. His finger hovered over the trigger for just a moment—long enough to see the soldiers around him doing the same.
"Engage!" Carson's voice cracked over the comms.
Jaune squeezed the trigger.
The warehouse erupted into a storm of dust rounds, bullets, and beams. The Paladins tore through the White Fang defenses like a hot knife through butter, their automated systems doing most of the work as the soldiers on the ground joined in. The fanatics inside never stood a chance. Within seconds, the warehouse was turned into a warzone, and then, nothing more than rubble.
The White Fang soldiers, especially those in the front, became nothing but red mist, disintegrated by the combined firepower of the Atlas forces. The RPG wielder was obliterated, leaving nothing but scorched ground where he once stood.
"Clear!" Scarlet's voice echoed in the aftermath, the hard-light shield retracting as she stepped forward, her eyes scanning for any survivors. "Everyone alright?"
Jaune's heart pounded in his chest as the adrenaline faded. He surveyed the scene, the broken bodies of the White Fang lying in the dust, their cries for freedom silenced by the brutal efficiency of Atlas firepower.
The privates who had been itching for action moments before now stood in stunned silence, the reality of the carnage sinking in.
"Guess that's what happens when they choose the hard way," one of them muttered, but his voice lacked the bravado it had carried earlier.
Jaune glanced at Carson, who was standing next to his Paladin, looking over the scene with a grim expression. He didn't seem particularly satisfied with the outcome, just… resigned.
"Orders, Sir?" Jaune asked over the comms.
Carson shook his head slowly. "We were on standby until this shit happened. Now we clean up and wait for further instructions. Shit Arc, remind me not to let anyone with shit temper negotiate."
Hours passed, and the aftermath of the firefight was still being dealt with. The Atlas soldiers combed through the rubble of the warehouse, collecting whatever intel they could find while the Paladins stood guard, scanning for any further threats.
Jaune dismounted from his Paladin, taking a moment to stretch his legs. His body ached from the tension of the battle, but the real weight was the exhaustion of constantly being on edge.
Gray was already on the ground, arms crossed as she surveyed the scene. "Well, that escalated quickly."
"No kidding," Jaune muttered, running a hand through his blonde hair. He looked at the remaining White Fang prisoners who were being rounded up, some of them too injured to resist. They were dragged into a line by the Atlas soldiers, their faces contorted in a mixture of rage and defeat.
One of the White Fang, a woman with blood matting her fur-covered arms, spat at a soldier's feet. "You'll never break us. You can't stop us."
Gray sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well, your friend with the RPG thought he could stop us. Didn't work out so great for him, did it?"
The woman snarled, but said nothing more.
"Sir," Jaune called over to Carson, who was talking to Scarlet by one of the Atlas Mantas parked nearby. "What's the word from Command?"
Carson walked over, his hands resting on his hips. "Command's not happy, but they're not surprised. They expected resistance, this level of fanaticism."
Jaune nodded. "White Fang's getting desperate."
Carson's face was tight with frustration. "Yeah. And desperate means dangerous. We got lucky this time, but Command's worried there's going to be more."
He glanced back at the rubble, where Atlas engineers were working to salvage whatever they could from the wreckage. "We'll hold this position for now, but we're going to have to move soon. SDC is pressuring us to secure more of their assets before they'll agree to send more dust back to Vale."
Gray snorted, arms still crossed. "So, it's all about the dust, huh?"
Carson gave her a weary look. "What did you expect? This is Atlas's way, Second Lieutenant. Dust means power."
Jaune shared a glance with Gray. They knew the score, but it didn't make the situation any easier to swallow.
Scarlet approached, wiping her hands on her armor. "We're good here for now. Command wants us on standby again. No immediate plans to move until they get the rest of the White Fang mopped up."
"More waiting," Jaune said under his breath. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or frustrated by the news.
"Yup," Scarlet confirmed. "But hey, at least we get a breather."
"Yeah, until the next shitstorm hits," Gray muttered.
Jaune sighed, sitting back down on the crate near his Paladin, staring at Beacon Academy's broken towers.