Chapter 9
The siege of Midgard years prior revealed a critical flaw in the layout of Vale's defensive lines, in that were another great horde to assemble once more, they'd have a straight path first through Midgard, then to the capital city of Vale, virtually unchecked. To remedy this shortcoming and prevent another disaster, a great amount of national budget was directed into the construction of military fortifications, repairing old installations if they were salvageable, and building new ones in their place if they weren't.
Fort Gacrux came first, closest to Midgard to serve as her first line of aegis, while it was still rebuilding. It now serves as the main headquarters and logistics centre, in charge of maintaining the roads connecting the four Crux forts and keeping them, and other satellite outposts supplied.
A year or so later the combined forces of Velsh military and Hunters pushed further down south, reclaiming old territories from Grimm. Atop the ruins of Vale's southernmost city, they constructed Fort Acrux, outfitted with cutting-edge military technology to withstand constant Grimm incursions.
Reports of suspicious movements from Mountain Glenn ruins across Vale's Spine necessitated the construction of Fort Imai, tall sentry towers in key locations for constant surveillance. Though the mountain ranges of Vale's Spine serve as a natural barrier, many soldiers stationed within find it difficult to sleep in peace, knowing that no barrier is insurmountable to Grimm.
Aquatic Grimm species, unlike their land and aerial counterparts, tended to keep to themselves within the depths of the ocean, reports of their attacks on naval vassals far and few in between. Perhaps it was this rarity that contributed to the lack of urgency in Fort Mimosa's construction. Nevertheless, armed ships often serve as escorts for trade ships, for 'far and few in between' does not mean 'never.'
The sun was beginning to descend beyond the horizon, casting the sky aglow in orange. Though usually a picturesque scene, it was a terrible time for a drive out in the Grimm-infested wilderness. Night missions were a rare thing for obvious reasons, but sometimes shit happened, like what was meant to be a simple retrieval mission turning into a rescue mission.
I didn't know the full story, only that one of Beacon's satellite test launches took place here in Fort Imai, which failed spectacularly, and in a case of déjà vu crash landed in the butt fuck middle of nowhere. Again. Only, this time, another squad of soldiers were sent to retrieve it first, except the communication was lost. Hence the rescue mission. Fucking stellar.
We were already tired, having spent the better part of the day on routine Grimm extermination, a mandatory part of this government contract we had to accept. At least we were paid for it, and it was only for a short term, but it also meant the military higher-ups weren't shy about working us to the bone.
It was a hell of a bumpy ride, too. Greyhounds, living up to their namesakes, were built for speed and maneuverability, but whoever designed it certainly did so with passenger comforts as an afterthought, if even that, if Yang's muttered profanities were any indication.
"So, we find the satellite crash site, grab whatever is left intact, then haul arse out of there?" Yang asked, earning a nod from the squad sergeant.
"That, and rescue Team Delta Three. They've holed up in Cluster Imai Zero Five, an outpost decommissioned last year." The sergeant handed over a large scroll, an aerial shot of an abandoned military compound visible on the screen. "Before we lost the link, they were being harried by the friendly locals out here. With any luck, they'll still be intact by the time we get there.
"Greyhound Two will secure the vehicles. Greyhound One will be going in for cargo and personnel extraction. It'll get messy real quick, so I want the three of you in the van."
"Got it," said Ruby, counting the number of bullets she had left on her person.
"Let's get this over with," I muttered.
"Almost there!" The driver shouted over the engine's loud whirr.
"Weapon check!" The sergeant hollered in response, eliciting a clamour of cocking guns. "Alright, listen up! We're keeping this operation short and simple! In and out, and back home in time for dinner! Oorah?!"
"Oorah!" The soldiers echoed.
The Greyhounds came to a sudden halt, and one of the soldiers kicked the door open. As I touched solid ground, the mounted machine gun overhead was already pissing lead, turning the closest cluster of Creeps into shredded meat. Another Greyhound turret joined in the salvo, albeit aimed at the opposite direction, towards a charging Ursa Major.
With the gun turrets providing cover, we charged towards the target area, the derelict remains of the defunct outpost, now home to scavenging Grimm. A cacophony of howls and roars announced their countercharge, and as the tip of the spear, I struck the first killing blow to a Beowolf. To my left, dull thuds and crunching of bones echoed over the staccato of rapid gunfire as Yang landed savage blow after blow against any Grimm that crossed her path. Further ahead, I saw several Grimm dropping dead, courtesy of Ruby plying her trade.
As we crossed the threshold and entered the ruined compound proper, we came upon a grisly scene. Grimm are messy eaters, and these Alpha Beowolves were no exception, their black furs and osseous armours stained red and black with blood. Our untimely arrival interrupted their dinner, it seemed, for they were hunched over piles of mangled bodies and mutilated limbs. Broken parts of standard-issue rifles carried by Velsh soldiers were scattered about. A little distance away sat the broken remnants of a satellite, the same kind we saw back in Emerald Forest weeks ago.
So much for a rescue mission. There weren't even enough pieces left of our would-have-been rescuees for an open casket funeral.
The sergeant didn't bother issuing an order to open fire. Under a constant barrage of gunfire, the Alpha Beowolves made a mad dash for the soldiers. I intercepted one with a well-timed strike to its snout with Ambolt, cutting off its arm with Crocea Mors before slipping the blade between its ribs. Just as I pulled it free, another rammed me over with open jaws. I managed to call on my Semblance just in the nick of time, the hardlight barrier imparting severe burns on the howling Alpha. I silenced it with a sharp jab through the roof of its mouth.
Regaining my footing, I took a moment to survey the battlefield. Ruby and Yang were both contending with an Alpha each, though a cursory glance told me they were gaining the upper hand, with Yang ending her fight with a solid neck-snapping uppercut, while Ruby concluded hers with a swing of her Crescent Rose. Aside from minor cuts, they seemed none the worse for wear.
The short but intense skirmish exacted a greater toll on the Velsh soldiers, unfortunately. Though most of the Grimm were dead (or on the verge of it), Greyhound One soldiers were slowly being picked off, one by one. A distracted soldier was gored in the back by a rampaging Boarbatusk, who fell as another trooper gunned it down in retaliation. Tit for tat, the same gunner in turn died as a large Creep suddenly leapt in, devouring her whole.
"Shit!" Reaching the final resting place of the crashed satellite, I shoved whatever components I could fit into my backpack, then ran back to help the Patch sisters in routing the remaining Grimm. As we slaughtered them to the last, we heard fresh sets of howls in the distance.
"More of those fucking bastards are coming out of the woodwork!" The sergeant barked as he grabbed the nearest injured squadmate. "Back to the truck! Leave the dead! No time!" The last he directed at Yang, who promptly dropped the body of a soldier, though with a pained look.
We all but threw ourselves into the vehicles, and the Greyhounds screeched into motion even before the doors were closed. The mounted turrets droned as they unleashed their payload on the pursuing Grimm, covering our retreat. It wasn't long before we returned to Fort Imai, though no one was in a celebratory mood. I tossed the backpack full of satellite junk into the waiting arms of Beacon Academy's technician, then headed straight for the mess hall, stink of sweat and dirt be damned.
oOoOo
"…and that's the end of it. We got what we came for, but man…" I sighed, tossing the spork onto a cleaned plate. In spite of the foul mood, my appetite hasn't waned a whit. In this line of work, you learn to eat whenever and wherever you can.
Across the table, Oscar nodded with that same sympathetic look he wore almost on a daily basis. His shift was over and just happened to coincide with our return. "Must've been tough, being out there, watching those soldiers die. Worse still for their families too."
I grunted, emptying a glass of water in three gulps. I didn't want to say that my irritation was mostly due to back-to-back field operations without breaks, rather than the loss of human lives. Call me heartless, but there are only so many times you grieve over the deaths of strangers before it desensitises you. And I've had five years of practice up in Solitas.
"And your friends, the sisters, were they okay?"
"More or less, yeah." Physically, all they suffered were shallow cuts and grazes, nothing that Aura and proper rest couldn't heal. All the same, both retired early for the night, and I could tell that they had a few things weighing on their minds, Yang in particular.
Oscar accepted the answer with a nod, and the silence stretched between us, save for the background noise of Fort Imai's mess hall. It was close to midnight, so aside from us, only a few off-duty guards were milling about, chatting quietly amongst themselves. Someone left the TV on, and I had half a mind to search for the remote until someone changed the channel.
"…just hours ago, the new revised Crimes and Investigation Act has been submitted, with the voting process currently underway. No further details have been disclosed for the public, though some believe this may be a turning point for Mistral's national security."
"Bloody politics," I heard a man mutter as the channel was changed yet again. I inwardly agreed with his sentiment.
"…while experts cannot make definite statements, the general consensus seems to point towards stricter law enforcement. Though some are in favour of the changes proposed, others are concerned about possibilities of Hunters abusing their new authorities…"
"Wait, what's this? What's going on?"
"You haven't heard?" Oscar asked, reaching for his scroll as I shook my head. After a few quick taps, he slid his scroll over the table. "It's a recent thing from Mistral – apparently, there's a new legislation being proposed, one that gives Hunters all the rights to act as law enforcers."
"Let's see, submitted by a member of the Mistral Council…" I scrolled further down until an image of a burly man, a square and hard face covered in a grey mane stared back. "Hang on, isn't this guy-?"
"It's not the lack of funding that's the issue, that's not what I'm saying," a loud voice rumbled from the TV. Swivelling for a better view, I saw the same grey-maned man standing behind a podium, a lion walking on two legs, standing before an atrium filled with reporters. "Mistral police department's allotted budget has actually been increasing at a steady rate over the past several years. No, what I am saying is that the Mistral's internal security force is an organisation of the corrupt and the incompetent."
"Holy shit…" A sharp intake of breath, then I realised the entire mess hall was quiet, all eyes fixed on the TV and the tall man wearing the skin of a lion. On the other side of the screen, camera lights flashed, incoherent chatter filling the hall.
"That's an outrageous claim-" One of the reporters began.
"Is it?" The lion man cut in, fangs bared.
"Yes! The increase in funding was to expand the police force, for better training and equipment-"
"Yet Mistral still ranks as the first in highest crime rates per capita across the board, far above other nations. It's been this way for a long time, and there's no sign of it ever changing. You want to know why?" Before the host could speak, the lion Faunus continued. "Because our national security is compromised, bled dry by corrupt officials who only think about lining their own deep pockets. Our officers still use gears that are years behind other nations, and the training they're given is outdated. Academies lowered entry bars to address the severe shortage, so deadbeats and dullards swell the ranks of the police force, many who have been caught accepting bribes and turning blind eyes, because their superiors can't or won't keep them in line."
Silence, save for quiet snaps of cameras. "Nearly half a thousand more properties were burgled, compared to previous years. The medical staff at emergency wards had to work around the clock to accommodate hundreds more patients who were assaulted, some as victims of rape. Arson, kidnapping, theft, murder! The numbers keep climbing, and there's no sign of it stopping! At what point do we say 'enough is enough'? Until another municipal building is bombed and twenty more people burn to death?"
No one dared to reply, all quietly waiting for the towering monolith of a Faunus to continue. "I'm aware there are honest people within the police force, those who genuinely want to mete out justice wherever they can, within the best of their abilities. But mere goodwill amounts to nothing, we've seen that time and time again. I not saying bringing Hunters into law enforcement will solve every problem we as a nation are facing, it won't. But, it'll be a start."
Silence continued even after the lion man made his exit, the news station cast fumbling over words. When the channel switched over to commercials, normalcy resumed itself.
"Well, shit. That was…"
"Yeah, pretty intense stuff," Oscar agreed. "Not every day someone explodes like that on a live stage – bet they'll be talking about this for a while."
"Probably."
"Say, you think he was right?" Oscar asked after a while. "All the stuff he said back there, you think he was on to something?"
I shrugged, earning a small frown in response. "Look, I don't really know much about Mistral and its internal stuff, and even if I did, it doesn't affect us in Vale, so what does it matter?"
"You never know, this could spread over to other kingdoms too, which will matter then," Oscar grumbled. "Besides, this is important stuff to talk about, isn't it? It's not like Vale's free of crime and other shady activities, either. If Hunters were allowed to help, they could really make a big change, for the better."
Ah, to be young and idealistic again. I thought about pointing out the other side of the coin, then decided to keep my mouth shut. I wasn't exactly in the mood for a discussion on rights and ethics. "Instead of worrying about something that may or may not happen, shouldn't you be focusing on passing the initiation first?"
"Don't remind me," Oscar groaned, letting his head slump on the table. "Why couldn't it all just be written exams? At least I won't have to worry about getting stabbed to death with a pen."
"You couldn't kill Grimm with MCQs and essays, last time I checked," I offered helpfully. "Besides, you graduated from Pharos Academy, what's there to be nervous about?"
Oscar mumbled something. "What?" I asked.
"I said, I was dead last in my class," Oscar repeated dejectedly. "And if that wasn't bad enough, they even considered holding me back a year, that's how bad I was."
"Well, shit." I considered imparting my own troubled academic records, or lack thereof but decided against it at the last minute. We were two different people, from two different circumstances. Mine was heavily reliant on sheer dumb luck and astronomical odds, looking back.
"I know," said Oscar, biting his lips. "If I'm being honest, I still can't decide. It's not like I have no skills, but I don't know if I'm cut out to be a Hunter. I don't even have a Semblance either. So should I do what my dad says and pick up farming instead?"
"It would mean less likelihood of getting killed by Grimm," I pointed out. I'd probably never make a good recruiter for Academies, or a salesperson, for that matter.
Oscar looked less than pleased. "So that's a 'yes' for farming?"
"Hell no. I'm just pointing out the obvious," I said with an eye roll. "Also, why should my opinion matter? It's your life, you should be the one to call the shots."
"Because," said he, "you were the only Hunter to actually sit down and talk about things like this. Other Hunters just kinda ignored me, and it wasn't for lack of trying on my part."
I doubted they were ignoring him on purpose, rather their busy schedule didn't allow them a chance to entertain this kid and his worries. I've only caught glimpses of other Hunters myself, likely contracted for a specified period of time like us.
To be honest, I had half a mind to tell him to fuck off, myself, when he first approached us on our first day here in Fort Imai, thinking he was just some bored kitchen hand who wanted to bother us out of boredom. I retracted the idea after hearing that he was aspiring to be a Huntsman himself, due for Beacon Academy initiation that was soon approaching. It also helped that he was amicable enough, if a little naïve. But hey, who wasn't at that age?
"Sorry," Oscar's voice shook me out of my reverie. "I know it's been a long day for you, you're probably really tired and here I am bothering you with my worries."
"Don't-" I yawned, just realising how tired I was then. "Don't worry, you're not. Tell you what though, if we don't get saddled with more missions out of nowhere tomorrow, let's talk about this a bit more, yeah?"
"I thought you guys were leaving tomorrow?"
"Nah, it's the day after. Can't wait to head back to Vale and eat some actual food. No offence," I added, remembering he was working as a short-term cook in the kitchen.
Oscar shrugged. "None taken. Okay, some, but I don't mind."
Bidding him farewell, I headed for the shower. By the time I finished and hit the sack, I was out like a light.
oOoOo
Two weeks had passed since we left Fort Imai – hopefully for good – back to our home in Vale, or rather, a place of residence during our stay in Vale. It was a three-storey building, chipped paints and cracks running like spider webs on the walls telling of its age. The first and second floors were accessible via a door to the side, up a steep and narrow stairwell that creaked with every step you took. There was another means of ingress from the ground floor, but it was locked tight, caked with thick layers of dust.
"It was apparently a shop, at one point," Qrow commented as he tossed each of us a key, back when we first moved in the day after Ruby and I got our Hunter licences. "I'll lay out the house rules. Lock up after you leave, clean up after yourselves, and if you break something, you either fix it or replace it. Otherwise, make yourselves at home."
Surprisingly, Qrow's nest was tidier than I expected, though that was likely due to him not staying in it long enough to make a mess than any conscious effort to keep it clean. The first few days we hunted not Grimm but second-hand furniture and small decorations to make the place feel more lived in. Personally, I was more than fine with just the bare essentials, but Ruby and Yang insisted on small decorations here and there, so of course I had to follow them and help carry their bits and bobbles.
Looking back now, I have to admit, these small personal touches did make the house like an actual home, rather than just a dwelling to sleep in. I wouldn't actually say that to their faces though, I hated moving furniture around.
Yawning, I headed down the stairs, no longer conscious of making noise. Ruby was a deep sleeper, and Yang was staying in her home back in Patch for the rest of the day. The kettle whistled as the water boiled, and I hunted for a butter knife among the cutleries in the dish racks, still full of cleaned bowls and plates. Ruby must've forgotten to put them away, the lazy bum.
I switched the TV on as I continued setting up breakfast. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd choose shopping channels over morning shows, but who cares about which celebrity shagged who, when an espresso machine was on sale with a 20% discount?
Ruby staggered in, still half asleep. "Morning," she yawned with a stretch.
"Morning," I returned, grabbing slices of bread as they hopped out of the toaster. With a cup of coffee in one hand, and a plate of buttered toast on the other, I made my way to the couch. Ruby claimed the spot next to mine a moment later, a simple bowl of cheerios floating in a bowl of milk squeezed from almonds.
"Next up, we've got a set of Living & Co knives, at low low prices of 20 lien," announced the girl from the TV.
"Oh hey, kitchen knives are on sale," Ruby said between mouthfuls.
"It's from a budget brand. They're always on sale. What we need is a decent set of pans, preferably stainless-steel ones."
"What's wrong with the ones we're using now?"
"Their non-stick coating's peeling off, and they're probably older than us, I'll bet," I answered. "Besides, stainless-steel ones are great for sauteing and stir-frying." There was nothing quite like the savoury aroma of Maillard reaction filling the kitchen.
"Aren't they quite pricey though?"
"For the Westinghouse 5-piece stainless steel pan and pot set? Recommended retail price is 299.99 lien, but only 249.99 lien while stocks last," said the girl on TV.
"Yeah, fuck no. That's expensive." You could get cheaper ones of dubious quality at one-tenth – sometimes even less – of the price in bulk markets like Cosco. If I wanted it, I'd have to save up first, after we paid off bills, mostly Yang's overdue ones but also the utility ones for this property, then after dealing with the annual fee for our Hunter licences, oh, and there were other insurances too, ones for this house, life insurances, yada yada...
Fuck, adulting was hard.
"And," the girl continued, "we'll throw in a set of measuring spoons at no extra cost."
"Hey, look at that, free measuring spoons," Ruby nudged, grinning.
"Yeah, a deal of a lifetime. That saves us, what, two whole lien?" I changed the channel, cycling through more commercials and budget shows until we hit the news channel.
"…the representative from Mistral Council stated that the voting process has concluded with yet another tie. Another session is due to take place within a week's time, where it's hoped that the remaining clan leaders who have yet to cast their votes would choose a side…"
"Still going at it, huh?" I muttered.
"I'm surprised it was a tie, actually," Ruby opined.
"Really?" I threw her an inquisitive look, partially because I didn't realise Ruby was interested enough to be aware of the current state of affairs over in Mistral.
"Yeah. Given what Mistral's like, I thought the headmaster's proposal would be shot down immediately. There are apparently more than a few clans that have connections with Mistral's underworld, and I don't see them being happy with Hunters given free rein to sniff around, looking for trouble."
"You seem to know a few things about Mistral," I began before I came to a realisation. "Right, Branwen's one of the clans, huh?"
Ruby nodded. "Dad doesn't care much about politics. I don't, either, but Aunt Raven insisted I at least understand the basics of the inner workings of Mistralian politics. Well, she tried, but I don't know how much of it actually stuck with me, to be honest."
"As long as it doesn't affect us," I said, switching the TV off. "I'm thinking of heading out, go for a walk, and get some groceries on the way. Wanna come with?"
"If you're paying for lunch, then sure, why not?"
"Keep it under 20 lien, and you've got a deal."
"Cheapskate," Ruby booed.
"Says you, you've got more money in your account than I do."
"Money? What money?" came the innocent reply. "I'm flat-out broke."
"'Flat out broke', my arse. The number of zeroes in your bank account says otherwise."
"You sure you saw the correct number? I heard that men tend to turn blind at earlier ages than women."
"Good point. Why don't you log in to your account and I'll take a closer look."
Ruby sighed. "Fine, I'll keep it under 20."
I beamed, patting her head. "Good girl."