Professor Ozpin was sitting at his desk inside of his office, sipping his ever-present coffee. He started reflecting on the events of that morning and what was next to do. First: he had to get his morning coffee, review teaching plans for the day, and convince Peter that a Deathstalker was not a good idea for a classroom demonstration; Then, he had to get his mid-morning coffee (which he was currently enjoying) and assign missions for the students who signed up for them, some were simple, just various areas that have a Grimm population that may become a problem if unchecked. He remembered team RWBY took one in the Emerald Forest with a high number of Grimm that needed clearing out. He wondered if he should turn the Forest's cameras on to check their progress but, they are a very prospective team that (with teamwork) could take out all the Grimm with medium difficulty, there were some older Grimm after all so they should be done in a few hours and they only just received the mission. At this point his scroll started ringing with one of his students as the placer of the call, and so Ozpin picked up.
"Miss Xiao Long." Ozpin answered.
"Uh… Hi headmaster Ozpin, I uh…" came Yang's eloquent reply.
"Miss Xiao Long, how goes your mission?" Ozpin enquired.
"That's just it Professor. We-met-a-giant-man-in-armour-who-killed-an-Ursa-Major-by-jumping-on-its'-back-and-stabbing-it-and-he-just-tackled-an-Alpha-Beowolf. We're-bringing-him-back-to-Beacon-gotta-go-bye." Came Yang's speedy reply as she hung up.
This just left Ozpin to mull over the throng of new information that was just presented to him, a giant man in armour who easily took out an Ursa Major, hopefully this man could be a new ally... wait, did she say tackled an Alpha Beowolf?
Chapter 2:
Noble Actual
"We have asked you to give up your family, your childhood, your future."
The last memories, the defiance of a SPARTAN.
"Hello?"
10 hours against impossible odds for an already dead planet.
"Is he asleep?"
Refusing to give out, to die.
"Spartan."
To give them a chance.
"Noble Six, pull yourself out of your reverie, the girls are trying to talk to you." Came Rhos voice from Six's internal helmet speakers.
Noble Six opened his eyes to see the interior of the 'Bullhead' carrier as well as the four girls that agreed to take him to their superior officer on the grounds of a mutual ceasefire between them.
"About what?" Came Six's reply, external speakers not active to keep this between himself and Rho.
"Reply and know Six, I have things to report to you once you are done." Was the answer.
Six turned his attention to the otherside of the small compartment, to the girl in red, Ruby.
"Yes?" Was all Six asked to the small girl.
"Sorry," Ruby started, "I just realised that we never finished giving our names, apart from mine. So! I'm Ruby," The child gestured to herself. "That's Weiss." She then gestured to the girl sitting next to her. "And those two are-"
"Blake and Yang." Came the mans' voice.
"What!? How did you know that?" Ruby asked shocked.
"Don't say your names in front of a potential enemy." Was the man's reply as he pulled out the large gun on his back and started inspecting it.
"Oh." Was Ruby's follow up.
Weiss was casting a sceptical eye at the man sitting across from them.
"What are you wearing? It looks like it's Atlas but…" Weiss asked.
"Classified." Was the reply.
"What is your name then? Six, or even Sierra can't be your name." Weiss pressed
"Weiss." Came her team leaders voice.
"Classified." Was the man's reply.
"What did you do back there? In the forest, how did you do that?" Weiss continued.
The man sitting across from team RWBY paused in his inspection of his weapon, raising his head minutely as if conversing silently with something before returning to the inspection of the weapon before replying. "Classified."
"What isn't classified?"
"Ask the right questions."
"What weapon is that?" Came Ruby's voice, wonder lining the question.
"M392 DMR-Designated Marksman Rifle, AM rated. Chambers 15, M118 7.62x56mm FMJ-AP Rounds in a box magazine." The man responded within seconds, eyes(?), faceplate(?), helmet never leaving the weapon.
"Woah." Was all Ruby could say at the onslaught of information.
Weiss was annoyed however, as all her questions were answered with something vague or 'classified' yet Ruby's was answered immediately.
"Why did you answer her question and not mine? Why wasn't that classified too?" She asked.
"It's standard issue, common knowledge isn't classified." Was the giant's reply.
Weiss could only give an annoyed sigh as she (currently) conceded to the man's point, although slightly begrudgingly as she is wont to do.
Ruby pressed on with another question (gun related of course).
"What's that blocky thing on your leg? The one that looks like a pistol? I mean I know it's a gun but what type? I mean Crescent Rose is a gun but she's also…"
"M6G PDWS/Personal Defence Weapon System/Magnum, AM rated, Chambers 8, M225 12.7x40mm SAP-HE .50 calibre Magnum Rounds." The man said before Ruby could truly start off about guns and her weapon of choice. Again, not taking his helmet off of the gun in front of him. Weiss giving another annoyed sigh.
Ruby was still curious.
"How are you keeping that on your back?"
"Magnetic holsters." Was the reply.
"Ooh, that's so cool." Ruby said.
The Bullhead was silent as few seconds passed.
"What does 'AM' mean?" this time it was Yang.
"Anti-Materiel."
"Oh, ok."
"Yang."
"Yes Ruby?"
"You should have known that Yang!"
"Sorry Ruby it slipped my mind."
"That's not good enough Yang, I'll run you through this stuff ok, it's important!"
"Ruby."
Blake could only sigh as she glanced at the sisters as they started bickering. She turned to the man sitting across from them.
"They'll be like this for probably the rest of the flight, we'll just leave you to your thoughts." Before she to, started talking to Weiss beside her.
Six silently listened to the girl clad in black, Blake, before she turned to the girl next to her. Six turned off the external speakers on his helmet and turned down the external sound receptors so as to have a more focusable talk with Rho.
"Thank you, Spartan. I have some interesting developments to discuss as they are fascinating to say the least. I have compiled a list and was waiting on your go-ahead before enacting on any information that looked in interest to us. Would you like me to start Spartan?" Rho asked as his image flickered into view on the upper left corner of Six's HUD.
"Yes." Six said as he returned the DMR to the holster on his back.
"Affirmative. I have sent out a shortwave radio frequency scan, looking for civilian and possible military signals and I have received a ping back from a system that looks similar in design to Waypoint or the internet but on a smaller scale. I am going to attempt to gain access to the system however that may take several minutes before I am able to…" Rho quietened down. Six thought he heard Rho mumble 'a USB could infiltrate this system' before he heard Rho's voice through the speakers again clearly.
"Please disregard that Six, I was expecting a more thorough encryption of the system than what was encountered. I have started compiling received data on key topics related to the planetary system referred to as 'Remnant'." Information began compiling in small windows on Six's HUD, listing and filing possible key data to review later or send to the nearest UNSC outpost or vessel at first convenience. Rho continued on.
"It seems this Waypoint like system is called the CCT(S) or 'Cross Continental Transmit System', connecting each part of Remnants main continents Sanus, Anima, and Solitus, as well as a myriad of small islands. The nations of these continents are referred to as 'kingdoms' yet there are no references of any ruling monarchy, calling the title into question. The 'kingdoms' are: Vacuo, Mistral, Vale, and Atlas although what I assume to be older texts refer to it as Mantle.
"Assume?"
"I haven't exactly figured out the date system yet. They could count years completely differently to the UNSC standard Gregorian calendar."
"Continue."
"Ok, I'm going to do a quick scan through these girls personal devices or 'scrolls' to check for anymore information that may be useful."
"Alright Rho, ETA towards destination?"
"Currently unknown Six… that is a lot of weapons photos…I assume our destination is Beacon Academy, one of the Huntsmen academies. ETA is unknown as I have not been able to reference our location with an area map although through process of elimination we may be over the Emerald Forest…does this girl have cat ears?"
"Focus."
"Apologies Spartan."
"Any persons of note?"
"Yes Six, two. Headmaster Ozpin, no other name given, and Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch. Head combat instructor."
"Combat?"
"Yes, the Huntsman Academies are designed to train the next generation of warriors against the Grimm."
"Grimm?"
"What we fought earlier in the forest, the unknown fauna, they seem to be quite a problem here. But aside from that, there seem to be no references at all to any off-planet sources. I do believe that this is a first contact scenario Six. How interesting! What power sources are used? There are multiple references to a power producing mineral know as 'Dust'. It may be a new material for UNSC investigation-"
"Rho."
"I apologise Spartan, I seem to have been side-tracked."
"How is the progress on the T1-EW/S?"
"Progressing nicely. I have used processing components from Covenant based Armour enhancements like the Active Camouflage and used those run components to devise a way to recharge the weapon at a slow rate with a cost to system power. At the current rate, it is a cost of 5% system power with the weapon being fully charged and ready in one to two weeks. Is this acceptable Spartan?"
"Yes. Go to standby and focus on data collection until my say."
"Affirmative Spartan. Switching passive systems on and turning to standby."
Six rode in silence for some minutes after his talk with Rho. The first contact scenario makes sense with the (so far) general lack of knowledge of the UNSC. This just gave Six a bigger drive to re-establish contact with the UNSC, to return to the fight. Six had turned the external sound receptors on his helmet back on so he may pick up anything that the girls sitting opposite him said.
"U-um excuse me, uh sir, Six. Uh, Six sir." It was the one in red, Ruby.
"Yes?" Six responded to the small girl.
"We'll be arriving at Beacon in about a minute." Ruby replied.
Six only nodded his head as he stood up to wait at the hatch at the side of the Bullhead, raising an arm to grip the ceiling of the craft for extra support.
"What was that Ruby?" Yang asked her sister.
"Well have you seen him? He's really big, I was flustered at his size okay." Ruby replied, "Have you called Professor Ozpin?" Ruby asked her sister.
"Yep! Before I called the Bullhead down." Yang replied.
"Did you tell him where to meet us?" Weiss asked.
"Uhh…No?"
"You dolt." Was all Weiss could say as she sighed. "I'll call Professor Ozpin and tell him that we're bringing Six to his office and see if we can meet halfway." Weiss continued as she pulled out her scroll.
The Bullhead started slowing down and spun to face the school as it landed, the hatches opening to reveal the school beyond and the students inhabiting it. Six stepped out of the Bullhead and landed on the tiled ground, creating a small spider web of cracks under his boots as he landed. Pairs of eyes from the student body flickered towards where he landed but stopped upon his daunting size, very few coming close to his height, even less surpassing it. Some had taken out their scrolls and started taking photos and videos of Six, an unknown on an unknown world.
"Rho."
"Erasing scroll data Spartan, they should really invest in something more secure then bunching everything onto a single global server."
"And if they wonder where their data has gone?" Six asked.
"I set in a pop up detailing the device saying that it has insufficient storage space. I figured the resulting confusion would grant us enough time to get to Professor Ozpin's office." Rho replied.
"Good, thank you."
"Affirmative Spartan, switching back to standby."
The girls stepped off the Bullhead with much lighter landings, and started making their way towards the central tower to meet Professor Ozpin. Six moving behind the group as they would know where to go. While Team RWBY was Meeting and greeting some friends along the way to the office.
"Hey Ruby. Was your guys' mission?"
"Oh, hey Jaune. It wasn't too bad. Just an extermination mission in the Emerald Forest." Ruby replied to her fellow team leader.
"Really, how'd it go, did you break the Grimm's legs?" Team JNPR's energetic redhead asked.
"We…uh, we only actually saw about four Grimm the entire time." Yang responded.
"Really?" Team JNPR's level-headed red head asked.
"Yeah, cause of him." Ruby answered while pointing behind her towards where Six was.
"Who?" Pyrrha asked.
"Uh Ruby, there's no one there." Jaune said as he pointed behind Ruby, and by extension RWBY to the empty space behind the team.
"What? Where did he go?"
"Sorry." The group turned to where the voice emanated from Behind Team JNPR, where the near seven foot tall giant was now standing. "I was waiting for you while you talked." Six said.
"R-Ruby, who's this?" Jaune asked.
"Th-this is Noble Six." Ruby replied, equally as stunned from Six appearing out of nowhere.
"Hi, I'm Nora!" Nora introduced herself to Six, walking in front of him.
"Sierra B-312."
"Sierra?"
"It's the callsign assigned to the SPARTANS."
"Oh, ok then, this is Ren, Jaune, and Pyrrha." Nora introduced the rest of her team. Who all said hello in kind.
Six gave a nod in response.
"Is this the 'giant man in armour who tackled an Alpha Beowolf' or 'Noble Six' as Ms. Schnee told me?" came another voice from behind Six.
"Professor Ozpin!" Ruby cried.
Professor Ozpin was walking towards the small group with his cane, Professor Goodwitch, and his cup of coffee in hand, or is it cocoa? One of them.
"We really are not that perceptive to miss three people the way we're looking, are we?" Blake asked to no one in particular.
"Professor Ozpin?" Six asked the man.
"Yes, and you must be Noble Six?"
"Yes Sir."
"Please, follow me. We must have much to discuss and I think the conversations would be better suited away from prying eyes and ears Hmm?"
"I agree, I'm not one for crowds."
"Then please, allow me to show you to my office. Team RWBY, may you please come along as well, I wish to know how your mission went." Ozpin said.
"Sure Professor." Ruby replied.
"And Team JNPR, do you not have a mission of your own to go to?"
"Uh, yeah! Alright Team, let's mov-"
"Hurry up Jaune or we're gonna be late. Places to go, legs to break." Nora called to her team leader, with Pyrrha and Ren beside her, already at the landing pads.
"Seriously!?" Jaune called to his team.
"Sorry." He heard back.
Six was gazing upon the architecture of the academy, its influence seemed to come from many different cultures, although European seemed to be the mainstay of the basis. The best thing to do currently would be to talk to this Professor and gain confirmation of whether or not there is contact with the UNSC and proceed accordingly with the data received. Either use existing contact with the UNSC to call in Evac and get back to the fight or work in tandem with the populace until contact or a radio beacon may be established with the UNSC.
The group were approaching a tall tower in the centre of the grounds.
"That is the CCT(S) tower Six, it is one of the four towers. The other three are in Haven, Shade, and Atlas Academies." Rho chimed in.
"Thank you Rho."
"No problem Spartan."
"Rho."
"Yes Spartan?"
"Prepare information about the UNSC and Humanity. It's best to be prepared."
"Affirmative Spartan. Enacting, and Spartan, I recommend you rest after this is finished."
Six scanned the foyer and main terminal of the building as they entered, looking over everything.
"Please, this way." The Headmaster gestured towards an elevator off to the side of the room.
Six complied, stepping into the elevator with the Headmaster and Head Combat Instructor. The Team of four waiting for the elevator after the three had gone up.
The elevator opened to reveal an office with large spinning gears within the roof and side walls. And a large picture window set into a clock face on the opposite side of the room behind a desk and chair with gear motifs. Clerestory windows on the upper level of the room.
"Please, come in." The Headmaster requested as he walked behind the desk on the opposing side of the room. Glynda moving off to beside the desk.
"Would you like something to drink?" Headmaster Ozpin asked as Six walked in front of the desk.
"No thank you." Six replied.
"Alright then. What would you like to talk about then? I'm sure we both have questions." Ozpin asked as he sat behind the desk.
"Do you know of the UNSC?" Six asked.
"I cannot say that I do." Ozpin responded.
Six turned around to look at the elevator behind him. Then to the Headmistress standing to the side of the desk before back to the headmaster.
"Professor Ozpin, I request private conference with you."
"I don't see why not."
"Professor Ozpin!" Glynda called from the headmasters side.
"Now Glynda, it is best for us to be courteous to our guest as he may have just as many questions for us as we do for him and if a private conversation between the two of us may have those questions asked and answered, then this is the best option. It may not be the most sensible course of action but for the time being it doesn't have many negative repercussions." Ozpin told Glynda.
"…Fine." Glynda relented for the time. But what could this Metal man really do to Professor Ozpin?
"Thank you Glynda. May you please wait on the ground floor and tell Team RWBY to wait as well if they come up." Ozpin asked.
Glynda turned with a silent nod and walked towards the elevator as it opened.
"Hi Headmaster-"
"Back down."
"-aww."
Professor Ozpin turned his attention back to the man who was standing silently across the desk from him with his hands clasped behind his back.
"What would you like to talk about?" Ozpin asked towards the man.
"Has anyone on Remnant achieved spaceflight?" Six asked back.
What a curious question, certainly not one Ozpin was expecting.
"No, I do not believe so. Research was put into the concept but the threat of attacks by aerial Grimm such as Nevermores and Griffons had the idea put on indefinite hiatus due to the risks towards Grimm attacks before even reaching the upper atmosphere." Ozpin replied.
"Have you ever heard of the Covenant?" Six asked.
"No." Ozpin answered again.
At this answer the whole demeanour of the man seemed to change, appearing more rigid than before and more formal than the politeness he just exuded.
"Professor Ozpin." Six started. "What I am about to tell you may breach several UNSC protocols but I have deemed it necessary for the current situation."
This had Professor Ozpin even more intrigued if possible.
"I am Noble Six. Lieutenant Sierra B-312 of SPARTAN III Beta Company and current unofficial emissary of the United Nations Space Command for the planet Remnant." Six spoke with an extremely formal tone towards the man across the desk.
"I'm…sorry?" Professor Ozpin was slightly baffled.
"You are not alone in the galaxy." Six stated.
"May you provide some evidence? Not that I do not believe you, it is still something one may find hard to fathom with mere statements."
"Rho."
The room visibly darkened, the lights dimming and the upper windows closing at Six's utterance of the word. Another voice started sounding from somewhere within the room, Professor Ozpin could not place the origin. The lights on his desk flickering before coalescing into a small figure standing so to speak, on the desk in front of him. The figure came more into focus revealing a small, semi-opaque, person standing before him. It was wearing a grey jacket with grey long pants and boots. It had black hair and dark grey skin with orange wires all over the body of the figure. As it looked up Ozpin could see pupil-less eyes with the wires feeding into them. As the figure looked at Ozpin, the wires flashing through multiple colours rapidly, yellow, cyan, sky blue, before turning back to orange. The figure clasped its hands casually in front of its person.
"Hello, I am RHO 0313-8. Personal UNSC smart A.I. assigned to Spartan B-312." Rho introduced himself to the Professor.
Professor Ozpin, to say the least, was impressed, intrigued, and minorly convinced. He had heard rumours that Atlas and James had put research into smarter A.I.'s than what are currently available such as to the AK-130's but from the small amount of the A.I. in front of him that he had seen, he could see that it could possibly out perform all of the Atlesian A.I.'s. Professor Ozpin clasped his hands in front of his face and pursed his lips and leaned forwards towards the small figure in focus. The tiny figure, Rho, continued talking.
"Professor Ozpin, we are requesting for you to allow us to use the usage of the CCT(S) so we can repurpose some facilities and initiate contact with the UNSC. We would like to extend an olive branch and welcome you and the rest of Remnant into humanities fold."
"Hmm." Professor Ozpin gazed up towards Six from Rho. "I expect there is more than just that?"
"Humanity is at war." Six answered.
"We are at war too. At war against the Grimm."
"We are in a war against extinction."
That had Ozpin raising his eyebrows.
"Rho, Covenant."
"Affirmative Spartan."
Holographic displays started running around Ozpin's desk. Showing many different displays, many different images of different creatures.
"Professor Ozpin. Humanity has been at war for thirty years against the Covenant. The Covenant are a group of many different species of aliens that are dedicated to the eradication of humanity, and if they make it to Remnant. Remnant will die. We need to make contact with the UNSC so that we may bring Remnant into Humanities fold, so that you may have a chance, and we may re-join the fight for survival." Rho told the Headmaster.
"…What would you need?"
"Access to this facilities communications array so that I may modify it to send out a beacon on UNSC channels so that we may send a signal calling for UNSC help." Rho answered.
"How do I know that the UNSC will help? How do I know you will not betray us? These may seem like unneeded questions to you but they are very real concerns for someone on my side of this predicament." Ozpin asked.
It was Six who spoke up this time, and not the A.I.
"We have given an oath. To protect Earth, Humanity, and all her colonies from threats both outside and within. We will not betray that."
"And of the Faunus?"
"Faunus?" Six asked.
"A race of people with animal traits such as limbs and the ability to see in the dark who live alongside us here on Remnant." Ozpin answered.
"I see no difference." Six stated.
Ozpin contemplated this for a few seconds, before making his decision.
"While here, you shall need a place to say. And I assume that you are not the type to stay still for long?" Ozpin received a nod. "Very well, I shall assign you a room in the staff quarters. Alongside that I shall assign you one of the staff to act as a guide around Beacon and Vale if you so decide to venture that far. Do you have any information about your combat prowess?"
"Noble Six is combat proficient in many different areas and worked as an assassin for ONI." Rho answered.
"ONI?"
"The Office of Naval Intelligence. I shall leave you with information of ONI, the UEG and the UNSC, although they shall be heavily redacted to conform with the Cole Protocol."
"Alright. I shall have one of the staff members escort you to the staff quarters."
"Thank you Professor Ozpin, I shall also leave you with a copy of Six's file as another sign of trust, and so that we may go on assignments to build confidence on both sides." Rho told the headmaster.
"Thank you." Ozpin told the small A.I. as he messaged on of his staff members. Ozpin pressed down on one of the holographic displays on the desk.
"Glynda, may you send Team RWBY up and join them." Spoke into the small communicator before turning back to the two, representatives.
"Thank you, Six, Rho. I look forward to speaking to your UNSC. Your Guide shall meet you in the foyer, his name is Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck."
Six nodded politely to the man before saluting and turning back towards the elevator.
"Thank you." Rho said, flickering amber before dissipating, the room brightening once more.
Six entered the elevator, passing the team of four girls and the teacher on his way back to the ground floor.
"Ah, girls. How was your mission?" Ozpin asked the team of Huntresses in training.
"It went well Headmaster." Ruby responded.
"Good, how did you fare against the Grimm?"
"We, uh, only saw like four."
"Oh. May you give me a full report then?" the Headmaster asked.
"Yes sir, Weiss, you got this." Ruby said.
Said girl rolled her eyes at her partner before stepping forward.
"We landed in the Emerald Forest at 10:13am before we started walking towards the mission area. We met no Grimm on our walk, fifteen minutes later we were having a conversation when Blake told us to quieten down. We then heard gunshots and a crackling sound. Ruby resolved us to go help whoever was firing as they might have been under attack by the Grimm." Weiss paused. Looking at the headmaster.
Ozpin nodded to her to continue.
"Before we could go help however, an Ursa Major came through the forest in front of us, it looked panicked, although we were ready to attack the Ursa, Ruby told us not to. While we were talking the Ursa fell over dead with Six, on its back with a knife in its neck. He then rolled off to our right and pulled a pistol. We stood and watched him as we speculated what he might be, thinking he might be a new Atlesian Knight, among other things. Blake used her Semblance to try and get another view of him from the side. When she was within 23 feet, he fired two shots at Blake, narrowly missing her head and causing her to fall. He seemed to flicker before starting off towards where Blake was sitting before Yang engaged." Weiss paused, making sure the Headmaster was keeping up.
Ozpin nodded for her to continue again.
"Yang just, passed through him. We then heard him speak, asking us questions about where we were before requesting a cease fire, Ruby then had Yang call you and then the Bullhead, while doing so, three Beowolves came towards us, two normal and one Alpha. Six killed them before we could do anything, shooting both Junior Beowolves in the head before tackling the Alpha and shooting it three times in the head. The Bullhead came down and we made our way back here. And that's it Professor." Weiss finished.
Ozpin leaned back into his chair, pondering.
"Thank you girls, you may go back to your dorm now."
The girls said their goodbyes to the Headmaster and headed back to and down the elevator.
"You may go too Glynda, I have other matters to attend to currently." Ozpin told his friend.
Glynda nodded before making her way to the elevator as well.
Once she had left the room, Ozpin opened a new file on his desk. One look at the first page told Ozpin all he needed about the new man.
"Hyper-Lethal? Oh my…so much black ink."
Rho colour guide, or:
Emotions and feelings and the corresponding Colour.
Neutral-Warm Orange
Thinking-Yellow
Wonder-Cyan
Calculation-Sky Blue
Trust-Amber
Anger-Lava Red
And those are the colours so far, although Rho has not experienced anger yet, I did include it as an example in the first chapter so I thought I should list it here.
Have a nice day.