Ch 46: First Mission (1)

"I've done it!" Ruby shouted at Ray and her team as she slammed down her dinner tray.

"What have you done now." an exasperated Weiss asked. Ray and Yang also turned to look at their sister, curious about what had her so riled up. Ruby had been doodling on a piece of paper throughout class today. Thinking, writing, thinking again, crossing out what she had written, writing again. Until she had filled up the page and then crumpled it up, threw it away, and got out a fresh sheet to start the process all over again. This cycle had been going on since Monday, and it was Thursday now. However, every time they tried to ask her what she was doing, she would cover up the paper, giggle, and tell them it was a secret. Her throw-aways were no help either. Whatever she had written was so thoroughly crossed out that the previously white page was now black.

"Our team attacks!" Ruby proudly declared, one hand on her hip and her chin raised triumphantly as she brandished a piece of paper before them. Even Blake lowered the book she had been reading as they all took a look at what had gotten Ruby so pleased with herself.

The paper was mostly blank with six neat bulleted lines of text.

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Ice Flower: Weiss uses her ice glyphs to enhance my sniper shots to deliver high-powered penetration and impact damage to a distant target(s) and leave behind a large 'ice flower'. ;)

Bumblebee: Blake swings Yang around on her ribbon to deliver a full-powered punch using the gathered momentum from the swing to maximize Yang's striking force.

Checkmate: Blake and Weiss use their fast attack speed to deliver a flurry of small, quick strikes to overwhelm the target(s).

Lady Bug: Blake and I use our high movement speed to inflict strong crossing strikes to the target(s) as we move in and out of range from opposing directions.

Freezer Burn: Weiss creates a thin sheet of ice on the ground, and Yang delivers a fiery punch to it to send up a cloud of icy fog to sap enemy stamina and limit visibility.

Enabler: I spin around the target(s) like a top with Crescent Rose in war-scythe mode while Yang fires shells into the back of Crescent Rose to increase my rotation speed and adjust my attack trajectory."

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"Uh, Ruby, what is this?" Blake was the first to voice the question that was on all of their minds.

"It's our team attack names!" Ruby answered smugly.

*Geeeeeeeee* Ray, along with the other members of Team RWBY, could only stare at Ruby in deadpan disbelief at her proud declaration as the sounds of the noisy cafeteria faded away around them. The previously deafening racket now no longer seemed to be able to penetrate the bubble of oppressive silence around them.

"Caw. Caw. Caw." Except for the cawing of a crow. Ray broke the group's uniformed deadpan stare at the overly proud Ruby to glance over Weiss's head at the crow as it flew by outside the window.

*Bzzzzzzz* The stalemate was further broken when Ray's scroll buzzed to inform him of a new message. Everyone turned to look at Ray as he pulled out his scroll with unfounded accusatory looks in their eyes for ending the silent judgment of his twin. Except Ruby. Who, freed from everyone's stinging stares, lost her proud ramrod straight posture and staggered a bit as she seemed to collapse in on herself.

"Sorry, I got to go. Ozpin wants to speak with me." Ray apologized as he stood up. "I think team attack names are a great idea, Ruby. It will help you guys organize yourselves better in the heat of battle if you already have predetermined ways to coordinate your actions and simple, quick ways to direct them till you get more familiar with each other." Ray encouraged and gave a comforting pat on his sagging twin's shoulder before beating a hasty retreat as he could feel Mount Schnee about to erupt once again at her team leader's childish nature.

"Don't encourage her! *Cough*" Weiss's shout chased after Ray's retreating back before unleashing her scathing tongue on the little red, paying no attention to the cough that had taken a large amount of the bite out of her words.

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*Ding* The elevator opened onto the top floor of Beacon Tower. "You wanted to see me, Professor." Ray announced his arrival as he strode out of the elevator and into Ozpin's office.

Ozpin's office was a large open area furnished only by the headmaster's desk. It was positioned behind the clock face of Beacon Tower, giving any guest a spectacular view through the clock as all of Beacon Academy and the city of Vale in the distance spread out behind Ozpin. The floor, roof, and walls were all made of clear glass, giving a panoramic view of the clouds around them and the world below, broken only by the presence of the supporting pillars. The floor showed the moving gears and parts beneath them that made up the Beacon Tower Clock, and the ceiling provided a glimpse of the clear blue sky above a mobile of cogs and gears that hung from the glass ceiling like a chandelier.

Ozpin and Glynda turned to look at Ray as he strode across the floor. Glynda's lips pursed in a thin line of disapproval, finding Ray's innate confidence even as he walked into this place of power annoying for reasons even she wasn't certain of. With a small wave of his hand, Ozpin signaled Glynda that he didn't mind and to let it go. After dealing with the politics of the ruling council of Vale, he rather appreciated Ray's directness when getting down to business.

"Yes. Thank you for coming, Mr. Rose." Ozpin gestured for Ray to take a seat as he sat down behind his desk while Glynda took up position beside it.

"As you may remember, part of our agreement for you to become an assistant teacher here at Beacon…" as Ozoin began to drone on, Ray habitually settled into parade rest with his feet shoulder with apart and hands folded at the small of his back next to the chair that had been prepared for him. A distant look in his eyes as he gazed over Ozpin's shoulder out the window, the perfect picture of a soldier awaiting his long-winded superior to get to the bloody point already. Some habits persisted even after death.

Seeing this, Ozpin cut his explanation short and chuckled, "Well, that gets straight to the point then, shall we." He said, sliding a scroll across the table to Ray.

"Sorry," realizing what he had unconsciously been doing, Ray apologized sheepishly and sat down in the chair as he picked up the scroll.

"We have been receiving reports of trading caravans going missing in the forests of northern Vale between the settlements of Saysalito and Upper Cairn. We would like you to investigate and, if possible, solve the source of these disappearances. Since this is your first official mission, Glenda will be accompanying you. Any questions?" Ozpin explained as Ray scrolled through the data available about the missing convoys, which was precious little.

"Any unofficial guesses about what we'll be facing?" Ray asked, glancing up. Just because something hadn't made the report didn't mean that an experienced huntsman hadn't picked up on something.

"I'm sorry, no." Ozpin answered, shaking his head. "Now, your bullhead will leave at dawn tomorrow. I suggest you get a good night's sleep, Mr. Rose." Ozpin dismissed Ray, who left with a nod of acknowledgment to both Ozpin and Glynda.

Ozpin stood up and turned to stare out over his academy and the city he had dedicated his life to protecting as the elevator doors closed behind Ray. After ensuring that the elevator was indeed descending. Glynda moved to stand beside and slightly behind the man she trusted above all others. For a while, the two of them stood there in companionable silence, consumed with their own thoughts.

"I will be counting on you, Glynda. How we proceed may depend entirely on the results of your mission with Mr. Rose." Ozpin finally broke the silence to say. With an understanding nod, Glynda turned and briskly walked to the elevator. She also had her own preparation to do before they left, after all.