Ace Operatives

Ace Operatives is the third episode of The RWBYA Adventures.

Plot

[The scene opened up with Clover debriefing Qrow, Ruby, Jaune, and Alan in Ironwood's office. Between them was a holographic screen showing a Dust mine within the ice fields.]

Clover: All right, gather 'round. Our mission today is to secure the launch site for the Amity Communications Tower. The designated area is an abandoned Dust mine. Since its closure, the Grimm have moved in.

[The screen then displayed a ghastly looking Grimm, having a smokey lower body instead of legs, and long, spindly arms with sharp clawed fingers. It also had a mask-like face with red markings, and a singular glowing eye in the center.]

Clover: The good news is all that untouched Dust is still down there, too. Science team says they'll need it for the first phase of their launch. Atlas military Huntsmen are already hard at work clearing out the surrounding tundra. But recon has identified a powerful Geist that's managed to evade destruction and take several lives. After we increased our numbers, the Geist was smart enough to retreat into the mine itself, meaning it's old and extremely dangerous. The mine was a labyrinth back in the day. There's all sorts of tunnels and chambers the Geist can move between, so if we're gonna kill this thing, we'll have to split up and corner it.

[The holograms disappeared as Clover looked to the four of them.]

Clover: General Ironwood says you've seen your fair share of combat. I trust that man with my life, so tomorrow, I'll be trusting you all, too.

[The four of them nodded as the door to the office opened, revealing General Ironwood who looked at Alan, Ruby, and Jaune..]

General Ironwood: Pietro would like to see you three.

---

[The scene cut to Pietro's much more glamorous workshop in Atlas Academy, with him leading the huntsman teams and Alan inside.]

Pietro: Apologies for the mess and for holding onto your weapons for so long. The upgrades you requested were, uh… well, they were more than I anticipated.

[Teams RWBY and JNR went over to a group of lockers against the wall.]

PietroL Your new weapons and armor should be as requested, but I also took the liberty of reviewing your combat footage from the Vytal Festival Tournament. There's some additional enhancements I'd like to suggest. Oh, but for now, these should serve you well enough.

[As the teams got their weapons out, Pietro turned to Alan.]

Pietro: I'm not sure there's anything I can do for... that thing on your arm. But I do have something you may want to have regardless.

Alan: And what would that be?

---

[The scene cut to a group of airships flying through the sky, rapidly approaching the Dust mine. Clover's voice sounded over the radio.]

Clover (voice): Let's make it happen, people.

[One of the ships opened its side door to reveal Team RWBY and Alan in their new outfits, those they wore in Part 3 of RWBYA. Nodding at one another, the five of them jumped from the ship simultaneously. Ruby activated Crescent Rose as she fell, turning it into scythe form then pointing it blade down while standing on it, firing off bullets to keep her from landing too quickly. As Weiss fell, she used Myrtenaster and her Semblance to create a Glyph mid-air which summoned the arm and sword of a giant, icy knight, allowing Weiss to slide to the ground on the sword's blade.]

[Blake activated Gambol Shroud by removing its sheath, then sent it into grappling hook mode to swing around to the ground. Yang rapidly descended, laughing as she approached the ground, simply hitting her fist to the ground while simultaneously shooting a bullet, allowing her to safely land next to the rest of her team. Whilst Alan approached the ground, he hit the Simplicitrix's core, transforming into NRG as he performed a superhero landing, then looked up to see Harriet and Marrow having landed as well.]

[Blake stepped forward but then noticed Yang staring at her, prompting Yang to become flustered.]

Yang: O-Oh, sorry. I'm just... not used to the new hair yet.

Blake: [blushing and brushing hair back] Is it... bad?

Yang: N-No! It's good, really good! Great even!

[Marrow and Harriet watched from a distance.]

Marrow: I did not sign up to become a babysitter.

Harriet: Yeah well the rest of us babysit you all the time.

[Harriet led the way as Marrow gave a small pout. Weiss wiped away some snow from a piece of metal, revealing it to say SDC, causing her to groan some.]

NRG: Everything alright?

Weiss: Yeah, just... some bad memories.

[The two then looked up to see Ruby crossing her arms across her chest while shivering.]

Ruby: It's freezing out here!

NRG: Is it? Genuine question, by the way. This transformation doesn't feel temperature.

Weiss: Without heating or projected Aura, the cold of Solitas can kill you in a matter of hours.

Blake: I suddenly don't feel as bad about leaving Oscar behind.

Yang: [sighs] Can we talk about that again?

[The five of them looked up to see they had gotten some distance between themselves and the two Ace-Ops paired with them. Ruby then turned back to the others.]

Ruby: What about it?

Yang: We're really not gonna tell Ironwood about what happened to Oz? What we learned about Jinn? About Salem?

Ruby: We are! ...We will. But you saw how things looked when we flew into Atlas.

Blake: The General's heart seems to be in the right place, but that doesn't mean we should trust him yet.

Weiss: We need to play along for a while before we make any major decisions.

Yang: Okay. How did Oscar feel about that?

Ruby: ..We-

Harriet: Hey!

[The five turned back to see that the Ace-Ops noticed how far behind they were.]

Harriet: We don't have all day!

NRG: She's right. We can discuss the specifics of our world-saving plan when we get back to Atlas.

[The group caught up with the Ace-Ops and entered the mine. Almost immediately, it was evident they weren't making it far as the mine was blocked up by a cave-in. Harriet put her hand to her ear piece.]

Harriet: Bravo checking in. Hit a bit of a snag. There's been a cave-in in the main entrance. Not sure if it's recent or was caused by the original accident. Either way, we'll have to do a little problem solving.

[Blake looked around, her ears perking up as she seemed to realize what was happening.]

Yang: You okay?

Blake: I just realized where we are. This mine was closed after an explosion.

Weiss: I remember this disaster. Or rather, I remember how furious it made my father. [approaches Blake] I wish I could take back the years of pain my family has caused the Faunus and all of my complacency in it.

[As the two softly smiled at one another, Marrow came up to them.]

Marrow: This society is set up for Faunus to be at the bottom, and humans are willing participants. They benefit from doing nothing to help us. But there are still those who actively abuse us. Anyway, I didn't come over here looking to solve systemic societal issues. Harriet found a gap in the rubble we think one of you could fit through, ideally someone with a knack for seeing in the dark.

[Both Marrow and Weiss looked at Blake who seemed to be lost in thought before she realized they were talking about her.]

Blake: O-oh. Of course.

[Blake approached the large boulder wall and crawled in through the crevice, pulling out Gambol Shroud's katana when she had enough room, then changed it to the sickle form for her to be ready to fire its Dust bullets.]

Marrow: All right, Blake. Take a look around. Is there any Dust in the immediate area?

Blake: Mine carts… debris… no Dust, though.

Marrow: Great, then it should be safe to blast our way through.

Blake: Okay. Heading ba-

[Blake was cut off as the Geist suddenly appeared, swiping at her but hitting her clone instead as the real Blake jumped back, firing off her weapon at the Geist. On the other side of the wall, the shots were heard.]

Harriet: Damnit! Blake, stand back!

[Harriet deployed her weapon, a pair of mechanical gauntlets that formed around her arms and generated electricity for her as she hit the boulder, though it did almost nothing.]

Harriet: Wh- How thick is this rubble?!

NRG: Let me try!

[NRG got close to the rubble, then the three grill plates on his face lit up before he fired a green beam of radiation, blasting through the rubble. As the smoke cleared, the group saw the Geist beginning to fly off.]

Yang: Don't let it get away!

[The others ran off as NRG hit the Simplicitrix, changing into a black and pink ostrich-like alien. He had a large, black crest on his head between his two large eyes, stubby wings, Velociraptor claws on either foot, and each leg had two red and black bands. He wore the Simplicitrix on the bottom band of his left leg.]

Ostrush: OSTRUSH!

[Ostrush caught up with the others with his enhanced speed, but then stopped in the middle of an icy hallway, prompting the others to turn to him.]

Marrow: What are you waiting for?!

[Ostrush looked around, stepping closer to the group before leaning his head down and examining the ground. He pecked a spot twice then stepped back.]

Ostrush: Yang, mind punching a hole there for me?

[Confused, Yang reluctantly complied, using her robotic arm to create a small crater in the stony floor. Ostrush took a deep breath before plunging his head into the hole, using his beak and crest to dig further in the softer material beneath the rock. After a moment, he pulled his head back up, looking around again.]

Ostrush: ..Something's coming.

[Everyone looked around, cautiously on guard. As said by Ostrush, something did indeed come, as gigantic, centipede-like Grimm shot out of the floors and walls, spinning as they did. Yang hit one in the mouth, firing off a bullet from Ember Celica as she did. Green ooze came from the Centinel's wound and is slithered around in pain.]

Yang: That's disgusting.

[Another came for Yang, prompting her to punch it again. Each punch resulted in a small device being attached to the Centinel before she flipped and threw it, causing it to explode in mid-air. Weiss created a pathway of Glyphs which Blake skates along, using Gambol Shroud to slice through the creatures. Ruby spun the blade of Crescent Rose around, slicing up several Grimm before slamming it into the ground, steadying its sniper form. She aimed the weapon at two Centinels that spun around each other towards the group. Before Ruby could fire, Marrow jumped towards them, and smirked as he snapped his fingers.]

Marrow: Stay!

[The two spinning Centinels came to a halt due to Marrow's Stay, and Harriet ran up to them, leaving a trail of electricity behind her as she did. Ostrush watched from a distance.]

Ostrush: Hm.

[Harriet clasped the two Centinels together and bashed them onto the ground to kill them, then put her hand to her comms device in her ear.]

Harriet: This is Bravo! We found the target, but it fled deeper into the mine. Engaging Centinels!

[Harriet was then surprised by Ostrush Ostrushing past her towards more Centinels. The Simplicitrix on his leg glowed red and his body became more humanoid, his flesh turning into a teal-grey rock with additional black elements. His flightless wings grew into arms, with his right one gaining green gemstones, and the left gaining blue. Yellow ones formed from his legs, and red from his head and chest.]

Geode: GEODE!

[Geode activated the yellow gemstones in his legs, generating electricity around them which increased his speed. He lowered his upper body while gaining on the Centinels, activating the red gems on his head. Coming in contact with the Centinels, Geode created a fiery implosion which destroyed the two, and left him unscathed. Looking up, he saw a lone Centinel.]

Weiss: One more!

[Weiss was surprised by an electric rush going past her.]

Ruby: I got it!

[The same electric rush zoomed by Ruby as well.]

Geode: I'm the closest, I should-

[The electricity went passed Geode as well, revealing itself to be Harriet as she mounted her power fist gauntlets onto her arm, punching through the Centinel, causing it to disintegrate. Ruby then rose up beside her, wide eyed in excitement.]

Ruby: Woah! Your Semblance makes you super fast! Just like me!

Harriet: ...Cool. But, judging by your reaction speed, I'd say I'm a little faster. [winks]

Marrow: Not everything's a competition, Hare.

Geode: Besides, if it was, I'd win depending on which form I'm using. ...Including this one.

---

[The group eventually came to a large chamber, with Alan landing on the ground and transforming back to human from having used Absorbat at some point in the mines. Looking up, the group was able to see Team JNR, Elm, and Vine on a higher level in the same chamber.]

Ruby: [waving] Hey!

Vine: [over comms] Everyone use caution. This room is highly active with Dust energy. Triggering it could ruin the launch site.

Marrow: [over comms] And vaporize us. Why is that always second with you?

Nora: [over comms] I thought the target was supposed to be in here?

[The ground then rumbled as the Geist, now merged with chunks of ice and rock, along with large purple Dust crystals, fell to the ground. The vibrations caused those on the ground to stumble, and Alan accidentally hit the Simplicitrix against the wall, creating a red flash.]

Vine: Elm!

[Using their respective hard light Aura Semblances, Elm was able to launch Vine up onto a nearby minecart. Team RWBY turned, confused, to see Alan after having transformed.]

Yang: Are... you okay?

Alan: I'm fine. I'm fine. I just- [looks at his arm, seeing his transformed state] ...Ah, shit.

Weiss: ...Should we be concerned?

Alan: No, no. But...

[The scene panned back to reveal Alan's form: Antigravitesla.]

Antigravitesla: ...I'd recommend standing ba-AHHHHHHHHHH!

[Antigravitesla screamed as the nodes on his body fired up, sending him flying upwards into the air. Team RWBY stared in awe as Antigravitesla went flinging around the upper portions of the mine like a pinball.]

Ruby: We need to stop him before he damages this place!

Yang: On it! Blake!

[Yang launched herself up into the air using the recoil of both Ember Celica and her robot arm. Blake activated the ribbon form of Gambol Shroud, sending the blade up to Yang for her to catch. All the while, Antigravitesla managed to narrowly dodge each of the Ace Ops as they fought against the Geist, which was the actual mission. Yang managed to get above Antigravitesla, letting herself fall across the other side of him before firing herself back upwards, and then falling on the other side again, hitting the ground and putting Gambol Shroud's blade into the ground, tying up Antigravitesla as he fell to the ground. Antigravitesla then unintentionally activated his nodes again, only for himself, Blake, and Yang to be stabilized to the ground by Weiss' black Glyphs, which seemed to be straining her.]

Weiss: I don't know if I can-

[Yang looked up and gasped, seeing the arm of the Geist being pulled down towards her because of Weiss' Glyph. She jumped out of the way, and the arm came crashing onto the ground. The blade of Gambol Shroud had dodged being crushed as it was pulled out of the ground by Antigravitesla managing to come off of his Glyph, pulling the weapon, and thusly Blake through the air. Both of them screamed rapantly as they flung about the air. The two thrashed about, knocking into the sides of the walls and mine, somehow still evading the Geist and Ace Ops. It wasn't until Blake hit a wall and purple energy flashed over her and dispersed as her Aura broke, that someone managed to step in. Ruby changed into her Petal Burst form, running up and taking Blake out of the fight and back towards the tunnel they came in through, with Antigravitesla still being thrown about with Gambol Shroud wrapped around him.]

---

[Ironwood went to leave the arena, stepping away from the group.]

Winter: Sir.

[Ironwood stopped and turned to Winter.]

Winter: What should we do about Mr. Nomaly?

[Winter motioned to Alan. Ironwood pondered for a moment.]

Ironwood: Alan. A word.

[Alan turned to Ironwood, seeing him motioning for him, prompting him to walk over.]

Ironwood: It's to my understanding you don't have any official huntsman training

Alan: That's an extremely simplified way of putting it, but yes.

Ironwood: Regardless, I've seen the report from the Ace Ops regarding their initial interaction with you, as well as just seeing what you can do for myself. You may not have formal training, but I'd like to extend an invitation to grant you an official huntsman license.

[Alan thought for a moment before taking a step back.]

Alan: I'm... going to have to decline.

Ironwood: I'm sorry?

Alan: No offense, but I don't have the best history with military. Besides, I have more freedom not being licensed. I'm not saying it will happen, but if you make a decision I don't agree with, I'm going to need to cut my losses. I'll help you, but I'm not going to be one of your soldiers.

Major Events

• Teams RWBY and JNR get their Huntsman licenses. Alan is offered one by General Ironwood, but turns it down.
• Ostrush, Geode, Crashhopper debut.

Simplicitrix Debuts

• Ostrush
• Geode
• Crashhopper

Characters

• Alan Nomaly
• Ruby Rose
• Weiss Schnee
• Blake Belladonna
• Yang Xiao Long
• Jaune Arc
• Nora Valkyrie
• Lie Ren
• Qrow Branwen

Atlas Personnel

• General James Ironwood
• Winter Schnee
• Penny Polendina

Ace-Ops

• Clover Ebi
• Harriet Bree
• Marrow Amin
• Elm Ederne
• Vine Zeki

Villains

• Jacques Schnee

Grimm

• Geist
• Sentinels

Aliens Used

• NRG
• Ostrush (debut)
• Geode (debut)
• Crashhopper (debut)