HK-47: The White Fang's Assassin

Chapter Thirty - A Minor Setback

After failing to capture Raven Branwen, HK-47 makes his way back to the Star Forge. Once arriving at the Star Forge, HK-47 reports to Adam Taurus. Adam was quick to notice Raven's absence. 

Adam: Where is Raven Branwen?

HK-47: Answer: Dead, Master.

Adam: I thought I made it clear that Raven Branwen was to be brought to me alive. 

HK-47: Clarification: I did not kill her, Master. She killed herself. But I know the meatbag who now has the powers of the Spring Maiden. 

As HK-47 said this, Adam became interested. 

Adam: Who? 

HK-47: Answer: The blond meatbag at Beacon. The one who's arm you sliced off and the one you had me brutally maim. 

It didn't take long for Adam to remember Yang. He remembered how she charged at him in an attempt to help Blake which Adam responded by taking her arm. He also remembered giving HK-47 the orders to torture her. 

Adam: Is that so? This is promising news, HK-47.

As Adam and HK-47 spoke, a White Fang officer enters the room. 

White Fang Officer: High Leader Taurus! Our scanners are picking up an unidentified ship near Manta.

Immediately, Adam becomes interested. The officer then shows a holographic image of the ship in question. It was a Manta Airship. At first, Adam was ready to have it blasted out of the sky. However, Adam became curious about the passengers. Meanwhile inside the Manta Airship, Ruby's group prepared to land in Mantle. However, they were contacted by an unknown voice on the radio.

Radio: Unidentified vessel, identify yourself. 

Maria: This is odd. This isn't an Atlas channel. 

As Maria shuts off the radio, everyone was quick to notice the Star Forge. 

Nora: What is that? 

Maria: Apparently, that's Atlas. 

Weiss: That's...that's not Atlas. 

Yang: What the hell is going on here?!

Suddenly, the Manta is fired upon by a squadron of unfamiliar ships. Everyone in the ship was caught off guard by this. 

Nora: Whoa! What the hell was that?!

Maria: Looks like whoever in charge of that floating shipyard's the one firing at us! 

The Manta was quickly overwhelmed by the starfighters as they were shot down, crashing near Mantle. Meanwhile, Adam and HK-47 watched from the control room as the Manta crashes. Adam watched in silence as Ruby's group exits out of the downed Manta. The appearance of both Blake and Yang catches Adam's undivided attention. 

HK-47: Query: What are the odds of this, Master? 

Adam: HK, assemble a legion. It's time to show them the full might of the White Fang Empire. 

With that, Adam and HK-47 assembled a legion. Meanwhile, Ruby's group were recovering from he crash. 

Jaune: Ow....

Oscar: Is...is everyone all right? 

Maria: Still alive. 

Ruby: What were those ships? They just...came out of nowhere? 

Suddenly, the group was fired upon by a barrage of blaster fire. The group were forced to take cover behind the downed Manta.

Ren: It's an ambush!

As the group were pinned down, Blake peaked out from cover. She could see multiple gunships bearing the White Fang's insignia in the sky. 

Blake: It's...it's the White Fang! 

Soon enough, the legion that was assembled were deployed. It consisted of 20 White Fang troopers and 100 White Fang War Droids. As Ruby's group were pinned down, a smile fell on Yang's face. 

Yang: I've been waiting for some payback! Now they're gonna face a Maiden!

Yang then activates her Maiden powers and charges headfirst into the battle. Though she was able to take out a group of them, the overwhelming firepower forces Yang to retreat, but now before being wounded in the process. 

Yang: Damn it! 

Blake: We...we can't stay here! We have to leave!

Yang: I know Taurus and that bucket of bolts of his are here! I'm not stopping until I get my hands on those bastards!

Qrow: Now's not the time for that, Yang! We need to get out of here now!

Ruby: Uncle Qrow's right! 

Jaune: You guys go on ahead! Ren, Nora and I will stay behind to cover you!

Ruby: We're not leaving anyone behind!

Ren: Someone needs to stay behind. 

Nora: Besides! We'll be right behind you!

As the White Fang legion closed in on Ruby's group, Team RWBY along with Qrow, Oscar and Maria ran ahead while Jaune along with Ren and Nora stayed behind. With the White Fang legion closing in on them, the remnants of Team JNPR prepared for what was about to come. 

Ren: You do know that this is our last stand? 

Jaune: Y....yeah. 

Ren: There's no one I'd rather stand by in this fight than you two. 

Jaune: It's been an honor fighting with you both. 

Nora: Let's do this!

With that, the remnants of Team JNPR charged into battle with their weapons ready. They fought valiantly against the White Fang forces. They knew they were going to die. All that mattered was to buy their friends time.

Nora: ALL RIGHT, YOU BASTARDS! TIME TO YOU SHOW YOU WHAT TEAM JNPR CAN DO!

Ren and Nora fought side by side. Despite knowing that this was their last stand, they gave this fight their all. It didn't take long for them to be overwhelmed by the White Fang's forces. One by one, the members of Team JNPR were fatally wounded by the firepower of the White Fang. As they lay wounded on the ground, HK-47 approached the wounded Nora. She glanced over to Ren and reached out to him. HK-47 proceeds to shoot her in the head. Seeing Nora die in front of him made Ren snap. Ignoring his injuries, Ren lashed out at HK-47, but was quickly shot down by the Assassin Droid. As Jaunce watched his comrades died before him, he slowly crawled towards his sword. As he reached for his sword, a boot stomped on the sword, breaking it in two. Jaune looked up to see Adam Taurus staring him down. Remaining defiant, Jaune spits blood at Adam. After a moment of silence, Adam impales the wounded Jaune with his sword. As Jaune slowly succumbed to his wounds, his final thoughts were of Pyrrha. In that moment, Team JNPR was no more. But as Adam was about to advance to Mantle, lightning cracked the sky. All attention fell to the sky as a strange silhouette emerges from the storm clouds. Soon enough, the silhouette is revealed to be a Whale-like Grimm called a Monstra, accompanied by a massive army of flying Grimm. Atop the whale's nose stood Salem. The Grimm began to converge on the Star Forge. Left with no choice, Adam and HK-47 abandoned their chase for Ruby's group for the time being as they retreated back to the Star Forge to prepare for the attack. In that moment, Salem had begun her all out war on the White Fang Empire.