The New World Ch 1

Hey guys, NicodemusV here with another story! This chapter is typed on my phone so excuse any format issues.

You're all probably wondering where I've been or when the next chapter of The Age of Sail is. I've been around, now in my second year of high school so that ultimately means I'll be busier with school and chores and such.

That also means I've gotten better at writing too! Yay!

As for the status of The Age of Sail, I don't know. When I look back and read what I wrote, I cringe sometimes. I won't rewrite it, I won't abandon it, but expect chapters for all of my stories to increase in quality as time goes on. Also expect for time in between chapters to increase as well (though certainly not like this 3-4 month break I had!).

I'm still unsure on an update schedule, but I'll try to update within reasonable amounts of time.

Now, onto the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. It is owned by Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum respectively.

4 September 2016

International waters

South China Sea

Carrier Strike Group "Enterprise"

Time: 0000 (12:00 AM)

Admiral John H. Carter sighed, he and his carrier group were on yet another patrol along the South China Sea, ensuring freedom of navigation for all ships passing through the busy maritime lane.

Recently China had been stepping up their military and enforcing their claim on the area, which extends some 400 miles off their coast, well beyond the established 200 mile EEZ, or "exclusive economic zone".

To help with enforcing their claim, China started by piling up rocks and sand to build artificial islands and then placing military installations to help project power over the area.

This caught the eye of the surrounding nations such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, and of course, the United States.

China's little sandbox endeavor softened its neighboring countries sand castles, which inadvertently had drawn the United States into it. In order to prevent China from gaining hegemony in East Asian area, the United States began conducting freedom of navigation patrols along "Chinese held territory", to help calm down neighboring countries and ease political tension.

Even still, China continued to work in its sandbox, eventually putting runways and defense capabilities on its islands.

Which led to the current situation.

John was currently sitting in his private quarters, reading reports on maintenance, ammunition, fleet readiness, and the like.

Not that he had to do most of that, but it beat sitting around looking at the sea all day.

His coffee swayed with the rock of the Enterprise, they were going through some rough seas, but from what he heard from the bridge, it would pass in a few hours. So to bide his time, he read reports from each ship and spoke with passing crewmen from inside his quarters.

Putting down the remaining papers, he downed the rest of his coffee and put it back on his desk with a thud, as he made his way out the door into the main corridor.

The Enterprise was one of the United States Navy's newest Gerald R. Ford class super carriers, designated CVN-80. She was the third ship in the class, alongside her sister ships Gerald R. Ford and John F. Kennedy. She wasn't the Navy's only new toy, no, there was also the Zumwalt class missile "destroyer".

The Zumwalt class was designated as DDG-1000 and is the first of three ships. Original plans were for 32 ships, but cost overruns had brought it down to 3, with 29 cancelled. The thing was larger than the average destroyer, cruiser size in fact, and it held enough energy to power rail guns on its fore gun mounts, as well as lasers.

The captain of the first Zumwalt is named James A. Kirk, reminiscent of the Star Trek Enterprise's own captain James T. Kirk.

As John made his way up to the bridge, he greeted passing crewmen, who made way for him and saluted as he passed by. Eventually making it to the entrance of the bridge, he took a deep breath and walked in.

Almost immediately the Warrant Officer yelled "Admiral On Deck!" and all activity on the bridge ceased. Bridge crew, officers, and staff all turned and faced him, ending in a salute.

"At ease, everyone". John dismissed them as he made his way to the Captain of the ship, Captain Henry Callaghan.

Henry had only been an Ensign when John was Captain, and John entered the Admiralty only 10 years ago. Henry is now 36, whereas John is turning 47 this December 21st. Both were fairly new in their respective areas, but also had some combat experience under their belts. When John was still a Captain, he used to work counter-piracy operations off Somalia onboard the USS Behrman and Henry used to serve as bridge crew aboard the USS Farragut, supporting rescue operations for American troops stuck in the Middle East. They both knew each other's backgrounds and respected one another, knowing where the line is and when to step off it.

"Captain," John greeted, "How do things seem to be going, skipper?"

Henry replied in earnest, "All operations aboard the ship are good, sir. The birds are stored below decks and ones we couldn't store are latched down and covered. Crew's ok, some of the greenhorns haven't exactly gotten their sea legs yet so I've made sure the lavatories are in working order. All seems to be good with the other ships too, from their reports".

The Enterprise could hold 80+ aircraft, approximately up to 90 combat aircraft, steam up to 30 knots in good conditions, and was very well protected. She had on her RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM), RIM-116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) and a CIWS (Close-In Weapons System). She also flew 2 squadrons of F-35Cs, 1 squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornets, 5 EA-18G Growlers, and 4 MH-60 Seahawks.

"I see," John replied, "Well then, I just want to know if any new orders have come from command or if this cyclone is going to clear up any time soon."

"No sir, there have been no new orders issued from command. It's actually getting a little hard to receive messages from Hawaii and even Yokosuka. I have the communications officers working on clearing it up though, so I'll keep tabs on it for you. And as for the cyclone, it seems like it's getting worse by the second, so we're watching the ships stability as we sail."

Taking in the information, John wiped his face with his left hand. Sighing, he started, "Well Cap'n I hope Mother Nature gets her rocker back in place soon, I don't know about you but I'm getting old enough that the sway of the ship ain't gonna cut it anymore." John groaned a little after finishing, stretching out his back.

"Agreed sir," Henry concurred, "I want to sleep as well but there's a window that needs looking out of, and I'm the one to do it as skipper."

The two men laughed at the joke and they both went to the front, looking out of the windshield of the Enterprise's bridge, scanning for anything of interest.

Not that they could see, since it was around 0045 (12:45 AM).

Kingdom of Vale

Beacon Academy

Courtyards

Time: 0100 (1:00 AM)

"Jaune? Jaune!" Weiss yelled into the Scroll, hoping to gain a response to further solidify Pyrrah's location. She was met with nothing except the sound of a Scroll clattering onto the pavement.

Putting the device away, she and Ruby looked up towards Beacon Tower. That is evidently where Pyrrah was going, for reasons unbeknownst to Weiss and Ruby.

There was also an S-Class Grimm clinging to the side of the tower, a large, adult Gryphon Grimm with white bony spikes running along its spine as well as an armored tail and face mask.

"I have a plan," Ruby announced, drawing Crescent Rose and shifting it into scythe form.

"You always do," Weiss sighed as she drew Myrtenaster and ran with Ruby towards the tower and certain doom.

Beacon Tower

Ozpin's Office

Time: 0106 (1:06 AM

Cinder Fall walked through the steam, results of her fire control, and into Ozpin's office, looking out the window. The Gryphon had climbed up and around the tower, it's right eye visible to her. Screeching, it looked Cinder in the eye, causing her to step back a bit and summon a flame in her right hand.

It was quickly extinguished.

Looking behind her, she dodged a golden-bronze spear thrown at her face after the elevator doors burst open. A bronze circular shield was thrown at her face quickly afterwards. She blocked it, even as Pyrrah Nikos had pushed on it with her legs.

Jumping back and retrieving her weapons, she reverted to a fighting stance as Cinder hovered in front of her.

Starting suddenly, Cinder's eyes glowed and she slashed at her with fire, following up by throwing a fireball. Pyrrah dodged and twisted around each. Dodging another fireball, Cinder launched a beam of fire at her, forcing Pyrrah to draw her shield and block it.

She pushed through the flames however, and kicked off the floor, swinging her spear at Cinder's neck while twisting past her shoulders.

She caught it, much to Pyrrah's shock.

Taking the spear and throwing it aside, she blasted Pyrrah back into the wall, making her lose her grip on the shield.

Taking the opportunity, Cinder launched forward at her, only for Pyrrah to jump and crouch against the wall, grabbing Cinder and slamming her to the floor.

She back flipped back into a standing position and stepped aside as Pyrrah lunged at her with her spear, recovering her shield as well. Going for a shield bash, Cinder stepped aside again and blocked her swing with her left hand, sparks flew as Pyrrah was pushed away.

Cinder had the hint of a smile while Pyrrah's eyes grew wary of the fight.

She threw her spear at her at Mach speeds, Cinder glancing it aside as she copied the move to the disc throw of the shield. Her smile was gone, however, as Pyrrah launched herself at her and twisted, sending them both to the ground.

Pyrrah had her spear against Cinder's neck, the two both struggling to get free and restrain. Standing up, Pyrrah brought her up with her, just as the Gryphon screeched and flew off. They were both still struggling until Cinder began melting Pyrrah's spear.

Pyrrah was pushed away and slammed into a wall just as the Gryphon came back, flying into the Tower and slicing the dome roof off it. In pain and unarmed, Pyrrah sat against a column, Cinder hovering in front of her.

Crawling to her shield, she took a quick look to her left and grabbed the shield, using Polarity to slam a clock gear into Cinder. Getting up, she dodged two fire balls and got pushed back by a third, spreading a wall of fire in between them.

Throwing her shield through the flames, Cinder glanced it aside just as she looked back and had her eyes widen in surprise.

Pyrrah levitated several clock gears of Ozpin size and launched them at her, knocking her sideways until hitting her to the ground. Using the remaining gears, she covered her with them.

Only to have them explode away, hitting Pyrrah and forcing her back into a wall.

Giving in to the fatigue, she closed her eyes and put her head down.

Beacon Academy

Courtyards

Time: 0115 (1:15 AM)

Ruby and Weiss were fighting vigorously, having just slashed away Ursi that had thrown themselves at the pair.

Ruby, no short of breath, yelled, "We gotta hurry!". Looking up the tower, Weiss cast multiple glyphs up the tower, giving Ruby a determined nod.

Taking that as the initiative, she enabled her Semblance and dashed up the Tower.

Remains of Ozpin's Office

Time: 0116 (1:16 AM)

Pyrrah had no time to rest however, as she got up and made a short dash forward, launching her shield at Cinder in a discus throw.

At the same time, she launched her arrow.

The two projectiles met and magic won over metal. The arrow deformed and reformed around the shield, and hit it's mark.

Pyrrah cried out in pain, however short it was, and fell to the floor.

Cinder walked around Pyrrah, beginning her small spiel.

"It's unfortunate that you were promised a power that was never truly yours."

Kneeling in front of her, she lifted her chin and looked her in the eyes.

"But take comfort in knowing that I will use it in ways you never could have imagined."

Taking one last jab at Cinder, Pyrrah did not retrieve her shield, or her spear. Instead, she imposed a question.

"Do you believe in destiny?"

Moving back a little in some disgust of the words, Cinder replied.

"Yes."

Summoning her bow, she notched an arrow, just as a red rose arrived.

And fired.

Ruby's eyes widened, the arrow pierced Pyrrah in her chest, the head glowing crimson with anger and deceit.

Pyrrah choked, struggling to breathe as Cinder walked into her, providing her reprieve of her pain.

Dissolving into dust, only her headdress remained.

Ruby screamed.

The sky was dark with sadness, and the clouds were the color of death.

A terrible storm was brewing.

*VWOOM CRACK*

Kingdom of Vale

3 miles off Valean Coast

Carrier Strike Group "Enterprise"

Time: 0119 (1:19 AM)

General quarters, general quarters, all hands to battle stations. Repeat, general quarters, general quarters, all hands to battle stations...

Klaxons blared as Navy men and women rushed to their proper workstations. The Enterprise was filled with the sound of boots thumping on the ground, various shouts and orders could be heard all throughout the ship.

The Admiral was already out the door and to the bridge. He had been filled in by a passing crewman made a beeline for the bridge as soon as he heard where they were.

Uncharted waters.

"Admiral on deck!" Emerging onto the bridge, he dismissed them all with a wave of his hand and made for Captain Henry. The two men met halfway, both of them having the same idea and same look on their faces.

"Captain."

"Admiral."

Before the admiral could start, Henry beat him to it. "The ship is still running good sir. The reactors are ok and all our birds are undamaged. There's excess water on the runway, so we have crews working to remove it. The rest of the carrier group is fine as well, however there men overboard from the USS Mustin, they have a Seahawk getting ready to do SAR, up in 10 mikes."

"Do we have a bead on our location? How about communications between ships? Any word from Yokosuka?"

A communications officer by the name of Steven Wittiker answered the Admiral, "No sir, we currently cannot get a bearing on where we are. Radar is showing a landmass in front of us about 6.2 kilometers away, we can't hail any ships other than our own, we've tried all frequencies but only static comes up. Ship to ship comms are ok, getting lots of reports and questions from the other ships in the group. As for word from Yokosuka..."

Wittiker paused, gathering some breath before declaring the fact that'd put everyone into general quarters.

"There's no word. Not even static. And from what radar is telling us, the island of Japan isn't even here. Nor is the Philippines, Taiwan, or even China's fake islands. Nothing."

Disbelief took over John. Nothing? No fake islands? Not even the other numerous islands in the Pacific?

No. That had to be wrong. There was a landmass right in front of them, that had to mean something.

Wittiker piped up again, this time more urgently. "Sirs! Reading 5 bogies on approach vector to our group, bearing 0 degrees! They look airborne and are not responding to hails on all frequencies. Visual contact is confirmed!"

Heading for the windshield, he gestured for a pair of binoculars. Putting them on his eyes, he looked up and around.

What he saw shocked him.

Five very large, jet black crows with red eyes and white face masks were approaching the group. One of them opened its beak and screeched.

The sound could be heard through the windowpanes, all throughout the ship people dropped what they were doing and covered their ears, trying to block out the offending devil noise.

John and everyone else on the bridge covered their ears, dropping his binocs in the process.

"What the fuck?!"

"Jesus Christ, my fucking ears!"

"The hell is that damned rat?!"

"Admiral! Please head with me down to the Command Information Center, we'll begin conducting operations there! Executive Officer!"

As Henry called for his XO, a woman by the name of Amanda Maricruz presented herself.

"XO! Handle the situation on the bridge here as I do in the CIC! Coordinate with the CO on mobilizing the complement for possible engagements!"

"Yes sir!"

John and Henry went out the door, moving back down to the CIC. Crew moved out of the way and saluted briskly, before moving back on course to their stations.

Entering the CIC, it was in full swing. Radar operators, communications operators, and air traffic controllers were speaking through their mics, putting out commands and managing ship affairs.

"Officers on deck!" the Warrant Officer shouted, and all stood to salute them. Dismissing them, Captain Henry made his way to the air traffic controller, Matthew Stills.

"Controller Stills! What the situation in the skies, any birds up?"

"Only the Mustin's Seahawk sir, and they're doing SAR. Our birds are still being elevated up to the runway, but our own Seahawks are already up, their crews are doing priority checks right now."

"Runway status? What about the bogies? How close are they and how long 'till we can launch some missiles or get some Hornets in the sky?"

"Runway is dry enough to start launching planes, sir. Our ESSMs, RAMs, and CIWS are operational and ready to fire. So are the other Burkes in our group, their missiles are primed and ready to fire. Have been ever since they saw what the bogies are, sir."

"Good. Have the Air Officer up in his perch get to launching birds and starting flight operations. Comms op!"

The comms officer in the CIC was 27 years old, a man by the name of Jared Steeles. He used to be the comms officer up in the bridge before being replaced by Wittiker and being sent to the CIC.

"Yes sir?!"

"Relay to the other ships that they are authorized to fire at will at the incoming bogies. Keep them at standoff range until we can get some Hornets up in the sky and Lightnings to scout that landmass in front of us."

"Yes sir, relaying to all Burkes in group."

This time, John spoke up to the operator. "Get me on the fleet wide channel, operator, I'm going to briefly address them of our situation and get us into a better fighting position."

Steeles smiled at the thought of fighting, it was a welcome change from the boring patrol earlier. "Patching you in now, sir. Go when ready."

Clearing his throat and making himself a bit more presentable, John began.

"All ships, this is your Admiral speaking."

All around the carrier group, his voice could be heard from the numerous PAs and all activity slowly ceased to listen to what the Admiral of the group had to say.

Continuing, John started again. "It has become evidently clear that we are in uncharted waters. It is evidently clear that we cannot contact anyone besides our own and that we are effectively cut off from Yokosuka, the Philippines, and Hawaii."

Murmurs of disbelief and shock could be heard from all ships crews, they could not possibly be in another world? It's just a trick pulled off by the Chinese or that the AEGIS radars really were trash, seeing how they performed in the Black Sea.

All doubt was cut off, however, when that insufferable screech came by earlier.

"I will make this brief. The United States Navy is under threat. Not by the Chinese, or the Russians, or whatever third world country exists in this god-forsaken place. No. We are under threat by ourselves. And to remedy this, we must act with caution and to keep our wits about us. Some of you are confused, I dare say that confusion in this situation will kill us."

Pausing for a moment, he closed his eyes briefly before beginning again, this time with conviction in eyes.

"We will continue to push onward and upward. Whatever may come our way in this new world may come. Do not let its illusions and facades adverse your thinking. We are the United States Navy for Christ's sakes! We!-"

Stopping and looking around the room as well as those on the screen in front of him, he started again.

"We, are the United States Navy. A global force for good!"

At this everyone in the CIC and carrier group cheered, their spirits raised and ignited by the speech. The dark clouds had become lighter, and the rain was long gone. However, the Admiral wasn't done yet.

"All ships are to run at Condition 1. Have all missiles primed and ready to fire at will to any bogies in the sky. I want Hornets up in the air to take out air targets and Lightnings to scout the landmass in front of us. All Seahawks must complete their current missions and start ferrying troops to the shores. All threats in this world are considered Class A. Show no restraint."

"Admiral," Henry tapped John on the shoulder urgently, clearly having a message. "The landmass in front of us appears to be populated. It also seems to be under attack. There's smoke and fire coming from one area and there's a massive fleet in the sky as well."

"A fleet? Of what variety, planes?"

"No, sir, looks like airships. And not the ones you see over the Daytona Speedway."

"By God... relay to all ships to stay in a stationary position and to prime AA defenses. If those are hostile, we may not live very long. Do we have pictures?"

"Yes, this photo was taken by a crewman who had seen the airship obscured by clouds. He took it on his smartphone and is being confined to quarters."

"Bring him to me, I will ask him the questions. And tell the ships that they are authorized to use deadly force against enemy air assets. Keep RoE in mind."

"Yes sir. Steeles!"

As the two men continued commanding from the CIC, multiple RIM-66M standard missiles fired from the Mk 41 VLS of the Arleigh-Burke class destroyers. Zoning in on the Nevermores at Mach 3.5, they impacted with their targets, too slow to evade and too big to dodge. Two were killed and two were incapacitated, falling to the dark ocean below. The remaining Nevermore was on fire, but still airborne.

Screeching in anger at the comets that set it's feathers ablaze, it reared up and beat its wings at the offending ships, launching razor sharp feathers towards them.

Six feathers were launched, two of them grazing the bow of one of the destroyers. Another two impaled themselves in the bow of another destroyer. The remaining two feathers sank to the ocean floor.

Another volley of missiles came from the destroyers, obliterating the overgrown flying rat and sending it whirling towards the sea below.

4 September 2016

Japan

Yokosuka Naval Base

Time: 0119 (1:19 AM)

"What?! What do you mean we just lost a carrier strike group? Where could it have gone?!"

"I-I don't know, sir. T-the ocean?"