Arclave: Part 1

Static filled the airwaves between the sound of alarms.
"--Static-- -uclear attack is immenent. Repeat. Nuclear attack is im- --Static-- -ease evacuate to your nearest Schnee-Tec Vault and obey all mili- --Static-- -ersonel. This is not a drill. Repeat. This is not a drill. --Static-- -uclear attack..."

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War... War never changes.

They say that the Color Wars of our great-grandparent's generation was the war to end all wars. That just goes to show you how determined the people of Remnant are to prove them wrong. It wasn't enough that we were discovering all sorts of new forms of dust and uses for them. What was supposed to be the golden age of technology turned into a hellish nightmare of fire and death, all by the hands of man, and not by the Grimm like we had been led to believe all these years...

It's been so long since dust lances fell from the sky. The reasons trivial and pointless, lost amidst the surviving dust tapes that still occupy the archives and only the historians find interest in. Something about the Schnees and Atlas fighting a way over dust...it doesn't matter anymore really...

So many years of living in underground vaults, and that was for those who were lucky or privileged enough to get access to one. I shudder to think what it must have been like...trying to find shelter from boiling clouds of Red Burn dust or watching the bones of your families explode from within from exposure to irradiated Sunflower Yellow dust... It must have been terrible...

And yet here we are, many years later. Despite our best efforts, Remnant still exists, though with a name more apt than ever before.

We are the Remnants of Civilization.

Through Dust Rifle and Sword we push back the darkness.
By our Shields and Honor we protect the innocent and the exploited.
We are the Arclave.

We will restore the world of Remnant, or be returned to the Dust from whence it came.

I was just a wee lad when the Arclave decided to begin my training. Day and night, I practiced in the safety of the vaults, knowing my time would come to lead the organization my father had started. He was hardly the fighter growing up, but as he matured, he became known as one of the most skilled sword fighters in Vale.

One of the greatest leaders, too.

Unfortunately, like every legend, he eventually met his end. And now, the organization that he had established in the midst of the chaos in order to provide a light for humanity in it's darkest hour was struggling to find the leadership to continue.

Mom didn't want to step up. After dad died, she retired from the Arclave and was little more than an honorary member. The other girl from dad's team was still fighting, despite having to have her leg replaced with a cybernetic years ago. If anyone could have done it, it was her partner, but he died a few years before I was born. As much as the higher-ups didn't want to admit it, they needed me to mature, fast.

But that was neither here nor there right now.

Rolling, I stopped on my knee and brought up my dust rifle. I fired a few shots, taking out the holograms that were bearing down on me before standing. I switched the gun to my left hand as it transformed. Holding the sword in hand, I reached over with my right hand to grab the gun's front grip. It slid on my hand like brass knuckles before the dust-fueled energy shield deployed. Blocking the first few attacks with the shield, I stepped forward, and a few slashes later, the training session was cleared and I powered down my shield.

"Bravo, Mr. Arc." The voice entered the training room from the door, but I couldn't tell if it was sincere or sarcastic.

I turned and bowed, "Thank you, Col. Winchester."

"Training sims are great and all, but they don't prepare you for the real thing, ya know?" He grinned, folding his arms.

I bowed again, "I'll keep it in mind, Sir."

I felt his mace tap my shoulder. "Never turn your eyes from your opponent."

"Sir?"

I jumped back just in time, his mace filling the space I had been standing in. The shield came back to life as I spun the sword in my hand, holding the blade in reverse.

He closed in quickly, swinging his mace like it was made of air. I raised my shield just in time, but the force of the blow sent me into the opposite wall. I slammed into it before sliding to my feet. Staggering for just a second, I rolled forward as the mace stuck the wall. I quickly exited the roll and slashed at the Colonel's armor. Of course, his Aura wouldn't let my scratches through at all. I caught his foot with my shield as he kicked backwards, sending me skidding across the floor.

"Not bad, boy.. But not good enough."

He turned and swung his mace at me again. I leaned back, managing to get in a pair of slashes at his arm. They did nothing, but it was enough for me. Cardin followed through with his swing beautifully, only to use it's momentum to bring the mace down at my head. I raised my shield and closed my eyes.

I felt my hair get rustled before I opened them again.

"You're gonna make your dad proud some day, kid."

He patted my shoulder before walking out of the room, turning in the hall.

The shield turned off before I feel to my knees and breathed a sigh of relief.

I shook my head as Col. Winchester placed my rank tag on my chest.

"Something wrong, kid?" He grinned, as if he wanted there to be.

"Just remembering something from the past, Sir." I stood with my arms behind my back. Today was the day I became a true soldier and was issued my very own set of Power Armor. I couldn't help but smile. Even my mom was here, and she hadn't been involved with Arclave affairs in years. I looked up at her on the balcony, and for the first time in a while, I saw her smile. Next to her was her teammate from before the war. She smiled and clapped for me, but her eyes always told a different story. As much of an honor as it was, I wish they hadn't named me after her former partner.

"Ren Arc."

Hearing my name snapped me back, and I walked forward onto the platform.

"Do you vow to do everything within your power to protect and serve the citizens with your life?"

"I'll give my life to save a single person."

The floor shifted, robotic arms rising, pieces of armor being carried in their metallic grips.

"Will you be the shield humanity needs in it's time of peril?"

"My shield will never falter."

My body is battered slightly, the machines assembling the Power Armor around me.

"Will you face the darkness of the world with courage of those before you?"

"My sword will never stray."

I stumble forward as the last piece attached to my back. Immediately, I can feel my Aura strengthen. I look down at my hands as I close and open them before jerking my head up again.

"Congratulations, Private Arc."

I salute, "Thank you, Sir."

"Normally, we'd give you an initiation mission, but there are pressing needs that must be addressed, and we have few soldiers to spare. You will depart immediately for the Black Claw hold in the southeast. They are allies, but are being overrun by Grimm. We don't have the resources to send an entire squad as they've requested. You'll have to be enough."

"Sir, yes sir!"