A Beowolf steps through bushes while sniffing the ground searching for its next prey. As it does, the beast's ears pick up something, and it looked around before the Fire Hawk zoomed by overhead. Within the cockpit of the starship was Taren and Clay. The Fox Faunus kept staring at his scroll as he went over the job details. It's been a couple hours since they left Vale City, and they are nearing the coastal settlement of Carthage. According to Clay's scroll they were. Neither of them had spoken much during the flight, Clay was more focused on his scroll and Taren was focused on piloting the ship. The Mandalorian could see the ocean in the distance and could make out a fairly large settlement on the coast. His guess was that it's Carthage. He takes a quick glance at Clay and saw that the Fox Faunus was worried. In a way someone would when they are concerned about something or someone, they care about. He returns his focus on flying to Carthage but speaks as he had a question. He wanted more information on the White Fang and the client Ghira Belladonna.
"What do you know about the White Fang and the client?" Taren asks.
"Ghira Belladonna is the leader of the White Fang." Clay answers. "He created the White Fang a couple years ago to fight for Faunus rights and equality. It's a slow walk towards their goal but all movements tend to be."
"You seem concerned." Taren points out.
Clay shifts in his seat with worry covering his face, his voice being a vocal representation of his concern.
"This job… the White Fang is going to go from village to village and town to town then back to Carthage. It's routine for their efforts but, I heard that bandits have been active in the area." Clay explains.
A thought then crossed the hired gun's mind. Maybe this is why Ghira wanted aid. Normally a civil rights movement doesn't hire bounty hunters unless they're expecting trouble. Perhaps Ghira heard something similar and took precautions to protect his people. Taren would've liked that information in the job details, however he isn't mad in the slightest. He's dealt with bandits before and isn't worried. His main concern is the White Fang themselves. He hopes they have some fighters amongst their ranks. If not, there could be casualties.
"Then let's hope Ghira brought a few extra fighters." Taren said in a serious tone.
"Yeah, let's hope."
When they finally arrive at Carthage, Taren can make out the settlement's layout. A collection of roads move through the settlement with a purpose. The largest one moves through the center of it, connecting to the main gate of the settlement. Larger buildings are closer to the center of the settlement while smaller buildings dot the edges of the settlement layout. near the coastline was a decently sized dock with ships already docked in it. What looks like a market area hugged the coast near the docks with a large number of people gathered there. The Mandalorian saw a number of trucks gathered in the main street in the settlement, so he guesses that's the White Fang. A landing zone for a small number of ships rest inside the settlement connected to the main road. He brings his ship in for a landing as he descends towards the empty landing pad. As the ship got closer to the ground the landing gear activated. Taren felt the ship touch down which told him he could power his ship down. As he does so, Clay stands up and puts his scroll away.
"Meet me in the cargo hold, just gotta finish powering down." Taren said.
Clay nods and leaves the cockpit, going down the ladder and into the cargo hold. Soon after, Taren comes down but he's wearing something on his back. A jetpack, specifically a JT-12 Jetpack. Clay turned to him and saw the jetpack.
"What's that?" Clay asks.
"A jetpack." Taren says casually as he moved past the Fox Faunus and to the ramp controls.
"You have a jetpack?" Clay asks with a stunned look before a look of amazement came. "Cool."
With the push of a button, the ramp lowers exposing the dimly lit cargo hold to the bright light outside. The Fox Faunus and Mandalorian disembark from the Fire Hawk, their boots eventually touching the landing pad. As they stepped further away from the ship, Taren pressed a button on his vambrace to close up his ship. Once it closed, the two pressed on to find the White Fang.
"Alright, now we just need to find Ghira and the White Fang." Clay said.
"I saw a convoy of trucks on the main road; we can start there." Taren says.
On the main road with the trucks was a tall man with black hair/beard and yellow eyes. He wore an open dark violet vest with a white fur trim that showed his chest. A pair of long, extended fingerless gloves that reached his upper arms, and he wore beige pants and brown leather boots. In addition, he had a White Fang emblem pin attached to a few leather straps connected to shoulder pads. This tall man looked at his people as they made final preparations for their journey. A Tiger Faunus walked up to him.
"Ghira, the trucks are ready to move out." The Tiger Faunus said.
Ghira sighs. "Very well."
"Still hoping someone accepted the job you put out?" The Tiger Faunus asked.
"Surely there is someone willing to help, Sienna." Ghira said, calmly defending his choice.
Sienna Khan sighs with a hint of bitterness. "Ghira, you need to accept that there are Huntsman who want nothing to do with us."
"And that's not us." A voice said.
Both Faunus turned to see Clay and Taren approaching them. Sienna looked at them with caution while Ghira looked on with hope. He was hoping these two had taken the job he put up, if it was the case. Then his people got help. Though he was curious about Taren's appearance. He's never seen outfits or armor like that before.
"Are you two Huntsman?" Ghira asked.
"I am, he isn't." Clay answered with a pointed gesture to Taren.
"We saw your job on the Bounty Board, figured we'd lend a hand." Taren explains.
"Came for the money?" Sienna asked, almost aggressively.
Ghira was about to talk to her to defuse those thoughts, but the Mandalorian spoke first.
"Saw a request to help protect a convoy from Grimm. That told me two things. One, you folks were expecting to be attacked by the Grimm and two, you were in need of help." Taren says. "I didn't want to stand by while people get hurt. Not while I can at least help."
"He said you weren't a Huntsman, so you're a Bounty Hunter?" Sienna asked.
"I am." Taren answered. "What of it?"
"How am I supposed to know you're not here just for the money?" Sienna questioned. "How are we supposed to know that you're not working with the local bandits?"
"Sienna enough!" Ghira said sternly.
Sienna looked at him as he had a stern look in his eyes. She sighs and steps back, crossing her arms. Ghira turns his head to Taren with an apologetic gaze.
"I apologize for her words."
"I've heard worse." Taren casually admits with a shrug. "Your people ready to go?"
"We are." Ghira confirms before turning to Sienna. "Return to the boat and remain with the others."
"Ghira…. You know about the recent bandit activity." Sienna said, her early suspicion now replaced with concern.
Her eyes showed how much worry she held within.
"Two of our brethren are Huntsman, and we have four extra hands to help." Ghira said, before making a gesture to Clay and Taren. "We also have these two."
Sienna gave them one glance before letting out a reluctant sigh.
"Be safe, Ghira." Sienna said gently. "Kali would kill me if anything happened to you."
"Then I'll be more careful." Ghira said, smiling.
He was glad to know she cared. Sienna gave a faint smile back before she walked past him and to the docks. As she left the area one Faunus walked up to Ghira.
"We should get going, sir." The Faunus said.
Ghira nods. "Agreed." He then switches his focus to Clay and Taren. "I never got your names, mine is Ghira Belladonna."
"Clay Marigold." Clay says with a two fingered salute.
"Taren Khor." He says with a nod.
"It's a pleasure to meet the both of you." Ghira said. "I would like one of you to ride in the lead truck with me, to give you better eyes on our path."
"I'll do it." Taren said, cutting Clay off as he went to speak.
"You sure Taren?" Clay asked.
Taren nods.
"Alright then."
"You can ride in the middle truck. I'm sure John would appreciate having a fellow Huntsman to talk to." Ghira instructs.
Clay nodded and moved towards the middle truck. The leader of the White Fang makes a gesture for Taren to follow him. The two walk up to the lead truck and climb into the open cargo bed. Ghira held a hand out for the Mandalorian who grabbed it. The tall Faunus lifted his Mandalorian protector up helping him get onto the cargo bed of the truck. While the hired gun sits down on a wooden box, Ghira moved up towards the cab of the truck. He kneels to look through the window on the back of the cab.
"Let's get going." Ghira ordered to the driver.
He gets a nod as a response before the truck starts moving. The civil rights leader sat down on a long crate in the cargo bed. The convoy follows the lead truck, and they soon leave the settlement. Taren decided to ask a question about the Bandit activity he heard about from Clay.
"Ghira, you hear anything about Bandits in the area?" Taren asked.
"Scattered information." Ghira answered. "We planned our route accordingly, so we shouldn't run into them."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Taren says.
"Why?"
"Bandits rarely stay in one place. They often lose their value, so they move on." Taren said. "Let's hope they see us and pay no mind."
"You think they will?" Ghira asked, anxiety setting in.
"They'll see this convoy and think of what kind of loot they can snag." Taren answers. "So, I won't guarantee no contact."
Ghira was now visibly concerned. He began thinking of what to do. Maybe he can reason with any bandits they run into, maybe he can negotiate with them. It's probably a long shot, but he much prefers not to escalate a situation. The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter sees the man's reaction and decides to change the subject.
"What's the aim with this trip?" Taren asks.
"To spread awareness and to meet with the Chiefs of villages." Ghira answers. "The villages we are going to are already leaning more towards friendlier perspectives of the Faunus; I just want to help solidify that point of view."
Taren gave a quick glance back to Carthage which was getting further and further away.
"Do you do this only in Vale?"
"We've been through Mistral more than once." Ghira says. "We tried Vacuo, but unfortunately the lands aren't the friendliest to anyone."
"At least you tried." Taren points out, trying to focus on the bright side.
"Yes, at least we did." The tall Faunus agrees.
On a hilltop a distance away from the convoy was a Bandit looking through binoculars. His clothing was mostly earth tones and represented his life outside of the city and out of Villages. The Bandit hears someone walking up to him, so he lowers the binoculars and looked over his shoulder to find a tall man with broad shoulders. He had a brown shirt with the sleeves torn off and a single silver cuirass with black decals including a black dagger painted on it. A single silver armored pauldron rests on his right shoulder while a brown leather gauntlet covered his right forearm and hand. His left arm had a leather band around his forearm with a knife attached to it. He wore dark grey pants with armor covering his shins and calves. He had two large cutlasses in individual sheaths in an X on his back. He had a long black beard with braids, his black hair was long as well, and they were joined by his brown eyes. A scar went from his cheek over his nose and on his forehead.
"So, what do we have now?" The tall man asked.
"Looks like a Faunus convoy." The bandit said.
"Anything of value?"
"Hard to tell but wouldn't hurt to see for ourselves." The bandit said.
"Go get the others, we'll keep our distance for now before we strike." The man said.
"You got it, Russet." The bandit said.
The bandit walks past Russet who kept his gaze on the convoy before making a turn walking away.
[Timeskip]
The convoy had been traveling for twenty minutes and according to Ghira, they should be close to the first village on their trip. Taren kept his eyes on their surroundings, watching and waiting for any Grimm or bandits that planned to show themselves. Ghira had a book in his hand to pass time during the trip. The other trucks had members of the White Fang as well as the two Faunus huntsmen that the White Fang leader managed to recruit. Clay was with one of the Huntsman and they were chatting. The Mandalorian couldn't hear the conversation but considering he saw Clay laugh, he guessed it was going well. Ghira looks at the bounty hunter and notices how alert he is.
"Everything alright?" he asks.
Taren looks at Ghira. "We've been traveling for twenty minutes. No Grimm or Bandits."
With a confused gaze Ghira spoke. "Isn't that a good thing?"
"Normally yes, but considering Bandits have been active, it's worrying." Taren explains.
"Uh oh." The driver said with fear in his voice.
It catches the attention of Ghira and Taren immediately who look ahead of the truck and see a collection of bandits standing down the road. Russet stood in front of them. Ghira closed his book and set it down.
"Stop the truck." Ghira orders.
The truck slows down and stops, resulting in the convoy coming to a halt. Taren immediately moved and got off the cargo bed of the truck. His boots touched the dirt road and made a crunching sound as he did. Ghira followed him. Once Ghira gets off the truck, he and Taren walked around the vehicle and towards the bandits. Clay looked ahead and saw the issue, so he rested his hand on his weapon in its holster. John grabs his weapon and holds it at the ready. Russet watches with a casual gaze as Ghira and Taren approach. The two halt their steps just a few feet in front of the truck. The hired gun let his hands hover over his blasters.
"So, here's how this is going to go." Russet starts, an aura of confidence radiating off his form. "You'll hand over any valuables you are carrying in those trucks, and we let you pass."
"Please, we don't want trouble." Ghira says. "We're just passing through."
"So you are, but that doesn't change my plans." Russet said.
"Let these people pass through." Taren said with authority.
"Or what, Huntsman?" Russet asked with a humored look in his eyes.
"I'm not a Huntsman." Taren corrects.
"You aren't?" Russet asked with an interested look in his eyes. "Then you're a bounty hunter."
Taren says nothing as his fingers twitch, ready to grab his blasters and start shooting. Russet placed his hands on his hips.
"How about this, you help us gathering anything valuable and we'll split the profits." Russet said. "Surely a man of your talents shouldn't be wasted with this lot."
"I'm going to decline that offer." Taren said.
"A shame." Russet said.
He then turns to a Bandit who holds a rifle that had a curved bayonet under the barrel.
"I believe we need to convince this mercenary to step aside." Russet said.
The Bandit nods and steps forward. He was about to raise his rifle but the moment he did, Taren grabbed his blaster and shot him square in the chest. The Bandit is knocked back and drops dead. Ghira was caught off guard and stunned by this while the Bandit leader looked down at his dead bandit with an unbothered expression.
"I won't ask this of you again. Leave." Taren said in a threatening way, making Russet look at him.
Russet let a humored exhale escape his lips before he just laughs as If he heard a joke. The Mandalorian didn't lower his blaster. Russet's bandits looked at each other with confused glances while he laughed. The tall man stops laughing but keeps a smile.
"This… is why I LOVE Bounty Hunters!" Russet reveals. "The aggression, the willingness to kill."
Taren aims his blaster directly at Russet's head. The tall bandit takes one step forward and gives a slight mock bow.
"I respect your attitude, Bounty Hunter." Russet said. "Your boldness merits a reward. So, I, Garrick Russet, will leave and not bother this convoy."
Russet then turns to his people and gives a gesture for them to leave. As they did, the tall bandit bent down and picked up the dead bandit. He lifts the body over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes while he held the rifle in his other hand. He then looked at Taren and spoke.
"Be seeing you."
Russet follows his bandits as they retreat into the forest. The bounty hunter from the stars kept his aim locked on the bandits until he was sure they were far enough. As the bandits fade into the forest, He lowers his blaster and holsters it. He then turns to Ghira.
"I suggest we get going before they change their mind." Taren said.
"Agreed." Ghira says, still shaken by the sudden action.
They walk back to the cargo bed and climb onto it.
[Timeskip]
The convoy finally reached the village and upon their arrival, Ghira made sure everything was okay after the close call they had with the bandits. Taren and Clay stayed with the trucks same as the other Huntsmen and fighters Ghira brought. The village had a cozy vibe to it; the people were friendly to them when they arrived same as the Village Guards. There weren't any Bounty Hunters or Huntsmen which made Taren guess that there wasn't a Bounty Board in the village. As Clay leaned on one of the trucks with his arms crossed, Taren kept his eyes on the front gate. Waiting for when those bandits would return. The two Huntsmen, John and Tyler, were talking to Clay. Both John and Tyler were Faunus.
"So which Academy did you go to Clay?" Tyler asked.
"Haven." Clay answered. "You?"
"Shade for me." Tyler said.
"I was Atlas." John drops casually.
"Oh, very military?" Clay asked with a smile.
"Very." John answers. "Ironwood isn't that bad, but he seems more Military minded than Huntsman."
"Lionheart may be a Headmaster, but he seems a bit cowardly at times." Clay adds. "But hey, he cares about the students."
"Not as much as Ozpin from what I've heard." Tyler comments. "I hear that guy takes the wellbeing of his students seriously. Not like protective parent seriously, but wise mentor seriously."
"Yeah, I heard about that too." John said. "Probably would've been a better Academy than Atlas for a Faunus."
Clay takes notice of Taren who is still looking at the front gate.
"Hey, Taren you good? You've been staring at the front gate for a while now."
"Yeah, just cautious." Taren confesses.
"Think those bandits will show up again?" John asked.
"Wouldn't be surprised if they did." Taren admits. "But considering Russet just let us go, that makes me more worried."
"Who is that guy anyway?" Tyler asked.
"Garrick Russet, the leader of the Black Daggers." Clay answers. "They are a local Bandit group that's been getting stronger from what I've been hearing about them."
"Is Vale doing anything about it?" John asked.
Clay sighs. "I hope they are, because people like the Black Daggers can't be ignored. People suffer."
"Is there anyone we can inform about Russet's appearance?" Taren asked.
"Maybe." Clay answers. "Why?"
"From my experience, Bandit leaders rarely show themselves like that." Taren explains.
Clay thinks about it. It could mean that the Black Daggers are getting bolder which would mean that more people will get hurt. Something he doesn't like to think about.
"Well, I could get in touch with my friend." Clay offers. "She's close to the proper authorities so maybe she can get help to deal with the Black Daggers."
Taren nods. "Do it."
Clay grabs his scroll while he walked away from the trucks to get some privacy. He opens the device and proceeds to call his friend. It rings for a time before someone picks up.
"How can I help you, Clay?" A woman's voice said. "I assume this is serious."
"It is, I'm currently on a job and had a run in with the Black Daggers." Clay reveals.
"Are you okay?" the woman asked, sounding concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine, a guy I'm with managed to get them to leave." Clay says. "But Garrick Russet was there."
"You saw Russet?" She asked.
"Yeah, which has me and the others worried."
"Bandit activity has been increasing in recent weeks." The woman acknowledges. "But Russet hasn't been seen in some time."
"I was wondering if you could pass this information along to someone in high places." Clay said. "I'm currently with the White Fang on one of their routine trips, we're not sure if the Bandits will show up again."
"I'll… see what I can do, Clay." The woman said. "But no promises."
Clay let a relieved sigh escape his slips. "Thanks, Glynda. I mean it."
"You're welcome, Clay." Glynda said.
The call ended and Clay looked at his scroll. Hoping that Glynda can get the help needed to take care of the Black Daggers.