August 23, 2021

Sun asked Blake as she packed her pocket book, "Ready for work?"

"Yup," Blake replied. She wore a Vigilant Fire Company t-shirt and jeans. "You know, it's been a year since I put my bow away for good in the drawer."

"Oh yeah," Sun replied as he cleaned his staff with wood polisher in its collapsed form. "I almost forgot that." He then gave Blake a quick kiss. "See you later, Blake."

Blake smiled and told him, "See you later too, Sun." She then walked out the door of the apartment. The time was 7 A.M.

Meanwhile, Sun sat down and turned on the T.V. He then read the Hunting Corps' monthly request form, a form given out to all hunters that showed basic info about requests from private individuals for their services. "Hmm... I could take this 2-day mission from the 27th to the 29th," Sun thought to himself. "It's a good 3000 Lien."

Meanwhile, Ruby had slept over at the Royal Palace with Delwyn. She woke up at 7:35 A.M. and stretched out as her eyes adjusted to the bright morning sun. Delwyn woke up at around the same time, lifting himself up and hugging Ruby, who said, "Last night was pretty fun, Delwyn." She was wearing Delwyn's jacket, some boxers, and nothing else, while Delwyn wore only underwear.

Delwyn laughed and gave Ruby a kiss on her neck, saying, "It sure was, my queen."

Ruby chuckled and replied, "Oh, I see." She then turned to Delwyn and said to him, "Have you ever thought of... Uh... Like, taking this thing further?"

Delwyn blushed and replied, "Well... Uh... I mean, I think... I've considered it, but I want to wait just a little longer. I assume you feel the same."

Ruby nodded as she got up and replied, "Yeah, same here." She then yawned and stretched.

Then, a servant knocked on the door, saying, "Your Highness, are you awake?"

"Yes, I am," Delwyn replied as he also got up and went to his dresser to grab clothes. "What time shall the morning intelligence briefing be, Daniel?"

"At 9," Daniel replied. "It was going to be 8:30, but Minister Howe was running a little late due to his daughter having a baby yesterday." He referred to Nicholas Howe, a member of the Ruling Council and the Minister of War.

"Tell him I send my congratulations," Delwyn replied. "I will be out shortly." He then turned to Ruby as he put dress pants on. "So, what are your plans for the rest of the day, Ruby?"

"Go home, study for more Hunting Corps officer training, relax, maybe catch a few fire calls." Ruby then shrugged before she took off Delwyn's coat and grabbed her own clothes, which were strewn about on the floor. "You don't mind if I get dressed in front of you, right?"

"No," Delwyn replied. "We see each other naked quite a bit, Ruby, and then some. What makes you think I wouldn't like seeing you get changed or something?"

"Just wondering," Ruby replied as she put her bra on. She then smiled. "You know, we have time before the meeting to do something, right?"

"Oh yeah," Delwyn replied as he began thinking of the same thing Ruby was thinking. He then took off his dress pants and socks before Ruby suddenly tackled him to the floor. The two then laughed before Delwyn said, "You just love doing that to me, huh?"

"You bet," Ruby replied before she and Delwyn kissed as he began to undo Ruby's bra. "Ah, yes..."

"Now that you got the day off," George said to Yang at their apartment. "What are you gonna do?" The time was 8:22 A.M.

"No idea," Yang replied. The recruitment station she worked at had shut down for the day due to a water main break the night before. Firefighters had pumped out 3,223 gallons of water from the place. "I might as well just go to my firehouse and find something to do over there."

George nodded and said, "Alright. I gotta go to work, myself, love." He then kissed Yang. "I'll see ya around 5:45. I love you, Yang."

"I love you, too, George," Yang replied as she smiled. As he walked out, she thought to herself, "I found a good man. I really did."

Jaune and Weiss ate breakfast and read the newspaper together that morning around 8:40 A.M. Weiss asked Jaune as he checked his phone, "Any word from Signal on the full-time teaching gig?"

"Yup," Jaune replied. "I go for my final test on the 26th. After that, I'll be a full-timer."

"Awesome," Weiss joyfully replied. "I know you've been wanting that for a long time. Finally, your dream is coming true, Jaune." She then reached over and gave Jaune a kiss on the cheek. "So, when are you going over to Beacon for today?"

"I gotta be there at 11," Jaune replied. "I'll be covering Peter's class." By now, Team JNR and Team RWBY had mostly referred to their former professors either by their first name or by their Hunting Corps rank. "He's out because his wife was sick all of last night or something."

"Awwww," Weiss replied in sympathy. "That sucks." She then read out from a headline, "Mayor Azula Announces New Public Works Project; "We Will Put Over 10,000 Unemployed To Work" Says Mayor." She then said, "Good for him. John Azula's the best mayor we've had in years."

"You can say that again," Jaune replied. "I heard he's gonna help expand Patch with land reclamation and build a second bridge-tunnel to the island." He then got up and began to walk out, "Well, I gotta go. I love you, Weiss."

"I love you too, Jaune," Weiss replied as she smiled, thinking about him.

At around 11:30, Qrow and Taiyang visited the quarters of Protection Fire and Engine Company 1, the oldest and largest company in the city. The 226-strong company operated a fleet of 4 engines, a ladder truck, 2 rescues, and 3 ambulances alongside some paid staff that were assigned to their station. They responded to an average of 2,500 fire-rescue calls and 12,000 EMS calls per year. Qrow and Taiyang drove their Captain's cars as Car 88 and Car 87.

They were there to visit Protection's 1st Captain, Justin Juliet, also known as Car 1 on the radio. Justin was 44 years old and was a 32-year-veteran on the company. He also worked as a paid firefighter, with a total of 21 years, and was assigned to Vale City International Airport's Fire Station 1. Before that, he had worked in a foundry. He was out front, with his car parked on the apron. This was his 3rd consecutive years as captain and his 7th total year as captain.

Qrow got out of his car first, saying to Justin, "How's it going, Captain Juliet?" They then shook hands.

"Not bad, Qrow," Justin replied. "So, Signal Fire wants a new engine, right?"

"Yup," Taiyang replied as he got out of his car. "We're looking for something similar to your Engine 101." He then pointed to the engine in question. "It would be perfect. We're gonna sell our old engine to a brand new fire company founded on Patch."

"I got the specs from the factory in my car," Justin told them as he went to the back of his car to grab the plans. "I'll get them for you."

Also at around 11:30, Blake was manning District 1's console, monitoring the dispatch frequencies. She yawned and drank some water before a unit answered, "Engine 107 to Fire Alarm."

"Engine 107."

"Engine 107 is 10-84 at the accident."

"10-4." She then turned to the other dispatcher next to her and said, "How's that fire in District 3?"

"It's only a Code 99," the other dispatcher replied. "It'll probably be out soon."

"Ambulance 106 to Fire Alarm."

Blake then turned her attention to the radio again, "Go ahead."

"We're arriving at the accident at Box 288."

"10-4." She then said to the other dispatcher. "It was a house, right?"

"Yup," the other dispatcher said. "It's been burning for an hour, but they managed to contain it to only the back of the house."

Back at PFEC1, Justin retrieved the specs and handed them over to Taiyang, saying, "Here they are. The truck is only 6 months old. It's been doing great for us. I'd highly recommend it."

"Thanks," Taiyang replied. "This engine will do Signal Fire good."

Then, Qrow pointed up to the sky and said to them, "Look at that thing!"

Taiyang and Justin, along with several other PFEC1 volunteers and a few paid firefighters, looked up as they saw a plane fly relatively low to the ground, just over the tops of some of the many skyscrapers in downtown. Taiyang said, "Wow, that plane is pretty low. Oh my God..."

Then, suddenly, it aimed right at the 165-story Union Square Center, Building 1. The steel-faced building was one of a set of triplets that had been completed in 2017 after 6 long years of construction. They had been designed to have five 33-story sections that progressively got smaller as they reached the top before being topped off by a 275-foot spire for a total height of 3,022 feet. All three were linked by skybridges at the 34th, 65th, and 100th floors arranged in a triangular pattern. They were a symbol of Valeanian success, and their completion spurred development of a taller building 8 blocks away that would top out at 172 stories with a 325-foot spire for a total height of 3,255 feet that was to be complete by 2024, after 5 years of construction. Immediately, everyone watching realized what the plane was about to do.

The plane slammed right into Building 1's northern face between floors 106 and 108, sparking a massive explosion that sent shockwaves throughout the crowded city streets below.

Qrow screamed, "Holy fuck! That did NOT just happen!" He then ran to his car to radio dispatch as other firefighters cursed and screamed in horror.

"Car 88 to Fire Alarm."

Blake immediately answered. "Car 88."

"We just had a plane crash into the upper floors of Union Square Center 1! Strike the box! Strike the box! Strike the box!"

"10-4. Car 88, do you want me to send a full first alarm to Box 134?" Blake was shocked, but not shaken.

"You got it, Blake! Start a Code 99! Get me units here ASAP!" Qrow, in his haste, had called Blake by her name over the radio.

"10-4." Blake then transmitted three short beeps over the radio. "Fire Alarm to all units in District 1, a Code 99 has been declared at Box 134 for a reported plane crash into the building." Blake then turned her head away and yelled out to the paging station, "FULL FIRST ALARM, BOX 134!"

Another dispatcher immediately turned on all of the television sets in the fire alarm office and turned them to VNN so that once they broke the news, they could get a live visual feed of the disaster unfolding.

Qrow and Taiyang pulled up to the front entrance of Building 1 as people streamed out of the ground lobby of the tower. By now, it had been 2 and a half minutes since the crash had occurred. Qrow got out of his car and walked to the back to grab his gear. As he put his hip boots, long coat, and helmet on, he looked up and said, "Holy shit, this is the big one..."

Taiyang, after putting his gear on, said to Qrow, "I can already tell this will be bad. This will be very, VERY bad." As they got ready, they heard both the station sirens of the first 5 companies that were dispatched, plus the vehicle sirens of several police and fire vehicles, including Car 1 and Engine 101.

When Car 1 pulled up, Justin got out and grabbed his gear from the back as well. A passerby yelled to them, "My wife is up on the 115th floor! Can you get her?!"

Qrow yelled back, "We will, sir! We will! We're doing the best we can!" He then turned to Taiyang and said, "I sure hope that plane didn't sever all of the stairwells beyond the impact point." As they continued to talk, a throng of people swarmed out of Building 1 while people in Buildings 2 and 3 watched with anticipation and worry.

At the Vigilant Fire Company firehouse, Weiss was watching VNN in the rec room alone. At the time, a commercial was playing for a tech company. Then, VNN's breaking news stinger interrupted the commercial. Weiss said, "Huh?"

Then, a live feed of the burning USC Building 1 was shown as an announcer said, "This just in, we have reports that a plane has crashed into Union Square Centre Building 1, as shown on this live feed on your screen. This is obviously a very disturbing live shot..."

Weiss screamed, "Holy fuck! A plane just crashed into the USC!" She then ran out of the rec room to tell the 2 paid firefighters and several volunteers who were hanging around in the apparatus bay. "Guys! A plane crashed into the USC in District 1!"

"I just got it on my phone with a scanner app," a volunteer said. "It doesn't sound good. Say, isn't that dispatcher Blake?"

"Oh yeah," said Theresa, who was at the station with Denis. "It's gotta be Blake."

Weiss said to herself, "It probably won't be too long before we get toned out to go down there, guys."

In Building 1's lobby, Qrow, Taiyang, Justin, and a few other firefighters set up a command post in the northwest corner of the lobby using several tables and a map of the 10-building complex. They also brought with them 6 portable radios and a sign reading "FIRE COMMAND POST" to help identify their spot. As they set up some chairs, District 1's Assistant Chief walked in with his driver and said, "You got the post set up?"

"We're almost finished, chief," Qrow told him as he unfolded a chair. "The police are setting their command post up in the northeast corner, just for your information."

"Alright, good," he replied. He then radioed, "Assistant District 2 to Fire Alarm."

Blake answered, "Assistant District 1, go."

"Strike a second alarm for Box 134 and notify the Admin Chiefs. Also, have all non-command units silence their radios when calling en route or arriving, K."

"10-4." Then, three beeps were transmitted over the radio. "Fire Alarm to all units responding to Box 134, a second alarm has been transmitted per the orders of Assistant District 1. Also, attention all units, silence your radios when calling en route or arriving with the exception of command units."

As they continued to ready the command post, a group of 8 firefighters, armed with 2 hand lines and some truck company equipment, climbed into an elevator. The elevators worked up to the 99th floor. For the next 5 floors, they would have to walk up. They would be the first line of attack against the raging fire, which had engulfed floors 104 through 111, for now.

August 23, 2021 would prove to be the VCFD's finest hour. But it would also prove to be their darkest hour, too.