A/N: Quick word of warning, this story is a direct sequel to The Red Capital. If you are new, I would advise to move on to the next chapter to avoid confusion. Nonetheless, thank you for reading!
Lieutenant
Chapter I
A REFLECTION
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"What do you recall, Lieutenant Boris?"
The wide and circular chamber echoed with the singular voice. Six white pillars formed a half circle along the outer edge of the chamber. Along the other half, was a set of expertly crafted and designed marble bleachers, with rows of robed persons sitting in them. The circular floor of the chamber took on a very intricate design, the emerald tiling shaped to fit in the golden leafing along the open spaced between the field of green. The golden leaf formed the shape of the Union of Light, the combination of the three Guardian orders, bordered by a weave of leaves and metal. A bright light projected from the top of the chamber, as it seemingly focused on the lone shape of a Titan, who stood on an elevated and golden decorated platform.
"What specifically do you want to know?" The Titan asked, as he narrowed his eyes at the crowd of elder Guardians and non-Guardians. "There is plenty that I recall."
"What did you find in Moscow?" The single voice from the crowd asked.
The Titan closed his eyes, as he lowered his head for but a moment. All that came to mind was the black chambers, lit in a red glow that assumed a very similar shape of the grand hall that he stood in now. The far curve of the half circle decorated in large monitors, and the ugly amalgamation that hung like a parasite from the ceiling. Muromets, the artificial intelligence that complicated matters in Moscow by targeting Avgust and his Fireteam, bent on demoralising them with its mockery and destroying them with its weapons.
"I found mistakes made in the Golden Age." Avgust replied, as he looked back up to the crowd.
"Mistakes?" Another voice asked, "What kind of mistakes?"
"Muromets. An artificial intelligence that threatened to destroy our City, that had an arsenal to do so. Hypersonic nuclear warheads, automated defence systems. Power given to a device without a measure of control against it."
"Are you suggesting that all those who are created are mistakes?" A third voice asked, as there was a muttering among the crowd.
Avgust shook his head, signifying that this wasn't what he meant. The Titan extended his hand, as the familiar shape of a Ghost materialised in his palm. The Ghost floated up, as it turned its blue eye to its Guardian. "The gifts given to us by our artificial brethren cannot be understated. I served along dozens of Exo, incredible warriors of light."
"Then what are you suggesting?" The voice asked again.
"That power—whenever given—must be controlled." Avgust replied, "The power Muromets had was incredible, and the weapons it utilised could have been used to protect the City for centuries to come. But Muromets wanted nothing more than to use its power to destroy."
"And this Muromets, it was destroyed?" A fourth called out.
"When I descended under the Kremlin to its main chamber, I decommissioned it permanently. If I didn't, our City would have been reduced to a crater."
There was a shocked muttering from the members of the chamber, as Avgust paused momentarily to allow them to speak. The Consensus had accepted his final report long before they called him in for consultation. Quite obviously, the body didn't know an appropriate measure of action to take after the Moscow Incident. To know that weaponised threats still existed around outside the City, with ancient arsenals capable of obliterating the Last Safe City, would cause panic among the population. If there were anymore AI with intentions similar to Muromets that were to activate, a substantial threat to the City would be presented throughout the rest of its existence.
"If there is another AI like Muromets, what would our response be?" A voice cried out.
"We can't be unprepared!" A second joined.
"How many threats could there be out there?" A third asked.
Avgust stood silent, as his gaze quickly turned to a white robed being that stood. As soon as this being did, the entire room fell silent. Everyone knew who this personage was: the Speaker. The masked figure stepped forward to the highest podium of the Consensus' Chamber, as he lifted his arms to command a silence to fall over the crowd.
He spoke softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear: "There is a reasonable measure of concern over the matter at hand. But we must remember that it is best to remain calm, and collect our thoughts."
"What do you propose we do, Speaker?" A voice then asked.
"As with all things, we need an appropriate protocol for the matter. A series of listed protocols to follow should anything like the Moscow Incident ever occur again. Whether we have predetermined a threat, to facing a threat mid-sequence. Until we can pacify existing threats, we cannot turn our backs to this."
There was a mutter throughout the crowd: one that seemed to consciously agreed with what the Speaker said. However, the matter of implementation was a completely different subject. How would the City respond? What course of action was necessary for the Guardians to take?
"Lieutenant Boris?" The Speaker then asked, as the Titan snapped to attention.
"Yes, sir?" Avgust replied.
"What is your recommendation?"
The Titan shifted his feet, as he was caught completely off-guard by the question he was just asked. Avgust turned his head to one side, before he spoke sternly: "Of course, the best course of action we could ever have is to scout and locate sites of interest and pacify them as soon as possible. Right now, I have reason to doubt there are any AI's like Muromets still activated past the Collapse. It was activated months earlier by a rogue Guardian."
"Rouge Guardian?!" A voice cried out.
The Speaker turned instantly to the voice that cried out, as it fell silent. The leader of the Consensus waved forward to Avgust, before he spoke: "Proceed."
"If a site is discovered with a similar armament, with a similar capacity to destroy, it is in the immediate interests of the City to dismantle and pacify the location. Strip it of any existing weapons, and repurpose them for City use. Enemy denial is very important, especially the Fallen." Avgust finished.
"And if it is active?"
"Prepare a retaliation force." Avgust said, "Locate the head of the operation and destroy it as soon as possible. If the weapons pose a threat, or present a threat after the leader is dismantled, dispose of them."
The Consensus remained silent throughout the suggestion that Avgust made, as the Speaker nodded his head after the Titan finished. "Thank you, Lieutenant Boris. Is there anything else you would like to share with the Consensus with this meeting?"
"It is in the immediate interests of the City to locate sites of interest. If we hadn't gotten to Moscow when we did, who can say what would have happened."
The Consensus fell silent again, before the Speaker spoke: "Thank you. You are dismissed."
Avgust nodded his head, as he turned on a heel and stepped down from the golden platform as his footsteps echoed around the chambers as he stepped for the exit on the opposite side of the bleachers for the Consensus. The heavy oak doors he faced immediately opened as he stepped in front of them, before he stepped out from the chambers and they sealed behind him right after he left.
"Well, I think that went well."
The Ghost floated over Avgust's shoulder as he stepped down the marble staircase from the main building of the Consensus Capitol. The bright sun overhead beamed down on the collection of beings who loitered outside of the Capitol, the many trees that decorated the series of planters around the Capitol basking in the brilliance and warmth of the burning ball of gas. Three suited beings stepped past Avgust, as they headed up to the Capitol.
"It went fine." Avgust replied, as he turned his head to the Ghost.
"They listened to us, at least. They are sure to heed your advice, especially if it means the City in the future is put at risk."
"I would hope, Svarog."
"Well, of course." Svarog said, "But this is important. They knew what was going to happen, if that transmission Muscovite sent were actually fulfilled."
The Titan looked up to the Tower in the distance in front of him, as a few ships overhead darted off toward its direction. He sighed as he walked toward one of the many landing platforms, provided specifically as a direct transport from the Tower to the Capitol and vice versa. It wasn't uncommon for Guardians to be called in to answer for specific actions they have taken, or to deliver specifics based on an interesting report they filed for an operation they underwent.
"I just don't know, Svarog." Avgust said, "Perhaps this was just one particular event that will never be repeated."
"Couldn't be." The Ghost replied, "There are thousands of places Guardians have yet to visit. There will be more."
"For their sake, I hope not." Avgust replied, as he stepped up onto the ramp that lead to the platform. Already resting on the platform was a Hawk transport ship, as the pilot stood out on the side with a cigarette in hand. As soon as the pilot saw the Titan approach, he dropped his cigarette and stepped on it: putting it out as he saluted Avgust.
"Ready to head back, Lieutenant?" The pilot asked.
"Of course." Avgust replied, as the pilot nodded his head before he broke his salute and placed his helmet over his head once more. The pilot quickly scurried up the mounted ladder on the side of the Hawk that lead to the cockpit, before he lowered himself into the pilot's seat and lowered the protective canopy. The engines activated and the thrusters lit, as the troop-bay door lowered for Avgust. The Titan stepped in quickly, as he tapped the side of the troop-bay to signal he was ready for take off.
The door closed, as the Titan grabbed for a holding right above his head. The Hawk lifted upward, as the floor under Avgust adjusted and moved. Svarog bobbled up and down as this happened, the Ghost attempting to adjust and stay on the level of Avgust's shoulder.
"Are you still thinking about Zareph and Teash?" Svarog then asked.
Avgust remained quiet after the Ghost brought this up, brought in remembrance to the horrible demise of his two Fireteam members that had accompanied him into Moscow. How Zareph was killed by Muscovite, his Ghost broken by a Fallen Baron that later stabbed Teash, which lead to her sacrificing herself so that Avgust could move on to eliminate Muromets. The Titan thought constantly that it should have been him to perish in Moscow, hopeful that it would have meant both Zareph and Teash could survive.
"It should have been me." Avgust said.
"There was nothing you could do, Avgust. We both know if you could save them, you wouldn't hesitate." Svarog replied, "And they know too."
Avgust remained quiet, before he replied: "I would hope so."
A/N: Well, here we are for my third Destiny story! Unlike The Eternal Storm and The Red Capital, this will serve as the primary story for my primary character, instead of breaking up each event into individual stories. Thank you for reading thus far, and I hope you have found it entertaining! Reviews would be greatly appreciated, along with any criticism!