CHAPTER 3: A Call For Parley
The Vanguard faced the three Guardians that had been summoned into their private conference room. "Let me start by saying I can't think of a better trio to provide cover support for our delegation," Cayde's tone was jovial. "Most importantly, me." He broke off a moment to lean aside from Zavala's annoyed swat. "Given we'll be dealing with Fallen, who better to watch my back than the three who took down Skolas?"
The three Guardians shared a look. The Titan wore the armor he had forged after helping slay the Monster of Luna, painted black in defiance of the Darkness that he fought against in the field, his face bearing the scars he'd earned before his second life. The Warlock stood in robes of the Spektar line, a simple gray color but shining with glowing purple chroma. An Exo with a white chassis and khaki-colored plating, his eyes were hidden behind a visor, a ridge adorning the top of his head with four plugs surrounding it. Their Hunter stood in her crimson cloak, sporting the armor she had forged after helping defeat the Taken King. Her Awoken gold eyes stared flatly out from the shadows of her hood, one eye partially hidden behind a half-pageboy haircut. Her face bore the markings that denoted her as formerly belonging to the Queensguard.
Whereas the Titan and Warlock had shared that look, the Hunter merely kept her gaze level upon Cayde, but she was running a whetstone along the edge of her knife. The Hunter Vanguard looked slightly uneasy under that stare. The Warlock finally broke the silence. "Are we to assume the rumors we've heard are true?"
"I can't speak for what those rumors may or may not have told you," Cayde gratefully looked to the other Exo, "but we have accepted the House of Gears' call for parley. We'll be heading out to Old Paris shortly." He gave a brief synopsis of the situation, noting that Kell Semakis wanted to forge a peace out of a ceasefire, but that his doing so was causing conflict among the Fallen. Executor Hideo would accompany them to speak on behalf of the City's interests. The fireteam would provide security for mankind's representatives, just as the Kell would likely bring his own bodyguards.
"Morgan," Cayde pointed to the Titan, "you'll be on close-range defense. You keep Hideo and I under cover. Shaman-9," he turned to the Warlock, "will keep an eye out in mid-range. And that leaves deadly little Yurei," he nodded to the Hunter, "who will keep an eye out for snipers. And, if needs must, to take out the Kell or his bodyguards."
"We're expecting trouble, then?" Shaman always liked clarification and establish rules of engagement.
"It's the Fallen," Morgan grunted. "Always expect trouble."
"Yes, but you're biased." Shaman gave a brief chuckle to assure his comrade he was teasing, then nodded to Cayde. "Send the coordinates to our Ghosts. We'll head out and get Yurei in position, then meet up with you."
Four City jumpships hung in the air above Old Paris as Executor Hideo and Cayde-6 transmatted onto the old streets. Old Paris had been hit hard during the Collapse, and many of its buildings had sunken into ruin and disrepair, not least due to the fluctuating boundaries between the Fallen Houses that fought over it. With the House of Devils' decline, the City had managed to push out and establish some safe zones, allowing Warlocks and Cryptarchs to begin the endless task of trying to salvage knowledge from the wreckage.
Shaman-9 rose from his seat on the rusted hulk of an old ground vehicle. He cradled his fusion rifle- the Darkblade's Spite- in his hands, a hand cannon on one hip, and his Dark Drinker sword on the other. "Gentlemen, welcome to Paris. If you'll come with me?" He gestured up the street, where the remnants of the Louvre Museum stood waiting. "Our... guests should be here soon. Morgan has already secured the area, and Yurei is monitoring the approaches. No hostiles in the area. A few of Shaxx's Redjacks are on the far side of the city, who may be able to provide support in a pinch, and there are a handful of Ghosts exploring the catacombs and other areas around here. So there's an off-chance we may have some new Risen to deal with if they find who they're looking for."
He lowered his voice as he stood between them. "We suspect the Gears are already watching us. Yurei says they have a sniper of their own on-site. They've exchanged warning shots, just so they know where one another stand." The Exo nodded to Hideo. "Relax, Executor, your safety is our number-one priority."
"I'm assuming I'm included in that," Cayde interjected.
Shaman just looked at him for a moment before agreeing, "Sure."
They stepped into the ruins of the museum. Some of the artwork and artifacts that had been displayed here had managed to survive, and the City had reclaimed as many as they could when they took back the area. Some, they knew, had been stolen or destroyed by the Devils, and the ones that remained had been reduced to tragic shadows of their original selves, left exposed to the elements for centuries. Many Cryptarchs and Warlocks had wept to see such treasures lost.
Morgan straightened up as they entered, his Khvostov cradled in his massive hands, and both an Immobius shotgun and the rocket launcher known as the Ash Factory clipped to his back. He grunted, then raised a hand and tapped the side of his helmet. "Yurei just told me our guests have arrived. They'll be up ahead."
Cayde nodded. He turned to Hideo and gestured in an "after you" manner, heading for a gallery. Morgan followed along, pausing as the Vanguard turned back to Shaman, who was already settling into a meditative position as his Warlock senses stretched out. "Now, remember, if anything happens to me, or you don't hear from me within the hour, you come and you rescue me!"
Shaman's visored gaze turned to flatly stare at him. Cayde pointed a finger, "I mean it. It's cold out here. I don't wanna get left."
When the City's representatives reached the gallery, they saw three Fallen already present. One was unquestionably Semakis, Kell of Gears. The other two wore the armor of captains. One stood further back, by the sunken tunnel they had obviously arrived through, cradling a shrapnel launcher in its arms. The other stood by the Kell, its swords on its hips, but cradling a strange shock rifle in its arms. It looked heavily modified, with a jagged bayonet of some kind under its barrel.
The Kell had picked up the rotten frame of an old painting in one set of hands, while the other set brushed at the grime and muck that had accumulated on its canvas with a surprising delicacy. It was difficult for mankind to read a Fallen's expression, owing to the ether-masks that all Fallen wore, but there seemed to be a somber melancholy in the Kell's amber eyes. He carefully set the frame down as the nearer captain gave the rattling growl of warning, and then he turned to face the three that had entered.
Semakis spread his arms to the sides, brushing his cape open to reveal the weapons on his hip. He drew the swords, causing Cayde to draw his hand cannon, but then the Kell reversed the grip on them and laid the swords down, hafts toward the Exo. He spoke then in the Fallen tongue as he rose back to his full height. The captain nearby then spoke in slightly broken English. "The Kell of Gears greets you and thanks you for accepting his call for parley. He understands your language, but has no knack for speaking it." There was a pause, during which Cayde realized the Fallen in front of him was female, before she went on, "The swords are symbolic gesture, yes? Badge of authority. He is placing himself in your trust."
Hideo and Cayde shared a look, before the Exo raised the Ace of Spades, giving it a spin on one finger before flipping it around, gripping it by the barrel and setting it on the bench between the Kell's blades, the grip directed at Semakis. Hideo drew out his own hand cannon, the Free Will III, and did likewise. The Kell gave a slow nod and then looked to the captain, issuing a short command. She translated, "He bids me introduce his guard. Captain there is Tethiks, the Swift. Nearby is Baron Lakonis, the Quiet. A sniper, yes?" Then she tapped her own breastplate with a spare hand. "I am Baroness Feniks." She spread her spare hands wide and leaned forward in something that was almost, but not quite, completely unlike a curtsy.
"No sobriquet for you, then?" Cayde inquired. When she appeared blank, he added, "No other name you've picked up?"
The Baroness shook herself slightly with a growl, then said, "None that I wish to repeat to you." She then looked from one to the other. "And who has the City That Docks sent?"
Hideo gave Cayde another look, mouthing 'City That Docks?' but the Exo waved him into silence. "This is Hideo, Executor of the New Monarchy, a faction of influence in the City." The faction rep gave a bow. "Over here is Titan Morgan, the Scarred, a veteran of the Six Fronts." The Titan glared first at Cayde, for the unofficial sobriquet and the embellishment, but then he turned his glower at the Fallen, as if daring them to make a move. "We've also got Warlock Shaman, the Visored, providing support, and nearby is our own sniper, Hunter Yurei, the Silent, who killed the Mad Wolf."
Semakis gave a rumble at that, and even Feniks hissed slightly. Seeing their reaction, the Baroness explained, "Skolas, the Rabid. He is... not favored by House Gears." She gave a twitch of her head, as if dismissing the topic, and looked at the Exo again. "And you are?"
Feeling he needed to provide a little gravitas or dignity to his own introduction, Cayde attempted a sweeping bow that ended up almost being a curtsy, pulling his cloak aside as he did. "Cayde-6, Hunter Vanguard." When this just got a blank look, he added, "I'm kind of a big deal."
Semakis rasped out a chuckle, then spread one set of hands simply as he spoke a phrase. "The Kell wishes to begin our talks," Feniks supplied. "Simply put, House Gears wants no more conflict with the City." He spoke again. "All Eliksni loyal to Semakis will not fire upon City Folk, and City Folk will not fire upon Gears Eliksni, yes?"
"It cannot be as simple as that," Hideo said. "And we must warn you- not all of mankind live under the City's protection. We cannot speak for them." It was true. While the overwhelming majority of mankind had fled to the Last City in the wake of the Collapse, there were still settlements that had withstood the Dark Age, usually with the help of their own Risen. And they all tended to resist being brought under the City's protectorate.
Semakis shook himself slightly and rasped a response. "Nor can Semakis speak for all Houses. But other Houses will see higher reason. To fight is to lose more and more Eliksni, more and more ether, more and more resources. To end the fighting with City Folk, gives Eliksni a chance to earn Great Machine's blessing once more."
Hideo folded his arms thoughtfully. "And this is all you wish from us? A ceasefire?"
"No reason to seek more yet." The Kell's breath hissed as he sighed. "House Gears has nothing to offer City Folk, not anything City Folk would trust. But, give time, yes? Sincerity is proven, peace holds, and perhaps trade? Mutual defense against Hive, against Cabal."
Cayde drummed his fingers in contemplation. "It's not unreasonable," he remarked to Hideo. "And it's not as if either side entirely trusts the other..." He looked up at the Kell. "What if the other Houses rally against you?"
"Then House Gears will be cast into the Whirlwind." Feniks growled softly as she added, "Or Semakis will be overthrown. All Houses against House Gears is impossible fight. They will dock us all, if they do not kill us."
"Heads up!" Morgan's voice suddenly cut through the peace talks. He snapped his Khvostov up and started checking angles. "Yurei says we have incoming! Multiple skiffs emerging!" He paused as he listened over the comms and added, "They're in the Gears' colors!" He leveled his rifle in the direction of the Kell and the Baroness.
Semakis growled. "Not my Gears," Feniks translated. He turned his gaze upward, and the lights in his eyes shifted from amber to red. Cayde realized the lenses in the Kell's mask had some kind of scanners inside them. The tall Fallen's head turned in big sweeping motions before he stopped and unleashed a huge roar. Feniks shook her rifle in the air and roared as well. "It is Morsik, former Baron of House Gears! He refused to follow Semakis, and was cast out."
Shaman came running into the gallery, at the same time as the other Fallen captain, Tethiks, approached himself from the other direction. "Getting a lot of heat on the radar, Cayde," the Warlock warned him. "We need to get you and the Executor out of here."
"Do it, Shay," Morgan cocked his rifle. "I'll stay here to cover your escape."
"The hell with that." Cayde reclaimed his hand cannon and tossed Hideo his. "I'm staying." He then glanced at his radar tracker and noticeably sagged a bit. "That's... a lot of Fallen."
"You think we can't handle this many?" Morgan asked, as the Kell and his guards put themselves in a triangular formation, aimed outward.
Cayde glanced around, and remarked, "Well, it might be tough if we get one more dropping in."
To their surprise, Feniks snarled, "That will be the one I take care of."
Cayde turned to her and cracked a smile. "What, you're fighting, too?"
But any further quips and jokes died as they saw a shadow descending through the shattered skylight above. They all scattered just as a Spider Walker crashed through the ceiling, unfolding itself with a crackle of vicious energies, its cannons and guns firing around it in a storm of lethal fury.
"Well," Morgan muttered, "you did say if one more showed up, it might be tougher."
Cayde sighed. "Me and my big dumb mouth."
