Chapter 3's up! Nothing new to say here, except that this might feel a little repetitive (Goddamn spy missions, how do you write them without using the same elements for the most part?) enjoy reading and remember:

Italics is for thoughts/locations or timeskips.

I don't own Warframe, credit to Digital Extremes for it (just making sure).

"Ooh, Operator. You got a new message from the Lotus. What if it's a new mission?" Ordis gives me a heads-up.

"Alright, alright. I'll check." Opening my palm, I open up the HUD and check my inbox.

Tenno,

I have been following the location of some knowledge called "Arcane Codices" for a while now, and I just received information that the Grineer were just about to get the last one, before a thief identified as Maroo stole it from them. My contacts claim she has been last spotted on Mars, hiding in the Corpus base Tharsis. I trust you will capture her. We will extract the information from her to find where the last fragment is located. I know you're capable of even more than this, Tenno, so I'll contact you again once I find the location of said fragment.

-The Lotus.

"You saw the location Ordis, let's capture this thief. I'm interested myself into what these Arcane Codices contain."

Tharsis, Mars

"Alright, time to go hunting. Can you get her scent, boy?" I ask my companion as he starts sniffing the air, before running in a direction in which I guess resides Maroo. "Watch out, Tenno. Maroo won't go down without a fight. She might have some tricks up her sleeve if she evaded pursuers for so long." the Lotus warns me.

Hearing shouts in the distance and gunfire, I see Wyvern biting a woman that has the same jumpsuit like the guards in the Relay. Guessing that's Maroo, I shoot her once in the head to disorient her, then hold down the trigger on her body until her shields drop, drop-kicking her and preparing the drive to capture her. "You ain't gonna get me that easy!" she shouts and becomes invisible. "You might fool my vision, but not my Kubrow. Surrender and I will make sure you leave unharmed. Do not piss me off with your little games." I say, seeing Wyvern biting something invisible, before she becomes visible again. Seeing that as a sign of surrender, I approach her with the drive and extract her into it.

"We got her Tenno. I'll interrogate her right now."

Going towards extraction without paying attention to the crewmen that are desperately shouting around and trying to pick up their weapons as I pass them.

"Alright, alright, Jeez. You people are too serious. You see, I've been hired by Tyl Regor to find the fragment. Nobody knows, not even the Grineer what those Arcane Codices say. But since I have a much too big hate for the Grineer, I sold the arcane fragment to the Corpus." Maroo's transmission comes on my HUD.

"Where is the Arcane Codex?" asks the Lotus. "Somewhere in a Corpus Vault. That's all I'm telling." says Maroo smugly.

"You do realise you're now probably the most hunted criminal by the Grineer, right? They'll find you and they'll have no mercy. We can provide you cover IF you reveal the location of the last arcane fragment." I negotiate with her through the comms. "You got a good point, tinman. I agree, but first I need the confirmation from your boss." she continues. "I agree. Impressive, Tenno. Head to extraction." concludes the Lotus.

Orbiter, Space

"Alright, Ordis. Did you receive the coordinates? We'll have to find 3 Arcane Codices so I'd like to get these out of the way quickly, you know."

"I did indeed, Operator. The first Arcane Codices are on Venus, prepare for Corpus."

Unda, Venus

"Here are 3 of the Codices that the Corpus own, tin guy. Try not to mess up the mission, will ya? Each Data Vault comes with a wide array of security systems including cameras and trip lasers, and tripping the alarms will cause the Vault to trigger a 30-second data destruction sequence in which the data will be destroyed."

"Easy." as I disappear in a flash, navigating the corridors like I'm made of air, passing lightly and unseen.

First vault seems to have some kind of moving lasers in a corridor, with a camera overlooking the way in front of me, right above me. Throwing a Kunai up into the cameras, I wait for the lasers a second to move, then run in the corridor, taking a quick left to hide in between 2 pillars, then as the lasers pass, I continue on my way towards the Vault, quickly hacking into it and being on my way to the second, then the third, and in less than 7 minutes I got every single Vault down and got to extraction. "Wow… that's, uh… I seem to have underestimated you a little, tin bot." Maroo says sounding shocked. "The other Codices are in Grineer Vaults but I guess that won't be a problem for you, huh?"

Orbiter, Space

"Wow you're really speedrunning through these, huh, Operator?" asks Ordis. "Yeah. I want to train myself to be faster and faster at Spy missions since they're the most boring and slow. Too repetitive, you know? And our enemies are too dumb to upgrade their security." I respond. "Either way, I have the location for the next Codices. Commencing space travel." Ordis continues.

Pantheon, Mercury

"Another mission with the data vaults. I won't brief you here since you seem to already know pretty well what you're doing. Good luck." says Maroo before the transmission ends.

Having already done countless Spy missions, I should go through this one like a knife through butter… well, for the most part.

3 minutes later, second Data Vault

"That's a new one." I whisper to myself, looking inside the vault and seeing a Grineer Bombard inside the Data Vault from the vents. Doesn't seem like I should mess around with him too much since that looks like a Rocket launcher. Who knows what that can do inside the vault? I ponder for a minute before jumping down from the vents.

Unfortunately, I didn't see the incoming Sensor Regulator, which is basically a moving camera, or so I've learned from the first vault. As soon as it spots me, I shut it down by freezing its systems, but I was still heard by the bombard. Bullet-jumping towards him, I pierce through his armor with my Skana mid-flight, then force him to fall on his back with the impact. I quickly shove the Skana through his head, but he gets to press the trigger which shoots a rocket right into my chest, knocking me down. Feeling the burn from the Fomorian laser combined with this, I fall on my knees clutching my chest. Fortunately, the Vault is sound-proofed so nobody heard the explosion. I slowly move towards the Panel after I feel better and complete the hack.

"Tenno, are you alright? You can leave before you get damaged further, we got both of the Codices." the Lotus says concerned.

"I ain't gonna say I'm fine when I'm not, but I won't retreat from something easy like this unless all that's left of me is a red spot."

"I understand. Be careful though, you won't help anyone by getting hurt too much."

Alright. Third vault. I go from vent to vent, gliding undetected until I reach the vault and secure its spoils. Huh. What's this? I think while looking at what looks like a blueprint for an assault rifle. "Boltor" it says on the top. "Efficient assault rifle that sends high-powered bolts at the enemy, pinning them to the walls or otherwise destroying them from inside." It continues. Sounds good, pretty sure I have all the stuff it needs in the Liset. They most likely stole this from us anyways since it is of Tenno design.

Orbiter, Space

"Hey, Ordis. Craft the blueprint I just put in the foundry for me will ya? Also, travel towards the last Arcane Codex. Might aswell get the last ones."

"Of course, Operator."

Roche, Phobos

As always, the Lotus begins informing me: "The last fragments are here, Tenno, and it looks like we aren't the first ones to visit. I'm seeing a lot of Grineer troops on the ship fighting the Corpus. Get to the Vaults before the Grineer do."

The ship has fire in every corner I can see. The Grineer basically turned it into a warzone. As if one of them wasn't enough. Now I gotta fight both.

Nothing in the first rooms except corpses littering the floor. A few rooms after, I could see about 12 Grineer pushing the Corpus back. I thought they would rather fight each other than me… seems logical, right? Oh boy, was I wrong. First step into the room, I get shot by a MOA, making the Grineer start shooting me too. "Seriously?" I shout towards them.

Activating Vex Armor, I feel the damage of their bullets reduce to nearly nothing, and my anger levels increasing. "You fucked up now, boys." I say, menacingly walking towards them, headshotting the occasional Butcher trying to get close or MOA, until I cornered the Grineer troops and the Corpus ones. In one swipe, I take off 4 heads from both of the factions' troops, then kill 3 more with a low sword sweep. Activating Spectral Scream, I watch the remaining units cower in fear as I freeze them one by one, then break them in pieces.

The Lotus suddenly reminds me: "Tenno, do not forget about the Vaults.", making me drop one of the Troopers I was holding up by their necks, and running at full speed towards the Vaults.

Fortunately, the Vaults were still untouched. Unfortunately, they were on higher alert with the attack by the Grineer, making it harder for me.

After the last Data is extracted safely

"Hello again, tin can. Now that you got all the Arcane Codices, you need to get them to the Arcane Machine where I found the one I got, somewhere in the Derelict. I'll send you the coordinates since I don't remember the details right now."

Orbiter, Space

"Ordis, what's an Orokin Derelict?

"Well, it's an Orokin Tower that basically got taken over by the Infestation and aged like that without any maintenance. It's a shame really, such amazing structure gone to waste." he expresses sadly. "Alright, thanks for the info. I put the new coordinates Maroo gave me, let's finish this and find out what kind of arcane knowledge these fragments hold. Who knows what kind of power they yield."

Alator, Mars

"Last step in this mission, Tenno. This Orokin base has been overrun with Infested but they're not the reason we came here. Find the portal and step into the Orokin Derelict."

Leaping from wall to wall or just sprinting and dodging the infested, I start to think of some stuff on the way, such as the "Sentients" I remember from my dream, or trying to remember anything else from the Old War. /i/Why can't I remember?/i/

Once I spot the portal, I jump straight through it and await further instruction.

"Alright, I marked the machine's location from memory on your map. Let's see what kind of high-valued treasure it yields!" Maroo says, unable to contain her want for treasure and money.

Looking around for a second, I see overgrown trees and plants everywhere, breaking through the structure and giving the place an even more ancient feel, before I remember my task and go towards the machine.

Once I see the machine, I enter a gigantic room that seems for the most part unaffected by the infestation, with said machine in the middle of it. Approaching it cautiously, I go in front of it and start putting in the Arcane fragments.

The machine, suddenly coming to life, starts broadcasting some kind of message, with all of us listening closely to it.

"All-All is silent- Hushed-hushed and empty is-is-is the womb of the sky."

The hell? "Wha- what's this? Where's the treasure? God damn it." says Maroo, saddened. "I'm sorry, Maroo. I'm sure you'll find your treasure at some point." tries Ordis to cheer her up. "Thanks, Ordo, but I'm already used to low payouts as a freelancer."

Ignoring the two's chat, I try to use my limited memory to decipher what the machine meant. Hearing the cipher awoke something in me… I'm feeling strange, like something is gnawing at me, trying to get out as I get interrupted by the Lotus. "Nothing here, Tenno. Go back to your ship. Good work." she says kind of forcefully, making me suspicious, but complying nonetheless.

Orbiter, Space

"Operator, Maroo left you a message. Check communications."

Tenno,

Thank you for your help and for the most part, kindness. I know I didn't really deserve it but I appreciate it anyways. Idon't know what the cipher means, but your Lotus seems to be hiding something. Don't take my word for it, it's just a thief's instinct, ya know? Now with the Grineer threat gone, I can go on my way. If you need help with anything I can do, come to my Bazaar on Earth.

-Maroo

"Alright, Ordis. Let's go to the Larunda Relay. I have to check the Tenno there and ask Vauban if he knows anything about this."

Larunda Relay, Space

Getting out of the warframe slot, I start walking towards the middle of the Relay again, with guards moving slowly away from me when I get close to them, making me chuckle.

Once I get into the middle, everyone looks at me, with some new faces or old, at first the new ones looking worried and the old ones looking at my burn scar, but I dismiss it with a wave, they then bow or salute as I pass by them. "No need for formalities, my friends. We are all brothers and sisters here, are we not?" I casually dismiss their salutes with one of mine.

Getting to Vauban, I start talking to him about the Archwings. "Vauban, how many of your Tenno have Archwings?" I ask him.

"Well, only the occasional veterans that come through. Keep in mind, most of the Tenno here are freshly awakened. We kept sending search parties for Archwing blueprints but we found none." he responds.

"Well here's one for Odonata, then. It's a balanced Archwing made for offensive and defensive stances. Just copy the blueprint and send it to all the Tenno here. Also, I wanted to talk to you about something much more… important. Two things, actually."

"I understand and thank you very much, you don't know how much help those will provide. Come into the mission control room, it is rarely used either way. By the way, how did you get your burn? Looks painful."

Once we get inside, I start with the first question: "Do not panic, but the Grineer started the Balor Fomorian line. That's where I got the scar, one of their lasers hit me. I came here to warn you about it and arm the Tenno with Archwings in case one of the Fomorians try to attack the Relay, and I'm 99% sure they will at some point."

"God damn it. One of the Relays on Earth got destroyed a long time ago by a Balor Fomorian. Those things are nigh indestructible and shake things up too easily. Also, you survived a Fomorian laser? I'm seriously starting to believe you're immortal." he chuckles.

"We'll be prepared if one tried to attack this Relay. Now onto the second question: After I completed a mission the Lotus sent me on, I turned on this machine with an Arcane Codex in the Orokin Derelict, and all it did was say: "All is silent- Hushed and empty is the womb of the sky." Do you have any ideas what it means?"

"Unfortunately, I don't. It obviously has to do something with the Orokin since the machine was in an Orokin Derelict after all. Try asking Simaris, he's a cephalon that stores information about every race on the upper floor, room to the right."

"Thanks, Vauban. I'll go and check now." I conclude the conversation and go walk towards this cephalon Simaris.

Taking the elevator up to the second floor, I head right and enter inside the room.

"I knew you would come here soon, Legend. It is an honour to meet you." says the giant yellow holographic eye that I'm assuming is Simaris.

"Why are you calling me Legend?" I ask him curiously.

"Your warframe is of legendary quality, it has 4 different warframe parts from ones such as Volt, Saryn, Ember and Frost and went through years of testing during the Old War. Your warframe is the first Alpha Warframe created. While Excalibur may have been the first, that means it hasn't gone through the testing one like yours went through. One of its proportions haven't been found yet, except one. You. Tenno, I already know you seek my help with something, and I will give it to you with one condition."

After taking all the information in, I respond "I'm listening."

"You see, my best and most efficient huntress, an Omega Warframe, has recently lost contact with me. I need the help of someone of your caliber to go where the last signal from her was received. I can't imagine what would happen if one of the factions captured her and took control of her, Tenno. Rescue her and I'll help you with anything you need." Simaris continued.

How dare those inferior creatures even think about capturing one of my brethren. For the sake of their race, they better not do anything./"Send me the coordinates."

Orbiter, Space

Unequipping my weapons, I go to the foundry and finish some of the new ones I crafted, such as:

Primary: Boltor - Secondary: Aklex - Melee: Galatine

"Ordis, start the ship. I'm going on a rescue mission."

Ey, gonna stop the chapter here so I can properly have the next mission on another chapter. Don't worry, the next one will come right after this one. Remember to review and see ya in the next one.