Chapter 13: The Dreadnaught
I shuddered slightly, a feeling of unease creeping to my bones. I watch the blue light of the ward streak by, the interior of my ship glowing softly in the blue light. Taking a deep breath I relax back into my seat, resting my head against the headrest. Through my headset I can hear the other members of my fireteam talking to each other, discussing strategy. I knew that I should join in... As I'm their leader. And I need to have a clear understanding of what they plan to do. But I couldn't focus. My mind flying as I thought back to all my adventures... Remembering all I've done for the city. And for the people in it. Reaching up I rub my arms, shaking my head as I clear my head. "Alright!" I bark into my headset, "Cayde's orders! A team has already landed and set up a beacon for us. Our job.. Is to simply patrol. We need to get reading of the Dreadnaught. Maybe thin out a few enemies... But that is all! We won't get into anything major. Stay as a group and don't get separated!" After a quick moment of silence I hear the warlock respond, "Yes Ma'am!" I smile to myself hearing his confidence, "James?" I ask my human friend.
He laughs into the headset, "Damn Jaz.. I forgot how demanding you can be." Then after a short pause, "Yes ma'am. I won't do anything rash. Let's win this for the Tower." He says. Smiling I turn my chair around, reaching for my weapon rack. Just before I grab my usual pulse rifle my eyes catch something. Reaching out I grab the glowing green orb, rubbing my fingertips across it gently. Speak softly to myself, "I miss the old days. When Crota was our biggest problem. And yet here I am. Holding a piece of him in my hands." I say tossing the Crux of Crota from hand to hand. Just then something flashed before my eyes across the surface of the crux. A massive white skull, very similar to that of Crota's only slightly smaller, and more ancient looking. But before I had time to process any of it, the skull was gone. The echo of a cruel laugh in my ears. Setting it back down I grab my shotgun, sliding its shoulder strap on. Then I grab my pulse rifle, looking at all its dents and scrapes fondly. "Here we our... Out of our element again. Keep my men safe Juju." I say as I strap the gun onto its strap. Sighing contently at its familiar weight on my hip.
With a sudden lurch we exit the warp. My stomach turning as I look out the window, there was Saturn. It's a hole blasted in its beautiful ring, and in the center sat a massive ship. As we got closer I gasped, clamping my hand to my mouth as I looked out the window. The broken ships and bodies of my Awoken brethren floating around in the debris. As I watched a small Awoken floated over the nose of my ship. His hair just as red as mine. "H-how..?" I say into the a headset, "They're all dead!" I stammer as I watch the Awoken. My headset crackles, then the metallic voice of the warlock says in my ear, "The Dreadnaught has a super weapon. A warlock said that it blasted this hole in one shot. That shot... Killed all the Awoken. Even the queen. Jaz... I'm sorry.. But remember.. Zavala told us about this." I heard hat he said, but I couldn't believe it. Dead. All of them dead.
My ghost appeared next to me, peering out into space as he guided me towards the strange ship. "This is getting difficult." He said, "I have to avoid all of this debris." As we got closer I saw how big it truly was. This ship.. This massive ship. It was the length of four or five city blocks. Maybe even longer. Our ships looked puny next to it as we flew closer. Catching site of the Breach I grab the joystick, guiding myself into the interior of the ship. "Ghost... Let me guide it in." I say after I felt the ship try to fight against me. My ghost still thinking he was flying it. The eye on my ghost blinked once, then he floated back around my head. "Alright guys.. We're here. Maintain Radio silence." I say as I guide my ship into position above a small outcropping. "Ghost. Once I get out take my ship into orbit of the Dreadnaught. Be ready to pull me out at a seconds notice." I say standing and moving back over to the hatch. Hopping out of my ship, with a soft scrape of metal against bone I take my first step on the Dreadnaught. My heavy metal boots thumping against a floor that could only be described as bone and chitin. Then James walks over, pulling me tight into a hug. In his arms, pressed against his chest, I feel like a small child again. It's a very scary feeling to have when you're leading a team of men. I look up out of his arms as the ships fly away, but they stay right within my eyesight outside the Breach.
The Warlock cleared his throat nervously. "Ummm... Guys? Now may not be the best time to hug it out." Hearing his voice pulled me to my senses. Pushing out of James arms I grab my gun from its sling. "Right then. James, take the lead. Kev-67, you are next to me with support. Let's move out everybody!"