Chapter 6 - The Reef Wars

Act VII - House of Wolves

[The Reef | Queen's Throne Room]

The scent of burnt skin and flesh poisoned the air, the faint tingle of Arc remained static to cloth and robes that dressed the royal hall, now ruined, blackened like the still glow present in bullet holes that had burnt armor just as easily.

What remained of the onslaught was a one-sided massacre, the Queen's guard lay as they were in battle, arms reaching out for weapons or in agony, a lifelessness in their eyes, betrayal lingered in the air just as potently as death's crooked edge.

Uldren stood up from his inspection of the guard closest to the throne, anger abolished all compassion, what little he outwardly gave, and fear for how his Queen, his sister would react, and from where he stood, a calm, simmering wrath built, and he shuddered as she spoke, icy, calmness tainted in venom.

"Inform Petra, open the Reef to the Guardians," She took a step back, observing all those she had lost, but a spiteful pit that widened to greater lengths. "Offer the riches of our realm as bounty for these traitors." The last of her words were to herself and no one else

These Wolves ravaged her Awoken like beasts, animals. If that is how they wish to lead by the example of this... Kell from a realm far outside her own, then so be it. "Let the hunt begin."

Petra stared blankly at the glare of the screens before her, faces of Fallen, their names and ranking among their systematic hierarchy. The time she spent in the Last City taught her many things, and of the ever-so ravenous nature of the Fallen outside of her home. And now, the ones she worked with turned against the Queen, the only one that remains is of a House with a single member, and the other remains one of the Queen's loyal scouts, what few remain.

"The Guardians have grown stronger among the Light, the destruction of the Black Garden's heart was... impressive," Her words rolled off her tongue without realizing it, eyes constantly analyzing the data, fingers taut over a single button before the console. "And to challenge a Hive Prince... brave indeed."

Her brow creased with uncertainty, but not completely if not for what few outside her home she could call 'Friends'. "But now our Queen welcomes them to the Reef to fight alongside the Awoken?"

Then she pondered further, brow curved. "Guardians could be quite useful in dealing with these... traitorous Fallen Wolves," Her mind was clear, though she'd never disobeyed a direct order, now her own conscience was clear. "Prepare the feed across all open channels," Petra beckoned those nearby to begin the broadcast for her.

"Attention Guardians. This is Petra Venj of the Awoken Royal Guard. Multiple bounties have been issued on key Fallen targets. The Reef is now open to you." Her fingers slipped away, and the die had been cast

[Hours Later | The Edge of the Reef]

[Ceres' POV]

~To think the Queen would actually open the Reef, I see this as an absolute win~ Zane replied through the coms, but I didn't share his optimism, unlike the time I trespassed, this was far worse, if the Queen was offering up bounties for her own Fallen then something's clearly wrong. ~-Ceres, you okay, Titan Lady?~

~She's finally understanding the ways of ignoring you~ Morbin retorted snarkily, but Zane just chuckled anxiously

I blinked, sitting back. "O-oh, yeah, I was just thinking about the broadcast, how sudden it was..." My thoughts replayed the message, worry, a feeling of dread in my chest, it was all too familiar. a Prologue to our battles with the Black Garden, then Crota's army, and now, we're to fight Fallen that had the guts to attack the Awoken. "We're nearing the Vestian Outpost, get ready you guys."

~On it, boss!~ ~Sure~

Approaching the Outpost built out of an old Ketch, it had been modified into a docking bay, and from where it was situated in the asteroid belt, it was clearly meant for us not to get too close to the Awoken's realm, I never really realized it was even built out of a Ketch until actually being in one myself a week ago.

Upon setting foot back in the Outpost, the place was in a word, chaotic. The outpost itself looked to have taken a lot of damage to its interior as well as its exterior. The Fallen that did this had weaponry to back up their assault, no wonder the Queen sent out that message, as I could see some Guardians conversing with the Awoken near the bounty boards now displaying the many targets for hunts.

"Well now, it's good to see you again, Guardians, and it looks as though I don't need to sneak a certain Hunter in anymore, guess one small silver lining in all this." A more outspoken voice caught my attention, and I recognized her immediately

Most Awoken corsairs that were standing guard wore black garments and kept their faces hidden. But this particular Awoken wore dark violet clothes that were similar to the corsairs and actually showed her face. Her dark red hair was drifted off to the left side of her face as her right light-blue eye focused on us. Yes, I said eye as singular, because her left eye was covered by a patch.

"Petra!" Zane waved to her brightly, hopping over to her side with a smile. "Heard you have a Fallen problem, so we came to help!"

Petra grinned and nodded. "The Queen herself had a personal message for you once you arrived, and while she's busy with this rebellion, I can relay what she asked," Clearing her throat she spun a knife in her hand casually as she recited. "'To the Guardian that came to the Reef looking for a way into the Garden, I request that you aid Petra in dealing with the House of Wolves' leader directly, let us see how well you can uphold your end of our bargain'."

"You remembered... all of that?" Ghost sounded skeptical, but Petra motioned for us to follow

"I'm part of the Royal Awoken Guard, and my loyalty to my Queen has led to a few skills along the way, such as a sharp memory," She stopped before a familiar tent and Fallen-styled hut. "Before we can get underway with the hunt, Variks wanted to speak with you further."

Through the doorway came the Vandal draped in green stepped forward with his staff clanking against the Outpost, Zane looked like a child meeting his best friend, and Morbin was... stoic about the Fallen, and I smiled back at the approach of the Fallen.

"Ah, Guardians, welcome back to the Reef, it has been long, yes?" He gestured to myself and Morbin, then he eyed Zane curiously with a clicking in his throat. "Has my knowledge been of use to your... collection?"

"Yep! Nearly got it all down on paper, looks great too!" Zane gave a thumbs up, then shrugged while see-sawing his hand. "Could use some ironing out and the stuff after the Whirlwind - Ah, that can wait, given the... grave circumstances."

"It's nice meeting you again, Variks," I then gave Morbin a flat look. "Don't mind him he's... not overly keen on Fallen."

Variks just nodded then with a metal arm he guided us into the hut, where many tomes and relics lay on tables around a lantern. It looked similar to how Zane kept his room, both were keen on history it seems, and Variks was apparently old enough to have been around before the 'Whirlwind' of his people.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "So, what did you want to talk about, exactly?" Variks stopped before some of his tomes, guiding a hand across one while growling low at the book

"Wolves are not easy to corner, many scattered across the system; Devils plot, Winter attack, Kings plan, but Wolves circle, Skolas is cunning, will not falter like others," Variks spoke slowly, then stood before tapestries of the Awoken and Fallen battling among the stars, Ketches, and jumpships lighting up the darkness. "To understand motive, you must understand the Wolves, Skolas' ambition."

"Oooh, the Reef Wars!" Zane pointed out, then scratched his head bashful. "Sorry, love these sorts of things," I shared his interest, I've heard of the Reef Wars but never looked into it, and from the curious looks among us it was clear we all wanted to know more

"This should be good." I know, but shh

"We're ready when you are, Variks," I motioned with anticipation, leaning against the wall to get comfortable as the Fallen raised his staff to the other frozen tapestries of time that draped the walls

"Kell of Wolves, Virixas, heard the call and had gathered a great fleet to join the other Houses on Earth, failed to acknowledge Queen's warning as Reef intervened." His arm raised to one of the pieces, of a divide between a fleet of Ketches, a large Fallen draped in dark blue, and of the Queen herself, authority radiating from the tapestry.

"The Kell thinks the Wolves can win decisively and so the Kell sends a challenge and a warning; 'I am the Lord of the Wolves, you are an empty thing with two dead souls, this is my House, these are my terms, surrender and I will only take your ships'."

"Queen retaliated in turn, a weapon, the Harbinger, tore through Wolves like wind, darkness bathed in light of decimated ships, I watched as countless fell to ruin, scattered as Virixas fell, now, a power vacuum for his Barons and Captains." Variks clicked at the last part, pointing to images of Fallen. "Twilight Gap loss prevented, but the Scatter rose with new power. Irxis, Wolf Baroness; Parixas, the Howling; and Skolas, the Rabid."

"So that's why the Wolves weren't there ~PATHETIC WEAKLINGS~, exactly," Morbin summed up 'nicely'. I cleared my throat

"Then that started the Reef Wars?" My inquiry was met with a nod from the elder Fallen, his staff grazing the many depictions of conflict that ensued

The next picture was that of more Wolf ships falling to ruin, a large Fallen overwatched the massacre, eyes brimming with disdain before the Fallen under him, as others... tore his lower arms off, the thought alone was enough to make me shudder.

"Wolves fought for supremacy, Irxis had control of Orbiks Servitors, who controlled Kaliks Servitors, taking them from her rivals," Variks eyed the visage of what was labeled as 'Eos Clash' evenly, hissing through his mask. "Skolas is not easily dismissed, planned to take care of her first."

"Bet it doesn't go as he planned it?" Zane whispered to me, then a staff bonked him on the head. "Ack, okay, sorry!"

Variks continued. "Sent fleet to battle, Peekis conducted plan, and through determination, brought Irxis to her end, but this cost most of Skolas's fleet, the Wolfship Orbiks-Fel lost, Skolas was furious, and more vicious than any would-be Kell, docked Peekis to Dreg, starving him of ether too."

Anger tickled my heart, "That's... horrible," And this is who we're fighting? No wonder Variks is here and not with them, I doubt Skolas would take betrayal on the nose

"An idea had formed, Skolas' rise to Kell would come only when all that stood against him fell, so he planned, orchestrated, and manipulated Fallen and Awoken."

Another image, of a Reef shipyard razed by the Wolves, with a group of Fallen unlike most, concealed in the darkness, striking from shadows and without warning. The next was of this group's leader acting as bait, luring the Awoken to what appeared to be Skolas' remaining rival.

"Skolas issued attack on Amethyst station, Silent Fang, expert assassins led by Drevis razed the station, left only bloodshed. Drevis was hunted by Awoken to Iris," Variks almost sneered at the plan already in motion, even Petra, who was still watching from the doorway looked visibly distraught by the event. "Skolas's preferred Fang, Grayor, tricked Awoken, met Parixas aboard own his Ketch, defeating him and leaving no contender left in Skolas's path."

Many more depictions spanned the ceilings and walls of his home. From other Barons and sympathizers of Skolas, their battles across the Reef continued. However, Skolas' forces began to dwindle, his closest allies either fell to recklessness or being outmatched, captured or forced into hiding. Many lives on either side lost, but the Reef Wars had started to turn, and Skolas' rein of the House was coming to a close.

But his planning, the methodical methods he employed on the Reef were unlike any Kell I've seen, some had interesting methods in the field, but Skolas almost single-handedly did what his previous Kell could not, it was grim, sickening, but he was smart.

This time, Petra spoke up. "After the capture of Beltrik, Skolas remained hidden among the Hildian Asteroids, but to our Crows' surprise, a transmission from a Fallen aboard Skolas' own Ketch gave away an attack that would have caught even the Queen off guard, turning the war in our favor."

Variks growled curiously at the memory, then placed a hand on the second to last piece, that of Skolas' inevitable capture at the hands of the Awoken, with Variks standing with the Paladins themselves. "Skolas met his match, paid for his trickery, his... cruel methods," His real arm rubbed one of his prosthetics. "The Reef Wars came to an end."

Thus, the tale of the Reef Wars came to a close, and I see why Variks wanted us to listen. Skolas isn't just any Kell, he escaped his prison, freed his House and left his mark on the Reef, these aren't just some acts of vengeance, he was making it clear that he was pulling the strings, that he was the Kell that would do what no other House dared to. Even if that meant fighting Guardians like us.

Standing upright, I looked between Variks and Petra, both waiting for my conclusion expectantly. "The Reef and the City... I've heard alot about our shaky alliance, many bad things happened between us, be it opposing ideals or losses, but... if it weren't for the Reef back then I might never have arrived at the City that I call my home today."

I'm one Guardian, but there's so much about the system that's unknown to me, the wars and the bloodshed over the decades I was still dead, the Dark Ages, Crota, the Vex. Holding my head high, I kept a confident smile to the two. "I will do everything I can to stop Skolas."

"Ahem, 'We' will." Morbin shoved my shoulder, clenching his fist with scarlet eyes. "~CRUSH THEIR BONE MARROW UNDER MY BOOTS~!"

"I like this place, Petra's awesome and so's Variks, like I'll back down from helping them," Zane stood between them with a smile, and Petra looked grateful for that, and Variks merely made some clicking noises under his mask

"Before we begin hunt for Wolves, issues arise in Prison of Elders," Variks raised a hand, then Petra sighed, running a hand through her hair

"Much as I really want to get this underway, and I really do, Variks is right," She eyed me earnestly. "One of Skolas' barons is attempting to use the chaos of the Reef to break out more Fallen to bolster the Wolves' numbers, we can't let that happen," Then she smiled with what appeared to be anticipated excitement. "Ready for some fieldwork, Guardians?"

All that was needed was a look between the boys, both awaiting my word. I always tell them never to put me above them just because I lead our Fireteam, but after the months we've known each other, it was sorta just expected that I always gave the word, they never need it, but I think it was just our thing. Morbin gestured for me to take a step forward, while Zane hummed bubbly, spinning Imago in his hand.

Grabbing my helmet I slid it back onto my head with a twist and soft click, "We're armed and ready, Petra."

She plucked the knife floating above her hand, "Excellent, I'll meet you all down there!" Petra then left without giving us time for any input, but a shake of Variks' head told me this was common

"Hey," Zane waved his arms low. "Anyone else find that floaty knife trick of hers creepily fascinating?" His head shot between us, Variks just turned around to grab a datapad. "Anyone? No? J-Just me - okay."

To Be Continued...

The Reef Wars somewhat abridged, I don't want to just dump a whole lot of the history in one chapter, and the House of Wolves alone covers bits and pieces fairly well through-out the campaign. Also, yay, I get to write Variks! Hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!

Next Chapter: Lockdown

Fireteam Horizon alongside Petra venture into a section of the Prison on high alert as Drevis, the leader of the Silent Fang works to breakout more Fallen to join the House of Wolves.