Disclaimers: I do not own Warframe
A/N: You thought it was another preview but it was me, a full chapter! This is the first of three updates after I had to split a 12000-word rough draft. Enjoy.
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Lies, Schemes, and Deception
"What the hell is going on here?", a voice boom and Lotus turn to it only to mentally groan upon seeing who belongs to.
"Oh please, not now."
"Make way, please, if you don't mind", a more soothing voice calls out from the crowds, and the Lotus instantly realizes where that unfamiliar feeling from earlier came from. It was probably the same feeling people got when they felt like they were about to be in the middle of a warzone.
And it seems that this packed passageway was about to become just that as the brash and vulgar leader of Steel Meridian, Cressa Tal, appear from one end of the corridor while the elegant and graceful leader of New Loka, Amaryn, appear from the other across the way, both of them flank by members of their respective syndicate, though unarmed as per the laws of the relay.
"What are the insurmountable odds of both of them being on this very relay at the same time?", Lotus wonders.
The two leaders immediately spot one another and lock eyes and for one tense moment, all was quiet as there weren't even any sounds of fighting coming from within Conclave. Not even Grand Maintainer Furaon spoke, though the Lotus did see him signal his guards to be ready.
As if in sync both leaders started walking toward each other, Cressa Tal's heavy footsteps echoing throughout the hall while Amaryn's couldn't even be heard. They met in the middle and proceed to have an intense stare-off with one another, their operatives keeping a distance behind them while keeping an eye on their counterparts.
The Lotus briefly turns her gaze to the other syndicates present, watching them whisper amongst themselves no doubting wondering how they could exploit the results of this confrontation to their own benefits and preparing to relay the entire incident to their leaders once it was over.
"They're more at war with each other than they are with Grineer or Corpus, they're just not as open about it", Lotus told herself.
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Amaryn spoke.
"Cressa Tal, I did not expect to see you so soon. I thought you would still be seeing to your wounded and rebuilding your numbers after the unfortunate losses you suffered on Mercury", Amaryn said in her sweeten voice, a voice that even the Lotus would admit grinds her nerves whenever she heard it.
Cressa Tal clenches her fist, clearly signaling to all that were present that she was seriously contemplating breaking the non-violence rule of the relay.
"Cut the crap, Amaryn! You and I both know that as soon as you got the news of what happened you were leaping for joy!", Cressa Tal accuses her.
Amaryn puts her hand over her mouth in shock, though the Lotus could easily tell it was all for show.
"Why Cressa Tal, I am appalled that you think I am capable of such barbaric behavior! Our organizations may have never exactly seen eye-to-eye, but I would never wish such misfortune on you!", Amaryn states, "As a matter of fact, I am willing to send over medical supplies to help supplement your own limited supply, but at a reasonable cost of course."
"You got some nerve trying to sell me back the supplies that your operatives stole from one of my outposts!", Cressa Tal hisses.
Amaryn tilts her head while placing a finger on her chin, "I do recall receiving word that one of your bases had a rash of theft recently but if I remember correctly, none of my people were in that area of the system at the time"
"None of your people that you're willing to acknowledge, you bitch!", Cressa Tal curses as she looks like she was going to wring Amaryn's neck only for Grand Maintainer Furaon bangs his staff on the ground, quickly reminded her just exactly where she was. The Preservers guards raising their weapons up may have affirmed his actions as well.
The Steel Meridian leader quickly composes herself and goes back to her staring match with Amaryn.
"You know, it's funny how you're so "concern" about the state of Steel Meridian when New Loka is still recovering from the "major setback" you had a while ago when you lost one of your major bases on Earth. You know which one I'm talking about, right? It was when Vay Hek launched that little offensive of his. From what I heard, you even left some people behind while evacuating.", Cressa Tal counter and for a moment, Amaryn's expression contorts to one of anger and rage before resetting back to the calm demeanor she was known for.
"That little incident was unfortunate but nothing New Loka cannot recover from in due time once we gather our forces.", Amaryn says, "Soon we will take back our base on the homeworld of humanity."
Cressa Tal laughs at this, "That's funny, Steel Meridian is doing the exact same thing. Once I get enough men, we're going to take back one of our bases on Earth as well just to show everyone that while we may be down, we are definitely not out."
"I sure hope that the Grineer and the Corpus ever get around to planning spies within the syndicates. They just throw out top-secret information all through these halls left and right", Lotus told herself.
It was at that moment that both leaders spare a glance at the Lotus before turning away and leaving the area through the respective ways they came without saying another word to each other and once more the sounds of swords clashing could be heard in the Conclave.
A few minutes later, Lotus received a private message from both Steel Meridian and New Loka asking if she could lend them a full squad of Tenno to aid them in the very operations they were just talking about.
"Would it kill them to work together once and a while?", Lotus thought before shaking her head, "Oh that's right, syndicates working together is what led to the first, second, and fifth Syndicate War."
Lotus pauses after this though. Who was she kidding? Those conflicts may have been started by those reasons but the third and fourth were cause by one group becoming too powerful and waging war on the others.
Which was exactly what Steel Meridian was starting to do and that was the secondary reason why they were chosen for the assault against Vor. While yes, Cressa Tal and her men were a thorn in the empire's side and that alone guarantee that Vor would have fallen for the bait of them assaulting his outpost, the truth of the manner was that this certain syndicate was simply getting too powerful for their own good, surpassing the might and influence of all the others, especially New Loka and Red Veil.
The Lotus knew Cressa Tal would send her best men, her core veterans, and she knew that they would take significant causalities seeing how she purposely told Cressa Tal the wrong information regarding the overall strength of the Grineer troops at the outpost, the type of troops there, and their base defenses. She was counting on at least a third of the attacking Steel Meridian's force being wiped out by the time Vor was killed and thus restoring the balance between the six groups.
What she wasn't expecting was Cressa Tal attacking early without her knowledge, leading the attack herself, or the new players entering the field. Steel Meridian lost more troops than planned, at least eighty percent, and took a big dive in their reputation as well. They also have been suffering greatly in the offensives Vor has been launching against them.
So now instead of them coming back down to the same level as all the others, they were now at the bottom and in danger of being on the losing side of any potential future conflict.
This was extremely bad news because the Lotus relied on Steel Meridian to be another source of intel regarding the Grineer and their operations due to the defectors coming to them. If they were taken out by either another syndicate or worse, one of the major factions, it would be a massive hit in the Tenno intelligence field.
"Perhaps it would be best if I only aided Steel Meridian for the time being to get them back up to strength and inform the others like New Loka that I can't spare anyone. That should even out the playing field. The system can't afford an eighth Syndicate War right now", Lotus told herself right before going back to listening to Excalibur and Tenshin go at it.
Back on Cetus
Not long after Trinity was done treating Atlas, the four Tenno found themselves standing on the other side of the last gate that separated them from the Plains of Eidolon listening carefully to the Infested pound away at it. Thanks to the enhanced hearing within the warframe suits, they could pick up every scratch and bodyslam that the horde was inflicting on the Orokin built structure.
"Ordis, bring up the recon video", Trinity orders.
Inside each of their helmets a screen pop-up showing a vast ocean of diseased skin, teeth, and claws. It stretches almost a quarter-mile from the gate and growing as groups varying in sizes kept arriving bit by bit. All the plant life in the area had been uprooted and even the large rocks have been reduced to pebbles by the horde.
"Show us where they are coming from", Trinity says.
"At once", Ordis replies.
Another moment of silence before a screen showing a clearing not far from the center of the plains and in it was something Chroma and the others could only consider an abomination of nature. It had a disgusting reddish-orange color to it and to the Healer Tenno, it perfectly resembles the cyst that those hit by the Technocytes strain would show on their skin prior to mutating into one of the Infested. The boil itself was half the size of the Orbiter and every few seconds from the confides of diseased form, at least a dozen Infested creatures emerged from it. Upon entering the plains, the group immediately set out towards the gates, adding their numbers to the already massive horde.
"So far the Grineer forces in the area have yet to engage the Infested, instead opted to hold up in their forts across the plains. While small groups of Infested have attacked these forts, the main body has simply ignored them", Ordis commented.
"Why attack the Grineer when there is easier prey nearby?", Chroma says.
"That would suggest that they have a higher intelligence then we previously thought", Trinity said.
"Maybe they do", Revenant spoke up, "While we were asleep, the Infested continue to live, grew, and change. Perhaps they have gained a higher level of sentience in the time since the Old War. Take the one call Nidus for example. He has shown that the Infested strain can indeed evolve and adapt."
"But he's human, like yourself, despite some of the…unique features he has", Trinity says while remembering back to all the medicinal exams she had to do on the Infested Tenno.
"Like how the Infested don't attack him whenever he's nearby?", Atlas states, recalling the team mission he did with the Nidus right before the Mercury assault. They were task with clearing out a ship crawling with Infested before it got too close to the colony and most of the legwork was done by the Rock Tenno while Nidus simply kept the creatures at bay just by holding a hand out.
"Exactly", Trinity answers, "The Lotus has even said that if we could somehow track the full extent of the Infested within the Origin System, we would use Nidus to eradicate them all."
"I believe we should leave this sort of stuff to people like Gauss and such, plus we're getting off-topic", Chroma interjects, "The point is that the Infested are focusing all their efforts into taking Cetus and it's only a matter of time before they do unless something is done."
Before anyone could comment, the sound of someone approaching behind them draws their attention and they all turn to see the leader of Cetus heading toward them with Saya at his side.
"How bad is it, Tenno? Can my people ever go back onto the plains?", Konzu asks but was answer with silence.
"Atlas", Trinity simply says after a moment as she walks away toward the other end of the hall leaving the Rock Tenno with the Ostron Chieftain and his significant other.
Atlas immediately turns his full attention to the elderly man, "Don't worry, Konzu. It's nothing we can't handle. We just have to make sure every possibility is cover when we enact our attack plan. Can't be making any mistake now, can we?"
Konzu places a hand over his heart, "My friend, you have no idea how much that calms my soul knowing that this blight will soon be rid of. I was right in putting my faith in you and your comrades."
Atlas chuckles, "Don't worry, everything is under control. Hey, stop me if you heard this one before."
Chroma let out a quiet groan for what was about to come next.
"Why can't eggs tell jokes?", Atlas asks.
Konzu ponders the question in his head for a moment, thinking hard on the possible answers.
Finally, he gives up, "Why can't eggs tell jokes?"
"Because they crack each other up!", Atlas answers and Konzu began to howl with laughter while a slightly less amuse Saya merely rolls her eyes, not knowing that Chroma was mimicking her actions. Meanwhile, Revenant simply looks back and forth between the assembled group.
"We were not aware that eggs could communicate with one another."
Once she was a good distance away from the other, Trinity attempt to establish a channel with the Tenno leadership, "Ordis, connect me with the Lotus."
"At once, Operator Trinity."
After waiting for a few moments a voice was heard on the other end of the connection.
"I hope that this call is to tell me that the Infested problem in the plains has been taken care of", the Lotus says in a whisper.
"Actually, there have been a few complications. The horde is significantly larger than anticipated and their primary focus is no doubt Cetus. At this moment, they're being held back by the gates but we can't hope to eliminate them without extra firepower", Trinity reports, "I'm calling to request-"
CLANK!
"That was definitely the sound of swords clashing. So I wasn't just hearing these then. But that was almost two hours ago since I last call", Trinity tells herself, "Forgive me, Lotus, but what is going over there?"
"Excalibur is in a….meeting with Teshin regarding some possible intelligence he may have", the Lotus admits, "But back to the manner at hand, will you be able to get rid of the Infested?"
"Not without reinforcements", Trinity before checking the Landing Craft Docking rosters for the Orbiter to see who was on the ship right now, "It seems that Zephyr is currently onboard at this moment, With your permission, I like to have her redirect here to Cetus."
"Deny."
"I beg your pardon", Trinity replies, taken back by the abruptness of the Lotus' answer.
"Zephyr is on a mission that could turn the tide of battle in our favor. She, along with everyone else, is unable to aid you at this moment.", Lotus states.
"But this is a matter of Cetus' safety we're talking about here", Trinity says, trying to keep her voice down.
"I realize that which is why I letting Atlas stay attach to your team despite the fact that he was scheduled to aid Gara and Rhino in another sabotage mission. I am confident that you will be able to handle this with the squad you have available. You have two of the most armored Tenno with you and Chroma is also an expert in dealing with the Infested should he be needed.", Lotus explains.
"But Lotus-", Trinity tries to say.
"It would seem that all you need to do is make sure that the Infested don't get into Cetus, something that has already been accomplished through the gates keeping them in the plains", Lotus points out, "Rest assured, I will send all available Tenno as they free up to Cetus to aid in the extermination of the Infested, especially Nidus. But be aware that this could take at least two days depending on the current situation throughout the system. But for now, you just need to hold your current position and monitor the situation."
Trinity bites her tongue, struggling to hold back the rant she so desperately wanted to let go. This wasn't the first time the Lotus has made her job more difficult than it needed to be. The last time she did this wasn't more than a month ago when she started sending Atlas back out on missions with a wounded shoulder despite her highly recommending that he get some downtime even after it healed. This did the fact that she hasn't overridden Chroma's lockdown all the more baffling though.
"I have complete faith that you will be able to keep control of the situation. The people of Cetus are depending on you, Trinity.", Lotus said just before cutting out.
The Healer Tenno takes a deep breath before turning around and heading back to the group, her mood greatly sour now. Luckily, Konzu and Saya were leaving, allowing Trinity to relay the news to the others without having to worry the elderly couple and by extension, the rest of the Ostrons.
Once she got to the others, she quickly moves to lay out what she was just told.
"We heard everything", Chroma says before Trinity could even get a word out, "You left the commlink open on a one-way channel."
The Vampire Tenno exhales sharply, once more cursing herself for making such a slip-up, especially seeing how she was going to relay the news to them in a more positive manner.
"This whole day has been one giant mess", she thought before addressing them, "We're on our own."
"I would have known that without even listening in on the conversation just by the way you walk over here", Chroma states, "Though I do find it a little odd that Zephyr is back at the Orbiter now and can't come to aid us. "
Underneath her helmet Trinity throws the dragon a baffled look, "Odd how?"
Chroma shrugs, "During my lockdown, if I wasn't talking to you, meditating, or training with Jessie, I was doing mission control for the others to help pass the time despite the fact that Ordis does that himself."
Atlas and Revenant both turn to look at each, both of them wondering who exactly "Jessie" was but neither decide to comment.
"Are you saying that Zephyr never came back to the Orbiter during your lockdown?", Trinity asks, trying to recall the last time she talked to the Air Tenno and realizes that it was right before they launch the Mercury assassination mission.
"Her tracking log just kept saying "in-transit" the whole time I was on the bridge and whenever I try to hail her she just briefly answer and say "Busy right now" before cutting off.", Chroma says.
Trinity narrows her eyes at this bit of information. Something wasn't sitting right with this situation regarding Zephyr and she would have to question the Lotus and Excalibur about this the next chance she had. But for now, there were more pressing matters to deal with.
"Anyway, we are to hold our position and wait for the others to join us", she explains.
"That shouldn't be so hard. The door should easily hold them back and with a combine-", Chroma started before trailing as he spots Atlas steadily holding up a hand, signaling him to stop, "What is it?"
"It looks like Therapy Boy has something on his mind", Atlas says, nodding toward Revenant whose head was shifting between different directions while mumbling to himself.
"Is everything okay?", Trinity asks.
Revenant stops moving his head and looks down at the ground, "We just remember that there are a number of caves that lead out of the plains."
….
Trinity slowly takes a deep breath and exhales even slower, "Why didn't you say something about this earlier?"
"We just found the memory of the caves within our mind that show us how we have explored them to see where they led to", Revenant explains.
"And why wasn't this reported?", Atlas asks.
"We did not see the importance of it for the caves weren't large enough for the Eidolons to get through", Revenant answers.
"That is still highly irresponsible, even for you, Revenant! Innocent lives are at stake here and you're just now coming with us with this information!", Trinity states, her irritation, along with her voice, now rising.
"They were always in danger so this doesn't change a thing and Revenant isn't in the wrong for not reporting the caves.", Chroma spoke up, causing both Atlas and Trinity to turn their attention to him.
"Say again, Dragon Boy", the Rock Tenno says.
"Up until yesterday, there were never any reports of the Infested even being in this part of the system. They were confined to either Eris or Orokin derelicts that are mostly found near the Void", Chroma says, "And it's not like the Grineer or the Corpus need to use the caves to get out of the valley and like Revenant said, the Ediolons are too big to use them."
Both Trinity and Atlas look at each other for a moment before going back to Chroma.
"What matters now is that these caves have now become a problem due to a new enemy showing up that we didn't plan for and it's our job to deal with it", Chroma finishes.
Trinity shakes her head, "You're right. We need to come up with a plan to deal with this. Either seal up all the caves-"
"At last count, we found four of them and those are only the ones that led out to the outskirts of Cetus themselves", Revenant points out.
"Or we need to get rid of the boil. Seeing how all the Infested in the valley have originated from it, perhaps it is something akin to a local hive mind and destroying it will disrupt them."
"That's a big gamble and that's not even counting whether or now we can even get to it", Atlas points out as he throws a thumb to the gate, "That's a lot of Infested to fight through out there."
"Indeed it is", Trinity says before a thought occurs to her. She then turns her attention to the Dragon Tenno.
"Is there something you need of me?", he asks.
"What did you find out from the Corpus?"
"Well, I learn that they smuggled a whole team of Elite Crewmen with Snipers as back-up to open the gates to the plains and let the horde in. They used the attention we drew when we landed as a cover to sneak in", Chroma answered.
Trinity could feel her blood starting to boil at this statement. The fact that she inadvertently almost cause Cetus to fall to the Infested left a bad taste in her mouth, especially since she arrive to help them in the first place.
"Who put them up to this? Frohd Bek? Nef Anyo?"
"They were paid off by Vay Hek it seems", Chroma says, "This was found on the ship's computer and confirm by the merchants. They're in the Ostrons' "custody" now."
"What could Vay Hek offer them to make them destroy such a profitable trading outpost?", Atlas asks.
"Apparently, exclusive rights to the plains and its resources as long as he gets a significant cut of the profit or something like that", Chroma replies.
This catches both the Healer and Rock Tenno off-guard.
"But how would the Corpus manages to harvest the resources in a place overrun by the Infested?", Atlas began, "Unless..."
"Unless Vay Hek as a means to get rid of them permanently afterward!", Trinity shouts, surprising all three of the other Tenno present for she normally kept such behavior under control outside of the battlefield.
"Ahem", she coughs before going on, "Think about it. If the Infested get into Cetus, then the whole planet is at stake and that boil is going to keep producing more. Vay Hek can't bombard it from space or less he would destroy the Eidolons as well, so he must have another means to get rid of it once Cetus is gone. All we have to do is figure out what that is."
"Well at least we have something now", Chroma says.
"A good as start as any", Trinity replies before looking over at Atlas and Revenant, "Revenant, take Atlas to all the caves you found around Cetus and help him seal them up."
"We will do as you say", Revenant replies.
"We're on it", Atlas nods and the two of them take off.
"What do you need of me?", Chroma questions.
"Is there anything else you think you can get out of those Corpus' merchants?", Trinity asks.
Chroma shakes his head, "They were defecating themselves by the time I was done. Though I didn't get all the way into there ship's computer though. Perhaps that might bring up some more answer."
"Then that's where we're going", Trinity orders, "Ordis."
"Yes, Operator Trinity?"
"I want all of our Landing Crafts to circle the valley, keeping an eye out for any strand groups venturing away from the main horde."
"Copy that."
A/N: I sometimes wonder why the syndicates never really war against each other. Maybe the Lotus had something to do with that. And what the hell is Zephyr up to?
Please leave a review, follow, or fav if you want.
If you're a fan of Fairy Tail, check out my stories like The Wild Master and Elemental Spirit Mage.