Chapter 30: Audacious Plan
The Vex continue to impress me. And depress me. Is it wrong to think that cybernetic life and organic life can get along without everybody wanting to murder each other? – Ghost
Alice stepped into the jungles of Venus once again, hefting a large sack on her back. After directing her to Venus to look for Whisper, Cayde-6 had taken it upon himself to deliver a dozen patrol beacons to her ship and deputize her to place them for him, along with a pithy message about contemplating how the nature of delegation was diametrically opposed to the Darkness' philosophy of hoarding power.
Total nonsense, of course, but it was work that needed doing, and she didn't know where Whisper might be anyway. Might as well do some good while she was searching.
As she watched, a flight of Sparrows soared by overhead towards Maat Mons.
…
Lord Shaxx stood on crumbling, ancient Vex machinery looking down on a series of sulfur caves. Yes, this would do fine. The sulfur had become unstable enough that the Vex abandoned the location, but instability was a plus in the Crucible. He traced the lines between geological chaos and structured intent, nodding approvingly at the violent contrast between jagged, boiling terrain and measured purpose which made for a unique battle space. And as a bonus, it was on the edge of one of the Ishtar Collective's many research stations, allowing the Crucible to serve as a strategic asset as well.
It never hurt to have that on hand if the Vanguard wanted to consolidate operations again.
He waived the Redjacks forward, his mind already moving forwards. If the rumors were true, he may be able to expand the Crucible to Mars very soon, which offered all sorts of intriguing possibilities…
Down below, two guardians walked the grounds. They'd tailed Shaxx, eager to get the lay of the land before any competitors. The titan grumbled. "I'm telling you, we had them. We were holding B and C, had them locked. But then that hunter got cocky. Someone always gets cocky. You know the problem with heroes? In the wilds, they save the day. In the Crucible? They cost you the easy win. Always going for the glory when the real prize is survival and victory."
The warlock sighed. "You always say that when we lose. And it always happens to be a hunter's fault."
"I call it like I see it."
…
Alice paused. She was nearly done planting patrol beacons in carefully mapped-out grid patterns and had just finished wiping out a small patrol of Vex, but something caught her eye. There. She leaned over and picked up the burnt remains of a Vex memory unit. For once, it was not entirely fried on death.
Lilith appeared at her side humming brightly. "Bam, we sure smashed those Vex. Ooh, what did you find?"
She held up the memory core, examining it closely. "Can you retrieve anything from this?"
"Sure." The ghost worked for a few moments. "Got it. There is a fragment here about some guardians called Fireteam Tuyet that died a long time ago. I can probably figure out where they died – you want to kick some Vex ass for them?"
Alice managed not to sigh and wondered, not for the first time, if Lilith and another ghost hadn't gotten their guardians mixed up between them. "It may be worth investigating, yes. What do we know about Fireteam Tuyet?"
"You need more of a reason to blow up some Vex? Let's see, pinging the Tower archives… Gallida Tuyet was a leading weapons scholar. She was the last person Banshee-44 made a custom weapon for. Huh, that's a random thing to keep a record of. Anyway, her second in command was Isidel Brandor and she and her fireteam were researching Vex weaponry. The fireteam of six was lost on Venus, obviously. Their deaths marked the end of active guardian operations on the planet."
"Then let's go find them."
…
"And that's our report on Mars," finished Whisper as she looked out over the Vanguard and the Speaker.
"Tell me again about the Cabal organizational structure." Commander Zavala leaned forward, hands flat across the table bearing his weight.
Whisper nodded. "They are divided into Legions. The bulk of their forces are in the Sand Eaters legion on mars. They are supported by their elite Dust Giants Legion, the Siege Dancers are their assault troops, the Skyburners are their airborne infantry and air-cav units, and the Blind Legion are their research and development unit. In the records we recovered there are traces of other units that have been erased from the records."
"That matches the personal reports we've received over the years, but we've never had names to match to the units before. Rumors have abounded about a Cabal fleet being held in reserve, these Skyburners. That is… worrisome. And each Legion is led by a single Primus?"
"Under which are Valuses, Vals, Bracuses, and others, yes. And their standing orders are to fight to the end, no surrendering, hoping for a lucky shot."
Zavala grunted. "So the sooner we're extinguished, the sooner they can go home."
"But more importantly," said the Speaker, "you have granted us ongoing access to the Cabal battlenet on Mars, allowing our forces to bypass the automated defense systems and access Freehold, a triumph of Gold Age civilization, and bringing us one step closer to the Black Garden." He looked Whisper in the eye. "But I must warn you again of the Awoken queen's tactics. She sees us all as playthings in some cosmic joke."
Whisper nodded solemnly, and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Be that as it may, this is still a great triumph. The Vanguard are coordinating other cautious investigations of Mars. Holborn's Host has agreed to establish a long-term presence there, and the Hidden are investigating a way to align the Eye with the Gate. Go, celebrate your victory!"
…
For once, Alice couldn't find it in her to disagree with Lilith's string of invective. She stood over the dusty remains of dead ghosts and a pile of inscrutable Vex tech, most notably an oddly colored cube. Gallida was there, along with a custom-designed sidearm bearing Banshee-44's proof mark, snapped in half.
Her mind reflected once again on the records they recovered.
Isidel Brandor, plunging into the Juno Chasma. A base—no, an exhibit. The humans didn't know they were in cages. "They don't know about the Vex. They don't know they're being watched," whispered Isidel to her ghost. No Vex in sight, she strode quickly forward. "I'm here to save you."
The inhabitants turned, faces blank. "Imitate! Observe! Comprehend!"
Clearly damaged by the Vex. She led them out to freedom, to the edge of the chasma. Isidel hoisted herself back up over the chasma edge, turned to help the man behind her, but he was gone. Everyone was gone. The chasma was empty.
Then she remembered. The fireteam. The gate. The desperate plan. "Tuyet! Pull me out!"
No response.
Used, toyed with, examined, then cast aside. The soulless scientist Vex, with no interest in the subject or anything aside from the raw quest for data. Anger bubbled in her once more, but she pressed it back down.
Lilith felt no such restraint and swore vilely as Alice gathered up the ghosts and the cube. Perhaps some of the data they had gathered could be used. Hopefully for a weapon to kill Vex.
…
You promised, Cayde!
Whisper managed not to roll her eyes at Blabber's shameless tone.
"And I totally meant it! And I will, eventually, treat you to that ramen. I'm just a little low on glimmer right now, and heavy is the head that wears the cro—er, I mean, the mantle of responsibility is great on us Vanguard members. But hey, I can paint the scene for you now."
Cayde-6 leaned back against the table in the Hall of Guardians in the Tower, arms spread wide painting a vista. "The Spicy Ramen it's called, the one and only ramen shop that you and yours will ever want to eat at. Don't get me started on that knock-off dive, Rehnpeir's Drunken Noodle Ramen Bar. First, the food. Those fresh golden noodles swimming in rich flavorful broth. Wouldn't surprise me if it was a Golden Age recipe. That combination of salt and the spice just—BAM!—hits you right in the mouth zone. And those pork dumplings? W-O-W! Don't get me started on those dumplings. Where did they even find the pork?"
"And how about that ambiance? There's the City. Love the City. And the people walking around. Who doesn't like people?"
"Cons? Heard folks say the glimmer prices are a bit high. But if you need to scrape glimmer together maybe we can work something out, I've got some caches that need to be found that are muy caliente… I'm getting sidetracked here. Look, if you know me, or know my chicken… well, maybe not the chicken, but if you know me—and trust me, I know me—you will love Spicy Ramen. Just tell them I sent you. Give them this coupon. I'm good for it."
Cayde produced a small red ticket with a bar code and simple image of a noodle bowl with steam rising from it.
"Make sure you tell them that I sent you. Cayde-6. Sounds like spade but with a C. Capital C. Plus six. C-A-Y-D-E. Six (not seven). And order Spicy Ramen, Large. 5 stars. Extra dumplings. You won't regret it."
By the time Cayde had stopped talking Whisper found herself ushered completely out of the Hall of Guardians and Cayde rapidly disappearing into the distance.
…
Jonas McConnaugh was usually proud of his position as the navigator on Holborn's Splint. It wasn't often a lightless person got to leave the City, much less Earth, but nobody could match his skills as navigator. And he loved the ungainly, x-shaped ship with a long tail that looked just like a dragonfly. It might be a little slow for a jumpship, but it was big enough for the whole of Holborn's Host, and there weren't many safer places than surrounded by a host of titans.
Sometimes, though, he was reminded that guardians didn't see the world the same way he did. Times like right now.
The mission was supposed to be simple, cautiously scouting out the Cabal forces on Phobos. Then a lucky Cabal Harvester shot caught them just right, scrapping their main cannon and scaring the living daylights out of him, and he was trying to guide the wounded craft to limp down to the surface of Phobos for repairs. On a Cabal occupied moon.
Red lights flashed on the console. Jonas wiped sweat from his forehead and hit the com. "Boss, that troop carrier is still on us. I don't think we're going to make it down."
Holborn responded in his usual gruff voice as if nothing unusual were going on. "I have an idea. Engineering team, take apart the Distant Early Warning array. We're going to turn the listening mics into a broadcaster. Then you're going to cripple the energy grounding in the array itself. Then head to the galley and look for a timer. Once you have that…"
Jonas tuned him out as he focused on keeping them alive, dodging the ship back and forth while the solar cannon tried to blow them out of the sky. The seconds trickled by with agonizing slowness.
He cursed as the loading ramp dropped open. Had they hit him again? What was goi—
He jerked again as his sensors went haywire, frizzing out. But it was nothing compared to what happened to the Cabal carrier, whose engines died completely and starting a long, graceful, uncontrolled curve down to the ground.
Did Holborn just have us make an EMP? In five minutes?
…
Whisper approached the glowing neon sign of a bowl of ramen cautiously. Below the sign was a small noodle shop with a garishly painted wooden display reading The Spicy Ramen. The restaurant itself was little more than an outdoor bar beneath an awning. A handful of patrons were already there hunched over steaming bamboo bowls, both Lightless and guardian, easily distinguishable from the cheap workwear and extravagant armor.
She took an open stool at the end of the bar and a middle-aged, harried-looking man stepped over. "The name's Jimmy. What can I get you?"
"Uh, hi. I was recommended this place by Cayde-6? He told me to mention it."
Jimmy groaned and looked up at the Traveler overhead. "How many times do I have to tell him, referrals don't count towards his tab!"
Whisper pulled out the coupon Cayde had given her. "Then I'm guessing this…"
"Expired last year. Keep it. Now, do you still want something?"
Might as well. She repeated the order Cayde recommended and paid in a few pieces of glimmer. It didn't take long for the owner to return with another steaming bowl and two sticks. Chopstick. The thought popped unbidden into her mind, and yet again she wondered what other mysteries might be buried down in the electronic equivalent of her subconscious.
Her first bite of the wheat-flour noodles was awkward, dripping oily broth down her front, and she half-worried that much moisture in her system would break something. Then the food slid cleanly down her mouth, vacuumed in. No tongue, huh? The thought jolted something inside her, a deep sense of wrongness. Then the taste registered, overwhelming every other thought.
Wow that's good. For long moments she was totally absorbed in savoring the noodles, dumplings, and perfectly flavored broth. Eventually, though, a quiet but intense conversation among a small group of titans on the other end of the bar caught her attention.
"…just got here, tell him what you told us."
"Alright, I'll say it again, but this is the last time. I have a friend in the Cryptarchs. According to him, some gutsy guardian pulled off a solo raid on the Cabal Exclusion Zone on Mars."
One of the listeners let out a low whistle.
"Yeah, I know. Snuck in behind their lines alone, stole a ton of data, and assassinated a Bracus."
"Look, that's impressive, I'll give you that, and whoever it was sounds like a real badass, but why did you bring me down like it was an emergency?"
"Because," said the titan more quietly, and the others leaned in a little closer. "My cryptarch friend is working on that data to translate the Cabal language. And he told me the Cabal don't even have a word for retreat."
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
"I see why you called me down."
"Yeah. Spread the word."
The guardians dispersed, hurrying off in different directions, and Whisper was left puzzled. Titans are weird.
…
A hunter and titan advanced carefully into the silent, black Cabal fortress tucked into Eos Chasma on Mars, trailing a handful of smoking Cabal behind them. It was eerie to see no other troops here, no Harbingers falling from the sky.
As they cleared the last, abruptly sealed off tunnel, the hunter breathed a sigh of relief.
The titan safed her shotgun and frowned. "Something's wrong with this place."
"Tubach, you always say that when we clear a new area."
"And this time, I'm right," she retorted.
The hunter hopped up to sit on an empty Cabal storage container. "We won this place. Enjoy it. We don't win much."
Tubach kept looking at the unfinished tunnel warily. "We didn't win this place, Bayle. The handful of Cabal left here weren't mean to hold it. They're running from something. And whatever they're running from, it isn't us."
Bayle glanced at the empty tunnel, nonplussed. "What makes you say that?"
"When the Cabal decide to hold an area, they dig in deep. It's surprising that this tunnel system is woefully incomplete by Sand Eater standards. I wonder… did they build it to be inspected to satisfy some commander frustrated from lack of progress elsewhere? Or did they cut their losses when they realized this location can't be supported from their Exclusion Zone? Still… half measures aren't the Cabal way. We're talking about a culture that will grind a mountain to dust rather than build around it."
Bayle hopped back to his feet. "Since when did you become such an expert on the Cabal?"
She turned to look at her companion. "Lord Shaxx didn't pick me at random. I was the last titan on Mars before the Vanguard pulled us back."
"How old did you say you were again?"
"… I didn't. Now let's get any data off those Cabal and get out of here."
…
Lyssa led the way, her lean hunter armor bearing the twelve-pointed star of Holborn's Host, out into the thick, rugged terrain of Mars. The sands had shifted under massive storms, masking one of the largest Vex structures on the planet.
She nudged the broken armor of a Cabal legionary with her toe. The Cabal had deployed a massive ground and air offensive to breach the wall and enter the subterranean labyrinth here. Sand was turned to glass in the intense heat of Cabal heavy ordinance and orbital fire, leaving the ground cratered and pockmarked. Whatever the Vex deployed to defend it was more than she wanted to think about, because even with that overwhelming firepower, they hadn't gotten far.
Lyssa peaked down into the underground passageways cautiously, but no glowing Vex eyes looked back. She wasn't sure why the Vex had left, and the Cabal were intent on keeping their distance. That would give the Crucible one of its largest arenas in the whole solar system… assuming the Vex didn't return and wipe them all out.
She holstered her weapon and the Redjack Type 99-40 frame following in her wake approached. She looked out over the space, wondering aloud. "This place is big. And empty."
The frame quivered. "Space is empty. This place is teeming with matter."
Lyssa couldn't help but snort at the frame's attempt at humor. "Now there's an idea. Maybe that's what this is: the universe taking sides, trying to kill the other team."
"Matter is all one thing, in endless variety."
Lyssa glanced at the frame curiously. "And the Darkness? Is it part of that same thing?"
The frame hesitated, then: "No. Matter is one. Darkness is zero."
…
Lord Shaxx put an armored boot up on the guardrail of an abandoned Clovis Bray science facility on the outskirts of the ancient city of Freehold. The site had been looted long since when the guardians had established a clandestine outpost here generations ago and abandoned it. It would be a good place to let guardians acclimate to the harsh Martian environment, and unlike the listening post that preceded it, would maintain a combat ready presence should the Cabal ever begin to mobilize in this direction from their Exclusion Zone.
He opened comms while Redjacks cleared the building once more and set up broadcasting equipment. "You have returned? How was it, Holborn?"
"The teams have reported in. Tubach reports that Firebase Delphi is secure, though it was mostly abandoned before we arrived. Phobos is completely locked down. We poked our nose into Fleetbase Korus and got a very hot welcome. Another firebase us up there, but blown away. By Rasputin, it looks like, when it woke back up. Firebase Thuria might be clear, but it's not the problem Korus could become. We can't get close enough to take Thuria, not yet. Tibon reports firebase Black Shield is mostly empty, but we don't have the manpower to secure it yet. We had better luck at Bastion, which Lyssa reports should be available soon. And you've got the Blind Watch locked down. That's all of it, so far."
"Good work, titan." Lord Shaxx cut the call and considered the Cabal's strategic position and deployment while looking out at the shifting red sands. It was… concerning.
The Cabal's strategy was clear. They initially deployed on Phobos, building up Fleetbase Korus as its primary resupply point and stronghold, then surrounded it with firebases for troop training and preparation. Once their massive force had been disembarked from their fleet, they deployed en masse to Mars below.
The Cabal were individually tougher than any enemy the guardians had faced outside of each other, requiring multiple shots from battle rifles and hand cannons, and could withstand an incredible amount of punishment from lighter small arms fire. Only high-powered anti-material sniper rifles and heavy weapons could consistently take down a legionary. And each Cabal carried enough firepower to cut down a guardian caught in the open.
Their weakness, both on the tactical and strategic levels, was lack of mobility. In short bursts they could deploy rapidly using jump packs and Harvesters, but on the larger scale they were constrained to the slow speed of their battle tanks and capital ships.
Unfortunately, they were aware of their weakness, and compensated by leaning even more heavily into their strengths, digging in deeply, and moving in a slow, grinding, inevitable advance armed with overwhelming firepower that would, and had, crushed any guardian that got in their way.
No, the City could not challenge the Cabal directly, not yet. But they could draw them out, tempt them into separating into small-unit actions where they were vulnerable. Surround them with small forces of guardians poking and prodding, flaunting their presence, forcing the Cabal to either heavily defend every inch of ground and slow to a crawl, or aggressively pursue the guardians and risk a thousand small cuts.
The Crucible was the answer. Multiple, smaller crucible arenas to acclimate the guardians to Mars, overcome any lingering concern at facing down the Cabal, and spread their reserves thin while the Cabal were still pinned down, committed against the Vex.
"Get me a channel to the Speaker."
…
Whisper sat across from Ikora, a little perturbed at the at the looks she had gotten from other guardians waiting to speak with the warlock Vanguard as she was ushered in past them. Ikora looked up from her desk in a small office that doubled as a library from a stack of reports. "Whisper, it's always good to hear from you. Your report from Mars made for interesting reading."
"Uh, thanks. Have you found anything?"
"Yes. You were wise to contact me. Since you bypassed the Cabals' automated defenses, we've managed to put a small number of guardians down on Mars, enough to update our signals protocols whenever the Cabal change their access codes. And that means that a few Hidden agents have made it down as well, and they've been hard at work confirming your reports and following up on new leads. We're in luck – they brought an answer to light. To align the Eye with the Gate, which may open the path to the Black Garden, you'll need the energies of a Vex Spire on Mars. Most are deep underground, but one is out in plain sight." She grimaced slightly. "In the middle of a Cabal warcamp. I'm sorry, Whisper. Perhaps, with more time, we can open the way in for you."
…
Whisper stood in the Tower Hangar inspecting her Regulas Class-99 jumpship when Alice and Vistrek arrived. She waived self-consciously and they spotted her among the crowd of technicians and guardians coming and going.
"Thanks for coming. We've got another assignment and it's one best done by a small team, not alone."
"Of course. And after some slight detours, we can now give to you our gift." Alice transmatted into her gloved hands and held out a fine, camouflage-patterned cloak.
Whisper took it, unable to articulate the slew of feelings that ran through her. "Thank you," she managed to get out.
Vistrek grinned. "You're welcome. You called us – I expect you have another wild mission in mind, changing the fate of humanity?"
Whisper smiled. "Something like that. Have you heard of the Black Garden?"
Alice nodded slowly. "Legends. Rumors, really. Why do you ask?"
"I was… visited by a strange exo. She warned me about the Hive, gave me coordinates to meet her on Venus. She told me the Black Garden is the greatest threat to us all, and that the Traveler will not begin to heal until it is ripped out. That lead me to the Awoken, and I made an… arrangement with Queen Mara Sov. She helped me find the key to the Black Garden, but I need to get it charged to open the door, which happens to be a massive Vex gateway. And to charge it, I need a Vex Spire. And there is one not yet buried, but it's in the middle of a Cabal warcamp."
Vistrek blinked. "Is this sanctioned by the Vanguard?"
"Let's find out…"
…
"Have you lost your minds!?"
Whisper managed not to take a step backwards at the anger radiating from the imposing, dangerous Vanguard Commander in the Speaker's office.
"It is… bold," offered Ikora.
"It's foolishness and vanity." Zavala stumped to the window and looked out over the Traveler. He sighed, visibly reigning in his emotions, and spoke more calmly. "Whisper, you have done well, exceptionally well, in your time. Our strategic position has changed more in the months since you received the Light than in the decades before it. But you are only months old, and you want to assault the Cabals' lines! You've read Lord Shaxx's report. I agree that the Cabal have weakened their forces on Phobos greatly, overcommitting enough to Mars they may be open to a proper offensive, but in the long term, not the short term. But they have not removed them entirely. We've long worried about an undeployed Cabal fleet, and now thanks to the Hidden we know these Skyburners are an entire legion waiting in reserve, ready to pounce on any precipitous action against the Cabal. And whatever Dead Orbit may claim, they are not ready to stand off a Cabal fleet if they choose to redeploy to Earth. Your attack may well trigger them to invade Earth! Shaxx recommended we harry them, not launch an all-out assault!"
"It's not an assault!" replied Whisper. "We just want to… move up the schedule a little. Have a fireteam hit the perimeter buildings, stir up a response, send another team into the big building Dust Palace, to draw out Cabal reinforcements. Then a small team sneaks inside and repowers the Eye, then gets back out again. The only other way to do this would be an all-out assault. We're trying to avoid that."
Zavala grunted. "Perhaps. But you are not the first promising young guardian to come through this office, full of fire and hope, that went too fast, too far. I don't want to bury you like I've buried so many others before you."
"And yet," said the Speaker slowly, drawing every eye in the room. "The conflict between Light and Dark is shifting. Can you feel it as I do?" The Speaker, too, looked up at the Traveler. "The Hive, draining the Light from a shard of the Traveler and preparing to invade Earth. The Fallen on the move in the Cosmodrome and beyond. And whispers of the Black Garden returning." He reached up to rest a hand on the bulking titan's shoulder comfortingly.
"It has been a long road we have walked together, old friend. I don't want to lose any more friends, either. But Darkness feeds on our fear. Our Light must shine even in the darkest of nights. And as I have reminded you over the years, while the Darkness hungers and its champions reach out and seek to take what is left of our worlds from us, an adventurer's spirit is a tool so few possess. We must not stifle it, but instead, let our faith in the Traveler echo across throughout the universe."
Cayde-6, wisely keeping quiet, nodded emphatically.
Zavala looked down at the Speaker, his eyes intent on the man's mask, and Whisper wondered what he saw in it.
"As you say, Speaker. We cannot let our fear paralyze us. And it will certainly have the element of surprise," he conceded, with the air of a man trying to find an upside. "Now we just have to pick the targets."
A/N: Thanks again to DragonGU for help ironing out all my typos and mistakes.
Lore Referenced:
D1 Grimoire
Shores of Time
Ghost Fragment: Shores of Time
Sand Eaters
Exclusion Zone
Ghost Fragment: Titan
Ghost Fragment: Black Shield
Ghost Fragment: Firebase Delphi
Firebase Delphi
Bastion
Ghost Fragment: Bastion
Blind Watch
Fleetbase Korus, Phobos
Black Shield
Skyburners
Quest Steps:
A Key Awaits
Gather Weapon Data
Salvage Custom Parts
Talk to Banshee-44
In the Gloom
Striking Back
The Speaker Calls
Items:
Legion-Bane
Oddly Colored Cube
Mimetic Savior Helm
Mimetic Savior Gauntlets
Mimetic Savior Plate
Mimetic Savior Greaves
Mimetic Savior Mark
Holborn's Splint
Multimach CCX
Holborn's Host Mark
Road Complex AA1
Lore Books:
The Man They Call Cayde: All In
Other:
Citizens of the City: 2. Social Graces
Spicy Ramen Coupon
