"The first human-eliksni diplomacy since the beginning of the city age, and I'm forced out here chasing a broken foundry" Crow's shoulders slump with the weight of Zavala's orders, unable to keep the annoyance from seeping into his tone.

Glint's chipper voice cuts through his annoyance, "The forges are some of the most advanced pieces of technology that are still around; I understand your annoyance but the commander is not sending us out without good reason."

"We've checked the main site and a few possible other locations, all that's here for us is scraps and disappointment." Being sent out during the Guardian Games was irritating enough, but the lack of results is obviously wearing the Hunters' patience thin. "I may ask some 'friendly' locals for some directions: patch me into the local eliksni coms if you are willing."

"Consider it done - the eliksni here may have the last remnants of the forge's technology on this side of the planet"

A harsh, barking language comes through alongside the shaky mix of radio static.

hissss "light-archon" ztzzz "the thriceborn eliksni, he who has ten thousand arms of light" hissssssss

The mood shifts immediately as Crow stands up fully, an eliksni claiming to be of the light can make - or break - the House of Lights' legitimacy within the EDZ. If they are aligned with the City and Mithrax, then it should be easy enough to communicate with them and find the forge's remnants.

"Greetings eliksni of House Light, this is the hunter Crow of the Last City. I can guarantee safe passage in exchange for any information on black armory materials within your borders"

ztttz "We do not serve the Splicer Kell here; the thriceborn is more holy than any flesh born." ztzzzzz "Dramixs, I am equal to each other Eliksni, cease your preaching. And to lightborn: meet me in the island cave near the Orobas Vectura." *hisssss

Glint's cautious tone rings within Crow's head, bouncing in his skull in place of the static of the com. "Do you trust this, or are you as worried about a trap as I am?"

Placing his hand cannon in its holster and summoning his sparrow, Crow prepares to investigate this 'thriceborn'. "Patch through to Atalanta and fill her in on what we just heard; a Titan as destructive as her is the best backup I could ever ask for"

As Glint calls across the planet to disturb the slayer of Oryx (mid-meeting with the Vanguard, no less), Crow prays silently to the Traveler for this mission to not cause Zavala further irritation.

- Scene change -

"Are you worried about meeting a guardian? I can't stand the thought of them attacking you at first introductions" A snow-shelled ghost floats in worried circles around her risen's head as he works to look presentable.

"The fact that he spoke our tongue is a good sign; I can only hope our particular circumstances don't put too much suspicion on me. I don't have the memories or the understanding to explain what I am" Four cobalt LED eyes squint and as the risen smooths his furs. "I need to show myself eventually, and at least this ensures it isn't a complete surprise."

Coeniks-1 shakes the worry from his shoulders before climbing up and up into the warm sunlight of midday.

- Scene change -

Far above the planned meeting site, a small ship floats as still as glass against the blue sky. A blonde Titan sits with her ghost in the cockpit; the mood of conviction. The anticipation of preparing to fight. It thrummed through her.

"Atalanta, it's unwise to stop a meeting with a Vanguard to fly across earth without a good reason!" Hippomenes desperately tries to get his guardian to understand the gravity of what she just ran from.

Flipping Wardcliff Coil over within her hands and inspecting the entirety of it showed no issues, and, with a quick thought by Atalanta, it transmatted away until it will be needed. "The protection of Crow falls upon my shoulders, and he requested me personally to keep him safe if things get... worrisome down there."

"Do you plan to just drop from a half mile in the air onto whoever is about to hurt him?" The amber visor of the Lost Pacific helm she wears stares at him, unblinking visor to unblinking photoreceptor, for a long second. "Oh no, you can't be serious! THAT'S why you wanted Cuirass of Falling Star? I am gonna bring you back upside down next time I get the chance."

"I am efficient, Hippomenes. Fists use less ammo and the drop will allow me to neutralize the threat with less effort on my part."

"Or die from liquifying yourself on impact."

"Only if I make a mistake on my lift timing; I've been more foolhardy before"

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that at all, Crow may be a new light, but I'm sure he can handle himself. This thriceborn can't be too worrisome if we haven't heard anything from Devrim about them."