Part 11: The Third Party
Ember Caves
Ishtar Sink, Venus
Venko stare through the scope of his Broken Truth-LR1 as the two guardian ships climb into the air. The Awoken Hunter then clicked his teeth.
Damnnit, one missing.
He slide down the rocky slope he was perched on and ran for the encampment. Venko was apart of a Dead Orbit "acquisitions" team sent to Venus after their cipher intercepted messages from a warlock researching what they been calling 'Pandora's Box', but they were not the only here. Someway or another, the Future War Cult caught wind of their operation. Instead of revealing their operation to the Vanguard, FWC wanted to join in exchange to keep their mouths shut.
Venko did not like the idea of working with FWC. Firmly believes, as their name suggest, a group of war craze cultist. But what was he going to do? He was not an Arach and by time his team was ready to depart when three FWC members came out of nowhere and join. He hate it and continues to hate it two months later. Venko made to encampment. The two factions divided the small cave they called home. The FWC made up of two warlocks and a titan occupied right side while Venko, another hunter, and warlock occupied the left.
"Report." One of FWC warlock, dress in full Astrolord armor, command.
"Two left," he answered," one seems to be staying behind."
"Then that creates a problem."
"How so?"
"That means the warlock on his way to see her."
Again with this her…
"Listen," Venko stated," I nor does Dead Orbit care about some Exo fantasy…"
The warlock stood up," she isn't some fantasy, you poor fool."
At that instant, both sides were on their feet, hands on the grip of their weapons. Venko gesture for his team to sit. The warlock did the same.
"Listen," Venko said," our main focus should be on the Vanguard. If those two can make their case then this whole operation is in jeopardy."
"Agree," the warlock nodded," I'll get in contact with Lakshmi-2."
"Rey," Venko callout to the Dead Orbit warlock," get Arach Jalaal on the line."
"Yes sir!" The warlock moved quickly to the comm station.
Yun-seo and Adolph arrive at the Tower seem to cause quite the unexpected buzz. The two could hear bypassing guardians and citizen's talk about the rookie team. As they walk through the Tower Plaza, they were greet by none other than Ikora Rey herself.
"Master Rey," Yun-seo asked," what going on?"
"Come with me." she answered.
Silent, the two follow behind her march into the Hall of Guardians. There a very loud and vocal discussion was taking place.
"You two can't be serious." Cayde said.
"We are very serious Cayde," Arach Jalaal spoke," we wish to suspend all operations on Venus for 24 hours until our joint acquisition team complete their mission."
"We are not suspending a dozen or so just for one mission Jalaal." Commander Zavala voiced his opinion.
"Please listen to reason Commander," Lakshmi pleaded," this is a delicate operation and has already been hindered."
"Everyone," Ikora announced," I believe the team of rookies I sent have return."
All eyes then turn and gaze at Yun-seo and Adolph. Needless to say, the two rookie guardian nearly hidden behind the veteran warlock.
"You," Jalaal utter," it been this little group that has been disturbing two whole months of work!"
"We haven't disturbed anything Arach," Yun-seo protest," we been following Master Rey's orders."
"And were those orders to destroy our operation that nearly cost the lives of your fellow guardians?"
"What?"
"You heard me child," there was anger in Jalaal's voice," I want these so call guardians striped of their ranks and remove from the field!"
"Enough!" Ikora yelled, her voice boomed throughout the hall.
"I have done nothing but listen to you two throw around hyperbole and accusation for two hours," she stared down both faction representatives," And since I'm in charge of all operation on Venus, Ill will not suspend operations nor will these two be punish. Now leave this Hall before I bring this to the Consensus."
"Fine," Jalaal raised his hand," I'm leaving, seeing as the Vanguard, as always, been no help."
Jalaal march out the hall leaving his counterpart with the Vanguard. Ikora sighed and ask towards Yun-seo.
"Now then did you find Master Zi?"
"Um yes," Yun-seo answer with a slight stutter," he found something interesting on Venus."
In the Tower hangar bay, Arach Jalaal took out a small communication device from his pocket.
"This Jalaal to acquisition team," he spoke through the device," can you read me?"
"We read you loud and clear," a voice, Venko, replied from the other side," how was the talk with the Vanguard?"
"As fruitless as I expected," he said," proceed with operation. Kill those two guardians if you need to."
"And the FWC?"
"Tell those fools that Lakshmi gave them marching order."
"Yes sir."
With that, the conversation ended. Venko motion for his team to pick up gear and move FWC counterpart, understandably, were hasten to follow suit.
"Lakshmi said you guy have marching orders. Just follow us."
The FWC members simply nodded. Venko wonder why they did not question him but never the less, they were on the move.