S1-48
The Warmind
12:46 PM
02/16/3201
Planet Earth - Low orbit
Music
Destiny - The Great Unknown
After leaving the samples with Master Rahool, Michael and his Fireteam were heading back to Earth to complete their original mission. "Got anything this time, Ghost?"
"{The Vanguard's reporting that Fallen are tearing into machines all over the Cosmodrome. I'm starting to think they aren't just looting the place. Whatever they're looking for, we should probably find it first.}"
"Sounds like a plan." Samus said.
"I've got a positive ID. Looks like there's another Guardian already in the Cosmodrome." Mark-18 reported. "Hmm... Jacquelyn Smithsonian?"
"Jacquelyn's there? Alright, let's meet up with her." Michael stated.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
The Steppes
Music
Destiny - The Journey Home
Once they arrived, a Fallen Vandal was there to try and kill them. But before that could happen, a bullet went through its head, killing the Vandal.
"What just happened?"
"Jacquelyn's good with her G2A4 Rifle. She's nearby." Samus was right.
A familiar Pilot approached them, with a G2A4 Rifle strapped to her back.
"Jacquelyn Kiara Smithsonian."
"Michael Wolf Johnson."
"Good to see you again!"
"You too." The two shook hands. "So, who's this?" Jacquelyn asked, turning to the Exo.
"The name's Mark-18. I'm-"
"An Exo, I know."
"Uh... How did you know I was an Exo? I'm wearing my helmet."
"The voice."
"Oh. The voice."
"That, and you have a number after your name."
"We're on a mission right now. Care to help out?" Michael asked.
"Sure thing. I'm just on patrol at the moment, but I could help you guys."
"Alright, Ghost. Fill us in on what we should do now."
Michael's Ghost appeared in a flash of energy. "{I'm picking up heavy Fallen activity near the Forgotten Shore. But that's miles from here. Guardians set up a vehicle grid here. We sync to that, we can summon ground transport from our ship. Let's go.}"
"You heard the Ghost. Let's do this." Samus ordered. They went on their way, killing off any Fallen that stood in their way.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Mothyards
"How far is the vehicle grid from here?" Michael asked.
"{Not that far. It's that way.}" They arrived at a structure. No Fallen, but there was an active terminal inside. "{Here's the Sparrow link!}"
Mark-18 sent out his Ghost to sync to the vehicle grid. "{Encoding superposed states... Entangling ket vectors. And... We're linked.}"
"{Alright. If you wanna get your Sparrow, we can be in the Forgotten Shore in seconds.}"
"Could I have my Sparrow please?" Michael asked.
"{Not the way I expected you do get your Sparrow, but since you asked nicely, here it is.}" A hovering vehicle appeared as Michael got on it.
"Nice ride."
The others got their Sparrows and they jetted off towards the Forgotten Shore, actually ending up there in seconds.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Forgotten Shore
"{We're approaching the Shore. The Fallen are using some sort of signal amplifiers. Let's see what they're transmitting.}"
"Got it. Jacquelyn, Mark, check the signal amplifier up the hill. Samus, you and I will check the one over here." The group split up, heading to their destinations.
As Mark-18 and Jacquelyn headed up the hill, Michael and Samus jumped high off their Sparrows and landed on one of the rusted ships, clearing out the Dregs, Vandals, and a Captain.
With the area clear, Michael sent his Ghost to the signal amplifier. "{Give me a second... Some kind of distorted signal. Not Fallen. Jacquelyn, Mark, what have you got?}"
"My Ghost's scanning it now."
Mark-18's Ghost was heard on the comms. "{The same transmission. They're both linked to something in Skywatch. Let's check it out.}"
"We're on it. Jacquelyn, Mark, head to the Skywatch, we'll meet up there." Michael ordered.
"Got it."
"On our way."
Michael turned to his Ghost. "Ghost, Sparrow."
"{Coming right up.}" Two Sparrows appeared below as Michael and Samus jumped off the rusted boat, landing on their vehicles before blasting off to another entrance to the Skywatch.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Terrestrial Complex
(!) Darkness Zone (!)
"GACK! Ugh... Darkness Zone again... That was... unpleasant."
From the shadows came multiple Fallen. Dregs and Vandals confronted the Pilots, aided by Vandals that seemed to have a form of cloaking tech.
As Michael and Samus dealt with the Fallen, Jacquelyn and Mark-18 caught up with them, joining the fight.
After clearing them out and climbing a small flight of stairs, the Fireteam felt something was up. "{The Fallen are tapped into something in the back of the room!}" The room was practically flooded with Fallen, which was going to be a challenge for the Fireteam.
A challenge that they got through.
Michael headed to the active machine in the back of the room and let out his Ghost to scan it. "{The Fallen are trying to access these machines. But something is fighting back? This will take some time.}"
"Fighting back? OK, that's a surprise."
Music
Destiny - The Warmind
The room was suddenly re-flooded with Fallen. As they came, a strange mechanical sound was heard. More Fallen mechanized units appeared, and one of them resembled a big, floating, purple eyeball.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Servitor
The Dregs and Vandals were a bit easy to take down, and the Shanks were also easy targets, but the Servitor was a bit trickier than a Captain, healing other nearby Fallen and teleporting more frequently. Just like that, a second Servitor came in, making this even harder. At this point, Michael put away his Spitfire LMG and pulled out his Charge Rifle, easily destroying the Servitors with energy beams. The two Servitors were all that remained, and they were gone.
Music
none
"{OK. I pulled out everything they managed to steal. We should destroy this thing.}" A vital component of the machine came out, allowing Michael to place his three Satchel Charges on it. "{Oh, I see. Everyone, get back!}" The others backed away, followed by Michael pulling the trigger on his remote detonator.
The Satchel Charges detonated.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Terrestrial Complex
"{They didn't get much. Kept hitting an active firewall. Old Earth. Russia.}" An odd mechanical voice started speaking, but it was Russian, distorted, and unintelligible. "{The legends are true. A Warmind did survive the Collapse. Rasputin; an AI built to defend Earth. He faced the Darkness and survived. And he's protecting something here in the Cosmodrome. We have to find a way to reach him.}"
"Rasputin, you defend Earth, so I respect and honor you." Michael said aloud, saluting with the belief that the Warmind could see him.
1:07 PM
02/16/3201
Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza
Music
Destiny - The Tower
The Vanguard had requested that the Fireteam return to them for some discussion about current events.
"Exo Warlock Mark-18 reporting in!" The Exo saluted them.
"At ease, Mark." Ikora replied with the slightest hint of a chuckle in her voice.
"Well, we're here. What do you need to talk to us about?" Michael asked.
"For starters, that guy." The Fireteam looked to where Cayde-6 was pointing, seeing a very strange individual.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Xûr
Agent of the Nine
"Yeah, I can see why that's cause for concern." Michael approached the humanoid with tendrils protruding from the shadow that was his face.
"If I am here, it is the Nine who sent me."
"Um... Suuuuure. OK."
(!) ERROR (!)
NO ENTRY FOUND ON: 'The Nine'
"My motions are not wholly under my control. Is it different for you?"
"My motions ARE wholly under my control. You're almost as creepy as that freaky person at the stairs."
"{You mean Eris Morn? Yeah, she's... I don't even have the words to describe her.}"
Xûr continued to speak. "My function here is to trade. I know this."
"You're a trader? Well, let's see what you've got."
Xûr pulled out various items from the big bag on his back, with prices to go with them. Everything cost Strange Coins, even the Exotic Engram. Michael had gathered more than enough for that one on the few missions he's had since his Ghost found him.
Michael set down the Strange Coins and took the Exotic Engram. "The Nine do not want it, or you would not have it."
"OK then, Mr. freakishly creepy." With that, Xûr seemingly blinked out of existence. Michael headed back over to the Vanguard, disturbed by the being that was once there.
"So what did he want, and where did you get that?"
"He's a trader, and he sold me this. What is it?"
"That is an Exotic Engram. If you bring it to Master Rahool, he can decode it into something." Zavala said.
"Mark, you can have it." He then tossed the Exotic Engram to Mark-18, who caught the semi-transparent yellow glowing dodecahedron and took it out to Master Rahool.
"Why'd you give it away?"
"Ikora, the equipment I've got is more than enough."
"Right, well, we just received word that the Fallen House of Devils are sustaining their strength through a Servitor somewhere in the Cosmodrome. We need you to take it down." Cayde-6 stated.
"You can count on us." Michael said.
"And Jacquelyn?" Zavala spoke up. "Keep up the good work out there."
The Pilot nodded and saluted. "Thanks, Commander. I won't let you down."
Well now. That went places.
See you next time.