S1-58
The Archive

11:27 PM
02/16/3201

Approaching planet Venus

Music
none

City Hawk 723 was on their way to Venus, and no Titans were with them this time. "{We just got this, on a secure channel from the Cryptarch.}"

A recorded message from Master Rahool started playing. "The Ishtar Collective gathered some of the greatest minds of the Golden Age. Their Archive is a treasure of knowledge that we cannot lose to the Fallen. Secure the Archive, and the Cryptarchs will be in your debt."

"Let's do this." Michael readied up and loaded his Spitfire LMG.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Headlands

Music
Destiny - Ishtar Sink

"{The Archive is buried under the rubble of the Academy. It won't take the Fallen long to strip it like the rest of the planet. We better find it before they get inside.}" The Fireteam summoned their Sparrows, and even Mark-18 got out his old ride.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
The Shattered Coast

Fallen from the House of Winter were just ahead of them. Michael aimed down the Holosight of his Spitfire LMG, then pinned the trigger, sweeping the area clean.

With the coast momentarily clear, Michael and the others blasted off to the Ishtar Academy, encountering and killing more Fallen.

Down into the cave they went, getting to the other side in seconds.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Ishtar Academy

In the room were Fallen and Vex battling it out. "Huh. OK." Michael got off his Sparrow and started blasting away at the Vex with his Charge Rifle. Samus, Jack, Sarah, and

Mark-18 took care of the Fallen, catching sight of Michael using the Fist of Havoc. "Don't think we've gone this way."

"We haven't gone farther than this room on this path." A decrepit hallway was in the back of the room, leading to a new sector.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Ishtar Commons

"Well, this is quite the place." Samus said.

"I should've been here back then..."

"{You're lucky I found you at all!}"

"I mean during the Golden Age, not several centuries after the Collapse!"

"{Oh, right, sorry.}"

After racing past more Fallen and Vex, then through another hallway, there was another new sector.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Hall of Whispers
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

"Here we go." The area was filled with Fallen.

"{Great. The Fallen have already set up shop here. Let's hope they haven't gotten into the Archive.}" Michael's Ghost said.

As the Fireteam fought off the Fallen, a different Servitor appeared...

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Simiks-3

...only to be welcomed to oblivion.

Mark-18 [Nova Bomb] Simiks-3 (House of Winter)

With that, the area was secure. "I think this is it."

"{That's it. The Archive. Secrets of the Golden Age, untouched for centuries.}" Jack's Ghost went over to the terminal, activating it. "{Radial A encryption. They were serious about keeping people out. Not a problem.}" A large door covered in moss and other vegetation slowly opened, revealing another sector. "{After you.}" Jack entered the sector, followed by his Ghost.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Hall of Whispers

They entered, revealing something astounding. "This place is incredible!" Jack awed. "{Unbelievable. The Archive's power is still partially activated.}"

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
The Archive
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

An automated voice was heard over the old PA system. "Welcome, Dr. Shim. Please enter your security clearance code."

"{Dr. Shim? Nevermind that. Let's hit that terminal up ahead.}" Once they reached the terminal, Michael... knocked on it? "{Ugh... I didn't mean literally.}"

"Sorry. Heh heh..." Michael chuckled.

"{This place is amazing. It's bigger than the Archives in Old Accra.}"

"We'll have to check that out some time." Samus was curious as to what that looked like.

Michael's Ghost then began interfacing with the terminal. "Thank you, Dr. Shim. Shall I begin correlation of Vex mind core samples?"

"{So polite. Well, let's see what they've got.}"

Music
Destiny - The Fallen

"Dr Shim, security breach detected! Intruders! Initiate protocol 19!"

"Protocol 19? I only know of three protocols!"

"Not Titan protocols, Michael." Mark-18 stated.

"Oh. Nevermind."

"{Fallen! They followed us in!}"

"Ugh..." Jack groaned in annoyance. A few Dregs, Vandals, and Shanks came out and attacked, only to get shredded by heavy ballistics.

Michael looked at Mark-18, who used his machine gun to mow down a group of Fallen. "Nicely done!"

"Thanks!"

As they fought, the lights began to dim. "Remote hub failure. Routing disrupted."

As Michael used the Grapple to rappel up to deal with a Vandal, his Ghost left the terminal and returned to him. "{They must have a Servitor feeding off the power!}"

A Servitor was easily spotted, then disposed of by Michael's Charge Rifle. A sparking fuse box was behind it, damaged by the recently destroyed Fallen machine.

His Ghost was sent out to fix it. "{They made a mess here, but I got this.}" The fuse box was repaired, but the lights were still dimming. "{They're tapping in somewhere else!}"

Michael rappelled up to the top of the chamber, seeing another Servitor and blasting it until it exploded.

"{I'll have it back together quick. There's still Fallen in here!}" Putting away his Charge Rifle, Michael used his Spitfire LMG to clear out the Fallen as he found them. A Fallen Baron was there too; a good target.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Grayliks
Winter Baron

Michael went in to attack, but was taken out. They had killed each other.

Michael [Spitfire LMG] Grayliks, Winter Baron (House of Winter)
Grayliks, Winter Baron (House of Winter) [Shrapnel Launcher] Michael

Music
none

Mark-18 came in and revived Michael, handing him his dropped Spitfire LMG. "Thanks, man."

"I wasn't expecting a draw between you and that Baron."

"Seems like that Baron was the last of the Fallen in here." Sarah was right.

"{Let's get back to the Archive!}" The power was restored. They returned to the Archive terminal, and Michael let his Ghost get the data. "{This Archive is amazing. Pathways to other galaxies, mappings of a Vex underworld, a place they called 'the Vault of Glass'. Hopefully the Cryptarch can make sense of it. I'll let him know we found it.}"

"OK, I think we should call it a day, but Zavala might say otherwise."

Suddenly, Zavala got on the radio. "No. You've been going on missions nonstop ever since you first arrived earlier today. You deserve your rest. Although, I expect you all to be ready to go back in the field at 8:00 AM."

"Alright, Zavala. We'll be... ~yawn~ back at the Tower before you know it." Michael said, finally letting himself get tired from the nonstop action.

Now that we've gotten that taken care of, I think it's safe to say we won't be having Michael and his Fireteam go on nonstop missions in quick succession all that much.

I'll see you next time.