S1-59
Scourge of Winter

8:13 AM
02/17/3201

Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza

Music
Destiny - The Tower

"We're well rested and ready for action. What's next, Zavala?" Michael asked, ready for action.

"We have a target on Venus that we need dealt with. Your Ghost will brief you in on the way."

8:24 AM
02/17/3201

Approaching planet Venus

Music
none

"{Those Fallen we faced in the Archive belong to the House of Winter. Their Kell, Draksis, has been hunted by Guardians for years. If these reports are correct, he's commanding them from a network of caves up in the Cinders. If we wanna keep the Academy's secrets safe, we should push into their lair and take him out.}" The Fireteam arrived, and the Titans landed an area up ahead.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Headlands

Music
Destiny - Ishtar Sink

"{I'm ready if you are.}" They started on their way, heading into another sector after going under a rock formation.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Ember Caves

EM-9156, Arc-Rod, BT-7274, and MOB-1316 were fighting off the Fallen, destroying them.

"[It looks like there's an opening in the mountain, and it leads into a network of tunnels.]" EM-9156 reported.

"Right. You guys take care of the Fallen out here. We'll take out Draksis."

"[You got it.]"

The Fireteam arrived at the opening in the mountain, with confirmation from the leader's Ghost. "{That's gotta be the way into their lair.}"

"EM said this cave entrance went into a network of tunnels, so we know that."

"{Right. I forgot that Tone-class Titans have that sonar thing.}"

"Yeah, I forgot about that too." Mark-18 chuckled.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Winter's Lair

Music
Destiny - The Fallen

"{There could be thousands of Fallen in here.}"

"So, this is the lair of the House of Winter, huh?" More Fallen were up ahead, getting disintegrated as Michael used the Golden Gun.

Sarah took care of the rest with her R-101 Carbine, obliterating the Dregs and Vandals.

The Fireteam advanced, with Jack taking out four Shanks with his V-47 Flatline as Samus used her own Golden Gun to kill the two Vandals and a single Dreg. Heading up a path that spiraled upward along the chamber, Mark-18 used his Continental to shoot down a sniping Vandal.

"{The Kell's guard is here!}" A Vandal with tougher armor came out, rushing in to slice and dice, only to get battered by heavy slugs. Mark-18 is one good shot with his machine gun. "{The Kell must be close.}"

"I think so too, Ghost." Michael replied, reloading his weapon.

They went through another tunnel, entering a Darkness Zone.

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

"We're close. I can feel it."

"That might just be the Darkness Zone, Sarah." Mark-18 stated.

"Let's just focus on the task... at... Whoa!" Michael exclaimed.

They were out of the mountain, with a Fallen Ketch parked in the sector. "{A Ketch! It must belong to the House of Winter. I've never seen one on the surface. The Kell's gotta be inside.}"

"[I just found where you are. We're coming over. Hang on!]" EM-9156's voice could be heard in Michael's head through the neural link.

"We've got incoming Titan support." Michael reported.

"How? Last I checked, Titans are too big for these caves!"

"Yes, but they can climb, remember?" Samus had a point.

"I revoke my earlier statement!"

Eventually, the Titans arrived over the mountain, with EM-9156 releasing 40mm explosive shells and BT-7274 and MOB-1316 launching a barrage of missiles from their Acolyte Pods.

There were a lot of Fallen in the area. and with the efforts of the Fireteam and the Titans, they were cleared out and the perimeter was secure. Michael and the others rushed into the Fallen Ketch as the Titans fought off a few Servitors from behind EM-9156's Particle Wall.

Killing some Fallen with ease, Michael cleared the path into the inner chambers of the Ketch. "{Somewhere on this thing, there's a throne room. That's where we'll find Draksis.}"

On the way through, multiple Fallen appeared and were killed off immediately.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Wintership Simiks-Fel
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

A Vandal and two Shanks stood to oppose the Fireteam. Last thing they ever did before dying.

More Fallen through the corridors. More to kill.

They eventually arrived at a large chamber, and a Servitor was at the other side. "Fan out and kill them all!" Michael ordered.

Mark-18 went for the Vandals, taking them out with heavy ballistics from his Bonekruscher. Samus froze the Servitor with a charged Ice Beam, then launched a Super Missile, shattering it. Jack gunned down the Shanks with his V-47 Flatline. Sarah kept incoming reinforcements from coming in with her R-101 Carbine. Michael cleared the area of any Dregs with his Spitfire LMG and Satchel Charges.

With the chamber clear, the Fireteam proceeded up a flight of stairs, reaching the Ketch's throne room. At the back was their target.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Draksis
Winter Kell

"{There's the Kell!}" Draksis went in to attack with a Shrapnel Launcher, only for the explosion of two Satchel Charges to blast him into a wall, then he fell to the floor, disoriented. As the Kell tried to get up, Jack blew up their target.

Jack [Archer] Draksis, Winter Kell (House of Winter)

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Wintership Simiks-Fel

Music
none

"{Draksis was one of the worst plagues this system has ever seen. Without their Kell, Houses usually turn against each other. We may finally have broken their hold on the Academy.}"

"Mission accomplished. Better mark Draksis as KIA."

Michael stated. "{KI- what?}"

"KIA. Killed in action." Jack put plainly.

Zavala was on the radio. "Good work, Guardians. With the urgent mission completed, you can now get back to your own missions. Michael, ZJ-7349 is ready to take flight."

"Understood.

Draksis, Winter Kell - KIA

The Gate Lord's next.

See you then.