S1-61
Exclusion Zone

11:29 AM
02/17/3201

Approaching planet Mars

Music
none

Another Pilot joined City Hawk 723. Carlos Gaust was an expert in securing areas of interest, and Mr. Mortar was perfect at long-range, with a barrage of flying missiles from afar being a tactical key in combat.

"So, what's the mission?" Carlos asked.

"We got some coordinates from the Reef." Michael stated.

"We're looking for the Black Garden so we can destroy the Darkness at its heart."

"{These coordinates put the Gate to the Black Garden near the lost city of Freehold. It's been buried in the sands since the Collapse. Now, the Cabal occupy the area, and most of Mars. No one gets through their Exclusion Zone.}"

"Until now, that is." Michael added, readying up.

The Fireteam landed, ending up in a Darkness Zone right off the bat.

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
The Barrens
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

Music
Destiny - Exclusion Zone

"{Great. The Gate to the Black Garden is miles from here, and the Cabal got a lock on orbital communication. If you want your Sparrows, we're going to have to break into one of their bunkers and disable the system.}"

"[I'm picking up multiple contacts incoming!]" Mr. Mortar reported.

"That's not good."

"Well, we should at least have some info on what we're facing here."

"{Right. Here's what I have on the Cabal: 800 pounds and highly militarized. They blow up planets and moons just for getting in their way, just so you know what we're dealing with.}" Michael's Ghost explained.

"They're basically overkill." Carlos estimated.

"That's... an interesting way to put it." Michael replied.

"[City Hawk 723, I see the entrance to a bunker up ahead.]" BT-7274 reported.

With the Pilots and Mark-18 escorted by the Titans, the Fireteam reached the bunker, having to leave the Titans behind. "{They're inside. My advice: we avoid engagement until we understand them better.}" Samus let out her Ghost to get the bunker's door open. "{Hmm. Easier than I thought.}"

The bunker's door opened, yet there were no Cabal. "Looks like you were wrong, Ghost. There are no Cabal here."

"{Strange. I thought I picked up Cabal signatures in here... Scanning for something linked to their orbital grids.}" The Fireteam moved further into the Cabal bunker, seeing quite a lot of massive equipment. "{That one.}"

Mark-18's Ghost went over to the terminal and began interfacing with it. "{Access key? I don't need an access key. DOS is more complicated.}"

Music
Destiny - Cabal Stomp

Suddenly, an alarm began blaring, with a massive hatch in the bunker opening. "{Oh, I think I initiated a failsafe.}"

"YOU THINK?!" Michael exclaimed.

A Cabal ship flew by, dropping in some troops.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Cabal
2: Sand Eaters
3: Legionary
4: Phalanx
5: Centurion

"Take them out!" Within seconds, the Cabal that arrived were killed off.

"{I guess that was their failsafe.}" More Cabal arrived, opening fire with Slug Rifles. They were wiped out in moments.

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
The Barrens

Music
Destiny - Exclusion Zone

"{Sparrow is accessible. Let's head toward the Gate.}"

"OK. Let's do this."

As Mark-18 got his Pike, the Titans appeared around a corner in the terrain, allowing the Pilots to embark. "{The Cabal appear to be at war with the Vex here. Maybe they know something about the Gate. There's a few outposts nearby. Let's check them out.}"

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
Scablands

"[Think we should join in?]"

"{You want to get in the middle of this, that's your call.}"

"Hmm... Nah. We'll let them take each other out." Michael said.

The Fireteam simply went past the Cabal and Vex, not partaking in the combat.

"{An outpost should be up ahead. I can dig into their systems and see what I can find about the Gate.}"

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
Giants' Pass
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

"{Look for something I can access.}" Multiple Cabal troops were up ahead, waiting for them. The Fireteam blasted the Cabal out of the way as Carlos opened Mr. Mortar's cockpit to let his Ghost out. "{Alright. Find out who's in charge, and take their key!}"

Cabal Harvesters flew in and dropped more Legionaries and Phalanxes as the Fireteam killed them off. "EMBRACE THE VOID! WELCOME TO OBLIVION!" A Nova Bomb from Mark-18 completely purged the area, with one more Harvester flying in and dropping more Cabal, and their target.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Bracus Tho'ourg

The key holder was decimated before anything else could be done.

Samus [Amped Arc Cannon] Bracus Tho'ourg (Sand Eaters)

The key was all that was left. A new type of Cabal troop also dropped from the Harvester.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Psion

The Psions were electrocuted and disintegrated in an instant.

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
Giants' Pass

"{There's another Cabal outpost right near the Gate. Let's hope this key works.}" Stated Michael's Ghost.

"It has to work."

The Fireteam went on their way to a new sector.

Planet Mars - Meridian Bay
Valley of the Kings

The Gate to the Black Garden was in sight, but there was no portal. The Fireteam pushed past Cabal Legionaries and Phalanxes, reaching the outpost. Michael opened DL-2671's cockpit to let his Ghost out. "{Let's see what they know about the Gate.}" Information was being streamed through DL-2671 all the way back to the City on Earth. "{Impressive. The Cabal managed to penetrate the Vex cognition mesh.}" The Gate then attempted to form a portal, but the rift destabilized and collapsed, the thunderous noise echoing through the canyon. "{There's a lot here. I'm not sure they even understand what the Gate is, but if we're going to wake the Gate Lord's eye and get into the Black Garden, looks like we're going to have to go through the Cabal.}"

"DL, looks like you'll be the first Titan to go on two missions in a row here."

"[I look forward to helping you and the others destroy the Black Garden's heart.]"

Well, DL's still gonna be here for the next mission.

See you next time.