S1-68
The Plaguelands

12:25 PM
11/09/3204

Planet Earth - Low orbit

Music
none

City Hawk 723 was en route to the Cosmodrome, so Saladin decided to brief them on their mission through the comms. "The Iron Lords believed we could contain SIVA by destroying the chamber where it was produced. These Fallen must have restarted the process. We need to get back into the chamber and cut off the flow of SIVA at the source."

Shiro-4 joined in. "I think we need to focus on what we know. The Fallen have occupied a military bunker in the Plaguelands. We won't get any reinforcements in that area until the Fallen's artillery is taken out."

"The Fallen are a symptom. SIVA is the disease."

"Looks like it's time to be the cure." Michael proclaimed.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Rocketyard

Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Bryyo Ice

They arrived, ready to uphold the mission. "Alright, Counsel reinforcements are standing by, but until those guns are down, they can't leave the hangar. I need you to shut them down."

"{Understood.}"

"Spyglass, you ready?" Michael wondered.

"Ready. It appears as if my Ghost has altered my combat systems. My Super is ready to fire."

They proceeded on their path, with MF-8472 waiting at the Tower because of the defenses that were to be taken down.

Once they entered the sensor room, Shiro-4 called. "Guardians, there's a dead Vandal near you. Can you get me a scan?"

Michael let out his Ghost to scan the Vandal. "{He's Fallen, basically, but armor is enhanced, weapons have been modified, cybernetic enhancements.}"

"Most Fallen Houses have a sect dedicated to this sort of thing. They're called Splicers. They're like body hackers. Bioengineers."

"It is worse than I feared. The Splicers are not only using SIVA to transform this place, they are using its technology to transform themselves." Saladin stated.

City Hawk 723 headed through a doorway, going into a tunnel, then seeing another hole cut into the wall. "{The Fallen have done some... remodeling.}"

"They're taking the metal for something big. Hope they're not using it to toughen up those gun emplacements." Shiro-4 transmitted.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Foundry 113

"HOLYCRAPLOOKATTHESIZEOFTHATSERVITOR!" Michael exclaimed. There was what appeared to be a Servitor almost twice the size of a Fallen Ketch. Thankfully, it was inactive, but the way it was propped up on a building was really creepy.

"I've never seen the Fallen do anything on this scale before. I'm calling for more reinforcements."

"You said yourself reinforcements will be useless until the guns are down." Saladin transmitted. "Besides, they will not be prepared for what they'll find."

There were multiple Splicers in the area, and they were remarkably tougher than normal. They still died nonetheless.

Above all, there were a new type of Shank that crackled with yellow electricity and constantly emitted a rapid beeping sound.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Exploder Shank

"Watch out! They're like Cursed Thralls, which are like Ticks!" Michael jumped out of the way of one Exploder Shank, narrowly dodging the detonation.

Spyglass then took aim and killed three Splicer Dregs, each with a single burst from his Hemlok BF-R.

Beyond the foundry were more holes cut straight through the walls, leading to a new area. "{I thought SIVA was technology, but this... it's like something alive. Growing. Out of control.}"

"These Devil Splicers are using SIVA, but they cannot control it. They are like children with a new toy." Saladin transmitted.

"{I don't know of any toys that eat Russian industrial complexes.}" Michael chuckled at his Ghost's choice of words.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Lords' Watch

They went out into the open, seeing the gun emplacements in the distance. "Shiro, Saladin, I'm sending you guys a visual." Michael activated his helmet's built-in camera, transmitting what he saw to the Iron Temple.

Suddenly, the guns started firing. "Those guns were destroyed during the Collapse! How did the Fallen-"

"It's not the Fallen."

"Maybe not. But the Fallen are the ones pulling the triggers out here. The Counsel wants them taken down? We take them down."

"Our mission is clear. We must capture the bunker and destroy the gun emplacements." Spyglass stated.

As the Fireteam traversed the sector, they encountered multiple Splicers, killing them off.

"{OK, just to be clear, I don't like creepy tech that spreads like a virus. It gives people the wrong idea about artificial lifeforms.}"

"You have nothing to worry about, Ghost." Michael replied.

"{If SIVA does what the wielder wishes, then whoever's controlling this hasn't quite gotten the hang of it.}"

"That stands to reason." Spyglass said.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Bunker Triglav

"{Detecting a high concentration of SIVA shielding the gun emplacements.}"

"Even SIVA-enhanced shields would require an energy source. But be careful. There's something familiar about all this."

"{Right! Destroy the 'familiar' generators, and then take down Shiro's... 'zombie guns'.}" They fought their way into the bunker, shooting their way past the Splicers.

Once inside, Michael spotted a growth constantly releasing a SIVA cloud. He shot it with his Charge Rifle, getting results immediately as the SIVA growth dissipated. "{Shield power levels are dropping.}"

"That's it. Guys, look for another SIVA growth!"

The Fireteam spread out once the Splicers were cleared out. "Michael, I found a SIVA growth. What now?" Sarah asked.

"Destroy it." Sarah destroyed the SIVA growth with her R-101 Carbine, finishing the job.

The place started to rumble. "{That's it! Shield is collapsing. You should be clear.}"

"Guns are upstairs. Take 'em out!" They went through an upper hallway and up a flight of stairs. "If I didn't know better, I'd say the Splicers were creating a beachhead. Something of this scale could be used against the City."

"We can not allow that to happen." Spyglass proclaimed.

"I'm ready to welcome them to oblivion."

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Splicer Battery
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

Music
Destiny - Shadow of the Walker

"The gun emplacements!" Out on the deck were three cannons covered in SIVA.

"{So, those destroyed guns? SIVA undestroyed them.}"

"'Undestroyed'?" Shiro-4 wondered, confused by the new word.

"Look for a central SIVA node inside those emplacements! Destroy that, and it will break the Fallen's hold on the guns!" Saladin ordered.

As the Fireteam attacked, a lot of Splicers fought back. Michael spotted something and headed over there, seeing a large new weapon.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Shock Cannon

"Oh, this should be good." One pull of the trigger sent an electrical explosion straight at a group of Splicers, killing them. He then went under the SIVA-infected turret and found another growth.

The SIVA node.

One electrical blast had it covered as a Captain tried to retaliate, only for another shot to kill the Splicer. "{Get ready! Fallen are sending reinforcements.}"

"Let them send however many they want, we'll kill them all."

"You have some slightly disturbing optimism." Shiro-4 stated.

"Well, now we know where Sid gets his aggression."

"From you? I've read about this 'program Omni-10'. Created by your mentor during the war between the IMC and the Militia to enhance a Titan's AI functions. It draws from the personality of the Pilot to create a new personality for the Titan." Saladin said.

"That'd be it." Michael went into a second gun as multiple Skiffs came in and dropped off more Splicers. He killed the Captain and destroyed the SIVA node.

"Keep it going! Air support is standing by, but they can't do much while those guns are still up." Michael went to the third gun and destroyed the final SIVA node, killing the Captain on his way out. "Great job! Hawks are inbound! Just hold the area until they get here!"

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Splicer Battery

Just then, another Skiff flew in and dropped a Walker infused with SIVA.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Perfected Walker

"{Uh... Shiro, I'm pretty sure that air support isn't going to get here in time.}"

"MF, you're clear to drop in!" From the sky came a Monarch-class Titan. MF-8472 landed on the ground and projected a Dome Shield, completely blocking the Walker's attacks.

Music
none

Mark-18 rushed into the Dome Shield and jumped into the cockpit. "[I am switching to manual. Pilot link active.]"

Music
Metroid Prime 3 Corruption - Bryyo

Mark-18 let loose with the XO-16, using the Rocket Salvo to deal bursts of explosive damage to the Walker. The damage dealt to the SIVA-infested Fallen tank was immense.

"{It's working!}"

"[Upgrade Core standing by.]"

"Time to end this."

Before Mark-18 could activate the Upgrade Core, several SIVA growths came out of the ground. "Saladin!"

"It's directing the corruption to resurrect the guns!"

Mark-18 assisted his team in destroying the SIVA growths. "Don't worry about us! Just finish off the Walker!" Michael ordered.

He turned to face the Perfected Walker, finishing what he started. "[Upgrade Core: stage 1. Upgrade: Arc Rounds.]" With the XO-16 now firing Arc Rounds, Mark-18 resumed fire on the Walker, finishing the job as he penetrated the exposed power core. The rest of the Splicers then retreated.

The battle was over.

Music
none

"Centuries passed and I have learned nothing. Shiro, can your forces secure that area?" Saladin questioned.

"We'll do our best."

"Try. I need the Guardians to return to the Temple. If we are to avoid the mistakes which led us here, they and I must speak about the fall of the Iron Lords."

"Saladin, we'll head over there now." Mark-18 said.

1:01 PM
11/09/3192

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Iron Temple

Music
Destiny - The Last Iron Lord

Once the Fireteam arrived, they were lead inside by Saladin himself.

"What do you want to talk about, Saladin?" Michael asked.

"This may not make sense to you, but it took your fight to remind me that immortality is not the same as invincibility."

"{I don't understand.}"

Just then, Saladin released his Ghost, allowing it to brighten the images above the statues. "When the Ghosts first found us, those who were chosen were blessed with power. But not wisdom. The Iron Lords came together in search of a solution to mankind's struggles. Instead, we found SIVA. We dreamt of using SIVA to build starships, colonies. We would become what the Traveler always believed we could be."

"But something happened." Spyglass calculated.

"SIVA had been lost to time. When Timur tracked it to the Cosmodrome, we thought our quest was finally over. SIVA would be ours for the taking. Rasputin responded. More than a hundred Iron Lords entered the Plaguelands. Only nine reached the replication chamber. But since we were chosen by the Traveler and our cause was just, we were certain the day would be ours... until SIVA took control. It infected our weapons. Our armor. The corruption puppeted us against one another. In the end, Jolder sealed the chamber with the Iron Lords inside, rather than let SIVA escape. A battle was won, heroes died, and our mistakes stayed here."

"But Rasputin survived." Mark-18 added.

"This is not Rasputin, but neither is it something I know how to fight. They are using SIVA in ways we never even imagined."

"How would the Fallen have learned more about SIVA than the Iron Lords? Or better yet, where did they learn?" Spyglass asked.

Saladin looked as if he was in deep thought, then realization hit him. "They haven't mastered SIVA yet. This is all still new to them... See Tyra. She's studied SIVA's origins. If there's a way to track the Fallen's discoveries, she will know where to look."

"Understood." Michael acknowledged.

Now we're getting somewhere.

See you next time, guys.