S1-71
A Kell Rising

9:32 AM
03/26/3221

Planet Earth - The last City
Tower Plaza

Music
Destiny - The Tower

It's been years since City Hawk 723, the new Eagle-Eye 9-1, had become Iron Lords. Sepiks Perfected was found and destroyed, and the Plaguelands were secured.

One day, a message came through on all channels... from the Reef. "Attention, Guardians. This is Petra Venj of the Awoken royal guard. Multiple bounties have been issued on key Fallen targets. The Reef is now open to you."

"Well, that's unexpected." Michael stated.

"I'm accessing the Reef's database now."

"Why?" Asked Samus.

"I am gathering information. The Fallen House of Wolves; they betrayed the Reef and attempted to kill their queen. They are now led by a Fallen Captain named Skolas." Spyglass reported.

"We better head over there to see how we can help."

"Let's get going." Michael ordered.

9:57 AM
03/26/3221

Asteroid Belt - The Reef
Vestian Outpost

Music
Destiny - Reef

Once City Hawk 723 arrived at the Reef, Michael noticed a few new individuals, and got their IDs.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Petra Venj
Queen's Wrath

2: Master Ives
Cryptarch

Then there was a Fallen Vandal in green robes drastically different from the House of Exile, and with two prosthetic arms.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: House of Judgement
2: Variks
the Loyal

"Interesting place filled with interesting people." Michael remarked.

They paid Petra Venj a visit, gaining a bit of a mission. "Welcome to the Vestian Outpost, Guardians. You and I are gonna hunt some Wolves together. Take a look around. You'll find some interesting allies here. We all want the same thing: an end to the House of Wolves."

"We'll hunt down the House of Wolves, and make them pay."Jack said.

Sarah stepped up. "With their lives." She added.

Michael, Samus, and Spyglass took caution when approaching the Fallen Vandal. "Ahh. Yes, yes. Guardians. You speak to Variks of House Judgement. I will help you track the Wolves, and you will say good things to Petra."

"It'll be... interesting to work with a Fallen when fighting more Fallen." Samus stated.

They headed back to Petra, Jack, and Sarah. "Ready for an adventure, Guardians? The Queen's Wrath is at your side. Let the hunt begin."

"This reminds me of what I was before I became a Pilot." Samus stated.

"A bounty hunter."

"That's right, Spyglass."

"Feeling a sense of Déjà vu?" Michael asked.

"Not exactly, but pretty close."

Petra spoke up, getting the group back on topic. "Variks tracked the Wolves and their Kell to Venus. Let's get to work."

10:04 AM
03/26/3221

Approaching planet Venus

Music
none

Petra could be heard on the radio as City Hawk 723 neared Venus. "Guardians, I can't wait to work with you! Been a long time since I was on the field. Even if it's just on the comms. The Wolves are led by Skolas, the last of their Kells. He wants control of another Fallen house, the House of Winter. He'll kill their leaders and take command of their troops. With your help, we'll stop him cold."

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Ash Coves

Music
Destiny - Ishtar Sink

"Your Ghosts are feeding me telemetry. I see what they see. Why not take those Heavy Pikes for a spin?" Mark-18 went over and claimed one of the Heavy Pikes as his own, getting a good feel for Fallen ground transport. "Those Heavy Pikes come standard with mines. Not sure how to deploy them, though."

The Titans were unavailable in this mission, so City Hawk 723 was basically on their own.

Up ahead were Fallen Wolves, and Michael ran one over with a Heavy Pike, killing the Vandal on impact as the two Dregs were easily finished off. Further along the path were a lot more Fallen... and a Walker. "The Wolves have control of the House of Winter's artillery! Take it out before they dig in!"

Michael went in and killed off the Fallen around the Walker as Samus froze the Fallen tank's legs with charged Ice Beam shots and blasted them with Super Missiles, exposing its engine for her to freeze it, then shatter it, destroying the Fallen Walker in seconds.

"Last week, I was delivering court messages. Today, we're delivering explosions! I love fieldwork! Get after them, Guardians." The Fireteam advanced further, seeing more Heavy Pikes. "The House of Winter, and Devils, and Kings, they hate Skolas. They think he betrayed the Fallen at the Twilight Gap." Further up ahead, and there was a squad of Fallen Wolves and a Servitor. "Your Ghosts are detecting traces of a stasis field. Skolas was in a pod for years. It might be him."

The Fireteam killed the small Fallen squad and moved up, reaching the next sector.

"Strange... They should be fighting. If the House of Winter already kneels to Skolas..."

"Then our problems are only just beginning." Michael finished.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
The Cinders

Music
Destiny - Fallen

"It's Skolas! Attack!" Michael ordered as Skolas turned from the crowd of Fallen Dregs, yelling in Eliksni at the Fireteam.

"Variks, get on the comms! What did he say?!" Petra demanded.

"Yes, yes. In your tongue, he said 'The Wolves stand strong. Cower before the Kell of Kells!'." Skolas teleported away as the Fireteam gave chase.

"Kell of Kells? Did he give himself a promotion?"

"A Fallen legend. He sees himself as a prophet, perhaps. Or he has gone quite mad."

"I'd have to go with the latter on that one, Variks!" Michael added.

After pushing through Dregs, Shanks, and Servitors, City Hawk 723 arrived at a cave entrance, guarded by more Fallen, which were cleared out in seconds. They entered the cave, and Sarah took the lead. "We're getting close. That cryo-trace is getting stronger." "We're getting close, not you. We are on the planet, you are back at the Reef."

"I'd argue about that, Spyglass, if it wasn't so true."

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Winter's Lair
(!) Darkness Zone (!)

They arrived, and Michael's helmet acquired the ID of their target.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Skolas
Kell of Kells

"That's the Kell! Take him out, Guardians!" Before the Fireteam could open fire, Skolas teleported into the Skiff behind him as it flew away. "And he's gone. That skiff has already broken orbit! No problem, Guardians. We'll get him. There are still plenty of Wolves in there. Best clear them out."

The Fallen Wolves in the sector opened fire, then Michael jumped out of cover and launched a Nova Bomb, followed by Mark-18 doing the same.

One Fallen Captain dropped a new weapon. Spyglass jumped down and picked it up as Michael's helmet analyzed it.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Scorch Cannon

"Impressive weaponry. Variks, what is that thing?" Petra wondered.

"Scorch Cannon. Powerful. And very rare indeed." As more and more Fallen arrived, City Hawk 723 kept killing them, until there were no more.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Winter's Lair

Music
none

"That's... strange. For a moment, I detected Vex energy all around the site. As for you, that was great work! Nice to meet a few Guardians that exceed my expectations. Come back to the Reef. Winter now bows to Skolas, and the Wolves have just gotten started."

"As Shiro-4 once said, 'There's more than one battle in a war.'." Michael quoted.

The House of Wolves. Ooh.

Once this one is done, we'll have a new threat coming in.

See you next time.