S1-75
Queen's Ransom

12:49 PM
03/26/3221

Approaching planet Venus

Music
none

"Guardians, new orders from the Queen. She wants Skolas captured alive. I live to serve, of course. Just makes this a little harder, that's all. You'll be the tip of the spear. Get down there, find him, and pin him. I'll be nearby with a capture team of Prince Uldren's Crows."

"We're on it." Michael acknowledged.

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
Waking Ruins

Music
Destiny - Ishtar Sink

"The team and I just set down in a canyon a few kilometers from the Citadel. When you find him, we'll be ready."

"Let's do this. Skolas, you're going back to jail!" Jack exclaimed.

As they advanced, a few Vex were in their way, but that was their fault as they were easily destroyed.

City Hawk 723 went on their way to the next sector, encountering very little resistance.

"So, he tried to conquer the other Fallen Houses and failed. Maybe now it's about weapons? Outfitting the Wolves with Vex instruments of war?" Petra theorized.

Variks was on the line. "If Skolas thinks he is Kell of prophecy, then weapons could turn the tale."

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
The Citadel

There were more Vex in the area, and they were easily cleared out. Through the gap they went, and the Titans climbed over to join them on the other side.

"Whatever he's up to, I've got a bearing on that signal. Top of the tower." Petra stated. "Better start climbing, Guardians."

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

More Vex, more alien scrap metal, more magazine swapping.

"[I can see the tower.]" ZJ-7349 transmitted. "[But I don't see how we can climb... that.]"

Petra was on the line. "Hmm. Strong gravity distortion at your location."

"I have located the source of the distortion." Spyglass reported.

A LOT OF Vex appeared, and there was even a Hydra. They fired down on the Guardians, about to overwhelm them, when Michael suddenly used another Super.

The Ward of Dawn.

A dome of Void Light surrounded them, protecting the Fireteam from further harm.

"What the... How...?" Hayden-10 was at a loss for words.

"Michael is a Warlock, a Hunter, AND a Golem. He has access to all their abilities." Mark-18 replied.

Jack cloaked, aimed his Archer at the Hydra, walked out of the Void Light dome, and fired. The Hydra was only damaged, so Michael took out his Charge Rifle and finished the job. The remaining Vex were eventually wiped out. "Hayden, have your Ghost deal with the gravity elevator's shield." The IMC ace ordered.

Hayden-10 let out his Ghost, allowing it to float to the gravity elevator and interface with its systems. "{Done. We can move now.}"

Planet Venus - Ishtar Sink
The Juncture

The Fireteam headed into the gravity elevator, and were lifted up out of the cave, and two Titans were following them on their way. ZJ-7349 and UQ-2153.

"[Looks like we're about to find out what that large structure you saw when we first arrived on Venus was. We're actually on our way to the top of it.]" ZJ-7349 stated.

UQ-2153 readied her own Plasma Railgun. "[It's a large Vex structure; the largest they have on the planet.]"

Variks was heard on the comms. "I was House Judgment scribe. I stood with Skolas for much of Reef Wars. Now, I stand with you in judgment of Wolf Kell. That feels... right somehow." They eventually arrived at the top of the structure, entering a new sector.

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

A Fallen Ketch was seen on the other side of the chasm. "Skolas's Ketch! This is it, Guardians."

Multiple platforms of Vex technology were coming in and out of existence.

With some careful timing and big jumps, and Michael and Hayden-10 flying across in their Titans, City Hawk 723 made it to a midway point. "The Vex tech here matches a signature from the Vault of Glass. These machines fade in and out of our timeline. Watch your step. You're getting close. The Crows and I are inbound." Petra transmitted.

Music
Destiny - Fallen

Upon reaching the other side of the chasm, Vex teleportation clouds formed, but Fallen appeared instead! "What? Guardians, there are dozens of new Wolf signatures, and the number keeps growing. It's the Vex tech! Skolas...! He's pulling the entire House of Wolves through time!" There were a lot more Fallen appearing further ahead, and there were Vex Transfer Gates at the end!

As two Servitors appeared and fired, one more Vex warp cloud formed, but then intensified. Skolas came through it, speaking in the Eliksni language once more. "He just said 'I stole the gift of freedom. Secrets of time and space. House of Wolves will stand forever.'."

"He has nowhere left to run! Take him down!" Petra ordered.

Skolas and his Servitors attacked, and Michael formed another Ward of Dawn to shield his Fireteam. "We have our target! Weapons hot!"

ZJ-7349 and UQ-2153 destroyed the Servitors, then launched Cluster Missiles at Skolas as the rest of the Fireteam opened fire with their Anti-Titan weapons.

Skolas vanished as if he was one of the Vex, appearing on top of UQ-2153, grabbing one of the Titan Battery Packs, and ripping it out, damaging the Titan before tossing in a Shock Grenade. UQ-2153 fell to her hands and knees, her systems momentarily disrupted.

ZJ-7349 released two Tether Traps and activated her Flight Core, overwhelming Skolas with the entire payload as the 'Kell of Kells' let out a scream and fell to his hands and knees, held down by the Tether Traps.

A ship flew in overhead and Skolas was surrounded in a containment field. "The House of Wolves is broken! Stand by for a transmission."

Music
none

"This is Mara Sov; Queen of the Awoken. Guardians, when you first came in search of the Black Garden, I thought of you as just another Mote of Light, too far from its Traveler. I see now that I was wrong. Accept my thanks and the promise of a fitting reward. Petra, bring Skolas to me!" Skolas was teleported away by the Awoken as the Titan Battery Pack was recovered and reinstalled into UQ-2153, repairing the Titan and restoring any lost system stability.

"Capture confirmed. I almost feel sorry for Skolas here. Conversations with the Queen can be... harsh. Anyway, I'll meet you back at the Reef with your reward."

1:03 PM
03/26/3221

Asteroid Belt - The Reef
Vestian Outpost

Music
Destiny - Reef

"A glorious hunt. Almost a shame to see it end. Thank you, Guardians. The Kell is in chains, and I can't wait to get back in the field."

"All in a day's work, am I right?" The IMC ace stretched, content with another job well done.

"You're right, Michael. You really are something special, aren't you?" Petra wondered.

Michael performed a salute. "Just doing our job."

"Well, as thanks, the Awoken will assist the City in their efforts to restore the Traveler, as ordered by the Queen." This was definitely good news. Good news indeed.

The House of Wolves are defeated, Skolas is back in the Prison of Elders, and I think it's time for something a little bit more... surprising.

See you next time.