S1-92
Hope
2:19 PM
03/18/3251
Planet Earth - Low orbit
Music
none
"Don't get cocky now that you've got your powers back. The EDZ is rough, especially around the old town. Just remember... refugees from the City have it a lot rougher. You want to help them, find Devrim Kay." Hawthorne transmitted.
"I'm approaching the EDZ now, but I'm picking up a few enemy signatures. We've got Fallen in the area."
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Trostland
Music
Destiny 2 - EDZ
Michael landed, then cleared out any surrounding Fallen in order to find Devrim Kay. The first place to look was the big and obvious church building in the center of the sector. After all, the barrel of a sniper rifle was poking out from the front upper window.
Ascending the church interior, Michael found who he was looking for.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Devrim Kay
Dead Zone Scout
"Excuse me, sir."
"A guest! And here I have no tea to serve. These are dire times indeed. Devrim Kay the 8th, at your service. City militia... back when there was a City. Now I serve at the pleasure of my dear friend, Suraya Hawthorne. Heh... First on the docket: contact other refugees and tell them about the Farm. That means building a comm network from the ground up and, even though I happen to be a damn good shot, the Fallen are giving me a devil of a time. I dare say, you can handle a few rounds with the enemy. I've seen what Guardians can do. Right. I think it's time to let the guns do the talking, don't you?"
"Right. I'm on it."
Once Michael headed down, Devrim came on the comms. "Let's get started. There's a banner on the main floor. Give it a look, will you?"
After a while of searching, Michael found it, then let out his Ghost. "This banner looks strangely familiar. What do you think, Ghost?"
"{This is a House of Judgment sigil. We used to work with a Fallen who flew this banner.}"
"Curious. Well, the Fallen seem to have put this up as a bit of a threat. I imagine you'll find lots of objects like this out there with a bit of a story to them."
Michael spoke up. "His name was Variks, and the House of Judgment wore green robes."
"The House of Judgment wears green?" Devrim wondered. "Hmm... These Fallen are wearing purple, so they're not with the House of Judgment. At any rate, we both need some supplies to get going out here. See if you find a cache in one of the buildings nearby." Michael headed out of the church and began searching each semi-destroyed building that surrounded it, finding a Fallen cache in just one of them. He opened it, acquiring ammunition materials and leaving the Glimmer. "Very well done. To survive, we'll have to look for every opportunity. Keep your eyes peeled for more supplies in the wilds. Speaking of the wilds, there's a symbol on the wall of the church. Take a look."
Michael headed back into the church, then went to the back and found the symbol. "{Devrim, where did this symbol come from?}"
"I believe your City Hunters must have put them here and there about the region as they scouted around. I think they meant it to mark something special, or dangerous."
"{Or both. Let's go check it out.}"
As Michael descended the nearby staircase, he pulled the black half off the Yin Yang Switch, letting the Shadow stretch his legs. "⌰⟒⏁'⌇ ⎅⍜ ⏁⊑⟟⌇."
"The history of this region is fascinating. I believe tunnels and caves like the one you're in now stretch all across the EDZ. Who knows what's lurking down there... Be careful."
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Atrium
Lost Sector
Music
Metroid Other M - The Materials Storehouse
Michael and the Shadow had entered a lost sector, and the Fallen were there. As Michael killed and the Shadow took, they eventually encountered a Captain.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Shexis
Outcast Captain
Michael kept it busy, but then it vanished in dark energy. It was now one of the Taken. "{I just snagged a keycode from that Captain. I think I can open his supply cache.}"
Michael used the keycode to open the nearby cache, and it opened! "Good work down there, everyone. Keep an eye out for other hidey holes and treasures like this one. But that's for another day. In the meantime, what say we get down to business? Come on back up to the church tower. I'm putting a kettle on now." They made their way back out of the lost sector and up to the church tower where Devrim resided, and there was an empty kettle nearby.
2:28 PM
03/18/3251
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Trostland
Music
Destiny 2 - EDZ
"Welcome back. This time, I did make tea for you... but I seem to have drunk it all. Perhaps if you were a mite quicker. Heh heh heh. Right, the beacon. While you were tussling with the Fallen, we've encountered a bit of a setback. Hawthorne has placed the last relay on the mountain above the salt mines, but even from that height, the signal still doesn't have the range we expected. It's a bit curious... Regardless, this signal booster should solve our problem if we could get it to her. Hmph. Dead Zone indeed." Taking the device, Michael headed off, followed by the Shadow.
"⟟ ⎎⟒⟒⌰ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⟟⌇ g⍜⋏⋏⏃ ⏁⏃k⟒ ⏃ ⍙⊑⟟⌰⟒."
"Nonsense. We just need to improvise. ZJ, you ready?"
"[Airborne systems are fully operational, and my Reactor is repaired. I should be there in a little while.]"
"⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⌿⌰⏃⋏⋏⟟⋏g?"
"Flying up to the top of the mountain. What else?"
"⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⏚⍜⎍⏁ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍀⟒⎅ ⌰⟒g⟟⍜⋏? ⍙⍜⋏'⏁ ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⌇⊑⍜⍜⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⍙⋏?"
"How do you think we even got to the EDZ in the first place?"
"⎎⏃c⏁ ⍜⎐⟒⍀ ⍀⟒⏃⌇⍜⋏. ⍙⟒⌰⌰ ⌿⌰⏃⊬⟒⎅."
Eventually, a Northstar-class Titan showed up, and the Titan's hull appeared to be undamaged. As the Shadow climbed onto the Titan's hull for a ride, Michael jumped into ZJ-7349's open cockpit. "[Transferring control to Pilot.]" Michael got as close to the mountain as he could, then blasted off into the air.
Hawthorne was on the comms. "Hey, Dev. I'm still sitting up here above the mines with this busted comm relay. Where's that signal booster?"
"Our new Guardian friend is en route. Looks like he's gotten himself some... technical assistance. And I'm getting too old to clean up after you, Suraya."
"Finally! He admits he's old. Hahaha! Bail me out on one assault charge and you never let me live it down!"
"Awww. Don't you mean one a week? You're the reason my hair is gray."
"Yeah, yeah. Keep talking, old man."
Eventually, they reached the top.
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Salt Mines
Music
none
"{Hawthorne, we're heading your way.}" Michael's Ghost reported.
"Then hurry up with that booster." Hawthorne transmitted. "Let's finish hooking up the comm network. And, uh... thanks for the help. You're not so bad... for a fancy-pants Pilot."
"Now that's the nicest thing I've ever heard Suraya say. You're in rarified air, my friend." Devrim praised over the comms.
Michael disembarked from ZJ-7349 and headed over to Hawthorne, with his Ghost above his shoulder and the Shadow right next to him. "You made it! Looks like Louis owes me money. Alright, let's see if this works." Michael handed Hawthorne the signal booster, allowing her to finish up the comm network. "Now if I read the manual right..." For a while, she typed away at the relay, until she spoke again. "There's an incoming beacon."
"An incoming beacon? Put it on."
"[I'll relay it to the rest of City Hawk 723. They'll need to hear this.]"
A familiar voice could be heard from the relay. "Guardians, Pilots, the City is lost. If there is any Light left in the system, we rally on Titan. Be brave." It was Commander Zavala!
"{Zavala's alive! If we leave now, we can-}"
Just then, Hawthorne shut off the incoming message. "You are NOT going to Titan! We've got refugees coming in. The Red Legion on one side, the Fallen on the other-"
"But we have our powers back! And if we're going to retake the City-"
"Your City is GONE!"
It was then that the Eye of the Traveler began to glow. Michael was getting mad. "Surarya Hawthorne, you listen here, and you listen good! We are not your guard dogs, and we are not your lackeys! Get that through your head! We are going to Titan, whether you want us to or not!"
Hawthorne didn't seem scared in the slightest. "You know where to find me."
2:54 PM
03/18/3251
Approaching Titan
Michael had regrouped with his Fireteam, and they were all heading to Saturn's largest moon of Titan, but the Titans had to stay at the Farm.
"And you actually pulled out the Eye of the Traveler on her?! Wow, I bet she must've been scared out of her mind." Mark-18 burst out into laughter.
"Not even close, surprisingly."
"{Hawthorne already believes Zavala abandoned her and the survivors. Now that we're leaving... If we stayed, yes, we could help them survive, but... If Zavala really is building a counteroffensive on Titan, we can save them all, and take back the City.}"
"We are approaching the largest moon of the planet Saturn. Designation: Titan. The Dreadnaught is in sight." Spyglass reported.
The Fireteam looked at the display, seeing the old Dreadnaught within Saturn's rings. It was still there.
"⌇⌿⊬g⌰⏃⌇⌇, ⋉⍜⍜⋔ ⟟⋏ ⍜⋏ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⌰⌰ ⏚⍀⟒⏃c⊑." Spyglass zoomed in on the break in the Dreadnaught's hull. There was a Taken Gate Lord, and it was... waving to them? An odd and distorted sound could be heard over the comms for a second. "⊑⟒⊑... ⏁⊑⏃⋏k ⊬⍜⎍."
"What did it say?" Michael asked.
"⟟⏁ ⌇⏃⟟⎅ 'G⍜⍜⎅ ⌰⎍ck.'."
A local channel was available, and Michael's Ghost went on the line. "{Counsel fleet, Guardian ship 723 is on approach. We received your beacon and we're ready to join the fight.}"
"Guardian ship, this is Zavala. It's too late. The Hive have overrun Titan. I was wrong to bring us here."
Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Sinking Docks
Music
Destiny 2 - Titan
Once they landed, Samus's gunship went on auto-pilot and began flying around the region.
"{Commander, we're here to help!}"
"No! We've already lost too many Lightless Guardians to the Hive! We can't secure this moon!"
"We have our Light back!" Michael replied.
"What?! Impossible..."
A new voice was heard over the comms. "Commander, if I may? Guardians, this is Deputy Commander Sloane. We have a counteroffensive to plan. To do that, we need to get this station up and running. There's a fleet to prep, Guardians to arm, and a trove of intercepted Red Legion transmissions to decrypt. It's critical we gain access to the station's control center. That's where you come in. If the Light really is with you, send the Hive back to hell."
"And Guardians... Please. Be careful." Zavala added.
"You have our word." Michael acknowledged.
As they made their way through the station, City Hawk 723 entered a room filled with Hive biomass. "OK, that's disgusting..." Dane grimaced at the sight of the stuff.
"{What was this place?}"Samus's Ghost wondered.
"The Golden Age cities of Titan were once the pride of humanity. We thought they were abandoned, but I was a fool to think the Hive would not spread this far..." Zavala transmitted.
Going to another separate chamber, they entered a dark room. "{I have a bad feeling about this.}"
Hive Thralls came out and attacked, but they were absolutely mauled by the Fireteam.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Savathûn's Hive
There were nothing but Thralls in there, so City Hawk 723 continued on to the next chamber.
Their target was in sight from the broken catwalk. "{OK, Sloane. We can see the control center.}"
"Copy that. Keep pushing forward." Sloane ordered. "Commander, at this rate, we can start planning our counteroffensive. We'll be outside the City gates in no time."
"Hmm... If it were only that simple..."
"I don't like the sound of that." Tanner-21 stated.
"We have to keep going! We can't give up!" Samus replied.
"Now that I think about it, what happened to the other Pilots?" Michael asked.
"I ordered them to retreat and regroup back at the Frontier when the Traveler's Light was pulled away by that machine the Red Legion currently have surrounding the Traveler."
"Had to keep losses at a minimum so the Pilots could come back stronger, huh? Good order, Spyglass."
In the next chamber were Acolytes, which they had to shoot their way through. A large turbine in the floor was sitting still, not spinning, so they could jump to the platform below. The Thralls were back.
As the Fireteam enter the next chamber, they encountered more Hive surrounding a circle of eerie green energy.
Once the Hive were dead, the energy vanished, releasing a Knight that was easily killed off. Continuing on, City Hawk 723 was getting close to the next sector. "{I shudder to think what spell the Hive were casting back there. We should talk to Eris Morn. She would know which Hive god they were communing with.}"
"No one has seen Eris... or Ikora or Cayde... ~sigh~ since the City fell."
They reached another room, and a nearby door was left open, and City Hawk 723 entered the next sector.
Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Siren's Watch
"{There's the control center!}"
"Clear the area so we can move in." Sloane ordered.
A massive influx of Hive came in. Thralls, Acolytes, and even Knights. They prepared themselves for an all-out brawl, but what they weren't expecting were explosions to kill off the Hive.
"Samus's ship just took out the Hive!" Hayden-10 was right. The orange gunship was flying right there, with its weapons out and open, and they were smoking.
The AI of Samus's ship was heard on the comms. "Ship priority status update: Performing Titan protocol 3. Weapon system scanning for targets."
They reached a room that had a large bulbous object sticking out through the door. "{We made it, Sloane.}"
"Perfect. Recon the perimeter before you move on the control center."
The organic growth was blasted out of the way, and Hive Thralls were in the room, along with more of those... things. "{So it looks like we're standing in some kind of Hive breeding ground.}"
"Take it out." Zavala ordered.
"⏁⊑⟒⌇⟒ ⏁⊑⟟⋏g⌇ ⏃⍀⟒ ⍀⟒⎐⍜⌰⏁⟟⋏g. ⟟'⎅ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⍜ g⍜ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⋉⏃⎐⏃⌰⏃ ⍜⋏ ⏁⊑⟟⌇. ⌿⟒⍀⌇⍜⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬, ⟒⎐⟒⍀⊬⏁⊑⟟⋏g ⏃⏚⍜⎍⏁ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⟟⎐⟒ ⎅⟟⌇g⎍⌇⏁⌇ ⋔⟒. ⏁⊑⟒ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⊑⟟⎐⟒ ⟟ ⏁⏃k⟒, ⏁⊑⟒ ⌰⟒⌇⌇ ⟟ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⏁⍜ k⋏⍜⍙ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⏁⊑⟒⋔."
"So just kill them instead of taking them." Hayden-10 replied.
Eventually, the Hive were wiped out, as well as their breeding grounds. "{We cleared the nest. Heading to the control center now.}"
"Well done. Sweep the perimeter and we'll move in on your signal." More Hive up ahead, and they cleared them out in seconds. The Hive were dead.
"{Sloane, Commander, it's done.}"
"Copy that. Zavala and I are inbound." The control center was nearby, and Dane allowed his Ghost to open the door. "We're approaching the landing platform. Get up here and take a bow."
Proceeding through the control center to the landing platform, City Hawk 723 came across multiple Guardians, as well as Commander Zavala and Sloane.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Sloane
Field Commander
"I didn't dare believe... If the Light can find its way back to you, then perhaps there is hope for us all. Our numbers will continue to dwindle. We can no longer protect ourselves, much less the survivors. And without the Light, are we even Guardians anymore?"
"Commander." Tanner-21 stood at attention.
"We won't last long with dead generators. Wave energy converters power this station, but thanks to the Hive, they're in need of... attention."
"We can take care of it." Michael stated.
"Yes. I believe you can."
Now THAT took a while.
I know it looked like I skipped a mission, but Michael had a Titan that could bring him up to Hawthorne in seconds, and he took that option.
See you next time.