S1-94
Utopia

4:28 PM
03/18/3251

Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Siren's Watch

Music
Destiny 2 - Titan

"Ahh. It's a hell of a view, isn't it?" Sloane asked.

"I guess so." Michael replied, unsure why Sloane was worried about the view at a time like this.

"We're up and running thanks to you. There's plenty more to do around here though. Chief among them: finally breaking ground on a counteroffensive against the Red Legion. I have a plan, but it won't work without you. We intercepted a priority 1 Red Legion signal during the City evacuation, but we can't crack the encryption. Holliday says there's tech that can do the job in the Arcology, which is effectively hostile territory. You'd be going in blind. The place has been dark for centuries. All we know for sure is the Hive is raising hell down there, perhaps literally. But if you're in, let's put the plan into action."

"You can count on us." The mission was clear.

4:45 PM
03/18/3251

Michael and Samus have been going around the station to recruit Spyglass, Jack, Sarah, and Mark-18. The Shadow decided to go through the station on his own and add to his own Taken army against the Red Legion, he's been mostly taking Fallen, acquiring knowledge from the Hive seems to be... extremely and disgustingly disturbing to him.

"Holliday has detected an unusual amount of electricity being redirected into the Arcology." Zavala transmitted.

"Yep. Juice like that can only mean one thing: a network of CPUs, powerful ones. Maybe powerful enough to decrypt that Cabal signal we intercepted."

"Unfortunately, we don't know where the network might be located."

"So you're gonna have to snoop around, and not draw too much attention."

"Guardians, Pilots, securing this asset could turn the tide of this 'war' with the Red Legion. Without it... I don't know what comes next."

Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Solarium

In the next room were more Fallen, including a Servitor. Taken rifts opened and pulled the Dregs, Vandals, and Captains out of reality, leaving the Wretches, Shanks, and the Servitor behind as Samus used her Arc Grenades. Advanced electro-magnetic explosives completely destroyed the Shanks and Servitor, and Mark-18 killed off the Wretches.

Up ahead was a wall of colored tiles, and there were some advanced burn marks, suggesting the use of a laser cutter.

"{Looks like the Fallen were trying to break through those tiles.}"

Samus formed her Power Suit, then aimed the arm cannon at the damaged section, with the rest of the team expecting a massive blast. There was no blast, but a few tiny mechanical bits came out of the end of the arm cannon, and made a continuous thermal spark. It was her Power Suit's welding feature, but it was cranked up to become a laser cutter.

After a while of cutting through the tiles, Samus pulled off a large chunk of the wall, revealing a larger chamber on the other side. It was like a whole new world in there.

"Welcome to New Pacific Arcology, the bright future of space colonization in the shadow of Saturn."

"Sounds like the Arcology's operating system is back online." Tanner-21 stated.

"I knew it! Keep an eye out for an OS access terminal. You can use it to pinpoint the CPU network."

"Everyone, spread out and find that OS access terminal!" Michael ordered.

The Fireteam split off to different parts of the area, searching for the terminal. "34% of Titan's citizens hope the Traveler will terraform the ocean-moon soon."

"I've got nothing." Jack reported.

"Attention, science lovers. The Collective's lecture on the terraforming of Io begins in five minutes in the Cassini Library."

"My Power Suit's detecting something in the next sector. Come to my location, and I'll lead the way." The Fireteam regrouped at Samus's location, and they proceeded through a hallway covered in vegetation.

Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Festering Halls

"{Over there. One of the access terminals we're looking for.}"

There was an OS access terminal next to a closed door. Michael's Ghost was right. "Go at it, buddy."

The Ghost interfaced with the terminal systems, accessing the database. "{The CPU network is deep in the maintenance levels. Amanda, is this what we're looking for?}"

"Bingo! That's the place."

"OK, I've got the location. Let's find a way down." Samus went in first, leading the way.

Music
Destiny - The Hive

The door opened, allowing the Fireteam to advance further. As they neared the next room, Hive appeared. In a matter of time, the monstrosities were dead, and the Fireteam pressed on.

"{Looks like the Hive dug a shortcut for us. Let's head down that hole in the ground.}"

"I'd normally say something else, but it's our only option." Sarah replied to her Ghost.

They jumped down the hole. The whole place was covered in Hive biomass. "{We're definitely in Hive territory now.}"

"Indeed. Keep radio chatter to a minimum. We don't want to draw any... unnecessary attention." Zavala transmitted.

A load of Thralls could be heard rushing in, the distinct screeching sound they make whenever they run into combat was echoing through the halls. A Knight accompanied them as well, with a large sword-like cleaver.

After clearing out the Hive, City Hawk 723 headed further into the area, with Samus destroying a Shrieker with a Super Missile.

The next room was filled with Hive, so Mark-18 decided to give them all a 'shocking' surprise. A Stormtrance.

With the Hive dead, the team proceeded to the other side of the room, where a Hive Ogre was forcing its way out of the ground.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Garmurg

The Ogre's wrath was... short-lived.

Spyglass (X)-[Golden Gun] Garmurg (Savathûn's Hive)

"That was quick... and efficient." Michael commended.

They then dropped down the hole the recently terminated monstrosity climbed out of, ending up further along their path.

Music
none

Descending down two empty elevator shafts, they found more Hive biomass covering a hallway's surfaces. The room ahead was in a horrid state of disrepair. More Thralls, more killing, more walking.

There was a massive gap in the next room, void of illumination. The Fireteam dropped down, and three more Thralls started rushing at them from the other side of the corridor. Once they got close, they were taken down by one of Michael's Satchels.

They crawled into a tunnel filled with Hive biomass. Horrifyingly disgusting. The team ended up in a ventilation shaft, and they were getting close to the CPU network. The signal was strong.

A vent grill plate fell off beneath their feet, causing the Fireteam to land on a platform next to the one that had the CPU hovering above it. Jack jumped across and picked up the CPU.

"Warning: CPU network disrupted."

"{Well, there's no way the Hive didn't hear that alarm.}"

Just like that, the screeches of hundreds upon thousands of Hive could be heard within the massive chamber.

Music
Destiny 2 - Forge Ahead

"Move it, Guardians!"

"RUN!"

With Jack carrying the CPU, City Hawk 723 ran through the nearby door. "{We got the CPU, but we stirred up the entire Hive colony, and it's a long walk to the surface.}"

Sloane was heard on the comms. But she wasn't talking to the Fireteam. "They're not gonna make it out of there, Commander."

"Guardians, Pilots, can you make it to the center of the Arcology? We should be able to send someone to pick you up from there. Holliday!"

Amanda was on the line. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm on it."

"I'm not sure."

"We have transport!" Sarah was right, there were old and armored transport carriers parked there.

"Good idea. Jack, Sarah, use the one on the left! Spyglass, Mark, the right! Samus, climb on top of the middle one, blast any Hive in sight, and hang on tight!" Michael ordered.

Jack handed the CPU to Michael as the Fireteam got in the armored vehicles.

With Michael leading the way, the other two trucks followed behind him, and Samus used her Plasma Beam to shoot down any Hive in sight. "{This road leads to the center of the Arcology. We'll need a way out once we get there.}"

"I'm strapping in and about to take off. I'll be there ASAP."

"Amanda."

"Sir?"

"Fly fast. Fly safe."

"Yes, sir!"

Eventually, they reached the center of the Arcology, with a massive load of Hive either destroyed by Samus or run over by the rest of the Fireteam using the armored vehicles.

Music
none

"Got eyes on you, pals! Meet you at the end of the road!" A ship was flying in at the end of the path, landing there to pick up the Fireteam.

"Good work. All of you." Zavala commended. "Let's get that CPU back to control and decrypt these transmissions."

"Things may finally be looking up for us."

Jack, Sarah, Spyglass, and Mark-18 got out of the armored vehicles and walked to the ship as Samus climbed down from the truck Michael was in. He opened the door, holding the CPU like a basketball, then closed the door as he went to join the rest of his team.

5:52 PM
03/18/3251

Saturn's moon, Titan - New Pacific Arcology
Siren's Watch

The CPU was used to decrypt the Red Legion signal, and it revealed... bad news. A Cabal doomsday weapon. "They call it... the 'Almighty'; the crown jewel of the Red Legion, and life's work of their leader, Dominus Ghaul. Ghaul has subjugated hundreds of worlds. Those that resisted... no longer exist. You see, the Almighty... annihilates stars. Nothing, and no one, survives Ghaul's ambition. What he wants is the Traveler, and its Light. As for the Almighty, it's now pointed at our sun. In short, sir... the war is over, and we've lost."

"This can't be..." Michael couldn't bare the thought of this.

Jack shook his head. "That sounds a lot worse than the Fold Weapon."

"The what now?" Mark-18 was confused.

"A superweapon the ARES Division used before it was disbanded. The record is in IMC's database back at HQ."

Zavala spoke up. "We built our home under the protection of the Traveler. When our enemies attacked, we built a wall that stood for centuries. But now walls mean nothing. This enemy has taken our home, taken our Light, and now they threaten our very existence! We're going all in on this... 'Almighty'. How long before the fleet's combat ready?"

"Zavala, wait-"

The Golem of the Counsel of Guardians then slammed down on the table, interrupting Sloane. "If we wait, we die! But if we attack together, we can take back our home, our Light, our hope, or we die trying! Now... I need my Fireteam. I need Ikora and Cayde."

Sounds like a plan, Zavala! Let's get this done!

See you next time, Guardians and Pilots!