S1-98
Fury

8:53 PM
03/18/3251

Jupiter's moon, Io - Echo Mesa
Giant's Scar

Music
Destiny 2 - Echo Mesa

"As we all know, Zavala plans to attack the Almighty." Ikora transmitted.

"Typical Golem idiocy." Asher interjected. "I'm sure he thought 'Ah, Ghaul has a sun destroyer? I don't need a plan! I'll simply headbutt it!'."

"It's desperation, Asher. Zavala has forgotten he might die his final death. Head toward the heart of the energy mining operation, Guardians. We'll use a Warmind, part of an interplanetary defense network, to scan the Almighty."

Up ahead was a warzone, a battle between Vex and Taken. "I think we're close, but so are the Taken. Vex too." Tanner-21 reported.

"Pay them no heed, assistants. You and I can deal with them later." Asher stated.

"You forget that the leader of the Taken is with us." Michael added.

"Well, in that case, we WON'T need to deal with them!" Asher's tone escalated. "The Taken can fend off the Vex for as long as they need! Maybe even longer!"

A Taken Vandal was up ahead, seemingly from the Devil Splicers, waving to the Fireteam and motioning them to come to it.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Teskas
Eclipsed Visage

The Taken Splicer Vandal formed a dark version of the Ward of Dawn, creating a protective barrier for City Hawk 723 to take cover behind.

Once they reached the shield, Teskas let out a few distorted screeches in the Eliksni language, which the Shadow translated. "G⟒⏁ ⟟⋏ ⏁⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⎍⌇⟒ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⏃⍀⋔⟟⋏⎅ ⏁⍜ ⌇c⏃⋏ ⏁⊑⟒ c⏃⏚⏃⌰ ⎅⍜⍜⋔⌇⎅⏃⊬ ⍙⟒⏃⌿⍜⋏! ⍙⟒'⌰⌰ k⟒⟒⌿ ⏁⊑⟒⋔ ⍜⎎⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⏚⏃ck⌇!" Seemed like Oryx allowed this one to retain a degree of independent thought and initiative before his demise, and the Shadow was taking advantage of that.

The Fireteam then headed into the Red Legion base on Io, seeing another mining site.

"Ikora, we found another drill. This one's big. REALLY big." Tanner-21 reported.

"Good. That drill pierced an entrance to the Warmind vault. The scanner's inside."

"Gotcha. Let's find the drill controls and get it out of the way!" Michael acknowledged.

Suddenly, Vex flooded the room, but Taken appeared and fought them off, clearing them out of the way.

In the next room was a terminal, and Spyglass accessed it. "The power is back online. However, the drill is still in our way."

"Ha! What a gloriously irritating commitment to safety standards!"

"Asher Mir, you are unnecessarily annoying, depressing, and unhelpful." Point for Spyglass.

"There has to be a manual override somewhere in that base." City Hawk 723 went out to find the manual override, entering a nearby cave system.

"I find it incredible that those myopic Red Legion ignorami did not realize they were drilling directly into a Warmind vault!"

"Stranger things happen every day." Ikora stated.

"Get used to it." Samus added.

"I'm STILL getting used to it!" Dane replied. "I'm still new to all this."

"I'm detecting a spike in paracausal energy. Sterile neutrino particles have quintupled."

"...What?" Michael was at a loss on what the heck Asher just said.

"He means 'Watch out for the Taken'. You should hire a translator, Asher."

Jupiter's moon, Io - Echo Mesa
Excavation Site II

In the chamber just ahead, a Taken Phalanx could be seen ripping a Vex Goblin in half over its head, then discarding the two halves of dead alien machinery. Upon seeing the Fireteam, and sensing the presence of the Shadow, any and all Taken in the area finished up and stood at attention, lining the path.

On their way, Samus raised a fist for a short social interaction with a Taken Minotaur. It copied her motion curiously. Their fists lightly collided and Samus sent her own hand recoiling back in a mock explosion, and the Minotaur did the same, catching on to what she was doing.

"⍜K. ⋏⍜⍙ ⟟'⋔ g⟒⏁⏁⟟⋏g k⋏⍜⍙⌰⟒⎅g⟒ ⍜⎎ ⏃ ⌇⍜c⟟⏃⌰ ⟟⋏⏁⟒⍀⏃c⏁⟟⍜⋏...?"

Michael looked back, seeing that Samus just did a fist bump with a Taken Minotaur. He snickered and continued on the path.

"What?"

"You. Silly."

Eventually, they found the override, and Dane accessed it. "I think I've got the drill going."

"Good! Return to the drill site and get into the Warmind vault. I am eager to discredit Vuvuzela's plan to attack the Almighty."

"Asher, if you weren't a Guardian, I'd leave you for dead on Earth's moon and let the Hive deal with you."

"I can see how Sid got his aggressive personality from you now." Tanner-21 stated.

"Program Omni-10 is still in use?" Dane asked.

Michael nodded. "And Jeeves spread a blank copy of it to all other Titans."

The Taken were gone, and the Vex returned, so City Hawk 723 cleared them out, including a Hydra. "{So, uh... Are we going to see Rasputin, or is this some other Warmind?}"

"There is only one Warmind. But Rasputin is not here on Io. I believe he's been marooned on Earth ever since his network fragmented." Ikora responded.

Jupiter's moon, Io - Echo Mesa
Giant's Scar

Once they returned to mining site, the drill was seen resuming its operation.

"Whoa! The drill's on!" Samus exclaimed.

"What? Lift it up before it collapses the Warmind vault!" Asher demanded.

After a while of searching, and killing off more Vex, Spyglass found the control console.

"{Finally. Let's get down to the vault.}"

"City Hawk 723, the drill is moving out of the way. Proceed." Spyglass ordered.

With that, they jumped down the hole and headed into the Warmind bunker. "Asher, Ikora, we're on our way into the vault." Michael reported.

"This will be rich. I will ask Zavala 'Can you tell me, in zettajoules, the Almighty's expected destructive capacity?', and he will say 'No, Asher, I cannot, because I am a reckless fool!'."

"Ignore Asher." Ikora transmitted. "Find the Warmind, reconnect it to the network, and we'll handle the rest."

Jupiter's moon, Io - Echo Mesa
Warmind Vault JYS-2

There were Taken inside the bunker... for only a few seconds before they left.

"Will you look at that. The Taken understand." Dane stated.

"They're following the Shadow's will." Michael added.

Eventually, they made it to the vault, and the Ghosts went in to activate the mainframe. "{Reconnecting to the Warmind network to begin a remote scan.}"

"Yes, we can see the connection coming online." Ikora transmitted.

Now came the boring part. Waiting.

Music
none

"So... How did you... um..." Dane started asking.

"⊑⍜⍙ ⎅⟟⎅ ⟟ c⍜⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ⏚⟒? ⍙⟒⌰⌰, ⍜⍀⊬⌖ ⏁⍜⍜k ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰, ⏃⋏⎅ c⍀⟒⏃⏁⟒⎅ ⋔⟒. ⟟ g⎍⟒⌇⌇ ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⍀⏃⎐⟒⌰⟒⍀ ⋔⏃⋏⏃g⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ k⟒⟒⌿ ⊑⟟⌇ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⏚⟒⟟⋏g ⟒⍀⏃⌇⟒⎅. ⟟⏁ k⟒⌿⏁ ⊑⟟⋔ ⏃⌰⟟⎐⟒. ⟟ ⍙⏃⌇ ⏁⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏁⍜ ⏁⍀⊬ ⏃⋏⎅ k⟟⌰⌰ ⍜⎎⎎ ⏃⋏⊬ G⎍⏃⍀⎅⟟⏃⋏⌇ ⟟ c⏃⋔⟒ ⏃c⍀⍜⌇⌇, ⏚⎍⏁ ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⏃⌰⌰ g⍜⏁ ⏃⍙⏃⊬... ⎍⋏⏁⟟⌰ C⟟⏁⊬ ⊑⏃⍙k 723 ⏁⍜⍜k ⏃ ⌇⊑⏃⍀⎅ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ c⍀⊬⌇⏁⏃⌰ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⍜⋏c⟒ ⊑⟒⌰⎅ C⍀⍜⏁⏃'⌇ ⌇⍜⎍⌰. ⟟⏁ ⍙⏃⌇ ⏁⊑⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⟟ g⏃⎐⟒ c⊑⏃⌇⟒. ⏁⊑⟒⊬ c⍜⎍⌰⎅⋏'⏁ g⟒⏁ ⏃⍙⏃⊬... ⏚⎍⏁ ⏃ ⋔⍜⏁⟒ ⍜⎎ ⌰⟟g⊑⏁ ⍙⏃⌇ ⎍⌇⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ ⍀⟒⎅⎍c⟒ ⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ⌇⟟⋔⌿⌰⟒ ⏁⍀⏃c⟒⌇ ⍜⎎ ⋔⊬ ⍜⍙⋏ ⟒⌇⌇⟒⋏c⟒. ⟟ ⍀⟒⋔⟒⋔⏚⟒⍀ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⊬⏁⊑⟟⋏g, ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟ ⍀⟒⋔⟒⋔⏚⟒⍀ ⊑⍜⍙ ⋔⎍c⊑ ⟟⏁ ⏚⎍⍀⋏⟒⎅. ⋔⟟c ⊑⏃⟒⌰ ⍙⏃⌇ ⏚⍀⍜⎍g⊑⏁ ⏚⏃ck ⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟒ C⟟⏁⊬, ⏃⋏⎅ ⟟ ⏃⍙⍜k⟒ ⌰⏃⏁⟒⍀ ⍜⋏. ⟟ ⍙⏃⌇ ⎍⋏⏃⏚⌰⟒ ⏁⍜ ⏁⏃k⟒ ⍜⎐⟒⍀ ⏃g⏃⟟⋏ ⎅⎍⟒ ⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⍀⏃⎐⟒⌰⟒⍀'⌇ ⏃⎍⍀⏃ ⏃⍀⍜⎍⋏⎅ ⏁⊑⟒ C⟟⏁⊬. ⟟ ⍙⏃⌇ ⎅⟒⏃⎅ ⌇⟒⏁ ⍜⋏ ⏁⏃k⟟⋏g c⍜⋏⏁⍀⍜⌰ ⏚⏃ck ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⟟⌿⟟⋏g ⍜⎍⏁ ⟒⎐⟒⍀⊬ ⌰⏃⌇⏁ G⎍⏃⍀⎅⟟⏃⋏... ⎍⋏⏁⟟⌰ ⏃ ⌰⟟⏁⏁⌰⟒ ⎐⟟⌇⟟⏁ ⏁⍜ ⏃ c⟒⍀⏁⏃⟟⋏ ⌇c⊑⍜⌰⏃⍀ g⍜⏁ ⋔⟒ ⏁⊑⟟⋏k⟟⋏g, ⏃⋏⎅ ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰ ⎍⌇⟒⎅ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⏁⍜ c⊑⏃⋏g⟒ ⋔⊬ ⎐⟟⟒⍙. ⏚⟒⎎⍜⍀⟒, ⟟ ⍙⏃⌇ ⏚⌰⟟⋏⎅, ⏚⎍⏁ ⋏⍜⍙, ⏁⊑⏃⋏k⌇ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟟c⊑⏃⟒⌰'⌇ ⍙⍜⍀⎅⌇ ⍜⎎ ⍙⟟⌇⎅⍜⋔, ⟟ ⌇⏃⍙ ⏁⊑⟒ ⏁⍀⎍⏁⊑. ⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⏁⊑⍜⎍g⊑ ⊑⟒ ⍀⏃⍀⟒⌰⊬ ⌇⍙⏃⌿⌇ ⍜⎍⏁ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⋔⟒ ⏃⋏⊬⋔⍜⍀⟒, ⍙⟒ ⎅⟟⎐⟟⎅⟒ ⟟⋏⌇⏁⟒⏃⎅. ⟟'⎅ g⍜ ⍜⋏ ⋔⊬ ⍜⍙⋏ ⌿⏃⏁⊑, ⏚⎍⏁ ⟟'⋔... ⏃⏁⏁⏃c⊑⟒⎅... ⏁⍜ ⊑⟟⌇ ⌰⟟g⊑⏁. ⋏⍜⏁⊑⟟⋏g ⟟ c⏃⋏ ⎅⍜ ⏃⏚⍜⎍⏁ ⟟⏁." The Shadow explained, with Dane's Ghost translating in the Pilot's head.

"What if we just stay separated instead of putting our halves of the Yin Yang Switch back together? You can take your place on Oryx's throne as the new Taken King."

"⏁⊑⏃⏁'⌇... ⋏⍜⏁ ⏃ ⏚⏃⎅ ⟟⎅⟒⏃."

"Perhaps light and dark aren't so different after all. They both have their places, like the sun and the moon in day and night respectively."

"Words of wisdom from Ikora. That was the highlight of my day when I was just her student in the beginning." Mark-18 stated over the comms.

"{How's the scan going?}" Michael's Ghost wondered.

"Poorly." Asher replied. "The Almighty is inextricably bound to the harmonic resonance of the sun's magnetic flux tubes."

"{What?}"

"⟒⎐⟒⋏ ⟟ ⎅⍜ ⋏⍜⏁ ⎍⋏⎅⟒⍀⌇⏁⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⊑⏃⏁⟒⎐⟒⍀ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⟒ck ⊑⟒ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⌇⏃⟟⎅."

"Asher, take Ikora's advise and hire a translator. Literally nobody understands what you're saying." Michael stated.

"If Zavala blows up the Almighty, it'll take the sun with it." Ikora said over the radio.

"OK, that's REALLY bad!" Dane replied.

"It's time I rejoined my Fireteam."

9:21 PM
03/18/3251

Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
The Farm

"So really what you're saying is... we're damned if we do and damned if we don't." Cayde-6 stated, thinking over the new development.

"On the contrary, now that we are together again, we just might stand a chance." Zavala replied.

"The fact is if we destroy that weapon, we will ignite a chain reaction that could send our sun into a supernova." As she said this, Cayde-6 was... petting a rooster.

"Well, at least we have each other."

"Indeed. We all know what needs to be done. The Traveler must be freed."

"Any time you'd like to join in, Michael." Ikora told the Pilot leaning in the corner of the barn.

"No, no, this is YOUR conversation. I'm just waiting for orders. Titan protocol 2, after all."

"Uphold the Mission." Zavala acknowledged.

"I'm thinking the three of us and a big fat pile of explosives can get the job done. Look. I still have that Vex teleporter. It's got a limited range, so we'll have to get a little too close for comfort."

"Then we get inside the City walls for it to be effective." Zavala caught onto the Exo's plan.

"But without the Light, an outright assault on the wall is doomed to fail. We could..." Ikora paused. "There will be no coming back."

"It's worth it."

"How do we get in?" Ikora questioned.

"Y'know, the City wall is kinda like this barn." Everyone looked at the source of the sound, seeing Suraya Hawthorne. "Plenty of places to slip in unseen, so long as you know how." She jumped down next to the Exo of the Counsel.

"You sure you're not one of my Hunters?"

"Heh. Not really into capes."

"Clearly. Nice poncho."

"You need to get your team into the City without raising any alarms. My people and I can help you do that. We also happen to be pretty good at shooting bad guys."

"Hawthorne, it's one thing for us to put our lives on the line, but... this doesn't have to be your fight. You're not a-" Ikora was interrupted.

"A Guardian? You think you've cornered the market on sacrifice? You forget that we've had to survive without the Light all our lives! Once upon a time, that big, white ball in the sky was there for all of us. I think it's about time we returned the favor. Guardians, Pilots, or not."

"That's a great speech and all, but let's not forget about the whole supernova and complete annihilation thingy."

"If we can't destroy the Almighty, we'll have to disable its weapon, and that means getting a certain Pilot squadron onboard." Zavala stated.

"We'll need a good disguise if we're going to fly right through a Cabal armada." Ikora added.

"If it's a Cabal ship you need, there's a base nearby full of them, but it won't be easy sneaking in." Hawthorne informed them.

"Oh, we're done sneaking." Zavala replied. "If there's one thing I learned from Cayde, it's the value of a grand entrance."

"This is great. Anyone want a hug? Hugs?" He had his arms raised up for a hug, but nobody was accepting. "No? No hugs."

"I've got something better, Cayde. You three, step forth. Hawthorne, please stand aside."

Zavala, Ikora, and Cayde-6 lined up as Michael built up energy between his hands. Once it was strong enough, he let it loose on the Counsel, filling them with Light. "OK, I'm not sure what you did, but that felt really weird!"

"No matter. Whatever that was, I have a feeling it will certainly-" As he spoke, Zavala clenched his fist, and his arm began surging the Arc Light, immediately drawing his attention.

"Zavala... your Light!"

"Our Light is back! Michael, how'd you do that?!" Cayde-6 asked excitedly.

"Just a little trick I picked up from a shard of the Traveler over in the back of the EDZ."

"Thank you, Michael." Zavala gave his gratitude.

10:02 PM
03/18/3251

Music
Destiny 2 - The Farm

"Ready to receive mission orders." Michael stood at attention the next day.

"Remember that Cabal base 'round the way? One of Ghaul's buddies runs it. Blood Guard by the name of Thumos. We know he's got access to the Almighty, so you crash the base, steal Thumos's ship, use it to sneak aboard the Almighty, and shut it down before it can blow up our sun. Do me a favor. Put Thumos down while you're at it. When you give the signal, we move on the City, take it back. Gotta say, I really didn't think you'd come back from your interplanetary jaunt, much less with the Counsel by your side. Look at us. Red Legion doesn't stand a chance." Hawthorne briefed him in.

"You got it. Consider Thumos KIA."

The Counsel of Guardians is back together, we're back on Earth, and the Red War is almost over.

Sloane was wrong. We will NOT lose!

For those of you wondering, the Shadow is learning how to speak English fluently. He may understand it just fine, but he's a ways away before he can actually speak it.

See you next time, Guardians.