S1-99
Payback
10:17 PM
03/18/3251
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
The Gulch
Music
Titanfall - OST 52
The Pilots of City Hawk 723 had landed back in the EDZ, near a large tunnel that was reported to lead to the Cabal base. Mark-18 was with them.
"Pilots, you got a tough road ahead, so I'm sending in Holliday with something... special." Zavala transmitted.
Cayde-6 was heard on the line. "Are we talking 'Gjallarhorn' special or 'an Ikora philosophy lesson' special?"
"Just keep moving. Storm the facility and board that Cabal carrier. No matter the cost, we must get to the Almighty."
"Got it." Michael acknowledged.
It was then that a certain Atlas-class Titan was heard in Michael's head. "[Good to be back in the field, even though it wasn't that long.]"
"Jeeves! Good to know you're OK."
Vanessa was there too. "[We might not be that way for long! The Red Legion have us surrounded, and they just keep coming!]"
"We're on our way!"
"So, Zavala, I gotta ask you something. When you told our Pilot friend here, and I quote, 'I need Cayde.', did you by any chance happen to maybe... cry?"
"~clear throat~ Holliday, what's your status?"
"Let the record show: no denial."
Amanda was on the line. "Still a couple clicks out, Commander. This girl's heavy."
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
The Tunnels
"We've got company!" Mark-18 was right. Red Legion troops came out and attacked, then Taken troops appeared to combat them.
"⋔⊬ ⏁⏃k⟒⋏ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ k⟒⟒⌿ ⏁⊑⟒⋔ ⏚⎍⌇⊬ ⍙⊑⟟⌰⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ g⟒⏁ ⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟒ c⏃⏚⏃⌰ ⏚⏃⌇⟒."
Up ahead, a new soldier was fighting off the Cabal. A G1 Pilot in old Militia armor.
Music
Titanfall - OST 03
"Hold up! It's a Pilot!" Michael exclaimed.
Once the Cabal were cleared out from the immediate area, the Pilot turned to face the Fireteam. "Well now. I didn't think there'd be a Fireteam coming through here, much less one with Pilots."
"Who are you?" Michael asked. "I'm David Flair. I was with the Special Recon Squadron." Indeed. The SRS patch was visible on the Pilot's shoulder, as well as the helmet.
"Where's your Titan?" Samus asked.
"On the other side of this tunnel, fighting off more Red Legion at their base. Surprisingly, he's sustained minimal damage. Streak-Shot, we're got friendly reinforcements."
Another Titan could be heard over the comms. "[Confirmed. Greetings, Fireteam. I am AR-7914. You may call me Streak-Shot.]"
"We can deal with introductions AFTER we complete our mission!"
"Right."
From Mark-18's neural link, his Titan could be heard. "[David Flair's partner appears to be a Stryder-class Titan. We've been blocking incoming enemy fire from hitting Streak-Shot due to his lighter chassis vulnerability.]"
They moved further into the tunnel, seeing Holliday's ship coming in, and it was carrying... a tank?!
Music
Destiny 2 - Resist the Legion
"Say 'Hello.' to the Drake."
In surprise, Michael's Ghost appeared. "{You got us a TANK?!}"
"You got them a tank?! How come I never got a tank?" Cayde-6 was jealous.
"You know you'd just break it." Holliday replied.
Michael immediately boarded the Drake tank, getting a good feel for the controls as a Cabal squadron came out to attack.
In a single shot from the new weapon, Michael just FREAKING ANNIHILATED THEM! "I am NOT gonna get tired of this!" With each round fired from the Drake, Michael's adrenaline spiked. The Red Legion threatened humanity and took their home... and now Michael was enjoying some sweet payback.
As Michael devastated any Cabal in sight, the rest of the team followed behind him, looking over the damage he was dealing. "Pilots, holler my way if you need another one of these armored beauties. Plenty more where that came from."
"Oh, so I get nothing, and they get as many as they want. I see how it is."
"What's the matter, Cayde? Jealous?" Now you're rubbing it in, Michael. In a more spacious section of the tunnel, a Cabal ship could be seen flying in. "ABRA KADABRA!" Just like that, the ship was gone, reduced to a pile of scrap.
Seemed like the Cabal weren't that smart if they were still trying to fight against a FREAKING TANK!
With each massive explosion, more and more Cabal died. Even their Interceptors were destroyed with ease. More Cabal were exterminated as Michael blew his way through the tunnels.
Eventually, he ran into a problem. "{Don't think we're gonna be able to shoot our way through that door. The override should be nearby.}" Michael exited the tank and rushed into the nearby side bunker, killed off any Cabal caught in his wake, reached the other side of the large door, and engaged the lock override.
"Heads up! That carrier's spinning up its engines! You might want to pick up the pace!" Holliday reported.
"Thumos is on that carrier. He has what you need to infiltrate the Almighty. Move!" Zavala ordered.
There were more Cabal up ahead, but they stood no chance against the Drake tank.
A Goliath tank then entered the area. "{Of course the Red Legion have tanks too.}"
"Not as good as the Drake!" Michael then proceeded to tread around the Goliath, blasting at it, tearing it apart in seconds.
Behind the smoldering remains lay another problem. "{Well, they've retracted the bridge. We're not going to be able to cross that gap.}"
"Oh, your super tank can't fly? Oh..."
"Hush, you! Or I'll rip out your vocal modulator!" Michael then left the tank and went into another bunker, using a Stormtrance to purge the area of all Cabal forces.
"{That should give us a way across.}" He extended the bridge from the control console, and headed back down to get back in the Drake.
"So, if it wasn't to give me a tank, why did you send our favorite Pilot to find me?"
"Your... high-risk high-reward combat maneuvers can be effective... and inspirational." Zavala replied.
"Well, yeah, but with a tank, they could be like a million times more inspirational."
"Once we take the City back, you can make yourself a Titan." Michael offered.
"I'll... consider it."
Across the bridge were more Red Legion... until Michael eradicated them all. Further along, another Goliath, reduced to another pile of scrap. "{We're almost out of the tunnels, and coming up on the carrier.}"
"Good." Zavala acknowledged. "The only thing standing between you and the Almighty is Thumos the Unbroken. He's a Blood Guard. One of Ghaul's 'chosen'. The Red Legion will die for him. Why don't you help them with that?"
Michael had that grin on his face. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Sunken Isles
They made it out of the tunnels, and the Fireteam could see the Cabal base.
"{They're shielding the carrier!}" Indeed, the Cabal carrier was surrounded in a thick layer of energy shields.
"⍙⊑⏃⏁'⍀⟒ ⍙⟒ g⍜⋏⋏⏃ ⎅⍜ ⏃⏚⍜⎍⏁ ⏁⊑⟟⌇?!"
"{Wait. See those generators? We need to take them out if we're going to board that carrier.}"
"Mark, get your Interceptor and take out the generator on the left! Samus, use a Super Missile combined with the Ice Beam to destroy the generator on the right!" Michael ordered.
Mark-18 summoned his Interceptor as Samus formed her Power Suit. They went to each shield generator, killed off any surrounding Cabal, and destroyed the generators. The protective barrier fizzled and shorted out. "{Shield's down, but the ship's about to launch without us!}"
"Keep that carrier on the ground!" Zavala ordered.
"Couple missile up its tailpipe oughta do the job." Cayde-6 stated.
Just then, a Tone was heard through Michael's neural link. "[Salvo Core energized.]" A whole mess of missiles went flying straight into the Cabal carrier's tailpipe, destroying the flight systems.
Music
none
"The carrier's grounded!" Michael reported, getting out of the Drake tank. "Now let's find Thumos!"
"Good work, Pilots." Zavala commended. "And Cayde, after this is over, I'll talk to Holiday about your tank."
"Ah, I missed you too, buddy."
"Thanks for the help there, EM!"
"[I may have a mind of my own, but I still have to follow my protocols.]"
David Flair
Pilot class
Rifleman
Primary
R-97 Compact SMG - (Iron Sights) - (Extended Magazine)
Sidearm
B3 Wingman
Anti-Titan
Charge Rifle
Tactical
Cloak
Ordinance
Arc Mine
Tier 1
Power Cell
Tier 2
Guardian Chip
Alpha-Romeo Seven-Nine-One-Four (AR-7914)
(Streak-Shot)
Primary weapon
40mm Cannon - (Extended Magazine)
Tactical Ability
Electric Smoke
Ordinance
Rocket Salvo
Chassis
Stryder
Tier 1
Dash Quickcharger
Tier 2
Core Extender
Insignia
Wonyeon Defense
OS voice
Jeeves
A new Pilot and Titan have entered the fray, and Thumos is going down in the next chapter!
See you next time.