S1-142
The Inverted Spire
11:37 AM
09/13/3272
Planet Vez-2 - Low orbit
Music
none
While monitoring the perimeter, Michael received a call for a mission classified as a Strike, so he programmed a course to Nessus.
He wasn't the only one who got the call.
11:45 AM
09/13/3272
Nessus, Unstable Centaur - Arcadian Valley
The Cistern
Music
Destiny 2 - Nessus
Zavala was heard on the line. "Welcome to Nessus. This planet is crawling with Vex. The Red Legion has sent in crews. We need to know why. Failsafe, are you online?"
"Commander, your favorite AI is primed and ready. I have prepared back doors into several key Vex systems. We have detected a series of seismic disruptions. The Cabal may be responsible."
"We need to know what we're dealing with. Yours are the boots on the ground, Guardians. Good luck."
Michael was on the planet with Dane and Tanner-21, who had a whole new set of armor and weapons. "It's been a while, you two." Michael said, readying his Spitfire.
"I know. These Strikes the Counsel are assigning are pretty tough. I just finished up with Hayden and Anthony. We had to drive the Fallen out of the Exodus Black secondary crash site here on Nessus, and Failsafe can't see over there."
"This is my first Strike, which gives me a chance to test out my latest field-ready prototype." Tanner-21 pulled out a strange rifle silently humming with Arc energy.
There were quite a few Vex up ahead, so the trio had to clear them out. Before Michael could open fire, Dane formed the Shadowshot, tethering the Vex into a cluster, prompting the IMC ace to use a Nova Bomb.
"Cayde was right. A Nightstalker paired up with a Voidwalker definitely is a powerful duo." Dane stated.
"If said Nightstalker and Voidwalker happen to have been mentor and student centuries ago, what do you think that means?" Michael asked, blowing off some purple smoke on the palm of his gloved Spectre hand.
"Mentor and student, huh?" Tanner-21 wondered.
"That started on my first day of being a Pilot on the 7th of October in the year 2283."
"{OK, that's a long time ago!}" Rocco was pretty startled at how long his Guardian had been a part of the IMC's ranks.
With all the Vex gone, a conflux formed near the edge. Rocco went to scan it, causing a path of platforms to phase into reality. Up ahead was a Jump Gate, which propelled them across a massive gap.
"{On your right! A waterfall of Vex... milk.}"
Michael was confused. "Milk?"
"{Yes. Vex milk.}"
"...ew." Indeed.
Vex appeared, only to be mowed down by City Hawk 723, Supers going everywhere.
Another Jump Gate was there, launching the trio to the entrance of a new sector.
Nessus, Unstable Centaur - Arcadian Valley
The Anchor
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Enemy Encounter
After entering the sector, the Fireteam took a turn, finding a large chamber with Vex, Cabal, and... "{Oh, a barrier. This planet loves barriers. Zavala, I think they're trying to contain the Red Legion.}" The blue-shelled Ghost reported.
"They have bigger problems. Namely... you." Zavala replied over the comms.
They wiped out the Cabal and Vex, causing the barrier to collapse, opening the way forward.
Outside, the trio spotted massive cabal mining equipment.
Nessus, Unstable Centaur - Arcadian Valley
Excavation Site VII
"{What could the Red Legion possibly be drilling for?}" Rocco wondered.
Failsafe eavesdropped on him, answering his question. "According to radio chatter, they want to build more guns.-(▀▖┗▛▄)-Who could have guessed?"
"Failsafe, don't make me regret saving you from those Fallen!" Dane spat back.
"Um... Sorry?"
Down they went, landing on a lower plateau, summoning their Sparrows. The Vex were holding out terribly against the Red Legion, so by the time the Guardian-Pilots arrived, they were already gone, leaving the Cabal to deal with. "And of course the drills have armed crews." Michael said as he took down three Psions with his Spitfire, still riding his Sparrow.
"If it's helpful, I suggest you deal with the drills when the shooting stops." Failsafe stated.
"{The shooting never stops...}"
"Not until they're dead, Rocco."
"Y'know, Cayde got stuck stealing from the Vex. Why didn't that happen to the Red Legion?" Tanner-21 asked, finishing off a Centurion with his shotgun.
"Calculating Red Legion similarity to the Cayde-6: 0.0001%.-(▀▖┗▛▄)-Plus, y'know, Cayde's dumb."
"You are both depressing and unhelpful." Dane put plainly, landing three Golden Gun shots on Legionaries.
The trio found, and killed, the drill officers. "{Research team? More like research army. There's so many of them.}"
"Indeed. But we still need to know what they're looking for. Brace yourselves." Zavala replied.
"Just so you know, I have detected a massive Vex energy signature." Failsafe reported.
"{And the only way to reach it is down past those giant pointy drill bits? ~nervous chuckle~ Good.}" OK, Rocco's nervous.
Up ahead were Cabal personnel transport cannons. Michael flipped the switch, activating the hoops. They were flung to the Cabal mining transportation cortex, where more Red Legion were waiting, only to be cleared out with ease. And in the lower level was an orange hologram of a Vex Minotaur, as well as the controls for the transport hub. The Cabal there were killed off.
As Dane pulled the switch, Cabal reinforcements began dropping into the control room. "{I think they want their drill back!}"
Tanner-21 formed the Hammer of Sol, slamming the Red Legion with a flaming mallet... that explodes. All around them, the Cabal personnel transport cannons were being realigned.
Eventually, after killing a lot of Cabal, the cannons were reoriented, yet only one of them was ignited. "{Let's hope this thing launches in the right direction, or it's going to be a short trip.}"
The trio was launched to a new area, where they had to fight through more Cabal.
They reached the drill, and it was freaking MASSIVE, and there were Vex in the area! They raced past the drill bits and the Vex.
Nessus, Unstable Centaur - Arcadian Valley
The Inverted Spire
The group reached the target sector, watching as a Vex Mind appeared.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Protheon
Modular Mind
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Helios Boss Theme
"{Uh... Guys, we've encountered a massive Vex Mind.}" Rocco reported.
"Watch your back, friend. I'm detecting multiple ordinance types." Failsafe replied.
"{YOU'RE NOT HELPING!}"
Deploying an A-Wall projector, Michael opened fire with his Spitfire, Dane unloaded with his Thunderbolt, and Tanner-21 used his Arc rifle with the enhancing barrier.
In a matter of seconds, the Mind was forced to withdraw, but the floor was vanishing. "{Uh... Hey, what's happening to the floor?}"
"It's taking the floor out!" Michael said, picking back up the projector.
They dropped to a lower floor, where Protheon reappeared. A lot of damage was dealt from Dane's Golden Gun through the A-Wall before the device's charge expired, followed by Michael forming one of his Andromeda Cannons. The blast did very significant damage, but it just wasn't enough.
"{Energy change! Watch out!}" The Modular Mind then slammed the ground, causing it to burn.
After dealing with Vex reinforcements and dealing enough damage to the Mind, Protheon vanished again, followed by the second ground. "{Watch your feet!}"
Down below was the final floor of the sector, surrounded in radiolarian fluid.
Michael's Charge Rifle was doing quite a bit of damage to Protheon, but with Dane and Tanner-21 occupied with the incoming swarm of Vex, he had to do this alone.
Tanner-21 was blasting Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Harpies to pieces with his Arc rifle while Dane was dealing with Minotaurs using his full-auto shotgun.
Once the surrounding Vex were dealt with, Tanner-21 jumped on Protheon's shoulder and began pelting the Modular Mind with a new Council machine gun, blowing its cranium to pieces. "{Don't lose your head!}" Rocco joked.
The damage also exposed the Mind's radiolarian membrane within its chest, a new weak spot was vulnerable.
Dane threw an Arc Grenade, landing it on the Mind's legs. The EMP emitted from it upon detonation stunned Protheon, giving Michael a chance to finish the job with his Satchels, which were attached to the radiolarian membrane.
As Protheon recovered from the Arc Grenade, Michael used his remote detonator.
Michael [Satchel] Protheon, Modular Mind (Sol Collective)
Music
none
"{Zavala, Modular Mind neutralized.}" Rocco reported.
"Well done. Failsafe, what's your assessment of this incident?"
"Vex records indicate the Cabal discovered the Mind, and dug into this world to capture it. Had the Red Legion achieved their goal, I estimate a 60% chance this planetoid would have been destroyed in the ensuing battles. Luckily, the Captain, his former mentor, and one of the Exo brothers stepped in."
"{Huzzah!}"
One thing was certain, there would be more Strikes to come.
Tanner-21, Council Soldier
Species
Exo
Gender
Male
Class
Golem (In-game: Titan)
Kinetic weapon
Shotgun - Reckless Endangerment (Vanguard Magnus) (Stalwart Skin)
Energy weapon
Scout Rifle - Symmetry (Binary Function)
Power weapon
Machine Gun - Chain of Command (Vanguard Magnus) (Standard Regulation)
Helmet
The Shelter in Place (Vanguard Veteran) (Steadfast Titan Ornament)
Gauntlets
The Shelter in Place (Vanguard Veteran) (Steadfast Titan Ornament)
Chest armor
The Shelter in Place (Vanguard Veteran) (Steadfast Titan Ornament)
Leg armor
The Shelter in Place (Vanguard Veteran) (Steadfast Titan Ornament)
Class item - Titan Mark
Mark of Shelter (Vanguard Veteran) (Steadfast Titan Ornament)
Ghost shell
Ambrite Complex Shell (Vanguard Veteran) (Vanguard Projection)
Sparrow
Vega Wave (Vanguard Veteran)
Ship
Zavala's Authority (Vanguard Veteran) (Guardian Gold)
I just can't stop myself! The Strikes are important too!
Let's see here...
Protheon, Modular Mind: KIA
Now then...
N E X T