S1-155
The Mad bomber

4:38 PM
03/11/3273

The Tangled Shore
Thieves' Landing

Music
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore

As Michael, Dane, and Leo were headed to another nearby sector, a voice was heard on the comms. "Ooh, what luck! What fortune! Playmates appear! Hello! Hello, hello! To begin... a gift! A gift just at you, from me, good friend Kaniks!" It was Kaniks, the Mad Bomber, and boy was he plum loco.

The Tangled Shore
Four-Horn Gulch

"Best friend Kaniks! Go! Go go! Open gift!"

"Well, he's definitely devolved into total insanity." Dane noted.

"Can't argue there, old friend."

City Hawk 723 approached an irregular cache, only for the container to explode, releasing a small swarm of Scorn. "Surprise! Gift... is DEATH! ~Crazed laughter~"

Once the ambush had been thwarted, the Mad Bomber appeared nearby, only for large grenades to be fired upon him.

The Fireteam looked back, seeing an IMC Atlas-class Titan with a Triple Threat, chassis number: XM-2536. Natasha Rivera and Land-Trap were in that sector. Guardians may not be cleared to go to the Tangled Shore, but Pilots are, as well as any Guardian-Pilots that were inducted into the IMC's higher ranks as they were no longer under the Council's jurisdiction.

Just then, the Mad Bomber vanished, but his voice could still be heard over the radio. "Ah-ah-ah! Game go on. Close your eye and count down."

Following that, some sort of Fallen mine appeared. "{We have to disable that Splinter Mine, or this whole place will blow.}" Michael got into close proximity of the Splinter Mine, allowing Rocco to use his Guardian-Pilot's Wi-Fi Virus transmitter to remotely disarm the deadly explosive as the trio dealt with the surrounding Scorn.

"Where am I hide? Ugly, stupid Cabal can knowing... but not you! ~Crazed laughter~"

"{Red Legion ships above us. Must be the Cabal the Bomber mentioned. Let's follow them.}"

City Hawk 723 followed the Red Legion ships, ending up in the first sector of the Tangled Shore they arrived in.

The Tangled Shore
High Plains

There were a lot of Scorn and Cabal in the High Plains, including Scorn Pikes and Red Legion Interceptors.

Once the Fireteam cleared out a significant amount of both enemy factions, the Mad Bomber could be heard again. "Lightbearers, Lightbearers, I... see you. Yes. I dooo."

Suddenly, another Splinter Mine appeared, guarded by more Scorn.

Leo went right over to it, tossing out two Satchels before using Phase Shift to avoid incoming fire, then detonate the explosives upon reappearing behind cover, clearing out the area.

Michael entered the Splinter Mine's proximity, waiting as Rocco disabled it.

Two more Splinter Mines appeared, one guarded by more Scorn, and the other under Red Legion assault. Dane cleared out the Cabal with a Blade Barrage as Leo used the Fist of Havoc, allowing Michael and Rocco to disarm both explosives.

Trails of corrupted Ether manifested nearby, leading to a small space just under the surface. The Mad Bomber used a transmat pad to enter a far-off sector, and the Pilot trio followed him.

The Tangled Shore
Diaviks Mine

Music
Destiny 2 - The Mad Bomber

"Ooh! WHEE! Now a game truly begin." The Mad Bomber appeared in the middle of the area, throwing explosives off his sash.

Dane nailed a throwing knife straight into a grenade just before Kaniks could toss it, detonating it in the Mad Bomber's hand, causing their target to vanish again.

Behind where Kankis once stood, a Splinter Mine appeared. As Rocco disabled it, a small swarm of Screebs came out and crawled toward the trio, only for Michael and Leo to blow them up, seeing as Dane's primary weapon didn't have that kind of range.

"Friend Cayde? No fun to play with. NO FUN AT ALL! Such a boring boy to kill-kill-kill! Cayde beg and beg and beg! ~Crazed laughter~ 'Mercy! Ah! Mercy, please, Prince Uldren! Oh pretty, pretty please oh please!' SAD!" The Mad Bomber cackled, reappearing to toss more grenades.

Michael hit him with a Nova Bomb, but Kaniks just got away again, leaving behind another Splinter Mine.

Rocco transmatted in a Pilot Sentry, then began disarming the Splinter Mine. Once that bomb was dealt with, Michael's Ghost added in more turrets, then began work on the third Splinter Mine that had just appeared, leaving the Pilots and Pilot Sentries to deal with Scorn reinforcements.

"Cayde murder Eliksni! Think you different?! Think you heroes?! Joke at you!"

Just then, an energy beam finished off the Mad Bomber, finishing him off, and it wasn't from Michael.

Leo (X)-[Charge Rifle] The Mad Bomber (Scorn)

"I don't want to hear any more from the likes of you, Kaniks!" Leo yelled out.

Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Ghor Boss Theme

It was then that the place began to explode. "{This place is rigged to blow. We have to leave. Hurry!}"

The Pilot trio made their way past the Scorn that stood in their way, eventually coming across one last Splinter Mine. While Rocco got to work on disarming it, Leo formed the Burning Maul, clearing out the last of the inbound Scorn reinforcements.

Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission

The Mad Bomber was dead. The Splinter Mine was disabled. The area was secured. "{No matter what the Bomber said, you're not a murderer. Guardians are defenders of the Light. We just have to remember... we're doing this for Cayde.}"

"For Cayde. Who's next?" Michael asked, reloading his Spitfire.

"{The Trickster.}"

Close.

Closer.

Yet closer.

I did NOT like having to repeat the broken and misshapen speech of the Mad Bomber. Glad he's gone.

See you next time, Guardians and Pilots alike.

The next trio will be Michael, the Shadow, and Tanner.