S1-158
The Rifleman
5:38 PM
03/11/3273
The Tangled Shore
Soriks's Cut
Music
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore
At the top of what was once the Trickster's rigged Engram fabrication facility, Michael, Dane, and Mark-18 found what looked like a makeshift sniper post. "{This is a sniper's nest. Great sight-lines. We're on the Baron that murdered Cayde's Ghost. That was a one-shot kill. Keep your guard up.}"
Suddenly, a familiar voice was on the comms. "Ah. Target practice." It was the Rifleman.
Michael and Dane headed back down, seeing their target on the large suspended pipe going through the sector.
Since Dane's weapon couldn't reach the Rifleman, Michael aimed his Spitfire's Threat Scope dead center at Pirrha. However, before Michael could open fire, a beam of Seraph energy blasted the Rifleman in the head, making him lose balance and fall off the pipe.
Warmind energy bolts kept coming, hitting the Rifleman with incredible precision, and not one of them missed. "{He's retreating, but I'm tracking his position.}"
Michael and Dane got their Sparrows and blasted off, with Mark-18 joining them on the way, stowing his Sleeper Simulant.
The Tangled Shore
Jetsam of Saturn
The Rifleman was up ahead, aiming down on the Fireteam with a Scorn version of a Wire Rifle, which fired Void projectiles.
Still on his Sparrow, Michael pulled out his Spitfire, then opened fire. The Rifleman seemingly fizzled out, and his voice was then heard on the comms. "You missed! Hahaha!"
"{Decoys! Smarter than he looks.}"
"It's like he has his own version of a Holo-Pilot's hologram matrix." Michael stated before seeing a strange device left behind by the decoy.
"{Lightweight simulation tech. I've never seen anything like it. If we find more, let's grab it.}"
"Copy."
Another of the Rifleman's holographic duplicates appeared nearby, only for Michael to down it with his Spitfire. The IMC ace went to pick up the disabled projector.
Dane hit another duplicate with his Pulse Blade, then picked up what was left.
Mark-18 killed a Hive Knight with his Seventh Seraph Carbine, shooting down two holograms and picking up their projectors.
Once the projectors were gathered, Spyglass got on the comms. "I have located the Rifleman's position. Transmitting the marker to you now."
"Solid copy. How soon will Safe-Guard be battle-ready?" Dane asked.
"I estimate Safe-Guard will be repaired from her surprise encounter with the Machinist by just after 6:19 PM."
Suddenly, the Rifleman was heard on the comms. "King Uldren... wants you dead. Hahahaha! I bring him your bodies. Keep your Ghosts. Hahahahaha! Sell their shells to Spider. Hahahahaha!"
The Tangled Shore
Hellrise Canyon
In this sector were a lot of Scorn and Hive battling it out, and two more holograms of Pirrha could be seen in the distance, but everything was cleared out when Michael unleashed a Chaos Reach.
"Or I mount your Ghosts on my wall, next to Cayde's! Hahahahaha!" The Rifleman cackled, nailing a Knight in the back of the head with his crossbow.
Eventually, after killing more Scorn and Hive, Michael, Dane, and Mark-18 made it to the Rifleman's position for a final confrontation.
"I see you!" Pirrha exclaimed, having lined up a shot from his Crossbow.
Music
Destiny 2 - The Rifleman
Upon Pirrha nailing Michael in the shoulder, the IMC ace deployed an A-Wall, followed by Mark-18 hitting the Rifleman straight in the head with his Sleeper Simulant, knocking their target down again.
As Michael recovered and Mark-18 reloaded, Dane ran to the downed Rifleman, then unloaded an entire magazine of shotgun shells straight into his target's face.
The Rifleman dissolved into corrupted Ether, then appeared somewhere else, aided by more of his armed holograms, as well as inbound Scorn reinforcements.
They went a couple rounds, destroying holographic duplicates, killing off Scorn, taking shots at the Rifleman, and even sustaining a temporary casualty.
The Rifleman (Scorn) (X)-[Crossbow] Dane
Before the Rifleman could open fire on Dane's Ghost, Michael formed a Ward of Dawn around his dead former mentor, blocking the shot that would otherwise render Dane dead forever.
With Michael occupied with sustaining the Ward of Dawn against the suppressive Scorn sniper fire, Mark-18 slipped through, bringing their fallen comrade back. "Wow... I haven't died since I put Michael in my position as captain of Eagle-Eye 9-1."
"Dane, care to do a little Void takedown?"
"You got it."
Dane jumped out of the Ward of Dawn, firing off a bolt of the Shadowshot to tether a group of Scorn, including the Rifleman. "I set 'em up!"
Mark-18 came out, unleashing hell in the form of a Nova Bomb. "And I knock 'em down!"
Unfortunately, the Rifleman still wasn't done, but Mark-18 still had power ammo to spare.
Mark-18 [Sleeper Simulant] The Rifleman (Scorn)
Music
none
With the area cleared by a Warmind Cell detonation, Rocco appeared as Michael collapsed his Ward of Dawn and took a breather. "{Y'know, there's a reason I keep a low profile when you fight. It's just smarter. But Cayde's Ghost was just like him: flashy, cocky,... and incredibly competent. She didn't deserve to go down like that. Six names off our list. Only two left, then Uldren. Maybe Petra or Spider has a lead on the Machinist and the Fanatic for us.}"
"Let's head on over. Spyglass, you ready?"
Over the comms, Spyglass responded. "I will arrive at Thieves' Landing by the time you do. From there, we will check in with the Spider."
On their way out, Michael suddenly doubled over, grasping his side as he felt gunshots. He recognized the pain from the specific bullet type, and he knew what just happened.
Uldren Sov had just used the Ace of Spades on a fragment of the Traveler.
We're nearing the end of the Scorn conflict, and Michael is about to fulfill his promise to Banshee.
See you there.