S1-170
Siviks, Lost to None
3:24 PM
05/22/3273
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Corridors
Music
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Broad Daylight
Another day at the IMC HQ. No missions. No catastrophes. Ada-1 sashaying her way back to the Black Armory- Wait. What?
Music
none
Michael looked on in surprised confusion as he watched the Exo dance her way down the hall. "OK. That's new."
"{Not sure what caused her to be like this, but something's definitely gotten Ada in a good mood.}"
"Well, good for her, whatever it is."
Music (resume)
Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure - Broad Daylight
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Medical bay
Deciding not to dwell on what he just saw, Michael proceeded on his way to the medical bay, seeing a few non-Guardian Pilots being looked at by Frames. In the back of the chamber was what appeared to be a Fallen Captain... or rather an Eliksni Captain, as evident by the green cloth and House of Judgment sigil.
It was Theerdaks, the Judgment Marksman.
The Frame tending to Theerdaks had applied a hard cast to the Captain's second left arm, letting it hang in a sling. He had apparently survived a Red Legion attack.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared that this Captain was armed with a Shrapnel Launcher, Shock Pistol, AND Wire Rifle. This was the most weapons any one Fallen or Eliksni has ever had on them at once.
Nothing else out of the ordinary, so Michael continued onward.
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Sim Pod chamber
He arrived at the Training Pod array, where a fresh new recruit had just completed their Pilot combat certification. "For your safety, please stay in the Training Pod to regain your equilibrium."
Eventually, a female Awoken climbed out of the Training Pod, and Michael went up to greet her. "Earthborn or Reefborn, I welcome you to the IMC's ranks."
"Well, you're quite the gentleman."
Michael chuckled. "It's been my life for centuries, and I'm proud of it. Head on down and visit Bish in the Titan barracks. He'll set you up with your own mechanical behemoth of a partner."
"Ooh, I'm looking forward to this!"
With that taken care of, Michael decided to pay Spyglass a visit.
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Command center
"Hey, Spyglass! How have you been today?"
"I have been well, Michael. Thank you for asking." Spyglass nodded. "Dr. Hammond has reported an unusual phenomenon on Earth. The signature of an IMC Titan chassis appears to have resurfaced, albeit distorted and lacking any Datacore identification. At the same time, Fallen activity has been escalating in the surrounding area. Do you remember the sector where the Black Armory Bergusia Forge was discovered?"
"Niobe Labs, along the edge of the European Dead Zone."
"Yes. The signal appears to be emanating from that location."
"Got it. I'll get some answers. Prepare DL-2671 for Titanfall."
3:47 PM
05/22/3273
Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
Niobe Labs
Music
Metroid: Other M - Searching the Exam Center / Any Objections?
Michael had arrived at the Niobe Labs, having encountered no Fallen from the House of Dusk or the Kell's Scourge. "Michael W Johnson to IMC command, I have eyes on the signal source. I can confirm that it is a Titan. It appears as if the Kell's Scourge has heavily modified it with their own tech. Three-fingered hands to match the Fallen, four arms, and a Servitor optic fitted where the Titan's optic would be. They also appear to have outfitted the chassis with a Titan-sized version of a Wire Rifle. Looks as if it was once a Ronin. The Leadwall appears to have been turned into a triple-barrel Shrapnel Launcher, the Broadsword looks as if it's become a Shock Blade, and I can see Shock Grenades dangling from the hips. There also appears to be a Fallen cloth draped over it, like a Kell. I'm also picking up a Black Armory radiant energy reading, and I think it's safe to assume they modified the Reactor with their own devices."
On the line, Blisk could be heard. "Do you see a chassis number?"
"I... I think so. R... D... No...! They've scavenged the remains of RD-1539, my deceased Ronin-class Titan, found dead in the beginning days of the Red War!"
"Blimey... They've turned him into one of their own."
Ada-1 was also present on the channel. "About that energy reading. Didn't we pick every Radiant Battery out of there?"
"That's what I was thinking too, but the signature is off the charts, and there are what looks like Black Armory shield drones attached to RD's chassis."
"Michael, Hayden, they found the Obsidian Accelerator!"
Wondering about the mention of that Exo's name, Michael heard footsteps approaching him from behind. The Hunter Ada-1 mentioned had followed the Pilot. After a wordless nod of a greeting, Michael looked at the mechanical behemoth in the center of the area. "I'll ask about what that is another time. Right now, I am requesting Titanfall. I think it's looking at me."
Music
Super Mario Galaxy - A Tense Moment
"Command authenticated. Stand by for Titanfall." A single pod rippled into the atmosphere at high speeds, and within it was IMC Vanguard-class Titan DL-2671.
The modified and reanimated Ronin chassis then opened its cockpit, allowing a certain troublesome Fallen to enter. Michael's helmet then ID'd both the Fallen leader and the Fallen-resurrected mechanical behemoth.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1: Siviks
Lost to None
2: Syndicate Prime
DL-2671 landed, awaiting Michael's arrival. He slid under the Vanguard's legs, letting the Titan lift him into the cockpit and pull out the XO-16. "[Pilot control initiated.]" Pilot-Mode was now activated. He watched as the Syndicate Prime pulled out the Titan-sized, triple-barrel Shrapnel Launcher, holding it in its two upper hands.
A fight for the ages was about to begin, and Ada-1 had requested a small battalion of the IMC's drones to be deployed to record it. Michael W Johnson and DL-2671 against Siviks and the Syndicate Prime.
Over the local radio channel, Siviks was yelling at Michael in the Eliksni language. Michael had been learning Eliksni from the Shadow, so he knew what Siviks said. 'Meddlesome Guardian, I shall end your interference in my plans here and now! I shall be your end!'.
Michael responded back, speaking in the same language. 'You have been a thorn in our side, one we cannot ignore! You have disgraced the remains of one of my partners, one of my friends! I will break you, I will burn you, and I will leave you for dead on the Dreadnaught!'.
The Syndicate Prime, controlled by Siviks, stumbled back, seemingly in shock and surprise. Michael had just spoken in Eliksni to the leader of the Kell's Scourge, and he was angry.
Music
Titanfall 2 - Vicarious
Michael used the Multi-Target Missile System to take out the shield drones, leaving the Syndicate Prime vulnerable. Siviks opened fire with the Syndicate Prime's Shrapnel Cannon, blasting DL-2671 in the left arm, only for the Vanguard-class Titan's bodyshield to absorb the damage, then promptly recharge. Michael opened fire with the XO-16 to directly damage the Syndicate Prime, since it didn't have recharging energy shields... or so he thought.
The protective blue bubble used by the Fallen surrounded the scavenged war machine. Since it was an Arc Shield, Michael knew just what to do. "[Burst Core activated.]" A new magazine was loaded into the XO-16, triggering an electrified mag-dump, shredding the Arc Shield.
The Syndicate Prime then teleported, reappearing on the roof, where it switched to the Wire Railgun, forcing Michael to defend himself with the Vortex Shield.
Michael dashed out of the way of one shot, noticing that Siviks was now reloading. Wire Rifle bolts hit the Syndicate Prime in its side, hitting a vital component.
With Siviks caught off-guard, Michael opened fire with the XO-16 and Multi-Target Missile System, eventually reducing the Syndicate Prime's hull integrity to a substantially weaker condition.
The Syndicate Prime teleported again, but it was now glowing with Black Armory radiant energy, going in with its Shock Cleaver. "[It appears as if Siviks has used the Obsidian Accelerator Ada mentioned to power the Syndicate Prime and enhance the Ronin Sword Core. I don't know how long it'll last.]" Michael dashed back, avoiding a slash of the Shock Cleaver, only for Siviks to close the distance again, followed by the Vanguard-class Titan releasing a cloud of Electric Smoke. "[My scans indicate that RD-1539's Electric Smoke tanks have been removed in favor of the additional limbs, and the Phase Dash temporal module has been exchanged for the teleportation devices commonly used by Fallen Captains, Archons, and Kells.]"
"Siviks acted like the Vex on RD's chassis?"
"[By that logic, he made to fit the Leadwall, Broadsword, possibly Sword Block, and Sword Core, but cut away the Electric Smoke and Phase Dash. The status of the Arc Wave is currently unknown.]"
Suddenly, the Syndicate Prime teleported past the Electric Smoke, rushing in to slice and dice. Michael simply punched the Servitor optic on its front, dislodging a vital component and causing Siviks to recoil from the sudden visual impairment.
Michael took the chance to disarm the Syndicate Prime, finding an external component on the rear. He tore it out, somehow rendering the Sword Core completely inoperable. "[My scans indicate that what you removed was the source of the radiant energy. It also appears as if the power source of a Servitor has been fused with the Reactor, acting as a substitute for Titan Battery Packs.]"
"Crafty. I'll give 'em that."
A Dome Shield was suddenly projected around the Syndicate Prime, allowing Siviks to safely disembark and reconnect the internal optical component that Michael dislocated with that punch. Once he was done, Siviks was placed back inside the cockpit by the AI of the integrated Servitor. He was back in the fight, wielding the Shrapnel Cannon.
Michael pulled up the Vortex Shield, catching the fired rounds and sending them right back, but Siviks swiftly moved out of the way, then reached toward the Shock Cleaver on the Syndicate Prime's back in a way that clearly indicated the imminent use of an Arc Wave. Michael dashed out of the way, releasing a full payload of the Multi-Target Missile System. Siviks used the Shock Cleaver to shield himself from the attack.
Needing to come up with a new plan, Michael started backing up, keeping up suppressive fire with the XO-16, followed by releasing a cloud of Electric Smoke. "[Syndicate Prime Hull damage is severe. We're winning, but just barely.]" Michael dashed back out of the Electric Smoke cloud, and Siviks still held the Shock Cleaver up, only for Michael to grab it by the blunt side, yank it away from him, throw it to the side, kick the Syndicate Prime, and unload a good portion of the XO-16's magazine, joined by the seven reloaded missiles. "[Syndicate Prime has entered Doom-State. You know what to do.]"
"Time to put RD's chassis to rest." Michael landed a left cross, causing Siviks to drop the Shrapnel Cannon. He punched straight into the Syndicate Prime's cockpit, grabbed a hold of Siviks, and tossed him away, then grabbed the Syndicate Prime's top arms, flipped it on its back, and unloaded rockets into its open cockpit, destroying the Servitor merged with the Titan chassis... and demolishing RD-1539's Reactor Core.
Michael [Termination] Syndicate Prime (Kell's Scourge)
Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission
With the Syndicate Prime permanently out of commission, Michael turned his attention back to Siviks, who was dazed and just barely conscious from being tossed into a wall.
Michael got a solid hold of the Captain, disengaged Pilot-Mode, and summoned the Shadow through their Yin Yang link. "[IMC drones, end recording session. Ascendant energy detected.]" The drones stopped recording the engagement and returned to the IMC vessel up in orbit.
Music
Destiny - Bow to No One
A Taken rift opened up in the fabric of reality, followed by the Shadow stepping through.
"Another one for the Hanging Crypts. Lock 'em up."
At Michael's words, the Shadow chuckled. "Oh, this is gonna be fun." The Shadow spoke to Siviks in the Eliksni language, which Michael understood. 'Prepare to be welcomed to your new home, Siviks. The bad news is: you are going to be stuck there for a long, long time. The good news is: the rent is free.'.
With that, the Shadow dragged Siviks back through the Taken rift, pulling him to the Dreadnaught to be imprisoned within the Hanging Crypts forever, the rift closing behind them.
Music
Destiny 2 - EDZ
"Hmm... What's the difference between the Prison of Elders and the Hanging Crypts?" Michael wondered.
Rocco appeared in order to answer the question. "{The Awoken once said that the Prison of Elders was more... 'merciful' in comparison. Siviks escaped from the Prison of Elders, and we just sent him to the Hanging Crypts. I'm sure even Queen Mara Sov would feel sorry for him right now.}"
"Yeah, the place does have that effect."
"[What about the Obsidian Accelerator?]"
"The wha- Oh, right. We should bring that back to Ada."
Turning back around, Michael saw Hayden-10 dig his way into the part that Michael removed from the Syndicate Prime, pulling out a small device.
4:02 PM
05/22/3273
Planet Vez-2 - IMC HQ
Black Armory
Music
none
Michael and Hayden-10 returned to the IMC HQ, with the recovered Obsidian Accelerator in the Exo's hand.
Ada-1 was unaware of their arrival, so Hayden-10 placed the device on a nearby counter and slid it towards her. The Black Armory curator turned to look at what they had brought back, seeing the Obsidian Accelerator. "Is that...?" The question was barely even asked, yet Michael and Hayden-10 nodded in confirmation. She cautiously picked up the device, looking it over in disbelief. "You found it."
Ada-1 then stuck the Obsidian Accelerator into the back of her head, fitting it on like a missing puzzle piece. There was a beep before the curator began glowing and pulsing with radiant energy, which started to momentarily overwhelm her. She fell to one knee, prompting Michael and Hayden-10 to try and help her up, but Ada-1 held up a hand to stop them, to which Hayden-10 took hold of said hand and gently helped her up to her feet.
Once she had steadied herself, Ada-1 turned to face the two once more. "Thank you."
Siviks, Lost to None - subject to eternal imprisonment.
With Ada now under the empowering effects of the Obsidian Accelerator, how do you think her Pilot weapons and her Titan will be affected?
See you next time, boys and girls. It's been a while since Michael's had a challenge like this.