S1-173
Warden of Nothing

3:24 PM
06/29/3273

Planet Earth - European Dead Zone
The Farm

Music
Destiny 2 - The Farm

Michael had returned to the Farm, checking on the people who settled in over there, as well as the Eliksni House of Judgment, and their Kell, Variks. The civilians were doing well, and there were a few Pilots and Titans who were off duty, including Jack Cooper, BT-7274, Sarah Briggs, and MOB-1316.

Passing through, Michael greeted a few villagers and Eliksni, even seeing Mithrax, or more recently re-identified as Misraaks. "Michael! How are you?"

"Good. You're looking better, Misraaks." The Captain was caught off-guard by Michael using his true name. "The Shadow taught me the Eliksni language, so I found out that 'Mithrax' wasn't actually your name. Misraaks, you have a good day."

Eventually, Michael reached the Judgment Ketch, seeing a Ghost. Just then, the Kell of the House of Judgment came out of the Ketch, his Ghost vanishing. "Variks!"

"Michael!"

"Up high!" Michael and Variks exchanged a high-five, uh... high-three... whichever.

"Down low!" Variks held his hand knee-high, only to pull it away at the last second. "Too slow!" They shared a good laugh.

Michael then noticed something. Variks wasn't in his usual hunched over posture. Instead, he was standing up, straight and tall. Not only that, but the Kell's prosthetic upper arms were gone, replaced by flesh and bone, vein and muscle, replaced by his REAL arms, which had been cut off by Skolas a long time ago. Evidentially, this was the work of his Ghost.

Music
Destiny - Guardian

Eyeing where prosthetics once resided on Variks, Michael's thoughts turned to his own prosthetics, his right arm and left leg. Rocco appeared next to him. "{Like with your right eye when Xol took the Eye of the Traveler from you on Mars, I can restore your arm and leg, regrow them from your own DNA, but... do you want me to?}"

Michael had to make a choice. Should he toss out the prosthetics, finally regain his actual limbs, and become whole, or should he keep the prosthetics that had helped him make it to this point in his life, and remain a cyborg? Then again, would regaining his long-lost limbs really constitute as being 'whole'? "No. I will keep what I have. Though I may have lost my limbs centuries ago, I am still whole. This is what I am. This is WHO I am."

"I need... your assistance."

Variks's Ghost appeared, further briefing them in. "{I've been getting some pretty crazy readings from the Prison of Elders. Variks says it's most likely his modified Servitor that he left behind. We need you to go in and investigate.}"

"I'll gather a team and look into this."

3:57 PM
06/29/3273

The Reef - Prison of Elders
Airlock Six

Music
Metroid Prime - Crashed Frigate

Michael, Ada-1, and Cayde-6 arrived at the Prison of Elders, and Aurora Unit 217 was on the comms. "We have received the mission details from Variks and his Ghost. Proceed through the Prison of Elders. You will find the rogue Servitor."

"Find it. And destroy it." Variks added.

"You can count on us." Michael acknowledged. "Let's move."

Heading out of the airlock chamber, Michael's Fireteam encountered a lone Vex Goblin. Cayde-6 took it out with a few Flatline rounds to the radiolarian membrane in the chest. Up ahead was a bridge, and on that bridge was another Goblin, destroyed by Ada-1 using her R-201 Carbine. A third Vex Goblin was on the other side of the bridge, and Michael scored the kill with his Spitfire.

Without warning, Variks's voice was heard from the PA, albeit distorted. "Prison of Elders welcomes you. Impress your Warden, yes?"

Up ahead, a large group of Vex units appeared. "Alright, Cayde. You're the Field Commander. What's our next move?"

"Ada, let's put those Ticks to good use."

"Gladly." Ada-1 tossed out two Ticks, watching as they deployed, went to the Goblins and Fanatics, then detonated, obliterating a significant portion of the Vex.

"Michael, we'll use our Charge Rifles. Aim for the Minotaur." Michael and Cayde pulled out their Anti-Titan weapons, bared down on the Minotaur, and destroyed it with two simultanious beams.

On the other side of the catwalk, the door opened, granting the Fireteam access to the prisoner transport station. A single Vex Goblin stood to oppose them, having just escaped from the transport, only for Cayde-6 to immediately dispatch it with a Pulse Blade to the radiolarian membrane.

Rocco appeared, then interfaced with the nearby terminal. "{I'll get this prisoner transport out of your way, and maybe find the lights.}" Suddenly, the transport blocking their path sparked and started moving, along with the terminal acting up. "{I tried to shut down the rail system to get us a clear path out. The Warden's Servitor cut me off. Watch for incoming transports.}"

"We have just been forcibly disconnected from all access points to the Prison of Elders. It will take us quite some time to restore our connection." Aurora Unit 217 transmitted.

"Incoming." A prisoner transport could be seen approaching, so the Fireteam took to one of the upper alcoves for momentary shelter, standing by as some Cabal and Vex got ran over.

After taking cover from another transport, and killing some surviving Vex, the Fireteam headed through an opening in the floor, entering a lower rail line, but with two tracks. Off to the side, a few Pikes were standing ready, but a single Vex Goblin was there as well, until Ada-1 shot it dead.

"Mount up on the Pikes, avoid the trains, and take down any hostiles in sight." Michael and Ada-1 complied without question, dodging the trains as they went by. Once they were on the Pikes, the Fireteam blasted off, getting past the rocketing prisoner transports. More Vex were up ahead, including a Hydra, but they were all disintegrated by the Arc projectiles of the Pikes. Behind the Vex were more Cabal, who then suffered the same fate, and the Arc bolts were able to penetrate Phalanx shields.

Up ahead was a busy railroad station of rushing prisoner transports. The Fireteam was forced to travel along the rails, dodging the transports to reach another group of battling Cabal and Vex, which were promptly eviscerated by Michael using a Nova Bomb.

The team continued onward. "Our connection link to the Prison of Elders has been restored. However, the Warden's Servitor is already in the process of disconnecting us once more. You are entering a Vex cellblock. A heavy Vex signature has been detected further along your path. Use caution."

"Solid copy, 217."

There were so many Vex up ahead, but Cayde-6 had an idea. "Ada, throw down an A-Wall." Ada-1 tossed an A-Wall projector on the ground. With that, the whole team opened fire, their firepower enhanced, mowing down all Vex in sight.

The Warden's Servitor was heard once again. "Important target, Guardian. Kill or be killed." A Vex Mind appeared, ID'd by Michael's helmet.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Apaktos
Oxidizing Mind

The giant Minotaur opened fire with a Torch Hammer, but the Fireteam switched to their Anti-Titan weapons, still protected by the A-Wall.

Cayde-6 [Charge Rifle] Apaktos, Oxidizing Mind (Sol Collective)

With the Mind dead, Michael and his team moved onward, entering some sort of ventilation shaft that sent them up to a new sector.

The Reef - Prison of Elders
The Arena

"Cabal war machine is on the march."

"{There were Red Legion in here? Good. I hope they stewed.}"

"Red Legion prisoners, huh? They don't deserve this. They don't deserve this mercy. They deserve worse. Let's bring it to 'em." Michael stated, checking his Spitfire's magazine.

"Our connection to the Prison of Elders navigation records has begun to degrade. The Warden's Servitor is severing our link."

In the room at the top of the tube, a few Red Legion Legionaries were seen on the other side of a glass wall, heading into the next chamber. The door to said chamber opened, allowing the Fireteam to head in and slaughter the Cabal. There was, of course, a Colossus with a bounty on its head.

SCANNING...
WANTED BOUNTY LOCATED

1: WANTED: Magnar the Rockjaw

After a while of shooting, the big kill was claimed.

Ada-1 [R-201] Magnar the Rockjaw (Red Legion)

"Wanted target eliminated. 25,000 credits have been transferred to each of your accounts. For dealing the finishing blow, Ada-1 has been awarded an additional 5,000 credits." AU 217 transmitted.

Music
Destiny - Cabal Stomp

After having dealt with the rest of the Cabal, the Fireteam pressed forward, reaching a grav lift, which brought them up to the main arena, used in the Challenge of the Elders. Cabal and Vex were brawling it out against each other.

Once they were cleared out, something appeared in the back of the arena. A Scorch Cannon.

"Dismantle mines, yes? Or... you die." A Splinter Mine appeared in the front of the arena, and Rocco used Michael's Wi-Fi Virus transmitter to interface and defuse it, with Cayde-6 using the Scorch Cannon to clear out incoming Vex reinforcements. The Splinter Mine collapsed into pieces, falling to the ground as two more appeared, each on the left and right sides of the arena. Eventually, Rocco succeeded in defusing both Splinter Mines.

Back in the front, a dome closed up. "You face the final round. A mighty Cabal warrior challenges you." The dome opened back up, revealing a few Legionaries and a Colossus.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Ta'aul
Disgraced Colossus

Cayde-6 [Scorch Cannon] Ta'aul, Disgraced Colossus (Red Legion)

Music
none

With that, the Cabal were defeated. "Stand proud. You survived the Prison of Elders. Treasure waits below. It calls to you, yes? Retreat to airlock."

The Fireteam reached the bottom of the airlock connected to the arena, seeing a golden chest.

The Reef - Prison of Elders
Correction Labs

"You fought. you won. Your treasure awaits."

"Well now. Look what we have here."

"Well, let's get our reward and deal with the rogue Servitor, Cayde."

"Wait... Wait a minute... Everyone, stay back." Cayde-6 cautiously approached the treasure cache, activated the automated locking mechanism's release, and jumped back.

The chest opened, revealing it to be empty, and triggering a dome of energy around the platform. "Huh. Looks like Araskes, the Trickster, left us a present."

"Good eye, Cayde." Ada-1 praised.

"I knew something wasn't right here."

The false chest and the platform within the dome vanished, followed by the dome itself, granting further access.

"Our connection to the Prison of Elders has been restored once again. You are nearing the backup control room. The Warden's Servitor has been detected in that location." AU 217 reported.

More Cabal and Vex were battling against each other, but a few deftly tossed sacks of explosives from Michael took them out.

"An old friend is here. Judgment at hand." Their target appeared in the broken chamber.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: The Mad Warden

Music
Destiny 2 - Shell of What Was

"There's our target! Open fire!" Cayde-6 ordered.

The team let loose with their Anti-Titan weapons, dealing significant damage to the Servitor.

"Cabal reinforcements unleashed." Red Legion forces appeared in the chamber, complicating things. "Vex reinforcements advance." Incoming Vex units added to the complication.

"Take cover and deal with the Cabal and Vex!" The team got behind cover from the Servitor's energy blasts, taking down the lesser targets, thus making it easier to deal with their main target.

Without warning, the Servitor began emitting a massive heat wave, forcing the Fireteam to remain behind cover for an extended period of time.

"Cabal strategist Val Aru'un. Time stalker of the Vex, the Overmind Minotaur." Two major enemies appeared, but their IDs were completely different.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Zhagal
Disgraced Colossus
2: Edyx
Exothermic Mind

With use of Anti-Titan weapons, the Fireteam got through them reasonably quickly.

Ada-1 [MGL] Edyx, Exothermic Mind (Sol Collective)
Michael [Charge Rifle] Zhagal, Disgraced Colossus (Red Legion)

"Time for one last maneuver. Ada, follow my lead! Michael, get ready for a boost! Use the Thundercrash!" Cayde-6 and Ada-1 put away their weapons, then put their hands down at knee level as Michael jumped back. The two Exos then launched the IMC ace at the Servitor as he coated himself with Arc Light, nailing the Warden's Servitor straight in the eye.

Michael [Thundercrash] The Mad Warden

Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission

The Servitor was destroyed, the Prison of Elders was secure, and Variks got on the line. "Is the Servitor dead?"

"One malfunctioning Servitor to the scrapheap." Michael reported.

"Good work. The House of Judgment will take back the Prison of Elders, find the Kell of the House of Dusk, lock him up, and end the House of Dusk. The Spider will transmit more bounties by the end of the week."

I think it's safe to say that Cayde's first mission as a Pilot AND a Field Commander went pretty darn well. We'll see his Titan in a later chapter.

See you next time, everyone.