S1-189
The Scarlet Keep

2:33 PM
11/23/3273

Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Sorrow's Harbor

Music
Destiny 2 - Necropolis

Once Michael regrouped with Leo and Hayden-10, Eris Morn was on the comms. "Potent energies are radiating from the Scarlet Keep and its grand tower. Power as I've never felt. Foul rituals are doubtlessly underway inside... and, if we're fortunate, the Hive magic we need to create armor. I must once again ask you to venture into the dark. Move quickly but carefully, Guardians."

SCANNING...
ENTRIES UPDATED

1: Hayden-10
Eye of Niobe

"Hayden! Nice duds." Michael exclaimed, looking over the Exo's new armor. "Lemme guess... Black Armory?"

"Yup."

"Sweet."

Leo readied his SMR. "Enough chitchat! Let's move!"

As Hayden-10 grimaced at the seriousness in the Simulacrum's digital voice, Michael seemed to comply without question. "Got it!"

Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Scarlet Keep

"{I thought the Hive preferred their strongholds underground. Why build a tower?}" Rocco wondered.

"It was thought to be ceremonial in nature." Eris transmitted as Hayden-10 made quick work of the Hive welcoming committee. "The Council, before they disbanded, monitored its construction, but had... 'more pressing concerns'. Fools." More Hive stood in their way, only for Leo's SMR to pulverize them into disintegrating chunks. "The energy spilling from the tower suggests another purpose. I believe it amplifies Hive magic. This may be where the Hive achieve their immunity to the Pyramid's influences."

With the Hive decimated so far, Michael decided to break up the silence. "So... Hayden... You and Ada, huh?"

Music
none

Leo skidded to a stop. "Oh, this I gotta hear." A great amount of intrigue was evident in his synthetic voice.

"Can we... not do this right now?" Hayden-10 was obviously embarrassed about this subject. " I'm pretty sure Eris wouldn't want us to dawdle on something so... trivial."

Music
Destiny 2 - Necropolis

"Fair enough, Hayden."

More Hive were up ahead, but each of them were pelted with multiples of four rounds each. "Gotta love the aggressive burst of the Blast Furnace pulse rifle."

It was then that three Hive Wizards appeared, but the one in the middle had a unique ID. "{Wait. Is that...}"

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: Hashladûn
Daughter of Crota

"{Eris, we've got eyes on a Daughter of Crota.}" Rocco reported as the bridge up ahead rose up, leaving the rest of the Scarlet Keep inaccessible on foot.

Eris was back on the channel. "It's Hashladûn. It must be. Only she could be responsible for the Keep's emanations. She was presumed dead after Crota's fall. If she's alive... if she's here... the Hive's designs are dark indeed. Whatever rituals are underway in the tower must be stopped. And Hashladûn must be eliminated."

"Alright. I have a plan." Hayden-10 announced as Hive reinforcements appeared. "Remember the Hive ritual on Titan that involved a giant Shrieker?"

Michael nodded, deploying an A-Wall. "What about it?"

"Void charges." The Exo pointed up at a nearby scarlet spire. There was one of those Hive formations on the balcony. "Kill whatever is guarding it, then bring the Void charge back down here, and slam it down." He pointed to another of those small structures that was just a few steps away from them.

Leo spoke up. "Looks like we'll have to deal with two of 'em." The Simulacrum then run up the walkway to the spire on the left, taking out four Thralls with two or three micro-missiles each. When a Knight stood in his way, Leo tossed a Satchel at its feet and engaged Phase Shift. Upon returning to the normal plain, he pulled the detonator. Three Acolytes stood in the spire, accompanied by a Hive Wizard. Leo downed two Acolytes with the remaining ammo in his SMR, finishing off the third one with the Hammond P2016, then blasting the Wizard with the Charge Rifle.

With the Wizard's death, a Void charge formed in the small structure on the tower's balcony. Leo grabbed it, then proceeded to make his way back, with Michael and Hayden-10 granting him safe passage past the Hive. Once he returned to the main platform, Leo slammed the Void charge into the small Hive construct.

"I'll get the next one." Michael headed to the right tower, obliterating the Hive with his Spitfire. Once he reached and killed the Wizard, Michael grabbed the Void charge, readied his Grapple, and used his JumpKit to run on the walls under the edges of the path he used. Without the Hive even realizing it, Michael had returned to the main platform.

Once the Void charge was dunked, the path ahead had opened. "{The bridge is lowering. Let's move.}" Rocco stated, flying up ahead to pitch in by transmatting in a few Pilot Sentries. They began shredding Hive Acolytes, but had difficulty with the Wizards, the Knight, and ultimately, the overhead Shrieker.

The staircase up ahead seemed to turn left, leading further into the Scarlet Keep. "There!" Michael shouted, establishing visual contact with the Daughter of Crota.

"{There's Hashladûn, falling back deeper into the Keep. We've got her on the run.}"

"It appears that way, but..." Eris transmitted.

Leo was confused. "But what?"

"Something is amiss. Continue your pursuit, Guardians. With caution."

As Hashladûn disappeared further into the Scarlet Keep, Michael formed a Ward of Dawn around a Hive Altar. "Hayden, Leo, on me!"

Once Leo and Hayden-10 took cover in the protective dome of Void Light, Michael's Ghost appeared. "{You keep this Altar secure. I'll head to the next one.}"

"Rocco, what're you doing?!" Leo called out. Much to the Simulacrum's surprise, Rocco seemed to have a protective energy shield around his shell. "Uh... Michael? How is your Ghost taking those hits?"

"IMC shielding tech, normally used on Jump Ships and Titans. Rocco has a miniaturized version of it embedded in his shell... as per his request." Michael stated, watching as the holographic hexagonal plates of the energy shield protecting his Ghost absorbed the Void projectiles of the Shredders of the Acolytes as Rocco made his way to the second Hive Altar.

Once Rocco reached his destination, he placed down a Pilot Sentry via transmat. "{Eradicator Auto-Turret version 0.7.6: online.}"

With the first Altar captured, Michael and co. regrouped with Rocco. "You got that line from Prey, didn't you?"

"{Yup. I even introduced Cayde to the game a few weeks ago. He really seemed... engrossed in it.}" Rocco said, vanishing back into Michael's Light.

Once the third and final Hive Altar was secured, the path was unlocked. Eris was on the channel. "Do you feel it as I do, Guardians? A hatred as pure and potent as sunshine, soaking through your skin? Hashladûn knows what you are. What you've done. She watched you cut through Crota. Oryx. Omnigul. And she is eager to return that pain."

Earth's moon - Ocean of Storms
Tower of Woe

"Eagerness is nothing on the battlefield." Michael said, blasting apart a few unfortunate Acolytes.

Suddenly, a Hive Knight exploded in Arc energy. Hayden-10 rushed ahead of the Pilot, inserting a new mag into his sniper rifle.

Getting back on the path, the trio proceeded to blast through more Hive. Leo rocketed into the air, surging with Arc Light. In one fell-swoop, the Simulacrum had cleared the bridge leading up into the Scarlet Keep's tower. The Shrieker opened up to attack, only to get blasted by two Charge Rifles as Hayden-10 downed the remaining Hive with a Blast Furnace pulse rifle.

Inside the tower, more Hive met their fate. As Michael and co. stepped upon a platform, it began to rise. "A Hive elevator. Imagine that."

"Potent energies are gathering above you. A burning anticipation. Hashladûn yearns for your arrival." Eris transmitted.

"{She wasn't retreating. She was luring!}" Rocco exclaimed.

Hive forces appeared, firing from the many alcove balconies in the surrounding walls as the Fireteam ascended the tower. Rocco transmatted in three Pilot Sentries, each positioned in between the pillars on the rising platform. Everyone defended themselves, decimating the Hive. "You're getting pretty good with those Pilot Sentries, Rocco."

"{I know. I actually get to pitch in!}"

"That shielding tech in your shell helps too." Leo stated, to which the Ghost 'nodded' in approval.

The Hive elevator stopped at the second floor of the tower. Behind a wall of Hive energy, Hayden-10 saw something. "In there! Hive Wizard!"

"Probably jamming the elevator." Weaving Solar Light into a sword, Michael summoned the Daybreak, then headed into an adjacent room, easily cutting through the Hive to make short work of the Wizard. A crystal appeared above the elevator.

As Michael returned to the elevator platform, Leo broke the crystal with his SMR.

"She's certainly going through considerable effort to settle a grudge." Michael stated, gunning down a few Acolytes in the alcoves.

Eris spoke over the radio. "But vengeance, as you're aware, can be quite soothing. It is well beyond a grudge. You wounded her, and the Hive, in a way that cannot be healed."

It seemed like a new routine, but there were two Wizards this time. Hayden-10 and Leo went in the deal with the Wizards while Michael and Rocco kept the elevator platform secure, shattering the crystal as it appeared.

They ended up at the top of the tower, where two Wizards welcomed them... by attacking them. Ballistic rounds tore through the Hive, causing a gate to open, thus allowing the Fireteam's target to enter and engage. "{Here she comes.}"

Music
Destiny 2 - Hashladûn's Fall

"Hayden, you took out Omnigul twice. Care to show Hashladûn how you outmatched her?"

The Exo in question chuckled. "With pleasure." Hayden-10 opened fire with the Tatara Gaze, giving Hashladûn a small taste of the power of the Black Armory. Hashladûn shielded herself, relying on her underlings to defend her.

Leo surged with Arc Light, pummeling every single Hive foot-soldier into an electric oblivion with each ground-slam. Without them, Hashladûn was vulnerable. Slotting a new magazine into his sniper, Hayden-10 pulled out the Blast Furnace.

Another impenetrable shield surrounded Hashladûn as more Hive showed up. Michael conjured a Healing Rift, giving his team a brief respite against the Hive. To further combat the Hive, Michael stepped between dimensions, subverting the laws of physics, thus triggering the Nova Warp. Even the Ogres were no match for the Void.

Hashladûn's shield had collapsed, leaving the Daughter of Crota exposed to weapon fire. "Hayden! Take the shot!" Leo ordered.

Hayden-10 vaulted into the air, letting loose a volley of explosive knives. Hashladûn had been vanquished.

Hayden-10 [Blade Barrage] Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota (The Hidden Swarm)

Music
Titanfall - OST 36

"{Eris, it's over. Hashladûn is dead.}" Cyleena reported.

"This is a relief to hear. But Hashladûn's presence is no coincidence. The Hive must have grander ambitions for the Pyramid's influences."

It was then that Hayden-10 picked up something off the disintegrating husk of Hashladûn, then attempted to read it. "She had a tablet on her, one that describes a... 'Cryptoglyph."

"{I have no record of such an item.}" Cyleena added.

"That is precisely the information we came here for." Eris transmitted. "Return to me. There is much to discuss."

Now that the deed was done, Michael put away his Spitfire and headed for the edge of the floor. His ship flew in, positioning itself to allow the Pilot and his team to board it to return to Eris Morn's position. "I think that went well."

"No kidding." Leo seconded Michael's statement.

Hayden-10, Eye of Niobe

Species
Exo

Gender
Male

Class
Hunter

Kinetic weapon
Pulse Rifle - Blast Furnace (Bergusian Night)

Energy weapon
Sniper Rifle - Tatara Gaze (Bergusian Night)

Power weapon
Sword - Stryker's Sure-Hand (Bergusian Night)

Helmet
Bladesmith's Memory Mask (Midnight Smith) (Default Ornament)

Gauntlets
Bladesmith's Memory Grips (Midnight Smith) (Default Ornament)

Chest armor
Bladesmith's Memory Vest (Midnight Smith) (Default Ornament)

Leg armor
Bladesmith's Memory Boots (Midnight Smith) (Default Ornament)

Class item - Hunter Cloak
Bladesmith's Memory Cape (Midnight Smith) (Default Ornament)

Ghost shell
Fusion Matrix Shell (New Age Black Armory) (Meyrin Projection)

Sparrow
Anti-Paladin (New Age Black Armory)

Ship
The Platinum Starling (New Age Black Armory) (Only the Finest)

Working on multiple stories at the same time can cause... delays. Along with managing your YouTube uploads without a schedule of any kind.

Time to get that Hive Cryptoglyph! Cayde, Petra, get ready!

See you all next time, Pilots.