Merlin gestured indistinctly with an 'am I supposed to know who or what any of that is' look on his face.
"Aunor is another member of the Order," Siegfried explained. "She does some solo investigations on Ikora's behalf, which is where she came across the Disciples of the Sword."
"Is she another Titan?" the rookie asked.
"I'm the only Titan, everyone else's been a Warlock."
"Can you tell me more about the cult and Weapons of Sorrow?"
"Everything we know about them is in that folder. Keep it safe in case you need a refresher later," the Titan ordered.
"The Weapons of Sorrow are, well, weapons that have been modified by Hive magics. I don't know how they're made, just how to squish those bugs."
"They're where practically all of our experience is," Sibyl added.
"Fallen're mine. Ever since Six Fronts." Merlin looked to his Ghost momentarily.
"I'll tell you about it later," she said. Her attention turned to Siegfried as Merlin began to skim through the first page of the file. "So we're going into a splinter faction of Humanity worshiping Hive engineering?"
"Corrupted Guardians," he corrected her. "Which is why we need a Newlight to fit in for us."
"Guardians!" Sibyl exclaimed. "Merlin, I'm not so sure about this; we mightn't be ready for this kind of assignment. I figured we'd be on a ride-along first at least."
"You told me the Praxic Order essentially polices Guardians for the Vanguard," Merlin argued. "Surely you knew this was a possibility."
"Well, sure. But it was so unlikely I thought we'd come by just to humour you and get your name out there."
"I'm taking the mission, Sibyl. We'll get through is as long as I've you by my side." Merlin looked back at the report, focusing on one name in particular. "Who's Sola?"
"A rogue Lightbearer, former Warlock," Siegfried said. "We clocked her using some twisted form of the Light, but disappeared along with another of her ex-fireteam members, Katake. We interrogated their third, Crimiq-5. He confirmed Sola's lost her way, but refuses to say the same for Katake and hasn't heard from him since he left with Sola; foul play suspected. Report came in a couple of days ago from Trestin that Sola contacted her." Merlin turned to Sibyl, but was met with a floaty shrug. "She's a Guardian who does fairly well in Trials of Osiris."
"That's part of the Crucible, right?" the Warlock asked. "I was told about it and Gambit."
"To the Witness with Gambit," Siegfried hissed.
"The Praxic Order is not exactly trusting of the Drifter and his Dredgen," Ogdan clarified. "We've a close eye on the Guardians who participate in his contest."
"Back to the matter at hand," the human said sternly, bringing the conversation back on track, "Trestin informed us Sola is hiding out by Europa, which tracks with what we expected because we've gotten readings of an increased use of Stasis."
"Stasis?" Merlin echoed.
"A power of Darkness."
"The enemy have their own gifts?"
"Heresy. It's very existence spits in the face of the Traveller," Siegfried growled. "Given the perverted nature of the Weapons of Sorrow, the Order believes Sola is involved in some way.
"So we're headed for Europa?"
"No," Siegfried said shaking his head. "Aunor and I are once she returns in a day or two. You and your Ghost are only going to either the EDZ, European Dead Zone, or Nessus. The Disciples of the Sword rotate between the Forges that Golden Age weapon foundries used, but not for long enough, or in any clear pattern for us to set up a sure fire way to catch them. There's more about that in the file. You're probably clever enough to find them eventually and introduce yourself."
"Any advice?" Merlin asked hopefully.
"Keep your story simple – easier to keep the details aligned. These Lightbearers hate everyone who isn't them, which includes anyone who follows the Traveller, so sell that image," the Titan said, less serious and callous now with mild concern taking its place. "Good luck, Praxic Warlock."
Merlin first touched down in the Sunken Isles, in the western area of the EDZ. Sibyl set the ship to autopilot and sent it away to a safe location. Menacing and bulky ships buzzed about the gargantuan Cabal structure; remnants of the Red War.
"So, those Cabal are 'Red Legion' – not friendly," Sibyl said. "Thankfully, we're not here to take them on, or at least not many. I'm guessing there are a couple patrolling the tunnel we need to go down to get to the Volundr Forge."
"Are they all as big as those in the Tower?"
"Only a select few," the Ghost answered. "Most are a lot wider than you, but not much taller."
"Easy to kill?"
"They have a jet pack. Shooting the vent causes them to blow. Apart from that, heads are always a good option." Sibyl brought the sparrow into the material plane, facing a ten meter wide tunnel that snaked through the steep hills that lined this side of the EDZ. "I'll give directions along the way."
Merlin zipped along the trail leading into the tunnels; the engines roar grew louder from the echoes within the rocky confines of the tunnel. He weaved around large boulders and road blocks erected during the time Firebase Hades was under construction. Wind tugged at his robes as he soared through the air after riding up ramps occasionally places along the sides.
The black, white, and yellow blur of a Guardian on a sparrow shocked a Cabal Legionary that neither Merlin nor Sibyl spotted until they had already passed. It shot a few (poorly aimed) Solar projectiles from it's slug rifle, hollered after them, then grunted several syllables into a radio.
"How close are we?" Merlin asked.
"Less than a minute. There should be a wider room where a pathway branches off from leading to the Forge."
A hail of slugs from ahead rained down about them. Merlin shoved the handlebars forward, slowing almost to a stop. He banked left hard and accelerated, keeping a focused eye on the winding path. He spotted a couple large figures strafing toward the right side of the tunnel, firing off more orange munition. Merlin swerved to dodge and pulled out his scout rifle, balancing it on the dashboard.
He returned fire as the sparrow screamed toward the Cabal Legionaries. A lucky round found its way to the dominant arm of the soldier lagging behind just as Merlin caught a glimpse of both leaping into the air. Once he was closer, Merlin could see that the Cabal had retreated to a loading platform and were tucked behind a third wielding a shield wide enough to defend all three.
"Hit the center," Sibyl cried. Merlin pulled hard on the right handlebar and drifted sideways to a halt where he used the last of the momentum to hop off. His eye lined up the Trax Lysis II's optics with the yellow and red diamond on the Phalanx's shield. With two quick pops from the scout rifle, the shield shorted and retracted. Merlin snapped to the heads of either Legionary, dispatching them with little to no pain. He condensed a solar grenade in his hand and lobbed it at the Phalanx. It stuck to the Cabal and exploded, disintegrating the invader in Solar Light.
"I just thought to stick that same miniature sun I dropped on the Hive, but I don't remember an explosion," Merlin thought aloud.
"A Fusion grenade," Sibyl said. "There's a handful of kinds that Guardians tend to use, but you can always experiment and mold the Light as you see fit."
"We should get on that when we have the time," Merlin said, excitement already taking root in the back of his mind. "It sounds like a lot of fun; experimenting with this space magic, I mean."
"A Warlock through and through…"
He glided up to the platform and stepped over the large bodies. Beyond the filter doors lay a huge cavern, empty save for the two Goliath Tanks hovering along their patrol route and dozen or so personnel tasked with moving crates. Tucked into the corner where the left side of the structure met the rock of the tunnel was a thin opening.
"Found the pathway," Merlin said as he turned mid-step to face it.
Sibyl materialised behind her Guardian after he squeeze through the gap. She floated out from the skinny ramp that zig-zagged down to a stone bridge. Her shell almost touched the stalactites as she arced her way across to the tall thin pillars the bridge crossed to. Remembering heights were no longer nearly as much a threat as in his past life, Merlin jumped from the thin walkway down to the bridge, gliding for a couple moments to reach further distance.
"Looks like you've gotten the hang of gliding already," Sibyl pointed out, "and we've arrived at the Volundr Forge."
"Any sign of the Disciples?"
The Ghost inched her way through the pillars close to the ceiling. The triangular structure, a Golden Age weapon foundry forge, she spotted in the apparent cave hovered ominously, but cold. Clear signs of recent activity lay scattered about the space. She quickly flew around the area, scanning scrap metal, sealed crates, and peaked around anywhere an assailant could be lying in wait.
"Doesn't seem so," Sibyl called back once her search concluded. Merlin hopped across the small gap between the end of the bridge and the edge of the cave, and admired the natural beauty. Sibyl approached the mouth of the cave. "I'll call for the ship to settle out by this beach; looks safe enough."
"So that's the Forge?" Merlin asked, gesturing at the stretched inverted pyramid. "Not quite what I imagined. How does it work?"
"No idea," Sibyl answered as she began to scan various spots around it. "We lost so much knowledge during The Collapse, I'm surprised other Guardians were able to use these."
"Why stop?"
"That's when the Drifter showed up at the Tower with Gambit. Seems like they were just forgotten about, then bigger threats showed up in Sol. It's a shame the Black Armoury didn't do more with these when we found them."
"Black Armoury?" Merlin said looking for clarity. His jumpship came to a stop several meters above the calm waters outside the mouth of the cave. He began to walk toward and was ready for Sibyl's transmat.
"The last weapon foundry from the Golden Age. Turns out they were hidden under the Tower for who knows how long." The Odyssey Zero pulled up and away from the cave and quickly ascended. "The other Forge here, and last one we got access to, is the Bergusia Forge. It took the Guardians a while to crack it open to use."
They reached the Outskirts just seconds later. To the west, Winding Cove, with Trostland to the north. Merlin first set foot within the water logged area lined with a ruined apartment block, built in an arch. He summoned his sparrow and rode off to the south where Sibyl guided him. He sped along a fractured road, off a fallen bridge, and back up the gentle incline to rejoin the road.
His ride came to an end at an old research camp. Sibyl dismissed Merlin's sparrow as he made his way through some fallen trees behind the camp and climbed into the opening in a hidden steel wall. The air inside grew stale with every step. He walked down the ramp that ended by another opening. It appeared as though the gap had been ripped open and pealed back.
"Think anyone's inside?" Merlin suggested.
"Maybe. But I'm getting readings of definite activity ahead." The Warlock readied his rifle and peak inside, scanning from right to left. He could hear a draft and the air felt a little fresher inside. Stairs ran up to a catwalk that went all around the room and to a pillar of blinking lights and fine machinery in the center. Merlin lowered his weapon and inspected the components behind thick glass. "That looks important."
Behind the computer tower was an open bay door that lead outside. The low rumble of the forge maintaining heat finally reached Merlin. Indistinct barking of orders momentarily drowned out the the forge.
"I'm picking up on that activity too," he said. "Let's introduce ourselves."
"Hang on!" Sibyl protested. "What's our story? I need to get into character."
"Character?" Merlin said stifling a laugh and stowing his rifle. "Okay, you're the nervous, reluctant Ghost and are only here so I don't die permanently. Just follow my lead."
Sibyl dematerialised as Merlin took his first step outside and was immediately stopped by an Awoken man.
"Who're you?" he demanded. "How'd you get in here? This is top secret."
Merlin expressed an excited face. "I've finally found you! You're the Disciples of the Sword, right? As soon as I heard of you, I just had to join," he said.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about," the pale purple man said, narrowing his lilac eyes. "Take off before you get hurt."
"No, really!" Merlin emphasised. "My Ghost brought me to the Tower, but the 'Guardians'? They suck. That 'Drifter' guy was the only one I could tolerate. I thought Gambit was interesting, but like hell am I putting up with that big blue bastard running the place."
"Have you killed any Guardians?" the man asked, lowering his guard just a little. "Grow your strength as a being through Sword Logic?"
"I-I haven't. They just come back though, right?"
"Not if you kill their Ghost before they're resurrected."
"How do they die?" Merlin said, feigning genuine interest.
"You need a paracausal round, friend," the Awoken shared. "Well, they're not entirely indestructible, but that's the most reliable method. That's how they killed Sundance, Cayde's Ghost. Ever had the displeasure of meeting that cocky dumbass?"
"By the sounds of it, thankfully no," the Exo said. "A little before my time. Where do I get a 'paracausal' round?"
"Can't help you there, I'm afraid. But, tell you what…" the man said, leaning in closer and hushing his tone. "If you bring a dead Ghost back, the boss just might let you stay and join."
"Well, I managed to find you guys, so I'm sure finding a special bullet won't take too long." Merlin said decidedly.
"Good luck with it. Just a heads up, we'll be moving over to the Volundr Forge in a couple of days."
"I saw just there! Okay, good to know. I'll probably see you there then." Merlin offered a handshake before he left. The guard accepted and returned to his post after watching the Exo go back inside. Once Merlin had made his way back to the fallen trees behind the camp, Sibyl took physical form.
"KILL A GHOST?" she yelled. "Merlin, this is going too far. We have to go back the Siegfried and tell them what we've found."
"They're a cult of Guardian killers, Sibyl. The second the Praxic Order swoops in, they'll be gunned down, then their Ghosts," the Warlock argued. His sparrow was summoned and they zoomed past the forgotten equipment back to the Outskirts of Trostland. "We need to get intel from the top of the organisation, then use it to take it all down without bloodshed. Maybe we don't have to kill one of you; surely there's somewhere Ghosts can get new shells or a new core to change their look? I've seen some cool looking Ghosts around – you included."
"Thank you," Sibyl said after a moment of stunned silence. "You think so?"
"Sure. I'm a fan of that branch-looking piece. I like nature. That aside, where do Ghosts get new parts?"
"That's probably the smartest thing you've said. There's an Eliksni gangster who practically ran the Tangled Shore. I've heard he likes to collect dead Ghosts. Maybe we can see him."
"A gangster?" Merlin questioned. "He'll probably want something in return."
"We'll figure that out," she reassured him. Their jumpship descended to meet them as they crossed the shallow waters the fallen bridge crossed. Sibyl transmat Merlin aboard. "Anything to avoid killing a Ghost!"