What involvement did Rasputin have in the collapse? How did the races come about? Is there corruption within the tower? Lets find out. First, lets begin with the races. Human, Awoken and Exo. Humans are simple. We found the traveler, or it found us. We embraced it and had astronomical things come about from it. Triple life spans, unbelievable findings and ungodly technological discoveries. We settled the moon, Mars and Venus, as well as possibly the outer planets too maybe. We created the exos. Bipedal machines used to protect humanity, and also store and record our history. We created the warminds, to run and administer our golden age. Capable of high tech storage and the use of devices and weapons that nothing else could ever properly run. Then, the collapse happened. An enemy we never knew we had invaded our system, and crippled us. Populations, cities, continents decimated. We were crippled. Even the almighty traveler, who sacrificed itself to prevent our annihilation, barely survived. Now it sits silent. Motionless. Without conscious or emotion. It created the ghosts, to seek out the guardians we are today. We made the last city, constructed the tower and used the last of our military knowledge and government rule to establish the vanguard and the consensus. But how did this happen? We had Rasputin. A warmind who could protect us from all threats. Doomsday devices and life ending super weapons were his to control. How could anything have made it past him? My theory, he was shut off. In his cards, he seems to analyze and catalog every second of the point the collapse started. He organizes evacs, safety protocols, etc. But at the end of his cards, he senses something in his systems that shouldn't be. He repeatedly says, STOP! STOP! STOP! Then, another card of his, which appears to be an aircraft carrying a heavy payload of some sort, communes with assuredly a flight coordinating radio operator. Confirming locations and such. Near the end, however, one of the persons involved states, "We all know where he order came from". Meaning what exactly? Initially, I figured Rasputin. Bit then, I thought if Rasputin wanted to bomb a certain location, he could do it at any time from wherever his cyber-self was, any bunker on earth. So why would he have flights carrying weapons to targeted locations? So I ruled him out. The vanguard, wouldn't possibly have the means or clearance to carry out anything of the sort. The consensus would have to approve of it. And not enough rogue humans would've been able to get by with carrying uncleared weapons onboard uncleared flights. The Speaker. He seems to be slightly above all other powers within the tower. His transmissions to guardians seem to have more importance than others. He could have access and authority to clear any activity like those mentioned in the Rasputin cards. How is this relevant? Imagine this. Humans and exos, living a typical time like any other. Then the collapse starts. And suddenly, friendly planes are dropping bombs of some sort onto populated areas. Now this kills the humans, instantly. And the exos, they could've survived. They could've remembered this day in the future. So.... system memory database wiped. Exos don't remember this betrayal. And no humans survive to remember. One exo card suggests an exo using a method of killing himself, and being revived by his ghost, to see the past. What he sees in memories are catastrophic events. Perhaps, the day this could've happened. This isn't saying it was a deliberate killing of our own kind. But more, collateral damage. Bombs dropped on areas where the enemy was located most densely. Even the evacuation ships, which supposedly fled to safer parts of our galaxy. But never made it. Warheads were launched out of atmosphere, towards oncoming enemy ships. And again, collateral. Evac ships are collected in the blasts. And the awoken? Supposedly, they have been, "Touched by the Universe". Yet, their humanoid. Perhaps, the humans who were aboard these ships were caught in mass radiation, as well as unknown materials in deep space. Morphing them. Changing them. Into the Awoken. Maybe some settled where they were created, (The Reef, possibly), and stayed there. Maybe, they remember these events. Which would explain the Queens and reef born awokens hesitance to assist the tower. While the others, unknown to the origin of their creation, drifted to earth. And most of them becoming Earth born Awoken. And Rasputin. Why does he remain silent? Why does he not assist is either? He could remember the day the collapse happenned. When he was rendered useless. When he was unable to protect us, or his "Brothers and Sisters". So, he locks himself out of contact. Preparing himself for his fight against the darkness. He must learn them, learn their weakness. Test their capabilities, boundaries and reactions to his involvements. Now, why would the Speaker commence to doing such a thing? Simple. Corruption. He enjoys his place among humanity. To be important, and have power. If the Traveler departs us one day, he is useless. No Traveler, no need for a Speaker. So he enables the enemy to invade, knowing the Traveler would sacrifice itself. He would know it's actions better than anyone. And nobody would suspect a being of pure light to commit such a heinous act. But, maybe some orders know of his acts. In one of the T.D.B. cards, a conversation between Ikora and Eris takes place. Somewhere along the discussion, Eris suggests she has become like the Speaker, in which Ikora states, "We all have our secrets to keep". But, without concrete evidence, no one would believe the Speaker would attempt anything of the sort. So he retains his seat in the Tower, consulting to his ghosts a bevy of cryptic responses. While everyone is unaware of his possible genocidal actions. Hope you guys enjoy the read, sorry I didn't link any exact dialogue or grimoire cards. The struggle of a low battery laptop. But, please feel free to leave your responses. Lets keep it all appropriate, and respectful. These forums are bad enough, so every little act and response that isn't poisonous to the community is a step in the right direction of a better forum. Also, if anyone reads this and enjoys, or is interested in Destiny lore, theories, or discussions of anything in Destinys backstory, please. Feel free to search the group, Collective of Knowledge, CoK. We have seemingly never ending discussions, and are always welcoming those who would want to join our cause. Thanks again, and hope you have a great night! -Aon Boom-