Enjoy! Ghost Log: 11028.58.1 Designation: Ila Guardian: Ophelia Re: New SIVA Directive It has been a while since I last made a log of any importance. Whatever SIVA is, it is not something that should have been messed with. From my analysis of the available data, as well as the dormant trunks and tendrils that have clawed their way into the cosmodrome, it seems apparent this technology is something much more than we can handle. At least that is what I think. As we know, it is a nano-technology whereby the user can input and program directives. The primary purpose of the technology is to consume a host, breaking it down at the molecular level. Enhance the host by reforming connections and replacing those the technology itself has deemed inferior. And then replicate the finished product. Consume, enhance, replicate. Something seems off about that process though. This technology has sentience, I can feel it, as much as a ghost can. When I scanned it, it felt… it felt like a cold piercing glare analyzing my very being. It was terrifying. I cataloged further evidence from the fight. The Fallen, if you can call them that any more, seemed to be fused with SIVA. Normally when you kill something, it doesn’t get back up. But, here, it worries me because they stood right back up. The SIVA seemed more of a puppeteer than anything else. The Fallen moved on their own, sort of, expressed their own emotions, and yet… they weren’t. This circular, illogical line of reasoning leaves me confused and perplexed about the nature of SIVA. If you can program certain directives into the technology, then why would it need to control a host? Why give if it the analytical power to determine what is or is not inferior during the enhancement process? Almost immediately after the engagement, there was a particularly heated exchange between Ophelia and Shiro. This sect of Devils, they are called Splicers. They seek out and worship a sort of body augmentation process. This makes sense to me, the desire to fuse themselves to SIVA. Servitors, their gods, are mere machines and so I reason in an attempt to turn themselves into gods the fusion of machine and flesh became necessary. This is why, as Shiro explained, we were hunting Sepiks. At the point the Devil Splicers can prove in SIVA all things are possible, even resurrection of a god, the remaining Fallen houses would bow in reverence. Logically then, Shiro suggested we search the Devil’s lair. The Rocketyard was unusually quiet. Normally there would be engagements between the Fallen and Hive at this location. They have always had a tenuous hostility where the Fallen would steal something from the Hive nest and the Hive would retaliate. Then there are the Kings, which haven’t been heard from or seen in a long period. It’s been said to be a King Dreg, is to be a Captain in any other Fallen house. And so, their silence is worry some. As we entered the Refinery we discovered hostility. The engagement between the Splicers and the Hive. Chatter was chaotic and extremely outraged. Hive Knights and Wizards were assaulting the small encampment without inhibition, something I’ve never heard them do. The fire team stepped in, Raven and Alexander focused the Splicers while Ophelia dealt with the hive. Ophelia was able to make quick work of them as their sole focus was the Fallen. They completely ignored her despite the very obvious assault. As the last Wizards shrieked and perished she turned her attention to the Splicers. Alexander was grappling a Captain while Rave was knifing down the other foot soldiers. Ophelia quickly looked up as I alerted her to the incoming hostiles on the small overlook. A group of spliced Shanks emerged. Black and steel grey with parts of SIVA bolted and hammered into place randomly on their bodies. Their eyes burned red and solar rain shot down from above. Ophelia threw a grenade on the ledge and leapt up following the explosion. The stupefied enemies now in disarray. Her flaming fist melted away the final shank. Something bothered me about these Splicers. They looked different. They weren’t the menacing black and red, Devil monsters we fought previously. The Siva looked patched onto their bodies. Like the process wasn’t perfected. They also didn’t get up when the SIVA swarmed around them. The red clouds quickly dissipated when the creatures failed to respond. I analyzed one as Alexander kept watch. I have a theory. There seems to be tiers of Fallen Splicers, at least two that I know of. Fused, as I have come to call it is what we just fought. They are the rag tag lower level Fallen that are unable to fully utilize or understand the augmentation process. Their directives programed to SIVA were incomplete. Perfected Splicers on the other hand are the polar opposite. Sheer, black and red, monsters not quite metal but not of flesh either. SIVA has been perfectly synchronized with their bodies and thus can bring them back to life when they “die.” An alarm rang out that interrupted my analysis. Alexander had to jump back as a laser barrier activated and stopped our advance. Oliver began work on the machine that activated it, but more Splicers emerged. These looked more fine-tuned than mere fused splicers. They had a cleaner look about them. But I could tell they were not perfected. The aura they gave off when Ophelia brought them down was not nearly as frightening or oppressing to the senses. Enhanced, as I will call them, they are much more difficult to bring down than Fused. But they still stay dead. Thankfully. Oliver had managed to work through one of the laser barriers when the secondary one activated. Another perfected Capitan entered the battlefield. It bore Barron armaments, Dresiks as I found out later. Luckily for us, it was distracted by a hoard of Thrall and a trio of Wizards. I never knew something to be so powerful. Thrall are swarm-minded, their numbers will smother you. Dresiks swung its blades down eviscerating the swarm. The Thrall disappeared into black bone dust. The Wizards surrounded the Captain in a black fog. It roared in retaliation pushing through the thick darkness. As they rained down arc energy the monster stood there, taking every hit like it was nothing. When the dark mist wore away, it jumped into the air and brought one of the Wizards down with it. It gutted the Hive with its cutlass and turned aiming its weapon at the others. Enraged, they fired back and shrieked what I could only guess was some expletive. The Captain jumped into the air one last time, its actions quick and efficient. The Wizards floated in the air momentarily before their heads detached form their bodies. Raven took the first actions. She jumped to the high where Ophelia had destroyed the shanks. Pulling her void bow back she unleashed three arrows of energy leashing Dresiks to the ground. Alexander ran up as the slipstream around him formed he smashed into the Captain. The creature puffed out its chest, bracing for the impact. It was a clash of titans as an almost unstoppable force met the immobile object. Unwavering until Dresiks kicked Alexander, laughing, across the room. Ophelia jumped in, dropkicking the Captain. She was caught midair and thrown back. Alexander retaliated channeling his Fist of Havoc. The arc explosion and following bursts of energy shocked the Captain stunning it. Raven fired clip after clip of Thorn into Dresiks. The void leash wore off just as Ophelia got to her feet. The familiar sound of an anvil echoed in the refinery. The blazing heat swirling around Ophelia melted the snow and flash steamed the puddle of water with every step she took. She clenched her fist as she always did and hit the Captain, its face armor melting away. It laughed again and swiped at Ophelia. She caught the blade and struggled against the creature’s strength. Alexander took hold of Dresiks’s other arm before it could strike. Ophelia finally snapped the blade. Dresiks’s armor had melted away and she raised her hammer. She struck down multiple times onto the monstrosity’s head. I felt relieved when it collapsed to its knees. Once again, as the SIVA swarmed the body, everyone left grenades on the body disintegrating it. Oliver finally finished hacking the barrier. If it’s not one thing it’s another. The other side of the refinery contained a sea of Fused and Enhanced Fallen. They worked through them until a Perfected Walker dropped. What felt like hours passed as they kited around its legs taking them out one by one. Bulky and slow, the Walker couldn’t keep up with the quick movements of the fire team. Eventually, all six legs were broken. The machine collapsed under its own weight. The front of the Walker blew out and the operator went with it. Despite SIVA being able to repair, albeit slowly, the Walker, without an operator it was useless. I Finish this log as Ophelia stands before the door of the Devil’s Lair. It is unknown if Sepiks is on the other side, but that won’t stop us. I just hope, that we can come back once those doors are open.