Countdown: Monday; five days before the Guardian Assault "Pack your things," Victor ordered as he marched to the vault. "We're leaving." "Uh, leaving for what?" Matson asked as he threw his vest over his shoulders and slung his No Land Beyond on his back. "You two want to fight Cabal, so be it," Victor answered. There was a glow to the titan-- his armor seemed to shimmer so much brighter, and he had a hue, like Light shown from his morale alone. His charisma quickly spread to his recruits. Laurel and Matson smiled, then rushed back to their apartments. They wanted to get some last minute equipment. The two Guardians dashed off, leaving the titan to sort through his horde of relics. "You're actually doing this?... You? Really?" Nathaniel asked. The ghost waited for this day, but he never thought Victor would agree. "You heard the Vanguard-- the Cabal are breaking, all we need to do is get that last straw to break the ogre's back..." Victor pulled out some elegant keys from the vault. "But, no, we're not going to Mars just yet..." "We're not?" Nathaniel asked. "We're ready, Captain!" Laurel yelled as the two kids raced each other to the hanger. After only ten minutes, the three ships burst out of warp. They quickly adjusted their flight path to dodge incoming rocks and asteroids. They flew around one massive boulder, then saw a damaged ketch floating in space. Reef ships were docking with, and flying from, the hanger ahead of them. Matson stared in awe, "Is that the--" "OMG! OMG! It's the Reef!!" Laurel squealed into the mic. Both, Matson and Victor had to take off their headsets. "Did she just say 'OMG'?" Panoptes asked Matson. "I, I THINK SO!" Matson yelled back as he rubbed his ear. "Is this your first time here, Laurel?" Victor asked. "Yes!! Well, no. Crimson told me I was born here, but when I was six I died from a crash with an asteroid..." The air got stiff around Matson and Victor. "But, this is the first time being here as a Guardian!" Laurel continued, not worrying a bit about what she just said. "That explains her childlike demeanor," Nathaniel whispered to his Guardian. The three ships docked in the hanger, and the Guardians transmatted to the ground. Awoken and Guardians alike, ran around, collecting gear. Laurel spun around, smiling brightly. "This place is amazing!" She exclaimed. Three Awoken guards approached them. "Before we can grant you access to our base, I must perform a thorough security check," said the Awoken up front. The other two guards approached the team. One scanned them for contraband or any contagions. The other began searching their ships for any prohibited items. Laurel, Matson, and Victor held their arms up until the guard finished scanning them. "They're clear," said the guard. "Good," replied the captain. She turned to the Guardians and grinned. "Welcome to the Vestian Outpost, my name is Petra Venj." "Oh. My. God! You're, Petra Venj?!" Laurel asked excitedly. She turned bright blue from her excitement. "Uh... yes I am," Petra replied, almost disgusted by her behavior. The guards turned and walked away, leaving the team to explore. The team walked around the deck, checking the sites and meeting the people there. Matson looked around, as if he knew someone was watching him and he was trying to find the prying eyes. He saw a hunched over creature, held up by a staff. Matson's eyes grew wide, he then quickly took his sniper rifle and trained the iron sights on the Fallen's head. Matson flipped the bolt of the sniper and chambered a bullet. Royal guards, and Matson's team, turned to the response of the noise. "Matson, what are you doing?!" Victor yelled as he rushed towards the hunter. However, it was Laurel that force pushed Matson, causing him to drop the weapon. Victor picked up the No Land Beyond and immediately removed the bullet. Matson jumped back up, still disoriented from the fall. He turned to Laurel, then smiled. "S***!!" He yelled after having his face shoved into the ground. Royal guards tackled him, then cuffed him. They stood him up and promptly led him away. "You are under arrest for attempted murdered!" Yelled one of the guards. "Wait, where are you taking me?!" Matson cried. The guards tugged on his shoulders and forced him through the doors. "What's gonna happen to him?!" Laurel cried, almost clinging to Victor. "There's no telling..." Victor replied as he clipped the weapon to his back.