Note: Words spoken in the Eliksni language are italicized Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/229522482/0/0 "Status, Nebo," Avery demands as we enter the Vanguard Chamber. Nebo pulls his brown eyes from the screen in front of him and stands with a salute, displaying his City Guard armor. Sinekis looms behind him, emphasizing how short and skinny he is, though he's not nearly as small as Avery. He drops the salute, scratching his head irritably through his buzz-cut red hair and sighing, "Thank the Traveler. Draksis is getting impatient. Much longer, and he might've sent out the party without you." "Vanguard," Sinekis slurs with a respectful nod. They step out of Avery's way, allowing her to sit where Nebo had been and turn on the microphone. "Draksis," she questions, "Is everything ready?" After a moment, the Winter Kell's voice rumbles deeply, "[i]I have been waiting for you, little Kell.[/i]" "We're ready, Commander," a man answers over the comms. "Thank you, Captain Huss," Avery acknowledges, "You're with the Baron?" "He's here," Huss replies, "Is my camera on?" "Yes," Avery confirms, and I lean over Noel's shoulder to look at the screen. The image of a knee with an arm slung over it dominantes the display, indicating that Huss is sitting down. The view slides to the side, revealing a pack of Eliksni, all bearing the colors of the House of Winter. The lush plant life of Venus surrounds them, giving way to the remains of Golden Age structures. "Light, Keis," Noel mutters, nudging his shoulder into my chest, "Give a girl a little breathing room. I feel like someone parked their Ketch on top of me." "You're not a-" I correct. "I know I'm not a girl!" Noel snaps, "It was an expression!" I back away and Draksis declares, "[i]I have other matters to attend to. I leave you to your games, little Kell. Grayliks, my Baron, you may begin the hunt.[/i]" "[i]Thank you, my Kell,[/i]" the Baron hisses. The camera bobs as Huss stands and moves to the front of the group of Winter Eliksni, where Grayliks is standing. The Baron turns with a sweep of its cape, leading them down a row of abandoned buildings bordered by a cliff that overlooks a sea of sulfuric acid. "The coordinates lead to the library in the Ishtar Academy," Avery informs, "Winter hasn't solidified their hold in that area of the Collective, but Draksis was able to drop them in close." She turns in the chair to address Nebo, "How many data pads do we have in here?" Nebo twists around to scan the room, then plucks a pad off of the table and holds it out to her, "Just this one." Avery takes it and turns it on, logging in and searching through the system. "What're you up to?" Noel asks, tilting his head inquisitively. "There's always work to do," Avery responds, then glances at him accusingly, "Even if you ignore it." "Multitasking, then," Noel smirks, "Keep me posted." "What work?" Sinekis inquires, peeking at the pad. "Strike coordination," Avery explains, "There's a Valus that needs to be taken care of." "Which one?" Nebo asks, joining Sinekis in his curiosity. "Ta'aurc," Avery elaborates, "We've got his location near Freehold." Nebo nods understandingly. "I've never killed Cabal," Noel daydreams, drumming his fingers on the table. "You're not going," Avery states. Noel puts a hand to his chest in feigned shock and gasps, "Who, me? I wouldn't dream of-" "Commander," Huss calls on the comms. "Going to Mars guns blazing and kicking the Cabal's ugly butts," Noel finishes under his breath. Avery sets down the pad, then turns on the microphone and responds, "Yes, Captain?" The display shows Grayliks gazing down through a section of collapsed wall, where a dark passageway leads deeper into the Ishtar Academy. "[i]This is where our dominion ends,[/i]" the Baron announces, "[i]Watch for the machines.[/i]" He strides through the gap, passing into shadow. Huss checks his rifle to make sure it's ready for use before following with the other Eliksni. Their feet splash in shallow water that sloshes around as they progress. Broken columns line the corridor, supporting the low and crumbling ceiling. "Tell me again why we're doing this?" Noel requests, "I'd like to remind you that this is our reaction to some stranger randomly hijacking our comms to play hide and seek." "A rather riveting game," Nebo remarks. "Someone's out there," Avery says, "And we are going to find out what they want. If it's a trap, the Baron can handle it." "Yeah," Noel grunts, "With extreme prejudice and bloodshed." Sinekis barks an approving laugh, "[i]Indeed.[/i]" "There it is," Huss breathes. They've reached the end of the tunnel, where a pile of debris creates a ramp leading into a large room. Huss shifts closer, bringing a wall and massive pillar into view, but Grayliks stops him with a hand. The Baron studies him with its calculating gaze and concludes, "[i]You will wait.[/i]" Grayliks directs his subordinates and sends Shanks gliding up the ramp, herded by a handful of Vandals. The Shanks swarm into the library, and are almost immediately greeted by a series of mechanical screeches and whines. Darting in every direction, the Shanks begin firing deeper into the library and out of Huss's line of sight. Bolts of solar energy blast into the Shanks, destroying them with deadly accuracy. One of the Vandals calls down to Grayliks, who brandishes his Shrapnel Launcher with a mighty bellow. He charges into the fray with his pack, spilling into the library and out of Huss's view. Huss moves to follow, but is stopped. He looks back to see a Vandal grabbing his arm. "Wait," it clicks. Two more stand with it, and they move around him while it tugs him back. "Fine," Huss submits, and they watch the exit while the clamor of battle resounds ahead of them. Huss can only watch the backs of the few Eliksni in sight as they engage the unseen enemy, but the commotion dies down quickly. When the crossfire stops, a Dreg at the top of the ramp waves for Huss to enter. He and the Vandals scale the incline and set foot in the library, kicking aside the broken remains of Shanks. Bookshelves stand on either side of the room, rising to the high ceiling and filled with the rotting husks of ancient books. Two levels of elevated platforms form rings around the enclosure, granting access to the higher reaches of the bookcases. The empty frame of a doorway in the far wall leads deeper into the Academy. A statue dominates the center of the chamber, portraying a winged woman wearing flowing robes and raising a broken ring above her head. Grayliks tarries at the feet of the statue, proudly inspecting the mutilated chassis of several Vex scattered across the ground. Huss careful walks between two dead Dregs and crouches to examine one of the machines. He lifts a metallic arm, scrutinizing the foreign firearm attached at its elbow, then sets it back down and reaches for the head. "Most people've never seen one o' these," he mutters, running a hand over the fan-like crest and tapping the lightless lens of its eye, "It'll be a good story for the boys. So much for the rumors about 'em bein' indestructible, though." Grayliks snorts, and Huss looks up to see the Baron shaking his head. "Indestructible," the Baron scoffs, saying the word in our tongue, "[i]Is not meant for one drone.[/i]" Huss stands and considers the Vex, then returns his gaze to Grayliks and asks, "What do you-" He cuts off, staring in awe as a miniature storm of mist and electricity erupts over their heads. "What in the..." he gasps, swinging his head to see more of the anomalies clouding the air throughout the library. "[i]They have sent more,[/i]" Grayliks growls, hunching over defensively as the first figures begin to take form inside the mist.