Note: Words spoken in the Eliksni language are italicized Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/229522482/0/0 The bay door opens with a hiss, snapping me out of a haze of thought. I grip my rifle and wait for the ramp to lower. Sand once again pelts my armor as my fireteam musters behind me. We hop out and inspect the gathering in front of us. Several crews of Eliksni from House Winter and soldiers of the City linger among stone columns, watching as more crews are dropped off around us. I wait and inspect the incoming Skiffs until I see Sinekis drop from one, then approach him. A handful of Captains meets us, exchanging brief greetings, and we all look to the monolith in front of us. A colossal Vex gate rests in the sand, weathered and damaged by time. It sits, dormant, before an ocean of sand and dunes. The Black Garden Gate. "That's it, sir," a man states. "Not sure it's in workin' condition," another comments. [i]"We must have haste,"[/i] an Eliksni urges, pointing to a Cabal structure ingrained in the rock formations behind us, [i]"The Cabal will know of our presence soon."[/i] [i]"Agreed,"[/i] Sinekis clicks. "Crap, could you repeat that," the first man pleads to the Captains, "My Eliksni ain't very good." All the Eliksni give him annoyed glares, but ignore his request. Sinekis gestures to the gate and says, [i]"With haste, Vanguard."[/i] I move past them and lead the way to the foot of the massive frame. The construction appears to be dead; a mere ring of metal. Sliding a hand into my pouch, I withdraw the Gate Lord's eye and study it. Now that it's charged, its pupil glows with the usual menacing red of the Vex. Trudging through the sand, I ascend the dune at the gate's base. As I draw near, a white glow fills my eyes, nearly blinding me, and I stop abruptly. "It works," I announce. Sinekis comes to my side, attended by a large pack of Eliksni. [i]"You will go last,"[/i] he insists, [i]"I do not know what awaits us, or if the way will close behind us."[/i] I stay where I am, and he nods a farewell before striding forward with his pack. They vanish in flashes of white inside the empty arc, boldly following their leader. When the last one is through, I call, "Sinekis." Long seconds pass with no response on the comms, and I repeat myself. Multiple times. When it's clear that the Captain isn't going to respond, I instruct, "Open comms to the Tower." A woman's voice crackles to life, "Vanguard, we aren't suppo-" "Do it," I order flatly. After a moment, Captain Nebo's voice sounds, "The Traveler are you doin', Vanguard? Everythin's supposed to be off, or the Cabal'll-" He cuts off and is replaced by Avery scolding, "-Cabal will find out they're there one way or another, Captain. What is it, Keis?" "I lost contact with Captain Sinekis when he passed through the Vex gate," I inform. "That was expected," Avery sighs, "But it worked?" "Not confirmed," I report. "But you're going to try it anyway?" Avery asks, sounding like she already knows the answer. I don't bother to say anything, and she sighs before finishing, "Light bless you, Vanguard." The comms shut off, leaving her professional yet caring words to hang in the silence. I look to the Captains, who are waiting expectantly, and wave them along. They scurry to their crews and venture through the gate, humans and Eliksni alike. Several Vandals lead a train of Servitors in after them. Soon everyone is through, aside from my fireteam and a crew that will stay behind. A micro-rocket sails over our heads, completely missing whatever it's target had been, and we look to the Cabal base. A small squad of Legionaries is bounding towards us. Eliksni quickly climb up the stone columns, using their rifles to pick off the advancing Cabal. My team looks to me, and I tilt my head to indicate the gate. They rush past me and disappear, and I trail behind, letting the white light consume me. • • •