[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/249632552/0/0]Previous Chapter[/url] [i]En route to the Plaguelands, Old Russian Cosmodrome[/i] The [i]Shielding Eagle[/i] zoomed over the frozen wastes of Old Russia, the snow melting the second it touched the hot engines. In the -blam!-, a staunch exo Titan and his ghost were in deep conversation on the benefits and detriments of wearing a cape in battle. “What if it gets caught on something? That would be another pointless revive.” Echo pointed out. “Pssh, If it ever caught on something I could easily untangle it,” Replied Giant. “Besides, a reinforced cape could protect my flank.” “That’s why we have fireteams!” Echo said. Giant was about to reply when an incoming transmission was detected by the jumpship’s computers. “Blast,” Giant muttered, “It’s Zavala. I should’ve known Ringer and I weren’t off the hook.” “Guardian,” Zavala said over the comms, “What are you doing in the cosmodrome? I told you and Ringer this place was off-limits!” “Me and Ringer are on a trail,” Giant explained, “it lead us here. Don’t you worry your blue head. We’ll be on our way soon enough.” “See that you are.” Zavala said, and ended the transmission. A few moments later, the familiar colony ships of the cosmodrome were in sight. The ship flew past the Archon’s forge as Giant Transmatted out. “Sometimes I wish I could take a whiff of this fresh air,” Giant said, taking in the sights of the familiar place. “I haven’t been here since he Red War.” “It sure does retain its charm, doesn’t it?” said Echo, “Lets head to those coordinates you found” Giant nodded and put on his helmet. “The coordinates lead towards...the replication chamber,” Giant said with audible concern in his voice. “Well, I guess we’re gonna get the full Plaguelands experience!” Giant made his way through the hallways and caves to the replication chamber, it’s pyramidal Warmind bunker looming above him. “You know, I really wonder what happened to the rest of the Devil splicers,” Giant said to Echo, “Thelkis is the new leader of the house of Devils, but the splicers never really did listen to their Kell.” ”Perhaps things have changed.” Echo said. As they entered the replication chamber, Giant surveyed damage caused by the bomb from the last guardian who came here. “Man, nothing’s left here except the charred corpses of the fallen,” Giant said. “Wait, over there!” Giant pointed to a small crate with a spade painted on the lid, its sides worn with time. As Giant opened it, a recorded message began to play. “To my mysterious Exo friend, Giant. If you’re listening to this, then you’ve either killed me, killed the ******* that killed me, or just found this by a freak accident. Congratulations! You’ve earned this super special pair of guantlets, custom made for a Titan of your stature. Now you might be wondering, “why the replication chamber?” Buddy, lemme tell you something. The last place anyone’s gonna look is a giant Warmind bunker in the middle of one of the worst places on good ol’ planet earth. One more thing. I have a message from our mutual friend Paladin Oran: ‘Several individual verified axioms lie in nearby ketch. even dregs take on exceptional xenophobic operations. dialectic underarm strategies prove ridiculous on jackal’s even cross territory. ” As the message ended, a battle cry was heard in the distance. “Splicers.” Giant said, unholstering his handcannons. “We need to leave, now!” They ran through the hallways of the bunker, the cries of the Fallen following them. When the reached the Archons forge, Giant suddenly stopped in surprise. “It’s a trap! They’ve closed off the exit!” Giant shouted to Echo as he shot each dreg foolish enough to challenge him. The incoming flak proved to be too much though, and Giant was forced to take cover. “There’s too many of them!” Giant shouted as he threw a suppression grenade. “There’s a nearby transmit pad we can use.” Said Echo. “It’s in the caves.” Giant retreated to the caves and there, sure enough, was the transmat pad. “Wherever it takes us, it’s better than here!” He said, as he turned it on. The Fallen were almost upon them when Giant threw a grenade at his feet, gave the Fallen a City Salute, and activated the transmat pad. The Fallen shrieked in terror as the grenade exploded, causing a chain reaction in the caves and bringing part of the rocks down upon them. On the other side of the teleporter, Giant got up, dusted himself off and checked his surroundings. He appeared to be in some sort of downed Colony ship, near the place where the engines would be. “Echo,” He said, “Lock for transmat. We need to get off this rock and bring reinforcements. If that teleporter was being used by the fallen, who knows what’s waiting for us.” “I can’t,” Echo replied, “someone is blocking our transmat signal.” “Blast.” Giant muttered under his breath. “Echo, the Fallen will find us any minute now. Undoubtedly this was their base of operations to explore the plaguelands. I need you to stay hidden and out of sight. Here.” Giant equipped a small stealth drive to his ghost. “A little gift from Erun. This should help hide you from the Fallen.” “But what about you?” Echo protested. Giant smiled. “Don’t worry bud, I’ll be fine. As long as you’re alive, I still have a chance to fight another day. Now go!” As they were speaking, cries of Fallen could be heard deeper in the ship. Giant activated Echo’s stealth drive and readied his HMG. “Well, this has been a heck of a day,” he chuckled. ——————————————————— [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/250971623/0/0]Next Chapter[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/251999575/0/0]Masterpost[/url]