A Game of War Prologue: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/254988350?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=0 So it begins... Entaur had always thought Akûn's throne world to be barbaric. Now even more so. He had added to his collection of arenas. There were more pits sunk into the ground. Each of them had Hive fighting to the death. Akûn was sitting in his throne listening to the sounds of battle as Entaur approached.   "Entaur, just in time! Come, come, we were just discussing our plans for the guardians."   "Those guardians are nothing but pests, how can you have plans for them."  "Welcome to the game, my friend. The rules here are different! Either way my plans extend to killing them, this is your job. I take only ten percent of the tribute from these kills. Generous yes?"   "We shall see."   "So we shall, this may finally be enough for you to become ascendant." At these words Entaur's eyes burned with a desire for that power.   "I shall succeed Akûn."   "Therás will accompany you to Earth. She is to plant the new nest."  "I see."   Therás scrutinized Entaur, "this is the Knight you send with me for protection. He better be more capable than the others. I tore them apart myself, they were unfit to call themselves Hive."   "I can almost assure you, Therás, bar any unforeseen complications Entaur is completely capable. Subject him to duels if you have to, however this is the last Knight I will supply."  "Yes Akûn, if he is unsuitable I will replace him with one of my own."   "Good, get moving. The games are beginning, they have begun to guess they are just pawns. I would prefer they didn't find the king in time to stop us."   As they left Entaur turned to look over his shoulder at Akûn, "what are we." Akûn just sat in his throne of bones, smiling. --------------------------------------------------------------- Day One of the London Crisis, The Tower.   "The Hive still haven't made their move. We could wait for centuries before they make it though. It doesn't seem like he's in any hurry."   "Kryn, trust me. From what I saw he'll make a move soon."   "Zach I have no doubts that you saw something, I just don't think you saw what you think."   "Psychological warfare?"   "It's a good bet, he's not going to come and fight us, we'll have to go and fight him."   "What makes you think that?"   "To him, from what everyone's told me, this is a game. He won't fight until he's sure he has the advantage, and even then he won't fight himself."   "That doesn't sound like the Hive."   "I know Zach, I know, but I think that's what's going to happen either way. Where's Darek, he said he would be here soon."   "There." Zach pointed across the bazaar.   Darek began talking with an urgent tone, "there's a breach in the wall."   "Fallen?"   Darek shook his head, "that's the thing, it's Hive. A big knight, as well as some others too."   Kryn looked out towards the City, "what are they after?"   "Not to have an overly large opinion of our importance but I would say us."   "Let's get down there then, Zach?"   "I already know one of the people on their way, I asked him to help interrogate Teren."   Kryn looked at Teren slightly surprised, "Kirk?"   "Yeah, why does that surprise you?"   "With his whole act he wasn't the type of person I would see protecting the City."   "He's still a guardian Kryn."   Darek gestured away from them, "Hive attack, breached wall?"   "Let's get going then." --------------------------------------------------------------- To Kirk's mind this attack was foolish. A mission that would end in failure for the Hive. It didn't matter to him, any chance to kill one of his enemies was welcome. He met the knights head on before they could make it into the City.   As he entered the fight he slew a knight with it's own sword. He supposed just the plain knights he wouldn't even need to use his guns for. There was a big one though, his armor ornately carved with images of the extinction of races.   The Taishibethi, the Ecumene, and others slain by the Hive. He would die, not fast, not easily. He would put up a fight. But he would fall just the same. So he used a gun, his gun, a small sidearm. It cut down another knight before he realized there were more than he had thought.   "Alright Zach, I need you here now,'' he muttered. The knights kept coming, he threw a grenade he knew would only delay them and jumped onto the roof of a small building. He prepared his sniper and unloaded on them. Five died from the sniper, five were wounded. Then he leapt off the building towards them. ---------------------------------------------------------------   "How long till we're there," Darek seemed on edge as they ran toward the sound of sniper fire.   "Not long, two more blocks give or take." When they got there they found area of the ground scorched, knights lay fallen on the ground. Only the big one was left, pointing his sword at Kirk. It noticed them and turned from Kirk.   "First mistake," Kirk said, "last mistake." He took one of the knives he kept for emergencies and stabbed the Knight in the knee. The next instant the knights sword was buried in the ground where Kirk had been a moment ago. It stood there staring at them for a couple seconds then slowly backed away. Everyone but Kirk began to follow him.   "Don't, it's a trap. He wants you to follow him. The moment you leave the wall he'll kill you."   "Alright, Darek, Kryn, let's get back to the Tower."   "I'll come with. You could use some subtlety sometimes."   Zach laughed, "this coming from a Titan?"   "Heh. That's the point."   Darek looked at Kirk, "you know you're hard to enjoy being around right?"   "You'll come to appreciate it the next time you need help in a stealth setting. Or targeted assassination."   "Right, moving on. Who was that knight."   "Not prominent in Hive mythology, definitely not an ascendant, if he was he would have just charged us."   Zach raised his eyebrows, "you know a lot about the Hive."   "You pick some stuff up while researching a target."   Kirk nodded, "she's right."   Kryn shivered, "alright I don't like having Kirk agree with me."   Zach leaned in towards Kryn, "it's worse when he disagrees, he looks more like he's about to murder you."   "Hard to imagine him looking any more like that."   "Maybe it's just that you annoy me sometimes Zach."   Kryn leaned towards Zach, "now I see what you mean. I recommend running, last time I saw that look it was on a Fallen trying to kill me."   "Yeah." "Guys," Darek looked at them, "Hive have been spotted in London."   Kryn looked toward where the Knight had exited, "how many?"   "We don't know, but there's a message too."   Kirk looked at Darek, "play it."   "I speak to the guardians of the Last City. You are a bastion against what you regard as evil. You resist a truth as inevitable as death. Even though we are only just beginning we are almost ending too.   You, my favorite pawns, faceless warriors of the light. Harbingers of pain, are nearly at your end. Your City almost breached by twenty knights. Twenty! What would have happened had I sent more.   Come for me, send your Young Wolf, send your legends and myths. Many have tried and failed, all are dead. Come to London, I am not there personally but you will meet my servant, Entaur. He will show you an exit from this life. Look at your City guardians.   Take a good long look, and enjoy it while it lasts, for we are playing a game of war, and I declare it has begun!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Once again, any feedback you have is welcome. I also can't get the links function to work for whatever reason, I've tried adding brackets and reworking the entire function already. It's probably so obvious I'm missing it so if someone could explain that it would be helpful.