Excerpt 001: Enquiring Minds

[rekindledtitan]

TYPE: Patrol log

LOCATION: Ishtar Sink, Venus

PARTIES: Three [3]. One [1] Ghost-type, [1] Guardian-type, designate Blaze-37, Class Titan [

rekindledtitan ], One [1] Unconfirmed, designate Aran, Samus [onemorebounty ]

 

ASSOCIATIONS: Multiversal Nexus; Samus Aran; Chozo; Ishtar Sink; Hezen Protective; Pelsor; House of Winter; Drevis; Blaze-37; Ishtar Academy



They land in a clearing on the city outskirts with grass under their boots and a heavy overcast above. The breeze that greets them is hot and humid, a little acidic. Around them is a densely-grown treeline, with broad leaves that are near-luminescent shades of green. Their rustle is echoed by the distant wash of waves from beyond the ruins.

Blaze turns to scan the area, hopeful of opposition even though her Ghost already checked the site. The broken towers and city blocks are quiet within the overgrowth. But then it’s not the human ruins which really stand out. To the north a massive volcano takes up much of the sky, belching out a noxious plume of ash and gas. Small wonder that each shift in the breeze makes the scent of the air waver between sulfurous and salty. Over the hills to both south and east loom dark geometric structures. Look at them with anything other than the optical spectrum, and they emit some very peculiar readings.

“At last,” the Exo remarks, feeling a thrill that doesn’t break her readiness. Her head’s turned up to check the skyline as she speaks. Then she's moving for the buildings. “We’re in Guardian territory, more or less. Doesn’t stretch too far yet. Won’t take long to find some trouble.”

Comments

[rekindledtitan]

//We're surrounded by Darkness here. I'm not strong enough to get a good read through it. Nothing on trackers yet, anyway.//

Making the next jump a little more safely, she clears the way and points to a much larger structure looming through the clouds ahead. Like another large block just ahead, it hasn't yet phased, and isn't going to any time soon. //I'd guess that's where our foes are waiting. Next one looks stable too. Maybe there's a terminal we can use.//

[onemorebounty]

*Samus springs after, scanning for, well, anything.*

Sounds good. All your attack barriers ready for another go, Ghost?

[rekindledtitan]

//I'm ready.//

It's good that they're keeping up the pace. No sooner has Blaze jumped for the stable waypoint than the preceding block starts phasing out. Hearing it go she whips about. //Jump!//

At the same moment the roiling black mist forms on the bigger platform behind her.

[onemorebounty]

*That warning was plenty for Samus. Although she couldn't feel the block under her fading, she's been waiting for it to happen on one platform or another. Thankfully, her suit's jets can propel her into a jump whether there's ground beneath her feet or not, but the imperfect start means it may take her a moment and a couple of hops to reach Blaze on the next block.*

Behind you!

[rekindledtitan]

More concerned with Samus in the moment, Blaze disregards her enemies for a couple of seconds. By the time Samus is clearly saving herself, a contingent of the lighter Vex have materialized and started raining fire on her.

When the Exo calculates that her friend will make it to solid ground, her first move is a jump of her own, breaking contact and turning to bound into her enemies.

The near right-hand corner of the structure is elevated into a raised block, like a small building if not for the lack of entrances. The Vex choose to wait until they've engaged both opponents, and then teleport in a pair of minotaurs up there, to throw in steady bolts of heavy void fire.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus bowls into the group, grabbing lighter Vex and flinging them over the edge. She's going to regret tossing away such valuable cover when the minotaurs arrive, however. She'll make do with those who remain, fighting close-in to ensure that, at the very least, the Vex are paying a high cost in friendly fire to bombard her.*

If you've got any ideas, I'm open to suggestions.

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze does have one idea, of course. She point-blanks the Vex in front of her so she can break off for a second, boosting up to try and hit the nearest minotaur with a charged fist. It meets her blow by walloping her straight from the air, shields only dented. She goes skidding back into the middle of the platform, her chestplate crumpled inward.

//Okay, didn't work,// she reports dazedly. So now she has to roll to her feet and punish the couple of units taking the chance to smack her while she's down. She's trying to back up toward the minotaurs' platform, under the arc of their mortar-style bombardment.//Tag-team? You hose 'em with the Void beam, I'll follow up.//

[onemorebounty]

*Samus is starting to think Blaze doesn't share her fondness for self-preservative tactical finesse. Plan B is a good one, though.*

On it.

*Falling back to the far periphery of the platform, Samus lays the Void fire on thick, circling left and right to avoid mortar fire and keep any remaining Vexlings out of her hair.*

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze quite enjoys tactical finesse when it's suggested. Self-preservation is a happy bonus.

It takes a couple of minutes for her armor to repair itself beyond the critical point, not helped by every void bolt or blow that gives it more work. But once Samus gets to work, Blaze can't leave her waiting. She shoots a couple more of the Vex in front of her, then reloads and backs up to target the minotaurs.

The beam swiftly overloads their shields - better still, staggers the pair for a few seconds. Blaze pumps one with bullets until it falls, then unloads the last of her clip on the other. She stops to reload and smack the Vex closing on her back, heartily wishing she could just drop a grenade here.

[onemorebounty]

*Blaze isn't entirely without cover, at least--while Samus lays down a pattern of Void fire, she's also snagging any Vex who stray too close to the Guardian with her grapple line, yanking them over the edge behind her.*

I'm going to be fairly annoyed if we kill these things and the block just phases out under us.

[rekindledtitan]

Well, now the Ghost's worried about it. //Maybe we should move closer to the edge.//

//Uh-huh.// The minotaur is on its last legs even as it's targeting Samus with its fire, and Blaze takes the opening. Under the concentrated fire the big Vex staggers, sparks and falls at last. //Hah, finally. See a terminal yet, Ghost?//

//Yes, and if we hurry perhaps I can secure the platforms.//

[onemorebounty]

Nice shot. Security sounds good right now.

*Assuming Ghost has again provided a map marker, it shouldn't take long to reach the chosen terminal, unless the Vex are teleporting reinforcements in. Samus is keeping an eye out for signs of the clouding that heralds Vex arrivals, a clusterful of missiles at the ready.*

[rekindledtitan]

The marker's just around the corner of the block where the minotaurs stood. Blaze bounds over to it, standing between the remaining Vex and her Ghost as it gets to work. Not that there are more than a couple, but once the intrusion is detected the Vex react aggressively, sending another minotaur with an infantry squad to the center of the platform.

At least they have the good manners to stand quite close together.

//I really hope these Fallen codes are good,// the Ghost mutters.

[onemorebounty]

*A massed group? Diving into their midst, Samus will show the Vex another of her tricks: the power bomb. What it doesn't destroy outright of them, it should fling ledgeward, and if the minotaur has legs afterward she'll be surprised. Whatever doesn't die or find itself flung will have to deal with the Hunter, up close and firing Void.*

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze does what she can to help the carnage along, picking off the nearest damaged Vex with her rifle. //Hahah! They didn't see that coming! How's it look, Ghost?//

//I'm trying to take control of the local structure. This grid is far bigger than it looks, I- wait, I'm getting a response.

The block ahead, which was just phasing out, abruptly flickers and reappears - as does the whole series of platforms ahead. They're dense enough to make a clear path up to the bigger structure ahead. They could practically walk there.

[onemorebounty]

Well, you know me, I like to mix it up, keep things fresh.

*Samus notes the appearing path, and accords Ghost an approving nod.*

Nice work. Shall we?

*She takes the platforms at a run, trusting Blaze and Ghost to keep up--she's not using the dash boost this time, if only because getting separated could be very bad for them.*

[rekindledtitan]

With the Ghost retrieved, Blaze follows on her heels. Getting to the big structure ahead won't take any time at all. This one must be important, because it's railed-in between the taller irregular blocks of Vex construction along its sides. It looks deserted too, but they all know how quickly that might change

//I'm not sure what I did. But at least it's working...// The blocks flicker a little under their boots, but their solidity doesn't falter.

Once they hit the big structure, it starts to look almost like a winding street, leading right before it twists back onto its original course. It's well designed to allow few lines of sight on what lies at the very end, but onward and upward they must go.

[onemorebounty]

Did you get any idea of where we're going, or what's waiting for us when we get there?

*Samus' steps are brisk, her gaze sweeping back and forth--and up, always the occasional check above, just in case.*

[rekindledtitan]

//It's no more than four hundred yards ahead. I don't understand all of the protocols, but it looks like the Vex have set up some heavy security to guard - or repair - whatever they're containing up there. The Wolves obviously left some extremely powerful back-doors in place. I... would not have expected that.//

//I'm not complaining.// The path winds a bit, but at the end it jerks left. Up a few steps, a great broad platform stretches, and the trackers turn red as they draw near. Naturally, Blaze charges in.

[onemorebounty]

Unless the Vex noticed the backdoors, and left them as a trap for anyone who thought getting back in would be easy.

*Samus hangs back, advancing more slowly and letting Blaze run ahead while she keeps an eye--and a scan--out for threats. Anything that seems like trouble is going to get a generous serving of Void fire.*

[rekindledtitan]

//Well, that's a reassuring idea.//

When the blocky structures open out into the platform, it's to reveal about four dozen Vex units. They're drawn up in ranks on the near side, little goblin infantry and snipers and a full dozen minotaurs, all standing motionless, weapons raised... although not at the intruders. Their attention seems trained on the platform ahead. Which itself appears to be perfectly flat and empty.

In any case, their wait is interrupted when Blaze hits their ranks. Odd behavior nothing - she comes down among their center with the Fist of Havoc without missing a chance. Either side, those not stunned or destroyed by that or fire from Samus immediately swing backward. Their formations wheel smoothly to put their backs at each side of the platform, returning fire all the while. That leaves the Guardian between them, apparently unconcerned for the moment as she puts down the berserking cripples.

[onemorebounty]

Huh. Not an ambush--at least not meant for us.

*Samus sets her sights on the snipers, first. Blaze seems to enjoy the scrum of the close-in fighting, so the Hunter makes it her priority to see that no one feels free to end her fun with a well-placed shot at range. If they want to kill her, they'll have to earn it up close. Pinning them down until she can get close has worked so far, so she tries it again.*

[rekindledtitan]

//Guess their quarantine takes priority- hah! Took priority.// Blaze works her way past the smaller units to engage a minotaur close-up, endeavoring to circle so it's between her and its sharpshooting kin. This is much easier thanks to Samus pinning down one sniper after the other.

In answer, a pair of minotaurs and their lesser brethren break off, making staggered teleports to close with the Hunter before she can eradicate their support.

And while both sides are nicely engaged, the empty platform shimmers, the air sparkling with white light as objects start to form from it. Around the far end of the platform, a set of great circular arches - and between them, a pair of floating orbs that make the minotaurs look undersized.

The Ghost's voice is urgent in the alert, //Look out! I think we have servitors!//

[onemorebounty]

Ghost, I'm going to need a data dump on servitors, when you have a moment.

*To be fair, she's still dancing with the snipers, picking them off as quickly as she can while trying to keep ahead of the teleporting pursuit.*

Or at least targeting data. I'm guessing they aren't friends?

[rekindledtitan]

//Nah, they're just fun to break. Explains a lot though.//

//Data's coming right up!//

The data burst is fairly terse - the Ghost has stripped it down to the essential points. Servitors are Fallen machines - short on sentience, long on processing power, responsible for interstellar navigation and hacking. The Fallen worship them, with the Prime servitor of each House functioning as its machine-god.

The file doesn't elaborate on that. Ghost thought it more important to say this: aim for the central 'eye', watch out for the Void blasts they fire, and note that they can teleport to evade fire.

By this time the pair of floating orbs have materialized, smooth and black. They open fire indiscriminately into the melee, forcing the Vex to regroup and Blaze to make a boosted jump to break contact. She lands near a couple of Samus' pursuers and take a moment to knock them out of the running. So to speak.

And while the servitors draw eyes and optics, there's a tell-tale shimmer as cloaked forms drop over the glistening Vex blocks and onto the platform below. They move fast and silent amid the noise of battle, twin swords at the ready. They're aiming for the greatest threats: minotaurs and Guardians, in which category they think Samus falls.