A Tower operator responsible for the sat feed: “Sir, we lost signal from satellites TS-02 and TS-15… 01, 04 and 23 are also gone.”
Zevala: “What…”
The same operator: “We are losing them one by one, another two are dead.”
Operator #2: “Sir, there is no feed, no status… nothing. Something or someone big…”
interrupted
Zevala: “This code RED…”
interrupted
Cade-6: “Wait-wait-wait. Is this ‘Twilight-gap code RED’ or ‘Ikora-is-mad code red’?”
Zevala not listening to Cade”: “I need every Guardian you can reach on planetary coms back to the City! Titans to the battle stations immediately. Defensive perimeter around the City. Every armed ship ready for takeoff. Start civilians’ evacuation. Now!
I need scouting ships in a 1000 km around the City. Give me live updates on high- and low-altitude scan within 5000 km radius!”
Zevala on Tower coms: “Attention all Guardians! This is not a drill. The City is under immediate threat. Anyone not assigned to the battle station report to Vanguard ASAP to receive further orders…
And, yes… bring heavy weapons. To those who have Gjallarhorn – bring it, all of them, I know some of you have six, and hand it to the ones who do not! Take your heavy synths.”
Hunters assuming sniper positions. Titans in heavy armor, teamed up in small squads, stand still staring at the sky. Warlocks are meditating. Small groups of Gjallarhorn armed Guardians led by Defender Titans are spreading around the City and on the Wall.
Sometime later, half an hour before the attack (Because it takes around 30 min to descend from the altitude of 130 km, and the entry point is 8000 km away from your destination; again according to
NASA)
Operator #3: “Commander, we have multiple objects approaching Tower… ETA 25 minutes!”
Zevala: “Who are they?”
Operator #3: “It’s… … Cabal, the whole Fleet… Sir.”
turns to Zevala in silence, shock and fear on her face
Zevala stands still for a moment.
Wide shot of the Tower.
Zevala tells an inspirational speech about our home, our people, and the Traveler, how the City never failed, and it will not do so today.
Everything is motionless and silent. Only the creak of the gloves around the weapons’ handles can be heard.
A bit later, moments before the attack. Storm is raging.
Silhouettes of Cabal ships are visible in lightning flashes.
Battle unfolds.
Hundreds of Gjallarhorn rockets are launched crashing small ships, splitting into a web of wolf pack rounds covering the entire sky above the City in a myriad of explosions, tearing Cabal formations. Guardian’s ships strike from flanks.
Dogfights across the sky.
Cabal bombards the City. The Wall is breached. Wards of Dawn everywhere protecting Fireteams.
Another Gjallarhorn rockets volley… and another… and another.
Cabal are pushing. Many defensive positions are in ruin, so is the Cabal Fleet. Legionaries begin to land, being immediately fist-of-havoced into oblivion. New troops come. Firefights all over.
The storm is colored orange and black. Orders, shots, screams and explosions merge and fuse.
Ikora: “They are attacking the Traveler!”
Zevala: “If the Traveler is gone – we are gone, the City is gone… Humanity is gone.
Give it everything we have! Long-range artillery. Every Nova Bomb and Golden Gun shot. Send Sunsingers’ suicide squads to ram this MegaClaw (sorry, I do not know how it calls), self-res and continue on foot. Bring down shield first, engines second. As soon as shields are down, send every Guardian, every ship. Scrap this thing to pieces!”
One story mission later.
The MegaClaw looks lifeless and starts falling down. Cabal ranks are thinned, ships are scattered and being chased, Legionnaires are pinned in close quarters and are picked by shotguns and snipers. Only Ghaul flagship remains intact.
One story mission later.
Flagship shields are down. Guardians are on board, reaching the main deck.
Ghaul: “I. AM. GHA…”
shoulder-charged, fist-of-havoced and punched to death by Fireteam of three Titans. Ghost tells a joke.
Several hours later.
Everything is silent again. Sky is calm. Only rare shots are fired in the distance.
A few days later.
Battle is over. Cabal are wiped. Casualties are enormous, but the City stands. Everyone is busy repairing, cleaning and mourning.
Sweeper bot is sweeping Cabal helmets.
Vaults are intact. D2 never happened. Crucible is still 6v6
THE END
