On the Front S5: Titanic Flow Pt.2

(Read the previous part here)

“Operation...Ocean Hand? Is that right? Yes? Yes. Operation Ocean Hand is live on Titan. Handing off to Deputy Commander Sloane and Showrunner Dvol for the duration.”

Zavala clicked off the comms.

“Thank you commander. Sarech...all yours.” Sloane said, before muting her microphone.

“Shit.”

I looked up to the raw telemetry and positioning data filtering in.

Another screen processed the data into a map filled with green dots.

“Alpha Team, you have Green Light.”

A group of 3 Green Dots moved forward, crossing the edges of the smaller of the two barges that floated up and down on the Titanic Waves.

“Bravo Team, status.”

“Awaiting Green Light.” Came Drew’s voice.

My eyes watched as Alpha Team began to move along the length of the craft.

“Alpha Leader to Showrunner, enemies sighted. Permission to go weapons free?” Came Mick’s voice.

“Negative, hold your position. Bravo Team, you have Green Light.”

A second group of green dots crossed onto the barge moving to an opposing angle to the bridge of the ancient vessel as Alpha Team.

“Bravo Team, weapons free. Alpha team hold.”

The second group of dots flicked between red and green, and the staccato pops from the weaponry reached the control tower where I stood.

Through the rain-spattered windows, sparks of orange appeared out of the darkness.

“Alpha team, weapons free.”

All the dots were flashing now, and the pop of muffled gunfire was louder.

“Bravo, I need eyes. Now.”

One of the green dots, Anika, held green and dodged away and jumped atop a shipping crate, before stopping for a second.

The green dot began to flash red again, as a green pulse widened from its position.

Enemy positions, structural details of the barge and more came flooding on the readout and the tactical display.

“Lots of movement in the bridge substructure. Teams, prepare for company.”

The green dots dashed into cover, and held their position.

A door on the side of the conn tower burst open, and Wretchs burst forth followed by Marauders, which activated their stealth systems.

“Hold, weapons freeze.”

The Elksni dashed through the gap between two containers, both of which hid Guardians and City Militia from view.

“All teams, weapons free.”

Red dots everywhere.

Some the techs seemed to flinch as they watched the data pour in.

“Alpha Leader to base, we’re clear.”

“Bravo to base, clear.”

“Copy. All teams proceed into substructure.”

The green dots began to move.

Slowly, as we registered slower connection speeds between base and the teams.

I flicked off the broadcast switch and fell back down into one of the small plastic chairs that dotted the space.

The pace of telemetry pouring in slowed.

After several minutes, one of the techs in the room with me spoke up.

“Sir? The instruments are reading a spike in temperature inside the substructure.”

“It's probably just Mick doing his thing with a hammer.”

“No sir, I think it might be the reactor, on the barge.”

“But why….”

“Bravo to base, its empty.”

“Empty?”

“The entire substructure’s been picked clean.”

“Then why is the reactor heating up? Unless….”

“Alpha to base.”

“Go ahead Alpha.”

Mick seemed to stutter for a moment.

“The boat’s shaking.”

“Shit. Shitshitshitshit.” Came Drew's voice.

“All teams this mission is scrubbed, fall back to the pier for evac.”

“Copy.”

The dots moved at great speed towards the stairwell.

I switched to the high priority channel.

“Commander, Ocean Hand is scrubbed, Militia lives are at risk.”

“Copy Showrunner, sending Hawks for evac.” Came Sloane’s voice.

The dots had scrambled onto the pier between the barges.

“I don't understand, what's…?” One of the Militia personnel started.

“The Fallen are overloading one of the reactors.”

That shut them up.

The first of the Hawks descended towards the pier, amid a hail of oncoming fire.

3 of the 6 dots disappeared as the Hawk carried the Militia away.

“Guardians stay in position, we're not done yet.”

Some scattered moaning.

The left barge disappeared with a thunderous boom.

It was replaced with a huge jet of methane.

It engulfed the guardians still standing on the pier.

“Well, shit.” I muttered.

“Sarech, we're still taking fire down here.”

“I'm on my way. Sloane, send a Hawk for the techs.”

“That's not exactly orthodox, Dvol.”

“I know. I just can't be bothered to care.”

After a moment,

“I'll send a Hawk.”

I closed down the computer screen in front of me and grabbed the lowest rung of a roof access ladder.

On the roof, the Apex zoomed in from orbit and scooped me up with an invisible hand.

I swooped downwards in the direction of the only remaining barge.

“Ghast prep for transmat.” I said rolling slightly and opening up the right machine guns.

The Marauders and Vandals pinning down my team disappeared in a hail of fire as the cockpit around me disappeared, replaced instantly by the pier, sinking and rising on the rolling waves.

The momentum carried me forward, as the barge rose high above us, two more Marauders still raining down fire from above.

A Scout Rifle appeared on my back and I grabbed it, aimed it and fired off, obliterating the upper body of one Marauder and disabling the shooting arm of the other.

I slid along the wet concrete into cover next to the others.

“Hi Anika. Haven’t seen you in the while.”

“Yeah…” She said, and stepped out of cover, and watched as the barge dropped away on the waves below us.

We all stepped out.

“When it comes up again, jump.”

The next wave rolled on beneath us, and began to carry the barge upwards.

“Now!”

We jumped, watching as the pier we had just left fell away and the barge rose to meet us.

Anika and Drew rolled out of their dives, Mick simply smashing into the deck with great force.

I glided downwards.

“Right.” I said, looking down the length of the barge.

“Sarech, I’m picking up a Skiff prepping for take-off, far end of the barge.”

I took off at a run. My boots clicking up and down off the rusted metal until…

I was falling downwards, downwards, into the black.

My skull cracked on the edge of a torn platform, dislocating my jaw, before I landed at the bottom of the barge.

The others looked down from above me.

“Guuu!” I managed, motioning them onwards.

They began to sprint off as I began to pull myself to my feet, picking up the scout and slinging it over my back.

A Wire Rifle round tore through my knee.

I fired into the dark, holding the trigger down hard on an SMG in my hand.

The firing slowed, and then stopped.

I climbed into the remains of a corridor and took off at a run, already behind the others.

The grates held, this time, and the lights flickered as I passed.

At the end of the hallway, a closed door, rusted shut.

I shook it, trying to get it open.

A Wretch stuck its face into the porthole, and disappeared in a haze of ether as I blew through the tiny window with my SMG.

I reached a gloved hand through the cracked glass and pulled the door open from the other side.

I stepped into a massive space at the rear of the barge, the infinite sea beyond rising and falling through the open space.

Mick, Anika, and Drew were knee-deep in bodies and ichor.

“Glad you could finally join us!” Anika yelled back.

I hopped the railing directly in front of my and fell to the floor of the area.

Briny Methane sloshed about at my feet as I drew the Scout from my back and turned onto a charging Wretch.

I shot my way through the horde and up to the others.

“That Skiff does not take off, yes?”

The Others nodded, but could do nothing as the Skiff began to lift up, its lower cannons activating and hitting Drew squarely in the center of the chest.

He flew backwards, smashing through the crowds of Fallen behind him.

The Skiff’s jets engaged, pushing us backwards.

Mick and I tried to force our way closer to the Skiff through its wash.

Anika let herself fall back and helped Drew to his feet.

The Skiff kicked into gear and flew off.

“Ghast, ship, now.”

In an instant, i felt myself transmat into the cockpit.

The targeting computer locked onto the Skiff.

Throttle up, missile barrage engaged, and the Skiff faltered.

It began to smoke, falter and fall to the Sea, swallowed whole, almost instantly.

“Well, shit.”

Something within me felt disappointed, like this was all too easy, I found myself, I realzied with a shudder, bored

(Read Didact's Dilemma Pt.1 here)

//Should say that Sarech’s current feelings do not represent my own. Destiny 2 is fantastic! Sorry for the late post, but bonfire night, family in town, stress etc. delayed this one, but it’s here now!//

(Read the whole series here)