halo.bungie.org

They're Random, Baby!

Fan Fiction


Phoenix Arisen Lockout Assault
Posted By: Chris Sanchez<Rax0000000@hotmail.com>
Date: 26 May 2005, 3:57 PM


Read/Post Comments

Mission Log 0230 hours: Delta Station: Mission Briefing

Team Phoenix Arisen sits quietly in the briefing room. The sound of a heater kicks on and, sends harmonic vibrations around the room. A pale moonlight escapes from the windows to the one side of the room, as snow falls out side and shows no sign of stopping. A large screen display is illuminated at the front of the room, and a lone-soldier stands at a podium preparing his notes for the upcoming mission. The lights from the ceiling flicker as the team waits for their orders.

Mr Rax: "Ok team listen up." "Our mission is to infiltrate the enemy base that locals refer to as lockout." "It's a sky based medical testing and research facility, where intelligence reports that a Doctor Kelly is working on experimental on a bio-genetic advancement program, that will harden regular troops into advanced cybernetic, bio-enhanced super soldiers." "It looks like we're about to finally have some competition men." "We have reason to believe that the doctor has already proceeded with developing the first batch of soldiers and, is preparing to start a massive assembly line production to fill the enemy ranks with these new soldiers." "Our mission objective is to first eliminate this Doctor Kelly, and second to destroy this stations cryo-tube station where this soldier development is occurring."

"We're gonna have three separate teams on this one." "Blue Team will be lead by Sgt. Murphy's men from the 101st division acting as our escort." "Blue team will consist of four Banshee air cruisers and they're fueling up even as we speak." "They will be our wings in the sky." "Their mission is to destroy the two orbital defense guns that protect the station." "We're flying in under the cover of this storm so our presence should not be noticed until the guns go off-line."

"Red Team will be composed of Quicksilver, Fugitive, Sims and myself." "Our mission is to air drop onto Sector Alpha 1's rooftop, assassinate this Doctor Kelly, and plant a remote controlled bomb in the cryo-lab, in where after we'll secure a landing on Bravo 1's rooftop where we'll prepare for extract via drop ship departure."

"If it gets too hot in there, that's where Gold Team comes in." "Gold Team will be on standby 2 clicks away just outside the orbital defenses range of fire." "Gold Team will be lead by Butler, and consist of Pagemaster, Dawnbringer, and Konflict." "If we should need them, they can reinforce us in as little as 2 minutes of time."

"Mission Departure time is in 30 minutes at transport bay 1." "Proceed to the armory on level two and suit up." "It's gonna be cold in those mountains men, so gear up accordingly." "Fall out!"

The members of Phoenix Arisen stand and file out of the briefing room and toward the armory. Down a long series of halls they walk, the other members of their unit going about their daily business. Soldiers training in the mat pit below, even at this hour of night. Men carrying files of paperwork back and forth among the offices, Officers taking accountability of the different crates coming in through receiving. Up a spiral staircase and into the armory section, they walk taking positions at the different stations among them. Sims picks up a battle rifle and starts to break the weapon down, preparing to clean it, and inspect the inner mechanics ensuring its effectiveness. Butler picks up a sniper rifle, and hooks a magazine harness to his web belt to carry extra ammunition. Quicksilver, picks up his trusty sword, and grabs a cloth as he begins to polish the blade to a perfect shine. Fugitive grabs a pistol from the racks and works the safety latch before growing comfortable with his choice and hooks it to his side holster. I walk into the room and start to put together my bomb satchel, and rig the detonation device needed for a remote detonation, as the sounds of the other soldiers getting ready fill the air as our unit prepares for the upcoming mission.

Mission Log 0315 hours: Delta Station: Transport Bay 1:

     Walking into the staging area bay, Blue Team is finishing up their necessary pre-combat inspections on their Banshee air fighters, and are going over their flight maneuvers that they are to use during the mission. Red team's pilot walks up from his pelican airdrop ship and introduces himself.

Pilot: "Good morning Mr. Rax, good to see you so bright and early this morning."

Mr Rax: "Good morning sir how's the weather out there?"

Pilot: "Cold...It looks just like you said." "The storm should cover our approach just long enough for Blue Team to take a shot at those firing stations." "Let's just hope it stays that way."

Mr Rax: "Good enough are the men all ready?"

Pilot: "Your team is already in the back of the pelican, and Gold Team is taking off right now."

I turn and look behind me as a pelican lifts off, the bay doors opening up with all its lights flashing, before the pelican quickly launches outwards into the snowy outdoors.

Mr Rax: "Thank you sir, I'll be taking position in the cabin with you now."

Pilot: Sounds good, Blue Team looks like they're ready as well, we're launching in 5."

I walk up towards the side of the pelican and take a seat in the co-pilots chair. A transmitter hangs from its mount, and lights flicker as the readouts concerning the ships integrity are displayed on-screen.

Mr Rax: "This is Red 1, Blue Team what's your status over?"

Blue 1: "Blue 1, Ready for launch."

Blue 2: "Blue 2, locked and loaded."

Blue 3: "Ready now chief."

Blue 4: "Waiting on you sir."

Mr Rax: "Roger that, Red 1 out." "Red 2 how are you and the men back there?"

Fugitive: "Ready and waiting."

Quicksilver: "What you mean we aren't there yet?"

Mr Rax: "You'll get your chance soon enough." Red 4?

Sims: "Yes chief?"

Mr Rax: "You got that turrent operational?"

Sims: "Yes Sir." "She's all set up."

Mr Rax: "Alright looks like we're all set, prepare for launch."

Our pilot opens his hatch and takes a seat, and with the flip of a few switches, and the turn of a few dials, the drop ship's engines come to life, the ship vibrating as the turbines warm up. The ship rises off the bay floor and hovers a moment as the bay launch doors open, snow falling through as the wind whips across the outer landscape. And with a whine of the engines we take off into the sky and into the clouds, as our base slowly escapes our view from above.


Mission Log 0545 hours: In the snowy mountains surrounding Lockout: Dropship 1


Mr Rax: "Blue Team be advised we're 3 clicks away from our target."

Blue 1: "Roger that Red 1." Blue 3 and 4 take attack positions on firing station 2, Blue 2, you're with me, on firing station 1." "Maneuver for position."

Blue 3 and 4 rise up and boost right of the drop ship separating outward, as Blue 1 and 2 separate on our left. I stand up from the co-pilot's seat and step through the back hatch into the drop bay of the pelican. Sims looks up as he is still continually wiping down his rifle and gives a nod of acknowledgement before continuing his meticulous cleaning. Fugitive is resting with his head down, the barrel of his sniper rifle leaning up against the side of his helmet quiet and motionless as usual. Quicksilver is fidgeting in his seat, quite uncomfortable with the bumpy ride due to the storm.

Quicksilver: "Are you sure you don't want me flying?"

Mr Rax: "Definitely." You have to be ready to cover the landing area. "How can you do that if your flying this ship?"

Quicksilver: "Awww..."

Pilot: "Red 1, bad news it looks like the storm is dissipitating."

Mr Rax: "Damn our luck!" Blue Team! What's your...

Blue 1: "They see us sir. The firing stations our opening up on us, taking evasive maneuvers now..."

The ship shifts right harshly as a salvo of missiles speed by just narrowly missing.

Mr Rax: "We need to take those stations out if we're going to ever make it there in one piece!"

Pilot: "Sir we have enemy contacts." "It's a wave of seperoth fighters sir!"

Mr Rax: "Sims!" "Arm that turrent!"

Sims: "Yes Sir!"

Mr Rax: "Quicksilver!" "Rockets!"

Quicksilver: "You got it!"

Mr Rax walks back into the cockpit and repositions himself behind the co-pilots seat, as Fugitive jumps up and presses the button for the tail drop hatch to open. Wind whips into the open back hatch as the snowy mountains pass underneath. Blue 1 and Blue 2 start shooting on Firing positions 1, and damages it on their first pass. Blue 3 and 4 unleash their heavy weapons on Firing position 2 crippling the second station's primary defenses.

Blue 3: "This is blue 3 preparing for another pass on station 2..."

As Blue 3 spins for another pass one of the firings stations guns hit Blue 3's hull exploding the interior compartment, sending the air cruiser flailing outwards down into the mountains below.

Blue 4: "This is Blue 4, Blue 3's hit, we have a man down. Preparing for re-engagement on station 2.

Blue 4 spins and with a roll to the left dodging a salvo of incoming fire, rains down bolts of plasma on the firing station, the impacts causing interior explosions on the facility, before the station finally collapses out of the air.
Blue 4: "We have a confirmed kill of station 2, Copy that?..."

An enemy fighter takes position behind Blue 4 and fires, taking out the Air cruisers wings, and ending Blue 4's short-lived victory. Blue 4 falling out of the sky behind station 2.

Blue 1: "Red 1, this is Blue 1, re-targeting station 1, we need additional cover fire over here!"

Mr Rax: "Acknowledged!"

The pelican drop ship boosts upward and takes position in front of Blue 1 and Blue 2. As they race towards station 1, as enemy fighters take position behind Blue 1 and Blue 2.

Blue 1: "They're coming up behind us!"

Mr Rax: "Red Team, see what you can do!"

Fugitive: "Roger that."

Mr Rax opens up the cockpit hatch and re-enters the back of the drop ship as Sims opens up on the auto turrent. Quicksilver fires two shots from his rocket launcher and the rockets home in on two of the fighters behind Blue Team, and sends the fighters spiraling in ragged dimensions, exploding on fire as they fall. Sims on the turrent puts down a hail of 50 caliber rounds down upon the enemy fighters breaking the enemy fighters formation, as bullet holes pierce their inner hulls causing confusion among their ranks. Quicksilver quickly reloads his rocket launcher and fires on two of the last 3 enemy fighters once again stopping their attack. But to late for the last of the enemy fighters targeted Blues 1 and 2 and fired. Blue 1 exploded into a burst of flames and Blue 2 took a hit, as it rolled left trying to dodge the incoming fire.

Blue 2: "This is Blue 2." "The captains gone and I've been hit!" "My weapon systems are dead!" "Unable to fire back on station 1." "Falling back to Fall Back positions 1."

Mr Rax: "Roger that Blue 2!" "We have to do something about that enemy fighter!"

Quicksilver: "I'm all out of rockets!"

Sims: "I can't quite hit him!"

Fugitive: "No need..."

Fugitive kneels down on the back hatch and raises his sniper rifle to his eye. Three shots ring out finding the enemy fighter's fuel tanks turning it into a ball of fire in the sky. He stands up, and walks slowly back to his seat calmly reloading his weapon as Sims, Quicksilver, and Mr Rax watch astonishly with amazement.

Mr Rax: "Good shot."

Quicksilver: "Damn right!"

Sims: "Wow."

Pilot: "The stations firing back at us now prepare for defensive maneuvers..."

The ship rocks back and forth, Red Team grabbing onto the side of the ship as not to fall out the back hatch. Mr Rax stands back up and walks to the cockpit hatch as the drop ship rumbles shaking everyone, as they all fall back to the floor. Quicksilver jumps up and runs for the cockpit and swings open the door to find the pilot dead, the windows shattered, and the controls sparking wildly.

Quicksilver: "He's dead."

Quicksilver pulls the dead pilots body from the chair and puts him down before taking position behind the flight controls.

Mr Rax: "Do you know what you're doing?"

Quicksilver: "I do, but I don't think you really want to know..."

Mr Rax: "Oh god." "Alright Red Team prepare for a hard drop."

Quicksilver dodges the pelican left and swings right hard, Red Team tumbling around in the back cabin. Fugitive grabs hold of Sims, as he almost falls off the turrent. Mr Rax looks through the broken dashboard window as they fly straight towards Firing station 1 increasing in speed.

Mr Rax: "Your not doing what I think you're doing are you?"

Quicksilver: "Maybe..."

Quicksilver locks the controls, as they start to pass over Lockout, and jumps up from the pilot's chair running out through the back hatch, Mr Rax following close behind. Quicksilver Jumps out the back hatch as Mr Rax Grabs Sims off the turrent and pulls him out the two falling together into the air. Fugitive stands up startled, looks through the open cockpit seeing the drop ship heading directly for the firing station, and looks back out the open back hatch where the rest of the team just jumped and thinks to himself.

Fugitive: "Wow."

Fugitive raises his sniper rifle and jumps out the back hatch after his buddies, as the wind tears through the now empty cabin behind them.

Mission Log 0600 hours: Lockout: On Top Of The Rooftops

An explosion rings out as firing station 1 explodes, the station on fire falling into the mountains below lockout. Quicksilver gets up as Fugitive helps him to his feet. They look around and see an unarmed turrent to their right. No enemy in sight.

Quicksilver: "Not a very subtle entrance but it works."

Fugitive: "Yeah."

Fugitive snaps on his radio transmitter, looking down at his sniper rifle that landed before him as he picks it up.

Fugitive: "This is Red 2, Red 1 and 4 can you here me?"

Mr Rax: "This is Red 1, we're here." "What's your position over?"

Fugitive: "I'm here with Quicksilver at the adjacent rooftop of our extraction point." "What's your position over?"

Mr Rax: "We're down here!"

Fugitive and Quicksilver look over the balcony they're on and see Mr Rax and Sims waving from the middle of the platform below them.

Mr Rax: "We need to find that doctor..."

Fugitive looks out to the other rooftop as enemy soldiers pour up into it, at the same time the other rooftops turrent opens up onto Mr Rax and Sims below. Fugitive starts firing on the other rooftops as Mr Rax and Sims run for the base of the enemy tower, bullets kicking up on the catwalk all around them. Quicksilver picks up his battle rifle and starts firing on the other rooftop as well. Three of the enemy soldiers drop, but the turrent's attention now focuses on Fugitive and Quicksilver's position destroying the turrent before them. Bullets hail down as Quicksilver jumps right down the ramp followed by Fugitive.

     Quicksilver rests his back up against the wall as the gunfire hits the ground to his side just outside of range. Fugitive slides left on the second level, and ducks down behind a pillar, looking for a shot on the enemy turrent. The turrent seeing him quickly redirects it fire back at Fugitive pinning him down behind the pillar.

Fugitive: "I can't get a shot."

Mr Rax and Sims now at the base of the extraction zone went and tossed a couple grenades upward onto the roof, exploding the turrent and the enemy soldiers that gathered there. As Mr Rax and Sims looked back at each other, enemy soldiers ran through the open doorway firing bursts of submachine gun fire radically. Sims shot one of the soldiers point blank with his rifle, as Mr Rax bashed one soldier's head in, and then proceeded to stick the barrel of his shotgun in the third soldier's mouth before pulling the trigger.

Sims: "Bravo 1 tower roofs, and midsection clear." "How you guys doing over there?"

Fugitive gets up from the shattered pillar and walks towards Quicksilver at the top of the second floor ramp. Quicksilver keys his mic, as he unsheathes his blade.

Quicksilver: "A lot better now that you got that turrent off our back."

As Fugitive turns looking down the ramp, enemy soldiers pour through the bottom up towards their position.

Fugitive: "Look out!"

Fugitive raises his sniper rifle and shoots two of the soldiers falling dead to the floor, as Quicksilver quickly rushes in slicing another soldier in half, and burying his blade deep into the chest of another. As Quicksilver turns to the last soldier, Fugitive fires, his third round right past Quicksilver's ear and into the enemy's head sending him flying over the balcony railing.

Quicksilver: "Thanks but is that thing loud enough?"

Fugitive: "Yes it is."

Fugitive reloads his sniper rifle as he silently brushes by Quicksilver as if nothing happened. Quicksilver just shakes his head, laughing.

Quicksilver: "This is Red 3 Delta rooftop and midsection secure, still no sign of the doctor."

Mr Rax: "Roger that Red 3, we're clearing Bravo lower levels now, proceed through Delta's lower level and meet us in the middle.

Quicksilver: "Orders confirmed." "Wilco, Red 3 out."

Mr Rax and Sims crouch down and start descending down the bottom ramp of Bravo's tower Sim's rifle at the ready following close behind Mr Rax, in a close knit room clearing formation. They move through the lower levels and find no immediate enemy presence. As they move they hear a slight rushed breathing sound coming from around the corner. As they turn the corner they see the doctor, shaking behind some boxes.

Mr Rax: "There he is!"

The doctor jumps up and pushes Mr Rax out of the way running wildly down the hall. Sims helps Mr Rax up, and they begin to chase the Doctor into Lockout's midsection. As the doctor runs looking behind him he runs straight into Fugitive who promptly smacks him to the ground. Mr Rax and Sims walk up behind the doctor, as Fugitive stands above him arms crossed his rifle on his back, with Quicksilver standing close behind him.

Doctor Kelly: "I'm just a scientist!" I'm not a soldier like the others, please don't kill me!"

The doctor grabs at Mr Rax's foot for mercy tears in his eyes crying for mercy. A shaking ball on the floor in front of him.

Mr Rax: "Yes you are just a scientist, but your experiments here, would lead to the deaths of many of my men!" "Men I've fought together with since the beginning." "To me your no different than any of the other enemy." "Your just not smart enough to carry a weapon."

Mr Rax kicks the doctor from his feet and onto his back as he walks away from him. Mr Rax stands there and thinks to himself for a moment.

Mr Rax: "Fugitive."

Fugitive steps forward and around to the front of he doctor. He pulls his side arm from its holster and raises it to the doctor's forehead, the doctor with a terrified look in his eyes.

Doctor Kelly: "No!"... "Please!"... "Don't!"

Fugitive: "Time to say goodnight..."

Fugitive thumbs the safety from his pistol and squeezes the trigger twice, the doctor's body falling limp to the floor in front of him.

Mr Rax: "Now onto the cryo-station..."

As Red Team begins to move out a loud roar casts down onto the facility. Two enemy drop ships hover down directly on top of them, and Red Team looks up through the glass above them as dozens of soldiers pile out.

Mr Rax: "Gold Team come in!" "Enemy reinforcements have landed, need immediate support!"

Butler: "Roger that Red 1." The cavalry is on the way."

Two clicks away a pelican hovering in the clouds fires up its engines to max, and quickly leaps forward toward Lockout, leaving a trail of smoke behind them.

Mr Rax: "Ok Team we have to move now!" "Let's go!"

Red Team runs down the Alpha Tower's lower runway towards the cryo-station
Mr Rax at the lead, followed closely by Quicksilver, with Sims and Fugitive taking a rear covering position. They burst through the open doorway and into the room where enemy guards turn around surprised, before firing towards them. Quicksilver takes a hit in the side, but rushes forward still cutting two of the guards down. Mr Rax fires his shotgun exploding the barrels to his right sending two of the enemy guards flying in the resulting blast. As more soldiers rush into the room from the outside catwalk Fugitive snipes three of the soldiers as Sims headshots the remaining two their bodies tumbling to the ground. Mr Rax looks down the hallway of cryo-tubes and pulls the bomb from his satchel.

Mr Rax: "Secure the perimeter!"

Quicksilver guards the doorway to the ramp above them, as Sims takes position behind the corner of the gravity lift for cover, his rifle raised above the platform covering the outer catwalk. Fugitive kneels down behind Mr Rax with his sniper rifle drawn in case any soldiers get by the two of the others. Mr Rax kneels down, as he looks into the cryo-tubes the soldiers inside of them still in a state of cryo-genetic sleep. 10 seconds later Mr Rax finishes arming the bomb as the enemy soldiers rush into the room. Sims opens up on his battle rifle taking down two soldiers from the catwalk the third falling back up the ramp. Through the doorway Quicksilver was guarding two soldiers start firing upon Sims who dives out of the way bullets whizzing past his side. Quicksilver clotheslines the first guard rushing into the room, and slices again, knocking the weapon from the second soldier's hand before splitting him in two from head to toe. Mr Rax picks back up his shotgun as he finishes planting the bomb and turns towards the scene, as two guards drop down from some vent in the ceiling at the end of the cryo-tube hallway. Fugitive quickly turns around and puts two bullets in them each before they ever got to hit the ground.

Mr Rax: "Ok bomb planted!" "Lets move to the extraction point!"

Mr Rax and Quicksilver jump up and into the gravity lift sending them to the upper rooftop. Fugitive And Sims go to follow but are cut off due to a wave of machine gun fire, and they both duck and jump left out towards the catwalk. Sims and Fugitive throw grenades back into the room behind them to cover their exit, and start to run up the catwalk back towards Delta tower's midsection. As they near the top of the catwalk enemy soldiers rush into the room in front of them and seeing them open fire. Sims ducks down and drops to a prone position firing back as bullets fly above his head. Fugitive on the other hand jumps and grabs a hold of the second floors balcony and pulls himself up looking down for his buddy. Sims fires on the oncoming soldiers and turns and runs back down the ramp, right into an ambush of soldiers exiting the cryo-lab. Sims turns around and watches as the enemy soldiers surround him.

Enemy Soldier 1: "Give up!" "There's nowhere to go!" "Lower your weapons and surrender!"

Sims looking over the catwalk railing at the mountains below turns around toward the enemy commander, and drops his Battle Rifle to his feet raising his hands in the air. Sims steps back onto the catwalk railing and turns around with his hands on his head. He looks down into the seemingly endless mountains of snow below him and closes his eyes. As the enemy troops move in from behind, Sims bends his knees and jumps from the catwalk and into the storm below. Fugitive watching from the tower above him, watches wide eyed as he sees his friend leap off the edge. The enemy soldiers surprised run to the edge of the catwalk and look over the railing. As the enemy commander looks down, a loud roar of turbines rises, a pelican hovering upward over the catwalk, Sims crouching down on top of its roof. In astonishment the enemy soldiers look up as the pelican with Konflict at the wheel spins, at which point Pagemaster opens up on the turrent, with Butler with a sniper rifle, and Dawnbringer with a battle rifle all firing down upon the enemy soldiers cutting their ranks all down. Sims jumps from the roof back down to the catwalk, as Butler and Dawnbringer jump from the back hatch of the pelican onto the catwalk beside him.

Butler: "Looked like you needed a lift!"

Sims: "Your timing couldn't have been better."

Butler waves the pelican on and looks back towards Sims as he picks back up his battle rifle.

Sims: "I'll be taking you back now baby."

Butler: "Gold 4 proceed to the extraction point

Konflict: "Roger that." "Proceeding to the extraction point now.

Butler: "Gold 3, try and give us some cover fire while you can."

Pagemaster: "Yes Sir!"

Butler: "Gold 2, Red 4 your with me." "Lets move."

The pelican rises upwards as Mr Rax, and Quicksilver look over the edge of the tower at Gold Teams insertion below.

Mr Rax: "It's good to have you guys with us!" "Thanks for picking up my man."

Butler: "What's your position Red 1?"

Mr Rax: "On the roof of Alpha one with Quicksilver, my other man is in the second floor of Delta tower.

Butler looks up towards Delta tower and sees Fugitive jumping back down to the top of the catwalk.

Butler: "Very well, we'll meet you at the top of Bravo Tower." "Hold that position till we get there."

Mr Rax: "Roger that, see you there."

Butler walks forward up to Fugitive, and they all kneel for a quick huddle.

Butler: "Ok here's what we're going to do." "We're gonna move through lockout's midsection and up through Bravo's ramps towards the roof where we'll meet up with the rest of the team."

Dawnbringer: "Why don't we just meet up in the middle of the platform in the center?"

Fugitive: "Cause you're a sitting target for people like me."

Dawnbringer: "Oh ok."

Butler: "Ok let's move people."

Dawnbringer and Sims take lead battle rifles at the ready, Butler and Fugitive at the rear. They together move into Delta towers midsection and proceed through Lockout's midsection clearing the hallways ahead of them. When they get to Charlie towers lower catwalk, they jump up towards Bravo Towers ramp, which wasn't more than a few feet above them helping pull each other up. As they climbed Bravo team's second floor ramp more enemy soldiers appeared behind them on the top middle platform. Bullets rained down on the ramp all around them. Sims and Dawnbringer ran and leapt out of the way to the top of the tower but Fugitive and Butler had to jump right into Bravo towers second floor room. Butler and Fugitive pressed their backs to the wall and started to fire around the corner.

Butler: "Where's that cover fire at!?!"

Gold Team's pelican dropped back down above the middle platform and Pagemaster opened back up on the turrents silencing the enemy's engagement.

Pagemaster: "You called?"

Butler: "A little sooner next time if you will."

Konflict: "Right sir."

The pelican turned around and positioned itself back up at the top of bravo's rooftop. Fugitive and Butler ran back out toward the ramp and up to the top of the roof, where the rest of the team was waiting. When they got there they looked all around and there were literally over a dozen enemy solders dead at their feet.

Butler: "What happened here?"

Quicksilver: "Right before you got here the enemy just started pouring in through the Charlie side ramp." "Me and Mr Rax here put the beat down on them." "Trying to act all like they knew something."

Mr Rax: "It was like the Alamo all over again. "Let's just get out of here before anything else happens."

Butler: "I couldn't agree more..." "Let's Load up!"

The members of Phoenix Arisen all file into the back of the drop ship and close the hatch behind them. Everyone takes a seat and the pelican lifts high into the air. With a loud whine of the engines the pelican takes off back into the clouds. As Lockout starts to fall from view, Mr Rax pulls out the detonator and turns it over in his hands.

Mr Rax: "To the death..."

Mr Rax presses the button, and lockout explodes, fires leaping out the catwalks, the gravity lift crashing down onto the middle platform. The station rotates violently for a moment, as it's surface rumbles with secondary explosions, before the station finally breaks apart and collapses into the snowy mountains below. As the explosions flare behind them, Phoenix Arisen in their pelican flys past, once again disappearing into the storm.





bungie.org