[spoiler]Act I Part 3 [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/242853482/0/0]Archive[/url][/spoiler] Engine exhaust flares outward with slight bursts as the dropship hovers a few feet above an overgrown parking lot, the result of a steady hand guiding the vessel to avoid the few remaining husks of cars that dot the improvised landing pad. After touching ground and shutting down the flight systems, Lee relaxes in the pilot's seat. His head lays back against the worn cushion and hands relax in his lap as he gazes out into his surroundings. New York: one of the largest and most breathtaking scars of the Collapse. It's iconic towers brought to ruin with the few that remain standing taken over by vegetation and beyond repair. Each structure now seems ready to give way to the slightest touch of an uncautious soul. The once busy streets broken apart by weather and war have either collapsed into the tunnels that network throughout the city or now serve as the final resting place of rusted car frames and the sunbleached bones of those inside them. Over the remains of a shattered wall beside the ship, just to side of one of the few standing towers off in the distance, the unhindered glow of the morning's sunrise begins to show itself and flood the cockpit. The brief moment of peace is interrupted by the sound of chatter from the rest of the team, likely the beginnings of another terrible idea if Lee doesn't release the hatch and get them outside. He grabs one of the overhead handles to depressurize the cabin as he begrudgingly lifts up from his seat. "Okay," he exclaimes as he turns toward the other three, "I know we're all excited about this little fieldtrip to see a hole in the ground, but stay focused. We get this done, we hopefully lose our bad rep for little while." The rear ramp begins to lower, the dim light of morning seeping through as the exit widens. Patterson remains seated, head turned to watch the ramp slowly fall like a metal curtain as it reveales the landscape of destruction and decay. "Why here?" he asks. "Why not?" Bee replies before knocking on the top of his helmet and standing up in preparation to leave. "Not like anyone was around to stop 'em." He shakes his head slightly, "no, it just seems too cluttered. Too many subway lines and hardened foundations to dig comfortably, same reason they seem to avoid pretty much all big cities. Too thick and too unstable. Not to mention the risk of a good sized building coming down to destroy entrances or cause collapses further down the tunnel network..." "Hmm, could be desperate to get some kind of long term foothold under our nose. And that last part sounds to me like a good excuse to go topple a few buildings." Lee cuts in, eager to shoot down the idea before Bee can dart outside. "Tower said that scouts haven't seen anything go in or out yet, so maybe Drill Sargent told one to dig a latrine and forgot about them. Either way, it's new, it's unmapped, and Tower said I have to be sober until we get back. Bee, you're on guard duty. Set up a turret outside and don't shoot unless it's actually a threat this time. Pat, I think there's an outpost not too far from here, Dead Orbit maybe, so go ahead and check in them then keep an eye on this one," he says pointing at Bee. "O, you're with me. It's one thing to talk your way out of being detained, but it's another to talk yourself into community service." The Onyx Guard shrugs in response with one hand and reaches for his rifle with the other saying, "[i]kind of hoped the old trick of 'say everything; tell nothing' would be enough. Never thought there'd be an actual need for someone to shoot things underground here[/i]." "Next time, be more careful with those assumptions." "What if Pat wants to go?" Bee retorts, "He likes Hive stuff." Patterson stands to his feet and makes his way over to the comms terminal. "Hate going underground," he mumbles as he sits down again to interact with the screen. "[i]I do too[/i]," the Onyx Guard says in response. "[i]But at least we'll have guns in case any of your bug people show up.[/i]" Bee puts up finger to interject, "worm people." "[i]Worm people?[/i]" Patterson sighs, "they worship worms, but look more like walking skeletons in bulky bone plated armor. Supposedly they gain power through giant worm gods similar to the way we gain our power through the traveler." The Gear stands motionless for a moment. It's not until Bee waves a hand in front of him to say that Lee is walking out of the ship that he snaps back to reality. "[i]It's always giant worms[/i]."