Good topic. The consensus seems to be that there is a power vacuum and as we all know nature abhors a vacuum. So from a player perspective we will continue to fight pretenders to the throne until balance is restored and the vacuum filled. This doesn't mean that the vacuum could be filled by something as evil as Oryx but could be filled by anyone that is deemed worthy of leading the Hive. We have taken the power to determine who should take this place and we will be the judge, jury and executioner of all that don't fit the bill. From a lore perspective we have several major players who could become too powerful for the Vanguardians to contain. We don't yet know what motivates Rasputin. We don't know yet the true motives of the speaker. We don't know yet to what extent we are part of the Vex simulacra. And we don't know yet how determind the Cabal are to gain a foothold in or system. As a story arc we are only just reaching the end of the 1st chapter. Bungie envisaged a 10 year game so there's a whole lot.more to come. We have yet to see what became of, if anything, the Ahamkara. Where do the 9 figure into the background of our solar system and why are they so willing to help the destruction of those races which are attempting to attack the Traveller. Whilst, yes, we are ultimately defending our planet against attack by alien forces drawn here by the Traveller. Why is it that the Traveller instills so much anger within those races that they'll stop at nothing to destroy it. Perhaps the lure of the light will claim us as it did the Fallen and turn us into a hollow race bent on rediscovering Golden Age technology. Mmmmm makes you think doesn't it Master Rahool.