[b]Mars Raid: Operation Icarus[/b] It’s no secret that the Cabal Psions plan to use Phobos as a weapon but until now we never knew how. Intel from Delyth Marr of The Hidden has recently picked up a massive increase in activity from one of their weapons factories. Reports indicate that they are transporting something big on an armoured train to rendezvous with a shuttle bound for Phobos. The Order thinks that they are planning to fit the moon with an anti-gravity drive to hurl it towards Earth. Once they get it going it will be near impossible to stop. We need to shut it down before it leaves Mars. [b]Part 1: Hitch a Ride[/b] “We lost contact with the Delyth but the last transmission said the train has already entered heavily defended Cabal territory and is too well armed to attack directly. Hordes of Elite guards from the Siege Dancers and Psion Mind Devourer Xeus have been sighted.” “The Cabal are expecting an attack on the train and are sending more gunships as an escort. This is our last chance to find out where they’re going and get on board undetected.” - There are a fleet of gunships and dropships in a Cabal hangar being refuelled, a lot of troops have just been seen getting on board. Guardians need to split into two teams to attack and board the two rear most dropships which are expected to be joining the escort for the train while they’re still on the ground. - First objective is to snipe the guards next to the ship without them running off and raising the alarm but they come in pairs. While this is going on, at least one guardian from each team needs to hack the ship doors for entry and need to stay in a proximity circle until it is completed. - Once both have finished their hacking sequence the door will open and all Guardians must enter, sneaking past the last pair of guards outside. - Once all inside the door closes, Ghost has disrupted outgoing comms and Guardians need to take out all remaining Cabal on the ship and fight to the cockpit then hack the flight controls before the rest of the escort leaves. If they fail to do this in time, an alarm is raised and the ship is fired upon. [i]“Are you sure you know how to fly this thing? Luckily someone read the manual.” - Ghost[/i] [b]Part 2: All Aboard[/b] “The train is just up ahead but we still need a plan to get on board… We could try shooting them all in the back, or I could just… There we go. Fleet wide hacking in progress, but I think they’re on to us” - While Ghost keeps the fleet of ships from attacking, Cabal jump over from the other ships onto the Guardian ships. Guardians must get out on top and defend from the boarding Cabal. - After a number of Cabal waves, the train below starts to target the Guardian with a salvo of missiles or a chain gun. If missiles are being used the targeted ship needs to use the turret to shoot the missiles down, if it’s a chain gun, they need to activate a temporary shield. At the same time the other guardian ship moves into position and they must use their turret to take out the missile launcher or chain gun. Cabal continue to board at the same time. - After a number of these missile/chain gun waves all of the train weapons have been destroyed then the High Psion Flayer appears. Twin Psion Mind Devourers - Xeus & Pho. - One Psion starts to pull off pieces of the ship while the other channels energy into the ship part in order to create a sort of flaming missile of wreckage to launch at the ship that the Guardians are on. Just like before the targeted ship needs to fire their turret at the Psion holding the piece, forcing it to use it like a shield while the other ship attacks the energising Psion causing it lose control of the built up energy which explodes causing damage to the both of them. This has to be done after the wreck has had enough energy channelled otherwise it doesn’t cause damage. - Randomly instead of this attack they will both use an energy attack which needs to be shielded by activating the ships shields. - If too much is torn off a Guardian ship (too many cycles) the ship crashes and causes a wipe. - Cabal are still boarding albeit it less than the previous waves. - Randomly a Psion will pick up a Phalanx and throw that onto the middle of the Guardian ship. - After dealing enough damage the pair are destroyed, but as a dying final attack create a massive Psionic EMP bringing down all of the ships. [i]“Is it too late to turn back?” - Ghost[/i] [b]Part 3: The Stairway[/b] “So we didn’t manage to stop the train but we didn’t crash too far from the destination. They’re heading for the Orbital Elevator, the name translates to The Stairway. Whatever they’re packing must be really heavy if they’re not flying it up to Phobos. We don’t have much time.” “Up there it’s huge, you can’t miss it and it’s only half way up. We should be able to catch up.” - Guardians must ascend The Stairway and face whatever awaits. The ride up won’t be smooth. - Defeat the guards around the elevator entrance and start another hacking job requiring all Guardians to stay within proximity while defending from oncoming Cabal. - Door opens all go in and lift starts ascending. On the way up, parts of the ceiling crash in. The Cabal are jumping in from above. More holding your ground but with no-where to run. - As more of the ceiling opens up, you can see Psions high above you, working to destroy the mechanism while Cabal defend them. Guardians must kill them to stop them from halting the elevator. If Psions spend too long at the mechanism the lift falls and causes a wipe. [b]Part 4: Going Down?[/b] - The Guardians’ elevator eventually arrives at the top, moments before the ‘package’ elevator. You are high above Mars now in orbit, just stars and Phobos above. The top of the package comes into view first – it’s absolutely huge - and it’s a Vex gate. “They’re not flying it to Earth, they’re teleporting it straight past all of our defences! We have to stop this now or not even the Traveller can save us!” - At the base of the Vex Gate is something big. It’s Primus Gar’ak in a monstrous weaponised loader. Armed with rocket launchers chain guns, a giant Phalanx shield and an ion beam cannon. - The giant shield blocks everything the guardians throw at the front while thick armour defends its rear. But there are two rail guns mounted in the corners of the platform. - First these need to be hacked while other Guardians keep the Cabal pinned down with gun fire and drawing his attention. - Once hacked the guns can be used to fire at Gar’ak who isn’t too happy with that sort of firepower. He hunkers down and charges his ion beam canon at which point the Rail gun needs to switch to shield mode to block the blast. - Once Primus fires his ion canon part of his loader suit opens to vent coolant at which point the other rail gun needs to fire to cause damage. - Cabal arrive in other lifts dotted around the platform periodically to join the fight. - After a few rounds, Gar’ak lets out a roar and the rail guns start moving around the perimeter of the platform at unequal speeds. [i]“Uh-oh, looks like they’re trying to gain control of the guns – I can keep them operational but I can’t keep them still.” – Ghost[/i] - Same as before but now they’re not always in the same place and timing is required so that when they are fired and shielded, the other gun is in a good enough position to get a shot off at the radiator. - Eventually Primus Gar’ak falls to his knees, the loader suit having taken too much damage, losing control and the ion beam slicing the Vex gate in half before he explodes. [i]“Well that’s one to tell the guys back home. What did we do today? Oh just save the world.” - Ghost[/i] End of raid. As usual thoughts and suggestions are welcome. The aim of this raid is to promote synchronicity. I’ve tried to tie in existing lore as well as making up some of my own but if anything is amiss then hopefully you’ll let it slide. If you like this also check out: Revamping bounties idea - [url]https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/108038435/0/0/1[/url]