Other concerning tendencies the Queen displays are in her politics regarding her relationship with the Last City and it’s Guardians. Its no secret that she tries to keep the Lightbearers in her pocket with double-sided favors, but whenever she finds herself on the other side of things with a bill to pay, all it takes is a few shiny new toys and a handful of glimmer and suddenly all her debts are payed. She likely picked up this tendency from observing the Guardian, Savin. An Awoken man who left for Earth as Chao Mu and likely died crushed by a fridge while fighting a Vandal. When Uldren brought him back to the Reef, Mara noticed several differences from the man he used to be, and how easily appeased he was with simple repetitive tasks. This is nothing new of course, but there’s one major event in the Lore regarding the Queen’s relations with the Last City that still has me questioning the motivation behind it. I’m referring to the time Petra Venj killed three strike teams worth of Guardians. This was obviously a tragedy for the Last City, and tensions between the two societies were just about as high as they could be. So what did the Queen do to try and mend the situation? She sent Petra as her emissary to the City. Now, there are a lot of ways to interpret this move. Was it to punish Petra for possibly jeopardizing a very delicate relationship? Was is a message to the City, to allow Petra to make amends with the people she hurt? Was having the killer present for the grieving meant to show respect or was it a subtle slight? Was it like with Skolas, to give them one of her trophies? Surly Mara had to realize the risk of sending Petra there. If a few angry Guardians found out what she had done, there’s no way Petra could best them on her own. Was Mara trying to throw Petra to the wolves by sending her to the Last City, expecting her to be torn apart by the masses? It wouldn’t be the first time she’s sacrificed her own people for the sake of her plans. I noted earlier about the Reef keeping Ahamkara, and how they kept their relationship secret from the City who were hunted them. Some people might see that as a noble act, shielding a race from being the victims of genocide, how virtuous of them. But it wasn’t done because the Reef thought what the Last City was doing was atrocious. The Queen kept the Ahamkara safe because they were a useful tools to her. She built her empire on the backs of Wish Dragons, had them establish her Throne in the Ascendant Realm (which is a concern regardless of intent) and thanks to the Wall of Wishes, there was never any downside to exploiting their would-be malicious complacence. She reduced those great beasts to dreg strength, only surviving because they were useful. The thought boils my blood. Recently, its been discovered that the Queen is monitoring the Pyramid ships the Traveler’s God wave woke up, seen in the holograms in her Court. She seems particularly interested in the fluctuations the interiors of these ships go through. Interesting how she’s yet to inform anyone of the threat they pose. Perhaps she’s only just discovered them, or perhaps she’s creating another pact to find a way to exploit our friends in the Tower again. That’s the difference between you and the Queen, Guardian. Where you see an enemy that needs to be dealt with, the Queen sees an opportunity to further her strength. To commandeer, like a Pirate. To take, like a King. Her distain for the Great Machine is blatant, and repulsive. She’s even so bold as to tell one of it’s children she would be glad to have it destroyed to their face. She is not your ally, Lightbearer. You are just another tool for her to grab more power with. Her ego has produced a plan to establish herself as an absolute power in both Sol and the fabric of reality. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Do not trust the Queen. Pt1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/249377695?sort=0&page=0