Blank Slate Ch.8: Twilight Gap

Table of Contents https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/225386550/0/0 My boots landed firmly on the ground. The City wall stood dominantly in front of me. "Ghost," I ordered, "Give KS our coordinates." "Already did," my Ghost replied, "Blanc says they're close." After a few moments, KS landed next to me. "Salem," he greeted, "Always a pleasure." "I was just with you..." I mumbled. "You two!" The weathered voice from the comms called. I turned and saw a Titan, wearing thick white and gold armor covered in images of trees and wolf heads. It was Lord Saladin. "Ghost," Saladin said, "Give their Ghosts positions on the wall. Guardians, the Devils are leading an assault on the walls. We've had sightings of support from the Kings and Winter. Protect the City." KS dissolved in a flash of blue as Blanc transmatted him into his ship, then I did the same. • • • "Im dropping you with the other Guardians, between the wall and the Fallen," my Ghost explained, "It's gonna be hot, so find cover, and be careful. Someone just reported Winter Walkers closing in." I transmatted. As my boots hit the battle-scorched ground, I rolled, then ran and slid behind a large rock. I peeked around it to take in my surroundings. I was in a clearing between the wall and a forest, and could see about a dozen other Guardians behind the sparse rocks and trees, exchanging fire with a large number of Devils who were trying to force their way through the woods towards the wall. I looked back towards the wall and saw KS standing out in the open, aiming a Dead Orbit sniper rifle towards the oncoming Fallen. His metallic red armor made him stick out like a sore thumb. "Ghost," I said, "Put me on comms with these Guardians." After a crackle of static, I heard the others talking. "They're pushing harder on the left," one said. "Would someone tell that Warlock in the red he's liable to get shot," another called. KS shot his sniper into the tree line. "Never mind, he's good," the voice muttered. "KS!" I hailed, raising a hand. KS glanced at me, then began walking towards my rock. His sniper disappeared and was replaced by his hand cannon. He steadily shot into the woods as bolts of Arc energy from the Fallen guns whizzed by him, before coming to a crouch next to me. "Salem," he greeted, "Always a pleasure." "We just- Ah, forget it," I grumbled. "They're building a sniper line behind the rocks," someone said, "Get grenades in there." I brought a sleek black scout rifle out of my Inventory, leaned on my rock, and began shooting at whatever moved through the trees. KS propped his sniper rifle on the rock as well. • • • We spent a few minutes fending off the endless waves of Devils, Guardians calling positions and targets. KS ran out of sniper rounds and switched to his hand cannon. "Anyone else runnin' low?" a Guardian asked. "Yep." "Yes." "Yeah," came the replies. "I've got a couple of synthesis," someone announced. Two small packets were tossed from one rock to another. "Thanks." "That'll work." "I'd bet the Fallen have tons of stuff the Ghosts can convert on their lifeless husks," another chuckled. We were silent for a moment. "Any Defender Titans?" a Guardian inquired. "Yo," a Titan behind a thick tree in front of me and KS stuck out her hand. "Anyone near you?" the Guardian asked. "We're right behind her," I called. "Alright. Defender, run out to their front line and pop a Bubble. Hunter in the black, stick with her. She'll keep them off you, you pick up whatever you can, then you both run back. The rest of us will cover you." "Sounds good," the Defender said. "Let's do it," someone cheered, "Three..... Two..... One!" Everyone popped up from cover and fired mercilessly at the Devils. The Defender rushed out and I vaulted over my rock, staying close behind her. A few bolts from Fallen guns clipped her armor, but there was relatively no resistance with the others gunning down everything in sight. At the edge of the forest, the Defender stopped and flung her arms out to the sides. A large purple dome of Void Light sprung up around us. The Ward of Dawn, called Bubbles by slang users. The Fallen's bolts uselessly thumped against the shield. My Ghost marked objects on the HUD of my visor, and I quickly began scraping up materials. A Dreg foolishly rushed into the Bubble, but the Defender slammed it into the ground with a swift punch to the head. Having collected everything useful inside the Bubble, I dived out, picked up more materials, then rolled back in. A Vandal chased after me, brandishing a crackling shock blade, but the Defender smashed its face in. I scavenged what I could while the Defender continued to beat down the ever-increasing number of bold Devils. "The Vanguard says the Devils are making a spearhead," a Ghost announced, "Twilight Gap is getting hit hard, and the City's gun positions are trading fire with Winter's Walkers." "Lord Saladin just sent an alert to our sector," a Guardian warned, "Winter strike teams are heading our way! This could get messy!" "Get the ammo and come back!" someone commanded. I rushed back to the others. The Defender turned and followed me, the Ward of Dawn vanishing. The others started unloading again. "INCOMING!" a Guardian yelled. Before I could look back to see what the warning was for, everything exploded around me. I was launched off of my feet. I hit the ground hard and tumbled forward. My back hit something hard and my vision went black.