[Opening theme music fades in, blaring horns leading into a burst of percussive cymbal. Strings come in to drive the piece, urgent and lilting with punctuating horns growing. ]

[SFX: Distant shots and whirring growing closer.]

TITAN VO: I approached the sounds of wire rifles and shock grenades with my sparrow at full throttle. As I came around the corner from the Pools into the open expanse of the Cistern, I could see a sizable group of Fallen dropping from 3 ketches and moving up the hill toward the cavern. High up in the pillars, there were three other Fallen firing back at the large group that was advancing toward them.

[SFX: A click then footsteps.]

TITAN VO: I jumped off my sparrow and leaped high in the air to join them at the vantage point. If we had any hope of returning the group to the Mithrax… we gotta hold the high ground.

[SFX: Clicks of Titan’s weapon against the sounds of the ongoing battle.]

TITAN VO: I pulled out my Witherhoard and laid down some cover fire as I tried to communicate with them.

TITAN: (commanding) MOVE BACK! (slower but still commanding) MOVE BACK INTO THE CAVERN.

[SFX: No response as the battle continues.]

WARLOCK: Slowly yelling louder isn’t more effective than just yelling.

TITAN: Well I’m open to ideas. We’re about to get overrun, and the only cover is up the hill in that the cavern.

WARLOCK: Grenade and Witherhoard some cover. I’ll take care of them. (Warlocks speaks to the Fallen in their own language

TITAN: I didn’t know you spoke Fallen.

WARLOCK: Books. Try using one for more than a coaster.

TITAN: (annoyed) You’re not helping right now!

WARLOCK: I am most assuredly helping. Let’s get up to higher ground so we can funnel them through the passage.

[SFX: Footsteps over slightly crunching ground.]

TITAN VO: We fell back into an alcove with two entry points. The first was a narrow passage where we could funnel the advancing troops into a kill box and protect the elders.

[SFX: The footsteps change, now in a quieter space, the floor stony.]

TITAN VO: The second would be more of an escape route, should we need it. She directed the three House Light riflemen to point above the exit…

[SFX: Warlock speaks Fallen in the background with a firm tone.]

TITAN VO: …as lookouts while we laid down the ordinance and held our ground.

MITHRAX: (over radio, distorted) Guardian, what is your status?

[SFX: Each message over the radio ends with a beep.]

TITAN: We’re safe at the moment. Definitely outnumbered, but… we can hold this position for a bit.

SAINT-14: (over radio) Excellent. We are nearly done cleaning up the Vex. I shall send assistance when we can.

WARLOCK: You shouldn’t be getting any more Vex pushing toward your position after the initial group. The gate can’t replenish energy fast enough to keep up with the rate of troop loss.

IKORA: (over radio, tired) We are very well aware of our situation, my student. Stick to your mission parameters and protect House Light at all costs. We cannot allow them to be captured.

TITAN: (chuckles)

WARLOCK: Copy that. (beat, then teasing) What are you looking at? Aint no Fallen back here, ya silly crayon muncher. The bad guys are all THAT way.

[SFX: A distant, rasping roar followed by heavy footfalls.]

TITAN VO: That's when we heard a familiar sound that made this tough situation a whole lot worse. The roar of an approaching Fallen Chieftain sent a rumble through the ground and fear into the House Light elders. They began chattering in panic and scrambling around the area.

[SFX: Tech booting up then rapid footsteps.]

TITAN VO: She quickly calmed everyone down and gathered them into a corner. She then turned to the three lookouts and yelled some Fallen commands.

WARLOCK: (speaking urgently in Fallen)

TITAN VO: They immediately readied their wire rifles and scanned the area.

[SFX: Wire rifles power up. Sensors ring in the background.]

WARLOCK: Oh no. How many rockets do you have left?

TITAN: Three. That’s not enough to take down the boss and still cover these people.

WARLOCK: What’s your plan?

TITAN: I can bubble the Elders and draw fire. You get them away while the Armor of Light is still active.

WARLOCK: The committee approves of your plan. (laughs) I’ll cover this passage.

TITAN: (chuckles) With your sidearm?

WARLOCK: Isn’t there some Titan joke where it’s not about the size but how you use it? Now git that firm Titan ass goin. The bad guy is close.

[SFX: The heavy footfalls approach closer.]

TITAN VO: The House Light lookouts began squealing and pointing.

[SFX: Guttural roars. Titan’s footsteps.]

TITAN VO: The Boss had worked his way around the back of our position and cut off our exit. We were officially pinned down with no way out. A loud battle cry from the remaining Fallen enemies filled the air. I slid into the corner with the House Light elders behind me and waited.

[SFX: Chittering.]

TITAN VO: I could feel fearful small hands pawing at my back, begging me to do something. I turned and patted one on the shoulder, trying to console it.

WARLOCK: (Speaks soothingly in Fallen)

TITAN: What did you say?

WARLOCK: It loses a lot in translation.

TITAN VO: I looked back at the small group. They began slapping me on the back and clapping their hands above their heads. If that’s not enough motivation, I don’t know what is. I popped my bubble and launched myself into battle.

[SFX: Titan powers up his weapons and pushes forward with a yell.]

[Ending theme music. Music comes in. Arcing strings that fade into deeper notes with a harmonizing chorale.]