[b]Ohhhh, man, that's right, it's here....finally. No, I'm not dead, and no I haven't give up on the story. What I have done, though, is been busy with school and life, and right now, that's priority one. So, anyways, let's get along with the chapter, shall we? Missed any chapters? Click here--> https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/128755126/0/0 DarkFang_007and Beelzebub's characters are featured in this chapter[/b] [u]Chapter 13: [i]Varying Goals[/i] [/u] The Ketch in the jungles of the Congo, was not easy to find. It took Lyzel many Interrogations--which hadn't gone well...for the Fallen--to finally triangulate it's location. He wove is way through the dense forest, breathing steadily. Luckily, his armor's coolant system was still working, after a little skirmish he had got into with a previous Fallen group; the humidity didn't have as much as an effect on him. His narrowed eyes, caught the shimmer of light reflecting off of water. Stealthily making his way towards it, he noticed that the sky had darkened rather quickly. Now at the banks of a winding river, Lyzel looked into the night sky for any signs of a cloaked Ketch. [i]There's no way it could be on the surface[/i], he thought. But unbeknownst to his knowledge, the Flagship of the Ash Kell [i]was[/i] low on the ground, just barely out of sight; the tops of the lush, green trees hiding it's hull. Lyzel stopped scanning the skies, and walked back into the cover of the rain forest. Slumping down against the base of a moss-covered tree, the Hunter took a short nap, his hands resting on his knife and gun, instinctively. [i] He was chasing a girl through the tall glass of a infinite plain, or so it seemed infinite. Her cloak rippled in the wind, and she laughed playfully as he caught up to her, wrapping his arms around her slim body. Turning to face her, he held her hands in his own and stared into the beautiful eyes she had. Smiling up at him, he stroked his hair with his hand, "I love you Ashley." he said. She giggled at that, and opened her mouth to say something. Before any words could leave her lips, a blade plunged through her back, electricity crackling along its edges. Lyzel looked on in horror, as the figure of a Stealth Captain appeared behind her. The dream turned black and eerie, Lyzel screamed as he saw the woman he loved fall to the ground. He reached out to er, but was met only with the sound of laughter. [/i] It hadn't been very long before the sound of a Skiff breaking orbit woke the Hunter. His eyes snapped open; his legs springing up from beneath him. He walked out slowly from the cover of the trees and saw the Fallen ship uncloaking and touching down a few miles North from where he was. The moment he saw it descend, he knew where the Ketch was. It would take a day at the least to reach it, but he [i]would[/i] reach it...he had to. Looking own at his torn cloak in his hands, he muttered to himself, "I will finally avenge you, Ashley..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Matthew looked out into the zooming light of space. Warping through time and space hadn't looked as beautiful as it had then and there. His fleet of Ketches warped behind him, keeping up with their leader. It had been a few days since they had set their course for Venus, and they were nearly there. The Iron Kell lost himself in thought as his fleet flew on. He began formulating a plan of attack for when he reached Venus. He was thrown out of limbo as an explosion shook his ship. An alarm blared above him, it's flashing light bathing the room in a red hue. Matthew called out to his General, "Saliks, what's going on?!" The Fallen, rushed to his Kell, "Matthew, we've lost General Andriks' Ketch! Engine failure, they're falling out of warp....look out!" Saliks pointed out at the looking glass. Matthew turned around to see Andriks' Ketch veer dangerously close to the edge of the warp path, before colliding into it with a force that shook the entire hull, exploding into nothingness. The explosion knocked Matthew's Ketch off course, veering into the other side of the warp path. Everyone was caught off balance and thrown to the port side of the Ketch, Matthew caught on to his chair and lifted himself up. "Shit, Pilot Servitor, Tropa! Engage manual piloting system!" he shouted through clenched teeth. A Wheel-like console then rose from the floor in front of Matthew, he gripped it tightly and pushed with all his might down. Groaning from the force, the Ketch began rotating starboard and leveling out of it's 45 degree rotation. Narrowly missing the edge of the warp path, Matthew centered the Ketch. With everything leveled out, the Fallen soldiers clambered back to their consoles, hesitantly keeping the ship in the best possible state. Matthew turned towards Saliks, "What's the damage?" The General looked at console before reporting, "The flight course is maintained, power levels are normal, shield status is 93%, engine functionality is sub par, and the weapon systems are online." Matthew nodded his head, "And the rest of the fleet?" "Everyone has resumed course and has been assured we are okay. All Ketches are present, except for Andriks' which has now left a gap in the attack pattern." Saliks said. Matthew sighed, "Well, compensate for our loss. Andriks' will have to be honored on the battlefield." He turned to an intercom and pressed the button, "This is the Iron Kell to Ketch Generals. Tropa-3 is in ship shape and has minimal damage. We are resuming course. Do not mourn Andriks', but instead vow to use the strength he had in his bones to fuel your lust for Winter blood." The intercom clicked as he stepped away from it, sitting back in his throne, hands folded thoughtfully under his chin. No more Ketches were lost, but they still had quite a way to go before they could reinforce the Ash, anything could happen between then and now. Matthew sat back in his throne, [i]What a hell of a ride...[/i] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Down in the caves of Venus, a Fallen Vandal knelt at the base of a hologram. "You let my soldiers die, Randor, that was not our agreement..." The hologram spoke. Randor looked up, "I could not have stopped Maddox, he is as stubborn as he is mighty... not as mighty as you of course, my Kell, but..." "Do not tell me lies, [i]Nishum[/i]....I will send a larger force in two days time, when they get to the Ember Caves, you will choose your loyalty. I expect you to make the wise choice, do not fail me." The Vandal stood, "Of course, Draksis...my Kell." [b]Once, again, sorry for the long wait readers, but I'm afraid another one has come to pass. Expect Chapter 14 in a couple of weeks, and stay awesome. Ha Chapter 14: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/151916585 [/b]