[i]The first version of this report got deleted before it got posted, so here's take two. From scratch.[/i] [quote]"When the long dark closes around us, we will be the last light." - Wei Ning[/quote] Striker Titans. Anyone who has heard their lightning imbued fists crash into the ground, scattering entire battalions of Cabal at the war front or whole Fireteams of Guardians in the Crucible, knows of their destructive capabilities. Arc energy flowing violently around them as they charge headlong into the fray, having nothing but their body as both their weapon and shield. Some Guardians would call this style of combat insane, sheer madness, or that of the berserk, for even thinking of going out onto the battlefield with the intent to slay the enemy not with bullet and blade, but knuckle and bone. Titans have learned to apply this combat tactic as a means to draw the fight to them, not in a mad lust for carnage, no, a reason that is far more clever than most Hunters or Warlocks would give Titans credit for. To Titans, drawing the aggression of the enemy equates to having the attention, in terms of firepower and force, directed at them. They make themselves a distraction, a decoy, in effort to draw the enemy's warfare away from the City, away from home. Once they are entrenched and have the enemy committed to their annihilation, they hold their ground and fight until they die. Then they revive and fight until they die again. And again. And again. Until the Titans have no Light left and they have died their last death. Or until the enemy is defeated. This is collectively known as the Firebreak Calculus: [quote]Mark of the Martyred - "It is called the Firebreak Calculus: how much good could I do if I find the right place and fight until I die?" [/quote] This tactic was pioneered by Titans who sought to ensure the safety of the City through orchestrated acts of concentrated warfare where ever the threat may lie. These Titans would form what is known today as the Firebreak Order and is recognized as one of the most offensively capable Titan Orders in the City; being similar to crusaders from the days of old, reclaiming the lost lands that Humanity once held. At the Battle of Six Fronts, this event was recorded: [quote]Mark of the Sortie - "At Six Fronts, two Firebreak commanders led a sortie beyond the walls. They reclaimed five miles of scorched land from the Fallen."[/quote] Despite the successes of the Order, certain stereotypes formed that undermined the strategic nature of the Firebreak Order's campaigns which played heavily off of the notion that Titans live only for the thrill of combat and think of nothing else. Examples follow: [quote]Illyrian Type 0 (Helmet) - "Some accuse the Firebreak orders of rabid, mindless aggression. But their rabid aggression is quite deliberate." Molniya Type 0 (Gauntlets) - '"So I ask Wei Ning: what about the Darkness itself? What then? And she says: I'll punch it too." - Pahanin Errata'[/quote] As with all stereotypes, there is often some level of truth to them, but with the ones surrounding Firebreak Titans and Titans in general, the truth is rather... interesting. The arguable founder of the Firebreak Order was none other than Wei Ning, a Striker Titan that managed to build an impressive reputation, largely thanks to her larger-than-life and cavalier personality. Wei Ning would carry out many successful operations in devastating fashion, often relishing the moment she was able to fight to her heart's content. Several quotes among many are listed: [quote] Mark of the Dauntless - "Yes, we've achieved the objective. And the next. And the…were we supposed to stop attacking?" Spearhead Type 0 (Greaves) - "Evade the Cabal counterattack? My friend, they're finally sending us something worth killing." Spearhead Type 0 (Guantlets) - "To conserve ammo, we disrupted the enemy command structure with several sharp blows to the skull." Mark of Thunder - "What is the power of the lightning without the roar of the thunder?" Mangonel Type 2 (Helmet) - "Tactics? Psh. Just use your head. Literally ram your head into them."[/quote] At one point of her time as a Guardian, she ignited a flame, intentionally or not, that would become known as the Fire Victorious (most likely ignited by Wei's Arc Light, based on the D1 artifact 'Fire Eternal'), which stood as the primary symbol of the Firebreak Titans. The Fire would be displayed in an area known as Firebreak Plaza. Wei Ning would continue to be a warrior and champion of the City until the campaign to retake the moon failed. In the Great Disaster, as the event would be known as, Wei Ning would die her last death by the blade of the Hive-God Prince Crota, Son of Oryx. Wei Ning was immortalized and remembered as a hero of Humanity. The Firebreak Order continued to defend the City on Earth and beyond. It is also assumed that legendary Titan, Saint-14, was also a member of the Firebreak Order, based upon his crusades of the Fallen and their leadership following the Battle of Six Fronts. With the current events of the Cabal invasion and the Red War, the Firebreak Order is now scattered and bearing a terrible disgrace, in light of the Red Legion attacking and destroying what they deemed most precious and being unable to defend or resist in its capture, the Last City. The feelings of several Firebreak Titans are recorded: [quote]Firebreak Field (Gauntlets) - "To their shame, most of the wide-scattered Firebreak Order survived the City's fall." Firebreak Field (Chest) - "We should never have let ourselves be cornered. We could have dispersed centuries ago." Firebreak Field (Greaves) - "Walls were never enough to guard us. We needed to strike first."[/quote] Despite the grief and shame that the Order had placed upon themselves, one Titan managed to rescue the great flame that symbolized the very nature, strength, and resolve of the Firebreak Order, on her Mark. A member of the Firebreak Order, Callisto Yin, allowed the Fire Victorious to burn and consume the fabric that identified her as an honorable soldier and Guardian of Humanity, which she wore upon herself as the City fell around her. Maintaining the Fire, she managed to ensure that the flames started by Wei Ning would never go out, doing so she also saved the dignity and pride of every Firebreak Titan. For the fire is still alive and with it, a reason to fight. Following the Red War, the Firebreak Order is reformed, with Callisto Yin as their new commander. These next quotes display Callisto and her Order's new found redemption through their committment to once again serve as the warriors that protect the Last City: [quote] Crown-Splitter (Titan Sword) - "Our enemies think themselves gods and kings. Show them the error of their ways." Mark of the Golden Citadel - "Titans are trained to be a wall. But perhaps we must train ourselves to be something more." Star Scion "No, we don't explore. We win back, and find more."[/quote] Despite having maintained the Fire Victorious, Callisto and other Firebreak Titans chose to not return the flame to the now repaired Firebreak Plaza. Instead, they forged Ghost Shells that could house the embers of the flame to allow Guardians to carry the flames of Wei Ning where ever the Light needed to reach, and where it would reach, it would burn bright. Callisto Yin's meeting with the new Consensus (Fire Victorious Shell): [quote]Consensus Meeting 3267.56 Z: "Callisto Yin. Thank you for joining us today." CY: "My pleasure, sir." Z: "You singlehandedly carried the Fire Victorious from the City as it fell, ensuring that the flames first kindled by Wei Ning so many years ago would continue to burn. For that, we thank you." CY: "Any of the Firebreak Order would have done as much." NM: "The repairs to Firebreak Plaza are almost complete. I think we may have the relighting ceremony as soon as next week." CY: "With all due respect, we have decided not to bring the Fire Victorious back to the City. Not in the same way." FWC: "What do you mean?" CY: "One torch in one city is too small." IR: "What do you propose instead?" CY: "Now each of our Ghosts bears embers of the Fire Victorious. Wei Ning's flames will go with us to each new battlefield." [/quote]