Editing Imperial Cabal

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|objectives=Serve [[Empress Caiatl]]

|commander(s)= [[Empress Caiatl]] <br> [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl]] <br> [[Valus Ozysas]] <br> [[Saladin Forge|Valus Forge]]

|deployed= [[Cosmodrome]] <br> [[Leviathan (ship)|Derelict Leviathan]] <br> [[European Dead Zone]] <br> [[Europa]] <br> [[Moon]] <br> [[Nessus]] <br> [[Neptune]] <br> [[The Pale Heart]]

|ally= [[Red Legion]] <br> [[Vanguard]] <br> [[House of Light]] <br> [[Neomuna]] <br> The [[Reef]]  

The '''Imperial Cabal'''<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], Transcript: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/interactions/war-table-challengers-proving-3?highlight=Imperial%20Cabal War Table — Challengers Proving]''</ref> is the personal army of [[Empress Caiatl]]. Following [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]]'s invasion of [[Torobatl]], they left for the [[Solar System]] to recruit [[Cabal]] commanders from other [[Cabal#Legions|Legions]], such as the [[Red Legion]].

A group of Cabal warlords subsequently sought to prove their worth to Caiatl through an ancient [[Rite of Proving|tradition]] with the hope of joining her [[War Council]], though many were slain by the [[Guardian]]s. Afterward, the Imperial Cabal allied with Humanity and would go on to fight alongside the Guardians against the [[Lucent Brood]] and the [[Shadow Legion]] as part of [[the Coalition]] against the forces of [[the Witness]].

Caiatl dismissed her general and later visited her mentor's chamber to find a room, usually kept tidy with military precision, littered with strange symbols, war tables covered with unrecognizable papers and tomes, and a horrid stench of poison and death. In the corner of the room, she found a Hive [[Thrall]] held in suspension with restraints used on prison captives.  

Caiatl questioned her '''Evocate-General''' to what was happening and Umun paused her study of a book bound with flesh and turned away from her war table to showcase the future of the Cabal. She explained that the [[Hive]] do not fear death or pain to which Caiatl responded by saying soldiers who do not know pain or death are useless as the knowledge to defy death inspired bravery within their soldiers. Umun dismissed her old teachings and claimed they must move beyond their customs and embrace a new way as the universe grew smaller through fierce competition and accept new gods or perish. After a long silence, Caiatl grew concerned over Umun'arath's actions and ordered her to step down from the [[War Council|council]].<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_4:_SOLDIERS|Chapter 4: Soldiers]]''</ref>

Later, Advisor [[Taurun]] alerted Caiatl over a distressing situation originating from the central square of Torobatl's weaponsmith district as green flames engulfed the air. Caiatl arrived at the scene to find Umun'arath under the custody of two guards and approached her naked general to find strange strange symbols carved into her skin as she stood in a blaze. Umun laughed and claimed that the Princess came to kneel before their new [[Savathun|god]]. Caiatl ordered her guards to release the general and questioned Umun about the god she was referring to and the heresies she invented now. Umun'arath grinned and said it was the god of war as the ground trembled below.  

Caiatl declared that her new obsession threatened the prosperity of their society and attempted to sentence the general, but Umun interrupted by saying it couldn't be stopped as war is her only obsession. The fire behind Umun burned with intensity as she raised her glowing hands to a strange noise. Caiatl with her lightning reflexes drew her ceremonial sword and made the decision to drive it into the gut of her mentor, who laughed at the act. Disgusted, Caiatl decided to kick the sword off and watched the corpse of her Evocate-General tumble into the blaze and become consumed with fire as a large portal opened up in the sky.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], PlayStation 4,  [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_5:_NEW_GODS|Chapter 5: New Gods]]''</ref>

The city of Torobatl quickly turned to smoke as the sky grew dark with Hive [[Tombship|ships]] and streets infected by [[Cryptolith]]s. The Imperial army called to action to defend their homeworld from the growing threat led by Caiatl. She piloted her fighter to bombard the creatures with missiles, but her efforts to stop the invasion were in vain as their numbers never dwindled and were replaced by new swarms.  

Her fighter was shot down and Caiatl emerged from the wreckage wounded. She remembered that these creatures did not fear pain or death and wondered how she allowed this calamity to occur as she unknowingly opened the door that brought destruction to her homeworld. She cursed Umun and the Hive but cursed herself more and took the responsibility to finish what Umun started. Then a thunderous voice deafened the Princess. It was the voice of [[Xivu Arath]] who declared that war was her domain and the Cabal worship of war meant that they had worshipped her and she had arrived to claim her overdue tribute.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_6:_BATTLE_SONG|Chapter 6: Battle Song]]''</ref>

 

After abandoning their homeworld, Caiatl held a meeting with her advisors to discuss their next course of action. After defusing an argument between two of her councillors about [[Emperor Calus|Calus]] and [[Dominus Ghaul|Ghaul's]] leadership before it could escalate into bloodshed, Caiatl declared that she would be neither Calus nor Ghaul. She then gave her first order as Empress of the Cabal to tactically retreat and bring all their remaining ships to the [[Sol System]] to rally the forces there.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_7:_CORONATION|Chapter 7: Coronation]]''</ref> In a message to the Cabal under her command to explain their plan, Caiatl also declared that all [[Psion]]s would be granted full citizenship and would be free to remain or leave if they chose.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]], PlayStation 4, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_8:_EMPRESS|Chapter 8: Empress]]''</ref>

 

===Scouting Sol===

 

Arriving in Sol after the Guardians defeated the [[High Celebrant of Xivu Arath]] in the [[Dreaming City]], Caiatl invites [[Zavala]] and [[Osiris]] for a meeting aboard her flagship. Unknown to either Caiatl or Zavala, [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]] took the form of Osiris at the beginning of the appearance of the [[Cryptolith]]s throughout Sol. Caiatl proposes an alliance with the Vanguard on the condition that Zavala bends the knee to her. Zavala refuses, and the Imperial Cabal would enter a war with the Vanguard.

Eventually, the Vanguard seeks a final Rite of Proving with the Imperial Cabal. They agree with an ultimatum: if Zavala's champion, [[The Guardian]], wins the Rite of Proving, the armistice between both parties would be signed and the Cabal cannot set foot on Earth, ever again; if Caiatl's champion, [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl|Ignovun]], wins the Rite of Proving, the Vanguard would be forced to abandon Nessus and Zavala will be conscripted into Caiatl's War Council as Bracus Zavala. With both champions ready, the Guardian enters the ''Halphas Electus'', begins the final Rite of Proving, and defeats Ignovun, making them the winners. Then, Caiatl and Zavala meet in time for the armistice. They are caught off guard by a pair of Psions named [[Qalec]] and [[Valir]], who were under the command of Yirix for the second attempt at the assassination of Zavala. Caiatl tells Zavala that she wasn't responsible for the assassination attempt and vows to uncover the Psion conclave.

Unfortunately for the Imperial Cabal on Mars, they discover the Guardian's presence on Mars under orders from [[Ikora Rey]], and would open fire on the Guardian despite the armistice with the Vanguard. The Guardian would also use the Cabal cannon to launch themselves into the Lure. News of those death would reach Caiatl, who arranges a meeting with Zavala, Saladin, Crow, and the same Guardian responsible for the massacre on her people, leading to an official alliance between the Imperial Cabal and the Vanguard.

The Imperial Cabal would enter the alliance after Zavala asks for Caiatl's help in stopping the [[Lucent Brood|Lucent Hive]] invading Earth. She agrees and supplies the [[Synaptic Spear]] to be used against the Lucent Hive lieutenants within the [[Mindscape]], but gives the Guardians a warning they would be forgiven only once, and that any further loss of life within the Imperial Cabal will endanger a fledgling alliance between them and the Vanguard. [[The Crow|Crow]] almost endangers the alliance when he accidentally kills the Psion running the Psisorium within the [[H.E.L.M.]] after he attempts to shut it down out of concern that the intel gathering from the Lucent Hive was unethical. Luckily, Lord [[Saladin Forge]] was able to save the alliance by repaying the life debt on Crow's behalf by serving on Caiatl's [[War Council]] as Bracus Forge. Caiatl promoted him to Valus Forge after he won the [[Rite of Proving]] against Valus [[Guhrn Or'ohk]].

The Imperial Cabal would become another member fighting in defense of [[Sol]] along with the [[Vanguard]], [[House Light]], and the [[Awoken]] under Mara Sov's leadership against the forces of [[The Witness]] after Caiatl asks the Guardians to return to Mars to stop the Psionic propaganda created by [[Yirix]], then spread by [[Qabix, Insurgent|Qabix]], and contains the history of the Psions before Cabal enslavement as well as hints of the resurrection of [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]], the Traveler tainted with Darkness, the siege of [[Neomuna]], and the return of the Leviathan.

 

 

 

On the home front, the Imperials would continue providing valiant soldiers and technology to the Coalition's efforts, reverse-engineering [[Resonant Splinter]]s to clear an [[Lake of Shadows|infestation]] of [[Taken]], sending troops [[The Arms Dealer|against]] the returned [[Bracus Zahn]] now providing weapons to the Shadow Legion, and frequently stationing troops at the [[Farm]].

{{Expand-section}}

*'''[[Empress Caiatl]]''' {{c|Ruler of the Cabal Ascendancy}}

*'''[[Valus]]'''

**[[Valus Cau'tor]]

**[[Guhrn Or'ohk|Valus Guhrn Or'ohk]]

**[[Valus Ozysas]]

**[[Saladin Forge|Valus Saladin Forge]]

**[[Tha'rag|Valus Tha'rag]]

*'''[[Val]]'''

**[[Val Cempas]]

**[[Val Cunqu'us]]

**[[Val Kladior]]

**[[Val Parthus, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Val Vinca'ar]]

*'''[[Bracus]]'''

**[[Bracus Gaa'ron, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Bracus Han'uk, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Bracus Lume, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Bracus Reghusk, Coalition Ally]]

*'''[[Optus]]'''

**[[Optus Haseth, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Optus Ulios, Coalition Ally]]

**[[Optus Vocca]]

===Imperial Cabal===

===Red Legion Auxiliary===

**[[Imperial Cannoneer]]

===Vehicles===

*[[Empress's Thresher]]

;'''[[Cabal warship|Cabal Warship]]'''

*[[Barbatos Rex]]

*[[Eligos Lex V]]

;'''[[Imperial Land Tank]]'''

*[[Halphas Electus]]

*The Imperial crest is also known as the Cabal Ascendancy, the name of Caiatl's empire.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]] - [[Weapon|Weapon Lore]]: [[Peacebond]]''</ref>

*The Imperial Cabal is the second Cabal Faction that allied with Guardians, the first being the Loyalists of Emperor Calus.

*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Hunt]]'' {{Fm}}