Editing Invasion of Neptune

{{Conjectural title}}
{{Image}}
{{Battle infobox
|prev=Twenty-Year Siege<br>[[Battle of the War Gods]]
|conc=[[Invasion of Earth]]
|next=[[Skirmish of Titan]]
|image= [[File:Invasion of Neptune.jpg|370px]]
|conflict=[[War against the Witness]]
|date=
|place=*[[Neomuna]], [[Neptune]]
*[[Essence]], [[Earth]] Orbit {{C|briefly}}
*[[Black Garden]] {{C|briefly}}
|result=*[[Emperor Calus]] is killed
*The Guardian is able to wield the powers of [[Strand]] and discovers [[The Veil]]
*Neomuna becomes an active warzone due to [[Shadow Legion]] invasion
**[[Cloud Strider]]s of Neomuna join forces with [[the Coalition]]
**[[Typhon Imperator]] lands on Neomuna, destroying much of the city
***[[Radial Mast]] is destroyed due to [[Rohan]]’s sacrifice
*[[Vex]] of the [[Sol Collective]] restart their invasion of Neomuna while they also fight [[Cabal]] troops and [[The Guardian]]
**All Neomuni promoted to active defense roles
*[[Asher Mir]] remnants inside the [[Vex Network]] are discovered by the Vex, and he is forced to ask for help from a corresponding sectors on [[Earth]]
**Asher Mir is lost during the rescue mission and presumed dead
***Asher Mir is able to leave behind a a manual simulation of the Veil produced thanks to the Vex Network
*[[The Witness]] is able to establish a link with the Veil and subsequently begins the [[Final Shape]] by opening the portal over the Traveler and entering its [[Pale Heart]]
**[[The Traveler]] is left unresponsive and its [[Light]] becomes harder to access for [[Ghost]]s
**The Vanguard's attempts to follow the Witness inside the portal fail with the death of [[Joxer]]
*[[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]] is temporarily resurrected by the Traveler’s terraforming power and haunts the citizens of Neomuna in their dreams.
**Nezarec is slain by Guardians within the Witness's [[Essence|flagship]]. 
**Neomuni inside the CloudArk are freed from his influence
*A submind of [[Soteria]] informs the Guardian that an "[[Ahsa|enemy of the Witness]]" is hiding on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]
*The Guardians destroys the [[Conceptual Mind]] in the [[Black Garden]] before the Witness can destroy it
**[[Osiris]] and [[Nimbus]] retrieve its knowledge of the Veil through the Vex experiments on the [[Black Heart]]
*[[Osiris]] and [[Nimbus]] learn more about the Veil and its connection to the [[Ishtar Collective]] through various recordings left behind by Dr. [[Chioma Esi]]
|side1='''Forces of the [[The Coalition|Coalition]]:'''
*[[Vanguard]]
*[[Cloud Strider]]s
*[[Imperial Cabal]]
|side2='''Forces of the [[The Witness|Witness]]:'''
*[[Shadow Legion]]
*[[The Dread]]
*[[Taken]]
|side3='''Vex:'''
*[[Sol Collective]]
----
*[[Sol Divisive]]
|side4=
|commanders1=*[[Osiris]]
*[[Nimbus]]
*[[Rohan]]
*[[Empress Caiatl]]
|commanders2=*[[The Witness]]
**[[Emperor Calus]]
***[[Val Bho'kaurl]]
***[[Vraxus, Shadow Legion Saboteur]]
***[[Sizmic, the Net-Desecrator]]
****[[Ludus, Array Foreguard]]
****[[Testu'udo, Array Bulwark]]
**[[Toniq, Imprint of Nezarec]]
**[[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]] 
***[[Zo'aurc, Explicator of Planets]]
**[[Parthenios, Drifting Mind]]
|commanders3=
'''Sol Collective:'''
*[[Calixte, System Ward Finality]]
*[[Ioneion, System Control Flow]]
*[[Adytum, Inviolable Mind]]
*[[Haliekron, Nexus Overlord]]
*[[Inquisitor Mind]]
*[[Protometon, Nexial Hijacker]]
**[[Minotaur Accompli]]
**[[Minotaur Harpax]]
----
'''Sol Divisive:'''
*[[Conceptual Mind]]
|commanders4=
|forces1=*Hundreds of [[Guardian]]s
*Cloud Striders
*Several Neomuni militants
*Hundreds of Imperial Cabal Troops
|forces2=*Countless Shadow Legion Troops
*Countless Taken
*[[Tormentor]]s
|forces3=
*Countless [[Vex]]
|forces4=*Countless Vex
|casual1=*[[Reed-7]]
*Joxer
*Possible death of Asher Mir
*Rohan
*Several Imperial Cabal Troops
|casual2=*Emperor Calus
*Nezarec
*Several Shadow Legion officers and champions
*Thousands of Shadow Legion Troops
*Thousands of Taken
*Several Tormentors
|casual3=*Several [[Vex Mind]]s
*Conceptual Mind 
*Thousands of Vex platforms
|casual4=
|civilian=Unknown amount
}}

{{Quote|[[Savathûn]] had rebelled against the Witness, and hid what might be our only chance of defeating it away on the planet Neptune.|Zavala}}

The '''Invasion of Neptune''', also known as the '''Siege of Neomuna''' was a massive conflict that unfolded on [[Neomuna]] after the [[The Witness|Witness's]] attack on the [[Traveler]]. After communing with it and discovering the location of [[the Veil]], a [[paracausal]] object related to the Traveler, the Witness ordered [[Emperor Calus|Calus]], its newest disciple, and his [[Shadow Legion|forces]] to invade [[Neptune]] and secure the Veil. The Guardian and [[Osiris]] would follow the Cabal to Neptune and work alongside [[Cloud Strider]]s [[Nimbus]] and [[Rohan]], and the forces of [[Empress Caiatl]] to stop both Calus and the Witness.

After the defeat of Calus, the conflict would spill over into the flagship of the Witness, [[Essence]], as a team of six [[Guardian]]s would confront [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]] and permanently put an end to both him and his haunting of the [[CloudArk]].

==History==
===Prelude===
The Neomuni have known about the [[Vex]] for many decades prior to [[The Witness]]'s arrival into the [[Sol System]] and have fought them off on numerous occasions as the Vex attempted to raid the [[CloudArk]] for its sensitive data.{{Citation needed}} Following the battle above Earth, [[the Guardian]] and [[Osiris]] would board [[Shadow Legion]] ships, including the [[Astaroth Rex II]], shortly before the fleet jumped to [[Neptune]]'s orbit. The Guardian would then fight through the ship and disable it before they and Osiris used the [[Drop Pod]]s to land on Neomuna but not before the siege began.<ref name="FC">'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[First Contact]]''</ref>

===First Contact and Discovery of the Radial Mast===
The Neomuni would have their first face-to-face encounter with the brunt of the Witness's forces when [[Emperor Calus]] landed his ship, the [[Typhon Imperator]], into [[Ahimsa Park]]. The sector was quickly overrun by Vex and [[Cabal]] alike and the [[Cloud Strider]]s on duty, [[Rohan]] and [[Nimbus]], retreated to [[Striders' Gate]]. The Cabal were followed shortly by The Guardian and Osiris, the former landing in [[Ahimsa Park]] and the latter landing in Striders' Gate. The Guardian would cut their way through the Cabal forces to Striders' Gate where they would encounter [[Strand]] for the very first time. The Guardian would use this newfound power to destroy the Cabal that would land in Striders' Gate but would not be able to reach Osiris before they were exhausted.<ref name="FC"/>

Luckily, Osiris is saved by the Cloud Striders after fighting off some Cabal and a [[Tormentor]].<ref name="FC"/> After regrouping at Striders' Gate, discussing with Osiris and allowing him to stay within the [[Hall of Heroes]], the Cloud Striders would agree to help the Guardian reach The Veil.{{Citation needed}} The Guardian would fight their way through [[Zephyr Concourse]] and into the [[Esi Terminal]] where they would encounter more Shadow Legion forces, this time with [[Light]]-suppressing technology. The Guardian would defeat a Shadow Legion commander, [[Vul'ourn, Shadow Legion Supply Master]], only to find the area surrounding the Veil was firmly within the Shadow Legion's hands. The Guardian's [[Ghost]] would then transmit a conversation between the Witness and Calus, with the Witness ordering their Disciple to destroy the Veil using the [[Radial Mast]]. The Guardian would retreat from the area and regroup with their allies to discuss further plans.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Under Siege]]''</ref>

===The Raid on the Typhon Imperator===
With the Veil and the CloudArk in direct jeopardy, the Cloud Striders and the Guardian both agreed to raid the Typhon Imperator to destroy the Radial Mast. Fighting through Ahimsa Park, the Guardian would board the massive ship and sneak deep into its complex walls and hallways, dispatching groups of Shadow Legion as they went through. They would also sabotage and destroy a small fleet of ships by overloading them with energy. When The Guardian approached the Radial Mast, it was revealed that it was a trap laid out by Emperor Calus. The Guardian fought off seemingly endless waves of Cabal and [[Taken]] and it looked like The Guardian was trapped within the Typhon Imperator. However they would be rescued by [[Empress Caiatl]] and her band of [[Imperial Cabal]], blowing open a barrier and allowing the Guardian to slip away on their [[Sparrow]].<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Downfall]]''</ref>

The [[Vanguard]] would establish contact with Neomuna and an ad hoc alliance was formed between the two. However, the Neomuni were still skeptical of their new allies, unsure if the alliance was simply an excuse to conquer Neomuna without any fighting.{{Citation needed}}

===CloudArk Repaired and Destruction of the Radial Mast===
The next mission The Guardian and the Cloud Striders would undertake would be a repair of the CloudArk's power supply which was still under the control of the Vex in [[Límíng Harbor]]. The Guardian would smash through the Vex defenses surrounding the CloudArk reactor, finding more pockets of Strand along the way to assist them. The Guardian would eventually encounter the leading mind, [[Calixte, System Ward Finality]], and destroy it, breaking the CloudArk free of Vex control. However, the Shadow Legion were closing in on The Guardian's position to kill them, lying in wait to both destroy the Guardian and the CloudArk in one fell swoop. The Guardian would eventually escape the ambush with the usage of Strand though the reactor sustained minor damage. This resulted in the Neomuni being able to take control of their defensive measures and assist both The Guardian and the Cloud Striders in the defense of Neomuna.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Breakneck (Mission)|Breakneck]]''</ref>

With the CloudArk secured, The Guardian attempted to further their connection and control over Strand. They departed to [[Maya's Retreat]] to meditate on their usage of Strand but were ambushed by Vex forces. These Vex were dispatched by The Guardian's new Strand abilities which led Osiris and Rohan to believe that they were ready to destroy the Radial Mast.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[On The Verge]]''</ref> With the assistance of the Coalition, they located the Radial Mast attempting to link to The Veil within the [[Irkalla Complex]] and smashed through Shadow Legion Forces to get there, using the Coaltion's [[Drake Tank]]s to break through the walls of the complex and sneak their way through. With the Radial Mast activated and the Shadow Legion closing in, Rohan jumped into its construction and attempted to delay its connection with The Veil. Meanwhile, The Guardian destroyed the Shadow Legion forces that had swarmed the area using Strand but were unable to hold onto their control over the energy to destroy the Radial Mast. With no other option, Rohan brought the mast onto him and destroyed it, killing him in the process. From the remains, the Guardian recovered Rohan's core and delivered it to Nimbus.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[No Time Left]]''</ref>

In the Hall of Heroes, Rohan was laid to rest amongst the other Cloud Striders and Nimbus was named the lead Cloud Strider in his place.{{Citation needed}}

===The Beginning of the Final Shape===
After the death of Rohan, the Coalition would strengthen its resolve to end the Witness's machinations. A plan was created to crash through the Shadow Legion defenses around The Veil and secure it before Calus could. To prepare for this plan, Caiatl rallied their forces and Nimbus activated defense turrets across Neomuna as The Guardian and Osiris turned to mastering Strand. The Guardian's training would culminate in the destruction of [[Ioneion, System Control Flow]] within the Vex systems, proving their mastery of Strand.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Headlong]]''</ref> Nimbus would also find and attempt to restore an old [[Ishtar Collective]] orbital ray for use in the raid.<ref name="DM">'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Desperate Measures]]''</ref>

The assault began with Caiatl's warships entering Neomuni airspace, however, the ships were delayed after the discovery of anti-air cannons set up on the rooftops of Neomuni apartment buildings. The Guardian was sent in and destroyed these guns alongside countless Shadow Legion troops and a Tormentor. The Guardian entered the Irkalla Complex and defeated the Shadow Legion and Vex that were fighting with the now-operational Neomuni defense systems. Nimbus would also get the orbital ray operational and drop off a target marker for The Guardian to use. This ray would come to use as the Shadow Legion sent numerous troops backed up with [[Goliath Tank]]s to assault the complex. The Guardian would manage to hold off the assault with this new weapon but would be luckily bolstered by Empress Caiatl and her [[Ascendant Guard]]. The Shadow Legion attempted to assault this defensive position with even more Goliath Tanks but also alongside two [[Imprint of Nezarec|Imprints of Nezarec]] but would falter before the Coalition forces. With his forces decimated and the Final Shape slipping from his grasp, Calus unleashed a massive energy blast directly at The Guardian and Caiatl which blasted open the walls to The Veil's containment and killed many of the Ascendant Guard. The Guardian and Caiatl would both survive with The Guardian moving into the complex and Caiatl staying behind to hold off Calus. Caiatl managed to hold off Calus for several moments but would eventually be beaten back, though still alive. Calus would then use brute force to smash his way through the Irkalla Complex as The Guardian raced him to The Veil. Calus would reach The Veil first however could not begin The Final Shape with The Guardian's interference and thus a fight began. The Emperor would use a darkness-powered gun to blast The Guardian as waves of Shadow Legion and Tormentors began to sward The Veil's containment. When The Guardian was not deterred and managed to heavily damage Calus, he switched to [[Gladiator]] [[Cleaver]]s as The Veil surrounded the battlefield and forced the two in close-quarters combat. However, Calus's newly found Disciple abilities would not be able to prevent his death as The Guardian slew him.<ref name="DM"/>

As The Guardian, Caiatl, and Nimbus regrouped beneath The Veil, The Guardian's Ghost became controlled by The Witness which used their connection to The [[Traveler]] to connect to The Veil and begin [[The Final Shape]]. As the Final Shape was initiated, The Witness disappeared into a portal carved out of The Traveler with the Coalition forces suffering a grave defeat.<ref name="DM"/>

===Nezarec's Influence===
While the Guardians were battling the Shadow Legion, they and their allies could occasionally hear whispers from an unknown figure. It wasn't until after preventing using the link between the Vex Network and CloudArk to potentially gain access to the Veil by [[Taken]] corrupting it that they would learn their identity: [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]].<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[HyperNet Current]]''</ref> Nightmares would begin to plague the citizens of Neomuna within the CloudArk.{{Citation needed}}

The source of the nightmares was eventually traced to Nezarec's existence within the Witness's flagship [[Essence]]. A fireteam of six Guardians went there, clashing with Shadow Legion forces onboard. Throughout the fight, they used the powers of light and dark to accelerate Nezarec's resurrection. Despite his combined powers and his return from death, he was defeated. Nevertheless, he reminded the Guardians that he would always be present in their memories and nightmares, an inescapable impression upon the universe.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Root of Nightmares]]''</ref>

Additionally, the Guardians recovered urn-like containers throughout the Pyramid ship, each of them held memories through the power of Darkness. After recovery, those memories were transformed into a regular data storage medium and happened to have numerous references and retrospectives about the Final Shape, the Witness's beliefs, and the use of Darkness as a force throughout history - including some civilizations that had been previously excised from other historical records thus far.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Inspiral|Inspiral]]''</ref>

==Aftermath==
One week after the communion between the Witness and the Veil, [[Asher Mir]] attempted to make contact with The Guardian and [[Mithrax, Kell of Light]] in the [[European Dead Zone|EDZ]]. The combined group attempted numerous times to extract the Vex data on the [[Final Shape]] and the Veil over several weeks. Culminating their attempts, Asher managed to extract this data with a full simulation of the Veil, though this effort would cause him to be fully integrated into the Vex network, essentially ending his life and existence as an individual.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Defiance]] - [[/NODE.OVRD.AVALON//]]''</ref>

Months after, strange Vex activity in Neomuna was investigated by Osiris, Nimbus, and the Guardian, leading them to the Veil Containment facility.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Parting the Veil (Quest)|Parting the Veil]]''</ref> During this investigation, they decrypt the first log of Chioma Esi, an Ishtar Collective researcher and one of the founders of Neomuna. But before they could decrypt more, the Guardian clashed against a Tormentor and Taken forces in the facility, emerging victorious.<ref name="PTV">'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Parting the Veil (Mission)|Parting the Veil]]''</ref>

For several weeks, those recordings by Chioma Esi were decrypted, revealing a lot of information regarding the Veil's nature and effects, the studies from Ishtar Collective's researchers, and the unethical experiments that were conducted there.<ref name="PTV"/>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Entelechy]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Conflicts]]
[[Category:Cabal]]
[[Category:Guardians]]
[[Category:The Dread]]
[[Category:Vex]]
[[Category:Taken]]
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