The Descent (mission)

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Prev:	Mission: Retribution
Next:	Operation Thunderbolt (Twilight)
The Descent
Game:	Season of the Deep
Player(s):	1-3
Location:	Salvage Rig, Titan
Enemy faction(s):	Xivu Arath's Horde
Hostile race(s):	Taken Hive
Objective(s):	Return to Titan, the lost moon of Saturn, to discover the source of an impossible distress call.
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The Descent is the introductory mission of Season of the Deep. The Guardian, Commander Zavala, Lord Saladin, Saint-14 and an uninvited Drifter launch a rescue operation to extract Deputy Commander Sloane from the returned moon of Titan.

Objectives

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

• Follow the signal
  • Dive into the methane sea in pursuit of Sloane's distress signal.
• Defeat the Taken
  • Survive the ambush and defeat the Taken.
• Reach the Operations Rig
  • Find your way to the operations rig.
• Silence the Battlesong
  • Gain control of the ritual circles to deactivate the war totems.
• Silence the Western War Totem
  • Gain control of the ritual circles to deactivate the war totems.
• Silence the Final War Totem
  • Gain control of the ritual circles to deactivate the war totems.
• Defeat the Celebrant
  • Defeat Azshradat, Celebrant of Xivu Arath.
• Reach the Communications Array
  • Find your way to the communication array in order to triangulate Sloane's distress signal.
• Restore Power to the Communication Array
  • The communication array will need to be repowered before Sloane's signal can be triangulated.
• Align the Communication Array
  • Dishes aligned: X of 4
  • Align the communication array's dishes to triangulate Sloane's distress signal.
• Reach the Signal Source
  • Find the source of Sloane's distress signal.
• Listen to Drifter
  • Listen to what the Drifter has to say about Titan.
• Acquire the Device
  • Drifter has a device that will allow you to withstand the crushing pressure of the ocean's depths.
• Reach the Signal Source
  • Find the source of Sloane's distress signal.

Transcript

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

{Cutscene}

The H.E.L.M., Earth’s Orbit

On the H.E.L.M. Zavala watches out as a Hawk cruises towards the portal on the Traveler.

• Zavala: "The Witness has moved beyond our reach."

Joxer, the Guardian pilot steadies the Hawk as he reaches closer to the portal. As he gets closer, the aircraft rattles; the iridescent light enveloping everything in his sight.

Sometime later, other Hawks search through the debris of the attempted crossing.

• Zavala: "All attempts to follow it... have failed."

The search lights spots the body of Joxer and his Ghost. Both are grotesquely mangled and fused with parts of his Hawk’s wreckage.

• Zavala: "But there is still hope. On Neptune, we learned that a key to defeating the Witness lies hidden away on Titan. Now we know why the Witness’s fleet came there when it first arrived. Deputy Commander Sloane held the line on Titan to the bitter end... right up until the Witness took it. Then... we lost all contact. But now, just when we need it most, Titan has returned. And when it did, we were greeted with something we could have never predicated..."

• Sloane: "To any Guardians listening: this is Deputy Commander Sloane, requesting emergency support."

{Loading screen}

• Zavala: "This is a Priority 1 rescue operation. We have received a distress call on a secure Vanguard channel. The target of extraction is Deputy Commander Sloane. She was last seen on Titan before it vanished, during the arrival of the Pyramids. Our job is to triangulate where the distress signal is coming from, find the deputy commander, and get her out. I know what you may be thinking. But Sloane is one of the most tenacious, resilient soldiers I've ever known. If anyone could have survived this... it's her."

{Gameplay}

Salvage Rig, Titan

The Guardian touches down on Titan.

• Zavala: "The Guardian has landed. I'm at our old LZ; no sign of Sloane or enemy activity. Extraction team, what's your status?"

• Saint-14: "Commander, I am at the Tidal Anchor not far from your position. It is abandoned — quiet. Distress signal is weak."

• Lord Saladin: "I've established a beachhead inside the New Pacific Arcology; no sign of the Hive. Signal strength is weak here as well."

• Zavala: "Guardian, you need to cross the rig to align a communications dish so we can triangulate Sloane's position. Keep comms open — we don't know what happened here."

The Guardian follows the signal before being ambushed by Taken.

• Zavala: "Taken! I've got multiple Taken engagements on my position!"

• Saint-14: "[grunts] They are on me as well!"

• Lord Saladin: "Confirmed ten Taken contacts in the New Pacific Arcology. Iron War Beasts are engaging."

The Guardian clears the Taken and continues following the signal.

• Zavala: "Extraction team, status?"

• Lord Saladin: "All clear, Commander. Minimal casualties."

• Saint-14: "Tidal Anchor is secure; the Taken are gone."

• Zavala: "Guardian, get to the array."

The Drifter’s ship, the Derelict is spotted in the sky.

• Zavala: "Is that... the Derelict?"

• Drifter: "Hey, gang! Heard there was a party, and I thought I'd pop on by and see what the fuss is all about."

• Lord Saladin: "This is a rescue mission for Deputy Commander Sloane — get off the line."

• Drifter: "Oh, great! She owes me a drink."

• Saint-14: "A drink."

• Drifter: "Would I lie?"

The Guardian is halted by a ritual protected by Hive and Taken.

The Battlesong of Xivu Arath is screamed into being!

The Guardian begins silencing the first war totem.

The Battlesong feeds on your power

The Guardian is afflicted with Overwhelming Battlesong, suppressing their paracausal abilities.

• Lord Saladin: "We have more Taken incoming! Falling back to the Arcology Solarium."

• Xivu Arath: "I AM THE MOUNTAIN UPON WHICH ALL SWORDS SHATTER! HONE YOUR EDGE AGAINST ME!"

• Lord Saladin: "No..."

The Guardian finishes silencing the first war totem.

The Battlesong has been silenced...

Overwhelming Battlesong dissipates, freeing the Guardian from its suppression.

The Guardian begins silencing the second war totem.

• Xivu Arath: "I AM THE HAND AROUND YOUR THROAT. I AM THE LAST BREATH IN YOUR MOUTH. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE ME."

• Zavala: "More Taken! They're coming up from the methane flush! I'm holding position!"

The Guardian finishes silencing the second war totem.

The Guardian begins silencing the third war totem.

• Xivu Arath: "I REMEMBER SAGIRA SHATTERING. SHE WAS WORTHY OF DEATH. OSIRIS WAS NOT. ARE YOU SO FRAGILE?"

• Saint-14: "[screams in rage] Show yourself! Fight me! I will tear you apart with my bare hands!"

Azshradat, Celebrant of Xivu Arath arrives.

The Guardian engages Azshradat until the Celebrant retreats.

The Guardian finishes silencing the third war totem.

• Lord Saladin: "That voice we heard... it was Xivu Arath! I'd only heard her voice in audio logs from the fall of the Cabal homeworld. There's no mistaking her. She must be near; we need to be careful. Her influence has never been this strong."

• Zavala: "We need to find Sloane and get her out of here, now. You're almost at the array, Guardian — get moving. Go!"

The Guardian makes their way through the interior of the Rig to a set of unpowered consoles.

The Guardian rotates the communication dishes and aligns them for proper triangulation.

• Zavala: "Excellent work. Systems are lighting up here: I have Sloane's position as... one kilometer down?"

• Saint-14: "She is in the ocean? That is a sea of crushing methane — nothing can survive there."

• Drifter: "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

• Zavala: "Guardian. Rig schematics show a ballast maintenance shaft near your position. Follow the signal down and find the deputy commander. I'll join up with you shortly."

The Guardian find the shaft opening and dives into the methane sea.

• Zavala: "I've arrived at the diving point; I'm coming down to you."

• Drifter: "That ain't gonna happen, boss. Do you know how much pressure they're taking? They gotta get out of there."

• Zavala: "I am not leaving anyone behind again."

• Drifter: "And I ain't saying we do!"

The pressure begins to mount up cracking through the Guardian’s armor.

• Drifter: "All right, that's enough! I'm pullin' you up before you and your Ghost get flattened."

The Drifter forcibly transmats you aboard his ship, the Derelict.

The Derelict, Titan

• Drifter: "Welcome to the Derelict. I'm down in engineering, making sure we... don't blow up. Zavala's got his heart in the right place, but ol' Blue's about as stubborn as they come. You can't brute force this moon. The Collapse messed the whole place up good. Gravity's weird down in the deep. There's pockets of air... some places you can move safely. Others that'll crush you into a little speck. But I think I got something in my gets that'll help us out. Titan ain't my first aquatic rodeo. Go ahead and try out that prototype. Should protect you from the pressure. Well, some of it, at least."

The Guardian takes the device.

• Drifter: "Now get on outta here. I'll fill the boss man in for ya."

The Drifter returns the Guardian back to the diving point on Titan.

Salvage Rig, Titan

The Guardian dives again. The device repressurizes using pockets of air, protecting them.

The Guardian activates multiple shafts until finally reaching the signal source.

• Zavala: "Guardian, you're almost at the source of the distress signal. I've acquired one of Drifter's... devices. I'll be joining you momentarily."

{Cutscene}

The Plunge, Dive Tank, New Pacific Arcology, Titan

The Guardian and Zavala enter the building with weapons ready.

• Zavala: "Sloane?"

They find Sloane near the porthole, shrouded in the darkness.

• Sloane: "Here, Commander."

• Zavala: "You’re alive!"

The Drifter enters cautiously staring at Sloane.

• Sloane: "Staying alive was the mission..."

Sloane steps forward into the light, revealing her partial Taken affliction.

• Sloane: "And I always complete the mission."

The Guardian readies their weapon. The Drifter gestures them down, then steps forward towards Sloane.

• Drifter: "No wonder you called us, sister. Let’s get you back home."

• Sloane: "You don’t understand. That distress call wasn’t for me."

Sloane turns towards the porthole. A large whale-like creature swims through the methane sea towards the porthole.

• Sloane: "It was for her."

{Gameplay}

• Zavala: "What is that?"

• Sloane: "An ally. Her name is Ahsa."

• Zavala: "You can communicate with it?"

• Sloane: "It's complicated, sir. I get impressions, emotions... ideas. She knows our true enemy. The Witness came for her species too. Discrete concepts are harder. Even more now... since this."

The Drifter cautiously eyes Sloane’s Taken affliction.

• Drifter: "And... you're still... you?"

• Sloane: "Every bit. My Light is holding this corruption back, but I can... hear voices whispering. Demanding. It's like being tuned in to the enemy's radio. If we could strengthen my connection with Ahsa, I believe it would improve my ability to communicate through the noise."

• Drifter: "I got some ideas. I'll draw up some specs and drop by soon."

The Drifter transmats out.

• Zavala: "Sloane..."

• Sloane: "I'm fine, sir. And I think I'm long overdue for a debriefing."

• Zavala: "As you wish. We'll reconvene at the H.E.L.M."

Zavala and Sloane transmat out.

Enemies

Taken

• Taken Psion
• Taken Thrall
• Taken Acolyte
• Taken Goblin
• Taken Phalanx
• Taken Hobgoblin
• Taken Captain
• Taken Centurion

Hive - Xivu Arath's Horde

• Thrall
• Cursed Thrall
• Acolyte
• Knight
  • Revenant Knight
• Revenant Wizard

Boss

• Azshradat, Celebrant of Xivu Arath

Trivia

• While the player explores the Salvage Rig, their allies are in different areas of Titan, with Zavala in particular being at the old landing zone in Siren's Watch, and later fighting off Taken coming from the Methane Flush.

List of appearances

• Destiny 2
  • Season of the Deep (First appearance)