Mission: Shell

"I don't have time to explain why I don't have time to explain."
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Prev:	Mission: Mesmerize
Next:	Encore: Overture
Mission: Shell
Game:	Episode: Echoes
Player(s):	1-3
Location:	Planetary Depths, Nessus
Enemy faction(s):	Nessian Schism Sol Collective Sol Divisive Descendants
Hostile race(s):	Vex
Objective(s):	Access the Vex network to find a simulated version of the Dark Future on Nessus, and break through the final layer of the planet's shield.
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Mission: Shell is the third mission of Episode: Echoes.

Objectives

• Take Control of the Access Point

An access point to the Vex Nessian archive network is nearby. Seize it, and open the way to Saint-14's simulated body.

• Clear the Area

Defeat the Vex guarding the Nessian Archive access point.

• Hack the Access Point to the Nessian Archive

Use the Access Point so Failsafe can hack input coordinates to Saint-14's tomb.

• Defeat the Vex

Defeat the Vex emerging from archived simulations across Nessus.

• Enter the Portal

Failsafe has opened a portal to a simulation of Saint-14's tomb. Enter and face the dark future.

• Approach Saint-14's Tomb

Make your way to an archived simulation from the Infinite Forest.

• Return Through the Portal

Saint has retrieved the data Failsafe needs to manipulate the Vex Network into bringing the Conductor to you. Return to the Core.

• Defeat Agioktis, Archived Mind

SIMULATION SECURITY NODE TRIPPED. RECALLING: Agioktis, Archived Mind.

• Descend into Nessus

Follow the source of the transmission into the very center of Nessus.

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.

Osiris: Saint will join us shortly. We seek access to his tomb.

Failsafe (Cheery): We are grave robbing!

Osiris: That is one way of putting it.

Failsafe (Depressed): The interned Saint-unit is still VexNet. Their memory core is a back-channel into the network.

Osiris: Saint must understand that there are no lesser versions, only expressive tessellations of what could be.

Osiris: If facing his death again is the cost of that revelation… well, so be it.

(Mission Begins)

The Guardian arrives at the Planetary Depths.

Saint-14: Nessus reshapes itself around this Vex fluid. Soon we will hardly recognize it.

To delve deeper into Nessus, the Guardian enters a tractor beam to take them down further into the planet.

Saint-14: The Infinite Forest was on Mercury. How do we reach it from here?

Osiris: Access here is somewhat like… an archive, imprinted into the magnetic field of Nessus.

Failsafe (Cheery): The Vex used Nessus for defunct digital storage. They kept trying to plug me into it.

Failsafe (Cheery): And-wow, is exposing me to their connection protocols going to backfire. They should have predicted that!

Entering into a Vex portal, the Guardian arrives at a large Vex cavern filled with radiolaria, where the access point to the Nessian archive is located in the middle.

Saint-14: What did you mean, about the data here being… defunct.

Osiris: The Guardian pulled you from a point before your death, to a point after it.

Osiris: To the Vex, that temporal event is a defunct anomaly now-nonexistent within this timeline. So it is kept here, stored in Nessus's memory.

The Guardian navigates down towards the access point.

Saint-14: The details that separate him and I, if they fade away… Will I be his shadow, or will he be mine?

Osiris: I can't answer that for you. You're you. Were you less you today? I tore open time for you.

Saint-14: Hmm… I suppose.

Arriving at the access point, the Guardian defeats the Overseer Minotaurs guarding the Vex Conflux in the middle.

Darkness Zone. Respawning Restricted.

Osiris: You should be near the access point, Guardian. Locate a conflux.

To gain access to their desired location, the Guardian employs their Ghost to scan the Conflux so Failsafe can hack input coordinates to Saint's tomb.

Osiris: They will react to our attempts to breach the tomb.

Failsafe (Cheery): Yes, they are doing that now!

Vex Harpies from the Sol Collective and Divisive teleport to the Guardian's location to defend their secrets. After the Guardian destroys a Hydra, further Vex forces begin to appear at their location.

Failsafe (Cheery): This is exactly as complex as I anticipated. I'm almost in.

As the Guardian destroys further Vex forces, including two Descendant Wyverns, Failsafe succeeds in hacking the input coordinates directly to Saint's tomb.

Failsafe (Cheery): I'm in!

Saint-14: Now to learn of the man I was, and will be.

Entering into the portal leading to the Simulation Corridor, the Guardian arrives at a hallway leading to Saint's tome.

Saint-14: Osiris… why did they keep my body?

Osiris: Respect. They honor you with a perfect preservation. There's no replacing you, Saint. Even the Vex recognize that.

Failsafe (Cheery): The Vex are very meticulous.

Failsafe (Depressed): But also weirdly sentimental.

Arriving at the room where Saint was laid to rest, the Guardian approaches his tomb. Shortly after, they are joined by both Osiris and Saint who transmat to the location.

Saint-14: There.

Saint attempts to put his head on his dead body.

Osiris: Wait.

Saint pulls his hand away.

Osiris: When I searched for you in the Infinite Forest… I saw this, again and again. You entombed. Taken away from me, perhaps forever.

Osiris: When I finally found you I thought I would never have to see it again.

Saint-14: I am here, Osiris. You told me that I am real.

Osiris: So is he… [sighs sharply] Do it. Remember the Vex… But also how much I loved you in that timeline too.

Nodding his head at Osiris, Saint places his hand on his deceased body's head, allowing him to witness the memories of himself in this timeline.

Saint-14: [roars and grunts]

Osiris: Saint!

Saint-14: I see it. I-I tear through the Vex. They cannot stand against me… They hesitate. They are afraid! Of me!

Saint-14: Then Geppetto is hurt. I try to protect her, but… I am too late.

Osiris: Stop.

Osiris turns his back to Saint.

Saint-14: I pull a Minotaur apart with my bare hands… but soon… I fall. The Vex approach.

Saint-14: They are lifting me up. I lose my senses… I cannot feel my body. My vision blinks in and out, but-

Osiris: Saint, stop… please.

Osiris turns around to face his partner.

Saint-14: I-I am on the slab, but… I have one final feeling. A memory of us, together… I am bringing you tea.

Saint-14: I watch you take a sip-it is to hot… but you smile.

Saint-14: This is my last thought… My phoenix. [grunts]

Having witnessed his final memory in this timeline, Saint breaks free from this state.

Saint-14: I am gone. But-no! Here I am. With both of you. I am Saint-14! The Conductor cannot hide from me anymore! Failsafe!

Failsafe (Cheery): I have the coordinates, Saint-unit!

Failsafe (Depressed): Good luck.

With the Guardian, Saint-14, and Osiris ready to confront the Conductor, Failsafe would reroute the Conductor's radiolaria flow to their location so they finally confront this enigmatic entity.

Failsafe (Cheery): Saint-unit, Captain, I have achieved coordinate lock. I'm rerouting the Conductor's radiolaria flow to this location.

The Guardian travels down the hallway to enter the portal and return to the access point.

Failsafe (Depressed): So… hey, while redirecting the Conductor to you - they were real in there - I pulled some other Vex along.

Failsafe (Depressed): And you're surrounded… Er, maybe we can reason with them, heh?

Saint-14: Yes, Guardian. Reason them with the big guns. I will protect Osiris until the way is clear.

Osiris: See? You're the same old Saint.

The Guardian returns to the access point in the Planetary Depths.

Darkness Zone. Respawning Restricted.

Failsafe (Cheery): Captain, I am patching in cover. Eyes up!

Vex forces from different collectives led by Agioktis, now known as the Archived Mind, appear and engage with the Guardian. Thanks to Failsafe's assistance in creating platforms to assist them, the Guardian destroys Agioktis once more.

Failsafe (Cheery): Violence succeeded where diplomacy failed!

Failsafe (Depressed): And, I got that pesky pump-door open before the Vex cut our connection. You have a clear path to the Conductor.

Saint-14: Excellent work, Failsafe! Now it is us telling them what to do! Hahaha!

The Guardian walks down through the Vex gateway leading to the Conductor.

Osiris: The Conductor's signal approaches. Nessus groans under the yoke of its new cultivator.

Saint-14: Let us see if they can produce answers, or only questions.

Traveling up a small flight of stairs, the Guardian arrives at the Planetary Core where two Vex frames levitate above a small pool of radiolaria.

(Cutscene Begins)

The Conductor stands above a pool of radiolaria with their back turned, disassembling two ordinary Vex units into it and raising two new frames bearing Precursor models as the Guardian, Saint, and Osiris walk towards the pool to see their work.

Saint-14: Lakshmi…?

The Conductor turns around to look at their enemies, revealing that they are an Exo possessing a similar face to Lakshmi-2.

Maya Sundaresh: Is a facsimile its archetype? No, I am Maya Sunderash.

Maya Sunderash: …But we have already met.

Osiris: Sunderash. So this is what happened to you after Neomuna? After your experiments with the Veil?

Saint-14: I know what you can do with the Echo of Command. I will not allow you to raise an army of Vex!

Saint raises his weapon, the Perfect Paradox.

Maya Sunderash: I'm doing what I've been called to do.

Osiris: The Vex called to you?!

Maya Sunderash: Humanity called to me. The Collapse, the Black Fleet is finished. Now we can look back to what we've lost.

Maya Sunderash: Radiolaria is the means to this end. It represents the smallest unit of consciousness.

Maya lowers her hand to skim the radiolaria before raising her hand and pinching her fingers as a demonstration.

Maya Sunderash: A trillion formless minds, notes in a symphony of thought, each one begging for direction… for a conductor.

Walking closer to her enemies, Maya stretches out her hand and uses the power of the Echo to compel Saint-14.

Saint-14: [grunts in strain]

Due to the constraining power of the Echo, Saint falls to his knees as Osiris runs over to check on him.

Maya Sunderash: Nessus will be converted.

Maya Sunderash: The radiolaria I command will be spread throughout the system. I will deliver us a Golden Age.

Maya Sunderash: And if you stand in the way of progress, I will break you down into more compliant elements.

Osiris: We are not your Vex!

Maya Sunderash: You will be.

Maya raises two more Precursor units from the radiolaria.

Osiris: Get us out of here - now!

The Guardian pulls out their Ghost and calls upon their ship, transmatting themselves, Saint, and Osiris on board and flying away.

{End Mission:Shell}

Enemies

Vex - Nessian Schism, Sol Collective, Sol Divisive, and Descendants

• Choral Goblin
  • Choral Fanatic
• Archived Fanatic
• Archived Hobgoblin
• Data-laden Harpy
• Archived Harpy
• Overseer Minotaur
• Archived Hydra
• Archived Wyvern
• Attendant Harpy

Boss

• Agioktis, Archived Mind

Appearance

• Destiny 2: Episode: Echoes (First appearance)