Into the Depths
From Destinypedia, the Destiny wiki
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| Into the Depths | |
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Quest giver: |
Drifter (through Sonar Station) |
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Objective: |
Delve into the depths of Titan's methane sea in search of lost technology and knowledge. |
Into the Depths is the main quest for the Season of the Deep.
Steps
Step 1
Drifter has a plan for how to amplify the psychic bond between Sloane and Ahsa.
- Speak with Drifter via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Vanguard Orbital Command, Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers
The Drifter appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Drifter: Hey there, hero. While you were taking a dip in the methane, I detected something on the ocean floor... and it ain't native to Titan. I've seen it before. On the Glykon. On the Leviathan. On my own ship, too. An organism that's all about forming psychic connections. Seems it's growing like coral down in the depths. I'm thinking we gather it up and use it to amplify Sloane's link to the creature. I can modify my Gambit equipment to bank that stuff and harness its power... but I'll need some Golden Age parts to do it. Just so happens the Arcology is full of Golden Age tech waiting to be salvaged. You help me collect it, and I'll fix up the bank. Then it's just a matter of... well, heh, diving into the depths of the methane sea and dredging up what Sloane needs. All while trying not to drown, of course. Nothing you can't handle! So what do you say? Ready for another swim?
Drifter informs you that a strange coral with psychic properties similar to the egregore fungus you've encountered in the past is growing deep beneath the waves of Kraken Mare. He posits that it can be used to strengthen Sloane's bond with Ahsa.
"I can modify my Gambit equipment to bank that stuff and harness its power," he explains, "but I'll need some Golden Age parts to do it."
He tasks you with salvaging the necessary equipment so that he can prep you for a dive.
"So, what do you say? Ready for another swim?"
Step 2
Drifter requires Golden Age technology salvaged from the ruins on Titan.
- Complete the Salvage activity. Launch Salvage from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Salvage activity for transcript.
Step 3
With the technology you salvaged, Drifter has modified his Gambit bank so you can store the coral from the depths of Kraken Mare.
- Complete the mission "Operation Thunderbolt." Launch the mission from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Operation Thunderbolt mission for transcript.
Step 4
If Drifter is correct, Sloane can use the coral to amplify her psychic bond with Ahsa.
- Bring the coral to Sloane in the H.E.L.M.
The Plunge, Dive Tank, New Pacific Arcology, Titan
The Guardian deposits the egregore coral
Sloane uses the sample to amplify her connection to Ahsa.
Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane.
- Sloane: An oasis in the desert. Seeds of hope... buried beneath the sands... Nomads... wanderers... travelers. Their journey comes to an end... The first to be claimed by the Deep... [breathes uneasily] the first to fall victim to the Witness... [gasps for air]
Sloane reels back exhausted, then transmats out.
Step 5
Sloane has succeeded in momentarily boosting her connection with Ahsa, but it seems to have taken a toll on her.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: So you heard all of that, huh? Hard to believe, but it's not just noise. I can understand bits and pieces of it through Ahsa. Xivu Arath's thirst for battle, the... Witness's cold rage. The Taken enmity. It's all in there. I started hearing it when my arm got this new paint job. But it hasn't sounded that real since... Doesn't matter. I've been through it before, and I can get through it again. Ahsa has vital information about the Witness. I'll do whatever it takes so she can deliver it. That's the mission, and I always complete the mission. Ahsa and I both need to recover before we boost our connection again. Until then, continue helping Drifter upgrade his technology. I hate to admit it, but his plan seems like it might actually work.
Sloane confirms that the coral was successful in allowing her to boost her connection with Ahsa. However, doing so also amplifies the Taken interference that plagues them both.
"I started hearing it when my arm got this new paint job," she confides in you. "But it hasn't sounded that real since…"
She shakes it off and reiterates that Drifter's plan seems like it will work. Though she needs some time to recover, she'll be ready to connect with Ahsa again soon.
"That's the mission," she declares. "And I always complete the mission."
Notes
The Guardian recieves Rapacious Appetite.
Step 6
Claim your first vendor upgrade from the completed Seasonal Challenge in the Journey tab.
- Claim the "Deep Challenger" Seasonal Challenge.
Step 7
Amplifying their psychic bond takes a toll on both Sloane and Ahsa. They each need time to recover before harnessing more of the egregore coral.
- The Vanguard will inform you once Sloane and Ahsa are ready to boost their bond again.
Step 8
Zavala has a mission update for you, now that Sloane has recovered enough to boost her connection with Ahsa again.
- Speak with Zavala via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Zavala appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Zavala: Guardian. Operations on Titan are in full swing. Drifter believes he can further improve his modified bank to work at greater depths. He will require more salvage from the sunken Arcology. Acquire it for him so we can continue enhancing Sloane's link with Ahsa. This mission... Sloane's been through enough as it is. I informed her of everything that transpired while she was MIA. Guardians using the Darkness, Savathûn's deception, the Witness attacking the Traveler... [sighs] and Amanda. The two of them were close. Word of Amanda's death hit Sloane hard. I saw it in her eyes. The moment when the news landed... And the moment she buried it. I don't like putting this mission on Sloane. But I recognize her need for it. Her need for an objective... and a commander to assign it. What I need is for you to stand beside her in the trenches. Show her that she doesn't have to fight this battle alone. We'll all see this through together.
Zavala informs you that Drifter can improve the device he's been building if you are able to provide him with more Golden Age salvage. The mission is progressing according to plan, but placing it on Sloane's shoulders doesn't sit well with Zavala.
"Sloane's been through enough as it is," he tells you.
Zavala recounts how he debriefed Sloane on the events that transpired while she was gone, and how she buried her reaction to it—particularly the news of Amanda's death.
He asks you to stand by Sloane in his stead, to be the confidant he feels he can't be as her commander.
"Show her that she doesn't have to fight this battle alone."
Notes
The Guardian receives a Salvage Key and a Deep Dive Key.
Step 9
Drifter requires Golden Age technology salvaged from the ruins on Titan.
- Complete the Salvage activity. Launch Salvage from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Step 10
Drifter has improved his coral banking device to work at greater depths.
- Complete the mission "Mayday, Mayday." Launch the mission from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Mayday, Mayday mission for transcript.
Step 11
With another successful dive completed, it's time to return to the H.E.L.M.
- Witness the conversation in the H.E.L.M.
Vanguard Orbital Command, Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers
Zavala stares at the portal leading to the Plunge on Titan.
- Zavala: Wondering what the creature has to share, Guardian? I'm eager myself... or anxious. That separation can be difficult to discern.
Saint-14 walks out from the portal.
- Saint-14: Commander, Guardian — were you waiting here for me?
- Zavala: Just considering the pieces on the board, Saint.
- Saint-14: You worry for the deputy commander. She is strong, and her friend is very large. They will be OK.
- Zavala: Sloane will do what's necessary. But after that, things are less... simple.
- Saint-14: When I was trapped in the Infinite Forest, before Osiris broke time to reunite us... There were many days I felt lost. [chuckles] But I am here, and you are all with me again.
- Zavala: That you are. A hero of the City... then and now.
- Saint-14: A hero? Yes. Though... my memory differs from what the stories say.
- Zavala: There's only so much I can do behind a desk, weighing costs and outcomes. Sending someone else never sits right with me. [takes a deep breath] I'd rather the clarity of the battlefield; besides the two of you.
- Saint-14: The burden of good leaders — to never feel we have done enough. But trusting those we send is what makes us strong.
- Zavala: You were Vanguard Commander once. What made you step down?
- Saint-14: Because I am not as strong as you. You carry the command for the same reason the Guardian and I stand in the trenches. To set the example. To be the hope. When the time comes, you will see it too, ah? I know you will.
Saint-14 transmats out.
- Zavala: Into the trenches then, Guardian. Yours on Titan, and mine in the Tower. I look forward to your report.
Zavala transmats out.
Step 12
Sloane can use the coral you extracted to strengthen her psychic bond with Ahsa.
- Bring the coral to Sloane in the H.E.L.M.
--- The Guardian deposits the egregore coral
Sloane uses the sample to amplify her connection to Ahsa.
Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane.
- Sloane: A city of Light... a... a flourishing garden... A silent god... withholds a deeper truth. Questions unanswered, uh... longing... unfulfilled. The sky... darkens... as a new journey begins. [gasps for air]
Sloane reels back exhausted, then transmats out.
Step 13
Sloane has succeeded in momentarily boosting her connection with Ahsa, but it seems to have taken a toll on her.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: It's hard to make sense of Ahsa's thoughts... but they're coming into focus, Taken interference be damned. Hearing those sounds... but me right back in the thick of it. Staying on the move, gun in hand, Xivu Arath's voice in my head. Escape and evade. No matter how bad things got, that routine kept me going. And Ahsa kept me safe. She shored up my resolve. Helped me find food. Watched over me when I caught a few hours of shut eye. Now she's doing everything she can to tell us what she knows. We're both on a new mission. Unfortunately, Drifter needs to tinker with his machine before we bank more coral. Hurry up and wait, right? I've been around a long time, Guardian. Seen a lot of action, gone on a lot of sorties. Always ready for the next set of orders. It's staying still that gets to me.
Sloane reports that Ahsa's thoughts are becoming clearer to her, despite the Taken interference.
"Hearing those sounds puts me right back in the thick of it," she tells you as the memories of that time claw at her.
She reflects on how her bond with Ahsa bolstered her resolve throughout the harrowing ordeal, and how they're both giving it their all to see this mission completed.
Unfortunately, it seems that Drifter needs some additional time to improve his machine. Sloane is loathe to sit and wait, but she doesn't have a choice in the matter.
Notes
The Guardian recieves A Distant Pull.
Step 14
Amplifying their psychic bond takes a toll on both Sloane and Ahsa. They each need time to recover before harnessing more of the egregore coral.
- The Vanguard will inform you once Sloane and Ahsa are ready to boost their bond again.
Step 15
Saladin has a mission update for you, now that Sloane has recovered enough to boost her connection with Ahsa again.
- Speak with Saladin via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Saladin appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Lord Saladin: Your efforts are paying off, Young Wolf. It's time for another dive, and another haul of coral for the deputy commander. Assuming, of course, that you can prevent the Deep from drowning you like a rat. Not that I'm worried about your capacity to do so. Especially when Sloane's fighting by your side. She's always been one to shoulder a burden so that others need not. That's something I understand all too well. After the Iron Lords fell, I alone remained to keep the torches lit. To hold the banner high... and honor those who died in the line of duty. It was... a lonely path. One I walked for centuries without complaint. Now, a legion of my former enemies walks beside me. I had forgotten what such camaraderie could be like. And I suspect the same holds true for Sloane. Keep that in mind when the two of you are in the depths. There's no weapon more powerful than the soldier standing next to you.
Saladin commends you on your progress thus far and instructs you to conduct another dive for more coral.
He also comments on your continued teamwork with Sloane, drawing a parallel to his own experiences leading the Iron War Beasts.
"I had forgotten what such camaraderie could be like," he admits, "and I suspect the same holds true for Sloane."
Saladin urges you to keep working together as you carry out the mission.
Step 16
Drifter has improved his coral banking device to work at greater depths.
- Complete the mission "Operation Fulgurite." Launch the mission from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Operation Fulgurite mission for transcript.
Step 17
Drifter has improved his coral banking device to work at greater depths.
- Complete a Deep Dive activity. Deep Dives are launched from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Deep Dive activity for transcript.
Step 18
With another successful dive completed, it's time to return to the H.E.L.M.
- Witness the conversation in the H.E.L.M.
The Drifter with a bottle in hand, walks towards the portal to the Plunge on Titan.
Saladin walks out of the portal, bumping into the Drifter.
- Drifter: Oh! Hey there, Valus.
- Lord Saladin: Germaine. Or is it Dredgen Hope?
- Drifter: Nah. You know it's Drifter these days. Has been for a long time.
Saladin turns to the Guardian
- Lord Saladin: I was just speaking with the deputy commander — she's ready for you.
- Drifter: How's she holdin' up?
- Lord Saladin: Sloane is a soldier, and that role has given her purpose. Hope. But she has been through a great ordeal. Her own personal Dark Age.
- Drifter: Yeah... that's a bad hand to be dealt. Maybe this can wait.
The Drifter gestures to his bottle
- Drifter: Unless you wanna tip one back? Talk about the bad ol' days?
- Lord Saladin: [scoffs] What is that, motor oil? Battery acid?
- Drifter: Mm, only one way to find out.
- Lord Saladin: You and I are among the oldest of our kind. Centuries, we've orbited each other. Why now?
- Drifter: Why not?
- Lord Saladin: Maybe another time.
Saladin transmats out.
- Drifter: [chuckles] I think Caiatl's actually mellowed that old Wolf out a bit.
The Drifter transmats out.
Step 19
Sloane can use the coral you extracted to strengthen her psychic bond with Ahsa.
- Bring the coral to Sloane in the H.E.L.M.
The Guardian deposits the egregore coral
Sloane uses the sample to amplify her connection to Ahsa.
Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane.
- Sloane: Shrouded in... Darkness. A promise of something more... Two halves of a whole... long divided. A... schism between them. Reunited. [exhales in joy] A glimpse beyond... to the beginning... [gasps for air]
Sloane reels back exhausted, then transmats out.
Step 20
Sloane has succeeded in momentarily boosting her connection with Ahsa, but it seems to have taken a toll on her.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: The plan's working. It's getting easier for me to parse Ahsa's thoughts, like a picture coming into focus. Other things are a little harder for me to wrap my head around. When I first heard of Saladin's "Iron War Beasts", I... didn't know what to think. We lost a lot of people in the Red War. The empire took so much away from us, and now Saladin commands an imperial legion? They're the reason we had to fall back and regroup on Titan. Why I had to send fireteams down into the Arcology, never to return. Those Guardians died under my orders. They paid for our foothold in blood. When the Pyramids arrived... There was no way in hell I'd give it all up without a fight. This? This is nothing compared to what others sacrificed. Completing the mission is how I honor them. Just like Saladin honors the Iron Lords, no matter who he leads into battle against our enemies. Stay the course, Guardian. Once Ahsa and I are ready again, it's back into the depths for us.
Sloane confides in you that it hasn't been easy for her to see Saladin in command of the Iron War Beasts.
"We lost a lot of people in the Red War," she explains, "and now Saladin commands an Imperial Legion?"
She recounts how many Guardians under her own command lost their lives to establish a foothold on Titan, and how she refused to give up that ground without a fight.
Despite her initial reservations, she recognizes that Saladin wouldn't have joined Caiatl's War Council unless he felt it was noble and right.
Choosing to trust his judgment, she tells you she'll soon be ready for another dive.
Notes
The Guardian recieves Thin Precipice
Step 21
Amplifying their psychic bond takes a toll on both Sloane and Ahsa. They each need time to recover before harnessing more of the egregore coral.
- The Vanguard will inform you once Sloane and Ahsa are ready to boost their bond again.
Step 22
Drifter has a mission update for you, now that Sloane has recovered enough to boost her connection with Ahsa again.
- Speak with Drifter via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
The Drifter appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Drifter: What's the word, brother/sister? All this Golden Age tech is impressive stuff. Almost makes you wonder how they lost back then... ya dig? About that... if we're looking to win this time, I need Savathûn's swamp to wash up a few finishing touches for my rig. Crackin' skulls and lootin' hauls is your bag, hero. That's why you're headed to her throne world. That Pyramid Savvy brought down — it's cut off from the Witness. Scorn bigwigs been diggin' tech we can use out of that burning heap. All you have to do is find 'em and take it. Then you let ol' Drifter worry about the kit-bashin'. Easy. Hey, uh... one more thing. Xivu drippin' nonsense in your head too? She's been recounting some of my... more "heroic" exploits. Dark Age's been on my mind. You know how the past is. You pull the trigger, and people die... so you don't have to. Then someone comes along and wants to forgive you for that. Like it's fine. Won't ask what Xivu's dredgin' up for a killer like you. Wouldn't be polite. Thunderguns down there, though? Been under pressure so long, everybody's looking for cracks. Don't get me wrong! Coin to table, she's been through it. But I don't think Sloane's looking to be told it's fine: 'Cause it ain't. 'Cause it needs to be ugly to win. And then... you live with it. See ya on the other side.
Drifter says he's put the salvage you've brought him to good use, but that he needs parts from a different type of machinery to further improve his device.
"I need Savathûn's swamp to wash up a few finishing touches for my rig," he elaborates.
He instructs you to travel to Savathûn's throne world and secure pieces of Pyramid technology from the Scorn. With it, he can modify his extraction equipment to work in the deepest trenches of Kraken Mare.
Step 23
Drifter needs to combine the Pyramid technology with the Arcology's salvaged machinery to further improve his coral extraction device.
- Collect Amorphous Alloys by defeating Scorn on Savathûn's throne world.
Step 24
Dive into the depths of Kraken Mare with Drifter's machinery and gather as much coral as you can.
- Complete a Deep Dive activity. Deep Dives are launched from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Step 25
Witness the conversation in the H.E.L.M.
- Witness the conversation in the H.E.L.M.
Vanguard Orbital Command, Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers
The Drifter and Sloane share a drink.
- Sloane: This is awful.
- Drifter: [laughs] Sure is. You ever been outside of Sol?
- Sloane: Never had a reason to.
- Drifter: Mm. Can't say I recommend it. Saw some stuff while I was out there. Bad stuff. A world colder than you can imagine. Creatures that suppressed the Light. My crew... Let's just say we wore out our welcome. Creatures started closing in. Trigger fingers got itchy. Some of us froze to death. A Lightless, final death. The others... they didn't go so quiet. Not until I shut them up. Not sure how long I stayed after that. Had to mod my Ghost to survive. Used the parts from... [takes a deep breath] I did what it took to get off-world. And now, I'm here.
- Sloane: I'm not stranger to combat, but... How did you leave it all behind?
- Drifter: [inhales sharply] ... I didn't. Some things, you carry with you forever. But eventually, they stop feeling too heavy to lift.
- Sloane: Thanks for the drink, Drifter.
- Drifter: Heh. Any time, Sloane.
The Drifter and Sloane transmat out.
Step 26
Sloane can use the coral you extracted to strengthen her psychic bond with Ahsa.
- Bring the coral to Sloane in the H.E.L.M.
The Guardian deposits the egregore coral
Sloane uses the sample to amplify her connection to Ahsa.
Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane.
- Sloane: Anathema... calamity! That which cannot, MUST not come to pass... A wordless denial. A fleeing god. Betrayal... and escape. The pursuit... for the final shape... [gasps for air]
Sloane reels back exhausted, then transmats out.
Step 27
Sloane has succeeded in momentarily boosting her connection with Ahsa, but it seems to have taken a toll on her.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: We're almost there. My link with Ahsa feels crystal clear. It's... a little frightening, but strangely comforting, too. A lot changed while I was gone. It feels like... like the entire universe moved on without me, and now I'm struggling to catch up. Old enemies became new allies. New enemies wield the Light against us. And old allies... friends... like Amanda... Sometimes I wonder... if I returned to the Tower, would it even be my home anymore? Or would I just be a phantom, a forgotten memory wandering its streets at night? Xivu Arath's voice keeps telling me I don't belong there. That the battlefield is my home. That it always has been. Maybe she's right. Maybe reliving what I went through over and over again is a way for me to... stay in familiar territory. To remain in the hell that I know... and avoid the one I dread. Either way, the mission comes first. I have to see it through to the end, regardless of where I end up when it's done.
Sloane opens up to you about all she's been struggling with since Titan's return. Much has happened while she's been gone, leaving her feeling like it's impossible to catch up to it all.
"If I returned to the Tower," she asks, "would it even be my home anymore?"
She relates how Xivu Arath's voice has been echoing in her head, telling her that the only place she belongs is on the battlefield. Sloane has to wonder if she might be right.
Either way, the deputy commander is fully committed to seeing the mission through, regardless of where she ends up when it's done.
Notes
The Guardian recieves a Deep Engram.
Step 28
Amplifying their psychic bond takes a toll on both Sloane and Ahsa. They each need time to recover before harnessing more of the egregore coral.
- The Vanguard will inform you once Sloane and Ahsa are ready to boost their bond again.
Step 29
Saint-14 has a mission update for you, now that Sloane has recovered enough to boost her connection with Ahsa again.
- Speak with Saint-14 via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Saint-14 appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Saint-14: Ah, I see you — you see me too? Ha, good, good. Then it is all working: you, me, this projector. Even if we sometimes falter... There is a war building in Sloane's eyes, one that Xivu Arath will exploit, as she did with Osiris. Savathûn wore his face, but it was Xivu Arath who took his Light. Her whips drove him into a frenzy, lured him into danger, forced Sagira's sacrifice... and left him to die. Now she twists my thoughts into thorns... draws out the faces of the suffering Eliksni into my dreams. She whispers that... I took pleasure in their pain. I see their eyes as they died by my hands. And they see me. She does not lie. She challenges what you hold as a strength. Osiris's ambition, my protection... Sloane's duty. I have felt how the right word, the right face, can incite one to violence. But I have changed. What she has taken... it will not break me. Sloane is no warrior of glass, but the war within her... even stone crumbles under enough strife. Stay with her, Guardian, as I should have with Osiris. We must offer her what support we are able, even if she does not want it.
Saint is pleased with the mission's progress, but remains concerned over Sloane's well-being.
He recounts how Xivu Arath goaded Osiris into a battle he couldn't win, and how Sagira was slain as a result. Even Saint himself is not immune to the war god's barbs.
"I have felt how the right word, the right face, can incite one to violence," he says with a heavy heart.
He urges you to stay beside Sloane and offer her the support she needs.
Step 30
Hard at work finishing up the device, Drifter has recorded a message for you with further instructions.
- Check in with Drifter via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
The Drifter appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
The screen illuminates, revealing an encoded message that unscrambles itself as the projector recognizes your credentials. It reads:
This on? Uhh… start recording. Oh, it is… okay.
Hey, hero—[clears throat]
Hey, hero.
You dredged up some mighty fine scrap for me. Pyramid tech that all those rot-bags could get their hands on, and I hammered that black gold into shape. Now my rig's running smoother than liquid methane.
Sloane and the long girl, their special link is pretty strong, thanks to you and me, but it's missing something to bridge the gap between the big ol' worm and our little ol' lady, Thunderguns… respectfully.
Seeing as how you're always in the mood to do favors, how 'bout one more? I need something… under the table.
We need a little something out of both worlds, you dig? One of those traitor Ghosts. The bad ones… the Hive ones. Scrap 'em, and bring me the fragments.
Savvy's throne world is chock full of 'em, but I've got one in mind. Details'll hit ya soon.
Step 31
Before you report to the Vanguard, Hawthorne has requested your assistance.
- Speak to Hawthorne in the Tower.
Hawthorne mutters something to herself and shakes her head.
"Look, I'm not going to pretend I understand why Savathûn has fish on her throne world, or what could cause them to swarm. What I do know, is that any unusual activity in that place is worth investigating."
"Take your bait and rod, see what you can fish up. Just be careful you don't get pulled under yourself."
Notes
Unlocks the Fishing Rally: Throne World quest.
Step 32
The Extraction Lost Sector is located within the Quagmire in Savathûn's throne world.
- Defeat Hathrek, the Glasweard in the Extraction Lost Sector in Savathûn's throne world.
Notes
The Guardian acquires hive ghost fragments.
Step 33
If Drifter is right, the Hive Ghost fragments you collected should allow Sloane to solidify her link to Ahsa.
- Return to Sloane and Ahsa in the H.E.L.M.
{Gameplay}
The Guardian deposits the egregore coral, along with the Hive Ghost fragments.
Sloane uses the sample to amplify her connection to Ahsa.
Ahsa begins to speak through Sloane, much clearer than ever before.
- Sloane: Our minds are one, linked by the Darkness. But only for a moment. I must borrow Sloane's voice to speak my words. Please... heed them well.
{Cutscene}
- Sloane: Before you can confront the Witness... you must understand it. The Witness's first victims were once like you. Struggling for survival. Bolstered by hope... Until their hopes became reality. They called it "the Gardener", their deity of life. It ushered them into a golden age. For eons, they prospered. But their newfound god never spoke to them. It lavished them with gifts, but not with guidance. And though they lived in paradise, they came to crave a greater purpose. They desired meaning. Structure. A "Winnower"... to shape the garden. Their scholars discovered that the Gardener shared a connection with another entity among the stars. They called it "the Veil". And when they found it, they arrived to claim it. They already knew much about the Light. How it could bend the laws of the universe and create life. But they came to realize that it could bring ruin... just as easily. The cosmic events it set in motion could wipe out entire civilizations in a heartbeat... without reason. And so they saw the Light not as a source of prosperity... but of unfettered chaos. By studying the Veil, they came to know the Darkness. A power that was shaped by thought and consciousness. And in the Darkness, they found the means to carve away the chaos of existence. To calcify it into a final shape. Eternal... and perfected. They brought the Veil back to the Gardener in an attempt to strengthen their connection. There, they could reshape reality itself. The Gardener would not allow it. And so, it fled their world. But they would not be deterred. Having witnessed the truth in the Darkness, they used its binding power to merge themselves... into the salvation they craved. Thus began the Witness's pursuit... its campaign to impose meaning on a meaningless universe. One that is nearly at its end.
{Gameplay}
- Sloane: [gasps for air]
Sloane reels back exhausted, then transmats out.
Step 34
Even more than the toll of their psychic bond, the nature of Ahsa's message seems to have left Sloane reeling.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: Well... now we've heard what Ahsa had to tell us. We know our enemy better than ever. To think that it all started with the need for purpose... how that need became an obsession... [inhales deeply] What bothers me most is how much I understand it. This mission... it's MY purpose, MY reason for being. My guiding light. Without it, I... I'm lost. I don't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do. And that lack of direction, it's... harder to face than a thousand battles. I felt the same about my previous mission, when I held the line on Titan. And if I'm being honest... it feels like I failed. I survived, but for what reason? What was it all meant to achieve? The only answer I've found... is to learn what Ahsa knows. If I can do that, it will all have been worth it. Our link ended before Ahsa could explain how to get through the portal. The bond took its toll... but we'll both be ready again soon. When that time has come and gone... then I can feel like I accomplished the mission.
Sloane seems to carry the full weight of Ahsa's revelations on her shoulders, likening the Witness's obsession with finding purpose to her own internal struggles.
She reflects on her own search for purpose, and how it's led her to cling to the mission at hand.
"Without it," she painfully admits to you, "I'm lost."
Sloane questions why she has endured all that she has, and the only answer she can come up with is to see her current mission through.
"If I can do that, it will all have been worth it."
Her connection with Ahsa ended before she could tell us how to get through the portal. Once they have both recovered, it will be time for one last dive.
Step 35
Amplifying their psychic bond takes a toll on both Sloane and Ahsa. They each need time to recover before harnessing more of the egregore coral.
- The Vanguard will inform you once Sloane and Ahsa are ready to boost their bond again.
Step 36
Saladin has a priority message awaiting you aboard the H.E.L.M.
- Speak with Saladin via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Saladin appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Lord Saladin: Change of plans — Xivu Arath struck while you were returning from the dive. Hive deception slipped through our guard, and Ahsa was targeted by a Hive ritual. Xivu Arath's voice tore through the air like a wall of swords. We think it wounded Ahsa, but she swam off to try and interrupt the ritual before we could do anything. Zavala and Sloane are tracking her to the ritual site, and I am mobilizing the Iron War Beasts to support them. We need you in the fight, Guardian. I'm sending coordinates to your Ghost, but we have no idea what to expect there. Deploy to the ritual site and disrupt the Hive. The hunt is on.
Saladin informs you of a Hive ritual that targeted Ahsa and seemed to injure her. Ahsa has descended into the ocean depths to put a stop to it, with Sloane and Zavala in pursuit. Saladin sends you in after them while he mobilizes the Iron War Beasts.
"We need you in the fight, Guardian."
He transfers the coordinates to your Ghost and orders you to prep for an emergency dive. The hunt is on.
Step 37
Ahsa is in danger. Dive into the depths of Kraken Mare and disrupt the Wrathborn's ritual.
- Complete the mission "Barotrauma." The mission can be launched from the Destinations tab in the H.E.L.M.
Notes
See Barotrauma mission for transcript.
Step 38
The Vanguard has much to discuss in light of Ahsa's information.
- Witness the conversation in the H.E.L.M.
Vanguard Orbital Command, Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers
Zavala and Saint-14 stand hunched, taking in Ahsa’s plan.
- Zavala: [sighs] Relying on Savathûn. This is what it's come to.
Saladin furiously storms through the portal.
- Lord Saladin: Tell me you're not serious?
- Zavala: I am. Ahsa has given us a way to follow the Witness.
- Saint-14: This cannot be the only way.
- Zavala: Everyone in this room understands the risks. But we finally have a path forward; we can't wait for another.
- Lord Saladin: The Empress won't take kindly to this news.
- Zavala: You stand on her council. Convince her.
Saint-14 slams his fists into the cargo box.
- Saint-14: I cannot watch the Witch Queen rise again, Zavala — to scheme against us, to steal another face? No!
- Zavala: She won't be given the opportunity. Eris and Ikora will keep the situation under our control.
- Lord Saladin: Immaru isn't one to be baited into a trap.
- Zavala: Not a trap. A bargain. We're all against the Witness. Savathûn's Ghost has no choice but to cooperate.
- Lord Saladin: I'll convey your decision and assurances to the Empress. Commander. Guardians.
Saladin transmats out.
- Saint-14: We tried to control the Witch Queen before. I saw how that ended, Zavala. It is a treacherous path. When she strays, as I know she will... even one claw...
- Zavala: My fist will be right behind yours.
- Saint-14: I hope I am wrong. But right now... I cannot see how. Osiris will hear of this. I imagine he will have words too.
Saint-14 transmats out.
- Zavala: There's a long night ahead of us. Let's be the beacons others need to follow... at least until we make it through this.
Zavala transmats out.
Step 39
Even more than the toll of their psychic bond, the nature of Ahsa's message seems to have left Sloane reeling.
- Speak with Sloane via the holoprojector in the H.E.L.M.
Sloane appears on the Sonar Station holoprojector.
- Sloane: We did it, Guardian. Cut a swath through the Taken and got the intel we needed. The mission is complete. I've... waited a long time to say those words. And I used to dread the moment that comes after. But not anymore. I thought I needed the mission to draw my focus, to... drown out all the noise. All of... this. But not focusing on it doesn't mean it isn't there. It's a part of me now. I'll carry it with me wherever I go. And that's OK. I'm strong enough to shoulder that weight, especially... if I don't have to do it alone. Ahsa's in hibernation now. All that strain on our psychic link has worn her out. Poor girl's earned some time to rest. She won't be alone, either. I'll camp out on Titan and watch over her. Just like she watched over me. That's not to say I'll never return to the Tower. When I do... I know there'll be a place for me. And people to welcome me home. Take care, Guardian. And watch your back when you dig up Savathûn. If you ever need to punch her lights out... you know where to find me.
Sloane breathes a long-awaited sigh of relief.
"The mission is complete," she declares. "I've waited a long time to say those words."
She reflects on how she used to dread what would come after, and how she now realizes that constantly pushing forward doesn't help her move past what she's been through.
Sloane informs you that Ahsa has entered hibernation, and that she will remain on Titan to watch over Ahsa for now.
She promises to one day return to the Tower, and warns you to watch your back when it comes time to revive Savathûn.
"If you ever need to punch her lights out," she says with a grin, "you know where to find me."
Appearance
- Destiny 2: Season of the Deep (First appearance)
