Board Thread:Fun and Games Forum/@comment-25175520-20141024183423/@comment-5735114-20141027215310

Shadow 55-70's ship shot downwards, first slowly and at a shallow angle, and then the angle steepened and the ship sped up. until it was practically nose diving, heading straight for the sand. However, the angle soon shallowed again, and just before the ship crashed into the ground, it settled into a calm hover a few inches above the sand, which was being blown away by the ship's engines. After Shadow 55-70 put on his helmet, his Ghost activated the Transmat, and they were shortly on the Earth's surface as their ship flew away.

"Could we not do that again, please?" asked the Ghost, referring to Shadow 55-70's unique method of descent.

The Exo chuckled. "You've asked that the past sixteen times, you crybaby. Let's go."

Shadow 55-70 took confident, long strides on the desert sand, not being bothered even slightly by the blistering heat. What bothered him, though, was the complete lack of anything around him, apart from sand. The desert appeared completely barren, without a radar array, Fallen troop, or even some form of vegetation in sight.

"They did a good job hiding it..." muttered the Ghost as it began to scan the area.

"So you don't even know where it is?" Shadow 55-70 asked with a sigh.

The Ghost completed its scans, then turned to face the Exo. "I do now. It's buried far under the sand. I expected this, but not to this extent... All we have to do is find a tunnel the the Fallen would use for air or supplies."

Shadow 55-70 scoffed and looked around. "How big is this desert, exactly?"

The Ghost attempted another scan. For a moment, everything was silent, but the small machine broke it as soon as it was done with its scans. "Follow me."

And so the two began walking southeast, the direction from which the sun was shining. Shadow 55-70 squinted for a moment. He could have sworn he saw a shimmer on the horizon.

Then, realization struck him. "Get down!" he yelled suddenly, grabbing his Ghost and diving with it as a beam from a Wire Rifle sailed just over his head. Once he stopped panting, he began to warily look around, but there was again nothing to be seen. Slowly, the Exo stood and took out his scout rifle.

Looking down the scope, Shadow 55-70 looked around the area again. Even with the aid of the optic, he couldn't see anything. All seemed to be normal again.

"Well, off you go."

The Ghost reappeared in front of him. "Thank you," it said, and after a momentary silence turned around and continued moving forwards, closely tailed by Shadow 55-70, who held his Multi-Tool at the ready.

After walking for about half an hour without incident, the two arrived at what appeared to be a... sewer grate. Shadow 55-70 turned to look at his Ghost, then down at the grate.

"Either these Fallen are exceptionally stupid, or they think we are," said the Exo, "and they're not stupid."

His Ghost turned to look at him. "This leads to the array; I'm sure of it."

Shadow 55-70 grunted, but he still bent down and lifted the grate. The hole beneath it was pitch-black and it was impossible to tell which direction it went, though straight down would have been a safe bet.

"After you," the Exo suggested. When neither of them moved, the Exo jumped down into the hole, followed by his Ghost.