List of Grimoire Cards/Ghost Fragment: Cabal 4

"For the Staff of Primus Ta'aun, Legion Commander From Skyburner V Cohort/Auxiliaries/Strategic Intelligence Maniple A Tactical Outcomes Analysis

I: Records, Materials, and Attributions Pursuant To Analysis

Sand Eater II Cohort/Century 1/Maniple 8 2 Squad [LINE INF] TASK: - sweep urban area grid 071x145 to screen BL I/3/3/5 intelligence op OUTCOME: - unit ambushed by solitary Guardian. no survivors

Sand Eater II Cohort/Century 1/Maniple 8 3 Squad [TAC INF] TASK: - reinforce II/1/8/2 in disarray grid 071x145 OUTCOME: - unit engaged by Guardian and Vex units. no survivors.

Dust Giant IV Cohort/Century 4/Maniple 1 4 Squad [AIRMOBILE] TASK: - secure grid 071x145, destroy guardian target OUTCOME: - target Guardian temporarily destroyed. target re-engaged with Guardian reinforcements. no friendly survivors.

Dust Giant IV Cohort/Century 4/Maniple 1 Harvester Dropship [TAC AIR] TASK: - support IV/4/1/4 operations in 071x145 OUTCOME: - dropship shot down. crew reported Guardians operating elaborate totem rocket weapons.

Blind Legion I Cohort/Century 3/Maniple 3 5 Squad [HEAVY INF] TASK: - defend Psion intelligence ops 071x146 OUTCOME: - overwhelmed by Guardian fireteam/Vex pressure. few survivors. survivors reported Guardians foraging for equipment, dancing, and performing acrobatics with light vehicles.

II: Analysis

This is an archetypical engagement. It represents many hundreds of failed operations.

Guardian activity in the Freehold AO has exploded across recent campaign seasons. Tactical attrition exceeds both frictional projections and our ability to regenerate losses. New tactics are necessary.

The primary threat is the Guardians’ individual counter-attrition capability.

Guardians can be rebuilt after even total disintegrative trauma. This capability is provided by a small autonomous drone unit called a Dead Person [trans. unclear]. The Dead Person conceals itself during combat. It is not a viable target for direct fire. Saturation attack by artillery/heavy air/orbital fire may have good effect (although Guardians transmat frequently and refuse to assemble into large formations).

Solitary Dead Persons have been observed in all areas of operation. The relationship between solitary and paired Dead Persons remains unclear.

Psion analysis indicates that specific areas are inimicable to Guardian counter-attritional reconstruction. Phobos Command has initiated an orbital survey. BL I/2 will attack the Vex gate artifact in Meridian Bay to secure possible related intelligence.

Flayer analysis suggests that the Hive have developed unconventional counter-Dead Person capability. The capture of Hive leadership might yield vital strategic intelligence, including weapons or tactics capable of defeating Guardians permanently.

We advance that the Hive fleet group near Saturn presents a strong target.

For the Primus, Our highest duty done, Unflinchingly loyal, Skyburner V/A/SI"