The War Within/Transcript

Quest description
A disturbance in the Somatic Link prompts the Lotus to send operatives back to the Tenno Reservoir.

Letter with the quest
 Urgent situation on Lua  Tenno,

''Something has happened on Lua and my Sentries have become unresponsive. I need you to investigate immediately.''

-The Lotus

Intro cinematic
Wormqueen: I'm afraid, sister. Your Continuity grows near. Elderqueen: Hush, worm. Let the beasts do their work. Wormqueen: But the dreamers have awakened. They will come for us. Elderqueen: Yes, they will... like the answer to a prayer.

Mission 1 (Investigate the Reservoir on Lua)
Lotus: Tenno, Are you alright? Your Somatics output seems high. Operator: I... just... nodded off. It's nothing. Lotus: Good. Deploy a Warframe to Lua. My sentries have gone silent. We may have an intrusion. Operator: On it.

(On mission entry) Lotus: It was here Margulis put you into the dream, tried to heal you... tried to give you the strength to tame the Void within you. In a way, this is where you, where all Tenno, were born. Operator: But we weren't born here, were we? Lotus: No. When the Zaramin[sic] was found adrift, the Orokin did everything they could to erase their mistakes. Transit recordings, personnel logs... everything was wiped out. The only thing they kept was... you. Lotus: I'm detecting an unknown signature further ahead. Find out who it is and what they're doing.

(Upon spotting Teshin) Operator: I just saw the intruder... moving fast. I think it's Teshin. Lotus: Teshin? What is he doing here? It looks like he's heading to a Reservoir. Follow him.

Teshin: Leave now. This doesn't concern you, child. Operator: Don't call me that. What are you doing here?

Cinematic at the Reservoir
Elderqueen: Bring them to me. Operator: What was that? Teshin: The Queens. Operator: Queens?! The Grineer Queens? Tell me what-- Teshin: I am warning you. You think you're safe behind this metal, but you're not. Not in the ways that matter here. Behind this, you're still just a child -- Operator: Stop saying that. Teshin: Follow me again, Tenno, and you will answer to my sword.

Lotus: I thought the Queens were just an invention of Grineer command. No one has ever seen them in the flesh. Operator: I have a feeling Teshin has. Can you track him? Lotus: Not with Specters masking him. But Tenno, we don't know anything about the Queens. Maybe Teshin alone should-- Operator: No. Teshin's not going to tell me what I can and cannot do. I'll take out his Specters so you can track him.

(On capturing the specter) Lotus: I have a lock on his route. Exfiltrate when you're ready.

Mission 2 (Track Teshin)
Lotus: Teshin is trying to mask his location from us, but I have pinpointed a suspicious signal for you to investigate. Find him, we need answers.

(On mission entry) Lotus: All my scans for Teshin have converged on this location. Find him. Operator: Why hasn't he reached out to us? If he is pursuing the Queens, we can help him. Lotus: Pride or shame, he does seem to have some connection to them. Stay on the trail. Finding the Queens could give us a tactical advantage against the Grineer. Operator: Understood.

(On spotting the specter) Operator: I've picked up the trail again. Lotus: That's not Teshin, it's another one of his Specters. He's trying to shake us off the trail. Capture that Specter, we can use it to find the real Teshin.

(On capture) Lotus: Well done. Return to your ship, I will alert you when I've decrypted this Specter's control signature.

Mission 3 (Pursue Teshin into the Asteroid Field)
Lotus: Teshin's Specter points to what should be an unpopulated asteroid field, but deep scans show the presence of a security-matrix. Someone is trying to hide something, I need you to find out what. Prepare your Archwing.

(On mission entry) Lotus: Something is hiding in this asteroid field but before you can investigate you need to disable the security matrix. Ordis, are you certain this is the best angle of approach? Ordis: Well, outside this corridor lie burst scanners, severe radiation, proximity mines, GRINEER DEATH BEAMS so yes, Ordis recommends staying within the shipping corridor.

Ordis: Operator, watch that transport ahead. The scanner is only able to scan one side at a time. You can use that to your advantage. Lotus: You heard Ordis. Keep the transport between yourself and the beams. Do not let them touch you.

(As the player progresses through the scanners)

Ordis: Another scanner, to the right of the ship.

Ordis: They're going to scan the top of the transport, get below it.

Lotus: Nicely done. They still haven't seen you.

Ordis: You're clear.

Ordis: (sigh of relief) This is the last scanner.

Ordis: Yes. Might I say that was smooth, Operator. Lotus: You're through. Land at the checkpoint.

(If player runs into a scanner) Lotus: You've been detected. They know you are here.

(Upon landing) Lotus: This checkpoint is the central hub of the security matrix. Shut it down so Ordis can fly you in undetected.

(On starting defense) Lotus: They're coming for you. Don't let them abort the shutdown.

(On finishing) Ordis: Ordis no longer detects any security. Lotus: Good, but we can't take any chances, silence the remaining Grineer.

(On exterminating everyone) Lotus: You are in the clear. Keep moving.

(On seeing the Fortress) Operator: Are you seeing this?! Lotus: (static) It must be the Queens' Fortress. Operator: Are those Fomorian engines mounted on an asteroid? No wonder we've never been able to find it. It's always moving. Lotus: (static) Excellent, Tenno. Now get out of there. We'll need to analyze the intel you've gathered before our next move. Operator: Negative. I'm heading in for a closer look. Lotus: (static) There is a lot of Transference distortion in this area. I recommend we abort this mission and wait for Teshin to reach out.

''Boarding the Kuva Fortress will restrict mission access. Commit?''
 * Yes
 * Operator: If the base moves again, we'll lose this opportunity. I'm going in.
 * No
 * Operator: Fine. I'll head back to the Orbiter, but the base won't be here for long.

Mission 4 (Infiltrate the Grineer Asteroid Fortress)
(This transmission on the Orbiter can only be heard it if the player chooses to delay boarding the Fortress. Otherwise, it loads the next mission without putting the player into the Orbiter.) Ordis: Operator, if you must enter the Queens' Fortress, you'll need to hurry, it could disappear at any moment.

(Progressing through the mission)

Operator: Massively fortified. The Queens have to be here. I'm going to infiltrate the base. Lotus: ... (static) Operator: Lotus, are you receiving me?

Lotus: ... (static)

Elderqueen: We're so glad you came. Operator: Lotus? If you can hear me, something's tampering with the Transference stream. I'm going to locate the source.

Lotus: ... (static)

Queens: We have a gift for you.

Cinematic at the throne room
Operator: I know this place. Operator: Teshin?! Teshin: You shouldn't have come here. You've ruined us both. Elderqueen: Well done, Teshin Dax. Operator: Teshin Dax... you're with them? Teshin: I have come, as you commanded, my Queens. Wormqueen: And this is your offering? My sister needs the orphan child, not it's[sic] Infested puppet. Teshin: The child? For what purpose? Wormqueen: (laughs) To eat it, of course! Elderqueen: Hush worm! Do not question your Lords, Teshin Dax. Bring me the orphan. Bring me my Yuvan. Operator: ENOUGH! Wormqueen: (gasp) How rude! Elderqueen: Oh, it's not their fault, worm. Mommy and Daddy weren't around long enough to teach them any manners. (laugh) We will have to. Operator: Ordis! What is this?! Ordis: A Transference surge, Operator! You're losing your Warframe connection! Elderqueen: You have some idea that you're invincible, don't you? Nestled away in that mad Cephalon's crib- Elderqueen: But you belong to me now. For you see, child, we conceived of these ugly, metal cysts. Ordis: Operator! Cut the link! Operator: I... I can't! Elderqueen: We gave you your precious gifts. And now, just as easily, we take them all away! Ordis: CUT THE LINK! Transference overload in 5... 4... 3...

Cinematic at the Transference chamber
Ordis: Great job, Ordis. Ship Cephalon? More like Ship Fail-bot. When the Operator needed you most you -- Operator: Ordis, enough. Ordis: Operator?! By stars! Don't do that to me. I am sorry I do not know what happened. Please, command me to self-destruct. Let me start it for you... commencing self-destruct in 5--4--3--2-- Operator: Stop... uh... what's with the music? Ordis: Isn't it great? I can lead you through some breathing exercises... Operator: Just..[sic] just turn it off! Get the Transference power back on, okay? I lost my Warframe. Ordis: I've been trying. You may need to do your uh... Tenno thing again. Re-energize it, you know, with your... Void stuff!

(On successfully failing that) Operator: I-I can't. It's... gone. Ordis: What? Gone? Are you sure? How will you command the Warframes if your-- Conditions satisfied. Engaging Purge Precept. Operator: Purge? Purge what?! Ordis?! What the hell?! Ordis: You no longer possess Transference. You no longer command the Warframes. You no longer are the Operator. You must be purged from this vessel. Ordis: Non-operator, I'm sorry to inconvenience you, but I'm going to decompress the ship now. Ordis: Former Operator, Ordis cannot keep missing like this! Get out of here before I Purge you.

(If the player doesn't progress towards the nav quickly enough) Ordis: Ex-Operator, if you get to the navigation console, I may be able to detach the landing craft before I... before I kill you.

(As player progresses towards the nav)

Ordis: You are not the Operator. You will be purged.

Ordis: Exterminate! Exterminate the non-Operator.

Ordis: Operator! Cut the link... cut the link!

Cinematic at the campfire
Operator: Ugh... What happened to you? Teshin: They gave up. Operator: You... you betrayed me, you Infested piece of-- Teshin: Yes, do it. Teshin: As I thought. The hard way, then. Operator: So (pause) the great Teshin is just a dog... fetching the Queen's stick wherever she throws it. Teshin: I warned you. Now you're trapped inside this place with the Queens burrowing in. Now I am forced to undo what Margulis did, to open the gates... and make you suffer.

Teshin: Margulis lied to you, a lie of omission. She did not cure the Zariman children - she erased them. My only hope is that truth still lingers inside you, buried within your mind. The power and the misery... of the Void.

Teshin: The Ayatan Sculptures are perpetually in motion, monuments of Orokin Continuity... immortality. But this one is halted and aging, needing you, as the Queens do. Will you give in to them? Or will you face the coil?

Cinematic (first memory)
Operator: I remember... Queen: Mother takes your hand and says there's been an accident. But don't worry, angel, you're safe with me. Her eyes are distant, unfocused... Operator: She's lying.

Teshin: Beware, the ravenous Golden Maw. (unsubbed) Operator: Why does it have to be ravenous?

Teshin: The Queen burrows into your mind just as the creature worms beneath your feet. With each step, you will discover what Margulis took from you. With each step, pain awaits you.

Operator: I can't even remember her face.

(On acquiring Void Blast) Teshin: Your past has weathered Margulis' manipulation. It lurks here, your only hope of surviving the Queens.

Teshin: Destroy this barrier and go deeper into your past. Operator: Sounds great, Teshin.

Cinematic (second memory)
Operator: The air was acrid and still. Queen: The biomes had been sabotaged. The food stocks dwindled. Paranoia gripped your father's mind. What was it he said - as he stared out into the starless black? Operator: Something's out there, kiddo... watching us.

Operator: The whole ship went insane.

(On acquiring Void Dash) Teshin: You exist on the fold between two worlds. The world we know, of blood and steel, and the world that watches and dreams, the Void. Charge across the fold as you once did.

Operator: Incredible. And I was kicking myself for not bringing a rope.

Cinematic (third memory)
Operator: I smell... smoke. Queen: Fires rage on the lower decks. Blood shimmers in the fitful light. Hunting parties roam the ship. But there is singing and laughter and play... for all the children have come together. Their minds, somehow unbent. You wipe away your tears, thinking- Operator: This is my family now.

Operator: They tore her apart.

(On acquiring Void Mode) Teshin: The Queen is nearly through. She knows what you did, giving her resolve. Now, you must master the fold. Walk upon its edge, concealing your movement within the shadows you create. Operator: Shadows I create. Another Teshin metaphor, right?

Cinematic (fourth memory)
Operator: I can hear them... Queen: The grownups are howling at the door... drowning mad in the Void ocean but you... you are at ease swimming within the depths! You remember then how the howling stopped - they had broken through.
 * I held out hope
 * Operator: I held out hope we'd be rescued. So I avoided the bloodshed.
 * They had lost their minds
 * Operator: They had lost their minds. I didn't blame them. We build[sic] a makeshift prison.
 * They were nothing but animals
 * Operator: They were nothing but animals by then. So I hunted.

(On acquiring Transference) Teshin: Your repressed power has returned, fused with your Tenno abilities, amplifying them. You've outgrown the cradle. Now your Transference is innate. Control these Orokin beasts and escape this prison. Operator: Control them? Like a Warframe?

Teshin: Know this Tenno, that I am a Dax. A soldier of a lost era, the last of my kind. By Orokin hands we Dax were given great power, great strength... but an even greater weakness. To obey their command. To never defy the Kuva, the Scepter, the symbols of their dominion. No Dax can ever raise steel against an Orokin. Only you can do that.

Teshin: A Yuvan theater, long abandoned. In ages past, I would have stood guard as the young and exotic were paraded through the mountain pass and marched by the viewing pane. They'd barter here, the Orokin. Withering and coughing-[sic] as they prepared for their Continuity. Operator: She doesn't want me dead. Teshin: No. The Queen doesn't want to kill you. She wants to become you. To burrow through your mind corrupting it with despair until only she remains.

Cinematic (fifth memory)
Queen: No crew aboard, only the children... only the parricidal monsters they had become. The endless Void, the gazing abyss, the bottomless ocean of horror... it coiled itself around your tender heart. Ordis: CUT THE LINK! Ordis: CUT THE LINK! Transference overload in 5...4...3...2...1
 * I hated it
 * Operator: I hated it.
 * I controlled it
 * Operator: I controlled it.
 * I embraced it
 * Operator: I embraced it.

Cinematic at the Transference Chamber
Ordis: Operator? Is that... is that 'you'? Your brain activity flat-lined for a moment there... Can you speak? By stars, the Operator's mind is destroyed?!! Operator: I... I'm fine. Just... just don't play any music. I need to think. Ordis: Music? ...Operator you are not making sense! The Transference surge must have affected you as well. Try to rest while I begin repairs. Ordis: Hmm... this is odd. The circuits are dead but I'm detecting Transference energy... coming from... coming from you?!

(Void Blast) Ordis: Careful Operator, you'll damage the ship... damage me!

(Void Dash) Ordis: Amazing. How are you doing this? It is slightly terrifying if I'm honest.

(Void Mode) Ordis: Operator, my sensors have gone dark. Where are you? (Once player exits it.) Ordis: Oh. There you are! Impressive. Very useful. Ordis is a little afraid right now.

(Void Beam) Ordis: Operator, you'll breach the hull! Please restrain yourself.

Cinematic at the Transference Chamber
Ordis: Have you lost your mind? Operator: No. But I've lost my Warframe... and Teshin... what if the Queens know that he helped me escape? I have to go back. Ordis: Impossible! Just as you thought, the base has moved again. We don't know where it is. There's no way back. Operator: My Warframe. It's still there. Ordis: Haven't you been listening? The Transference system is fried! Operator: I don't need it anymore. (Transference) Ordis: Operator, where are you going? Don't leave meeeeee...

Cinematic (start of the Queens fight)
Elderqueen: What did you do, Dax? What did you do?! How did a child reject the Continuity? Teshin: Forgive me, my Queens. Elderqueen: We hold the Scepter! We command you. We are-- Wormqueen: Sister! The dreamer's come for us! Teshin: Tenno, no! After everything you've endured to escape, why did you come back? Operator: I came back for you. Elderqueen: Stupid child. You don't give up, do you? But coming here in the flesh? That was a big mistake. Guards! Kill this Warframe and bring me my new skin!

Teshin: The Guardians protect the braids, the braids protect the Queen.

(Teshin will go through following lines one at a time if the player didn't use Transference. Once he says all three, he stops talking, and the hint to use Transference appears on the screen.)

Teshin: It's time to show the Queens' what they have awoken within you.

Teshin: Tenno, this is one fight your Warframe cannot win.

Teshin: Remember the mountain. Remember your new strength.

(After using Transference, Teshin will switch to a new list of lines. Once he reaches the third, he will keep on repeating it until player uses Void Blast on the Kuva Guardian.)

Teshin: Their weapons contain Kuva, it protects them from your Warframe but not from your Tenno powers.

Teshin: They are protected by the Kuva in their weapons. Find a way to disarm them.

Teshin: Tenno, remember the Golden Maw and how you brought it to heel.

(Repeats every other time player stuns the Guardian but before they disarm him at least once.) Teshin: You stunned the Guardian. Dash to strike from within the Void.

(Once player uses Void Dash on the Guardian.) Teshin: They're vulnerable. Attack.

(Keeps on repeating once the player defeats the first Guardian and until they destroy a braid.) Teshin: The red braids shield her. Destroy them! Queen: Shut up you insolent Dax!

(Destroying braids 1st time) Queen: Guards! Kill this Tenno!

(Destroying braids 2nd time) Queen: Long enough have I lived in this ugly Grineer bodies. I need new flesh... I deserve new flesh! Yours! Guards! Kill this Warframe and bring me my new skin!

(Destroying braids 3rd and last time) Queen: By my Orokin blood, I command you, Teshin Dax, to kill this Tenno. Teshin: No, I cannot. Queen: You must. By your oath eternal. Teshin: That child I met on the mountain will surely die here. Operator: That child is gone.

Teshin: I can show you no mercy, show me none in return.

(Health ~ 66%) Teshin: Yes! From the moment I began training you, I have anticipated this moment.

(Health ~ 33%) Teshin: You must not stop, defeat me.

(Health = 0%) Teshin: I... Cannot go... On... Queen: We are Orokin! We created you! We are your Golden Lords! Queen: Come out, come out, little demon.

(These four exchanges will keep on cycling until the Queen is defeated.)

Teshin: Without her Sceptre[sic], she is powerless. Break her shields and use your dash to steal it. Queen: You'll pay for that.

Queen: Show yourself you little coward.

Queen: I see now, how you cast me out. Simple, really. There's no room for me in that wicked, swarming head of yours.

Queen: Is this how you hunted the Zariman crew? Is this how you murdered your parents?

Cinematic (end of the fight)
Queen: What are you waiting for, Dax? Teshin: A chance to kill you... and now I finally have it. Shall I, Tenno?
 * Let her rot
 * Operator: No. Let her rot. That will be her sentence.
 * I will do it
 * Operator: No. I will do it.
 * Queen: No! NO! AHHH
 * Kill her
 * Operator: Kill her.
 * Queen: No! NO! AHHH

Teshin: The Worm has rallied the troops. Get to your ship. I'll divert them. Go! Lotus: Tenno? Tenno? I've been trying to get through. Are you... alright? Your Transference stream seems different, stronger. Operator: We have neutralized the Queens. Teshin... Teshin helped me. I'm heading to extraction now. Lotus: The Queens... they cut me off... I should have been there for you. I'll signal Ordis to pick you up right away.

Ordis: Thank the stars you're safe Operator! I forbid you to leave the Orbiter like that again, it's just too much for an old Cephalon like me.

(Orbiter)
Ordis: You rescued your Warframe! What a relief. But... Ordis wonders, are you still able to walk the ship as... yourself?

Ordis: Impressive! Just think of the possibilities! You can help me clean up that Infested door! Lotus: A mother wants to shield her child from the evils of the world. Margulis didn't lie to you. She protected you. Operator: But isn't it better I know the truth? Wouldn't you want to know? Teshin said-- Lotus: Teshin thinks he knows better. Maybe he does? Maybe you needed to know to survive the Queens. But you are changed now. Operator: That's what you have to say? That I'm 'changed'? Lotus: What you did. You didn't have a choice. Tenno, you were only just a-- Operator: Don't. Don't do that. Don't make excuses for me. Ordis: What's this? An Old War beacon? How exciting, Operator. You will want to investigate this... Oh. I'm sorry... did I interrupt?

Cinematic at the summit
Teshin: You don't know what to do with it. Operator: Tell me. Teshin: Hmm... Some believe the Kuva within is the blood of the Orokin Ancestors. An elixir of power... of immortality. Others believe it to be a poison, a corrupting oil that brings madness and evil. Operator: What do you believe? Teshin: I believe them both. But for you, Tenno, perhaps this Kuva is just a symbol. That what you choose to do will define you more than anything. Teshin: The world weighs more heavily on you now. Try not to lose yourself, Tenno.
 * Destroy
 * ???: You mad at me, kiddo? Did you forget? You owe me.
 * Control
 * ???: Don't forget, kiddo... you're nothing without me.
 * Consume
 * ???: Hey, kiddo, what took you so long?

THE WAR WITHIN

Postquest letter
 A child no longer  ''On icy mountaintop a child, cold and scared met an old man, the prisoner of a poison oath. For the child, a frozen death would have been a peaceful end. Instead, they fought on and found a fire within themselves, a way to light the path ahead.''

''The old man was a traitor. He deserved death, but the child was wise and merciful, and freed him from his burden. With that, the child left the cradle behind and they became more than a Tenno, they became themselves.''

Tenno, if you can find a way to forgive this old man's deception, to trust him again, then he will be forever be[sic] in your service.

Teshin Dax