Guardians had systematically dismantled the Hive's invasion forces — defeating field commanders Sardon and Omnigul, banishing and then killing Crota, and destroying a Shrine communing with Oryx. Word of these victories reached Oryx, the Taken King, triggering his descent. Queen Mara Sov of the Reef intercepted his Dreadnaught at Saturn with the Awoken Armada and the Techeun Witches' Harbingers — devastating weapons that proved useless against the battlecruiser's armor. Oryx fired the Dreadnaught's superweapon, tearing through Saturn's rings and destroying the Awoken fleet. Mara Sov and most of the Reef's leadership are listed as MIA or presumed dead. On Phobos, a Guardian responding to a Skyburner distress signal witnesses a new enemy — the Taken, corrupted versions of Cabal and Hive — and narrowly escapes. Oryx's plan: enslave the strongest of the Cabal, Vex, Fallen, and his own Hive and bring the solar system to ruin. To counter the Taken threat, the Vanguard unlocks new subclass powers: the Hunter gains the Nightstalker and Shadowshot, the Warlock gains the Stormcaller and Stormtrance, and the Titan gains the Sunbreaker and Hammer of Sol.