Collapse

"There is no hope anymore. Only the screams of humanity."

- Henriette Meyrin during the Collapse.

The Collapse was a cataclysm in Human history that nearly brought the species to extinction. Following the Golden Age, during which Humanity colonized the Sol System, the Black Fleet, under the command of Nezarec, attacked Sol and brought the Golden Age to an end. The Collapse ended when the Traveler sacrificed itself to repel the Black Fleet.

Timeline of events
Immediately before the Collapse, an entity or group of entities were detected just beyond the edge of the Solar System, in what was termed a "TRANSIENT NEAR EXTRASOLAR EVENT"; later information suggests this was the Black Fleet entering the Sol System. The only means of determining that a transient event had even occurred was through the detection of a 0.3-second displacement of gravity waves, as well as anomalous interactions in the local Higgs field traced to sterile neutrino scattering. An AI observing the event, the Warmind Rasputin, was able to derive some information but was unable to ascertain its mechanism. Rasputin conducted an "Omnibus analysis" of the event's effects on local spacetime, measuring a wide range of data points including direction, distance, range, speed, and size as well as a comprehensive pattern analysis of the event itself. This last set of data showed, to a certainty of "9 Sigma", a definite and measurable pattern that had a complex, almost linguistic, structure that demonstrated both intelligence and intent.

In an attempt to better understand the phenomenon by recreating all of its known variables (also known as a "bootstrap simulation"), Rasputin reran the data through a series of iterations which included a number of randomized inputs, in a process known as a Monte Carlo analysis. Despite this, it was unable to derive any definitive information about the event or its source; however, it was able to determine that whatever was behind the event was clearly a complex structure, acting with clear purpose. Rasputin concluded that the source of the event not only failed to conform to any known phenomena in the Standard Model of particle physics (thus labeling it "acausal"), it was also directed, acting with anger, and almost certain to reach the solar system in a short amount of time. As a result, the previously issued Skyshock alert was upgraded to OCP:EXTINCTION, and a number of defensive protocols were added. In the interim, Rasputin activated TWILIGHT EXIGENT to shift his priorities towards maximizing the amount of Humans that would survive an attack by the Black Fleet; most notably, he would use this protocol to destroy information on the Fleet the New Pacific Arcology had discovered independently of his own analyses by killing those responsible.

Following the arrival of the phenomenon, natural disasters tore across the solar system. On Titan in particular, a gravitational anomaly deformed the shape of the moon, causing devastating methane tidal waves to wash the surface of the moon and shatter the arcologies. Evacuation efforts began, but were silenced by the continued gravitational forces, as well as continuous Warsat fire that for unknown reasons targeted civilians leaving the moon. Scattered records exist of monstrous creatures and strangling miasmas of Darkness tormenting the people of Sol during the Black Fleet's assault.

In what semi-mythical accounts survived to the City Age, it is said the Traveler released a huge pulse of energy, driving back the forces of Darkness to the outer reaches of the system but entering a state of dormancy as a result. However, in reality, the Traveler was not solely responsible for driving away the Black Fleet: Savathûn, the Witch Queen betrayed the Disciple Nezarec, hid the Veil on Neptune, and apparently tricked the Witness into leaving the Sol System. Nezarec's remains would be left behind on the Moon, entombed within his own Pyramid for centuries after the Collapse.

After the Black Fleet was pushed back, the Traveler released countless Ghosts. These small beings would go on to find their chosen ones, imbuing them with the gift of Light. After this, the Traveler entered a comatose state while humanity entered the Dark Age.

List of appearances

 * Destiny
 * Destiny 2