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whether we wanted it or not, we've stepped into

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Commander Zavala's opening briefing from Destiny about the war with the Cabal on Mars, now used as a meme intro for unavoidable battles and long tasks.

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Commander Zavala's opening briefing from Destiny about the war with the Cabal on Mars, now used as a meme intro for unavoidable battles and long tasks.

This clip is Commander Zavala's full strike briefing from Destiny, delivered in a flat, grave monotone as he explains the war with the Cabal on Mars and the plan to eliminate Valus Ta'aurc. The humour comes from how seriously he treats a routine mission, listing defences, commanders and an Imperial land tank without pausing. Dropped over unrelated footage, it instantly turns a minor errand, argument or chore into an epic military campaign, and listeners who know the game usually start reciting the rest from memory.

Pro tip

Start the clip at full volume on a black screen or a slow zoom, then cut to your trivial task exactly as Zavala names Valus Ta'aurc. Keep the whole briefing uncut and avoid music underneath, because the deadpan length is the joke.

How people use it

Intro for boss fights you cannot skip or avoid.
Caption for chores that suddenly became huge projects.
Opening narration for gaming streams and raid nights.
Reaction to friends dragging you into drama.

More information

The line opens the Cerberus Vae III strike in Bungie's Destiny, released in 2014, where Commander Zavala briefs Guardians before fighting the Cabal on Mars. Players heard it repeatedly while replaying the strike, so the long, formal wording became a copypasta and snowclone online. Fans replace the ending with new enemies and places, post it under news stories and trailers, and use the audio on videos whenever someone is reluctantly pulled into a large, complicated conflict.

FAQ

What is the 'whether we wanted it or not' sound from?

It is Commander Zavala's briefing at the start of the Cerberus Vae III strike in Destiny. He describes stepping into a war with the Cabal on Mars and orders players to take out their commander, Valus Ta'aurc, one by one.

Who says 'whether we wanted it or not'?

The speaker is Commander Zavala, the Titan Vanguard leader in Destiny, voiced as a calm, serious commander giving orders to Guardians. His deadpan delivery and very long explanation are a major reason the clip works so well as a meme.

Why is the Zavala speech used as a meme?

Players heard the briefing every time they replayed the strike, so the wording became instantly recognisable. Dropping the serious military speech over ordinary problems makes them sound huge and unavoidable, and fans often rewrite the ending for new situations.