Any speculation on who or what they might be?

And any other little story/dialogue to tidbits that you've caught so far?

They're the Nazgul.

This is the first I've even heard about them...

I have no idea what you're referring to. The only "the nine" I know of are the nine divines (eight if you're a filthy Thalmor) from the Elder Scrolls universe.

News to me.

The nine being either eight planets + Pluto (but why the hell would we go back to calling it a planet in the future); or perhaps the traveller or the sun would be the ninth "thing" in whatever you're referring to...?

Hang out around the Speaker for a little while. He says something along the lines of, "Why won't the Nine help is out?" I've heard him say it a couple times now. I'll try catching the exact quote tonight.

The nine being either eight planets + Pluto (but why the hell would we go back to calling it a planet in the future); or perhaps the traveller or the sun would be the ninth "thing" in whatever you're referring to...?

I had the same thought, but from the way the Speaker talks about them, I get the impression that they're people.

Perhaps the Awoken Queen is one of the nine? Other factions of humanity that aren't on Earth?

Yeah, after seeing the context of the quote--maybe it's like "the nine colonies", where each planet/moon that is livable has a small stronghold of humanity left that fights back the darkness on their respective space rock.

Hang out around the Speaker for a little while. He says something along the lines of, "Why won't the Nine help is out?" I've heard him say it a couple times now. I'll try catching the exact quote tonight.

Xenos posted a video with a reference to the Nine here:

http://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=28472

Their name could still be a symbolic reference to 9 planets.