Starcraft Brothers in Arms

Chapter 1

06.07.Monday.

Rain pattered gently on the ground, the sound of slight tapping was acquired. It began to grow louder, and louder, as the sound of gun shots and explosions filled the air mixing with the rain's creative whispers. All over the ground of the light forest footsteps of boots were being engraved in the mush and mud.

Confederate space marines galloped across the landscape of the thin forest, only to reach their destination that lay ahead of them, a war torn, scorched battlefield, they were the reinforcements, and they were the angels of death. For now, this battlefield did not house monstrous Zerg cerebrates or deceiving prottoss warriors, oh no. This battlefield housed the kin of the U.E.D.!

Fellow rebel marines covered the battlefield like a blanket, they had been fighting for days over the now lost and fallen Sons of Korhal base of Demark. They had fought to keep it striving, they had fought to keep it standing but they did not succeed! Thunder now stormed the ears of the soldiers as they quickened their pace to catch up to wavering, fellow marines.

"How much longer you think we're gonna have to keep fight'n for man?" asked Graham, a young marine with beating blue eyes that scorched like bright flame.

His companion beside him gave him a weary answer as he panted out the words "no one knows, these Soks aint given up an no one knows how much reinforcements they got left, they might jus give this thing up in a couple of days or a couple uh hours" the rusty shaven marine explained to Graham.

Soks was a word used to describe rebels. Most of the marines didn't know it but the word Sok stood for Son's of Korhal. But most of the marines were to dumb or screwed up to figure it out! Graham's ear drums were beating like a heart. The shots and explosions became louder, flame could be heard shooting out of somewhere or something, screams and voices echoed across the desolate waist land. Graham was shaking in his boots, the meds slowed down the fear and tiredness but Graham could tell the difference between artificial stimulation, and raw sleep. He held his gun with a tight ease, the enlarged rubber gloves screeched against the handle. The weapon made a clicking sound as Graham's body bounced up and down while he ran.

The noises grew louder, the screams became more real.

The lieutenant yelled out "when we reach the edge of the forest, follow me into the rally point and keep you're head down" he explained.

No one actually knew how a marine could keep their head down, but they knew he meant to make sure their figure was bellow any immediate weapons fire. The panting female medic behind them was fearful, she was supposed to save lives not endanger her own! This was strange for most medics in the U.E.D. had a special sister hood that involved many oaths for strength and boldness. Rumors were heard that some medic sister hoods practiced rituals and gatherings. But those were just rumors from sexist marines and pilots.

Suddenly, a bullet round came screaming past their heads and flew into a tree, shaving the bark right off of the smoldering area where it hit. The clouds looked like wet dirty sheets wrapped into a wriggling mess of phenomena! David looked up in aw (as well as the rest of the unit) as enormous thunder and lightning bolts shook the ground beneath them. They began to run faster now and with much more haste.

They had finally reached the end of the bush and now plummeted into a personal hell. The scorched ground was a huge barren waist land. It seemed continued on forever until it hit a few rocky hills on the far side, You couldn't really see past those. Trees could barely be seen beyond, and the whole field was covered in land mines, fox holes, trenches, abandoned bunkers, shingles, rubble, barb wire and more! Numerous rounds were flying past their armored heads now. They could here much louder screams from the struggling soldiers as shards of metal crashed through their armor. They flew down a dirty, mucky and disgusting trench. Bodies were lain and blood made pools around their vicious wounds. The marine boots splashed blood all over each other's armor and clothing. For what clothing they had on their backs was precious to them, it could be the only thing they could have to keep them warm later.

The unit slowed to a halt in front of a group of five marines and a ghost. David wondered why the ghost had not bathed himself in the valuable clocking field by now, a very powerful asset in a situation like this. The commanding officer in Graham's squad offered a quick salute to another soldier and stood easy. He held his gun tightly in each arm. One solid gloved hand on the trigger, the other on the barrel. He looked all around him trying to find someone to shoot for the adrenaline in his veins was taking over common sense.

"Captain, what's your situation" asked the lieutenant as a huge fireball suddenly burst out of the ground only a few yards away.

".Well lieutenant, we're entrenched here until some heavy reinforcements arrive, I'm fuckin glad you're here, we're loosing men, and fast! What's the word?" the captain asked in anticipation and hope. Captain Edmond Duke was an orange bearded man, he was very straight forward and strict when it came to giving orders. He never let down an ally and never made the wrong decision!

"Well before we left ops the commander told us we we're not alone, that reinforcements would be on their way within an hour or so, there is also a vulture squad trailing behind our position" he explained to the now frustrated captain.

"Vultures, I fuckin hate vultures, dam hooligans, don't have any respect for their superiors" he explained with an exasperated look on his face.

"Sorry sir, but that was all that ops could spare right now, they're in production currently and are running out of resources!" he explained to the more enthusiastic officer now.

"Well, I don't want 'em around me I'll tell you that, you handle 'em, They need to flank our troubles" he asked the seemingly confused lieutenant. "Ok, we got 2 siege tanks on the far side of the field, right beside the rocky hill over there, one is entrenched and can't get out but the other one is working like brand new and has been pounding our troops for about a day, I think they're running out of ammo now and are saving it for something big, I don't know what though" he said biting his nails.

"What should we do" a bullet that bounced of a rock right beside his head cut him off ".sir?"

"Well, if those vultures can spare a few lives, or all of their lives, we can probably fly behind enemy lines, cut off this suppressive fire they're raining on us, and lay a few volleys of grenades on their asses, that would probably blow the tanks and give us enough time to switch the suppressive fire against them" he explained with great pride.

"Great strategy sir" he explained "alright men get ready and fire at will" he explained as the squad of marines got into positions and a short line of bright, flashing light spewed from the mouths of their gauss rifles.

All troops aimed and fired and different enemies but they were all on the same goal. Bullets ricocheted off of different areas, screams fused with blood splashing sounds and rounds tore through flesh. A confederate marine's armor was very tough and hard, though a couple well-rounded and aimed shots could break through it for a marine's armor had considerable weak spots.

Graham looked down the rusty barrel of his rifle. He aimed it with great precision and accuracy. The recoil from the weapon shook his bones and rattled his teeth! Most of the troops were aiming at the regiment of rebels that were situated behind a huge shingle and rapidly firing over it to scare the confederate defense forces situated in the huge trench that cover the whole battlefield. Gunshots could be heard in the distance, the rattling and chattering of the weapons was incessant. David was full of adrenaline, he was pumped, and he could see a lot of the troops on the other side down a slightly sloped hill, he started to fire at them with maddening speed and persistence. The stim pack's med's flowed through his veins like an army of soldier were inside his body and mind.

Graham ran dry as his gun beckoned for more ammo to feed it's relentless rain of hell. It's beckoning call was a persistent and annoying clicking sound as well as beeping for the ammo bar blinked 0000. Graham quickly reached down into his utility kit and puledl out a fresh clip of rounds, he popped out the dry clip, knocked the new one twice on his helmet and slammed it in, ready for more.

Suddenly, a spray of bullets hit the crew of battle-hardened soldiers as round after round bounced and pinged of the wet rock and rubble. Graham looked over to find a huge hole in a kneeling marines head. It gushed with blood and steam, as Graham could smell the blood seeping out of the wound.

This was beyond medical help, no medic could totally resurrect a brain dead marine that had suffered a blow to the head. Even though the efforts were folly, it was the medic's duty to assist the already dead soldier. She ran quickly to the marine's aid, but nothing she could do could help him.

Bang, another spray of bullets hit the now extremely frightened unit of soldiers. A bullet bounced off the shoulder pad of Graham's armor. It left a scratching trail of smoke and a deep indent in the armor. It did not matter though, Graham's visor showed his armor capabilities at optimal, and he continued to rain hell on the suspecting rebel forces bellow.

Graham started shooting burst of 10 rounds, as not to loose ammo and to keep accuracy up! He fired at a target, he was out in the open and stuck out like a thumb. Graham pulled the trigger as a chattering followed shortly after. The result was the loss of the enemies life, a spray of blood from his neck could be seen at afar!

"Nice shot dude" said a fellow marine right beside him, he was not from the unit Graham had come in with.

Graham smiled and whispered a chuckling thanks right before the smiling comrade burst into a fourth of July firework! A couple dozen rounds chipped and bounced off his protective suit, about 4 or 5 rounds had gone through the plating as the startled and aching marine knelt to the ground in despair. Graham quickly dropped his weapon and held the marine up as so he didn't plummet to the ground with an aching thump. He could actually feel the marine's life draining away like water draining from a faucet.

After almost a minute, Graham realized the marine was gone, the medic had took too long to get to the casualty for she had no idea what was going on. All thanks to the incessant chattering of weapon's fire. She was still looking up and down and left and right, trying nervously to dodge a few of the bullets that had bounced off of her white painted marine suit!

After a good half an hour or so of fighting, grunting, dying and wounding, the hellish sound of motorized screams filled the air. The marines in the trench had lost 3 men and rising, and the whole of the confederate regiment inside the trench had lost a count more than anyone could bare to hear! The nearest unit to the edge of the forest was Graham's. The others that had been fighting had pressed down the line to help the battle progress and to let more reinforcements into the lines.

The hellish screams grew louder and louder, Graham's group was getting angered and they all looked to their right side. Out of the hole in their helmets they could make out the figures of floating vehicles, the air burned below them and a gush of dust trailed behind.

The figures were that of a unit of vultures, the reinforcements that the tired group of marines had been waiting for had finally arrived, and Duke was actually excited to see the lifesaving reinforcement unit. He gave a menacing smile and a thanks to the lord.

The rebels bellow viciously shot at the vultures, they speeded for cover behind a ruined building, and dismounted, keeping their heads down as they did. They cocked their mm-22 pistols and charged into the trench firing a few warning rounds into the enemy lines while immediately jumping down for cover. They pushed aside marines and even fingered some until one got angry and grabbed a rider's puny little neck with one massive powered fist. The medical enhancers pulled tightly on the marines muscles, squeezing the rider's throat. He wanted to say something but Duke screamed back at the angered marine in retaliation.

"Put that man down marine you're supposed to be fighting the enemy not our own troops you idiot!" he yelled, pushing aside the lesser ranking officers to make his way to the unruly marine. An unsuspecting marine behind Duke suddenly caught a bullet in the head as he began to speak.

"If you're lucky I might give you a court marshal now start obeying orders and lay some fire down, make your self useful" he said as he slammed his palm into the marines helmet, the ignorant rider smirking at the marine and laughing.

The marine replied with a finger as the same finger sled across his throat. A lulling sound would have flooded over the shooting soldiers but they were too busy with trying to kill the enemy Terrans. Duke screamed out a loud "GET BACK TO WORK" and the marines went back to busily firing away at the enemy right after another unusual spray of rounds came from the mouths of barrels bellow! Duke and the others made their way to a safe spot in the trench, it was very deep and no bullet could go flying through their heads here! Many operatives, and strategists worked here, explosions flew dirt in their faces but it was better then being on the top!

"Right boys, now I don't like you as much as you like me but we have a war here to win right?" he asked the smirking faces of the vulture riders.

"Right man, what you want us to do, I don't wanna fuckin sit out here all day" explained the rider, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.

"What you're gonna do is follow orders around here ok? I don't fuck around, now let's get busy" explained Duke taking the now lit and puffed cigarette out of the vulture rider's mouth and rubbing it all over his leather coat.

The rider looked up and snarled at him only to be interrupted by an earth shaking explosion, dirt gently fell on the rider's bald head. Duke explained the plan to the immature men and started getting angry at their laughs.

"Ok, so let me get this straight, you want us to go in, behind enemy lines, fly past a couple hundred angry rebels, blow up a few tanks, and come back in one piece!" he asked with a surprising tone in his voice.

"That's right, any questions?" asked Duke.

"No, no questions, just we aint doin it!" he stated as his companions chuckled and walked away.

They were all pretty proud of themselves, stepping up to a superior like that, until they heard a click from behind their backs. They turned around to find Captain Duke with an old civil war revolver pointed at their heads.

"See this fucker, this little gizmo doesn't agree with your slimy ass" he said with a smile.

"Heheh, you're not actually gonna shoot that into our heads are ya Dukie, ahahaha" he laughed out looking around at his buddies and puffing on a newly lit cigarette.

"Heheheh, no you're right" Duke said with a chuckle as a quick bang shortly followed from the ancient weapon. Duke put a hole in the rider's dirty hand as he screamed in agony.

"AAAHHH, FUCK YOU MAN" screamed out the rider.

Duke quickly walked up to him and slammed him into a wall with one powerful push of his bionic arm, dirt crumbled away at their bodies!

He whispered angrily into the riders ear "now listen hear boy, when I give you an order you follow it, now I don't care if you're not fit for this job or you're a mercenary, just that you do it while you're on my watch or I'll fuckin kill you my self you here me, boy?" asked the captain with a great tention in his throat.

The rider nodded back in agony and fear as Duke said "good, bye bye".

The riders emerged from the hole, the leader holding his hand with pressure. Some marines looked behind, smiling, for they knew what had happened. They were very happy until a very stupid vulture rider stood up in plain site out of anger and rage and was shot right in the chest, blood oozed out of the wound.

The lieutenant in charge, was angered, he turned around and cursed "shit, stupid rider you guys are all the same" he said getting down on the floor, he yelled at them to get down and cursed at them as well.

"Fuck, now we have 5 bikes and 4 riders, you guys are so bloody stupid" he said with a sigh he looked around and tried to find someone.

"Graham" yelled the lieutenant.

"Yes sir?" he asked.

"You know how to ride?" he asked Graham as he finally realized what was going on.

"Ya but." he was cut of by the lieutenant.

"Good, go up there now" he said as Graham hesitated with great exaggeration.

"What are you doing private, go go go" screamed the lieutenant in Graham's ear.

"Yes sir... uh sorry sir" stammered Graham as he got up off the ground and started heading towards the width edge of the trench.

Graham jumped to his feat and ran off with the other riders, bullets trailing his feet as he started to sweat. He took cover behind the run down building and took off his heavy armor and plating with a click and a thump. He laid down the suit but kept his gun tightly in his hands.

"Heheh, whatcha gonna use that for small fry?" he asked as Graham looked up at him and cocked his weapon, pointing it at the ignorant rider.

"For killing ass hole, now get on the bike" he said as the other riders cocked their pistols and mounted their bikes. Graham hopped on the vehicle as it bounced up and down, the repulsors were quite entertaining but he had no time for that now. The engines whined as they revved up the supercharged vehicles.

Graham kicked the stick and sped off into the distance, dust erupting in their wake. Over the trench and under loose metal and rubble they flew, keeping their senses about them at all times. The ground was a blur at the speed they were going, they dodged explosions this way and that, bullets flew past their heads and Graham held the handle of the guns and the bars of the bike in one hand and started returning fire.

The bikes sped past the unwary rebels, as soon as they flew by the men started to fall one by one. Graham's repeating chattering and the biker's one-tracked pistols made for a deadly combination. The men behind the shingles started for another volley before they noticed the bikes gaining on their position. They switched from the entrenched marines and concentrated fire on the maneuvering bikes, Dukes plan was working!

One of the bikes suddenly flipped over in the blink of an eye as a huge ball of smoke erupted from under it's wreckage. It took about a minute for the bike to slow to a stop but the others made good use of that time and zoomed behind the lines of rebels. The rebels turned around and continued to fire upon the bikers, only to find an array of bullet rounds flying into their backs.

Graham and the others released their concussion grenades and explosions started to boom across the field. Men flew up into the air crashing back down, arms and legs flew into the wet dirt. It had worked, 4 grenades smashed through the armor of the fully functional tank, it whined as it slowly started to break down, smoke arose from it's punctures. The entrenched tank was very easy to take out. The riders made quick use of it's position in the trench and only one grenade was used to take out the soft underbelly of the massive machine for it was already badly damaged!

The killing machines were destroyed as the eruption ignited in both their ears and the trench, Graham was safe, 2 other's had been killed in the advance but he had been spared. Graham was just about to say a quick prayer until a piercing pain exploded into his spine.

He started to cough out blood!

So what do you think? Sorry but you can't find out what happens to Graham, well not yet anyways for the next chapter is on a different character. You may find out what happens later on but you have to keep on reading and reviewing. This whole story has each chapter take place in a different day. And hey we just finally got to find out what Duke is like when he was a captain, will we get to find out what Arcturas Mengsk is like. Keep reading the next chapters to find out, There will be a lot more!