1.

Hyperion, Jim Raynor's quarter.

"Thanks for coming." Raynor is informal, as always.

"Of course." Replies the woman, formally.

"Smoke?"

"No thank you."

"I'll have one if you don't mind."

"Actually I do. The smoke adds unnecessary burden to the air filtration system."

"You got a point. I have to go cold turkey one of these days. So you know why I call you here?"

"Bits and pieces. I've heard rumours."

"You know better than most where we stand in the war, right?"

"Yes."

"There is this one lead I want you to look at."

"What is it?"

"There is this planet in this sector. Xian. From what we can tell, unremarkable. The Confederacy had a colony base here. Back water colony, like the one I was in. It was untouched during the Zerg invasion. But Mengsk sent a division to the planet.

"A division?"

"That's right. We think when Mengsk took control of The Confederacy, he found something in the archives about that planet that caught his eyes. We want you to lead a task force to investigate."

"I'm guessing you are not giving me a division to match Mengsk's."

"We are stretched thin. You know that. As far as we can tell, it is just another colony. So I am curious why Mengsk thinks it is so important. Do what you can to find out. I leave the 'how to find out' part entirely to you. I'm also sending you a command centre, so just in the off chance you need to go toe to toe with Mengsk's force, you at least have something to start with. We have more equipments than we have people, so in case you have to fight, you have to recruit the locals or find defectors from Mengsk."

"I understand."

"The Hyperion will drop you off from orbit, then bug out immediately. We will time it during a meteor shower, so they will have a harder time tracking where you land. Contact us again when you have found something. I'm sorry, but you are on your own on this mission."

"I understand."

"Best case scenario, in and out like a Ghost."

"Are you giving me a Ghost for this operation?"

"HAHA. No. But we have tons of Ghost equipment though. Take some sniper rifles with you, they will come in handy."

"They are really shit against siege tanks."

"Hopefully you don't need to take on siege tanks. Any more question?"

"Intelligence on Mengsk's force?"

"Almost zero. Reports of Mengsk's forces come from refugees escaping the planet. They said they have never seen so many ships coming their way, and that's their cue to leave. Like I said, it is odd because it is just another colony, and this colony doesn't even have zerg sightings. Not even a little creep. Zero, absolutely peaceful."

"And the planet itself?"

"Everything we know is public record. You can read for yourself. We have no extra information. Anything else?"

"No. I'll manage."

"I know you will. One last thing, remember what happened to Sarah isn't your fault. It is MY fault, and it is Mengsk's fault. Don't blame yourself."

"We've been through this. As long as you keep blaming yourself, I will keep blaming myself. We all have to take responsibility."

"Just… get it done and come back to us in one piece."


2.

Planet Xian. The Woman in a saloon like those in the wild west, in a town like those in wild west.

"What can I get you madam?"

"Two Whiskeys."

"Coming right up."

"Tell me, who are those two over there?"

"Pah, they are fugitives, fugitives from The Dominion. The guy on the right, the gruff fellow with a full beard and build like a bear? I heard he killed a Dominion Firebat. With his bare hands. The one on the left, he is our town's mechanic. Best mechanic I've seen, he can fix anything. He also isn't a big fan of Mengsk, blew up Mengsk's hologram statue in town. The Dominion sent a few law men to take care of these two, all of them ended up dead. So they just stopped sending them. They are good business, though, always like a drink, or ten."

"Thanks, how much for the whiskeys?"

"20 credits."

The Woman brings the drinks to the two men.

"Here, let me buy you two a round."

"Do I know you madam? Jesus, Fry, stop drinking that! It could be poison, she could be an assassin from the Dominion."

"I was getting sober, Wendel. I needed that."

"Ah well, if you are going to die from that poison, I may as well join you. Cheers. So madam, what do you want from us?"

"I can't help but overhearing your conversations."

"So?"

"Bartender! Another round. On her tab!"

"Let's just say I'm as interested as you two about breaking into the main Dominion base."

"Fry, buddy, are you ok? Not feeling sick or anything?"

"Er… yeah?"

"Oh good, so you are not an assassin from the Dominion. But that doesn't mean we can trust you, madam."

"Let's just say I hate Mengsk as much as you two. Maybe even more, but this isn't a dick measuring contest."

"HA! I like her."

"You like anyone who buys you a drink, Fry."

"That's why I like you Wendel buddy."

"How about a little mercenary work? Me and my crew have a dropship, we join forces to break into the base. We split the spoils 50:50."

"How about you stop playing games and tell us why you want to get into that base and who you really are? I've been watching you, madam. You have been listening to us for quite a while. I've seen you asking folks about us. Now I figure the Dominion wouldn't even bother to ask around, they would just kill us all if they have the chance, so I guess you aren't with the Dominion, but my enemy's enemy isn't exactly my friend."

"Meet me at this coordinate. It's better to show you. And come sober. The drinks are on me today."

"Your name madam?"

"Beth."


3.

An hour later. Designated coordinate. Rocky. Lots of cover, lots of hiding places. Everybody dress to kill.

"Were you two followed?"

"No."

"No."

"We'll see. Say, I've never seen a Goliath like yours, Wendel."

"It is my own custom build."

"Expecting trouble?"

"Always."

"Pah, my suit shoots slowing grenades."

"Jesus Fry, shut up. She isn't a friend."

"I was in the Confederacy special forces. Experimental Power Suit. Only for the best. Then the Dominion shows up. Says the Confederacy is dead. Yada yada yada."

"Friends of yours Fry?"

"Ah crap."

They are surrounded by a dozen or so Dominion marines, plus a wraith decloaks.

"THIS IS THE DOMINION ARMED FORCES ON XIAN. WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED, RAYNOR'S RAIDERS. SURRENDER PEACEFULLY OR DIE. I PREFER YOU TO NOT SURRENDER. SAVES ME THE TROUBLE." The loud mouth looks like the commanding officer.

"Dropship, on my mark take off and run." Beth whispers into her comm.

"***What about you madam? We can't just leave you here. And there is a wraith.***" Comes the reply.

"Don't worry, you can take a few hits. I can handle the rest."

"***Yes madam.***"

"Wait did that guy say 'Raynor's Raiders'? I thought they were coming for us." Fry looks to Wendel.

"I guess we aren't high enough on Mengsk's shit list." Wendel feels indignant.

"On my mark take out the marines first, then the wraith." Beth whispers to Fry and Wendel.

"THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING."

"Dropship take off now!"

"SHIT THEY HAVE A DROPSHIP. ALL UNITS TAKE IT DOWN GRRRRRRR…"

"Kaboom baby!"

While the Dominion marines are firing on the dropship, Fry, Wendel and Beth take care of all the marines. Wraith fires a few shots at the dropship, sees the marines dead, then turns on its cloak and flees.

"Command Centre. I need a comsat now on my location. We are looking for a cloaked Wraith."

"***Roger that, marking cloaked Wraith on your HUD.***"

"Shit, it is out of our range. Dropship, come back and pick us up now. We can't let it leave and compromise our position."

"I can handle this. This isn't a Goliath. I call this a Viking." Wendel's 'Goliath' transforms into an aircraft and easily takes out the wraith.

"You aren't half bad yourself. Beth." Fry is impressed.

"Same to you, Fry." Beth is formal, but impressed nonetheless.

"Aw, maybe you two should get a room." Wendel feels left out.

"I told you she's ok."

This is the base of operation for Beth's task force. Asset: one command centre, one dropship. That is all. Only Beth is in marine power suit. The rest are SCVs or without armour.

"2 SCVs start repair on the dropship. The rest salvage what we can from the dead. Then everyone load up into command centre. Work fast. Just to be safe, we are leaving." Beth orders into the comm.

"***Roger that.***"

Beth turns to Wendel and Fry.

"We want to know why Mengsk sent a division to this planet. We need to break into the main Dominion base on this planet and find out. You guys up for the challenge?"

"You pay in booze?"

"We don't tolerate drinking on the job."

"And I only drink when I'm off duty. Booze mess up my aim."

"I'm sure we can find some booze for you Fry."

"Then I'm in!"

"Wendel? My offer still stands. We split the spoils 50:50."

"Tell me, why did you and Raynor leave Mengsk?"

"We saw first hand what Mengsk really thinks of his soldiers, as pawns. He isn't the future of humanity."

"And you think you are?"

"No, we just try to fight for what's right."

"That's a bit vague."

"Yes it is. We are all learning as we go along."

Wendel thinks for a second.

"Well as long as Fry's with you, I'm in. That guy is useless without me maintaining his suit."

"You help but I can take out marines with my bare hands!"

"Yes yes I'm sure you want to tell your story to some new people."

"Welcome aboard gentlemen."


4.

An hour later a marine in purple arrives, followed by a few dozen marines in standard Dominion red.

"This is the last known location of the squad, right?"

"That's right sir."

"I've send a dozen marines, and a wraith. Worst case scenario I expect the wraith to slip away in cloak. Something doesn't add up. The informant said they were all ground forces?"

"Yes sir. Two local criminals. One in a modified Goliath that can't fire anti-air missile. One in experimental suit that fires ground grenades. No anti air weapon. Plus the suspected rebel with Raynor. The Wraith in cloak followed the two criminals to this location. The marine squad follow from afar then engage the group. Then we lost comm with the squad."

"Hm." The Purple Marine examines the dead marines on the ground.

"You think the informant sold us out, sir?"

"No, he has been reliable on those two before. Plus he doesn't have the guts."

"***Sir, you are needed in sector 184. It is the Protoss again.***" Comes the voice on comm.

"On my way. Squad 1, comb the surrounding area for the wreckage of the wraith. Find out how they take it out. And bury the dead. You have one hour. Then join me in sector 184. The rest, move out with me."

"***Roger that sir.***"


5.

Beth wakes up from a nightmare. She dreams of the Zergs. Again.