A Legend of Space

A Legend of Space - Chapter 1
By Tag

"...And so, my fellow Terrans, I urge you! I, Senator Diragus, urge you to vote -" The picture on the holographic projection received from a universe away fizzled to a different channel - a special on the Terran-Zerg conflicts that were still unresolved out in the infinite depths of space.

The narrator enunciated menacingly, "The Zerg!.. The very living embodiments of the nightmares that torment each and every one of us in our sleep." The image shown was a clip that was widely circulated amongst Terran teenagers - a Marine, barely visible inside a bunker, firing wildly with probably his last remaining ammunition at a speedily approaching figure, another Marine? No, this one was warped, twisted, alien features sprouting from the rusted armor... an Infested Terran, an abomination engineered by the enemy, those wretched aliens, the Zerg.

"Predominantly biological parasites that rely solely on assimilating other species into their core genus, such that the basic Zerg creature, the larva, might be able to mutate into these species. An especially good but not pleasant example of this would the Hydralisk." As the narrator spoke, the clip faded to a three-dimensional rendering of a Hydralisk, in horrendous detail.

"These were first seen in security camera footage discovered on a ransacked Terran cargo vessel. The source of the DNA for these creatures came from peaceful, herbivorous creatures from a distant world, but now..." And here, the narrator paused for special effect. "..specially engineered by the Overmind of the Zerg, whatever that might be, the Hydralisk houses an armory of spines within its upper carapace. The plates of this carapace can split open, and are able to eject these spines at such force that they can penetrate two-centimeter thick Neosteel." On cue, the rendering of the Hydralisk spewed spines violently from above its figurative shoulders.

Jim Raynor observed this with a weary sort of patience. After the Confederate nations had rebelled and divided, and he had joined and soon after withdrawn his support from the rebel organization the Sons of Korhal, the change in him had become quite apparent. He was cynical as always, but more experienced in the arts of combat, survival, and war. And in worst-case scenarios, sacrifice. Unwitting trained in this skill by Arcturus Mengsk, he could still remember every cursed detail of how they had left the Zerg-infested Ash worlds on the fringe of Terran space, and left Lieutenant Sarah Kerrigan with them. She had been Arcturus's right-hand soldier... and he had simply abandoned her to the maniacal whims of the alien Zerg. Hardened, indeed, Jim Raynor was. Now, with his new allies, the Dark Templar breed of the Protoss, he brought his forces against the new Sarah Kerrigan - no longer Lieutenant, but now a queen - a queen of the Zerg. Assimilated into their race but never reproduced as a subspecies, she presently ruled all the alien broods with unwavering power. Jim had accepted all this with difficulty, and, although it took time, he had finally summoned his troops up to fight against her tyrannical throne.

'Enough thinking, Jim, time to start moving,' he thought to himself, rolling broad shoulders back with a yawn and knuckle-cracking motions. Switching off the holograph with the press of a button, he then turned his attention to the comm-link, where the blinking red light signaled he had a report waiting. Another switch flicked, buttons pushed, and the tiny holoscreen displayed a man, standing sharply at attention, though weariness showed in the lines of his face. In a clipped military voice the man delivered his report.

"All quiet on the Southern front, sir, and the same goes for the Northern and Western settlements. There was a brief skirmish with a minor Zerg colony out East, but the aliens have since been eradicated."

Wiping his brow and any traces of his exhaustion away, Jim stood tall as well, allowing a smile to grace his lips at the eagerness of the young soldier.

"Very good, Sergeant. Report straight to me if there are any new developments."

"Yes, sir!" The sergeant saluted smartly, and his image fizzled out.

Jim sighed, relaxing, and listening to the creaks in his bones as he did.

"Young 'uns nowadays..." he chunnered, and then halted quickly, reprimanding himself. "You're like an old mother hen, did you know that, Jim? Honestly, I don't know what to make of you anymore..." Muttering things that would have made a Marine blush, he gave his quarters a quick look-over, making sure he knew where everything was in case someone was hit with the notion of sneaking in and stealing his belongings. Deciding all was in order he left his quarters, the electronic door closing with a whoosh behind him.



- This is more experimental than anything else. What d'you readers think? Does it have the makings of a lengthy saga? Let me know: reviews are always welcome.