Lost and found. A story about UED remnant forces in the Korpulu Sector.
Even though the bulk of the Earth Expeditionary Fleet has been either defeated above Char or destroyed on their way back, there were more prudent, more capable commanders that managed to save part of the troops that they were leading.
Chapter 1: Paths collide
Former UED captain Marcu Andronic, along his capital ship Decebalus, heads one of the few surviving Directorate ships in the Koprulu Sector. Thanks to Admiral Gerard DuGalle's faulty leadership, 90% or more of the ships that came from Earth have been annihilated. Hell, they were very lucky to escape the trap that that monster, Kerrigan, set up for them. Tasked with defending the left flank of The Cronus Wing, he and his 6 battlecruisers realized that they had no chance against the overwhelming zerg forces. Instinct overcame loyalty, logic overcame sentimental foolishness, so they managed to cleave an opening for themselves through the zerg lines. The attack was quick, calculated, well aimed and the enemy could not withstand the combined firepower of his ships. However, before they could make the warp jump to a random location, two of the cruisers lost power and fell prey to the monsters. It was foolish to think that they could middle in the affairs of unpredictable alien races, light years away from their home and sanctuary, the Solar System.
But the past is the past and cannot be rewritten. One has to press forward, no matter how difficult life may be, if he wants to achieve his goals.
Looking out the window of his ship's main deck, he couldn't help thinking about his next step. Since half the Universe is looking for the likes of him, he and his crew needed to keep a low profile.
Therefore, landing on planet Solaris III seemed to be a good idea. It resembled Korhal IV to some degree, with its barren, rich in minerals lands, canyons, vespene valleys and caves, in which one could easily hide four battlecruisers. Lately, however, the reserves have been depleating and if no replacements were to be found, their forces would be stranded and powerless.
" Spacedust... it holds the essence of all life in the Universe... it also bears witness to the deaths of billions of beings inhabiting it..."
" Sir, you've been staring aimlessly into space for a couple of hours now! Are you sure you're alright?" Josef Harding, his deputy officer asked.
The captain straightened up, as if he was woken up from a nightmare. His tall, imposing figure, earned him the respect of his followers. His face was always ghostly pale, just like his eyes. Three bullet scars "decorated" his left cheek- a parting gift from his fight with that treacherous scum, Samir Duran. He had auburn hair and beard, both kept in a small cut. He was still wearing his old uniform proudly. The five medals of bravery, earned during the so-called Brood Wars, were his most prized posessions. They were awarded to him by his former commander-in-chief, vice-admiral Alexei Stukov, whom he took as a model for himself.
" Josef, one of the most important qualities mankind has is loyalty, to his family, to his friends, but above all, to his race! That is what matters out here, in the hostile reaches of space! Mark my words! said the captain seriously.
" I will sir... I will! answered Josef.
He on the other hand was the kind of man that liked to follow orders; to receive them from someone, rather than thinking on his own. It was a way to stay out of trouble and keep a clean conscience. Having blood on his hands was something he could not live with.
" Good! How are we doing?"
Josef turned his attention back at the holotable, tweaking some knobs. A map of the Solaris system appeared, with each planet's specifics carefully analyzed and categorized. Another tweak of a knob and their hidden bases took shape.
" As you can see from yesterday's report, said the worried deputee officer handing him a notebook, we have been running low on Vespene gas for a while now. If we do not find a huge reserve any time soon, well, let's say our engines will be as useful as that rust dust out there!
" Da mă, înţeleg! answeared an annozed captain while reading the report.
„ Sir, you are speaking in your native language again... let me get the translation device...!"
" All you'll get is a punch in the face if you won't stop with your stupid jokes!
Now, are all my men accounted for?"
Another tweak of a button, followed by the submission of no less than four passwords and a long list popped up on the holo-screen. It contained information on the whereabouts of their small fleet, of the four ships themselves, their crews, bases and so on.
Captain Marcu Andronic always kept his forces in check; their dire situation demanded it.
Two Scorpion class battlecruisers, each manned by around 8000 people, half of them kept in cryo stasis to preserve their limited supplies. One behemoth class, formerly dominion, battlecruiser with a 5000 strong crew. Last but not least came his prized ship, Decebalus, a true monster by Dominion and Earth standards alike: twice as large as a a behemoth class ship, it boasted no less than 150 point defence systems, 40 crew served batteries and 18 ship to ship missile launchers, two Nagasaki Planetary Warheads and the traditional Yamato Cannon. His crew numbered 12500 people, two thirds being kept in cryo. That meant the Decebalus was manned by a skeleton crew.
During the Brood Wars, Andronic's ship alone was able to take on a colony all by itself, dealing catastrophic damage to the enemy ranks. Admiral Edmund Duke learned that on his own skin during the battle of Braxis, when he lost 4 battlecruisers and two squadrons of wraiths against Andronic.
Now, thanks to all the shortages both in resources and spare parts, he couldnt afford to keep the entire ship online. Right now, he was wondering as to where he might aquire the much needed fuel.
" Solaris Secunda! What about that planet?" he asked, touching a point on the projection, which immediatly zoome in on the rocky planet. It showed significant proven and potential ressources.
" Dunno sir. One of our wraith patrols reported seeing a Kel-Morian colony being set up. That was a few days ago."
" No sir, but it may be in a couple of days. Their refineries were turning up quite the harvest though!"
" Hmmmm! Ia să vedem...(lets see) Ah, excuse me, I believe we should send in a covert squad to take out their commlinks and recover intel. Raiding them afterwards seems like a good idea!Ţ said the captain while he transmitted the orders to his 2nd Ghost Regiment, Penumbra.
" Esmeralda, get your men ready! I want a code 4 op. smoothly done! Destination, Solaris Secunda, ETA, 1 hour!
" Acknowledged!" answered the cold hearted, ice-like female ghost in the hangar.
Marcu Andronic and Josef Harding then went on with the analysis. From what the adjutant could tell them, the Solaris system is in close proximity to the Terran Dominion. The planet Septuaginta has some of the best Starports on this side if the K. Sector. Perhaps their next target would be that place, as those facilities could provide them with the means to finally repair their cruisers. Indeed, it would be a good choice.
1 Hour later, aboard the UED ship Lancaster
"Esmeralda, we will launch the drop pods now!. Everyone, prepare yourselves... and good hunting!" said captain Trevor.
10 pods landed on the darks side of the planet, hidden away from sight. 40 ghost operatives, accompanied by a cloaked, made their way to the middle section of the planet. The landscape was in itself a clue to as to what riches could be found under its surface: a rocky, blue colored desert, with large craters emanating vespene vapours, high mountain ranges, undoubtedly filled with minerals and who knows what else.
Esmeralda stopped. There was a gorge separating them form the rest of the planet. She checked her map once more. That place wasn't supposed to be there.
She threw a rock into the gorge. The object fell for about one kilometer before hitting a metallic surface. Jackpot!
" So, they were jamming our scanners and hiding their bases. No matter, they will regret this! whispered an aneraged female ghost.
Scaling down the perfectly vertical wall, the squad were shocked to find huge military installations, albeit not fully operational, 6 refineries, 10 mineral deposits and more.
Once the descent was over, the squad scattered arpund the enemy base, planting explosives in and around the main buildings. One of the ops. hacked into the database, obtaining a Kel-Morian codebook, along with other valueble information. Esmeralda was tempted to blow the whole place up, but the Captain was adamant in his decision to capture the supplies, not destroy them.
Before one could notice, they dissapeared into the night, leaving no less than 60 time bombs behind. One click of a button, and the place would cave in. Next stop, the still in construction base.
It took them two hours to reach its location, again, a very isolated one, surrounded by mountains and crevices, some being more than one kilometer wide. Thankfully, their Hekate-class cloaking suits had a special anti gravity device, which allowed them to practically lower the gravity in a certain area for a short amount of time(around 5 min. usually)- more than enough for them to overcome such obstacles.
Quickly but silently, the group made its way through theseveral bunkers and neosteel walls guarding the first command center. All around them, miners of all sorts, M.U. and SCVs were goind their own way, carrying loads of minerals and vespene gas.
" A science vessel! Hide, damn you!" shouted an alarmed Esmeralda to her crew, thelepathicly.
The vessel overed above and around the command center, as if looking for something... or someone.
The female ghost neared the main door, looking to eavesdrop on whatever was spoke there.
„ Yea, well I ain't gonna wait for the Dominion to come and take my resources just like that!" said an angered 30yrs old morian commander.
„ How do you plan to stop them, you dumbass?" If i recall correctly, you dont have the firepower to do that!" answered another man via comm link, his overseer, no doubt.
„ Then lend us a hand!"
„ Ha! You should have thought about that before running off with your guild, idiot! I warned you not to get greedy and go off unescorted, but no, you made your own choice. Now, I will make mine! Henceforth, you are free from your vows, losing all your rights and olbigations from and towards the Kel-Morian Combine! said the overseer with a vicious voice.
„ You can't do this! yelled the young commander.
„ Yes I can and I will! Adjutant, please make all necessary arrangements!
„ It will be done, overseer Kaljo! answered the robotic figure behind him.
The holoscreen shut down right after, courtesy of a fist in its projector. Commander Schnitt retreated his bloodied hand, wiped it off, then went outside to get some fresh air and chill out.
Not even wanting to get in his CMC suit, he went for a walk around the base, enjoying the seemingly peaceful night. The metallic strrets were dusty and empty, with noone in sight. Apart from the twenty or so ghosts surrounding him, of course.
Schnitt opened his tobacco bag, grabbing some and pouring it into his wooden pipe. He lighted it and took in a few breaths.
Esmeralda and her men could barely contain themselves. It was a golden opportunity, a unique one in fact, to have the enemy commander face close, literally.
Schnitt now exhaled, relieved from his burdens by the high quality Agria Ventura tobacco that he brought with him from Moria. He was now making smoke circles and blowing them around him, aimlessly and carelessly. Suddenly, one of the circles hit something in front of im. Years of battle experience poured in, as he kept his cool, cleaning his pipe and searching for another tobacco bag.
„ Damned Agrian goods, where did I put them? he sweared with a moderate voice.
He found the other box, including the EMP grenade that he always carried with him, disguised as a lighter. He opened up its cap, pressed the button and then...
A screeching sound and a blue wave revealed twentyone stunned ghosts, scattered all around him.
„ Care for a smoke, my friends? he asked with a devious smile.