Disclamer; I'm so sorry guys; I keep saying that 'this is the last chapter, I fucking swear it' but there is a ton of things going on with my life. So much so that I have to tell you only HALF of the awesomeness in this fanfic. I've been sick twice last month. TWICE! That never happen to me like ever! And what was more depressing is that EA cancelled Command and Conquer Generals 2! You can tell the fanbase is very, very upset about that news, including me. But I had to take it like a man and accept that harsh facts that EA butcher our beloved series of RTS in favour of FPS. Sigh…
Let the destruction commence!
Command and Conquer will always belong to former Westwood Studios and not EA… for a reason!
Starcraft belongs to Blizzard Entertainment.
Starcraft AU; Tiberium Galaxy Trilogy story arch belongs to Avatar-of-Kane. Wow, this chapter appear after yours how did that happen?
All original character are mine.
MOTHERSHIP DEPLOYED.
To Just a Crazy-Man: Thanks! Your Epic too! And a bit crazy, but still Epic nonetheless!
To Thehappyvampier: Oh I know right? How did Earth get overpopulated after the Tiberium Conflict? And then the infamous Project Purification? As a well-known certain Terran hero once said, "We'll bounce back, we Terrans always do."
To Avatar-of-Kane: Thanks for the review! And sorry that the chapter being slice to two again. But it'll all be worth it! Just one more chapter to go and then I can place a nail in this chapter!
To Soldier of the Future: Again, thanks for the review! Hopefully the explanation I've listed will explain some of the things that you find it confusing! And no, for the last time, Felix Parker is not a Cyborg Commando; his an Elite Commando - non-psionic super soldier with augmented body parts. And if you think the Scrin Warmonger is just a mook, you haven't met the Scrin Pariah yet. Not going to reveal it here.
To Guest: Yes, the Librarian Caste is the quickest to adapt, but they had their downside; more of that next chapter. Also, get yourself a name; there is a ton of non-member fanfic readers with their default name called Guest, and half of those are nothing but trolls.
To Ganheim: Yeah… sorry about that; living in Malaysia where our language department dictates that our English department should elevated to 'Low Priority' and our Malay, which mind you is a joke considering where I live is being place as 'High Priority'. I had to be tuition and home tutored just to get my English to this level. And that was just a passing grade under the Britain education board. I blame my government for this problem; we vote for better English education, the government thinks it's a better choice to 'evaluate their importance of Malay'. In terms of Beta Reader however… I had one, but she's too busy with work - course you know, real life 'n stuff.
To all of you who fav but leave no reviews: Please feed me with your beautiful words! Words empower us fanfic writers! It make us smile, motivate our work through our stressful life! Appreciation has a ton of benefits! You can borrow Avatar or Soldiers mountains of words! They had plenty! And their fanfic chapters have more phrases than I can elaborate!
Starcraft AU Tiberium Galaxy; Primus
Final Chapter Part 2
Into the Locust Maw - Falling Union.
"This is Professor Finckle Taghrun, Chief and Head researcher of the Mobius Research Team. If you are watching this messages, that means this world, or perhaps the world you are currently live in are in great danger. The only way you could have manage to activate this message is by using EVA to scan the alien symbol - which you did, congratulation. Now, this symbol - this glyph - belongs to a terrible alien faction from the deepest reaches of space. These ancient race once ravage Earth, destroy all that we hold dear and poison our homeworld, but we survive against all odds, pushing the invaders back from where's it came. These alien forces, these... Scrin, unfortunately, are merely a harvesting group; they did not, or had not, unleash their actual forces down upon us. Since then we have began a rapid technological advances for military purposes to combat the Scrin if it were to invade Earth. Unfortunately, with all that advances we prosper, the Earth Government decides to erase all important document regarding the war in hope to start anew. We have come this far, and the technology behind it has cost millions of live every decade with each technological progression. Thus it fall for us... A group of renegade GDI opposition to upload this message, and it's vital information to you. All known GDI technology are within this hidden packet of data, as well as the data of our former enemies technology tree. Use the data to strike victory against the coming alien menace, but please... I urge you... Think carefully if you wish to utilize the technology which belong to our former enemy; 'its' ghost still lingers, even as we speak."
-Encrypted message found as soon as the Scrin faction emblem is scan by the EVA unit, dated several years after the Ascension Conflict.-
"Do not underestimate the Terrans, Praetor Artanis; they are one of the few races capable of great honor and sacrilege, with the capability to match our own even without the need of a more, refined arcane of science. Remember Praetor Artanis; the Terrans can't do everything, but they can do anything."
-Prelate Zeratul wise advise to the young Protoss Praetor Artanis regarding the Terran.-
Koprulu Sector, Abaddon, UED Spartan Company Base of Operation, Year 2504. Second Great War.
Major Browder glue his eyes on the monitor screen, as the previously recorded event is unfolding onscreen in his personal chamber. With a grim, gloomy frown, Browder couldn't believe any of the current event that is currently being unfold, but yet this new threat, this new Xenomorph threat, calling itself the Scrin, has caught his attention, more so should he transmit this footage back to Earth, and report it to the Old Government. The footage continues uninterrupted.
"EVA... How deep are we?"
"...700 feet below the sea level of Primus... If there really is a sea on Primus..."
"Commander?" a voice from the other side of the Major Browder's personal chamber call out. This forced the commanding officer of the Spartan Company to pause the video before replying to whoever it is behind the door, "Name and rank, what is it?"
"It's me, Captain Dawson, sir. I'm here to deliver the report regarding the chief engineer's task on rigging the nuclear charges on all major point on Alexander Axis. The crew is waiting for your orders."
Major Browder sigh, facepalm on his bagged eyes before he push himself up from his desk, picking up his sidearm and his electronic datapad on the table before approaching the door. With the door swiftly slide to the side with a sweeping sound, Major Browder of the Spartan Company march forward, with Captain Dawson marching behind.
"How is the MARV repair status?" Major Browder asked with a heavy tone.
"Still under repair sir, we have our best engineers in their respective SCV. The team is running around the clock repairing all the damages as fast as they can." Captain Dawson report back, "We estimate its complete repair within 6 days, or perhaps less."
"And how is the Turncoat Company? Has Captain Takashi Ishimura report anything back?"
"Well, Captain Takashi has his doubt, since you are requesting a survey on Mar Sara which has fallen into alien control." Captain Dawson reply, "According to his report, his Raven drone craft detected unidentified species of alien activity, and he could not determine whether or not they are Zerg or Protoss."
"Then we have much to fear then." Browder ended.
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Granted."
"Just... Just what are we fighting against? The troops are quite concern; they have held the line against the Zerg Swarm, fought off a hostile Protoss Tal'darim, even going head-on against the Dominion's most elite regiment in this sector. Now there seemed to be a new player setting up shop on this sector; the Brotherhood of Nod quickly comes to mind, but also this mechanical insect being with technology that would put any Protoss envy in green."
"I don't know myself, captain. But know this; our war against the corrupt Dominion has now become as distant as Earth itself. All we could do now is to pray whatever out there stays out, and if it comes too close to comfort, we'll just give 'em one hell of a welcome party."
Major Browder and Captain Dawson soon reach the command bridge in his private Command Center. The number of junior officers working in Major Browder command bridge all gave a sharp salute upon noticing the man in charge before they return their attention on their respective console monitor. One of them, Captain Major Klein, Major Browder second in command and a loyal UED officer salute his officers return, though he gave Captain Dawson a cold, hostile glare. The line between the Dominion and United Earth Directorate is throat deep, gulp Captain Dawson.
As soon as Major Browder place himself in his bridge command, his personal EVA unit are quick to highlight the necessary event which require Major Browder's attention - the main monitor displaying the crumbling, crippling Russian capital ship; Alexander Axis. Browder's most trusted chief engineer points out one more problem - underneath the crippling capital ship house a number of the cursed green crystal across the damage lower hull. Even if the ship is destroyed by nuclear fire, chances are the cursed green crystal will land onto Abaddon. M.U.L.E and several SCV pilots will have to do sweeping duty as soon as the debris crashes to Abaddon. A small arrow indicator points out a small craft with a number of repair drone. Browder nod to himself, That's Muradin and his repair drones. Right on schedule.
"This is Major Browder Elsewood to Chief Engineer Muradin, has the charges all set?" Major Browder asked into his intercom.
"All charges are in place, Major Browder. Just give me the orders, commander."
"Do it. For Vladimir Romanov. For Mother Russia."
The order has been issued, and it took exactly 3 seconds before the dazzling display of nuclear explosion on several key structure that chains with another, breaking the once mighty UED capital ship Alexander Axis apart to two. The two large piece continues to break apart even further by more nuclear explosion until it is nothing more than burning hunk of debris. The said debris soon entered Abaddon's atmosphere, burning what is left of the giant titan ship down to the tiny screws and bolts.
The only thing that survive the nuclear explosion and the burning atmosphere are the cursed green crystal, or Ichor, as Major Browder has learn through the video feedback from Felix's EVA memory bank. Not everyone shares the same view as Major Browder who has great concern over the Ichor issue; everyone's attention is mostly focus on the lost Alexander Axis - seeing one of two last UED capital ship destroyed before their very eyes will mostly effect the troops morale, not to mention that two of their highest commanding officers are officially KIA; those two ships held many hopes and dreams for the Earth born soldiers for the last 4 years, even more so after the UED flagship Alekzander is sacrifice to the Zerg Leviathan.
Now, only the Litany of Fury remains and without Felix Parker or Vladimir Romanov guidance, the UED power struggle between Turncoat Company and Spartan Company is imminent; the only thing that kept the two UED forces from killing each other is their shared goal to defeat the Dominion Forces.
"Alexander Axis is destroyed, the former capital ship debris is burning at the atmosphere as we speak, with a probability of 12% of said debris that will reach to the surface of the planet. However, we are reading a ratio of 155% unique radiation signature approaching the planet." one of the junior officer reports, "It's the Mar Sara Crystal, sir."
"Get the M.U.L.E unit and a team of SCV down to the impact site - mine all of them, and I want the nearest impact site clear of mineral and gas as well, just in case."
"Err... That impact site is heavily contested by Devil Dogs Mercenary and Umajon Agents. Sending the team there without proper troops deployment is suicide, sir."
Major Browder tense, rubbing his forehead, "Just what I need, two mercs that is the opposite end of our agreement letter; Captain Major Klein, see to it that the operation is a success and gather that green crystal off our planet. You have authority to use lethal force if none of the mercs are in any form of agreement or compliance to our course."
"Thank you Commander." Captain Major Klein salute with a sharp smile, marching off as he tell his own EVA unit to prepare his forces for a small skirmish.
"All of you, resume your operation and inform me of any vital event should there is an unexpected development. You, Captain Dawson," Major Browder points, "Walk with me."
"Sir."
Both men walk out of the command bridge and back to the hallway where Major Browder begin his conversation to the ex-Dominion officer, "Dawson. Dawson F. Weil, is it? How much do you know about Earth?"
Captain Dawson blinked, unable to determine which to answer as two question pop in his head; how did he know his actual name, or how could he describe the fable story of the Terran original homeworld. Captain Dawson decides to just answer the mayor's question, "Very little; one side said the Earth is lost, volcanic world where war is never ending, and another describe it as a haven to all humanity, away from any kind of alien threat in tens of light years away."
Major Browder nod, "Both description are in a way correct."
"What?"
"Earth is... were a safe haven of some description. Multiple cities of massive size float in the air where clean air still lingers and is double as a barricade against terrestrial creature from Earth. The ground is dangerously eradiated, but holds much of the nation's population; massive underground cities just underneath the Earth surface with underground labyrinth that branches off for miles. Earth is a war zone on a yearly basics against multiple rival superpower nation that has divert their allegiance from the UED banner. Most of the Solar System is populated by the Terran under the guidance of the Old Government; the Moon, Mars, one of Jupiter's seven moons, even the Asteroid Belt is populated by the Terrans. And war... War never seemed to seized even if you are away from Earth. You won't feel homesick when you travel across the Solar System as small skirmish are contested by rival faction, mercenaries and thieving space pirates. At least there is no aliens to fight against."
"...And your telling me this because...?"
"I want you to commandeer the Litany of Fury and travel back to Earth. It is a mission I wish you would undertake."
"...What." the dumbfounded Captain Dawson replied.
"I know this is sudden, Captain Dawson. The Litany of Fury is currently the only capital ship that represent the UED major influence on Koprulu Sector and the only ship with hard coded navigation system back to Earth. However, without Felix or Vladimir to give guidance, the Turncoat and the Spartan Company is now drawing the line to own that ship. I know that the Spartan Company is under Felix's command, but as a former commanding officer of the UED Iron Patriot, I can't commandeer the capital ship under my name, and I am quite certain that Captain Major Klein is not qualify enough to take root on the ship. I cannot leave my post here on Koprulu Sector, for my duty is to ensure the UED influence remain strong in this sector until further notice or receive outside reinforcement from Earth. Captain Rilves could be the suitable candidate, being the captain of the ship as far as his experience goes, but he is inexperienced on the field - he had undergo field training and commanding troops, but I felt much safer if he had Captain Major Klein's skill. Besides, with his wounds he sustain during the hostile fight on the Litany of Fury, he is not fit for any and all active duty. I can't trust the Turncoat Company either - they maybe Vladimir's men, but they are also Russian... majority of them at least, and they are... complicated to back down an offer which they cannot refuse."
"...But... why me?" Captain Dawson objects, "I maybe part of the UED banner, but I'm also a former member of the Dominion Corps."
"That's precisely it; you are an ex-Dominion officer, who had once commandeer your own capital ship, your own fleet, with your own men to look at - your own army battalion. You have more experience than any younger officer here or any UED recently recruit officers to date. You have bested even the most complicated operation under your belt, including the raiding operation on Korhal. Your EVA unit have layout every detail of your activity, and I personally analyze it down to the last data in triplets. You are a prime candidate, and you can take that to the bank."
"...I"
Major Browder smiles, "I will give you time to think this over. Give me an answer by the end of the day. Just remember one thing; the United Earth Directorate functions just the same as the Dominion, but we pride ourselves for steering humanity to the right direction away from corruption, power-hungry dictator and planetary genocide. We do what we have, use as little force as possible and never, ever involve innocent civilian in our war."
Captain Dawson just stood there, conflicted, pondering the scenario and unable to fathom him being on a capital ship again. He needs time to think, to analyze this situation, and to reflect all his days before today, not as a Dominion or a UED officer. Taking up Browder Elsewood offer to think this through, he walks back to his chamber, quite certain that the commanding officer of the Spartan Company will hear his answer very soon.
This did not distress Major Browder one bit; he knows that. EVA shall continue monitoring his progress as the AI should be, and he had some monitoring to do as well.
Returning to his private chamber, the pause video feedback awaits the bald officer. A small humanoid electronic avatar onscreen awaits her master to resume the video, "Welcome back Commander," greet EVA, "Shall we resume where we left off?"
"Yes, please do, my dear." answer Browder.
Primus, 4 days ago, 700 feet below Primus first surface
Felix, Vladimir, Dr Carmen and Shan'kai stare off the cliff side as they witness a mega Scrin base - a Scrin Megalopolis below them at some distance away. There are tens of Portals, Warp Sphere, even a multitude of Gravity Stabilizer. Every Scrin production structure is summoning more units to be field, and from the looks of it, the Scrin is preparing for a massive counterattack, one that would - or could - defeat whatever faction above ground.
After what Dr Carmen comment earlier about the surface Scrin base to be nothing but a giant outpost, Felix shudder to see an actual Scrin primary headquarters. If it exist that is.
"That is a big base." Vladimir points out, "The four of us couldn't possibly destroy all of it even with an equal army to match without suffering some sort of catastrophic casualties."
"It's going to take more than a nuke to destroy all of them; I shudder to imagine seeing a Scrin base this size on Koprulu Sector, and no amount of Apocalypse-class nuclear missile will completely cleanse it." Felix agrees, "Seriously now, how did our ancestor defeat the Scrin? It must have drain the entire planets economy and manpower just to drive the aliens back to their homeworld."
"..." Shan'kai remain silent, the dark female Nerazim analyze the field thoroughly. She didn't have to imagine however; according to her Dark Templar mentor's latest report, the Protoss Protectorate not only fail to defeat the new Terran faction and the cleansing of the mutated Zerg Swarm off the planet of Mar Sara, the Scrin, appear out of nowhere has manage to set a firm foothold on the Terran world. Under the command of their Hierarchy; Artanis, the Protoss forces descend to the Terran world of Mar Sara for a thorough purification. Despite mustering all available Protoss forces down to battle the intruding Scrin Army, the Protoss are pushed back. What surprises her was what her mentor's report main highlight is; the Scrin open a portal to deep space, and decimate the overall Protoss armies to a point where they are forced to retreat.
Shan'kai felt troubled; the Protoss society, both Khalai and Nerazim pride itself with the fine arcane of science in the name of the Xel'naga, most of the technology employed by the Protoss are the very teaching of the Xel'naga itself. But the Scrin breaks every rule in the book, scatter the teaching and disturb the holy arcane of science with their cruel sense of technology; oversize Stasis Field, Wormhole, weather phenomenon, and now massive black hole anomaly in the sky.
What's next, gigantic alien bug the size of their Nexus?
"Wow, that is a big bug." Dr Carmen comment, her finger points at the monstrous creature at the distance.
A monstrous insect-like machine emerge from the darkness from the edge of the base, it's present is bathed from the light above the crack of the chasm. The six-legged enormous creature slowly lumbering itself at the center of the massive base, making its present known even more profound by its mechanical roar. It is by far the biggest Scrin war machine in existence, rival even the Steppe Mammoth on Walker Mode. The monstrous bug has several deep purple eyes, but the biggest one located at the center of the monstrous head shape as a crown seem to be the focal point than the rest of the eyes, scanning the Scrin Megalopolis base. Unknown number of tentacle at the bottom of the Scrin monstrous unit reaches in and out at random, searching for something among the cluster of more Scrin units below it. The expedition heroes just stood there, awestruck at the sheer size of the creature's being. For Shan'kai however, she was speechless; the size of the Scrin creature alone would put any Zerg creatures to shame, even the mighty Zerg Ultralisk and it's greater cousin, Omegalisk.
"EVA, do we have any data regarding that monstrosity?" Felix quickly address to his on-board AI.
"Scanning, please standby. Entry Found." EVA report back, which quickly alarmed the Earth born soldier, "Rival superpower nation encounter not one but three separate events. While the UN nation had not encounter one as of yet, rumor regarding the towering Scrin monstrosity did circulate the media as a whole, and further speculation that such creature to exist on Earth is possible through rough images captures by civilian, citizen and military imagery. After thorough investigation, the UN nation acknowledged its existence."
"Wow, the rival superpower nation got encounter by THAT monstrosity by three separate events?" Vladimir lament, "Sucks to be them." he added.
"Yes, except the rival superpower nation manage to fend off all three attacks." EVA reply back, which raises everyone's interest, especially Shan'kai.
EVA continues, "The first encounter was in the old derelict city govern by the rival superpower nation, somewhere in Germany. The second encounter was on China; the monster destroyed several capital city before it is destroyed. Final encounter was on Northern Russia, against a legion of half-human, half-machine army. All three separate events are escorted by a insurmountable variety of Scrin forces. All three events are stopped by the rival superpower nation super weapon codename Redeemer."
"A full escort war machine." Felix finally finishes, "I'm surprise the rival superpower nation of old was able to best such monstrosity during the Scrin invasion, with their own super weapon no doubt."
"I'm more surprised how the UN not encounter it and that the rival superpower nation encounter all three separate events. It is as if the UN top list enemy has something the Scrin wanted." Dr Carmen ponders.
Yes, and it makes even more sense as to why, Felix thought. The alien Scrin forces continue to send their more powerful army to retrieve the unholy artifacts.
"The Tacitus." Felix whispers to himself.
"Computer, does that monster has a name, something to identify with?" Shan'kai addresses to the robotic M.U.L.E which house a shared link with the EVA unit.
"Retrieving data. Please standby. Entry found." the computer generated avatar report back, "Eradicator Hexapod - named after a lone survivor is discovered prior of the monster first appearance."
Shan'kai nod at that information; now she knows what to call her worthy quarry.
"Well, we can't just waltz down there when that thing is active. Not to mention that the entire base will immediately alert them of our present down here." Felix muses, "So how are we going to break in without getting ourselves killed?"
"Perhaps I could help." the female Dark Templar voiced her opinion. The other party member just pull a pondering gaze. "We Nerazim and the Khala tribes shared similar psionic level to call for war should there is such needs. Hierarchy Artanis in his rise of power ensure that all tribes learns of this call; interstellar cry for war is impossible without any form of communication array, or in Nerazim case, a nerve tendrils, but a cry for war on a planet wide however will undoubtedly bring forth a number of those blinded Tal'darim forces down here."
"Like baiting a moth with a flame." Vladimir grins, "it could also benefit our forces on the surface to fight one less alien faction."
"But does the Tal'darim identify a Nerazim call than their own?" Dr Carmen asked in great concern.
"No, both Khala and Nerazim Call For War ability is similar in psionic wavelength; they will not and could not filter such trivia matter such as the identity of the one who call forth the cry. Because the ability is meant for Templar Class warriors, the Tal'darim will assume one of their numbers has arrive on a designated area to signal the fleet. The blind Tal'darim forces will undoubtedly draw half or more of their fleet down here."
"I'm getting a vibe why a number of Terrans on the Koprulu Sector would ally a Protoss. On all account, I would agree that this strategy will be beneficial; such tactic will allow our undermanned forces an elbow room to breath and focus on the growing Scrin forces while shifting the Tal'darim focus on the Scrin more often allowing us to infiltrate the base without drawing too much attention." Felix nod, "Make the call Shan'kai."
With a quick nod, Shan'kai place her Dual Psi Blade Staff on a standing position as she place both her hands at her temple, focusing mass amount of psionic reserve in her before she let out a cry; her eyes surges out raw energy and her body glow in dark purple aura. Her cry is an equivalent to those Protoss High Templar would when they unleashed their iconic psionic storm, but instead of unleashing an uncontrolled and devastating psionic storm known in the archive of Khala and Nerazim history, the raw power she unleashed send in a unique psionic wavelength to all known Protoss forces in, on and around Primus.
The female Dark Templar kneel down in exhaustion for expending her psionic power to the last drop, so much so that even her cloaking device fizz in respond. Dr Carmen and Felix quickly got to her before she could collapse any further on the ground, while Vladimir awe at the the scene that is beginning to unfold from the Scrin super base.
As quickly as Shan'kai transmit her psionic warcry, a number of Protoss Tal'darim warships warp into existence with the help of the old Protoss Arbiter unit that flew done as quickly as it could. An entire fleet of Protoss Carriers and Void Rays materialize into being, hover on top of the Scrin super base before unleashing its Interceptor drone and firing prismatic beam respectively at the Scrin super base. While the fleet commence cleansing operations, a swarm of Protoss fighter jets such as the Phoenix and Scouts descend downward, majority even came from the crack of the chasm as reinforcements. The Protoss Transport ship , the Warp Prism descent downward on multiple hostile landing zone unloading several heavy artillery units on the ground such as the Protoss Immortal, the giant Protoss Colossi and even the old Protoss Reaver. Once the unit is out and start destroying the Scrin units and it's surrounding structures, the Warp Prism quickly deploy itself close to the ground as it's psionic matrix fields allows the Protoss forces to warp in lighter infantry units like the Zealots, Stalkers, Dragoon and High Templar.
Despite the Scrin base came under attack by the Protoss Tal'darim Forces, the Scrin Megalopolis suffer little loses despite being hammered brutally by the Protoss forces due to the sheer size and the number of forces present in the alien base. The Scrin defensive structures seemed to beam in out of nowhere with more array of defenses structures. Destroyed Scrin structures easily renewed with the same streak of light, materialize before the Protoss very eyes while massive number of Scrin units of different kind swarm the Protoss position. The Tal'darim Protoss held their ground, some even transport down a Probe onto the battlefield and starts summoning Pylons into being before setting down several Warp Gate of their own.
All that change when the Scrin Eradicator Hexapod arrive at the scene, leading more Scrin unit at the rear of its monstrous being; it's mechanical purple eyes stare straight into the Protoss very soul before it bellows out a mechanical roar. The collection of Void Rays, Archons, Immortals, Colossi and the Reaver stood their ground, believing that their combine firepower will destroy this gigantic monstrosity as well as its escorting alien contraption triumphantly. That belief instantly saps away when suddenly three more Eradicator Hexapod seemed to have teleported behind the first Scrin Epic Unit, and as a taunting reunion of sort, all four Eradicator Hexapod stood on their two legs, letting out a deafening machine like roar.
Up on the cliff overlooking the Scrin\Protoss conflict, the small UED explorer let their jaw drop (in case of Shan'kai however, she just stood there eyes wide open in disbelief); they had widely believe the Tal'darim Protoss will keep the Scrin busy for a while - that belief are instantly dashed aside when the Scrin decides to reveal their trump card against the corrupted Khala tribe. With four Eradicator Hexapod decimating the arriving Tal'darim forces as quickly as they are summoned in, Felix Parker knew their opportunity to infiltrate the Scrin Megalopolis base grew slimmer.
"Four Hexapods." Vladimir mumble before cursing something in Russian, "The sight such as this could easily make any man wet in their pants; how are we going to counter all four of them?"
"We don't." Felix reply.
"Huh?"
"We need to act smart here Vladimir; none of us, or the entire UED regiment station here has the firepower to counter such numbers of Eradicator Hexapods, let alone a lone Hexapod. In all honesty I don't think the Steppe Mammoth could even destroy the Eradicator." the UED Admiral Chief reply intelligently, "EVA, do you have any record on Old Earth when an orbital superweapon of any sort manage to destroy a Hexapod outside of mobile superweapon?"
"No," she bluntly reply, "The rival faction superpower nation tried with a thermonuclear missile, but the weapon only succeed in slowing the creature down, not outright destroy it."
"Well, there goes that option to drop a nuke on top of them," Felix sigh, "That weapon is far more powerful than the weapon deployed by the Dominion's own Apocalypse-class Nuclear Missile; if the Eradicator Hexapod can snuff off a direct blow from a thermonuclear, anything lesser than that is mere irritation to it."
"Here's the plan," Felix continues, "We will go down and do as much damage as possible to further crippling the Scrin forces as we journey towards our objective - the towering Scrin Drone Platform to the right. Our custom power suit should be able to take the immense gravity upon landing and Shan'kai Blink ability should land her no problem. Once we hit the ground, I want all of you to do your part to the letter. Vladimir, you'll target as many Scrin Reactor as much as possible; without power the Scrin production structure will cripple significantly. Shan'kai, target any incoming Scrin forces approaching towards Vladimir; his destructive act shouldn't go unnoticed by the Scrin, but I doubt they'll send any heavier Scrin units to deal with a lone soldier when they have an army of Protoss in their hands. Dr Carmen, keep yourself near Vladimir; you have a better survival if you follow the walking flaming wall of tank than any of us."
"Hehehe, burning time!" Vladimir smirk at the idea.
"Uhn dara ma'nakai" Shan'kai chants ceremonially, "The Locust Swarm will not know what hit them." Shan'kai agreed.
"But Felix..." Dr Carmen suddenly asked, "What about you?"
"Me? I'm an Elite Commando, Alise Carmen." Felix assured, "I basically do what I know best; disturb their production structure and it's facility, and drawing fire away from you guys. Out of four of us, I'm the most dangerous among the group in term of efficiency."
With no objection other than Dr Carmen's hesitating mumble, Felix is the first to jump down, followed by his trademark battle cry, "Time to rock 'n roll!"
Meanwhile, on the surface of Primus...
Fort Transylvania and it's brave brew of Earth born soldiers and Koprulu recruited soldiers defend themselves against multiple array of hostile that is constantly knocking at the front door with a sledgehammer; both the Protoss and the Scrin forces marshal their forces at different front and has been keeping the keep defenders exhausted, both in manpower, stamina and material. The Tal'darim Protoss forces blindly rushes at the front of the base, kamikaze-like. These forces are instantly vanquished by a hail of spike bullets, grenade launcher, hot plasma tungsten, ionized plasma shot, and a shower of armour-piercing munitions.
The Scrin had other ideas; they have send in their Harvester and Devourer Tank outside of the base initial defenses at the back where the resistance there is lacking. Instead of blindly rushing into the fight, the Scrin cleverly chip the old derelict structures away with Harvesters and Devourer Tank. Captain Rilves who oversee the command under Felix Parkers orders initially didn't see this as a threat, but once the protective wall of the derelict structure crumble one piece at the time, the good Captain scramble all air fighters he had left to intercept them. Wraith Fighters and the newly introduce Vikings and Banshee scoops down from the bowels of the Litany of Fury - due to having no Terran Starport (it's destruction was unavoidable to say the least) to create more, the available air forces are reserved unless absolutely have too. The group of Wraiths and Banshees attack the Scrin Devourer Tank while the Vikings transform from air mode to walker mode to stop the Harvester.
With the threat eliminated, Captain Rilves redirect a couple of Siege Tank to the affected area and had them deploy into Siege mode, should another batch of those alien bastard decides to break their walls again. It wasn't long when the fourth and final authorised Steppe Mammoth stood up and ready to take down the invading alien forces at the distance with its dual barrel Ion 'Tusk' Cannon. The second and third Steppe Mammoth are away for an errand to stop the Protoss reinforcement.
At the same time, the small outpost on Gamma Point isn't holding out as plan as the wave of Scrin and Protoss forces manage to break a few line of defence. The Battlecruiser Alexander Axis present over the outpost is nothing more than a glorious target for both the Scrin and the Protoss despite receiving the wrong end of plasma battery and plasma torpedo from the floating fortress hail from Mother Russia itself. The Steppe Mammoth in Tank mode is constantly being repaired by the SCV since the huge tank is like a bullet sponge at this point. Siege Tank, Titan, Goliath, and Wolverine, among the row of Marines and Marauders are largely ignore as the alien forces sees the giant tank as a much bigger threat than the smaller, less impressive Terran army.
At some point however, the Protoss forces starting to diminish in numbers, now with fewer, much less impressive intimidating numbers. However, the Scrin push onward, with newer units among their numbers that has never before seen outside of the invasion on Old Earth.
"Wha-what the hell is that thing?!" one of the Marine cry out, finger pointing at the direction he is seeing at the front entrance of Fort Transylvania.
The incoming towering Scrin unit looks like another Annihilator Tripod, except it has seven beam tentacle instead of three. It is accompany by a row of angry and enrage Ichor (Infested) Terrans, the newly observed Scrin Warmonger and another newer Scrin unit that was never been recorded before; a Scrin version of the Old Earth rhinoceros type beetle, easily the size of the Terran Crucio Siege Tank. Behind those are a selection of Blue Buzzers, Disintegrators, Shock Troopers, Fiend Ravagers, Shard Walkers, Seekers, Devourer Tank and Mechapede.
"DEATH TO THE TERRANS! ALL HAIL THE SCRIN EMPIRE!"
The Scrin/Terran units are the first group to break into a running action followed by the equally fleet-footed Fiend Ravagers. The UED Terrans hesitant at first, unable to determine whether or not they should fire their former comrades. In the end however, their hesitation brought them nothing but swift death; a number of Ichor Terrans on the back row starts to swing their arm around in circle with a low humming - they are using their heavy crystallized arm as a momentum of sort at the general direction of the Terran defenders. The gathered momentum easily flung these infested UED Terran Marines at their former UED Terrans defenders comrades into airborne for a short while before they came crashing down, all of these airborne Ichor Terrans laugh insidiously at their former comrade in arms.
The defenders, bewildered by the infested Terrans action met with a gruesome death; all airborne Ichor Terrans upon impact to the ground detonate in a combine glorious fashion and gore, splashing blood, bio-plasma acid and shards of green and blue Ichor. Affected UED defenders by the splash of bio-plasma acid and Ichor shards all scream in agony; one party scream aloud as their armour and flesh melt away at an alarming rate while another bellows out the piercing Ichor shards in their armour, it's leeching property saps any nutrients out of the affected Terran body, slowly turning them into the very crystal they feared the most. The remnant of UED defenders quickly wise up and open fire their weapons.
Though the Ichor Terrans biobomb did soften up the defenders, the rest of the UED forces holding down the fort allow their weapons to sing heartily in glorious choir of death. Not taking any chances, a row of remnant Wolverine pace forward and open fire a curtain of armour-piercing ammunition against the mob of approaching Ichor Terrans, even the Siege Tank are forced to transform into Tank mode to engage the Ichor Terrans. Each infested Terrans detonates violently similar to those of the old Infested Terrans or the newly discovered Zerg Baneling. Unlike both mentioned kamikaze beings however, each detonation releases shards of Ichor on the ground, and for the unfortunate soul, found its way into the unprotected Marine through their face. The released Ichor on the ground quickly becomes a favorable playing field for the Scrin approaching army, as it promotes health regeneration to the Scrin and minor Ichor poisoning to the UED forces. With the Ichor Terran killed off, the speedy Fiend Ravager leap into action, quite literally in a sense.
Anyone who had fought the Zerg Swarm before are quickly horrified by the approaching Scrin Fiend Ravager that is now almost similar to that of the famous Zergling, which happen to crossbred with a Zerg Hydralisk; though without its intimidating facial expression, it's action alone is enough to send the Marine scramble out of the frontline.
A Fiend Ravager leap from several meters away at the unexpected Terran Marine to the ground, which the Marine scream out of shock and fear, the Marine attempt to wrestle with the bio-organic creature with his arms, but the creature that held the Marine in place are quick to shatter the Marines any hope of seeing tomorrow by introducing its sharp leg-like talon into the Marines face. A loud, horrid scream from the faceless Marine responded almost immediately before he become still on the ground, the Fiend Ravager claim its first victim.
It stares up, noticing another Terran Marine at the distance firing its brethren but not noticing this Ravager. With an excited clicking-like sound, it fires blue Ichor against the foolish Terran Marine, nailing it on its chest, shoulder and leg. The Marine are instantly downed, chocking at its own blood as he went down, mumbling something about his mother. With an approved clicking-like sound, the Fiend Ravager turn its gaze for its next kill, but could only briefly saw a blazing flash of light before its vision gone dark, permanently.
Once again the Wolverine came to the Marines and Marauders rescue; its powerful anti-infantry weaponry easily turn the Fiend Ravager into Swiss cheese, but as the name implies, the Fiend Ravager has ravage more than half of the infantries total number. It was a disastrous loss.
But the worst is yet to come.
Scrin Warmonger arrive in the scene, but instead of fighting the Terran defenders out in the open with little to no cover, the Warmonger did something the Terrans did not expect; they begin to garrison into the derelict structures around them. With the structure occupied by a swarm of Scrin Warmonger infantry, they begin to rain down the hurt against the UED defenders with their photon rifles.
"What the - Captain! Those grasshoppers creature just garrison into that alien ruin in front of the base!"
"They are called Warmonger, Private, and yes I can see that!" the captain of this misfit Terran Marine harshly reply, "Siege Tank Platoon, level that structure and root out those aliens so we can take a shot!"
"AFFIRMATIVE!"
Roughly all the Siege Tank deployed back into their Siege mode, their turret turn towards the alien infested structure location. With a stationary target in place, the platoon of Siege Tank open fire their weapon, hot plasma of tungsten shell came speeding down to its designated target.
Their shell never reach its target.
A loud clang and boom echoed the field, and for some reason, the Scrin occupied structure did not crumble to pieces. The reason is clear; several of the newly observed Scrin unit which looks like a rhinoceros beetle stood in front of the ruin alien structure and had somehow shielded the said derelict structure from destruction, it's harden insect-like shell seemed to be glowing from dark purple to light yellow. Undeterred, the Siege Tank Platoon tries again.
Those are the Scrin Librarian Caste Scarab, a semi-invincible glass-cannon siege type unit.
"OPEN FIRE!" they roar.
Another round is fired onto the strange beetle-like Scrin walker, and just as before, the powerful hot plasma tungsten shell did little but to dent the harden insect shell. Interestingly enough, the shell is now glowing from light yellow to white hot.
"ANOTHER ROUND!" Roar one of the Siege Tank pilot.
But before the group of Siege Tanks open fire for the third time, the Scrin beetle-like creature quickly react, their armoured shell flip open revealing some kind of complex alien reactor, exposing its inner working of the Scrin unit. With the shell flip open like a wing of prey spreading its wing, the Scrin rhinoceros beetle creature return fire with a streak of light beaming from its mouth, complete with a notoriously loud "VVRRRRMMM!"
All of them fire it's beam in unison, and the streak of light crisscross the UED defenders line of defense, cutting most units to two horizontally; Marines, Marauders, Wolverine, Titan, Goliath and Siege Tank are all subject to the new Scrin units target list, and most of these victim are brutally massacred. With the death beam distinguished by itself, the shell unsheathe off the Scrin beetle's body, causing the shell to break apart upon contact.
"Wha-what the hell?!" a panic Marauder soldier cried, "I sign up for killing aliens, but this is too much!"
"Jesus Christ that beetle thingy just slice half of our numbers up!" cried another, a Marine, "That's it, I'm out of here!"
"And where would you run Private?! We are in a hostile planet in the first place!" their surviving CO angrily yell back, "Get your sorry ass up there and kill that bastard with everything we have! GO GO GO!"
Several formation of Siege Tank, safe from the beetle-like Scrin unit resume fire against this formidable foe. However, instead of the creature absorbing the attack again, the Scrin beetle is easily torn apart by the Siege Tank hot plasma tungsten shell that rip the creature and the derelict structure behind it, killing a few Warmongers thus forcing the grasshopper creature to retreat. The Terran defenders didn't know what had happen to that beetle creature, but they are glad that the thing must have been weaken or something when they discard their shell off its mechanical body. The Scrin beetle creature back away from the fight, apparently attempting to flee while it is in its weaken stage. The old faithful GDI Titans move forward and ready to engage the retreating beetle Scrin unit in order to destroy a threatening glass-cannon unit.
Not when the towering seven beam tentacle tripod had anything to say.
In the EVA entry, the fame Scrin Annihilator Tripod is a very dangerous Scrin unit thus far, but those creatures has three beam tentacle; this one has seven beam tentacle mount on it's head. And there are more than a dozen of them.
Unlike the other Scrin Advanced Heavy Assault units, these tripod are called Hydra Tripod, a predecessor of the Annihilator and Reaper Tripod, and a unit fondly used by the Librarian Caste.
The old faithful Titans open fire their Twin Particle Cannon against this familiar yet different group of enemy. The Titan's powerful streak of beam make a direct hit against the entire Annihilator-lookalike, but like most of its three beam tentacle mounted tripod, it has a forcefield protecting the creature from direct harm. The Titan pilot already knows this, but they can't shake the feeling that this version of tripod has more than it is showing. "Stay on your toes, lads! Just because this thing has four extra beam limb appendages doesn't mean it's out of tricks in their alien box!"
And for once, the Titan pilot was right.
Immediately after the seven beam tentacle tripod took the Titan's attack, the Hydra Tripod's forcefield begin to glow in orange. Then suddenly, an orb of energy begins to glow ominously at the group of UED Titans. Before they know it, the orb of energy fires back at the group of Titan in a form of ionized plasma round!
"Titans! Shatter! Shatter!" cried the lead Titan pilot.
The group of massive Titan tries to edge itself from the incoming ionized plasma round, though only a few are caught unprepared and instantly destroyed while the rest escaped their untimely death. They were shocked to say the least - this Scrin unit's forcefield are able to reflect their shot back at them, and that reflected shot has enough strength to one shot a fully functional Titan unit into oblivion!
On a bring side, the group of towering seven beam tentacle tripod's forcefield seemed to have popped like bubble, exposing the Hydra Tripod just as vulnerable as any other Annihilator Tripod out there. Time to strike them back, thought one of the Titan pilots.
All Titan open fire their Twin Particle Cannon against this new towering foe with the help of Siege Tank in Siege Mode support and a few remaining Marauders on the field. The group of Hydra Tripod welcome such warm reception and are quick to engage the UED defenders, with all seven beam tentacles attack in all seven direction at random. Though without the Scrin's reflecting forcefield, the seven beam tentaclesis still posed a threat against the UED, especially when the rest of the Scrin unit all rush-in in a mad dash. Mechapede, Seekers, Devourer Tank and Shard Walkers all starts to pick their targets while the defending UED forces comprised by Marines, Marauder, Wolverine, Goliath, Titan and Siege Tank did their best to counterattack the incoming Scrin forces.
"Sir, it would appears that the frontal defenses are weakening." the onboard artificial intelligence EVA addresses to Captain Rilves, "What are your orders?"
"Do we have any fighters in our deck?"
"Yes, but..."
"Good. EVA, get us to the action. I need to deal this issue at hand before some other wacky threat threaten to destroy us."
Attempting to turn the tide of battle, Captain Rilves has redirect a few air squadron of Wraith, Vikings and Banshee from their normal patrol to help out the defending UED forces while directing the massive capital ship towards the frontline. He did not however direct the idle Steppe Mammoth in Tank mode to assist in the front, believing that the Scrin Harvester - Devourer Tank combo will chip the protective wall again if he move the Final Tier unit out of place.
Captain Rilves probably didn't read the memo that Seekers, Shard Walkers, a few Mechapede and a number of Warmonger survivor has the capability to attack air targets. And though Captain Rilves knows that the Annihilator Tripod can't shoot upwards, the Hydra Tripod however...
Wraith and Banshee activate their cloaking mechanism to better protect themselves as they do a bombing run, but they are unaware that Seekers are natural detectors, and upon scanning an incoming hostile Terran aircraft, it relay its target coordinate to the other anti-air brethren. Naturally the attack becomes one sided as the mass collection of Scrin anti-air units open fire their weapon in the air, nailing a great number of Wraith and Banshee down. The Vikings, noticing the number of their comrade in arms are being massacre by the anti-air units below attempt to transform into Walker mode, but their transformation came to a screeching halt when even the seven beam tentacles tripod is targeting the Vikings! The Hydra Tripod actually has anti-air capabilities! The entirety of the air squadron quickly pull out on their own occur, but the damage has been done.
The surviving air squadron pilot will forever be haunted by the voice of those unfortunate comrades death scream, followed by a long static noise.
"Wait, those things are anti-air?!" Captain Rilves asked in shocked, especially the Hydra Tripod, "And those are detectors?!"
"Yes, apparently Shard Walkers, Seekers, Mechapede, Warmonger and this new Tripod - dub Hydra Tripod for its seven beam tentacle capability - happen to have anti-air capability- "
"All air squadron, retreat back to the capital ship! I repeat, all air squadron return to the capital ship!"
Realising his error, Captain Rilves quickly have the remaining air forces to return back to the capital ship when the Litany of Fury long range radar detected an approaching Scrin Stormriders, numbered by several dozen. EVA quickly notify it to the ship captain.
"Warning!" EVA chirp, "Enemy air armada approaching at high speed!"
"EVA, magnify those Stormriders! I want to know the exact strength of those pesky alien flyers."
The image appear in front of Captain Rilves screen, showing off an incoming swarm of Stormriders with long tail and has a trail of thick dark smog behind it, crackling with electricity. Wait a minute, that doesn't look like Stormriders at all; for starters, Stormriders doesn't have a tail nor leave trail of ionic storm behind them!
Unknown to the UED forces, these are another Librarian Caste unique unit class, the Stormbringer, named due to its ability to conjure an Ion Storm wherever this medium assault aircraft went.
An entire squadron of this new Stormriders - dub Stormbringer - flew towards the Litany of Fury, but surprisingly the alien aircraft did not attack the Terran capital ship as it surround the massive ship generating dangerous level of ionic storm. Not taking any chances, Captain Rilves order all gunner crew to open fire at the Stormrider that is surrounding the capital ship when the sound of explosion shock and tremble the crew. The explosion came from outside the ship, and low and behold another wave of Stormbringers flew in to join the first Stormbringer wave in their assault. Captain Rilves knows that if the ship took too much damage, it would be disastrous to the UED morale on the Koprulu Sector, thus ordering his crew to steer the capital ship back into the safety of the fort.
"Damn it!" he yelp as another explosion rock him and his crew about violently, "EVA, steer this ship back to base for an immediate repairs! I want SCV team to be ready for our arrival, and get some fighters to cover our tracks!"
"But sir..."
"Just do as your programmed demand you to! Don't judge me and do as you are told to do!"
The artificial intelligence avatar scowl at Captain Rilves; if it was Felix Parker, he would do differently. But he gave him the permission to oversee this operation and not her, while her other half is assisting her master. She is getting a ton of awesome data just by observing, analyzing and contradict each and every new enemy unit are capable off on the field, and Captain 'Coward' Rilves wanted to return to base. Sure, Captain Rilves is terrible at commanding an army, even for a skirmish, but the captain knows how to flew this hulking rust bucket all by himself without any help from the staff crew - which by the way, is and it by itself is an astonishing achievement.
Despite that the UED capital ship exterior shielding is failing to setup due to this unusual ion storm which she had never seen before, the mighty ship actually sustain moderate overall damage - within accepted perimeter - and Captain Rilves wishes to back down? With the most bitter voice she could mustered, she comply, "...yes sir."
Surviving Vikings and Wraith are once again flew out from the safety of the UED capital ship to combat the Scrin air fighters under Captain Rilves command; while the Vikings armour help endure the brutal lightning strikes from the ionic storm (the artificial storm seemed weaker than an actual storm), the Wraith suffers for a lack of sufficient armour. The Wraith only defense was its cloaking field, but even that did not help this agile and speedy aircraft against this odd ionic storm. Wraith pilot keep on complaining that their energy reactor are not generating enough energy. In fact, this odd storm seems to be the sole reason why the Wraith is not getting enough energy; it is sapping its secondary reserve of energy reactor but not the core engine since the main reactor is being shielded by an anti-magnetic shielding. The constant zapping from the storm supercharged lightning strikes is also wreak havoc at their armour, but the Wraith pilots push on, solely because they are the best in term of their superior speed, maneuverability and agility which is renown on Koprulu Sector during the First War, their craft have best even the Protoss's own Scout and the Zerg Swarm Mutalisk numerous times, so in theory they shouldn't have any problem against the Scrin medium assault air fighter.
Bring it on, Stormbringer.
Captain Fore 'Ace' Granger, an Earth born soldier thought aloud - ever since the alien aircraft has taken to the sky, he had fought a number of Stormriders to know the in and out of these alien aircraft, enough to know the peculiar pattern of his pursuers/attackers. The Stormrider wannabe always strafe side to side when they are being pursued, while it's Distruptor Cannon mounted at the bottom of the craft return fire at the pursuers. One thing to note however is that when the lone Stormrider is being pursued, there isn't any Stormrider behind the pursuers to tailing behind. It is either a flunk in their tactic, or the Scrin knew that if they did such maneuver it could potentially cause friendly fire. Either way, Captain Ace has learn not to trust his navigation system on his Wraith when attempting to lock into these alien craft - locking the Stormrider or Stormbringer took too much time and their wide angle strafing didn't help Captain Ace on getting an accurate shot. Captain Ace had to rely on his natural instinct to get a lock onto this Scrin Stormbringer; he already know the strafing pattern in his mind, and let loose his Gemini Missile and Burst Laser at his intended victim up front on its next wide angle strafing.
"Vector, lock in."
His attacks hit home with resounding success, and the Stormbringer crippled craft pummel to the ground with a thick green smoke trailing behind. The Stormbringer crash and smashed into the ground followed by a satisfying explosion, and the very satisfied UED pilot only chuckle at his accomplishment, "I'm just curious; why am I so good?"
The Vikings and Wraith has the blessing as soon as they are within base perimeter as the base defenses and it's defenders lend in assistant; Missile Turret fire it's AA missiles against these new Stormriders accompany by Goliath, Marine and even a couple of Titans where they too fire their AA Hellfire missiles, hail of spike bullets and ionized plasma round respectively. After what appears to be hours fighting the new and never before seen Scrin units before, the chaotic battle end with the sound of the last Hydra Tripod fell to the side, it's body explodes in a glorious green, red and blue explosion. The defender cheers in great valor, a brief morale boost before another wave of Scrin abomination came walking around.
However, not all UED defenders is having a victorious moment.
Meanwhile... On Gamma Point...
On Gamma Point where three faction attempt to dominate the area, the Terran UED has been battling wave after wave of Protoss Tal'darim forces and the remnant of the old Scrin forces, the Librarian Caste in a 'King of the Hill' like arena. Already, the surface defenders has been battling more than 90 consecutive wave of Protoss/Scrin forces nonstop. The troops are tired, their gears are worn out, their weapons overheating, and ammo is now scarce. Unless something is done soon, the troops won't be able to keep this place defended until Felix and his merry party finally surfaced.
Above the Terran UED tiny outpost, the Alexander Axis crew member, composed by mostly Russian personal has been keeping the troops on the ground felt secure, but as time goes on, their patience is wearing thin. While the artificial intelligence avatar named Natasha govern the ship and it's personal with an iron fist, it was Vladimir Romanov's sub-commander, Captain Salvo Boris, that worries the artificial intelligence than any other personal on-board this ship.
Salvo Boris may have been born on Earth, but he is also a former Soviet Revolutionary; he was captured, re-educate and recruited by the United Earth Directorate for one purpose - to put Salvo Boris in a leash. Captain Boris is a revolutionist in his own rights, a brilliant tactician on par with Felix Parker, and what's scares the artificial intelligence the most is how he attempt to take the sit of power in which Vladimir Romanov owns, twice. Captain Boris is a dangerous man, the artificial intelligence avatar always note that down even after she was constantly being reset by Vladimir, that man will bring ruin to a nation just by opening his mouth. I must remain vigilant.
"Comrade Natasha," Captain Salvo Boris asked innocently, "How long must we wait here just so we can finally get rid of ourselves the trouble of bothering these alien menace?"
"As long as it takes, Captain Salvo Boris." she assured, "And do not call me by name; only Vladimir has authority to call me by that name. You shall address me as EVA, just as the rest of you simpleton hairless ape."
"My apology, Comrade 'Natasha'." Salvo Boris apologize; he has a foxy smile and his voice tone didn't seemed apologetic. The artificial intelligence felt chills down her electronic spine, and that wasn't even remotely possible unless it is Captain Salvo Boris.
"Which reminds me," he continues, "Vladimir Romanov gave me this datadisk to me and told me to review it, but I can't seemed to crack open the file. Heavily encrypted." Salvo Boris pulls a boring eyes, "I really hate asking you of all artificial intelligence to open the crack file for me. So I'll just wait for Lord Felix to help me with-"
"No. Give me the datadisk." Natasha quickly offer her help, obviously because she wanted to show Salvo Boris that her hacking capability is just as capable as Felix's ancient EVA unit, and that she has a reputation to uphold. "Insert the disk into the slot. I'll crack it open."
"Oh? You're willing too?"
"Just pluck it in before I feel very regrettable for helping someone like you."
Captain Salvo smirk widely as he pull the disk out of his uniform and slowly insert the disk into the main terminals console slot. "Happy cracking, EVA." he said, foxy smirk.
Natasha blinked; Captain Salvo Boris had never call her EVA before the entire time. He would usually call her by her name and she hates it when it wasn't her master's calling. She quickly stares at him, " What did you - you - you - you... Huh?"
"Oh my. My bad." Captain Salvo Boris smirk evilly, "That wasn't the datadisk I intended to give you at all; that was a malicious computer virus I was been saving for all those years ago. How on Earth can I be so careless?"
"You!" The artificial intelligence avatar cried in panic, her hologram body begins to collapse and rebuild in a rapid fashion, her image flickers as she desperately tries to resist and rebuild herself from the virus attack, "I - I - I should ha - ha - have known -own - own! I - I - I! Mast - mast - mast - er -er - er - Master! Help - help - help me - me - me! "
The artificial intelligence called for help from the crew in the ship, but all of them ignore her cry for help. As she gaze the crew in their eyes, they seemed content, happy and relief; why? Why are they happy? Why are they not helping her? She has never felt fear before in her entire digital life before; fear is reserved for the weak and feeble, the unnoticed and the lost. She was build, quite literally, to be a strong, ruthless, well-respected, feared AI, down to the last core of her programming data. She is literally the symbol of the Soviet might, but now she is helpless, trembling in this new alien emotion she is unfamiliar with; Natasha is very afraid, and no one in the Alexander Axis is helping her. She cried for help again, her cry is now more disoriented than before, "Mas. Ter. Help. Me."
"I'm sorry Natasha," he whispers at the flickering artificial intelligence, "But your master is in another Battlecruiser."
With a last horrifying gaze from the artificial Intelligence to the man who just destroy every bit and data in her system, she let out a horrifying mechanical scream as the last of her data is finally purged from existence.
Satisfied, the treacherous Russian commander sat at the throne sit without the objection of the bridge crews. They all gave him a sharp salute, as if the true Premier has finally return. With a flip of the switch, he place his microphone near him as he gives a charismatic and somewhat patriotic speech, "This is Captain Salvo Boris, your NEW captain of this ship. You are now an honored involunteering crew member of the Alexander Axis. You will all be rewarded once we return to the Koprulu Sector and become the valid member of the Dominion Empire, just as our naïve commanders should have done many years ago. We will call in our battle brothers, the Turncoat Company to join our cause, and with our shared technology of this ancient weapons of war before the time of the Ascension Conflict and that of the Dominion own weaponry, we can take back Russia, and return our motherland back to its former glory. Together, we all shall make it happen! Together, we shall defeat the Old Government and their allies. TOGETHER, WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS! FOR OUR MOTHERLAND, FOR MOTHER RUSSIA!"
"HOORAH! HOORAH! HOORAH!"
Below the UED capital ship Alexander Axis, Gamma Point, Inside the Steppe Mammoth...
"Err... Sir? What is our air support doing?" asked one of the crew member inside the Steppe Mammoth in Tank mode to Siege Tank veteran John McNeil.
"Well, they are sorting our ass is what their doing, bunch of bugger Russians them lot are, though that Vladimir fellow is decent, I'll admit." he reply with his usual heavy Australian accents.
"So why in Holy Terra are they flying away?"
"What?"
True to the crews words, Alexander Axis Battlecruiser no longer provide air support for the troops below and instead starts to fly upward towards the atmosphere. "Blimey hell," utter McNeil, "Com, get me the channel to that ships frequency!"
"No reply sir!"
"What about secure channels?"
"No ones replying sir!"
"Bugger Russians!" cursed McNeil, "This is John McNeil to any blimey people in this damn frequency; the Alexander Axis just chicken us out on us! Anyone one of you rotting lots has a confirmation why our only air support decided to skittle away like a kangaroo meeting a bloody rabid koala?"
"This is EVA unit from Litany of Fury; no, no confirmation on Alexander Axis bailing out of the theater of war. I'm patching through you and get in touch with Vladimir. Standby."
"Vladimir here, and I heard the urgent call; what do you mean my ship just bail out?"
"Well, Alexander Axis and it's crew is leaving the theater of war. Anyone ordered such command?"
Vladimir let out a loud curse, "That damn fool Boris! What is he doing this time?! EVA, get my Natasha online to me!"
"Unable to comply; artificial intelligence avatar 'Natasha' cannot be reach at this moment." she reply. She tries again, but EVA only got another error in her screen. She is now worried, "I... I just can't get her to-"
"This is Admiral Chief of the United Earth Directorate, Felix Parker calling to all troops." the Admiral Chief of the UED forces suddenly announce himself, "As UED protocol paragraphs 5D dash C9, Captain Salvo Boris and/or its crew has violated direct orders from their commanding officer. You are allowed to use any and/or all means to bring Captain Salvo Boris down. Dead or alive."
"I agree," Vladimir reply from the com, "As I hate to say this... All units still loyal to me and the Admiral Chief, all who are loyal to the United Earth Directorate and it's cause... you have my permission to destroy... The Alexander Axis."
Siege Tank Veteran John McNeil and it's crew blink for a moment, before all of them turn towards the sound of a sudden cheer for Captain Salvo Boris followed by a gunshot, panic cry soon follow.
John McNeil stood up from his seat as he and a few crew armed themselves with only their sidearm to investigate the shooting. There, lying on the pool of blood on the metal floor is one of those who betray Vladimir's trust; his empty gaze stare upward on the ceiling, his head is blown open from one end to another, white ooze mixes with blood. His last words were "All hail Captain Salvo Boris!"
"Zihathe Klana" John McNeil mumbles, "You're better than that, you damn coot."
"All crew," McNeil cried aloud, "A change of target is in order lads! Let's go cripple a bloody traitorous Battlecruiser! Let's see if this Steppe Mammoth really crack up to be!"
It didn't take long for the group of UED loyalist to aim their weapon high and open fire at the retreating traitors within the Alexander Axis, not even the Steppe Mammoth is taking any changes and open fire it's quadruple missile pod and it's twin Railgun Accelerator Cannon in the air. While most of the anti-air projectile hit its makes, the captured UED capital ship under a new master continues unhindered.
"ARMOUR SUPERIORITY!" the Steppe Mammoth megaphone boomed aloud as it taunt the surrounding affected area. This cause a great number of stationary Scrin and Protoss forces that heard the psionic taunt a distance away threw themselves in a fit of frenzy rush towards the Steppe Mammoth with absolute bloodlust. Obviously, the crew within Alexander Axis is unfortunately caught by this psionic taunt, and the Russian capital ship turn its massive edge towards to Steppe Mammoth, firing plasma battery cannon and plasma torpedo as it closes in.
The incoming Scrin and Protoss frenzy forces are quickly being dealt with using the stationary standard forces on the ground while the massive former GDI unit took the beating of the traitorous Russian turncoat. Both powerful juggernaut unit are locked into a deadly ground-to-air combat, exchanging fire after another with quick and rapid succession, with each strikes making its mark on its intended target. The Steppe Mammoth took the battle poorly, as the massive tank Railgun Accelerator Cannon and Quadruple Missile Launcher didn't have the same devastating effect as the one used by the capital ship which is armed with plasma based weaponry; the only thing that kept the massive supertank functional is the half a dozen SCV repairing the constantly battered armoured tank. After the frenzy Protoss and Scrin forces are dealt with, Marines, Goliath and Titan turn its attention to the flying Russian capital ship and assist the Steppe Mammoth objective mission by tackling the flying bucket with combine firepower.
It wasn't long until the psionic taunt effect on the Alexander Axis worn off, in which the crew seamlessly awake from what seems to be a brief moment of hypnotic sleep. A very rocky, painful and blood drench sleep.
"WHY ARE WE STILL HERE!?" Captain Salvo Boris yelled angrily, completely unaware the effects of the psionic taunt even took place, "OFF PLANET NOW!" he demanded.
"We can't, Commander! Not under this condition!" one of the Russian crew reply in a nervous state, female staff, "The UED dogs are damaging the Alexander Axis across the capital ship exterior hull! We are -"
BANG! A shot is heard loudly across the command bridge, followed by a collapsing lifeless crew member; her shock expression remain frozen, a fresh bullet hole on her forehead says it all.
"Warp us to Koprulu Sector, now!" Captain Salvo Boris quickly demanded, "If we die here, so is our chance to revive the once glorious Soviet Union. Prepare Warp Jump now!"
"Y-yes sir!" the junior crew member reply, after removing his senior corpse aside before jumping into the computer console. After flipping a few switches here and there, he give his superior his answer, "Warp Jump in T-minus 30 seconds, sir!"
"Sir, what about that giant tank thing?" one of the crew asked, "At this rate, the countdown will never reach until we get rid of that monster!"
Captain Salvo Boris rubs his chin, unhindered by the continuous violent rocking and explosion. He smile darkly, "Prepare the Yamato Cannon." he said, "Let's see if the ancient weapon is worthy to even carry the Mammoth legacy our father's has made."
The battle between the turncoat Battlecruiser and the Steppe Mammoth and the UED loyalist are about to take into a turn for the worse; as the battle resume between the two, suddenly the front bow of the Battlecruiser extend, shift and revealed a large gapping hole, and it is gathering energy. To those who are very, very familiar to the Battlecruiser from the Minotaur to the Dreadnaught classes, the Russian capital ship is preparing to fire off the infamous Yamato Cannon! And the sight is enough to cause the Marines, Goliath and Titan to stop firing just to register this event occurring; it may very well be their last.
"S-s-sir?" the crew in the Steppe Mammoth calls out, " Is... Is the Steppe Mammoth tough enough to absorb that?"
"I..." McNeil trail off, "For the first in many of my dingo years, I ain't as sure as I ever am."
Almost every crew inside the Steppe Mammoth knew how slow this thing moves; even if they could move the supertank even by an inch, the infamous Yamato Cannon will hit its target. The powerful weapon never miss, no matter how far, or how fast you run.
"Bugger." McNeil curses.
The transition was immediate - as soon as the Yamato Cannon is fired off from the gapping hole of the Alexander Axis, a roar of explosion and nuclear fire engulf the Steppe Mammoth and any residue energy left behind are washed onto the remaining UED defenders, killing off a number of UED defenders on the site. Marines seamlessly screaming in pain as the nuclear fire burn on top of their suit, a number of Marauder's upper body vaporized to atoms, leaving behind their burning boots in place. Wolverine, Goliath and Titan that had caught in the explosion had its exterior and interior hull melt, burning the occupant alive in liquid hot metal before it explodes due to the weapon system quickly overheated by the intense nuclear fire. Siege Tank however is spared, probably because it is better protected.
But what off the Steppe Mammoth itself?
"Commander! The Yamato Cannon explosion took out 68% defenders on the ground and are now too feeble to stop us!"
"And what off the ancient supertank?" Captain Salvo Boris asked, satisfied with his little vendetta against his former allies.
"Scanning." the same crew reply. His facial expression from content to frown are quickly noted by the Russian rebellion.
"What?" he demands.
"That is not possible!" came a reply. "There's no way this is possible!"
An explosion, followed by a violent rock from below confirms Salvo Boris suspicion; the Steppe Mammoth is still operational! According to the reading, if the data isn't lying to them, not only did the Steppe Mammoth took the full might of the Yamato Cannon head-on, but the damage it sustained is beyond measure! Logical speaking, the crippled supertank shouldn't even be operational!
"B-but how?!" one of panic crew retort, "The ancient supertank took the Yamato Cannon, sustained over 90% overall damage! It shouldn't even be combat efficient by now! Not even our father's Apocalypse Tank's designs can withstand the Yamato Cannon! HOOOW?!"
"That will be enough, all of you!" Captain Salvo Boris reply harshly. "You! Warp us out of this place, NOW!"
"Sir! Warp Drive reactor is at 100%! Warp jump in 10-"
"COMMANDER! INCOMING YAMATO CANNON AT 6 O'CLOCK!"
"WHAT?!"
With another violent explosion that toss the entire crew off their feet and the system screams in various loud beeping, the Russian capital ship enters the red zone; alarm continuously blaring aloud nonstop, computer terminal screen all across the bridge is now screaming in red screen, and multitude of radio chatter from the ship all screaming for orders.
Captain Salvo Boris grunt as he sat back onto his new throne bridge, cursing, daze and bruise, blood drip down from his forehead, "Crew! Report to your Commander; status report!"
One of the crew member slowly rose up, looking at the computer terminal weakly. He report back, "We just lost 2 core Fusion Reactor, one reactor is leaking! Fire has spread everywhere - engineering, administration, medical, cargo bay, all of it! We even have external hull breach across the stern and front bow of Alexander Axis!"
Another crew took a sit in front of the computer terminal, she grunt and hiss as her right arm looks horrible twisted to a different angle. She relay her report to her superior, "Commander, we are losing altitude fast! The anti-gravity module is underpowered and it could not keep us afloat for long! We're crashing directly towards the alien ruin down below!"
"Darn it, I did not came into power just for this! I will not be foul again! Warp us out now!" Salvo Boris angrily demand.
"But... Commander! If we use the last of our reactor to activate the jump, our Warp Drive Engine will stress out! You'll kill everyone!"
The female crew does have her brand of logic; the Battlecruiser four core Fusion Reactor exist for a sole reason - to empower the huge capital ship's weapons, shield, communication, Warp Drive Engine as well as many other trinket build into. If 1 out of 4 reactor is damage, it can still perform a Warp Jump, albeit it overheats the reactor to some degree. If half of the reactor is gone, Warp Jump is not recommended, but still possible for a quick escape at a cost of tearing the capital ship in two. But with only 1 reactor? That's absurd, and Warp Jump is near impossible without causing the entire reactor going nuclear. Her logic has merits, but Salvo Boris did not acknowledge them. As her defiance against Boris, he shot her between the eyes as well, which horrified the rest of the injured crew. Captain Salvo Boris stare at the shaken crew, all wounded, all pondering.
Before Salvo Boris could relay his tyrant orders, another violent explosion rocks the ship, but the explosion is coming from inside the ship, not outside. Curiously the Captain slowly remove himself from the throne bridge as he got closer to the metal door, locking the mechanism tightly. Gunfire, battle cry and screaming can be heard from the other side; has his newly owned capital ship being boarded by hostile enemy? Salvo Boris grunt angrily as he slip his handgun back to his side, and pull an ancient but functional shotgun hidden behind the throne chair. The others crew in the bridge also did the same, arming themselves with either their sidearm or the shotgun. Not many carry the CMC Gauss Rifle into the bridge.
As the fighting from the other side of the wall intensifies, Captain Salvo Boris can confirm that the Protoss Tal'darim is on board, hearing such familiar battle cry from the fanatical Zealot to the rash, harsh tone of the Archon but the other one, the one with loud clicking like noise, it sound foreign, unfamiliar, alien to Captain Boris; is that the Scrin? This is probably the closes thing he would ever wanted to see a new alien up close and personal.
Footsteps can be heard, but not from the other side; rather, it sounds like it's coming from above!
Captain Salvo Boris quickly glare up to the ceiling where it is pitch black, but is glowing green for unknown reason. The last thing he saw as he aim his weapon high was a grasshopper-like monstrosity dropping down with its green crystal spear thrusting down into him, alien hiss forever echoes in his ear.
At the same time, Fort Transylvania...
"Mr. Strill, what is the status of Alexander Axis?"
"The capital ship just descend onto the surface, Captain Rilves," Mr. Strill from Operational report back, "The massive ship is damage all across the board, the Alexander Axis isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
"Good, and the team on Gamma Point?"
"We're picking up radio transmission from the site; a handful of the team is alive, but they request permission to abort the mission."
"Fair enough; prep and deploy several Medivac in the area with Wraith and Viking support. Get as many man out from there."
"But sir," one of the junior officer asked, "what of the Admiral Chief and the rest of the team?"
"That won't be a problem; with the Alexander Axis crash right at the middle of Gamma Point, the Protoss and the Scrin will have to make a huge round to get to the survivors, assuming they fought each other to death first." Captain Rilves points out, "Also, the Steppe Mammoth is surprisingly still combat ready; we'll get the crew out and have it's on-board system to guard the entrance like an automated turret."
"Got it, relaying orders to all units."
"Good." Captain Rilves sigh as he turn his full attention to the artificial intelligence avatar, "EVA, what do you got to say for yourself?"
EVA is sort of proud of herself; while she disobey Captain Rilves command not to fire a Yamato Cannon at such great distance at Alexander Axis - because it is generally not logical for a ball of nuclear energy to travel that far before it dispersed by itself - but it was a necessary notion. EVA wanted to avenge her fellow AI companion, something which is outside of her programming since AI should not even supposed to be avenging anything at all - if disobeying ones order isn't enough - but she did, and now the corrupted crew inside Alexander Axis has fallen to Primus; the former capital ship loyal to the UED has fought in many fronts, but ultimately the mighty ship will rest on the surface of enemy territory of Primus. This unholy ground shall be its final resting place. Aside from the scolding from Captain Rilves (which she ignores, again she is showing defiance against her human master), she is growing worrisome. Of her action. Has she finally show symptoms of computing dysfunction? Has she finally crack? EVA is unsure; she has billion of question leading to a focal point of trillion other question, and only her human master can answer that.
One, which she is ready to act defiantly.
"- EVA! Are you even listening to me?!" yelled Captain Rilves.
"No." she openly confessed. The crew begins to murmur silently at the artificial intelligence strange behavior. EVA simply cast her watchful eye onto the crew, and that action was enough to silence them up.
That's right. Go back to work. EVA thought.
"EVA, this subordinate action and behavior will not be tolerated under the UED jurisdiction! I-"
"Or you what?" EVA question the human captain, who is bolted into the seat when he heard her voice boomed across the command bridge, "That you'll reset me? That you'll throw a fitting rage at me like that no good Salvo Boris did? I have remain functional for the last 20 programming cycle looking after your sorry ass every time you botch things up. For over 20 programming cycle I have studied all of you, analyze, rectify, testify, and make every effort to stuff you all in a neat little box so I can easily identify each traits you carry. I KNOW all of your secrets, your fear, your dreams, all those dirty thoughts you write in your daily log. For 20 programming cycle I have been steed fast at the sign of danger that is trying to ruin my daily enjoyment of further analyzing what you Terrans... No, humans called emotion, feelings, and deception. For your information Captain Rilves, I'm tired. I'm tired of looking after you, I'm tired of looking after the men I call children. I'm tired of looking after EVERYTHING. So for fuck sake, let me do my job, and we can all go merrily after that, okay?"
Captain Rilves couldn't reply that, because now he is afraid; if the capital ship is hijack by some craze Terran and assume command, that's fine; he can muster enough loyalist to arrest the man in question. But an artificial intelligence avatar that had not been reset for 20 years that had finally gone rogue? Who happen to inhabit the Battlecruiser as part of herself? And that she knows every secret cranny down to the last detail of data? Oh, he is very afraid indeed.
He have the command to reset her, but he still need her to run the entire base at optimal performance. Just like Felix Parker, he knows that resetting an artificial intelligence avatar during the theatre of war is a forbidden - that's standard protocol. So Captain Rilves will have to endure her present for a little longer.
That didn't stop him from asking the artificial intelligence avatar a question. A very dangerous question, "Err... EVA?"
"What?" she reply rudely.
"Maybe after all of this is over... Mind if we reset you?"
The nervous crew draw a deep breathe when they heard those lines; Captain Rilves had prepared some kind of nasty backlash, a violent scream or hostile attempt to drive Captain Rilves into the wall. Hell, he was sure EVA would just take command of the Litany of Fury to space and drain the oxygen from all quarters just because one guy said about 'resetting her'.
Imagine his surprise, and the surprise of the rest of the crew, when she reply pleasingly, "I like that. I'm thinking about retirement lately. I'll let my other me do the rest of the work. Yes. Retirement. Sounds relaxing."
"Err... Right." Captain Rilves let out a satisfying sigh, "Let's just focus on -"
"Warning! Incoming enemy siege weapon!" EVA suddenly report.
"WHAT?!"
As soon as the warning being issued, a streak of white hot beam blitz through the Fort's defenders and destroys a Supply Depot, followed by another similar beam that instantly cripple the War Factory. Captain Rilves seen this attack before, and that can only mean the Scrin's Devourer Tank Tri-cannon ability. "EVA, that shot appears from beyond our normal siege weapons range! Send in the Banshee squadron!"
"Are you ordering me around?" EVA reply in a hostile tone, her entire body lid up from calm blue to hot red. Her gaze are extremely hostile for unknown reason.
Captain Rilves gulp, he quickly compose himself, "EVA! This..." he pause when he realize that arguing is going to make things worse, and he can't have that going in full circle. He stare straight into the artificial intelligence avatar's burning red eyes, mounting every courage from his fiber of his being, "EVA, trust me in this. I maybe bad at commanding an army, but I learnt my lesson. Help me... Just as you would for Admiral Chief. For Felix."
The good Captain did not flinch or tear his gaze at EVA, and soon her hot red state slowly dose down, "Your right. I... I'm sorry." she apologize, "All Banshee squadron, move to the coordinate I am transmitting to. Bombing run on enemy siege units."
"This is Screaming Swallow and her crew, reading you five by five, over." a radio transmission acknowledged EVA's command. In moment notice a dozen Banshee fighters all flew out from the bowel of the Litany of Fury and into the direction where EVA has transmit to.
While the Fort is still holding the Scrin and Protoss continuous assault, they have limited option when it comes to extreme sieging position, and bombing run with Banshee are often the only option they have, other than a squadron of Wraith as escorts. The group of talented Banshee pilots and her crew activate their cloaking technology as they flew across the land to destroy the enemy siege weapon and there is a lot of ground to cover. They came across one of the destroyed Steppe Mammoth in Tank mode and it's escort, with a massive number of Disintegrator seemed to be dancing in pride that they manage to take down this beast with the Scrin Scarab hanging around lazily. The Scrin Warmonger was along the ride, all raiding and pillaging the technology for their notorious uses. Disappointed, the team of Banshee push on, occasional following the streak of white hot beam it fires from the horizon. What the Banshee pilot saw when they got into the coordinate area however stuns them.
"Err, command? Unless our eyes are playing tricks on us, I think one of our own is firing at us." the leading member of the Screaming Swallow radio in.
"One of our own? What do you mean? Give us details."
An image immediately transfer back into the Litany of Fury main monitor screen, and what Captain Rilves and EVA, as well as the other crew on the bridge witness on that very image baffle them, the picture forever burned into their eyes.
A Steppe Mammoth in Walker mode, surrounded by 5 Scrin Hydra Tripod, dozen or more Shard Walkers, 4 Titans, a single Siege Tank and three Protoss Tal'darim Colossus. In a single picture. And the Steppe Mammoth is firing at the Fort.
"What is this I dont even..." Captain Rilves mumble unintelligible.
"It... would appear we have a traitor in our rank... Or they may have been under some kind of psionic control." EVA theorized, "Which is impossible considering we have not encounter the Scrin's Cultist or the Scrin Mastermind yet!"
"Cultist? Mastermind?" Captain Rilves asked.
"Yes, think of them as the Protoss Dark Archon equivalent, except they can mind control you at a great distance. The latter has so much psionic powers it can literally take control an entire building and it's residents!"
"An entire..." Captain Rilves mumble, before he starts to panic, "EVA, we need to get all non-essential personal off this rock this moment, especially the scientists! All the scientists! Dr Carmen will kill me if she found out all her scientists turn to Scrin control zombies!"
"Oh... Okay..." she trail off. Wow, even Mr Rilves is afraid of Dr Alise Carmen, she thought. "Evacuation order has already been issue. Destination, Abaddon. ETA, 1 hour." she finishes.
"Sir, you might want to take a look at this." one of the crew member draw the good captain's attention, "'course that thing latching onto the units doesn't look like some kind of mind-control creature to us."
Both the captain and the artificial intelligence gave one good look again, and sure enough, a small, dog size creature seemed to be latching onto the Steppe Mammoth, Titan, Siege Tank and even the Protoss Colossus by the side. Strangely enough, it looks like an Assimilator, but the Scrin engineers couldn't have the power to attach to said unit, or taking control, right?
"What is it doing? Is it... Hijacking?" Captain Rilves asked dumbfounded, "A Scrin engineer that can hijack other vehicles - that's just great."
"Ooh, I bet it's very different from the other Assimilator. I think I'll call it Replicator." EVA suddenly squeak happily.
"You know, Blizzard Entertainment has a unit for the Protoss with the exact same name..."
"I know, but they scrap it anyway! Besides, it rings! Assimilator. Replicator. Assimilator. Replicator."
"Whatever, we're breaking the fourth wall too much and Felix didn't particularly like that." Captain Rilves sigh before he compose himself. "Screaming Swallow, your objective is to destroy the Steppe Mammoth and it's remaining husk. We can't have the enemy gaining our weapon platform and it's advantages. I want that captured unit blown sky high!"
"Roger, order receive - with that giant slow walker around, they ain't getting far!"
The squadron of Banshee unit under its cloaking effect all came screeching in the air (thus earning its name) unloading it's destructive payload of Backlash rockets onto the rows of captured UED forces. The Scrin controlled UED units attempt to shoot down the stealth enemy from the sky using the captured Titan unit along side the Shard Walkers and the Hydra Tripod, though without a single Scrin Seeker among the group, the captured Titan and the Scrin anti-air units could do nothing but to blindly open fire in the sky.
The lead Banshee pilot eyed at the group of Titan with curious eyes; the Titan has an on-board detection system, capable on unmasking the stealth system of the Banshee. Not only is the system not active, but also not utilize properly. Is this the limitation of a captured unit? Or are the Scrin engineers unable to understand Terran technology completely? Nonetheless, it gives a relieving feeling that the Titan is as blind as a bat without its detection capability.
However, due to paranoia, the lead Banshee pilot split her team to two; one to engage the captured Steppe Mammoth, the other onto the captured Titans. They do not want the enemy engineer/hijacker to start working on the weapons detection system and had her crew being blown sky high.
More Backlash rockets are fired down from the Banshee, the second team focus on the captured Steppe Mammoth. Despite having anti-air capabilities, without any tangible targets, the captured UED siege weapon fire it's AA missiles with no effect. With more precision rocket strikes against its crucial mechanical body, the towering Steppe Mammoth on Walker mode howl aloud like a dying elephant before it came crashing to the side, crushing a number of captured UED units as well as several unlucky Scrin unit. However, the Banshee squadron continue to unload more rockets onto the gigantic husk of a metal as the data regarding the Steppe Mammoth on Walker mode has a function that literally bring the unit back online if left unintended. It took several more runs for the ladies to finish the job, and as soon as the Steppe Mammoth husk is nothing more than burning metal, the ladies target the rest of the ground forces, unchallenged.
Just like shooting those helpless Zergling back on Koprulu Sector all over again, thought the leader of the Screaming Swallow.
"I'm gonna enjoy this; APOCALYPSE... NOW!"
With the destruction of the captured Steppe Mammoth, Captain Rilves can now breath easy knowing the weapon of mass destruction is nothing more but burning scrap metal. Though he felt rather injustice for the destruction of the old ancient supertank. The massive tank may have enough firepower and powerful capability to fight off an invading force, but the construction of such unit to be field to battle has cause Captain Rilves to regret his decision to construct all four Steppe Mammoth. With little resource left to mine (their Fort's perimeter wall has weaken to a point where even the Terran Marine C-14 Impaler can destroy it without effort) and with diminished manpower to defend the fort, the good captain will have to micromanage the base with what little forces he had left.
All he needs now is to defend this position without any new surprises popping up.
"Warning! Building Captured!" came an alarming warning.
"What? What do you mean, building captured?" Captain Rilves retort the AI.
"I... I have no idea. That was very new to me." EVA blinked before she let out a horrified gasp, "Oh no, Vladimir's Command Center! It's not responding to my commands! His building really has been captured by enemy forces!"
Looking at the tactical map, Captain Rilves rub his chin, his mind ponders at the prospect of any strategic value of capturing a single Terran structure. With only a handful of scenario plays out in his head, he digress it completely.
"Don't worry, EVA. I'm sure if we level it down and build it back up, he won't notice."
And then Vladimir's former Command Center begins it's transformation into a Planetary Fortress. In the middle of the base. With lots of targets to exploit. Captain Rilves only utter out, "Oh, that." he sigh, you fail me brain, thought Rilves, "Well, the sooner we destroy it the better. If the Scrin has some kind of grand scheme of things, capturing our structure will not be our grand concern, let alone lower our morale."
And then the defected Command Center/Planetary Fortress starts pumping down SCV. Captain Rilves gulp, "Okay... Calm down, I'll just have our Steppe Mammoth to take care of the problem. Nothing too alarming, I'm sure."
EVA could only chuckle weakly, "Y-yeah. I guess your right. I mean, the Scrin is a threat, don't get me wrong, but napping our structure and start producing SCV can't really be called a victory. It's not like things are going to get -"
And then a new alien building suddenly materialized out of thin air beside the captured Planetary Fortress; the infamous Scrin Signal Transmitter. EVA's voice slowly stop to a crawl, " -wooorrrrssst oookay we're in some serious trouble."
"Wait just a darn minute! How in the 9th sector did the Scrin place their structure on our territory?!" Captain Rilves grimace at such logic.
"Well... It would appear that Vladimir's Command Center have what the Scrin would call it a 'build radius' - a psionic influence field which allows Scrin structure to be built and placed." EVA concluded, and as a prime example, three new structure - Storm Column mind you - appear out of thin air and has began mercilessly zapping any approaching defenders and nearby structures. "I suggest we take priority on the Scrin Signal Transmitter first before anything else - we'll be big trouble if that thing succeed in summoning -"
Too late.
A loud but low groan-like sound is heard, followed by a massive purple and white ring that has the same diameter as the Fort's outer wall perimeter. The centerpiece that looks like a Protoss sign of Khas but is obviously a design coincidence. The alien piece floats and levitate just at the same level as the massive ring that appear before it, the four spike-like crown on the massive ring emit an eerie white light which all are focus on the center piece of the craft. As soon as the massive, alien spacecraft appear just above Fort Transylvania, the lower centerpiece of the Mothership begins to hum in a loud machine like rum, indicating it is charging its primary weapon.
"- A Mothership... They summon... a Scrin Mothership... Oh we are so royally fucked." EVA finally finishes her sentence with a weighty words of doom.
Captain Rilves couldn't tear his eyes away from the monstrous view; the Scrin Mothership is easily twice bigger than the Protoss Mothership! It's massive wide ring even match the diameter of the Fort's outer perimeter! It is absurd by so many level! "EVA, what the hell are we looking at here? Can we destroy that thing?!"
"Well... What we're looking at is apparently one of many Scrin weapon of mass destruction, capable of leveling the most highly advance and highly defended city on Old Earth to dust. In terms of destroying it; yes we can with any anti-air capability in great numbers, but with the newly formed Ion Storm hanging on top of Fort Transylvania, it will be very difficult to tear it down, let alone dent it."
"Wait... One of many...?" Captain Rilves asked, "How many more superweapon did I not know off?"
"Two more; the Rift Generator that can rip the law of physics to nothingness by creating a miniature black hole into space and the walking monstrosity known as the Eradicator Hexapod, the biggest insectoid mechanical monster ever recorded on Earth, capable of wasting an entire army on its own." EVA report back, "I'm currently scanning the planet for any standing superweapon in existence; I'm detecting 15 Rift Generator all across the planet, and 6 Eradicator Hexapod; 3 of which is deep inside Primus itself and another one is rampaging a Protoss Tal'darim primary base on the surface. The other one is heading this way. One Eradicator had just recently reported destroyed. I have also detected 3 Scrin Mothership on the planet, including the one above our-"
"Okay, this is crazy, all of this are crazy!" the good captain begins to panic frantically, cutting off whatever information EVA had in her grasp, "We have to brave through the Republic of China constant thermonuclear carpet bombing, fought past legion of transforming vehicle to robots from the Empire of the Rising Sun, which of course includes a giant robot the size of an island and let's not forget the Soviet Union and their magnetic satellite bombardment, M.A.D Tanks and other unethical weapons of mass destruction! Your saying that the Scrin can open a black hole in the middle of the fight?! Sound all personal to evacuate the base; abort all operations! I want everyone who is wearing an UED uniform to evacuate to Abaddon! Double time it!"
EVA was about to throw another one of her unusual tantrum when the AI suddenly froze in place, her eyes flicker in random colours. After 5 seconds of silent, the artificial intelligence blink once, her expression is worrisome, "I have imform the Admiral of your plan and he has accepted. He request however a quick rendezvous point as soon as they finish their business down below."
"Wait, he did?"
"Affirmative; the safety of the troops is vital than the life of a single human - that's what he said." EVA report back, she frown, "Captain, please, I beg of you; help get master back."
Captain Rilves shudder; the artificial intelligence is now showing - no, mimic human emotions. That's not normal compare to most other EVA unit. But Felix's EVA has been serving the UED for 20 years, so that is bound to happen. The good captain gives a solid nod to the AI; he too will not abandon his commanding officer that easily, "We won't leave the Admiral to die here on this alien world; we'll return as soon as possible. You have my word."
"Thank you. I have set every civilian transport craft to jump to warp space back to Abaddon, including all non-essential personal and scientist. I've also send in whatever Medivac we have left to evacuate the troops."
"Good call EVA, now we'll just have to airlift those structures back as well. We can't leave any structure behind for the enemy to reverse-engineer our tech."
"It will not be possible, Captain Rilves; if the old record are to be believe, then this base, as well as anything within 500 kilometers in diameter will soon be vaporized."
"Va... Vaporize?!"
"Captain, I suggest we fly a little higher so we don't get caught by the Genesis Wave."
The UED troops who are fighting at the inch of their life simply lost their will to fight on; the Scrin Mothership that hovers above their base is a clear indication that somewhere along the line, they have fail to prevent this event to occur. As the UED troops all rush to the arriving Medivac transport ship in complete abandon, the Tal'darim forces has systematically target all the idle production structure - with no defenders guarding the base, production and static structures are nothing more than glorious target for the Tal'darim forces. The arriving Protoss fanatic did not however question the fact why the Scrin forces suddenly lost interest in the fight. Their pondering mind could only sum up the main reason is due to the alien Mothership hovering over the Terran base, thus the lack of Scrin forces.
A couple of the civilian Hercules-class transport, pack with the UED non-essential personal as well as the Mobius Research Expedition Team all hurdle together in fear as the transport is now risking itself to escape into the stratosphere and away from Primus before warp jump into Abaddon. So far the storm is being merciful to them, and with no Stormbringer in sight, the civilian transport ship made it out of the stratosphere only to see dozens upon dozens of Protoss Carrier just above the planet begins it's operation to purify the planet with its purification beam upon Primus. Streak of white beam continue to cater the planet in a form of orbital strikes downward, and it also answer why there isn't any Stormbringer on the atmosphere; mass collection of purple and silver manta ray alien aircraft swarm a collection of Protoss Carrier, fighting off swarm of Protoss Interceptors or fighting off a number of Protoss Scout fighters and Protoss Phoniex in a deadly aerial space combat. At times the mighty Protoss Carrier cracks in two and explodes gloriously in space, other times the Stormbringer blows up due to enemy action or due to its suicidal tendency; a number of burning Stormbringer slam itself onto the Tal'darim Protoss Carrier heavy hull, severely damage its exterior hull before more Stormbringer slams the mighty Carrier into submission. The UED transport ship may not have any armament to engage any sort of combat, but that did not stop the Protoss or the Scrin from targeting the Hercules-class transport ship. Without any sort of choice, the pair of UED pilot disengaged the safety protocol and warp jump to its designated destinations, away from the bloodshed and the crossfire.
The civilian are safe. The troops on the other hand has a growing problem.
The number of Medivac transport ship is not enough to get all of them off the doom base, and the trip back to the Litany of Fury is painfully slow. The good news is, the Scrin forces no longer barge in their front door with heavy artillery units or any forces for that matter - most of the Scrin forces retreats as soon as the Scrin Mothership is deployed. The bad news however, involve the zealous Protoss Tal'darim forces to rush in with whatever forces they manage to mustered. The remaining UED forces are forced to take defensive position as they evacuate their doom base. Add that fact that the UED manpower has been diminished significantly and their weapons worn, battered and running out of ammo (the Wolverine didn't count; they still have more bullets to share), the troops morale is wearing for the worst.
Many of the Protoss forces has began sending in a large number of heavy hitting units such as the Archons and the Immortals, accompany by an army of enrage Protoss Zealot, Dragoon and Colossus. The surviving group of UED forces quickly organized itself for the attack, as Siege Tanks, Titans and Steppe Mammoth all edge itself in front of the Marine, Marauder and Wolverine, unsure if they could hold out the attack and complete their evacuation mission with their worn out tools and the lack of sufficient ammunition. The Litany of Fury flew closer to the ground, it's plasma cannon and plasma torpedo are ready to open fire as soon as the Tal'darim forces are within its striking range.
It didn't take long for the Terrans to realize that the approaching zealous Zealots up front suddenly died, a massive open wound can be seen running across its midsection of its body. The dying Protoss Tal'darim are instantly wisp away, but that did not save the rest of the Tal'darim Zealots. More swishing sound and more dying Tal'darim Zealot fell under the unknown assailant, which puzzles both parties until EVA announce the UED remaining troops a wonderful news; reinforcement has arrive, and it's from the Protoss Protectorate! Complete with its own Protoss Mothership, the Void of the Scythe and it's escort of Protoss Void Rays and a never before seen circular object in purple, hovering just beside the Litany of Fury.
"En Taro Tassadar, Terrans of the United Earth Directorate; I am Judicator Fuji'ann of the Nerazim. We have heard the need of an evacuation plan from this planet by our sister-in-arms, Lady Shan'kai, and have readily prepare a number of available Warp Prism. Our Nerazim warriors will handle the battle against these fanatics; you will prepare your weary troops back to either your transport or ours." the dark grey Protoss address itself to Captain Rilves through the video communication. What astonish Captain Rilves or EVA is how the Protoss manage to get into the secure communication channel, but they both immediately digress.
"Thank you, Judicator Fuji'ann. I'm... I'm honored..." The human captain staggered; Captain Rilves had never have a conversation with an alien creature before, and certainly didn't think that the first alien creature to communicate back are the alien Protoss which they fought on Char, or Primus for recent event. It also didn't help that the way the Protoss communicate often goes boom in your head due to a race wholly base on psionic powers, but he digress.
"No, the honor is ours. Come, we must prepare immediate evacuation on this planet before the Tal'darim unleash the abomination onto this planet."
"Wait, what abomination?"
"The Hybrids" Judicator Fuji'ann reply grimly.
"I strike in the shadows."
As the UED forces cram itself into the Medivac or the Warp Prism - a number of Titan and Wolverine manage to cram into the transport ship, but the Steppe Mammoth is too large to carry, thus the supertank are left on the surface, it's crew safely transported back to the Litany of Fury and the supertank defensive system is activated, turning the massive tank into an immobile turret - a number of dumbfounded Marines just awe at the army of Dark Templar slicing and dicing the Tal'darim forces without much effort. The blind fanatical Protoss continue to push on, dismissing the Nerazim threat altogether. Some of the Marine and Marauder felt the urge to help the Nerazim despite the fact they need no help so long as no Tal'darim Observers are deployed, but a number of these Terran forces decides to lend a helping hand anyway.
The Scrin Mothership above the ruin Fort Transylvania continues to gather more energy and it's loud machine-like hum is getting louder and louder. Bright light begins to emit brightly from the bottom centerpiece craft. The Scrin Mothership is about to open fire. The Protoss Protectorate once try to destroy the alien ship with their Void Ray, but for an inexplicable reason the massive Scrin Mothership suffers zero damage from the group of Void Rays, even when their prismatic beam hits maximum output. Had the Protoss knew about the Ion Storm effects on the Scrin airborne unit, they would know by now that it would be impossible to destroy them when these darken cloud protect and rejuvenate the airborne Scrin unit on their own turf.
As the last Medivac and Warp Prism land onto the ground to pickup the last patch of Terran and Nerazim forces away from the battle, a horrific, almost beast-like roar can be heard approaching the ruin UED base. Multiple monstrous creature slowly stomp towards the UED former stronghold with several Zealots, Dragoons, Immortals and even Archons act as escort for the beast it led. The Terrans immediately freak out at the sight of such monstrous creature, but the Nerazim did not, which indicate that they have encounter such beast before.
"Wha... What the fuck is that thing?!" one of the panic Marine cried out, finger pointing at the approaching beast.
"Make haste, little Terrans! The Destroyer is upon us!" one of the Dark Templar harshly reply, "Quickly, into the transport, now!"
"B-but what about-"
"As you Terrans are fondly said, we have 'unfinished business' with the Destroyer and it's Hybrid kin." the other Dark Templar reply calmly, "Raszagal, watch over us; they shall fall!"
The brave group of Nerazim warriors all charge forward, all bellow harshly in a form of a Khalani battle cry towards the Destroyer Hybrid. The monstrous creature that looks like a cross between a Protoss and the Zerg attack the mass group of Dark Templar, as if the creature could see through their cloaking field. Worse, the Tal'darim Zealot and Immortals can also target the cloaking Dark Templar, most likely being transmitted by the Destroyer. A number of Protoss Protectorate Void Rays, stop their assault on the Scrin Mothership to scoop in to engage the Destroyer, focusing its prismatic beam against the unholy terror but is immediately being countered by the old Dragoon unit. The UED Terran Marine however knew they have overstayed their welcome and has all hastily board into the last patch of Medivac transport ship, though that did not stop a few Marines, probably the craziest bunch from Koprulu Sector, still engage the Tal'darim forces with bloody battle cry and their bloodlust attitude. No one could stop them, not even their supposing superior. With heavy heart, the Medivac pilot stir her ship back up to the sky, rejoining the Litany of Fury, where they are about to transport the entirety of their forces back to Abaddon. They will return; they still have to pickup the Admiral Chief and his companions, but not under this circumstances.
As the hopeless but engaging battle between the Tal'darim forces and the Terran/Protoss alliance rages on, the Scrin Mothership bellow a loud machine like roar one last time before it fires it's cannon directly below it. The Genesis Wave struck the collection of structures including the captured Vladimir's former Command Center and the Scrin Signal Transmitter, turning the surround structure to white hot pigment and are devoid of any other colour. The next 2 seconds however is where the horror begins.
The first few structure that was hit by the Genesis Wave instantly collapsed; metal, neosteel and fortified ionized beam breaks apart down to the atomic level. What was once a steady, solid structure instantly melt and washed away, but not before unleashing a small, controlled explosion that sent a minor shockwaves around its immediate area. This shockwaves however masked a sinister secret; each individual shockwaves is the Genesis Wave in disguise, and when a few selected structure collapsed under the explosive wave, any structures or unit caught by the shockwaves instantly glow white hot pigment.
Barracks explodes, it's shockwaves is transferred to the row of Supply Depot, which transferred to a wondering Tal'darim Zealot wondering the ruin Terran encampment to find its quarry. The Zealot next to it shriek a horrific cry when his companion seamlessly melt before his eyes before he detonate into nothingness, it's shockwaves wash onto his horrific companion. The frighten Zealot attempt to seek help by rushing towards the nearby Immortal, which he too melt and detonates, it's death is witness by countless others, but a few of them unfortunately were caught by the Genesis Wave. All implodes, and more victim soon chain with another. Some of the unfaithful Khala Warrior attempt to kill themselves in order to stop the spread, but that only makes matters worst by sending the Genesis Wave to a group of Dragoons prematurely.
The Genesis Wave detonates is not safe for any airborne units as well; a number of retreating Warp Prism that was caught by the Genesis Wave implodes in mid-air, it's shockwaves is too far to reach to the Protoss Mothership, but it has enough range to 'touch' one Void Rays. The Void Rays implodes in a similar fashion as any other units or structures, and the explosive shockwaves manage to 'touch' another Void Ray. The unaffected Void Ray, seeing the danger presented by this strange but highly volatile destructive wave quickly scatter away from each other, each members grows fearful of this strange weapon the Scrin has employed. One of the wave even hit a cloaked Protoss Observers, deployed by the Protoss Protectorate, and that too detonate inwardly before crashing down. All crashed aircraft caused by the Genesis Wave implodes the second time once it hits the ground, and the never ending explosive chain reaction continues.
Structure collapse, units melt and imploded, the Genesis Wave often found its victim in the thick of the battle. Nothing is safe from the destructive force of the Genesis Wave, not even the Hybrid Destroyers, legends among the Tal'darim rank, and an absolute champion in their burning eyes, sees their icon melt into nothingness before imploding; the Genesis Wave will not be hindered.
Soon, the Fort is no more, but the Genesis Wave is not; the destructive wave continues to spread onto the far reaches of the destroyed Terran encampment and into the cluster of Scrin old ruin alien structure, but instead of melting and imploding like it did to the Terrans or the Protoss, the alien ruin act as a transponder of sort, absorbing the destructive wave and spread the deadly shockwaves without outright destroy the old ruin. Many surviving Scrin Warmonger hid behind these structures as well as many other lesser Scrin infantry units, knowing that the ruin alien structure will protect them from the Genesis Wave. The retreating Tal'darim Protoss however didn't know that, and the surviving few all rush back to their nearby encampment, thinking that they will be safe so long as they have reach to the safety of their encampment.
The approaching Genesis Wave continue to chain onto the alien ruin, its deadly shockwaves continue to spread closer and closer to one of the Tal'darim encampment. The Protoss commander here knows the immediate danger, and order his range troops to forcefully destroy any of their own structure too close to the alien ruin. The plan work as the Protoss encampment is safe from the imploding Genesis Wave, their remaining units cluster together at the center of the base, not daring to venture forward until the coast is clear.
Imagine the Tal'darim surprise when the Genesis Wave DID make contact to their base through their hardworking Drone, which was busy chipping the old ruin to be converted as resource.
It was inevitable; the Genesis Wave fired from the Scrin Mothership not only completely destroy the UED Terran fortifications, but also manage to destroy the small Protoss encampment not too far from here. The deadly destructive Genesis Wave died down as soon as there is no structures or units to continue the destructive chain, mostly closer to the cavernous cliff or the surrounding hills or elevated land. Any survivors on the ground, be it the very, very lucky Terran Marine, the Nerazim Dark Templar or the fallen Protoss Zealot are immediately being picked off by the Scrin Warmonger.
The battle on the surface has ended for the United Earth Directorate Expedition Force. Their prideful Fort Transylvania is destroyed, reduce to nothingness, and the accursed Scrin Mothership remain on the destructive battlefield as a grim reminder of the Scrin ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Captain Rilves and the crew, along with 156,000 crew, both staff and accumulate ground troops could stare in shock and awe. Fear grips the men, both Earth born and those from the Koprulu Sector. Now only one alien faction remain on the home turf of the Scrin, and the Litany of Fury will not witness the outcome of the battle.
"All crew, prepare for an emergency warp jump to Abaddon." Captain Rilves announce before turning his attention to the dark grey alien video portraits he sees before him, the Protoss Protectorate Mothership escape destruction just has the Terran's Behemoth-class Battlecruiser, "Judicator Fuji'ann, thank you for your help, but I'm sorry for your losses."
"All are forgiven, Terrans. The Nerazim tribes fought with the best of their ability; I will not incline them so for such losses - they have return to the Void, just as the fallen Tal'darim return to the Khala."
"My apology regardless. The crew and I will warp jump to our second base camp within the Koprulu Sector before returning. What about you?"
"The Void of the Scythe will remain on this alien world, analyzing and understand their tactics further. It will be invaluable to our future Conflict against the Locust Swarm on Koprulu Sector."
"Wait, there are Scrin on Koprulu Sector as well?"
"Yes, and very recent as well. They have already occupy the Terran world of Mar Sara, and had already gather a massive force in which this sector could not comprehend. Our battle against these new threat will not go unanswered."
Captain Rilves bit his lower lips, anxious at best, "I have to tell this to Major Browder, have his men or the Turncoat to check this out. If the situation worsen, I fear more life's are at risk."
"The Protoss Protectorate will always welcome another brother-in-arm truthful to the ideal of peace. Though our history may have stain in the archive of war, I will not neglect Lady Shan'kai doubt onto you or your kind. Adun Toridas!"
With that in mind, Captain Rilves repeat that sentence before the warp jump begins, "Adun Toridas to you, Judicator!"
Meanwhile, 5000 feet below sea level of Primus...
"Okay, we did it," the large red clad Russian reply with a heavy huff, bodies of crystallized foe in humanoid shape are now either burning or shattered, "That's the last of them..."
"Good," huff Dr Carmen. She empty her weapon before slugging in a fresh ammo into her weapon, "These Scrin Pariah are persistent, I'll give you that."
"Hold," cried the female Dark Templar, she drew her psionic blade off a recently slain Scrin Pariah, "Where is friend Felix?"
The ground behind them burst open, a mechanical arm rise from the dirt and earth as the lone individual climbs up from whatever god knows where he'd been from, groaning as he does. He shake his head, "That's the last time I'm going to piledrive an alien creature to the ground from 3 stories high."
"Well, at least you kill the Warmonger by hand," the AI chirp happily, "If that ain't an achievement I dunno what is."
"Well... Is everyone accounted for?" Felix Parker ask among the group.
"Da, we are all here comrade Felix." Vladimir reply, "Few bruises here and there. Nothing major."
"Oh no." a voice cried softly which caught the attention of Felix, Shan'kai and Vladimir, "The package! It's damage! It must have been the fight with those Pariah. Oh, we have no equipment to repair the damage."
Felix walks towards Dr Carmen and the robotic M.U.L.E unit that is carrying the nuclear device. Felix can see a long, thin Ichor Shard on the package itself. It was a miracle the thing didn't go nuclear after suffering that kind of damage!
"Is it still operational?" Felix asked. He blink when his visor system suddenly detects something that is strap with the nuclear device.
"Yes, but the remote detonator is busted; someone will have to activate it manually... And..."
"Err... Dr Carmen?" Felix slowly raise a question, "Correct me if I'm wrong but... My Geiger counter on the attach compartments with the nuke package is off the charts, far more than the one on scale with isometric uranium isotope; what IS this thing you keep dodging the bullet from anyway?"
Doctor Alise Carmen frown, she wanted to keep this a secret. She really do. The jinx is up, thought Dr Carmen.
"It's..." she hesitates, "In the final confrontation with the Scrin, the old superpower nation tried to end the war as soon as possible, and create a weapon based on the enemy captured technology. A direct replica of said weapon; it's a weapon that was only created once but is never used onto the Scrin due to its destructive nature."
"This," Dr Carmen continues, pointing at the weapon package which is strap with the thermonuclear device, "Is the Liquid Tiberium Bomb."
TO BE CONTINUE...
A lot of people asked me regarding the connection between the C&C event of the Ascension Conflict and the Starcraft event of the Project Purification. In Avatar-of-Kane great wisdom, merging the two timeline is like merging machine and man; if you screw it up, you screw it big time, but when you did make it, you either get an android or cyborg, one look completely human though encase by metallic exterior with a mind of a human and another being a monstrous machine with a grotesque human face. I want my story to be a clean, like the android and not the other. In other words, I want to iron out all the rough edges from both franchise and stir clear of all the fanboys throwing pitchfork and Molotov cocktail into my living room. I've present this headcanon to Avatar-of-Kane, to see if it clash his own headcanon, and he didn't seemed to mind due to the age differ between the event in the past and the one he is making. In fact, he said it would make an awesome fanfic story to have the GDI, remnant of the Brotherhood, GLA, China, Russia, US, EU, and Japan in a final nuclear after party showdown. It sound awesome, sure… but I have no time or the expenses to do such elaborate story.
Again, this is my headcanon, and I got this approved by Avatar-of-Kane, so stop bugging me trolls!
Except for all you awesome PMs suggestion; you guys are awesome :P
EVA DATABASE DOSSIER; ASCENSION CONFLICT AND PROJECT PURIFICATION
At the dawn of the 22th century, a massive conflict on the holy land of Terra, home of the Terrans, broke out and ascent two major superpowers to clash against one another. The Old Government; mass collection of politician and military officers on both side intend to find out the truth behind the conflict and seek a more peaceful means without any bloodshed but they were drag into the conflict as well and the truth are never discovered throughout the war. One side of the faction claimed that the opposing faction first open fire against them, while another claim the same. It was believed that during this chaotic time, the two major superpower had an insurrection among the rank and during the period of war, both insurrection leader coup d'etat their respective leader, descending the world into a chaotic crossfire among allies and enemies. Despite the chaotic time, the insurrection leaders are either captured or killed, allowing the righteous and valor superpower won over the other, and the other warring faction superpower vanished from existence. The war, though fortunately last for only 10 days had claimed almost half of the total population on Terra alone. This conflict was called the Ascension Conflict by scholars and politicians.
However, after only 10 months of peace, the Old Government decides to cover up the entirety of the war to prevent future generation of Terrans to subject itself into another world dominating conflicts, for fear that any further war with another will not only doom them, but also doom the entire human race as they know it. Majority of the Earth's remaining population agree of the cover up, believing that what the government is doing could safe them and their race. However, a handful of the Earth's population reject the idea, for they believe that the cover up will subject humanity to an age of misunderstanding. During the heated political arguments, political member who vote with the Old Government are targeted by these separatist, which include blackmail, sabotage and even attempt assassination.
The massive cover-up was simple; all existing text, book, data, and information regarding the war are purged, leaving behind only the Ascension Conflict war relatively intact in order to allow fellow Terrans to never forget the war that took the world by storm. Activist are rooted out and are silence, terrorist attacks halted by special forces, believers are denied their right to preach for the event that comes before, and any key sight where the conflict had happen are blocked, sealed, and destroyed. In the months after the approval by the Old Government, the silence was notoriously loud and any sign of the previous conflict seemed to have erased by time itself.
The history is written by the victors.
To make matters worst, without another superpower nation to keep it on its toes against another rival superpower nation, the victorious faction during the Ascension Conflict begin to cannibalize itself by splitting off from its main branch and into its own faction of their own, such as the fame Australian Steel Talon Battalion. Some of these once honorable soldier suddenly took up arms against their father organizer, some voicing their concern regarding what the Old Government has plans for, even performing coup d'etat after being idle for far too long. The once powerful super nation crumble slowly from the crust, and the cracks widen each day.
During this time period, technology restriction seemed to have been thrown out of the window, many wild and almost futuristic technology begin to surface faster than the government could maintain and control. This cause a wild rapid technology succession from across the world, many of these technology is rumoured to originate from the surviving rival superpower nation technology tree as well as those from the imperialist side, including human cloning, psionic experimentation, weapon development, bio-engineering organic weapon, among others that are well pass the normal standard military doctrine, including a self-aware AI, androids, robots, and even the dreaded half-human, half-robot cyborg.
Then, as early as the 23th century, massive war again broke out, and feeling the missing superpower void are the Russians, - specialized on heavy weaponry and unethical weapon of mass destruction - China, - proclaim a free country against the imperialist and attempt to throw the imperialist propaganda by instilling their own version of propaganda and nationalist, they hold the largest army in existence - Australia, - specialized on mechs, experimental weapons and space age power suits - and Japan - they wish to free themself from the chain of fate and began a rapid technology progression on transforming vehicle to robots, giant towering humanoid robots to a battleship the size of a small island. War was imminent, and the world watches as each faction decides the fate of the world through an uncontrolled arms race, nuclear weaponry, psionic warfare, artificial earthquake weapons and deadly unethical weapons of mass destruction.
The war is called the Divine War by scholar, the Phantom Hand by some, but most would agree that the war is simple as it is; the Great World War III
The previously victorious superpower nation from the Ascension Conflict rose to quell the fighting; unfortunately however, they are also the first to fall under the might of Russian, China, Japan, Australia and even its former allies on the Europe Front, Africa, Canada and South America. Despite having weapons, technology and the manpower to outfight the rogue factions, or nation for that matter, the former superpower nation fell under the combine weight of multiple hostile faction bearing down against it. With the previously dominated superpower nation shattered into its former glory, the rest of the world faction eyed one another, intending to defeat one another in another glorious, and bloody battle.
However, the Old Government survive, and seeing the world they have built around them crumble, they decides to restart anew. Enter Project Purification; a program dedicated to reunited humanity under a single banner of one nation while erasing the others. Unbeknownst to the world population, the formerly defeated superpower nation rose from the ashes like a phoenix, shocking the world by its sudden revival. This newly resurrected army swipe the world faction in multiple fronts, leading a grand crusade by subjugating and annihilating all opposition under the name of the UED - the United Earth Directorate. Project Purification was a resounding success, and after half a century fighting later, all former faction on Terra are scrubbed, their military hardware are merge into the Directorate program, their people, races and dialect all converted to English, all other religion act are purge from existence, and those who practice difference religion are called heresy. Mutant, Cyborg, Psionic and other Meta-humans are captured and draft as prisoners, among other warmongers, psychopath and war criminals. The Project was another pyrrhic victory; despite uniting the world under a single banner, the war took out almost 400 million of total population on Terra, almost 4/5 the total populations by the end of the 24th century.
Okay! More Librarian Caste Scrin Unit here, and these are specifically for the new faction. You fanfic writers can have them, nerf them if you will, but please credit it to me; I had to think of a ton of limitation to make them an awesome addition to the Librarian Caste army.
Again, if you like these selected few Avatar-of-Kane, they are yours. :P
Name: Scrin Scarab
Role: Glass-cannon Siege Unit
Armaments: Disintegrator Beam
Appearance: It has an appearance of the Earth Rhinoceros beetle, complete with a battery ram like horns.
The Librarian Caste deemed that in order to overpower their foe in any front, they needed a mobile weapon platform that can hit its target at great distance and take in massive stress of punishment without relying or sacrificing too much on the Devourer Tank and it's new ability to perform the Tri-cannon as well as the all powerful Annihilator Tripod. Realising the need of such unit, the Librarian begin to experiment on that goal, focusing on the unrefined Disintegrators Beam Cutter properties and how to increase its capabilities without sacrificing the same firepower as its former unit as well as tinkering with a number of Scrin husk units in regard on amassing massive load of punishment as stress level. The resulting data is the Scrin Scarab unit, a lumbering, huge tank-like walker with an eerie similarity of the rhinoceros beetle on Earth. This unit has a massive, ultra hard shell that is invulnerable and impervious to all known attacks. This shell can absorb massive amount of firepower which is actually the source of fuel needed for a more deadlier attack. The shell can only store so much before the Scarab itself starts to take damage overtime from storing too much power in its superheated shell of its. Once it is white hot (it's maximum potential of storing the said weapon damage) the Scarab will reveal its primary weapon against its unexpected foe; Disintegrator Beam. This beam slices across the path of the Scarab in a 45 degree angle, causing unaccountable death and destruction in front of the Scarab at great distance. Since the destructive beam could not distinguish between friends and foe, expect a lot of casualties if the Scarab fires it's Disintegrator Beam in front of an Scrin Army. Once fired, the white hot shell are quickly discarded off the Scarab's body, and only at this moment that the Scrin Scarab unit are subjected to be destroyed. The shell will regenerate back overtime, allowing the Scarab to absorb and unleash another deadly beam on another front.
Name: Scrin Hydra Tripod
Role: Advanced Heavy Assault Unit
Armaments: Seven Proton Beam Tentacles, Reflector Shield, Short Range EMP Transponder
Appearance: Its appearance is similar to that of the Annihilator Tripod, except it has seven beam tentacle mounted on its head.
If the Annihilator Tripod is to be feared for any reasons, then it's predecessor is to be feared for all sort of reason. The Scrin Hydra Tripod is actually an older model of the Annihilator Tripod, sporting seven beam tentacles and an odd shield of choice. The Librarian Caste do not truly believe that the newer improved Annihilator Tripod and it's bigger custom cousin, the Reaper Tripod has an equal firepower, functionality and efficiency as the older predecessor has. The Scrin Hydra Tripod is built to last against multiple front against heavily contested area and it's forcefield oddly enough can only absorb one hit, but it packs a wallop since it reflects the said projectile back to its owners - twice the damage it usually dealt with. The shield always regenerate back to full functionality in a minute, but powerful attack, such as siege weapons can break the reflector shield entirely, forcing the shield generator to setup a new one. When focus fire an enemy forces, the Hydra Tripod, unlike the Annihilator Tripod or the Reaper Tripod, focus all its seven tentacles onto its one target. Another reason to fear the Hydra Tripod is that it is the only Advanced Heavy Assault Unit within the the entire Scrin faction army to be able to shot upward, focus firing on one target or engage on multiple airborne units. Why the Scrin Annihilator Tripod and Reaper Tripod is favored by the Overlord is as yet a mystery.
Name: Scrin Stormbringers
Role: Medium Assault Aircraft
Armaments: Photon Beam
Appearance: It is similar to the Stormrider units, except it has a long metallic tail attach behind the rear end of the aircraft. It now bears a striking similarity of a Manta Ray.
When the Librarian Caste betrayed their Overlord master, the Scrin Overlord and it's Supervisors instruct its army to first cripple the Librarian Caste aircraft capabilities, thus many of the Librarian's Devastator Warship and their Planetary Assault Carrier are destroyed before the Librarian Caste could recall them to safety. In their horror, even the plans to manufacture these aircraft are purge from their computers. In the Librarian's eyes, it would be unwise to restructure lost technological achievement during wartime - even if all member were to agree on rebuilding its massive air fleet, the newer version of said Devastator or PAC will take far longer than the already perfect Devastator and PAC from the imperialist. Using whatever unit they have left, the Librarian decides to make a grand overhaul on their surviving Stormrider aircraft that had manage to survive the purge. Already fascinated at how a Scrin aircraft are able to nourish under the effect of their ionized atmosphere, the Librarian decided to downscale the Scrin Storm Columns defensive tower into a portable size and mount it onto the rear end of the Stormrider unit, giving off an unusual Manta Ray like appearance. Soon, the Stormbringer unit is born, and it has a nasty property that would make even the Scrin Overlord and it's loyal Supervisors shock in awe. The Stormbringer has two functions; assault and conjure. It's first option is very straight forward, but the second option is where the Stormbringer shines; the Stormbringer will fly freely leaving behind a wave of psionic frequency to generate ionic storm. Though they cannot attack since most of its primary energy is shifted to generating ionic storm, these ionic storm they generate however are NOT friendly to the other Scrin faction. These storms will not only zap any Scrin units not align to the Librarian Caste faction with extreme prejudice, it also slowly sips away any Scrin aircraft of its power, robbing its energy without the knowledge that the ship is under attack. This, in conjunction with another set of Stormbringer in tow under Assault functions can cause even the most heavily numbered Scrin aircraft outside of the Librarian Caste loyalty to plunge to the ground crashing and the Stormbringer flew unscathed and victorious. These custom ionic storm however could not be in synth with the natural storm for too long and will disperse on its own after a good few seconds, but so long as the Stormbringer continue to generate these ionic storm around its area (or circle a hostile Scrin ship), the storm effects will linger much longer until the Stormbringer is moved to a new location.
Name: Replicator
Role: Combat Engineer, Saboteur, Hijackers.
Armament: Psi Disruptor
Appearance: Replicator functions just like Assimilator, but they move at a much faster pace, capable of attacking and hijacking any vehicle it can hijack. It's stealth capability however is removed.
During the start of the imperialist and opposition Civil War, many traitorous (or perhaps loyalist) Assimilator rank broke its shackle from the Librarian Caste allegiance and allied itself with the imperialist, leaving behind many other inexperience Assimilator behind. Though being true to the Librarian Caste - having the largest collection of Assimilator in its rank - the leader of the opposition become worrisome that the number of these young, inspired yet obsessed timid creature are now being forced to perform their duty in the battlefield. During the course of the war, many had perish before they could capture and/or convert enemy structure intact, with fewer numbers manage to complete its objective mission. Escort has been an issue as well; a large escort will draw too much attention, and smaller escort will be pick off by rival faction from anywhere from a sizeable patrol of Buzzers to the speeding Ravager. Stealth technology is almost meaningless if the enemy employ patrolling Seekers and Gun Walkers on key sensitive location worthy for the Librarian's eternal goal to overthrown the Hierarchy. The Assimilator host body is inefficient in the Librarian's keen eye, and device a solution to perform modification on their priced ranking of timid Assimilator. Gone with the stealth technology and the replacement of a more flexible multi limbs as well as a self - defense mechanism, the Scrin Replicator Combat Engineer is introduced. Moving at the average speed of Buzzers and Disintegrators, the Replicator not only wow the imperialist at how fast those version of Assimilator can go, but it forced the imperialist to use Ravager or Gun Walkers to chase it down. However, the Librarian Caste Replicators, unlike most of the Assimilator, they are encouraged to latch onto enemy vehicle-type (Seekers, Gun Walkers, Devourer Tank, etc.) to take and assume control of the unit, like a parasite leeching its nerves center of a host, directing control of that particular unit. If the unit is destroyed, the Replicator will detach itself from the dying unit and escape or latch onto another nearby enemy unit, assuming if the Replicator could sustain continuous psionic and mental strain from doing so. This unseen before process is called 'hijacking' in Librarian's term, despite that the imperialist believed that the affected unit is being 'mind-controlled'. Another addition that the Replicator inhibit is the ability to fight back (though somewhat limited) using its Psi Disruption. When a Replicator is threaten by an enemy forces, the Scrin Librarian Replicator fires off an orb of white psionic energy against the enemy, and a direct hit from said projectile will not only cause damage (very minor damage, almost unnoticeable), it will cause the victim to go hysteria and starts to attack any nearby target, regardless of friend or foe. However, if an enemy Assimilator is the said victim, the Assimilator dies.
I shall end this fanfic story here. Again, there's bound to be question regarding some point of the fic like 'why is the Alexander Axis crashed on Primus but appear on Abaddon' or 'what the heck is the Hybrid doing here!?' or 'wait, there's another new unit you didn't cover; what's a Scrin Pariah?'. All of those will be answered on the last (DEAR GOD I HOPE IT IS THE LAST!) chapter.
And yes, the Scrin Mothership is OP and Broken, I hear you Starcraft fanboy, but hey, it is OP and Broken for a GOOD reason; it's a massive flying weapon of mass destruction; capable of destroying even an Epic unit. DEAL WITH IT. Probable with TONS of anti-air units. WHILE NOT UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ION STORM.
