Chapter 21
"Not bad, not bad at all," Dustin complimented Abigail. She had just shot a bull's-eye at a target.
"Okay, she can shoot a gun, but what about psionics, can she do that?" Slade asked.
"We don't have that ability yet. Psionics are very complicated and difficult to do, only the best ghosts can psionically do anything. Psionics come in time," Dustin told the corporal. Abigail looked a little confused.
"Jack said that ghosts had to learn that," she said, Dustin looked at her in surprise.
"Well, I guess he may have been misinformed," the sergeant assumed. I leaned on the Ghost Academy metal.
"Dustin can cloak, and that's using psionics, but he's been a ghost for quite some time and has had plenty of practice, the rest of us can't quiet do that yet," I explained to the newcomer.
"Fine then, how good is she at stealth. Not many people have that skill," Slade growled, trying to prove that he is better than Abigail. I saw Peter jogging toward us. I wonder what he wants. In a few seconds, Peter was slowing down and standing beside Slade.
"Hey Peter," I greeted him. He nodded in return.
"Rhett wants to send you all on a mission," the hellion informed us. Did he say 'all', like, 'all' of us?
"What?" Slade questioned, eyes, widening in surprise, "Abigail is not trained, Peter, We barely started this morning."
"I know, but Rhett thinks this is important," Peter agreed with the ghost.
"Who's going?" Dustin asked. What is Rhett thinking?! Abigail is not ready for battle, her training just started this morning!
"He wants you four, Blake, Mike, and Jack," the hellion answered. I stared at him in disbelief. Slade was glaring, Abigail was shocked, and Dustin was rubbing his chin.
"Does he know the Mike barely knows how to fly a wraith?" I scoffed, clenching my fists, "We are in no position for any kind of mission."
"Rhett already made up his decision, he recognizes that any casualty is under his responsibility. He also said that everyone that is going is getting a promotion afterwards," the hellion said. He started to walk toward the Starport. "Kaf is driving the drop ship that you'll be in, he wants to leave A.S.A.P."
I followed the sergeant and looked at Abigail, "Here you go rookie, you first mission." I couldn't help but feel pity for her, she could die and it wouldn't be her fault, Abigail hadn't been trained to the expectations of a ghost yet.
"Well, at least we're getting promotions after this," Slade muttered. If we make it out alive. We neared the Starport ramp and I noticed Jack beside a drop ship.
"What's the objective?" Dustin asked, looking at Peter, but the hellion driver just shrugged.
"I don't know, Rhett didn't say, I'm guessing Kaf'll tell ya' when you board the ship," Peter assumed. I glared, I'd like to know the objective, before the mission instead of during it. I walked on the drop ship ramp and took a seat, the others did the same.
"Blake, Mike, can you hear me alright?" Kaf questioned through the intercom.
"Yeah, you're patching through," Blake responded. I looked outside to see both a wraith and a banshee starting to lift off the ground.
"I can here ya'," Mike assured our pilot. The drop ship ramp closed and Kaf fired up the engine. One by one, all three of the Terran vessels exited the Starport.
"Okay, so this is the sitrep . . . Rhett is sending an attack on the Zerg expansions to the east. The Zerg will be focused in that area over there and we will have a clear enough path at taking out alien key buildings. We will be landing in their primary base. If all successful, the army to the east will have done some damage to the Green Zerg economy while we, have destroyed their structures," the drop ship pilot briefed us.
"Simple enough," Slade said, checking his ammunition.
"Easier said than done, there will still be some defenses at the enemy base. All of you are to work together if you want to survive. Mike's only objective is to protect us from air targets. Blake will destroy Zerg Spine Crawlers and help finish off structures, but there are quite a bit of Spore crawlers in the area, if this is to work, you need to eliminate those anti-air defenses while keeping yourselves alive. Is everything understood clearly?" Kaf asked us. This shouldn't be too hard.
"Okay, there are several Mutalisk closing in, you guys just sit tight," Mike informed us. He's going to get himself killed out there. I don't even know how he lifted the wraith of the ground without crashing into us. I looked out the drop ship window and at the Zerg base, there were Spore and Spine Crawlers scattered all over the place. Kaf lowered the ship closer to the ground. The ramp door opened.
"Be safe out there," the Terran pilot said to us. We hurried onto the Zerg Creep. Mike flew pass us, followed by three Mutalisk. There was a Spore crawler about a hundred feet away. A Spine Crawler was not far behind it.
"Zerg reinforcements will be here soon, let's complete our objective before they get here. Rick, Abigail, follow me, everyone else, move up on that Spine Crawler next to the Hive," Dustin ordered, running toward the Spore Crawler that I had spotted earlier. I pulled out my C-20 Canister Rifle and skidded to a stop just outside the other Spine Crawler's reach. I pulled the trigger, my bullet made the Spore Crawler pop out of the ground and retreat to safer ground. Missiles exploded into the Anti-Infantry Zerg Structure not far from me.
"Rick, watch out!" I heard someone say from behind. Just as I turned, a green explosion forced me backward. I hit my back on something hard. I moaned. I slowly opened my eyes and pushed myself up. I rubbed my back and looked up, trying to find my companions. Mike was trying to get the Mutalisk off his tail. I searched for my gun and stumbled toward it. Grabbing it, I aimed and fired at the Zerg creatures. I watched my bullet barely miss it, the aliens were too fast. I saw more shots hit the flying monsters, but they weren't mine. I glanced at the new ghost, Abigail, who had fired those rounds. I saw a Spine Crawler dig into the ground not far behind her, it was only seconds before it was going to attack the recruit.
"Abigail, behind you!" I yelled. The rookie quickly turned around, but before she could do anything else, the Spine Crawler threw its sharp head at the ghost. It hit her right in the stomach and she flew backward. I noticed multiple Missiles drop into the Zerg structure. The Spine Crawler split in half and blood squirted from open wounds. I was making my way to the recruit, but Dustin beat me there. He had his back to the battle and had his hand on Abigail's back, supporting her. I saw several eggs not far away, explode open. The infested marines were ever so slowly walking forward, they aimed their weapons and fired at Dustin. I shot back, trying to cover the sergeant, but the Zerg marines had shot the ghost in the back. Dustin picked Abigail up and hurried toward the drop ship. I stared at him in surprise and sprinted toward him. Dustin can sure take a hit.
"We need to fall back, the Zerg reinforcements are approximately two miles away," Blake said. Once I was beside Dustin, I grabbed Abigail and helped the other ghost to the drop ship.
"Once we get outside of the Spore Crawlers, I can cloak and cover our retreat," Mike assured us. Dustin and I walked up the ship ramp. The sergeant sat down painfully, but was glad to be sitting.
"Frank, get to the drop ship as soon as you can," Dustin told the corporal. I set Abigail down on one of the seats. I sat down beside her. The recruit's stomach was bleeding pretty badly. I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Not the best first mission eh?" I gave her a curt smile. She nodded painfully. We need a medic as soon as possible, "Just hang in there, we'll get you patched up soon."
Jack, Frank, and Slade sprinted into the drop ship. The moment they arrived, the ship ramp started to close and Kaf lifted the vessel into the air.
"How are you holding up Dustin?" I asked the sergeant, he looked up at me.
"I've been through worse, its Abigail that I'm worried about," the ghost said. I looked at the recruit sitting next to me, she was biting her lip in agony. I looked outside, some of the mutalisk that were causing such a nuisance to us before were now dead on the ground. What was left of the Zerg creatures were retreating back to their base. I guess Mike lived up to his word, he is covering our escape.
"I can't believe we failed this mission, we were supposed to eliminate Zerg key structures and we couldn't do it," Slade growled, clenching his fists. I couldn't help but agree with him.
"Not every mission is a success, we just have to try a different strategy next time," Dustin said, I could hear pain in his voice. If Rhett had sent more experienced soldiers, Dustin and Abigail wouldn't be wounded right now.
"I'm contacting Rhett of our recent loss," Kaf told us. I waited to hear the lieutenant's report. "Rhett, we tried to engage the Zerg base, but their forces were to strong and we failed to complete our objective."
"That's too bad, I wish you could have done more, but no worries, the battle on the Zerg expansions were very successful. You all deserve promotions, you must have been spotted by an overseer because there was little defenses at the Zerg Hatcheries. Congratulations, you gave the eastern army an amazing and clear shot to the Zerg expansions," Lieutenant Rhett praised us through his transmitter. Did I hear him right?
"The Zerg left their expansions undefended against three spaceships?" Slade inquired, his mouth dropping.
"A single drop ship can inflict enough damage to change the tide of a battle. I guess the Zerg didn't noticeour army to the east," Dustin said.
"Head back to base as quickly as you can. When you get back, we'll get you all promoted, not a bad idea to me," Rhett ordered us, ending the call.
"Okay, to my understanding, we all are getting promoted, is that correct?" Slade asked, his eyebrow raised.
"All except me," Kaf answered the ghost. Slade then glared, it was obvious that he was angry.
"It's taken me three months to get to corporal and five more to sergeant. Mike and Abigail get promoted on their second night here, am I the only one who thinks Rhett isn't thinking straight?" the ghost clenched his fists.
"Rhett said he would promote us all, plus, that mission could have gotten us killed. The recruits deserve some kind of reward," Frank replied to the corporal.
"A reward for not dying? I don't think so," Slade argued, leaning closer to the squad leader, "This isn't elementary school you drug addict. The only reward you get in war is a bed and some food at the end of the day."
"We all deserve this," Dustin said, tensing from his wounds. His injuries are getting worse. I turned my head to Abigail. She wasn't getting better either.
"Kaf, we need medics as soon as possible, Dustin and Abigail aren't doing so hot back here," I told the pilot.
"Don't you worry, we'll be back at base soon," Kaf tried to assure me.
"How's Nitro holdin' up, Frank?" I asked the sergeant. We had just gotten out of the Promotion Ceremony.
"He's doing pretty well, his arms and legs weren't functioning. The doctors had to replace them with prosthetic limbs, but he'll be battle ready in a week or so," the squad leader said. The new lieutenants, Dustin and Blake, were getting an army division of their own. Rhett told me that even though Frank, Slade and I were sergeants, Frank would still be our squad leader. The other two corporals, Abigail and Jack, were in our squad also. Mike is a corporal too, but was in a different squad.
"How did he lose his arms?" Jack asked as I started to walk to the Supply Depots.
"Well . . . Nitro had gotten hydralisk poison in his arms and legs," Frank explained to his friend. "A medic could have saved his limbs, but by the time we got back to camp, it was too late."
"Great story, you know what . . . you both should go check on him," Slade said, dull eyed. Before Jack could do anything, Frank walked off, dragging the hellion driver with him.
"I suppose we should train you before Rhett puts us on a mission we aren't prepared for," I said halfheartedly at Abigail.
"First thing's first, go suit up," Slade ordered the corporal. Without saying anything or giving any expressions, she turned around and walked toward the Barracks. "It's interesting how we still need to train a corporal."
"Well technically speaking, we shouldn't have been training anyone in the first place, that's what drill sergeants are for. I don't know why we aren't using them," I muttered, rubbing my neck.
"Well, things started to get screwed up a couple months before you got here," Slade said darkly and folded his arms.
"I guess the Teal Terran thought training wasn't a priority anymore," I said, looking for Abigail coming out of the Barracks. Sure enough, the corporal came jogging out of the infantry building.
"Yeah, but apparently to Rhett, training takes too long. Ever since we started to run out of men, Rhett tried to shorten training time. This new method he came up with only takes a couple days, but now, all our troops don't know what an EMP is," Slade growled, tensing. I glared and nodded in agreement. Abigail skidded to a stop beside me. I turned my attention to her, not wanting to carry on the previous conversation.
"I suppose we should work on hand to hand combat, I'm not sure how good you are at that," I said. Today is going to be a long day.
"Fighting a human is much different from fighting Zerg. If it were up to me, just pull out your pistol when going up against aliens," Slade advised, folding his arms.
"Defense is one of the most importing things about close quarters combat. If the enemy advances, don't be afraid to back away," I told the corporal.
"Sometimes, standing your ground is the best decision, if you are ready for the attack," Slade added. Abigail will learn best by observing, listening to two uncertified instructors isn't the most enjoyable task to participate in.
"Here, watch Slade and I spar and notice what moves we do," I said. I looked at Slade and he nodded.
"Not a bad idea," Slade complimented. Slade immediately lunged toward me. I rolled to the left and quickly stood up. I barely had enough time to block a punch from Slade. He brought his left arm up for another blow. I quickly put my leg behind his, wanting to trip him, but his punch came much sooner than I thought it would. My face was met by Slade's fist and I flew backward.
"Looks like I'm winning Rick, seniority wins I suppose," Slade laughed, slowly walking forward. I stood up, taking my time.
"You say that now," I grinned, rushing forward. I slammed into the ghost, knocking him off his feet. I pinned Slade to the ground, but before either of us could do anything, I heard someone say something from behind.
"What are you doing?" Frank demanded. I got off of Slade and glanced back at the squad leader.
"Oh, we were just demonstrating proper defense to Abigail," I said, helping Slade onto his feet.
"What else could we do? None of us are drill sergeants, we thought this was the most effective way to train Abigail," Slade agreed with me. Neither Jack nor Frank looked too thrilled.
"Rhett wants us to go to the Command Center," Frank said. Oh great, is he going to send us on another mission? I nodded and headed toward the main Terran building. Slade walked with Frank and Jack, asking them about something I couldn't care less about. Abigail hurried by my side.
"I don't feel like I deserved the promotion today," she said, moving around a marine.
"You're not alone," I said, walking up the Command Center ramp.
"And the Teal Terran is so unorganized, you know, like, the systems don't make any sense," Abigail said irritably. I lead the way up the everlasting stairs.
"I know, Rhett wanted us on the field as soon as possible," I muttered, opening the door to the Command Room. As I walked in followed by Jack, Frank, and Slade, Lieutenant Rhett turned to face us.
"There is something I want to show you. I was hoping you had . . . well . . . answers," Rhett said, he moved to the side. A big screen was playing a clip. In the clip, Krent, the Teal Terran leader, was standing inside a Battlecruiser Bridge.
"Sir, Zerg have boarded the ship," one of the officials informed.
"What do you mean they have boarded the ship?! Your job was to make sure—" Krent began to say. A large tremor shook the ship and red lights blared on.
"The Zerg are reaching the bridge sir," a different official said. Two marines, aimed their weapons at the door, and slowly approached it.
"Lock the do—" the Terran leader started to order. The doors exploded outward, throwing back the marines and Krent. Zerglings rushed in, they slaughtered all the personnel quickly. The only man left was Krent. He pushed himself up and leaned against the wall. The zerglings snarled at the Terran, but didn't attack, instead, an infested Terran walked in.
"I've been awaiting this moment for a long time Krent," the Zergified human growled and walked closer to the Teal Terran leader.
"Grim . . . what do you want me to give you a Popsicle?" Krent spat. The infested Terran laughed.
"Oh how cute. Look Krent, neither of us want to be here long, all I want something that you have . . . and if you give it to me—" Grim was saying.
"I won't tell you anything you muck-hearted pile of waste. I would rather die than tell you anything," Krent growled. Grim turned around, looking disappointed.
"Very well," the infested Terran said, having a curt smile on. Grim motioned backwards with his hand. "Kill him."
The snarling zerglings rushed forward at the Teal Terran leader. Rhett ended the clip.
"I'm sure you can figure out the rest," the lieutenant muttered darkly.
"So why did you want us up here, why are we so special?" Slade muttered dully, He leaned against the wall and folded his arms.
"Planet Loral, our capital planet, was invaded by the Zerg today. The Zerg haven't taking the planet over yet, but they managed to . . . eliminate Krent. But what I want to know is what Grim wanted. You all have had lots of experiences with him and I was hoping you could tell me something useful," Rhett said, waiting for a response. Rhett is going to be very disappointed.