With a foot over the man's chest, the soldier looked fierce as her barrel was aimed only at the man's face.
"I-I know you!" gasped the man. "You-you're...you're Mengsk's kid!"
The soldier leaned close. "My name is November. Annabelle. Terra."
OOO
"You sure saved our asses, Nova," commented Raynor.
"What, you think I got cold feet?" she asked in return. Her tone was playful but when Kerrigan met her glance, they both understood what was going on.
Manchester coughed painfully as he was lugged to his feet by Nova Terra. She glanced only briefly at Kerrigan and Raynor. With an intensifying grip, she threw the man back into his chair of once found glory. Her gaze was equally intense as her demeanour.
"I don't care if you're the Emperor's daughter!" snarled Manchester. "I'll make you pay, bitch."
"You threatened my friends and now you're threatening me," cautioned Nova. "You're none the wiser I see."
Manchester refrained from laughter as his chest was still bruised. He did however spark a mocking smirk at the young soldier. She was definitely the picture that the UNN had posted as Mengsk's daughter. He never thought he'd meet her. Then again, she was rumoured to be Raynor's captive. It turns out the Dominion falsified information once again. But that was of no concern to Manchester at the moment. She was here now. And Manchester was about to pay her in full for all the good deeds her father had done.
"I'm wise beyond my years, girl," said Manchester. "And believe me I have many years on you. You come into my base, toss around a few guards and you think that you're in positions to be making demands? Do you have any idea who you're talking to? Do you have any idea who you're threatening? I'm the man who can make anyone disappear anytime I want! I can sack a planet with just one word! I can bring systems to their knees and its people begging for mercy! Do you know who I am? I know you do so do us both a favour and don't waste my time girl."
"I'm wasting your time, am I?" snapped Nova, pressing the barrel of her rifle against Manchester's head, hoping the devilish smirk would cease but it grew wider.
"Girl, you're none the wiser. What do you think will happen when the UED Special Guard under my payroll hears what's happening here? How long do you think it will take them to notice something's off?"
A giant explosion rumbled the building, drawing away all eyes but Nova's. The shadow of the ball of fire descended and fought against the dusty winds for who could create the most carnage.
"I think," remarked Kerrigan slowly, "you're guards will have their hands preoccupied for a little while."
The smirk was fading from his face.
"Get the others," barked Nova.
"Girl, I have no idea what-"
Nova whipped the butt of her rifle, hitting the man in the back of the head. Manchester crumpled to the floor with a flurry of painful yells and well refined curses. That got a reaction out of him.
"Listen, you crazy bitch I-"
He was silenced once more as Nova enforced her mandate upon the Manchester Family. She met his glare and dared him to try again. With hateful resignation, he slowly got up and hobbled back to his chair. He held a button on it. For a while, he remained silent. When he turned his head, all three rifles were pointed at him. Fear was finally manifesting in his brain for the first time in years. With thoughts of future revenge, he decided to appease his opponents for the time being.
Five people marched into the grand room clearly frustrated and irritated. They stopped in front of the man in the chair, head held low and indiscernible. They paused for a few seconds before impatience stepped in.
"What the hell do you want Manchester?" snapped one of the women loudly. "What the hell is so urgent?"
"We are," spoke Raynor, emerging from behind a pillar. He could see their eyes widened as his identity sunk into the minds of the remaining Old Families.
One of them made to back away. Only, he was encountered by two recently de-cloaked ghosts whose rifles and pissed off attitudes quelled his ambition for escape. Ushered next to Manchester, the Old Families shot Manchester glares of contempt. The three Raiders stood against the Old Families and the atmosphere was thick. Raynor made to speak, but one of the Old Families spoke first.
"You ought to know, what you're doing is foolish," she stated. "There are some who have questioned us and even acted against us. They came from all over the Sector with various planetary backgrounds. You know what they all have in common? Each is dead with their bodies floating in dead space as an example to the rest! I don't care who the hell you think you are! I don't care how much power you think you have! When we're through, I'm placing the bounty: 2 million credits to the one who kills this asshole. Raynor, I don't give a damn what kind of freedom fighter you think you are. You're threatening the Old Families. You're threatening me, the Elias family! You owe everything in your real estate to me! I owned you back then, and I still own you now! And who are these girls with you? Huh? You got the zerg leader and then some blondie who thinks she's hot stuff trying to mend her tender ego after finding out she's Mengsk's bastard."
"Spare me the lecture," interrupted Raynor. "I've heard your tirades more than enough, and you'd do well to keep your mouth shut, Elias."
Before Raynor could speak again, he saw Nova slowly approach the woman Elias. With hardened eyes, Nova whispered to her softly.
"What the hell did you call me?"
"A bastard!" she spat back.
She hit the ground grasping her wounded head. Nova rolled her over with her boot and looked the elitist woman in the eye. "Let's get one thing straight, Elias. My name is Nova Terra."
"Enough!" roared another. "What do you want?"
"Deactivate your Electromagnetic fields around Tarsonis," ordered Kerrigan. "Take all external defences offline and provide us safe passage from the planet."
"Fine!" snapped Manchester. "Do whatever the hell they want! Just get them out of here!"
The man who spoke gestured for Kerrigan to follow him. Together, they exited the room. Raynor knew fully well that Kerrigan would be more than enough to handle a frail aristocrat. All that mattered now were the remaining Old Family members in front of him. They seemed tentative.
"Why do you think they came back to Tarsonis?" Raynor whispered to Nova. "They could just as easily hidden in one of the dozen Brontes systems and it would have provided a better infrastructure to work with. They could have settled into Nephor where it's rarely regulated by the Dominion. In fact, why didn't they move their stronghold to Deadman's Rock?"
"Maybe it's symbolic," suggested Nova, distractedly. "Listen Jimmy, about before..."
"I knew you wouldn't go," he said suddenly.
"How?" she asked quietly. "How'd you know I'd even try to leave? Even I didn't know..."
"Because...because you're not a Mengsk, not in any way that matters," he assured her.
Nova let a small smile grace her face. Jimmy's words were brief yet carried more weight than a thousand words. She wasn't a Mengsk. She was Nova Terra.
"Now, if you can, get into Manchester's head. The Old Families returned to Tarsonis. I want to find out why."
Nova nodded and began concentrating. It was a surreal experience whose magic, thrill and danger never eluded her nor died with time. Channelling her psionic energy, she began unravelling layers of non-important information from Manchester. It was mostly hate filled condescension and Nova wasn't sure she had invaded a mind this meddled before. She worked, patiently as any person would. She was getting close; she had an inkling for these kind of things. And then, she found it. It burned into her memory, and created emotions from within that Nova was unaware she had. Her eyes narrowed as she directed her eyes towards Manchester, the scheming felon who was now the source of her vengeance.
Manchester caught her glare and it dawned upon him that their truth had been discovered. "Shit," he cursed.
OOO
The captain of the Hyperion hadn't removed himself from his station. With the screen lighting his face, his eyes strained as they analyzed the information before him. An uncharacteristic look stretched across his face and for all his youth, Matt Horner looked as old as any other. Wearied by all that had and would soon happen, the captain began to feel the toll it was taking. It was...draining. The screen shot up with numbers and periods between them. A small level of excitement made his heart jump. It was the perfect situation. The scene was set. The wheels could be set into motion. All he needed was men, men who would operate without question and with the upmost ability. He needed men that could navigate stars with the experience of a captain and operate a rifle with the precision of marksman. He needed men that their new found ally would disapprove of. And although it pained Horner to admit it, he needed the ghosts.
"You wanted to see me?" asked General Warfield entering the room. "The Rector of Kel-Moria just arrived and Swann just reported a green light on all Cruiser engines so we got to make this quick."
"General," greeted Horner. "We both know that I'm uncomfortable with this meeting so let's get down to business."
Warfield was keen enough to wait for Horner to explain further.
"The Umojan Minister has granted the release of all recent reports of the Network to us. Though I guess I don't need to tell you about this. You know the Dominion inside and out right General?"
"I guess," said the now suspicious General.
"Then you know what it would take to successfully insert a ghost team to Korhal III."
There was a pause. "Horner, what the hell is this about?"
Horner leaned in closely. "Every sector standard year, the 12 Dominion Systemic Chancellors hold a meeting where the 12 convene alone without the Emperor which means without Imperial security. The meetings are chosen at random. This year, Dylar III has been secretly chosen to host the Convention of the Chancellors. I need a strike team there, and I need it fast."
The General frowned. "You want to make a move on the 12?"
"These are evil people, General," argued Horner, immediately. "They abused everyone they've been in contact with and have evaded the just punishment they deserve. They've caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of imprisonments. They endorsed the exploitations of millions and even when we went to get them, they still got away. We can't wait, General. It's time we finished what we started. We have to take out the 12!"
Warfield looked concerned. "Horner...what the hell is going on? The Chancellors hold no real power and eliminating them would be using up valuable resources. Their assassination won't help us at all! It will just be a waste of time and effort! Why in the world would you go after the 12?"
"You know who they really are," spoke Matt quietly. "I can't let them live. They need to be brought to justice and you're going to help me do that."
"I'm afraid not. Even disregarding the fact that it's a pointless endeavour, Korhal III is infamous for its planet-wide sweeps. Militarily, it's weak, but there's no way you could place a covert team on Korhal III without the Dominion knowing. Look at the Umojans! They were able to place operatives so close in Augustgrad undetected yet they could never to the same to Korhal III. Inserting a covert team would never work."
"Then...then we authenticate an airstrike," reasoned Horner, desperately. "We can have a couple cruisers run interference while we send in some Banshees for airstrikes on the building."
"Have you lost your mind?" asked Warfield, loudly. "That planet's right next to the capital! We wouldn't get within a hundred clicks of that place with a couple cruisers. And you know how accurate air assaults are. We'd end up killing dozens of people just to get to the Chancellors. I left the Dominion because I was tired of that. Don't start telling me you endorse it too."
"Damn it, General," yelled Horner. "These fiends live under government protection all the time! They've committed more crimes than even Mengsk has! We're not letting them go, not again!"
"This is about Tarsonis isn't it? It's about you trying to justify that attack! Pull yourself together, Horner! What kind of commander are you? Who in the hell orders his men into danger because of a petty vendetta? This is the real world son! People don't get what they deserve! Sometimes you gotta settle for less!"
Matt stared straight into Warfield's eyes. "Dispatch the cruisers."
"No."
"Dispatch the-"
"NO!" roared the general at last. "In the absence of Raynor, your men expect you to lead them against the Dominion! That's your goal! That's your directive! Not trying to make yourself feel better about Tarsonis! Now I'm making sure that nothing happens until you sort things out."
He stood up and held on to the doorway frame for a moment. Swivelling his muscular neck, he glanced back at the confused young Captain.
"When you figure it out let us know. We're waiting on you."
Horner was lost. He was out in a vacuum, tumbling through space with no gravitational pull, nothing to anchor him, nothing to save him. He had to save himself now. As the captain stared blankly at the wall, he was reminded of all that he stood for. The confusion set it quickly. When did he become the one who needed reminder on their revolution? When did he become the Raynor of old?
OOO
"I know," announced Nova loudly both to the Old Families and to Raynor and Kerrigan who had just returned.
"There is a vault, deep beneath this building," declared Nova, fiercely. "In this vault, notable members of the Old Family consolidated their funds into this vault. When Tarsonis fell, the Dominion made it one of their priorities to search the rubble for the vault. Soon, search parties began disappearing but the Dominion stopped caring. The Faravays, Moores and the Dukes took their portion when they left for the Dominion Chancellorship. Even so, the net sum of the vault is still valued over 40 billion. It was thought to be lost or destroyed after the attack or even stolen. There's only one reason the Old Families came back."
"The vault is still here."
There was wide silence amongst the group. One group attempted to contemplate the unfathomable nature of such a large sum of money in one place. The other was uprooted in terror at the thought of losing their fortunes to these degenerates.
"So you figured it out," brushed off Manchester. "Great, you going to scurry back to Mengsk and report it like the dog you are?"
He was viciously thrown back. Raynor and Kerrigan looked to Nova whose hair was still flying in the air from the blast of inertia she launched. She spoke with a confidence that neither of the pair had ever heard. Her tone was dominant, and her diction was simple and intimidating beyond belief.
"I am NOT a Mengsk!" she shouted. Her voice rang echoes around them. "I am not the heir to the Dominion throne. I am a Terra! And I am the sole heir to my family's fortune. So to put it simply, gentlemen, I want my 15 billion and I want it now."
The women of the Elias family stood up, her face marked with bruises as much as rage. "Go to hell."
"You don't know the meaning of the word," whispered Nova. "I'm not asking you. I'm telling you."
No sooner had a voice been raised in protest before Nova had quelled it once more with vicious language and attacking verbose quirks. Raynor and Kerrigan shared a glance. Nova was not her father, but she did share his commanding nature. The situation kept up for a few minutes. All the while, Nova became stronger and the Old Families shrunk. Finally, it broke.
"Christ!" muttered the member of the Reno family. "Just give her the money! It's hers by right and we couldn't stop her even if we tried."
Only Manchester was still opposed but the rest of them held consensus. With silent words, the Old Families signalled defeat and beckoned Nova, Raynor and Kerrigan to follow them, the latter in shock. Nova had shouted down the Old Families.
The corridor was narrow and made of stone. The dim lights barely illuminated anything as all parties groped for footing and position. Eventually, they made their way to a sub level. A steel vault, like the one Nova had seen, stood before them and presented an impasse. Neither party moved.
Nova signalled to Manchester. "Go on, open it."
Manchester fumed. "You've read my mind already. You put in the code yourself."
Nova reached out and pulled Manchester close by his collar. He reeked of ostentatious fumes and it sent nasty signals to Nova's senses. She never broke eye contact.
"I know how to open it," she spoke. "And I don't need you to open it for me. But I'm telling you to open it because all of you idiots seem to fail to grasp a concept which I want to embed into your minds for the rest of your lives. What is it?"
Nova shoved Manchester to the steel vault. A number pad, retina scan and blood sample were amongst other elaborate security measures. He turned back towards Nova, his face fallen and defeated. He couldn't even bear to withstand her gaze and resolved to stare at the piece of wall behind her.
"What is it?" she asked loudly with a commanding voice that rang through the room.
He swallowed hard. "You're Nova Terra."
"That's right jackass," said the blond ghost. "I'm Nova Terra."
OOO
"General Duke reports a minor system failure in the Caesar," read Valerian to his father. "It's not serious but since that's the ship containing the Hybrid, he's going to set it down in Brontes II just for safe measure. As per your orders, he's relieved the Second Fleet from his unit. They are positioning themselves around the Brontes system."
"Good," replied the Emperor. "I'm sure that the Kel-Morians will try and attack again. But they aren't foolish enough to take on Korhal again. The only thing separating Dominion and Kel-Morian space is the Brontes Traverse. If they try and take the Traverse, I want our boys to be there to slam the door on them. What about our situation with Umoja?"
"Well...we're still gathering agents every day," spoke Valerian quietly. "They penetrated almost every layer of our infrastructure. The extradition orders have gone out but it doesn't matter. The Umojans will never extradite one of their own and the Ruling Council will delete the subpoenas before even reading them. The first batch arrived at New Folsom yesterday. I...I placed them in a provisional containment room."
"What?" snapped Mengsk. He turned round to face his hesitant son. "I thought I had made my intentions clear enough. Gas em'."
"But we...I...I can't!" protested Valerian finally. "Let's just lock them up at Castanar or something! They must have some detention facilities besides New Folsom."
Arcturus' eyes flashed dangerously. "Did I hear that correctly? You want to detain them in Castanar thus costing us even more money to transport and to keep them when a perfectly viable way of proceeding is an order away?"
"We can't kill them!" exclaimed Valerian. "There must be laws against that!"
"I am the law!" bellowed Mengsk. His outburst certainly overpowered his son's. "I rule by decree, not under some petty dribble written by degenerate lawmakers. These spies have wilfully engaged in sedition and terrorism against us! And you want me to give them compassion? You want me to go soft on people who would see us burn?"
"They...but they helped the Sons of Korhal," whispered the Prince meekly.
"And they helped the Raiders and probably every other god forsaken anti-establishment group," growled the Emperor. "The past is the past. That most certainly applies to you. Are we going to have a problem?"
Valerian shrunk. "No."
"Good. Make it quick."
OOO
Raynor just remembered the conversation with Matt he had had earlier before they were taken captive. It seemed strangely satisfying. They had found their money. They had found their ticket into the Core Worlds.
"Alright Miss Terra," snarled Elias. "You got what you came for. Now take it and go."
"I ought to shoot you all dead for the crimes you committed," spoke Nova steadily. "Every one of you is someone whose death would make this universe just a little better. But it's not up to me. And even your pitiful lives are worth more than satisfying a feud."
"Then are we done?"
Raynor gave them a sombre look. "Not by a long shot."
Author's Note: Just as a heads up, I will most likely be changing the story title to: Flight to Freedom. Unless there is mass objection, it will be changed with the next update. Thanks.