-Arc 3 StarCraft-

-Chapter 17, Desperate Alliance -

-Galactic Location: Koprulu Sector, Sara Star system-

-Planet: Mar Sara-

Mercenary Graven Hill and some of his bodyguards sat in a second floor room of a apartment building next to a warehouse they had rented to stay at while they waited for the mission go a head. One merc cleaned his custom C-14 Impaler. It had a bayonet and a extended butt stock for better stability. Another merc was watching TV on his tactical headset and Hill was just flipping through a girly mag he had gotten from a local store while enjoying some beer.

Then Hills (ear mounted) com unit beeped. He reached up to it opening the comm line. "Yes miss Hathorn?"

A soft woman's voice came over the voice only comm line. "Mister hill It's time for your mission to start. What i'm going to tell you is classified information. There's a confederate device called the psi-emitter located at this location (transmitted GPS data). A woman belonging to the Sons of Korhal has the device. A group of Confederate marines will be sent out to retrieve the device in a short time. Your mission is to get to her before them and retrieve both the device and the rebel agent. After that take the psi-emitter to a location called White castle. I included it with the other data. I will also give you detailed instructions on how to use it. Your mission is to use it to lure them away from Mar Sara city and other settlements so the cities can be evacuated."

Saving civilians was great and all but Graven Hill had a few more questions. "I've read the files your sent on these... Zerg things. And now I understand why your employer paid so much for us. I wont get into my theory on who your boss is, but I do have to ask what makes you think I'll send my boys to die for some backwater colony?"

Marry. "I and my employer don't expect your to die. That's why we're sending you now and giving you ample time to escape after setting the device. I hope you do get back alive, but time is short. The faster you and your men complete your mission the faster all of us can get off this planet alive. We don't have long now. What is your answer."

Hill looked up to his two officers who were looking at him. The amount they were paid was three times the amount they'd normally charge for a job and would tie them over for a while. Then again these Zerg had him a bit worried considering they could match full scale military forces. After thinking for a full minute he made his decision. "Ok we're on. Just tell my guys how to use the device. Oh and also what should we do about the confederate marines if they get in our way." Hill heard a smug grin over the comm.

Marry. "I'll leave that to your discretion mister Hill. I'm sure you will make the best choice. They should be of the 417th Confederate Marine Corps Platoon. Its leader is a woman by the mane of Marine lieutenant L.Z. Breanne. I'm uploading a file on her and her men to you now."

Hill took out a flat black plate like device that looked like a I-phone and glossed over the files.

"Do you have any more questions mister Hill?"

"No. This should be fine. Just be ready to give us back up if things go to shits ville."

Marry giggled at the use of language. "Understood mister Hill."

Hill stood up drinking the last of his beer and threw the can into the trash bin. "Ok boys we got a job to do. Let's suit up and get the dropships in the air. Were going to need to hoof it for this job."

-Office of the Magistrate-

Magistrate Haruka stood looking out her office window waiting. After a few moments her Adjutants eyes refocused on her.

Adjutant Marry. "Magistrate i've sent the mercs on the mission. They should buy us more than enough time to evacuate the planet given my calculations."

Haruka turned around taking her seat. "That is if things go according to plane. When it concerns the Zerg you can't count anything out."

Marry hung there as her eyes flashed with thousands of calculations every second.

"Anyway has my transmission to general Duke been replied to?"

Adjutant Marry. "Yes. The general has sent his reply transmission just now. Shall I open a comm link."

Haruka huffed. "Go a head."

A holo screen blinked on over the desk showing General Duke in his trademark red Alpha squadron CMC armor. "I got your message, Magistrate, and To be honest I don't care what a fancy Tarsonis girl like you have to say about regulations. You may be from the homeworld of the confederacy but your too soft to do what's necessary to maintain order out in the fringe worlds missy. And don't think I haven't caught on to your mercs. Now be a good girl and tell me way your hired such people on confederate dime?"

Haruka was actually impressed that it took him this long to figure it out. But she already had a good excuse to give planned ahead of time.

"Hmph. Well general i'm just looking out for number one. If I let a colony i'm responsible for get destroyed it will... reflect badly on my reputation. That and I prefer to stack the deck in my favor. I also had extra space transports prepared in case a evacuation was needed. As Magistrate is it not my job to protect the people of the confederacy. After all they pay the bills for all the fancy things we have. Like that armor your wearing."

Dukes face scrunched up as he gave a annoyed grunt. "Very well. I don't want a black stain on my records either. So i'll look the other way. For now. But once all this is dealt with i'm going to have a more serious talk with you about all this." The transmission ended leaving the holo-screen blank.

Haruka leaned back into her chair giving a sigh of relief. "Marry about the Zerg attacks on the outposts?"

Wasting no time Marry gave the report. The holo-screen turned into a map of the planet with the settlements highlighted as blue squares. Some of them were red and others were gray.

Adjutant Marry. "Seventeen outland stations have reported sightings of the Zerg and were ordered under your authority evacuated to Mar Sara city. The confederate forces under general Duke have arrested all standing militia forces and continue to avoid action against the Zerg. Three stations have, after being evacuated, been occupied by the Zerg. Casualties to Zerg attacks have been kept at a minimum. But a report concerning a patrol that went out and never returned has been reported at Mar Sara military base."

Haruka. "And what about the other merc forces scattered around Mar Sara city?"

Adjutant Marry. "The War pigs, Devil Dogs, Spartan Company, have all been paid and moved out to prepare for the Zerg attack on the city with whatever confederate marines are in your command. Expected casualties are minimum. Lower if Graven Hill and his forces of Hammer Securities complete their mission."

Haruka inter locked her fingers together. "And what about getting in contact with you know who?"

Marry's eyes flashed a moment. "I've actually been in contact with him for the passed few minutes. Opening a encrypted transmission with your office."

The map of Mar Sara was replaced by the image of a almost middle aged man with some gray in his beard and hair. "Good day Magistrate Reid. I'm Arcturus Mengsk and I represent the Sones of Korhal. Your... aide... had informed me about your troubles. I take it your aware of the propaganda concerning me and my organization."

Haruka cut him off there. "I'm aware that your family was assassinated by confederate ghosts."

That sentence surprised Mengsk making his eyes open wide before quickly narrowing at Haruka. "And where did you hear that from?" he said in a part threatening part curious tone as he stared at Haruka through the holo-screen.

Haruka stood up placing both hands behind her back cupping one with the other "Im correct then. And that's just a good guess. I'm very good at understanding certain things... like motivation. And with what happened to Korhal. Well... no one knows this but my family was on Korhal when it was blasted. So lets get passed motivations already and say we're mutual acquaintances with the same goals. Oh and I have a few mercenary groups under my employ for the time being."

Mengsk was silent a moment before recomposing himself. "I see. I take it that you have been working for our mutual goal from within the confederacy. And now's the time your choosing to switch sides I take it." Haruka nodded and Mengsk gave a faint smile. "Well then. Getting to business. It's never been my groups policy to operate in one location for too long. But these... creatures that have been terrorizing the local planets..." Haruka cut him off."

"Zerg. The confederates call the monster like ones Zerg and the others that burned Chau Sara have been given the name Protoss."

Mengsk blinked and continued. And the... Protoss that destroyed Chau Sara are making it rather dangerous in the Saras system. I'll send a force of dropships to aide in evacuating civilians to safety but it will take time for them to reach your considering the confederacy forces that they'll have to circumvent and the travel time..." Haruka cut him off again.

"I'm well aware of all that Mister Mengsk. As I told your before I like to plane ahead. I have a certain Adjutant thats... lets say... better then the rest. Marry please send mister Mengsk the FOF (Friend or Foe) ID codes. With them i'm sure his transports will have less trouble landing."

Mengsk looked off screen and gave a smile before turning back. "Well it seems I've greatly underestimated you miss Reid. I'll send my forces now if you prefer sooner rather than later."

Haruka grinned. "And this will be a boon to your popularity and too the Sons of Korhal too."

The two gave each other a knowing nod and Mengsk continued. "I look forward to working with you miss Reid."

Before Mengsk cut the transmission Haruka replied. "Also about a certain Marshal and his men."

Mengsk. "You mean the militia and one Marshal Raynor I presume. Don't worry about them. I consider mister Raynor and his men valuable recruits to the cause. And have already sent some of my forces to liberate them."

Haruka. "That prison ship though could be useful. From what i've been told it's been mostaly striped of weapons and other systems but still has its warp drive. I want it. But its has a closed system to prevent hacks and subsequent breakouts. Just have your men link their comms to it and connect to my office. After that Marry can take full control of it."

Mengsk hummed pleasantly. "My my. You are quit the ambitious one aren't you. Very well i'll have my men do as you said. We could always use a new ship even if its had its fangs pulled. Now is there any other topics you would like to discuss."

Just then a alarm came in on another line. Adjutant Marry took it and turned to Haruka.

"Magistrate the Zerg have reached the cities perimeter. Marines and Mercenary forces have engaged them and are awaiting further orders from you." the robot assistant reported coldly. Multiple screens popped around Mengsk face showing marines and mercenaries fighting off Zerg.

Haruka. "Sorry Mengsk but i'm busy at the moment so i'm ending this pleasant little chit chat." Haruka pressed a button and Mengsk face blinked off the holo-screen. Haruka then typed a few commands on to the desk and a command window opened up showing a real time map of Mar Sara city and the location of all her available marine and Mercenary forces. "Now then time to play some Zerg tower defense." sigh " I wish I could call Tatsuki and Mitsuki in with my swarm but that's premature and like Ellen I can't risk my swarms essence being taken by the Overminds swarm. That would be a big problem. Oh well" shrug "let's just get this over with."

Haruka selected all the marine and Mercenary forces she had available opening a comms line to all of them at once. "To all forces in Mar Sara city under my command," Across the city marines and mercs looked at the comm ID recognizing it as the magistrates. "I want defensive formations to protect the civilians as they evacuate to the space port."

-Oasis Station-

Three black drop ships with the Hammer Security logo on their sides touched down at the edge of Oasis Station. Three dozen men in black CMC armor walked of the ramps keeping their weapons at the ready. The one in front popped his helmet showing it was Graven Hill. Looking around at the abandoned town he could make out traces of a massacre.. No doubt the Zerg had killed the whole population.

"Ok move out and secure the area. Teams of five." Hill ordered.

The three dozen Hammer Security mercs marched out scattering into 5 man teams around the dropships. Taking nine men Hill made his way through the town. After walking for about a ten minutes one of the Drop ships pilots reported in.

Dropship pilot. "Sir we've got one confederate dropship in coming on the radar. ETA ten minutes."

Graven hill knew who it was by the magistrates report so he could easily deal with them. "Stay on sight and don't engage unless fired upon."

Dropship Pilot. "Will do sir."

Picking up the pace Hill and his men sprinted to the west side of town coming upon a certain prefab house. With a big heavy metal boot a merc kicked the door in open breaking the lock. He and second merc sweeped the room before giving Hill the all clear with a hand signal. The three continued into the building making their way down to the basement where they also broke in. The two mercs waved their rifles around seeing the room was safe.

"Clear sir. But ugh we have a woman and a device of some kind here?"

Hill walked in quickly catching sight of a woman that had been knocked out somehow. Hill looked at her then to the device which must be the Psi-emitter on the table turned off, then he turned back to the woman. The file the magistrate gave him said she was a low level telepath and given what the device was it may have rendered her unconscious when she activated it. But whys it off now?

Hill. "Ok pick the both of them up and let's get out of here. We're gonna get company soon. And not the friendly kind with rifles and CMC suits."

Each of the mercs one handed their rifles one picking up the woman and the other the Psi-emitter. They left with haste regrouping with the rest of the squad guarding the building. They all marched at top speed back to the dropships but just as they did a larger customised confederate dropship landed not to far from them. As he ran Hill could make out 16 marines, 5 Vultures and 1 SCV leaving the drop ships loading ramp. Hill used his helmets zoom function and saw one person who must be the commanding officer point at him and then lead a charge with the rest of their men. But they weren't shooting at Hills men. At least not yet.

"Must go faster" Hill thought as he picked up the pace.

Lieutenant L. Z. Breanne, commanding officer of the 417th Confederate Marine Platoon marched at the unknown group wanting a damn good explanation as to why their here. At first she just thought that they were scavengers but when she zoomed in on them and saw that two of them were carrying a woman and the psi-emitter she was ordered to retrieve she knew she had to get it back. As her platoon marched closer to the three drop ships she was able to get a better number count.

Lt Breanne. "36 fucking ass holes in CMC armor and three dropships. Who the hell are these jokers?"

Breanne kept her rifle in a good position to aim quickly as she and her men approached the unknown group. She was partly thankful that they hadn't started firing as her platoon had only recently been placed under her command and so were little better then the militia in their state of discipline, so engaging a force as large as them was a very bad situation. Even if the Lts platoon had a few Vultures they were still outnumbered 2 to 1. Things would be very different if her platoon had the siege tanks and Goliath's they would normally have but the situation regrettably negated that.

Lt Breanne cursed as she saw the psi-emitter being loaded up into one of the dropships. Luckily she had also told her platoons dropship to stay around too after she saw the unknown groups dropships before landing. As she approached the unknown group she noticed the emblem on their armor and the dropships identifying them as a mercenary group she knew that go's by the name Hammer Security.

Corporal Smith Punn. "Mercs here? What the hell's going on Lt?"

Glancing to squad ones commanding officer LT Breanne asked her self the same thing. "That's my line. Now stow the chatter and follow my orders trooper. Don't shoot unless fired upon. You all here me." The last thing the Lt wanted was a unnecessary gun fight if it could be avoided. At least while she was on the side with the fewer numbers and lack of firepower.

"Sir yes sir." the platoon replied.

Coming to a stop at the foot of the Mercs dropship ramps LT Breanne shot the five mercs at the top of the ramp a look that could freeze water solid. If her helmet was up they would have seen it.

Lt Breanne. "What the fuck are mercs doing here? I'm ordering you to explain yourselves right now by the authority of the Confederate military!"

Graven Hill whistled at the platoon standing in front of him. Even in a normal situation he would never want to engage a confederate platoon even if they were under-manned and under-equipped like these guys seem to be. But considering the Zerg were coming he had little time to chit chat.

"Sorry miss Lieutenant Breanne but me and my boys have a contract to complete and we'd rather not get gnawed on by those nasty Zerg creatures so were leaving before they get here."

For a full three seconds LT Breanne was both shocked and confused at how this merc knows her. Recomposing herself she leveled her rifle at the merc. "I also have my orders which are to retrieve THAT device. Now tell me how you know my name now!"

Hill sighed knowing he's wasting time. But He also knew personal survival normally wins out when a soldiers commanding officers abandon them to literal monsters. "Lieutenant. Neither of us have the time to stand around and gawk so if you want to be our escorts I would really appreciate it. Other wise unwanted company will... "

"Gah!" A Hydralisk spine hit one of the confederate marines in the back. Everyone turned around to the sight of a snake like creature staring at them a hundred meters away with ten other smaller creatures running passed it, at them. Very quickly.

Confederate Marine. "What the fuck!"

The Confederate marines opened fire on the Zerglings but even more appeared from between the nearby buildings. They pounced on two marines and started ripping into them. Another marine turned to shoot them but one Zergling grabbed his rifles tip redirecting its fire up while another Zergling placed a calw into the marines face plate. Other marines turned at the Zerglings and fired ripping them to pieces at such close range. The Confederate marines fire was scattered as the Zerg kept coming. LT Breanne shouted orders to cover their flanks as the Zerg started surrounding them.

Hill actually knowing what he's up against thanks to the magistrate quickly ordered his men to target the Hydralisk quickly gunning it down. But not a second later five more appeared to the east atop a hill a little higher the them and rained death on them. One merc and three Confederate marines died to the snipers fire. Then the merc with the extended but stock and bayonet on his rifle aimed at the Hydralisks and took a shallow breath before pulling the trigger.

"Bang" A Hydralisks head exploded.

"Bang" Another's exploded.

"Bang" And a third.

More gun fire joined in and the Hydralisk were taken out in half a minute. Hill rallied his men and they joined the Confederate's.

Gunfire and shrill shrikes echoed through the town for half a hour before the Zerg attack was dealt with but Hill knew that was only the beginning. After moving the bodies of the dead on to the drop ships and giving them a quick systems check Hill and his mercs were ready to leave.

Lt Breanne grabbed Hill by the armored shoulder. "Hold it! I have orders to retrieve that device and I...'"

Hill batted the Lt's hand away and turned to her. "Listen the longer we argue here the longer the Zerg have to come for us. We all need to move now! I also have my orders like you. BUT. From what I've been told my employer seems to know a whole lot more about these monsters then you or the Confederate military. I know what the Psi-emitter is and what it does. It drew those monsters here and now some of your men and mine are dead. So unless you want to fight off another wave like that one stay hear and be my guest. As for me and my men were leaving." Hill turned around to walk away but stopped turning back a moment. "Oh and the location were heading to is a place called White Rock base. Feel free to follow us if you want."

Gritting her teeth Lt Breanne squeezed her rifle. Hill may be a pain in the ass but he did have a point. It would be stupid move to stay and starting a fire fight with the mercs to get the Psi-emitter was also a bad move, especially now with more of her men down. She turned around to her platoon and marched through their formation.

"Listen up were leaving and following those mercs. Grab the dead and bring them to the dropship."

Her platoon took a moment to share some glances with each other before doing as ordered.

The 417th platoon hauled there dead back to the dropship which was luckily unharmed as it was off in the opposite direction from where the Zerg had attacked from. The engines of all four dropships roared to life raising them off the ground. Once fifty meters of the deck they hit their afterburners and sped away. Below a horde of Zerg numbering a few hundred including some Mutalisk entered the area of Oasis base just as the Terrans sped away out of sight.

-Mar Sara City SpacePort-

Marines in a bunker fired at a incoming wave of Zerglings gunning them down long before they even came close. At the northern part of the space ports defense line a mixed squad of Marines and Firebats moved up gunning down Hydralisk and Zerglings. Any that got through the hail of bullets were met buy a wall of flame from the Firebats.

Magistrate Reid looked at her map showing the evacuation rate of completion. Half of the population had been evacuated thanks to the dropships. And the mercs were doing a great job escorting the evacuating groups of people to the spaceport and keeping the Zerg from gathering in overwhelming numbers as they make their way through the city. But Haruka knew everyone couldn't be saved. But with the mercs and the psi-emitter being moved to White Rock where a certain person is hopefully the death count will remain at a minimal.

Adjutant Marry. "Warning! Large Zerg wave in coming from the south east."

Haruka. "Platoons four and nine move to the south east entrance and reinforce it. Siege tanks of platoons five and one move to the rear of the space port. SCV squads keep those bunkers in top shape. Vultures scatter two lines of spider mines at the rear entrance."

As Haruka leaned over her command screen giving orders she started to wonder if not using her own powers was the right call. If she undid the Void cloak which keeps her psionic powers from being detected by the Zerg she could easily draw the Zerg to her and fight them off while the evacuation continued under Her Adjutants command. Then a womans calm voice called out to her.

"Haruka." Ellen's mental call made Haruka straighten up.

At Ellen's location at White Rock Base she kneeled a deep dark pit wearing her Pretorien symbiote armor. Using her Aura she lifted a massive ball if dirt up and thew it off to the side revealing a small glowing metal fragment in the dirt below. Reaching out with a aura tentacle she pulled the fragment out of the dirt. As it rested in her hands it illuminated her with soft blue light indicating that it was made from Ragnite. It was a triangular shaped block one meter thick and wide with two grooved lines on its sides and the spiral emblem of the Forerunners or Valkyrur depending on who you ask. On its top and bottom.

Ellen. "Don't get distracted and make a mistake. Were at a delicate point in time. If we interfere fear too much a lot can change that we can't predict. We will and have already changed history in the Koprulu sector remember. But now we must be patient and wait for the right moment to strike. The Overmind is a formidable enemy and we can't afford a mistake. Otherwise he may just ruin our plans. And then theres the Dark Templar, Tassadar, and Artanis to consider; not to mention the events that come after the OverMinds death."

In her Office Haruka breathed in and out calming herself. "Right. Gotta keep things together and focus. Well deal with things as the come. Won't we. My other half."

At White Rock Ellen formed a pair of aura wings and flew out of the pit she had dug to get at the Keystone piece long buried here. She landed at the edge of the deep fifty meter wide pit. She glanced back down at the dark abyss she had been digging while everything else was going on the planet. After regaining a Valkyrurs body and having it infused with high concentrations of Ragnite which was five times more than what her original body had; Ellen spent her time training on aura control and developing stealth abilities for decades. And eventually she discovered how to tap into Void energy and use it to keep herself from being detected by the Overmind his Cerebrates and his swarm. Haruka had also learned how to do this to a lesser degree.

But this achievement showed Ellen that a Valkyrur could learn any and perhaps all psionic abilities if given enough time and training. Perhaps this was a quality of the Valkyrur that set them apart from all others who held psionic abilities.

Ellen wrapped herself in a cape of her own aura. "One piece down. Four to go."

As she admired the piece of alien engineering Ellen felt a odd connection to the device much like the Valkyrur arms (lances and shields) but.. different. She was quite glad that Haruka shared the information she knew from the StarCraft 2 history in her own universe. And with the discovery of the keystone fragment the validity of it was confirmed to be truth for this universe, which meant that Ellen's planes can move forwards. However that doesn't mean Amon and Samir will sit back and wait. Ellen and Haruka didn't even know if Amon was around as in the lore of the game Amon was dead up to the point when Karaggin was turned back into a human. Mostly. And her power used to resurrect Amon. But with this universe being what it is that might not be the case.

But since one of the Keystone pieces was on Mar Sara Ellen and Haruka decided that the best time to collect it was during the Zerg attack. Haruka would make sure she was the Magistrate and help Raynor and the Sons of Korhal while Ellen would collect the Keystone fragments.

Ellen looked up at the sky sensing the tens of thousands of Zerg across the planet. "Now those mercs just have to get here and place the psi-emitter and then I can have some real fun." Ellen turned around and walked off to one of the buildings. "While their on their way I'll get something to eat."

-Hammer Security Dropship-

Merdith Jernic blinked feeling groggy as she started at the metal ceiling; feeling like it was a morning after chugging a hole keg of beer. Her head felt like it was splitting open and burning at the same time.

"Ow! Ah!" She tried sitting up holding her head but just felt too weak, opting to just lay back down on the drop ships deck resting her head back on the small bundle of cloth placed for her head to rest on.

Graven Hill heard her and walked over raising his face plate. "Morning sleeping beauty. Feel any better."

Jernic moved her eyes at Hill but otherwise remained still. "Where am I?"

Hill kneeled down so she could get a better look at him. "My names Graven Hill. I'm a merc working for Hammer Securities. Me and my men were hired to retrieve you and that device over there."

Jernic paused moment before looking in the direction Hill gestured in. Her eyes went wide seeing the psi-emitter set between two mercs in black CMC armor. "AH!"

She shot up startled. Hill placed a hand on her shoulder trying to keep her from doubling over as the head-ach was still there. "Easy there your still not feeling too great I see."

Hill supported her as she held her head while she recovered from the grogginess. "We.. I.. uh. Thanks. But." Jernic standing on her own two feet felt a little better and pushing away from Hill was grateful that it wasn't the confederate forces that had found her. But that begs the question how did a bunch of mercs find her and for what purpose. "Hill is it. Could I have a comms set. I need to get in contact with my people.."

Hill gave a curt smile and nodded calling over unarmored merc to give him a comms headset.

Jernic. "Thanks." Jernic turned to find a more private spot in the cramped dropship but then turned back to Hill. "Uh who is it your work for?"

Hill shrugged. "Beats me. We were hired and communicate through a middle man, er woman named Marry something."

Jernic. "I... see" Jernic walked to a corner of the cargo pod for some privacy. She had read Hills mind and he indeed knew nothing about the person who hired him. But whoever it was they had deep pockets as they had hired several other mercenary groups as well as gathered a number of transport shuttles. Jernic didn't know who could have such resources or the ability to use them on Mer Sara during this time of crisis but she was starting to have some ideas.

-Hyperion Bridge-

-High Orbit Over Mar Sara-

Mengsk watched on the holo-table as his forces reached the Mar Sara city space port. Many of the transports the magistrate had, had already been moving people off world already. Their presence on world at the time seemed a little too convenient as if the Magistrate somehow knew that the Zerg were coming. Maybe she was a telepath or precog or something. But Mengsk was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. The more lives saved would only bolster the Sons of Korhal reputation and help in getting more recruits to fight the Confederacy that had not only ordered he murder of his family but was responsible for the genocide of Korhal and all 35 million of its people. There was a beep on the emergency comms and the officer turned to Mengsk.

"Sir there's a priority transmission from one of our agents on Mar Sara."

Mengsk took a few seconds to think over who it could be. "What's their ID code."

The officer looked at his comms screen. "1.2.9. Tango-Alpha Gamma."

Mengsk recognised it as belonging to the agent who the stolen psi-emitter was given to for analysis. "Open a comms line. And make sure it's secure."

"Yes sir," the comms officer replied. He typed in a few commands on his screen.

Mengsk leaned over the tactical table in the middle of the bridge. The picture of a woman with dark eyes and hair. "Sir i'm Merdith Jernic a agent on Mar Sara. I'm reporting in with important information." Jernic looked off screen a moment. "I'm currently being transported along with the Device by a group of Hammer Security mercenaries. Requesting extraction."

Mengsk raised a hand to his chin thinking on the best course of action and what these mercs were doing. "Hold a minute miss Jernic. I'll contact a... acquaintance of mine." Mengsk put Jernic on hold muting her line and contacted the Magistrate. Another screen popped on partly over Jernics screen, showing Magistrate Reid.

"Yeah Mengsk what is it? I'm kind of busy at the moment." A explosion was heard in the back-round along with continues gun fire.

Mengsk. "I've been contacted by one of my agents on Mar Sara. They say that a group of mercs under... some ones employ... has taken her and a certain device into their custody. Do you know anything about this?"

On screen the Magistrate shrugged with a smirk. "Yeap. The mercs are mine. I also found out about that little device a while ago before I arrived on Mar Sara. Supposedly the Confederacy had been experimenting on the Zerg with their own Ghost agents for awhile now. But I didn't know the location of the facility they use to make the psi-emitter until I arrived here. I intercepted some confederate transmissions and military reports concerning a theft of top secret technology and traced it to Oasis base where my guys picked it up... along with your agent apparently. Oh and a confederate platoon is following them."

Grumbling at the information Mengsk shook his head. "Thanks for the forwardness Magistrate. But if I may ask what is it you intend to do with the device?"

"I think that the Zerg are on Mar Sara because of the Psi-emitter. So if its activated on full power in a isolated location it will draw the bulk of the Zerg to that location."

Mengsk. "And give us more time to evacuate the civilians correct."

Magistrate Reid. "Yes. I also plan on recruiting those Confederate marines that were ordered to retrieve the device. But thats if they survive of course."

Mengsk. "Again im thankful for your forwardness. See you after the evacuation Magistrate."

Haruka nodded and her screen blinked off.

Mengsk returned to Jernic transmission screen. "Agent Jernic your are to cooperate with the mercenaries for the moment. Once your off world rejoin us at the staging location at Antiga Prime. I have a feeling those mercenaries will be more acommadating if you ask real nice."

"I understand sir."

Mengsk cut the transmission and turned to another screen on the tactical table display. It showed a group of drops ships docking with the Prison ship Merrimack who were on a mission to rescue Raynor and his militia as well as steal the ship on request of the Magistrate.

-Merrimack Prison ship, Converted Leviathan-class battlecruiser -

-Orbit Over North Pole-

Captain Elias Tudbury a captain in the Colonial Fleet for close to fifteen years now stood on his bridge along with a skeleton crew of five officers on the bridge with him. They were the only ones left on the ship while everyone else had been steadily shipped out after the destruction of Chau Sara. Tudbury was not a bleeding heart and cared more for his own life and so wanted to join the rest of his crew in evacuating and leave the prisoners to their fate.

In fact at this point he was down right willing to disobey orders and enguadge the ships warp engine and leave the system. But then again with a bucket of bolts like the Merrimack he wouldn't get very far before the confederate military found him and executed him for dereliction of his duties. Then something happened to break the boredom of his post.

"Sir we're detecting a shuttle on approach." said the comm officer.

Tudbury instantly thought of how he could finally get off this boat and leave. He didn't think much about traps or ambushes at this point he just wanted off this flying death trap. " Has it given proper ID verification?"

Comm officer. "I'm getting a garbled transmission but its being scrabbled by interference from solar radiation. All i'm getting is thats its numbered as shuttle 5467."

Tudbury just went with it. "Disengage the point defense weapons and unseal dock 12. It's probably just our ride out of here. Better late then never."

In Prison Cell 201 Raynor and two cell mates played a game of cards as it was the only thing to do and they were going stir crazy from cabin fever. Being in space wasn't all that bad but Raynor prefurred having boots on the ground or at least not being locked up. The claustrophobia was only as bad as it was because of not knowing what was happening outside the ship. Not that Raynor or his men were claustrophobic but being locked in a small cell on a old ship that's been stripped of most of its systems only added to the fear of something going wrong. Be it on the ocean or in space a leaky boat is a leaky boat.

A series of bangs and clanks drew Raynors attention as the door to the local cell block was opened and a group of men walked down the hall. They stopped at the middle of the cell block and another by the door typed a series of commands into the security controls opening all the cells in the cell block.

"Mister Raynor I'm here to get you and all of your men off this ship." said a man in a brown choat a pair of glasses, earrings and a ID card hanging from his neck.

Raynor. "Aren't you that Reporter I rescued a while back. Liberty... something."

"The names Michael Liberty and I do feel a little insulted that your don't remember me."

Raynor. "Sorry. Thanks for the rescue. Guess were even now."

"No need to thank me. Let's just get all of you off this ship first."

Everyone on the ship was transported to the waiting shuttle but as they loaded up Michael Liberty and two other men made a detour to the bridge. Raynor never the one to leave men behind and not knowing what they were up to hoped out of the drop ship just as its ramp was closing and went after Liberty. After a few minutes of looking he found them on the bridge working on what was left of the comms.

Raynor. "Liberty what's going on I thought we were all leaving this bucket of bolts?"

Liberty surprised turned to Raynor as he approached. "Raynor? Uh sorry but we have another mission to complete. But since your here just sit back and watch."

Raynor looked over the man playing with the wires of a mobile comm unit as he connected it to the ships communications terminal. "So... what are you doing anyway?"

Liberty. "Trying to fix the ship's main comm array. The ship was striped of most communication except for a comms thats isolated from the rest of the ship to prevent hacking. Were trying to fix that."

Raynor. "And what will that do?"

As Raynor said that the comm unit connected to the mobile comms unit, and it started linking to the Magistrates office.

Adjutant Marry sensed the connection which she had been waiting for open up and wasted no time in infiltrating the Merrimack's systems. In the span of a minute she had taken complete control of the ships systems and even upgraded the operating software with the same improvements that she has had. She sensed the few Terrans that were on the ship and noted Raynor was one of them. She opened a comm line to them.

"To Raynor and the others on the Merrimack. I am Marry a Adjutant. I have taken control of this vessel and am in the process of preparing to test its warp engine. Please brace yourselves."

Raynor and the others look at each other a moment before doing as the lady suggested quickly taking any available seats. Everyone buckled and waited several minutes. Then the whole ship shook as it engaged it warp engine. A moment later it disappeared into warp space.

-Valkyrie Vixen following Hammer Security Dropships In route to White Rock Base-

Lt Breanne fumed at the situation. If her platoon was properly equipped with Siege tanks and more Vultures she wouldn't have had to back down from directly engaging these punk mercs.

Lt Breanne. "Who the hell hired these guys anyway?"

She had tried reporting back to her superior after taking off after the mercs but only got a automated transmission saying the confederate forces were abandoning the planet. Meaning most if not all of the confederate forces had already left the system. Abandoning her mission really wasn't the problem now. Even if they did the dropship didn't have any FTL capability and scanning the comms line for any friendly ships got nothing but static. So the only way the platoon could possible survive the current FUBAR situation was to stay with the mercs for the time being and hope they had a way off world.

The pilot of the dropship looked back at the Lt. "Ma'am those mercs are landing at what looks like a base of some kind."

The Lt moved to the cockpit. "Way are they landing here in the middle of nowhere? Marz get them on the line."

Marz. "Yes ma'am."

As the three Hammer Security dropships landed Lt Breannes opened a communiqa with Hill.

Lt Breanna. "Hill what the hell are you up to?"

Graven Hill. "Nice to hear from you Lieutenant. Were just dropping the bug bait here and booking it before they get here is all. Once we activate the psi-emitter this place is going to become bug central real soon. So don't bother landing."

Lt Breanna. "What! Why the hell are you doing that here. Unless? Your intentionally drawing those things here and away from the cities so they can be evacuated?"

Breanna heard the clapping of metal hands over the comms. "You got it. And that's the mission we we're assigned. Once we got this set up were booking it to orbit to meet up with our boss. If you want off this planet and enjoy living I suggest you come with."

Lt Breanna. Growled at the impossible situation and choice. It wasn't a choice of stay or leave it was leave or die. "Ah... Fine were coming along with you. But just so you know i'm not joining any damn rebels if you work for the Sons of Korhal."

Hill. "As far as I know their not paying for our services."

Over White Rock Lt Breanne watched as the dropship carrying the Psi-emitter dropped into a deep pit for a few minutes before flying out again and kept flying up out of the atmosphere followed by the other two merc drop ships.

Lt Breanna. "Hit the damn gass Marz and follow them!"

Tegis Marz. "Yes ma'am!"

Pushing the crafts throttle to it's max the Dropship accelerated upwards gaining pace with the Mercs. After a few minutes of accelerating they finally broke through the atmosphere and a few minutes after that they were drifting between Mar Sara and one of its moons.

Lt Brennan. "Ok Hill what's the plan now?" she transmitted.

Hill. "We were told to come to these coordinates after dropping off the psi-emitter."

A few moments passed, but before the Lt could start complaining a ship came out of warp appearing a hundred kilometers away. It accelerated towards them and came in close enough to be seen by bar eyes. It was old and beat up looking but it was still better the nothing.

"Hello people need a ride."

A voice said over a open comms line. Lt Breanne gave a private internal sigh of relief as her platoon was more boustris about their rescue.

Lt Breanna. "Yes we do. Do we have permission to dock."

The same man's voice replied. "Sure come aboard. We don't have much but were mobile and have life support."

After a few minutes the confederate platoon and the Mercs were all docked on the ship. Lt Breanna and Hill were called to the bridge by who she figured was the captain. The bridge's double doors opened as both Hill and the Lt entered. Only four men were on the bridge on the bridge. Lt Breanne kept silent for the moment as she didn't know the whole situation.

A man with black hair and brown eyes turned to them.

Raynor. "I'm Mar... well (shrugg) former Marshal James Raynor. Now i'm the temporary captain of this ship."

Hill. "Mister Raynor how's it looking on the surface?"

Raynor walked a few steps to the tactical display table. Hill and the Lt followed focusing on a map of the planet showing Mar Sara city under attack by thousands of Zerg. However many more tens of thousands were leaving and moving to a base named White Rock on the display.

Hill. "Well it looks like our mission was a success."

Raynore. "So getting all those nasties to leave the evacuating civilians alone was your doing."

Hill meet Ryanors eyes. "Yeah. Mere just mercs but saving people always feels good. That and getting payed for it is a cherry on top."

Raynor. "Well you did good. (Raynor turned to Lt Brenna) Now then why's a Confederate here with you?"

Lt Breanna. "My platoon was given a mission to retrieve the Psi Emitter that" Breanna growled "Hill... and his men stole out from under us."

Hill. "Hey now. We got to it first fare and square."

Lt Breanna. "It's Confederate property. And if my platoon had any Siege tanks and Goliath's you and your men would already be stains on the ground."

Hill laughed. "Hahaha. Well your one to speak your mind. I'm starting to lick you."

Lt Breanne stood up straighter in part shock and disgust. "You WHAT me!"

Hill realising he had said lick instead of like felt like the kid who walked to school without his pants on. "Uh sorry I ment like. It was a slip of the tongue."

Raynor gave a short laugh before holding up his hands. "Now now let's not start fighting ya here. We all have been nearly killed by those Zerg so lets not finish the jobs for em ok."

Lt Breanne sighed turning around and walking to the door. "I'll be with my men."

Raynor turned to Hill and they couldn't help but laugh.

The comms officer turned to Raynor. "Uh, Raynor were recieveing a transmission from the surface."

Raynor getting himself together glanced at the officer. "Put it through. Hehe."

On the tactical table the image of magistrate Reid blinked on. "Raynor. I see your on my ship."

Raynor. "I'm just keeping it warm for ya. How goes the evacuation?"

Magistrate Reid. "Its nearly completed. We've got nearly the whole population off world thanks to the Sons of Korhal. But the last of the evacuees haven't been loaded up yet. That and some damn Mutalisk destroyed a few dropships. Luckily only the pilots were killed." The magistrate sighed.

Raynor. "Mutalisks?"

Magistrate Haruka. "Their the classification given to flying Zerg units. Nasty little bastards. Anyway can you move to geostationary orbit over Mar Sara city. That ship has plenty of room for us."

Raynor nodded. "Will do." Raynor looked to the navigation Officer. "Take us into stationary orbit over Mar Sara city."

Navigation officer. "Yes sir."

The engines of the Merrimack ignited propelling it forwards. In just 4 minutes they were in orbit over Mar Sara city and a stream of shuttles and Drop ships carrying civilians quickly started docking and undocking as they off loaded civilians. After half a hour of this the last of the civilians were loaded up and just a small battalion of marines and the Magistrate remained on the planets surface.

-Mar Sara Magistrates office-

Haruka and a squad of marines entered the office.

Haruka. "Grab the Adjutant and be careful."

The marines moved over to the half cylinder holding said Adjutant and released the lockes disconnecting it from the floor. With a heave the device was wrenched up and off the ground. Haruka took the middle position as her marines flanked her on all sides. Exiting the building a hail of spines racked the guards outside. Some died and others returned fire at he Hydralisks down the street. More gun fire broke out on the other side of the convoy waiting outside the magistrates office. Marines and firebats gunned down and burned any Zerg that got close as the Adjutant was loaded onto the transport.

As the numbers of Zerg increased more Marines died tackled by Zerglings piercing their face plates or Hydralisk penetrating their armor. Haruka hopped into her Siege tank and ordered the operators to aim at the group of Zerg down he street. The 180mm crucio shock cannons aimed up a little and fired blasting a clustered group of Hydralisk and two dozen Zerglings into bloody confetti.

Haruka. "Thats it people lets move out!"

At the order the troops abandoned their positions and ran. Marching along the road way. Just a few minutes later another group Zerglings poured from in between some buildings after them. The siege tanks rotated its turret at the center of the horde and fired. In one blast fifty more Zerg were turned to paste or wounded. But the tank continued firing as the Zerg kept coming and then a few marines were tackled by Zerglings. The rest of the marines just kept running while the men disappeared behind a tide of claws and fangs screaming over the comms as they died.

Haruka was getting down right frustrated as the losses before getting a idea. The Siege tanks main guns were pretty good at keeping the Zerg at bay but they can't fire at close range because of friendly fire and some genius didn't place machine guns on them soo. "Marines hop on the Siege tanks."

It was a simple order and one the Marines didn't hesitate to carry out. The tanks were already going slow dew to the abandoned vehicles in the streets that the tanks had to plow through giving the marines the chance to hop on to their track pods. Some marines hopped onto the turrets others the track pods but all of them could now shoot on the move and not worry about getting jumped on. From their new vantage points the marines rained death on the attacking Zerg as they appeared at random as the convoy moved through the city.

A marine shot a hydralisks right arm off aimed again and placed a full burst into its skull spraying blood up into the air as the body fell. "This is better but why the hell aren't we taking a dropship. It would be so much faster."

Hearing the banter over the comms Haruka sighed. "Because the Hydralisk and Mutalisk could shoot it down since we don't have any Wraiths to escort it." she replied.

After miles of riding in her Siege tank Haruka finally reached the space port. As soon as she arrived she ordered all the confederate Marines, Firebats and mercs to leave in the the remaining Dropships. Walking with haste Haruka and the last Marines loaded up onto the last Dropship while the others took off. Haruka looked back out the dropships rear ramp as a group of Zerglings charged at them.

"Close the ramp!"

A marine beside the ramp controls hit the big red button. And with a hiss the ramp closed. The dropships engines flared full power lifting the craft off the ground just as the Zerglings reached it. They jumped meters in the air only to fall short and fall back down. They bit and snapped at the air in frustration as their prey left. But then their sensitive psionic senses refocused on the constant hum in their minds and with no other prey to attack they ran after the call of the psi-emitter.

-Merrimack Leaving Mar Sara Orbit-

Haruka stepped onto the bridge followed by two Marines carrying the Adjutant. Raynor and Michal Liberty turned to her.

Raynor. "It's good to see that your ok Magistrate."

Magistrate Haruka. "It's nice to see you too Raynor. But after this I'm most definitely not a magistrate anymore so just call me miss Reid. Or Haruka if you prefere."

Raynor flinched as if embarrassed. "I think Haruka will do."

Giving a short laugh at Rayors expense Michael Liberty turned to Haruka. "Heh. So well what's our destination miss Reid."

Haruka looked over at the two marines as they finished up attaching the Adjutant into the floor socket that the ships last Adjutant was located before it was removed when the ship was converted into a prison ship.

Haruka. "Marry get Mengsk on the line."

The Adjutants eyes lit up. "Connecting."

On the tactical table a screen blinked on showing Mengsk. "It's good to know that the two of you are faring well after the evacuation."

Raynor. "So your Mengsk. Thanks for springing me and my boys from prison. Well from the cells anyway seeing as were still on this ship. Why are we on this old rust bucket again? "

Haruka. "Because I want it. And a ship is still a ship." Haruka turned to Mengsk. "You look like your got something to say Mengsk."

Mengsk grunted. "Hmp. I do actually. Now that Mar Sara is almost completely overrun by the Zerg and the Confederates abandoned the planet were following suit. But before we go there's a opportunity open to us."

Michael Liberty. "And what exactly would that be?"

Mengsk. "There's a confederate outpost called the Jacobs installation. From our Intel it supposedly has advanced weapons schematics and sensitive intel. Raynor. Mister Liberty. I would like it if your two took a few squad's down to it and retrieved anything you can find."

Raynor shifted crossing his arms. "After the shit the confederates put me and my men through; and Mar Sara over run by those Zerg it's not like I got anywhere else to go so i'm in."

Michaels Liberty placed a finger on the bridge of his glasses pushing them up. "Information is a valuable resource. Even in war. I'm sure that facility has quite a bit waiting to be uncovered."

Mengsk. "Good to hear it."

Haruka. "And what about me?"

Mengsk gave a smile that sent shivers down Harukas spine. "You miss Haruka... or rather Commander. If you want you can lead the raid from on board the Merrimack."

Haruka shrugged. "Commander huh? If you two don't have anything against me being your commander that is I'll be more than happy to take the position."

Both Raynor and Michael Liberty nodded and said they had no objections.

-Merrimack Armory-

Raynor and his men suited up in the ships newly refurbished armory that had been hastily restocked with whatever weapons and CMC suits that commander Haruka currently had at her disposal. In automated changing room Raynor shifted in his CMC armor getting used to the feel of it after so long flexing his machine hands that were extended passed his real hands. Exiting the changing room He came to the weapons storage and looked at the row of gauss rifles lind up on the wall. Picking up one he hefted it in both hands examining it, loading a fresh magazine and looking down the sights. He loaded up four extra mags into the belt compartment on the lower back and feeling ready walked out quickly followed by eighteen other former Mar Sara militia. The one exception was Liberty who was a former news anchor Raynor had saved during the Backwater rescue operation. Raynor barely remembered the man as they didn't talk except when Liberty thanked Him like so many of the other people there. Raynor had his reservations about a civilian joining the operation.

Raynor. "Hey you sure your ok joining us.?"

Liberty turned to awkwardly in his armored suit. "The news is where the action is at. And the truth. I would be negligent in my duties as a reporter. And I aim to report to the whole sector the truth of how the confederacy does things behind the peoples back."

Raynor shrugged. "Ok then."

The door opened and Commander Haruka entered. "Boys. Just to let you know we've upgraded your suits with stimpacks units. Figured you'd like a upgrade."

Raynor. "Thanks i'm sure we'll find a good use for them.

Commander Haruka. "Your sure you don't want any of my mercs to accompany you?"

"No i'm sure. A large force would only be slowed down while a small elite strike force would be able to get in and out quicker. If that's everything we'll be on ourway. Alright everyone let's move out."

Raynor passed Haruka leading the men to the hanager where they boarded a dropship. The hanger airlock doors closed and the room decompressed. The dropship started its engines as the doors opened to the vacuum beyond. Lifting off the deck the dropship rotated 180 degrees before accelerating out of the hanger.

Walking through the halls of her new ship commander Reid was wondering how the resident confederate forces were doing. Insubordination in the ranks was one problem she didn't need so it was best to nip it in the bud before it got out of hand. Which was way She was heading to the barracks of the 417th Confederate Marine Platoon.

Haruka turned a corner and stopped at a door with two guards watching it. Literally looking at the door from across the hallway. Which was just three and a half meters wide by the way. So while it was comfortable for none armored people it was a little tight for fully armored soldiers.

Haruka stopped at the with the two marines at her back as the door to the barracks slid open. Walking in Haruka came upon a group of men in basic green and white military fatigues. They all looked at her as she examined them.

"Where's the Lt?" Haruka asked.

Most of the men shared looks before one called their leader who yelled back from the shower in the next room. After a few minutes in which Haruka waited patiently.

Lt Breanne dryed her hair as she entered the bunk room in a tank top and camo pants that she wore under her CMC armor. "What the hell do you want?" she asked staring at Haruka.

Breanne possessed close-cropped blond hair that stood in neat bristles from a well-shaved scalp, a tight face with angular cheek bones and shining, steel-tinged eyes. In some ways Haruka could see that she was a serious marines and in others she was just as human as Haruka once was.

Haruka. "Lt Breanne my names Haruka Reid. And I'm here representing the Sons of Korhal. I was formally the magistrate sent to Mar Sara but things changed quickly."

Finishing up her hair drying Breanne placed the towel over her shoulders. "Save your speech lady me and my men aren't joining terrorist."

Haruka took a moment to look about the room. "I see. Is that a shared opinion that all of you have." Watching the rooms reaction said otherwise as to the unity of what Breanne said. She may be the leader of the platoon but unlike here they we're not as steadfastly loyal to the confederacy as she was.

"Uh miss were all from Mar Sara born and raised so were all really uh what's the word. Distressed over the fact our whole world has been overrun by those alien bastards. But after talking it out a lot of us have decided to join the sons of korhal."

Lt Breanne was livid at the blatant betrayal of her men against the confederacy. "And when the fuck did this talk happen? corporal Punn !"

From the Lt's tone she sounded like she was going to shoot the man right then and there if she had a gun which were all confiscated shortly after their arrival on the ship.

Corporal Punn hesitated a moment over the Lts yealing but he gathered the courage to speak up after glancing at Haruka who was like a stone wall looking back at him with expecting eyes. "With with all dew respect ma'am we're all just a bunch of back world nobodies that just lost our home while the confederates ran with their tails between their legs without even putting up a fight. They abandoned us and and they abandoned you too."

That last line sent the Lt reeling in shock at the truth of it and the fact she hadn't realised it herself until someone shoved the truth in her face. Clenching her teeth and balling her fists up Breanne felt like punching something as her loyalty to the confederacy was wavering in the face of complete betrayal and abandonment. She thought about decking the corporal but her common sense told her that it would only push her men further away from her and after all the work she put into whip them in to shape. Thinking it over further Breanne realised that those mercs knew a lot about her unit and its mission. Wondering about that and glancing at Haruka she asked a question.

Lt Breanne. "Miss Haruka is it you who hired the Hammer Security to interfere in our mission?"

"Yes." Harukas eyes were crimson crystals staring back at the Lt. "I had intercepted and decrypted the files to your mission and knew that in this situation with the Zerg invading the planet that it was doomed to failure. If you had three other platoons with you then it may have been a success. But the truth is that your were under equipped and under manned. The confederate officers that ordered you on that mission knew that they were evacuating and must have figured that the loss of a platoon was worth the chance to retrieve the psi-emitter. They just didn't care about any of you." Haruka could feel the mood in the room shifting and pushed further. "Just like they didn't care about the 35 million people on Korhal."

As soon as that was mentioned the whole room took notice. Even in a backwater colony like Mar Sara the news of the genocide of the whole planet of Korhal by nukes was quite well known. Haruka continued.

"They had one of their worlds rebel against them and what did they do." Haruka glanced around the room as if wanting them to finish her sentence. "Well if it was me I would have blockaded the planet and sent in ghosts to eliminate the leaders or at least create a major gap in their orbital defenses so I could land ground forces and hunt the rebels down. But seriously even if they successfully became independent I would have never even thought about destroying the planet with a bombardment." Haruka shrugged. "Reason one. Habitable planets are rare and terraforming takes time years and decades in fact and that's even if the planet has the qualities that allow habitability like being so close to the sun and having a large enough moon or moons. Reason two. Genocide is bad. And don't get me started on the waste of lives and the destruction of industry and effect on the economy. Reason three. Mass killings like that only causes a festering hate that only grows like cancer. Reason four. If our the type of person and leader that considers the loss of a planet and all it's people a small loss and only care about making them a example to others then you already failed as a leader because it. Among other things. Means your throwing your hands in the air and admitting that you give up and can't win any other way like a sour loser and cheater that thinks that if I can't win then no one will win."

The long winded speech slash explanation had a considerable effect on the platoon. Everyone was silent as they took in the words Haruka had spoken and even though she didn't want to admit it even Lt Breanne who considered herself a loyal marine felt that even her loyalty was wavering in the face of that little hammer of truth.

Haruka thought that the Lt's teeth were going to break from all the force she was applying to them. Then as if realizing the pain she was causing her self the Lt took in a few breaths and tried calming down. She then looked at Haruka and stepped closer to her. "Even so i'm loyal to the confederate state. It may not be the right thing to do but remaining loyal and not betraying my leaders is a type of honor and integrity. So you may as well shot me."

The room was so silent a pin could be heard dropping. Nobody even considered the Lt would say something like that as it was basically suicide. Normally someone would do everything to preserve their lives. Some even betraying their friends to do so. But here was the Lt openly confessing that she wouldn't help the Sons of Korhal. If they were a smart one and still loyal to the enemy then faking loyalty and becoming a double agent in this situation was the normal thing to do but not the Lt. She confessed that she would remain loyal to the confederates just on principle the of integrity alone.

Haruka took a step forwards placing herself in arms reach of the Lt. Their eyes stared into one another intently. "Loyalty and integrity huh."

As they stared at one another no one even blinked as the tension was thick enough to cut. Then Haruka started laughing and everyone relaxed as she just kept laughing for a full half minute. Even Breanne was surprised as her tension faded a bit even though she was half expecting to die right then and there. She knew that the two guards outside would have snapped her in two but not until she had at least killed Haruka and taken out a rebel commander at the least. And she was planning on doing just that and would have attacked the commander once she pulled a weapon on the Lt. But Breanne never she would be laugh at and even she was shocked.

Haruka. "Hehe ah. Your interesting. I like you. Well if you don't want to be apart of the Sons of Korhal then your could always be a mercenary."

For the first time since she was a child Breanne gave a look of utter surprise and it didn't go unnoticed by the platoon who all looked just as surprised at Harukas reply.

"A... a mercenary. You got to be joking?"

Haruka shrugged. "A little. But to be honest Lieutenant Breanne i'm not completely trusting of Mengsk. I'm joining the Sons of Korhal but only because it serves my greater goal of freeing the sector from the moronic and incompetent leadership of the Confederacy."

Lt Breanne looked at Haruka and felt as though she wasn't telling the whole truth. Namely about herself. "So you don't owe Mengsk any real loyalty?"

"I owe him for helping with the evacuation of Mar Sara but that's about it. And speaking truthfully." Haruka wrapped a arm around the Lts neck bringing her lips in close to Her ear. "I need a group of loyal people I know I can trust to have my back." Haruka whispered into the Lts ear.

Lt Breanne was a by the book marine and so she was quite unprepared for this kind of situation. Haruka was basically asking Breanne if she wanted to become her right hand woman. It was a odd situation that the Lt found herself in. It's not like she wanted to die but her sense of loyalty and integrity made her feel that betraying the confederacy was the worst thing she could do if mainly for personally motivations and personal motives. But here she was having the opportunity to be a secret agent in the Sons of Korhal and the right hand of a commander in it. If she took the job then she would be obligated to be loyal to Haruka and would need to put her loyalty to the confederacy on hold if not abandon it. Then again after realizing all the shity things the confederates did Breannes loyalty to them is already slipping justs from her sense of human decency.

Lt Breanne stood up. "Eh... if I... Join you then how is the chain of command with my platoon going to work?"

Haruka backed off a bit. "Their under your command and your under mine. You answer to me and only me. Baring a odd situation I would like you to at least consider working with a man named Raynor in the near future. He's another of the new recruits to the Sons of Korhal. And a decent man."

Lt Breanne. "Sound like a do gooder type." sigh. "Ok I'll at least think about it. But i'm not promising anything for sure yet."

Haruka nodded. "Understood." She turned around and proceeded to leave. "I'll keep in touch."

-Jacobs Installation-

The drop ship took off flying back out of the atmosphere as the danger of being shot down was too great to stay.

Raynor and Liberty both took two squads of ten people each and flanked both sides of the fifteen foot tall twenty feet wide bulkhead door. One marine connected a wireless comm unit to the port on the side of the control box connecting it to the Adjutant on the Merrimack. After it blinked a few times the giant door opened slowly. Entering the facility Raynor and Liberty both lead the mis of marine and fire bat forces along a long wide corridor.

Raynor. "Watch out for ambushes and defense turrets."

They continued down the corridor until coming to a split in the road. Turning left they proceeded forwards and came to a door. Passing through they found a machine room with three technicians working on two SCVs. One of the marines raised his rifle but Raynor grabbed it.

"Hold it now their non combatants. Don't just go shooting willy nilly."

"Eh sorry sir."

Raynor and the others approached the technicians not being noticed until they were right behind them.

"Gah! who are you!" a technician yelled jumping back in his white bodysuit.

"Please don't shoot were unarmed." another said pleading for her life.

Raynor. "Calm down we're not going to hurt you. Unless you make us that is. No could any of you tell us where the data core to this facility is?"

The technicians gave each other a glance. "Uh only of you get us out of here and off the planet. The guards are really jumpy since we were left by ourselves here and are getting trigger happy. They shot Betty and James just because they wanted to leave to try and find a transport off world."

Raynor. "Sure we'll help ya. But you can't come with us farther in so we'll have to leave you here."

Technician. "That's fine we can just wait here. But please come back for us."

Raynor. "Ok ok I get it. Now where's that data core?"

Raynor and the others moved on down the long room and up some stairs and down another corridor. Upon coming to the middle of a wide room two floor tiles on opposite sides of the room raised up revealing gun turrets.

"Turrets! left and right!"

The two rows of marines opened up on the automated turrets taking some fire that put holes in their armor but nothing fatal. Having seven C-14 gauss rifles trained on each of the turrets ripping them to pieces.

Raynor. "Gah report. Any fatalities?"

Everyone reported some damage to their armor but no serious wounds. Raynor and Liberty both agreed to use stimpacks from now on and everyone activated their suits auto-injectors. Moving on the group passed through a hallway turning right to a corridor where they met a single confederate marine with his back turned to them. He was all jumpy like the technicians said. A round through the back of his head put him down. Proceeding forwards the group cut their way through two groups of enemy marines before arriving at a large room with a Goliath patrolling in a lower floor area with two marines.

Raynor made a silent hand sign to split up and take it from both sides. The bipedal robot walked in a square pattern around the lower room with the two marines walking behind it.

Raynor and Liberty moved their two groups to the extreme north and south of the hallway overlooking the lower area. Keeping to a laying in a pron position so as not to be seen at this angle. They waited for the Goliath to get to the middle closest point between the two groups. Then they sprang up opening fire open from both back and front. The gatling guns of the Goliath showering Liberty and his mens position with gun fire. Then Raynor and his men sprang up quickly gunning down the two enemy marines waiting behind the Goliath. Then they turned their fire upon the metal walker bringing it down in a few moments of concentrated fire. The Goliath's armor maybe twice the thickness of a CMC armor but even it can't withstand seven gauss rifles firing at one point.

Raynor and the rest continued to push their way farther into the facility as fire fight broke out for frequently with automated turrets and confederate marines. Eventually they came to a pair of technicians by a locked doorway.

"Your not Confederate marines. Who are you?" one man demanded.

Raynor. "The names James Raynor and were not with the confederates. If any of you want off this planet then your always welcome to come with us."

"Rebel scum!" Said one technician as he ran to a wall with a alarm button.

One of the marines took aim and shot blasting the man's torso in half. What a gauss rifle can do to a unarmored human was truly horidious. As the two halves of the man hit the deck bleeding all over as the second man fell on his ass in fright.

Raynor looked at the marine that took the shot.

"What he was going to hit the alarm."

Raynor. "I got you had no choice." Raynor turned to the second technician. "So what's your choice then."

The man nodded pledingally. "Uh i'll do anything you want ok just don't hurt me."

Raynor told the man to meet him at the SCV hanger with the others. Before he left the man told Raynor that top secret research subjects were in the next room and to be careful. The man left and Raynor turned to the security consual. Hitting the open switch the wide doors opened up. Liberty and his squad moved over to the open to see what was inside and found five Zerglings. Four Firebats raised their Perdition flamethrowers roasting the beasts.

Raynor. "Zerg here? I don't believe this."

While Micheal Liberty took photos a commlink opened from the Hyperion were Mengsk had been monitoring the mission. "Believe it Raynor. I've seen Zerg in Confederate holding pens. And that was a year ago. It's clear that the confederates knew of these creatures for some time. For all we know they could be breeding the damn things."

Haruka cut in on the banter from her bridge on the Merrimack. "That's debatable. We just don't know enough about the creatures. And then there's the other aliens the Protoss. They must know much more about the Zerg than us. Perhaps the reason they destroyed Chau Sara was because the Zerg are also hostial to them and have been around for a long time and just recently came across us Terrans?"

Mengsk. "Hm. You got a point commander. But be that as it may we have more important things to focus on at the moment."

Raynor. "Don't you mean me and my men. Were the one's on the ground."

Haruka. "Right Jim. You and your men get to it now. We appreciate all your hard work."

Raynor rolled his eyes. "Thanks."

Raynor and Micheal continued on their way through the facility gunning down any security personal they encountered and had to play around with some teleport pads that sent them across the facility. Eventually they reached the data core room and blasted the door open with some detonation charges. As soon as the door blew a gun fight ensued. Raynor seeing a pillar that would give cover told his men to give him some cover fire. He ran to the pillar and shot from behind the new flanking position taking out two confederate Marines. The rest turned on him shredding the pillar as Raynor took cover behind it. Micheal and his men fired at the backs of the confederate marines taking them out. But before any celebration could be made the heads of two marines exploded in their armor.

"What the hell!" was the final words of another militia member in Micheal's group as his head was exploded by a gauss rifle.

Raynor sensing something bad leaned out from behind the pillar seeing across the room that several of Micheal's men were getting to cover behind pillars on their side of the room but then a invisible force pulled them out from cover and then they would be one shotted by a sniper.

Raynor. "Damn." He got on his comms to Micheal Liberty. "Hey Micheal that's a ghost. Wee going to have to pull a rabbit out of our hats to take him out."

Micheal Liberty. "Great. What do you suggest. Your the professional soldier?"

Raynor started thinking and regretted not taking any hand grenades when he had the chance. Then he asked Micheal. "Hey do you have any grenades?"

Micheal. "Yeah. a few."

Raynor. "Good tosh me some."

Micheal and Raynor went over the plane as the others gave them time to formulate a plane. But as they did three more of their men died to the ghosts psionic powers and sharpshooting. Then when they were in place Raynor thosed his grenade at the ghosts position behind the main Computer banks. The ghost sensed the danger and just threw the grenade back with his telekinesis. The grenade exploded mid air which was the signale for Micheal and his men to through their grenades.

The ghost just threw them back and got a hail of rifle fire as he did so. Being more causes he then sensed that someone was coming from his right and aimed at the corner. Raynor peaked out from behind cover and got half his face plate shot off. But the ghost was distracted enough to have overlooked the three marined charging at him from behind. At least long enough for the rebel marines to get him in their sights. Sensing them at the last second the ghost cloaked disappearing from view. The marines fired at where the ghost was but hit nothing.

The ghost sneaked to their side unsheathing his monomolecular combat knife he leaped onto the back of a marine. He jabbed the blade into the mans skull through the top of his helmet. The ghost jumped off the armored corpse and stabbed the next man in the gut slashing through his armor and intestines. The marine groaned in pain but the stimpacks gave him the extra boost he needed to grab the ghost by the wrist and throw him into the wall. The ghost recovered just as the third marine aimed at him. The two fired at the same time but the marines skull exploded from a perfect headshot. But the Ghosts own body was shot through in the next moment from Raynor's rifle. He had been watching and trying to pin the ghosts location down and the muzzle flashes of his own rifle finally gave him away. Those marines didn't die for nothing.

Raynor. "Tend to the wounded."

Micheal and the others got out their med packs and started doing the best they can for the wounded while Raynor got the date from the computer core.

Raynor. "Hey Commander. I got those plans. We'll be ready for pick up in ten."

After getting the files downloaded onto the data crystals (because who use's disks these days am I right) everyone left the facility picking up those technicians as they went.

-Chapter End-