-Chapter 24-
-The Big Push Part 2-
Swarms of missiles numbering in the hundreds launched from the ground facility Kerrigan and Arret had just taken over. Their flight pattern splitting into two groups each exiting the atmosphere as they flew towards two of the three orbital defense platforms. Thinking that the launch was directed to another target the personnel of both stations felt confident if a little surprised by the launch.
"Hey way's all those missiles launching?" asked a station radar operator.
"Lieutenant contact central command about this. I want to know why those missile's launched!" said the platforms commanding officer.
"Yes sir." replied the com operator.
Another radar officer continued monitoring the path's of the missiles plotting their future course around the planets orbit, reaching a fearful conclusion that they would hit the orbiting platform.
"Sir!" she shouted standing up, fear in her voice. "The missiles there..."
"What is it? Leena." the commanding officer shouted not feeling up to hearing another fals rader report from the girl that called wolf. "Don't tell me it's another stray asteroid again!"
"No sir it's the missiles their on a collision course with us!" Leena shouted at the top of her lungs.
Everyone in the room seemed shocked as if the thought of their own missiles being aimed at them was a impossibility. But yet when the others plotted the path's of the missiles reaching the same conclusion.
"She's right sire the missiles are heading straight for us." said the first rader officer.
"Sir" The com operator said catching his commanding officers attention. "High command says they never authorised missile launch"
The commanding officer tightened his fist wondering what the hell was going on. Could it be a miss launch caused by a malfunction, a renegade officer even though such are rear. Or perhaps a foreign agent had infiltrated the launch facility. Whatever the case he needed to act quickly. The F.O.F (Friend Or Foe) identification system in confederate missiles will make the automatic targeting systems of the space platform ignore the incoming missiles.
"Manually target the missiles!" the commanding Officer shoutd. "Shoot them down."
The station command staff typed for their lives inputting commands to tell the many laser turrets across the station to fire on the supposedly friendly missiles. The turrets slowly turned towards the missiles firing a focused barraged of burning light. But it was already too late even as dozens of missiles were shot out of the sky-less void every second many others got passed. six missiles impacted the platform. Their hardened neo-steel tips penetrating the hulls of the stations armor, burrowing deep inside and then in a starburst of light detonated. The orbital platform shattered into half a dozen pieces which fell towards Tarsonis burning up in the atmosphere along with all the ships still docked and personal on board.
Orbital defense platforms Alpha and Beta were both destroyed leaving the third Gamma station the only remaining defense for Tarsonis along with the now weakened and panicked fleet. But that last bastion of confederate defense was too being attacked.
"What!" said the commanding Officer of the Gamma station hearing the report of the other two stations. "How many escape pods launched?"
"Some sir. But not enough to account for all the crew of both stations." a officer reported their voice somber.
"Sir multiple exit warps signatures just above us!" shouted a rader officer.
"Who are they?"
"Identifying as... its the Sons of Korhal!"
"Damn!" the commanding officer slammed his fist against computer console. "It's a coordinated attack. Launch all Wraiths and deploy the Marines. I want this station locked down. And contact high command. We need reinforcements."
Meanwhile on the Hyperion bridge Mengsk watched as his fleets weapons fired on the stations defense systems destroying most of them before they even got a shot off. Some Sons of Korhal ships took minor damage from the laser and Anti-air turrets before they were all silenced but they took only minor damage.
"Our surprise attack has taken them off guard." said Mengsk. "Duke. Begin the assault."
From the inside of a command center in the Hyperions cargo hold Duke replied. "Yes sir."
The under belly of he Hyperion and the other ships (one of which was the Cormorant Horner was on) opened launching waves of hundreds of drop pods to the platform below followed by Command Centers, Starport's, Barracks, Factories, and Wraiths to act as air support and as a counter to enemy Wraiths.
The Command Center Duke was on landed on the far edge of the space platform among other buildings that looked in disuse but weren't demolished or recycled.
"I can't believe this! Alpha squadron never would have left this equipment behind! That's what I call sloppy."
Duke watched as the last of the drope pods landed and organize into proper formations. He ordered them to charge at the local bunkers clearing out the immediate area of hostiles with the grenade launchers attached to their rifles.
From in his Command Center Duke watched as dozens of explosions soundlessly erupted across the platform. Chunks of Terran bodies, concrete and Neo-steel scattered across the platforms surface. With the immediate threats gone Duke focused on landing the rest of his buildings.
Making use of the building add ons left behind Duke started building a few science vessels with the factory and set his SCVs to work building up his defense's. Over head in the void of space both confederate and rebel Wraiths battled in a intense display of piloting skill. The door to the command room opened and Duke turned to see the two and only ghosts he had at his disposal.
"Sir were ready to begin the attack." one ghost said.
Duke nodded thoughtfully. "Very well you two can go. Scout out the enemy base and report back."
The two ghosts nodded. "Yes sir." and left.
With weapons in hand the two ghosts activated their cloaks and left making their way across the platform. It was mostly calm with only the vibration of their bodies from the magnetically attracted footstep's to give any indication of sound. All around they could see ruined anti-air towers destroyed by the rebel fleet. The two stealth operatives continued along their way reaching a enemy base and taking up a positions overlooking the enemy defenses. Once they had identified all the remaining enemy defenses not destroyed they relayed the information back to Duke who was currently busy countering a attack.
"Flank the south side!" Duke ordered.
A squad of Alpha squadron Marines were flanked by a enemy attack. One group firing on the enemy as they hide behind one of Dukes own buildings. And then a second group of Alpha squadron marines appeared from behind the building opening fire on the confederate Omega squadron marines eliminating them.
"No big moves yet from the Delta and Omega squadron boys. They must be trying to hold us off until reinforcements arrive. Can't allow that now can we."
Duke waited until his science vessels were done until continuing with his assault. It was regrettable that they are so rare, and that there was no room in the ships for them. But being able to construct new science vessels on the fly was a miracle of modern technology. With them in play Duke organized his forces for the attack. Marines and Goliaths in assigned battle formations marched across the platform. The enemy saw this deploying their own forces to intercept and a battle broke out at the edge of the enemy base. Duke watched through his monitors seeing his alpha squadron men take defensive positions behind the Goliaths as they mowed down the enemy marines with their heavy gatling guns and launching waves of missiles at enemy Siege tanks. Who... had to be modified to function on a space platform because of the vacuum and low gravity while the Goliaths are built with a air sealed canopy.
The Goliaths were synced with the targeting systems of the other rebel ships flying far over head allowing their missiles to fly in a long arched path striking any enemy tanks or Goliaths hidden in the platforms many hiding spots and lower levels that would be perfect for ambush. But such was made useless by the Goliaths missile barrages and the rebel ships as eyes in the sky over head.
Th left flank of the confederate lines began collapsing with the destruction of four Siege tanks. The marines started falling back but were massacred by alpha squadron forces while they charged.
"Hold you position marines." Duke ordered seeing his men move to far into enemy ground for his liking. "Return to your previous positions. Thats a order."
The alpha squadron marines complied with their general falling back to a more secure position. Duke smiled seeing his plan falling into place and ordered the Science Vessels to activate their Defensive matrix shield and charge into the enemy base. Confirming the order the two science vessels produced a green aura around them selves before charging at the enemy base. Rifle and missile fire from marines and Goliaths bombarded the green spheres surrounding the two science vessels making them flicker. In the next moment the green defensive matrix shield flashed turning into a pure white wave that enveloped the whole base producing electrical arches over any metal surfaces. It was a EMP blast wave.
The two science vessels took a few hits before the EMP shut down all technology in the local area they but were still functional. As the two of them retreated all of Dukes forces charged the enemy base massacring the enemy marines in their metal coffins without remorse. In just a few minutes three hundred marines and forteen Siege tanks and twenty Goliaths were wiped out with no ability to protect themselves. Only a few marines managed to survive long enough for the EMP effect to wear off and their suits systems to reboot. But it was far too late as they were mercilessly gunned down while attempting a retreat.
"Piece of cake. Now for the other base." Duke said grinning at his victory.
Suddenly the ground vibrated as a Yamato cannon blast from a enemy ship blasted one of his barracks off the platform.
"What the hell." Duke contacted Mengsk. "Mengsk my base is taking a pounding. What going on up there? "
Mengsk face blinked on one of the screens. "Sorry General but the remaining enemy fleet forces are giving us more trouble than we anticipated. Were doing our best but you only have limited amount of time."
"I'm going as fast as I can. Just hold on a little longer and I'll have the platforms weapons systems deal with you problems."
Refocusing on his army Duke ordered his SCV's and reserve forces to take and repair the newly captured base after all enemy personnel were eliminated. By now another two Science Vessels had been completed and the first two had been repaired. Mustering his full might Duke organised his forces into two armies with a third flanking force. Moving the main and secondary forces to the edge of the enemy defense perimeter Duke ordered the flanking force consisting of six Wraiths and two Science Vessels to move around the platformes edges to the rear of the last confederate base on the platform.
"Sir we've captured the ships." one of Dukes ghosts reported. After the first base fell Duke had sent them to capture some of the ships still docked on the platform.
He had told Mengsk before the mission started to have the Wraith squadrons attack and disable the engines of all but two of the ships docked at the platform.
"Good. Launch them and help our forces in the space battle."
"Yes sir."
Moments later two battlecruisers detached from the docking clamps at the edge of the platform and launched as they charged up their Yamato cannons. Bright spheres of crimson and orange energy grew on the front bow of the two ships before being discharged. Both orbs of crimson plasma erupted from tips of the two ships along with a full barrage of missiles and lasers. The blasts of plasma from the yamato cannons struck two enemy ships dead center burning and melting through the ships core hull areas causing numerous secondary explosions crippling both confederate ships. Recognising the new enemy threats the confederate fleet diverted some of their ships to the new enemies but this opened holes in their formations allowing Mengsk to send squadrons of Wraiths to disable some of enemy ships engines making more ships vulnerable.
While the void battle shifted in favor of the rebels the battle on the platform was nearing it's final conclusion as two science vessels detonated their EMPs once again disabling the enemy base for a few minutes. And again Dukes forces steam rolled the disabled forces who were unable to defend themselves until it was too late. Seeing as the platform was a lost cause the confederate fleet retreated to regroup on the far side of the planet. Duke then gave the orders to ready the psi-emitters for deployment until the moment Mengsk gave the order to activate them.
In another universe Duke would have contacted Mengsk on a open com line alerting Kerrigan and Raynor to the fact Mengsk was yet again going to use the Zerg to eliminate the confederate forces. But this time it would be the capital of the confederacy and with billions of people on the world, many of whom wouldn't be able to evacuate would die in a mass genocide. But that was another universe. Not this one.
At the same time the fragments of both the Alpha & Beta space platforms were falling into the Tarsonis atmosphere, blazing fire enveloped hundreds of black pods as heat friction with the Tarsonis sky enveloped them. They descended into the atmosphere with the debris from the two orbital platforms. All together the pods crashed into the ground in a dazzling display of fireworks in a large flat plane outside Tarsonis city. One pod smoked as its side popped off and Raynor in his CMC armor walking out along with five others marines. Raynor looked around observing as the other pods opened and rebel marines exited them while catching sight of the early morning light poke out from over the horizon.
"All right everyone form up." Raynor said over the encrypted com. "We need to beat feet to the meeting location ASAP."
Gathering everyone Raynor and his men marched for hours until reaching a small isolated warehouse built in the middle of nowhere right beside a small mountain.
Approaching the main door Raynor thought a moment on the password he was given, and then knocked on the metal door in a pattern resembling morse code.
"Code verified" spoke a machine voice.
The doors parted widely letting everyone into the warehouse. But within it was empty. Continuing onwards Raynor saw a giant smiley face painted on the back wall. Approaching it he used another code, and then the false wall slid open revealing a massive open cavity etched into the rocky hill. Large and small metal cargo crates were stacked on one area and varies vehicles including Siege tanks and others were parked in another farther in. Raynor and his men entered the large chamber reaching the middle when a voice called out to them.
"You must be Raynor." a feminine voice said.
Looking up Raynor spotted a woman with blue hair tied in a braid on the level above leaning on the balcony railing.
"Welcome to my humble abode. Im Nell." It was Ellen in a assumed identity.
Raynor and some of the others instantly recognised the woman as Haruka but still looked a little different, and she introduced herself as Nell.
Nell/Ellen jumped off the railing landing in front of Raynor.
"Feel free to make yourselves at home. Raynor follow me. We can talk more comfortably in the command room."
Nell walked off towards the back of the chamber hitting a large button on the wall along the way closing both the opened doors. Raynor shrugged and followed while his men relaxed.
In the command room Nell stood next to a tactical table.
"Can I ask you a question?" said Raynor.
Nell gave a knowing grin. "It's about why I look like Haruka isn't it. Well in short were twins. Both of us are from Korhal. Well we were both from there but we weren't there when the confederates nuked it."
Raynor nodded getting the gist of the story. "I see. So let me hazard a guess. One of you joined the confederacy to work on revenge from the inside while you what... became a rebel."
Nell nodded. "Yeah. I've been on Tarsonis for a long time learning it's ins and outs. Along with piecing this place together."
"Ah Raynor your here." a familiar voice said.
Raynor turned to see Kerrigan in nothing but a towel standing in a doorway. "Kerrigan. Uh. It's nice to see you. Why are you naked?"
Kerrigan smiled at him. "Because I just got back from my mission and needed a shower."
"Kerrigan thanks again for taking care of Arret. Nell said.
"No problem. She was at least somewhat useful on the mission. Given proper training she could be one of the best. I need to go change now. See you later Raynor."
Raynor waved at Kerrigan as she turned around and left. Her hips swaying seductively as she walked way. "Later Kerrigan." he said.
Nell saw this making a small chuckle to herself seeing these two interact. "Well now then shall we get to business."
Raynor turned to her with a stupid look on his face. "Huh? Oh yeah."
At that moment both Corporal Helton and Sergeant Littlefield entered after having gotten the troops settled in.
Nell turned on the tactical table showing a 3d hologram of Tarsonis city and a bit of the surrounding area including their location indicated with a, You are here sign, on the far edge of the map.
Nell explained the plan. "The overall objective is to capture the highest ranking members of the old families as well as the government." On screen multiple red dots appeared across the hologram of the city. "These are the current locations of the old families and their members. It's up to date and live date. I got people and a surveillance worm program in the cities security system following them in real time." Some green dots appeared on screen. "These are the locations of the high ranking government personnel like council members and members of the military high command."
Raynor looked the map over noting the locations and numbers of the targets. "There's a lot of them. I don't think we got enough people?"
Turning to Raynor Nell spoke. "That's no problem. I got most of my people scattered around the city waiting to jump on them to. The security on some of them is a nightmare as ghosts and secret service agents are every-were given the current state of things. But i've made sure to be prepared for this day so my guys are well trained. The confederate forces will be thrown into chaos if we attack everywhere at once."
In the back of Nell or rather Ellen's mind she had been grateful to her past self for deciding to prepare for this day over the past ten years just like her character backstory says.
"I think our first objective should be the old families." Corporal Helton suggested. "Once their out of the picture the government won't be as opposed to refusing any demands we make."
"I agree." said Sergeant Littlefield. "It won't matter even if we take out or capture the main government leaders. So long as the old families and their power base remains they'll just rebuild their authority again somewhere else."
Nell gave it some thought even though she knew the answer already. "It's a fix to the long term threat the old families pose. We could always take out the government leaders but everyone knows their all just corrupt and the puppets of the old families anyway."
"So you agree then." Raynor asked.
"Yeah. Lets focus on taking out or capturing the old families first. My men are positioned to help out with the mission but we should focus on a few targets at a time. My agents will start fires, detonate explosives, kill targets of interest across the city creating chaos so the authorities will be overwhelmed and unable to bring their numbers to bare on us until it's too late."
"Good. Sounds like a plane." Corporal Helton said turning to leave. "I'll inform the troops of the plane."
"I'll Get the equipment ready." said Sergeant Littlefield as he also left.
"Raynor." Nell said. "You can help me with the Hanger. The drop ships i've been working on need a preparation test with their experimental systems before being flown."
"Experimental systems?" he asked.
"Just follow me."
Nell left followed by Raynor. Walking through the tunnel like base they came to a large rounded chamber, with a lower and upper level. Each level had a dozen dropships colored black and dark blue each inside their own hanger slot carved into rock.
"Stay out here a moment." Nell told Raynor before entering one of the dropships.
She took a moment before turning on the crafts special system. Raynors eyes light up as the dropship shimmered and wavered, disappearing from sight.
This was beyond impressive because normally a dropships power systems were divided between its powerful engines used to fly with a heavy cargo and powering its warp engines. The Confederacy and others like the Umojan Protectorate had tried placing the same stealth systems that Wraiths have into dropships before as such would be immensely useful as deploying special forces into and retrieving them from enemy territory would be far easier and faster. Just as one example of their use.
However the energy requirements of the engines, stealth system and warp drive only worked if the cargo space was filled with extra power units. But that would only take up space in the cargo compartment and make the dropships even heavier and more difficult to pilot, plus make it harder to exit the atmosphere dew to the extra mass. The few prototypes that were built and tested were much slower and unwieldy than normal dropships and were easier to shot down. Eventually the experimental programs were shut down with little to show for the effort as new detector systems made such efforts pointless in the end.
"How?" Raynor said giving a surprised expression.
"That's exactly what I said when I saw it." Raynor turned to see Kerrigan (now in cloths) and another blond girl walking towards him. "You knew about this?"
"I just found out a little bit ago. Surprising aren't they." Kerrigan said gesturing to the rows of stealth dropships.
"Yeah." Raynor replied. "And there's so many of them."
"Twenty four to be exact," said Nova. "Your Raynor right?"
"Yeah that's me. And you are?"
"Im Nova Terra. But my code name is Arret. A runaway teek who joined the rebellion after loosing my family. Well most of my family when my... abilities manifested." Nova looked depressed for a moment remembering the day she lost them.
Nell walked out of the now visible dropship subitley grinning. The false memories implanted in Nova were doing their job but have yet to fulfill their true purpose as that would come later.
"I took Nova in after sensing that she had awoken to her abilities. It's been a headache keeping ahead of the academy wranglers. But she's a good kid." Nell rubbed Noves hair ruffling it.
"Hey!"
"But she still has a long way to go."
Raynor turned to Nell as Nova tried to straighten her hair. "You said you sensed that she had awoken. That must mean your a teek too."
"Yeah." Nell nodded. "Both me and my sister are."
Kerrigan gave Nell a odd look. "I had always thought Haruka was a bit different but I could never put my hand on it. But if your both telepaths why didn't or rather why couldn't I sense that she was one."
Nell grinned. "Try and sense me with your powers." Using telekinesis/non-corporeal aura field effect. Nell lifted both Raynor and Nova a foot into the air.
Kerrigan was surprised a moment as she tried to get a handle on what Nell was doing to keep her psionic abilities hidden. "Damn. I can't get a bed on your abilities. How are you doing that? Normally telepaths can sense others like them easily."
Nell let Raynor and Nova down. "It's a difficult technique to pull off. But basically there's this other dimension that me and my sister can connect to. It's kind of like, or could be warp space. I just shift my psionic signature into this other dimension instead of this one. That's why you can't sense me. It was harder then one would think to master and develop."
Kerrigan took a thinking pose. "I see. Interesting. It maybe unique just to the both of you like other telepathe abilities, if no one else had developed such a ability?"
On the inside Nell/Ellen was laughing at Kerrigan for taking a pose like that. Oh well she'll know the truth sooner or later.
"Kerrigan, Raynor. Good to see you." another familiar voice called out.
Turning around both saw Michal Liberty.
"Liberty." said Kerrigan. "It's Nice to see you again."
"Likewise," said Raynor. "Haven't seen you since that one mission on that moon to retrieve those upgraded Goliath plans. What brings you here?"
Liberty stopped next to the gathered group. "Oh I just figured i'ed be here for the fall of the confederacy. I am, was and will always be a reporter after all. Once all this is done im putting by rifle down and picking up the camera again. I'm really not a fighter at heart."
Kerrigan huffed. "I could have told you that a long time ago."
This gave Liberty a good laugh. "Haha. Yeah I admit your right. Though moving on. I have to say Haruka that i'm curious as to how you were able to get these stealth dropships to work when two major governments couldn't?"
Nell smirked. "Thats a trade secret im afraid. I'd have to kill yeah if I ever did tell you."
Liberty huffed a short laugh. "Hah. Why did I know you were going to say something like that." But his journalistic interest was piqued.
"Well it really doesn't matter." Raynor said. "All that does matter is that they work. Right."
Kerrigan agreed with him as did Nova.
"Anyway we should get everyone loaded up. Mengsk and Duke can't hold off the confederate fleet for long."
With everyone agreeing on that note Raynor called his men gathering them into the dropship hanger after having a short rest from their long march. Everyone was gathered and Kerrigan and Nova were suited up in their HES's (Hostile, Environment, Suits). Each dropship was given a final check before everyone boarded them. Nell pressed a button by the back wall opening the outer rock facade. It slide open with the hanger door.
One after the other the dropships cloaked and flew out into the open sky beyond, each with a full squad.
"Ok everyone. "Raynor said over the encrypted com line." We won't have much of an advantage if we waste time so let's hit em hard and fast."
The dropships cloaked one after the other as they banked left flying towards Tarsonis city and they started splitting up as they entered the cities air space. Michael liberty and Nell headed to the UNN news building while Kerrigan and Nova headed to the Kusinis Tower. And Raynor and the other dropships split up, each going to various Old Family homes or places of business.
Meanwhile in the outer reaches of space the Zerg Cerebrate Zasz using Overlords at the extreme limit of their range watched as the Terrans battled and killed each other in the void around Tarsonis.
"I bore of watching." thought the giant monster centipede Zerg. Flexing his multiple scythe like arms and mandibles Zasz expanded his perception through the Overlords.
"Hmm... the protoss are keeping their position in the void expanse between star systems. While the Terrans kill each other with glee. They are such inferior beings. Fighting and killing each other. No unity. No control. No purpose. The protoss are more evolved as to never slay nor betray their own. But yet these Terrans do have a use. One... or perhaps two in particular who have great psionic might. Much like the Protoss yes. Ah but they must be tested before they are allowed to join the swarm." Zasz thought.
Zasz shook his head and flexed his jaws out of boredom. "I wish the Overmind had simply let me attack and test those two. Waiting for the Terrans to use another of their devices to attract my brood to them is insufferably boring. I don't understand why the Overmind wants me to wait. The Terrans are weak. I've hardly put any effort forth and three of their worlds have already fallen. Granted the Protoss did most of the destruction with their purifying weapons. But if given time I could wipe their insignificant presence from the sector they call Koprulu."
-Hyperion, In battle with Confederate fleet over Tarsonis-
Onboard the Sons of Korhal capital ship Mengsk watched as another yamato blast from a confederate ship flew at them.
"Hard to port!" he ordered.
The Hyperions maneuvering thrusters flared to life tilting the ship just out of the Yamato blasts trajectory. Armor plating along the ships side melted as the crimson orb grazed it's by mere inches.
"All ships focus fire on on that battlecruiser!" Mengsk shouted.
A dozen rebel ships reoriented themselves all firing at once at the enemy battlecruiser. Hundreds of laser bursts and missiles bombarded the ship battering its armor and hull. After just ten seconds of the barrage its form started to warp and twist as the collective heat and impact forces caused the ship to buckle, twist and fall apart resulting in a explosion damaging four other confederate ships. But just when it looked like the rebels would turn the tide five more confederate ships joined the battle warping in from another system and hammering the rebel fleet, damaging ten ships and destroying two with direct hits to their engines with direct Yamato blasts.
"The Morgan and Hassan's blade have both been sunk sir." reported a bridge officer on the Cormorant.
The Captain and Matt Horner held on to the tactical table as the ship shook from weapon impacts.
"Captain permission to ask Mengsk to conduct a unorthodox tactical maneuver?"
The aging captain looked at him with his weary eyes hoping that this young but skilled officer knew what he was doing. "Permission granted." The captain turned to the com officer. "Contact Mengsk."
A few moments later Mengsk face appeared on screen. "Yes Horner what is it?" Not wanting to waste time with banter or complaints.
"Mengsk sir I may have a way of countering the new arrivals but its a risk."
"Just spill it. I don't have time to waste on small talk." The screen shook as the Hyperion took a bad hit to its left wing.
"Sir my idea is to split the fleet up with a tactical warp. One part of it stays behind to lure the confederate forces into a ambush on the dark side of one of Tarsoni's moons. Then when the confederates are in position the scattered fleet regathers warping in just behind the enemy fleet. It will take precise timing and spatial coordinate accuracy to pull off but..."
Mengsk cut him off. "It's not to far fetched a plane. But we got no better options at the moment."
Mengsk relayed the plan to the fleet and calculations were made. Soon after the rebel fleet split up into two seperate retreating groups. One two thirds of the rebel fleet warped away while the last one third of it remained. Instantly taking more damage from the increased focus on their remaining ships the weakened rebel fleet held it's ground for another few minutes before losing another ship. At which time they retreated falling back to the dark side of Worthing, one of Tarsonis four moons.
The confederate fleet also split up. One half following and the other half staying to guard Tarsonis. The rebel fleet took more damage as they fled to the dark side of Worthing. Then once on the opposite side of the moon from Tarsonis and the rest of the Confederate fleet the rebel fleet flipped their orientation around a 180 degrees while lowering their main engines output, maintaining their forward momentum and allowing the fleet to travel in one direction while firing on their pursuers.
The two fleets continued exchanging torrets of laser fire and missile barrages for another few minutes, until one third of the rebel fleet that had ran into warp space returned, exiting warp space right above the confederate fleet at a distance of five hundred kilometers and opened fire on the confederate fleet. Taken by surprise the confederate fleet split their fire between the two enemy fleets. But then the last one third of the rebel ships appeared below the confederate fleet bombarding its soft underbelly. Surrounded on three sides, from above, in front and below the confederate fleet was quickly overwhelmed and destroyed in short order. With half the confederate fleet gone the rebel fleet had time to lick their wounds and prepare for the final attack on the remaining confederate fleet forces.
On the Cormorant the crew breathed a sigh of relief. Mengsk appeared on the main monitor.
"A risky but well planned strategy Horner. But it worked out in the end. Good work."
Horner felt elated at the success of his strategy. "Thank you. It's a honor to be praised for that. I really just thought it up on the spur of the moment."
"Still it worked and we have destroyed half the confederate fleet. Now we should have a easier time taking car of the remaining enemy fleet forces."
After taking some time to relax and make some quick repairs the rebel fleet regrouped and charged back to Tarsonis. But as they got in range they detected even more ships than before. More confederate reinforcements from other systems had arrived.
"Damn!" Mengsk slammed his fist onto the edge of the tactical table.
The reinforced confederate fleet accelerated towards the rebel fleet confident in their numbers. Both sides readied their weapons for another battle when five other ships exited warpspace two light seconds off the confederate fleets left flank. It was the Gjallarhorn and four other mercenary ships from Hammer Security.
On the bridge of the now fully functional Gjallarhorn battlecruiser Haruka stood. Beside her the Adjutant Mary.
"Charge the Yamato cannon and reorient the fleet so it's lined up with as many ships from confederate fleet as possible."
The maneuvering thrusters of the Gjallarhorn and the other four ships pushed them to a better targeting orientation relative to the confederate fleet as the yamato cannon charged up.
On one ship in the confederate fleet a captain watched the odd lateral (sideways) maneuvering of the new ships.
"Sir" said a crewman. "I've scanned the lead ship of the new fleet and although it looks like a old Leviathan-class it's power output and speed of its thrusters is far higher then on record. And it's yamato cannon is being charged far faster than normal. Wait... now its output is reading as even higher the what should be possible?"
"Charge our yamato cannon and aim all weapons on that ship," ordered the captain.
Six ships in the confederate fleet changed their direction towards the Gjallarhorn all charging their main yamato cannons. They all reached a full charge and fired. Six giant plasma orbs of burning crimson flew towards the Gjallarhorn and the other ships with it as their yamato cannon continued charging.
On the confederate ship leading the attack on the Gjallarhorn a officer's eyes widened in fear and trepidation as his sensor instruments read that the enemy ship had it's yamato cannons charged reach a output double that of the six confederate ships. He looked to the screen showing the six plasma orbs from the confederate ships closed in on it.
On the Gjallarhorn bridge Haruka smirked. "Fire!"
The nose of the Gjallarhorn erupted into a beam of crimson light piercing through the black void. The beam collided with the six plasma orbs dissipating them into wisps of vapor, passing through their wispy remains. The beam widened to mile in diameter as it cut a bright path through space impacting the six confederate ships that had attacked it. The beam struck the lead confederate ship instantly atomising it and grazed the five other ships causing a chain of explosions in them that ripped them apart before continuing on its path slicing through five more confederate ships before the beam thinned and dissipated. In total eleven confederate ships were destroyed in one shot with a hand full of others damaged.
On board the Hyperion Mengsk's jaw slacked open for a brief moment as he behold the power of the original Yamato cannon before it was intentionally nerfed by the old families many years before.
Haruka opened a com channel to the Hyperions bridge.
"Sorry i'm late. Traffic was a bit thick," said Haruka.
"I'm glad your here to reinforce the fleet commander. But what was that weapon just now?" Mengsk said.
Haruka shrugged. "Oh that. Well I had my people make some alteration to the Yamato cannon while they were working on it. It takes a lot! more power now, but it's over five times more powerful. And it fires a beam instead of a orb of plasma."
"I saw." Mengsk replied. "Commander continue attacking the enemy forces on their flank while our main forces focus on their front."
"Yes sir." Haruka replied. "Also where's Kerrigan and Raynor?"
"Hunting down the old families in Tarsonis city." Mengsk replied with a bit of suspicion in his voice.
"Right."
Commander Haruka closed the comline ordering her small fleet to start a full missile and laser barrage on the confederate forces while Mengsk and the main rebel fleet opened fire on the confederate fleets front. The Gjallarhorn had proved a little more then effective in its attacks then what a old ship should have been able to pull off, retrofitted or not and this made Mengsk more than a little suspicious as to how the commander could have done so. Even the shaking of his ship from enemy missile bombardment couldnt keep him from suspecting that Haruka had a secret she wasn't telling him or anyone else and then her whole story about wanting revenge on the confederacy for the destruction of Korhal was starting to sound less believable. But right now he had a battle to win and needed to focus or else all his years of planning and preparation would all come to nought.
-Kusinis Tower-
A small part of the sky shimmered and wavered as a stealth dropship hovered next to the central floors of the building. The rear landing ramp lowered and multiple shots ripping through the reinforced window shattering it into fragments. Then running at full sprint two people leap out of the dropship crashing into the broken window and landing in a roll. Kerrigan and Nova stood up getting back to back each aiming their rifles down the hallway, covering each others back.
"You've gotten a bit better," Kerrigan projected to Novas mind.
"Thanks." she replied.
The two cloaked standing up making their way down the hall. They both moved with speed and stealth as they made their way through the building to the main security room. Upon reaching the door hidden behind a false wall. Nova used her telekinesis to pry it open. Both entered the short hallway leading to a silver metal door. Kerrigan pulled out a laser cutter from her back pack and started cutting through the layers of armor until reaching the wires to the maglocks. A satisfying clink was heard as the door unlocked. With a mental nod to each other Kerrigan focused putting up a barrier around both of them while Nova held her weapon ready. A barrage of machine gun fire bombarded the telekinetic shield from the security guards. The barrier held out long enough for Nova to but all three guards down with a double tap to the torso each.
With the guards dead Kerrigan walked over to the security console and began hacking in to the system. She glanced over to the dead security guards noting that they all had a pair of holes in their chest.
"Nice shooting Nova. Your accuracy is pretty good. And you remembered to double tap them. (shoot twice in the heart)"
Nova still feeling a little uneasy about killing still felt a rise in her pride at being complemented. "Thanks."
Kerrigan went through the security history of the whole building happy at the fact the guards had missed the opportunity to call for reinforcements just before they were killed. From the date Kerrigan learned that a party was being held at the top floor which served as a private penthouse for the Kusinis family who were one of the Old Families along with the Terra family which November Terra was apart of. In fact Clara Terra, the supposed only survivor of the Terra family was married to Milo Kusinis, scion of the Kusinis family. Which was perhaps the reason Nova wanted to be on this mission.
Kerrigan flipped through the many security monitors finding all members of the Kusinis family still in the building and present in the party on the top floor. She relayed the information to the second team waiting outside. She then turned to Nova who was staring at a monitor showing her sister talking with a few other woman in the party. She looked something like a older version of Nova but with brown hair and wearing a fancy white dress.
"You sure you can do this kid?" Kerrigan asked.
Nova flinched. "Do it. It sounds like we're executing them."
Kerrigan shifted uncomfortably feeling like she had used the wrong words. "Sorry. Poor choice of words."
"It's... ok. I can do this. Just leave my sister to me."
Kerigan huffed a grin out. "Sure." She then contacted the rest of the strike team in the second stealth dropship. "Were good to go. Secure the lower floors and take as many of the Kunisis family into custody as possible. No killing unless fired upon!" Kerrigan ordered explicitly.
In the main two story atrium/garden a large party was being held. The room had large hanging flower vines, small bushes covered in white and pink blossoms and medium sized trees were scattered along the walls and in the center of the ceiling was a large pyramid shaped skylight that allowed the party goers enjoyed the bright moonlight.
The patriarch of the Kisinis family and his wife talked with few other attendees introducing them to their son Milo and his Wife Clara. Some time passed and feeling worn down and exhausted Clara used a excuse to leave the party returning to her room. Taking her dress off she changed into a simple blue summer dress. She took a headache pill and sat down in a chair next to a end-table. Turning to the table she picked up the book on it opening to a page marker and started where she left off from. The book was her favorite crime novel.
"Crime," she thought finishing a few dozen pages worth of the book.
She placed the page marker back in and closed the book returning it to the end-table. With a yawn she stood up returning to her private bathroom to change and get cleaned up.
She had some of her servants put out some night clothes for her as she got into the bath. Resting in the hot water Clara stared up at the ceiling while the steam clouded the room. Suddenly she was reminded of the time her family took a rare vacation to a snowy mountain resort. It was snowy and cold but somewhat fun riding the snow lifts up to the mountain. And then there was the feeling of speed as one would sled down the mountain.
Clara could remember that cold day so long ago as she flew down the snow covered mountain. Along with the boys. And that incident were her little sister November fell and rolled halfway down a ski path. Father and the few security personal were chasing after her in a panic while Zeb, Clare and their mother watched. Nova was fine of course but it was still a fun little event.
Covered up by the steam of the hot bath Clara couldn't tell if she was crying or not but the sting in her heart was surely there. Deciding that she had enough of the bath Clara got out and dried herself off before walking into her adjoining bedroom. There she changed clothes again into a black dress. In a memory flashing to the surface she remembered one time five years ago when her brother Zeb walked in on her when she was half naked while putting on a similar dress. Clara half smiled at the memory. But she also felt more alone the never. Perhaps the loss of her whole family was the reason she felt so melancholic. The loss had hit Clara hard but it was quite some time ago by now.
But perhaps she wasn't as strong as she thought. Milo as her fiance and now husband did his best to distract and comfort Clara from her grief but still, even as his wife she never really returned the affection, nor could she cry for the loss. It was oddly taboo among the old families to cry as it was seen as a weakness. And so under her mother's suggestion Clara had surgery done to remove her ability to cry. It wasn't like she didn't appreciate her husbands effort's. It's just that Clara had a void inside her that she felt that nothing could fill. Not even a loving and devoted husband.
Shaking the thoughts away Clara thought about a different theory and wondered if her melancholic state was from not being able to cry for the loved ones she had lost. And most of all she felt regret over the fact she could have been if only a bit closer to her younger sister November.
"Ma'am" a servant called entering the bedroom. "Master Kusinis is waiting for you in the main atrium."
Clare turned to the servant. "Very well i'm coming."
Making her way down the hallway Clara returned to the main atrium.
Reaching the balcony Clara looked out over to the level below hoping that Milo was close, as she hates walking around such a large place let alone with so many present. If she wants a walk she could go to a park but Clara thought that having such a large area to live in with such open space to cover was excessive and needless. She reached the second floor balcony expecting a lively party but what she saw sent a cold sweat down her spine.
There in the lower atrium along the wall were everyone from the people from the party sitting on the floor, their hands bound including the Kusinis patriarch and his wife. Not believing what she was seeing Clara froze a moment before noticing several fully armored and armed rebel marines. Sweating like a melting block of ice she noticed the emblem on their armor identifying them as the Sons of Korhal which she remembered from watching the news during a report about there rebellian on Antiga. Claras mind and body froze in fear as she could do nothing but think that this was perhaps just like what happened to her family before their deaths.
Realising she was holding her breath she let out a gasp of air as a hand reached out from behind covering her mouth. The person held her tightly pulling her back away from the balcony. Clara collapsed to her knees and turned her around seeing and greatly relieved that that it was Milo who also looked shocked at the situation. In a moment of fear Clara wrapped her arms around Milo in a tight embrace. She thought that if she could she would start crying right then and there.
"Milo!" Clara said in a low whisper.
Milo looked just as scared as Clara as he held her tight in their first intimate embrace. "Clara i'm so glad you ok." he said in a soft voice.
Clara gently pushed Milo away looking him in the eyes. "Milo what's going on? What do they want?"
Seeing how terrified Clara was made Milo hesitate. He sighed glancing down a moment. "I don't know. I was on my phone talking with Rockham and Bess who were calling from Tyrador IX-(9) when they stormed in here. I ducked behind the corner and hide in a side room. After that I came up here to get you. Come on we have to get out of here! "
Milo took Clara's hand pulling her along. "Wait Milo. What about your family?"
Milo bit his lip as he took Clara to his room.
"Im sorry but... we can't do anything about them right now. We have to get out and call the police or government. I know a secret panic room. Come on."
Milo and Clara left the main atrium making their way down several hallways until reaching a unassuming wall beside a storage closet. Milo grabbed a light fixture rotating it sideways until making a clicking noise. He then entered the storage room followed by a apprehensive Clara. Inside were normal cleaning tools and equipment like soup, bleach, mops and other stuff but the back wall had opened revealing a hidden room inside.
The two of them walked through the storage room into the panic room. As they went Clara's shoulder bumped a bottle of orange scented cleaner knocking it over. It fell onto the floor and socked about a bit as they entered the panic room. But behind then the cleaner bottle suddenly rotated towards the panic room as if struck by something. Milo flipped a switch closing the heavy neosteel door behind him and Clara and it made a heavy kerchunk as its locke's engaged.
Clara held herself as she watched the door. Milo ran passed her to a computer terminal along the back wall. Finally feeling somewhat safe Clara finally had a chance to look about the room seeing that it was lavishly decorated with a few pieces of wood furniture, a small kitchen and bathroom with a wall mounted armory locker along the wall. Clara was somewhat drawn to the locker thinking that if shes going to die like the rest of her family she would at last take some of the rebel bastards with her.
Almost unconsciously as she thought this she walked over to the armory locker placing a slender hand on the metal cage separating her from a host of weapons. She focused in on a large heavy looking rifle. For a moment she thought to take it but on further inspection it looked too heavy for some one like her to use let alone fire without breaking a arm or shoulder.
"Hello, hello. This is Milo Kusinis of the Kusinis family. I'm currently in Kusinis towers upper penthouse floor." Milos words drew Clara to his panicked transmission to the police. "Were being attacked by a unknown group. Possibly terrorists. I repeat there are terrorists in my home please respond."
The screen changed showing a officer from the Tarsonis police. "Sir please repeat that. Did you just say terrorists were attacking your home?"
Milo nodded fervently. "Yes. And they've captured some of my family and our guests from our party. Please you have to send help!"
Looking more serious, knowing this was a old family on the line the officer straightened up."Your in Kusinis tower correct."
"Yes."
"Im dispatching a order to the local SWAT forces now and sending a report to the government as per protocol."
"Thank you." Milo sighed in relief.
Also feeling just a little more safer Clara sat down in a nearby chair breathing easier. Milo seeing how Clara's hands were trembling kneeled at her feet and took her hands bringing them to his cheeks.
"It's ok Clara were ok now. Help is on the way."
Clara looked her eyes with his. "Really Milo. You mean it."
Milo nodded. "Were safe in here. We have food and air and weapons to defend ourselves. And none of the terrorists know were here. We just have to wait until the police get here."
Clara took a sullen face looking to the closed heavy door they entered through then turned to Milo. "I... I hope so."
A heavy kerchunk got their attention and Claras face became white as a ghost as the door started opening. Milo stood up and panicked as he quickly reached to the armory quickly unlocking it and taking out a rifle. He fumbled loading a magazine before succeeding and aimed the weapon at the mostly open door. Clara looked between the door and Milo expecting a fire fight to take place. But as the door fully opened, there was nothing. No one was outside the door. Both Clara and Milo took on confused but relieved expressions for a moment before they both breathed a sigh of relief.
"What the hell?" Milo exclaimed as he lowered the rifle.
Clara brought a hand to her chest as she started breathing exercises to lower her stress level. Milo went over to the door controls and shut the door again. Once the door was shut once again Milo walked to Clara and they held hands helping each other to calm down. Then in the blink of the eye a knife appeared at Milos throat.
"Don't move." said the muffled voice of a young female.
Once again Clara was scared and panicking out of her mind as her husband had a blade to his neck.
"Throw the gun away." the young woman's voice said sternly.
Milo swallowed and did as instructed thosing the rifle across the room. It was picked up by a invisible hand that took the magazine out and emptied the firing chamber before placing the rifle back in the armory locker.
"Good. Now get on the floor both of you." the voice ordered.
Clara and Milo did as instructed but in a near panic thinking what would be done to them. But they didn't really have a choice so they obeyed. Now starting to look like she would tear up if it were physically possible Clara's face flushed red. The two of them were taken to the main atrium with everyone else and placed with Milos mother and father. Then two woman in military stealth suits and rebreather masks covering their faces decloaked. Both Clara and Milo were surprised that their captures were both woman and one was just a teen. A teen girl with blond hair that reminded Clara of her sister.
"That should be the last of them." said one of the rebels.
"The police are on their way." the armored rebel marine said. "Do we fight them off or take the prisoners with us?"
"No." said the red headed rebel. "Staying would only leave us at a tactical disadvantage. We take the old family prisoners to the roof and get out of here."
"Alright sounds good." said the rebel marine. "All right you, you, you and you and you get up. Were taking you on trip."
The members of the Kusinis family and the other old family members present shifted uncomfortable as they were forcibly pulled up and marched off. But fear and panic set in and they started resisting their captures. Then the blond ghost spoke up.
"Hey." Nova shouted. Her stern voice modulated by her mask. "We're here to capture you. Not kill you. If we wanted you dead you would be laying on the floor with a hole in your head. But if you keep making trouble we may have to get rough with you and break something. Got it."
The Kusinis family and the others old family members started calming down and let themselves be taken into the roof with no further trouble. The rebel marines took the old family members to the roof leaving Nova and Kerrigan behind.
"You sure this is the way you want to do things?" Asked Kerrigan.
Taking her rebreather mask off Nova gave a deep regretful sigh. "Yeah. It's perhaps for the best that Clara forgets me."
Kerrigan gave a somewhat annoyed huff before walking away following the others. "If I had any family left I would at least want them to know im alive."
Taking the thought into consideration Nova nodded. "Maybe."
Meanwhile at the UNN buildings sub-basement Nell and Michael Liberty rummaged through a pile of documents. All of it information on the illicit activities and underhanded activities of most of the celebrities and important citizens on Tarsonis.
"Wow." Nell exclaimed. "This picture shows some confederate council members doing some naughty things with a teenager. You could probably blackmail half the government with all this."
"That quit true." Liberty replied as he stuffed as many of the paper files into his backpack as he could. "Damnt I need more containers. Why couldn't you just keep this as date on a computer Anderson."
The Editor-in-chief of UNN sat on the floor mumbling in a sarcastic tone as he struggled against his bindings.
"Oh yeah can't talk with that on can you." said Liberty as he continued to go through the documents taking only the most important files.
Nell Received a transmission from Raynor placing her hands on her earbud. "Raynor," she said.
"Yeah we're all done over here. The other teams have reported in too saying that most of the old families have been captured without much problems. But there's a hitch."
"What would that be?"
"From what we've heard most of the old family scions have been taken to Tyrador IX-(9)."
Nell sighed. "Guess were going to have to hunt them down then after we're done on Tarsonis." Nell already knew about all this but had to keep up a front to maintain her cover. For the time being at least. "Hey Liberty. Are you done over there yet?"
Liberty was still going over the paper documents. "Just a little more time. I..."
A psionic signal washed over Nell pulling her attention towards a direction located at the center of the city.
"Damnt no time. The Zerg are coming!" she shouted.
Both Raynor who was still on Nells com and Liberty wondered why she had said that.
"What are you talking about!" Raynor asked while Liberty looked at Nell in a questioning manner.
"No time. Mengsk just activated another psi-emitter."
-Chapter End-