-Chapter 25-
-The Big Push Final-
In the far reaches of space Zasz sensed it. A psionic call that reached across the void to him and his brood. The Terrans had done it once again and once again the swarm would come. On opposite sides of Tarsonis two massive warp gates opened, and from each poured swarming Zerg bioforms flying in mass formations that look like tendrils moving through space as they slowly but inexorably made their way to Tarsonis upper atmosphere and down to the planets surface.
Even as this went on the rebel and confederate fleets battled over the planet.
On the Bridge of a confederate capital ship the Thunder Spear.
"Sir! Zerg fleets are surrounding Tarsonis.!" yelled a officer.
The admiral Nathan Howls eyes widened in terror and fear as the space around Tarsonis became flooded by Zerg organisms. "What are their numbers?"
A few moments passed before he got a answer. "They uh! number at over one million sir."
"One million!" The admiral felt his knees give way as that was far too many for his fleet nor even the Tarsonis planetary defenses to repulse with any measure of success. The captain then started laughing and giggling hysterical.
"Sir?" shouted a officer.
The bridge crew sheared looks between each other as they fear and worried that their fleet admiral was losing it and maybe they weren't far behind.
"Sir! What are our orders?" the officers shout brought the admiral back from his fit of insanity.
Admiral Howl stared at the officer, his eyes sharp like daggers. He took in a few deep breaths. " Tell the fleet to disengage from the rebels and turn us around. Charge all the yamato cannons and arm all missile banks and charge all laser turrets. Were going to punch through the swarm of Zerg and save as many civilians as we can."
Making peace with their fate and objective the bridge crew went to work. All across the confederate fleet lines ships disengaged from their battle with the rebels and charged back to Tarsonis even taking fire as they did so.
"All ships hold fire." Mengsk ordered. As the suicidal but brave confederate fleet charged into the Zerg fleet swarming around Tarsonis he almost felt a pang of regret that such brave men and woman would die in a futile attempt to save the doomed planet. Almost.
On board the Gjallarhorn Haruka watched as the Overminds forces swarmed over the planet. She knew that this day was coming. Just like she knew the destruction of Korhal would happen. Along with the destruction of Chau Sara and Mar Sara and now Tarsonis.
Haruka couldn't help but wonder what was going on in Ellen's mind right now. But she also knew what Ellen had plans. Just like she had made plans for Korhal, Chau Sara, Mar Sara and now Tarsonis.
"Will your plans keep working Ellen. Or will you mess up one day." Haruka remembering that she and Ellen were inherently the same person despite living different lives and being born in different dimensions. So she also knew or could reasonably assume as to why Ellen was doing what she was. Perhaps as some kind of atonement for all the billions of lives she had taken so many years ago on Earth. But Haruka knew that both her and Ellen were realists. So that possibility was not realistic. But perhaps Ellen was just trying to do better then what she was able before.
On Tarsonis a literal rain of living blobs fell from orbit. Luckily many defensive batteries across the planet were ready and automated systems launched volley after volley of missile barrages numbering in the hundreds of thousands against the incoming invaders. Anti-air towers fired missile after missile as the rain of drop pods and Mutalisks descended to the planets surface. But this did little to stem the tide of terror that was descending to the surface.
With repeated impacts carving out impacted craters Zerg drop pods in their tens of thousands struck the surface. The pods shook like jello as the Zerg ripped and tore their way out of it. In a final screeching jump a Zergling leaped out of the pod. Followed by another and another and another and then a Hydralisk and the another Hydralisk and another. The local military bases surrounding Tarsonis city were flooded with Zerg of all shapes and sizes.
"What the hell are these things!" shouted a confederate marine as he hozed a few Zerglings down with his gauss rifle on full auto.
"Don't know and don't care just keep shooting!" exclaimed another marine beside the first.
More marines joined the firing line forming a makeshift defense in the base perimeter. All around them a larger battle raged as confederate ground forces did as best as could be expected given the sudden planet wide attack. More and more Zerglings came into firing range simply charging at the Terrans and being gunned down in the process. But their numbers only seemed to increase as time went on.
"Damn there's no end to them!"
"I'm out of ammo."
"Reloading!"
"Damn! damn! damn!"
As the Zerg numbers continued to increase so did the casualties through the base. Siege tanks exploded. Wraiths fell out of the sky exploding as they hit the ground. Goliaths were knocked off their legs by clawing waves of Zerglings. And valiant as they were the marines were whittled down one by one ether by the endless Zerglings waves or Hydralisk snipers.
-Rebel Base. Outskirts of Tarsonis-
"What the hell is going one!" demanded a very angry Raynor.
They had attempted to get in contact with Mengsk once the Zerg started pouring onto the planet but all methods of contact had failed.
"Damn you Mengsk!" Kerrigan swore as she punched the wall cracking the polycrete structure.
Never seeing Kerrigan this mad Nova flinched as the veteran ghost gritted her teeth with a scowl on her face. Nell walked up to Nova placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You should go get some rest for now." Nell said. "I'll talk with them."
Nova only nodded and left passing a visibly distraught Michael Liberty.
"Raynor, Kerrigan?" He looked between the two. "I suppose your both considering leaving the Sons of Korhal after this aren't you."
Kerrigan looking hurt on a personal level and gave Liberty a almost stabbing glare.
Liberty held both his hands up. "I take it that's a yes then. Truth be told i've been contemplating leaving ever since Antiga."
"Yeah." said Raynor sighing. "Me too. Damn this shit." He turned to Nell his face full of anger. "Why did you have us retreat back here? We could have saved at least some people."
Nell gave them both a stern cold glare. The intensity of her steely gaze gave both Kerrigan and Raynor goosebumps.
"I know how the two of you feel. But I can assure you that i've already have that covered. After all I knew Mengsk would do this. For quite a while in fact."
Kerrigan, Raynor and Liberty all gave Nell a odd look before sharing glances between each other.
"What do you mean by that?" Raynor asked.
"And what do you mean by got it covered?" Kerrigan asked.
Nell only gave them another cold glare that showed no sign of backing down. "I know we haven't known each other that long so you have no real reason to trust me. But I do know what i'm doing. Rest assured the people of Tarsonis are all well and safe. Most anyway."
Kerrigan looking desperate and angry walked up to Nell pulling her up by the collar. "How can you say that when the whole planets been flooded with Zerg!"
For a instant Nells eyes flashed a vivid red and blue. "Because i'm me. And i've been planning this for a very long time."
Feeling a cold shiver down her spine Kerrigan relented backing off. "Fa. Fine. But I still don't trust you."
Nell sighed and shrugged. "I'll explain everything later sometime. But right now we have to get off world. Horner should be on his way. Maybe."
"Maybe?" Raynor asked.
"Haruka should be or has talked with him to descend to the surface to rescue us."
Giving a accusing glare Kerrigan sat in a chair. "I take it you two had this whatever it is your doing, planed for a while?"
"Yes we did. But were still in mortal danger here so we have to get off world." said Nell.
"And how are we doing that with a few hundred prisoners?" asked Liberty.
Nell smirked. "What prisoners. The only people I can sense in this facility are Raynor's men and us."
Kerrigan gasped in surprise and expanded her perception across the underground base. She detected no one except for Raynors men in the barracks, Nova walking the halls to her room, and the four people present in room in the whole facility.
"What the hell?" Kerrigan exclaimed as she rushed out the door.
Raynor and liberty both just followed after her, all three making their way to the lower sub level where they had stored the old families members they had taken hostage. Kerrigans eyes widened as she looked into the empty cells. Raynor and Liberty were also perplexed by the sudden disappearance of so many people all at once.
"Frustrating isn't it?" Nell said as she appeared from down the hallway in the opposite direction from where Kerrigan Raynor and Liberty had entered.
"How?" Kerrigan shouted as she knew for a fact that that hallway dead ended around the corner. She knew because she personally secured the old family prisoners in their cells herself. It couldn't be a hidden passage because the command room and the prisoner cells are on opposite sides of the base and on different levels. Kerrigan had made sure to know the whole bases lay out so as to now from where they could flee or counter attack any invaders just in case the confederate army found this place.
"How? where?" Kerrigan stuttered in confusion.
Nell casually leaned against the wall with a grin on her face. "I got a few tricks up my sleeve. But like I said before. I'll explain everything at a later date. For now..." Nell froze looking off in the distance as if seeing something. "Shit. That's a lot of Zerg."
"What?" Kerrigan said before realising something she had forgotten. "Damnet. Thats right the Zerg are attracted to me!"
"We got to evacuate now," shouted Raynor.
Nell walked passed them. "Come on we don't have time. Raynor, Liberty get to the drop ships now. Kerrigan go get Nova. You know why right."
Kerrigan shot Nell a mean look that soon turned into a look of surprise before she gave a deep sigh. "Yeah. Sure. I understand."
Raynor felt odd at the interaction of the two wondering if they talked via telepathy or something. Everyone did as they were told and the base was evacuated. In the hanger bay Raynor looked about for Kerrigan and Nova wondering where they where. He spotted Nell walking to a dropship and ran to her, catching her arm.
"Where's Kerrigan and Nova?" he demanded in a stern tone.
Nell looked him in the eyes. "Their not coming."
"What? Why not. Where are they!" he demanded again.
"Buying us time."
Raynor gritted his teeth. "What does that mean?"
"There's a facility that the Confederates built as a counter to the Zerg hive mind. I had both Kerrigan and Nova go there to activate it. It will break the Zerg lines long enough for us to escape."
Satisfied with the explanation Raynor let go of Nells arm. "Fine. But I want a full explanation on all this bull shit you got going on later."
"For the third time I will explain all that in detail at a later date." Nell explained. But she didn't say how much later she would explain her story.
Meanwhile In a cloaked dropship Nova and Kerrigan kept their eyes forward, both knowing that this mission was a dangerous one.
"Are you scared," Kerrigan asked.
"A little." Nova replied as she held her rifle.
Shaking her head Kerrigan still couldn't believe she was going through with this. Infiltrate a secrete confederate facility and activate a piece of experimental tech that may not even be completed yet. Getting that mission via telepathy all of a sudden was not very encouraging for Kerrigans opinion of Nell.
"Yeah im crazy." Kerrigan thought. But on further introspection she knew that this had the best chance for both Raynor and the others to escape the planet along with any civilians left on the world if any. Kerrigan seriously wanted to know how Nell could be so confident that the majority of the Tarsonis population was safe. She'll just have to ask later.
A beep on the navigation map projected on the HUD showed their destination was in visual range. Kerrigan switched on the long range visual camera bringing up a image of a small base set at the base of a snowy mountain. It looked like a standard small confederate base except for the odd looking white cross shaped building at its center.
"That must be it," said Kerrigan lowering their altitude.
"I'll go get the weapons ready," said Nova as she got up and went to the chargo room.
It seemed that Nell had preplaned this operation and had this particular stealth dropship equipped with special gear and weapons. In the cargo hold Nova opened a few creates grabbing a few hand fulls of ammo and grenades. Her curiosity was piqued when she caught sight of a create with the words 'stealth cloaks' on it. Opening the create she saw two hooded dark blue cloaks with a hexagon shaped texture pattern on is surface and a thick collar around the neck.
The dropship bucked as it landed jaring Nova a bit. Realizing they had landed Nova focused back to the stealth cloaks. She grabbed one and put it on just as Kerrigan arrived.
"What's that?" the red head asked.
"It's says stealth cloak." replied Nova as she fumbled with the collar attachment.
Pressing a button by accident Nova suddenly disappeared from sight.
"Nova?" Kerrigan asked a little surprised.
"I'm here. Can you see me?"
"No. I can't sense you either."
"Really!"
Messing with the collar again Nova found the button and pressed it reappear.
"These are just like our environmental suits huh. A little redundant though," Nova said.
Kerrigan noticed the cargo box and pulled out the second stealth cloak. "No not really. They specialize in cloaking and seems they can also jam or block a teeks ability to sense the wearer."
"What really!"
Kerrigan put the cloak on and pressed a small red triangle on the side of the collar disappearing from sight. "Can you sense me."
Nova did her best to sense where Kerrigan was but found nothing. "No. Where are you?"
"Over here."
Nova hearing Kerrigan's voice come from behind her turned around looking up. Kerrigan was hanging from the ceiling with a rifle pointed at Nova.
"Woh! How did you get up there and how are you sticking to the ceiling?"
Kerrigan lowered her rifle and hopped down. "I just used my telekinesis to stick my feet on to the surface."
Nova suddenly had a revelation. "Telekinesis really is like a multi tool for psionic powers isn't it."
Kerrigan gave a short grinning laugh. "I guess it is. Come on. We got a facility to infiltrate."
Both Kerrigan and Nova equipped their new weapons and gear before exiting the dropship. They walked a short distance away before Kerrigan telekinetically pressed the door ramp button closing the cargo ramp. For a moment Kerrigan wondered if the stealth tech of both the dropship and the cloak were related or even the same. Her suspicions of Nell and Haruka only grew as she thought on the subject.
After trekking through the forest for ten minutes they finally reached the perimeter of the base. Pulling out a small signal scope binocular Kerrigan scouted the bases lay out. It had lots of security and guards in full CMC armor but they had different emblems on their armor then what normal confederate marines bare.
"Moebius Security?" Kerrigan said reading the emblem on the guards armor.
"I think i've heard about them." said Nova catching Kerrigans attention.
"What do you know of them?"
Nova shook her head. "Not much. Just that my father had some dealings with security mercs that tried to get him to pay for their services one time a few months back. From what I remember it sounded they were looking for sponsorship from some members of the old families."
"I see." Kerrigan turned back to the base. "I think these guys are some secrete merc security group. Must be really high on the pecking ladder if I've never heard of them until now."
Moving carefully the two slowly made their way to the base perimeter under the invisibility of their stealth cloaks getting in range of a anti-air tower which should have detected their presence a long time ago. But trusting their new gear Kerrigan progressed further. And was pleasantly surprised that the new stealth cloaks kept her hidden. Know knowing the quality of their gear the two of them more quickly made their way into the facility bypassing guards and security systems that normally would have taken minutes to bypass or kill and hide the bodies.
Then the two of them finally reached the Psi-disrupter building proper. Both of them using their telekinesis to leap over the wall surrounding the structure. Just as they reached the door it opened and a technician in a lab coat exited the building. He walked passed the two infiltrators standing in the snow just meters from him never knowing that they were there. Having read his mind during the brief encounter Kerrigan opened the door with the stolen passcode. Knowing time is a wasting the two quickly made their way to the control room.
The door to the control room opened catching the attention of two Moebius security guards who was only more alarmed by the fact no one entered through the doorway. Feeling something was amiss one of them walked upto the open door looking both directions down the hallway.
"Guh!"
The guards attention was drawn back to the sound of his partner groning before clattering to the floor. Turning around the guard saw his partner laying on the floor with a knife jammed in his head. He attempted to contact security but but before he could get a word out a monomolecular blade entered his forehead. The guard fell dead leaving Kerrigan, Nova and two scientists the sole inhabitant to the room. The two scientists hadn't hard the two guards getting killed because the room was partitioned into two rooms separated by sound proof security glass and the two scientist were busy playing around with the control equipment.
"Is the psionic waveform amplifier calibrated correctly?" scientist 1 asked.
"Yes. And the tachyon particle converter has been infused with psionic power from the psionic agents." replied scientist 2.
"Good now we can..." scientist 1 suddenly went quiet.
"Huh what was that?. Dan?" scientist 2 looked around not finding Dan anywhere. "Dan where are you?" Scientist 2 walked around the control console looking for Dan and found him laying in a pool of his own blood. "Dan!" Was his last words as a knife slit his throat.
"Didn't we need them Kerrigan?" Nova asked decloaking.
Still cloaked Kerrigan started up the psi-disrupter activation procedure. "I got what I needed from them."
Under her stealth cloak Nova sighed at the cold blooded killing of the two noncombatants. "Still you didn't need to kill them. We could have just knocked them out."
The typing on the keyboard stopped a moment as Kerrigan thought it through. "Maybe your right. Sorry. I guess i'm still not that used to being on a team. Im used to only fighting alone or doing my own thing."
Nova crossed her arms. "I thought your had been working with Raynor and the others for a while now. I would think your would have developed a skill for team work by know?"
Shaking her head Kerrigan started the finally activation sequence. "That's... different. And... "
"Is it because Raynor was always with you or something along those lines."
Kerrigan stopped one button press from starting the psi-disrupter. "I... thats none of your business." Kerrigan pressed the button.
In orbit the rebel fleet was holding its position between the moon Worthing and Tarsonis.
"What do you mean were leaving." Matt Horner yelled.
On screen Mengsk took on a very angry look. "You have your orders now carry them out."
"We can't just leave Raynor and the others on Tarsonis," Horner pleaded.
"Captain Argust I suggest you keep your second in command in line or I may have to have him removed."
Mengsk threat didn't make Argust flinch one bit. The old man gave Horner a glance before turning back to Mengsk. "With all dew, respect I'm in agreement with my second in command. We can at least attempt a rescue operation."
If Mengsk was irritated before he was completely furious now. "Are you disobeying my orders captain!"
"I suppose I am. Consider this my resignation." Argus said with considerable confidence in his voice.
Mengsk was visible furious now not hiding his anger. But just as he was about to speak a comm officer on his bridge interrupted him.
"Sir were seeing a massive change to the Zerg formations!"
Mengsk turned around with a look of utter surprise on his face. "What!"
On Tarsonis and in the surrounding space Zerg behavior and became more and more violent and self destructive. Many of the Zerg breeds started attacking each other or moving about in random directions with no discernible purpose.
Seeing this as a opportunity Captain Argust made his move. "Full power to the engines. Were entering Tarsonis atmosphere on the double. Scan for Raynor and the others and keep hailing them until they answer or your voice gives out."
"Yes sir!" replied the crew.
Horner stared at his captain disbelieving that he had just defied and told Mengsk off before openly saying that he's leaving the Sons of Korhal. "Uh. Thanks sir."
Captain Argust grinned. "No need or apologise. I've never liked that guy in the first place."
As the psionic waveform jammer of the Psi-disrupter expanded across the planet and beyond Zasz felt the connection with his brood weaken considerably.
"What is this!" the Cerebrate growled in the bowls of his Behemoth.
Zasz attempted to reach out to his brood but any orders he sent were garbled and when they were received the Zerg were slow to react. In frustration and anger the Cerebrate focused cutting at least partly through the interference peering into the collective minds of all of his brood on and around the Terran world. Through his search he discovered the location of the source of the disruption to his psionic connection to his underlings.
"There... That is the source of this disruption. It must be eliminated or the whole swarm could be in danger. (Growling) But none of my brood can reach it in their current state. (Irritated Growling) And it may disrupt my own connection to the Overmind. If that happens I may not be able to resurrect if im killed. But this could prove a greater threat to the swarm as whole. It must be destroyed."
Having made up his mind Zasz ordered his Behemoth to warp directly over the location of the source of the disruption to his broods ability to communicate. The warpgate opened and Zasz Behemoth passed through exiting directly over the Psi-disrupter base. Immediately the Behemoth roared in pain as the disruptor rang in its mind like a screeching nail on a chalkboard greatly disrupting its connection to it's Cerebrate even though it carried Zasz. All the other Zerg on the Behemoth went berserk clawing at themselves and each other. The only one not affected by the disrupter was Zasz himself.
The behemoth tilted and started dropping out of the air as the Terrans below panicked with a Zerg Behemoth not only floating above them but also beginning to fall towards them. Anti-air missile towers quickly rotated their launchers aiming at the beast firing salvo after salvo into the creatures armored carapace but did little damage to such a large target. The last of the Behemoths focus on its ability to remain air-born was lost and it suddenly dropped out of the sky landing like a earthquake. Every building shook like it had been bombed as the shockwave from the crash collapsed a few weaker structures and those unlucky enough to be directly below the beast were completely crushed.
Base personnel and Moebius security mercs ran scattering in all directions while berserk Zerg streamed out of the fallen beast in a maddened dash. Then a spot on the side of the Behemoth exploded. Zasz erupted out of the hole roaring as his long body curved upwards to the sky before falling back down. Dozens of massive centipede legs landed on the ground creating a rush of air that knocked several Terrans off their feet.
"Gah! Monster!" shouted a random scientist as he ran away from the Cerebrate. Zasz glanced down at the tiny Terran as he ran away screaming. A burst of rifle fire struck Zasz doing little damage. Annoyed he turned to the source of the annoyance spotting three Moebius security mercs deeply regretting what they just did.
"I told you not to do that!"
"Sorry!"
"Lets run. Fuck this shit!"
Zasz casually spat a glob of green liquid at the Terrans and turned back towards the source of the distress to his Brood while the terrans soldiers screamed as they were melted by acid. There standing before him was a white cross shaped building with various objects on top. Zasz didn't know what they were for but he knew that it needed to be destroyed.
-Koprulu Expeditionary Fleet-
-Command Ship Gantrithor-
On the bridge of his capital ship Tassadar and his command staff monitored the activity in the surrounding systems. Then they detected a anomiles psionic signal.
"Executor! We are detecting a, anomalies psionic signal coming from the world known as the capital of the Terran group known as the confederacy."
Taking more interest Tassadar walked over to the templars station eyeing his holoscreen. "Show me."
The templar brought up the date stream from a observer in the Tarsonis systems. The holoscreen blinked on showing a massive Zerg fleet encircling the Terran world designated as Tarsonis.
"By the Xel'Naga thats a class 3 Zerg fleet," stated the templar.
Tassadar narrowed his yellow eyes at the screen noticing that they were not moving in proper or normal directions. "Zoom in and get a closer image."
Nodding the templar did as instructed. The Observer flew closer to the Zerg fleet while zooming its image in. It saw countless Zerg corpses and frozen blood drops floating through space as the went berserk Zerg gutting and killing each other. Tassadar and many of his bridge crew widened their eyes in disbelief as they beheld a sight no Protoss had ever seen before. Zerg killing Zerg. Something that had never ever happened before.
"There must be some reason they are behaving like this?" spoke Tassadar. "Scan the planet for that anomalies psionic signal."
"Yes Executor."
The screen swiftly changed to show a graph of differing energy signals both natural and artificial narrowing down to only psionic type waveforms. The screen changed to show a point on the planet from where the anomalies psionic signal was coming from.
"There. That Terran facility is the source of the anomalies signal." said the templar.
Tassadar suddenly had the gears in his mind turning as he took in the full extent of the meaning of the fact the Terrans of all races had developed a weapon that could interfere with the Zerg hive mind. Similar weapons and technology had been attempted by the Protoss empire during the long war with the Swarm but none worked as well as expected leading to a end of that branch of research. But here was a working version of the technology and it was wreaking havoc on the Zerg ranks. Tassadar knowing what he had to do next decided on his course of action giving his orders.
"To all members of the Expeditionary Force. This is Executor Tassadar. I order a immediate assault on all Zerg forces currently besieging the Terran world of Tarsonis. We are to eliminate as many of the Zerg as possible while retrieving a sample of Terran technology."
All were shocked by the Executors orders. Sending in the whole of the fleet was something of over kill in this instance.
"Executor is it really needed to send in the whole fleet?" asked a templar officer.
Standing resolute in his decision Tassadar turned to the questioning Templar. "It would seem the Terrans have managed to create a form of technology that can disrupted the Zerg gestalt hive mind. And the proof of that is staring us in the face." Tassadar stated pointing to the screen showing Zerg massacring each other.
The templar stared at the screen for a moment before turning back to the Executor. "I understand Executor. Allow me to go to the planets surface and personally retrieve the technology."
Tassadar nodded. "Very well Executor."
Then the situation changed.
"Executor im detecting a Zerg warpgate forming over the Terran facility. It's a Behemoth!"
Turning to the holoscreen Tassadar witnessed a Zerg Behemoth warp right over the base. It was fired upon almost by the Terran defenses taking minor damage. Then after a few moments it started slowly dropping down until crashing and crushing a good portion of the base.
"Why is that lone Behemoth landing there." Tassadar questioned. "Unless. Scan for strong psionic emanations coming from the Behemoth."
"Scanning. Sir! a Cerebrates signal coming from..."
The templar was interrupted as the hulking form of Zasz erupted from the side of the downed Behemoth.
"A Cerebrate." Tassadar stated in a hostile tone as he clenched his fist. "Prepare to warp a platoon of Zealots and High Templar to the Cerebrates location. It's after the Terrans tech disrupting its control over its brood. We cannot allow that."
"Yes Executor!"
With a renewed sense of urgency the whole bridge staff and many throughout the fleet quickly entered a state of battle readiness.
Meanwhile the rebel fleet was resting on the near dark side of one the moon Worthing making repairs. Mengsk stood on the bridge taking in the chaotic mess that was both in orbit and on the planet's surface. Whatever was left of the confederate military was fighting for its very survival. Radio transmissions from the surface of Tarsonis played in the back round as Mengsk enjoyed his coffee. He had wanted to leave the system but two things stopped him. The first was that nine of the ships in his fleet were damaged to a extent that they would suffer catastrophic damage and explode if they attempted a warp jump. And two Mengsk himself couldn't resist the urge to listen as the confederacy itself dies in front of him.
Screams and cry's of aid and help streamed from the radio on the tactical table as Mengsk took a sip of his hot coffee.
"Sir the repairs should be done in a half hour," reported a officer.
"We'll leave the system as soon as the repairs are done." Mengsk said.
The bridge was quiet again for the next few seconds with the exception of the desperate calls for aid coming in over the radio from the confederate forces trapped on the planet. Then on one officers screen a huge warp signature appeared over the planet.
"Reading over a hundred Protoss ships exiting warp over Tarsonis!"
Mengsk stood up slowly not feeling inclined to act in anyway. He had expected the Protoss to arrive and purge Tarsonis of all life just like they had done to all previous worlds.
"So they had over a hundred ships."Mengsk said watching the screen show the impressive fleet of golden ships approach Tarsonis. "Have they started bombarding the planet yet?"
"No sir but they seem to be engaging the Zerg forces in orbit."
Mengsk expression changed to surprise and anger as they damn Protoss were going to ruin his whole plane. If the confederacy survives then all his work up to now would be ruined.
"Damn what are they doing! They should be burning Tarsonis to a sea of molten slag not fighting the Zerg."
A nearby officer quit surprised at Mengsk reaction turned to him. "Ugh well. That's what their doing."
Mengsk had to think fast as he could not i'll a ford his years of planning and back stabbing to go unfulfilled. "Bring the fleet to battle readiness."
"Uh sir? who are we...?"
Mengsk shot the young officer a cold glare that could have froze water. "The Protoss! Where going to fight the Protoss. If we let them save the confederacy then all our work to free the sector from their iron grip would be all for nothing." Mengsk was visible upset at this point.
The officer and others glanced at the screen showing the fleet of far superior ships that also greatly outnumbered them then looked back to Mengsk. "Sir there's more of them then us and im..."
Mengsk slammed a fist on the tactical table making everyone on the bridge jump for a instant. "Follow my orders now or i'll have you removed from command!."
"Dear god your so loud and pathetic."
Surprised by the voice Mengsk turned to see Haruka enter his bridge. "Commander Ried? What are you doing on my ship?"
"Oh just transporting someone here. Your starting to crack aren't you." Haruka chuckled. "What never thought that the confederacy would slip through your hands right at the last moment."
Mengsk was a mountain of intimidation to everyone on the bridge as he took several heavy strides towards Haruka. "What exactly is your game here. Did you just come here to irritate me!"
Haruka could practically smell his breath and waved a hand over her face. "Damn you need a breath mint. For starters why are you so eager to get everyone killed. The Protoss have far to many ships and their just here to clean up the Zerg threat anyway. Their a threat to us as much as the Protoss."
Mengsk growled almost popping a vein, drastically thickening the tensen in the room. "If we let them stop the Zerg from killing the confederate leadership and the old families then all our work and sweat is for nothing! We'll have to start over from scratch and..."
"And what!" a handsome young man in a decorative uniform with large golden shoulder pads matching his golden hair and grey eyes walked onto the bridge.
Mengsk was greatly surprised by the presence of his son. "Valerin! What, why are you here?" Mengsk shot Haruka a intense glare. "You. Why did you bring him here?"
Ignoring the order Haruka walked to the tactical table hopping on top like a kid. "I brought him here because he wanted to see his dear old dad bring the oh so terrible confederacy to their knees."
Mengsk could hear the sarcasm dripping from her words and was about ready to pop a blood vessel as he shot his son a cold stare. "Valerian. Why are you here?" Mengsk said in a calm tone that had a undertone of intensity.
Taking a moment to compose himself Valerian took in a deep breath. "Father did you give this order to general Duke." Valerian held up a hand, held recorder pressing the play button.
"Duke," It was clearly Mengsk voice on the recording. "Send the psi-emitter to the surface and activate it. Then abandon the space platform and return to the fleet. The Zerg will take car of the rest for us." Valerian pressed the stop button.
Mengsk looked completely dumbstruck for a moment before looking like he was about to explode in rage.
"I'm deeply disappointed in you father."
Mengsk shot a murderous look between Haruka and Valerian. "I see now. Your here to usurp my authority. Guards!"
The guards that were normally guarding the outside of the bridge didn't come. Mengsk looked quite frustrated feeling backed into a corner.
"You must have been planning this for sometime now. I see. I see." Mengsk pulled a pistol on Haruka who kept a calm expression. "I knew there was something odd about you. So were you really a confederate spy then. No if that were the case then you would have acted sooner. Umoja then?"
"Err. Wrong on both accounts."
Now looking a confused Mengsk gave a disbelieving look. "I hardly believe Kel-Morian would have such a skilled person like you. So your a merc then. How much are they paying you then?"
Wanting to jerk Mengsk chain she played along. "I hardly think you could beat their price."
Mengsk thinking he had a way out took the bait. "On the contrary i'm quite wealthy. And after I establish the Dominion i'll have even more funds and power. If you kill Valerian and destroy that evidence i'll make you one of my top generals. Or even give you any political position you want. And pay you five times whatever the Kel-Morians are paying you."
Haruka crossed her legs thinking. "Hmm. You drive a hard bargain. Make it ten times and you got a deal."
"Ten times!" Mengsk shouted shaking his head at the price. But then he remembered the upgrades done to the Gjallarhorn and wanting that tech too. "Very well. So long as you give me the access to the same technology that you used to improve your ship."
Haruka hopped down taking a slow stride closer to Mengsk holding out her hand. "Deal. Now let's shake."
Mengsk lowered his weapon and they shook hands. "Just asking but, how much did the Kel-Morin's pay you?"
Haruka smiled. "Nothing." Harukas voice became cold, dead and serious. "Because they didn't pay me. Valerian."
With a shocked face Mengsk turned to his son who was now aiming a gun at him. BANG!
-Some Time Before-
In the psi-disruptor both Nova and Kerrigan watched as the device activated sending a special psionic waveform frequency out across the star system that would disrupt the Zerg hive minds ability to communicate.
"Ah! You feel that Nova."
Nova shook her head as the feeling of water pressure wash over her mind. "Yeah. I thought this thing only affected Zerg?"
Kerrigan shrugged. "It's not affecting me to badly. Just a mild headache and a feeling like i'm underwater."
"Yeah me too." replied Nova. "Let's get out of here. Enemy reinforcements may be on their way."
"Yeah your right. Let's go."
Kerrigan and Nova cloaked again as they made their way out of the psi- disruptor structure. But as they exited the building all hell broke lose as a Zerg Behemoth warped in directly over the base. Moebius security mercs and the bases defenses opened up a barrage of missile and rifle fire on the giant Zerg organism.
"Shit! What the hell!" yalled Nova as dozens of missiles and hundreds of gauss rounds impacted the Behemoths underbelly.
"The Zerg leaders or whatever they are must not be as affected as the rest of the swarm. It's must be here to destroy the Psi-disruptor."
As they conversed the Behemoth started listing to one side then back to the other. Then sensing what's coming next Kerrigans eyes widened. "Crap. Nova follow me we need run for it right now!"
The two cloaked women ran straight for the closest base exit as the Behemoth above dropped rapidly. The air rushed down wards like a hurricane pushed by the falling Behemoth, and with a calamitous crash a shock wave of air smashed into both Kerrigan and Nova sending them flying through the air, into a wall.
Kerrigan laid there with a mild concussion and blood dripping from her skull. Blinking she saw blurry images of moebius mercs fighting against Zerg pouring out of the Behemoth. Screaming and gun fire echoed in her skull as the battle raged all around her. Luckily the stealth cloaks kept both her and Nova invisible to the combatants on both sides. Then a great roar bellowed as a giant centipede burst its way out of the Behemoths side. Kerrigan wiping the blood from her forehead staring up at the massive beast only a few hundred meters away. She took in a few deep breaths trying to regain her full focus and wipe the blurriness from her mind.
Hearing screams Kerrigan saw the giant Zerg centipede spit on several marines melting them into a bloody pool of gore. The creature that Kerrigan thought must be the Zerg command breed turned towards the psi-disruptor and approached it on its dozens of legs.
"Ow that hurt!" said Nova as she stood back up using the wall for support.
"You ok Nova?" Kerrigan said as she too stood up.
"Yeah." replied Nova as she shifted her weight to her other leg feeling a sharp pain. "Gah!"
Kerrigan quickly looked over to see Nova holding her leg. "I thought you said you were fine."
Slumping down to her butt Nova held her ankle. "Yeah I was but. Ah! dament! It's my ankle."
Kerrigan dropped to her knees taking Novas ankle in hand. "Is it broken?"
Nova let out a pained cry. "Yeah! yeah! That broken. Ah!"
The sound of metal and polycrete being scraped on by something big reached Kerrigans ears. Looking back to the psi-disruptor she saw the giant Zerg centipede climb around and on top of the psi-disruptor with its fanged mandibles dripping with acid.
"Damn its going for the psi-disruptor!"
Nova looked over seeing the monster centipede bite into a relay dish letting its acid eat right through the dish like cotton candy. "Stop it."
Kerrigan turned to her. "What! I can't leave you here alone."
"Go. If that thing destroy's the psi-disruptor then Raynor the others and any civilians left won't be able to leave the planet safely."
Kerrigan struggled with the choice of protecting the disruptor or her new protege. Hearing the popping noise of the dish relay Kerrigan looked back to the sight of the Psi-disruptor relay dish colapshing as acid at away from its supports. And with a metallic crash it collapsed.
"Damn I hate times like this!" Kerrigan screamed internally.
Just then a flash of light caught both Novas and Kerrigans attention. There in the middle of the base appeared twenty nine protoss and four quadruped tanks (Dragoons). Zealots, High Templar and Tassadar himself. Kerrigan could feel the power radiating from them and instantly knew of their intentions.
"That answers that question." said Kerrigan as she scooped Nova up in her arms and ran out of the base.
In a flash of light Tassadar appeared along with a contingent of Zealots and High templar. In front of them was the white Terrans building holding the tech that can do what the Protoss have failed to accomplish. Disrupted the Zerg gestalt hive mind. Such a ability would completely change the rules of the war between the two races. But the structure was currently under attack by a Cerebrate, slowly being crushed and dismantled.
Sensing the Protosses arrival, Zasz stopped attacking the building and turned to them. "(Growling). So the vaunted first born come. Or perhaps your here to take this weapon for your own."
Tassadar and his templar sparked their psi-blades while the Dragoons charged up their photon cannons. "Either way it spells the doom of you abominations."
With nothing else to say the two sides attacked each other. Even though the Terran device was severely limiting Zasz's ability to command his brood he still had the ability to direct their rampage at the very least and he had nearly all a full Behemoths full of available forces to attack the Protoss.
Hearing screeching and war cries from the Zerg around them the Zealots and Dragoons turned to the charging Zerglings and Hydralisk starting their own battle to keep the majority of the enemy off Tassadar back so he could focus on the Cerebrate. Tassadar and the two other High templar formed psi-spears launching them at the Cerebrate. Zasz weaved his long snake like body side to side evading two of the psi-spears but still took one to his armored carapace. The pure white spear impacted with the force of a missile and detonated carving a crater in Zasz body.
"(Pained Growl). I'll feast on your bones Protoss."
Zasz spat a wide acid spray at Tassadar only for have him and the two High templar quickly jumped away as if flying. Zasz fired a barrage of high velocity spines only for them to bounce off plasmatic shields.
Tassadar dodged to the side gathering psionic energy to his hands in the form of electricity and fired bolt after bolt of psi-lightning into Zasz's face. The other High templar followed suit blasting the Cerebrate with lightning blasts fracturing chunks off his skull carapace.
"(Growling Roar) Die Protoss."
Zasz raised his tail up firing a barrage of spores. The green globs of explosive biomater arched up over the cerebrates body falling down towards Tassadar.
Finally reaching the stealth dropship Kerrigan placed Nova in the co-pilots seat and sat down her self.
"You think the protoss can protect the psi-disruptor?" Nova asked as she winced in pain from her broken ankle.
Kerrigans hands danced along the controls starting the engines up. "I hope so. Or else it's going to be a hell of a ride into orbit."
Feeling uncomfortable Nova deactivated her stealth cloak and took it off.
Zasz being supremely good at multitasking fired at the three templar. Dodging their attacks as best he could while counter attacking. Previous experience taught Zasz to avoid close combat with Protoss even with the weaker ones. The psi-blades they wield can carve through even the super hard and resilient armor of a Carabrate. Though his size could grant him a advantage in melee the Protoss have adapted their skills and tactics to evade with their psionic dashing abilities.
Then Zasz sensed a new psionic signature off in the distance. Waving his body to the side again he evaded yet another barrage of psi-spears but took two bolts of lightning. Gowling at the annoying abilities of the Protoss he calculated the situation while taking more psi-lightning strikes to his body. The powerful psionic Terran that the Overmind wanted was escaping and the Protoss were overwhelming his brood and it was only a matter of time until he runs out of troops. And it was impossible to call or direct anymore Zerg reinforcements to his aide with the Terran device completely jamming his long range control over his brood.
As Zasz calculated what his next move should be the Dragoons turned their attention to him, their rotating cannons spun up in preparation to let loose a barrage of high velocity photon cannon rounds on him. Tassadar and the two High templar continued to float around n the air striking him again and gain with their psionic attacks keeping him from finishing off the Terrans technology. He then realised that as a Zerg he could go places that the Protoss couldn't.
Then in a defiant roar Zasz activated his bodies burrowing ability just as the Dragoons opened fire on him. Thousands of small photon rounds barraged his carapace as he dropped into the ground. Tassadar and the others stopped their attacks as the cerebrate disappeared into the earth.
With the main engines at full power Kerrigan hit the thrusters boosting the dropship into the air. Retracting the landing gear She hit the forward thrusters and they jetted forwards through the air clearing the tree line. As they traveled higher into the sky Zasz erupted from the ground below them. Both Zasz and Kerrigan sensed each other and the former could sense Nova even through the standard cloaking of the dropship while the latter could not help sense the mental power of the formore.
"Crap!" said Karrigan increasing their speed.
Zasz threw his upper body back pooling a glob of acid in his throat. Then with great force he flung his head forwards simultaneously firing his acid spit and a short burst of spines, their momentum and velocity almost doubled. The scattered barrage of acid and spines flew through the air at first higher then the Terran craft but then as the stealth dropship gain altitude and gravity pulled the projectiles down their trajectories crossed destroying one of the engines and causing the craft to smoke as it fell out of the sky.
"Damn! were going down!" Kerrigan yelled as the drop ship shook violently and both her and Nova held on as they dropped out of the air crashed.
Zasz rushed forwards on his many legs, crashing through trees and over hills and earthen dips and up small hills. He found the Terran craft along a hill with a trench of broken trees trailing behind it. He approached the downed craft ripping the roof off. Inside the craft he saw the two small yet powerful Terrans slumped in their seats. Yet he could only sense the psionic power of the one. Worrying that one may be dead he gently with his massive mandibles reached in pulling them out and laying them on the snow covered ground. Observing their bodies he concluded that they had only mild injuries and suspected that their coverings may have something to do with the fact he could only sense one of them and didn't sense either of them earlier.
Making note of the cloaks they were wearing he created a altered type of acid on one a sharp tip of one of one of his mandibles and carefully dripped it on one of the Terrans legs. The clothes sizzled and was ate away while leaving the flesh unharmed underneath. Seeing the altered acide work the way he wanted he created more of it and splashed all of it on the two Terrans females quickly leaving the two naked.
To the Cerebrates joy he now sensed two powerful psionic signals coming from the two Terrans meaning that they were indeed the ones the Overmind wanted. He may have failed to destroy the Terran tech but he had still captured his objectives. But now the problem of how to get off world was now apparent. Zasz thought about his choices concluding that he has to at least disable the Terrans device. Making use of his considerable mental power Zasz calculated the distance from the Terrans base and his current position and opened a warp gate directly over the psi jammer device.
Khalai phase-smiths warped down from the fleet and quickly took to the task of analysing the the Terran machines. Tassadar looked around as his forces secured the area. Dozens of Dragoons and over a hundred Zealots patrolled the area determined to keep the technology that could completely change the course of the war against the Zerg safe as could be. Then like a bolt out of the sky he and the other Templar sensed a intense concentration of psionic energy above them. A warp gate opened and on the other side was the Cerebrate looking up at them. As soon as its appeared it fired a barrage of acid and spines at the two dishes on the roof of the Psi-disruptor destroying them.
The Dragoons opened fire with their beam attacks burning black scorching goudges into the Zergs armor and destroying half of its head. Screeching in pain the beast fell and the warp gate closed. At first Tassadar thought it had failed in its attempt to destroy the Terrand device but then the odd static feeling at the back of his mind disappeared and the Behemoth screamed lifting off the ground. The Dragoons fired their photon beams cutting into its organic hull and Tassadar and the other two High templar fired psi-spears at it blasting holes and black scorched grooves in its body drawing blood. The beast bellowed louder as it took more and more damage but it was still far too massive to take down in such a short amount of time and before long it flew away bloody but alive.
Clenching his fists in anger Tassadar thought that he had failed in securing the device but decided to make sure that t was unrecoverable first before leaving.
"Check its systems. Make sure if it can't function."
Nodding the PhashSmiths got back to work on the primitive but innovative technology.
Tassadar over saw the Phase smiths work. After a few minutes one of the elder Phase smiths came up to him.
"Executor. The Terran device is intact. Its means of projecting the disruptive effect has simply been destroyed. It will take time but I believe that it may be possible to reverse engineer this device."
Tassadar nodded with a internal sigh of relief. "Thank you. Carry on."
The wounded Behemoth left orbit with Zasz on board. The massive creature clicked its mandibles looking back down at the two cocoons its had wrapped the two Terrans in to keep them unconscious and under control. The last thing he wanted was to have to hurt them if they woke up and started fighting back.
"Warp!" He bellowed.
The Behemoth shuttered a moment and a warpgate formed in front of it. The warp gate grew larger and larger until it was ten kilometers wide. Zasz''s wounded Behemoth passed through the warpgate followed by the rest of his Brood. Or at least what was left after fighting the Protoss fleet.
On the Cormorant Raynor looked out the screen window watching as the Zerg fleet left followed soon after by the Protoss. Feeling relieved he lowered his head.
"You ok." Horner asked.
"No Matt. No im not." Raynor turned around placing both hands on the tactical table. "What's the damage?"
Horner manipulated the tactical display opening several windows. All of them showed a devastated Tarsonis. Buildings burning. Streets covered in demolished cars and trucks and the bodies of dead soldiers laying all over the battlefields that any and all military facilities had become. But oddly there were no bodies anywhere in any of the civilian cities and settlements across Tarsonis.
"What the hell." Raynor questioned. "Where are all the bodies? Did the Zerg eat them."
Horner looked through the date. "From what our people on the ground can tell there's no sign of any blood or human remains anywhere. It doesn't look like what's happened to the population was during the Zergs attack."
Raynor pushed off the tactical table. "Then what happend dament. Two billion people don't just up and disappear!"
Everyone was on edge with what happened on Tarsonis and Mengsk actions.
"Captain. We have a transmission incoming from the Hyperion." reported a bridge officer.
Captain Argust looked at both Horner and Raynor understanding that they both could use a brake so he decided to take the message himself. He walked over to the comm station and told the officer to open the comuniqua at the com stations screen. In moments the face of Commander Haruka appeared.
"Commander? What are you doing on the Hyperion?"
"Captain Argust. I have a bit of news that needs to be given to the fleet."
"And that would be?"
"Arcturus Mengsk is dead."
"What!"
Captain Argust said aloud catching both Raynor and Horner's attention.
"Captain?" Matt asked. "Anything wrong?"
Argust looked back at Raynor and Horner mulling it over. "Yes actually something did happen. It seems Mengsk had been killed."
"What!" both Raynor and Matt exclaimed.
"How?" asked Raynor.
"I'll have commander Haruka answer that question." the captain told the com officer to place the transmission on the main monitor.
"Ah there you are jim." stated Haruka on the main monitor.
"What going on. Way... hows Mengsk dead?" asked Raynor.
"Well it's simple really. He was caught giving a order to general Duke to use the psi-emitters. The evidence was presented he got violent and was executed. Also we have a new boss."
"New boss?" stated Raynor still trying to take all of this in. "Who is it?"
"His names Valerian. Come over to the Hyperion. He wants to meet you and the other high ranking leaders."
"Guess I may as well see who this guy is. I'll be over in a bit."
"See you then." Haruka said ending the transmission.
-Chapter End-