-Chapter 46-
-Zerg Attack and Peaceful Invasion-
Within its Leviathan Cerebrate Aegis descended into the atmosphere of Umoja followed by its small fleet of Behemoths. The zerg fleet screamed through the planets upper atmosphere scattering across 13 of the the planets 18 major cities. All across the planet military forces were deployed to intercept the bio-ships on their entry into the atmosphere. As the individual Behemoths moved to their target cities squadrons of Kestrel bombers, Wraiths fighters and Raven support craft taking off from air bases to intercept them. The sky became a battlefield with Mutalisk and Scourges intercepting the Terran aircraft. Sky battles broke out all across the continent as the Zerg attacked the defense networks of the targeted cities. Missiles turrets fired on the Zerg bio-ships and flying breeds as Guardians and the Behemoths weapons and Scourges bombarded the cities defenses. As the battles continued drawing closer to the cities Umojan generals ordered the use of nukes before the creatures got to close. Four of the Behemoths were struck from the fusion missiles and severely wounded while the rest quickly intercepted the missiles before they could make direct impact.
Aegis forced his remaining Behemoths to crash and in the middle of the Terran cities and expel all their forces to kill as many Terrans as possible while harvesting their biomass. While the Behemoths were crash landing into their target cities Aegis and it's Leviathan hovered over the Umoja capital city. Missile turrets from around the cities perimeter and air-craft attacked it but did little to the massive Leviathans armor. In retaliation the Leviathan deployed swarms of Scourges and sent out Guardians to eliminate the annoyances until all hostile Terran defenses in the capital were destroyed.
In the mean time Aegis focused on its primary mission to kill the Umoja ruling council. Identifying the Terrans government building Aegis deployed thousands of drop pods to the area around and on top of the building housing the Umoja leadership. Citizens that had not evacuated yet looked up in horror as thousands of pods started raining down in to the city from the massive living ship above. Across several city blocks they slammed into streets and into buildings crushing people and cars as they rained down. A government worker was pushed to the ground as one pod slammed into the street next to him. Whimpering and in shock He pulled him self up. A moment later He froze hearing a tearing ripping noise from the crater.
As He and the other people started backing away from impact crater The pods sides burst open expelling Zerglings with bladed arms in their backs and goring tusks curving out and forwards from behind their heads. The Zerglings quickly started ripping people into pieces and moving on to the next but miraculously they seamed to flow around the Man as they continued the massacre. Then, as the man looked on at the horrifying scene playing out around him another Zerg creature slithered out from the crater. It's five heads and ten eyes seemingly locked onto Him as his eyes locked into the Hydralisk. The beast tilted its head to one side opening its armored mandibles to reveal its maw filled with razer sharp teeth. The Hydralisk raised its triple bladed arm, and with a single quick stroke cleaved the Mans head off. The Hydralisk's five heads individually looked up and around to more targets and started shooting spines from their forward pointed tusk like horns killing distant Terrans down the street as they try to fleeing. Once all Terrans in the area were killed the Zerg turned their eyes to the government building.
Inside the Umoja governments ruling council building marines and Shadow guards held a defense line behind all the entrance ways. Including the main entrance in front of the building consisting of two walls of glass sliding doors. Though they were made of transparent metals they were still weaker then proper armor.
"What's the situation look outside?" asked a marine.
"Shit!" cursed the marine captain as he looked at the security monitor. "It's not good. Those Zerg monsters are killing people left and right and gathering their bodies. And now those floating bloated ones, I think their called Overlords are gathering the bodies and taking them up to the ship."
"Oh god," exclaimed one marine, "my parents only live a few blocks from here!"
"Hold it together people we have a job to do here and the last thing I'll tolerate is deserters. You understand me!" the captain warned.
The marine looked to his captain and nodded.
"Yes sure. I... I understand. I.. Oh shit there here!" the marine said raising his rifle in the direction past his captain.
All the marines turned to the doors to the sight of dozens of Zerglings charging at them. The first layer of walls only took a few seconds to be ripped apart by dozens of Zerglings and then the the second row of transparent walls was attacked by hundreds of claws ripping and tearing.
Bang!
The sound of gunfire shook the marines out of their stupor. It was the pair of Shadow guards firing. Each of their shots exploded a Zerglings head into gory past along the walls. Their armor piercing ammo easily piercing the walls and exploding onto their skulls.
"Start shooting!" one shadow guard barked.
The marine captain shook off his hesitation and gave orders. They had not been in a real war for a long time and now hell had knocked on their front door.
"Form ranks and open fire!"
The marines did as ordered lining up into two rows. The front row got down on one knee with the rear row standing behind the first. They opened fire filling the lobby with a roaring noise like a water fall as they ripped the Zerglings apart in the narrow entrance. Blood, limbs and organs splattered everywhere as the transparent walls and the horde of monsters were ripped apart by the high velocity gauss rounds. After a full ten minutes of shooting the first battle was over. A literal wall of corpses, limbs and organs was pilled in the lobby nearly closing it off from the outside.
"Is... is it over?" a marine asked out loud.
"No!" a shadow guard answered. "Another wave is coming."
Marines and Shadow guard reloaded and refocused on the wall of corpses in front of them. They heard loud thumping noises from outside barely making out the tops of more Zerg coming at them from over the pile of bodies. Then noises like digging were heard as the floor vibrated.
"Their burrowing!" warned the captain. "Formation 4. Scatter and cover each others flanks."
The marines and Shadow guard backed off from the entrance scattering throughout the lobby and taking up cross crossing firing arcs to cover each others backs since they didn't know where the Zerg would pop up from. The next moment the floor started vibrating more violently as the Zerg got closer. The marines sweating under their armor as they swept their rifles side to side waiting for a target to show its self. Then all at once the lobby exploded into chaos as Roaches started bursting up from under the floor. Gun fire and acid flew all over the place. A marine screamed in pain as a Roach buried its scythe blade into his leg and spewed him with a acid bath. The acid flowed off the marines specially coated armor as his fellow marines fired into the Roach slowly chipping through its dense layers of chitin armor.
The Roach pulled its scythe out and bit into the marines injured leg crushing his armor in its vice like jaws. The marine screamed as multiple marines aimed at a single point finally punching through the Roaches armor. One Marine grabbed one of his HE grenades from his belt pulled the pin and punched it into the gaping wound.
"Fire in the hole!"
The other marines backed off as five seconds ticked by followed by a muffled explosion that produced a shower of gore and body parts. The wounded marine groaned in pain as the front half of the Roach was pulled off him.
"You ok?" asked a fellow marine.
"No! Im not ok with this shit all over me. And my leg hurts like hell. I think the anti acid layer of my armor was breached?"
As the battle in the lobby went on the wounded marine was pulled to corner and tended to by the squad medic. After several minutes of fighting the battle for the lobby was over and the bodies of five Roaches were scattered on the ground along with six marines bodies.
"Damn. It's a good thing the top brass had anti-acid coating applied on all marines armor."
"Yeah other wise we would have been melted like the floor and walls."
The marines looked around at the various holes in the lobby from the Roaches acid. The holes sizzling as the Roach acid kept eating through them.
"Reform your ranks people." The captain started." We got to..."
The captains words were cut short by high velocity spines piercing his armor with such velocity causing his organs to explode from the force imparted to them.
"Captain!" a marine shouted as his officer collapsed into a heap in front of him.
All the marines and Shadow guard turned to the Hydralisk that had climbed over the Zergling corpses and opened fire. Their combined fire ripping the Zerg to pieces in mere moments. But as they fired at the one target, another four erupted from the ground behind them using the same holes the Roaches had burrowed just before.
From his bathroom stall Jorgensen watched on his phone to access the security cameras as the battle in the lobby ended in defeat for the marines and shadow guard as they were flanked from behind. The Hydralisk ambush killed another four of them halving their numbers. And as the survivors turned to counter the ambushing Hydralisk more just came over the corpse pile hitting them from behind again. The surviving marines and Shadow guard all did their best but the two way ambush's were to much for them. As expected the shadow guard were the last to die but they still died. With the main lobby taken the Zerg just poured through the building.
Jorgensen flipped to another App on his phone that connected to various explosives planted in all of the hall ways leading to his bathroom stall. He pressed the detonation button and the room shook as dust fell from the ceiling. Jorgensen checked the security cameras and smiled as all pathways to his location from all the directly connecting rooms was cut off. He was trapped and isolated but also safe and the Zerg drop pods impacting into the building before would be the perfect cover for the blasts. Still watching the cameras on his phone he watched as the Zerg hordes poured in and murdered everyone in the building. Eventually reaching the council room. The few marines and Shadow guard that remained were eventually overwhelmed and killed. And the Umoja ruling council quickly followed.
Jorgensen breathed a sigh of relief that that particular part of the operation was now over.
"The Umojan ruling council have been dealt with." Jorgensen projected to his partner in crime.
"I'll begin phase two then." Arcturus replied.
From in his Leviathan in empty space the infested and now evolved Arcturus Mengsk contacted his master Narud.
"Narud. Phase two is starting."
"Good. I'll send the fleet in within the next few hours when Jorgensen is rescued. Don't want the Terrans getting to suspicious of our timing shall we."
Arcturus grinned at the utter merciless tactics of Narud. But then again the more Umojans that die from the Zerg the more the survivors accept their new heroes.
-Umoja Planetary Military Command-
General skyler stood in the command center as everyone else was shouting reports and orders and making troop redeployments. It was surprising and a shock that the orbital defense platform would be destroyed so quickly and easily. The enemy Behemoths had taken considerable damage but survived to enter the atmosphere along with the much bigger Leviathan. Umoja had been kept well informed about the goings on in the rest of the sector including the fall of the confederacy and the zerg attack on the Protoss home world and even the alliance between the self named Azure-swarm the Protoss factions and the new Dominion. But 'why' was the one thing on general Skyler,s mind. The one who controlled the Azure-swarm called her self Ellen and for all intents and purposes looked like a Terran of the Darcsen sub race. And from all the reports from the spies in the Dominion so far She had in no way shown open hostility towards other factions other then the Overmind and its swarm. But here we are with one of her Leviathans attacking Umoja it's self.
"Why today of all days?" general skyler mused to him self.
The majority of the Umojan defense fleet was in other star systems on training maneuvers or undergoing refits at the lagrange 1 ship yards. And on top of that the council was having a meeting concerning the military budgets and to discuss the arrival of the envoy fleet from the UNSC was also being held today.
Many groups all across Koprulu sector had been talking about how things could change if the UNSC and the greater Terran governments started being allowed to take control of the Sector. This was why the Umojan governments was putting so much effort into remaining independent. And in order to do that Umoja needed a powerful military to back up its words. A alliance with the Moria was considered, but put on the back burner for a while.
"General skyler sir we've gotten reports of surviving Zerg pouring out from the Behemoths we shot down. Their scattering all over the countryside!"
Skyler scowled rubbing his temples.
"Send out the Kestrels to bomb them. And then send out marines to kill the left overs."
Another officer turned to the general. "General sir I..."
"Spit it out lieutenant" the general shouted.
He had little time or patience for a stuttering child who couldn't give a timely report.
"Yes sir. It's the ruling council sir. They... It's been confirmed through security cameras that they've all been killed."
The room suddenly got quieter as the report that the ruling body of the governments was just killed sent shock waves through the military high command.
"How confirmed are we talking about? are all their bodies accounted for?" asked the general.
"Uh i'll check" the lieutenant typed on his controls and talked with several people. Eventually sighing and turning back to the general.
"It's confirmed that most of the council members with the exception of minister Jorgensen was present in the council chambers during the attack."
"Well where is he?" the general asked.
"From what reports i've gotten from the security system recordings in the council building he was in the bathroom on level 4 during the attacks. It seems multiple rooms and pathways around the building became structurally unstable when the Zerg drop pods hit the building. And the rooms and floors collapsed. It also knocked out most of the security cameras in that area. Im just working with the data from the last hour. It may just be wishful thinking but he may still be alive there if the room didn't collapse with the surrounding rooms?"
"Still that's a chance im willing to take. Get the Black Storm team on the com."
"Yes sir." The Lieutenant replied contacting the elite shadow guard team.
In the secret underground base that served as the head quarters of several teams of shadow guards Black Storm one of the most well trained teams in the Umoja military waited for their orders. It was getting to be a pain waiting for high command to send them out but wait they did.
"What the hells keeping high command?" groaned Katherine. "Im board."
Black storm team had remained on standby for a while now. And during a crisis like this one, they were chomping at the bit for some action.
"Just bare with it." Major Hall started. "If we just run out their without a plane and the brass call for us to just drop what were doing it will just cause confusion and delays if were stuck somewhere doing something else."
Katherine groaned.
"Yeah yeah I know."
"Should we contact high command ourselves and ask for orders?" asked Luke the newest team member.
"Just wait a few seconds hot stuff." Ana stated.
The whole team took Anas words to heart and simply waited for the next few seconds. Then sure enough the com line blinked to life with a message from high command.
"Black storm team." said general skyler.
"Yes general. What are our orders?" asked the major.
"There's a mission of great importance that you need to under take. Its to recover and protect Council member Jorgensen and to bring him to safety here at high command."
"Just the council head? What about the rest of the council?" asked Luke.
In her corner Ana sighed seemingly knowing the answer.
"There is no council anymore im afraid. We've confirmed their deaths at the claws of the swarm. The area of the council building Jorgensen was in had partly collapsed dew to enemy bio-drop pods landing on and penetrating into the building. Unfortunately we can't spare any other forces for back up. There,s fighting in major cities all over the planet and the casualty rates only keep going up. We need a leader and Jorgensen is the only one left. Get him here alive. Understood."
"Yes sir"
"Yes sir"
"Yes sir"
"Yes sir"
"Yes sir"
All five members of team Black storm replied.
In only five minutes the members of black storm were all suited up and filled into a special stealth dropship and activated the hanger elevator. The giant elevator moved the dropship up to the runway carved into the solid stone mountain.
Ana and Ted were at he dropships controls. Pressing a signal button the side of the shear cliff slid out and to the side clearing the dropships path out of the runway in front of them. Ana hit the afterburners and the dropship jerked forwards accelerating out the hole in the cliff side. As they left the base the camouflage stone door of the runway automatically retracted back into place keeping the place hidden.
Ted pressed a button labeled stealth cloak and on the outside the whole dropship shifted and wavered until disappearing from sight. The now cloaked dropship banked right, accelerating towards the capital city. Everyone checked their weapons and gear and checked the maps of the capital city making a main and multiple back up entrance and exit routes based on the latest reports of the running battles that were going on throughout the city. Then finally they approached the capital. Columns of smoke raising from fires and the fighting almost filled the sky over city while Terran fighters and Zerg flyers buzzed in the sky overhead like flies over a carcass.
"Isn't this a real shit show!" Ted exclaimed.
In her harness Ana rubbed her head as if from a headache.
"Hey you ok?" asked Ted.
"As good as I can be with feeling the death all around. Still always get a headache though." Ana looked up to the sight of the government council building in the distance.
"Council building is in sight get ready..."
Ana was cut off when a Mutalisk zipped passed nearly colliding with them. The dropship shook and bobbed up and down from the close call as a Wraith fighter passed over head launching missiles at the Mutalisk.
"Damn!" Ted cursed as he and Ana stabilized the dropship.
"Hey Ana your skills are slipping." stated Luke.
Ana flipped him the middle finger.
"My head feels like its a walnut in a squirrels mouth asshole. I can't concentrate with this many people dying around me."
"Yeesh sorry." Luke replied feeling sorry for the precog.
Katherine slapped Luke on the shoulder.
"Hey new kid. I know your just joined last mouth but lay off when it comes to Ana. She's just more sensitive to things like this."
"If she is then why the hell did she want to become a shadow guard?"
"She wanted to keep people safe and protect her home." replied Katherine. "That and she has a hard time being around normal people. She prefers to be around people like herself."
"Oh. Sorry." replied Luke.
Ana and Ted slowed the dropship as they circled around the governments council building. Seeing at least two dozen impact holes in the roof bored into it by all the Zerg drop pods.
"Damn! The roof looks like swiss cheese! Except for that one corner over there." Ted stated. "Do we land there?"
Ana pushed her self and concentrated on the possible futures. She strained as blood ran down her eyes and nose. Then she saw it, a perfect spot. Unfortunately it was inside the building.
"There." Ana pointed. "Destroy the roof and walls of that part of the building. We can land in the rooms there."
Ted glanced at Ana a moment like she was crazy but then quickly remembered how crazy accurate she can be with her precognitive abilities. Not saying a word Ted just shrugged and launched a few missiles at the part of the building Ana pointed to. When the dust cleared a perfect cut out landing area just big enough for the dropship was left.
"Never doubt Ana." Ted mused to him self as he carefully landed.
The dropships front ramp dropped down smashing a door way. Black storm team stood at the ramp armed and ready.
"Lest go and get the council leader." said Major Hall.
"What about the dropship?" asked Katherine.
Hall turned to Ana.
"Ana. Can you keep this thing airborne around the building and give us intel ?"
"I could. But I would be more help if I was with you. The closer I am to the thing im using my ability on the easier it is on me and the quicker a result I get."
"Ok Ted. You stay with the drop ship and keep it in one piece. Land on one of the nearby buildings and wait for us."
"Yes sire. The Zerg freaks wont even touch it."
"Ok lets move out." ordered Hall.
Team black storm moved out with Ted taking off in the dropship. The teams only quick and safe means of escape flew sky words again maintaining it's cloak. Major Hall and the rest of the team moved through the building cloaking and maintaining their stealth. It wasn't even a minute after Ted got the dropship in the air that hordes of Zerglings stormed that part of the building. Team black storm silently moved passed them avoiding any unnecessary fights. Killing the zerg would be more trouble because of the Zergs hive mind. Even if they do kill all the zerg in the building the mind controlling the Zerg will just know that their there and flood the building with more Zerg from outside.
Ana being the best at tracking thanks to her precog abilities lead the team. Silently and slowly they moved through the building carefully passing any patrolling Zerg they came across. The team was under a full coms black out as any psionic emanations would just bring the Zerg down on them considering how sensitive they are to such things. Their cloaking tech may be the best but even it has its limits. All communication was strictly through the cyber implants and only using close direct radio waves. And radio emanations strong enough could be picked up by any Overlords in range so they only talked when necessary.
"Hydralisk." transmitted Ana. She stopped in a door way. And a moment later a five headed Hydralisk with forward pointing horns on the side of each head slithered passed them in the direction they needed to go.
"That's the way we got to go? What now?" transmitted Luke.
Major hall brought up the building schematics. Noting his teams position on the map and over lapping it with the current damaged version of the building via the still partly working security cameras he worked out another path.
"Right then left down the hall. There's a stair well to the lower levels. From there we can take a hallway to another stairwell down to level 4. The council men should be close to their and the damaged portions of the building will keep the Zerg from that area for the most part."
Nodding Ana followed the majors instruction using her helmets HUD display to display the path they needed to take. The team weaved through more and more patrolling Zerg avoiding physical contact. They quickly reached the stair well and quickly, but carefully, moved to the lower level. From there they easily moved through the hallway and down the second stairwell up to the fourth floor. From their they hardly encountered any Zerg on their way to the collapsed part of the building. Only a few cameras were working including one in the hallway that showed the entrance to the bathroom council man Jorgensen was in.
"Ok were close." Said Katherine. "But how do we get through here without using any of our powers or drawing the Zerg?"
"Or collapsing the rest of the structure further then it already has?" added Luke.
Major hall scanned the collapsed structure with his helmets multi spectral sensor. Allowing him to see through parts of the collapsed debris. He swept his scanners up, down and side to side getting a as detailed scan as possible. Eventually after a full two minutes of scanning he found a relatively stable path.
"Here." Major Hall said pointing to a broken wall.
He pulled out his Monomolecular blade. Using the nine inch psionically honed blade edge to He carefully started cutting through the wall in short controlled jabs and thrusts that cut through the polycrete debris. Minutes passed until a hole large enough to crawl through was carved out.
"I'll go alone. The rest of you cover our flanks in case any Zerg wander in here."
"Roger."
"Roger."
"Roger."
Major hall crawled through the hole for several feet through the Polycrete wall and the debris on the other side until emerging into a collapsed office room. Cutting through what was the upper floor He arrived into the hallway on the camera. The hallway terminated not to far beyond the still intact bathroom entrance. Major hall shouldered his shotgun and entered the bathroom. The stalls were partly wrecked with the doors half falling off because a portion of the ceiling that had fallen on to them.
"Council men Jorgensen. Are you alive?" the Major called out.
He waited for a reply for ten seconds before a head peeked out from the last stall by the wall.
Jorgensen partly peeked his head out from the stall door at the Shadow guard.
"Your here to rescue me I take it." Jorgensen stated giving a sigh of relief.
Major Hall nodded.
"Yes sir. My teams waiting outside. The faster we get out of here the safer we'll all be. Are you injured?"
Jorgensen exited the stall giving him self a pat down.
"Uh no im fine. All my parts are accounted for. Just shaken by everything that's happened. What about the other council members? Are they being evacuated to?"
Major hall shook his head.
"No. Im sorry but the rest of the council members were all present in the council chamber when the attack began. And they..."
Jorgensen held up a hand interrupting.
"I get the picture. (chuckle) Funny. Guess I owe my life to my stupid stomach cramps."
"We really should get going sir." Major Hall urged.
"Yes right. Please show me the way."
"First sir put this on." Major Hall said pulling out a long cloak and can of spray from his small back pack.
"What's this for?"
"There's Zerg all over the building and Zerglings have a excellent sense of smell. The spray will help cover up your scent. And the cloak is a lesser version of shadow guard suits with cloaking systems. So long as you keep close to one of my team you'll be just as invisible as the rest of us. It was developed for extracting VIPs like you sire."
Jorgensen looked at the cloak and spray can taking both in hand.
"Very well then. Safety first." Jorgensen said spraying him self all over and then putting the cloak on over it.
With his scent hidden and under the stealth cloak Jorgensen followed the shadow guard out of the collapsed portion of the building and regrouped with the rest of team black storm.
Being invisible was a odd experience and one would think that you couldn't see the others under their cloaks but thanks to a special visor teams of Shadow guards could sense their teammates. Jorgensen knew of the tech but not how it worked. He stayed in the middle of the group as they moved him along the outer hallway of the building. Looking outside the windows Jorgensen saw the burning city.
"Why did the Zerg attack Umoja?" the minister asked him self. But secretly knowing the real truth.
They were coming close to a stair way up to the roof when Ana stopped and ducked into a side room with the rest of the team following. Moments later a patrolling pack of Zerglings and several Hydralisk rounded the corner down the hall. They swept their gaze both directions splitting up and going both directions. Two Zerglings followed by a Hydralisk passed the open room team Black storm and Jorgensen were in. But not smelling or seeing anything they passed by continuing their patrol. After a few minutes Luke poked his head around the corner seeing the coast was clear. With a hand signal he waved everyone else on. Continuing along their way black storm and Jorgensen reached the stairs to the roof.
Ana and Luke peeked through the destroyed door way to the roof catching sight of three Zerglings and a Hydralisk looking around.
"Three Hostiles." said a unsurprised Ana.
"Ok major what now?" asked Luke.
Major Hall opened his radio to Ted in the waiting Dropship.
"Ted. Were ready for extraction but we have a few hostiles on the roof. Westside."
A moment later the radio crackled to life.
"Roger." Ted replied. "Im hanging out on the nearby roof of a hotel. I got said hostiles on the scanners. Clear them out while I land."
"Roger." replied Major Hall as he turned to his team. "Ok Teds going to land the Dropship. We got the job of clearing the landing zone before he lands."
Katherine hefted her heavy two handed gatling gun.
"Will do sir."
Moments later Ted turned the dropships engines on and took off. He slowly and carefully maneuvered to the westside of the council building watching his passive scanners for any airborn Zerg in the area. Little did he know that a Overseer was watching from several miles away. It had barely noticed the cloaked dropship as it lifted off as it's attention was presently focused elsewhere on a battle several miles away between Zerg ground forces and Terran military.
With Katherine covering their backs, Major Hall, Ana and Luke gathered at the door way aiming their rifles at the Zerg patrol. After a few moments of steading their aim they fired downing the Zerglings with well placed head shots. The Hydralisk wiped its heads around firing wildly into the doorway. It didn't know who was attacking it but it did know their general direction. Multiple spines impacted the door way and the teams exposed armor as they all focused on the lone Hydralisk. Combat stimulants surged through their systems as the spines embedded into their armor as they fired back. A hail of gun shots impacted the Hydralisk armored body and head carapace but the thing didn't fall. Instead it brought up its folding arms using them as armor to block the incoming fire.
"Damn these Zerg are different then the normal kind." Luke noted as he kept firing while his suites onboard medical systems pumped biofom into his wounds.
"Aim for the head!" Ana shouted.
All fire focused on the slanted head of the beast chipping away at its armor then ate into its face and eventually a single shell buried through the brains thick armored skull into the brain and exploded. With a jerking motion the Hydralisk rag dolled, falling over with gray matter leaking from the hole in its destroyed skull.
"Move!" Major Hall ordered.
Team black storm with the Minister in tow rushed out to the open roof avoiding the craters and holes blasted into most of the roof by the Zerg drop pods. Seeing his team mates Ted moved in for a landing. Letting gravity move the drop ship down while He used the thrusters to move to the buildings last remaining stable area of roof. Then with a burst from the thrusters the dropships descent slowed hovering just over the roof before making a smooth landing. With a quick press of a button Ted lowered the ramp. Team black storm rushed onto the waiting dropship as a pack of Zerglings rushed out of the roof access doorway.
Katherine the heavy gunner spun on her heals unloading a full barrage from her chain gun into the charging Zerg ripping them, to pieces with a roaring ripping noise. Just as the first group was killed another took their place with Hydralisk joining in on the second wave.
"Major our cover is blown!" Katherine shouted into her radio.
Ana and Luke joined in on the fire fight while Major Hall got the Minister into a seat before dashing to the cockpit on the upper level.
"Ted get us air born." the major ordered.
"Yes sir but what about the Zerg on the ground. If those Hydralisk get a shot off on our engines?"
"I'll use the guns." the major replied. Manually activating the remote gun turrets on each of the forward wings.
A pair of chain gun turrets popped out from the tops of the wings and took aim at the roof access door way that was spewing hordes of Zerg every second. The next moment they opened fire filling their air with a roaring ripping noise that over took Katherines chain guns own noise. The air roared with the sounds of both guns chewing through the charging Zerg sending limbs and body parts flying as the hail of metal projectiles ripped through the door way, its roof and even walls leaving the stair way entrance exposed.
"Fire in the hole!" Ana shouted into her radio.
Hearing Anas warning Major Hall stopped shooting. Ana, Katherine and Luke all pulled the pins on their grenades, throwing them down the stairwell just as another wave of Zerg were rushing up the stairs. A pair of Zerglings made it to the roof just as the grenades went off creating a loud thumping as the walls and roof of the building muffled the explosions. Parts of the roof surrounding the now destroyed stairwell collapsed as Katherine and the others gunned the Zerglings down.
"Ok lets get inside." Luke shouted worried more Zerg would show up.
With his team inside Hall closed the ramps as Ted took them up to a higher altitude and reactivated the cloak. As they cruised away from the government building the Overseer a mile away received a call from its fellow Zerg via the hive mind that Terrans had been at the nearby building. Pivoting around the Overseer focused its eyes onto the sky over the city. Sweeping its sight side to side the Overseer quickly spotted the cloaked Terran craft and transmitted its sensory data to Hydralisk on the roof tops along its flight path. Several dozen Hydralisk that had been just lounging about on the roofs snapped to action receiving the Overseers sensory data. Their heads pivoting smoothly as they followed the cloaked air crafts path over head. All at once the Hydralisk opened up showing the cloaked air craft with spines, denting metal and piercing important components. Soon the air craft began tilting and dropping lower and lower. Eventually it crashed. Hundreds of Zerg converged on to the area ready to rip the Terrans to pieces but as they reached the crash sight they were disappointed. Instead of a dropship there was a wrecked Raven drone instead.
Meanwhile cruising at low altitude black storms dropship zipped in between the city scape below the rooftops.
"Ana remined me to kiss you." said Luke as the Raven drone he had been remote controlling went dead.
"You even think about kissing me I'll stab you!" she warned.
"Ok ok. Jeez can't you take a compliment? But seriously if you didn't see that Overseer spotting us with your precognitive ability we would be Zerg chow by now."
"I must also add my thanks to miss Ana." Jorgensen stated.
"Your welcome council men sir." Ana replied with all dew respect.
"Keep yourselves focused people." Major Hall stated. "Were not out of danger yet."
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
Black storm replied as the cloaked Dropship flew to Umoja central military command.
-Arcturus Mengsk's Leviathan-
Through Councilmen Jorgensen's parasite implant Arcturus saw that the second stage of the operation had been cleared. With a mental command he sent another part of his fleet to attack the systems controlled by the third Terran faction in the Koprulu sector, the Kel-morian combine. The Kel-Morian combine was a mining and resources rich organization that would provide much new materials and more so to full the fires of Terran war and hatred against the much hated Zerg. But it would be far from the last group hit by Arcturus forces. This was only the beginning of Amons plan.
"That's enough Cerebrate," Arcturus projected to Aegis. "Retreat from Umoja with your Leviathan. Leave the rest to the second wave of Behemoths to sow terror in the Umojan populace."
"Yes master." Aegis replied deadpan.
The massive Leviathan floating over the Umojan capital city lifted off and drifted up and out of the atmosphere. Only to be replaced by twenty five more Behemoths arriving from warp space. Soon after Aegis Leviathan entered warp space five of the newly arrived Behemoths began their descent to the planet with the remaining twenty staying in orbit. Minutes later a fleet of Umoja battle cruisers exited warp quickly attacking the Zerg fleet in orbit.
-Umojan Central Military Command-
Councilmen Jorgensen washed his face in the bathroom sink, drying his face and hands, looking into the mirror. He gave a relived smile as the operation to overthrow the slow and foolish democratic council was a success leaving him as the sole leader in the Umojan Protectorate. Though democratic elections would be held to instant replacements for the old council members that were killed that won't happen until peace had been restored. And by then Jorgensen would have proven him self a great leader in the peoples eyes. But the next phase of the operation may be the most difficult as getting the military generals and admirals to agree may be difficult.
Jorgensen threw the wet paper towel into the trash and left making his way to the command room where general skyler was commanding the counter attack against the Zerg landing forces and the evacuation of the civilian population.
"General," Said Jorgensen as he approached.
General Skyler turned around from the chaos of the command room facing the minister.
"I would like to thank you and your team for getting me out of there."
The general shook the Ministers hand.
"Your welcome sir. Im just glad your alive."
Jorgensen sighed shaking his head.
"Yes. Hard to think a fluke stomach ache saved me." the minister joked finding his lie of a story funny.
The general gave a slight chuckle at the ministers remark.
"Perhaps you were just lucky. In any case were in a pickle here as you can see."
Jorgensen looked up to the wrap around wall displays constantly showing casualties reports and territory loss rates on maps and charts along with the positions of military and enemy forces and their real time movements. A blue tinted map was slowly being turned red as the Zerg continued pushing forwards relentlessly.
"How are we doing General?" Jorgensen asked.
General Skyler turned to the map.
"As you can see not well. The Zergs initial gain in their surprise attack on the orbital defense platform was a heavy blow. And they landed the majority of their forces in major cities. We were able to take out a few of them before they reached the cities but not all. And to top it off twenty five more Behemoths just arrived with five of them landing in other cities that had not been attacked yet. There trying to make us spread our forces thin to counter all their attacks. It's a real shit show. But there's some good luck as some of our the fleets have returned at least. But their currently engaged with the recent Behemoths still in orbit."
"More Zerg reinforcements have arrived?" Jorgensen exclaimed with concern. "So the first wave was just a strike force meant to test or break our defenses?"
The general shrugged.
"I don't know about that but another bit of good news is that the Leviathan over the capital has left. It did so at around the same time that the Zergs reinforcements arrived."
"I wonder if were the only ones their attacking?" Jorgensen pondered.
"If there are other planets or groups being hit then I have to wonder at how big the Zergs fleet is. Hopefully not as big as the fleet that attacked Tarsonis?"
Jorgensen turned to the general.
"I want you to contact the other Terran governments and tell weather or not they have been attacked as well."
"You really think they've also been attacked?" Skyler questioned.
"Maybe not maybe so. It's just something I want to confirm. And also I need to get in contact with the Moebius foundation."
"Them huh?" Skyler shrugged rubbing his chin. "You really think they can help with that project of theirs?"
Jorgensen stared into the generals eyes.
"I've watched several controlled tests my self and from them have concluded the Hybrid project is a worth banking my money on. Though I had my doubts at first, they were relived as the technology was mastered. And at this point I believe that their field ready."
"I hope your right minister." The general contemplated.
-Skygeirr Station-
Narud sat his office going over paper work. It was boring and dull. But was a necessary part of running a organization. As the last page of the last paper was finished the desk com unit activated displaying the ID number of a high priority communications frequency from Umoja.
Narud smiled as this was a call he had been waiting for. Narud opened the com line.
"Yes mister Jorgensen. Can I help you?"
"Dr. Narud. I have a request for the deployment of your Hybrids on Umoja. Were currently under-siege by a fleet of Zerg."
"I see." Narud replied, enjoying this little play of theirs. "We currently have a dozen units ready for deployment. As well as a fleet of our Moebius core as well to provide back up should you need them."
"Yes we'll take all the help we can get. Though im sure our military is fully capable of fighting off these invaders the faster the situation is rectified the fewer civilian casualties there will be."
"Very well minister Jorgensen. I'll have the requested fleet and Hybrid forces ready in under five hours. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes. It is." Jorgensen replied before hanging up.
Narud Called the Moebius core organizing a fleet to transport the Hybrids from Skygeirr to Umoja.
Meanwhile on Umoja panic and fear gripped the citizens as Umoja marines evacuated a significant number of the population out of the city's attacked by the swarm. Umojan air forces hunted down wandering Zerg roaming over the countryside attacking small towns and farms while the main armies armored tanks, marines and Shadow guards all coordinated to push back the flow if the Zerg hordes. War erupted all over Umoja as the plans of Amon and Narud played out.
-Aiur; Anicent Xel'naga Underground City-
Meanwhile at the same time on Aiur a protoss Preserver named Zamara arrived at the entrance to the Xel'nagas underground city. The same one Ellen and Alarak had visited previously.
"I see so this must be the entrance to the ancient Xel'naga city." Zamara though marveling at the crystal formations.
As she stood there observing the field of crystals at the base of the mountain Zamara could not wonder at what purpose the Xel'naga had in mind when they constructed this. She always had a habit of becoming excited when ever a new discovery was found and was probably not the only Preserver that had such feelings when ever new knowledge was gained.
Zamara walked the field observing the formations before arriving at a large clustered formation of crystals at the center. She studied the collective structure eventually arriving at the answer to open the door by drawing a perfect spiral based on the perfect ratio on the central crystal. Moments later the slab of stone lifted into the air revealing a stair well going deeper into the mountain. Zamara entered the opening with some hesitation. But pushing past her reluctance she progressed on wards. At the bottom of the long stair case Zamara beheld a large pillar but other wise found nothing else of interest other then a odd semi organic vine system that seemed to progress deeper into the citys network of chambers.
As she progressed through the city Zamara recalled her time observing her people returning to their cities and homes. Much of Aiur had been reduced to a blasted wasteland and the cities and settlements were heavily damaged. Tassadar with the aide of the new Daelaam council which has members of both the Khalai caste and Nerazim. The Purifier named Ko'toss had also purposed the awakening of the other Purifiers to aide in the rebuilding of Aiur. The subject had started a heated debate between the Khalai and Nerazim members of the new Daelaam council. Former judicator Aldaris was one of the strongest opponents to waking the rest of the Purifiers, seeing them as just weapons that no longer have a purpose. While on the Nerazim side both Prelate Mohandar and Vorazun daughter of Matriarch Raszagal contested that the Purifiers may not be protoss biologically but are by the very process that created them imparted with the same spirit of a Protoss and are dew the same respect as any other.
Zamara was neutral to the process as it's not a Preservers duty to meddle in politics. Shortly after the heated debate started She had found a rather interesting little fact in the records of the Observers left over Aiur. During Her cleansing of Aiur from the Overminds Swarm Ellen had stopped in a remote mountain range that had, for all intents and purposes never been explored before. A odd fact considering that Aiur has for a long time been explored pole to pole by one Protoss or another since the beginning of recorded history. Even before the formation of the empire which was some time after the end of the aeon of strife. And the empress of the Azure swarm was not the first as Tal'darim who must have been Alaraks forces also arrived shortly before Her.
Zamara being a recorder of history was all to eager to discover what drew both Ellen and Alarak here and so she dropped everything she was doing and rushed to the mountain. Zamara had a theory that this mountain had a odd and subtitle psionic effect that prevented anyone who doesn't have a strong enough reason for coming her to turn away from it. If a system like that did exist then some one was trying to hide something important. And Zamara was never the type to turn down a mystery.
Zamara turned down the identical twisting caves and tunnels and after hours of searching eventually found the cities center. From the historical accounts everything here reminded her of the ancient Xel'naga city visited by Savassan(who would become known as Khas) and his student Temlaa, whos memories Zamara held. He was a partner to the great Khas who brought about the end of the aeon of strife. Even though the memories were present in her and other Preservers Zamara had never considered following them to the ancient Xel'naga. Something she also attributed to the Xel'naga some how arranging, not wanting the wrong people coming here for the wrong reasons. As she marveled at the machinations of the Xel'naga even over such a extended period of time after their time in the galaxy had passed. Zamara wondered if the Xel'naga were indeed truly all gone. Or if a few still remained watching the events transpire in the galaxy.
As her contemplations distracted her Zamara barely noticed her self wander into the presence of the largest single Khaydarin crystal she had ever seen. The glow of the giant crystal illuminated her path as she drew her eyes upward to it.
"Khas preserve me." Zamara remarked as her focus was drew up to the giant floating crystal.
As she looked around the room the old memories of Temlaa resurfaced urging and guiding Zamara to interface with the crystal as Khas did so long ago. Her feet moved on their own as the memories urged her forwards as if moving her body against her will. Then just as Zamara was about to place her hand onto the control pedestal Her sense of danger and reason shook her back to her senses.
"Ah? a strange urging from the Memories of Temlaa." Zamara thought shaking off their hold from her mind. "I must see what knowledge lays in the crystal. But I fear if I am alone I will step to far and lose my physical body and be trapped in the crystal as Khas almost was. I need another to aide me if I am to return from melding with the crystal."
Zamara thought over the qualified people she knew about. She needed people that could keep a secret and had the needed understanding of Xel'naga ruins and technology. She considered many Protoss phase smiths but eventually the name of one person came to mind.
"Lasarra should be able to help me."
Zamara knew she was the perfect choice since the phase smiths has had a long time to examine Xelnaga technology. The Taldarim ship that was recently stolen back by the Ta'darim was a ancient relic far older then the aeon of strife or the golden age of the Protoss empire. That and the mysterious spiral ring shaped warp gate on A'rul have also been a notable discovery by her. It was a lucky break for Lasarra that She had been recalled to Aiur by the Dealaam council to examine similar Xel'naga artifacts before the Tal'darim attacked Kaldir.
-Meanwhile back on Umoja-
The Moebius cores combat fleet exited warp space. Several thousand kilometers away over Umojas north pole the battle orbital battle between the Zerg and Umojan fleets continued.
"Open a com line to the Umojan ships." ordered Moebius ship captain Louis.
The com officers opened a line to the Capital ship leading the Umojan fleet. A moment later the holo-screen blinked on showing fleet admiral Freshark
"I take it your the Reinforcements from the Moebius core then." stated the admiral. He looked tired from hours of constant tactical combat commanding his fleet.
"Yes we are." answered captain Louis. "Do you need any aide? Our primary orders were to drop off our forces on the ground. But securing the orbital territory would also help give the tactical advantage in hitting the Zerg on the ground."
"I understand captain but the forces on the ground need those reinforcements now! You can worry about us after you off load that precious cargo." Admrial Freshark answered.
Captain Louis nodded respectfully to the admiral.
"As you wise admiral. Prepare for landing operations."
The Moebius cores fleet turned from the distant space battle to the planet in need of their aide. The Moebius fleet reached low orbit in minutes before splitting up into five separate forces to both concentrate their attack power and to deal with multiple Zerg infested cities at the same time with out spreading themselves to thin. Roaring over a contested city a Moebius battlecruiser hovered over the streets turned battlefield. Flocks of Scourges and Mutalisk attacked them and were met with laser and missile fire. With their defense turrets burning the Zerg flyers from the sky the Ships opened their underside hangers and deployed dropships and drop pods to the surface. Moebius core marines and armored vehicles landed reinforcing Umojan forces as the battle raged across the city. Four special drop pods much larger then a Siege tank crashed into the middle of a battle. Umojan marines were blockading a street while waves of Zerglings, Hydralisk and Roaches kept charging them.
"What the hell?" one marine exclaimed as the drop pods slammed into the street crushing large groups of Zerg that had been charging at them.
The surviving Zerg limped up from the craters just as the oversized drop pods locks released and split apart. The doors of the drop pods fell crushing several Zerg while revealing four giant hybrid destroyer within the pods. Their features more liken to that of a Protoss with the lack of a mouth, digitigrade legs and three fingers and thumb. But they also had six glowing energy tendrils extending off their back liken to wings. The Zerg turned to the Hybrids growling in hostility. The hybrids waved their arms producing blasts of plasma from their palms that quickly incinerated the Zerg. As the Zerg burned in the plasma flames the Umojan Marines watched in fear and horror as dozens of the creatures were killed effortlessly by the new arrivals.
"What the shit are those things!" exclaimed a marine.
"Uh... major?"
The major leading the defense of the street leered at the Hybrids and they back at him for a several seconds. The major felt like his big fancy armor was more like a layer of cloth for all the good it would do him if her had to fight those things.
"Hold fire. Only shot if they attack."
The marines still uncertain as to the new creatures intentions followed orders. If those things were hostile then they would have attacked already. And if they weren't, then no need to provoke them right.
"Major Hareldson, this is general Skyler." the general radioed in.
"General?"
"Tell me have the Hybrids arrived?"
The major glanced at the giants standing no more then a hundred meters away.
"Uh you mean the big ugly things that kinda look like giant Protoss?"
"Yes. Their a new weapon developed by the Moebius foundation. There's no need to attack them. Just ignore them. The Moebius core have them under full control."
"If you say so General. So I guess their our back up?"
"Yes they are. A few have been deployed to your city. Just maintain your position and use them to your advantage."
"Understood."
Just then another wave of Zerg arrived drawing the Hybrids attention. The two of them aimed their hands at the incoming Zerg unleashing more blasts of plasma that cooked whole groups in each explosion.
In the central command center general Skyler and Minister Jorgensen watched as the battles against the Zerg started turning in their favor as the Hybrids nearly effortlessly wiped out large groups of the creatures.
"They are impressive." the general noted.
"And well mannered. " Jorgensen added.
The screens all along the walls of the command center showed the Hybrids and Moebius core counter attacking the Zerg forces while the Umojan military coordinated to sandwich them in and annihilate them in flanking attacks.
"The Hybrid are an amazing weapon." Jorgensen praised.
General Skyler huffed in a sense of wrongness came over him. But he had no reason to doubt the Hybrids yet anyway.
"Their powerful sure but they still creep me out. I mean their basically made from Zerg and Protoss bits right. It all just seems a little too convenient to me is all. What if they go out of control?"
"Dr. Narud assured me that the ones He sent are completed and completely loyal."
The general turned to the Minster with a curious glare.
"So there are more of them then what he sent! Just great. And how much will buying their services cost us?"
"I've talked with Narud and he assured us that its a far price. Only 10 million credits for each one."
"Ten million. That's not too bad. Just a little over the cost of a battle cruiser." the general contemplated. Feeling that his reasoning was odd for some reason.
"General Skyler Sir!" a officer called.
Skyler turned to the officer.
"Yes what is it?"
"Weave gotten reports of one of the Zerg Behemoths expanding a hive cluster out from its landing sight. Were getting similar reports from the other cities too."
"Damn! that's all we need." the general cursed.
The zerg attacking was bad enough but now their establishing themselves by trying to turn the Umojan cities into hive clusters.
"Send as many of our bombers and air craft that can be spared to destroy them at once!" the general shouted.
"Yes sir."
The general and Jorgensen watched on the overhead perspective screens as the aircraft took off and flew to the target sights. Chatter over the radio and the screens indicated they encountered Mutalisk and Scourges on the way. The Umojan Kestrels and Wraiths fought through the Zergs air defenses for over half a hour until breaking through. But as they flew over the city a heavy barrage of spines and hidden Scourges cut their numbers down by half before they reached their targets and dropped their bombs. General Skyler slammed his fist onto the hand railing when the report of them only doing minimal damage to the growing hive clusters came through.
"General." Jorgensen said with a sense of empathy in his voice for the soldiers lives lost in the attack. "Why don't we launch a land attack spear headed by the Hybrids."
Sighing Skyler turned to the Minster.
"That could work. But only if we coordinate with the things."
"Simply let the Moebius core lead the attack with our military providing support. I heard that that's a tactic used in the past by some general or war hero. I can't remember who at the moment."
"Right." Skyler started. "It's a worth while idea. We just let the Hybrids break through the Zergs main defenses and then smother them with pure firepower from our main forces."
"I'll get in contact with the Moebius ground commander." said Jorgensen.
After several hours of coordination a sizable force of Umojan and Moebius core forces gathered at preplanned rally points and quickly moved out towards the land locked Behemoths. Moebius core Siege tanks, Marines and Hybrids moved out as the tip of the spear with the Umojan forces backing up the rear and preventing the Zerg from flanking the Moebius cores forces from the rear and sides. As the first coordinated attack began General Skyler and Jorgensen watched. The Zerg sensing the large gathering of enemies quickly sent waves of lesser Zerg to weaken the enemies spearhead. But with the Hybrids leading the way any Zerg forces they encountered were easily crushed. It only took a hour for the Moebius core spear head to get within seven miles of the Behemoth and the hive cluster.
Crossing this boundary seemed to trigger a stronger reprisal from the Zerg defenders as larger and stronger versions of Zerglings, Roaches and Hydralisk started appearing. Killing these bigger stronger versions proved more difficult even for the Hybrids and slowed the spearheads advance. General Skyler sent in more air forces mixing Wraiths, Kestrels and Raven drones in a coordinated counter attack. But as a counter to that Mutalisk and Scourges started gathering to bombing the Terran ground forces using the buildings as cover from direct fire. The Hybrids were less effective against the aerial Zerg and the spear head forces started taking increased casualties. But with a counter of his own General Skyler sent in multiple teams of shadow guards with marine back up in dropships. They followed the main spear head forces left and right flanks island hopping from one building to another on the dropships as the spear head moved. The marine and Shadow guards electromagnetic based rifles combined with the higher altitude allowed them to easily shoot the incoming Zerg air forces out of the sky. The advent of miniaturized and relatively cheap and easy to manufacture rail gun technology made conventional shoulder mounted infantry based missile and rocket technology obsolete. As the energy output, armor piercing ability and range of such weapons could be matched for the most part.
And the new C-14 rifles and their ilk were simplified versions of those electromagnetic rifles. Though they had been down graded for reduced cost to gauss weapons, which were a hybrid between a conventional gun powder rifles and a rail gun. The gun power would accelerate the projectiles and the row of ring shaped magnets would accelerate the projectiles to nearly the same velocities as a proper rail gun. The greatly reduced power, weight, and maintenance cost more then made up for the reduced damage output and range.
The shadow guards and Marines protected the spearhead force from the air attacks allowing all of the ground forces to focus on the ground threats. With this two prong strategy the Moebius spearhead continued its march to the hive cluster. The Zerg kept hitting the Moebius core again and again however and even started injuring the Hybrids by the shear weight of numbers. But at the cost of pulling the majority of the swarms own forces from the rest of the city. This allowed general Skyler the opportunity to reorganize his main forces and send them to provide additional back up for the forces he and the Moebius core had already sent to attack the Hive cluster. In a mere half hour a larger force triple the number of the initial forces had been sent to besiege the Behemoth and its still new and small hive cluster. After hours of hard fighting the Moebius core finally reached a distance of a mile of the hive cluster as twenty. A distance away to the east of the hive cluster several dozen Umojan Siege tanks lined up on a over pass along with hundreds of Marines that had come with them scattering into the surrounding buildings. The tanks deployed into their long ranged siege mode and took aim rotated their turrets and elevating their barrels at the Hive cluster which was just at the extreme range of their guns.
Marching through five different streets the now unified Moebius and Umojan forces heard the echoing fire of artillery reverberate through the city quickly followed by a barrage of explosions hitting the enemy hive cluster. The Zerg countered sending Mutalisk to silence the Terran guns but the hundreds of Umojan Marines positioned in the buildings around the Siege tanks ripped the Mutalisk to pieces before they could get more then a few shots of their own off. With the Zerg forces distracted a group of Shadow guard positioned in multiply buildings surrounding the hive cluster aimed at the Overseers floating over the Behemoths. All at once they opened fire killing the Zerg detectors. As soon as the Overseers were down another Air strike was ordered by general Skyler. This time the strike was able to take out half the Hive cluster and even wound the Behemoth.
Then the Hybrids broke through the Zergs defenses slaughtering Hydralisk and Zerglings while the Moebius core focused fire on Roaches and spine crawlers. As the Umojan and Moebius core pushed into the hive cluster the rear forces following behind them took out the Spore crawlers and any remaining bio-buildings left behind by the spear head forces. Eventually the Hive cluster was completely annihilated leaving the only Behemoth. The Creature tried lifting off but every unit able to fired on it. The Siege tanks blasted chunks out from it's side with Wraiths and Kestrels bombarding the giant beast with dozens of missiles. But the Moebius core took the initiative loading the Hybrids into several Dropships and flying them over top of the ascending Behemoth. Dropping from above the Hybrids landed on top of the Behemoth and began ripping into its armor until reaching organs and the internal cavities.
Having opened a hole they jumped in and ripped their way through the creatures body until it started falling. As the Behemoth started free falling from several kilometers the Hybrids were picked up by the Dropships. Air pressure and wind pushed the creature away from the city and it crashed exploding into a scene of gore and blood scattered over a mile of landscape. Similar scenarios were playing out all over Umoja as general Skyler ordered and coordinated identical operations all over the planet after the initial success of the first part of the coordinated operation between the Moebius core and the Umojan military.
Jorgensen standing in the command room breathed a sigh of relief as the last Zerg forces on the planet were finished off. And after the first Behemoth was killed the remaining ones in orbit battling the Umoja fleet fled leaving the system.
"Another stage cleared," Jorgensen mumbled under his breath.
-Korhal, Imperial Palace-
Emperor Valerian and Haruka were in a meeting in regards to the mass production cost of the new prototype weapon systems, and planning for their rapid deployment once research was completed. The com-line in Valerians desk activated with a stressed voice on the other end.
"Emperor Valerian!" General Warfield spoke with urgency.
"Yes general Warfield, what's got you flustered?"
"It's a report from the Umojan Protectorate and the Kel-morian Combine. Our agents report that they both were attacked by the Zerg yesterday."
"That's odd?" Haruka noted. "Why would the Over-swarm attack them?"
"Im guessing that there's something off about this given your tone of voice and the fact you thought I needed to be told as fast as possible general?"
"That is true. The problem is that the type of Zerg that attacked Umoja have been confirmed to be from the Azure swarm."
Though she remained silent Valerian could tell that Haruka was surprised given that her usual attitude and remarks were no where no be found. Instead replaced by stunned silence.
Valerian sighed. "I have a feeling this is going to be a serious incident. Prepare a press conference." Valerian told his secretary on the intercom.
Valerian glanced at Haruka. She looked like a statue but her eyes were darting back and forth indicating she was contacting Ellen directly or one of her brood queens.
-Chapter End-