-Chapter 47-
-The Changing World-
-Typhon system, Typhon Xi (14)-
-Around the same Time as Kerrigans attack on the Castanar facility-
Space ripped open revealing the Hyperion and its escorts. On the bridge Raynor watched as the star burned brightly through the tinted display screens defusing the blinding light of the systems star.
"Wow"! exclaimed a bridge crewman.
"Anything the matter?" Horner asked.
"Uh yeah. The readings from the star show significant instability. Looks like its going to go nova in a few years!"
Raynor chuckled at their luck. "Well it's lucky we arrived early then ain't it."
Horner turned to Raynor.
"I guess its lucky. Imagine the radiation the star would put out when it does explode. I don't thing the cmc armor would handle it. Plus it would mess with our long range sensors and burn the planets."
Another crewman interjected. "Speaking of, im picking up Tal'darim ships in orbit over the target planet. Six battleships in total."
"Great." Raynor sighed. "Is it that Nyon guys forces again."
"Seems like it. The markings on the ships hulls match up to the ones we encountered before." the crewmen confirmed.
"Well I guess the smart play would be to charge up our Yamato's and hit them from extreme range." Findley purposed and he stepped onto the bridge.
"Long range bombardment?" Horner asked turning to Raynor.
Raynor considered the possibilities crossing his arms.
"No we'll get closer first. If we hit them from extreme range then after we fire they could use a tactical warp to jump on top of us. Well engage first then hit them at point blank before they can evade."
Horner hummed in thought.
"Ok but were still out numbered?"
"Not a problem." stated Raynor. "Well have the Hyperion and escorts focus on one enemy ship at a time to cut the Tal'darims numbers down more quickly and... "
"I done it!" a overly excited voice called out entering the bridge.
"What the hell are you babbling about!" Tycus stated in question at the excited scientist.
"What is it Egon?" Raynor asked the giddy scientist staring back at him looking far too proud of him self.
"Oh I just got the prototype Defense Matrix on line is all. Fell free to praise my awesomeness."
Findley sighed. "Ugh I hate it when he gets like this. Talking about yah science mombo jumbo like its the coolest thing in tha world."
"That's good news" Raynor said glad for the new system. "But how functional is it.?"
"Skeptic already huh." Stetmann replied. "Well it is just a prototype and has some...quirks.
"Quirks?" questioned Horner.
"Well because of various systems requirements the shield can only be used for about five minutes. And it can't be turned off during that time or else it would cause a systems power cascade and fry the power nodes requiring..."
Raynor interjected holding up a hand.
"Ok I get it. Still this gives us a ace up our sleeve."
"What are you thinking?" Horner questioned.
"We can use the Hyperion as a decoy to draw the Tal'darims fire while our escorts focus fire on them."
"Still five minutes isn't a long enough time to do all that." Horner stated.
"It would be long enough for one attack." Stetmann informed. "After that if the emitters Aren't overwhelmed the shield can be put back up again in ten minutes."
"Egon how sure of this are you?" Raynor asked.
"Uh... well... some field testing would be great but that would take at least a day including the repeated tests for data, Repairs that may be required."
"Ok then we'll leave and test the defense matrix." Stated Raynor. "The Keystones aren't going anywhere and we can still track it with the pieces we already have right."
Everyone stared at Stetmann. He sweated feeling all eyes on him.
"Uh yeah! yeah! So long as we have one of the keystone fragments we can still track the others locations by their collective quantum harmonic signature. It is how we found the others right."
"Ok then I guess that's our strategy then." Horner asked glancing to Raynor.
Raynor nodded in conformation.
[Tal'darim Commander POV]
Ascendant Tytres growled in frustration as the Terran ships departed. He had wished to have his fleet crush them here and now but they fled before even engaging in battle. Did they flee to get reinforcements? Or do they have another strategy in mind. Either way Ascendant Nyon will be furious if they are allowed to take another piece of the holy Keystone. The relic which the Light gave their ancestors at the end of the great war many many tens of thousands of years ago. Before the First generation of Tal'darim fled the galaxy by order of the Light and only returned after the great scourging the Forerunners caused with the Halo array that wiped out all intelligent beings in the galaxy. It was such a accursed event that the Tal'darim have told its story over and over through the generations.
"Should we contact Ascendant Nyon commander? " asked a crewman.
Tytres leered at the crewman.
"No. I will turn the Terrans who seek to defile our sacred treasure into cosmic dust. Then I will tell Nyon of my victory."
The crew shut up turning back to their holo-display's. Ascendant Tytres was eager to over throw the obsessed Nyon and move up the chain of ascension stand among the greatest of Tal'darim. It had been insufferable serving under Nyon as the fool was far to obsessed with protecting the fragments of the Keystone then acquiring new territory and forces. It had also been made apparent that the now deceased former high-lord Ma'lash had just used Nyon to fill a unwanted position of protectors of the Keystones as the position, while being special and a great honor still offered little opportunity for advancement. Once the Terrans were dead Tytres having done what Nyon could not would start subverting Nyons authority and recruit other ascendants to his side before challenging Nyon to Rak'Shir.
"And perhaps I'll be high lord on day."
Tytres mumbled to him self as the other Tal'darim ignored his words.
[A Day later.]
After waiting for a whole day the Terrans had finally returned much to Tytres joy as he stood one the bridge of his battleship eager for battle.
"So they returned. I wonder if they have any plan to defeat us?" Tytres wondered pondering the tactical situation.
Tytres watched on his ships displays as the The Terran ships openly approached while charging up their main weapons.
"A frontal charge." Tytres scoffed. "If the fools wise to match power with power i'll meet them in that challenge then."
Tytres ordered all six of his ships to accelerate towards the Terran ships while charging up their own main weapons the Terminator beams. Closer the Terrans came until reaching Tal'darim fleets weapons range.
"Fire!" Tytres ordered just as the Terran ships changed formation.
The terminator beams of all six battleships converged on the lead ship while the other Terran ships quickly maneuvered behind it. As the Terminator beams impacted the lead Terran ship there was a bright splash of light that seemed to explode upon contact with the lead Terran ship. Tytres laughed feeling elated that it was all too easy. Surely Nyons skills and sanity had slipped if it was this easy to kill the Terrans. Then much to Tytres dismay the bright flash of light he miss took as a explosion subsided revealing a green orb encapsulating the Terrans ship.
[POV: Raynor]
The ship shook like a 8.0 earthquake had hit it almost knocking people about the bridge.
"Egon report?" Raynor shouted holding onto the tactical display table along with Horner.
"The defense matrix over loaded and is fading." the scientist reported from the main engine room. "We'll be unable to use it for at least a day."
Raynor smirked.
"So all according to plan then."
As the green shield protecting the Hyperion faded away the other Terran ships maneuvered to its flanks. All the Terran ships poured their energy into their main cannons glowing at the nose of each ship.
"All ships target the lead Tal'darim ship." Raynor ordered over the fleet com.
The Terran ships shifted their aim a bit targeting the designated enemy ship and fired. All at once multiple beams lanced through space flowing back against the Tal'darim and converging together onto their target. Tytres ship shook violently as the ships were half depleted by the first blast. The second depleted the shields completely and the final beam pierced through Tytres ship through end to end. The black armor of Tytres flagship melted, vaporising under the attack and detonated.
"Scratch one enemy ship." reported a Hyperion bridge officer.
"Ok now things get tricky." Raynor stated. "Focus fire on the left center ship."
The Hyperion and its escorts focused their fire on the second lead ship. Their particle weapons and missiles splashing against its shields as the Tal'darim weapons fire ate away at the reinforced psi-plating of the Terran ships. The Hyperion shook as its armor took a beating from remaining Tal'darim ships. But the Tal'darims attacks were scattered and unfocused, their numbers uneven with four Tal'darim ships firing at two of the Terrans ships and the last two ships attacking each other one on- one. While all of the Terrans vessels focused all their firepower onto one enemy ship at a time. Soon enough the second Tal'darim ship lost it's shields under the focused barrage and soon exploded after its main engine was pierced directly. The space battle was now a four vs three match.
"Ok tactical warp!" Raynor shouted.
The crew followed the order and in the blink of an eye the Hyperion and its escorts warped away to the other side of the planet.
"Damage report?" asked Horner.
"Our armor sure took a beating. Heavy damage to most of the forward psi-plating. Those Tal'darim ships sure hit hard." reported a bridge officer.
"No significant internal damage other then a few crew getting knocked around. The other ships are reporting the same. If we hadn't jumped when we did we would have started taking serious damage." Reported another officer.
"Get the Yamato cannons charged up. " Raynor stated. "I want to hit them again before they come after us."
The Terran fleet conducted as much repairs as they could before the Tal'darims four remaining ships could find them. Hours passed as the Terrans waited. Then as if finally discovering that the Terrans hadn't left the system yet the Tal'darim ships appeared through a short warp jump several thousand miles away.
"We'll they sure took their time." Horner stated seeing on the tactical display table that the four ships were converging on them and charging up their main cannons.
"Those main weapons of theirs will kill us in one hit so lets try and avoid them shall we." Raynor stated confidently.
"Plan B then sir." asked Horner.
"Yep!"
The Three Terran ships split up flying in three different directions, up, left and away from the approaching Tal'darim ships. Taking the bait the Tal'darim all converged on one of the Terran ships, which just happened to be the Hyperion. Letting the other two ships go for the moment. It seemed the Tal'darim had learned their lesson about under estimating the Terrans and avoided splitting their forces while they held the superior fire power. But this was just what Raynor wanted as the other two ships made for the planet and meet with each-other in orbit right over the Keystones location. Although the Tal'darim ground forces were dug in a quick orbital bombardment followed by a surgical strike from cloaked Wraiths and Kestrel bombers leveled the opposition with minimal casualties. A heavy strike force landed via dropship and seized the keystone in under a half hour while the Hyperion lead the remaining Tal'darim ships on a wild goose chase through the star system.
The four Taldarim ships had split up chasing the Hyperion around the moons of the local gas giant. But despite the run and gun strategy the ship had taken serious damage with one of its left wing tip burned off from a unlucky hit from one of the Tal'darim ships main Terminator beam weapons.
"Theirs the signal! The others have the Key stone." Horner shouted as the ship shook from another barrage from the enemies thermal lances.
"Enemy ships are charging their main weapons again!" warned the sensor officer.
"Get us our of here!" Shouted Raynor.
From two angles the four Tal'darim ships fired their main Terminator beams. The malicious red beams shot through space towards the Hyperion. The ship tilted at the last second evading two beams by mere tens of meters with another missing and the forth beam clipped the rear center of the right wing nearly cutting it in half. A second later the Hyperion warped away.
-Aiur, Underground Xelnaga City-
Zamara waited at the entrance to the underground city. As the dark clouds drifted casually far over head. A light shower of rain fell upon the land. Zamara closed her eyes enjoying the nourishing life giving rain. Soon after her attention was drawn to resonate hum of gravity engines. As the sounds drew closer Zamara opened her eyes, watching as the craft flew over head and landed at the edge of the crystal field. Two individuals exited the craft and approached Zamara.
"En Taro Adun," Zamara greeted.
"En Taro Adun." Kaldalis replied. "So this is the entrance to the city you told us about?"
Lasarra was already analyzing the crystals with her wrist scanner.
"Yes it is." said Zamara. "Im grateful that the two of you could meet me here under short notice."
"If this place is indeed the Xel'naga city talked about in the legends of the great Khas then it is a discovery that could chance our peoples history." Kaldalis said as he and Zamara walked.
Meeting up with Lasarra the three of them proceeded into the underground, passing the great pillar at the cities entrance.
"This is quite amazing." Lasarra stated scanning the vines along the walls and ceiling.
"I should thank you Zamara." said Kaldalis.
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"The Daelaam council we're becoming insufferable. Artanis and Tassadar both are almost always in debates and discussions over this or that. Aldaris and those who share his views aren't making the unity between the Khalai and Nerazim easy. And to add to that mess the bulk of the empires military forces have been split up to effectively patrol the borders, keeping the colonies and forge worlds secure while keeping a eye on the war between the two swarms who even now do battle over Char."
Zamara nodded. "I understand how difficult the situation is. But I thought that both you and Lasarra had been traveling searching and exploring Xel'naga ruins across the empire including the remains of the warp gate on your old colony world A'rul?"
"We were." Kaldalis replied. "But we would often report back to Aiur on even the smallest detail of a new discovery. It would seem the Dealaam council is greatly concerned over the function of the Xel'naga warp gates like the one on A'rul."
"From what I know they seem like normal warp gates from the time we talked before."
Kaldalis chuckled.
"I don't know so much about that. From the short time I and Lasarra returned to A'rul we analyzed the remains of the gate intensely."
Zamara glanced at Kaldalis inquisitively. "You think they are more then what they seem?"
Kaldalis nodded.
"In deed. Though we know not their true purpose. But if it is true that Xel'naga's knowlege can be gleaned from here then we may yet understand more about these Forerunners intentions."
"Forerunners?" Zamara repeated in thought. "That is the name Ellen called the Xel'naga as I've heard. From what information she has explained it seems that Xel'naga or rather the Forerunners fought in a great war many tens of thousands of years ago for control of the galaxy. Though I would rather confirm such clams from another source."
"As would I." Lasarra stated having listened to them the hole time.
The three of them progressed further into the cavernous city and near identical chambers. Eventually they reached the central chamber with the giant Khaydarin crystal. The heart beat noise that echoed through the city radiated from here but only seemed a little louder then at the cities edges.
"Incredible!" Lasarra exclaimed scanning the giant floating crystal.
"It is indeed impressive." Remarked Kaldalis. As the three walked closer stopping at the control pedestal.
"This vine-network seems to be a technorganic organism that serves as a transference medium for psionic energy connecting to the Kaydarin crystal." explained Lasarra as she analyzed the controls and system. "From what I can make out this is a interface system. But it's strange?"
"What is?" asked Kaldalis.
"The system interface configuration seems intentionally life threatening. In order to connect to the crystal it drains ones psionic energy. If done alone one would surly die. That is unless they held enormous amounts of psionic power. But that is why you called us here isn't it Zamara."
"Yes. I have memories of this place from Temlaa who accompanied Kas to this place in ancient times at end of the Aeon of Strife. During their time here Temlaa worked these controls while Khas convened with the intelligence within the crystal. During his time connected to the crystal Khas life energies were drained away. If Temlaa had not been here he would have been completely absorbed by the crystal and lost his mortal form."
Kaldalis hummed thoughtfully at the situation.
"Sounds like a death trap for those who trust only in their own power over trusting comrades." commented Kaldalis.
"If we are to learn more, then one of us must connect to the crystal while the others watch over them and reverse the flow of energy when the time comes." Zamara stated.
"Zamara." Lasarra said. "Since your the preserver would it not fall to your purview to do so while I watch the controls."
"That is of course what I intended." Zamara replied laying down among the vines branching from the crystal. She attached herself to them just as Khas had done so long ago.
Zamara nodded to Lasarra as she started the procedure. Zamara felt a intense feeling of something draining her of energy. It however was not all that unpleasant. The strange thought of letting her self let go and stay here until she was no more suddenly crossed Zamaras mind. Shaking the thought away Zamara focused her mind from all distractions. It was then that she realized the possibility that it was all apart of a elaborate security measure to keep out undesirables from accessing the knowledge within. If that was true then what is hidden within must be quite important indeed. And Zamara identified with Temlaas feelings of regret and curiosity over not ever being able to connect with what laid within the crystal over their own fear of it after seeing what it did to Khas.
"I go where you could not Temlaa." Zamara stated as she felt her mind connecting with the crystal and pulling her consciousness slipping out of her body.
"Welcome Zamara." the Librarian's A.I. copy greeted.
Zamaras eyes opened perceiving the crystals inner world as a beach on Aiur she had once been to.
"Who.. are you?"
"The name my original self went by was First Light Weaves Living-Song. But you may use the simpler term Librarian."
"You are, Xelnaga. Or rather a Forerunner?"
"Yes I am. Though I am a mere echo of the original whom I was made from. Much like the Purifiers you Protoss have created. Though a more prefect emulation."
"I see." said Zamara taking all of this in.
She had known a intelligence lay within the crystal but she had never considered the possibility it could be a purifier like copy of a actual Xel'naga or rather Forerunner.
"I... where to begin?" Zamara found her self at a sudden lose for words as the gravity of the situation hit her.
"You wise to know why your kind were created?"
Zamara met the Librarians eye.
"Yes."
"Long ago my people the Forerunners were the most advanced race the galaxy had ever known. But we still desired more knowledge and more power. So we sought to go to other realms apart of this universe. We slipped into the inner and under folds of the universes dimensions and layers. Several were found and explored and with each new discovery our knowledge grew. But when we discovered one particular layer of the universe we found it to be a place where mere thoughts and emotions were as real and physical as matter and energy. The immaterium is what we called it. It was from here that we discovered the basis for what less advanced races would call psychic abilities. And, it was the beginning of our down fall."
The Librarian explained how the Forerunners created the Protoss as a test bed for these abilities before instilling such powers into themselves. The first Protoss were created to test these new abilities and later served as a police force monitoring the galaxy for wars and disturbances to the Forerunner empire. But eventually some time later the Being that would become known as the Light would be born as more and more Forerunners became connected to the Immaterium to use its power. But as it changed and empowered them they also changed and formed something new in it from the reflection of their own souls. The Light formed coalescing from the collective arrogance and sense of superiority the Forerunner species had developed and such emotions only became amplified after they gained further power from the Immaterium. Shortly after the Light formed it quickly started subverting the independent Wills of the Forerunners connected to the Immaterium until a civil war broke out splitting the Ecumene.
"It was at that time the parasite also appeared."
"Parasite?" Zamara questioned.
"It is the remnants of the Precursors. They were to us as we are to you Protoss. Though unlike us they were far wiser. They had intended to make use the bearers of the Mantle of Responsibility. However we failed to live up to their expectations. And in the end... " The Librarian trailed off a moment beforfe continuing.
"The ancestral Forerunners betrayed their creators and began a war of genocide to forcible take the mantel from them. Wiping out the Precursors, almost to the last. And taking the Mantel for themselves.
Zamara bowed her head understanding the Librarian's sense of shame at the actions of her ancestors. The Protoss after having lost their primal empathic connection descended into madness beginning a genocidal war of self annihilation that reduced the once advanced Protoss civilization to mere stone age primitives. So Zamara firmly understood the sense of shame the Librarian felt.
"In theory, under the Forerunners rule, the Mantle allowed competition and conflict as long as this did not threaten biodiversity in the galaxy, In practice. But in truth the Forerunners often draconian rule in the name of the Mantle entailed the subjugation of... lesser species by force to keep them in line and preventing them from threatening Forerunner primacy.
"And the Parasite?"
"The flood. A as accurate wording and theme for them as any were the remnants of the Precursors who sought revenge on us. In that time a three way war started between us Forerunners, The Light and the Forerunner it had enthralled to its service and the Parasite. The Flood. The war lasted centuries. But in the end it ended in a pyric victory for us Forerunners. Most life in the galaxy was wiped out by our final weapons. The Halo array. The array not only wiped the galaxy clean of all sentient life but also sealed the connection between our material plane and the Immaterium which We Forerunners also foolishly created."
"But you reseeded Life in the galaxy correct."
The Librarian nodded.
"Yes and No. It was both the few surviving Forerunners left and our creations the ancilla or A.I.'s as you call them that completed the restoration of the galaxy. And one of the worlds we seeded with life was Aiur. The Tal'darim whom served the Light made up the majority of the Ancient Protoss that survived the war. The rest settled on Aiur or departed the galaxy with the last of the Forerunners."
"This is all a lot to take in." admitted Zamara. She then came over a question she desperately needed answered. "The Zerg what of them?"
"Ah! The Zerg. Yes we did indeed create them. However..."
Zamara felt her self being pulled back out of the crystal and back into her body. In surprise and shock she opened her eyes sitting up.
"Put me back in im not done yet!" Zamara exclaimed weakly, not aware her own drained and nearly mummified state.
"No. Your nearly dead. This is why you requested us here is it not." Kaldalis stated emphatically.
Calming down Zamara started feeling just how weak she really was as her body refused to do what she wanted. Looking at her self Zamara realized her body had become shriveled up like a prune.
"Ugh i'll rest then."
With no other remarks Zamara rested to recover from her weakend state.
-Korhal, Imperial Palace-
Emperor Valerian taped his foot on the floor as he waited for Raynor and Horner to arrive. With Him at the circular table in the meeting room sat general Warfield looking grim given the situation, along with Kerrigan and Nova in ghost suits and Haruka brooding in thought in the corner of the room by the window.
Haruka had contacted Ellen about the events on Umoja and more recently the territory of the third Terran power in the Koprulu sector the Kel-Morian combine. At near the same time as Umoja the worlds of the Kel-Morian Combine which is a terran business conglomerate that serves as the government of Moria and its colonies, as well as the center of its various mining guilds. Were also hit buy a Zerg attack. Reports from Dominion intel networks say nearly thirty percent of the Kel-morian population had been wiped out before Umojan and Moebius core fleet reinforcements arrived to aide in their defense.
The doors opened as Raynor and Horner entered glancing around the room.
"What's all this about Zerg attacking Umoja!" Raynor stated in a accusing tone, his gaze clearly starting on Haruka before turning to Valerian.
"Unfortunetely It's as bad as you think it is Raynor." said Valerian.
"But im certain it's not Ellen or one of her brood queens." Stated Haruka defensively.
Horner glanced at Haruka. "Then who else has the ability to control Zerg and has the same breeds and types as the ones that attacked Umoja and the Kel-morian's?"
Haruka walked to the table and sat down. "Well me and Ellen bounced ideas off each other and we've developed a working theory."
"Were listening?" said Valerian clasping his hands together.
With a heavy sigh Haruka felt all eyes on her.
"Well from what Tychus findlay said in his report he meet a resurrected and infested Arcturus. The only people I know of with the power and motivation to bring him back would be Amon and Narud."
Warfield scoffed.
"The big bad boogy men you've talked about before. Whey would they want to bring Arcturus mengsk back?"
"Simple," Haruka replied." to use him as a pawn. Me and Ellen think that Amon and Narud's plan involves subverting the uneasy alliance that's been formed between the Azure swarm, the Protoss and the Terran dominion. The only reason the Protoss factions put any trust in us is because Ellen cleared Aiur of all of the remnants of the Over-swarm, allowing them to retake their home world."
"Well that seems to be exactly what their doing." Valerian stated.
"What makes you believe her?" asked Kerrigan.
Valerian pressed a button on the table. The wall holo-display showed a news report. The video displayed Umojan minister Jorgensen a team of shadow guard beside him with two giant Hybrids calmly standing to the far left and right of the Umojan minister.
"What the hell!" Kerrigan exclaimed. "Those are hybrids like the one on the Castanar installation?"
The video of Jorgensen's speech began.
"Today has been a fateful day in our history. Lives lost and homes ruined. And by who you may ask. The Zerg! A race of vile hostile xenoforms that go from world to world devouring everything and moving on to the next. Today we lost millions along with our fellow Terrans in the Kel-morian combine. But thanks to the swift response of the brave Umojan military along with the Moebius foundations own military forces, and their newest weapon the Hybrid we pushed the vile Zerg back and protected our world. And even now our forces fight and die along side our Terran brothers and sisters in the Kel-morian to retake worlds yet invaded and under siege by the Zergs swarming fleets."
Valerian paused the video.
"It goes on like that for another hour and thirty minutes. Its was transmitted all across the sector to every Terran in habited world."
"I bet GNN at that up." Horner commented.
Raynor frowned.
"Along with everyone in the Dominion who still has fresh memories of the Zerg attacks on Mar-sara, Antiga Prime and Tarsonis."
"So they went public with the Hybrids to keep us from using our knowledge about them against them." stated Nova.
"That seems to be the case" replied Valerian. "This kind of media attention puts the Hybrid project of the Moebius foundation in a positive light. If I had to guess it would seem that they planed all this. Perhaps both Tychus both joining Raynors crew and Kerrigans raid on Castanar was the trigger for it?"
Raynor frowned at the thought. "If that's the case they could have video of Kerrigan and Nova on the station?"
"And they could use it as black mail material." Valerian noted grimly. He sighed leaning back into his chair.
"So? what is our next move." questioned Nova. "Can't Ellen somehow prove it wasn't her swarm that attacked Umoja and the Kel-morian?"
Everyone wondered at that. Kerrigan placed a hand on Nova's shoulder.
"Unfortunately its not that simple kid."
Nova felt annoyed that she was still inexperienced compared to the others despite all that she had been through already.
Kerrigan continued.
"From the way things are going it seems Arcturus will be paying Korhal a visit soon with his pets. Their trying to get all three Terran powers in the Koprulu sector all riled up against the Zerg to isolate Ellen' swarm while their busy dealing with the Over-swarms remnants."
"Wait!" exclaimed Raynor. "The UNSC! what if their attacked too!"
With the same realization as Raynors shooting through his mind Valerian shot up.
"If their attacked too then they could use this situation to reignite Earths hatred against the Zerg and use it as a excuse for forcibly enacting martial law across the Koprulu sector! It wouldn't be that hard with the majority of the civilian populations public opinion like it is. Most would probably accept UNSC military rule if it kept them and their families safe."
"Shit!"
"Fucking bastards have us hook line an sinker!"
Both Kerrigan and Haruka cursed.
"What do you mean?" asked Nova feeling left out.
Warfield smirked realizing the situation. "Well it's really simple miss Terra. Their trying to force the Dominion to join their band wagon of hate against the Zerg by attacking the UNSC expadition fleet. The Dominion would be forced to join out of political pressure or risk being completely isolated by the other Terran powers on all sides."
Realizing what this meant for her and Kerrigan Nova scowled tightening her fists.
"And... that would mean me and Kerrigan could be outed as infested Terrans and would have to leave the Dominion or risk being captured then right."
Raynor could see the turmoil in the teenagers eyes. She had only recently reconnected with her family and now it looks like she would be ripped away from them again.
"Can't Ellen turn them back into Humans again?" Raynor wondered out loud for all to hear.
"If that's what Kerrigan and Nova want then the Keystone could do it perhaps."
Everyone's eyes looked to Haruka.
"Let me guess," Valerian started with a almost exhausted tone to his voice. "Another detail you forgot to mention to us about it."
Haruka made a unconfident shrug.
"The other dimension and the Keystone I know of, and This dimension are different remember. Not everything will be the same. In the history I know Raynor along with help from the other Valerian invaded Char with the completed Keystone and used it to de-infest Kerrigan. Oh and That! Raynor had to kill Tyhcus because That version of him was a spy sent by Arcturus who was emperor of the Dominion."
Raynor face-palmed giving a short laugh.
"I get it. And about Castanar?"
Horner glanced to Raynor.
"If that's the case do you think they know about Rindol? or she could even be apart of their faction."
"No Rindols on our-side." Haruka stated confidently.
"And how do you know that?" Valerian asked.
"Because she's Ellen's daughter."
Everyone was taken aback by that little bomb-shell except for Raynor and Horner.
"She already explained this to two of us." said Raynor.
"Ellen's daughter?" Valerian remarked surprised.
"There are a few other things that I haven't told everyone about Rindol." Haruka admitted.
"Please enlighten us then," Valerian requested.
"Well it involves annoying things like time travel im afraid."
"Really?" Warfield stated in question with a heavy dose of skepticism in his voice.
"Selvaria from the UNSC fleet is also Ellen's daughter. But has switched to the Lights side."
"Light?" Raynor questioned.
Haruka continued.
"The light is a being from another dimensional layer of this universe called the Immaterium. It has the ability to control and manipulate souls from what Ellen told me after her visit to the underground city on Aiur."
"Im sure you'll explain all about that to us later then." Kerrigan stated.
Haruka nodded. "Yeah yeah. Anyway at some point in the far future one of Ellen's daughters gets recruited by the Light and turned. I don't know the details about that. And Rindol being another of Ellen's daughters came back to stop her from achieving her goals. Whatever they are?"
Valerian lowered his head rubbing his temples.
"Things just keep getting more and more complicated with you people?"
Haruka gave a short laugh, shrugging.
"Sorry for being a constant pain in the ass."
Kerrigan looked directly at Haruka. "If you know what she is then why don't you just deal with her?"
Haruka met Kerrigan's gaze. "Because as one of Ellen's kids she's also a Valkyrur. And im pretty sure her powers have also been augmented by the Light. Meaning she's stupidly powerful. So it would be a bad situation if anyone other then Ellen or Rindol openly confronted her."
Raynor scoffed sarcasticly.
"Oh wait. You mean after all this time playing us like a deck of cards that your not all that powerful?"
A burst of psionic force gripped the whole room making everyone including the furniture float a few inches off the floor.
"Oh im powerful, having the body of a third generation Azure-swarm Brood queen with Ragnite in my body. The same as those in the Azure swarm." Haruka stated confidently and calmly, her eyes glowing bright vivid blue. The force subsided gently letting everyone down. "But a Valkyrur like Ellen, Aliasse, Rindol and Selvaria are just on a whole other level then me unfortunetely."
The people most disturbed by Haruka's display were both Kerrigan and Nova. Both had tried using their own power psionic abilities to free themselves but it was like a insect in the closed palm of a human. A sense of gental but overwhelming force just holding onto you. And no matter how you struggle it's futile.
"That's..." Valerian started, breathing heavily from not being able to breath for several seconds. "A very bad thing if even your intimidated by her."
"Im not intimidated. Im just not confident that I could win in a straight one on one fight." Haruka addmitted.
"Sure" Raynor stated glaring at Haruka seeing her in a slightly new light. "If we've covered everything we need to move on to getting that last Keystone fragment and then some how get the piece the UNSC has their hands on if Kerrigan and Nova want to returned to being human again?."
Valerian glanced around the room.
"I agree. But I have a feeling that the last fragment will be different then the others."
"Is that a gut feeling your highness?" Warfield asked.
"Maybe?" Valerian replied. "Warfield I want you to accompany Raynors forces on the retrieval of the Last Keystone fragment mission."
"Very well then your highness."
The meeting ended and everyone left the meeting room.
While Kerrigan and Nova were going back to their rooms Raynor caught up to them.
"Kerrigan can we have a minute in private?"
Turning back to Raynor Kerrigan gave a barely visible smile.
"Sure. We can talk in my room."
With a feeling of uneasiness in regards to the subject He wanted to talk to Kerrigan about, Raynor followed her into her private room in the ghost agents section of the palace.
Kerrigan opened the door to her room ushering Raynor inside.
"So uh? What did you want to talk about?" asked Kerrigan closing the door behind herself.
She was quite uneasy considering the things she did and people she killed while under the Overminds influence. Still despite the fact She was infestation and the once the Overminds loyal servant Kerrigan still considered her own actions regardless of the motivation to be her own fault and responsibility.
Raynor looked around the spartan room noting how plan it was. Functional but lacking personal effects. Well she was basically trained and grew up under the Confederacy control after all.
"We'll," Raynor started, rubbing the back of his head before turning to Kerrigan. "It's about my family." Raynor admitted pulling the metaphorical band-aide off.
Kerrigan was surprised at first but then remembered back when she was told the truth by Ellen and shown her own Parents sleeping in stasis. They looked exactly like they did back when all of this started for Kerrigan. On the day her Psionic powers awoke up.
"You mean their alive." she gently asked.
"Yeah. Their on Reach under that Aliassa women's protection." Raynor gave a pleased laugh. "My boy Johnny says he wants to be a soldier like me. He's attending a academy for kids with Psionic abilities. Wish I could be there right now."
"Oh I... see." said Kerrigan not knowing how she should feel about these things.
On one hand she felt jealous, but on the other she was happy for Raynor.
Scoffing Kerrigan sat on her bed. "Well im glad for you. I guess after all this business with the UNSC fleet and the Key-stone is finished your going to want to see them?"
"Yeah."
The speed of Raynors reply hurt more then him admitting it. He didn't even spend a few seconds to think about it.
"Im happy for you."
Raynor took a few steps closer to Kerrigan.
"And what about your parents. Aren't they in some kind of stasis some where?"
Kerrigan shrugged.
"Yeah. Im guessing their on Reach along with all the people from Korhal and Tarsonis that Ellen's also saved. At least the ones that haven't decided to come back to the Koprulu sector."
Raynor crossed his arms in thought.
"Didn't a lot of people from Tarsonis return there to rebuild?"
"Uh yeah. Nova said that her family had also retuned. She had recently spent a short leave with them."
"I wonder how they felt about everything that's happened?" Raynor wondered.
"From how Nova talked about it they had handled everything in stride. But there were still a lot of problems to work out."
For some reason Kerrigan's thoughts turned to the old Mengsk family. Angus, Katherine and Dorothy Mengsk whom her old team had killed for the confederacy years ago.
"Were they alive too?" She mumbled under her breath.
Raynor barely caught the nere silent question.
"You ok?"
Kerrigan shot him a surprised expression.
"Uh no. I was just thinking." She replied defensivly
"Well I don't like her much but Ellen sure has a habit of saving people close to us."
"Agreed." Kerrigan stated. But I wonder?"
"About what?"
"Why she's going out of her way to save so many people that would have otherwise died. And at only a minor benefit to her self?"
Those words got Raynor thinking.
"I don't really think it's the case but... you don't think she's trying to make up for all the billions of people her Zerg killed in the past on Earth?"
"Don't know?" Kerrigan shrugged. "But I hardly think it's her style to seek forgiveness."
"Whys that?"
"Because I think Ellen is the type to not think she's worthy of it. And also not care what others think of her."
Raynor shrugged.
"Sounds like her. Not that I know her all that well?"
The two stared in to each others eyes silently letting the moment pass silently.
"So, was that everything you wanted to talk about?" asked Kerrigan.
"Yeah. I just wonder what's going to happen after this?"
For a brief moment Kerrigan's expression turned into a scowl.
"I have to stay on Korhal. In case Arcturus decides to take revenge on Valerian for shooting him. It may be the only shot I have at finishing him off once an for all."
"Punch him a few times for me to while your at it." requested Raynor.
"Gladly."
Raynor moved towards the door stopping to glance back at Kerrigan once more.
"Good luck darlin. And come back alive."
"Same to you pig." referencing the first thing She ever said to Raynor.
Raynor chuckled at the reference and left closing the door behind himself.
-Deep Space, Arcturus Zerg fleet-
Arcturus flexed his bladed wings still getting used to his new body that had been further enhanced by the much more powerful essence of the Hybrids. He was at first extremely uncomfortable at being Naruds lackey/experiment. But after gaining a new more Human like body and the greatly boosted power His mind started adapting to the situation. If it wasn't clearly apparent that Narud and his master Amon were vastly more powerful Arcturus would betray them without a moments hesitation. But playing the bad guy, or rather making it look like Ellen was, was quite enjoyable. The rush of power he gets from having so many Zerg submit to his will and commanding them like they were a extension of his own body was unlike anything he had felt before. He had commanded soldiers before but this was very different. And all of this power He would use to punish that traitor of a son Valerian. Who needed descendent's or progeny when your immortal.
"Once im done playing to Naruds fiddle im going to rip Korhal to pieces to get to you Valerian. You and that bitch of a woman whom birthed you. I wonder what kind of a face you'll make when I tear Her to pieces in front of you."
As He fantasized on his revenge Arcturus received a mental message from Narud about his next target.
Arcturus hummed top him self.
"So im to attack the UNSC fleet to capture the Key stone fragment they have and destroy at least one of their asteroid ships before retreating. Very well then. Aegis gather our whole fleet. We have our next target."
"As you command master Arcturus." Aegis projected in reply.
Within moments the hundreds strong Zerg fleet warped to their next target.
-Aiur, Xel'naga underground city-
Zamara relaxed her body as it returned to its normal healthy state. Compared to a short while ago she felt immensely better now that her life energies had been returned to her.
"Am I allowed to return into the crystal yet?"
"Yes I believe it will be safe now." Lasarra answered. "However I will pull you out again once your bodies degradation reaches the previous unsafe levels."
Kaldalis feeling that he needed to contribute something asked a somewhat obvious question.
"Will repeated connection to the crystal cause increased degradation and threat to Her live?"
Lasarra turned to him.
"No, I believe it shouldn't be a problem. However if Zamara goes through constant repeated connections with the Crystal then I do believe it would be a safety hazard. But since this is only the second time it I am confident its safe."
"Lets begin again." stated Zamara.
"Very well." replied Lasarra starting the connection again.
Feeling her self connect to the great Khaydarin crystal again Zamara braced for the feeling of being pulled out of her own body again.
"Welcome back Zamara." stated the Librarian.
This time the virtual location was the a great plane of grass-land stretching out in every direction with only a few trees and bushes scattered across the plane.
"Where are we now?"
The Librarian gestured up words. Zamaras eyes followed. She felt a great pressure at the sight of a massive vessel there in the sky. It's shape was like a pair of black ovals connected by a central cylinder. The central cylinder had two rings orbiting around it, connected to it via a dozen spokes like a wheel. The ships size was so great as to be unknowable from its place in the sky, but as Zamara looked on she noticed that a part of the ship was behind the moon. The moon? If it was so large that it was that the moon was in front of it while it seemed so close then it's size must be comparable to the moon.
"By Adun what is that?"
"That is one of the many mobile world ships the Forerunners once used to house their populations in space. It is more liken to a mobile space colony then a ship. Yet its current state is that of a derelict. Greatly wounded and barely functional, but still a dangerous thing. And within lays the last fragment of the keystone which multiple groups now compete over."
"I have heard of this keystone but do not know its purpose? What function does it serve in the Forerunners plans?"
The Librarian slowly and gracefully turned to Zamara.
"It serves multiple functions. But can act as a conduit for the transformation of matter, energy and information from one to the other. It's primary purpose however is as the key to a Key."
"Key to a Key?" Zamara contemplated. "If it is a Key then where is the door it unlock's ?"
"For that answer you must travel to the home world of the Terrans. A world I knew as Erde-Tyrene. But is today called Terra or Earth. There in a small but industrial nation named Gallia are ruins of a rare and unique type."
"What is special about them?"
"They were created not by the hands of Forerunner but our creations. The Monitors whom the surviving Forerunners left as the stewards of the galaxy until reclamation. When all our greatest works are reclaimed by the species most worth of them. We once believed that it was the Humans that the Precursors favored. But I know suspect the Mantel choses the race most suitable to bare it. There is much the Forerunners of my time did not understand about the Precursors. Their technology or their ways. But if there is one thing I know it is that the future is not defined by who rules but who leaves the greatest impact. Even though millions upon millions of years have passed after their passing the echo's of the Precursors still haunt the galaxy."
Zamara considered all that she has learned and came to a conclusion.
"You believe it possible that the Precursors knew of the Immateruim and could use its power without repercussions?"
The Librarian's eyes closed a moment as she considered Zamaras words.
"It is a possibility. Perhaps they were wiser then the ancient Forerunners. But for now our discussion is come to and end. You have all the knowledge you need to find what you need."
"It was a pleasure and a honor to have talked with you Librarian. But one last question. About before when we were interrupted. You were about to explain about the Zerg and what part they play?"
"Yes I was wasn't I. They are a experiment created in desperation during the war between the Forerunners, Flood and the Light. There were many planes made and a thousand failed before the Halos were completed. The Zerg were intended as a..."
Just as the Librarian was about to explain Zamara once again felt her self be pulled away back into her own body. Zamara's eyes shot open giving a annoyed mental sigh at her second failed question concerning the Zerg.
"I wonder if theres a cosmic force keeping me from learning the truth about them?"
At their companions words Lasarra and Kaldalis leaned over to the weakened but quickly rejuvenating Zamara.
"Are you feeling ok?" Kaldalis asked.
Zamaras eyes met his own.
"I was just lamenting a repetitive problem I seem to be experiencing. Nothing more."
Lasarra helped Zamara up.
"Did you learn anything more?"
"Yes I did. Apparently there are ruins on the Terran home world of Earth that will explain more about the Forerunners plans."
Both Kaldalis and Lasarra glanced concernedly at each other before turning back to Zamara.
"Earth?" Kaldalis spoke. "Why there of all places?"
Zamara stood on her own legs shaking off her dizziness. "Forerunner ruins lay there. In a nation named Gallia. I believe they are some how a key component of the over all plane the Forerunners had to defeat the Light. But befor that we must tell the Daelaam council of the Xel'naga world ship and the Keystone."
-UNSC Exploration Fleet-
Admiral Gerard Dugalle sat in his personal study on the fleets Infinity class flagship the Aleksander. A hybrid prototype ship combing the most advanced technology the UNSC had to date. The Admiral enjoyed his private time which he had plenty of with how slow the expeditions fleets negotiation with the Terran governments native to the Koprulu sector was going. Negotiation for trade rights and political alliances were on going with varying degrees of success. The progress with the Dominion was stalled the most what with the Zerg attack on both Umoja and the Kel-morian combine. But because of that the Expedition fleet had greatly increased progress making military alliances with them, though the Dominion seems to be stalling on its movements regarding the recent Zerg attacks for some reason.
Gerard DuGalle sighed marking his place with a slip of paper and placing the book on the table.
"I wonder if the Dominion knows something concerning the Zerg's recent activities?"
DuGalle wondered pondering over the situation. He knew about the war between the Azure and Over-swarms now focused on the volcanic world of Char and the idea of getting between two waring Zerg swarms was a seemingly foolish act without a overwhelming force. But considering that the Azure swarm yet lead by the same empress that devastated Earth so long ago the admiral half heartedly contemplated the idea of at least attacking the Azure swarm to ruin their plans at the least. But such thoughts were less then practical again because of the lack of military forces. There were many especially those following the teachings of Selvaria and her religious group that the Zerg must be wiped out if humanity is to be truly safe. Easier said then done however.
The ships intercom beeped.
"Admiral we're detecting a massive number of Zerg exiting slip-space!"
{The UNSC refer the Void dimension as Slip-space in the same way the Protoss and Terran factions in the Koprulu sector refer to it as Warp-space.}
The Admiral practically jumped out of his chair quickly putting his admiral's hat on.
"Ready the fleet for combat!"
Quickly taking one of the internal-mono-rails through the ship Admiral Dugalle quickly reached the bridge. As He walked passed the security doors and guards Vice admiral Alexi was already at work commanding the fleets to organize into a defensive formation to protect the non-combat vessels.
"Fire Yamato's at their left flank. Don't let them advance! All ships in the fleets center launch missiles to thin the enemy fighters numbers. " Alexi ordered as Dugalle arrived.
"Situation?" the admiral asked.
Alexi turned to his old friend and superior officer as multiple yamato beams slammed into the distant clusters of Zerg bio-ships trying to encircle the Terran fleet, while hundreds of explosions filled the center view screen as the missiles intercepted flocks of Scourges, Wyverns and Guardians.
"As you can see admiral the Zerg are paying their respects." Alexi stated in jest. "It's a large fleet numbering at least a hundred thousand bio-ships. Not including all their smaller flyers. And then there are the ten big ones."
Dugalle sat in his commanders chair looking through his cyber implants data stream as they connected his mind directly to the ships systems. In his mental view a display window opened showing ten massive Leviathans keeping to the Zergs rear lines.
"I would guess they are the enemies flagships?" DuGalle pondered. "More then likely the enemies leader is in one of them."
Through the data stream Dugalle sensed dozens of ships taking heavy damage from the psionically charged spines and suicidal Scourges shooting into the UNSC's front lines. Deep down Dugalle wondered why and what purpose the Azure empress, (as she's known to those from Earth) has to attack his fleet. But all such thoughts were pushed aside as the admiral focused on protecting his people.
"All heavy cruisers target the enemies center mass. We're punching a hole through their front lines and ripping their hearts out first before this battle can drag on."
"Smart Dugalle." Alexi noted. "A protracted battle will only work in their favor, so it's best for us to end this fight quickly by removing their commanders."
Dugalle nodded in agreement.
"Once we punch a hole in their forces were hitting those Leviathans with the Aleksander's main weapon."
Meanwhile on the center asteroid ship Selvaria stood on a observation deck watching the battle in the distance.
"I wonder if this is apart of Amons plans?" Selvaria mumbled under her breath.
"Mistress?" questioned a valkyria guard.
Selvaria glanced back to the Valkyria. They were a mass-produced artificial psionic human created by using nano-tech to integrate the psionically reactive element Ragnite into the living cell structure of Terrans. Results have been mixed but getting better as the technology improved. With this it was possible to create psionic capable people from normal humans. And it was because of Selvarias creation of this technology that her worship of the Light and the spreading of the Lights teachings has gone so smoothly. It was all in preparation for the lights return but that will still not happen for a great many years. Recovering the Keystone is a major step towards that goal.
"It's nothing. I was just talking to my self."
-Arcturus-
As his Abyss-ray and its brothers cruised well over the battlefield Arcturus and his force of elite Zerg prepared for combat. The Zerg breeds from the Azure swarm are in many regards vastly superior to the original Over-swarms counterparts. But as with all Zerg genetic advantages they can be quickly lost as the enemy gains the same abilities through devouring their essence. From what Arcturus knew it had been Narud who captured Aegis on Redstone 3 and had used his brood to capture essence from the Azure swarm while they were distracted fighting the Over-swarm. If Arcturus didn't loath working for Narud he'd thank the Man for all the work he did to bring Arcturus back to life and make him more powerful.
"Soon Valerian. After this job your next. Along with that bitch Haruka."
Arcturus growled in malicious intent. As his mind contemplated all the ways he'll kill his son and the traitorous Sons of Korhal officer Haruka He waited as his stealth fleet of Abyss-rays approached the target ship. The massive hollowed out asteroid vessel easily dwarfed every other ships in the fleet. But it also had a large blind spot in its detection grid now that the Terran fleets attention was wholly on the main Zerg fleet commanded by the Cerebrate Aegis. The minutes silently ticked by as Arcturus waited for his stealth fleet to drift to their target. If they used their thrusters or tried communicating with the rest of the Zerg fleet then they would only compromise their stealth.
The Abyss-ray shook from a light impact. Arcturus gave a sigh of relief as He felt the Abyss-ray make contact with the rear portion of the asteroid ship. With light puffs from its chemical maneuvering thrusters the Abyss-ray and its counterparts slowly drifted towards the airlock. Arcturus exited the Abyss-ray floating in the zero-g environment towards the airlock. Bringing out a security card Narud had given him Arcturus swipe the card on the air lock security systems. The door silently opened in the vacuum and Arcturus made his way in along with a sizable force of Elite second gen Hunters, (stealth Zerglings) Predators, (stealth Hydralisk), and a new type of Roach able of cloaking, all rushed into the ship lead by Arcturus who also cloaked using his new abilities to their fullest. The infiltration force quickly made a bee line for the nearest monorail-transport all without the ships defenses activating or the security soldiers deployed to stop them.
Arcturus glad He didn't have to fight his way through the ship calmly waited on the monorail car to traverse the massive ships internal distances. Not soon after they arrived at a high security cargo bay. While remaining in stealth mode the Zerg invisibly stalked through the hallways avoiding the few Terrans they encountered along the way until reaching their destination.
"This must be it." Stated Arcturus holding up a small stone that glowed with a strange light that had lead him to the Keystone.
The black orb Narud had given him to find the Keystone fragment the UNSC expedition fleet had captured, quickly crumbled to dust seemingly having fulfilled it purpose. Ordering his Stealth Roach's to line up Arcturus pointed at the door. A torrent of green caustic molecular acid sprayed onto the door quickly eating through it but also tripping the security alarm.
"Quickly retrieve the keystone fragment!"
At his order the Hunters rushed into the room followed by the stealth Roaches and lastly by the Predators quickly starting a fire fight with the security forces inside. From behind Arcturus a series of box shaped robots rolled down the hallway deploying machine guns that took aim at Him.
As the gunfire bounced against his psionically reinforced carapace Arcturus sighed in annoyance.
"Be gone!"
With a wave of his hand the security bots stopped floating mid air a moment before being crushed by a invisible force. Seconds later a Predator brought the Keystone fragment out in its clawed arms and held it up to Arcturus. He took the keystone fragment in hand glad He could leave.
"So this is the fragment of the keystone. I wonder what plans Narud has for this thing." He mumbled outloud.
"You should really keep that name to your self!" ? projected.
Turning to the voice Arcturus instinctively dodged a golden blade slicing at his neck.
"Who" the hell are you!" Arcturus asked putting up a telekinetic shield.
"Doesn't matter foul Zerg." Selvaria replied. "I m going to kill you for attacking my fellow people. Now die!"
Selvaria leaped forwards easily cutting through the telekinetic barrier the humanoid Zerg put up to protect him self. As Her blade swung at the intruders head He blocked the attack with His powerfully reinforced bladed wings.
"Seriously though I would have expected better from one of Narud's subordinates?" Selvaria projected.
"Why are you?" Arcturus said out-loud wondering what the hell was up with Her.
"Inside voice Arcturus." Selvaria projected as she kept slashing at Him.
"You know Narud then." projected Arcturus as he dodged another pair of blade attacks.
"Yes and I need to keep up my appearance as a loyal UNSC agent so I have to attack you. You got that body so you could survive my attacks after all."
Arcturus sighed mentally as he counter attacked with a series of high speed slashes pushing Selvaria back several steps. Moments later more UNSC Marians arrived and a fire fight broke out between them and the Zerg forces Arcturus had brought started.
"So im meant to escape from you then? Your not making it easy."
Arcturus and Selvaria attacked and counter attacked each other, dodging and parrying each others attacks while the battle dragged on between the Terran and Zerg forces.
"If you don't get away from me soon your forces will be defeated and you'll be left all alone. If the plane fails you'll have to suffer Amon's wraith. Even I have to follow his orders as he's the Lights chief agent here in the material realm."
"Tch!" Not feeling in the mood to be on Amons bad side Arcturus rallied his forces to attack Selvaria.
All at once the stealth Roaches, Hunters, Predators and Phantoms all changed targets attacking Selvaria from all sides while Arcturus escaped. Dashing through the UNSC marines ripping and tearing them apart with his blades and killing the rest with a telekinetic explosion. With Selvaria forced to fight through a horde of Zerg and the Marines dead Arcturus returned to the mono-rail-system only to find that it was shut down. Not letting that stop him Arcturus simply ripped the monorail car off its rail and flew down the zero-g tunnel. Finally reaching the exit he had first entered through Arcturus ripped the airlock doors apart with telekinetic forces and leaped outside into the vacuum of space with the Keystone fragment in hand.
After drifting for several hundred meters one of the Abyss-rays tentacles wrap around Arcturus and accelerated away from the asteroid ship. Arcturus then ordered all of his Leviathans to warp directly to his position. A instant later a golden crescent wave sliced through the tentacles holding Arcturus. As the Abyss-ray psionically screamed in pain, Arcturus turned to the threat, his instincts garnered from the Zerg part of his biology screaming at him to block. Wrapping his wing blades around himself Arcturus was struck by a intense beam of golden light and sent flying as the energy blast erased the tentacles still wrapped around him. Now drifting at a accelerated velocity away from the asteroid ship Arcturus opened his scorched wings. Generating a telekinetic force He stopped him self and turned back to his attacker. It was Selvaria again flying through the vacuum towards Him as if a bird through air.
"Still after me? I though You wanted me to escape?"
"I have to make it believable so I can't give up that easy."
Selvaria swung her blades sending multiple brilliant crescent blades flying at Arcturus. Using his telekinesis to generate a propulsive force He weaved through space like a sparrow barely evading the attacks. As He evaded the attacks the Leviathans arrived surrounding the asteroid ship. Arcturus summoned Mutalisk and Wyverns to hold Selvaria off. As torrents of bio-projectiles shoot at her Selvaria was forced to turn her attention on the new threats. Going from offense to defense Selvaria zigzagged dodging the living homing missiles swarming after her from multiple directions. With one sweep of her blade she sent a psionic blast wave radiating in a wide cone destroying all the missiles along with a large number of the Zerg flyers chasing her. With a moment to search for her true target She turned to find Arcturus again. Unfortunately He had already boarded a Leviathan. Flying after him Selvaria dodged more bio-missiles as she pursued her target. But mere hundreds of meters from her destination the Leviathan warp away along with the rest of the Zerg fleet.
"Damn!" She cursed aloud telepathically, so that others could hear.
But on the inside she was just glad the pawn had gotten away as per Amon's plan.
In warp-space Arcturus placed the Keystone fragment down in the Leviathans nerve center. He had completed his mission and now he only needed to deliver it to the Tal'darim Nyon as commanded by Amon. After a short trip through warp-space Arcturus fleet finally arrived at the meeting place in the Sigma quadrant. Upon exiting warp-space Arcturus quickly spotted a massive ship in orbit around a gas giant. After approaching a few thousand kilometers Arcturus Zerg fleet detected a odd buzzing noise in the space around the ship along with a number of Protoss ships on and around the massive vessel.
"Identify yourselves?" Arcturus projected to the Protoss.
"We serve the great Amon avatar of the holy Light. I am Ascendant Nyon. You must be the one sent to deliver the holy relic."
Ignoring the religious wording Arcturus was finally happy to be rid of this mission.
"Yes I bare the... relic."
"Ah praised be the Light. I will deactivate the rip-field generators so that you may approach."
The odd buzzing His fleet had detected stopped and Arcturus Leviathan moved closer landing along the world ship. Nyon teleported onboard the Leviathans nerve center in front of Arcturus.
"You may take the Keystone fragment." Arcturus stated gesturing at the fragment on the floor.
Nyon turned to the fragment quickly taking it in hand.
"I thank you for retrieving it from the Terrans!" Nyon thanked holding the fragment.
"Your thanks is not necessary."
Nyon nodded and teleported away.
With a relived sigh Arcturus ordered his fleet to jump to Redstone 3 to prepare for his attack on Korhal.
-Korhal, Imperial Place-
A intense feeling of danger washed over her dreams forcing Kerrigan awake. Her eyes shot open as she lay in bed.
"Arcturus?" she said in a hate filled tone.
Sitting up She wiped a thin layer of sweet from her forehead. Her sixth sense was telling her He was coming. And when he arrives he'll do so in force. Kerrigan sat up on the edge of her bed thinking over how to deal with him. It wouldn't be easy. Before Kerrigan couldn't even read his mind because of some counter measure other then a psi-screen that He used to block her. And now he's a Zerg infested monster with who knows what abilities and tricks. Not to mention Kerrigan knew nothing about how strong a fighter He was. As a Terran Arcturus Mengsk had little personal combat ability, but now that he's a Zerg who knows what he's capable off.
Kerrigan contemplated various battle plans and strategies both planet side and in space but the unknowns always made every scenario a no win in Her eyes. Intel about Arcturus forces and abilities was severely limited and any strategy she could come up with would always be flawed without information on Him. The only thing Kerrigan knew for certain was that He had a fleet of first possibly second gen Azure-swarm Zerg. Not much to work with, but lack of intel could always be countered with power. And the only person who could give that to Kerrigan was Ellen. Who was currently in a intense battle with the remnants of the Over-swarm who are currently trying to resurrect the Overmind.
"The Protoss are also there at Char keeping a eye on things."
With a heavy heart Kerrigan walked over to the storage cabinet retrieving her ghost suit.
"May as well go all the way if im doing this."
Kerrigan contacted her small group of Behemoths ordering them to meet her in a star system close to Korhal. Activating her stealth cloak and using her security access codes to shut down the internal detection systems along her route to the hanger Kerrigan left her room carefully making her way to the space port on the palaces upper levels. Arriving at the hanger she made for the closest Dropship but was stunned to see Nova there waiting for her. Glancing around expecting guards to tackle her She put her guard up.
"Nova?"
"Your didn't really think I wouldn't sense you making contact with the Zerg we have hidden away did you!"
Kerrigan shrugged.
"Actually, I had hoped you were asleep."
Nova sighed rubbing the back of her head.
"Listen Sarah. I don't like this whole going rogue idea of yours but we finally have the trust of Raynor and the others back again. Do you really want to risk all that to go off after Arcturus by yourself."
Kerrigan cocked a eyebrow.
"I was going to ask Ellen to give me more power actually. I know Arcturus will come here to Korhal on his own given enough time. After all everyone he wants revenge on is here. Valerian, his mother, Haruka, Me."
Nova scoffed crossing her arms.
"I though he was the one who betrayed you... and me. He had Duke use the Psi-emitter to draw the Over-minds swarm to Tarsonis after all."
"He fears me. He knows im after him and that if he wants to get revenge on Valerian and the others then im the biggest obstacle in his way."
"Noted. But do you think Ellen will just say yeah i'll power you up no problem?"
"Who knows. She's a odd one that seems to have a million ideas going on all at once. Now that I mention it I don't thing I've met her in person other then that one time on Tarsonis when she played the part as a member of the Sons of Korhal?"
"Yeah I remember that to. Now that I think about it let's just get going. If we stand here all day some one will find us."
Nova sat in the chock-pit starting the engines up. Kerrigan shrugged joining her. The dropship took off quickly exiting the atmosphere. Exiting warp-space the two meet up with their small fleet of Behemoths and proceeded to warp to Char. The instant they arrived they beheld the sight of two massive fleets exchanging fire back and forth. The first taking the form of a fragmented shell orbiting over Char. And the second formed into many clouds hundreds of miles wide orbiting or rather patrolling around the fleet protecting the planet seemingly looking for openings in the defensive umbrella. And in the space between the two fleets drifted countless Zerg corpses ranging from Overlords and Overseers to Mutalisk, Guardians and Wyverns to Leviathans all in various states of evisceration and combat related wounds. At extreme distance over one of the moons and safe from the battle several fleets of Protoss ships observed from a distance.
"Damn!" stated Nova seeing the massive planet wide siege.
Kerrigan whistled impressed at the scale of the planet wide battle. Or rather it was more like a orbital war for the planet.
"I would have thought the Azure-swam would have made more progress then this?." spoke Nova.
Refocusing Kerrigan contacted her mind to the Azure-swarms hive mind to contact Ellen.
In her throne room in the Tamashī no ki capital ship Ellen glanced to her lower left direction towards the general direction of Kerrigan and Nova.
"What do those two want now?" Ellen thought.
"Empress let me talk with those two." projected Nysha.
"Very well you handle it Nysha."
Nysha in her Leviathan made a short tactical warp instantly arriving directly over the small fleet of Behemoths commanded by Kerrigan and Nova.
"Why are the two of you here?" Nysha asked.
"I have reason to believe Arcturus will attack Korhal soon." Kerrigan replied.
"Are you asking if we'll send some of our forces to help protect Korhal?"
"No I need more power!" Kerrigan stated bluntly.
Nysha pondered the situation.
"I do know of a way. But It would require forfeiting any hope of becoming Human again. Are you That serious about this?"
Both Kerrigan and Nova glanced at each other pondering the offer.
"What do you think Nova?"
Nova thought seriously about her own family and life wondering if she can bare watching as her family ages while she remains young. She considered the ridiculous situation where she as a monster would be afraid of out living her parents and siblings. But isn't that normal and the way life works. Everyone gets older and dies, even Protoss and Zerg. It just takes longer for them. But on the other hand everyone she cares about may die if Arcturus is allowed to win just because she and Kerrigan wanted to keep the hope of returning to being human again. A short life with regrets. Or a long life knowing they did everything possible to win.
"Lets do it."
"Were in agreement then," Kerrigan stated.
"If you've made up your minds meet me in my Leviathan."
A short time later.
Within the inner bowls of Nysha's Leviathan Kerrigan and Nova followed the brood queen into her evolution masters evolution-pit. All around them were pods and body parts left over from past experiments. Almost seemingly out of place both Kerrigan and Nova's attention was drawn towards a shining piece of blue crystal glistened in the center of the chamber. It was a massive chunk of Ragnite crystal beside two circular ridges with dozens of roots radiating outwards and connecting to the crystals base.
From a dark corner of the chamber a Evolution master walked out of the shadows on its many legs. It's lower body resembling a centipede with it's upper half liken to a spider.
"New converts. To ascend?" it spoke in a deep voice.
"Yes. They want to become third gen brood queens." Nysha turned back to the two.
"That's right." Nova spoke out as she felt the need to keep her self from turning back from her own decision.
The evolution master gestured towards the two rings and root networks.
"Enter then the Chrysalis nodes."
Glancing at each other one last time both Kerrigan and Nova stepped into the rings. The Evolution master did something as it gestured with its arms in the air and creep started pooling at their feet. Soon the rings were over flowing with creep that seeped to harden at the edges increasing the height of the rings until they completely encapsulated the two of them into chrysalis just like the ones that first turned them into Zerg.
-Chapter End-