-Chapter 45-
-Conspiracy-
"Do you really have to leave Terra?" asked Constantino Terra to his youngest daughter.
The whole family was gathered in the rebuilt Terra skyscraper. The rebuilding of Tarsonis was a low priority for the dominion and was mostly left to the now much less powerful old families. Still even after having their world turned up side down many of the surviving members of the old family's pulled together and used what remained of their resources and connections into rebuilding their once great city and world. The Terra family was one such group. Clare Terra was left as the only known surviving heir to her family after the Over-swarms invasion of Tarsonis. But after learning of her families survival thanks to 'A unknown individual' she was left with a huge relief in her heart. The family had spent the past month reconnecting and even the normally cold and matriarchal Bella Terra who like the rest of the family was left shell shocked, displayed a solemn grief and regret after returning to her city and home world of Tarsonis.
"Yeah I do." replied Nova. "Kerrigan asked that I back her up on this mission she's going on."
"Dear please" begged Bella as she hugged Nova.
After everything that's occurred Bella accepted her eldest daughter as the new matriarch of the family. But after learning of her youngest child's, unique condition, She's become quite protective.
"Mom she's not the little kid she was before," stated Zeb Terra.
Zebediah though he preferred Zeb was just as shell shocked as his parents and elder sister was over their survival and over everything that has gone on while they were on Reach. He was especially annoyed that his younger sister Nova had grown another three inches taller then him.
"Mom I know that your worried about me, but I can handle it. Especially after all i've been through."
"Yeah!" Zeb exclaimed. "That whole leading a army of monsters and fighting aliens part was crazy. And though i'ed normally call you crazy. I really can't with the evidence right in front of me. Just be carful ok. Big? little sis." Zeb said, ruffling his slightly taller, little sisters hair.
Bella still not ready to let her little girl go into a war zone kept hugging her tightly. It had seemed that Her protective motherly instincts had been awakened and put into overdrive after having so much things happen out of her control. She was about to lose her little girl again and she didn't want to lose one of the last semblance of control she had left.
Constantino placed a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Dear."
Bella looked up to the face of her husband, feeling as though his comfort had alleviated some of her distress. Things had been quite stressful for the Terra family and their servants upon awakening on Reach. And over the course of several months Bella's acceptance over Her jig/lover Edward Peters betrayal Bella was left even more lost then the rest of her family. But in a surprise turn Constantino stepped up and pulled his despairing family back together. Something that both surprised him self and Bella. Where their relationship had always been cold romantically their relationship turned into something more after that as He did his best to help his wife through the fact that they had lost everything. Even though their marriage was, like all old family marriage's born of economic or political reasons. He started treating her with more love and care. Knowing that having the family fall apart would be the worst thing to happen.
Constantino continued.
"After all that she's been through I think November has grown up quit a lot. We can't keep treating her like a helpless child forever."
Bella turned back to her youngest child. Starting to let her self see the strong young woman she had become. With a reluctant sigh Bella let go of Nova and looked her in the eyes.
"Are you sure your ok with leaving us?" Bella asked sounding desperate.
Reluctantly Nova looked around at her family and the people she had known before all this craziness started what seemed so long ago now.
Eleftheria, Constantino's 'former' mistress, along with everyone else, (Ellen had saved that day) watched the young mistresses make her decision.
Mr. Sim the kitchen staff supervisor.
Boris the waiter.
Bryan a security guard.
Rebeka, the families hair dresser who was holding Pip (a Siamese cat) along with other servants saved in the attack on the Terra skyscraper that day had remained with them after awakening on Reach from their short lived suspended animation. They had been given a place to stay and recover from the shock of everything. But despite it they were all still greatly effected at the fact that their whole world had been just uprooted. It took them all quit a long time to recover.
With a heavy heart and feeling like Her reunion with her family was far too short Nova answered.
"No im not. But. Their are things only I can do. Im not a weakling who couldn't protect her family or friends before. I may not like her but... Ellens strong. And she saved all of you from dying that day. So I want to use the power I have like she did. It may not be always for others and im kinda being selfish here. But i'll use my power to help protect everyone. All of you, the Dominion, I'll use my power to protect everyone as best I can."
Bella was surprised and taken aback at her daughters heart felt words.
"I guess your leaving then." Bella said feeling like her heart drop. But also felt pride at her daughters accomplishments.
"Mom." Nova said taking her mothers hand into hers. "I'll come back. I'll always make sure to come back. After all I can't let my self lose all of you again like before."
Nova took several steps back, letting go of her mothers hands. She turned around to the sight of her elder sister Clare staring back at her in the door way.
"November." Clara spoke smiling.
"Elder sister Clara." Nova replied.
Nova was taken by surprise when Clara hugged her tightly.
"Wha? Sis?"
"Come back to us alive ok. I know our relationship hasn't, always been the best, but I want to have the time to fix that now that I know what its like to not have you around little sister."
Surprised at her elder sisters words Nova felt a tear fall down her cheek.
"Yeah. I would like that big sis." Nova replied hugging her sister back.
They embraced for what seemed forever, but eventually they released each other. Nova walked out of the building to the waiting dropship as her family waved her good by. Meanwhile on a window ledge above a Azure-swarm Locust spy unit watched them.
-Char: Lagrange point 4-
Ellen sat in the crystalline throne room of the Tamashī no ki, capital ship.
"Heh. Your welcome kid. Just pay me back later." Ellen mumbled watching the Dominion transport take to the air.
A bio screen blinked on across the far wall showing blown up image of Izsha.
"My empress we have detected an additional two million enemy units warping in. It seems the last of the Over-swarms forces are gathering to stop our assault on Char."
Ellen focused creating a mental landscape of the void based battlefield. In her minds eyes she floated in the vacuum of space surrounded by millions of Her swarms Behemoths and Leviathans with a massive cloud of enemy Zerg forces orbiting Char. The enemy Over-swarm had had the time to start growing several dozen Leviathans themselves after stealing Azure swarm essence of first and second generation versions. But they were unable to steal such from 3rd gen forces under Ellen's direct command. And the numbers of Leviathans the Over-swarm were able to grow was woefully fewer in number compared to the azure swarms fleets.
Ellen was quit irritated at the fact that after all her precautions the Over-swarm was able to steal essence from her swarm and reproduce her own types of Zerg units. Though her irritation was joined by Abastienes who was even now researching new ways of countering the enemy Zergs ability to collect their essence.
The war with the Over-swarms forces had been long and hard with the still recovering Protoss fleets providing supporting surgical strikes deep into enemy space to kill Cerebrates. But for this final assault on the last major bastion of Over-swarm resistance Ellen was content using her own forces. Though the war between the two Swarms had been costly with many Azure fleets destroyed it was in the long run a acceptable loss so long as the Cerebrates were hunted down and killed. After they were eliminated cleaning up the Wild-Zerg as they rampaged with out the cerebrates commanding will was relatively easy so long as they were hunted down quickly.
Now with the majority of them dead the remaining cerebrates had all fallen back to Char and consolidated all their remaining military strength around the volcanic world. But as She entered the system Ellen felt a disturbingly familiar and growing presence emanating from the surface of Char. It was the Overmind. The bastard had survived their battle some how and was now growing in strength again. Ellen could make a few guesses as to how He could have survived their fight but the most obvious was that He defused the majority of his essence/soul into his swarm. Leaving only a large fragment in the body Ellen had killed using the DZK. Ellen was feeling up for a rematch and this time would make sure she does the job properly.
"All fleets advance!" Ellen projected to her swarm.
Like a massive cloud of insects hundreds of thousands of Azure-swarm Behemoths, Leviathans, Broodlords advanced deploying millions of Mutalisk, Scourges, Guardians and countless Broodlisk and Broodlings.
As one the massive fleet advanced towards Char for their final battle with the Over-swarm and perhaps the Overmind.
-Void Space Between Star systems-
Nova's dropship dropped out of warp space and banked left heading towards a asteroid several dozen miles wide. Flying around the asteroid and into a large crack in the surface the dropship flew into a nest of sorts. Within the asteroid a little light from the local star leaked through into in the asteroid illuminating several of the sleeping fleet of Zerg Behemoths inside. Nova could sense the sleeping minds of the zerg under Kerrigans control. This was where Kerrigan had left them before rejoining the Hyperion and regaining her human form along with Nova. Even if it was just skin deep. The two were again grateful to Ellen for granting them a human appearance again. Though it would have been preferred to have been a complete transformation back to being human.
"Man I hate getting this close. Gives me the willies!" The pilot stated as he flew the dropship deeper into the asteroids hollow.
In the tight space the main engines were over kill so the pilots switched to maneuvering thrusters.
All along the asteroids walls Behemoths laid attached to the surface by the creep which lined the whole interior of the asteroid. Nova unbuckled her harness and floated into the cockpit in the zero-G environment.
"Just calm down and fly closer to that one." Nova said pointing to one Behemoth.
"Ok ok." said the pilot.
The Dropship flew closer to the Behemoth Nova had pointed to.
The co-pilot used puffs from the maneuvering thrusters to guided them to a open hanger along the Behemoths side and flew in.
"This looks like a orifice or something, ew!" the pilot quipped.
"More egg like sac!" the copilot joked.
Nova couldn't complain at the twos banter and just shrugged as they entered the Behemoth. After entering the cavity they landed and the large folding plate along the Behemoths side closed plunging the Dropship into darkness. As the lights in the cockpit illuminated the pilots and Nova She turned around and headed to the rear of the dropships cabin.
"Ok you can just open the ramp."
"Ok if you say so." The pilot replied.
With the press of a button the co-pilot closed the cockpit hatch separating the cargo compartment from the cockpit with a air tight seal.
As the rear ramp lowered Nova felt the atmosphere shift in pressure. But being Zerg on the inside she barely felt a difference and just walked out. The two pilots watched as she passed the front of the dropship and waved them to leave. The cavity door opened again and the dropship took to the air again. Puffing its maneuvering engines just a little to lift off the surface and rotate around and fly out. Nova watched as they lefty and the cavity/ hanger door close behind them.
-Behemoth Nerve Center-
Nova entered the nerve center locking eyes on Kerrigan who was in a modified praetorian bio-suit that lacked the bone wings and tail of Ellen's. But then Nova stopped surprised and a little emotional at the two dark templar standing to Kerrigan's right.
"Zeratul? Zerion?" Nova exclaimed in surprise.
"Little death bringer." Zerion shot back.
Nova shrunk back from the nick name the Dark templar had given her from the battles on Char.
With no way to comfortably reply Nova stormed over to Kerrigan on her hardened creep throne.
"Kerrigan what are they doing here. I thought?" Nova glanced at the two former enemies.
"It's a part of the new alliance." Kerrigan explained. "Sharing information was apart of the alliance between the Azure-swarm, Dominion and Daelaam. Plus they will be useful on this operation."
Nova calmed down giving a sigh and taking in a deep breath.
"Ok. So I take it we have a target then?"
Kerrigan turned to the elevated creep pedestal in the center of the room. It's surface changed to show a map of the Koprulu sector. A dot illuminated on the edge of Dominion and Umojan space.
"Here. We've looked into several locations and found that the Mobius foundation has a off the books facility in a asteroid here."
"From the information we were able to gather," Zeratul started. "the other Mobius facilities send much of their products to this facility. It seems that they are mostly meant to manufacture components that are used in several other secret facilities like this one."
"Though we do not know how many or where all of these facilities are located." Zerion explained.
"More then likely," Kerrigan started. "The Mobius foundation keeps its secret facilities compartmentalized. That way only the guys at the top know where everything is."
"Smart of them." Nova added. "So we sneak into this facility and collect evidence about Zerg experiments and gather information on where all their shipments are going, and where the other facilities are until we find evidence of the Mobius foundations involvement with Arcturus."
Kerrigan's eye twitched in annoyance and she turned to the two Dark templar.
"Zeratul, Zerion. What do you think?"
"Terran matters would normally not be our concern." Zeratul started. "However if this Mobius foundation is experimenting with Zerg and creating infested Terrans as weapons, then it is at least our duty to discover the truth for ourselves. And if they are indeed creating Zerg to use as weapons then we will burn the facility."
Zerion sensing Nova's discomfort at their prior hostile relationship confronted the Infested Terran.
"Nova."
November Terra turned to Zerion with a tensed look to her.
"Though we were bitter adversaries in the past and even though I still find my self feeling emotions and having thoughts of anger and revenge for my brothers and sisters whom you and Kerrigan killed."
Kerrigan and Nova both frowned at the memories of their less then honorable past as the Overminds loyal servants.
Zerion continued.
"We all must learn to move on and... work together. From one age to the next past enemies can become allies just as it is possible for past allies to be come bitter enemies. We may not fully embrace these changes. But we can at least agree that our cooperation is necessary to bring the truth to light. And create a better future."
Nova breathed deeply looking up to the giant of a Protoss.
"I guess I feel the same way. It's hard being teamed up with you considering our... pasts. But if its for the betterment of the future then I'll put my life in your hands then."
Zerion nodded extending a hand.
"A hand shack is how you Terrans show a mutual agreement is it not."
Nova took the much larger alien hand with her own and they shook in agreement.
"So tell me something?" Nova asked. "Was it Ellen that suggested this little team up?"
"Yes."
"It was."
Both Kerrigan and Zeratul answered dryly with a under tone of annoyance.
Nova suppressed a laugh hearing the two of them complain about Ellen.
"I see."
"That one enjoys meddling in the affairs of others far to much." Zeratul stated shaking his head.
"For better and worse I guess." Kerrigan added. "Nova. Your gear is in the room that way."
Nova received the map of the Behemoths layout and a full explanation of the reasons and nodded.
"Thanks. Guess i'll suit up then. Can't let the Umojan's know were from the Dominion and start a war now can we."
Nova left the nerve center making her way through the living tunnels to her room. Inside she found some odd pieces of bio technology she had never seen before. They consisted of what looked to be a communications terminal, and a shower and weapons rack. The weapons rack held a organic bone white locker with two halves. Walking over She opened one half looking inside, where she found a folded up praetorian bio-armor of the same simple model Kerrigan was wearing. Looking in the other vertical half of the locker she found a odd looking organic bone lance with many overlapping spiraled strips of blue chitin. It also had a long segmented tail extending from the pommel of the handle that was rolled up into a disc.
A moment later Nova felt the Behemoth enter warp space. She reached into the locker and started changing into the new armor.
-20 minutes Later-
-Castanar System-
Nova felt the Behemoth drop out of warp space as she re-entered the nerve center.
Kerrigan looked up to the newly geared up Nova nodding at her new suit and weapon.
"Well your definitely not going to attract attention to the Dominion in that."
Nova shrugged approaching the seated Kerrigan. Nova looked around noticing Zeratul and Zerion were absent.
"Where are the others?"
"Zeratul and Zerion have already left in the Void Seeker. They've begun scouting the facility while we stay at a distance. This Behemoth doesn't have any stealth ability."
"Right. Guess I'll wait then. Wait where was the Void Seeker before we left the asteroid?"
"It was attached to the back of the Behemoth. You probably didn't see it because of the illusions Zeratul put over it. Plus it's got it's own stealth system." Kerrigan answered.
Half way across the star system the Void Seeker in full stealth mode cruised through the empty vacuum quickly approaching the asteroid facility. Zeratul weaved through the stations advanced detection sensor grid parking the Void Seeker up against the asteroid base. Both Dark Templar blinked through the Void past the asteroids surface arriving in a corridor. Under their void cloaks the two Dark Templar moved silently through the facility passing un aware personnel as they went.
Meanwhile in the security room.
The newly appointed Edmund Duke was grateful for being rescued by Arcturus. Even if the man was a resurrected and infested monster now. Still Duke was glad he wasn't forced to become a infested freak. The general may be old but even he still has his pride as a human. Not that the monsters being breed in this facility would understand any of that. The idea of creating a army of creatures that are hybrids of both Zerg and Protoss just seemed like a bad idea to Duke. But then again He never trusted mutant abominations made from science. The Zerg may be monsters but at least they were naturally evolved monsters. The things being created in the lab were vastly different. Weather or not they could be controlled was still a gamble that Narud guy was risking. Arcturus who most of the facility staff believed was a early hybrid prototype seemed able to control the creatures with his Zerg telepathy. But Duke was still not completely sold on the idea. Still this new job beat being in prison any day.
A beeping noise drew dukes attention to one screen showing long ranged scanners.
"What is it?" Duke asked the security officer.
The female security officers fingers typed away on the controls as the screen shifted to a narrower long ranged scan.
"I don't know sire. Give me a second."
A few moments passed and the women's expression changed to dread.
"Shit! Long ranged scanners ID the object as a lone Zerg Behemoth. Range is 4 million kilometers on a course out system."
"A lone Zerg Behemoth?" Duke noted raising his eyebrow's. "That's suspicious as all hell. There's no such thing as a lone Zerg anywhere. Scan the whole star system at max range. If anything else jumps in system unauthorized or unscheduled send a message to the Moebius fleet to get their shiny butts over here."
"Yes sire"
The two Dark templar continued making their way through the facility following the low level psionic signature they had first detected upon entering the facility. After passing through several hallways and going down two levels they finally arrived at a large large bulkhead door.
"This door seems to only open for a special security key." Zerion noted. Projecting his thoughts to Zeratul.
"Though it is no obstacle to us." He projected back.
The two blinked passed the door to the other side. Upon reaching the next room the two Dark Templar beheld a dozen large tanks lined up into two rows. Each as tall as twenty meters and as round as twelve meters. Most of them were empty but one in back contained the source of the odd psionic signature. But almost as quickly both Zeratul and Zerion regretted entering this room, as the creature seemed to have the body and head resembling that of a protoss except for its grotesque maw filled with fanged teeth. Its body had glowing lines traced along its skull and torso with four blade tipped tentacles extending from its back and four arms along the torso, each with thumbs and fingers that are accompanied by large blades integrated into the hands structure.
The creature was a clear fusion of both Zerg and Protoss biology and not merely a infested Terran.
"Zerion we must retreat at once." Zeratul projected some fear in his mental voice.
But it was already to late. The creatures eyes shot open as it sensed the proximity psionic emanations of the two protoss. Normally external psionic energies would be blocked out by the rooms psionic jammers based on the Terran psi-screen tech but the two Protoss had blinking into the chamber bypassing them entirely.
"What the?"
Said a surprised Terran scientist standing on a elevated walkway at eye level with the Hybrid.
"Intruder!" rumbled the Hybrid.
"What!" exclaimed the scientist hearing the Hybrid in his mind.
The Hybrid raised its massive clawed arms and with a single stroke shattered it's container spilling what ever liquids was in there across the floor. The unlucky scientist was sent falling to his death as the walk way was pushed aside and collapsed by the impossibly strong hybrid. The screams of the dying man were drowned out by the sound of the security alarm blaring as the Hybrid smashed its why out of its containment tank and turned staring intently in the general direction of the two Dark Templar.
"We need flee Zeratul! That thing is too dangerous in this confined space."
Disregarding his former pupil Zeratul was resolved to stay.
"No Zerion we must know how powerful this beast is. I am not a fool. I know defeating such a thing is a fools errand. But we came here to obtain information. It would be a waste if we leave with not gaining something."
Nodding reluctantly Zerion agreed as the Hybrid started stomping its way over to them.
"Very well. But let us truly test this creatures powers."
With it decided both Dark Templar ignited their warp-blades and prepared for battle. As the hybrid stomped its way over where it sensed them both Dark templar blinked to the upper walkways. Zerion blinked over the Hybrids head landing with a strike to the armored carapace. But to Zerions dismay his blade only dug a shallow groove into the armor.
Frustrated and surprised Zerion struck again and again cutting out a X shaped grooves in the Hybrids skull armor. The beast growled in discomfort and anger flicking one of its bladed tentacles up over its head to strike the annoying fly off himself. As the bladed tentacle flew towards Zerions back, Zeratul blinked beside him and blocking the attack pushing the tentacle back.
"Thank you."
"Your need not thank me just yet."
Both Dark templar blinked away as more tentacles slammed onto the Hybrids own skull but did little damage.
"Where are you Protoss?" the Hybrid snarled. "Your are still here, but where?"
Zerion leaped to the Hybrids feet cutting at the backs of its knees, while Zeratul slashed at the creatures mid-section. For all their effort the Hybrids wounds were shallow even with warp-blades. They were not used to anything surviving a single strike other then other Protoss who could parry their blades with psi-blades of their own. But this abomination is just shrugging off their attacks like a adult shrugging off a child's weak strikes.
Both Dark Templar retreated to the upper walkways.
"It is indeed a resilient foe." Stated Zeratul.
"The wounds are shallow but we are damaging it at least."
"There you are!"
The Hybrid raised its head at the two cloaked Dark Templar and roared as it brought up its bladed arms and sliced into the upper walkway tearing it to shreds. Zerion and Zeratul blinked across to the opposite side of the room to avoid the attack. A moment later the large bulk head door opened letting in several squads of Mobius marines.
"What the fuck! Uh hi big guy." said a Moebius marine.
The Hybrid turned to them, hunger in its eyes.
"Code E-4 we got a Hybrid out of its cell, I repeat we have a code E-4" another marine reported.
The Hybrid roared charging the Marines. Zeratul and Zerion watched as the Terrans were ripped apart, crushed and eaten alive by the out of control Hybrid.
"A most unexpected turn of events?" noted Zerion. Feeling some pity for the Terrans.
"Come. This is a opportunity to flee." Zeratul stated. "We can use this distraction to explore the rest of the facility for information."
The two Dark Templar blinked through the Void to continue their mission while the Hybrid rampaged.
-Several Minutes In the Past-
In the security control room Edmund Duke silently cursed as the stations warning alarms blared.
"What the hell? Are we under attack?" Duke yelled.
"Sir it's not a external attack. It's the Hybrid that had been left growing in its tank after the last group was transported. It woke up and has started rampaging."
"Put it on the screens." Duke barked.
One of the screens changed to show the high security zone where the Hybrids were being grown. On screen the Hybrid started smashing the maturation room to pieces like it was attacking something.
"Dammit" cursed Duke. "I knew those things were trouble. Activate the A.R.E.S."
"But sire our own men are already in the area. The security marines assigned outside the Hybrid growth chamber have already opened the door."
"They what!" exclaimed Duke. "Tell them to get out of there. Now!"
On screen Duke and his security officers watched as the marines were ripped apart and devoured by the rampaging Hybrid.
"Shit this is all I need today." Duke sighed, face palming. "Is the A.R.E.S. up and running?"
One of the security officers typed away at the controls.
"It's activated sire."
"Good now send it to pacify that Hybrid." ordered Duke. "On second though start up the other two as well."
"Yes sir."
With the facilities security forces distracted by the Hybrids rampage both Dark templar were able to easily make their way through the facility easily. They eventually arrived at a lab with the name Main Hybridization Lab.
"This place may yelled information." Stated Zeratul.
The two blinked passed the door and entered the lab. Inside were many advanced lab equipment and glass containers. Some empty but many others had questionable contents. The Dark Templar felt and heard the psionic roar of the Hybrid grating at their mental defenses.
"Ah!(Zerion holds his head) The Hybrid seems to be in a mood most foul."
"Come let us be swift then." Zeratul urged.
The both of them split up looking through the lab. It seemed this was where the Zerg and Protoss DNA was first combined and grown into Hybrids before being sent to the larger growth chamber. Zerion looked along the walls of glass containers holding not only dead and dismembered Zerg specimens but also several Protoss corpses.
As Zerion moved along the containers his heart felt pained that the bodies of his fellow Protoss would be abused like this. His heart roared in silent pain and anger at the Terrans responsible for this and He suddenly felt less pained over the Terrans being killed by the Hybrid.
As Zerion looked through the specimens Zeratul stepped up to a computer bank and pulled out a small Protoss device. The semi sphere grew several tentacles that plugged into a data port. The devices specialized A.I. started hacking into the stations systems automatically as it shifted through all the junk data not applicable to the mission. Zeratul watched as the screen rapidly shifted between multiple displays as the hacking device worked.
Meanwhile in the Zerg Behemoth both Kerrigan and Nova winced as the psionic echo of the Hybrids roar reached them.
"Gah! What was that?" Nova stated as she shook her head in discomfort.
"It must have been a Hybrids psionic scream." stated Kerrigan shaking her own head.
"It must be really powerful if it can reach us at this distance." stated Nova.
"Stealth is no longer a priority." Kerrigan said ordering the Behemoth to make a quick jump. "Im jumping us to the station. If we can kill that thing maybe we can learn more about it."
"And perhaps eat some of its powerful essence." Nova suggested.
"No. I was not even considering..." Kerrigan started.
"Oh come on Sarah. We both became infested and devoured the Essence of Protoss and evolved. Now there's a new creature out their that's kind of like what we are but even more powerful. We both think the same way in that regard. I know you may not want to accept it but this is what we are."
Kerrigan sighed looking back up to Nova.
"I would be lying if I said The idea of killing and eating the Hybrids Essence didn't cross my mind. But we still have a job to do."
"Yes we do." Nova replied. "But Im getting a little worried about those two as well?"
Kerrigan smirked.
"I don't think we have to worry about Zeratul or Zerion. They can take care of themselves. We should focus on dealing with that Hybrid."
"Right"
In a flash of light the Behemoth made a quick tactical warp jump to just in a hundred miles of the station. Kerrigan sighed in annoyance as she intended to exit warp space closer. But considering this was the first time this Behemoth had done such a thing and Kerrigan her self was not exactly trained in ship piloting it was better then appearing from inside the facility. A messy proposition.
Taking to the backs of Mutalisk both Kerrigan in her bio-suit, (the same design as Nova's lacking wings) And Nova flew to the station using the Behemoth as a shield and decoy. They flew closer and closer as the minutes passed, until the stations defenses opened up on them. The Behemoths bow (nose) was struck by multiple laser batteries. But despite the damage the creature accelerated more and more as if intending to ram the asteroid station. More lasers flashed in the void burning holes into the Behemoths armor and into the soft flesh underneath. Projecting a psionic scream of pain the Behemoth finally veered off from a collision course while launching Scourges. Dozens of Scourges quickly shifted their trajectories to just the right position and alignment with their targets. Moments later the Behemoth zoomed passed the station in just a quarter second. Moments after the Scourges slammed into the laser turrets in a rain of shrapnel and fire from the hyper velocity impacts.
With the defenses down both Kerrigan and Nova road their Mutalisk to the space dock. There they disembarked the Muta's leaving them both there. Using the sticky creep along their feet they walked along the zero-G docking cavity hollowed out from the asteroid side. Turning their sticky creep off, in a manner of speech, Kerrigan followed buy Nova jumped floating up to the air locks where they entered the facility.
"Activate your stealth systems," Kerrigan ordered. She remembered that this bio-suit also has a stealth function like her old ghost suits.
"Yeah." Replied Nova.
The two of them disappeared from sight and moved farther into the facility unseen. Alarms blared as panicked personal ran every which way. And every once in awhile the whole facility would shack. The vibration felt like it was coming from a lower level, relative to the artificial gravity's direction. The two invisible spies passed panicked lab techs and other workers as they evacuated the lower levels and flooded into the upper levels. As they made their way through the facility Kerrigan skimmed through the minds of the personal as they went. Kerrigan made a invisible grin as she gleaned the location of the main security room from a Mobius marines mind.
As they moved to the security room Kerrigan mentally licked her lips salivating at the thought of getting if only a single step closer in her revenge on Arcturus for attracting the Zerg to Tarsonis. Even though she knew He was not here in this facility She did know of some one who did.
Edmund Duke cursed as the third A.R.E.S. was thrown aside by the Hybrid in a heap of scarp metal. Despite their weapons the robots were almost like toys to the beast. They at least gave the personal in the lower levels time to evacuate before being turned into scrape metal though so it was something.
"If only Mengsk was here. He maybe a freak now but at least this things listen to him." Duke sighed sitting down thinking.
"Sir the reinforced bulkhead doors won't last much longer. I suggest evacuation sir." the female security officer suggested implicitly.
"Call for a evacuation shuttle from the closest Moebius facility." Duke wearily answered.
He had only been in charge of this facilities security for a short time but now on his watch it was becoming a lost cause. Mengsk and Narud would not be happy. But then again it was one of their Hybrids that went on a rampage in the first place.
Just as Duke felt relaxed in the thought of not getting the blame for this situation the security room door exploded out words as if pulled by a irresistible force. Surprised and in shock Duke turned to the door reflexively pulling his pistol on the opening. Instinctively sensing the possibility of cloaked ghosts He shot at the empty looking door way as the other two security personal pulled their side arms to join him. Then to his horror Duke felt a cold metal object on the back of his head.
"Hello Duke. It's been a long time."
Duke closed his eyes as dread filled his heart and soul. That voice was one He dreaded ever since he deployed the Psi-emitter on Tarsonis. It just seemed like a distant tiny threat back then. But now it was right behind him. Close enough to rip his heart out. Duke laughed nervously to ease his own fear.
"Hi Kerrigan. Long time no see?"
As the two security officers looked at him wondering what Duke was talking about a force struck them sending them flying into the wall. A woman in a bio-armor appeared aiming a rifle at the two as they tried picking themselves off the floor.
"Throw the guns or I splatter your brains all over the walls!" Nova demanded leveling her bio-lance at their heads.
The two laid their pistols on the floor raising their hands over their heads.
"Good." Kerrigan said with a satisfied under tone to her words. "Now Lets all have a nice long talk."
Back with Zerion and Zeratul the two Dark Templar finished their examination of the research labs using the Hybrids rampage as a cover. But now a problem had arisen. Namely that there's no one else for the beast to kill other then them.
"Terran insignificant," The Hybrid bellowed telepathically. "Protoss must die."
The Hybrid now with nothing to kill had a moment to focus. It's simple, young and inexperienced mind now able to focus its attention could project its powerful mind Quickly locating not only the Dark Templar but Kerrigan and Nova as well.
"More intruders. Will kill."
The Hybrid followed the weak traces of the Protoss to the research lab but as it ripped through the wall the traces of the two Protoss disappeared a moment before reappearing on to a upper level. Growling in frustration the Hybrid focused its attention upwards and extended its tentacles to the ceiling ripping a hole through meters of metal and rock until creating a hole large enough for it to pass through. With a mighty leap the lumbering beast vaulted its way up to the level above. More chaos and panic ensued as the few people up there ran at first sight of it. Pulling it's self up to its feet and now crouching a little the Hybrid stomped its way down smaller hallway towards the enemies it was programmed and created to kill.
"Well where is he!" Shouted Kerrigan as she stomped on Dukes hand.
Duke cried in pain as his bones were pulverized.
He knew exactly what Kerrigan would do to him. And since Arcturus wasn't here She was something to be more afraid of.
"I don't know. The Moebius Core keeps their facilities compartmentalized. Only Narud and maybe Mengsk knows where they all are."
Kerrigan scoffed.
"I all ready suspected that. Now then Your a useful source of intel Duke. Im sure you know something. Materials have to flow somewhere other wise the main Moebius facilities couldn't function."
"I uh?" Duke struggled to think of something.
Part of his mind was imagining Kerrigan picking his body apart piece by piece until he was just a head and sack of organs. Then infesting him into a spider headed freak that she would torture by pulling his legs off and gouging out his eyes only to let them regenerate to do it all over again.
Kerrigan broke into a hysterical sadistic laughter actually frightening the two Moebius security officers and making Nova feel a little uncomfortable.
"That's a active imagination Duke." said Kerrigan having read His mind. "But I can do worse you know. Now where does this facility ship it little creations?"
"Uh I don't know I already told you," Duke pleaded as he imagined Kerrigan doing even worse to him then before. But in his minds panic he remembered something. "A, a transport will be arriving soon. It was meant to get the latest Hybrid and move it like the others. Where ever its going im sure that's where Mengsk is or at least maybe!"
Kerrigan looked at the pleading pitiful Duke like a snooty rich person would look at a pitiful homeless bum laying by the side of the street.
"Your pathetic Duke. You got no back bone. First you betray the Confederacy just to live and then you betray me and the people of Tarsonis and now Mengsk. Your not worth killing." She said coldly, no anger or even pity in her voice.
Kerrigan and Nova disarmed and tied Duke and his lackeys up leaving them in a closet down the hall from the security room. As they went to meat up with the Dark Templar the facility shook again followed by more screaming. Facility personal passed them running from what was most definitely the Hybrid given the roaring and foot falls shaking the floor.
"Kerrigan." greeted Zeratul blinking in from out of know where with Zerion right behind him.
"Zeratul? Did you get any intel?" asked Kerrigan.
"Yes but..." Zeratul started.
The floor shook as the Hybrid stomped around the corner a hundred meters away. It turned spotting it's targets all gathered.
"Intruders. Die!" the Hybrid roared psionically as it charged at them.
"No time to explain, we run or fight." Shouted Kerrigan as the beast closed in on them.
"We fight!" Nova shouted standing her ground pointing her lance at the Hybrid.
She was inexperienced in using this weapon but from the manual in the locker she knew the basic properties and function of the lance. It focused and boosted psionic energies while producing it's own supporting energies. Aiming for center of mass Nova poured her own powers into the lance charging it up and fired. The bio-lance launched a highly focused blast of energy slamming into the Hybrids chest and carving a basketball sized hole in it's armor. The force was even enough to make the Hybrid stop from the impact.
"Impressive. I was wondering how powerful that thing was." said Kerrigan.
Kerrigan and the Dark Templar shared a glance and nodded knowingly at each other. Each understanding without a spoken word. Raising her rifle Kerrigan put two pinpoint canister shots into the hole Nova had blasted into the Hybrids chest. Roaring the beast resumed its charge and with just two steps raised a clawed arm to strike. Zerion and Zeratul both blinked away as Nova ducked under the strike while Kerrigan jumped back just out of reach. The former queen of blades put three more shots into the beats chest wound. Just then both of the Dark Templar reappeared behind the Hybrid striking at the tentacles on it's back.
The Hybrid distracted by the simultaneous attacks now had a opening in its defenses. Nova was given a chance to get out of the beasts melee range and charge up another shot. The Hybrid flexed its tentacles knocking Zeratul and Zerion back. But the two persisted blinking right below the Hybrid again, striking at its vulnerable underside. Roaring in pure pain as it blood flowed for the first time the Hybrid twisted its body, slashing at the Dark Templar. They blinked away avoiding the slashing claws and yet again reappearing above the Hybrid. Again they struck at its armored carapace doing little damage but distracting it. Kerrigan kept shooting unloading two hole clips into the beasts wounded chest all the while. She was horrified at how tough the beast was considering the rounds of her C-10 rifle could kill siege tanks by piercing their armor and exploding inside.
But this Hybrid was tanking the rounds like easily. Almost as if its body was reinforced by it's own psionic energy. Kerrigan could do something like that ever since she devoured a High Templar. But has had little time to train with it. But this Hybrid seems to intuitively do it on a even greater degree on instinct.
"Shit this isn't working." Kerrigan shouted in frustration. Something she has rarely felt.
At that moment Nova finished charging up another shot. Zeratul and Zerion blinked off the Hybrid as it reached up to strike at them. In that moment Nova fired.
"Danger!"
The Hybrid turned it's attention to Nova just as the beam shot from the bio-lance, striking the Hybrid in the center mass. Roaring in pain the Hybrid brought its four arms up blocking the majority of the damage time. Kerrigan whistled seeing the scared arms and smoking chest. One of the arms were barely attached and the others were heavily damaged.
"Well, since it works." Kerrigan stated pulling her own lance from off her back.
The Hybrid roared in anger as it was lifted off the ground by Kerrigan's telekinesis. It leered at the Terran lifting it, noticing the lance she was holding. It struggled to break free of the invisible force holding it aloft but just then both Dark Templar struck again slashing at its vulnerable under side and head. Zeratul blinked on top its head plunging his warp blade into the Hybrids eye. In a intense moment of pain the beast swatted Zeratul away. He landed against the wall at considerable speed dropping to the floor. Zerion kept attacking cutting grooves into the Hybrids damaged arms then blinking away only to strike again and again.
"Need a hand?" Asked Nova stepping beside Kerrigan.
"By all means." She replied.
Both Kerrigan and Nova focused their telekinetic power on to holding the hybrid and charging up their bio-lances. While Zeratul stood back up a little worse for wear but nothing broken He saw the Hybrid struggle all the more trying to break free of the invisible force keeping it suspended in the air. But then the Beast had a moment of intelligence as it used its tentacles to rip off one of its own wounded arms and threw it at Kerrigan and Nova. The two were forced to break their concentration to jump out the way of the car sized projectile as it slammed into the floor.
"Damn! so close." Cursed Kerrigan landing a few meters away.
"Is you lance still charged?" asked Nova.
"Yeah."
The two stood back up aiming their lances at the Hybrid. The beast stood up roaring as it charged. Its tentacles ripped into the walls tearing pieces of metal out and throwing them at Nova and Kerrigan, forcing them to jump out of the way or blast the projectiles, forcing them to waste the energy they charged up. Seeing a opening in the Hybrids focus Zerion blinked right in front of the Hybrids face and like Zeratul before plunged his warp blade into the Hybrids remaining eye. Blinking away Zerion went to Zeratuls side.
"Are you unharmed?"
Zeratul nodded. "Im not so brittle young one." Zeratul replied as the Hybrid thrashed in pain and blindness. The distraction was enough for Kerrigan and Nova to aim and finish charging up for a killing attack. They fired together sending twin streams of focused psionic energy slamming into the Hybrids chest wound. Cracks of light splintered across the Hybrids chest as the beams bored through its defenses, shooting out through its back and destroying the tentacles leaving a gaping hole in the torso.
"Pain. Death?"
At the Hybrids last simple projected thoughts, Zeratul, Kerrigan, Nova and Zerion watched as the beast fell dead.
"That was a tough son of a bitch." Exclaimed Nova as she slumped to her ass on the cold metal hallway.
Kerrigan kneeled breathing deeply to recover from exhausting so much of her power in a short amount of time. The lances were indeed powerful and could bore through the Hybrids psionic defenses, but they took an enormous amount of energy to do so.
Zeratul and Zerion joined the two as they took a breather.
"These new weapons of Ellen's are indeed powerful. Im glad you had them." Zeratul admitted reluctantly.
Kerrigan sensed a surprising combination of emotions from Zeratul. Gladness mixed with jealousy and surprise.
Kerrigan chuckled. "Well their weird to use but worth the effort. Too bad they still look gross though."
Nova laughed at Kerrigan's joke.
"Perhaps we should put in a request to the phase smiths to manufacture a weapon of similar power? Surly a Protoss version would look more elegant" Zerion stated in all seriousness.
Zeratul turned to Zerion. A look and feelings of surprise came over the Prelate. For as long as they have existed few Protoss warriors have ever used a projectile weapon. Seen as dishonorable to the warrior cultures of the Nerazim, Tal'darim and Khala protoss who have preferred melee combat with the exception of the use of psionic abilities. And as such the thought making and using ranged weapons for personal combat seems a personal dishonor. But as Zeratul glanced at the Hybrids slowly dissolving corpse He was reminded of the fact that a new era was dawning. A era that would require the Protoss as a whole to grow, change and evolve.
Zeratul turned his gaze back to Zerion.
"Perhaps. When we return to Shakuras we will need to personally speak of this with the Daelaam council. Of both this Hybrid abomination and of creating new weapons to slay them where ever they appear."
After killing the Hybrid Kerrigan took all the facilities staff hostage placing them in the Behemoth under the guard of her Zerg. She and others then waited for the Transport Duke said would arrive soon. Several hours passed. Nova and Kerrigan spent the time going over the data Zeratul and Zerion obtained while the two Dark Templar meditated and waited. After several more hours the stations scanners picked up a ship in coming.
Walking over to the stations primary controls Kerrigan brought up the scan display of the ship. It was registered as a Moebius transport ship but was a Behemoth class cruiser.
"Well shit!" Kerrigan cursed.
"Did they make us?" Nova asked watching as the ship drew closer.
"Their not powering up weapons," replied Kerrigan. "But They may be planning on sending in ground forces if they are on to us."
"Facility 88-28 respond. Were here for the pick up of the product." the ship radioed in.
Kerrigan activated the stations coms, and after having learned all about the Mobius security protocol she knew exactly how she needed to reply.
"Hammer shark. This is facility 88-28." Kerrigan responded altering her voice to match the previous com officers. "Transport 7-77, you are on course to dock with us."
Holding her breath Kerrigan watched the screen as security identification codes from the ship appeared. And followed Moebius protocol.
"Transport 7-77 codes confirmed. Your clear to dock."
"Thanks facility 88-28" the ship replied.
The minutes passed as the ship approached the station and slowed down as it entered the giant hollowed out hanger. Docking clamps locked into the ship and the docking umbilical attached to the side of the ship.
"Their in." Kerrigan projected.
"We'll take care of the bridge crew," Zeratul replied.
He and Zerion blinked on to the ships bridge, quickly in capacitating the captain and crew. While below several marine squads exited the ship and guarding the entrance. One of the Moebius marine captains looked around at the empty docking bay.
"Shouldn't they be here already?"
"Maybe their just late. Those Hybrids can be dangerous when not properly trained." said another Moebius marine.
Just then two SCV's rounded the distant corner carrying a large hybrid container.
"There see." The first moebius marine stated.
The second moebius marine looked around the two SCV's wondering where their marine escorts were.
"Where is your escorts? Your supposed to have at least two squads of marines as guards during transport?"
"Oh that. We'll their dead."
"What?" the Moebius marine captain exclaimed.
A moment later the SCV's doors exploded open and both Nova and Kerrigan leaped out quickly assaulting the marines. The battle lasted mere moments before the marines were disabled and held at lance point. Moments later a group of Kerrigan's Hydralisk's showed up and took custody of the marines. More Zerg under Kerrigan's control flooded into the ship killing security personal and securing any non-combatants.
"The ship is secure." said Kerrigan steeping onto the bridge.
Zeratul and Zerion had the bridge crew tied up in the middle of the room.
"Then we are done here are we not." said Zerion.
"Yeah. I'll just send the message to our allies and then we can look over where this ship was heading to. "
"What the hell is a infested freak doing working with Protoss?" asked a confrontational Moebius crew mate.
"Shut up your going to get us killed!" warned another bridge officer.
"It's just odd. I mean didn't the Overmind kill millions if not billions of them? And now it seems like their all buddy buddy?"
A shot from Kerrigan's bio-lance melted a hole out from the deck plating at the Mans feet.
"If your going to talk be useful about it." Kerrigan stated coldly. She approached them. "Now since your all so chatty why don't you tell me where you were going to transport the Hybrid?"
Kerrigan stood over the bridge crew eyeing them intently. The bridge crew all shared glances between each other and the captain.
"Revanscar. We were told to move the new Hybrid to a place called Revanscar. It's in the ships navigation data." explained the Captain.
"Well well good for you, you all get to live." said Kerrigan in a chipper tone.
Several Hydralisk entered the bridge and escorted the bridge crew off the ship and on to the Behemoth.
"Should we contact the Dominion now?" asked Nova.
"We do have more then enough information now. The Daelaam council should be made aware of our findings." stated Zerion.
"I guess your right. I would prefer to go to this Revanscar to find out more but if there's more of those Hybrids their I don't think we can survive without back up." admitted Kerrigan.
"Then shall we depart for Shakuras." Zeratul suggested.
"Yeah." Kerrigan agreed. "We can take this ship and use it and the personal of the facility as evidence against the Moebius foundation and Umojas connections and illegal experiments."
"Yeah. We can take this ship and use it and the personal of the facility as evidence against the Moebius foundation and Umojas connections and illegal experiments." Kerrigan's words repeated on a display screen.
A quantum entangled communication system allowed the real time data to be fed directly to the chambers of the Umojan Ruling Council. Many of the politicians quickly started arguing over what to do while others were arguing back about a costly and wasted investment in that facility while others were more concerned about the political fall out of their experiments being made public to the Protoss empire and the recent newcomer that was the Azure swarm. Minister Jorgensen leader of the Council sighed as the old fogies argued.
"And this is why democracy doesn't work," He mumbled under his breath.
Jorgensen looked at his watch seeing that it was nearly time for his plan to be put into motion. He had at first been quit reluctant to ally with the Moebius foundation and it's leader Narud. But after they produced a infested Terran who retained their mind and all the power of a Zerg Jorgenson's interest was peeked. Imagine if this process could be used to enhance normal soldiers. The Umojan military would become all the more powerful. Something needed for the Protectorate to remain strong and independent from its mother home Earth and its submissive colonies.
Jorgensen knew all to well that Earth dealt fairly but at the same time would make Umoja just another of its many colonies under the UNSC. Or to be accurate the United systems, National, Security, Command. Which was a massive military that patrolled and protected the whole of Terran space in the galaxy. And also enforced the Governments policies on rebellious worlds. More then a few were thinking of seceding from the UNSC as a whole and going independent.
Jorgensen thanks to the Moebius foundation and by extension Narud knew all about the political happenings in the wider galaxy in regards to Terrans. And it was thanks to Narud that Jorgensen's plan was entering its final stages. There was just as many problems in democracy as in any political system. But when push came to shove nations with a single competent ruler always proved more resilient and long lasting. The relatively short existence of the united states proved that as its political system collapsed in only a few centuries from outside threats and internal incompetence and corruption. Where as the Roman empire lasted for well over 1000 years even with many lack luster emperors.
Even though the Roman empire fell it lasted far longer. But ultimately corruption and incompetence are always the reason a large and great nations and empires fall. And always because the great and competent leaders die of old age, war or betrayal. But what if those problems could be eliminated. The Zerg are for all accounts biologically immortal and can maintain a massive army of absolute loyal soldiers through their hive mind. And the Moebius foundation has proven that they can and have mastered control over Zerg and have the ability to create superior life forms known as Hybrids. All that research was pushed into creating the Hybrids which were the culmination of many centuries of research by Naruds family. All of them devoted to bettering humanity in the long run.
At least that's what Narud told Jorgensen.
"Im sorry everyone I need a bathroom break. Shall we recess for now and come back in a hour?" Jorgensen said, his voice booming through the large room through his microphone.
"Very well minister Jorgensen. We'll recess for a hour." agreed a older council member.
Jorgensen left the council chambers and headed to the nearest bathroom, checking his watch as he walked down the hall. He ducked into the bathroom walking to the farthest stall in back and sat down locking the door. He then concentrated using the bioengineered-Zerg -parasite in his head to contact his accomplice.
"Ok partner im in position. Begin the attack."
In the void space between star systems a fleet of Zerg Behemoths and Leviathans of the same type as Azure-swarms waited for the signal.
Sitting in his personal Leviathan on a throne of hardened Creep a Evolved Arcturus mengsk opened his glowing eyes as the message reached his mind. He now looked more like a male version of the queen of blades except with the glowing lines tracing across his body and bladed tentacles that make him resemble a Hybrid.
"Finally." Arcturus said to him self, and gave the psionic signal to his fleet.
From its Leviathan Arcturues second in command heeded the order.
"Yes master," Cerebrate Aegis answered submissively.
Aegis commanded a dozen Behemoths to break off from the main fleet and travel to Umoja. The Cerebrate once the protector of Kerrigan and Nova during their transformation into Zerg and then their brood commander now served Arcturus. It lead a it's force against the capital world of Umoja. All twelve Behemoths and the one Leviathan entered warp space and cruised for a mere ten minutes. Then with surprise of a thunder clap they all exited warp space several hundred miles right over the main Umoja defense platform. A space station dedicated to the protection of the world and armed to the teeth with the most cutting edge weapons and sensor systems the Protectorate could create.
Auto defense systems activated pivoting turrets up words at the approaching unknown fleet.
"What the hell's going on?" General Irons roared as the warning alarm blared in his ear.
His officer staff typed along the display screens getting the data from the sensors on screen. The wall display screens snapped to images of a dozen organic living ships baring right on top of them.
"By the maker, Zerg!" the general roared in a mix of fear confusion and surprise.
But being a professional and a seasoned leader He quickly got his emotions in check.
"Deploy the drones and fire the defense systems!" He roared.
His officers obeyed, their fingers dancing across their controls. All across the platform hundreds of turrets large and small roared to life. Where roaring noise would have been, flashing Lights and blinding beams of particle projectors erupted from across the defense station as laser and particle turrets fired on the approaching Zerg forces. Clouds of Mutalisk, flew into the paths of the energy weapons defusing their energy and weakening the damage done to the Behemoths and Leviathan. While waves of Scourges weaved between the Mutalisk and dodged the weapons fire as they accelerated towards the defense platform.
Over a hundred Umojan drone Wraith fighters launched from the edges of the space platform in perfect formations along with several dozen Raven drones. The Raven quickly deployed trios of PDD's. The Wraiths and PDD's fired at the incoming Scourges destroying them by the dozen every second. But there were always more as they seemed to stream out from the Behemoths and the single Leviathan endlessly. Several swarms of Mutalisk managed to flank the main battle area and struck the stations sides. Defense turrets were redirected at them along with Wraith drones. But in that moment hordes of reserve Scourges and Guardians attached to the Behemoths and Leviathan undersides deployed. The new force of Scourges accelerated at the defense turrets in defused formations while the Guardians fired a continues stream of heavy bombardments. It only took minutes before the main defenses started to fall. First one turret then two then three and then four and then ten. One by one a hole was opening in the defense platforms own protective screen. A opening in which hundreds of bio-drop pods were launched through.
Only twenty minutes after combat begun the Zerg had a beach head on the orbital platform. Hydralisk and Zerglings clawed through the stations hull into the inner structure. Meanwhile the number of weapons turrets fell dramatically allowing the wounded but alive Zerg fleet to close into close proximity and begin plunging their Nydus tendrils into the structure and pour even more Zerg into the station. By then most of the Ravens and their PDD's were destroyed along with half of the Wraith drones. Thousands of corpses both of metal and flesh drifted around the station.
General Irons cursed as his last marine security team was killed in a Zergling rush from three directions. A moment later he heard clawing and thumping at the command rooms armored bulkhead door, as the hordes of alien beasts chipped away at the last thing keeping them from the juicy meat inside.
"This is General Irons to Umoja ground command. The defense platform has fallen. We cannot hold and regrettably the orbital defense station will be taken over by a Zerg fleet soon. Suggest you nuke the defense platform at once."
Having sent his last transmission the general joined his command staff at the make shift barricade of tables and chairs. Moments later the first slash cut through the metal door letting in the Zergs animalistic roaring and shrieking from the other side. Then more gaps started opening up as the bodies of the creatures became more visible through the holes they were cutting into the metal door.
"Hold" The general ordered keeping his mens discipline.
Moments later General Irons saw a Zergling push it's head through a hole. His eyes met the beasts and for a moment they stared at each other. The general aimed his HE-pistol at the creature and pulled the trigger blowing a hole into the eye socket and killing the beast. The corpse was pulled back by out of the way by its fellow monsters and soon replaced by another. A beep from the coms station caught Irons attention for a moment. And in the moment the general smiled.
"Fire!" Irons ordered.
As Irons and his command staff fired into the hordes of Zerg beginning to pour through the now shredded door the message on the com station read loud and clear.
[Message received General Irons. Missiles launched. Have a honorable death. We salute you.]
The Behemoths and Leviathan disengaged from the planetary defense platform flying a distance away. Hundreds of miles below several large missiles flew at the station at over mach-9 velocity. They quickly impacted the defense platforms under belly and detonated. In a single burst of light and heat the defense platform vanished leaving little but tiny debris floating through the planets orbit. Now with the main obstacle removed Aegis directed his fleet to the planet below.
At Skygeirr station Emil Narud watched the display screen in his private office as the zerg cerebrate he had captured on red stone 3 lead his fleet into the atmosphere of Umoja.
"All's going as we have planned master."
"Yes it is." Amon replied.
From his throne in the ancient Xel'naga temple below Skygeirr Amon watched as his plans unfolded.
"Soon you shall be mine. Child of the Forerunner. And you will be the key that will lead me to that accursed Ark."
-Chapter End-