A/n, Just to clear anyone's thoughts about why nova and Adrian got together quickly I thought I'd clear some things up. Firstly Nova is not the same this is more the original Nova terra that was more or less destroyed when her memory got wiped. Secondly Adrian and Nova are telepathic hence their relationship started rather quickly. Add to that the things Adrian went through during his youth it lead to him needing a partner who could understand and help him heal emotionally he in turn helps the Original Nova adjust to her life. In short terms Nova has been suck in her own mind watching her body be controlled by a shadow of her. Just to put that out there. Now I would like to thank warchief for providing feedback. And sorry my best friend is coming back from Toronto for a visit and it may put some of my fics on hold.

Attack of the Ghosts

It was their first mission as ghosts. Adrian and Nova had given them a rundown of their goals. Get in free the prisoners and get out. It was their first field mission. They would be lying if they said they weren't nervous.

Adrian had checked his rifle ten times. Nova was doing the same. The two ghosts were looking at their trainees. This was their test. They had to do this.

"Alright raiders this is how this is going to go. We are gonna sneak in free the prisoners and get the fuck outa here. You are Ghosts now you can do this. Raiders Roll!"

"Raiders Roll!"

Nova smiled at how the ghosts had perked up. They were a team now and this was going to be fun.

They had spilt up to cover more ground. Three teams, team 1 would be releasing the prisoners, team 2 would be getting ships ready for lift off, and team 3 would be taking care of the guards and other defenses. Nova and Adrian were with team.

The mission was going well which Adrian was happy about. The guards were actually pretty lazy. It was almost as if a higher power had somehow set the mission on easy. Adrian put a round through some sadistic bastards head. 'A guy with a mind like that has no business being a guard.'

'Well he isn't anymore.'

'How we doing?'

Nova moved through the air like an angel. Adrian had to admit he was very lucky to meet a girl like her. 'Adrian? Could you focus please?'

'Sorry Nova can't help myself. You're so beautiful.'

'Thank you but we have a mission to do.'

'Yes ma'am ready on your signal.'

Within the hour New Folsom was destroyed and all the free thinkers Mengsk had thrown in there were free. Scientists, artists, politicians, and soldiers. The Raiders were gonna get some more new blood. Any Specters still in the prison were now dead. Thanks to Adrian and Nova. Matt and Jim were waiting on the bridge looking out at the fleet.

Jim had the biggest smile on his face. "Fifty years and no one has ever escaped from New Folsom. But we broke it open in an afternoon. You two did great work."

Nova and Adrian smiled. "Wasn't just us Jim I'd say our Ghosts got the job done."

Nova reached for Adrian's hand. "And without any casualties on our side. I think that's a good day." She kissed Adrian on the cheek.

"I can hardly believe we pulled it off." Matt says as we opens a list of all the Prisoners they released.

Adrian sighed. "It's a start Matt but it only gets us so far."

"Don't you see? We just released every scientist, philosopher and free thinker that ever challenged Mengsk's rule. That was our real victory today."

"Matt I'm not saying this wasn't a victory. It is a major victory. But we aren't done yet."

Jim opened his flask. "Well I say it's a good time to celebrate." He took a sip.

The Raiders had spent some time celebrating but soon got back to work. Nova was being praised along with Adrian and their Ghosts.

Nova and Adrian went to her room for the night just enjoying each other's company and beginning to explore each other's bodies. Nova and Adrian had never felt so good. They weren't ready to go all the way but they were getting there.

The next morning they were looking out the window getting all cozy in one of the chairs. Matt was looking over the map. While Jim was in his chair.

"I've been looking for an encryption expert so we can access the adjutant we recovered. No luck so far."

"Colonel Orlan at Deadman's Port can crack anything... Haven't been back there in awhile. Say, didn't you end up gettin' married last time we were there?" Jim asked smiling and Adrian laughed a little.

"I told you before - If I knew what the prize was, I never woulda' joined that card game!"

Adrian laughed. "Matt I tried to warn you. But nooo you didn't listen."

"There's just something about a lovers' reunion that chokes me up."

"Me too" Alex and Jim laughed. Matt somewhat gritted his teeth as he pulled up their Intel on Deadman's Port.

"Colonel Orlan is an expert in Confederate code decryption. If our intel's right, he should still be based at the merc-haven at Deadman's Port. He's not very trustworthy, but he's our best bet of breaking that encryption."

Nova's head turned away from Adrian for a moment. "Isn't Deadman's port a little risky?"

Jim smirked. "Well we'll just have to be on our toes."

A half a day later they were waiting for Colonel Orlan to Finnish his work.

Matt was looking a little nervous. "Deadman's Port. It's risky just waiting here with all these mercenaries around. Colonel Orlan's sure taking his time decrypting that adjutant for us."

Adrian and Nova had already geared up in case of trouble.

Jim nodded. "Yeah, I'm getting a bad feeling about this."

The Mission Adjutant had opened a comm window. "Incoming transmission. Mira Han Alias: Mira Horner." At which Matt stepped to where he couldn't be seen on screen. "Mercenary Leader, Death sentence in 12 systems."

Mira came up onto the screen. "James. Orlan decrypted your adjutant but he's planning to sell it to the Dominion. Must have been something exciting in there! He wants me to keep you off his back until they arrive."

"That's nice, Mira, but why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I like you and Matthew better than him, of course! Match Orlan's offer and I'll help you take him out instead. He's paying in minerals, so I'll give you the same deal."

"Done. Always a pleasure, Mira."

"Don't take too long now, if Orlan comes up with the goods first I'll have to side with him. Oh and, um, say hello to Matthew for me; ask him why he never calls." She Laughs While Matt makes an urgent "Don't tell her I'm here" wave of his hand.

Mira closes the window and Matt steps beside Jim.

"Think she'll help Orlan sir?"

Jim looks at him. "She's a mercenary. She'll help whoever pays the most."

Adrian looked at them loading his rifle. "Then we'll just have to make sure that's us"

Nova smiled. "We'll make sure the Colonel doesn't have the man power to pay up."

They were on the ground in minutes.

"Alright boys, we've got a deal with Mira Han! Now let's get to work and get that adjutant back! Matt what are we looking for?"

"Pirates have been stripping down ships here for years, it should be pretty easy to collect enough scrap to pay Mira off. Those shredders are constantly producing scrap we can salvage. We should post some troopers here to keep collecting it."

Mira came onto the comm. "I left a little present out here for you and Matthew. I never got to give it to him last time you boys were here!"

They went to the area Mira had highlighted. Tychus nearly jumped for joy. "Damn Jimmy, are those Vulture bikes?"

"Good eye, Tychus. We can use 'em to lay mines around our base to hold off Orlan. Hey Adrian Nova how are you two doing?"

"We're doing fine Jim." Nova reported as she blew up another of Orlan's bases. Adrian was clearing the area.

"Hey Jim I found a stockpile of scrap that would help speed this up."

"Good to hear."

Mira jumps on the comm again. "Huh, you've already got half the payment I asked for. You're a fast worker, Jim. Send me Matthew and we'll call it even."

Adrian laughed. 'I did try to warn him.' He mentally said to Nova.

After a few lucky finds have had more than enough to hire Mira. "Alright, Mira - we both know you're rippin' me off - but I'm gonna hire you anyway."

"My forces are yours, Jim. I'm so glad I got to side with you and Matthew!"

Orlan was furious. "Oh you scheming little - ! I'll show you what happens to double-dealing backstabbers. I got a little present heading your way."

Nova mentally sighed. 'He does know if gave us he's exact location?'

Adrian smirked. 'If he doesn't know now he'll find out real soon.'

"Nuclear launch detected."

Orlan's main base was in ruins and Adrian had his boot right on Orlan's chest. He looked at Jim.

"Alright! Alright! I surrender! Just take your damn adjutant already!" Adrian lifted his foot off Orlan. Jim walked up to him and punched him square in the face.

"I oughta do the universe a favor and put you down, Orlan. It's too bad I might need to hire you some day. Mira, do me a favor, keep him on ice."

"You got it, Raynor. I will keep the snake safe and sound for you. I will even do it for free!"

"Now let's get that adjutant back to the Hyperion and have ourselves a little chat."

"Matthew, perhaps you could stop by later? We have some personal business to... discuss."

The Raiders packed up quickly and returned home.

Back on the bridge. "Sir, the decrypted adjutant is back in the lab, and ready to go."

Jim wasted no time in heading to the lab. Adrian and Nova were close behind him.

"Well, old girl, we dug you up on Tarsonis. Were you online during the zerg attack? You remember anything about Arcturus Mengsk bein' involved?"

"Adjutant 23-46: Mengsk. Arcturus. Ex-Confederate officer. Civilian Prospector. Founder and leader of the Sons of Korhal terrorist group. Status. Criminal. Accessing intercepted transmission 0081 to 0086 Alpha." Her eyes change colour.

"This is Duke. The Emitters are secured and online."

"Who authorized the use of Psi Emitters?"

"I did, Lieutenant."

"What? The Confederates on Antiga were bad enough, but now you're going to use the zerg against an entire planet? This is insane."

"She's right, man. Think this through."

"I have thought it through, believe me. You all have your orders. Carry them out."

Some static plays for a few seconds then…

"I will not be stopped. Not by you or the Confederates or the protoss or anyone! I will rule this sector or see it burnt to ashes around me."

The adjutant sparked a little before going offline.

"Holy... I can't believe it! We can nail Mengsk to the wall with this!"

Dr. Hanson just stood there. "I can't believe it. That recording proves it's all true; Mengsk, Tarsonis, all of it... What will you do now?"

"Tell the people. Every man, woman and child in the Dominion needs to know what their beloved Emperor is capable of."

"The backlash will be awful. There'll be riots and uprisings everywhere... But that's just what you want, isn't it?"

"It's a start." With that Jim left the room which lead Ariel to turn to Nova.

"Umm Nova can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Sure did you need something?"

"Well I've been looking over your meds scans and…well there's something missing."

"Missing?"

"You remember some of the events your um shadow self was in control?"

"Yes most of it…oh that." Adrian knew what she was talking about he had seen her whole past.

"Is there anything you need to talk about?"

Nova sighed and sat down. "It was a few months after I got locked up in my head. The Dominion was trying to make sure it's ghosts had no emotional ties to other things. So they removed the ovaries of every female ghost. We were told it was for some special project but…I always hated how that thing let them take something so important to me away." Nova let some tears fall. Adrian was right by her side.

In the cantina around the same time.

Tychus and Jim were having a drink. "I gotta' know - just what was it went down between you and Mengsk? Seems you boys were tight once."

"I used to think Mengsk'd be a force for change. I fought alongside him right up until Tarsonis. That's where he crossed the line by using zerg to murder the whole planet. He left Kerrigan there to die 'cause she called him out on it. Turned out he was just as rotten as the Confederacy ever was."

"Damn. You sure know how to pick your friends, Jimmy."

A little Later on the bridge. "Oh come now Adrian. Surely Matthew is there?"

Adrian sighed. "Like I told you before Mira. He's busy."

"With what?"

"We are trying to over through a tyrant. That does take up a lot of time."

Mira sighed. "Well I guess that's true. Do give him my love will you. And do take care of that cute girlfriend of yours. Han out."

Adrian looked over the comm desk. "You can come out now Matt she's gone."

Matt got up off the ground and dusted himself off. "I wasn't hiding. I was just … checking the wires."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Well then I'll just get Mira back on the line…"

"No…I uh." Matt ran out of the room and Adrian laughed. 'You're so evil Adrian.' Nova thought while checking her gear.

'You love me.'

'Yes I do. Let me know when you're going to try that again I want to help.'

Matt walked into the cantina for a drink. He sat at the bar and turn to the UNN broadcast.

"Emperor, much has been written in regards to the tragic fall of Tarsonis. Tilosky's investigative documentary 'Imperial Dawn', even claims that you brought down the Confederate system by assuring Tarsonis' fall."

"I've heard these conspiracy theories before. But the fact remains the zerg invaded Tarsonis en masse and no force in the universe could have stopped their onslaught. It was a very...terrible day."

"Tilosky's film highlights the seeming...convenience of the aliens annihilating a corrupt government that you yourself spent a lifetime trying to overthrow."

"Millions died that day, and you speak to me of convenience? Yes, I strove against the evils of the Old Confederacy, but never with the object of personal gain! When I was called upon to take up the heavy burden of leadership I did so only to ensure our continuing survival as a species."

"Striking words from the Emperor himself. Up next, Zerglings allergic to lemon juice: old wives' tale, or new super-weapon in the fight for humanity?"

Matt scoffed at that. He wanted Arcturus gone. Hopefully Valerian would be better. He could only hope. He would need to plan for their next mission hopefully his contacts would be able to come up with something.

"Hey Matt there's a call for you." Matt froze it could be one of his contacts or it could be Mira. He sighed and opened the comm.

"Hello Matthew its soo good to talk to you."

"Hello Mira it's nice to see you."

"Oh you charmer. I had some info you might find useful. The Dominion is going to unveil some sort of new war machine called the Odin it's being tested on Valhalla, It's a top-secret Dominion research center hidden on a small moon orbiting Sigmaris Prime. You might be able to steal their new toy. Well I must be going Matthew so many things to do. Goodbye." She gave him a wink.

Matt took a drink and looked over the data. They were going to have to be quick.

Meanwhile Jim was in the Armory talking to Swann.

"Those goofy mercs are still using Vultures, can ya believe it? Damn things are death traps even when you ain't people shooting at ya."

"Careful now, Swann. My old Vulture saved my skin more times than I care to remember. I ain't gonna listen to you trash talk a classic piece of engineering like that."

"Classic?! I suppose you could call 'em that. 'Course most folks like a bike that don't explode on them when the repeller seals freeze up, or the fuel cells start leaking radioactive waste - but hey, who cares if it's a 'classic', right?"

"No one likes a smart-ass, Swann."

"I dunno cowboy people seem to like you."

Okay that's about it for this chapter I promise the next one will be longer but it might be a while before I can get anything out. Until then my readers.