Alec closed down his marine helmet as a gust of wind carried the hot desert
sand onto his face. Blinking the sand out of his eyes, he adjusted his
weapon again and prepared to exit the hangar through the large double doors
at the end. The hanger was of a reasonable size, it had grimy metal tiling
and bright lights hanging from the ceiling.
Inside was his squadron; each member getting into their specialized vehicle and preparing to move to Aldurad.City of the sand as it was called by the former Protoss colonizers, it had been recently won by the Terran army and some forces were sent to provide additional defenses for Aldurad at least until the city was well fortified. There were rumors of a Zerg army moving nearby but no colonies have been attacked recently so all was progressing as planned.
Dukan Flexi climbed into his siege tank, and the hanger began to shake as the powerful machine powered up. James Mirkan hurriedly climbed into the Goliath and put on his special gas mask, he nodded at Alec to show that he was ready and sat back in his seat awaiting orders. As for Mathew he managed to activate the Vulture but was shivering in his seat, he gave Alec a nervous thumbs up and rocked back and forth steadily.
"All right gentlemen, lets get ready. We have landed now in the middle of Aldurad; incase you haven't been briefed earlier it is a new colony that we recently captured from the Protoss. It lies at the base of a mountain which means our backs are covered.There are twelve other squadrons here that will be spread out around the base. All we have to do is go to the front of the colony where it is most vulnerable to attack, camp there for a week and then go back home. Simple and quick, we have been told of a large Zerg force moving in this direction but unless we see any hostile activity there isn't anything to worry about. Clear?" After speaking Alec looked around and was not surprised to find Mathew raising his hand.
"Yes?" said Alec in an impatient tone.
"What about the areas near the mountain aren't we susceptible to an attack from the back?".
"Yes but that has been prepared for, the twelve squadrons are separated, ten defending the front two defending the area near the mountain. Anything else?".
"No, sir".
"Good, let's haul ass" said Alec with a grin.
They exited the dropship and proceeded north bound to the gates of Aldurad. "Why they bothered to capture this place is beyond me" thought Alec to himself and he looked around the grim colony, there were ruins of the former Protoss buildings and some new buildings set up by the Terrans, mostly white buildings, the city was surrounded by walls on all sides, but most of the walls were cracked and broken from the Terran assault.
The city was dusty and of a small size , thus most of the dropships had to land outside the colony. "One hundred units, humph, the confederacy must not be planning to control this place for long if rumors of a Zerg force are true." After a short walk along the dusty roads (or at least Alec assumed they roads since they were the least sandy surface to walk on) they made it to a white gate with two metallic doors closing off the city to the rest of the planet. Alec typed in the password in the keypad beside the gate to open it and stepped outside. Alec squinted in an effort to see in the distance if there was anything of importance near the colony and was shocked to discover that there was nothing more than some sand dunes and rocks, and the Terrans that were setting up missile towers and bunkers.. " Why the hell would they bring us to this wasteland to defend a outpost that's little more than an outhouse!" thought Alec to himself angrily .
Alec sat down on the flattest rock he could find and opened up his helmet, running his fingers through is matted graying hair. He looked up as the defenses were being set up , James and Dukan were talking together outside their vehicles while Matthew was telling jokes to other young Vulture pilots.Alec found himself alone more often these days, ever since Edward Buke went off to commandeer the Battlecruiser fleet Alec found it pointless to get attached to anyone. "The less you have the less you lose" said Alec to himself remembering his old teacher back in high school , it seemed to be centuries ago.
"Alec! Hey over here" shouted a distant voice, Alec stood up and turned around to find the team medic Rebecca Owen running towards him waving.
"Sorry I'm late, engine trouble. We overheated over there past those hills" she said pointing vaguely to the south at some boulders and sand dunes. "Did I miss anything yet?".
"Nope- not yet we. well.. they are setting up the defenses for the base".
Rebecca giggled and said with a smile "Why aren't you helping them? Couldn't be bothered?" She said grinning and placing her hands on her hips.
"Actually I was waiting for you to show up, why were we sent here anyway?".
"I don't I heard something about this base being important to the confederates, winning the Zerg, and stuff like that but that's about it." She shrugged and continued " I going to take a tour of this base and then maybe help set up, see you later Alec.".
"Yea sure see you later Rebecca" said Alec glumly as he saluted her and walked away to aid in the building of a missile turret.
Inside was his squadron; each member getting into their specialized vehicle and preparing to move to Aldurad.City of the sand as it was called by the former Protoss colonizers, it had been recently won by the Terran army and some forces were sent to provide additional defenses for Aldurad at least until the city was well fortified. There were rumors of a Zerg army moving nearby but no colonies have been attacked recently so all was progressing as planned.
Dukan Flexi climbed into his siege tank, and the hanger began to shake as the powerful machine powered up. James Mirkan hurriedly climbed into the Goliath and put on his special gas mask, he nodded at Alec to show that he was ready and sat back in his seat awaiting orders. As for Mathew he managed to activate the Vulture but was shivering in his seat, he gave Alec a nervous thumbs up and rocked back and forth steadily.
"All right gentlemen, lets get ready. We have landed now in the middle of Aldurad; incase you haven't been briefed earlier it is a new colony that we recently captured from the Protoss. It lies at the base of a mountain which means our backs are covered.There are twelve other squadrons here that will be spread out around the base. All we have to do is go to the front of the colony where it is most vulnerable to attack, camp there for a week and then go back home. Simple and quick, we have been told of a large Zerg force moving in this direction but unless we see any hostile activity there isn't anything to worry about. Clear?" After speaking Alec looked around and was not surprised to find Mathew raising his hand.
"Yes?" said Alec in an impatient tone.
"What about the areas near the mountain aren't we susceptible to an attack from the back?".
"Yes but that has been prepared for, the twelve squadrons are separated, ten defending the front two defending the area near the mountain. Anything else?".
"No, sir".
"Good, let's haul ass" said Alec with a grin.
They exited the dropship and proceeded north bound to the gates of Aldurad. "Why they bothered to capture this place is beyond me" thought Alec to himself and he looked around the grim colony, there were ruins of the former Protoss buildings and some new buildings set up by the Terrans, mostly white buildings, the city was surrounded by walls on all sides, but most of the walls were cracked and broken from the Terran assault.
The city was dusty and of a small size , thus most of the dropships had to land outside the colony. "One hundred units, humph, the confederacy must not be planning to control this place for long if rumors of a Zerg force are true." After a short walk along the dusty roads (or at least Alec assumed they roads since they were the least sandy surface to walk on) they made it to a white gate with two metallic doors closing off the city to the rest of the planet. Alec typed in the password in the keypad beside the gate to open it and stepped outside. Alec squinted in an effort to see in the distance if there was anything of importance near the colony and was shocked to discover that there was nothing more than some sand dunes and rocks, and the Terrans that were setting up missile towers and bunkers.. " Why the hell would they bring us to this wasteland to defend a outpost that's little more than an outhouse!" thought Alec to himself angrily .
Alec sat down on the flattest rock he could find and opened up his helmet, running his fingers through is matted graying hair. He looked up as the defenses were being set up , James and Dukan were talking together outside their vehicles while Matthew was telling jokes to other young Vulture pilots.Alec found himself alone more often these days, ever since Edward Buke went off to commandeer the Battlecruiser fleet Alec found it pointless to get attached to anyone. "The less you have the less you lose" said Alec to himself remembering his old teacher back in high school , it seemed to be centuries ago.
"Alec! Hey over here" shouted a distant voice, Alec stood up and turned around to find the team medic Rebecca Owen running towards him waving.
"Sorry I'm late, engine trouble. We overheated over there past those hills" she said pointing vaguely to the south at some boulders and sand dunes. "Did I miss anything yet?".
"Nope- not yet we. well.. they are setting up the defenses for the base".
Rebecca giggled and said with a smile "Why aren't you helping them? Couldn't be bothered?" She said grinning and placing her hands on her hips.
"Actually I was waiting for you to show up, why were we sent here anyway?".
"I don't I heard something about this base being important to the confederates, winning the Zerg, and stuff like that but that's about it." She shrugged and continued " I going to take a tour of this base and then maybe help set up, see you later Alec.".
"Yea sure see you later Rebecca" said Alec glumly as he saluted her and walked away to aid in the building of a missile turret.