Protoss Fall Part Four
"All units! Fall back!" Dan shouted through the comnlink. There was simply no chance of blocking the invasion off. The Terran and Protoss ships retreated back into the planet's atmosphere. The Zerg Overlords and Mutalisks were coming closer towards the planet. Dan began to wonder if this was a war that they could win.
" Incoming transmission from the Zerg Brood," the computer's voice
announced. " On screeen," Raynor commanded. The officer at the
computer nodded and patched through an image of Kerrigan on the Hyperion's
veiwscreen. " Kerrigan..what exactly do you want?" Raynor asked.
" Jim, I thought that you had already figured it out," Kerrigan said
mockingly. " Artanis' explanation wasn't exactly understandable. I'd like
to hear those words from your mouth,"
Raynor answered, shifting uneasily in his chair. " With the Uraj and Khalis
crystals, I am going to use the Xel'Naga Temple as a platform to infest the
entire universe. If you live to see it.. you will belong to me. Just like
Zeratul," Kerrigan said. "That's unless I kill you first," Raynor
pointed out. Kerrigan shook her head slowly. " Jim..still living in that
dream world of yours. Do you actually think that Zeratul would even let you
touch me?" Kerrigan laughed.
" We'll just wait and see.." Raynor said as he cut off the
transmission. Raynor turned to the comn officer," Hail the Protoss
Flagship."
Protoss Flagship Ganrithor II
Low orbit over Shakuras
" Raynor.." Artanis said slowly as he turned on the comnlink.
"Artanis, Kerrigan has us surrounded.." Raynor said. Artanis nodded.
His Scouts had already noted him of the massive Zerg Brood which was heading
towards them. " We have to defend the temple at all costs...," Raynor
said. "Agreed.. but Kerrigan can't use the temple without this,"
Artanis took out the Uraj Chrystal. Raynor nodded slowly with a slight look of
confidence. Raynor ended the transmission. "Sir! Sensors indicate that the
Zerg have destroyed 6 Protoss bases in the Northern hemisphere..Kerrigan has
opened up a large amount of hatcheries," a Scout said. Artanis was not
surprised, Kerrigan's strength was almost unmatchable. "They're heading
this way!" a zealot shouted through the comnlink. "What?!"
Artanis stood up. He didn't expect Kerrigan to make her move THIS early. He
checked his sensors..true enough 12 Zerg units were heading towards them.
"12 only?" Artanis whispered to himself. However something was
different..even if the life forms were unmistakebly Zerg... Artanis was
detecting Dark Templar energies radiating from them.
"DAMN! Kerrigan didn't just destroy the Protoss bases! She captured and
infested the Protss there too!" Artanis realized. Right now he wasn't
denying the possibility that Zeratul could be among the 12 Zerg that were
incoming.
12 silent figures slipped slowly through the 2 Zealots that guarded the entrance to the Protoss Flagship. "Artanis won't expect us to be here this quickly..." Zeratul whispered to himself. The security devices on the carrier might be hard to pass...but not for Dark Templars. Especially if the sensors mistake them for Artanis' bodyguards. Artanis always had at least 4 Dark Templars travelling with him. Slowly, Zeratul and the other Dark Templars slipped towards the bridge..
Artanis watched the sensor screen curiously...the 12 Dark Templars weren't
moving. Why would Kerrigan send 12 Dark Templars into their area if the Dark
Templar weren't going to do anything? " Artanis," a voice said through
the comn. At that moment a Dragoon appeared on the viewscreen. "
Report," Artanis commanded. " We've sent Observers and Zealots to
check the area out..but there wasn't anything there," the Dragoon said.
"What?" Artanis realized that Kerrigan had probably learned how to
trick their sensors. But that might mean.. Artanis stood up. 12 figures
decloaked behind him. Artanis stepped back when he realized that one of them
was..
" Zeratul..." Artanis whispered slowly. " Hand over the chrystal
if you know what's best for you..my queen hasn't asked me to kill you..yet,"
Zeratul said. Artanis took another step back. Suddenly 4 Dark Templar decloaked
behind Zeratul and the others. They charged forward and engaged the infested
ones. Zeratul and the others changed their attention towards the attackers.
Zeratul was the first one to counter the attack from one of the 4 Dark Templars.
He leaped back to avoid being hit by a forthcoming Warp Blade. Zeratul thrusted
his own weapon into the Dark Templar's stomach. The Dark Templar stepped back
and covered his wound, he wasn't done yet. The Dark Templar leaped forward in an
effort to knock Zeratul down. With ease, Zeratul simply sliced of the Dark
Templar's head with a single slice. Once Zeratul was done, the others were
finished too. Zeratul looked back towards the place where Artanis WAS standing.
"He's gone.." Zeratul whispered to himself. "Not quite!" a
voice shouted from the doorway. The 12 Dark Templars ran towards the source of
the voice.
"Psionic Storm!" Artanis shouted. Realizing what Artanis was trying to
do, Zeratul stepped back to avoid getting hit by the attack. The others weren't
so lucky. Zeratul watched as the others were evaporated into nothingness... .
" You're getting better...but you know that won't be enough.." Zeratul
turned towards the doorway. Down the dimly lighted hall, there stood Artanis.
Zeratul walked slowly towards Artanis to claim his prize. "Hand over the
chrystal.." Zeratul demanded. Artanis turned around and made his way to the
exit. He ran as fast as his feet could carry him. When he almost reached the
exit, he suddenly froze in his tracks. He realized that he couldn't move.
Furiously he struggled to break free of the Maelstorm spell that Zeratul used.
Zeratul walked over towards Artanis and simply took the Uraj from him. "
Damn..how did you?.." Artanis asked. " My queen has helped me reached
the peak of my power. I can use the ability of a Dark Archon now. If you embrace
the swarm..possibly she can help you enhance your powers too. But I wasn't
ordered to bring you back or kill you. This will be enough for now.." at
that the Dark Templar cloaked and made his exit.
Hyperion Meeting Room
Low Orbit over Shakuras.
" Are you telling us that Kerrigan now has both the Uraj and the Khalis?!" Raynor shouted as he stood up from his chair. Artanis nodded slowly," They've learned how to trick our sensors. Zeratul has grown more powerful than before. There was nothing I could do." Raynor settled back in his chair. He sighed slowly. He realized that they had almost hadn't a chance of winning this war. Now all they could do was concentrate on defending the Xel'Naga Temple. He stood up and turned towards Dan," I want Siege Tanks, Turrets, Valkyries, Goliaths..focus all of our units on the temple. Prepare for a full-scale war." Artanis rose from his seat. " I'll support with our Photon Cannons and Reavers," Artanis said. Raynor pressed a button on the panel before him. A holographic image of the map around the temple appeared. " There are 4 bridges connecting the temple to the mainland. If we demolish the 3, leaving only 1 bridge for the ground units to pass, we'll have a better chance of successfully defending the temple," Raynor suggested. " But that doesn't help if they use Overlords and Guardians," Artanis pointed out. Raynor nodded," Which means we'll need all the air defence we can get. Valkyries, Goliaths and Turrets should do the trick." Artanis nodded," Then it's settled. Let's begin now."
Protoss Flagship Ganrithor II
Low Orbit over Shakuras
Artanis made sure that no one was in the bridge before he activated the comnlink. The image of Kerrigan appeared on the viewscreen. "Artanis..what would you want?" Kerrigan said. Artanis hesitated for a while.." I'm here to offer you a deal."
End Of Chapter Four.
