As the mutant contingent on Korhal, accompanied by a band of Dark
Templar warriors, approached the still-open rift, yet one more question
arose.
"If the rift you entered was created by the Zerg, then why did it lead you here?" Arathes wondered aloud.
"I have thought the same thing," Etris replied nervously. "Do you think it is possible that the Zerg could have infiltrated this place?"
"I do not see how," Arathes commented, shaking his head, "if for no other reason than the fact that we would have sensed them. I have nowhere near the confidence in the Dominion's military to believe they could thwart such an attempt, but there is no way they could hide from us."
"But it does seem the only likely answer," Etris continued, "After all, why would a rift alter its path?"
"I do not know." the alien was clearly uneasy. "We should go now. Your world desperately needs our help."
* * *
Brought together once again, the delegates met in a new chamber in Mengsk's headquarters. Not quite as large as his "war room", the walls were nonetheless adorned with numerous screens showing views from various security emplacements. Slavik looked suspiciously at the several cameras placed on the walls. At least Mengsk was sensible enough to take precautions. Not that it mattered.
"Where are your Dark Templar?" the emperor asked the Conclave representative.
"You insult me. We have nothing to do with those heretics. They may do as they please, we are better off without them."
"Also true with the shiners," Slavik commented, noting the mutants' absence.
"Very well. Let's continue."
For the next several hours, the uneasy allies discussed troop placement, policies of engagement, ways to identify strategic targets, weaknesses in the enemy dispersal, and numerous other things. Slavik and his men absorbed the notes of the others, being less experienced with fighting the Zerg. They also subtly pushed on certain issues which they knew would irritate their companions. Bit by bit, they manipulated, creating a tension that had to break at some point.
Reaching under the large, round table, Slavik secretly keyed a signal to his men stationed outside.
"If you had half as much power as those Dark Templar," Mengsk was saying, "This war would be over already!"
The Conclave representative glared. If you rebels had not upset the balance in your sector, we could have dealt with it quietly. Your Confederacy was much more useful!"
"How dare you speak to me like that!" they were yelling now.
In the building argument, Slavik sat calmly. None of the others noticed the cameras' power lights going out. None noticed the security screens blinking off one by one. Slavik checked his watch. By now, Mengsk's key guards outside would have been quietly dealt with by his own Black Hand agents. The elite killers would be positioning themselves throughout the building, and in several other key locations. His men in the room became tense, prepared to jump into action. Slowly, relaxed, Slavik reached his hand down to the butt of his pistol. One glance to either side was all it took.
"Mengsk!" he shouted as he rose, pointing his pistol at the emperor's head. His soldiers shot up, raised their rifles and quickly dispatched the Dominion marines before anyone cold react. As their blood dripped down the walls, the Nod soldiers turned their attention to the Protoss.
"We won't harm you," Slavik told them, "Unless you force us to. I only want Mengsk. We can resume business after this is dealt with."
"You'll never get away with this," Mengsk warned. Slavik barely smiled. "Guards!" the emperor shouted, a hint of terror in his voice. At his call, a trio of Nod soldiers entered. "What is this?!"
"We have already disposed of your personal guards. All others will be given the choice to join us or die. We've taken over your key facilities. You can't stop us."
"Don't be so sure." Mengsk hit a hidden key on the table and quickly began speaking. "Alpha squadron alert, scenario Omega!"
Scowling, Slavik did not hesitate to shoot him in the head. The deposed emperor dropped to the floor. Before he hit, the building shook violently. Slavik turned to one of his men.
"What was that?"
The soldier paused a moment, listening to his comm unit. "A squadron of Dominion Wraith fighters has begun assaulting the building. Several Battlecruisers have also joined in the attack."
"Send a chrono unit back to base," Slavik ordered, "tell them to start up the Chronosphere and send in three squadrons of Banshees and the Hand of Kane."
"Sir." The soldier saluted and was off.
"I suggest," Slavik turned to the Conclave members, "That we continue somewhere else. If those Dominion fools succeed in destroying us, both of our races will die at the hand of the Zerg."
"Agreed," one of the Protoss nodded, "But we will not join your fight against the Dominion."
"I never asked you to," Slavik snarled, "Do not underestimate Nod. We will destroy them quickly enough."
* * *
After dodging a troop of Zerg creatures that came through the rift shortly after the strike team, Etris led Arathes and the others to a small encampment several miles from the rift point. There they met up with a mutant commander and began to plan in their main temporary structure.
"How do you hope to strike at the Zerg," Arathes began the session, "with such a meager amount of troops? They will overwhelm us in moments."
"We have some surprises."
Etris signaled the troops and the result clearly surprised the aliens. Several dozen subterranean APCs filled with troops surfaced. Sections of nearby cliffs opened up, revealing various ground assault vehicles, including two squads of Mammoth tanks. Hidden helipads opened up from the ground, each housing a somewhat outdated but still effective Harpy. "Is this enough?" Etris smiled proudly.
"I fear it may not be," Arathes sobered him quickly, "But it is a start. After all, we need not destroy them all. Your forces must create a diversion so that my people can get to the Cerebrate and destroy it."
"Then that's what we'll do, regardless of the cost."
* * *
The head Conclave representative on Korhal dodged debris as he followed his comrades and the Nod soldiers out of Mengsk's former base of operations. They quickly made their way to an outpost Nod had set up upon their first arrival on the world. Unexpectedly, one attacking Wraith pilot spotted them and soared in, weapons blazing. Nod soldiers turned and opened ineffective return fire as he others attempted to dodge the blasts. One Protoss zealot guard was struck down. One the fighter's next pass, the pilot shot out a section of the wall of a building the contingent was next to. A zealot pushed the representative out of the way, into an isolated alley.
As the section of wall crushed the guard, the representative knew he would be trapped until his people could dig through the wreckage. He suddenly sensed something behind him. He spun to see Kerrigan, the Zerg leader, as well as another form, wrapped in shadow.
"Kerrigan! What are you doing here?"
"I need to speak with you, Judicator. Here we see the humans fighting amongst themselves. Do you really think allying yourself with them will better your chances against us?"
"The others of the Conclave seem to think so."
"But you do not, correct?" She saw that she was right. "I am willing to sacrifice a pawn to allow you a favor. Feel free to destroy my forces on the alternate Earth."
"Why would you do this?" he asked skeptically.
"I have all I need from that world. It serves no further use for me. My forces can always be replaced."
As the Judicator contemplated the turn of events, one of his guards managed to break through the rubble. He turned to look for Kerrigan, only to find that she had fled into the deeper shadows. Somewhat confused, but knowing what he had to do, he ordered his guards to escort him back to where their shuttle had landed. He would take the Zerg Queen up on her offer.
In the shadows of the alley, Kerrigan's companion, forgotten in the tumultuous events, turned to her questioningly. "Are you sure that was the right thing to do at this time?"
"Calm down," she soothed, "I know what I am doing. Your time will come, Alex."
Next: The battles for Korhal and Earth! Nod introduces a new weapon, Etris and Arathes battle the Zerg, and the Protoss Conclave makes a fateful decision as the story concludes in a last chapter and epilogue that you'll probably hate me for! =-)
"If the rift you entered was created by the Zerg, then why did it lead you here?" Arathes wondered aloud.
"I have thought the same thing," Etris replied nervously. "Do you think it is possible that the Zerg could have infiltrated this place?"
"I do not see how," Arathes commented, shaking his head, "if for no other reason than the fact that we would have sensed them. I have nowhere near the confidence in the Dominion's military to believe they could thwart such an attempt, but there is no way they could hide from us."
"But it does seem the only likely answer," Etris continued, "After all, why would a rift alter its path?"
"I do not know." the alien was clearly uneasy. "We should go now. Your world desperately needs our help."
* * *
Brought together once again, the delegates met in a new chamber in Mengsk's headquarters. Not quite as large as his "war room", the walls were nonetheless adorned with numerous screens showing views from various security emplacements. Slavik looked suspiciously at the several cameras placed on the walls. At least Mengsk was sensible enough to take precautions. Not that it mattered.
"Where are your Dark Templar?" the emperor asked the Conclave representative.
"You insult me. We have nothing to do with those heretics. They may do as they please, we are better off without them."
"Also true with the shiners," Slavik commented, noting the mutants' absence.
"Very well. Let's continue."
For the next several hours, the uneasy allies discussed troop placement, policies of engagement, ways to identify strategic targets, weaknesses in the enemy dispersal, and numerous other things. Slavik and his men absorbed the notes of the others, being less experienced with fighting the Zerg. They also subtly pushed on certain issues which they knew would irritate their companions. Bit by bit, they manipulated, creating a tension that had to break at some point.
Reaching under the large, round table, Slavik secretly keyed a signal to his men stationed outside.
"If you had half as much power as those Dark Templar," Mengsk was saying, "This war would be over already!"
The Conclave representative glared. If you rebels had not upset the balance in your sector, we could have dealt with it quietly. Your Confederacy was much more useful!"
"How dare you speak to me like that!" they were yelling now.
In the building argument, Slavik sat calmly. None of the others noticed the cameras' power lights going out. None noticed the security screens blinking off one by one. Slavik checked his watch. By now, Mengsk's key guards outside would have been quietly dealt with by his own Black Hand agents. The elite killers would be positioning themselves throughout the building, and in several other key locations. His men in the room became tense, prepared to jump into action. Slowly, relaxed, Slavik reached his hand down to the butt of his pistol. One glance to either side was all it took.
"Mengsk!" he shouted as he rose, pointing his pistol at the emperor's head. His soldiers shot up, raised their rifles and quickly dispatched the Dominion marines before anyone cold react. As their blood dripped down the walls, the Nod soldiers turned their attention to the Protoss.
"We won't harm you," Slavik told them, "Unless you force us to. I only want Mengsk. We can resume business after this is dealt with."
"You'll never get away with this," Mengsk warned. Slavik barely smiled. "Guards!" the emperor shouted, a hint of terror in his voice. At his call, a trio of Nod soldiers entered. "What is this?!"
"We have already disposed of your personal guards. All others will be given the choice to join us or die. We've taken over your key facilities. You can't stop us."
"Don't be so sure." Mengsk hit a hidden key on the table and quickly began speaking. "Alpha squadron alert, scenario Omega!"
Scowling, Slavik did not hesitate to shoot him in the head. The deposed emperor dropped to the floor. Before he hit, the building shook violently. Slavik turned to one of his men.
"What was that?"
The soldier paused a moment, listening to his comm unit. "A squadron of Dominion Wraith fighters has begun assaulting the building. Several Battlecruisers have also joined in the attack."
"Send a chrono unit back to base," Slavik ordered, "tell them to start up the Chronosphere and send in three squadrons of Banshees and the Hand of Kane."
"Sir." The soldier saluted and was off.
"I suggest," Slavik turned to the Conclave members, "That we continue somewhere else. If those Dominion fools succeed in destroying us, both of our races will die at the hand of the Zerg."
"Agreed," one of the Protoss nodded, "But we will not join your fight against the Dominion."
"I never asked you to," Slavik snarled, "Do not underestimate Nod. We will destroy them quickly enough."
* * *
After dodging a troop of Zerg creatures that came through the rift shortly after the strike team, Etris led Arathes and the others to a small encampment several miles from the rift point. There they met up with a mutant commander and began to plan in their main temporary structure.
"How do you hope to strike at the Zerg," Arathes began the session, "with such a meager amount of troops? They will overwhelm us in moments."
"We have some surprises."
Etris signaled the troops and the result clearly surprised the aliens. Several dozen subterranean APCs filled with troops surfaced. Sections of nearby cliffs opened up, revealing various ground assault vehicles, including two squads of Mammoth tanks. Hidden helipads opened up from the ground, each housing a somewhat outdated but still effective Harpy. "Is this enough?" Etris smiled proudly.
"I fear it may not be," Arathes sobered him quickly, "But it is a start. After all, we need not destroy them all. Your forces must create a diversion so that my people can get to the Cerebrate and destroy it."
"Then that's what we'll do, regardless of the cost."
* * *
The head Conclave representative on Korhal dodged debris as he followed his comrades and the Nod soldiers out of Mengsk's former base of operations. They quickly made their way to an outpost Nod had set up upon their first arrival on the world. Unexpectedly, one attacking Wraith pilot spotted them and soared in, weapons blazing. Nod soldiers turned and opened ineffective return fire as he others attempted to dodge the blasts. One Protoss zealot guard was struck down. One the fighter's next pass, the pilot shot out a section of the wall of a building the contingent was next to. A zealot pushed the representative out of the way, into an isolated alley.
As the section of wall crushed the guard, the representative knew he would be trapped until his people could dig through the wreckage. He suddenly sensed something behind him. He spun to see Kerrigan, the Zerg leader, as well as another form, wrapped in shadow.
"Kerrigan! What are you doing here?"
"I need to speak with you, Judicator. Here we see the humans fighting amongst themselves. Do you really think allying yourself with them will better your chances against us?"
"The others of the Conclave seem to think so."
"But you do not, correct?" She saw that she was right. "I am willing to sacrifice a pawn to allow you a favor. Feel free to destroy my forces on the alternate Earth."
"Why would you do this?" he asked skeptically.
"I have all I need from that world. It serves no further use for me. My forces can always be replaced."
As the Judicator contemplated the turn of events, one of his guards managed to break through the rubble. He turned to look for Kerrigan, only to find that she had fled into the deeper shadows. Somewhat confused, but knowing what he had to do, he ordered his guards to escort him back to where their shuttle had landed. He would take the Zerg Queen up on her offer.
In the shadows of the alley, Kerrigan's companion, forgotten in the tumultuous events, turned to her questioningly. "Are you sure that was the right thing to do at this time?"
"Calm down," she soothed, "I know what I am doing. Your time will come, Alex."
Next: The battles for Korhal and Earth! Nod introduces a new weapon, Etris and Arathes battle the Zerg, and the Protoss Conclave makes a fateful decision as the story concludes in a last chapter and epilogue that you'll probably hate me for! =-)
