The Terran had landed on the southernmost side of the asteroid and had
already set up a significant mining operation. Jessica was up, her fatigue
quelled and her commanding spirit in full swing. She had sent some ghosts
out to scout the area and make sure that there were no other encampments on
her precious rock. She was just overseeing the building of an academy when
one of the ghosts returned.
"Captain" said a voice right by Jessica's ear. She jumped, startled.
"Sorry," the voice said "Forgot to turn this thing off." A ghost suddenly
appeared by her side.
"You are supposed to be out scouting with the rest of the ghosts, why
aren't you?" asked Jessica, but she already knew the answer. A feeling of
dread was forming in her stomach. Had Delta Squadron sent off a force to
eliminate the deserters?
"You're not going to believe this captain," said the ghost "But we have
some Zerg inhabiting this place."
"Zerg? Here?" Jessica asked
"Yes, they are in the northwestern region of the asteroid" The ghost
verified. Jessica sat for a long moment contemplating her possibilities.
"Well, we'll just have to root out these invaders." She said. Shortly after
she had said that, another ghost appeared, this time with the cloaking off.
"Captain, I need to speak with you" the new arrival said.
"What? Is there more Zerg?
"Zerg? I found me a Protoss encampment, captain."
"What? The Protoss are here too?" she suddenly felt the urge to laugh. This
"out of the way asteroid" sure was a hotspot. Jessica sighed and massaged
her temples. "I think the best way to go about this would be to let the
Protoss and the Zerg weaken each other. Neither of them know that we are
here or our ghosts would not have survived. We must construct a defense
that is impenetrable. We will not attack until our two adversaries have
been weakened." The ghosts nodded and left and Jessica went to carry the
grave news of war to her fellow Terrans.
Back at the Protoss base. . .
"What? Impossible!" Saerius exclaimed. The two Observers that had been out to scout earlier on were relaying their data to the newly warped in Nexus and it didn't look good. "How could both the Terran and the Zerg be here? This asteroid was uninhabited when our first Observers scouted it!" "Maybe so" said another Protoss warrior, a Zealot "but the Observers do not lie. Look, the establishments seem relatively recent. They probably just got here, just like us." Saerius' mind was working furiously. The only answer was war. After all, these new arrivals couldn't have come here just for fun. Saerius suspected that it was a mining expedition, and miners don't give up too easily, especially because they are usually backed by reinforcements. Saerius sighed. "My brothers, we must prepare for the worst. Make sure all of your machinery is in working order. This may mean war." And Saerius' brethren bowed their heads
Meanwhile, in the Zerg nest . . .
Diraz looked over his newfound settlement with extreme pleasure. The Drones (the only Zerg he hadn't given free thought to as he needed their bodies for his structures) were working hard mining the materials needed to fuel a good Zerg nest. His good mood was about to be shattered, however, with the report that an Overlord was about to hand him. "Diraz" it was Jeral, odd that he should bother Diraz now "Diraz" it repeated in its soft, soothing voice heard only in the back of Diraz's mind. "Yes Jeral, what is it? Is the hatchery finished mutating into a Lair?" "No, Diraz, I'm afraid I have grave news." Diraz's good nature faded instantly. What could have happened? Had their been an accident? Had some of his Zerg children died? "Speak on, my friend." "I am right now detecting both a Terran Ghost and a Protoss Observer in my immediate vicinity." For a moment, Diraz thought he had misheard the Overlord, but then he remembered that as he was emerging from the wormhole he had felt a mental disturbance. He had dismissed it as nothing then, but now, he was sure it was the Protoss who Jeral spoke of. After all, what reason did Jeral have to lie to him? He certainly hadn't learned to joke yet either, so there was no other explanation. "Diraz?" Jeral's voice, asking for commands. Diraz felt the sudden urge to cry out at how unfair the universe was to him. He hade come here for peace, but instead found only war! "It seems as though we need to prepare for war again my friend. Begin building up our forces immediately." "Yes, Diraz" and Diraz mentally slumped down. He had been the cause of too much death and destruction already, why couldn't these other species just leave him alone? If Cerebrates had tear ducts, Diraz would have cried.
Back at the Protoss base. . .
"What? Impossible!" Saerius exclaimed. The two Observers that had been out to scout earlier on were relaying their data to the newly warped in Nexus and it didn't look good. "How could both the Terran and the Zerg be here? This asteroid was uninhabited when our first Observers scouted it!" "Maybe so" said another Protoss warrior, a Zealot "but the Observers do not lie. Look, the establishments seem relatively recent. They probably just got here, just like us." Saerius' mind was working furiously. The only answer was war. After all, these new arrivals couldn't have come here just for fun. Saerius suspected that it was a mining expedition, and miners don't give up too easily, especially because they are usually backed by reinforcements. Saerius sighed. "My brothers, we must prepare for the worst. Make sure all of your machinery is in working order. This may mean war." And Saerius' brethren bowed their heads
Meanwhile, in the Zerg nest . . .
Diraz looked over his newfound settlement with extreme pleasure. The Drones (the only Zerg he hadn't given free thought to as he needed their bodies for his structures) were working hard mining the materials needed to fuel a good Zerg nest. His good mood was about to be shattered, however, with the report that an Overlord was about to hand him. "Diraz" it was Jeral, odd that he should bother Diraz now "Diraz" it repeated in its soft, soothing voice heard only in the back of Diraz's mind. "Yes Jeral, what is it? Is the hatchery finished mutating into a Lair?" "No, Diraz, I'm afraid I have grave news." Diraz's good nature faded instantly. What could have happened? Had their been an accident? Had some of his Zerg children died? "Speak on, my friend." "I am right now detecting both a Terran Ghost and a Protoss Observer in my immediate vicinity." For a moment, Diraz thought he had misheard the Overlord, but then he remembered that as he was emerging from the wormhole he had felt a mental disturbance. He had dismissed it as nothing then, but now, he was sure it was the Protoss who Jeral spoke of. After all, what reason did Jeral have to lie to him? He certainly hadn't learned to joke yet either, so there was no other explanation. "Diraz?" Jeral's voice, asking for commands. Diraz felt the sudden urge to cry out at how unfair the universe was to him. He hade come here for peace, but instead found only war! "It seems as though we need to prepare for war again my friend. Begin building up our forces immediately." "Yes, Diraz" and Diraz mentally slumped down. He had been the cause of too much death and destruction already, why couldn't these other species just leave him alone? If Cerebrates had tear ducts, Diraz would have cried.