Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Starcraft or the characters, but
the story is mine. I was not paid or not receiving any money from
Blizzard.
Chapter 3
The planet of Castor was starting to finally shape up to be more of a home then a base. True most of the planet was still uninhabited, but soon that would change. Jim sat alone in a bar just outside the perimeter of Starport 319. Most of his crew were there, drinking and laughing amongst themselves. He wanted to be with them, laugh at their jokes, here them tell stories about what they have been through, but he couldn't.
He looked up as he saw a face he knew all too well. It was the bearer of bad news. Colonel Jack Anderson. He was head of the Communications Department and radio contact with their men during combat.
Jim arose from his seat to meet the Colonel. His look grim.
"Jim, Zeratul and his men were hit by a massive wave of Zerg. They were doing fine in the engagement until the Dominion showed up. Blasted one Carrier pretty badly," he said with a stern look on his face. "Good news is we didn't lose any Carriers, but several Protoss are dead."
Jim stood there not knowing exactly what to say or think. "How many Zerg? What happened to the Dominion boys too?"
That's when the dread really sunk in Jim's gut. The Colonel only stood there with his head hung low.
"There is enough Zerg in that Sector to fill this planet. Both above ground and below ground with Zerg. If you want to count air units, they would take up a damn large portion of the sky too," he replied with fright grasping every feature he had. "The Dominion boys tried pulling out but not one of them made it. At least twenty-four Cruisers went down and God only know how many fighters and men lost their lives."
Jim couldn't believe it. He hated the Dominion, but he knew that they were trained well. At least those that weren't brain panned. "Where is Zeratul and his fleet at?" desperation rising in his voice.
"They are fine at the moment. They are holding up in the Sara system. Maintenance also told me to tell you, your crates are ready to roll," the Colonel said smiling slightly.
By now most of the crew was listening to what the Colonel and Raynor were saying. The bar fell silent for the most part.
One of the crew men stood up. "Sir, do you want us to man stations?"
Jim looked at the man. He looked young. He thought on what was the right thing to do. What Zeratul would do. He remembered that he said he would meet Zeratul and that was exactly what he was going to do. "Suit up and man stations. Get our fleet up and running. I want to be in orbit in twenty minutes, not a second after you hear me."
With that said, the room moved as one. With the same purpose and intensity. They were going to get back their brothers.
"Good luck Jim. We will man the fort here. Good hunting," Jack said extending his hand.
Jim took it and shook it firmly. "Thanks. I want my beer cold and waiting when I get back. You hear me?" he replied smiling.
"Heh, will do, Jim. Will do," he said letting Jim get to his duties. Jack watched him leave the bar and admired his loyalty to friends and allies. "God help the poor souls caught in his way."
Ribos Sector
The UED Flagship, Blue Nose, made its way through space with the Grand Pacific Fleet following closely behind. They met no resistance from either human or alien forces.
Admiral Gray stood on the bridge letting the space in front of him sink in. They made great time. Only a few days had passed since the meeting and they were ready for the war that they were prepared to face.
"Admiral, we have located a planet uninhabited. We could set up Head Quarters there, sir," First Mate Colin Tab said from his work station.
Terrence looked down at him. "Very well. Make it so." The Admiral was confident. He knew not to underestimate the enemy, but it was hard. He was a good leader and soldier, but with the fire power they have with them, he wondered where Dugalle went wrong.
"Admiral, a group of enemy transports warping in ahead sir. There does not appear to be an escort," Tab said pointing out on the monitors.
Admiral Gray watched the transports warp in and stay on their course. Faster then they normally would no doubt. He gripped the railing studying the transports. He straightened up and walked back to the command chair.
"Sir, shall we intercept?" Tab said still monitoring to ships.
"Mr. Tab, a smart enemy will hit you where you think you are safe. I believe that this is an ambush. I am not about to give away our position just yet," he said with a strong sense of authority in his voice.
Tab looked confused. "Sir, are you suggesting that they know we are coming?"
Gray just sat in the command chair watching the ships stay their course. His fisting were clenched tightly, turning his knuckles a dull white. "They do not know who we are, Mr. Tab."
He looked somewhat disappointed. "Aye sir," was all he could mutter.
Gray stood from his chair. "I believe it's time they found out."
After Admiral Gray said that, the crew seemed to come to life. They were all excited and wanted to do this as professionally as they could. They did their duties to the fullest.
"Weapons are hot sir," a young woman called out.
Tab had personally approached Admiral Gray. "Sir, we have established comm. They should be receiving now, sir."
Admiral Gray looked at Tab. The young man was thrilled to be here, that much was obvious. "Good work son. Patch me through to them."
"Captain, what do we do!" some one called out. Panic filled the small transport. They were far out matched and could do nothing about it.
"All transports stay close together! Who are these guys? Alliance?" Captain Hankins ordered.
As if on cue, a older aged man appeared on a screen on the transports mainframe. He had a sharp black uniform lined with various medals. His hairline starting to fade from the black color it had, receding slightly. He stood tall and proud. "This is Admiral Terrence Gray, of the United Earth Directorate. We are the Second Expeditionary Fleet, Grand Pacific. Who am I speaking with?"
Captain Hankins was more intimidated by that man then he was of the fleet or Battle Cruisers that were breathing down their necks. He slowly stood up, straightening his old and fading uniform. He cleared his throat as he spoke. "This is Captain Hankins. We are transporting supplies and civilians and hold no aggression to you."
"That may be, Captain. But you are aware that you are now flying in UED space." The mans posture was undeniable. He was trained well. This only made Captain Hankins more uncomfortable.
"Please, we hold no aggression. We did not know that this was your space. May we just reach the next jump node? We will be gone very soon. Like we were never here," Captain Hankins was staggering. He did not like the way this was going. "Excuse me for just a moment Admiral." He clicked off the comm. "Corporal, tell the other transports on channel 12, first sign of trouble, make a mad run for the Ribos jump node. Got me?"
"Yes sir," he said quickly and began talking into the head set.
Captain Hankins took a deep breath and flipped the switch back to the Admirals channel.
"Are you nervous, Captain? There is no need to be. If you inform us what fraction your with and where they are located you are free to go." The man stood there unflinching.
"I cannot and will not comply to that order Admiral, I am sorry. As a soldier, I'm sure you understand," Hankins said shakily. Sweat was starting to form along his forehead. He scratched the goatee he had on his chin. He took a cloth and dabbed his brow slightly.
"You WILL tell me what I want to know Captain! This is your warning," the Admiral screamed. Without warning one of the five transports exploded.
"My God." Hankins muttered. "Very we-well then sir. All craft break for high orbit! Get to the node! Sorry Admiral, God go with you." With that said he killed the transmission.
Another tremble rocked the transport that Hankins was in. He looked out the porthole and saw another transport in flames. Another blast came from two different Cruisers and saw two more of his transports go down. He watched in horror as the pieces of debris flew at his transport.
Another blast could be seen coming from the lead Cruiser. He looked up at the ceiling of the transport. "God, not like this." As he finished speaking the blast violently tore through the ship. Hankins couldn't feel the blast nor could anyone else. The last transport exploded and the wreckage was sent flying through the blackness of space.
Chapter 3
The planet of Castor was starting to finally shape up to be more of a home then a base. True most of the planet was still uninhabited, but soon that would change. Jim sat alone in a bar just outside the perimeter of Starport 319. Most of his crew were there, drinking and laughing amongst themselves. He wanted to be with them, laugh at their jokes, here them tell stories about what they have been through, but he couldn't.
He looked up as he saw a face he knew all too well. It was the bearer of bad news. Colonel Jack Anderson. He was head of the Communications Department and radio contact with their men during combat.
Jim arose from his seat to meet the Colonel. His look grim.
"Jim, Zeratul and his men were hit by a massive wave of Zerg. They were doing fine in the engagement until the Dominion showed up. Blasted one Carrier pretty badly," he said with a stern look on his face. "Good news is we didn't lose any Carriers, but several Protoss are dead."
Jim stood there not knowing exactly what to say or think. "How many Zerg? What happened to the Dominion boys too?"
That's when the dread really sunk in Jim's gut. The Colonel only stood there with his head hung low.
"There is enough Zerg in that Sector to fill this planet. Both above ground and below ground with Zerg. If you want to count air units, they would take up a damn large portion of the sky too," he replied with fright grasping every feature he had. "The Dominion boys tried pulling out but not one of them made it. At least twenty-four Cruisers went down and God only know how many fighters and men lost their lives."
Jim couldn't believe it. He hated the Dominion, but he knew that they were trained well. At least those that weren't brain panned. "Where is Zeratul and his fleet at?" desperation rising in his voice.
"They are fine at the moment. They are holding up in the Sara system. Maintenance also told me to tell you, your crates are ready to roll," the Colonel said smiling slightly.
By now most of the crew was listening to what the Colonel and Raynor were saying. The bar fell silent for the most part.
One of the crew men stood up. "Sir, do you want us to man stations?"
Jim looked at the man. He looked young. He thought on what was the right thing to do. What Zeratul would do. He remembered that he said he would meet Zeratul and that was exactly what he was going to do. "Suit up and man stations. Get our fleet up and running. I want to be in orbit in twenty minutes, not a second after you hear me."
With that said, the room moved as one. With the same purpose and intensity. They were going to get back their brothers.
"Good luck Jim. We will man the fort here. Good hunting," Jack said extending his hand.
Jim took it and shook it firmly. "Thanks. I want my beer cold and waiting when I get back. You hear me?" he replied smiling.
"Heh, will do, Jim. Will do," he said letting Jim get to his duties. Jack watched him leave the bar and admired his loyalty to friends and allies. "God help the poor souls caught in his way."
Ribos Sector
The UED Flagship, Blue Nose, made its way through space with the Grand Pacific Fleet following closely behind. They met no resistance from either human or alien forces.
Admiral Gray stood on the bridge letting the space in front of him sink in. They made great time. Only a few days had passed since the meeting and they were ready for the war that they were prepared to face.
"Admiral, we have located a planet uninhabited. We could set up Head Quarters there, sir," First Mate Colin Tab said from his work station.
Terrence looked down at him. "Very well. Make it so." The Admiral was confident. He knew not to underestimate the enemy, but it was hard. He was a good leader and soldier, but with the fire power they have with them, he wondered where Dugalle went wrong.
"Admiral, a group of enemy transports warping in ahead sir. There does not appear to be an escort," Tab said pointing out on the monitors.
Admiral Gray watched the transports warp in and stay on their course. Faster then they normally would no doubt. He gripped the railing studying the transports. He straightened up and walked back to the command chair.
"Sir, shall we intercept?" Tab said still monitoring to ships.
"Mr. Tab, a smart enemy will hit you where you think you are safe. I believe that this is an ambush. I am not about to give away our position just yet," he said with a strong sense of authority in his voice.
Tab looked confused. "Sir, are you suggesting that they know we are coming?"
Gray just sat in the command chair watching the ships stay their course. His fisting were clenched tightly, turning his knuckles a dull white. "They do not know who we are, Mr. Tab."
He looked somewhat disappointed. "Aye sir," was all he could mutter.
Gray stood from his chair. "I believe it's time they found out."
After Admiral Gray said that, the crew seemed to come to life. They were all excited and wanted to do this as professionally as they could. They did their duties to the fullest.
"Weapons are hot sir," a young woman called out.
Tab had personally approached Admiral Gray. "Sir, we have established comm. They should be receiving now, sir."
Admiral Gray looked at Tab. The young man was thrilled to be here, that much was obvious. "Good work son. Patch me through to them."
"Captain, what do we do!" some one called out. Panic filled the small transport. They were far out matched and could do nothing about it.
"All transports stay close together! Who are these guys? Alliance?" Captain Hankins ordered.
As if on cue, a older aged man appeared on a screen on the transports mainframe. He had a sharp black uniform lined with various medals. His hairline starting to fade from the black color it had, receding slightly. He stood tall and proud. "This is Admiral Terrence Gray, of the United Earth Directorate. We are the Second Expeditionary Fleet, Grand Pacific. Who am I speaking with?"
Captain Hankins was more intimidated by that man then he was of the fleet or Battle Cruisers that were breathing down their necks. He slowly stood up, straightening his old and fading uniform. He cleared his throat as he spoke. "This is Captain Hankins. We are transporting supplies and civilians and hold no aggression to you."
"That may be, Captain. But you are aware that you are now flying in UED space." The mans posture was undeniable. He was trained well. This only made Captain Hankins more uncomfortable.
"Please, we hold no aggression. We did not know that this was your space. May we just reach the next jump node? We will be gone very soon. Like we were never here," Captain Hankins was staggering. He did not like the way this was going. "Excuse me for just a moment Admiral." He clicked off the comm. "Corporal, tell the other transports on channel 12, first sign of trouble, make a mad run for the Ribos jump node. Got me?"
"Yes sir," he said quickly and began talking into the head set.
Captain Hankins took a deep breath and flipped the switch back to the Admirals channel.
"Are you nervous, Captain? There is no need to be. If you inform us what fraction your with and where they are located you are free to go." The man stood there unflinching.
"I cannot and will not comply to that order Admiral, I am sorry. As a soldier, I'm sure you understand," Hankins said shakily. Sweat was starting to form along his forehead. He scratched the goatee he had on his chin. He took a cloth and dabbed his brow slightly.
"You WILL tell me what I want to know Captain! This is your warning," the Admiral screamed. Without warning one of the five transports exploded.
"My God." Hankins muttered. "Very we-well then sir. All craft break for high orbit! Get to the node! Sorry Admiral, God go with you." With that said he killed the transmission.
Another tremble rocked the transport that Hankins was in. He looked out the porthole and saw another transport in flames. Another blast came from two different Cruisers and saw two more of his transports go down. He watched in horror as the pieces of debris flew at his transport.
Another blast could be seen coming from the lead Cruiser. He looked up at the ceiling of the transport. "God, not like this." As he finished speaking the blast violently tore through the ship. Hankins couldn't feel the blast nor could anyone else. The last transport exploded and the wreckage was sent flying through the blackness of space.