Chrono Nightmare

Chapter 5

"Alright boys and girls, let's move out! Shoot anyone who white paint on it!"

Jim Raynor jumped off the Dropship's loading bay followed by a group of marines and medics. The ground exploded around them and they began running north as several wraiths flew by providing missile cover.

"Remember our objective is to infiltrate Alpha's science lab and steal the schematics for Mengsk's new battle cruisers! Don't waste time shooting at any buildings or such! Now let's MOVE!"

White-clad marines began pouring out of barracks to defend their base but their combat suits were ill-prepared for the upgraded suits of Raynor's Raiders.

Jim crouched down and fired, smashing through a marine's visor and into his skull. All around the sounds of gunfire were heard.

Several more Dropships started flying in, and siege tanks lumbered off the loading dock.

Slowly their 'legs' began coming out of its 'body' and their huge arclite cannons adjusted. Explosions rocked the Alpha Squadron bunkers and missile turrets as more wraiths poured into the base blowing apart men and other wraiths with frightening speed.

Several more groups of marines joined Jim's as they continued their way to the Science Lab to the northern part of the base.

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They were nearing the lab when suddenly the ground began shaking.

"The hell?" Jim muttered.

Suddenly several metallic objects rose from the ground and started firing armor piercing bullets at the marines.

Screams materialized as the bullets smashed through the armor and into the men's bodies.

"Run dammit! Run! Get into the lab now!"

A few marines had managed to get by the turrets but the casualties had been high. Only 12 of the 40 marines/medics including Jim entered the science lab.

Jim collapsed against the wall of the entrance to the lab. Coughing, he pulled out a radio.

"Alright Sarah, we're in. Where are those plans."

The voice came in slightly garbled.

"Alright I'm uploading the lab's layout to your visor now. Standby for it."

A few seconds later a few blips confirmed that the upload was complete.

"Ok, thanks Sarah."

Jim turned to his men. "Alright, follow me. The computer terminal should be somewhere to the northwest."

A large door in front of them opened suddenly, revealing a group of lab-coat clad scientists.

"Wha… what the hell? Who are you?" the lead scientist demanded.

Jim sighed and pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the scientist.

"You must have access to most of this lab. Hand over your security cards before I blow your head off and take it either way."

The scientist froze and hurriedly pulled out his card, throwing it at Jim, who deftly caught it.

"Ok now get outta here."

The scientists nodded quickly and ran out of the lab, just to be cut down by siege tank fire.

"Oops, hehehe…" a marine laughed as the group continued through the lab.

And the Alpha base lay silent…

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Meanwhile, on the Dominion Homeworld, Korhal…

A Zealot was blown in half as a siege tank rained its destructive blasts from its platform north of Augustgrad. Hundreds of marines were blasting Dragoons and Scouts who were outnumbered 100 to 1. Science Vessels were flying using their portable comsats to locate Dark Templar, which were soon mowed down by Terran weapons. A dozen cloaked wraiths were zooming around the area, blowing Corsairs apart like cheap model airplanes.

Unfortunately the Protoss had 'expected' this, as their plan had stated.

'Should one of the areas be a trap then the second force should be able to punch a hole through the defenses large enough to clear a path for our fleet.' Artanis's words still rung through the minds of every Protoss…

A large second army was lying in Sector 6, to the west of Augustgrad. Upon hearing of the enormous defenses of Sector 4, to the north, it was quickly decided that the time to attack would be now, as the bulk of the army was to the north.

Artanis hovered above the army within his scout. His psionic message rang out to every Protoss.

"Let us take this infernal terran capitol and secure our future! For Auir! For the Protoss race! For every sentient being! ATTACK!"

And so it began. The most costly mistake in Protoss history.

The attack had begun smoothly enough. The canyons echoed loudly as the sound of over 500 Protoss warriors rushed through. A few bunkers and turrets were quickly cut apart and destroyed. Augustgrad was in sight… when everything went to Hell.

A huge sound erupted from the city and the Protoss froze. Suddenly an enormous shockwave rocked the canyon and a wall of rocks smashed in front of the Protoss. A second shockwave brought rocks tumbling down behind them. Five-hundred Protoss stood within the Canyon, not noticing the blur of a cloaked terran slowly standing up and aiming his rifle…

Artanis and his fleet has paused over the ground army.

'What the hell is going on down there?!' the praetor demanded. A voice quickly reentered his head.

'Artanis, it seems the terrans have trapped us in this canyon! Our Zealots are able to climb these rocks but our Dragoons cannot scale such a steep slope!'

Artanis was about to respond when a dreadful sound materialized that could only mean one thing.

The Nexus suddenly called in.

'ARTANIS! A NUCLEAR LAUNCH HAS JUST BEEN DETECTED AT YOUR POSITION! GET OUT OF THERE NOW!'

Zeratul's voice flooded every Protoss's mind.

A huge panic erupted as the Protoss vainly tried to escape, but it was useless.

'Move! Now!' Artanis's fleet veered off to the side but the army was trapped.

A large shadow was suddenly cast above the army. Each and every Protoss looked up into the air as a large projectile flew towards them. There was only silence as the nuclear missile smashed into the ground and a blinding flash of light dominated the area.

When the flames subsided, all that was left in the canyon was twisted metal, the smell of charred flesh, and the cries and moans of a few surviving Protoss. They somehow limped towards the rock wall and lay there, silent. All of a sudden the telltale roar of a group of siege tanks was heard, and a zealot, looking up, spotted at least 6 siege tanks converting into siege mode.

"Emperor Mengsk we have arrived at your coordinates! We have located a few Protoss! Awaiting your orders, SIR!"

Mengsk sat at his chair in Augstgrad, his hands in a triangular position.

"Kill them." He said simply.

The blast of the siege tanks ripped into the flesh of the remaining Protoss.

And all was silent…

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Meanwhile back on Tarsonis…

A couple of marines were mowed down by Raynor's Raiders as they neared the main computer terminal.

A security guard stood at the entrance to the terminal. He saw Jim round the corner and pulled out a handgun.

"Don't move buddy. One jerk and this bullet goes through 'yer head."

Jim laughed as 10 more marines rounded the corner and unloaded their guns into the guard.

Running quickly to the terminal Jim began typing in a few commands at the terminal and a data disc made a soft whirring sound before popping out of its drive.

"Alright, we go the plans. Now let's get out of here before reinforcements arrive. Sarah! You got our evac. ready?"

The voice that came back was not the human Sarah Kerrigan.

"Hahaha… Hello Jim. It's been a while since I've heard your voice."

Jim's eyes went wide. "Kerrigan? How the hell?"

A cruel laughter erupted. "Your time travel technology was quite useful Jimmy boy, I thank you for being stupid enough to leave it totally operational. Now… as for my… human self… she's quite fine if you're wondering. The same can't exactly be said for the rest of your men though. I had to… do away with them. If you want 'me' back then come back to your base with the data discs. I'll be more than happy to exchange the data for my human self."

Jim cursed under his breath but agreed.

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Duran smashed into the ground, his tentacle arms flailing wildly.

'dAmN yOu aRcHaNgEl! wHy cAn'T yOu jUsT DIE?!'

Tyrael was gasping for breath. He was getting weaker by the second as his energies to the mortal world were rapidly diminishing.

'I only have one chance to get him before I lose all my energy…' Tyrael thought. A plan formulated in his mind quickly.

Tyrael raised Azurewrath and dove towards Duran.

Duran was unprepared as the blade sliced his arm off. He screamed in pain and turned towards Tyrael, shooting out a large acidic spine. Tyrael flew over the spine behind Duran and in one swift motion threw Azurewrath into Duran's head.

Duran's mind was filled with excruciating pain but nothing prepared him for what happened next.

Tyrael focused all his energy into Azurewrath and the sword exploded in a burst of pure energy. Duran screamed in pain as the energy slowly ripped his body apart and flung it into every direction. A white flash smashed through the grassy plains and a hole opened in the earth as flesh was slowly dragged into it and buried.

A small green stone lay upon the grass as the light faded and darkness once again penetrated the air. Tyrael began flashing and becoming transparent as he slowly walked over to the small stone and picked it up. Tyrael began lifting into the air and disappeared in a blinding flash of light.

And all was silent…

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'So, this is how it will be then?'

'Yes. Time will go on and we must not interfere for the time being. With the chrono shifting device destroyed the mortals will not tamper with time again.'

'Of course.'

End of Chapter 5

A/N: Sorry this took so long.