Once more, Starcraft is not mine. If it was, I'd be rich by now.

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-DarkElk-you lose

-Dernhelm76-no!

-DarkElk-hehe

-DarkElk-i invited noobs

-Dernhelm76-k

_carnage2 has entered the chatroom_

-Dernhelm76-we'll win

-carnage2-what?

-carnage2-i don't think so

_Madhamster has entered the chatroom_

-Madhamster-hi all!

-DarkElk-lets get started

-DarkElk-2v2

-carnage2-k

-Madhamster-okay

*5..4..3..2..Game Started*

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Judicator Dendra, as Dernhelm76, was deeply ingrossed in the game of Warcraft with Dark Elk. The newbies had proved more difficult than they thought, but they were beginning to make headway. Unnoticed, Aldaris entered the room, watching Dendra play. She cursed as carnage2 destroyed her group of knights.

"Not doing so well against the Terrans?"

Dendra turned to see the Judicator, then with annoyance turned back to the screen. "It is merely a minor setback."

"Some call would your dedication to this game an obsession."

Dendra sighed. "What is it, Aldaris?"

"I require your full attention."

She turned to him. "Just allow me finish..."

Aldaris gave a very communicative blink. Dendra turned completely away from the monitor.

"Good. Now if you haven't forgotten here in the real world we must deal with the infested Terran colonies. The Conclave has made its decision."

"Yes?"

"As soon as we can reach it, Chau Sara and other specified places must be purged. You will go with Executor Tassadar, who is commanding the endeavor. Prepare yourself, for you leave the day after tomorrow."

"Very well."

"One more thing. It has been decided that you spend too much time on this 'Warcraft'. From this point forward, you must not play it. You may not finish your current game."

Dendra sighed and got out of the game.

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_Dernhelm76 has left the game_

"What?" Dark Elk exclaimed. He struggled, but alone he lost. Elk couldn't believe he wasted his limited internet time getting smashed by newbies.

It was one of the disadvantages of being a Confederate marine. He had very little time to do anything, including things like taking a shower and sleeping. But Elk enjoyed the excitement of fighting. It was the reason he enlisted in the first place.

Not that he remembered. Since three months ago, when he came out of resocialization, all Elk knew was his name, and that he liked to play Warcraft. And of course he remembered Dernhelm. At night in his bunker, he would sometimes try to think if he had a family. His mind came up with nothing but blanks. But a family didn't matter to him much; he was just curious.

Dark Elk arose from the computer, removing his internet card. It was about time he got some sleep anyway. He looked at the bunker's clock. 12:31.

"Hmm. I didn't stay up so late tonight," he thought. "thanks to that traitor. She probably had something to do, I guess. I'll find out later."

He sank into his bed, succumbing to slumber.

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It was morning, and Dark Elk's unit was nearing a Terran Dominion base with orders to destroy it. This was Elk's first major operation. He was confident in his abilities, and this would be where he would prove his worth.

The unit halted for a moment, to wait for air support. The marines and firebats stayed silent as they stood. Soon the commands came through: charge.

The soldier ran forward, first destroying the outward bunkers and missle turrets. As one bunker exploded, Elk fired rapidly at the firebats inside. They fell, causing minimal damage to their killer. Elk headed for another bunker.

A shot whizzed past him. He turned to see an enemy goliath blasting at his unit. Elk remembered his training; he ran straight to its legs and ripped at a piece of the machinery. The goliath soon found that its fuel line was cut, and fell to the ground. The resulting explosion shook the base, and Elk barely managed to escape its force.

The Confederate forces had forged a path through the base going all the way through to the main command center. Elk's unit and another of reinforcements made their way inside. The soldiers became separated as they traversed the halls. Dark Elk soon found himself all alone. He paused, listening for signs of enemy units.

Suddenly he was flung to the ground. A renegade ghost had kicked him across the floor. As she pulled up her gun to shoot Elk, he turned around.

Upon seeing his face, the ghost's face expressed shock. "Allen!" she cried out.

This gave Dark Elk enough time to bring up his machine gun and shoot the ghost. She fell, blood seeping from her ruined body. Elk rose, glad to have been service to his authority. He turned to continue in the battle, but suddenly found himself unwilling.

"Allen...you must remember..." he heard in his mind. "....remember...don't you-"

A gunshot interrupted the thoughts. Elk turned to see another ghost standing over the body of the other. This one Elk did not shoot; this one was a Confederate, Chaos.

Chaos gave a grim smile. "You have to make sure they're dead. But good job, for a first-timer. We've been looking for this one."

"Who was she?"

"Renate Grey." The ghost looked strangely at Elk. "You didn't know?"

"Well, I don't really look at the suspect files. I guess I should."

The two went off to finish the battle, leaving corpse of Elk's mother behind.