General Duke surveyed the final readings of the day. He smiled as he saw the newest military bases springing up all over Mar Sara. Terramar was doing exceptionally well, and their army had already reached an alarming size that Duke could never have imagined. Research into new military weapons was running at full speed. Duke had thousands of Nukes in stock, and even though he hated to lay congratulations, Dr. Hunter's new scanner sweep technology had almost every inch of terran space monitored throughout the day. Better than that, Duke's new specialized battlecruiser was nearing completion. He felt happy when he had heard about its development and had been first to suggest to Mengsk that it was a worthy investment. The Yamato cannon would be far stronger, would have a faster laser recharge and multiple extra weapon turrets both anti-air and anti-ground. Duke's new ship, the Obelisk, would be a fine addition to his army.
"Leaving the confederacy was the smartest thing I ever did." Duke laughed. Mengsk was a poor military strategist, but he could definitely speak to the mobs, and with all the funding they were getting, Duke was sure that if the zerg or protoss ever came back, they would be fighting in a great disadvantage.
"Incoming transmission from General Terramar." the robotic voice spoke.
"Hmm? Open com-link." Duke replied.
The com-link opened and Terramar's face came on the screen, looking stern as usual.
"Good evening, General. What can I do for you?" Duke spoke.
"Duke, I suggest you come to my command center immediately." Terramar spoke quickly.
Duke nodded, knowing that something must be important for him to have to come in person. The transmission closed, and Duke quickly left his command center to a shuttle.
~*~
Terramar obediently waited at the docking platform with his hands behind his back. His general uniform was neat and square, as if it stood still as well. Duke strode quickly from the shuttle to where Terramar stood and they began to walk together.
"The matter is actually at the science facility, General." Terramar spoke. "I apologize for my secrecy, but it is necessary."
Duke looked unworried. "Well, what is it?"
Terramar paused. "There was an attack today."
Duke did not change his expression. "A zerg attack, then."
Terramar shook his head. "They took out our preliminary defenses."
"Why didn't you put out an alert?" Duke asked.
"I was about to, but the ferocity of the attack was," Terramar paused, "inhuman."
"Protoss?" Duke questioned.
Terramar gave Duke a serious look. "It was a small attack force. I didn't want this getting into the public cause it might cause panic quickly, so I thought it best to keep between us."
Duke nodded. They reached the science facility. Terramar approached first and looked into the camera. "General Terramar requesting entrance with General Duke." he spoke firmly. The doors slid open and they both marched in.
"I hope you're going to tell me what's going on." Duke sounded impatient now.
"Yes sir." Terramar spoke. They stepped into the elevator. "This is a private research center. I didn't want too many people knowing about this."
The elevator slid open and the stood in a room. A few scientists scattered about, looking busy. Terramar led Duke through the scientists to the end of the row. "Bring up the specimen." Terramar shouted. The scientists looked up all at once at the two Generals. The wall they faced slowly spun and revealed a long tank. Inside floated the specimen.
"What is it?" spoke Duke.
Terramar stepped back and motioned on of the doctors forward. "It's terran." the doctor spoke.
Duke scoffed. "Doesn't look Terran to me."
The doctor shivered. "No, it's been, mutated I suppose would be the word."
"How many attacked?" Duke asked, not looking away from the specimen.
"Seven." Terramar gulped. Duke spun around.
"Seven?" he hissed back. Terramar nodded.
"The specimen has been modified. Many of his organs were replaced and some of his basic hormones were modified." the doctor said.
"What kind of hormones?" Duke asked.
The doctor gulped. "The closest one we've found so far," the doctor paused nervously, "was in the adrenal glands of a zergling."
Duke's rock hard face suddenly changed. Worry seemed to cross it for the first time. He stared back up at the specimen. Its body was covered in bullet holes, and long view-like tubes covered its body. Its gauss rifle seemed to be graphed to its arm, and its mouth gaped open in a silent scream. The bone structure resembled that of a zerg.
Duke rubbed his mouth. "Was this the first attack?"
"In the archives we've searched, yes." Terramar answered. The room stood completely silent for a long moment.
"What of the other specimens?" Duke asked.
"We incinerated the carcasses."
Duke nodded. "Good. Good work, Terramar. We will keep this low for now. Notify immediately if there are any developments."
The doctor spoke again. "General, if it might not be too much trouble, I suggest that you take a look at the research that has been going on within the Dominion as of late. There is so much going on right now that I wouldn't doubt that it would be happening under our own wing."
"Agreed." Duke nodded. "I will speak with the Emperor tomorrow. He will bring the necessary movements into motion."
Terramar winced. "Sir, I must object about alerting the Emperor."
Duke turned to him. "I'm sorry General, but Mengsk is the only one who will give us access to those files. He needs to know."
"Forgive me general, it's just that the Emperor is not here and he does not have an idea of the situation. My men can, of course, get to any of those files on their own if-"
"Careful General, you're walking dangerous ground." Duke gave Terramar a menacing look.
"Forgive me sir." Terramar bowed. Duke nodded, and turned on his heel and exited the room without taking a backward glance at the specimen. This news were less than settling to Duke. Hopefully, this could be dealt with before another war erupted.
**********
Special thanks to Chrono-cross maniac for betaing this chapter for me
"Leaving the confederacy was the smartest thing I ever did." Duke laughed. Mengsk was a poor military strategist, but he could definitely speak to the mobs, and with all the funding they were getting, Duke was sure that if the zerg or protoss ever came back, they would be fighting in a great disadvantage.
"Incoming transmission from General Terramar." the robotic voice spoke.
"Hmm? Open com-link." Duke replied.
The com-link opened and Terramar's face came on the screen, looking stern as usual.
"Good evening, General. What can I do for you?" Duke spoke.
"Duke, I suggest you come to my command center immediately." Terramar spoke quickly.
Duke nodded, knowing that something must be important for him to have to come in person. The transmission closed, and Duke quickly left his command center to a shuttle.
~*~
Terramar obediently waited at the docking platform with his hands behind his back. His general uniform was neat and square, as if it stood still as well. Duke strode quickly from the shuttle to where Terramar stood and they began to walk together.
"The matter is actually at the science facility, General." Terramar spoke. "I apologize for my secrecy, but it is necessary."
Duke looked unworried. "Well, what is it?"
Terramar paused. "There was an attack today."
Duke did not change his expression. "A zerg attack, then."
Terramar shook his head. "They took out our preliminary defenses."
"Why didn't you put out an alert?" Duke asked.
"I was about to, but the ferocity of the attack was," Terramar paused, "inhuman."
"Protoss?" Duke questioned.
Terramar gave Duke a serious look. "It was a small attack force. I didn't want this getting into the public cause it might cause panic quickly, so I thought it best to keep between us."
Duke nodded. They reached the science facility. Terramar approached first and looked into the camera. "General Terramar requesting entrance with General Duke." he spoke firmly. The doors slid open and they both marched in.
"I hope you're going to tell me what's going on." Duke sounded impatient now.
"Yes sir." Terramar spoke. They stepped into the elevator. "This is a private research center. I didn't want too many people knowing about this."
The elevator slid open and the stood in a room. A few scientists scattered about, looking busy. Terramar led Duke through the scientists to the end of the row. "Bring up the specimen." Terramar shouted. The scientists looked up all at once at the two Generals. The wall they faced slowly spun and revealed a long tank. Inside floated the specimen.
"What is it?" spoke Duke.
Terramar stepped back and motioned on of the doctors forward. "It's terran." the doctor spoke.
Duke scoffed. "Doesn't look Terran to me."
The doctor shivered. "No, it's been, mutated I suppose would be the word."
"How many attacked?" Duke asked, not looking away from the specimen.
"Seven." Terramar gulped. Duke spun around.
"Seven?" he hissed back. Terramar nodded.
"The specimen has been modified. Many of his organs were replaced and some of his basic hormones were modified." the doctor said.
"What kind of hormones?" Duke asked.
The doctor gulped. "The closest one we've found so far," the doctor paused nervously, "was in the adrenal glands of a zergling."
Duke's rock hard face suddenly changed. Worry seemed to cross it for the first time. He stared back up at the specimen. Its body was covered in bullet holes, and long view-like tubes covered its body. Its gauss rifle seemed to be graphed to its arm, and its mouth gaped open in a silent scream. The bone structure resembled that of a zerg.
Duke rubbed his mouth. "Was this the first attack?"
"In the archives we've searched, yes." Terramar answered. The room stood completely silent for a long moment.
"What of the other specimens?" Duke asked.
"We incinerated the carcasses."
Duke nodded. "Good. Good work, Terramar. We will keep this low for now. Notify immediately if there are any developments."
The doctor spoke again. "General, if it might not be too much trouble, I suggest that you take a look at the research that has been going on within the Dominion as of late. There is so much going on right now that I wouldn't doubt that it would be happening under our own wing."
"Agreed." Duke nodded. "I will speak with the Emperor tomorrow. He will bring the necessary movements into motion."
Terramar winced. "Sir, I must object about alerting the Emperor."
Duke turned to him. "I'm sorry General, but Mengsk is the only one who will give us access to those files. He needs to know."
"Forgive me general, it's just that the Emperor is not here and he does not have an idea of the situation. My men can, of course, get to any of those files on their own if-"
"Careful General, you're walking dangerous ground." Duke gave Terramar a menacing look.
"Forgive me sir." Terramar bowed. Duke nodded, and turned on his heel and exited the room without taking a backward glance at the specimen. This news were less than settling to Duke. Hopefully, this could be dealt with before another war erupted.
**********
Special thanks to Chrono-cross maniac for betaing this chapter for me