Heroes Never Die
Chapter 4: Project Starlancer
By: Dark-Elk
"You're not lying, are you?" asked a rather distraught Raynor.
"No sir, I'm afraid not. Everything I've told you is completely true and verified by the documents and technical data contained on the disks over there," said Dr. Malcolm, nodding towards the rear of the bridge where a number of techs were working on the disks. "All of that information is straight from the Dominion network."
"Boys, what do you have to say about this?" Raynor asked, turning to the techs. The lead tech turned from his work with some irritation.
"It's still too early to tell for sure, sir. In my opinion, the data seems to be on the level. I couldn't imagine any reason the doctor would have to falsify anything like this, so. . . " the lead tech's statement hung unfinished, but Raynor had already turned back to look at Dr. Malcolm.
"Put it on the screen. Let's see what we're dealing with. Doctor Malcolm, explain what you can. None of us here happen to be rocket scientists," said Raynor, spurring chuckles from most of the bridge officers. Dr. Malcolm stood and walked over to the massive viewscreen that occupied the fore of the bridge.
"Open up file 338217 please; if my memory serves that should be the one with the visuals. That should give you all a sense of how important this problem is". The lead tech fiddled with a few buttons on his console and then raised a hand in the air. The file loaded onto the viewscreen, quickly occupying it with the words "Project Starlancer".
Murmurs broke out among the bridge officers, and Dr. Malcolm calmly waited until they silenced. "As you can see, the name of this project is Project Starlancer. This project has widespread ramifications for all factions in the current power struggle. Please advance to the next image."
A highly detailed diagram of giant sphere appeared on screen, slowly expanding to provide greater detail to the minute features. "Project Starlancer is the codename for the development of this massive space station. The external features you see here are actually structures and relay stations built on the surface of a small moon that orbits the primary planet of the Borosk system. The moon has barely enough gravity to sustain a slight atmosphere; humans have been able to survive on the surface for short periods of time without any additional gear. There are, to our knowledge, no life forms native to the moon or to any planets in the Borosk system."
Dr. Malcolm paused for a moment, trying to put his thoughts in order. "The moon is being fitted with massive repulsors, such as those that allow a Vulture to hover. By my estimates, the Dominion has completed about eighty percent of the installation. The entire station should be fully operational, if they continue their current pace, within a month."
"Why would the Dominion go to the trouble of installing repulsors on this moon, doctor?" asked Raynor.
"A repulsor, for those of you who do not know, works by manipulating magnetic fields and gravity to literally repulse the ground. The repulsors used on this moon are massive enough to allow it to use entire planets as substitutes for ground. It uses them to move, at least through space for short distances. For any long journey, the moon is able to go to warp like any starship. This moon can move anywhere it wishes to," finished Dr. Malcolm.
"So you're telling us the Dominion made this moon able to jump around through space? Why?" asked Raynor skeptically.
Dr. Malcolm coughed before continuing. "The Dominion didn't just make this moon able to move, Captain Raynor. I said that the repulsors allow propulsion from planets. . .but if the moon is stationed equidistant between two large masses, the gravitic forces are able to move other planets, even those many light-years away."
"So this moon can go anywhere it wants by manipulating gravity and move other planets?" asked Raynor.
"Yes. The military implications of the ability to move planets are astonishing. The next time a planet rebels against the Dominion, rather than deploy an entire task force and possibly sustain casualties, the Dominion can use this weapon to thrust the planet into the nearest star. Clean, effortless, and few side effects; no one of any race will dare challenge the Dominion once this weapon has been demonstrated. The Zerg will be defeated, but at the cost of giving Mengsk the power to annihilate any planet that isn't marching to the beat of his drums," said Dr. Malcolm.
A squadron leader in the back of the room raised his hand. "Does this thing have any weak points?"
"The Starlancer's only weakness is its greatest strength; if the repulsors are disabled, the moon will be crippled in space."
Raynor stood up abruptly. "Then that's what we'll do. Helm, swing us about towards the location of this weapon. We're going in weapons-hot."
Dr. Malcolm sprang forward. "You can't possibly take that on! Don't you realize that if the weapon can move planets, your small fleet of starships can be swatted like flies? Not to mention that the moon has surface defenses and in all likelihood a fleet escort nearly as large as the one defending the Dominion capital! Sir, you can not possibly hope to win alone against this."
Raynor turned and glared at Dr. Malcolm. "Helm, belay that order. What do you suggest we do then, doctor?
"There is only one viable option, at least as far as I see it. You've worked with the Protoss in the past, most notably Fenix, Tassadar, and Zeratul. The Protoss have had the past few years to advance their technology when they haven't been fighting off the Zerg. They have a fleet large enough that, once combined with yours, should be able to disable the surface guns."
"Are there any ground defenses? Anything that would hang up a strike force to disable the repulsors?" rasped the ghost named "Pyre", commander of Raynor's covert ops division.
"At the time of my defection, there weren't any. I'm sure that some measures have been devised, but may not have been implemented yet. The surface guns are in place already, and they are supposed to be able to shoot down anything trying to get close enough to drop off a landing party."
Raynor nodded. "Our first stop should be to contact Shakuras to see if we can talk Artanis into giving us a hand. I don't think he should have much of an objection, because this thing affects his people too. Hopefully he can tell us where Zeratul is, because the last time we spoke Zeratul had vanished," Raynor turned to the helmsmen. "Set course for Shakuras at maximum possible speed. The longer we let that thing sit out there, the better defended it'll be when we show up."
Raynor walked over to the main viewport and stared out at the starry blackness. Barely loud enough for even himself to hear, he whispered "I'm not even sure we can take this on then."
-_-_-_-
Dr. Malcolm walked down the cramped hallway to the quarters he had been assigned. The briefing had gone fairly well, although he mentally cursed Captain Raynor's near spur of the moment attack. That would have ended disastrously. . . for both of his allegiances.
A duty officer charged through the crowded hallways, elbowing people out of his way. Dr. Malcolm stopped walking and moved to the side, allowing the man to pass by him easier, but instead the officer stopped and turned to him "Doctor, do you have any relations?"
Dr. Malcolm paused. "Yes, I have a younger brother, Aaron. He's captain of the Star Child; it's a Dominion cargo ship. Why?"
"Doctor. . .the Dominion news just played an emergency broadcast. One of their convoys was ambushed by an unknown force. The Dominion claims that it was a convoy raid staged by Commander Raynor, but it wasn't. Your brother is listed as dead. I'm sorry."
Dr. Malcolm looked stricken. He leaned against the bulkhead behind him and held his head in his hands. When he looked up, the officer could see the tears "Did they. . . recover his remains?"
"No, they didn't. Apparently the unknown force demanded his convoy surrender, and the crew would be returned to the Dominion. It seems rather than return them, they were instead taken hostage, because they should have been returned by now. Your brother is the only one currently listed as dead; the Star Child's comm. officer managed to relay that before they were silenced."
"I. . . I need to be alone. If Captain Raynor needs me, tell him where I am."
Dr. Malcolm turned and walked slowly down the corridor, his body language projecting an aura of deep remorse. Aaron and he had been very close years ago, and Dr. Malcolm would have felt deep anguish at the though of his death up to five years ago, up until his life changed.
He palmed the door of his quarters, leaning heavily on it for visible effect. The door slid open, and he stumbled inside, the door silently closing behind him. Then he began to laugh, a low, dark laugh. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, oddly shaped device. Roughly ovoid, the device had a small aperture on one face, and a small button on the other. He pressed the button, holding it down until the aperture ejected a small spear of light that slowly coalesced into a tall humanoid form, concealed by a dark, flowing cloak.
"What is your report?" asked the figure in a voice that sounded darker than the void itself.
"Raynor has agreed to ally with the Protoss to attack the Dominion weapon."
"Excellent. You have done well. Contact me if the situation develops in an unexpected direction. Otherwise, continue as you have been instructed"
Dr. Malcolm released the button, extinguishing the spear of light. He turned and lay down upon his bunk, staring at the rough NeoSteel ceiling. He started to close his eyes, and as they formed slits, they flashed a dark, blood red before closing completely.
Chapter 4: Project Starlancer
By: Dark-Elk
"You're not lying, are you?" asked a rather distraught Raynor.
"No sir, I'm afraid not. Everything I've told you is completely true and verified by the documents and technical data contained on the disks over there," said Dr. Malcolm, nodding towards the rear of the bridge where a number of techs were working on the disks. "All of that information is straight from the Dominion network."
"Boys, what do you have to say about this?" Raynor asked, turning to the techs. The lead tech turned from his work with some irritation.
"It's still too early to tell for sure, sir. In my opinion, the data seems to be on the level. I couldn't imagine any reason the doctor would have to falsify anything like this, so. . . " the lead tech's statement hung unfinished, but Raynor had already turned back to look at Dr. Malcolm.
"Put it on the screen. Let's see what we're dealing with. Doctor Malcolm, explain what you can. None of us here happen to be rocket scientists," said Raynor, spurring chuckles from most of the bridge officers. Dr. Malcolm stood and walked over to the massive viewscreen that occupied the fore of the bridge.
"Open up file 338217 please; if my memory serves that should be the one with the visuals. That should give you all a sense of how important this problem is". The lead tech fiddled with a few buttons on his console and then raised a hand in the air. The file loaded onto the viewscreen, quickly occupying it with the words "Project Starlancer".
Murmurs broke out among the bridge officers, and Dr. Malcolm calmly waited until they silenced. "As you can see, the name of this project is Project Starlancer. This project has widespread ramifications for all factions in the current power struggle. Please advance to the next image."
A highly detailed diagram of giant sphere appeared on screen, slowly expanding to provide greater detail to the minute features. "Project Starlancer is the codename for the development of this massive space station. The external features you see here are actually structures and relay stations built on the surface of a small moon that orbits the primary planet of the Borosk system. The moon has barely enough gravity to sustain a slight atmosphere; humans have been able to survive on the surface for short periods of time without any additional gear. There are, to our knowledge, no life forms native to the moon or to any planets in the Borosk system."
Dr. Malcolm paused for a moment, trying to put his thoughts in order. "The moon is being fitted with massive repulsors, such as those that allow a Vulture to hover. By my estimates, the Dominion has completed about eighty percent of the installation. The entire station should be fully operational, if they continue their current pace, within a month."
"Why would the Dominion go to the trouble of installing repulsors on this moon, doctor?" asked Raynor.
"A repulsor, for those of you who do not know, works by manipulating magnetic fields and gravity to literally repulse the ground. The repulsors used on this moon are massive enough to allow it to use entire planets as substitutes for ground. It uses them to move, at least through space for short distances. For any long journey, the moon is able to go to warp like any starship. This moon can move anywhere it wishes to," finished Dr. Malcolm.
"So you're telling us the Dominion made this moon able to jump around through space? Why?" asked Raynor skeptically.
Dr. Malcolm coughed before continuing. "The Dominion didn't just make this moon able to move, Captain Raynor. I said that the repulsors allow propulsion from planets. . .but if the moon is stationed equidistant between two large masses, the gravitic forces are able to move other planets, even those many light-years away."
"So this moon can go anywhere it wants by manipulating gravity and move other planets?" asked Raynor.
"Yes. The military implications of the ability to move planets are astonishing. The next time a planet rebels against the Dominion, rather than deploy an entire task force and possibly sustain casualties, the Dominion can use this weapon to thrust the planet into the nearest star. Clean, effortless, and few side effects; no one of any race will dare challenge the Dominion once this weapon has been demonstrated. The Zerg will be defeated, but at the cost of giving Mengsk the power to annihilate any planet that isn't marching to the beat of his drums," said Dr. Malcolm.
A squadron leader in the back of the room raised his hand. "Does this thing have any weak points?"
"The Starlancer's only weakness is its greatest strength; if the repulsors are disabled, the moon will be crippled in space."
Raynor stood up abruptly. "Then that's what we'll do. Helm, swing us about towards the location of this weapon. We're going in weapons-hot."
Dr. Malcolm sprang forward. "You can't possibly take that on! Don't you realize that if the weapon can move planets, your small fleet of starships can be swatted like flies? Not to mention that the moon has surface defenses and in all likelihood a fleet escort nearly as large as the one defending the Dominion capital! Sir, you can not possibly hope to win alone against this."
Raynor turned and glared at Dr. Malcolm. "Helm, belay that order. What do you suggest we do then, doctor?
"There is only one viable option, at least as far as I see it. You've worked with the Protoss in the past, most notably Fenix, Tassadar, and Zeratul. The Protoss have had the past few years to advance their technology when they haven't been fighting off the Zerg. They have a fleet large enough that, once combined with yours, should be able to disable the surface guns."
"Are there any ground defenses? Anything that would hang up a strike force to disable the repulsors?" rasped the ghost named "Pyre", commander of Raynor's covert ops division.
"At the time of my defection, there weren't any. I'm sure that some measures have been devised, but may not have been implemented yet. The surface guns are in place already, and they are supposed to be able to shoot down anything trying to get close enough to drop off a landing party."
Raynor nodded. "Our first stop should be to contact Shakuras to see if we can talk Artanis into giving us a hand. I don't think he should have much of an objection, because this thing affects his people too. Hopefully he can tell us where Zeratul is, because the last time we spoke Zeratul had vanished," Raynor turned to the helmsmen. "Set course for Shakuras at maximum possible speed. The longer we let that thing sit out there, the better defended it'll be when we show up."
Raynor walked over to the main viewport and stared out at the starry blackness. Barely loud enough for even himself to hear, he whispered "I'm not even sure we can take this on then."
-_-_-_-
Dr. Malcolm walked down the cramped hallway to the quarters he had been assigned. The briefing had gone fairly well, although he mentally cursed Captain Raynor's near spur of the moment attack. That would have ended disastrously. . . for both of his allegiances.
A duty officer charged through the crowded hallways, elbowing people out of his way. Dr. Malcolm stopped walking and moved to the side, allowing the man to pass by him easier, but instead the officer stopped and turned to him "Doctor, do you have any relations?"
Dr. Malcolm paused. "Yes, I have a younger brother, Aaron. He's captain of the Star Child; it's a Dominion cargo ship. Why?"
"Doctor. . .the Dominion news just played an emergency broadcast. One of their convoys was ambushed by an unknown force. The Dominion claims that it was a convoy raid staged by Commander Raynor, but it wasn't. Your brother is listed as dead. I'm sorry."
Dr. Malcolm looked stricken. He leaned against the bulkhead behind him and held his head in his hands. When he looked up, the officer could see the tears "Did they. . . recover his remains?"
"No, they didn't. Apparently the unknown force demanded his convoy surrender, and the crew would be returned to the Dominion. It seems rather than return them, they were instead taken hostage, because they should have been returned by now. Your brother is the only one currently listed as dead; the Star Child's comm. officer managed to relay that before they were silenced."
"I. . . I need to be alone. If Captain Raynor needs me, tell him where I am."
Dr. Malcolm turned and walked slowly down the corridor, his body language projecting an aura of deep remorse. Aaron and he had been very close years ago, and Dr. Malcolm would have felt deep anguish at the though of his death up to five years ago, up until his life changed.
He palmed the door of his quarters, leaning heavily on it for visible effect. The door slid open, and he stumbled inside, the door silently closing behind him. Then he began to laugh, a low, dark laugh. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, oddly shaped device. Roughly ovoid, the device had a small aperture on one face, and a small button on the other. He pressed the button, holding it down until the aperture ejected a small spear of light that slowly coalesced into a tall humanoid form, concealed by a dark, flowing cloak.
"What is your report?" asked the figure in a voice that sounded darker than the void itself.
"Raynor has agreed to ally with the Protoss to attack the Dominion weapon."
"Excellent. You have done well. Contact me if the situation develops in an unexpected direction. Otherwise, continue as you have been instructed"
Dr. Malcolm released the button, extinguishing the spear of light. He turned and lay down upon his bunk, staring at the rough NeoSteel ceiling. He started to close his eyes, and as they formed slits, they flashed a dark, blood red before closing completely.