"All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine."
-Greek Philosopher Socrates
Commander Breas reporting for assignment Lord SeAn. said the tall grey protoss.
Ah yes, Commander Breas, said SeAn, Your new assignment is to head to the planet Jigao and conduct a search of the atmosphere.
What are we searching for sire?
You'll know when you see it.
Sir, come in sir.
Khell's vidcom crackled to life. Yes, I'm here. What is it Cras?
We are aproaching the end of the wormhole. responded Cras, Khell's second in command.
Good, Khell muttered, then snapped to attention, I will breif the squadron now. As of now we are approaching the end of the worm hole, our mission is simple, to investigate the situation on Jigao.
Will there be any resistence? asked Bron.
There is little to no resistence expected according to intelligence. But, as we all know military intelligence is an oximoron.
The squadron chuckled at the joke, despite hearing it many time before.
Sir, it was Cras again, we're at the exit.
You here him, said Khell, be cautious.
A similar scene was going on with Breas's reinforced squadron of eighteen corsairs.
Expect resistence, said Breas,whatever SeAn wants us to do is important.
Silence greeted his announcement.
For SeAn! shouted Breas.
For SeAn! shouted the rest as they swarmed out of their wormhole like a disturbed hive of bees.
The twelve scouts shot out of the gaping maw of the wormhole like golden darts, quickly forming into a broad flying formation. Khel began speaking to the squadron once again.
Welcome to Jigao people. You are to make a burn for the surface and search your assigned sectors for any activity.
Affirmatives trickled in as the fighter crafts broke up and sped off.
Sector 2-B clear, said Cras, moving onto 2-C.
This is going to take forever. thought Khell.
Just as Bron was giving his report another pilot interrupted.
Sir! This is Pilot Geran! I have five enemies coming at me! shouted Geran.
Damn. Everyone converge on Geran's position, sector 10-B! Move!
Commander Breas? Corsair gruop one has encountered a Conclave scout-type fighter craft. said Breas's second.
Well then, destrou it, replied Breas conchalantly. He thought of the impending victory. Crushing a lone scout will be easy. The Conclave must be slipping if they think to hold a planed with a single scout, a troubling thought entered Breas's mind, but what if that scout is just a prelude of things to come. Not good...
Not good, not good, not good! whined Geran as the five corsairs chased after him.
Neutron flare blasts exploding around him, he hightaled it up out of the atmosphere and into space. Although Geran was new to the squadron he wasn't an idiot. He knew that the corsair lossed the edge in manuverablility to the heavier scout.
Got you now. said Geran as his scout spun around towards the Corsairs, and into a volley of neutron flares. Normally a scout would survive such damage with relative ease, but Geran had already been hit repeatedly and the corsair pilots were excellent marksmen. Being rattled around in his cockpit was bad enough, but to compound things a breach opened in his cockpit shield.
Oh....shiiii....., groaned Geran as he passed out.
Commander, the enemy scout is drifting and we are under attack by three, I repeat three scouts. Requesting assistence.
Breas shook his head.
Just as what I feared. Don't worry Kreasel, I'm bringing the rest of the squadron in on your coordinates.
Copy that sir, replied Kreasel. Corsair group one signi-
There was a sudden explosion and static on the com.
Damn! Get moving now! shouted Breas to the others.
Khell's scout zoomed throught the firy remains of the corsair he had just destroyed.
Wonder how fire burns in space, thought Khell as he searched for more enemy targets.
Enemy blips started popping up on his radar screen like a bad rash. Khell's ten scouts were up against sixteen corsairs, three of which were presently engaged. Bron was dead, ganged up on by four corsairs and Geran was MIA. No one had seen him since his IFF winked out. Khell's scout was suddenly rocked by flares hitting his rear shields.
Got lazy. he muttered as his scout went into a sharp dive.
The scout pilot was good, too good in Breas's opinion. They had been diving and weaving through other dog fights, constantly trying for a better position, a position that so far Breas had held onto. The ducking and bobbing fighter craft became speared in his crosshairs and he got in a good long volley of flares before the scout boosted and twisted away. Breas resumed the chase again, but the scout pilot wasn't playing along. It stopped accelerating and roasted along. Breas was about to fire when suddenly...
Khell engaged his right retro rocked, spun to his left, and stabilized his scout so it was traveling forward and pointed toward the enemy corsair. Khell then opened fire at the stunned pilot and paid back what he owed the corsair and much, much more.
Back in the main battle Khell's squadron lost four more fighters while Breas lost five. The teams being equally matched they manuevered until they all faced eachother...then...all hell broke lose. A lone scout rocketed toward a corsair line at unpredented speeds.
I'm back bastaaaaaaaaaards. laughed Geran maniacly as he visciously strafed the statlionary lines. Leaving horrible damaged corsairs in his wake he crashed into the last one, all the while shouting. For Khellendros!
The scouts quickly mopped up the surviving corsairs. Cras assessed the losses and then set out to find Khell.
They found him floating in his crippled scout among the debris of his own engines.
By Adun! What happened to you?! Cras exclaimed horrified at what had become of their leader.
You know that one move I was trying? Khell said, The one where I spin around a guy chasing me?
Yes, I remember that sir. You were quite good at it except that...
The thrusters always get shredded, finished Khell, And to make things even better, I didn't kill the guy!
Khell continued ranting as Cras sent a pilot back through the wormhole to Aiur for an emergency shuttle. After the pilot left and the other scouts prepared for a long wait, Cras sighed and tried to calm Khell down.
In the bright blue tunnel that was the wormhole, Breas flew back to SeAn's base on Dgaha, with one thought in his mind.
I'm dead meat.
After staying up all night watching Cheers Kenna slept through the late morning. Opening his eyes, he drowsily got up.
"Oh my God," Kenna said, "I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!....Oh yeah thats right, that friggin' zergling tore them up and were rebuilt. Man I'm an idiot."
He got up and wet his face with water. He went outside seeing a big commotion going about. He went up to Wolfe and and saw he had a smirk on his face.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kenna asked.
"You know Pierce right?" replied Wolfe.
"Yeah."
"Well, he captured a...uh."
"A zergling? pinnaple? leprachaun?"
"A queen, a live one too."
"Yikes, how'd he pull that off?"
"I heard he used a cardboard cutout of a Zerg and tricked it to come close. He loaded a turret with a net and when it fired it ensnared the queen."
"Wow, that is pretty interesting. But why did he do it?"
"I don't know, but him and Mr. Stools are talking right over there. You can ask them."
"I think I will. Thanks for letting me in on what was happening."
"No problem."
"Adios."
Kenna walked into the crowd and saw Pierce chatting with someone while Mr. Stools was poking the queen with a stick.
"Hey Pierce." said Kenna.
Pierce stopped talking to the civilian and looked his way.
"Hey Kenna. How's it going?"
"Same old same old. Forgot the whole leg thing again. But, whats with the queen?"
"Since we don't know too much about the compounds of how a queen infests the Terran, and now they actually use the chemical we made, I captured on for Mr. Stools to study. And hopefully find an antidot for my friend, and all the others."
"I see. I heard how you did it and I'm proud you found a way to capture one with a net and cardboard. You might become a better strategist than I thought."
"Was I even supposed to be?"
"No, I just wanted to make conversation."
"Heh.
"Hey Mr. Stools."
Mr. Stools dropped the stick and looked up at Kenna.
"Ah, Kenna. How are the legs? Forget about them again?" said Mr. Stools.
"Ummmm...yeah. So how do you suppose your going to find the complete antidote using the queen." asked Kenna.
"I'm going to take the chemical compound in the gland on its underside. There the I can find the chemicals that make the infested Terran that we know now. I simply have to look into the chemicals and create a solution that counters the effects."
"Will you be making it in only seventeen hours again?"
"Maybe, why do you ask?"
"Because it didn't really help in rushing through it like that, you know, the incident and all."
".............."
"Are you okay?"
".............."
"Hello?"
"FROG BLAST THE VENT CORE!" yelled Mr. Stools, running towards his lab.
"Uh...Why-" said Pierce.
"Please, don't even ask." said Kenna.
"Yikes. Can you help me with this queen?"
"Ummm..."
"Don't worry, we tranquilised it."
"Okay, sure."
Fred was lying on the ground covering its head with its claws. It ignored the orders coming from one of the overlords to report to one of the Hives. The overlord growled annoyedly and sent the message to the Overmind, it seemed that this zergling wasn't the only one refusing orders.
"HMMMM, DARIGAAZ, SEND ONE OF THE MUTALISKS TO JIGAO." said the Overmind.
"Why my leige? What do we require there?" answered Darigaaz.
"THE REMAINS OF THE ULTRALISK."
A mutalisk was sent away from the swarm to gather a few peices of the ultralisk. It spotted an object in the distance. It seemed to be a spinning seige tank, but it had direct orders to gather the remains of the behemoth. It reached Jigao after a mere five hours and went past debris from what looked like corsairs. It flew into the atmosphere and flew in towards the rocky north. Down below it found several zerglings waiting for it, with the carcass of their once great leader, hoping the Overmind had not lied to them. The mutalisk came down and gathered a few peices of it into its jaws. The zerglings began to burrowed back into the ground, waiting for the reawakening of their leader. As the mutalisk made its way back a shuttle passed its veiw and went to Jigao. It was ordered to ignore another sighting and continued to Crio.
Rath looked in the air and saw a shuttle coming towards him. When the doors opened the pilot walked out.
Orders from SeAn, I'm here to bring you back. Are there any others? said the Protoss pilot.
No, its just me. The rest were killed. said Rath
When we arrive at Dgaha give SeAn your report.
You WHAT?! How could you lose? asked the enraged SeAn to Breas.
They were well trained, and only one of the enemies survived. answered Breas.
I don't care how good they were you should have killed them all. Now they know for a fact that we're involved.
Well maybe you should have actually told us what we were supposed to do-
Breas's words ceased as a blade went through his back. As his body dissapeared in psionic energy Rath came forward.
Ah, here already, good. said SeAn.
Yes SeAn. I am sorry for my actions just now. replied Rath.
I am glad you did so. I do not approve of people questioning my orders. What is your report from Jigao, and where is everyone else that were stationed with you?
Well, SeAn. We encountered a group of blind Zerg up in the north.
Blind?
Yes, and although we were cloaked they could find us by scent. We encountered trouble when ultralisks unburrowed around us.
I see. I thank you for this information. I will have the scientists find a way around this problem. There is no doubt in my mind that the Zerg on Crio also have this ability.
What do you wish me to do now SeAn?
Gather a large ground force and order Tria to put together a group of carriers and any other aerial units.
What will we be requiring those for, the Zerg? Terran?
The other Protoss. The damned Khala followers have gotten in my way too many times. It is time to end it.
Yes SeAn.
Executor Naenoi, Khell has arrived. said a Protoss messenger.
Send him in. replied Naenoi.
Khell limped into the room with a few Protoss on his side.
I see you ran into some company. said Naenoi.
Yes Executor.Some corsairs met up with my squadron when we arrived at Jigao. I nearly lost my whole squadron, and my own life. But we came through. said Khell.
I see...Ledra.
Yes Executor? replied a Protoss next to her.
Send out an alert among our people. Battle will be upon us. And I rather not have it here.
Do you think it necessary? Alarming the public like this will cause panic.
You have been with the Terran too long in the old days. We are the Protoss. Khell.
Yes? replied Khell.
I want you to gather up any Protoss that have fighting experience. When you get a force large enough meet me back here.
Yes Naenoi.
Ledra rushed off to the teleporter and went to the head office of the informers. A red alert was sent across the area. The Protoss continued with their business and a few headed to the Starbridge to start up the machines once again. Hopefully for the last time.
-Greek Philosopher Socrates
Commander Breas reporting for assignment Lord SeAn. said the tall grey protoss.
Ah yes, Commander Breas, said SeAn, Your new assignment is to head to the planet Jigao and conduct a search of the atmosphere.
What are we searching for sire?
You'll know when you see it.
Sir, come in sir.
Khell's vidcom crackled to life. Yes, I'm here. What is it Cras?
We are aproaching the end of the wormhole. responded Cras, Khell's second in command.
Good, Khell muttered, then snapped to attention, I will breif the squadron now. As of now we are approaching the end of the worm hole, our mission is simple, to investigate the situation on Jigao.
Will there be any resistence? asked Bron.
There is little to no resistence expected according to intelligence. But, as we all know military intelligence is an oximoron.
The squadron chuckled at the joke, despite hearing it many time before.
Sir, it was Cras again, we're at the exit.
You here him, said Khell, be cautious.
A similar scene was going on with Breas's reinforced squadron of eighteen corsairs.
Expect resistence, said Breas,whatever SeAn wants us to do is important.
Silence greeted his announcement.
For SeAn! shouted Breas.
For SeAn! shouted the rest as they swarmed out of their wormhole like a disturbed hive of bees.
The twelve scouts shot out of the gaping maw of the wormhole like golden darts, quickly forming into a broad flying formation. Khel began speaking to the squadron once again.
Welcome to Jigao people. You are to make a burn for the surface and search your assigned sectors for any activity.
Affirmatives trickled in as the fighter crafts broke up and sped off.
Sector 2-B clear, said Cras, moving onto 2-C.
This is going to take forever. thought Khell.
Just as Bron was giving his report another pilot interrupted.
Sir! This is Pilot Geran! I have five enemies coming at me! shouted Geran.
Damn. Everyone converge on Geran's position, sector 10-B! Move!
Commander Breas? Corsair gruop one has encountered a Conclave scout-type fighter craft. said Breas's second.
Well then, destrou it, replied Breas conchalantly. He thought of the impending victory. Crushing a lone scout will be easy. The Conclave must be slipping if they think to hold a planed with a single scout, a troubling thought entered Breas's mind, but what if that scout is just a prelude of things to come. Not good...
Not good, not good, not good! whined Geran as the five corsairs chased after him.
Neutron flare blasts exploding around him, he hightaled it up out of the atmosphere and into space. Although Geran was new to the squadron he wasn't an idiot. He knew that the corsair lossed the edge in manuverablility to the heavier scout.
Got you now. said Geran as his scout spun around towards the Corsairs, and into a volley of neutron flares. Normally a scout would survive such damage with relative ease, but Geran had already been hit repeatedly and the corsair pilots were excellent marksmen. Being rattled around in his cockpit was bad enough, but to compound things a breach opened in his cockpit shield.
Oh....shiiii....., groaned Geran as he passed out.
Commander, the enemy scout is drifting and we are under attack by three, I repeat three scouts. Requesting assistence.
Breas shook his head.
Just as what I feared. Don't worry Kreasel, I'm bringing the rest of the squadron in on your coordinates.
Copy that sir, replied Kreasel. Corsair group one signi-
There was a sudden explosion and static on the com.
Damn! Get moving now! shouted Breas to the others.
Khell's scout zoomed throught the firy remains of the corsair he had just destroyed.
Wonder how fire burns in space, thought Khell as he searched for more enemy targets.
Enemy blips started popping up on his radar screen like a bad rash. Khell's ten scouts were up against sixteen corsairs, three of which were presently engaged. Bron was dead, ganged up on by four corsairs and Geran was MIA. No one had seen him since his IFF winked out. Khell's scout was suddenly rocked by flares hitting his rear shields.
Got lazy. he muttered as his scout went into a sharp dive.
The scout pilot was good, too good in Breas's opinion. They had been diving and weaving through other dog fights, constantly trying for a better position, a position that so far Breas had held onto. The ducking and bobbing fighter craft became speared in his crosshairs and he got in a good long volley of flares before the scout boosted and twisted away. Breas resumed the chase again, but the scout pilot wasn't playing along. It stopped accelerating and roasted along. Breas was about to fire when suddenly...
Khell engaged his right retro rocked, spun to his left, and stabilized his scout so it was traveling forward and pointed toward the enemy corsair. Khell then opened fire at the stunned pilot and paid back what he owed the corsair and much, much more.
Back in the main battle Khell's squadron lost four more fighters while Breas lost five. The teams being equally matched they manuevered until they all faced eachother...then...all hell broke lose. A lone scout rocketed toward a corsair line at unpredented speeds.
I'm back bastaaaaaaaaaards. laughed Geran maniacly as he visciously strafed the statlionary lines. Leaving horrible damaged corsairs in his wake he crashed into the last one, all the while shouting. For Khellendros!
The scouts quickly mopped up the surviving corsairs. Cras assessed the losses and then set out to find Khell.
They found him floating in his crippled scout among the debris of his own engines.
By Adun! What happened to you?! Cras exclaimed horrified at what had become of their leader.
You know that one move I was trying? Khell said, The one where I spin around a guy chasing me?
Yes, I remember that sir. You were quite good at it except that...
The thrusters always get shredded, finished Khell, And to make things even better, I didn't kill the guy!
Khell continued ranting as Cras sent a pilot back through the wormhole to Aiur for an emergency shuttle. After the pilot left and the other scouts prepared for a long wait, Cras sighed and tried to calm Khell down.
In the bright blue tunnel that was the wormhole, Breas flew back to SeAn's base on Dgaha, with one thought in his mind.
I'm dead meat.
After staying up all night watching Cheers Kenna slept through the late morning. Opening his eyes, he drowsily got up.
"Oh my God," Kenna said, "I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!....Oh yeah thats right, that friggin' zergling tore them up and were rebuilt. Man I'm an idiot."
He got up and wet his face with water. He went outside seeing a big commotion going about. He went up to Wolfe and and saw he had a smirk on his face.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kenna asked.
"You know Pierce right?" replied Wolfe.
"Yeah."
"Well, he captured a...uh."
"A zergling? pinnaple? leprachaun?"
"A queen, a live one too."
"Yikes, how'd he pull that off?"
"I heard he used a cardboard cutout of a Zerg and tricked it to come close. He loaded a turret with a net and when it fired it ensnared the queen."
"Wow, that is pretty interesting. But why did he do it?"
"I don't know, but him and Mr. Stools are talking right over there. You can ask them."
"I think I will. Thanks for letting me in on what was happening."
"No problem."
"Adios."
Kenna walked into the crowd and saw Pierce chatting with someone while Mr. Stools was poking the queen with a stick.
"Hey Pierce." said Kenna.
Pierce stopped talking to the civilian and looked his way.
"Hey Kenna. How's it going?"
"Same old same old. Forgot the whole leg thing again. But, whats with the queen?"
"Since we don't know too much about the compounds of how a queen infests the Terran, and now they actually use the chemical we made, I captured on for Mr. Stools to study. And hopefully find an antidot for my friend, and all the others."
"I see. I heard how you did it and I'm proud you found a way to capture one with a net and cardboard. You might become a better strategist than I thought."
"Was I even supposed to be?"
"No, I just wanted to make conversation."
"Heh.
"Hey Mr. Stools."
Mr. Stools dropped the stick and looked up at Kenna.
"Ah, Kenna. How are the legs? Forget about them again?" said Mr. Stools.
"Ummmm...yeah. So how do you suppose your going to find the complete antidote using the queen." asked Kenna.
"I'm going to take the chemical compound in the gland on its underside. There the I can find the chemicals that make the infested Terran that we know now. I simply have to look into the chemicals and create a solution that counters the effects."
"Will you be making it in only seventeen hours again?"
"Maybe, why do you ask?"
"Because it didn't really help in rushing through it like that, you know, the incident and all."
".............."
"Are you okay?"
".............."
"Hello?"
"FROG BLAST THE VENT CORE!" yelled Mr. Stools, running towards his lab.
"Uh...Why-" said Pierce.
"Please, don't even ask." said Kenna.
"Yikes. Can you help me with this queen?"
"Ummm..."
"Don't worry, we tranquilised it."
"Okay, sure."
Fred was lying on the ground covering its head with its claws. It ignored the orders coming from one of the overlords to report to one of the Hives. The overlord growled annoyedly and sent the message to the Overmind, it seemed that this zergling wasn't the only one refusing orders.
"HMMMM, DARIGAAZ, SEND ONE OF THE MUTALISKS TO JIGAO." said the Overmind.
"Why my leige? What do we require there?" answered Darigaaz.
"THE REMAINS OF THE ULTRALISK."
A mutalisk was sent away from the swarm to gather a few peices of the ultralisk. It spotted an object in the distance. It seemed to be a spinning seige tank, but it had direct orders to gather the remains of the behemoth. It reached Jigao after a mere five hours and went past debris from what looked like corsairs. It flew into the atmosphere and flew in towards the rocky north. Down below it found several zerglings waiting for it, with the carcass of their once great leader, hoping the Overmind had not lied to them. The mutalisk came down and gathered a few peices of it into its jaws. The zerglings began to burrowed back into the ground, waiting for the reawakening of their leader. As the mutalisk made its way back a shuttle passed its veiw and went to Jigao. It was ordered to ignore another sighting and continued to Crio.
Rath looked in the air and saw a shuttle coming towards him. When the doors opened the pilot walked out.
Orders from SeAn, I'm here to bring you back. Are there any others? said the Protoss pilot.
No, its just me. The rest were killed. said Rath
When we arrive at Dgaha give SeAn your report.
You WHAT?! How could you lose? asked the enraged SeAn to Breas.
They were well trained, and only one of the enemies survived. answered Breas.
I don't care how good they were you should have killed them all. Now they know for a fact that we're involved.
Well maybe you should have actually told us what we were supposed to do-
Breas's words ceased as a blade went through his back. As his body dissapeared in psionic energy Rath came forward.
Ah, here already, good. said SeAn.
Yes SeAn. I am sorry for my actions just now. replied Rath.
I am glad you did so. I do not approve of people questioning my orders. What is your report from Jigao, and where is everyone else that were stationed with you?
Well, SeAn. We encountered a group of blind Zerg up in the north.
Blind?
Yes, and although we were cloaked they could find us by scent. We encountered trouble when ultralisks unburrowed around us.
I see. I thank you for this information. I will have the scientists find a way around this problem. There is no doubt in my mind that the Zerg on Crio also have this ability.
What do you wish me to do now SeAn?
Gather a large ground force and order Tria to put together a group of carriers and any other aerial units.
What will we be requiring those for, the Zerg? Terran?
The other Protoss. The damned Khala followers have gotten in my way too many times. It is time to end it.
Yes SeAn.
Executor Naenoi, Khell has arrived. said a Protoss messenger.
Send him in. replied Naenoi.
Khell limped into the room with a few Protoss on his side.
I see you ran into some company. said Naenoi.
Yes Executor.Some corsairs met up with my squadron when we arrived at Jigao. I nearly lost my whole squadron, and my own life. But we came through. said Khell.
I see...Ledra.
Yes Executor? replied a Protoss next to her.
Send out an alert among our people. Battle will be upon us. And I rather not have it here.
Do you think it necessary? Alarming the public like this will cause panic.
You have been with the Terran too long in the old days. We are the Protoss. Khell.
Yes? replied Khell.
I want you to gather up any Protoss that have fighting experience. When you get a force large enough meet me back here.
Yes Naenoi.
Ledra rushed off to the teleporter and went to the head office of the informers. A red alert was sent across the area. The Protoss continued with their business and a few headed to the Starbridge to start up the machines once again. Hopefully for the last time.