Found a way to do scene changes. It's not much, but it'll have to work.
Chapter 6: The Dreamer
As expected, Samir Duran no longer needed sleep. However, at times he would go into a trance to recover psionic energies or mediate on the future. In one such session, Duran found himself standing before a great being. It was blissful just being in the presence of the Ancient.
"My master. I am your eternal servant."
The being looked down at him and its eyes burned a powerful blue. The light shining from them seemed blinding, but Duran couldn't tear his gaze away.
"Samir Duran. Our birth is at hand. However, before we step into this world, we must have guardians worthy of serving us."
"I have many projects in that regard," said Duran. "There has been great progress."
"It is not enough!"
Duran took a step back at the thundering voice in his head.
"The technology you use is far too primitive for us. They will not be sufficient to protect us from the combined force of the Protoss, Terran and Zerg."
"Such an alliance is unlikely," said Duran. "The Protoss and certain Terran factions are friends, but they both wish to annihilate the Zerg."
"Do not forget the ambitions of the UED. They nearly enslaved the Zerg and if the Protoss had joined them, nothing would have stopped them from wiping us out."
Duran swallowed nervously. He knew how close the UED had come to seizing control of the Zerg Swarms. If he hadn't acted, the UED might still have control of the Koprulu Sector.
"You are correct, my master. However, what other alternatives are there?"
It struck Duran with such force that he was on his knees immediately.
"I give you the knowledge to create proper guardians for us. Failure is unacceptable."
Duran awoke with a start. He remembered the dream with clarity; but more importantly, he retained the wealth of knowledge that the Ancient had given him. Now the real work could begin. With Mengsk struggling to maintain a grip on his own forces and the destruction of a good deal of his resources, Duran would struggle greatly to bring this to fruition.
The data-interface device in the next chamber was perfect for what he needed. Duran placed his hand on the device and uploaded the necessary information to the database. It took up a sizable amount of space, not unexpected. But for this, he would need something far greater than even the Khaydarin Crystals. Unfortunately, he did not have the resources to gather something such as this. But there was a being that did. Duran was sure that this creature would help him. As things stood, it also had a great deal to gain.
-Zerg Swarm, on route to the Terran homeworld of Earth-
Despite the fact that Araq served Kerrigan loyally and efficiently, there was a burning hatred deep within the Cerebrate for what Kerrigan had done to the Zerg race. When the Overmind had existed, there had been a driving force behind the Zerg. They fought with a purpose; to achieve perfection. However, Kerrigan only had a bloodlust that lacked direction. She sought out the UED to solidify her own power, not advance the evolution of the Swarm. And at the moment, there was only one way to continue the advancement of the Zerg Swarm; infest the Protoss into the genetic pool of the Zerg.
Araq had been focusing the bulk of his attention on properly incorporating Terran technology into the Swarm. After seizing several battlecruisers, he had experimented, working out some way to create a perfect fusion between technology and biology. So far, his efforts had been frustrated. The energy produced by the Terran fusion reactors just weren't enough to sustain a biological entity and the many technological aspects of the ship. He would have to pick which were expendable and which weren't.
The first thing to go was the propulsion system. The primitive ion engines used by the Terrans were incredibly inefficient. The Zerg were capable of manipulating magnetic and gravitational fields to a certain extent and this would be far better. The result was a far faster ship. The weapons were also stripped. The laser batteries, while powerful by Terran standards, were not what Araq felt was needed. A modified version of the spores fired by the Devourers would do well, as well as those fired by the Guardians. Armor was reinforced by the armor carapace on all Zerg units. The final product was a powerful warship capable of taking on anything that would threaten it.
For a final twist, Araq used a modified Overlord brain as the command unit for the vessel. Now with command and control abilities, these battlecruisers could act as flagships for separate groups of Zerg units.
Araq began incorporating these vessels into his fleet and looked forward to adding more. If he could seize control of some Starports, perhaps he could manufacture them instead of being forced to infest them.
"Araq."
The Cerebrate was surprised by the mental link that had been established and traced it back. Its origins was just outside of the charted Koprulu Sector.
Slowly, Duran materialized before Araq.
"Ah, my good friend. You and I have much to discuss."
"Do you have any idea what Kerrigan will do to you once she locates you?" Araq asked the infested Ghost. "You must be a greater fool than I thought, contacting me when she is so close."
"On the contrary. Kerrigan has no idea that we are conversing. However, something of mutual interest has arisen."
"And what could possibly interest both you and me?"
"The elimination of Kerrigan herself."
This perked Araq's interest, though he remained wary.
"I don't think you're in any position to carry anything of that magnitude out, Duran."
"True. However, I will be soon enough, with your help of course. If you assist me, then you will be given a position of great power among the Ancients."
"The Ancients?"
Duran smiled. "The Ancients are perfection. They are the combination of Protoss and Zerg genetics, something that the Zerg have strived for."
Araq thought it over, considering Duran's words. Was it possible that they were true?
"What do you require?"
"What I require is the assistance of your brood. I need to locate some, items that will be needed. You shall learn more if you join me."
"Nothing comes free," said Araq, "even in the Swarm."
Duran smiled. "Your reward? I shall give you an Ancient body to inhabit, where your full intellect and mind can reside. No matter how vast you have grown, the brain of an Ancient can easily sustain you."
If Cerebrates had mouths, Araq would have smiled. He knew about some of the activities Duran engaged in and if this was even remotely possible, he'd go along with it to a certain extent.
"I shall assist, but only to the point that it serves my interests."
"Of course. I would expect nothing more."
Araq felt the information flow into his mind and he began looking it over. There was a great deal to behold and to his surprise, it did seem as if Kerrigan could be brought down with the plan. He would enjoy seeing the Queen of Blades suffer.
-Terran Alliance Ambassadorial Base, Braxis-
"The sensor data the Protoss provided us with shows possibly billions of Zerg units gathered in the Char System," Magellan reported through the communications link. "They seem to be massing for some kind of assault."
"But what is their target?" Samantha wondered. "Are they going after us or the Protoss?"
Magellan shrugged. "Both of us have shown our ability to hurt the Zerg badly, and they would want to destroy both of us. However, we are not equipped to handle an attack of this magnitude. Even the Protoss, with their battleships, could not fend off that many Zerg."
Raynor shook his head. "Is there anything that we can do?"
"Launch a preemptive strike," Orion said.
Every officer and scientist looked at Orion as if he was mad.
"It's the only way," he insisted. "If we don't kill the Zerg in Char, we could end up being screwed if they launch an attack."
"And how would we go about launching this attack?" Jackson asked.
"Well, how many of those new nukes do we have?"
"Not enough," Magellan immediately countered. "At best, we could wipe out fifty percent of their forces. Unfortunately, that will not be enough."
"But if we do nothing, we all die," Samantha pointed out. "If we used our nukes and the Protoss used that weapons system on their battleships, would it be possible to wipe out enough Zerg for our conventional forces to handle?"
Magellan thought it over carefully. "Maybe. However, if we could destroy the planet..."
"Why not take out the system?" said Orion. "I'm sure the Protoss has something they could use."
Reikson chuckled as he listened to the conversation. "You know, if the Protoss could have taken out Char, I'm pretty sure they would have done so already."
"Unfortunately the best way to wipe out the Zerg is to kill them all," said Orion. "That is proving a very difficult task."
"We don't have the resources to wipe them out," said Samantha.
"Actually..."
This time it was Jackson that drew their attention.
"We've been working on a biological weapon of sorts. It's an extremely infectious virus, airborne at that, which is specifically tailored to genes."
Absolutely no one was breathing until Raynor dared ask.
"Are you saying you have a weapon capable of only taking out Zerg?"
"It's still experimental," said Jackson. "Our scientists discovered it by accident and there was no reason to do further research into it until recently. However, we still haven't gotten the targeting agent right. We're trying to go for anything that has Zerg DNA in it, but that's proving to be extremely difficult considering the diversity of the genes the Zerg have incorporated."
"But will it work?" Samantha asked.
Jackson shrugged. "We have an untested beta but no specimens to test it on."
"So how about we go capture some Zerg, take them to an isolated facility, and gas them?" said Reikson. "My boys could handle it."
"Do it," said Samantha. "We might need this weapon. What's its lethality?"
"Theoretically? 100%. Of course, that's theoretical."
"And if it is 100%, could we deploy it against the Zerg on Char?"
"Yes," said Jackson, "however, I cannot guarantee how effective it will be. Char's environment isn't exactly friendly. And any virus in the world is damn fragile."
"May I take a look at this virus?" Magellan asked.
"Sure. We need to get it ready fast anyways," said Jackson.
"What are the Protoss saying?" Samantha asked.
"Praetor Artanis informed me that the Executor is also considering a preemptive strike," said Magellan. "At this stage, no defense we build will be sufficient to hold off that amount of Zerg."
"I don't suppose we could wait another few months?" Samantha asked.
"It looks more like we have to launch this operation within two weeks," said Jackson. "Otherwise the Zerg might attack first."
Samantha mentally considered the force the Alliance could project. Without stripping their planets of their defenses, they could send a fleet of possibly fifty battlecruisers and battleships. Ground troops weren't a problem, but any invasion of Char with the Zerg still on it would be extremely bloody. The new Protoss technology would come in handy, but getting to the planet itself would be a chore. This would take everything in their arsenal.
"Is the Psi Disruptor ready?" Samantha asked.
"Yes," Raynor said. "The moment we turn it on, the Zerg are going to be confused as hell."
Reikson smiled. "That means we can slaughter the Zerg when their communications are disabled. This would make it a lot easier to get through to the planet."
"We must discuss this with the Protoss leadership immediately," said Jackson.
"According to Praetor Artanis, the Protoss Executor wants to speak with you tomorrow. Apparently he was on a mission and is currently rushing back to Shakuras," Magellan informed them. "Communications will be arranged by then."
That satisfied the Alliance leaders.
"Looks like this war is about to erupt once again," Raynor commented.
-Zerg Swarm, on route to Earth-
"So Araq. How goes the experimentation with the Terran technology?"
The UED fleet had just crushed another attack Kerrigan had led and she was in a foul mood. Even though Kerrigan had a great deal of brutality in her, there was no sign of finesse that was required to rule properly.
"I have incorporated six battlecruisers into my brood," Araq reported. "They are more than a match for any Terran warship and even the Protoss will find it difficult to overcome my latest creation."
"Can they be used to slaughter the remnants of the UED?" Kerrigan demanded.
Despite her fury, Araq still answered bluntly.
"Of course not. Even these improved battlecruisers would be overcome by the UED fleet. They still have over a hundred warships and the sheer numbers would crush my warships. As things stand, we should save them for the invasion of Earth itself."
Kerrigan frowned. "I am getting impatient with all this. The UED have inflicted great losses on the Swarm and we have only just annihilated their rear units."
"We can rebuild," said Araq. "Our forces are being reinforced as we speak as new hive clusters are being constructed on fresh worlds we come across."
"This is taking too much time," said Kerrigan. "We must wipe out the UED fleet in one swoop!"
Araq mentally calculated the force that would be needed to engulf the UED fleet at the moment. He found the answer not to his liking.
"My queen, we could lose up to three broods if we attack immediately. Our forces, though extensive, are still growing. I have already calculated that if we are to invade Earth itself, we would need billions of warriors. At the moment, the total number of warriors at your command number only two hundred million. Our forces just aren't large enough at the moment to destroy the UED remnants. However, be assured that they will be annihilated before they warn Earth."
The answer seemed to satisfy Kerrigan as she accepted the word of her right hand. She knew everything that Araq did so there was no point in doubting his words.
"Very well then. But something must be done to level the field. I will not allow the Terrans to continue winning these battles."
If Cerebrates could smile Araq would have died of it. The news from the Koprulu Sector told of the destruction of two broods already. Now, a great deal of the remaining Zerg forces were massing for an attack upon the Protoss and Terran forces in an attempt to stop them before all Zerg were wiped out in the sector. The chaos had allowed Araq to secretly build a series of hive clusters on worlds just outside of the Koprulu Sector. He used them to harvest resources and help Duran develop the technology needed to ensure the safety of the Ancients.
In the end, the destruction of the Zerg forces in the Koprulu Sector meant little. As long as the other projects were undiscovered, the ultimate victory would go to Araq and his new Ancient brethren.
"Araq."
The Cerebrate turned his attention back to Kerrigan.
"I want a warship created for me. A flagship, as it were. I require something more, proper, to travel in."
For once Araq agreed with the Queen of Blades. Traveling in an Overlord, no matter how modified, was hardly fitting.
"I look forward to this task with great pleasure," he assured her. "May I make a suggestion, my queen?"
"Go ahead."
"Perhaps you should also have the primary Cerebrates housed in your flagship. As a matter of control."
"Including you, Araq?"
"Of course."
Kerrigan smiled slyly at her Cerebrate. "Very well. However, I shall allow each Cerebrate a detachment of their finest warriors. No need to make them uneasy."
Little chance she could do anything but that. The other Cerebrates all feared Kerrigan to an extent, especially after what she had done to Daggoth. Again the Cerebrate shifted his attention and attended to yet another battle unfolding against the UED. Only time would tell if his plans would succeed.
-Tarsonis, capital of the Terran Alliance-
When the knock sounded Samantha had been reading more reports about the formation of the Clone Corps. Though it seemed sacrilege to create life merely for killing, they had few alternatives at the moment. It was the only way to level the playing field.
"Come in."
Jackson opened the door and walked in, this time with a large pile of papers in his hands. Normally he just brought over data disks, but at times he didn't trust electronic copies.
"So what's so important that you needed to come personally?" Samantha asked.
"A favor."
"Oh?"
Jackson placed the booklet on Samantha's desk and she looked at the cover.
"Ragnarok?"
"According to your husband, it's the Norse apocalypse. Or something like that. We lost the original meaning a long time ago, I'm afraid."
"Fine. So what does it have to do with our current situation?"
Jackson shrugged. "Actually, it doesn't. However, I am here to ask a favor, as I said. I need your permission to let my Squadron establish some mining camps on Char once we take it. There's a little project that my engineers have been working on, but they don't have the resources to pull it off."
"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?" said Samantha. "Char hasn't exactly been conquered."
"I know, but the Ragnarok was a Confederation military project that was shelved because it was deemed impractical. However, with access to Protoss technology, I think we can make it work."
"Okay. So what exactly is it?"
"Samantha, would I ask for something that was meaningless?"
"In other words you aren't going to tell me yet."
Jackson nodded.
"Fine, I'll indulge you on this. But it had better be worth it. Diverting manpower like this is a drain no matter what."
"Thank you. Trust me, you are not going to regret this."
"I had better not."
Jackson was silent for several seconds, in thought.
"Do you really think this invasion will work?"
"Do we have any other hope?" Samantha replied. "If we don't strike, we'll be overrun by the Zerg. They're just too powerful to defend against."
"I am well aware of that. However, have you seen the calculations Magellan did? He estimates we'll lose thirty percent of our total forces in this attack. That's a bit high."
"But if we wait, we might also incur a great deal of civilian casualties. Either way people are going to die. However, this way, we'll be eradicating a serious threat," said Samantha. "This allows us the time and space to start rebuilding our forces and wait for Kerrigan if she comes charging back at us."
"Then let's hope to God that your husband can stop her," said Jackson. "I sure don't trust anyone else in the UED to do it."
"We're really getting desperate, aren't we?"
Jackson nodded. "But then again, if this works, you're right. We get time and breathing space until Kerrigan comes back."
-Uncharted Planet-
The world was volcanic like Char, but not so active. On the surface was a fury of activity as Zerg Drones mined the minerals and gas abundant on this young planet. Thanks to its remote location outside of the Koprulu Sector, no Protoss, Terran, or even Zerg force knew about it except for Araq's Brood. He had quietly built up the mining bases and they were extracting the materials needed to begin construction of the might Ancient warships. Moments later a fleet of Overlords carrying vital materials and artifacts arrived in the system. An entire fleet of Mutalisks and Devourers guided them in and more drones unloaded them.
Black obsidian-like crystals were unloaded and carried forth to the construction site. Because the Zerg didn't have the machines needed to carry out the construction aspect, Duran had made modifications to several SCVs and given them to Araq. Now they began laying down the foundations of what was to be a powerful battleship. However, at the center, a heart-like object was already being grown. It was in fact a biological matter/antimatter reactor. Just a mere hint of how powerful Ancient technology was, the reactor could create its own antimatter to keep itself running or for weapons. This ensured that it would never run out of fuel.
It would be a while before the graviton crystals would be added on. However, when they were, the warship would need no conventional engines to move. It could manipulate gravity to push itself forward or even use gravity as a weapon, throwing the force of entire planets at a single point. It was easily powerful enough to engage entire fleets.
Elsewhere on the planet, Araq was experimenting with Duran's psionic shields. The problem with the enlarged brain was easily fixed with all his knowledge about Zerg genetics. No matter how cunning and intelligent Duran was, there were still some areas Araq knew more about. A legion of Hunter Killers stood ready, having been modified. However, there were several other differences as well. Besides having powerful psionic shields, they also gained the powers of both Light and Dark Templars. Add full sentience and total loyalty to that and these new Zerg were only a few steps under the Ancients themselves.
It took a great deal of time to create and train these warriors. Thus, Araq took great pains to instill certain qualities in these Zerg. They were almost extensions of his will and would serve him well. Araq considered what these warriors would be good for. Certainly they were a match for any Protoss or Terran warrior and would make excellent guards. Perhaps some day they would be the elite guardians of the Ancients.
What an unpleasant surprise it would be for Kerrigan once Araq revealed his true loyalties. No matter how powerful the Queen of Blades was, she stood no chance against an Ancient.
-Tarsonis-
"So it is agreed," Balthazar said. "Our forces will begin amassing in orbit of Tarsonis immediately."
Samantha looked at the fleet that had accompanied Balthazar and wondered how much more was needed.
"We can commit a total of one hundred capital warships to this expedition," she said to the Executor. "However, after this, something must be done about Mengsk."
"I concur. Only if we are in a true alliance can we hope to stop Kerrigan if she succeeds."
A total of ten Tassadar-class battleships were present, along with twenty carriers and over fifty cruisers and destroyers. Along with the five Arbiters, the Protoss had brought a sizeable force to the Terran capital.
"We can launch in three days," Jackson added. "Currently our forces are still spread a bit thin but Mengsk doesn't have the power to launch an attack strong enough to harm us."
"I will deploy a few warships to help bolster your defenses," Balthazar said. "The defensive platforms over Shakuras and Aiur are more than enough, and our combined forces on Khyrador are capable."
Samantha stood up and looked out the window with a smile. The other officers looked at her but Balthazar knew what she was thinking. He was a Protoss, after all.
"This war will come to an end."
End of Chapter 6
Another short chapter, but I'm rather drained right now. But be sure to catch the next chapter, Fires of Victory. It's going to be one hell of a fight on Char.
A few issues. One, there is absolutely no way in hell the Protoss would ever go all the way to Earth to fight Kerrigan. Why? That isn't their concern. Their ally is the Terran Alliance, not the UED. Even if they respect Jonathan Kris, they won't do much else but offer minor help like some new technologies. Hence, the advanced warp drive system. Two, by the time the Zerg reach UED territory, which includes several other systems, they will have something like fifty billion warriors ready to go. Thus even if the UED was extremely powerful, the Zerg still have the advantage. Especially with the new Infested Battlecruisers.
Z98
Chapter 6: The Dreamer
As expected, Samir Duran no longer needed sleep. However, at times he would go into a trance to recover psionic energies or mediate on the future. In one such session, Duran found himself standing before a great being. It was blissful just being in the presence of the Ancient.
"My master. I am your eternal servant."
The being looked down at him and its eyes burned a powerful blue. The light shining from them seemed blinding, but Duran couldn't tear his gaze away.
"Samir Duran. Our birth is at hand. However, before we step into this world, we must have guardians worthy of serving us."
"I have many projects in that regard," said Duran. "There has been great progress."
"It is not enough!"
Duran took a step back at the thundering voice in his head.
"The technology you use is far too primitive for us. They will not be sufficient to protect us from the combined force of the Protoss, Terran and Zerg."
"Such an alliance is unlikely," said Duran. "The Protoss and certain Terran factions are friends, but they both wish to annihilate the Zerg."
"Do not forget the ambitions of the UED. They nearly enslaved the Zerg and if the Protoss had joined them, nothing would have stopped them from wiping us out."
Duran swallowed nervously. He knew how close the UED had come to seizing control of the Zerg Swarms. If he hadn't acted, the UED might still have control of the Koprulu Sector.
"You are correct, my master. However, what other alternatives are there?"
It struck Duran with such force that he was on his knees immediately.
"I give you the knowledge to create proper guardians for us. Failure is unacceptable."
Duran awoke with a start. He remembered the dream with clarity; but more importantly, he retained the wealth of knowledge that the Ancient had given him. Now the real work could begin. With Mengsk struggling to maintain a grip on his own forces and the destruction of a good deal of his resources, Duran would struggle greatly to bring this to fruition.
The data-interface device in the next chamber was perfect for what he needed. Duran placed his hand on the device and uploaded the necessary information to the database. It took up a sizable amount of space, not unexpected. But for this, he would need something far greater than even the Khaydarin Crystals. Unfortunately, he did not have the resources to gather something such as this. But there was a being that did. Duran was sure that this creature would help him. As things stood, it also had a great deal to gain.
-Zerg Swarm, on route to the Terran homeworld of Earth-
Despite the fact that Araq served Kerrigan loyally and efficiently, there was a burning hatred deep within the Cerebrate for what Kerrigan had done to the Zerg race. When the Overmind had existed, there had been a driving force behind the Zerg. They fought with a purpose; to achieve perfection. However, Kerrigan only had a bloodlust that lacked direction. She sought out the UED to solidify her own power, not advance the evolution of the Swarm. And at the moment, there was only one way to continue the advancement of the Zerg Swarm; infest the Protoss into the genetic pool of the Zerg.
Araq had been focusing the bulk of his attention on properly incorporating Terran technology into the Swarm. After seizing several battlecruisers, he had experimented, working out some way to create a perfect fusion between technology and biology. So far, his efforts had been frustrated. The energy produced by the Terran fusion reactors just weren't enough to sustain a biological entity and the many technological aspects of the ship. He would have to pick which were expendable and which weren't.
The first thing to go was the propulsion system. The primitive ion engines used by the Terrans were incredibly inefficient. The Zerg were capable of manipulating magnetic and gravitational fields to a certain extent and this would be far better. The result was a far faster ship. The weapons were also stripped. The laser batteries, while powerful by Terran standards, were not what Araq felt was needed. A modified version of the spores fired by the Devourers would do well, as well as those fired by the Guardians. Armor was reinforced by the armor carapace on all Zerg units. The final product was a powerful warship capable of taking on anything that would threaten it.
For a final twist, Araq used a modified Overlord brain as the command unit for the vessel. Now with command and control abilities, these battlecruisers could act as flagships for separate groups of Zerg units.
Araq began incorporating these vessels into his fleet and looked forward to adding more. If he could seize control of some Starports, perhaps he could manufacture them instead of being forced to infest them.
"Araq."
The Cerebrate was surprised by the mental link that had been established and traced it back. Its origins was just outside of the charted Koprulu Sector.
Slowly, Duran materialized before Araq.
"Ah, my good friend. You and I have much to discuss."
"Do you have any idea what Kerrigan will do to you once she locates you?" Araq asked the infested Ghost. "You must be a greater fool than I thought, contacting me when she is so close."
"On the contrary. Kerrigan has no idea that we are conversing. However, something of mutual interest has arisen."
"And what could possibly interest both you and me?"
"The elimination of Kerrigan herself."
This perked Araq's interest, though he remained wary.
"I don't think you're in any position to carry anything of that magnitude out, Duran."
"True. However, I will be soon enough, with your help of course. If you assist me, then you will be given a position of great power among the Ancients."
"The Ancients?"
Duran smiled. "The Ancients are perfection. They are the combination of Protoss and Zerg genetics, something that the Zerg have strived for."
Araq thought it over, considering Duran's words. Was it possible that they were true?
"What do you require?"
"What I require is the assistance of your brood. I need to locate some, items that will be needed. You shall learn more if you join me."
"Nothing comes free," said Araq, "even in the Swarm."
Duran smiled. "Your reward? I shall give you an Ancient body to inhabit, where your full intellect and mind can reside. No matter how vast you have grown, the brain of an Ancient can easily sustain you."
If Cerebrates had mouths, Araq would have smiled. He knew about some of the activities Duran engaged in and if this was even remotely possible, he'd go along with it to a certain extent.
"I shall assist, but only to the point that it serves my interests."
"Of course. I would expect nothing more."
Araq felt the information flow into his mind and he began looking it over. There was a great deal to behold and to his surprise, it did seem as if Kerrigan could be brought down with the plan. He would enjoy seeing the Queen of Blades suffer.
-Terran Alliance Ambassadorial Base, Braxis-
"The sensor data the Protoss provided us with shows possibly billions of Zerg units gathered in the Char System," Magellan reported through the communications link. "They seem to be massing for some kind of assault."
"But what is their target?" Samantha wondered. "Are they going after us or the Protoss?"
Magellan shrugged. "Both of us have shown our ability to hurt the Zerg badly, and they would want to destroy both of us. However, we are not equipped to handle an attack of this magnitude. Even the Protoss, with their battleships, could not fend off that many Zerg."
Raynor shook his head. "Is there anything that we can do?"
"Launch a preemptive strike," Orion said.
Every officer and scientist looked at Orion as if he was mad.
"It's the only way," he insisted. "If we don't kill the Zerg in Char, we could end up being screwed if they launch an attack."
"And how would we go about launching this attack?" Jackson asked.
"Well, how many of those new nukes do we have?"
"Not enough," Magellan immediately countered. "At best, we could wipe out fifty percent of their forces. Unfortunately, that will not be enough."
"But if we do nothing, we all die," Samantha pointed out. "If we used our nukes and the Protoss used that weapons system on their battleships, would it be possible to wipe out enough Zerg for our conventional forces to handle?"
Magellan thought it over carefully. "Maybe. However, if we could destroy the planet..."
"Why not take out the system?" said Orion. "I'm sure the Protoss has something they could use."
Reikson chuckled as he listened to the conversation. "You know, if the Protoss could have taken out Char, I'm pretty sure they would have done so already."
"Unfortunately the best way to wipe out the Zerg is to kill them all," said Orion. "That is proving a very difficult task."
"We don't have the resources to wipe them out," said Samantha.
"Actually..."
This time it was Jackson that drew their attention.
"We've been working on a biological weapon of sorts. It's an extremely infectious virus, airborne at that, which is specifically tailored to genes."
Absolutely no one was breathing until Raynor dared ask.
"Are you saying you have a weapon capable of only taking out Zerg?"
"It's still experimental," said Jackson. "Our scientists discovered it by accident and there was no reason to do further research into it until recently. However, we still haven't gotten the targeting agent right. We're trying to go for anything that has Zerg DNA in it, but that's proving to be extremely difficult considering the diversity of the genes the Zerg have incorporated."
"But will it work?" Samantha asked.
Jackson shrugged. "We have an untested beta but no specimens to test it on."
"So how about we go capture some Zerg, take them to an isolated facility, and gas them?" said Reikson. "My boys could handle it."
"Do it," said Samantha. "We might need this weapon. What's its lethality?"
"Theoretically? 100%. Of course, that's theoretical."
"And if it is 100%, could we deploy it against the Zerg on Char?"
"Yes," said Jackson, "however, I cannot guarantee how effective it will be. Char's environment isn't exactly friendly. And any virus in the world is damn fragile."
"May I take a look at this virus?" Magellan asked.
"Sure. We need to get it ready fast anyways," said Jackson.
"What are the Protoss saying?" Samantha asked.
"Praetor Artanis informed me that the Executor is also considering a preemptive strike," said Magellan. "At this stage, no defense we build will be sufficient to hold off that amount of Zerg."
"I don't suppose we could wait another few months?" Samantha asked.
"It looks more like we have to launch this operation within two weeks," said Jackson. "Otherwise the Zerg might attack first."
Samantha mentally considered the force the Alliance could project. Without stripping their planets of their defenses, they could send a fleet of possibly fifty battlecruisers and battleships. Ground troops weren't a problem, but any invasion of Char with the Zerg still on it would be extremely bloody. The new Protoss technology would come in handy, but getting to the planet itself would be a chore. This would take everything in their arsenal.
"Is the Psi Disruptor ready?" Samantha asked.
"Yes," Raynor said. "The moment we turn it on, the Zerg are going to be confused as hell."
Reikson smiled. "That means we can slaughter the Zerg when their communications are disabled. This would make it a lot easier to get through to the planet."
"We must discuss this with the Protoss leadership immediately," said Jackson.
"According to Praetor Artanis, the Protoss Executor wants to speak with you tomorrow. Apparently he was on a mission and is currently rushing back to Shakuras," Magellan informed them. "Communications will be arranged by then."
That satisfied the Alliance leaders.
"Looks like this war is about to erupt once again," Raynor commented.
-Zerg Swarm, on route to Earth-
"So Araq. How goes the experimentation with the Terran technology?"
The UED fleet had just crushed another attack Kerrigan had led and she was in a foul mood. Even though Kerrigan had a great deal of brutality in her, there was no sign of finesse that was required to rule properly.
"I have incorporated six battlecruisers into my brood," Araq reported. "They are more than a match for any Terran warship and even the Protoss will find it difficult to overcome my latest creation."
"Can they be used to slaughter the remnants of the UED?" Kerrigan demanded.
Despite her fury, Araq still answered bluntly.
"Of course not. Even these improved battlecruisers would be overcome by the UED fleet. They still have over a hundred warships and the sheer numbers would crush my warships. As things stand, we should save them for the invasion of Earth itself."
Kerrigan frowned. "I am getting impatient with all this. The UED have inflicted great losses on the Swarm and we have only just annihilated their rear units."
"We can rebuild," said Araq. "Our forces are being reinforced as we speak as new hive clusters are being constructed on fresh worlds we come across."
"This is taking too much time," said Kerrigan. "We must wipe out the UED fleet in one swoop!"
Araq mentally calculated the force that would be needed to engulf the UED fleet at the moment. He found the answer not to his liking.
"My queen, we could lose up to three broods if we attack immediately. Our forces, though extensive, are still growing. I have already calculated that if we are to invade Earth itself, we would need billions of warriors. At the moment, the total number of warriors at your command number only two hundred million. Our forces just aren't large enough at the moment to destroy the UED remnants. However, be assured that they will be annihilated before they warn Earth."
The answer seemed to satisfy Kerrigan as she accepted the word of her right hand. She knew everything that Araq did so there was no point in doubting his words.
"Very well then. But something must be done to level the field. I will not allow the Terrans to continue winning these battles."
If Cerebrates could smile Araq would have died of it. The news from the Koprulu Sector told of the destruction of two broods already. Now, a great deal of the remaining Zerg forces were massing for an attack upon the Protoss and Terran forces in an attempt to stop them before all Zerg were wiped out in the sector. The chaos had allowed Araq to secretly build a series of hive clusters on worlds just outside of the Koprulu Sector. He used them to harvest resources and help Duran develop the technology needed to ensure the safety of the Ancients.
In the end, the destruction of the Zerg forces in the Koprulu Sector meant little. As long as the other projects were undiscovered, the ultimate victory would go to Araq and his new Ancient brethren.
"Araq."
The Cerebrate turned his attention back to Kerrigan.
"I want a warship created for me. A flagship, as it were. I require something more, proper, to travel in."
For once Araq agreed with the Queen of Blades. Traveling in an Overlord, no matter how modified, was hardly fitting.
"I look forward to this task with great pleasure," he assured her. "May I make a suggestion, my queen?"
"Go ahead."
"Perhaps you should also have the primary Cerebrates housed in your flagship. As a matter of control."
"Including you, Araq?"
"Of course."
Kerrigan smiled slyly at her Cerebrate. "Very well. However, I shall allow each Cerebrate a detachment of their finest warriors. No need to make them uneasy."
Little chance she could do anything but that. The other Cerebrates all feared Kerrigan to an extent, especially after what she had done to Daggoth. Again the Cerebrate shifted his attention and attended to yet another battle unfolding against the UED. Only time would tell if his plans would succeed.
-Tarsonis, capital of the Terran Alliance-
When the knock sounded Samantha had been reading more reports about the formation of the Clone Corps. Though it seemed sacrilege to create life merely for killing, they had few alternatives at the moment. It was the only way to level the playing field.
"Come in."
Jackson opened the door and walked in, this time with a large pile of papers in his hands. Normally he just brought over data disks, but at times he didn't trust electronic copies.
"So what's so important that you needed to come personally?" Samantha asked.
"A favor."
"Oh?"
Jackson placed the booklet on Samantha's desk and she looked at the cover.
"Ragnarok?"
"According to your husband, it's the Norse apocalypse. Or something like that. We lost the original meaning a long time ago, I'm afraid."
"Fine. So what does it have to do with our current situation?"
Jackson shrugged. "Actually, it doesn't. However, I am here to ask a favor, as I said. I need your permission to let my Squadron establish some mining camps on Char once we take it. There's a little project that my engineers have been working on, but they don't have the resources to pull it off."
"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?" said Samantha. "Char hasn't exactly been conquered."
"I know, but the Ragnarok was a Confederation military project that was shelved because it was deemed impractical. However, with access to Protoss technology, I think we can make it work."
"Okay. So what exactly is it?"
"Samantha, would I ask for something that was meaningless?"
"In other words you aren't going to tell me yet."
Jackson nodded.
"Fine, I'll indulge you on this. But it had better be worth it. Diverting manpower like this is a drain no matter what."
"Thank you. Trust me, you are not going to regret this."
"I had better not."
Jackson was silent for several seconds, in thought.
"Do you really think this invasion will work?"
"Do we have any other hope?" Samantha replied. "If we don't strike, we'll be overrun by the Zerg. They're just too powerful to defend against."
"I am well aware of that. However, have you seen the calculations Magellan did? He estimates we'll lose thirty percent of our total forces in this attack. That's a bit high."
"But if we wait, we might also incur a great deal of civilian casualties. Either way people are going to die. However, this way, we'll be eradicating a serious threat," said Samantha. "This allows us the time and space to start rebuilding our forces and wait for Kerrigan if she comes charging back at us."
"Then let's hope to God that your husband can stop her," said Jackson. "I sure don't trust anyone else in the UED to do it."
"We're really getting desperate, aren't we?"
Jackson nodded. "But then again, if this works, you're right. We get time and breathing space until Kerrigan comes back."
-Uncharted Planet-
The world was volcanic like Char, but not so active. On the surface was a fury of activity as Zerg Drones mined the minerals and gas abundant on this young planet. Thanks to its remote location outside of the Koprulu Sector, no Protoss, Terran, or even Zerg force knew about it except for Araq's Brood. He had quietly built up the mining bases and they were extracting the materials needed to begin construction of the might Ancient warships. Moments later a fleet of Overlords carrying vital materials and artifacts arrived in the system. An entire fleet of Mutalisks and Devourers guided them in and more drones unloaded them.
Black obsidian-like crystals were unloaded and carried forth to the construction site. Because the Zerg didn't have the machines needed to carry out the construction aspect, Duran had made modifications to several SCVs and given them to Araq. Now they began laying down the foundations of what was to be a powerful battleship. However, at the center, a heart-like object was already being grown. It was in fact a biological matter/antimatter reactor. Just a mere hint of how powerful Ancient technology was, the reactor could create its own antimatter to keep itself running or for weapons. This ensured that it would never run out of fuel.
It would be a while before the graviton crystals would be added on. However, when they were, the warship would need no conventional engines to move. It could manipulate gravity to push itself forward or even use gravity as a weapon, throwing the force of entire planets at a single point. It was easily powerful enough to engage entire fleets.
Elsewhere on the planet, Araq was experimenting with Duran's psionic shields. The problem with the enlarged brain was easily fixed with all his knowledge about Zerg genetics. No matter how cunning and intelligent Duran was, there were still some areas Araq knew more about. A legion of Hunter Killers stood ready, having been modified. However, there were several other differences as well. Besides having powerful psionic shields, they also gained the powers of both Light and Dark Templars. Add full sentience and total loyalty to that and these new Zerg were only a few steps under the Ancients themselves.
It took a great deal of time to create and train these warriors. Thus, Araq took great pains to instill certain qualities in these Zerg. They were almost extensions of his will and would serve him well. Araq considered what these warriors would be good for. Certainly they were a match for any Protoss or Terran warrior and would make excellent guards. Perhaps some day they would be the elite guardians of the Ancients.
What an unpleasant surprise it would be for Kerrigan once Araq revealed his true loyalties. No matter how powerful the Queen of Blades was, she stood no chance against an Ancient.
-Tarsonis-
"So it is agreed," Balthazar said. "Our forces will begin amassing in orbit of Tarsonis immediately."
Samantha looked at the fleet that had accompanied Balthazar and wondered how much more was needed.
"We can commit a total of one hundred capital warships to this expedition," she said to the Executor. "However, after this, something must be done about Mengsk."
"I concur. Only if we are in a true alliance can we hope to stop Kerrigan if she succeeds."
A total of ten Tassadar-class battleships were present, along with twenty carriers and over fifty cruisers and destroyers. Along with the five Arbiters, the Protoss had brought a sizeable force to the Terran capital.
"We can launch in three days," Jackson added. "Currently our forces are still spread a bit thin but Mengsk doesn't have the power to launch an attack strong enough to harm us."
"I will deploy a few warships to help bolster your defenses," Balthazar said. "The defensive platforms over Shakuras and Aiur are more than enough, and our combined forces on Khyrador are capable."
Samantha stood up and looked out the window with a smile. The other officers looked at her but Balthazar knew what she was thinking. He was a Protoss, after all.
"This war will come to an end."
End of Chapter 6
Another short chapter, but I'm rather drained right now. But be sure to catch the next chapter, Fires of Victory. It's going to be one hell of a fight on Char.
A few issues. One, there is absolutely no way in hell the Protoss would ever go all the way to Earth to fight Kerrigan. Why? That isn't their concern. Their ally is the Terran Alliance, not the UED. Even if they respect Jonathan Kris, they won't do much else but offer minor help like some new technologies. Hence, the advanced warp drive system. Two, by the time the Zerg reach UED territory, which includes several other systems, they will have something like fifty billion warriors ready to go. Thus even if the UED was extremely powerful, the Zerg still have the advantage. Especially with the new Infested Battlecruisers.
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