Universal War: Part I
Setting: This story takes place between the original Starcraft, and Brood War campaigns.
Disclaimer: I don't own Starcraft. Enjoy the story.
Fighting Through the Installation
Three terran dropships were flying above Tarsonis. Inside were ten marines, five firebats, two medics, and inside one, was the famous Jim Raynor himself. As they approached, Raynor stood up and gave a moral-boosting speech to his men. "Alright men, listen up and listen good. We have a good chance at bringing in Mengsk, and making him pay for what he did to Kerrigan, but we need to weaken his armies first. This, my friends, is why we're here; to destroy whatever forces he may have in this area. Once they are defeated, we can go in, defeat Mengsk, and then worry about Kerrigan. There are three clans of Confederates here, and they won't be easy to crack, but we can do it. Take no prisoners; we'll talk after we land."
Raynor's soldiers nodded their allegiance.
When the ships landed, everyone disembarked, and the ships evacuated the area. Once outside the installation, Raynor disengaged the safety on his rifle, and the other marines followed suite. The firebats disengaged the safety on their flamethrowers and the medics retrieved their medical kits. Then, once everyone was done, Raynor said, "Alright everyone, let's go." They cautiously entered the installation.
They had just about entered the installation, when Raynor ordered everyone to stop. They hid behind the line of consoles attached to the wall of the room closest to where they came in. Footsteps could be heard coming towards them, and then voices became audible. "You boys better get ready, because training is gonna be harder than usual today."
Raynor took a quick peak past the console, and what he saw was not too pleasing. About ten marines in white uniforms, rifles in hand, were in some sort of a gun range in the installation. To make matters worse, not only would there be no cover once they leave the protective cover of the consoles, but the subplating on the floor would instantly give way to their presence. Raynor thought, and then he whispered to his men, "You five marines, there are ten marines playing target practice. We have to sneak far enough past the console to shoot enough marines, and keep ourselves alive. When I give the signal, tread out of the cover of the consoles, and shoot like hell until you get spotted, then get back to cover. Understand?"
The five marines nodded. Raynor took a peak, and saw the Confederates with their backs towards the group. Raynor signaled with a wave of his right hand, and seconds later, he and the five marines inch wormed their way out from the cover of the consoles. They were about ready to fire, when one of the Confederates turned and spotted the marines. "Over there, intruders. Blast them!"
But Raynor and his marines were too quick. They got the first shots out. They had fatally shot four Confederates before having to get back to their cover. However, the Confederates had also managed to fatally shoot two marines, and shoot one in the arm. While the Confederates reloaded, Raynor and the marines shot at the Confederates, and vice versa. Then, Raynor heard exactly what he feared would be inevitable. "Intruders are in the installation, repeat, intruders are in the installation." 'Damn, now the whole installation knows we're here.'
The firefight continued, and in moments, all ten Confederate soldiers were dead. But the marines had taken quite a toll themselves. Only five of the marines remained, and one medic was killed in the fray as well, leaving Raynor with five marines, all five firebats, and one medic. "Is everyone okay?" asked Raynor. He looked at his forces, and didn't need an answer. The firebats and the medic were good to go, but not his marines. Two marines were shot in the arm, and one in the leg. With only himself and two marines without injury, nothing would be accomplished except the death of the entire group. 'We need help, and we need it bad,' he thought.
Then, as if reading his mind, one of the marines pointed directly ahead. "Look, a beacon. If we can get there, we can transport in some reinforcements."
Raynor nodded in agreement. "We'd just better hope it isn't guarded."
Luckily, it wasn't. Raynor ran to the console by the beacon and ordered in reinforcements. In seconds, five goliaths, and three vultures appeared. "Nice to see ya." Raynor called.
"Just glad to help," replied the lead goliath.
The group advanced further, but were again stopped a few rooms away by voices of Confederate soldiers. Raynor peaked behind the doorway, and saw about another ten marines, and five firebats in the area, also wearing white uniforms. Earlier, this would have been a nightmare for Raynor, but with his new armored units, it wasn't now. He ordered the goliaths to go through the doorway and mow down the Confederates. They did, and in seconds, the room was clear.
The group continued on, the goliaths and the vultures leading, followed by the infantry. Then, about two yards into the installation, a sea of bullets and grenades hit the vehicles. They opened returned fire, but they were too late, for two vultures and one goliath were destroyed. The infantry behind the vehicles hid for a moment for some cover. "Damn it," Raynor groaned, "they have goliaths and vultures here also."
By the time the firefight was done, only Raynor, two firebats, two marines, three goliaths, two vultures and the medic remained. Cautiously they pressed on. 'Those white dressed confederates were tough, but those brown dressed ones were tougher. I sure hope the third tribe of Confederates isn't even tougher than these brown ones are.' Raynor thought.
They went on for about five minutes more, with not even a peep of enemy forces. Then they reached a room with a beacon inside. Each member of the group knew that this beacon was a transporter. Ever so cautiously, Raynor and the infantry crept towards the control panel. Raynor reached it and pressed a few buttons. But as he did, bullets flew through the air, and he and his company retreated towards the goliaths and vultures. "What the...?"
"An ambush sir," the medic replied, "they got the marines and firebats." They had to dodge a few bullets, and Raynor shot the two soldiers firing them. The medic continued. "I couldn't reach them in time, so we only have the goliaths and vultures remaining."
An explosion rocked the installation. Raynor and the medic took a peak, as one of the goliaths exploded. "They've brought in more vehicles."
"I know," the medic explained, "only a vulture would create an explosion like that."
In time, the firefight ended. But again, Raynor's group suffered heavy casualties. Only he, the medic, one goliath and one vulture remained.
Raynor ran to the control panel and activated the transporter. "Vehicles first." He ordered.
The goliath went on first, then the vulture, and then Raynor and the medic went on at the same time. They arrived in the opposite side of the installation. There was no sign of any Confederates yet, but they all knew that could change rapidly.
Again, Raynor and the medic followed the vehicles. There was another five minute walk without any sign of Confederate soldiers.
Then, at Raynor's urging, they stopped. He saw another beacon, and a prison cell next to it. In the cell were three marines, who were filled with joy at the sight of Raynor. "Hey man, help us outta here will ya?"
Raynor did. Then he went to the control panel, and entered a sequence of buttons, and two goliaths, two vultures, one siege tank and one ghost appeared.
They progressed not too much more, when bullets flew. The goliaths, vultures and the siege tank fired at the enemy soldiers, who were now wearing red. But these forces were much stronger than the other tribes, for now they were being attacked by infantry, vultures, goliaths, and even siege tanks.
"All vehicles except goliaths, destroy the vehicles," Raynor ordered, "everyone else, go for the infantry."
But that was easier said than done. A ghost had just locked down the siege tank, and the goliaths and vultures were almost on the verge of falling apart. The infantry weren't in much better shape.
Soon, the firefight was done, and like before, the casualties on Raynor's side were great as well. Only he, the medic, and two marines remained. Raynor looked at the thermal meter in his hand, and was happy at the sight. They had beaten all the Confederate forces. "Job's done men, let's head out."
Everyone left the installation, and entered the lone dropship waiting outside. The dropship took off, and all everyone thought about all the men and vehicles that were lost.
"Well," Raynor said, trying to sound positive, "we accomplished our mission, so none of our men died in vain." As he had expected, his speech didn't help matters much.
Then, the COM link in the dropship beeped. Raynor approached the link and listened to the message. A hologram of a marine was speaking urgently. "Mayday, mayday, this is Outpost 1 on Shakuras. We're being attacked by the Protoss, and we need any help that we can get. I repeat, we need help, over and out."
The hologram disappeared, but Raynor continued looking as if it were there with great confusion. 'What the hell? Why would the Protoss attack us? We're supposed to be friends.'
The two marines approached. "You think the Protoss are turning on us Jim?" One asked.
"I don't know what to think," he replied, "all I know, is we have to get to that base and prevent it from falling to those Protoss." He flicked a switch on the COM and was shocked at what he saw. The Terran base was on one side of a river, and two Protoss bases were on the other side. "This is going to be tough boys, with that much manpower; we'll be overpowered in no time."
As if on cue, a voice came through the COM link. "Perhaps we can help, human."
The three men stepped back. A hologram of a Zerg drone appeared.
"Help us with what?" Raynor asked.
"Protecting your base of course," the drone replied.
Raynor chuckled. "That would be awfully nice of you, but why would you wanna do that for us humans?"
"Because we are struggling against the might of the Protoss as well," it explained, "and besides; we're on the same side of the river. We could be allies. I know you don't trust me, human; but you know your forces cannot last long against those Protoss on their own, and neither can we. The choice is yours."
Raynor was silent. He didn't trust the Zerg drone at all. But then again, it was right, alone they could not last against the Protoss, but together, they might have had a shot. He turned to the two marines. "What do you think boys?"
Each marine pondered for a few seconds, and eventually, both decided in favor of allying themselves with the Zerg- at least for now.
"Okay drone," Raynor said, "we'll agree to be partners- for now. Just don't turn on us, or you'll wish you were losing to those Protoss out there. Understand?"
"Yes, human." It responded. "Once you reach your base, contact me; we'll come up with some way to defeat the Protoss. Goodbye." The hologram disappeared.
The three looked at each other.
"Boys," Raynor finally broke the silence, "let's get to that base, and hope those Zerg don't have a full appetite."
They each took their seats, and the dropship flew on course to Shakuras, everyone hoping that this wouldn't be the last time they could see the sky from a dropship.