CHAPTER 4: BRAXIS BLIGHT
"Sir, recent scans of our system have confirmed other strange reports from the DeSSaT's stationed around our system. Indeed, an unidentified fleet of alien spacecraft just…appeared five astronomical units outside the outer ring of the system, and are inbound. On their way, at least three DeSSaT's where destroyed. They appear to be hostile, and our battalions are awaiting commands."
"Signal them. If they respond with fire, engage. They will learn not to tangle with the UED."
Zeratul couldn't help feeling excited, even though it was not normal for Dark Templar to do so. Someone was here, waiting on Braxis, and Zeratul had a good idea who. He would finally be able to give back something he picked up while finishing his clean-up duty after the Last Battle. Inside the Shuttle, his battle guard eyed him questioningly. No matter, they should be used to it by now. Zeratul was, and it seemed as though they fought better knowing what type of leader they had. And here, Zeratul's thoughts were racing. The faster this was over, the faster he could regain his reality touch. It seemed to be slipping, ever since the death of his friend, Tassadar. The slow, painful torture of his nonexistence ate away at him each passing second, and would slowly envelope him in madness.
"What were those things? They appeared to be lost to the rift when we arrived." Zeratul radioed one of the Observers that had been assigned to this mission.
"There were three near our warp point. Two were pushed aside, shattering into tiny fragments. The last was lost to the rift. They appeared to be what Terrans call 'satellites', or something of a stationary Observer," said the Observer. It paused, before continuing with, "There are eight Wraiths, two Valkyries, one Science Vessel, and one Battlecruiser on intercept course with our position. What are the orders?"
Zeratul paused, as the Observer sent him the images, which he needed to close his eyes and concentrate to review. They had white trimmings, and some strange symbol on them. They looked to be part of the old Confederacy, one that the Protoss had no sympathy towards. He knew they would get in the way, and would need to be eliminated. Mentally, Zeratul sighed, knowing what would have to be done. He reopened his eyes as the Observer asked again.
In a dark tone, Zeratul said, "Eliminate them. Their presence here shall be interruptive of our work. And it is imperative that it be swift."
"Alright now, what are we doin'? If they fire, we fire back. But if they don't, were gonna talk to 'em. Right?" said a crewmember of the Battlecruiser.
"Correct. Now, prepare for our mission. This means no unnecessary conversation. Do I make myself clear?" said the commander.
"Sir! There are two Carriers with them! Our Science Vessel picked them up! They look to be hidden by one of their ships…"
"Tell the others! We will need to keep them targeted during the negotiations. I want a weapons lock on all the fighting units; leave the Shuttles and Observers for now. As for the cloaking ship, keep a lock on it, but fire at the others first. We need to eliminate the known threats."
"Prepare for battle! It seems that the Confederacy isn't as dead as Raynor thought it to be. We will relay any conversation through the Khala. We will be ready for hostilities," said the High Templar commanding one of the three Carriers that warped into the system.
"Ready the Arbiters for Recall," Zeratul replied.
"They have been told. The Terrans are commanding we open communications. What are your wishes?" inquired the High Templar.
"Carry out the plan," Zeratul answered, and closed his eyes, wishing for forgiveness for the coming slaughter.
"The aliens have responded to our hails, captain. Transmit our readied proposal?" asked the communications officer, turning around to look at the captain.
The captain rubbed his chin for a moment, took a short drag from his cigar, and replied, "Of course, we will follow our mission plans. Charge all ATA batteries to seventy percent, and double and triple check our target locks. Send three Wraiths to guard our Science Vessel; I have a feeling we're going to need it."
"Sir! The cloaking ships are…running away! They seem to be headed in opposite directions…"
From the sound of his voice, the captain could tell his strategy tactician was stunned and amazed. The captain knew his job was infinitely harder, now that he had an unknown threat.
The captain asked him, "Where exactly are they headed?"
"According to my readings, they will be in a forty five degree angle from the fleet, approximately three thousand miles away from us. It looks like they're trying to flank us, but I don't see any other ships moving with them."
"Opening channel… completed. It will appear on all officers' command screens," said the communications officer, who was annoyed that she was being ignored.
The captain and the rest of the commanding officers on board nearly simultaneously looked down at the built-in computer screens, which where imbedded in the arms of their chairs, and looped around them like a high chair's cover. On it, came the face and upper torso of the High Templar commanding the Carrier.
"This is the United Earth Directorate. Why are you here?" demanded the captain.
"We are looking for one of our lost brethren. We believe he is on this planet, and will not allow ourselves to be interrupted by the Confederacy. We do not wish to do so, but force shall be used if necessary," warned the High Templar.
"Disengage yourselves from this system immediately, or you will be forced to surrender. Fight, however, and you will be destroyed," said the captain, wondering why the aliens referred to them as the Confederacy.
"I believe these negotiations have come to an end," said the High Templar, eyes glowing strangely, and with that, the screens of all officers wiped blank.
The captain sighed, sat back in his chair, and said, "Radio the rest of the fleet; tell them our attack pattern. Oh, and we should be sure to only disable one of those alien ships; I think the scientists would be ecstatic to know we brought them a gift. Move out, and prepare to engage!"
"Sir! Our Science Vessel is out of commission. You should come see this! It's in some kind of … stasis field," awed the strategy tactician. He continued in worry, "Sixteen identified aliens coming straight for us! They are the Zerg, and they have six Scourges and ten new units unknown to us! We'll be hit!"
"Where'd they come from!" demanded the captain.
"Straight from underneath the two cloaking ships! They weren't running away, they were executing their battle plan," said the strategy tactician nervously. "Brace for impact!"
"Fire! Right at those Scourges!" roared the captain.
He watched nervously as the lances of orange energy soar into the blackness, straight for the new, and greatest, threat. They struck two, which erupted into orange white balls of energy, and then vaporized. But, he knew it wasn't enough to stop the menace.
"Brace for impact!"
The four Scourges plowed into the hull of the Battlecruiser in a ball of putrid green acid, completing their suicide attack. The Battlecruiser shook from the force of the blast, and the ship barely held together. That was, until the new units came in and fired light purple liquid, which dealt the finishing blow to the Battlecruiser, igniting its nuclear power source, causing the ship to explode. The remaining Wraiths were taken down by the Protoss fleet.
"Zeratul. The plan is triumphant. We have also located a Protoss energy source inside a small installation; we will land, and allow you enough time to complete your mission. We have located an area suitable for a temporary base near the installation, but it is heavily guarded by the Confederacy. We'll have to fight our way through them," said the High Templar.
"Obtain the area around the installation. I will finish the rest. Oh, and someone is to thank Kerrigan for allowing us to Mind Control some of her units; they proved their worthiness," answered Zeratul, who went back to meditation.
"Initiate landing sequence; all ships with cargo and their escorts, report to landing zone immediately. Everyone else, we shall strike first on these peasants," said the commander of the Carrier in a cold tone.
"Zeratul, the path to the installation is cleared. Begin your mission."
Zeratul awoke from his meditation, yellow eyes glowing from the ecstasy of excitement. After ordering his Shuttle to the installation entrance, he informed the rest of his brethren what their mission was. This took a shorter time than expected, and they all waited in quiet until they arrived at the installation.
They arrived, and the Shuttle opened the doors on its underbelly to allow its passengers to hop out. Four Dark Templar and one Reaver bumbled through the entrance of the installation. On the inside, they were met with silence, and an access terminal was stuck in the wall. One of the Dark Templar walked up to it, and it automatically activated, talking in a cool, women's voice.
"Welcome to the Beta Installation, Code Name-BRXS. What are your wishes?" asked the pre-recorded voice.
"Zeratul, was your time in the installation before well spent?" questioned the Dark Templar who activated the device, still eyeing the device as though it, or he, had gone crazy.
"Indeed. Allow me," Zeratul said, as he walked up to the computer. "Computer: activate all security cameras, and disable the defenses."
"Processing . . . Complete. Security cameras active in Bays 2, 4, and 7, and Cells 2-4, 2-5, 4-13, 7-1, and 7-9. Error! Camera in Cell 7-10 has failed to come online. Processing… Complete. Using Cell 7-11 and 7-9 to compensate. Intruders of unknown origin, activating defense systems . . . Complete!" spoke the cool tone.
"That will be our brethren. Come, to Bay 7! We have little time to waste," Zeratul commanded, leading the way through the half-familiar confines of the installation.
"Be careful, we know not if the Confederates found the installation as well," said the Dark Templar nearest the Reaver.
So began the long walk through the corridors of the structure, as the four assassins and the ground carrier made their way to Bay 7. They encountered some of the automatic defenses, but the Reaver was able to eliminate the threat. They entered Bay 7 to find a platoon of Marines and two Firebats, but with the Dark Templar's help, the Reaver was still functional.
"The location of the cell is down this hallway. Tread carefully," Zeratul whispered to his companions.
They walked past the cells before they stopped when Zeratul recognized the writing on the terminal next to the cell door. He walked up to the terminal to open the door, but it automatically opened. He cautiously entered, and saw a sight that nearly made him leap with joy: Tassadar. His old friend was as he remembered, the same kind High Templar whom he had met on Char. He couldn't speak, nor even make a sound, but he didn't have to, for it was Tassadar who spoke first:
"Hello, my brother. It…has been a long time, what feels like eons, and yet, I am not myself. I have been reborn, ever since I lost my life in the Last Battle. I am still Tassadar; his spirit still resides inside me, for there is no doubt he will live on. But I am not he, for I am Naggirek, reborn from the fiery ashes of your brother. I realize now, as I did then, that I was to die in that battle, for the sake of our kind, and destroy the foul beast set on assimilation. I cannot comprehend why I am still here, here in this reality. I have had much time to ponder it, and nothing has yet answered my calls for truth. But, I do have an idea, and that is why we should leave this world, and head back to Aiur, for I sense an even greater threat; the Overmind isn't as dead as we had believed," Naggirek said solemnly.
Zeratul knew he told the truth; he couldn't deny it. His energy signature was slightly off that of Tassadar. But, the time was not now to grieve; his friend was indeed alive, and alive he shall remain. Zeratul swore by this.
Then, looking at Naggirek, he said, "Then we shall leave for Aiur immediately."
