Chapter 2
Redemption
The Dylar rim was a huge Asteroid Belt which could circle Jupiter twice and was home to a vast mineral deposit, the Confederacy had once tried to mine it but when a major asteroid collusion with the mining platform occurred Confederacy closed all mining operations and left the rim alone. The asteroids made the perfect place to hide smaller classed ships like Wraith Fighters or with the right technology a base of operations. When the end of the Guild Wars was apparent the Kel-Morian Combine led a massive strike force into the Dylar Rim to take out the Omega Squadron Command Base on Dylar 4. The strike force didn't last long in the rim when one mine was sent into a massive deposit of minerals in the rim which caused a chain reaction the Asteroid plummeted into the Kel-Morian ships ending the Guild Wars once and for all.
The Wraiths reached the rim and separated in threes. Each Wraith equipped with T-42 Missiles and a standard light Laser. A Wraith Fighter is also capable of cloaking using its enhanced energy cells to power the cloaking unit, although do have a time limit because of overheating can change the battle by the press of a button.
"Leo, Dushku take wide flanks, keep yourselves in communication distance and search thoroughly through each Asteroid" said McCloud through the helmets communication device.
McCloud took his Wraith into a large Asteroid and searched through it dodging the small clumps of chipped Asteroids that floated about. Hours went by and nothing was found, many of the squads had returned back to home base but McCloud decided to do one more search through before heading back.
"You two go back to home base, I'm sure its nothing just a mineral exhaust but still I want to check it out" said McCloud looking through his Wraith windows at the other two pilots.
"Yes Sir, see you back at home base"
The two Wraiths darted into the distance and in a mater of minutes they were off the radar.
"Nothing, another wasteful mission sometimes I wonder why I do this job, for the money, no what the hell am I going to buy it was probably my patriotic self, fight for the Confederacy, do or die attitude" thinking to himself.
McCloud finished up his second run and headed back to the Antioch. He came out of the rim and a sudden scramble of communications entered his helmet.
"We have four bogies heading toward you Smith, take them out"
"Sir, under heavy fire, I'm going down, I'm going down" A large explosion came after the communication and McCloud new something was wrong.
"Chechoff take Rico, Leo, Smith and other available fighters and head toward the enemy rear bow" said a screaming voice.
"We need some support, home base is under heavy fire down the right flank any available fighters and we need assistance"
McCloud put his Wraith into full power and headed straight toward the Antioch, gun ports open, as he came into distance lots of light specs could be scene and ruble of destroyed Wraiths started to fly past him, the enemy weren't Terran but looked organic. There ships were dragon like with wins that flapped, large green spurs shooted from the end of there upward curved tails, a Wraith fighter flew past one and its missiles clashed into the organic creature some what injuring it. Blood leaked from the vessel and drifted down. McCloud flew and fired two more missiles into the creature and it splattered into his windows. Many of these creatures could be scene fighting with other Wraiths, the Antioch shot volleys of heavy laser shots at the creatures but there fast maneuverability dodged the lasers.
"McCloud, I mean Sir, good to see you on the battlefield" said several voices in his helmet.
"What the hell is going on" said McCloud tailing one of the creatures shooting an array of lasers and missiles.
"These, things came out of know were, we had just arrived to the Antioch and thirty – sixty of these things popped out of warp just beside the Antioch. We have sustained heavy losses and the Antioch is bad shape but were still fighting sir" replied a voice in his helmet.
"Good work pilot, I want whoever's alive to tag behind me, where going to counterattack and run along the Antioch deck side and take out the bastards" said McCloud shoving on the power.
"Yes Sir" came several voices.
Several Wraiths now lined themselves behind McCloud and came along the top of the Antioch taking out the creatures, missiles and laser were seen everywhere as the creatures either fell into the ship or were totally obliterated. The creatures were down to a few that were still fighting with no sign of retreating, a large warp vortex erupted over the Antioch and hundreds and hundreds of creatures came out, several more vortexes starting opening at the bow of the Antioch, seven battle cruiser classed ships came out with more Wraiths in toe. The ships Yamato Cannons fired at the creatures obliterating twenty to thirty of them with each shot. McCloud flew his Wraith with allied Wraiths who joined them and took on the creatures. Some of the creatures started a Kamikaze like run into the battle cruisers and Wraiths. The Wraiths collided with the creatures.
"Lieutenant McCloud, this General Edmund Duke of Alpha Squadron, pull your Battle cruiser back behind Alpha Squadrons forces, you fought valiantly today Lieutenant" said General Duke bringing his forces toward the Antioch which slowly moved behind them.
"Yes Sir and I must say Sir, Thank God for Alpha Squadron"
"These Zerg scum will be dealt with, with no mercy"
The creatures were easily crushed by Alpha Squadron but the creatures did not retreat, did not surrender they kept fighting like they had no conscious, like they were not afraid of death.
Alpha Squadron finally had destroyed the last of the creatures and now chunks of metal and some organic flesh from creatures flew in space, bodies of the destroyed Wraiths plummeted into the ships at times.
"Lieutenant McCloud, please report to the Norad 2 for a debriefing, your other comrades will be taken care of by Alpha Squadron personal ya'll hear, Duke out" McCloud put on the Wraiths engines and headed toward the Norad 2 which was the flag ship of all of Alpha Squadron, being in battle many times and led by its General and leader of Alpha Squadron General Edmund Duke.
"Good Job Reapers, I'll see you guys soon"
"Thank You Sir"
The other Wraiths head toward the Battle cruiser next to the Norad 2 while McCloud took his Wraith into the Norad 2 Wraith Fighter bay and docked. The Wraith slowly came to a halt and engineers opened up the cockpit and McCloud got out.
"You fix her up good" said McCloud looking at the engineers.
"We will Sir"
McCloud walked out of the bay and was met by a Private.
"Sir, I'll take you to the debriefing room. General Duke is waiting"
The Norad 2 was very different to the Antioch with more guards stationed and a lot more rooms, the two went up to the highest level of the ship, the bridge and found General Duke sitting in a chair watching over the other battle cruisers.
"Sir, Lieutenant McCloud"
"Thank you private, please leave us" said Duke looking up at McCloud, two pilots were at the controls, the private and some others left the room as the General stood up.
"Follow me McCloud"
The General joined McCloud and they both walked through a door next to the elevator, a room with a desk, immaculate furniture and a sculpture of the Norad 2. A Big Alpha Squadron flag was on the wall behind the table and small pictures of General Duke and other Alpha Squadron personal were on the walls.
"Lieutenant McCloud, welcome to Alpha Squadron, you are being reassigned Lieutenant and so is the rest of the Reaper Squad. What you witnessed today was the enemy which attacked Chau Sara and now Mar Sara, we have called these critters Zerg and they've been popping up all over the place" said Duke taking a seat in his chair behind the table.
"So are the Zerg the ones that took out Chau Sara and killed all life on the planet?" asked McCloud.
"No, some other extra terrestrials did that, but the planet was infested to the rim by the Zerg, the Alien fleet actually wiped them out and slowed the progress of the infestation, but there on Mar Sara now and that's where we are heading now"
"So there's another Alien fleet out there?" asked McCloud
"That Alien fleet destroyed Chau Sara and is now heading to Mar Sara to take out the Zerg infestations. Command believe that the Aliens that are wiping each planet out are destroying the Zerg, problem is there destroying us two, were going there to evacuate Nova Squadron troops"
"What about civilian personal? Local militia?" said McCloud walking in paces.
"That's not out our job; the Confederacy has asked me to evacuate Nova and to retrieve some Confederacy Property"
"So where going to leave all of them to die?"
"Yes, now go do your job; I want the Antioch in warping shape in two hours Captain. Now don't let me down" Duke took a folder out and started to read from it, McCloud saluted and walked out of the room and toward the elevator.
He made his back to the Wraith bay, launched and headed back to the Antioch, he docked and hopped out, some of the Reaper Pilots applauded McCloud as he hopped out of the Wraith and thanked them all he walked into the locker room and his PDA started beeping and vibrating, he took it out and there was one article being showed.
Breaking News: The Confederacy goes to War
The Terran Confederacy has revealed the enemy threat to the public, the enemy known as the Zerg have indeed infested many of the Terran colonies across the Koprulu Sector, one of those colonies being Chau Sara which was obliterated earlier today. Confederate military squadrons have taken station at many of the Confederacy colonies and at this moment battling with the Zerg. The Confederacy has ordered that all civilians stay calm as the military will take care of the Zerg threat. We would also like to report that Mar Sara is indeed under attack and the Confederacy has sent Alpha and Nova Squadrons to take control, we wish all of our Terran Comrades support and luck.