Chapter 1

The Forgotten Soldier

Mark viewed the horizon seeing a vast landscape of desert and large crevices. The mountains in the distance looked hazy from all the gas particles left behind from the dropships, wraiths, and battlecruisers that landed here one month prior and left only two days ago. Other areas looked rather red compared to the dark brown useless soil. It was the puddles of blood and guts from the remains of Zerg and Terran. A massive battle took place here. Dieing Zerg creeps still visible turning into a dry material poisonous to the touch and releasing small green gas clouds showing the last breath of this living structure. Dismembered arms, legs, heads, and even a few tails remain of the Zerg while most Terran remains were picked up or buried by their comrades. The scene of destruction showed several large craters from explosions and destroyed ground of the Zerg creep.

No large amount of minerals or vespene geysers in the area or good soil for food. Not even a livable atmosphere was put upon this planet. It was simply the location of a small Zerg colony which our commanders, hiding in their flag ships high above the atmosphere, wanted to see destroyed. Too close to one of our worlds, they muttered yet all of us knew the distance between the two planets was so vast that even the Zerg weren't willing to do the journey any time soon. Our attack on the Zerg wasn't to just rid our galaxy of the Zerg threat but to test the knew recruits who were sent in first. Being a veteran among an army of boys, I knew the battle would be a victory but at a very high price. Our leaders knew that a Zerg colony as large as this one should have been fought with some of our best wraith pilots and bombed into submission far before our Marines even set foot on this God-forsaken planet. They wanted to test 'em though, to see which Marine is better suited for the hard life of the Marine Corp.

Making my way down from Hill 23, I ventured into the boneyard of destroyed tanks, goliaths, wraiths, and even a battlecruiser. I was looking for supplies or a radio. It just so happened that in the rush to leave the planet, they forgot a soldier whom they probably won't even care enough about to send a dropship after. I already figured my life was going to be settled here among the ruins of the planet we only know as Zerg-12. In other words, the twelve planet found to be inhabited by the elusive Zerg. Walking towards the battlecruiser formally known as the "Never Death" named for it's astounding ability to survive fifty plus battles. It finally rests in the wastelands of a battle already lost in the memories of soldiers who wish to keep this planet a secret.

Rested nearly perfectly on its side, it was a site to see when it crashed. As several Mutalisks attacked its engines, the captain of the Never Death was concentrating on the battle below blasting away at the Zerg Ultralisks trying to assist the Marines. After two engines went offline, the captain felt a heavy rumble as the ship began to feel the awesome power of gravity. Nearly everyone stopped fighting as the fog horn blew away warning those below to move fast. The uproar from the Zerg as they also viewed the Never Death falling to Zerg-12, was pounding in everyone's head. The ship crashed hard sending up tons of dry soil and dust into the sky. The few remaining engines exploded as they hit the ground showing an awesome effect of fireballs. From that point on, the battle went on as we fought within the dust cloud of the Never Death. Our ranged weapons became blinded by the magnetic soil throwing off their guidance systems crashing into our Marines. Somehow though, we won the battle. Our large amounts of lost soldiers though was staggering. Thousands of them lost their lives from the crashed Never Death. Some trapped inside the inferno and some crushed as it crashed over the battle.

Inside the Never Death, I gathered ammo clips for I still expected to see a few remaining zerglings and hydralisks. I also decided to make the Never Death my campsite living inside some of the rooms that still had Oxygen pumps working. It felt great to remove my Combat Suit. I pulled out the food bags and began to snack. It was my first time eating in nearly 2 days. I also discovered a few journals left from the old members of the ship. Enjoying myself as I read the easy life of living in a ship, I noticed a few of them writing of the battle below. Some of them even spitting out jokes at the Marine forces fighting below. I used the journals as a heat source by burning them.

Resting through the night, I woke up to a planetary earthquake. It shook the whole ship and I began to worry about it destroying the Oxygen pumps so I put on my Combat Suit. Soon after the trembles finished I felt the urge to get off this planet. Heading outside I looked for wraiths with enough parts to build a spare ship with at least a working warp engine. After hours of walking through the boneyard, my journey ended when I found a near perfect wraith. Infact, too perfect, everything was working on it and the only thing that looked wrong was the lack of a pilot. Even the cockpit was open meaning that the pilot got out. I began to think he was still alive calling out the name etched on the side of the spacecraft. It was so happily named Deathwing.

"Deathwing!" I screamed.

Going through nearly every comm channel I began to realize no was near. My thoughts began to come up with ways the pilot probably died. My favorite thought came to mind when I pictured him landing after a rough battle and opening the hatch forgetting about the lack of breathable air in the atmosphere. I laughed at the thought of an idiot who forgot to leave his helmet on.

Climbing into the ship, I took one last glance at what I thought would be my last time on Zerg-12. Smiling as I closed the hatch and began to turn on the engines. Only the engines never kicked on. It became clear to me that the pilot most likely blew out his engines. I didn't give up though for now all I needed was some new engine parts. With my lack of knowledge on the wraith design I felt more and more trapped and imprisoned to Zerg-12.

After a long days search through an endless pile of debris, I headed back to the Never Death and back to my room for another meal and a needed restroom break.