Starcraft: Takeover

Paul Franklin

Original Concept courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment ©

Chaper 5: Initiation

Empire looked out over the expanse that lay between the Zerg staging point and the Terran base. Lights, flashing a brilliant red, could be seen through the darkness as dusk began to set. IThey must have finally located us/I Empire thought with a grin. ITook them long enough./I Empire walked back to his post among his group of Ultralisks.

There was a new practice going on among the Cerebrates recently. The Cerebrates had taken to using Infested Terran bodies as hosts, allowing the Cerebrates to roam with more freedom among the ranks of the Swarm. These bodies, once possessed by the Cerebrates, had their explosive tendencies suppressed. Equipped to these new bodies, though, were powerful glands capable of shooting an acid powerful enough to melt titanium.

Empire paused in his step as his mind began to waver. IWhat is it that my Master wills/I Empire thought. His thoughts were directed towards the Overmind himself - or rather, the Cerebrate who merged with him, Alabaster - who had contacted Empire through a telepathic link.

IHow soon may we begin our onslaught of the Terran Command Center/I

Empire noticed the urgency in Alabaster's words. IWe will be ready by morning/I Empire replied. II hope you will be pleased with the force that has been assembled for this task./I While the Terrans were still busy training their soldiers, the Zerg encampment on the other side of the planet had amassed several hundred Zerglings, Hydralisks, and Mutalisks. Several groups of Gaurdians had been metamorphosed from Mutalisks, and there were Ultralisks standing ready to be the tanks of the attack. A small grouping of Queens was prepared to provide backup for the infantry, should the need arise.

Alabaster chuckled. IEmpire, you have done well. I knew I could trust you with my bidding./I

A sudden shudder pierced Empire's spine, if one could say he possessed one. With the tone of Alabaster's voice, he noted, one would think he was the Overmind himself and not merely a Cerebrate that was given the incredible opportunity to become one with the Overmind. Empire made sure to watch for Alabaster, in case he tried anything to harm the Swarm.

IAttack at once, with full force./I

The words hit Empire hard. IBut sir/I Empire protested, I The Terrans are aware of our presence. Even as we speak, they are on emergency status. Wouldn't it be wise to attack from the entire perimeter of the base so as to confuse them in their already obvious panic/I

Alabaster's voice suddenly took a rather imperative tone. IDo as I told you, Cerebrate! I will not tolerate mutiny in /ImyI Brood. Now attack at once/I

Empire had almost had enough, but this was obviously the will of the Overmind, or else he would not have allowed Alabaster to merge with him in the first place. Reluctantly, Empire gathered his troops at the summit of the hill and prepared to attack.

---------------------------------------------

Back at the Terran Base, the soldiers were on high alert, and tensions were high. Everyone was anxious and nervous as the Red Alert resounded in their ears. What just a few minutes before had been a peaceful base on the outskirts of nowhere was now a fortress, prepared for anything aside from a full-out attack from the Protoss Fleet.

All over the base, men and women were heading to their stations. Turret Ops rushed towards the Missile Turrets, quickly opening radar connections with the soldiers' HUDs. Soldiers rushed towards the perimeter of the base, where bunkers had been placed in an almost impenetrable fence around the command center. The entire Medical Division had been put on standby, including Neeko and her staff.

Boxo, with his new bionic arm clutching his rifle, was placed on the front lines with Noog and the rest of the 13th platoon, as was Quiksilver and his 3rd squad of Firebat elites. Accompanying the 3rd squad was the 5th, lead by a small, tough Firebat named Asuka. Asuka, though short in stature, was not lacking in skill. Able to rival even Quiksilver in speed, the only thing hotter than his flame was his bright red hair. Working in tandem with Quiksilver's 3rd Division was a specialty that he and Quiksilver had perfected during training sessions, and their teamwork was second to none.

Revillo was stationed in the back of the lines, accompanying the other 8 Ghost Special Ballistics Corps members. Their job was to sneak, unseen, into the Zerg colony and activate a tracer beacon in the base. This beacon would initiate the launch sequence for the new nuclear missiles that Revillo had helped develop just days before the alarm. While the base had only two of these nukes, with a third in the making, they packed enough punch to revert anything in its blast radius into its basic molecular structure, severing any molecular bonds.

Richter had mobilized his Goliath Demolition Corps. Standing in his Goliath in front of his troops with Stickaz on his right, Richter connected with all of his troops' communicator systems.

"We are on the verge of war, ladies and gentlemen. War. Doubleyou Aye Are. Some of you don't know what that means, since you're so new to the whole military thing. What war means is death. Killing. Brutal decapitations as bullets pierce heads. A gruesome scenery unfolding before your eyes." Richter began pacing the ranks in his Goliath with Stickaz close on his heels, mocking Richter's every word in a childish manner and arousing small, grim smiles from some of the men.

"Your mission today," Richter continued, "is to make sure that every last goddamn one of those Zerg bastards out there goes down and never gets back up. Not one Zergling gets out alive." Richter turned around in time to see Stickaz finish his mockery of the last sentence. "I'll take care of you later," the Corporal remarked, and turned away from the now red-faced pilot, who promptly gave Richter the finger.

Richter took a final glance over the force he had assembled in defense. I13 Marine Divisions, 8 Firebat Squads, 8 Ghosts, 40 Goliaths in my ranks, 15 Siege Tanks, 30 Vultures, 3 Medical Squads, and no air support./I Richter closed his eyes and sighed. IWe're in some tough shit./I

The Corporal began putting the finishing touch on his preparatory speech. "And so, men, no matter what happens out there in the field, no matter how large the force is, no matter how many men fall to blood and guts right in front of you, you Iwill not falter./I Comprende?" Expecting a resounding reply, but receiving none, Richter repeated his statement. "Comprende!" Richter received nothing but horror-stricken faces.

"What the hell is so goddamn scary?" Richter turned around in a disgruntled manner to see just what it was the men were so in awe about. What he saw almost turned his hair white. Cresting the ridge was the largest force that Richter had ever seen in his entire service in the military.

Asuka turned to look at one of his men. The young Firebat who met Asuka's gaze was standing in an increasingly large puddle of urine.