Abandoned World like a Movie Set
After evacuating Bel'shir, Hanson and Stetmann had a jolly good time studying the new species in the lab, as well as protoss research material gleaned from junk taken from defeated protoss machines back in Bel'shir.
The two already designed Vanadium Plating that gives extra armor quality and thickening to EVERYTHING they have, which they combined with Bio-Steel on solely, their buildings and machines. As for the Refinery, they made it Automated with Micro-Filtering. And they're now having a new Protoss-inspired project on the works. The Zerg-inspired research as of now was the Bio-Steel which was Stetmann's brainchild, while the Shrike Turret was Hanson's in an effort to help out Ella during the Invasion of Agria.
'So how's your mom Ella?' Tosh asked Ella who was now having lunch as after everyone eats, only then can the cooks eat before washing the dishes! Then after that, bake bread for dinner tonight. Because carbs in breakfast is always baked potatoes, and carbs at lunch is always anything beans. At dinner is wholewheat bread.
James Raynor choked that they're the damn luckiest mercenaries in the entire Koprulu Sector, for enjoying healthy, delicious home cooking straight out of the stove, while most military outfits and mercenaries live off of the yucky MREs. Dry, subpar and bland tasting, and if there's Cobbler for dessert, expect people to bribe you to trade that MRE away or bully you into forking it over.
That was how he remembered 'dining' in his younger years when he was still with the Sons of Korhal.
But here in Hyperion? Desserts are tastier than cobblers. You get cakes or pies or best yet, Fruity Snow Cones! Brain-Freeze, is so worth it.
'That one pill's worth is a big help already...a few neurons grew and nerve damage from drugs healed a bit.' said Ella. 'But sadly, due to how rare it is, Terrazine's forever expensive for those with Brain Problems. And the Government would rather drug their Ghosts than share some stock to hospitals...Hanson states so many people coulda been saved from Dementia or Alzheimer's or something. One pill for my personal use also healed me from my damages from overusing my powers, but I need seven more to be fully-clear.'
'Government and society be a lost cause as long as government only thinks of themselves and how to use everyone to keep fattening their wallets.' said Tosh cynically.
The Hyperion was fully stocked, and they had to help Tosh deliver his goods so HE can get paid by his clients. He doubled his prices as the Terrazine he sold was 'pure, purified Terrazine'.
They still stop by civilized worlds to refill their food stocks on the sly to keep everyone happy, before the refugees were escorted to Meinhoff, a Kel-Morian Combine world used as a Staging Point for all refugees in the Sector whose worlds were decimated by the Zerg, no thanks to the Dominion's abandonment.
They also keep track of the news.
So for now, they were relaxing, after using the money gained from past jobs for everyone's salary, because regarding supplies, Ella steals for them. That got everyone much happier as in revolutions, you really don't earn money...
So for now, they're in New Sydney.
A shitty place.
'...this whole planet is The Gutter...' said Ella with a grimace as the Raiders had the Hyperion outside the planet. From the monitor, they can see how...shitty the surface was. The planet was aptly dark and gloomy, to reflect the crappy standard of living down below.
'I know, but none of us are picky for new threads...and its also far enough from Dominion Loyalists so we can safely buy new clothes and shoes thanks to the payday we just got.' said Raynor. 'None of us can wear the same things forever you know. Our stuff is starting to fall apart from too much washing. You ladies and Tychus keep an eye on the ship while the rest of us go down for a new closet.'
Because unlike them, the ladies actually have brand new clothes...before Agria got taken by the Zerg.
And thus, everyone left.
'Well, just us here now.' said Tychus.
'You know we can boot you out of that suit and toss you in the ER as soon as possible, right?' Claire asked Tychus. 'Why insist on wearing that rigged thing?'
Everyone on board knows Tychus'...situation. Courtesy of an unhappy James Raynor as he worried for his old buddy. None of them would have known, if not for Ella who was paranoid.
'Well, keeps my job...but I know my stint is only part-timing.' said Tychus. 'Once I get word that I'm fired, that'd be the time to toss me in for surgery before they hit my deadman's switch, yeah?' he said with a rather uneasy smile. He supposed good thing Ella knows his size. Jimmy shopped for him too for when the time comes.
It took about six hours, before the lone medivac they've got returned with all Raiders in tow with their shopping bags.
The Raiders were quick to toss their rags out as the only decent clothes they have left, were what they have on in the days the newcomers knew them and even then, they're about to meet their maker after a few more washings.
Once done with New Sydney, they traveled around space, for new gigs.
Finally, Tychus received word.
'Moebius wants us to go for another dig.' he told everyone on the bridge. 'Its in a world called Xil. Apparently they sent in a Specialist Team. But they lost contact with them two days ago. They got bad luck. Figures, we'd get a hazard pay for this one.'
'So that extra 10 grand on screen is the Hazard Pay?' Matt asked him wryly, noting the mission reward of 120.000 credits for an Archaeology Dig job. So far their highest-earners were up to 110.000.
'Pretty much. If y'ask me that ain't enough in this unknown world...nobody's explored Xil till they did.' said Tychus. 'Well, let's find out what made em' disappear.'
'Riiiight...' they had the Planetary Telescope send feed to their screen. It looked like something out of an Earth Movie. Star Wars? But its all...abandoned.
'This place is a morgue.' Tychus remarked at the sight. The planet is all in ruins and a dustbowl. Not a blade of grass in sight. 'Whatever used to live here, up n' died millions of years ago.'
'That extra ten grand is not worth it Findlay, can't you charge more?' Ella asked him as she noted the place. Notably, deceitfully empty ruins hide nasty monsters waiting to say hi, like in the movies!
'Ya think I haven't tried that kiddo? 120 grand is as far as they go.' he snorted. 'Before the mission team vanished, they reported Artifact Radiation from that big ol' hunk of rock o'er yonder.' he said, focusing the screen to a large...palace? Temple? 'They brought a big damn laser drill to burn their way in.'
'Laser drill?' Raynor blurted incredulously at the size of the laser on site which was many times larger than the turrets. 'That thing's a monster!' he exclaimed. 'If the Moebius Team had that kinda access to that kinda hardware, I hate to think what coulda wiped them out.'
'Well, here's your answer.' said Tosh wryly as he changed the feed to show Protoss bases of familiar color scheme. 'Say hi to our good ol' friend the Tal'darim.'
'Ugggh...why is it that when we get jobs from Moebius, we always had to deal with them?' Raynor joked.
'Well, mystery o' the year pardner.' Tychus snorted.
'For now, we'll find us a suitable base to drop into with Orbital Strike Port to be near the Laser Drill.' said Raynor. 'Ella, we leave the laser to you. The rest of us will handle defending until we get what we came here for.'
'Gotcha.' Ella nodded.
'Everyone suit up and move out! Prepare for drop-off!' Matt commanded as the Raiders took to task.
They all descended to that abandoned Terran Base near the drill.
'Adjutant, make that base ours.' Matt commanded the Adjutant that began conversion hacking.
/Moebius Local Net Accessed...decrypting Security Overrides...transferring command of base structures to you, commander./ Adjutant reported online.
'Fire up the drill.' Ella commanded the Adjutant that did the job of turning on and programming the drill for her use.
'174 gigawatts with the power of the sun at your fingertips.' Tychus grinned madly as Ella manned the drill. 'Now get aimin' at the door and let's get cuttin'.'
'Power output is good but there's no other way in other than cutting...something's interfering with my powers.' Ella reported back as her powers won't get through the temple. 'So I can't just go in and fish it out so we're doing this the hard way.'
'Understood.' Matt looked over the surface and saw the Protoss getting ready to attack. 'Sir, the Tal'darim are mobilizing their forces, getting ready to attack us.' he reported.
'Then we'll set a perimeter to protect Ella and the drill until we're through.' Raynor decided. 'Glad we got Siege Tanks.' he said in relief. After the orbital strike dropped them, what came next is the Barracks, so they can all eat and drink, even if it's shitty MREs on shift change.
The thieving Terrans have returned! they all heard the psychic voice of a Protoss. You will pay dearly for your transgressions! You will not leave here alive!
'Yeah yeah, we all heard that same old line.' Raynor griped with an eye roll. 'Shut the fekk up.'
'Even with the so-called Power of the Sun at our fingertips, this job is gonna take days boss.' said Ella, noting that all that power took time to even heat the door. 'As soon as we get that artifact so my powers will work properly again, I'd love to know what their buildings are made of. That first door? Its not even poker-hot yet. Nowhere near melting point.' she remarked thoughtfully.
'I gotcha. We're in for a battle of attrition.' Raynor agreed grimly. Its a neverending Protoss Army against 45 strong humans. Well, they overcame nasty odds before, this is no different. 'Matt, how many barriers in that building?'
'Three barriers sir, you're working on the first one now. Three barriers before the main locked door which is no doubt, just as bad.' Matt answered back. 'We'll be here for days.'
'Peachy...' Raynor sighed.
They camped for days, dealing with a hit-and-run attack. Tosh occasionally nukes the bases, but the Protoss recover fast by simply warping buildings in.
'I dare not get too close...my Cloak is worthless here.' he complained.
Then there came a time they were surrounded?
'Matt, send in more supplies! We're out of...huh?!' Raynor squawked as something bright and red passed over their heads.
BZZZZZZTTT!
Red wide laser basically atomized the gathered protoss army out their perimeter. They were surrounded with a massive force before. They were goners before, until...
'Well whaddya know, this thing's useful~' Ella whistled. 'Its a little heavy though...'
'Man, you saved our asses there kid.' said Findlay in relief. 'I thought we're done for.'
'Sending more supply depots down below now sir!' Matt announced as six more supply depots came with ammo, fuel, medicine and food.
'Alright men, fill up your guns and assist with refueling the Siege Tanks and Shrike Turrets!' Raynor ordered. 'While we have time! Ella, the barrier?!'
'Barrier one almost done boss! Hole's gonna be in a minute!' Ella yelled back.
'That took what...four days?' Tosh blinked as he was utterly incredulous. 'So its...four days per barrier?' he asked weakly.
'Yup. With all the crazy, we didn't realize four days flew by until I saw my watch.' said Ella tiredly. 'Is there no night in this planet that we failed to realize that until I looked at my damn watch and saw the date?'
'Wow, what did the aliens build their buildings with, and where can we get some?' he fell on his ass tiredly after reloading his rifle and recharging his armor.
'Y'know Tychus, if not for Ella's ability, that 120.000 grand isn't worth this.' said Raynor wryly. 'The expenses in supplying our job here alone exceeds the reward!' he exclaimed. 'Exceeded by 58% on day one alone!'
'Yeah. We're damn shorted pardner. But to be fair, we're damn outgunned.' said Tychus. 'That laser drill left behind was our saving grace, and Tosh's nukes.'
Twelve more difficult days later...they got the artifact, and were all liberated by Matt, including the Laser Drill.
'You know sir, as much as I want to sell this drill to cover our massive deficits from that mission, I feel that this will save our asses in future campaigns.' said Matt as he eyed the massive drill in their cargo bay. 'So I say we keep this thing as compensation for what you boys put up with.'
'I'm a petty man whose men suffered a lot down there, I agree.' Raynor grunted. 'This thing's ours! All in favor?!' he called out to his unhappy men.
'AYE!'
Unanimous vote there!
Needless to say, they swindled Moebius during discussions out of their Laser Drill.
'Come on you guys, off to the clinic.' said Hanson. 'All of you need treatment, after you dump your equipment to Swann. He's gonna burst into hives upon seeing the conditions of your marine gears...maybe we better research on improving armor quality too. Some of those look like swiss cheese!'
'Urk...there's that.' Raynor winced. 'He's gonna kill us.'
The other marines also dreaded the man's reaction.
And at the Armory...?
'WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GUYS DO?!' Swann exclaimed in aghast at the states of their CMC Armors dumped in the armory. 'Forget repairing them, we gotta make new suits!' he sputtered out. 'No miracle in the galaxy can ever fix these scrap heap!' he exclaimed, waving a hand at the pile of ruined armor. 'We'll use the supplies we got off Bel'shir to make new suits!'
Yep, Swann wasn't happy.
xxx
At the clinic?
Stress Hormones were teleported out of their systems, Hanson subjected them all to Nutrient IV Drips until they 'got everything covered' and put them all to sleep for as many hours as they like to recover well. All field personnel were under healing that day. Tychus was the exception again due to his situation. His goods had to be teleported in while medication was injected every six hours in set schedules to avoid clashing of nutrient types that prevents absorption of the other or worse, bad reactions.
So when they left, they were all in better moods for their first meal in twelve days.
'Had a good rest sir?' Matt asked Raynor who came back looking refreshed.
'Yeah. I strangely felt real good.' said Raynor in a chipper manner. 'It helps that we each got chocolate bars after Hanson booted us out of the clinic. Its your turn to be under meds now Matt. This mission was downright nasty. Its been a tough job.'
'Yeah. I was thinking we should look for recruits for the upcoming missions, but the pay...we'll have to talk to Ella about the money since she steals Confederate and Dominion Money...'
'She's taking a long well-deserved shower. You know how women take long compared to us guys in the bath.' Raynor joked. 'Ask her later.'
And so...
'Recruits huh. Well, we'll look into fringe worlds not yet affected by the Zerg and recruit select individuals who won't cause us trouble.' Ella told them. 'Or those who lost their Mercenary Contracts willing to join us.'
'Well, we'll have to choose who's worth keeping onboard as most days, we're keeping the fight without getting any pay.' said Raynor. 'Money still makes the world go round and Mercenaries fight for money. It's a tough choice.'
'I'll handle if we have no choice. Civilians are idealistic, but put em' in the field, they get the willies.' Ella snarked. 'It takes a certain mentality to be on the field. No Resoc Chamber can change that as one's heart is stronger than the programming.' she said. 'There are people with ideals but the difference between them is those willing to fight to make it happen, or understandably afraid of the field, but being a patron instead or those who are sitting and wait for a miracle to happen.'
'I uh, we need fighters more.' Raynor snorted. 'Given how Mengsk vilified us, I don't see patrons any day soon.'
'Mercenaries it is then sir.' Matt smirked at the choices the teenager put out. 'We gotta choose who won't double-cross us later on, among those who lost their contracts. By the way, while you boys were out relaxing, we've received reports on a Dominion Salvage Operation on Tarsonis.' he informed them. 'They're running a large number of supply trains with minimal security. If we can intercept the trains' contents before they can be shipped off-world, we could make a serious profit.'
'Tarsonis huh...what could the Dominion want in that planet-wide graveyard after the Sons of Korhal, Zerg and Protoss laid waste to that planet?' Ella wondered aloud.
'Beats us, but this is appealing.' said Raynor, stroking his chin. 'Now what could Mengsk want in Tarsonis...?' he mused thoughtfully. 'Matt, is Swann done with making our new suits?'
'Yes sir, Vanadium Plating applied too.' Matt answered him. 'All our boys got new gear ready. We just need to obtain ammo next. Like I said, that mission in Xil wiped us out of ammo and fuel.'
'Yup, we do that before we strike Tarsonis.'
