Chapter 8
Flash and Stukov had just returned to the fleet when Admiral DuGalle summoned them to report on the operation.
Upon entering DuGalle's officer, they saw that DuGalle was deadly serious and was clearly irked about something.
"I want answers!", demanded DuGalle. "What the hell happened out there?"
For a few moments, everyone was silent. Then, Stukov began speaking. "Gerard, during our mission we encountered… complications. It seems that Duran was a traitor working for the zerg. He abandoned his position and allowed the zerg to attack our forces that were trying to capture Mengsk and Raynor. Fortunately, due to the Captain's quick thinking, he was able to hold back the zerg. Mengsk and Raynor had almost escaped through the warp gate, but our forces managed to kill them."
"It would have been preferable to capture Mengsk alive so that we could publicly execute him, but I suppose it is good enough that he didn't escape", DuGalle said. Then, his tone turned cold. "Now, I would like to know WHY WE NUKED OUR OWN FORCES!?"
Flash and Stukov looked at each other awkwardly. They weren't sure how to explain this. Finally, Stukov cleared his throat and began answering. "Well… Gerard, you see… it seems that Duran was not all that he seemed to be." Stukov appeared to be greatly uncomfortable. "It appeared that Duran was some kind of an alien creature capable of vast feats of power. He managed to kill the men we sent to apprehend him and there was no choice other than to nuke him."
DuGalle stood in silence as he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Alexei… were you drinking vodka during the mission?"
"No, Gerard", replied Stukov quickly. "I was completely sober. Duran transformed into a monster before our very eyes."
"You are telling me... Duran was not a human and was instead a shapeshifting alien that we had no knowledge of. And he managed to single handedly defeat our forces", DuGalle said slowly. "You expect me to believe this fantasy?"
"Uh, we have video evidence of this, Sir", Flash said. He pulled up the recordings of their battle with Duran.
DuGalle watched through the video silently. Even after he finished it, he stood in shock. Finally, he spoke. "It seems that the evidence is introvertible, despite what common sense would seem to dictate."
DuGalle sat down in his chair and let out a sigh. "What are we going to do now, gentlemen."
"Well, you may recall that back when we found the Psi Disruptor, Duran had advocated quite strongly for its destruction", Stukov said. "I suspect that since Duran was working for the zerg, he had wanted the Psi Disruptor's destruction in order to remove a threat to his master."
"Perhaps you were right, Alexei", DuGalle said. "But there is nothing we can do now, the Disruptor has already been destroyed."
"Gerad, I have something to tell you", Stukov said. "You see, the Psi Disruptor was not destroyed. I had arranged for my men to dismantle it and study it. We will be able to reassemble it for our use."
"You disobeyed my orders, Alexei", DuGalle said in shock. "I can't believe it! How could you do this."
"It was necessary", Stukov said. "We needed the Disruptor to defeat the zerg. And now we can see that saving the Disruptor was the right idea after all."
"Very well then. I will excuse you this time because we are old friends. But don't do this again", said DuGalle sternly.
"I shall have the Psi Disruptor set up on Korhal", Stukov said. "Then we can take the fight to the zerg."
The long prepared for invasion of Char was about to begin. When the fleet arrived in orbit over Char, they found the resistance to surprisingly weak.
The Adjutant reported the reason for this. "Captain, with the Psi Disruptor's signal hampering the Zergs' communications to one another, the Swarms over Char have scattered in disarray, allowing the fleet to penetrate to the planet's surface. However, there is still a considerable number of defenders nestled around the fledgling Overmind."
"You were right, Alexei", DuGalle said. "The Disruptor is the key to victory here. If I had destroyed the machine as Duran suggested we would never have made it this far... Nevertheless, the time is upon us, Captain, to do what we came here for. We will claim the Overmind in the name of Humanity!"
The fleet approached the Overmind and began scanning the surrounding area as they began landing. "Be advised, Captain: our sensors have identified three cerebrates who constitute the core of the Overmind's defenses. Each cerebrate's distinct capabilities are still unknown, so proceed with extreme caution."
"Launch your forces and let not a Zerg survive!", DuGalle ordered. "Once you have reached the Overmind and crushed its defenders, you are to send in specially trained medics who will pacify the creature with potent Neurostim drugs. Only then will our victory be assured. Be careful and good luck. I am sure that this will be our finest hour."
When their forces landed, they quickly began setting up a base. Some of the patrol teams at the outskirts reported being attacked by sunken colonies.
"Sir, these sunken colonies aren't being affected by anything we hit 'em with. I'll bet there's one of those Cerebrate critters pumpin' 'em full of energy nearby", the marine reported.
The sunken colonies surrounded most of the base, so for the time being they were unable to push outwards. Meanwhile, they had to set up defenses to deal with the constant attacks launched by the zerg. A few tanks and bunkers were able to take care of most of the attacking zerg, but a sudden roar caught everyone off guard.
A massive ultralisk was charging toward the base, a Torrasque. The Torrasque was powerful and managed to tear through multiple bunkers and some tanks, but in the end it was brought down by vast amounts of firepower. Unfortunately, it seems that they would not be freed from this threat. A recon team reported that the Torrasque was being reincarnated by a cerebrate.
Once their forces were properly dug in, it was time to strike. A fleet of battlecruisers and valkyrie frigates were sent to the north to strike at the cerebrate. The cerebrate was mostly guarded by sunken colonies, so the battlecruisers were able to avoid the bulk of the defenses. There were a few flocks of mutalisks, but the valkyries and battlecruisers were able to defeat them.
Finally, the fleet came upon the cerebrate and began attacking. After a period of bombardment, the cerebrate was destroyed. Since the overmind was still young, it would take a long time for it to reincarnate the cerebrate, so for the time being they would not have to deal with the cerebrate. Furthermore, with the cerebrate dead, the sunken colonies lost their immunity and the forces controlled by the cerebrate went dormant.
Next, the fleet struck to the east. The cerebrate there was responsible for the Torrasque, so destroying the cerebrate would help remove this frustrating thorn in their side.
As before, the battlecruisers were able to sweep away the spore colonies and the valkyries were able to repel the scourge attacks. It only took a short while before the fleet reached the cerebrate. Then, the battlecruisers charged up their yamato guns and blasted the cerebrate. With the cerebrate destroyed, there was no more need to worry about the Torrasque.
There was just one final obstacle in the way, the third cerebrate which controlled the defenses surrounding the overmind. When the fleet approached, they were quickly beset upon by flocks of mutalisks and devourers as well as swarms of hydralisks. The valkyries were able to make quick work of the mutalisks and devourers while the battlecruisers managed to defeat the hydralisks, though not without losses.
Finally, the fleet broke through to the third cerebrate and destroyed it. With the death of the third cerebrate, the last of the broods defending the overmind went dormant and the path to the overmind lay bare. It became trivial for the UED forces to secure the area and the medics were soon dispatched to the overmind.
"Captain, the medics are in place and are administering the Neurostim treatments to the Overmind", a ghost reported.
Not long after they seized control of the Overmind, a second zerg force appeared. The UED command was surprised, as they thought that they now controlled all the zerg because they had the overmind.
A monstrous figure emerged from an overlord. The individual appeared to be female and seemed to be a mix of terran and zerg, but she was unlike any infested terran they had seen before. A pair of sharp bladed wings emerged from her back and she emanated an aura of power. "Admiral DuGalle. I've heard a lot about you", she said.
"Who the...What the hell are you?", DuGalle asked.
"I am Kerrigan. The Zerg you've killed here and the Overmind that you've come to collect... are mine. You see, Admiral... there are a number of groups in this sector who feel your involvement here causes certain complications. My associates and I intend to make sure that your reign is short lived."
"You may find that difficult, you abomination", DuGalle spat, "seeing as how I possess the means to disrupt your control of the Zerg."
"Ah, you're referring to your vaunted Psi Disrupter." Kerrigan smiled. "It won't last you forever, Admiral. Sooner or later, I'll destroy it. Then I'll show you what the Zerg are really capable of."
Kerrigan returned to her overlord and began to leave. DuGalle ordered their forces to pursue, but the zerg escort accompanying Kerrigan engaged the UED fleet, delaying them and allowing Kerrigan's departure.
"We have won a glorious victory today", said Admiral DuGalle. "And we have you to thank for it, Captain."
"Yes, your tactical skills were what allowed to get this far", Stukov added. "You should be proud of yourself."
"I only seek to do my duty for humanity", Flash said.
"Yes, of course", DuGalle said. "Humanity owes you a great debt. Our control of this sector is virtually assured. With the overmind and the Psi Disruptor in our hands, there is no one who could stop us."
"Just remember to be careful, Admiral", Flash replied. "If we were to lose the Psi Disruptor or the overmind, it would be disastrous for us."
"Indeed", DuGalle said. "That is why we must be quick in crushing our opposition. Show this abomination Kerrigan the true might of the UED."