Ascension of the Khalai Chapter 6: Siege of Antioch, a starcraft fanfic

Chapter Six: Siege of Antioch

Last of the three is Praetor Fenix. I could fill pages describing this guy. He oozed confidence and talking with him you felt like you had been friends for years. As if you and this protoss you'd only just met had fought together against impossible odds for years. Everyone was inspired by him.

His word carried a lot of weight in protoss society. Not as a commander, but as a friend. When he suggested something it was enough to get people to listen. Which was the problem. I think. Fenix was of a lower caste, but through sheer force of personality, he had broken out of it. I think that some among the Conclave were concerned about his proximity to Aldaris and Mojo.

I think the fear is that they might form a triumvirate like in ancient Rome on Old Earth. I doubt it's a problem though. Aldaris and Mojo seem far too loyal to ever consider it, and Fenix doesn't have an interest in power.

Liberty's Reports, volume IV

The zerg swarm stretched out into the horizon. Serena looked at it through her binoculars as more and more zerg came just out of gunshot range of Antioch. They had yet to launch any kind of assault, but they were gathering. And Serena didn't like it one bit.

'Why aren't these critters attacking already?' muttered Tychus.

'I don't know.' said Serena 'But I don't like this.'

'It is Kaloth we face.' said Fenix 'I sense him in the air. Yet what does he intend by waiting?'

Serena looked around at the central temple of Antioch. It had a ceiling nearly thirty feet tall with massive pillars. It was kind of like ancient Rome. 'We're stretched thin, Fenix. It will take a long time for any reinforcements to get to us. That means he has time to gather his full force.'

'Then we should sally forth and strike now before they can muster fully!' said Fenix, igniting a psi blade. 'We shall carve a path through them and our names will be remembered if we fall!'

'Unfortunately, terran tactics don't work very well for glorious charges.' said Serena 'We're better at last stands. Which brings me to my idea. What if we send a strike force to provoke them. We might be able to lure them into attacking us before they are fully ready.'

'A fine plan, Serena.' said Fenix 'I shall lead the assault myself.'

'No. This should be done by dragoons.' said Serena 'They can fire and withdraw, while melee warriors would be surrounded and cut off.' She opened a channel on her com. 'Emily prepare the siege tanks and get ready to receive Praetor Fenix and his men. As soon as the zerg are provoked they'll hit us like a jackhammer.'

Fenix departed and Serena looked out at the gate as he picked his men. The gates were opened and Fenix rushed out. His dragoons fired into the midsts of the zerg swarms. As one they rushed at them and Fenix withdrew.

There was a blistering fire by dozens of siege tanks that killed many zerg. Many more fell to photon cannons. This was it, the assault was beginning early. Then the creatures were drawn back by a snap of Kaloth's will and they drew back.

Their numbers were still vast and yet more were gathering.

'They withdrew.' said Tychus.

'Kaloth is smart.' muttered Serena.

Then she saw something in the distance. Slow moving monstrosities which had ravaged terran worlds. Serena stared at the spider shaded silhouette as they drew near. She opened her com. 'Kaloth is bringing out guardians! All units take cover.'

Then the guardians began to launch their acid spores. They landed amid the photon cannons and burned them. They smashed against the walls and the hiss of acid was everywhere. Unlucky marines were doused and screamed as they melted into nothing. On and on came the barrage and the defenses were weakening by the moment.

'Kazansky can you shoot them down?' asked Serena.

'I'll make a go for it.' said Kazansky.

The wraith pilot and his flyboys flew forward. Before they could reach them the guardians began to withdraw. Many mutalisks came forward. Even so, a flurry of missiles were launched and a number of guardians exploded and fell to earth.

'Scratch six guardians.' boasted Kazansky 'But we've got mutalisks inbound.'

'Pull back at once.' said Serena 'You aren't going to do any good getting yourself killed out there.'

Even as Kazansky fell back more guardians arrived to replace the ones that were lost. Soon the barrage resumed and this time with the guard of many mutalisks.

'Damn it all.' said Serena 'Our defenses are being pummeled to death and we can't even do anything!'

'Then let us charge and meet our destiny!' proclaimed Fenix.

'You can't solve all your problems by attacking!' snapped Serena 'Let me think!' Then she paused as she had an idea. 'Of course. Emily draw all forces into the gates and set up a second line of defense just out of sight. Have some probes warp in more photon cannons there. Then in a few minutes rig the dropships to make a run for it.'

'Ma'am if we do that we can't evac.' said Emily over the com.

'I know.' said Serena 'But we have to make Kaloth think we've bailed or he'll just keep shelling us until we're dust. Kazansky I want you to escort the dropships.'

'Ma'am that's suicide.' said Kazansky. 'They'll catch us for sure.'

'They'll catch the dropships.' said Serena 'As soon as the swarm goes after them you hit the throttle. Make it look like you're abandoning your comrades to die. Fenix keep your men by the gate. If Kaloth thinks you are fighting alone he'll attack sooner.'

The dropships were set up as the barrage continued. Several siege tanks exploded or melted into slag. Marines and zealots alike were consumed by the acid as they fled back. Finally, the dropships arose and began to fly away and with them went Kazansky and his wraiths.

No response at first.

'Come on, come on, take the bait.' said Serena.

'Ma'am, most of the mutalisks are disengaging from the guardians. They're going to attack the dropships.' said Emily.

'Just as planned.' sighed Serena. And sure enough, Kaloth took this moment to attack. 'Here they come. Fenix draw back to the second line!'

On came Kaloth and his broods. They fell on the defenses and washed over the weakened proton cannons. But no sooner had they gained the gate and a vast barrage of siege tank fire blasted many into oblivion. Marines fired over the shoulders of the protoss, mowing down hundreds of zerglings. Goliaths fired above them, and their shots killed even more than the marines. But the ultralisks were made of sterner stuff. They charged on with fresh forces coming behind them.

'Mr. Findlay, I'd appreciate it if you could join the front line.' said Serena 'We'll need every gun we can get.'

Tychus unslung his chain gun from his back. 'Gotcha.'

Serena watched as yet another holdout took place. On came the zerg. The gauss rifles fired to greet them and the zealots ran to meet them. Fenix hacked and slashed and cut down the zerg by the hundreds while his warriors did just as well. But many protoss were dying as well and the hydralisks were firing into the ranks of the marines.

'Ma'am, the mutalisks who were sent to destroy the dropships have broken off pursuit. Now they are coming here.' said Emily. 'We're about to be flanked!'

'Damn it.' said Serena. 'Retask the goliaths to hold the line. Quickly.'

It was done and the goliaths fired their missiles to shoot down who knew how many mutalisks. The battle blurred into a hodgepodge of blood and death. The screams of the dying, the war cries of the protoss. The explosions of light as protoss warriors fell.

'Fight on my warriors! Defeat may be as glorious as life!' said Fenix.

'I'm glad someone is having fun.' said Serena, smiling despite herself.

Then she saw the distance. The green of the land was fading, being drained away before her eyes. The horizon became blurry and Serena suddenly felt a will pushing down on her. She'd felt it on Mar Sara. She'd confronted it after defeating Schezar. Now it was stronger and it was all she could do not to fall. She knew she should give orders, to command, but the will of the Overmind held her in place, freezing her hands.

What hope was there? All would die. All would be assimilated. And the salvation of this universe would be assured.

No. No, that thought had been put into her head. But she was not controlled by it. Her will was her own and she would not surrender it. Maybe they were doomed but the zerg would not find them easy prey.

'Withdraw.' said Serena 'Pull back to the Temple. Fenix you as well.'

'So be it.' said Fenix, not sounding nearly as enthusiastic.

So went the retreat. It was well executed. Terrans covered the withdrawal of the protoss, before the protoss returned the favor. They fled into the great temple. Within were the many terrified citizens who had fled here for shelter. The final stand was nigh.

But the zerg stopped.

Serena was alone on the Temple summit. Walking to the opposite side she looked out into the distance. A distance where no zerg could be seen. But the land was changing. Before her eyes, verdant grasslands were becoming barren dunes.

Fenix came up beside her. 'The zerg have halted for the moment. They have stopped their attack for some reason.'

'Good. Good.' said Serena 'I hope Kazansky got away.'

'He may have.' said Fenix.

'Do you think there is any hope at all, Fenix?' asked Serena.

'Not for us.' said Fenix, seeming unusually down. 'I fear our fate has been decided here today.' And this time there were no reassurances. And that disturbed Serena more than any proclamation of doom.

Then he looked up. Serena heard something dripping and looked to see green saliva falling down the arc. And from the shadows came a massive zerg hunter-killer. It stood taller than Fenix, with massive gleaming blades.

Fenix interposed himself between her and the creature. The warrior was exhausted, his hands were shaking, but his psi blades appeared. The creature snarled and surged forward.

Then, suddenly, the light of Fenix's psi blades flickered out.

The warrior was bowled over. He and the hunter-killer were struggling with one another, wrestling to the death. The beast threw him down and raised a claw.

'Fenix!' cried Serena.

She should have gone for her handgun. She should have fired at the creature and killed it. But instead, she raised a hand and willed. A bolt of energy surged forward and hit the hunter-killer head-on. It slipped backward and landed and before it could recover Fenix was on it. He tore off its left arm, forced it to the ground and brought down the scythe to behead it.

Serena suddenly felt absolutely exhausted. She collapsed to one knee. '…I should not have been able to do that.'

'I owe you thanks, my friend.' said Fenix 'I fear my psi blade malfunctioned.'

'But that doesn't make any sense.' said Serena 'When I was diagnosed as a psychic I was told that I had the lowest possible level someone could be. I couldn't read minds or anything like that.'

'Psionic power is not in the blood, Serena.' said Fenix 'It is in the will and the mind of the one who wields it. The psi blades I wield are merely a focus through which my power is channeled.'

'What is that supposed to mean?' asked Serena.

'I have read your thoughts and seen your memories.' said Fenix 'When you began you were a low level psychic. But since then you have contended with the will of the Overmind. You experienced hardships and wonders far greater than any of your race have.

'That kind of experience leaves a mark. While you might have had only a small share of power to begin with you have grown in mastery and strength.'

And then something clicked in Serena's mind. '…That's it!'

'What is?' said Fenix.

'That's why the zerg don't have any psychics!' said Serena 'That's why they can't use psionic energy!'

'I don't understand.' said Fenix.

'Think about it, Fenix.' said Serena 'If psychic power was in the blood all the Overmind would have to do is breed that gene into his species. Then there would be no problem. But it isn't.

'If the will of the one with the powers affects how they can use them then it is only natural that the zerg can't use them. None of them have any will of their own. So the only beings capable of psychic power are the Overmind and his cerebrates.

'My god I can't believe it!' She laughed.

'Why are you laughing?' asked Fenix.

'Because the Overmind cannot win!' said Serena 'His very nature is to draw the wills of others into himself! But he cannot harness their power without them having a will of their own! And if they have a will of their own they can turn against him!

'Unless people give themselves to him willingly he will never be able to use psychics.'

Suddenly there was a tremoring in the air. Almost a panic. Some will was searching and shifting. It was examining its plans and seeking for some flaw or as yet unaccounted for element. Then it withdrew.

'Ma'am, the zerg!' said Emily over the com.

'What is it?' asked Serena.

'The zerg are retreating.' said Emily 'We've won, Ma'am.'

'This is Praetor Mojo.' said a protoss voice in her mind. 'We heard you needed assistance.'

'Indeed we did. However, the zerg have retreated.' said Fenix 'And we have learned something that will prove of great value to us.'

The Siege of Antioch was over. And they had held firm.

Authors Note:

So Antioch. I've been very unsure as to what I was going to do with this chapter for a long time. On the one hand, I thought Fenix becoming a dragoon could be good for character development. On the other hand, I wanted the divergence point to have positive effects on Aiur. Fenix successfully holding Antioch seems fine to me.

Really this fic is turning into an examination of the assimilation process of the swarm. After all, we never find out how the Overmind would have infested the protoss. According to blizzard infested protoss are impossible. So I think it's an interesting question.