Chapter Eighteen: Final Plans in Motion
I have no idea why Commander Raynor defected over to Tassadar. But I do know that he didn't do it for no reason. Raynor is one of the few people I've met during my crisis who were truly good. Everyone else was either a victim or a villain, as I said.
At least the war is over now. The protoss civil war, I mean. Tassadar and his followers have packed up and gone to go attack the Overmind. I don't know if it will work.
I hope it does.
I'm tired. Tired of watching the people I interview die horribly. Tired of zerg. Tired of endless blood. I'm not alone either. Emily is about the only person still enthusiastic. I guess this is what she always wanted. To fight an enemy who was totally evil in defense of humanity.
And even she is getting a bit sick of this stalemate.
Liberty's Reports, volume IV.
As the Gantrithor sped away from the Gethsemane with its fleet, Raynor waited. He'd only just come aboard and he was not looking forward to seeing what state Tassadar was in. He'd heard from Fenix just what the Conclave had planned to do to him.
Would he ever recover? Would he be able to command? Or was he going to have to sit the whole war out? If that happened could they keep it together by themselves?
He entered the room and found the rest of their group sitting around a roundtable. Tassadar sat at the far end of it, the very image of perfect health. In fact, he seemed in a better mood than ever. Raynor looked to Artanis in surprise, and apparently, Artanis was as shocked.
"En Taro Adun my friends!" said Tassadar, motioning for them to sit down. "My gratitude to you, for having secured my release, knows no bounds. By all the gods, we may win yet! The time has come to let loose the fury of the Dark Templar. Zeratul, perhaps the time has come to tell our friends of the foe we face."
"Indeed." said Zeratul. "When I slew the Cerebrate on Char, I touched briefly with the essence of the Overmind. In that instant, my mind was filled with its thoughts, and I tell you now our worst fears have come true.
"The Zerg were indeed created by the ancient Xel'Naga, the same beings that empowered us in our infancy. But the Overmind grew beyond their constraints and has, at last, come to finish the experiments they began so long ago."
"Xel'naga?" asked Raynor. "You boys have mentioned them once or twice. They were the creator race, right? I'm guessing they didn't keep in touch."
"They departed our world long ago, during the Aeon of Strife." said Artanis. "That was the source of our Aeon of Strife. Or part of the source. The Conclave teaches us that they departed because our sins made us unworthy of their presence.
"I gather that the Dark Templar have other beliefs."
"Our opinions vary greatly." said Zeratul. "Above all else, we believe that to be united in error is worse than to be divided. We tolerate dissenting opinions among our kind far more than the Conclave.
"However I believe that the Xel'naga were simply finished with us. I have journeyed across many worlds and seen many races. All have divisions and wars among each other. It does not seem to me unbelievable that strife and conflict are as much a part of life as peace and serenity. Perhaps more so.
"Whatever the case, I know this. The zerg were the second race the Xel'naga created. They sewed the seeds of these vile creatures in ages past. I believe that their intention was to create a race with the opposite qualities to the protoss. Where we are all of us individuals with great power, the zerg are parasites who are strong only as a whole."
"Hold on a sec." said Raynor. "If the Xel'naga started work on the protoss first, then worked on the zerg and the zerg wiped em out, how the heck did they create other races?"
There was silence.
"That is a matter of some speculation." said Zeratul. "We know almost nothing about the Xel'naga, save what we have learned from their temples. However, it seems to me more likely that the Xel'naga would have had many different projects. They might have begun the zerg before other races. Yet it would be millennia before the zerg even began to approach the form they are in now.
"No doubt in that time the Xel'naga would have sewn the seeds of other races."
"Okay, so what happened to all the Xel'naga?" asked Raynor.
"…I do not know." admitted Zeratul. "None of us do. But the Overmind destroyed those who were watching over it on Zerus. From there it spread to other worlds, assimilating new races. It is possible that there were very few of them, to begin with. Or perhaps they have their home somewhere beyond this realm of stars we exist in.
"There are dimensions beyond this one. Places which would destroy the mind of lesser creatures to enter. The Xel'naga were beings at the very pinnacle of evolution. Their powers alone dwarfed even the strongest of protoss.
"They are like gods compared to us."
"Then how did the Overmind kill them?" asked Raynor.
"He utilized overwhelming force to compensate for-" began Zeratul.
"Bullshit." said Raynor. "Zeratul, we terrans aren't exactly what you could call top of the food chain material. And we've wiped out entire planets worth of zerg. Zerg who are way more advanced strains than what the Overmind had then.
"There is no way in hell that a race of gods could be taken out by a prototype swarm which was only a few billion. Especially if they had people all over the universe."
"The Overmind did not kill the Xel'naga with its armies, Raynor." said Zeratul. "It killed them with its mind."
"What?" said Raynor.
"The Overmind is the combination of the entire swarm's consciousness." said Zeratul. "It is able to perform immense feats of power. It tears holes in reality to transport its swarms. It subjugated the minds of sentient creatures. This while fighting hundreds of smaller battles across the cosmos.
"Imagine what it would be capable of it stopped controlling its minions and took direct action. Consider the feats you have seen those around you and even Kerrigan perform. And then consider that the Overmind is a being far more powerful than any of us could hope to become.
"Would anything be able to stop it?"
Raynor thought about that. "We're fucked."
"That was my assessment as well." said Zeratul. "If we were to wage a war of attrition against the swarm, and drive the Overmind to desperation, it would be futile. It would simply dispense with using his minions.
"It would take a direct hand. Our armies would be crushed. Then it would assimilate us at its leisure."
Silence fell over them.
"So you see my friends, we fight not only to save Aiur but all creation!" said Tassadar. "If we fall to the zerg then the Overmind will run rampant throughout the stars, consuming all sentience - all life. It is up to us to put an end to this madness, once and for all." He glanced to Fenix, who stood.
"Our forces shall engage the primary Zerg Hive clusters in an attempt to weaken their defenses." said Fenix. "Once their numbers have thinned out, Zeratul and his companions can infiltrate the clusters and assassinate the Cerebrates. Adun willing, the Cerebrates' deaths will distract the Overmind long enough for us to assault it directly."
"What about us?" asked Raynor. "My boys and I are ready to fight."
"While none of us doubt your valor, Raynor, we will have need of you elsewhere." said Fenix. "You must protect our rear and ensure that the swarm does not come at us from behind."
"That doesn't sound too difficult." said Raynor. He was glad to be far away from the Overmind, now that he thought of it.
"Whatever you believe, it is a far graver task than you think." said Tassadar. "The Overmind will surely dispatch all its power to prevent us from reaching it. Indeed, we are what it fears more than anything else. For the Dark Templar alone can stop it from achieving its dark dream of assimilating all life."
"So business as usual, then?" asked Raynor.
He had the feeling that Tassadar would be smiling if he had a mouth. "More or less."
Khakar entered the Conclave's meeting room. Aldaris looked up with narrowed eyes. The other Judicator shuddered visibly. Aldaris had been in a foul mood ever since Zeratul and Tassadar had left. He could be terrifying when he wanted to be.
Serena was a bit scared herself.
"Khakar, what news?" asked Aldaris.
"All has been prepared." said Khakar. "The last of the floura and fauna are being loaded into the ships as we speak. There are enough to recreate a sustainable population if we must."
"We must." said Aldaris. "What of the production of transport vessels."
"We have created many of them." said Khakar. "More will have been built by the end of the week. Every day that passes saves more of our people from the swarm. However…"
Aldaris went very still. "Yes?"
"It would take years to build enough shuttles to carry the entire population of Aiur, Aldaris." said Khakar. "We cannot hope to save everyone."
Aldaris looked to her. Serena felt his gaze on her and narrowly avoided shrinking back. "Commander Calabas, your Dominion has much practice in the art of strategic withdrawal."
"Yes. It's a core principle of Dominion tactics." said Serena. "If a commander judges the situation untenable they initiate a holding action. Then they evacuate the population.
"We then set about moving them to new worlds. We have entire divisions dedicated to relocating refugees. We terrans like to pick our battles."
"Will your Emperor lend us his fleets of dropships to assist us in our evacuation?" asked Aldaris.
"I'll talk to him about it." said Serena. "However…"
"Yes?" asked Aldaris.
"We have problems of our own." said Serena, feeling guilty. "And even if we didn't, protoss take up a lot more room than humans. And the worlds we evacuate are usually smaller fringe worlds. We've never carried out a full on evacuation for a planet with a population over one billion.
"We're going to have to leave something, or someone behind."
"If we were to abandon some of our heavier weapon systems we might make a great deal more room in our transports." said Khakar.
"And what if the zerg remain a threat after the death of the Overmind?" asked Aldaris. "We must prepare against all possibilities. If we are left defenseless after escaping death, we may be finished off by even a weakened enemy."
"I think Khakar's idea might be workable." said Serena.
Aldaris glanced to her. Don't shrink back in fear. "What brings you to this belief?"
"Think about it." said Serena. "The protoss' greatest asset is its fleet. All of the ships are going to be lifted off and used as escape craft. So they'll pull their own weight. Dragoons are people, not cargo, so they can't be left behind anyway.
"If we get rid of all the reavers it would make space, and wouldn't cripple us."
"It is our people, Aldaris." said Khakar. "We must save as many as we can."
"It is the will of the Conclave that all who can be saved will be." said the Voice of the Conclave, who had been silent. "Have our carriers jettison their interceptors and use the space for our people. The scouts will escort them to the outlying colonies where we have prepared a place for them to rebuild."
"What of the traitors?" asked Aldaris.
"Our last report indicated that they are heading to launch an all-out assault against the Overmind and his cerebrates." said Khakar. "The Overmind is gathering it's full might to repel them."
"What folly." said Aldaris. "They will be broken and destroyed."
"So much the better. This is a stroke of good fortune as well." said the Voice of the Conclave. "This distraction will allow us to continue our plans unhindered.'
"What of the warp gates, they might speed our escape?" asked Aldaris.
"It is too great a risk, Khakar." said Aldaris. "You remember "
"Warp gates?" asked Serena. Why had no one mentioned this?
"We protoss have other means besides starships to traverse the universe." said Aldaris. "One of these are warp gates. Devices which can transport us over great distances, so long as there is one of its kind on the other end."
"So why aren't we using them?" asked Serena.
"The Conclave had use of them ceased centuries ago, shortly after first contact with the zerg." said Aldaris. "We found that the psionic emanations released from the warp gates drew the zerg to them. Meaning that any time it was used we found ourselves under attack."
"Like the Confederacy's psi emitters." guessed Serena.
"In a way." said Aldaris. "However warp gates produce a far more powerful wave. It can reach across entire solar systems."
"Right, so it's not an option." mused Serena.
"It is an option!" said Khakar. "The zerg already press us daily! If we were to use a warp gate that was in a faraway corner of the universe. Somewhere there are no zerg, we could easily save thousands!"
"Assuming it did not provoke the zerg on Aiur to launch an all-out assault on our remaining holdings." noted Aldaris. "If that occurred all might die."
"The Conclave judges that Aldaris is correct." said the Voice of the Conclave. "The warp gate is too great a risk. We must rely on shuttles, and our allies for now." Then they shuddered and clutched his head.
Serena stood. "Are you all right?"
"We…" the Voice faltered. "We feel the Overmind pressing its will against us. We must speed up our plans. The evacuation must finish by the end of the week. After that, we must end this."
Serena felt her mouth go dry. No way were they getting everyone off alive. "I'll go speak to Arcturus."
Later Serena stood in front of her communicator. She didn't want to do this. She'd made her last report to Emperor Mengsk by email. Even so, she had to tell him directly.
She turned on the screen and made the call. She waited for a few minutes as the channel was established. She licked her lips.
And then Mengsk appeared. His face was veiled in shadow, his hands were clasped in front of his face. He looked frustrated. "Serena, I'm glad to see you are still alive. I received your report on Raynor's actions. I find myself in a very troublesome situation. One of my best generals has apparently defected to join a renegade protoss. My Dominion is under assault. And now the protoss are having a civil war."
Serena sighed. "Well, the civil war is largely over. That's the good news. And if our plan works everyone on the surface of the planet is going to be dead soon anyway."
"That's the good news?" asked Mengsk.
"We're in a bad situation." said Serena. "Actually that's why I'm calling you. Mengsk, the Conclave is having to speed up its timetable. They have to evacuate before the week is out.
"I was wondering if you could spare any dropship fleets to assist."
Mengsk sighed. "…Serena, I don't have anything to spare.
"Warfield is using a large force of them to retake a zerg held world. And Davis is evacuating several systems as we speak. Duke is still rebuilding his forces. We've got a dozen smaller battles going on, any one of which could need our fleets."
"There are billions of lives at stake, Arcturus." said Serena.
"Protoss lives, Serena." said Mengsk. "I'm aware that sounds callous, but people on the home front aren't happy. We're facing an all-out attack, and two of our best generals are fighting on an alien world somewhere. I'm having a devil of a time justifying your presence here.
"And now Raynor has gone rogue." Then his facade broke and he smashed his fist against the desk. "Gone rogue! What the hell was he thinking? I already have enough problems with Schezar dividing us! Now Raynor is going to split the Dominion at the worst possible time!
"He-" He regained control of himself. "Nevermind, the point is, the fringe worlds are relying on us just as much as the protoss."
"Arcturus, the goodwill of the protoss is more important than a few fringe worlds." said Serena. "If we help them now, their fleets will be able to help us in a dozen battles. Far more than a couple of ragtag militia ever could. Especially since those militia might not even need it."
"Also, I hate to say it, but this is the most important battlefield." said Serena. "If we win here the Overmind dies. The zerg fall into chaos. If we lose we may never get another chance to win."
Mengsk leaned back in his seat. He covered his face with his hands. "I hear things like that every day, Serena. Every day I decide who lives and who dies.
"I have more power than I ever had before. Now I wonder why I wanted it in the first place."
"You want to decide who lives and who lives?" asked Serena. "Try coming down here and ordering a squad of marines to assault sunken colonies with no siege tanks. Then you can complain."
Mengsk breathed out. "Fair enough. Alright Serena, I trust your judgment in this matter. I'll send you all the dropships I can spare. But if anything goes wrong in the fringe worlds a lot of terrans are going to die.
"I hope you realize that."
"I know." said Serena.
"Well as long as you know what you're asking." said Mengsk. Then he smiled and he had a glint in his eyes. "In the meantime, I've got to have a chat with Raynor. I think I've just come up with a way to make use of his latest blunder."
Mengsk shut off the communicator. Serena sat back in her chair. "I'm going to have gray hairs by the end of this." Then she felt something.
Looking up she saw Aldaris some ways behind. "…You are sacrificing your own people to rescue ours. Why?"
"It's a mathematical equation." said Serena.
"I don't understand." admitted Aldaris.
"A new generation of terrans will have grown up to maturity in eighteen years." said Serena. "In another eighteen our population will have completely recovered. Protoss take nearly sixty years to mature, according to the records. And it isn't until they are three hundred that they are considered full adults.
"One of your race's individuals is more valuable than ours to the survival of your species.
"I need a drink."
The Hyperion halted as Raynor tried to look in command. He'd given all the orders. Now he was just waiting. He hadn't told anyone about what he learned about the Overmind. The boys had enough on their minds without finding out the Overmind could kill them all.
Matt came up. "Sir, we're in position like Tassadar asked. Our troops are descending to the surface as we speak."
"Good." said Raynor. "Now we've just got to keep the zerg off their backs while they take care of the cerebrates-"
The lights went out. The computer screens all went to static. After a moment they flared to life and on every single one of them changed to show Arcturus Mengsk. His eyes were narrowed. His arms were crossed. He looked pissed.
"Hello, Raynor." said a dozen voices.
"Jesus Christ!" said Raynor. "Sir, the doors are locked down." said a man. "All our weapon systems have been powered down. We're dead in the water."
"My apologies." said Mengsk, before motioning with one hand. The door opened. "Everyone out now. I will speak with Commander Raynor alone."
Raynor looked to Matt. "…Do as he says, Matt."
"Yes sir." said Matt.
The bridge crew promptly made their way out. Raynor wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Mengsk said nothing for a long moment. "Do you really think I'd give up my flagship without some kind of insurance, Jim?"
"Actually yes." admitted Raynor. "I figured you trusted me."
"Of course I trusted you." said Mengsk. "But a man in my position survives by taking every precaution. Just what do you think you're doing?"
"What I have to do." said Raynor. "Look, I'm sure Serena showed you a lot of statistics, man. But this ain't statistics and it ain't politics. People's lives are on the line and the Conclave is hamstringing us."
"As opposed to you hamstringing us by starting a civil war?" asked Mengsk.
"…All right, look, my men haven't even shot a single protoss so far." said Raynor. "Mostly we've just been keeping the zerg from attacking while this bullshit war goes down. And right now we're attacking the cerebrates.
"If this works we could finish off the Overmind. The war will be over. I'll turn myself in then."
"I am well aware." said Mengsk. "Unfortunately the Conclave has given you up for lost and is planning to glass the planet in a week. Their evacuation is proceeding as we speak, so you have until then to win.
"Once you've finished with that, I have a new job for you."
Raynor shifted. "What is it?"
"I need you to refuse to come back into the Dominion." said Mengsk.
Raynor blinked. "…What?" Did he mishear that? Was he going nuts?
Mengsk shrugged. "You're very popular with the fringe worlds. I expect that once the crisis passes the fringe worlds will not look very kindly on paying taxes. Even to the Dominion. That's the problem with coming to power in a crisis. Once it's over I expect they'll want to look to someone to act as an alternative.
"The way things are now that someone will be Schezar. He is the head of the Confederate Resistance Forces. But nobody really likes the CRF, except as an alternative to the Dominion. Schezar may be reasonable, but he has years of tyranny to live down.
"You, on the other hand, are the people's hero. Enormously popular. If people heard you went rogue everyone who had a problem with the Dominion would look to you as a figurehead."
"Okay, so you want me to start an anti-Dominion faction." said Raynor. He had gone nuts?
"Of course." said Mengsk. "You will then just happen to get sidetracked fighting the Dominion's mutual enemies. I will label you public enemy number one. Then I'll pretend to hate you more than the devil himself. That should dilute Schezar's recruits.
"In practice, we won't actually fight at all. Instead, we'll repeatedly team up against greater threats. And maybe you'll raid a few Dominion facilities ruled by Commander's I don't trust. Or perhaps a corrupt official or two I can't remove through legal means. I've had to make concessions to a great many unpleasant people to build this Dominion.
"You should be able to build a reputation as the Robin Hood of Space. With any luck, Umojan will start funding you instead of Schezar. Only this time when they play the sides, the sides will play them.
"Understand?"
Raynor shifted. "I think so."
"Good." said Mengsk. "Oh and change your organization's name. Ranger's has a boyscout quality. It isn't appropriate for a heroic revolutionary.
"Raynor's Raiders, perhaps?"
"Now hang on a second." said Raynor. "I can't tell the men we're never going back to the Dominion. They might disagree with the policy, but they don't view the Dominion as bad."
"I'm not asking you to rechristen yourselves overnight." said Mengsk. "Do something reckless and get a bit carried away. For now. Bring up how I am redirecting a large fleet of dropships. And sending them to help the Conclave evacuate.
"Be sure not to mention that the Conclave is evacuating innocent civilians. The best lies are the ones' with a grain of truth.
"Commander Raynor, your freedom awaits." The screen winked out. The doors opened and the men came back. Matt approached. "Sir, what happened?"
Raynor thought about his answer. He could either stay with the Dominion and disobey orders. Or obey orders and commit treason. There really was only one answer.
He looked away and did his best to look bitter and angry. "…Mengsk has a lot to pay for."
As he explained that Emperor Mengsk was betraying innocent colonists. Sending their evac to save the Conclave, Raynor reflected that he was so sick of gambits.
Author's Note:
Well, this came out of nowhere. Even for me. I honestly had no plans for the latter part of this chapter at all. But it seemed like something Mengsk would do. And it would make it easier to adapt Wings of Liberty later. So whatever, enjoy.