Chapter 8

Nova

Day 3, 7:04:21

Dominion Ghost Nova Terra

124th Marine Division

Onboard the Corrina

After I had walked out of the medical bay, I head straight for the other Ghost's room. Apparently he would be doing the debriefing instead of the colonel. I didn't complain; actually I was much happier that he would be informing me about our next move than the colonel of this damned forsaken ship.

I started walking down the hallway his room was on, when I hear someone speaking. It seemed as though it was coming from his room actually. His door was slightly open, so I figured he left it that way for me so I could get in. However, I don't. Instead, I stand outside of it and start listening to their conversation. I knew it was wrong, but I had a feeling that I couldn't trust anyone in my "squad", well maybe Daniel was a little more trustworthy that the others.

"…you will be getting another Ghost within the next few hours. He will arrive with another wave of marines. I am sorry for the loss of your teammate."

There was a long pause. I stood there like a statue, waiting for them to say something.

"Nova, I know your outside. Come in, we are just going over the recaps of our last failed mission." There didn't seem to be a hint of sarcasm. I walk through the door and stare at our visitor. He looked like he could be a marine, but he was dressed in a more formal military attire. I didn't get his name; he seemed to be able to keep his thoughts to himself. His stare was hardened and seemed like it could pierce metal.

I keep my composure and held my gaze at him. He didn't intimidate me, but I wasn't expecting him to seem so formal right now. He looked back toward the other Ghost. "Anyways, I have the mission details, and I will make sure you get every inch of information this time."

I hear steps from behind and I am not the only one who heard it. We turn around and see Daniel walking in the door. Why was he here? Better question, how did he get away from the medical personal in the bay?

"What the hell are you doing out here?" I said.

He shot me a look and put on a slight smirk. "Though I would join the party." He walked toward me. His whole body shook uncontrollable and it seemed as though he might drop to the floor at any given moment. I led him toward the bed that is in the room and settled him down.

"Good, now everyone is here." He continues. "So, what we have come to understand, the Spectres have been active in their plans to bring down the Dominion. This activity has been going on for over 4 months, but it was never reported to higher authorities, so it wasn't put on that high of a concern level. Now, with their recent attacks and plans to renew their Terrazine caches, they are getting ever so close to attacking the capital again."

"Quit with the backstory and get to the point." The other Ghost says.

Daniel gives him a dirty look. "Let the man talk, man. This is still important to us." He returns his gaze back to our "guest" and motions him to continue.

He clears his throat. "Thank you. Now, I know this may not intrigue you guys, but I need you to go on a reconnaissance mission. Mar Sara has been on the receiving end of the Terrazine activity down there and we have speculation that the people down there knew all along. If you can get any information from the people down there report it immediately. Any and all info is necessary for a successful defense against the Spectres."

I look back toward Daniel, but he doesn't look back. He seems zoned out and not paying attention to the information given. I look back at our guest. "So, that's it? There is nothing else that would be important."

"Not at this moment, but I will try to keep you guys updated as much as physically possible. Now, if you excuse me, I have other things to do." He walks passed us and exits the room.

"I don't trust him." Daniel finally says. "I don't think his information is false, but I think it's a trap. Some sort of setup."

The other Ghost gives him a surprised look. I would too, but there is no need because he has a point. What if it is a trap?

"I think you are paranoid. I know these so called "Spectres" have been forcing Ghost to join their cause, but why would the Dominion send one of their best informants to give us this information." Now is when I give him a shocked look, and I am not the only one.

"What?" I say "That was one of the Dominions best informants? Is there anything else you are holding back?"

He looks down toward the ground. "I guess there is. You want the good news or bad?"

"Does it really matter?" Daniel says. I can tell he is irritated, and probably for other reasons than this conversation.

"No, so I will give you the bad news first. Our new recruit… wasn't found during the drop. We had a search party sent down a few hours after the drop, for you two…" He gesturers to us. "And our other friend. We couldn't find him so he was recorded as KIA. Not my idea, but I can't change their mind…"

We sit in quite for a few seconds until I can't stand it. "Where is the good news?"

"There is none. I actually didn't think you though there would be good news."

"Well alright then, if you don't mind, Nova and I are going to leave so we can have a little talk." Daniel says. Oh good, he came here to talk to me about what happened. Now isn't the best time to talk about this, but he did walk all the way here just to do it, which really surprised me. I nod, agreeing to his statement.

I walk over to him and help him up and wrap his arm around my waist to help support him. We exit the door and beginning walking down the hallways.

"So, Nova, what's up with you lately? You don't seem to be acting like the uptight and straight forward person I met a few days ago." I give him a look. I wasn't uptight… was I?

He chuckles and we enter through the door of my "prison cell" type room. I hope we wouldn't be on this damn ship much longer; I am starting to dislike it more and more by the hour. I settle him down on the bed again and I take a seat next to him, making sure there was at least a few inches between us. I didn't want him to get too comfortable with this "New Nova".

"You haven't answered my question." He says.

I shrugged. I knew what was going on; I just didn't want to have him know what was going on. I have felt this before and it was from the Terrazine Tosh forced me to breathing in the first time. The craving for it is gnawing at me, slowly forcing me to eventually break down. Of course I won't, but it still clings at the back of my mind, reminding me of everything that has happened to me. I haven't had any serious illusions happen to me, and I hope I did jinx myself.

I turn to look him. He had a look on his face showing me he didn't believe my attempt at shrugging of his first comment.

"Ok," I finally say. "I… I was exposed to the Terrazine back at the refinery. One of the Spectres broke a few of the containers and the gas filled the room."

"What does that have anything to do with it?"

I wanted to punch him across his face, but I had to remember he didn't know my about the Spectres and the Terrazine. "Let's start off with this; Terrazine is a drug that enhances Psionic abilities by double of they are now. The drug is highly addictive and has side effects that can make almost anyone go insane. However, the Spectres found out that if you add Jorium into the gas, it makes it more stable."

"So what are the side effects?" He gives me a curious look. I have no idea if he is being sarcastic or if he is being serious. He seems to be good at hiding that, a little too good.

"From what I can tell, they range from hallucinations to extreme mood swings…"

Right then and there I can tell he knew what happened down in Oasis. I wanted to tell him how I really feel and how I really felt down in that shanty city. However, I think its best for us to not get feelings for each other.

"Ok then," he says, sighing really heavily. "Now that we have that out of the way, I still need a backstory to these… Spectres?"

Before I begin to explain it, Daniel lets out a long groan and closes his eyes. The pain killers must have lost their effect. I rush over to him and slowly set him down on the bed. I look around the room and then back at him.

"Sit tight, I will be right back." I say and then begin walking out of the room.

Just before I leave he speaks up. "Nova, please hurry. I feel like I am slowly dying." He still has the sarcastic touch to his voice and I can't hold back the smile that emerges on my face. I rush out the door and down the narrow hallways to the medical bay. I reach an intersection and lose all though of the ship and can't figure out where to go. I am literally lost…

Kath Toom

Day 3; 10:24:19

Spectre Leader Kathrine Toom

Spectre Organization

On board the Palatine

Gabriel has finally come back on the ship. It took our dropships a good 10 hours to finally get down to Mar Sara. I still hadn't found out why the Dominion sent 4 more battlecruisers for a few lonely Spectres. Were the Ghosts that important to Mengsk for that large of a fleet to "Save" them. Tosh eventually gets to the bridge of the Palatine and settles down next to me. He sets his gaze on me. His milky white eyes seem endless and I feel like I could get lost in them.

"Kath." He says, snapping me out of my trance.

"Sorry," I say, shaking my head. "just a little worried about what happened. Anyway, the Dominion is preparing to leave Mar Sara. I picked up some of their comms chat and they were said to be moving to either fight off the Zerg from one of the planets in the sector of hold of a raid from Raynor."

"Good, they are getting off our backs again." I look toward the floor of the bridge. "What?"

"I picked this up from their data not too long ago." I hand him a holopad and sit in silence.

He takes his time reading it, but when he finishes he slams the holopad to the ground; shattering it in to pieces. Right then, our comms light up and the worst possible thing that could happen to us is about to happen.

I look at Tosh, wanting to scream at him to not answer, but the only thing that came out was a small whimper. It was, however, enough to get Tosh's attention. He looks at me and I shake my head, showing him my distaste for this situation, but he presses the button anyway answering the call.

A Holographic image of a tall Ghost appears in front of us. He has full Ghost uniform on and his face is covered by his mask. I could tell this wouldn't end well.

"What do you want" Tosh says blatantly.

"Tosh, you and your group of outlaws have exactly 24 hours to turn you and your Spectre group. If you do not do so, the entire Dominion fleet will be nipping at your knees." The holographic picture of the Ghost blinks out and we are left in silence. Tosh gets up and walks out of the room. I want to chase after him, but I don't. Instead I sit in silence and wait for the inevitable.

I want to apologies for the excruciating wait on this next chapter. I also want to apologies for the shortness of this chapter. I have had been really busy and there has also been a few personal problems. However, I still hope you enjoy this chapter and as always, please feel free to leave a review because I do read them and enjoy reading them.