sorry for taking so long to update everyone, first it was the vacation, then I got hit by a bad case of procrastination. i'm back now, and hopefully over the procrastination. I hope I did a good job on this mission. read/review,
Izwan, yes the Kerrigan scene was changed up. first off, Amon is alive here, but he's not as powerful as portrayed in the games, more along the lines of a Xel'Naga from the time they were over Zerus, and the fledgling zerg destroyed their entire fleet. his real powers are in manipulation, such as what he is doing to Kerrigan. she's being mind controlled, I stated it in the vision with the lines "Zeratul recognizes the signs, her mind is being dominated, the Master manipulator is herself being played like an instrument." after what happened to Raszagal, he spent a lot of time investigating that type of thing, with the hope to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else, and she's acting like someone under the influence of a Dark Archon or similar construct. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear enough, but that was my intention. as for your analysis about why he used the artifact, I agree in the Canon universe that's why he trusted the artifact. In this one, though, Amon isn't dead so he didn't need the device to resurrect himself. as such, the device's function is different, and it was made by the Xel'Naga. that's what This prophecy section is going to be about, along with discovering more about Amon himself, learning about the device the Raiders are constructing. he's not going to be flying as blind in this one.
I hope I live up to your expectations with this mission. I enjoyed it as well when I've played it. as for Dave, maybe, maybe not. unfortunately, the mission won't be done this time. I'm doing another one inside Castanar.
SolarisAce, "intrigued" hm... sounds good. I haven't read flashpoint unfortunately so I don't know who cooper is. what I meant by other subj. is other subjects, meaning the rest of the squad members that were captured. sorry for the confusion.
finally I just noticed what I wrote in chapter 14... wow I guess I was tired when I wrote that... shorter and/or longer... I meant longer in-between I think... anyway, on to the story.
"The communication we recovered from the bio-lab on Korhal indicates that they have a secondary facility orbiting Castanar. They're holding Julia Daren there, and may be doing other experiments as well. Julia and Doctor Hanson's research allowed for the Haveners to be saved; based off of readings taken from her own infestation. We don't know what the Dominion wants with her, or what the rest of this bio-weapons lab is going to have, but it seems important enough for us to hit." Matt clicks off the recorder, and saves the mission brief before turning to Raynor. Raynor says "what's the scoop on this top-secret death lab?" matt answers "as I said, this asteroid is registered as a beryllium storage warehouse, but from the communications, that's just a cover for the lab." Raynor indicates his agreement. "Anything in those communications tell us what else they're doing in here?" Matt shakes his head. "No more than what we already know, but they did give us some administrator-level access codes. That should help us out immensely." "sounds like fun. Let's go bust her out."
The Castanar facility is an unremarkable thing from far away. Raynor is taking Alpha squad with him this time; after all, he is going on a rescue mission for one of their members. This is going to be their third mission in as many days, but they volunteered, and everyone else is just as tired. As soon as this mess is over though, they're going to take a nice long break before returning to duty. He lands, Matt making a joke about "Eugene" and the squad piles out, eight marines and two medics aside from him. Julia's normal spot on this team is being filled by Alexandria, a newly recruited Havener, what the infested from Haven are calling themselves, medic. At his nonverbal orders, the squad takes cover behind some cover near the back of the docking area, while Raynor moves forward to plant the first breaching charge. When it blows, alarms go off throughout the facility. He charges in, and with the squad, eliminates the marines and firebat stationed in front of the first computer console. The onboard adjutant powers on, and says "welcome, Administrator Decentes." He has a forged Identification, basically a targeted IFF which the adjutants can read. Combine that with the Administrator-level access codes he received from the transmissions, and any computer will think he is the administrator of the facility. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on flesh-and-blood infantry, as the disguise is broken as soon as it is realized he is male, while Analise Decentes is a stern looking greying woman. He activates the security camera to the next room, and then uses the codes to reprogram the IFF triggers in the turrets. He then activates them against the waiting guards. He takes a grim satisfaction as the trap backfires, and his men then walk into the next room, through a hallway where they encounter another few guards.
At his approach, the specimen tubes open, presenting themselves for "inspection" by the Administrator. The researchers still in this lab cower, although Raynor has no intention of killing them, for now at least. He turns his full attention to the creatures inside and starts. They're clearly Zerg, but… wrong. "These creatures… they ain't like any Zerg I've ever seen before. Matt, scan their bio-signatures." He complies, saying "hold on… the signal's weak in there. Well sir – I'm reading both Protoss and Zerg DNA, were those… things assimilated somehow?" Raynor shakes his head. "I don't know, but I'm real curious as to what they're doing inside a Dominion bio-lab." Then, he picks up on a communication from the next Security Checkpoint. "check it out! We've got Raynor and the escaped specimens trapped in lab one!" "Ha! Nice, release the Zerg!"
At that point, the large complex across from them opens, and Zerg creatures stream out of it. Alpha squad opens fire on them, while Raynor primes a breaching charge on the structure. His men's guns won't make a dent in the facility, but that might. He dodges a Hydralisk spine, then opens fire into the offending creature. It goes down, but then three zerglings leap at him, almost bowling him over. Lieutenant Cole fights them off him. All around, the men are being overwhelmed by the numbers of Zerg reinforcements. Raynor's rifle fires again and again into the mass. Finally, the detonation he was waiting for happens, and the Zerg are cut off. They finish the rest of the force off, Raynor taking down two more Zerglings. Their wounds are patched up by the two medics. Raynor applies a third detonation charge to the door, he's running low, just three more left. That's not good, there's a lot more facility left. It breaches the door. The marines who had locked them inside the lab looked at the door in shock, then Raynor fires his Gauss rifle, punching through one marine's armor while PFC Hopewell executes the other. He fights through a few more, and accesses the computer. He is able to release a variety of creatures into the next room, where they will be more than happy to get rid of the Dominion forces blocking his path. In addition, "subject Alpha" is listed as being in Cryo in the next room. He unleashes four Ultralisks, figuring that they will be a match for the troops inside. They are, and his squad rushes in to deal with the last Ultralisk afterwards. He lobs a grenade into the beasts maw, dropping it. He then moves to the Cryo chambers. Inside, are a few more of the things, and a thankfully unmodified Julia Daren. She is suspended in a light-blue liquid, and is clad only in her carapace covering. There's a locker nearby, in which there are several technicians outfits. Specialist Anthony moves to grab something for her, and Raynor hits the button to end cryogenic freezing, pulling her out of suspended animation.
I've really got to stop waking up like this. Once more, I find myself floating, suspended in liquid. Thankfully, my body is much more quick to respond this time, and I open my eyes to see my squad, as well as Raynor himself standing outside of the Cryogenic Chamber I'm in. I can't remember anything past entering the Administrator's room in that bio-lab. I flex my muscles, and prepare myself as the liquid drains from the chamber. I cough up the fluid in my lungs, and then jump out when the glass shield opens. My next shock comes when I see Blake. He's infested. It must have been those researchers back on Korhal. My blood boils as I think of it, if I had just killed them, then this whole thing wouldn't have happened. I'm very unhappy with this. Andrew… I sigh then, and shake myself from my introspections. I take the outfit from Blake's hands, and whisper a "sorry" to him. He nods, and doesn't speak yet. I pull on the Technicians outfit, and note my replacement. Alexandria's a havener, I remember her, Red-headed, and wiry, with a semi-amused look constantly on her face. She fell to Infestation as well.
"so, am I staying out for this mission?" I inquire. Raynor answers "well, we couldn't have your squad workin' at below capacity." Then he sets up a comm line to Matt Horner, "that creature in here, it looks like it's been mutated and cloned over and over. You got any additional info?" "Stettman and Hanson have been running some tests, sir. They say the specimens' DNA strands have been artificially spliced. That Decentes did this on purpose. "We're gonna blow this place sky high. They're creating Hybrids, no way we can just leave it standing." "well.. I'm picking up a strong power signature close to you. There must be a strong fusion reactor somewhere in the facility." Raynor indicates his agreement. "Julia, head back to the ship. We'll destroy the reactor, and meet you there." I shake my head, and grab a pistol from one of the Marine's holsters, it's not as big as my modified one, but that's good because I don't have the CMC armor to balance for the recoil. "with all due respect, sir, I'd rather come with you." "you sure? You don't have your armor out here." I gesture to myself. "I'm infested, built for fighting without it. I'll keep to cover, and make sure I don't get shot at." He relents, and nods. I'm glad, this facility is likely just as bad as the Korhal one, and I want to help any way I can to shut it down.
That settled, we move out, and I fall in beside Zeke and Blake. We fight our way through the facility; Raynor picks up an advanced "Plasma Gun" which can tear through heavier machinery like tissue paper. At the same station, I find an Assault rifle modified for non-CMC usage. I've been trained in these weapons, although I'm not a shot like Blake or Zeke. Altogether, it's definitely an improvement over the pea-shooter I had before. We keep moving, Raynor taking out the Vikings and siege tanks when he comes across them. Eventually, we reach another terminal. This one contains an IFF sensor for the A.R.E.S. mech. Raynor reverses it, so anything with a Dominion IFF is registered as hostile, while the Raiders are registered as friendlies. The Haveners, the marines infested in the lab and I register as Zerg, so he changes that to friendly as well. He powers it up with the anti-armor weapon system engaged. Now that we have a giant warbot on our side, the fight becomes much easier. Everyone is distracted by the giant death-machine, so there's not a single shot fired our way. I take out a couple of the enemies in the area, and we continue onward. The warbot's fuel lines were damaged by the attack, however, and it shuts down two minutes after the fighting in the cargo bay is done. After that, Raynor calls in Epsilon Theta squad to assist us. They're dropped off in the dropship, and we move deeper into the facility.
Inside the next room is a Brutalisk. The enormous thing towers over us, putting the Ultralisks we fought in the Brood War to shame. We clear out everyone except civilians, and Raynor accesses the diagnostic for the Brutalisk. It's contained, but apparently we can get some data from its DNA if we were to bring it down. Raynor, of course, decides to do just that. The energy field over it disappears and the restraints retract. We watch in horror as the thing moves ponderously from its prison, before eating a scientist. Raynor fires off the Plasma gun into the back of the thing's head. That gets its attention. And it moves in on us. Our Gauss rifles fire again and again at the thing, aiming for the head, but to very little effect. Raynor fires the plasma gun again and again, before switching to grenades. The thing goes down, its death roar toppling over some delicate looking equipment.
We breach the final door, inside is a fully-grown specimen like the things we've been passing. It is contained within a field, and appears dormant. We cut down the resistance here, and Raynor moves to a console. Using the Administrator access codes, he pulls open a video log between the real Administrator, and Arcturus Mengsk.
Mengsk, clad in his finery, is seen on one end of the conversation. He speaks first. "Decentes, what's the status of Project Harbinger?" the woman answers; her voice crisp and firm, "with the new arrivals we've picked up from the Haven system, Specimen three eighty one is showing signs of rudimentary autonomous neural activity. I don't know how the rebels got it to work, but it's solving all our problems with Swarm psychological control in our subjects. I would kill for a look at their initial subject." Mengsk answers "we'll get it to you, don't worry. And the rest?" "Well, splicing is going well. Those machines the good Doctor put together work wonders on genetics. Combining Protoss and Zerg genetic material, never thought I'd see the day… we now have over one hundred and fifty fully actualized subjects, although only three eighty one is growing to the size you listed in your requirements. Even cloning it isn't causing any more, if I had to guess, it's more a matter of chance then genetics." Mengsk nods. "keep up the good work, Administrator. These creatures will allow us, the Dominion, to do what no one else has. Tame not only the Zerg, but the Protoss as well. With them at our heels, we shall crush resistance in this sector, and see Humanity is made the most powerful force in the galaxy. You're doing something wonderful here, administrator. Your son would be proud." He then cuts the communication. Decentes stands for a moment, before her face falls, and she looks weary beyond her years. She then cuts her end as well.
They're using my research to create a Protoss/Zerg hybrid super soldier? The very concept is disgusting, and goes against all the ethics science is supposed to stand behind to stop abominations from coming to be. Apparently most people here agree with the sentiment. We move to the Fusion Reactor and Raynor primes a grenade, before tossing it into the open top, and we all run out of the Blast Radius.