Episode 10- Przedsmak (Foretaste).

"Look at the beauty, and behold its magnificence!"

"I don't see it".

"Because you are a builder, using schematics. But I! I am visioner! I see potential! Where you see just a mountain, I see opportunity!" This dramatic shouting was pointed halfway at the ERK pilot and halfway at the skies, and it was something.

The young man, sitting on his Giant Metallic Chicken, gesticulating wildly, and spouting his words was really a spectacle to behold. Unfortunately, no one understood his genius, so Dobromir was met only with silence.

.

The mountain before them wasn't too big, but it certainly was very steep. It looked almost like a spiky wall formed in half moon shape, perfect for their needs.

Turning around, facing colonists he started "Anyway, some of you are miners, right?"

He was met with few verbal affirmations and nodding heads.

"So, you people will prepare ample space for ships to land, and temporary shelters for yourself and next people who will come here, best to prepare some underground, but only if you are able to".

The colonists looked at each other then one of them asked "What about ERK's?"

"Those boys and I will be occupied with defenses primarily. You know walls, bunkers, Anti Air Turrets, barracks or two, one small command center, but there are few of us so you know, it will take time. Ah! And choose a leader for yourself, I won't have time for everything, and I certainly don't have experience in mining."

Colonists looked at him for a moment, then as one they turned to one particular person, an older man, certainly past the hard work stage of his life. He just sighed and said "Guess it can just as well be me".

"Great, so who do I have the pleasure of cooperating with?"

"Josh Maxwell".

"Okay mister Well, I expect you understand the responsibility".

"It's not the first time".

"And pray it's not the last. Anyway chop chop people, we have limited time!"


The group arrived on the outskirts of Backwater Station, and constructed a basic base, composed of a command center for communication, barracks for ammunition replenishment, and two depots, to grow some edible mushrooms, courtesy of Po'midor. Those shrooms can be eaten without preparing, but the results will be tasteless. For quick missions like this one, they are perfect for feeding soldiers, and take some for return trips.

.

Some soldiers were patrolling the perimeter, where the rest just waited around guarding camp. The two ERK's they took with them gathered minerals, which would be used for making ammunition and eventual repairs. The command center was a very small affair, the smallest standard available to be exact, capable of accommodating 4 people inside, it would need a special extension to build ERK's to the side, and Radar Array with Nuke Silo are too big to be available.

Currently, inside the small control room Marshal and Second in Command both stood around the console, showing a map of the Backwater Station.

.

"I have no idea why the main Command Center is separated from the rest of the base, but it's not our primary target. Considering who we are fighting with, there is no one alive left. Signals arrived from the rest of the complex, which seems just like a normal base, so there should be some poor souls there to rescue."

"I think there is no time to waste, we will take most of our boys with us, and leave some to defend this base".

With that they exited the base, which was turned to proxy mode, automatically passing messages and transmissions to Marshal.

After organizing their little group, Jim on his bike and Katarina on her boar started advancing towards the survivors, their troops following them.

.

They took the first pocket of zerglings with ease, and walking up the natural ramp, they met with purple carpet and fleshy structure.

"Disgusting!" Commented one of the marines "What is on the ground, and what's this pillar of flesh?!"

After swiftly mowing down the zerglings alerted by the shouting, Katarina answered "This fleshy column is spreading this disgusting purple carpet, and makes zerg go a little faster. And don't shout, you Idiot, next time there could be a lot more that we can deal with." The icy tone chilled the soldiers to the bone, it seems they would behave from now.

"And how will we deal with it?" Asked Raynor, looking from his bike.

"Easiest way possible", with that the Ridress took out a bottle with a cloth, lit up the fabric and threw it at the structure. It burned up completely in a minute, and the purple mass started disappearing.

"If it doesn't attack you, it means you can be frugal with your ammo. If it attacks you, pack it with bullets, because it usually is one shot, one kill, or rather one spike."

"Anyway, if zerg are so close to their base we don't have much time, just don't shoot me in the back". With that she started charging towards the camp seen in the distance.

"Damn this boar is fast!" exclaimed one of them men.

"And it hits with the strength of a train. Just shoot away from her, she will deal with the rest. Alright boys, move it!"

With that the group of marine started charging forward, their suits enchanting their capabilities enough to make it possible.

A few minutes later they arrived to see a base under siege, with some sporadic shooting from one of the bunkers. A lot of alien corpses were strewn about and some human too.

Katarina somehow arrived much faster, because she already was cleaning the zerg before the command center. She lay waste to them swinging her oversized mace, smashing the zerglings skull in. And of course she was still on her boar, which was charging around, doing its own deal of smashing and goring.

Deciding they weren't needed there, the group just went to clean the bugs tearing into the bunker. It didn't take long, and soon the battlefield was silent again.

Two groups of people left their respective buildings, one composed of three marines and firebat from the bunker, and the second of three ERK's from the command center.

"I thought we were goners, thank you guys/miss!"

After that they gathered in the middle, with exhaustion and stress evident on the survivors' faces.

"What happened here?" Asked Jim. He probably already knew more than them, but it was good to be sure.

"A week or two ago those things attacked the main base, if not for our distance we would be dead already. After that they started attacking us periodically, and only we, that is, a fifth of the original garrison remained."

"And why were you stationed so far from the main base?" This time Katarina asked.

"It was a research center, we were just supplying them with food, and took orders to import this or that, nothing special."

"Should we check what is left of it? Katarina, what do you think?" If Raynor was the only commander, he would need to decide by himself. Having a capable second in command by his side, it was a good opportunity to get a second opinion.

"Knowing from experience? nothing good. Probably the area is crawling with even more zerg, and it's not worth risking lives for. We rescued who was left, and gained the firebat schematic, it's time to leave, when casualties still count zero."

Looking at his men, twenty wasn't a lot, and towards the base in the distance, with visible purple carpet even from here, he decided it was a good curse of action.

"Okay men, we're leaving! Lift the buildings that can fly and put it on autopilot, directing the Magistrate's camp! If they arrive, nice, if not oh well."

With that, the group was soon moving towards their first camp, to gather the rest of marines and ERK's. Not long after they boarded their trucks, and the rest who didn't have space left just climbed ERK's arms, and soon they set off, the buildings behind them slowly flying in the same direction.

.

The construction of walls was going smoothly. Composed of metal sheets on both sides, and a lot of rubble, they were made thick enough to be able withstand any zerg attacks.

Towards the fortress-in-making another group of colonists was walking, with trucks slowly trailing behind them, filled with whatever materials they would need. On their front was one of the riders, with a giant crossbow mounted on the front of his special saddle.

"Ahoy, commander!" Shouted the hulking man, on his hulking boar.

"We are in the westland, you dimwit!" Answered voice from atop of the walls.

"Eh, they are equally empty!"

The front of the group arrived at the opening between the walls and watched the figure arguing with their protector.

"Anyway, you may go in, the foreman will brief you on what to do. Bill, join the rest of the riders, I should have a mission for you soon." With that the figure jumped down from the wall, miraculously not breaking his legs, as he walked in, Bombastic bill following him, and colonists after.

.

"Okay people, we still need more space underground for the rest of us, so you will be helping the rest, and those unable to work in mines, go to depots, and help in food production, our supplies will not last". The Foreman, elected temporary civil leader, was doing a rather good job, directing people and planning underground expansion.

.

The group of nearby riders was listening with one ear, taking care of their mounts and weapons. "I want someone patrolling, not far, and only directions the rest will be coming from, zerg can start attacking the late groups who will be coming in, and our boys could use help."

"I already shot a few, commander!"

"All the more reason to not hesitate Bill, the rest of you, make shifts, you need to be well rested for incoming dangers". With that, the young adult walked off, to direct the workers bringing rubble from mining.

"Busy as a bee, he always seems to be."

"Nice Yoda impression Bill, but let's get to work" Said one of the raiders, putting on a helm with a big red plume, and T shape visor.


"They are coming from the left!" Every soldier heard the shout through the comms, and a group hurried towards the direction, running up the ramps, and taking position on the higher elevation, preparing for another wave.

A few riders took position in the space between the low cliffs, forming a blockade to protect the rest of the camp.

.

They didn't have to wait long, less than 10 minutes later marines opened fire at the approaching wave of zerglings, thinning them out considerably. The rest was slashed, smashed and pierced through they met the wall composed of giant boars, and their swords, maces, axes and halabards wielding riders.

The zerg ended shortly after, dealing no casualties. Most of the soldiers returned to the camp, in case an enemy appeared from a different direction. Left were only a few lookouts and one rider.

.

"Damn, they increase in numbers and frequency. We haven't suffered any casualties yet, but our time is running short."

"There are only three groups of colonists left, they merged with others to increase protection. They were attacked by zerg already, luckily our boys dealt with them without problem, for now".

Magistrate looked at the third in command of the riders, an older man with mostly gray hair and a monocle. He was surprised to learn the oldest of the group was only THIRD in command, but experience didn't match vast talent it seems.

"What about our Marshal?"

"They should be in… a four, five hours top."

"Then it's time to send the rest of the colonists. Better to create bigger groups, so split in two, first group send now, and second when Raynor arrives."

"Yes, of course… but, what about Confederacy?"

"What about them?"

"Some contact, anything?"

"I tried, the only answer was insults and dismissal, of course".

"Hmm…" the sound was accompanied by twirling his rather impressive mustache, long and thick enough to extend beyond face, and stand in the air. "Better talk this over with the commander, when we are all safe in his little fortress of course".

"Ah right, how's the construction going?"

"Good, or knowing commander better than good. Most of the defenses are ready, only extras remain".

"What kind of extras?" asked the confused Magistrate.

"Missile turrets, and traps, the second obviously only after we all are in the fortress".

"Let's just hope we will live to see another day".

.

Authors explanation:

I didn't find a better version than "foretaste", and it sounds just meh so that's why.