It starts with a mere pinprick of light, a brief glimmer among the sea of stars. The flaring of light is barely even noticeable among the vastness of the twinkling cosmos. Slowly the glimmer begins to increase in size and intensity until the source is completely revealed in all its violent and raw fury. The vacuum of space seems to be the only force capable of containing the fierce, piercing cries of the massive Zerg brood surging through the dark, cold lanes. At the forward edge individual Zergs purposefully blaze a trail, leading the way through the void for their kind. Mutalisks and other Zerg flyers streak by in ever increasing numbers. Soon, the numbers become impossible to count, as wave after wave of the living swarm becomes nothing more than a blur of movement as they continue forth towards their goal. Like a living plague, the Zerg continue to pour into the space claimed by the humans. When last they entered this region years ago, their initial arrival was uncontested. The humans failed to recognize the growing threat until it was too late. It was only after the arrival of the Protoss did they truly encounter any serious opposition. The surviving humans, having learned from their grievous error went immediately to work in constructing a massive defensive network to prevent or delay any future advances from the Zerg. To enter this very same region without a fight goes practically unnoticed by the swarm with the exception of one, the cerebrate Chazz.
Deep within the dark, moving mass the cerebrate looks through the eyes of his minions and is troubled by what he sees. Where once existed a fortified network of structures and bases is replaced instead with shattered vessels and blasted debris. Having prepared his forces for a violent confrontation with the humans only to be greeted by nothingness causes the cerebrate to consider the implications of these new findings with great interest. Everywhere the pieces from the earlier carnage drift and clutter space as his brood surges onward to their target. Among the wreckage several unusual pieces catch his interest. Though the debris is blackened and faded, they bare little resemblance to what the humans use and could shed light on this mystery. With a brief command, the monstrous pod where the cerebrate resides alters course slightly and moves to collect the bizarre pieces. An opening spreads and the pieces are pulled inside the gaping maw. The debris is quickly transported into the heart of the pod where the cerebrate eagerly awaits its arrival. A small aperture spreads apart on the far side of the central chamber and the pieces are ejected to drop onto the moist flooring with a soft clatter.
Moving slowly, Chazz’s massive bulk slides across the warm, moist ground to focus on his findings. Several probes sprout forth from his form and he examines the strange debris with his own sensors. The strange pieces are unlike anything he has seen before. Neither Terran nor Protoss, the debris is completely unknown even to him and seems to have possessed some signs of life. As a test, he focuses some of his energy on a shattered piece to examine it and is surprised with the results. The blackened piece immediately begins to change to a shiny black finish with molted red marks over it. He senses intelligence within the once dead piece emitting some semblance of life. Soon energy begins to run through the now living section appearing as small white, glowing streams. To his startling surprise, dozens of small tendrils spring forth and latch onto several nearby pieces drawing them in, the living section growing in size with each addition. The dead pieces are combined and quickly begin to regenerate to their prior state. He stops feeding his energy to the first piece and watches as the earlier activity ceases; the pieces fade in color and break apart until they are reduced to mere debris once more. The possibility of an organic technology far advanced and superior to his own race is truly a great find. His new discovery excites him and he entertains the potential for it to be used to tip the scales in their favor against the Protoss. Such an incredible find must be made known, he thinks to himself.
Chazz quickly moves towards the center of the room to send his incredible findings. With a mental command from him, a leathery-like sheath slides back from a pulsating, circular ring at the center of the chamber to reveal a shimmering pool of liquid. The pool hazes and slowly forms to reveal the image of his queen, Kerrigan the Queen of Blades.
“Have you encountered the Terran defensive network yet Chazz?” she asks as her form smoothly moves into view.
“Yes my queen.”
“And my losses?”
“None sustained my queen.”
“None,” she asks as her eyes flash briefly with surprise, “though I have no doubt that you are a quite capable servant, I would expect my former comrades to put up far more resistance than that. What happened Chazz?”
“We arrived to find the Terran force placed in this region completely destroyed… their defensive structures smashed to dust my queen. I can offer no explanation. However I have found something that may hold the answer.”
“Elaborate Chazz,” commands Kerrigan as she moves to her throne.
“Within the field of wreckage I discovered some unusual fragments. They are beyond anything I have seen before. I examined several of the pieces and have made a most amazing discovery. If you would allow me to demonstrate my queen.”
Kerrigan simply gestures for him to continue on with his demonstration. As before, Chazz performs the earlier act of feeding energy into the shattered pieces resulting in the same incredible results.
“Interesting… very interesting,” she says as she widens her eyes with interest. “Do all the other pieces react in the same manner Chazz?”
“Yes… regardless of whatever state they may be in, the debris will regenerate if sufficient energy is supplied my queen. Such a find would be extremely useful against the Protoss.”
“Indeed…” replies Kerrigan in a thoughtful tone. “Have you been able to recover any remains of this new species? Even a small sample of their genetic structure would be beyond value given their level of biotechnology. ”
“No my queen. I have located additional sections that appear to be the remains of several large crafts but nothing else beyond that.”
“How strange…” states Kerrigan as she continues to stroke the soft material of her throne. “No discernable remains at all?”
“None found my queen.”
“How damaged were the sections Chazz?”
“They were damaged severely. The sections I have recovered appeared to have been subjected to massive amounts of energy. Small traces of radiated particles are still active within the material my queen.”
“Exactly what is to be expected from the effects of a Battlecruiser’s cannon,” states Kerrigan with an increase in respect for this new discovery. “A Yamato blast would leave little in the way of debris yet these small pieces are still function despite the abuse they have suffered, Remarkable.”
“My queen… I feel we have seen this technology before.”
“That was my thought as well Chazz,” states Kerrigan as an old memory springs to mind. “I believe we saw a brief sample of this technology above our home planet of Char.”
“Indeed my queen. When that unknown probe was damaged I now recall it behaving in the same fashion as these sections,” says Chazz as he gestures with an appendage towards the debris before him.
“Well… well… well…” says Kerrigan with barely concealed excitement, “and now this unknown species has aided my forces against my former comrades. Perhaps we have gained the attention of new allies Chazz,” ventures Kerrigan with a tight smile.
“Perhaps…” comments Chazz cautiously, “but it would be premature to assume this until we have made certain of their true intentions my queen.”
“Of course Chazz,” answers Kerrigan with a slight flashing of her eyes in annoyance at her lapse. “It would appear I let my excitement cloud my thinking in this matter.” She closes her eyes briefly and opens them to reveal her usual cold gaze as the previous wonder in her voice leaves her.
“Gather whatever remains you can collect for further study and continue on to Trasa,” she orders quickly. “From his whining I believe the Dominion is close to removing our hold on that planet.”
“As you so order my queen,” humbly responds Chazz.
“And Chazz, if you should happen to come across our new friends… inform me immediately.”
“Of course my queen. How soon before you reach the Protoss homeworld?”
“Soon… very soon. We are currently a few systems away from reaching them… I hope they spend their last moments of life wisely,” states Kerrigan with a cruel sneer. “Once I finish with them Arcturus will be next.”
“I will do as you have instructed me my queen. I shall await your arrival in this region,” says Chazz as his distant image swirls and fades.
Kerrigan stands motionless for a moment staring blankly at the darkened image as the sheath slowly slides over the pool. The thought of a species far more advanced than anything ever encountered before is unsettling to her. Though she feels her own forces are more than a match for the mongrel Terrans and even the Protoss, this unknown species appears to have incredible power. Are they here as allies or to challenge her rule of the galaxy? she wonders. It is a dark thought that continues to nip at the back of her mind. Information regarding this matter is what she needs and that lies with her long departed tracking brood. With a brief gesture from her hand, the sheath slides back to reveal the pool once more as she contacts the tracking brood’s master.
“My queen?”
“Xerus, I require an update regarding my forces dispatched back to Char,” asks Kerrigan.
“We have finally located the device you sought and I have studied it in great detail my queen. It is definitely not Protoss… it is far beyond even their level. I can only assume it is from a species we have yet to encounter.”
“I know this already Xerus! All I want from you is whether your brood can track down where the probe originated from!” viciously snaps Kerrigan as her eyes burn with a cold fury.
“My apologies my queen…forgive my… ignorance,” hesitantly replies Xerus as he struggles to conceal his annoyance. “We have attuned ourselves to the probe’s emissions and are following the transmissions back to its source.”
“Good,” sternly states Kerrigan. “See to it that you find them quickly,” adds Kerrigan with a brief flashing of her eyes, “I must know all that I can about these new arrivals.”
“Of course… my queen,” belatedly adds Xerus with half-hearted respect as his distant image fades into darkness.
Standing before the darkened pool, her mood grows even darker as she contemplates the arrogance of Xerus’ attitude and wonders if he requires a small reminder of who really is in command of his brood. Shaking her head slightly with annoyance she decides Xerus’ little reminder will have to wait… for now. Turning swiftly, she moves towards the aperture leading out of her central chamber. With a soft hiss, the organic door spreads apart to allow her exit to the corridor beyond.
***
Several hours have passed since Chazz’s forces penetrated the shattered remains of the Terran defensive network. Moving rapidly through the cold, void of space the massive Zerg brood continues to surge onward until their goal is in sight. Deep within the heart of his living pod, Chazz continues to monitor and direct his ravenous minions; hoping to arrive undetected within the Terran system. Upon arrival to the system, several scouting parties are dispatched to locate and secure a path. The dark mass that is Chazz’s brood flows forth into the unsuspecting Terran system like an evil, living wave threatening to drown those caught in its path. A brief image draws his attention from one of his forward scouts. Narrowing his thoughts slightly to filter out the rest so that he more clearly receives the distant image, he observes through the eyes of his agents a pleasing sight. A large darkened section of the planet has been left practically unguarded. The sloppiness of the Humans has provided him an excellent location for his forces to penetrate. Another image is flashed to him to reveal a small number of Terran craft slowly drifting across the darkened side of the planet, apparently on patrol. The image pleases him and he readies his forces for the assault.
***
On board the Dominion cruiser, Peregrine, Captain Rachael Foster continues to monitor the feeds on her desk from her small patrol group. She feels the deck plates beneath her feet vibrate slightly as her cruiser and the rest of her group continues their patrol of the darkened side of Dylar IV. Taking a small sip of tea, she continues to glance through the status reports regarding their campaign against the Zerg. She suppresses a slight smile at the recent successes. Though he may be an insufferable, egotistical, old bastard, Ames sure does know how to fight, she thinks quietly to herself. Placing the report down, she thinks back to how much pain and suffering she had to endure to get her commission and ultimately this ship. So much time and energy lost, so much pain and grief. She tries to suppress the old memories that she feels creeping back into her mind and barely succeeds. She feels the grievous loss almost as if it happened yesterday as the images flash through her mind as she closes her eyes.
She recalls the mass hysteria and the panic as she and her family struggle to gather their belongings. Chaos everywhere as people ran through the streets wildly in an attempt to get away and reach the waiting transports while masses of Confederate troops along with the local militia race past their homes in an attempt to at least delay the Zerg long enough for the civilians to evacuate. She remembers the sights and sounds, the pure terror filling the air as she feels the tight grasp of her children around her; the long dead sensation threatening to bring tears to her eyes again. She sees the image of her husband and son pushing them to the distant transports. And that’s when she recalls the blood curling shrieks. The piercing cries of the Zerg as they flowed into their city. She screws her eyes tightly and she can almost imagine the warmth of her long-dead husband and son as they embrace and then leave to try and stop the Zerg. Their words of reassurance that they’ll see each other again, ringing hollow even after all these years. She can almost feel the ground beneath her pounding feet as she dragged her children along with her, fighting back tears the whole time as she ran without thought. A sudden flash of light ahead of her followed by a crushing force drives her to the ground and into darkness.
Her eyes are completely watery now as the tears stream down her face from the harsh memories. She recalls later waking up on a medical transport to the ill news of her children missing and her husband and son lost to the Zerg. She remembered crying for days with grief until there were no more tears to be shed. Her children, the only remaining shred to her past life were never found again. The grief was soon replaced with a cold desire for revenge. She remembers going to the first officer she found and begging, pleading with tears running down her face to be given a chance to fight the Zerg. To pay them back for the losses she has suffered. That’s when she met him. That’s when her life forever changed. Ames gave her the chance to fight, the chance to pay the Zerg back for every drop of innocent blood spilled and for that she was forever grateful. A soft beep comes from her comm station and draws her back from the old memories.
“Yes,” she answers softly.
“Captain, we’re at the half-way point of our patrol leg.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Time to get back to work Rachael,” she says quietly to herself as she sniffs slightly. Wiping the lingering moisture from her face with the back of her sleeve, she pushes herself away from her desk and moves to check her image. She takes a moment to ensure that she projects the proper image of a commander, adjusting her uniform and smoothing out some wrinkles before she quickly exits her cabin. It takes her roughly two minutes to reach the combat information center.
“Ma’am, would you care for anything to eat?” asks a young crewmember who steps beside her.
“No thanks Stephen,” she answers as her eyes continue to follow their patrol route on the central display. “Maybe something later though.”
The young crewman merely nods as he goes off to attend to his duties leaving her alone with her thoughts again. She spots her XO moving through the crowded room towards her to deliver the group’s status report.
“Evening ma’am,” briskly says the XO of the Peregrine, Kevin Locke, “I’ve got the status reports from the group as you requested.”
“Thanks Kevin,” she replies as she takes the offered datapad. “Comm systems still non-functional?”
“Yes ma’am… we can maybe get a signal to bounce across the atmosphere to report in but we’re not too sure if they’ll get it clear or garbage filled,” replies her XO with a shrug
“Damn,” she mutters under her breath. “I’ve been petitioning for some orbital relays to be installed to deal with these blackouts but those stalling fools back in supply keep holding out on me.”
“It’s not that big of an issue ma’am,” offers Locke, “the Zerg here are just about finished and we’re only out of contact for roughly another forty minutes at the most.”
“I know Kevin… doesn’t mean I have to like it though.”
“Captain! I’ve got something you should take a look at!” announces the tactical officer.
“Put it on the main display,” she orders sharply. The holographic image of the group patrol route shimmers and is replaced with a new image, that of a small cluster of Zerg.
“Long range sensors reading a small contingent of assorted Zerg closing fast ma’am.”
“Looks like some late comers to the party down below captain,” comments Locke with a soft snort of amusement. “That’s ok with me though, I’ve been itching for some action lately.”
Locke’s early enthusiasm is quickly replaced with a growing fear as the distant image begins to become wavery with movement, rapidly increasing in size to reveal the true danger lurking beyond. A massive dark, moving cloud in space can only mean one thing, a new brood has arrived.
“Oh hell…” whispers Locke.
“Sound general quarters! Have the fleet move to flank speed!” rapidly orders Foster as the command center becomes a hive of activity. “Comm can we get a signal bounced back to command?”
“Negative ma’am…” replies the comm officer with a shake of her head, “we’re still five minutes away for even minimal reception strength.”
“They’ll be on us in less than a minute captain…” says Locke with a worried look on his face.
“Order the vessels off to attempt to alert command, they’re faster than us anyway. Have the fighters try to cover them as long as possible… we’ll try to buy them some time.”
“Aye captain,” flatly responds Locke as he relays the orders. The two science vessels’ drives immediately flare as their engines struggle to accelerate them clear to transmit their urgent message. The fighters ordered to escort rocket off alongside to protect their charges while the Peregrine shifts to intercept the incoming Zerg.
***
Chazz watches as several Terran vessels quickly accelerate away while the massive cruiser alters course to attack his forces head-on. With a brief mental command, several sections of his living fleet break off and rapidly close the distance to the fleeing vessels as the main bulk charges the defiant cruiser. Judging the fleeing vessels to be of great importance, he urges his underlings to quicken their pace. The leading Zerg flyers are within range of the vessels when he begins to feel the brief flashes of pain as his forces begin to die. He observes the battle through the view of one of his attacking devourers and watches as several missiles streak out from the void. The missiles impact and his image is replaced with a brief flash as his agent is blasted into bloody gore. Several more of his forces fall to the Terran barrage until sufficient numbers begin to overwhelm the fleeing forces. White-hot flashes of light and a shower of debris soon litter space marking the death of the Terrans as his forces close on their targets. Another brief flash of an image alerts him and he turns his attention back to the charging cruiser.
Chazz narrows his attention to the forward part of his fleet and witnesses a barrage of energy lancing out from the lone cruiser. The beams ripple through his forward forces and he senses their deaths and frustration. He orders some of his accompanying scourge into the red firestorm and watches as several are blasted apart in yellow gaseous explosions. He grows excited as the survivors make it through and impact on the glistening shields of the cruiser, the glowing shell flickering wildly in an attempt to deflect the impacts. Several small fires trail from the hull of the now blasted cruiser as it quickly retreats towards the planet. Sensing the eagerness of his broods, he releases his hold on them slightly as their animalistic fervor takes hold and drives them forward. The now unleashed main bulk of the Zerg brood surge ahead like a monstrous wave in pursuit of their prey back towards Dylar IV.
Switching back his view to his forces in pursuit of the fleeing vessels, he watches as yet another Terran craft dies in a violent explosion; the brilliant explosion in sharp contrast to the darkened planetary background. He senses the raw fury of his scourge as they race after a damaged vessel trailing debris. The side of the wounded craft grows large as his blind servants drive into their prey. Several brilliant flashes later and the vessel is reduced to a rapidly expanding fireball with flaming debris plummeting to the planet below in the wake of destruction. He turns his attention to the last vessel and its escorts as they struggle to flee. He feels himself quivering with excitement at the carnage wrought by his forces and almost forgets his primary mission as the lust for chaos consumes his form. He quickly orders his forces to immediately dispatch the last remnants of the Terrans and proceed towards the distant planet. Several of his minions hammer the battered cruiser as a massive explosion is ignited in the rear. The cruiser is immediately engulfed in flames as it tumbles into the planet’s deadly grip. He orders his pursuing forces off and back into the main body as they continue on to their destination, leaving the Terrans to their fate.
***
On board the blasted and debris filled bridge of the Peregrine, Captain Foster and the last remnants of her crew struggle for survival as their once routine patrol has turned into a living nightmare.
“Status report!” she yells above the cacophony of alarms and noise as she pulls herself off the floor. “I need a status report!”
A young ensign with damage control tabs braces himself against his barely functional console as explosions continue to rock the massive ship. Coughing slightly, he answers with a panic stricken voice as he scans the rapidly scrolling information. “Defensive grid is destroyed… main power is offline… auxiliary power is failing… main batteries are offline… we’re losing attitude control and propulsion… detecting hull breaches on decks 2, 4-7, 18, 23-26, 33 and we’re bleeding atmosphere!”
“Captain! We’re being pulled into Dylar’s gravity well!” screams a crewmember, her eyes wide with fear after she scans her flickering display.
“Where’s the XO?” yells Foster above the screams of pain and blaring of alarms.
“He’s f***ing dead captain!” shouts a voice in the dark. “We’ve got to get the hell out of here!”
“We’ve got to abandon ship captain!” urgently insists the comm officer.
“It’s too late for that now! We’re skimming the upper atmosphere now! The pods would burn up on reentry!” states Foster as she struggles across the shattered command center to the comm station.
“Did we get the word out to command?!” asks Foster urgently.
“Negative captain… as far as I can tell Dominion command doesn’t have a clue what’s going on here,” states a tactical officer as he struggles to remain calm despite his obvious growing fear.
“We’ve got to let them know somehow! First things first though. Helm what do we have left?” asks Foster as series of explosion rock the ship yet again.
“Two engines are all we’ve got left and half the maneuvering banks… not enough to get us down safely!”
“It’ll have to do! Now’s your chance to prove to me how hot of a pilot you are Franklin! Take us in and try to watch that landing!”
“Umm… yes ma’am,” nervously responds the lieutenant as he struggles with his barely functional controls, swearing to himself the whole time.
The Peregrine continues to tumble out of control towards the planet below. The last functional drives flicker briefly for a moment then flare as they try to drive the crippled ship to safety. Several passing Zerg continue to abuse the battered craft, chasing it down and racing alongside punching holes into the hull with their blasts. The hull begins to glow white-hot as the cruiser begins to take on the appearance of a blazing comet. The last lingering Zerg take a few more shots and then break off to rejoin their passing swarm.
“We’re coming in to fast! I don’t have enough power to slow her down Captain!” yells the helmsman.
“Transfer all reaming power including environmental to propulsion and maneuvering banks!” screams Foster to an engineering tech above the screeching noise of rushing atmosphere outside.
Several consoles nearby Foster erupt into flames and an awful crunching sound rattles through the spine of the cruiser as the intense pressure continues to increase; the Peregrine continuing its hellish descent towards the barren plains below.
“I’ve got a partial transfer!” announces the engineering tech.
Several gauges light up on the helm station and he acts upon it immediately. “C’mon baby… level out… LEVEL OUT DAMNMIT!” screams the helmsman as the ground rushes into view.
“RIG SHIP FOR IMPACT!” bellows Foster as she grabs for a nearby railing. The cruiser pulls up at the last moment and roars over the barren soil at a bare one hundred feet, a massive wall of sand and debris left in its wake. The last thing Foster sees is the horizon quickly shifting as the cruiser drops and rams into rocky ground with a brief flash, a harsh crunch and the sound of metal twisting. Foster feels the world around her suddenly, mercifully turn black around her to claim her at last. Overhead, the Zerg continue totally oblivious to the event below as they purposefully move towards their nesting ground to prepare for the arrival of their master. Their piercing screams and cries echoing across the land, heralding the dark times ahead.
