The surface of Atticus Minor, near the Hybrids location
16:54 Local Hour
Prv. Natasha Yar
*nervous* “What way? We are completely outnumbered, we cannot deploy the nukes and Joe is missing.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Calm down, Yar. *looks at Alona* What’s your plan then?”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*sighs first then takes a serious look* “When Kerrigan was taken by the zerg, before she was assimilated, Raynor said he was in contact with her and communicated. Kerrigan made some of the zerg docile when Raynor’s troops where around... Maybe Joe can do the same for us...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“That’s a long shot. Look around how many of them are... And the hybrids won’t be docile either...”
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
*in pain and angry* “Damn it, Fischer! Would you believe a traitor? She will get us killed. I say we throw the laser module down there, as far as possible, run away and send both nukes. The blast radius should take care of them.”
Prv. Natasha Yar
*thinking a bit* “It is conceivable. Yet, we don’t know if it will be enough to destroy the hybrids...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“It’s too much of the risk to launch the only nukes we have and not kill them.” *a little worried of the situation*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*almost yelling at them* “Are you deaf? I said we can do this. I’ll try to reach Joe. Claudia can take Riker’s sniper and give us some backup from here if something goes wrong. We can go as deep inside their base as we can, then retreat.”
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
*sarcastic* “A sniper versus thousands of zerg. Hell of a back up...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“LeNoir, how much explosives do we got left?”
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“Seven full charges.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Give them to Yar. *takes the sniper rifle from Riker and throws it to Claudia, who catches it* You will stay on this ridge and cover us. Shoot only if necessary.”
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“This is bull...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“These are your orders, private. As of now, I am taking command of this operation and you will follow my orders. Objections?” *looking at Natasha and Claudia*
*Neither of them answers.*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Good. Here is the plan. *serious and inspiring* After we are certain Alona contacted Astor, we go towards the ruins. Alona will take point so she can clear the path... I hope. Yar, you stay behind and plant the explosives on every main zerg building. If something, anything, goes wrong, I want you to detonate them and we all fall back. Drop the laser point module there and just run. Is that clear?”
*All of them agree and get ready. Andrew approaches Alona and whispers something only she can hear.*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
*very decisive* “I really hope you are right about this and it’s not a trap. If I feel, at any time you are screwing with me, I’m gonna shoot you in the legs and leave you in the middle of the zerg.”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*answers calmly* “I know. Now let me try to reach Joe.”
The four started to prepare themselves for what they had to do. At a first glance, it was more then obvious that chances to complete the mission were minimal. Yet, Alona believed it was possible. She stood alone and tried to whisper Joe her intentions, but all she heard back were cries for help and despair. Claudia thought it was suicide and tried to convince Andrew not to do this, but he had no other plan. He wanted to save Joe if possible, and this seemed to be the only way. Natasha rigged the charges and searched the canyon for any weak spots. She had an idea but did not want to tell anything yet to the others.
Inside the canyon, the zerg started to calm down. Many creatures borrowed or just went inside some buildings. Overloads flew away in distant parts while mutalisks retired in the spire. It seemed something was happening.
Whispers
“Alona... I hear you.... Alona.... come... come....”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*surprised* “Fischer, I did it...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“I heard that... LeNoir, what’s going down there?”
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“I see no activity down there...” *really surprised*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Yar, are those explosives ready?”
Prv. Natasha Yar
“Yes, sir. I managed to get 9 charges. I think it will be enough for a quick escape.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Marines, let’s do this then!”
The way down was easy. It seems the zerg made some paths for them to climb on the canyon walls. The marines were nervous and very cautious. Alona watched every step while Andrew looked everywhere for any signs of danger. As they descended into the canyon, they started to walk on creep. Everyone felt anxiety to be so few in the middle of a zerg base. They fought many battles and knew that, alone against the zerg, they had no chance. Now, they were acting upon a supposition. Claudia was maintaining visual contact up from the ridge, but she was as nervous as those on the ground. Natasha remained behind a while. Andrew noticed her absence immediately, but she answered the radio and caught up quick.
When they got down, they were surprised to see that nothing was in their way towards the ruins. Not even the sunken colonies attacked. They sticked together and advanced carefully. Andrew could not believe this was so easy. He simulated many scenarios in his mind the whole time, trying to figure out what he was going to do.
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*smiling* “I told you this will work.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
*nervous* “I really don’t like this... it is too easy. Something is wrong...”
Whispers
“Come.... Safe.... Come....
Prv. Natasha Yar
“These whispers are driving me insane. We have to finish this fast...”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“It’s Joe. He tells us it is safe.” *very secure*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“First he cried desperately for our help and now he is calm and guarantees us safety... *doubtful* I don’t know what to believe...”
*radio static*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“Something on the thermal scanner just appeared from the ruins. The temperatures are starting to increase, over.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Roger that. Keep me informed, over.”
Prv. Natasha Yar
“Look! *pointing to the ruins* Something is happening.”
*The ruins start to glow in an intense blue aura. Psionic discharges can be seen.*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“We have to get there fast.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Agreed.” *uneased*
*The marines quicken the pace to reach the ruins. The surroundings of the ruins start to float in the air. In the middle of them, a red beam is starting to emerge, intensifying in the top part. The sky above the ruins starts to clear. The three get to the ruins and enter the aura. Nothing happened, but inside it was very hot. Near a wall full of hieroglyphs, something like an organic coffin was sitting on a stone table.*
*Alona approaches the coffin. It was covered with some sort of carapace which resembled to zerg skin and had veins, where a fluid traveled through. Andrew ordered Natasha to search the place and scan everything. Andrew approaches Alona.*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*scared* “Joe... he is inside this...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Are you sure? This doesn’t seem to be zerg or protoss... Kerrigan was inside a chrysalis as our intel suggested...”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“I’m sure of it. We have to get him out of this shit!”
*Alona tries to open the carapace without success. Andrew pushes her aside and uses his bayonet to carve the coffin. After that, they both start to rip off the shell. Joe was lying inside but he was altered with lots of zerg and protoss implants. He was unconscious. Alona made a step back.*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
*frightened, trying to reach her mouth with her hand “My God! Joe...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
*very surprised* “This is... this is no way for someone to die....”
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“He is not dead! *screaming and starting to cry* “But we will be... Look what they are beginning to do to us! Look!” *pointing to Joe*
*Natasha comes to see what is happening. She is surprised as the rest.*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Natasha, can we save Joe? Can we detach those things?”
Prv. Natasha Yar
“I don’t think so... He isn’t human anymore. I’m sorry...” *said with sadness*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
*serious* “Then, we have to finish our mission. Alona, give me the...”
*From behind a hybrid appear. With a look, it pushes Alona far into a wall. It tries to hit Andrew with a psionic discharge but he dodges it.*
Hybrid (communicating telepathically)
“He granted you passage from the zerg because we wanted to let him. We wanted you to see for your own eyes what does your future look like.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“We’d rather die then become such abominations!”
Hybrid
“So be it. Your resistance is futile. You are to become what the Xel Naga intended you to become.”
*Tries to hit both Natasha and Andrew with a psionic discharge but both manage to dodge it. Alona wakes up and shouts.*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“You are one big ugly motherfucker! *reaches the laser point module and pushes the button, then looks at Natasha and Andrew* Run! Run as fast as you can!*
*Both marines understood what she has done and start running back the way they came. The hybrid turned his attention to Alona. Surprisingly, he does not kill her on sight.*
Hybrid
“You launched some explosives that you think it will destroy us. You cannot destroy us! You will die!”
*From behind, other four Hybrids emerge. Alona starts to laugh.*
Lt. Cmd. Alona DaVilla
“Everybody dies some time. *stops laughing and whispers. A tear drops on her chick* I’m really sorry, Joey...”
*The Hybrids concentrate their power and with a focused blast, they attack Alona.*
The zerg started to wake up. Hybrids began their chase to catch Natasha and Andrew. Both marines started to run and fire at the same time. Claudia sniped zerglings and hydras one by one, trying to get their path clear. Natasha detonated buildings to distract attention, but zerg were coming from every direction in many numbers.
Prv. Natasha Yar
*scared* “How much time until the nukes drop?”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“20 seconds I think... I really don’t know. *fires and kills a zergling* It has been an honor to serve with you.” *almost accepting his faith*
Prv. Natasha Yar
“We are not going to die. We need to reach that position!” *pointing to a spot near the canyon wall*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“There’s nothing there...” *confused*
Prv. Natasha Yar
“There will be. Trust me.*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“I cannot keep them off. They are too man... What the hell?” *startled*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“LeNoir? Status!”
*No answer, only radio static.*
Prv. Natasha Yar
“Hurry, get down here!” *drags Andrew inside some small trenches*
An explosion detonated above on the canyon wall made the rocks drop right in front of the trenches they took cover in. Zerglings surrounded the area but did not attack. Hybrids almost reached their position. Claudia also took cover up on the ridge as mutalisks where heading her way. Natasha and Andrew looked in each other eyes and smiled. Joe’s voice was heard once again saying thank you. The nuclear missiles dropped on the ruins. They leveled the entire place, destroying everything in the canyon. Buildings were collapsing all over and the ruins imploded leaving a great hole in the ground. The zerg burnt to death and the hybrids disintegrated into thin air at the electromagnetic shock. Mutalisks dropped from the sky like flies, screaming and burning to death. Overlords popped like balloons in a blob of organic flesh. Some of the rocks near the trenches fell over, covering both Natasha and Andrew.
*radio static*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
*desperate* “Fischer, Yar, can you hear me? God...”
*Claudia tries to remove the rocks out of the trenches. She manages to see the arm of Andrew exosuit.*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
*eased* “Thank you, God...” *manages to get him out, while he was mumbling all sort of things*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Damn tin can suit! Sorry, I heard your radio but mine is damaged. Natasha is somewhere... Here!” *lifts a rock and sees her.*
Prv. Natasha Yar
“It is about time...” *smiling and getting out of there*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“I’m so glad you are ok.”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
*very satisfied, looking at the view of burnt zerg* “Seems like we finished the mission after all. *serious now* But... at great cost...
Prv. Natasha Yar
“I think Corporal Astor would have done the same thing to ensure the success of this mission. *trying to comfort him* I mean...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Yes, he would have.” *smiling*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“Sir, we are receiving a subspace message from the Hyperion. It says: “Mission successful. Raynor saved Kerrigan. The war is over.”
*Natasha is filled with joy. Andrew smiles.*
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“Answer them that mission here was also a success. *smiling*
*Natasha goes near Andrew and grabs his hand smiling to him.*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“It was indeed... but there was something...” *a little nervous*
*Both Natasha and Andrew turn their looks on Claudia.*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“Just before the nuked dropped, an intense beam jumped from the ruins into the sky, where it was cleared. I don’t know what it was but it looked like a signal...”
Prv. Natasha Yar
“A homing beacon?” *confused*
Prv. Claudia LeNoir
“I don’t know...”
Prv. Andrew Fischer
“If there are others like them, we will find out. But for now, Squad One ruled once again!” *all of them celebrating their victory, in the middle of the torched groundings*
THE END
