"the spank the monkey buddy icon is ..'distracting' me"
-Wangsonn
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| The Starcraft chronicles: Episode V The Ghost Riders | | | Author: | | | IP: | gateway.XXXX | | Date: | 11/26/00 03:11 | | Game Type: | Starcraft | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 1, Max: 7, Min: 7
Lifetime Rating for Monty Pylon: 6.0390 |  | The Starcraft chronicles: Episode V The Ghost Riders
The plains of Aiur were cold and dark as a great warrior was laid to rest. On the torn fields of what once was the glorious Protoss homeworld, Fenix was returned to the soil. A monument was built in his honor as well as all those who had given their lives for their people. Jim Raynor was among those at the ceremony but although he grieved for his friend his mind was elsewhere. All he could think about was Kerrigan and his plans to eliminate her. He left Aiur and the Protoss who did not accompany him. There was much to do and the rebuilding of Aiur took all priority over any matter. Praetor Artanis had returned from the great battle in defeat and the Protoss had to rebuild their fallen world in order to fight another day. Raynor's cruiser left Protoss space and headed for the terran sector. Killing Kerrigan would require an army that was both brave and a little crazy. He needed help, he need the Rider's.
Raynor's Rider's was one of the more powerful factions before the Brood Wars. They had agreed to meet on Braxis in the event they were split up. Braxis was idle for it's isolation from both Korhal and Tarsonis. Neither the Dominion or Kerrigan would find them. The cruiser began it's approach towards Braxis and the giant ship braced for atmospheric decent. As the ship came closer to the surface the snow covered cliffs and a few tree's could be seen. A base appeared in the distance and campfire's were visible even through the clouds and fog. But they were not campfire's as the crew of the ship was about to find out. They hovered over the base and saw a mound of wreckage and carnage. Dead bodies' lay everywhere and the buildings were nothing more than burning ruins. Searchlights were activated and along with the bodies of dead terrans there were dead zerg. Two and two were put together and the cruiser began it's ascent. Raynor left Braxis and flew to a trade center on a small moon in the Kel-Morine sector.
Without the Rider's it seemed that there was no hope for a victory over Kerrigan. Upon arriving at the center, the crew of Raynor's ship abandoned him. He was a man possessed and people like that usually get you killed. Raynor had a ship without a crew but a few stayed behind. They had been with Raynor since he was a marshal for the confederacy and was his most trusted friends. The first was Raynor's second in command, his name was Ahc Stevens, but everyone called him overmind. It was a nickname given to him during the two wars. He had survived the battle to kill The Overmind. He had been at Korhal during Kerrigan's betrayal. He had survived the battle of the Platform when he temporarily joined the Dominion fleets. In each case he had received a mortal wound or so the medics thought but each time he recovered and was as dangerous as ever. It was joked that he was damn near invincible, just like the Overmind.
Next was Sid6.9, an android that Raynor rescued from a science vessel. Sid was trapped during a zerg attack and Raynor, who happened to be raiding the same vessel, came to his rescue. Sid was eternally grateful and now was by Raynor's side wherever he went. He's useful for breaking into science vessels and locked facilities because of his ability to crack access codes. He has extraordinary senses and is a great shot. A good soldier to have if he wasn't so squeamish.
Finally there was Dr. Zchivago. He is not really a doctor but he did learn a lot from his medic girlfriend. They were no longer together but he remembered everything she taught him about medicine. He was good as any field medic but he did not abide by any oath. He could shot with one hand and patch you up with the other. Countless times he's been able to save a few lives on the battlefield.
With this rag tag bunch Raynor had limited possibilities. An attack would mean that they would be outnumbered and out gunned. The numbers he had no control over but he could get better weapons. Going up against kerrigan with guasse rifles was not his idea of a good plan. They needed the latest in weaponry as well as a few new toys to play with. He consulted the resident computer to find and adequate source.
"Sid, where is the nearest science facility?"
"Let me check commander. Accessing files of all know science facilities still operational. Checking for facilities in all sectors. Eliminating those orbiting Tarsonis or Dominion planets. Search complete, I have one abandoned vessel approximately five thousand metrics from Braxis."
"Check it's logs. Why was it abandoned?"
"Reviewing all files in vessel logs. Abandoned two months ago due to terran rebel attack. Terran rebels identified as unknown. Leader of rebels identified as Samir Duran."
"I never heard of a Samir Duran. As long as it wasn't the zerg we should do fine. Terrans pick and go, the zerg like to hang around. Hopefully those rebels left us something. We'll leave in the morning. Right now I could use a drink."
That night the four friends toasted their departed comrades. They drank for hours and awoke the next morning to claim the spoils of the science vessel. That all were hung over but a little pain killer from the Doc's bag of tricks put an end to their suffering. The four realized how hard it is to fly a cruiser with only four people but Sid tapped into the ship's computer and navigated with ease. The ship approached the vessel as it loomed in the dark void of space. It was eerie as the vessel floated in the dark, motionless and dead. A small transport was used to ferry the team to the vessel and they stepped inside with guns ready for action. The corridors were dark and uninviting and not a sound was heard throughout the ship. The team made its way to the main control room and Sid patched himself into the mainframe. A little code adjustment and Sid had control of the ship.
"I have control of the computer. What do you need commander?"
"Well first of all I need some lights. Then I need to know where the weapons storage and research departments are."
"Give me a second on that order. Accessing environmental, all vessel lights activate."
ACCESS DENIED
"What? Accessing environmental, all vessel lights activated!"
ACCESS DENIED
REQUIRE ACTIVATION CODE
"Activation code. Almost forgot about that. If I remember correctly all Dominion vessel use the same standard codes. Activation code, Black Sheep Wall."
"Black Sheep Wall? What kind of stupid code is that?"
"Trust me overmind it will work."
ACTIVATION CODE ACCEPTED
ACCESS GRANTED
"See, I told you it would work, now about those weapons and research areas. Computer, locate weapon's storage and research department."
"Weapon reserves are located in sector four. Research department is located in sector six junction eight."
"Alright, me and overmind will go to weapons. You two go to research and see what you can get. Grab what you can and we'll meet at the transport. Is that understood?"
"Sure thing commander."
"I understand Commander Raynor."
"Let's get a move on fearless leader."
The two pairs parted and set to pillage the ghost vessel. Raynor and overmind found canister rifles and few crates of ammo. In research the doc and Sid discovered ghost suits and stim packs. The Doc also found a medic kit and Sid found cloaking devices. The teams brought their treasures to the docking gate and found a very bad surprise. The gate doors would not open.
"Sid. See if you can find out why the doors are locked."
"I am trying sir. The computer says that it has initiated a standard emergency lockdown procedure."
"Do you know why?"
"I'm sorry but the computer can not specify. I'm trying to access the ships memory logs to see what happened after our arrival. Accessing memory logs. Reviewing files for time frame 3453-3568. Oh no, this is very bad."
"What? What is it?"
"Well sir I have some interesting news."
"Well? What is it?"
"Well sir? What do you want first, the good news, the bad news or the ugly news?"
"Give me the good."
"The good news is that I can override the system and open the doors."
"The bad news?"
"The bad news is that it will take me at least ten minutes."
"And the ugly?"
"The ugly is that the lockdown is being caused by an infestation of zerg that landed five minutes ago and will engage us in two minutes."
"Why didn't you say so!"
"You did ask for the good and bad first sir."
"Nevermind that! Get that door open as soon as possible! Everyone else get ready for zerg! Use the crates for cover, stay low and shoot straight! Doc, I'm counting on you to keep us in good shape."
"I read you sir."
"Commander, the zerg are two hundred metrics from our position. You should make visible contact in thirty seconds."
Raynor gripped his rifle and waited for the zerg to turn the corner. He peered down the corridor and saw his saving grace.
"Sid activate the auto defenses now!"
Sid complied and as the first zerglings turned the coroner the auto guns came online. The trap sprung as flamethrowers and machine guns popped out of the walls and floor. The zerg were gunned down in a confused rage. Raynor and his men laughed and yelled as the zerglings were helpless as they fell to machine gun fire. Hydralisks entered the corridor and began to launch spines at the defense guns. One by one the machine guns fell silent and the zerg gained more ground. The hydralisks had taken heavy losses but they eliminated the auto guns. The wounded hydralisks slithered towards Raynor and his men. They opened fire and the hydralisks returned fire in the form of pointed spines. The spines embedded in the crates but the men were not harmed. The gusse rifles took their tolls and the hydralisks slumped onto the floor.
"Sid how much longer?"
"I just need another four minutes but there is still one zerg left."
"One zerg? Then who cares, we'll feed him some hot lead. Right commander? Commander?"
"Quiet Ahc. Do you guys feel that."
In the silence the soldiers all felt a strange rumbling. It grew stronger and louder as the last zerg drew near. It was big, mean and had sickles for hands. A zerg Ultralisk was all they needed at this point. They open fire and watched the bullets bounce off the thick hid of the zerg tank. The corridor was small and the Ultralisk had trouble fitting. He powered his way through the metal walls and continued to march towards the trapped soldiers. The rifles were not doing enough damage and they were running out of time. Raynor reached for the canister rifles and picked up the cloaking devices.
"Ahc, Doc, Sid put these on quick."
They activated the cloaking fields and the Ultralisks stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't find and enemy and from nowhere a canister bullet slammed into his shoulder. Soon canister fire was everywhere and the Ultralisks armor began to receive dents. The hail of fire was too much and the Ultralisks crashed to the ground in a heap. Sid finished and the doors finally opened. They flew the transport back to the cruiser and did a full search. No zerg were found and they immediately evacuated the sector. The cruiser made it's way to Antiga Prime and hid for a few days. Raynor now had the weapons but how could he possible organize an operation with only four men. It would be suicide and near impossible. After all, it's not everyday you try an assassinate the Queen of Blades.
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