Hollis Profile Joined January 2011 United States 505 Posts Last Edited: 2011-07-03 05:50:42 #1



Report #002 is



For best results, download the replay and watch it before, during, or after you read the story. Enjoy!)))



re: attn to Colonel Hunt: **Station 27**

courtesy Lieutenant Paul Graves

@Shakuras NWH, Station 25 Base Commander Garder in cmd

!attached file! (Satellite Footage.vid)

trans sat 0755 09.22.2504



Hail Arcturus, Colonel. Here's hoping this gets to you on time, I'd hate for my first assignment to end up late. You know as well as I do how much the Academy wants me to fail. I know you're not that concerned but I'd hate if I ended up as a brainwashed Ghost. Or one of those creepy Spectres the Information Bureau's been insisting don't exist.



I won't waste your time, Colonel. There are a lot of details about the incident that I think are interesting but I'm sure you'll see them as extraneous or just flat meaningless. For the future, please let me know if you have the time to be more thorough with these investigations, or if you're interested in the whys and wherefores rather than just what the Dominion can do better in future engagements with its enemies.



However, there is one detail I think will prove relevant. As a Clairvoyant I've always believed nothing happens meaninglessly. The night before I left for Shakuras I dreamed of a tree in the wind, stiff and unbending, and just before I woke it snapped right through the middle of its trunk and fell to the dusty ground. I know, I know, it sounds like the ravings of a madman, but please just bear with me.



So after that little fairy tale, let's get right into it.



09.10 1851: Expeditionary Command Center arrives at outlying mineral deposit with its standard complement of six SCV units. Landing spot is chosen based upon its ideal conditions for fringe colonization under standard protocols – plateau location, two nearby vespene geysers, high density mineral quality. Correct procedures followed for landing, crew head count, and equipment initialization. First collection shift begins 1900 and construction begins on Station 27's seventh SCV module.



09.10 2000: Base Commander Jackson Control orders supply depot built at the plateau's one choke point despite no recent intel on nearby deposits. “You circle the wagons whether you know there's injuns or not!” says Control to Major Wade Chan his assigned consultant. He doesn't mention this was the analogy his instructor used in the Base Command training program. Control does not like Chan; he harbors a deep-seated hatred for Morians. Suggest Dominion military training emphasize professionalism, because this internal bigotry leads to errors in judgment later, as we will see.



09.10 2045: Supply depot completed. Despite that his shift ended fifteen minutes ago the young man who built the depot is ordered to build Station 27's first barracks. Inwardly he is thinking of his girl waiting for him back at the Command Center but he follows his orders boasting about the overtime he probably won't be getting. Suggest better pay for our hard-working SCV pilots, but I realize that's doubtful.



Important to note here, the station has been operational for nearly two hours but there has been no effort to gather intel. Comsat from the previous day revealed no activity but the Protoss are sneaky and Zerg clusters grow very quickly. For that matter, non-Dominion Terran interests are ruthless and have little reason to respect Dominion territory lines. For all Commander Control knows an entire army could show up at his doorstep in minutes. I don't have a specific suggestion for it because I understand the base protocols and why we have them, but I just thought that was a little strange.



09.10 2055: Commander Control orders the refinery for the first of two geysers. All is well.



09.10 2102: Base Command receives a strange distress call from the chokepoint:

“Uh, Command this is Pete out at the choke point. We got zergs.”

Heart pumping the Console Operator comms back: “Status report, choke point.”

SCV Pilot answers: “Oh, it's just a little guy, took a nibble on my suit so I pulled inside the 'rax. Had some welding to do in here anyway. He's just milling around outside, can't find his way in.”

Major Chan, standing behind the operator takes the receiver and says: “Recruit, can you identify the enemy?”

SCV Pilot: “Not sure, I think it's just a worker zerg. He ain't got no teeth, just some big mandibles he chewed on my suit with. Just a scratch though. He's kinda cute. Guess you better send some backup, though, might be more.”

Chan, nodding: “Thank you, recruit. Just to be safe please transmit the video for positive identification. Command out.”

A second SCV is ordered out to the chokepoint to drive off the invader. Suggest in the future more than one is sent. A pack of zerglings can tear through a base defense in seconds with no marine backup. But again, maybe I just don't understand base logistics well enough.

On perceiving the incoming backup SCV the zerg drone pulls away from the incomplete barracks, keeping just out of range of the unit's laser drill.



09.10 2136: Station 27's first barracks is completed and the first marine begins suiting up and being armed.

Curious and a little bored, Major Chan tunes into the comm channel the SCV pilots frequent and listens in on their conversation.

“Lookit his little swishing tail!” is the first thing he hears.

“And all his little twitchy legs!”

Major Chan sitting down at the console, pulling up the command center's external video corders. He watches the drone scuttling in and around the command center and the mineral nodes, chewing on SCVs here and there.

“Let's call him Billy!” says one of the SCV pilots over the radio.

Major Chan listens as the comm distorts with laughter and agreement. Suggest bravado like this has a place in our military to keep morale high; though as we will soon see his reasoning is sound the attitude Major Chan presents here should be discouraged.

“That cute little drone,” he says in the radio, silencing the laughing SCV pilots, “Is nothing but an unfeeling monster. You know with enough time he can spawn an entire army of bloodthirsty demons?”

“Who's the downer?” says Pete, the SCV who first reported the drone.

At this Major Chan calculates his response carefully, finally proceeding with his chastisement: “It's Major Chan, recruit. And there's a serious lack of professionalism here. We're Dominion, damnit, not some backwater thugs.” With this the comm clicks as he switches off.

At this point the console operator decides Major Chan is a fool, the type to bully recruits on their gossip channel. However, it's the Major's thought process that proves him wise; by flaunting his rank he hopes to cast the shadows on himself and away from his self-important commanding officer, thereby lubricating the chain of command. No suggestion here; just to point out the usefulness of cold Morian numbers logic.



09.10 2141: SCV pilot assigned to the zerg drone is ordered to scout the surrounding locations for zerg infestation. His protests are graphic and colorful.



09.10 2204: Station 27's first marine steps off the barracks threshold to find the zerg drone scuttling right for him and opens fire without orders. Not that the private's actions were incorrect, and we all know marines are a volatile bunch, but suggest more orders-oriented basis for our marine reeducation.



Major Chan in his quarters at the command center listening in on the SCV channel, hearing their dramatic laments about the imminent death of their little friend Billy. At this point Chan is a man of two minds; on the one hand he appreciates the silliness and on the other he is a Major in the Terran Dominion Armada. Primarily he is listening to ascertain whether his earlier rebuke had its intended effect.

Distracted by an internal journey into his childhood (which I'm sad to spare you from, sir), he is startled by an eruption of horrified screams, distorted by commband waves. Snatching his mic he jams up his outbound.

“Command to service line. What happened?”

There's an indiscernible radio clutter as fifteen voices attempt to explain. Chan silences them and addresses the operations manager.

“That's me, Command,” says the SCV pilot Pete. “I ain't never seen anything like it. Billy, I mean the drone, he's being chased, right? All the way out from the choke point, he just walks right up to that second geyser there and all a'sudden he starts sprouting all these crazy tentacles, huge suckers, they wrap all the way in and around the geyser, I dunno, whatchacallems, the holes, craters. He's gone, sir, Billy's become... somethin' else.”

His muscles releasing Major Chan can't help but calm his men, “Vespene extractor, recruit. Calm down, it's a common Zerg tactic. Slows down our gas collection so we can't just whip up an air force and shoot 'em down. It means it's a new cluster, must have showed up right around the time we did, or else they wouldn't bother. It's a good thing.”

“A good thing? I dunno, maybe you was right about Billy bein' a monster.”

Major Chan does not respond. Instead he clicks over to the video feed, watching as the writhing mass slowly envelopes the gas geyser, the alien flesh glistening in the Shakuras moons. For a long time he watches the structure grow and mutate, watches as 8 mm depleted uranium shells punch bloody, dotted lines across its surface only for those holes to close hardly seconds after they're made. Suggest base protocols be modified to claim all available resources before they can be stolen by enemy forces.



09.10 2220: At the very top floor of the command center, Base Commander Control and his officers meet to discuss the Zerg. Strategies are presented and rejected; everything in the manual, from bunker contains to reaper raids to defensive posturing until a fleet of battlecruisers can be brought online.

“Battlecruisers?” says Control contemptuously. “Don't you know your zergs, Captain? Nothin' them critters can have so soon can even touch a hellion.”

One of Control's officers, a hook-nosed Sergeant, grins hungrily. “You remember Mar Sara, Jack? We cooked so many o' them bugs. Drowned ourselves in zergling gumbo.”

“Good times, Paulie.”

At this point Chan sits up and utters his first words, “Sir, respectfully I have to disagree. In the past, the Zerg have been caught off guard by hellion raids, but some of the more recent skirmish reports in the sector indicate they're wising up.”

“Bull pucky. We designed them bikes to fight the damn Zerg. Firebat on a vulture, remember?”

“I suggest we stay current with our intelligence and adapt our strategy to efficiently counter the Zerg.”

“Or we can throw together a squad of hellions and light 'em up like old newspapers. Which sounds more efficient? Don't forget we're here for the damn resources. Anything we use to fight the Zerg we don't take back to 25, and we all get skinnier paychecks.”

At this point Chan decides argument is futile – especially since hellions can still be an effective strategy if properly executed. Instead he turns to a different topic. “Fine, sir. However, I'd like a few words about the wall.”

Control blinks, uncomfortable arguing with the more calculating Chan. “What's wrong with it?”

“I'd advise against using supply depots. They're weak structures and vulnerable to banelings.”

Control snickers, relieved to have an effective defense. “Oh, please. Them Zergs've used that shit against hellions before. Banes get roasted along with everything else.” Grimacing a little he adds, “Plus, the depots are already down. You suggest we blow up our own supplies just so you can be right?”

Chan suppresses his frustration. “Commander, we're on the same side here. I was sent to advise you, and that's all I'm doing. I believe we'll all have a higher chance of coming out of here alive with a stronger wall between us and the Zerg.”

“Tell you what, you give me some decent advice, I'll think about taking it.”

“Very good, sir. Permission to depart?”

“Sure, go on now. Don't let the door getcha.”

As Chan departs he hears Control hand down his orders to get the base's best SCV pilot to start work on the factory, and once it's done to begin hellion production immediately.



09.10 2230-2250: Talk of the Zerg threat spreads through the base like Creep. Some of the crew and their families discuss packing up and leaving, but obviously this is impossible until transports can be constructed, or until Station 25 can send evac, which they won't do without executive authorization. There is a pervading sense among the base inhabitants that they are all in this together.



The SCV pilot assigned to scout the Zerg base arrives and nervously begins to execute his orders. It soon becomes apparent the Zerg colony is as new as Station 25, with only a number of drones scraping chunks off the mineral clusters and packaging gas in fleshy sacs, and there are no Zerg warrior strains to greet the young pilot. He becomes a bit overconfident and stops at a mineral cluster to gather a load, "stealing" from the alien menace, but he becomes spooked before he can finish and he simply leaves transmitting photos back to Command.



Major Chan reviews the video and to his relief does not see a Roach Warren, but then again the SCV did not scout the entire colony and he remains skeptical and nervous.



09.10 2246: Down at the vespene mine the horror of Billy the drone's actions is multiplied when the near-complete structure suddenly pulses twice, the collective flesh giving a nightmarish shudder, and the entire building explodes in a massive shower of blood and alien parts, soaking everyone within thirty yards with blood and slime. Little Billy is glimpsed for a moment or two at the very center, relatively unharmed, and before anyone can react he begins the process over again. Station 27's vespene collection is further delayed.



09.10 2302: Station 27's barracks begins construction on the new uranium-fusion reactor. In the War Room Commander Control outlines his plan to switch the barracks and factory once they're both complete to double hellion production: This, he says proudly, is the secret of how he's the veteran of eight separate victorious Zerg encounters.

"What I do," he says, "Is I send the first hellion with a squad of marines. Between those two, there ain't nothing the Zerg can do."



09.10 2312: The Zerg extractor explodes and is re-started a third and final time. However, this time there are three marines firing on it, and despite its swift growth it can't outheal the damage their rifles inflict, and eventually the mass of tissue falls apart messily.



Billy's mandibles are later discovered half-buried in a mass of dead purple flesh and they are given to Pete the SCV operations manager. He laughs anxiously and asks what he's supposed to do with them.



The three marines are ordered to rendezvous outside the Zerg colony. They are told by the time they arrive they will be joined by hellion backup.



09.10 2330: The factory goes online and the first hellion frame is laid. Major Chan, feeling the effects of his long day at this late hour, discovers in the personnel files a key flaw in the Commander's strategy: The training program from which all but one of Station 27's hellion pilots graduated was only five credit hours, only half the hours of the new minimum for service in Dominion operations. Executed well, hellion tactics can be very effective against Zerg. But the problem here, Chan realizes, is most of these men are woefully undertrained.

Chan comms Control's office but the Commander has already gone to bed for the night. He visits Control's quarters but a guard has been posted and will not let Chan inside. It will be another forty-five minutes before the engagement begins - maybe there is time for a crash-course in advanced maneuvers, especially Kill-In-Transit tactics.



09.10 2345: On their long march to the Zerg colony the three marines are joined on their comm channel by Spc. Jace Marlin, graduate of Liberty Point, Station 27's one hellion pilot with training in advanced tactics. There is some healthy machismo back and forth between the marines and Marlin their squad leader who promises to arrive before they shit their pants.



Over the fifteen-minute drive to the outskirts of the Zerg infestation, Spc. Marlin covers the basics of "kiting" to his men. "Hopefully we won't need to do it since it's a pain in the ass," he says, "but I told Major Chan I'd tell you guys so this is me doing it."



09.10 2358: The factory completes its lift-off/land cycle and the reactor is hooked up. There is a short delay as the reactor and the factory's modem don't sync, but within minutes two hellions begin production.



09.11 0012: Against Marlin's orders the marines move onto enemy ground led by Pfc. Ruger who "just wants to check things out." The pulsing, organic Creep squishes under their heavy feet; Ruger jokes that if Zerg buildings are glands of the Zerg body, that means they're walking on the Zerg's "ballsack."



Pfc. Hacker shouts and closes his face screen as a number of zerglings are seen in the purple haze galloping towards the three soldiers. "Hell yeah," laughs Ruger, snapping the safety off his weapon. Wisely they pull back, and despite that Ruger sustains a slash across his suit, this is the moment Squad Leader Marlin arrives, firing his Inferno cannon and igniting a pair of zerglings who collapse screaming to the Shakuras ground.



Trading manly banter the four men trek deeper into Zerg territory. Marlin instructs his men well, ordering them not to be careless with their lives. A number of times a pack of zerglings approach but the men pull back into defensive positions forcing the creatures to retreat.



09.11 0029: Through the purple fog of the Zerg base the soldiers get their first glimpse of a Zerg queen, towering over them on her six spidery legs. She comes charging forth to defend her drones but her long spiny wings are outranged by our Terran weapons, allowing Marlin and his men to dodge back according to Marlin's earlier instructions, firing on her thick hide without receiving much damage in return. Here and there her wings score hits but the weaponry is ripping her apart as she stands and within minutes she is forced to retreat into the worker line.



09.11 0034-0040: Overcome by adrenaline Ruger commands a pursuit but Marlin bellows over the comm to let her go: an entire flight of zerglings is posturing nearby. The squad falls back to a safe distance and begins shelling the Hatchery. One by one zerglings fall to the squad's weapons but more are arriving.



09.11 0103: A sudden rush of nearly a dozen zerglings sweeps forward, but it is this moment the two reinforcing hellions arrive. Relieved, Marlin orders the team back but Ruger and the other marines stand their ground; at this point they are consumed with the thrill of blood and can only hold down their triggers laughing in the night. However, before this pack of zerglings can be destroyed Hacker's suit is breached by the tearing fangs and his blood rains down on the bodies of his enemies.

Steeled by this loss Marlin orders the squad forward not noticing there is one more zergling left alive slicing at Ruger's suit. Ruger screams this over the comm as he follows anxiously behind, but another pack of zerglings is waiting in the fog for the raiders. Ruger's suit is ripped open finally and it is his dying cry that draws the attention of the three hellions exactly at the crucial moment when the zerglings bear down on the squad. Marlin's hellion is nearly surrounded, slashing claws raining down on the neosteel plating of his vehicle, but in a panic he orders the squad to retreat. The three hellions burn rubber right past the last marine as the zerglings overcome him. Teeth rigid, his hellion battered right down to the axles, Marlin orders what's left of the squad to continue strafing the Zerg, eliminating what warriors they can. But the moment they stop to aim the zerglings are on Marlin's hellion, claws striking the motor and causing the machine to explode in a fireball. In his last moments, lying burned and savaged on the hard Shakuras ground, Marlin sees through a bloody haze the zerglings, dancing back into the purple haze of Creep, grow the fly-like wings that indicate their speed has evolved and they are deadlier than ever.

The two last hellions, sitting idle for a moment decide to continue the assault. Without marines slowing them down, they reason, they can torment the Zerg all day. It is their last mistake for it is only seconds when they return to the Creep that they are surrounded and destroyed.



Major Chan, listening in on the commband to this slaughter, thinks to himself that a better training program might have allowed better success. Good hellion pilots, he says sneering to himself, don't let themselves be surrounded.



09.11 0124: Commander Control is awoken and informed that the marine/hellion raid was unsuccessful and six lives have been lost. There is silence in the darkness of his quarters. He has nothing to say.



09.11 0126: Major Chan comms into the SCV line, ordering two additional barracks and a tech lab on the existing one. Stimpack technology and a mass of marines is the only way to survive from here, he has decided. He also plans soon to order a starport, for medivacs and for emergency evacuation if necessary.



09.11 0149: The two reinforcing hellions arrive back at the choke point and roll over the submerged supply depot. The structure is lifted and along with two hellions only minutes old they guard the Choke point from the dozen or more zerglings still out there, somewhere.



09.11 0212: Base Commander Control bursts into the War Room where Chan and the other officers are discussing placement for defensive structures, if necessary.

"Stimpack?" he roars. His uniform is disheveled, undershirt hanging out, boots untied. "Who the shit ordered stimpacks?"

"I did, sir," says Chan, eyes cold. "Whatever's commanding these Zerg aren't afraid of hellions. We need another option. And we need to reinforce that wall, banelings are an enormous threat now."

"No, no, no," spits Control. "We just didn't have enough, that's all. Who's the moron who sent in just the one, anyway?"

"Sir, I have to insist-"

"Shut up, Morian," says Control glaring. There is silence in the room now as he stares at the holographic terrain.

It takes a moment for Chan to swallow the remarks. "We also need to start work on a starport," he says.

"A starport?" says Control. "You wanna tuck tail and run? This is the highest mineral concentration in the northwest hemisphere. You just wanna let the Zerg have it?"

"Sir, it's for medivacs primarily."

"Holy shit on a stick, since when could medivacs heal hellions?"

"Damnit, sir, no one makes just hellions. We need a solid marine core, and they need medivac support. And yes, in case our wall is breached we need an escape plan."

"No. Oh, no. Fine, those bastards took out our brave boys, but they ain't licked us yet. When we're licked, then we'll beat it."

"Sir!" says Chan, but suddenly on the holographic terrain display the ground outside the choke point turns red with enemy dots, fast as lightning, a flood of red at the gates of the station, and just as fast as they arrived they leave into the darkness of the night.

Control snatches the comm from Major Lennox. "Command to choke point, what the Hell was that?"

"Zerglings, sir," says Spc. Burg. "We roasted some of em and they ran off."

"How many?"

"I dunno. Couple dozen."

Clicking to the video feed at the choke point Control lets out a victorious laugh. "Ha, see there? Dead zergs everywhere, and they even set a tree on fire." With that the Commander smirks and clicks back to the comm. "Specialist, you got four hellions there?"

"Sure do, Command. We're snug as a bug out here."

"New orders, why don't you mosey on out and finish 'em off?"

"Sir, that is not wise," says Chan.

"Shut your yap, Chan," says Control. "Specialist, you've got your orders."

"Yes, sir."

"Sir," insists Chan when the comm clicks off. "Those men have insufficient training. They don't know how to maneuver against speedlings. They'll be surrounded and sliced to ribbons before they can even hit reverse."

Control's eyes have gone cold. "Thanks for the advice, boy. The men can take it from here." A moment passes. "And since when were we using idiot slang? Speedlings. Pfft."

The other officers look among themselves nervously.

"Sir, that is exactly what happened out at the colony, Marlin and the others got themselves surrounded. And we need those hellions at the choke so the Zerg can't do what they just tried to do."

"This ain't my first rodeo, kid. I know what I'm doin'."

Chan exhales a stiff breath. "Sir, respectfully, I don't think you actually do."

"Finally, a reason to get rid of you!" laughs Control, a hard, angry chuckle. "You're confined to your quarters for disrespectin' a superior."

Chan says nothing. He looks among the other officers and sees only a team of paper cutouts, a network of cowards Control can bully, remembering that Base Commanders choose their own officer core. The Zerg are cunning, and Station 27, Chan sees now, is doomed. Unless there's something he can do about it.

Without another word the Major turns and leaves.



Note: Sir, as a psychic I consider myself an authority on how impossible it's ever going to be for every human being to get along with every other human being. But my strong suggestion at this point is once again that the curriculum for commissioned officers include a course on professionalism. While watching this last scene unfold in my mind I could hardly believe it could have happened, I told myself it was just a military drama holovid. But I double-checked my senses and it's true, a Dominion Base Commander can act this way. And forgive me my opinions, sir, but it disgusts me.



09.11 0232: Laughing to themselves the four hellions speed out into the Shakuras wilderness, completely unaware that they themselves are the prey on this hunt. Just as they top a rise a swarm of zerglings meets them. With the absolute unity of a collectively controlled group they spring into action, surging around the hellions. It is mercifully quick.



09.11 0238: Back at the command center, Control comms the factory and confirms that more hellions are in production. He does not know Chan at this moment is visiting the barracks and ordering Marauder production hoping that if and when Station 27 can amass a strong infantry there will be a forward line of Marauders to take the brunt of baneling acid.

"Incoming transmission," says the adjutant in the War Room.

Grimacing to himself Control clicks over. "Command."

"The hellions you sent out, sir?" says the factory's Operations Manager.

"What about 'em?"

"Well, the mess hall has four fewer portions to make for breakfast, we'll just say that."

"Don't shit me, son, I'm this close to deciding I need a long-range scout."

"No shit, sir. We're pretty much naked out here."

Control is speechless for a few seconds. The officers wait and watch. "Just hang tight," says Control. "I got a couple new bikes coming off the line in a few minutes."

"Great." The line clicks off. The disrespect is the least of Control's worries now.

"Sir," says Major Rory, "maybe it's time we built that starport."

"No. No starport. We're fine, we're the Terran Dominion for shit's sake." This said he clicks to the video out at the choke point and watches. The operative emotion in him is not fear, though he is afraid. Mostly at this point he is feeling humiliated and angry. This is a peripheral symptom of his core problem.



09.11 0241: The War Room doors zoom open and Chan appears, a hard look on his face. A minute or so from now the two barracks that were begun an hour ago finish but they receive no orders as a direct result of the following argument and aftermath.

"Thought I told you-" Control begins, but Chan interrupts him.

"No more games, sir," says Chan. "We need action."

"That's just what we're doing, Morian. We're hunkering down and weathering the storm."

"Starport," says Chan. "We don't even need to make medivacs, banshee tactics have statistically proven cost-effective against the Zerg."

"No goddamn starport. Banshees are expensive, goddamnit."

"It's not about resource gathering now, it's about keeping the blood inside our skins. We have everything we need for an effective defense, except time to build it."

"Alright, what do you suggest?"

"Constant production from all base facilities. Hellions, marines. A starport can take the barracks' tech lab when it's done with stimpacks and we can send a couple banshees in to take out the Zerg's worker line, or as much as we can."

"Banshees. Dumb bastard, don't you know what a mutalisk is?"

Chan shakes his head. "Study your timings, sir, Zerg clusters can't evolve the spire after only seven and a half hours. At least it can't have as many zerglings as we've seen and have spire tech. By the time the Zerg have mutalisks we can have murdered half their drones, even if our banshee pilots are as dumb as our hellions. From there it's just a matter of defensive posturing and patience."

"Okay, I gave you a chance to impress me, boy. Now sit down and shut up."

"What's wrong with that!" says Chan, showing his frustration for the first time.

"Shit, what's not wrong with it? First off, them queens ain't exactly happy when their little ugly babies get shot with missiles. Second, defensiveness'll get you steamrolled, every time. Set up a nice defense, Zerg just techs and in the mornin' we'll have a million broodlings stuffed up our asses, and oh we can't move in with marines cause tank shells'll be doin' more harm than good, and we can't mass vikings cause them zergs have that green shit, them fungal spores to lock em up so they can just get smashed and cleaned up like beer cans. Why can that shit hit airplanes, anyway? How does that even work?"

"Medivacs are the other option. Surgical drop tactics have been shown to confuse the Zerg and catch them off guard."

"Goddamnit, Chan, by the time we have medivacs they'll have mutas."

"What's your plan? What are you doing?"

"What we really need is that there hellion tech, the preigniter thingie. That's why hellions didn't do shit, cause blue fire'll kick red fire's ass every time."

"This is ridiculous. Those barracks will be done by now, we need to get marines suiting up immediately. Our choke point is defenseless."

"Barracks? What the hell, you had raxes made without my authorization?"

"Yes. I did. We need them to be working at full capacity."

"Fine. Right. We should throw reactors on 'em and pump marines like no one's business."

"Disagree, commander. We need reinforcements now, we don't have fifty minutes for the reactors."

"Goddamnit, Chan. You just like fighting with me, don't you?"

"Commander! What's wrong with you, do you want to die?"

Control's eyes narrow. "You threatening me?"

"Every minute we waste is a minute banelings could be marching up to our doorstep."

"Goddamnit, we have hellions at the choke! You do know banelings don't have no armor? Hellions rip 'em apart."

"This is a waste of time," says Chan, reaching for the comm.

"Hey, don't you touch that!" snarls Control, wresting it away from Chan.

Teeth clenched, Chan wrestles for the comm. Better to lose your career than your life, he thinks.

"Give it here!" roars Control. The officers backing away, wondering if they should leave as the two men fight for the communicator. "Goddamnit," snarls Control, and before anyone can react he draws his pistol and fires. Chan goes rigid and his last moments are spent in shock, staring at the fading image of his commanding officer as his eyes go cold and his body slumps over.

Control's actions here were not premeditated, and in truth he is nearly as surprised at this turn of events as Chan and the officers. But after a few moments' staring at the corpse at his feet he snatches up the comm and growls sneering, "Barracks manager, this is Command. Start a reactor. Same with that other rax, you tell em. Out."

The officers staring, Control glares back. "Get him outta here," he says in a low voice.



09.11 0250-0330: Silence in the Shakuras night covers the base; somehow even the roar of production seems subdued and oppressed. Men working together don't speak to each other. All is tension, and darkness, and fear.



09.11 0335: As foretold by the late Major Chan a clutch of banelings waddles up to the nearest supply depot of the ramp and explode painting its walls with their corrosive viscera, despite being under fire from Station 27's meager defenses. Zerglings flood the base.



09.11 0338-0415: Human blood is spilled by the gallon. In terror the remaining hellions try their hand at some advanced kill-in-transit tactics but they are quickly surrounded and murdered. Banelings creep their way into the SCV line and spontaneously explode killing a dozen pilots as acid covers and dissolves them in seconds, including Pete the Service Operations Manager.



The last Terran dies at 0423 of blood loss, nine and a half hours after Station 27 landed. It is an eight-year old girl and her last mortal thought is the face of Base Commander Control, her grandfather.



When I arrived at what was left of Station 27 it was fully under Zerg control - one thing I learned at the Academy before I was offered this opportunity was Cloaking. The mineral clusters were nearly mined out; I could reach out and touch the drones there. It was terrifying, but to be honest, sir, I'd rather sneak into a thousand Zerg bases than think for an instant that command in the Dominion is comprised of men like Control. My one consolation, though I weep for the hundreds of hearts no longer beating, is that his stupidity was ultimately punished.



You sent me here to help revise protocols and develop better strategies - I can nitpick what the Commander did wrong but I believe the heart of the problem rests in his attitude, the old tree who doesn't bend in the wind.



I'll be totally honest here, sir; I anticipate this is the first and last Incident Report. I was told to be thorough, but I doubt my kind of thoroughness is interesting to you. I'm sure of it, no one in the Dominion will pay any attention to what I've written here, or those who are interested are a silent minority and the credits spent on this project will suddenly seem wasted to those paying for it.



So here's to Mengsk, sir, that benevolent despot under whose watchful eyes we toil and weep and breed. Do I seem melancholy, sir? Among other psychics I'm an absolute delight.



Sincerely,

Lieutenant Paul Graves (((Writer's Note: In no way is this work intended to criticize either player of the replay presented. It is the story of a fictional Terran base and its various personalities with the replay as its visual guide.Report #002 is here For best results, download the replay and watch it before, during, or after you read the story. Enjoy!)))courtesy Lieutenant Paul Graves@Shakuras NWH, Station 25 Base Commander Garder in cmdtrans sat 0755 09.22.2504Hail Arcturus, Colonel. Here's hoping this gets to you on time, I'd hate for my first assignment to end up late. You know as well as I do how much the Academy wants me to fail. I know you're not that concerned but I'd hate if I ended up as a brainwashed Ghost. Or one of those creepy Spectres the Information Bureau's been insisting don't exist.I won't waste your time, Colonel. There are a lot of details about the incident thatthink are interesting but I'm sure you'll see them as extraneous or just flat meaningless. For the future, please let me know if you have the time to be more thorough with these investigations, or if you're interested in the whys and wherefores rather than just what the Dominion can do better in future engagements with its enemies.However, there is one detail I think will prove relevant. As a Clairvoyant I've always believed nothing happens meaninglessly. The night before I left for Shakuras I dreamed of a tree in the wind, stiff and unbending, and just before I woke it snapped right through the middle of its trunk and fell to the dusty ground. I know, I know, it sounds like the ravings of a madman, but please just bear with me.So after that little fairy tale, let's get right into it.: Expeditionary Command Center arrives at outlying mineral deposit with its standard complement of six SCV units. Landing spot is chosen based upon its ideal conditions for fringe colonization under standard protocols – plateau location, two nearby vespene geysers, high density mineral quality. Correct procedures followed for landing, crew head count, and equipment initialization. First collection shift begins 1900 and construction begins on Station 27's seventh SCV module.: Base Commander Jackson Control orders supply depot built at the plateau's one choke point despite no recent intel on nearby deposits. “You circle the wagons whether you know there's injuns or not!” says Control to Major Wade Chan his assigned consultant. He doesn't mention this was the analogy his instructor used in the Base Command training program. Control does not like Chan; he harbors a deep-seated hatred for Morians. Suggest Dominion military training emphasize professionalism, because this internal bigotry leads to errors in judgment later, as we will see.: Supply depot completed. Despite that his shift ended fifteen minutes ago the young man who built the depot is ordered to build Station 27's first barracks. Inwardly he is thinking of his girl waiting for him back at the Command Center but he follows his orders boasting about the overtime he probably won't be getting. Suggest better pay for our hard-working SCV pilots, but I realize that's doubtful.Important to note here, the station has been operational for nearly two hours but there has been no effort to gather intel. Comsat from the previous day revealed no activity but the Protoss are sneaky and Zerg clusters grow very quickly. For that matter, non-Dominion Terran interests are ruthless and have little reason to respect Dominion territory lines. For all Commander Control knows an entire army could show up at his doorstep in minutes. I don't have a specific suggestion for it because I understand the base protocols and why we have them, but I just thought that was a little strange.: Commander Control orders the refinery for the first of two geysers. All is well.: Base Command receives a strange distress call from the chokepoint:“Uh, Command this is Pete out at the choke point. We got zergs.”Heart pumping the Console Operator comms back: “Status report, choke point.”SCV Pilot answers: “Oh, it's just a little guy, took a nibble on my suit so I pulled inside the 'rax. Had some welding to do in here anyway. He's just milling around outside, can't find his way in.”Major Chan, standing behind the operator takes the receiver and says: “Recruit, can you identify the enemy?”SCV Pilot: “Not sure, I think it's just a worker zerg. He ain't got no teeth, just some big mandibles he chewed on my suit with. Just a scratch though. He's kinda cute. Guess you better send some backup, though, might be more.”Chan, nodding: “Thank you, recruit. Just to be safe please transmit the video for positive identification. Command out.”A second SCV is ordered out to the chokepoint to drive off the invader. Suggest in the future more than one is sent. A pack of zerglings can tear through a base defense in seconds with no marine backup. But again, maybe I just don't understand base logistics well enough.On perceiving the incoming backup SCV the zerg drone pulls away from the incomplete barracks, keeping just out of range of the unit's laser drill.: Station 27's first barracks is completed and the first marine begins suiting up and being armed.Curious and a little bored, Major Chan tunes into the comm channel the SCV pilots frequent and listens in on their conversation.“Lookit his little swishing tail!” is the first thing he hears.“And all his little twitchy legs!”Major Chan sitting down at the console, pulling up the command center's external video corders. He watches the drone scuttling in and around the command center and the mineral nodes, chewing on SCVs here and there.“Let's call him Billy!” says one of the SCV pilots over the radio.Major Chan listens as the comm distorts with laughter and agreement. Suggest bravado like this has a place in our military to keep morale high; though as we will soon see his reasoning is sound the attitude Major Chan presents here should be discouraged.“Thatlittle drone,” he says in the radio, silencing the laughing SCV pilots, “Is nothing but an unfeeling monster. You know with enough time he can spawn an entire army of bloodthirsty demons?”“Who's the downer?” says Pete, the SCV who first reported the drone.At this Major Chan calculates his response carefully, finally proceeding with his chastisement: “It's Major Chan, recruit. And there's a serious lack of professionalism here. We're Dominion, damnit, not some backwater thugs.” With this the comm clicks as he switches off.At this point the console operator decides Major Chan is a fool, the type to bully recruits on their gossip channel. However, it's the Major's thought process that proves him wise; by flaunting his rank he hopes to cast the shadows on himself and away from his self-important commanding officer, thereby lubricating the chain of command. No suggestion here; just to point out the usefulness of cold Morian numbers logic.: SCV pilot assigned to the zerg drone is ordered to scout the surrounding locations for zerg infestation. His protests are graphic and colorful.: Station 27's first marine steps off the barracks threshold to find the zerg drone scuttling right for him and opens fire without orders. Not that the private's actions were incorrect, and we all know marines are a volatile bunch, but suggest more orders-oriented basis for our marine reeducation.Major Chan in his quarters at the command center listening in on the SCV channel, hearing their dramatic laments about the imminent death of their little friend Billy. At this point Chan is a man of two minds; on the one hand he appreciates the silliness and on the other he is a Major in the Terran Dominion Armada. Primarily he is listening to ascertain whether his earlier rebuke had its intended effect.Distracted by an internal journey into his childhood (which I'm sad to spare you from, sir), he is startled by an eruption of horrified screams, distorted by commband waves. Snatching his mic he jams up his outbound.“Command to service line. What happened?”There's an indiscernible radio clutter as fifteen voices attempt to explain. Chan silences them and addresses the operations manager.“That's me, Command,” says the SCV pilot Pete. “I ain't never seen anything like it. Billy, I mean the drone, he's being chased, right? All the way out from the choke point, he just walks right up to that second geyser there and all a'sudden he starts sprouting all these crazy tentacles, huge suckers, they wrap all the way in and around the geyser, I dunno, whatchacallems, the holes, craters. He's gone, sir, Billy's become... somethin' else.”His muscles releasing Major Chan can't help but calm his men, “Vespene extractor, recruit. Calm down, it's a common Zerg tactic. Slows down our gas collection so we can't just whip up an air force and shoot 'em down. It means it's a new cluster, must have showed up right around the time we did, or else they wouldn't bother. It's a good thing.”“A good thing? I dunno, maybe you was right about Billy bein' a monster.”Major Chan does not respond. Instead he clicks over to the video feed, watching as the writhing mass slowly envelopes the gas geyser, the alien flesh glistening in the Shakuras moons. For a long time he watches the structure grow and mutate, watches as 8 mm depleted uranium shells punch bloody, dotted lines across its surface only for those holes to close hardly seconds after they're made. Suggest base protocols be modified to claim all available resources before they can be stolen by enemy forces.: At the very top floor of the command center, Base Commander Control and his officers meet to discuss the Zerg. Strategies are presented and rejected; everything in the manual, from bunker contains to reaper raids to defensive posturing until a fleet of battlecruisers can be brought online.“Battlecruisers?” says Control contemptuously. “Don't you know your zergs, Captain? Nothin' them critters can have so soon can even touch a hellion.”One of Control's officers, a hook-nosed Sergeant, grins hungrily. “You remember Mar Sara, Jack? We cooked so many o' them bugs. Drowned ourselves in zergling gumbo.”“Good times, Paulie.”At this point Chan sits up and utters his first words, “Sir, respectfully I have to disagree. In the past, the Zerg have been caught off guard by hellion raids, but some of the more recent skirmish reports in the sector indicate they're wising up.”“Bull pucky. Wethem bikes to fight the damn Zerg. Firebat on a vulture, remember?”“I suggest we stay current with our intelligence and adapt our strategy to efficiently counter the Zerg.”“Or we can throw together a squad of hellions and light 'em up like old newspapers. Which sounds more? Don't forget we're here for the damn resources. Anything we use to fight the Zerg wetake back to 25, and we all get skinnier paychecks.”At this point Chan decides argument is futile – especially since hellions can still be an effective strategy if properly executed. Instead he turns to a different topic. “Fine, sir. However, I'd like a few words about the wall.”Control blinks, uncomfortable arguing with the more calculating Chan. “What's wrong with it?”“I'd advise against using supply depots. They're weak structures and vulnerable to banelings.”Control snickers, relieved to have an effective defense. “Oh, please. Them Zergs've used that shit against hellions before. Banes get roasted along with everything else.” Grimacing a little he adds, “Plus, the depots are already down. You suggest we blow up our own supplies just so you can be right?”Chan suppresses his frustration. “Commander, we're on the same side here. I was sent to advise you, and that's all I'm doing. I believe we'll all have a higher chance of coming out of here alive with a stronger wall between us and the Zerg.”“Tell you what, you give me some decent advice, I'll think about taking it.”“Very good, sir. Permission to depart?”“Sure, go on now. Don't let the door getcha.”As Chan departs he hears Control hand down his orders to get the base's best SCV pilot to start work on the factory, and once it's done to begin hellion production immediately.: Talk of the Zerg threat spreads through the base like Creep. Some of the crew and their families discuss packing up and leaving, but obviously this is impossible until transports can be constructed, or until Station 25 can send evac, which they won't do without executive authorization. There is a pervading sense among the base inhabitants that they are all in this together.The SCV pilot assigned to scout the Zerg base arrives and nervously begins to execute his orders. It soon becomes apparent the Zerg colony is as new as Station 25, with only a number of drones scraping chunks off the mineral clusters and packaging gas in fleshy sacs, and there are no Zerg warrior strains to greet the young pilot. He becomes a bit overconfident and stops at a mineral cluster to gather a load, "stealing" from the alien menace, but he becomes spooked before he can finish and he simply leaves transmitting photos back to Command.Major Chan reviews the video and to his relief does not see a Roach Warren, but then again the SCV did not scout the entire colony and he remains skeptical and nervous.: Down at the vespene mine the horror of Billy the drone's actions is multiplied when the near-complete structure suddenly pulses twice, the collective flesh giving a nightmarish shudder, and the entire building explodes in a massive shower of blood and alien parts, soaking everyone within thirty yards with blood and slime. Little Billy is glimpsed for a moment or two at the very center, relatively unharmed, and before anyone can react he begins the process over again. Station 27's vespene collection is further delayed.: Station 27's barracks begins construction on the new uranium-fusion reactor. In the War Room Commander Control outlines his plan to switch the barracks and factory once they're both complete to double hellion production: This, he says proudly, is the secret of how he's the veteran of eight separate victorious Zerg encounters."What I do," he says, "Is I send the first hellion with a squad of marines. Between those two, there ain't nothing the Zerg can do.": The Zerg extractor explodes and is re-started a third and final time. However, this time there are three marines firing on it, and despite its swift growth it can't outheal the damage their rifles inflict, and eventually the mass of tissue falls apart messily.Billy's mandibles are later discovered half-buried in a mass of dead purple flesh and they are given to Pete the SCV operations manager. He laughs anxiously and asks what he's supposed to do with them.The three marines are ordered to rendezvous outside the Zerg colony. They are told by the time they arrive they will be joined by hellion backup.: The factory goes online and the first hellion frame is laid. Major Chan, feeling the effects of his long day at this late hour, discovers in the personnel files a key flaw in the Commander's strategy: The training program from which all but one of Station 27's hellion pilots graduated was only five credit hours, only half the hours of the new minimum for service in Dominion operations. Executed well, hellion tactics can be very effective against Zerg. But the problem here, Chan realizes, is most of these men are woefully undertrained.Chan comms Control's office but the Commander has already gone to bed for the night. He visits Control's quarters but a guard has been posted and will not let Chan inside. It will be another forty-five minutes before the engagement begins - maybe there is time for a crash-course in advanced maneuvers, especially Kill-In-Transit tactics.: On their long march to the Zerg colony the three marines are joined on their comm channel by Spc. Jace Marlin, graduate of Liberty Point, Station 27's one hellion pilot with training in advanced tactics. There is some healthy machismo back and forth between the marines and Marlin their squad leader who promises to arrive before they shit their pants.Over the fifteen-minute drive to the outskirts of the Zerg infestation, Spc. Marlin covers the basics of "kiting" to his men. "Hopefully we won't need to do it since it's a pain in the ass," he says, "but I told Major Chan I'd tell you guys so this is me doing it.": The factory completes its lift-off/land cycle and the reactor is hooked up. There is a short delay as the reactor and the factory's modem don't sync, but within minutes two hellions begin production.: Against Marlin's orders the marines move onto enemy ground led by Pfc. Ruger who "just wants to check things out." The pulsing, organic Creep squishes under their heavy feet; Ruger jokes that if Zerg buildings are glands of the Zerg body, that means they're walking on the Zerg's "ballsack."Pfc. Hacker shouts and closes his face screen as a number of zerglings are seen in the purple haze galloping towards the three soldiers. "Hell yeah," laughs Ruger, snapping the safety off his weapon. Wisely they pull back, and despite that Ruger sustains a slash across his suit, this is the moment Squad Leader Marlin arrives, firing his Inferno cannon and igniting a pair of zerglings who collapse screaming to the Shakuras ground.Trading manly banter the four men trek deeper into Zerg territory. Marlin instructs his men well, ordering them not to be careless with their lives. A number of times a pack of zerglings approach but the men pull back into defensive positions forcing the creatures to retreat.: Through the purple fog of the Zerg base the soldiers get their first glimpse of a Zerg queen, towering over them on her six spidery legs. She comes charging forth to defend her drones but her long spiny wings are outranged by our Terran weapons, allowing Marlin and his men to dodge back according to Marlin's earlier instructions, firing on her thick hide without receiving much damage in return. Here and there her wings score hits but the weaponry is ripping her apart as she stands and within minutes she is forced to retreat into the worker line.: Overcome by adrenaline Ruger commands a pursuit but Marlin bellows over the comm to let her go: an entire flight of zerglings is posturing nearby. The squad falls back to a safe distance and begins shelling the Hatchery. One by one zerglings fall to the squad's weapons but more are arriving.: A sudden rush of nearly a dozen zerglings sweeps forward, but it is this moment the two reinforcing hellions arrive. Relieved, Marlin orders the team back but Ruger and the other marines stand their ground; at this point they are consumed with the thrill of blood and can only hold down their triggers laughing in the night. However, before this pack of zerglings can be destroyed Hacker's suit is breached by the tearing fangs and his blood rains down on the bodies of his enemies.Steeled by this loss Marlin orders the squad forward not noticing there is one more zergling left alive slicing at Ruger's suit. Ruger screams this over the comm as he follows anxiously behind, but another pack of zerglings is waiting in the fog for the raiders. Ruger's suit is ripped open finally and it is his dying cry that draws the attention of the three hellions exactly at the crucial moment when the zerglings bear down on the squad. Marlin's hellion is nearly surrounded, slashing claws raining down on the neosteel plating of his vehicle, but in a panic he orders the squad to retreat. The three hellions burn rubber right past the last marine as the zerglings overcome him. Teeth rigid, his hellion battered right down to the axles, Marlin orders what's left of the squad to continue strafing the Zerg, eliminating what warriors they can. But the moment they stop to aim the zerglings are on Marlin's hellion, claws striking the motor and causing the machine to explode in a fireball. In his last moments, lying burned and savaged on the hard Shakuras ground, Marlin sees through a bloody haze the zerglings, dancing back into the purple haze of Creep, grow the fly-like wings that indicate their speed has evolved and they are deadlier than ever.The two last hellions, sitting idle for a moment decide to continue the assault. Without marines slowing them down, they reason, they can torment the Zerg all day. It is their last mistake for it is only seconds when they return to the Creep that they are surrounded and destroyed.Major Chan, listening in on the commband to this slaughter, thinks to himself that a better training program might have allowed better success. Good hellion pilots, he says sneering to himself, don't let themselves be surrounded.: Commander Control is awoken and informed that the marine/hellion raid was unsuccessful and six lives have been lost. There is silence in the darkness of his quarters. He has nothing to say.: Major Chan comms into the SCV line, ordering two additional barracks and a tech lab on the existing one. Stimpack technology and a mass of marines is the only way to survive from here, he has decided. He also plans soon to order a starport, for medivacs and for emergency evacuation if necessary.: The two reinforcing hellions arrive back at the choke point and roll over the submerged supply depot. The structure is lifted and along with two hellions only minutes old they guard the Choke point from the dozen or more zerglings still out there, somewhere.: Base Commander Control bursts into the War Room where Chan and the other officers are discussing placement for defensive structures, if necessary."Stimpack?" he roars. His uniform is disheveled, undershirt hanging out, boots untied. "Who the shit ordered stimpacks?""I did, sir," says Chan, eyes cold. "Whatever's commanding these Zerg aren't afraid of hellions. We need another option. And we need to reinforce that wall, banelings are an enormous threat now.""No, no, no," spits Control. "We just didn't have enough, that's all. Who's the moron who sent in just the one, anyway?""Sir, I have to insist-""Shut up, Morian," says Control glaring. There is silence in the room now as he stares at the holographic terrain.It takes a moment for Chan to swallow the remarks. "We also need to start work on a starport," he says."A?" says Control. "You wanna tuck tail and run? This is the highest mineral concentration in the northwest hemisphere. You just wanna let the Zerg have it?""Sir, it's for medivacs primarily.""Holy shit on a stick, since when could medivacs heal hellions?""Damnit, sir, no one makeshellions. We need a solid marine core, and they need medivac support. And yes, in case our wall is breached we need an escape plan.""No. Oh, no. Fine, those bastards took out our brave boys, but they ain't licked us yet. When we're licked, then we'll beat it.""Sir!" says Chan, but suddenly on the holographic terrain display the ground outside the choke point turns red with enemy dots, fast as lightning, a flood of red at the gates of the station, and just as fast as they arrived they leave into the darkness of the night.Control snatches the comm from Major Lennox. "Command to choke point, what the Hell was that?""Zerglings, sir," says Spc. Burg. "We roasted some of em and they ran off.""How many?""I dunno. Couple dozen."Clicking to the video feed at the choke point Control lets out a victorious laugh. "Ha, see there? Dead zergs everywhere, and they even set a tree on fire." With that the Commander smirks and clicks back to the comm. "Specialist, you got four hellions there?""Sure do, Command. We're snug as a bug out here.""New orders, why don't you mosey on out and finish 'em off?""Sir, that iswise," says Chan."Shut your yap, Chan," says Control. "Specialist, you've got your orders.""Yes, sir.""Sir," insists Chan when the comm clicks off. "Those men have insufficient training. They don't know how to maneuver against speedlings. They'll be surrounded and sliced to ribbons before they can even hit reverse."Control's eyes have gone cold. "Thanks for the advice, boy. The men can take it from here." A moment passes. "And since when were we using idiot slang?lings. Pfft."The other officers look among themselves nervously."Sir, that iswhat happened out at the colony, Marlin and the others got themselves surrounded. And we need those hellions at the choke so the Zerg can't do what they just tried to do.""This ain't my first rodeo, kid. I know what I'm doin'."Chan exhales a stiff breath. "Sir, respectfully, I don't think you actually do.""Finally, a reason to get rid of you!" laughs Control, a hard, angry chuckle. "You're confined to your quarters for disrespectin' a superior."Chan says nothing. He looks among the other officers and sees only a team of paper cutouts, a network of cowards Control can bully, remembering that Base Commanders choose their own officer core. The Zerg are cunning, and Station 27, Chan sees now, is doomed. Unless there's something he can do about it.Without another word the Major turns and leaves.Note: Sir, as a psychic I consider myself an authority on how impossible it's ever going to be for every human being to get along with every other human being. But my strong suggestion at this point is once again that the curriculum for commissioned officers include a course on professionalism. While watching this last scene unfold in my mind I could hardly believe it could have happened, I told myself it was just a military drama holovid. But I double-checked my senses and it's true, a Dominion Base Commander can act this way. And forgive me my opinions, sir, but it disgusts me.: Laughing to themselves the four hellions speed out into the Shakuras wilderness, completely unaware that they themselves are the prey on this hunt. Just as they top a rise a swarm of zerglings meets them. With the absolute unity of a collectively controlled group they spring into action, surging around the hellions. It is mercifully quick.: Back at the command center, Control comms the factory and confirms that more hellions are in production. He does not know Chan at this moment is visiting the barracks and ordering Marauder production hoping that if and when Station 27 can amass a strong infantry there will be a forward line of Marauders to take the brunt of baneling acid."Incoming transmission," says the adjutant in the War Room.Grimacing to himself Control clicks over. "Command.""The hellions you sent out, sir?" says the factory's Operations Manager."What about 'em?""Well, the mess hall has four fewer portions to make for breakfast, we'll just say that.""Don't shit me, son, I'm this close to deciding I need a long-range scout.""No shit, sir. We're pretty much naked out here."Control is speechless for a few seconds. The officers wait and watch. "Just hang tight," says Control. "I got a couple new bikes coming off the line in a few minutes.""Great." The line clicks off. The disrespect is the least of Control's worries now."Sir," says Major Rory, "maybe it's time we built that starport.""No. No starport. We're fine, we're the Terran Dominion for shit's sake." This said he clicks to the video out at the choke point and watches. The operative emotion in him is not fear, though he is afraid. Mostly at this point he is feeling humiliated and angry. This is a peripheral symptom of his core problem.: The War Room doors zoom open and Chan appears, a hard look on his face. A minute or so from now the two barracks that were begun an hour ago finish but they receive no orders as a direct result of the following argument and aftermath."Thought I told you-" Control begins, but Chan interrupts him."No more games,," says Chan. "We need action.""That's just what we're doing, Morian. We're hunkering down and weathering the storm.""Starport," says Chan. "We don't even need to make medivacs, banshee tactics have statistically proven cost-effective against the Zerg.""No goddamn starport. Banshees are expensive, goddamnit.""It's not about resource gathering now, it's about keeping the bloodour skins. We have everything we need for an effective defense, except time to build it.""Alright, what dosuggest?""Constant production from all base facilities. Hellions, marines. A starport can take the barracks' tech lab when it's done with stimpacks and we can send a couple banshees in to take out the Zerg's worker line, or as much as we can.""Banshees. Dumb bastard, don't you know what a mutalisk is?"Chan shakes his head. "Study your timings, sir, Zerg clusters can't evolve the spire after only seven and a half hours. At least it can't have as many zerglings as we've seen and have spire tech. By the time the Zerg have mutalisks we can have murdered half their drones, even if our banshee pilots are as dumb as our hellions. From there it's just a matter of defensive posturing and patience.""Okay, I gave you a chance to impress me, boy. Now sit down and shut up.""What's wrong with that!" says Chan, showing his frustration for the first time."Shit, what'swrong with it? First off, them queens ain't exactly happy when their little ugly babies get shot with missiles. Second, defensiveness'll get you steamrolled, every time. Set up a nice defense, Zerg just techs and in the mornin' we'll have a million broodlings stuffed up our asses, and oh we can't move in with marines cause tank shells'll be doin' more harm than good, and we can't mass vikings cause them zergs have that green shit, them fungal spores to lock em up so they can just get smashed and cleaned up like beer cans. Why can that shit hit airplanes, anyway? How does that even work?""Medivacs are the other option. Surgical drop tactics have been shown to confuse the Zerg and catch them off guard.""Goddamnit, Chan, by the time we have medivacs they'll have mutas.""What'splan? What aredoing?""What we really need is that there hellion tech, the preigniter thingie. That's why hellions didn't do shit, cause blue fire'll kick red fire's ass every time.""This is ridiculous. Those barracks will be done by now, weto get marines suiting up immediately. Our choke point is defenseless.""Barracks? What the hell, you had raxes made without my authorization?""Yes. I did. We need them to be working at full capacity.""Fine. Right. We should throw reactors on 'em and pump marines like no one's business.""Disagree, commander. We need reinforcements, we don't have fifty minutes for the reactors.""God, Chan. You just like fighting with me, don't you?""Commander! What'swith you, do you want to?"Control's eyes narrow. "You threatening me?""Every minute we waste is a minute banelings could be marching up to our doorstep.""Goddamnit, we haveat the choke! You do know banelings don't have no armor? Hellions rip 'em apart.""This is a waste of time," says Chan, reaching for the comm."Hey, don't you touch that!" snarls Control, wresting it away from Chan.Teeth clenched, Chan wrestles for the comm. Better to lose your career than your life, he thinks."Give it here!" roars Control. The officers backing away, wondering if they should leave as the two men fight for the communicator. "Goddamnit," snarls Control, and before anyone can react he draws his pistol and fires. Chan goes rigid and his last moments are spent in shock, staring at the fading image of his commanding officer as his eyes go cold and his body slumps over.Control's actions here were not premeditated, and in truth he is nearly as surprised at this turn of events as Chan and the officers. But after a few moments' staring at the corpse at his feet he snatches up the comm and growls sneering, "Barracks manager, this is Command. Start a reactor. Same with that other rax, you tell em. Out."The officers staring, Control glares back. "Get him outta here," he says in a low voice.: Silence in the Shakuras night covers the base; somehow even the roar of production seems subdued and oppressed. Men working together don't speak to each other. All is tension, and darkness, and fear.: As foretold by the late Major Chan a clutch of banelings waddles up to the nearest supply depot of the ramp and explode painting its walls with their corrosive viscera, despite being under fire from Station 27's meager defenses. Zerglings flood the base.: Human blood is spilled by the gallon. In terror the remaining hellions try their hand at some advanced kill-in-transit tactics but they are quickly surrounded and murdered. Banelings creep their way into the SCV line and spontaneously explode killing a dozen pilots as acid covers and dissolves them in seconds, including Pete the Service Operations Manager.The last Terran dies at 0423 of blood loss, nine and a half hours after Station 27 landed. It is an eight-year old girl and her last mortal thought is the face of Base Commander Control, her grandfather.When I arrived at what was left of Station 27 it was fully under Zerg control - one thing I learned at the Academy before I was offered this opportunity was Cloaking. The mineral clusters were nearly mined out; I could reach out and touch the drones there. It was terrifying, but to be honest, sir, I'd rather sneak into a thousand Zerg bases than think for an instant that command in the Dominion is comprised of men like Control. My one consolation, though I weep for the hundreds of hearts no longer beating, is that his stupidity was ultimately punished.You sent me here to help revise protocols and develop better strategies - I can nitpick what the Commander did wrong but I believe the heart of the problem rests in his attitude, the old tree who doesn't bend in the wind.I'll be totally honest here, sir; I anticipate this is the first and last Incident Report. I was told to be thorough, but I doubt my kind of thoroughness is interesting to you. I'm sure of it, no one in the Dominion will pay any attention to what I've written here, or those whointerested are a silent minority and the credits spent on this project will suddenly seem wasted to those paying for it.So here's to Mengsk, sir, that benevolent despot under whose watchful eyes we toil and weep and breed. Do I seem melancholy, sir? Among other psychics I'm an absolute delight.Sincerely,Lieutenant Paul Graves