Starcraft II_ Heaven's Devils Part 24

The ranger was a member of the second squad. He nodded, jumped out, and was just about to get behind the wheel when a sh.e.l.l scored a direct hit on the saber and sent the shattered wreck tumbling end-for-end. Armored bodies flew through the air and fell like broken dolls.

Zander was twenty yards away by then, having dragged the woman off the street. He wanted to lead her to safety, but as the sloth rolled past and Vanderspool's troops rounded a corner, he knew his friends needed him. "Go to the west gate. Get out into the countryside and hide. It's your only chance. Now go! Now go!"

She mumbled something incoherent and took off erratically in the direction he'd indicated.

Zander turned back toward the street. Unfortunately it was too late. Vanderspool was there with his needle-gun already leveled. Zander was completely vulnerable-without his hardskin, the private was down to sweat-stained cammies.

Ca.s.sidy was present as well. Like Vanderspool she'd been forced to shuck her armor and stood with her medic bag slung over one shoulder. She tried to meet Zander's eyes but couldn't. She felt hollow inside, as if whatever remained of her inner being had been left at the lev station, where the final betrayal had taken place. Now, fully aware of what was about to happen, Ca.s.sidy began to shake. It was like going through withdrawal, only worse, because she knew that no amount of crab was going to make her feel better.

"Well, well," Vanderspool said, as he eyed the man in front of him. "Look what we have here."

Zander began to swing his weapon left, but knew there wasn't enough time, as Vanderspool fired. The first needle knocked Zander off his feet, the second smashed through his forehead, and the third was completely unnecessary.

There was a resounding BOOM BOOM as a stray sh.e.l.l hit one of the globular fuel tanks a city block east of the street the Devils were on. But rather than explode the way it was supposed to, the sh.e.l.l punched a hole in the 500,000-gallon container, which released a column of pinkish fuel. The high-octane portrenol shot straight out, splashed into the containment area that surrounded the tanks, and a lake began to form. as a stray sh.e.l.l hit one of the globular fuel tanks a city block east of the street the Devils were on. But rather than explode the way it was supposed to, the sh.e.l.l punched a hole in the 500,000-gallon container, which released a column of pinkish fuel. The high-octane portrenol shot straight out, splashed into the containment area that surrounded the tanks, and a lake began to form.

Meanwhile, as the sloth's foreman corrected his aim and sent a projectile screaming toward the starport beyond, Tychus was on the comm. "We have to stop that thing before it can destroy the drops.h.i.+ps. How 'bout it, Hank? Can you light that b.a.s.t.a.r.d up? Over." "We have to stop that thing before it can destroy the drops.h.i.+ps. How 'bout it, Hank? Can you light that b.a.s.t.a.r.d up? Over."

"Roger that," Harnack replied as he brought his saber to a shuddering halt. Harnack replied as he brought his saber to a shuddering halt.

In an attempt to distract the sloth's foreman and buy time for Harnack, Raynor sent his saber roaring forward, as one of his pa.s.sengers fired the gauss cannon. The weapon clattered methodically, and sparks of light signaled a series of hits as the spikes punched a line of divots into the sloth's hull. But to no avail.

The saber pa.s.sed within ten feet of the sloth's squared-off bow before entering a skidding turn. But the pa.s.s wasn't enough to prevent the sloth from firing another sh.e.l.l at the starport. And this one scored a direct hit.

There was an eye-searing flash of light as drops.h.i.+p number three exploded and chunks of the s.h.i.+p's fuselage soared high into the air, where they seemed to pause momentarily before cartwheeling down. "The sonofab.i.t.c.h has the range now," Tychus said grimly. "This ain't good."

And it wasn't wasn't good. A fact not lost on Harnack, who was lumbering forward. Would the sloth crew notice him as he came in from the side? Maybe ... but Harnack figured they were focused on the starport as he approached the mountain of metal. good. A fact not lost on Harnack, who was lumbering forward. Would the sloth crew notice him as he came in from the side? Maybe ... but Harnack figured they were focused on the starport as he approached the mountain of metal.

That was when Kydd saw that fuel was pouring out of the containment area and onto the street. Either the ditch was too shallow or someone had left one of the flood control gates open. Not that it made much difference since the result was the same. "Harnack!" Kydd shouted. "Don't fire!" "Don't fire!"

But Harnack was within range by then and completely unaware of the fuel that was flowing his way. There was the familiar click as he pulled the trigger and the igniter produced a spark. That was followed by a loud whump as a gout of flame shot forward to blister the sloth's paint job.

That got the crew's attention, and one of the treads stopped as the other continued to clank forward. So Harnack sent a tongue of fire in under the monster, because that's where it was most vulnerable. As the machine began to turn, he was forced to do likewise or be cut down by the sloth's forward-firing slugthrowers.

Kydd opened his mouth to yell again, but the river of fuel was lapping around Harnack's boots by then, and the result was inevitable. There was a thump as the high-octane liquid caught fire, wrapping both Harnack and and the sloth in an inferno of red-orange flames. the sloth in an inferno of red-orange flames.

Harnack tried to run but didn't get far. The scream was a long, lung-emptying sound that Kydd knew he would never forget as the rifle came up, and time slowed. Even though it seemed like an eternity, less than two seconds elapsed as the crosshairs settled over their target and the firing pin dropped. The b.u.t.t kicked Kydd's shoulder, the slug hit Harnack in the head, and most of his brains flew sideways.

Then like a wax figure exposed to heat, Harnack began to melt, the sloth rolled over him, and the tanks on his back exploded. The result was a stupendous boom as the sixty-ton monster was transformed into a thousand pieces of metal confetti. It hissed as it fell into a lake of fire.

Kydd felt a lump form in the back of his throat as images of Harnack flickered through his mind. There were lots of them. Harnack laughing manically as he rolled around on the gra.s.s in front of the police station. Harnack attacking the rippers at Fort Howe. And most of all, Harnack standing next to the fallen goliath, just below the repository in Polk's Pride. He'd been like a brother. A crazy, "I don't give a s.h.i.+t" brother who had been brave to a fault. And he'd gone out the way he would want to go out. With a loud bang.

Suddenly Kydd knew what to say. Knew what would mean the most to his brother. "That was awesome, Hank... . That was fekking awesome."

"Sarge!" a voice said over the squad freq. a voice said over the squad freq. "This is Haster... . Transport three took a direct hit... . What the h.e.l.l is going on? A civilian truck pulled up outside and I caught a glimpse of Colonel Vanderspool." "This is Haster... . Transport three took a direct hit... . What the h.e.l.l is going on? A civilian truck pulled up outside and I caught a glimpse of Colonel Vanderspool."

"They must have captured it and circled around the east side of the fuel tanks," Raynor observed grimly.

"Raise the ramp," Tychus ordered tersely. "And don't allow anyone to enter. Not Vanderspool and not Ca.s.sidy... . Do you scan me? Over."

"Five by five, Sarge. Over."

"Good. We're on the way. Over."

There were only two sabers by that time. The one Raynor was driving, and a second vehicle, with Kydd at the wheel. The third transport was still burning, and a thick finger of black smoke rose to point at the sky as the sabers pa.s.sed through an open gate. "Be ready, Jim," Tychus said, as he shoved a fresh magazine into his gauss rifle. "We could be outgunned."

Raynor could see the flatbed truck by then, as well as the people who were spilling out the back, and knew the situation was serious. He knew Vanderspool would almost certainly destroy the first transport if he had the means to do so and escape in the second. Then, with no one left alive to contradict him, he'd be free to concoct whatever story he chose.

As Raynor brought the saber to a screeching halt, the scene that greeted him was considerably different from what he expected to see. Vanderspool was present all right, as was Doc-but both were prisoners.

Pax's helmet was missing, a blood-stained bandage was wrapped around his head, and the two rippers standing behind him were in equally bad shape. But the Kel-Morians were vertical, heavily armed, and definitely in control. At some point they had captured Vanderspool and Ca.s.sidy, loaded them onto a civilian truck, and circled around behind the storage tanks.

"Hold it right there," Pax said as Tychus swung his enormous feet out of the saber and stood up. "Drop your weapon or I'll shoot Colonel Vanderspool in the head."

Raynor had circled to the front of the saber by that time. Both Raynor and Tychus began to laugh as Vanderspool scowled. The sound was amplified, and boomed over the external speakers. "Be my guest," Tychus said coldly. "Do us all a favor and blow his fekkin' head off."

Pax looked at Tychus, saw the cold determination on his face, and knew the noncom was serious. "Your troops aren't very loyal, are they?" the Kel-Morian officer said disgustedly. "I should have known."

Having stopped the saber about five hundred yards away, Kydd was standing next to it, using the hood as a rest for his rifle. From that angle most of Pax's body was obscured by Vanderspool's. There was another option, however. Kydd adjusted his aim slightly, his finger took up the last bit of slack, and the rifle fired. Vanderspool's body jerked spasmodically as the heavy slug smashed through his shoulder and hit the man immediately behind him.

Blood sprayed the area as the bullet tore Pax's throat out and the other Kel-Morians opened fire. The result was nearly instantaneous as both Tychus and Raynor hosed them down with a hail of gauss spikes.

The enemy soldiers attempted to stand their ground, but one of them fell as Kydd fired on him, and the other staggered drunkenly as the incoming gauss spikes tore through his suit. Then he toppled over backward and skidded for a short distance before coming to a halt.

That was when Tychus realized that Ca.s.sidy had taken a spike through the chest at some point in the exchange of fire and was lying on her back looking up at the sky. He hurried to kneel next to her and placed a hand under her head. The liquid in her throat made a gargling sound as she spoke. "It wasn't personal... . It was never personal. You know that."

"Yeah," Tychus replied soberly. "I know."

Doc forced a smile, and was about to say something else, when her eyes went out of focus. She was gone.

Tychus swore, forced himself to rise, and took a look around. That was when his eyes came to rest on Vanderspool. The officer was on his knees, clutching the b.l.o.o.d.y mess that was his shoulder and sobbing loudly. "Please!" Vanderspool pleaded as he looked up. "I need a medic! I'll pay you!"

"Doc is dead," Tychus said flatly. "You killed her."

That wasn't true. Not that it mattered. Raynor stepped beside Tychus, looked down at Vanderspool, and felt the anger start to build inside him. Because there, kneeling in front of him, was the personification of everything he had come to hate. How many people had given their lives so that Vanderspool could line his pockets? Hundreds? Thousands? Thousands? It was impossible to say. But one thing was for sure... . It was never going to happen again. It was impossible to say. But one thing was for sure... . It was never going to happen again.

Kydd joined his brothers, rifle at his side, and the three men watched the colonel writhe in agony, his facade of power and strength shattered by his own greed.

"Your father wants to see you," Vanderspool pleaded to Kydd. "I know where he is. I'll take you there. Please, I'm in pain."

Kydd snorted and shook his head.

Pax's pistol was lying on the tarmac. Vanderspool made a grab for it and Raynor stepped on his hand. Flesh gave way, bones broke, and Vanderspool screamed.

"I can ease your pain, you piece of trash," Raynor growled as the skull on his visor whirred and his real face appeared. His voice was unnaturally cold, guttural. Seething with rage, Raynor brought the gauss rifle to bear. "Good-bye, a.s.shole."

Vanderspool's eyes grew larger, he opened his mouth to say "No," and a single spike slammed into his chest. As the officer toppled over onto his side, Raynor felt his anger melt away, to be replaced by something else. Somehow, without intending to, he had become part of the very thing he despised. A universe in which the Old Families could take whatever they wanted, send brain-panned citizens out to fight interstellar wars, and kill with impunity. The realization was followed by a profound sense of shame-and a determination to be who he wanted wanted to be. Or, in his father's words, the man he to be. Or, in his father's words, the man he chose chose to be. to be.

The three men stood there for a moment. The area was completely silent except for the crackle of flames as they continued to devour the city-and the sudden whine of engines as Vanderspool's drops.h.i.+p prepared to lift without him. Tychus was the first to speak. "The h.e.l.lhounds will be here soon. We'd better get a move on."

The men turned toward the remaining drops.h.i.+p. Haster had dropped the ramp by then, and was waiting inside, as they began to make their way up. Tychus led the way, with Kydd right behind him. Raynor paused to take one last look at the city where so many of his friends had given their lives. We weren't angels, We weren't angels, Raynor thought, Raynor thought, we were the Heaven's Devils. The best of the worst. we were the Heaven's Devils. The best of the worst.

The thought brought a nostalgic smile to Raynor's lips and it was still in place as the drops.h.i.+p took off and left the carnage behind. He was going AWOL, so his his war was over, but he would never forget the friends who had fallen in the town of Korsy. Not ever. war was over, but he would never forget the friends who had fallen in the town of Korsy. Not ever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

William C. Dietz is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and j.a.panese. He grew up in the Seattle area, spent time with the Navy and Marine Corps as a medic, graduated from the University of Was.h.i.+ngton, lived in Africa for half a year, and has traveled to six continents.

Dietz has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, news writer, television producer, and director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Writer's Guild, and the International a.s.sociation of Media Tie-In Writers.

He and his wife live near Gig Harbor in Was.h.i.+ngton State, where they enjoy traveling, kayaking, and not too surprisingly, reading books. For more information about William C. Dietz and his work, visit: williamcdietz.com.

STARCRAFT TIMELINE.

c. 1500 A group of rogue protoss is exiled from the protoss homeworld of Aiur for refusing to join the Khala, a telepathic link shared by the entire race. These rogues, called the dark templar, ultimately settle on the planet of Shakuras. This split between the two protoss factions becomes known as the Discord.

(StarCraft: Shadow Hunters, book two of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) (StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) 1865.

The dark templar Zeratul is born. He will later be instrumental in reconciling the severed halves of protoss society.

(StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) (StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg) by Aaron Rosenberg) 2143.

Ta.s.sadar is born. He will later be an executor of the Aiur protoss.

(StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) (StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg) by Aaron Rosenberg) c. 2259 Four supercarriers-the Argo Argo, the Sarengo Sarengo, the Reagan Reagan, and the Nagglfar Nagglfar-transporting convicts from Earth venture far beyond their intended destination and crash-land on planets in the Koprulu sector. The survivors settle on the planets Moria, Umoja, and Tarsonis, and build new societies that grow to encompa.s.s other planets.

2323.

Having established colonies on other planets, Tarsonis becomes the capital of the Terran Confederacy, a powerful but increasingly oppressive government.

2460.

Arcturus Mengsk is born. He is a member of one of the Confederacy's elite Old Families.

(StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill) by Graham McNeill) (StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) (StarCraft: Uprising by Micky Neilson) by Micky Neilson) 2464.

Tychus Findlay is born. He will later become good friends with Jim Raynor during the Guild Wars.

(StarCraft: Heaven's Devils by William C. Dietz) by William C. Dietz) 2470.

Jim Raynor is born to Trace and Karol Raynor, farmers on the fringe world of s.h.i.+loh.

(StarCraft: Heaven's Devils by William C. Dietz) by William C. Dietz) (StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) (StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg) by Aaron Rosenberg) (StarCraft: Frontline, volume 4, "Homecoming" by Chris Metzen and Hector Sevilla) (StarCraft monthly comic #57 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) monthly comic #57 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) 2473.

Sarah Kerrigan is born. She is a terran gifted with powerful psionic abilities.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) (StarCraft: Uprising by Micky Neilson) by Micky Neilson) (StarCraft: Queen of Blades by Aaron Rosenberg) by Aaron Rosenberg) (StarCraft: the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) 2478.

Arcturus Mengsk graduates from the Styrling Academy and joins the Confederate Marine Corps against the wishes of his parents.

(StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill) by Graham McNeill) 2485.

In response to the Confederacy's underhanded appropriation of resources, the Morian Mining Coalition and the Kelanis s.h.i.+pping Guild join forces to create the Kel-Morian Combine. Their goal is to protect their lucrative mining operations and provide military aid to any mining guild oppressed by the Confederacy. Rising tensions between the Combine and the Confederacy lead to the outbreak of open warfare. This conflict comes to be known as the Guild Wars.

(StarCraft: Heaven's Devils by William C. Dietz) by William C. Dietz) (StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill) by Graham McNeill) 24882489 Jim Raynor joins the Confederate Marine Corps and meets Tychus Findlay. In the later battles between the Confederacy and the Kel-Morian Combine, the 321st Colonial Rangers Battalion (whose members.h.i.+p includes Raynor and Findlay) comes to prominence for its expertise and bravado, earning it the nickname "Heaven's Devils."

(StarCraft: Heaven's Devils by William C. Dietz) by William C. Dietz) Jim Raynor meets fellow Confederate soldier Cole Hickson in a Kel-Morian prison camp. During this encounter, Hickson teaches Raynor how to resist and survive the Kel-Morians' brutal torture methods.

(StarCraft: Heaven's Devils by William C. Dietz) by William C. Dietz) (StarCraft monthly comic #6 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) monthly comic #6 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) Toward the end of the Guild Wars, Jim Raynor and Tychus Findlay go AWOL from the Confederate military.

Arcturus Mengsk resigns from the Confederate military after achieving the rank of colonel. He then becomes a successful prospector in the galactic rim.

(StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill) by Graham McNeill) After nearly four years of war, the Confederacy "negotiates" peace with the Kel-Morian Combine, annexing almost all of the Combine's supporting mining guilds. Despite this ma.s.sive setback, the Kel-Morian Combine is allowed to continue its existence and retain its autonomy.

Arcturus Mengsk's father, Confederate senator Angus Mengsk, declares the independence of Korhal IV, a core world of the Confederacy that has long been at odds with the government. In response, three Confederate ghosts-covert terran operatives possessing superhuman psionic powers enhanced by cutting-edge technology-a.s.sa.s.sinate Angus, his wife, and their young daughter. Furious at the murder of his family, Arcturus takes command of the rebellion in Korhal and wages a guerilla war against the Confederacy.

(StarCraft: I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill) by Graham McNeill) 2491.

As a warning to other would-be separatists, the Confederacy unleashes a nuclear holocaust on Korhal IV, killing millions. In retaliation, Arcturus Mengsk names his rebel group the Sons of Korhal and intensifies his struggle against the Confederacy. During this time Arcturus liberates a Confederate ghost named Sarah Kerrigan, who later becomes his second-in-command.

(StarCraft: Uprising by Micky Neilson) by Micky Neilson) 2495.

Jim Raynor ends his outlaw years when his partner in crime, Tychus Findlay, is apprehended by authorities. Raynor starts a new life as a Confederate marshal on the planet Mar Sara.

24992500 Two alien threats appear in the Koprulu sector: the ruthless, highly adaptable zerg and the enigmatic protoss. In a seemingly unprovoked attack, the protoss incinerate the terran planet Chau Sara, drawing the ire of the Confederacy. Unbeknownst to most terrans, Chau Sara had become infested by the zerg, and the protoss carried out their attack in order to destroy the infestation. Other worlds, including the nearby planet Mar Sara, are also found to be infested by the zerg.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) (StarCraft: Twilight, book three of the Dark Templar Saga by Christie Golden) On Mar Sara, the Confederacy imprisons Jim Raynor for destroying Backwater Station, a zerg-infested terran outpost. He is liberated soon after by Mengsk's rebel group, the Sons of Korhal.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) A Confederate marine named Ardo Melnikov finds himself embroiled in the conflict on Mar Sara. He suffers from painful memories of his former life on the planet Bountiful, but he soon discovers that there is a darker truth to his past.

(StarCraft: Speed of Darkness by Tracy Hickman) by Tracy Hickman) Mar Sara suffers the same fate as Chau Sara and is incinerated by the protoss. Jim Raynor, Arcturus Mengsk, the Sons of Korhal, and some of the planet's residents manage to escape the destruction.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) Feeling betrayed by the Confederacy, Jim Raynor joins the Sons of Korhal and meets Sarah Kerrigan. A Universal News Network (UNN) reporter, Michael Liberty, accompanies the rebel group to report on the chaos and counteract Confederate propaganda.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) A Confederate politician named Tamsen Cauley tasks the War Pigs-a covert military unit created to take on the Confederacy's dirtiest jobs-to a.s.sa.s.sinate Arcturus Mengsk. The attempt on Mengsk's life fails.

(StarCraft monthly comic #1 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) monthly comic #1 by Simon Furman and Federico Dallocchio) November "Nova" Terra, a daughter of one of the Confederacy's powerful Old Families on Tarsonis, unleashes her latent psionic abilities after she telepathically feels her parents and brother being murdered. Once her terrifying power becomes known, the Confederacy hunts her down, intending to take advantage of her talents.

(StarCraft: Ghost: Nova by Keith R.A. DeCandido) by Keith R.A. DeCandido) Arcturus Mengsk deploys a devastating weapon-the psi emitter-on the Confederate capital of Tarsonis. The device sends out amplified psionic signals and draws large numbers of zerg to the planet. Tarsonis falls soon after, and the loss of the capital proves to be a deathblow to the Confederacy.

(StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb) by Jeff Grubb) Arcturus Mengsk betrays Sarah Kerrigan and abandons her on Tarsonis as it is being overrun by zerg. Jim Raynor, who had developed a deep bond with Kerrigan, defects from the Sons of Korhal in fury and forms a rebel group that will come to be known as Raynor's Raiders. He soon discovers Kerrigan's true fate: instead of being killed by the zerg, she is transformed into a powerful being known as the Queen of Blades.