Harbinger/49

The Invasion of Aiur
((((Wait, so why is it that we've been suddenly warped in here? I thought you Protoss were used to Phasing?)))) asked Daniel, seeing below them the teal celestial orb that was Aiur, the Protoss homeworld.

((((Phasing is our preferred way of duplicating our assets and thus growing in strength as a race. However, it is consuming to our psionic reserves. In situations of battle, we must Recall in our extended forces. Recalling can only bring forces to the anchor of a certain type of vessel, and can be performed on nearly anything.))))

((((Got it.))))

Christopher watch the display. The minimap, now magnified on the large displaying screen, sized in the entire planet as well as the Zerg Swarm, which was slowly encircling it. It reminded Christopher of a hydrogen atom--only instead of one natural electron, there were a hundred billion angry ones forming a dense cloud that stretched for a hundred thousand miles.

His heart dropped at that. ((No! I've got to keep in touch with reality! I can't slip--not now, not now... Not when I'm needed most. Okay, I've got to focus. Let's see--the first rule of thumb when encountered with this kind of situation is concentrate--think it through! Yes, that's what I'll do.)) So Jaxtor thought for a little while, remembered...

Christopher turned to the adjutant. "Patch me in to Christopher."

The adjutant turned around in utter disbelief and said, "What?"

"I said patch me to the Christopher on Bounty."

"But aren't you--"

"Just do it!"

The adjutant turned back to her consoles and opened a link via ansible to the small base on Bounty. The portrait of another Christopher appeared, much to the shock of the adjutant.

"Hey pal!" the Christopher in Aiur space said to the other.

"Hey self! What's up?"

"We've just encountered a MASSIVE Zerg force on Aiur. Is Project Red Herring done yet?"

"We're just patching it up!"

"Good, the moment it's done, turn it on!" Christopher(Aiur) shouted.

"But... what about Daniel's Two-Point Plan?" asked Christopher(Bounty).

"What Two-Point Plan?"

"You know, the one that says that we turn on the Psi Emitter and then the Psi Disruptor and trap the Zerg on Bounty. The Psi Disruptor's lagging way behind schedule and can't finish for another month. But if we turn the Psi Emitter on, the Zerg will come and destroy the Psi Emitter, and then we can't get the Zerg still spread out there when they're most vulnerable!"

Christopher(Aiur) thought about this carefully. He could scarcely believe that there was actually something else in the making. So Daniel Did have some other ideas... Why hadn't Daniel told him though? Was there some Point in keeping such information separate? But that could not be it either, because evidently Christopher(Bounty) told him quite freely.

The problem now was that this threw an added twist to what was going on. There seemed to be an infinite number of Zerg out there, and perhaps the combination would be potent enough to wipe them out entirely, which would quickly end the war. But that, even if successful, would leave the Protoss in power, and Their technologies were very advanced. In the event of war against the Protoss, humanity could still lose... And more likely than not, the combination, this Two-Point Plan, would have a very large flaw in it which would mean that all would be for naught.

And as for just using the psi emitter--it could attract the Zerg away temporarily, but not for long, and once they came back the Protoss homeworld was just about as good as dead anyway. The main advantage would be to show to the Protoss that the humans actually meant to help them, by distracting a part of the Zerg forces and allowing the Protoss to hold their own in battle. Never mind all the casualties that would be suffered thereafter; never mind the fact that people looking back on his actions would deem it one of the stupidest choices imaginable; never mind that once the Zerg felt the call they would destroy the Psi Emitter and obliterate any chance for victory.

The monumental decision of this made him feel numb. Either way they seemed to lose; either way he would be convicted of destroying humanity's greatest chance for victory. But what really mattered wasn't the final result of the war; it was how the war was fought, because the Protoss homeworld probably would hold something that would hold the key for destroying the Zerg, even if it be something the Protoss never discovered. And with surviving Protoss would survive hope for a two-race alliance against the foe, the tapping of technologies never before discovered, the forging of an alliance that could stretch across worlds.

Besides, by the time the Two-Point Plan had finished, the Zerg might have already discovered that hidden base and destroyed both...

Taking in a deep breath, Christopher(Aiur) responded, "Another one of Daniel's schemes, eh? I understand... I believe I fully understand what is going on, and I think this is for the best. I wonder what mess he's getting himself into. Whatever. But we've been told the whole time along that the point is to build the Psi Emitter for just a time like this--they claim the entire Zerg Swarm is attacking the Protoss homeworld, and if they're going to have any chance for survival it'll require the activation of your Psi Emitter," said Christopher(Aiur). "Look: we're on the same side, all right? Now let's get this done!"

"Fine then, but I'll have my superior to answer to--"

"Don't worry about that now, will you? We're getting the impression that the battle's going to get a lot more concentrated on Aiur--"

"What's that?"

"Protoss homeworld. Seeing as how the Protoss are our allies, we absolutely Must help them as much as we can."

"Yes, I see," said Christopher(Bounty). "Good luck. You will need it."

Christopher still hadn't developed his psionic connections, and so to him, his other self seemed to be--a stranger, only one he knew intimately. It was an awkward feeling--but it was getting him off task as well. He turned around to look at Daniel's face staring at the console. "Well chosen move, Christopher," said Daniel, his grim face breaking into a slight smile. "Maybe we still stand a chance."

Daniel could sense the residues of a billion complaints traversing the collective minds of the Protoss, wondering why the presence of these new, not-so-gilded-and-sleek vessels had appeared alongside them. There were others, he could sense quite clearly, complaining about Tassadar's inexplicable absence and unreachability.

Looking again at the display, Daniel understood why. All over the surface of the planet, bluish warp holes had opened up, bringing in with them many small fleets of ships which Daniel surmised came from the many planets that the spacefaring race had explored. ((((Recall,)))) Tealdarin told him. As soon as the fleets were brought back in defense of their home planet, they moved into formation and prepared to engage the extended swarm which now encompassed the planet like a huge globule. Upon the surface, all the open spaces were being filled up with photon cannons being warped-in--these round flower-like contraptions that could shoot spherical phase disruptors from their highly mechanized stigmas--so many of them were arriving that they covered the surfaces of Protoss buildings and completely filled up the roadways and forests across the entire planet, making it nearly impossible for ground forces to even move.

From up here, it all seemed so far away. One could hear nothing through the depths of space that indicated the encroaching alien life-forms, all of them arranging into formation and preparing for an attack. The hologram in the middle of the operations center held a three-dimensional image of the planet, now fully covered in yellow from continent to ocean, and floating in space all around it, a thick haze of red blips infinitesimally small.

"All right guys, this is it, we're putting our mechs to the test," Raynor announced. Even the normally eager and upbeat colonel seemed more than a tad depressed, and the people who heard him caught the mood.

((((Your men and women quiver in fear,)))) Tealdarin told Daniel(Aiur).

((((Nevertheless, Tealdarin, we shall attempt to do our best and aid you in the coming conflict. Why do the others on the surface and in low orbit all seem so perturbed at us?))))

((((Race, Daniel. Xenophobia. It is natural. Evidently many of them are not as trusting of other races being brought to set their eyes on the treasured homeworld as I am. May you be able to prove otherwise to them, so that they may all see the benefits of collaborating alongside you Terran. And now, we are about to begin our pre-battle anthem, and you may join us if you wish.))))

Daniel kept mentally silent as he heard the rising tide of voices from all the billions of Protoss so concentrated in the general vicinity. It was quite clear what they were saying, so strongly was the signal and so many signals there were. Ample proof that the Protoss were a very disciplined race, far more so than humanity. They began with ((((Trust in the glory of the Khala, for the Khala is our strength....)))) and continued for another full minute, as Protoss fleets continued to warp in at an unending stream.

Sensing that the greatest battle so far against the alien race was about to begin, Daniel retreated to his private quarters, and reclined on his black leather sofa.

Almost immediately, another, familiar presence entered his minds. Was he dreaming? It did not seem so, so vivid, and in such a serious tone, the psionic emanations were...

((((Abandon the Protoss, Terran. You have no hope of surviving this encounter. Go now, while you still can.))))

((((Mind your own business!)))) Daniel responded in his mind.

((((Ah, but it Is our business. Purity of Essence has always been greater than Purity of Form.))))

((((You know what's missing with your Purity? Purity of Heart!))))

((((Heart? What's that? How can a race have purity of a body part?))))

((((Feeling!--))))

((((Of course we feel, Daniel Travincal. We have been greatly aggrieved by all the woes you and your race have caused.))))

((((If you feel, then don't fight the Protoss!))))

((((The Protoss are our eternal enemies. We stand diametrically opposed--))))

((((Can't you befriend each other?))))

((((The Protoss have, over the course of five hundred years of warfare, inflicted a hundred and thirty billion more casualties upon us than we have upon the Protoss. Even if all the twenty billion Protoss were to die, that would still not be enough redress.))))

((((Evidently, but that's because your individual minions are scarcely any competition for individual Protoss.))))

((((You dare accuse our race of weakness?))))

((((Absolutely not, but you must admit that your race's greatest strength is fighting in numbers.))))

((((Our greatest strength is our purity of essence. And we will prove that it is superior to purity of form--))))

((((Yes, I know that already. What do you wish to get out of wiping out all Protoss?))))

((((Justice.))))

((((Yet you cannot ever achieve it because you've suffered more casualties than there are Protoss currently existing.))))

((((Xenocide counts for infinite casualties.))))

((((The destruction of an entire race?!))))

((((Indeed, that is our goal.))))

((((And does that include humanity as well?))))

((((You cannot dismiss the fact that your species have caused us great woes.))))

((((And just why is it so important that you must always force an eye for an eye?))))

((((We uphold righteousness, Daniel Travincal. If you have not uncovered so much from our past discussions, then we are very disappointed in you indeed.))))

((((Your sense of 'righteousness' is perverted!))))

((((It is also what our creators have taught us. We have never forgotten so much.))))

((((You and your creators... Don't you understand where it's taking you? Your war with the Protoss would just continue to escalate until the end of time--))))

((((Or until we triumph, you mean?))))

((((Or lose. I've seen the Protoss, both physically and mentally. They're incredibly strong and they will find a way to defeat you, to kill you--))))

((((The Overmind is eternal. So it was made by our creators.))))

((((You're full of yourself, oh Overmind...))))

((((And we have much reason to do so. We warn you, do not meddle in the affairs of other races, or you shall swiftly find your allies and friends wilting before your very senses.))))

((((Is that a threat?))))

((((In war, the existence of everything is a threat.))))

((((I despise you, Overmind, you who cannot even comprehend what the Protoss must have been thinking when they first encountered your kind, who does not have it within you to give the Protoss a clean start--))))

((((Do not think that we have not tried, Daniel Travincal. We have tried giving that race a tabula rasa countless times, but the Protoss have long ago taken an extreme dislike toward our kind.))))

((((Enough! I will not tolerate just standing aside and watching as you fight the Protoss into oblivion. I, having personally been rescued by the Protoss in space over Tarsonis, will not take your belligerence lightly.))))

((((Then we believe that we must make war with each other. As a credit to you, and in hopes that you will think over your decisions, we shall not actively pursue your fleet--))))

((((Just get out of my head, now!))))

((((We shall be judging you, Daniel Travincal, and we shall be finding you wanting. Ohh--interesting! --What is this?))))

Suddenly, a very powerful mental force thundered into Daniel's mind, contesting with it for control, access to his memories, trying to uncover into the depths of his mind. Within moments, his mind was numb with the incessant confrontations, and was crying out silently, pleading to be left alone. This was a presence even more formidable than that of Tealdarin's; this was planetary bombardment by comparison.

The Khaydarin Amulet that Daniel still bore around his neck turned a bright blue and glowed: warmly, softly, soothingly. Yet another entity entered his mind, also fighting back the Overmind's venturing threat, fighting alongside Daniel's own battered mind. As the fighting within continued, he flailed his body, his muscles spasming. The amulet's crystal grew hotter and hotter until it seemed to nearly sear the flesh on which it rested. It seemed as if the end were near.

Yet the Overmind, being, as it was, a formidable presence yet a stranger to his mind, could not grasp onto it. Unable to delve any further, and being thwarted by either Daniel or the dying psionic strands of the Khalai who had sacrificed herself at Salutation, the Overmind withdrew.

Immediately, Daniel regained control of himself, and felt his memories for any scarring. He was breathing heavily, knowing that something serious had happened, and was now wide awake. He opened his eyes and only then realized that he had been frowning during the entire engagement.

A figure, the face of a very attractive young lady, was peering down at him. Worry was written across her face; Daniel smiled grimly at the ease with which he could read her thoughts. Then again, Sarlena probably still had no ability to prevent others from looking into her mind.

"Forgive me, I had a bit of a trouble in my mind," Daniel stated wryly. It was more true than he had anticipated when he said it; the burden of responsibility over the past few weeks was wearing down on him.

Sarlena didn't budge.

"What's going on?" asked Sarlena, who was suspicious about what was going on. "You seem like you know something I don't."

"I should like to think that I know a Lot of things that you don't," replied Daniel nonchalantly. He had stared down far more acute threats of death back on Mar Sara, and now that he was fleet admiral, he didn't feel quite as alone or threatened. Besides, he was still in contact with his other self back on Korhal IV. "Such as the fact that the Zerg are going to be attacking only one hemisphere."

Sarlena looked at him suspiciously. "How?"

Just then Christopher came up to him breathlessly. "We're ready, Daniel sir." Sarlena raised her eyebrows.

"Good, let's activate it." Daniel watched through a security camera at the hundred mini-commanders arrayed in the great hall of the Hyperion, restless and fidgeting. Daniel wanted to smile, but found that he couldn't; his heart had become so hardened at all that had transpired lately, and deep inside, he wanted to weep at the effective loss of family, all those who, still being civilian, could no longer latch themselves emotionally to him. It was just him and his other self, as well as the plethora of subordinates he commanded. Saddened, he looked down for a moment.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Sarlena caught sight of the red dots starting to close in on the orb in the center of the hologram. "They don't look like they're going to be partial about what to attack," Sarlena observed correctly.

Daniel then turned to Sarlena. "I know, because we're about to turn on Operation Red Herring about now." He smiled wryly. "May providence be with us."