I stood atop the completed wall, gazing outward with Fernando and Nova by my side. It wasn’t very large, only twice as high as a Marine in armor, but it would stop most of the Terran element from scaling it normally. It would even halt a regular Zergling rush to a degree.

I knew that the Terran element would have other factors, as would any other form of assault. Which was why we were making plans for a Missile Turret screen placed at overlapping intervals along the wall as well. I hoped that it would provide enough air cover to buy my future air forces time to react.

With Swann at the helm, finding upgraded versions of each stationary defensive structure, I had no doubt it would work though. “Swann has a few schematics I’ll be having my second in command, Janus, push forward while we are gone, Sir. I have a feeling automated ground turrets will be needed if the Zerg ever make it to us.”

I nodded at that, looking at the man in question. Janus had been a new addition that came with the last batch of Civilians. Apparently, he was Fernando’s star pupil as well. Taking to a soldiers life like a fish to water. Young in appearance with short brown hair shaved close to his scalp and chocolate brown eyes.

“I’ll leave it in his hands then, Fernando. Do you have everyone gathered for when we leave tonight?”

I was speaking about the Campaign Map, of course. It was the seventh day and I had learned what hidden objectives I could over the course of this week, all while forging ahead with multiple projects. The reward for upgrading my SCV tools was a true treasure as well. Everything they built was done at almost half the time now. The prime reason for the wall being built so quickly.

Our Automated Refineries were up and running, and Swann had come with the knowledge to build prototype Mules that helped increase our Mineral harvest. For once, base resources were not a huge issue. Being the cynical man this place was turning, me into however, I questioned when it would all go to shit.

“Damian, do not forget the trade request we received.” Nova reminded me of the annoyance that had popped up two days ago. One of my closer neighbors, a member of the Trade Enclave within the Confederacy had approached me. Magistrate Ryles, a pompous and boring man who felt more entitled than he actually was.

He had offered a large amount of food for both Marine armor and SCV Riggs. I had no doubt the pompous little ass had learned that I was making stronger, larger, versions of the SCV Riggs through that one woman, I never bothered remembering her name, during the Ball we attended. The fact I had ready access to Marine armor should have remained a secret though. Him knowing that was a small issue I knew would bite me in the ass somehow. The Confederacy did not enjoy its minor Nobles having a Military force above a set number. I had no doubt I was well and truly past that point. Militia were different, of course.

“Janus.” He came to attention when I said his name. “You’re allowed to trade only five SCV Riggs, make sure Swann takes away all the increased abilities ours has and reset them to their standard faculty settings. Do not trade Marine armor though, state that what we have is the sum total of our available stores and that they are all required to keep us safe.”

“Sir!” was his reply. Good, that should buy us some time while I rushed through these Campaigns. I was personally hoping for some form of air Unit schematic, a Viking would be optimal, or a Wraith. I doubted I’d get lucky enough for a Battlecruiser.

I still had to choose a specialization for Swann as well. Apparently without that the bonus to Unique Units I figured he would have naturally wouldn’t be possible. Frustrating as all hell as well. At least he was making progress on Jim’s Vulcher. Apparently, it had an increased firing capacity for its weaponry and a larger Spider Mine storage unit. We were also beginning to manufacture Spider Mines, thanks to the Vulcher having a few in it that Swann could reproduce. I had plans to have hundreds of them placed all around the outside of the wall, and set them to dormant, able to be activated at a flip of the switch if we came under siege.

I’d had time to check the Royal Guard Units as well, at least to a degree. The Lance Rifle was rather interesting. It was roughly a third of the size larger than normal rifles with an elongated bayonet on the bottom that allowed for a semi-melee weapon when needed. Their skills were simple, except for the 360 defense. It was set that anything within five feet of the Guard was able to be stopped. There would be a one second delay between one action or another, but in a large enough group, each Guard watching the others back...I could certainly see how dangerous and impenetrable that form of defense could be.

As far as the specialization for them went, it added a new skill and keyed their gear toward that value. Only being able to specialize two at the moment made it fairly simple for me. I made one an attack specialist. He obtained a Gauss Rifle that acted as mobile artillery. This thing put Fernando's own version to shame in sheer size as well, how the man carried it had to do with his armor somehow. Other than that the big weapon acted almost like a mace in melee combat and he wielded it with practical abandon.

Trenton I specialized in Defense. It lowered the delay between actions when actively using ‘360 Defensive Stance’ to a point five second delay. Controlled also gained a bonus, the main apparently would no longer lose his concentration when in the thick of battle, regardless of foe. Fernando wasn’t allowing Trenton to leave my side, ever, thanks to that. The main change was his armor though, it gained thicker plating in the shoulders, forearms, and shins. Each prime points, though it subtly changed shape to be more streamlined, as opposed to the blocky nature of a Marines armor. The shield he bore become something more like a Tower Shield, standing as tall as he was in the armor, even gaining spikes. Swann and Caspian were demanding Trenton turn over his gear once we were finished to incorporate aspects into our mass produced version of the armor already as well.

I still questioned exactly how the System handled the sudden changes that had no founding. No matter how I asked over the last few days though, it’s answer had always been ‘Secrets are meant to stay secret’. That just added a shit ton of new questions, honestly.

The only other good thing that happened over these last few days was the simple fact that I have begun to adapt to my situation. Things had slowed down enough for me to adjust more, rather than move from one idiotic problem to the next, or something trying to eat me anyway. That would change shortly though. I was excited to see Jim Raynor again though, hehe.

The team this time was Nova and Fernando, naturally. The two Ghosts were Stone and Pierce. They had simply shown up at the Adjutant room, silent as a...well, Ghost. I was a little worried about what Fernando might be subjecting them too with his prejudice against the Ghosts as a whole, but nothing has been reported and I haven’t noticed anything other than they were getting quieter. Nova had even taken the time to tell me it was nothing to be concerned about, which naturally meant I should be. When we got back I’d figure it out.

All four Imperial Guard Marines were joining us, I needed to remember that was their actual classification. Trenton had become the de facto leader of the unit. I knew the others names but they tended to just follow orders silently. I was beginning to see a trend in Fernando’s training there.

Two Medics, Dr. Green being one of them, to the dismay of everyone. Andy was returning as our second Medic, and apparently had become my personal doctor. Thank you for small favors, she was MUCH better for a physical, primarily because she didn’t suck the very will to live out of your body after three minutes.

Granit was joining us again as well, followed by one of the Marauders he had been training. We had a very powerful little force moving into these missions, which was the best I could do at this time. Eventually, I had no doubt I’d need air Units, and vehicles for the future Maps. Hopefully, I’d be ok as I was for now, at least until I could produce them safely and had a higher Commander level.

Welcome Commander! You have a Campaign Mission available.

Back Water Station

Destroy all Infested Units and Structures Keep Jim raynor Alive

Bonus/Hidden Objectives

Obtain an Infested Terran Corpse for study. Ensure Jim Raynor's Marines get at least twenty kills each. Locate Confederate Data within the Infested Command Center without losing any Units. Unknown Unknown

Well, fuck a duck. Infested Terran? This was probably going to be incredibly difficult, more so with the fucking difficulty modifier I had.

Attention Player! Due to your difficulty modifier, you have a time limit of two days to complete every objective. Further advised, Infested Terrans will increase in number at night and assault any position you hold without mercy.

That was an awfully large amount of time for a Campaign Map. I narrowed my eyes at the message before clicking yes. The Missions were going to only increase in difficulty. At least I was armored and had the completed version of my Mark V now. I’d be able to actively kill the Zerg this time.

The light enveloped us, a split second later landing us in the middle of what I can only describe as a cluster fuck. I heard a voice, loud and with a distinct country drawl, shouting orders over the sounds of gunfire and screeching madness I knew to be Zerg. “Cover that right flank! You, get that ammo to the left! Move move move! Our asses are on the line here!”

Jim Raynor stood atop a wall, decked out in Marine armor while shooting wildly at whatever was below him. Marines ran all over trying to follow his orders and stay alive as well. The fact it seemed to be night around us told me what was happening, and explained why I thought I saw the distinct flash of return fire coming from the other side of that wall.

“Fernando! Get Granit and his counterpart on that fucking wall and unload hell on anything that moves. Expect to see Marines down there, Boys. Don’t let that stop you, their already dead. Nova, Pierce, Stone, I need you to take the left flank where they are having ammo trouble. Take a few flash bangs with you, these fuckers won’t like that bright light. Trenton, you’re on me. We’re going to the right and holding that line.”

They snapped to attention and went about carrying out their orders. I was a bit concerned about how they would react when they saw the Infested Terrans, this bloody places version of Zombies, but it wouldn’t matter in the end. I needed them to adapt to this living hell as much as they could. Nova and the Ghosts should be fine, I know that the Marauders will unleash mass destruction on the Infested with their rapid fire grenades. They already were, judging from the sudden increase in explosions.

I’d made it to the right flank, dodging a few screaming and fleeing Marines. I saw the reason why shortly after the last one bum rushed past me as well. A shambling, moaning, monstrocity had climbed over the wall, decked out in Terran Marine armor and a mass of zerg goo covering its face. Tentacle like protrusions were all over his face, shooting out from within his armor where it could escape. It saw us, then let loose a roar that should never have come from a human mouth, and began charging us in a mad frenzy.

I felt my eyes widen, and was about to raise my weapon to fire when Trenton stepped between me and the oncoming creature, ramming his bayonet into the things skull, and throwing it to the side. The Other Imperial Guard moved to stand beside him, shields raised while shouting out “Hold!”

The reason for that? Five more Infested had clamored over the wall and were rushing us. Shit! I started screaming for the fleeing Marines to come back to the wall, to hold the line. In the process, I bumped headfirst into my Medics, Green and Andy. “Wha...Get back! Go help any wounded! You, Marine! Get your ass’s back to that wall and hold that fucking line!”

I saw only two of the seven or so Marines pause long enough to look back. I didn’t really blame them for wanting to run away, but actually acting on the impulse was something I blamed them for. “All of you, back on that mother fucking wall! We are going to hold that wall and kill those Infested fuckers before anyone else can die to them!”

I screamed the last, and had no choice but to ignore them and hope they did what they were meant to do, because my Imperial Guard were beginning to get pushed back. I brought up my weapon and began firing into the Infested that were steadily increasing in number. Thankfully they were focused entirely on my men while I put round after round into them.

“Open fire Trenton! Kelper, fall back three steps and start raining down death!” Kelper, the Attack specialized Imperial Guard fell out of the defensive line without issue and hooked his weapon over his shield at a slightly upward angle before a massive ‘BOOM’ could be heard. The growing number of infest on the wall were suddenly decimated, blown all over the place as the makeshift artillery he carried hit home in the center mass of their number.

“Forward! Move toward that wall, put a round into any Infested on the ground, head shots only! I don’t want them getting back up!” We made our way forward at a brisk trot, Kelper was moving at a slower pace, stopping to unload another round at the wall when the Infested numbers grew there.

Halfway to the wall itself, I began hearing other gunfire, I took the moment to look behind us to see the Marines that had originally been fleeing gathering up. Only three of them, but the others were realizing the wall was being retaken and joining up. They must had heard me, or just wanted to shoot the Infested, because they were putting rounds into the fallen Infested that were blown into the base from Kelper’s rounds as well.

When we got on the wall, I called for Kelper to hurry up. What I saw out there was an almost endless wave of Infested that made me question just how the fuck the System populated that and felt it was fair. “Sweet Jesus…” I heard Trenton whisper as he looked at the wriggling throng of the Infested Terrans. I could only really agree with him, thankful I’d taken a few flashbangs with me as well.

“We are going to hold this line until dawn, men. Dig in, keep them off this fucking wall and then find Raynor to discuss finding the source out there.” I only hoped we would actually survive the early morning pre-dawn. Because what was shambling, running, and crawling its way toward us was worse than anything we might face just fighting the Zerg themselves.