Chapter 1: The Drake. by Man in the shadows. Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Ranma ½ or Starcraft. Blizzard owns Starcraft. Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. God Bless these people. I'm also low on cash. Please don't sue. God bless these people's lawyers. I'll add other disclaimers at the end of the fic, if need be. ~ ~ These shall be used for telepathic communication. > < This is for thoughts. = = are for Transmissions. WARNING: Darkfic, Spoilers, Foul language, Adult situations, and Not just bloody, but gory! ********************************************************* Ranma meditated outside the cell. His blood red cloak was draped from his shoulders with the hood down and stray locks of hair hung in his face. He had become used to that since he severed his pigtail. His armor had been cleaned and he had a clean pair of black pants on. Inside the cell Akane was still catatonic. Kasumi was near by waiting for her sister to come out of it. She had to wear her combat medical suit. No one knew how long Akane would be lost to them. All that they could do was wait. At the moment, Ranma was thinking of the meeting they had attended an hour ago. *** Assembled around the table were the main officials of the Terran and Protoss fleet. Their main topic was simple. "Our most pressing concern at the moment is the Dominion fleet on our Tails," stated Raynor. "They're going to chase us down like dogs and I don't think they're going to let up." ~We are well aware of our present predicament,~ said Zeratul, ~Also we are aware that you people are in need of a rest after helping us leave Sal Cara.~ ~Part of our fleet shall go and do combat with the Dominion forces,~ said Avandar. ~I will personally lead it.~ "Okay, that just leaves the questions about Akane," Raynor said. "What did you do to her anyway, Ranma?" Ranma calmly looked over to the others. ~When I invaded her mind, I was looking for why she was acting so differently. The metamorphosis had rewritten entire pieces of her personality, but the important thing I found was her sense of morality had been almost completely severed from the rest of her mind. ~What I did was I reconnected that to the rest of her mind and forced her to remember all of the killing she had done as a Zerg. I don't think she could accept what she had done.~ ~So she sliped into that catatonic trance.~ Zeratul thought about that. ~Ranma, I would like you to monitor her in case she shows any signs of change.~ "That just leaves the question on what to do with Mengsk," growled Raynor. Ranma had an answer for that. ~I think we should just ignore that transmission.~ "Are you out of your mind," shouted Raynor. "He pretty much damned us all! It's about high time for a bit of payback." ~If we go after him, we'll become weaker and the Zerg will kick all our asses.~ "Okay... You got a point there," Raynor reluctantly conceded. "But Mengsk will get his." ********************************************************* Harry waited near Avandar's side as the fleet neared the Dominion task force. He had asked for this assignment because he wanted to be in the front line this time. The Zerg were evil, but the Dominion was ruthless in getting what they wanted. He had always known this and he intended to fight them along with his mentor. An image of the Dominion force, as seen by an Observer, was transmitted to the fleet and entered their minds. ~What the hell is that,~ asked Harry. At the front of the Dominion fleet was a huge ship, and a funnel like opening at the front was glowing with red energy. *** "The Cascade Dimensional Cannon is charged and ready sir," said a Officer at the tactical controls of the Drake. Kuno leaned foreword. "Let them know the full fury of the Dominion for their lies. Fire!" *** A large red beam shot out of the cannon hitting the center of the Protoss fleet. There a sphere of energy gathered, slowly growing in size. As it grew, is swallowed up ships, whole. Harry watched in horror as the energy swept across the bridge of Avandar's flagship. Quickly it enveloped him and his world became one of pure pain for a few moments. *** "Lord Kuno," called out a com officer. "The Drake is suffering overloads for the first blast." Kuno looked at the view screen and smiled. "It makes no matter. It seems our Emporer's new technical horror hath performed it's first test nicely. Look for a orbital platform where the Drake can set down for repairs and send my sister ahead to scout about." "Yes sir!" Again a grim smile came to Kuno's face as he turned to the view screen. Where once a proud Protoss fleet was, now stood nothing. No scraps of metal. No energy signatures. Not even a partical. It was all gone. ********************************************************* The Protoss and Terran fleets watched the weapon in horror. The energy swallowed up the ships. =As you can see, our new weapon, The Drake, makes the Dominion the superior power in the universe at large,= said Mengsk, during his public address. "Dear God," Raynor said in quiet shock. "What the hell was that?" "Armageddon," muttered Cologne. The sight terrified her. She didn't care who could see it. ~How is it possible,~ asked Zeratul in a bit of awe, on his ship. Ukyou looked absolutely defeated. "How can we fight something like that?" =We shall teach these upstarts to spread lies and discord with in the Dominion,= continued Mengsk. =And as you're Emperor-= Then their attention was grabbed by something else. "DAMN THEM!" All heads turned to Ryouga who was enveloped in a violent green aura. The rage was clear on his face. "They're going to pay for this!" The marine had sobered them all up. Raynor hit a switch and shut off Mengsk's address. "All right, I want the fleet readied for combat," called out Raynor. "We got to take that thing out now!" Zeratul came on a viewscreen. ~Raynor, our observers are picking up a small Dominion fleet headed towards us, and the Drake seems to be setting down for Repairs on an orbital platform. Perhaps we can send in a small task force while we keep the Dominion fleet busy.~ ~We want to be part of that taskforce.~ Raynor turned to see Ranma and Kasumi entering the bridge. ~Harry was one of the Nermia Wrecking crew. You got to let us have a crack at that fleet." "Okay," Raynor simply said. *** The Ghost stared at shock at the screen after Kasumi and Ranma had left the high security dentition center. He was shocked by the power that the Dominion had just demonstrated. Suddenly he realized something was very wrong. He turned about in time to get knocked out by a right uppercut. Quietly his assailant dragged him into the open cell. *** =This is Hellfire squadron. All weapons are armed and we're ready to move out.= ~All scouts accounted for.~ =Battle Cruiser Reaper is ready to move out.= ~The Regency's bays are full and we await your comand.~ ~The Fenris is ready for deployment.~ =This is Ryouga. All squads are ready.= Raynor listened to the reports come in. "Okay Wrecking Crew, you have permission to move out." The Fenris moved into position and cloaked the strike force before they started moving out. Then Raynor signaled a com officer to open a com signal to the rest of the fleet. "All ships, prepare for battle. We're going in after the Protoss get first crack. Let's do a decent job of cleaning up. ********************************************************* "Commander Kadochi," called out one of her bridge crew. "Protoss fleet headed straight for us!" A smile came to Kadochi's face. "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! Engage the enemy!" *** Zeratul watched as the Dominion fleet increased speed. A squadron of fighters made a beeline for the Tassadar, Zeratul's flagship. Their missiles were deployed and scored hits against his shields. The Escort Scouts moved foreword to intercept. Zeratul brushed psionic controls with his mind and the Interceptors left the Tassadar's bays, firing their proton guns. They were backed up by the interceptors of the other Carriers behind him. A few of the Dominion battle cruisers started charging up their Yamato Cannons. Several were stoped when Corsairs flew by, laying disruption webs. The ones that weren't effected fired their blasts knocking out shields and destroying Carriers. The Dominion Space stations started firing EMP missiles at the Protoss Cruisers. The Fleet's Arbiters took up position between the Protoss. Cloaking was useless thanks to the Dominion Space Stations, but they had a different job. They quickly opened up warp rifts and Raynor's ships started pouring through. The Valkaries let loose with massive volleys of HALO missiles. Raynor's Battle Cruisers let loose with a salvo of Yamato blasts, taking down several ships and Space Stations. Once more the Arbiters could cloak their fleet. Zeratul noticed, via Observers, that Dominion reinforcements were on their way. ********************************************************* The solders and Zelots in the Shuttle waited for the signal. They were geared up for a battle. And Ranma intended to lead them into one. Suddenly he detected the presence that shoulden't have been there. A buzzer went off and the door of the shuttle opened. Ranma turned his mind to the task at hand. ~Okay, Let's move out. Our primary concern is the Drake. Link up with Ryouga's squad, I have something I must do.~ Ranma started down the ramp and Kasumi put an armored hand on his shoulder. "Is everything all right?" ~Yes. I just have to deal with a problem. I'll be okay.~ On that note he cloaked. Quickly he moved away from the squad while they moved toward Ryouga's squad and the Shuttle took off the encampment. ~You can come out now.~ Akane uncloaked. ~So how did you get out of that cell?~ "I used to be a Ghost, remember," she asked with a half-hearted smile. ~So what now?~ "Ranma, I know I've got a lot to make up for, and you know Saffron is probably guarding the Drake," she said with a shaky voice. "It'll take both of us to deal with him." Ranma let out a sigh. ~Okay. Let's get moving.~ ********************************************************* "Gather up your gear and let's move out," called out Ryouga. He had some of the best Zelots and Marines with his squad. He intended to use them to help him gain revenge for the fallen Fleet. But still, he knew how dangerous the mission was. The only thing he was glad about was that Peppermint agreed to stay with Ukyou. "What medic Girl doing here," asked Shampoo. Ryouga turned to see Ranma's squad coming over. "What are you guys doing?" ~Ranma told us to join your squad,~ replied a Zealot. ~He has something to deal with.~ "It better be Damn well worth it." ********************************************************* =Form up, Hellfires. We're going in to draw attention, so try and not get killed.= "Copy, Ladybird," said Mousse as he took the safeties off his missiles. Quickly he accelerated to attack speed. *** "Lord Kuno, incoming Rebel ships," shouted a Com officer on board the Heavenly Wrath. "Those base curs! They're after the Drake. Deploy all ships near the Drake! Show them the Wrath of the just!" "We're about to engage the Rebels." *** The Wraiths of Hellfire Squadron dove towards the Dominion Space Stations and started firing missiles. It was like hitting rice paper. Scouts and Valkaries intercepted The Dominion fighters and let loose. The Corsairs started knocking out Missile turret emplacements. Ukyou watched it all from the deck of the Reaper. Then she saw it. "The Heavenly Wrath! Prepare the Yamato Cannon and bring us about now!" The Heavenly Wrath let loose an seemingly impossible salvo of laser cannon blasts leaving a large line of damage below the bridge. Console and panels blew up all about the place. A panel pinned Ukyou to the ground. ********************************************************* Ryouga and his large group moved through the battle field and did their best to keep a low profile. When the Dominion line came to view, Ryouga rushed foreword letting lose a Shi Shi Hokudan at a bunker. It blasted a hole in the side. Ryouga continued his charge and drew his umbrella. The Zelots and Shampoo joined him in the reckless charge. The Dominion troops saw the charge and started evacuating the Bunker, but Ryouga's group got their first and started tearing the Troops apart. Kasumi and the other Marines joined Ryouga's group as fire from the air forces started hitting the ground about them. Quickly they took cover using the wreckage of the Dominion emplacements. ********************************************************* Ranma and Akane moved through the chaos. For the most part, they were unhindered. This especially bothered them because they were passed over by a Science Station. Then they crossed over a ridge and saw why. Before them stood the massive Drake. But the more pressing concern was the winged man holding the Kinjakan and the Gekkaja. Saffron seemd to have a certain gleam in his eyes. He brought up the weapons. In response Ranma ignited his Chi'/Psi Warp Blades and Akane started channeling her Chi'. A grin broke across Saffron's face and he extended the Gekkaja before firing a blast of ice. Ramna leapt high over it while Akane got hit full force by the blast, leaving her in block of ice. Ranma landed behind Safrron and the winged warrior spun about to face him. Suddenly Akane blew her icy prison apart with a tremendous blast of chi', sending icy shards into Saffron's back. A few shards bounced off Ranma's shields. Saffron cried out in pain and Ranma leapt foreword, using the Kachuu TenshinAmaguriken with his blades. Several blade strikes hit Saffron's chest. Saffron cried out in pain. Akane hit his behind with a powerful punched fueled with chi'. Saffron kicked her away and swung the Kinjakan down at Ranma. Ranma crossed both of his blades before him and managed to block the magical blade. Saffron just grinned and before Ranma's eyes, Saffron's wounds healed. ********************************************************* Peppermint pulled as hard as she could and threw the panel off Ukyou. Ukyou gave her a nod of thanks as Peppermint helped her to her feet. "Help me to the weapons counsels," She said to peppermint. It was clear the ship was pretty much crippled and people were leaving the Reaper as quickly as they could. But Ukyou wasn't going to give up. When they got to the Weapons Display, Ukyou had the dead man at the controls pushed out of the chair. She sat down and brought up the targeting displays, the working guns, and the Yamato Cannon. She looked up at her display and saw the Dominion command center on the ground. Kuno would likely be on the Heavenly Wrath. But still, a direct hit on the command center would give his forces a lot of confusion. She powered up the Yamato Cannon. ********************************************************* "My Lord, We're detecting a power increase in the Rebel taskforce's flagship. They're powering up the Yamato Cannon!" Kuno's rage increased tenfold. "Fire the main guns. We shall teach those curs to defy the Dominion!" As the Reaper fired at the Commandcenter, the Heavenly Wrath fired another salvo of shots at it's port. The ship started to slowly fall to the ground. "Sir, the commandcenter has sustained heavy damage," called out a com officer. "Even worse, the Com-sat has found a large group of Zerg headed this way!" "Is the CDC of the Drake ready?" "Yes sir." A smile graced Kuno's grim visage. "Then let's cow these rebels and rid us of yonder Zerg in one blow. Target the Zerg and fire." ********************************************************* Saffron slashed before him with the Gekkaja and Akane jumped back. Ranma leapt at Saffron's back, lashing out with both Psi/Chi' Warp blades. Saffron backed off and then leapt back at Ranma, sweeping out with the Kinjakan. Ranma took a gamble, and blocked with weapon with his crossed Psi/chi' warp blades. He had expected Akane to exploit the opening that this left, but She was frozen in place. Saffron cast a cold blast from the Gekkaja and Ranma barely leapt over it. ~Akane, what's wrong?~ ~They're here,~ she said softly. ~Who?~ ~The Zerg...~ Suddenly she took off running. ~Akane, wait-~ Ranma quickly ducked as the Kinjkan swept over his head. Then Ranma leapt straight up, using his chi' to boost the jump. Saffron spread his wings and took off after the Human Dark Templar. He held out the Gekkaja and cast foreword a blast of pure cold. Ranma quickly put a good deal of his chi' into a blazing Aura. The blast hit him and sent him a bit higher up. Ice crystals formed on his armor and body, and he could feel the biting cold. Then Ranma was clear of the blast. He quickly delivered a kick to Saffron's face. Saffron took the blow in stride and responded with a kick to Ranma's bare abbs. Ranma's shields absorbed the blow. Ranma held out a hand and fired off a Moko Takashiba at point blank range. *** Akane kept running as hard as she could. In the back of her mind she could hear the howls of the people whom she had murdered. She did her best to ignore them. The Zerg wanted the Drake. Akane had to get there immediately. ********************************************************* "The Drake's CDC is at half charge, my Lord." Kuno looked at the screen and smiled. "Excellent." ********************************************************* The Zellots began another charge. Ryouga and Shampoo went with them. To the two marines, it somehow felt more fitting to fight hand to hand then to fight with guns. Ryouga took a second to look up at the sky and saw the Reaper crashing towards the orbital platform. In his min he could only think of Peppermint on the ship. "Everyone, head for the Reaper, now!" The others gave him confusing looks. ~We have to destroy the Drake.~ Then Kasumi pointed to their flank. =Zerg!= Sure enough a large group of Zerg was headed their way. "Head for the Reaper, we can pick up the survivors, take cover, and let the Zerg take on the Dominion." Ryouga turned to who seemed like the spokesman of the Zelots. "Is that okay with you?" ~It is adequate.~ ********************************************************* Mousse knew the squad was getting pounded. The flack outside his fighter was intolerable. Suddenly a sort of a spike sounded in his mind. Mousse got his fighter to dodge to the side and a Scrouge went by. Mousse quickly blasted it. "Can it get any worse?" The Drake chose that moment to fire. The blast cut across the platform heading for the Zerg hives. They were quickly enveloped in a large blast. ********************************************************* "Prepare another blast," called out Kuno to his men. "The battle and the war is ours. Let's end these foul curs with our might!" All his people let out a cheer, and the com officer gave the order to the Drake. The only one to remain silent was Kuno's personal ninja servant. ********************************************************* A blast took out a good part of the hull of the Reaper and left a large smoking hole. Ryouga and his squad got closer and started helping the people evacuate. As Ukyou was carried out Ryouga went over to a weakened Peppermint. "Are you okay?" Peppermint gave off a weak nod and Ryouga felt a wave of relief. He turned on his com. "Okay, we need the shuttles to come and get us. We can't complete the mission and we need evac now!" ********************************************************* Ranma moved as fast as he could, along the platform. Saffron was getting closer and was pissed off from the Moko Takashiba to the face. Ranma raised a Psi/Chi' blade to ward off a blow from Saffron and took a kick at Saffron's chest, while he ran. Saffron responded by slashing Ranma's right bicept with the Kinjkan, cauterizing the wound with it's extreme heat. Ranma leapt and kicked off a signal dish for a bit more height. Saffron flew after him and attacked with a flurry of blows. Ranma used the Amaguriken to block the blows and respond with a few of his own. Ahead Ranma could see Akane fighting her way past the Zerg and the Dominion in her attempt to reach the Drake. ~Akane, what are you doing?~ ~I have to stop it, Ranma...~ In her head the howls became roars and she kept tearing her way through her foes. Her augmented chi' was creating a blazing aura. ~I can't set it all right, but I can stop this.~ She broke past the lines and started jumping about the structure on her way to the CDC on the deck of the Drake, where a huge amount of energy was gathering. ~Tell Kasumi I'm sorry.~ ~AKANE, DON'T-~ Ranma didn't see the haft of the Gekkaja before it impacted with his forehead. He fell to the ground in a woozy Daze. Akane started welling up all her energy. The blaze of her aura was only surpassed by the Energy welling at the CDC. Akane kept getting closer. >I'm sorry.< On that note, she leapt into the energy of the CDC. Her energy caused a large imbalance in the crystals used to focus the power of the Cascade Dimensional Cannon, causing a severe malfunction. In other words, she screwed up the works causing the CDC to blow up in a massive explosion. The blast killed most of the standing Dominion troops and Zerg in the area. ********************************************************* The combined Terran and Protoss fighters started letting out a cheer of victory. It had been hard, but they had won the day. >We have a problem,< came the mindtouch of a Templar. >We are cut off from the rest of the fleet. We'll have to land on the planet's surface and hold up there for as long as possible.< Ryouga let out a sigh from where he sat. "Will it ever end?" In his arms Peppermint let off a contented sigh in her sleep electing a small smile from Ryouga. ********************************************************* Kuno oversaw the sifting through the ruined Orbital platform. He had to finish this quickly so he could take on the remaining forces on the planet. But he had plans for the armor his men were pulling out of the ruins. Kuno picked up a Protoss Psi' blade Gauntlet and looked at it thoughtfully. >With the prisoner's armor as a general template, I can form one of my own from these scraps. Then all the Dominion shalt see the Emperors finest warrior fighting at his finest.< ********************************************************* Author's notes: Thank goodness that I finally got this one out. Also I'd like to thank the fine soundtracks from StarWars: the Phantom Menace and Mortal Kombat: the motion picture, for getting me in the mood and influencing my writing. Harry is gone. Avandar is gone. Akane is gone. And now the Wrecking Crew is cut off from everyone else. What insidious plot does Kuno have hatching? Where is Ranma? What comes next? All these questions and more will be answered in the next chapter.