A Ghost Story - Starcraft FanFic

Chapter 1

Lt. Sharon Vesper whispered another hurried prayer as the dropship pilot executed another sharp, shallow bank a mere 3 metres off the surface.

"Hang on, we're in for some chop!" came the tinny, slightly breathless exclamation through Vesper's communication gear. 

"That's the same thing you said 30 seconds out of HQ, you hydrogen-fuel-for-brains-throttle-jockey," the Ghost lieutenant muttered darkly.

Lt. Vesper wasn't supposed to be afraid of anything, which was one of the reasons she progressed through the Ghost specialist recon training in record time. 

However, flying in one of these sardine cans with their oversized engines and without any cloaking devices did make her distinctly unsettled. While the United Earth Directorate touted the speed and durability of their dropships, she remembered hearing stories about dropships being easy prey for the Zerg Hydralisks.

"And here we are deep in Zerg territory," Vesper sighed.

She thought back to the mission briefing given by Regional Commander Fisher. The RC finally had things under control at HQ. But increases in Zerg incursions pointed to a possible alien establishment 55 klicks east. Data was sketchy, but Intel pointed to the possibility of mineral deposits in that direction.

"At this time Lieutenant, I will not waste manpower for a troop offensive into a blind spot. The techies at the science facility said that a science vessel wouldn't come online for a week. In a week those blasted Zerg could be at our throats. You have your Intel package, you will be shuttled in, scout the area and report back so I can know what we're dealing with Lieutenant!" the RC barked at her.

Fisher wasn't a bad commander Vesper mused, but she'd heard the scuttlebutt. The constant attacks by the Zerg were stretching resources pretty thin and the mineral deposits to the east possibly provided a better defensive position. The mission info supported the scuttlebutt and added little else.

She was brought back to the present by the roar of engines as the shuttle jockey executed a textbook hover in hostile territory with a bit more enthusiasm than needed. 

Vesper activated her stealth capabilities just before exiting the drop ship's hatch in a combat roll, coming up with weapon at the ready. Sharon resisted the urge to lockdown the craft in irritation. Her combat armour issued a beep as it registered an above normal level in her aggression inhibitors.

Using the swirling dust churned up by the vertical thrusters of the dropship as additional but unnecessary cover, the Ghost sprinted across the dry, cracked earth towards the ridgeline. 

Free of the confines of the lurching troop transport, weapon in hand and wrapped in the relative safety of her adaptive stealth armour, Vesper couldn't help a wolfish grin. She hoped that this mission would give her the opportunity to call in for her first tactical strike. Little did the Zerg know that somebody had called an exterminator, and they'll never know what hit 'em.