A Ghost Story - Starcraft FanFic

Chapter 5

Sharon's chem-fueled body allowed her to reach the base of the ridge with 3 seconds to spare. 

Regardless of the decent time she made, she still had to wait for the Overload closest to her position to move, thereby offering the window of opportunity. She disregarded the fact that this wait meant that she would be detected still in the progress of calling the nuke. She knew that she was dead for sure and the loving embrace of Zerglings would probably only be delayed by the time it would take for the little buggers to get to her.

Patting her C-10 Canister rifle, the Ghost knew that she would turn a few heads in the afterlife in her stunning new Zerg-skin boots with matching pants and bomber-styled jacket, 'cause she already determined that she would take as many as possible with her from this mortal coil when they came.

As she sprinted into position at the crest of the ridge, Sharon's armour announced that a nuclear missile was ready.

Dialing up her ocular implants Sharon sighted on the Zerg hatchery and was rewarded with the crimson glow of the laser beacon on the side of the organic structure. The Zerglings at the choke point continued to cavort unawares as they thought Zerg thoughts. 

Mere metres beyond the hatchery the drones continued to shuttle back and forth with their loads of precious resources. Despite their numbers and alien efficiency, the worker Zerg were yet to make a dent in the mountainous pile of minerals.

"Never know what hit 'em!"

Sharon whispered grimly as her still surly AI grudgingly informed her of the launch of the missile which would usher the dozens of alien creatures into whatever passed for their version of the afterlife.

Not trusting her bitch of an AI, Sharon had kept a running count of the time until the window in the Overload patrol closed. Three seconds before the crimson laser beacon for the tactical strike disappeared she would be spotted. The Ghost laughed grimly to herself knowing that the Zerg were too late to stop her.

With only a couple of seconds reminding Sharon decided to de-cloak. With two Overlords overhead she knew that she would be rendered effectively naked.. She flicked her eyes to the ammo indicator on her rifle and thumbed the switch on the cloaking generator.

Without warning the Overlord closest to Sharon released an unearthly screech as several air-to-air missiles erupted out of the ether. Split seconds later the rippling and faint outlines of a half dozen Wraith fighters was preceded by another flight of missiles appeared overhead, the proximity of the Zerg detectors disrupting the cloaking field.

Sharon suppressed a cheer as the targeted behemoth burst under the barrage and its fellow Overlord turned for the perceived safety of its base. A parting flight of missiles caused the fleeing behemoth to shudder under their impact, but weren't enough to destroy it. Sharon knew that the odds of her survival had skyrocketed much like the departing Wraiths that delivered her salvation. Just as she knew that six space-jockeys would be getting a case of the finest Old Terra rum.

Below the ridge the departure of the Wraiths and the demise of the Overlord caused the massed Zerg forces burrowed beneath the cracked earth to boil forth. Only moments before the nuclear missile impacted on top of the primary Zerg structure with the wrath of a vengeful deity.

The cries of the aliens bugs was chopped off and outdone by the thunderous detonation as the Zerg units turned to steam. The organic buildings of the Zerg ruptured and bled like a collection of gaping chest wounds and severed limbs as the shockwave raced outwards.

Moments later dropships deposited dozens of marines with siege tank and goliath support amongst the still hemorrhaging Zerg buildings. A sweeper team consisting of 8 marines, 2 Firebats and 2 medics found Sharon with her back to an outcropping laughing uproariously.

"Need medical attention?" the Medic queried as her brown eyes shone through.

"That grizzled, old Firebat was right! Roasted Zerg do smell like turkey!" Sharon managed to get out before dissolving into another fit of laughter.