Galactic Dawn: Running Story of the Starcraft&Metroid Campaign, 2006.

Log 9: History Blips

Laharl played easily with the small flask of curiously viscous liquid which the team had just liberated from the circus on Antiga Prime. If it was in fact the secret sauce that the archiving system had said (Tam and Jargenduv had decided together that there was a two-thirds chance of any one of the flasks containing the sauce, and Laharl had stashed eighteen to be on the safe side), then they would be nearly three-quarters complete with the odd requirements of a mad genius. What the bubbles this Dandân had advertised actually were, none of them knew. What the team had heard was that Dandân could procure or craft deregulated lockdown rounds for their canister rifles, and at the memory of their effect, Laharl grew mildly anxious about the flask. Back and forth

The team made their way back to Moria to relax for a few weeks before setting off on another mission. Elric was frustrated that they had to let her father's trail grow even colder, but agreed that the team needed time to recover. T'Aiur decided that on future missions, the team should be able to more completely define the mission parameters, and developed advertisements to post around town and in further out cities on Moria. While posting a flier in a busy bistro near homebase, T'Aiur overheard a GNN newscast.

"...showing that the movements are certainly a large protoss fleet. The prelate Zeratul is believed to be behind the fleet movement, and while unavailable for questioning, has before demonstrated hierophantic interests with regards to macrosociety. As you go to Braxis, Zeratul, we go with you. The planet of Braxis, formerly known as Kyrad-"

T'Aiur left with this news back to base, where he meditated on it for awhile. What could be so dangerous as to motivate the Protoss fleet? And how could this threat be as far out as Braxis, a comparative backwater to the Koprulu sector?

Back at the base, Tam took an incoming communiqué from an informed stranger:

Mevious: Greetings, my name is Mevious Vladeck, and I would like to hire your team for a mission.
Tam: I see. What is the mission?
Mevious: Straight to the point, hm? I would like a little chat first instead to see if you know what I think you should.
Tam: Then you're lucky you caught me at a time where I would appreciate a brief chat. By all means...
Mevious: You see, I, in my younger days, would hunt beasts for sport. I shall have to let you look at my collection. In these days, however, I can no longer rely on my own hands to steady the rifle, and I find the personal use of heavier equipment to be unsportsmanlike.
Tam: I've never been hunting myself.
Mevious: I think that you have, though you do not know it. There is someone who works for you, however, who does know it. Her name keeps coming up on the registry, usually next to some difficult to harvest remains of a small zerg hoard or nameless abomination. I doubt that any hunter could bring it all down on her own, much less in the amount of time I estimated.
Tam: You heard about us because of the hunter registry that Elric keeps visiting after missions?
Mevious: Precisely, and that's when I heard about the rest of your team as well. I could use mercenaries, you understand.
Tam: I don't follow.
Mevious: It is considered perfectly sporting to hire other hunters, especially when, as mine is, the body is failing. I want to hire your team to hunt a beast.
Tam: I see. Naturally I'll have to discuss this with the others. I'll let you know now that it may be awhile before we can get back to you. We're kindof between things at the moment.
Mevious: No problem at all, Alexander Tam. A hunter with no patience is no hunter at all.
Tam: That's doct--he hung up. Pfeh.

Tam set back to cataloging when the communicator lit up once again.

Tam: What is it now?
West: I thought you were expecting my call. Is this a bad time?
Tam: Huh, oh, no no. I thought you were...forget it. What can I do for you, doctor?
West: I have another job for you, somewhat related to the last time where I sent you delving that decrepit disruptor facility.
Tam: I'm sure you wouldn't ask anything that's beyond us, do go on.
West: For security reasons, I would like to relate the specifics to you in person. Come see me as soon as you can. West out.

Tam rallied the team and told them of Dr. West's request. Although none expressed displeasure at the news, there was a feeling of anxiety about the team whenever the name was spoken and heard. Dr. West's intentions were unclear, but his effect was powerful. After another few days, the team had fully recovered and embarked to Korhal to meet with Dr. West and learn of this new mission.

West: Good to see you again. There is much to discuss. I trust you are whole?
Tam: Body and mind. We had a brief encounter with some ring runners, but nothing substantial or worth telling about.
West: I see...in that case...

Dr. West explained that their new mission would involve recovering a small vial and transporting it to a man on Shakuras named Dr. Banity. It sounded tame in comparison with what they had done before.

West: Very good. First you should find the vial. For security purposes, it is guarded by a warrior-construct.
Tam: Simply burying it wasn't enough, eh? Alright. Let's go.

The team left in their ship and followed the path West had charted through the low skies of Korhal. Tam noticed that they were fast approaching regulated space and would have to continue for the last ten miles or so on foot. On a planet where the bureaucracy generally fails to extend as far as the outer reaches, a remote region such as this that remains actively regulated was done so for a reason. They marched and kept their eyes out for trouble.

Jargenduv: I think I understand why this area is "regulated."
Tam: And why is that?
Jargenduv: My readings show massive levels of graviton interference. There's no way that the ship could have stayed up.
Tam: Buried in a place you can't fly to, eh? Exactly how dangerous is this thing we're after?
T'Aiur: With West, there's no way of knowing. Does this interference have any other consequences for us?
Jargenduv: I'm not sure. The major thing is the flying but there could be other effects too. The area has a kind of trans-temporal dampening, but the only thing that would do to us is damage the operation of that stasis cell we have on board.
Tam: Oh. That's still in the cargo hold, isn't it? Huh.

Before long, the team spotted danger ahead in the form of a sand monster. Laharl had heard of similar antlions on other planets, and devised a plan to assassinate this one. Without its notice, Laharl, T'Aiur, and Moltar surrounded it, cloaked. Moltar steadied a shot while Laharl and T'Aiur sprinted from either direction to smash it with their blades. As they did, Moltar loosed the shot and blasted the waiting predator. Their delta strike finished the beast in a single blow.

Elric: That was impressive.
Moltar: All a matter of timing. We may use this technique again.
Tam: Remind me to stay on your good side.
Laharl: Hah hah, worry not. You would have to become a potent threat before that happened.
T'Aiur: Or the next time you set the ship down roughly. That really irritates me.

The team marched on through the evening sands of the far dunes of Korhal. Jargenduv noticed that Elric looked worn.

Jargenduv: Yuki, what is it.
Elric: I don't know...I guess...my suit...isn't as good in the heat...as all of yours.
Jargenduv: We're almost there and the sun will set in about an hour. Don't die or else I'll have to turn you into tasty jerky for later.
Elric: I'd swat you...if I had...the strength right now.
Tam: Hold. It says we've arrived.

A raised area stood apart from the rest of the sand, impossibly square among the shapeless desert. The team slowly approached, having been warned of the guardian. After a moment, a grinding sound bellowed from beneath the structure, and from below emerged a bipedal mass of flailing metallic whips. The creature stood in the evening light, showing a humanoid figure perverted by sheets of steel and wires. Amidst the hodgepodge of the construct, there sat a human head as the apparent pilot. One all too familiar.

Elric, having before proved her mettle in situations where stern terrans would have faltered, fainted.

The team began by assaulting the chimera as the antlion before it. This time, the chimera was prepared for the trick, and ensnared Laharl and T'Aiur before they could strike. Moltar kept his distance and opened fire. Jargenduv lit the metallic frame with fiery bursts that seemed to be more damaging than the other strikes. The metallic whips became electrified, sizzling the ensnared protoss. Tam distracted the construct enough for it to release T'Aiur by hurling him into the distance. Laharl cut himself down and slashed at the chimera, which seemed to be able to see him without difficulty. Jargenduv and Moltar aimed their shots and let loose. The chimera reeled and then stood trembling from within, thereupon exploding in a burst of flame as streaks of white light danced from within its body onto the sands and skies.

The head that had been in the chest cavity of the monster fell at Tam's feet. It was the familiar, if not intact, face of Orson Elric.

A console extended up from underground and the team obtained from it the blip-vial they had come to claim. They hoisted the vial and the fallen Elric and the unconscious Yuki back to the ship, and licked their wounds on the way. Tam placed the head in the temporal stasis cell in which they had found Yuki, and turned it on. Best preserved for later, but neglected for now, he thought.

Their next destination was Shakuras, and this time there were no interruptions in the form of ring-runners or other bandits. The mystical deep blue planet came into view, crackling with atmospheric energy as always. Their approach was stopped by planetary control, who had a curious request.

Chellenzaj: This is Chellenzaj of Shakuras control. Our ports are closed to outsiders at the moment, and I will ask you to leave.
Tam: We were instructed to meet someone here. Surely there's a way you can make an exception for us.
Chellenzaj: A closed port is a closed port. For the sake of regulations, I am running a background check on your vessel and her crew. Standby.

A minute passed before the protoss controller became momentarily and mildly surprised at something.

Chellenzaj: Vessel Optimus, my records indicate that you have Chac Laharl aboard.
Tam: That's correct.
Chellenzaj: Put him on the radio.
Laharl: I am Chac Laharl.
Chellenzaj: Laharl. Your presence allows this group passage. While on the planet you will escort them. First, however, there is some checking to be done. Allow me fifteen minutes.
Tam: What was that about?
Laharl: My people have never been terribly open. With the end of the battle of Omega platform, the entire planet became a stronghold against alien forces. It has remained much this way for more than twenty years now. As for why he wants to check up on me...I'm afraid I don't have a satisfactory answer to that. Although, for myself I have an explanation.
Tam: And what is that?
Laharl: That is for myself.

Minutes passed with the Optimus looming over the planet. Two Corsairs approached to flank the ship.

Chellenzaj: Chac Laharl, when you arrive, report the the nearest citadel and speak to the recruiter. It seems you will have one duty before you begin as escort.
Laharl: Understood.
Tam: Mind explaining to me how this works?
Laharl: Follow the Corsairs. They will guide us in. I owe much to this planet and my people, Tam, and if they should want to collect something from me, it will likely be benevolently less than what I truly owe.

The team descended and was welcomed to the planet Shakuras. A probe approached to guide the team to the nearest Citadel of Adun, wherein a protoss adjudicator sat waiting for Laharl to arrive. The adjudicator explained that Laharl would have to engage in the ritual of atonement in the Pentahex (A series of five rooms arrayed four in an outer circular pattern and one central circle as the fifth. Atonement for dark protoss always requires a trial by fire, even if a proper Pentahex is not available. While not needed for ritualistic atonement, a pentahex can be converted into a number of things: office or storage space, weapons laboratory development, even a hospital triage center.). He would be stripped of all but his blade and ceremonial robes, and would proceed through each of five chambers designed to test and torment him. Some had died in the Pentahex. The rest of the team was allowed to watch. Yuki was still aboard the ship unconscious with Maddocks and Guay watching over her.
In the first room, Laharl discovered and dodged the trap, avoiding being skewered on a pike held together by warp fields.
In the second room, sounds of grunting and snapping echoed off the walls, and two warp boars charged at Laharl, hidden as he was. Laharl defeated them with some difficulty after much dodging and missed strikes.
In the third room, a puzzle stood visible on the walls, and the floor grid threatened to fall from beneath him. After considering the signs for a number of minutes, Laharl proceeded in the pattern he had calculated and made safe passage to the other end of the chamber.
In the fourth room, a stoic warrior with a spear stood before the gateway to the center chamber.

Warrior: Speak your name.
Laharl: I am the protoss warrior who is named Chac Laharl.
Warrior: Those who dishonor the code are made to atone. Before you enter the final chamber, you must speak from memory the name of the hero who united our people.
Laharl: I...what?
Warrior: Speak the name.

Laharl floundered for a minute. Why could he suddenly not remember the name of this historical figure. The pressure was on, as failing the Pentahex meant stranding his team on the planet as prisoners. The name. Unifier of clans. The one who had bested the imperialist rule of the Xel'Naga in the first place. The one after whom all citadels were named...

Laharl: Adun!

The warrior stepped aside and let Laharl enter. Atop an altar in the circular room sat a bead that glowed with bright chromatic light. As he approached, the bead of light grew into a full archon, whose figure shown with white and clear rainbow streaks, but who seemed different than others. This one was mostly transparent.

Archon: Fight in the full light, half-fallen!

Laharl waged battle with the Archon, feeling a potent burn over his entire body as the archon continued to taunt him about being hidden and cowardly. Laharl finally let himself become visible to the archon, and the burning stopped. The archon faltered, and dodging a final blast of white light, Laharl struck down the archon. It exploded into tiny packets of light that danced around the room in their many colors. The Pentahex was complete.

The team met with Laharl again and ensured he was still whole and healthy. He felt like a new man, refreshed and now in good standing with the prelate. Chellenzaj informed him to report to a recruiter before departing in case there were any instructions from high command. The team remounted the ship and lifted off in search of Dr. Banity, whose role in this was still unclear.

West had stressed the importance of their success without saying why. What did this tiny vial contain that could be so dangerous? Elric had finally come around and had no knowledge of the fight or of fainting. Tam explained that the heat had claimed her. None of them envied the duty of telling her what had happened, and about the treasure that sat in the stasis cell in the cargo bay.

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