[250]

Squad #2
New Francis, Mars
2:05, 2732 P.T.

"Holy cow!" the elderly marine stepped on the breakpedal so hard the Desert Vulture nearly went over.

"Ouch" as dusts and sand settle down, Lennie shook his head hard "Whats the matter with you man?"

"I think I hit something." The old man said.

"What is it man? You hit a what? Just an animal, alright?" Lennie cursed underneath his breath "those dumb Marines"

"No no no, I think I hit somehting."

Another soldier pushed his way to the front seat and tabbed on the driver's shoulder "Big deal man, lets just go, alright?"

The old man narrowed his eyes, trying to recall what was that "thing" he hit, then with a resigned gesture, he tabbed on the gas pedal. Nothing happened

He stepped on it harder this time, the engine roared loudly in protest, but still, nothing happened.

"Alright, whats the problem" Lennie demanded from the back seat

"Hey, you are the technician alright? you fix it!" The driver threw his arms up in defeat "I think I really hit something."

Sighing, Lennie took his tech-tool kit, and jumped out of the back seat. He walked to the front of the vulture, and what he saw dropped his jaws.

The half ton weighed desert vulture is armed with specially designed armor that can easily withstand the onslaught of anti-armor 20mm Auto-Cannons; however it is now clashed and battered. The front side of the vehicle now collapsed into the car, the right half is completely gone missing. Bending low, Lennie examined damage carefully. To his disgust, he found some greenish acid like liquid stain.

"You hit something" Lennie looked up to the driver thoughtfully

"Yeah, I did, I told you!" The old man replied without fully comprehending the meaning of it all.

"I mean, you were driving 230 miles per hour. and whatever this thing you hit, it is now dead for sure." Lennie analyzed thoughtfully

The one soldier in the backseat asked "So now it is dead, ■■■■ it then. How long before you can get us ... oh my God, Christ!! Lennie, watch the ■■■■ Oufbr@$%!!!!"

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Comm Center, UBC-1300
New Francis, Mars
2:15, 2732 P.T.

"We lost contact with Squad#2."

Ann narrowed her eyes "How long ago?"

"Exactly 3 minutes, Sir" came the affirming reply

Ann took a breath. something is not right. She could feel it. She could always feel it when something is not right. Years of combat experiences against the Protoss Colonists sharpened all of her senses regarding warfares. She could smell trouble before she saw one. That was why she insisted on sending a squad while the boys complainted and resented, saying it no more than some natural disturbance.

Uneasely, the Sub Commander took a deep breath, considering the next move. The reading was strange. Even the Radiator Station only caught two seconds visual before something is gone terribly wrong, the grustoqe images already unnerved the sub commander more than anything. And she is known for hard as steel!

"Where is Admiral Chan?"

"He is er..."

"Go find him!"

"Right on, Sir!" The marine ran off

Playing with his plants and flowers again! why? grow those things on a Confederate Battleship! What a joke! Ok, this ship is a hospital now, but it still carries partial duty, right? the old fool doesnt even look like an admiral! Unconciously, Ann let her emotions took control. It ended as soon as it started, being emotional is one least thing she can afford now...

A cold shiver ran through her spines as she replayed the images of the 2 seconds vedio. What are those things?

OOC:

Zerg has not yet reached this part of the universe yet. Thus the humans have little knowledge of its existence