Infestation- Part Three

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Wilson marched to the command center to enter Hackken’s office. Maybe he would have some more information about what they were facing by now. He knocked on Hackken’s door. When no answer was forthcoming, he opened it and peered inside. Hackken held his head in his hands, leaning on his desk.

“I didn’t say you could enter,” said Hackken softly.

“I have something important to report,” said Wilson. “On my patrol my squad was attacked by the same sort of insectoid creature that was reported on Mar Sara. It was waiting underground for us near the dead civilian. The base was also attacked while we were gone, although I expect you already know about that. I’m concerned for the colony’s security. I think we need to ask for additional forces from the Combine to help us secure the moon.”

Hackken sighed, but made no other answer.

“Sir, by the time these creatures were sighted on Mar Sara there were thousands of them. I think it’s safe to assume that there are more of them out there. My men won’t be enough if more of them come to attack us. The four that hit the base earlier could have just been a scouting party.” Wilson waited for Hackken’s reply.

“They’re called the Zerg,” said Hackken after a long pause. “They’re far more dangerous than you realize, Sergeant. The situation on Mar Sara is growing severe. The Confederacy has ordered the outlying colonists to be relocated to more secure areas, but many of the smaller installations have already been overrun. The Combine’s intelligence operatives think they will overrun the planet soon.”

“Then isn’t it even more important that we get support here?”

“I’ve already requested it. It was denied. My commanding officer wants more evidence that there’s a significant Zerg infestation here before they devote forces to the area. Keep in mind that we have no idea if the Protoss or Zerg are going to rampage throughout our other holdings. We need solid signs of a credible threat before we will get any reinforcements.”

“We’ve already lost one Marine in an attack on the colony! What more do they want?”

“Evidence of a hive cluster. The Zerg seed worlds with some sort of organic material that they use to grow and nourish themselves on. It’s been named the creep.”

“The creep?”

“It’s like a living carpet. It spreads outward from organic structures they grow on the surface of planets. It’s essential for their colonies to grow. Modified sensor scans show that more than thirty percent of Mar Sara has been covered with it. I think if you can find some of this material on Pyrux, that will be convincing enough evidence for me to get some reinforcements sent here.”

“Any idea where I should start looking?”

“If I knew that, I’d already have called in more troops,” said Hackken impatiently, directing a disgusted frown at Wilson. “I suggest that you take the Vultures out and see if you can find where the Zerg patrols came from.”

“Fine. If I’m not back by tomorrow morning and don’t radio in, you can consider me dead. Anything else?”

“No. Considering how fast they spread throughout Mar Sara, if they did create a hive cluster here, it may already be far too late.”

Wilson made a quick salute and rushed outside the command center, grabbing the ignition keys to both Vultures from the rack outside Hackken’s office as he left. His squad was still meandering outside the building.

“Hotchkins! We’re going for a ride,” yelled Wilson. He threw a key at Hotckins, who bobbled it in the air before catching it.

“Where to?” asked Hotchkins, hurrying to match Wilson’s brisk pace.

“To find where those creatures came from. Hackken believes they have a large colony somewhere on the moon. You’ll know it by the presence of a field of organic material on the soil. Let me know immediately if you see anything.”

Wilson jumped astride one of the colony’s two Vultures, settling back in the comfortable padded seat. Hotchkins mounted the other bike, inserting the key into the ignition. The Vultures were sleek and aerodymanic, floating a meter off the ground. The two meter long hood of the bike was shaped to cut through the wind. Below, a small grenade launcher was set into the bike for the protection of the rider.

“Any particular search pattern you’d like me to follow?” asked Hotchkins.

Wilson scanned the Vulture’s nav-map display. He sketched two parallel lines straight out from the colony’s western perimeter and submitted the plan to Hotchkin’s display. “The largest group came from the west. Makes sense that the colony would be out there.”

“Okay. Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, what are these things? I’ve never seen anything like them.”

“Hackken says they are known as Zerg. That’s all I know. Hackken isn’t exactly the most communicative superior man. I think we’ll find out more than we wanted to know about them soon enough.”

Wilson ignited the iron thrusters on the hover bike and roared forward, Hotchkins close behind. Despite the gravity of the situation, Wilson couldn’t help feeling relieved to be riding once again. He grinned widely and accelerated. They rapidly reached the point where they were going to split for separate patrol routes.

“See you a hundred clicks from here Hotchkins!” radioed Wilson.

“Yes, Sir. Glad you brought me along. I love flying these things. Reminds me why trudging about on foot is unfashionable.”

“That’s why I brought you along instead of the others. Mulheeny’s silent the whole time, I’m not sure he gets pleasure out of anything. Diego whines about how I’m going too fast. You actually appreciate them.”

“Thank you, Sir!” Hotchkins waved and tore off to the east, racing for the rendezvous point. Wilson smiled and took a similar speed along the western route, soaring over the long stretch of barren earth that went far into the horizon.

More than halfway through his patrol path, Wilson hadn’t seen a single living creature, Zerg or otherwise. Nothing but sixty kilometers of empty terrain. In some ways, Wilson hoped he wouldn’t find anything. Maybe the Zerg had just been sent here as some sort of exploration mission, but hadn’t established any hive clusters. He slowed as he noticed an enormous wall of rock facing him ahead, blocking the entire horizon. Wilson sighed. He’d have to go around it. The formation wasn’t on the nav-map at all, but that wasn’t all that surprising. No one had bothered to complete a survey of Pyrux’s surface yet. There were too many planets and moons in the area with richer mineral deposits.

Wilson decided to radio Hotchkins to see let him know that he would be late for the rendezvous. There was nothing but static on his radio. He slammed the hood of the Vulture in frustration. Apparently the formation was filled with minerals that caused electronic interference. He wondered if he could find a way to move his vehicle over the mountains, but a perusal showed that to be impossible. The entire formation was a cliff face, a hundred meter sheer drop from the top. His Vulture couldn’t handle that. Seeing no other options, he accelerated to the west to see if there was an opening further down.

After half an hour of searching, Wilson found an area that had been eroded to a smooth surface, possibly gradual enough for him to edge the Vulture over it. Showing an unusual level of caution, Wilson slowly maneuvered the bike over the incline. The hover engines were sufficient to the task of reaching the top of the incline. Wilson gasped when he saw the terrain below. As far as he could see, the ground was covered with a strange purple material, glittering with moisture. Several flesh colored mounds were spread out across the surface, quivering eerily.

This must be the creep, Wilson thought with dismay. He wondered what the odd organic mounds did. Maybe they spread the creep or kept it healthy. Wilson didn’t see any Zerg or other living creatures moving around; although that didn’t necessarily count for much if they were hiding underground. He didn’t really want to see if they were lurking down below, but he needed to make a more thorough assessment of the area to make sure Hackken was satisfied. He slowly descended toward the creep, readying the Vulture’s grenade launcher in case he ran into trouble.

Wilson halted at the edge of the purple biomass and dismounted, grabbing his rifle as he got off. He took a tentative step forward on to the creep. It had considerably more give to it than rock, but supported his weight firmly. The material did not react to his presence. Acting on impulse, Wilson went back to the Vulture and removed a combat knife from the emergency supply kit located below the seat. He stabbed the knife fiercely downward, easily penetrating the membrane. Serous fluid pooled around the wound he had opened, but was absorbed rapidly by the surrounding organisms. The small puncture he had created close off before his eyes, just as the Zerg creature had healed its wounds before him. Wilson looked around in dismay at the covering of creep surrounding him. It seemed like it would be an impossible task to remove. Maybe flamethrowers would be more effective.

Deciding he’d wasted enough time, Wilson got back on the bike and roared forward through the strange landscape. Other than the fleshy projections from the surface, there was little to break up the flat land. Wilson radioed Hotchkins again, this time getting a clear signal.

“Hotchkins, this is Sergeant Wilson. Do you copy? Over.”

“Sergeant! I’m in a lot of trouble, do you have a way out at your location!”

“What trouble are you in?”

“Ran into a horde of Zerg guarding an organic structure sticking out of the ground. Is your position secure? I need a way out!” Hotchkins said in a panicked tone. Wilson heard the solid thump of Hotchkin’s grenade launcher firing off a round.

“There’s nothing here yet. I’m sending you my location now.”

“Sir, just get out of there! We need to make sure that Hackken knows what’s here so we can get some help. Leave a marker where the mountain pass is and I’ll try and follow you!”

Wilson did not even consider Hotchkin’s request. He’d never left a man behind before in two decades and he wasn’t going to start now. In the distance he could make out Hotchkin’s approaching Vulture, pursued by a horde of smaller figures. Concealing his surprise that the creatures could actually keep up with a hover bike over a long distance, Wilson drove forward to a position where he could provide covering fire.

“Sir, I told you to get out of here!” yelled Hotchkins.

“Shut up and keep flying straight, unless you want to get hit by a grenade!”
Wilson launched several fragmentation grenades from the Vulture’s launcher. They blew apart the Zerg closest to Hotchkins, giving him some room to maneuver. Wilson then jetted back toward the mountain overpass, leading Hotchkins toward safety.

“That was a stupid risk, Sir,” said Hotchkins, looking back at the pursuing Zerg, who were finally falling back.

“Fortunately, I’m your commanding officer so you can’t reprimand me,” said Wilson with a smirk. “You’re welcome.”


Wilson was unable to get a clear radio signal until they were more than halfway back to the mining colony. Once again he cursed the electrical interference on the planet. It was difficult to be security chief when you couldn’t even talk to your men.

“This is Administrator Hackken receiving your signal, Sergeant. Do you have anything to report?”

“Unfortunately, yes. We located a Zerg hive cluster. It’s approximately seventy kilometers to the west of our position. There’s creep spread over the land for kilometers in every direction. Do you think we can get some reinforcements now?”

“I’ll see what I can do. No promises though. The Sons of Korhal have made a few organized attacks into Combine space. We might be unable to get any fleet support. In the meantime, keep a vigilant watch on the perimeter. Hackken out.”

“As if I’d just let the Zerg stroll in…” muttered Wilson in disgust. “Hotchkins, let’s get back and see if we’re in enough danger to warrant getting help.”

View Part Four