"The Swarm will keep hitting back," Raynor pointed out, cutting straight to the core of the problem.
"Yes. That's why we need to build bunkers and automated turrets along both sides of the path, and use mobile squads to patrol and hold them off," Matt brought up several pre-selected defensive positions. "Swann already has enough pre-fab bunker modules ready. The key is speed—we have to finish the evacuation before the Swarm can gather a larger force."
"What's the status on Dr. Hanson's end?" Raynor asked.
"Our last contact was two hours ago. They are still holding out, but their defense line is constantly being pushed back. Civilian casualties... unknown," Matt's voice was low.
Raynor nodded. "Inform Dr. Hanson that we will arrive in orbit in thirty minutes to begin the drops. Tell her to get the civilians organized and ready to move."
"We're already patching through."
Just then, the navigator's report came over the bridge intercom: "Exiting warp shortly. Entering the outer rim of the Agria system."
"Everyone, prep for combat!" Raynor's voice echoed throughout the ship over the PA system.
The Hyperion shuddered slightly as it dropped out of warp. On the main viewscreen, a green planet came into view—Agria.
However, looking at the orbital scan images, the planet's surface was already marred by ominous purple blotches. Zerg creep covered vast swathes of land, particularly across the continent where the colony was located.
"Biological readings are through the roof!" Stetmann's voice came through the comm channel, laced with a neurotic tremor. "Multiple hive clusters are hitting peak activity! They're—they're breeding more units as we speak!"
"Matt, start scanning for the colony's exact condition," Raynor ordered.
High-resolution scans were quickly fed back. The colony sat on a broad plain, comprised of several residential blocks, research facilities, and agricultural domes. Right now, most of the structures were already damaged or choked by creep. Scattered flashes from energy shields could be seen around the northern residential sector—the surviving defense systems still fighting to stay online. A few small aircraft were engaging flying Mutalisks at low altitude.
Between the residential sector and the starport, however, a dense carpet of red dots represented Zerg units. They resembled a purple tide, relentlessly slamming into humanity's fragile defense lines.
"What's the status of the starport?" Raynor asked.
"The structure is mostly intact, but the perimeter is surrounded by the Zerg. There are a few transport ships sitting on the pads, but they likely lack fuel or pilots," Matt brought up an enlarged view of the starport. "That's our best spot to establish a foothold."
"Good. Let's do it by the book," Raynor looked at the troops gathered in the hangar. "First wave: two Marine squads, a Marauder team, and four SCVs, led by me. Mission: clear the starport and set up a defensive perimeter."
"Second wave: one Marine squad, two Medics, Swann, and the engineering crew. Mission: reinforce the perimeter and start throwing up bunkers."
"Third wave: the remaining forces, responsible for securing the corridor and meeting up with the civilians."
He turned to Valerie: "You and your people go down with the second wave. Once the perimeter is secure, you can handle limited scouting and fire support, but don't wander too far from the defense line."
"Understood," Valerie replied.
"Tychus, you're with me in the first wave. We need to crack this open fast."
"Been waiting all day." Tychus slammed his visor down, his power armor letting out a sharp whine as it powered up.
"All dropship pilots, prep for takeoff!" Matt commanded from the bridge.
Down in the hangar, the engines of three large dropships began to roar. Their rear cargo ramps slowly lowered.
"First wave, mount up!" Raynor took the lead, walking toward the nearest dropship.
The Marines followed in neat lines, the heavy footsteps of their power armor falling in a rhythmic, heavy thud. Marauders carried their grenade launchers, and the SCVs stepped forward with heavy, stable strides.
Tychus's blue armor clanked loudly at the front of the line, and he waved an arm toward Valerie: "Good luck, company girl. Hope your iron dolls don't wet themselves when the bugs show up."
Valerie merely gave a calm nod.
The first wave of troops fully boarded. The dropships drifted out of the hangar, slipped into the void, and then dove straight toward Agria's atmosphere.
Valerie and her five "Security Advisors" boarded the second dropship. Sharing the hold with them were Swann and his engineering crew, along with a Marine squad and several Medics.
"Second wave, ready for launch!" the pilot's voice came over the comms.
The dropship's engines blasted a fierce torrent of thrust, disengaging from the Hyperion's magnetic locks and sliding into space. Looking out the viewport, Agria's green terrain neared rapidly. But as they closed in on the colony, the patches of purple creep and the dense swarms of Zerg units became vividly clear.
The dropship began to shake violently, signaling atmospheric entry. The proximity alarms blared—several acidic spores launched from spore crawlers on the ground shot past, deflected by the dropship's shields.
"Hang on! We're making a hard landing at the starport!" the pilot shouted.
The dropship pulled into a sudden dive, evading a diving flock of Mutalisks, before correcting its posture and hurtling toward the starport tarmac.
Below, around the perimeter of the starport, the Zerg resembled a boiling purple ocean, slamming against the starport's remaining automated defense turrets. The first dropship had already touched down. The moment its ramp hit the ground, the sound of fierce gunfire and explosions echoed outward. Raynor's men were already heavily engaged.
Valerie's dropship followed close behind, braving heavy anti-air fire to make a precarious landing on the opposite side of the starport pads. The instant the ramp dropped, a pungent stench of acid and blood rushed into the hold.
"Move! Move! Set up a perimeter!" Swann's roar boomed from his SCV's external speakers.
The five "Security Advisors" rushed out first, their power armor creating heavy thuds as they stepped onto the slime-slicked ground. They rapidly secured several key vantage points, their heavy bolters opening fire and tearing the rushing Zerglings and Hydralisks into shreds.
Valerie followed close behind, holding a high-precision rifle as her calm gaze took in the battlefield.
The starport's structure was far more battered than it appeared from orbit: multiple walls were pitted with large holes from acid burn, the ground was choked with thick creep, and while a few automated turrets were still functioning, most had already been torn apart by the Swarm.
Not far away, Raynor's first wave was holding the main entrance of the starport against a furious Zerg push. The Marines' rifles formed a dense wall of fire, while the Marauders' grenades burst among the Swarm in clouds of green gore. Tychus's blue armor was impossible to miss as he sprayed a wave of Hydralisks rushing from the flank with his arm-mounted minigun.
"Swann! Get your boys over to fix up the eastern and western defense turrets!" Raynor's voice cut through the comm channel, interweaving with the gunfire and explosions. "We need some fire covering the perimeter!"
"Got it!" Swann immediately directed his SCVs toward the eastern side. Several SCVs began using their welding torches to repair the ruined turret foundations while mounting new armor plating.
Valerie issued commands to her surrounding "Security Advisors": "A1, A2, cover the engineering crew. A3, A4, clear the Zerg from the western corridor. A5, with me, we're setting up a temporary command post."
"Sir," the five warriors replied, splitting up to execute their orders immediately.