Chapter 373: Star of the Deep Zerg Sea! Multiverse Recon Squad 3.0! The Infected!
After hearing Paul's proposal, the executives of the Universal Megacorp fell into deep thought. The plan wasn't unfeasible, but the final decision would have to come from Li Ang .
And thanks to Paul's reminder, Li Ang suddenly recalled a crucial detail—if the current StarCraft universe followed the Wings of Liberty timeline from the 26th century AD, then one major human faction was still active: Jim Raynor's Raiders.
In the StarCraft universe, the human Dominion was far from a unified power. Corruption and injustice ran rampant within the Terran Federation.
This led to the rise of several rebel factions opposing the Terran Federation. Among them, the Raiders led by Raynor were one of the most prominent forces.
At this point in time, Jim Raynor was busy conducting rescue missions and searching for human colonies invaded by the Zerg.
Raynor was arguably the protagonist of StarCraft, once a lawman and militia leader on a backwater colony world. He had led a rebellion in response to the Federation's corruption.
In Wings of Liberty, Raynor plays a pivotal role in purifying the Queen of Blades, Sarah Kerrigan, with Valerian Mengsk's help—bringing humanity its most powerful ally to ultimately defeat Amon.
If the Universal Megacorp could make contact with Jim Raynor via the survivors on this planet, their mission might become significantly easier.
More importantly, Raynor's pursuit of the Keystone wasn't driven by selfish motives—he sought to return the Queen of Blades to her human form and have her help in humanity's fight against the Zerg and Amon.
Since the Universal Megacorp was destined to enter the battle for the Keystone anyway, why not ally with Raynor now and win him over?
"If you want to lead the team on this mission, then you'll have to land on that planet yourself."
Johnny Silverhand shook his head, feeling like Paul had gotten a taste of promotion and power and was now risking his life too readily for the job.
"I suggest you think this through one more time."
"No—I've already made up my mind!" Paul replied firmly.
True, the planet had been completely overrun by the Zerg. Thick creep covered every surface, making it far more dangerous than anywhere Paul had been before.
Down there, they would face countless swarms of Zerg—billions of them—and among them, many formidable Zerg forces that were nearly impossible to contend with.
Calling this mission a suicide run wasn't an exaggeration.
Yet Paul still stood firm: "Someone has to do this. Right now, this planet is our only entry point. If we miss this opportunity, there won't be another."
He wasn't afraid of the Zerg. What concerned him was the Universal Megacorp falling into passive inaction, missing their chance due to hesitation.
If they wanted to complete the integration mission quickly, they had to seize the initiative every step of the way.
"Paul, I'll approve your mission to lead the investigation—but you must ensure your own safety and be responsible for your team's lives."
In the end, Li Ang made the final call.
Paul's thinking aligned closely with Li Ang 's—shortcuts always came with risk, and that was unavoidable.
Seeing that the boss had spoken, the Universal Megacorp leadership hesitated a bit longer but finally gave reluctant approval to Paul's plan. V added a suggestion:
"In that case, I recommend dispatching some elite advance squad members to assist with the investigation. We should also deploy auxiliary AI drones to help ensure the team's safety."
But before V could finish, Dr. Halsey abruptly interjected:
"I must remind everyone—the Zerg's biotechnology is extremely advanced."
"Their entire evolutionary system is based on assimilation and absorption of other lifeforms. We must be equipped with Scorpelion Virus at all times. A few AI drones alone won't be enough to save Paul and his team."
Her warning was a vital one.
The Zerg's strongest trait was their ability to assimilate and evolve from other species. As a pure essence-based race, in theory, they could evolve without limit.
For example, the Zergling's prototype was once a small, agile desert creature; the Hydralisk originated from a harmless herbivorous sloth-beast.
Even the Roach, with its heat-resistant, armored shell, evolved from an acidic slug that once lived deep in the Gaxas Mountains.
Conventional weapons were nearly useless against such terrifying enemies. Paul would have to rely on stealth to infiltrate—if they alerted the swarm, the mission would be over.
In fact, the larger the team, the greater the burden.
If a single mistake gave away their position, the Universal Megacorp would be forced to deploy the Scorpelion Virus to wipe out all Zerg lifeforms on the planet.
"How about sending in the Prometheus Legion's Knight unit instead? They're fully AI and immune to Zerg assimilation."
Morgan Blackhand offered his view. From his perspective, if safety was the goal, they could simply send in large numbers of AI drones for a slow, methodical search.
Unfortunately, they were running out of time. The distress signal they'd received from the planet was growing weaker. Communication had become one-way. The survivors likely couldn't last much longer.
Under such time pressure, a drawn-out drone search wasn't viable.
"Knights are combat-type AI bots. They're great at killing and assassination—but rescuing people amid chaotic conditions? That's not their specialty."
V shook his head, rejecting Morgan's idea. He had once led the Prometheus Legion himself and knew well how deadly those machines were.
In battle, they were top-tier—icons of the Universal Megacorp's AI military power.
But for stealth, infiltration, or reactive decision-making, rigid AI couldn't compare to quick-thinking humans.
"Time is critical. Let Paul pick his team. Make sure everyone is armed with enough Scorpelion Virus. If the mission fails—deploy it immediately!"
After extensive debate, Li Ang finalized the operation plan: Paul Atreides would lead and choose the squad members.
Once the video call with the Multiverse Base HQ ended, David Martinez turned to Paul with concern:
"What are your next steps?"
Truth be told, David hated the idea of Paul taking such a dangerous job. He'd seen the Zerg in action firsthand aboard the flagship and understood just how high the stakes were.
"I'll select some members from the Multiverse Recon Squad and recruit help from other Universal Megacorp departments to form a team," Paul answered decisively.
"Sounds like you've already got the right people in mind." David gave Paul a firm pat on the shoulder.
Paul nodded silently. With the mission confirmed, he immediately launched into preparations.
The first members selected were new recruits to the Multiverse Recon Squad: Luke Skywalker, Din Djarin, and others.
They were already part of Paul's inner circle, so naturally, they would accompany him. Next were Master Chief and Optimus Prime and Megatronus.
Of course, Optimus wouldn't join the operation directly. His role was to act as an emergency extraction unit. In critical moments, his entropy energy could create an escape route for the entire team.
As long as Paul could locate the survivors, Optimus would ensure they made it out alive.
Soon, the team assembled and prepared for launch!
For this mission, they would be using the Hyperion transport ship. Larger warships were too conspicuous; smaller craft lacked the speed to outrun Zerg fleets.
All things considered, the Hyperion was the most suitable vessel for the task.
"Looks like it's the same crew again. At least we won't be lonely on the road to hell."
Din Djarin grinned as he slung his arm around Pani and joked.
Luke sighed and shook his head: "Yeah… cozying up to some bugs at close range, just to save a few poor bastards."
He wasn't exactly opposed to the mission—he just had a thing about bugs.
Master Chief remained silent the entire time. He felt like a brick—carried wherever he was needed.
Then Paul, fully geared, stepped forward. "Alright. This is a rare opportunity. Let's make the most of it. We've got backup, so don't worry."
As he spoke, the team boarded the Hyperion. Chani had already led the senior recon members aboard—including Optimus Prime and Megatronus.
"My old teammates dragged me here just to watch you play house with a bunch of bugs? Might as well let me do the job myself."
Optimus teased. He'd spent the last few years unifying the various Transformer factions in their own universe—he didn't have time for side errands like this.
"We're just buying insurance—hopefully we won't need to cash it in."
Paul replied with a smile.
They wouldn't send Megatronus into the fray unless it was absolutely necessary. His massive size made him too visible to the Zerg and would only put the survivors in more danger.
Paul had specifically requested him for his instant teleportation and entropy-based power—a last resort in case things went south.
"Doesn't matter. If the boss gave the order, I'll follow it. Just don't waste my time—move fast."
Optimus turned away and opened a comm channel with David Martinez.
On the holographic screen, David, speaking from HQ, issued final instructions:
[We'll stay on standby to support you. If the situation calls for it—call us immediately.]
The Universal Megacorp brass didn't have high hopes for this mission. Even if the survivors couldn't be saved, as long as Paul's team returned safely, that would be enough.
"Understood. But I truly hope we won't need to trouble you." Paul smiled.
With all personnel aboard and ready, the Hyperion officially launched. Activating its hard-light optical cloaking field, it silently descended into the planet's atmosphere.
Inside the cabin, Paul distributed a personal teleportation device to each member—a miniaturized version of the Universal Megacorp's transdimensional teleporters.
These devices had already seen widespread use across the Megacorp's multiverse investigation divisions.
As long as the user was within the range of the transdimensional teleporter's signal, pressing the activation switch on the device would instantly transport them back to the master teleportation hub.
This meant that if a team member encountered danger, they could use it to instantly return to the Hyperion.
Of course, the device required a short channeling time—about two seconds.
But as long as they weren't killed in a single blow, the team members could rely on it to stay alive.
Thanks to the Universal Megacorp's cutting-edge medical technology, even if they were critically wounded, as long as they were still breathing, there was a high chance of saving them.
As Paul handed out the teleporters, he reminded everyone:
"This mission is just a probe. Do not act recklessly. If you run into something you can't handle, hit the switch immediately."
"In short, remember this above all else: do not fall into Zerg hands!"
Paul's voice was solemn.
All members of the advance squad had been marked with Universal Megacorp's Scorpelion Virus registry. The virus posed no harm to them.
But if the Zerg devoured them, it meant those Zerg would inherit genetic data tagged by the Universal Megacorp. In that case, even the Scorpelion Virus would be ineffective against them.
Unless the genetic data from the fallen squad members was erased and an entirely new virus strain created, the Universal Megacorp wouldn't be able to use the virus to eliminate those Zerg threats.
This wasn't just about standard protocol—it was also to prevent Luke Skywalker from being captured by the Zerg.
After all, Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, was once human too. The Zerg had transformed her into a deadly weapon by exploiting her extraordinary psionic potential.
If Luke—the Chosen One of the Force—were to be captured and corrupted in the same way, the consequences would be catastrophic.
After hearing Paul's warning, everyone secured their teleporters and took his words to heart.
While they readied their weapons and auxiliary gear, the Hyperion gradually approached the infected planet.
It remained airborne above one of the few uncorrupted zones. The AI drones had detected the distress signal from this general vicinity.
Unfortunately, the signal was too weak to precisely triangulate. The only thing they knew for sure was that it came from somewhere nearby.
The recon team's next task was to take a small shuttle down to the surface and begin their ground investigation.
No one could say for certain what kinds of Zerg monstrosities awaited them—but one thing was clear: the spread of creep was just two to three days away from engulfing this area.
Time was running out.
As the shuttle descended, the team looked out the windows. Vast stretches of land were blanketed in the Zerg's purplish-red creep.
Countless writhing tumors and exposed organs pulsed on the surface, continuously spawning more Zerg units and expanding their hold on uncontaminated territory.
The advance squad stared in stunned silence at the grotesque sight.
The sheer number of Zerg here dwarfed anything they'd encountered before. The living, fleshy creep seemed to breathe and ripple, as if the planet itself had turned into a rotting carcass.
It was like stepping into hell.
Eventually, the shuttle landed in a patch of untouched forest, where the creep hadn't yet reached.
Perhaps because the local flora was harder to digest, the Zerg had yet to fully spread their infestation here.
Still, the lack of creep didn't mean the forest was safe.
As soon as they disembarked, the team spotted Zerglings darting between the trees, clearly searching for survivors.
Making any noise or giving away their position would no doubt trigger an immediate swarm.
"All units, maintain stealth. Our goal is to locate survivors—not to fight. Do not engage the Zerg."
Paul's voice came through the comms, firm and direct.
After seeing this nightmarish planet firsthand, the entire team was on high alert. They didn't need Paul to tell them how dangerous it was—one false move, and they'd be overrun.
Besides the highly perceptive Zerglings on the ground, they also had to watch out for Overseers floating in the air.
These grotesque, balloon-like creatures, covered in dozens of grotesque eyeballs, were Zerg reconnaissance units.
As their name implied, Overseers had an array of disturbing ocular growths that gave them 360-degree vision, capable of spotting even the most carefully cloaked units.
Worse yet, they were equipped with six ultra-sensitive photoreceptive tendrils, which meant that even optical camouflage could fail against them.
Paul warned everyone to stay aware of aerial patrols. If an Overseer showed up, they'd have no choice but to reroute.
Caution was their only chance of completing the mission.
Fortunately, Overseers didn't have infinite range. Once outside their visual perimeter, they couldn't detect anything.
As long as the AI drones in the air fed real-time data to Paul's team, they could avoid detection.
"Spotted an aerial unit ahead. Looks like a balloon. Is it laying down creep?"
Din Djarin, using his hard-light sniper rifle, had noticed a floating, swollen creature in the distance. It resembled a bloated balloon, though it clearly had biological limbs.
Paul activated his power armor's enhanced optics and focused where Din pointed. Sure enough, he saw a floating Zerg unit excreting purplish-red slime onto the ground.
The creature had a visible toxic-looking purple-red sac, likely containing the core material of the creep.
This was a Zerg Overlord—a transport unit designed to spread creep, forming forward bases for the Swarm.
Overlords had no offensive or notable recon abilities. They were slow, unarmed, and served purely to propagate Zerg presence.
Seeing this last untainted forest slowly being defiled, Paul grew more anxious. He motioned for the team to move quickly.
"Let's go! We need to pick up the pace!"
Following the signal, the group cautiously made their way toward a cluster of human structures, just as the Overlord began dropping creep nearby.
"Please don't tell me we're too late..." Panam muttered, swallowing hard.
Before them stood a grisly scene—rooftops smothered in creep, walls pulsating with fleshy growths, every building covered in viscous, indescribable tumors.
Pulsing flesh heaved and throbbed with grotesque breaths atop the creep. Even Master Chief, usually unshakable, felt a chill run through his limbs.
Just as it seemed the mission might be a bust, Chani suddenly called out:
"Wait—there's still someone alive!"
But before she could finish, the so-called "survivor" emerged from a building with a twisted, grotesque gait.
They had tentacles and limbs that clearly didn't belong to any human—strange grafted appendages flailed grotesquely from their bodies.
Bony blades jutted from their upper torsos, and their heads were horrifyingly warped by Zerg infestation.
These were no longer people—they were zombie-like husks, driven by primal instinct, obeying only the commands of their higher Zerg masters: to kill and consume.
"Next time, Chani, maybe check a little more carefully before calling something a survivor. If that counts as a person, then the snot slugs back home are half-human too," Din muttered, lip twitching.
"Let's put them out of their misery before they suffer any longer," Luke said gently. His compassion couldn't bear the thought of people being tormented like this.
Paul studied the infected carefully, and what he saw confirmed his worst fears:
These people hadn't been assimilated into the Zerg.
They'd been used as living incubators, their bodies transformed into breeding grounds.
Zerg larvae were devouring them from within, draining every nutrient. It wouldn't be long before the new Zerg burst out of them.
Faced with such horror, Paul could only mourn in silence—but his attention had to stay on the mission:
"Check if the signal originated from this location."
If this was it—if the weak signal came from these infected humans—then their mission was a complete loss, and HQ would receive no valuable intel.
Master Chief scanned the area, confirming via AI drone feed that there were no immediate threats. He nodded.
"We can safely proceed into the building for investigation."
"Chief, you and Din handle recon and stealth. The rest of you, cover us—don't get into any unnecessary fights. Move fast!"
Paul issued his orders swiftly.
"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.
Their top priority was to avoid drawing attention from other Zerg units. The moment they did, the entire mission would collapse.
They had no room for mistakes.
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