Gate: Thus the Dominion Fought There

Disclaimer: I do not own Starcraft, Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There, or the characters associated with them. Starcraft is the property of Blizzard while Gate is the property Takumi Yanai

"Talking"

Thoughts

Gate 1

Two years . . . .

It had been two years since their fateful battle against the fallen Xel'naga Amon. With the entire universe as the stakes, this was a war they couldn't afford to lose.

To prepare them many gears were set into motion to ensure they were ready for this war.

On the eve of the final battle, the combined power of the Terran Dominion, Zerg Swarm, and Protoss Daelaam had claimed victory over the dark god.

With Amon and his legions defeated, it was time to rebuild.

The Zerg under it's new leadership of Zagara had returned to Char. Of the guidance of their new queen, they had laid claim to all surrounding systems to them. But for the most part they stayed within their territory. So long as that was the case, it was fine.

Artanis had his work cut out for him as he gathered the lost Protoss amongst the stars. Slowly day by day, Aiur was returning back to it's once former glory as it's golden cities stood out as a beacon of hope and renewal for it's people. Of course the hierarch had decided to completely abandon the old ways of the Protoss shedding themselves of the Khala and the caste system. Though a difficult transition, Artanis now understood and respected the value of individuality and difference. Under this new ideal, true unity was possible as the Khalai, Nerazim, and Purifers had come back together again. Some Tal'darim had also joined, but ultimately the majority had still preferred their way.

With Valerian leading the Dominion, he ushered in a golden age of peace and prosperity throughout Terran controlled space. Unlike his father he was going to be a better man. A benevolent ruler who truly had the best interest of his people as his highest priority. Since taking the reigns of the vast Terran empire, he had made many changes to ensure fair and equal treatment regardless of status or station. But one of his biggest changes was the alliance he had forged with the Protoss protectorate which guaranteed peace between the two civilizations. Though their first encounter wasn't ideal and many were skeptical of this new arrangement, it was for the best in the long run.

Overlooking Augustgrad from his office/throne, Valerian was proud of how much he was able to achieve in his short time as ruler. However he did have his critics with various civilians and news reporters judging his every move and decision. It was these kinds of folks which made him regret enabling the right of free speech without reprisal. However he did have to be understanding of them. After all the corruption and evil his father had committed, it would take a lot of time to wash the stain off the Mengsk name and restore it back to an honorable title. Though groups like the Defenders of Man were certainly proving to be a thorn in his side.

But what eased his transition into emperor were influential figures such as Matt Horner who backed his claim to power. With his support, the former second in command of the Raynor Raiders was now an Admiral who was put in charge of most their military activities. Though it would have greatly helped if Jim was still around as he was the man who led the charge. He was the kind of guy anyone could trust. However he had declined not wanting to be part of this new age preferring his isolation and position as a simple marshal. But mysteriously he disappeared. Around that time, once broken and barren planets had started to become lush with life. He wondered if they were somehow connected which made him think if Kerrigan was involved.

After musing for sometime Valerian sighed as he took a seat back at his desk as their was plenty of work he needed to get back too. However something more pressing had then caught his attention as all his monitoring systems were alerted to it.

Viewing the screen, "what is the world is that?" as a stone gate had suddenly emerged on the city streets.

At a crowded area within the business district of Augustgrad many passerby couldn't help but stop and look at the mysterious item that had appeared. However it didn't seem to be dangerous as it was something certainly not conceived by Protoss with it's unusual design. It definitely wasn't Zerg. So steadily people started to approach it curious to what a stone gate was doing in the middle of the street.

But soon enough the question was answered as from the void humans in an orderly fashion started to march out of the gate.

To say the least, the citizens of Augustgrad were confused at this spectacle.

"Is this some sort of show?"

"Where in the world did these people come from?"

"What the hell?"

Those who walked out the gate were clearly human. But there were also some very non-humans with them who were beastly in appearance. This unknown party seemed like something out of the medieval era carrying things like simplistic swords and spears which was an odd sight for anyone in the twenty-sixth century. As more of them started to filter out they then made their intentions quite apparent. Drawing their weapons, that's when the attack was under way.

Panicked, civilians tried to run only to be killed. Those who ran were either slain by arrows or spears. Some were even chased down by cavalrymen to be cut down from behind. The more monstrous of these humanoids were brutal in their slaughter with their clubs, axes, claws, or fangs.

Steadily the invading force started to spread out causing all kinds of damage as the city was being ravaged. Civilians who were on the streets were either killed on sight or captured to be used as slaves. Buildings and property were being destroyed and set ablaze to intimidate. For what wasn't bolted down was pillaged by the invading army as they saw fit to claim it as if it were their right.

Watching this all happen from his monitors, Valerian was both shocked and appalled as this enemy was far too arrogant to be attacking the capital of the Terran Dominion. But first thing was first as his people were his top priority. So going over to his broadcast system, "attention! This is a red alert! All civilians quickly evacuate to a safety shelter! This is not a drill! Please get to one as quickly as possible!" Then going to communications, "Matt, are you seeing this?"

"Seeing it now" said Matt Horner, admiral of the Terran Dominion. "Don't know who they are as they just suddenly appeared in the middle of the city. However we can leave speculations for later as we need to get control of the situation". Then bringing up a holographic projection, they monitored the activities of the enemies movements as they started to spread. Quickly coming up with a strategy, he put it to play. "I'll take care of things from here. Put the palace on lock down until further notice. I'll update you as the situation changes".

"Then I leave things in your care admiral".

Creating a containment perimeter, soldiers on the ground were first to be deployed. All armor bays were activated as marines, marauders, medics, reapers, and ghosts were suited up. Alongside them, pilots boarded their vehicles as siege tanks, hellions, vultures, diamond backs, cyclones, and goliaths were mobilized to their designated zones. Quickly filing out, they made haste to their areas.

But their first priority was the safety of civilians in either getting them outside the perimeter or to a shelter.

Thus speed was essential as hellions, vultures, and reapers were sent in as escorts. Backed by predators, they guided them to their safest options.

Picking up stranglers, they took up as many as they could carry and put the pedal to the metal as they sped off. But behind them, the enemy was chasing them.

Spotting the chase marines, marauders, and ghosts took aim. But seeing the enemy zoomed up on their H.U.D.s they couldn't fathom if this was actually for real. Who the heck were these people and what the hell were they thinking? Swords and arrows? Thin plated armor over cloth? Riding horse back? Have these people been living under a rock for the last thousand years? Unless you're either insane or a Protoss, these fools brought a knife to a gun fight. But it didn't matter. They were here uninvited as they attacked their people and wrecked their city. That told them enough.

With targets marked on their sensors as their rifles and cannons were locked on, they let loose the full fury of their firearms as the sounds of bullets and explosions rained down the streets.

As the enemy soldiers who were overconfident and jeering at their cowardly retreating targets, they were quickly turned to shock and panic. At least fifty footmen and cavalrymen were killed in an instant from bright flashes of light. Several holes were ripped through these men while others were dismembered with their arms, legs, and/or head completely removed or vaporized. At seeing such a brutal slaughter, the enemy faltered as chatter rose among themselves.

"What are they saying?" asked a marine as his audio sensor picked it up. "it's no language known in our database".

"Hold on, I got this" replied a ghost. With psi abilities no matter the difference in culture or species, language was fundamentally the same at it's base root. So with telepathic translation they understood what they were talking about as they connected to those around them.

"Were they not sheep running away?! Are they all mages?!"

"What kind of magic was that? I've never seen anything like it!"

"Protect yourselves immediately! Let's show these mongrels the strength of our fighting spirit!"

Rallying their movements, the platoon got into tortoise formation as their shields surrounded them with their spears sticking out like spikes. They then started to march forward confident their defenses could not be breached. But how wrong they were quickly proven.

Taking aim, a marauder fired a single punisher grenade instantly shattering the enemy formation as their primitive shields were blasted apart into metal shrapnel killing several of the soldiers. For whatever was left was easily cleaned up by the marines and ghosts rifles as there bullets easily tore through their feeble armor and soft flesh bodies.

Meanwhile at a command post, several technicians were at work running around or filtering through data at their consoles as Matt stood behind them in front of a large holographic screen monitoring the battle so far.

"Your area is cleared" a technician relayed. "All units move up one hundred meters to the new perimeter zone. Back up will be there shorty".

"Station snipers in these buildings to cover any blind spots. Siege tanks move to marked areas to provide artillery support".

"Enemy numbers are still coming through the gate. Enemy fliers have been confirmed" as images of men on giant flying lizards appeared.

"Man this too crazy" said Matt. "Who exactly are these people? Ugh never mind that for now" as he started to input commands. "Goliaths and cyclones ground to air missiles should be able to handle them. But sortie all available air units from the nearest starport just in case things get dicey for our ground forces. What is the E.T.A. of the battlecruiser we called in?"

"By warp jump, they should be here in approximately five minutes".

"Alright that should cover orbital deployment and support if needed. Is our radar towers up yet?"

"Currently relaying configuration through network uplinks and satellites. Image should be up now" which updated the holographic map showing in finer detail just how many enemy and friendly units were out there in relation to their numbers and exact position.

"We still have some civilians trapped in some buildings. Have a reaper team evacuate them out. Meanwhile split off a banshee squadron to support ground efforts while vikings and wraiths take back control of the skies. Let's do this by the numbers and push them back to where they came from!"

"Yes sir!" all the technicians exclaimed.

As reapers were busy going through buildings getting people to safety, that left others to clear a route for them once they got out.

On one street, three cavalrymen with spears faced off against what appeared to be some odd metal chariots.

"You think we fear you!" called out the lead soldier. "We will show you the power of our polished skills!" as the three charged forward in jousting position.

"So it's a chicken fight you want huh?" questioned the hellion pilot. "Let's see who blinks first" as he and his partner pressed down on the accelerator charging right back at them.

Racing down the road at full speed, the cavalrymen aimed for the men within the metal chariots as they were certain they couldn't lose. Nor did they have to fear as they appeared to have no weapons of their own.

Within just ten meters of each other the hellion pilots activated their hell bat mode as the two vehicles had then transformed into combat mechs startling their enemy as their horses wheezed out kicking up into the air in surprise. In one swing, the cavalrymen were killed as the hell bats swung at them smashing them in an instant.

Elsewhere vultures took out groups of these invaders firing their grenade launchers. For those running at them from their armaments blindspot, pilots then drew out their Gauss pistols from their holsters taking out any stranglers before moving on.

With the radar tower active in the perimeter, all Terran software was updated to reflect the current battlefield.

As two marines checked to see if an area was secured their H.U.D. maps marked several red dots near their position. Zooming in, the map showed several enemy combatants hiding on both corners. More then likely these hostiles thought they could ambush them. But of what they've displayed so far they highly doubted their simplistic weapons could even damage the vanadium their armor was composed of. At worse they'd just scratch the paint job. But as professional soldiers, they didn't have time to waste with them. So turning on their infrared sight, they locked onto all targets. Switching settings to armor piercing on their Gauss rifles, they then shot through the walls hitting all of them. Confirming they were down, all the red blips disappeared off their maps to which they then moved on.

Clearing one street after another, the Terran Dominion were pushing these aggressors back. Designed exactly for this purpose, banshees were performing phenomenally as they hovered around the buildings and skyscrapers launching their shockwave missiles blasting the enemy apart. With it's ordinance designed to burn through neosteel, those who were not lucky enough to get killed by the blast were literally melted alive.

However they were not designed to deal with other air targets as soldiers riding those flying lizards were shooting arrows or spears at them. Though marines, cyclones, and goliaths were doing a decent job at supporting their banshees while ghosts sniped those lizard riders, air superiority went a long way. So taking back their skies, wraiths and vikings made quick work of enemy air as they stood no chance against lasers or missiles. In no time flat enemy air was non-existent as their focus was to take out any fliers that tried to come out of the gate.

"Sir! Battlecruiser has dropped out of warp space and is now above Augustgrad. What are your orders for them?" said a technician.

"Should we blow up the gate and end this siege?" another technician continued.

"I would not advise that" then said the other technician. "Data analysis has returned concerning the gate. It seems to be warping dimensions bridging two points in space-time from here to wherever they came from".

"So it's functioning like a Protoss gateway" said Matt.

"Yes, but it's energy signature is unlike anything we've seen before. I worry that if we destroy the gate, there might be an energy backlash of undetermined effects".

"Then we'll hold off on that for now" as Matt looked to the screen. "So far we've got the situation back in hand as we are making progress. So I don't want to cause anymore unnecessary damage to the city from having a battlecruiser doing an orbital bombardment". Then marking several spots on the map, "I want orbital drops in these locations where they might need some help. Also launch some medivacs to redeploy siege tanks on top of these buildings where we can attack their main congregation. But if possible, try to capture some of them. We're going to need a few for questioning".

Carrying out their orders on the battlecruiser infantry, mechs, and pilots prepared themselves for orbital drop.

Soldiers went to several armor bay stations as they quickly filed out one after the other grabbing a weapon on their exit.

The engines on vehicles were revved up as engineers gave them the OK.

Mechs came online as their programs started up going over diagnostics before deployment.

Once they all had finished gearing up and double checking their equipment ground forces had entered their drop pods as vikings, banshees, and wraiths exited through the hanger. Plummeting through the atmosphere as their outer hulls became super heated, they were in Augustgrad within the minute in the areas they were called down too.

Redeploying tanks in optimal locations, they switched to siege mode as their treads and anchor legs braced into the ground as their shockwave cannons emerged. Given the green light to fire, they unleashed hell on the enemy firing explosive tungsten shells in areas the enemy tried to make strongholds in. Tried as they might to shield themselves, they were no match. Terran fast infantry armor would be able to last for a few hits. Protoss plasma shields for the most part could easily charge through it. Zerg had methods to counter it with tougher carapaces, outnumbering, or digging under ground. But against this opponent, it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Though for the most part for any stranglers that were still running around the streets of Augustgrad, Dominion forces did there best to capture them alive.

Switching over to rubber ammunition they shot some of the soldiers who were running around. It may not have been lethal but they were strong enough to still dent their primitive armor and break their bones upon impact.

Medics who weren't busy healing used powerful tranquilizers to sedate enemy combatants.

But the most effective unit were the predator drones as the robotic cats generated electrical fields which were generally used to kill. But adjusting the wattage, it was just enough to paralyze or otherwise render them unconscious for others to capture them.

"Are they all apostles?! Mages?! Demons?!"

"This must be the wrath of the gods!"

"Retreat! Retreat!"

Enemy morale had completely crumbled. Their formation was staggered as confusion raged through their ranks. The front line who was trying to desperately escape the slaughter they faced and the back line crossing through the gate unaware what terrors existed on this side.

"We must leave now! Leave the loot and slaves behind!"

"If we stay we will be killed!"

"I will have my vengeance! Mark my words!"

Watching from his monitor, the Dominion admiral saw how pathetic there would be invaders were as not one of them dared to step out to face them. After the death of thousands of them as their corpses littered the streets of the capital it should have been clear that they had foolishly challenged a force greater then themselves. Although Matt knew showing them mercy would more then likely invite trouble later. He was still a good man at heart as he would allow them to go home if they left now. Besides he had captured a few thousand of them as they would be sufficient on getting intel on just exactly who these people were. So giving the order, "I want a close and tight perimeter surrounding that gate. So long as they are retreating we will hold position for now so we can properly access the situation. No one is to open fire unless absolutely necessary".

Doing as they were commanded, Dominion forces circled the gate with their weapons at the ready and within clear sight as the enemy retreated with their tails in between the legs. Though there were a few trouble makers, the enemy forces had made a full withdraw.

"For now no one but military personnel is to enter that area" said Matt as he gave out his command. "I want a defense line to be stationed around the gate with bunkers, marines, and tanks guarding it. Everyone else is to be on stand-by till further notice. Ghosts shall take the prisoners in for interrogation. That shall be all for now".

To be continued . . . .

Author's notes: A pilot chapter to gauge people's interest in this story. Plus I figured I'd take up gunner challenge as I wanted to see if I can handle this story idea as it was quite interesting.

Frankly the Terran Dominion suffers pretty much none of the drawbacks the JSDF did in the canon story. Thus I truly wish to see how this will all turn out as one giant curbstomping. Who knows, maybe the Empire will be stupid enough to get the attention of the Protoss and Zerg as well.

So thank you for reading and I further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well.