Looking to each of the Races; Zerg, Terran, Protoss, I slowly came to terms with my situation. Sighing, I forced my way through the mind-numbing fear, and anger. Then I took my time looking over the Races. I knew my preference of course. However, things may be different now. I know it’s based on the game, but I doubt the Alien bastards will keep it the same.

Zerg - Alien bio-organic life form focused on evolution and mass numbers.

1) The Zerg benefit from massive numbers. Each unit possesses the ability to evolve into stronger variations or creatures. 2) The Zerg and their endless numbers have few units able to survive sustained damage 3) Heal themselves at accelerated rates 4) Able to infect other life-forms, creating new and unique Zerg units. 5) The Zerg Swarm cannot act on its own. It requires a being like an Overmind, Cerebrates, Kerrigan, or the Brood Queens to direct it appropriately. 6) Tactical strikes are impossible without a leading intelligence designated for the task. 7) Actively hunted throughout the universe as hostile lifeforms bent on conquering worlds.

System advises Player that further Zerg information is hidden until discovered.

Protoss - Alien beings known for their advanced technology and psionic abilities.

1) Psionic energy shields to add further protection in combat. 2) Highly organized military 3) Few in number 4) With a weak physical defense once their psionic shield fails. 5) Extreme in their methodology in preventing Zerg Infestation. 6) Powerful fleets 7)Caste-based society.

System advises Player that further Protoss information is hidden until discovered.

Terran - Humanity, the result of a disastrous colonization attempt made by Earth.

1) Masters of defense. 2) Contains Psionic potential, as well as adaptive genetics. 3) Xenophobic, and aggressive to anything they consider not theirs. 4) Learns technological adaptations quickly. 5) Political infighting is common. 6) Has access to tactical nukes to aid in annihilating enemies in large numbers.

System advises Player that further Terran information is hidden until discovered.

Alright, some information was changed from what I remembered from the game, but not a whole lot. Information was also not revealed, meaning either they did not know it, or the whole ‘change the story’ part of the Campaign Maps would allow aspects of this information to change and adapt to your methods.

That made things more complicated. It meant with the added difficulty this System seemed to have hinted that it might change everything about this ‘designated planet’ as well. I wasn’t sure if they were actually different to begin with. I’d have to learn it the hard way.

When I had played the game itself, back when I just left basic during my downtime, I almost always played Zerg. Mostly because I had a secret crush on the ruthless Kerrigan, and her story spoke to me a lot. More now than ever before.

But...I shook my head lightly. I couldn’t, the image of me being a male version of the Zerg Infested Kerrigan just with more chitinous spikes. The main reason though was the idea that there would be beings that could, or would, control me somehow, a psi-emitter for starters would be disastrous. Perhaps sometime in the future, I would unlock them.

The Protoss were a no go as well, I was all for military structure, but their society was utterly caste based. Born and bred for one place, and that place alone. I couldn’t push myself into that sort of setting. It’d drive me crazy for many reasons. Though, my Protoss form was cool looking, reminded me of Zeratul, but more square features.

Which left me with the Terran. Now, I am Human, and my appearance wouldn’t change with this option. However, the political shit would be annoying beyond words. A military dictatorship wasn’t my style either, though that was the Terran in a nutshell.

Frowning, I selected the Terran. My reservations aside, I would at least be able to create an excellent defense should I be attacked on this Planet. I highly doubt that this fucking System, or rather that Alien bastard would leave me to grow and play in an RTS heaven without massive complications to keep it entertaining for him, and the...other viewers.

The last thought was depressing as hell, so I struggled forward and read the resulting prompt from selecting the Terran.

Congratulations Player: Damian Fern. You have selected your designated planet Race - Terran!

Attention! You are already Human; no changes will be made to your appearance, applications to increase your strength and longevity based on the Terran technology will commence now, standby.

Attention! Changes are finished, you are now stronger and have a slightly longer lifespan of three hundred years.

The System will now lock all rewards from difficulty setting at this time, and you will enter into the Tutorial Map so we can designate your abilities at leading men and strategy. Buildings will not be present in this tutorial. You will learn that upon arrival at your chosen planet!

Transferring you to the tutorial map now. -WARNING- Dying in any map will result in your termination from the system, Save Card is disabled for the tutorial map.

My eyes grew wide, and I started cussing up a storm, yelling about this shit being unfair, for not giving me the time to think and plan about how I might go about it. The System informed me, briefly, that this was a part of the highest difficulty setting. Then white light engulfed me again. At least this time I didn’t scream like a little girl.

When I came to, my body felt heavy, like really fucking heavy. I blinked slowly while my eyes adjusted to my surrounding. I did try to rub my eyes a moment, only to have a big metal fist come flying at my face.

I’ll admit, I stumbled back and fell on my ass in shock. Only after did I realize that it was my fist. Getting up, I looked at my hand, then whatever else I could see in shock. I was in a Marine Space Suit! Holy shit! As much as this shit pissed me off, I was geeking out a bit here. This suit was amazing! It had a heads-up display, showing a small tactical overlay of my surroundings, a number count for the rifle the Marines used, showing zero of zero bullets since I had no gun at the moment.

Following that, I saw the prompts showing up from the system itself. Just two of them, but what I read made my stomach fall to the ground.

System Announcement!

Player: Damian Fern, you have successfully entered the tutorial map!

This map is a separate entity from the Campaign Maps, and what occurs here will have no effect on the story, it is meant to test you in combat and your abilities. Succeeding will grant you bonus rewards based on completion, and shown skill. Failure will mean death.

-Warning- System advising that due to difficulty settings your tutorial has been set to a timed defense, your planet is Mar Sara, during the evacuation of the colonists during a Zerg invasion.

System Announcement! You must survive in the tutorial map for three days, Mar Sara standard time. You will be able to outfit one hundred Marines properly and are provided with four bunkers at the choke points, as well as Missile Turrets to assist.

System Announcement!

Mission Objectives -

1) All Civilians must escape without dying 2) You must survive with a minimum of fifty Marines for three days.

Bonus Objectives -

1) Evacuate with all Marines still alive! 2) Do not lose any buildings! 3) Personally kill five hundred Zerglings through weapons fire or another event 4) Personally kill one hundred Hydralisks through weapons fire or some other action. 5) Destroy two Hives between Zergling waves before evacuation

The single, most accurate statement I could think of as I began to hear yelling, and requests for a ‘Commander’ were “Well, fuck me with a rusty metal spoon…”