In high orbit, Selendis watched as the zerg fleet closed in. The Golden Armada, or what was left of the Golden Armada, was ready for combat. They were tired and beaten up, but their spirit was still high, and they were very ready for combat. All the fighters had returned to their capital ships. The entire fleet was ready for jump.

The zerg fleet continued to approach from all sides, firing in the process. Mutalisks were released into the fray. Corruptors engaged in three thick lines. Leviathans stayed in the back and acted as turrets.

“Now!” Selendis suddenly ordered loudly as the zerg fleet reached a certain point, and then all hell went loose.

The carriers and the motherships disappeared in a blink, and two seconds later these giant capital ships appeared next to the zerg leviathans. Power fields were projected on top of the leviathans.

Protoss capital ships had the ability to project a power field on top of a location, but this method was energy consuming and somewhat limited. For example, if Artanis tried to project a power field on Char, the amount of energy needed would be enormous. Plus, the power field would be located by the swarm, and warping units would be arriving inside an army of foe. This was why Artanis chose to use warp prisms rather than power fields.

That was not to say power fields were useless. In this case, when the distance was short and the enemies couldn’t really react in time because they were in capital ships, power fields were pretty good.

Protoss units solidified within the zerg leviathans. All the units that stayed with the armada instead of going to Char with Artanis were thrown into combat here.

Zealots did as much damage as possible. The elite nature of the zealots were fully demonstrated in this scenario where the number advantage of the swarm didn’t come into play. Zerglings were crowded in the halls and were walking into slaughter in a tight line. Hydralisks and roaches couldn’t shoot over the shoulders of their own kind and provide support for their comrades. Units like banelings couldn’t even be used due to their inability to distinguish friend from foe.

Dragoons and immortals faced the same problem as the roaches and hydralisks, but the mission of these protoss warriors was not to commandeer the zerg ships. No, that would be foolish. The protoss didn’t have the numbers to take down a zerg fleet from within. Instead, these warriors were to be sacrificed to buy some time for their brothers on the planet below.

This was why the dragoons and the immortals were targeting the body of the ship. Usually no one would do such thing because it would be disastrous to both sides of the engagement. If the ship fell apart, it didn’t matter which side you were on, but in this case the protoss’ mission was to delay the zerg attack. Punching holes in zerg capital ships might be the best way for these ground troops to do damage. A few dozens warriors for a ship kilometers long and all the units on the ship would certainly be a good deal.

Phase disruptor projectiles smashed into the soft flesh of the inner bodies of the leviathans and painted the ground with the blood of the beast. The leviathans screeched, but their voice were unheard in the vacuum of space.

The zerg responded as soon as they could. Jean noticed the Golden Armada’s counterattack and their temporary advantage, but she wasn’t worried. The swarm could take some losses and come back after a few days. Still, it was better to decrease the damage down by the protoss. Jean gave a few orders.

The swarm acted to Jean’s command. Leviathans being boarded jumped back to a safe distance where the protoss power fields could no longer reach, therefore cutting off the protoss reinforcements. Without any support, the boarding parties would be slowly chipped away by the endless swarm.

Leviathans that weren’t boarded focused their firepower on the Golden Armada capital ships. Mutalisk hordes that missed the Golden Armada due to their jump came back. Corruptors launched their spores at the carriers and the motherships, constantly doing damage.

“Launch all fighters.” Selendis said solemnly. The few fighters that survived were not enough to hold the line, but they weren’t sent to fight.

They were sent to die.

Groups of phoenixes and scouts moved toward the much larger zerg fleet. The few red dots seemed so insignificant in the face of a sea of purple. It was certain death for these pilots, but none of them felt fear. No loyal servant of Amon fear death.

This would end very quickly. That was what every zerg commander thought. That was what Jean thought. She sensed something fishy. Marching a few fighters into the zerg fleet wasn’t something a wise commander would do, but it was possible that the protoss commander didn’t care. Brainwashing might have that effect on its victim.

But Jean was proven wrong.

Instead of firing, the Daelaam fighters charged straight into the zerg. Some of the scouts were shot down, but most of the agile phoenixes reached where they were going for.

Almost simultaneously, all the fighters were lit up in a blaze of light. It was made by the explosion of the crystals that powered the fighters.

The explosions had both a visual shockingness and a huge kinetic impact. The protoss came planned, and the fighters were spread apart to inflict maximum damage upon the zerg. The carapace of mutalisks could take several dozen marines shots, but the self destruction of the protoss fighters did so much damage. The mutalisks were crowded, and each explosion took out at least a dozen mutalisks. As the red dots turned to nothing in a flash, the front of the zerg flank was cleared for the moment.

Jean’s expression didn’t change as hundreds, if not thousands, of mutalisks perished. That was the thing with the swarm. She could replace the losses in a heartbeat. “Send in half the reserves and continue to push forward.”

The protoss did something, but it was far from enough.