Chapter 2, coming at ya!

Ranma is owned by Rumiko Takahashi, X-Com by Hasbro, and Starcraft by Blizzard Entertainment.

Chapter 2: Plans Within Plans
 
5 years later
 
        Ranma peered out at the desolate landscape from the sentry
blind.  Ruined buildings and debris covered the land, which had once
been a thriving metropolis.  But since the coming of the Zerg,
everything had changed.
        The Zerg invasion had laid waste to most of the major population
centers on the planet.  It was followed up by the Protoss, who had
attacked and killed both human and Zerg indiscriminately.  By the time
it was over, there was little left in the way of human civilization on
Earth.
        Most of humanity now lived in X-Com bases, vast underground
facilities capable of housing hundreds of thousands of people.  With at
least two bases in each major country or continent (Japan having two,
Japan North and Japan South), X-Com represented the last major
resistance against the Zerg.
 
        "Man, I hate sentry duty," Ranma said to his partner.  Ranma had
not changed much, except discarding his red and black Chinese silks for
a standard blue and gray X-Com uniform.
        Private Raguri Omoto grinned.  "You could be doing scout
missions."
        "I *will* be doing scout missions.  At least that'll be more
interesting than sitting here for six hours a day."
        "Glorious missions end in glorious funerals," Omoto quoted.
        "Whatever."
        "C'mon Captain, lighten up."  They both scanned the area around
them for awhile, until Omoto asked, "Sir, I was wondering, what *did*
you do in the Ghost program?  There are a lot of rumors, but nobody
really knows what happens."
        "Ahhh, it was a lot of head stuff.  Telepathy, masking, and so
on.  Trained us in sharp-shooting, laser targeting, et cetera, et
cetera."  Ranma looked at distaste at his C-10 Canister Rifle.  "I hate
guns.  Useless trash, if you ask me."
        "Hey, not everyone can shoot energy bolts from their hands,
sir."  Then tentatively, "So you can...read minds?"
        "Nah, not really.  Mostly it was just teaching us to hide
ourselves from the Zerg.  Mask our minds and bodies.  Makes my head hurt
sometimes."
        "Sounds interesting."
        "It was boring.  I'd rather learn martial arts.  That's much
more my style.  All this sneaking around seems like a waste of time to
me."
        "Why were you and the Major picked?"
        "Something to do with genetics and both our families being able
to channel lots of psionic energy.  It shows in our ability at martial
arts.  They said that the Tendo and Saotome families channeled our
psionic energy into our bodies, which explains why we're so good at
martial arts.  It's also why we were picked as Ghosts."
        "So do you know if you and the Major be working together?"
        "I sure ain't gonna let Command split us up.  Nabiki's learned a
lot, but she's still got a long way to go."
        "Yeah I heard you were the over-protective type."
        "What the hell is that suppose to mean?!"
        "Nothing!  Nothing really!  Just forget I said it."
        "No I want to know.  What do you mean 'over-protective'?"
        "Well...er...uhh..."  Omoto was interrupted by the opening of
the trapdoor leading out of the blind.  Another guard entered and
saluted Ranma, who halfheartedly returned the salute
        "Captain, General Moroto wants to see you immediately.  I'll
take over here."
        Ranma nodded and left.
        Omoto sighed in relief.  "Saved by Command.  That's a first."
 
        Ranma was surprised to see Nabiki there when he arrived at
General Moroto's office.  Nabiki's eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint
smile could be seen for a moment before she suppressed it.  Showing
affection before the brass was frowned upon.  She had kept her brown
hair short, but her body was thicker with the added muscle of years of
martial arts training.  With his usual lack of protocol, Ranma nodded to
General Moroto and sat.
        Moroto looked at Ranma a moment, then cleared his throat.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Ranma.  In case you haven't
figured it out, I'm giving the both of you your first assignment."
        One of Nabiki's eyebrows rose.  "So soon?  I though you'd want
for us to do some trial runs first."
        "Yes, normally that's true.  However, we've just completed a
weapons research project and HQ is eager to test it out.  Apparently, we
have the 'honor' of trying it out first."
        "What is it?" asked Ranma.
        Moroto pressed a button and a 3D display appeared above his
desk.  "What I'm about to show you is classified.  Discussion of what
you see here outside this room, even in the privacy of your quarters, is
grounds for a court marshal."
        "General, we're too valuable to you to be court marshaled.
We're the only Ghosts you have," said Nabiki.
        "I know, but it's just a reminder.  Given your...extra
curricular activities, I just wanted to make sure you understood the
seriousness of the situation."
        Nabiki managed to look shocked.  "General!  I would never betray
the X-Com Defense Force!  And my husband isn't smart enough to disobey
orders."
        "Ha-ha," replied Ranma flatly.
        Moroto shook his head.  "I'm beginning to wonder if I should
have denied your transfer from Intel to Special-Ops.  Anyway," pressing
another button, the display changed to a 3D topographical map of the
area.  "You two are to lead a preemptive strike on the Zerg base
approximately ten miles north from here."  The map traced a route from
their base up to a ridge overlooking the south side of the enemy base.
"Your mission is to target these two points."  Two areas brightened
inside the boundaries of the base.  "Once a lock is achieved, we will
launch two low-yield, short range nuclear missiles.  This will destroy
the perimeter Sunken Colonies and surrounding Spore Colonies, as well as
doing severe damage to troops garrisoned in the base.  After the strike,
our forces will attack from the south east trail, while our air forces
will be flying in over you.  Once the missiles have hit, your mission is
to aid with the attack in any way possible."
        "Sir," asked Nabiki, "how low-yield is 'low-yield'?  I don't
want to discover in ten years that I'm dying of cancer."
        "The material used has a half life of about ten seconds, so
fallout will be minimal."
        Ranma spoke up.  "General, how are we suppose to take the base
out?  They outnumber us at least fifteen to one.  The only reason they
haven't killed us already is because the Protoss would wipe them out
while they were attacking us."
        "By using the simple tactic of 'The enemy of my enemy is my
friend.'"
        Nabiki's eyes widened.  "You're going to use the Protoss."
        "That's right.  We've leaked the information to the Protoss in
such a way to look like they found it themselves.  When we attack, the
Protoss will engage the Zerg.  When they're fully committed, we'll fall
back and let the Protoss handle things for awhile. After they weaken the
Zerg forces some more, we'll move in and mop up."
        "And what if the Protoss don't attack?"
        "If the Protoss don't attack then we retreat, but I don't think
they'll pass up this opportunity. Here's the overall tactical situation:
"
 
Z - Zerg base
P - Protoss base
X - X-Com base
 
^
 |
North
 
                X (Japan North)
 
                Z
 
 
        Z       P       Z
 
 
            X (Japan South)
 
        "They're effectively surrounded, with Zerg bases on three sides.
They can't afford to not destroy one base given the chance.  Japan North
will provide a bit of a diversion by attacking the Zerg base south of
them, forcing them to keep their troops there and not send
reinforcements.  The Protoss base and ours effectively block the east
Zerg from fortifying the west."
        Ranma and Nabiki studied the map.  "Huh," said Ranma.  "It just
might work after all.  If the Protoss attack, that is."
        "You leave the day after tomorrow at 0630 hours."  He smiled.
"We know how fast you two can travel, so you should arrive there at
about 0700.  "We'll be ready to engage by 0730, so set your targets at
about 0720.  It'll take about five minutes for the warhead to hit, and
the laser must be set for the full five minutes.  To minimalize civilian
casualties, we'll be broadcasting a launch warning.  Unfortunately, the
Zerg will catch it as well, so they'll probably start looking around for
something.  They also might see the laser targets.  It is imperative
that once started, that you keep the lock until just before the warhead
hits.  If you don't, the computer will interpret that at an abort and
not detonate the warhead.  Is this understood?"         The couple
nodded.  "The information you'll need has been emailed directly to your
quarters.  Until you leave your time is your own.  You're dismissed and
good luck."
 
        "So, what do you think?" asked Nabiki.
        "Of what?" replied Ranma.
        Nabiki rolled here eyes.  "The mission, of course!"
        "It's about time.  We've been playing cat and mouse with the
Zerg almost since they arrived."
        "Nuclear weapons, though..." Nabiki shuddered.
        "Hey, nothing's been able to beat me yet.  I won't let anything
happen."
        "Cocky and confident as usual."  Nabiki raked her hair back with
her fingers.  "Well, we've got the next day and a half off.  You up to a
bout?"
        Ranma grinned.  "With you?  Always."
        In due course they entered one of the many gyms used for a wide
variety of physical training.  Equipment was everywhere, capable of
testing every conceivable muscle group, and there was a wide empty area
for unarmed combat training.
        Genma stood at the edge watching his students train.
Occasionally, he would bark admonishment at one cadet or another.
        Ranma smiled slyly, then slowly and quietly made his way towards
his father.  When he was within range, and raised one foot, intent on
kicking him into the far wall.
        "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Ranma," said Genma, not
bothering to turn around.
Ranma started guiltily, then laughed nervously.  "Heh-heh...How'd you
know Pop?  I know you ain't *that* good."
        Now Genma turned.  He wore a slight scowl on his face.  He still
wore his tattered gi and glasses, and had a kerchief around his bald
head.  "Ranma, when will you learn to fight with your head?  The
students were watching you the whole time.  I could see it in their
eyes."  He paused for effect.  "Ranma, you're a disgrace to the Saotome
School of Anything Goes Martial Arts!"  In a calmer voice, "Hello
Nabiki.  How are you doing?"
        "I'm fine Dad.  You?"
        Genma sighed.  "Running out of patience with these students."
Turning to his pupils, who were watching the Saotome family dynamic in
action, bellowed, "Do you think the Zerg would stand by and let you fool
around like this?"
        "Ah, quit your yelling, old man!  Your giving me a headache!"
This time Ranma succeeded in kicking Genma across the room into a water
stand.
        Genma-Panda stood and pulled out a sign.  "Don't undermine my
authority in front of the students!"  Many of the cadets were whispering
to each other in amazement, having heard of Genma's curse but not seen
it.
        "Ha!  Can't take away what you don't have!"
        "Hey Ranma, are you going to spend all day fighting with your
father, or are you actually going to (gasp), horror upon horrors, spend
some time with your wife?" asked Nabiki
        "All right everyone, back up, give them room," Genma-Panda
signed.
        "Here dad."  Nabiki tossed Genma a thermos of hot water.  Genma-
Panda poured it's contents on himself and changed back into a human.
        "Thank you Nabiki.  You're such a kind and considerate
daughter."  He glared at Ranma.  "Unlike some other children of mine."
        "That'll be 3000 yen," replied Nabiki as she retrieved the
thermos.  Genma facefaulted.
Nabiki and Ranma faced each other across the mats.  Ranma stood calmly
in place, waiting.  Nabiki's eyes narrowed, then she cupped her hands
together, a bright green ball flashing into existence.  Ranma raised and
eyebrow at her action.  "Moko Takabisha!"  A beam of energy shot forth
from her hands, but Ranma merely leaned to one side to avoid the attack.
        "What'd you do that-" Ranma was interrupted as small waterfall
of cold water hit him from a water pipe in the wall.  The spray stopped
a second later by automatic repair systems.  Ranma-chan looked at
herself in disgust.  "Nabiki!  What'd-"  Ranma-chan was interrupted
again as Nabiki rushed her and hit her with a quick one-two combination,
then kicked her up into the wall near the ceiling.  Nabiki then opened
up with the Kach  Tenshin Amaguriken.  Off balance, Ranma-chan fell into
the blizzard of fists.  Parrying about half of the blows, Ranma-chan
managed to grab Nabiki's wrists, turn, and do a hip throw, sending
Nabiki sprawling across the mats.
        Nabiki rolled to her feet just in time to be hit by a M"ko
Takabisha from Ranma-chan, knocking her back into a wall.  Nabiki landed
and staggered forward, gasping for breath.  "That was...quite a hit."
The students clapped enthusiastically.
        "Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," replied Ranma-
chan.
        "Now that we've had the requisite amount of flash in a martial
arts fight, how about we stick to more conventional moves?  I've no
desire to be on the receiving end of your Hiryu Shoten Ha."
        "Sure.  Don't think I'm going to be any easier on you."
        "I'm counting on it."
        Nabiki moved in, fists and feet striking quickly.  Ranma-chan,
in her infuriating manner, leaned out of the way of the ones she did not
have to block.  Nabiki frowned.
        The mats of the arena were standard squares linked together by
velcro.  During a punch which forced Ranma-chan to almost bend herself
in half to avoid, Nabiki rammed a foot into edge of one of the mats.
Lifting with the foot, she tore the connection.  Grabbing it, she pulled
the mat beneath Ranma-chan's feet out from under her.  Ranma-chan jumped
up to regain her balance, and Nabiki followed attacking with the
Amaguriken.  Her momentum carried her beyond Ranma-chan, who, bruised
and a little dazed, twisted in the air and landed on the mats.  Nabiki
rebounded herself off the ceiling and landed on Ranma-chan's head,
driving it into the floor.  Ranma-chan leaned up and grabbed Nabiki
around the neck with her feet.  Lifting with her hands, she flipped
around reversing their positions.  Nabiki rolled with the move, twisting
around.  They ended up with Nabiki on the floor being straddled by
Ranma-chan.  Nabiki's arms were pinned to her body by Ranma-chan's legs.
Nabiki tried to reach up with her legs to pull her off, but Ranma
stopped them with her arms.
        "You realize I couldn't let you win after you cheated, did you?"
Ranma-chan asked.
        "All's fair in love and war, Ranma-chan.  And you know what?"
Her voice lowered to a whisper.  "This is both."
        Genma walked up to the two of them and poured some hot water on
Ranma.
        Nabiki smiled cutely up at her father-in-law.  "Thanks daddy.
C'mon Ranma."  She climbed out from under Ranma, and the two of them
left.
        Genma watched them leave, a small smile on his face.  "Ah, Soun,
my friend.  You'd be so proud to see our children now."
 
End Chapter 2

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