light_a_spark | Battlecruiser Hyperion, Thursday Afternoon

Kerrigan	Kerrigan stalked out of the dropship with haste, stripping part of her armor almost as soon as she touched the Hyperion's floors. The giant metal antechamber featured screens displaying the empty space and snatches of planet outside; one of them blinked, revealing what appeared to be a half-human, half-robotic face.
Marine	"Captain Raynor is requested to visit General Duke's wardroom at his soonest convenience," the feminine yet metallic voice droned.
Raynor	Uttering a stream of obscenities, Raynor didn't even bother to take off his armor. He just barged straight past through the next airlock, glaring.
Michael	"Kerrigan," Mike called to the hurrying redhead, "Hang on a minute."
Roy	Having never even been in an airplane, let alone gone into space, Roy was slightly reeling taking everything in. He wasn't so much out of it that he wasn't instantly trying to follow what was going on however. He also had the tendency to want to follow Kerrigan as whatever was going on seemed to just be getting worse if Raynor's reaction was anything to go by. "Who's this General?"
Michael	Mike glanced away from where Kerrigan had paused, watching them with an unreadable expression. "General Duke," he said, mildly. "He's a former Confederate Mengsk drafted into his army." He nodded his head at Kerrigan - and, by proxy, where Raynor had just left. "Disliking him is the first thing I've ever seen those two agree on."
Roy	"Wouldn't mind meeting him," Roy said pointedly, raising an eyebrow at Kerrigan.
Michael	"Everyone does eventually," Mike commented, grinning wryly. He returned his attention to Kerrigan. "The Uber-Mengsk wanted us both to report in when we got here. Let me go with you."
Kerrigan	"I'll talk to Arcturus on my own," Kerrigan answered, keeping her tone short. "He'll be more forthcoming with me." She turned around, strolling through the airlock.
Roy	Roy made a face and glanced at Mike. "There's no point arguing, right?"
Michael	"Not really," Mike replied, "Looks like you're with me." He sighed, moving through the airlock himself. "I'd take you to quarters, but I don't want to be stuck in the showers if she needs me."
Roy	"I can wait," Roy assured him and seeing how he wasn't going to be talking to Kerrigan soon, he took the time to take in everything around him. "So what exactly don't they like about this Duke guy?"
Michael	"For one thing, he's Confederate," Mike said, moving down the hallway. "For another, he's an ape. Raynor used to be Marshal on Mar Sara; Duke's the one who abandoned that planet to the Zerg. And the good Lieutenant hates Confederates." He glanced at Roy. "I take it you're not from around here."
Roy	"No," he shook his head. "I'm from... very far away. I hadn't heard of Zerg until I met Kerrigan." He hesitated for an instant, but who knew when he'd be able to ask Kerrigan these questions and it was obvious that she wanted to think the best of Mengsk. "So why did he recruit Duke? You don't take in your enemy unless you intend to use them."
Michael	"I should've known Mengsk was behind Kerrigan's disappearance," Mike muttered. He stared down into the hallway. "Duke's useful. His Alpha Squadron defended this part of the sector for years-- and Mengsk has been slowly replacing the old rebels with Duke's professional military." This was an observation he'd just made, recognising none of the faces that passed him by.
Roy	"You don't just replace a staff that's loyal to you," Roy mused, more talking to himself but it was an interesting tactic. The first part of Mike's statement didn't pass him by however and he glanced sideways at the man. "Why do you think that?"
Michael	"She disappeared doing recon on some Protoss base a week or two ago," Mike established, keeping an inquiring eye on Roy. The other man's reactions were processed as much as his own were being processed. "Mengsk gave the order."
Roy	"He knew she was back," Roy pointed out. "Did he let on that she'd be here before?"
Michael	"No," Mike said, his mind visibly working. "He's a chess player with people."
Roy	"I like chess," Roy murmured. "If he really does set the Zerg on this planet, what would he need Kerrigan for?"
Michael	"It's the psi-emitter," Mike replied, "You need a telepath to--"
Raynor	At that moment, a door exploded. Bursting through it were two men in battle armor - one of them was Raynor. His opponent's shoulderplate was missing, and there were spiderwebs in his visor. Raynor, on the other hand, had a banged-up chest plate. The other man, an elderly soldier, banged him hard in the head, then moved to pull a blaster. Raynor grabbed his arm, smashing it repeatedly against the wall until he dropped it.
Marine	"Y'all just signed your death warrant, boy!" his opponent yelled, clinging to his arm. Something more than armor had been shattered.
Michael	"You just signed the death warrant of your home planet, General!" Mike snarled, moving forward to support his friend. Something dawned on him, going by the look on Raynor's face. Hell. "He just set off the emitters! He called the Zerg here! Dammit! He and Mengsk didn't even give the Confederates a chance to surrender! The Zerg are coming here, and he's rolled out the welcome mat!"
Marine	Marines had scrambled around Raynor and the General during the fight. Some of them hesitated, their guns pointed at the floor; but the rest of them got their weapons trained on Raynor, Mike and Roy, showing no hesitation or doubt.
Roy	This day was just getting better and Roy turned his attention towards the General. "You just agreed to let your own people get slaughtered," he said in a calm voice. "Do you think this is going to make it better?"
General Duke	"I'll have you all court-martialed," the General just snarled, trying to compose himself. "I'm following Mengsk's orders."
Raynor	"You set off a dozen emitters on Tarsonis!" Raynor roared, "The populace will be swarmed!" He cast off Mike's arm with some agitation.
General Duke	"We left them in Confederate locations," General Duke articulated, "Didn't you realise we were plantin' one just as we were pickin' you up?"
Roy	"Because you're so good at containing them?" Roy asked dryly, pushing back the images his mind was all too helpful at supplying.
General Duke	"That doesn't matter," Duke said, "Mengsk has plans for this sector."
Raynor	It took all of Mike's strength to keep Raynor from lashing forwards. "You son of a--!" the former Marshal declared.
Roy	"I hope for the people on that planet that they're good plans," Roy murmured. "A human life costs a lot and you're going to spend the rest of yours paying for each and every one of them."
General Duke	"Spare me your moralizin'," Duke growled. It was obvious, though, that Raynor's rage was cowing him - he'd moved a few steps back, unconsciously holding his arm up.
Raynor	This was enough of a sign of weakness for Raynor that he tugged himself loose from Mike's grasp. "Whatever," he grunted, stalking past Duke and his marines. The latter watched him pass, following him with their guns but not making any move. They hadn't been ordered to.
Roy	Roy kept his attention on the General before he finally turned towards Mike. "I think I'm starting to understand now," he said as if it didn't matter that they were still standing there.
Michael	Mike eyed the General darkly. The man was giving him the stink eye, but he was starting to move away. "I need to talk to Jim," he said. He gestured at the lift. "Can you keep an eye out for Sarah?"
Roy	Roy nodded. It wasn't like there was anyone else he'd recognise anyway. Not that he had any idea where he should be looking for her, but at least she'd be able to find him. "I will. Go ahead."
Michael	Mike gave him a grateful nod, then followed after Raynor into the corridor. The marines started to droop off.