Remaining Psi energy: 90% , the HUD indicated how much psionic energy Marcus had remaining to maintain the suits cloaking feild. He had to have enough to make his rounds and return back without being detected. So far he had made good progress, the hills that loomed towards the east from the base was now just a few feet away. This was the last know position of Zerg forces, their base could not be far away. He was about to make another step forward when the ground erupted in front of him.
Two hydralisks and 6 zerglings surfaced from the ground. Marcus held his breath. He knew the Zerg sensed him but without a visual they could not attack. He moved around the sentry silently, hand on rifle..just in case!. The Zerg, not been able to find any hostiles burrowed under the ground again. After a few feet the ground was no longer covered with sand or rock, instead it was covered with some primordial ooze. A sign that the Zerg base was nearby.
Soon the sharpshooter found himself on the tip of the nearest hill and looking down at a valley. In the middle of the valley lay the Zerg hive and several other support structures. The whole valley was abuzz with activity, Zerg ground units were swarming to the northern face of the cliffs and Mutalisks were regrouping above a great spire. New Overlords were beings spawned from the drones and began lumbering across the sky.
Marcus began to move quickly for cover. He did not want to be spotted by the Overlords who were sensitive to psionic emissions. He gazed at the valley again through binoculars.
"This is Marcus to all units" he spoke quietly into his communication headset. "I have located the Zerg base, 2.5 miles East from your location. Initial signs show that it has a significant force protecting it. I count a force of over 3000 zerglings and a hydralisk army 1200 strong. Their air units are significantly crippled but they are rebuilding their army fast" Marcus paused as he felt the ground rumble off in the distance. A giant mammoth of a beast came into view, it was over 5 meters tall and several meters wide and bigger than the biggest tank. It was a Zerg heavy assault unit.
"Guys,..you may not like this..but the Zerg also have an Ultralisk guarding its base". Marcus glanced at his HUD. Remaining Psi energy: 58% He had to get moving soon. "I'm moving to scout the Protoss as well" with that Marcus moved hastily using boulders and the terrain as cover from the overlords to the Northern edge of the valley, the region with the most significant Zerg ground activity.
Beyond the Northern cliff lay the signs of the Protoss base. The Protoss probes were busy constructing the defensive cannons encircling the base. Marcus dared not approach any closer. Those cannons had the ability to detect cloaked units and he didn't want to risk exposure between the Protoss and Zerg.
"Guys, it looks like the Zerg are preparing an assault on the Protoss camp, both forces are grouping up at the base of the northern cliff side". "This should buy us time to make our repairs cause I think both sides are going to have their hands full from now on". "We could..alternatively strike a counter attack on one of these groups..you know..while they are busy". Marcus looked at his HUD, he had enough energy to make one last reconnaissance run.
"Commander, as it stands we have two heavily protected bases. The Protoss don't appear to have many units but their base is well guarded with canons. The Zerg on the other hand, have no defensive structures that I can see but they have a ton of ground units protecting the base..and without a Com-sat I can't tell how many there are burrowed in the ground, there could be many more. That's also not forgetting the goddamn behemoth of an Ultralisk guarding the main Hive".
"I have enough energy for one last recon" he paused. "What are your orders, commander?"
