Now I will openly admit it. I suck at islands. I don’t think I could count on both hands how many games that involved islands I’ve played on and won. Cornstore and Wisest~Yoda were aware of this fact and told me that since Redneck was the best player in the group it was only natural to put him with the suckiest player. Me. Now I don’t mind being called sucky, for while I may not be good, I’m not stupid either. So with the teams decided we all joined the game and watched the count-down begin.

I choose the mighty armies of the Protoss to aid me in this battle and watched my nexus appear at the bottom right island while Redneck_Firebat random’s Zerg at the top right. CornStore and Wisest~Yoda also random their races and for now they are unbeknownst to Redneck or I, but Redneck is nobody’s fool and sent his starting overlord to scout the top left island. I on the other hand, with nothing to do and not knowing what to do, calmly type out: “Plans?” “Go sairs.” Alright, corsair's. That meant RF probably wanted to hit somebody early, but I wouldn’t know who because we still don’t know what we’re facing.. “Ok. Do you want them fast or normal?” Redneck didn’t understand the question and replied with a few question marks. “Fast- No defense just sairs ASAP. Normal- Some defense, sairs after.” He replied with: “I don’t care. I’m doing a hydra drop.” Alright, that didn’t help too much, but I figured if I got early air power we could stop any form of drop from either player.

Soon after RF’s overlord found CornStore’s SCVs busily mining away. He didn’t have much. Just a normal Terran island build, I guess. Gas, supply depots, barracks and a factory building. Yoda’s race became known when his overlord did a fly-by near my base. Now seeing something interesting to focus my future air force on I had started my build as such: On my 8th probe a pylon, 10th a gateway, 12th a extractor, 13th another pylon, 15th a cybernetic core and on the 18th a stargate. Now, that might not be the fastest build possible but I wanted to make sure I had ample funds built up to keep a steady stream of corsairs leaving my stargate. My partner was also on his way to dropping goodness. He did a normal zerg drop build, so by the time my stargate was started he had drop being researched. Things were going according to plan so far but we hadn’t seen any enemy activity. Redneck didn’t want to risk losing one overlord, and I couldn’t blame him. Every overlord would be needed in his upcoming drop.

As soon as my stargate finished I started a corsair, and at exactly 4 minutes and 43 seconds he was cruising on up towards CornStore’s base for that was the last direction I saw one of Yoda’s overlords heading. About midway Redneck ordered me to turn it around and send it straight into a hornet’s nest: Yoda’s base. I promptly wrote him off as dead and did as RF ordered. What we saw surprised us. Not only did Yoda have hydralisks milling around his base, he had TWO lair’s at what must of been 5 minutes into the game. THAT’S FAST.
Yoda was thinking along the same lines as Redneck but RF had gone a somewhat safer route, putting up a sunken for defense in fear of a dreaded Terran drop and only upgrading one hatchery to a lair. I too built some cannons for protection in case something went awry. It wouldn’t be a good thing to lose my base anytime soon.

My corsair survived the trip and while en route to Corn’s base ran into a white bundle of joy and proceeded to flare the crap out of it, and there was nothing Yoda could do about it. No matter how wise he was. The overlord died inches before reaching the relative safety of Yoda’s hydralisks. First blood goes to me.

I felt like I owned the skies. My air force had now grown to three corsairs who were busily scouring the map for any more of the floating gas bags. I decided a quick stop in Corn’s base wouldn’t hurt and while there were few overlords to be killed they were protected by some mighty mean marines. Corn’s base hadn’t changed much from when he was first scouted except he had an academy and a starport. I didn’t see any drop ships, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have them soon. While I pondered what to do about that a ping from Redneck alerted me to movement. Yoda was flying some overlords near the bottom middle island between him and I and I feared a drop was on the way. I quickly recalled all corsairs to the far left of my island for defense but along the way they flew over the island revealing a morphing hatchery. Seeing an opportunity to score another kill they start attacking the overlord stationed there but alas, the defending hydras warded me off. I returned seconds later with a few more sairs and the fat bastard was mine. A quick retreat was sounded for my sairs when a few more overlords came into view, full no doubt of units. I, knowing that sairs are useless unless they are shooting something, turned them around to attack. My guess was right. They were full of units but not with drones like I was hoping but with hydralisks. Many hydralisks. Even with a +1 weapon upgrade the corsairs died but bringing the overlords well into red hit points.

”Don’t waste your units!” Redneck, I’m sure screamed as he typed the words. I shrugged off the words. The more of Yoda’s army at his expansion, the less at his main. Redneck had picked up on the number of hydralisks guarding the small island and did have a drop force on the way to attack Yoda’s main. Three or four overlords dropped their cargo and accompanied the hydralisks in the attack on Yoda’s main. The first building to go was the hydralisk den and then the drones working there.

The fun did not last long though as Corn came to crash the party. One drop ship did go down in a fiery blaze but the other two dropped successfully. A squad of M&M and a pair of siege tanks. Redneck had little time, in fact, time ran out as soon as Yoda’s hydralisks returned to base and when 12 zerglings hatched from the lair’s. I had landed a token force of 4 zealots during the fighting but to no avail. The battle was over quickly due to Corn’s 1-1 marines focusing their fire on my warriors. My air force was not so unlucky for, during the fighting, I had them hunt down every last one of Yoda’s overlords in the area. His expansion was left defenseless.

Redneck saw the opening and dropped two overlords full of hydras to not only to keep Yoda on his toes but to cover his own expansion on the far right middle island that was between our mains. Yoda seeing his expansion dying before his eyes tried to evacuate his remaining drones in one of his overlords which I promptly blew out of the sky and had the victorious corsairs take up defensive positions near the top left part of the tiny island, fearing a retaliating drop from Corn.

The full force of Corn’s army had come to return the favor of our joint attack on Yoda. Redneck, after destroying the hatchery, loaded up his hydralisks and sent them as fast as he could back to base. Time was a factor and I knew I had to get some help to RF. I had dropped a small force to help take down Yoda’s expansion but I knew I would need more troops and risked taking detour at my base to pick up said "few more troops". I wished I had remembered the speed upgrade for my shuttles but it was too late now to fix my mistake. Not knowing what else to do, I sent my corsairs on a suicide mission into Yoda’s base. It would be a major pain in the you know where if he decided to get back into the game anytime soon. Meanwhile, at Redneck’s base, a few hydralisks morphed into lurkers for added protection against the upcoming battle. We were lucky that Corn hesitated so long in his attack, buying us precious seconds to gather our combined forces. Redneck and I agreed to attack Corn before he could properly set up his siege tanks.

The fighting was fierce and short. After 15 seconds I was down to just one zealot and a reaver and RN was left with a handful of hydras. Corn didn’t look too good either but he was a hair better off then both RN and I put together. Suddenly, BOOM! My reaver scored a direct hit amongst the marines, destroying their ranks.














Corn, realizing the threat just a little too late, rushed the remainder of his marines to their deaths to a nearby hungry baby lurker. =) As quickly as the battle started, it ended. We were victorious, but we paid for it with many units. Unfortunately this was just one battle. One battle in a ruthless war... and wars are not decided by just one battle.

”Thanks.” No further words were need from Redneck. Immediately time sped back up. I needed to replace my ranks as did Redneck. I knew I needed to expand AND I was going to need faster shuttles. I set about to remedy both situations. The latter proved easy to do. Just a click of a button and I had it being researched. But where to expand? I looked around the map, and nothing looked good except for where Yoda had tried to expand. The blood was still drying, yes, but you know what they say: the closer you are to harm the farther you are from danger or something like that. Anyways! I claimed the tiny war torn island as my own. Good. Good. Good. As long as we prevented Corn from expan........ Well crap. He expanded to the top middle island. My newly made observer flew right over it. Redneck pinged it, signaling me to attack it but I saw a different threat. Yoda was trying to expand as well but at the center left island expansion between him and Corn. I knew we had to stop Corn but I didn’t want Yoda getting an upper hand either.

I called upon two of my corsairs to fly ahead of my shuttles to remove any overlords while dropping two shuttles full of zealots and a dragoon. The defending lurkers didn’t stand a chance and I was soon destroying the hatchery with impunity. RF, seeing what I was attempting, changed plans mid-flight to Corn’s expansion and head on to white’s main. He ran into a snag though for while he had brought many overlords along, only three were actually full of fighting troops. Corn’s defending marines from earlier easily killed off the hydralisks but missed the lurker that had burrowed next to them. Adios amigos. Adios.

I followed up with an observer to scout out white but my attention was elsewhere. I was hard pressed defending, attacking, whatevering the island expansion where I was still trying to kill Yoda's hatchery. Corn and Yoda had brought reinforcements and while I survived with only two zealots I knew another attack would crush the pitiful force. I made it my goal to finish off the hatchery which went down in a spray of blood and gore. RF’s attack at Yoda’s main didn’t fare well, for while he disrupted mining for a few minutes, a comsat killed off his lurker.

So far so good though. I had a healthy supply of minerals as I’m sure RF did for he was expanding yet again. This time to the main right island in the center of the map. My expansion was coming along nicely as well for I had a few cannons up to protect it and a token force of units. Nothing was taking my island and it was time to take Corn’s. I loaded up my troops while RF did likewise and at 15 minutes into the game all hell broke loose. Yoda tried to take the far left middle island again. RF was dropping Corn’s expansion and Corn was dropping RF’s newest expansion.

I bearly defeated Yoda’s attack force and RF’s expansion fell just as quickly as you could blink an eye. No, the main battle was neither of those places. The real fighting was taking place on an island no bigger then Alcatraz... And it was intense. SCVs exploding. Marines screaming. Hydralisks being shelled to shreds. As the dust settled no SCV remained to mine the precious minerals but alas, Redneck’s forces were repelled.

”Attack blue’s forces. NOW.” I don’t know why he wanted me to but I did. I flew up two shuttles full of units, landed them, and watched them all die in rapid succession. I still pondered WHY I had done it, but then I understood. It distracted Cornstore's main force long enough for Red to do another drop at the terran expansion. It was do or die. The game’s outcome, I knew, depended on this battle. Again Redneck was close to victory but fell short of the objective. Destroying the command center. I was not idle though this time and I was able to help pick up the pieces. I landed three zealots and a dragoon, losing both badly damaged shuttles to turrents. Redneck tried once more with what I guess you would call a “force” and together, we crushed the expansion like a grape.

Something else was about to be crushed like a grape as well. During the fighting, Yoda had re-taken the far left expansion, but that is not what scared me. No... What made my blood run cold would make any sane Starcraft player’s as well. My observer barely saw the task force en route to Redneck’s main. “DROP AT YOUR MAIN!” But it was too late. There was nothing I could do about it either. All my shuttles were out of commission and my reaver died to just one hit from a sieged tank. The battle for RF’s main was short and sweet for Corn as there was no stopping the 3-1 marines now. The main was lost.

Redneck tried expanding yet again but Yoda picked the wrong time to make a come back.Things looked grim. I didn’t know what to do as Redneck typed: “I’m dead.” I asked myself... How do you stop a terran on islands? What do I need? My concentration was broken as I saw Redneck attacking Yoda’s main with the last remnants of his army. By this time I had two shuttles in operation and had them shuttle *heh* my whole standing army to support the attack. We cleared out all of the hydralisks and overlords but the remaining defenses held. We lost.

Redneck dropped Yoda’s expansion island and claimed it for himself but Corn also made a drop at RF’s last bastion of power. Everything seemed to be going down the toilet but I bearly managed to drop my troops in time to save the remaining structures. I also made a daring move during this time to take Corn’s recently destroyed expansion, I figured it was better off in my hands then his until, that is when I saw that just below, Corn had expanded yet again. To the center left island. I hurriedly built some cannons to dissuade Corn from dropping my newest expansion and I had also found the counter to Corn’s marines too. Maybe you thought High Templar and any normal player would have done so but I’m stupid and went dark templar. I dropped two of them at the center right island and only last one in the devastating slaughter. Corn comsated but too late and paid for the mistake by losing a squad of marines and 5 siege tanks.

I could feel the ball back in our court and it was rolling the way I liked it. I had a small terran force threatening my newest expansion which I put down with no trouble. DTs for the win! =) Corn tried again to drop but was defeated. Redneck did more damage then Corn did, killing 4 of my probes with his lurker, but it was okay. Things were looking up again, for I had my shuttle force back in action with an army to fill their holds. There was only one place left to attack to end the game quickly. Corn and Yoda’s expansions on the center left island. I needed to crush it and soon before either player could launch a new attack. Redneck was still in piss poor shape so I would have to do it alone. But you know the funny thing about fate? It always catches up to you. I just wished it hadn’t reared it’s ugly head in the form of 5 fully loaded drop ships and 3 overlords full of troops squashing Red’s far left expansion like a bug. *Pun not intended* “Help!” Cried Redneck.

My shuttles raced across the map but as I looked upon the hopeless battle I knew I could not land my troops in that mess. It was certain doom. What to do? What to do? I thought as my forces passed over Yoda’s defenseless expansion. Funny how opportunity presents itself... And kicks you in the teeth. I dropped my troops and watched blue siege tanks utterly rip them apart. So now I've lost my whole dropping force and Redneck his new main. I just dropped the ball.

Yoda stole that momentum and kept it going by heading towards Redneck’s last ditched effort to save himself by expanding to the center right island. I intercepted his force with a few of my sairs that I had placed in his way only moments before but that only stalled him long enough to find a gap in my blockade. Yoda dropped his army and, while he had a sizeable force, underestimated Red’s lurkers. Losing his hydras in just two volleys. I laughed at the pitiful attempt but unbeknownst to me it was just to clear the way for Corn. I had three empty shuttles and an equally empty expansion as it ran dry of minerals. I was down to my last expansion and Redneck was on his last set of legs. It was time. Sooner then I had hoped but I had no other option. I committed my carriers to the battle. The six 1-0-2 fully loaded behemoths bore down on the attackers and stopped the assault cold. Not even Redneck knew of them as a “Woah.” escaped him.

With that threat silenced I proceeded with due haste to Corn’s expo. Stopping his income was the only way to force him out of the game. I knew I had little time before wraiths and goliaths would appear to counter my carriers. I had to make the most of that time. It was hard to break through the defending turrents and marines but I saw an opening when Redneck supported the attack with two lurkers at Yoda’s hatchery and just as it went down, so did my last expansion. There was jack crap I could do about it for my carriers were too far away. I hid an observer amongst the drop ships and when Corn loaded his troops up I shouted: “Scourge them!” Because I noticed a few of the flying bombs tagging along with my carrier group. Too late... They landed at their next destination, Red’s center right expansion. After Corn’s command center blew at the center left island I rushed my carriers to help defend but my face fell as Yoda came knocking my front door down.

Corn, sensing victory, rushed his marines into a death trap. Redneck’s lurkers wiped out almost all of the pimp squad, leaving me to clean up the tanks. With the expansion saved I ordered my fleet to return to base as fast as possible and ward off the impending destruction of my main. I didn’t lose too many buildings but I DID lose the most important thing to me now. My expansion. I forgot to save up some minerals while I was building interceptors so I resorted to long distance mining with my probes via shuttles.

CornStore, in a last ditch effort to get me from attacking his last expansion yet again, ordered a final drop on Redneck’s far right middle expansion but with that attack withering and dying before his eyes defiantly calls out: “Carriers are gay.” before he and Yoda concede the game.