History

The Decline of Western Civilization

    Although technology and world culture progressed rapidly throughout the twenty-fourth century, their advancements paled in comparison to the seemingly reckless leaps that would follow. By the end of the twenty-fourth century, mankind had seen bold and unprecedented changes within the world. Radical new technologies were surfacing at incredible rates, offering increased access to advanced computers and informational databases to even the most destitute nations of Earth. In the wake of the eradication of Communism from the Eastern Nations, nuclear weapons quickly became available in abundance. The international power structure, once defined primarily by the acquisition of capital and military superiority, was blasted apart as third-world nations rose to challenge the economic and military might of the world's super-powers.

    As the manipulative sciences of cybernetics, cloning and gene-splicing rose steadily into the public forum, militant humanist and hard-line religious groups challenged the rights of private interest corporations who profited from genetic experimentation. Multitudes of people were being augmented with cybernetic implants while others began to manifest slight physical mutations ranging from heightened senses to advanced telepathy. These dramatic changes within the human gene pool caused widespread panic amongst many of the fundamental humanist factions.

    Technology continued to evolve and spread, and population rates soared. Near the end of the twentieth century, there were six billion people upon the earth. Within three hundred years, the population had grown to an estimated twenty-three billion. Pollution and a lack of natural resources and affordable fuels added to the fire as world leaders sought ways to stem the growth of their nation's inhabitants. Popular sentiment held that the world was plummeting towards an inevitable catastrophe as overpopulation and genetic alteration swept across the globe.

    Meanwhile, as tensions rose around the world regarding the use and capitalization of cybernetics and genetic mutations, many core international economic systems folded in upon themselves and shut down. Horrific acts of terrorism and violence erupted between the corporate sector and the humanist factions, resulting in forced police actions across the globe. Irresponsible media coverage of these atrocious police actions spurred the already rampant civil chaos in many of the larger countries. Ultimately, the precarious balance of world power exploded into international pandemonium.

The New Order

    On November 22, CE 271, the United Powers League (UPL) was founded. The UPL was to become the ultimate incarnation of the vision of a unified humanity held by the now defunct United Nations. This new order encompassed and controlled close to ninety-three percent of the earths population, failing only to bring order to a few volatile South American states. The UPL was founded upon the basis of 'enlightened socialism', but often resorted to harsh, fascist police actions to maintain the public order. With its control lasting for nearly eighty years, the UPL began to devise a rigid agenda that would unify the various cultures of humanity for all time. Great lengths were taken to eradicate the last vestiges of racial separatism, and the Unitariate Commissions banned many of the world's oldest religions. English was designated as the common tongue of the planet, replacing many ancient languages that were subsequently banned in their native countries.

    Although religions were officially banned by the UPL, the organization held an almost zealous belief in the supposed divinity of mankind'. This quasi-religious dogma called for the immediate eradication of any non-vital prosthetics or mutations amongst the pure-strain human gene pool. Hard-line UPL proponents and scholars argued that genetic alteration, cyber technology, and the use of psychoactive drugs all led to the eventual degeneration of the human species. The UPL leaders formulated a bold plan that would assure that humanity would persevere, unscathed by the tempting corruption of radical technologies.

The Great Purification

    Like the bloody Inquisitions that devastated Europe eight hundred years before, the UPL set in motion one of the harshest agendas ever conceived by humanity: Project Purification. This genocidal crusade was the Government's final solution to the matter of cleansing humanity of its more degenerate facets. UPL troops scoured every nation on earth, rounding up dissidents, hackers, synthetics, the cybernetically enhanced, tech-pirates, and criminals of every kind. This planet wide culling resulted in the eradication of nearly 400 Million people. The world-media, now under the strict control of the UPL, downplayed the horrific violence and kept the general populace of earth unaware of the scope of the atrocities being committed.

    Despite their heinous acts, the UPL succeeded in advancing many core technologies. Fields of research that had lain dormant for decades were opened again under UPL control. The Space Exploration programs of the mid-twentieth century, abandoned by the American and Russian governments due to drastically reduced budgets and incessant political sabotage, became the basis for a new era of exploration for humanity. The coupling of cryogenic hibernation with warp-drive technology resulted in the ability to travel amongst the stars. Within the span of forty years the UPL founded colonies upon the moon and many other planets within the solar system.

    During this period, a brilliant young scientist named Doran Routhe made plans to consolidate his power within the UPL. Uninvolved with the vulgarities of Project Purification, Routhe was obsessed with founding colonies upon the world beyond the Terran Sector. Routhe was convinced that the discovery of new minerals and alternate fuel sources on the outlying worlds would make him one of the most influential men on earth. Through his political connections and personal fortune, Routhe was able to secure thousands of UPL prisoners to use as guinea pigs for his secret plans.

    The prisoners, slated for mass execution under the edict of Project Purification, were transported to Routhe's private laboratories. Routhe, planning on sending the prisoners off to colonize the outlying worlds, had his science crews prep nearly 56,000 people for long-term cryogenic hibernation. Cataloguing the various mutations and cybernetic enhancements of the prisoners, Routhe input all of the data into a revolutionary supercomputer. This Artificial Tele-empathic Logistics Analysis System, known as ATLAS then processed this genetic information and was able to predict which of the prisoners should be able to survive the trial to come. Only 40,000 of the prisoners were deemed viable to survive the rigorous conditions. Those 40,000 were then loaded onto four gargantuan, automated deep-space supercarriers. As the prisoners were prepped for cryogenic 'cold-sleep', the ships were loaded with enough supplies, rations and hardware to aid them once they arrived at their scheduled destination. The navigation computer was then programmed with the coordinates of the outlying planet Gantris VI. All seemed in perfect preparation, but even Routhe could not have imagined that the prisoners would be launched to their almost certain deaths in the galactic rim.

The Exiles And The Long Sleep

    The ATLAS was installed into the first of the super carriers, the Nagglfar. Three other carriers - the Argo, the Sarengo, and the Reagan - were programmed to follow the Nagglfar as it was launched into the void of space towards Gantris VI. Over the course of this journey, which generations later would call 'The Long Sleep', ATLAS continued to monitor the humans kept in cryogenic stasis. Evaluating the numerous mutations and enhancements found within the prisoner's gene pool, ATLAS became aware of a powerful mutagenic strain that existed in some of their DNA. While this mutation was found to reside in less than one percent of the prisoners, it seemed to augment the latent psionic potential within the human brain. ATLAS calculated that, should the prisoners survive in their new environment many of them might benefit from this psionic mutation within only a few generations. These findings were recorded and relayed back to earth, straight into the logs of Doran Routhe.

    Originally scheduled as a one-year trip, their voyage took a turn for the worse at some point during the journey the navigational systems linked to ATLAS shut down, erasing not only the co-ordinates of Gantris VI, but those of the earth as well. The four ships, carrying their hapless cargo in stasis, barreled blindly through space at warp speeds for nearly thirty years.

    Eventually, the warp-drive engines of the four super carriers reached critical meltdown. After twenty-eight years of warp travel, the huge ships emerged into real space near the edge of a habitable star system. Some 60,000 light years from the earth, their engines destroyed and their life-support batteries nearly exhausted, the ships engaged their emergency protocols and plummeted towards the nearest habitable worlds in the system.

    The Reagan and the Sarengo crash landed on the world that would be named Umoja. The Sarengo, which had suffered massive systems failures during its atmospheric descent, smashed into the planet killing all of its 8,000 passengers. The Reagan was more fortunate, making a controlled descent and landing safely. Once the ship had landed, the 'cold sleep' chambers were deactivated and the surviving passengers slowly awakened. The passengers, attempting to discern where they were and how long they had 'slept', found that the ATLAS system had somehow erased all knowledge of their journey from their computer banks.

    The Argo landed upon the red world of Moria. Its passengers met with the same fate as those aboard the Reagan, as all information regarding their current status was erased. Only the passengers of the Nagglfar could access their ship's computer to discern their plight. They accessed ATLAS directly and confirmed their growing suspicions that they would never see the earth again, for although they had landed on the temperate planet of Tarsonis, the Nagglfar was damaged beyond repair. The surviving exiles, now spread across three worlds, began to salvage their wrecked ships in an attempt to find refuge in their new surroundings.

The Confederacy and the New World

    The inhabitants of each planet worked to survive in what they termed 'the New World'. Unaware that their fellows also thrived upon the other worlds in the system, the vagabond Terrans made do with whatever meager resources they could find. Having lost the means to communicate over interplanetary distances when their ships were stripped for essential materials, the Terrans lived in isolation for decades. In a relatively short amount of time, the three isolated groups of Terrans founded their sister colonies upon their respective worlds, and although it would be at least sixty years before the three colonies would be reunited by space travel, each of them grew into prosperous, self-contained communities. Tarsonis, the largest and most technologically advanced of the colonies soon developed second generation sub-warp engines. This allowed their ships to explore the myriad, barren planets of the surrounding star system and eventually led them to find the other survivors of the Long Sleep.

    Once reunited, the three colonies benefited from mutual trade and commerce treaties. Although Tarsonis kept pushing Umoja and Moria to join in a conglomerated government, the two colonies steadfastly refused. The fleets of Tarsonis continued to explore the Terran patch of space that came to be known as the Koprulu Sector.

    Founding prosperous colonies upon seven other worlds within the system enabled the military might of Tarsonis to grow by leaps and bounds. A new government, christened the Terran Confederacy, was founded by the Tarsonian colonies. The Morian colony, which had benefited from having the largest resource mining operations in the Sector, began to fear that this new Confederacy might attempt to move in and regulate their lucrative operations. Thus the Kel-Morian Combine was formed; a shady, corporate partnership that would supply military aid to any Mining Guild that was oppressed by Confederate policy. Tensions rose between the Confederacy and the Combine leading to the outbreak of the Terran Guild Wars.

    The Guild Wars lasted for nearly four years, with the Confederacy eventually "negotiating" peace with the Combine. Although the Combine retained its autonomy, almost all of its supporting Mining Guilds were annexed into the holdings of the Confederacy. The Umojan colony, after seeing what blatant abuse the Confederacy was capable of, founded the Umojan Protectorate. This nationalized militia would work to keep its colony free from Confederate tyranny. In the final analysis, the Guild Wars assured the Confederacy its position as the dominating factor within the Terran power structure.

    The might of the Confederacy continued to grow as its 'prospectors' claimed world after world with their reckless expansionism. Pirate groups and radical militia organizations began to spring up more frequently as Confederate enforcement agencies continued to abuse their citizenry. One of the greatest examples of revolt against Confederate policy was the Rebellion of Korhal.

The Rebellion of Korhal

    Korhal was one of the core Confederate worlds originally settled by Tarsonian colonists. A world of affluence and enlightenment, Korhal contributed greatly to the military and technological advancements of the Confederacy. Although the Confederacy benefited from Korhal's continued productivity, the citizens of the colony resented their forced affiliation with the often-corrupt Confederate Senators. Attempting to retain their independence, the citizenry of Korhal instigated numerous riots against the local Confederate militia. The Confederates responded in kind and declared martial law throughout the colony. This only seemed to agitate the populace even more, escalating the already rampant civil chaos. The Confederates believed that if their most treasured and pampered colony could turn against them, then all of their other colonies might revolt as well. It was decided that the crisis on Korhal would be ended by any means necessary. Korhal would serve as a chilling example to all of the colonies in the Confederacy.

    A dynamic Korhalian Senator by the name of Angus Mengsk took it upon himself to formalize the sentiments of his fellow citizens. Their cry for freedom was undeniable when Mengsk actively declared war against the Confederates. Whipping the people of Korhal into a volatile, patriotic frenzy, the Senator succeeded in capturing all of the Confederate outposts on Korhal. Issuing statements declaring that the Confederacy no longer held any claim over the world of Korhal, Mengsk succeeded in garnering the respect and admiration of many other struggling colonies.

    The Confederates, seeking to contain the situation, pulled their forces from Korhal and withdrew their fleet from its skies. Mengsk and the other leaders of the revolt, believing that they had won their independence, celebrated their victory over the Confederacy. The Confederates, knowing that a perceived loss to Korhal might instigate other colonies to revolt, planned to retake the planet through subtler means.

    The Confederates sent three of their deadliest assassins, known only as Ghosts, to eliminate Mengsk and his supporters on Korhal. The Senators decapitated body, along with those of his wife and young daughter, were found the next morning on the private balcony of his towering, fortress-like headquarters. Mengsk's head was never found. While the assassination did much to weaken the revolt on Korhal, it also fuelled the fires that would eventually forge the greatest enemy the Confederacy would ever know...

    Arcturus Mengsk, an accomplished Confederate Prospector and businessman, did not take the news of his family's death well. Having been a Prospector for years, Arcturus knew of the despicable lengths that the Confederacy would go to in an effort to reach its objectives. He was uninterested with greater Sector politics and was even alarmed and somewhat embarrassed by the actions of his estranged father on Korhal. He never dreamed, however, that his family would be killed merely to prove a point. Their deaths stirred something inside the young Arcturus, leading him to forsake his promising future and follow a lonely path of vengeance.

    Rallying the various militant groups that had followed his father against the Confederates, Arcturus succeeded in fashioning an impressive, yet somewhat ragtag, army. Mengsk's followers struck boldly at various Confederate bases and installations, costing the Confederacy billions of credits in men, machines and equipment. With rumors spreading of a secret alliance between Mengsk's group and the Umojan Protectorate, the Confederate government quickly decided on a final solution to their problem. A salvo of one thousand Apocalypse-class nuclear missiles was fired at the planet of Korhal from the distant Confederate capital of Tarsonis. Over four million people were annihilated during the savage attack. In a single instant, the prosperous colony of Korhal was reduced to nothing more than a super-heated sphere of blackened glass and stirring phantoms.

    The news of the holocaust reached Mengsk at a secret base located within the border of the Umojan protectorate. With nothing left save vengeance, Arcturus and those gathered with him on that sorrowful day pledged a sacred vow to bring down the Confederacy at all costs.

    Calling themselves the Sons of Korhal, Arcturus and his renegade team of volunteers quickly made themselves as the most wanted fugitives in the Sector. Striking silently and swiftly, the Sons of Korhal won countless victories over the Confederacy. But with every battle won in the name of justice, Arcturus was portrayed as a madman and a terrorist by the Confederate-controlled media. Most colonies refused to house or provide services to anyone affiliated with the outlaw group. Yet, despite seemingly overwhelming odds and scandalous public opinion, Mengsk never gave up the fight against the Confederates. To this day, the Sons of Korhal continue to confound Confederate enforcement agencies as they work to bring about their mission of liberation for the Sector.

War Approaches

    The various colonial powers and pirate militias continued to spar with the Confederate forces. Although many of the groups were constantly at odds with one another, the overall Terran presence within the Koprulu Sector continued to strengthen and expand. These petty squabbles would end soon enough as the Terran colonies found themselves in the midst of a struggle of epic proportions.

    Without warning a fleet of fifty alien warships descended from the skies over the outlying Confederate colony Chau Sara. The massive ships opened fire upon the unsuspecting colony, continuing to decimate every inhabitant settlement on the planet. This unprecedented attack caught the Confederate forces by surprise, sending the shocked Terran fleets into disarray. Although they had never encountered alien species of any kind, they rushed quickly to defend themselves against this new, mysterious enemy.

    The Confederacy launched a clumsy counter attack against the alien fleet as it made its way towards the second Terran planet of Mar Sara. The alien fleet, identifying itself as the Protoss, mysteriously withdrew its forces and spared the colony. Soon afterwards, a second, terrifying alien presence was discovered on the outskirts of Mar Sara. These new, insect-like invaders were very different from the Protoss that attacked the Colony just a short time before.

    No Terran agency could account for the disturbing presence of not one, but two strange alien races within their colonies. Overcome by a collective, paranoid terror and encumbered by their own political infighting, the hapless Terran factions could only watch as an ever-increasing tide of alien invaders made their way towards the heart of the war torn Terran Sector.

The Overmind War:

Episode I: Rebel Yell

    General Edmund Duke of the Confederacy contacts the local magistrate on Mar Sara, and tells him to move all of their military forces to the wastelands and meet up with Marshall Jim Raynor.  There they encounter the unidentified alien life forms known as the Zerg.  They are able to establish and eradicate the Zerg presence in the area.

     General Duke commands Raynor and his forces to stay put while the colony is locked down.  Meanwhile, the backwater station is being pounded by the Zerg.  Raynor disobeys orders to save the station, but is court martialed for doing so, the main reason was for destroying an infested Confederate command center.  Raynor and all of his forces are imprisoned.  The magistrate contacts Arcturus Mengsk in an attempt to free Raynor and his forces.

     Mengsk informs Raynor and the magistrate that his organization, known as the Sons of Korhal, works outside of Confederate law and that by joining with them, they will also be branded criminal.  Raynor doesn't have many options and decides to join with Mengsk.  Mengsk tells Raynor's forces to survive for 30 minutes while his fleet reaches Mar Sara.  They manage to survive that time, even with relentless attacks from the Zerg swarms.  Mengsk breaks Raynor out of prison, but he has one more mission for Raynor before departing Mar Sara.

     By this point, the whole colony has been overrun by the Zerg, and the Confederates are evacuating.  Mengsk commands Raynor to break into the Jacobs installation and steal the secret Confederate data disks.  Mengsk feels like there shouldn't be much resistance, but on the mission Raynor finds Zerg, meaning that someone has been breeding them.  The Sons of Korhal leave Mar Sara and begin to decode the data disks.  Shortly after the departure of Mar Sara, the Protoss fleets wipe out all life on the planet's surface, trying to stop the Zerg spread. 

     Mengsk introduces Raynor to his second in command, Lieutenant Sarah Kerrigan.  She informs Raynor that the colony of Antiga Prime is ready for revolt.  Raynor and Kerrigan meet up with the Antigans and successfully destroy the Confederate base on Antiga Prime.  The Antigan revolt panics the Antigans even more.

     Coming from a routine mission, General Duke and his Alpha Squadron, who recently lost their base on Antiga Prime are bombarded by Zerg.  General Duke in his flagship, The Norad II, crash lands.  Mengsk sends Raynor to rescue his former superior, feeling that Duke would make a powerful ally.  Raynor, though he does not like the plan, does it anyway.  Though the planet is already overrun with Zerg, Raynor succeeds and General Duke does, after all, join the Sons of Korhal.

     Mengsk informs Raynor, Duke and Kerrigan that the data disks were decoded, only to find no weapon schematics, but instead plan for a Psi Emitter, which calls Zerg to its location.  As it turns out, a Psi Emitter was on Mar Sara when it was overrun.  Mengsk knows now that the only way to win his war is to plant a Psi Emitter in the Confederate base.  He assigns Kerrigan to do this mission.  After that, they will escape Antiga Prime and head to Tarsonis to take out the Confederates once and for all.  Kerrigan succeeds in her mission, and they head to Tarsonis.

     General Duke devises a plan to get past the Confederate defenses on the space platforms above the Confederate capital world of Tarsonis.  Being a general for 15 years, Duke knows the ins and outs of the base.  He, in the repaired Norad II, moves out and succeeds in holding off the Confederates' Omega and Delta squadrons.  Meanwhile, Mengsk leads his forces to New Gettysburg on Tarsonis.

     Mengsk informs his forces that the Protoss have come to destroy the Zerg, who are attacking the Confederacy on Tarsonis.  Mengsk feels that the only he can succeed is by allowing the Zerg to take out the Confederacy.  He commands Kerrigan to take out the Protoss fleet and make sure not one Zerg building is destroyed.  Kerrigan succeeds in taking out the Protoss fleet on Tarsonis, but the Zerg sense her power because she is a "ghost," and attack her, completely wiping out her forces.

     Mengsk and his forces have lost contact with Kerrigan's squadron.  More Protoss arrive and begin battling the Zerg once more.  Raynor gets mad at Mengsk and leaves the Dominion.  With Tarsonis in flames, Mengsk feels that it is time to pull out of there.  Raynor feels the same way about leaving Tarsonis, but first he feels must destroy the Ion Cannon.  Raynor moves in what little forces he has left and they destroy the Ion Cannon.  Raynor's forces leave Tarsonis now, and with the Confederacy, and with the Confederacy falling to pieces, Mengsk takes over and unites all of the Terran under his Dominion.

Episode II: Overmind

    Still on Tarsonis, the Overmind has found what he believes will become the strongest of his agents.  He commands one of his Cerebrates to watch over it.  The Overmind also commands the Cerebrate to annihilate the few Terran Confederates still on Tarsonis.  The Cerebrate succeeds and they begin to leave tarsonis themselves.

     Now, the Overmind commands the Cerebrate to leave the destroyed world of Tarsonis.  Another brood sends out his Hunter Killers, super strong Hydralisks, to help in the mission.  The problem is, though, that the Protoss stand in the way.  The Overmind is very pleased when his Chrysalis makes it through the Warp Gate successfully.

     The Overmind now informs his Cerebrate that the Chrysalis's psionic emanations have called the Terran under the new Dominion to their location.  The Overmind commands his Cerebrate to destroy the Terran and protect the Chrysalis at all costs.  The Overmind also says that in not much longer the Chrysalis will hatch and all of his enemies will fall one by one.  The Zerg destroy the Terran presence.

     The Overmind now informs the Cerebrate that only 15 minutes remain until the Chrysalis will hatch.  While the Cerebrate Daggoth occupies the Dominion, They should have no problem watching over the Chrysalis.  Unfortunately, Raynor's forces arrive due to the Chrysalis' psionic emanations.  The Chrysalis hatches to unveil Kerrigan, who was restored by the power of the swarm.  She is no longer good, and has become completely a Zerg.  She and her new power destroy Raynor's forces but Raynor escapes.  But, she feels as if she is missing something, and she heads out to the Amerigo Science Vessel.

     Once in the Amerigo, Kerrigan must find her way to the supercomputer.  When she was a regular ghost with the Terran, the Confederacy did not allow ghosts to discover their true psionic abilities.  But, now that she is a Zerg, she could care less about Confederate law.  With the help of Daggoth's Hunter Killers, Kerrigan makes it to the supercomputer.  Kerrigan leaves Amerigo, satisfied with her new abilities.

     Kerrigan senses that the Protoss are hiding out on Planet Char.  Tassadar, who leads the force, is sad that Kerrigan has forgotten the good Terran ways.  But, Kerrigan does not care, and challenges him to battle to the death.  Kerrigan builds up a huge force, which she takes and destroys the Protoss base.  She then goes alone go where Tassadar is waiting for her, and the two battle.  Kerrigan, using her cloaking abilities, is no match for the Templar, and she supposedly kills him.

     Kerrigan is informed by the Overmind that while she was fighting Tassadar, the Cerebrate Zasz was killed.  Kerrigan is not worried because she believes that, like normal, the Cerebrate will just be reincarnated.  The Overmind informed her though, that the Protoss have found some new way of killing the Zerg and cutting off their reincarnating ability.  Without the Cerebrate, the Garm Brood is going on a rampage.  Though The Overmind commands her to kill the Garm Brood before the renegade Zerg cause any more destruction to the hives, Kerrigan does so but their worries aren't over yet.

     The Overmind identifies that it was the Dark Templar, led by their Prelate, Zeratul, who murdered Zasz.  Dark Templar have energies very similar to that of the Overmind and the Zerg.  When Zeratul struck the Overmind though, their minds crossed.  Now, the Overmind knows the location of the Protoss home world of Aiur.  The Overmind commands Kerrigan to eradicate each of the Dark Templar who now threaten the Zerg.  Kerrigan successfully kills each one of the Dark Templar, and the Zerg move on to Planet Aiur.

     The invasion of Aiur begins as the Overmind informs Kerrigan to secure the Khaydarin Crystal.  The Overmind is sure of the Zerg's victory now, and he knows he will then be able to make the Protoss his own.  Kerrigan attacks the Protoss base, and she brings a drone to the Khaydarin Crystal.  It is now time for the fall of the Protoss.

     The Overmind commands Kerrigan that the Protoss can now do nothing but run.  He commands Kerrigan to destroy the Protoss temple where the Xel'Naga first landed on Aiur.  The temple, though, is guarded by many photon cannons and a huge Protoss fleet.  The Overmind knows that once the Khaydarin Crystal is placed where the temple stands, he will move to Aiur himself and take over the planet.  The Zerg deploy all of their forces under the lead of Kerrigan and destroy the temple.  Aiur now belongs to the Zerg.

Episode III: The Fall

     Though the Overmind now rules over Aiur, the Protoss will not give up without a fight.  The Conclave has sent Judicator Aldaris to counsel the new executor.  Aldaris feels that the first responsibility is to strengthen the Protoss defenses.  The executor meets up with Praetor Fenix who is in charge of defenses and together they defend the Province of Antioch on Aiur.  With Antioch secure, the two continue on to protect Aiur from the Zerg.

     Tassadar, who had been missing for some time, contacts Aldaris.  He admits that he, in fact, has been with the Dark Templar, who are considered to be the fallen ones.  Tassadar tells Aldaris that the Zerg are controlled by the Cerebrates, and that by killing a Cerebrate, the Zerg will run rampage.  Aldaris gives Tassadar one last chance, and they devise a plan to kill the Cerebrate, who is near them.  Once the Cerebrate is destroyed though, the Overmind quickly reincarnates him, which makes Aldaris mad once more at Tassadar.

     The Conclave is enraged at Tassadar's betrayal and believes only by unity can they truly destroy the Zerg.  While Fenix remains at Antioch, the main Protoss forces go ahead to the Province of Psion.  Unfortunately, now there are two Cerebrates threatening the Protoss on Aiur.  They are both a lot stronger, though, than the original Cerebrate.  The new executor pulls together all of his forces and barely manages to destroy the Zerg. Unfortunately, Fenix at Antioch falls to the Zerg.

     The Conclave, convinced that they are winning on Aiur, sends Aldaris and the new executor to find Tassadar and return him to Aiur.  The executor meets up with Tassadar along with Raynor, who is considered now as one of Tassadar's allies.  But, unfortunately, the Zerg have spread here also.  With the help of the High Templars and the Archons that Tassadar possesses, Tassadar, Raynor and the new executor all escape.

     The executor has now also become an enemy of the Protoss.  But, Tassadar has learned much from Zeratul and knows that only the Dark Templar can truly kill a Cerebrate.  Unfortunately, Zeratul is being held captive in an installation, and the Zerg stand in the way.  Raynor holds down the base while Tassadar and two zealots make it into the installation.

     Tassadar senses that Zeratul and the Dark Templar are close.  But, the problem is that Kerrigan is leading the offensive against Tassadar, and she is still mad at him for escaping on Char.  With only Tassadar and two zealots, the mission looks almost impossible, but some of Raynor's forces are inside the base and willing to help, though they are blocked off by the Zerg.  Tassadar is able to free them, and with their help, frees Zeratul.  Tassadar, Zeratul and Raynor flee into space and begin their long journey back to Aiur, which might lead to their deaths.

     Fenix meets up with the three of them and tells Tassadar that he has been branded a traitor.  Even though it goes against the code, Fenix and Tassadar vow to protect Zeratul.  They know that only by protecting the Dark Templar can they hope to destroy the Zerg.  They move out and attack the heart of the Conclave, the Akilae Tribe and Ara Tribe.  Working together, they succeed in their mission, but Tassadar is captured.

     The trial of Tassadar begins, and Fenix believes that all hope is lost without Tassadar, and when Zeratul and his Dark Templar disappear.  Fenix refuses to give up, and help arrives from Raynor in the Battlecruiser, The Hyperion.  The Furinax Tribe and Ara Tribe stay and combat Fenix and Raynor.  The two of them find Tassadar and Zeratul as well, who was also going to be executed.  With most of the Conclave dead, they turn their attention to the Zerg, who were spreading as the Protoss were fighting each other.

     Zeratul reveals that when he killed the Cerebrate he learned that the Overmind was not here just to kill the Protoss, but to conquer the galaxy as well.  Fenix attacks the hive clusters to weaken the Overmind's defenses.  Then, Zeratul will take his forces ahead and kill the Cerebrate.  With the help of the new Arbiters, which can turn its allied forces invisible, the two are able to succeed in their missions.  Fenix stays behind to continue fighting off the rest of the Zerg while Tassadar in the Gantrithor, Raynor in The Hyperion, and Zeratul move ahead to kill the Overmind.

    Raynor's forces attack from the north end, while Tassadar and Zeratul's forces attack from the south end.  The Overmind's forces, though, have double the normal strength, which makes it very difficult for the three of them.  The three of them have a very difficult time as continued attacks prevent either of the bases from attacking.  Zeratul leads a strike force in using Arbiters to cloak his warriors as decoys, while Tassadar makes the ultimate sacrifice by using his own energies to destroy the Overmind.  The Protoss win the war, but Tassadar is dead.  Meanwhile, far away on Char, Kerrigan decides that it is her opportunity to renew the Zerg swarms and rule the universe.

The Brood War:

Episode IV: The Stand

    With the Overmind destroyed, Aiur in ruins, and Tassadar dead, Zeratul swears his alliance with Aldaris and the Protoss people. Aldaris says that he will help Zeratul by assigning Artanis, a young scout pilot, to lead a force of his own, which will meet up with Zeratul.  Zeratul meets up with the Protoss on Aiur, and leads them to the Warp Gate.  Through their journey, they must fight Zerg after Zerg with hardly any relief from extra reinforcements.  Zeratul brings them through the Warp Gate to his people's world of Shakuras.

     Once the Protoss make it to Shakuras, they begin to explore and try to look for a suitable place for a new settlement.  Unfortunately, they realize that the Zerg followed them there.  The Protoss battle through enemy lines and eventually meet up with the Dark Templars.  Together, the Protoss and Dark Templars destroy the Zerg in that area.

     Raszagal, Matriarch of the Dark Templar, tells of the Xel'Naga Temple which holds powerful energies.  The Dark Templars were once nomadic, after being banned from Aiur.  When they found the Xel'Naga, they decided to stay there and study it to see what they could learn about the race that came before them.  When Zeratul and his forces reach the temple though, they find that two Zerg broods are guarding it.  With the help of a couple of Corsairs, the Protoss are able to destroy the Cerebrates, but Kerrigan appears with a new quest.

     Kerrigan tells the Protoss that since the Overmind is dead, she is no longer Zerg control; moreover, she is in control of them.  Unfortunately the Garm Brood has merged to create a new Overmind and she would rather not be controlled once more.  Raszagal tells them to forget what Kerrigan has done and accept her help. Kerrigan asks for the Protoss's help to find the Uraj and Khalis Crystals which will unleash the temple's powers.  Kerrigan and the Protoss are successfully able to break through the UED's forces and gather the Uraj Crystal.

     Artanis arrives at Braxis to find that the UED is denying access to the Protoss.  Artanis refuses to back down. He finds out that if he is able to disable all five generators, the missile turrets guarding Braxis will be turned off.  He is able to turn off the missile turrets and break through the UED's defenses on the space port.  With the UED's defenses at Braxis down, Zeratul and Kerrigan are able to keep moving to find the Khalis Crystal, which is located on the Planet Char.

     The Protoss land on Planet Char to fine the Khalis Crystal.  The Zerg Overmind is also guarding it.  Artanis suggests that if they hurt the Overmind it may pacify the Zerg and make the crystal easy to recover. The Protoss move out and decide to follow Artanis's plan after he achieved control of the port at the Battle of Braxis.  Even though it had seemed that the Protoss would have an easier way through to the Overmind, it turned out to be a rigorous mission, and they finally succeeded in gathering the Khalis Crystal.

     Meanwhile, there is trouble on Aiur.  Aldaris and the few Khalai Warriors on Aiur start a revolt, mad at the other Protoss for leaving Aiur for Shakuras.  Zeratul brings some of his forces to Aiur to stop Aldaris from attacking the rest of his forces that he had left there.  After destroying Aldaris's Nexus, they manage to find Aldaris and convince him that they have not abandoned Aiur.

    Zeratul and Artanis return to Shakuras with the Uraj and Khalis Crystals to install them so that the Xel'Naga Temple can unleash its power and purify Shakuras of the Zerg.  But, wile Zeratul and Artanis were trying to find the crystals, the Zerg retook the area surrounding the temple once more.  Zeratul and Artanis build up their forces and manage to break their way through to the temple.  Before the power is unleashed though, the Zerg mount an all-out attack, but are stopped when the temple's energies are unleashed.  Zeratul and Artanis establish Shakuras as their new home.

Episode V: The Iron Fist

     Since Arcturus Mengsk created the Dominion and ratted out the galaxy of the Confederates, the United Earth Directorate, under the lead of Admiral Dugalle, has planned a strike against the Dominion.  Alexi Stukov, vice admiral to Dugalle, sends down a team of UED forces to the Dominion stronghold of Braxis to destroy the Dominion command center.  On their way, they meet up with the leader of the Confederate Resistance Forces, Samir Duran.  Duran guides the UED to the command center and, with his help, they succeed in their mission.

     Dugalle is impressed by Duran, but isn't sure of his loyalty.  Duran gives the UED tactical information, which leads them to the Dylarian Shipyards, which hold a number of Battlecruisers for the Dominion.  Dugalle sends a small team to steal as many battlecruisers as possible from the Dominion.  The team succeeds in taking all 17 of the Battlecruisers, and they continue on to Tarsonis.

    On Tarsonis, Stukov discovers the Psi Disrupter, which can lure Zerg to it, bringing no end to their rampage.  Four different Zerg broods guard it though.  Duran believes that if they destroy the hives that the Zerg will no longer be a threat.  Duran moves in and is able to destroy the hives and, finally, secure the Disrupter.

     The UED moves on to Planet Korhal, another one of Mengsk's strongholds.  The emperor has two strategic strongholds on Korhal: one area containing nukes and one with physics labs.  His defenses are too strong, so that they could only take out the nukes before having to retreat.  The problem is now that Mengsk has a heavy supply of battlecruisers, even after the Battle at the Dylarian Shipyard.

     Dugalle advises his forces who are still on Korhal that even though the nukes have been destroyed, there is still an abundance of battlecruisers.  Dugalle is correct, as the UED base is constantly stormed by fleets of battlecruisers.  They are eventually able to stop Mengsk and destroy his fleet, but Mengsk and Raynor escape to Aiur.

     Mengsk and Raynor hide out in a Protoss base on Aiur.  Not only are the Protoss in the way, but several Zerg broods are near the Protoss base also.  Admiral Dugalle sends down Valkyrie Frigates to aid in the UED's attempt to break through the Protoss lines.  The UED are able to fight both Zerg broods and the Protoss, and finally destroy Raynor's command center.  But, Mengsk and Raynor are able to escape through a warp gate.  Admiral Dugalle calls back his forces when he sees that the Protoss are reinforcing their base.  He also feels that there are more urgent matters elsewhere.

     As it turns out, Stukov did not destroy the Psi Disrupter.  Duran convinces Admiral Dugalle that Stukov is a traitor and must die.  Dugalle sends Duran to Planet Tarsonis to deal with Stukov and destroy the Psi Disrupter.  Duran breaks into Stukov's base and breaks through his forces, though Stukov is a good tactician.  When Duran finally catches up to Stukov he tries to kill him but he can't. Duran disappears after shooting Stukov; he then sets the base to self destruct. Stukov explains that it was Duran who let Raynor and Mengsk escape on Aiur.  He says he thought this was their last option so he did not destroy the Psi Disrupter.  Raynor moves in and takes Stukov away in his Dropship.  Raynor says that Duran was infested when they first landed on Tarsonis. Raynor then says he will take good of Stukov.  Dugalle is so overcome with anger, he vows that Duran will die, not even noticing Raynor escaping with Stukov. The remainder of the UED forces and breaks through the base and reaches the override terminal just before the whole base explodes.

     The Psi Disrupter, still not destroyed, begins calling the Zerg to it, and the new Overmind journeys to it.  The UED fights off the Zerg who have landed on Tarsonis. They eventually break through Zerg lines and control the Overmind thus controlling all the Zerg Broods.

Episode VI: The Queen of Blades

    Kerrigan is not very happy about the UED's control over the Zerg and makes sure to destroy the Overmind.  With the UED's power over the Zerg, the Zerg begin to rampage and destroy their own hives.  Kerrigan takes what force of Zerg she has left, along with help from Raynor and Fenix, and manages to save all seven nearby hives.  She moves her forces, which at this point aren't many, to Braxis.

     Raynor and Fenix bring to Kerrigan Emperor Mengsk, who supplies her with a Psi Emitter.  Raynor then moves out with his forces.  Raynor then moves out with his forces and destroys the power generators for the Psi Disrupter.  Kerrigan uses the Psi Emitter to create a new base.  She then moves out and destroys the UED forces stationed there.  Then, she destroys the Psi Disrupter and regains all of her Zerg back.

     Raynor and Fenix know that Kerrigan cannot be trusted, but realize that the UED is a bigger threat.  Kerrigan travels the Kel-Morian Combine, which holds one of the galaxy's richest mineral supplies.  Kerrigan in this battle feels like a little revenge and decides that, instead of just destroying the Terran command centers, she is going to infest them.  Kerrigan gathers up enough resources and launches a head-on attack against the UED, and captures the command centers.

     Kerrigan brings her forces to Korhal to free it from UED control, just as she promised to Mengsk, though once on the battlefield, she destroys all of the enemy bases and takes the planet for herself.  Kerrigan then launches a head-on attack to destroy not only the UED, but the Dominion and the Protoss as well.

    Kerrigan now launches her attack at Duke and Fenix, knowing how strong their tactical abilities are.  The UED is almost done for now that their only base is on Char.  Kerrigan gives instructions to Duran to move in and kill all forces in her name.  Duran marches in and destroys each base in his way, just like he was commanded.  Before Duran can reach Duke and Fenix though, a Dominion Battlecruiser sweeps in and takes Duke and Fenix away.  They are able to escape the Zerg rampage, but all of the other forces on Korhal fall to Duran.

     Back on Tarsonis though, hundreds of Zerg attack Kerrigan's base.  Kerrigan realizes that it is, in fact, the UED who have sent in these Zerg after her using the Psi Disrupter.  Kerrigan commands her Zerg to destroy the renegade Zerg that oppose her.  She soon realizes though that, if she just destroys the Terran scientists at the UED base, the Zerg will no longer be a threat.  She successfully invades the UED base, killing each one of the scientists.  With that mission won, she turns her attention to Shakuras.

     Kerrigan commands Duran to attack Shakuras and capture the Matriarch, Raszagal. Though she is guarded by an immense base filled with photon cannons, Kerrigan believes that Duran has the power to capture her.  Duran creates a power fluctuation and is able to shut off the photon cannons.  He is able to invade the Protoss base very easily now, but to his and Kerrigan's dismay, Raszagal is not there.

     Kerrigan makes a deal with Zeratul and his Dark Templars.  They join forces to take down the Overmind and the UED.  The problem is that Zeratul has been captured and imprisoned on Char by the UED.  This alliance assures that the Matriarch will not be killed.  Zeratul sends some of his Dark Templars to aid Kerrigan in destroying the Overmind.  With the help of the UED, it becomes a dangerous mission for Kerrigan, but she manages to succeed in destroying the Overmind.

     While on Planet Char, Kerrigan finds that the UED are still in power.  She must now invade both the UED base and the Protoss base that is holding Zeratul and Raszagal.  Kerrigan moves out and destroys one of the UED bases first, since it has a vast supply of minerals.  After that, Kerrigan destroys the other UED base and move out to destroy a much stronger Protoss base.  Kerrigan successfully rescues Zeratul and Raszagal and destroys the Protoss base on Char.

     Zeratul moves ahead to a Protoss base, where he believes Artanis is, knowing that if he can get help from him, they might be able to return to Shakuras.  Zeratul moves in -- not to destroy the base, for it is his own brethren -- but to reunite them. Zeratul uses his Dark Archons to use mind control and reunite his people.  In the base, though, he finds Dominion soldiers who, he decides, must be destroyed, in order for his mission to succeed.  He finally meets up with Artanis, whom he convinces to join his cause.  Artanis does bring in the fact that Kerrigan cannot be trusted.  The Protoss move out on what might be their final mission, to return Kerrigan to the way she once was before being taken over by the Zerg.

     Kerrigan and Duran journey to a space port to find that not only is the last line of the UED there under the command of Admiral Dugalle, but Mengsk's Dominion forces, including Raynor, Fenix, Duke and Stukov.  Both forces what Kerrigan dead, not to mention the arrival of Zeratul and Artanis's fleet, who now try to pacify Kerrigan and return her to the way she was during the Overmind War.  Kerrigan is enraged by the massive forces that are all trying to exterminate her in some sort of way.  She immediately attacks the UED, who was her original target anyway.  The UED is much more powerful than she thought, and after destroying them and leaving Admiral Dugalle the only remaining member of his forces, the Dominion and the Protoss surround her. They manage to destroy all of Kerrigan's Zerg minions, including the Overmind.  Now with the Overmind destroyed, Kerrigan and Duran are able to revert back to being their original Terran forms, and, for now, there is peace in the Terran sector of space.

Episode VI: Enslavers

    After Kerrigan's reign of terror is put to an end, the Dominion forces, now in place of used to be the Confederacy, and the Protoss are at a basic alliance, though there are still a couple of pirate militias out there.  Total peace in the Koprulu sector was never achieved, and there is still mistrust between different generals of the Dominion and Protoss forces.  Mengsk achieves his goal of creating a more unified Terran empire.  There are rumors that the Zerg still exist in space somewhere, and actually, there have been more and more attacks from the Zerg, leading Raynor to believe that someone is breeding them.  Duran realizes that the Dominion isn't truly evil and becomes a highly-ranked Dominion general.  Kerrigan is put under General Duke's command, so she doesn't go crazy and trying to kill everybody again.

     Some of Mengsk's forces are attacked by a pirate band under the command of Alan Schezar.  Mengsk assigns Gui Montag, Tom Kazansky, and Magellan to find and kill Alan Schezar.  Mengsk also discovers that not only that, but that Schezar has taken control of a Cerebrate that he has found and is using it to create his own army of Zerg.  The Dominion forces move out and attack one of Schezar's bases.  They manage to destroy the base and move on to strike at Schezar's main base.

     The three generals are notified by the Protoss hero, Mojo, that he has been enslaved by Schezar and demands their help.  Arcturus, mad at Schezar for creating his own Zerg and attacking his bases, tells Montag and the others to forgot about the Protoss distress call and destroy Schezar.  Montag follows orders and fights Schezar.  They aren't able to destroy his base this time, for it is too heavily guarded.  Magellan, while helping out one of his bases, is killed, thanks to a nuclear attack from Schezar. 

     Mojo is able to contact the rest of his forces and free himself, Dinamoth, and Warbringer from Schezar.  Mojo's forces attack Schezar's forces, and so do Montag and Kazansky, under the leadership of General Stukov, who has just recently put in charge of the two.  Altogether, the Cerebrate is destroyed, and Schezar surrounded.  Schezar surrenders to Stukov, and Mengsk, knowing that he is a great leader for being able stand up to the Dominion, makes him a general of his own forces.  The battle is not over yet, as Stukov fights Montag and the other Protoss forces.  The battle is finally called off when Aldaris and Mengsk appear to stop it.  After that, peace continues until Raynor discovers that it was Duke who was breeding the Zerg.

Raynor's War:

Episode VIII: Raynor's Attack

     Raynor has discovered after a year of research that it is Edmund Duke, Supreme General of the Terran forces in the West, who is manipulating and breeding the Zerg.  Lately, they have been attack the Protoss home planet of Aiur.  Long ago, the Terran were banned from Earth, and when their minerals were low, they found the Protoss, who have been their allies ever since.  Raynor, knowing that this can no longer go on, attacks Edmund Duke's base and manages to destroy it using his fleet of Battlecruisers.  Edmund Duke was able to escape to his installation where the breeding is being done.

     Edmund Duke has warned Raynor that if uses any more violence against him, Raynor will become his number one enemy.  The Dark Templars have volunteered to shelter Raynor and his forces if they can break through Duke's installation and activate both of the beacons and destroy Duke's forces and the Zerg forces within.  Like the Terran themselves, the Dark Templars were also once banned from Planet Aiur, for refusing to become warriors of Khalai.  Now, though, Aiur has welcomed the Dark Templars back.  Raynor takes up this challenge, knowing that it is his only option.  Somehow, Raynor manages to break through, and the warp gate is opened although Duke and his forces beat Raynor to Aiur.

     Now that Duke is on Aiur, it is up to the Dark Templars to stop them before any more Zerg can be bred.  The Dark Templars bring together their strongest forces and bring them to Duke's base using their shuttles.  Together, they manage to destroy Duke.  But, before they can, he uses some of his Zerg to infect Kerrigan.  Kerrigan then takes over the Zerg forces on Aiur.

     With Kerrigan as leader of the Zerg on Aiur, the battle has greatly intensified.  The Dark Templars try another land based attack, but it is useless, thanks to the new Zerg Sunken Colonies.  The Dark Templars then assemble their carriers.  The carriers move in and destroy all of the Zerg forces on Planet Aiur.  They are able to rescue Kerrigan from the Zerg infection, but she is now very weak.  Raynor arrives just as the battle end and decides to take Kerrigan to Alan Schezar's base so she can heal.

     When Raynor gets to Schezar's base, Schezar says that he did the right thing in destroying Edmund Duke, but that he doesn't trust Kerrigan, that she might still be somewhat infected, and prohibited them from using his base.  Raynor decides that Kerrigan needs help, and he decides just to use his forces and break through.  Schezar's base is very well set up though, with a star port where each side interlocks.  On each of his sides, he has two tanks guarding, and past that, on the main base area, he has a catwalk restricting an enemy's ground unit from getting past.  On his catwalk, he has 25 soldiers guarding it.  Past the catwalk is a huge base, with even more forces guarding it.  Raynor has no choice except to create an even bigger base.  He creates 50-some-odd tanks which destroy Schezar's tanks.  He then brings them across the space gap in drop ships and destroys the catwalk forces.  He then uses his ghosts to set up two nuclear strikes in which he destroys most of Schezar's forces.  After that, he uses the same drop ships to bring across his entire force, which storms the base and lets them near the installation.  In the last second, Schezar escapes in his Battlecruiser and shoots down the space port.  It comes crashing down, creating a lake of lava on the planet below.

     Raynor is able to find an island, which he lands on.  On another island, is Duran's forces, who were also severely weakened by the crash.  Duran joins up with Raynor's forces, and they move out to destroy Alan Schezar's now small base.  With the newly constructed Battlecruisers, Raynor moves in and destroys Alan Schezar and his base, which is worth no practical value to them.  Raynor gathers up their forces and moves to natural part of the planet where it is desert, and sets up a new base.

     While exploring, one of the SCVs finds a whole batch of Zerg forces.  Their base is huge.  Since they are stranded, Raynor knows that he must destroy them for the safety of his forces.  A huge war begins, and they use their Battlecruisers to finally destroy the Zerg.

     Shortly after the defeat of the Zerg, one egg was left.  And, from it came a drone who mutated into a hive and renewed the Zerg forces on the planet.  Raynor's forces were unlucky and ran out of minerals with still no word from the Dark Templars.  The Zerg rampage Raynor's base with a whole new force.  They take Kerrigan and Duran prisoners and infest them, and Raynor falls into a deep sleep.

Episode IX: Renewal

Episode X: United

Episode XI: Ghost