Resurrection IV

Resurrection IV is a two-player secret mission only available in the Nintendo 64 version of StarCraft. To date, it has never been made available for personal computers, although an unofficial version has been created and released by moderators of Blizzforums.

It is the sequel to Deception and Mercenaries II. (If possible, anyone playing Resurrection IV should play those two maps first.)

Finding the Secret Mission
To reach it, the player must beat all the levels, including Dark Origin, after finding all the cheats but not activating them. The specific cheats required are as follows:

All Upgrades: In the Jacobs Installation mission, the cheat can be collected by moving (not attack-moving) Jim Raynor to the right, just behind the entrance to the installation, until he finds an orange civilian; this must be done quickly. The civilian will promise to give the cheat. Follow the civilian until they disappear and give you the cheat.

All Research: In the Amerigo mission, there is a cage full of critters near the Zergling pen. Send Infested Kerrigan to the bottom left of the pen to get the cheat.

Open Tech Tree: In Into the Darkness, near the beginning, go down the hall until you get to the stairs. Do not go down the stairs -- instead turn to your left and proceed down the hall. The adviser will tell you to turn back. Go back a short distance, then go back toward the dead end to get the cheat.

Invincibility: Beating the Protoss campaign (Episode III) will unlock the invincibility cheat.

Remove Fog of War: In Legacy of the Xel'Naga, after the Corsairs attack at the beginning of the mission, touch the white flag to unlock the cheat.

Free Cash: In Patriot's Blood, exit the second computer beacon room with the four civilians. There is an Ursadon in a nearby cell. Open the cell door and when the Ursadon asks for a hug, move all the units into the cell to surround it and press B.

Build-All: In Vile Disruption, save two Hives, then follow a path down to the right. Touching a data disk there unlocks the cheat.

Dark Origin: To reach the Dark Origin secret mission, beat The Reckoning in less than 25 minutes. Then beat Dark Origin. No cheats may be used, otherwise beating the missions won't count.

Infinite Mana: Beat StarCraft Episode VI. This automatically unlocks the Resurrection IV mission.

Synopsis
Jim Raynor had received a transmission from Artanis and arrived quickly.

Artanis told Raynor that Alexei Stukov has returned to finish his original plans, which is a great danger to Terrans and Protoss alike. Jim Raynor had heard the rumors of Stukov's reappearance.

Artanis continued -- Stukov had been infested by Zerg Cerebrate Kaloth, who had regenerated Stukov's cells, bringing him to life. Now he lorded over his own secret Zerg Brood. Raynor found this hard to take in, believing Stukov would never sell out to the Zerg, but he was reminded what infestation did to Sarah Kerrigan.

He wasn't being summoned to kill Stukov, but to save him. Artanis' scientists have developed a nanotech serum which could reverse the infestation process. The Protoss had tracked Stukov to Braxis.

Raynor was hoping Zeratul could give him backup, but Artanis said nothing of him. He would provide assistance in the form of the old Protoss warrior, Taldarin. He and Raynor had worked together in the past.

On Braxis
On the surface of Braxis, Raynor asked Taldarin his story. Taldarin was so old he remembers Adun personally, which impressed Raynor. Taldarin was alive today because he was the first ever Protoss Dragoon, but he had to spend a very long time in a Stasis Cell before the Dragoon was invented.

Raynor's escort consisted of a pair of medics who carried the serum, a Marine and some Ghosts; Taldarin was accompanied by two other Dragoons, a Dark Templar, and a Dark Archon.

The Protoss detected Stukov northeast of the insertion point. While Stukov himself could be seen, there were Zerg defensive colonies, a huge Cocoon, Nydus Canals and four unnamed Cerebrates at that location.

New Recruits
After killing some Terran opponents, Raynor and Taldarin encountered an unarmed Terran. Raynor's Marine nearly killed him, but the Terran claimed he knew how to operate a Siege Tank and where to find one.


 * The heroes encountered a damaged Terran base, including a "Relay Station" of unknown purpose, surrounded by Zerg and Terrans loyal to Stukov. After defeating their foes, they commandeered a Siege Tank and an SCV.


 * Taldarin located a small depowered Protoss base, from which he acquired new forces (an Observer, Archon and two Zealots).

The New Swarm

 * Further into Stukov's area, Raynor and Taldarin encountered a Terran base, surrounded by Zerg. There was also an Infested Command Center there. A small number of Terrans and regular Zerg defended it, along with a large number of Infested Terrans, one of which attacked them. Taldarin said that Stukov was not up to full strength, so his minions were weak.

The Infested Terrans only dealt 50 damage when they exploded (one tenth the regular amount). The other Zerg units were at full power, however.

The Skullder Unit

 * Raynor and Taldarin could encounter another rebelling Terran base on a branch path, which included power generators for unknown reasons. They rescued a Siege Tank and a soldier piloting a Skullder Unit 001 Goliath (the same type found in Deception and which is superior to the Skullder Unit 004 from Mercenaries II). The soldier was trying to take on Stukov's forces by himself. He knew the assault was impossible, but with Raynor as backup, he believed he could do it. Raynor, however, was somewhat skeptical, while Taldarin was amused by this display of human arrogance.

Heavy Defenses
Raynor and Taldarin encountered more rebels in Goliaths. They used to work for Stukov, but they said he had gone crazy. As they moved on, the party noticed a heavily fortified base with Missile Turrets. The Turrets would spot any cloaked Ghosts or the Dark Templar if they attempted to attack it. Taldarin suggested finding another way past the base.


 * There was a small Terran base on a raised area of land, including a Stasis Cell. If Raynor and Taldarin destroyed the cell, they found inside two Dark Templar, who pledged loyalty to Taldarin until the end of their days.

Stealthy troops could use a nearby transport beacon and sneak past the enemy troopers in order to deactivate a computer system. Doing so shut down the Missile Turrets at the heavily fortified base. Now the stealthy units could destroy it, provided they avoid any prowling Science Vessels.

Unfortunately, directly behind the (now-destroyed) base was a plasma fence. Any unit that crossed it ran the risk of being destroyed. A fast unit, such as Raynor using his StimPack, could attempt to race the barrier to the security beacon behind it (which shut the fence down).

Unexpected Allies
The next area was maze-like and filled with power generators plus large numbers of Terran troops. The heroes had little choice but to carefully assault this area. Past the maze were a derelict battlecruiser, Terran troops, Spider Mines and Zerg.


 * A branch path from here lead to a hidden encampment consisting of an Archon and three Firebats, including Sergeant Bud Morris, an old friend of Raynor's. Morris said he knew Raynor would come through for him.


 * The Archon said that he has been unworthy since his capture, and that he should have died in battle. Taldarin agreed, and said the Archon could make amends.

Another heavily guarded base, complete with Missile Turrets, could be weakened if the heroes use a teleport beacon which lead to a small enclosed area. Unfortunately, the area had heavy artillery, so only stealthy troops could make it. The enclosed area had a security beacon which would shut down the Missile Turrets. Even without the Turrets, the next area was crawling with Terran troops and vehicles and had to be carefully assaulted.

On the way to Stukov's presumed location, the Terrans encountered a "friendly" Starport and Dropship. Unfortunately there were troops, moderately thick on the ground, around this area and all the way to the giant Cocoon.

The Final Battle
The final area consisted of the giant Cocoon, the four unnamed Cerebrates, power generators, two Nydus Canals, an Infested Command Center, and numerous defense structures (mainly Zerg). The area had to be assaulted carefully.

As the heroes got close, the Cocoon exploded, releasing a pair of Ultralisks, other minor Zerg, and Infested Stukov himself, who shouted: "Now you will taste the vengeance of the New Swarm. Destroy them!"

During the battle, Raynor's medic tackled Stukov and injected him with the serum, which reconstructed his cells. The process was very quick. Meanwhile, Raynor and Taldarin were defeating the Zerg.

Stukov was not happy about being uninfested, even after the process was finished. He told Raynor he would never understand the clarity he had lost. However, was is willing to flee to the Starport with Raynor and Taldarin, as the Zerg were turning against him. A flood of Zerg emerged from the Nydus canals, chasing Raynor, Taldarin, and Stukov to the friendly Dropship. The rest of Raynor and Taldarin's forces were attacked by the Zerg...

Purification
As the heroes escaped, Praetor Artanis prepared to "purify" Braxis. Apparently Stukov's Swarm has corrupted or infested all of the Terrans on the world.

Explosions rocked the entire place. The surviving troops that accompanied Raynor and Taldarin, plus any rescued allies, were killed in the explosions.

Blizzard Reaction
When asked to comment on Resurrection IV years after it was released, Andy Chambers described Infested Stukov as the result of an experiment for the Zerg in terms of infesting humans as leaders. Chris Metzen later unambiguously stated that Resurrection IV is canon.

Download

 * 2007-09-10. Bonus Maps. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2007-10-09. (StarCraft Legacy download version.)