Reclamation of Aiur

"The Swarm brought ruin to our world. Our proud people became refugees. And yet, they could not shatter our unity. For we are bound by the Khala. The sacred union of our every thought and emotion. Today we retake our homeworld. And with it, our legacy."

- Hierarch Artanis

The Reclamation of Aiur was the opening battle of the End War. Intended as the reclamation of the lost protoss homeworld, it instead led into a much larger conflict.

Background
Aiur was lost to the zerg during the Great War, and was abandoned by the Khalai in the opening stages of the Brood War. The protoss would return to Aiur during at least one Dark Vengeance|instance, and in 2503, protoss survivors made their way to Shakuras through warp gate. Nonetheless, Aiur remained under the control of the Queen of Blades.

The Golden Armada was created in response at the behest of Hierarch Artanis, its express purpose being to one day reclaim the lost protoss homeworld. After Kerrigan's de-infestation in the Second Great War, a unit was sent to Aiur's moon of Saalok, to make preparations for the liberation of the planet. The team was wiped out, but not before they alerted the protoss that the zerg were under control. The fleet was pulled back.

At the conclusion of the Second Great War, as Kerrigan led the zerg away from the Koprulu sector, the Daelaam were faced with the opportunity to reclaim Aiur. Artanis took the Golden Armada under his command and led it to Aiur, as reclaiming it was the only common interest possessed by both the Khalai and Nerazim. In doing so, he hoped that a new protoss civilization could be created from the rubble of the old. By this stage, the zerg on Aiur were no longer under Kerrigan's control.

Course of the Battle
"Templar. At long last, we stand at the threshold of destiny. For today, we will restore the glory of our legacy. Today, we will retake what we have lost. And reclaim our homeworld."

- Hierarch Artanis

In the opening stages of the invasion, at least one khundelar unit was sent to Aiur's surface. Immediately, this unit came under attack by the zerg, and was almost wiped out. However, they held out long enough for a beachhead to be established via pylon, as scores of zealots were teleported to the planet's surface.

Many had lost their lives, but the Armada now had a foothold. As more Templar stood ready to be deployed to the surface, Zeratul made his presence known, informing Artanis of the looming threat of Amon, and requesting that the invasion be halted. Selendis refused to listen, and Artanis, while more cordial, stated that too many lives had been spent for them to turn back now. As such, more Templar were deployed outside the ruined city of Khereson, where they would reactivate the city's warp conduits. Once this was achieved, the warp conduits would allow the protoss to move across the surface of Aiur with impunity.

The protoss progressed against the feral zerg inhabiting the ruins. However, they came across a brood that was showing signs of coordination. The unseen was soon revealed as hybrid reavers, though they too were destroyed by the Firstborn. With the warp conduits secured, Artanis turned control of the invasion over to Selendis, while he discussed matters with Zeratul further. The Nerazim's words were prophetic, as Amon made his presence known, corrupting the Khala. Artanis and his forces were forced to sever their nerve chords and flee on the Spear of Adun. The attempt to reclaim Aiur had failed, and Amon unleashed legions of hybrids in a galactic assault to remake the whole universe under his image.

The war had begun.