Protoss Civil War (Episode III)

The Protoss Civil War was a major conflict fought between Tassadar's allies and the protoss Conclave.

Origins of the War
The origin of the conflict can be traced to the zerg invasion of the terran worlds. Tassadar, protoss executor of his famed Expeditionary Fleet, refused to destroy these worlds, attempting to save the terrans instead of killing them, as the Conclave ordered.

After his defeat on Tarsonis, Tassadar was ordered to return to Aiur. However, he felt a powerful psionic call emanating from a remote ash world, Char. There he encountered a Dark Templar force under the command of Prelate Zeratul. Unfortunately, the Zerg Swarm and a Terran Dominion Alpha Squadron detachment were at the planet as well. After some battles against the Dominion and the zerg's new warrior, the Queen of Blades, and some alliances with the Zeratul and the terran Jim Raynor, his forces were finally crushed by the Kerrigan's elite brood, leaving Tassadar and Raynor trapped on a space platform, and the Dark Templar Prelate was trapped in a old terran underground installation.

Then, most of the zerg traveled to Aiur to conquer it, leaving behind only a few forces under to command of Infested Kerrigan.

The Weakness of the Zerg
In a attempt to assist in the battle against the zerg on Aiur, Tassadar contacted Judicator Aldaris and told him about the cerebrates, an important part of the zerg hierarchy. The Judicator sent to the new executor, Artanis, to deal with the Baelrog cerebrate, Gorn. However, while the attack against the Brood was successful, the Cerebrate came back to life. Poor protoss strategy later resulted in the loss of Praetor Fenix.

The Conclave, now considering Tassadar as a traitor to the protoss race, sent a force to Char in order to arrest him, but the plot went awry when Tassadar convinced the Executor to join him and rescue Zeratul and his Dark Templar from zerg captivity.

The War Erupts

 * Main article: Battle of the Heart of the Conclave

A civil war erupted when Tassadar brought the Dark Templar, the very warriors who could destroy the cerebrates, to Aiur. The Vanguard of Aiur, led by the Conclave, attacked Tassadar's forces attempting to arrest him and Artanis. However, the Protoss rebels managed to break out the Conclave defenses and destroy the Heart of the Conclave. Many members of the Conclave died in this battle, thus starting the beginning of the end of the protoss government.

However, Tassadar surrendered himself to the Conclave's forces, as he couldn't stand seeing his own brethren fighting themselves. Then, Judicator Aldaris appeared and arrested the renegade.

The End of the War

 * Main aticle: The Liberation of Tassadar

Zeratul and the other Dark Templar vanished after Tassadar's capture, leaving Fenix to lead the fight.

Tassadar was put into stasis by the Conclave during his trial. Fenix feared that the Conclave would execute Tassadar after his trial and so planned a rescue. Jim Raynor, commanding the Hyperion, joined the rescue in order to pay back Tassadar for rescuing him on Char.

The trial site was defended by Ara Tribe and Furinax Tribe forces, but Fenix and Raynor prevailed, rescuing Tassadar.

Immediately thereafter, Aldaris appeared with a small fleet, intending to interrupt the rescue, but they were in turn ambushed by Zeratul and his Dark Templar. After exchanging angry rhetoric, a secondary battle broke out.

Fenix, Zeratul and Raynor achieved victory, and were accompanied by a Judicator-crewed Arbiter in their next battle, which involved slaying Gorn and another cerebrate.

Observing this action, the Conclave admitted they were wrong to Tassadar and his dissidents as they prepared to face the Overmind, vindicating one of Tassadar's main reasons for bringing the Dark Templar to Aiur. However, the Conclave was unable to provide any backup.