Ariel Hanson

Dr. Ariel Hanson is a scientist associated with Raynor's Raiders. She is a selfless and altruistic individual.

Agria
The daughter of Bernard Hanson and Talise Cogan, Ariel Hanson was taken from Tarsonis at a young age to  Agria, the colony newly-founded by her father. Her mother remained on Tarsonis, so in a sense the colony acted as her mother.

Ariel Hanson grew to be a genius. At age six she was reading advanced chemistry notes, and at age eleven she had written a paper on mutagenic effects on the rare trabillia flower. She graduated from upper school two years early and was offered a scholarship at Tarsonis University. Despite the rich biodiversity available to study on Agria, she traveled to Tarsonis over her father's objections.

She spent three years there and met her mother, Talise Cogan. However, Cogan prioritized work and achievement over her relationship with her daughter. A frustrated Ariel Hanson decided to return to Agria, with Cogan telling her she was running from the "real" world. If the "real" world was that of cruelty and personal advancement, she didn't want to live in it. Her father was happy she was back and didn't ask any awkward questions.

While her father remained the colony's chairman, Ariel Hanson effectively became his second-in-command. Her duties included holding a round of hands-on health examinations.

Due to the Fall of the Confederacy, Agria was taken over by the Terran Dominion. They provided a defense force. In 2503 pirates raided the colony, intending to steal its advanced technology. The Dominion fought back, but many innocent colonists were killed in the crossfire. Hanson risked her life to save dozens of innocent bystanders trapped in areas of heavy fighting. She now believed the Dominion saw the colonists as expendable.

The Second Great War
"...any ship receiving this transmission...the zerg are invading Agria...The Dominion abandoned us here ...We're just a small farming colony. We've got to evacuate before we're overrun....If you can hear this message, please help us!"

- Hanson's distress call.

The Second Great War found her on Agria when the zerg invaded the planet. The Dominion quickly pulled out, leaving Agria to the mercy of the zerg. This action incensed Hanson and she despised the Dominion more for it.

Raynor's Raiders responded to Hanson's distress call and successfully evacuated as many colonists as possible. The Raiders resettled the colonists on Meinhoff. A zerg virus that created infested terrans soon struck the colony, but it was purged by the Raiders. Hanson, at Raynor's suggestion, began to devise a cure for the virus.

Aboard the Hyperion
"Great to have ya', Doc. How you plannin' on pitchin' in?" "Well, your medical facilities are medieval and your science expertise is non-existent. Perhaps I could start there?" "Ouch. Well I guess you might be able to teach Stetmann a thing or two. Welcome aboard, Doc."

- Raynor and Hanson aboard the Hyperion

Hanson stayed on with the Raiders, aiding the Raiders' "medieval" medical facilities and "non-existent" science expertise. As artifact pieces were gathered by Raynor's Raiders, Hanson studied the mysterious device, discovering that protoss could be killed simply being in close proximity to it.

Gabriel Tosh later mentioned that the zerg had nothing to gain from the invasion of Agria in the first place, apart from some infested worker bees and felt that something about Hanson was not right.

Ariel Hanson also detected jorium in the minerals the Raiders mined for Tosh, which could be used to produce psionic abilities on humans. She also warned Jim Raynor regarding terrazine.

When the Raiders helped Tosh break open New Folsom Prison, Ariel Hanson discovered that his spectres, contrary to Nova's claims, weren't psychotic at all, implying that the ghost lied to them.

When the colonists reached the world of Haven on the border of protoss space, the zerg virus had found its way to Haven as well. A protoss fleet, led by Executor Selendis, arrived to contain the virus by purification.

Haven


Raynor chose to protect the colony. During the fighting, Hanson continued to develop a cure for the virus. When the protoss were driven back, Hanson left to settle on Haven. She could not persuade Raynor to come with her. Nonetheless, Hanson gave him a kiss on the cheek and said he was a good man before leaving.

Raynor chose to assist the protoss effort, believing that purification was the only way to stop the virus from spreading. Hanson was displeased, stormed off Hyperion's bridge, and locked herself in the laboratory. She was already infested secretly. When the Raiders were finished purging Haven, 99.3% of her DNA was zerg. Hanson taunted Raynor, and he was forced to kill her.

Fate
According to correspondence between her mother and Dr. Talen Ayers - one of her colleagues involved in Project Blackstone - Ariel Hanson died shortly after the events on Haven, though the exact nature of her death has not been revealed as of yet.

Game Effect
Dr. Hanson can be found in the, where upgrades can be purchased.

If the player completes the Agria mission, "The Evacuation", but doesn't complete one of the final missions on Haven ("Safe Haven"/"Haven's Fall"), Hanson will remain on the Hyperion throughout the game and offer opinions on the previous mission. For example, after finishing "Breakout", Dr. Hanson will state that Gabriel Tosh and his spectres "aren't the psychotic killers we were lead to believe" and that "Nova lied to us." Alternatively, if the player side with Nova, Hanson will state she "doesn't like that Nova. Who knows how many people she's killed." If a player wishes to see all of Hanson's quotes, they should save the Haven missions as the last optional mission to do, just before "Gates of Hell".

Personality
Onboard the Hyperion, Hanson can represent a positive moral influence on Jim Raynor, acting as something of a love interest (albeit limited by Raynor's status as a mercenary) and representing his "good side". She is the opposite of Tychus Findlay, acting as "the angel on Raynor's shoulder," as opposed to Findlay being the "devil."