End Game

In the Enemy's Shadow is the seventh mission of the Nova Covert Ops campaign, and the first mission of the third and final mission pack.

Broken Alliances
"Davis will answer for this Nova. Track her down and bring her in to stand trial for her crimes." "Bring her in? We tried that, it didn't work. There's only one way to stop her." "No. I have publically declared Davis is to stand trial in a court of law. Bring her back alive Nova."

- Emperor Valerian Mengsk and Agent Nova Terra

Aboard the Griffin, Nova Terra was contacted by Highlord Alarak of the Tal'darim. He stated he did not look kindly on betrayal, and that she had made a powerful enemy. She stated that he did as well, and the two broke contact.

Nova then contacted Valerian, who ordered her to take in Davis alive. Nova disagreed, as they tried that before, and that she needed to be killed. Valerian stated that he would have her stand trial in a court of law, and demanded that she be taken alive. Nova begrudgingly had to accept. Hours later, the Griffin lost the Medusa, but Reigel noted that a ship had begun attacking the Cerros Shipyards. Nova stated that it had to be her, and they moved to engage.

Mission
"Prepare to move out. We will die for Arcturus before we serve his murderer"

- General Carolina Davis

In the Cerros Shipyards, Davis and her loyalist high ranking Defenders of Man secured an experimental war machine named the Xanthos. They began to activate it, planning to use it to destroy the Gorgon-class battlecruisers docked at the shipyards. Without these ships, Nova stated that Valerian would be unable to hold onto the Dominion. The Xantos was nearly impervious to attack while it was active, but its weapon systems were vulnerable. Reigel came up with a plan; they would disable the weapon systems as it activated, and attack the machine as it repaired itself.

Nova did so, warding away the Xanthos from the Gorgons and ensuring the survival of the fleet even as Davis activated new weapons on the weapon. Meanwhile, Admiral Matt Horner arrived with the Hyperion, using it to push through the Defender of Man's position. Nova pushed to the repair bay, but as she began to attack the Xanthos, Davis activated a new combat mode kept secret even from Reigel. This still was not enough, and Nova's forces were able to destroy the Xanthos. Though the crews were injured, Davis was still alive inside.

Inside the ship, Davis noted she knew the Terra family, and that she knew why Nova was coming to meet her, but if she killed her Nova would be no better than she was. Nova shot and killed Davis, shocking Reigel.

Resolutions
"The crew is loyal to you alone Nova. We will go wherever you need." "The Dominion's always going to have problems. They'll need us to solve them, our own way"

- Reigel and Nova Terra

Aboard the Griffin, Nova began to stock up on weapons, and when Reigel entered, she ducked into cover. Reigel stated he knew she was there, and explained that after the failure of the Moebius Foundation, this was the only life he had left. He then stated that the Covert Ops Crew were loyal to her alone, and they would go wherever she ordered. Nova decided that she and her forces would help the Dominion in their own way, disconnected from Dominion command.

Aboard the Bucephalus, Valerian and Horner looked over Universal News Network reports on the end of the Defenders of Man Insurgency, stating that stability had returned to the Dominion, and that Valerian released the reports on the Defenders of Man's involvement. With those public, popular opinion turned to Valerian and general consensus from the population was that lethal force was needed against Davis. Horner asked what Valerian wanted to do about Nova, and he stated that he would let her go, for now.

Nova and Reigel looked out on the galaxy from the bridge, smiled at one another, and then ordered the Griffin to jump to warp.

Trivia

 * A relay satellite from StarCraft can be seen in the map's background.