Second Great War

Note: The title of this article is based on conjecture ""Do you hear them Zeratul? Whispering from the stars? The galaxy will burn with their coming.""

- The Queen of Blades

The Second Great War was a conflict that broke out between the terrans, protoss and zerg in 2504, four years after the first Great War.

The Brood War
The Brood War ended with the zerg ruled by Infested Kerrigan and the dominant force in the Koprulu Sector. She allowed her foes a reprieve, sensing a greater threat looming on the horizon.

Although beaten and battered in the conflict, the Terran Dominion, under the leadership of Arcturus Mengsk, was able to rebuild itself after the war to become the most powerful terran nation in the Koprulu Sector, though was no longer allied with the Kel-Morian Combine or Umojan Protectorate. His former ally, Jim Raynor, came to lead a resistance movement against the Dominion, though had little success. The protoss meanwhile tried to rebuild their civilization, though the Khalai and Nerazim at times found it difficult to bridge the cultural divide. As time drew on, the protoss found themselves sliding back into tribalism.

What no party knew was that another force existed to be reckoned with. In the last days of the Brood War, the Dark Templar Zeratul stumbled upon a dark moon, where, under the direction of Samir Duran, a protoss/zerg hybrid project was underway. Duran gave Zeratul a cryptic warning, that the hybrid was the harbinger of the future and the completion of a cycle. Disturbed by the encounter and plagued with the guilt of Raszagal's death in the conflict, Zeratul set off alone to search for clues as to the truth behind Duran's words.

Four Years of Peace
Over the next four years, the zerg were relatively silent. They remained on worlds they had already infested and sent out forces to explore and exploit various worlds and assimilate new species, but refrained from engaging in overt hostile actions against the terrans and protoss. only taking part in occasional skirmishes. No expeditions to zerg-controlled worlds ever returned.

The Terran Dominion didn't rest on its laurels either during this time. Taking lessons from the Brood War, new war machines such as the thor, Banshee and Viking were pressed into service.

The Swarm Stirs
"I know that it has been years since we've seen any zerg activity in terran space. But I hope you're prepared for the next encounter. The zerg are coming. The zerg are nature in all her fury."

- Maren Ayers warns her Dominion interrogator

As time went on, there were noticable signs of the zerg's belligerant intentions. On Sorona, the zerg lay siege to Cask for months, testing the species's adaptability while the Dominion stood by and gathered data at the cost of its citizens' lives. More telling was an open attack on the world of Dead Man's Rock, one that, as Arcturus Mengsk pointed out, had to be directed. By 2504 the Dominion was well aware that the zerg was active and sent Zeta Squad to Roxara's moon to act as guinea pigs in observation of the changeling strain. The Dominion Armed Forces undertook a trio of emergency drills to assess response times and defensive capabilities.

During this period of time, alien artifacts began unearthing themselves, such as xel'naga temples. Mengsk expressed interest in these discoveries and placed a ban on the trade of alien goods.

Long Shadows
"The Zerg Swarm came as was foretold. And the protoss, firstborn of the gods, rose to fight them. Now, the xel'naga that forged us all are returning. But do they come to save... or to destroy?"

- Zeratul

Although more easily observed and comprehended by its denizens, the tension in the Koprulu Sector were merely a canvas for the work of greater forces. The ancient Dark Voice, and its hybrids, began taking a more direct role in galactic affairs in preparation for a total and apocalyptic restructuring of Creation.

Few knew of the existence of these shadowy players; fewer realized the threat they posed. One of the cognizant few was Zeratul, a prelate of the Dark Templar. Zeratul's interest in the hybrids stretched back to the end of the when he discovered a dormant, but complete, specimen created under the direction of Samir Duran. More ominous was the specimen was merely one of many scattered throughout the galaxy. During the interbellum, the prelate sought more information on the hybrids, their creators, and their ultimate purpose. Eventually he learned of a prophecy he believed heralded the xel'naga's return, and tracked down its fragments to Ulaan. Infested Kerrigan searching for the prophecy as well, but the prelate escaped the zerg with the fragments. He took them to Zhakul where preservers could interpret the fragments. On Zhakul he encountered and defeated his fully motile and conscious hybrid, Maar. From the preservers' findings, Zeratul journeyed with even greater urgency to Aiur to extract memories from the dead Overmind. There prelate learned of the Dark Voice's intentions. His greatest fears were realized, but nonetheless resolved to fight on. Of particular interest was Kerrigan's survival was required to defeat the Dark Voice. Zeratul made to disseminate the information.

The effects of the Dark Voice's work also did not fail to escape Infested Kerrigan's notice. An unsettling hunch at the end of the Brood War only grew to be even more foreboding and oppressive during the interbellum. Though Zeratul escaped Ulaan with the prophecy, the Queen of Blades knew enough to conclude that there was no hope in the future.

At the very least, elements of the Terran Dominion were aware of the hybrids' existence. In characteristic fashion, research on the creatures was done covertly.

Course of the War
"Make no mistake, war is coming. With all its glory. And all its horror..."

- Arcturus Mengsk

Artifact Hunters
The Dark Voice's machinations framed the conflict, but the immediate instigator of conflict was a common interest in alien artifacts.

In the Terran Dominion, two groups worked nearly independently to acquire artifacts, and for different ends. The first was driven by official policy banning the trading of artifacts. The Dominion annexed Mar Sara from the Kel-Morian Combine shortly before the war and in the final months of peace concentrated on excavating an artifact there.

The second nominally Dominion group was secretly sponsored by Prince Valerian Mengsk, in contravention to the decree by his father, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk. Valerian used the as a front to locate and acquire artifacts. It was through the Foundation that anti-Dominion rebel Jim Raynor and Raynor's Raiders was drawn into the greater conflict. The Raiders were hired by the Foundation, through Tychus Findlay relationship with Raynor, to procure artifacts when the official ban descended. The Raiders were unaware of the Foundation's patron and saw it as a way to make badly needed funds. Valerian's goals were much more ambitious. The artifacts would be assembled into a xel'naga device he believed would be able to deinfest Infested Kerrigan. Therefore, acquiring the artifacts was merely a prelude to an assault on Char, and an opportunity to prove himself worthy leading the Dominion. The prince kept his ambitions from his father.

As the terrans discovered, many of the artifacts were under Tal'darim protection. The protoss faction regarded the artifacts as holy relics, and was prepared to prevent their theft by force.

It was Infested Kerrigan, more aware of the greater conflict than the terrans, who ultimately precipitated a sector-wide conflagration. She ordered the Swarm to invade the Koprulu Sector and scour it for the artifacts. Preparations for such a mammoth undertaking were detected by the Dominion's Satellite 1 in the Char System. The Dominion Fleet was put on alert.

Terran Dominion
The zerg invasion struck soon after. The Dominion fleet withdrew to fortify the Core Worlds, although the zerg quickly pressed in on those defenses. The outer rim colonies were forced to seek aid from mercenaries and outlaws, but this was insufficient and the colonists began evacuating their homes for the safety of the Core Worlds. The Dominion, having abandoned the colonies, also failed to provide aid to the ill-provisioned refugees. Refugee camps on Meinhoff were crowded, low on supplies, and a concern for medical authorities. Furthermore, the Dominion fleet was ordered to turn away refugee ships fleeing to the Core Worlds. The devastation was such that billions were already casualties.

The Dominion scrambled to meet the invasion. Emperor Arcturus Mengsk recalled General Horace Warfield from retirement to lead the Dominion Armed Forces. One of the general's first tasks was to lead a counter-offensive into the Sara System. Munitions production and penal recruitment increased. Penal troops were supplemented by Core World conscription. Nonetheless, the Dominion remained on the defensive. On the home front, survivors were required to undergo viral testing and new austerity measures were introduced.

Other Polities
The Kel-Morian Combine attempted to hold on to its outlying worlds, but was forced to follow the Dominion's example and abandon them when losses mounted.

The Umojan Protectorate also mobilized.

Raynor Keeps Ahead of Kerrigan
"We always knew she'd be back...but what's she after? ...She's come to finish the job."

- Matt Horner and Jim Raynor discussing Kerrigan's return

The increasing signs of zerg activity in the Char system coincided with the resumption of attacks on the Dominion by Raynor's Raiders. The Raiders destroyed the Dominion's planetary headquarters on Mar Sara at Backwater Station and instigated a planetary revolt. In addition, at the behest of the, the rebels stole an alien artifact from a Dominion dig site The zerg invasion reached Mara Sara just as the Raiders were preparing to leave the planet.

Among the worlds attacked were Agria, which was abandoned by the Dominion forces, leaving the colonists to their fate. Meinhoff also fell to the Swarm. However, Kerrigan's interests lay in areas other than that of conquest, seeking to retrieve an alien artifact from Monlyth, This artifact was guarded by the Tal'darim. Braxis Alpha also felt the touch of conflict, subjected to plasma bombardment.

Despite the carnage Kerrigan inflicted, Zeratul had sensed something even worse. He boarded the Hyperion and confronted Raynor, entrusting him with an ihan crystal and a message that for all of Kerrigan's sins, she was the only one who could save them from destruction.

As the conflict drew on, the Umojan Protectorate began mobilization. The Dominion meanwhile opened conscription centers across the Core Worlds. As conflict took its toll, artists were used to drum up support for war efforts.

Later Stages
In the second phase of the war, Kerrigan focused on creating a new zerg empire. In the third phase, protoss civilization fractured, separating the Firstborn into splinter factions.