Guerra de Especies

La Guerra de Especies (también conocida como la "Guerra Galáctica para la Dominación en círculos de la JTU) fue una guerra civil Zerg librada entre Sarah Kerrigan y Daggoth, quienes se disputaron el puesto de sucesor de la Mente Suprema. Sin embargo, la Junta de la Tierra Unida complicó las cosas.

Antecedentes

La muerte de la Mente Suprema dejó a Daggoth al mando de los cerebrados, muchos de los cuales se fusionaron en una nueva Mente Suprema en Carbonis. Era incapaz de controlar a los Zerg para controlar al Enjambre Zerg en sus etapas infantiles, por lo que Daggoth mantuvo el control de muchas de las colonias mientras maduraba.

Buscando evitar que la Mente Suprema llegara a su madurez, Sarah Kerrigan mentalmente esclavizó a la Matriarca Raszagal.

Las Cenizas de Aiur

Durante su invasión sobre Aiur, los Zerg habían destruido la Gran Flota y erradicado al Cónclave junto con casi el setenta por ciento de la población de Aiur. Artanis, el Judicario Aldaris, el Magistrado Fénix, el Prelado Oscuro Zeratul y el Comandante Jim Raynor unieron fuerzas para reunir y llevar a los esparcidos sobrevivientes, pero los Zerg siguieron erradicando a cada Protoss que encontraban.

El Dominio

Habiendo reforzado las armadas del Dominio Terran reclutnado a la fuerza guerreros de la desaparecida Confederación Terran, el Emperador Arcturus Mengsk se las arregló para fortificar los tantos mundos bajo su cargo. Con el General Edmund Duke de su lado, Mengsk no tenía ningún oponente por parte de ninguna de las milicias Terran al interior del Sector Koprulu.

Rebeldes y Disidentes

Sin embargo, al igual que la Confederación, el Dominio tenía que lidiar con quienes se oponían a su mandato. Las tensiones se habían desarrollado con el Protectorado Umojano al principio del conflicto y los fantasmas de la Confederación aún sobrevivían. Las Fuerzas de Resistencia Confederadas fueron un remanente de la milicia Confederada liderada por Samir Duran y Angelina Emillian. Los recursos de las Fuerzas de Resistencia Confederadas eran magros; después de la caída Tarsonis ellos operaban desde un Crucero de batalla escasamente meritorio y sus rangos fueron llenados por marines resocializados neuronalmente.

Los Planes Mortales

Los Terran en el sector Koprulu ignoraban que la Liga de los Poderes Unidos los habían monitoreado desde su exilio de la Tierra, contentos de observarles sin interferir directamente en sus asuntos. Todo eso cambió con el descubrimiento de los Protoss y Zerg, que causó pánico extendido a través de la Liga de los Poderes Unidos y llevó a los países disidentes de Sudamérica a su pliegue, expandiendo así sus poderes y causando que fuera renombrada como la 'Junta de la Tierra Unida'. Cuando quedó claro que el las colonias de Koprulu estaban perdiendo fuerza, el Concejo de la JTU consideró que era el momento perfecto para establecer el control sobre sus parientes distantes. La JTU dirigió todos sus recursos considerables en estudiar a los alienígenas y sus maniobras. Pasaron muchos meses monitoreando a los alienígenas, reuniendo datos sobre sus fortalezas y debilidades.

Al saber de la nueva Mente Suprema, la JTU formó una fuerza expedicionaria al mando del Almirante Gerard DuGalle con órdenes de esclavizar a la Mente Suprema y usarla para derrocar al Dominio y pacificar la actividad protoss en el sector. Sin embargo, DuGalle no estaba cómodo con la posibilidad de "usar" a los zerg para alcanzar la victoria, sintiendo que representaban un riesgo innecesario. Por lo tanto, él emplearía tácticas más convencionales para tomar el control del Domnio.

Se planeaba que la flota confiara principalmente en armas capturadas, permitiendo que la fuerza inicial de invasión fuera pequeña en números.

Curso de la guerra

Incursión de la Junta

"¡No has visto nada! Diseccionar un zerg muerto en un laboratorio es una cosa. Soltarlos sobre los hombres es otra."

- Gerard DuGalle a Alexei Stukov^(fnt)

La Flota Expedicionaria de la JTU llegó al sector sin ser detectados por el Dominio Terran. Una de sus primeras actividades era conducir una "prueba de armas" soltando zerg al interior de una colonia terran. DuGalle y Stukov observaban la batalla para complementar los datos ya recopilados de laboratorios. La JTU dejó que la colonia fuera erradicada y luego la abandonaron.

Escape de Aiur

"Con todo respeto, Zeratul, los Protoss no huyen de sus enemigos. Aiur es nuestro mundo. ¡Aquí es donde libraremos nuestra batalla!"
"¿Así como lo hizo tu Cónclave? Ahora están muertos, Aldaris, muertos porque dejaron que su orgullo cegara su razón. Sólo si aprendemos de sus errores podemos vivir para vengarlos. Ahora, Ejecutor, conozco un lugar en donde podemos buscar refugio. Éste es Shakuras, el mundo secreto de mi gente, los Templarios Oscuros."

- Aldaris y Zeratul discuten su estrategia.^(fnt)

Artanis fue apuntado como nuevo Magistrado y se reunió con Aldaris, Zeratul y el Ejecutor en una base remota. Como sugerencia de Zeratul, los sobrevivientes Khalai se retiraron a su último portal de transposición funcional, luchando contra una considerable fuerza zerg para llegar ahí. Fénix y Raynor se quedaron atrás y protegían sus flancos mientras el Ejecutor llevaba a los sobrevivientes Khalai a través del portal y viajaban hacia Shakuras. Las fuerzas de Daggoth tomaron el control del portal y siguieron a los refugiados hasta Shakuras. En Shakuras, Artanis, Zeratul y el Ejecutor hicieron reconocimiento del entorno y encontraron una ubicación adecuada para un asentamiento más permanente. Fueron emboscados por hidraliscos pero salvados por los Templarios Oscuros. Mientras Fénix y Raynor luchaban para retomar el portal de transposición en Aiur, Artanis tenía asegurado el portal en Shakuras.

Tres días después de que comenzara la evacuación, Raynor y Fénix desactivaron el portal en Aiur, varando a numerosos protoss. Los refugiados se dividirían en muchos grupos, tales como los Shel'na Kryhas, liderados por Ladranix, y los refugiados de Fénix. Un número de héroes protoss estaban varados en cámaras de estasis.

Dos de los cerebrados de Daggoth infestaron las tierras de un templo Xel'Naga. Raszagal les dijo a Aldaris y Artanis que el templo podría ser usado para expulsar a los zerg de Shakuras. Bajo sus órdenes, los protoss asesinaron a los cerebrados. Zeratul, Aldaris y Raszagal se encontraron con Kerrigan, quien exigió sr llevada a su ciudadela.

En la ciudadela, Kerrigan notificó a Raszagal, Aldaris, Zeratul, Artanis y al Executor de la nueva Mente Suprema. Ella juró que ya no era más una despiadada asesina. Aldaris no creía que ella estaba liberada del control de la Mente Suprema y se fue enfurecido. Zeratul priorizó salvar a Shakuras antes de asaltar a la nueva Mente Suprema. Kerrigan se ofreció para ayudar a encontrar los cristales Uraj y Khalis, y Raszagal les pidió aceptar la ayuda de Kerrigan.

La Búsqueda de los Cristales

"Los has hecho bien, Kerrigan. Hay más de ti de lo que parece. Quizás te he juzgado mal."
"Dada nuestra historia, no puedo decir que te culpo. Sólo terminemos el trabajo."

- Zeratul y Kerrigan en Braxis^(fnt)

Artanis, Zeratul y el Ejecutor llevaron una armada a Braxis, que había sido abandonada por los protoss mucho tiempo atrás. Siguiendo las órdenes de Raszagal de destruir todo lo que les alejara de los cristales, los protoss superaron las defensas del Dominio. Kerrigan personalmente luchó al lado de la fuerza, sus esfuerzos hicieron que Zeratul confiara más en ella. Los protoss destruyeron la gran base que vigilaba al cristal y se lo llevaron. Kerrigan encontró el Uraj y una sonda fue enviada para llevárselo.

Viendo a Braxis como un paso vital para dominar el sector, la JTU lo rodeó con un bloqueo orbital. El bloqueo incluyó torretas de misiles localizadas en una plataforma espacial y potenciados por generadores de potencia de fusión. Los Protoss se negaron a las exigencias del Vice Almirante Alexei Stukov para rendirse. Artanis lideró el escape y se abrió paso destruyendo los generadores de potencia, lo que desactivó las torretas. Los protoss escaparon ilesos y la JTU dejó de perseguirlos.

Carbonis era el próximo punto de llamada en la búsqueda de los cristales. Durante la Gran Guerra, el Khalis había sido llevado al mundo por los Templarios Oscuros en un esfuerzo por combatir a los zerg, pero tuvo que ser abandonado cuando el Enjambre los superó. Ahora, meses después de su pérdida, el Khalis ahora residía muy cerca de la aún infante segunda Mente Suprema. Los protoss, junto con algunos zerg que Kerrigan pudo controlar, tenían dos opciones—o conducir un arrebato y llevarse el cristal, o infligir el suficiente daño a la Mente Suprema para que los zerg cercanos sean pacificados, permitiendo la fácil recuperación del cristal. De cualquier manera, la operación fue un éxito y las fuerzas aliadas regresaron a Shakuras.

Expulsión de Shakuras

"Por mucho tiempo hemos obrado con vanas defensas mientras nuestros enemigos nos empujan aún más lejos de la victoria. ¡Ha llegado el momento de soltar la furia completa de nuestros poderes! ¡Nunca más Shakuras será depredada por el repugnante contacto de especies alienígenas! ¡Estos Zerg serán los primeros en caer ante nosotros!"

- Raszagal antes de la activación del Templo Xel'Naga.^(fnt)

Judicator Aldaris

Aldaris se dio cuenta de la esclavización mental de Kerrigan sobre Raszagal mientras la Flota de la Matriarca estaba recuperando los cristales. Para cuando la Flota había regresado, él había levantado toda una legión de sobrevivientes Khalai, incluyendo arcontes y todos los árbitros disponibles. Luego del regreso de la Flota, Raszagal exigió que el Ejecutor liquidara a Aldaris y apaciguara la revuelta, despertando las preocupaciones de Zeratul, quien estaba muy preocupado por el aparente fervor de Raszagal, pero de cualquier forma, tanto él como Artanis se dirigieron a cumpliir con la tarea. Para ayudar a equilibrar las posibilidades, fueron creados arcontes oscuros—los primeros en mil años.

Las fuerzas de Zeratul y Artanis desvanecieron las copias alucinatorias de Aldaris y lo acorralaron. Él se negó a rendirse y para explicar sus actos, intentó explicar que se había enterado de la exclavización de Raszagal ante Kerrigan. Sin embargo, antes de que pudiera hacerlo, Kerrigan apareció en el campo de batalla y lo mató. Indignado, Zeratul exigió que ella abandonara Shakuras. Para la Reina de las Cuchillas, esto importó poco—ella había llegado a Shakuras para matar a los cerebrados de Daggoth y los protoss habían hecho el trabajo por ella. Así, ella se fue sin protestar, con sus objetivos completos.

La traición de Kerrigan fue un trago amargo para los protoss, pero tenían que concentrarse en los restantes zerg en el mundo. Zeratul sabía que activar el templo para destruir a los zerg renegados haría que todo jugara a favor de Kerrigan,pero la situación era muy desesperada como para no hacerlo. También siguió observando el raramente comportamiento agresivo de Raszagal.

Los protoss lucharon contra los zerg cerca del templo, limpiando el área. Zeratul y Artanis, llevando los cristales Khalis y Uraj, respectivamente, luego se retiraron al interior del templo. Mientras el templo se cargaba, los zerg lanzaron un ataque masivo final contra él. Sin embargo, los protoss resistieron al asalto. El templo destruyó a los zerg en Shakuras, pero dejaron un yermo de dunas de arena y ruinas.

Invasión de la JTU

"¡Atención! Defensores de la Junta de la Tierra Unida, habla el Almirante DuGalle. Se les instruyó a todos antes de que dejáramos la Tierra, así que saben que hemos llegado aquí para conquistar este sector en el nombre de la Humanidad. Si alguien de ustedes cambia de parecer en cuanto a desempeñar sus deberes asignados, se les recuerda que si fracasamos en nuestra misión aquí, ninguno de nosotros regresará a casa. ¡Pelearemos o caeremos juntos en este yermo abandonado!

Sirvan a la Junta. Sirvan a la Humanidad. ¡Cualquier otra prioridad es secundaria a la victoria! DuGalle fuera.."

- Gerard DuGalle a sus tropas sobre Braxis^(fnt)

La JTU regresó a Braxis. Para que su invasión sobre el Dominio fuera exitosa, la JTU requirió de acceso a su red principal de datos y diagnóstico de armas. A este punto, Atlas Wing fue ordenada para capturar la ciudad capital de Braxis, Boralis. Sin embargo, las tropas terrestres estaban pobremente ubicadas, ya que su lugar de aterrizaje no tenía fuentes de gas vespeno. Boralis además estaba bien defendida. Both issues were rectified through contact with Lieutenant Samir Duran, leader of the Confederate Resistance Forces. He offered to show them a less-defended path to the rear of Boralis. He allayed Stukov's suspisions by pointing out that he and his men were dedicated to overthrowing Mengsk—allying with the UED seemed only logical. Duran's proposed alliance was accepted and the combined forces fought their way into Boralis, defeating the local Dominion forces.
:Main article: Confederate Raid on Umoja 
The UED gained much information about the Dominion from Boralis' computer files. This included the travel schedule of Dominion emperor Arcturus Mengsk, who was traveling to Umoja to visit his son Valerian at the younger Mengsk's home planet, Umoja. They would hold the party at the house of Ailin Pasteur, Valerian's grandfather. A raid was carried out in order to kill Mengsk, but ultimately failed.

The Fleet approaches the Dylarian Shipyards

The UED Fleet had meanwhile ascertained the location of the Dylarian Shipyards, based on the data taken from Boralis. The yard was home to Dominion battlecruisers in drydock, which the UED would commandeer with pilots. Duran warned DuGalle that Dominion Command could typically reinforce its outlying bases within sixteen hours. UED troops stole numerous battlecruisers before Duke led a fleet against them. Stukov revealed the origin of the UED, but Duke attacked anyway. The UED battlecruisers defeated those of the Dominion. The UED conscripted the remaining defenders of Dylar IV and destroyed the shipyards.
:Main article: Skirmish on Tarsonis 
The UED research team found the psi disrupter on Tarsonis. This was a potent device similar to a psi emitter, which the Confederacy had developed in its last days. The disrupter could disrupt zerg psionic signals. However, it was lost during the fall of Tarsonis, and Mengsk had never been able to recover it.

Duran suggested the Psi Disrupter was such a powerful and dangerous piece of technology that it should be destroyed before Mengsk could get his hands on it, but Stukov believed its anti-zerg abilities would greatly assist the UED in defeating the zerg. DuGalle agreed with Duran and charged him with finding the disrupter and securing it. After neutralizing the zerg in the local area by destroying four hives, Duran located the disrupter. Just before he could plant explosives on it, he was relieved by ghosts sent in by Stukov.

===Emperor's Fall===

A UED command center on Korhal

:Main article: Battle of Korhal
Korhal, capital world of the Dominion, was the fleet's next target and ultimately the Dominion knew this. As reports of an approaching enemy fleet reached Dominion High Command, testing was ordered of a new plasma-pulse weapon at the Broken Mesa in hopes that the power of this weapon might destroy the UED armada. While in the final testing phase, Senior Scientist Ozmel Dodds turned traitor as he attempted to curry favor with the attacking UED forces. On the day of the final test, Dodds changed the pulse-modulation frequency on the weapon causing the awesome cannon to overload, destroying itself and the research facility that housed it.

The UED invasion of Korhal itself began shortly after Stukov had "accounted for" the disrupter. The fleet was presented with two key obstacles in its assault. Firstly, Mengsk possessed a formiddable nuclear arsenal and as Korhal had already been devastated by nuclear fire nearly a decade ago, there would be no compunction against using nuclear missiles against UED ground forces. The second issue was that Korhal's planetary defense featured multiple battlecruisers. Either set of defenses could be compensated for in an attack prior to moving on the capital of Augustgrad but the UED timetable did not allow for disabling both groups of defenses. Either way, the pre-emptive strike was succesful, leaving the way open to Augustgrad. However, Mengsk still possessed a large number of standing forces, even if he couldn't reinforce them.
:Main article: Siege of Augustgrad 
After weathering Mengk's counterstrike, the UED forces moved on Augustgrad and captured the city. Mengsk, attempting to escape in the Norad III was intercepted and was forced to request a parlay.

On Aiur, Raynor and Fenix were contacted by Kerrigan, who asked them to rescue Mengsk from the UED and bring him to her. Raynor was galvanized by the threat of an emergent Overmind in the hands of the UED and temporarily put aside his hatred of Mengsk and agreed to Kerrigan's plan.

DuGalle, as impressed as he was at the emperor's defense, had no intention of negotiation, as Mengsk was to be executed along with his ranking officers. Before the emperor could be apprehended however, the Hyperion appeared alongside a small protoss fleet. Through dimensional recall, Mengsk was rescued right under the UED's nose.
:Main article: UED Raid on Aiur 

Aiur

The UED pursued Raynor and Mengsk to Aiur, where they hid in a protoss encampment based around the warp gate. Large numbers of zerg prowled the area and while passive, anything could set them off. A captain was assigned to destroy the encampment while forces led by Samir Duran and Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov would seal off the area.

Shortly after the invasion, the warp gate was activated, throwing the zerg into a frenzy. The UED forces fought their way past both protoss and zerg, destroying the protoss encampment. Raynor and Mengsk fled in a transport, but the UED strike force was in position to intercept them. However, to Stukov's astoundment, a force of zerg converged on the location. Duran had moved his troops out of position and feigned ignorance of such actions. An irate Stukov left the battlefield in order to attend to "a personal matter". This enabled a massive swarm of zerg to move into the area, destroying everything in sight. Raynor and Mengsk escaped and the warp gate self-destructed.

===On the Blood of Patriots===
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The Psi Disrupter

:Main article: First Raid on the Psi Disrupter
Stukov took his Elite Guard to Braxis where he reconstructed the Psi Disrupter. DuGalle traced him to the world and was perplexed at his actions, especially in light of the detection of a fully functional psi disrupter. Duran conviced the admiral that this was an act of treason. In response, DuGalle put Duran in charge of a strikeforce through which Stukov would account for his actions. The force fought their way through the psi disrupter to Stukov, whom Duran shot and vanished soon afterwards. As Stukov lay dying, he told DuGalle that he believed Duran was the traitor and may even have been infested. DuGalle realized too late that his friend was telling the truth. The UED was unable to locate Duran but they did encounter large numbers of zerg which had invaded the Disrupter. The Disrupter's core had been set to overload in a short period of time. Duran's former force teamed up with the remains of Stukov's force, fighting their way past the zerg to save the Disrupter. The Disrupter remained on Braxis, protected by a planetary garrison.
:Main article: The Capture of the Overmind
The UED fleet traveled to Char for the final push against the zerg. The disrupter proved its worth by interfering with zerg communications, causing the zerg to spread over Char in disarray. This enabled the fleet to reach Char's surface. However, the Overmind was still defended by three broods, each commanded by a cerebrate with a special ability. One could enhance the toughness of its sunken colonies, another created infested terrans, and yet another could create a Torrasque, a powerful ultralisk breed, and respawn it when it was killed. The UED forces destroyed each cerebrate in turn, pacifying each brood. This allowed their medics to approach the second Overmind and pacify it with neurostim injections. As the UED reached its victory, Duran appeared on the battlefield. He introduced DuGalle to Kerrigan who taunted him about the death of Stukov. She said she would claim the zerg for herself and destroy the disrupter. Her forces covered her retreat as the Directorate engaged them.

Project Black Flag

In the aftermath of their victory, the fleet created a victory report for transmission to Earth, informing their homeworld of the successes against the zerg. The report was laced with propaganda and in regards to the manner of Stukov's death, outright lies. Directorate Project "Black Flag" controlled the Overmind through psychics as well as powerful drugs. In the following period, DuGalle instituted a series of intense training exercises on the forbidding surface of the planet. With the security of the now-tamed Overmind being the linchpin of further military success in the Koprulu sector, DuGalle needed to know that the harsh environment of Char would not make this task impossible. Forces that were able to function on Char stayed and served as a garrison force. Those that couldn't "take the heat" were stationed elsewhere.</nowiki> ===Kerrigan's Alliances===
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Kerrigan's zerg

:Main article: Tarsonis Zerg Revolt
The disrupter's effects weakened Kerrigan's Zerg Swarm, causing Kerrigan to lose control of many of her minions. She took control of a new cerebrate and told it if it served her unquestioningly, she would let it live. Duran told Kerrigan that the zerg on Tarsonis had been revolting for hours. The new cerebrate took control of Kerrigan's few remaining minions and slowly defeated the rebel zerg, recovering hives as it did so. The hives failed to respond to the cerebrate's orders, and so the associated larvae were unable to be transformed into new minions. Kerrigan's zerg moved from hive to hive, taking them from the rebels' control. Each time, some of the renegade zerg joined Kerrigan's side. Kerrigan recruited a number of Hunter Killers this way; the Queen of Blades managed to put down the rebels and claimed victory.

The UED's attempted defense

:Main article: Second Raid on the Psi Disrupter
Kerrigan arranged for Mengsk to be transported in cryogenic hibernation to her by Fenix and Raynor. Kerrigan claimed that she bore Mengsk no ill will and proposed a deal. In return for her help in retaking Korhal, he would provide a psi emitter, which would enable her to gather up enough zerg to destroy the disrupter. Mengsk, having little choice in the matter, agreed. Raynor's Raiders began the assault, destroying the external power generators powering the Disrupter. Mengsk's SCV, carrying an emitter, then descended. It lured zerg minions, such as drones, as well as powerful minions such as Devouring Ones, Hunter Killers and even a Torrasque to Kerrigan's hive cluster. Kerrigan's forces destroyed the Disrupter, achieving a strategic victory over the UED.

Moria

:Main article: Raid on Moria (The Kel-Morian Combine)
Kerrigan's allies were uneasy, wondering if Kerrigan's now uncontested control of her zerg would signal the end of their alliance. Either way, the assault on Korhal loomed. In order to prepare for the upcoming attack, Kerrigan needed a large quantity of minerals. She chose Moria as her target. Fenix agreed to lead the zerg troops. They weakened some of Moria's defenses in the assault and destroyed a number of military and manufacturing facilities as they pilfered ten thousand minerals.

===True Colors===
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:Main article: The Liberation of Korhal
Much planning went into the assault on Korhal, and for good reason—the UED possessed a substantial ground force, heavy fortifications and even its own zerg, courtesy of its control of the Overmind. While Raynor and Fenix led an assault against the outlying fortifications of Augustgrad, Kerrigan's zerg acted as the tip of the spear, reclaiming the city. Fewer enemy zerg were encountered than expected, leading Kerrigan to wonder if the Overmind was proving difficult to control. Either way, with victory achieved, Mengsk sent Duke to establish a base of operations in Augustgrad.
:Main article: Betrayal on Korhal
For Kerrigan, the struggle was not over, as the UED forces on Char still had to be dealt with. Before that could occur however, she had to deal with her former allies, seeing them as potentially dangerous. She and Duran plotted their destruction. As Duke's and Fenix's forces rested after the liberation of Korhal, Kerrigan's zerg attacked them. For six minutes they rampaged almost unchecked before the former allies could retaliate. During the battle, both Duke (in the Norad III) and Fenix himself made personal appearances on the battlefield, but both fell to the zerg. This earned Kerrigan the hatred of both Mengsk and Raynor. Kerrigan weary of the slaughter, ordered her forces to return to Tarsonis.

===To Slay the Beast===
:Main article: Second UED Raid on Tarsonis
Two days after the massacre on Korhal, The UED Expeditionary Fleet launched an attack by their enslaved zerg against Kerrigan's fortress on Tarsonis. The hundreds of zerg were coordinated by scientists, due to the UED's poor control over the Overmind. In addition, the UED used genetic engineers which experimented on a number of passive zerg.

The UED enslaved zerg overwhelmed many of Kerrigan's hive clusters, but her cerebrate was able to rally the remaining forces. Kerrigan ordered the deaths of the scientists, which caused the passive zerg to run wild. Kerrigan's forces had achieved victory.

In order to slay the Overmind, Kerrigan needed the aid of the Dark Templar. For the aid of the Dark Templar, she needed Raszagal. And in order to retrieve the matriarch, she and Duran returned to Shakuras. However, Raszagal was residing in Talematros, a well defended settlement whose pylons were generating an electromagnetic field, preventing most zerg aerial strains from being fielded. Duran suggested he could plant charges on the pylon clusters and set them to overload. With the destruction of the power grid, the zerg would have ample cover through which they could kidnap Raszagal. Kerrigan approved of the plan.

Duran led ground-based zerg (and overlords) against the protoss defenders, eventually planting charges and detonating all of the clusters. The entire city was destroyed. During the confusion, Raszagal was retrieved.

The UED's lines crumble

Kerrigan traveled to Char, where her final plans would be laid. As Kerrigan had anticipated, Zeratul arrived, leading a protoss revenge force. Kerrigan used Raszasgal's status as a hostage to force another alliance with the protoss — if the Dark Templar would slay the Overmind for Kerrigan, she would allow Raszagal to return. Zeratul was outraged, but Raszagal convinced him to agree to Kerrigan's demands, pointing out the Overmind was an enemy for both Kerrigan and the protoss. Kerrigan's zerg and the Dark Templar fought against the UED and its enslaved zerg. Eventually Kerrigan's alliance overwhelmed the UED, with Zeratul personally slaying the Overmind. The remaining cerebrates were also killed by the Nerazim. Zeratul demanded the return of the Matriarch. Kerrigan allowed this... but Raszagal, now clearly under Kerrigan's control, would not.

Raszagal, dead at Zeratul's hands

:Main article: Skirmish on Char (The Reckoning)
Zeratul and his brethren circumvented Kerrigan's defenses and rescued Raszagal as the remainder of the UED forces fled. Duran was meanwhile able to locate Zeratul's outpost, near remnants of UED ground troops. It appeared that they were intent on returning to Shakuras with Raszagal, and would do so within thirty minutes. Kerrigan's zerg fought their way past the UED troops and destroyed the protoss base. Raszasgal was located in a stasis cell within. With a heavy heart, Zeratul slew Raszagal in order to prevent Kerrigan from controlling her. Kerrigan was impressed with Zeratul's resolve and allowed him to live, reveling at the guilt Zeratul would would be forced to live with.

===Dark Origin===
:Main article: Dark Origin
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Zeratul on the dark moon

Following the previous battle on Char, Duran left Kerrigan's side. She was unaware of his location or motives. Zeratul meanwhile led a small warband fleeing from Char. They sought Artanis and other protoss survivors of Kerrigan's attacks. During the search, they located protoss power signatures emanating from a dark moon. Since the protoss had never lived at this moon, Zeratul believed survivors may be located there. However, the power signatures were actually coming from makeshift devices crafted by terrans.

Zeratul personally led a small force of dragoons and dark archons to the dark moon. There, they discovered makeshift stasis cells defended by Clandestine Mercenaries. The terran scientists had been conducting a number of experiments with protoss technology and biology... as well as zerg biology. At the innermost stasis cell, Zeratul discovered the truth: the experiments' aim was to create a protoss-zerg hybrid, which, as the creature within the stasis cell depicted, had been achieved.

As Zeratul reeled with the shock of the discovery, Duran confronted Zeratul, telling him that the creature was the culmination of a cycle and that it would change the universe forever. Duran also said the creatures were spread on many worlds and had not awoken yet. Zeratul saw the creature as an abomination and slew it. He also destroyed the rest of the facility and departed the dark moon, unable to share the information with his companions as he feared what the future might hold.

===Omega===
:Main article: Battle over Char (Omega)
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Char Aleph

Kerrigan was left on a weak position at Char, as Duran had disappeared and the majority of her forces were stranded on the surface of the planet when three fleets, commanded by Mengsk, DuGalle and Artanis, converged on her Char Aleph. The Dominion fleet was particularly weak, being made of special interest groups who wanted to see Kerrigan dead. Mengsk had promised them concessions and called in favors in order to implement his strike.

Kerrigan led the defense of the platform. Mengsk's forces were defeated, forcing the emperor to withdraw. He promised Kerrigan that sooner or later, she would slip-up, and he would be there to exploit her mistake. The protoss were also defeated, with Artanis also vowing vengeance. Finally, the UED forces were defeated. While the protoss and Dominion fleets were able to limp away, Kerrigan refused to accept DuGalle's surrender, pointing out that he had nothing left to barter with. For her own amusement, Kerrigan allowed the fleet a head-start in their retreat to Earth, before she sent the Swarm after them.

As the UED fleet retreated, DuGalle sent off a final letter to his wife on Earth. Realizing that the zerg could never be tamed, and that his pride had cost him the lives of Stukov and his men, DuGalle commited suicide. The remnants of the UED fleet was destroyed by Kerrigan's forces, with none making it back to Earth.

==Other Battles==
During the war, Urthos III was the site of numerous skirmishes over its mineral deposits. The UED also attacked the city of Graschek and fought in an area known as the Abattoir. Heavy casualties were suffered in both instances.

At round about the same time as the UED was assaulting Korhal, the Dark Templar terrorist Ulrezaj launched a terror campaign against the Khalai. He was defeated, but managed to elude justice.

Other planets of conflict included Anselm. The Dominion and zerg clashed here.

==Aftermath==
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Kerrigan ascendent

Kerrigan allowed the protoss and Dominion to survive, at least for a time, and felt that a great threat was coming. She refrained from carrying out any overt hostile actions against her enemies over the coming years, leading many to speculate on her motives.

The Terran Dominion was greatly weakened as a result of the Brood War. It lost control of the Kel-Morian Combine and Umojan Protectorate. It was forced to rely on mercenaries in order to deal with various military problems. Still, it had effectively recovered from the conflict by 2502.

Protoss society was re-organized into the Protoss Protectorate with Artanis as its leader. Difficult times faced the Firstborn as both Khalai and Nerazim were forced to co-exist. He could not count on Zeratul, who had disapeared, caught up in his guilt.

Jim Raynor initially partook in anti-zerg actions, such as an operation on Braxis. Still, realizing his chances against the zerg were slim, Raynor led the Raiders in an anti-Dominion movement. However, their struggle showed little sign of success.

The Brood War inflicted little political change on the Koprulu Sector. The biggest change, the arrival of the United Earth Directorate, had been reversed by its end.

Ultimately, it would be four years until conflict once again engulfed the Koprulu Sector...