The Brood War was a civil war between zerg factions, one led by Daggoth and the Second Overmind, and one led by Infested Kerrigan, the latter manipulating the protoss in order to get an advantage against the former.
The civil war was interrupted by an invasion of the United Earth Directorate which defeated the Terran Dominion and captured the Second Overmind. Kerrigan struck alliances with other powers in the sector to defeat the combined UED/zerg forces.
Background
Protoss
Approximately one thousand years before the Brood War, the Protoss Conclave, led by Kortanul, led a campaign against a band of rogues, the ancestors of the Dark Templar. They failed to destroy them, however, instead banishing them from Aiur.[1] Eventually a legacy of intolerance against the Dark Templar developed among the Khalai.[2]
The Dark Templar lived a nomadic life, quickly encountering the moon of Ehlna. There they established the Alys'aril, a center where they kept memories within khaydarin crystals.[3]
The Dark Templar eventually traveled to the world of Shakuras and came to be ruled by Matriarch Raszagal, one of the few Dark Templar old enough to clearly remember Aiur.[4] A small number of Dark Templar remained behind on Ehlna to tend the memory crystals.[3]
One of the Alys'aril's scholars, Ulrezaj, accessed forbidden crystals, intending to use the knowledge for revenge against the protoss of Aiur who had banished them. When his treachery was discovered, he left, swearing revenge.[3] Ulrezaj would later form a group called the Fist of Ulrezaj to assist him.[5]
Earth
Approximately 270 years before the Brood War, most of Earth (barring certain unstable Latin American countries) came under the control of the United Powers League.
The UPL launched Project Purification, an attempt to remove (describe the "criminals") and other undesirables from society. Scientist Doran Routhe took control of thousands of the prisoners, eventually attempting to colonize the world of Gantris VI with 40,000 of them via supercarriers. The experiment failed, and the prisoners ended up in the Koprulu Sector.[2]
The UPL was aware of the colonists, but made no attempt to control or contact them until they made disastrous first contact with alien species—the zerg and the protoss. The UPL panicked.
The United Earth Directorate was formed from the UPL and the few formerly independent Earth nations. The Directorate began a months-long research project on the aliens.[4]
Terrans in the Koprulu Sector
A remnant of the Terran Confederacy military, the Confederate Resistance Forces led by Samir Duran and Angelina Emillian, escaped from Tarsonis during its final days. The force, which contained numerous neurally resocialized marines, hid in a barely-spaceworthy battlecruiser.[6]
Arcturus Mengsk's Sons of Korhal had defeated the Terran Confederacy and co-opted many of its colonies and much of its military power. Mengsk created a new organization to govern the terran colonists—the Terran Dominion. The Dominion absorbed other governments into its ranks,[4] such as the Kel-Morian Combine,[7][8] and became the strongest terran power. General Edmund Duke assisted Emperor Mengsk in his efforts.[4]
The Dominion became based out of the formerly devastated world of Korhal, which had been detoxified.[9] Its capital, Augustgrad, was considered one of the most heavily fortified locations in the Dominion.[10]
The Battle of Bhekar Ro
Shortly before the Brood War, the colonists of Bhekar Ro discovered a xel'naga temple, which had been unearthed in a storm. When it was activated, it unleashed a signal which lured a protoss fleet and a portion of Kerrigan's Zerg Swarm, the Kukulkan Brood, to its location. The colonists came under attack, and contacted the Terran Dominion for assistance. Alpha Squadron, under the command of General Edmund Duke, arrived and immediately engaged in combat with the aliens. As the battles came to the ground, the various forces engaged in an all-out war, ending only when forces from each side invaded the temple, which absorbed them. When an Alpha Squadron ghost dropped a nuclear weapon on the temple, a phoenix creature emerged. It began absorbing the nearby forces. However, it only wished to absorb protoss and zerg essences, so it released the terrans which had been absorbed by the temple itself. The creature flew away, decimating the protoss and zerg and leaving a crippled Alpha Squadron behind.[11] It took months for Duke to be rescued.[12]
Prelude
thumb|300px|The UED observe the zerg attack a terran colony.
The Great War concluded with a protoss force under the commands of Executor Tassadar, Praetor Fenix, and Dark Templar Prelate Zeratul, allied with Jim Raynor's Raiders defeating the Zerg Swarm on Aiur. Tassadar sacrificed himself, using Dark Templar energies, to destroy the Overmind.[13]
Aiur had been left a smoking ruin by the conflict.[14] Meanwhile the zerg rampaged across Aiur, destroying 70% of the protoss population.[4] The Conclave had been wiped out in the conflict.[4][3]
The Zerg Response
Following the destruction of the original Overmind, many zerg cerebrates, commanded by Daggoth, merged into a new Overmind.[15] However, Infested Kerrigan, now in charge of approximately half of the Zerg Swarm,[16] began a campaign aimed at eliminating these cerebrates in order to rule over the Swarms by herself.
As part of her plan, Kerrigan mentally subverted Raszagal[3] even before the protoss could retreat to Shakuras.[17]
Directorate Incursion
The United Earth Directorate dispatched an expeditionary fleet to the Koprulu Sector, commanded by Admiral Gerard DuGalle and Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov (the latter focusing on researching the zerg). They planned to conquer the Terran Dominion and other terran colonies, capture the Overmind and thus take control of the zerg, then use the zerg to pacify the protoss.[4]
One of the fleet's first actions was to conduct a "weapons test" in which Admiral DuGalle observed a battle between zerg he had released onto an unsuspecting Dominion colony, believing they would learn more about the zerg this way than from Stukov's lab research. When the zerg overran the Dominion forces, DuGalle ordered his fleet to move away rather than rescue them.[18]
Course of the War
Protoss Retreat and Zerg Civil War (Phase One)
The protoss used a warp gate to escape
In the chaos of the Fall of Aiur, protoss leaders Aldaris, Artanis, Fenix and the terran Jim Raynor banded together to unite the survivors. Zeratul offered to lead the refugees through the last functioning warp gate to Shakuras.
Zeratul collected numerous warriors as he led the refugees to the gate, fighting his way past the zerg.[19] A large zerg force, composed of Daggoth's minions,[20] tried to stop them at the warp gate itself, but Fenix and Raynor personally defended it as Zeratul and the refugees fled.[19] Some of Daggoth's forces followed the refugees to Shakuras. During the battle, Raynor and Fenix lost control of their side of the gate. However, the protoss on Shakuras managed to defeat the local zerg forces.[21]
Three days after the evacuation commenced, Raynor and Fenix disabled the Aiur end of the gate, stranding numerous protoss.[1] The refugees would split into various groups, such as the Shel'na Kryhas, led by Ladranix,[1] and Fenix's refugees.[22][23] A number of protoss heroes were stranded in stasis cells.[24]
Kerrigan controlled Raszagal, who controlled Zeratul
The protoss refugees made contact with Matriarch Raszagal, leader of the Dark Templar.[25] Unknown to the protoss, Raszagal had already fallen under Kerrigan's control.[17]
Daggoth's Renegade Swarm[20] took control of the area around the xel'naga temple of Shakuras. Raszagal proposed a solution for ridding Shakuras of the zerg—collect a pair of khaydarin crystals, the Uraj and Khalis, which could be used to active the xel'naga temple. She requested the protoss military clear the area of the zerg. The protoss groups worked in tandem to defeat the zerg, with the Dark Templar destroying the pair of cerebrates present near the temple.[25]
The False Alliance: Quest for the Crystals
Infested Kerrigan appeared on the battlefield following the deaths of the cerebrates at the xel'naga temple. Raszagal invited her to her Citadel.[25]
Kerrigan claimed she had broken free from zerg control with the death of the first Overmind, but that cerebrate Daggoth had overseen the creation of a second Overmind. The creature was immature, but would eventually grow powerful enough to control Kerrigan, transforming her back into a villain. She wanted the protoss to destroy it. Aldaris, alienated at Raszagal's acceptance of Kerrigan, abruptly left the meeting.
Zeratul wasn't interested in attacking the new Overmind, however, preferring to retrieve the crystals and save Shakuras. Kerrigan promised to help the protoss retrieve the crystals, and with Raszagal's support, an unlikely alliance was formed.[20]
- Main article: Raid on Braxis
The Uraj crystal had been abandoned by the protoss on Braxis long ago, and since then the Terran Dominion had colonized the planet and put the crystal into their own care.
The protoss, following Raszagal's orders to destroy anything that blocked them from the crystals, fell upon a small Dominion bases. Kerrigan personally fought alongside the force. The protoss destroyed the larger base which oversaw the crystal and took it away.[20]
- Main article: Escape from Braxis
The protoss were unable to immediately leave Braxis due to a blockade set up by the newly arrived elements of the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet. The blockade included space platform-based missile turrets powered by fusion power generators. The protoss refused Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov's demands to surrender. Artanis led the breakout and opened a way through by targeting power generators, which disabled the turrets.[26]
- Main article: The Return to Char
Downfall at Shakuras
- Main article: Aldaris' Revolt
Aldaris's last stand
Aldaris became aware of Infested Kerrigan's mental manipulation of Matriarch Raszagal while the Fleet of the Matriarch was retrieving the crystals. By the time the Fleet had returned, he had raised an entire legion of Khalai survivors, including archons. This prompted the creation of dark archons to counter the attack.
Raszagal demanded the returned executor to terminate Aldaris and quell the uprising, prompting concerns about her behavior from Zeratul.
Zeratul and Artanis's forces dissipated Aldaris' hallucinatory copies and corralled him. He refused to surrender. He refused to work with Kerrigan, but as he began to reveal her manipulation, she made a personal appearance on the battlefield. Kerrigan slew Aldaris. Zeratul ordered her off the world. Kerrigan boasted that she had used the protoss to destroy the renegade cerebrates before leaving.[27]
- Main article: Activation of the Temple
Zeratul was aware that activating the xel'naga temple of Shakuras to destroy the renegade zerg would play straight into Kerrigan's hands, but the situation was too desperate to not do so.[28][29] He also continued to observe Raszagal's oddly aggressive behavior.[29]
The protoss fought against the zerg near the temple, clearing the area. Zeratul and Artanis, carrying the Khalis and Uraj crystals respectively, then retreated inside the temple. As the temple charged, the zerg made a final massive attack against it. However, the protoss withstood the assault.[29] The temple destroyed all the zerg on Shakuras, including most of the renegade cerebrates.[28]
The UED Invasion
Alliance with Confederates
- Main article: Battle of Boralis
Samir Duran manipulated the UED from within
The United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet made a move against the Terran Dominion, attacking the cold planet of Braxis. However, the ground troops were poorly placed, having no source of vespene gas. They also faced an intimidating defensive bastion which protected the capital of Boralis.
The UED made contact with Samir Duran, leader of the Confederate Resistance Forces, who offered to solve both their problems; he offered them vespene and could show them a less-defended path to Boralis. He said he would ally with the UED because both of them shared an enemy in the Dominion.
The combined forces fought their way into Boralis, defeating the local Dominion forces.[30]
- Main article: Confederate Raid on Umoja
The UED gained much information about the Dominion from Boralis' computer files.[31] 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.[6]
Duran and Captain Angelina Emillian, a marine who had been Arcturus Mengsk's former commanding officer, planned a surprise attack on Mengsk, intending to strike before the Dominion became aware of the fall of Boralis. The Umojan Protectorate, whose relationship with the Dominion was deteriorating, demanded the Dominion Armada remain in high orbit while Mengsk descended to the surface with only limited support, including a gun cutter. Confederate Wraiths attacked the party, while a Cassandra scrambler cut off Dominion communications and a heavy lander inserted approximately thirty marines, including Emillian, at the house. The attack heavily damaged the cutter, causing it to fall into a landing shaft and preventing it from flying.
The two Mengsks, Master Miyamoto (a swordsman) and a small number of marines headed toward the gun cutter, pursued by Confederate marines. Arcturus Mengsk operated the cutter's communication system, trying to contact Edmund Duke in the Norad III, while the others tried to fend off a larger number of marines. Valerian Mengsk and Miyamoto slew Captain Emillian, buying the Dominion party enough time to hold out until Duke arrived, destroying the Confederate attackers with the Norad III's weapons systems. During the battle, a dying Emillian taunted Arcturus Mengsk by saying the "UED" would defeat him, but she died before Mengsk discovered what the acronym stood for.[6]
- Main article: UED Raid on the Dylarian Shipyards
The UED selected the Dylarian Shipyards as their next military target, 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 16 hours.
UED troops stole numerous battlecruisers before being interrupted by the Dominion Armada, commanded by Edmund Duke. Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov revealed the origin of the UED, but Duke attacked anyway. The UED battlecruisers defeated those of the Dominion.[31] The UED followed up their victory by impressing Dominion troops into their own forces and destroying the shipyards.[32]
- Main article: Skirmish on Tarsonis
The Psi Disrupter would become a key objective of the Brood War
The UED fleet visited Tarsonis, former homeworld of the Terran Confederacy. Admiral Gerard DuGalle knew of the Psi Disrupter, 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 the Terran Dominion had never been able to recover it.
Samir 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 Alexei Stukov believed its anti-zerg abilities would greatly assist the UED in defeating the zerg. DuGalle agreed with Duran. The main body of the UED fleet moved against Korhal, but DuGalle ordered Duran to descend to the surface of Tarsonis to reach and destroy the Psi Disrupter.
Duran's force defeated the local zerg and captured the Disrupter. However, ghosts working for Alexei Stukov took over the task of "destroying" the Disruptor.[32]
Conquest of the Dominion
- Main article: Battle of Korhal
The UED invasion of Korhal itself began shortly after Alexei Stukov had "accounted for" the Psi Disrupter. The Dominion, having been previously devastated by nuclear weapons, had few compunctions about defending their homeworld with more nuclear weapons. In addition to large numbers of nuclear silos, Korhal was defended by large numbers of battlecruisers.
The UED timetable did not allow for disabling both groups of defenses. The invasion fleet was successful, pushing on toward Augustgrad.[9]
- Main article: Siege of Augustgrad
The UED forces intended to besiege Arcturus Mengsk's palace, but first had to deal with his counterstrike. The UED destroyed Augustgrad's defenses and demanded Mengsk's surrender so they could publicly execute him. Mengsk was rescued by a protoss fleet and the Raynor's Raiders battlecruiser, the Hyperion, surprising Admiral Gerard DuGalle.[33]
- Main article: UED Raid on Aiur
The UED pursued Raynor and Mengsk to Aiur, where they hid in a protoss encampment based around a functional warp gate. Large numbers of zerg prowled the area. A captain was assigned to destroy the encampment while forces led by Samir Duran and Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov would seal off the area.
The zerg were mostly passive as the UED forces settled. 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 internal machinations in the UED Expeditionary Fleet would allow their escape.
Duran moved his troops out of position, and lied to Stukov about it. An irate Stukov left the battlefield in order to attend to "personal business". 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.[22]
Conquest of the Renegade Zerg
- Main article: First Raid on the Psi Disrupter
Alexei Stukov was branded a traitor
Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov took Stukov's Elite Guard to Braxis where he reconstructed the Psi Disrupter.
Samir Duran convinced Admiral Gerard DuGalle that this was an act of treason. DuGalle put Duran in charge of the force which would execute Stukov.
Duran's force located Stukov, and after exchanging words, he shot Stukov and vanished. As Stukov lay dying, he told DuGalle that he believed Duran was the traitor and may even have been infested. 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.[34]
- Main article: The Capture of the Overmind
The UED fleet traveled to Char for the final push against the zerg. The Psi 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.
The second 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, Samir Duran appeared on the battlefield. He introduced DuGalle to Infested Kerrigan, who taunted him about the death of Stukov. She said she would claim the zerg for herself and destroy the Psi Disrupter. Her forces covered her retreat as the Directorate pursued.[35]
Directorate Project "Black Flag" controlled the Overmind through psychics as well as powerful drugs.[36]
Ulrezaj's Dark Vengeance
- Main article: Ulrezaj's Dark Vengeance
The Dark Templar terrorist Ulrezaj hatched a plot to destroy the Templar from Aiur sheltering on Shakuras using genetically enhanced zerg. His zerg minions occupied Korhal and Braxis as the Dominion lay weakened from the UED invasion. Zeratul's forces managed to defeat Ulrezaj in a battle on a space platform over Shakuras.[5]
Kerrigan's Alliances: Rebirth of the Swarm
- Main article: Tarsonis Zerg Revolt
The Psi Disrupter's effects weakened Kerrigan's Zerg Swarm, causing Infested 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.[37]
Kerrigan had contacted Jim Raynor and Fenix and persuaded them to work with her to overthrow the United Earth Directorate expeditionary fleet, convincing them that the UED had plans beyond conquering the Terran Dominion. She claimed the UED also intended to take control of the zerg and use them to lock down the sector.[37][28] Her allies would rescue the remains of the Terran Dominion fleet from the UED after it conquered Korhal.[28] While Raynor and Fenix didn't trust her, with Fenix believing her true aim was to be the sole ruler of the zerg, Raynor feared the UED more than the Dominion.[37]
Samir Duran warned Kerrigan that the zerg on Tarsonis had been revolting for hours. The new cerebrate took control of Kerrigan's few remaining minions and, with the use of superior tactics, 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.[37]
- Main article: Second Raid on the Psi Disrupter
Kerrigan arranged for Arcturus Mengsk to be transported in a cryostasis chamber to Braxis by Fenix and Raynor.
Kerrigan claimed that she bore Mengsk no ill will. 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 Psi Disrupter. Mengsk, having little choice in the matter, agreed to the deal.
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.[38]
- Main article: Raid on the Kel-Morian Combine
In order to prepare for the upcoming strike on Korhal, Kerrigan needed a large quantity of minerals. She chose Moria as her target. Fenix agreed to lead the zerg troops. Kerrigan's forces were instructed to infest as many Kel-Morian Combine defenders as possible. They made off with a large haul of minerals.[39]
- Main article: The Liberation of Korhal
The Zerg Swarm, Terran Dominion, Raynor's Raiders and Fenix's protoss forces converged on Korhal. Kerrigan's zerg, bolstered by infested terrans taken from Moria, lead the attack against Augustgrad, fighting the United Earth Directorate and their relatively small number of zerg minions. The UED forces were defeated.[40]
- Main article: Betrayal on Korhal
Infested Kerrigan no longer believed her allies were useful, seeing them as dangerous. She and Samir Duran plotted their destruction. As the Terran Dominion 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, Dominion general Edmund 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 Arcturus Mengsk and Jim Raynor.
Kerrigan felt tired of the slaughter, however, and ordered her forces to return to Tarsonis.[23]
Zerg Civil War (Phase Two)
- Main article: Second UED Raid on Tarsonis
The UED Expeditionary Fleet launched an attack by their enslaved zerg against Infested Kerrigan's home base on Tarsonis. The hundreds of zerg were coordinated by "scientists", due to the UED's poor control over their enslaved 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.[41]
- Main article: Destruction of Talematros
Kerrigan had a plan for Matriarch Raszagal, but refused to tell Samir Duran about it. She took her forces to Shakuras, intending on kidnapping the Dark Templar Matriarch. Raszagal resided at Talematros, which was protected by five special pylon clusters which could prevent zerg flyers from maneuvering.
Duran said he could plant charges on the clusters and set them to overload. Kerrigan approved 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.[42] During the confusion, Raszagal was retrieved.[43]
- Main article: Destruction of the Second Overmind
The end
Kerrigan traveled to Char, where her final plans would be laid. Zeratul arrived, leading a protoss revenge force. Kerrigan used Raszasgal's status as a hostage to force another alliance with the protoss—if dark templar would slay the second 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 second Overmind.[43]
The remaining cerebrates were killed[44] by the Dark Templar which had been manipulated by Kerrigan.[45]
Zeratul demanded the return of the Matriarch. Kerrigan allowed this ... but Raszagal, now clearly under Kerrigan's control, would not. Zeratul used an Arbiter to abduct Raszagl, surprising Kerrigan.[43]
The War Ends
- Main article: Reckoning on Shakuras
Infested Kerrigan gained control over all zerg forces in the Sector. They searched for Zeratul and Raszagal as the remainder of the UED Expeditionary Fleet forces fled.
Samir Duran located Zeratul's outpost, near remnants of UED ground troops. Kerrigan's zerg fought their way past the UED troops and destroyed the protoss base. Raszasgal was located in a stasis cell within. Zeratul arrived slew Raszagal in order to prevent Kerrigan from controlling her. Kerrigan was amused by the scene and allowed Zeratul to leave with his pain.[46]
- Main article: Discoveries at the Dark Moon
Zeratul discovered the mercenaries' outpost
Following the previous battle on Char, Samir Duran left Kerrigan's side. She was unaware of his location or motives.[47]
Zeratul 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, he was also aware of a terran presence.
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 concluded with a protoss/zerg hybrid.[48]
As Zeratul reeled with the shock of the discovery, Samir Duran uncloaked and confronted Zeratul.[28] Duran told Zeratul 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.[48] Zeratul saw the creature as an abomination and slew it. He also destroyed the rest of the facility.[49]
- Main article: Battle of Char Aleph
The final battle
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 UED Admiral Gerard DuGalle, Terran Dominion Emperor Arcturus Mengsk and protoss leader Artanis, converged on her orbital platform. 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 fought a massive battle, eventually defeating all three forces. While the protoss and Dominion fleets were able to limp away, Kerrigan refused to accept DuGalle's surrender and promised revenge.[47]
As the UED fleet retreated, Admiral DuGalle sent off a final letter to Earth and then killed himself.[50] The remnants of the UED fleet was destroyed by Kerrigan's forces, with none making it back to Earth.[51] Kerrigan allowed the protoss and Dominion to survive, at least for a time,[50] and felt that a great threat was coming.[51]
The Aftermath
Dominion Weakness
The Terran Dominion was greatly weakened as a result of the Brood War. It lost control of the Kel-Morian Combine and Umojan Protectorate.[52] It was forced to rely on mercenaries in order to deal with various military problems.[53]
Protoss/Zerg Clashes
Alexei Stukov made a comeback, having been reanimated and infested by zerg cerebrate Kaloth. Stukov ruled over part of the New Swarm on Braxis. He was the target of a protoss/terran operation led by Artanis, Taldarin and Jim Raynor. They used nanites to free him from zerg control and, after leaving the planet, melted it.[54]
Raynor and the protoss also fought against the zerg on Urona Sigma.[55]
References
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