Piercing the Shroud is the secret StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty mission. It is accessed by destroying the science facility in Media Blitz and obtaining the secret documents within.
Raynor's Raiders investigated a secret Terran Dominion facility and discovered the Dominion was experimenting with hybrids.
History
Background
The Raiders discovered the location of a secret Dominion facility during a raid on Korhal. During it, they recovered documents from a science facility that pointed to the existance of a space platform orbiting Castanar, Arcturus Mengsk was planning to terminate its entire staff.[1] The Raiders decided to investigate.[2]
The Mission
Raynor and a marine team infiltrated the facility using security overrides. Upon reaching the science lab they discovered a hybrid cloned several times. Raynor decided to destroy the facility by blowing up the reactor. However, the explosion released a hybrid and the rebels were forced to flee. The Raiders barely managed to escape by stealing a Dominion Hercules dropship.[2]
Aftermath
Finding that the Terran Dominion cloned the Hybrid over and over, Jim Raynor suspected that Arcturus Mengsk had his hand into the "end of the world". Since the technology used was too complex for terrans, Matt Horner suggested that the Dominion had help.
Gameplay
The player is given the command of Jim Raynor, five marines and two medics. The player will be given a number of choices along the mission, including what kind of reinforcements he or she wishes to receive in a specific point into the mission (marines, medics, firebats or marauders).
Scattered throughout the map are grenades and plasma guns that can be picked up and used by Raynor. The grenades are useful for groups of weaker targets, while the plasma gun can be used to quickly bring down bigger units such as Ultralisks and the Brutalisk (which can be killed for three zerg research points). Also found across the map are protoss relics for protoss research.
After destroying the power core a powerful hybrid will be released. Unfortunately it is invulnerable to any attack apart from being slowed by the chrono-rift device and the second half of the mission is to outrun the monstrosity and escape. Use the plasma rifle and grenades to clear any obstructions and grouped enemies in the group's way. Grenades will be vital near the end, as a zerg-infested area will spawn pygalisks that easily block the Raiders' progress.
Achievements
 Piercing the Shroud
| |
| Points |
15 (Rebellion Mission) |
| Criteria |
Complete all Mission Objectives on any Difficulty |
 Not so Brutalisk
| |
| Points |
10 (Rebellion Mission) |
| Criteria |
Kill the brutalisk without losing a unit to it on Normal difficulty |
| Notes | |
|
Place Raynor in front, any firebats and marauders behind him, and any marines in the rear. Make use of the special weapon pickups, especially the plasma gun. Raynor should be taking the hits, but cannot last forever even with medics. When his health runs low, be prepared to quickly move to pick up the life and energy pickups on the right side of the room. If the brutalisk switches targets, direct it to the firebats and marauders; they can sustain one hit and buy time to get the pickups, and for the brutalisk to go back to Raynor. Alternatively, lure brutalisk back to the turrets near the beginning of the level with a stimpacked marine. Maneuver the infantry to contribute firepower while the turrets tank the brutalisk. This can be easily combined with Monster Mash, since the A.R.E.S. has such high health, it is unlikely for the brutalisk to destroy it. | |
 Lock and Load
| |
| Points |
10 (Rebellion Mission) |
| Criteria |
Collect all 13 weapon pickups on Hard difficulty |
| Notes | |
|
Some pickups are hidden behind destroyable doors; keep watch for doors off the beaten path. | |
 Monster Mash
| |
| Points |
0 (Feat of Strength) |
| Criteria |
Kill the brutalisk with the A.R.E.S on Normal Difficulty |
| Notes | |
|
Clear out all of the enemies between the A.R.E.S and the brutalisk before activating the robot to conserve its timed life; use Raynor and special weapon pickups to lure enemy units to explosive containers. Once clear, move Raynor between the door and the brutalisk, and one unit to unleash the beast. The remainder should fall back to activate the A.R.E.S and follow behind it. Choose the anti-armor weapons for the A.R.E.S. Once unleashed, gain the brutalisk's attention with Raynor and allow the unleashing unit to run to the health pickup on the right side of the room. Lure the brutalisk back to the A.R.E.S. with Raynor, and let the A.R.E.S tank. | |
Trivia
- On a floating asteroid outside the chamber with the brutalisk, Grunty can be seen firing into the void. After the hybrid starts attacking, the asteroid and the murlok is gone. Near him, the player can spot a flying outhouse under and around the asteroid.
- In the "brutalisk room", the vats contain a Metroid and a tauren marine.
- When the hybrid starts his rampage, if one goes in the room where it has to destroy some rubble to attack you, there will be a screen angled away from the player's view. If the camera is angled with the (insert) key, the player can see what is on the screen: people moving furniture, most likely at Blizzard headquarters. In the background is a Queen Of Blades statue. It seems to be taken by a security camera.
- If one goes down on the map one can find another monitor with another video loop. It seems to be outside some type of convention with allot of people and some people with passes leaving a building cheering. This video seems to be filmed with a larger camera. It is one of the last rooms before the Hercules dropship.
- At various points, the player can view security camera feed. However, not only is each camera labeled as "Security Cam 3," but displays the date as "Stardate 282-5837-73." This dating system harkens back to Star Trek
References
- ↑ Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Media Blitz (in English). 2010-07-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Piercing the Shroud (in English). 2010-07-27.