- Dominion slogan(src)
The Terran Dominion, otherwise known as the Dominion of Man[3] or simply as the Dominion, is a terran empire.
History[]
Early History[]
As planet after planet appealed to the Sons of Korhal for aid after the collapse of the Terran Confederacy, Arcturus Mengsk announced that a new government was necessary to protect these worlds.[4] Promising victory over the zerg and the protoss, he formed the Dominion and crowned himself emperor.[5] One of his first decrees was to begin reconstruction of Korhal, electing to make it the throne world of the Dominion.[6]
Over time, the Dominion's heavy-handed tactics began to resemble those of the Confederacy, and it became increasingly oppressive.[7]
Even though many of the Dominion's founders from the Sons of Korhal spent hard time in New Folsom Prison during their rebellion against the Confederacy, the Dominion continued to use it.[8] Every scientist, philosopher and free thinker that challenged Mengsk's rule was incarcerated in New Folsom.[9]
Mengsk reinforced the armies of the Dominion by forcefully conscripting the remaining Confederate warriors, then set out to fortify the various worlds under his care.[10] A permanent defense force was stationed on Agria,[11] which became one of the Dominion's principal botanical and wildlife preserves.[12]
General Horace Warfield was seen as one of Arcturus' more trusted advisors. Mengsk trusted Warfield with his most crucial tasks, stratagems, and missions.[13]
Dreaming that Sarah Kerrigan was alive and calling to him,[14] Mengsk sent General Edmund Duke to Char to flush out the zerg. However, Duke was defeated by the zerg and forced to fall back.[15]
Amerigo was infiltrated by Kerrigan, who accessed the Dominion network and located records of the Ghost Program, allowing her to learn about their mental conditioning that kept her psionic powers in check.[16]
When Tassadar violated Dominion air-space and endangered human lives in an attack against the zerg, Duke ordered Tassadar to withdraw his ships immediately or he would open fire upon his vessels. Upon receiving what he assumed was a hostile response, Duke sent in his fleet and was defeated by Tassadar.[17]
Alpha Squadron was also dispatched to deal with notorious smuggler Alan Schezar and his Scavengers, leading to further mysteries when the Dominion discovered that Schezar could somehow control zerg. The detachment broke away, disobeying orders in order to assist the protoss in putting an end to Schezar's zerg threat, but Schezar escaped.[18]
After the fall of Aiur, Alpha Squadron was dispatched to aid the colonists of Bhekar Ro. The squadron suffered heavy losses fighting over a xel'naga temple against both the protoss and zerg[19] and was cut off from the Dominion for months afterward.[20]
The following section contains information from StarCraft: Retribution.
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The Terran Dominion was also involved in a war to retrieve a powerful xel'naga artifact, the Argus Stone from the planet Aridas. The Dominion intended to use it as a military weapon. Although the planet was technically a Terran Dominion outpost, the arrival of protoss and zerg forces made things complicated. Jenson Archimedes was in charge of the Dominion expedition that clashed against the protoss and zerg, and after various battles the Dominion managed to retreive the Stone from a protoss stronghold on the planet.[21][22] However, in an effort to recover the Stone, the Zerg Crusaders destroyed Archimedes' battlecruiser escort, then pursued him through multiple Dominion bases. The zerg captured some of his allies, infesting them in order to gain information on Archimedes' whereabouts. The zerg eventually stole the Stone from Dominion forces, who allied with the protoss and followed the zerg all the way to Char, only to be defeated.[23][24]
The Brood War[]
- Main article: Brood War
The Dominion's defenses guarding the Uraj crystal on Braxis were overcome by a protoss army assisted by Kerrigan.[25]
Boralis was assaulted by a United Earth Directorate strike force. Although the city was well defended, the command center was destroyed after Lieutenant Samir Duran of the Confederate Resistance Forces showed them an alternate route that led to the rear of Boralis.[26] Soon, the Dominion's primary datanet was accessed by the UED.[27]
Confederate Resistance Forces officers Samir Duran and Angelina Emillian used this information to plot an assassination attempt on Arcturus Mengsk while he was visiting Umoja. Mengsk was hampered by Umojan distrust; they demanded he keep his capital ships beyond the outer shipping markers, forcing him to descend in an obsolete gun cutter. The Confederates used a Cassandra scrambler to cut Mengsk's communications off from his fleet and an EMP net to cut off communications with local Protectorate defense forces. However, the assault was a failure, in part because Dominion Fleet leader Edmund Duke disobeyed Umojan instructions to stay away when communications were cut off. Mengsk learned the term "UED" but did not learn what it stood for. Not knowing how the Confederates were able to target him so effectively, Arcturus Mengsk believed the Umojans were complicit in the attack.[28]
The bulk of the Dominion's battlecruisers were commandeered by UED soldiers at the Dylarian Shipyards. Duke led a Dominion fleet against them from Norad III, but was defeated by their newly acquired fleet.[27] The Dylarian shipyards were destroyed and Duke withdrew his forces from the quadrant. The remnants of Dylar IV's defenders were conscripted into the UED.[29]
After a fierce battle to counteract the defenses of the city in its outskirts,[30] Augustgrad was besieged by the UED. Mengsk held back their advance for as long as he could, but was forced to contact the UED fleet from Norad III requesting a parlay with Admiral Gerard DuGalle. He was rescued by Commander Jim Raynor and they escaped via dimensional recall.[31]
Kerrigan offered to help Mengsk reclaim Korhal from the UED if he loaned her his psi emitters. On Braxis, the psi emitter was carried by a Dominion SCV and helped Kerrigan to gather up nearby zerg, which she used to tear down the psi disrupter.[32]
After the UED forces occupying Augustgrad were overwhelmed by Kerrigan's zerg, a jubilant Mengsk sent Duke to establish his base of operations in Augustgrad.[33] The next morning, Duke's base was attacked by multitudes of zerg while most were asleep and unaware. The base was destroyed and Duke was killed.[34] Warfield wasn't present due to his privileged status in Mengsk's eyes.[13] Mengsk denounced Kerrigan for her treachery, but she responded that her actions were well-justified revenge and left him on Korhal.[35]
Mengsk scraped together a new fleet[36] and attacked Kerrigan's base of operations on Char Aleph alongside the remainder of the UED fleet and a protoss armada.[37] Facing imminent defeat, Mengsk withdrew early in the battle,[4] telling Kerrigan to watch her back because he would be lying in wait for her, ready to strike when she inevitably made a mistake.[38]
Reconstruction[]
- Arcturus Mengsk's propaganda, following the Battle of Artika(src)
Following the Brood War, the Dominion's military was still weak. It was unable to deal militarily with problems such as the New Trinidad Pirates, eventually resorting to hiring mercenaries to destroy them.[39] When the Brood War concluded, many feared that the end of humanity was nigh, wondering which planets the zerg would target. However, the zerg retreated from the frontlines and an uneasy peace fell over the sector. Months passed. Then years. Some speculated that the threat from the zerg was over.[40]
The Dominion was quickly able to reestablish its military and economic might.[41] Mengsk's control of the media allowed him to keep his atrocities (both past and present) hidden from the public. Most of the Dominion populace accepted Mengsk's rule, believing him to be the only leader capable of protecting them from the alien threats in the Koprulu sector. Mengsk asserted that humanity's only chance to survive the dark days ahead was to be united under his leadership, whether by choice or by force.[42] Declaring the zerg pacified, he drew up plans to secure his rule and to bring the Kel-Morians and Umojans into the fold.[40]
By the next war, the Dominion had time to build several large fleets with more advanced technology, as well as increased its knowledge of the zerg.[43]
Although Warfield retired in 2501,[13] the Dominion rose again to become the most powerful force among the terran factions. It took over almost all of the original Confederate worlds,[4] including Braxis, where it rebuilt its fortifications.[44] Over the next four years, the Dominion extended its influence throughout the Koprulu sector.[45]
Vast fortunes were lavished on the cleanup and rebuilding of Korhal, although portions of the irradiated desert were left untouched in honor of those who died in the Confederate bombardment. The planetary defenses were massively increased, and Mengsk turned Korhal into the most heavily fortified planet in the sector.[6]
The second most heavily defended location in Dominion space was Skygeirr Station,[46] where the Dominion had help from Doctor Emil Narud in combining protoss and zerg DNA were to create hybrid creatures of immense power.[47] A bio-weapons lab orbiting Castanar on a captive asteroid was also used to breed the hybrid.[48] Mengsk planned to terminate everyone who ever worked there.[49][50]
Mengsk's oppressive rule and powerful position made him the target of many terran revolutionary groups. Foremost among them were Raynor's Raiders.[42] Mengsk used the media and propaganda to marginalize Raynor's efforts and portray him as a terrorist,[4][45][42][51] along with making general efforts to exterminate the rebels.[42] Vast amounts of Dominion weapons and hardware were stolen by Raynor's Raiders. Mengsk spent trillions of credits[52] on keeping them constantly hunted and harried, denying them any chance to gain a respite and build their strength.[51]
Shiloh came under noticeably increased surveillance by Dominion military forces, which only heightened the agitation of the colonists. It was unclear whether the Dominion was trying to flush out potential seditionists like Raynor or presenting a show of force to discourage any imitators.[53]
Cognizant of the fact that the Umojan Protectorate remained ideologically opposed to the Dominion and was widely considered a safe haven for individuals seeking refuge from persecution by Mengsk's forces, the Dominion took measures to undermine the sovereignty of Umoja and its affiliated worlds by imposing trade embargoes and making assassination attempts against dissidents pursuing asylum in Protectorate territory.[7]
In 2503, Dominion marines engaged a heavily armed group of pirates on Agria to protect its valuable hi-tech scientific equipment, carelessly slaughtering colonists who were caught in the crossfire.[11]
Dominion scientists in at the Tyrador III research facility were assigned to create elite, cybernetically enhanced military units. Egon Stetmann sabotaged the facility and made his escape amid the confusion and smuggled himself off Tyrador III aboard a merchant ship.[54]
The Dominion engaged in an economic conflict with the Combine. The latter would sabotage Dominion operations.[55] In an attempt to "simplify" relations, Mengsk sent ghosts to kill Victor Kachinsky.[56]
The Ghost Program[]
The Ghost Academy was moved to Ursa[57] from Tarsonis.[58] Arcturus Mengsk ordered half of his government's ghosts eliminated as part of an "overhaul" of the Ghost Program.[59]
The Dominion would eventually become involved in a public relations clash with the Umojan Protectorate over the fate of its ghost recruits. Senator Corbin Phash of Maltair IV secretly harbored a psychic son, Colin. The secret was revealed when the planet was attacked by the zerg. Only the two Phashes survived.[60] Corbin Phash took shelter with the Protectorate, but Colin was captured and inducted into the Ghost Program.[61] The Protectorate found itself under a Dominion economic blockade, raising the price of food. The Dominion even tried to assassinate Corbin Phash, but Phash survived the attack.[62]
The Dominion turned to public relations to defend its use of ghosts in order to counter propaganda made by former Senator Phash and spread by the Protectorate.[63]
The Dominion's most significant military development project since the end of the Brood War was Project Thor, a (formerly) secret superweapon system. Umojan agent Ulli Trey infiltrated the testing facility, bringing the information to the Umojan Protectorate.[64] The Protectorate planted evidence, blaming the attack on the anti-Dominion faction, the Koprulu Liberation Front.[65]
The Dominion ordered the destruction of minor terrorist groups.[58]
In 2501, the Dominion closed down Project Shadowblade, a ghost-enhancing program which used terrazine, a psionic reagent, to enhance the powers of ghosts. The results were called spectres. However, numerous problems arose, causing the project to shut down.
Shadowblade survivor and Nova Squadron commander Jackson Hauler, under the guise of General Cole Bennett, hatched a plot with spectre Gabriel Tosh, AI Lio Travski, the Umojan Protectorate, and some "lesser" players suchas Michael Liberty. They intended to use the spectres to kidnap Arcturus Mengsk and place the Dominion under Hauler's command. The revolution failed, however, and Hauler and most of the spectres were killed.[66]
The Heir Apparent and the Search for Artifacts[]
Crown Prince Valerian Mengsk used the Dominion's vast resources to scour the sector for xel'naga artifacts.[67]
The Dominion fought the zerg and the protoss over a xel'naga temple at Artika[68] and attempted to purchase xel'naga artifacts from the Kel-Morian Combine.[69]
Arcturus Mengsk's son, Prince Valerian Mengsk, was secretly named the "Heir Apparent" to the Dominion. Valerian commanded high authority over the few who knew his true identity. The prince became interested in an alien artifact on the dead world of Nemaka, and hired an archaeologist, Jake Ramsey, to look in on it. Ramsey discovered a secret there, but when Valerian's marines on Grey Tiger imprisoned him, Ramsey fled with R.M. Dahl to the world of Dead Man's Rock, which was outside of Dominion space.[20] The zerg attacked shortly afterward, drawn by Ramsey's discovery. Arcturus Mengsk considered this invasion as an attack on the Terran Dominion.[59] The Dominion eventually attacked the protoss shrine world of Alys'aril, fighting off the zerg who were attacking it and capturing it for a time, finally retrieving Ramsey (though without the preserver they had sought). The Dominion were able to claim some memory crystals from the ruin, but were forced back by a larger Daelaam fleet.[70]
Conflict with Raynor and Mar Sara[]
Dominion official Tamsen Cauley, however, in part of a scheme to increase his own power, recruited a band of outlaws, the War Pigs, to assassinate Raynor. He formed an army which was "not Mengsk's. Not the Dominion's" — the Cerberus Program, which he would use to kill the War Pigs once they murdered Raynor. (The War Pigs had been a Confederate team which Cauley used in those days to try to kill Arcturus Mengsk.)[71] Raynor managed to escape Cauley's wrath.[72]
The Dominion showed a renewed interest in the Sara system and established several outposts there.[73] For months, Dominion engineers excavated an alien artifact at White Rock Base. The Dominion forcibly shipped citizens there from Backwater Station to dig it up.[74] Mengsk made it illegal to trade in alien goods.[75][76]
Wings of Liberty[]
Dominion forces set up a logistics headquarters in Backwater Station, which become the hub for all operations on Mar Sara. Not long after the Dominion pulled troops out of the city, Raynor destroyed the logistics headquarters with help from the locals,[77] inciting an open revolt against the Dominion.[74]
Satellite 1 reported unusual activity in the Char system. The Dominion Fleet was put on alert.[78]
As the Dominion was getting ready to move the artifact off-world, Raynor's marines destroyed White Rock Base and seized the artifact.[74] Mengsk declared that anyone found in possession of the artifact would be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Meanwhile, a Dominion jorium freighter was hijacked by pirates.[79]
The Dominion was invaded by the zerg, leading to the outbreak of the Second Great War.[80] Mengsk pulled the fleet back to the protect the core worlds, abandoning the fringe worlds,[49][81] including Agria.[12] Mengsk declared new austerity measures and reactivated Warfield, who began 'Operation Burnout' to clear the Sara system.[82] The First Fleet took part in the operation as the core worlds were fortified. Massive refugee fleets struggled to reach the safety of the core worlds. The death toll soared due to shortages of food and water.[83] A mass recall of former retired soldiers began, with many attempting to avoid going back into service.[84]
Conscription stations opened across the core worlds after the Kel-Morian Combine was defeated by the zerg.[85]
A Dominion weapons plant on Nephor II exploded, causing a chain reaction that took out several housing complexes in a working-class neighborhood. Dominion Security claimed it was an act of terror by Raynor, but investigations by the Universal News Network suggested that the plant had been infiltrated by rogue Dominion ghosts.[86]
Refugee fleets decreased as various fringe worlders started new colonies and declared themselves independent of the Dominion. Mengsk tightened security measures. There were food riots on the fringe worlds.[87]
As refugees continued to flood Dominion space, Mengsk ordered the fleet to turn away refugee ships that entered core-world systems.[88]
New Folsom was broken open by Tosh with the assistance of Raynor's Raiders.[89] The Dominion's highest-value prisoners were freed, including former members of Project: Shadowblade and a number of political dissidents. Dominion Security Forces were put on high-alert.[90]
With the help of Raynor's Raiders, Nova Terra destroyed Tosh's spectre training facility on Avernus Station[91] and killed Tosh.[92]
The Dominion held firm under zerg aggression. Its industrial complex stepped up production on all fronts, enlistment rates rose within the penal system, and the Dominion Marine Corps was soon ready to start pushing the zerg back.[93]
The Second Fleet regrouped at the Dylarian shipyards following Kerrigan's attack on Tyrador VIII. Meanwhile, rationing was extended to utility items.[94]
The Dominion placed Tarsonis under strict quarantine while its salvage teams sifted through the rubble for any Confederate technologies and military secrets that may have survived the zerg assault. Mengsk promised the scattered refugees that Tarsonis would be restored and the Dominion would help guide it toward a brighter future.[95] They restored power to the old rail network and ran a large number of supply trains with minimal security. They found Adjutant 23-46, but as they transported it to the processing station, their trains came under attack by Raynor's Raiders. The Dominion responded by sending escorts to protect the trains, attacking Raynor's base, constructing a series of bunkers to protect the tracks, patrolling the tracks with large groups of marauders and boosting their trains' speed. However, they failed to keep Raynor's troops from retrieving the adjutant.[96]
With zerg sightings all over the Dominion, the First and Second Fleets combined to defend the core worlds.[97]
The Odin was commandeered by Tychus Findlay in the testing facility on Valhalla. Communication with Korhal was blocked long enough for all Dominion bases in the area to be taken out by Raynor's Raiders.[98] Meanwhile, Mengsk declared a moratorium on interplanetary travel.[99]
The Dominion unveiled the Odin at the UNN Studios and were confused when it fired on the studio guards. The Dominion switched to a secure channel so that Captain Matt Horner could not track their positions. Warfield sent strike teams Alpha, Bravo and Charlie after Raynor's Raiders, but they were unable to prevent them from broadcasting proof that Mengsk used psi emitters on Tarsonis.[100] The press were outraged[101] and citizens rioted in the streets of Korhal, setting fire to government buildings to express their shock and anger at the revelations.[102] More arrests followed the broadcast. Bountiful declared independence. Before Kate Lockwell could begin a ten part expose on corruption in the Dominion government, the newscast was terminated by order of Dominion Security.[103]
Valerian was scheduled to speak at the launch of White Star,[104] but he instead rendezvoused with Raynor aboard Bucephalus and revealed himself as the owner of the Moebius Foundation.[105]
Valerian and Warfield left half the Dominion Fleet to Char, accompanied by Raynor's Raiders. The zerg launched a spoiler attack[106] and the few battle-groups that made it to the surface scattered all over the place. Warfield's ship took terrible, terrible damage and crashed. Raynor rallied the survivors, secured a landing zone[107] and rescued Warfield.[108]
The Keystone was assembled[109] and the engineer corps moved it to the base of the primary hive cluster. Raynor and Warfield entrenched the last of their defenses all around it[110] before using it to make Kerrigan human again.[111]
Heart of the Swarm[]
As the Dominion forces left Char, Mengsk arrived with the other half of his fleet, demanding Kerrigan be turned over. Valerian refused, and the two sides of the Dominion Fleet turned in on one another, with Valerian's Dominion Renegades eventually going on the run with the last two ships they had left.[112] For the next three weeks, Mengsk's forces carried out a relentless hunt for Kerrigan.[113] Nova led a raid on Research Station EB-103.[114] Dominion insertion teams were held off by Umojan marines while the facility was evacuated. Nova's forces captured the security hub and put the facility on lockdown, but Kerrigan and Raynor managed to reach the shuttle bay, where the Archangel was deployed. It was destroyed by Kerrigan, but Nova managed to capture Raynor.[115] Mengsk announced to the Dominion that Raynor was dead[116] when in fact he was taken to Moros, and Mengsk took every precaution to ensure that no one reached him.[117] In the aftermath of his victory, Mengsk enacted a brutal civil oppression regime in order to end the unrest caused by the actions of Raynor's Raiders.[118]
The Dominion Fleet attacked Hyperion above Phaeton, refusing to cease fire even when Horner told them that Valerian was aboard, as Mengsk was willing to sacrifice anything to kill Kerrigan.[119] A Dominion ground team set up a Drakken pulse cannon on the surface with orders to eliminate any stragglers as they warped in. They found Kerrigan in a zerg base, but she held them off until Broodmother Naktul arrived. The cannon was destroyed by Kerrigan and Naktul's brood, at which point the Dominion troops fled to their ships.[120]
When Broodmother Zagara attempted to bring her brood through the Bone Trench, Warfield brought in a Gorgon which strafed them repeatedly. However, Warfield's forces retreated when Kerrigan brought down the Gorgons by awakening scourge nests.[121] When Warfield's compound on the Dauntless Plateau came under assault, he activated his nuclear arsenal. Kerrigan survived the blast and proceeded to destroy the fortress.[122] Although Kerrigan killed Warfield, he convinced her to let three shuttles packed with wounded men go.[123]
The Dominion launched thousands of two-way communicators at Kerrigan's leviathan. Mengsk used one to contact Kerrigan and reveal that Raynor was alive. He told her to keep her Swarm away from Korhal or Raynor would be killed.[124]
Colonel Orlan hacked the Dominion's deep-encryption security network and found out where they were holding Raynor. When Moros stopped at Atlas Station for resupply the next day, it was boarded by Kerrigan. In response, Mengsk set the bridge to explode. Moros then began tearing itself apart as Kerrigan reached the prison deck, but Dominion soldiers were unable to prevent her from getting Raynor out.[117]
Kerrigan was drawn to Skygeirr Station by Alexei Stukov and the garrisons on the platorm were infested. The Dominion vented gas onto the platform to kill the infested terrans, then attacked the virophages. Once their gas reserves ran out, it required time to synthesize more gas and they came under renewed attack by the zerg. The entrance to the facility was breached[46] and Dominion forces inside failed to prevent Kerrigan from destroying the laboratory.[47]
With zerg leviathans assembling above Korhal, Mengsk called upon his forces to defend it.[125][126] Dominion fleets converged on Korhal and troops arrived from all over the sector, but they were held off by a blockade of leviathans under Broodmother Kilysa.[125][127] On the surface, Mengsk sent the Sons of Korhal and the Night Wolves to eliminate Kerrigan, but they were unsuccessful. The Drakken defense network was destroyed by bile launchers and Dominion forces were driven into Augustgrad. Dominion forces were also unable to prevent the zerg from destroying the Augustgrad gates, allowing the swarm to flood into the city.[128]
The Dominion deployed a Psi Destroyer and launched a diversionary assault. However, it was destroyed by Kerrigan and Dehaka while the zerg under Zagara pushed the Dominion into the Imperial sector.[129]
The Dominion's elite attempted to defend Mengsk's palace from the zerg and Raynor's Raiders. Mengsk sent Sky Fury Squadron, Alpha Squadron and the Odin to destroy Hyperion, but they were unsuccessful.[130] Inside the palace, Mengsk caught Kerrigan off guard with the Keystone, but Raynor intervened and saved Kerrigan, allowing her to kill Mengsk personally.[131]
A New Beginning[]
- Valerian Mengsk(src)
Following the death of his father, Prince Valerian assumed the throne. He set out to rebuild the Dominion and pledged to abolish the oppressive laws that had existed under his father's reign. Most of his time was spent trying to reign over a Dominion that had fallen into chaos.[132] A new system of social justice was developed.[1]
Hoping to negotiate a mutual security pact that included a technology partnership, Valerian made good-faith overtures to the Umojan Ruling Council, while also declaring a cease-fire with Hierarch Artanis. Thus the Dominion halted all aggressive actions against the Daelaam.[118]
While going through his father's records, Valerian came across the existence of Project Blackstone. He dispatched a battlecruiser and the science vessel Brin to the Blackstone facility to rescue the surviving scientists. He offered them continued (and paid) service for the project, using the science vessel as their mobile base. He conversed with Dr Talen Ayers and wanted to make him head of he project. He promised to do what he could to find Ayers's missing daughter.[132]
A New War[]
Korhal was attacked by Moebius Corps. Sky Shield was overrun and its atmospheric stabilizers were disabled, causing it to fall towards Augustgrad. Raynor's troops repaired the stabilizers after a protoss army led by Artanis cleared out Moebius Corps. Once the platform was stabilized and Moebius Corps retreated, Horner took control of the station.[133]
The palace was raided and the Keystone was taken by Moebius Corps. Raynor and Valerian set up their bases at Bennet Port, where they were overwhelmed by the psionic disruption resulting from hybrid channeling Void energy into the Keystone. They were protected by immortals deployed by Artanis. The Dominion reclaimed the Keystone,[134] suffering enormous casualties in the process.[135]
The Dominion gave the Keystone to the protoss and transmitted all of their data to Phase-smith Karax.[136][137]
The Dominion attempted to hold back the Golden Armada. Despite their efforts, multiple systems fell.[138] The Dominion had a brief ceasefire treaty with the Tal'darim after the ascension of Alarak, though some elements of the Tal'darim would violate its terms.[139]
Raynor and Horner led their forces on an expedition into the Void alongside Artanis and Kerrigan. They defeated Narud,[140] protected Kerrigan as she was transformed into a xel'naga[141] and aided her in the fight against Amon.[142]
This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.
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Over the course of the End War, the Terran Dominion provided their forces to aid in the fight against Amon. Lead by Jim Raynor, Rory Swann, Matt Horner (with aid from mercenary leader Mira Han) and Agent Nova Terra, the Dominion were able to win several key victories against Amon.[143]
Sacred Land[]
After Amon's defeat, the Dominion sent an expedition to rescue Egon Stetmann from Bel'Shir but were forced to combat Tal'darim on the planet.[144] Stetmann was successfully extracted.[145]
Golden Age[]
By 2508, Valerian declared that open elections would be held within the Dominion.[146] A ceasefire was declared with the Daelaam and Zerg Swarm.[147] A DMZ was established between the Terran Dominion's, Zerg Swam's and Daelaam's territories,[148] as well as rules regarding the salvaging vessels.[149] No civilians were allowed, and the Dominion kept a military presence to maintain the peace in the DMZ.[150]
To memorialize the third anniversary of the fall of his father's regime, Valerian held a monumental celebration in the capital wing of Augustgrad, heralding in a new age of prosperity and peace within the Dominion. At the Senate steps, Horner reaffirmed the military's support of the new Dominion government. Meanwhile, peace negotiations were underway with the Daelaam.[151] However, as the Swarm claimed Char and the surrounding systems, the ceasefire between the three races of the Koprulu sector was called into question.[147]
Soon however, documents confirming Valerian's connections to the Moebius Foundation and their hybrid were found by the Umojan Protectorate, and threatened to break the trust Valerian had gained from his people. Valerian ordered Agent Nova Terra to infiltrate an Umojan Protectorate space fortress named the Keep to retrieve the documents. Nova was successful in getting in, destroying the Keep's defenses and retrieving the documents before reinforcements arrived. Valerian expressed regret for being complicit in the hybrid breeding program, and Nova convinced him he cannot run from his past. Thus, Valerian released the documents publicly, confirming his connection and promising an open and honest government.[152]
Insurgency[]
Having survived zerg attacks and intercine strife, the Dominion's war-weary populace attempted to recover from previous conflicts.[153] Many people were eager for peace, but a conflict of interests arose between members of the population,[154] and how they even operated in a time of peace was a question asked. Some people wanted to make sure that the Dominion remained ready for any future alien attacks, and that they had the security and weapons needed to protect themselves. Others were more interested in ensuring that Valerian's government took a more progressive, egilatarian direction.[155] Valerian showed himself to be a fairer ruler than his father, and allowed freedom of the press. However, that same freedom allowed his enemies to question his actions with impunity. One anti-Dominion faction that arose was the Defenders of Man, secretly united under Dominion General Carolina Davis (a Mengsk family loyalist).[156] Several Dominion ghosts, including Nova Terra and Stone, were loaned to the Defenders of Man.[157]
During this strife, the Zerg Swarm were spotted on outer colony worlds, including Antiga Prime. Unbeknownst to the Dominion, these attacks were orchestrated by the Defenders of Man, who used psi-emitters to lure feral zerg to undefended worlds.[158] Admiral Horner affirmed that this was an isolated incident, and Valerian stated the Dominion was not at war with the zerg, but Bountiful and several outer rim colonies were hit by zerg, with slow response from the Dominion.[3]
Ghost agent Nova Terra was assigned to investigate the activities of the Defenders of Man.[154] However, her and a number of other Dominion ghosts went missing shortly after. Radio Liberty worked to uncover the truth, revealing a number of Dominion ghosts, including Nova, were working for the Defenders.[159] These files were sent to Matt Horner, who promised a Dominion response to the situation.[160]
Attacks continued across the outer colonies, with slow Dominion response leading to disillusionment with the Valerian Mengsk regime and support of the Defenders of Man. Nova broke out of a Defenders of Man base,[161] and reconnected with Horner on Borea. Just then, the zerg attacked Borea.[162] Nova organized a defense, but Defenders of Man battlecruisers arrived to save the colony, and demanded the Dominion withdraw and surrender Nova. Horner used the chaos of their attack to escape the planet with Nova.[163]
Nova and Valerian Mengsk met, and he supplied her with her Covert Ops Crew and Reigel, his weapons engineer.[164] Attempts to undo her memory wiped led her team to Tarsonis City, where Nova discovered their plan to use psi-emitters to destroy Tyrador IX.[165]
Tyrador IX was attacked by the zerg, and the Defenders sent their forces to rescue the civilians, and show themselves as heroes.[166] However, during the conflict the Death Fleet of the Tal'darim arrived to combat the Defenders, and in order to save the civilians the Defenders were evacuating Nova destroyed their mothership. However, the Defenders of Man took credit for the rescue.[167] Massive protests began outside of Korhal Palace, calling for Emperor Valerian Mengsk to step down.[168]
Nova meanwhile formed a bargain with Alarak to uncover the location of the Defenders' base, using terrazine extracted from Jarban Minor. Nova combated his subordinate Ji'nara and the zerg on the world in order to gain the terrazine needed.[168]
Nova then used a microdose of terrazine to lead her to her last operation with the Defenders on Antiga Prime, and there she discovered they were responsible for the slaughter there, and had her place the emitters. She also discovered the identity of the leader of the Defenders, General Carolina Davis.[158] After informing Valerian, he formed a plan to capture her, informing Davis he wished to step down as Emperor.[156]
This was however a ruse to draw Davis out, and Valerian used his speech to step down to buy Nova time to slip in..[169] Nova bypassed their defenses and captured her.[170] She was brought before the Emperor, who declared her a traitor.
However, as he did, Alarak and his Death Fleet assaulted Vardona, killing Defender, Dominion soldier, and civilian alike.[171] The Dominion ground forces, Nova's Covert Ops Crew, and low ranking Defenders of Man unaware of Davis's plans formed a defensive line against the Tal'darim, and held back their advance, though in the chaos General Davis escaped aboard Medusa. Nova and Griffin gave chase.[172]
Nova tracked Davis to the Cerros Shipyards, where she and her loyalist Defenders of Man planned a last stand to destroy the Dominion Fleet's stock of Gorgons, hampering Valerian's ability to control the Dominion.[173] Davis activated a top secret war machine named Xanthos, and Nova rallied her forces, destroying the machine, infiltrating it, and against Valerian's direct orders, killed Davis.[174]
Nova, now a fugitive, fled Dominion capture, and Nova stated that she intended to use the crew as a vigilante group in the defense of the Dominion, doing so on their own terms. Peace returned to the Dominion, as Valerian released documents on the Defenders of Man's plans, and popular support returned to Valerian's rule. Valerian allowed Nova to escape and operate on her own; for now.[175]
The One Day War[]
By 2511, the Terran Dominion was still struggling to rebuild from the wars of the 2500s. Though a tenuous peace had been won, famine and drought had broken out across many of the planets undergoing reconstructing. Planets that took severe damage were economically draining the healthier ones. There were also a vast number of physically and psychologically scarred individuals from the wars that it was struggling to provide for. The Dominion sought aid from the Umojan Protectorate, but as they still saw the Dominion as a threat, and were hesitant to supply aid.
Unexpectedly a call for aid came from the Zerg Swarm, who called Emperor Valerian Mengsk to the planet of Gystt, a supposedly purified planet that had been regrown by the zerg. There Overqueen Zagara met with Valerian and Hierarch Artanis, stated that Sarah Kerrigan had gifted them the essence of the xel'naga before she departed, allowing them to regenerate world such as Gystt. They spun these into creatures named adostra. However, Abathur saw these creatures as abominations, and the peace between races as contradictory to the goals of the Swarm. He engineered a second species named the chitha, who used xel'naga essence to disrupt psionics and communications. Though he nearly succeeded in destroying the adostra nests and sparking a war with the powers of the Koprulu sector, the Dominion's survey team eventually discovered his plot and destroyed his chitha, allowing Zagara to apprehend him.
In the fallout of the One-Day War, peace talks began between the Daelaam, Zerg Swarm and Dominion. The Dominion founded the Zerg Compliance Ground-Force Unit to oversee the peace between the races, and would help aid in the hunting down of chitha, the guarding of the adostra and the prevention of Abathur from sparking another conflict.[176]
Tensions in Peace[]
At some point after the One-Day War, in the demilitarized zone, tensions rose as a renegade Terran Dominion group under Captain Hogarth attempted to illegally loot a jorium cache on the planet Adena. Admiral Urun and his forces watched the terrans closely, soon seeing them spring a trap set by the Niadra Brood. In the chaos, Hogarth opened fire on the protoss, and a brief three-way battle ensued. After abandoning his men on the surface, Hogarth reported to the Dominion that a mercenary had bribed them to violate the DMZ. Meanwhile, the Daelaam indefinitely postponed peace talks with the Dominion, leaving Valerian to wonder about the state of their peace.[177]
Publicly the Terran Dominion blamed the battle on rogue mercenaries, and reported all terrans on the surface of Adena were killed. Privately, the Dominion sent a battlegroup to hunt down the surviving mercenaries.[178] However, with the aid of the renegade Covert Ops Crew, the mercenaries were able to evade the Dominion and track down and kill Captain Hogarth.[179]
After the battle, tensions remained high with the protoss. The Kel-Morian Combine and the Umojan Protectorate began making territory grabs, forcing the Dominion to stretch their forces thin to counteract them.[149] Dominion forces also often found themselves at odds with the zerg in the demilitarized zone, culminating in skirmishes such as the Battle of Camp Pitcairn on Cavir. These however did not shake the peace treaty established with the zerg.[180]
On Tyrador IX, the planet suffered a brief invasion by the mercenary Cerberus Program and their enslaved zerg, but this attack was repelled by the arrival of the Ihan-rii, a sect of the protoss who had used Tyrador IX as their homeworld in ages past. After meeting with the Dominion and the powers of the sector, it was agreed the Dominion and Ihan-rii would share control of the world, though this led to tensions between the terrans and protoss on the planet.[181]
At some point after the Battle of Adena, Dominion was briefly terrorized by a group of renegade spectres from the planet Tartarus, who were part of a secret continuation of Project Shadowblade authorized by Arcturus Mengsk. The spectres continued to fight for their dead emperor, killing several major Dominion politicans and emboldening renegade elements of the Dominion, but were stopped by an alliance of Nova Terra and Matriarch Vorazun.[182]
Government[]
The Dominion possesses a nobility with great wealth.[183] Like the Confederacy, the Dominion maintains a senate of elected planetary representatives.[60]
Reign of Arcturus Mengsk[]
Under Arcturus Mengsk, the Dominion was an absolute monarchy, though this was a fact that he tried not to reinforce.[58]
Internally, the Dominion ruled through oppression, fear and surveillance and makes extensive use of propaganda in order to control its citizens.[184] It has outlawed "crimes" such as hitchhiking and squatting,[185] banned the airing of "subversive" music,[186] and was somewhat corrupt.[45] Externally, as Mengsk once put it, "tyrants can only survive by presenting a greater tyrant as a threat."[187] The Dominion maintained a somewhat aggressive stance towards its neighbors. Groups such as the Umojan Protectorate and the UED Expeditionary Fleet remnants were labeled as "racial traitors" in propaganda[63] and the zerg and protoss were portrayed as distinct threats.[63][68][188] The Dominion claimed that it was the only effective defense against the Swarm;[189] a force that during the years after the Brood War, it claimed was dormant, though many within its military structure knew otherwise.[66] The Dominion's predecessor, the Terran Confederacy, was also demonized.[63] For the citizens of the Dominion, anything alien was a threat to be reported to the authorities.[190]
Reign of Valerian Mengsk[]
- A Dominion marine mocking claims in Valerian-era propaganda(src)
Under Valerian Mengsk, the Dominion continues to make use of propaganda, stating that the old tyranny of Arcturus's rules has been abandoned. It claims that Prince Valerian and the senate have established "the most enlightened and least corrupt governing body in history," along with calling its social justice system "the envy of the sector." The zerg remain the Dominion's primary enemy, and protoss motives continue to be questioned. It has accepted that conflict with terrans is also likely—such is the nature of human history.[1]
Valerian allowed freedom of the press.[154] Under Valerian's reign, military service as an officer was considered to be a viable path to gaining political office.[191]
Important Officials[]
Administrative[]
Current[]
- Emperor Valerian Mengsk (head of state)
- Finance Minister Aldeo Cistler[63]
- Senator Huntley
- Planetary Representative Strong
- Representative Tim Hawthorne
- Representative Lisa Cain
- Magistrate Grayson
Former[]
- Emperor Arcturus Mengsk (former head of state, deceased)
- Senator Joss Brogan (arrested for assault, larceny, and attempted murder)
- Senator Corbin Phash (defected to the Umojan Protectorate)
Military[]
Current[]
- Admiral Matt Horner (Dominion Fleet, commander of Dominion Armed Forces)
- Head Counsel Jenson Archimedes
- Director of Internal Security Tamsen Cauley
- Lieutenant General William "Tug" Warchovsky (Commandant of the Dominion Marine Corps)
- Colonel Abram Cruikshank
Former[]
- General Carolina Davis (defected to the Defenders of Man, deceased)
- General Edmund Duke (Alpha Squadron, Dominion Fleet, Dominion Defense Force, deceased)
- General Horace Warfield (commander of Dominion Armed Forces, deceased)
- Colonel Garr (deceased)
- Colonel Jackson Hauler (rebelled from the Dominion, deceased)
- Commander Jim Raynor (disappeared)
Dominion Military[]
Territories[]
The Dominion controls the majority of terran colonies in the Koprulu sector.[184] Dominion territory falls within Dominion Space. A demilitarized zone exists between the Dominion, Zerg Swarm,[150] and Daelaam territories.[148]
Dominion territories include:
Controlled Systems
Controlled Worlds
Core Worlds
Fringe Worlds Unknown/Other
Former Planets
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Notes[]
Artwork[]
- The Terran Dominion decal is available in multiplayer as a reward for winning 1000 team games as terran.[192]
- The Terran Dominion logo appears as an unlockable portrait in the Blizzard game Overwatch.[193] The symbol also makes a cameo appearance on the shoulder armor of a soldier in the game's theatrical trailer.[194]
- The Terran Dominion symbol is available as a spray, banner and warbanner in Heroes of the Storm.[195]
- The color scheme for Dominion symbols, soldiers and structures is red. However, as of the reign of Valerian Mengsk the Dominion seems to utilize some blue armor and heraldry as well as red.[163]
Etymology[]
- Out-of-universe, the Terran Dominion is possibly named after Dominion—an RTS that the original StarCraft was developed in rivalry to after both games debuted in E3 1996.
- In-universe, the Terran Dominion is possibly named after Arcturus Mengsk's former unit in the Confederate Marine Corps: Dominion section, part of the 33rd Ground Assault Division. He chose the name because he thought it was "appropriately grand."[28]
References[]
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Dominant Terran Government | ||
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Preceded By | Duration | Succeeded By |
Incumbent |
Dominant Koprulu Government | ||
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Preceded By | Duration | Succeeded By |
Incumbent (concurrent with Kerrigan's Swarm) |