StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty promises to change the RTS landscape as we know it on 27 July. So far MyGaming has covered the ancient history of the StarCraft universe, as well as the build up to the Great War. We wrap up that story, as well as Brood Wars in the build up to StarCraft II.
The Great War
The first blow of the Great War was struck when Protoss fleets obliterated all life on the infested Terran planet of Chau Sara. Fearing their nearby colonies would suffer a similar fate, the Terrans launched a counter attack, resulting in a temporary Protoss retreat.
The Zerg continued their single-minded drive to assimilate humanity, infesting the colony on nearby Mar Sara. Numerous skirmishes took place, but ultimately Mar Sara was infested by Zerg and then cleansed by Protoss. Antiga Prime would suffer the same fate, and the Zerg invaded Tarsonis.
The Zerg invasion of Tarsonis
Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan defended Tarsonis, but eventually the planet fell, and Kerrigan was captured, giving the Zerg their first taste of human psionic power. With the Confederacy crushed, The Terran Dominion formed on Korhal, and Raynor broke off to form Raynor’s Raiders.
With the assimilation of Kerrigan completed, the Zerg Overmind would gain the knowledge required to counter the powerful Protoss psionic powers. The Zerg retreated to planet Char to safeguard Kerrigan’s gestation, however the psionic calls of Kerrigan drew the attention of the Protoss, as well as Dark Templar.
Infested Kerrigan gestates in a chrysalis
A force of Protoss and Terran led by Tassadar, Dark Templar Zeratul, and Raynor assaulted the Zerg Cerebrate Zasz whom was guarding Kerrigan. Zeratul wielded enough power to slay Zasz, but in doing so he connected with the Overmind, revealing the location Aiur.
Aiur was invaded by Zerg and soon overrun – the Overmind relocated to the planet. Despite the infestation of their home planet, the Protoss engaged in political infighting over the return of the Dark Templar, whom Tassadar believed could help defeat the Zerg.
Tassadar and his allies, the Dark Templar Forces and the remnants of Raynor’s Raiders launched a final attack on the Overmind, who attempted to escape through a warp gate after sustaining heavy damage.
To prevent the Overmind from escaping, Tassadar channelled the combined powers of the Dark Templar and High Templar through his capital ship, ramming it into the abomination. The Overmind and Tassadar were obliterated.
Tassadar’s final act was to sacrifice himself to destroy the Overmind
Brood War
The remaining Protoss were forced to flee overrun Aiur, retreating to Shakuras.
The Protoss reluctantly agreed to ally with Infested Kerrigan, who claimed to be free of the Overmind’s influence, in order to fend off attacks from Zerg remnants. Meanwhile, a new Overmind was growing on Char with the aid of Cerebrate Daggoth.
Kerrigan began to play the Protoss against one another using her powerful psionic abilities. Zeratul and Artanis activated the Xel’naga temple on Shakuras, releasing powerful energies which cleansed the planet of Zerg.
Kerrigan exercises her cunning in Brood War
While this was happening, a United Earth Directorate (UED) fleet arrived in the sector in order to reclaim colonies they viewed as rightfully theirs. Stumbling into a raging war, the UED soon raised the ire of Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss alike. Despite this, the UED succeeded in capturing the fledgling Overmind, and gained control of the Zerg swarms.
By manipulating the remaining Terran, Protoss and Dark Templar forces, Kerrigan was able to raise a force to beat back the UED. Kerrigan then turned on each of her allies. During the chaos, the Overmind was once again slain, and control of the swarm was ceded to Kerrigan.
This draws to a close the original StarCraft and Brood War saga. StarCraft II is set approximately four years after the events of Brood War. During the period, the Terran Dominion consolidated their forces, despite constant Zerg aggression.
Also taking place in the interim, as told through The Dark Templar Saga novels, an experiment to complete the Xel’naga life cycle was underway on Aiur. It turned out that the experiments would only result in abomination, and not true Xel’naga. Despite a massive battle between Zerg, Dominion Terran and Dark Archon forces, the knowledge gained through the experiments was successfully kept from the clutches of the victorious Terran.
StarCraft II picks up with Terran Dominion Emperor Arcturus Mengsk rebuilding an empire whilst fending off rival Terran factions and trying to hunt down Jim Raynor. The Zerg under control of Infested Kerrigan remained fortified on Char – silent for the most part. The stage is set for another action packed episode of one of gaming’s greatest space operas.
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