History Recap / StarCraft

The story begins with the player being inaugurated as the new colonial magistrate of Mar Sara (after an optional training mission). The player travels to the Wasteland to meet up with the local Marshal, Jim Raynor. After establishing an encampment, a distress call is received from Backwater Station regarding a Zerg attack. The message is forwarded to Terran Confederacy General Edmund Duke, who assures the player that his Alpha Squadron will handle the matter. Raynor, on the other hand, thinks Duke won't reach the station in time, and mounts an assault against the encroaching Zerg, in the process destroying an infested Terran command center. Duke arrives shortly after to arrest Raynor for destruction of Confederate property. Raynor argues that the command center was unsaveable, but to no avail: Raynor is arrested and the player's tenure as magistrate is suspended.

At this point, Mengsk reveals what was on the disk from Jacobs Installation: schematics for a device called a Psi-Emitter, which is capable of attracting the Zerg from lightyears away. Mengsk believes that this was what attracted the Zerg to Mar Sara in the first place, and that the Confederacy plans to continue using the Zerg as a weapon. Mengsk plans to use their own weapons against them, by deploying Psi-Emitters amongst Confederate strongholds. The plan works, allowing the Sons of Korhal to escape. Antiga is overrun, and again, the Protoss arrive to cleanse the planet of Zerg.

The player's perspective shifts to that of a newly-created Zerg Cerebrate, a being responsible for commanding the Zerg broods. Whereas other Cerebrates are charged with commanding vast swarms of Zerg, the player's purpose is much more focused: it is responsible for guarding a chrysalis, in which the Overmind is growing a great champion for the Swarm. The cerebrate clears out the last Terran resistance on Tarsonis, with the assistance of two other Cerebrates, Daggoth and Zasz. The player then clears a path through the Protoss fleet in orbit. The Swarm leave Tarsonis and travel to the lava planet Char.

The Dark Templar seemingly eliminated, the Overmind sets his sights on Aiur. The cerebrate is tasked with procuring a fragment of the Khaydarin crystal and bringing it to the Xel'naga temple on Aiur. Upon completion of this task, the Overmind, previously existing only as mind, is able to manifest itself as a giant, pulsating structure embedded in the crust of the planet. A foothold thus established, the Overmind sends forth the swarm, intent on assimilating the entire Protoss race.

The perspective shifts again, this time to the new Protoss Executor, appointed to fill Tassadar's old position after he refused to burn Tarsonis and was exiled for it. Right now, the Zerg are rampaging across Aiur, and the Judicator Aldaris tasks the executor with aiding Praetor Fenix in the defense of Antioch province. Shortly after repelling the Zerg from Antioch, Tassadar returns. From his time spent with the Dark Templar, he's learned that the way to defeat the Zerg is by destroying the Cerebrates that control them. Aldaris accuses Tassadar of heresy for consorting with the Dark Templar, but Fenix thinks he can carry out the task and implores the executor to clear the way for him. Tassadar disappears again, and the way is cleared for Fenix to remove a cerebrate. Unfortunately, shortly after its destruction, it is reanimated.

Upon returning to Aiur, Tassadar discovers that Fenix has returned from the dead, his body implanted in a robotic Dragoon walker. He warns Tassadar's forces that the Protoss Conclave is coming to take Tassadar into custody. Tassadar and Zeratul's forces begin to fight the conclave, but Tassadar can not bear to see Protoss fighting Protoss, and surrenders. Zeratul and Raynor immediately set out to rescue him as he stands trial. Aldaris accuses Zeratul of heresy, while Zeratul counters that Aldaris' blind devotion to orthodoxy is causing the Protoss more harm than good.

The Overmind is no more, but Aiur is still in ruins. And far away, Kerrigan still lives.

In the wake of the Overmind's defeat, the Zerg proliferate on Aiur, though they are largely mindless. Despite protests from Judicator Aldaris, the remaining Protoss emigrate to Shakuras, led by Prelate Zeratul and the previous game's NonEntityGeneral, newly named Artanis, PromotedToPlayable -- the only such character in the franchise -- and raised to Praetor in Tassadar's place. The new FeaturelessProtagonist does not get a name until later, but it's Selendis, a female Protoss, and we'll use that for convenience. Despite pressure from the Zerg, they succeed in evacuating the remaining Protoss through Aiur's last remaining portal, helped by the OddFriendship in Fenix and Jim Raynor, who stay behind to HoldTheLine. Barely have the migrants arrived, though, that they detect a Zerg infestation on the planet: the Zerg have seized the Aiuran side of the Warp Gate. After Selendis & Co deal with this first infestation, Fenix and Raynor close the Warp Gate from the Aiur side, escaping via their own means.

Here, they discover great trouble: Aldaris had staged a rebellion against Razsagal, with many Aiur survivors behind him. Raszagal authorizes lethal force against Aldaris, and Selendis, Zeratul and Artanis are able to capture him. Amidst the heated discussion, however, Kerrigan arrives and executes him. In anger, the Protoss demand that she leave, and she agrees: all she really wanted was the ravaging of Daggoth's brood and the destruction of the Cerebrates growing on Shakuras. Once the Crystals wipe them out, she'll be able to seize Shakuras's growing broods for her own purposes. Despite knowing their actions would benefit their enemy, Selendis, Zeratul and Artanis move forward with the Xel'Naga Temple plan, activating it and freeing Shakuras of the Zerg.

The player now takes the role of a UED captain, who is placed under direct command of Vice Adm. Stukov and ordered by the force's leader, Admiral Gerard [=DuGalle=], to establish a forward base on Braxis. Stukov and the NonEntityGeneral make landfall but discover that [[YouRequireMoreVespeneGas They Require More Vespene Gas]]; all the local geysers are already occupied by Dominion refineries. Salvation comes in the form of Lt. Samir Duran, a Ghost in leadership of the Confederate Resistance Forces, and he and Stukov form an EnemyMine situation (though, as far as the UED is concerned, the rebels have merely been "conscripted"). Duran also aids them in seizing the Dylarian Shipyards, where the UED is able to commandeer a number of Battlecruisers and use them to repel a counter-attack led by Gen. Edmund Duke.

Kerrigan reclines in state on the orbital platforms above Char, but her rest is not easy: Artanis arrives to avenge Fenix, [=DuGalle=] arrives to avenge Stukov, and Mengsk arrives because he's a {{Jerkass}}. Most of her broods are on the planet surface, with only her loyal Cerebrate in space to defend the platform. Despite desperate odds, and Duran's unexplained absence, she and the Cerebrate repel the invaders. Mengsk is sent home with his tail between his legs, as is Artanis; but the UED, who have been a thorn in her side for so long, receive no quarter. Kerrigan sits now atop the ashes of the Koprulu Sector, the Queen of Blades and self-proclaimed "Queen Bitch of the Universe."

The Dark Templar are now ready to strike at the Zerg. They locate and dispatch two Cerebrates, and then turn their attention to the Overmind itself. Aldaris, seeing that Tassadar was right about the Dark Templar all along, apologizes and wishes the combined forces of Tassadar, Zeratul, and Raynor luck in the coming battle. The battle is fierce, but ultimately results in the Overmind's destruction. Seeing that the Overmind is trying to reform itself, Tassadar sacrifices himself, crashing the Protoss Carrier ''Gantrithor'' into the Overmind's corpse.

In the wake of the Overmind's defeat, the Zerg proliferate on Aiur, though they are largely mindless. Despite protests from Judicator Aldaris, the remaining Protoss emigrate to Shakuras, led by Prelate Zeratul and the previous game's NonEntityGeneral, newly named Artanis and promoted to Praetor in Tassadar's place. The new FeaturelessProtagonist does not get an identity until later, but it's Selendis, a female Protoss, and we'll use that for convenience. Despite pressure from the Zerg, they succeed in evacuating the remaining Protoss through Aiur's last remaining portal, helped by the OddFriendship in Fenix and Jim Raynor, who stay behind to HoldTheLine. Barely have the migrants arrived, though, that they detect a Zerg infestation on the planet: the Zerg have seized the Aiuran side of the Warp Gate. After Selendis & Co deal with this first infestation, Fenix and Raynor close the Warp Gate from the Aiur side, escaping via their own means.

In the wake of the Overmind's defeat, the Zerg proliferate on Aiur, though they are largely mindless. Despite protests from Judicator Aldaris, the remaining Protoss emigrate to Shakuras, led by Prelate Zeratul and the previous game's NonEntityGeneral, newly named Artanis and promoted to Praetor in Tassadar's place. The new FeaturelessProtagonist does not get an identity until later, but it's Selendis, a female Protoss, and we'll use that for convenience. Despite pressure from the Zerg, they succeed in evacuating the remaining Protoss through Aiur's last remaining PortalDoor, helped by the OddFriendship in Fenix and Jim Raynor, who stay behind to HoldTheLine. Barely have the migrants arrived, though, that they detect a Zerg infestation on the planet: the Zerg have seized the Aiuran side of the Warp Gate. After Selendis & Co deal with this first infestation, Fenix and Raynor close the Warp Gate from the Aiur side, escaping via their own means.

In the wake of the Overmind's defeat, the Zerg proliferate on Auir, though they are largely mindless. Despite protests from Judicator Aldaris, the remaining Protoss emigrate to Shakuras, led by Prelate Zeratul and the previous game's NonEntityGeneral, newly named Artanis and promoted to Praetor in Tassadar's place. The new FeaturelessProtagonist does not get an identity until later, but it's Selendis, a female Protoss, and we'll use that for convenience. Despite pressure from the Zerg, they succeed in evacuating the remaining Protoss through Aiur's last remaining PortalDoor, helped by the OddFriendship in Fenix and Jim Raynor, who stay behind to HoldTheLine. Barely have the migrants arrived, though, that they detect a Zerg infestation on the planet: the Zerg have seized the Auiran side of the Warp Gate. After Selendis & Co deal with this first infestation, Fenix and Raynor close the Warp Gate from the Aiur side, escaping via their own means.

Here, they discover great trouble: Aldaris had staged a rebellion against Razsagal, with many Auir survivors behind him. Raszagal authorizes lethal force against Aldaris, and Selendis, Zeratul and Artanis are able to capture him. Amidst the heated discussion, however, Kerrigan arrives and executes him. In anger, the Protoss demand that she leave, and she agrees: all she really wanted was the ravaging of Daggoth's brood and the destruction of the Cerebrates growing on Shakuras. Once the Crystals wipe them out, she'll be able to seize Shakuras's growing broods for her own purposes. Despite knowing their actions would benefit their enemy, Selendis, Zeratul and Artanis move forward with the Xel'Naga Temple plan, activating it and freeing Shakuras of the Zerg.

The situation on Auir is complicated: Raynor's base is near the decommissioned Warp Gate, with Zerg broods in all directions--Zerg who awaken when the Warp Gate re-opens. The Captain is ordered to deal with the Protoss guarding Raynor, while Stukov, Duran and [=DuGalle=] hold the flanks against the Zerg. Ultimately, the Captain succeeds, but Raynor and Mengsk escape to Shakuras in a DropShip; the Warp Gate then self-destructs. In addition, Duran shows his trustworthiness by moving his forces out of position under guise of FakeStatic, allowing the Zerg access to the UED war machine. Stukov, who has long doubted Duran's loyalty, leaves the fleet to deal with his own issues.

The Uraj Crystal is found on Braxis, an ice world once colonized by Protoss but currently under occupation by the Terran Dominion. Even worse, the world is about to be beseiged by humans from the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet, sent from EarthThatWas to regain control of the galaxy. Despite opposition from both Mengsk's rank-and-file ''and'' Vice Admiral Alexei Stukov, TheNumberTwo of the UED fleet, Selendis's party succeeds at obtaining the Uraj Crystal and set out for the resting place of the other one: Char. Here, Kerrigan seizes control of a small brood, allowing Selendis control of both the Protoss and Zerg war machines at once. Leaving Daggoth's infant Overmind and now-diminished brood to their own troubles, Selendis's forces return to Shakuras with both crystals.

!!VideoGame/StarCraftI

'''''Chapter I: Rebel Yell'''''

'''''Chapter II: Overmind'''''

'''''Chapter III: The Fall'''''

!!Brood War

'''''Chapter IV: The Stand'''''

'''''Chapter V: The Iron Fist'''''

'''''Chapter VI: The Queen of Blades'''''

!!StarCraft I

The UEDEF then travels to Tarsonis, which houses the ruins of the Terran Psi-Disruptor. Though Stukov argues for seizing it, [=DuGalle=] sides with Duran and mandates that it be destroyed. The UED Captain and Duran fight through four Zerg broods guarding the Psi-Disruptor, but are stopped at the device itself by Ghosts answering to Stukov, who has announced he will destroy it himself. Next, [=DuGalle=] moves on Korhal, the center of the Dominion. Mengsk has both a large Battlecruiser fleet and nuclear silos primed at its defense, and [=DuGalle=] allows The UED Captain to decide which one to disable, as there is not enough time to stop both. Depending on the Captain's choice, s/he faces a slightly different challenge as the seige descends to Augustgrad, the capitol city. The UED is successful. The Dominion falls, and Arcturus Mengsk's flagship, the ''Norad III'', is intercepted by [=DuGalle=] ''Aleksander''; only the unexpected [[BigDamHeroes interference]] of Jim Raynor, aboard his own flagship ''Hyperion'' and backed by a Protoss flotilla, allows Mengsk to escape with his life. And even then, that life might not be very long, since the UED track them to Aiur.

Kerrigan reclines in state on the orbital platforms above Char, but her rest is not easy: Artanis arrives to avenge Fenix, [=DuGalle=] arrives to avenge Stukov, and Mengsk arrives because he's a {{Jerkass}}. Most of her broods are on the planet surface, with only her loyal Cerebrate in space to defend the platform. Despite desperate odds, and Duran's unexplained absence, she and the Cerebrate repel the invaders. Mengsk is sent home with his tail between his legs, as is Artanis; but the UED, who have been a thorn in her side for so long, receive no quarter. Kerrigan sits now atop the ashes of the Koprulu Sector, the Queen of Blades and self-proclaimed "Queen Bitch of the Universe."

The player now takes the role of a UED captain, who is placed under direct command of Vice Adm. Stukov and ordered by the force's leader, Admiral Gerard DuGalle, to establish a forward base on Braxis. Stukov and the NonEntityGeneral make landfall but discover that [[YouRequireMoreVespeneGas They Require More Vespene Gas]]; all the local geysers are already occupied by Dominion refineries. Salvation comes in the form of Lt. Samir Duran, a Ghost in leadership of the Confederate Resistance Forces, and he and Stukov form an EnemyMine situation (though, as far as the UED is concerned, the rebels have merely been "conscripted"). Duran also aids them in seizing the Dylarian Shipyards, where the UED is able to commandeer a number of Battlecruisers and use them to repel a counter-attack led by Gen. Edmund Duke.

The UEDEF then travels to Tarsonis, which houses the ruins of the Terran Psi-Disruptor. Though Stukov argues for seizing it, DuGalle sides with Duran and mandates that it be destroyed. The UED Captain and Duran fight through four Zerg broods guarding the Psi-Disruptor, but are stopped at the device itself by Ghosts answering to Stukov, who has announced he will destroy it himself. Next, DuGalle moves on Korhal, the center of the Dominion. Mengsk has both a large Battlecruiser fleet and nuclear silos primed at its defense, and DuGalle allows The UED Captain to decide which one to disable, as there is not enough time to stop both. Depending on the Captain's choice, s/he faces a slightly different challenge as the seige descends to Augustgrad, the capitol city. The UED is successful. The Dominion falls, and Arcturus Mengsk's flagship, the ''Norad III'', is intercepted by DuGalle's ''Aleksander''; only the unexpected [[BigDamHeroes interference]] of Jim Raynor, aboard his own flagship ''Hyperion'' and backed by a Protoss flotilla, allows Mengsk to escape with his life. And even then, that life might not be very long, since the UED track them to Aiur.

The situation on Auir is complicated: Raynor's base is near the decommissioned Warp Gate, with Zerg broods in all directions--Zerg who awaken when the Warp Gate re-opens. The Captain is ordered to deal with the Protoss guarding Raynor, while Stukov, Duran and DuGalle hold the flanks against the Zerg. Ultimately, the Captain succeeds, but Raynor and Mengsk escape to Shakuras in a DropShip; the Warp Gate then self-destructs. In addition, Duran shows his trustworthiness by moving his forces out of position under guise of FakeStatic, allowing the Zerg access to the UED war machine. Stukov, who has long doubted Duran's loyalty, leaves the fleet to deal with his own issues.

DuGalle tracks Stukov to Braxis, where he has secreted the Psi-Disruptor. DuGalle, feeling betrayed by his oldest friend, authorizes Duran and The Captain to do what needs to be done. Duran infiltrates the Psi-Disruptor complex and shoots Stukov, [[StealthHiBye disappearing shortly thereafter]]. Stukov, for his FinalSpeech to DuGalle, declares Duran the real traitor. He advocated against the Psi-Disruptor, reportedly the only weapon that could defeat the Zerg; he allowed the Zerg to attack at a crucial moment, enabling Raynor and Mengsk's escape; and now he has succeeded in turning DuGalle and Stukov against each other. He is either infested by the Zerg or is working on their behalf. As though to underscore Stukov's words, the computer announces that the Psi-Disruptor's reactor has been set to overload, and that Zerg are smashing their way in. Despite stiff resistance, DuGalle and the Captain make it to the reactor in time to save the complex. DuGalle announces his intention to operate the Psi-Disruptor 24/7 and garrison it--though he will not have many troops to spare, as his next mission requires his full attention:

Char. Here, the Psi-Disruptor's signal has already put many of Daggoth's broods into disarray, but three Cerebrates remain. One can make its Sunken Colonies temporarily invincible; one can respawn a "Torrasque" super-Ultralisk at will, and the third is surrounded by infested Command Centers with which it can make "Infested Terran" {{Suicide Attack}}ers. The Captain's mission: to defeat all three Cerebrates and take control of the Overmind using powerful drugs. Despite powerful opposition, The Captain succeeds, and the Overmind falls under UED control, rendering them the undisputed masters of the Koprulu Sector.

Kerrigan reclines in state on the orbital platforms above Char, but her rest is not easy: Artanis arrives to avenge Fenix, DuGalle arrives to avenge Stukov, and Mengsk arrives because he's a {{Jerkass}}. Most of her broods are on the planet surface, with only her loyal Cerebrate in space to defend the platform. Despite desperate odds, and Duran's unexplained absence, she and the Cerebrate repel the invaders. Mengsk is sent home with his tail between his legs, as is Artanis; but the UED, who have been a thorn in her side for so long, receive no quarter. Kerrigan sits now atop the ashes of the Koprulu Sector, the Queen of Blades and self-proclaimed "Queen Bitch of the Universe."

!!Original Campaigns

The Overmind is no more, but Aiur is still in ruins. And far away, Kerrigan still lives.

Suddenly, Daggoth informs Kerrigan that Zasz has been slain, and that the Overmind's usual ability to reanimate the fallen cerebrates has somehow been nullified. As a result, Zasz' Garm Brood has gone berserk, killing everything in sight. Kerrigan is ordered to slay all that remains of Zasz' wayward brood. The Overmind is displeased with this turn of events. However, in the moment when Zasz was slain, the Overmind touched minds with Zasz' assassin, the Dark Templar Zeratul, learning from him the location of the Protoss' homeworld of Aiur. Kerrigan is tasked with trapping and exterminating the Dark Templar, to insure they don not interfere with his plans again.

Mengsk and the player's forces relocate to Antiga Prime, where the population is sympathetic to the Sons of Korhal, but kept in line by General Duke's Alpha Squadron. With the help of Mengsk's right hand officer, Lieutenant Sarah Kerrigan, a telepathic ghost operative, Raynor and the player assassinate the leader of the Antiga colony, and the population enter into open revolt against the Confederacy. Duke is dispatched to put down the rebellion, but his flaghip, ''Norad II'', is shot down by Zerg flyers. Sensing an opportunity, Mengsk offers to rescue Duke's forces, if he and Alpha Squadron would defect. Duke reluctantly agrees.

The player's perspective shifts to that of a newly-created Zerg Cerebrate, a being responsible for commanding the Zerg broods. Whereas other Cerebrates are charged with commanding vast swarms of Zerg, the player's purpose is much more focused: it is responsible for guarding a chrysalis, in which the Overmind is growing a great champion for the Swarm. The cerebrate's clears out the last Terran resistance on Tarsonis, with the assistance of two other Cerebrates, Daggoth and Zasz. The player then clears a path through the Protoss fleet in orbit. The Swarm leave Tarsonis and travel to the lava planet Char.

Mengsk now turns his attention to Tarsonis, the Confederate capitol world. Using General Duke's knowledge of the planet's defenses, the Sons of Korhal dispatch the Delta and Omega squadrons defending the orbital platforms. Another set of Psi-Emitters is deployed. Kerrigan is incensed that Mengsk would continue to use them. At that point, the Protoss arrive, presumably to repeat their performances on Mar Sara and Antiga. this time, Mengsk orders Kerrigan and the rest of the Sons of Korhal to defend the rampaging Zerg from the Protoss. The Protoss are dispatched, but a huge wave of Zerg are approaching Kerrigan's position. Kerrigan demands evac, but Mengsk ignores her and moves his fleet away from Tarsonis, leaving Kerrigan stranded.