I own neither StarCraft nor Mass Effect. Those belong to Blizzard and BioWare respectively.

Also, when you review, I would genuinely appreciate it if you would not say it's good or bad, but say why it is good or bad or make suggestions on how I can improve it. Thanks.

The alarm that had brought Raynor back to the real world was special and singular in its purpose: to alert Raynor and other individuals of importance of Zerg movement and summon them to the Zerus Concords, an organization comprised of various individuals of great importance who came together in wake of the last zerg invasion to establish a coordinated effort against them in case of the inevitable next zerg invasion. Realizing the potential danger, Raynor stood up and began walking to the designated meeting place.

The "meeting place" he was going to was for the most part, a simple, sparsely decorated room with multiple vid screens for each of the various individuals whom would be attending with the signals sent out and received over a channel with the latest in the line of security methods to reduce the chances of someone who would listen in. When he entered the room, the meeting was already in progress.

"They are no threat to us-"

"Are you kidding? This is the first major movement by the Zerg we have detected in 13 years! Of course it's a threat to us!"

"Surely it's a scout?"

"The Zerg are always a threat"

"And don't call me Shirley."

"And what about the artifact? It's never been encountered before."

There were several persons there that he instantly recognized: Selendis, the current executor of the Khalai protoss; Zeratul, one of Raynor's closest friends among the Protoss; Tosh, current head of the N7 program; and Matt Horner, who was once Raynor's idealistic second in command and now a popular representative within the KSR's central government. There were several other characters of importance with whom Raynor was not extremely familiar with but knew of and was aware of their occupation, including several other Protoss, some of the higher level members of the Kel-Morian Combine, and the Umojan Protectorate's ruling council.

"Aw, I see Raynor has arrived," Stated one of the voices, the young protoss leader Artanis.

"I would appreciate it if you guys could get me up to speed so we could really get this show on the road," said Jim Raynor.

"Much obliged," said one of the human participants that Raynor didn't recognize respectfully.

"I am General Madison Barnlby Williams the third, and before you ask about my name, it's my name, and I am proud of all of it unlike some other people in this room (and the author of this piece of Fan Fiction). I am the officer in charge of the Terran patrol fleet which discovered the Zerg presence and movement." Said the man before the camera shifted to unveil a new scene, a massive space borne swarm of zerg. "As you can see from here, this zerg fleet contains several leviathans and other large zerg organisms as well as a few other zerg we have not previously encountered clustered around this area."

"What the Zerg are gathering around is this artifact of unknown origin," he said as the picture of a massive tuning fork shaped object appeared, "This artifact contains a large amount of a previously undiscovered element we have dubbed Element Zero and regularly sends out beams of light into the great beyond. Furthermore, every time one of those signals is released, the mass of the zerg swarm in the area becomes slightly smaller, at least until a new batch arrives via Warp Space. Several of my scientists aboard my ship the Magnanimous, hypothesize that the artifact is a conduit for faster than light travel, though the means of which it does so, and where it goes is unknown."

"Great." Raynor said sarcastically, "Just what we need, the zerg getting a new form of faster than light travel and spreading across the galaxy. Just think of the possibilities if they can assimilate new forms of life."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Said Selendis starting the argument the group was having at the beginning all over again, "The Artifact must be destroyed."

"No!" Cried out one mean looking Terran wearing the insignia and colors of the Kel-Morian combine. "We need to acquire control of that object from the Zerg. Imagine what knowledge we could gain from it."

"Knowledge Udina? You and your group just wants to horde it and sell it when it has no more use for you," Countered a man from the Umojan Protectorate known as Steven Hackett.

"Enough! We need to stop all this bickering like we are in the Conclave!" Proclaimed Artanis, finally deciding that now would be the time to take control of the situation. "If this artifact is indeed an faster-than-light conduit, then it doesn't matter if we destroy it, the zerg will already be on the other side. No, it would be worse if we do, since we can't get there. Furthermore, we don't know what will happen if the artifact is obliterated, it could be more trouble than it is worth. However, before we can do anything related to the artifact, we need to destroy the zerg force surrounding it first."

A chorus of murmurs in agreement commenced.

Several hours ago, General Desolas had received orders to take a patrol fleet to the Integem system to investigate claims of the system's dormant mass relay (designated 417) being activated. What he suspected was either nothing at all (he hoped), Pirates, or some previously unknown species making their first steps into the greater galaxy (Desolas hoped strongly against the last option- in simulations regarding the possibility, he had a habit of jumping the gun and attacking the fledgling race when it had no knowledge of wrongdoing). Furthermore, one of the planets in the system, Custon meant something to Desolas. His brother was currently there, partaking in the military regimens his species was known for (Several individuals Desolas had met claimed they saw a potential Spectre in him). What the Turian general found when he got there, defied belief.

"What the hell are those things!?" Were the first words to come out of Desolas' mouth when he saw what had apparently emerged out of the system's mass relay. "Those things" as Desolas had called them, did not appear to be ships so much as misshapen dreadnought-sized asteroids (some bigger) that appeared to move of their own accord as opposed to inertia, and worse yet, it appeared more of "those things" were coming. Adding to the troubles were that "those things" were not alone- smaller things moved alongside them, some small enough to be fighters, others as large as frigates.

"They're… organic?" Said one of the turian operators hesitantly.

"Organic? What do you mean organic? Do you mean they are created entirely from molecules involving carbon?" asked Desolas.

"No… according to our scans- those things… are living organisms!" Exclaimed the operator.

"By the spirits… Have you been broadcasting the first contact signal?" Asked Desolas.

"Yes, but those things don't seem to be responding to them."

"Then prepare for battle. If they come for a fight, they will not find the hierarchy wanting." Commanded the General.

"Sir, they're moving into position. It looks like they're going to attack."

General Williams turned off the communications link with a sigh. At last the Zerus Concords had finished making their decision- a joint terran/protoss fleet would rendezvous with him to attack the zerg. If they succeeded in defeating the nearby zerg fleet, they would converge upon the artifact, investigate it, and if it was indeed a faster-than-light conduit like he and his researchers thought it was, use it to hunt down the zerg that used it.

Until then he and his men would have to wait there and hope that they wouldn't be noticed and destroyed by the alien menace known as the Zerg.

"General, a flock of zerg has detached itself from the main group."

The general grimaced. They had noticed him. The odds were against him and his men, but they had right on his side and the hopes and dreams of countless people as well. He opened his locket containing a picture of his children from 20 years ago and then closed it.

"Fire!" he commanded.

***Codex***

Protoss

The protoss, while not a particularly prolific race, are without a doubt the most advanced race encountered by the citadel council currently in existence. Uplifted and enhanced by the precursor race known as the Xel'Naga, the protoss hold great respect toward their patrons, sometimes bordering on outright worship. All protoss are psychic, and there are two main methodologies in how they use them- the Khala which promotes a psychic link between all adherents, and the Nerazim, or Dark Templar whom arose because they thought that the Khala would eliminate free will; though recently there have arisen splinter groups such as the Tal'darim. Protoss are capable of living as long as asari, with some over a thousand years old. An interesting trait of the Protoss is that they gain nourishment through photosynthesis like plants- they can, under the right circumstances, sustain themselves on moonlight and dewdrops (though the Nerazim have found other means to sustain themselves). This, in conjunction with their telepathy, means that the protoss do not have mouths like other species.

The loss of their home planet Aiur is seen by some as a symbol of the folly of their pride by some members of their species, though in recent years the protoss have embarked on several expeditions to retake it from the zerg. They currently have a strong foot hold on the planet with the aim of removing the zerg from the world once and for all.