Disclaimer: Starcraft characters and setting are owned by Blizzard Entertainment. OCs belong to me

A/N: The story begins on Aiur just like in Legacy of the Void. but will diverge to observe characters from all four Protoss factions. Additional focus will also be placed on the Terrans and occasionally the Zerg Swarm. This effectively creates an alternative plot line separate from the protoss campaign.


Chapter 12: Fall of Shakuras, Part 2 "Star Burn"


-On a distant planet-

Her snow boots crunched with each step as her aching legs trudged up the mountain. She struggled to see beyond the flurry of white particles buffeting her face, and her posture ached from balancing a heavy backpack against the snow-swept winds. Nonetheless, she pushed herself forward, past herds of fat four-eyed penguins that watched her dark pink jacket against the bright surrounding. Squinting her eyes, she smiled upon seeing a gaping maw in the icy mountain-side, and pushed herself to the finish with the promise of shelter. Once she escaped from the howling din within the cave, she released a warm sigh as the heavy backpack slipped from her shoulders with a solid thump against the ice floor.

The Umojan scientist pulled back her insulating hood and shook her bubblegum hair free from chilly snowflakes. She knelt to unpack her backpack.

"Alright. Let's see here... Rations to last me a week. Components for the psi-reader I ordered. And peppermint!" She joyed with a smile and popped the candy into her mouth, stoking warmth in her chilly body.

She gathered the parts for her psi-reader and set them on a metal table nearby. While reading the assembly instructions, she flicked on a radio.

"...-Valerian Mengsk approached The Umojan Ruling Council to reaffirm the defensive pact signed between our two nations, but the government and the people are divided over a decisive course of action. Much of the populace is still wary from the recent cold war and warn that the threat of an alien apocalypse is simply an elaborate Dominion scheme against the Protectorate. However, evidence does suggest an organized alien threat has waged war against the Dominion and everyone's especially concerned from confirmed news of the Daelaam's fleet going rogue! The government diverted much of our science funding for emergency mobilization along our borders, and the Ruling Council warned Valerian that if he were to issue a call to arms, we may not be able, or even choose, to respo-"

The scientist switched off the radio with a frown. "Tied down. A parent trying to herd children wanting to run in every direction."

She finished tweaking the final assembly. Admittedly, democracy sounds good, and it worked for a long time. Yet times have changed. In her knowledge, an autocracy possesses a higher statistical probability of leading its populace to swifter action, would that be what Umoja needed?

History created by dunderheads has shown her the facts - autocracies are easily ruled by the inept.

But what if that leader can analyze the data? Incorporate the statistics that will most efficiently govern the nation?

An enlightened despotism? An enlightened monarchy? A technocratic monarchy? The last one sounded better.

"If I was in charge," she spoke to herself. "I'd do what's obviously the best for my people. Scientific study is key to understanding the universe. If an alien threat's going to stop me- I mean- the people from accumulating new knowledge for edification. I'll gather intel with the shadowguards, assess the situation, then blow them up... with science! Ha!"

Out of impulse, she whipped out a laser pistol and fire wildly away from her equipment. The blast cracked an ice stalactite that fell and shattered, sending clinking crystals flying everywhere like glass bits as she shielded her eyes.

"Fudge... my bad."

She gathered her assembled components and entered another cavern. It was spacious, absolutely gigantic like a cathedral, but downward instead of up high. Light barely reached the dark blue glow of the icy walls. She descended down a long, slippery ramp to the floor several stories below.

Here lies great beasts that slumber in the cold darkness.

Standing tall in the cavern was a massive ice formation, and frozen several feet within was a gigantic ultralisk. It was a brood war breed, albeit absolutely larger than the recorded average and probably matched the size of a modern ultralisk. Its kaiser blades were curved akin to the tusks of prehistoric Earth mammoths, like the proud creatures frozen in ice. Instead of a jaw, its mouth was a gaping maw of several mandibles and a beard of tentacles, a testament to its alien nature.

Rational logic dictates that the creature should be dead from suffocation or chronic hypothermia, who knows how long it's been frozen or why it even allowed such a state to occur? But the resilience of ultralisks, even dead ones, was legendary among the Terrans. She wouldn't dare dig into the ice to acquire a sample of the creature.

Instead, she focused on a much smaller entity, a large mass of grey matter barely resembling a slug or larvae, with numerous purple limbs extending from its sides.

It was a cerebrate, frozen in a crown of ice.

The brainy zerg was perfectly still, but she already confirmed the creature was still alive. She placed the final component piece into a large machine connected to the cerebrate with wires. The machine activated and displayed readings of brain-waves and other scientific data she would use or just overlook.

Satisfied, she pulled out her holopad and added to her journal.

Day 3

My choice to study on the irradiated planet Marcellus is paying off so far. Instead of simply succumbing to chronic radiation poisoning, the flora and fauna have altered into idiosyncratic entities that would probably suffice in a wacky children's cartoon. This is a crucial opportunity to study the effects of Terran nuclear arsenals on biospheres that haven't been subjected to intense atmospheric scrubbing. There's not much to say for now so... closing off!

To-Do List:

Order more equipment.

Order more candy corns.

Tell my two volunteers to stop goofing around

Day 13

I've followed the unusual flight patterns of Marcellus' bats to an icy land... at the center of the planet's tropical equator. I won't even go into how much that defies the laws of logic. Anyways, the migration of these bats is highly unusual. They are frugivores with high preferences on fruits with red pigmentation, like my obsession with red jelly beans. However, the icy terrain would be horribly ill-suited to growing fruits, so I cannot fathom why they would make the journey to such a cold climate.

Day 14

I made the most amazing, algebraic discovery! I've followed the bats into the cave and found hibernating zerg! And not just any zerg, a live cerebrate! I've already hypothesized that the bats are latent psionics and were attracted to the psionic emanations of this cerebrate, will test later.

I have all this data to myself, just waiting to be researched! Can zerg enter stasis? How can they survive a cold climate? Adaptation? Why are they even here to begin with? And that's only concerning the regular zerg. How does a cerebrate think, reason, and calculate? Is this creature a genius mind like my own, or merely a discarded pawn of the late Overmind and Kerrigan? Can they still be controlled? Hm... if I could figure out how to manipulate this cerebrate, obviously with more success than the UED, I could give humanity a powerful ally... or create a kingdom for myself with an army of zerg.

...maybe this is why my assistants are concerned about me.

Day 57

I've finished assembling this ridiculously expensive psi-reader (Good thing I have connections). The creature's psionic emanations is extremely low compared to those controlled by the UED. Is it due to its catatonic condition, or an intentional desire to hide its mind from my scientific probing? Will it ever become conscious again? This is only the beginning of the long research program I've planned out.

I imagined this cerebrate to be like a great King, trapped within a crown of ice. Sounds poetic? No?...

Am I writing to myself? Tired from hike, will rest and enjoy my peppermints. Maybe read up on Angela Ziegler's late 21st century study on nanobiotics before I sleep.

She yawned and ascended the ramp. As a colony of bats swarmed the ceiling, the cerebrate dreamed.


The Terrans and Protoss have decimated the broods of two other cerebrates, subsequently severely compromised our defenses! It is only a matter of time before they coordinate a final assault against your location.

It is as I had expected. The prideful protoss have marshaled their armies across Aiur to challenge the might of the swarm, and my overriding ambition to kill, to destroy their people. It is apparent I underestimated their determined resolve to destroy the Zerg. My children lay dead around me. It is only a matter of time...

I will gather my brood and rally to your defense. My warrior breeds will decimate their assault in an impenetrable meat grinder. Once their momentum is crippled, I will swiftly rebuild and rush forth to cleave death among our enemies!

My child, you set the fiercest example amongst the Swarm's cerebrates, yet your overconfidence in your abilities may be the end to your string of victories. Your fate will not be to die fruitlessly in an attempt to protect me, however mighty your defiance may be. My final will is for you to flee from Aiur. Return to the location of my corporeal body, and I will conjure a wormhole where you will escape the encroaching fleets.

Why will I not fight here where I'm needed?

From the first moment I created you, your purpose was to protect the chrysalis where Kerrigan could complete her metamorphosis, and it is still your purpose to safeguard her.

You created the Queen of Blades to match the power of the Protoss; yet you left her behind when we struck directly into the heart of their civilization... why?...

Young child. There is still much you do not understand. I am the Eternal Will of the Swarm, but so long as I live, the Zerg will have no future. We will fight. We will kill. But we will die. Kerrigan must live so she will lead the Swarm, and only then can we defy what fate was forced upon us.

This is vague. I... do not understand.

It pains me as I am unable to say more. Do not question my will any further. All you must know is your purpose to protect Kerrigan. Continue to guide and bring her victory, and my Zerg will live on.

Protect Kerrigan. I will gladly continue this directive. But I am still so confused.

You are the manifestation of my desire to watch my creations grow, perhaps that is why you are the strongest of my children. You are intelligent, entertain this in your mind. I invested heavily to find, capture, and train Kerrigan, yet I abandoned her on Char when our hour came to conquer Aiur. I am the Eternal Will of the Swarm, a being of purity of essence, without form. Yet I constituted a completely immobile, mortal body on a planet where every individual has the potential to kill me.

This is all my part of my elaborate design. For the continuation of our race, my death is only the beginning.

It is unfortunate I was unable to designate a name to you during your short campaign. Wait on me no further, you are free to choose your own preferred title. Farewell, cerebrate...

He hadn't been able to come up with his own name since, not even during the arduous brood war campaign. When Kerrigan found him, she simply referred to him as "cerebrate", with him being the only one of his kind under her control.

But here, in a distant planet's cave he had no clear memory of reaching, his surreal dreams pieced together name, one he formed during his long dormancy.

His name was...

was...

Someone was watching him. Who? From where? How? He didn't know.

The presence came from the beyond. Millions of minds from all three races were tethered and enslaved as a part of its corrupting influence. Amidst their anguished screams from within, an eldritch abomination gazed from behind a shadowy veil.

The cerebrate trembled in the face of the dark god, and the legions of monstrosities adding to his terrible visage of red eyes.

I see you


The thin layer of ice covering the cerebrate from within the crown shattered as the cerebrate flinched.

It was dark

It was extremely cold.

And he was entombed by said cold, the ice squeezing against his stiff flesh.

A thousand sensations bombarded his clouded, heavy mind as he struggled to think.

Where am I?

How did I get here?

What was that horrible voice?

Kerrigan?

Kerrigan.

Why?

First, he needed to assess the situation. He formed coherent thoughts as his brainy mass warmed and his vital fluids thawed for circulation.

He was in a freezing environment, he needed to maintain his metabolic homeostasis to prevent another hypothermic coma.

He needed resources. To feed on. To build his brood.

Where was his brood?

Sensing his environment, he found the Torrasque frozen, long deceased and preserved in the ice. He racked his brain for recent memories. How did he even get one? Nonetheless, the mighty giant could not help him, yet.

He needed a foundation to grow and rebuild. Reaching further, he detected a group of drones burrowed nearby - he probably stashed them there beforehand. Save for a single living drone, the rest had perished from the chilly hibernation.

He double checked his surroundings, but could not find anything else he could use.

'If I came here by my own means, I must chide my past self for choosing such a ridiculous hiding spot!'

It was of little concern though. Often he built entire hive clusters from mere handfuls of drones, and one was all he needed to build a mighty army.

And as luck may have it, he sensed rich mineral fields and vespene reservoirs trapped within the ice. A drone's claws will easily mine them out.

He must hurry, for he sensed that someone was coming. Despite having just woken from his long slumber, he mustered his massive psionic pools and reached out.

He was already found, by someone he definitely feared. He needed to gamble that the Swarm was still out there to sense him.

The psi-reader next to him skyrocketed in its readings. The bat colony high above was spurred with energy and swarmed the entire cave.

He needed to prepare an army.

And find the Queen of the Zerg.

An aching washed over his cold body, as a thin layer of creep stretched over the ice.


-Somewhere in unknown space-

A flock of mutalisks flew across the vacuum, escorting one monstrous zerg leviathan out of the dozens that formed the Zerg Swarm. These titanic monsters floated across space like whales accompanied by schooling clouds of fish - mutalisks, guardians, vipers, corruptors, brood lords, scourges, and devourers to name them all, forming the endless congregation of species blurring into a single, mighty warring organism. That didn't even include the millions of warrior breeds, from the tiny zergling to the gargantuan ultralisk, stored within the massive chambers of the Leviathan.

It was like a bee and ant colony mixed together on steroids. But everyone in the sector was already familiar with such a lengthy description. Such was the notoriety of the Swarm's power.

Within the Monarch Leviathan, the largest of its breed, the Queen of Blades sat on her organic throne, eyes closed in deep thought. She distracted herself with petting Tusk, the broken-horned zergling turned raptor that faithfully accompanied her since she reclaimed the Swarm.

A psionic voice far away had called out to anyone in the sector. Her eyes flashed open, she was the first one to sense it in the entire swarm.

"That can't be..."


The fleshy doorway parted its jaws as Kerrigan strode into the chamber, where she'd formally hold council with the leaders of the Swarm. Currently, the only visible occupants of the room were Izsha and Zagara.

The former turned her attention and spoke first. "My queen. We are almost finished with the preparations. It is only a matter of time before we are ready to assault Amon."

"Good," reaffirmed Kerrigan, her direct voice clashing with Izsha's own cordial speech. "We've sensed Amon's return to the material world, and he's moved to the Alterian rift. The sooner we can attack him head-on the better."

Zagara added, "The Swarm has grown ever mighty, far more so than even when we assaulted Korhal. Surely Amon doesn't stand a chance against us?"

"Don't be so sure. Amon is not like the Terrans nor the Protoss. Even with our massive preparations, this may be the fight of our life. It'll be close, Zagara."

"I only wish to confirm with you. It is not wise to be overconfident in our power?"

"You're getting somewhere," said Kerrigan with a faint smile. "Izsha, has Dehaka returned?"

"Dehaka says he is finished collecting enough essence for his pack, and that he is ready to fight alongside the Swarm."

Kerrigan's military mindset came naturally. "His Primal Zerg are powerful. They'll be our reserve special forces when we attack Amon."

She decided to get to the point. "Have you two sensed it?"

Zagara shrugged. "A psionic call has resonated across the emptiness. I am perplexed, for it is Zerg, but I do not recognize such a powerful entity."

"The voice is familiar," said Izsha. "But it should be impossible."

"It's a cerebrate," stated Kerrigan. "And not just any cerebrate..."

"Is it the cerebrate created to watch over you?" asked Izsha bluntly, Kerrigan casted her eyes down with a faint scowl. "I have memories of him. But if it is the same cerebrate, why would he return after all these years?"

"I don't know..." admitted Kerrigan.

"I do not see why we are making such a big deal over this cerebrate," said the broodmother. "We have broodmothers now."

"Let me educate you on a little Zerg history," said Kerrigan. "During the First Great War, this cerebrate smashed through the Protoss defenses on Aiur, the homeworld they'd die defending."

Zagara ruminated with a pause. "That is not so impressive, we've sacked Korhal in a matter of days. The Protoss were always so hypocritically inept."

"But wait, there's more. When the final battle of the Brood War came about, this cerebrate stood his ground at Char Aleph, with only a small force, to defend against the combined fleets of the UED, the Daelaam, and the Dominion. It was practically three against one. Tell me, Zagara, What do you think happened?"

Zagara crossed her hands as she thought deeply, sensing that this was another witty verbal test. She answered honestly. "I'd imagine that such a flimsy alliance between enemies would collapse. The Swarm is still alive today. So after wiping out the small defense force, the three separate fleets would begin infighti-"

"The Zerg won." Kerrigan cut her off. "This magnificent bastard sent all our foes packing and ended the Brood War in one decisive victory, and secured my place as the Queen Bitch of the Universe."

"It is strange..." said Izsha offhandedly. "But I feel like this very moment has happened before. Yet I do not know how..."

"If this cerebrate is so powerful," continued Zagara. "Where is he now?

"I killed him."

"Why would you kill such a powerful ally? And how is he still alive today?"

"It's complicated, Zagara." bit back Kerrigan. "And I don't know how. All that matters is bringing him back into our fold."

"You would have him as a leader of the Swarm once more?!" screeched Zagara. 'If he's as good as the stories go...'

"Don't worry, Zagara." said Kerrigan with a bemused expression. "You're still heir-apparent to the Swarm as I planned. Izsha, where's Stukov?"

"You wished to see me, your highness?" the infested Russian emerged from a shadowed hallway and entered the chamber near the spawning pool.

"Stukov," said Kerrigan. "Any news from back home?"

The former vice-admiral chuckled darkly. "A lot has happened back in the Koprulu sector in just a single day... My infested have finished their reconnaissance, and I bring ill-tidings. You're not going to like this..."

"Get to the point, Stukov." snapped Zagara.

"The Daelaam unleashed their mysterious Golden Armada to reclaim Aiur. This armada is far stronger than we ever anticipated. Basically if we threw the entire Swarm at them, including Dehaka's pack, there's a very likely possibility they will win." His hand shot up cutting them off. "And one last thing... Amon has corrupted the Protoss Khala and now controls that armada."

The stoic Kerrigan's eyes widened stiffly, but shockwaves rippled through the rest of the Zerg leadership. To the Zerg, being the strongest was vital to survival. To learn that the Protoss suddenly pulled out a powerful fleet from nowhere and became the dominant force in the sector...

Zagara screeched in rage "Are you certain of this?! How could they suddenly have so many ships?"

Stukov shrugged. "They've had years to prepare, and have been playing it safe throughout the entire Second Great War."

"It's not so surprising when you think about it." agreed Kerrigan. "But this is still a pain in the ass. What's Amon doing with the Golden Armada?"

He shook his head "The situation is pretty dire. They're already warring with Valerian's Dominion. Maybe if all the terrans joined forces, they could delay the Golden Armada. But that doesn't include Amon's slave brood, Moebius Corps, and the Tal'darim."

He added gravely. "Your Majesty, if Amon's going all-out, I don't think our comrades will make it."

Kerrigan placed a clawed hand to her forehead as she sighed. "We've gone too far to turn back now. Our priority is to strike down Amon in the Alterian Rift. If we succeed, we can probably end his war in one clean stroke. That, and I have reason to believe the Xel'naga can be found there. This is something we can't ignore, so hopefully our allies in the Koprulu Sector can hold out."

Stukov nodded. "Then there is nothing we can do for them. Understood your Highness."

Izsha spoke. "My Queen. Are you not concerned about the Terran, James Raynor? Is he not important to you?"

Zagara curiously looked to Kerrigan's expression as she clenched a fist. "I can't dwell on that Izsha. Zagara, get the Swarm ready to move out."

The broodmother bowed politely as Izsha returned within the Leviathan, leaving the two former Terrans alone.

Kerrigan spoke. "There is one task I need you to do."

"Does it have to do with the voice that's ringing in my head?"

"Yes, you probably know who he is."

"The bastard responsible for decimating Gerard's fleet? Definitely. Let me guess, you want me to find him."

"Your infested Terrans are already assigned to intelligence for the Swarm, so it's natural I'd send you to do the job. Besides, you're the only other person who fought in the Brood War. If this cerebrate decides to put up a fight, you're best equipped to deal with his tactics. I need to stay and lead the Swarm to battle. Find the cerebrate and try to recruit him to our cause."

"I'll try to not fail. But are you certain he will still want to join you?"

Kerrigan's sour expression deepened as she gave her answer. "For all his brilliance, I've known him as a... simple mind. There's a good chance he's still loyal to me."

"Very well, your majesty. I will call this Operation: Waking the Tiger." he popped a cask of vodka, and downed it. He furrowed his brows. "This is strange. But this mission you just assigned... it's giving me the weirdest sense of deja vu."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Stukov..."


-Shakuras-

The Phantom flew undisturbed over the Nerazim armies as they rushed to contain the Zerg threat.

Val'idin stood next to Lexi as she piloted the ship, urgently pointing. "The prelate's war camp is over there. Land near its location!"

"Got it, Val!"

The dropship landed and quickly opened its doors. Val'idin was the first to dash out, blinking erratically as the rest rushed to catch up.

The dark templar blinked into the camp, seeing the Matriarch Vorazun communing with her prelates. He knelt on one knee respectfully before them, and quickly spoke out. It was rude to disturb their planning, but he needed to get into the action quickly. "I've returned from the failed Aiur invasion to serve our people in this dark hour. Please tell me what I must do!"

Vorazun looked curiously to this stranger, she spoke to one of the prelates. "Diasen, you were the leader of the Nerazim volunteers in the Golden Armada. Take him under your command, I need to focus."

Val'idin perked his head to the familiar name. To his utter relief, he beheld the sight of his master, completely draped in her dark blue cape, as she approached him.

"Val'idin?" her blue eyes examined him. "You're still alive?"

The purple Zer'atai nodded. "I escaped Aiur against all odds. But that doesn't matter. You're here, but where's Artanis and the Spear of Adun?"


-Earlier-

"Praise the gods! Artanis, you live." said the live video feed of Vorazun on the Spear of Adun's display. After long periods of tweaking, Karax finally managed to contact Shakuras across distant space.

"Matriarch Vorazun!" exclaimed Artanis. "The invasion of Aiur has failed. We've rescued as many Templar as we could, and were fortunate enough to acquire the Spear of Adun."

"Where are you right now?!" she spoke with urgency.

"We've managed to emergency warp away from Aiur into space, but the vessel is old and complex. It will take time for Karax to restore the burnt-out warp drive before we can return to Shakuras."

"No... Artanis, you must hurry and return to us!"

Artanis definitely noticed her distress. "Matriarch. Did something happen?"

"The Warpgate linking this world to Aiur was overrun by the Khalai. By the time our Shadow Guard reached them, it was too late. Hordes of Zerg and hybrid pour from the otherside. They're obliterating our cities, and at this rate they may decimate the Shadow Guard if we do not close the gate in time."

Prelate Diasen was present in the bridge, and slammed her fist against a console in rage as Vorazun continued, her voice breaking slightly. "We are trying to evacuate the remaining population. But I am uncertain we can hold long enough to get them to safety."

Artanis's brows rose in despair, but he focused. "It is a shame we do not have the Uraj and Khalis crystals to activate the Xel'naga temple. Matriarch, please hold out as long as you can. My Templar are inbound, I promise you this!"

"I pray that you will make it in time. We are about to lose our home, Artanis."

The transmission ended. Artanis contacted Karax, where one of his probes displayed the phase-smith busily tinkering away at one of the Spear of Adun's large warp drives.

"Karax! What is the status of the warp drive?"

"Hierarch." addressed Karax, still focused on his task as his hands worked at the complex inner workings of a drive's panel. "I estimate that it will take approximately another hour to restore our warp capacity to operational levels."

"Shakuras is being assaulted by Amon's Zerg. You must double your efforts, phase-smith!"

"What?" The phasesmith turned to face the probe, but quickly resumed his work with haste. "I know it is urgent, but we were unable to rescue many phase-smiths." pointed out Karax as cordially as he could. Indeed, his location was almost void of life save for the phase-smith himself and his robotic workers. "Nonetheless I will do my best, Hierarch."

Artanis sighed. "That is all I ask of you. Continue your work."

The transmission ended. Artanis scanned and found Diasen standing anxiously. "Prelate Diasen. I need you to buy time for the Nerazim until we arrive. Take all our shuttles with your Dark Templar and any other Templar warriors you need!"

"You needn't tell me twice, Hierarch!" yelled Diasen as she dashed off, her blue cape tailing behind.

Dozens of shuttles and warp prisms discharged from the Spear of Adun's carrier bays, and frantically zipped away.


-Present-

Val'idin stood tall as Diasen paced with one arm behind as she planned. "Our top priority is to reach the gate and shut it down by any means necessary. We're trying to plan the best possible approach without extensively unnecessary loss of life.

By the time Diasen had finished her previous story, the rest of Val'idin's party had caught up to him. The Zer'atai quickly racked his brain and mentioned. "The ship that brought us here is exceptionally fast, and has cloaking capabilities."

"Shut up!" hissed William as he glared the Dark Templar. Diasen bent over to examine the Phantom in the distance. She practically gave a mouthless grin behind her face's cloth shroud as the gears clicked in her brain

"None of our vessels have cloaking capabilities. If we had a ship that can transport a task force undetected across the main enemy advance... with great speed... and with a single pylon..." Her eyes lit up. She placed a hand on Val'idin's shoulder plate and beamed. "I have a plan, my faithful student!"

Val'idin was already up to speed, "That sounds like a good plan, Master!"

Kaldalis already knew what kind of plan they were concocting in their insidious Nerazim minds and just chuckled wistfully, leaving Khalis, William, and Lexi confused.

"What are they planning, honored one?" asked Khalis.

The Akhundelar veteran sighed. "Same plan the Protoss always do, Khalis."


A/N: Remember guys. Always scout your base for them cheese tactics. O u o

I love the Zerg! When I first played Starcraft as a tiny kid, the Zerg were the most appealing race and essentially my first main before I switched to Protoss in SC2. They're just so alien and uniquely powerful, and watching their old Starcraft animations when I was a toddler was mesmerizing. Even to this day, I probably play Zerg around 40% of the time in casual competitions. So I just had to write a scene for the Zerg.

Even the Zerg are afraid of the Golden Armada. For comparison's sake, I imagined the Zerg Swarm to be a 80-90 while the Golden Armada is at 100, and that's not including the hybrid Amon would use to back up all his armies.

I see you - I imagine Amon copying Sauron's line when he spied on the cerebrate.

To justify why the Spear of Adun took hours to reach Shakuras in this story, I reasoned that the old warp-drives burnt out - you need a lot of power to accelerate and brake a ship that massive. Plus, Karax's probably forced to fix everything almost by himself because most of his phase-smith buddies are still corrupted by the Khala.

Please excuse the cheesy title regarding Stars, that's where the creativity just burns out. O U O