"This had better be good," Anton Slavik threatened as he walked into the research area.

"I believe you will be pleased," the nervous tech was almost visibly trembling as Slavik glared at him. The Nod commander was never known as the most stable of men. "We have found signs that the Chronosphere could potentially be used for purposes greater than those for which we have applied it."

"Spare me the senseless rambling. What have you found?"

"We believe-and again keep in mind that at this stage it is only theoretical-that we can open a rift, if you will, into another, alternate universe."

"That could be useful. With the earth all but ours, we will still be in need of broader endeavors. Something to unite the planetary population behind our cause. Can it really be done?"

"We believe…"

"Can it really be done?"

"…Yes."

"Good. I'm placing you in charge of the project. I expect results within the month."

"Yes sir." The tech was on the verge of outright panic.

"Give me regular status reports. We have only one more major obstacle in our way. It's time we took Hammerfest."

* * *

Several years passed rather quickly for Alex as he learned about his abilities from his Protoss allies. He still amazed them with his incredible natural power. He lost track of how many times he defeated even High Templars in combat training. As far as he knew, his power was only surpassed by that of the legendary Archons.

At long last, it was time to return home…

The Protoss carrier dropped out of warp space over Umoja. It was decided that the Protoss ambassador would be Alex's friend, Arathes. The duo boarded a shuttle and went down to the surface. There they met with a surprise. Expecting to see the leadership of the Protectorate, the out-of-touch companions found that the entire Terran sector had fallen under the command of the new Terran Dominion. They sent up a message to the commander of their vessel regarding the unexpected development. Meanwhile, Alex was finally reunited with his parents. After a round of hugs and tears, he filled them in.

"We ran into some trouble with the Confederates and ended up in the middle of a confrontation with the Protoss. I was in a cloaked Wraith at the time, so I docked with one of their ships because I felt drawn to them. They taught me how to use my psionic abilities."

"Psi…" his father started, "then you know?"

"Now, yes. And I understand your reasons for not telling me. So what's this Dominion?"

"Another alien race, the Zerg, attacked the Confederate capitol. Then Arcturus Mengsk formed the Dominion and declared himself Emperor."

"Mengsk? As in the Sons of Korhal?"

"Yes. He's actually done a decent job of it."

Suddenly, Alex's expression turned extremely solemn. "What is it?" his mother asked.

"I'm not sure. Wait here." He went to the spot where the Protoss commander's shuttle was landing. After the gray alien disembarked, Alex approached. "En taro Adun, Commander."

"En taro Adun, Alexander."

"Sir, there is something wrong here. Can you feel it?"

The tall alien stared off into empty space, deeply focused. "It cannot be…"

"What is it?" Alex's ignorance of the cause frustrated him immensely. "What's wrong?"

"A Zerg Cerebrate is here…" an angered edge entered his voice as he turned to the Dominion's representatives, "And you knew…"

Just then the ground exploded with a Zerg horde, the fractured pavement showing a fully developed creep growing beneath.

"We have been deceived!" the commander shouted.

A hydralisk burst up directly beneath him, throwing him into the air. He soared directly into the jaws of a waiting guardian and was promptly devoured. Arathes focused his power and called up a psionic storm. Destructive energy rained down on the growing swarm. Zerglings exploded and hydralisks were slaughtered by the dozens. Mutalisks flew in shrieking. Alex summoned winds so forceful that the winged beasts were torn to pieces.

The few Protoss zealots standing guard waded into the fray, psionic blades flashing. Pieces of Zerg beasts fell as the valiant warriors enthusiastically went about their task. Newly arrived shuttles offloaded powerful reavers. The caterpillar-like machines spewed scarab drones, which created massive explosions, creating huge gaps in the Zerg lines. A number of interceptors rained down from the carrier, removing the aerial threats. Guardians that remained in flight pounded ground units relentlessly. A number of dragoons were shipped down, adding to the chaos. The spider-like exoskeletons blasted away at any Zerg foolhardy enough to get close.

Alex and Arathes worked in unison, wiping out dozens of Zerg at a time, even a number of massive ultralisks. Despite their efforts, the Zerg numbers were simply overwhelming. Even infested Terrans wreaked havoc. It became painfully clear that the Protoss forces were doomed. Alex hoped, prayed that something would happen. Anything. Just then, a bright, shimmering hole in space appeared in the middle of the battlefield.

"What is that?" Alex shouted.

"I do not know!" Arathes's reply could barely be heard.

The Zerg came on…

* * *

Slavik sat patiently in the Montauk as it burrowed deep within the earth. Behind it, he knew, several mobile stealth generators followed. His plan was fairly simple, though he knew it would still be difficult to pull off. If it succeeded, GDI would altogether cease to be a threat. Kane would have been proud. After a time, the Montauk slowed to a stop. A special team was unloaded to assist in moving the MSG's to the surface.

Several cyborgs equipped with newly developed drilling appendages began the process of digging upwards. Slavik waited patiently as special lifts were constructed and the MSG's were moved into place. The cyborgs finally broke through to the snowy surface in northern Europe, just outside of the range of Hammerfest's sensor arrays. Dropping back down, they made way for the MSG's, which were moved into place and instantly deployed. Lastly, a mobile construction vehicle was moved into place within range of the MSGs' cloaking effect.

"EVA," Slavik ordered, "initiate battle command protocols." A specialized screen came up on which Slavik could view his forces from a safe difference. A special communication link was established so that he could directly issue orders.

After deployment, the MCV began its work. Workers carefully established a small base within the effects of the MSGs, as harvesters collected tiberium carefully out of view of the GDI forces. Finally, a full-scale stealth generator was constructed. Slavik then ordered full-scale production of an attack force. Several APCs filled with troops arrived, and vehicles were both rapidly constructed and chronoshifted in. Finally, a specially trained chameleon spy was moved into position. Slavik knew that because of the vast amounts of power it used, GDI had to occasionally shut down its firestorm defense system. This coupled with the fact that there was a slight gap in their sensor array gave Nod all the opportunity it needed.

The spy moved to the edge of the sensor gap at a previously designated time. As soon as the defensive energy field went down, he darted into the interior of the base. He discreetly entered the GDI construction yard and the firestorm generator respectively, placing explosives in both. Moving out to the perimeter again, he triggered the detonations. The construction yard was completely destroyed, but the firestorm generator, as planned, was merely crippled. He then went about destroying the sensor arrays as Nod forces swarmed in to attack. The attacking force made relatively short work of the RPG and Vulcan gun emplacements. Deployed tick tanks and artillery rained heavy shells on defenses, structures, and slow moving units. Several titans were pounded into scrap at the start.

Banshees and Orcas met in the air, wreckage raining down on ground troops. Groups of infantry met in massive bloodbaths, falling almost as quickly as they clashed. A small team of wolverines blazed away at Nod rocket infantry. A pair of stealth tanks decloaked behind them and unleashed a barrage of rockets. Pieces of the wolverines scattered as the yellow mechs were obliterated. Several multi-missiles exploded over the base, wreaking even more havoc. Structures exploded violently, other simply burned away. The battle raged for hours, until Slavik saw the last of the GDI defenders die. A team of engineers was sent in to dissect whatever technology could be found, especially that of the firestorm system. Satisfied, Slavik ordered that the Montauk return to his main base. En route, he received a message from the tech that had been working on his newest project.

"Sir, we've done it!" the excited scientist was practically bursting with enthusiasm. "We've managed to determine how to use the Chronosphere for inter-dimensional travel. It's amazing that the original developers stumbled onto it, if they actually did, simply by accident. Of course, we still don't know where exactly the device came from originally, but­–"

"Has it been tested?"

"Actually, we were just about to, but assumed you would like to watch."

"Then get to it."

"Yes sir."

On the Montauk's main screen, technicians scrambled, entering coordinates, checking power systems, and going about many other tasks. In the background, the Chronosphere hummed with power. Lights flashed about on its hemispherical front end. A small glimmer of light appeared in midair in the testing area. Slowly, it grew, the process taking longer that normal, simply because of the unusual nature of what they were attempting. The shimmering hole in space and time reached rather large proportions and stopped growing. Slavik's attention was riveted on the rift, wondering what would happen next. A surprised smile crept across his face as a fairly large, serpent-like creature with scythe arms emerged from the rift. His surprise turned to shock as another slithered out…and another…and another…

Soon the entire test area was filled with the bizarre monsters. A pair of them bent forward…and suddenly, sharp spines shot from them, piercing the protective barrier. The beasts swarmed into the research area, and Slavik watched as they slaughtered the technicians, and even more creatures came through…