Only a month and a half after operation clean sweep had started, General Duke sighed when the two waves of forces met up on the other side of the planet. The zerg had spread fast here, but Duke knew that Mar Sara would be entirely different, since the zerg had occupied it for much longer; it was probably more heavily infested.

Duke had gotten incredibly lazy by the end of the attack. He had called in all his battle cruisers, which simply picked away at the hives using their Yamato Cannons. Siege tanks and Firebats scuttled along the ground, burning and blasting the colonies, and Duke was impressed when the final readings came back that there was not one zerg left on Tarsonis.

"Project clean sweep complete, General Duke."

Duke gave a huge smile. "Good. Inform MengskÕs immediately, and get General Teramar on the line."

The screen opened. A huge man with a square chin and sharp features appeared. The man had very large muscles, and his mouth gave the impression that a smile hadn't touched it his entire life. He wore his uniform religiously, and had been assumed dead with the fall of the Confederacy. He had led his troops against the zerg alone until Duke had convinced him to join the Sons of Korhal.

"You called Duke?" he asked.

"Yes General. We've finished here on Tarsonis and I want to be set up on Mar Sara by the end of the week. Is your army ready?"

"Yes sir. I have a lot of structures I will be bringing as well."

"I will be there by tomorrow morning. I'll call you for landing coordinates of our new base."

"I'll be ready sir. Over and out."

Transmissions with Teramar were so brief. He seemed to understand Duke's plans immediately, and never questioned an order. Duke had a fierce respect for Teramar, who was probably the only general who battle's strategy challenged his.

"Get a com like connected to my ship." The computer in front of him beeped a little, then a young admiral came up.

"Sir."

"Admiral. Get my cruiser over here immediately. Small escort. We're leaving for Mar Sara in the morning."

"Yes sir."

This entire two months had been a dull on Duke's mind. No sharp strategy had been involved, and Duke felt foolish for the months of planning he had spent probing Tarsonis, judging the ideal place to land, and where and how to maneuver through Tarsonis. The entire battle had been a sham, but Mengsk was overjoyed to hear of their overpowering the zerg.

Of course Mengsk took it as a chance to increase his popularity, bragging to the public about how the new united terran front was by far the most victorious we have ever been. Emperor Mengsk was bringing peace into the dominion, and a decisive victory over the zerg was exactly what he needed to sky rocket his popularity.

"Incoming transmission from Emperor Mengsk."

"Put him through."

Mengsk's face came on the screen. "Well done Duke. I'm glad to see you made such speedy process on Tarsonis. Well done."

Duke nodded.

"I'd like to move as many military bases to that system as possible. I'd like to make the most outlying planets of this system buffer area between the outside of the system and the populated ones."

"Yes sir. I'll start setting up a military base here."

"I have Dr. Hunter working on a satellite system that could give us a far look at what might be coming."

Duke cringed.

"I know you have your reservations about him Duke."

"I can't believe you'd hand over funding to the confederate scientist who brought the zerg down on us in the first place."

"Don't worry Duke, he's being closely watched, always. I wouldn't give him the job if I thought he might betray me."

Duke shook his head. "Still. Something not right about that boy."

"I agree, but we'll have to put our feelings aside for now. If or when the TerranÕs are attacked again, we will be one step ahead of the enemy this time."

Duke didn't make any movement, but simply went to change the subject. "I'm leaving for Mar Sara tonight. General Teramar is already on his way there."

Mengsk gave a big smile. "Good. Then I expect you will have Mar Sara in no time."

"It's not as easy though. God knows whatÕs lurking down there. There may even be protoss since they came and burned it."

"I know you'll get it finished quickly."

"Yes Emperor."

MengskÕs signed off, and Duke raised himself from his chair, and left for his quarters.