Chapter Two: Into the Fire

Commander Calabas at one point told me that she was sick of hearing my war stories. After the fiasco with Schezar she sent me to investigate the protoss cities on my own. I get the feeling she wanted me out of the way. But I don't begrudge her it.

The cities on Aiur are huge. Not big and bulky like Tarsonis, or even sleek and efficient like Umojan. The smallest of the crystal spires rise higher than the tallest skyscraper. In the mornings the sunlight catches on them so they glitter and practically glow. Everything the protoss build is beautiful. Their weapons, their machines, their tools.

And that is to say nothing of the people.

-Liberty's reports, volume IV.

The repairs to Antioch were taking time. Too much time. Many towers had been cast down and the walls had been burned with acid. The blood of the zerg had soaked the fields around it. One could not walk there without having a foot sink into the dying grass. It was almost a marsh now with a festering smell and many bugs gathering over the bodies.

Upon the clifftops, Artanis had set about creating fortifications. Probes warped many photon canons onto the cliffs. Dragoons and warriors patrolled the walls. Judicator Aldaris came from behind with reinforcements. A second line of defense over the bridges leading across Arar was erected. Fenix seemed restless during this time. The huge templar was pacing back and forth. He clenched and unclenching his hands in restlessness.

Artanis knew he desired to assault the zerg and drive them entirely from this region. Artanis himself desired to, but he knew that would be reckless. A mere glance to the hives revealed row upon row of sunken colonies and spore colonies. And assault would take more than they had to win through.

Worse still the enemy was even now mustering. No raids had yet fallen on them. Mutalisks filled the air just beyond range and flew here and there. And the beat of their wings seemed the echoes of doom.

'They are testing for weaknesses.' realized Artanis 'And gathering their full strength.' Then he received a psychic message. He turned to Fenix. 'Fenix, our observers have reported a strange pulsing creature in the hive cluster. It seems to be a nexus of psionic energy.'

'What manner of beast has the swarm brought forth now?' asked Fenix, sounding eager.

'I do not know.' admitted Artanis 'However we still stand against it as we have against all things.' He paused. 'I have seen the other fronts. We win victory against victory. Aldaris has replaced the command staff with a new generation. The swarm seems in retreat wherever we look.'

'Then why are you downcast?' asked Fenix.

'I cannot help but feel that a mortal wound has already been struck to us.' said Artanis 'As if there were a poison in my veins slowly working away. Yet this… this is a poison of will.'

'Ever you have been my cautious, Artanis.' said Fenix 'Yet are you not being too cautious? We are the khalai. We stand in the light and all who have defied us have fallen.'

'Yet none before have ever become so bold or so powerful as to invade Aiur itself.' said Artanis.

'Yes, it is a thrill to do battle upon our homeworld.' said Fenix 'Would that Tassader were here with us to share in the glorious battle. There was a warrior bold and strong. With him, we should have driven in the swarm all the faster.

'But it seems we shall have to do so without him. He will be missed. I hope he finds some measure of glory where he walks.'

'I miss Tassadar as well.' said Artanis 'It has been far too long since all of stood together in times of peace. Yet I sometimes wonder Fenix, if you think too much of battle.'

'All things have a time of service.' said Fenix 'Now is the time of valor and combat. Songs will be sung of these days. And records of the deeds we perform shall be taught to children for generations.

'What better legacy than to die gloriously in battle, defiant of a greater enemy, with a just cause behind you?'

'I would prefer not to die at all.' said Artanis 'Or at least not for a long time. I would rather grow old and pass on what I have learned to younger Templar.'

'You have named my great fear.' admitted Fenix 'To live gloriously, only to be reduced in strength and will to that of a dotard. To fade away on a bed, tended by healers? No, spare me such indignity. I shall die in battle, surrounded by the corpses of my enemies. And across the universe all the universe shall mark the place and say:

'"Here died Fenix, most proud and valiant of the khalai."'

'Executor Artanis,' said a warrior 'Judicator Aldaris has arrived with a contingent of reinforcements from the outlying colonies.'

'Wonderous news.' said Artanis. 'At last, we will not be so badly outnumbered?'

'We will still be outnumbered, will we not?' asked Fenix 'I would hate to face the swarm with greater strength. It would not seem fair.'

'I am certain you will not be disappointed.' said Artanis with a laugh.

Judicator Aldaris came before them. His face was cut from some wound inflicted and one of his hands was bandaged. It seemed he had seen battle recently and Artanis sensed from his thoughts the memory. A mutalisk had nearly taken off his head, and a zergling had clawed his hand. In his other hand was the spear with which he had slain both.

'En Taro Adun, Executor.' he said 'Your defense of Antioch has restored my faith in the Templar caste. I admit that Tassadar's desertion had shaken my faith.'

Whatever he meant to say, at that moment a light appeared to their left. Artanis looked up and saw Tassadar but as a ghost. As always the light seemed to emanate from him, rather than through him and he was amused. 'Indeed, Aldaris? I would hope that the Judicator would put more faith in their Templar brethren.'

'Tassadar!' said Aldarias 'Where have you been?'

'Be silent, Judicator. There is no time to waste, and I have much to tell you.' said Tassadar. 'As you know, the Zerg vanished after the salvation of the Terran world of Tarsonis, and though the Conclave bid me return home, I was compelled to remain.'

'A powerful psionic call drew my attention to a remote, barren world named Char. Apparently, the call was answered by others as well. For upon Char, I encountered those who were once our brethren - the Dark Templar.'

'Consorting with the Fallen Ones is heresy!' said Aldaris.

'Enough!' said Tassadar 'Hear me, Executor, for I have learned much from the Dark Templar Prelate, Zeratul.'

'The Overmind controls its minions through agents called Cerebrates.'

'This was known to the Conclave weeks ago.' said Aldaris, unimpressed. 'We have killed slain one with the help of our terran allies.'

'Why were we not told of these cerebrates?' asked Artanis.

'The Conclave chose to withhold this information until the time was right.' said Aldaris 'Our first priority was to halt the zergs advance. Not to assail the Overmind. Our concern was that the Templar would launch an assault before our borders were secure.'

'You slew one?' asked Tassadar. 'What means did you use?'

'I believe the terrans call it 'hosing it with lead.' said Aldaris. 'A crude means but effective.'

This statement seemed to worry Tassadar and a flicker of uncertainty passed his face. 'This is great news indeed. You should then press the attack. Strike down the Cerebrates, and the Swarms will surely fall.'

'Executor, Tassadar may be right.' said Fenix 'If you can keep the Zerg occupied, my force may be able to penetrate their perimeter and slay the abomination.'

'The plan is sound, Fenix.' mused Artanis 'And even if he is mistaken it will be a grievous blow against the swarm to lose such a bastion.'

'If you judge his advice sound I will assign to you new forces.' said Aldaris and he motioned to a number of warriors near him. 'This is Cyrus. He served Praetor Mojo well and has been transferred to your command, Artanis.'

'My men and their weapons are yours to command.' said Cyrus.

'At ease, warriors.' said Artanis.

Aldaris looked back to Tassadar. 'I pray we can trust you, Tassadar. Already I can sense the taint of the Fallen Ones' influence on your mind. You must return to Aiur at once!'

'My concern is for the safety of Aiur, not the judgments of the Conclave.' said Tassadar 'I will return when the time is right.'

'Praetor Fenix I will arrange for you and escort.' said Aldaris 'You will coordinate your forces with the human commander, Serena Calabas.'

Thus it was that Praetor Fenix departed with Aldaris and Artanis was left to mind the defenses. Many proton cannons had been created. His forces were bolstered. Now the only question was if they could weather the coming storm.

'Look there, Executor.' said Cyrus 'Some great beast is flying toward us.'

Artanis looked up and saw the beast. Like a giant blob of orange and red. Yet as it drew closer Artanis saw that its skin seemed to writhe and be constantly moving. And finally, he realized it was not a single beast but a mass of mutalisks flying toward them.

'Those are mutalisks!' he cried 'Cyrus bring your dragoons here! We must fend it off!'

The mutalisks struck like a sledgehammer and the blow drove in the defenses. Artanis ducked under a flurry of blades and felt others bounce off his shield. Within moments several of the photon cannons had been destroyed. The dragoons fired their shots into the midsts of the mutalisks and many were consumed.

Yet soon they turned and withdrew.

'They flee?' asked Cyrus. 'Why would they flee? Zerg fear nothing.'

'They fear few things.' said Artanis 'But they are not fleeing. They are drawing back to come at us again. That time they were merely testing our defenses. The next onslaught will be harder.' He summoned his psi blades and energy crackled around his hands. 'Ready yourselves my warriors. We must keep the Overmind's gaze from Fenix.'

Within a few moments, they came again. This time with many zerglings and hydralisks. They scaled the cliffs in great numbers. Artanis fell on them with his warriors and cut his way through. But yet more came with every moment. The mutalisks were swarming around them in greater numbers than before.

Whenever it seemed the mutalisks were being defeated they would draw back. Then they circled around and attacked an area left exposed. The battle went on and more and more warriors died around Artanis as he fought. Their enemy pressed them hard and no matter how he fought he could no stem the tide.

The zerg fight with unyielding tenacity. Dozens of warriors had fallen around Artanis already. And many more were coming. Artanis fought in a frenzy, hacking and slashing as the dragoons fired faster and faster. For a long moment, the zerg were held at bay as thousands died.

'Executor they come from the north!' cried Ankar.

Artanis looked up. Sure enough, the zerg had snuck Overlords through the gaps created in the defenses. Even now they were landing their creatures on the cliffs and vast hosts of the beasts were swarming out. And Artanis felt in the air a presence. It was a sensation he had felt once before. Now he directed his warriors to form a circle and fight off all who came. As they did Artanis called for the reserves from Antioch, praying they would arrive in time.

All who came near that circle died. But on they came nonetheless and little by little Artanis' forces were dwindling. But then the zerg relented. They drew back their assault. Yet rather than retreat, they moved to decimate the proton cannons surrounding them.

Before many zerg were dying as they charged. Now one by one the proton cannons were being destroyed. Artanis knew that if the reserves did not arrive here in time they would be finished. He knew now that there was no common cerebrate he was facing.

'Kaloth.' said Artanis.

Once before he had sensed this presence as it had overrun a city of protoss, destroying all within. All the assembled hosts of the protoss had been unable to stop him. Even now he could sense his templar wavering.

'Hold your ground my warriors!' he cried 'We must hold out long enough for Fenix to arrive! Every zerg we slay here will weaken the Overmind! Fight on!'

Yet even as the reserves arrived to bolster their numbers the zerg drew back. They fled quickly, leaving ashes and destruction in their wake. Artanis watched them leave.

'…They are retreating? Zerg never retreat.' said a zealot.

'They fear us.' said one.

'No. No, they do not.' said Artanis 'Kaloth has bidden them withdraw and so they have. This was only a probing attack. The next strike will be harder.'

'Aiur save us.' said Cyrus.

It would be a grim battle. Artanis only prayed to the gods it would not be in vain.

Authors Note:

So yeah the Enslavers Campaign must take place between the events of Terran Act 1 and Terran act 4. I choose to have it happen between the events of Act 2 and Act 3. But this creates a serious plot hole. Since the protoss didn't know that cerebrates even existed at this point.

On the other hand, the canon location for Enslavers, being between Act 1 and 2, is even more absurd. Since it features you fighting zerg on Aiur and the zerg not knowing where Aiur is is an important plot point.

With all this in mind, it seems the best point to put Enslavers is between the events of Act 3 and Act 4. This also provides an explanation for why Alan Schezar can enslave a Cerebrate. Now the reason that I choose not to take that route is pretty simple. I wanted a reason for Serena Calabas to be on Aiur for the final showdown. Having to hunt down Alan Schezar presents a convenient means to get her there.