Chapter Ten: Common Ground

The zerg launched a wave of new offensives a few days ago. They hit us like a sledgehammer. Khakar was able to stem the tide, but we had to evacuate several cities. The protoss are getting forced into smaller and smaller concentrations of territory. And the zerg just keep landing new broods.

Praetor Fenix is doing all he can. But we've got a shortage of good officers.

I won't lie. Things are going badly for us.

-Liberty's report, volume IV

Psi blades flared to life on both sides. Hostile intent was clear. Artanis was afraid that there would be blood at once. But Aldaris' will restrained them. The Judicator's eyes glowed brightly. "Executor, by following Tassadar and attempting to rescue the Dark Templar, you have openly defied the will of the Conclave. Abandon this mad scheme now, and the Conclave may show you mercy."

"Don't let him control you, Executor." said Tassadar. "The Judicator have long since steered the actions of the Templar to their own ends. It's time we acted of our own accord."

"Ah, Tassadar, have you fallen so far?" asked Aldaris. "To think that you were our brightest hope; our most beloved son. Now you are everything that we are not. You are lost to us. Not only have you damned yourself, but you have damned those who have followed you."

"Such is the price for our race's salvation, Judicator!" said Tassadar. "I have been here, with the Dark Templar, these last few months. While I helped them in their fight against the Zerg, I learned many of their secrets from their Prelate, Zeratul.

"Apparently, the energies which empower the Dark Templar also course through the Overmind and its Cerebrates."

"The same Cerebrate which you told us to destroy." said Aldaris. "Your advice was useless, for the creature was reincarnated before our eyes!"

"Unfortunately, yes." said Tassadar. "Your attack on the Cerebrate failed because the energies that you wield are useless when used directly against the Overmind and its Cerebrates.

"Only the Dark Templar's power can truly harm the Zerg. That is why we must rescue Zeratul and return him to Aiur!"

"Then why did you not reveal this Tassadar?" asked Artanis. "Many of our brethren died seeking to end those cerebrates."

"In truth I disbelieved Zeratul." admitted Tassadar. "I had hoped that the light might be able to destroy the darkness. However the brighter the light the greater the shadow becomes.

"What Aldaris tells me is merely confirmation of the fact."

"Heresy!" roared Ankar, coming forward. "You would corrupt the very soul of our race for the sake of your own delusions!"

"Ankar-" began Artanis.

"Enough!" cried Ankar. "Come my brethren! Slay them all!"

"Stop." hissed Aldaris.

"Judicator-" began Ankar.

"This is neither the time or place." said Aldaris. "Were we victorious the zerg would destroy us afterward. If Tassadar desires to go to his death, allow him, alongside all the other traitors.

"Now is the time to choose sides. All who truly wish to save our people follow me."

Ankar remained silent for a long moment. Then he looked at Artanis. "You may go to Char if you want, Artanis. But if you attempt to bring the Dark Templar to Aiur I, and all true protoss will stand against you."

Artanis did not move.

Aldaris turned away. "You were warned, Executor. The Conclave will not be pleased."

As Aldaris and his men walked away, Serena walked from Raynor after them. Raynor moved forward. "Serena-

"Raynor," said Serena "you are to cut off all association with Tassadar immediately. This is going to create a civil war and the Dominion cannot be seen harboring a known fugitive."

"You aren't my commanding officer, anymore, darling." said Raynor coldly.

"Yes," said Serena. "but I can have Mengsk on the communicator in a few hours to make this official. I think we both know whose side he'll take."

Then she walked after Aldaris. Reaching him a beam of light appeared around them. "We return to Aiur with all who remain untainted. The Conclave must know of this treason."

Then they were gone.

Raynor sighed. "Well, that could have gone better."

"It might have gone far worse." said Tassadar. "We should leave at once. Selendis may send troops to attack if we are not away from here."

"Get the refugees on the shuttles." said Artanis. "We'll bring them up to our command ship right away. Tassadar I will need your guidance in where to send them?"

"There are several Dark Templar settlements still upon Char, Artanis." said Tassadar. "We may move them there. However, I fear they will soon come under threat as well."

"Then lead on Tassadar." said Artanis. "We will secure the region around the settlements first. In doing so we will surely deal a blow to the zerg. And perhaps we may find Zeratul among them.

"Where was he last seen?"

"Well he broke off from us to go meet with General Duke." said Raynor. "Then he dropped out of contact a couple hours ago. Something went down there."

"Could not Duke have informed you of what happened?" asked Artanis.

"Well yeah." said Raynor. "But the zerg have some new mutation on their overlords. It lets them interfere with our transmissions. I think Daggoth made it."

"Daggoth?" asked Artanis.

"The oldest and most powerful zerg cerebrate." said Raynor. "He's not as good a tactician as Kaloth but he's not harmless. He wrecked most of Tassadar's fleet. And Zeratul tells me he specializes in mutations and creating the elites of the zerg."

"Zeratul must know much." mused Artanis.

"He is wise. Very wise." said Tassadar. "He has walked in the darkest places of the universe and seen things which you can only imagine Artanis. You may learn much from him."

"And how does this human fit into all this?" asked Artanis.

"Raynor has been of invaluable service to both the khalai and his own race." said Tassadar. "Without him to act as a mediator we might have never been reunited with our brethren. Come, we have much work to do."

Char was a vision of what the terrans called hell. It was a blackened wasteland. The air itself was filled with fumes. Rivers of fire crossed the entire surface. Artanis looked out the window at the planet. He wondered why their people had sought to colonize such a place in the first place.

"This is a blighted and dark world isn't it?" he asked. "The sun is shrouded by dark clouds. And the very air itself reeks of sulfur. How do you bear it?"

"You get used to it." said Raynor with a grin. "Just watch your step. Falling in a river here is a one way ticket to hell. Assuming we're not there anyway."

They covered over and island and beamed down. There they found a large settlement. Both dark and light protoss were there, scurrying to and fro. One of them, a leader, came forward and bowed.

"Tassadar I am glad you have come." the leader said."The zerg have overrun the terran base to the east and landed colonies all throughout the islands. We fear they will march on us next."

"Then we will bolster this colony's defenses," said Tassadar. "Artanis I will yield tactical authority to you."

"I thank you Tassadar." said Artanis. "Our first priority is to strengthen our defenses. We will establish photon cannons along the shoreline. We can create a new settlement on the lower ground to maintain them.

"Are there any other bases we may make contact with?"

"Yes. However the zerg have been interfering with our communications," said Tassadar. "for they have also mutated to block psionic calls."

"I see. Perhaps if we were to combine our talents we might break through." said Artanis. "Then we will be able to summon more of our brethren from other places on Char." Then he felt a presence. "We are receiving a communication from Executor Selendis."

He let it through.

"Artanis your betrayal of the Conclave will neither be forgiven nor forgotten." said Selendis. "However we have more pressing concerns than your discipline. My scanners indicate that you are located at the core of Kerrigan's Broods.

"I intend to launch an assault against one of their Hive Clusters. Inform me when the enemy has launched their assault on you. That is when I will strike."

"I thank you, Selendis. It will be so." said Artanis.

"Don't thank me." said Selendis. "I intend to end you with my own hands when this is over."

"You don't really think you can escape me, do you Tassadar?" asked Kerrigan's voice. "I'm not so easily killed. And this time the Judicator isn't around to save you."

Raynor raised a communicator to his ear. His eyes widened and he looked to them. "Damn it. That'll hit my primary base camp in the region. My boys and I will take care of these. You protoss just focusing on getting rid of these zerg."

"I understand." said Tassadar. "Farewell, Raynor. If we do not meet again I shall see you in the next life."

Raynor smiled. "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Less than an hour after Raynor left the zerg arrived. By that time Artanis had warped in many photon cannons throughout the island. When the mutalisks arrived, they were shot down by the dozens in moments. Yet more came and they dodged and weaved.

They were checking for weaknesses.

Eventually, their assault fell on a weak point in the line. Artanis sent forth his dragoons to it. The photon cannons were destroyed, but the dragoons plugged the gap and shot down the flyers. Yet overlords came. Their vast bellies opened up and huge swarms of zerg ground warriors poured out.

The zealots met them in battle. They were repulsed and the photon cannons were resummoned. Yet still more came from other directions.

"These zerg are a persistent foe." said Artanis. "No matter how many we slay there always seem to be more."

"Unfortunately the Overmind was more than prepared for this war." said Tassadar. "I suspect he has been amassing great hosts for centuries. His goal is nothing less than the assimilation of all life.

"And should he overcome us, I fear that nothing will be able to stop him.

"Even so there are other matters to attend to. I must go."

Artanis set about shoring up the defenses. Several more assaults fell on them. Yet each one was repulsed in turn. Artanis wished he could stand with his warriors. Yet his wound was still hurting him.

Then he was approached by Tassadar. "Artanis, I have spoken with the refugees. Although we have warped in many structures we do not believe we will be able to resettle them here long term.

"We will have to take additional ground for them to dwell on."

Artanis sensed around him. He realized that the swarm was descending on him from many different directions. He sent forth a transmission. "Selendis, the zerg have sent most of their flyers against us. If you strike now you may be able to overcome them."

"Understood, Templar." said Selendis. "My fleets are en route now."

Down from the heavens descended the scouts. They fell upon one of the zerg hives in the distance. With the flyers distracted they quickly laid the spore colonies to waste. Then they turned their attention to decimating the colonies. The Queen of the Zerg ordered the zerg attacking them to draw back, but most were killed in the return.

Selendis' scouts surged toward them and unleashed a vast barrage of antimatter missiles. The whole force was obliterated in a spectacular display of light.

"Artanis the first of the zerg hives have been destroyed." said Selendis. "However I cannot afford to risk my fleets. These spore colonies are lethal."

"Excellent work, Selendis." said Artanis. "We are nearly prepared for our own attack. We will be launching an assault against the zerg hive to the southwest. I only need you to clear a landing zone for us."

"Very well. In the interests of destroying the zerg we will cooperate." said Selendis.

"Southwest?" asked Tassadar. "That will take us well our of our way, Artanis."

"The zerg have done incomprehensible harm to Aiur." said Artanis. "I intend to return the favor. Moreover, I do not want to leave an enemy stronghold at our backs."

"There is wisdom in your course." admitted Tassadar. "Just see to it that you do not become so focused on your enemy that you forget your friends. I will lead the assault myself."

"I wish I could go with you." said Artanis. "However my injury prevents me."

Artanis set about organizing a colonization effort. The people here had gotten used to moving. He prayed this would be the last time. His plan was send half of the refugees to establish a stronghold on one of the islands. This was good ground and easily defended. When he had finished with them he looked up.

Tassadar and his men entered the shuttles. Then the shuttles flew away with an escort of scouts. As they flew forward a taskforce of white painted terran wraiths appeared. With them was a huge battlecruiser.

Artanis picked up a transmission going from them to Tassadar. "Protoss Commander, this is General Edmund Duke of the Terran Dominion Armada. You are in violation of our air-space and have endangered human lives in your reckless attack against the zerg.

"Good job. Keep up the good work.

"I'd like to bring my fleet up behind yours and assist you in the final assault. Just assuming you don't blow us out of the sky."

"General Duke, I am Tassadar, and you are well known to me." replied Tassadar. "The leniency I extended to you and your comrades was not in error. If you persist in joining the fight, we will be glad to have you as an ally."

"I'm going to have to assume that was an affirmative…" said Duke.

Artanis saw the flashes of proton cannons from the island. He saw Tassadar unleash psionic storms. Eventually, he received a transmission.

"Artanis, we require reinforcements to continue our assault." said Tassadar. "I would ask that you take some of the garrisons and come to our aid."

Artanis obeyed. He gathered the men and flew across the seas of lava. When he came to the southern hive he found it nearly overrun with protoss warriors. White clad Dominion marines were firing into the fray. A terran battlecruiser was unleashing plasma bolts into the surroundings. As his own soldiers entered the fray the last of the resistance was wiped away.

Artanis found Tassadar meditating. General Edmund Duke was standing near him, hand on a side arm. Then Artanis looked up. He saw many terran buildings standing unharmed near the creep.

"Kerrigan left these buildings standing. Indeed, I can sense many terrans alive within." said Artanis. "What could she gain by this?"

"She's infesting them." said Duke. "The bitch is using them as guinea pigs for her experiments."

"Then we will bring her to justice." said Artanis.

"The Consort of the Overmind is not here." said Tassadar. "Her presence fled into a facility delved into the rock near here."

At that moment a blue painted dropship flew into sight. Raynor descended with his men on a grappling hook and approached. Tassadar nodded to him. "Raynor? You've returned."

"Yeah. The zerg quieted down a bit ago." said Raynor. "I figured I'd come over here and see how you were doing."

"Well enough." said Tassadar. "Victory is ours for whatever it is worth."

"Kerrigan has fled into a terran facility," said Artanis.

"I say be blow the whole thing to Kingdom Come." said Duke. "Anyone we don't want dead is probably infested or worse in there."

"No. Zeratul is within." said Tassadar. "I can feel it. We must enter it. I will go alone. The rest of you will remain outside."

"You cannot go alone." said Artanis, hardly believing his ears.

"This is something which must be done without an army, Artanis." said Tassadar. "All the forces in this world cannot help me."

"Then at least take me with you." said Artanis.

"And I'm going too." said Raynor. "No way am I letting you walk into this without any backup."

Tassadar closed his eyes. "…So be it. Together we shall brave the darkness. Or die in the attempt."

"I can't believe this!" said Duke. "Alpha Squadron would never send its entire command staff into an infested command center! That's what we call stupid!"

"It must be done." said Tassadar.

"Have it your way." snapped Duke, before wandering offer, muttering. "Overly preachy pain in my…"

"Don't worry." said Raynor. "It's not you. He's like this with everyone. Let's go."

Thirty minutes later, the three of them walked into the darkness.