Chapter Thirteen: Homeland

Everything is about to go straight to hell.

I can feel it in the air. No one is talking about Tassadar. No one is talking about the Dark Templar. No one is talking about the upcoming conflict between the Conclave and its best General.

That's why I'm worried. As long as people were talking it meant they felt they could say what they wanted without fear. Now that everyone has stopped it means they are afraid. People are thinking now. Thinking about what is about to happen. And which side they should take...

Liberty's Reports, volume IV

Artanis and Tassadar came out of warp space to hover over the planet of Aiur. Beneath them, they saw that yet more of the endless green had been covered by the creep. Several times as they descended they detected protoss ships. Many battles were ongoing throughout the space around Aiur.

Yet neither attempted to attack them. Artanis paced nervously as they descended. "Tassadar," he said, "we should go to our brethren's aid at once. It will show them that we mean no evil to Aiur."

"Calm yourself, young Artanis." said Zeratul, in the shadows, "those zerg are by the symptom of a greater ill. We must save our strength for the true battle. Only by striking off the head may we slay this mighty beast.

"If we are detected by the Conclave beforehand, it may make our plight that much direr."

"Yet it will not due to leave our comrades defenseless." said Artanis. "Which victory is there in destroying your enemy if all that you hold dear is in ashes?"

"There is a large group of zerg approaching the battle." said Tassadar. "We will destroy them with our ships. In so doing we will aid our brethren and avoid detection."

"Very well." said Artanis.

The Fleet moved onwards. Tassadar gave commands quickly. He had always been the better fleet commander. Soon they had come before the zerg. The carriers unleashed a great hail of interceptors which tore through the mutalisks. The enemy flyers became distracted with these, rather than the carriers. At the same time, a force of scouts came from above. They launched antimatter missiles which annihilated them.

The zerg flyers destroyed they pressed on. Soon the whiteness of the clouds of Aiur was passing by their ship as they entered the lower atmosphere. There was a tense air. If there was a time they would be discovered, it would be now.

"Praetor," said a dark templar, Varsas, "there is a khalai scout ship flying overhead. We are within range to intercept."

"Get within range and obliterate it." said Zeratul. "We must not be discovered."

"Belay that order." said Tassadar. "Let them go."

Zeratul looked up. "Tassadar, I understand your reluctance. Yet if we are discovered-"

"Our discovery is inevitable." said Tassadar. "And, as fate would have it, necessary. Let him send his message. Take us down to these coordinates." Artanis sensed them. "Tassadar, that region is very near Antioch. The Conclave will have a sizable force there."

"I know only to well." said Tassadar.

Something in his voice told Artanis Tassadar had known things would come to this. Not for the first time, Artanis wondered what Tassadar could see that they couldn't. It was said that some powerful protoss were able to discern the future. Yet these had to train for centuries to gain that insight, and almost never came from the warrior caste.

"Tassadar," said Artanis, "why are we landing here?"

"There is an old friend waiting to greet us." said Tassadar.

They came out of the cloud cover and into the recently purified domain of Antioch. New towns and cities were being reestablished. Many warriors could be seen. They landed, and Tassadar had them beam down, once again to a very specific location. It was a forest, just south of Antioch and across the river.

And then they saw Praetor Fenix and his forced. For a moment Artanis was afraid as the protoss rushed at him. Then Fenix embraced Artanis. "Greetings Executor!" said Fenix. "And greetings to you, Tassadar. I am overjoyed to see you both return home in this dark hour. The Zerg have redoubled their efforts, and it seems all is lost."

"Fenix?" asked Tassadar. "I am glad to see you again! The Executor told me of how you vanquished whole armies nearly singlehanded. I am surprised to see you still draw breath."

Fenix laughed. "Well, in the service of Aiur one must sometimes be called upon to perform great deeds. Even I manage to exceed expectations sometimes."

Tassadar embraced him. "Old friend, it warms my heart to see you here. Though it is a shame, we have been reunited in time only to face the final defeat."

"Nonsense!" said Fenix. "There is no shame in defeat so long as the spirit is unconquered, and I am still able to serve Aiur. But enough of this.

"There is much you both need to know. You have been branded as traitors by Aldaris and the Conclave. Even now they seek to arrest you and execute the Dark Templar, Zeratul."

"I never believed that they would go so far." said Tassadar. Yet there was no surprise in his voice. "In the face of total annihilation, they still cling to their failing traditions!"

"Yes, and that makes them all the more dangerous." said Fenix. "They hunt you even now, Tassadar. And though I damn myself by doing so, I shall stand by you till the end."

"En Taro Adun, noble Fenix." said Tassadar. "Artanis, it seems that if our world is to live, we must protect the Dark Templar from our own brethren. Although it pains me greatly, not even the Conclave shall stand in our way."

"With respect, Tassadar, we may not need to face them." said Artanis. "If we can find safe haven we might be able to continue our campaign beyond their reach."

"Artanis is right." said Fenix. "Antioch and many of the border provinces have chosen to take your side. And many among the Conclave's own subordinates are in no haste for another aeon of strife.

"The Conclave may well decide to allow us to continue our war. The destruction of the zerg is to their benefit, after all."

"Your counsel is wise, noble Fenix." said Zeratul. "But I fear that you are mistaken. The Conclave will not stop until every one of us is dead. Nothing short of our annihilation and the surrender of all of you will halt them."

Fenix turned to Zeratul. His psi blades flickered, and his eyes flared. "Do not speak to me of my own people, dark one. The Conclave is misguided. But they are still in possession of a great store of wisdom, and seek the salvation of Aiur in their own way."

"I wonder how many worlds must burn for the sake of their own variety of salvation?" asked Zeratul.

"Far fewer than would have burned had the hated nerazim spread their tainted religion." said Fenix.

"You have persecuted us for generations." said Zeratul. "And now you ask us to aid you while cursing our name?"

"In dark times one must embrace necessary evils." said Fenix.

"And what of the evils you have sewn among us?" asked Zeratul. "If we are indeed as you say, why have we come to aid you in your time of need."

"Your kind are using this as a chance to spread your corruption among us." said Fenix. "And you will-"

"Enough!" said Tassadar. "We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves! Fenix, Zeratul, I ask for my sake that you put aside your differences. Settle your differences when our homeworld is no longer under threat."

"As you wish, Tassadar. I shall restrain myself." said Fenix. "But I call Zeratul my ally only for your sake and the sake of Aiur. Should he and his brethren betray us then no force in this universe will stop me from ending them."

"We will do what we can." said Zeratul. "But we will do it for Aiur. Not for you."

"Now Fenix, you tell me that the border provinces have come over to our side." said Tassadar. "Who do you believe we will face as enemies?"

"Aldaris you already know." said Fenix. "However Mojo has also taken the side of the Conclave. He has been assigned to do battle with the zerg, while Aldaris hunts you down personally."

"This is not unexpected." mused Tassadar. "What of Khakar?"

"Judicator Khakar has been on a secret mission from the Conclave." said Fenix. "He has been commissioning the construction of numerous transport ships. Great expeditions have been sent far afield. Some into zerg territory. They seem to be focusing on wildlife and plant types."

"Wildlife?" asked Zeratul, voice incredulous. "What could the Conclave want with such creatures while Aiur is burning."

"They mean to evacuate." said Tassadar.

"What?" said Zeratul.

"They will load all that they can onto transport ships." said Tassadar. "They will save specimens of every plant and animal species. They will choose from the people those they deem most worth saving. Then they will abandon those that remain and turn Aiur to glass."

He'd had another instance of insight. Tassadar had possessed these for as long as Artanis had known him. "Tassadar, you cannot be serious. Even at the height of our fleet, we could not hope to evacuate the entire planet of Aiur. What you are suggesting would… it would be killing our own people.

"The Conclave would never do such a thing."

"Wouldn't they, young templar?" asked Zeratul. "Did they not order the destruction of dozens of terran worlds? What regard was shown to those who dwelled on them? What is one world compared to that?"

"But this is our homeland." said Artanis.

"A world that the home of the Overmind." said Zeratul. "The Conclave refuses to use my brethren. Without us, they cannot slay the cerebrates. Nor can they overcome the whole of the swarm without aid. The only thing that remains is to destroy the planet itself.

"In so doing they will kill the Overmind. With its death, they will ensure that the cerebrates cannot be reincarnated."

"I do not believe it." said Fenix. "And I will not unless I see the plans myself."

And then a light opened in their minds. Looking up they saw a very real light approaching. Yet it was cold and pitiless. Devoid of forgiveness or doubt. Zeratul clutched his head. "What is this presence…"

"Judicator Aldaris." said Tassadar.

A voice rang out throughout the length and breadth of the land. It rang in their minds, a voice of command.

"Executor, you and the traitor Tassadar are to cease your resistance and surrender yourselves to the judgment of the Conclave. We will take the outlaw, Zeratul, into custody and deal with him as is written by the Khala's law."

Such was the will behind the words that Artanis nearly obeyed. His instinct was to abandon this madness. Aiur was burning, and he was taking the side of its ancient enemies. He should do as commanded, throw himself at the mercy of the Conclave and surrender Conclave.

He saw some of the guards drawing their psi blades and moving toward Tassadar. It was all Artanis could do to wave them to a halt.

Then Tassadar flared with light. And that light was filled with courage and defiance, understanding and judgment. It cast a shadow longer than any he had seen. It met the will of Aldaris, and they clashed.

"Flee back to your masters, Aldaris, and huddle with them in darkness!" cried Tassadar. "For your actions shall set us all unto the Zerg!"

But Aldaris' light grew ever brighter. The colors of the world were washed away into shapes of white. His eyes could be seen in the far distance, incomprehensible fury behind them. The will of the khala was with him, and all who beheld his coming were struck still, as though chains were on their limbs.

"What is this power?" asked Zeratul

"I've never felt anything like this!" said Varsas.

"Huddle in darkness?!" cried Aldaris, voice warping to become unrecognizable as the shadows were burned away. "The Darkness flees before us! For we are the light incarnate! You and all who follow you shall be consumed! The light of our ancestors will tear you apart, Tassadar!"

"You understand neither light or dark." replied Tassadar.

Then the spell was broken. Tassadar looked to his fellows. He suddenly fell to one knee in exhaustion. Felix kneeled by him. There were uncertain whispers among the men.

The khala had chosen a side. And it had chosen the Conclave. The ancestors of the khalai had long stayed in devotion to the old ways. They would not be swayed now.

"Comrades, we have fended off their first assault." said Artanis. "But I fear that Aldaris will soon bring his armies to bear. We must retreat to Antioch and plan a strategy."

"You are right, of course, Artanis. We must go." said Tassadar.

Then they saw scout ships flying toward them. Their weapons were primed and they were on an attack run. With them were many shuttles. This was it. There was going to be blood. No khalai had killed another on Aiur in anger for millennia. Now that time would end.

There would be blood.

"Flee to the north, Tassadar." said Fenix. "I shall follow as soon as I can."

They nodded. Fenix and his warriors held their position as they withdraw back to Antioch. They crossed over the river, and as they did so, they heard the sound of battle behind them. War had begun.

"Fenix! Have you lost all shame?" cried Aldaris' voice. "To take sides with the allies of the Dark Ones'! Abandon this madness before the Conclave must end you as well!" "I do not see the Conclave here, sharing my peril! Long have they met in high towers while the Templar and Worker Castes labored in defense of Aiur!" replied Fenix in turn.

"Some are born to lead, others to follow. It is the guiding principle of the khalai." replied Aldaris.

"And what principle justifies leading us to certain death?" asked Fenix. "We cannot defeat the zerg by force of arms alone. But with the power of the Dark Templar we may destroy them. It is a necessary evil, one despised, but which must be taken."

"There is no necessary evil!" cried Aldaris. "The faithful walk in the light and do not falter! If you side with these, then you too will be burned away!"

The sound of battle reached their ears long after they scaled up the cliffs. There they rested and prepared themselves for battle. Artanis feared that Fenix would be overwhelmed. He paced restlessly when he was not commanding.

Finally, Fenix and his warriors came up the cliff and reached them. "Aldaris has given up the attack." he said. "However, I fear it is only a matter of time before they lay siege to Antioch itself."

"This cannot be allowed, my friends." said Tassadar. "We cannot afford to engage the Conclave in an all-out war. The winner would only be consumed by the swarm. If we match power for power, all is lost."

"You speak the truth, mighty Tassadar." said Zeratul. "If the light will not serve, the darkness must be our ally in this. If the Conclave were to be destroyed, it would throw the Judicator Caste into disarray. My brethren and I would be only too happy to deal the killing blow to our enemy."

"The Heart of the Conclave is one of the most heavily defended fortresses on Aiur. It has never been taken, by stealth or force." said Fenix.

"This is true. But is has been millennia since it was last attacked." said Artanis thoughtfully. "The guards there have grown complacent. While Aldaris has forced them to improve, they are inexperienced. An honor guard. The best commanders have all been sent to the front.

"We may be able to exploit this."

"Whatever we do, we must do it quickly." said Fenix. "The longer the wait, the more time the Conclave has to mobilize."

Artanis considered the situation. "Comrades, I believe I have a plan. Fenix will advance on the Heart of the Conclave with a small force. We will launch an attack on the outer defenses. That should draw the eyes of the Conclave toward the front gate.

"He will keep the Conclave occupied. Zeratul and his brethren can then slip in and capture the Conclave."

"Capture?" scoffed Zeratul. "Surely you jest?"

"Artanis is right." said Tassadar. "If we take them prisoner we may force their surrender. If we murder them in cold blood it will make them a martyr. Judicator Aldaris will not give up the fight if the Conclave is destroyed. It will only embolden him."

"Then let us enact our plan with haste." said Fenix. "The Conclave will have mustered its forces soon. And we must seize them before they can.

"Adun forgive us."

The protoss civil war had begun. Artanis wondered how many lives it would claim before the end. And if, at the end of this, there would be anything left to save.

Author's Note:

And Fenix is a racist.

Hear me out here. It simply doesn't make sense for every member of the protoss to instantly accept the Dark Templar even if they were willing to work with them.

So I tried to have each of the protoss represent an aspect of the conflict. Zeratul represents the Dark Templar. Tassadar represents those willing to reunite with their old race. Artanis represents those willing to keep an open mind. Aldaris, Mojo, and Selendis represent the hardcore traditionalists who refuse to compromise. The logical choice for Fenix is therefore to be someone who regards the Dark Templar as a necessary evil.

Enjoy.