The combined forces approached a space station as Zeratul sensed Protoss energy signatures and decided to investigate. "Skygeirr Station is where the Protoss energy signatures come from, we should go in there and investigate."
"I don't think the Dominion will let us in without a fight" Matthew spotted the Dominion soldiers guarding the entrance with everything they had.
"I can see that, my friend. You're not the only threat to the Dominion Terrans, I won't expect a warm welcoming from them as well."
"Can you clear the landing zone for us?"
"I'm on to it," Zeratul left the Zeus for the Void Seeker. The Protoss vessel landed in a safe spot allowing Zeratul and the Dark Templar to clear out the landing zone. It was easy for them to take out the patrolling marines, a Marauder, and a Diamondback. "Watch out for that missile turret! They can detect you and your brethren," Matthew alerted his Protoss friends. The Prelate casted the Void Prison on the turret disabling its detector ability and teleported to destroy the turret within minutes. He and the Dark Templars easily destroyed the bunkers killing the occupants who would not see them coming.
Matthew suited up for combat and decided to take part personally. The Probes came out from the Void Seeker began warping in buildings while the Fighters' main base buildings landed and Matthew came out from the command center. Three Medivacs arrived with four marines, two Marauders, and a Thor that the engineer came up with. The Thor had a special mechanism that switch between missile pods and chaotic 250 mm cannons used to shot down air forces. Matthew was confident that his forces could outnumber and overwhelm the Dominion forces even initially without the Dark Templar. He considered having the Dark Templar in their side as an advantage over the Dominion. Zeratul's Robotic Facility could also manufacture robotic light-armored Observers used as fly spies cloaked and having detector ability. They made better scouts than Hellions, Vulture bikes, and Reapers without putting anybody at risk. Nevertheless, the Reapers and Vultures were used for anti-infantry.
The Colossi and siege tanks formed a formidable siege unit as the battle striders could spot the high ground for the immobile artillery. The Stalkers could counter Firebats, Goliaths, Wraith fighters, and Vikings while fighting alongside with marines and Marauders. The Spectres and Dark Templar made an efficient infiltration team and were capable of dealing with dangerous enemies. As a hero version of the marine, Matthew could throw hand grenades taking out groups of enemy infantry. He drew attention from Dominion siege tanks, Thors, and Battlecruisers so that Zeratul could place them in Void Prison. The Void Rays could handle the immobile artillery easily and could counter Thors and Battlecruisers. Those alien dreadnaughts worked well with the Fighters' air cavalry of Wraith fighters, Banshees, and Vikings. The Stalkers and Void Rays received benefits from the Science Vessels while the Dark Templars received medical treatment from medics and Medivacs. When Zeratul's war band and the Freedom Fighters were approaching the entrance, a Dominion Marauder ordered, "Hold them back! Don't let them in lab!" The combined force defeated the guards and broke into the interior of the station.
A fleet of Protoss arrived before the Dark Templars and Freedom Fighters enter. Tassadar remembered the Dark Templars as heretics and they were to be dealt with like any other enemy. In his Carrier, Gantrithor, the old man appeared magically, "Cease this violence immediately! You and Zeratul are drawn to this place by the Protoss energy signatures. The Dark Templars and your people must cooperate for the investigation first."
"Madness, why should we work with the dark ones? Who are you?" Tassadar questioned in an uneasy tone.
"The invasion of the Burning Legion has begun in the sector starting with Aiur. Your home world has fallen and the Zerg had arrived there as well. Now the demons and the Zerg were fighting against each other. The Dark Templar and your people must unite as well as to join forces with Matthew Turkins' Freedom Fighters. By doing so, will save the sector from the flame. At this time, my identity is not important," the elderly man spoke in a strong voice telling Tassadar the bad news.
"What is the Legion? How did they know about us and our home? How did the Zerg find Aiur? How did you know about us?" Tassadar demanded.
"My friend and I were interested in the Protoss. As we had been watching you, we know the history of your people. The Burning Legion is an army of demons that seek conquest and consumption in many worlds. My friend betrayed me and became an agent of the Legion. He managed to summon Archimonde and built demon gates allowing the Legion to enter Aiur. The Zerg Overmind got the location of Aiur from Zeratul of the Dark Templar. The Prelate did not want to do it, but the Overmind managed to extract it from his mind. Zeratul was uncovering a Xel'Naga prophecy at that time," the man explained.
"Why should we trust you?" Tassadar did not seem to believe him.
"Believe me, once you're done with the investigation. Go back to Aiur and see for yourself. You and your people won't stand against the Legion alone. Lastly, you must join forces with Matthew Turkins and the Freedom Fighters as well. The combined force of unified Protoss and humans will take the stand against the demons," the old man persuaded the executor strongly and he teleported away. Tassadar decided to take ground forces with him into the interior of the station and formed a reluctant alliance with the Dark Templar. He also found Matthew Turkins familiar.
The three leaders entered into the laboratory and set up encampment. The Freedom Fighters' Starport could only build Vikings only due to the fact that the interior of the station could not accommodate air forces. Therefore the Stargate could not be warped in for this mission, but the Protoss could still use Observers. After the encampment was finished constructing and warping in, Tassadar and Zeratul felt pain psionically. The attacker was the source of Protoss energy signatures. To the horror of the three heroes, "Another Protoss-Zerg hybrid," Zeratul spoke in pain remembering the similar monster he encountered. He casted Void Prison preventing the monster from attacking then slashed it with his Warp blade, Matthew focus fired on it, and Tassadar used psionic discharge to fight unlike regular High Templar. From hearing about the hybrid, Matthew got to face the nightmare and fight the monster. Matthew had Thors, Spectres using Psionic Lash, and siege tanks to back him up while the Dark Templar and Archons helped out the Prelate and the executor taking down the hybrid. The Void Prison lasted for a few minutes and the monster casted Psionic Shockwave to knock the attackers away stunning them. Like the hybrid Zeratul confronted in Zhakul, it could see through the cloaking of Dark Templars and Spectres. When ready, Zeratul casted another Void Prison to prevent the hybrid from fighting back.
"I see you took down a magnificent creature," a voice in Eastern European accent muttered as a white-haired man appeared.
"Who are you?" Matthew asked in a serious tone.
"I've had many names throughout the millennia, young prodigal. You would know me best as Emil Narud," the man introduced himself.
"You're the one who made the hybrid," Zeratul made an assumption.
"Indeed, this creature is the completion of a cycle. Its role in the cosmic order was preordained when the stars were young. Behold the culmination of your history," Narud spoke of the monsters' capability.
"What are you?" Tassadar demanded.
"I am a servant of a far greater power. My master, Amon the Fallen Xel'naga, and Lord Archimonde will be pleased with the project," Narud answered and Zeratul was shocked remembering the corrupt Dragoon speaking of the higher power.
"What connection do Amon and the Burning Legion have?" Zeratul questioned.
"I was visited by the black wizard who told me about joining forces with Legion. They shared the same objectives as my master and he allied with them. Together, they will rule the sector. The hybrids are an asset to the Legion," Narud's words shocked the heroes and disappeared. Zeratul guessed the black wizard as the traitor to the old man.
The laboratory was occupied by the Burning Legion and they began moving in to attack the encampment. The attack force consisted of heavily armored Felhounds which appeared like dogs with chaotic claws and Doom Guards which were massive with wings and hooves taking the role as captains. They wielded deadly blades and could fire bolts at air forces. The Doom Guards could cast a spell to cripple heroes and powerful units; War Stomp to damage and stun groups of Zealots and Dark Templars; and Rain of Fire on buildings. The attackers also included Felguards were the heavily-armored demon infantry that wielded bladed staffs and Felarchers were medium-armored range units. The voluptuous succubi took the role of support spell casters and thought humans were easy to take down. The Protoss were immune to the charming demons reminded the humans not to be fooled by succubi's beautiful appearances. The demons were fearsome opponents that the combined forces had ever faced and more destructive than the Zerg. The giant Infernals were heavily-armored burning humanoids that appeared in the dream of Matthew and Zeratul. Those burning demons had devastating chaotic melee attack. "So that's the Legion the old man had been telling us about," Zeratul muttered. The psionic pain Zeratul and Tassadar had indicating a hybrid released, therefore it took quite a lot of pepper for the combined force to bring it down. The second monster could also create two identical clones of itself to fool the attackers. Matthew's hand grenades could only deal a significant amount of damage to the hybrid and its clones. The three heroes decided to outnumber the remaining hybrids with more powerful units after killing the second hybrid. After another wave of demons was repelled, the third hybrid was released. The monster could cast Psionic Storm a similar ability of the High Templar used to take out groups of enemies. Tassadar could use Feedback ability to deplete the hybrid's energy preventing it from using any of its ability; however its detector ability was unaffected. The fourth hybrid was located not from the cluster of demon gates and the combined force fought through the Legion destroying the structures. The fourth hybrid used Graviton Prison to lift enemies into the air disabling them similar to the Protoss Phoenix's Graviton Beam. Tassadar depleted its energy with Feedback like he did on the previous hybrid so that the fourth hybrid could not use Graviton Beam. The more powerful units owned the harder the combined forces could hit the remaining hybrids.
The last two hybrids were released simultaneously and Tassadar decided to have another High Templar for support. Together, they could deplete the energy from both monsters making it easier for their allies. After the hybrids were killed, the combined forces moved proceeded to the lower level pursuing Narud.
"I'm sensing more Protoss there but they aren't my people other than fanatics calling themselves the Tal'darim translated as 'The Forged'," Tassadar informed his allies.
"Not them again!" Matthew was shocked remembering the merciless Tal'darim his men fought.
"What exact trouble did you get yourself into?" Tassadar asked.
"I'll explain later," Matthew spoke as the combined forces took a break. The wounded Protoss troops received medical treatment from the human medics. At that time, Tassadar gradually overcame the prejudice towards the Dark Templar and began learning from Zeratul. The High Templar gained the ability to merge his own power with the Dark Templar energies.
"Tassadar, Matthew Turkins, dark one, you are not welcome here!" a Tal'darim Zealot spoke in a harsh hostile tone. The Tal'darim would not hesitate to take on Tassadar's forces and the Dark Templar like they did towards Matthew's men. The Tal'darim hated the Dark Templar as much as they hated Matthew for pirating terrazine in Bel'Shir. From what Tassadar know about the Tal'darim was that a group of Aiur Protoss was exposed to some strange substance causing them to cut themselves from the Khala, a psionic bond, and disappeared. The executor realized that the Tal'darim were worse than the exiled heretic Dark Templar. Narud used the fanatic Protoss as his best troops and elite guards. After the heroes, four marines, two medics, two ally Zealots, a Marauder, and a Stalker cleared a spot to establish bases, Tassadar and Narud challenged each other into a null zone firing psionic beams at each other. At that time, Narud's eyes were glowing green and green light was emitting from him.
There were chasms in the area enabling the combined forces to produce only fighters from the Starport and the Stargate, as the area could not accommodate Carriers and Battlecruisers. "Tal'darim, destroy their encampments, he will not survive alone!" Narud ordered. Even though the bases were finished establishing, the Tal'darim sent a group of Zealots and Dragoons to attack them mercilessly.
"There are five Xel'naga temples powering Narud, let me deactivate them and keep me covered while I'm at it. Show the Tal'darim no mercy, for you shall receive none," Zeratul informed his allies. Matthew decided to lead Marauders, medics, Spectres, Thors, Diamondbacks, Vikings, Wraith fighters, Banshees, Goliaths, and siege tanks; whereas Zeratul took his brethren, Zealots, Stalkers, Archons, Colossi, Scout fighters, and Void Rays to cover him while he deactivate the temple.
When they were on their way to the temple, someone called to Zeratul. "En Taro Adun, Zeratul, the Tal'darim have imprisoned all those who oppose them. Release us and we will join you," it turned out to be captive Dark Templar. The combined forces broke the group of three Dark Templar free and one of them said, "Our thanks, Zeratul, the Tal'darim will pay for their treachery."
Everyone positioned themselves as the Prelate began deactivating the temple, "THE INTRUDERS ARE IN THE TEMPLE! STOP THEM!" a Tal'darim Zealot ordered as he and his brethren consisted of Zealots and Dragoons were warped in not far from the temple. The siege tank blasted any Tal'darim on ground when they came at range and the Marauders slowed their movement. The Zealots of the two factions slashed each other and the ranged units provided them support. The Tal'darim was not the only problem as a hybrid was deployed. Unlike the other hybrids, this monster was Zerg-based due to having Zerg face and carapace. It attacked with chaotic claws and chaotic spat bio-slime. A Spectre casted an ultrasonic pulse then casted Psionic Lash along with the other Spectres to kill it. There was no way for Marauders to slow the monster down due to its massiveness. The Dark Templars could surround the hybrid and slashed it. Cloaked Banshees and Void Rays could also help a lot from the air by firing missiles and focusing the beam at the monster better than cloaked Wraith fighters and ally Scout fighters.
After Zeratul deactivated the first temple, Tassadar started gaining on him. "The temple! It can't be!" Narud felt as he lost part of his power.
The combined forces repelled another group of Tal'darim attackers consisted of Archons, High Templar, Zealots, and Dragoons. Once the second group of Dark Templar prisoners were released, "We will join the hunt for the Tal'darim," one of them spoke in determination. When Zeratul began deactivating the second temple, "THEY'RE ATTACKING THE TEMPLE! TAKE THEM OUT WARRIORS!" a Tal'darim Zealot shouted. The Tal'darim included Archons to engage Zeratul's escorts as well as another hybrid. With sufficient numbers, Archons were not an issue. "Another temple down! You'll pay for this!" Narud shouted to Zeratul, Matthew, and their forces.
With the third group of prisoners released, one of them muttered, "My blades thirst for vengeance!" For the third temple, "BROTHERS! GET TO THE TEMPLE BRING DOWN THOSE DEFILERS!" A Tal'darim Zealot spoke in a relentless tone and the fanatic Protoss began warping in Colossi to hit Zeratul's escorts harder, however the Freedom Fighters Vikings could hit those battle striders in fighter mode. Like Wraith fighters, the ally Scout fighters launched the missiles at the tall robot. At that time, two hybrids attacked at the same time. The Dark Templar surrounded one of them and began slashing it while a Spectre casted an ultrasonic pulse stunning that hybrid and the other Spectres unleashed Psionic Lash dealing a lot of damage to the monster.
Despite the challenge of holding off two hybrids, Zeratul succeeded deactivating the third temple causing Narud to slowly become powerless. "Tal'darim, show them no mercy!" Narud ordered. The fanatic Protoss brought Colossi to attack the encampment of the combined forces. Though those battle striders were repelled; groups of Zealots, Dragoons, Archons, High Templar, and Scout fighters followed the battle striders to attack.
Zeratul and Matthew decided to lead two separate groups as the Prelate continued with the mission while Matthew led the attack on the Tal'darim bases. It was like the engineer's first time to lead the Protoss allies in combat. Matthew freed the last group of prisoners, "Truly you bring freedom to all, friend Matthew," the freed Dark Templar thanked him. When Zeratul began deactivating the fourth temple, "THE DARK ONE SEEK TO BEFOUL THE LEGACY OF THE GODS! DESTROY THEM!" the Tal'darim Zealot ordered and this time Scout fighters were used to air strike Zeratul's escorts. There was a dogfight between the Scout fighters of the two different Protoss factions and the Void Rays continued to take out Archons, Colossi, and the hybrid. The Vikings and Wraith fighters helped out their Protoss allies joining the dogfight. At the same time, Matthew's group attacked the Tal'darim encampment. With moderate casualties sustained, the destruction of the Tal'darim bases prevented them from attacking their encampment. "NO! NO!" Narud shouted witnessing the destruction and Zeratul finished deactivating the fifth temple. Tassadar was now gaining on him, however one temple remained active.
Matthew and his attack force regrouped with Zeratul to finish the mission. "STOP THE DEFILERS! BURN EVERY OF THEM TO ASHES!" the Tal'darim Zealot spoke harshly. The fanatical Protoss began hitting Zeratul's escorts hard by warping in mainly Carriers. The fighters of the combined forces could take down those powerful ships easily and the Goliaths could provide ground-to-air support. Tal'darim had Archons and Colossi to provide the Carriers with ground support. The last two hybrids were helping them as well. After Zeratul deactivated the last temple, only 25% of the escorts including Matthew survived. "This can't be happening!" Narud realized that he became powerless and was knocked down by Tassadar.
The faithful servant of darkness retreated and the three heroes pursued him.
"Show yourself, Narud! It's over!" Matthew spoke in a serious tone.
"It's only the beginning. Amon whispered of this from the stars. He told you three of his coming. He told you all of ruin, extinction. The end of all things," Narud spoke in an ominous tone unseen.
"Your master is to depart from this sector, never to return, leave my brother out of this," Matthew spoke bravely.
"Did you think he would just go? The end of all things is also applicable to his world," a knight came out wielding a sword and a lance.
"No way," Matthew was baffled.
"Brother," the knight spoke as he lifted his visor revealing the face of Adam's adult version. He had his horse to charge right at them attempting to run them over. Zeratul jumped at his human ally to push him out of the way while Tassadar knocked Adam off from his horse using his psionic discharge. His lance fall off from his right hand at the process and the horse disappeared.
Tassadar helped Zeratul and Matthew up whereas Adam got up on his own. The human commander drew his combat knife out and both men began running towards each other. Tassadar and Zeratul watched as both men clashed metal blades with each other. Adam lunged his sword and Matthew dodged the attacked grabbing his wrist. The knight grabbed the marine's wrist in return and both men glared at each other.
"You're not my brother. You're nothing!" Matthew yelled and Adam pivoted then knocked him into the ground with a kick.
"Prepare for your death, Matthew Turkins!" Adam spoke as he jumped right at the marine with his sword pointing to his head. Matthew had been holding the blade from sinking into his brain.
Tassadar let out a psionic discharge to knock the sword off from Adam who was in fact Narud in disguise and Matthew kicked him off. Narud changed form from a knight to a voluptuous, beautiful blond young woman wearing bikini who said, "I'm everything you can never have."
He/she choked Matthew using psionic energy and Zeratul realized his human ally was tricked by appearances. The Prelate managed to slay Narud by stabbing him/her in the back. "Though I die, it is not over. Amon will see you soon," Narud spoke ominously and died afterwards.
"I did not know Narud can be a dangerous shape shifter," Matthew spoke in a horrified tone.
"It's not just you, we did not know it too," Tassadar mollified him.
"There are some things that you cannot expect in the shadows, my friends," Zeratul muttered.
"There's no business here, let's go home," Tassadar turned to Zeratul.
"I fear that the Conclave, in its pride, could never bring itself to welcome outcasts such as us," the Prelate was concerned about the Protoss government. He remembered the Conclave was behind the exile of the Dark Templar from Aiur.
"Outcasts though you may be, it is your vision and courage that may yet save our home world from the Swarm and the Legion. I beg of you, Zeratul, return with us to Aiur. Though they are petty, and have, in ignorance cursed your kind for generations, help me save our people," Tassadar spoke as he was changed.
"Since our banishment long ago, we have never failed in our responsibility to Aiur. Though it shall cause us great pain to see our homeland once more, we shall return with you, Tassadar. We will do what we can," Zeratul agreed to help the executor with saving the Aiur Protoss.
As they got out another Protoss fleet from Aiur arrived, Tassadar recognized the executor as his student, "Artanis, what are you doing here?"
"Aldaris sent us to find you. How could you work with the dark ones?" Artanis spoke in a shocked tone.
"It's a long story. By combining forces, we could take the stand against the Zerg and the Legion. We're doing this for Aiur," Tassadar remembered what the old man told him.
"Aldaris and the Conclave won't be pleased," Artanis reminded his instructor.
"Don't let him control you, Artanis. The Judicator have long since steered the actions of the Templar to their own ends. It's time we acted of our own accord," the High Templar spoke in attempting to bring his student to the right track.
"It's going to be risky. Fenix and I tried to kill a Zerg Cerebrate, but it was resurrected. Fenix was ambushed and killed by the Zerg in Antioch," Artanis reported.
"The powers you and your brethren wield are useless. It is possible that it will take Dark Templar energies to slay those Cerebrates," Tassadar came up with a possibility.
"It's going to be a risk for joining your forces, but if it involves saving our people, it will worth it. Who is this Terran?" Artanis decided to be part of Tassadar's forces and raised a question regarding his instructor's human ally as the new executor never met a human before.
"This is Matthew Turkins of the Freedom Fighters, he and his men will help save our people," Tassadar introduced Matthew to his student.
"It's nice to meet you, Artanis," Matthew spoke offered the Protoss handshake.
"It's how Terrans greet new friends," Tassadar explained and Artanis gave Matthew a handshake.
"It's nice meeting you too. Let's go back to Aiur," Artanis spoke in a cautious tone.
Zeratul returned to his Void Seeker, Tassadar boarded the Gantrithor, Artanis returned to the Shield of Aiur, and Matthew went back to the Zeus. The combined force began traveling to the devastated Protoss home world of Aiur.
Matthew upgraded the Thor with Immortality Protocol that the destroyed Thor became wreckage and the special mechanism used to revive it. Its second upgrade was 330 mm Cannons used for artillery barrage on groups of enemies and structures stunning them. Lastly, the Battlecruisers were modified with Missile Pods that fired a volley of missiles which damage groups of air units and Defensive Matrix that absorb damage.