Intense energies ripple through the air as the gateway surges with power. Within the gateway, massive displays of light cascade towards the center of the artificially induced rift in space. The air itself is filled with the sharp crackling of electrical energy as the rift pulsates from the raw power that is fed into the swirling vortex. The rift is an impressive sight to behold but pales in comparison to the large mass of Protoss warriors and weapons gathered around the base of the massive gateway. For too long these sons and daughters of Aiur have been in exile from their homeworld. Their once beloved planet having been laid waste by the conflict with the Zerg has left them with a cold burning hatred for their enemies. Their ultimate goal is now the complete eradication of the Zerg from the galaxy. This invasion is but the first step towards the completion of that vision. Throughout the gathered mass, Protoss prepare themselves for the passing to their homeworld. Nagol of the Templar caste has been bestowed the status of Executor of the Protoss forces and stands at the opening to the massive structure.
“Our forces stand ready to proceed Executor,” states Artanis proudly.
“Good, inform them to proceed with the invasion Praetor,” replies Nagol.
On a command from Artanis, the first of the Protoss warriors begin moving through the rift. The rift fluctuates with their passing as their forms are transported light years away. Zeratul joins Nagol in watching the procession.
“My forces on Aiur will be awaiting them when they arrive. Once we have assembled we must make plans to assault the Zerg immediately and gain a secured foothold so that we can begin bringing the bulk of our forces.”
“Agreed. Upon arrival we must act quickly,” replies Nagol. “With the Zerg still scattered and broken throughout the sector, we will have an opportunity to reclaim our world back. It is good to have you with us for this battle.”
“We fight for the liberation of Aiur,” says Zeratul as his eyes flash briefly. “For that there can be no better reason.” They both turn to watch as the warriors continue to flow through the gateway until they themselves eventually pass onwards to their destiny. Soon, all that remains around the gateway are the echoes of an army long since gone. The power to the rift is cut and the energies subside. Where once there was the sound of raw energy is now replaced by silence. A lone figure stands at the base of the massive structure and stares off into space.
“May Adun watch over you sons and daughters of Aiur. For when you return, I fear that an era of darkness will be upon us,” whispers Kreza as he glances one last time towards a distant star and then turns to walk off.
With flaring of lights and crackling of raw energy around him, Nagol emerges from the rift and onto the planet he long thought he would never see again; Aiur. The army of the Protoss is spread throughout the massive underground base as they recover from their exhaustive journey. The base is a flurry of activity as a number of Protoss technicians perform inspections on equipment scattered across the underground cavern. He watches with interest as several Reavers move purposely forward from a robotics facility towards a maintenance node. The air thrums with the sounds of machinery as probes scurry about performing numerous tasks. On a distant section of the base, he spots dozens of fighters arranged and currently being prepped for battle.
“Welcome to our base Executor,” proudly speaks Zeratul from behind him. “We have named it Ne’shaldok, Vengeance, for all the Protoss who have fallen in this conflict.”
“It is most impressive my friend. How did you manage such a grand task with so little aid and without discovery,” asks Nagol.
“It was not an easy task,” replies Zeratul grimly. “Most of what you see before you was done with great care and under extreme conditions. The base is buried at the very core of the Zarhik’lon mountain range outside the province of Antioch.”
“How do you keep its presence hidden from the Zerg,” asks Nagol intently. “Past experience has shown the Zerg cerebrates quite capable of detecting our distinct energies.”
“Using some of the technology collected from the temple on Shakuras we have been able to construct numerous Psionic disrupters that masks our energies. It is through these structures this base remains hidden and their use will ultimately allow us to approach the Zerg hives in relative secrecy,” proudly states Zeratul as he gestures toward several cylindrical structures. At the top of the structures are embedded several sacred crystals that act to focus the raw energy outwards creating a dome impervious to scans.
“These devices will aid our attacks greatly,” states Nagol.
“We must rest now as our forces do from the journey Nagol. For when the twin stars cast their glow on these mountains, the lands and rivers of Aiur will run over with the blood of our enemies,” proclaims Zeratul as his eyes flash with hatred.
“You are correct my friend,” agrees Nagol. “When that moment arrives I will fuel it with all the might and fury that I can muster within my soul. I shall rest now Zeratul for when the stars break, no Zerg shall withstand our wrath.” With a final farewell for the night, they both retreat to their quarters and contemplate what the coming day will hold for them.
***
The rising of the twin stars herald the beginning of yet another day on the war ravaged planet of Aiur. However, this day will be different from prior ones for this is the day the Protoss seek to reclaim that which was once theirs. The province of Antioch lies on the southern edge of the Zarhik’lon mountain ranges and as such is covered mostly with barren ground and sparse vegetation. Antioch was a thriving province before the coming of the Zerg several years before. What was once covered with the structures of the Protoss now lies engulfed in the vile creep of several Zerg Hives. Antioch was but the first of many provinces to fall before the horde. How fitting that it is the first of many Protoss cities chosen to be liberated. On the horizon, a great storm approaches the edge of the province but this storm is not produced by mere winds. The forces of the Protoss advance like a relentless wave towards their target; the controlling cerebrate on Aiur.
Hundreds of Protoss and weapons of war advance under the covering dome of Psionic disrupters. At the base, Protoss technicians swarm around the mountains as they labor to construct fortifications and structures to supply the war machine. At the forefront of the Protoss army, Nagol consults with Zeratul concerning the attack.
“The disrupters continue to cloak our advance Nagol.”
“Excellent, our observers continue to report our path clear to the outskirts of Antioch and that disturbs me.”
“Agreed,” says Zeratul as he glances up as a flight of corsairs roars overhead. “Regardless of being hidden, this planet is still under control of the Zerg. It is inconceivable that we can move our forces without discovery unless the Zerg broods are in greater disarray than we expected.”
“So you suspect as well as I do that an ambush awaits us in Antioch,” asks Nagol.
“I do not suspect my friend, I know an ambush awaits us as we near Antioch,” says Zeratul as he gestures towards the outskirts of the city.
“Then we shall not disappoint the Zerg my friend,” adds Nagol as his eyes flash with menace. “If the battle is to begin then let it begin now.” With those final words, both commanders move to issue orders to their forces. Artanis is informed of the movement to contact and adjusts his fighter formations accordingly. One of the forward observers reaches the outer edge of the province and encounters a group of Zerg. The information is immediately relayed to the main force.
“An observer has encountered several Zerg on the outer edge of the province Executor,” reports a warrior.
“And so it begins,” whispers Nagol. Establishing a contact with Zeratul’s forces, he relays the recent news. “Zeratul, one of our forward observers has detected a group of Zerg ahead. A scouting party most likely. It must be dispatched with utmost care to ensure the secrecy of our advance.”
“They shall be but the first to fall before our wrath Nagol,” states Zeratul with an edge to his words. “They will have most likely a controlling overlord, perhaps more with them. Those must be eliminated quickly to cut off their contact with the central hive and clear the way for my forces.”
“Leave that to me. Prepare your forces my friend. We shall rid the skies of that threat.” Nagol activates a link with Artanis’ air group and orders the attack. “Several overlords ahead Praetor, they are yours.”
Artanis’ fighters surge ahead of the advance and zero in on the exposed overlords. Packets of anti-matter missiles explode forth from the scouts and home in remorselessly on the targeted creatures. The overlords spot the fighters and struggle to clear out of the way but have no chance. The missiles explode amongst them sowing chaos as the creatures disappear in brilliant flashes. As his fighters soar through the clouds of expanding Zerg matter, he utters a fierce battle cry and rejoices in the carnage. No message reaches the hive to alert the Zerg of the coming threat. Artanis activates his link and reports. “The threats have been eliminated Zeratul,” he reports with satisfaction. “The ground forces are all that remains.”
“Not for long my young friend,” whispers Zeratul as he leads his forces on the Zerg. The dark Templars move swiftly like apparitions over the terrain until they are in position to attack. The Zerg with their attention focused on the fighters are caught unprepared by the Templars. As he glances to his left and right, Zeratul confirms that his forces are in position. With a fierce battle cry that carries through the clearing, the Dark Templars rush forth to slay their enemies. Without a form of detection, they are unable to strike back against their hidden foes yet they try nonetheless. The air is alive with the shrieks of the Zerg and the thrumming of blades slicing through air and flesh.
“Perish before our wrath,” bellows Zeratul as he impales a Zergling with his blades. The poor creature writhes in agony on the end as he swings a vicious blow with his free arm downward to decapitate it. Taking the still quivering mass of flesh, he hurls it with all his might towards a group of Hydralisks that are firing blindly. The dead husk slams into a hydra and stuns it but for a moment. It is all the time a fellow templar needs to close and attack. A Zergling rushes blindly across the path of the warrior and slams into him. His shielding glows briefly from the collision but it provides the hydras a targeting reference. Shifting their fire over on the Zergling, their spikes begin to impact on him. The templar swings a blade down on the Zergling and cleaves it in half. The two ends drop to the ground as he rolls out from the fire of the hydras. The hydras continue to fire in the direction of where they last saw the templar but he is no longer there. Instead, he is moving swiftly along side them and with several fierce swings, slashes a hydra into pieces. He in turn dispatches the other two hydras and continues on.
All around him, Zeratul watches with grim fascination as the Zerg are all but slaughtered under the blades of his warriors. He watches as several hydras are felled. Their bodies are sliced to pieces as blades flash brightly from the strikes. Groups of Zerglings are massacred as the Templars wade through their numbers. The bodies of the dead Zerg litter the clearing and those few that are still alive to fight merely stand their ground. A hydra moves past him and he spears a blade through the offending creature. Using the same method from before, he takes his free arm and slices the head off. The blade glows intensely as it pierces the dense carapace of the hydra and cauterizes the wound. The creature’s body spasms from the abuse and he kicks the hydra off his blade. Soon the only sounds in the clearing are that of the wind through the trees and energy blades. Zeratul glances around at his troops and confirms that they are all well. Though his soul revolts against this wanton slaughter he reminds himself of the atrocities committed by the Zerg and that fuels his anger and resolve.
“The Zerg presence has been cleared here Nagol. We can continue on towards Antioch undetected.”
“Excellent,” answers Nagol with satisfaction in his tone. “We should be nearing Antioch now. Have you suffered any losses.”
“No, the Zerg fell like leaves to our blades. Our warriors were left unscathed,” replies Zeratul with pride.
“Then let us continue the advance, Antioch awaits us my friend.”
The Protoss army continues its advance towards the outskirts of Antioch. There are no more Zerg forces encountered along the march and the way to the hive looks to be laid bare. As the army of the Protoss gathers on the edge of the creep, the forward observers report a startling chain of events. All along the edge of their detection fields, thousands of Zerg are gathered around the perimeter of the Hive. Their numbers continue to swell as more are fed from the surrounding hatcheries. The air above the hive is alive with the forms of many Zerg flyers that it threatens to block the light. Animalistic shrieks fill the air as the Zerg are whipped into a frenzy by their cerebrate. The Protoss warriors are momentarily taken back by the fierceness of the gathered horde.
“It appears that our enemies have been expecting us Nagol,” states Zeratul grimly.
“So it appears that way my friend. That would explain the lack of resistance along the route. The cerebrate pulled its forces back in defense of the hive to protect itself.”
“It does not matter Nagol. No matter how much chaff it throws at us, today is the day it will cease to exist,” swears Zeratul.
“Praetor, your forces will be responsible for clearing the aerial threats.”
“Fear not Executor, the skies of Aiur will rain the blood of our enemies till what was lost is now ours once again,” proclaims Artanis.
Looking around at the massive force of warriors around him,
Nagol steels himself for the coming conflict. “For Aiur!” screams Nagol as he and the Protoss warriors utter fierce battles cries and surge forth to battle the Zerg. With a deafening animalistic shriek, the brood rushes forward to engage the Protoss and the very ground trembles from their numbers. The battle for Aiur has begun today and there can be only one victor.
