StarCraft Chronicle Episode 5: Mar Sara's Last Duty

This is a newly written fan narrative based on the events of the original game. The characters' emotions, dialogue, and scene atmospheres have been reconstructed, and it contains major spoilers.

The Ash-Gray Shadow of Chau Sara

Jim Raynor stared silently at the horrific footage pouring over the monitor in his worn marshal's office. The surface of the neighboring planet, Chau Sara, was burning red under the orbital bombardment of a massive golden fleet. The flames erupting on the screen mixed with communication static to produce a bizarre, crackling noise, and his rough fingers gripped the edge of his desk tightly.

"What on earth is going on, Commander?" a young militia member's voice trembled faintly. Instead of answering, Raynor rubbed his face with his hands and let out a deep sigh. The news that an alien fleet had suddenly appeared and incinerated an entire planet was more than enough to plunge the residents of Mar Sara into absolute terror. Out on the streets, the screams and shouts of people searching for shelter were already tangled together.

The Confederacy's official channels remained completely silent. No warnings or evacuation orders were issued regarding Chau Sara's horrific end, and Mar Sara's Magistrate only wore a look of despair, stating that connection with headquarters had been severed. Looking out at the red wasteland beyond the window, Raynor sensed the shadow of a catastrophe that would soon fall upon this isolated planet.

His anxiety quickly became reality. Reports of strange creatures sighted in the outlying settlements began to pour in. Upon hearing that monsters larger than wild dogs with razor-sharp claws were tearing livestock apart and attacking people, Raynor immediately ordered his men to arm themselves. He pulled back the charging handle of his old Gauss rifle, hardening his resolve.

"If those Confederate bastards have abandoned us, we have no choice but to survive on our own." Raynor's voice was low but firm. He patted the shoulders of the terrified militia members one by one, steadying their wavering gazes. To prevent the fires of Chau Sara from spreading to Mar Sara, they had to move right now.

A sharp warning tone beeped from the communications console. It was Backwater Station. The frantic distress calls, accompanied by horrific tearing sounds and screams, spoke volumes about the severity of the situation. The transmission cut off completely after a final report that unidentified monsters had breached the station's defensive perimeter.

Raynor immediately assembled a militia strike team and started up the transport vehicles. Just then, an emergency order was handed down from Confederate Command, forbidding any approach to Backwater Station. A mechanical voice flowed through the speaker, stating that they were controlling the situation and that the militia should stand down. Raynor let out a hollow laugh of disbelief.

"People are dying, and they call this 'controlling the situation'?!" He roughly switched off the communicator and grabbed the steering wheel. He knew better than anyone what the consequences of disobeying Confederate orders would be, but he could not turn a blind eye to his neighbors dying right before him. Raynor's vehicle kicked up a cloud of dust as it sped toward Backwater Station at full throttle.

The Tragedy of Backwater Station and the Decision

The sight that unfolded before Raynor's eyes as he arrived at Backwater Station was hell itself. The station's metal outer walls were covered in a bizarre purple creep, upon which horribly mutated organisms writhed. The air reeked of blood and a pungent, nose-stinging stench of acid, making it difficult even to breathe.

"Open fire! Don't let them get close!" Along with Raynor's shout, Gauss rifles spat fire. Monsters made of beastly bone and flesh—the Zerg—charged at a ferocious speed. The sound of sharp claws tearing through militia armor and painful screams crossed chaotically in the swirling dust.

Raynor calmly pulled the trigger, holding the line. Every time a bullet from his muzzle pierced a Zergling's skull, dark red fluid splattered in all directions. However, there seemed to be no end to their numbers, and the Command Center at the heart of the station had already mutated into a bizarre biological structure, pulsing with a horrific heartbeat.

"Commander, there are no survivors inside the Command Center! The building has completely... turned into a monster!" At the report of a scout who had returned, Raynor gritted his teeth. New monsters were constantly pouring out of the infested Command Center. Unless they destroyed that hideous nest, they could neither win this battle nor save the remaining residents.

Raynor pulled explosives from his belt and ordered his men to cover him. Narrowly dodging the raining acid, he dashed toward the outer wall of the infested Command Center. The sticky creep clung to the soles of his combat boots, hindering his steps, but he did not stop, shoving the explosives into the building's most vulnerable crevice.

"Everyone, get down!" The moment Raynor threw himself into a trench, the Command Center shattered into pieces with a massive explosion. The death throes of the monsters echoed alongside the smell of burning flesh, and the bizarre creep covering the station slowly began to wither away. The fierce battle had finally come to an end.

Brushing off the dust as he stood up, Raynor panted and looked around. The surviving militia members were visibly exhausted, but relief was written in their eyes. Though the station was destroyed, they had prevented the infestation from spreading any further. Raynor set down his blood-stained rifle and wiped away his sweat.

But the joy of victory was short-lived. A squadron of Confederate dropships appeared in the gray sky, roaring as they descended. The Confederate forces, who hadn't shown their faces while the battle was raging, had arrived the moment the situation was resolved. Raynor was seized by a foreboding premonition as he watched heavily armed Marines pour out of the dropships.

Shattered Trust and a Night in the Holding Cell

Confederate Marines in heavy power armor surrounded Raynor and the militia members in a circle. Their muzzles were aimed at the survivors of Mar Sara, who had been fighting the Zerg just moments ago. Raynor stepped forward with a bewildered expression, attempting to explain the situation to the Confederate commander, but he was met only with a cold, metallic warning.

"Jim Raynor, you are under arrest for the unauthorized destruction of a vital Confederate installation and for inciting rebellion." General Edmund Duke's gruff voice echoed over the loudspeaker. Raynor could not believe his ears. He could not comprehend how risking his life to save people from monsters had earned him a charge of treason.

"The facility was infested, we had no choice! If it weren't for us, all of Mar Sara would have fallen to those monsters!" Raynor protested, clenching his fists, but General Duke merely scoffed. What mattered to the Confederacy was not the lives of outer-rim colonists, but the simple fact that their property had been destroyed.

The enraged militia members raised their weapons, creating a hostile atmosphere. In this volatile situation where bloodshed could erupt at any second, Raynor was conflicted. If they engaged the Confederate forces here, the men who followed him would surely die in vain. Suppressing his boiling anger, he slowly lowered his gun to the ground.

"Drop your weapons. Do as they say." Though the men protested the injustice of Raynor's order, they eventually laid down their arms one by one under his firm gaze. Confederate Marines stepped forward roughly, securing Raynor's arms and cuffing him. The moment the cold metal touched his skin, his last remaining shred of trust in the Confederacy shattered completely.

Sitting on the cold floor of the holding cell, Raynor stared blankly out of the iron bars. He felt as though his entire life, dedicated to upholding law and order as a marshal for years, had been utterly invalidated. The Confederacy was corrupt, a syndicate that would readily drive innocent citizens to their deaths just to secure their own safety.

From outside the holding cell, desperate news of the accelerating Zerg invasion filtered in intermittently. Mar Sara's defensive lines were collapsing, and the Confederacy was preparing to abandon the planet. Raynor felt a poignant sense of frustration at his own helplessness. There was nothing he could do for the people dying out there.

Just then, the heavy iron door of the holding cell opened with a loud groan. They were not Confederate Marines, but soldiers wearing armor emblazoned with an unfamiliar insignia. Behind them, a man holding a communicator approached and extended a hand to Raynor. "We're from the Sons of Korhal. We've come to rescue you in the name of Arcturus Mengsk." It was the beginning of a new destiny.

A New Alliance and the Escape from Mar Sara

Raynor decided to join the Sons of Korhal soldiers who rescued him in raiding the Jacobs Installation, a confidential Confederate base on Mar Sara. Mengsk had assigned them the mission to secure the Confederate weapon research data hidden there before the planet was purified by the Protoss, and Raynor willingly took part.

The interior of the Jacobs Installation was heavily guarded, but Raynor and the militia members breached the Confederate defensive lines and penetrated deep into the base. In the central computer room, Raynor succeeded in obtaining a top-secret Confederate data disc. This disc contained the blueprints for the Psi Emitter, a terrifying technology that would later shake the very fate of the Confederacy.

Having secured the data, Raynor and his group quickly escaped the base and boarded the waiting Sons of Korhal dropships. Mar Sara's Magistrate and the remaining colonists had already been safely evacuated to the ships. Raynor set down his blood-stained rifle and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment the dropships broke through the atmosphere, the golden Protoss fleet formed up in the skies of Mar Sara and began firing their primary weapons. Watching through the window as massive pillars of fire engulfed the planet's surface, turning his home planet into a pile of ash, Raynor clenched his fists tightly.

Upon boarding the flagship of the Sons of Korhal, Raynor finally came face-to-face with Arcturus Mengsk. Mengsk welcomed Raynor, praising his performance. "The data you brought back will be a powerful key to bringing down the Confederacy." Mengsk's voice was filled with conviction.

While Raynor was impressed by Mengsk's charisma, he remained wary of the ambition hidden behind his cold eyes. However, as they were the only ally capable of fighting against the Confederacy at the moment, he had no choice but to join hands with him.

The ship entered warp, heading toward their next destination, Antiga Prime. Burying the sorrow and anger of losing his home deep in his heart, Raynor maintained his weapons, preparing for the new battlefields ahead.

The escape from Mar Sara was not the end, but the beginning of a new war. Staring into the darkness stretching across the cosmos, Raynor fell into deep contemplation about where his destiny and that of his people would lead.

A Rebellion Rises on Antiga Prime

The Sons of Korhal fleet settled into orbit around Antiga Prime, which was groaning under Confederate oppression. Mengsk intended to use this place as a beachhead for the rebellion, tasking Raynor with contacting the local militia and neutralizing the Confederate outpost.

In the operations briefing room, Raynor first encountered a woman with her red hair tied back, wearing a Ghost operative suit. It was Mengsk's top elite operative, Sarah Kerrigan. As soon as Kerrigan saw Raynor, she read his thoughts and snapped coldly, "I know what you're thinking, hick. Keep your stupid thoughts to yourself."

Though Raynor was taken aback by the appearance of a telepath, he felt a strange charm in her bold demeanor. Amidst an awkward atmosphere, the two set out on a joint operation to drive the Confederate forces out of Antiga Prime.

Kerrigan infiltrated under cloaking to silently assassinate Confederate officers, while Raynor led the militia to provide frontal fire support. Although their first meeting had been rocky, seeing each other's outstanding skills on the battlefield allowed them to gradually build trust.

While waiting for the operation, Raynor spoke to her gently. "Don't be so cold. You're doing this because you want to save people too, aren't you?" Kerrigan took off her helmet and looked at him with a complex expression. "Don't try to get inside my head, Jim. I'm just following Mengsk's orders."

Raynor could read the guilt and loneliness hidden behind her defensive attitude. It was clear that the horrific memories she must have experienced while living as a Confederate Ghost were binding her. He did not pry further and silently checked his rifle.

With the Confederate communications network paralyzed and their commanders assassinated one after another, the suppressed anger of the citizens erupted all at once, sending up massive flames of rebellion. The rebel forces led by Raynor broke through the chaotic Confederate defensive lines in a single bound.

The moment Kerrigan tore down and threw away the Confederate flag from the roof of the Command Center, the citizens of Antiga Prime let out a roar of cheers. However, the joy of victory was quickly extinguished by a massive shadow appearing in the skies of Antiga Prime—the Norad II, a battlecruiser belonging to the Confederate Alpha Squadron.

The Fallen Hound and Mengsk's Calculation

The Norad II's threatening descent did not last long. As the battlecruiser broke through the atmosphere, it took a fatal blow from a sudden kamikaze attack by Zerg flyers. Spewing black smoke, the massive ship veered off course and plummeted into the middle of a desolate canyon on Antiga Prime, causing a tremendous explosion.

News of the Norad II's crash reached Mengsk's war room. The screen showed the wretched state of the ship, isolated and surrounded by layers of the Zerg Swarm. Resting his chin on his hand, Mengsk stared at the screen before issuing an unbelievable order. "Raynor, Kerrigan. Take your forces immediately to the Norad II and rescue General Edmund Duke."

"Are you out of your mind?" Raynor slammed his hand on the desk, protesting vehemently. "Duke is the piece of garbage who arrested me on Mar Sara and left people to die! You want us to risk our men's lives to save a guy like that?" His voice carried an uncontrollable rage.

Kerrigan also crossed her arms, glaring at Mengsk with a cold gaze. "I object as well. Duke is a Confederate mad dog. Even if we keep him alive, he'll surely turn his guns on us. Leaving him to be Zerg bait is more strategically sound." Despite their strong protests, Mengsk's expression remained unshaken.

"Don't be emotional, you two," Mengsk said in a firm tone as he stood up. "Our ultimate goal is to overthrow the Confederacy. Duke's Alpha Squadron is a formidable military force within the Confederacy, and the core Confederate security codes he possesses are essential for breaching Tarsonis's defenses."

Mengsk placed a hand on Raynor's shoulder, staring straight into his eyes. "I despise him as well, but there are times when one must shake hands with the devil for the greater good. Bring Duke back to me alive. I will make him our hunting dog." Looking at those cold, calculating eyes, Raynor felt a chill run down his spine.

Raynor roughly brushed Mengsk's hand off his shoulder and stepped back. His cruel pragmatism, which sought to use even a past enemy as a tool under the guise of the greater good, clashed directly with Raynor's beliefs. However, as long as he was part of the Sons of Korhal, he could not disobey his commander's orders.

"If it's an order, I'll follow it. But you will have to take responsibility for whatever consequences this decision brings, Commander," Raynor spat coldly and walked out of the briefing room. Kerrigan followed him with a grim expression. Though neither of them said a word, they shared a deep suspicion regarding Mengsk's true motives.

An Uncomfortable Journey to Rescue an Enemy

The canyon where the Norad II had crashed had already turned into a massive Zerg nest. The strike team led by Raynor and Kerrigan advanced step by step, pushing through the sharp claws of Zerglings surrounding them from all sides and the bone-spine attacks launched by Hydralisks. Amidst the flames erupting from torn armor plates and the stench of Zerg creep, the rescue operation was literally like walking through a painting of hell.

Entering the ship, they found General Edmund Duke groaning under collapsed debris. His once-splendid uniform was stained with blood and oil, and a deep fear of death was written across his arrogant face. Looking down at his miserable state, Raynor barely suppressed the urge to aim his gun at Duke's head.

"You look pathetic, General. Where's that bravado you had when you arrested me on Mar Sara?" At Raynor's sarcasm, Duke coughed painfully and glared. "I don't need help from the likes of you, traitor! A Confederate rescue team will be here shortly!" Kerrigan scoffed coldly at Duke's bluster.

"Your Confederacy has already abandoned you, Duke. The place is crawling with Zerg, and there is no ship coming to save you." Kerrigan grabbed Duke by the collar and whispered in his ear. "Commander Mengsk has decided to show you mercy. Either join the Sons of Korhal, or stay here and become Zerg food. Choose."

Duke's eyes shook violently. The fact that he had been abandoned by the Confederacy he had served his entire life, combined with the immediate terror of death, shattered his arrogance. Biting his lip in humiliation, he answered in a hoarse voice, "...Very well. Tell Mengsk that Alpha Squadron will stand with the Sons of Korhal."

Watching the rescued Duke board Mengsk's flagship, Raynor and Kerrigan stood in the corner of the bridge with their arms crossed, making no effort to hide their disgust. Mengsk warmly welcomed Duke's arrival and granted him a new command. This deceptive situation, where yesterday's enemy became today's ally, was more than enough to turn both of their stomachs.

"Trusting that old snake is madness. He'll definitely stab us in the back someday," Raynor growled quietly, and Kerrigan stepped up beside him, quietly agreeing. "Mengsk knows that, but he's using him anyway. The only things that matter to him are power and revenge. We have to be careful, Jim."

The two looked into each other's eyes. The wariness from their first meeting had vanished, replaced now by a tight bond as the only comrades they could truly trust in this chaotic and dangerous situation. Caught between the monstrous Zerg, the corrupt Confederacy, and the inscrutable Mengsk, the only way for them to survive was to rely on each other.

The Devil's Tool and the Approaching Doom

To completely wipe out the remaining Confederate forces on Antiga Prime, Mengsk ordered the deployment of the 'Psi Emitter,' manufactured from the blueprints stolen from Mar Sara's Jacobs Installation. This device was a horrific weapon that mimicked a Ghost's psionic signal to lure the Zerg.

Kerrigan was tasked with placing this device deep inside the Confederate base, while Raynor covered her. Once the device was activated, Kerrigan clutched her head, groaning in pain. "Ugh... this frequency... it's tearing up my head. It's a signal designed to forcibly stimulate a Ghost's neural network."

Supporting her as she suffered, Raynor shuddered at Mengsk's cruel plan. "Commander, you're going to use a device that lures these monsters as a weapon? This is a massacre!" Raynor protested over the radio, but Mengsk replied coldly.

"I will use any weapon necessary to bring down the Confederacy. Activate the device and return immediately. We must prepare to move on Tarsonis." There was not a shred of hesitation in Mengsk's voice.

At that moment, the horrific pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place in Raynor's mind. Why the Confederacy had trained Ghosts, why the Zerg had appeared on the fringe colonies—it had all been part of a cruel Confederate plan to test this Psi Emitter, and now Mengsk held that devil's tool in his own hands, preparing to do the exact same thing.

Receiving the emitter's signal, the Zerg Swarm descended upon the Confederate base on Antiga Prime, decimating them amidst screams of terror. Satisfied with this success, Mengsk began preparing for their next target: the Confederate capital world of Tarsonis.

After the hologram vanished, a heavy silence hung over the control room. Kerrigan panted heavily, staring at the devastation brought by the emitter with an anxious gaze, while Raynor clenched his fists, foreseeing the even greater massacre that the device would bring.

The two left Antiga Prime with heavy steps. Beyond the night sky of Antiga Prime, the impending tragedy of Tarsonis was rolling in like dark storm clouds.

Verified Sources

Blizzard Official StarCraft Chronicle

StarCraft and Brood War Official Game Introduction

Official Story Direction and Reference Images of StarCraft: Remastered

StarCraft and Brood War Official Download and Remaster Purchase