StarCraft Chronicles Episode 15: The Alliance Promised by the Queen

This is a fan narrative rewritten based on the events of the original game. The characters' emotions, dialogues, and scene atmospheres have been reconstructed, and it includes major spoilers.

Kerrigan's Proposal

An ashen wind blew over the ruins of Tarsonis. Standing atop a collapsed steel structure, Kerrigan stared coldly at two approaching dropships. Jim Raynor and the Protoss hero Fenix emerged through the dust clouds, filled with wariness. Their weapons were loaded, ready to fire at any moment.

Behind them, Arcturus Mengsk walked out, unable to hide his shabby appearance. The face of the emperor who once ruled the sector was a mix of humiliation and anger. Kerrigan slowly approached them, lightly fluttering her skeletal wings. The massive threat of the United Earth Directorate had gathered these bitter enemies in one place.

Raynor grit his teeth as he looked at the monster before him. A fierce hatred for her pierced his chest, but at the same time, the overwhelming military might of the UED forced him to lower his gun. Now that they had seized the Overmind on Char, every living creature in this sector was destined to become a slave. The reality weighing down on his reason tormented him.

Fenix took a step forward with his heavy mechanical legs and asked in a voice mixed with a deep metallic hum. To a Protoss who knew the honor of the Khala, cooperating with the Zerg was a disgrace. He tried to read past betrayals in Kerrigan's cunning eyes. Yet, in the face of the greater cause of his race's survival, even this foul alliance had to be considered.

Kerrigan explained that the Psi Disrupter installed on the planet Braxis was stripping away her control over her brood. She sharply pointed out that unless that device was destroyed, there was no force in the universe capable of stopping the UED's advance. Her voice carried an arrogant certainty disguised as desperation, grating on the nerves of those listening.

Mengsk crossed his arms and irritably demanded to know what profit he would gain from this deal. With a faint, sinister smile playing on her lips, Kerrigan promised the recapture of Korhal and the reconstruction of the Dominion. The Emperor's eyes wavered slightly at the proposal. His endless greed for power whispered to him to leap into this dangerous gamble.

Standing behind Mengsk, General Edmund Duke cleared his throat in dissatisfaction and adjusted his worn gloves. His grumbling—that he would rather jump naked into deep space than trust the Queen of Blades—drifted over the comms. As if enjoying their distrust, Kerrigan took in their scowling faces one by one with a relaxed demeanor, confident of her victory.

Tense apprehension weighed heavily on the air of the ruins. Raynor gripped the handle of his rifle as if to crush it, but finally nodded with a deep sigh. Harboring mutual hatred and distrust, the most grotesque and precarious alliance was forged upon the ashes of Tarsonis, solely for the single purpose of survival.

The Start of an Uneasy Alliance

A suffocating silence hung in the Hyperion's worn briefing room. A red-glowing Zerg emblem floated above the holographic projector, surrounded by Terran and Protoss commanders. Raynor leaned over the table, studying his comrades' expressions as he emphasized once more how insane it was to trust the Queen of Blades.

Fenix sank into bitter emotions, recalling the noble sacrifice Tassadar had shown in the past. The fact that they had to save the universe, which honorable warriors had bled to protect, by borrowing the hands of the Zerg weighed heavily on his mechanical heart. However, the destructive power shown by the UED expeditionary fleet was not something they could stop with pride alone.

In a corner of the briefing room, Mengsk exchanged secretive glances with Duke. His mind was focused solely on calculating his path back to the imperial palace of Korhal. Whatever Kerrigan's intentions, he was willing to shake hands with the devil if he could use her mighty Swarm as a shield to rebuild his empire.

Remaining in orbit, Kerrigan watched their uneasy meeting through the eyes of an Overlord. It was amusing to see them doubting each other, yet having no choice but to move according to her plans. She saw through them more accurately than anyone, knowing this flimsy alliance was rooted solely in mutual desperation.

Raynor opened a communication channel and warned Kerrigan in a firm voice. He declared that the moment a single Zerg claw touched Terran or Protoss forces, this alliance would be instantly terminated. In his eyes, the grief of losing his past lover and hostility toward the current monster were intricately intertwined, piercing her sharply through the monitor.

Kerrigan feigned a soft voice and readily accepted his demands. Though the sharp spine-tendrils behind her back twitched irritably, the face shown on the communication screen was merely that of a cooperative ally. False promises drifted through the vacuum of space, barely holding their precarious relationship together.

General Duke snorted as he received Mengsk's order to reorganize the remaining Dominion fleet. The engines of the old Battlecruisers began to fire up with a heavy roar. Fenix also summoned the surviving warriors of Aiur through the warp network, preparing for the coming battle. With their respective calculations crossing paths, the fleet turned its course toward Braxis.

Their destination was the frozen planet of Braxis, where the UED's Psi Disrupter was located. If they failed to destroy it, they would surely be ruined before they could even begin. Sitting in his cockpit and looking out at the endless dark space, Raynor shuddered with an ominous premonition of what bloodbath this choice might bring in the future.

Toward the Psi Disrupter

As the allied fleet entered Braxis's orbit, the silhouette of a massive fortress emerged through the gray clouds. Rising above the frozen ground, the Psi Disrupter emitted unpleasant waves, causing agony to the Zerg organisms in orbit. Kerrigan's eyes flashed red with rage as she watched her brood writhing, losing control.

Mengsk mobilized Dominion engineers to begin adjusting the Psi Emitters. This device was the only means to bypass the Disrupter's interference and lure scattered feral Zerg to use as cannon fodder. It felt like a terrible irony that the horrific machine that had once destroyed Tarsonis was now the key to their survival.

The dropships of Raynor's Raiders prepared for descent. The Marines checked their gear with grim expressions, bracing themselves for the hellish urban combat ahead. Raynor lowered his visor and offered a brief, strong word of encouragement to his men. Their objective was to disable the Disrupter's shield and clear a path to the internal power reactor where explosives could be planted.

Fenix synchronized his mind with the Dragoon's controls, trying to read the flow of the battlefield. The blue energy radiating from his mechanical chassis illuminated the dark interior of the dropship. The Protoss's powerful firepower was the most reliable spear to breach the UED's solid defensive line, and he was more than willing to stand at the vanguard and take the enemy's fire.

Kerrigan dropped a small number of elite broods still under her control onto the surface. Massive spore sacs slammed into the ice fields of Braxis and shattered, releasing hungry Zerglings from within. They served as cruel bait to distract the enemy so that the Terran and Protoss forces could land safely.

The UED's defensive posture was unimaginably solid. Dozens of Missile Turrets fired in unison, painting the sky red, while the bombardment of Siege Tanks shook the icy ground. The organized fire network of the regular military from Earth exuded an overwhelming intimidation on a completely different level from the Dominion remnants or scattered Zerg broods.

General Duke reluctantly opened communications and transmitted the structural weaknesses of the UED defensive line. Based on the standard Terran defensive doctrine he had mastered since the old Confederacy days, he pointed out the enemy's blind spots. Thanks to his blunt advice, Raynor's dropships narrowly avoided the lethal anti-air fire and closed in on the target zone.

Finally, the doors of the dropships opened, and the allied forces poured out into the freezing blizzard. The shouts of Marines, the plasma bursts of Dragoons, and the horrific shrieks of the Zerg mingled together, instantly transforming the quiet ice fields of Braxis into a chaotic battlefield. The desperate march toward the Psi Disrupter had begun.

The Mission to Destroy the Disrupter

The moment they set foot on the ground, a fierce barrage from UED Marines rained down on Raynor's Raiders. The trajectories of Gauss Rifles flying through the blizzard were precise without a single error. Raynor hid behind the debris of a destroyed bunker, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. The smell of burning gunpowder in the cold air heightened the tension of the battlefield even further.

The Protoss strike force led by Fenix pushed the front line forward with heavy steps. Antimatter globes fired by the Dragoons melted the UED armored vehicles without a trace. The enemy's crossfire poured onto Fenix's chassis, but his reinforced shields held strong, deflecting the blue flashes. Inspired by his heroic performance, the Terran forces gained courage and advanced.

As they drew closer to the Disrupter, the ominous waves vibrating through the atmosphere seeped deep into their bones. The Zerg organisms deployed on the battlefield lost their sense of direction, attacking each other or rolling on the ground in agony. Kerrigan grit her teeth as she felt that horrific pain directly from orbit. As long as this device existed, she was nothing more than a predator with clipped wings.

Raynor regrouped his scattered squad members and charged toward the Disrupter's main entrance. Every time his rifle fired, UED defensive troops fell one by one. Thanks to Fenix's fire support, the thick blast doors were torn open, finally revealing a passage to enter the facility. Time was not on their side, so there was no room for delay.

Infiltrating the facility, Mengsk's Ghost agents slipped into the darkness with their cloaking devices active. They neutralized automated security systems and sent jamming signals to the internal surveillance network. Thanks to the Ghosts' precise sabotage, Raynor's strike team avoided unnecessary engagements and quickly approached the central power room, the heart of the Disrupter.

Standing before the power core where massive energy swirled, Raynor quickly began planting high explosives. A slight tremor in his fingertips betrayed his tension, but there was not a hint of hesitation in his movements. Setting the timer, he ordered his men to retreat and began sprinting at full speed down the narrow corridors of the facility.

With a deafening roar, a massive explosion shook the ground of Braxis. The thick outer walls of the Psi Disrupter shattered, and crimson flames shot up into the sky. The horrific waves weighing down on the atmosphere vanished as if they had never existed, and all the creatures on the battlefield who had been suffering from splitting tinnitus suddenly met silence. The operation was a perfect success.

Watching the situation from orbit, Kerrigan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The severed consciousness of billions of Zerg organisms rushed into her mind like a massive tidal wave. That overwhelming sensation of connection brought her a joy as if she had reclaimed her lost throne of a god. The true power of the Queen of Blades had finally broken its shackles and been unleashed.

The Rebirth of the Swarm

The destruction of the Disrupter sent a massive shockwave through the psi-link network of the entire Koprulu Sector. Feral Zerg that had been running amok without purpose across Tarsonis and Braxis stopped moving all at once, as if bound by an invisible thread. In their empty eyes, which had been ruled only by beastly instincts, the unified will of the Swarm slowly began to take root.

Kerrigan stretched her massive mind out into space, binding the scattered broods into one. Her will covered the planets like a dark shroud, and tens of millions of Zerglings and Hydralisks bowed their heads in response to their new master's call. It was not merely a restoration of command, but the awakening of a single, colossal organism.

Watching this spectacle from the ground, Raynor wiped away the cold sweat running down his spine. The sight of the monsters, which had been rolling around in disorder just moments ago, now standing in perfect formation and looking up at the sky was a pure terror that transcended wonder. What had he just done? The horrific consequence turned into a heavy guilt, weighing down on his chest.

Fenix also closely monitored the Zerg's transformation through his Dragoon's visual sensors. The process of their rebirth into an efficient army solely for slaughter and destruction, with no wasted energy in their movements, filled his logic circuits with warning alarms. He realized with bitter clarity that the allies had given wings to a tiger.

Basking in the overflowing psionic energy, Kerrigan descended upon the ruins of the destroyed Disrupter. Beneath her feet, countless Zerg surged like an ocean, offering oaths of obedience. The Queen, having fully reclaimed her lost power, was the very incarnation of an overwhelming catastrophe. The smile on her lips was more arrogant and cruel than ever.

Connecting her communications to the allied commanders, Kerrigan declared that she was now ready to reclaim Korhal. In her voice, any trace of her previous desperation or room for compromise had completely vanished. Only the ease and commanding tone that only the strong could possess filled the comms. Mengsk and Raynor sensed the change and remained silent.

The Dominion fleet and Protoss warriors prepared to head to their next destination, mingled among the massive Zerg swarms. The soldiers' morale hit rock bottom at the fact that they had to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with monsters that might swallow them whole. Yet, to drive out the UED, they had no other choice but to maintain this horrific alliance to the end.

Overlords blanketed the sky, and dropships followed behind as the massive fleet launched toward Korhal. Kerrigan sneered, picturing Raynor's grim face in his cockpit. It amused her that no matter how hard they struggled, they were ultimately nothing but her chess pieces. The rebirth of the Swarm meant the prelude to a bloody vengeance.

The Battle to Reclaim Korhal

The planet Korhal, once the brilliant capital of the Terran Dominion, was now frozen cold under the iron rule of the UED. As the allied fleet broke through the atmosphere, orbital defense satellites unleashed a barrage of interceptor missiles. However, the Zerg swarms led by Kerrigan absorbed all the fire as meat shields, pouring down onto the surface like an unstoppable tidal wave.

The sky was stained red with creep and blood pouring from ruptured spore sacs. Under Kerrigan's control, the perfectly organized Swarm instantly ravaged the UED's anti-air defenses. While packs of Mutalisks tore apart Valkyrie frigates, massive Ultralisks smashed through the outer defensive walls of the imperial palace like paper, clearing a path for the advance.

Protoss warriors led by Fenix descended through the gaps opened by the Zerg, delivering lethal blows. The psionic blades of Zealots sliced through the armor of UED infantry like tofu, and the Psionic Storms unleashed by High Templar reduced enemy defensive positions to ashes. The pincer attack of these two disparate races threw the defenders into uncontrollable panic.

Raynor's Raiders focused on cutting off the UED's supply lines, weaving through the complex alleys of the city. Raynor ran through streets covered in corpses and debris, pulling his trigger relentlessly. In a battlefield reeking of a mixture of Zerg acid blood and Terran gunpowder, he focused all his senses solely on striking down the enemy before him.

Dominion Battlecruisers commanded by General Duke emerged through the clouds with a dull engine roar. Every time a Yamato Cannon flashed, key UED fortresses collapsed with a deafening rumble. Duke's rage toward the uninvited guests who had trampled his homeland was fully reflected in his harsh bombardment orders. The sky of Korhal was as bright as day with relentless explosions.

The UED expeditionary force was taken aback by the unexpected scale of the allied assault and gradually pushed back. Though they were trained elites, they were helpless against the combined attack of the Zerg's overwhelming numbers, the Protoss's superior technology, and the Terran rebels who knew the terrain. The sound of the solid defenses of Augustgrad collapsing in various places echoed across the planet.

The sight of Dragoon fire flying while packs of Zerglings mauled Marines, with Dominion bombers dropping payloads overhead, was bizarre beyond belief. This perfect harmony of slaughter, created by those who hated each other most, vividly demonstrated the cruelty of war. In a chaotic melee where it was difficult to even distinguish friend from foe, the UED flag was torn down.

Finally, the last Siege Tank division defending the imperial palace fell silent. The remaining UED forces threw down their weapons and retreated or scattered into the ruins. The oppression of the United Earth Directorate that had weighed heavily on Korhal was shattered before the ruthless violence of the allied forces. In the center of Augustgrad, where acrid smoke billowed, Kerrigan's Swarm let out a roar of victory.

Mengsk's Return

Augustgrad, where the heat of battle had subsided, was turned into a horrific ruin. Arcturus Mengsk took heavy steps through the debris of the collapsed imperial palace. Only the sound of glass shards crushing beneath his boots broke the silence. Standing at last where his throne used to be, his face showed a deep fatigue rather than joy over his reclaimed power.

His joy at reclaiming his empire was short-lived; Mengsk realized with bitter clarity the price he had paid. Zerg creep clung to every pillar of the palace, and the smell of blood lingered in the air. Looking down at the ruined city, he clenched his fists in humiliation, forced to admit that this victory was not achieved by his own strength.

At the end of the dark corridor, Kerrigan appeared with heavy footsteps. Beside her, her Zergling escorts bared their hideous teeth, growling softly. The Queen of Blades approached Mengsk with a relaxed stride, looking him up and down as if appraising her own property, a sinister smile on her face.

Kerrigan ran her fingers over the ruins of the throne, whispering in a cold voice. She reminded him that all this glory was possible solely due to her mercy. It was a declaration that even Mengsk sitting on the Emperor's throne and breathing was only because she permitted it. Her arrogant attitude was more than enough to tear Mengsk's pride to shreds.

Suppressing his rising anger, Mengsk glared at her with bloodshot eyes. He wanted to choke the life out of her right then and there, but the millions of Zerg filling the area outside the palace held back his reason. Resisting now was nothing short of suicide. Swallowing his humiliation, he had no choice but to nod stiffly and acknowledge her power.

General Duke, who was guarding the palace entrance, gripped his weapon's handle roughly as he watched this humiliating scene. His face flushed red with anger, and a harsh curse almost slipped through his scarred lips. However, at the Emperor's silent restraint, he ultimately lowered his weapon and chose silence. It was the moment the Dominion's pride was trampled under the Zerg's feet.

Having extracted Mengsk's submission, Kerrigan turned away in satisfaction. She knew very well that this weak Terran leader was someone who would stab her in the back the moment an opportunity arose. But for now, keeping him alive was more advantageous for her chessboard. She treated Mengsk strictly as a pawn.

Slumping onto his empty throne, Mengsk could not take his eyes off Kerrigan's back until she disappeared into the darkness. The Terran Emperor had made a grand return, but his empire was nothing more than a precarious sandcastle under the shadow of the Queen of Blades. His endless greed for power had ultimately made him a slave to the most horrific monster.

The Sweetness of a Deceptive Victory

At a temporary field command post set up on the outskirts of the palace, Raynor and Fenix were receiving reports on the battle's outcome. The retreat paths of the UED forces were displayed on the holographic map, proving their complete victory. The expeditionary force from Earth, once deemed invincible, had suffered a painful defeat on Korhal and been driven out. A strange sense of relief flowed through the command post.

Wiping his fatigue-worn face, Raynor approached Fenix and offered a brief smile. In a war that seemed to have no end, the two heroes had forged a deep camaraderie, watching each other's backs. Although they had to endure the dishonor of joining hands with the Zerg, they had ultimately succeeded in crushing the UED's ambition to enslave every living creature in this sector.

Fenix also lowered his Dragoon's heavy chassis and replied in a voice mixed with a metallic hum. Though it was a painful decision that bent Protoss pride, he firmly believed that the blood they spilled today would bring peace to the universe. The two commanders thought that this grotesque alliance had finally served its purpose, and now all that remained was to return to their respective places and heal their wounds.

Mengsk restored the communication networks and began scraping together the scattered remnants of the Dominion forces. In his eyes burned the ambition to revive his empire once more. Even if he was under Kerrigan's control, now that he had reclaimed his throne, he intended to find a way to turn the tables somehow. The sweetness of victory clouded his vigilance.

While the allied forces let their guard down, momentarily intoxicated by the joy of victory, Kerrigan looked down coldly upon them from the highest tower of the palace. Not a shred of camaraderie or pity existed in her eyes. She had merely exploited the desperation of these foolish fools to fully reclaim her own power; her true plan was only just beginning.

Through Kerrigan's mental link, millions of Zerg were secretly reorganizing their formations. Around the camps where Terran and Protoss forces rested defenselessly, lethal spine-tendrils silently took root. Calculating the most perfect moment of betrayal, she relished the leisure of a predator that had cornered its prey.

Looking up at the night sky, Raynor suddenly felt a chill in a corner of his chest. A victory that was far too smooth, and the excessively quiet movements of the Zerg, stimulated his intuition. However, the fatigue of battle and the relief of victory paralyzed his reason, making him try to ignore the approaching shadow of a massive catastrophe. It was a fatal mistake.

As the night wind of Korhal carried the acrid smoke, the allies fell asleep, talking of tomorrow's hope. Yet, hidden in the darkness, the Queen of Blades sharpened her claws, preparing for a bloody festival of slaughter. Their deceptive victory, which seemed like it would last forever, was destined to be shattered with the approaching crimson dawn.

Verified Sources

Blizzard's Official StarCraft Chronicle

StarCraft and Brood War Official Game Introduction

Official Story Direction and Reference Images from the Remaster

Blizzard's Kerrigan Lore and Official Appearance Data

StarCraft and Brood War Official Download and Remaster Purchase