The StarCraft storyline is the history covering the fictional universe of StarCraft. StarCraft is a real-time strategy computer game released by Blizzard Entertainment in 1998.

As with many such games, StarCraft came with a series of pre-set combat missions for gamers to play against the computer. These series typically start with introductory missions and become ever more challenging battles. These campaigns are set in a time and place in a fictional universe, and events in one battle lead to the next in the campaign. Unlike some previous Blizzard Entertainment games, StarCraft campaigns aren't alternative histories that vary with which side the player chooses, but are sequential parts of a single larger timeline. Also, the background for StarCraft is far more detailed and complex than others, including the personal stories of tragic and heroic main characters, and was created with the help of professional science fiction authors and artists to give it a full cinematic depth. The campaigns in StarCraft are called "episodes" and are numbered, similar to the Star Wars movies.

Besides the events in the game missions themselves, video clips and text stories and descriptions supplied with the game flesh out the background of the universe. Blizzard has authorized some independent novels, covering events beyond the StarCraft games.

StarCraft fans have supplied additional battles and historical commentary, but these aren't considered canon, and aren't covered here.

StarCraft features three races: the renegade human Terrans, the noble cybernetic warrior Protoss, and the horrific bug-like Zerg. The storyline covers the fortunes of these three races and their leaders, fighting for dominance in a remote region of the galaxy. Typically, the player's race makes gains during an episode, but never completely conquers the other races.

Background

Full details are in StarCraft Prequel

The year is AD 2499. The Terrans have spread far beyond Earth. In this region at the edge of the galaxy, beyond any contact from the civilized systems, the dregs of Terran society struggle against the elements on a few harsh worlds. The ruthless Terran Confederacy strives to tighten its rule over the scattered colonies.

Seemingly from nowhere, a swarm of unknown creatures descend and attack — the Zerg. The Protoss arrive and wipe out all life on the planet Chau Sara, including the Terrans, in an effort to halt the Zerg infestation.

Episode I

This is the Terran campaign of the original StarCraft game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode I

The player starts as a new official of the Terran Confederacy, charged with protecting local colonies, but finds the Confederacy forces won't help. The player and Marshall Jim Raynor on their own initiative fight the Zerg menace. This leads to a break with the Confederacy and joining forces with the rebel underground, led by Arcturus Mengsk. During the battles, Mengsk's second-in-command, Sarah Kerrigan, a telepath and former covert agent, becomes friends with Raynor. It's then discovered that the Confederacy is secretly using telepathic power to lure the Zerg to attack disloyal colonies. The desperate rebels use the same methods to lure the Zerg to attack the Confederacy. This requires beating back the Protoss before they can destroy the Zerg. The rebels eventually succeed, but only by perverting all the causes they originally fought for, as Mengsk abandons Kerrigan to the Zerg to gain his victory. The player and Raynor then must fight to escape the rebels. Mengsk declares himself Emperor of the Terran Dominion, the new government of the surviving Terran colonies.

Episode II

This is the Zerg campaign of the original StarCraft game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode II.

The player takes over the role of a newly hatched Zerg Cerebrate, the immortal motive force behind an otherwise mindless Zerg swarm. The player must first protect and transport a unique new Zerg; an infested form of Sarah Kerrigan. This new Zerg hybrid is instrumental in unlocking the secrets of Protoss assimilation. The player must fight off Terran forces that are telepathically called by Kerrigan, and a new form of Protoss attack that can permanently kill Zerg cerebrates. However, when the cerebrate was killed by this attack, the Overmind, center of the Zerg hive mind, learns the location of the Protoss homeworld, Aiur, and the Zerg battle their way there. Here, the Overmind is made manifest as the Protoss reel in defeat.

Episode III

This is the Protoss campaign of the original StarCraft game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode III.

The player takes the role of an official working with Tassadar, who was in charge of the Protoss fleet "sterilizing" Zerg-infested Terran worlds in Episode I. Tassadar has abandoned this mission of endless slaughter as fruitless, and, during Episode II, sought out the outlaw Protoss Dark Templar, and learned ways to use their dark telepathic powers to defeat the Zerg Cerebrates. Tassadar returns to lead the Protoss attacks using this new weapon, but is instead arrested for his dealings with the outlaws. With the help of the few Protoss still loyal Tassadar, and the renegade Terrans under Jim Raynor, Tassadar is freed, and a Protoss civil war starts. To stop the war, Tassadar agrees to submit, if all will unite to free their homeworld from the Zerg. The agreement is reached, and the combined Protoss and renegade Terrans fight their way to the massive Overmind. After a long, devastating battle, Tassadar drives his ship, charged with Dark Templar energies, into the Overmind, destroying it along with himself.

Episode IV

This is the Protoss campaign of the StarCraft Brood War game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode IV.

Following Tassadar's sacrifice, the Zerg on the Protoss homeworld are in disarray, but still overwhelmingly numerous. Protoss refugees retreat to the homeworld of the Dark Templar, Shakuras, despite protests from Aldaris, the leader of the Conclave. The Zerg follow them to Shakuras. The Protoss and Dark Templar reluctantly join forces with Sarah Kerrigan's Zerg forces, after she explains she's now free of the Overmind's control, but that a new Overmind is growing on Char. Kerrigan asks for their help to kill it before it reaches maturity and takes control of Kerrigan's mind again. However, the Protoss ask for a favor in return. Two ancient crystals, fused with the powers of the dark and light templar, must be recovered to defeat the Zerg on Shakuras. The two crystals are discovered and the Overmind is crippled (but not killed). During the battles, a massive Terran fleet from the distant United Earth Directorate intervenes, and Aldaris, troubled by their relations with the "traitorous" Dark Templar, split off and declare war on Tassadar's forces and the Dark Templar. The two crystals, infused with the power of the two templars, are then joined in a Xel'Naga temple on Shakuras. The two energies mix and wipe out all Zerg on the planet and thus saving the Protoss.

Episode V

This is the Terran campaign of the StarCraft Brood War game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode V.

The player joins the United Earth Directorate (UED) Expeditionary Fleet, assigned to subdue the Terran worlds in this sector, but their high-handed actions quickly make enemies of all the various Zerg and Protoss factions as well. Their first enemy to fall is Mengsk's Dominion, and later they gain telepathic control of the local Zerg. Kerrigan convinces Raynor to rescue Mengsk. Though divided by a Zerg infested human spy, the UED succeeds in capturing and enslaving the new Overmind and control of Zerg swarms.

Episode VI

This is the Zerg campaign of the StarCraft Brood War game.

Full details are in StarCraft Episode VI.

With the Zerg growing under the control the massive UED fleet, Kerrigan is severely threatened. Painting herself as a victim, and the combined UED and Zerg as the greater enemy (combined with careful use of threats and hostages) she gains the reluctant assistance of the scattered Terran, Protoss and Dark Templar forces. As the UED is beaten back, however, she turns on each of her "allies" one by one. The Overmind is killed, and Kerrigan gains control of all the Zerg.

External links

• StarCraft history fan site
• Official Blizzard StarCraft site