Inside the core command chamber of the Death World base, Osiris's main body and his second avatar stood side by side before the central holographic projection table.
Floating above the console were data summaries of three newly screened dimensional worlds, their various parameters closely correlated with the exploration logs compiled by Squad Maine.
The second avatar brought up the detailed information packet marked "Candidate World - Y."
"Candidate World - Y, briefly contacted by Squad Maine during their fourth exploration mission," the second avatar's voice reported flatly, seamlessly synchronizing the data stream to the prime persona via their neural connection.
"Records indicate this is a planetary world with humanity as the dominant civilized species. The local technological index is evaluated as mid-tier industrialization, possessing mature orbital transit frameworks and foundational space colonization capabilities."
The holographic display shifted along with the narration, showcasing planetary surface footage captured by Squad Maine's sensors: vast expanses of exposed red soil, glaring scars of extensive mining operations, a thin atmosphere, and ruggedly styled human settlements scattered across the terrain. Many areas of the surface exhibited an unnatural glassy crystallization, blanketed beneath thick layers of dust.
"According to the wide-spectrum radiation detector arrays aboard Squad Maine's gear, the planetary surface exhibits widespread, unnaturally occurring remnants of high-energy weapon bombardment.
The radiation signatures match those of high-yield orbital kinetic impacts or energy weapon strikes," the second avatar pointed out, highlighting several data peaks. "Preliminary diagnostics suggest that this planet suffered a massive orbital bombardment in the relatively recent past, resulting in catastrophic ecological devastation."
The imagery continued to cycle, displaying newer footage: upon the scorched earth, humans had constructed fresh residential enclaves, laid tracks and pipelines, and erected energy spires, demonstrating a resilient reconstruction effort. The architectural style of these new structures blended stark pragmatism with a rugged, post-apocalyptic wasteland aesthetic.
"Current observations indicate the planet has completed foundational reconstruction, with active human operations.
The primary economic pillars appear to be mining and resource extraction. During their deployment, Squad Maine operated within a frontier settlement designated 'Backwater Station,' where they established limited contact with a local human male individual." The second avatar brought up a processed audio log and a grainy visual capture.
The audio played a slightly raspy, exhausted, yet cynical male voice, complaining in a heavily accented interlac about the quality of the local alcohol and the exorbitant mineral tax rates.
The accompanying visual capture depicted a tall figure leaning against a bar counter, clad in a worn brown jacket over a rugged frame. He possessed slightly unkempt blonde hair, a sharp, weathered jawline dusted with stubble, and held a glass of amber fluid in his hand.
"The individual identifies himself as Jim Raynor, leader of a local organization known as 'Raynor's Raiders.' He maintains a highly critical posture toward the planetary administrative authorities. Squad Maine evaluated that he likely belongs to an unofficial insurgent or secessionist element.
The contact window was brief, preventing deep intelligence exchange, but the individual demonstrated a relatively open attitude toward 'outsiders' and appears to possess an extensive grasp of the local political landscape," the second avatar summarized.
"Correlating the gathered telemetry, this world perfectly aligns with the criteria of containing 'active, ongoing hostile factions or conflicts,' 'high environmental diversity,' and a 'non-overwhelming technological baseline.' Consequently, it has been cataloged as a primary candidate testing ground."
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The crimson optical lenses of Osiris's main body stared intently at the male figure identified as Jim Raynor, processing the data readouts of orbital devastation and human reconstruction.
Within microseconds, his logic core retrieved a non-standard information repository buried deep within his memory arrays—knowledge derived from his past-life cognitions.
While this information possessed a highly unorthodox origin and held zero correlation with the official archives of his current universe, its accuracy had already been partially validated across multiple dimensional contact events.
"Jim Raynor... Backwater Station... Mar Sara..." a low, synthesized resonance vibrated from Osiris's main body, carrying a tone of definitive recognition. "This is no ordinary mining world. This is the Koprulu Sector. The StarCraft universe."
The second avatar turned its optical sensors toward the prime persona, awaiting further elaboration.
Although they shared the same core consciousness and overarching objectives, the second avatar focused exclusively on Pandora and adjacent logistics, lacking direct, active access to this specific subset of background knowledge unless explicitly synchronized.
"The StarCraft universe," Osiris's prime persona began, transmitting a structured abstract of critical data to the second avatar. "A dimensional realm situated within the Koprulu Sector, defined by an ongoing, tripartite systemic conflict among three primary intelligent species.
The human faction, designated the 'Terrans,' are the descendants of exiled colonists from Earth. Their technology tree leans heavily toward pragmatic heavy industrialization and orbital drop capabilities. Their societal framework is fragmented, dominated by a regime known as the 'Terran Dominion' alongside various independent entities."
"The second primary species is the 'Protoss,' an ancient alien civilization characterized by a highly advanced technological matrix and immense psionic capabilities. Their society is divided between the mainstream tribes following the path of the 'Khala' and the Dark Templar who have severed themselves from it."
"The third, and most biologically threatening species, is the 'Zerg'." The main body's synthesized tone remained perfectly flat, yet the information traced a terrifying picture.
"A collective entity of pure biological evolution and assimilation—the Swarm. They evolve and expand at exponential velocities by absorbing the genetic essence of other lifeforms. Their numbers are staggering, their adaptability near absolute, and they are commanded by supreme wills such as the Queen of Blades."
He paused briefly, allowing the data packets to fully integrate, before narrowing the focus back to the present coordinates: "Extrapolating from the timeline of Squad Mane's contact, the planetary environmental traits, and Jim Raynor's current baseline status, it can be deduced that the local timeline sits prior to the opening events of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
Only during this specific window would Jim Raynor be found layout out on a frontier rim-world like Mar Sara in this exact capacity."
The second avatar rapidly digested the parameters.
Three unique species, perpetual warfare, highly diverse technological and biological units, and convoluted factional dynamics—this was undeniably a far more complex and multifaceted testing crucible than a localized Ork incursion or a feudal planetary uprising.
The variety of adversary matrices (mechanical units, energy-shielded configurations, hyper-dense biological swarms), the disparate theater environments (planetary surfaces, deep space, potential subterranean hive networks, or Protoss bastions), and the varying modes of engagement (conventional frontlines, asymmetrical black-ops, electronic and information warfare) could comprehensively stress-test the entirety of his existing and in-development weapons systems.
"This world undeniably yields exceptional evaluation utility," the second avatar confirmed. "Its species diversity and conflict volatility will harvest complex data fields far eclipsing standard operational theaters within the Imperium.
However, our operational posture must be strictly defined. According to the mainstream tenets of the Imperial Creed and the Cult Mechanicus, alongside the standard doctrines of the Adeptus Astartes, the mandatory response toward xenos—especially an extreme biological devouring collective like the Zerg Swarm—is absolute eradication.
The Protoss, owing to their highly advanced technology and relatively ordered societal structure, might afford limited diplomatic exploitation or technical plunder. But the Swarm—"