Chapter 377: The Earth Union and the Terran Dominion! Energy Crystals and High-Yield Vespene Gas!
"Thank goodness Paul and the others pulled it off without a hitch."
Watching Paul return safely with both critical intel and survivors just before the Protoss obliterated the planet, V genuinely felt happy for him.
A rising star was taking shape!
As the strike-craft squadron returned with the rescued survivors, they also brought back several Zerg remains to serve as research samples for the biotech division.
Specimens included advanced Zerg units like Mutalisks and Ultralisks.
"Good thing the Protoss Golden Armada cleaned house for us—we didn't even have to waste any Scorpio Virus. This star system won't be giving us trouble again."
Morgan Blackhand grinned. The Universal Universal Megacorp had walked away from this op with quite a haul—not only did they score a clean, Zerg-free frontline base for free...
They also found a new strategic foothold. With those two cornerstones laid, the Universal Megacorp had finally gained solid footing in the StarCraft universe and would no longer be left aimlessly drifting.
Protoss-purified systems rarely saw the emergence of new species or civilizations. That made them perfect sites for setting up forward operating bases and quietly developing in the shadows.
Next, Li Ang needed to seriously consider how to carry out the mission of collecting the Keystone fragments.
Based on the timeline, Jim Raynor's Raiders would soon be setting out to locate those fragments with funding from the Moebius Foundation.
Li Ang's next step was clear—he needed to make contact with Jim Raynor and get to him before Anyone else. Bring him over to the Universal Megacorp's side!
The so-called Moebius Foundation was actually a private front operated by Dr. Narud.
Narud was originally an ancient Xel'Naga, and a servant of Amon. Capable of existing in the three-dimensional universe and freely shape-shifting.
Using his expertise in genetic engineering, he acquired massive resources and capital from humanity and established the foundation, cultivating his own forces.
This deep-cover super spy hidden within human society was also the top financier behind the collapse of the Terran Dominion and the rise of the rebellion.
Raynor's Raiders, being a rising star in the rebellion against the Dominion, naturally attracted Narud's interest. That's why he funded Raynor's efforts to hunt for ancient alien artifacts.
For Jim Raynor at this stage, what he needed most was a stronger "partner" to support his revolutionary campaign.
If Li Ang could use the engineer Payne's connections to get in touch with the Raiders, the search for the Keystone fragments would progress far more smoothly.
"Get David in contact with Raynor's Raiders immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
———
Meanwhile, the survivors who had just returned to the Universal Megacorp Expeditionary Fleet's flagship were still in shock. Their grief was rapidly giving way to disbelief.
The colossal space carrier they'd arrived at dwarfed even the Protoss Purifier Mothership they'd seen earlier. Its interior was like a miniature self-sustaining world.
The closed-loop ecosystem and meticulously organized internal systems gave the survivors—who had narrowly escaped death—a profound sense of safety and stability.
At least under the Universal Megacorp's protection, they wouldn't have to die like rats trapped in underground bunkers again.
Once the survivors were settled in, Paul headed straight to the flagship's command center.
Now that the Protoss fleet had departed, the Universal Megacorp had full control of the star system and could begin construction on frontline facilities. The next steps would depend on directives from central command.
After all, the StarCraft universe was a hotbed of constant conflict between multiple factions—Zerg, Protoss, Terrans, Amon's hybrids—each with their own interests.
If the Universal Megacorp wanted to thrive and play all sides to its benefit, it would need far more than just brute strength.
Inside the command bridge of the Battlecruiser Fearless, David Martinez had already established a secure video link with the Multiverse Base HQ. Li Ang and the Universal Megacorp's senior leadership appeared via hardlight projection.
Seeing Paul return unharmed, David immediately spoke up, prompting him to report the mission status in front of leadership.
This wasn't just about updating the executives—after all, they had already watched the mission unfold in real time. It was more about giving Paul a moment to shine and build political capital for future promotions.
"Boss, commanders, reporting in. The operation was a success. We rescued 33 human survivors, who are currently being debriefed for any useful intel."
"Engineer Payne has also been escorted to a secure area. He's currently eating to recover his strength and should be ready for interrogation in about 30 minutes."
"We've confirmed this star system is located in the Koprulu Sector, approximately 60,000 light-years from the Sol System."
"…"
Paul concisely reported all the key intel he'd gathered.
While the senior execs praised Paul's outstanding leadership, they were also taken aback by the remoteness of the Koprulu Sector.
"Sixty thousand light-years? How the hell is it that far out?"
Morgan Blackhand was stunned. Even with the Universal Megacorp's current FTL capabilities and spatial warp tech, a round trip would still take at least a month.
He couldn't begin to imagine how humans had managed to migrate this far from Earth.
At light speed, a journey like that would take 60,000 years—how many generations could a species even go through in that time?
"These humans really originated from the Sol System? Their FTL engine tech is that advanced?" Johnny Silverhand asked aloud.
Since Li Ang hadn't yet fully briefed the board on the StarCraft universe, many were still unfamiliar with its internal history and factions.
Especially the origins of the Terran Dominion!
"More accurately," Paul explained, "these humans were exiled here."
He shared the intelligence he had gathered: "Their ancestors arrived aboard four cryo-ships carrying human convicts and were originally tasked with establishing colonies for humanity. A series of accidents diverted them to the Koprulu Sector."
"After years of development, their descendants founded the Terran Dominion, with their capital located on the planet Korhal IV."
Upon hearing that, V quickly realized the bigger picture—that in the StarCraft universe, there were two major human factions: the Earth-based United Earth Directorate (UED), and the distant Terran Dominion.
"So that means we'll need to deal with both the UED and the Terran Dominion?" Morgan Blackhand frowned.
He had assumed there was only one Terran faction, plus a few insignificant rebels. But the reality was far more complex.
Li Ang remained thoughtful. Neither the UED nor the Terran Dominion were exactly easy partners to work with.
The UED evolved from Earth's global government. Their ideology revolved around a single core belief: Humanity First.
To preserve the genetic purity of the human race, they had even carried out a "Great Purge"—a genocidal campaign to eliminate all alien contact with humans.
Authoritarian, xenophobic, and violently isolationist—that's the UED in a nutshell.
For the Universal Megacorp, assimilating or co-opting a regime like the UED would require massive efforts.
They'd practically need to replace the entire upper leadership.
As for the Terran Dominion? It wasn't much better.
The Dominion was essentially a militarized imperial regime, operating under a monarch whose word shaped national policy.
For the Universal Megacorp to "take over" the Dominion would be like stealing an empire out from under its emperor.
"Is there any chance of cooperating with the Dominion?" Lucius asked.
After all, they were fellow humans—surely more reasonable than bugs.
But Paul shook his head grimly. According to what he'd learned from the survivors, the current ruler of the Terran Dominion, Arcturus Mengsk, was nothing short of a monster.
Born into a noble family—his father was a Dominion senator—Mengsk founded a political movement called "Sons of Korhal."
He then launched a coup, seized control of the government, and turned the Dominion into his personal empire.
To crush domestic resistance, Mengsk used Psi Emitters to deliberately attract Zerg invasions, resulting in the deaths of countless colonists.
A brutal tyrant who seized power through violence and sacrificed his own people—how could Anyone trust such a man?
And yet, Mengsk was also a shrewd tactician and had built a formidable military force under his command.
It was like dealing with a schoolyard bully who just happened to also be one of the top academic performers—intimidating and frustrating in equal measure.
Raynor's Raiders had emerged as a revolutionary force in direct opposition to such tyranny.
"So, if we can't work with the UED or the Dominion, we'll need to back a new power instead—let the Raiders rise in their place."
Lucius glanced at Li Ang and voiced what everyone already suspected.
True to form, Li Ang's strategy when dealing with intransigent factions like the UED or Dominion was always to uproot them entirely and build a new regime from scratch.
After all, humans were remarkably resilient when it came to switching governments. One day they're left-wing, the next they're right-wing. Democracy, dictatorship—it's all fair game. Way more adaptable than the hive-minded Zerg.
"Exactly. I plan to support the Raiders and help them take over the Dominion. Mengsk has lost the people's trust, and the Raiders are gaining popular support fast."
Paul gave his own recommendation—he firmly believed that Raynor's Raiders were a high-potential investment, and more importantly, this particular stock didn't seem to be lacking in funding.
According to the survivors, the Raiders were currently on the hunt for a mysterious artifact fragment. The reason? Someone out there was offering a hefty price for it.
Backed by this anonymous benefactor's deep pockets, the Raiders had grown rapidly in strength—proof of just how influential their patron must be.
If the Universal Megacorp could successfully poach the Raiders to its side, they could save themselves a mountain of trouble down the line.
Li Ang, though silent on the outside, was secretly pleased. Watching his subordinate deduce the optimal course of action from limited intelligence filled him with a rare sense of pride.
He couldn't be expected to handle every single detail personally. Oversights were inevitable—and that's exactly why subordinates needed to think on their own and fill in the gaps.
As the Universal Megacorp's executive, Li Ang's job was to lay down strategic direction, design high-level decisions, and prepare for worst-case scenarios.
Everything else? That was the perfect training ground for future leadership.
"If it's all about money, then we can outbid Anyone. Name their price, and we'll pay it," Johnny Silverhand said with a grin. Given the Universal Megacorp's immense wealth, recruiting a fledgling rebel army should be child's play.
"No—it's not that simple," Paul immediately countered. "In this universe, only Vespene Gas and Energy Crystals count as hard currency. Cash means nothing here."
"Even if we try trading with things like spice, adamantium alloys, or Mandalorian steel, none of it holds value here."
In the war-scorched StarCraft universe, conventional currencies like cash or gold had long since lost all meaning. They had no production utility, only financial abstraction—useful in times of peace, but worthless in this setting.
Energy Crystals were primarily used by the Protoss for constructing warp gates, photon cannons, and powering their vast fleet. Humans often traded mined crystals to the Protoss in exchange for rare materials.
Vespene Gas, meanwhile, was an energy resource buried under many planets across the Koprulu Sector. Humans needed it to build high-level military structures.
Zerg also required Vespene for evolving higher-tier units—for example, Corruptors could only mutate into Brood Lords with large quantities of it.
With all three major factions—Zerg, Terran, and Protoss—dependent on these two materials, Energy Crystals and Vespene Gas had become the only universally accepted "currency."
Hearing this, V felt the situation grow thorny. Sure, the Universal Megacorp had a healthy supply of kyber crystals, which might work as trade goods elsewhere…
But in this universe? Everything—tech, infrastructure, even communications—was built around those two specific resources. Their other energy crystals were useless here.
"Where can we get these things, then?" Morgan Blackhand asked bluntly.
If money wasn't going to cut it, then they'd just have to seize a few mines the old-fashioned way—with warships and firepower.
"According to the survivors, there's an abandoned mining outpost in this system. It might still contain some leftover Vespene Gas or Energy Crystals," Paul replied.
"But how much is left is uncertain. No one knows whether the Terran Dominion cleaned the place out before abandoning it."
Li Ang nodded. Over the years, the Universal Megacorp had expanded its reach across many multiverse realms, conquering countless resource zones. Yet they had only managed to gather a limited amount of true energy-grade materials.
Most so-called "mineral deposits" were just ordinary rocks with little inherent value. Rare commodities like floating stone, kyber crystals, or spice were the exception, not the rule.
Now, if they could obtain a steady supply of Energy Crystals and Vespene Gas in the StarCraft universe, it would become a vital new source of fuel.
Once they consolidated control of this universe, Li Ang's first move would be to place all Energy Crystals and Vespene Gas under unified corporate regulation.
With the help of the onboard AI, the old mining site was quickly located—an asteroid on the fourth orbital path of the local star.
Without the survivors' intel, it would've taken the Universal Megacorp at least two weeks to scout out this resource hub.
"Not bad," Johnny Silverhand quipped. "Looks like those freeloaders actually came in handy. If we'd left them behind, we'd have wasted two extra weeks just to find this place."
Paul scowled slightly—he hadn't risked his life to save "freeloaders."
He hadn't done it for intelligence gains either. He had acted out of personal morals and principle. These values might seem laughably quaint within the Universal Megacorp's cold, results-driven machine...
But they were vital. Without a few guiding lights of humanity, the Universal Megacorp would remain nothing more than a soulless engine of assimilation.
Li Ang shot a sidelong glance at Johnny, a subtle warning not to speak further.
Johnny immediately understood the signal and took two steps back, sealing his lips. After all these years, he still hadn't risen to core leadership—largely because of his damn mouth.
A real leader had to watch every word.
"Get it done. Prepare to depart immediately," Li Ang instructed David.
Something was better than nothing. Even a scrap heap might still have a few nuggets of gold. He didn't expect much from the abandoned mine, but if the Universal Megacorp wanted to acquire enough "hard currency" to build influence...
They'd eventually need to extend their reach to other star systems.
"Understood!"
After cutting the secure video link to HQ, David began making arrangements. He turned to Paul and spoke with weight:
"Paul, I'm putting you in charge of establishing contact with the Raiders and recruiting Jim Raynor. For the duration of this mission, you have full command authority over the Hyperion."
"We'll also assign you an escort squadron of Dreadnought-class warships to help you escape danger if things get hairy."
Paul had proven his competence, and David was willing to commit elite resources to assist him—not just to ensure mission success, but to keep him alive.
"Understood!"
Paul nodded, fully aware of the responsibility he now carried.
He immediately set about organizing his team for the next deployment.
Meanwhile, the Universal Megacorp began dispatching additional support personnel and logistics via stargate, expanding the supply network for their frontline base.
To guard against another potential Zerg assault, Li Ang ordered the deployment of an antimatter minefield along the outer edge of the system.
That way, even in the event of a mass invasion, they could inflict early attrition and reduce resource consumption during defense.
As Universal Megacorp warships and dropships poured into the system through the gate, the rescued survivors could hardly believe their eyes.
Even in the capital of the Terran Dominion—Korhal—they had never witnessed industrial power on this scale.
Giant metallic monsters thundered across space. Colossal mechs, battleships, and soldiers of all shapes and species rallied under the Universal Megacorp banner, deploying to the frontlines.
It was overwhelming.
The survivors were struck by a visceral, almost primal awe.
They finally understood the real power of the Universal Megacorp—not just as an organization, but as a force of nature. It wasn't merely a company. It was a higher-dimensional demon lord wrapped in steel.
"My God… This is your warship? A ship hundreds of kilometers long? What powers this thing—planet cores?"
Payne, the survivors' de facto spokesperson, stood slack-jawed as he gazed at the Mantle's Legacy.
He couldn't begin to imagine the kind of energy required to move such a mechanical leviathan.
The Dominion's most powerful Gorgon-class battleships were only about 3,000 meters long—barely equivalent to the Universal Megacorp's standard RCS-class armored cruisers!
Paul nodded honestly. The Universal Megacorp did have planet-devouring motherships from the Reaper civilization—but those were mostly for show.
In practice, their dreadnoughts were more than enough.
"Payne, if you join the Universal Megacorp, you'll gain far more than you ever could've imagined. Welcome aboard."
Paul clapped Payne on the shoulder. From the fervent gleam in his eyes, Paul could already tell—this man was ready to jump ship.
To the higher-ups of the Earth Union and Terran Dominion, the Universal Megacorp might be a terrifying demon god on par with Amon.
But to ordinary workers like Payne?
It was paradise.
Now, Paul and Payne were aboard the Hyperion, en route to the abandoned mining asteroid to assess its remaining crystal and gas deposits.
Before Paul could speak, Payne leaned in eagerly and said, "If there's anything I can help with, just say the word—I'll give you everything I know."
If he wanted a future in this new organization, he knew he had to offer value—fast.
"We need you to get us in contact with Raynor's Raiders. Whatever reason you need to use, do it. Just get them to meet us."
Seeing that Payne knew the game, Paul didn't waste time on pretense—he laid out the mission directly.
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