Simultaneously, within the Preservers' data core, the prophecy's imagery was broken down into millions of psionic data points for analysis.
A Preserver extracted the image of Kerrigan seen in Zeratul's final moments, performing a deep magnification enhancement on it.
Within the enhanced psionic spectral analysis, they noticed an even clearer detail: those unrecognizable dark enemies consuming the Protoss legion exhibited energy signatures reflecting an abnormal and profane fusion.
The psionic readings clearly displayed the traces of High Templar energy signatures forcefully twisted and bonded together with the biomass-consuming psionic ripples of the Zerg.
"This is..." The elderly Preserver's voice bore a rare mixture of shock and revulsion. "A forced fusion of Zerg and Protoss traits... a twisted creation violating the natural order of the universe.
"What Zeratul foresaw was not mere darkness, but some manner of... Hybrids. Could these be the armies driven by the Voice in the Darkness spoken of in the prophecy?"
This discovery plunged the assembled Protoss into a deeper chill.
The Protoss and the Zerg were diametrically opposed races whose essences were considered impossible—and strictly forbidden—to merge.
The mere existence of these "Hybrids" was an outright violation of the fundamental laws of the cosmos.
"If these 'Hybrids' are the embodiment of the threat," another Preserver analyzed, "then Zeratul designating the Queen of Blades as the 'key' may not stem solely from her raw power or her allegiance.
"She herself was a complex combination of Human, Zerg, and even indirectly touched by Xel'Naga power—she may personally serve as a frame of reference to understand, or even combat, this twisted fusion phenomenon."
The focus of the analysis shifted from the vague "Voice in the Darkness" to the far more concrete and horrifying threat of the "Hybrids."
This provided a more solid foundation for the Protoss' vigil, leading them to attach far greater weight to the warning Raynor had brought.
On the other side, Raynor was doing his utmost to describe the Everlasting Seeker: its immense scale, heavy armor, formidable shielding, and the unsettling mechanical structures and cybernetic servitors within.
Yet the information he could offer was inherently limited—he had never ventured into the vessel's core regions.
"We require closer reconnaissance," Velani concluded. "We cannot devise a viable infiltration or contact plan based solely on peripheral observations and second-hand intelligence. My squad can approach aboard a cloaked void shuttle to conduct passive scans and hidden observation."
"The risk is high," Raynor warned. "That ship's sensors may be far more advanced than we imagine."
"The Dark Templar excel at operating on the absolute margins of enemy perception," Velani's tone carried a measured confidence. "Unless that vessel employs detection principles entirely beyond our realm of comprehension, we have a chance."
The plan was set: Velani's squad would carry out initial reconnaissance.
Meanwhile, the Protoss Preservers continued analyzing the prophecy in hopes of uncovering further clues.
Raynor had to wait, using this time alongside the Hyperion's crew to refine the limited intelligence at their disposal.
Just as the Protoss initiated their movements, aboard the Everlasting Seeker, Osiris concluded his first deep neural mapping with Kerrigan.
The data results led Osiris to a critical deduction: within Kerrigan's psionic neural network, clear traces of non-human modification indeed existed, primarily stemming from her initial transformation into the Queen of Blades.
However, a deeper layer of analysis revealed a far more significant phenomenon—amidst those intricate Zerg genetic-psionic links rested a set of "control points" belonging to a highly hidden yet network-wide baseline control architecture.
The essence of this architecture was not inherently native to the Zerg; its design purpose was clearly intended for absolute domination over the Swarm from the highest level. Its coding style was ancient and filled with undeniable coercion, exhibiting a high correlation with Amon's psionic signature profile.
The true peculiarity within Kerrigan's consciousness lay in this: the Keystone's reversal process, while stripping away most of her Zerg features, seemed to have preferentially impacted and "frozen" the key nodes of this hidden control architecture, placing it in a deactivated state without completely erasing its structure.
This allowed her to break free from the direct mental control Amon could exert through this framework while retaining the underlying "interface" to interact with that control network.
"The more intriguing inference lies in what follows," Osiris's synthesized tone remained flat, yet it rendered the data correlation charts on the analysis report far clearer. "Data indicates that the 'interface' left behind after you broke your shackles remains active.
"This means that should you choose to re-establish a deep neural link with the Swarm—thereby becoming the Queen of Blades once more—this 'interface' is extremely likely to serve as a barrier, or a 'filter.'
"Leveraging your newly immune state, you could command the Swarm while isolating Amon's control signals entirely outside, or even... use it as a template to reverse-engineer a population-wide immunity network against Amon's control."
He adjusted the holographic projection to display a simulated pathway.
"In short, Kerrigan, you may be the only individual capable of not only controlling the Swarm after becoming the Queen of Blades again, but leading them to break completely free from Amon's grasp.
"The Swarm will no longer be blind claws in Amon's hands to destroy the world, but could become an independent force capable of standing against its creator.
"This, perhaps, is the true mission you must bear in Zeratul's prophecy—one that transcends personal vengeance or freedom.
"You are not merely the key; you are the locksmith tasked with reforging it for an entire species."
Following the neural mapping, what Kerrigan felt was not merely fatigue and clarity, but a crushing pressure descending upon her.
She had not only received a portion of the promised rewards from Osiris—an expanded range of movement encompassing three interconnected rooms and restricted data terminal access—she had also, for the first time through cold logic and data, glimpsed the suffocating scope of where her destiny might lead.
This was no longer about personal love or hatred; it pertained to the survival trajectory of an entire race and an even broader realm.
Sitting in her new quarters, she browsed the ancient records regarding the Xel'Naga and Amon on the terminal. Osiris's words echoed repeatedly in her mind: "Cooperation is the only rational choice, Kerrigan.
"This is not only for your freedom, but to confront the darkness seeking to erase all existence, and to fulfill that mission with which you alone may have been endowed."
She looked down at the suppressors on her wrists, then back at the myths describing cosmic cycles and destruction on the screen.
She was once a prisoner, later the key, and now potentially... the locksmith. The weight of choice had never been so concrete, nor so immense.
Far away in Shakuras' orbit, a cloaked Dark Templar void shuttle quietly detached from the Protoss platform, setting course on a covert voyage toward the last tracked sector coordinates of the Everlasting Seeker.
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
Kerrigan sat before the data terminal as the Xel'Naga runes scrolled slowly across the screen, the records detailing cycle, annihilation, and the Dark God Amon validating the analytical deductions Osiris had presented.
She looked down at her hands—hands that had once torn through countless lives, hands that had once been held in Raynor's palm, now so weak they could barely hold a standard-issue pistol steady.
The key. The locksmith. A mission.
The words swirled in her mind, each far heavier than anything she had ever sought in the past.
She had once lusted for vengeance, longing to exact blood for being betrayed, altered, and stripped of her humanity by Mengsk. She had also once craved a sense of belonging, experiencing a twisted "wholeness" within the primal, formidable hive mind of the Swarm.
And now, laid out before her was a synthesis of both, attached to a responsibility she had never actively sought: becoming the sole hope for the entire Zerg species to break free from an ancient yoke.
Osiris's proposal was cold and precise. He offered technology, resources, and a clear pathway: regain her power, retake command of the Swarm, claim her revenge against Mengsk, and prepare to confront Amon.
In exchange, she was required to provide "necessary assistance" in his campaign against Amon—a vaguely defined clause, yet far preferable to endless captivity and research.
"Necessary assistance," Kerrigan whispered to the empty room, her voice rasping. "Sounds like a euphemism for throwing my life away for you."
Yet reason told her this was the only viable path forward.
Raynor could not save her, the Protoss could barely save themselves, and Osiris... he had at least demonstrated the sheer strength to threaten Mengsk, and perhaps even covet Amon.
Striking a deal with the powerful was infinitely better than rotting away in the mercy of the weak.
She shut down the data terminal, stood up, and walked to the room's communication console, pressing the call button.
A few seconds later, Osiris's voice emanated through the speaker, devoid of imagery: "Kerrigan."
"I've made my choice," Kerrigan's voice was unnaturally calm, every surge of emotion suppressed beneath that icy blue stare. "I accept your proposal. I need my power back, I need the Swarm, and I need Mengsk's head.
"In exchange, I will stand by your side when you take on Amon."
A brief silence followed, as though Osiris were processing the parameter updates brought by her decision.
"A wise choice," his voice remained flat and steady. "The agreement is in effect. The preparation sequence will begin immediately. Reversing the Keystone's effects, rebuilding your deep neural link with Zerg genetics, and ensuring Amon's latent control nodes are isolated or restructured—this is a complex bio-psionic engineering task.
"You will enter a state of deep adjustment. The process may last anywhere from tens to hundreds of hours, during which sensory perception will be suspended and consciousness restructured."
"I know the risks," Kerrigan said. "But before that, I have one condition."
"State it."
"I want to personally witness Mengsk's end," a trace of bone-chilling coldness finally bled into her tone. "Not through video logs or reports, but with my own eyes. This is part of the deal, non-negotiable."
"Granted," Osiris agreed almost instantly. "At the appropriate time, such an opportunity will be provided to you. Now, please proceed to Bio-Adjustment Bay Three. Initial genetic scanning and psionic baseline calibration will commence within two hours."
The channel closed. Kerrigan drew a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Outside, a hovering servo-skull waited for her in silence.
She followed it through the cold, majestic corridors of the Everlasting Seeker, heading toward the place that would reshape her destiny once more.
This time, it was her own choice.
Bio-Adjustment Bay Three was located in the deep research sector of the Everlasting Seeker, its scale vastly exceeding that of the previous laboratories.
At the center of the chamber stood a cylindrical transparent incubation pod filled with pale green nutrient fluid and shimmering suspended particles, surrounded by dozens of conduits of varying thickness running toward massive analytical instruments and energy regulators.
The faint smell of ionization mingled with the sweet, heavy scent of organic catalysts in the air.
Under the guidance of cybernetic assistants, Kerrigan changed into a specialized interface suit and stepped into the open incubation pod, lying flat.
The fluid rose slowly, submerging her body as her respiratory system automatically switched to internal oxygen circulation.
She could feel tiny probes connecting into the ports along her spine and head—the connection points reserved during the earlier neural mapping.
"Process initializing," Osiris's voice transmitted directly into her consciousness. "Phase One: Deep genetic scan to locate residual nodes of Amon's control architecture and the Keystone's reversal zone."
A faint prickling sensation spread across her entire body before her field of vision was overlaid by a cascading stream of data.
It was not visual imagery, but pure informational perception—she "saw" her own double helix, the fragments crudely spliced in by Zerg genetics and forced into latency, as well as the ancient control architecture traces scattered throughout like faded scars.
Just then, an unexpected anomaly struck.
Outside the incubation pod, the space at the laboratory entrance distorted without warning.
It was not an explosion, nor a tear, but a ghostly green, wave-like ripple of psionic energy spreading outward through the air.
The security system did not even have time to issue a full alarm, registering only an unparseable spatial disturbance in its control logs for a fraction of a second.
A figure stepped through the ripple.
He wore a tattered dark cloak, his skin a deep hue rare among the Protoss. His eyes burned with eerie green psionic flames, and his weather-beaten face was etched with heavy resolve and grief.
His appearance triggered no kinetic shockwave, yet the background psionic readings throughout the entire laboratory skyrocketed instantly.
Zeratul.
Osiris's mechanical chassis snapped around toward the console instantly. Every deployable defense system and energy weapon locked onto the target within zero point three seconds, though none fired immediately.
His optical lenses flickered rapidly, analyzing every detail of the intruder: a high concentration of Void psionic resonance, a method of spatial traversal, and... a precise grasp of internal coordinates within the Everlasting Seeker.
"Intruder, state your identity and intent," Osiris's synthesized voice was frigid as the ambient energy fields inside the lab began pressuring, ready to convert into a lethal psionic suppression field at a moment's notice.
Zeratul ignored the threats poised around him. His gaze pierced through the transparent wall of the incubation pod, landing on Kerrigan floating inside, a flicker of profound emotion passing through his eyes—grief, hope, and heavy confirmation.
Then, he turned to face Osiris.
"I am Zeratul, Dark Templar," his voice was low and raspy, sounding directly through psionic resonance inside Osiris's receiver, bypassing any potential eavesdropping. "I have not come for battle. I have crossed the mists of foresight and the veil of reality to seek... cooperation."
Osiris's optical lenses remained locked on him: "Explain. How did you locate this vessel? What does your so-called 'cooperation' pertain to?"
"I foresaw fragments," Zeratul said slowly, his ghostly green gaze seeming to stare past Osiris into the far reaches of the void. "I saw the Dark God open his eyes within the void; I saw his shadow consume the stars.
"I followed the threads of prophecy here because they pointed to a variable that might alter the trajectory of destruction—you, and her."
He looked back at Kerrigan inside the incubation pod: "You must halt this process. Awakening her now is not the correct path."
"State your reasoning," Osiris remained unmoved, though his internal logical cores were rapidly analyzing the information embedded within the Dark Templar's words. "Kerrigan's re-transformation is part of an agreement—a choice made of her own volition, and a necessary preparation to face Amon's threat."
"A choice made of her own volition based on incomplete information," Zeratul took a step forward. "You believe that granting her the power of the Queen of Blades once more will allow her to command the Swarm against Amon.
"This is not incorrect, yet it lacks the most crucial link: returning to the source to reclaim the power before it was tampered with and polluted."
That phrase immediately directed Osiris's data retrieval toward top priority.
According to his memory banks, Zerus—the homeworld of the Zerg—indeed existed, and legend held that it retained the species' most primal essence, unmarred by any external forces.
"Continue," Osiris ordered.
"The Queen of Blades commands the Swarm by relying on the residual neural nodes of the Overmind and the forced suppression of her own formidable psionic power," Zeratul explained. "Yet the very root of that power was polluted by Amon's will.
"To truly sever those chains, she must journey to the birthplace of the Zerg—Zerus.
"There, she must face and merge with the most primal Zerg essence preserved on that world—one that existed before Amon guided their evolution.
"That is no simple 'verification'; it is a tempering of origins.
"Only then will the power she gains truly belong to her and the Swarm itself, rather than existing as a twisted product under Amon's control architecture.
"Otherwise, everything she reclaims may be eroded or even inverted by him through that deeply rooted backdoor when he truly descends."
Inside the incubation pod, though Kerrigan's consciousness was in a semi-isolated state, Zeratul's words faintly bled into her perception. Zerus... the origin of the Zerg... primal essence...
These terms stirred a powerful, near-instinctual resonance and longing deep within the memory layers of her Zerg genetics—a primal calling toward "return" and "wholeness."
"Your proposal," Osiris asked directly, having swiftly evaluated the underlying logical veracity of Zeratul's words.
"Cooperation," Zeratul repeated. "I know the path to Zerus, and how to locate the primal essence within that ancient, perilous world. I can guide her.
"And you must provide the technological support to ensure this process can take place, allowing her to return safely with power that truly belongs to her.
"The three of us—the Dark Templar pursuing the ancient path, the outsider seeking knowledge, and the vital key who must break her chains—converge at this moment.
"We must ensure that Amon's creation reclaims its state prior to its distortion, ensuring it no longer serves as his perfect instrument of destruction."
His green eyes burned brightly: "This is no request, but an inevitability rooted in foresight. I have seen two futures: in one, she is reborn here, possessor of great power yet still bearing invisible chains, ultimately consumed by the darkness.
"In the other, she undergoes tempering at the source, returning with power truly pure and autonomous—a blade thrust straight into Amon's heart.
"I chose the latter, and so I came here. Now, the choice falls to you."
Silence settled over the laboratory. Inside the incubation pod, Kerrigan's vital sign readings began to fluctuate.
Osiris's optical lenses shifted between Zeratul, the incubation pod, and the data displays, running high-speed calculations.
After several seconds, he reached a decision.
"Incubation sequence paused. Maintain stable vital signs." As the command was issued, Osiris turned to Zeratul.
"Provide the exact coordinates of Zerus, environmental parameters, precise definitions and risk analyses of the primal essence, along with a functional model of the 'tempering' process. All information will be verified.
"If the verification passes and an operational plan with a controllability index exceeding seventy-five percent can be formulated," the red light of Osiris's optical lenses stabilized, "the cooperation shall stand."
He added the most critical condition: "However, Kerrigan's safety and ultimate operational dominance remain within the framework of this transaction. Her journey to Zerus is to acquire a more complete, pure tool profile, not to embark on an uncontrolled gamble.
"You, Zeratul, shall act as a guide and consultant, but not the decision-maker. Accept these conditions, and our cooperation begins."
Zeratul looked deeply at Osiris, his gaze carrying a cold understanding of machine logic alongside the compromise he was forced to accept to achieve a grander purpose.
"I accept," the Dark Templar nodded slowly. "Now, let us awaken her. Some paths require her to see clearly for herself before choosing whether to step onto them."
The drainage sequence for the pod initialized, and the pale green fluid receded rapidly.
As the nutrient liquid drained away entirely, cold air enveloped Kerrigan's drenched body. She coughed violently, breaking free from the semi-conscious state flooded with data streams. The burning sensation in her lungs and the weight of her limbs reconfirmed her physical existence. Propping herself up against the bottom of the pod, she gasped, brushing aside the damp, dark-red hair clinging to her forehead that still bore traces of Zerg genetic modification.
She raised her head as her vision gradually resolved from a blur. Through the water-droplet-splattered transparent wall of the pod, the first thing she saw was not Osiris's dark red mechanical frame, but an unexpected, dark green figure wrapped in a tattered cloak.
Zeratul.
Kerrigan's movements froze instantly, her coughing coming to a abrupt halt.
Her pupils contracted sharply as an intricate storm surged within her icy blue eyes—shock, disbelief, instinctual vigilance, and a deeply buried, heavy tremor originating from those cryptic prophecies.
Why was Zeratul here? On Osiris's ship? At the very moment she was about to step back onto that dark path?
Countless thoughts flashed like lightning through her mind: Is this Osiris's scheme? Protoss intervention? Or...
Has that damned prophecy realized itself once again in a way she couldn't comprehend?
Her past encounters with the Dark Templar had been limited to fragmented warnings regarding doom and redemption, alongside blurred hostility and scrutiny on the battlefield.
He had never been her ally, acting far more like a messenger bearing ominous truths.
She braced herself against the slippery pod wall and stood up somewhat unsteadily, paying no mind to her disheveled state.
Her gaze remained locked onto Zeratul's ghostly green eyes, attempting to read an answer from them.
She did not speak, yet her tense posture and instantly sharpened eyes clearly conveyed her confrontation and guard.
The appearance of this Protoss had abruptly cast the calculating, cold decision she had just grit her teeth to make into a new, completely unknown set of variables.
The trajectory of her fate, at the very instant she believed she had made a choice, was pushed once more by forces beyond her understanding toward an even deeper, more unfathomable mist.
The pale green nutrient fluid inside the incubation pod drained completely, and Kerrigan supported herself against the slippery walls, standing up somewhat unsteadily.
Water droplets fell from her dark red hair, sliding down the old scars on her pale skin.
Her gaze swept past Osiris's dark red mechanical chassis and locked dead onto Zeratul, her eyes brimming with shock, vigilance, and profound questioning.
"Zeratul," her voice was raspy from swallowing the fluid, yet bore the icy quality left behind from her time as the Queen of Blades. "Is this a new prophecy trick, or have the Protoss finally decided to meddle in human internal affairs?"
She deliberately used the word "human," serving both as a reminder of her present state and as a test.
"It is no trick, Sarah Kerrigan," Zeratul's ghostly green eyes met her scrutiny calmly, carrying the heavy burden of perceiving fate, yet devoid of direct hostility. "Nor is it simple interference. I followed the rift in the prophecy here, for the origin of that rift points to this place, to you, at this very moment."
He turned slightly toward Osiris before looking back at her. "This... sage has informed you of part of the truth regarding Amon and the chains.
"Yet truth is like moss—there are surface nutrients available to consume, and there are root systems buried beneath the rock layers that dictate the entire ecological cycle. He told you what it is and provided a path based on it.
"I have come here to tell you why it must be so, as well as the indispensable 'foundation' required before that path can begin."
Kerrigan did not step out of the incubation pod. The cold, wet air made her shiver slightly, but her spine remained straight. "Speak," she said succinctly, her gaze shifting between Zeratul and Osiris.
Zeratul began his account.
He eschewed complex metaphors, speaking instead like a scholar presenting archaeological findings, calmly recounting the picture he had pieced together from various Xel'Naga ruins, fragmented ancient Protoss records, and his own void psionic explorations.
He described how Amon had woven his own will like a poisonous vine into the evolutionary blueprint of the Zerg, creating a species that appeared to grow wildly, yet possessed baseline code written with absolute obedience directives from the very beginning.
He mentioned the Overmind as an accidental sprout of rebellion, and why it had chosen her—not merely for her psionic potential, but for her human essence, a "variable" completely outside Amon's initial design.
"The Keystone's reversal was not meant to turn you back into the 'human you once were,'" Zeratul looked directly into Kerrigan's eyes. "It was more akin to a... formatted reboot. It cleared the topmost layer of Amon's control protocol, which was strongly bound to the Queen of Blades form, allowing you to escape his direct grasp.
"Yet it did not touch the chains belonging to the species' origins buried deep within the lowest layers of Zerg genetic coding. The key to that lock lies in no artifact, but at the origin of the Zerg—Zerus."
His words matched the conclusions Osiris had derived from data analysis—that she had broken free of her shackles and could serve as an interface for reverse control—with striking core logic, differing only in perspective.
One stemmed from ancient knowledge and psionic foresight, the other from cold scans and logical deduction. This mutual validation greatly enhanced the credibility of the information.
"Zerus..." Kerrigan repeated softly. The word stirred ripples deep within her residual Swarm memories—an eerie summons blending primal longing, ruthless competition, and a sense of... "home."
"The power there... has nothing to do with Amon?"
"Before Amon turned his gaze upon that primordial soup and began his 'guidance,' life on Zerus had evolved for countless ages following its own wild and pure laws of survival," Zeratul said. "Amon's power overlaid and twisted it, but failed to completely supplant its roots.
"What you seek is not a specific 'weapon' or 'energy,' but to reconnect with, understand, and ultimately master that 'primal essence' belonging to the Zerg themselves before it was overwritten and distorted.
"Only by merging with that essence will the power you regain truly originate from the Swarm itself, rather than existing as a gift from Amon.
"When that time comes, you will not merely be an individual who broke her shackles, but a guide and protector leading the entire species back to its pure nature. Amon will no longer be able to manipulate them through the species' roots."
Kerrigan remained silent, digesting the information.
This explained many of her past perplexities—the Overmind's contradictory will mixing despair and anticipation, and the feeling of incompleteness she occasionally experienced while controlling the Swarm, as though separated by a thick layer of glass.
Osiris offered technology and a transaction—a clear, pragmatic road that might carry unknown costs.
Zeratul offered the fundamental reason why this road had to be walked, along with a grander, yet far heavier, "mission."
She looked at Osiris: "Does his account match your data?"
"The logic chain correlation exceeds eighty-seven percent," Osiris's optical lenses flickered. "The 'primal essence' hypothesis perfectly explains why Amon's control architecture is so deeply rooted at the species level, and why intervening at the root of that architecture is theoretically the optimal solution.
"Traveling to Zerus for origin fusion can be viewed as a critical precursor optimization step for the existing 'tool reforging plan,' which can significantly enhance the final product's autonomy, stability, and countermeasure potential against Amon's control. Evaluated from a technical yield perspective, it is worth the investment."
His terminology remained cold and precise, yet he had clearly validated the direction Zeratul proposed.
Kerrigan closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the cold air tinged with the scent of ionization. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, the waves of hesitation and struggle within them having settled, replaced by the crisp clarity of a firm decision.
"I will go to Zerus," she said to Osiris, before turning to Zeratul. "You lead the way."
The foundation of the deal remained—power, the Swarm, revenge.
Only now, a crucial link had been added to the path to achieve her goal, and the objective itself had been endowed with a far deeper meaning.
However, just as Osiris prepared to pull up Zerus sector data and begin planning specific operational details, a communication request utilizing a special encryption protocol from the deepest level of his vast information processing network was triggered.
The origin identifier of the request was not any known sector code, but a dedicated beacon he had established at his Death World base in the Warhammer universe for emergency cross-dimensional communication.
"The plan is paused," Osiris suddenly spoke, interrupting the developing operational atmosphere. His mechanical frame turned to one side, as if his full attention had shifted instantly to a high-priority internal thread.
"I must handle an unexpected transmission. Zeratul, Kerrigan, you may begin discussing the details of Zerus here. Valerie will temporarily accommodate you."
Without further explanation, he moved swiftly, leaving the bio-adjustment bay to head toward his main communications node. He left Kerrigan and Zeratul beside the drying incubation pod, the atmosphere temporarily coming to a standstill.
At the main communication node, Osiris activated the highest-level shielding field.
A ghostly blue light rose from the complex circular apparatus, forming a stable spatial distortion point in the center of the room.
A moment later, a stable data stream bearing distinct interdimensional physical signatures was received and decoded.
A holographic image emerged, displaying the standard Mechanicus document format and the crest of the Forge Temple of Mars.
An authorized synthesized voice began playing the message: "To Magos Osiris: The Internal Technical Advisory Committee of the Collegia Titanica has reviewed the preliminary concept document you submitted regarding the 'New Titan Skitarii Guard Synchronized Combat System'.
"The Committee acknowledges its potential tactical value and research direction.
"Accordingly, the Collegia formally extends an invitation for you to visit the headquarters of the Forge Temple on Mars at your convenience to participate in a specialized academic symposium of indefinite duration.
"The symposium aims to conduct an in-depth discussion on the various technical interface standards, resource synergy feasibility, and to preliminarily agree upon a potential technical verification and cooperation framework.
"We await your schedule and response. May the light of the Omnissiah guide your pursuit of knowledge."
When the playback finished, the holographic projection shifted to a confirmation-pending state.
Osiris's optical lenses steadily analyzed the transmission.
An academic invitation issued directly by the Collegia Titanica and the Martian Headquarters carried weight far exceeding that of standard technical consultations.
He swiftly completed his evaluation and reached a decision.
The opposing party had deliberately emphasized the final section.
Technology licensing and joint development meant the Collegia Titanica was not merely interested, but willing to offer substantial bargaining chips—likely involving their closely guarded Titan manufacturing and maintenance techniques, and perhaps even restricted access to STC fragments.
It was an offer he could not refuse, with potential value far surpassing a mere "academic exchange."
"When is the symposium expected to take place?" Osiris inquired.
"High Magos Zor wishes to initiate preliminary proceedings within thirty standard days. Considering inter-system travel and your other research arrangements, the Collegia understands you may require time to coordinate, but asks that you proceed to Mars as soon as possible," the representative provided a clear and urgent window of time.
Osiris's logical cores calculated at high speed.
Thirty days—returning from his current coordinates through the dimensional corridor to the Death World base, even at the Seeker of Eternity's top speed along with necessary preparation and transit time, would take almost the entire duration, making it tight.
This meant he could not personally journey to Zerus.
The Zerus operation carried unknown risks and an uncertain timeline, presenting a severe conflict with returning to the Death World to participate in vital technical negotiations.
Yet the Zerus operation was equally critical; it concerned not only the final shaping of Kerrigan—an important "tool/ally"—but also the collection of core data regarding Amon and his spawn.
Abandoning or indefinitely postponing it was out of the question.
A win-win solution crystallized in an instant.
"I accept the invitation," Osiris replied. "The Seeker of Eternity will adjust its course and return to the Death World base. I will attend in person. Regarding the Skitarii Guard system, I have prepared more detailed staged data and testing frameworks."
"The Collegia looks forward to your arrival and contributions," the representative gave a slight nod. "Detailed agendas and security protocols will be transmitted upon your arrival. Communication ending."
The interdimensional link severed.
Osiris stood in place, his optical lenses adjusting slightly. He needed to assemble a suitable execution team for the journey to Zerus, as well as a plausible, logical reason for his absence.
When he returned to the bio-adjustment bay, Kerrigan and Zeratul had moved to a basic functional discussion room.
Valerie stood quietly to the side.
"The plan requires adjustment," Osiris said without preamble. "Urgent matters have arisen at the core level of the 'Farstar Coalition.' I must immediately depart and return to... the Earth Sphere to handle them, and cannot personally participate in the Zerus operation."
He used terminology Kerrigan and Zeratul could comprehend without prying, concealing the true interdimensional situation.
Kerrigan frowned: "You are leaving? Then what about our deal?"
"The deal stands. The execution plan remains unchanged, only the field commander changes," Osiris replied promptly. "The Zerus operation will proceed as scheduled. I will equip you with a Perseus-class warship capable of independent operations to serve as your base of operations and support platform.
"Simultaneously, I am dispatching a capable technical representative and an operational coordinator to accompany you, ensuring technical support, logistical security, and representing my interests."
"A technical representative? Who?" Kerrigan asked, distrustful of any unknown addition.
As if in answer to her question, the hatch slid open, and a figure barged in with fiery energy.
It was a girl who looked no older than her mid-teens, wearing a red skin-tight pilot suit under a short black jacket. Her striking orange-red hair was tied in twin pigtails that bounced lively with her movements.
Her face wore an expression of sheer excitement, as if released after being pent up for far too long, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with eagerness for battle and curiosity.
"Finally! Some real work!" The girl—Asuka—practically skipped inside. Her eyes darted across the room, sweeping over Zeratul (raising an eyebrow), Kerrigan (giving her a double take), before finally landing on Osiris. "These are them? We're heading to that bug-infested homeworld? My big guy is raring to go!"
Her entrance and demeanor stood in stark contrast to the heavy, distrustful atmosphere that had hung over the room.
"This is Asuka, designated pilot of EVA Unit-01," Osiris introduced calmly, ignoring Asuka's quiet muttering of "It's Unit-01! Red! Special Edition!" "She will serve as the primary technical representative and tactical firepower support unit for the Zerus operation. Her unit possesses significant advantages when dealing with high-threat biological targets and complex terrain environments."
Asuka puffed out her chest with a look that clearly demanded praise, though her eyes betrayed her eager anticipation for the upcoming battle.
"And her," Osiris pointed to the quietly waiting Valerie, "Valerie will serve as the overall coordinator and my direct liaison officer for this mission. She will oversee navigation management, resource allocation, and communications with the Seeker of Eternity and myself, ensuring the operation aligns with our predetermined objectives."
He gave Asuka a pointed look: "Asuka will defer to Valerie's overall coordination during the operation."
Asuka pouted slightly but did not voice any objection; she seemed to have anticipated this arrangement, or at least found going out into action far better than remaining confined.
Kerrigan scrutinized Asuka, then turned her gaze to Valerie.
One was an unfamiliar girl who seemed reckless yet potentially possessed immense combat power; the other was Osiris's deputy, relatively familiar, always calm, and efficient.
This combination, alongside Zeratul, formed an odd, yet potentially functional team.