Nice character introspection, I can still remember playing Brood War and the moment of betrayal had me screaming no. Looking forward to seeing how your version of the story continues to unfold. I enjoyed your addition of Davis to the story, there seems to be a lot more Devil's on Mengsk's shoulders than angels.

Arcturus Mengsk: The Conscience of Empire. never would have predicted it.

This is quite a bit of introspection from Kerrigan that is rare to see. It really picks apart her motivations and shows us how meaningless her goals are. Now, it seems like both Kerrigan and Mengsk act differently than in canon. Mengsk has a more compassionate side and he never actually betrayed Kerrigan. Meanwhile, Kerrigan doesn't have the same success so she is forced to reevaluate herself.

Nice try Kerrigan, but at this point I think I know better than to buy it. You've HAD about five or six events that should have reshaped your way of thinking, and I know well enough to say that this isn't going to last without some form of outside support to reinforce the change. It's hard to maintain inner strength at all times. It's much easier when you have some kind of consequence for slipping, even if it's literally just a disappointed co-worker. And thinking, reasoning individuals are the one resource the Swarm can't produce en masse.

But no matter the case, Mengsk is now in the overall best position that can be reasonably expected of him. He's keeping the firmest grasp on morality reasonable, even if Serena has become understandably jaded to the wars, AND he's now got access to that vital forewarning about Duran. That's important in more ways than one, aside from protecting him against Duran's further schemes then it'll prevent his relation with Raynor from degrading further when Duran's Hybrid experiments aren't being funded by Dominion credits.

Even so, it wasn't as if she needed Kaloth

Kerrigan. Have you actually been in this universe for the last two years? Do you have the slightest comprehension how hard Kaloth has been carrying your faction?

It's amusing that despite that entire pulverisation where pretty much all her flaws were directly called out she only managed to draw a wrong conclusion from the whole thing immediately. She's literally built for leading from the front; gunfire, swords and explosives aren't enough to kill her unless she just decides to sit there and take it. Deciding that once she's not able to solo every single fight she's a part of, that it isn't worth fighting any more is only reducing the strategies available to herself.

Eh, either way at this point Kerrigan is pretty clearly finished as a narrative threat. She's had plenty of cases where it's overly apparent that she needs to change something or learn to make things work and then subsequently undergone negative character development instead of positive. As it stands she can't even go near regular Duran who's still putting up his facade of being a regular mortal without getting completely annihilated, and Duran isn't even trying. If events unfold as they do in canon with her killing Kaloth then she will win precisely zero victories in SC2. If they don't then she's going to get completely sidelined by Kaloth who can pick fights and actually win them.

Everyone here seems to lead from the front. Duran at least has the excuse of being an eldritch abomination who may or may not be killable conventionally, but even Mark runs around swinging a sword. They all seem to be a bit overpowered. To be honest, being OP is a necessary condition for being able to lead from the front. Otherwise you might just randomly die and everything falls apart. Anything could happen on the battlefield. There is a reason generals don't lead from the front.

Umoja: Plans on assassinating Mengsk
Zerg: Invades
Umoja: Turns over their military to Mengsk
Mengsk: Pack it up we're leaving.
Umoja: Surprised pikachu face

Congratulations, you played yourself.

Good chapter, and good insight on today's world, but you miss something
Today's elites not only have their hedonism in their mind, they have a purpose, what is it? To turn the world into a grey supermarket and comodify everything, even culture, what stops them? Nationhood and traditional forms of identity, how can you comodify relationship with the Lord? How can you comodify being a Spaniard? You can't, and that is a stopping block in today's elites, they not only hate the people they govern over, they want to see them being slaves, not only physically, but spiritually and they will extirpate all forms of identity and implant their own, that of being a consumer, with no roots, no attachments save for what they consume, the elites being just hedonistic is a marxian myth, they all have an end goal, the commodification of everything and uniting the world in a corporate meritocracy that will benefit no one but them, then they can live their talmudic dreams where they have 1000 slaves who serve them happily because they provide product.

Don't ask questions, just consume product and get excited for next product

You know, I feel like a critically important part of the chapter was actually Serena's internal dialog regarding the architecture and gardens. Just a little reminder that she still enjoys things in life and can appreciate a nice design helps to keep her grounded and human, and relatable as she stands up to do her incredible things. Plus her criticism of brick helps keep the world's overall fantasy in good shape, also improving her point that the aristocracy are wasteful and excessive.

Otherwise, it was definitely nice to see Mark get to argue his point to a true opponent, who doesn't have to fear any retribution for anti-UED sentiments. Fun fact relevant to Serena's point, one of the key reasons Genghis Khan's mongol empire could hold together is that Genghis was, despite his atrocities, a fairly benevolent and unoppressive ruler. Turns out if you treat people well then they're generally not going to bite the hand that feeds... And might even defend it!

Well then, into battle! It certainly feels like it's been a while, so I think I'm definitely looking forwards to watching this play out.

Adaption is great threat with Zerg time take them to adapt and realize that being peppered by those not of the Swarm .

Glad you are back, I was missing this series. Wonderfull back and forth, I do wonder what Mark is thinking now that he has met the enemy face to face.

Serena and Mark have both made their stances clear. The UED doesn't really have a coherent objective here, which is the problem. Their original mission became invalid, and now they've just degenerated to fight everyone else. And that means they can't cut deals with anyone and it is an all or nothing affair for them.

Aside from that, all of the crossover aspects weren't really to my liking.

Mark is quite the monster isn't he? I do supposed the UED needs an absolute dick as one of their main characters because otherwise they'd be quite damned reasonable about everything.

UED great so earths been reduced run by xenophobic ,sepremests ,that sent a psychic that like brainwashing people into obedient servents and slaves to his will .Turned one strongest Ghost into his bitch .You would think that Nova mind have better protected and Baird from such methods .
Angelina pissed Becuase Serena had refused to let colony she commanded fail ,choose to work side that willing save lives of her people ,that would give better life then being some arm candy to some rich basterd ,that has long history of corruption and tyranny on its citizens ,explotation and more to both it people and others .
She joined side that will let prove her worth as something more then trophy wife and lead that side to victory .talk about arrogant and narrow minded .Now your government seeking use other force win your battles so you can gain power talk about hypocritical much .

The second half of this chapter was so hilarious, I can't wait see to the fireworks.