Writing a New Starcraft 2 storyline

[ragnarok]

I like this, it gives Raynor a base of operations, economic base, and pool of volunteers. Moreover, the one subtle theme I really enjoyed in Wings of Liberty were the parallels drawn between Raynor and Mengsk, which probably accounts for Raynor's current look. More than anything, I would want to seize upon this. Perhaps, ultimately, StarCraft II's largest, overarcing theme is Cycles -- cycles of revenge, violence, life.

If that's true then we may have to see a revenge motive for Amon as well. I don't buy the whole "remaking all creation" just for the hell of it. Sure it's his plan to have order, but I always felt it's likely he felt the other Xel'Naga wronged him in some way....

[DonnyZeDoof]

We could always revisit the UED survivors and how they've eked out their existence in Koprulu space.

I never really liked the idea of there being UED survivors. DuGalle should have thrown everything he had left at Kerrigan.

But I always saw Mengsk being able to manipulate the Protoss into allying with him. I always imagined their conversation going something like this:

Mengsk:
Might protoss, in our hour of need I Arcturus Mengsk, Emperor of the Terran Dominion, have come to offer a hand of allegiance. Our respective civilizations have suffered immensely at the hands of the wretched Queen of Blades. If we are to survive her onslaught then we must put our differences aside and band together. Alone we each are only a bunch of shattered fleets but together we can become a substantial defense force.

Zeratul:
The human Raynor spoke of you, Emperor Mengsk. He informed us of all the atrocities you resorted to in order to attain power. You used the zerg to wipe out your enemies. There can be no alliance between the protoss and one such as you.

Mengsk:
I only did what I needed to do. The confederates themselves were using zerg against innocent fringe worlds. I only used their own weapon against them.

Zeratul:
Yet you're actions caused the creation of the Queen of Blades.

Mengsk:
That was not my intention. I was simply unable to rescue Kerrigan. Raynor was too close to her to understand the futility of rescuing her.

Artanis:
Why should we trust you?

Mengsk:
Because we can both help each other. In fact, I can argue that we need each other. If your protoss forces help me maintain stability in my empire then I'll help you reclaim your beloved homeworld that you lost to the zerg.

Artanis:
You would keep your word on such a promise?

Mengsk:
Of course I would. Remember, I too once lost my homeworld to my enemies. I lost many of my people as well. I undrstand your pain better than Raynor or anyone else ever could. You have my word that I will work to the best of my ability to ensure that Aiur is liberated from the zerg.

[Nissa]

I created a UED survivor character, but I'm not going to share him quite yet. I have my reasons.

Eh, I'm not sure about that dialogue, Donny. For one, your Mengsk needs more strength. More forty dollar words and deception, but less speechmaking. He needs to come across as personable if he's going to get anyone on his side. That, and Artie should react more sharply to him. Artanis tends to react a little sharply to things that bother him (see: mission briefing for final 'Toss mission of BW), so he should immediately call out Mengsk. Then Mengsk has the task of convincing Artie that they might as well ally up, because it's better than the alternative.

And then Mengsk can create propaganda to the point where he negotiated a way out of the fight with the Protoss.

As for Zeratul, he's not a political type. He needs to be cut out of that conversation completely. If he is present to hear about the negotiations (he might be dealing with the hybrids), then he needs to later take Artie aside and question his motives when Mengsk isn't around. Zer is not likely to tolerate Mengsk's nonsense, but won't cause a scene if Artanis forms an alliance when he's not there.

Quite frankly, Zeratul is not the type of person that leads a nation. If you noticed, Zer has always listened (too much) to Raszagal, and also allowed Tassadar and Fenix to make most of the strategy decisions when he got to Aiur. Zer is the type of person who is most efficient when leading a smaller group of highly trained elites to perform a specific mission (killing cerebrates, freeing Tassadar, killing the new overmind). He's not a leader of civilians or vast armies. He needs to be doing things that play to his strengths, or else be frustrated as he takes on roles his personality isn't made for.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Dude, I am doing the same with the Starbow campaign. We have similar stuff like a newly developed warp gate, some kind of tech copied from a stolen Protoss gateway. It's more human though than protoss.

They've also had people looking before and after the UED expedition.

My version of the UED Government is a form of Dystopian society where the rich rule over the poor. Families are filling the seats of authority. Much like in venice. And they have a Council of Ten, and this character Ruthenburg has recently gained temporary power as head of the Council of Ten through manipulation by his father.

His father had built alliances, and manipulated his son to come against him, and sometime after BW, as Earth Sector sort of sets the Korpulu aside, his father incites a civil war. The Earth Sector wages war under two flags. One the UED who rather keep matters closer to Earth a priority; the other want a full on invasion.

He kills his own father, after a year of war. And was given power.

After learning much about his father's previous activities, the Corporate Lords sanctions him to another expedition, but this time to establish a gate in the Korpulu. A means of emergency measure should they need to bring the full might of the Earth Sector Fleet to bear.

A network of Starbases have been established with enough fuel to propel Ruthenburg's fleet into the Korpulu with less time than before. But such a route is too expensive for a massive fleet to take. Costs and risks are high. They need the Gate.

Behind closed doors, ambitious corporate Lords, allies of his father wants the Korpulu for themselves. But Ruthenburg's father have another agenda, which he must now choose either to take or not.

[Visions of Khas]

I never really liked the idea of there being UED survivors. DuGalle should have thrown everything he had left at Kerrigan.

Oh I have no doubt he would have. I just think some soldiers and commanders would have panicked and broke ranks.

[ragnarok]

Oh I have no doubt he would have. I just think some soldiers and commanders would have panicked and broke ranks.

Yeah this is what happens when military disintegration happens. When it occurs, officers' meaningless orders won't be obeyed by the soldiers.

[DonnyZeDoof]

Another thing you should do is get rid of Infested Stukov and don't let any other UED officer come back as being infected.

The UED characters may have been few but they both got satisfying deaths. Brining them back to life in any way would be a poor decision.

- - - Updated - - -

Another thing you should do is get rid of Infested Stukov and don't let any other UED officer come back as being infected.

The UED characters may have been few but they both got satisfying deaths. Brining them back to life in any way would be a poor decision.

[GnaReffotsirk]

(Continued)

________________________________________
(Continuous)

EXT. LOW ORBIT OVER <Relevant Planet Name> - SPACE

Raynor's drop ship speeds through to dock onto the Hyperion. From afar, a cloud of Zerg depart from the planet.

INT. HYPERION BRIDGE

The door opens. Raynor. He's not happy about this. Matt Horner approach.

Matt: "What happened down there, Commander?"

Raynor pushes matt to the wall, grabbing him tightly.

Raynor: "You tell me."

He shows the cube to Matt.

Tychus breaks the two apart. Pulls Raynor back.

Raynor (to Matt): "You better start talking Matt. You knew about this, didn't you?"
Matt: "When you declined Valerian's offer. Tom was next in line. Fifty-fifty. That was the deal."
Raynor: "I never thought you'd go this far! Now everyone down there's dead."
Matt: "You gave me no choice. You let yourself fall apart, and I had to keep us together! You're just one man, Jim. Besides, you don't really care about those people. All you care about is yourself! Your petty little self!"
Raynor: "Maybe. But this is still my ship. My men. My crew!"
Matt: "You lost this crew a long time ago."

Everyone's just staring at both of them. Thatcher takes off.

Thatcher: "Now I need a drink."

Raynor: "Alright, Matt. If you really want this piece of junk, you take it. And do your... rebellion, or whatever the hell it is you really want to do. I'm out."
Raynor (to Tychus): "You coming Tychus?"
Tychus: "I can't Jimmy."
Raynor: "Whatever."

(cut to)
INT. DROPSHIP COCKPIT -- HYPERION DOCKING BAY

Raynor places the CUBE in front of him. He stares at it, intently for a beat.
The dropship lifts off and leave the hyperion.

INT. DROPSHIP COCKPIT -- SPACE

In his palm the CHIP Valerian gave him. He slides it into the computer.

Adjutant: "Analyzing new data... complete. Plotting course for <insert relevant system here>."


(cut to)

INT. DROPSHIP COCKPIT -- <Insert relevant system name> -- SPACE

Raynor's ship exits from warp. Up ahead a battle. multiple battlecruisers. raging weapons.

Raynor: "Hell."

On the planet below, huge explosions here and there.


INT. VALERIAN COMMAND SHIP -- BRIDGE

Valerian: "Track all targets. Keep them away from the Kyrithor."

KYRITHOR, the biggest science vessel in the sector. Umojan design. The first of its kind.


EXT. KYRITHOR DEFENSE PLATFORM -- SPACE

Battlecruisers and small platforms armed with powerful guns surround it.
Every single gun raging, as blue streaks rain toward them, coming from the planet below.

Raynor's ship approach even closer.

INT. VALERIAN COMMAND SHIP -- BRIDGE

Out the window, one of the abominations makes it through the onslaught of bullets, crashing on the ship ahead. A beat and more hybrids latch on it. Like vultures to a carcass.

Valerian: "Now!"

The yamato cannons fire. The entire ship and its parasites are destroyed.

Skinny Attendant: "Sir, we're being hailed by Raynor. He's on a dropship sir."

Valerian: "Didn't realize dropships can get anyone this far. Let him in."


(cut to)

INT. CAPTAIN'S DECK -- VALERIAN'S COMMAND SHIP

Raynor enters the room. Valerian stands in front of monitors. A round hologram is obscuring the view. Multiple pieces floating around in circles. Something alien.

Valerian: "I will cut to the chase, James. I've learned of an ancient weapon that will finally rid this sector of our enemies. The one you're keeping inside your pocket, is the key to activating it."
Raynor: "Enemies?"
Valerian: "The Protoss, the Zerg, all of them. And those ... things you just saw attacking our ships? Protoss and Zerg hybrids. And their energy readings are expanding exponentially."

The hologram is replaced by a hybrid image. Streams of information scroll up and down. Details. Markers here and there.

Valerian: "When the Umojans first found them in an excavation, I knew we are going to need something to fight them back."

The hologram shifts to show planets, systems.

Valerian: "It's only recently that we've been able to discover their energy signatures and found thousands of them lying dormant in this sector alone. There's no telling how many more are out there."

Valerian presses a key, and a vault opens. Revealing two pieces of the ARTIFACT held in place by another device.

Valerian: "Using these."

Raynor: "You're selling it right. But I've been through this once, and everything went to hell."
Valerian: "I know your history with my father, James. How the Confederacy fell. How those people died. How there was nothing anyone could do about it."

Valerian closes the vault, and opens another one. Smaller. Special.

Valerian: "This is our chance to make up for everything that has happened. These ... aliens must be dealt with. They all must be destroyed. Only then can we truly move on with our lives. To build a better place for us. All of us."

Raynor chuckles, and starts laughing. Indignant, he suddenly becomes furious.

Raynor: "I remember that speech quite clearly, junior. I want the real answers. And I ain't listening to any more crap from no Mengsk. Get it right, and I won't pull this god damn trigger."
Valerian: "You keep pointing that gun and later drop it down. Aren't you tired of it, James? Tired of playing the fool?"

Raynor shoots, barely misses. Valerian's music box is done for.

Valerian: "That was from earth."
Raynor: "I ain't putting this down 'till you either tell me the truth, or I get one of these in your head."

Valerian: "The problem is, we need one last piece. And the protoss have it. I need you to get it."
Raynor: "Listen, Junior. I've lost my crew because of this quest of yours. Now you ask me to go up against the Protoss? Without telling me what this ... thing really do?"
Valerian: "You either believe me, or not. Keep the key with you. And when we have all the pieces, you will be the one to decide either to turn it on, or let everyone suffer simply because of your hate."

Raynor lowers his gun. Valerian smiles.

Valerian: "Thank--"
Raynor: "Don't. Just don't."


(cut to)

INT. BRIDGE -- COMMAND SHIP HYPERION


(to be cont'd)

___________________________________________

[ragnarok]

Another thing you should do is get rid of Infested Stukov and don't let any other UED officer come back as being infected.

The UED characters may have been few but they both got satisfying deaths. Brining them back to life in any way would be a poor decision.

- - - Updated - - -

Another thing you should do is get rid of Infested Stukov and don't let any other UED officer come back as being infected.

The UED characters may have been few but they both got satisfying deaths. Brining them back to life in any way would be a poor decision.

Dugalle's death was meh to me.

[DonnyZeDoof]

Dugalle's death was meh to me.

His death will be terrible to you if he comes back to life somehow.

- - - Updated - - -

Dugalle's death was meh to me.

His death will be terrible to you if he comes back to life somehow.