Kate Lockwell - UNN

[Nicol Bolas]

Many revolutions have "mottos" like "...... or Death!" It's that line of thought I've seen this statement in.

Except the "or death!" part is their death, not their enemies. They're saying we either win or die. They're not saying we either win or kill everyone.

[AegisKHAOS]

More specifically, that statement clearly says "Either I rule the new kingdom, or the new kingdom dies." It can't be justified any other way. This 'revolution' Mengsk created was supposedly for the sake of freeing the people, and yet that statement spits in the face of that very thing the Sons of Korhal were fighting for. Whether it was during a revolution or not, no matter which way you spin it, there is no vagueness in what he was getting across, therefore everyone else understood perfectly.

[pure.Wasted]

I've seen the clip again a couple of times now, and I can now see it's more controversial than I previously thought. Yet I can't see how the order to plant the PSI Emitters is not a better proof of him being an tyrannical, powerhungry maniac.

It's not about controversy, though. Both quotes paint Mengsk as a bad guy, but only one of them also paints him as a complete and total hypocrite. The use of Psi Disruptors, bad as it is, doesn't invalidate any claim that Mengsk has made about his altruistic intentions in taking up the throne.

Imagine she actually asks him, "care to explain this stuff about the Psi Disruptor?" What would be his response?

"Yes, I activated the Psi Disruptor... a weapon the Confederacy had developed! A weapon they had already used to destroy worlds like Mar Sara from within! I grieve over every innocent life lost in that war, but had I not used this weapon, there's no telling who the Confederates would have turned on next! It could have been your world -- or your world -- or yours."

Basically, with Mengsk's skill at rhetoric, that question left him far too much weasel room. Whereas a direct contradiction? You saw the results. There was absolutely nothing to say.

[BusinessMonkey]

It's not about controversy, though. Both quotes paint Mengsk as a bad guy, but only one of them also paints him as a complete and total hypocrite. The use of Psi Disruptors, bad as it is, doesn't invalidate any claim that Mengsk has made about his altruistic intentions in taking up the throne.

Imagine she actually asks him, "care to explain this stuff about the Psi Disruptor?" What would be his response?

"Yes, I activated the Psi Disruptor... a weapon the Confederacy had developed! A weapon they had already used to destroy worlds like Mar Sara from within! I grieve over every innocent life lost in that war, but had I not used this weapon, there's no telling who the Confederates would have turned on next! It could have been your world -- or your world -- or yours."

Basically, with Mengsk's skill at rhetoric, that question left him far too much weasel room. Whereas a direct contradiction? You saw the results. There was absolutely nothing to say.

Yes, I can see that happening. I still think that since it's a fact it would be more incriminating in a courthouse, (though the chances of Mengsk being prosecuted are pretty slim, hehe).

I can see now why they use that statement in stead, yet I was very baffled when I first saw the cinematic.

Anyhoo, just to disagree some more, I can't see how someone who doesn't win in the end, can be able to kill everyone off. But I'll leave it at that. Maybe Mengsk was planning to nuke all terran settlements in the Koprulu sector, had he not won the revolution...

[Pandonetho]

At one point I kind of assumed the "see it burnt to ashes around me" meant that Mengsk thought only he was capable of uniting mankind, otherwise the Zerg and Protoss would raze them all to the ground... but I guess clearly that's not what it means.

[AegisKHAOS]

Anyhoo, just to disagree some more, I can't see how someone who doesn't win in the end, can be able to kill everyone off. But I'll leave it at that. Maybe Mengsk was planning to nuke all terran settlements in the Koprulu sector, had he not won the revolution...

And now you're thinking WAY too hard into it. It's a declaration from a tyrant. :P Raynor voices his disagreement, Mengsk makes the threat/ultimatum. Raynor ends up recording that part of the conversation. End of story. :P

[BusinessMonkey]

And now you're thinking WAY too hard into it. It's a declaration from a tyrant. :P Raynor voices his disagreement, Mengsk makes the threat/ultimatum. Raynor ends up recording that part of the conversation. End of story. :P

This is now in the LORE forum. We're supposed to think hard into aspects of the SC story.

[LordofAscension]

Are you saying that you think the tape the reporter played was the totality of the message that Raynor transmitted? That's not the case, nor was it stated or implied by the game. The reporter simply wanted a comment on that particular section of what was transmitted.

In short, everyone already heard this, but they wanted to get Mengsk's reaction to that particular part.

This ^^

Raynor transmitted the entire message and the reporter was very bold in asking about that particular segment right in front of him in a press conference. Mengsk didn't particularly handle it well, despite the fact that he could have (per sc1 scheming Mengsk).

~LoA

[Nicol Bolas]

Mengsk didn't particularly handle it well, despite the fact that he could have (per sc1 scheming Mengsk).

I'd say that this was the most objectionable part, that Mengsk was not properly prepped for that press conference. He should have expected someone to throw his words at him at the conference, and he should have had a prepared response.

[ProtossHierarch]

Did anyone else just love that mini-story going on? Kate tries to report it as it is - Raynor is a hero and the Dominion blows - only to keep getting cut off, then Vermillion commits himself and the logo flashes on screen as she cheers.

First thing after every mission I checked the news to see what hi-jinks was coming next from them.

While the news reports were humorous and Kate is cute, I felt it was out of place. I prefer subtle comic relief that doesn't break the overall darkness of the SC lore. Those news reports were too blunt in their attempt to be funny, IMO.