Possible UED return in HotS/LotV, anyone?

[Norfindel]

Ehh... phazonjunkie, the Dark Voice will consume at least the whole galaxy. That's not precisely in the best interests of the UED.

[DeltaCadimus]

Ehh... phazonjunkie, the Dark Voice will consume at least the whole galaxy. That's not precisely in the best interests of the UED.

Weird point, but also viable... Should the UED know of the Hybrids, foremost what Mengsk was doing to them... Let's just say they won't take it lightly.

[Pandonetho]

Even if they could steamroll the entire sector with 'Super Tachyon lasers' Why would they? What would be the point in that now? Not only is the Koprulu sector extremely far away (on the other side of the galaxy in fact), but there is absolutely nothing there that the UED could possibly want. It was simple xenophobia that drove them to launch a preemptive invasion into the sector years ago, but the long feared alien invasion of Earth never materialized, and is unlikely to.

I was arguing more about the fact that the UED is actually in a more advantageous position than last time, not necessarily that they will return. Because I don't think they'll return, because frankly, I've lost faith in any story telling skills that Blizzard ever had, since SC2.

About their uber tachyon lasers, if Mengsk managed to rebuild so much and make so many advancements from a bunch of rubble, don't you think the UED would be way past uber tachyons at this point?
Additionally, what's your point about them being on the other side of the galaxy? Are you forgetting the fact that the UED traveled that distance in mere weeks?

[Kimera757]

About their uber tachyon lasers, if Mengsk managed to rebuild so much and make so many advancements from a bunch of rubble, don't you think the UED would be way past uber tachyons at this point?

In only four years? No. Rebuilding is easier than creating technological advances.

Additionally, what's your point about them being on the other side of the galaxy? Are you forgetting the fact that the UED traveled that distance in mere weeks?

"Weeks" is a pretty long supply line. (In fact, there wouldn't be a supply line. Or, more to the point, a "reinforcement" line.)

[mr. peasant]

In only four years? No. Rebuilding is easier than creating technological advances.

Not to mention, some of the Dominion's new tech was probably reverse engineered from UED technology (e.g. the Medivac was probably based on the Medic's healing technology, Charon Booster technology providing the basis for the Viking's long range, etc.). Meaning, the technological gap is probably smaller now than it was before.

[phazonjunkie]

"Weeks" is a pretty long supply line. (In fact, there wouldn't be a supply line. Or, more to the point, a "reinforcement" line.)

That point was driven home in the mission briefing right before the 1st Terran mission in Broodwar. Dugalle is addressing you right as you come out of cryogenic hibernation, and basically states they can't expect any additional help or reinforcements from Earth, it's pretty much all or nothing; and if they fail, they won't be going home.

Hopefully it's not indicative of how the UED high command does things.

[Blizzmaniac]

Why UED remants stranded on Abbadon never abandoned the planet and went to Earth? The same for the Spartan Company Goliaths (I guess they prefer to work as mercenaries in service of Raynor Raiders, Dominion and Moebus Foundation). Why the Dominion never wiped out or forced the remnants to join the them?

[Kimera757]

Why UED remants stranded on Abbadon never abandoned the planet and went to Earth? The same for the Spartan Company Goliaths (I guess they prefer to work as mercenaries in service of Raynor Raiders, Dominion and Moebus Foundation).

Because they can't. The technology required to get from the K-Sector to Earth is probably very advanced, beyond what the K-Sector has. You can't just scrape together high-tech warp engines with cobbled bits in only four years. Just look at all the trouble nations like Pakistan, India and (now) Iran have gone through to make nukes. Even North Korea's nukes don't work properly (and they have better technology than Pakistan). Building nukes is actually relatively easy, if you can get past all the details. Building warp engines from scratch took the K-Sector terrans sixty years the first time.

Why the Dominion never wiped out or forced the remnants to join the them?

The Dominion has probably made an effort to wipe them out. They publicly called them "race traitors" (a term that doesn't even make sense) in Ghost Academy (one year after the Fall of Tarsonis).

I have a sneaking suspicion the UED remnants would have been an important part of the StarCraft: Ghost storyline. (We'll probably find out next September, when the novel comes out.) I suspect they have something to do with the Koprulu Liberation Front. However, beyond the UED flag in a picture of Abaddon, I have no proof for this, just vague supposition. Take it well salted.

The vast cultural differences between Earth and Koprulu humans probably prevent any real kind of integration. Also the two sides hate each other. Not that this kind if immigration is impossible, but even when people from a very different culture come to a country, they usually did so by choice. The Dominion would essentially have to resocialize the majority of captured UED folk if they wanted to "integrate" them. I doubt the UED (who are often seen as worse than even the Dominion) would have any real chance of allying with the Umojans or with Raynor.

[mr. peasant]

Because they can't. The technology required to get from the K-Sector to Earth is probably very advanced, beyond what the K-Sector has. You can't just scrape together high-tech warp engines with cobbled bits in only four years. Just look at all the trouble nations like Pakistan, India and (now) Iran have gone through to make nukes. Even North Korea's nukes don't work properly (and they have better technology than Pakistan). Building nukes is actually relatively easy, if you can get past all the details. Building warp engines from scratch took the K-Sector terrans sixty years the first time.

Or alaternatively, the technology exists but is expensive to procure. Hence why, the likes of Spartan Company have resorted to mercenary work to gather the resources.

[Dean63]

The objective of Dr. Narud and the Moebius Foundation was to give Raynors Raiders the artifacts. Such artifacts were used, as intended, to paralyze Kerrigan's stranglehold on the Zerg. With no leader, the Zerg are vulnerable to the Dark Voice, thus making them deadlier alongside the Hybrid forces. This will become a threat to Earth.

With the new, rouge, and Dark Voice affiliated faction of Protoss loose. This, too, is a threat to Earth.

This activity is observed by UED drones and spies, we all know these facts without hypotheticals at least.

However, the speed at which the observed information is relayed, that is of issue. It took them ten years to ship the fleet to the Korprolu sector, but this is small information with 14 years to enhance technology. The Protoss and Zerg threat can be identified by UED, we know this much now.

Question of what they will do, how they will do it, and knowledge beyond typical force movement readings (such as probes intercepting information, processing it, and sending bits of important data) is still questionable.