Purification

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This article is about the protoss planetary attack technique. For the StarCraft: Ghost and StarCraft II units, see purifier.

Note that the title of this article is based on conjuncture.

Purification^[1] is a protoss war technique used to destroy all life on planetary surfaces, usually to erradicate the presence of zerg.

A purification attack consists of ships firing massive energy beams at a planetary surface, sterilizing it.^[2][3][4] Carriers can carry out the technique,^[3] firing energy from their tips^[4] as can motherships^[5] and other large ships. ^{[6] [2]}

The process is powerful of burning holes in a planet's crust deep enough to allow magma to escape to the surface, along with dispersing (some of) its atmosphere^[3] Minerals on purified worlds are often altered by the attack.^[7]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Following the Brood War 2 Purified Worlds 3 Notes 4 References

[edit] History

When the protoss discovered the extent of the zerg infestation of Chau Sara, Executor Tassadar reluctantly ordered his expedition's ships to power up their weapons, destroying the planet,^[8] firing at both terran settlements and other points.^[3] At least two ships, firing massive energy beams, obliterated most or all life. A small number of marines, including Andre Madrid, survived the attack by hiding underground.^[2]

Tassadar avoided attacking the next infected world, Mar Sara, until after the terrans had evacuated. Several hours after the escape, Tassadar's forces again sterilized a planet.^[9]

A large war between the zerg, Terran Confederacy and Sons of Korhal broke out on Antiga Prime. After a particularly devastating zerg attack on the Confederacy (guided by a psi emitter), Tassadar's forces attacked Antiga Prime, purifying it.^[10]

Tassadar's fleet arrived at the Confederate capital world of Tarsonis, which had been besieged by zerg due to the Sons of Korhal's use of psi emitters. Sarah Kerrigan, a ghost, believed that the Protoss Expeditionary Force arrived with the intention of destroying the planet. Forces under her command defeated the protoss.^[11] The protoss did not purify Tarsonis. Protoss, zerg and terran forces continued to fight on Tarsonis.^[12][13][14]

[edit] Following the Brood War

An attack took place under mysterious circumstances on the ice world of Braxis sometime after the Brood War.^[1] The planet "refroze" since the incident.^[15]

The protoss also purified the world of Urona Sigma in 2502.^[16]

[edit] Purified Worlds

• Antiga Prime
• Braxis
• Chau Sara
• Mar Sara
• Urona Sigma

[edit] Notes

• According to Thundergod, the attacks came from multiple ships which resembled motherships.^[17] Motherships were not recalled into service until after the zerg devastated Aiur.^[18]

[edit] References