Purification

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

Purification is a protoss war technique used to destroy all life on planetary surfaces.

The protoss have used the technique four times in recent history, each time to kill zerg present on the planet.

A purification attack consists of ships firing massive energy beams at a planetary surface, sterilizing it.^[1][2] In the attack on Chau Sara, the beams were targeted at terran settlements and other points, burning a hole in the crust deep enough to enable magma to escape to the surface.^[2] The attack could disperse the atmosphere,^[2] but enough air remained on Mar Sara to enable marines to breathe after opening their suits.^[3]

Minerals on purified worlds are often altered by the attack.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[1]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] The protoss did not purify Tarsonis. Protoss, zerg and terran forces continued to fight on Tarsonis.^[9][10][11]

[edit] Following the Brood War

Main article: Resurrection IV.

An attack took place under mysterious circumstances on the ice world of Braxis sometime after the Brood War.^[12] The planet "refroze" since the incident.^[13]

The protoss also purified the world of Urona Sigma in 2502.^[14]

[edit] Purified Worlds

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

[edit] Notes

The purification process has never been clearly defined.

• According to StarCraft: Revelations, the attacks on Chau Sara came from unidentified "large ships".^[1]
• According to Liberty's Crusade, the attacks on Mar Sara came from carriers.^[2]
• According to Thundergod, the attacks came from multiple ships which resembled motherships.^[15] Motherships were not recalled into service until after the zerg devastated Aiur.^[16]
• According to A Ghost Story, the attacks came from multiple large ships, some of which were carriers.^[17]

[edit] References