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	StarCraft: Ghost: Spectres

Spectre
Physiology
Mental	Psionic powers enhanced by terrazine
Origin
Species	Terrans, often ghosts

Spectres are terran special forces operatives with psionic powers granted by the psionic reagent terrazine. Many are or were elite ghost agents which have been exposed to terrazine. However, some were neurally resocialized troops who were subjected to the procedure, and would have lesser psionic power. Spectres were created as part of Project Shadowblade.^[1]

OverviewEdit

The Terran Dominion discovered and used terrazine gas, a potent psionic reagent, in 2501.^[1]

Scientists consider the side effects of terrazine enhancement to be "unpredictable,"^[2] but of what is known, its use allows a telepath to regenerate brain cells, overcoming memory wipes and increasing their psionic powers by 1 or more points on the Psi Index. Spectres inhale terrazine like a drug from a bottle.^[1]

As a result of an alliance with the Umojan Protectorate and using their advanced technology, plus that stolen from Sector 9, spectres are difficult to detect via detectors or mind-reading (except by other terrans exposed to terrazine). Their hostile environment suits give a greater boost to strength and agility than the standard Dominion version.^[1]

Creating a spectre also requires the use of the element jorium, and activating them requires the use of a psionic waveform indoctrinator.^[3] Jorium is required to stabilize the terrazine.^[1]

The results of the spectre procedure affects everyone slightly differently.^[4] Many become eccentric, collecting devices such as dolls in an effort to enhance their powers.^[5] Terrazine is addictive, and many spectres did not adhere to a strict schedule, instead overdosing. This results in side effects such as hallucinations and even violent outbursts.^[1]

Ghost agent Nova Terra claimed that spectres always become psychotic.^[3] Dr. Ariel Hanson disagreed, believing that Terra had lied.^[6] The former director of the reborn Project: Shadowblade, General Cole Bennett, emphasized the dangers of terrazine without jorium to stabilize its negative effects. Numerous spectres, such as Dylanna Okyl, had seemingly gone insane due to its effects.^[1]

HistoryEdit

In 2501, the Terran Dominion discovered the fringe world of Demon's Fair. Investigators discovered a terrazine-releasing rift there, and upon realizing the gas enhanced psionic power, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk created a secret program, Project Shadowblade. The project was led by General Horace Warfield.

The head of Nova Squadron, Colonel Jackson Hauler, secretly an escapee from the Ghost Program, infiltrated the program under the name Cole Bennett. The gas was tested on several terrans, some of whom were low-level psychics, in order to observe the effects. "Bennett" secretly tested on himself. The project was violently dissolved. Three members were arrested, subject to neural resocialization and thrown into New Folsom Prison. Bennett made an escape.

He eventually made contact with renegade ghost Gabriel Tosh, and discovered another source of terrazine on the fringe world of Altara.

The duo made an alliance with the Umojan Protectorate and, using a cloaked battle platform, Gehenna Station, along with advanced technology from the Umojans and the secret Dominion project Sector 9, began creating an army of spectres. They were mainly kidnapped ghosts, lured through pretexts into vulnerable positions. They had their neural implants removed to avoid detection and tracking by the Dominion.

They secured the help of an AI, Lio Travski, formerly a technopathic ghost and friend of Tosh's. Travski enabled them to send communications in the name of Emperor Mengsk.

In addition, they invented the psi indoctrinator, which enabled barely psychic resocialized troops to be made into a lesser grade of spectre.

In 2503 Tosh tried to recruit former friend Nova Terra, a ghost, but failed. His attack on Augustgrad also failed, losing them a number of spectres.

In the end, Terra led Dominion forces in a successful attack on Gehenna Station, killing several spectres and destroying the station. Tosh was only able to escape with six resocialized marines in indoctrinators.^[1]

Rogue AgentsEdit

By 2504, a number had been captured and deactivated by Nova Terra, ending up in New Folsom Prison.^[4][3]

This article or section contains information from the optional Covert Missions in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.

During the Second Great War, Tosh sought to hire Raynor's Raiders to rescue the prisoners, and acquire jorium and terrazine to reactivate them.^[4][3] Tosh's plans were discovered by Nova, a Terran Dominion ghost. Nova attempted to dissuade Raynor from raiding New Folsom by claiming spectres were psychotic killers.^[4][3]

Jim Raynor was unwilling to trust a Dominion agent and followed Tosh's plan of action. Though the prison was alerted by Nova, the breakout succeeded.^[4] As promised, Tosh and the spectres agreed to help the Raiders in the revolution against the Dominion.^[5] As a precaution, Raynor also extracted a promise from Tosh that only volunteers would undergo the spectre creation process.^[7]

Nova convinced Raynor that Tosh's ambitions were too dangerous to be allowed to succeed. The Raiders helped the ghost destroy the spectre training facility on Avernus Station.^[3] Nova then assassinated Tosh.^[8]

Game UnitEdit

Spectre
Unit
Race	Terran
Role	Infiltrator
Armament	AGR-14 rifle
Properties
Maximum energy	200 (init. 50)
Production
Minerals	150
Gas	150
Supply	2
Build time	50
Produced from	Barracks
Requires	Tech lab/Tech reactor (attached) Shadow ops
Hotkey	S
Movement
Speed	2.75
Protection
Hit points	80
Type	Biological Psionic
AGR-14 rifle
Damage	15 (+5 vs armored)
Targets	Ground Air
Cooldown	2
Range	6 (+1 range in a bunker)
Upgrade/level	+1

In the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty campaign, spectres are available as an alternative to ghosts, granted if Jim Raynor sides with Gabriel Tosh. They are superior to ghosts in dealing with massive units due to their psionic lash and bonus damage against armor. On the other hand, they possess less HP than ghosts, and psionic lash is less energy efficient than the ghost's equivalent, snipe. While still not very effective against massed zerg, spectres have ability to stun a group of units in a small radius, allowing time to either retreat or to wait for reinforcements.

UpgradesEdit

Infantry Weapons
Researched at	Engineering bay
Hotkey	E
Properties
Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 160 190 220 Required Armory Armory
Notes
+1 base damage for marines. +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for marauders, ghosts, and spectres. +1 pistol base damage and +4 D-8 charge base damage for reapers.
Edit

Ultra Capacitors
Campaign	Wings of Liberty
Cost	5 protoss research points
Researched at	Hyperion laboratory
Notes
Attack upgrades at the armory and engineering bay improved cooldown by 5% per level. Self-replicating ultra capacitors reduce the reload time of weapons and systems.[9]
Edit

Infantry Armor
Researched at	Engineering bay
Hotkey	A
Properties
Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 100 175 250 Gas 100 175 250 Research time 160 190 220 Required Armory Armory
Notes
+1 to armor for SCVs, marines, firebats. marauders, medics, reapers, spectres, and ghosts.
Edit

Vanadium Plating
Campaign	Wings of Liberty
Cost	5 protoss research points
Researched at	Hyperion laboratory
Notes
Armor upgrades at the armory and engineering bay increase health by 5% per level. Vanadium better disperses weapon impacts than standard armor.[9]
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Nyx-Class Cloaking Module
Campaign	Wings of Liberty
Cost	$125,000
Researched at	Hyperion armory
Notes
Enables spectres to cloak indefinitely. This combat suit comes with a psi enhancer dedicated entirely to maintaining cloak. This allows the spectre to effortlessly maintain a cloaking field and channel his psionic energies elsewhere.[10]
Edit

AbilitiesEdit

Nuclear Strike Acquisition Research time 60 seconds (to arm a silo) Requires Factory Usage Minerals 100 Gas 100 Activation/ Build Time 20 second drop time Hotkey N Notes Ghosts and spectres can call down nuclear strikes, dealing 300 damage + 200 vs buildings. The launching player sees a large red symbol on the target area while the opponent only sees a red dot. When the ghost is aiming the nuke, it will be "frozen", but it can still be given the order to "move away", which it will do the moment it is unfrozen. Edit

Personal Cloaking Acquisition Minerals 150 Gas 150 Research time 120 Researched at Ghost academy/Shadow ops Hotkey C Usage Energy 25 (+0.9 per second) Notes Enables ghosts and spectres to cloak. Edit

Ultrasonic Pulse Usage Energy 50 Cooldown 3 Notes The spectre targets an area with its rifle, stunning units within for a short period of time. Edit

Psionic Lash Campaign Wings of Liberty Cost $100,000 Acquisition Researched at Hyperion armory Usage Energy 150 Activation/ Build Time 3 Hotkey I Notes Charges for 3 seconds and deals 200 damage points to the target Edit

DevelopmentEdit

Spectres could be upgraded with Impaler Rounds^[11] at the Hyperion's armory. Although the button states that it increases damage against light units by 5, the actual upgrade increased damage against armored units instead.

Known SpectresEdit

Main article: List of spectres

• Caleb
• Jackson Hauler
• Talen Holt
• Jara
• Karl
• Dylanna Okyl
• Sloan
• Kath Toom
• Gabriel Tosh
• Spectre No. 15

NotesEdit

• In Wings of Liberty, the player has the option of siding with Nova instead of Tosh and consequently, the mission Ghost of a Chance is played rather than Breakout^[3] (this is treated as an alternate storyline by Blizzard Entertainment).^[12] Should Ghost of a Chance be chosen, the Raiders will have access to ghosts rather than spectres.^[4]

• Spectres were part of the background of StarCraft: Ghost, much of said background being ported to its novelization. In background material, they were described as being shadowy superhuman beings bent on executing the will of their "true master"^[13] and "subservient super-soldiers".^[14] A relationship may have existed between them and cybernetic overlords referred to as brain spectres.

ImagesEdit

Spectre leader

Spectre sniper

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ReferencesEdit

StarCraft: Ghost Franchise

Characters Sarco Angelini · Kevin Bick · Morgan Calabas · Aal Cistler · Delta Emblock · Jackson Hauler · Malcolm Kelerchian · Bess Kusinis · Rockham Kusinis · Colin Phash · Corbin Phash · Kath Toom · Nova Terra · Gabriel Tosh · Lio Travski · Antonia Tygore Concepts and Organizations Gehenna Station · Jorium — Koprulu Liberation Front — Ghost Program (Ghost Academy (Training Teams (Blue · Red · Purple) · Project Shadowblade · Spectre) — Nova Squadron — Psionic waveform indoctrinator — Terrazine Battles Battle of Shi — Spectre Rebellion Lore Sources Nova — Frontline stories (Weapon of War · War-Torn · Orientation) — Ghost Academy (Volume 1 · Volume 2 · Volume 3) — StarCraft OGN — Spectres — Covert Missions (Devil's Playground · Welcome to the Jungle · Breakout/Ghost of a Chance)