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True Colors is the fifth zerg mission of Episode VI of StarCraft: Brood War.

History[]

Background[]

Sarah Kerrigan and her allies routed the UED Expeditionary Fleet from Korhal, placing the planet back in control of Emperor Arcturus Mengsk and the Terran Dominion. With the UED removed from Korhal, only Char remained as their last stronghold in the Koprulu sector.

Kerrigan decided that her allies were no longer of use to her for the rest of her plans, and was concerned they would be a threat should they become her enemies again. For this reason, she decided to kill General Edmund Duke and Fenix and the protoss forces that had allied with Raynor's Raiders. With this, both groups would be significantly weakened and unable to pose a threat to her in the future. Samir Duran suggested a sneak attack while the groups were still resting from the attack on the UED, which would allow the zerg six minutes to attack them before the two groups noticed and rallied a counter-attack. Kerrigan approved of the plan and ordered it done.

The Cerebrate led the attack against Duke and Fenix's bases. Though the counterattack began, the Cerebrate pressed the attack and killed Duke and Fenix.[1] When Mengsk protested that he had allied with Kerrigan, she taunted Mengsk that this was her vengeance for him leaving her to the zerg on Tarsonis, and she would leave him with his Dominion to see her rise to power, knowing it was he who set her loose on the galaxy.[2] Commander Jim Raynor was horrified by Kerrigan's actions and vowed he would kill her someday, and escaped.[3]

Walkthrough[]

The player has six minutes to attack the two bases. Neither base will mine, research, or train new units, and their units will not attack the player unless they see the player's forces attack a building or unit in their sight radius. The player has enough time to destroy the northern outposts of either of the two forces, but their southern bases are much more heavily defended and the player will not be able to destroy them. The protoss are the more dangerous threat in this mission, with access to high templar, reavers, carriers, and archons, so the player should attack the protoss bases to weaken their offense.

While overall base destruction is impossible within the timeframe, a more surgical strike can succeed. Since enemy units tend not to attack zerg simply running past them during the 6 minute period, the player can march your units up to the command centers/nexuses, destroy the worker units, and then smash the base center and run off. It is easily possible to cripple one of the enemy factions this way, slightly more so to strike the protoss, as they start with only 2 nexuses, as opposed to the Dominion who have three command centers.

The player should set their drones to mining and have one mutate an extractor to begin mining vespene - researching the speed upgrade for zerglings helps them enter the fight faster. The player should rally their hatcheries to the protoss base and keep sending more zerglings, who are more effective than hydralisks at this time, for their superior DPS. Meanwhile, the player can move their lurkers to the Dominion bases and use them to destroy unit producing structures like starports and barracks. The player should also destroy a comsat station at the base. If the player is quick, both northern bases can be destroyed or severely crippled.

When the six minutes ends, the enemy forces mobilize. The player should move their lurkers south to a bridge into the Dominion base; Dominion attacks will usually be sent over this bridge and without his comsat station at his secondary base, they will be unable to defend against the lurkers, and will either retreat or be destroyed. This all but nullifies the Dominion as an offensive presence; there is a chance they will send units through the protoss base, but it is unlikely. However, this is only a temporary measure as the Dominion will eventually use a science vessel to compensate for the lack of a comsat station. Dominion attacks consist of marines, goliaths, siege tanks, cloaked wraiths, and subsequent nuclear strikes, while the protoss retaliate with zealots, dragoons, reavers, scouts, and carriers.

If the player was able to destroy all unit-producing structures at the secondary Dominion base with their lurkers, the lurkers on the bridge will cut off attempts to reinforce their position. This is only a delaying action until they bring in a science vessel to reveal the lurkers. There is also a chance that the protoss forces will attack from Duke's side and they will almost certainly bring an observer with them, which will reveal the lurkers.

Against the protoss, the player will need a large army to push past their defenders, as archons, reavers, and high templar can kill the player's units quickly. Mutalisks fare better, able to micro out of the high templar's psionic storm and being immune to reavers. The player can also use a strike team of guardians to focus down the reavers and high templar, then send in their ground forces to wipe out the protoss base. Against the Dominion, the player will need overlords with their speed upgrade to spot cloaked wraiths, and will want mutalisks or guardians to destroy siege tanks on high ground. There is also a lone missile turret on an island south of the player's base, they must destroy it as well to fulfill the victory trigger and will need air units to do so.

Fenix can be found on a cliff north of his primary base, flanked by photon cannons and dragoons, and the Norad III (Edmund Duke) is found north of his primary base with a pair of battlecruisers.

Fenix has increased shields and HP, to 800 of each, and a stronger attack that deals 60 damage, as well as 5 armor. A swarm of zerglings or infested terrans can kill Fenix easily enough, but the easiest way is to use the queen's Spawn Broodlings ability to kill him instantly.

The Norad III has increased HP, to 1500, and a stronger attack that deals 50 damage, as well as five armor. A swarm of scourges, hydralisks and mutalisks can destroy the Norad III easily enough, particularly if aided by a dark swarm or two from defilers.

Starcraft_Brood_War_-_Zerg_Mission_5_True_Colors

Starcraft Brood War - Zerg Mission 5 True Colors

References[]

  1. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Mission: True Colors. (in English). 1998.
  2. Arcturus Mengsk: "Kerrigan, you murdering bitch! We had a deal!"
    Sarah Kerrigan: "Oh, come on, Arcturus. Did you really think I'd allow you to come into power again? You practically fed me to the Zerg on Tarsonis! You're directly responsible for the hell I've been through! Did you honestly think I'd let you get away with that?"
    Mengsk: "But you said revenge was secondary to defeating the UED!"
    Kerrigan: "I lied. I liberated this planet because it was the UED's primary staging point, not because I was under any obligation to you. I used you to destroy the Psi Disrupter. And now that I've got my Broods back, you're no longer necessary for my plans. I think I'll leave you here, Arcturus, among the ashes of your precious Dominion. I want you to live to see me rise to power. And I want you to always remember in your most private moments that it was you who turned me loose in the first place." StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Level/area: True Colors (in English). 1998.
  3. Jim Raynor: "I'll see you dead for this, Kerrigan. For Fenix and all the others who got caught between you and your mad quest for power!"
    Kerrigan: "Tough talk, Jimmy. But I don't think you have what it takes to be a killer."
    Raynor: "It may not be tomorrow, darlin'. It may not even happen with an army at my back. But rest assured: I'm the man who's going to kill you some day. I'll be seein' you." StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Level/area: True Colors (in English). 1998.
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