Chapter 735: Jim Raynor
In the core command room of the Death World base, Ryo's main body and his second avatar stood side-by-side before the central holographic projection console.
Suspended above the projection console were the data summaries of three dimension worlds that had passed preliminary screening, their various parameters closely linked to the exploration records of Maine's squad.
The second avatar pulled up the detailed information packet labeled "Candidate World-Y".
"Candidate World-Y, briefly encountered by Maine's squad during their fourth exploration mission." The second avatar's voice was calm, synchronously transmitting the data stream to the main body via their consciousness connection. "Records indicate that this is a planetary world with humanity as the primary civilized race. The local technological level is assessed as 'moderate industrialization', possessing mature orbital navigation and basic space colonization capabilities."
The holographic image switched as he narrated, displaying the planetary surface captured by the sensors of Maine's squad: large expanses of exposed red earth and rock, traces of mineral extraction, a thin atmosphere, and rugged human settlement structures scattered throughout.
The surface in many areas exhibited an abnormal vitrified crystalline state and was covered in a thick layer of dust.
"According to the readings from the broad-spectrum radiation detectors carried by Maine's squad, there are large-scale, unnaturally formed remnants of high-energy weapon bombardment on the planet's surface. The radiation signature matches that caused by high-yield orbital kinetic or energy weapons." The second avatar pointed out several data peaks. "Preliminary judgment is that this planet suffered a massive orbital bombardment in the not-too-distant past, severely damaging the surface ecology."
The image continued to switch, showing some newer footage: upon the scorched earth, humans had established new settlements, laid tracks and pipelines, and erected energy towers, demonstrating a tenacious effort to rebuild.
The architectural style of these new buildings was a mix of utilitarianism and a rugged, post-apocalyptic wasteland aesthetic.
"Current observations show that the planet has completed preliminary reconstruction, and human activity is robust. The main economic pillars appear to be mining and resource extraction.
"During their exploration, Maine's squad operated in a border town called 'Backwater Station' and established limited contact with a local human male individual." The second avatar pulled up a processed audio recording and a blurry image screenshot.
The audio featured a slightly raspy male voice, tinged with exhaustion and cynicism, complaining in a heavily accented common tongue about the quality of the local liquor and the exorbitant ore tax rates.
The screenshot showed a tall figure leaning against a bar counter, wearing a worn brown jacket, with slightly messy blond hair, rugged facial features, a stubbled chin, and holding a glass of amber liquid.
"This individual introduced himself as 'Jim Raynor', the leader of a local organization called 'Raynor's Raiders', and held a critical attitude towards the planetary administration authorities.
"Maine's squad judged that he might belong to some unofficial resistance or independent faction.
"The contact time was brief, and no in-depth intelligence was exchanged, but the individual showed a relatively open attitude toward 'outsiders' and seemed to possess a considerable understanding of the local situation." The second avatar concluded, "Synthesizing the above information, this world meets the screening criteria of 'persistent hostile factions or conflicts', 'high environmental diversity', and 'non-overwhelming technological level', and is therefore listed as one of the backup testing grounds."
The crimson optical lenses of Ryo's main body stared at the holographic image of the male figure called "Jim Raynor", as well as the data and footage showing the traces of orbital bombardment and human reconstruction efforts.
His logic core retrieved a non-standard information database from the depths of his memory arrays in microseconds, stemming from his past life's cognition. Although the source of this information was special and had no connection to the official records of the current universe, its directional accuracy had been partially verified in several past dimensional contact events.
"Jim Raynor... Backwater Station... Mar Sara..." A deep synthesized voice sounded from Ryo's main body, carrying a sense of confirmation. "This is no ordinary mining world. This is the Koprulu Sector, the StarCraft universe."
The second avatar's optical lenses turned to the main body, waiting for further explanation.
Although they shared the same core consciousness and goals, the second avatar was focused on Pandora and surrounding affairs, and did not have direct access to this specific background knowledge currently being invoked by the main body.
"The StarCraft universe," Ryo's main body began transmitting a collated summary of key information to the second avatar. "A dimensional world existing in the Koprulu Sector, characterized by the continuous conflict among three primary intelligent races.
"The human faction, known as the 'Terrans', are descendants of exiled colonists from Earth. Their technology tree leans towards utilitarian heavy industry and orbital drop capabilities, with a loose social structure comprising a regime called the 'Terran Dominion' and other independent entities."
"The second primary race is the 'Protoss', an ancient alien civilization that is highly developed, possessing potent psychic powers and advanced technology.
"Their society is composed of the mainstream tribes that follow the path of the 'Khala' and the Dark Templar who have rejected the Khala, among others."
"The third, and the most biologically threatening race, is the 'Zerg'." The synthesized tone of Ryo's main body remained flat, but the information conveyed sketched a terrifying picture. "A collective entity of pure biological evolution and consumption—the Swarm.
"They rapidly evolve and expand by absorbing the essence of other lifeforms. Their numbers are massive, their adaptability is extremely strong, and they are commanded by supreme wills such as the Queen of Blades."
He paused slightly, allowing the information to be fully received, then brought the focus back to the current world: "Based on the time of contact by Maine's squad, the planetary environmental features, and Jim Raynor's current state, it can be inferred that the current timeline should be right before the start of the 'StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty' plotline.
"Only during this period would Jim Raynor be hiding in this capacity on a fringe planet like Mar Sara."
The second avatar rapidly digested this information.
Three races, continuous war, diverse technological and biological units, complex factional relations... this was indeed a testing environment far more complicated and diverse than a simple Ork invasion or a feudal world rebellion.
Different enemy types (mechanical units, energy shield units, a sea of biological units), different battlefield environments (planetary surfaces, space, potential underground Nydus networks or Protoss bases), different combat modes (frontal warfare, special operations, information warfare)... this could almost comprehensively cover the testing needs of their current and under-development equipment systems.
"This world does indeed possess an extremely high testing value," the second avatar confirmed. "Its racial diversity and the intensity of the conflict can provide complex data far exceeding that of conventional conflicts within the Imperium. However, our stance of intervention needs to be clarified.
"According to the general dogmas of the Imperial Cult and the Adeptus Mechanicus, as well as the usual practices of the Adeptus Astartes, the attitude toward alien xenos—especially an extreme biological consuming entity like the Zerg Swarm—is unequivocally extermination.
"The Protoss, perhaps due to their highly developed technology and relatively ordered social structure, might present possibilities for limited negotiation or technological plunder. But the Zerg..."