Chapter Nineteen: Alien Life

Carlael shared his discovery with Matriarch Rashagar, and then, under her resigned gaze, set out with several like-minded Nerazim on the trail of the Fanged King. He could never let go of his hatred for the Fanged King, and now that he finally possessed the strength to confront him directly, he naturally chose this perilous path.

After Carlael’s departure, the High Council also placed great importance on his discovery. Although the method of merging into an Archon was deemed too dangerous, the fact that Templar could enhance their own power was still a positive development. Nevertheless, this forbidden technique was not to be used except in the direst of circumstances.

In the year 4500 of the Khala Era, the world of Aiur, on the fringes of the Andromeda Galaxy, once again discovered a world nurturing life. Moreover, it seemed the creatures on this planet had been artificially modified. Having learned from the Kalathi incident, the Protoss Empire did not reveal itself to the newly named Skrull civilization. Instead, they constructed an observation post, hidden within folded space, ensuring the Skrulls could never detect their presence.

Through observation, the Protoss Empire found that the Skrulls possessed psionic abilities and could even transform into other living forms, acquiring their memories and abilities in the process. The High Templar were deeply intrigued by the Skrulls' talents, and after much effort, developed the ability to create illusions. These illusions were similar yet distinct from the Skrulls’ shapeshifting: they did not alter the Templar’s own form, but could conjure several perfect copies of a target, complete with their abilities. Moreover, these illusions were not mere phantoms but could wield the same power as the original, arguably surpassing the Skrulls’ own powers.

Protoss engineers, curious about this shapeshifting ability, conducted research on Glacius and developed a prototype mechanical sentinel. Thanks to the Templar’s breakthroughs, the sentinels too could project illusions. However, limited by their mechanical nature and inability to channel psionic energy, the sentinels’ illusions remained mere images without real offensive capability.

In the year 4550 of the Khala Era, within the Aiur-Korshaka Council Hall:

“I cannot agree. Was the tragedy of the Kalathi not enough?” Elder Bunyan was the first to voice his opposition. Having witnessed the Kalathi incident, this seasoned councilor refused to see history repeat itself.

“But we have new laws now,” a young councilor argued. “We could recruit a few apprentices from Skrull and let them slowly adapt. Given their abilities, integrating their entire race into the Khala is nearly impossible.”

“And then what? Manipulate Skrull politics from behind the scenes? Is that not direct interference in the affairs of a lesser civilization? As far as I know, the Skrulls have yet to form a unified empire. Would you meddle with their development?” Elder Anthony objected. Since the enactment of the Daul Law, the Protoss Empire had not encountered any other civilizations, making the handling of the Skrulls a matter of utmost caution.

“But they are still mired in ignorance. Who knows how many would die before they forge a nation? What if the Skrulls destroy themselves in civil war?” Young Councilor Gibbs raised his dissenting voice. The Protoss Empire saw themselves as the emissaries of the gods, pioneers among the sentient, and protectors of countless civilizations. Destroying the Kalathi was a grave mistake, but to shun all action for fear of error would be to forsake their own purpose.

“I think that...” “I think that...” “I think that...” Mardonis rubbed his brow, grateful that his retirement was imminent. Any longer and he would soon become a Dark Templar out of sheer frustration.

“All right, elders, enough arguing,” Mardonis cut off the debate. Both sides were firm: one fearing another catastrophe like the Kalathi, the other worrying that inaction would doom a new civilization.

“Considering all your opinions, I propose that we quietly recruit a few apprentices and set strict rules that they must not interfere in the internal affairs of others. Our apprentices will remain hidden in the shadows of history, guardians of their own kind, until their civilization is ready to join the Khala.” Mardonis, after weighing each suggestion, thus offered a compromise. The Kalathi disaster was the result of countless errors. Had the Colossus not nearly annihilated them, the Protoss Empire would never have directly uplifted the surviving Kalathi.

After brief reflection, the elders agreed. By recruiting Skrulls with strong psionic talent as apprentices, they could both protect their world and gently spread the path of the Khala. After all, their intention was to bring peace, not destruction.

Thus, the Protoss Empire established its policy toward the Skrulls: a contingent of Templar would be dispatched to spread the Khala, enabling the most gifted Skrulls to master their power and defend their world. For the Dark God still lurked in the shadows of the universe, and the Empire’s main attention would remain on its own affairs. The Empire would not intervene in the wars of lesser civilizations unless there was threat of extinction. If several such civilizations fought, so long as no race faced annihilation, the Empire would not interfere.

The Nerazim councilors suggested that the Way of the Void should be taught alongside the Khala, a proposal that won universal approval.

Over the following centuries, the Protoss Templar successfully established a clandestine organization on Skrull. Its followers worshipped the gods of the spirit realm and practiced psionic arts from both the High and Dark Templar. However, lacking the Khala’s initiation, their connection to the psionic realm was tenuous; only the most advanced among them could barely sense its existence. When their teaching mission was complete, the Templar returned to the Empire.

Thus, Skrull was unwittingly brought under the protection of the Protoss Empire. Over the next millennia, the Empire discovered several more worlds with life, but none bore advanced intelligence. For now, the Skrulls remained the only alien sapients in the Andromeda Galaxy.

During this time, the Empire explored neighboring galaxies but found no new intelligent life. The Fanged King’s old lair was located, but it had long since been abandoned. Nevertheless, Carlael discovered a Dark Temple there. Detecting a powerful dark energy signature, the Empire swiftly purified the planet from high orbit.

Over the past thousand years, the Skrulls established their own empire. Their primary faith centered around their founding leaders, Claiborne and Legult. Yet, in secret, practitioners devoted to the gods of the spirit realm continued to protect Skrull. They clashed with another group of Skrulls who served the Dark God.

In the creation of the Skrull Empire, some inevitably fell under the sway of darkness, becoming servants of the Dark God. The Protoss Empire studied these individuals and discovered the existence of a Dark Dimension—a realm utterly unlike the psionic world, saturated with evil and shadow.

Research into the Dark Dimension allowed Protoss engineers to improve their detectors so they could rapidly identify dark energy. This advance would help them quickly find agents of the Dark Dimension.

As for these servants of darkness, the Empire debated their fate and unanimously concluded that traitors to a civilization should be dealt with by their own people. Unless there was risk of extinction, the Empire should not intervene.

The Skrulls successfully embarked upon the path to the stars. When their probes journeyed beyond their home system, the Protoss Empire sent a diplomat to greet them. The Skrulls, confronted by an emissary from an advanced civilization, felt both awe and apprehension. The Empire explained its philosophy and informed the Skrull Empire of its current borders before departing. Only then did the Skrulls realize that a powerful protector had long watched over their progress, and that their peaceful development owed much to the Empire’s guardianship.

From then on, their fate would be their own. The Empire would not intervene unless their civilization faced extinction. By declaring the borders, they forced the Skrulls to consider expansion into other galaxies, for the Empire’s territory encompassed nearly all of Andromeda, leaving only Skrull and a few neighboring star systems.

The Skrulls soon accepted this reality and began developing ways to reach other galaxies. Fortunately, they quickly discovered a jump point near Skrull—a natural wormhole allowing for rapid transit of ships. Unbeknownst to them, this jump point had been specially created for them by the Empire.

Through this jump point, the Skrulls began to develop the Triangulum Galaxy, which is near Andromeda and the endpoint of the wormhole. The Empire had already surveyed the region and, finding no life, connected it to Skrull.

Another thousand years passed, and the Skrull Empire joined the search for intelligent life. The loneliness of the universe was hard to bear, and the Protoss Empire remained enigmatic, having appeared only once in millennia. With mature space jump technology, the Skrulls began constructing their own stargates at weak points in space for easier interstellar travel, since natural wormholes were rare.