Mass production of the inhibitor proceeded efficiently with the aid of the miniature reaction module Osiris brought along, the pale blue liquid being dispensed into portable containers.
Tychus's detection squad sent back word that with the help of the suppression field, seven primary contamination sources and twenty-three secondary spots had been located and tagged, with follow-up purification ops mostly complete.
The camp's suppression field ran smoothly, and orbital scans indicated that detectable contamination signals dropped by nearly seventy percent within forty-eight hours.
Inside the temporary lab, Dr. Hanson held the latest activity test report, her fingers trembling slightly from excitement: "It's working... Consultant, the inhibitor shows clear signs of reversing the contamination at a genetic level! If you give us more time to develop a true cure or even a vaccine—"
Osiris's gaze swept across the data streams.
His analysis supported Dr. Hanson's observations, and a preliminary vaccine framework optimized from this data was theoretically viable.
Yet he stated calmly, "From suppression and reversal to full immunity, every stage requires weeks or months of validation and production."
Raynor stared at the countdown ticking away on the screen—a mere four hours remained before Selendis's deadline.
"We don't have weeks or months," his voice sounded raspy. "In four hours, she wants to see results, or she wants to see a purge."
He stood up, his eyes sweeping across the lab: the hope in Dr. Hanson's eyes, Osiris's inorganic calm, Valerie's quiet observation, and the exhaustion and anxiety of the officers.
"We pushed this to the limit," Raynor said. "The contamination is suppressed, the cleanup is mostly done, and we have a shot at a treatment. Now we need to convince Selendis that this planet doesn't need to be burned to the ground."
He looked at Osiris and Valerie: "Your tech results are our biggest bargaining chip. Get all the data ready—the clearest, most direct proof that the infection is controlled and that a reliable treatment exists."
He then turned to Dr. Hanson: "Ariel, organize all research logs, inhibitor test verifications, and the vaccine framework. We need to show her that humanity is actually solving the problem."
Finally, he patched into the Hyperion: "Matt, set up the comm link with Selendis and transmit our environmental scans and cleanup reports as a pre-brief. Tell her we need to talk."
With only thirty minutes left on the countdown, the comm link was established.
Selendis's hologram appeared once more in the center of the camp, her golden armor reflecting a cold glow under the setting sun.
"Jim Raynor. The time limit draws near. Are you prepared to execute the purification yourselves, or do you await the judgment of the Arbiter?" The psionic voice resounded directly in their minds.
Raynor took a step forward: "Executor Selendis. We haven't given up on a single life. Please look at this data."
He gestured to stream the files. The main screen displayed side-by-side graphs of decaying contamination signals, confirmed coordinates of cleared spots, video footage of the inhibitor's active trials, and Dr. Hanson's pathological analysis and blueprints.
"We cleared every primary source of contamination, bringing residual signals to a minimum while keeping them suppressed. More importantly, our scientists developed an inhibitor that reverses the infection process and established a viable path toward a cure and a vaccine.
The infection is under control and on the verge of being defeated! We ask, based on this concrete evidence and real progress, that you grant us more time to complete the treatment and fully purify the planet rather than destroying it."
Dr. Hanson stepped forward, her voice filled with earnest devotion: "Executor, Zerg infection isn't absolute or irreversible! We found the key! Give us more time, and we can save every infected life without sacrificing the innocent!"
Selendis's image went silent for a moment, reviewing the data. When she spoke again, her voice remained frozen and unyielding: "The data shows your efforts, but it is not enough to change the core reality.
Zerg corruption is rooted within the most fundamental code of life itself. What you call 'reversal' and 'treatment' are things endless civilizations have attempted throughout the long history of the Protoss.
They brought brief respite, followed only by fiercer, uncontrollable outbreaks. Trusting such an unstable 'cure' is equivalent to placing the safety of the entire sector at uncalculable risk."
She looked at Raynor: "The three days I granted were the maximum concession I could make out of respect for your past record of struggle. The harshness of the Dae'U stems from the bloody lessons of countless worlds. Seventy-two hours is the absolute limit window to evaluate and handle potential infections of this nature. Beyond this limit, any delay risks irreversible spread and mutation."
"You proved your resolve, but you failed to prove absolute safety. And the Protoss cannot tolerate 'possibilities' and 'risks.'"
Raynor's heart sank: "Is a sliver of hope not even worth fighting for? We have the situation under control! We can work right under your watch, open to inspection at any moment!"
"Monitoring and inspection cannot eradicate a nightmare lurking within the genes," Selendis's voice was absolute. "The countdown has ended. Regrettably, your path and the path of Purification diverge here."
The image began to fade, her final words sounding like a sentence: "May the Khala guide your souls. 'Purifier,' initiate."
The communication severed.
High above in the sky, the main gun of the Mothership—floating like a small blue sun—suddenly burst into a blinding glare. A low, vibrating hum from space rumbled faintly from orbit.
"No—!" Dr. Hanson let out a despairing cry.
Raynor's face turned pale as iron, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists tightly. Negotiations had failed. Selendis's resolve was as unyielding as armor; within Protoss philosophy, there was no "risky treatment," only "thorough purification."
Tychus spat out a string of curses, raising his rifle toward the sky.
Valerie quickly stepped back beside Osiris, dropping her voice: "Orbital strike incoming. Shall we initiate emergency evacuation?"
Osiris looked up at the sky, his sensors reading the energy levels of the Mothership's main cannon as they surged past critical thresholds, while the Protoss fleet adjusted its formation and Selendis's flagship moved forward.
His logic core ran rapid calculations: direct confrontation meant total exposure, deviating from his original plan of low-profile data gathering; immediate evacuation meant abandoning observation, connections, and valuable samples.
The optimal solution was limited intervention while maximizing data collection.
Just then, Raynor spun around, his eyes stripped of all despair, leaving only the ferocious resolve of a man pushed to the brink.
"Matt!" he roared into his comms. "The Protoss are gonna burn our home! If they won't give us a way out, we'll blast one open ourselves! Hyperion, move into battle position! Everyone, prepare for combat!"
His bloodshot eyes swept over every person in the camp: "We aren't sitting here waiting to die! We're gonna protect our home and protect the people we saved! Swann! Get the blueprints for those big guys ready right now! Everyone take orders from Captain Horner! We're bringing that damn Mothership out of the sky!"
The flames of a final battle ignited in Raynor's eyes.