The voyage to Monlyth lasted several days.
During this time, the Hyperion received supplementary data transmitted by the Moebius Foundation: there were three primary Protoss installations on planet Monlyth—the main nexus located near the equator, the observatory on the northern hemisphere highlands, and the psionic harvesting array in the southern hemisphere jungle.
The ancient ruins complex where the artifact fragment rested was situated along the coastal hills of the planet's eastern continent, roughly eight hundred kilometers from the nearest Protoss facility, the northern observatory.
Records indicated that the ruins complex was fairly large, containing multiple structures suspected to be temples or research facilities, all exhibiting distinct Xel'Naga architectural features.
The Protoss had set up simple monitoring sensors around the perimeter of the ruins, but had not deployed any permanent garrison forces.
"It seems the Protoss have limited interest in these ruins," Matt analyzed. "Perhaps they deem the site of little major value, or prefer not to engage deeply with it for some reason."
Raynor stared at Monlyth's position on the star chart.
"Stay sharp. Protoss logic is hard for us to fully wrap our heads around. Maybe they don't garrison it because the ruins have their own defense mechanisms—just like how the temple on Xil might have originally had Tal'darim guarding it."
When the Hyperion entered the outer perimeter of the Monlyth system, Matt initiated standard scanning procedures.
However, the initial readings immediately flagged anomalies.
"Massive energy activity detected," reported the sensor officer. "Multiple high-intensity energy releases on the surface of Monlyth, signatures matching Protoss weapon systems. Furthermore... biomass signals, heavy volume, moving rapidly."
Raynor stood up immediately. "The Swarm?"
"Confirming... yes, confirmed Zerg unit signatures. Zergling, Hydralisk, Roach, and larger bio-forms. Numbers are... extensive."
The radar officer's voice carried palpable tension. "The Swarm is assaulting Protoss installations. Battle intensity is highest near the northern hemisphere observatory."
Matt projected the scan imagery onto the main bridge screen.
Across the surface of Monlyth, numerous spots flickered with red and golden lights, tightly intertwined.
In the northern observatory sector particularly, red dots almost completely encircled the gold ones, the engagement scale far exceeding other regions.
"The Swarm is on Monlyth too?" Tychus's voice crackled over the comm channel. "This damn rock is getting crowded."
Raynor stared at the tactical battle display.
"What's the Swarm's objective? The planet itself? Or..."
"Anomalous energy signal detected along the eastern coastal hills—right at the ruins complex coordinates," the sensor officer pulled up an enlarged view of the region. "Signal characteristics match the Xel'Naga artifact. Movement vectors indicate a portion of the Swarm is heading toward that sector, but they're being intercepted by Protoss forces."
Matt turned to Raynor: "The Swarm is hunting the artifact fragment too. They're locked in a tug-of-war with the Protoss over it."
The situation turned complicated in an instant.
The original plan was to slip into Protoss-controlled territory and quietly retrieve the fragment.
Now, with a full-scale Zerg invasion underway and heavy clashes breaking out with the Protoss, the ruins had become an active war zone.
"Can we sneak in while they're chewing on each other and nab the fragment?" Tychus suggested.
"Risk is too high," Matt shook his head. "Both Zerg and Protoss forces are already active around the ruins. Our dropship touchdown would be spotted, and the ground team would be caught in crossfire between both sides. Plus, if the fragment itself has any security mechanisms, activating them could draw even more heat."
Raynor weighed the options.
Directly jumping into the fray was unwise, but abandoning the mission was out of the question.
The artifact fragment could not fall into the Swarm's hands under any circumstances. While Protoss possession was relatively safer, it still meant humanity couldn't get its hands on it.
"We observe first," Raynor decided. "Lower orbital altitude, maintain stealth mode. Deploy recon drones to gather granular battlefield intel. We need to know the exact situation around the ruins—Zerg and Protoss numbers, combat intensity, and the exact position and status of the fragment."
The Hyperion engaged silent running, smoothly slipping into low orbit around Monlyth.
Several micro-recon drones launched quietly from their tubes, descending toward the surface.
Feed from the drones displayed sequentially across the bridge screens.
Monlyth's surface landscape was indeed picturesque—dense forests, clear rivers—yet the fires of war were consuming the land.
The battle at the northern observatory was brutal.
Protoss defensive perimeters were swarmed under layers of Zerg. Photon Cannons fired continuously, each golden beam vaporizing several Zerglings, yet the Swarm seemed endless.
Zealots and Hydralisks clashed at the frontlines, psi-blades intersecting with bone spines.
In the sky, Protoss Phoenix fighters tangled with Zerg Corruptors and Mutalisks, weaving energy beams and acid spores into a lethal grid.
Meanwhile, in the ruins complex along the eastern coastal hills, the battle was smaller in scale but equally fierce.
Three primary temple-like structures stood among the hills, their surfaces covered in ancient carvings.
At that moment, a Protoss squad—roughly twenty Zealots and five Stalkers—was leveraging the crumbling outer walls of the structures to hold off dozens of Zerglings and Hydralisks.
The Swarm was clearly attempting to breach the Protoss line and enter the structure interior.
The drone zoomed in, focusing on the largest central temple.
A soft blue-white light radiated from inside the building, faintly visible through the damaged dome.
Scans confirmed: the artifact fragment was right inside the main hall of that central temple.
"The Protoss defenders are outnumbered, but holding their ground using the terrain," Matt analyzed the real-time feed. "However, Zerg follow-up forces are closing in. If the Protoss don't get reinforcements, their defense line will break sooner or later."
Raynor stared at the screen.
The clash between the Protoss and Zerg inadvertently created an opportunity—both sides were focused entirely on each other. Given proper timing, an elite strike team might slip in amid the chaos and extract the fragment.
Yet risks remained.
There was also a deeper concern: would that unknown faction from the Xil incident show up on Monlyth as well?
If they had their eyes on this fragment too...
"Assemble a strike team," Raynor finally ordered. "Tychus, you lead. Valerie, your crew provides technical support to bypass any defense mechanisms in the ruins. Objective: infiltrate the central temple and recover the artifact fragment. Operational directive: avoid engaging Zerg or Protoss forces where possible, but if encountered, mission completion takes priority."
"Got it," Tychus responded.
"Consultant," Raynor looked toward Osiris, "do you have any recommendations regarding defense systems in Xel'Naga ruins?"
Osiris turned his pale blue optical lens toward the temple imagery on screen.
"Based on available data, ruins of this type frequently employ psionic trigger mechanisms. Entry by non-Protoss species may activate automated defenses or structural lockdown. It is recommended to carry broad-spectrum psionic interference devices and deploy them prior to entering the core zone to suppress potential security systems."
"Can you provide devices like that?"
"Portable units can be prepared with an operational duration of approximately thirty minutes—sufficient to complete work in the core zone," Osiris answered.
"Get them ready then," Raynor nodded. "Strike team departs in one hour. Matt, maintain orbital monitoring and provide intel support on standby."
The Hyperion commenced final preparations for the strike operation.
On the surface of Monlyth, the battle between the Swarm and the Protoss raged on, neither side realizing a third force was about to intervene in the struggle.
Inside the central temple of the ruins, the Xel'Naga artifact fragment hovered quietly above an ancient altar, emitting a steady glow, as if awaiting its ultimate possessor.
Outside the temple, the fires of war drew nearer, and the shadow of death hung over this ancient land.