The TX-7 asteroid belt consisted of tens of thousands of rocky and metallic bodies of varying sizes.
The Hyperion sailed into the outer ring of the belt, selecting a relatively clear pocket of space to dock beside an asteroid composed primarily of iron and nickel.
The engineering deck entered full operational mode immediately.
Several SCV construction mechs flew out of the bay, beginning work on the asteroid's surface.
High-energy lasers sliced through rock layers as mechanical arms harvested mineral-rich chunks and hauled them back to the refining bay.
Inside the ship, Swann commanded his team in troubleshooting the damaged systems.
The core capacitor array of the main shield generators needed replacing, the thruster nozzles required repairs, and the armor plating had to be reinforced.
The repair checklist was long, but the engineering team tackled it with efficient rhythm.
Raynor supervised the overall operation from the bridge while studying the detailed file sent by the Moebius Foundation regarding planet Xil.
Data indicated that the energy signal for the artifact fragment was located in a canyon region in the planet's northern hemisphere.
There were ancient Xel'Naga temple ruins on site, with the temple structure likely buried partially underground.
The last coordinates from the survey team before going dark were near the temple entrance. They carried standard survey tools and phase scanners. The Foundation speculated that either the temple defense system activated or other factors led to the loss of contact.
Raynor shared the information with core team members, including Matt, Tychus, and Valerie.
The briefing took place in the war room. Raynor briefly outlined the contract details, the basic situation on Xil, and the survey team's disappearance.
"Primary objective is recovering the second artifact fragment," Raynor pointed at the star map. "Secondary objective is finding out what happened to the survey team. Because the temple environment is complex and likely rigged with defenses, we need a elite squad. Tychus, you're leading it."
Tychus nodded: "Got it."
Raynor turned to Valerie: "Miss Valerie, this mission might require dealing with technical obstacles inside the temple. Can Far Star Alliance provide specialized equipment?"
Valerie answered: "We can provide high-precision scanners, reinforced hazard suits, and anti-jamming comm devices. These can be handed over for the strike team's use."
"Excellent," Raynor said. "Please get the gear ready. The strike team needs to familiarize themselves with the operation before heading out."
After the briefing ended, everyone scattered to make preparations. Valerie returned to her quarters and contacted Osiris over an encrypted channel.
Osiris was currently inside the temporary workspace assigned to him on the Hyperion.
He stood before his workbench, his pale blue optical lens fixed on multiple data screens displaying rolling data streams.
Receiving Valerie's communication, he did not pause the work in his hands.
"Sage, the location of the second artifact fragment has been confirmed," Valerie's report was routed directly into his processing core via her implanted receiver. "Planet name: Xil. Coordinates obtained. Raynor's team plans to depart once basic repairs on the Hyperion are complete. They have assembled a strike team to be led by Tychus Findlay."
Osiris's thought core instantly retrieved the coordinate data, cross-referencing it with the real-time position of the Eternal Seeker. His mechanical fingers operated rapidly across a virtual interface, transmitting instructions to the flagship located light-years away.
"Coordinates received," Osiris replied through the encrypted data stream. "The Eternal Seeker will proceed to planet Xil ahead of schedule. Your mission is to ensure that prior to the arrival of Raynor's team, you delay them as much as possible without raising suspicion. Continue providing necessary technical support to maintain trust."
"Understood," Valerie answered.
The communication cut off. Osiris resumed his tasks on hand as if the exchange had been nothing more than a routine affair.
His primary unit remained aboard the Hyperion, maintaining the persona of a technical consultant, while his consciousness had already been projected through a quantum-encrypted link to command the actions of the Eternal Seeker.
Upon receiving the coordinate data, the Eternal Seeker initiated covert navigation mode.
The massive hull adjusted its heading in the void, jumping toward the star system where planet Xil was located.
Via the remote link, Osiris projected his consciousness into the bridge system of the Eternal Seeker.
Scarlet optical lenses stared at the navigation star map on the virtual interface. The data profile for planet Xil was pulled up and analyzed.
Scans revealed that the canyon region in Xil's northern hemisphere indeed contained a powerful anomalous energy signal whose characteristics matched the known data profile of Xel'Naga artifacts.
The energy source sat deep within an ancient, semi-buried temple structure.
The architectural style of the temple aligned with Xel'Naga remnants, its structure relatively intact.
However, deeper scans uncovered anomalies.
Multiple energy signatures detected around the temple perimeter were not originating from the temple itself.
These signals carried distinct Protoss technological signatures, yet their energy waveforms were sharper and significantly more aggressive.
Around the temple perimeter and key nodes within, multiple active high-heat sources were detected—psionic life signals corresponding to Protoss physical profiles, yet their vital readings differed from the Tal'darim and Khalai Protoss entries in Osiris's database.
Further spectral analysis confirmed their identity: the Tal'darim Protoss.
Database records indicated that the Tal'darim fanatically worshipped the Xel'Naga as creators, viewing any contact with Xel'Naga remnants by non-Protoss species as severe sacrilege.
They typically occupied and guarded these ruins, eradicating all intruders.
Near the temple entrance, multiple human corpses wearing Moebius Foundation uniforms were discovered.
Scans indicated eight bodies in total, with cause of death identified as energy weapon puncture wounds or Psi-Blade severances—wound characteristics matching Tal'darim weaponry.
Traces of intense combat surrounded the corpses, but all life signals from the survey team had ceased.
The survey team had clearly ambushed by the Tal'darim and wiped out completely.
Osiris evaluated the situation.
The Tal'darim had occupied the temple, guarding it as sacred ground.
Any force attempting entry would be attacked.
A conventional ground assault would turn into a direct engagement with Tal'darim defenders, potentially causing heavy casualties and risking damage to the temple structure or the artifact fragment itself.
His logic core rapidly computed various operational options. The objective was clear: secure the artifact fragment.
The Tal'darim Protoss were an obstacle.
The Eternal Seeker possessed sufficient firepower to clear the obstacle, but it needed to guarantee the basic structural integrity of the temple to retrieve the artifact fragment safely.
Osiris reached a decision.
Through remote command, he issued an order to the Eternal Seeker: "Target: Xel'Naga Temple, Planet Xil. Threat confirmed: Tal'darim ground forces. Operational Plan: Execute Nova Cannon orbital strike to purge surface hostile units, followed by ground clearing and relic recovery operations."
"Expand the Skitarii battle group to a strength of three hundred units, including heavy assault assets, engineering units, and data collection teams. Prepare to drop once orbital bombardment concludes, clear residual resistance, and install the structural retrieval harness on the temple."