Editing Star Control (section)

== Plot ==
''Star Control'' reveals its plot through each scenario in the game's campaign,<ref name="retrogamer14" /> as well as the game's instruction manual.<ref name="HG101SC" /> The story takes place during a war between two interstellar factions of [[Extraterrestrial life|alien species]]: the peaceful Alliance of Free Stars, and the invading [[Ur-Quan]] Hierarchy.<ref name="HG101SC" /><ref name="cvg3" />

=== Characters ===
The Ur-Quan is the oldest and most advanced species in known space, resembling giant predatory caterpillars with a rigid social order. As slavers, the Ur-Quan recruit other species into their Hierarchy as [[Serfdom|serfs]], which includes their genetically engineered translators, the Talking Pets. The [[Mollusca|mollusk]]-like Spathi are cowardly by nature, and were easily coerced into the Hierarchy. The [[Fungus|fungoid]] Mycon joined the Hierarchy freely and fanatically, while the blobbish Umgah joined out of boredom, amused by the war as a great interstellar prank. Two Hierarchy species hold a grudge against [[Earth in science fiction|Earth]], including the humanoid Androsynth who escaped Earth as renegade [[Human cloning|clones]], and the one-eyed VUX, who were insulted by a human during their first contact.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last1=Ford |first1=Fred |title=Star Control Manual |last2=Reiche III |first2=Paul |last3=Otus |first3=Erol |last4=Rianda |first4=Jeff |last5=Hall |first5=Larry |publisher=Accolade |year=1990 |edition=PC |pages=3–4, 10–12, 17–30, 37, 38, 39–40}}</ref>

The Chenjesu are the most powerful members of the Alliance, a species of crystalline philosophers who consume electrical energy. Earth joined the Alliance as a multinational crew under their planetary defense organization, Star Control. The Alliance includes the [[marsupial]] Shofixti, a brave warrior species who were technologically [[Uplift (science fiction)|uplifted]] by the Yehat,<ref name=":9" /> a militant species of [[Ornithischia|avian]] dinosaurs.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Sanchay |first=Pre |date=May 12, 2021 |editor-last=Kalata |editor-first=Kurt |title=Now and Forever: The Legacy of the Star Control II Universe – Hardcore Gaming 101 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/now-and-forever-the-legacy-of-the-star-control-ii-universe/ |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |language=en-US}}</ref> The allied Mmrnmhrm are robots with transforming ships, while the Syreen are female [[humanoid]]s who use their psychic abilities to hypnotize enemy crew. The Arilou are a race of "space [[Elf|elves]]" with hyper-jump capable vessels, who also have a history of "tormenting" Earth.<ref name=":9" />

Throughout the campaign, each side discovers powerful relics belonging to the Precursors, an unknown lost species who once inhabited nearby space, hundreds of thousands of years ago.<ref name=":9" />

=== Story ===
Humanity encounters a [[First contact (science fiction)|first alien contact]] near their [[Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres]] outpost, where they receive an urgent warning from the Chenjesu. The crystalline aliens explain that the Ur-Quan Hierarchy is annihilating them and their allies. The Alliance council previously decided that Earth was not strong enough to make a difference, but now the Ur-Quan slavers and their minions have broken through the Alliance defenses, and are approaching the [[Solar System]]. The diplomats of Earth agree to join the Alliance, earning a position on the Alliance council, and an Alliance pact to defend Earth and its space colonies.<ref name=":9" />

The campaign begins with a lone Syreen Penetrator vessel attempting to stop the Androsynth from redeploying. The first full battle breaks out where both spheres of influence meet with a mix of combatants, followed by a single Ur-Quan dreadnaught trying to stamp out a fleet of Shofixti scouts. The next encounter takes place in an uncolonized sector between Hierarchy and Alliance starbases. By the fifth and sixth scenarios, the war has escalated to multi-ship battles, including an Ur-Quan armada rampaging towards an Alliance stronghold. The final encounters of the campaign feature a Spathi assault on a Mmrnmhrm mining cluster, and two battles between all members of each faction, with and without starbase support.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite video game|title=Star Control|developer=Paul Reiche III & Fred Ford|publisher=Accolade|platform=PC|date=1990}}</ref>

The Sega Genesis version features additional scenarios. In neutral space, an Alliance task force attempts to stop the spread of Mycon colonies. Where the Hierarchy has the advantage, they attempt to conquer Earth's surrounding solar system. Meanwhile, a lone Chenjesu Broodhome finds itself outnumbered by a Hierarchy force, while the Hierarchy tries to defend its colonies from an invading fleet of Syreen Penetrators. There are also scenarios that favor the Alliance, where they defend a stronghold against a VUX incursion, and also confront a Hierarchy fleet pressing deep into Alliance territory.<ref>{{Cite video game|title=Star Control|developer=Paul Reiche III & Fred Ford|publisher=Accolade|platform=Sega Genesis|date=1991}}</ref>