United Earth Directorate (UED)

What is the United Earth Directorate?

The United Earth Directorate, usually shortened to UED, is an Earth-based human power that intervenes directly in the Koprulu Sector during the Brood War. Unlike the local terran governments, the UED arrives from Earth with an expeditionary force and its own strategic objectives.

Its campaign briefly makes it one of the strongest military forces in the sector.

Why does the UED fight the Terran Dominion?

The UED expedition is led by Admiral Gerard DuGalle and enters a sector already destabilized by the zerg, protoss, and Terran Dominion.

Blizzard’s story summary describes the UED fleet capturing psi-disruptor technology and launching an attack on Korhal that catches Arcturus Mengsk and the Dominion off guard.

The UED’s success demonstrates that the Dominion is not yet secure enough to dominate every terran rival by force.

How powerful was the UED expedition?

After attacking Korhal, the UED pushes on to Char and succeeds in subjugating a developing Overmind. For a time, that gives the expedition control over part of the zerg Swarm and dramatically changes the balance of power.

But the UED cannot hold its position. Sarah Kerrigan manipulates a temporary alliance that includes Raynor, Mengsk, and protoss forces, then betrays her allies after rebuilding her strength.

The UED expedition is eventually defeated.

Did the UED disappear after Brood War?

Not necessarily. Blizzard’s later creative-development Q&A notes that Earth would first need to learn what happened to its expedition and then decide whether another intervention was worth the required men, materiel, and political will.

That makes the UED different from a destroyed local faction: its expedition loses, but the government on Earth still exists beyond the Koprulu Sector.

For the local consequences, read the Dominion timeline, Raynor’s Raiders, and the StarCraft story order.