StarCraft: Tyranid Empire

Aiur surface, Xel'Naga portal.

The hazy array of halo and floating blue rainbow light of the portal are like a huge mirror standing in the sky. The mirror is dark and deep, connecting to another mysterious and unknown world. It may be the core of an aging star, or it may be a paradise on earth with birds singing and flowers fragrant.

Stretching from that magnificent surface structure to tens of thousands of feet in the air, it is wide enough for the protoss mothership and fleet to sail in.

The strata where these Xel'Naga creations were buried can be traced back to the beginning of the chaos of the universe, when the stars were still young and life had not yet sprouted. Even then, the Xel'Naga had created a brilliant civilization. Even now, their technology is still completely incomprehensible to other races.

The protoss' limited understanding of the Xel'Naga portal told them that this great creation connected the places where the creators, the Xel'Naga, had once set foot. Each door was a miracle that could not be copied and was extremely precious because of its construction. Their xel'naga had already left.

The Human Revolutionary Army also obtained the method of using and maintaining the Xel'Naga portal from the Protoss. This knowledge and the secrets contained therein are extremely precious, because it is obviously impossible for the Revolutionary Army's enemies in the Koprulu sector to know about it. .

For Augustus, as long as he still holds the Xel'Naga portal in El, he can return to the Koprulu sector at any time through the one in Haji. All Xel'Naga portals in the universe are connected. As long as you control two of them, you can be transported to the other end of the universe across the latitudes of time and space.

Augustus still clearly remembers that a week ago this portal was still in full operation. Countless protoss and human spaceships carrying protoss refugees sailed towards the portal. The spectacular scene is still fresh in his memory to this day. .

As time goes by and the situation gradually eases, the scene of endless crowds in front of the portal has become increasingly rare. More than 150 million protoss refugees have been safely relocated, while the remainder remain in the Antioch province.

Only some of the supply ships sailing from Sagulath and Haji are still delivering supplies to Aiur through this Xel'Naga portal, which has now become the lifeline of the Aiur human-protoss alliance.

"We have completed our mission in Aiur. It's time to go home. Leave the rest to Tassadar and Fenix." Augustus put down a stack of reports calculating military expenditures and reached out to take some from the table. Purple berries wrapped in kraft paper.

Al's fruit was delicious and nutritious, better than the antique rations in the Revolutionary Army that might have been stored in federal warehouses a decade ago. With a little cooking, those bright green fern leaves and animal meat are stewed in one pot, which is a rare delicacy.

Augustus would occasionally display the Mengsk family's hunting talent in the jungles of Aiur, which was a popular pastime among Korhal's nobles, along with sailing, squash, and horse racing, which were also popular aristocratic pastimes among them. .

Augustus could no longer take much pleasure from this pastime that seemed elegant to the nobles. His past cynicism had long since turned into extreme seriousness in everything.

"Yes, we have been away from home for too long, and the soldiers are all looking forward to the day when they return to their hometown. The war in Ayr has made them feel deeply tired, which cannot be erased by the fervent pursuit of revolution and freedom." Kerrigan sat across from the log desk, playing with the crafts on the table and the fragrant flower arrangements.

"Now the number of zerg in Aiur has been greatly reduced compared to a month ago, and the zerg swarms Behemoth and Leviathan in the galaxy have also left. If this situation continues to improve, Tower It is only a matter of time before Sardar's troops gradually regain Ayr." Augustus chewed the juicy purple berries, but in his heart he missed his mother's baked snails and the pile of garlic roasted potatoes.

"There are fewer and fewer things we can do in Ayr. Besides, the revolutionary army must not be too far away from the Koprulu sector for too long. I have already issued a plan for the revolutionary army to return to the Antiga system in batches on March 2. Order, have the entire army prepare to evacuate Aiur." He continued to speak to Kerrigan, hoping that the other party could understand the political game and the impact it would bring.

Kerrigan was a good listener, and her military prowess was even greater than that of many of Augustus' senior generals. But as a powerful telepath who can read other people's thoughts, what she lacks most is the ability to read people's hearts.

"I heard that the nobles and high-ranking officials of the Tyranid Federation have used their wealth and power to take all the credit for expelling the Zerg Zerg on themselves during this period. The nobles made money by selling military supplies and cargo ships that transported refugees. The money is pouring in, and the legislators have gained a firm foothold in the new general election, and their power is at its peak."

"This is their style. Mr. Angus Mengsk saw it clearly and thoroughly twenty years ago." Kerrigan stood up and straightened her new grass-gray uniform - it was the revolutionary army's mountain uniform. The military uniform was worn by Kerrigan purely to test his appearance.

"And it is precisely because Koprulu does not have you that they can live comfortably and contentedly. There are rumors that you are dead, because now it is Horace Warfield who comes forward. Politicians who attack each other in the federal political arena have begun to discuss it again The possibility of recruiting the revolutionary army has arisen."

Any military uniform will show excellent results when worn on handsome men and beautiful women, but will look baggy on lazy and slovenly people. Kerrigan's slender figure, clean straight red hair, and her cold ascetic expression could definitely be on the cover of a Revolutionary Army recruitment poster. In fact, she had just returned from the studio where she was filming.

Soon, posters featuring Kerrigan will appear on the city streets of Umoyan, Antiga, and even Moria. She will be regarded as a revolutionary fighter or a battlefield valkyrie, and the revolutionaries' Enemies will go to great lengths to disparage this image. In any case, such a claim is essential. If this is not done, the people of the Terran Federation cannot be expected to gain much positive image of the Revolutionary Army from the Federation's propaganda.

"Koprulu cannot live without me." Augustus said: "After returning to Antiga, they will remember the fear of Augustus Mengsk. The Tyrannic Federation's regime will not be arrogant for too long. We have established roots in this dark universe."

“Buzz buzz—” At this time, a roar from an engine interrupted the conversation between Augustus and Kerrigan. It was a Hercules-class transport ship passing over the Taiga camp. , which was loaded with revolutionary soldiers who had withdrawn from the front line.

As the situation on the battlefield of Ayr gradually eased, Augustus began to withdraw part of his main divisions from the front line. In Augustus' view, killing the Overlord and many Cerebrates had achieved the purpose of this trip to Ayr. In addition, more than 500 million protoss were rescued, and the protoss was finally saved from genocide.

Next, there is no point in sending troops to the Aiel battlefield. Recovering their homeland is a matter for the protoss themselves and has nothing to do with humans.

The window outside the command center suddenly dimmed, as if a huge dark cloud was drifting from above. That came from the Xel'Naga transport ship excavated from Lake Eldridge by the Revolutionary Army. It was also the largest spacecraft in the Revolutionary Army and was enough to be converted into a huge mobile dock.

Because even if more facilities are added to this Xel'Naga spacecraft, its engine will still be enough to withstand the new load. The Xel'Naga spacecraft does not even need to replenish energy. From a human perspective, its internal energy source is almost endless. But if the lifespan of Xel'Naga is longer than a universe, it's not worth mentioning.

In Tassadar, he decided to present this giant Xel'Naga spaceship to Augustus as one of the gifts of thanks for the human revolutionary army's aid to Aiur. Augustus has decided that no matter what the Supreme Council says, he will never return the Xel'Naga transport ship to them.

Augustus has ordered that this spaceship be transformed into a giant shipyard capable of building Behemoth-class battlecruisers, and a large number of outstanding protoss Kalai phase technicians will provide assistance in this huge project, which will also It is a super ship with Xel'Naga, Protoss and human technology.

This was also one of the gains of the Revolutionary Army in Aiur. Augustus even got the right to garrison troops near the Ayre's Naga portal, because Tassadar would neither expel former human allies nor think that They will do evil in Ayr.

With the sound of the alloy steel door opening and closing outside the command room, Faraday, the captain of the Marshal's Guard, walked in with Jim Raynor, who was wearing a navy captain's uniform. The wolf head cap badge on the brim of his hat emitted golden light.

"Augustus, I heard we were leaving Ayr soon. It's a good thing too, I haven't seen Elizabeth and John for a long time. Revolution is a cause worth devoting everything to, but it can't be done in the presence of children. It also makes me regretful to accompany them during their growing stage." Renault pulled a huge chair given by the protoss and sat down next to Augustus.

It has to be said that the masterpieces of the master craftsmen of the Protoss are both beautiful and comfortable. Only the Arbiters will overemphasize the value of precious metals and gemstones that reflect tradition and status.

"Is John's child already able to walk?" Augustus laughed: "The mother said that he is much smarter than other children of the same age, so that he is as mature as a big child, and Valerian is He cried a lot when he was this age."

"In the original words of the letter, weren't you the crybaby? Your mother never met Valerian Mengsk before he was seven years old." Kerrigan pointed out this point at this time: "You guys The relationship between uncle and nephew is really deep."

"What's the difference? The Valerian child is exactly the same as when I was a child." Augustus then said to Renault.

"By March, I will arrange a spaceship for you to go to Umoyan. Just in time, I will take this opportunity to send Matt Horner, Mira Han and Egon Stetman to Umoyan. They want to improve their knowledge and professional skills in universities. They have learned a lot of knowledge in practice, but they still need to further their studies.”

"Okay, I'm happy to send our children to school." Renault also said with a smile: "Your sister also found a teacher's job at Umoyan University, maybe they can meet there."

"How can that child have time to teach? She has an entire business empire to her name." Augustus shook his head.

Dorothy Mengsk is the darling of the Mengsk family. She is a child who has received countless favors and a lifetime, but she does not suffer from the problems of the nobles. This must be due to the good tutoring of the Mengsk family. Her brothers were role models for Dorothy, which was also her capital in the political field.

This woman from the Mengsk family has become more and more powerful and is known as Korhal's Ekaterina, which is the name of her grandmother. Augustus liked this sister very much, and he never concealed his love.

Augustus values ​​his family members, just like his brother Arcturus.

"Speaking of which, I'm really reluctant to leave Aiur now, and I don't know if Tassadar and the others can control the situation. Compared with the people of the Supreme Council, they are just generals with no political experience, and they also lack The determination and courage to kill a fellow human being." Renault blinked and changed the topic to the other side.

"We all know that Tassadar is kind, but we also know that he will suffer greatly for this. Unfortunately, including people like Phoenix and Artanis, no one is decisive and ruthless. , how can they lead an empire." He said:

"That kind of person should be someone as ambitious as you."

"The worst case scenario for Tassadar is whether the Conclave can tolerate the deepening cooperation between the former and current Executors and the Dark Templar of Thagurath." Augustus also said.

"That must have also been a huge blow to the reputation of the Templar class - most civilians in the Protoss Empire fear and hate the Dark Templar, but the Dark Templar are tolerant of their kindred who once expelled them. "

"This has to be said to be a travesty."

"The protoss who chose to follow Tassadar did so out of respect for the executive, but the kindness shown by Tassadar to the Dark Templar pushed the protoss who hated them to the Supreme Council." Gustus nodded.

"Now, if we count the protoss who have left Tassadar in recent times and the protoss who have come to him from the province of Koshaka, we can easily find that: those who like the Dark Templar and those who don't like the Dark Templar The protoss is splitting into two distinct camps at an ever-increasing speed."

"We will soon learn whether this will lead the entire protoss to doom - the history of the protoss has made them fear disunity and civil war, and no matter what Tassadar and the Conclave think, everything is heading towards develop in this direction.”

A voice from the mechanical adjutant interrupted the conversation: "Colonel Tychus Finley is calling," followed by fierce gunshots and shouts, which seemed extremely noisy and chaotic.

"Damn it, the people from the Supreme Council are attacking us. What are these hairless beasts going crazy about? They chased us away before, and then they attacked us halfway when we got there. They really don't even have the face!"