StarCraft: Tyranid Empire

Burning place.

The battle for Alpha Landing continued until dawn, with Augustus's forces and his protoss allies holding off seventeen Tiamat, Garmu, Jörmungandr and Leviathan forces as well as Golandel worms. The swarm of attacks continued until the sun rose and the moon set.

Augustus had experienced several head-on confrontations with the swarms, but none of them were as dangerous as this one.

By the middle of the night, the defense line was torn to pieces and riddled with holes by the swarm of insects. Nydus worms burst out of the ground directly from the center of the base, and a large number of screaming monsters poured out from the collapsed hole. Those roars used to frighten the enemy could allow Augustus to contact the most terrifying thing he had ever heard so far. sound.

Over the past few years, Augustus had rarely had nightmares and his sleep quality was quite good. After experiencing everything last night, he was convinced that he was in a terrible nightmare from which he would never wake up.

No one wants to have the same dream again: hordes of monsters swarming up, as if countless evil spirits are trying to drag you into the abyss.

Once captured by those screaming monsters, Augustus would be disemboweled. Without Taldarin's reinforcements, Augustus would never believe that he could survive until now.

Fortunately, Augustus once again persisted until the end and became the real winner. Although it was just a tragic victory, Augustus had always warned himself that the gains and losses of a battle should never be considered from a grand strategic perspective.

When the morning rays of Char fell on the earth, the golden star in the double star system of the Char galaxy immediately jumped out impatiently.

The coolness of the morning disappeared before it stayed on the surface of Char for long. The golden light only flickered for a moment, and the almost red sunlight reflected the rocks of Char into the color of molten iron.

When Augustus looked forward from behind a sloping bunker that had been bombarded by Hydralisk spine needles and Allosaurus blades, the ground was already covered with red springtails and Hydra Hydralisks. The dark king insects, mutant dragons, and insect guardians in the sky dispersed, and the remaining ones flew high, like black kites that had escaped their hands one by one.

Farther away was the fortification wall that collapsed with several gaps. In that direction, the corpses of the zerg were piled up in the slimy blood like dead fish floating on the water. These corpses were also mixed with human corpses and some remains of Dragon Knight mechas that shone golden light under the searchlight, like gold nuggets inserted diagonally into the tissue.

The zerg stopped attacking before the sun rose. Even if the protoss reinforcements continued to arrive through the portal, it was only a matter of time before they flooded the place. There must be something forcing the Overlord to recall its tribe.

A huge Goliath armed robot knelt down among the insect corpses. The cockpit was covered with dead springtails, leaving only a flagpole inserted behind the cockpit. The red flag on the flagpole has long been corroded by acid and has been reduced to shape, and only the golden eagle and wolf logo of Alpha Squadron can be vaguely seen.

The person driving this Goliath armed robot is a mechanical sergeant of Alpha Squadron. He is one of the few soldiers in this army who has not been resocialized, and he is also a federal soldier who voluntarily joined the Revolutionary Army.

Augustus knew very little about this mechanical sergeant's past, and he didn't even know his name more than ten minutes ago. Sergeant Rhodes' hometown is a remote planet that is truly called a backwater. There are only two hundred people in his town.

Rod was the only son of a local sheriff. Just like many people in the edge world of the Tyranid Federation, if he fails to finish college and go to the core world to make a living on his own, the most likely future is that he will inherit his father's legacy.

Renault's hometown is also a place like that. There have been so many people living there throughout its long history, and they have been doing the same job for generations.

The most important decision in the life of this mechanical sergeant was to join the federal army as a recruiter. Another life decision no less important was to decide to do something that could be called a hero and respected by others.

When Augustus was forced to abandon the fortification walls and retreat, the Alpha Squadron Mechanic Sergeant drove his giant Goliath robot into the enemy formation, standing between him and the pursuing Zerg.

After confirming that all the zerg had been evacuated, Augustus retreated to the bunker and glanced at the last few soldiers around him - the bloodshot Renault, the expressionless Faraday, and the last two members of the Marshal's Guard who were still alive. Next to them was a car The unloading crane on the fallen transport platform was piled with shell casings and discarded guns at its feet.

Several members of the Marshal's Guard fell in a pool of blood, their strong new alloy steel power armor riddled with holes from the Hydralisk spine needles. There was also a man with a ferocious head on his arm. It was a Hydra Hydralisk that bit his arm and was then beheaded by the Protoss Templar's psychic blade.

"We were almost drowned by the sea of ​​​​worms. The number of bugs is simply more than the sand here." Renault is still in high spirits. Like everyone who is still alive, he has just received his second injection of stimulants.

Although the side effects of stimulants will cause Renault to suffer from headaches and deep insomnia for dozens of hours after the effects of the drug wear off, and he may even drool like an idiot, no one will do it in a life-or-death situation. Care about these.

"Augustus, I thought several times that our adventure was going to end here, and we had to hand your career back to your father and brother." He still had lingering fears.

At the most critical moment, Renault and members of the Marshal's Guard tried to put Augustus on the transport ship, but everyone knew that space was not safer than on the ground. There were at least tens of millions of aliens in Char's high-altitude orbit. Dragons and mosquitoes.

"I bet you're wrong, Jimmy." Augustus had also just taken a stimulant injection. Although his subconscious was still telling him that he should be extremely tired, at this moment he really felt that he could punch Dead cow.

"I won't stop until I want to take a break."

"Stop, the Federation and the bugs are going to kick our ass," Raynor said.

At this time, a slightly scarred dragon knight came from behind Augustus, followed by two Templar fanatics holding psychic blades. The Templars nodded to Augustus as a way of paying their respects to humanity.

The protoss had no intention of talking to Augustus, but just walked past them towards the front. Some zerg have not yet died. Even after suffering fatal injuries, their constantly regenerating cells can still maintain extremely strong vitality.

Augustus glanced at the helmets of Renault, Corporal Faraday and others, and noticed that they were covered with the blood of the zerg and the tiny holes eroded by the highly corrosive acidic blood after the death of the alien dragon: "Counting the casualties, Lieutenant Commander Lane Tell me the results within an hour and it’s not just numbers, I need a list.”

Most of the officers on the command channel have been disconnected, leaving only electrical noise and murmur.

"Tiamat and Jormungandr, the two largest zerg hives, have left, leaving only Sars' Gamu hive and several other zerg hives." Raynor was commanding from the liaison base. Orbiting satellite base station in the center.

All the Revolutionary Army satellites in Char's orbit have been destroyed by the Zerg, but the last satellite was still working half an hour ago.

"What do you think those two Brood Clan members are doing?" Renault looked at Augustus.

"Is it possible that there is a protoss landing force on Char? Or maybe Zeratul's Dark Templars have made the Overlord of the Swarm feel threatened. Zeratul said that the Worms want revenge? Who? I bet the Overlord is still here. No one knows the location of the Dark Templar."

"It's hard to say, Jimmy," Augustus said after a moment's thought.

"Tassadar's protoss expeditionary force marched all the way into Char, and then Zeratul's dark templar killed three more cerebrates."

"If the Overlord of the Insect Swarm wants to deliver a sharp and fatal blow to the protoss, then going straight for the weak point and biting the throat of the prey is what a predator is more likely to do." He believes that his speculation is still Too conservative.

To be precise, Augustus was not speculating on what the master might do, but rather deriving the process based on established history.

"I suspect that the swarm is planning a powerful counterattack against the Protoss Empire, and the target is probably several planets of the Protoss."

"The most frustrating thing about the planets of the protoss is that now all the planets that are infested with bugs belong to humans." Renault followed Augustus's thinking and speculated on the master's intentions: "We don't even know whether the protoss has colonized the planet. Know."

"Well, I only remember that Zeratul mentioned a planet called Aiur, which seems to be the home planet of the protoss. It must be far away from here. Even if the bugs know where it is, they don't know how long it will take to fly there. time," he said.

"It wasn't like the time we raided Tarsonis, where we were well prepared."

"The Master will not do meaningless things." After saying that, Augustus followed several approaching Protoss Templars out of the bunker and stepped onto the ground piled with corpses.

Among the Zerg corpses next to each other, the legs of Augustus's power armor were stained even more red. He pulled out his electromagnetic pistol from time to time to kill the Zerg that still had a breath left.

At this time, Augustus could see what the entire base looked like today in the daylight. Only the ruins of the solid fortification walls are left, 90% of the buildings have been razed, and only the Protoss' portal, which shines like a work of art, still stands.

Augustus tried to remove the dead springtail body from the Goliath armed robot, but he flinched when he realized that the pilot inside had already been torn into pieces.

Not long after, bad news came from the Revolutionary Army fleet in high-altitude orbit of Char.

"The fleet of the Protoss Expeditionary Force finally failed to defeat the zerg in the Char System... Their number has reached one billion. The fleet of the Protoss Executor Tassadar was forced to retreat to the outermost planets of the Char System, and we also We have to evacuate Char's high-altitude orbit." Captain Cormoran connected to Augustus's communication channel.

"We are still trying to send fighter planes and transport ships to Char, but with little success," he said.

"It's best you do what you have to do, captain, we will find a way." Augustus immediately accepted this reality. He knew that complaining was meaningless: "Where are the troops of Duke and Tychus?"

The captain replied: "The troops of General Duke and Colonel Tychus are near you, but I'm afraid they won't be able to pass through the zerg siege to provide support."

"I understand." Augustus nodded.

"Jimmy, I'm afraid we have to stay on Char for a while." Augustus turned to Renault behind him after issuing a series of orders to Captain Cormoran.

"What? This is the most unfortunate news I have heard since arriving in Char. The bugs that rushed into the base last night almost destroyed all our supplies." Renault reacted.

"Staying in Char, a place full of zerg, is not something to be happy about. What about Tychus and the others?"

"At least the Tal'darin army is still with us. I'm contacting Tychus and Duke." Augustus finally connected to Tychus's communication channel, which shows that there is no communication base station nearby. They were already quite close to me.

"You are still alive, Mengsk." Tychus's voice sounded a little excited, but this emotion was then hidden under his deep magnetic voice: "I was planning to return to the Hyperion, and I heard News that you are surrounded will come soon. But there are too many bugs outside."

"Later, I contacted Duke's people. They suffered a lot when they arrived. However, Duke captured a few scouts and alien scientists from Nova Squadron - don't ask me why there is such a place in this war-torn place. Scientist." He said angrily.

"Anyway, it's a mess."

"Good brother, Tychus. Remember to ask Duke to keep those prisoners alive." Augustus had to admit that Tychus had won his trust with practical actions.

"I'm coming soon. The bugs outside are retreating. Who knows what's going on in those bugs' heads? Hey, if you have extra manpower to support us, please help us as soon as possible."

"It's really thrilling. The most exciting shooting game in the galaxy is nothing more than this." Tychus is a good fighter, but his shortcomings are as obvious as his advantages. He talks a lot as soon as he goes to the battlefield, and his whole body is filled with enthusiasm. enthusiasm.

"Char. This dirty little planet that was kicked by demons is the most hell-like place I have ever seen." Tychus continued to speak loudly in Augustus's channel, which had just been replaced by the latter. Passed to Renault: "Oh, I almost forgot, we are the devil."

"Take the remaining people to meet Tychus." Augustus said to Renault: "In the name of Aden, let's see if those protoss can give us some help."

"Stop flattering yourself, Tychus, you bastard." Renault said mercilessly on the channel and left with a member of the marshal's guard.

At this moment, the communication crystal Augustus carried with him shone again.

"Come to this coordinate, my friend." Zeratul's image appeared in the light and shadow reflected by the communication crystal. The veil and robes on his body were obviously more shabby than before.

"We have observed that the main nest area where the master is located feels signs of abnormal time and space surges. This is an unusual and ominous omen."

grateful