StarCraft: Tyranid Empire

"Repeat, the fleet marches towards Aiur. Go home, sons of Aiur. Your loyalty is immeasurable." Tassadar conveyed his order for the last time through the communication network of the Protoss Koprulu Expeditionary Fleet. .

"Hail to Arden."

"." Behind Tassadar, the Templar Grand Archon Dragon Knight Tal'darin turned around and prepared to leave with his men, leading the remaining fleet back to the home star of Aiur.

"Listen, Tassadar, my brother, heir to the glory of Adun. In the years to come, you will be considered a traitor and stripped of all honor, merit, and even dignity. You will lose everything you once had. All alone," the Taldarin told Tassadar before leaving.

"But you must remember that Aiur will always be your home, and the Templars will always welcome you back."

"Thank you for your teaching." Tassadar lowered his head again, pressing his chin tightly against the armor on his chest to express respect.

Tal'darin led his high-ranking templars and Valari warriors towards the teleportation platform on the bridge, and the clatter of footsteps gradually faded away.

Augustus was standing next to Tassadar, shoulder to shoulder with the former executor who had angered the Conclave for disobeying orders, with their respective followers flanking them.

This was an unprecedented scene. Human warriors wearing golden-red alloy steel power armor stood together with the Protoss executive, discussing each other's views on the current matter as two leaders.

"The Conclave of the Protoss Empire has deprived you of your power and is determined to humiliate you for it." Augustus said to Tassadar: "You do not have to carry out their orders, Executor, and have no right to what is right or wrong in the world." You have your own criteria for judging what is wrong.”

"Tassadar, you are one of the very few who believes that the honor and dignity of the people are higher than orders and authority. You will do whatever it takes to uphold the nobility of your race, even if it means tarnishing your own reputation."

Outside the portholes of the bridge of the Starship, the flagship of the Protoss Expeditionary Force, several huge Protoss aircraft carriers traveling side by side were adjusting their deflected courses. Their elegant streamlined ships were like a whale flipping over in the ocean. Several flying formations composed of shuttles, reconnaissance aircraft, and carrier-based interceptors passed by the portholes, their golden ship shells shining brightly under the light of the Char binary star system.

Even with the loss of many battleships in the battles with Char and the Zerg, the size of this magnificent fleet was still considerable.

"Are you trying to teach me, as a young human?" Tassadar's voice in Augustus' mind turned into a hearty, anthropomorphic laugh: "Augustus Mengsk, you see it very well. Whether it’s your opinion of me or this matter, it’s almost like you’ve known me for a long time.”

"You are not the first person to say that." Augustus said with a smile.

Tassadar paused here: "The Supreme Council not only considers my disobedience of orders as a challenge to the Arbitrator class and an intolerable transgression, but also as an unforgivable... criminal act."

He was careful about the word crime. In the social system of the Protoss Empire, the word crime was often associated with harming or betraying fellow citizens.

Augustus felt that Tassadar was grieving at the word: "You just did what you thought you should do - refused the unnecessary and cruel orders of the Conclave. Which was to cleanse all human planets of the zerg." The threat is still there."

"As a human, you can actually understand me. Both the protoss and humans are intelligent creatures with rich emotions, and sorrow and joy are connected." Tassadar's voice in Augustus's mind dragged on for a long time, like It was a lament: "The Supreme Council has placed itself in an extremely extreme position from the beginning. Even if a human planet may be infected, it must be purified with flames immediately."

"And I am unwilling to do that. I am determined to adopt a method that can protect our people without harming innocent people - sending troops to destroy the zerg instead of burning a planet that nourishes beautiful life." He said.

"This is a decision based on extreme rationality and ruthlessness. Destroying all human-infected planets is not only the fastest and most effective way to eliminate all zerg and infections, but also prevents the genes and biomass of an entire planet from becoming zerg. Food for evolution and growth.”

"This is understandable. After all, the arrogant Supreme Council has never taken human beings seriously from the beginning. In their eyes, we are no different from real bugs that can be stepped on at any time." Augustus He said angrily: "After all, they don't need to consider other races. If the roles were reversed, humans might just be more ruthless."

"The Dawu teachings once taught us to protect other weak races and fulfill our duties as sons of God, but now the Supreme Council has completely forgotten this." Tassadar knew that from the standpoint of the Supreme Council, There is nothing wrong with preserving the protoss at the expense of humans.

The Arbiters in the Supreme Council of the Protoss Empire are elders who are considered to have outstanding visions and politicians who can ensure that the Protoss continue to walk on a glorious and correct path. For these arbitrators who have a very deep understanding of Kara's teachings, adhering to the system of their ancestors is more important than anything else. The empire's peril lies above all protoss and everything.

"Even the Templar class, which is considered to be the most noble, loyal and brave, has begun to experience corruption and internal struggles over the years. The gradual degradation of the Arbitrator class has caused some Arbitrators who are not worthy of their morality and reputation to join the Supreme Council. "Obviously, Tassadar has been dissatisfied with the Supreme Council for more than a day or two.

"Corruption and depravity are unavoidable in any system. When they are rooted in a solid ruling class, the Protoss Empire will be in trouble."

"It seems that the arbitrators in your Supreme Council are just the same as the Federal Council of the Tyranid Federation." Renault said: "They are all a group of frozen fish with cold blood."

"How ironic, it's your turn now, little star spirit." Tychus, who was standing behind Augustus at this time, spoke. He was feeling gloating and showed it without caring: "How about it? , is it time for your Supreme Council to make up its mind to burn Al?"

Tychus didn't care if an alien that disgusted him would get angry because of his words or simply beat him up, but he didn't mind getting into a fight with the awesome protoss.

"I can understand your anger, just as I can see the good side of you through your soul." Tassadar said.

"It must be pitiful." Renault laughed.

"Don't peek into my brain, or I will make you, the damn protoss-head, suffer." Tychus shouted, thinking this was Tassadar's reply to his taunting words.

"Want a fight? You stupid."

"That's enough, Tychus, we are the guests." Augustus stopped Tychus who was taking the opportunity to have a fit: "You idiot, I will deduct the next month from you...and the next one." monthly salary. "

"What. What did I do wrong? Just because I said a few words about that protoss? He is not your father." Tychus couldn't remember when he had angered Augustus.

"Damn Tychus, you just said Augustus looked like a pussy not long ago. You know he hates this thing the most." Renault reminded Tychus: "Just because he said he doesn't care, it doesn't mean he doesn't." Will take revenge."

"Oh, little Augustus." Tychus said ruefully: "Looks like I won't be able to see those sweethearts in the club for a while. You have to foot the bill, Jimmy, for the sake of the past. You can’t just ignore it.”

"Come on, I never promised such a thing." Renault emphasized that he was a man with a wife: "I will never go to that kind of place with you again."

"Just help me pay the bills, as soon as I have money." Tychus rolled his eyes. After joining the Revolutionary Army, Tychus had far fewer ways to make money, especially with Augustus keeping a close eye on him.

"Where are you going and what are you going to do next?" Augustus ignored Tychus's complaints and turned to Tassadar, preparing to recruit him into his group.

". Next, I will take the Star Shuttle to continue my mission - to eliminate the zerg in the Koprulu sector, protect other races, and find ways to fight the zerg. Until my hometown, until Aiur is needed again My time." Tassadar said matter-of-factly.

"This is exactly what my Korhal Revolutionary Army is doing." Augustus said immediately: "Maybe we can form a coalition and act together."

Augustus believed that Tassadar, the escaped Protoss Expeditionary Force executive, had now obtained his script, but lacked a little bit of resistance.

Tassadar has not yet thought about overthrowing the rule of the High Council of the Protoss Empire. He still believes that although the High Council has begun to become pedantic, stubborn, and paranoid, and even wants to judge the executive they once trusted, everything is not there yet. By the time Tassadar and the Conclave were at war with each other.

"Alliance." Tassadar was surprised. He looked at Augustus and immediately understood: "Yes, now we all have a common goal. This is commendable, a common enemy, a common pursuit."

"Let us save the world together, Tassadar, we will become heroes of humans and protoss." Raynor shook off Tychus who started to cheat. As an idealistic young man, Raynor still firmly believed that he was saving the world.

Most of the Revolutionary Army soldiers, represented by Raynor, believed that what they were undertaking was a great cause that would surely bring changes to the Tyranids. After the Zerg invaded the Koprulu sector, fighting for humanity made this goal seem obvious. Be more grand.

"Hero? If you can be praised and praised, you are a hero." Tassadar was silent.

In his opinion, Renault is too young. Even a protoss over two hundred years old would be considered too young to take on important responsibilities. However, Tassadar admired Raynor for his sheer integrity and ideals.

Tassadar feels that he is lucky. Augustus and Renault, whom he has come into contact with the most, are the most upright and charismatic people among humans. Under the background of Tychus and Duke, these excellent qualities It is even more valuable.

At this time, the Protoss expeditionary fleet anchored at the edge of the Char galaxy began to move. A black space-time rift appeared in the center of the Protoss fleet, like a black hole sucking the ships into it.

Hundreds of protoss carriers, shuttle frigates, reconnaissance aircraft, detectors, and other butterfly and needle-shaped protoss spacecraft are leaping into this space-time rift, with countless shining gravity thrusters and auxiliary high-energy plasma propulsion. The space-time wake of the machine is like icy blue suns.

When these protoss warships appear again, they will appear in the stargates above Aiur and in high-altitude orbits, guided by fleet beacons.

Both Augustus and Tassadar noticed that some of these warships did not follow the return fleet into the time and space channel. After all the returning battleships entered the time and space channel, the remaining battleships were still anchored in their original positions.

At the original point in time, when Tassadar declared his rejection of the Conclave and ordered the fleet to return to Aiur, the Overmind had not yet learned the coordinates of Aiur. When he traveled to Char to find the Queen of Blades, Tassadar had only one star shuttle with him, but now he believed that he needed the support of a small fleet.

Tassadar respected the choices of everyone in the expeditionary fleet, and those who were willing to follow him stayed, while the others returned to Aiur.

Currently, Tassadar's fleet, including the flagship Star Shuttle, only has twenty-two aircraft carriers and hundreds of attached small and medium-sized warships and ships. Even so, this fleet is still enough to defeat the human population in the Koprulu sector. Rampant in the territory.

After a while, a banging sound from metal boots came from behind Augustus. Augustus was convinced that it must be the sound of reckless and rude human footsteps, because the protoss were a cat-like, elegant and noble race, and their walking was extremely orderly and quiet.

"Marshal, the medical equipment of the Protoss is really advanced, our wounded..." Duke rarely praised the Protoss. He must have been quite shocked by the medical technology he saw, otherwise he would be tough and never willing to praise others. Duke would never let go - but Duke's words were soon interrupted by Tychus who came up to him.

"Even the nobles have no money to lend you anymore." Duke glanced at Tychus's old face: "I don't care how you got this money, by stealing or robbing? Become a country bumpkin or an uneducated person. That’s what you need to do...if you still have some face and decency, then get out of here, you stupid ass.”

"Assemble our soldiers and wounded, we will return to our spaceship immediately." Augustus looked at the timer on the power armor's face display and realized that his third shot of stimulant was about to expire. Before his ugliness is fully revealed, he must return to his flagship Hyperion.

Through the communication channel inside the power armor, Augustus contacted the deputy captain of Huberion who was on duty, but heard bursts of extremely rapid footsteps.

"What happened? Lieutenant Colonel Ryan." Augustus asked the other party.

"Marshal, I finally contacted you." Lieutenant Colonel Ryan's voice was full of surprise: "The Nova Squadron's fleet found and surrounded us twenty minutes ago. At least thirteen Behemoth-class battlecruisers are heading towards us. We're coming, with Holler's Nova Terra in front."

"Prepare to fight back, Lieutenant Colonel, report the coordinates, support will arrive soon." Augustus gave the order decisively.

"Yes, sir!" The lieutenant colonel did not ask who the backup would be and when it would arrive. Since Augustus said it, there would definitely be one.

"The Federation bastards in Nova Squadron must not have thought that we had just hooked up with the Protoss." Raynor said.

"Well done!" Tychus realized that he might have a lot of loot before long.

"Tykes, the Demon of Heaven, is about to appear."