StarCraft: Tyranid Empire

Chapter 628 D-4358 Devil’s Market

D-4358, this is the official name of this unknown fringe world in the public archives of the Terran Empire colonies. Later, the immigrants nicknamed it Demon's Fair, but that was really an overly vivid name.

Although this planet with a withered charcoal gray surface surrounds a stable main sequence star, its flat elliptical orbit allows it to have astonishing temperature differences throughout the year. The environment is extremely harsh and was once considered Unable to meet the minimum needs for human survival. Moreover, D-4358 is a distant edge world. Even if it is used as a prison planet to exile prisoners, the gains outweigh the losses.

What really brought D-4358 into the sight of the imperial government was a report automatically sent back from the planet probe. The results of a second scan of the entire planet showed that there were a large number of abandoned Tal'darin Protoss buildings on the back of the planet. Apparently, D-4358 was once a colonial planet belonging to Tal'darin.

What attracted Taldarin here was another rare resource of D-4358 - terazine. This gas is hallucinogenic and addictive. People who smoke it too much will go crazy. The Tal'darin Protoss calls it the Breath of the Creator, and the Byshir people in the empire call it the Gift of the Beshir, but in fact it is a real natural drug for humans.

On most planets in the Tyranid Empire, terrazine is an expressly prohibited substance. Even in those empire territories where terrazine can be legally absorbed, the dosage sold must be strictly controlled.

As time entered the fourth year of the imperial calendar, the imperial government's official excavation of the D-4358 protoss ruins prompted the opening of a new shipping route. Gradually, immigrants from all over the country continued to arrive for various reasons. Come to this planet through various means to make a living.

The establishment of a new colony always meant more resources at your fingertips and more jobs, more opportunities. Opportunities and risks coexist, and those low-level workers in the core world who yearn for big ranches and big houses are willing to use the money they have saved for the rest of their lives in exchange for a hope.

Most of the immigrants were poor people. As for where the colonial ship would eventually take them, and whether they would kick them off the ship midway and then bring in a group of passengers to earn double or triple, most of them could only leave it to fate.

Despite this, D-4358 does not have many resources to support a city, or even one or two larger communities. There are many people living here, but they are not permanent residents.

The richest thing on D-4358 is terrazine. This purple gas hovers over the planet in such abundance that even when you dig a hole, you can pull out a few wisps of smoke. However, this gas is poisonous to ordinary crops. Even if there was a dense jungle on the planet, after hundreds of years there would be no grass growing on it.

Most of the immigrants work at the terazine collection stations established by the Tyranids on the planet. However, judging from the number and scale of the collection stations, it can be concluded that the empire's current demand for this gas is not large.

As the immigrants' nickname to D-4358, the Devil's Bazaar, revealed, apart from those working at the collection station, the rest of the population worked in the largest "bazaar" on the planet. You can even find sacred artifacts from the stars in this market. As long as you can imagine, there is nothing you can't find.

Not only those in the Tyranid Empire, but also the killers in the entire Science Sector were placing orders in the Devil's Market to take jobs. As long as the price was right, they would dare to assassinate imperial congressmen. Even the most famous mercenary groups are posting notes here looking for work, because since the former Port of the Dead became more prosperous under the rule of the Tyranids, D-4358 Demon Market has gradually taken its place.

The Imperial Emperor Augustus the Great ruled by law and severe punishment, and characters who used to look down on the Imperial government were now in New Folsom, or had their heads beheaded by ghost agents. This emperor was not a gentle person, so the rest of the people succumbed to his weakness.

But after all, there are too many shady things in this world, and there must be a place to digest these gray transactions that stray from the edge of the law.

"Someone told me that some people in D-4358 have been carried away in recent years and have inevitably crossed the line, doing business that violates ethical standards and trampling on the laws of the empire."

In Augustus' memory, the last time he set foot in these dirty, dilapidated and smoky places was the slums of Tarsonis and the Port of the Dead, a city built on garbage. The situation of the former has obviously improved, and the Port of the Dead has regained its green hills and clear waters under the governance of the imperial government.

It would be a bit too much to say that the Devil's Market is a garbage dump, but in Augustus' eyes it was not much better, because it was just a series of dilapidated streets made of rusty metal and stones, leading to a A dark fork in the black market.

This area was once a Tal'darim protoss colony, but it has long since been left desolate by their destructive excavations.

If the Kaimorian are the Mineral Locusts among the humans of Koprulu, then the Tal'darin Protoss are the Kaimorian among the Protoss. The El Protoss emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, while the Tal'darin Protoss is not so "pretentious". Every time the planets abandoned by the Tal'darin protoss were devastated as if they had been bombed.

This makes D-4358, who is already not wealthy, even worse.

D-4358 is a dangerous place. Sometimes, it is hotter than Char and colder than Blackheath. Only places close to the Tropic of Cancer can still be inhabited. It is true that surviving in such a place requires a strong will and great courage. In the world of StarCraft, humans are regarded as a tenacious race.

People here are not living a good life. As the emperor, Augustus believes that he should be responsible. However, the people who come to the Devil's Market are not here to live a good life, and they have no intention of building their own homes.

"Although I didn't come here for this kind of thing, now that I'm here, people here have to know who has been here." As Augustus was talking, Marshal Reno handed over a good cigar, and next to him It was General Matt Horner who lit the cigarette himself.

Donny Vermillion, the military reporter next to him, immediately recorded the precious moment of the emperor patrolling the border. When he pressed the shutter, he was so excited that he felt like a rocket about to take off.

After all, there are only a few reporters who can follow the emperor's records. Donivomilian's great luck is entirely because he is Emperor Mengsk's loyal and unprincipled dog.

This time Augustus did not wear a military uniform, but a thick gray baize long trench coat to withstand the severe cold of D-4358 as it traveled to aphelion. The imperial generals and guards around him were also dressed in the same way, and they looked like the kind of rich people in the core world who made great achievements.

In fact, after visiting so many worlds, Augustus didn't think there was anything to be afraid of in places like D-4358. Augustus had seen too many desperadoes and knew how to deal with these gangsters.

It can be noticed that the people in the Devil's Market are dressed much wilder than the people in other areas. All the men have strong muscular looks. It can be seen at a glance that they are crawling around in the sea of ​​blood and corpses. come out of the role. They may be veterans of the old Federation era. Such people have no sense of belonging in the new empire and cannot find good jobs, so they risk their lives to try their luck in the fringe world.

In the Tyranid Empire, the mercenary business is legal, but as the empire becomes increasingly powerful and stable, they do not have much work and can only take orders from mining areas and caravans in the fringe world. Since the insect swarm once again invaded on a large scale and wars broke out, the mercenary business has become easier again.

The girls in the Devil's Market are also very eye-catching. D-4358 is filled with a strong terrazine mist and never sees the sun all year round. Everyone has snow-white tight skin and exposed slender waists. Each of them is a warrior, and the scabbard hanging on the belt always shows the wildness of a feline. Between his frown and his smile, he seemed to be trying to steal Mr. Tychus Finley's soul away.

Whenever they passed Augustus, they looked at him carefully. These days, there are many people who cannot recognize the emperor, but there is no doubt that his unique charm has always made Augustus the most eye-catching one among the crowd.

People here are not very afraid of outsiders, they only look at them occasionally. Everyone here has a gun, and they are not afraid of trouble.

"If you don't mind, boss, I think I'm going to take two days off." Tychus rushed from the back of the team to the front, his mind no longer on business.

"Even if I think about it with my butt, I know what the hell you are planning." Augustus waved his hand as if to shoo away a fly: "I'm telling you, don't even think about it."

"If it weren't for me, I'd still be holding him in New Folsom Prison."

Augustus was telling the truth. According to this timeline, Tychus had been arrested and imprisoned for robbing a train, and was sent to New Folsom Prison in circles.

However, although Tychus no longer robs trains, his eating skills have not fallen behind. He is proficient in stealing and stealing, but his stinky problems are also very troublesome.

"What are you going to do?" Renault asked.

"Spend money." When Tychus said this, he was still scanning up and down at a passing Devil's Market woman, his eyes seemed to have their own robot's scanning laser.

"What about the others?" Renault asked again.

"Pay money to sleep with women." Tychus smiled: "It would be better if you didn't have to spend money."

"I know, Jimmy, you are also having evil plans in your mind. This matter will be taken care of by me, and I will definitely not tell Elizabeth."

"What are you talking about! I have a family." Renault waved his hand and sternly refused: "My son is eight years old. If it weren't for the war, Liddy and I would have planned to have a second child."

"But I don't mind having a drink and enjoying myself."

"Boss, I saw that your eyes haven't moved anywhere since just now, hehe." Tychus looked at Augustus again, ready to throw dirty water.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Augustus frowned: "If this matter is reported back to the Augustgrad Palace, you and I will have to finish it."

"Compared to Sarah, they are just some rouge and vulgar powder, nothing to see."

Many people underestimated the Imperial Queen Kerrigan, thinking that she was just a lucky ghost agent who used witchcraft to bewitch the Tyranid Emperor. On the ancient earth, this was more or less a witch who brought disaster to the country and the people.

But no one expected that since Emperor Augustus personally led the imperial army to fight against the invading insect swarm, the imperial matron sitting in Korhal still managed the huge empire in an orderly manner, as if she was taking care of everything at home. . Not only is she very skillful, but she is no more soft-hearted than Arcturus' ruthless prince.

At the beginning, the ministers and generals of the empire still had doubts, but it didn't take long for them to be convinced.

Everyone thought Angus Mengsk was the overlord who oversaw the country, but in fact it was Queen Sarah Kerrigan who controlled the government. Many times, the queen's decision is equivalent to the emperor himself.

"Yes, Tychus, you really don't want your life." Raynor also said.

"What happened to me?" Tychus was dissatisfied. He had been imprisoned by Augustus for less than half a month, and he was really hungry and thirsty.

"Later, if you act more swiftly, I can give you a holiday for this reason." Augustus' eyes were as sharp as an eagle: "Now, shut your mouth."

Augustus came here mainly because he found a record of his visit to D-4358 in Orega's Xel'Naga spaceship. This is also a base camp of the Scavenger pirates, and there are still many remaining forces.

Orega seems to be another Zeratul who is constantly pursuing the prophecy, but his purpose is to destroy rather than save. This dark archon, swallowed by hatred, believes that there will be new life after destruction, and wants to build a world with only the Nerazim protoss.

Over the years, he has been to as many places as Zeratul, not only in the Koprulu sector, but also in other places for a long time. The places that Orega has been to the most are Aiur, the home planet of the protoss, and Elnar, the satellite where the Temple of Wisdom of the Dark Templar is located, which was his former hometown.

In human places, the most common one is D-4358.

Since Zakul, Augustus and Artanis have parted ways, each handling matters within their own sphere of influence. You know, Orega may be anywhere in the world, and it is very difficult to find him unless he shows up again.

Augustus waited in Zakul for a few days and realized that he did not have too much time to waste on capturing Orega. His original intention was only to maintain the stability of the border that was harassed by Orega.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Augustus decided to cleanse the imperial pirate organization and rebel forces headed by the scavenger pirates, starting with D-4358.

Augustus also knew that blocking was better than spacing out. As long as the people running the Devil's Market did not cross the line, he would ignore them. But this time, someone obviously thought that since Kehal had no control over this place, he could dominate them.

Just as he was talking, a group of armed men with malicious intentions came over from the opposite side. Each of them was wearing gray and white power armor and looked very imposing.

"They are people from Tiger's Claw, a group of fledgling mercenaries, but they have established themselves here with their ruthlessness and ruthless efficiency." Matt Horner whispered.

"As long as the tax certificates are paid, I don't care whether they have cat's claws or lion's claws," Augustus said.

"The money goes where the people go, and I like these little bastards," Tychus said.

"Hopefully these kittens are strong enough to withstand a beating."