Korhal, the original birthplace of the Sons of Korhal, is also the administrative star of the Tyranid Empire founded by Emperor Arcturus Mengsk.
Today, in a large conference room at the UNN TV headquarters, Emperor Mengsk of the Empire will hold a special reception for all reporters here, in this place that he regards as a powerful tool for his rule. Mengsk himself will also conduct a live broadcast of the face-to-face format here and answer some questions from reporters.
The main content of this reception will be stated. In addition to praising the achievements made by the empire since it came to power, the rest is mainly about the newly emerged one who invaded all TV channels without authorization and issued a declaration of founding of the nation. , the Federation of Heroes that recruits immigrants, and a series of related issues!
"Okay, everyone, if you have any questions, you can ask them now. I'm very busy! So, you have a total of ten minutes. As long as I know something, I will answer it!"
In front of UNN TV's live camera, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk first gave a long personal speech, praising his own and the empire's achievements, and once again emphasizing the achievements he has made since taking the throne. After countless results, he reached out his hand to signal to the impatient reporters sitting in the conference hall.
"Hello, His Majesty Mengsk, I am Kate Rockwell, a reporter from UNN. I would like to ask you about the situation in that remote star sector that suddenly appeared and occupied Haven Star not long ago, and declared its establishment as What do you think of a heroic federation with an independent government?"
As soon as Mengsk finished speaking, this female reporter from UNN, who loved to expose the empire's shady stories, couldn't wait to stand up and loudly asked her first question.
This question is also the theme of today's press conference. Therefore, when they saw her starting to ask questions, the other reporters were not too dissatisfied with her speaking first. They all cheered up and opened their mouths. A piece of news equipment was pointed at Mengsk, looking forward to his next answer.
"Haha... According to the analysis of our Tyran Empire think tank: We all agree that the newly emerged Federation of Heroes is actually just a small human force that has recently immigrated from somewhere! Presumably, you have been You also know something about UED, right?”
After asking a rhetorical question, Mengsk continued with a smile.
"We humans are colonizing and expanding this vast universe at an ever-increasing pace... Four years ago, the UED expeditionary force came to our Koprulu sector, and also interacted with our humans, The protoss and bugs had a great battle... Now, a new group of forces has emerged here to colonize, so don't be too surprised by this!"
"That Federation of Heroes is nothing more than a group of more than 100,000 colonists. Compared with the tens of billions of people in our Tyran Empire, they are nothing to mention!"
"And what's even more ridiculous is that their head of state is actually a little girl who doesn't understand anything? So, we don't actually take their so-called Federation of Heroes too seriously, and our huge Terran Empire In comparison, they are just a bunch of country people who have never seen the world!"
"That's why we are holding this press conference today to refute the rumors and condemn the other party's use of illegal means to seize the channel of the TV station some time ago!"
"I believe that the citizens of the empire will look at this matter rationally and do not be tempted by the other party's false remarks! The other party is just a small force with more than 100,000 people. The nonsense promises they made are completely It’s just a false phantom!”
Thinking about the performance of the little girl head of state when the other party gave a speech that was supposed to be serious, it almost made Mengsk laugh at that time!
At first, he thought it was an entertainment program on a certain TV station.
In order to attract immigrants, free housing, vehicles and jobs are provided? Even he, Mengsk, would not dare to make such an empty invoice casually!
It wasn't until not long ago that the empire's intelligence personnel obtained specific information from Haiwen Star, knowing that the so-called Federation of Heroes actually only owned one basically unarmed colonial ship and five heavy old-style battlecruisers. They are just a small force. Apart from their larger number of troops and perhaps stronger strength, they are not necessarily any stronger than those rampant interstellar pirates or mercenary organizations!
Therefore, Mengsk actually really looked down on the other party from the bottom of his heart.
Such a small force would dare to come out and make any declaration casually, if the other party is not within the territory of its own empire, is too close to the territory of the protoss, and has not expressed any thoughts specifically targeting his Tyran Empire. , he had already sent a fleet to deal with the opponent!
"But as far as I know, they are UED, the second group of criminals who were exiled by the former United Earth Government UPL. They came here in the Krupp Sector by coincidence, and we came here more than two hundred years ago. The ancestors of the colonists can be said to have the same origin. I wonder what your attitude is towards their arrival?"
Originally, according to convention, a reporter could only ask one question, and then someone else would ask the question.
However, Kate Rockwell, a female reporter who likes to criticize and tell the truth, did not care about the dissatisfaction and angry eyes of the people around her, and continued to stand and ask questions.
Unlike the imperial military who immediately investigated the opponent's military intelligence, UNN reporters also used their own methods and their own channels to obtain more information about the Federation of Heroes from Haiwen Star immediately. Detailed first-hand information.
You know, news is timely, so at this time, Kate took it out and published it directly in this live broadcast, taking advantage of Emperor Mengsk's opportunity to answer reporters' questions!
In this case, surely that damn Downey wouldn't cut off or block her speech casually, right?
"The Krupp sector is very large, and there are many livable planets... Therefore, any new humans who come to colonize here, no matter where they come from, no matter who they once belonged to? We, the Mengsk Empire, welcome Attitude! We welcome them to join the big family of our Tyranid Empire and enjoy the protection of our empire’s powerful military!”
After a pause, Mengsk suddenly increased his tone and stretched out a finger.
"However, there is a prerequisite: they must declare the cancellation of independence, cancel the security army that exceeds the necessary size, and agree to merge into the empire's territory and pay additional taxes to the Imperial Finance Bureau every year! Only in this way, our empire's army, Only then will we protect the citizens who abide by the laws of the empire!"
To put it bluntly, Mengsk can accept the other party, but the other party must disband the excess troops or hand over those heavy military equipment!
In a place like the remote and barren Haiwen Star, where even pirates don't bother to visit, five heavy battlecruisers are too much, even old models! Mengsk will never allow any autonomous planet within the territory of his country to have a heavy fleet of this size!
If the other party really wants to join his Tyranid Empire and obtain the protection of the Imperial Army, then he must hand over the five battleships, reduce the size of the army, and accept the supervision of the Imperial Military!
Since joining the empire and becoming an autonomous planet, it must look like an autonomous planet. Training a few marines to maintain law and order is just so-so. A standard large-scale army is absolutely not allowed! Mengsk doesn’t want another force to follow his old path and rebel against him!
"His Majesty Emperor Mengsk, I'm sorry to interrupt you!"
When Mengsk was still unfinished and wanted to say something more, Kate interrupted him in a shameless manner.
"Although you keep saying that the empire's army will protect the citizens of the empire, as far as I know: those refugees on Haven who have joined the Federation of Heroes and accepted their asylum, they were originally Agli who were destroyed by the swarm of insects. Inhabitants of sub-agricultural planets!”
"At that time, because the imperial soldiers voluntarily abandoned them and fled first, those helpless Aglians had to turn to the interstellar thief Jim Raynor for help. Then, with the help of Jim Raynor, they I was able to escape from the poisonous mouth of the insect swarm, leave the planet Aglia, and evacuate to the more remote planet Haiwen to settle..."
"Your Majesty the Emperor, may I ask, is this happening? Are you aware of this? What do you think of the imperial military's actions at that time?!"
Female reporter Kate still ignored the increasingly angry eyes of other reporters and the increasingly impatient expression of Mengsk, and continued to reveal all the inside information she had obtained and asked questions.
Wow...
At the press conference, bursts of noise soon appeared.
Hearing this, other reporters who were originally dissatisfied with Kate seemed like sharks that smelled the fishy smell. They opened their various devices one after another and once again aimed at Mengsk on the rostrum and the audience seats below the stage. A female reporter was standing inside asking questions.
Such breaking news is much more interesting than what they originally planned to ask!
They all knew that the planet Aglia was captured by the swarm, but they only knew the rhetoric put out by the military. They had always thought that the unlucky planet was the same as the others that had been captured by the swarms!
And now, if this new message and Q&A between the two parties can be recorded and brought back, it will definitely attract the attention of the audience more than their original nonsense questions, right?
In that case, it will be a big help to their major TV stations! Therefore, at this moment, they all couldn't bear their original dissatisfaction with Kate for breaking the rules, and looked forward to the next exchange between the two parties.
"No! That's a rumor! The soldiers of our empire will never abandon any legal citizen easily! Absolutely not!"
Hearing this, Mengsk's face seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, and his originally slightly dissatisfied look immediately turned cold.
While staring at the female reporter angrily, he was also secretly dissatisfied with those bastards in the military who failed to achieve anything but failed. Those bastards who do stupid things, are greedy for life and are afraid of death, which makes it difficult for them to step down!
In Mengsk's view, those cowards, those bastards who eat and get paid but don't work, even Jim Raynor's small group of wandering criminals can do things, but they don't even dare to fight. Just run away?
Their troops on the planet Aglia at that time should have been stronger than that Jim Raynor, right? Even if you put up a little resistance and help those civilians escape? !
Look, the mess they left behind now actually requires me, the emperor of the empire, to wipe their butts?
This is really unreasonable!
After he returns from this mess, he must immediately remove the military chief at the time for investigation and pull him out as the scapegoat!
"However, we now have tangible evidence to prove this, as well as relevant videos to prove it: at that time, the entire imperial army on the planet Aglia did abandon them as soon as possible, without even a notice of withdrawal. Order and let the insects surround their colony! In the end, the passing interstellar thief Jim Raynor's rangers came to help them, temporarily resisting the swarm of insects, and those Aglians were able to retreat in time and Free from the swarm of insects!"
"Excuse me, do you know about this? What explanation do you have for this?!"
After seeing Mengsk's face getting worse and worse, female reporter Kate Rockwell became more and more excited and her tone became higher and higher.
After telling what she knew and asking two questions, she even took out a device and played the scene on the spot where the imperial army was the first to abandon the people and escape alone.
"..."
Seeing that the other party was obviously well prepared and had pictures and evidence, Mengsk took a slow breath and stared deeply at the female reporter for a while before taking his time. He opened his mouth and explained:
"I'm here to emphasize one point again: our empire's military will never abandon any empire citizen easily!"
"This matter is a military secret after all. I didn't want to say more at first! But now that Kate reporter brought it up, I might as well explain it a little bit: The reason why our empire's army retreated at that time was because, Those people on the planet Aglia are all mobs!”
"They have an affair with the thug Jim Raynor, and they often provide weapons and other supplies to each other. Therefore, our army has to retreat in order to avoid being attacked by internal and external enemies and suffering unnecessary losses!"
"And now, I believe you all know that in addition to the interstellar thief Jim Raynor, the Aglians have actually hooked up with the Federation of Heroes of unknown origin! This is naked treason!"
"So, what our army did at that time was absolutely correct! Here, let me reiterate one point: our empire's army will only protect those law-abiding empire citizens!"
After saying that, Mengsk's expression improved slightly.
He now scored eight points for his quick wit! Although the explanation seemed a bit reluctant, in this way, he finally succeeded in changing the image of the imperial army among the people, and poured dirty water directly on the mobs. There is no better way to put it!
Presumably, these reporters will no longer ask any tricky questions, right?
"I'm sorry, but as far as I know: at that time, the empire's army abandoned the residents of the Aglia planet first, and then those Aglia people sent a distress signal for help! At that time, many people accepted We received the signal from the other party! At that time, only the wanted criminal Jim Raynor who happened to be passing by rescued them! I even have their communication records at that time!"
"This is contradictory to your explanation just now that those people have long been connected with Jim Raynor!"
"We seem to be more willing to believe that at that time, it was our empire's army that escaped shamefully first! Then, the villains who were wanted by the empire and reviled by the people did what the military should do. I don't know if you What’s the explanation for this?!”
This news, these video surveillance and communication recordings at that time, were all obtained by Kate through special channels. The other party also reluctantly gave this information free of charge because of Kate's willingness to tell the truth. Gave it to her.
So, at this moment, she took it all out at this live broadcast booth!
After seeing Mengsk's newly improved expression on the podium turn bad again, Kate knew that her goal today had probably been achieved?
Today, she successfully exposed another shameful crime of the imperial military - under the threat of the insect swarm, they actually took the lead in escaping and abandoning the people of an entire planet!
"Hmph! Military secrets, no comment! Okay, that's it for today's press conference. Goodbye, everyone!"
Mengsk waved his hand arrogantly, turned around and left the podium, and terminated the live press conference early.
When he saw that the female reporter named Kate was well prepared, she had not only pictures and evidence, but also the video of the army's escape, the time when the Aglia people issued a distress signal, and the record of the conversation with Jim Raynor. , Mengsk knew that today, it seems that there is no way to get over it?
Therefore, he decided to end this damn live broadcast as soon as possible! Just wait until they think of a better way and excuse, and then send a broadcast to clarify!
Anyway, the UNN TV station covering the entire Koprulu Sector is under the control of Mengsk, and the power of leading public opinion is also in his hands. He is not too worried about what will happen!
At most, the garrison officer of the Aglia planet at that time would be pulled out to shoot targets and serve as a scapegoat to vent the anger of the people. Today, apart from being a little bit embarrassed, he has not suffered much loss. The most he can do about this is Just a little bit unhappy.
If the female reporter just now thought she could get herself into big trouble just by doing this, then she was still too young!
————
"Ha! I like that female reporter! What's her name? Kelly?"
Jim Raynor was drinking in the Hyperion bar. When he saw Mengsk hurriedly leaving with a dark face on the TV, he laughed out loud happily.
"Sir, her name is actually Kate Rockwell! She is a reporter who dares to tell the truth and expose all kinds of evils in the empire."
Matt, who was standing aside, also rarely laughed after watching TV.
However, he was a little confused, why is this female reporter who often confronts the Tyran Empire officials still alive and well until now? According to Mengsk's nature, shouldn't he have sent ghost troops to secretly kill the opponent, let him disappear from the world, or simply find a crime to imprison him permanently and put him in prison?
Why is he still allowed to wander outside and often speak ill of the empire? Mengsk shouldn't be so generous, right? Could it be that what is the background of that female reporter?
"Ha! No matter what her name is, if we have any breaking news in the future, why not give her a copy?"
Suddenly, Renault thought of such a good idea.
"Sir, I don't suggest you do that. It will only kill her!"
Matt thought for a while and rejected Jim's idea immediately.
Although I don’t know why Mengsk didn’t ask anyone to do anything against the female reporter, but if he and others, as wanted criminals, really contacted the female reporter secretly, then the other party might really be dead!
At that time, Mengsk can even blatantly send people to arrest the other party, and Matt can even think of the reason right now: communicating privately with a wanted criminal in the empire with the intention of treason!
Then, waiting for her end, there will be absolutely no other better outcome than execution or permanent imprisonment!
"Okay, okay, you're right!"
After thinking about it for a while and realizing that his idea was not that good, Renault sighed in frustration.
"That's right! Calculate the time. At this time, that bastard Tuo Xu should be almost ready to raid Haiwen Star, right? Do you think he will succeed?"
Apart from mentioning this matter to Matt, Jim didn't even mention it to his old friend Tychus Finley!
After all, he can be regarded as cheating on that promise once, so it is best that the fewer people know about it, the better!
If the other party is lucky enough to escape from Haven Star and knows that he was the one who tipped off the information, wouldn't Renault, the other party, be waiting for an opportunity to retaliate? !
"Calculating the time, it should be almost there, right? How about we send a message to ask?"
Thinking about what his commander had done before, Matt also secretly felt sorry for that unlucky Tuo Xu.
He couldn't find anyone to cooperate with, but he bumped into the Hyperion! Wouldn’t the other party inquire more? The Hyperion had just helped Heven Star, and his relationship with the Federation of Heroes wasn't too bad. Why didn't he even do more basic investigations and just hurried here to seek cooperation with his superiors? Make a fortune?
This was great. As soon as he revealed his plan, he was sold out by his superior. He also used the information that the other party was planning to rob Haiwen Star in exchange for the promised three thousand standard units. High-energy crystal, this deal, even Matt secretly applauded!
It would be even better if that guy from the Federation of Heroes could kill Tuo Xu directly!
"Ha! No need to do anything unnecessary! Dr. Hansen will send us the message in a day or two at most! Now, the colonel of Oulan should have almost completed the deciphering, right? Go and ask quickly! And give us a reminder? "
After taking another sip of wine, Renault suddenly mentioned to Matt the matter of deciphering the old Tyranid Federation adjutant robot.
Now their Hyperion has been staying outside the Port of the Dead for more than two days. They can't continue to waste time here, and they don't dare to stay here for a long time! In that case, if you are not careful, you will be targeted by the empire's fleet, and then you will be in big trouble!
"Okay, sir! I'm going now."
————
Haven Planet, the planet occupied by the Federation of Heroes, has not changed much except for the construction of a new city and the re-planning of the colonial gathering places of the Aglians.
Now, this place is still in a busy construction period. Whether it is in space or on the surface of the planet, countless projects are under intense construction. It will still be a long time before the Heroic Alliance takes complete control of this place.
At this time, in the basically completed City of Hope, near two ground warehouses, a large group of staff and SCV engineers were secretly installing various covert anti-stealth devices in the name of inspecting equipment. Instruments to target the coming threat of interstellar pirates.
"Hey! Galen, tell me, why haven't those interstellar pirates come to rob us now? They've been so bored lately!"
In the Head of State's mansion, under the roots of a broad-leaved tree native to Haven Star, little Annie was sitting on a swing tied to the trunk of the tree. She glanced at Galen and others who were acting as the Head of State's bodyguard.
They are currently playing with some skewers on an electric stove, acting as chefs to prepare today's lunch.
"Um...if you're bored? Maybe we can continue to go hunting and relax?"
How would Galen know when the interstellar pirates would come to rob them?
Even this information was conveyed through Ariel Hansen. It is said that the other party is a group of invisible ghosts? Whether it is true or false remains to be discussed. We will not know until the other party actually comes to rob.
"don't want……"
Recently, most of the delicious or edible animals on this planet of Haven have caused a lot of harm to them. They have eaten them almost once. Therefore, during this period of time, little Annie doesn't think much about it. When I went out, I no longer wanted to hunt in the name of collecting animal information.
The main reason is: those animals are tired of being eaten by her...
"How about we go fishing after lunch?"
Galen, who was on duty today as a bodyguard and companion, quickly gave another suggestion.
"No...the yacht has not been repaired...Aunt Doug has also transferred all the transport ships..."
Not long ago, when little Annie and the others went out to sea for fun, the newly built yacht dedicated to the head of state almost sank because she was determined to attack a huge sea creature from the sea star. , but still lying in the repair shop until now!
Thinking of this, Annie felt annoyed!
Even she didn't expect at the time that that big guy, who was almost like a whale, was so strong and had bone spurs on his body? In one fell swoop, a big hole was dug into her new yacht, but the good thing was that her yacht had its own flight function, which prevented it from sinking into the sea in the end...
Now, it is not impossible to drive a transport ship.
It's just that... the head adjutant Doug, who was guarding little Annie like a thief, had already dispatched all the transport ships to transport supplies during this busy period, and not even one was left behind!
"Then let's change the game? Let's fly a Wraith fighter to fight those dinosaur-like monsters?"
In the sky of this star, there is often a kind of dinosaur-like creature that flies and hunts with huge wing membranes. Their meat is very delicious. Galen, who has eaten it once, has long thought about trying to get one or two more. Let’s open up the meat!
However, their number does not seem to be very large. After some of them were hunted before, the federal government issued a decree classifying them as rare species, and it is strictly prohibited to kill them at will!
He might not dare to go poaching by himself, but if he deceives his little head of state, no one would dare to make irresponsible remarks, right?
The top executive eats rare animals from car to cart, so government officials don’t dare to make irresponsible remarks, right? At most, they can just eat it secretly without letting those people find out!
"No! A flying dragon that's been smashed by lasers or electromagnetic cannons doesn't taste good at all! You guys can't fly!"
After casting a disdainful glance at the flattering Galen, little Annie snorted and looked away.
This bastard actually tried to trick himself into catching the flying dragon again!
She also knows that wild flying dragons are delicious, but they can fly and are difficult to catch! If you kill it directly with an anti-aircraft weapon or rifle, the blood will coagulate in the muscles, seriously affecting the taste!
The last time, she flew out directly from the armored transport ship and used magic to catch one alive before tasting that delicious food.
Although their meat is delicious, it is also very tiring to catch...
It's troublesome just thinking about it, so she doesn't want to go!
"Huh?!"
Little Annie, who was swinging in a princess dress on the swing, suddenly sensed something, raised her head, blinked, and looked at the sky above her head.
There, she seemed to sense a hint of malicious intent? The feeling was very light and there was no threat... However, there must be some bad guys plotting against me?
"What's wrong?"
Seeing the reaction of his head of state, Galen also looked up at the sky.
Then, he felt very puzzled. There was only a blue sky above, cloudless... The weather today was very good. It was just the right weather for barbeque picnics in the courtyard and getting together to drink, chat and brag. What's so good about this? surprised? !
"Well... you go and notify Aunt Doge and say: Tonight, those bad guys are coming to rob us! Let her get ready quickly!"
Finally, little Annie, who was idle and panicking, discovered something from her perception, and excitedly jumped down from the swing, and ordered to Galen who was incomprehensible.
This is really great!
Just when she was bored, a group of bad guys came to her door to play with her? So, maybe she will have some fun tonight?
"real or fake?"
After being stunned for a moment, Galen quickly put down the skewers in his hands and kept looking up.
The sky is still the same sky, Haiwen Star is similar to the earth, and it also has a blue sky; the clouds are still the same, and he doesn't see any difference? How could little Annie be so sure that those bad guys would come tonight? Is humanoid radar like the magician so powerful?
"Hello? Sir Doug? I'm Galen! This is what happened..."
Although he was confused, Galen honestly took out his communication equipment and directly contacted Doug who was working in the command center of the military base outside the City of Hope.
"Yes, it should be the group of ghost pirates I mentioned before. I'm not sure... Anyway, it was Head of State Anne who asked me to inform you... Yes, that should be it!"
