"Will this work?"
Renault walked towards the Xel'Naga artifact fragment that was suspended between the black inverted triangular brackets. This polyhedron with mysterious carvings on its surface was suspended in the air several feet high, exuding light blue amidst the flying ashes and sparks. Dark light.
This mysterious piece of irregular geometry is clearly part of a larger whole and is extremely difficult to destroy. Even though Swann used a hot-melt laser drill, he couldn't shake it at all. All human detection equipment cannot analyze the core of this object.
"Getting too close to it or staying nearby for too long will cause headaches. The warehouse keeper guarding him will always see strange sights." Renault stood in front of the Xel'Naga artifact, listening to the sound of the power armor's servo engine running. pacing around him.
Augustus summoned Corporal Faraday and the Ghost agent "recruit" and asked the latter what he thought of the Xel'Naga artifact fragments.
"There is no doubt that it is a container, a container for storing psychic energy." The ghost agent "recruit" replied: "But it is not complete enough, otherwise its power may far exceed any weapon we have."
"I trust your judgment." Augustus' words made the ghost agent flattered: "The main thing is that we can put all the puzzle pieces together. It will be a magic weapon that can deal with zerg and humans."
"...Where do you come from with your belief in this thing? The only way I can think of using it as a weapon is to slap it on the forehead of a bug." Raynor has a very prejudiced view of the Xel'Naga artifact fragments. big.
"Why do we believe that this thing is so attractive to things on the black spaceship? In other words, we should set up a trap near here, just like putting oil and spices in a mousetrap."
"Ah...if they dare to come." Duke, who didn't quite understand what Augustus and Renault were talking about, thought it was finally his time to show off.
"They will become a pile of corpses like dogs and broken boots that I have drowned in the water." He gestured viciously and dancely, as if he was strangling someone by the neck.
"Use your brain, General, we want to catch him alive." Renault said, "Or don't you?"
"Go and eat shit, you little boy." Duke roared angrily. He must have turned blue with rage.
This scion of the Duke family, who had a bad personality, was extremely irritable. Renault had become proficient at irritating him with just a few words, and he took pleasure in seeing the other person angry but helpless towards him.
In the final analysis, origin and completely different ideas are the root of the conflict between Renault and others and Duke. In Renault's own words, it means that if you are not a family, you cannot enter the same family.
Both Augustus and Reno were familiar with Duke's easy-to-understand facial expressions. The only saving grace of this stubborn, forty-five-year-old former Federation squadron leader was that even if Duke only had one battleship or Even if it's a gun - as long as he has it, he will rush forward and confront the enemy head-on without hesitation.
"Jim, you shouldn't treat an old man like this." Augustus tried to mediate the conflict between the two people. He only hoped that this would not add fuel to the fire.
"Guys, take this artifact fragment to the command post."
Under the order of Augustus, the Revolutionary Army engineer responsible for transporting the Xel'Naga artifact fragments carried the box carrying it towards the command heart of Alpha Squadron.
Even Renault had to admit that although Duke was a complete idiot, he was after all an experienced officer with great insight and command experience. The location of Alpha Squadron's landing site camp and fortifications was so tricky that there was no fault in it. In addition to the command center, there were also contiguous marching tents and logistics supply centers.
Duke's experienced engineers also found a precious water source and a non-toxic hot spring nearby. After processing the ash, sulfide and other impurities, the freshwater processor can convert the water into a precious resource that can be drank.
The command center is set up near an orbiting satellite base station, with a water tower on the other side. All equipment is powered by the cargo ship's power reactor. These precious energy sources are hard-won on Char. The layout of Duke's barracks is just like that of other federal nobles. No matter what, it is necessary to ensure the comfort of the commander's environment.
Approximately 2,200 Alpha Squadron Marines are guarding this base. Almost all of them are resocialized soldiers. All officers have been replaced with officers and political commissars from the Korhal Revolutionary Army to ensure that they are always Duke, who liked to act on his own initiative, would not squander this army.
Alpha Squadron is equipped with CMC-300 powered armor and possesses heavy weapons such as electromagnetic railguns. Apart from the inflexible minds of re-socialized soldiers, they are almost second only to several veteran divisions of the Korhal Revolutionary Army. of troops.
The most elite troops under Augustus are now divided into the Demons of Heaven such as Lundstein, the veteran Korhal division led by the Korhal nobles, Milan Han's Port of the Dead Raider Assault Division, Raynor Rangers, Tai The wolf hunters of Kais and the Saran army commanded by Prior, the former governor of the Federation Mar Sara.
Governor Mar Sara's troops were given a new name - Sons of Dante.
The interior of Duke's Alpha Squadron command center is unexpectedly simple and tidy, in the usual military pragmatism style, but medals and weapons are hung all over the walls.
The civilian staff and officers in the command center were basically dispatched by Augustus. In addition to making suggestions for Duke, they also had to keep an eye on him at all times to prevent Duke from suddenly slapping his forehead and leading the marshal's elite troops. Find someone to fight for.
Standing on the entrance steps of Alpha Squadron's command center was Lieutenant Aisha, who was receiving officers or delivering orders for Duke. She was a petite but plump blonde with a charming smile that looked like she could smile. Like cats.
But no one in Alpha Squadron expected anything to happen to her, since she had cut off the genitals of eight men in a row over the course of a week before being imprisoned and turned into a resocialized soldier.
The dangerous crime routine is always the same. When you pick up a drunk girl with a perky butt on the street, she is probably just a Venus flytrap waiting for someone to catch you.
Augustus knew nothing of any of this, he just regarded her as an ordinary resocialized soldier. Some soldiers may be imprisoned simply for offending a Federation noble, while others may be guilty of extremely heinous crimes.
"Gather my elite guard," Duke told the herald.
"We need anti-stealth equipment...but we don't have to deploy too many defensive forces." Augustus looked at the beautiful blond female officer.
The other person just tilted his head, obviously not understanding which of the two conflicting orders should be followed. When she was confused, Augustus just frowned slightly.
"Do as the marshal says," Duke said immediately.
"I told you earlier, Duke, those poor guys who have been neuro-modified can do some work of serving tea and water." Renault said: "Or you would rather have a servant who can only execute orders than a wise lieutenant. .”
"No, it's enough for Alpha Squadron to have me." Duke replied arrogantly: "The real commander only needs one person, and that is the smartest one among people."
"Aha, it's a pity that you are so far away from that." Renault said.
"Don't let me get the chance, you oily country bumpkin," Duke said through gritted teeth.
"Then prove to me that you are smart enough, but you can't beat me in chess, poker or dice." Reno shot back.
"True intelligence will not be reflected in these unattractive games." Duke snorted.
Augustus, surrounded by Renault, Duke, and a dozen Ranger Vulture bikers and Alpha Squadron elite guards, walked into the command center, where there were several machines facing the wide tempered glass windows. LED2D display screens, computer consoles and camp monitors allow commanders to have an overview of the entire battlefield through these sophisticated devices.
"Put the artifact fragments here." When Augustus turned to look at the main screen of the monitor, Renault was directing the engineers and soldiers transporting the artifact fragments: "Turn up the power."
On the screen of the monitor is the satellite map of the Burning Land. The main nest point, Alpha Squadron outposts and firepower points are all marked on the map. The cameras monitor the main access channels of the base, and there are heavy machines under each camera. and artillery aimed at the entrance.
Because engineers were amplifying the energy signal of the Xel'Naga artifact fragments, the electronic equipment in the command center became extremely unstable.
"What should we do now?" Renault looked at Augustus: "Just wait?"
"Jimmy, we're not here just to find them." Augustus found the coordinates of several nearby Zerg main nests on the main screen that was flashing snowflake-like garbled characters.
"General Duke," he said.
"What is your order?" Duke immediately acted very humble and cautious, which made Renault sneer.
"While the zerg there are still in chaos fighting each other, I want you to destroy main hives B to E." Augustus circled several zerg main hives on the screen that he believed must be eradicated immediately , mark the letters manually.
Once these zerg main nests are destroyed, the main nests are located on the islands in the center of the magma lake. The Alpha Squadron here does not need to deal with enemies on the ground from all directions, and can only focus on dealing with the zerg emerging from the volcanic zone to the east.
"Call our air strike forces and transport ships to launch airborne operations, and retreat immediately as soon as the target is destroyed." Augustus said to Duke.
"I believe this is what you and your Alpha Squadron are best at," he said.
"You saw the right person." Duke immediately complied.
This is indeed the battle that Alpha Squadron is best at, taking advantage of the fleet and air force to launch an attack. If the army must be dispatched to destroy the enemy on the ground, then Duke will rely on the air force to launch a powerful surprise attack and retreat unscathed.
After Duke led his men out of the command center headquarters, the place immediately fell silent. Only Reno, Corporal Faraday, a ghost and several engineers were left. Rangers with white Wings of Freedom badges on their armor were guarding Follow the aisles and entrances in the command center.
Augustus was silent for a few seconds, then he opened the visor on his power armor, took a deep breath, and walked towards the huge window of the command center facing the magma lake in the Burning Land.
The oxygen and sulfur content in Char's atmosphere are quite high, and the smoke is billowing like thousands of Tarsonis garbage incinerators spitting out black smoke. There is a smoky smell in the air, which makes people feel uncomfortable and dizzy when inhaled.
It is also dangerous to inhale too much ash fragments into the lungs. Augustus can only breathe fresher air in the command center with an air purification system instead of the circulating gas in the power armor.
At this time, more than five hours had passed since Augustus' army landed in Char. In this dimension of the Burning Land, a day is particularly short.
The sky in the distance gradually became darker as the sun set, and the orange-red color released by the magma lake burned the ash clouds on the horizon into red. In the golden light of the falling star, two purple moons hung in the sky, and a huge red planet with a halo appeared on the other side.
In Char, the alternation between day and night lasts only a moment. Char's thin atmosphere cannot retain the temperature, and the temperature will become cold rapidly.
The fire on the ground became particularly bright, as if the furnace fire forged by the God of Craftsmen fell to the earth. Alpha Squadron's landing site base and soldier camps were filled with flickering lights that blended with the red glow of the lava.
Augustus stood there for a long time, no one knew what he was thinking. Reno did not disturb Augustus, but stood with him.
Perhaps in the eyes of this Shiloh man who was only twenty-two years old, Augustus was thinking about the future of the revolutionary army. Time passed slowly, and Augustus did not wait for the Dark Templar he expected, but instead waited for Lieutenant Aisha.
Lieutenant Aisha delivered a fixed amount of food and water to the command room at a fixed time as usual, and Duke's general meal standards were higher than those of soldiers.
"Please have a meal..." Lieutenant Aisha had an unchanging sweet smile on her face. Without anyone reminding her, she didn't know that she should prepare more dinner for Renault and others.
"You should see that there is more than one person here." Augustus took the plate from the lieutenant's hand and said in an ordering tone: "You must..."
As soon as Augustus uttered a few words, the already flickering lights in the command room immediately went out one after another, and all electronic devices and screens went out accordingly.
"Oh - damn, the zerg must have chewed up our wires." Raynor cursed and turned on the searchlight in front of his power armor breastplate. As a result, he immediately looked at a man with a long purple veil who suddenly appeared in the light. The face was startled.
Black fog billowed in the command room, and the temperature indicator inside dropped by several degrees Celsius in a short period of time. A pair of eyes burning with green psychic flames brought the coldness of the void.
Reno pulled out the Colt military revolver in his holster almost on condition, but the one holding the gun was immediately grasped by a pair of huge hands with dark purple nails and dark gray skin.
He tried to pull the trigger or withdraw his hand, but now he couldn't even move a finger.
Corporal Faraday reacted just a moment slower than Reno, but when he was about to draw his gun and shoot, Augustus stopped him.
"Don't fire, stay calm." Augustus looked into those green eyes with piercing eyes: "Tell my guards that I am just receiving a distinguished guest..."
This sentence was obviously addressed to the visitor.
"I'm afraid, there are more than one." After all, Renault is a person who has experienced strong winds and waves. He is extremely courageous and did not panic because of the scene in front of him.
Immediately afterwards, two other pairs of eyes of the same color appeared. Their dark purple robes moved without any wind, as if there was a strong wind blowing around them. Augustus could only judge by the light of the powered armor searchlight that the owners of his two pairs of eyes were from a protoss female and another male.
"Humans...this Xel'Naga creation is too dangerous for you." The female protoss said.
"What you have is power that you cannot control." The male star spirit followed.
"Put down your weapons and you will be a guest." Augustus' unusual calmness exceeded the imagination of the visitors. Originally, they thought that these humans were just another group of arrogant people who wanted to borrow the holy relics left by the creator Xel'Naga.
"Protoss warriors, I think..." he said calmly: "At least we should turn on the lights first, and then we can sit down and have a good conversation about the current situation."
"A wise move." The first protoss who appeared was obviously the leader among them. He only said a word and all the lights in the command room turned on, and other equipment returned to normal operation.
Previously, he had been observing Renault, Augustus and the Xel'Naga artifact fragment, silently.
After the lights came back on, Augustus was able to see clearly the appearance of the visitors.
The leader was a tall Star Spirit elder. He is somewhat hunched over, and is quite old even for the protoss' long lifespan.
A long dark purple veil is tied around his narrow chin, and above the veil is a broad gray forehead with sharp, raised spikes, which is very different from the Aiur protoss, who have light blue skin and smooth facial features.
The elder of the protoss wears a soft purple robe that seems to be woven by the breeze. The collar is a shoulder strap sewn with some kind of beast leather, and the body is tied with a belt and arm armor inlaid with green crystals. His robes were quite worn and full of traces of time, but the elder didn't care about this at all.
"In the name of Adun, I am Zeratul, the leader of the Dark Templar." The voice of the Protoss elder that appeared in Augustus's mind was hoarse, but not harsh or unpleasant. It was not the sound of dead branches rubbing against each other, but the deep sound of aged conches.
"You...are not part of the prophecy." Zeratul stared into Augustus's eyes: "You are not a destined person, nor do you know anything about it."
"..." Augustus knew Zeratul's character well, so he just rolled his eyes.
This is Zeratul, a dark templar who deeply believes in the prophecy of the creator Xel'Naga. He would never explain anything simply and clearly, and his opening remarks were always difficult to understand.
And never take the usual path.
"What nonsense is he talking about?" Renault doesn't care so much. As soon as he saw clearly that it was the protoss in front of him and not something else, the frightened Renault immediately complained loudly.
"Do not be rude to the Patriarch." The female dark templar's glowing green eyes stared closely at Renault.
This female Dark Templar's clothes look much better than Zeratul's. The dark purple robe that wraps her body is painted with mysterious symbols and patterns. She should be one of the scholars among them.
"It's rude to you people - or the protoss... why don't you go through the main entrance?" Raynor complained.
"..."
The spontaneous Raynor asked about Zeratul and his Dark Templar.
"Whether you go through the main entrance or not is not the key to the problem." Augustus quickly shut up Renault: "What I want to know is whether you just killed a brain worm."
"Yes, so you will find that some zerg suddenly become extremely crazy." Without any arrogance or pretentiousness, Zeratul answered Augustus's question frankly: "This is the purpose of our coming to this planet. ——Destroy the zerg.”
"But as far as we know, a brainworm cannot be completely killed. It will be resurrected by the master of the zerg." Augustus said.
"Both the Overlord and the Cerebrates are very powerful, but they are not invincible." Zeratul raised his head gently. This may be a specific body movement, but Augustus now It’s still unknown.
He stretched out a hand, his open palm clenched into a fist, and a shining green psychic blade was immediately projected from the bracer on his arm. That cold psychic blade was completely different from the Templars under Tassadar.
"I killed the brainworm. Its name is Gwen, the Lord of the White Swarm." He said: "I used void psychic energy to cut off its connection with the master...Gwen's death is already It is irreversible and will never be resurrected."
"You'd better prove that what you say is true." Renault said.
"I can't prove it to you, but he is indeed dead." Zeratul put away his psychic blade, not wanting to dwell on this issue anymore.
"I believe it." Renault spread his hands, admiring the Dark Templar's frankness.
"..." Augustus did not pursue the question any further.
If Augustus asked Zeratul if he had come into contact with the master's mind at that moment when he killed the brainworm Gwen, I believe that it must be an affirmative answer, because if you want to completely kill a brainworm using This process must be experienced, and Zeratul may even consider it an honor.
But Zeratul didn't know that this contact was two-way. The moment he came into contact with the Overlord's mind, the Overmind also learned the coordinates of the protoss home planet Aiur from Zeratul's mind.
Al is about to fall again.
