StarCraft: Tyranid Empire

Chapter 139 Warfield: Sail into Deep Space

Federation frontier, AX16427 galaxy.

The Iron Justice is cruising in the direction of Artesia's main star. AD2489.05.22, 8:54 shipboard time.

".Release the nuclear bomb and turn Korha IV into scorched earth!"

The bar on the ship was full of marines in brown uniforms and fleet soldiers in black space combat uniforms who came after hearing the news. Among them, the marines were all from the 33rd Ground Assault Division to which Augustus originally belonged.

The already small bar couldn't accommodate so many people, so some soldiers jumped onto the table.The scene was chaotic. People who were squeezed into the corner wiped off the posters of the Marine Corps shooting competition on the wall, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling seemed to shake because of the chaos.

This battlecruiser is within the range of the Federation's thirteen main star worlds, so they were one of the first fleets to receive the news.

A non-commissioned officer from Korha IV was covering his face and weeping. This man who didn't shed a single tear even after losing a skull during the Sigma landing battle was now on the verge of collapse.One soldier cried out the names of his wife and daughter, crying, thinking that Keha had been destroyed.

"That's his home. His family is still there," his comrade explained to the other soldiers. "He can't save them."

At this time, more soldiers were walking towards the upper deck cabin where the bar was located. As the number increased, the latter could only stand in the aisle at the door.

Everywhere people are asking what happened, what happened to Keha IV.

But after learning the truth of the matter, the soldiers just stared blankly at the TV screen on the bar counter, at a loss.

"Is this a ridiculous April Fool's Day joke or is UNN's terminal network hacked?" The soldiers just felt baffled, and couldn't believe that UNN would report military secrets that would never be disclosed even if they were true.

"It can't be true, Congress would be crazy to shoot its own people."

The TV in the ship's bar had been playing on loop since a few soldiers in the bar had first heard the news six hours earlier.

"Sorry, we have encountered some technical failures, and the technicians are re-adjusting the equipment that went wrong." In the news that was being broadcast, the emergency signal was cut off immediately after the deafening speech of the Speaker of the Federal Parliament.

The one who came to the rescue was a host during the daytime period. He had just been dragged from the bed by the federal marines who kicked in the door. He was obviously still in shock, but he still couldn't stutter.

"The following is the recruitment advertisement of the Federal Marine Corps: Actively respond to the government's call and sign up to join the army. It is the sacred duty of every federal citizen to defend the country and resist the aggression of the Kelmerian Federation." He tidied himself anxiously tie.

"Welcome to the official website of UNN Universe News Network to read the latest news reports - we have the most complete and authoritative exclusive news and exclusive reports. The motto of UNN is to discover the truth at all costs."

But obviously, these few words could not calm the confusion of the soldiers.

"Go back to your posts, no one is allowed in the aisle!" At this moment, the voice of Lieutenant Colonel Horace Warfield suddenly came from the communication device, and before the military police arrived on the ship, the soldiers quickly dispersed.

Only a few soldiers from Keha IV were unwilling to leave, standing in the bar staring at the TV screen above their heads, expecting to get more news about Keha from above.

A few minutes later, Horace Warfield, commander of the 33nd Brigade of the 2rd Ground Assault Division, in the uniform of a lieutenant colonel, walked into the bar and glanced at four or five Keha soldiers: "Why didn't you obey the order?"

"We're from Keha, sir," replied a private.

"Go back and rest." Warfield said gently to the soldiers after a moment of silence: "Go to sleep and everything will be fine."

"Things have not reached the point of no return."

The private shook his head and said sadly but firmly, "Sir, we won't leave until we figure out what's going on."

Warfield nodded, not forcing them to obey orders.

Warfield walked in front of the TV screen, and in another cycle, the solemn and magnificent Hall of Reason appeared in front of him again. The image of the respected Speaker McMaster who spoke out for the people in the past was bold and powerful. It's so ironic when the cold and routine look overlaps at the moment.

"Switch back to the live broadcast channel." He'd seen it more than once, and didn't want to watch it again.

At the location of Iron Justice, the news channel has a delay of nearly half an hour.At this time, fashion brand underwear advertisements were still playing on TV, and Warfield became uncommonly irritable.

Even now, Warfield can't believe that the government he fought for would do something that is no different from a genocide, one of the most brutal and genocide programs in human history.

However, even if this is the case, it cannot be concluded that this must be true, because it is too sensational, and people can't help but doubt the accuracy of this matter.

As Warfield fretted over the fact, the bar TV finally stopped showing commercials.A man in a black suit and blue tie with his hands propped on the desk of the Xinnet press conference appeared in the center of the screen, and under the podium was a reporter holding a microphone high.

"The spokesperson of the Federal Security Service urgently held a press conference at [-]:[-] a.m. Tarsonis time. Here is a live report from UNN reporter Lorraine in Tarsonis City."

There were as many as [-] reporters from various news newspapers at the press conference. Almost at the same time as a large number of armed airships took off, these reporters who were woken up in various ways smelled big news.

"I'm only here to answer a few questions," the spokesman said with seriousness as he tightened his tie.

"There are sacred and inviolable federal laws to respond to baseless accusations and false slanders."

"Some witnesses said that a group of terrorists stormed into the UNN headquarters building and took control of it for at least an hour. Is this true?" A reporter from the Telador United News asked loudly.

"It is true that terrorists entered the UNN headquarters building and caused some riots. The Federal Security Service is currently investigating this matter with all its strength. We have sufficient reasons and evidence to confirm that Angus Meng of "Keha's Mad Dog" SK planned this act of terror for which he and his rebel party should be held accountable."

"What role did the Tarsonis Police Department play in this vicious incident? Our audience wants to know whether the dereliction of duty officers are worth the taxpayers' money?" said the reporter of Antiga Broadcasting Corporation.

"Actually, our police are very good." The spokesman shook his head and said, "If you have read our government report, you will find that there were no hostage casualties, which just shows that the rescue operation by the police is very successful."

"I would like to know how you respond to the allegations that the Federal Parliament decided to use a thousand apocalypse-level nuclear bombs to destroy Korha IV," said a UNN reporter.

"I have nothing to say about this. All groundless accusations against the government are treasonous, false and malicious. I want to warn those who spread rumors, it is against the law."

"Don't you want to deny the authenticity of that unknown video, because those are forged by the rebel party, and they are virtual images made using artificial synthesis technology." Another reporter apparently even thought of a reason for the spokesperson: "In fact, the resolution on bombing Korha was forged."

"I don't know," said the spokesman. "Next question."

"Has the parliament revoked or abandoned the resolution to use apocalypse-level nuclear bombs to destroy Korha IV?" In the words of the reporter of Lothar Global News Radio and Television, he seems to have already assumed that the parliament has indeed passed this proposal.

"I don't know," the spokesman replied.

"After this news is broadcast, how will the government respond to the riots and protests that broke out in the main star worlds of the Federation and the fringe worlds?" The reporter from the Hermes News Group asked loudly.

"It stands to reason that those who flout the law commit crimes," the spokesman said.

"Our reporter in Korha IV captured the chaos that broke out on this planet due to the panic of the whole people. The shuttle planes of the rich people were shot down as soon as they took off. The people began to flee the city frantically, digging deep into the air-raid shelters underground."

"Keha IV must pay the price for his betrayal. The federal government has given them many opportunities."

"."

"Damn it, he doesn't want to admit it, because it's true." In the bar of the Iron Justice ship, a soldier of Kaha descent said, his brown eyes filled with tears, and his shoulders trembled.Every Kaha person recalls their beautiful homeland and their loved ones with great sadness.

"They're going to do that, they're going to drop a nuke. If the federal government had heard the voice of the people, then they wouldn't have made such a decision, and we wouldn't even have to fight it," the nearly seven-foot-tall Keha man lamented. Crying to his lieutenant colonel.

"Sir, we have to go back," he said.

"Back to Korha."

"But you have to stay on the ship now. There is nowhere else to go. Even if I ask you to put you on the nearest colony planet, it is more than 100 million astronomical units away from the Iron Justice."

Warfield said in his strongest and most unquestionable tone at the moment.

"Stay here, boy. The 33rd Ground Assault Division was your home when you were homeless."

Captain's cabin, AD2489.05.25, 9:24 ship time.

Lieutenant Colonel Warfield saw nearly one-third of the non-commissioned officers, sergeant majors, lieutenants, and field officers on the Iron Justice in the captain's cabin. More than [-] people stood in the not-so-large cabin.Due to the large number of people, some people had to stand in the aisle.

These people are all Warfield's old subordinates or single-handedly selected. They are carefully screened according to their background and political leanings, and they are considered the most trustworthy people.

"Damn it, if that congressman is standing in front of me, I will definitely beat him to the ground." In the crowded captain's cabin, Major Charles Chuck Horner said angrily.

Charles was one of the old subordinates of Arcturus Mengsk, who was the commander of the 33rd Ground Assault Division. When Arcturus was a lieutenant, Charles was a member of his subordinate unit, the Imperial Squad.He is a strong man with broad shoulders and a square base. He comes from a remote fringe world where electricity is a problem, and the basic industrial system in that fringe world has not been established even after two generations.

People in Charles' hometown lived an almost primitive life. Outside the central town built with colonial ship materials, people lived by grazing and planting.There are only about 5000 people on the entire planet. Due to the long distance and lack of oil and water to earn, businessmen only come here in a period of five years or more. Only scavengers will frequently visit Charles' hometown.

Like many people who are regarded as country boys by the people of the main star world, Charles is also a rude and arrogant person. He is full of foul words, and when he talks to "civilized people", he always makes the other party feel that he is talking nonsense.

"I still can't believe this is true." Even though I have seen it more than once, Warfield still said in an unbelievable tone: "Even if Keha IV has a huge rebel army, can it be bigger than the population?" The Kel-Morian Federation with more than 60 billion people? I thought it was just an ordinary planetary landing battle."

"It's like you're walking on beautiful grass and stepping on a piece of dog shit, but it's the truth," Charles said in his magical metaphorical way.

"If hackers hadn't broken into the network of the UNN Universe News Network, then, in early June, we would have received information that Korha IV had been destroyed," Warfield said.

"Arcturs must be mad, he loves Keha very much," said Charles. "If you have seen the tenderness he wrote to his mother and sister, then you should know how much he loves him." watch them."

"And I think that as a human being, we should retaliate against resentment, and retaliate against hatred."

"How could they treat Keha like this? Even when they slaughtered the same number of cattle and sheep, they should have a little compassion." Warfield looked at the officers who were surrounding him and said: "We treat humans like this. The sense of identity with a concept is the reason why we broke away from the animal category and created civilization."

"It has nothing to do with the rebellion. If one day your hometown suffers the same fate as Korha for other reasons, then what choice should we make?"

"We can't go on like this, my friends. I'm increasingly skeptical that such a government is worth fighting for," Warfield said.

"What do you mean by waiting, what are we going to do?" said a captain.

"Take control of the battlecruiser by force," Warfield said. "Then shut down all military network communications and completely disconnect from the Fleet Command Center and Tarsonis."

"We will no longer fight for the Federation. We will go into deep space, into the dark."

"Order, Lieutenant Colonel," said the officers in unison.

Warfield's subordinates were extremely angry at the resolution of the Federal Parliament. They were disgusted by the fact that they had been loyal to such a government, and determined to follow their chief to leave the army.

"The Federal Parliament will pay the price sooner or later," Charles said. "They love dirty bombs."

"But my hunting teacher used to say that whoever uses the sword will die by the sword."

(End of this chapter)