StarCraft: Tyranid Empire.

Chapter 173 Sarnaga Artifact Fragment
At the end of November, Purgatory Corridor, a mining outpost of the Revolutionary Army.

In the picture taken by the two-winged turbo drone patrolling in the sky, a circular mine pit reinforced with alloy plates and all-metal frame is like a black spot on the crimson sandy soil of the purgatory corridor.

Surrounding this giant mine pit with a diameter of more than 700 feet (about 210 meters), there is a drilling rig platform made of concrete and steel plates. , large excavators, and sometimes bustling workers and militiamen with guns patrolling under the camera of the drone.

In the center of the camp is a federal red and blue flag fluttering in the wind. The diagonally intersecting white crosses and numerous five-pointed stars on the flag indicate that this is a mining base belonging to the Tyrann Federation.

Due to the harsh environment, rampant banditry, and the weak local police force, it is impossible to clear up the large number of gangsters and pirates entrenched in it. The Purgatory Corridor has always been in a no-care area, and it is an area where black transactions frequently occur.

For many years, the Corridor of Purgatory has been the most chaotic and disorderly area in the entire Hero area and even in the entire hemisphere.Due to communication difficulties, several clean-up operations organized by nearby police stations failed, and the sheriffs were all out of reach and helpless against the 1000-mile-long black and evil canyon.

It wasn't until a federal sheriff named Caesar appeared out of nowhere that he wiped out the Chimera pirates entrenched in the corridor of purgatory and brought these notorious interstellar pirates to justice. Only then did the corridor of purgatory establish a rare order.

Immediately afterwards, with the help of Rhodes, the judicial officer of Hiero Autonomous State, Caesar Magistrate sold a part of the mining rights of the Purgatory Corridor to a mining company named Steele in the name of the Hiero State Government.

Both Magistrate Caesar and Justice Rhodes are impartial and selfless people. With lofty beliefs of absolute loyalty to the federal government, they solemnly signed the transfer of mining rights under the witness of the Stars and Stripes of the Cross and the Goat State Flag of Hiero State. contract, all revenues will be handed over to the Tarsonis Mining Authority and used to build the Hiero Autonomous State-no one will get ill-gotten gains from it, because all transactions are legal.

If someone questioned the increasing number of luxury goods, the number of luxury cars and the number of mistresses of Justice Rhodes, then of course he did not give face to the Mining Administration and some officials in the cabinet. Questioning the mining rights transfer contract is like It's as ridiculous as questioning the federal government's lack of fairness and justice.

Augustus, who was in an orange-gray barracks, felt ridiculous when he thought of the scene where he and Rhodes, the judicial officer of Hiero State, were pushing glasses and changing glasses in the star hotel in the capital of Hiero State. Augustus just spent A small sum of money would make the sheriff blush with joy.

They all took money from the Steele mining company as a matter of course, and Judge Rhodes firmly believed that Augustus would not betray him, because they were already grasshoppers on the same rope.

But in fact, this mining company with thousands of people is full of revolutionary soldiers and miners mainly composed of criminals. The seemingly huge bribe money was just put from Augustus' left pocket into his right pocket .

Only Augustus himself knows that more than 2000 revolutionary troops have landed on Mar Sara, plus the more than [-] prisoners who were forced to reform through labor in the mine, the number of these people is already smaller than that of any Hero The population of the town is much larger.

The Revolutionary Army also owns seven small and medium-sized mining areas, four of which have recruited mining workers from local towns, which has effectively boosted the local economy.Compared with other private mines in Mar Sara, the mine of the Revolutionary Army is the best in terms of welfare, working hours and safety environment.

At this moment, standing in front of Augustus in the barracks, there was a holographic projection screen that played the surveillance footage of the drone.Today is a rare day off, and Rory Swan vowed to dig out the signal source emitting electromagnetic disturbance under the Purgatory Corridor today, so Augustus rushed to the Purgatory Corridor mining area on purpose.

Although after Augustus defeated the Chimera pirates and captured their scientific research station, other pirates and criminal organizations immediately abandoned their original strongholds and fled, but according to intelligence, there are still a considerable number of criminals wandering in Purgatory The depths of the corridor, so the revolutionary army in the corridor must be careful of those malicious enemies or those with ulterior motives spying on this mining outpost.

"Marshal Mengsk, the archaeological team you invited has arrived in the corridor of purgatory." While Augustus was looking at the surveillance screen, Corporal Faraday walked into the barracks.The latter looked around seriously as he walked in, but didn't see Ghost agent Sarah Kerrigan.

Most of the time, Sarah Kerrigan, the mysterious and powerful former federal ghost agent, is invisible. It is said that she stands by the Revolutionary Army Marshal anytime and anywhere. When you talk to the Marshal, Kerrigan is likely to stand between you.

This 16-year-old ghost agent is already a deadly killer at the age of cardamom, but she should be a cute and cute girl.

After joining the Revolutionary Army, Sarah Kerrigan has always stayed by Augustus's side, and has never carried out an assassination mission.

Officers close to Augustus, like Corporal Faraday, believe that when Sarah Kerrigan is no longer living as a killer and forced to suppress her emotions, she may show more of a human being than a humanoid weapon of the Federation. that side.

"Please come in." Augustus looked at Corporal Faraday.

There are about ten people in this archaeological team, most of them are doctoral supervisors of the History Department of Moria Sakae University and Tarsonis University, and the youngest is also a doctoral student who has just graduated.

All team members are or have been engaged in research on mysterious alien relics, published a large number of papers on this research, and authored authoritative books.Augustus first asked them to participate in an "unprecedented and unprecedented archaeological discovery" with a generous and irresistible reward, and then waited for their invitees to come.

Due to various factors including economic reasons, a considerable number of Kel-Morians and Umoyans responded. Influenced by the propaganda of the Kel-Morian Confederation and the internal government of the Umoyan United States, these people responded to the resistance The Revolutionary Army of the Tyrannian Federation tyranny still has a good impression.

Although they didn't know where they were going before they arrived in Mar Sara, these scholars, who were either living in poverty or simply wanted to make a career in their own industry, took great risks and rushed here.

When Corporal Faraday walked out of the barracks, a gray-haired elder and a brown-haired young scholar walked in.

"He is Professor Jordan Kaczynski of Sakae University in Kelmerian." Corporal Faraday introduced to Augustus: "He is mainly engaged in the study of alien relics."

"His elder brother, Abraham Kaczynski, is a high-ranking official in the independent government of the Kelmerian Federation. The Kaczynski family is a prestigious family with a large number of talents, mainly in the field of mechanical engineering and starship manufacturing. His achievements are well known to the Kel-Morians," he went on in a low voice.

"Hello, Professor." Augustus walked over and shook hands with Jordan Kaczynski—the list was finalized by Augustus. To be precise, Jordan was invited more because of his surname , the Kaczynski family is a Camerian family that Augustus attaches great importance to.

Unlike Rory Swann's Swann family, the Kaczynski family focused on the field of military technology. The appearance of the Kelmorian battlecruiser in the early days of the Battle of Kailian benefited from the family's innovation in the field of starship manufacturing.

"Nice to meet you, the famous leader of the Revolutionary Army." Jordan Kaczynski glanced at Augustus, and then introduced the young man beside him to Augustus:
"This is Jack Rasim, a professor of the History Department of Tarsonis University. Although he is a Tarsonis, he is staying in my team for the time being. He also hates the Tyrannian Federation's tyranny very much." As Gustus shook hands with Jack, he continued:
"I heard that many 'animation' crystals have been unearthed here, please allow me to call it that." Professor Jordan said: "My friends at Umoyan University believe that this crystal can power the engines of ships ——Although this energy is less than one ten-thousandth of its own, it does exist.”

"You mean this dark green crystal?" Augustus took out the Xel'Naga void crystal pendant given to him by the Chimera pirates before: "I call it the void crystal."

"Yes." Professor Jordan nodded: "Very good name: void: unknown, cold, dark, very similar to the characteristics of this crystal."

"But the energy of this kind of crystal cannot be utilized at all with the current technology - we can refine the Ardian crystal but cannot use these green crystals. The integrity of its structure and the way to seal energy are far beyond our imagination. Moreover, I Believe that this is a man-made product rather than a natural resource given to us by the nature of the universe."

"Of course it cannot come from humans." Augustus nodded: "Can this crystal be used to strengthen our warships?"

"As long as you put these crystals on the battleship, they can automatically deliver energy to the engine and various systems - as for further ship steel and ship system upgrades based on this, maybe you can find my brothers and nephews Let's do it," Jordan replied.

The Kaczynski family was also affected by the defeat of the Kelmorian Federation in the Battle of Kailian, but they will not be as difficult to live as the Swann family.Despite this, there are still people in the Kaczynski family who are willing to serve the rebels for generous salaries. After all, many of them hate the Tyrannian Federation.

"Very well, I also thought that it would be possible to recruit some Kymerians to join the Revolutionary Army." Augustus shook hands with Jordan Kaczynski again.

Augustus had fought with the Camerians in the Battle of Kalia, but now he was fighting alongside the Camerians instead.

"I would also like to invite you to join the alien science and technology laboratory I have established, which specializes in the excavation of alien relics, and studies how to apply these technologies to military affairs and people's livelihood." Augustus handed over to Jordan Kaczynski Out the invitation.

"I may participate in the formation work, but I will eventually return to Moria." Professor Jordan shook his head and said, "I am old and will retire, but I will recommend my students to you."

"Well, then I can only find someone else to lead the research work." Augustus respected the other party's choice.

"Marshal, Swan reported that he won the jackpot! Well, I think he means that he dug out the culprit who caused the electromagnetic pulse interference." At this time, Corporal Faraday came to the barracks after saying sorry middle.

"Just right, professor, my people have made a new discovery, let's go." Augustus said to Corporal Faraday: "Prepare my command vehicle."

Augustus and the accompanying guards and archaeologists headed by Jordan Kaczynski immediately drove to the mine.

As soon as he walked out of the barracks, Augustus saw a magnificent scene in front of his eyes. Six Draken laser drilling rigs stood in the orange-gray sky of Mar Sara, and a towering crane was being hoisted by lifting wheels. Baskets of ores and sedimentary rocks weighing several tons, and a group of militiamen in khaki uniforms with Gauss rifles on their shoulders were running past the barracks.

"I was also surprised by the efficiency of the engineering team when I came here for the first time." Augustus, who was sitting in the back seat, said proudly to Professor Jordan who was sitting next to him on the way to direct the car to the mine .

"But considering that the engineers in the engineering regiment who drive the space engineering vehicles to weld the plates are the most experienced engineers in Quankeha, I'm not too surprised."

When Augustus arrived at the mine, Tychus Finley, Jim Raynor, and a cheerful Rory Swan were waiting for Augustus in sheriff uniforms, and Augustus got out of the car with a smile on his face. Tychus walked over happily - he likes a leader like Augustus, because the other party has been leading him to make a fortune.

"Have you dug it up? Is it a stone slab or a strange crystal." Augustus had already guessed that it should be a fragment of the Xel'Naga artifact, but he still couldn't make a conclusion before confirming it.

"It looks like a fragment of a triangular prism. When it was found, it emitted a faint blue fluorescence in the dark." Swan replied, "A void crystal that was one person tall was found along with it."

"It's a good thing. Carrying this crystal with you will save you from installing an air conditioner." Renault gave his constructive advice.

"It would be a good choice to install it in the engine compartment of the Norad II. Maybe it can make the battleship's system more stable." Augustus nodded.

"It's a treasure—how much is it worth?" Tychus' eyes lit up.

"It is a priceless treasure." When two miners brought a titanium alloy sorting box to Dr. Jordan, he immediately exclaimed.

Augustus couldn't be surprised by a highly respected professor's gaffe, because a piece of dark triangular prism fragment exuding copper-blue light was floating in the air, and its pattern-like cracks released pure Blue light, like the celestial light from heaven.

"Guess what we can do with it?" said Raynor and others beside Augustus.

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(End of this chapter)