StarCraft: Tyranid Empire.

Chapter 292 Tiamat Swarm (6k)

When Augustus was full of thoughts, Zeratul turned his head to look at the fragment of the Xel'Naga artifact suspended in mid-air, his gaze seemed to penetrate the long river of time.

Obviously, he didn't pry into Augustus' deepest thoughts, and he didn't know that the master had probably already learned the bad news about the specific coordinates of the star spirit mother star Aiur.

Although the ancestors of the Dark Templar were expelled from Aiur by the Supreme Council thousands of years ago and were forced to go into exile in Sacoolas, who was always in the twilight, they still regarded it as their eternal mother planet and holy place.

"This Xel'Naga creation is unusual." Zeratul observed the artifact fragments slowly rotating in midair: "It is the masterpiece of the Xel'Naga, with unimaginable power."

"What kind of power? The kind that can sweep across a large area of ​​bugs directly?" Renault tried to get close to the few dark templars, who just watched him calmly.The Dark Templar don't seem to see the humans here as a threat at all.

"This requires you to witness it with your own eyes, child." Zeratul closed his eyes.

"In other words, even you don't know." Rather than saying that Renault is a very smart person, it would be better to say that he is better at dealing with these puzzles.

"Yes." Zeratul said frankly: "This Xel'Naga creation contains unpredictable power. It is connected to the void."

"The Void." Augustus will not tell Zeratul the bad news that Aiur's coordinates may have been exposed for the time being, because he has no way to explain why he knows this.

"We know it's a miraculous natural phenomenon, another dimension of the universe." Augustus asked, "Is that why my men hear strange noises when they're around it?"

"I'm afraid so." As a protoss, Zeratul was far less arrogant and indifferent than the templars in Tassadar, but patiently answered Augustus' questions.

"If you're a member of the Nerazim, you'll find this sound all too common when dark templars meditate and tap into the void," Zeratul said.

"It's like the chirping of birds and insects in the forest, the sound of wind and grass, and the low roar of wild animals. Some sounds are fragments of prophecy and shallow philosophy, while others are irrational roars." He said.

"The will of a human being cannot withstand such a heavy pressure, and the dark templar honed himself in this way, absorbing the energy of the void."

"Sounds scary," Raynor interjected.

"That's why we're here." The female Dark Templar following Zeratul took a few steps forward.

This immediately aroused the vigilance of Corporal Faraday and Ghost Agent "recruit" around Augustus.

"It's too dangerous," she said.

"So you're here to take it away. For God's sake, we've had a hard time digging this scrap iron out of the mud in Mar Sara." Renault wanted to say, can you It was a great help to deal with this troublesome thing, but now the owner of the Sarnaga artifact fragments is not him but Augustus.

"No." Zeratul's voice sounded in the minds of Augustus and others at the same time: "We just hope that you can turn off that signal booster device, which is constantly disabling the interference waves released by this Xel'Naga creation. Magnified, that also has a certain attraction to Zerg."

"Shut it off." Augustus nodded, and immediately ordered, "Seal it up."

The engineering soldiers who were so frightened by the dark templar were very brave. At least they repacked the Xel'Naga artifact fragments back into the transport container and sealed it without any omissions.

"You are the wise man among mankind, the leader among them." Zeratul, who had achieved his goal, praised Augustus, and his words were like a riddle: "The invisible hand connects us Together, fate is being woven into threads."

Then, Zeratul took a few steps back and was about to leave, as if his purpose of coming here was really to let the humans here turn off the device, so as not to get burned.

Zeratul didn't know that Augustus' purpose was to attract him, and this was a false attack.

But if the people in the command room just now were not Augustus but the generals of the Tyrannian Federation, or if Duke was here, then they would never patiently listen to Zeratul's words, and would have fought together long ago. You die and I live.

Of course, three dark templars are enough to deal with dozens of fully armed ordinary human soldiers.

"Wait, Zeratul, the Dark Templar." Augustus stayed and said, "Since you can completely kill the brain worms, then I think we need the help of the Dark Templar."

Augustus spent so much effort to find the dark templar, just wanting them to help him solve the brain worm.At this time, what do you want to rely on to sit down and continue chatting nonsense can't keep Zeratul, so it's better to tell the truth.

"We have no reason to help alien races." The male dark templar behind Zeratul's tone was not very good, and his robes, armor, and armor decorations were also different from the other two dark templars.

He doesn't wear a veil, just a black helm adorned with zergling jawbones, strewn with trophies like Hydralisk skulls.A Zratei hunter, a tribe of hunters among the tribes of the Nerazim.

"...with pleasure." Zeratul made a calm gesture to his companion.

"We are here to destroy the zerg. It is an honor and a duty. The Dark Templar will not turn down a friendly ally."

"Sit down, please." With the power armor's servos backing him up, Augustus won't get tired of standing for hours on end, but he thinks it helps create a less tense atmosphere.

"Okay." Zeratul's green eyes twitched: "We just need a place to rest, thank you for your tolerance, human commander."

It was hard for Zeratul not to be amazed at Augustus's far superior composure and unimaginable tolerance to alien races. He was not completely ignorant of the human race, but was deeply aware of human greed, cruelty, cunning and cowardice.

But Augustus is all different, completely different.

When they suddenly broke into the command center, Augustus acted as calmly as a neighbor visiting the house.But why does he believe that these people are not here to assassinate him, or this absolute calmness and rationality is the reason why he can lead so many human beings.

Just like other protoss, Zeratul originally had only sympathy and tolerance for the human race.

There are many chairs in this command room, and they are all the most comfortable and luxurious command chairs in Alpha Squadron.And while these chairs are adjustable, the Protoss are massive giants for them.

Zeratul managed to find a suspended chair suspended on the ground, and the other two dark templars were not polite to the humans in front of them, and each found their own chairs.

Augustus sat down on Duke's command chair. This expensive chair can fully withstand the weight of the power armor.Corporal Faraday and the ghost agent in charge of protecting Augustus are unwilling to let down their vigilance at this time, especially the latter, even if he feels a sting from the cold void power of the Dark Templar, he is still tight stared at them.

"Aren't you afraid?" Zeratul looked at Augustus seriously.Zeratul admired Augustus's courage and generosity beyond ordinary people simply because he could calmly invite the invading aliens to sit down under such circumstances.

"A little bit, actually," said Augustus, laughing.

"When you suddenly appeared, I was really frightened. Fortunately, we have already met the protoss and got along well."

"It wasn't that little bit," Reynolds added. "I thought I was going to die, and all I could think about was mum's minestrone, No. [-] and Little John."

"You should be talking about those protoss in the high-altitude orbit. In fact, they have long since parted ways with us." Zeratul did not read Augustus' thoughts, but he had already understood the meaning of Augustus' words.

"What, so you are not in the same group?" Renault was obviously taken aback: "Dark Templar, Templar, I thought you were all expeditionary forces of the Protoss Empire."

"The Protoss Empire." Zeratul's green eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was mourning: "We do not belong to the Protoss Empire. The Dark Templar chose freedom and truth."

"The Nerazim protoss refuse to assimilate into the Kara, and every child will have their own nerve bundles amputated. This is why we are exiled, because the Supreme Council will not tolerate this behavior."

"It looks like the difference between the Tyrann Federation, Kelmorian, and Umoyan, and the protoss also has their own factions." Augustus signaled Raynor not to make a fuss: "Haven't you already seen the Taldarin protoss?" ? They're not the same as the Templars in Tassadar."

"Okay. No wonder even Tassadar couldn't kill that cerebrate, but you can." Renault figured it out.

"The Juggernaut and its cerebrates also use void energy similar to ours, and only void energy can harm the cerebrum or even the Juggernaut." Zeratul said: "Our compatriots in the Protoss Empire are driving The psychic energy that circulates in the Kara, they have long since disconnected from the void. Only the dark templar are still absorbing energy from the cold void like the ancestors of the protoss."

"Okay, then the rest will be much simpler." Renault nodded: "Let's kill the zerg that guards the brain worm, and then you will behead it."

However, before he finished speaking, the eyes of Zeratul and the other two protoss were bent into crescent moons.Raynor believed they must be laughing, which pissed him off.

"You are brave, James Raynor." Zeratul learned his name when he analyzed Raynor's mind, which is a rather formal title: "But I'm afraid this matter will not be as simple as you imagined .”

"The death of the brain worm Gwen was due to the negligence of the zerg master. It has never seen an enemy like the dark templar." He explained to Raynor: "When your army launched an attack on Gwen's nest At the time, it dispatched nearly all of its Hive Warriors."

"Gwen's pack is fierce and tyrannical, but they are not as numerous as other packs. My warriors and I sneaked inside his hive and attacked from the shadows."

"Now, the master and its brain worms will definitely not make the same mistakes again. This is a race that is constantly evolving and learning."

"The cerebrate will definitely not show up easily." Augustus fully agrees with Zeratul's statement: "It will be even more difficult to get close to or even kill a cerebrate like before."

Augustus didn't have any hope of destroying all the cerebrates in a short time, not to mention that when the swarm master was still alive, he could create new cerebrates at any time.

As long as the Overmind is alive, the Zerg will not perish.

However, the Dark Templar is still crucial.In the past, humans and protoss had no effective way to deal with cerebrates, and Zeratul's warriors were magic weapons to restrain cerebrates.

"The cerebrates themselves have no fighting power. They can command their clan members from light years away through the spiritual link." Augustus continued: "After Gwen's death, there is no need for them to put the cerebrates in danger. under."

"However, there are always more solutions than troubles." He finally said: "Create opportunities if there are no opportunities, even cerebrates will make mistakes. We can also solve most of the Zergs together with the templars in Tassadar, and then Let Zeratul kill the cerebrates in the main hive."

However, Augustus undoubtedly exaggerated the role of humans in this war. Even without their help, Tassadar's forces were able to defeat the main hive of the zerg.

At this time, the Protoss Empire had not completely declined, and many of their colonies outside Aiur were still prosperous, and their huge fleets were still scattered throughout the galaxy.

"Tassadar." At this moment, everyone could feel Zeratul sighing—even though he didn't really sigh.Sorrow caresses over the hearts of others like water in a valley, making them feel what they feel.

"They won't work with us. A thousand years is enough to change everything, the divide between the Dark Templar and the Templar is too deep," he said.

"Thousands of years ago, when the Nerazim were considered heretics who had deserted the Kara, our prejudice was already so deep, and now it is stronger than ever."

"We will never fight alongside the Templar." The anger of the Zratei Dark Templar behind Zeratul was palpable.

"The Nerazim were the ones who were deceived and persecuted, and the El protoss described themselves as victims. So despicable and shameless, this is their style."

"In the face of the threat of Zerg, we can also let go of our past prejudices." Zeratul just felt sad about the history of the split between the El Protoss and Nerazim.

"Don't let Orega's loathing and hatred of the El protoss affect you, the anger that has spread among our brothers and sisters since his return to Tematros."

"Maybe Orega is wrong, but the El protoss is not as wise and kind as you." The mood of the dark templar was quickly stabilized by Zeratul's comfort.

"I believe that in the Protoss family, wise men with reason must occupy the majority." Zeratul said: "Orega is still our brother, and his ideas also represent the views of many people in this generation of dark templars. .”

"Then you must have never seen the Tadarin protoss." Renault complained.

"Tassadar is different from other protoss." Augustus said to Zeratul: "Maybe there is just a lack of communication between you."

For Augustus, he is happy to see the reconciliation between the Dark Templar and the Templar, after all, they can kill more cerebrates only by working together.

"I hope so." Zeratul stood up, ready to leave.

But Augustus's words still moved him.

Zeratul walked towards Augustus and took out an equi-triangular instrument inlaid with sharp-edged dark green crystals: "This is a communicator. On this planet, once you need the help of the dark templar, we will will show up."

"But I have to tell you, because in the past I just took some brothers and sisters to travel in the universe, and now there are quite a few dark templars still following me." He told Augustus.

"You must use this communicator carefully, otherwise"

"Why don't you come with us." Augustus would have preferred Zeratul to follow his troops, or God knows where he would find them in the nick of time.

While speaking, Duke's image flashed on the communication screen in the command room.The camera in the command room was automatically looking for the figure of Augustus, and Zeratul and others were inevitably captured.

"I'm Duke, Marshal, what do you bloody shit aliens want to do to our Marshal?" Seeing Duke almost jumping up, Augustus' eyelids twitched.

"I'm going to peel off your skin!"

"Don't worry, General Duke, these are some of my protoss friends." Augustus stood up and walked to the main screen.

"." Duke carefully confirmed whether Augustus was under duress. He noticed that Renault and Corporal Faraday were still carrying guns, and he was immediately relieved.With Duke's simple brain, he couldn't think of any conspiracy against Augustus, or he selectively ignored that possibility.

"Marshal, while the Belog (Balrog) swarm is going berserk, we have cleared the two main nests at points B and C." Duke's square chin was raised slightly, as if for the sake of Proud of what he has achieved.

Zeratul and the others, who were about to leave, stayed to listen to the conversation between Augustus and Duke out of etiquette or other purposes. They also seemed to be very interested in the human battle plan.

"We've got a distress call...it looks like it's from Nova Squadron," he said.

"Nova Squadron?" Augustus frowned: "They also sent a landing force to Char. The people of Nova Squadron must have escaped the surveillance of our fleet. What are they trying to do?"

"I can figure it out even with my butt, it's definitely not a good thing." Renault snorted heavily.

"Do you know what they do?" asked Augustus.

"There are two troop carriers and a scientific research ship there." Duke replied: "Anyway, based on what I know about Nova Squadron Commander Holle, at least they are definitely not aiming at us or us on the ground. It is the plan of the Zerg to fight a tough battle."

"Save them?" Duke asked Augustus.

"Save if you can," said Augustus.

"Okay. I can only say that there is little hope." Duke gave an order to an Alpha Squadron officer beside him to send out the transport ship.

"But let's do our best, each according to his destiny." Reynolds said.

"Alert—the Zerg life signal was found." At this time, the voice of the mechanical intelligence adjutant suddenly sounded.At the same time, Duke's image on the main screen shrank rapidly, and a series of letters and numbers danced crazily.

"Zergs? Are they coming?" Raynor hurried to the main screen.

"How is it possible?" Duke also heard the siren, and he immediately said in disbelief: "The landing site is also equipped with a newly designed psychic jammer, and its psychic jamming force field can cover an area with a diameter of thirty miles. That means the zerg can't get close to our base at all."

Psychic jammers have become the standard equipment of the Revolutionary Army in the war against the Zerg, and every division-level unit has distributed at least two psionic jammers within a twenty-mile range.This technology is currently exclusive to the Revolutionary Army.

"If it wasn't for those zergs that came running towards us, then the artifact fragments must have attracted them." Renault immediately thought of this possibility.

"It must be that artifact." Zeratul walked over: "It has attracted the zerg."

"What's more troublesome is that unless these zergs don't know the function of the psychic disruptor, they will definitely know that this is a waste of time." Augustus didn't believe that the zergs would do this, knowing that they would definitely Things that fail.

An ominous premonition forced Augustus to make a quick judgment, and he knew he must not delay.

Augustus immediately turned on the communication and radio channels of the entire base: "I am Augustus Mengsk, everyone is taking up arms and preparing to fight, a swarm of insects is approaching our base."

"Level [-] Combat Guard, soldiers, this is war!"

"The situation is not good." Renault opened the command room and walked out, leading several of his rangers to the Alpha Squadron base to command the frontline troops.

"Duke, go back to the defense landing point base immediately." Augustus then ordered: "Immediately!"

"I see." Duke didn't have time to deal with the soldiers of the Nova Squadron who sent out the distress signal. He roared and announced his every order to his soldiers.

After Duke was sent to clean up the Zerg main lair, there were only less than [-] Alpha Squadron marines left in the landing point base, among which there were quite a few medical soldiers, engineers and logistics troops.

"Lieutenant Colonel Roland, immediately send out all the reconnaissance planes on the tarmac. Adjutant, connect to the satellites in the Char orbit. I need the pictures of all the high-altitude orbiting satellites within a radius of [-] miles of the base." Augustus pressed Stare at the screen until a picture that is constantly being enlarged appears on it.

Thousands of zerg with crimson carapaces and spikes are running on the ashes of the Burning Land of Char, wrapped in gray-white smoke that fills the sky, like a gray torrent.

Tiamat (the god of creation in Mesopotamian mythology, the goddess of the sea) swarm, the longest and most powerful branch of the various brain worm clans of the Zerg.They crossed the range of the psionic disruptor's interference force field and were not affected in any way.

"Damn it..." Augustus realized that the psionic disruptor had failed.

Zeratul looked at the picture on the main screen, then turned to look at the two dark templars following him.

"Calling all warriors aboard the Voidseeker," he said.

"Nerazim, draw your sword."

(End of this chapter)