Outlaws of Mar Sara

The rust-colored sandstorm that had blotted out the sky suddenly dissipated, just as it had arrived. The gradually cooling sun cast a magnificent and colorful light and shadow, and the evening glow surged from the horizon like a rising tide, gradually covering the entire land. The orange-gray sky of Ma Sara merged with the boundless red plains, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring desert landscape.

As the light and shadows slowly faded, the temperature began to drop sharply.

Augustus changed into a thick woolen overcoat and felt hat, pulled back the curtain of the marching tent, and walked with powerful strides toward the barracks garage where hovercrafts were parked, carrying a pickaxe in his hand and an E-7 Gauss Rifle on his shoulder.

The Revolutionary Army camp was built among several low hills and consisted of dozens of square military tents, all covered with a rust-colored waterproof tarpaulin that matched the color of the Mara Sara landscape.

The tent in the middle of the camp has two gas-fired engines that power the signal lights and living facilities. The signal light tower, deeply nailed to the ground, bathes the entire camp in a bright white light.

The camp was home to about two thousand Revolutionary Army soldiers dressed in local clothing. Regardless of their professions in Korhal, whether they were hotel managers or shopkeepers, they were now working for Augustus as miners.

"Marshal Mengsk!" As Augustus walked toward the parking garage, Revolutionary Army soldiers wearing khaki overcoats and boots saluted him from time to time.

Of the more than Korhal -descended Revolutionary Army soldiers that Augustus brought from Korhal, only more than 4,000 survived and were reorganized into a marine brigade. These Revolutionary Army soldiers, who were immersed in the pain of the destruction of Korhal and the loss of their homeland, had been transformed into iron-blooded warriors after a series of tragic battles.

They were almost all members of the Pan-Terran Party, and some were even members of the party's Revolutionary Committee.

The Pan-Terran Party warriors possess lofty ideals and a high level of revolutionary consciousness. They firmly believe in Augustus's revolutionary goal of overthrowing the Terran Confederacy and establishing the Terran Republic, and take it as their mission. Returning to and rebuilding their home planet Korhal is the ideal that everyone wants to achieve throughout their lives.

At this moment, the members of the Pan-Terran Party deeply understand that this is the most difficult time for the Korhal Revolutionary Army. They are far from their home world, wandering in a perilous universe, facing encirclement and suppression by the Confederacy Fleets. Therefore, they refuse to accept the salary paid by Augustus, and only accept standard individual rations and a small amount of tobacco and alcohol.

"You've worked hard. My logistics advisor told me that the engineers have just built water towers and reservoirs, and their men have found a clean underground river." Augustus looked at the faces scarred and frostbitten by the sandstorms and extreme climate of Ma Sara. Among them were middle-aged men in their thirties and forties as well as young soldiers under sixteen, both men and women.

"Our furnace is powered by a generator from a decommissioned battlecruiser. Before you go to bed, all of you should take a hot shower."

Augustus finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted. In the wilderness of Martha, taking a hot bath was no easy task. While sonic bathing could remove dead skin and grime, it could not replace the human body's natural thirst for water.

Even so, these Revolutionary Army did not slacken their efforts. Led by officers and political commissars of the Pan-Terran Party, they marched fully armed toward their residential area in the distance.

At this moment, two new moons rose in the sky above Mara Sara, where a few rays of dawn still lingered, and twinkling stars appeared. Augustus walked into the garage, which was constructed with alloy steel frames and tent-like fabric, and simply opened the door and sat in the back seat.

"The Vixen Light Infantry Armored Vehicle, and the Fox-named transport ship produced by the same company is a fast, inexpensive spaceship; Confederate Marine Corps and the Army will procure these spaceships in large quantities."

A red-haired ghost, gripping the steering wheel, emerged from the driver's seat. As she bent over to adjust the equipment, the curves from the back of her neck to her waist to her hips formed a perfect "S" shape, her beautiful curves accentuated by her black bodysuit.

"We've acquired quite a few of these vehicles from the locals. Their wide, high floor and powerful engines are perfectly suited to the rugged, rocky environment of the Mar Sara Desert." Kerrigan was speaking when she suddenly turned to look at Augustus. She was wearing the mask of Umojan Shadow Guard, and her entire face, except for her fiery red lips, was covered in Umojan nanofabric and gray soft alloy.

"Can we set off now?"

"It's not far to the mine, but we don't have any sentries along the way." As Augustus realized he was staring at Kerrigan's pert buttocks, he subtly shifted his posture and wrapped himself in his thick coat.

"Wait a moment, Faraday is on his way."

As soon as he finished speaking, Faraday, wearing a cowboy hat, ran over with Augustus's guards. At least twenty fully armed Revolutionary Army soldiers, armed with Gauss Rifle and shotguns, stood around Augustus. They were all dressed like Sara's cowboys, with resolute expressions.

Faraday and his men boarded four other Armored Vehicle and drove ahead to clear the way for Augustus, while several Vulture scouts followed and escorted them.

"With me here, no one can hurt you," Kerrigan said as she started the Armored Vehicle.

"I have no doubt about that; you are the best Ghost operative," Augustus as the convoy drove out of the camp.

Outside the Revolutionary Army were several sentry posts with high beams on. These posts were only used to scare away wild animals in the wilderness and malicious Scavengers and vagrant criminals. The real detection equipment included four types of detection devices, including infrared and thermoforming scanning. Three Revolutionary Army soldiers were on duty at the monitoring center 25 hours a day to ensure that nothing went wrong.

The road leading from the Revolutionary Army to the mining area was newly built and not too rugged. Jeeps and trucks loaded with the Revolutionary Army and minerals passed by Augustus from time to time.

"This rich mine is enough for us to mine for a month," Augustus. "Swann needs these resources to repair those wrecked ships—hopefully we'll have good luck."

He didn't mine this area illegally; he bought the mining rights from the local judicial officer at a price acceptable to both parties, along with some rare crystals.

It's worth noting that, compared to core worlds like Tarsonis, corruption in Mar- Sara is not as severe. Townspeople are able to use their right to vote to elect leaders they are satisfied with. Bureaucratic corruption here is not as deeply ingrained. To manage the fiercely independent Mar- Sara people, local judges and law enforcement officers are generally ruthless and strictly adhere to Confederacy laws—far better than the lawmakers themselves.

"What you're looking for isn't those crystal mines," Kerrigan said as she drove.

"Not entirely." Augustus looked out the Armored Vehicle window at the desolate red desert beyond the rocks, bushes, and road signs on either side of the road, illuminated by the headlights of the front and rear vehicles. The sky was studded with stars. The beauty of this alien world was vastly different from the prosperous and brightly lit advanced worlds of Korhal and Tarsonis.

"I'm looking for some alien ruins, but that's all down to luck."

"Alien ruins, because those things are valuable?" Kerrigan asked. "I never knew you were an alien civilization enthusiast, a rare alien archaeologist."

"Because these things can be used as weapons."

"I was very fond of extraterrestrial mysticism when I was a child, and my brother and I have always believed that aliens are real." Augustus shrugged. "Anyway, if you discover anything unusual in this area, please let me know, because I have absolutely no clue about it."

"The rich mineral resources are not the only reason I came here. I have heard that the people of Ma Sara are the most rebellious, and that several uprisings here have failed due to a lack of organizers." Augustus, "I have thought about it, and what the people of Ma Sara actually need is a revolutionary ideology that can guide them onto the right path of resistance, a comprehensive and clearly defined action program, and a true leader."

"Our goal is not simply to liberate the people of Sara and then abandon them, but to restore order and enable everyone here to live a life of plenty."

"In comparison, only Korhal and Antiga possess such a spirit of resistance," he said. "But Antiga has many Confederacy troops stationed there, while Ma Sara is deserted."

"This is one of the fulcrums that allows us to leverage the entire Confederacy world."

"Excuse me for not being able to applaud you while I'm driving," Kerrigan chuckle. "One more thing, there are three cowboys hiding in the bushes about 1.1 miles to our right, at 3 o'clock. They're three thieves trying to steal something from the mines, and they're not carrying any heavy weapons."

"They are monitoring this road."

"Faraday, there's a group of local thieves at three o'clock directly ahead of you." Augustus opened the communicator. "Bring them to me."

Faraday Faraday's Armored Vehicle pulled away from the convoy after a smooth turn. The three cowboys hiding in the bushes were clearly outrun by the Armored Vehicle. They had two Vulture hidden in a nearby cave, but they were too far away.

"Even from this far away, you can sense it telepathically?" Augustus asked her as Kerrigan stopped the car.

"I can sense it a little," Kerrigan said. "As long as they're still thinking, I can sense it, unless they're carrying devices that can shield them from Psionics."

"Although the effect is minimal, the equipment of the Umojan Shadow Guard does amplify Psionics Psionics, unlike the equipment of the Confederacy Ghost operative which suppresses it." Augustus nodded. "But if the base number is large enough, then the effect will be noticeable. Your Psionics talent is unique among humans; you may be the most powerful Psionics I have ever seen."

While Augustus was talking to Kerrigan, just over ten minutes later, Faraday's Armored Vehicle arrived at Augustus's side, carrying three disarmed local cowboys.

The three cowboys were quite calm; they seemed certain that Augustus's men were not human traffickers or organ smugglers.

"Sir, we just want to stay there for the night; we haven't had time to pitch our tents yet. The Magistrate in this Hilo is renowned for his impartiality, and he knows we are the most law-abiding people in the area." Their leader, a man with a full beard and deep-set eyes, had his hands held down by two Revolutionary Army soldiers. "I think you understand that, regardless of whether the person is willing or not, restricting a law-abiding Confederacy citizen is illegal."

"Yes, I won't do anything to you." Although Augustus, after being disguised, had a fierce and mature face, he still showed a kind expression, as if he were just a refined and easy-going interstellar merchant or an ordinary mine owner.

"Our vehicle broke down on the way to New Maine, and we're starving and freezing. If you could take us to the nearest town—near Deadwater Base —I would be extremely grateful, even if it were just a piece of bread to stave off our hunger." The cowboy's face lit up with delight.

"They're lying," Kerrigan said. "They're members of a local gang involved in child trafficking and smuggling illegal drugs. The Confederacy behind this gang is Gustav Pharmaceutical Group, a trans-galactic company listed on Tarsonis."

"Their activities in Mar- Sara are mainly centered around several large towns near the Deadwater Base."

Augustus walked up to the cowboy. "It sounds like you're not just villains, but unforgivable criminals."

"This beautiful lady has given you a chance to confess your crimes. Tell me: Why were you spying on this road?"

"I've never heard of this. I know nothing about it." The cowboy smiled.

"Do you think I'm an easy person to talk to?" Augustus said sternly. "I'm going to sell you to slave traders."

"I've heard that the nobles of Tarsonis have recently started replacing their servants with resocialized servants, and factories are increasingly replacing workers with resocialized slaves. This has revived the slave trade, which had supposedly disappeared in the early days of the Great Colonial Era," he said. "Even the military is short-staffed."

"You may have all heard of resocialization to some extent. What I'm saying is that they'll do something to your brains and turn you all into idiots."

"That won't scare me. All Confederacy people are bastards." The cowboy spat on the ground.

"Those words saved your life," Augustus said to Faraday, who was carrying a Gauss Rifle beside him. "Send them to the mines; we need some cheap miners."

Augustus lost interest in continuing to talk to these men. He walked toward his Armored Vehicle, while Faraday and his men gagged the Ma Sara cowboys and forced them into another, larger Armored Vehicle.

"They had their eyes on this valuable new mine and the equipment inside, but they were more wary of outsiders," Kerrigan explained.

"Faraday, gather all my guards," Augustus. "Bring Raynor and Tychus over; let's go say goodnight to Mar Sara's neighbors."

"Leave now?" Faraday walked over, showing no surprise at Augustus's decisive action.

"I just probed their minds and found out exactly where this gang's stronghold is. It's not far from Deadwater Base, but it's not in the town." Kerrigan's pale green eyes looked at Corporal Faraday.

"A double-cross?" Faraday laughed; after all, he was still a young man who loved to joke.

"Wrong," Augustus waved his hand.

"We are justice."

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