Sal'Naga Artifact Fragment
Late November, Purgatory Corridor, Revolutionary Army mining outpost.
Footage taken by a two-winged turbine drone patrolling high in the air shows a circular mine pit reinforced with alloy plates and an all-metal frame, resembling a black spot on the red sandy soil of Purgatory Corridor.
Surrounding this giant mine pit, which is over 700 feet (about 210 meters) in diameter, is a drilling platform made of concrete and steel plates. On the platform are rows of miners' barracks and ventilation pipes, building materials, large cranes, and large excavators piled up on the open ground. Occasionally, bustling workers and armed militiamen walk by under the camera of a drone.
At the center of the camp was a Confederacy red and blue flag fluttering in the wind. The diagonally crossed white crosses and numerous five-pointed stars on the flag indicated that this was a mining base belonging to the Terran Confederacy.
Due to the harsh environment, rampant banditry, and the weak local police force, the Purgatory Corridor has been unable to eliminate the numerous gangs and pirates entrenched there, making it a no-man's-land and a region where black market transactions frequently occur.
For many years, the Purgatory Corridor has been the most chaotic and disorderly area in the entire Hilo region and even the entire hemisphere. Due to communication difficulties, several clearing operations organized by nearby police departments have failed, and the sheriffs have been powerless to control this more than 1,000-mile-long dark canyon.
It wasn't until a Confederacy Magistrate named Caesar emerged and wiped out the Chimera Pirates entrenched in the Purgatory Corridor, bringing these notorious space pirates to justice, that a rare period of order was established in the Purgatory Corridor.
Subsequently, with the assistance of Lord Rhodes, the Magistrate of the Hilo Autonomous State, Sheriff Caesar sold a portion of the mining rights to the Purgatory Corridor to a mining company called Steele in the name of the Hilo State government.
Both Caesar Magistrate and Magistrate Rhodes were impartial and selfless men. With unwavering loyalty to the Confederacy, they solemnly signed the mining rights transfer contract under the witness of the Stars and Stripes and the Hilo State Goat Flag. All proceeds would be given to the Tarsonis Mining Administration and used for the development of the Hilo Autonomous State —no one profited unjustly, as all transactions were legal.
If anyone were to question Judge Rhodes' ever-increasing collection of luxury goods, high-end cars, and mistresses, it would be a blatant disregard for the Mining Administration and certain cabinet officials. Questioning the mining rights transfer contract would be as ridiculous as questioning the fairness and impartiality of the Confederacy government.
As Augustus sat in an orange-gray barracks, he chuckled at the memory of drinking and chatting with Lord Rhodes, the judge of Hilo State, in a five-star hotel in the capital of Hilo State. Augustus only spent a small amount of money to make the judge blush with delight.
They all took the money from Steele Mining Company without question, and Judge Rhodes was convinced that Augustus would never betray him, since they were already in the same boat.
In reality, this mining company, which had thousands of employees, was entirely composed of the Revolutionary Army soldiers and miners who were mainly criminals. The seemingly huge bribe was simply transferred from Augustus's left pocket to his right pocket.
Only Augustus himself knew that more than 10,000 Revolutionary Army had landed in Mar- Sara, and together with the more than 2,000 prisoners forced into labor reform in the mines, their numbers far exceeded the population of any small town in Hilo.
The Revolutionary Army also owns seven small and medium-sized mining areas, four of which recruit miners from local towns, effectively boosting the local economy. Compared to other private mines in Ma Sara, the Revolutionary Army's mines offer the best welfare, working hours, and safety.
At this moment, Augustus, had a Holographic Projection screen displaying drone surveillance footage in front of him. Today was a rare day off, and with Rory Swann's confident assurance that they could dig out the source of the disruptive electromagnetic waves emanating from the Purgatory Corridor today, Augustus made a special trip to the Purgatory Corridor mining area.
Although other pirates and criminal organizations immediately abandoned their original strongholds and fled after Augustus defeated the Chimera Pirates and seized their research station, intelligence indicates that a considerable number of criminals still linger deep within the Purgatory Corridor. Therefore, the Revolutionary Army in the corridor must be wary of malicious enemies or those with ulterior motives spying on this mining outpost.
"Marshal Mengsk, the archaeological team you invited has arrived in the Purgatory Corridor." As Augustus was looking at the monitor screen, Faraday walked into the barracks. He carefully scanned the area as he entered, but did not see Ghost operative Sarah Kerrigan.
Most of the time, the mysterious and powerful former Confederacy Ghost operative Sarah Kerrigan is invisible. It is said that she is always by the side of the Revolutionary Army Marshal, Kerrigan may very well be standing between you when you are talking to the Marshal.
This Ghost operative, barely sixteen years old, should have been a tender and lovely young girl, yet she was already a deadly killer.
After joining the Revolutionary Army, Sarah Kerrigan stayed by Augustus's side and never carried out any assassination missions.
Officers close to Faraday, such as Corporal Augustus, believed that when Sarah Kerrigan ceased to live as an assassin and was forced to suppress her emotions, she might reveal more of her human side than her role as Confederacy weapon.
"Please let them in," Augustus, looking at Faraday.
The archaeological team consists of about a dozen people, most of whom are doctoral advisors in the history departments of Moria Saké University and University of Tarsonis, and the youngest is a recent doctoral graduate.
The team members were all currently or had previously engaged in research on mysterious extraterrestrial ruins, published numerous papers on the subject, and authored authoritative works. Augustus first offered them a generous and irresistible reward to participate in an "unprecedented archaeological discovery," and then waited patiently for them to arrive.
Due to various factors, including economic reasons, a considerable number of Kel-Morian and Umojan people responded. Influenced by propaganda from the Kel-Morian Combine and the internal government of the Umojan Republic, these people were quite favorable towards the Revolutionary Army that was resisting the tyranny of the Terran Confederacy.
Although they did not know where they were going before arriving in Ma Sara, these scholars, whether struggling financially or simply wanting to make a name for themselves in their fields, still took great risks to come.
After Faraday left the barracks, an elderly man with graying hair and a young scholar with brown hair entered.
"He is Professor Jordan Kaczynski of the University of Kamerian," Corporal Faraday introduced to Augustus. "His main research area is extraterrestrial remains."
"His brother, Abraham Kaczynski, is a high-ranking official in the independent government of the Kel-Morian Combine. The Kaczynski Family is a prestigious family, producing many talented individuals, and is primarily known to Kaczynski Kel-Morian people for their achievements in mechanical engineering and starship manufacturing," he continued 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 was a Kel-Morian family that Augustus valued highly.
Unlike the Swann Family of Rory Swann, the Kaczynski Family focuses on military technology. The appearance of the Kel-Morian battlecruiser in the early stages of the Guild Wars was due to the family's innovation in starship manufacturing.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, the renowned Revolutionary Army leader." Jordan Kaczynski glanced at Augustus a few more times, then introduced the young man beside him to Augustus:
"This is Jack Ramsey, a professor of history at University of Tarsonis. Although he is a Tarsonis, he is temporarily with my team and he himself is very disgusted with the tyranny of the Terran Confederacy." As Augustus shook hands with Jack, he continued:
"I've heard that many 'psychic' crystals have been unearthed here, please allow me to call them that," the Jordan professor said. "My friends at Umojan University believe that these crystals can power ship engines—although this amount of energy is less than one ten-thousandth of its own, it certainly exists."
"You mean this dark green crystal?" Augustus took out the Xel'Naga Void Crystal pendant that the Chimera Pirates had given him earlier. "I call it the Void Crystal."
"Yes." Professor Jordan nodded. "A very good name: Void: unknown, cold, dark, very similar to the properties of this crystal."
"But with current technology, it's impossible to utilize the energy of this crystal—we can refine Ardien Crystal but not these green crystals; the integrity of their structure and the way they seal in energy far exceed our imagination. Moreover, I believe this is a man-made product rather than a natural resource bestowed upon us by the universe."
"It certainly couldn't have come from humans." Augustus nodded. "Could this crystal be used to enhance our warships?"
"Once you place these crystals on the warship, they will automatically supply energy to the engines and various systems—as for further upgrades to the ship's steel and systems, perhaps my brothers and nephews can handle that," Jordan replied.
The Kaczynski Family was also affected by the Kel-Morian Combine's defeat in the Guild Wars, but they were not as destitute as the Swann Family. Nevertheless, some Kaczynski Family were willing to serve the resistance for generous wages, as many of them harbored hatred towards the Terran Confederacy.
"Very good. I had also thought it would be worthwhile to recruit some Kel-Morian people into the Revolutionary Army." Augustus shook hands firmly with Jordan Kaczynski once again.
Augustus had fought valiantly against the Kel-Morian in the Guild Wars, but now he was to fight alongside Kel-Morian.
"I would also like to invite you to join my alien technology laboratory, which will specialize in the excavation of alien ruins and research how to apply these technologies to military and civilian use," Augustus said, extending another invitation to Jordan Kaczynski.
"I might be involved in the setup, but I'll eventually return to Moria," Professor Jordan said, shaking his head. "I'm getting old and about to retire, but I'll recommend my students to you."
"Alright, then I'll have to find someone else to lead the research." Augustus respected the other party's choice.
"Marshal, Swann reports he's won the lottery! Um, I think he means he's dug out the culprit causing the electromagnetic pulse interference." At this moment, Faraday entered the barracks after apologizing.
"Perfect timing, Professor, my men have made a new discovery. Let's go." Augustus said to Faraday, "Prepare my command vehicle."
Augustus, along with his guards and a group of archaeologists led by Jordan Kaczynski, immediately traveled by car to the mine.
As soon as Augustus stepped out of the barracks, a magnificent sight unfolded before his eyes: six Drakken Laser Drill stood against the orange-grey sky of Mar- Sara, a towering crane was lifting baskets of ore and sedimentary rock weighing several tons with its slings, and a squad of militiamen in khaki uniforms carrying Gauss Rifle ran past in front of the barracks.
"When I first came here, I was also amazed by the efficiency of the engineering team," Augustus said with pride to Professor Jordan sitting next to him in the back seat as the command vehicle drove to the mine.
"But considering that the engineers in the engineering corps who drive the SCV and weld plates are the most experienced engineers in all of Korhal, I'm not so surprised."
When Augustus arrived at the mine, Tychus Finley, Jim Raynor, and a gleeful Rory Swann, all dressed in sheriff's uniforms, were waiting for Augustus. As soon as Augustus got out of the car, a beaming Tychus happily approached him—he liked leaders like Augustus because the man had always helped him make money.
"Did they dig it up? Is it a stone slab or a strange crystal?" Augustus had already guessed that it should be Xel'Naga Artifact Fragment, but he couldn't make a conclusion without confirmation.
"It looks like a fragment of a triangular prism; when we found it, it emitted a ghostly blue glow in the dark," Swann replied. "A piece of void crystal, as tall as a person, was also found with it."
"This is great stuff. Carrying this crystal with you means we won't need to install an air conditioner," Raynor offered his constructive suggestion.
"Installing it in the engine room of the Norad II would be a good choice; perhaps it will make the warship's systems more stable," Augustus nodded.
"It's a treasure—how much is it worth?" Tychus's eyes lit up.
"It's priceless!" Dr. Jordan exclaimed as two miners carried a titanium alloy storage box to him.
Augustus was not surprised by the lapse in composure of a highly respected professor, for a fragment of a dark triangular prism, radiating a copper-blue light, floated in mid-air, its patterned cracks emitting a pure blue light, like celestial light from heaven.
"Guess what we can do with it?" Raynor and the others around Augustus said.
Thank you for voting!