The Mar Sara Secession Movement

December 29, 2489, Jennin Bar.

The small bar in Echo Town used to be out of place in the bustling environment, but as the security situation in the Hilo region has become more stable and a large number of workers from the newly opened mines nearby have flocked to the town, it has become overcrowded.

Augustus Mengsk's new friend, Mr. Jennings, was overwhelmed. In the past, he and his son could manage everything in this small bar, but now he had to hire several new waiters. But the bar's style remained unchanged: there were no scantily clad, provocative women or loud heavy metal music, only the crisp sound of glasses clinking together.

The changes brought to the Hilo region by the new Magistrate's policies and revolutionary ideas can be seen on the walls of the Jennin Bar: slogans such as "Down with the Confederacy, overthrow the Old Families," "Return power to the people," "We must seek justice for Korhal IV," and "All oppressed people of the entire Terran Confederacy, unite!" are openly displayed on the bar's walls and entrance. When people sitting in the bar talk, they invariably mention "revolution," "freedom," and "the Republic of the Terrans"—even though they may not fully understand the meaning of these words.

In the past, the walls of Jennin Bar were always covered with banknotes of various denominations from the Terran Confederacy, and the niches held the bar owner's treasured souvenirs. Now, however, they are covered with propaganda posters and brochures of the Revolutionary Army, portraying the Revolutionary Army soldiers who died in the Battle of Korhal as heroes who sacrificed themselves for freedom.

The former Heaven's Devils, Kurt Josephine, became a heroic warrior wearing a black hood in the propaganda poster, while Augustus Mengsk, the spiritual leader of the Korhal Revolutionary Army, stood atop a pile of rubble in the Tarsonis City, bearing the three-star emblem of the Korhal Dominion and the golden wolf of the Mengsk Family, with the dilapidated Confederate Congress building behind him. All the paintings used a red, green, and yellow color scheme, symbolizing revolution, freedom, and the Terran people.

A bright red flag was perched diagonally at the entrance of the Jennin Bar, bearing the revolutionary manifesto. "The people are the foundation of all power."

It was a rest day morning, the coolest time of day, and many idle workers and farmers had time to chat and discuss the Revolutionary Army's ideology, the six core principles of the Pan-Terran Party, and hearsay about the current situation.

Augustus was sitting in a corner of the Jennin Bar, dressed in a denim outfit with shiny buttons and high-top leather boots, opposite the Ghost operative Sarah Kerrigan, who was rarely seen in her everyday clothes.

Augustus, at a table sat Revolutionary Army Major General and Sheriff Jim - Sara Jim Raynor, drinking with his girlfriend Liddy Elizabeth. Elizabeth, dressed in a plain white dress and with her hair in a neat ponytail, listened to Raynor's dry jokes with a charming smile.

Mr. Raynor did not actually not want to spend some time alone with his girlfriend, but there were no resort destinations in the Hilo region. Even Hilo's only city was considered a poor, remote western town compared to Tarsonis or the former Korhal, with even the coffee shops being dilapidated.

"That's wonderful," Augustus, holding a glass of southern wine with crimson liquid, looking at Jim Raynor, who was laughing heartily.

Raynor could never have imagined that Augustus already decided on a name for his son; his good brother's happiness was Augustus's happiness.

In fact, things had been much better for Augustus these days, who had always been unlucky. In just four months, revolutionary ideas had spread widely in Hilo State, New Columbia State, Lorenzana State, and the capital region further north. People were beginning to think about the same thing: the shackles binding them were not insurmountable.

"Are you envious?" Sarah Kerrigan a smile as she sat opposite Augustus.

"Envious? Poor Jimmy has been so focused on pleasing that woman that he's neglecting his brother," Augustus joked, then glanced at Sarah Kerrigan across from him and noticed her stunning beauty today.

"I'm not envious at all."

Today, Kerrigan wearing a light green, low-cut halter-neck dress. From Augustus's angle, you can see her deep collarbones and bare shoulders. She has lived a life almost entirely without sunlight for many years, so her skin is excessively white, like smooth condensed milk.

Sarah Kerrigan red, straight hair cascaded down her back, swaying with her movements like willow branches in the wind. This was the first time Kerrigan had worn makeup since Augustus had seen her; the light makeup and lipstick were neither too frivolous nor did they give the sixteen-year-old girl the charm of a mature woman.

Bathed in sunlight streaming through the bar's skylight, Kerrigan's red hair blazed like a burning flame, her lips were fiery red, and her cheeks were flushed. Her beauty made all the other women in the Jennin Bar.

"I'm sorry, madam, I didn't even notice you're more beautiful than ever before." Augustus flashed his signature, affable smile. "My gaze should have been on you and the wine, for these are the only two things in the world that should not be neglected."

"Hmm--" Kerrigan glanced at Augustus with her light green eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering. "You're treating me like one of those noble ladies, just trying to fool me."

"No, you are different," Augustus told her clearly.

"Of course, just like red and black," he said. "I mean it sincerely, not hypocritically."

"You can read minds, you're a reasonable woman, you should know whether I'm lying or not. I'm right here beside you, Kerrigan."

"I won't get cocky just because of your few words." Kerrigan picked up her glass and drank in silence.

Augustus smiled, unconcerned. He knew Kerrigan had feelings for him—of course, it didn't surprise him that all the women in the world had feelings for him; after all, he was Augustus Mengsk.

For Kerrigan, Augustus was her savior, and after leaving the Ghost Academy, they spent almost every day together. Augustus often comfort Kerrigan, who was depressed because of her past experiences, and more often he played the role of a father to fill the void of paternal love that Kerrigan had lost.

Moreover, Augustus was extremely charismatic in every word and deed, and his subordinates all loved and respected him. Even a rebellious old fox like Tychus Finley was completely convinced of his worth.

"Yes, I know you don't see a sixteen-year-old girl as a woman. You prefer women with a mature air, and crave a stronger woman to conquer you, just like you like buttocks and..." In the original story, the Queen of Blades was over thirty when she ruled the Koprulu Sector, but she was still a girl now, and she enjoyed seeing the calm and collected Augustus show a panicked side.

"That's not how it is." Augustus furious, but he didn't show it. For a long time, Augustus hidden the secret that he was Transmigrator Kerrigan, and he believed that he didn't need to hide anything else, because he was indeed preparing to overthrow the Confederacy.

Whether it was based on the consideration that his family would remain in danger if the Confederacy was not destroyed, or the growing hatred accumulated from the deaths of those Korhal warriors, Augustus would not give up until the Confederacy was completely destroyed.

However, Augustus unwilling to hide certain things, which allowed Kerrigan to catch him red-handed.

"If you ask Tychus, he'll tell you that Mr. Mengsk values a person's inner qualities more."

Immediately afterward, Augustus glanced at the surrounding tables, where Faraday and his group, disguised as customers, were sitting. Augustus hoped that Faraday hadn't overheard their conversation, otherwise, another infamous chapter would be added to his dark history.

"This is not the time to talk about buttocks, comrade, we are making a revolution."

Augustus had a long-term vision, just as he saw the future of the revolution. "Our focus must be on the present. I have much to do. The people of Mar- Sara and the other colonies are waiting for our liberation, and the Korhal IV are waiting for our reconstruction."

"Let's watch the news," Augustus, pointing to the Holographic Projection TV in the center of the Jennin Bar. He was indeed about to listen to that channel, changing the subject without any awkwardness.

"Okay," Kerrigan smiled and said.

The television screen showed a UNN television studio, and the host was Mike Liberty, a member of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party who secretly served the Revolutionary Army. Next to him was an elderly man with graying temples but still in good spirits.

"We are honored to have Confederate Congress member Ander Aiur with us. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to participate in this interview. Earlier today, you mentioned Angus, the son of Augustus, and his rebels at a press conference, and you also believe that the ' Sons of Korhal ' is a terrorist organization directed by him."

"It's an honor, Mr. Liberty. As I said—who else could it be? If we're talking about terror, assassination, bloodshed, and cruelty, then you should immediately think of the wolf of Korhal IV, that wicked member of the Mengsk Family."

"Congressman Aiur, what is your assessment of the assassination of Frank Tagore, Heir to the Tagore Family? Some claim that the incident is related to a sex scandal deliberately concealed by the Tarsonis Police Force, while a reporter from Matet IV News Agency in Tarsonis has written that the incident is related to promiscuous gatherings among nobles, and that he photographed members of the Confederate Congress entering and leaving such places before the incident."

"Oh—this matter is still under investigation, but the officers at the Tarsonis Police Force have ample evidence that the female agent who committed suicide was Korhal. I regret the young man's death; it is a loss for all of Tarsonis and even the entire Terran Confederacy. He was a rising star in politics, and he should have been bringing benefits to his people."

"This is such a pity. Hopefully, the officers can bring the criminals to justice as soon as possible. We viewers have always wanted to know: Is it true that the nuclear bombs dropped by the Confederacy Fleets completely destroyed the ecology of Korhal, causing the ecosystem there to collapse completely?"

"This is not the issue. Any malicious slander against the central government of Tarsonis is baseless defamation. The environmental pollution caused by the nuclear bombs dropped on Korhal is close to zero. The questions raised by the Space Environmental Organization are completely unfounded."

"So, do you think protecting the environment is more important than people, and should the Confederacy be held responsible for the deaths of those Korhal people?"

"No comment." To avoid Liberty asking further questions not on his notepad, the Confederacy concluded the interview with the following statement:

"Korhal IV is no longer the jewel of the Terran Confederacy. Those treacherous traitors and bloodthirsty Sons of Korhal terrorists should learn a lesson from the destruction of Korhal! The rebels and Sons of Korhal are butchers who slaughter the elderly, women, and children, inhuman demons. They attempt to overthrow the regime and use force and tyranny to suppress freedom and democracy. Their existence is a desecration of human rights and a trampling of the rule of law. Justice will never be absent, and the remnants of the Korhal rebellion will ultimately be brought to justice!"

At this moment, Kerrigan frowned. "They actually believe that you created the Sons of Korhal."

"This is a good thing." Augustus's expression was surprisingly relieved. "I will take responsibility for all of this, so that little Vah and his mother will not be implicated because my brother is the leader of the Sons of Korhal."

Just as Augustus was speaking, the cheers in the Jennin Bar suddenly grew more enthusiastic. As Augustus listened intently, he could hear someone on his right raising their arms and shouting:

When Augustus looked at him, he was surprised to find a cowboy dressed in a tan denim outfit and wearing a cowboy hat standing on the table. He had two short guns tucked into his waistband and looked tough and strong.

"Nonsense! Do Confederacy senators think they represent the will of the people? The Tarsonis Old Families has amassed far too much wealth through the exploitation of the outer sectors. The colonies' 'gold and silver' are constantly flowing into the core world, and yet they still want us to shoulder even more!"

"Are they our men?" Augustus beckoned to Faraday, who simply shook his head in confusion.

"He's not one of ours. He shouldn't be a probationary member of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party. My men have never even seen him before—you know, they always remember the faces of those who come and go from Echo Town. I suspect he came from somewhere else." Faraday stared sharply at the cowboy.

"His clothes had a Cossack scimitar badge, which indicated that he was from New Babylon State, which was much farther away than the capital region."

The people of Ma Sara have long harbored resentment towards the Confederacy. This planet is one of the thirteen core worlds of the Terran Confederacy, yet its development has almost stagnated. Compared to its sister planet Cha Sara, which is thriving in both technology and economy, Ma Sara is poor and backward.

The rebellious sentiments of the Ma's Sara stemmed more from the tough-guy spirit and unruly nature deeply ingrained in every Ma's Sara person. Their hatred for the Confederacy grew as the burden of exorbitant taxes imposed on the people during the four-year Guild Wars intensified. The wealth of the Terran Confederacy was concentrated in the hands of a very small number of families, yet they continued to exploit the people with ever greater ruthlessness.

Korhal and Ma Sara are different. The initial conflict arose from the dissatisfaction caused by Korhal's strong economic power and his extremely limited influence in the Terran Confederacy. As the desire for freedom among the lower classes in the revolutionary ideology grew stronger, Angus Mengsk's call to action led to the outbreak of the revolution.

"Let us unite under the banner of revolution and make Sara independent!" the cowboy of New Babylon declared passionately, eliciting many echoes of his sentiments.

"This is a good thing, but be careful not to incite their rebellious spirit too much, lest it lead to tragedy and cause Ma Sara to suffer the same fate as Korhal."

Augustus showed no joy; his expression was grave as he said, "We must be wary of the police, militia, and Confederacy troops' operations against the revolutionaries."

"I have received a notification from the Hilo State Justice, instructing us to assist the Hilo militia in suppressing the revolutionaries and any remaining Revolutionary Army. We are also to relocate the alien technology laboratory on the ground and deliver that alien artifact to the Fleets."

Thank you for the votes