Rebels Like A Plague

Echo Town, Hilo Autonomous State. Local time, February 12, 2490.

It was nearing noon.

This colonial town, with a permanent population of less than 8,000, has a wide, north-south cobblestone road that runs through the entire town. The road is clean and tidy, with tall, light blue streetlights standing on both sides.

The streets were bustling with people, with eight-wheeled cargo trucks huddled close to the ground and beetle-shaped family hovercars, their designs outdated by several eras from the core planet. Farmers working in the fields near Echo Town were driving their agricultural robots home. The last breeze of the rainy season swept through, and the once vibrant Echo Town became lively and bustling again under the scorching midday sun of Mar- Sara.

Augustus, dressed in a brown Magistrate's uniform and wearing a cowboy hat, leaned against the Vulture parked at the entrance to Echo Town, silently watching the bustling streets. Beside Augustus stood Sarah Kerrigan and Tychus Finley, both dressed in cowboy attire, while Faraday and several other Revolutionary Army sergeants in militia uniforms stood not far away.

"It's all thanks to you," Kerrigan said, pointing to the prosperous Echo Town. "You funded the reconstruction of the roads in Echo Town, and your mines and Ardien Crystal Refinery have provided these people with hard-won jobs and a stable income that has gradually made them wealthy."

"If our government is willing to spend just a little more money for its people, they will receive enthusiastic support and endorsement." Augustus crossed his arms, his thick eyebrows relaxing with a light laugh.

Augustus then looked at Sheriff Tychus Finley standing beside him. "Tychus, look at the time. I think the planetary defense forces dispatched by Governor Mar- Sara should be arriving soon."

"You have a watch yourself." If it were anyone else, Tychus would have already mocked him, implying that he didn't have hands.

"They really know how to pick their time, 12:30," he said. "Why should we wait for them in the scorching sun? We're all in this same boat, making a living through this 'murder and arson' business. Who's more noble than whom?"

"Because they are pressed for time and need to return to their base in the capital region before dark, no one dares to stay in this town rumored to be teeming with rebels—it is said that the deserts of Hilo State are teeming with rebels whose eyes gleam with an eerie green light, who eat people without spitting out the bones, and who especially prey on children," Augustus replied to Tychus.

"Only a fool would believe that," Tychus said with a forced smile. "Oh, I forgot that those corrupt officials and nobles are all idiots."

As soon as Tychus finished speaking, a convoy of more than a dozen armored personnel carriers rumbled toward Echo Town. The lead Armored Vehicle had already appeared on the distant horizon, with a huge, eye-catching Confederacy red and blue star flag on its front.

"4th Company, 12th Battalion, Mar- Sara Planetary Defense Force, a unit directly under the Governor's Office. Unlike the Civil Defense Force, they are a regular army unit with a structure, and everyone inside is a professional soldier." Kerrigan walked to Augustus's side, her eyes fixed on the lead armored personnel carrier, her sharp gaze seemingly able to pierce through a fifth of an inch of steel plate to see the Planetary Defense Force commander sitting inside.

"According to the documents issued by the Justice Department of the Hilo Autonomous State, the one sent to apprehend the traitors is Lieutenant Gray of that company." She continued, "A Tarsonis, born in the Tarsonis capital city of Silvie District. His father was a renowned banker, and his mother was the youngest daughter of the Tarsonis noble Yarent Family. Lieutenant Dudley Yarent Gray had no military academy or service record in any branch of the Confederacy military before serving in the Mar- Sara Planet Defense Force. He seemed to have appeared out of thin air on this planet, and once he appeared, he obtained his current rank."

"Even a fool could guess what happened. This rich young master must have committed some crime in Tarsonis —but even rape and kidnapping wouldn't warrant being banished to this stinking latrine of Mar Sara." Tychus heard Kerrigan's words clearly. "This bastard must have messed with someone more powerful than himself, so his money-grubbing father spent a fortune pulling strings to get him sent here to lay low."

"The officers of the Governor's Guard in the Immigrant Territory are certainly not idle, but the police are there to deal with criminals. The Guard's role is mainly to provide support for the Governor. Although the Kel-Morian people did manage to reach this place, it turned out to be just a false alarm," Tychus said. "He probably never dreamed he would be sent to deal with the rebels, and that brainless governor had no plan whatsoever, only knowing how to throw out all the cards he could play."

"Yes, according to Agent Umojan's investigation, this Gray is guilty of at least murder and rape. There are rumors that he also uses drugs and commits incest, but all the charges have been cleared by his father, who even found him a good position in the army in Mar- Sara." Kerrigan nodded and said, "Although there is no direct evidence that he continued his atrocities after arriving in Mar- Sara, we believe that given his flamboyant personality, he is not the type to keep a low profile."

"I just hope he doesn't make too many demands on us," Augustus a light laugh. "For example, sending us to fight the rebels in the western desert—that would be asking too much."

By this time, the Planetary Defense Force's Armored Vehicle convoy had passed the last stretch of the road and was only a few hundred yards away from Augustus and his men.

"That Armored Vehicle is the same model we used on Turaxis — Tuk 228, now obsolete. The army is dumping its garbage on the Outer Colonies, and the local forces are proud of it." Tychus pointed this out, not without sarcasm, looking at the leading Armored Vehicle. "Look at these old vehicles, all painted in red and blue. I bet they just hurriedly wiped off the dust piled up on them a few days ago and Lila these big things out of the junkyard."

The Armored Vehicle vehicle in the lead was blaring its horn, emitting a piercing scream, and it did not dodge or avoid other vehicles on the road, behaving arrogantly. Even when it was dozens of yards away from Augustus, this heavy Armored Vehicle did not slow down, like a runaway train engine.

Augustus showed no sign of panic until the Armored Vehicle abruptly stopped in front of him, kicking up rusty dust and sand.

"Their commander is either a madman or an arrogant idiot who's watched too many Galactic Hero movies." As Lieutenant Gray of the Planetary Defense Force stepped off the truck, Augustus whispered to Kerrigan and Tychus beside him, "I wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson."

"These people are proof of the corrupt rule in the Terran Confederacy. Incompetent people rule the Confederacy, occupying high positions, and their unrestrained indulgence in personal desires makes this large but bloated regime increasingly dark and chaotic."

Lieutenant Gray wore a custom-made military overcoat with gold brass buttons and a long hem. His leather boots were polished to a gleaming shine, and he walked with a brisk, almost bouncy gait. His slicked-back dark brown hair was styled in Tarsonis's new haircut. Thick dark circles surrounded his deep-set eyes, which were bloodshot and strained to be wide open. His lips were tightly pressed together, an attempt at an air of authority that, while comical, seemed forced.

The lieutenant was followed closely by an adjutant and Confederacy tax officer wearing a top hat, who shouted as he walked, "The road is newly built, and the inner streets are paved with bluestone slabs—this doesn't look like a place where people can't afford to pay their taxes."

"It's truly a case of black and white being turned upside down. I can't believe that people in places rife with defections seem to be doing better."

"Alright. This isn't my job. My mission is to eliminate the rebels entrenched here." The lieutenant muttered to himself, glancing at Augustus. "You must be the local Magistrate. What a mess. A few rebels have you all screaming and crying, and now we have to clean up the mess."

However, the arrogant Lieutenant Gray was completely unaware of the gold glint in Sarah Kerrigan green eyes beside Augustus. He was talking to himself when he suddenly tripped over his own feet and lost his balance. The tall, thin lieutenant then fell to the ground amidst her ear-piercing screams.

"How ugly--" Tychus showed absolutely no respect for a high-ranking military officer of the Terran Confederacy. He said in a voice loud enough for everyone present to hear, "He fell down looking like a piece of hard, salted meat."

Augustus cleared his throat and, before Lieutenant Gray could awkwardly scramble to his feet, said in his deep voice, "Sir Lieutenant Gray, I am Caesar local Magistrate. Our investigation confirms that the rebels are entrenched in the Purgatory Corridor on Ridgecrest Plains, but the Echo Town militia numbers less than a hundred."

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Lieutenant Gray mumbled incoherently as he stood up, blood gushing from his mouth, indicating he had broken at least a few teeth. Lost in extreme pain and embarrassment, Lieutenant Gray hadn't heard Augustus's words, forcing the latter to repeat them while asking if he should call a doctor.

"The new boots don't fit quite right." The lieutenant took a towel from Augustus had a concerned expression, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. But he didn't show any gratitude. Instead, he blamed the fall on something else. "The countryside is the countryside."

"You should see a doctor immediately," Augustus said with great concern. "I know a good dentist."

"No, no need." Lieutenant Gray still tried to appear calm, struggling to maintain his shattered dignity. "I just heard there are rebels in the desert, is that true?"

"Of course," Augustus said solemnly. "It's absolutely true; it's filled with nothing but pirates and rebels."

"I heard the rebels also have electromagnetic cannons and railguns, and some people even saw Arclite Siege Tank flying rebel flags speeding along the highway," Tychus added fuel to the fire.

"Ugh," Lieutenant Gray, still throbbing from the pain of his broken tooth. He didn't believe Augustus's story. "My intelligence tells me there's only a dozen or so rebels and two or three Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party with their families, publishing illegal books."

The Confederacy had long been aware of the full name of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party and all their political and reform demands. Interestingly, the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party was not a political party composed of a number of political figures, but a revolutionary party composed of countless ordinary Korhal, Umojan, and even other citizens of the Terran Confederacy, open to everyone, regardless of their social status.

The Confederate Congress of the Terran Confederacy is now convinced that the party's members have spread to various planets across the Confederacy's territory, like incurable cancer cells in the body. Revolutionary ideas are spreading like a plague throughout the Terran Confederacy, making all the powerful and wealthy who stand against the revolutionary party feel like they have thorns in their backs.

The emblem of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party, featuring a panda with inverted triangular dark circles under its eyes and a nose resembling a black pearl, has become a taboo symbol, forbidden from use in any context within the Terran Confederacy.

"That's right, but it's been fourteen days since I last submitted a report on the rebels." Augustus reminded the apprehensive planetary defense officer, "Things are different now. You and I both know that the rebels are like a virus that keeps multiplying; they're like a terrible plague. Once a place is infected by the revolutionaries, it's very difficult to eradicate them."

"How many of them are there?" Lieutenant Gray asked, trying to sound calm. "One hundred or two hundred?"

"The exact number is still unknown," Augustus. "Nobody can say for sure."

"Perhaps a division," Tychus chuckled.

"We should observe further," Lieutenant Gray said after a moment's thought. "I'll send out scouts and drones to investigate carefully."

"Alright." Augustus and Tychus exchanged a glance. "But we lack equipment."

"I have some here." Lieutenant Gray looked around, glanced at the orange-gray sky over Mar- Sara, and said, "I need to go back and gather more men."

One company is definitely not enough.

"I'll come and wipe out those rebels after you've investigated thoroughly." With that, Lieutenant Gray hurriedly walked towards the Armored Vehicle.

"Why are you in such a hurry to go back?" Tychus, standing next to Augustus, hadn't expected Lieutenant Gray to be so genuinely cowardly, but also so utterly absurd. He said sarcastically, "You just arrived in Echo Town, and you even took a bad fall, ending up with a bloody head."

"Didn't I tell you?" Lieutenant Gray was eager to leave this place, which was said to be teeming with rebels, as if flames were burning his feet. "I need to go back and redeploy troops!"

"Damn it, he actually left." Tychus laughed loudly as he watched Lieutenant Gray hurriedly drive away in Armored Vehicle after only a few minutes.

"Should I take some men and finish him off?" he then asked.

"Let's strike in the desert some distance from Echo Town, to avoid Governor Victor coming after us," Augustus. "This time, you need to make a name for yourself, Tychus. You need to let the Confederacy know that it was Tychus Heaven's Devils, who wiped out a Confederacy planetary defense force in Mar- Sara."

"Heh," Tychus said before riding off on his Vulture, "Old Tychus's wanted poster needs a raise."

Requesting votes--