Freedom Day

Deadwater Base is backed by gray mountain ridges, facing the vast Gray Ridge Plain, and is located among several immigrant settlements that have not yet formed towns.

It was originally just a mining station established by prospectors who came to Ma·Sara. Many years later, it became a supply center set up by the Terran Confederacy military in the area, used to store and deliver strategic materials to military bases around the planet.

The population composition of Deadwater Base has always been relatively complex. A considerable number of people come from pagan families who were persecuted in other Terran Confederacy worlds, or people who were expelled due to extremely fanatical religious tendencies and came here to seek asylum. This is also the norm for many Edge Worlds. This is a refuge for the unpopular and the deviant.

Revolutionary Army's temporary command post built with marching tents was only a few miles away from Deadwater Base. From this position, Augustus could see the bare orange-gray mountains in the distance and the scattered settlement buildings with golden light under the noon sun.

At this time, the sun hanging in the sky was like a point of light that could not be seen directly. It was larger than any sun Augustus had ever seen, and the light and heat it released turned Ma·Sara into a huge oven.

Even if they are in a tipi tent that lacks temperature stabilization equipment, Augustus wearing CMC Power Armor and his staff and officers do not need to make extra efforts to cope with the hot environment. They have more time to process the information transmitted back in time by various units using radios, and formulate combat plans based on this information.

There are more than a dozen people in this tent who are talking and exchanging information, and Augustus is at the center of them.

"The bomber formation has completed the bombing order and is returning."

"The 451st Battalion of Tychus and the 12th and 14th Battalions of Lieutenant Colonel Herman advanced in the open area in front of Deadwater Base according to the scheduled plan, less than half a mile away from Deadwater Base."

"Captain Manstein's tank troops are breaking into the enemy's defenses outside Deadwater Base."

Everyone in the headquarters is gathered around a long table, on which is a three-dimensional combat map projected by the Holographic Projection device. The Holographic Projection device used for projection was given to him by Augustus's brother Arcturus in Guild Wars. Now this wooden projector, family photo frame and letter box are important personal items that Augustus will carry with him wherever he goes.

On the Holographic Projection map, the four squares marked with green are the attacking troops of the Revolutionary Army, while the red triangles represent the enemy troops. At present, the vanguard of the Revolutionary Army has overwhelmingly destroyed the defense fortifications set up by the Confederacy army on the periphery of Deadwater Base.

Deadwater Base's Marine Corps has always been criticized by nearby residents for its bureaucratic corruption and chaotic management. In recent years, scandals have even spread to many regions. The annual sexual assault incidents have made the military here deeply hated by local residents.

Although the defenders already have a proportion of Resocialized Soldier, it is less than 20%, and the proportion is far less than that of the Guild Wars frontline army. The Confederacy army, which has low combat effectiveness and lacks popular support, cannot withstand the attack of the Revolutionary Army that is several times larger than it. The only thing that worries Augustus now is the civilians near Deadwater Base.

"Confederacy's defense radius includes residential areas. They also built Bunker and poured single-man bunkers between civilian houses. This means that our troops have to launch attacks from between residential areas. Based on my understanding of the character of Confederacy officers, they are likely to lay Spider Mine on the way." Augustus said.

"All troops participating in the offensive have been assigned minesweepers and minesweepers. Spider Mine will not cause us excessive casualties." A staff officer said.

Revolutionary Army has never suffered a big loss on Spider Mine, but during the Guild Wars period, this deadly weapon with two flashing red signal lights on its oval casing has taught both sides a painful lesson. These gadgets, which weigh only a few pounds, are derived from ancient earth technology and are a branch of the technology carried by the colonial Mothership.

Although Augustus has never encountered Spider Mine, there are still countless tragic cases that can remind Augustus and his generals of the terrible consequences this insidious weapon can have on the battlefield.

Spider Mine will automatically dive underground as soon as it lands. Once any unlucky guy walks into the trap, the high explosives it carries are enough to blow up an ordinary fourth-class Marine into the sky.

"The problem of civilian casualties is inevitable." Another staff officer of Augustus said, "We have warned the residents near Deadwater Base two hours in advance, but a considerable number of people still stay at home and are unwilling to abandon their property."

"Confederacy will definitely blame all civilian casualties on our heads." said a military adviser with Umojan background.

"That's for sure." Augustus looked at the military adviser. "Of course everything is the fault of the rebels who caused the riot - if we abide by our duties and be law-abiding citizens, then there will be peace in the world."

"Apart from our friends at UNN who will put in a good word for us, even Terra Family will not publicly express support for the rebels."

"But no matter what, protecting civilians has always been Revolutionary Army's top priority. We must use our lives to protect any civilian, regardless of gender or the elderly, weak, sick or disabled." Augustus said to his subordinates, "No matter how UNN and other media publicize Revolutionary Army's brutality, every planet we visit must leave the impression on the local residents that we are an army that truly protects the people."

"Convey our orders to each company to evacuate local residents first, and then launch an attack on the military base."

When Augustus was feeling dry, Ghost operative Sarah·Kerrigan, who had been behind him, handed him a glass of water in a timely manner.

After drinking the water, Augustus asked again, "Where are the Tychus people?"

"Wolf Hunters 451st Battalion has entered Backwater Town and is evacuating local residents. The Confederacy army seems to have retreated after only a slight resistance. The air has been blocked by us. They should be taking the mountain road."

"According to the radio communications we monitored from the Deadwater Base command center, the commander of the place left Deadwater Base shortly after we warned the local residents." Augustus's military adviser said.

"Move the command forward." Augustus handed the finished water cup to Kerrigan: "No, we will directly follow the troops in front."

Revolutionary Army is not a loose organization purely connected by revolutionary enthusiasm and revolutionary ambitions. Augustus formed a rebel army based entirely on the organization and requirements of the regular army, and his orders were quickly implemented.

Since Revolutionary Army's air force had gained air superiority, Augustus arrived at the front line in a few minutes on an ordinary transport plane, following a Revolutionary Army battalion that was heading towards Deadwater Base and entered the backwater town outside the base.

Revolutionary Army 1st Brigade's armor wearing rate has reached 50%. All frontline troops have a CMC-200 Power Armor. These soldiers wearing crimson Power Armor made heavy clicking sounds when they ran in order.

This year, Augustus, who is in Ma Sara, can no longer rely on Power Armor imitated by Umojan Republic, so he can only target Confederacy's army.

Augustus and his staff and advisors walked in the second half of the march, and Kerrigan, who was wearing a ghost combat uniform, followed them invisibly. Behind them was a company of spearmen serving as reconnaissance and cover and a heavy truck pulling an electromagnetic gun. The fast-moving Revolutionary Army team crossed a wide road leading to Deadwater Base and advanced on the bumpy asphalt road.

According to the latest reports, the vanguard troops have defeated the fragile defenses of the Deadwater Base defenders and crushed their weak breakout.

Tychus's troops took the lead. As soon as Augustus connected to the command channel, he could hear the other party complaining that the follow-up troops were too slow to follow up.

Along the way, Augustus saw bunkers and heavy machine gun positions that had been bulldozed by tanks, and the minefields were marked with cordons and colorful flags. The era of Power Armor has arrived, and the power of automatic induction mines has also been amazingly improved.

However, to Augustus's expectation, the residents here still did not evacuate. Not only that, they also stood on the road where the war had just subsided and shouted Revolutionary Army's propaganda slogan:

"Augustus·Mengsk, Terrans's savior!"

"The welfare of the people is above all else!"

"Down with Tarsonis Old Families, the world belongs to the people!"

Augustus has never seen these scenes in a war zone. In the Guild Wars he personally participated in, both Terrans and Kel-Morian people are afraid of the army. For example If the Kel-Morian people capture a Terran Confederacy planet, they will treat Terrans as a slave, and Terran Confederacy will not do better than Kel-Morian.

In front of Augustus is a small town affected by the war. Many of the dark orange rectangular colonial modular houses on both sides of the road were hit by howitzers. The bodies of Confederate Marine Corps team members can be seen everywhere, and several Confederacy Armored Vehicle was dragged to the side of the road and parked there quietly. A Revolutionary Army military flag was planted every few hundred yards, while the red and blue star flag of Confederacy was burning on the ground.

Only LED billboards, Holographic Projection advertising lights and IAA robots are still working. From time to time, small, stupid robots sell affordable luxury products from local companies to passing Revolutionary Army soldiers.

Most of the people who welcomed Revolutionary Army were local miners. They wore gray mining overalls with rough fabrics, and wore turbans and sun hats on their heads. However, they did not look like ordinary miners. Almost everyone was carrying a semi-automatic rifle on their backs, and their waists were covered with khaki canvas bullet belts.

Some of them have not only bullet belts hanging on their waists, but also full of homemade Molotov cocktails. They don't seem to worry that these Molotov cocktails are more likely to turn themselves into a ball of fire. These Ma·Sara people are definitely models of martial virtue. They have been shouting that the Confederacy government is corrupt and incompetent as early as more than ten years ago.

Before the Terran Confederacy world began to immigrate to Sara System, the population of Ma·Sara was mainly composed of soldiers and miners, with simple folk customs, while its sister star, Sara, was a concentrated penal colony for criminals.

Deadwater Base's Confederacy garrison is really unpopular, and Revolutionary Army easily gained their support.

In fact, it now seems that what Revolutionary Army shouted are just empty slogans. If Angus·Mengsk and his son are regarded as careerists, then these are just excuses for them to usurp power and seize the throne. Even if only 10% of the good prospects shown by the Revolutionary Army can be realized in the future, it will be enough for Terrans people to praise them.

"Revolutionary Army is here, we are free!" As Revolutionary Army gradually penetrated into the towns outside Deadwater Base, local residents who took up arms also joined their ranks.

And even though Augustus didn't need the help of these people, he still felt a burst of joy.

"Why don't you show up and say a few words to these people?" Kerrigan, who had been following Augustus, said to him through the communication device in the helmet.

"I can feel their voices. They all sincerely support us. These people believe that you will bring some changes to Koprulu Sector."

"Let our propaganda committee member speak for me." Augustus looked around and did not stand up to accept the welcome from the locals.

"There is no podium here, and I can't stand that high."

"Corporal Faraday, let those civilians return to their homes." Augustus continued.

As Augustus's troops moved forward, he could already see more and more Bunker wreckage. The air defense towers around the base had been occupied by the Revolutionary Army, and from time to time Revolutionary Army deep red-painted Avenger fighters and transport planes passed through the sky.

The battle had already ended ten minutes before Augustus arrived at Deadwater Base's command center. Tychus was playing with a captured electromagnetic pistol on the office chair of Deadwater Base's garrison commander.

The command center office is quite gorgeously furnished, with a white wool carpet on the floor, silver tableware on the conference table and a few unfinished roast chickens.

"Many families in Ma·Sara are still starving, but the officers here are enjoying themselves." Augustus sighed.

"You came too late." Tychus said to Augustus, "I have already come first."

"The Confederacy army is vulnerable. If it were in the era of Heaven's Devils"

"Shut up, Tychus." Augustus looked at Tychus: "All our victories are based on the fact that the enemies we have encountered so far are a group of idiots. Don't be complacent."

"Look up, there is a surveillance camera there, and it is still connected to the satellite base station of Confederacy." As for what Augustus said, Tychus always goes in one ear and out the other.

"Say something?"

"That's what I meant." Augustus smiled and lowered his Power Armor mask.

Then, Augustus raised his head and took off his nano mask little by little, revealing that handsome face that frightened many Terran Confederacy officials.

"I am Augustus·Mengsk, and I will bring salvation and freedom to all Koprulu Sector's Terrans."

"I am your nightmare."

After saying that, Augustus pulled out the P220 Electromagnetic Pistol from his waist and accurately hit the camera on the ceiling.

"Distribute the food, guns and ammunition in the supply warehouse to local soldiers and civilians." Augustus put the pistol into its holster.

"This revolution is about to heat up," he said.

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