Blast Them

SCT 2490.4.22

Bhekar, the other side.

The other side of the planet where the Korhal immigrants landed was also a lush, vibrant, and beautiful world. Low-altitude basins, plains, and rugged mountains were covered with abundant green plants, and flowers bloomed among the mountains and streams.

Hundreds of Terrazine shrines of the Tal'darim are nestled amidst lush jungles and seas of flowering plants, exuding a blend of antiquity, solemnity, and grandeur, resembling the Pantheon in Rome or ancient shrines. Magnificent columns inscribed with mysterious texts, symbols, and murals support intricately carved inner vaults, with shell-like patterns extending from the outer walls of the vaults, as if these were the work of nature itself, not human hands.

Cylindrical pillars, over 50 feet (15 meters) high, are embedded in the solid stone walls, almost blending seamlessly into them. There are no doors in the walls, only a few tall, wide hexagonal windows that allow sunlight to stream directly into the niches within the walls, illuminating the exquisite stone carvings depicting deities. Purple smoke from the Terrazine vents rises gently from the square opening in the altar's dome.

These historic buildings may not have been built in Bhekar, or even by the Taldarim or the Protoss race; they are more like creations from a distant past.

A vast plain covered with sparse jungle and low shrubs stands out amidst the lush undergrowth. Dozens of Terrazine shrines are scattered across a narrow rectangular plot of land, forming an almost indistinguishable regular hexagon when viewed from the air. Edmond Duke, the former commander of the Confederacy Navy's Alpha Squadron, who was sent to deal with the Tal'darim, was quite fond of calling this place "Handy Anderson's Bald Head," a sarcastic reference to the impressive baldness of the UNN's editor-in-chief and investor.

"I can't help but wonder if those pointy heads are brainless, or if they've never evolved brains at all. This place is as conspicuous as a dry, bare clearing in the jungle. Any good commander should immediately recognize that this is a hidden Taldarim base."

Duke stood atop a solid hill, holding a high-powered telescope capable of detecting heat sources. His gleaming white Commander CMC Power Armor reflected the scorching midday sun. Three neat columns of Alpha Squadron Marines marched past Duke to his left, while to his right were armored personnel carriers loaded with soldiers and Vulture occasionally speeding past them.

This unpleasant former Confederacy commander comes from a prominent Old Families. The only admirable aspect of his terrible personality is that, just as he looks down on everyone else, he despises any alien creatures, even those that demonstrate powerful technological capabilities.

Whether strategically or tactically, Duke dares to despise any enemy he looks down upon.

"But I think if the Marshal's command hadn't told you that this was a hidden city of Taldarim, you'd probably just be here pounding your chest and yelling." At that moment Tychus Finley, wearing massive red Power Armor, and Jim Raynor, wearing blue armor, walked out from behind Duke.

"If someone hadn't told me that our esteemed General Edmond Duke was here, I would probably have thought he had already stormed into the Taldarim pyramids." Tychus had always disliked Duke.

"You'll see soon enough." Duke didn't even glance at Tychus, focusing instead on what lay ahead.

"Give me a Janda Hotport imported cigar, I paid a hefty price for it." Tychus walked over to Duke and pulled a thick cigar from a bag hanging on his Power Armor.

"Are you kidding me? Janda Hotport is synonymous with pirated, cheap, and inferior products. Every Tarsonis knows that it's a place where the lowest of men go." Duke disgustedly swatted away Tychus's outstretched hand, as if he were swatting away a fly.

"Fine, then." For a fraction of a second, Tychus felt a pang of embarrassment, but it quickly vanished.

"I say, General Duke, aren't you afraid that the Taldarim assassins will come after you standing here in such a conspicuous place?" As Raynor spoke, Tychus threw all his cigars into the bushes where Duke couldn't see them.

Duke is actually a very cautious person. He is surrounded by elite Alpha Squadron guards equipped with anti-stealth devices and towering Goliath Combat Robot. Raynor is just teasing Duke as usual. After all, they have never liked each other. Tychus often speaks ill of Duke and it is not uncommon for them to fight.

"If any Taldarim assassins dare to come, I can capture them with one hand." Duke lowered his binoculars and looked at Raynor, after all, the latter had a higher rank than him.

Although Duke thought the ranks in this rebel army were a joke, with many young men under twenty serving as colonels and generals because of their seniority, and Augustus could promote his generals at will, these ranks were not as valuable as a staff officer in the naval headquarters.

"Just kidding, don't take it seriously. These aliens are all muscle and could easily slice through your turtle shell," Tychus laughed.

"What are you laughing at? You're Augustus's dog, a scoundrel, a disgrace to the army, a wanted criminal!" Duke roared in fury.

"I'm a bad guy anyway~ you're no better, you Viper." Tychus enjoyed watching Duke get furious; it was one of his few pleasures besides eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

"Ah, what's going on? Let me hear it too." At this moment, Harnack Hank walked up the hill where Duke and the others were. His thick Firebat Power Armor was painted with the Heaven's Devils symbol in flames and the wolf head of the Mengsk Family.

Perhaps because Harnack had been dealing with fire for many years, everyone felt the temperature rise as soon as he appeared, as if his fiery red armor was radiating high temperatures like a furnace.

Duke was instantly annoyed by Harnack's signature cheerful voice. This red-haired kid was a troublemaker, and even as a colonel in the Revolutionary Army, he was still picking fights every few days. But far more people disliked Duke than Harnack because of this. Everyone knew that Marshal Augustus liked Harnack very much because the latter valued friendship and loyalty above all else.

If a person can gain Harnack's trust and friendship, he can gain a friend for life.

"You'd better shut your mouth, Colonel Hank," Duke roared at his bewildered subordinates as he gave orders to the advancing Alpha Squadron over his command channel.

"You already know where to fire. Aim at those Taldarim temples and order the artillery to open fire immediately. Don't conserve ammunition; blast those Taldarim pointed heads to smithereens!"