Bhekar's Secret
In the azure sky Bhekar, hundreds of square spacecraft and shuttles were ascending, trailing long thruster exhaust plumes, the massive objects gradually becoming blurred dots in the sky.
The central square of the August Colony was packed with tens of thousands of people, and the vast square was bustling with noise.
Those who remained on the ground at this time were those who had voluntarily stayed and were determined to establish new colonies. The reason that drove them to make such a crazy decision was the indescribable influence of the Terrazine in Bhekar on them.
Humans who ingest excessive amounts of Terrazine may hear inexplicable whispers, angry roars, or resentful mutterings, but in reality, these are just noises. The most alarming aspect of Bhekar is that almost everyone who hears the whispers believes that Bhekar itself is talking to them, meaning that the voices they hear share a common thread—it's as if hundreds of thousands of people are having the same nightmare.
The Taldarim of Bhekar did not appear to have these symptoms; they were completely unaffected.
The word "Bhekar" became the embodiment of the planet's natural consciousness. She was all-knowing and all-powerful, able to foresee the crisis or salvation of the next moment. Like a mother, Bhekar cared for her loyal followers, never asking for anything in return. Even the most unsociable and socially awkward people could find spiritual comfort in Bhekar.
The emergence of a new religion in the Koprulu Sector could happen in a very short time. Humanity in the Koprulu Sector originated from Earth, where religious belief had been completely eradicated, yet various faiths and sects flourished in this corner of the Milky Way Galaxy.
For example, the tribes living on the planet Haj worship a goddess of death named Manan Seres. They believe in black magic and voodoo, and each tribe has a high priest who serves the goddess of death. Although the so-called black magic and voodoo have been proven by members of the Terran Confederacy's Ghost Program to be merely the locals' worship of Psionics and mystical phenomena, superstition and rituals have already taken root on the planet Haj.
Faced with the harsh and often precarious environment of colonies, many people often need spiritual comfort from religion.
There were approximately 140,000 immigrants remaining on the surface of Bhekar, including a 5,000-strong marine brigade of the Revolutionary Army and a small but fully-fledged immigrant settlement government. Between 120,000 and 130,000 people were affected by Terrazine, and they remained mentally sound except for the occasional mention of Bhekar.
The concrete and iron fence ground was crowded with Korhal immigrants, each of them standing on tiptoe, trying their best to catch a glimpse of the Revolutionary Army marshal Augustus Mengsk.
Once upon a time, the people of Korhal IV looked up to Augustus's fathers as if they were looking up to the sun, following those born leaders as if chasing the sunlight. Today, these people still loyally follow Augustus Mengsk, simply because he is a descendant of the Mengsk Family, and every Mengsk, without exception, is a born leader.
The people in the square all knew that their compatriots might not return to Bhekar for another ten years or more.
"I respect your choice, because you are my people." Augustus's voice carried far.
"Today, the Korhal have erected a monument on Bhekar, marking the establishment of our first home outside the Koprulu Sector. We must forge ahead like our ancestors. Humans are the most resilient and adaptable race in the universe, and the Korhal are the most resilient of all." He stood on a makeshift platform, looking down at his people whose eyes gleamed with a hint of purple light.
Augustus knew that Terrazine had extremely strong side effects, and their addictive properties were comparable to the most potent drugs. However, Terrazine could indeed enhance the Psionics of those who ingested them.
At present, Augustus knows of one precious mineral that can alleviate the side effects and madness caused by Terrazine: phlegmon.
Even if the changes are not immediately apparent in this generation of immigrants, their descendants will certainly benefit. Within just two or three generations, the proportion of Psionics among the Bhekar immigrant population will far exceed that of humans on other planets.
"Beware of the Tal'darim who may still be lurking on this planet, for after the Fleets departs, you will have to live alongside malevolent Protoss. Watch your surroundings and the dense jungles, for Taldarim hunters may appear at any time. Protect your children and families, for you must rely on yourselves to survive."
After he finished speaking, shouts immediately rang out in the central square, which showed that Augustus had great prestige among the Korhal people.
Augustus then waved goodbye to his people and, flanked by Kerrigan and Faraday, boarded a slightly faded crimson shuttle.
"If the people of Bhekar cannot resist Terrazine allure of the diazepines, they will destroy themselves sooner or later." As Kerrigan followed Augustus up the shuttle's gangway, she said to him, "You're always too kind. Do you remember how you helped Lisa Cassidy detoxify?"
"Save her in the same room, and tie her to a chair with a rope," Augustus said earnestly. "When Lisa has withdrawal symptoms, she will moan and beg you for some life-saving poison, and she will do anything for you."
"This in itself is a test for me."
"You don't need to tell me this," Kerrigan said, staring into her emerald green eyes. To Faraday, standing nearby, her expression shifted dramatically, from sunny to stormy in an instant.
"Why do you know so much about Lisa Cassidy —I forgot, even if you're not allowed to read my memories, you can still read other people's," Augustus said before stepping into the shuttle's hatch.
"If you know your enemy well enough, you can easily plunge a dagger into her neck." Kerrigan expression unchanged.
"Forcibly taking them out of Bhekar is one option. We might be able to remove the addictive properties of Terrazine at great cost, but we can't cure their mental illness." Augustus didn't offer any comment on what Kerrigan said.
"The Terrazine in Bhekar may be fundamentally different from those in other regions, or there really is a mysterious entity that has been communicating with humans all along," he said.
"I will wait, and perhaps one day in the future, when Bhekar is back under our control, this planet will bring me some surprises."
"But you are a staunch atheist," Kerrigan said.
"Of course, there are no gods in this world, only creatures who claim to be gods," Augustus.
Over the next few months, the Revolutionary Army fleet will first travel hundreds of years to reach the planets of Kalis and Marikvere V, dropping off 500,000 immigrants on each planet, and finally head to Agria on the edge of the Terran Federation's territory to settle the last two million immigrants.