The Trapped Protoss Unit

Ma Sara Airport.

As the sun was about to set, cold and darkness enveloped the brightly lit airport, casting a thin layer of red, blue, and white glaze over the port's buildings, both tall and short.

The airport was teeming with Sara refugees. These poor souls, who had endured numerous hardships to reach their destination, immediately showed expressions of joy upon seeing the lights symbolizing the brilliance of human civilization. But soon all their expressions froze on their faces, for they would soon discover that tens of thousands more were waiting to be evacuated ahead of them.

At this moment, the dark side of human nature begins to amplify. Everyone hopes to be the first to escape, and the collapse of order can sometimes happen in an instant. If it weren't for the Revolutionary Army soldiers maintaining order, this escape would quickly turn into a bloodbath or a frenzied stampede.

The spacious, dark silver alloy platform of the docking area was crammed with Mar- Sara people eager to escape, like mushrooms stuffed into a can. They jostled and pushed their way toward the boarding platform, moving slowly with each takeoff or landing of a red-painted Revolutionary Army transport ship.

The surging crowd could even push Revolutionary Army soldiers wearing CMC Power Armor. In such a situation, those squeezed in the very middle undoubtedly suffer the most; once they fall in the crowd, they will never have the chance to get up again.

Everyone felt genuine tension and fear, afraid that someone would suddenly tell them that the spaceships they had just launched were the last batch, while those who boarded the spaceships expressed their joy at surviving the ordeal in various ways.

A cacophony of sounds filled the crowd, cheers and sobs mingled, and prayers were offered intermittently.

The Mar- Sara are one of the most resilient of the Terrans. Before the Confederacy army intervened, they were even able to briefly hold off the Zerg with their outdated weapons and Zerg, and stories of them hunting Xenomorphs in several towns and even villages were commonplace. But that doesn't mean they, as humans, are without fear, especially when they are facing terrifying, countless Xenomorph monsters.

The encounter with the Sara System is destined to be an inescapable chapter in human history in the Koprulu Sector. It was the first confrontation between humanity and two other alien races in the universe, and it ended in a crushing defeat for humanity.

Augustus had just survived a brutal battle, was walking briskly from the port entrance to the command center, accompanied only by Sarah Kerrigan and Faraday, among a few other soldiers.

A few hundred yards behind Augustus was the fortification wall outside the airport, piled high with automatic cannons, armed Revolutionary Army soldiers, and boxes upon boxes of ammunition, with dozens of searchlight beams crisscrossing across the air.

In the past dozen hours, the Zerg that followed the last batch of refugees have taken control of all areas outside the city center of Mar- Sara. With the city center park outside the airport as the boundary, the infection is still spreading towards the city center.

Outside the silver-gray metallic fortification walls, the low growls of Zerg and the cracking sound of claws stepping on broken glass could be faintly heard. In the darkness, countless red eyes were watching the people in the airport.

Soldiers clad in heavy red Power Armor patrolled the defensive fortification walls, while machine gunners cleaned 20mm electromagnetic cannons and 12mm Gauss machine guns on platforms built with crates and metal ladders. The upper bases of the dense missile turrets rotated incessantly, ready to fire at any moment at the Mutalisk sweeping across the sky.

The guards protecting Mar- Sara are all veterans of the Augustus Guard Division. They followed Augustus when he founded the Korhal Revolutionary Army. They had fought against the most outstanding armies of the Terran Confederacy, and now they are fighting on the front lines of the war between humans and Zerg.

The Marshal's Guard, also known as Augustus Personal Guard, were directly loyal to Augustus and his Mengsk Family. These veterans of Korhal descent were well-equipped, wearing CMC-300 Power Armor with a red base and gold trim, and their helmets bore the white Mengsk family scar wolf head emblem.

As Augustus walked, he waved to his veterans, which immediately earned him many admiring glances.

In front of Augustus, the launch port of the Mar- Sara spaceport launched a batch of shuttles and transport ships every few minutes. The orange flames turned the ground and the faces of the people looking up below red, and the exhaust flames of hundreds of thrusters formed walls of flame that rose into the night. Every time a batch of ships took off, cheers would erupt from the crowd.

These spaceships, which have already traveled back and forth between the Earth and space multiple times, are already riddled with damage from the Zerg acid. Whether flying from the ground to space or landing on the surface of Mar- Sara, it is a perilous adventure.

Over the past few days and nights, the Revolutionary Army has lost more than twenty APOD transport ships and all the people on board. Many more fighter jets and pilots have disappeared while escorting the transport ships and fighting against the Mutalisk.

"They're cheering for those ships taking off—the same thing the people on the Korhal IV did before they escaped." Augustus's deep gray eyes reflected the brilliant lights of the airport, and a melancholy look often appeared on his serious and stern face.

"Sooner or later, humanity will no longer need to flee its home."

"War cannot break out on human soil." Kerrigan knew what Augustus thinking at that moment. She was staring intently at the man beside her, fascinated by his thoughts and everything about him.

"It is better to defend against the enemy on the battlefield than to neglect the enemy within one's own walls," Augustus.

"Well said, Augustus. But this is something the Confederacy should be concerned with. We don't need to worry about the fate of all mankind. To be honest, what do we care about the life or death of these Mar- Sara people? If you ask me, this is just meddling in other people's business." At this moment, Tychus Finley, Harnack Hank, and Jim Raynor walked over together.

They had clearly just been evacuated from the battlefield; their crimson Power Armor still bore the marks and dents from acid burns. Harnack was also wounded; his helmet had been pierced by a Hydralisk during the battle, and a piece of flesh about four inches long and three inches wide had been shaved off his right cheek. He was now only able to survive thanks to strong sedatives and painkillers.

Of course, according to Harnack, he was only scratched by the snake.

Harnack is now completely disfigured; a lasting scar will inevitably remain on his face. However, modern laser cosmetic surgery and skin grafting are advanced enough that, as long as he's willing to spend the money, nothing will be a problem.

"I think that's how it is," Harnack said vaguely.

"This is different, Tychus. If all of humanity is wiped out, what's the point of our revolution?" Raynor removed his helmet, revealing his bruised and swollen face. "Ideally, the Zerg and Protoss should be able to wipe out the entire Confederacy army in one fell swoop, so we can easily take down the Confederate Congress and those nobles in Tarsonis. Then we can unite all the colonies to fight against the enemy."

"It seems the Confederacy has absolutely no intention of defending its territory and wants to play the coward. They keep shrinking their defenses and turning a blind eye to the fall of their peripheral territories."

"What happened to your face?" Augustus already knew that Harnack had injured his face, but he didn't know about Raynor's condition. "Hank, I think you should rest."

"My troops can't do without me," Harnack replied.

"It was a fight, but it's over now." This man, who loved racing Vulture, had just taken a nasty fall because his car's combustion engine malfunctioned. Naturally, the Mar Sara racing legend Raynor would rather admit he lost a fight than talk about it.

"Why don't you check if old Tychus is injured?" Tychus suddenly appeared.

"You look as strong as a bull." Augustus shook his head. "I have no doubt about that."

"It's good that you're back." Then, Augustus asked the Revolutionary Army generals before him, "Where are the others?"

"We're alright; we've brought back as many of our fallen brothers as possible. But for those units that were almost completely wiped out, the situation is much worse. The unarmed refugees are facing an even worse situation. People keep getting separated while fleeing to various airfields and temporary landing points. These people either get lost or are eaten by the Zerg —those who didn't come back," Raynor said.

"There are numerous reports of missing persons in various locations." Augustus had already ordered the Marshal's Command to contact the communications control consoles of each division, instructing his generals and officers not to overlook anyone, regardless of whether that person was a villain or a good man.

"I'm afraid we don't have time to wait any longer."

"Send several more mobile units and close-range armed speedboats to search for survivors in the vicinity. If they succeed even once, they may be able to save many people." Augustus spoke, he frequently glanced at the sky, wary of any Mutalisk or other similar arthropods, beetles, or Zerg that might appear at any moment.

"But it's already dark. Even if someone is still alive, they probably won't make it through the night." Tychus wasn't too happy about it. "The worst part is, insects don't sleep at night."

"I'll take some men," Raynor said. "I know this area well. As long as we can save as many people as possible, it's worth the risk."

As Raynor spoke, he walked toward another helipad to organize the manpower. At the same time, the noisy roars outside the fortification wall became more and more intense, and the sound of flapping wings and sharp whistles came from the air.

Augustus's eyes widened slightly as he looked up at the sky.

The sky was like a black curtain shimmering with countless stars, many of which were almost as bright as the moon. Each star was either a large Mammoth-class or Wanderer-class human transport ship taking off or their burning wreckage.

However, the brilliant starlight was gradually obscured by the shadows, and a large number of Zerg flying creatures began to hover in the sky. Their numbers were so vast that they almost resembled a moving rain cloud.

Although the Jormungand Brood is primarily a ground-based insectoid force, its numbers are enormous. Even though flying creatures make up a relatively small proportion, their numbers far exceed those of the human air force.

The airfield, protected by a large number of Plasteel fortifications, Bunker, and electromagnetic guns, was shrouded in darkness except for the light from a few searchlights at outposts.

In the darkness Augustus's reach, a purplish-black Creep had already covered more than 80% of the city of Mar- Sara. On that viscous, creeping Creep, dark red Zerg tissue swayed and stretched towards the sky amidst hyphae, pustules, and human corpses, like a fungal growth process sped up countless times.

Dark brown and flesh-colored Zerg spires replaced the magnificent glass curtain walls and domes of human skyscrapers. Insect eggs were buried deep in warm underground incubation chambers and inside gradually cooling human corpses. In the damp nest, white gelatinous substance resembling fly eggs covered humans who had been dragged underground, and their terrified and contorted expressions were still clearly visible.

In the darkness outside the wall, the sounds of tens of thousands of Zerg running and their uneasy baring of teeth rose and fell.

A piercing alarm immediately blared from the fortification walls. Officers ran around frantically, ensuring that every heavy machine gun crew and artillery position was ready to fire. A commotion and gasps arose from the crowd, but those still stranded at the airfield seemed determined to fight the Zerg to the death if they were to actually arrive.

"Damn it, the bugs are here so fast," Tychus cursed under his breath. "Did you hear what those twisted little monsters were saying?"

"Dinner's ready."

"I knew it wouldn't go so smoothly," he said. "After this, I definitely have to pack my things and go back to my hometown."

"Fighting with bugs is not worth my meager salary."

"The reason you complain every day is because you can't find pretty girls. If you're so willing, I'd rather you go back right now." Augustus towards the fortification wall behind him, listening intently to the sounds outside as he went.

"Oh—I was just saying." Tychus shrugged and shamelessly followed suit. "I love burning bugs."

"The Zerg don't seem to be coming for us." At this moment, Kerrigan said, rubbing her throbbing forehead, "I can sense the Swarm's thoughts."

"That's good," Tychus chuckled. "Either it's the Omega Squadron stuck on the ground or some bunch of unlucky guys. Thanks to them for drawing fire for us."

"But these people should be not too far from us, otherwise those insects wouldn't have passed by here."

"What else can you sense?" Augustus asked Kerrigan with concern.

For a high-level human Psionics like Kerrigan, if she concentrates her attention and carefully senses, the mental and spiritual sounds will be significantly amplified, just like how the sound of raindrops falling sounds like thunder to an ordinary person.

"... It's the Protoss." Kerrigan paused for a moment.

"Contact our reconnaissance forces," Augustus barely finished speaking when he received an urgent report from the command center.

"Marshal, the scout boat has spotted a small Protoss ground force at the northernmost tip of Mar- Sara City. We don't know why they're there, but it seems the Protoss are in trouble... They're surrounded by Zerg." The report, punctuated by static, came through his headset.

"How far are they from here?" Augustus asked.

"About twenty-five miles," came the immediate reply.

Augustus silent, his brow furrowed in thought, before finally speaking after four or five seconds, "Where's Raynor? He just took some men out."

"Wait, you're not going to go and save them, are you? We don't need to do that," Tychus said in surprise.

"If it were the Taldarim, I would never bother with them," Augustus. "But these Protoss are a different story."

"You expect the Protoss to be grateful to us, and then give us a heads-up before they blow up a planet next time?" Tychus said, not without a hint of sarcasm.

"What good would it do to be friends with aliens?" he said.

"We don't do things that don't bring us any benefit."

Thank you for your support!