Psi Disrupter
Go to hell!
Even though he knew his words couldn't reach the bridge of the Nova Squadron's flagship, Augustus still cursed angrily.
"This is Horace Warfield's Steel Justice. We have located two Confederacy Navy squadrons," Warfield reported immediately.
"You mean there's another Fleets like Nova Squadron in the Antiga system? I really hope they're not here to collect our corpses." As a Revolutionary Army, Raynor could also hear Warfield's reminder on his communications channel.
"According to the scan results, the squadrons that just completed the jump were the Nova Squadron and Delta Squadron of the Terran Confederacy," Warfield said. "There were at least thirty Behemoth-class Battlecruiser and two thousand auxiliary warships, vessels, and starfighters."
"This combined Fleets is currently deploying ground troops to the surface of Antiga."
"Maintain distance, General, and avoid direct engagement with the Confederacy Fleets. We only have sixteen warships left to join the battle, and any losses could be irreparable." Augustus nodded in agreement.
"A wise choice. We don't yet have the strength to go head-to-head with the Confederacy. We have a mobile fortress that can serve as a docking point for the Fleets, but the firepower to deal with two squadrons of fortresses is still insufficient." Warfield nodded, ending the communication with the words "I will carry out the order."
"The Confederacy has finally decided to send a large force to save their colonies," Kerrigan a sigh of relief, her brow unfurrowing.
But then, after a moment's thought, her expression changed.
"You're here to rescue people, right?" She looked at Augustus, her mouth slightly open.
"You heard it all. If we don't surrender immediately, Colonel Haller will make us pay the price." Augustus looked at the gloomy sky over Antiga and the horizon radiating red light.
"I shouldn't have had any expectations of the Confederacy beasts," Kerrigan said.
"Let Swann build another command center for them? Those Tarsonis wouldn't be so petty," Raynor said sarcastically.
"We'll give them a big one back," Augustus said, walking up to the surrendered Confederacy officer and patting him on the shoulder.
"Young people, this place is now in your hands. Ansadar lies behind you, and the national border lies beneath your feet."
"Yes, Marshal." The young Confederacy officer was immediately invigorated by Augustus's words, his light blue eyes seeming to shine.
Augustus waved his hand, and the remaining members of the Marshal Guard, led by Faraday, followed him south along the highway leading directly to the city center.
Like other cities that were once mired in war and the threat of Zerg, this once prosperous metropolis is now incredibly desolate, with Hover Car, trams and airships parked everywhere, and the streets littered with broken glass and bloodstains.
A bronze statue praising ancient heroes and political figures of the Terran Confederacy was blown down by a stray grenade and collapsed with a crash. Armored Revolutionary Army soldiers ran through the streets and alleys, while Arclite Siege Tank weighing over sixty tons rolled forward.
Most of the citizens of Ansadar stayed in their locked homes, but some bolder individuals quietly stuck a pre-made welcome flag in their shop windows or outside their windows, the bright red flag fluttering in the wind.
As a city with a history of rebellion spanning over a decade, its people had long awaited this day, constantly thinking about overthrowing the corrupt and incompetent Antiga government.
In other Edge World information is delayed, Augustus might not necessarily gain the support of the locals if he wanted to raise a rebellion. However, on Antiga Prime, he didn't need to have such concerns at all, since the Antiga people's history of rebellion was much longer than that of Korhal IV.
However, if the Zerg had not invaded Antiga and several nearby star systems, even if Augustus rallied all his forces in Antiga, the Confederacy's strike Fleets would have swarmed in, and he would have been unable to defend the planet.
"Those people are welcoming us." As she ran alongside Augustus, Kerrigan's jade-green eyes swept across the tall buildings along the highway, warily using her telepathic abilities to search for the thoughts of any potential assassins or Confederacy snipers within.
Kerrigan's physical abilities are quite astonishing, especially with the aid of the Umojan Shadowskin combat suit; she can even rival a Marine in Power Armor in terms of strength.
"I think they've had enough of the Confederacy's oppression, and this is a good opportunity to liberate this planet. But after the Confederacy Fleets, the Protoss, and the Zerg came to Antiga, it's basically a mahjong table with everyone here," Raynor said.
"Thank goodness, at least no other aliens came."
"The more chaotic the situation, the better it might not be for us. The governor's mansion is just ahead." Augustus and his men continued forward, and as they got closer to the central city of Ansadar, the number of weapons and transport vehicle wreckage on the ground increased significantly.
Augustus heard no sounds of fierce fighting, and it seemed the Confederacy soldiers lacked fighting spirit. This was understandable, given that the Antiga governor had nearly wiped out the planet's regular army with a single defeat.
"I can already see the Revolutionary Army flag; it's Tychus and his men." When Augustus arrived at the governor's mansion, Tychus and Governor Mar Sara's troops had already stormed in and were waiting for Augustus for a long time.
The Antiga Governor's Palace is decorated as lavishly as a holiday villa for a member of the Terran Confederacy Parliament, and the nearby Ansadar City Hall is no less impressive. Among the landmark buildings, only the UNN Antiga branch's broadcasting building is a simple and heavy reinforced concrete structure with white marble and lights on the walls.
Augustus met Tychus Finley and Governor Mar Sara Pulaier outside the now-empty governor's mansion.
"The mayor of Ansadar committed suicide by shooting himself, and our men failed to catch the despicable fellow. However, I did manage to capture a whole bunch of senators from the Antiga Senate," Tychus Augustus.
"The most useless people here right now are the councilors and donkeys." Augustus glanced at the group of timid Ansadar Town Hall officials behind Tychus, then turned and walked toward the UNN headquarters building. He had no interest in talking to those people, because Augustus would rather spend that money on ordinary civilians.
"Let's see if our Ghost operative can get anything out of these people. Hopefully, they still have something left in their heads besides luxury."
"Well, I have nothing to say. There are donkeys everywhere in here." Tychus scratched the pink King of Hearts on his chest and followed Augustus.
"What are you planning to do next? Are we going to spend another few weeks moving Antiga's people out? How are we going to save them?"
"I'm looking for a way to save the Antiga without having to move them," Augustus. "Remember the Psi Emitter we found on Cha- Sara and Ma- Sara?"
"What?" Harnack Hank, who was walking over from the other side, also wanted to join the conversation with Augustus.
"Psi Emitter, once activated by a Ghost operative, can emit a Psionics signal that can attract Swarm from five light-years away or even further," Kerrigan said.
"You're just spouting nonsense I don't understand, like Psionics powers. Do Psionics breathe fire?" Harnack quickly realized he was making a fool of himself.
"Yes, Hank," Kerrigan said.
"I like Psionics." Harnack walked away, looking rather unhappy. "I dream of being able to set my enemies on fire with a snap of my fingers."
"What are you planning to do? Drop the Psi Emitter right in the center of the Confederacy military camp—I absolutely love that plan," Tychus said.
"It's not as simple as you think, Tychus. What if Nova Squadron and Delta Squadron establish bases near the city? Then the bugs will devour the Confederacy forces and civilians along the way." Raynor didn't think so.
"Naive Jimmy, those who do great things have to be ruthless and don't sweat the small stuff," Tychus clicked his tongue.
"You call this being unconventional? Besides, doing this would require us to have a Ghost operative who can infiltrate Confederacy base undetected. And after he activates his Psi Emitter, we'd have to rush to pick him up," Raynor said.
"Unless each of them is as good as Kerrigan, we'll lose at least one valuable Ghost operative for every Psi Emitter we activate."
"I won't send Kerrigan," Augustus. "I also won't activate the Psi Emitter unless absolutely necessary."
"Trading one Ghost operative for tens of thousands of people is the best deal ever," Tychus said.
"Because the person who went wasn't you." Raynor knew Tychus's character all too well.
"I'm just offering a suggestion. If you don't want to hear it, you can simply take it as the ramblings of a drunkard." Tychus felt he was making a fool of himself; he had always considered himself someone who just coasted through life.
Whether the revolution succeeds or fails is of little significance to Tychus himself. Perhaps the people of the Terran Confederacy under Augustus would be happier than they are now, but Tychus's way of life would remain unchanged. Perhaps Tychus still harbors thoughts of being a hero, or perhaps he is simply following Augustus's orders out of habit, and gradually he has come to be able to think from the perspective of Augustus's subordinates.
"The Psi Emitter is a double-edged sword; it could very well attract Zerg from other star systems," Kerrigan said.
"We can simply adjust the power of the Psi Emitter," Augustus. "We can easily reduce its range."
"Dr. Francos discovered some theoretical weapons based on Zerg Psionics chain reactions while studying documents related to the Terran Confederacy's Psi Emitter project," Augustus. "At my request, the Xenomorph Labs is attempting to continue researching Psionics devices with other applications."
"Originally, it would have taken at least five more years for us to see the finished product, but fortunately, we had Rory Swann and Viktor Kaczynski, the greatest engineers in all of Koprulu," he said. "It was they who brought the envisioned weapon to life."
Just as Augustus was speaking, Swann's voice came through the communication device in his Power Armor.
"Good morning, boss. Studying that artifact fragment has been helpful to our research. The Psi Disrupter you had us research and manufacture is now ready for use, with a force field that can cover the entire Ansadar City and an area of twenty square miles beyond." Swann sounded like he was still busy with something; the clanging and banging around him indicated that he was working in the Hyperion's engine room.
For many months, the Revolutionary Army has been moving around, fighting against the Terran Confederacy and the Zerg. After all, damaged Power Armor, mechs, vehicles, and ships all need to be repaired. The hot-blooded young Revolutionary Army soldiers always like to break all sorts of equipment, but in the end, the engineering corps has to clean up their messes.
"The latest research shows that Zerg Cerebrate communicate with their colony members through some kind of Psionics link, and this device can interfere with that Psionics link. Once inside the range of the Psi Disrupter, the Cerebrate loses its link with other Zerg," he said.
"The technology is new, but the parts we use to make it are all old stuff—a whole box of parts we scavenged from the Moria flea market," Swann added. "When we were working with the Alien Research Lab, Francos sent his young student Stetmann, and that kid was a real talent."
"In other words, once the Zerg enter the range of the Psi Disrupter, they will become uncontrollable beasts." Augustus already knew the purpose of the Psi Disrupter: "This means the Zerg won't launch an attack rashly. However, this range is not enough; it should at least be able to cover the entire planet."
"Everything takes time, doesn't it? Same as always, you provide the money and we'll provide the effort. As long as you're hardworking and dedicated, you'll eventually make something of yourself," Swann said.
"We're counting on you, Swann. We can't do without you," Augustus. "You don't sound very enthusiastic. Are you still worried about the men in Meinhoff?"
"It always feels good to be needed, especially when that person is a Marshal of the Revolutionary Army. Meinhoff is still in the hands of the Kel-Morian Combine, and is some distance from the Sara System and Antiga. The Guild Guards should be able to protect her. Speaking of which, I'm really glad that our family didn't go to Korhal IV, otherwise they would have had to move again," Swann said.
"They've adapted to life in the Meinhoff mines and are only good at dealing with stone and crystal minerals."
"Alright, Swann, we'll talk later," Augustus.
"Alright, my men are on their way. After you capture Ansadar, the transport ship carrying the Psi Disrupter will be able to land at the city's central airport. Then they'll assemble the new equipment for you. Hopefully, it will work." Swann finished speaking and left the communications station to attend to his own business.
"A new device. Friends, with it we can effectively defend against the Zerg attacks," Augustus said to Tychus and the others.
"Psi Disrupter; it can disrupt the Zerg's control over the Zerg and its Broodmother by the Zerg's Cerebrate, Overlord, and queens," Augustus.
"It's like having your internet suddenly cut off while you're browsing an illegal website, or your remote control for a car suddenly malfunctioning." Kerrigan understood the meaning of Augustus's words without even hearing them.
"That's terrible," Tychus frowned, looking disgusted. "It sounds like some kind of new mosquito repellent."
"Sounds like a good thing. It can be used near our fortifications to prevent sudden attacks from the Zerg. So when will they be able to be put to use?" Raynor nodded.
"We'd better hurry, because the bugs will be here soon," Tychus said impatiently.
"It will be soon. I've already had Faraday send men to clear a landing area in the nearby open ground. We won't need to land at the airport," Augustus.
"How come that kid is still only a corporal? His men are all captains," Tychus asked, puzzled.
"For Faraday, rank was irrelevant, and even a corporal had the right to question the emperor," Augustus continued.
"Jimmy, jammers aren't just for defense; they can be used offensively too."
Thank you for voting!