Consul Taldarin

"Adun in the phrase 'En Taro Adun'? The hero of the Protoss," Raynor said. "I thought Adun was a god or a legendary figure."

"I fought alongside him," Taldarin said with a sorrowful tone, reminiscing about the past. "That was a long, long time ago, when he was still an apprentice of Executor Zoranis. How I miss him."

"Adun and I have shared many war-torn years, the golden age of the Protoss Empire. Adun was born a leader; in the spiritual ocean of the Khala, he is like a golden sun. We followed him and loved him. He was the greatest warrior, strategist, and leader, rising to the highest rank Templar Knights could attain at a young age—the Executor."

As Taldarin spoke, two other High Templar stepped off the Protoss shuttle that was parked on the fortification wall. Their gleaming armor and purple robes and cloaks were particularly striking under the lights.

Immediately following, a squad of eight Templar Knights appeared, each of them clad in armor far more gleaming and ornate than the others. As Templar Knights of the Adun era, Taldarin still cherished the past, while his followers wore armor in the style of the Protoss Empire's golden age.

These Templar Knights, clad in full golden armor and purple robes, wore golden helmets inlaid with sapphires and wielded battle axes, exuding an imposing aura. As they gazed upon Augustus and Raynor, both men could feel the oppressive pressure emanating from the Templar Knights ' Psionics and psychic powers.

These Templar Knights who have not yet reached the highest ranks of the Khala Path are known as Zealot; over the long years, they have long since adapted to the Khala's self-suppressing training.

In ordinary times, Templar Knights meditate in Aiur's Fortress of Adun or the Lake of Silence, exchanging their insights on the Khala in order to gain further advancement. In battle, however, Templar Knights unleash their fury in an almost berserker manner, appearing to their enemies as the embodiment of rage and death.

The Templar Knights of the Zealot Church are bound together by honor and heritage. They are the faithful followers of the Khala, adhering to the precepts of purity, focus, and thought represented by the Shalok of Aiur Moon. They are also the eternal guardians of Aiur and the sharpest blade of the Protoss Empire.

Compared to assassination and intrigue, Templar Knights prefer to embrace the glory of battle and the eternal honor of fighting to the death, but that doesn't mean they don't use tactics.

Wars involving Templar Knights are often characterized by a magnificent frontal assault and unstoppable destruction.

"So you're a living legend, wow, it's an honor to fight a warrior like you." Raynor's tone quickened; this passionate young man admired heroes, which was why he was willing to follow Augustus. Ever since Raynor met Augustus at the Turaxis II recruit training camp, he had genuinely felt that Augustus a hero.

"It is my honor to fight alongside warriors like you." Taldarin did not show arrogance or indifference, which made Augustus and Raynor think that he was probably much easier to get along with than they had imagined.

After speaking, Taldarin's long mechanical appendages swept across the wall of the fortifications, looking in the direction from which the Tiamat Brood was attacking.

Under the orange glow of the Char sky, the combined forces of the Protoss and Humans were forced to confront the fury of the Tiamat Brood.

Tens of thousands of Hydralisk and Defiler slithered like snakes in the volcanic ash layer, which was several inches deep, as if an endless swarm of snakes had emerged from the earth after hibernation.

These hideous monsters are a hybrid of insects, reptiles, and other grotesque creatures, their innate mission being to assimilate and devour other races in the universe.

Clad in blue robes and golden armor, the Protoss Templar Knights advanced along the iron-gray defensive wall beneath Augustus's feet, mercilessly slaying the Zerg in front of the wall with their Psionic Blade that shimmered with blue light.

The Protoss Templar Knights were incredibly skilled in combat, their movements as they slashed at the Psionics blades were resolute and decisive. Augustus witnessed hundreds upon hundreds of Templar Knights charge into the Zerg amidst a thunderous roar, reaping the Zerg's cries and blood.

Their gleaming Psionics blades and plasma shields were quite conspicuous in the darkness. The golden-blue Protoss fighters unleashed icy blue flames from their gravity thrusters, engaging in thrilling battles with the Mutalisk in the sky.

The human Alpha Squadron also had a chance to regroup and rebuild their defenses as the Protoss were attacking the Zerg formation.

"Human Commander, please tell me your plans. And what exactly are those human Psionics waveforms that span the galaxy?" As a Templar Knights, the Taldarin disdained to directly probe Augustus's thoughts—even though that would be easy for the Protoss.

"It's a weapon designed to emit Psionics waveforms from human Psionics into space— Psi Emitter. And this Psionics signal can attract Zerg from light-years away." The Dragoon was significantly taller than the Power Armor; Augustus could only look up at the Giant before him.

Augustus and Taldarin conversed amidst the booming cannons and the screech of the Zerg, each trying to ascertain the other's intentions and strategic insights.

"This is why so many Zerg have suddenly attacked us. The Terran Confederacy army set up these Psi Emitter; they are our enemies, and their goal is to kill us."

Augustus mention that the Xel'Naga Artifact Fragment might be the reason the Swarm went berserk; it wasn't something he or the Protoss could easily explain.

"Even with the massive Zerg invasion and their home in grave danger, humanity is still unwilling to end its civil war?" When the Taldarin realized that the current situation was caused by the conflicts between various human factions, they became even more disappointed in the human race.

"You'll have to ask the Confederacy." Raynor shrugged.

"Where can I see them?" Taldarin asked Raynor earnestly. "We must persuade the leaders of the Terran Confederacy."

"I was just saying, I didn't really want you to go." Raynor felt a bit bored. "Besides, it won't be easy to persuade that old hag Andrea Tagore and her meek servants. The only way to reason with them is with tanks and artillery."

Raynor believed that what the Taldarin said was absolutely true, because these Protoss generally had no concept of secrets or lies; they were frank and sincere and would not lie.

"I think it will take me a while to get used to the way humans talk." Taldarin looked at Raynor: "I know you humans call that a sense of humor?"

"Not very funny," Raynor said.

"Human commander, we've detected that almost all the Zerg main hives in this hemisphere are moving this way." Taldarin was puzzled by Raynor's words. "I want to know your battle plan."

"I believe we should hold this position," Augustus replied. "While all the Zerg in Char are converging here, I will send my Dark Templar allies to assassinate the Cerebrate in the hive. Their Void energy can completely kill the Cerebrate, making them unable to resurrect."

"What?" Taldarin seemed shocked.

But the Taldarin's men reacted far more strongly than he did. One of the High Templar roared with a Psionics scream that nearly stunned Augustus: "Traitors of the Khala! Traitors! Where are they?"

"Protect the Grand Consul."

The Protoss Templar Knights, who had been calm and composed just moments before, drew their light blades, their icy blue eyes scanning their surroundings warily as they protected their leader Taldarin, in the center. They even glared angrily at Augustus himself, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"They are allies of the Dark Templar, beware of these filthy humans!" the Templar Knights said as they cautiously retreated, as if the word "Dark Templar" referred to them as a far more terrifying enemy than the Zerg.

"The Dark Templar are back! They will destroy the Khala and the Empire!"

"It sounds like I'm tainted," Raynor said, hands on his hips. "But I remember Zeratul saying that they were the victims."

"Nonsense!" Another High Templar's powerful mental roar nearly knocked Raynor to the ground, "If it weren't for the great Adun eliminating the threat of the Dark Templar, the Protoss Empire would have perished long ago."

"We will never cooperate with the Dark Templar and their allies!"

"No," Taldarin said, calming his warriors' anger in the Khala: "There shouldn't be such hatred between us. It's not time for Templar Knights and Dark Templar against each other yet."

"Are they Raszagal's children? They haven't been seen in our sight for a long time," he said with a sigh.

"Every family has its own problems," Raynor said with a sigh, feeling that he had probably figured it out.

"There's no need to be so tense, the Dark Templar are not our enemies." Taldarin ordered his Templar Knights to sheathe their weapons, but received little response.

"But our knowledge and history tell us that the Dark Templar, the traitors of the Khala, are the enemies of the Templar Knights. A thousand years ago, they nearly destroyed the Protoss Empire. We must be wary of the hidden Dark Templar; they are always ready to return."

"It sounds like the Dark Templar utterly wicked." Raynor's understanding of the Protoss was very limited, and he didn't have much trust in Zeratul had suddenly arrived. Both sides had their own version of events, and he didn't know who to believe. "But if Zeratul's Dark Templar can really take down the Cerebrate, then it's worth it."

That being said, it is even more puzzling that Augustus trusted Zeratul so much. But there is absolutely reason to it; Augustus must have made this decision after careful consideration.

Raynor still chose to trust Augustus's judgment without reservation. If it were anyone else, he would only think that this person was incredibly naive to trust an alien he had just met and hadn't even talked to for long.

If Raynor and Augustus see the same people and things, but their reactions and judgments are completely different, then it's definitely not Augustus's problem; Raynor, on the contrary, feels he should reflect on himself.

To Raynor's surprise, the Taldarin, as a Templar Knights, reacted very differently from his subordinates. This must be because he had fought alongside Adun, which distinguished him from the other Protoss.

Taldarin was the first Dragoon; the other Protoss, who were only three or four hundred years old, were truly young men in his presence.

"Indeed, we found escaping void energy around that dead Cerebrate, but we don't know who did it." Taldarin was unwilling to discuss that history further, or perhaps someone had ordered him to remain silent.

"The white colonies are still out of control, and they have all been cleared out by other colonies, so their Cerebrate must really be dead," he said.

Taldarin was not only a Dragoon pilot, but also a distinguished ancient hero. The reason he was able to obtain such an honor was not just because he lived long enough. His outstanding military talent and strategic vision were the reasons why Taldarin became a Grand Consul, who was usually the military leader and administrative administrator of a province in Aiur.

"This is an opportunity, worth trying. My Templar Knights and I will hold this fortress until the Dark Templar succeed. This is my decision." Taldarin paused for a few seconds, as if reporting to the Protoss Expeditionary Force Fleets high orbit above Char using equipment in his Dragoon.

"After reviewing the plan, CEO Tassadar deemed it feasible and believes it should be implemented immediately."

"You are indeed the most wise Grand Consul." Augustus originally thought that even though Taldarin was a warrior from the time of Adun, it would take him a long time to persuade him, but things went unexpectedly smoothly.

"Why? If it weren't for the Dark Templar, how could Adun have ascended and left us in the Twilight? The Conclave will never agree to your decision." A High Templar clearly disagreed with the order.

In the past, the Templar Knights under Taldarin held him in high esteem, regarding his orders as inviolable laws. The mere fact that he had fought alongside Adun was enough to earn Taldarin this honor, and all the Protoss, even the Executor Tassadar, would add the prefix "Great" when they met Taldarin.

"The Conclave? In the past, the Arbitrators were among the first to follow Khas and the guardians of the Xel'Naga ruins of the Shelak Tribe. Now, all that's left are schemers and politicians." Taldarin was quite dissatisfied with the Conclave, but no one would accuse him, as a Templar Knights, of daring to disrespect the leaders of the Arbitrator class.

"Even if the arbitrators of the Conclave stood before me, this decision would not change. The Templar Knights should make their own judgment; who can guarantee that the arbitrators in the Council will not make a mistake?"

"I like your style," Augustus praised Taldarin.

At this moment, the Protoss's colossal Kydarin Crystal tower and Gateway had already appeared in the warp rift within the base behind Augustus. Along with them came charging particle cannons and beam railguns, and Templar Knights and Dragoon warped through the folded spacetime rift to the Gateway platform, joining the battle.

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