Invasion of Aiur
"What does that mean?"
Within the Dragoon's reservoir of icy blue life-sustaining liquid, Taldarin appeared to be immersed in the ocean, with shimmering white bubbles flashing past his piercing eyes.
"You want Tassadar to disobey the Conclave's order and refuse to relinquish and return command of the Fleets." Taldarin immediately discerned the direct meaning of these words from Augustus's superficial thoughts—the true intentions of this human being were self-evident.
"That's right." Augustus watched as the long, mechanical limbs of the Taldarin Dragoon glided over several massive black rocks and stopped uneasily at the edge of the crater.
The Taldarin reacted just like the Templar Knights present: astonished, shocked, and bewildered.
For the High Templar, this was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. The Executor Tassadar was considered an outstanding leader comparable to Adun, wise and learned, and passionate about the people and institutions he was meant to protect.
Tassadar has been considered one of the most outstanding military leaders since he became an executive, as well as a most tolerant wise man and mentor. However, after the Conclave decided to try Tassadar, this respected executive will lose all his glory and even suffer humiliation.
Never before has a Fleets commander been brought back for trial during a major war. This was not only a great damage to his reputation, but also placed the person on trial in a position of humiliation.
The people of the Protoss Empire will not be told that Tassadar disobeyed the Conclave out of pity for humanity; he will only be seen as a sinner, a Templar Knights who dared to defy the orders of the arbitrators within the Conclave.
"Has the situation truly reached a point of no return?" Taldarin walked past Augustus and Zeratul, his voice echoing in their minds like waves crashing against boulders in a storm.
"I still can't understand the Conclave's actions." Even Zeratul didn't believe his own explanation. "Perhaps it's due to the arbitrators' careful considerations and other unavoidable factors."
"The Conclave cannot tolerate an executor who would disobey Conclave orders, for it was Adun who defied the order to execute our ancestors, allowing the forefathers of the Dark Templar to escape to the Undying Dawn, Shakuras."
Although the Dark Templar loathe and hate Zeratul for his past expulsion from the Conclave, they still do not believe that the Protoss Empire rulers would issue such an order without any long-term consideration.
All Templar Knights consider Adun a perfect, glorious hero, but he also defied the Conclave's orders, sheltering the ancestors of the Dark Templar and teaching them how to use the forgotten Void Psionics.
"In any case, you'll only know once you return to Tassadar," Augustus.
"You can leave Char on our ships," Zeratul, picking up where Augustus off. "These ships are equipped with ancient yet advanced Xel'Naga technology and cloaking devices, capable of transporting everyone out of Char."
"Aren't you coming with us?" Raynor was clever; considering the conflict between the Dark Templar and the Templar Knights, he immediately understood Zeratul's actions.
"The Templar Knights will not welcome us." Zeratul gestured goodbye to the Taldarin: "May Adun protect you."
"I'm afraid it's not just a matter of being unwelcome," Taldarin said after suppressing his unease and listening attentively to Zeratul's words.
"After Adun, all the Protoss in the Protoss Empire were repeatedly indoctrinated with the knowledge that the Dark Templar were evil and the terrible legends surrounding them." Taldarin read Zeratul's concerns in his mind and expressed their understanding.
"Even Tassadar was greatly affected; his choice to cooperate with the Dark Templar may simply have been the best option given the war situation."
Taldarin is one of the very few Protoss who survived the Adun era and knows the truth about the Dark Templar's exile. If it weren't for him leading the landing force, the Dark Templar of Zeratul would have drawn their swords against each other on the spot.
"So, when can we finally leave this godforsaken place?" Tychus threw his cigar on the ground, crushed it, and spat.
"If you've already made up your minds, you'd better hurry. This smoky, godforsaken place in Char is giving me heat rash all over my backside. The air here is awful, and the sun could kill you."
"This is all your fault for smoking and drinking in the Power Armor all the time," Raynor complained. "Tychus, the medics have been warning you that you might develop lung cancer or some other rare disease."
"The spaceship is right next to us." Zeratul was not displeased by Tychus's rudeness and impoliteness, because this muscular Terrans was the image of Protoss that the Protoss had always perceived.
Greedy and cunning, excessively indulgent, selfish and cold-blooded, cruel and vicious.
Augustus and Raynor constitute the only positive images of the human race in Zeratul's mind.
As Zeratul spoke, several dim, black Protoss ships appeared before Augustus and the others amidst the distorted light; these were the same strange ships they had seen earlier in high orbit around Char.
Compared to the Templar Knights ' gold and blue ships, the Dark Templar ' ships appeared more restrained and understated, placing greater emphasis on stealth and detection/jamming technology to evade pursuit by their fellow Aiur. Nevertheless, these inconspicuous black ships were still imbued with artistic beauty.
The spaceship's hatch opened to the melodious hum of the crystal matrix, revealing a soft green glow shimmering within. Tychus rushed straight to the ship without a second thought.
"Are you still going to stay in Char? It's fraught with danger here," Augustus said to Zeratul.
Although Protoss ships can directly load passengers onto their ships via warp matrices, they also set up gangway entrances consisting of operable shape-forming energy curtains and light bridges to deal with emergencies.
"We must remain here to keep watch on the Overmind and the Cerebrate, seeking an opportunity to kill them," Zeratul replied. "This is the duty of the Dark Templar, the mission of the Nerazim."
Zeratul's Psionics voice sounded deep and magnetic, perfectly matching Augustus's perception of the voice a wise elder should have. He was the kind of elder who, upon first listen, exuded countless experiences and stories, the kind of kind old man who could quiet even the most boisterous children and make them listen attentively when telling stories.
"Elder, we will surely have the opportunity to meet again." Augustus addressed Zeratul as "Elder," which was another consistent form of address for this Dark Prelate.
Zeratul to remain in Char was also acceptable to Augustus, as it meant he at least had a definite location to know where Zeratul was.
"Dark Prelate Zeratul, perhaps you can seek help from your matriarch Raszagal." As the Taldarin prepared to hitch a ride with the Dark Templar and leave, they issued a retreat order to the dozens of ships still hovering in near-Earth orbit around Char.
"If more Dark Templar can join the fight against the Zerg, we will have a chance to kill more Cerebrate."
"I will consider this suggestion." This was undoubtedly Zeratul's self-deprecating remark. "I have been away from my homeland for too long, and I don't know if the people of Shakuras still remember their brother."
After bidding Zeratul his final farewell, Augustus boarded one of the Dark Templar's ships with Raynor, accompanied by the Marshal Guard and High Templar Taldarin.
The interior of the Dark Templar's ship looked no different from the Xel'Naga ship Void Seeker, except that it had much more abundant lighting.
Inside the cabin were huge, dark metal chairs and deep purple silk cushions resembling futons. The recessed niches in the cabin walls held green crystals meticulously carved by the artisans of the Dark Templar.
There was no pilot on the spaceship, but the operating system was not much different from that of the Aiur Protoss, and the text and numbers used were also unchanged. After all, the Dark Templar were a branch of the Protoss Empire.
Several spaceships took off amidst a matrix-like harmonic resonance, parting the dense ash clouds of Char's spacetime and heading into space.
At this moment, Zeratul had become a black dot in the mountain winds. Above the Overmind's hive, there were countless Zerg flying creatures that blotted out the sky. Hundreds of millions of Overlord, Mutalisk, and Brood Guardian were leaping into the wormholes above, accompanied by Leviathan that were like asteroids.
From high above, it looks like black smoke pouring into a black hole.
The Dark Templar ships traveled at extremely high speeds, silently and stealthily passing through the dense swarms of Zerg flying creatures in Char's high-altitude orbit.
As these ships entered the reconnaissance range of the expeditionary Fleets at the edge of the star system, they were quickly detected and nearly locked onto as hostile targets by the weapon systems.
While waiting for the spaceship to arrive at the Fleets, Augustus rested for a while on the spaceship's seat cushion.
At this moment, Augustus realized that the Stimpack he had taken the night before was almost worn off. Just as the headache and dizziness were about to hit him like a tsunami, he gave himself another injection.
For at least two days afterward, Augustus would regret his decision, but he absolutely could not afford to fall.
Augustus realized that compared to the extreme fatigue and severe headaches caused by the side effects of Stimpack, the Stimpack and refreshment they brought were simply intoxicating. This was also why Lisa Cassidy became addicted to them. If humans could develop a stimulant with fewer side effects, it would certainly be welcomed by the military.
He sat on the cushion in the cabin for a while and almost immediately calmed down. The cushion was releasing negative ions with a calming effect, which was essential for Dark Templar when meditating.
With almost no turbulence felt, the light from inside the Star Shuttle immediately shone in when the spaceship's light curtain hatch opened again.
"Damn, is this a palace made of gold? Maybe I can exchange this for a lot of money." Tychus's eyes lit up as he stepped onto the deck of the Star Shuttle, which seemed to be cast in gold.
"This is truly a miracle." Raynor, Faraday, and others exclaimed in amazement as Tychus uncontrollably took up his petty theft and shoplifting.
While human battlecruisers are still limited by the era and technology, and must compress the space of each compartment and passageway, the deck of the Protoss Empire, Star Shuttle completely free of the oppressive feeling of cramped space and dim lighting.
The dock deck of the Star Shuttle was unusually spacious. Hundreds of interceptors with butterfly-shaped wings were neatly stacked on several wide platforms that were constantly rising and falling, like golden butterflies resting on leaves. The view was unobstructed, and one could see the control core and the relay matrix composed of blue crystals in the distance. Those crystals, cut into regular hexagons, radiated waves of light outward like azure neutron stars, brilliant and dazzling.
The ground beneath their feet was also inscribed with leaf and vine-like patterns, crafted with the exquisite skill of the Protoss Khalai engineers. The walls were shrouded in a blue light curtain, behind which lay exquisite carvings and wooden decks.
Above them was not a ceiling, but a gradually changing starry sky. Brilliant and mesmerizing starlight shone down through the energy-shaped upper deck, giving them a wondrous feeling that they were in the universe.
In the dock and the wide corridors leading in other directions, there were hundreds of Protoss Phase Technicians and tropical angelfish-shaped mechanical minions dressed in blue robes, while Templar Knights in armor stood like statues on both sides.
To Augustus's surprise, Tassadar was waiting for them at the dock.
"It is a pleasure to see you, Marshal Augustus," Tassadar said amicably, showing no sign of frustration or anger at his demotion. "General Duke's men have been well taken care of, and the wounded are receiving treatment."
"Now, you are the commander of this Fleets, Great Consul Taldarin." He turned to Taldarin beside him.
"I would rather not have received this appointment." The distance between Taldarin's eyes seemed to shrink slightly. "You are the one who deserves this honor as executor, not to be sent back to Aiur for trial."
Since the founder of the Khala Khas, established the First Order after the turbulent Aeon of Strife, the Arbitrators have been the ones who define the laws and issue commands, while the Templar Knights, as warriors, are the ones who carry out these commands. They are merely those who carry out commands.
"It sounds like this Conclave is just as unreasonable as the Confederacy's parliament." During this lull, Tychus lit a high-end cigar imported from Antiga Starport.
The quality of the cigars Tychus smoked revealed his recent financial situation. When short of money, Tychus didn't know what a good person would do, but he knew what a bad person would do.
Usually, Mr. Tychus was in a bad mood at times like this, especially after being left in Char for so long.
"Those in power only care about whether their authority is undermined and don't want to hear even the slightest dissenting voice. There's only one way to deal with such people: smash their mouths."
"It doesn't matter. I was prepared for this when I decided to defy the arbitrators' orders to help humanity." Tassadar was a compassionate man who cared more for others than himself; this kindness even transcended racial barriers. "Taldarin, you must not yet know this devastating news from our homeland."
"Just now, Executor Mojya, who is currently patrolling the Edna System, told me: although we don't know where those sudden enemies came from, Aiur is under attack by Zerg."