Kidnapping Tassadar

"This can't be true! El, El El's coordinates are hidden, it's a secret, a secret only we know."

Taldarin felt as if he had been hit by a bullet. In the past, the mechanical limbs of the solar-powered Dragoon moved as freely as a part of his body, but now each mechanical limb seemed to have its own will, each going its own way.

His anger manifested as a ripple of Psionics, causing his pale skin to contract unnaturally.

There are no lies or deceptions in the Aiur Protoss's Khala network of consciousness. In that vast, boundless spiritual ocean, everything is a reflection of the most truthful and genuine feelings. Aiur is the Protoss's home planet and sacred land, and no one is allowed to desecrate it.

The other High Templar and Velari Spearmen felt a shock, staggering as if all their strength had vanished. Some Protoss managed to maintain their composure, while others fell to the ground, their glowing eyes losing focus.

The Protoss's exposed skin was covered with dark spots and markings, like an octopus that had changed color in fright, a sign that they had suffered a great mental blow.

The Protoss Khalai phase technology and ship engineers clad in blue robes in the shipyard of the expeditionary flagship, the Star Shuttle, were also affected, with some beginning to emit uncontrollable mental screams resembling cries of agony.

These wailing screams of the spirits were also a great torment for Augustus and his humankind, as if the cries of a million people were simultaneously echoing in their minds, the sorrowful sounds causing them to uncontrollably shed tears.

Emotional connection is a manifestation of the high evolution of Psionics races, something rarely seen in humans who are clumsy in responding to Psionics. Augustus witnessed this in one human: Sarah Kerrigan.

"They're crying? Like cowards and crybabies. How many times has humanity been dragged into war over the years?" Tychus was not a sentimental person, much less sympathetic to the Protoss's plight. While Augustus, Raynor, and the others were wiping away tears, only the heartless Tychus seemed completely unmoved.

"What a disgrace."

"It's quite shocking." Raynor paused, indicating that he was taken aback.

"To be honest, when you learn that your hometown has been infested with insects, that all the lush green mountains and rivers and cultural treasures will be destroyed, and that your family may be in grave danger, you would react the same way they have. This is what the people of Cha Sara and Ma Sara have faced."

"That's something I don't have," Tychus said with a disdainful snort, like a donkey snorting.

Augustus took a towel from Faraday and wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes. He could hardly remember when he had cried like a child because of pain and grievance, because of being hurt.

"Wow, I've never seen Augustus before. He looks like a gray-haired beauty." After glancing at Augustus, Tychus immediately realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If anyone said that Augustus Mengsk was a crybaby who wore skirts when he was a child, every Revolutionary Army soldier would consider it a huge insult.

Marshal Augustus Mengsk, the leader of the Korhal Revolutionary Army, was often regarded as a man of extremely strong will.

A professional writer for Korhal Umojan News Broadcasting Company once described Augustus Mengsk as follows. "Augustus Mengsk was wise and cold-blooded, the bulwark and high wall of Korhal. He never cried, because steel and stone do not shed tears."

"This is not a shameful thing." Augustus did not consider it an insult, but Tychus would soon learn what to say and what not to say.

After saying this, Augustus tossed the towel back to Faraday, unaware that the latter was carefully keeping it safe. Faraday firmly believed that Augustus a hero and a great man who would surely accomplish great things, so the significance of this towel was more than just a towel.

Augustus closer to Tassadar. He was the only Protoss who hadn't suffered such a great blow as the others, but that was probably only because he already knew the news and had already grieved.

"Executor, we can now confirm exactly where that wormhole that appeared on Char —it leads to Aiur," Augustus said to Tassadar.

"I am no longer an executor." Tassadar looked at Augustus, reading his thoughts. "But you don't care about that."

Tassadar's fiery blue eyes tilted slightly, a kind, almost smiling expression.

In fact, the Zerg invasion of Aiur might not be a bad thing for humanity. It means that the Protoss and the Zerg about to engage in a head-on war, leaving no time to care about the humans trembling in fear in the cracks.

The Protoss territories, which have always remained secluded from the world, will become the main battleground for the conflict between these two vastly different but equally powerful civilizations.

The Overmind will certainly deploy the Swarm's main fighting force to the Protoss Empire's territory, thus reducing the pressure on humanity. Judging from the Conclave's attitude towards humanity, once the Protoss Empire's strength is weakened, they will no longer have the energy to burn infected human planets all day long.

"That's why the Swarm suddenly appeared in the Aiur System in such a short time." The executive completely agreed with Augustus's idea, "According to the probes, countless Zerg are pouring into Aiur with each solar cycle."

"That wormhole must be destroyed." Taldarin was, after all, a military commander who had led armies on various battlefields a thousand years ago. He quickly calmed himself down, transforming his grief into anger and a cold resolve.

His resolve was conveyed to the other Protoss through the Khala, gradually Protoss those who were in immense pain. Even the Khalai commoner Protoss, who were considered more vulnerable and in need of protection, stopped trembling with grief.

"I've thought about doing that, Consul. I've considered all the possible methods and repeatedly refined them, practicing them on the battlefield simulation screen." Consul Tassadar was somewhat listless. Although he wasn't crushed by the Conclave's resolution, he felt physically and mentally exhausted.

"The truth is, without the support of other Fleets, our Fleets alone is no longer able to break through the Zerg's defenses in the high-altitude orbit of Char." His calm voice echoed in everyone's minds.

"There are many ways to destroy that wormhole, but maintaining such a wormhole requires an immense amount of energy and dark matter," the Executor continued. "Energy and dark matter maintain a balance; if this balance is disrupted or the Overmind becomes unable to maintain the wormhole, we can temporarily shut it down."

"It's only temporary," Taldarin repeated.

"Overmind can create one wormhole, it can create a second." Augustus immediately understood what Tassadar meant.

"If the sole purpose is to transport the first landing force, the Overmind doesn't even need to maintain this wormhole indefinitely," the Executor said.

"During your spaceship's return journey to the Star Shuttle, the wormhole has been shrinking continuously, and it is now almost undetectable."

"Then we'll wait until the Overmind attempts to create a second wormhole." A mechanical limb of the Taldarin Dragoon armor slammed heavily on the deck, as if emphasizing its words.

"Unfortunately, the Swarm scattered throughout the Koprulu Sector are returning to Char, and large numbers of Zerg are still heading in the direction they came from," the Executor said. "I'm afraid that if we don't evacuate here soon, the Zerg will completely surround Fleets fleet."

Tassadar's Fleets was merely a large expeditionary force hastily assembled after the emergence of the Zerg; their name was the Koprulu Expeditionary Force, a branch of the Protoss Empire's magnificent and invincible Fleets.

In addition, there are expeditionary forces and colonial Fleets in other star sectors, scattered throughout the Milky Way Galaxy, with duties including scientific research, protecting colonies, searching for Xel'Naga ruins, and hunting down Dark Templar.

The Koprulu Expeditionary Force, having stormed Char without the support of other Fleets and fought against the Overmind Swarm at its peak for many days, is now finding it increasingly difficult to sustain its advance.

"Executor, you make the decision," Taldarin said after a moment of silence.

"You are now the commander here," the executive officer said.

"I refuse to fulfill this duty assigned to me by the Conclave." Like most Aiur Protoss, the Taldarin was straightforward and honest, offering neither euphemisms nor any pretense.

"Alright, let's go to the bridge," Tassadar said.

"Who says Protoss are all rigid and inflexible? I think this Protoss Executor is quite cunning." Tychus didn't particularly like remembering Protoss names.

"They're just very frank," Augustus. "In the Protoss's Khala, they communicate far more than we hear, so you find their words very direct."

Augustus, along with Tychus and the others, followed Tassadar through the massive corridors of the Star Shuttle. The Aiur Protoss loved the sunlight, and the entire warship was filled with shimmering gold light. The edges of the ship's decks and bulkheads were inlaid with crystals and precious metals that shone brightly.

The upper dome is made of energy-shaped walls and translucent crystals that allow light to penetrate, bringing the Protoss closer to the starlight that nourishes them. The long and wide Fleets corridor extends to the bridge of the Protoss Star Shuttle, where Protoss struts as if walking through a treasure trove of infinite riches.

Along the way, they saw beautiful golden patterns and meticulously crafted blue Khaydarin Crystal. These elegant and magnificent works of art and sculptures made Augustus feel as if he were in the center of a golden, radiant art palace. Such splendid and beautiful works of art represented the Protoss's contemplation of beauty throughout their long history, something that the Terrans could not match.

The crew members of the Star Shuttle who walked past Augustus observed these humans with a kind of scrutinizing gaze. The ordinary Protoss Khalai crew members did not seem as strong and agile as the Protoss Templar Knights, nor did they behave as arrogantly.

As Taldarin and High Templar passed by, they had to bow their heads in respect and take it for granted, revealing the beginnings of the strict and inviolable hierarchical system within the Aiur Protoss.

"What's going on now? Judging from what that Protoss said, the Overmind is transferring all the Koprulu bugs back to Char, so we've achieved our goal." Tychus pondered as he walked, hoping to salvage some valuable collectibles from the Protoss ship.

"The smartest thing to do now is to get out of here as quickly as possible, the farther away from these Protoss, the better," he said. "Judging from their tone, the Protoss are about to have a major battle with the Zerg, so we'd better stay out of it."

"Tychus is right, we should leave too." Raynor suggested to Augustus, "The Protoss have helped us a lot, but I'm afraid we can't help them much with our current strength."

"Let's see what Tassadar does first," Augustus gestured to Tychus and Raynor to remain calm.

"Tassadar? Isn't he about to be sent back to their home planet Aiur for trial?" Kind-hearted Raynor was worried about Tassadar.

"He's barely managing to save himself, how can we possibly care about him?" Tychus said. "Let's find a chance to get the Protoss to send us away as soon as possible; I don't want to stay with them anymore."

"Tassadar won't surrender easily; he harbors a desire to save others," Augustus. "Once he returns to Aiur, he will be immediately placed under house arrest by the Conclave to await trial. The Council will never again allow someone who has disobeyed their orders to serve as an army commander, meaning that if Tassadar goes back, he will never have a chance to recover."

"Even without me saying anything, Tassadar won't go back."

"Why are you so sure Tassadar would do that?" Raynor asked.

"That's not hard to guess," Augustus.

"Well, I have no idea. When will I catch up with you?" Raynor shrugged helplessly.

"The Protoss are the most arrogant creatures I've ever met," Tychus said. "And that Conclave is the most arrogant of Protoss."

As he spoke, Augustus followed Tassadar into a teleportation platform. After a blue flash and the harmonious sound of the matrix, they were simultaneously teleported to the bridge of the Star Shuttle.

The bridge of the Star Shuttle was surrounded by golden light, and its huge, transparent portholes faced a planet in the Char system. The blue-brown gas giant looked like a glass bead shrouded in brilliant starlight. In the hazy light of the bridge lights and the starlight, the Templar Knights standing in front of the control panel all looked towards Tassadar.

Tassadar walked to the porthole on the bridge and faced the starry sky.

"Zamara, open all communication channels for the entire Fleets," he said.

"Are you really prepared to send all your warships to Aiur? Auriga's Fleets is still guarding our homeland," Taldarin said to Tassadar. "Even if the Zerg ultimately inflict irreparable damage and incalculable losses on Aiur ..."

"The invincible Fleets guarding Aiur cannot be defeated!"

"Once that happens, the outcome will be irreversible." Tassadar made up his mind. "Aiur must not fall."

"I am Tassadar, former Executor, warriors. Aiur is under threat from the Zerg, and I have decided to disband all expeditionary Fleets and return to our homeland to help our people defend against the Swarm's attack."

"But I have a more important mission to accomplish, and I will take the Star Shuttle to fulfill that mission," he said.

"You are all aware of the Conclave's punishment of me, but if any other warships and crews are still willing to follow me to fulfill the mission we have yet to complete—to continue to uphold the Protoss' duty as Preservers of all things in the universe—I, Tassadar, will pay you the highest tribute."

"So you really did decide to do it," Taldarin said. "It's not your fault for disobeying the Conclave's orders to protect humanity."

"Great High Archon Taldarin, mentor of Templar Knights and Dragoon, now it is up to you to command this Fleets returning to Aiur," the Executor said.

"Homage to Tassadar," said the Grand Regent. "May twilight prevail wherever the sun does not reach."

"Hmm? Sounds like we can bring Tassadar to our side." Raynor whispered to Augustus, "The Protoss Empire is going to try Tassadar, and now that he's homeless, we can work together."

"Aha, we can use this ship to bomb Tarsonis!" Tychus was overjoyed; he had always been obsessed with bombing Tarsonis.

"Jimmy, you've hit the nail on the head." Augustus nodded.

Tassadar was oblivious to the words spoken by Augustus, Raynor, and the others, as the shouts of millions of Protoss Expeditionary Force members echoed through the spiritual Khala.

"We were born as Aiur."

I'd like to ask for votes at the end of the month~