What Are You Doing, Artanis

As Tassadar noted, Artanis, at only 254 years old, was remarkably young among his long-lived people.

Artanis was also the youngest of all the Executors. He came from the most powerful Templar Knights clan, the Akilae, which ruled over other clans for centuries during the Protoss's Aeon of Strife.

For a long time, the Akilae have been the leaders of the Templar Knights, and many of the great Executors have come from this ancient and glorious tribe.

The Protoss Empire does not have only one Executive Officer; multiple Fleets carrying out missions in the Milky Way Galaxy each have one. However, they are all battle-hardened warriors and sages, and the many years they have experienced have forged them into steel.

Even within the Protoss Empire, Artanis's ability to rise to the rank of Executive Officer at over two hundred years old was truly enviable.

As the new executor, Artanis's attire was almost identical to Tassadar's, with magnificent armor overlaid with a deep blue battle robe that hung like the night sky, and exquisitely crafted alloy boots on his feet.

Aside from his clothing, Artanis at this time was not much different from the Daelaam that Augustus remembered. Unsurprisingly, Artanis's smoother and more vibrant skin indicated that he was a Protoss much younger than Zeratul or Aldaris.

Young and strong, full of glory.

Compared to the rigid, elder arbitrators in the Conclave, Artanis was perhaps more receptive to new ideas.

"Seeing you again makes me uneasy, Your Excellency Tassadar. I often doubt my own qualifications to succeed you as Executor. You are the true role model for the Templar Knights and the leader they rightfully deserve, while I am but a novice."

Artanis had initially warned Aldaris that anger would not solve the immediate problem, but upon seeing Tassadar, his attitude softened almost immediately.

Before Tassadar, Artanis felt almost as embarrassed as a child who had made a mistake; his sky-blue eyes, burning with Psionics flames, widened in bewilderment like a human's. Clearly, Artanis felt guilty about taking over Tassadar's position, even though it wasn't his fault.

This sudden change in attitude caught everyone present, including the Protoss, off guard. Even Tassadar was somewhat puzzled. In any case, now was not the time to say such things.

"Hey, so you're a little fanboy." Sarah Kerrigan tossed her fiery red ponytail and whispered to Augustus. As she grew older, Kerrigan's ability to be sarcastic and sharp-tongued also increased, which she believed was the work of the darker side of her.

"I know you, Artanis, you will surely protect our people," Tassadar said. "I refuse to destroy humanity's planet because those people should be saved, not destroyed along with the nightmare that invades their home."

"Enough, I've heard enough. What are you saying, young Executor?" Aldaris said inappropriately. "We're here to arrest Tassadar and bring him back to Aiur for trial. He's fallen too deep."

"I order you to arrest him, Officer!"

Artanis remained silent, perhaps forced to choose between the Protoss Empire he served and the Tassadar he respected.

"Colluding with corrupt Dark Templar, refusing to carry out the Conclave's order to purify the infected human planet."

"Tassadar, you must surrender immediately, undergo rigorous interrogation, and await judgment under the laws of the Khala. You possessed unparalleled virtue and glory, and your faith in protecting the people was once as pure and flawless as the sun's rays. What has caused you to fall to this state? Is it the Dark Templar or these humans?"

"Perhaps neither," Tassadar said. "We must not let outdated dogma dictate our judgment. We fight for the Protoss Empire and our people, not the Conclave."

"How dare you question the sacred will of the Conclave," Aldaris said. "To refuse to abide by the ancient traditions and doctrines that maintain the stability and prosperity of the Protoss Empire, you are no different from a heretic and a traitor."

"I'm sorry, Arbitrator." Tassadar extended his hands toward Aldaris in the Psionics projection, palms facing outwards.

"I will never surrender." He reiterated his earlier statement to Aldaris, his tone and wording revealing his determination. "I said I would return to Aiur, but not as a prisoner. The Zerg threat is imminent; I cannot fall!"

"Tassadar, you have truly disappointed me."

To Augustus's surprise, Aldaris seemed taken aback by Tassadar's resolve. Perhaps this seemingly pedantic and stubborn Protoss Empire arbitrator thought that once he caught up with Tassadar had effectively broken with the Conclave, he would obediently return with him.

"I told the other arbitrators that Tassadar remained loyal, but he had made a mistake that needed to be corrected immediately," he said. "I thought that as long as you returned to Aiur, things would get back on track."

"We will forgive you, for your past achievements and honors will never be forgotten."

"If you had an arbitrator by your side, they could have corrected your mistakes in time. But the Conclave trusted you too much and never considered betrayal, so they didn't. And that's what happened."

We were all wrong.

"I did nothing wrong," Tassadar said. "I was simply following the Dae'uhl Doctrine and protecting the weaker races."

"Is associating with the Dark Templar also part of the Dae'uhl Doctrine?" Aldaris questioned Tassadar.

Tassadar immediately responded, "The Dark Templar can help us kill the Zerg's Cerebrate; the Protoss primal power they wield is key to defeating the Swarm. And I believe that many of our misunderstandings and prejudices about the existence of the Dark Templar are incorrect."

"Don't you believe the Templar Knights can easily defeat the Swarm? To need the traitor's power is truly shameful cowardice." Aldaris was shocked by Tassadar's outrageous words. "Even without the Dark Templar, we can kill the Cerebrate."

He then emphasized, "The power of the Dark Templar is utterly insignificant; they are nothing but pathetic traitors and fugitives. How could they possibly compare to the holy Khala?"

Tassadar's fleet, which was sent back to Aiur, also brought back news that killing the cerebrate swarm would cause a collapse. But just like Aldarius, the arbitrators of the High Council always believed that if the Dark Templar could do it, the Protoss Empire could not.

"You must believe me, the Dark Templar are the key to defeating the Swarm, we should..."

"Nonsense," Aldaris raised his voice. "You are no different from the person you were in the past."

"Surrender, Tassadar, and we will give you a just verdict."

"I refuse," Tassadar replied firmly. "I will not surrender."

"Well said, Tassadar. Only by firmly grasping one's destiny in one's own hands can one avoid being passive." Augustus had been listening attentively, trusting that Tassadar would make his own judgment. This Protoss executive, like Augustus, was extremely opinionated and confident, which was one of the qualities of a leader.

"So, to escape punishment, you're willing to wage war against us here?" As a high-ranking arbitrator of the Conclave, Aldaris had never lost his temper in centuries. Even when the Zerg swarmed into Aiur, Aldaris did not lose his mind in anger.

"I absolutely do not want to turn swords against our compatriots," Tassadar said.

"Tassadar, my friend, I do not understand the differences and disputes among the Protoss, but if you must fight them on Altera, the Revolutionary Army of Humanity will certainly stand by your side." Augustus aptly stated his position at this moment.

"Separation and division are the beginning of all calamities." The Psionics flames in Aldaris's eyes flickered, and he trembled with some kind of fear. "Since the Aeon of Strife, there has never been fratricide. Do you want that tragic catastrophe to repeat itself?"

"Start a war? No, I will never become that sinner as you wish."

When Aldaris realized that he could only arrest Tassadar through a civil war, he found that his Fleets could not gain the upper hand in the Fleets against Tassadar's followers.

Tassadar led more than twenty Carrier and thousands of fighters, not just the flagship Star Shuttle. Many of these ships dated back to the early days of the Protoss Empire after the Aeon of Strife, and each Carrier had an incredibly long history.

Aldaris and Artanis led only a small Fleets from Aiur, and no matter how insignificant the Revolutionary Army Fleets might seem in the eyes of the Protoss, it was not without its threats.

If Aldaris truly decides to engage Tassadar's Fleets in the Altera system, given that the opponent is an exceptional former executive officer, they are highly likely to be defeated.

For a moment, Aldaris was clearly hesitant about what to do; he was not ignorant of war.

"Aldaris is being ravaged Aiur. You should return to Aiur to defend our homeland instead of coming all this way to hunt me down." Tassadar was already certain that Aldaris would not dare to wage war against him.

"Return to Aiur, Arbitrator, Artanis. The Protoss Empire will remain as powerful as ever, but our people need you."

Aldaris said nothing more; he already knew he would leave empty-handed.

"Aiur needs you too," Artanis said at that moment. "The threat of the Aiur Zerg remains; their nests extend deep underground, defiling the magnificent and enchanting underground temples and precious heritage."

"Once I return to Aiur, I will surely be met with the wrath of the Conclave." Tassadar was well aware of his predicament.

After a brief silence, Artanis said sincerely, "No matter how unreasonable or heretical they say you've become, I still believe you are loyal to the Protoss Empire and our people. Tassadar, you will never betray your faith."

"Selendis, order the Fleets to set sail. We are returning to Aiur." He turned to the other side and announced his decision.

"Are you really going to give up now?" Aldaris questioned Artanis.

"We have failed, Arbitrator." The newly appointed Executor Artanis looked at Aldaris, his expression forceful and unquestionable. "Unless we wage a war we are destined to lose in this sector."

"You're well aware of this too. Have the arbitrators become accustomed to hiding their thoughts and turning a blind eye in Khala?"

Artanis is young, which leads other Protoss to believe he is inexperienced, reckless, and impulsive. However, as a young man, he is not lacking in courage to challenge authority or power. He is the youngest executive officer, but also the most capable.

Although Artanis appeared almost humble when facing Tassadar, who was also a Templar Knights Executor, he was by no means a weakling.

Tassadar was only a little over three hundred years old; he could have served as the Executor and commander of the Templar Knights for centuries to come.

Perhaps the Conclave has never been more in need of a new executor to lead Tassadar's army, but there is no doubt that the arbitrators who entrusted Artanis with this important task believe he is absolutely the best candidate; he simply lacks experience.

Outside the porthole of the Star Shuttle, Artanis, far away, is leaping into the icy blue vortex reflected by the hyperspace passage.

"Tassadar, I only hope you won't do anything worse." Aldaris, wearing a gold and red hood, warned Tassadar one last time before leaving, "You've already made a grave mistake; don't make another."

Aldaris would not hold a grudge against Artanis for his tough stance today. He was not a politician or power-hungry minister in the Terran Confederacy Federation who manipulated power for personal gain. No matter how rigid Aldaris was, all his goals were for the Protoss Empire to survive and thrive as long as Khas, the founder of the Khala, had hoped.

"They're leaving." After the Protoss Fleets finally departed, Augustus took a deep breath. "Fortunately, it was Artanis who came. If the Conclave had deliberately selected those executors who were dissatisfied with you to arrest you, things would have been very difficult today."

"That's it?" Faraday, who always followed Augustus, had witnessed the conflict between Tassadar and Aldaris firsthand. "I thought we'd have to fight the Protoss government forces."

In Faraday's eyes, Tassadar was the Protoss Empire rebels.

"The Protoss are really straightforward. They could have easily found an excuse to trick Tassadar back, or forced his followers to choose between their leader and Aiur," Kerrigan commented.

Sarah Kerrigan doesn't mind using some unethical tricks and schemes; in fact, as a former Ghost operative, she's always been a ruthless character.

"Tassadar, are you going back to Aiur?" Augustus saw Tassadar lower his head and sensed his frustration and defeat.

"No, this is not the time yet. I need to persuade Zeratul and the Dark Templar from Shakuras to go and support Aiur." Tassadar looked at Augustus.

"Zeratul is happy to return to Aiur and fight alongside us, but not all Dark Templar consider Aiur their eternal home."

"You must hurry," Augustus. "Once you decide to return to Aiur, we will certainly do our utmost to help you, precisely because you have helped us so much."

"It seems the Protoss Empire is handling the Zerg attack with ease; otherwise, why would they have diverted Fleets to hunt down Tassadar?" Kerrigan said.

"I hope so," Tassadar said.

It's almost the end of the month, everyone remember to vote with your monthly tickets!