Riot

Halsen, a resettlement site for immigrants from the main continent.

Everything was in ruins and needed to be rebuilt.

The city ruins south of the resettlement site, silhouetted against the setting sun, evoke memories of the past for the Halsen people. But now, it is merely a breeding ground for insect nests, their surfaces covered with Zerg Creep, spiny cavities, blood vessels, worm intestines, chitinous carapaces, and rapidly growing exoskeletons.

City residents and animals infected by the Zerg virus still wander among the high-rise buildings like midnight ghosts, and the Brood Queen of the Swarm and the guardians of the nest still remain in the depths of those dark caves.

The entire city has been infected, and buildings have become breeding grounds for infected and mutated creatures. Some towering skyscrapers have been transformed into spires of Swarm, with swarms of Mutalisk still lingering around them. The city parks, which were once filled with beautiful gardens, lawns, red brick roads and benches, are now covered with corpses and Zerg excrement.

Every time the people in the refugee settlement look at the ruins of the city, they feel an overwhelming sense of sorrow, not knowing how many people's property and families have been destroyed in this catastrophe of the Zerg invasion.

This refugee camp is vast, and the engineers of the Revolutionary Army Engineering Corps who designed it were clearly very experienced, taking into account all aspects of refugee life. According to the design, the refugee camp on the main continent could accommodate 250,000 people, which would be sufficient to solve the problem of resettling displaced refugees in the region.

The refugee camp also provides people with food, clothing, and personal protection, a practice that has been widely praised among the people of Halsen.

The modular house panels used to build the refugee camp were airlifted directly to the surface of Halsen, and all necessary facilities such as power plants and water storage tanks were provided. Cement roads were laid between the houses, and convoys carrying refugees and supplies would occasionally drive by on these roads.

At the center of the camp, the bright red flag of the Revolutionary Army still stood, a constant reminder to the people in the refugee camp who were sheltering them from the wind and rain.

At the heart of the refugee camp is a helipad large enough for dozens of APOD transport ships to take off and land simultaneously. The ships taking off and landing there are also tasked with transporting refugees.

Since the Revolutionary Army troops that landed at Halsen had all returned to the Fleets, only a group of junior Revolutionary Army officers and local militia were responsible for the defense of the refugee camp.

When Augustus arrived at the refugee camp, the expansion area was still under construction. Everywhere you could see containers that had just been unloaded by transport ships and tall scaffolding. Several T-280 SCV, each over ten feet tall, were using welding torches, pliers, and power drills to connect the support columns and frames of the modular houses.

Even after repeated painting and good maintenance, some of these T-280 SCV still appear too old, belonging to the category of outdated models that frequently malfunction. They are only used on a large scale in Outer Colonies and newly established colonies. They are easy to collect in places like Mar- Sara and Antiga Prime, and many old, repairable vehicles can also be found in the giant recycling center of Deadman's Port.

The Revolutionary Army is now capable of building its own SCV; the design of engines, onboard feedback modules, and auxiliary thrusters are not insurmountable challenges. In the past, the Revolutionary Army lacked factories to build these vehicles, but now they can be mass-produced in large factories in Antiga, Haj, and Altera.

As Augustus stood before a two-story building under construction, two SCV were intently welding cables and solar panels, a project that would greatly alleviate the refugees' electricity needs. On the planet's surface, the vehicles would walk using legs connected to a servo system, only using their rear thrusters when facing danger, needing to make impacts, or carrying heavy loads.

The T-280 SCV is the cornerstone of resource construction and acquisition, as evidenced by the cities, fortresses, mines, space stations, and oil refineries that have sprung up.

"Hey, has anyone ever said your outfits are cool, Kundy?" Jim Raynor, standing next to Augustus, tried to strike up a conversation with a SCV driver.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Lieutenant General Raynor, it's been a while since I've seen you. The last time was when Tychus and Hank made a mess of the Hyperion." Quindy Rired, the driver of the SCV, turned around and rolled down the window in front of his cockpit.

He saluted Augustus as he looked at him. "Marshal, I heard that we have just won a victory at the front. This is all thanks to our wise and mighty leader."

Being in a good position, this SCV driver, belonging to the Hyperion engineering team, had met Augustus and Raynor many times. He was also a technical team leader under Swann, originally engaged in technical problem-solving, and was also an outstanding engineer.

"The lads at the front are all excellent, but you all deserve credit for it too. We are a whole; we can't do without any one of us." Augustus usual, said things that all the Revolutionary Army deserved great credit. He never took credit for himself, which was even more evident compared to Edmond Duke, who was always seeking fame and fortune.

"What did Tychus and Hank do?" he asked, then looked at Raynor.

Augustus was not on the Hyperion at that time, and after his return, the crew obviously did not want to bother Marshal Augustus was busy with many trivial matters.

"That happened last month. Tychus had a few drinks and started acting crazy at the bar, knocking out four or five tough guys," Raynor said, shrugging.

"One of them happened to be Red Devil Firebats on a mission with the Hyperion, and you know what a hot-tempered thug their leader is," he said. "Hank and Tychus turned the bar upside down."

"Hank thought Tychus was so good at fighting because he drank alcohol, so he also downed a few bottles of Red Star liquor."

"Guess what happened," Raynor laughed. "The guy just passed out, and Tychus started dancing in the bar."

"Luckily they didn't break my record player, it's an old relic," Augustus. "Hank is still a kid, while Tychus is so old, why is he causing trouble everywhere?"

"You're being way too biased towards Harnack Hank," Kerrigan said from the side.

"So, Kundy, tell me what's going on here." Augustus covered his forehead and looked at Kundy, who was sitting in the SCV.

The cockpit of the SCV was a full five feet (1.5 meters) off the ground, and Augustus had to look up at it.

"As usual, trouble never stops," Kundy Augustus. "The engineering corps has built refugee camps on planets invaded by the Zerg more than once, but the environment of each planet is different."

"The surface of Halsen is the most satisfactory planet I've seen in years, but the Zerg probably think so too," he said. "When we first started building the refugee camps, we lacked cover. After all, we couldn't possibly divert several battalions to protect a refugee camp with no strategic value while facing an entire Swarm."

"The bugs used to frequent this place. Back then, we used engineering vehicles with plasma melting guns, power claws, and drilling rigs to deal with them. It was really dangerous."

"A company, or even a platoon, would have been enough to handle a few Zergling or Hydralisk, but the captain in command didn't consider that," Augustus. "He has already paid the price for that mistake."

"We can't be too harsh on an officer who hasn't received professional military training; we can only hope that his successor will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors."

Most of the officers in the Revolutionary Army were promoted from ordinary soldiers. They were experienced and brave in battle, but that did not mean they were incapable of making mistakes.

"Later, the refugees gradually moved in," Kundy continued. "But you can't expect everyone to appreciate your efforts. Many people were still complaining about the facilities in the refugee camp. Damn it, do they think our help is something they're entitled to?"

"Some people even infiltrated and caused trouble, damaging vital energy facilities. Even the Zerg have never caused us such losses. We didn't come here to express our gratitude, but such actions are disheartening."

"If you don't want to stay here, you can leave. We're not here in Halsen to do charity," Raynor said.

"If we drive them away, they'll say the Revolutionary Army are oppressing civilians," Augustus. "At least most people are cooperating with us."

Just then, another commotion broke out in the refugee camp, indicating that some people were causing trouble.

"What's going on?" Raynor looked in that direction.

"I bet it's some trivial matter again," Kundy said. "Everyone who comes here is a victim of this war, and some of them are bound to drown their sorrows in alcohol. Some might even steal relief supplies, even though what we've distributed is more than enough to keep them fed and clothed."

"They can still get alcohol at this point?" Raynor shrugged. "Is it really worth it? Some of our good brothers have stayed here forever for Halsen, their wives might be forced to remarry for their children, all to save these scumbags?"

"After all, the majority still agree with us," Augustus said to Raynor. "Cheer up, Jimmy, haven't we seen enough absurd things?"

"Oh—it's impossible not to be optimistic. When a person has experienced so much, Augustus, he naturally becomes less bothered by those hardships," Raynor said.

"Go and see what those people are still arguing about."

"Alright, I have to get back to work. He probably won't believe me if I told Swann that I was talking to Marshal Augustus Mengsk during the time I delayed the project." Kundy said, closing the driver's side window and continuing his work.

"I hope that when I see you again, we will already be able to build a fortress in Tarsonis."

"Thank you for your kind words," Augustus replied.

Augustus, Reno Kerrigan, and others walked along the road under construction toward the center of the refugee camp, noticing that many people were also rushing from their homes to the scene of the incident.

Augustus noticed it was a relief point for distributing food and water, next to a supply depot. He looked at Kerrigan and said, "Can you sense anything?"

Now, the area around the relief point is crowded with people, many of them talking at the same time. Anger and tension fill the air, and anxiety is spreading among everyone. Several Halsen militiamen in blue Power Armor are intervening in the conflict. They are all locals who switched sides to the Revolutionary Army Revolutionary Army it occupied the planet.

"There are too many people here, it's too noisy, I can't get to the point." Kerrigan pressed her temples, a pale golden light shimmering in her eyes.

"Rumors." Suddenly, Kerrigan grabbed something.

"Some people are spreading rumors here that the Revolutionary Army is going to cut off food supplies to the refugee camps to support the front lines. Others are saying that once the Terran Confederacy returns, all those who betrayed the Confederacy will be punished."

"What a despicable trick. Don't forget who rescued them from the Zerg."

"Quiet!" Augustus waved his hand, and Faraday's Marshal Guard marched in orderly steps toward the crowd, lining up on both sides. "Who is the culprit behind this riot? If no one tells me, then everyone here must be investigated."

The arguing crowd immediately fell silent; they couldn't ignore the heavily armed Marshal Guard's guards and their golden wolf insignia. The crowd quickly dispersed, and no one stayed to explain what had happened.

Kerrigan and her guards quickly apprehended two men: a young man with a turban and purple hair, and a middle-aged man with a large belly.

"Tell me, what have you done?" Raynor asked the two men who had been brought to Augustus, while wiping his Colt pistol.

Before the middle-aged man could say anything, Raynor began loading bullets into his pistol.

"I've killed many people—the valiant Guild Guards of Kel-Morian, the thugs of Mar- Sara, the criminals of the Deadman's Port —none of them are innocent," he said. "Lying won't work; we have mind-reading Ghost operative here."

"Not necessarily the best in the entire universe, but certainly understanding," Kerrigan emphasized. "I will remember every word you say and scrutinize every detail."

"I know you're working for Halsen's drug lords. He ordered you to create chaos here because he hates the Revolutionary Army's anti-drug policies." She looked at another person. "As for you, you at least want to stir up trouble and grab as many supplies as possible during the riots."

"Take him away and send him to Antiga II to mine," Augustus ordered after a moment's thought.

"I like your decision. I've heard that construction sites and mines are always short-staffed," Raynor said.

"It wasn't like this when the Terran Confederacy was here! You inhuman rebels, you will pay the price!" The obese middle-aged man, who had just tried to get away with it but now knew his fate, immediately shouted loudly.

"It wasn't like this when the Terran Confederacy was here!"

"Idiot!" Raynor cursed.

"He's right. The system I created is designed to make it difficult for such people to do evil," Augustus.