Civil War

The Antioch Province is home to the oldest city in the Protoss Empire and the immortal temples left behind by the Xel'Naga. Lush rainforests and oceans embrace the golden cities and floating crystal towers. The Protoss live in harmony with nature, for they are the children of Aiur.

As time passed and the grass grew taller, the stories of the Protoss ancestors' struggles against beasts, storms, and mountains have been compiled into beautiful ballads. The poignant legends of the ancient heroes continue to influence generations of the Firstborn. Yet, Aiur, the great mother who once nurtured the brilliant Protoss civilization, trembles before the Swarm.

The meeting Augustus and Fenix, the Protoss Empire High Principality, took place inside a newly constructed command center, with the lush and verdant Aiur rainforest just outside.

The dense rainforest reflected a brilliant blue-orange light under the sun, and giant creatures with colorful crests and sail-like backs, along with strange birds, migrated in large numbers along the river. This spectacular scene was captured by the Revolutionary Army's stealth drones and satellites.

The conference room in the command center, which was once where the Revolutionary Army marshals listened to the opinions of their staff officers, military advisors, and generals, is now used as the meeting place for Augustus and Fenix.

Augustus and Fenix were looking at a tactical Holographic Projection projector, which displayed a rotating image of Aiur. On it, red flashing dots and triangular symbols represented the Zerg and Protoss armies, while green represented the Revolutionary Army.

This was constructed by combining data obtained from the Revolutionary Army's scientific research vessel's scanning of the planet with the topographical map of Aiur provided by Tassadar. The place names are all transliterated from the Protoss Khalani to ensure that Revolutionary Army commanders would not misunderstand the intentions of their Protoss allies due to different names.

The Revolutionary Army's landing site Antioch Province, is located in the southern hemisphere of Aiur. It is adjacent to Aiur's metropolitan city of Kor-shakal and another large province, Sain Province. To the other side lie tranquil and vast primeval forests and the province of Aiur.

The Protoss Empire's administrative center is located in the Heart of the Conclave of Kor-shakal, where every order from the Conclave's arbitrators represents supreme power and inviolable authority.

The arbitrators were wise elders, some of whom had served impartially for over a decade. Though they were frail old men, Khala's thoughts still shone like stars.

The Antioch Province, Velari Province, the Temple of the Preservers, the Sain Province, and the Akilae tribe to the west formed the bulwark of the capital, Kor-shakal. The fall of Antioch meant that Kor-shakal was also in grave danger.

"How much territory does the Protoss Empire actually possess in Aiur?" After praising Fenix's bravery and expressing his admiration for him, Augustus immediately focused on the operational plan to deploy military forces to Aiur.

For Augustus, he had to figure out the military balance between Aiur Protoss and Zerg in order to decide whether the military operation on Aiur was to help Tassadar reclaim lost territory, or to decisively abandon Aiur and flee this dangerous place with the Protoss refugees.

"The eastern hemisphere of Aiur has almost completely fallen, and the western hemisphere is still under the control of the Templar Knights, but the Zerg are endless, while our warriors are limited in number," Fenix replied. "Unless the Overmind is killed, the Protoss Empire will eventually crumble in this brutal war."

"The Overmind of the Swarm landed at the Xel'Naga Temple northeast of Sion. Its massive, hideous body fell like a meteor, tearing a dark abyss into the earth. The Overmind's powerful tentacles took root beneath the Xel'Naga Temple, devouring the sanctuary that existed even before the Age of Strife."

Fenix concluded, "The Zerg Overmind has become one with the Xel'Naga Temple, and the Swarm is spreading outwards from the Overmind. Even those Zerg hive forces that launch probing attacks are keeping our already stretched resources constantly in disarray."

"In other words, even in Aiur, you don't have the advantage against the Zerg." Augustus seized on this information. He believed that the Protoss Empire must have suffered unprecedented damage in the Zerg invasion, and the Zerg would certainly not fare any better.

Even if only one side is able to spare the resources to blockade the outer perimeter of the Aiur System, the combined Fleets will definitely not be able to land on Aiur easily.

"Yes," Fenix said honestly, "When I spoke with the arbitrators in the Conclave, even though they habitually concealed their thoughts in front of the Templar Knights, I could sense the anxiety and anger within the arbitrator class."

As a race whose Psionics far surpass those of humans and who have possessed telepathic abilities since the beginning of their existence, the Fenix can "hear" Augustus's superficial thoughts even without deliberately reading them.

By focusing on the spiritual aspect, Fenix was able to figure out what kind of personality and character Augustus possessed.

The Protoss dislike politicians skilled in disguise and cold-blooded warlords; they prefer those whose character is similar to their own or whose virtues are noble. If Jim Raynor were here, he would surely win Fenix's approval just like Augustus.

"When the Zerg first invaded, the Conclave was indifferent, treating it as a minor incident that should have been a disgrace to the Templar Knights class, who were supposed to protect Aiur — the Protoss Empire army would easily wipe out the invading Zerg," Fenix continued.

"But they were wrong," Augustus.

"We were all wrong." Fenix's voice, reflected in Augustus's mind, was powerful and resonant. If Zeratul was a mysterious ocean, then Grand Consul Fenix was a boulder that stood firm amidst the raging waves.

"The Protoss Empire still has hope. The invincible Fleets, the expeditionary Fleets, and the massive colonial Fleets scattered throughout the Milky Way Galaxy are on their way to Aiur, and the Mothership that had been dormant for so long have been reawakened—but it's too late," Fenix said.

"How much longer does Aiur have to wait for the warriors to return?"

"I already know what kind of enemy and cruel test we are facing now." Augustus nodded, planning to make two preparations. With the help of the Protoss heroes like Fenix, the united army would surely be able to stop their powerful counterattack—provided that the Conclave did not turn against them at this time.

At the same time, Augustus also decided to evacuate a portion of the Aiur Protoss who followed Tassadar ahead of time, so as to avoid having to abandon a large population when the evacuation became necessary. Nothing could help the Protoss in such a time, and nothing could earn the gratitude and respect of these inherently arrogant Xel'Naga heirs more than this.

"The Protoss Empire suffered its greatest loss since its founding. Billions of Protoss people perished in this catastrophe. So many Protoss died tragically, and the pain and sorrow they endured before their deaths left wounds in the Khala that can never be healed. This also caused hatred and grief to spread among the Templar Knights and other Protoss people," Fenix Augustus.

"During the golden age of the Protoss Empire, Aiur Protoss, and the population loss suffered by this race is enough to ensure that the Protoss will never regain its former glory for countless centuries to come. The invincible Fleets that guarded Aiur has been devoured by the Zerg, and countless brave Auriga Tribe warriors, along with the beautiful warships they built with their own hands, remain forever in the skies above Aiur."

"I understand that feeling," Augustus told Fenix. "If the people of Korhal IV had also been destroyed by the Confederacy's nuclear weapons, I would probably be plunged into darkness by now."

"Yes, what could be more painful than watching your closest companions, comrades, and elders die before your eyes, and being powerless to do anything about it?" Fenix brought up his sorrow, but quickly found peace.

"Many of my friends have lost their lives forever, their souls returning to Khala. Some have stayed by my side for three hundred years, honing their skills at the Velari Templar School for five hundred years before becoming a respected High Templar."

"The Zerg took his life." Augustus couldn't help but lament the loss of such a warrior. The Protoss were a long-lived race, and the time it took for them to train warriors was beyond human comprehension.

"That's not true. He died from his determination to serve his people and his rage to take down his enemies," Fenix said.

"He and another High Templar abandoned their original bodies and merged into a Light Archon through a spiritual ascension. I witnessed firsthand the unstoppable energy sweeping everything away, the Zerg reduced to ashes in the Psionic Storm."

"They vanished before dawn, and everyone saw a bright light."

As Fenix and Augustus were talking, Kerrigan walked in and reminded Augustus that the Templar Knights under Executor Tassadar had already landed on the left flank of the Revolutionary Army's landing point.

Tassadar himself then went alone to Augustus's command center, bringing news of Zeratul's Dark Templar landing in the Koresh Hills in the northern hemisphere. The vast lands there were now occupied by continuous Zerg hives and Zerg, and the lush forests teeming with Slifer Swarm had become one of the most dangerous areas on Aiur.

"Augustus, it pains me to see that Aiur has become a paradise for the Zerg. No human language can express my sorrow." The tall Tassadar was still wearing his High Templar robes. When he walked into the command center conference room, it was as if he were accompanied by a wind carrying thunder.

The Protoss are beings who are born with the ability to connect emotionally with their people. Their sorrow and despair are almost tangible; they are the kind of sorrow that Augustus could feel and shed tears for, just like the sorrow that moved the human soldiers around Kerrigan to tears when she Augustus.

The sorrow intensified when Tassadar's gaze fell upon Fenix: "Fenix, a grieving Templar Knights once told me that you perished in the battle to defend the Antioch Province."

"But you're standing right in front of me, alive and well. It can't be—but I wish it were true. Thank the gods, is it really you, Fenix, brother? You're still alive!"

Tassadar was so overwhelmed with emotion that his joy and sorrow simultaneously assaulted Augustus, making the latter feel as if he had two slices of onion stuck to his eyes.

"Haha. Well, after my defeat, my compatriots found my remains and put me in this Dragoon. Now, this Dragoon is my home." Fenix's hearty laughter made Augustus almost unable to believe that this was a warrior whose body was so crippled that he could only return to the battlefield through a mech. He was completely unaffected by setbacks and physical disabilities.

Augustus never saw Fenix as a Templar Knights, but in Tassadar's memory, Fenix was a swift, agile, and valiant warrior, unstoppable on the battlefield, a living legend.

No one has ever defeated Fenix, and no one has ever faced him without trembling at his battle cries and Psionic Blade.

Fenix had experienced so many battles that even he himself couldn't remember them all; only his Preservers and young Templar Knights successors continued to record his new legends.

It is said that Fenix was already active on the front lines of the battlefield at least during the Kalath Arbitration, but even before that, he had already made a name for Aiur in the campaign to wipe out the Dark Templar.

"That's right, I am the immortal Fenix." Fenix read the words that Augustus thinking but not saying aloud.

"Old friend, I wish none of this had ever happened."

"What are you saying? As long as my spirit hasn't been broken, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I can still fight for Aiur!" Fenix said to Tassadar.

"Was it the order from the Conclave that almost cost you your life?" Augustus asked.

"That's not the case. The Conclave has its own judgment." Fenix wouldn't blame his defeat on anyone else. "They just still firmly believe that the Templar Knights have always fought honorably, and that the Templar Knights should defeat the Zerg- on rather than resorting to underhanded tactics."

"The Conclave ordered Executor Artanis to assemble troops to recapture the fallen planet of Thane, while I was ordered to defend the Antioch Province. --The Zerg launched their attack on Antioch at that time."

"I have been fighting, slaying the Zerg, protecting the people—all the way, all the way. Until my power was exhausted, and I could no longer ignite the Psionic Blade."

"I have nothing to say." Augustus truly speechless. "You are a brave warrior, but it seems the Conclave is not."

"This is utterly absurd!" Tassadar was deeply saddened by his friend's fate. "I've already said it, a direct attack is useless. Without the help of the Dark Templar, the Cerebrate will rise from the dead every time!"

"We used the blood of so many warriors, only to obtain the putrid shell of a hideous monster!"

"Unless they see it with their own eyes, the Conclave will never believe or acknowledge that the heretical Dark Templar can kill the Cerebrate," Fenix said.

"Then prove it to them," Augustus said softly.

"That's right." Tassadar and Fenix exchanged a glance, as if they were smiling at each other.

Fenix continued, "I have more bad news for you, Tassadar. You have been listed as a traitor by the Conclave, and they are now organizing an army to arrest you. The council guards of the Ara Tribe have also assembled in the council square."

"What? I can't believe they've gone this far. In the face of genocide, they're still clinging to outdated dogma," Tassadar said, his voice filled with shock and anger.

"If you cannot persuade the Conclave afterward, I'm afraid we will have no choice but to fight them," Augustus. "Tassadar, no matter what, the Revolutionary Army of Humanity will stand with you and your people."

"Me too, old friend," Fenix said to Tassadar.

"I will follow you forever, even if it makes me a traitor."

"En Taro Adun, noble Fenix, only by uniting can we defeat our enemy." Tassadar then asked, "And what about young Artanis?"

"Artanis is gathering troops on Flamefall Island," Fenix replied. "He will also come to lend you a hand."

Fenix is like a phoenix rising from the ashes.