Recovering Antioch Province

As dawn broke, a whole formation of Grizzly Bomber swept across the sky above the Shimmering River Antioch, the muffled roar of their engines causing the startled wild animals in the primeval rainforest to scatter in all directions.

Everywhere there were low growls, the sound of trees and branches breaking, and the mournful cries of birds taking flight. A huge convoy of light Armored Vehicle and off-road vehicles, fully loaded with supplies, rumbled past the quietly flowing river, crushing colorful pebbles and shellfish that gleamed like jewels in the morning light.

Sarah Kerrigan cleanly plunged her dagger into the brain of an Aiur Bengal Tiger, then used her Mind Blast ability to detonate the brains of two other Omhara Predator that had mistakenly joined the march towards Augustus. The two colossal Predator, once regarded as Protoss by the Protoss, collapsed to the ground, blood flowing freely from their enormous mouths and three massive eyes.

As Augustus looked away from a portable Holographic Projection, Faraday, standing beside the Marshal, had already drawn his Demolisher Pistol and smashed the head of a Meru Venom Lizard.

"These beasts have gone mad. They're like they've been pissed on and blinded. They're running around like crazy, charging straight at our guns." Tychus Finley was holding a heavy machine gun in one hand, while throwing grenades into a hole deep underground a few dozen yards away with the other.

"Ah, maybe we'll be able to have a good meal tonight," said Harnack Hank.

Amid cheers from Tychus and Harnack, grenades blasted the entire cave into the air.

They were standing in a clearing in the forest left by a river that had changed course, surrounded by dense shrubs, ferns, and palm-like plants. The plants in the Aiur Rainforest were all unusually tall, with leaves on their branches shaped like giant fan blades, blocking out the sky and the scorching sun.

The shimmering river, sparkling in the sunlight, is a sacred and immaculate place of worship for the Fennatir Tribe of the Antioch Province, renowned for its purity and beauty. The shimmering river never dries up, and even during its heaviest floods, it does not harm the tribes and creatures along its course. The Protoss poets have composed countless moving poems in its memory.

If it weren't for the frenzied wild animals in the forest and the moving armies and vehicles, this would be a sanctuary for the Antioch Templar Knights to meditate in peace.

However, the river was now stained with blood, as the corpses of numerous Aiur creatures meandered down its banks, turning the entire river red with blood.

"Hey, you two idiots, those are Aiur's herbivores, they're not aggressive at all," Kerrigan yelled immediately upon seeing this.

"You're meddling too much, little girl. Who knows if that damned beast will suddenly appear and threaten our great marshal's life, or even fucking kill us all?" Tychus casually brushed it off.

"It's not our fault, it was blocking Uncle Harnack's way." Harnack grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"How did you let those two scumbags in?" Kerrigan asked Augustus.

"Who knows?" Augustus shrugged. "Sarah, you're getting more agitated—have you already sensed the Zerg nearby?"

"Yes, I can feel the Zerg's unified, cruel will crossing the upper reaches of the luminous river; they are walking embodiments of death," Kerrigan said. "I can almost hear the Zerg's will buzzing in my mind."

"Your perception of the Zerg is becoming increasingly acute; hopefully, that's a good thing." Augustus then focused his attention on the battle map projected on the Holographic Projection screen in front of him, noting the location information of each unit.

The Revolutionary Army has deployed at least 150,000 army, marines, and engineers on Antioch, along with a large number of vehicles and aircraft, exceeding the combined forces of the Terran Confederacy and the Kel-Morian Combine on Sigma Prime during the Guild Wars.

These units were marked with their unit numbers on the entire operational map and moved slowly on the map, which was generated in real time based on data. Some troops were stalled due to the thwarted attack, but so far no entire battalion or larger unit had been completely defeated.

Aiur is now fraught with danger. The Revolutionary Army, far from their homeland, has no troops to replenish its ranks. Therefore, the casualties from the arrival of the Zerg and other losses due to non-combat attrition such as disease have become Augustus's biggest headache.

Fortunately, the Protoss's advanced medical technology can help the Revolutionary Army overcome the problems of acclimatization and solve difficult and complicated diseases that the accompanying doctors are helpless with.

Much of Antioch is a dangerous primeval rainforest, teeming with frenzied beasts and savage Zerg that lurk in the canopy and dense vegetation. Any Revolutionary Army soldier who underestimates the rainforest will pay a bloody price.

Even though the rivers of Aiur are pure and non-toxic, drinking their water is strictly forbidden, as the Viper, terrifying leeches, and other deadly creatures they contain are enough to cause the tragic death of a strong young soldier.

Recent research has shown that since the Zerg began studying infectious diseases that could already Infested Terran, Zerg viruses have also begun to spread through the air and rivers—this is very likely the work of the Zerg Cerebrate Carlos.

"The Alpha Squadron at the forefront has encountered a large vanguard of the Jormungand Brood and is engaged in fierce fighting." He then ordered over the encrypted communication channel, "Send Londerstein's forces to their aid immediately. They will receive support from Protoss High Priest Fenix."

"Keep moving forward, take down Jormungand's secondary main hive, and the entire spiderweb-filled waters of the Shimmering River will be ours."

"The Jormungandr were the first Zerg group to invade the Koprulu Sector, and also one of the largest." Kerrigan was both Augustus's second-in-command and an outstanding military strategist, not because of her training at the Federation's Tarsonis Ghost Academy, but because of her innate strategic intuition.

"Over the past year, the activity of the Jormungand Brood in the Koprulu Sector has significantly decreased, which seems to be because they have followed the Overmind to Aiur."

"Their Cerebrate Yack must also be on Aiur." Augustus frowned, feeling extremely troubled by the problem he was facing.

"However, all the information we've received indicates that almost all of the Cerebrate burrows are located near the Overmind's body Overmind in Aiur's surface. This is to counter assassinations by the Protoss Dark Templar, preventing Zeratul from making any move."

"If we want to kill a Cerebrate or make the Overmind feel threatened, we must go deep into the Zerg's main lair." He pointed with his finger to the distance between the northern Sain Province of Antioch Province and the Overmind- Swarm territory.

"In other words, we must confront at least three powerful races that Overmind the Overlord."

"Only three or four groups are guarding Char, which means all the other Zerg groups have now arrived in Aiur," Kerrigan, looking at Augustus.

"This is a new counter-offensive against the Zerg- occupied territory, and according to Protoss Executive Artanis, the Protoss Empire's previous counter-offensives against the Swarm have all ended in failure after brief victories. The Protoss can always defeat and kill all the Zerg in front of them, but once they penetrate deep into the heart of the territory, they are always repelled by the Swarm that follow," she said.

"Back then, the Protoss Empire's military strength hadn't declined as drastically as it has now. If they couldn't do it, how could we possibly do it?"

"Tassadar has gathered all the Templar Knights willing to follow him, and even many Khalai civilians have volunteered to help them," Augustus. "Tassadar has activated all the Colossus and Mothership on Aiur, which is our advantage in the counterattack."

He told Kerrigan unequivocally, "If it weren't for these weapons, I would only have one piece of advice for Tassadar: quickly relocate the refugees, and once all the Protoss Great Fleet branches have been assembled, then we can reclaim Aiur."

At this point, Augustus received another report from the front-line troops. Duke of the Alpha Squadron was telling him triumphantly that his troops had perfectly completed the orders of the Marshal's command and had destroyed the largest secondary hive of the Jormungand Brood in the Antioch Province.

Currently, Alpha Squadron and Governor Fenix's forces are preparing to continue their northward advance as planned, aiming to recapture the ruined capital city of Antioch Province.

Although Duke was an ambitious man who liked to exaggerate his achievements, he dared not lie to Augustus about military intelligence.

This means that the Allied forces' operations in Antioch Province are going smoothly, and the Zerg are widely distributed in Antioch, are being wiped out by the Protoss and Terrans.

The Zerg were truly caught off guard when the Colossus joined the battle. At the same time, the Zerg were also puzzled: if the Protoss had such a powerful weapon, why hadn't they used it before?

"I'm telling you, the Protoss stronghold has been ravaged by Zerg. We don't even have time to watch the show, let alone fight these aliens for the Zerg. They're so arrogant and disdainful, they're practically talking to you with their noses in their mouths." Tychus Augustus as he dragged a Rombard creature out of the cave he had blasted open and skinned it with a knife.

"That's probably just because that Protoss is too powerful," Augustus. "Tychus, there are many times when we do something not for obvious benefits or other naked purposes."

"Don't try to lecture me," Tychus snorted. "So, if we help the Protoss this time, they'll help us fight the Confederacy in the future?"

"You can't say that. The Protoss don't usually get involved in disputes between other races," Augustus said with a smile.

"There are always exceptions, aren't there? All they need is to lend us some good stuff." Tychus grinned maliciously. "We've been through thick and thin with them; brothers should help each other."

No matter how much Tychus disliked the Revolutionary Army's rules and regulations, he had long since considered himself a soldier of the Revolutionary Army. This was not because Tychus had a sense of justice, but simply because he used this title to get along very well in the Edge World of the Confederacy, which was close to the Revolutionary Army, and even had no shortage of young and beautiful girls throwing themselves at him.

"If the Terran Confederacy attacks our planet, the Protoss will certainly not stand idly by and watch the Revolutionary Army perish," Kerrigan said. "If Tassadar succeeds the Conclave as the leader of the Protoss Empire, then the Protoss Empire and we will always maintain excellent diplomatic and cooperative relations."

"You should be able to imagine that such cooperation would involve many aspects."

"It's not just about helping the Protoss, it's also about helping ourselves. By weakening or even killing the Overmind, we can keep our enemies out of the Koprulu Sector." Augustus a visionary leader; he always saw things very clearly and far into the future, almost like a prophet. It's understandable why the Revolutionary Army soldiers revered such a leader.

"I don't understand." Harnack, always a red-haired boy with unconventional thinking, said, "If that's the case, do we still have to kill those people in the Conclave?"

"In any case, it is very disadvantageous for us for the Conclave to continue to hold power." Augustus nodded and said, "They did not hesitate to issue the order to burn human planets. Who knows what other heinous things these bastards might do in the future."

"Something's wrong. Zerg have appeared at the three o'clock position," Kerrigan suddenly said.

"Protect the Marshal!" Tychus had been grumbling just moments before, immediately stepped forward, while Harnack, clad in heavy Firebat armor, and Farad stood guard beside Augustus, one in front and one behind.

"What are the guards doing?" Harnack roared.

"Taking a shit? Gentlemen, pull up your pants and fucking grab your guns and start shooting!"

"This isn't their fault; the Nydus Worm brought these Zerg," Kerrigan explained. "There are only about four or five hundred of them. I suspect this is yet another Zerg assassination attempt against you."

"Oh ho, they've walked right into a trap," Tychus said, hands on his hips. "But they didn't expect you to be a humanoid insect-sensing radar."

"Which battalion-level units are closest to us?" Augustus asked, his expression unchanged.

Augustus's command post was in the middle of a massive marching column, which was advancing at full speed and therefore unable to clear away the Zerg and beasts roaming the rainforest.

"The 114th and 148th Battalion, they belong to..." Kerrigan said in a flash.

"Let them carry out the clearing mission," Augustus said immediately.

"The 9th Division's artillery units can also provide us with fire support," Kerrigan said.

At this moment, the clattering sound of the Zerg carapaces colliding with each other became increasingly obvious, and a large number of Zergling and Hydralisk with white chitinous exoskeletons and bright crests suddenly appeared from the jungle to the right of Augustus and the others.

Their distinctive physical characteristics come from the skilled hunters of the Belrog Brood, but they are different from those the Revolutionary Army saw in Char. The moist skin and blue-green camouflage that the Aiur swarm evolved to adapt to the planet's hot and humid climate make these Zerg look even more vibrant.

The Belrog Brood also has huge sail-like dorsal fins on its back that can absorb sunlight, allowing it to draw energy from the scorching stellar rays of the Aiur System, just like the Protoss.

Before the Revolutionary Army soldiers could open fire, a Protoss ship that the Revolutionary Army had never seen before suddenly appeared above the Zerg. It had fin-like wings and a crescent-shaped hull, its surface gleaming with golden light, as elegant and exquisite as other Protoss ships.

The difference is that this spaceship is decorated with more gems and patterns that highlight class characteristics.

After a flash of light, two Colossus suddenly leaped out above the Belrog Brood, followed by hundreds of Protoss warriors dressed in red robes rather than armor. They wielded Psionics spears and ancient Sigma longswords, and their powerful Psionics energy filled the surrounding area with blue Psionic Storm.

"An Arbiter." Only Augustus recognized the spaceship.

"Only Protoss of the Arbitrator rank could pilot them, and those red-clad warriors must be the Conclave's direct forces, the High Council Guard."

"The Conclave does keep its word, which at least changes my impression of them."

You can open the top right corner to view the original image of the Easter egg stamp in full screen; otherwise, some of them are too blurry.