The Arrogant Council

There were fewer than two hundred red-clad Protoss warriors. They moved with graceful speed through the dense, primeval rainforest where branches intertwined, as fast as swooping birds or a ray of sunlight swiftly passing through the flower-filled woodlands.

The Protoss warriors of the High Council of the Protoss Empire, who guarded the planet, were all dressed in magnificent, almost ostentatious, red robes, over which were smaller, reddish-brown cloaks sewn with dark brown beast leather. Golden pendants and blue anima crystals swayed as they moved through the forest.

This distinctive feature sets them apart from other Protoss warriors; the fiery Ara Tribe symbol truly resembles a blazing inferno.

Another distinctive feature of their attire, unlike that of the Templar Knights, is that some Council Guards wear eye patches on their heads to cover their eyes. Their nerve bundles, which are longer than those of other Protoss, are wrapped with some kind of thick red silk brocade, and the ends are tied to a yellowed animal skin scroll.

It is said that the map on it is a copy of the map drawn by the Great One Khas when he traveled throughout Aiur. It was with this map that he found the way to create the mental network, the Khala. As descendants of the Protoss who were the first to stand by Khas's side, the Ara Tribe uses this method to remind themselves to remember their mission. Similarly, it is also a symbol of their identity.

They wore almost no armor, but carried circular Psionics amplifiers on their backs, which enabled these Protoss warriors, well-versed in the ways of the Khala, to unleash terrifying Psionics attacks with powerful Psionics energy.

The Tal'darim also wear scarlet robes, but their attire has a more striking visual impact, being a blood-red color. The symbol of the Ara Tribe represents the flame that brings warmth and light, foreshadowing their status as the rulers and chairpersons of the Conclave.

"Wow, look at these Protoss outfits, they're so cool." Tychus, holding a heavy machine gun and standing in front of Augustus, chewed on Taradorn cigar, puffing smoke from inside his tightly sealed helmet as he stared at the suddenly appearing Protoss.

"Don't you think this is overly flamboyant? It's like those male birds that adorn themselves with elaborate decorations to attract mates," Kerrigan remarked, not without her sarcasm.

"In public, politicians always wear elaborate traditional clothing or other attire that signifies their elite status. This is perfectly normal among the Protoss, who have distinct tribal divisions." Augustus watched the council guards nimbly traversing the rainforest, their crimson figures leaping into the fangs and claws of the Belrog Brood to unleash a bloody massacre.

Suddenly, an image flashed into Augustus's mind of his father Angus Mengsk, attending a meeting of the Korhal Senate, his traditional attire so heavy it resembled armor.

"The Protoss Empire maintains internal peace through a clear and strict class system to avoid civil war and fratricide. Therefore, they must emphasize and maintain this distinction in all aspects of the Empire's operation and the lives of their people; otherwise, lower-ranking Protoss will overstep their bounds and authority."

The rulers of the Protoss Empire wanted their people to remember their bloodline and traditions, so that they would remember their mission. This is why the tribes have survived to this day. -- Before the establishment of the Protoss Empire, the Protoss on Aiur had already declined to the tribal era, and the distinctions between the various tribes still existed in this era.

The Protoss still take pride in their lineage and tribal totems, and even with their highly advanced civilization, they still divide authority among tribes.

"The Ara Tribe Protoss are one of the youngest of the Protoss tribes, yet they firmly hold the reins of the Protoss Empire," Augustus continued. "The Ara Tribe Protoss are arrogant and aloof; they will do anything for the survival of the Khala and the Protoss Empire."

Another arbitrator tribe Shelak Tribe, once produced great figures like Khas, but they were indifferent to politics and military affairs. The Shilak Tribe were the guardians of the Xel'Naga Temple and the Great Archives, and they focused only on the past, not on the present or the distant, unknown future.

"So, Protoss in the Conclave are from this tribe?" Tychus didn't care about Protoss culture and customs; he only cared about who held the position and whether that person was an easily fooled fool or a ruthless character who was not to be trifled with. This usually determined their approach to committing crimes in a particular region.

"They don't seem like pampered politicians. Look at those crazy guys, I have no doubt they could easily rip Hank the bad boy's head off."

"Why me?" Harnack, who was focused on the rustling of the wind around him, heard his own name called.

As Tychus spoke, the High Council Guard, clad in red battle robes, were already engaged in direct combat with the Belrog Brood. They were not far from Augustus, who could see the lightning-fast Protoss warriors wreaking havoc among the Zerg through the HUD system on his Power Armor.

A Ara Tribe warrior, clad in a robe, sliced open the head of a Baelrog Zergling with an unstoppable Psionic Blade. He then turned and shattered the snout of a Hydralisk with a swift elbow strike, causing the monster, which was about to attack from behind, to let out a piercing howl.

The azure flames in the Protoss warrior's eyes shone even brighter, causing the surging Psionics around him to solidify. A blue phantom, identical in size to him, emerged from his shadow, wielding a Psionics blade that pierced through the soft armor between the Hydralisk's spine and head in a single strike.

More Baelrog surged towards him like giant Hydralisk from the canopy and vines of the primeval jungle, their spines unleashing sharp, venomous bone spikes at the Protoss warrior. Within seconds, hundreds of spikes and bone needles, sharp enough to pierce tank armor, struck the Protoss warrior's energy shield, before being Hydralisk in a surging Psionic Storm.

Augustus could easily see that these Protoss warriors, who had guarded the Conclave, the highest authority of the Protoss Empire since ancient times, were by no means inferior to a High Templar. Their powerful Psionics energy came from the close ties between the Arbitrators and the Khala and their devotion to the Dae'uhl Doctrine.

Moreover, they were extremely powerful. The Baelrog were the fewest of the Zerg hives Overmind the Overmind, but they were also the strongest and most ferocious, able to develop the bloodthirsty nature in the Zerg genes to the extreme, while the Council Guards could easily defeat them.

The High Council's guards were renowned in the Protoss Empire during the Adun era for stopping the Dark Templar from wreaking havoc on Aiur. They are the guardians of the Council and order, and have sworn an oath to be enemies of all those who oppose the Council.

At this moment, two Revolutionary Army arrived with hurried steps, and a large number of off-road vehicles, Goliath Combat Robot, and self-propelled artillery arrived on the battlefield, awaiting Augustus's orders.

Upon hearing that Augustus had specifically ordered these two units to repel the Zerg, the soldiers felt fortunate, knowing that in the next few days they would be told that the Marshal had personally commanded them.

"Help these Protoss, warriors, aim and fire!" Augustus ordered. "It's rare to see these proud Protoss actually helping us."

"Hank, you're in charge of them; you can't leave this favor unpaid."

"That shouldn't be difficult." Upon hearing this, Harnack immediately ran to the command of the two units, "I am Colonel Hank, you have all heard Marshal Augustus Mengsk's orders."

Harnack, who a few years ago was a rogue who had offended Augustus, is now his most loyal supporter. Although Harnack scorns those Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party who constantly talk about Augustus and the party platform, that doesn't stop him from doing the same thing himself.

"My good brothers in the Revolutionary Army, you must stick close to me, or I'll kick your asses as I go—recognize my armor, for Augustus, for the future of the Terrans, and then advance."

Harnack immediately shouted "Charge! Charge! Charge!" and led his soldiers to support the Protoss warriors who were fighting the Belrog Brood. Both Revolutionary Army were mobile infantry battalions equipped with tanks. Under Harnack's leadership, they rode in light tanks with anti-aircraft machine guns and missile launchers mounted on the back seats, quickly approaching the Zerg and firing at them.

At that moment, the two Protoss Colossus advancing on the battlefield also calibrated their targets and opened fire. The high-temperature plasma particle streams projected by their solar-powered heat guns swept across their feet, scorching deep black craters into the ground with extreme heat. All the Zerg that were swept away were reduced to scorched earth, and even their blood was evaporated.

Even though the Belrog Brood is exceptionally fierce and tenacious, it's only a matter of time before they are defeated by the combined attack of the humans and Protoss.

"Keep it up, guys. We have to keep going after we get rid of these bugs," Kerrigan said to the Revolutionary Army soldiers who were arriving from elsewhere.

"Wait a minute, something seems off. It looks like those Protoss have turned their attention to us?" Tychus, with his sharp eyes, suddenly exclaimed.

As Tychus put it, this appears to be more than just a joint operation between allies.

The Revolutionary Army soldiers who went to support the Protoss quickly approached the Conclave guards who were fighting the Belrog Brood, but the Protoss warriors in red robes simply stopped and watched them indifferently.

In a fleeting moment, some of the council guards, who were standing on the corpses of the Zerg, all seemed to turn their heads at the same time as if by telepathy to look at the approaching human soldiers; their blue eyes were as hard as ice.

As Harnack's forces drew ever closer to the Protoss, a Council Guard captain, clad in a red robe and top hat adorned with tassels, raised a sharp longsword forged from crystal and a golden alloy towards the humans. Even though humans typically couldn't comprehend Protoss gestures, they understood the menace and the warning it conveyed.

These Protoss warriors, strictly adhering to tradition, still wield ancient melee weapons, even those sacred weapons named Sigma Blades, which originate from the time of the gods, thousands of years ago. Their toughness and sharpness surpass many of the Protoss Empire's current weapons, and with the aid of Psionics, they can easily sever the Zerg's carapace and the hard bones beneath its neck.

The proud Protoss warrior could have used telepathy to make the humans retreat, but he simply uttered an ancient Protoss Khalani proverb, supposedly from Khas: "The Conclave never makes a mistake; the Conclave is always right."

"I don't know, Augustus, but it seems these Protoss weren't originally here to help us—we just happened to be within the warp field of that Protoss Arbiter." Kerrigan's voice suddenly became urgent.

"Augustus, I can feel their thoughts surging like waves and their unified will. Order the warriors to stop and not approach them."

"Hank, stop! Everyone halt immediately and construct defensive fortifications where you are." Augustus took a fraction of a second to make his judgment; even without Kerrigan's prompting, he had noticed the unusual behavior of these Protoss warriors.

"We're here to help the Protoss, how could they see us as enemies—no, they see human life as worthless, and we are nothing more than inferior beings in the eyes of the Protoss." Kerrigan's powerful telepathic abilities allowed her to sense the thoughts flowing on the surface of those Protoss warriors' minds.

"They don't respect humans," Augustus.

"They refuse to share any glory with weak humans." Kerrigan's voice grew increasingly angry.

"The Council considers fighting alongside humanity to save Aiur an insult, as it only highlights their incompetence. The Protoss Empire does not need human help."

"Because the Protoss always defeat their enemies head-on with honor, they can win without the help of alien allies."

The Revolutionary Army already had experience fighting alongside the Protoss. The Templar Knights of Tassadar possessed a pride inherent in their warrior class, so they did not have close relationships with the Khalai, who were considered commoners, or other races, but they were willing to protect their flanks or provide other support when fighting against humans.

The Dark Templar, in Tychus's words, were nothing more than a stinking, rotten rock. They almost never spoke, and when they looked at humans, they always did so with pity for their ignorance and insignificance. But the Dark Templar were actually Protoss race that was more likely to understand human emotions.

But these Protoss dressed in crimson robes were different; they viewed humanity with hostility and contempt.

At Augustus's command, the advancing soldiers immediately halted. Even though they didn't understand the meaning of the order, they carried it out resolutely, though bewildered. If it had been any other officer, not Augustus, who arbitrarily changed the order, he would most likely have been berated by the hot-blooded young soldiers.

Even so, some of the council guards launched an attack just as the Revolutionary Army soldiers were about to stop. They were as fast as ghosts, and blue Psionics pulsed with their agile movements, the curved arcs of light resembling writhing snakes.

"Damn it, these lunatics, they don't care whether we're their allies or not," Tychus roared.

"Fire!" Augustus shouted into the command channel.

"Shoot! Fuck you, shoot! Fuck you, blast them to pieces!" Harnack had already noticed something was wrong; every two words in his series of commands contained a profanity.