Resentment Rekindled

The conflict happens in the blink of an eye, and bullets and shells react faster than people.

Because the areas where the Zerg appeared were all extremely dense primeval rainforests, the Revolutionary Army soldiers who were ordered to carry out the attack mission had to abandon their vehicles and advance on foot.

Closest to the Protoss Empire High Council Guard were Colonel Harnack Hank's ten-man Red Devils special operations squad and the 148th Battalion's heavy firepower team, followed by two full-strength companies of the same battalion.

These soldiers were not elite guards, but they were veterans Augustus on multiple planets. Their weapons were standard issue for the Revolutionary Army: CMC-200 Power Armor, AGR-14 Gauss Rifle, electromagnetic spike guns, individual rocket launchers, and grenade launchers. Some fire teams were also equipped with Mark sniper rifles and heavy chain machine guns.

These soldiers are also supported by armored vehicles and armed transport ships equipped with heavy machine guns, rockets, and plasma cannons, and are further equipped with upgraded Spider Mine robots in treacherous mountainous and jungle terrain.

Generally speaking, this equipment is sufficient for trained Revolutionary Army soldiers to withstand the Swarm and await support from Goliath, Arclite Siege Tank, Rattlesnake Hover Tank, and other heavy firepower, but they have not participated in direct confrontations with the Protoss.

They were probably only 1,500 yards away from the enemy, but given the agility and speed of the Protoss elite warriors, that was merely a distance they could cover with a quick charge. Human weapons and vehicles were Reagan to the Protoss; they could crush the Zerg head-on with overwhelming force, and the same would be true against humans.

Augustus's order for the soldiers to halt and establish defenses on the spot had some effect; their taut nerves were already prepared to withstand the impact. However, the Protoss attack was still too sudden, too fast, and too dangerous.

The vast majority of the High Council Guard were focused on eliminating the Baelrog Zerg in the jungle, with only about ten to fifteen Protoss warriors attacking the Revolutionary Army, which outnumbered them by nearly a hundred. With the aid of Psionics shields, the hail of bullets could not harm them in the slightest.

These Protoss warriors, clad only in crimson battle robes, charged into the Revolutionary Army's lines amidst a dazzling display of Psionics light, mercilessly bringing destruction upon what they considered an inferior race. These warriors, representing the authority and power of the Protoss Empire's Conclave, wielded Psionics even stronger than that of the High Templar, and their noble Arbitrator lineage brought them closer to the radiance of the Khala.

At this moment, Augustus could see was the sunlight reflecting off the soldiers' helmets, the flames from their guns, and the dazzling storm brought about by the Psionics explosion.

Under Harnack's command, the soldiers launched an emergency salvo, with all machine guns and rockets firing simultaneously. The Goliath Combat Robot, striding towards the most critical area, also provided support with all their might. The dense sound of Gauss Rifle and grenade explosions demonstrated the severe challenges the soldiers faced.

Self-propelled artillery and Arclite Siege Tank also provided support to the two battalions from the flanks, and the whistling of shells filled the air above the rainforest.

Large numbers of soldiers were scattered by the Protoss, who swept through the area as if it were empty. Bullets and shells either stopped in mid-air or were deflected by Psionics shields. The communication channels were filled with the screams of soldiers as their Power Armor was crushed by Psionics.

The fighting style of high-level Psionics is not as simple as charging into enemy lines and slicing open enemy heads with Psionic Blade. Their mental strength, honed over centuries in the Khala, can have a tremendous impact on human thought, while their physical Psionics attacks are enough to tear through armor and annihilate everything.

Unlike conventional warfare that humans have witnessed, these Protoss warriors can launch attacks in a very short time by exploiting the weaknesses of human weapons when fighting against humans. For example, they can use their willpower to plug the spark plugs of rifles or bend the barrels of human cannons to cause them to explode.

In the Revolutionary Army's recruit training camp, soldiers also receive simulated training in combat against the Protoss. However, regardless of the type of training, it is extremely difficult for the numerically superior humans to defeat the Protoss, not to mention that these Council Guards are the elite of the elite.

"So a few Protoss can break through our defenses?" Tychus had gained a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the combat power of high-level Protoss Psionics; their destructive power was no less than that of a heavy bomb.

"What's going on? We came to help these Protoss fight the bugs, and they turn around and kill us."

"Enemy forces have encountered the Milch River basin. All combat outposts, mobile units, jungle Raynor's Raiders, and all army units in the region are converging on me," Augustus said incessantly on the command channel.

"Notify Antioch Starport I need them to transport a batch of anti- Psionics troops, and I need it quickly!"

"Damn it, they don't even think it violates the covenant, because these bastards don't even consider us human!" Kerrigan in, picking up Tychus left off.

"Tychus, take my guards and Ghost operative and wipe out those Protoss." Augustus looked at Tychus Finley after giving the final order.

"I'd be more than happy to—I mean, as you wish." Tychus had long wanted to roll up his sleeves and get to work, but now this rude man began to worry about Augustus's safety. "But what about you?"

When he was in the Confederacy Army, Tychus would never have said such a thing. He would have said something like, "You're sending me to the front lines? What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"Never mind that, Tychus." Augustus's face beneath his helmet was grim. His loyal soldiers were dying one after another, the bravest men perishing in the meat grinder of war. If this turned into a rout, it would only get worse.

"What are you going to do, kill them?" Kerrigan asked as Tychus led a Marshal Guard away.

"Leave no one alive," Augustus replied. "This punch must be returned, smashed into their faces, blood for blood."

Tychus's support was timely. The members of the Marshal Guard were all backbone members and combat heroes from various units, and all of them were absolutely loyal to Augustus. They deserved better weapons and more rigorous training.

Not only that, but in order to counter the assassinations of the Terran Confederacy's Ghost operative, the Marshal Guard is also equipped with anti-stealth and EMP anti- Psionics weapons, which also allows these warriors to counter the Protoss's Psionics powers.

The timely support allowed Harnack's forces to stabilize their lines, and the Protoss gradually realized that humanity was not without a fighting chance. When the first Council Guard was riddled with bullets due to the depletion of his Psionics shield, Protoss casualties began to rise steadily.

At the moment the conflict began, the Revolutionary Army showed no mercy. Artillery and bomber units targeted the Protoss who were fighting the Baelrog Zerg on equal terms. A barrage of tungsten bombs and 35-pound bombs from Grizzly Bomber provided intense firepower within minutes, devastating rainforests and mountain rivers, and causing casualties to multiply for all three races.

The marching order was cancelled, and more Revolutionary Army soldiers were gathering here. If this Protoss army continued to stay here, they would surely be surrounded.

Humanity's counterattack also caught the attention of the council's guards, who immediately mobilized more guards and even a Colossus to prepare to destroy humanity, completely disregarding who had started this unnecessary war.

The Colossus guarded by the council were not the ones Tassadar had unsealed, but rather guardian Giant from the heart of the Protoss Imperial Council. They were also completely different from the Colossus with long, slender mechanical legs; they were Giant sculpted in the shape of Protoss.

These Giant, clad in ancient armor, are powered by some incomprehensible crystal matrix technology and equipped with solar-powered heat guns and Psionics shields, making them equally devastating weapons of war.

Even in the most critical moments, the Conclave refrained from activating these Colossus due to tradition and arbitration from centuries ago. But after witnessing the terrifying power of the Tassadar forces' Colossus, even the most stubborn and rule-abiding members of the Conclave remained silent at the meetings to activate Colossus.

The Colossus's massive size and terrifyingly powerful heat ray guns would be devastating to any human army; no weapon could penetrate its Psionics shield, comparable to that of a warship. It was also too tall and too large for human heavy firepower to destroy before it ceased its destructive rampage. Only human warships carrying nuclear warheads could threaten the Colossus Protoss.

However, the Protoss ultimately did not use this weapon on humans, not because of the Dae'uhl Doctrine, which had long been misinterpreted by the Conclave, but because of the sudden appearance of the Artanis army.

As Artanis's forces appeared on the horizon, the executive's unmistakable telepathic message halted the escalation of the war. It was a flight formation of hundreds upon hundreds of Protoss fighters, preparing to fly towards the battlefield at the border of Antioch and Sain Province.

Even Augustus, could hear his furious mental voice. "Arbitrator, immediately cease your insane attacks on our human allies, or we will annihilate you right here."

Ultimately, the Council Guards reluctantly withdrew from the war with humanity, quickly disappearing into the Arbiter's warp field. The remnants of the Belrog Brood retreated underground, while both the Council Guards and the Revolutionary Army suffered losses in the conflict.

A gleaming golden Scout landed in a clearing in the woods near Augustus, and emerged from the iris exit of the Artanis fighter's belly.

"Augustus Mengsk, my Templar Knights are keeping a close eye on the Council's army. I arrived as soon as they committed such a despicable act," Artanis said immediately upon seeing Augustus.

"Have my colleagues in the council really fallen so low? The Law of Daul forbids the Protoss from intervening in the internal conflicts of other races or harming them by any means, yet they still did it."

Both Tassadar and the Protoss on the Conclave's side are accusing the other of being the Fallen. Even though they are united in their counterattack against the Zerg, everyone knows that the alliance won't last. Once the situation eases slightly or the Conclave believes they have the upper hand, they might very well go back on their word.

"This is not over, Artanis. The Conclave must pay the price." Augustus walked toward the battlefield, which had just been quelled. "The Revolutionary Army will not consider the armies of the Conclave and the Arbitrators as allies."

Artanis stood firmly on the side of the Revolutionary Army in this conflict, which at least prevented humanity from losing heart.

"The Conclave may not care about this, but I swear they will pay the price."

"I will not plead for my compatriots, Augustus," Artanis followed Augustus. "I only wish we could fight side by side as we used to."

Although Artanis had nothing to do with this incident, he was still saddened by the trauma his fellow human beings had inflicted on humanity.

"Artanis, if the Conclave had half your sincerity and humility, this matter would be much easier." Augustus walked toward his soldiers who had just been fighting the Protoss, noticing that the casualties were far greater than he had imagined.

"This is not just about my soldiers dying because of them, Artanis. I've only come to one conclusion: the Conclave is not trustworthy." Augustus walked for a long time, and Artanis followed closely behind.

"Do you think this was a sudden conflict or a premeditated attack?" he asked Artanis.

"Perhaps the Conclave simply wants to teach humanity a lesson, reminding them whether they should behave themselves on Aiur, or simply wants us to leave."

"I don't think so, Commander. If their attack came on orders from the Conclave, it couldn't be that simple." Artanis also doubted the motives of the Council guards.

"The members of the Conclave are not children who cannot control their emotions, nor will they act impulsively; this must be for some purpose."

"Are they trying to force us to leave, so as to weaken the supporters of Tassadar?" Kerrigan tried to speculate. "But don't the Protoss consider humans as insignificant insects?"

"Human strength should not be underestimated," Artanis said. "If you can defeat the Zerg, you can defeat the Protoss."

"Perhaps they just want to incite conflict between humans and Protoss in order to break our alliance with Tassadar." Augustus unsure of the Conclave's thoughts. After all, these guys were the ones who wanted to exterminate any Protoss who refused to join the Khala, and who even sent Executors to arrest Tassadar when the Zerg were rampaging through Aiur.

"But in that case, they should at least change their clothes."

"Don't the Protoss never resort to underhanded tactics?" Kerrigan asked.

"That's precisely why their plot is so clumsy," Augustus. "In fact, this makes it very difficult for us to distinguish which Protoss forces are allies of Tassadar and which might attack our Conclave supporters."

Augustus arrived at the front lines at this time, falling silent at the sight of the Revolutionary Army soldiers' deaths. Many had their Power Armor crushed into thin sheets by psychic power, others torn apart by Psionic Storm, and those who died from mental attacks bled from all seven orifices.

"They shouldn't have died," Augustus simply said.