Xel'Naga Starship

On the evening of January 12, 2493, the first Revolutionary Army Engineer Corps to arrive at Eldritch, a border city in the Antioch Province, had already built a command center, airfield and barracks in the ruins of the city. Subsequently, numerous high-energy gas refineries also sprang up on the gas Fountain mines on the western outskirts of the city.

As night fell, the lights of the human military camps illuminated the ruins of Eldritch, a city that had once been plunged into darkness.

The Revolutionary Army has nearly two thousand men in Eldritch, the vast majority of whom are soldiers of the Guard Division and engineers who have carried out construction work in Aiur. The rest of the troops in the order of battle are now scattered across hundreds of square miles and even further, in the northeastern part of the Antioch Province, bordering the Sain Province.

That was also the front line of the battle against the Zerg main force. Every few miles the Revolutionary Army and their Protoss allies advanced or launched other military operations, they would encounter large numbers of Zerg. Every square mile of land required a huge investment of manpower, resources, and bloodshed to retake.

The Sain Province was one of the first Protoss Empire to fall. Its vast lands were once crisscrossed by waterways, dotted with rainforests and wetlands, a paradise for aquatic and reptile creatures. But now, only scorched earth and Zerg- infected creatures remain. The Zerg have expanded their gene pool once again through devouring, for war has only made them stronger.

This was the most brutal battle in history, far surpassing any battle in the human civil war in the Koprulu Sector and the First Total War. Vast swathes of land were reduced to scorched earth, and magnificent, exquisite cities were reduced to ruins, leaving only those scarred golden towers and harmonious, arched spires sadly supporting the still-brilliant starry sky of Aiur.

Compared to the front lines where fierce battles raged constantly, Eldritch was much safer and calmer. The Revolutionary Army's Marshal's Command Center was moved here, and hospitals, heavy factories, supply depots, and other buildings sprang up here.

Meanwhile, Eldritch Spaceport is also an important location for the Revolutionary Army in Aiur orbit to deploy troops to the planet's surface. Every so often, new soldiers arrive on transport Aiur and are ready to be deployed to battle at any time.

As night fell, the signal lights at Eldritch Airport were already lit, and white smoke billowed from the busy runways, parking areas, and hangars. A new batch of soldiers climbed up the newly lowered gangways onto the berthing platforms, which were charred black by the thruster exhaust flames. Under the stern shouts of the officers, they lined up with their backpacks, waiting for instructions and the next order that could come at any moment.

The new recruits were all dressed in CMC-200 Power Armor with gold and red paint. These somewhat old armors came from the Kel-Morian Combine, which Augustus had purchased in bulk from Moria before the Kel-Morian Combine imposed a strict ban on foreign arms trade. Compared to the skyrocketing arms prices after the Zerg invasion, they were dirt cheap.

The weapons of the Kel-Morian Combine are quite reliable, and with some repairs, they can be issued to second-line soldiers. After all, Power Armor is much better than military exoskeletons.

"Soldiers, your dispatch to Aiur comes from the will of Marshal Augustus Mengsk, and also for our burgeoning revolutionary cause." A Revolutionary Army political commissar wearing a panda armband was addressing the newly arrived soldiers.

"You are the Marshal's personal guard, the most fearless warriors of the Terrans. You will bleed or weep on Aiur, some will be buried by your own comrades. But after we achieve a great victory, even the arrogant Protoss will remember the sacrifices humanity made here."

"What we fight for is the backbone of humanity, and the land we defend is humanity's line of defense."

The soldiers heard from this Revolutionary Army political commissar words they would never have heard from the Confederacy instructors, and these words inspired them to dedicate themselves to the cause of the revolution.

"Whether you are Korhal, Sara, Antiga, Altera, or any other race, you are all fighting for the same goal and the same belief. We will ultimately triumph and unify the Koprulu Sector in the name of humanity, achieving human unity and greatness once again."

Generally speaking, political commissars in the army don't need to waste words on veterans, but they must constantly emphasize to new recruits the noble meaning behind each of their tasks, even if they are just standing guard at a sentry post, they are contributing to the great revolution.

The Revolutionary Army's newly trained soldiers were sent to the front lines, so these soldiers would mostly be performing guard duties, watching over Eldritch's factories, or clearing out wild beasts and scattered Zerg in Marshal Aiur's jungle. Since the Zerg Creep had deeply infested Aiur's land and cities, people also had to carry oil tanks to clean up the Creep clusters and mutated, ugly sphagnum near the base.

For new recruits, this is much safer than facing the Zerg. The missions in the rear are just as important as those on the front lines; someone always has to drive supplies and guard the supply routes. And if a recruit is confident enough in himself, he will undoubtedly request to be sent to the front lines to earn honor or medals.

"I've been informed that the recruit reorganization battalion will be carrying out an underwater dredging operation on Lake Eldritch in the center." The Revolutionary Army political commissar, who looked no older than the recruits, paused at the end.

"Report, sir." A young soldier with Augustus Mengsk's portrait painted on his armor said after receiving permission from his superior, "Perhaps I misheard, but someone told me that blood is being shed and lives are being lost at the front, while we're here dredging the river? I don't think it makes any sense."

This is a young man with dark skin, from a backward tribe in Haj. Like other recruits who decided to join the Revolutionary Army to fight against the Confederacy, he came here for his faith.

For those who drifted through life aimlessly, believing that this was all there was to life, the new ideas brought by the Revolutionary Army were like a ray of sunshine piercing their gloomy lives.

"We're here to kill bugs or deal with the Protoss, not to play in the water."

"Private First Class Gaal, this mission is crucial, not just in its literal meaning." The Revolutionary Army political commissar simply said, glancing at his cheap Antiga digital watch. "It's no secret. Our mission is to excavate the Xel'Naga ship beneath Eldritch Lake, the magnificent vessel that supposedly carried the Xel'Naga to Aiur."

"They are now resting beneath the silt at the bottom of the lake."

"Is that some kind of amazing weapon?" the young soldier asked.

"Possibly. But according to the Protoss, those ships could carry tens of millions of people. The Protoss Empire used these ships left behind by the Xel'Naga for colonization, and they were later recalled as relics to be worshipped," he said.

"This is Aiur, and no one will be assigned to a useless position."

"Sir," another female soldier reported, "Lieutenant, I request immediate Antiga Legion in the fighting at the front."

"I'm just a lieutenant; many people have more power than me, but I'm the only one who has the authority to refuse your application," the political commissar replied immediately.

"What's going on? I just heard someone here is going to the front lines." Just as the soldier was about to say something more, a young, playful, and lively voice came over.

"Colonel Mira Han, greetings!" The Revolutionary Army's political commissar and soldiers immediately saluted the newcomer.

"Okay, I think we can transfer this child to my legion." Mira's bright pink hair has always been a prominent feature in the Revolutionary Army. She is certainly young and beautiful, but no one who knows her would consider her a woman to pursue.

"Very good, very good. My ranks of desperate men— the Revolutionary Army fighters—are lacking some capable leaders. Follow me, darling, and you'll have an endless supply of bugs and Protoss to keep you entertained, hahaha--"

"But..." This Revolutionary Army was a serious and earnest Umojan. He had been Umojan Volunteer Army went to the Korhal independence battlefield and had remained a loyal follower of Augustus ever since. It turned out that the Revolutionary Army marshal's charisma was not only appealing to both men and women, but also to other humans and any intelligent species.

"But what? No, no, no?" Mira's way of speaking was different from any of the officers the Revolutionary Army had ever met, whether they were the ostentatious soldiers in the Umojan Protectorate or the revolutionaries who always talked about revolutionary ideals.

Mira Khan was more like a free-spirited cat; she was sometimes even a bit neurotic, to the point that others couldn't quite keep up with her way of thinking. No one disliked this lovable but even tougher-than-tougher soldier. She was deeply trusted and relied upon by Augustus, to the point that she was even mistaken for his sister.

"Colonel Mira Han, Mechanic Carolina Davis is ready to join the battle. Please send me to the most dangerous locations." The female soldier opened her helmet, revealing beautiful eyes and golden hair; she was the daughter of a noble from the main planet Vardona.

"You'd better pray the Zerg don't discover our little tail," Mira replied. "I came here to see Marshal Augustus Mengsk; you're lucky to have met me."

"I'm going back to the front lines soon, and then we'll be able to get really excited," she whispered as she walked up to Davis.

"What bad luck! It's like I've seen a ghost!" Mira said with a tomboyish laugh while patting her belly, when a Revolutionary Army soldier and a group of puzzled engineers hurriedly passed by Mira.

They were all wearing the dark blue uniforms of the Revolutionary Army Fleets soldiers, dispatched here due to manpower shortages. Matt Horner Matt Horner is currently serving as the temporary captain of the Revolutionary Army transport ship Cormorant, on a mission to transport military supplies, when he unexpectedly runs into the last person he wanted to meet.

But Mira Han immediately caught Matt Horner's scent; her Matt Horner Matt Horner radar kicked in. "Oh, Matt, why are you always avoiding me? Wait for me!"

"No way!" Matt Horner exclaimed in terror, as if a dozen Zergling were chasing after him.

Mira Han and her guards quickly followed the grief-stricken Matt Horner away, leaving Davis staring blankly at the commissar.

"What should I do?" Davis asked.

"Wait for her to come and demand your release." The political commissar shrugged. "She won't forget you: Mira Han is decisive and efficient; she always keeps her word."

"Hopefully that won't take too long."

"What are you waiting for? The excavation of the Xel'Naga spaceship must be completed as soon as possible." Augustus strode over with his guards at this moment, his face frozen with seriousness and cold determination.

"Yes, Marshal," the Revolutionary Army immediately saluted.

At night, the Revolutionary Army and the Protoss forces were still engaged in a decisive battle with the main Swarm forces in the central part of the Sain Province. Once the allied forces prevailed there, their next target would be the vast area where the Zerg Overmind had descended. Augustus remained focused on the front lines, awaiting the latest developments.

These Xel'Naga ships are just one of the tasks the Revolutionary Army is simultaneously undertaking; they will use these massive ships to transport and gather refugees.

Even though the Xel'Naga ships are older than the Protoss Empire, they are still usable. Xel'Naga technology seems to possess a magical quality; unless forcibly destroyed by external forces, they will never deteriorate over time, and even their wounds can heal like flesh and blood.

These Xel'Naga ships are priceless treasures, containing Xel'Naga technology and the core of their Fleets that were once the grand blueprint for the Protoss to build their Great Fleet. Augustus also received a generous gift from Tassadar: after the war, if humanity wished, they could retain these military ships, which might be even larger than the Mothership.

The Allied Forces must make progress in their war against the Zerg, or they will eventually be devoured by the Zerg that constantly hatch from their hatcheries. The Zerg in Jormungand, Gorander, Baelrog, Behemoth, and Tiamat Brood are among the most powerful in the Swarm, while a large number of unnamed Cerebrate are scattered throughout Aiur.

The Protoss's losses in this war completely ended the last vestiges of the Protoss Empire's golden age. The Great Fleet that once dominated the galaxy was reduced to ashes. So many Protoss perished in this catastrophe, causing the already sparsely populated and low-reproductive-capacity Protoss Empire to suffer a sharp decline in strength.

In contrast, the Zerg were not faring much better. Billions of Zerg corpses floated throughout the Aiur System and even in several surrounding star systems. These cold remains were like dead insects on a lampshade, or like a thin veil shrouding a star.

The Jormungand hive alone was enough to break through the human defenses and invade Tarsonis, causing the humans to flee in disarray, while the Swarm, despite their all-out efforts, could not gain the upper hand in the war against the Protoss.

Currently, the Allied forces are deploying a large number of troops to the Antioch -Thion front. The Protoss Akilae, Sargas, and Fennatir Tribe who support Tassadar, as well as the Protoss Templar Knights that secretly support this legendary Executor, are also gathering in the region, simply because they have heard that Tassadar is going to launch a counterattack against the Zerg and reclaim lost territory.

"Wait, are you Carolina Davis?" Augustus saw Davis with her helmet down on his way to the command center.

"Yes, Marshal, it's an honor to meet you here," Davis immediately saluted.

"How do you still remember her?" Kerrigan asked abruptly from the side.

"I remember everyone." Augustus didn't realize there was anything wrong with that.

"What's the deal with those twin sisters from the Tassanis Kusinis family?"