Autumn of Aiur

"Aiur has already fallen, why is the Protoss Empire Conclave still so stubbornly clinging to its errors?"

The sky above the Antioch Province was gloomy. Beneath Augustus ' feet lay a flat, soft, sticky patch of land after a downpour. Puddles reflecting the grey sky and the cold sun trembled with the movement of the tank convoy and the Goliath Combat Robot.

"After the final battle, the Conclave still retained considerable fighting power, which led the Arbitrators to believe that reclaiming Aiur from a Swarm that had lost its Overmind was both feasible and necessary."

Former Protoss Empire Executive Officer Tassadar was standing beside Augustus, with Sarah Kerrigan, Tychus Finley, and High Overlord Fenix nearby. The core figures of the Protoss- Protoss alliance were basically all present.

Above them stood a colossal Protoss Mothership, an unparalleled and magnificent vessel already teeming with Protoss warriors and exiled refugees.

As the sun and clouds moved, the color of the light gradually changed from a cold, pale white to a dazzling array of colors, and the sun's rays traced a beautiful arc across the undulating mountains.

This is a lush, green wilderness, located at the border of the westernmost part of Antioch Province and the central province of Kor-shakal. It is a beautiful virgin land that has escaped the ravages of the Zerg, and is filled with the fragrance of green plants and flowers.

Due to its proximity to the equator, the region enjoys an astonishingly long period of sunshine, which allows the local vegetation to flourish under abundant sunlight and rainfall. The humid air is filled with the unique fragrance of blooming Aiur trees and the aroma of pine resin, while pure water droplets condense on the vegetated soil and lush moss.

Amidst the dense thickets grew abundant and varied flowers and delicious berries. The vast majority of these tasty berries and the fruits of the trees were non-toxic and far more appealing than the mushy Revolutionary Army' individual rations and dried pies.

The Protoss are a species that can survive on sunlight and water alone, but humans are different.

The area was quite far from the battlefield north of the Midrin Peaks, but it was still far from safe. Protoss refugees from several nearby Protoss Empire used it as a transit point. They would stop here briefly, and then some of the Protoss would continue west into Kor-shakal, which was controlled by the Conclave, while others would choose to follow Tassadar.

According to rough estimates, the number of Protoss followers of Tassadar and the Conclave exceeds two hundred million or even more. The addition of the Colossus and the Protoss Mothership allowed more Protoss to survive the Swarm's attack, and Augustus and Tassadar's decisive actions enabled these surviving Protoss to be transferred to safe areas in time.

"The past battles utterly crushed the Protoss Empire, but the Conclave did not collapse." Fenix's massive Dragoon gleamed with a golden metallic sheen in the dim sunlight.

"After the Swarm Overmind's death, the Conclave's arbitrators and their followers retreated to Kor-shakal. It's no secret among the Khala that council members are still planning to reclaim the lost territory."

A few hundred yards to Augustus's right is the lower reaches of the River of Light in the Antioch Province. Hundreds of the Revolutionary Army engineers are building a pontoon bridge for vehicles to cross, while thousands of Protoss, dressed in various magnificent silk robes, wait to cross the river on the green grass.

The Protoss Empire had been severely weakened by its protracted war with the Zerg, to the point that they no longer had enough troops to escort Protoss civilians from the occupied territories. In those areas that had been occupied for many days, even the Protoss believed that no one could possibly survive.

"Reclaim lost territory? Even if you include the number of Khalai civilians, the Zerg are hundreds or thousands of times more numerous than the Protoss." Augustus raised his head, his gaze passing over a fleet of Dark Templar pirate ships flying overhead, where a striking azure tornado inevitably came into view.

The radiant tornado stood tall and was clearly visible even from such a distance. Protoss scientists had analyzed the cause of the Psionics tornado, concluding that in addition to the Psionics clash between the Swarm Overmind and the Protoss, it was also related to the Xel'Naga Temple that had once stood there and was later devoured by the Overmind who descended upon Aiur.

That was the first temple built by the Xel'Naga after they came to Aiur, and it itself is inextricably linked to the Void, the origin of the Xel'Naga.

In less than a day after its appearance, the weather around the Psionics tornado was forever altered. Rain clouds gathered, lightning flashed, thunderstorms raged, and relentless gales ravaged the ravaged land.

Its impact is multifaceted. The Dark Templar, led by the Dark Prelate Zeratul, hear numerous voices from the Void whenever they approach it. Some voices warn the Protoss to beware of enemies in the darkness, while others proclaim that it will surely bring salvation.

Protoss infants born near Psionics tornadoes generally possess more powerful Psionics than other Protoss, and they are known as the Children of the Void.

"Aldaris is seeking our help." A shadow crossed Tassadar's blue eyes as he looked at the Aiur Protoss refugees riding Reaver scarecrows.

"But we don't know what the arbitrators are planning after they returned to the Heart of the Conclave in Kor-shakal," he said. "I'm uneasy because the arbitrators, as in the past, continue to refuse to reveal their true intentions."

"Are you mocking them for their shrewdness?" Augustus was amused by Tassadar.

"No, of course not." Tassadar was puzzled by Augustus's reaction.

"I think the most urgent task is not to counterattack and reclaim lost territory, but to hold off the rampaging Swarm and save more Protoss." Augustus spoke, an armored personnel carrier full of the Revolutionary Army soldiers sped past. Their white armor and Blood Eagles insignia clearly identified them as belonging to the Alpha Squadron, which had been incorporated into the Revolutionary Army.

Most of the soldiers in white Power Armor wore helmets, their faces hidden under non-reflective masks, but judging from their posture, even these former Confederacy soldiers who had undergone resocialization were quite exhausted.

Heavy trucks carrying supplies and anti-aircraft guns lined the refugee caravan, with human and Protoss warriors protecting them on both sides. Tension was palpable on everyone's faces, devoid of any joy at the thought of killing the Overmind.

Everyone knows that war doesn't end with the death of its Overmind. In fact, war may never have stopped since it began.

The sky was filled with gold and blue spaceships carrying Protoss refugees, and the lines on the ground stretched as far as the eye could see. The Protoss refugees looked much like many of the human refugees the Revolutionary Army had seen; their pride had crumbled with the fall of their homeland, and too many Aiur Protoss had been traumatized by the death Khala billions of Protoss.

"In the past two weeks, our soldiers have experienced far too much brutal warfare and Parting of Loved Ones," Augustus told Tassadar. "It's probably more than they've ever seen in their entire lives."

"My soldiers need rest, not to be immediately thrown into a more brutal battle."

From Augustus's perspective, even the greatest Revolutionary Army fighters were still human beings; they had unwavering wills, but ultimately they were not machines.

"Your thoughts coincide with mine," Tassadar immediately agreed. "We originally thought that after the Overmind's death, the out-of-control Swarm would be easier to deal with, but that's not the case. The Cerebrate still control their swarm, and clearly, these enraged Zerg leaders are determined to avenge the Overmind's death."

"Therefore, I rejected the Conclave's request and pointed out to them that it would be unwise to risk retaking lost territory at this time."

"After losing their Overmind, the Swarm became far more frenzied than before. They are attacking any creature they see without restraint, and there are even instances of different clans of Cerebrate killing each other," he said.

"It's already a struggle to just hold off the Zerg's attack; our already stretched forces are even less able to sustain us on the vast battlefield."

"Did you convince them?" Augustus asked.

"Yes, the arbitrators have decided to temporarily abandon the plan to reclaim the lost territory. They consider my opinion very important because I am the Protoss Empire's most outstanding military commander." Tassadar's charm lies in his excessive humility; he doesn't even understand what boasting is. Compared to Tassadar, the boastful Duke is simply an insect.

"Although I have heard some dissenting voices in the council, such as the re-arrest of me or the review of the Dark Templar on Aiur, the arbitrators are, after all, wise elders."

"You must be wary of dissenting voices," Augustus said meaningfully.

"Consolidating our defenses is the best option." Augustus looked at the Protoss leaders around him. "Concentrate all the refugees in the areas we control, and use the refugee camps and fortifications established there to withstand the first wave of Zerg attacks. Only after the Zerg's frenzied offensive has subsided can we consider whether to retake the lost territory."

"Why do you think the Zerg offensive will definitely weaken?" Tassadar stared intently into Augustus's cold gray eyes. "If the Cerebrate are determined to occupy Aiur for a long time, they will relentlessly attack the Protoss homeworld until they achieve their goal."

"No one can predict the Swarm's movements or know the thoughts of the Cerebrate," Augustus. "We can only hope that the Cerebrate will break apart and fight each other for the vacant leadership position after the Overmind dies."

In fact, Augustus certain that after a period of time, the Cerebrate, weary of revenge, would return to Char, the broodworld in the Koprulu Sector. In Char, they would eventually re-merge and transform into a new Overmind, while the Zerg left behind on Aiur, having lost the control of the Cerebrate, would become untamed Zerg.

By then, Aiur, though still extremely dangerous, will no longer see the Swarm actively attacking the Protoss. In a sense, Aiur will become a peculiar wasteland.

"My suggestion is to maintain the original plan—continue transferring refugees towards the Xel'Naga Gateway, while simultaneously establishing a defensive line at the fortresses of Antioch Province to resist the Swarm's attack and cover the evacuation of refugees and the wounded."

As Augustus spoke, Tassadar had already spread out one of his hands and used Psionics projection to display a detailed map, on which the beautiful and incomprehensible Protoss script was quickly translated into human language.

On the map, the Xel'Naga Gateway icon is very prominent.

"Is that all? Do our people really want to go to the Dark Templar's homeland Shakuras?" Fenix said with concern.

"The Xel'Naga Gateway is connected to many other Gateway in the universe, and the only coordinates we know are those of Shakuras and the Haj in the Koprulu Sector," Augustus replied.

"I am deeply grateful that Zeratul has stated that the Dark Templar are willing to accept their compatriots from Aiur," Tassadar said. "To avoid the worst-case scenario, the civilians must first be relocated to Shakuras."

"This is the best option," Fenix said. "The evacuation of civilians is the priority; we cannot afford any more losses. Templar Knights consider desertion a disgrace, so my warriors will remain in Aiur until everyone is safely evacuated."

"The Xel'Naga Gateway is not far from here," Tassadar said. "The Preservers and Phase Technicians are preparing to open the passage to Shakuras."

"Meanwhile, some of the Protoss who refused to go to Shakuras will be sent to Haji, the homeworld of the Revolutionary Army, and Augustus has agreed to take in our suffering brethren."

Tassadar then looked south, where a Xel'Naga Gateway was located at the southernmost point of the Antioch Province, and a large number of Protoss fighters and transport ships were heading there.

"Has the Conclave decided to remain in Aiur?" After thinking for a moment, Augustus asked Tassadar again.

"I'm afraid that's the case. The Conclave is unwilling to leave Aiur," Tassadar said. "And this may not be simply because they don't want to give up Aiur."

"The arbitrators were extremely resistant to traveling to Shakuras, the homeland of the Dark Templar. They considered it an insult—a thousand years ago, it was the Conclave that banished the ancestors of the Dark Templar, and now they were to beg for the protection of the banished."

"If you put yourself in their shoes, it's not hard to understand," Kerrigan said. "The Conclave's arbitrators once banished the Dark Templar from their homeland, so even if they're down on their luck now, they would never ask poor relatives for help."

By now, the Protoss on Aiur have begun to split. The surviving Conclave represents the conservative forces and old guard of the Protoss Empire, while Tassadar's followers are willing to improve relations with the Dark Templar.

However, since the final battle, the Conclave and Tassadar have not clashed again.

As the ruling class, the arbitrators are better at keeping their promises than human politicians who are used to going back on their word. Since they have declared Tassadar a hero and wiped away all the sins he has committed, they will not seek revenge later.

"It's time to go." Augustus looked up at the sky and noticed the dark clouds rising from the horizon. Usually, that could only mean one thing: Swarm that blotted out the sky.

"Go to the Xel'Naga Gateway; we need to get the refugees out of Aiur first."

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