Blade of Vengeance

Before sunrise, the Revolutionary Army soldiers in the camp were already fully equipped and ready to depart, carrying backpacks full of supplies, and boarded transport planes to reach the border between the provinces of Antioch and Kor-shakal Province.

The soldiers were already preparing to return to the Koprulu Sector when they received orders, but the rapid deterioration of relations between the Conclave and the Army exceeded everyone's expectations.

Twelve army and marine divisions and armored divisions were reorganized into the Aiur Western Front Legion in response to escalating tensions along the border. The brief peace was as fragile as icicles in the sun, and the long Kor-shakal - Antioch border was once again at war.

"There's no need to get involved in this mess anymore. Let the Protoss Protoss each other to the death." In the war room of the Marshal's headquarters, General Arland Londerstein leaned back in his wooden chair, his deep-set eyes fixed on Jim Raynor across from him.

"I am willing to come here to kill the Zerg Overmind or to thwart the Swarm's ambition to devour the world, but I do not wish for my warriors to bleed and sacrifice themselves to save the Protoss."

"After the destruction of Korhal, two to three generations of people in the entire village, town, or even district joined the Revolutionary Army or entered related industries. This means that the bullets we have may have been produced in the factory where our parents worked. The war caused us to lose too many relatives and friends. When a brigade was severely damaged, a wife in Umojan or Antiga might lose her husband and son in an instant."

"I know, Londerstein, I learned that your last cousin died at the hands of the Protoss in Aiur," Raynor sighed, pushing a glass of Abaddon brandy toward his old friend. "I don't know what to say, brother. Perhaps the only thing we can do is carry on his legacy."

"If the Protoss really decide to launch a civil war while the Zerg are still eyeing Midlin Pass, I bet the Cerebrate on Aiur are overjoyed. They won't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by." Rick Kydd had just walked in from outside, his grass-gray uniform still smudged with pink pollen. It was the season for flowers to bloom, and the plants in the Aiur rainforest and grasslands were already in full bloom.

"If you ask me, all I have to do is wait for the Speaker of the Conclave to show up, and then I'll snipe his head. That would save me a lot of trouble. I can achieve my goal without too many people dying—or rather, for the sake of world peace, I'd rather be a dirty-handed killer."

"Come on, Bennett kid. I doubt you can hold your gun steady when facing those cunning and vicious Protoss, or do you think that old sniper rifle can penetrate Protoss shields? Give it a rest. Just stay in the back and play your trumpet, and you'll save us serious soldiers a lot of trouble." Edmond Duke's Viper- like triangular eyes swept over all the senior officers present, finally stopping on Augustus's ashen face.

General Duke was wearing his dark naval uniform, the golden wheat ears on his shoulders and the numerous medals on his chest particularly eye-catching. The golden wolf insignia on his hat shone brighter than anyone else's, almost as if it had been coated with oil. Even when forced to join the revolution, Duke's penchant for pomp and circumstance and his love of grandstanding never changed.

"I propose that the Protoss of Tassadar draw their fire, while the Revolutionary Army sends an elite force straight to the Conclave, using heavy artillery and warships for the advance. The Protoss's beam weapons are nothing to fear; they're no more frightening than a laser pointer." He glared at Raynor as they locked eyes; this stubborn Confederacy nobleman always liked to exaggerate his own abilities and belittle his enemies. "If anyone is afraid of death, then the Alpha Squadron will take on that responsibility."

"The Alpha Squadron was once the most ferocious army in the Confederacy, and it's the same in the Revolutionary Army."

"I don't object to you going to your death, Duke, but don't let those Resocialized Soldier draw fire for you." Raynor blinked and said, "You look like a cunning Viper, but your brain isn't even as good as a donkey's."

"This won't be the last time you spout such nonsense, but I swear you will pay the price for insulting a nobleman." Duke was almost furious, but he didn't dare to attack Augustus in front of him.

"I'll say the same thing next time, Duke. You're only sitting here because of your ancestors' good deeds." Every time they met, Raynor would engage in a war of words with Duke. Duke would always be so annoyed that he would fly into a rage, but he couldn't do anything about Raynor.

"Let's just wait and see. If you've ever witnessed a Ultralisk being burned to ashes by Colossus, you'll know we'd better stay away from those monsters. Someone told me the Protoss are a peace-loving race, which is quite ridiculous." Nova Squadron Commander Jack Haller only participated in the Revolutionary Army's high command meeting today, but he also showed little interest in the conflict between the Protoss.

"Under no circumstances should we abandon our allies on the battlefield—unless it is necessary." Pulaier Sara Mixed Division stuck a Zergling tooth several inches long into the conference table.

Despite his unassuming and fragile appearance, Pulaier Player had proven himself to be another great general under Augustus through countless victories. War inevitably left its mark on Pulaier's face, transforming him from a Confederacy governor into a true iron-blooded warrior.

"Right now, we must ensure that Tassadar's side wins in the potential civil war. The Conclave once ordered the burning of human planets and has always regarded us as an inferior race. There's no guarantee that one day they won't turn their fire on us while they're burning the insects," Pulaier said.

"This battle must be fought, and it must be fought beautifully. We must eliminate the Protoss Empire's Conclave and put Tassadar, a human, in control of the Protoss. Then, we will have one less terrible enemy in the universe and one more reliable and powerful ally."

"You're right, but how exactly should this battle be fought?" Raynor threw an Aiur bird egg at Duke, but the latter swiftly dodged it with surprising agility.

"Based on my understanding of the Protoss Templar Knights, they don't resort to many underhanded tactics even when facing the Zerg. If a war breaks out between Templar Knights, the most likely scenario is that they will clash head-on Templar Knights, fighting to the death, wailing and killing each other in the process—what else can they do?" he continued.

"The variables are Zeratul's Dark Templar and us. The seemingly honorable Templar Knights wouldn't do assassin work, while the Sargas tribe of the Aiur Protoss, skilled in hunting and stealth, are all on Tassadar's side."

"This war will only end with a crushing victory for one side, unless Tassadar or one of the Conclave leaves Aiur," Augustus finally spoke.

"What I know is that Tassadar does not want this war, and with the Protoss Empire nearly falling apart, the Conclave is not confident of defeating Tassadar by launching a larger war." He gestured to his generals to remain calm.

"The Conclave claims that the previous minor skirmishes and conflicts were the work of individuals and have nothing to do with them. With both sides exercising extreme restraint, the possibility of war has become increasingly low. I am only deploying troops to deal with the worst-case scenario."

"What? I'm here because someone told me we're about to have a go at those arrogant Protoss!" Duke said, disgruntled. "We have to teach those alien monsters a lesson!"

"I don't object to fighting the Conclave now." Augustus's cold gray eyes swept over the generals present. "But ever since the Conclave's guards suddenly attacked us last time, I've begun to suspect that we are in the midst of a huge conspiracy."

"I'm not afraid of the battlefield, but I don't want to be used as a pawn."

"The Protoss Conclave doesn't seem to be a united front either. What exactly are they up to?" Raynor frowned. "I've heard that the Protoss have the Khala, and that they're completely united, with no suspicion whatsoever."

"Every arbitrator in the Conclave is adept at concealing their thoughts and political stances, a practice that is tacitly accepted and not considered strange. Therefore, it is perfectly normal for disagreements to exist among the arbitrators. It is understandable that some of them harbor extreme hatred for the Dark Templar and secretly direct their subordinates to attack the Dark Templar and us," Augustus.

"They're still attacking the Dark Templar. I heard this conflict was caused by Zeratul's men attacking the Templar Knights," Pulaier said. "When dealing with the Protoss, I can sense that even under Tassadar, these two Protoss factions are only superficially united. They don't like each other and are mutually exclusive."

"From what I've gathered, the Protoss Dark Templar and the Templar Knights are constantly at odds. Tassadar once envisioned reuniting the two races, but it's too early to say," Augustus. "He's too kind and naive to believe that ancient hatreds can be dissolved with time."

"The trigger was an attack on an unnamed Dark Templar by High Templar supported the Conclave in Antioch, and then that High Templar's subordinates attacked all the Dark Templar they saw," he said.

"Zeratul doesn't believe his warriors would attack the Templar Knights, but even he himself can't be sure if among the hundreds of thousands of Dark Templar who have come to Aiur, some are hiding their hatred for the Templar Knights."

"Isn't it enough to just find the killer?" Raynor said.

"In fact, the Templar Knights under Tassadar were also attacked by unknown Dark Templar," Augustus. "This means that the attackers do not belong to the other side of our group."

"The Xel'Naga Gateway connecting to Shakuras likely provided an opportunity for those Dark Templar Knights. Remember the Dark Templar we saw with Chief Raszagal in Shakuras?"

Zeratul, the Dark Prelate "Orega," reappeared before the crowd. As he spoke, the hunched-back elder Dark Templar stood on the conference table, surveying the humans present.

Augustus and the others were already used to Zeratul's entrance; after all, a Dark Templar simply knocked on the door was hardly befitting of a master. Apart from Duke's loud exclamation, none of the generals present were too flustered.

"What brings you here, Zeratul? What's Orega? I don't recognize the name." Raynor pulled over a chair, gesturing for Zeratul to sit down, but the latter merely moved his large feet a couple of times on the smooth surface of the conference table.

"Several solar cycles ago, I saw the Dark Templar Orega on the battlefield of El, when he was preparing to attack a wounded Templar."

Zeratul, using his Psionics power and the Ihan Psionic Crystal embedded in his gauntlets, conjured a phantom image before Augustus and the others: a Dark Templar clad in a deep blue robe emerged from a cloud of black mist, his followers like shadows in the sunlight sweeping across the verdant land of Aiur.

"This is the Dark Templar we met in Shakuras. He seemed to hate Tassadar back then—but to be honest, it's not a personal attack. The evil deeds the Conclave committed over a thousand years ago shouldn't be attributed to Tassadar." Raynor's memory was pretty good.

"Back when I last met Orega in Shakuras, I was astonished to find that the darkness within him had deepened to the point that he had abandoned the rationality honed by his time as Dark Templar in the Void and allowed hatred to Overmind his thoughts," Zeratul continued.

"Orega was once the best apprentice in the Temple of Wisdom of the Alis'ar Tribe, but now the fine qualities that knowledge taught him are far removed from him."

"He entered Aiur while we were opening the Xel'Naga Gateway to Shakuras, and began to carry out his sinister plan to hunt Templar Knights in the shadows." Zeratul reached out a hand and lifted the fur on his left shoulder armor to reveal a deep, gruesome wound that exposed bone.

"You're injured? Zeratul." Augustus surprise. Since meeting Zeratul, he had only been injured when fighting Prince Gabriel Tosh of the Blades, but that wound was nothing compared to the injury he had seen today.

"I caught up with Orega and questioned him about why he had so cruelly killed the Templar Knights was already wounded and unable to fight back, but the once clever and devout apprentice of Alisar questioned me about why I had betrayed Nerazim," Zeratul said sadly.

"I tried to grab Orega's hand then, begging him to come back to us, but I was met with a cold rejection. I then realized that a pure and kind Nerazim had been corrupted beyond recognition by hatred, and former brothers and kin had become enemies."

"Orega was convinced he was right; he was full of lies and weak defenses of his crimes—I tried to persuade him, but it ended up as an argument and a duel," he said.

"He actually managed to hurt you." Augustus shook his head. "If we can't capture Orega, the rift between the Templar Knights and the Dark Templar will continue to widen."

"Orega is extremely powerful," Zeratul said. "He is the most talented one among us."

"The Conclave and Tassadar are preparing for peace talks; hopefully, everything will go smoothly."

Orega is Protoss character in the official map Dark Vengeance released after the release of the StarCraft: Brood War. He also appeared in Reese Gordon's novel The Dark Templar Chronicles, and was eventually sealed away by the Protoss Preservers Zamara.