Monument

The fierce winds of Haj are like heavy, jagged walls, pushing the wind turbines of the wind turbines that stand in every corner of Geladi City. The howling wind never stops, and the children born here never imagined that there could be a place in this world where flowers bloom and the sun shines brightly.

The area of Geladi City has roughly doubled in the past year, with its hexagonal perimeter housing almost the entire population of Haj. A series of craters and meteorite impacts surround this concrete and steel city, while highways and train tracks connecting hundreds of mining areas stretch across the sandy land.

Like many cities built in the last decade, Grandi is a vibrant metropolis. Since the Revolutionary Army government began to vigorously develop the resources of the Haj mines and high-energy gas, the Haj people, who had been displaced by the invasion of the Zerg, have found stable employment.

The Terrans are incredibly resilient, because those who are weak, incapable of perseverance, or lazy cannot leave offspring. No matter how harsh the environment, humans will always do their utmost to survive.

In mid-May, when the weather was unusually clear, the Sloan Street in Geladi City were bustling with people going about their business.

This area was once part of the old town, and in the past, it was incredibly chaotic because it was too close to the slums. The streets were piled with garbage, drunkards, and drug addicts. In the past, there weren't even many surveillance cameras on Sloan Street, and the local police turned a blind eye, making this filthy and dilapidated place even more filthy and run-down.

After the Revolutionary Army arrived, the slums, which had already been reduced to ruins by the Zerg, were never rebuilt. The military government tried its best to find legitimate jobs for the people in the slums, and those who repeatedly refused to change their ways never appeared again. Instead, the newly built factories had many workers who had to undergo labor reform instead of serving time in prison.

The street has changed dramatically. Most of the buildings are square, standard colonial-style structures with roofs painted red or blue. From the sky, the houses look like neatly arranged pixels.

The potholed streets have been repaved and paved with inexpensive planks from the Kel-Morian Combine world. All the shopfronts have been renovated, with clean glass windows and wooden doors displaying the names of various products.

A retro-decorated bookstore offers passersby books on revolutionary progress, Hover Car driver's license exam manuals, and comics. Because a child star named Keith Velas rose to fame overnight in the core world of the Terran Confederacy, the bookstore's glass is adorned with the cover of his signature work, *Mayor Mar- Sara vs. the Zerg *, along with the slogan "Greedy Zerg and Friendly Protoss."

However, the word "bastard" written in paint under the words "friendly Protoss" clearly comes from the hand of local extreme humanists and flamboyant artists.

Other shops sell industrial products such as clothing, farm tools, and hovercrafts, while a few emit the aroma of cooking. Because arable land is scarce in Haj, and fruit is a luxury in greenhouses, delicious fruits and vegetables from Aiur are very popular.

Since gun ownership is illegal on planets under the Revolutionary Army Government, many shops that sold replica firearms to the Haj quickly disappeared.

Since the end of the Guild Wars, a large number of electromagnetic weapons have flooded the civilian population, making gang shootouts in underdeveloped areas even more bloody and uncontrollable. It is worth mentioning that most of these electromagnetic weapons are not those that came from the battlefield or warehouses, but rather high-quality replicas of the C-series Electromagnetic Rifle of unknown origin, and in huge quantities.

According to a host at the UNN headquarters in Tarsonis who was soon executed for espionage, the Blueback Family, the largest arms dealers in the Terran Confederacy, were the manufacturers of those rifles.

A large group of jubilant Revolutionary Army sailors swaggered through the streets like a flock of ducks rushing across a rice paddy, and soon dispersed into various shops.

Some soldiers, tired of the barbecued meat, fruit, and individual rations on Aiur, were determined to rediscover "human food." Others were there to buy souvenirs for their families. Still others had no particular purpose; they simply wanted to relax, whether it was watching a movie, listening to an opera, or drinking coffee. In short, the young soldiers hoped for a wonderful encounter on this alien planet.

Revolutionary Army soldiers who had just returned to the human world from the battlefield of Aiur were very popular with the local girls. After all, it was hard for them to resist the exquisite Protoss crystal pendants or other ingenious trinkets that the soldiers would casually pull out of their pockets. Even a Zergling tooth could prove their bravery and masculinity.

The Revolutionary Army soldiers, who had just experienced a brutal battle, probably hadn't seen a woman other than a nurse for more than half a year. They would blush whenever they saw someone wearing a skirt.

The people on Sloan Street weren't particularly afraid of these young soldiers. Regardless of discipline, at least compared to other Confederacy military bases stationed on colonies, the Revolutionary Army soldiers knew how to pay their dues.

"Is this acceptable?" Among the soldiers, the tall Tychus Finley stood out.

"Such a big city, and it doesn't even have a red-light district or a strip club? How are those poor, helpless beauties supposed to survive? Augustus Mengsk, do you have any conscience?"

"Don't say that, it's just not so easy to find." Augustus walked ahead of Tychus, his eyes scanning the various shops.

"I think you could try your luck on Wayne Street."

"Don't even mention that awful place, those prostitutes should be paying me," Tychus said, grinning.

"I came here to relax, not to suffer. I'd rather be dead than work with those people."

"Perhaps only marriage can tame this beast," Raynor said. "But you are destined to be alone, Tychus."

"I promised to bring about change for Haj —it seems the officials I appointed have done a good job," Augustus said with satisfaction, looking at the red brick road lining the streets and the green trees dotting the landscape.

"You have to thank your father, Angus Mengsk, the current member of the Umojan Council, for selecting and sending these officials. After all, they are people who proved their ability and loyalty during the purges after the Korhal uprising," Raynor said.

"Angus Mengsk is better suited to be a vizier than a rebel leader—he's a shrewd and capable soldier, but fighting a war isn't just about knowing how to fire a gun."

"This is one of the few times I've felt grateful to have such a good father," Augustus.

Augustus recalled his increasingly aged father, "Angus wanted to bring true democracy and freedom to Korhal, believing that the accumulated wealth of the Mengsk Family over generations was enough to achieve it. But it wasn't until the Confederacy blew Korhal to smithereens that he finally realized his mistake."

"That is the price of pursuing freedom."

"Our enemies are a bunch of bastards; even the Zerg are more noble than the Confederacy nobles." Raynor said as he stepped into a bar with creaking wooden floors. Several Revolutionary Army soldiers dressed in brown military uniforms were sitting in the seats.

"Look here," Tychus exclaimed.

"A Heaven's Devils, the bastards here should run away in terror at the sight of you."

The bar's decor caught Augustus's eye; it was filled with old-fashioned hunting rifles and hooks, and a massive skull of Hunter Killer- Hydralisk hydra almost covered the front wall. A yellowed letter read, "Henry, first place winner of the first annual Drone kicking contest in Aiur; the Probe is man's best friend; long live the revolution; long live Augustus Mengsk."

"Henry Gallusque." Augustus sat down on the high stool at the bar counter. He recognized the man with the walrus beard; he was a member of the Heaven's Devils, an elite Confederacy squad from 2489.

Henry was a member of the Special Tactical Platoon, 3rd Squad. He met Augustus later than Tychus and Raynor. But their experience fighting side by side made Augustus remember this unremarkable, standard soldier.

Henry Gallesquie was once a milkman on the Sangar. He joined the army simply because someone falsely accused him of murder. Such things are common in some chaotic Edge World, and even more absurd things happen all the time.

"How is life here?" Augustus asked.

"Not bad, sir." Henry handed Augustus a glass of red cocktail. "Before I came to this bar, it was a hangout for drug addicts. Everyone carried a gun, and they could draw it as fast as Protoss could draw a sword."

"Back then, everyone thought we had brought war, and that a turbulent era was about to begin. But now, they don't want the Revolutionary Army to leave." He wiped a wine glass.

"I learned a trade from the bartender at Hyperion, so I won't starve."

"As long as I'm alive, that kind of thing won't happen," Augustus said, holding up his cocktail.

"I know you would never let the brothers who risk their lives for you suffer, and that's why we're willing to follow you," Henry said with a smile.

"Galesque, we're all waiting for you to come back. There's no end to the bugs." Tychus sat down as well.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to go back. The doctor even suggested that I never do any strenuous work for the rest of my life." Henry pointed to his head. "I was incredibly lucky to survive the Protoss's mental attack, but it almost turned my brain into mush."

"Looking back now, it was truly a nightmare. Just one cry from Protoss High Templar, whose entire race had perished, killed many of us," he said.

"We've witnessed the Zerg's sharp fangs and claws and their speed in plundering everything, as well as the Protoss's advanced technology and their gleaming ships, but we've forgotten that their Psionics is even more terrifying than that of the Ghost operative."

"It will pass." Augustus quickly finished his drink.

As a member of the Heaven's Devils, Henry may not be as famous as the 1st Squad, but he also has demon tattoos on his body. He is one of Augustus's most outstanding commanders and has always been loyal.

However, by now, few of the Heaven's Devils remain. Josephine was lost in the Battle of Korhal, three men from the Second and Third Squads died at Char, and a promising colonel perished on his ship in the Fleets battle. Five men perished on Aiur, either eaten by the Zerg or cut in two by the Protoss.

"Perhaps bringing you to Aiur was a mistake? I often doubt myself," Augustus said after a moment of silence.

"Why would you think that?" Henry shook his head. "My view is exactly the opposite. You just did what you thought was the right thing to do. Think about it, we chased down Aiur, defeated the Zerg Overmind, and saved so many people. So many people should thank you. This is something the people of the Terran Confederacy will never be able to do again in their lives."

"Look, this is a medal the Protoss gave me." He took out a bronze, axe-shaped metal badge with the words "Eternal Friend of the Protoss" written on it in Protoss script.

"The Protoss have also learned a lot from us."

"I have one too." Tychus pulled an identical one out of his pocket. "Basically everyone has one, even the hunting dogs kept in the logistics department have one. What's the deal? It's practically worthless."

"The Protoss have no idea that scarcity increases value."

"Tychus, I thought you were the only one who didn't get a medal," Raynor said sarcastically.

"Henry, I'll come and patronize your business whenever I have time." Augustus put down his wine glass.

"But I've heard you're never free," Henry said. "Remember what happened at Joey Ray's bar? I'm moving to Mar Sara's place soon; I hear they need people everywhere there."

"Give my regards to Joey Ray," Raynor said.

At that moment, the holographic television in the bar lit up, and after the logo of a local TV station flashed, an extremely solemn and dignified scene appeared. A white monument stood in front of a cemetery filled with birch trees, the wind howled incessantly, and yellowed, frozen leaves fluttered down.

The monument, sculpted by Protoss artist, depicts three Revolutionary Army soldiers fighting a bloody battle on Aiur, with a base representing the bloodied corpse of a giant Hydralisk.

"We will not forget all of this," Augustus.

"Remember this sacrifice; every soldier who went to the battlefield of Aiur will live forever."

Very few Revolutionary Army were buried in the cemetery; most of them were soldiers from Haj, while Revolutionary Army from other regions were sent back to their hometowns.

"They are all excellent," Raynor said.

"Those who haven't experienced all of that won't know what we lost in Aiur —blood, dearest friends, and loved ones."

"Many people have left." Augustus felt that he was no longer living for himself.

"But I feel they are still alive. They are watching me, watching me tear down the crumbling edifice of the Terran Confederacy, watching me end the evil rule and wipe out the threat of alien monsters."

I'd like to recommend a book, kiss (ω)