You've Changed, Brother

This is a landing zone outside New Folsom Prison, its sturdy steel frame built on a reinforced volcanic rock island, with lava flowing on both sides. To the south is a high ground with Confederacy fortifications, which was destroyed by the Revolutionary Army's Bravo Air Squadron just over ten minutes ago.

The fumaroles at the edge of the platform spewed out scorching steam intermittently. There were no railings or other shelters; falling in would be certain death. The rolling heat waves from the lava lake baked the ground beneath Augustus's feet, and the hot wind felt as if it could scrape the skin off.

On a steel bridge leading deep into the prison, several Confederacy Arclite Siege Tank, completely destroyed by the Alpha Squadron, were parked crookedly. The Revolutionary Army's bright red flag fluttered in the wind on the opposite side of the bridge.

Across the steel bridge stood the sturdy high walls of New Forsun Prison, built by Federal HOT Corporation, strong enough to withstand the bombardment of an 80mm tank cannon. For years, this towering prison wall was a symbol of terror; since then, there seemed to be little sunlight, and the chilling aura emanating from it seemed to freeze even lava.

Explosions and flashes of light continued to echo from behind the prison walls, thick smoke billowing from them. The intense gunfire, accompanied by repeated explosions, shook the massive, steel-framed rocks beneath Augustus's feet.

Fully armed soldiers of the Revolutionary Army Alpha Squadron strode forward, following the Goliath Combat Robot. Vulture and Revolutionary Army tanks painted in gold and red drove past the flanks of the column, their deep rumbles resembling muffled thunder and drumbeats.

Shells whistled overhead from the New Folsom Prison, and the intense hissing of rockets locking onto enemy aerial targets as the Goliath Combat Robot opened its missile bay was exhilarating.

As the sounds of Electromagnetic Rifle fire and violent explosions receded further and further from Augustus, more Alpha Squadron soldiers stormed into New Folsom Prison. The war, which had been largely a foregone conclusion from the start, was drawing to a close. The Confederacy garrison guarding New Folsom was shattered by a swift and merciless punch from Edmond Duke.

Alpha Squadron's dominance on the front lines was utterly unreasonable; their attacks always struck at the heart of the enemy, precise and ruthless. This elite force, which inflicted painful memories on the Kel-Morian Combine during the Guild Wars, was like a mountain-like hammer, crushing down enemies of all sizes, whether strong or weak.

Although Augustus doubted whether Edmond Duke's intelligence was up to par, the man ultimately had his merits.

"New Folsom Prison is right next to the mine and gas extraction facilities. We need to be careful that the Confederacy guards inside might fight to the death. If the equipment inside can still work, we won't have to waste our money."

Arcturus Mengsk stood to Augustus's right, looking across the bridge at the New Folsom Prison. He had also managed to secure a position as chief of staff in Augustus's marshal's headquarters, and it was not a mere honorary title.

There was nothing that Arcturus Mengsk, a prodigy of the Mengsk family, could not accomplish if he so desired. He was a master of the art of war and the cutthroat world of politics, as well as a brave adventurer and a shrewd and capable mine owner.

To date, Arcturus has only admitted to one mistake: sleeping with the daughter of Ailin Pasteur of Umojan too early.

"That's all money," Augustus wholeheartedly agreed with his Arcturus —at least in this respect.

"Tell Duke that New Folsom's mining equipment and reactors are worth more than his hundred medals. I need a complete New Folsom, not a crumbling ruin."

"Hopefully that pig Duke will figure it out." The tall and burly Tychus Finley was Augustus's personal bodyguard.

Augustus reason to suspect that Tychus's fight with Swann was partly due to personal grudges, and partly because this lazy scoundrel didn't like commanding troops.

Although the power he held could bring Tychus many benefits, after serving in the Revolutionary Army for several years, the biggest change in Tychus was that he had become somewhat more concerned about his reputation. In the Revolutionary Army, which was full of passionate young people and righteous people, he could no longer act recklessly and steal things.

"Back when I was in the Confederacy Army, I heard about Edmond Duke's infamous reputation. He inherited the Duke Family's consistently tough military style." Arcturus's expression didn't seem like a joke.

"Duke is a resolute commander who never gives up. At heart, he is still a Confederacy nobleman, the daughter of Norby." His praise ended there.

"But considering Duke has fought for the Confederacy for so many years, entrusting him with a powerful army means many risks. Duke might betray the Terran Confederacy, and one day he might betray you."

"You must monitor Duke's every move. Once everything has settled down, you can transfer Duke far away, away from the real core of power. If he becomes our enemy, Duke will definitely be a threat, unless you can keep this man firmly under your control," he said.

"Usually, a combination of kindness and severity is the simplest approach. If you want to build a Mengsk Family, you can't let go of any opportunity to strengthen yourself and weaken your enemies."

Before even overthrowing the Terran Confederacy, Arcturus had already planned everything for Augustus.

In Arcturus's view, even if Augustus's rebel army overthrew the Terran Confederacy, he couldn't simply abandon everything and walk away; even then, the Mengsk Family's enemies wouldn't let them go. All the Mengsk Family could do was firmly grasp power and eliminate all opponents—just as the Terran Confederacy was doing. Augustus's cause was also the Mengsk Family's cause.

Therefore, this revolution must end with crowning the king who is truly deserving of popular support.

To become the new ruler of the Koprulu Sector, an army was essential, a step that Augustus had already accomplished. The next step was to eliminate their enemies step by step until their power was firmly established.

At this time, Arcturus was not yet consumed by hatred; he was more afraid of his family being harmed. Arcturus's youthful sense of justice and ambition had not yet been extinguished by the cruel reality, and he placed all his hopes on his younger brother.

No one is perfect. Although Arcturus never revealed his ambition and thirst for power in his words, it was something that no man who aspired to the greatness of the Mengsk family could resist.

"Edmond Duke's loyalty has been verified by the Psionics. If he betrays me, let the ghost bring him before me." Augustus smiled at Arcturus.

Augustus knew that Edmond Duke's loyalty was quite reliable. In the original timeline, during the Brood War, only Duke remained loyal to Emperor Arcturus Mengsk, the Terran Empire emperor who was being driven to the brink of defeat by the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet, and he never surrendered to the enemy until his death in Korhal.

Duke may not have been the best of Augustus's generals, but he was still a capable commander.

"Where did you find these Psionics? They almost killed your father!" Arcturus's cold gray brows were clouded with gloom. He had never liked Psionics before, and he wouldn't hide it now.

"It was just a close call," Augustus. "Angus wouldn't object to my employing Psionics."

"That's because he knows your sweetheart is a Psionics." Arcturus didn't notice the cough coming from the side, and a slender Psionics hidden in the light and shadow spun around on the spot.

"Angus feels guilty towards you, so he wouldn't say anything against you."

"However, Ghost Program is the only worthwhile one among the many evil plans of the Terran Confederacy." Arcturus nodded. "They are powerful and dangerous."

"I'm glad you've learned to conceal your thoughts in front of Psionics. If everyone else knows what you're thinking, they won't fear you. That's why I taught Valerian never to show his emotions. Let your subordinates guess what you're thinking, and they'll do everything they're supposed to do with utmost care."

"Therefore, a monarch must be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten jackals."

"You've changed a lot, Arcturus." Augustus always known his Arcturus's thoughts: he wanted Augustus become an emperor like Qin Shi Huang or Augustus Caesar in ancient times, rather than the president of some republic. If it weren't for Augustus, Arcturus would have easily taken the throne after a couple of refusals.

"I would rather they all love me than fear me," he said. "I am not a king, nor do I need to act like one."

"I've always been this way; it's the world that's changed," Arcturus simply shook his head in response.

"Angus thought that a republic would bring lasting peace and stability, and that a democratic nation would necessarily be powerful," Arcturus said. "But that's wrong. The Terran Confederacy is full of opponents, and the planets are tens of light-years apart. Too far to control, too vast to govern. What can a republic and democracy bring? Can equality or order withstand the Zerg and Protoss?"

"If you return power to the people, they will never return it to you. They are grateful when you bestow favors upon them, but if you take it back, even a powerless peasant woman will rise up and fight for it."

"The Koprulu Sector cannot tolerate democracy now. Only by consolidating all power in your own hands can you build a powerful empire. With absolute power in your hands, you are king. Only then can you gather all of humanity's resources and strength to resist the Zerg and Protoss, and even defeat them!"

"The Terrans need an empire, not a weak republic. What use is a republic and democracy when enemies are at our doorstep? Look at the Umojan."

"A monarch rules over all, while those below him are ruled by others. Would you rather be a monarch or something else?" Arcturus asked.

"If the Terrans need an autocratic leader to resist their enemies, then it can only be you."

"Angus wants to establish the Terran Republic, so let him do it." Augustus pondered for a long time.

"I'd rather go racing."

"... You'll understand the inevitable trend. Do you think Umojan is absolutely safe? Agents from the Terran Confederacy are always lurking in the United States. They only need to succeed once, and our dearest family members will be gone from us." Arcturus's words darkened Augustus's expression considerably.

"Of course, you still need the help of these Ghost operative. But you can't trust them too much; the only people you can trust are your family." He didn't notice the grinding of teeth in the air.

"Ghost operative are our most powerful weapon against Earthlings, Protoss, and Zerg."

"Earthlings also have Ghost operative," Augustus sighed.

"But their Ghost operative don't have Psionics; they achieve superhuman abilities entirely through advanced equipment and years of brutal training," Arcturus said. "The Earth's expeditionary force also recruits surrendered Terran Confederacy Ghost operative —although it's almost impossible for them to surrender voluntarily."

"Marshal, the Alpha Squadron has captured the last military control zone in the New Folsom Prison where war criminals are held." At this moment, a communications soldier from Augustus came over to report to him.

"This infamous prison is now in your hands."

"That's a bit too hot to handle," Tychus said.

"Let's go in and take a look," Augustus said to the people around him.

"There are likely still quite a few Confederacy soldiers and rioters who escaped during the chaos hiding in New Folsom Prison," Faraday said. "You'd better wait until things have calmed down before going in."

"I have fought many battles and risked my life countless times. Can't I even protect Marshal Augustus and Colonel Arcturus?" Tychus glared with his bull-like eyes.

"You should be grateful you can take care of yourself," Corporal Faraday retorted. In the entire Revolutionary Army, apart from Augustus and Kerrigan, he feared no one. Even Jim Raynor was a close friend with whom Faraday had shared drinks.

"Don't worry, I have faith in the guards' abilities."

There is no dawn or dusk in New Folsom; the sky always reflects the raging fire in the lava lake below, making the entire prison seem as if it were in the furnace of hell.

Escorted by an entire squadron of Goliath Combat Robot, Augustus crossed the bridge in front of the gates of New Folsom Prison and stepped through the heavy metal gates that had long been blasted apart by railguns.

Not far from the gate was a cage made of heavy steel walls and welded metal doors. Each door, which looked rusty, had a unique fingerprint and genetic code, which meant that the prisoners inside were either vicious thugs or dangerous people who could no longer be exposed to the public eye.

Those thugs among the Resocialized Soldier who readily eat human flesh or indiscriminately kill innocent people do not deserve to be imprisoned here. They are nothing but scum who are of no benefit to this society. However, in reality, the people here all have intricate political ties with the Terran Confederacy.

"Who are the people imprisoned here?" Augustus, standing before a blood-stained door.

"A genetics expert, he had tried to test new Confederacy enhancement agents on himself," said a prison guard who had been captured.

"What about this one?" Augustus walked a little further away and stopped in front of a cell that was clearly equipped with a lot of signal jamming facilities.

"A level 10 Psionics, a rebel from the Ghost Academy of the Terran Confederacy."

I need a vote, sob sob sob.