The Terrans' Savior

Augustus met Zebediah Terra, son of Constantine and Annabella, in the mayor's office of the Town Hall in New Babylon City. He was the designated Heir the Terra Family Old Families of Tarsonis.

Zebediah has a young and calm face, knows social etiquette, is elegant in demeanor, speaks humbly and politely, and is very tactful; he is a typical Tarsonis nobleman.

Augustus was pleased with this, as he did not want to waste time dealing with fools at this crucial juncture.

"Please sit down." Sarah Kerrigan, dressed in the gray-brown uniform of the Revolutionary Army and carrying a wooden notepad under her arm, led Zebediah and his butler into the mayor's office and then stood next to Augustus.

As they entered, two guards in dark gray uniforms immediately closed the door. The two soldiers, leaning on their bayonets, made a deep impression on the guests; the golden wolf insignia and silver wheat ears on their shoulder insignia indicated that they were indeed Augustus's personal guards.

"Hello, Marshal Augustus Mengsk. I am a devoted admirer of yours, having grown up listening to your legendary tales in the Koprulu Sector." Zebediah sat down in a row of chairs in front of Augustus.

At that moment, Zebediah was wearing a half-open dark blue woolen overcoat and a narrow-brimmed beret in the style of the Confederacy Army. His neatly styled light-colored hair hung down from his haggard face, and although he was very tired, his eyes were still bright.

"I'm glad to hear you say that." Augustus could hardly remember whether he had met Zebediah in Tarsonis, or if their encounter had been much longer. But it was clear that Zebediah had grown up quickly.

Four years ago, Augustus had never heard of Zebediah Terra in Tarsonis, but now he had become the object of every girl's affections. In contrast, Augustus actually had a much deeper impression of his sister, Nova.

Zebediah is a real-life version of Prince Tarsonis; aside from being a bit shorter, there's nothing to regret about him.

Zebediah's steward, on the other hand, was a shrewd and capable man, the kind of servant favored by high-ranking nobles.

"Zebe, I feel very sorry for your father's fate. There was a time when Constantine and I were so close." Augustus and Constantine were so close that Constantine would say, "You see, the lady is quite nice, isn't she? I would feel more at ease if you were her lover."

Although the two had barely met outside of long-distance communication, Constantine held Augustus in high regard for his talent and potential, so much so that he was willing to strongly support the Revolutionary Army despite his disappointment with the current Confederacy and nobility.

The friendship between Augustus and Constantine was complex, involving far more considerations of self-interest than anything else. But generally speaking, however, both men acknowledged each other as close friends.

"My father died at the hands of Hybrid monster released by humans. I hope he didn't suffer inhuman torture and unbearable pain before that," Zebediah said sadly.

"He was the best father I've ever met, always hoping to raise us into people of excellent character and strong will. In the Terra Family, moral guidance was also an important course."

"I have lost a true friend forever, a distinguished revolutionary who passed away before dawn." Augustus was silent for a moment, then asked Zebediah:

"How is your mother? Is there any news about her?"

If Annabella Terra also dies in this war, then Zebediah becoming the next head of the Terra Family is almost a certainty. His elder sister Clara was not groomed as Heir, and Nova is too young.

"I just contacted my mother a few hours ago. She was at a factory far from the city when the Earthlings attacked, so she escaped." Zebediah hesitated for a moment, then didn't ask any more questions.

Since she was very young, Zebediah had accompanied her mother to high society banquets and appeared in public with a prominent status, so she was not so flustered as to speak recklessly in front of Augustus.

"She has now left Tarsonis in the shuttle and is heading to all the family's mining planets."

"It's a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune," Augustus said.

"The battle on Tarsonis is far more intense than I anticipated. I originally thought that Tarsonis ' outer space orbital defense facilities could hold off Earthlings for at least 72 hours."

"Their attack was lightning fast." Zebediah recalled the scene he witnessed as he fled Tarsonis: "Orbital cannons raining down from the sky directly destroyed the orbital cannons and fortresses on the ground, while the Confederacy forces simply fled in panic in the face of the Earthlings' unstoppable offensive."

"Faced with the monstrous weapons cultivated by Earthlings, it's only a matter of time before Tarsonis ' ground forces are defeated."

"Hmm," Augustus, his fingers interlaced on the table, "the Hybrid are not something an ordinary human army can handle. With them in the war, the Confederacy's defeat is to be expected."

Currently, the Confederacy garrison in Tarsonis is undoubtedly at a disadvantage, and the appearance of Hybrid on the front lines instills fear in the opposing human army, severely damaging morale.

If the main force of the Terran Confederacy is defeated at Tarsonis, then the former rebels will become the light of Terrans.

"Marshal Augustus, I have come here hoping that you can save the people of Earth from the invaders and the monsters ravaging Tarsonis." Zebediah paused before speaking.

"Even if you don't say it, the Marshal will do it anyway." Kerrigan stared sharply at Zebediah, who was sitting upright. She had actually been quite concerned about the relationship between Augustus and Constantine's wife since earlier. To be honest, the noblewomen of Tarsonis probably had a thing for Augustus —a young, handsome country nobleman, full of energy and recklessness.

Constantine and Annabella's marriage was a true political one; neither had any feelings for the other and neither cared about the other's fidelity.

"Sarah is right," Augustus said with a smile, as if he had completely forgotten who had almost blown up Tarsonis four years ago.

"As a Terrans, how can we stand by and watch our home planet suffer at the hands of Earthlings?" he said.

"We cannot stand idly by!"

In any case, Augustus would not stand idly by and watch the Earthlings take control of the Terran Confederacy. Of course, Augustus would not rashly intervene while the Confederacy and the UED were locked in fierce combat; he was waiting for the right opportunity.

"At that time, you will be the savior that the Tarsonis people have been waiting for." Zebediah couldn't help but show an expression that said, "He is indeed the man I value." He stubbornly believed that Augustus a true revolutionary.

"And I will continue the work my father left unfinished," he said. "The Terra Family's support for the Revolutionary Army will only increase."

This is a wise choice. If Augustus wins, the Terra Family's status and assets can be preserved, but the Earthlings will definitely purge Tarsonis, and no noble will be worth mentioning in their presence.

"Heroes emerge from among the young, Zebediah. You will surely become as outstanding as your father." Augustus nodded and said, "You can meet with my treasurer Pompey; he was in charge of liaison with Constantine."

If Augustus had merely overthrown the Terran Confederacy and established a new regime, he would only be seen as a successful revolutionary. The Tarsonis might accept Augustus's rule, but they would certainly not welcome him with joy.

But if Augustus defeated and driven out the humans before that, he would have become a national hero of the Terrans.

"I can almost see that day coming." Augustus stood up, shook hands with Zebediah, put his hand on his shoulder, and walked out of the mayor's office together.

"Next, you can rest at the villa on the outskirts of New Babylon that my men have arranged. It used to belong to a corrupt Confederacy official. There are guards there, and it's quiet enough that no one will bother you," he said to Zebediah.

"I won't be staying in Krusas for long. If I'm not there, you can contact the Army General Staff of Krusas."

"Thank you for your help, Marshal," Zebediah Augustus.

"Am I destined to stay there until the war starts? But I want to join the army. I want to kill the monster that ate my father with my own hands."

By this time, Augustus already standing in the corridor outside the mayor's office. Next to him was a window facing the New Babylon City, a beautiful park with lush lawns and wide tree-lined avenues leading to magnificent skyscrapers.

"I would not recommend that a young boy like you join the army, let alone go to the front lines." Augustus placed his hands on Zebediah's shoulders and looked directly into the man's eyes.

"Your minds are not mature enough, and your view of the world is not clear enough. I have seen many people who regretted it as soon as they stepped onto the battlefield. War has never been a good thing," he said.

"The army is for people who are loyal patriots, willing to sacrifice themselves for the collective good. They should have a sense of responsibility that many people cannot understand, and be willing to sacrifice for a country and a nation."

"And that's the kind of person I am," Zebediah said seriously.

"You are, after all, Constantine's son. I can't put you in the combat force. Even considering your training time as a new recruit, it's impossible." Augustus had a headache.

"No matter what, don't you also have matters to attend to for the Terra Family?"

"Most of the Terra Family's factories are in Tarsonis, and family affairs are all business matters. My mother is still handling those," Zebediah said. "I won't take over completely until she decides to hand everything over to me."

"This is putting me in a difficult position," Augustus thought seriously.

Please allow me to refuse.

"Let me participate in the recruit training camp first, Marshal. The iron discipline of the army will also be a kind of training for me." Zebediah knew that Augustus refuse.

"Perhaps, by the time I become a qualified Revolutionary Army, the war will already be over."

Zebediah wanted to emulate Augustus's experience of joining the army in his youth. The idea of becoming the infamous Heaven's Devils after only one year of service was thrilling and captivating.

Although Zebediah had no idea how much Augustus wanted to strangle that hothead from the past.

"This may not be a bad thing," Kerrigan whispered, following behind Augustus. "If the Heir of a Old Families of the Confederacy joins the Revolutionary Army, it just goes to show how deeply our revolution has resonated with the people."

"Alright." Augustus thought Kerrigan's words made sense, so he went along with it.

"Don't expect my recruit drill instructor to give you special treatment. The Krusas are fierce and tough, and getting along with Krusas recruits is not something to be expected. They've never liked outsiders, especially Tarsonis."

"Don't worry about me. I've been using all kinds of firearms since I was very young, and I've never missed any combat training or physical conditioning." Zebediah said that he was skilled in archery and horsemanship since childhood, so how could he possibly take a mere Krusas seriously?

"You'll get what's coming to you sooner or later." Augustus chuckled, convinced that Zebediah would learn his lesson at boot camp. "I'll see you off."

Augustus embraced Zebediah, as intimately as an older brother.

The New Babylon City is a magnificent white Roman-style building. Its classic design reflects the local culture and aesthetics of Krusas, and is fundamentally different from the ornate architecture of Tarsonis.

The Town Hall was filled with the Revolutionary Army soldiers on duty; for them, protecting Augustus was an incomparably sacred duty.

"Can you still contact the other Old Families? They must have already left Tarsonis," Augustus said to him as they walked down the Zebediah together.

"We can't get in touch with them," Zebediah replied, shaking his head. "The Terra Family has many enemies in Tarsonis, and the various families are also at odds with each other. We haven't been able to make contact with them yet."

"I have received confirmation that almost all of the Old Families have been attacked," Augustus said without the slightest regret.

"It's unknown how many of them will survive until after the war."

"I know that many families sent their Heir to other planets before the war started, so they should have been unaffected. As long as Tarsonis remains under the control of the Confederacy, they can return and take over their families again," Zebediah said.

"Is that so?" Augustus's eyes seemed devoid of any light.

As they were talking, Augustus and Zebediah had already reached the foot of the Town Hall building. To Augustus's surprise, a blonde woman in a blue dress immediately ran towards him, but was fortunately stopped in time by the guards.

"Miss Terra!" Augustus had a photographic memory, but he couldn't remember this woman's name at all.

However, Augustus did remember the little girl named Nova Terra who was not far from her. The girl had a short golden ponytail and was standing under a tree wearing black sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt, with a cold indifference on her face that said "keep away."

"It's been a long time," he said politely.

"Augustus! My dear!" Clara futilely tried to pry apart the two Revolutionary Army soldiers wearing Power Armor, ignoring Augustus's bewildered expression.

"Haven't seen you for a long time!"