Say Goodnight

Tarsonis City, southwestern suburbs.

The Revolutionary Army's special forces unit landed at a large abandoned mine about forty miles outside the Tarsonis City. It was one of the hundreds of mines that the Tarsonis had dug deep during their expansion, and now the mine had been filled with rainwater and turned into a vast lake.

The lakeshore still bears the marks of crisscrossing railway tracks and old freight trains, dating back to the last century. Just weeks ago, the area was bustling with activity, with workers everywhere as a new factory was under construction. Now, at Sunset, large swaths of clouds recede on the horizon, casting shadows of hundreds of crane booms.

More than twenty Ghost operative, dressed in blue and white refracting nanofiber tight-fitting combat suits, stood with their hands behind their backs in a factory building with a steel frame. This was also a modular building that emphasized efficiency and practicality, but it was much more robust and durable than those in places like Deadman's Port.

Even after the crystal mines have been almost completely depleted, the other associated resources, though not comparable to the almost omnipotent crystal mines, still retain exploitable value.

Everyone, including General Jack Haller, the commander of this ghost unit, remained silent for a long time.

They were all once part of the Terran Confederacy's Ghost Program, and now they are willing to risk their lives for the rebels. Augustus Mengsk keeps Psionics, haunted by painful memories of the past, convinced that they are doing the right thing. What drives them to continue fighting is their conviction, not the coercive commands of their Psionics suppressors. For this reason, these supernatural warriors will become even more resilient and indomitable.

Everyone standing here understands their mission.

This revolution began with Korhal IV, and in the eyes of many Revolutionary Army, capturing Tarsonis and completely overthrowing the corrupt Terran Confederacy meant the final victory of the revolution.

Now, they must reclaim Tarsonis, the origin planet of the Terrans, and the undisputed Throne World, from the UED.

These Ghost operative are equipped with varying gear. In addition to C-10 canister shotguns, they are also armed with daggers, Electromagnetic Grenade, and Protoss Khaydarin Crystal that enhance Psionics power. Some agents also carry longswords, a technique they learned from their Dark Templar instructors, in order to eliminate enemies if their operation is discovered.

Each Ghost operative has different special skills; some are exceptional snipers, some are masters of assassination, and some can summon blazing blue flames like a witch.

General Haller, commander of the Nova Squadron, is also a deadly Ghost operative. Amplified by the Khaydarin Crystal, his Psionics level can reach an astonishing level nine. Haller can freely change his appearance to become someone else, and can further deceive others by adding or deleting memories.

"Action," Haller commanded, closing his mask at one point.

All the Ghost operative went into stealth mode, disappearing without a trace like a wisp of sand blown by a strong wind.

"For the Terran Dominion."

As night fell, shadowy figures traversed a desolate landscape and boarded a train bound for Tarsonis City. The train was supposed to be loaded with crystal mines, high-energy gas, and conscripted soldiers. The Confederacy's transportation network was intricate and complex, something the UED personnel were clearly unfamiliar with.

Dr. Narud did not send any personnel to meet the Revolutionary Army's special forces. As he said, he was just an ordinary scientist and had not cultivated any power or followers.

The route into Tarsonis City was provided by the underground revolutionaries still on the planet; these nameless heroes, engaged in secret espionage, had long since disregarded life and death.

For this day, thousands of revolutionaries and agents have given their lives, some of whom joined this great cause, which will surely be hidden and forgotten, as early as the time of Augustus's father, Angus.

In the past, the lights of Tarsonis at night were enough to illuminate the sky, reflecting a radiant city in the heavens. The galvanized facades and massive glass curtain walls of countless towering skyscrapers reflected white and blue light in the sunlight, and at night they were submerged in dazzling commercial lights.

With nearly two centuries of continuous expansion, the city's boundaries have long since expanded infinitely in all directions, with colossal buildings and sprawling clusters of skyscrapers extending in all directions under the city's shroud of mist. Countless people live and work in these high-rise buildings, higher than the clouds; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Tarsonis a city in the sky.

This is the capital of the Terran Confederacy, a place of towering skyscrapers and bustling commerce. It is said that by draining the blood of hundreds and thousands of mining planets and colonies, Tarsonis has accumulated enough wealth in gold and silver to fill an ocean.

Now, with war looming, strict military control and curfews have transformed the once-glorious Tarsonis into a colossal beast crouching in the night. As the towering lights fade, even the sparse stars become visible.

The Koprulu Sector has a much lower density of stars than the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, so starry nights are already a rare sight.

In less than an hour, the train had passed the border checkpoint in Tarsonis City, and Alexei Stukov clearly did not have the resources to deploy loyal Earthling soldiers and sophisticated detection equipment at each checkpoint.

The checkpoint was guarded by only a few former Confederacy soldiers and Tarsonis police officers, whose irritable complaints and perfunctory attitudes revealed, to some extent, the current state of the city.

On the dimly lit streets, pedestrians were a rare sight. Since Alexei Stukov declared a state of war, the lives of most citizens of Tarsonis had come to a standstill. Those who were already struggling to make ends meet were even more destitute without work, and the once bustling streets were now filled with scenes of decay and desolation.

Only the cleaning robots continue their daily work, while the anxieties and fears of over a billion people are amplified by the roar of Psionics and fighter jets. To Psionics like Jack Haller, these fearful voices are clearly audible, like persistent white noise.

After the train passed the station, the Ghost operative of the Special Forces hitched a ride on two flying patrol cars belonging to the Tarsonis Security Force, which were "just happened" to be patrolling the area.

The security forces are police-like units formed solely to maintain order in the vast Tarsonis for the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet. These individuals are also among the most hated by their own people, considered lackeys of Earthlings. Their primary duty is to patrol at night to ensure no one violates the curfew order; in just a few days, over 100,000 Tarsonis citizens have been arrested and imprisoned.

The driver was a member of the underground revolutionary party. His father was Korhal immigrant from Tarsonis, and his mother was Pridewater. He had accepted Angus Mengsk's idea of breaking free from the control of the Confederacy and liberating his homeland as early as 2485, and had been involved in underground work as a Tarsonis police officer ever since.

When the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet captured Tarsonis, he quickly joined them.

At this moment, the security personnel on the flying car had no idea that a ghost was lurking behind their seats, and they were unaware that while they were telling dirty jokes to liven up the atmosphere, a series of cold-blooded killers were staring at the back of their necks.

Alexei Stukov's command headquarters was not located in any of the important high-level administrative and military command buildings in the former Terran Confederacy, but in a comprehensive reinforced concrete building in the southwest city of Tarsonis, surrounded by large photovoltaic and high-energy gas turbine power plants.

There should have been a Ghost Academy of the Terran Confederacy nearby, but after the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet took control of Tarsonis, the Ghost Academy was quickly deserted and sealed off, demonstrating the fear and distrust that Earthlings have towards Psionics.

The whereabouts of those Psionics agents and students are unknown, but given the style of the UED's predecessor United Powers League), these people would most likely be burned at the stake.

As police cars sped past the heavily guarded UED command post, Haller's men disembarked. Without any orders, they brushed past the Sentinel outside the command post.

The UED command post resembled a miniature city, with numerous protective walls, military buildings, and anti-aircraft missile towers equipped with sophisticated detection equipment. Multiple sensors and sensor arrays should have made it impossible for any stealth forces to infiltrate, but the security key provided by Dr. Narud helped them successfully deceive the security system.

Jack Haller, highly experienced, led his Ghost operative to successfully infiltrate the Alexei Stukov command post using the map provided by Narud. However, the UED possessed state-of-the-art communication jamming and detection technologies, making the deeper they went, the more dangerous it became, with each step testing the Ghost operative ' resolve.

The Ghost Suit allows Ghost operative to move with superhuman speed and stamina. With the aid of Stimpack and other injected drugs, they also maintain a high level of concentration and composure at all times.

Facing numerous UED soldiers, defensive drones, and massive Goliath Combat Robot, they passed through the restricted area, training area, military camp, and security control center, heading straight for Alexei Stukov's command center without any hindrance.

This was arguably the most dangerous mission Haller had ever undertaken since training as Ghost operative; exposure would mean certain death for everyone on board. But it was also Haller's chance to earn immortal glory, and only he was capable of it.

Alexei Stukov's command center is a building over thirty stories high, which is nothing out of the ordinary in Tarsonis City full of skyscrapers, but it has the highest level of security.

Dr. Emil Narud, dressed in a dark blue suit, walked out of the command center building, seemingly on his way to a party rather than on his way back to work in the lab.

Dr. Narud looked somewhat nervous, but this did not attract the attention of the surrounding UED soldiers. As he walked thoughtfully through the alleyway formed between the two armories and the control tower outside the command center building, Haller clutched his Silk smooth tie from the shadows.

"Ah!" Dr. Narud exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise, almost making Haller's heart leap out of his chest.

"Calm down, Doctor." Haller dragged the struggling Narud into the shadows beneath the armory's ventilation ducts, revealing himself.

"Oh, you've finally, finally arrived." Dr. Narud broke out in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably. His appearance was completely different from the cunning and shrewd image Haller had previously envisioned.

Even when using telepathy to read minds, Dr. Narud's terrified expression perfectly reflected his inner fear.

"Come inside with me." Narud, with a trembling yet elegant gesture, pulled a silk handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I've confirmed it, Alexei Stukov is inside. The command center is full of high-ranking officers; they're no match for you, brave Revolutionary Army agents."

Narud walked back to the main entrance of the command center building. Although the UED soldiers guarding him were puzzled, they did not stop him. As an outstanding scientist who had perfected Hybrid technology, he was deeply trusted by Alexei Stukov.

Haller waved and, along with the Ghost operative behind him, followed Narud inside. They arrived safely at Alexei Stukov's command post via elevator.

"Narud, someone reported to me that you came back as soon as you left the command post." In the brightly lit command post, there was only Alexei Stukov and a few senior staff officers at the tactical table.

"We just met. You told me you've completed the research and development of the new Hybrid variety. Is there anything else you want to say?"

Alexei Stukov didn't see Haller and the numerous Ghost operative behind Narud; his usually stern face was etched with wrinkles from exhaustion.

Haller didn't act immediately; he wanted to use his telepathic abilities to confirm whether it was a clone. Memories could be replaced, but for someone like Alexei Stukov, his personality was extremely difficult to replicate.

"Yes, General Alexei Stukov," Dr. Narud said, having already calmed his nerves. "I'm getting old and increasingly forgetful. Today, I've forgotten something very important."

"Go ahead and speak," Alexei Stukov hummed in agreement.

In Alexei Stukov's eyes, Dr. Narud was a genius, the most outstanding and top-notch expert in alien physiology and genetic engineering he had ever met. In this entire sector, no one could rival him.

Anyone who has witnessed Narud's experiments and his thought-provoking, forward-thinking theories cannot ignore the achievements of this elderly scientist in the field of biology.

Despite possessing the most powerful brain in the entire Koprulu Sector, and perhaps even among humans, Dr. Narud was still a frail old man who devoted himself to research and never made friends. Therefore, Alexei Stukov felt he had nothing to be wary of.

"Because I feel it's necessary to remind you, Lieutenant General Alexei Stukov, although your command center is located in the heart of the Atlas Wing's base, security is still far from satisfactory." Dr. Narud said uneasily, putting his handkerchief back into his pocket.

"I forgot something—I didn't have time to say goodnight to you," he said.

"Let's get started, gentlemen."