Tosh's Swarm
Tyrador IX, Sunset Palm Hotel the Emerald Sea.
The Sunset Palm Hotel is an asset of the Tarsonis Old Families and is only open to the elite who can enter this social class. This means that even the wealthiest Confederacy businessmen, entrepreneurs, and financiers will be turned away if they do not have this status.
Located in Elsecaro, the Sunset Palm Hotel sits on the beautiful Emerald Sea, adjacent to the golden Elsecaro Beach, with its private marina filled with luxury yachts and sailboats. The main staircase features a lavish staircase with extraordinary decorative lines resembling flowing water.
As a symbol of the power and wealth of the Tarsonis Old Families, the Sunset Palm Hotel is a magnificent glass and steel building that combines beauty and grandeur. Whether it is the large blue glass between the bronze iron frame, the majestic white marble walls, the huge glass dome that resembles a greenhouse, or the fish-scale staircase that undulates like waves, everything demonstrates the wealth and power of the Old Families.
Looking out over the magnificent and opulent buildings, resorts, and ultramodern art-style train stations, bus stations, and starports along the Elsecaro coastline, one sees quintessential examples of Tarsonis architecture.
The Sunset Palm Hotel in Elsecaro boasts a massive infinity pool located on its rooftop, seemingly above the clouds. Gravity technology makes the pool appear to float in the sky, with its edges seemingly nonexistent.
The pool was bustling with activity, filled with cheerful laughter and noise. Many young men and women in swimsuits were either enjoying the perfect amount of sunbathing in Elsecaro with sunglasses on, or playing and splashing in the shallow water.
Despite the collapse of the Terran Confederacy, the descendants of the Tarsonis Old Families continue to live a comfortable and carefree life, unaffected by the war or any other impact.
Even during the four years of the Guild Wars, the Rebellion, and the Total War, the children of the Old Families lived enviable lives of luxury. Compared to the Edgelands, which were ravaged by the Zerg and Protoss, it was a Edge World of difference.
In contrast, the expressions of the security personnel and Confederate Security Forces around the pool, dressed in black suits and tight-fitting uniforms, seemed much more genuine, as if they were on high alert and on guard.
This is not to say that the descendants of those Old Families were incorrigible spoiled brats.
They're just a bunch of spoiled kids.
To protect them from rebel assassins, these children were kept here by their parents, and aside from enjoying a comfortable life to relieve their tension, they really had nothing to do.
"It's great to be on vacation in Taradorn, but when will we be able to go back to Tarsonis? We can't even have a proper party," said Morgan Calabas, lounging on a beach chair and grabbing handfuls of berries from a fruit bowl beside him.
Morgan is the Heir to the Calabas Family, and his father is Arturro Calabas, one of the most powerful figures in Tarsonis. But even such a figure had to flee in haste after the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet invaded the Throne World of the Terran Confederacy.
He had shiny black hair and black eyes, and looked exactly like his father.
About a month ago, Morgan, like other children of the Old Families, was sent to Tyrador IX by his parents to avoid the UED's attack on Tarsonis.
"The Tarsonis are either Earthlings or Korhal rebels now, and you still want to go back?" Antonia Tagore sat on an exquisite sun lounger with leaf-shaped patterns, applying sunscreen.
Like every young man and woman at the Sunset Palm Hotel, Antonia also had a distinguished background, and the famous Andrea Tagore was Antonia's grandmother.
Antonia inherited the beauty of the women in her family and was undoubtedly naturally beautiful. Even though she was not yet fifteen years old, she was already stunningly beautiful. Long, deep red hair cascaded down Antonia's slender, white back to her high, full buttocks, and her pair of shapely, full legs rested on the slippery tricolor tiles, her small, beautiful feet resembling exquisite works of art.
"Didn't Marshal Arthur Duke say that the government forces would launch a general offensive immediately to retake Tarsonis?" Morgan leaned back in his chair and stuffed a whole bunch of glistening grapes into his mouth.
"The last time he so confidently assured that Tarsonis would never fall, the Confederacy Fleets didn't even last three days," Antonia said, pursing her full lips.
"Augustus has already taken Tarsonis back from the Earthlings, doesn't that mean the rebels are a hundred times stronger than the government forces?"
"Then who else can we count on?" Morgan was no naive child; he had received a systematic aristocratic education and had mingled in the upper echelons of Tarsonis's social circles with his parents since childhood. He was well aware of the complex systems and entanglements of interests among the numerous families. "Do you really expect Augustus Mengsk to let us go home like this?"
"I'm afraid he won't." Antonia had already applied sunscreen and lay down in the chair.
After the descendants of these Old Families arrived in Taradorn, the situation changed dramatically.
First came the devastating news that the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet had captured Tarsonis. Then, the Terran Confederacy and the Confederate Congress were also defeated at their doorstep. The nobles of Tarsonis fled like stray dogs.
Although the Confederacy officials and several members of parliament who escaped Tarsonis formed a government in exile, the Terran Confederacy had effectively lost the absolute military power that had once intimidated and oppressed its Confederacy. Various territories declared independence one after another, and the once-powerful Confederacy disintegrated in an instant.
Then, a few days ago, Augustus Mengsk delivered a victory declaration in Tarsonis that enraged the Confederacy congressmen, effectively sealing the fate of the Terran Confederacy and driving a few more nails into its coffin.
However, this did not prevent the descendants of the Old Families who sought refuge in Taradorn from continuing their extravagant and carefree lives, since war had always been far removed from them. During the war, the Terran Confederacy first encouraged patriotic young people to join the army, and then forcibly conscripted citizens born in previous years, while the descendants of the Old Families rightfully enjoyed exemption from military service.
"I'm afraid we won't be able to stay in Taradorn for much longer." Antonia and Morgan were perhaps the only two among the children still discussing the UED and the Korhal rebels. It was not the norm for aristocratic socializing to talk about such things among a group of children who only wanted to forget their troubles and indulge in pleasure.
Moreover, recent news has confirmed that the exiled government of the Terran Confederacy is, with the help of various Old Families, regrouping the Fleets scattered by the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet and gathering naval squadrons that were unable to return in time due to patrolling in extremely remote star systems, in preparation for reclaiming their former territory.
Most of the members of the Tagore family behind Antonia escaped Tarsonis safely, heading to other planets under their family's control or to their mining planets.
"Now that Augustus Mengsk has taken control of Tarsonis, he will soon have time to deal with us."
Moreover, even if the sky falls, their parents and family will hold it up.
The fall of Tarsonis caused the Old Families to lose countless properties and other capital, a loss that could be described as crippling. However, the wealth accumulated over hundreds of years was not enough to force the members of the Old Families to live in poverty.
"Can't our family reconcile with Augustus Mengsk? I don't understand." Morgan had finished all the fruit in the platter and put on his coat to get some more.
"With the support of his family, Augustus was able to become the Overmind of Tarsonis."
"The people of Korhal will never forget the grudge of Korhal IV," Antonia said. "When Korhal was razed to the ground, Amelie Tygore knew that his feud with Augustus was over."
"They were never really a match." Morgan quickly returned with a new fruit platter, scoffing at Antonia's words.
"That Augustus Mengsk is a dangerous man. I've heard he has a ruthless ghost girlfriend, and he has many ghost girlfriends like that."
"Wow!" Antonia exclaimed in surprise.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside, and the security personnel around the pool immediately tensed up.
"Gentlemen and ladies, you must leave immediately. The servants have already packed your bags," a man in a black suit announced loudly as he approached the poolside.
"Hurry, there's no time to waste."
The young men and women in the pool immediately glared at the man with displeasure, while others continued swimming as if they hadn't heard him.
"What? How could you do this?"
"Where are we going now? I've had enough."
"When are we finally going to get back to Tarsonis? I want my mother to talk to you idiots!"
"What happened, Mr. Derin?" Kucinis asked anxiously, brushing her wet blonde hair aside, with her twin brother Rockham standing beside her.
"Have the rebels come here?"
"It's Zerg, child." The man with a thick mustache waved his hand, urging the descendants of the Old Families who were still playing to leave the pool.
"Taradorn has discovered the Zerg's main nest. This place will soon become the target of the Zerg's attack. You should leave now in the shuttle without hesitation."
"Okay, but I wonder how much longer we'll have to live like drowning dogs, being chased around by rebels and Earthlings?" Rockham said, putting on his coat.
"It won't be long. Augustus Mengsk won't be in his position for much longer." Derin glanced at his watch again, looking extremely anxious.
"What about the rest of the people in Taradorn?" Morgan Calabas asked Derin.
"Many people still live here; if we leave..."
"That's not our business," the stern-faced head steward said firmly.
"My duty is to get you safely back to your families. The Zerg are not pirates from the outer galaxies," he said. "You are kind, child, but we are no match for the Zerg."
Antonia and Morgan exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
Leading and protecting their people was once the duty of the original Old Families, which is why they were respected and held power. But things are not like they used to be; the nobles who control countless riches are unlikely to take any risks to protect the common people.
Tyrador IX high-altitude orbit, Tosh's Behemoth central nervous system chamber.
This enormous monster, comparable to a satellite, was like a giant whale swimming in a black ocean. Between the folds of its hardened skin on its back and belly, which were hundreds or thousands of feet wide, lived enormous Overlord and other hideous alien creatures. Even larger monsters with wide-open scarlet eyes were flying around it.
Several brave Tyrador Knights' Wraith were keeping a close watch on the slowly moving Zerg Fleets, observing their every move.
"As long as the Terran Confederacy exists, my revenge will not end." Gabriel Tosh, now a hideous blue-skinned monster, could no longer remember whether he had killed his grandmother with his own hands or the Confederacy troops who had even opened fire on the slum dwellers.
But that didn't matter. Tosh was burning with rage and desperately needed an outlet; he had to find something to do.
As Tosh remained in this monstrous state for longer, the last vestiges of his humanity gradually crumbled. This wasn't Tosh's fault; the Zerg's modifications constantly influenced him, and the Swarm had no need for pity for the mentally challenged or for other unimportant emotions.
Revenge is irrelevant, at least not to the current Prince of Blades.
"Even if you succeed in taking revenge, you will not feel any joy in your heart. You are looking for liberation and redemption, and therefore you should seek help from the Protoss and humanity."
On the other side, a female Protoss, enveloped in enormous fleshy tendrils and tentacles, spoke to Tosh in her melodious yet majestic telepathic language.
She was none other than Raszagal, the female chieftain of the Dark Templar and the current High Priestess of the Daelaam. However, at this moment, half of Raszagal's body was trapped inside the Behemoth's organization, and her grayish-white skin was showing unsightly marks due to exhaustion.
"Shut up—by the goddess of death, if you have a mouth." Tosh felt a surge of anger the moment he saw Raszagal.
Tosh kidnapped Raszagal —one of the tricks of the villains in the Haj slums who often kidnap wealthy city dwellers for ransom—in order to use her to command the Dark Templar to kill all the Cerebrate.
Although Tosh was certain that the Protoss wouldn't let the newly formed Overmind and Cerebrate go even if he didn't do it, who knew when they would make their move? Once the new Overmind awoke, Tosh would be immediately regained control, so he couldn't afford to delay.
As it turned out, after taking Raszagal to Char, they didn't see a single Overmind, let alone a few Cerebrate.
What the hell is going on here?
Clearly, the Overmind has awakened and its whereabouts are unknown, which puts Tosh in an awkward position. Tosh is a creation of the previous Overmind, and he is unwilling to obey the commands of the newly born Overmind.
"Attack, my people." Tosh was incredibly frustrated at the thought; he had so much energy he couldn't muster. And lately, Tosh kept hearing some inexplicable muttering voice from the darkness, which was driving him almost crazy.
"Attack this planet and slaughter all the nobles and soldiers of the Terran Confederacy."
"You must not leave behind any more blood debts; it is unwise to incur the hatred of mankind." Raszagal seemed to still be trying to persuade Tosh to lay down his knife.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Tosh roared, and the tentacles and fleshy tendrils binding Raszagal tightened immediately, causing the female chieftain to groan.
"My target is only those Confederacy nobles; the humans here, don't get in my way."