Terran Empire

Korhal IV, the capital.

Augustgrad Palace.

In the original plan for the imperial capital, the palace built for the Emperor of the Terran Empire was located in the center of the city, occupying more than ten square miles of land. In addition to the main giant pyramid-shaped palace building, behind the palace's towering walls and gates were large courtyards, nurseries and gardens, and office buildings for the cabinet and other administrative departments.

Although the emperor himself waved his hand and repeatedly cut the costly plan after seeing it, changing three-quarters of the original area to build a large public park, the Augustus City Hall, the Imperial Senate, and the Imperial Marine Corps Operations Center, the main palace and a small part of the courtyard were preserved at the urging of Minister of Defense Arcturus and others.

In addition, there are travertine marble sculptures of the Revolutionary Army Marines and a 500-foot-high monument commemorating the Battle of Korhal, where soldiers who died protecting Korhal will be relocated for burial.

The palace was both a symbol of the power of the Emperor of the Terran Empire and the very center of politics, so it could not be too shabby.

Even so, it was undoubtedly a massive project. At least three thousand construction workers were involved in the construction of the Augustgrad Palace from the very beginning, and the resources and large-scale equipment mobilized were an astonishing number.

Construction was in full swing throughout Augustgrad, with the palace being just one example. This was Emperor Augustus's contribution to his birthplace, and the reborn world of Korhal IV would inevitably replace the deeply entrenched power of Tarsonis as the center of the Terran Empire.

The current Augustgrad Palace is just a steel frame erected by countless cranes, pile drivers, concrete, and towering scaffolding. The outermost palace wall is already taking shape, and at every construction site, the golden-red flags of the Terran Empire flutter in the wind.

The half-mile-long high wall is merely the outermost layer of the palace's defenses. Above the layers of reinforced concrete lies a four-foot-thick layer of Plasteel, μ alloy, and superconducting mesh. The air and water inside are sieved to the molecular level, making them resistant to the impact of electron pulses and charged particle radiation. Giant cannons with astonishing calibers are mounted on the palace walls, guarded by the Royal Guard, formerly the Marshal Guard.

From the design and construction of the palace to the guards and staff, everyone was among the most loyal to the Mengsk Family. Before anyone could actually come into contact with a member of the royal family, they had to undergo a mind-reading examination by Psionics from the highest oversight and police department, the Ogrub. The Imperial Security Forces of Augustgrad were responsible for the security of the palace's perimeter.

In terms of artistic value, the magnificent Augustus Göttingen should also be considered an unprecedented masterpiece in the architectural history of the Terran Dominion. More than thirty artists, including former architects, sculptors and painters from the former Terran Confederacy, were present, and the architectural plan for the palace was finalized after extremely intense debate.

The Augustgrad Palace completely breaks free from the limitations of classical architecture. It is a stunning steel and glass building, expected to use tens of millions of tons of steel, marble, and flat glass. Alloy steel columns, beams, and longitudinal beams, along with the glass that sparkles in the sunlight, combine to form a towering super steel pyramid that will undoubtedly become the city's landmark.

Augustus how the opposition and former supporters of the Terran Confederacy would slander him. They would seize the opportunity with shining eyes, calling the new ruler of the Terran Empire a tyrant who had just ascended the throne and was now indulging in extravagant construction of palaces, a common flaw among peasant uprising leaders.

This emperor is so arrogant that he named the imperial capital after himself; what absurd things wouldn't he do?

As long as Augustus remained in that position, both malicious slander and praise would continue unabated.

The Augustgrad Palace is not an exquisite palace or castle, but rather an unparalleled steel fortress, symbolizing the indomitable determination and ruthlessness of the Terran Empire emperors.

But that would be at least five or six years from now, unless Augustus willing to allocate more funds and recruit more workers to build the palace.

At present, the Augustgrad Palace is only a vague outline. Before the palace is put into use, Augustus lives in a high-rise building that has already been built, about twenty stories high. The building houses the various departments of the Terran Dominion, including dozens of different departments such as the newly established Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Land Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Health and Public Security of the Terran Empire.

Ruling an intergalactic empire across galaxies requires an equally large administrative body, with tens of thousands of people working for it.

As the number of people increases, these imperial officials, personally appointed by the emperor, will eventually have to move out.

Some say that the new emperor of the Terran Empire was extravagant, but in reality, Augustus's office was just an elegantly decorated small room, much simpler than the private palaces of wealthy merchants and tycoons.

As the emperor of the Terran Empire, Augustus had no time for vacations, after all, he still had an empire to build.

Augustus to build up the various departments of the imperial government almost from scratch, establish a new legislative, judicial and administrative system, and further determine what policies the next generation of the Terran Empire should implement, and what group of people would assist the emperor in governing this struggling Terran Dominion.

On the ruins and ashes of the Terran Confederacy, the new Terran Empire faced a mess. Territories were fragmented, and the raging war had even set back the economy of some colonies by half a century. Under prolonged anarchy and famine, chaos reigned, and civilizations there showed signs of decline.

At the same time, internal opponents emerged one after another. The Terran Confederacy was a political system controlled by a large number of wealthy nobles, financial magnates, and large corporations. Augustus could not avoid them if he wanted to take over the Terran Confederacy's rule over the Confederacy territory.

Externally, the Zerg and Protoss continue to threaten the borders of the Terran Empire, and the war has never ceased.

Thus, Augustus could not recruit these local nobles into the Senate as he had done in the old Confederacy, nor could he delegate power to the soon-to-be-established Imperial Council. A broader form of democracy was not yet the right time.

If the Terran Empire is an economically declining and militarily weak regime that can't even protect itself, how can it have time to discuss republican democracy and hand over the reins of power to clowns who only know how to shout in parliament?

Augustus Great, the de facto president and prime minister of the Terran Empire, held the power of both positions and was the supreme leader of the empire and government, that is, the head of state. In effect, this was another form of absolute monarchy, with all state power concentrated in the hands of Augustus alone.

If they're not careful, the newly established Terran Empire could be defeated by an omnipresent enemy.

The people of this empire desperately needed time to recuperate, but the empire's enemies would not give Augustus that chance.

Circumstances create heroes.

"Your Majesty (the Game title), your speech has caused a sensation in many places. Judging from both public reaction and public opinion, the situation is very favorable for you." Sarah Kerrigan placed a cup of black tea on Augustus's table.

"Mayor Hadrian of Tarsonis even organized the city's children to write you letters."

"Oh, let me see." Augustus put down the draft document in his hand concerning the reorganization of the Korhal Revolutionary Army and the formation of the Imperial Army. Next to it was a proposal to establish the Empire's first higher military academy.

There are just too many things to do; I can't possibly finish them all.

These letters were all electronic files, Augustus quickly found them on his personal computer, which was connected to the entire planet's communication system. The childlike yet admiring words immediately brought a knowing smile to the face of the overworked Emperor of the Terran Empire.

"This Hadrian Rhodes is the former mayor of Tarsonis, isn't he? I remember him." Augustus carefully read through several letters, arranged the folder containing the replies, and said to Kerrigan beside him:

"I hope he can achieve something during his term, but the old Confederacy methods won't work on me. He's a shrewd and capable man, and very smart, but even smart people can make things worse."

"I understand," Kerrigan her head. "Your Majesty."

"You can just call me Augustus, at least in private." Augustus looked at Kerrigan for a moment, then pointed to her somewhat worn Revolutionary Army Navy uniform and said:

"You know what I'm thinking, so I won't try to persuade you," he said. "I've spoken to Cavil (son of Charles, the old butler of the Mengsk Family, now the butler of the Augustgrad Palace), and he says you need a few formal dresses for public occasions."

"The outfits I have in my closet are just fine," Kerrigan said.

"You are my future wife, you know? The people of the Terran Empire also hope that their queen will be a virtuous and dignified woman," Augustus, looking at Kerrigan.

"Who says an empress can't wear military uniform?" Kerrigan said, her usually straightforward nature suddenly shifting as she turned her head, a smile uncontrollably spreading across her face.

Never before had any high -Confederacy noble or government official married Psionics, let alone the Empress of the Empire. On this particular matter, Augustus want any of his subordinates to question him.

"Kerrigan is right." At that moment, Arcturus Mengsk, dressed in a gold and red Royal Guard uniform, entered the Emperor's office.

"My mother would also say that she shouldn't dress so shabbily, that our family can afford a few more clothes."

"You have arrived, Prince Arcturus, Grand Duke Tarsannis, Earl Wolfrek, Earl Steeling," Augustus looked up at Arcturus and recited a long list of titles.

"Enough, you don't need to insult me anymore." When Augustus proclaimed himself emperor, Arcturus concocted a long list of titles for himself, which now even he himself found embarrassing to hear.

"Have Angus and his mother arrived yet?" Augustus smile at him.

"They've arrived. Faraday has already picked them up at Augustgrad Airport. Dorothy's here too, what a surprise!" For Arcturus, it was indeed a surprise.

"I'm planning to appoint Angus as Minister of Finance and form a cabinet around him. Do you think this is appropriate?" Augustus asked his brother. "There will inevitably be people saying I'm practicing nepotism."

"Angus is the least likely person to use this position to embezzle and take bribes to accumulate power, and you wouldn't choose someone from officers like Tychus." Arcturus shrugged.

"That's like a rat falling into a vat of oil." Augustus laughed, a rare occurrence for him. "I heard that old fellow has been doing quite well in Tarsonis lately, but he's learned to keep a low profile."

"Arcturus, have all the Confederacy Ghost Academy directors, faculty, and students who were imprisoned by Alexei Stukov been found?" he asked again.

"Found them. Those Earthlings who hate genetically modified humans didn't execute them. There are approximately six hundred active Ghost operative, about two thousand faculty and staff, and over seven hundred students." This is why Arcturus came here:

"As per your orders, the Ghost instructor who trained Kerrigan has been found. His name is indeed Rumm. He was the one who indirectly caused Kerrigan's father's death and single-handedly trained her into a highly effective Ghost operative."

"Dad committed suicide." Kerrigan was deeply affected, but she truly viewed the cold-blooded Confederacy instructor as an enemy.

"Now, it's your prerogative to do whatever you want with him, Sarah," Augustus whispered to Kerrigan.

"I told you, I would avenge you." His voice sounded gentle, "Or if you disdain to do it yourself, I'll have him drowned in the lake."

"No, let me kill him myself, blood for blood." Kerrigan was smiling just now, but now her face was as cold as ice. The training methods of the early Ghost Academy brought great suffering to the Psionics. Not only Kerrigan, but if it weren't for the Psionics suppressor's function of forcing obedience, the Revolutionary Army Ghost operative would almost all want their instructors dead.

After saying that, Kerrigan strode out of the office with a swift and decisive look in her eyes, a look that truly seemed to want to kill.

This matter must be resolved.

"What a ruthless woman. Listen to me, what about the Bennett Family's daughters?" Arcturus still hadn't given up on his plan to oust Kerrigan: "Or, what about Annabella Terra's youngest daughter?"

"Don't you like Psionics?"

"Why don't you say that to her face?" Augustus shook his head. "No matter what, I will always only have this one queen."

"And, did you spread this rumor?"

"Your Majesty, your loyal subjects never spread rumors or distort facts, unless... it is indeed true." Arcturus clicked his tongue.

"Well, how are the preparations for the Imperial Senate going?" Augustus time to argue with his foolish brother:

"The Imperial Senate—it's different now than in the Confederacy era. Each planet sends a representative instead of seats being allocated based on population and economy. In the past, the Edge World didn't even have a say in the Confederate Congress."

"This can't be done in a few days. You know, about half of the former Confederacy territories haven't been recovered by us yet, and there are also quite a few settlements established by immigrants themselves outside of the Confederacy immigration program," Arcturus replied.

"We must send Fleets as soon as possible to make them recognize the Terran Empire's sovereignty over their homeland."

"I know, but there simply aren't any more Fleets available. Both the Zerg on Taradorn and the Tal'darim on Attica require powerful Fleets to deal with." Augustus didn't have any better ideas either.

"Fortunately, a solution has been found for the plague in places like Agria."

Artanis, the Protoss executive officer who came to help the Revolutionary Army fight against the Hybrid, remained in Korhal and even participated in the formation of the Terran Empire. Due to his mission, Artanis had many Protoss bio-scientists under his command who were researching the Hybrid.

Thus, Augustus commissioned Protoss Empire scientists under Artanis to develop an antidote for the Zerg virus.

The Protoss hadn't conducted such research before because they didn't need to worry about Zerg infection, nor would they waste time and energy saving humanity. But in reality, the Protoss were fully capable of such technological advancement.

"Notify the Fleets that the Protoss have developed a nanoserum capable of combating the virus. The Fleets bound for Agria shall depart immediately today," Augustus.

"I also want to go on this expedition with the Fleets."

"You are the Emperor of the Terran Empire, let your generals handle the expeditions," Arcturus objected.

"Didn't I already say that?" Augustus simply said calmly.

"Wherever I am, that is the Terran Empire."

During the Battle of Alexei Stukov, the Protoss developed a nanoserum that cured Alexei Stukov's infection.

Although the Protoss still burned the infected when they encountered them later, that was four years later with the Wings of Liberty.