The Great Purge

Outside the portholes, cannon fire thundered. Dense laser barrages formed a great net woven of light, yet the magnificent, spacious bridge of the flagship Bucephalus seemed cold and quiet. Many people spoke loudly before the scattered communications consoles, but their words were concise and clipped, precise and orderly as machines—nothing like the noisy chaos of a crowded marketplace.

As the imperial flagship, the Bucephalus was also a symbol of sovereign power. Its grand bridge had been fashioned into a true palace.

The Bucephalus's bridge stretched as far as the eye could see, with floors inlaid with gold leaf. Its sumptuous silk carpets and relief carvings recalled the splendor and grandeur of Augustgrad Palace. The Neoclassical walls were adorned with wolf-head statues and military crests, symbols of the glory of the imperial royal family.

Imperial Prince Arcturus Mengsk handed command of the fleet over to General Blazer, then turned back to the unfinished chess game and sank into thought. Compared to a group of tedious pirates, the game before him was clearly more suspenseful.

In this game, Arcturus still played black, while his opponent's side had already been stripped of defenses and thrown into complete disarray. He needed only one more move to checkmate them. Victory was already within his grasp, yet he found it utterly dull.

Arcturus sat down at the table and picked up the glass of sherry before him, pondering in silence. There was no one seated across from him. A beautiful ashtray sat beside the table, but it had never been used. It seemed he had merely been playing against himself.

At the same time, the Bucephalus had just crushed a Kel-Morian Pirates capital ship. Vast streams of molten metal debris slammed into the warship's energy shields, creating a breathtaking sight. These pirate vessels could also be