Aboard the Hyperion, bridge.
After repeated revisions and complete rebuilds, the Hyperion's bridge had been redesigned into a space as vast as the throne hall of the imperial palace, resplendent with gold ornaments, reliefs, and panels symbolizing imperial authority.
There should have been a throne here as well, but the Emperor of the Terran Empire had asked only for a holographic starmap table large enough to spread a starry sky overhead. Even so, there were no fewer guards here than in the throne hall. By the outward-facing windows, a member of the Royal Guard stood every few steps, armed with special-operations riot shields and Plasma Rifles.
On this day, Emperor Augustus's generals had gathered in full. Aside from Alexei Stukov, who was at Bhekar, and Admiral Faraday, who was guarding Korhal, Horace Warfield, Jim Raynor, Matt Horner, Mira Han, Edmund Duke, Carolina Davis, Harnack Hank, and the rest of the high-ranking commanders were all present.
These were all prominent figures of the Terran Empire, men and women who wore gold and purple in the courts of Augustgrad. In addition, several commanders from the Kel-Morian Combine and the Umojan Protectorate had come as well, bringing the total to over twenty or thirty people.
Everyone here was fully equipped, their various suits of armor gleaming brilliantly as they carried themselves with extraordinary presence.
At the same time, Daelaam High Templar Tassadar, High Preserver Rohana, and High Executors Artanis, Selendis, Mojya, and the others had also arrived. Beneath the flagship's lights, a sea of gold-blue and brilliant white armor reflected one another, solemn and sacred.
Vorazun, daughter of Nerazim Matriarch Raszagal, had also led her elite Dark Templar here, standing alongside their Daelaam brethren.
Even the elusive Zeratul had come aboard the Hyperion. Yet he remained apart from the crowd, having exchanged only