"Tell Lady Athena."
Kores-Tar slammed his staff onto the ground with authority. "We shall provide three thousand elite warriors to the Human Imperium—not as vassals,"
His neural filaments surged with a fusion of blue and golden light, "But as allies who stand shoulder to shoulder."
Zeratul's figure began to dissolve into psionic light. Before vanishing completely, the Dark Prelate left behind one final remark:
"Now that's the Kores-Tar I remember."
Once Zeratul was gone, Kores-Tar noticed something new in his hand—a badge bearing the Imperium's dragon crest, crafted not from human alloys, but with Protoss crystalwork.
All around the plaza, Kares warriors dropped to one knee in unison. They tilted their heads toward the badge in silent reverence, like sunflowers turning toward the sun.
Above the floating city, the last vestiges of Chaos's mists dissolved beneath the golden auroras.
And on the far horizon, the first ray of true dawn pierced through the eternal night.
－－－－－－
Meanwhile, in Kares's near-orbit, the Human Imperium's fleet hovered like golden constellations, spread out across strategic nodes.
Cruisers formed triangular formations, their prow-mounted lance arrays releasing a pillar of precision devastation every fifteen minutes, turning Tal'darim strongholds on the surface into glassy craters.
Further out, twelve frigates deployed swarms of drones that buzzed along the edge of the atmosphere like wasps. Their scanning beams etched spiderweb-like patterns across the cloud layers, marking every last trace of corrupted energy for ground forces.
And in the sunlit segment of orbit, the Nerva, Athena's flagship and an Emperor-class battleship, remained in silent vigil.
Over ten kilometers long, the titanic vessel pulsed with soft golden energy veins. Prayers inscribed along its hull gleamed under stellar light.
It had not participated in direct combat. Instead, it silently maintained the vast planetary psionic shield, isolating Kares from the whispers of Chaos attempting to seep in from the Warp.
Within the Nerva's bridge hall, time itself seemed to still.
A cathedral-like space rivaling the grandeur of ancient Greek temples, its ceiling soared over a hundred meters. Twelve massive columns embedded with starmaps upheld a dome painted with the panorama of the galaxy.
The floor, a mosaic of marble and obsidian, shimmered faintly with psionic ripples at each step.
At the far end, before the colossal observation window, Athena stood clad in her golden war armor, gazing upon the azure oceans and continent outlines of Kares reflected in her polished plates.
"Mother."
The silence was broken by a youthful voice.
The barely one-meter-tall Sui Meng tugged on Athena's armored skirt.
This gene-primarch, though appearing no older than a three- or four-year-old human child, had golden eyes that gleamed with maturity far beyond his physical form.
His soft hand pointed toward a point beyond the observation window, where a black-red surge of energy erupted from the surface—only to be instantly annihilated by orbital fire.
Athena knelt to meet her son's gaze.
She removed her integrated golden helmet, revealing a face so perfect it stole breath itself.
As her fingers brushed back the boy's bangs, tiny arcs of electricity danced through his hair.
"See that?" Her voice was tender—so different from the divine presence on the battlefield. "That darkness is like a crushed centipede. Even if it's broken, it still writhes for a while."
Sui Meng nodded solemnly. "But it can't hurt Kares anymore, right?"
The goddess of war did not answer immediately.
Instead, she picked up the little primarch and walked to the heart of the observation deck, where a holographic projection of Kares floated.
As she approached, thousands of faint black dots appeared across the image—fungus-like, parasitic nodes clinging to the planet's psionic ley lines.
"Flesh is easy to cleanse. Souls are not."
Her fingertip brushed several of the dots. Where she touched, golden light radiated. "These corruption marks can lie dormant for decades... even centuries."
She guided Sui Meng's small hand toward the largest blot. "That's why we must remain eternally vigilant—until all darkness and Chaos are purged."
Suddenly, the psionic resonance of the bridge hall surged. The twelve starmap pillars lit up in unison with alerting pulses.
A war maiden strode swiftly across the obsidian-marble floor, her silver armor echoing with crisp, metallic rhythm.
"My lady," she said, kneeling on one knee, "The third Salamander cohort has purged the final stronghold in the northern hemisphere. Sixty percent of the operation is complete. We estimate full planetary purification within two hours."
Another attendant, bearing a high-ranking crest, stepped forward: "Kores-Tar has relayed word through Zeratul. The Kares Council has unanimously voted to join the Imperium's protective network."
She presented a Protoss crystal, bowing. "They have pledged three thousand Kares warriors."
Athena's golden fingertip brushed the crystal—instantly absorbing all encoded data.
She allowed a small smile. "Excellent."
That single word lifted the oppressive atmosphere of the bridge. Even the stars projected on the ceiling glowed a little brighter.
At this stage, for Kares to offer three thousand warriors was a sincere gesture of commitment to "loyalty" toward the Imperium.
After all, they had just endured a total assault by both the Tal'darim and Chaos. Had Athena not led the third Salamander cohort, the Wailers, and the Carcharodon fleet to Kares in time, the entire planet would've been sacrificed by the Tal'darim.
The Protoss still didn't fully understand Chaos—let alone resist it.
Meanwhile, Sigismund's Black Templars were assigned to defend Khala and surrounding sectors, shielding against wild Zerg and Chaos-manipulated Protoss threats.
Just then, the goddess turned. Her golden armor shimmered with a warm glow beneath the stellar light.
She gestured to her two most trusted war maidens. "Take the primarch to the observatory."
Sui Meng straightened instantly. Despite his childish appearance, his pale golden eyes shone with preternatural calm.
"Shall I begin preparing tactical simulations?"
"Yes, child."
A flicker of pride passed through Athena's eyes.
She adjusted the collar of his miniature battle armor. "Begin with psionic resonance drills. Then review Form Seven."
She kissed his forehead, a stream of golden light flowing from her circlet into the child's body.
"Remember—true leaders need the courage of a warrior and the wisdom of a scholar."
"I understand, Mother."
As Sui Meng departed with the attendants, Athena turned toward the central control platform.
Her golden boots left faint trails of light upon the black and white flooring. Each step was measured and graceful.
HUMMMMM—
The central console bloomed with soft gold, a torrent of hardlight particles swirling and converging like stars in a river.
The light wove itself into a seated figure on a throne of radiance.
As the final strand fell into place, the hardlight form of Emperor Sui Yang fully manifested.
"Hail, Your Majesty."
Every war maiden and squire in the bridge bowed in unison, their movements as flawless as if rehearsed a thousand times.
The Emperor raised a hand gently. Even that simple gesture carried a presence vast enough to embrace the cosmos.
"At ease."
His gaze passed over the others and settled on Athena.
Eyes that seemed to contain galaxies glimmered faintly. "What is the current state of Universe 18?"
"Stabilizing."
Athena traced the air with her finger, calling up a stellar map. The blue zones of safety were steadily expanding.
"The Zerg are no longer a significant threat—without the Queen of Blades and Amon, they are weakened."
She zoomed in on Kares's floating cities. "The corrupted Tal'darim remnants have been purged. Kores-Tar is a wise leader—his council passed the alliance unanimously."
The Emperor nodded faintly. Even that small motion caused the entire hall to seem brighter. He asked:
"How is Sui Meng progressing?"
Athena's expression softened. She conjured a new holo-feed.
The young primarch practiced psionic control in the training hall. Pale golden energy danced from his fingertips, forming perfect geometric shapes.
"Exceeding expectations. Though only a few months old, he's mastered basic psionics and has tactical aptitude comparable to an Astartes with three years of experience."
The corner of Sui Yang's mouth lifted ever so slightly—almost imperceptible.
"Maintain the current pace of instruction. Remember, the Imperium needs more than a warrior..."
"...It needs a complete soul."
Athena finished the sentence naturally, her gaze drifting toward the observatory.
"I ensure he interacts regularly with refugees from Khala and Mar Sara, guided by war maidens and attendants. He must understand the Imperium's ideals—and why he must fight."
Just then, Sui Meng's voice rang out over the comms: "Mother, I've completed Form Seven."
On the holo-screen, the boy stood poised with a miniature spear, its tip glowing with pure psionic gold.
The Emperor's projection grew more radiant. He extended a finger into the void, sending a beam of warm golden light directly to the observatory.
"Well done, child."
Athena watched the tender moment unfold. Behind her mask of divinity, her face softened.
Then she turned to the Emperor. "Shall we alter the current plan?"
"Consolidation is our priority."
Sui Yang's projection pulsed gently. "Send diplomatic envoys. Help the Protoss establish a full psionic defense system. They are a species worthy of integration into the Imperium."
His gaze seemed to pierce the warship, gazing down upon Kares—and into the future of the StarCraft universe.
"Universe 18 is critical to the Imperium. It holds rich resources and elite warriors. Ensure it falls completely under our domain."
As the Emperor's image faded, his final words caressed the bridge like a spring breeze:
"It is time for Sui Meng to experience combat alongside the Astartes. A gene-primarch must see the broader starscape."
"Yes, my lord."
Athena bowed deeply. When she rose again, the grand hall had returned to stillness.
The goddess stepped once more toward the observation window, looking down upon a reborn Kares.
Under the starlight, her golden armor shimmered with the radiance of hope.
…
Twelve hours later.
In the Nerva's grand reception hall, golden sunlight streamed through the towering dome skylight.
This majestic space, rivaling ancient temples, rose fifty meters high. Twelve colossal pillars carved with human history supported a dome etched with a galactic map.
The floor, a flawless mosaic of white marble and Khaydarin crystal, gleamed beneath the sunlight.
On either side stood golden-armored war maidens, unmoving as statues. Their spears cast sharp, symmetrical shadows on the floor.
As Kores-Tar and the Kares delegation stepped through the airlock, the air seemed to still.
The Executor's silver-white armor shimmered like pearl under the golden light. Behind him, over a dozen clan representatives wore ceremonial battle armor. Khaydarin crystals at their neural strand tips swayed with each step.
"So this... is the god of the Human Imperium?"
A young Protoss scholar whispered in awe, eyes wide as he took in the holographic murals lining the hall—depictions of the Emperor waging war across the stars, slowly shifting in the air.
Kores-Tar's neural filaments tensed slightly, but his stride remained steady.
As the delegation reached the center, all eyes turned forward—
Athena stood motionless atop a three-step dais. Her golden armor shimmered like molten metal under the lights.
She wore no helmet. Her waist-length golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, forming a radiant halo behind her.
The most staggering part was the natural psionic pressure around her—not deliberately projected, but the innate aura of a god walking among mortals.
"Hail to you, Goddess of War."
Kores-Tar placed a hand to his chest in the standard Protoss diplomatic salute. Behind him, the rest of the delegation instinctively fell to one knee.
"Please rise, envoys of Kares." Athena's voice flowed like spring water—majestic, yet with incredible warmth.
She lifted a hand slightly, and a gentle golden energy lifted every kneeling Protoss to their feet.
"In the Imperium of Man, such gestures are not necessary between allies."
The war maidens flanking the hall suddenly struck their spears to the ground. The clash of metal and crystal echoed like thunder.
At that signal, the dome's galactic map shifted—settling into a 3D projection of the Kares system. Countless golden dots twinkled across the planet's surface, marking rebuilding cities and purified ley lines.
"According to preliminary reports," Athena tapped the air, expanding the image with detailed data, "our forces have eliminated all remaining Tal'darim. Engineering teams are restoring anti-grav city cores. Basic infrastructure will resume within seventy-two hours."
Kores-Tar's neural strands flickered faintly as he stepped forward.
"The Kares Council, after all-night deliberations, reached a unanimous decision."
He withdrew a crystal plaque engraved with both factions' emblems.
"We pledge ourselves to the Imperium's protection network as equal allies, and offer three thousand warriors in support of its operations."
Athena accepted the plaque with poise and grace.
The moment her fingers touched its surface, it burst into radiant gold. Inside, treaty clauses appeared—written in both Protoss glyphs and Mandarin.
"The Human Imperium accepts this covenant." Her voice deepened into solemnity. The entire hall brightened.
"In the name of the Emperor, we pledge:
Kares's skies shall be guarded by the fleets of the Imperium.
Kares's soil shall be shielded by the Emperor's light.
And Kares's people shall share in our peace and prosperity."
As her words echoed, golden psionic runes lit up across the floor—rapidly spreading to each Protoss delegate's feet, forming miniature Imperial crests before them—
A soaring dragon clutching a Protoss crystal…
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