The Hyperion's call immediately received a response from a station named the Chau Sara Federal Ministry of Justice Radio, and a local judicial officer named Collins identified himself to Augustus.
"I am Magistrate Collins, the local judicial officer. Thank you for responding to our rescue request." A Federal official with a signature black mustache appeared on the Hyperion's wide main bridge screen.
Magistrate Collins's uniform had not been changed for two weeks. The green synthetic-fiber military uniform was covered with dried blood and scorch marks, and he clearly had no leisure or elegance left to tidy his appearance. Standing before Augustus Mengsk, whose uniform was neat and whose posture was upright, it seemed instead that the other side held real power as a Federal official, and Collins was the rebel fleeing here.
"I know your name. Augustus Mengsk, more than four months ago you and your people turned Mar Sara upside down. At that time, I always worried that you would come to Chau Sara." Magistrate Collins stared at Augustus, as if the other side were a glaring presence.
"I must restate my position: I am an official within the governmental system of the Terran Confederacy, the only lawful government of all Terrans, and I swear to maintain the unity of the Confederacy and fight to the end against any enemy that seeks to destroy it." he said.
"I will request—on the identity of a human, not as a Federal judicial officer—that you save the people of Los Andares, and the Andares Security Forces and other militia forces will fully cooperate with you and will surrender to you after everything ends."
"If—if you really are as Mike Liberty says—that within the bodies of Heaven's Devils there still remain humanity, virtue, and love."
In recent years, UNN's gold-medal host Mike Liberty always found opportunities to, "unintentionally," reveal on his programs some unknown truths. For example, the revolutionary army had never carried out inhumane massacres or city slaughter on Mar Sara, and every location where civilian casualties appeared, without exception, was on Alpha Squadron's marching route.
Different voices always attracted the attention of Confederacy citizens, especially since Liberty's reports were clearly closer to the truth of reality, and those who cared about political circumstances and possessed independent thinking abilities were often Liberty's loyal fans.
Many people were worried that Liberty would meet with misfortune. After all, even those reporters who only reported the Terran Confederacy government's corruption and money-power trading scandals would receive warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and they would either be dismissed by the television station or disappear without a trace.
But in fact, Liberty, who had already secretly joined the pan-Terran Revolutionary Party, had received protection from several allied families within the Old Families on Tarsonis that were part of the Revolutionary Party, and he was specifically reporting the scandals of the rival families of these families.
"Even if you did not say so, I would do it anyway." Augustus revealed an expression that this was how things should be. Behind his broad shoulders and back, the bright white light from the Hyperion's bridge ceiling illumination lamps shone down, making his entire figure appear radiant.
Terrorist, rebel leader, Korhal warlord, and interstellar hero—there were as many praises as slanders attached to him. Among those with rebellious spirit on planets such as Mar Sara and Antiga Prime, Augustus was likewise called a freedom fighter, revolutionary leader, and the uprising commander wandering the starry rivers.
In more than two years, Augustus had not only led the revolutionary army fleet to break through the pursuit and encirclement of the Confederacy fleet several times, but had also defeated more than one navy squadron. Whether Augustus was righteous or evil, he was a legendary figure in the true sense.
"My fleet has been navigating in the cosmos for several months, breaking through the heavy encirclement of the Confederacy fleet and Zerg alien creatures just to come here and save the people of Chau Sara." Augustus said.
"My people will soon lower the transport ships from high-orbit down to the ground. Have your people make preparations."
"The people of Chau Sara will absolutely not forget everything the revolutionary army has done for us." Magistrate Collins's tone was no longer as forceful as before. Clearly, this more-than-a-month-long nightmare had smoothed out all of his pride and sharpness.
"I still want to confirm one thing with you, Marshal Augustus, and that is: is there truly not even a single Confederacy fleet within the Sara star system?"
"Based on the intelligence I have, there is still a navy fleet anchored at the edge of the Sara star system." Augustus answered. "They are Omega Squadron. This squadron arrived in the Sara star system as early as three months ago. I believe you should be aware of this."
"I understand." Magistrate Collins trembled as if struck by a bullet. He shook his head, as though asking himself in muttering disbelief.
"Why would they do this?"
"We have the same question as you." Augustus said.
"My military senior advisors and I will immediately begin arranging the first group of people to board the ships, and the Andares Security Forces will leave Chau Sara in the last group."
The communication abruptly ended, and what followed was the report from Augustus's adjutant, Lieutenant Sarah Kerrigan.
"Radar reports show that Omega Squadron, which has remained stationary at the edge of the Sara star system, is moving toward the direction of the Chau Sara star system." she said.
"Is their target the Zerg or us?"
"Is there any response from the direction of Omega Squadron?" Augustus asked.
"No, Omega Squadron's fleet has not responded to our call. If not for the fact that they are still continuously transmitting signals to the outside world, we would practically suspect that those are a group of unmanned ghost ships." Kerrigan said while shaking her head.
"Then the answer is obvious." Augustus revealed a faintly discernible expression of disdain. He glanced sidelong at the city of Los Andares below the bridge's observation window, one hand resting at his waist.
"Omega Squadron has been anchored at the edge of the Sara star system for several months, yet they have only blockaded the star system, completely ignoring the rescue of Chau Sara." he said in a tone full of sarcasm. "That a government in this century would watch millions on a planet die without saving them—this is something absolutely inconceivable for a humanitarian Terran society that follows benevolence and reason."
"If Omega Squadron came to deal with the Zerg, they would not have waited until we arrived to act." Augustus clasped his hands behind his back.
It was not the first time the revolutionary army had encountered Omega Squadron. This navy squadron, known as the Death's Head Legion, was a unit mainly composed of resocialized soldiers—unable to think and absolutely loyal. To the Confederacy, this was practically a perfect army.
If it were a Terran army that had not undergone resocialization reform, they would at least question the meaning of their fight because they had stood by and watched Chau Sara's destruction, and any unit that doubts the meaning of battle is one that may waver.
A resocialized army would not have such concerns. Even if the Terran Confederacy High Command ordered them to slaughter their own compatriots, the execution would still be immediate and decisive.
"Does this mean that we not only have to deal with those buzzing alien bugs on Chau Sara's surface and in orbit, but also those 'own people'?" Jim Raynor was standing right beside Augustus, waiting at any moment for the revolutionary army Marshal's orders.
Warfield and the Heaven's Devils led by Lundstein had all been transferred by Augustus to serve as captains or acting commanding officers on the various battlecruisers, while the remaining revolutionary army warships were still staying in outer orbit above Chau Sara, fighting against the Zerg air forces.
Fortunately, although the Jormungandr Swarm that invaded the Sara star system this time had enormous numbers, it was still a hive mainly based on ground-combat forces, and the Terran fleet would not collapse instantly when facing the Zerg fleet.
"The Zerg are about to kill everyone on Chau Sara, and the Confederacy still wants to deal with us first?" Raynor said. "Are they insane? Is Chau Sara the Confederacy's planet or our revolutionary army's planet?"
"What should we do?" Raynor said. "If Omega Squadron came to deal with us, then we may very well end up caught between the Confederacy and the Zerg."
"That is exactly what worries me the most. Fortunately, our objective is only to rescue the people of Chau Sara." Augustus said.
"The plan is a quick battle and quick victory." he said.
"Sarah, where are Tychus and Harnack's units?"
"The Styrling Wolf Hunters Brigade, four Red Devils Flame Trooper Regiments, and two armored divisions composed of Goliath combat robots and Arclite Tanks have already landed in the Los Andares region of Chau Sara." Kerrigan, wearing a crisp military uniform, said as she flicked her fiery-red single ponytail.
"The transport-ship fleet has also departed." she said. "The boy Matt Horner—whom we brought back from Tyrador IX—has also landed on Chau Sara following Captain Heron."
"He is brave and upright. This is an excellent trial—hundreds of thousands of people will not take long. Except for the people, discard everything else." Augustus said. "Stuff everyone into the ships. Tychus knows what to do!"
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