Echo Town, Shiloh Autonomous Prefecture. February 12, 2490 local time.
It's approaching noon.
This colonial town with a permanent population of less than 8,000 people has a broad bluestone road that runs from north to south and runs through the entire town. The road is clean and tidy, with light blue high-pole street lamps standing on both sides.
People were coming and going on the road, driving ground-hugging eight-wheel cargo trucks and beetle-shaped family suspension cars that were many generations behind the core planet. Farmers working in the fields near Echo Town were driving farming robots.
On the way home, the last breeze of the rainy season blew by, and the bustling Echo Town became lively and hot again under the blazing midday sun of Marsala.
Augustus, who was wearing a brown uniform of a police officer and a cowboy hat, parked with his back on the Vulture car at the entrance of Echo Town, quietly watching the endless flow of streets. Next to Augustus stood Sarah in cowboy clothing.
La Kerrigan, Tychus Finley, Corporal Faraday and several other Revolutionary Army sergeants in militia uniforms stood not far away.
"This is all thanks to you." Kerrigan pointed to the prosperous Echo Town and said: "It was you who funded the reconstruction of the roads in Echo Town. Your mines and the Adien Crystal Refinery have brought hard-won benefits to these people.
jobs and a steady income that gradually made them rich."
"As long as our government is willing to spend a little more money for their people, they will receive enthusiastic support and advocacy." Augustus crossed his hands on his chest, and his thick eyebrows relaxed as he chuckled.
unfold.
Then Augustus looked at Sergeant Tychus Finley who was standing next to him: "Tychus, look at the time, I think the Planetary Defense Force sent by the Governor's Palace of Mar Sara has arrived."
"It's not like you don't have a watch yourself." If it were anyone else, Tychus would have been mocking him for not having long hands.
"12:30...They really know how to pick the time." He said: "Why should we wait for them under the bright sun? Everyone is eating a bowl of rice of 'murder and arson'. Who can
Who is more noble?"
"Because they are pressed for time and have to return to their base in the Capital District before dark, no one dares to stay in this town that is rumored to have a large number of rebels - it is said that the desert of Hiero State is full of ghosts with eyes shooting out.
The green ray rebels, they eat people without spitting out bones, and they only eat children." Augustus answered Tychus.
"Only a fool would believe it..." Tykespi said with a smile: "Oh, I forgot that those corrupt officials and nobles are all idiots."
As soon as Tychus's voice fell, a convoy of more than a dozen armored personnel carriers was rumbling towards Echo Town. The leading armored vehicle had already appeared on the horizon in the distance. There was a huge, attractive car on the front.
The striking Confederate red and blue star flag.
"The 4th Company of the 12th Battalion of the Mar Sara Planetary Defense Force, a force directly under the Governor's Palace. Unlike the Civil Defense Force, they are a regular army with a regular organization, and everyone in them is a professional soldier." Kerrigan walked to O
Next to Gustus, she stared closely at the leading armored personnel carrier, her sharp eyes seeming to be able to pierce through the one-fifth-inch-thick steel plate, and she saw the commander of the Planetary Defense Force sitting in it.
"According to the documents issued by the Justice Office of the Hero Autonomous Prefecture, the person who came to search for the rebels was Second Lieutenant Gray of the company." She continued: "A Tarsonis native, born in the Sylvie City District of the main city of Tarsonis. His father
She is a famous banker, and her mother is the youngest daughter of the noble Arent family of Tarsonis. Second Lieutenant Dudley Arent Gray did not attend a military academy or serve in any federal military service before serving in the Mar Sara Planet Defense Force.
Record, he seemed to appear on this planet out of thin air, and once he appeared, he obtained his current position."
"I can guess what happened with my ass. This rich young man must have committed something in Tarsonis - but even if he raped and robbed him, he wouldn't be sent to this stinky cesspool of Mar Sara."
." Tychus heard what Kerrigan said clearly: "This bastard must have provoked someone more powerful than himself, so his father, who smells like copper, spent a lot of money to find connections.
They sent him here to avoid the limelight."
"Of course, the officers of the defense force of the Governor's Palace of the settlement are not idle positions, but they have their own police to deal with criminals. The role of the defense force is to support the governor of the settlement. Although the Camorians attacked here, it turned out to be just a false alarm.
"One game." Tychus said: "He probably never dreamed that he would be sent to deal with the rebels, and the brainless governor had no plan at all, he just knew that he would use all the cards he could use.
throw it out."
"Yes, according to the investigation results of Agent Umoyang, Lieutenant Gray is guilty of at least murder and rape. There are rumors that he also took drugs and incest... but all charges were cleared by his father.
He was cleared and found a good position for him in Mar Sara's army." Kerrigan nodded and said: "Although there is no direct evidence that he continued his career after arriving in Mar Sara.
It is atrocities, but we believe that with his flamboyant personality, he does not look like a person who would keep his tail between his legs."
"I just hope he won't make too many demands on us." Augustus chuckled and said, "For example, asking us to fight the rebels in the western desert - that would be a bit overwhelming."
At this time, the armored vehicle convoy of the Planetary Defense Force had passed the last section of the road from far to near, and was only a few hundred yards away from Augustus and his men.
"That armored vehicle is the model we used on Turasis - Tuk 228, which is now obsolete. The army is dumping garbage into the marginal colonies, and the local army is still proud of it." Tychus looked at it.
One of the armored vehicles in the lead pointed out this point sarcastically: "Look, these old vehicles are all painted with new red and blue paint. I bet they were hurriedly wiping off the accumulated paint on the vehicles a few days ago.
The dust on them pulls these big things out of the recycling bin."
The armored car in front had its horn blaring and a shrill scream, and it did not dodge other vehicles on the road with a arrogant attitude. When it was dozens of yards away from Augustus, the heavy car
The armored vehicle still did not slow down, like an out-of-control locomotive.
Augustus did not show any panic expression until the armored vehicle stopped hurriedly in front of him, kicking up rust-colored dust and sand.
"Their commander is either a lunatic, or a self-righteous idiot who has watched too many Galactic Heroes movies." When Lieutenant Gray of the Planetary Defense Force stepped out of the truck, Augustus whispered to Kerrigan and Kerrigan beside him.
Tychus said this: "I wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson."
"These people are proof of the corrupt rule of the Terran Federation. Incompetent people rule the Federation, hold high positions, and indulge in their selfish desires without restraint, making this huge but bloated regime increasingly dark and chaotic."
Second Lieutenant Gray wore a custom-made military coat with golden brass buttons and a long hem. His leather boots were polished to a gleam. He walked with a windy step, but his body swayed violently. The Second Lieutenant's dark brown hair was shiny and shiny.
Wearing Tarsonis's new hairstyle, his deep-set eye sockets were surrounded by thick dark circles, and his bloodshot eyes were opened as wide as possible. His lips were pressed tightly, trying hard but acting funny.
I want to look majestic.
The second lieutenant was followed closely by an adjutant and a federal tax officer wearing a tall round hat. As he walked, he shouted loudly: "The road is newly built, and the streets inside are also paved with bluestones - it doesn't look like this here."
It looks like I can’t afford to pay taxes…”
"It's such a confusion of right and wrong. I can't imagine that people in places where rebellion is rampant actually seem to have a better life..."
"Okay... this is not my business. My mission is to eliminate the rebels entrenched here." The second lieutenant muttered to himself while looking at Augustus: "You should be the local
It's such a mess... A few rebels will scare you until you cry for father and mother, and in the end you will have to clean up the mess... Let's talk about it...
..”
However, the arrogant Lieutenant Gray did not notice the golden flash in Sarah Kerrigan's light green eyes next to Augustus. He was talking to himself and suddenly tripped his left foot on his right foot.
He lost his balance, and then the tall and thin second lieutenant fell to the ground on his back amidst his unbearable screams.
"It's so ugly -" Tychus did not show any respect for a senior Terran Federation officer. He said in a voice that could be heard by everyone present: "The way he fell really looked like...
Tough bacon."
Augustus coughed slightly, and before Lieutenant Gray got up in embarrassment, he said in his deep voice: "Dear Lieutenant Gray, I am the local Sheriff Caesar. According to the investigation, we can confirm that the rebels are here.
In the corridors of hell on the Ridge Plains, but there are less than a hundred Civil Defense Forces in Echo Town."
"Damn, damn, damn..." Lieutenant Gray stood up amid a vague muttering. Blood was pouring from his mouth, and it looked like he had at least broken a few teeth. He was immersed in extreme
In the pain and embarrassment, Lieutenant Gray did not hear what Augustus said, and the latter had to state what he had just said again, and at the same time asked the other party if he wanted to call a doctor.
"The new boots don't fit well." The second lieutenant took a towel from Augustus who looked concerned and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but he did not show any gratitude, but continued to throw him down.
Blame it on something else: "A country place is a country place..."
"You should see a doctor immediately." Augustus said to him caringly: "I know a good dentist."
"No, no need." Lieutenant Gray still pretended to be calm. He tried hard to maintain his shattered dignity: "I just heard that there are rebels in the desert. Is this true?"
"Of course." Augustus said with a serious expression: "It's absolutely true, except for pirates, they are rebels."
"I heard that the rebels also had electromagnetic guns and railguns, and some people even saw arc-light tanks with the rebel flag flying on the road." Tychus added jealously.
"Well..." Lieutenant Gray was still unable to speak clearly due to the severe pain caused by the broken tooth. At this time, he still did not believe Augustus's words: "The information I received is that there is only one group here.
There are more than a dozen rebels and two or three members of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party who privately publish illegal books and bring their families."
The federal government has already learned the full name of the Pan-Taylon Revolutionary Party and all their political and reform demands. Interestingly, the Pan-Taylon Revolutionary Party is not a party formed by a large number of politicians, but a party composed of countless ordinary people.
The revolutionary party is composed of Korhals, Umoyans and even other citizens of the Terran Federation, and is open to everyone, regardless of high or low birth status.
The Federation Council of the Tyranids is now convinced that members of this party have been scattered to various planets in the Federation territory and are as incurable as cancer cells in the body. Revolutionary ideas are spreading throughout the Tyranids like a plague, making everyone who stands against the Revolutionary Party
The dignitaries are like awns on their backs.
The emblem of the Pan-Taeran Revolutionary Party, the panda pattern with an inverted triangle with black eye circles and a black pearl-like nose, has become a taboo symbol and is prohibited from being used on any occasion in the Terran Federation.
"Yes, but it has been fourteen days since I last submitted a report about the rebels." Augustus reminded the timid-looking Planet Defense Force officer: "Today is different from the past. You and I
We all know that rebels are like a virus that keeps multiplying. They are like a terrible plague. Once a place is infected with the revolutionary party, it will be difficult to get rid of it."
"How many people are they?" Second Lieutenant Gray said calmly: "One hundred or two hundred?"
"The exact number is not yet known," Augustus said. "No one can say for sure."
"Maybe there is a division." Tychus chuckled.
"We should continue to observe and observe..." Second Lieutenant Gray thought for a moment and said, "Well...send out scouts and drones to investigate carefully."
"Okay." Augustus and Tychus looked at each other: "But we lack equipment."
"I have it here." Lieutenant Gray turned around, looked at the orange-gray sky of Mar Sara, and said, "I have to go back and gather more people."
"One company is definitely not enough..."
"After your investigation is clear, I will come to encircle and suppress those rebels." After saying that, Lieutenant Gray hurriedly walked towards the armored vehicle.
"Why are you in such a hurry to go back?" Tychus, who was beside Augustus, did not expect that Second Lieutenant Gray was cowardly and true, but it was too out of character. He said sarcastically and sarcastically: "You just came to Echo Town.
And because of this, I fell down hard and my head was badly bruised."
"Didn't I say it?" Lieutenant Gray was eager to leave this place where there were said to be many rebels, as if fire was burning his feet: "I want to go back and mobilize my troops!"
"Damn it, he actually left." Tychus laughed as he watched Second Lieutenant Gray leave in an armored vehicle after not staying for a few minutes.
"Do you want me to lead someone and kill him?" Then he asked again.
"Start in the desert far away from Echo Town to avoid the town getting into trouble." Augustus said: "This time I need you to show your face, Tychus. You want the Federation to know that Tychus, the Demon of Heaven, is here.
Mar Sara destroyed a Federation planetary defense force."
"Haha." Tychus said before riding away on a vulture: "Old Tychus's wanted warrant should increase the price."