"That insect nest has taken root in the most prosperous part of the Tyranids two months ago, and if it hadn't been for a brave and upright police chief who discovered something strange deep in the slums, my most proud imperial officials would still be here today.
Being kept in the dark.”
In the Augustgrad Palace, Emperor Augustus Mengsk of the Terran Empire made no secret of his anger towards the incompetent in front of all the officials. For a while, he even laughed angrily, and his smile made the most powerful person laugh.
All the powerful officials in the empire were frightened.
Augustus certainly had reason to be angry. Since a larva mixed into Tarsonis had transformed into such a huge swarm in such a short period of time, it wouldn't be long before they could turn Tarsonis upside down.
This is a signal. Since new advanced zerg species have appeared openly in the core world of the Tyranid Empire, it means that they have the ability to interfere in any other world.
The zerg are always evolving, growing, and transforming. Not only are they fangs and claws, but the Overlords and Cerebrates are also fighting with wisdom. They know that the Tyranid Empire's army must rely on the weapons, ammunition, food, and medical supplies provided by the rear factories to survive.
Survive.
Not counting other losses, if a factory the size of the city of Tarsonis were to stop production, the entire Tyranid Empire would be seriously injured. You know, Tarsonis's economy accounts for 17% of the entire empire, and its output is even more
amazing.
If Augustus hadn't tried his best to save Tarsonis, the Terran humans who lost their first star would not have recovered so quickly.
To this end, Augustus mobilized a large number of ghost agents to go to the city of Tarsonis. Never before had so many ghosts acted together. Fortunately, the ghosts of the Empire did not disappoint him, and were finally captured alive at a very small cost.
After catching the bug in the sewers of Tarsonis, it's now being transported to Korhal.
If that's the case, forget it.
This matter was undoubtedly of great importance, but in the end, the officials of Tarsonis were busy shirking their responsibilities, and they still had the nerve to claim credit and reward after the matter was resolved. Fortunately, they no longer had to shirk the blame, and now they were all admitted to New Folsom.
Perhaps no one person was indispensable in the emperor's heart, and his officials had to recognize this.
"Perhaps I should drive those losers to become police officers and let Sergeant Wilkes Butler take over Tarsonis Customs." Emperor Augustus, dressed in gold and red clothes, glanced at
I glanced at the ministers present:
"Everyone, what are your opinions on this matter?"
The emperor summoned his ministers in the largest room of the palace. This time, not only important officials from various departments of the empire came, but also local senators and border law enforcement officers from some marginal colonies.
This room is tall and large, with crystal lamps that emit dazzling light without using any energy suspended from the towering dome. Outside the many large windows, there is a hazy drizzle in the evening of Augustgrad.
When building this palace, Emperor Augustus did not spend much taxpayer money. The furniture and furnishings were all moved from the homes of the founding families of the old federation, and the rest were antiques from the Protoss in Alma.
It has to be said that the diligent and thrifty emperor was actually very good at budgeting. Of course, when it came to rewarding his subordinates, he still spent generously.
"What does Sheriff Butt think? I think he is happy to leave New Sydney and accept this decent job." Among the ministers present, only Admiral Jim Raynor, who represented the Augustgrad Naval Headquarters, dared to accept the emperor.
if.
Generally speaking, if Augustus might do something, it means that he has basically decided to do so.
At this moment, the imperial officials wearing red tweed uniforms and blue ties were sitting on one of the thousands of mahogany chairs. Most of them had never seen the emperor angry, so they couldn't help but sit upright and silent.
Originally, the emperor summoned them for the frontline war and to listen to the voices of the people in the fringe world. But by coincidence, when he walked in, he was obviously very angry.
Emperor Augustus Mengsk was gentle and patient most of the time, but when he was angry, those imperial officials who caused big troubles were inevitably criticized head-on.
There is an official who is from the south seas. This group is very different from other Tyranid people in the Koprulu sector. Their hair is dark and thick, and their bodies are larger. They all look like giants, even wearing a suit.
They had to find someone to cut them specially. Augustus once suspected where Tychus came from, but it was later confirmed that he was a Mar Sara, but this guy had probably forgotten his hometown a long time ago.
But right now, this barbarian who speaks like thunder and has a body like an iron tower is shivering on a chair in the corner. God knows what is going on. Even the storm in his hometown has never stopped since he grew up.
He has never been so scared.
The emperor was only 29 years old and was already the founder of the country, so his aura was naturally extraordinary.
"I have already asked for But's opinion, but he rejected my offer." Augustus snorted, not knowing who he was angry with.
"Boot said that Tarsonis has too many rules for him to handle, and that catching wanted criminals in New Sydney would be more suitable for him."
"He is a good police chief." Renault said: "In the past, I always thought that it would be a good idea to go to Mar Sara and become a local police chief after retirement."
Sheriff Wilkes Butt is indeed a competent police officer, and he is the kind of conscientious and capable person. He worked in the local police station in the red mesa of New Sydney during the old federal era. Those who were mixed with the frontiers
The local lawbreakers are afraid of Chief Butt's methods.
After the establishment of the empire, old federal government officials like Butt who were indeed well-known in the local area were retained, and the emperor did not care about their past identities. As for those people who were idle and used their official status to oppress the people or seek personal gain for themselves
Like the Creation Family, everyone has been swept into the trash heap of history by the Tyran Empire.
Butt has been given the opportunity to be promoted to Tarsonis more than once. Many officials from the border world have worked hard for half their lives to be transferred to the prosperous core world. But Butt has refused without exception. The reason is very simple.
In Tarsonis, a place filled with collusion of bureaucratic interests and a political stench, handling cases not only depends on the boss's face, but also on what cases can and cannot be handled.
It's better to just die.
Although Tarsonis is much better now than in the past, the Creation Family that was so oppressive to the people has been eradicated. All nobles who claim to have noble blood are worthless in the eyes of Emperor Augustus, and there is only one in the Tyran Empire.
Nobles, that is the Mengsk royal family.
But after much hesitation, Bute refused the emperor's request, even if it was a position in the palace, and still decided to go back to New Sydney. Augustus couldn't resist him, so he had to wave his hand and let him go back to be the police chief.
Although the golden and red flags of the Tyranid Empire are hung all over Tarsonis, and the Creation Family is no longer a big mountain weighing on the people's heads, the atmosphere of the past still exists, and the wind of revolution blows over the heads of the Tarsonis people.
At that time, there was really little effect. Its huge middle class was not interested in the revolutionaries. On the contrary, they were more accepting of Augustus's proclaimed emperor.
"I still want to go back to farming, Jimmy, there are many, many things I want to do." Augustus glared at him: "But before that, I don't know if I will be pissed to death by these idiots.
"
"I left you a piece of land in Mar Sara." Renault explained: "I bought it with my own salary, not to embezzle the empire's property."
"Thank you... But if this continues, after the swarm of insects kills all humans, I will have to raise insects in a pig pen in Mar Sara." Augustus pulled up a chair and sat down, deciding not to
Let’s talk about this again.
"It's simple, they can be very fat even if they only eat crystal minerals." Renault said with humor.
Augustus shrugged and looked at Senator Huntley, who was looking down at the palace floor tiles: "Okay, Huntley, tell me about your visit to Nafu II and Bukari V.
) of what he saw and heard.”
"Am I that scary? Huh?" Augustus looked at the somewhat panicked Senator Huntley, his eyes became sharper.
Augustus turned to look at Imperial Councilor Corbin Phash again, but the black-haired young councilor responded with a confident look.
"Since you executed tens of thousands of people in one breath, now everyone knows that you are a killer without batting an eyelid." Renault spread his hands and said to Huntley: "Man, there is nothing to worry about. People who can sit here
There may be some minor flaws, but there is absolutely nothing to criticize in terms of loyalty to the emperor and work attitude."
Reno had already adapted to court life. He was the founding general, and he would have been a hereditary duke on the ancient earth. To Emperor Augustus, Reno was like a mirror. This man was very upright, and he always looked like a commoner.
It’s about thinking about issues from the people’s perspective.
"No one is wronged." His Majesty Augustus called this move very novel.
He called this Heaven's Punishment.
The outside world believed that the Emperor of the Terran Empire had executed all the old Federation war criminals, corrupt officials and heinous pirates in one fell swoop, but in fact they were all just thrown into the resocialization factory.
As long as they don't turn into ashes, these people will still have to shine for the Tyranids.
"If you have a clear conscience about your work, then there is nothing to be afraid of." Augustus said to him: "I will punish sinners severely, and of course I will reward those who have merit."
"Yes, Your Majesty." After all, Huntley is also a figure. Before entering the Imperial Parliament, he was famous for his management of the Port of the Dead. He was a smart man and knew the consequences of fooling Emperor Augustus.
"The people in the Nafu II factory are very enthusiastic about their work, orders are flowing in, and salaries are rising. The economies of several surrounding worlds are also rising due to the income from raw material output and the booming transportation industry."
Augustus nodded repeatedly and motioned for Huntley to continue: "What else do they want?"
Nafu II was originally an industrial center of the old Federation, and the people there once lived under the brutal high pressure of the Federation.
There, people are inseparable from factories and mines from birth to death. Both boys and girls must learn the knowledge of exploration and mineral identification before graduating at the age of 13. The giant factories that dominate this planet are their lifelong destination.
At some point after the demise of the Federation, Augustus received a distress signal from the Knaff II, and he immediately ordered Horace Warfield to send troops to recover it. In the Empire era, Knaff II, with a population of only 400 million, was acquired as the core world.
achieved brilliant results.
Nafu II is also the largest military heavy industry producer in the Tyran Empire. More than 40% of the armored vehicles and walking mechas are produced in its factory. The armored regiments recruited from the planet can drive through densely packed factories as soon as they enter service.
Rush to the front lines with armored vehicles like Siege Tanks, Drakken Laser Tanks, Sidewinders and Zeus Tanks.
There were recent rumors that the Federal Zionists and other anti-imperial organizations were instigating a rebellion among the workers of Nafor II. Although Augustus did not think that the Federation had any supporters in Nafor, he still sent officials to express his attitude.
"The Na'a'for want to obtain the mining rights of the H-3324 system, which can greatly increase production. However, the transportation cost of minerals from Moria and other places is too high. You know, the minerals that belonged to this system before belonged to Nidho
lattice galaxy," Huntley said.
"I know about this." Augustus nodded. No one knew whether he was wondering whether Henryt had any interest in this matter.
This matter is actually very simple. The mining areas of Nafu and Nidhogg are both capable of mining the resources of this star field, but the size of the latter is not as large as that of the former, and the military industry is also pitifully small.
The territories of the Terran Empire actually had grievances and conflicts with each other. Some could even be said to be incompatible and feuding. Even if they suffered losses, they did not want to see the other side gain. Before Augustus came to the throne, Naf and Niederho
There is a lot of friction between these two worlds. Although the empire is moving towards a centralized monarchy, it has to consider the reactions between each territory.
Some of the worlds that the Empire acquired from the Federation have very different cultures. On a planet that has lost contact with the core world for more than a hundred years, the people on it still believe that the Emperor of the Empire wants to exercise the power of the first night there.
Augustus was desperate for his life if he agreed to this matter.
"Naf can mine the mineral deposits in this sector, and I will give Nidhogg equal compensation." Augustus said: "Accordingly, I must see the increase in production they promised."
"Isn't this too hasty?" Renault questioned.
"If others are still walking fast, we have to start running, understand? Jim." Augustus said: "Run!"
Huntley immediately breathed a sigh of relief. This was of course a decision that was beneficial to the empire, but if the newly united Nidhogg people thought they had suffered a loss because of Huntley, they would certainly not dare to resent the emperor, but he must have wanted to
Thrown into the alloy furnace.
"Grayson, I know you have just returned from the edge world that is being invaded by the insect swarm." He looked at another official next to him: "I have received many reports related to it, but I must listen to it with my own ears.
Hear the words of those who have experienced it firsthand.”
Grayson is the local magistrate at the border of the Tyranid Empire. He is a middle-aged man with a worrying hairline, medium build, and dark skin. He looks like the kind of hard worker who often travels around the star region.
It turned out that he was not even at the level to meet the Emperor. But God knows what happened, maybe Emperor Augustus just happened to see Grissom criticizing his policy against the Zerg in his speech.
"There is no doubt that your majesty, my monarch, the new master has made a comeback." Grayson was not afraid of Augustus. Although Grayson was quite bad-mouthed when criticizing current affairs, he did not think that the emperor would harm an emperor.
Loyal minister.
He was right. The empire had detected the news that the second generation of masters appeared in Tasha. Just like the past masters did, it turned into a huge meteorite and fell from a high-altitude orbit, destroying the entire empire.
The fragmentation artillery position was razed to the ground.
He announced his return to the world like a king returning.
These years are indeed not peaceful, and even the protoss are not having an easy time. The massive decrease in population has forced Tassadar, the current Archbishop of the Durham Protoss, to reactivate the abandoned Purifier.
Archbishop Durham also told Augustus privately that he wanted to follow the example of the Nerazim brothers and completely overthrow the caste system of the protoss, so that every protoss has the opportunity to embrace the glory of battle. - It is really great.
.
But this too avant-garde initiative will of course be opposed by the Templar class, and even shake Tassadar's status, because it is the Templar class that supports him in the process of fighting against the Arbitrators. The resistance to this matter is even
It's too big and there's no way to implement it.
Augustus was just about to go to another local official when he thought of something. He looked at the small control screen attached to his wrist, turned around and said to Faraday, the captain of the guard next to him:
"That insect queen is about to be delivered. I have to go and take a look. I have to know how this thing appeared and whether the master will create more similar things."
"Faraday, call the brainworm."
"I'm afraid it doesn't dare to come." Renault smiled.
"Find a maid who is passing by the brainworm's nest and tell her that I am about to entertain guests on the first floor of the palace." Augustus said: "Champagne, wine, potato chips and fried chicken."