Echo Town, Hinterland Autonomous Region. Local Time: February 12, 2490.
Approaching noon.
This colonial town, home to fewer than 8,000 permanent residents, was built around a broad cobblestone road running north to south through its center. The road was clean and well-maintained, lined on both sides with tall lampposts painted in a pale blue hue.
People bustled back and forth along the street. Eight-wheeled, ground-hugging cargo trucks rolled by, along with beetle-shaped civilian hovercars—designs several generations outdated compared to the core worlds. Farmers returning from the fields surrounding Echo Town were driving their agricultural robots home. A final breeze from the rainy season swept through, and under the scorching midday sun of Mar Sara, the town of Echo came alive again—noisy, hot, and vibrant.
Augustus, dressed in a sheriff's brown uniform and wearing a cowboy hat, leaned against his Vulture bike parked at the entrance to Echo Town, silently observing the ever-flowing street. Standing beside him were Sarah Kerrigan in her cowgirl outfit and Tychus Findlay. Not far off stood Sergeant Faraday along with several other Revolutionary Army soldiers in militia uniforms.
"It's all thanks to you," Kerrigan said, pointing to the thriving town. "You funded the roadwork to rebuild Echo Town. Your mine and Ardeon crystal refinery brought these people jobs they could only dream of—and with them, stable incomes that let them climb out of poverty."
"If our government were willing to spend just a little more on its own people, they'd win their support and loyalty in no time." Augustus folded his arms, his thick brows relaxing slightly as he gave a faint chuckle.
Then he turned to the man beside him—Sheriff Tychus Findlay. "Tychus, check the time. I think the Planetary Defense Force dispatched by the Governor's Office should be arriving right about now."
"You've got a watch, don't you?" Tychus would've already mocked anyone else for acting like they didn't have hands.
"12:30—what a perfect time to show up," he muttered. "Why the hell are we the ones sweating under this blazing sun waiting for them? We all live by the same dirty work—killing, burning, and bleeding. What makes them so high and mighty?"
"Because they're on a tight schedule," Augustus replied. "They need to make it back to their post in the capital before nightfall. No one wants to linger in a town rumored to be crawling with rebels. Word is, out in the deserts of Hinterland Region, there are insurgents with glowing green eyes who eat people whole—bones and all—and especially love children."
"Only an idiot would believe that." Tychus sneered without a smile. "Oh, right—I forgot. Corrupt officials and nobles are all idiots."
No sooner had Tychus finished his sentence than a column of armored personnel carriers came rumbling toward Echo Town. The lead vehicle had already emerged on the distant horizon, flying an enormous and striking red-and-blue Federal Star banner.
"That's the 4th Company of the 12th Battalion, Mar Sara Planetary Defense Force. A regular army unit directly under the Governor's Office," Kerrigan said as she stepped up beside Augustus. Her eyes locked onto the lead APC, sharp enough to pierce through 5-millimeter-thick steel plating, as if she could see the commander sitting inside.
"According to the files from the Hinterland Region Office of the Judiciary, the officer leading this search for rebels is Second Lieutenant Gray," she continued. "He's from Tarsonis—born in the Silvey District of the capital. His father is a well-known banker. His mother? Youngest daughter of the noble Yarrent family. Dudley Yarrent Gray. No record of attending a military academy, no prior service in any branch of the Federal Forces. It's as if he just appeared out of thin air—and the moment he did, he was handed this post."
"I don't even need to think hard to figure out what happened," Tychus said, catching what Kerrigan had just explained. "That rich brat must've screwed up big time back on Tarsonis. But even if he was raping and pillaging, that still wouldn't be enough to get him dumped in this Mar Sara shithole."
"This bastard must've pissed off someone bigger than him. So his filthy-rich old man threw a bunch of money around, pulled some strings, and got him shipped here to lay low."
"Sure, being an officer in the Governor's Colonial Defense Force isn't some cushy desk job," Tychus went on. "But criminals are the cops' job. The PDF is just there to make the Governor look good. The Kel-Morian forces did make it this far once, but it turned out to be a false alarm. That kid probably never dreamed he'd be sent to deal with actual rebels. And that brain-dead governor? No plan at all—just blindly tossing out every card he's got."
"Right," Kerrigan nodded. "According to Umojan intelligence, this Lieutenant Gray has at least committed murder and rape. There are also rumors of drug abuse and incest. But all the charges were wiped clean by his father—and on top of that, he even landed this cushy position in Mar Sara's military."
"There's no direct evidence that he's continued his crimes since arriving," she added, "but judging by his loud and arrogant personality, he doesn't strike me as the type to keep a low profile."
"I just hope he doesn't start throwing demands at us," Augustus said with a faint chuckle. "Like sending us to fight the rebels out west in the desert—that'd be asking a bit too much."
By then, the convoy of Planetary Defense Force APCs had rumbled over the last stretch of road, now only a few hundred meters from Augustus and his team.
"That APC is the same model we used back on Turaxis—the Tuk 228. Obsolete now," Tychus noted with no shortage of sarcasm. "The military dumps its junk on the fringe colonies, and the local units strut around like it's something to be proud of. Look at those things—spray-painted in fresh red and blue. I'd bet they just scraped off the layers of dust a few days ago and hauled them straight out of a scrap yard."
The lead APC blared its modified horn—a shrill, piercing screech. It didn't yield for other vehicles on the road, barreling ahead with brute force. As it came within several dozen meters of Augustus, the heavy vehicle still showed no signs of slowing, like the front of a runaway train.
Augustus didn't flinch. He stood his ground, calm and composed, until the APC screeched to a halt right in front of him, kicking up clouds of rust-colored dust and sand.
"Their commander's either insane or just some delusional idiot who's watched too many Galactic Heroes movies," Augustus murmured to Kerrigan and Tychus as Lieutenant Gray climbed out of the vehicle. "I wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson."
"These people are the embodiment of the Terran Confederacy's corrupt rule," he continued. "The incompetent are in charge, perched high in power, indulging in unchecked desires—dragging this vast, bloated regime deeper into darkness and chaos."
Second Lieutenant Gray wore a tailored military coat with long tails and gleaming brass buttons. His leather boots shone as if freshly polished, his stride deliberately brisk and showy—yet his gait was unsteady, swaying with each step. His deep brown hair was slicked and styled in the latest Tarsonis fashion. Heavy dark circles framed his sunken eyes, which were bloodshot and strained wide open. His lips were tightly pursed as he awkwardly tried—and failed—to project an air of authority.
Trailing closely behind him were his adjutant and a Federal tax officer wearing a tall round hat. As they walked, Gray shouted loudly, "Freshly paved roads, cobbled streets—it doesn't look like this place is struggling to pay taxes."
"What a complete reversal of logic. Hard to believe people seem to be living better out here, where rebels supposedly run rampant."
"Well, not my concern. My job is to eliminate the rebel scum holed up around here," the lieutenant muttered as he turned toward Augustus. "You must be the local sheriff. What a mess. Just a handful of rebels and you're already pissing your pants, crying for mommy. Now we've got to come clean it all up for you. So tell me—"
But the arrogant Lieutenant Gray didn't notice the flicker of gold that passed through Sarah Kerrigan's pale green eyes. Just as he was mid-rant, his left foot caught his right, and the lanky officer lost his balance. With a shrill and graceless scream, he toppled face-first to the ground.
"That was ugly," Tychus declared, showing no hint of respect for the Confederacy's military elite. He made sure everyone nearby could hear him. "The way he fell—looked just like a slab of stiff, salted meat."
Augustus gave a soft cough and spoke in his deep voice before the embarrassed lieutenant could scramble to his feet.
"Lieutenant Gray, sir, I'm Marshal Caesar. Based on our investigation, we've confirmed that the rebels are entrenched in Perdition's Crossing on the Ridge Plains. Echo Town's militia numbers less than a hundred."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it—" Gray mumbled as he got up, his mouth pouring blood. He had clearly smashed several teeth. Lost in a haze of pain and humiliation, he didn't register a word Augustus had just said. The marshal had to repeat himself, this time also asking if the lieutenant needed a doctor.
"New boots… not broken in yet," Gray muttered, taking the offered towel from Augustus and wiping the blood from his lips. He showed no gratitude. Instead, he blamed his fall on the setting itself. "Stupid countryside."
"You should see a doctor immediately," Augustus said with genuine concern. "I know a good dentist."
"No—no need," Gray replied, forcing himself to maintain the last shreds of dignity. "I heard something about rebels in the desert. Is that true?"
"Absolutely," Augustus said gravely. "Without a doubt. Rebels and pirates, that's all you'll find out there."
"I even heard they've got electromagnetic cannons and railguns," Tychus chimed in, feeding the drama. "Some folks say they've seen Arclite Tanks flying rebel flags, tearing down the highways."
"Ugh—" Lieutenant Gray was still mumbling through the pain of shattered teeth, his words slurred. He clearly didn't believe Augustus's report. "The intel I received said there were only a dozen or so rebels here, and two or three Pan-Terran Revolutionaries caught distributing banned pamphlets with their families in tow."
The Federal government had long since uncovered the full name and political agenda of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party. Interestingly, it wasn't formed by politicians or elites, but rather by ordinary Terrans—people from Korhal, Umoja, and other corners of the Confederacy. It welcomed all, regardless of birth or status.
The Terran Confederacy's Parliament now firmly believed that members of this movement had scattered across every planet in Confederate space—like an incurable cancer, like a plague. Revolutionary thought was spreading unchecked throughout the Terran Confederacy, leaving the powerful and privileged constantly on edge.
The party's insignia had become a forbidden symbol, banned from all public use within the Confederacy.
"That's right," Augustus said calmly. "But it's been fourteen days since I submitted my last report on rebel activity. Things have changed. You and I both know: the rebels are like a virus. Like a deadly plague. Once a place is infected by revolutionaries, it's damn near impossible to cleanse it."
"How many of them are there?" Gray tried to sound composed. "A hundred? Two hundred?"
"No one knows for sure," Augustus replied. "Could be anything."
"Maybe a whole division," Tychus added with a dry chuckle.
"We should observe the situation further," Gray muttered, thinking out loud. "Send out scouts and drones—gather intel."
"Alright." Augustus exchanged a glance with Tychus. "But we're short on gear."
"I've got some." Gray turned in place, looking up at Mar Sara's orange-gray sky. "I need to head back and gather more troops."
"A single company won't cut it."
"Once you've confirmed the rebel position, I'll return to crush them." With that, Lieutenant Gray made a beeline for his APC.
"What's the rush?" Tychus quipped beside Augustus, caught off guard by how genuinely spooked the lieutenant seemed. He sneered, his tone thick with mockery. "You just got to Echo Town—and took one hell of a spill doing it. Bloodied up your head and everything."
"I told you already," Gray snapped as he climbed back aboard the APC, practically fleeing. "I'm going back—to mobilize reinforcements!"
"Damn, he actually left," Tychus laughed as the lieutenant sped off in the armored vehicle, barely having stayed a few minutes.
"Want me to take a team and put him down?" he asked, almost casually.
"Do it somewhere out in the desert, far from Echo Town," Augustus replied. "We don't need Governor Victor breathing down our necks. It's time you made an appearance, Tychus. The Confederacy needs to know that it was Heaven's Devil Tychus who wiped out a unit of their Planetary Defense Force here on Mar Sara."
"Heh." Tychus grinned as he revved his Vulture and rode off. "Time to bump up the bounty on ol' Tychus."
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