StarCraft: Lord of the Empire

"But what more do you hope to get from me?" 24718 asked. "Even if you remove my psionic dampener, the personality forged in me since childhood will still pose a danger to you. I once loved all living things… but now, I'm nothing but a butcher who revels in slaughter."

There was sadness in his voice, though not enough to bring tears.

"I used to be the kind of child who would carefully raise and release a fledgling that had fallen from its nest. But now, what brings me joy is pinning the tail of a Victor squirrel to the ground and skinning it alive."

"While lying in this ward, I often hear voices speaking in my ear—or see hallucinations from my childhood. The countless people I've killed whisper to me… but honestly, I don't find it frightening. I think… I think they're just singing."

Ghost 24718 was extremely dangerous—melancholic, prone to talking to himself so often that his doctor couldn't tell if he was speaking to someone else inside his head. Though immersed in killing, he harbored deep hatred toward it.

"He's showing one of the early signs of dissociative identity disorder. He truly believes that his nature is kind, that his body still carries the soul of the pure, gentle person he once was—yet at the same time, he harbors a hysterical love for violence and killing," the doctor said in an absolutely calm tone.

"I learned, while watching 24718 talk to himself in the mirror, that his mentor once forced him to kill his most beloved pet as a test of his control over psionic sensitivity. There were many similar trainings—such as being told to pick, from dozens of pistols, the one with no live round, and then pulling the trigger against his own temple."

"I was labeled as uncontrollable, which is why I was among the first Ghost agents implanted with a psi-inhibitor. I'm a devil. I love torture. And yet… you're not afraid of me?"

Augustus exchanged a glance with the doctor. They both recognized how difficult this individual would be to handle.

"Even so," Augustus said, "I still want to recruit you as my psionic advisor. I intend to form a special agency composed of psionics—one whose duties go far beyond assassination."

"You're quite sincere," Ghost 24718 replied, only after looking at Augustus for a long moment. "To be honest… I'm willing to help you fight the Terran Confederacy. The Ghost Academy destroyed any chance I had at living a normal life. I want revenge."

"But I can no longer integrate into normal society," he added. His eyes were a melancholic shade of blue, sunken into his pale face, his lips pressed tightly together, drained of all color. "I will kill for you—if that's what you need."

"We don't have to kill anymore. Marshal Augustus Mengsk promised me that," Kerrigan said to him.

"I didn't expect you to trust him so easily. You should know—people say one thing and mean another. Deceit and lies are what sway the hearts of men," Ghost 24718 replied, shaking his head. "Fine then. But I enjoy killing. It's a hobby of mine. Maybe I'll feel guilt and remorse afterward—but repentance is for later."

"If you want me in your service, then give me a job that suits me. Whether it's eliminating political rivals or taking out a Kel-Morian executive—it doesn't matter to me," he said.

"I will do whatever it takes, without regard for ethics or morality, to achieve your goals. And if one day you need someone to bear the weight of these crimes, then send me to the gallows or the guillotine. I'll take all your secrets with me to hell."

Augustus looked deeply into his eyes before replying, "I'll find the best psychiatrist for you. I'll get you fitted with a new prosthetic arm and a replacement eye. Then you can report to your new department."

"Thank you," the Ghost said, lowering his head and whispering something like a faint, indistinct prayer.

"He's repenting to the Holy Spirit. 24718's parents were devout believers in the Apocalypse Church. They believed all hardship was God's punishment for sinners, and they were utterly convinced that the end of mankind was inevitable," the doctor explained to Augustus.

...

In mid-April, the new administration of Korhal IV declared a state of war and imposed global martial law, implementing a wartime economic system. At the same time, the new government announced that industries vital to total war—such as metallurgy, transportation, and starship manufacturing—would be nationalized under the dominion government's control.

Even so, revolutionary fervor had not waned. In the heart of Styrling, the golden wolf banner of the Mengsk family and the white pentagram flag of the Korhal Dominion fluttered over Augustus Square. Responding to Angus's call for the people to participate in politics, the citizens of Styrling took to the streets and the square to vote for the newly formed Dominion Parliament.

Since the great revolutionary leader Angus Mengsk assumed the roles of Speaker of the new Senate and Governor of the Korhal System—consolidating control over the government, constitutional reforms, and legislative power—all remnants of the Federal government's rule on Korhal were swept away like dust after the rain.

In this square—named after the grandfather of Augustus himself—a new agency was established inside a geometric, right-angled building with Roman arched columns and burgundy glass windows: the Augustus National Security Committee.

This intelligence agency, which recruited only members of the Pan-Terran Revolutionary Party, bypassed the parliament and reported directly to the Dominion Governor of Korhal. It oversaw multiple sub-agencies, including the Dominion's First and Second Intelligence Bureaus, the Police Bureau, and the newly founded Bureau of Psionics and Xeno Affairs.

On April 17, Revolutionary Army Marshal Augustus appointed Connor Ward—former Chief of Staff of the Korhal Revolutionary Army and member of the Heaven's Devils—to serve as chairman of the committee. Ward then presided over the first plenary session.

This unnamed building had originally been intended to replace the Palatine Legislative Hall as the new seat of parliament. Construction of the new hall began sixteen years ago but was only completed last year, nearly a decade behind schedule. The total cost exceeded 6 billion Federal credits—one hundred times the original budget.

The new legislative hall was a monument to the senators' pursuit of power and luxury under the corrupt Federal regime. It was entirely funded by taxes from Korhal and donations from its corporations. The interior was opulently decorated with countless radiant rubies, floors made of rare solarwood from Chau Sara, and construction materials sourced from star systems a thousand light-years away.

Yet over a decade later, a majority of traditionalist senators insisted on continuing parliamentary sessions in the original hall to uphold a century-old tradition. As a result, this palatial building was abandoned upon completion, falling further into disrepair due to the lack of funds for maintenance.

After the new government came to power, however, the new legislative hall was finally given a proper function. Today, it serves as the headquarters of Korhal IV's largest intelligence agency.

"The purpose of establishing the Augustus National Security Committee is to root out our internal enemies—Terran Federation spies and counter-revolutionaries who seek to undermine peace in Korhal. The committee is also responsible for monitoring and investigating government officials," declared Augustus, standing beneath the arched dome of the hall, where a massive stained-glass window spilled light over the gathered officials. He addressed more than a dozen directors, deputy directors, and committee members—all appointed personally by Angus and vetted by Ghost operative Sarah Kerrigan.

"Externally, we will dispatch operatives to infiltrate Tarsonis, Antiga Prime, and other locations. While gathering intelligence and stealing military and frontier technologies, our ultimate goal will be to influence or control the leaders of the Old Families and senators of the Federal Parliament."

"On this front, Umojan agents already working in Tarsonis will assist us—"

"Marshal Mengsk," a middle-aged man in formal attire interrupted, "I fear that internal surveillance could spiral into brutal oppression of the people. Citizens will live in constant anxiety and suspicion, and mutual denunciations may lead to a disaster that tortures the human spirit. There are historical precedents for this."

"You need not worry about that," Augustus replied calmly. "We have our own methods for determining whether someone has truly betrayed the revolution. For now, our internal supervision is limited strictly to government officials and the military."

He then turned to introduce the Ghost operative standing behind him—Sarah Kerrigan—to the assembly.

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