The Bizarre Adventure of the Warhammer Guard

The transport plane carried everyone out of the planet again and into space. Outside the porthole, the land, gradually being swallowed by the purple fungal carpet, was clearly visible—scars on the planet's surface.

Renault frowned as he looked out the window at the planet, which had been his patrol area, and now he was about to say his final goodbye.

"What does Mengsk want?" Renault repeated his question in a low voice.

He lifted the data core, examining it in the dim light filtering into the cockpit. "A device that can emit psionic energy. This thing is either used to eliminate insects, or..." He paused, looking at the silent Astartes monk opposite him, "...it's used to control certain 'things'."

"Psionic power, regardless of its purpose, is a huge destabilizing factor." Loken's helmet rotated slightly, and the crimson visor flashed in the dim cockpit. "Any technological creations related to warp space are considered taboo."

"Warspace?" Renault was unfamiliar with the term. "What's that?"

"A dimension filled with chaotic energy, the source of all life's psionic power, and also a breeding ground for countless demons and corruption." Leon's voice came through the helmet speaker, steady and cold. "Psionic power is a double-edged sword."

During the conversation, the transport plane landed smoothly on the Noral II's landing platform. Renault was the first to step out of the fuselage, still holding the data core in his hand.

The automatic doors to the command room opened in front of them, and Elpis's golden figure stood in front of the star map holographic projection, his back to them, with Ada standing guard beside him.

"Sir, mission accomplished," Loken reported succinctly. "The Federation began moving out of this testing base a week ago, finding only some blueprints for automated weapons and a classified data package."

"What is it?" After hearing Loken's report, Elpis turned around and immediately locked onto the data core in Renault's hand.

"This is hidden in a separate terminal," Reno stepped forward and handed over the data core. "It looks like a psionic weapon called a psionic transmitter. It's currently encrypted, and we can't open it."

"It's alright, simple data encryption is nothing to worry about." Elpis took the data core and plugged it into the warship's terminal interface. "Machine Soul, decrypt the encrypted information."

The next moment, countless strings of code appeared on the holographic projection, and then gradually faded away.

Following this, a large number of engineering drawings, energy matrix formulas, biological neural signal interference spectra, and a series of disturbing logs of live experiments emerged.

The footage flashes of jumping insects fixed to an operating table, which go berserk under the stimulation of special psionic waveforms, or are instantly brain dead under precise psionic impacts.

"The Federation is trying to figure out how to control them," a deep voice came from inside Chris's helmet as he looked at the screen.

"What do we do?" Renault pointed to the content on the screen. "Give this to Mengsk?"

Elpis did not answer, but quickly flipped through the records.

The logs show that federal ghost agents provided tissue samples from an unknown psionic creature. Scientists then discovered that by using psionic gold or other psionic materials to amplify psionic waveforms at specific frequencies, they could interfere with the Zerg's consciousness over a wide area, forcing them to chase the signal source.

"He wants this." Elpis turned off the log, and the data stream continued to scroll, eventually settling on the complete structural diagram of the psionic transmitter—a spherical device with a diameter of fifty centimeters.

"It's exactly the same experimental setup we brought back from region 0658," Renault exclaimed.

"He's not just fighting the Zerg," Elpis's voice echoed in the command room. "He wants to create chaos and use others to do his dirty work."

As soon as he finished speaking, the machine spirit's notification sounded: "Sir, Arcturus Mengsk has sent another communication request."

"Bring them in."

Mengsk's image appeared on the screen, still in that rugged outfit, his right hand hanging down at his abdomen, his left hand behind his back, with the bridge of his Leviathan-class warship in the background.

His expression appeared calm, but there was a barely perceptible urgency deep in his eyes.

"Sir, I have observed that your transport plane has returned. Presumably, the mission has been successfully completed?" Mengsk's voice came through the loudspeaker.

"The data packet has been retrieved," Elpis replied calmly. "As per the agreement, I will give you a copy."

"However," Elpis projected an image of the data core onto the communication interface, "I need to know what you want to do with it before the transaction is completed."

Mengsk's pupils contracted slightly, his right thumb unconsciously rubbing his index finger, as if weighing his options. After a few seconds of silence, he chose to be frank: "I didn't expect you to crack the encryption so quickly."

"The federal government rules its people with fear and violence, and sometimes, all it takes to destroy the illusion of security they've created is a sight more terrifying than the monster they claim to be," Mengsk said.

"The Zerg is the tool that can amplify this disaster out of control. It is enough to be a key to unlock the cage in people's hearts, so that they can see who is their real threat and who is truly powerless to protect them."

He spoke cryptically, but everyone present understood the subtext:

Mengsk hopes to use psionic transmitters to trigger a Zerg invasion in a Confederate-controlled world at the appropriate time, thereby completely undermining public trust in the Confederacy and paving the way for the Sons of Korhal's "liberation".

An extremely dangerous plan that could backfire.

"You're honest, or rather, smart enough," Elpis nodded and continued, "I'll give you the information, but in exchange, I want something else."

"Besides the previously agreed-upon ore, I need all the intelligence records the Sons of Korhal possess regarding anomalous spatial phenomena, ancient ruins, and activities of non-human advanced civilizations within the sector. I know you've collected quite a few 'legends' from the outer sectors."

This request took Mengsk by surprise. He had expected the other party to ask for more supplies or political promises, but instead it was this useless intelligence.

This also gave him a slight sense of relief, as this intelligence was much easier to deliver than the difficult-to-produce warships or soldiers.

"Deal. The intelligence database will be transmitted to Norard II in three hours." Mengsk nodded. "However, I'd like to do another business deal with you. The reward is Ghost Gold."

Tell me about it.

"The rebels on Antiga Prime are preparing for an open uprising, a formal rebellion against the Federation government, but the news has been leaked," Mengsk continued. "I would like to ask for your help to ensure the success of the uprising on Antiga Prime."

"There are other rare minerals that provide a sufficient share of the gold," Elpis said.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Your Excellency."