The Bizarre Adventure of the Warhammer Guard

The Norard 2 training room in near-Earth orbit.

"Psionic power is an extension of will," came Elpis's eternally calm voice. "It rises and falls with the fluctuations of emotions. As I said before, control your emotions, don't let your emotions control you."

Upon hearing the sound, Nova focused her mind and manipulated her psionic energy, trying to lift the electromagnetic rifle in front of her.

Her long, golden hair was casually draped behind her head, and she wore a rather loose combat uniform, but this could not hide her curvaceous figure.

During the few days that Elpis took her out of the slums, Nova received psionic training.

Today, she successfully overcame her fear of psychic energy and channeled that power out of her body.

Like Nova's third hand in the void, the psionic energy slowly lifted the electromagnetic rifle on the table. The rifle gradually rose, and with a "crack," the outer shell of the rifle dented, breaking off the barrel inside, before falling to the ground.

"Failed again," Nova said softly, looking at the damaged rifle with disappointment.

This is the third gun she has broken, while the wreckage of the previous two guns still lies quietly in the corner of the training room.

"Learn to observe," Elpis cautioned. "Observe yourself, and observe everything around you. Even if things get out of control, make sure that power is directed against an enemy."

"You also possess such power?" Nova picked up the rifle from the ground, placed it on the table, and then looked up at the exceptionally handsome Elpis. "This kind of psychic power that makes people lose control?"

"No." Elpis paused for a moment before replying, "I'm not a psionicist; someone just taught me how to use my powers."

"I have seen many people with psychic abilities. Most of them went down the path of destruction because they could not control them, but some learned to guide them and protected the human world."

Nova fell into deep thought and continued her training.

The training session ended quickly, and Nova received her dinner: a combat ration and some synthetic meat. It was simple, but much better than what she received in the slums.

Through the restaurant's porthole, you can see a yellowish-black planet, the scorched earth world of Korhal, ravaged by nuclear bombs.

In the distance, the Sons of Korhal's fleet had returned, waiting in order for repairs on the Korhal space platform. Meanwhile, the Hyperion had also safely withdrawn, echoing the Norard II.

"Sir," the navigator's voice came through the communicator, interrupting Elpis's meal, "Captain Raynor is preparing to board a transport plane to the Hyperion; he seems unusually angry."

"It's alright, let him go."

Elpis swallowed the last bit of food, slowly walked to the window, and saw the transport plane that had just taken off.

"Navigator, notify Mengsk," Elpis said calmly. "Tell him that Renault is my man and that he should return the man to me intact."

"clear."

-

Renault piloted the transport plane and sped toward the Hyperion.

Just moments before, Raynor saw that the Sons of Korhal's fleet had all returned. He tried to connect to Kerrigan's communication equipment, but only received a burst of electronic static; no one answered.

Just as Renault was waiting anxiously, Lucar's encrypted communication broke the silence of waiting. Renault answered the call, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

"Jim," Lucar said softly on the other end of the line, "there's something I have to say, but you must stay calm."

"I'll try my best," Renault said in a hoarse voice.

"Captain Kerrigan has been killed in action."

"What! How could this be?" Renault was extremely shocked, his voice rising several octaves.

"Listen, Jim, this isn't a frame-up," Rugal said in a low voice. "It's Mengsk. We all heard Kerrigan's distress call, but he cut off communication with her and refused to help."

"Mengsk!"

Renault's voice nearly shattered the tranquility of the Norard II. Without much thought for the consequences, he rushed straight to the transport plane's parking platform, wanting to confront Mengsk face-to-face.

Raynor had a different kind of feeling for Kerrigan. As a man in his thirties, he didn't believe in love at first sight, but this time was different; anger had clouded his judgment.

On the Hyperion, Renault rushed straight to the command center where Mengsk was located. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was restrained by security personnel at the entrance to the command center, where Mengsk was inside.

"Let him in," Mengsk's calm voice rang out.

"What have you done, Arcturus! What the hell have you done?!" Raynor's massive roar seemed to overturn the entire warship. "You just left her there, exposed to the entire Zerg swarm and the Protoss!"

Renault shook off the security guard who was holding his arm and rushed towards Mengsk. Watching Mengsk's back, he slammed his fist into the metal table in front of him.

Renault's voice was hoarse with anger: "She cried for help, you cut off the communications, and you canceled that evacuation route. She was risking her life for you."

Mengsk turned around slowly, his movements elegant and composed, a stark contrast to Renault's fury. Mengsk's face remained completely expressionless.

"The captain accomplished her mission, fulfilled her duty, in the most efficient way," Mengsk's voice was icy. "Her sacrifice was worthwhile."

"She bought enough time for the Son of Korhal, and for all of us, to safely evacuate that world that was being devoured. Her value has been maximized, and she has received the honor she deserves as a warrior."

"Safe evacuation? Value? We can evacuate safely without her, these are all excuses!" Renault practically roared.

The surrounding crew members all lowered their heads, not daring to intervene. "You're using her! You've been using her from the very beginning. You saved her to turn her into your weapon, and then you'd use her up."

"War requires sacrifice, Jim Raynor." Mengsk stared at him coldly. "We all know that."

"Emotions cannot command an army, nor can they establish a new order. Captain Kerrigan understood this, so she volunteered to sacrifice herself, and that is my mercy."

"What a load of rubbish about mercy!" Raynor grabbed Mengsk by the collar, but was immediately restrained from behind by the Sons of Korhal's marines. "Your psionic transmitter destroyed a planet, and then you abandoned someone who fought for you! Someone who trusted you!"

"Invite Mr. Renault into the lounge." Mengsk frowned, straightened his collar which Renault had crumpled, and looked at Renault being dragged away, his tone still calm. "He needs to calm down."

"Lieutenant, send a reply to Norard II, saying that I will send the person back safely." Mengsk's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction.