http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6fhaJebvwE

(Blizzard gives you gifts. I give you nothing. I haven't had a reason to watch this video in like, 8 years)

>>13258125
Why'm I so jolleh?

It says the archon sings "Power all-consuming," but I always thought it sounded more like "Terror all-consuming." Though, really, if you're being consumed by the very power of your own existence, you've got reason to be terrified. I dunno.

I JUST GAVE YOU LURKERS, GODDAMNIT. PLAY THE GAME.

bump

Begin hunt for Kingston he must be found at all coast's!!!!!

Sorry, 1 hour late as always.

Anyway, send cloaked overlords to the Indast system to find out what's going on.

Also, have Toaster begin salvage operations on all captured Terran material, and have it ferried back to Yoshus for integration into the shipyards and factories there.

Also, what's the status on creating our third, secret and secure fallback base, the Beta Site?

Do we have any units capable of observing a system from light-minutes out?

If not, I propose we develop one. We'll need the SIGINT such a unit can provide.

As for Idast, assemble a force to invade it, purestrain zerg with reinforcements of both pure and CA strains waiting just outside the system. Go in hard and fast with scourges and mutas leading, get hatchworms up and roll up the enemy base. Capture what we can, burn the rest.

Freighters to Warbrate and Citybrate. Let's see how useful can they be

>>13258391
>>13258390
>1 vote for storming the fuck out of Indast
>1 vote for sending in overlords to scout

>>13258424

I stand by my decision. Knowing Kingston, he's found a way to see our cloakylords as they come in. Besides, if its a miss, well, no harm done, but a blitz should teach Kingston to stay the fuck out of Zerg territory.

send overlords to scout first

>>13258424
I said send a scout in the last thread, I see no reason to do otherwise in this one.

And make sure our other worlds step up patrols in their area

>>13258439
>>13258424
How about a compromise?
Warbrate prepares the fleet to make the Jump to the system and raze it. We send a cloaked Overlord in to scout the system, and it will be soon followed by the swarm warping in.
This way, if there is something big and nasty that Kingston has planned, Warbrate will have some forewarning before the Swarm comes out of warp.

>>13258439
>Knowing Kingston, he's got Detectors

Could be. We don't know what's in that system...

>>13258443
>1 vote for storming the fuck out of Indast
>2 vote for sending in overlords to scout

First to 3!

>>13258439
I figure it's a trap. the freighters all have been told to run to a certain spot if they are assaulted. Kingston wants us to come swarming in and get torn up by a minefield or something..

>>13258476
Send in the scout, but have Warbrate ready to warp the Swarm to the system to take advantage of any openings in their defense grid.

>>13258439
They're called science vessels. they have powerful sensors that can detect cloaked units. They also are in no way new, but kingston may now see the sense in sense in deploying them with all his fleets, as we have been using cloaked zerg long enough for the terrans to get wise

>>13258462
(Clincher!)

The overlord drops into the system and cloaks as fast as it can. It can't make out anything immediately. After a few minutes, it pulls around Indast to find a severely damaged Protoss carrier spinning, its engines obviously disabled. It appears to be on a long-period collision course with the sun.

There is no other sign of the freighter or its escort.

>>13258476

I meant a smaller, less obtrustive, and possible cloaky detector

>>13258533

Get another few cloakylords in system, then warp in a couple normal overlords from a system the Terrans know of, and have THEM investigate the carrier.

>>13258533
Organize a small boarding party. Warp in some more overlords, search for anything and make sure there is no psi disruptor in the system.

No large forces.

>>13258533
A Protoss carrier, even a damaged one, is still valuable to us.
Though I doubt that Kingston would have left such valuable technology for us to salvage without some traps.

Have Warbrate send a sizable boarding team to board the carrier and make sure that it is secure.
Toaster is to then bring along a dozen SCV's to do emergency repairs on the Carrier so that it can make a Warp Jump on its own. Once repaired, it is to be warped to an uninhabited system, where Internbrate is to assist Toaster in repairing the Carrier to full capacity, as well as making sure that there are no tracking beacons or other such devices.

Warbrate is to send scouting cloaked Overlords to the nearest dozen star systems to find those freighters.

>>13258533
I can't help but wonder if this is some kind of set up. Like we'll board the carrier and then a protoss strike force will warp in due to a previously sent distress call and think we are the one who smashed up the carreir.

>>13258556
>>13258558
>>13258585
>More overlords in the system
>Boarding parties

Quick question: Are you going to keep everything cloaked, including the overlords that are full to bursting with deadly, slithering monste--uh, our glorious boarding parties? :P

>>13258613
>Akbar alert!

>>13258635
Yes.
Everything cloaked! Because when you can be invisible, why not?

>>13258635
Do NOT keep cloaking everything, they might be watching right now.

We want them to believe we are normal zerg. So keep the cloaking and the size of our infested terran forces to a minimum.

>>13258635
No cloaks on the boarding parties, and a handful of the overlords that will be scouting the system.
But keep another set of 3 overlords cloaked and near the edge of the system, in case this turns out to be a trap.

>>13258635

Warp in enough cloakylords to provide good coverage of possible attack vectors, then have non-cloaky overlords warp in like THEY'RE scouting, and then send in non-cloaky boarding parties. MASSIVE boarding parties.

>>13258693
Agreed with this.

Begin self-evolution into Overmind.

>>13258717
I still think we need giant chicken legs. For the swarm.

Overlords flood into the system, many of them cloaking as they arrive. Others scout uncloaked. A substantial force arrives to board the carrier, intercepting it on its estimated 20-year journey into the heart of the Indast star.

The boarding party meets no resistance through most of the ship. However, upon wrenching open the doors to the Bridge, it is met by three archons, whose blasts of psionic energy vaporize the first team through the door.

>been spizing
I'm not even sure if archons HAVE to spize, Captcha...

>>13258717
(Protip: We did that 22 threads ago)

I was under the impression we weren't a full-fledged Overmind who could control the Cerebrates/Kerrigan yet. Am I mistaken?

>>13258751
Archons! Damn it!

Begin luring the archons out of the bridge, constantly pulling back in order to draw them out.
We want all three to leave the bridge, so that some Zerg can get in behind them, and lock the door to the bridge.

>>13258751
I wonder if they'd be open to negotiations?

>>13258751
Our scouting parties find some debris from an indeterminate number of Terran wraiths. It does not look like enough debris to account for the freighter's entire escort, and there is no debris from the freighter itself.

Other than that and the carrier, there does not appear to be anything in the skies above Indast I.

>>13258783
You are mistaken.
2 threads ago we took direct control of Gorn.
We can do so at any time, against any Cerebrate; we simply choose not to.

>>13258795

Can we get enough lisks together to create a psionic storm? Or can get a mobile EMP in there?

>>13258808
Internbrate pops into our mind, stating that even if we could form a psionic storm with massed hydralisks, that sort of thing would absolutely destroy the Bridge, rendering broad swathes of the already-damaged ship's systems completely inoperable. It advises strongly against doing any more harm to the ship if we intend to repair it.

>>13258794
We don't recall ever trying to negotiate with the Protoss. We have no historical evidence to draw from.

>>13258792
The archons stand their ground, incinerating any Zerg that steps onto the Bridge, but not following any that escape.

>>13258808
That's right; we got psionic blade genetech.
I can't remember, though, if we added it to the hydralisk strains.

>>13258840
Then maybe we should try reasoning with them. If nothing else we could find out if a distress signal was sent. It would suck to get caught by a toss strike force, as we only have overlords in system.

What's on the surface of the planet?

Our overlords have detected a Protoss observer leaving the atmosphere of the planet.

>>13258840
Concentrate fire on one archon at a time from the edge of engagement range if possible.
We want as much fire as we can concentrate on one unit at a time.

While our regular forces keep the archons busy, ask Internbrate if it's possible to open the bridge to vacuum, and suck the archons out into space.
If we can cut a hole into the bridge open with SCV's from the outside, we might be able to get rid of the archons without undue damage to the ship's systems.

>>13258920
Turning our attention to the planet's surface reveals several unexpected Protoss settlements. Analysis of the layouts suggests that they are not Conclave settlements. There is a lot of archon activity.

>>13258935
Capture the Observer!
We have always wanted one, but weren't able to get our hands on one.
Labbrate will be pleased with having new Protoss technology to reverse-engineer.

>>13258953
Internbrate reminds us that archons have demonstrated the ability to survive in the vacuum of space. They are sustained by psionic energy.

Catch that observer!

Additional: Attempt to contact the settlement.

>>13258961
(How?)

>>13258987

I'm assuming its small enough just to literally grab the thing?

>>13258987
Will it fit into one of the uncloaked Overlords? Can't we just grab it and stuff it into an Overlord?
We'll have to take it somewhere safe and secluded, where Labbrate can study it without revealing the location or extent of our holdings.

>>13258993
It is possible, but as it is equipped with high-powered sensors, it will detect any overlord approaching. It is also equipped with an independent warp engine, and so can leave the system should it be endangered.

We can try, though.

>>13258967
It's find if they can survive in vacuum; I just want them off of the bridge.

Once away from the carrier, Warbrate can warp in scourge and mutalisks. Scourge to bring their shields down along with concentrated mutalisk fire should take care of those archons.

>>13259047
>It is also equipped with an independent warp engine, and so can leave the system should it be endangered.
See, this is why I wanted EMP Scourge.
Can Labbrate put that on his list of things to invent for us?

>>13259047
Hold up!, everyone just hold up for a second,

Don't make any moves on the archons in the carrier until we know the status of the protoss settlement on the planet.

Fuck, I think kingston is trying to force us into a war with the protoss, by leading us to this system.

(A couple of you have proposed actually talking to the Toss. I'm gonna give you 5 minutes to discuss and vote on that, because it's kind of unprecedented, and more than one of you is asking for it)

Well why not, let's talk to those 'toos!

Guys, if these aren't conclave protoss we should totally try and negotiate. Imagine being able to trade for protoss tech instead of having to scavenge after random battles.

>>13259098
>>13259121
Thirding.

>>13259121
And say what?
The Protoss are still led by the Conclave, and their religious zealotry still see us as a stain upon existence that must be wiped clean.
What possible reason would they have to open negotiations with us?
Not to mention, it reveals that we are more than mere feral Zerg, and therefore an imminent threat that must be dealt with extreme prejudice.

Talking with the Protoss is a waste of time at best, and a strategic blunder at worst.

>>13259157
(Three votes for Tosstalk is good, but this Anon brings up a good point: what do you say?)

Kingston is trying to do to us what we tried to do to him. He wants us to massacre this protoss settlement in the hopes that it will lead to open warfare between zerg and toss which will weaken both so terrans can come in and mop up.

I say pull our unit back from the bridge a bit for now.

Oh, and keep our cloaked overlords away from that observer.

>>13259157
Boarding the carrier, then trying to draw the archons out of the bridge has already shown that the zerg aren't feral.

Just say something like "'sup?"

>>13259098
>war with the Protoss
Oh, like razing their homeworld and destroying the key to their Warp Network wasn't a declaration of war?

We're at war with the Protoss and the Terrans. We aren't openly attacking Protoss systems because they think we're dead, and I don't want to disabuse them of that illusion unless absolutely necessary.

>>13259157
But this dosn't look to be a Conclave settlement.

They may be more open minded.

Still not sure what to say though...

>>13259178
They killed the overmind. We can pose as an openminded cerebrate who is free to do as it wishes now that the aggressive tendancies of the overmind are no longer being forced upon it.

Long live the free broods and all that.

>>13259184
>But this dosn't look to be a Conclave settlement.
What possible evidence do you have of that?

The Protoss are united! The Conclave still lives and controls the Protoss!
The only reason they haven't launched a crusade to burn all Zerg from the galaxy yet, is because they're still busy cleansing the space surrounding Aiur of feral Zerg.

>>13259202
Whether we are open-minded or not does not matter to the Protoss and their Conclave. The fact that we even EXIST is anathema to their religion and their entire society.

Just say something that would catch them off guard.

Like, pull back the combat forces on the carrier and ask if they need assistance moving the carrier into a stable orbit. We have no combat forces in space, and the toss don't know our Overlords are capable of a psi attack now, so we can appear non agressive.

>>13259226
I say again: This does not appear to be a Conclave settlement. >>13258956 < CA said so here.

What do the archons on the surface appear to be doing?

>>13259258
Even still, it could be Dark Templar or other renegade Protoss who could still want us dead. Hell, do we even know where Tassadar is now?

>>13259258
Even if these Protoss have broken away from the Conclave, there is no assurance or even indication that they will treat us any differently than mainstream Protoss.

These could simply be a group of heretics, like the Dark Templar, who will still work to erase us from existence regardless.

>>13259276
>>13259281
Ok, I really need to know what the activity on the surface seems to be.

I'm wondering if maybe we walked in on a conflict between different protoss factions. Maybe the Conclave is attacking "heretics" and we can be the big heros?

>>13259276
>>13259281
>>13259295
>>13259309

We could always ask the Archons. Or something.

>>13259295
If they are hostile then we can still wipe them out. But if the are not, well, Protoss can build protoss tech. There could be any number of things labrate could make if he had actual protoss engineers willingly working with him.

>>13259276
Upon closer inspection, it appears that they are doing...everything. Except for the machines that the Protoss use, every role on the surface appears to be filled by archons. They are clearing away ground for constructions, organizing in ranks and files for transport, helping to construct buildings, and even appear to be entering the cockpits of scouts.

This is definitely not a Conclave settlement.

(To everybody else, I'm still waiting on suggestions for your opening hail)

>>13259331
>>13259336
You've had nearly 30 minutes to come up with something to say to the Protoss.
Get on with it, fags!
Since you all seem to be so eager to begin conversing with them, what do we say?

>>13259389
I'm fine with "Sup."

A "Greetings good sirs! What might you all be up to?!?" might be fine also.

>>13259349
WHAT!?

I thought archons burned out after a short time?

Ah, whatever.

Maybe... Opening hail to the archons on the carrier: "I am (Do we have a name or designation or something?) of the Zerg." -wait a couple seconds- "Your vessel, it is damaged and on a slowly decaying orbit towards the sun." Another pause "Do you require any assistance?"

>>13259451
(Aha! Something manageable!)

We cease our attacks on the Bridge, and open a channel. It is momentarily answered by the Protoss.

"We are Anon, Cerebrate of the Swarm. We apologize for the intrusion. We thought to salvage this craft, but were unaware that any of its crew remained alive. We offer to assist in the repair of your ship's engines, should you desire it."

We are met with silence, though comm static indicates that the carrier's crew is in contact with the Protoss on the surface. After about 2 minutes, a voice rings out over our channel.

"The Zerg are not known to render assistance, or, truly, to communicate at all. We do not understand."

Well, they are speaking to us. How shall we explain ourselves?

<><><><>

Bernie's forces have begun their assault on Brontes. Fire, blood, plasma, and viscera cloud our vision of the assault. What we do see is unlike any combat we have ever witnessed, equal parts war and rape.

>>13259582
Delightful non-canon shenanigans.

>>13259582
Nor are the Protoss known to break from the Conclave and use Archons for all manner of tasks. Yet here we both are. Let us just accept that circumstances are unique for both sides.

>>13259582
>"The Zerg are not known to render assistance, or, truly, to communicate at all. We do not understand."
Alright, I admit that this is a much better result than I had anticipated.
Though it's still possible that they are only momentarily confused and will still move to wipe us out.

Respond with: "The Zerg we command are under new management, so to speak. We will render aid if you require it. Our calculations show that your ship is on a decaying orbit which will cause it to fall into this system's primary within 20 cycles."

And call off the capture of the Observer for now.

>>13259654
Don't refer to us in plural.

Singular, portray us as an individual. "I will render aid" "I have calculated."

That sort of thing

>>13259654
>>13259582
Offer to send them a fruit basket too.

>>13259694
CA already has us refer to ourselves in the plural.
Changing now would be odd.

>>13259726
Fruit basket and apology Hallmark card.
"Sorry for trying to salvage your carrier, with you still on it. No hard feelings?"

>>13259748
Explain it away with "Old habits die hard. I'm trying to better myself and the swarm as a whole. From a cursory glance it seems you are doing likewise."

>>13259748
Oh, well never mind me >>13259694 then

Maybe we should just tell him that the Overmind, an intelligence which commanded the swarm since the creation of the Zerg, placed itself in an extremely vulnerable position due to it's illogical obsession with consuming the protoss species and was destroyed by the forces of the conclave and the dark templar. With it's death the cerebrates who controlled individual broods which make up the swarm are free to make their own choices as to how they shall act, and free from the will of the overmind some have decided that it is not preferable to live in a state of total war with all the other sentient species in the galaxy.

Or not. I'm not much of a writer.

>>13259829
Oh for fuck's sake! What next, a dapper Overlord with a top hat and monocle, sipping tea, to become our new ambassador and representative? Gentlemanlord?

>>13259873
No.
There's no need to tell them about the death of the Overmind, in case they don't know about it.

It is only sufficient that they know that we are different from previous Zerg, and that we are willing to negotiate as a first resort.

>>13259882

Sounds like a plan to me. Though I think Dapperlord would be a better name.

>>13259882
Do you forget Artisanlord's Dickensian version of Death of a Salesman? I remember a one clawed Overlord wearing a top hat and monocle and sipping tea.

We respond in what we hope is a pleasant tone.

"This is true, but Protoss are not known to man entire colonies with archons, either. The Overmind's death has changed the Swarm. We are born anew. Our calculations show that your ship is on a collision course with this sun's system, and we again offer our assistance."

Another pause.

"Aten me pro'sunet fah. Your offer is accepted, Cerebrate, so long as your forces do not attempt to enter the Bridge again."

The channel is cut off, and communications with the surface resume.

>Great googictu
Captcha's amazed!

Great Googictu, indeed!

>>13259944
>>13259926
Captcha should be amazed by that play. Well, lets get some overlords to drag the carrier into a stable orbit.

>>13259944
>Your offer is accepted, Cerebrate, so long as your forces do not attempt to enter the Bridge again.
Have our boarding parties fall back, and our non-cloaked Overlords tow the Carrier to a more stable orbit.
Have Internbrate see what he can do to repair the sub-light engines; it'll also be good practice for him.

Make sure that Warbrate sends out cloaked Overlords to the surrounding systems; we still need to find that missing freighter.

Also, what's Toaster's progress on salvaging the captured Terran machinery?

>>13259944
See about fixing the engines and stopping the movement of the ship. Bring in SCVs if necessary.

>>13259987
No, I think we should keep the SCV's, and that we have Terran tech at all, a secret for now.

>>13259987
We only bring in SCVs with the prior approval of the Protoss. Maybe they want to fix it themselves, we shouldn't impose anymore than we have.

>>13260031
>>13259987
I suppose we'll have to settle for just stabilizing the orbit of the carrier until the protoss can fix it themselves then, because I don't think we can repair their engines without some form of outside technology.

>>13259980
>>13259984
>>13259987
Our uncloaked overlords gently straddle the ship, pulling it into a more stable orbit and stopping the spin that has been creating a gravitational gradient on the ship. We assume that the archons found that disorienting.

Repairing the ship with standard Zerg units will take a long time. Modified Zerg units would decrease that time, and the use of infested Terrans would allow us to work very swiftly. What sorts of units should we use?

Warbrate sends overlords to search for the freighter, but it admits that the search may take some time, assuming the ship is even in the area. It reminds us that the freighter could easily retreat to Terran space at any time.

Toaster's progress report is very energetic. It appears to be very excited by the prospect of integrating this technology into our production facilities on Yoshus. It laments that towing the freighter was necessary, as getting the ship to Yoshus would have been much faster under its own power. Accountantbrate, for a wonder, is barely complaining about the expense at all.

>>13259944
With this under control for the time being, I'd like to turn our attention briefly to terran space and see what Bernie has stirred up with the rape of Brontes.

>>13260106
ask accountantbrate what has him so silent/in a good mood

>>13260115
Bernie's mind flutters briefly into the fore of our consciousness as it continues its battle. The Terrans have retaliated in force, an entire fleet of battlecruisers emerging right into the fight, supported by waves of wraiths. Dropships by the dozen have been delivering strike teams to crucial areas of the surface.

Bernie is struggling to maintain a line, but its forces are severely outnumbered, and they lack the conveniences of shields and cloaking devices.

Bernie is preparing to enter the battle itself.

>>13260106

I'd say to use mostly modified zerg, with standard zerg helping them as necessary. Hold off on the infested terrans

>>13260106
Now that we've stabilized their orbit, open another communication channel to the Protoss on the carrier.
"I have been able to stabilize your orbit, and my units can assist in repairs if required. However, as you can see, the units I have on your ship are not well-suited to repairing your type of technology. Do you require further assistance?"

Regardless of what they answer, request to speak with whoever is in charge down on the planet, to see if they would be amenable to a trade agreement.

Tell Warbrate to also be on the lookout for more breakaway Protoss enclaves like this one.

>>13260140
Accountantbrate denies vehemently that it is acting unusual. It begins complaining immediately about wasting resources repairing enemy spacecraft.

>>13260106
Well, the Protoss do know the zerg have infested terran units, we used them during our war with the protoss when the overmind was still alive.

It wouldn't be unusual to use infested terrans. Modified zerg on the other hand would be quite strange. Those are a fairly new creation, and showing them zerg that have been specifically tailored to use protoss tech may make them suspicious.

>>13260140
The idea of Dapperlord clearly, they could drink tea together and discuss how the other named zerg are unclothed barbarians.
>>13260106
SCVs with pilotlings? I see no reason to show infested terrans. I even question the use of anymore terran tech at this point. No sense in letting the know what all we have, even in an implied sense.

>>13260106
Use regular Zerg units only, if they'll even let us try to fix the engines.

There's no need to show them what we have, since we don't know if they can be trusted yet.

>>13260188
Hmm, maybe we should send a strike force to hit-and-run the terrans flank. We don't want bernie to fail after all, we need the terrans to believe the zerg can strike at them regardless of their attempts to defend so they will be more likely to keep their military at home.

>>13260188
Bernie is going to get itself killed.

I propose that we exploit his death by assuming that the Terrans will have responded to his attack with all available force, and authorizing Gorn to launch an assault on another core world with all assets at his disposal.

>>13260207
Specially tailored with thumbs.
>>13260201
CAPITALISM HO!!!!!

>>13260217
But aren't infested terrans NORMAL for zerg? It's the "pilotlings" that are new.

>>13260243
>>13260217
>>13260207
>>13260192
(For the sake of clarity, the Protoss have seen infested Terrans, but the Overmind's Swarm never used any technology with them. It also used by and large standard-stock Zerg units. Using the Terrans will show that we have supplies of them. Using the technology will show that we've started integrating tech. Using modified Zerg will show them we're mutating our strains)

>>13260188
>Bernie is struggling to maintain a line, but its forces are severely outnumbered, and they lack the conveniences of shields and cloaking devices.
Would it be possible to drop a swarm out of Warp behind the Terran's flanks, under Gorn's command?
I know that Bernie was supposed to be running an independent campaign, but this seems like a good time for some judicious reinforcements.

I chose Gorn because we have Warbrate taking care of important recon, but then again, Gorn is likely to leave nothing salvageable behind from the battle.

>>13260291
We shall avenge the loss of Bernie! Gorn ready your forces, you march on TYRADOR IX! By the Overmind I will see Kingston's beach house DESTROYED!

>>13260313
The fact that we mutated our strains should be no shock to the Protoss, that what we do, it's kinda the zerg's shtick, EVOLUTION! They may wonder why these zerg have thumbs though.

>>13260313
OK, with this clarification modified Zerg seems like the best option.

>>13260291
I think Gorn should reinforce Bernie, Kingston had geared up for an invasion, this can't be all they have. I say again it is important we take this planet merely to show that we can take a planet in their core space despite significant opposition.

>>13260313
In that case, I think using Infested Terrans is the least damaging, from a military intel perspective. They already knew we had Infested Terran capability, and it wouldn't be unusual if we had a small cache of them.

We need to hide our integration of machinery and flesh, and of how advanced our mutations have become, until we know whether we can trust these Protoss or not.

>>13260323
>>13260330
If we do this, we HAVE to make sure that we don't pull a repeat of last time and take control of Gorn's forces again. I for one do not want to deal with that shitstorm again.

Long term project: Find a way to copy the pure Essence of Burnie, AMPLIFY it with about 100 psy-emitters, then forcibly dump it into the Khala through some sort of Protoss/Zerg interface.

We have the emitters, we have the means to break into the Protoss psyche (though most definitely not the means to read it) and we have time. I quite like the option of staging a telepathic denial-of-service/spam attack against an entire race and irrevocably tainting the Khala.

Anticipated results range from shutting down ALL Khala based technology for a brief period, DESTROYING (if we amp up the power high enough) all Khala based techonology, turning the entire Conclave into mind-raped vegetables/sex-fiends, forcing the protoss to enter a new Age of Strife, or creating a million million protoss with zerg minds.

>>13260395
Conventional Zerg forces only, and we accept that there won't be anything to capture.

Or we have Warbrate take control of the reinforcements instead of Gorn. Warbrate knows that we want to capture ships and technology, so he won't need oversight.

>>13260378
>Bernie is preparing to enter the battle itself.

Bernie was mated with a Defiler, he'll be able to seriously fuck shit up. But I think he still needs assistance, so send Gorn to hit the terran flank.

Maybe designate one of the lesser cerebrates to contaminate Tyrado IX with a spore bath.

Short term goals: We are NOT going to spend entire sessions flittering about with diplomacy for uncertain gain (when it's fairly obvious that Kingston will turn up sooner or later to ruin the talks/negotiations by telling lies or (worse yet) revealing the truth.

The Overmind said that we needed Kerrigan and we all know how good she is at diplomacy/manipulation. Inform her of the latest developments, give her a few general objectives (make friends, increase protoss/terran tensions, work towards the merging of the two races, make me a sammich ect.) and let her deal with this while we monitor the situation.

If she's reluctant to cooperate, mouth some general mumbo-jumbo about her being the choosen conduit between the Many (protoss) and the One (zerg) and use our puppy-dog eyes at her until she relents. (Note to self, acquire some puppies with expressive eyes.)

Medium Term objectives: If we're going to start interacting with people on non-genocidal terms, we're going to need to look the part. Start experimenting with DNA from puppy-dogs, kittens, penguins, baby-otters and platypus to create something so OVERWHELMINGLY cute that the Protoss can't help but like/love. We'll call them 'Zergbies'.

>>13260448
That is the most horrifying idea I've heard in a long time. We should look into this.

>>13260395
I agree, I doubt there is anything we need to salvage this time though. The whole point of using Bernie was to smash the fuck out of everything, we never expected to salvage anything therefore Gorn can also kill and smash freely.

>>13260470
It's unlikely that Kerrigan will agree, since she values her independence too much. It was all we could do to have her agree to non-interference and neutrality.

Though I agree that we should have Labbrate or Internbrate engineer a more fitting strain for negotiations with other races.
Nargil can continue working with Colonylord to search for new species to bring into the Swarm.

>>13260470
I do find the notion of Kerrigan doing anything we ask for reasons other than her own personal gain to be sill, puppy do eyes don't work on her. But ZERGBIES! SO CUTE!

Ask the Protoss how their carrier came to be so damaged.

Very Short-Term goals:

If we're going to maintain dialogue, we should introduce ourselves. That means we need a name that reflects our true nature.

With the death of the Overmind, we are the one in charge. We are the master cerebrate.

All hail the coming of Masterbrate!

>>13260545
Oh yes, we should ask this, too.

Perhaps casually mention that we were chasing some Terran invaders, and their last known location was this system.

We send in regular Zerg units, with as few modifications as we can manage, as well as very few infested Terrans to begin repairs on the ship. The work is slow, but we are seeing progress. The archons do not leave the Bridge, and there is constant communication with the surface.

Our overlords are noting that the apparent rush to militarize the settlements has slowed. Aerospace assets are still being mobilized, but they appear to be waiting for something.

(If you're planning any kind of treachery, you should do it before you finish the engines)

<><><><>

We debate whether to send forces to relieve Bernie, and whether to have Gorn or Warbrate at the head of the charge. We also consider using this opportunity to strike at another Core World while the Confederate fleet is engaged. As we consider, Bernie enters the fray.

Its form is a whirl of tentacles, phallic extensions, and corrosive gases. It latches onto the Bridge of a battlecruiser and uses its tail to breach the hull, tearing the command crew to pieces. It is impressive to watch, but we doubt Bernie's contributions alone will turn the tide of the battle.

>>13260561
We already introduced ourselves as Anon, Cerebrate of the Swarm.
That should give the Protoss some pause, anyway.
A being that refers to itself as Anonymous, as having no identity in direct contradiction to its proclamation? It's like a Zen koan made manifest.

>>13260561
>Masterbrate
Terrans' face when

>>13260587
No treachery at the moment, but try to strike up a conversation while repairs are ongoing- we should have plenty of time. Inquire as to what happened here, and why all the Protoss here are archons- it seems highly irregular.

>>13260511
>>13260536

Kerrigan placed into a position where she can turn one species against the other? She'd jump at the chance.

At the very least, she's should be a party to the 'talks'. We don't want to establish non-agression pacts or something only to find out that she's just burnt down a protoss orphanage-world or something a month or two later.

Besides, she's be too damn quiet for too long. It's starting to worry me.

>>13260587
>If you're planning any kind of treachery, you should do it before you finish the engines
No treachery; let's play it straight and see what happens.

As for reinforcing Bernie, let's send Gorn; we didn't expect to recover anything from the planets that Bernie attacks anyway.
Warbrate is to send cloaked Overlords to other Confederacy worlds, to scout them out and see if their defensive garrisons have been depleted by Bernie's attack.
If an opening presents itself, I think we should consider opening another front by sending in Warbrate to attack and capture.

>>13260587
I was the one who suggested talking and I had no intention of treachery. It would defeat the purpose as we could have wiped them out easily without making contact.

Also, ask the toss how their carrier got damaged.

>>13260598
(We introduced ourselves as Anon, not Anonymous. It's unlikely that they'll interpret that as Anonymous rather than just a name. If they feel really poetic, they'll think we're named after the word meaning 'now,' thus introducing ourselves as the Cerebrate Now, or perhaps the Current Cerebrate, as if There Can Be Only One. Or, you know, not. Anyway, if you guys feel like changing up your introduction, go right ahead)

>>13260598
The toss do like to be all philosophical and deep yo.
>>13260587
Fine send Gorn to ensure that we win. If Bernie falls in battle well just reincarnate him... I was going to say if we can, but we technically did already.

>>13260658
We need to keep an eye on what Bernie does when it enters the fray. If Bernie has special abilities due to how it was created then our other "lord"brates might also have special abilities they can use. Nargil would certainly be interested in knowing, I think.

>>13260658
If we're allowed to speak with their leaders, I think we should introduce ourselves as "I am Anonymous, a Cerebrate of the Zerg Swarm. Please, call me Anon."
Let's see if they can get the many layers of meaning in that statement.

>>13260561

Daggoth frowns on your shenanigans.

>>13260706
Or formally introduce ourselves like this. "Salutations firstborn of the Xel'Naga, eldest of the races. I am Anon, youngest of the Swarm. It is in these times of great chance that I request parley with you for the betterment of both our races."

>>13258125

The voice actor of the Battlecruiser(in both Starcrafts) is actually a singer and the voice actor of the Science Vessel voiced Skinner too.

>>13260751
We're actually not the youngest of the Swarm at all. All the cerebrates we've created, each of whom is a fairly major player at this point, are younger than us. The Swarm is run by its youths these days.

>>13260706
No, that's bad.
>>13260767
He sounds an awful lot like Burns to me.
'I like the cut of your jib'.
I'm not going to bother looking it up.

>>13260798
But are they true cerebrates created by the Overmind? I you want we can make it "Youngest of the Old Swarm," or "Youngest of the Overmind." I know I'm ignoring Kerrigan, but she's not here and I don't think she'll mind if we refer to her as out big sister.

>>13260638
>ongoing talk about telling Kerrigan things, or negotiating with Kerrigan

(I'd like to remind you guys that you have no idea where she is or what she's doing at all)

>Besides, she's be too damn quiet for too long. It's starting to worry me.

(I'm kind of amused by how hostile you guys think she is, considering that you basically talked her out of the entire Brood War)

>>13260645
It takes longer than it could have, but the repairs are finally complete. The ship has primary engines, and its warp capabilities are repaired enough for one or two jumps. Certainly enough to get the ship to the formal repair facility of its choice. We begin to remove our forces from the ship, and hail the Bridge agian. The comm line opens.

"We have finished our repairs. You should have no trouble navigating to a proper repair facility at your leisure. We are glad to have been of service."

The Protoss voice resonates in reply, "We thank you, Anon of the Swarm. Your assistance has been most...unexpected. Mes'salesh na Aten pi korfel'ashan! If someone had told us yesterday that we would accept help from the Swarm in repairing damage done by the Terrans, we would not have believed it possible."

We contain our excitement at this opportunity to pry.

"You, too have been attacked by the Terrans? We have been stricken several times by Terran forces centered around a large freighter."

The Protoss voice sounds hesitant as it responds. "We should not speak of this to you. We will assume repairs on our own now, and direct you to our superior on the surface."

The signal ends abruptly, and a set of communications protocols are transmitted. It seems we have attracted the attention of a higher officer.

(Assuming you want to make the call? Also, you should decide on what you're doing with Brontes)

>>13260823
But she's our LITTLE sister...

...perhaps "youngest of the Overmind's cerebrates", which is more strictly accurate. And even implies that we work for the Overmind, even though he's dead.

We should have Gorn go in and fucking wreck Brontes.

Tell him to attempt to leave some salvage behind, if possible, but in this case annihilation of the enemies combat strengths are the primary goals.

>Mes'salesh na Aten pi korfel'ashan!
...anyone speak Protoss?

>Assuming you want to make the call?
Naturally. Cordial greeting, explain that we were directed here for further communication, inquire as to what the Terrans have been up to, see what's what.

>Also, you should decide on what you're doing with Brontes
Send Gorn to attack the Terrans somewhere else with all the forces he can bring to bear. Hopefully with two assaults at least one will succeed.

Hmm. Warbrate is needed for defense, but... Bernie's Swarm needs at least some bailing out. Direct Warbrate to send in such units as it can afford losing to keep Bernie's assault viable for as long as possible, to buy time for Gorn to wreak some serious slaughter.

>>13260838
>decide on what you're doing with Brontes
Gorn is to take a sizable taskforce to Brontes and wreck the Confederacy's shit with a brutal attack from their unprotected flanks.
Tell him, in strong terms, that he is to leave salvage where possible. The more machines he leaves intact, the more opportunities will be given to him to glory in tearing flesh apart.

As for the Protoss, yes, open a communication channel with the Protoss leaders of the colony.
Put on our best negotiation and diplomacy voice.

>>13260838
Tell Gorn to fix it.
>>13260853
And we watched over her in her chrystalis, we saw her be born into the swarm. Doesn't mean we can't stroke her ego, or you know outright lie about things to the protoss.

>>13260905

I vote a Sean Connery voice with Dapperlord.

>>13260888
Our understanding of different Protoss dialects is very slim, but we believe that the archon was stating that "Aten" was...cheerfully playing? Depending on the dialect, it could also mean something about a complex plan. We aren't sure.

(So, divide your forces evenly between defense, supporting Bernie, and attacking another Terran world?)

>>13260925

I second this motion.

>>13260838

We should speak with the Protoss leader. At the very least, we might get up to speed with current protoss opinion on the Swarm.

As for Brontes, let's send in a strike force coordinated by BOTH Gorn and Warbrate. Gorn's great at mass scale battling, and Warbrate is quite wily and may help to keep Gorn from going out of control and/or make tactical mistakes.

It'll also be a good exercise for both of our war-oriented 'brates to cooperate and coordinate with each other!

>>13260838
We keep saying send Gorn. Wipe the defenders of Brontes out. Strip mine as much of the planet as possible in the time we have. The Terrans will re mass and take the planet back eventually.

The goal was never to hold the planet, merely to take it and generate some serious bad publicity for Kingston and make the Terran populace call for increased security around Terran held worlds, thus prematurely ending Kingstons invasion.

>>13260925
>>13260965
Measure carries. If/When we create dapperlord he will talk like a long dead terran stage and screen actor.

>>13260963
No, we send reinforcements to Brontes, and Toaster is to swoop in and salvage the most valuable ships before Bernie gets to them, and then get out.

We have Warbrate sending scouts to other Core worlds, to see if any have weakened defense grids, and then we'll consider mounting another attack.

>>13260963
I like this plan.
>>13260969
>>13260977
Let's get Gorn and Warbrate to FUCK SHIT UP and then eat whatever's left to keep the Terrans from getting it.

>>13260963
No, don't attack another world, that's spreading ourselves too thin. Just have Gorn reinforce Bernie so he can continue to rape the hell out of Brontes.

Scout the other worlds for weakness but don't send a second invasion just yet.

It begins with a trickle. The tiny pops of warp travel arrivals announcing new Zerg entering the battle. The Terran battle lines barely move to counter.

It continues to a steady stream, pockets of Zerg under the combined control of Warbrate and Gorn causing bulges and bends in the Terran line, as more troops arrive.

It continues into a flood, Zerg forces pouring into the system constantly. Several divisions of the Terran fleet, obviously outnumbered and doomed, jump away. The remaining Terrans fight bravely, taking many units with them, but despite their bitter resistance, they are finally crushed under the sheer weight of the Zerg advance. The press of carapace is too much, and the Terran fleets break entirely. As they are routed, each engaging or fleeing as its crew sees fit, we turn our eyes to the surface. A similar stalemate had developed on the ground, with the Terrans holding strategic choke points against Bernie's vividly grotesque hordes. With the battle nearly over in the sky, the battle on the ground looks substantially easier.

<><><><>

We hail the surface, using the protocols given to us by the archon on the carrier. The voice of another archon answers.

"Anon, Cerebrate of the Swarm, I take it? We are Javed Naveed. Your presence is distressing, but also uncharacteristically peaceful. What is it you wish to discuss?"

>>13260448

My God. Fund it!

>>13261182
>A similar stalemate had developed on the ground, with the Terrans holding strategic choke points against Bernie's vividly grotesque hordes. With the battle nearly over in the sky, the battle on the ground looks substantially easier.
Let's hear it for orbital bombardment. Rain death upon them whenever it'll make things easier. While we're slaughtering everything, strip whatever resources (minerals, gas, technology, populace) we can from the planet and prepare for a staged, controlled withdrawal while destroying everything that we can't take behind us.

>>13261182
>Your presence is distressing, but also uncharacteristically peaceful. What is it you wish to discuss?
"Well met, Javed Naveed. My forces jumped here in pursuit of some Terrans who have been... causing significant problems. It seems that your people have had difficulties with them as well; I would know what happened here."

>>13261182
Parley? I'm thinking parley.

>>13261182
Make sure Bernie knows of the Landworms, the additional larva they bring could be very helpful with bolstering his forces.

>>13261182
Gorn is to assist Bernie in the taking of the planet.

Warbrate is to begin sending out cloaked scouts to other Core worlds to find vulnerabilities.
Toaster is to immediately begin salvage operations in space.

>Your presence is distressing, but also uncharacteristically peaceful. What is it you wish to discuss?"
"Ah, Javed Naveed, we wish to discuss an attempt at peaceful coexistence if we can, as well as possible trade."

Basically we want to outline a neutrality pact, at least with elements of the Swarm that we represent, and between Protoss led by Javed Naveed.

>>13261182
All of these
>>13261247
>>13261266
>>13261272
>>13261276

>>13261276
Trade is moving a bit fast, considering that we're the first zerg they've ever seen not trying to eat their faces. We'd probably have more success offering to leave someone there to speak with them in the future, or to have one of their people and our people left at a third party location to maintain communication. Give it a bit more time before we start getting into serious pacts and treaties.

Though if we can somehow score a treaty out of the blue, score, go with it.

Take a look at the space around Bernieworld. It occurs to me that bernie may have jumped straight to Brontes and left a big trail back to his home.

Also have warbrate begin with the scouting, I'd like to know if the defense of Brontes has depleted the defense of other worlds.

>>13261266
(We're already talking with the Prot--wait, you mean with the Terrans?)

>>13261272
Bernie's troops seem very good at delivering genetic material. Considering the basic shape of the worms, we aren't sure we should give them to Bernie at all.

>>13261276
>>13261247
(Interview them about the Terrans first, or ask for peace first?)

>>13261358
Peace first, then Terrans.

>>13261358
Why would we negotiate with the terrans at this stage? Later we might be able to properly subjugate them, but not at this juncture.
>judiciary. achmage

>>13261358
No negotiations with terrans. We'd have to stop Bernie from killing and raping. Wed have to take control from him to do that and we promised the others we wouldn't do that anymore.

>>13261358
What bernie does with the worms couldn't be any worse than what he does with anything else. Also it would scare the terrans even more when they try to retake the planet.

>>13261358
I think we should ask about the terrans first, peace is a big thing, we should start with some form of non aggression pact. And we would need to be sure they understand that it wouldn't apply to all Zerg

>>13261358
Forever a Drone

"Salutations, Javed Naveed. We have been harassed by Terran forces based out of a freighter for several days. We were led to understand that your carrier may have been disabled by this same group of Terrans. We wished to learn what we could of the encounter, especially if it could lead to the capture or destruction of the Terrans in question."

There is a brief pause before Javed's voice rings out again. "We were indeed attacked by a group of Terrans that seemed to be guarding a freighter. They jumped to warp before we could get a fix on them, however...Tell us, Cerebrate: why are we speaking? The Swarm could easily overrun this colony, and yet you have repaired our ship. Why?"

<><><><>

The Terran ground forces are completely outclassed, now that their air support is gone. They are trapped between Bernie's horrors and ours. Amusingly, many of them run toward our lines to avoid facing Benie's troops.

(For a visual, watch this until 1:22, then skip right to 3:30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GMOTrIjVao )

>>13261773
The Terrans are currently in need of reprisal. And since the death of the Overmind we see no reason to continue hostilities with the Xel'Naga's other children.

>>13261773
>The Swarm could easily overrun this colony, and yet you have repaired our ship. Why?
"Why indeed. Why not? You did not fire upon us when we entered your system, and when we opened communications you responded with reason and rationality.
"I do not believe in unnecessarily making enemies, and hope that talking it out with you will prevent the creation of another enemy in a hostile galaxy."

>>13261773
>>13261773
Stripmine as much of the planet as possible. How is Warbrates scouting going?

Maybe, tell the Protoss: The Overmind was strangely obsessed with the idea of consuming your race and assimilating all that you are into the swarm. That obsession brought about its destruction. Now that the Zerg are free from the overmind and its obsession, some of have decided that it is not preferable to live in a state of total war with every other sentient species in the galaxy.

>The Swarm could easily overrun this colony, and yet you have repaired our ship. Why?
because its too easy to blow you up when you're damaged and we want some sport

>>13261987
No, Bernie! Damnit, you're supposed to be raping and torturing the Confederacy, and you still screwed that up and needed your ass bailed out by Gorn and Warbrate!

>>13262044
mass bcs are op, don't blame me

>>13261773
Cerebrate Anon, you still here?
I think you need to institute calls for votes or such, to keep things going.

>>13261958
>Tell the Protoss in detail about how the Overmind wanted to eat their entire race

(Oh, you.)

"The Overmind is gone. We are no longer beholden to Its Will or Its edicts. We belong to ourselves, now. While we cannot speak for all Zerg that remain, we can say of ourselves: we do not wish to make enemies of all beings. We do not share the Overmind's goal of destroying your race in its entirety."

"If this is true, Cerebrate, then the Jael'Aten offer our peace to you. So long as you offer no violence to us, we shall offer no violence to you."

Well, THAT was unprecedented. Artisanlord expresses its pleasure at our diplomacy.

<><><><>

Brontes is ours. Pockets of resistance remain, of course, but a new one is exterminated every few minutes. Soon, there will be no Terrans left alive on the surface. We sift through the wreckage, but find precious little still intact. The world's production base was not substantial, so most of its defensive troops were imported from other colonies.

We prepare for an ordered retreat from the (we feel) inevitable retaliatory strike by Kingston's forces. Bernie's troops remain on the planet, as does Bernie itself. We are confident that any survivors (should Bernie leave them alive) will carry stories of the grim majesty of our fleets.

Truly, today was a glorious day for the Swarm!

(Aaaaaaand, that's a wrap for tonight!)

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/13257958/

(Forewarned: We will not be having Zerg Quest on the 5th. It's a special day of special specialty to me)

>>13262101
(Sorry. Alcohol may or may not slow your reflexes)

>>13262159
>No Zerg Quest on Jan. 5th
But there will still be one on the 29th, right?

>>13262205
Unless my computer explodes or something, yeah.

>>13262159
Stripmine goddamnit

Have some of our ground forces dig deep and stripmine the fuck out of everything. It dosn't matter if we can't get to the resources what matters is that the Terrans will be unable to use them after our harvesters have consumed them.

On a different note, I wonder if AL is interested in Protoss ballads...

>>13262258
Stripmine? Don't we need to leave this planet's resources for Bernie to rebuild his brood?

>>13262279
Bernie can take as much from the world as he wants, but he'll never be able to hold it when the Terrans make a major counter attack, it's a core world after all, they'll nuke it into oblivion before they let it stay in Zerg hands. The plan was never to hold the world but to force Kingston to stop his invasion plan due to the civilian populace wanting better protection after we showed that we could take one of their worlds and there is little they could do about it.