Infested terran

An Infested Terran is a breed of Zerg. It is a hybrid of Terran and Zerg created when the Zerg infest a Terran.

Effects of Infestation
An Infested Terran usually loses most of its intelligence and sanity, as its mind becomes consumed by the Zerg. Most become faster, tougher, and develop the ability to burrow, as well as other typical Zerg traits (the ability to quickly heal wounds, psionic sensitivity, and so forth). In addition, most Infested Terrans can explode, sacrificing themselves in a splash of toxic fluid. The explosion is incredibly powerful, capable of destroying small paristeel structures on its own.

Purpose of Infestation
The Zerg believed they needed the use of psionic powers to defeat the Protoss. The Terrans were the only species they discovered with psionics powerful enough to help them achieve victory. However, most Terrans aren't psychic, and even those that are not necessarily genetically compatible (meaning they would lose their intelligence and psionic powers).

Most Infested Terrans have no psionic powers, and are simply used as suicide soldiers.

The Zerg were successful in acquiring Sarah Kerrigan, a Terran Ghost who had been a member of the Sons of Korhal. The Zerg Overmind left her with the majority of her spirit, and she retained her intelligence and even some of her humanity.

At some later point in time, Infested Kerrigan developed an interest in recreating the experiment which created her. While she did not believe she could perfectly duplicate the results of her own change, but still she sought another psychic Infested Terran such as herself.

Her experiments were usually a failure, however, resulting in defects in intelligence and even mobility. She and a Cerebrate believe the problem is a genetic compatibility issue, and the rare psychic Terrans who are compatible could result in another creature such as herself.

Mutates
"Mutate" is a term used for an Infested Terran whose intelligence has been preserved through the use of Terran-devised nanites. Such mutates have been observed in StarCraft: Deceptions and StarCraft: Alternity.

According to StarCraft: Alternity, Terrans beat a small Zerg Brood and captured it during the Brood War. Mixing Zerg and Terran genes, bioengineers forged a small number of mutates to use against the Zerg. The resulting mutates were subjected to a nanite treatment which restored their intelligence. However, their appearance and sanity left something to be desired - the nanites were all that kept them from reverting to their Zerg instincts. They ended up in the service of Raynor's Raiders. Raynor's mutates had a spine-hurling organ in the chest.

Famous Infested Terrans
All of these Infested Terrans have kept their sentience, although not necessarily their sanity.


 * Alexi Stukov (final fate resolved in StarCraft Secret Missions)
 * Infested Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, now the sole ruler of the Zerg
 * Morik (mutate)
 * Samir Duran (exact species in dispute)

Game Unit
Infested Terrans are created from Terrans trapped in damaged Command Centres. A Zerg Queen can enter such a structure and infest it, transforming it into an Infested Command Center. The new structure appears to have technological and organic components, and maintains its ability to fly. It can produce Infested Terrans one at a time, the way Terran structures normally produce units.

Infested Terrans have more hit points than Terran Marines and much greater speed. They don't normally have a regular attack, but can exlode to do 500 points of explosive damage. This will destroy many structures and nearly any ground unit.

Despite their hit point increase, Infested Terrans aren't particularly effective, as they are easily killed before they can get to their target. Covering them with Dark Swarm is a way around this weakness.