Cerebrate

"Greetings, I am Zasz. I too am a cerebrate of the Overmind."

- Zasz introduces himself to the new cerebrate

Cerebrates were zerg brood leaders. They were originally created by the Overmind as intermediate commanders. They were massive versions of the original zerg insectoids. The true form of a cerebrate was revealed only after death. In the case of Zasz this was a ball of yellow light with extruding tentacles.

After extended service cerebrates gained the right to a name as a sign of prestige.

Role in the Swarm
Cerebrates were descended from the original zerg parasites that existed before the coming of the xel'naga, albeit being much larger and endowed with much greater intelligence. Upon creation by the Overmind each cerebrate and the brood it led was given a specific role which in turn shaped the cerebrate's personality. Cerebrates further expanded the zerg hierarchy and came to rely on queens to oversee hive activity and overlords to relay commands to and directly control the brood's minions. While the rigid hierarchy ensured efficiency the permanent death of a cerebrate could induce a complete reversal. Broods that lost their cerebrate frequently became uncontrollably destructive.

Cerebrates also oversee the evolution of the Swarm.

Psionic powers and link to the Overmind
Cerebrates possess detection abilities that are similar to that of the overlord.

Cerebrates are often (perhaps always) powerful psychics, but these powers are usually limited to a specific area. For instance, one cerebrate may be able to create and reincarnate the powerful Torrasque, while another may be able to fill its structures with vital energy.

Reincarnation and Weaknesses
"If ever your flesh should fail, that flesh shall be made anew. That is my covenant with all Cerebrates."

- The Overmind to a young cerebrate

While the Overmind was alive, it could reincarnate a cerebrate through the use of cosmic energy. This type of energy is also used by the Dark Templar, who can kill a cerebrate and prevent its reincarnation. The first time this happened, Zeratul killed Zasz, cerebrate of the Garm Brood, and he created a mental connection with the Overmind. From this connection he learned of the Overmind's connection with the xel'naga and its plans for the protoss race, while the Overmind learned the location of Aiur in a form it could use. The Overmind went into some kind of depression following this, and did not recover until the zerg completely destroyed the Garm Brood. Since then, other Cerebrates have been destroyed by the Protoss in a deliberate attempt to "distract" the Overmind.

Although their link with the Overmind granted them virtual invulnerability, it was not without its weaknesses. Cerebrates were not designed to exist without the Overmind, and were unable to sustain themselves for long after its death - a vulnerability which drove them to create a new one following the first Overmind's death.

The Psi Disrupter was also able to inhibit reincarnation, at least temporarily.

Cerebrates appearing in StarCraft
A significant number of cerebrates appear in various missions in StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War, although not all are identified beyond any doubt. Many cerebrates are also mentioned in the series, including the novels and the instruction booklet of the original StarCraft game; many cerebrates die in the series.

Player Character Cerebrates
The player in both StarCraft I zerg campaigns plays as a cerebrate. In the original StarCraft campaign, a new cerebrate was created in order to nurture Sarah Kerrigan as she was transformed from a terran into an infested terran and powerful zerg psionic agent. This cerebrate was killed on Char by Tassadar some time after Kerrigan's rebirth into the Swarm.

In the Brood War campaign, the player assumes the role of a cerebrate forced to work for Infested Kerrigan. However, there is evidence to suggest Kerrigan kept at least this cerebrate alive, assisting with her advanced infested terran project.

The player is a young cerebrate in StarCraft: Insurrection, tasked with conquering Brontes IV.

The player is an unnamed cerebrate in StarCraft: Retribution, tasked with acquiring the Argus Stone.

Named Cerebrates

 * Araq of the Jormungand Brood
 * Auza of the Incubus Brood/Atticus Carpenter of Carpenter's Brood
 * Daggoth, "Senior Cerebrate" of the Tiamat Brood. It was responsible for the creation of the second Overmind. Daggoth was slain at an unknown point during or shortly after the Brood War.
 * Gorn of the Baelrog Brood. Widely viewed as insane. Slain by Zeratul on Aiur.
 * Kagg of the Surtur Brood
 * Kaloth, a mysterious cerebrate, part of the New Swarm and creator of Infested Stukov.
 * Nargil of the Fenris Brood, in charge of adding new species to the Swarm.
 * Zargil of the Sennith Brood
 * Zasz of the Garm Brood, had a bad relationship with Infested Kerrigan. Zasz was the first Cerebrate that had ever been permanently killed. Zeratul dispatched it.

Unnamed Cerebrates

 * An unnamed cerebrate in charge of the brown Grendel Brood was killed by Zeratul at about the same time Gorn was permanently killed.
 * In the StarCraft: Enslavers missions, Alan Schezar gained control of another cerebrate, but it was killed.
 * Early in the Brood War, the Dark Templar killed two cerebrates studying the xel'naga temple.
 * While the Psi Disrupter was active, the United Earth Directorate killed three more.

Fate of the Cerebrates
Following the death of the Overmind, Daggoth orchestrated the creation of a new Overmind from the fusion of a number of cerebrates. The Renegade Swarm controlled at least half of the zerg in opposition to Infested Kerrigan.

As of Infested Kerrigan's ascension as a ruler of the zerg, the cerebrates were nearing their end. The cerebrates who didn't follow Kerrigan's leadership were all but destroyed on Shakuras as the result of an "alliance" between her and the protoss settling on that world.

Some cerebrates merged into the new Overmind, which was ultimately destroyed. Following the death of the second Overmind, the remaining cerebrates were killed by the Dark Templar which had been manipulated by Kerrigan. The lack of a controlling force was a partial explanation for their deaths.

An exception to the rule was a group known as the "New Swarm", of which the cerebrate Kaloth was part. Kerrigan also retained at least one cerebrate which aided her in her infested terran project. However, following the Brood War, all the cerebrates have been hunted down and exterminated by Kerrigan's forces; there are none left "as far as we know", as Kerrigan has no use or desire for them.