Zerg


 * "Zerg Swarm" redirects here. Alternatively, you may be looking for the Swarm (unit).

"Rule number one for running an empire, son: When the Zerg are a topic of conversation, the niceties go out the airlock."

- Arcturus Mengsk

The zerg are a terrifying and ruthless amalgamation of biologically advanced, arthropodal aliens. Dedicated to the pursuit of genetic perfection, the zerg relentlessly hunt down and assimilate advanced species across the galaxy, incorporating useful genetic code into their own, and exterminate any species that might corrupt the purity of the zerg genome.

Alongside the protoss and terrans, the zerg stand as one of the three dominant species of the Milky Way.

History
The zerg were "created" by the xel'naga on Zerus. The xel'naga were searching for a counterpart to merge with the protoss, gifted with the purity of form, and continue their lifecycle. In the zerg they found a worthy candidate for the purity of essence. To prevent a similar fragmentation and regression experienced by the protoss during the Aeon of Strife, the xel'naga subordinated all the zerg to a single entity: the Overmind. However, the Overmind fell under the control of a being known as the Dark Voice. The ancient species attempted to keep their presence a secret from the Swarm, but eventually the Overmind became aware of them and ordered the zerg to attack. The xel'naga were driven from Zerus, and the zerg gained knowledge of the protoss.

The Dark Voice's control forced the Overmind to seek out the protoss. The Overmind believed assimilating the protoss would make the zerg "perfect", and directed the Swarm into space in search of Aiur, the protoss homeworld. Along the way it assimilated multiple species in preparation for the confrontation. As the Swarm neared the Koprulu Sector and the volume of space under protoss stewardship, they discovered the terrans. Of the species encountered, the terrans were unique in having psionic potential. With such abilities the zerg would be able to combat the protoss on even terms.

The Swarm started the Great War by invading the terran worlds, but were met by a protoss counter-attack. The protoss were aware of the zerg's xel'naga origins and, seeing the effects of zerg infestation, resolved to prevent any zerg foothold. Protoss Executor Tassadar, leading the Koprulu Expeditionary Force, was reluctantly forced to purify numerous terran worlds. Even so, the zerg were not stopped.

The Great War also sparked a large scale terran civil war. Terrans on both sides of the civil war sought to use the zerg for their own advantage. The rebel Sons of Korhal manipulated the zerg through psi-emitters, drawing the Swarm onto to the defenses of the failing Terran Confederacy first at Antiga Prime and then at the Confederate capital world of Tarsonis. At Tarsonis, the zerg not only delivered the killing blow to the Confederacy, but also captured Sarah Kerrigan, a psionic ghost operative. The Overmind believed Kerrigan was the key to stopping the Dark Voice. The Swarm withdrew to Char to complete the infestation of Kerrigan into the Queen of Blades. She was the Overmind's way to resist the Dark Voice's indirect control of the Swarm.

Kerrigan's presence drew the protoss leaders Tassadar and Zeratul to Char. The latter was a Dark Templar with the ability to permanently slay cerebrates. Striking an alliance, the two protoss groups fought repeated battles against zerg forces led by Infested Kerrigan. Zeratul slew Zasz, inadvertently giving the Overmind the location of Aiur. The majority of the Zerg Swarm promptly traveled to Aiur, leaving Kerrigan behind with a small number of zerg to fight the protoss still on Char. The zerg on Aiur enjoyed victories over the protoss.

The protoss on Char eventually escaped to Aiur, where they defeated the Overmind.

The death of the Overmind caused the temporarily leaderless zerg to rampage; most of Aiur's population was killed. The zerg split into two factions, one led by Daggoth (and the second Overmind) and the latter led by Infested Kerrigan. The protoss fled to Shakuras followed by Daggoth's zerg. The protoss collected a pair of artifacts in order to destroy the zerg and make their new home safe, while forming an unexpected alliance with Kerrigan. The protoss destroyed the zerg on Shakuras in order to protect themselves, belatedly realizing that Kerrigan was manipulating them into fighting on her side in the zerg civil war.

The arrival of the United Earth Directorate in the Koprulu Sector upset Kerrigan's plans. After conquering the Terran Dominion and chasing after its emperor, Arcturus Mengsk, they took control of and activated the powerful anti-zerg weapon, the Psi Disrupter, despite interference from Kerrigan's enigmatic minion, Samir Duran. Using other technologies, the UED took control of the second Overmind, turning most zerg to their side, while the Disrupter weakened Kerrigan's control over her own forces. Kerrigan was left in a weak position and resolved to strengthen her side by striking an uneasy alliance with Jim Raynor and Arcturus Mengsk. After the alliance severely weakened the UED Kerrigan betrayed them, then she turned her attention to the protoss. With assistance from Samir Duran she kidnapped the Dark Templar Raszagal and forced Zeratul to slay the second Overmind for her. Now in charge of all the zerg broods, she was suddenly abandoned by Duran.

Duran worked on a mysterious protoss/zerg hybridization project which Zeratul discovered. Meanwhile the protoss, UED and Terran Dominion all converged on Kerrigan but she was able to defeat them.

After the Brood War the zerg remained on worlds they had already infested, sending out forces to explore and exploit various worlds and assimilate new species, and refrained from engaging in overt hostile actions against the terrans and protoss for four years. No expeditions sent to Swarm-controlled worlds have come back alive.

The Swarm started the Second Great War by attacking terran space in search of a xel'naga device. The zerg were beaten to the device by Raynor's Raiders. Char was invaded by a terran battlegroup that used the device to deinfest Kerrigan.

Most of Kerrigan's forces had yet to return to Char on their leviathans and died fighting each other in the void. Many of Kerrigan's brood mothers, sensing her weakness, moved their broods throughout the Koprulu Sector. Kerrigan swore to recover them.

Characteristics
"I hope you're prepared for the next encounter. The zerg are coming. The zerg are nature in all her fury."

- Maren Ayers

A great deal of information has been ascertained as to the nature of zerg physiology and psychology, such as through the Terran Confederacy's Project Bellwood. All zerg breeds are efficient killers and/or possess abilities that will aid the Swarm in the destruction of its enemies.

Physiology
"Nature doesn't just adapt. Nature cheats, changes the rules, and slips out the back door with your wallet while you're still trying to figure out what the hell happened."

- Maren Ayers

The zerg as a whole are extremely tough, tenacious, and deadly. Their natural armor and weaponry is comparable to modern technology in terms of toughness and armor-piercing capabilities. The zerg are extremely resistant to chemical agents,, but their biological nature still renders them vulnerable to concentrated radiation.

All zerg strains are capable of operating in a variety of environments, including the vacuum of space. Zerg must eat and rest, but do not require extended hours of sleep and have no set periods of inactivity. Left unchecked, zerg multiply at an alarming rate. Zerg do not die of old age.

Zerg possess remarkable regenerative capabilities. Their alpha amino acids possess unique R groups that allow dead cell matter to be combined with normal proteins to create new cells. Under normal circumstances, zerg may regenerate indefinitely; a radically changing cell structure is a by-product of the process. Given time, even a gravely wounded zerg will return to full health. Thus, a zerg colony remains viable if even one creature or structure survives.

Zerg structures are essentially giant organs and draw sustenance from creep, a thick carpet-like substance that integrates a colony's structures as one macro-organism.

Like terrans and protoss, zerg genetic material consists of DNA, seemingly in the shape of a double helix.

Psychology
"I used to think that defeating the Zerg would take precise military maneuvers, clever tactics and strong leadership. I was wrong. You can't out-think the swarm, you can't out-maneuver the swarm, and you certainly can't break the morale of the swarm. I hate to admit this, but I could do my job just as well if I ordered all my men to simply shoot anything that moves."

- Colonel Ronald Jackson

It has been difficult for observers to determine the full extent of the zerg intelligence, but it is clear that they are a very cunning species, and they are capable of higher reasoning. Although they do not utilize technology, they demonstrate a clear understanding of it, and have been known to open airlocks and doorways in colonies that they have raided. As a group they also react intelligently to attacks and are adept at tactical combat. On an individual basis, though, the zerg seem to be hardly more than savage animals with little or no concern for self-preservation.

The amount of control exerted over a zerg force also impacts on their intelligence. Without this control, the zerg will become little more than animals, attacking everything on sight, at times, even their own kind.

Zerg have the ability to sense psychic power and, being sensitive to it, often respond to it (to the point of rendering themselves temporarily out of the control of a leader) and seek it out. This ability has a greater range than that of wranglers, weakly psychic terrans employed to find other psychics.

Zerg can be "lobotomized" to lose contact with the Zerg Swarm. The Terran Dominion conducted this experiment as early as 2500, using zerglings to seek psychic terrans.

Warp Travel
The zerg are able to create rifts into warp space to transport themselves at faster-than-light speeds. These rifts have been utilized multiple times.

Worlds
The following is a list of worlds that have been conquered by the Swarm, if only temporarily:


 * Agria
 * Aiur
 * Antiga Prime
 * Aridas
 * Braken
 * Braxis
 * Brontes IV
 * Char
 * Chau Sara
 * Eldersthine
 * Garrxax
 * Mar Sara
 * Meinhoff
 * Redstone III
 * Shi
 * Sorona
 * Tarsonis (minimal presence)
 * Ulaan
 * Urona Sigma
 * Zerus (homeworld)
 * Zz'gash

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