Well, since the Scourge strain is the one people are interested in the most, it's time we get to that one.
No credit to me for StarCraft or Nanoha.
Abathur: Scourge strain ready for augmentation. Scourge sequences reconstituted, require modernization. Experiments already in progress.
Kerrigan's Leviathan arrived at a test site for the new Scourges. This one took place not on a planet, but what looked like an established colony or base built within an asteroid field.
"Aegis System. R&D Ground, property of Time-Space Administration Bureau."
The Swarms leaders zoomed in on the test location. On three outer edges were established metal platforms within the asteroids, separated evenly on the outer edges of the field. Zerg air units including the old Scourges were already surrounding the stations.
"Zerg forces scouting area, minor engagements."
At one location, the Zerg were cut down very easily. A burst of several beams glowing with purple energy cut through the Mutalisks' bodies and wings. The dead former Mantis Screamers either crashed onto the asteroids nearby or drifted dead into the field. Overlords were pummeled by larger pillars of blue and green light as their insides and blood splattered everywhere.
The only ones seen to be repelling the attacks were a trio of men wielding high-tech staffs with respective colors. They were surrounded with energy of their given colors, which seemed to act as a defense against vacuum as a replacement for the Terran marine suits. Behind them on a platform, a line of three turrets were established, having a base similar to Terran Missile turrets, but having colored spheres of energy to act as guns like the Protoss cannons. They were busy engaging some left over Mutalisks and the nearby Scourges.
It was clear the Zerg did little or no damage to the outpost. Any shots from the Mutalisks seemed to have missed their targets by quite a distance. The Overlords were shot down before they could get close enough to the platforms and even Sacs didn't look like an option. The Scourges were the closest thanks to their small size and mobility, but they focused their attention only on the staff wielders. The men fired through several Scourges that exploded in clusters. The remaining Scourges that were smart enough to scatter converged onto the green officer, who activated some sort of explosive feature that surrounded body to destroy them all at once.
"Zerg forces easily repelled by defenders. Reactive defenses, weaponry, systems optimal for space combat."
Kerrigan saw the obvious, agitated that Abathur chose this kind of location to start his experiments. She missed the moment where the green mage had to recharge, his allied assisting with their own energy before his suit started to glow again.
"Weakness discovered. Defenses require charging time. Zerg options available."
Another wave of Scourges were approaching the asteroid field. These ones were different as they had glowing green sacs like those of the Banelings. They also had wings sticking out as if they were used for small Scourges. If they worked like what Kerrigan theorized, that should be enough to get the defenses.
"Scourges spun with mitoscarab essence. Volley strain ready for combat."
"Eliminate the security posts," Kerrigan ordered, designating three large asteroids along with the central cluster occupied by Mages and TSAB ships. "Clear out the defenders along with the facility."
Within the center of the asteroid system was a small naval base built within the large rock in the area, enough mass to keep it from spinning everywhere. A few ships were docked, though they were getting ready for launch due to recent events.
Outside in one warship station a short-haired admiral, one Chrono Haralown serving as captain of the ship. Things were clearly not going well for him since he got the message about unknown creatures attacking their forces within their space. While it was fortunate that they were easy to cut down, the fact these monstrous ones came out of nowhere and were clearly unable to talk unnerved him.
"Security Point Kira has confirmed all hostile forces dead," An officer confirmed. "Point Athrun is mopping up stragglers."
"Acknowledged," Chrono confirmed. "Make sure they recover as many corpses as they can. We need to find more info about this new enemy ASAP."
"Yes Admiral."
Chrono then looked up to main commander build next to dock within the asteroid field. Inside was his wife Amy and their children, who were there both on assignment and for a family visit. He found it quite bad luck in terms of time, but Chrono had a job to do.
I'll keep you defended from these things.
But then another transmission came.
"This is Security Post Lacus! The aliens are attacking again!"
"What's your status?"
"The aliens, they're different from before, but we've...What!? How could there be so many-"
Some explosions made the line dead.
A flock of Scourges recently destroyed one of the outposts with its new abilities. The mages and stationed emplacements retaliated like usual upon approaching the outpost, firing beams of multicolored light against the invaders. The Scourges took more evasive maneuvers this time, which got them far closer than last time, but they were still cut down.
What surprised them was that through the resulting smoke, they got ambushed by the lesser Scourges that were far significantly smaller. That didn't make them less of threat, however, as they proceeded to bury the guarding mages with exploding acid. None of them, even with their shields, were able to survive it and remaining Scourges proceeded to bombard the outpost. A few full intact Scourges remains as the asteroid on the outpost was shattered along with the facility.
"Volley strain," Abathur introduced. "Splits Scourge into three smaller units, occurs upon death or detonation."
Another group of Volley Scourges came in as the Swarm flew right, alongside the outer rims of the asteroid field. It wasn't long before they arrived at the nearby outpost, of where the mage retaliated quickly.
More beams scattered as the new Scourges charged in. They grew somewhat smart as they distributed themselves evenly to avoid getting destroyed in clumps as well as being huge resulting targets. The Scourges up in front got shot first, creating a cloud of acid that obstructed the Mages' naked view. They had their Devices charging with energy as they aimed, waiting for the incoming force to pop out of the smoke.
The Scourges came out from unexpected places through the smoke. And thanks to the Volley strain, they looked like they grew in number. The TSAB mages responded quickly with more beams and bolts of mana against the growing number of attackers. They didn't hesitate to continue firing even after getting a few chain reactions of explosions. Though the major were of the smaller variety, the number of Scourges proceed to barrel down the defenders and swarms of cluster missiles.
"What the hell? There's no end to them-"
Before a mage could complete his sentence, the mage was bombarded and vaporized by the smaller Scourges. The other Mages had the similar fate, even though they delayed by triggering their Barrier Jacket to blow much of them away. The continuous numbers of the Scourges and their lesser kind simply overwhelmed them. They didn't even bother going the defenses defending the rim, even when another large flock of Scourges was incoming. The remaining ones nearby simply went through the holes that went to the main centers of the outpost. Moments later as new Volleys were approaching the outpost was already exploding.
The new set of Scourges continued, taking a curved way outside the system to attack the remaining outpost. This one still had stronger defenses including a nearby cruiser. Like the other they were quick to return fire.
The Scourges went in a long, thick line as they cruised one at a time towards the final outpost. They were met by huge pillars and beams that tore through the line of Zerg while only few lucky enough to escape the blast. Many of the destroyed Scourges were luck enough to have one or two of their lesser spawn escape the blast. The Scourge then dispersed, which were met by a spamming of beams that were difficult to dodge. The majority of the Scourges that survived were the lesser kind and they were only able to get through with just few hit on the opposing forces. The Mages activated their Barrier Jackets and the ship was shielded to take the brunt of the damage.
However, another large swarm of Scourges came in, all dispersed and in huge numbers. Some stationed turret in the outpost joined the responding counter attack as the fleet of scourges increased in number as the large Scourges ejected their offspring upon detonation.
"They just keep coming!"
The Scourges barrell down on the TSAB forces with sheer numbers alone. Even the large beam fire from the nearby cruiser could hardly decrease the number thank to the Zerg's new formation, new splitting ability, small size and evasive agility. A large number already barrelled through the Mages and tens of them bombarded the residing outpost. The sustained much of the heavy self-bombardment from the Scourges thanks to its shields and defenses, but even they got overrun. After enough damage to its hull, the craft exploded into a multiple huge chunks drifting into a multiple directions. Even after the heavy attack, there were still a number of Scourges, core and lesser, still around.
"Outposts destroyed. Main headquarters vulnerable. Eliminate." Abathur instructed as an even larger swarm of reinforcements came in. "More Scourges arriving now."
The Scourges then permeated through the asteroid field, all heading towards the main facility within the system. It wasn't too long before they reached the center where three TSAB ships launched to join with the patrolling four and mages scrambled out in space by the Admiral's orders.
"Evacuate the facility! Defend the commander center!"
With those orders, the defenders fired upon the Scourges with whatever weaponry they had. It was quite difficult due to the surround asteroids, which the Zerg used for cover. Some of them resorted to firing through the narrow gaps where Scourges came in to get chain reactions. Others decided to blow up the asteroids in order to shrink the gaps and get many of the Scourges with the debris. The Scourges merely adapt despite the casualties, using the floating rocks for protection and avoiding using the narrow gaps whenever possible. It wasn't long before they encircled the facility and converged in all at once.
As they closed in on the facility, the Mages, cruisers and nearby turrets fired upon as many Scourges as they can, particularly whatever clumps they can get. But a startling instance came when a circular or perhaps spherical field of ice emerged. With perfect timing, a large freezing spell came what looked like the main command ship of the defending fleet. The Scourges who were in the field barely had time to react as they got encased in ice. All of the surrounding Scourges appeared frozen as the TSAB Mages lowered their guard, aiming for the Scourges that didn't get caught in the spell.
But while intrigued, Abathur showed little care for the sudden countermeasure.
It happened when the nearby Mages finished scanning to confirm the Scourges inactive and got closer to them hopefully for retrieval. Without warning, the main, big Scourges exploded in front of the approaching Mages, blinding them with their clouds of explosive acid and triggering their Barrier Jackets in the process. They were finished off by a swarm of the smaller Scourges that erupted from the remains of the larger ones. Now three times in number, including the Scourges that got thawed from the resulting explosions, the Zerg continued their charge.
The defenders were easily buried by the overwhelming power of the Zerg. Even with the triggered Jackets, there were far too many lesser Scourges gunning after them and they took too long to recharge. The main cruisers took the worst of the brunt, especially main commanding ship that received the worst of the barrage. The few remaining Scourges that remain did the most damage as they spilt immediately upon impacting the draining shields of the ships and using its spawn to do serious damage to its hull, especially near the bridges. The defending cannons were also easily overwhelmed as the Scourges smashed through the platforms. A large group additionally infiltrated the main docking bays as the whole bustled with explosions.
With the last ship destroyed, the TSAB forces were completely eliminated while there still a few Scourges left. Some Overlords and Leviathans approached the small asteroid field, heading towards the ruins of the destroyed testing grounds.
"TSAB base destroyed. Recovering valuable corpses for study." Abathur reported. "Volley strain test complete. Next experiment commencing."