Planet Char - 04/08/56 1102 Uramon CT
Sarah Kerrigan, the infamous Queen of Blades, wanted information. The visions were cluttered, however and it was proving difficult to connect with the collective consciousness of her forces on Uramon. Kerrigan took another deep breath and exhaled. It was starting to come into focus as she concentrated. The planet was now part of the vision. She took another deep breath and focused intensely on a mental picture, that of Cerebrate Hanoe, who was now on Uramon.
Cerebrate Hanoe concentrated with all of his energy. It was a long distance to communicate with the Queen, for she was on Char, at least six days travel from Uramon. The picture in his mind, once a blur, the telepathical thoughts he received, once a jumble of views, now crystallized. The watchful and disdainful eye of the Queen was now upon him. Hanoe knew that his queen was not pleased with the news he was soon to deliver, for Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, had telepathy. However, he immediately informed her of the situation, for such was his loyalty to the Swarm. "All is not well, my Queen. We continue to have difficulty locating any mineral wealth whatsoever. As for vespene, there is none. Our forces must regroup and we await for reinforcement from orbit as opposed to producing them from my three hatcheries on the surface. I await your orders to be consumed for the good of the swarm."
Kerrigan sat motionless on her throne. Hanoe had been a loyal servant to the Brood, but failure was rewarded with death. However, Kerrigan and her cerebrates, were exhausted after the battle with UED fleet under Admiral DuGalle. While the battle was one-sided, the engagement had taxed her and all of her cerebrates as they directed the battle from afar. It was an entirely interstellar affair, with devourers, scourge, overlords and mutalisks savagely attacking Dugalle's ships. The casualties were not insignificant either, as it would take Cerebrate Ganach at least several months to replace the losses. The Queen of Blades assessed the situation now on Uramon. She sighed. She had expected an easy victory, not a determined defense that had savagely kept her forces at bay for another day.
"At this time, that will not be necessary, Hanoe. I understand. It is to be expected that the humans would fight desperately. We are merely testing their resolve. However, I am truly disappointed that the last assault did not succeed." Weeks prior, Kerrigan would have unleashed a tirade at such failure, but she needed Hanoe to control all of the forces en route to Uramon. It had been hoped that the planet would be teeming with minerals and gas, but even from orbital view, Kerrigan could sense from the collective consciousness of her overlords, that the planet was now barren. While Cerebrate Hanoe was expendable, his death was neither necessary nor palatable.
"I assume full responsibility for the defeat, my queen. I serve the hive." Hanoe awaited the Queen to convey psychically to the brood that Hanoe should serve as food and nutrient for the Swarm on Uramon. At least, Hanoe thought, even in death, he would serve the greater good of the Hive. Kerrigan, instead, granted him a menacing reprieve.
The Queen of Blades closed her eyes and concentrated to communicate her displeasure. "Apologies will not suffice. Excuses like yours are meaningless words, Cerebrate." She paused for dramatic effect, in the hopes that Hanoe would truly grasp the importance of her next message.
She continued, "You will have more reinforcements arriving after that blasted storm subsides. Until then, direct more of your blood, energy, and nutrients to convert one of your spires into a greater spire. Ganach will need it to communicate to her precious guardians and devourers. Do what you must and prepare for a victorious assault on the settlement there. You have wasted my subterranean forces. Our newest creation has yielded nothing. Had they succeeded the settlement would have been ours by now. Unfortunately, the humans will understand the nature of our newest abilities, because they survive. Cerebrate Hanoe, the humans have a collective intelligence as we do, although not nearly as refined. Now, thanks to your stupidity, they know one of our most recent biotechnologies. Eradicate this Mengsk colony. Show no mercy. All shall bow to the Swarm. The swarm must always emerge victorious."
Kerrigan was upset, but it was important now for her to appear regal. Kerrigan had not only learned about the art of leadership from Mengsk, but Razsagal, the Matriarch of the Dark Templar. Kerrigan tried to emulate Razsagal's temperament. The Zerg were her family now and they needed guidance and direction. Her rapid ascension would yield nothing if terror proved the only method she could use to lead. She abruptly ceased her contact with Hanoe. "He needs to succeed. I will make no apologies to him or his brood if he fails. He and the entire Swarm understand that failure is not acceptable."
She then focused her thoughts on the recent combat experiences and reports from battle. "They must be Raynor's men. Only they could have put up such a determined force. Typical Jimmy. Typical of Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. Only he would sacrifice and risk it all for a now impoverished mining colony. But why do the troops that we have killed bear a UED insignia? " Kerrigan could only wonder. She had decided that they would meet their end, the same way as DuGalle's vaunted fleet had.