-1Starcraft: Takeover
Paul Franklin
Original Concept by Blizzard Entertainment ©
Chapter 2: Preparations
The Overmind had just about had enough of failure. Three home worlds had been completely obliterated by the Protoss, and several of its Cerebrates now lay as masses of blood and flesh on the cold ground. The only hope the Overmind had for recapturing the Lumire System lay on the small Terran outpost planet of Odesae. If the Overmind wanted to stage a comeback against the Protoss, this planet had to be regained.
After suffering a horrific massacre at the hands of the Terran and their supreme potentate, Mengsk, the Overmind had learned not to underestimate the humanoids. It would take strategic mastery to capture the planet, and the Overmind was sure that it had the perfect being to do the job.
"What does my Master bid me?"
"Ah," the Overmind replied. "You have arrived." Before the Overmind stood Alabaster, the greatest Cerebrate mind the Overmind had ever conceived. This broodling had been created for the sole purpose of commanding the Zerg forces against the Protoss. Never had a battle been lost when Alabaster was at the head of the troops. However, the brilliance of one did not make up for the failure of others, and it was for this reason that the Overmind had summoned Alabaster to lead the Zerg force to the Odenae surface in order to ensure a swift victory.
"As I'm sure you know," the Overmind began, "the Lumire System is within our grasp. All that lies between us and the final staging point for the war against the Protoss is a small Terran encampment near the Fargus Ruins on Odesae. As small as this force is, many of my Cerebrates have faced defeat for underestimating the cunning of the humanoids. I have brought you before me because your strategies have yet to fail me. I trust you will be able to amass a force and devise a strategy in order to eliminate this small obstacle."
"The Overmind's will is law," Alabaster said as he bowed before the Overmind. Alabaster knew what this meant. He would go beyond the state of Cerebrate in order to lead these troops. No one could command every single Zerg mind without flaw but the Overmind. To undertake this mission meant that Alabaster would become one with the Overmind. I To think that the Overmind has selected me for this task is more than I could have hoped for. /I As the Overmind began to assimilate Alabaster, the Cerebrate's mind immediately swarmed with strategies to counter anything the Terran forces could throw. I Amassed Firebats, counter with Mutalisks in the air, Hydralisks on the ground. Goliaths at the base, have a group of three Sunken Colonies surrounded by two squadrons of borrowed Lurkers. /I The ideas came quickly, as though they had been in his mind all along. I This must be all of the knowledge that the Overmind has gained from the minds of the other battle generals/I Alabaster laughed. I The Overmind has all of this to access, and yet it has no idea what to do with it. /I Once he was fully assimilated, Alabaster began to spawn the necessary creatures to destroy the small Terran colony.
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A mass of Zerglings, Hydralisks, and Mutalisks, along with a few Drones, had been assembled and prepared for the journey to the planet. Once on the surface of Odesae, these forces would be needed to ensure that the colony would be able to expand without facing too many problems from possible attacking forces. Alabaster, using his newfound ability to speak to the minds of all his Zerg forces, briefed his troops on their mission.
"Your job," he began. "is to land on the planet Odesae without being detected, procure a colony, and amass a force large enough to take out the Terran forces there without much hassle. For your landing, you are to arrive at the planet from the polar opposite of the Terran base and land exactly three-fourths of the planet's circumference from the Terran base. This is to ensure that you are not detected while getting to the planet and keep from being detected while planetside. The Terrans will most likely be using Comsat detections over the majority of the planet, especially over the two-thirds nearest to the base and their polar opposite, so being three-fourths away is sufficient enough to stay hidden for a while.
"Once there, set up the Lair immediately and begin harvesting and spawning. I want you to set up a defense perimeter around the base consisting of Sunken Colonies in groups of four, with a Spore Colony in the middle. Surround these with Lurkers and Scourge, with a few Mutalisks.
"Create a strike force consisting of 3 12-Zergling, 2 10-Hydralisk, 1 12-Mutalisk and a Queen. Make at least two Queens, just in case. If you see any other small outposts, infest them. While your strike force is searching around, take a drone or two with you. Build Nydus canals close to the base. We want to be able to strike them hard and fast. Send Overlords to scout whenever you have some to spare. That should be all for now. I'll send one of the Cerebrates to accompany you."
With that, the troops each got into the ships assigned to them and began their journey to Odesae.