New Campaign: All Cerebrates Must Die! (working title)

[Thalraxal]

“Daggoth is dead, along with the rest of the cerebrates. Kerrigan is the sole power behind the Swarm now. It’s possible that Daggoth could not sustain himself without the Overmind and other cerebrates to power him. We’ve suggested before that the Overmind and its cerebrates were symbiotically linked. The cerebrates were not designed to exist without their creator. That’s a partial reason behind the cerebrates’ merging into a new, singular Overmind during the early events of Brood War.” -Chris Metzen

To be honest, I never liked that idea.  The Cerebrates were cool.  I liked them.  Some of my favourite characters were Cerebrates.  Of course, it did give me an idea for a campaign, and I’ll take inspiration wherever I can get it.

All Cerebrates Must Die! (Working title) begins immediately after the death of the Second Overmind, and continues into the uncharted territories of ‘acouple months after Brood War’.  I started work on it shortly after I read that interview over at SLC, but put it on hold to work on its spin-off/prequel, ACMD0 for the StarCraft Mini-Campaign Contest.

CAST:
Renegade Zerg:
Portions of the Zerg Swarm not under the control of Kerrigan or her Cerebrate.

Thadrass:
Affiliation: Currently Unnamed Brood #1
Unit: Cerebrate
Primary Directive: Primary Assault, Command

Thadrass was created by The Overmind as one of its primary combatants.  Thadrass possesses a slightly twisted sense of humour, and may enjoy taunting his enemies a little too much.  He sided with Daggoth during the Brood War and was enslaved by the UED.  Having now fought alongside Terrans, Thadrass has found a new respect for the species, and has begun to understand them better than many of his other peers.  Since the death of the Second Overmind, Thadrass has become obsessed with the survival of himself and the other Cerebrates.

Design Notes: Thadrass' Brood was originally the Geryon Brood (named after the many headed, multi-armed giant killed by Hercules), but I ended up using the name 'Geryon' for Colonel Devon's Battlecrusier in ACMD0.  I might let him keep it though.  After all, the Terrans did name the Zerg Broods, and coincidences like this are bound to come up sooner or later...

Elmeg:
Affiliation: Currently Unnamed Brood #2
Unit: Cerebrate
Primary Directive: Primary Support

Elmeg was created by the Overmind to provide combat support to the Swarm’s primary assault forces.  Elmeg has often found himself serving alongside Thadrass, and following the demise of the First Overmind, served as Thadrass’ right hand during the Brood War.  Elmeg tends to be cautious, and holds his forces in reserve until Thadrass’ calls upon them.

Arshan:
Affiliation: Alicanto Brood
Unit: Cerebrate
Primary Directive: Mining, resource collection

Arshan was created by The Overmind to find and gather resources to for the Swarm.  While he is an expert at logistics and supply management, Arshan’s skill in battle is at best poor.  Traditionally, Arshan avoided the battlefield, and simply provided his allies with the resources they required.  Following the death of The Overmind and the resulting Brood War, Arshan has been forced into more and more combat situations, usually resulting in his defeat.  Arshan fell under the sway of the UED following the enslavement of the Second Overmind, and now possesses a strong dislike of all Terrans.

Design Notes: Arshan originally appeared as a minor character in another campaign.  But I kinda liked him, so I decided to use him in ACMD!.

Duath Fleet:
The Duath Fleet is assigned to defend the Protoss colonies in the Duath System.  Being out of the way and being a world of little strategic advantage, Duath has suffered little during the wars.  Although there was that one time...

Tarcir:
Affiliation: Duath Fleet
Unit: Dragoon

Tarcir took command of the Duath Fleet following the demise of its previous commander.  He has dedicated himself to the safety of his world, and his fleet.

Design Notes: Tarcir appeared in another campaign I worked on.  I never finished it though, as it got discarded it in favour of another campaign.

Ildaron:
Affiliation: Duath Fleet
Unit: High Templar

Ildaron is an elderly Protoss, who now spends his days instructing younger Protoss in combat and warfare.  Following the fall of Auir, Ildaron ended up on Duath, and has since grown interested in the Dark Templar’s abilities.  He now finds himself teaching both Templar and curious Dark Templar.

Emroth:
Affiliation: Emroth’s Warband
Unit: Dark Templar

Emroth was assigned to Duath after the evacuation of the Auirian Protoss to Shakuras.  He has since become one of Ildaron’s students.

Confederacy of Sarin IV
During the fall of the Terran Confederacy, a small group led by members of Nova and Delta Squadron escaped from Tarsonis and established themselves on the Fringe World of Sarin IV.  They have since attracted many members of the former Terran Confederacy to their banner and may be one of the largest groups of Terrans still waving the flag of the Terran Confederacy.  The Terran Dominion, thanks largely to their troubles with the UED, has been unable to mount an offensive against them.

Design Notes: Some people might remember these guys from ACMD0...

Colonel Malcolm Dreys
Affiliation: Confederacy of Sarin IV
Unit: Ghost

A former member of the now defunct Nova Squadron, Colonel Dreys is now the commander of the Confederacy of Sarin IV.  As Major Dreys, he served under Colonel Devon during the Invasion of Tarsonis.  He took command of the survivors in New Augusta following the death of Colonel Devon and he led them to Sarin IV.

Captain Charlie Vidar
Affiliation: Confederacy of Sarin IV
Unit: Ghost, Goliath

A former member of Nova Squadron, Captain Vidar used to work as Colonel Dreys’ partner while serving under the command of Colonel Devon.  Dreys keeps himself busy by working on various design projects with Captain Flynn.

Captain Casey Flynn
Affiliation: Confederacy of Sarin IV
Unit: SCV, Goliath

A former member of Nova Squadron, Captain Flynn once served as the Chief Engineer of Colonel Devon's Battlecrusier, the Geryon.  Following their arrival on Sarin IV, then-Lt. Flynn oversaw the construction of the cities of New Tarsonis and Augusta-3.  With the cities nearly complete, Flynn has begun working with Captain Vidar on various new weapons designs.

Captain Clyde Kenton
Affiliation: Delta Squadron, Confederacy of Sarin IV
Unit: Marine, Siege Tank, Battlecruiser Indomitable

While then-Major Dreys provided the survivors of New Augusta with a destination, Captain Kenton provided them with the means to get there.  While Dreys, Vidar and Flynn left Nova Squadron following the defection of Colonel Hauler to the Dominion, Kenton and his troops still see themselves as the Terran Confederacy’s Delta Squadron, no matter where their former superiours ended up.  Kenton’s Delta Squadron now serves as the primary defence force for Sarin IV.

[omega20]

Well, it sounds very interesting and promising. As for the names of Broods, I can give you some ideas. The most of the names of Broods were given to them by the Terrans from mythological gods, monsters and demons, but in some campaigns (as Fall From Grace, EDAST and Celestial Irruption) the Brood has the name of its own Cerebrate, and in others, the names are invented (Sennith). Examples:

STARCRAFT:
Tiamat, Surtur, Incubus, Fenris, Jormungand, Garm, Grendel, Baelrog, Leviathan and Sennith

VOTF:
Marilith, Daemon, Sauron, Midgard, Medusa, Thrym, Lich, Kraken and Nephilim

FFG, EDAST and CI:
Nugdraas and Omanyss

Following this, you can give to your Broods names like Glycon (Roman Mythology), Succubus (Western legend), Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces (Star signs)... The number of names is endless! I hope that this had been helpful to you. 

Colonel Malcolm Dreys
Affiliation: Confederacy of Sarin IV
Unit: Ghost

A former member of the now defunct Nova Squadron, Colonel Dreys is now the commander of the Confederacy of Sarin IV.  As Major Dreys, he served under Colonel Devon during the Invasion of Tarsonis.  He took command of the survivors in New Augusta following the death of Colonel Devon and he led them to Sarin IV.

I advise you that you put the now defunct CONFEDERATE Nova Squadron. The Dominion Alpha, Omega and Nova Squadrons are independent, so it could be confused with them. 

To be honest, I never liked that idea.  The Cerebrates were cool.  I liked them.  Some of my favourite characters were Cerebrates.  Of course, it did give me an idea for a campaign, and I’ll take inspiration wherever I can get it.

I agree. A Zerg Swarm without Cerebrates is like a hive without a queen. I like Cerebrates too. It is quite strange that the Cerebrates can not live without the Overmind. I would like to believe that Daggoth created the second Overmind not because the Cerebrates could not live without it, but because what Daggoth wanted was to unify the Zerg Swarm again. In that I agree, is that they created the new Overmind by their survival. If the Swarm was at war against itself, their enemies seize this situation to destroy it. Even so, I do not like that all Cerebrates eventually killed (although we do not know the fate of Daggoth, Kagg, Nargil, Araq, the Kerrigan's pet Cerebrate, the Leviathan Cerebrate nor Kaloth).

Emroth:
Affiliation: Emroth’s Warband
Unit: Dark Templar

Emroth was assigned to Duath after the evacuation of the Auirian Protoss to Shakuras. He has since become one of Ildaron’s students.

Its Auirian or Aiurian?? 

Each Renegade Cerebrate, is allied or enemy of the others?

How good, everyone has risen from rank (less Kenton). He he he

In ACMD will appear any other faction, as the Terran Dominion, the Protoss of Shakuras, the UED, the Zerg Swarm, the Raynor's Raiders, or any other?

A last question. When you think you have finished this campaign, and how many missions are in it?

[Marco]

One reason I don't like them killing off the cerebrates is that they are the voice of the Zerg.  Other than that, you just have a bunch of creatures growling, and Kerrigan.

[Marine]

Well plus infested Terrans and thats nothing cool really. We need some actual Zerg things talkin'.

[Legion]

Well plus infested Terrans and thats nothing cool really. We need some actual Zerg things talkin'.

*cries like a baby because he used an infested terran character in Dark Swarm*

[Lavarinth]

Well plus infested Terrans and thats nothing cool really. We need some actual Zerg things talkin'.

*cries like a baby because he used an infested terran character in Dark Swarm*

*Pats head* It's ok, I only deducted 92878731 points from your score.

[Marine]

Well plus infested Terrans and thats nothing cool really. We need some actual Zerg things talkin'.

*cries like a baby because he used an infested terran character in Dark Swarm*

*looks dissapointed* You had the oppurtunities to use Cerebrates... but NOOOOO.

[Legion]

Cerebrates are so 2007.  Seriously.

And Lavz, you know I'd still win. 



Btw, good to see you're on the move again, Thal! Looking forward to this. NOW GIT TO WORK!!!

[omega20]

Well, Thal. I have a question. Before the Mini-Starcraft Campaign Competition you said that you were working on another campaign (in this campaign), but you stopped its progress to make its prequel, ACMD0. So you had already finished some maps of ACMD, or you have not started working on them yet?

Will it appear Eandril in this campaign, or he only appeared in the prequel so that you could give meaning to the partnership between the Terran Confederacy and the Protoss Expeditionary Force?

[Thalraxal]

Each Renegade Cerebrate, is allied or enemy of the others?

They're allied with each other.

How good, everyone has risen from rank (less Kenton). He he he

Kenton probably could have gotten away with promoting himself (much like Drey's promotion to Colonel), but he just sees himself as the Captain of the Indomitable, and so he's still a Captain.  Dreys promoted Vidar and Flynn.  It's worth noting that Vidar and Flynn are Military Captains, while Kenton is a Naval Captain, so he still outranks them.

In ACMD will appear any other faction, as the Terran Dominion, the Protoss of Shakuras, the UED, the Zerg Swarm, the Raynor's Raiders, or any other?

Some will be mentioned (UED, Protoss of Shakuras for sure), but they won't be having any major roles.

A last question. When you think you have finished this campaign, and how many missions are in it?

My current estimate puts the total at about 10 or 11, including prologue/epilogue.

Cerebrates are so 2007.  Seriously.

And Lavz, you know I'd still win. 



Btw, good to see you're on the move again, Thal! Looking forward to this. NOW GIT TO WORK!!!

Thanks, Legion!  And your campaign is still cool, even if it does have an Infested Terran.

Well, Thal. I have a question. Before the Mini-Starcraft Campaign Competition you said that you were working on another campaign (in this campaign), but you stopped its progress to make its prequel, ACMD0. So you had already finished some maps of ACMD, or you have not started working on them yet?

Will it appear Eandril in this campaign, or he only appeared in the prequel so that you could give meaning to the partnership between the Terran Confederacy and the Protoss Expeditionary Force?

Yep!  Some of the maps are already finished.  Mission 1 is done, Mission 3 is about half finished and the terrain for 4 is at 100% (all done before I started work on ACMD0).  Mission 2 has had acouple different incarnations, but I'm liking the current version (which is about 1/3 done).

Eandril won't be appearing in ACMD!, but he does have a role and is mentioned.  There's a reason he's in ACMD0.

[omega20]

Eandril won't be appearing in ACMD!, but he does have a role and is mentioned.  There's a reason he's in ACMD0.

Thanks, Thal! More secrets and mysteries. He he, this keeps gettin' better and better. 

Kenton probably could have gotten away with promoting himself (much like Drey's promotion to Colonel), but he just sees himself as the Captain of the Indomitable, and so he's still a Captain.  Dreys promoted Vidar and Flynn.  It's worth noting that Vidar and Flynn are Military Captains, while Kenton is a Naval Captain, so he still outranks them.

So how is the command structure of the Confederation of Sarin IV? In the now defunct Terran Confederacy who controlled the government was the Senate, the Council and the Old Families (if you want to see this in detail, visit this page: http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Terran_Confederacy). Who controls then this new government? 

And what about Corval? He made a small appearance in the last map ACMD0, on Sarin IV. He can only be seen if you move the map view to the upper right corner of the map. Does he appears in ACMD? 

With the squadrons seen on Sarin IV in the last map of ACMD0, I guess that the Confederate Omega Squadron has failed to survive the fall of Tarsonis and the collapse of the Terran Confederacy, right? 

In addition, the post would be well if you add to the characters its respective portraits.

[Thalraxal]

Kenton probably could have gotten away with promoting himself (much like Drey's promotion to Colonel), but he just sees himself as the Captain of the Indomitable, and so he's still a Captain.  Dreys promoted Vidar and Flynn.  It's worth noting that Vidar and Flynn are Military Captains, while Kenton is a Naval Captain, so he still outranks them.

So how is the command structure of the Confederation of Sarin IV? In the now defunct Terran Confederacy who controlled the government was the Senate, the Council and the Old Families (if you want to see this in detail, visit this page: http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Terran_Confederacy). Who controls then this new government? 

I'm working on the assumption that most of the Old Families and Senate didn't survive the fall of Tarsonis, and those that did were pretty high up on the Dominion's 'To Kill' List.  If there are any of them on Sarin IV, they're in hiding. 

There is a civilian government on Sarin IV, but all the real power's in the hands of the military (Dreys, Delta Squadron and Epsilon Squadron).

And what about Corval? He made a small appearance in the last map ACMD0, on Sarin IV. He can only be seen if you move the map view to the upper right corner of the map. Does he appears in ACMD? 

Not sure yet.  He's there though, but he might just end up staying in the background.

With the squadrons seen on Sarin IV in the last map of ACMD0, I guess that the Confederate Omega Squadron has failed to survive the fall of Tarsonis and the collapse of the Terran Confederacy, right? 

Omega Squadron wasn't present at New Augusta, so they didn't get evacuated on the Indomitable.  I suspect alot of them just fought to the death, or have joined up with more active Anti-Dominion Groups.  There are some former members of Omega Squadron on Sarin, but they've been assimilated into the Sarin Military or Delta Squadron.

In addition, the post would be well if you add to the characters its respective portraits.

I've been meaning to do that for a while actually...

[omega20]

I'm working on the assumption that most of the Old Families and Senate didn't survive the fall of Tarsonis, and those that did were pretty high up on the Dominion's 'To Kill' List.  If there are any of them on Sarin IV, they're in hiding. 

Well, some of the members of the Confederate Senate, Council and Old Families (like Edmund Duke) allied to the Dominion (however, none of these would retain a range too high, except Duke)

Omega Squadron wasn't present at New Augusta, so they didn't get evacuated on the Indomitable.  I suspect alot of them just fought to the death, or have joined up with more active Anti-Dominion Groups.  There are some former members of Omega Squadron on Sarin, but they've been assimilated into the Sarin Military or Delta Squadron.

Yeah, this might be a good idea. But you you should not forget the small detachment of the Omega Squadron on Tarsonis in the Starcraft Zerg Episode II mission 1: Among the Ruins. This detachment was destroyed by the Zerg, so your first suspicion would be partially confirmed. What you do not have you had in mind, however, is that much of what remained of the Confederate forces after the invasion Zerg of Tarsonis allied to the Terran Dominion. For more information about the Confederate Squadrons, you should look here:

http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Alpha_Squadron
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Cerberus_Recon_Squad
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Delta_Squadron
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Epsilon_Squadron
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Gamma_Squadron
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Nova_Squadron
http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Omega_Squadron

In all these links, it is said that possibly some parts and detachments of these Squadrons were conscripted into the Terran Dominion (however, this still remains to be seen, since only retained its autonomy the Alpha, Omega and Nova Squadrons)

[Legion]

Omega, it's just a campaign.

[omega20]

Omega, it's just a campaign.

No, if I already know, Legion. What happens is that I am a little perfectionist in these matters, and I always feel compelled to correct and confirm something, if this can be helpful for who makes the campaign. Well, that is the same. Each person makes his campaign as he wants. Good luck with your campaign, Thal! He he he he he...