Zerg Overmind
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| StarCraft character | |
|---|---|
| The Overmind | |
| Species | Zerg |
| Affiliation(s) | Zerg Swarm |
| Position(s) | The Overmind (collected sentience of the Zerg Swarm) |
The Zerg Overmind, sometimes known simply as the Overmind, is a character in the StarCraft universe. The Overmind controls as well as personifies the Zerg Swarm.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
The Overmind is a colossal and brain-like Zerg entity of an indeterminate age and level of alien intelligence, which within the original Starcraft storyline stated to have "borne witness to the passing of countless millennia". It was created by the Xel'Naga on the Zerg homeworld of Zerus, in order to psionically unify the Zerg species by granting them a permanent collective consciousness, with the Overmind being both the result and the actual physical manifestation of this process. At first it was a semi-sentient psionic entity, representing all the collective instincts and urges of the countless individual Zerg and Zerg strains, however it would evolve beyond this intended role.
The Overmind did not directly relay its 'orders' to its minions. As new genetic strains were added to the Swarm, it began to relay its instructions to the individual Zerg psionically through its commanders, the Cerebrates, which looked like giant versions of the Zerg larvae. In turn, as the species continued to both evolve and grow significantly in numbers, direct orders eventually were relayed from Cerebrates to individual Zerg to be announced through two specialized Zerg strain known as Overlords and the Queens.
Note: The queen strain was originally intended for Hive Cluster formation and overseeing drone activity, but as time passed, the Overlord became the sole controller, while the Queen became more battle oriented - by spawning broodling, parasites and webbing capsules, the Queen became an invaluable recon unit to the swarm. It is still capable of Hive Cluster formation, but in a very crude manner - infestation of structures like the Terran Command Center.
[edit] Rebellion
As the Overmind and thus the Zerg grew close to assimilating all the native life of Zerus, it began to extend its senses to the space over Zerus, and soon after discovered the Xel'Naga Worldships which floated above. Cutting off its psionic link to the Xel'Naga, the Overmind prevented the Xel’Naga from discovering its plans. It detected a naturally space-faring species from the void of space, and lured it to the planet. After the assimilation of this species the Overmind used its genetic code to create a new Zerg strain as well as to evolve all existing strains to be able to survive in the vacuum of space, independently evolving the Zerg species to no longer being restricted to life on their native world of Zerus. Soon after, the Overmind instinctively used these newfound evolutionary traits to commence a relentless series of attacks on its creators, eventually overwhelming the unprepared Xel'Naga's defenses entirely.
The Overmind absorbed thousands of sentient Xel'Naga into itself, gaining their profound genetic knowledge and insights, growing much more powerful in performing its essential tasks for its Zerg species and also causing it to reach unknown levels of scientific knowledge and intelligence. It learned of the secrets of the sacred Khaydarin Crystals and began to incorporate the energies of these Crystals into its own. Through the knowledge gained from the Xel'Naga, the Overmind was able to increase the level of sentience in many of the higher Zerg strains, while still keeping the psionic unity of the species fully intact.
Most notably, the Overmind dissected the memories of the Xel'Naga concerning their earlier experiments with the Protoss. The Zerg then began to devote their energies to seeking out the powerful Protoss in the hope of absorbing them into the Swarm as well. This assimilation would unite the purity of essence the Zerg were given with the purity of form the Protoss were blessed with, resulting in the creation of a totally "perfect" and eternally dominant species with the potential to change the nature of the Universe forever.
[edit] Conflict with the Protoss
The Overmind traveled with its Swarm to the planet of Aiur. It subtly infected the Terran world of Chau Sara with Hive Spores as a prelude to invasion. The Overmind hoped to use the latent and already gradually emerging psionic potentials of the Terran race to help its minions overcome the unparalleled organized resistance of the Protoss. The Overmind saw the potential of the Terran psionic abilities, and assimilated unique genetic traits to obtain a perfect blend of physical and psionic attributes.
Later, it nestled onto the planet Char, whose remote location and convoluted terrain would protect it from its enemies.
The Overmind's plan was partially successful; it had infested a Terran by the name of Sarah Kerrigan, augmenting her already powerful latent psionic powers and turning her into a powerful servant. Unfortunately, she drew the attention of Zeratul and the Dark Templar to Char.
The Dark Templar leader, Zeratul aimed to perform a "weapons test" against the Zerg. He discovered the secret of the Zerg Cerebrates and believed that Dark Templar energy could permanently destroy one. Zeratul and his Dark Templar snuck into the zerg hive where Zasz was and managed to slay Zasz of the Garm Brood. When Zeratul killed Zasz it created a psionic link between himself and the Overmind. The link allowed each to learn the other's secrets. The shock of permanently losing a Cerebrate threw the Overmind into a state of mental shock. It did not emerge until the remnants of the Garm Brood had been destroyed. Senior Cerebrate Daggoth commanded the Zerg Swarm while the Overmind was unable to communicate.
With the new information the Overmind changed its plans. It would travel to Aiur, whose precise location it had drawn from Zeratul's memory, but left Infested Kerrigan behind on Char. Using the power of the Khaydarin Crystal and the cosmic nexus found underneath a Protoss Temple, which marked the spot where the Xel'Naga first set foot on Aiur, the Overmind was able to physically manifest itself on Aiur. Though invulnerable due to its powerful shell, it was unable to assimilate the Protoss.
Infested Kerrigan had some success in hunting down the Dark Templar. She captured Zeratul and many others in a Terran installation. However, Tassadar was able to recruit a Protoss task force and rescue them. These Dark Templar were then transported to Aiur.
In the final confrontation with the Overmind, the Protoss drew upon the services of the Dark Templar along with Raynor's Raiders. Together, both forces fought their way to the Overmind. The Overmind, already in a state of psychic shock due to the assassination of two of its cerebrates by the Dark Templar, Zeratul, was helpless. Its guardian cerebrates were unable to successfully defend it and Tassadar was able to destroy it, along with himself, through the use of Dark Templar energy before it could escape.
[edit] The Second Overmind
By Episode IV, it was revealed that the Zerg had formed a new, young Overmind on Char, the adopted Zerg homeworld. The Senior Cerebrate, Daggoth, ordered a number of other Cerebrates to fuse, resulting in the formation of a young Overmind. This new Overmind, however, was captured by the United Earth Directorate in Episode V.
In Episode VI, the final act of the games, Infested Kerrigan, the self-proclaimed Queen of Blades, had the second Overmind killed by tricking Zeratul into slaying it and claimed leadership over the Zerg Swarms herself. Only a few Cerebrates now remain out of her control, and it is possible they do not have the power to create a new one. Sarah Kerrigan is currently the closest living being to the Overmind.
[edit] Powers of the Overmind
The Overmind's psychic powers are immense. It can manifest the most powerful psychic defences around itself, resurrect its Cerebrate minions instantly, produce warp rifts in space-time and even manipulate the will of its enemies to do its bidding. It has total control over the Zerg Swarms and no lesser unit, not even a Cerebrate, can disobey the power of its telepathic directives.
However, in two crucial instances in the game, the Overmind went into a state of 'shock'. This 'shock' was caused by the assassination of Cerebrates using Dark Templar energy. While the exact nature of this shock is not known, it is certain that the Cerebrates had to handle their respective Broods during this time, without the Overmind to aid/guide them.
The second time the Overmind went into shock, it was critically weakened by Tassadar and Raynor and finally obliterated by an immensely powerful (and suicidal) psionic storm by Tassadar, while channeling all his Dark Templar energies.
[edit] References
- StarCraft homepage at Blizzard Entertainment
- Battle.net StarCraft Compendium
- Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
| StarCraft by Blizzard Entertainment | |
|---|---|
| StarCraft Universe | Gameplay of StarCraft • StarCraft storyline • Psionic technology |
| Factions and Organizations | Judicator Caste • Kel-Morian Combine • Khalai Caste • Protoss • Protoss Conclave • Pirate Militias • Raynor's Raiders • Sons of Korhal • Templar Caste • Terran • Terran Confederacy • Umojan Protectorate • United Earth Directorate • Xel'Naga • Zerg • Zerg Brood |
| Locations | Aiur • Antiga Prime • Braxis • Char • Chau Sara • Korhal • Mar Sara • Moria • Shakuras • Talematros • Tarsonis • Umoja • Zerus |
| Characters | Aldaris • Artanis • Gerard DuGalle • Edmund Duke • Samir Duran • Fenix • Sarah Kerrigan • Arcturus Mengsk • Nova • Raszagal • Jim Raynor • Alexei Stukov • Tassadar • Zeratul • Zerg Overmind • Minor Characters |
