Zerg Cerebrate

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Zerg Cerebrates are fictional characters from the StarCraft series of video games and books. They are powerful agents of the Zerg Swarm, created by the Zerg Overmind for the purposes of controlling Zerg Broods. They manifest the collective consciousness of the respective broods under their command and are therefore inseparable from the Overmind itself; each one has a "piece of the Overmind" within it, each representing one or more aspects of the Overmind's intelligence. Even so, Cerebrates are independent entities and seem to have developed personalities and unique characteristics over time. There are sub-Cerebrates who serve greater Cerebrates. In the game, players take the place of a cerebrate if they choose to play as a Zerg swarm.

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[edit] Role in the Swarm

Cerebrates seem to be descended from the original Zerg parasites in the form they possessed before the Xel'Naga intervened, albeit much larger and endowed with much greater intelligence. Each Brood was given a specific role based on the personality and talents of its Cerebrate. For instance, the Cerebrate Gorn led the Baelrog Brood, a Brood dedicated to vicious attacks. A Cerebrate has a specific place in the hierarchy of a Zerg Brood: Zerg Overmind, Cerebrate, sub-Cerebrate, Overlord, Queen, other Zerg. A Cerebrate administers orders through Overlords. Cerebrates must spawn additional Overlords as they create more units in order to maintain control over their broods. A Cerebrate is capable of controlling its minions across long distances, so long as nothing interferes with its psionic communications. With the permanent death of a Cerebrate, Zerg Broods frequently go insane, but this does not always happen. Sometimes the Zerg become dormant or even exhibit "normal" (relatively docile and insect-like) behavior so long as their Hive Clusters remain intact.

[edit] Psionic powers and link to the Overmind

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Cerebrates are often (perhaps always) powerful psychics, but these powers are usually limited to a specific area. For instance, one Cerebrate may be able to create and reincarnate the powerful Zerg Torrasque, while another may be able to fill its structures with vital energy. The Psi Disruptor was also able to inhibit reincarnation, at least temporarily. Cerebrates possess detection abilities that are similar to that of the Zerg Overlord.

While the Zerg Overmind was alive, it could reincarnate a dead Cerebrate through the use of cosmic energy. This type of energy is also used by the Dark Templar, who can kill a Cerebrate and prevent its reincarnation. The first time this happened, Zeratul killed Zasz, Cerebrate of the Garm Brood, and he created a mental connection with the Overmind. From this link he learned of the Overmind's creation by the Xel'Naga and its plans for the Protoss race, while the Overmind learned the secret location of Aiur, the protoss homeworld, which it immediately attacked. Possibly more information was transmitted in this exchange. The Overmind went into some kind of depression following this, and did not recover until a short rest. Since then, other Cerebrates have been destroyed, apparently without similar effects.

The Cerebrates appear to have been able to reincarnate without the Overmind - a pair who had manifested on Shakuras were able to reincarnate, although the large numbers of Dark Templar in the response attack were able to defeat them. (The second Overmind existed at this point, however, although it was weak, and it is unclear if it was able to resurrect Cerebrates.)

[edit] Cerebrates appearing in StarCraft

A significant number of Zerg Cerebrates appear in various missions in StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War, although not all are identified beyond any doubt. Many Cerebrates are also mentioned in the series, including the novels and the instruction booklet of the original StarCraft game; several Cerebrates die in the series.

The player in both the StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War Zerg campaigns plays as a Cerebrate (specifically as a Jormungand Brood sub-Cerebrate). In the original StarCraft campaign, the player is created in order to nurture Sarah Kerrigan as she is transformed from a Terran into an infested Terran and powerful Zerg psionic agent. In the Brood War campaign, the player assumes the role of a Cerebrate working under Kerrigan's control. (Possibly the same one from StarCraft, though this is nondefinite as that Cerebrate was on Aiur when the Overmind was slain, it is possible it died or was loyal to Daggoth instead of Kerrigan. Possibly, it was one of the Cerebrates who was guarding the Xel'Naga temple, that were slain by Dark Templar.)

Cerebrates featured in the series include:

  • "Senior" Cerebrate Daggoth, the only Cerebrate capable or entitled to give other Cerebrates orders. It led the Tiamat Brood. It was responsible for the creation of the second Zerg Overmind. Its current fate after the events in Brood War is unknown, but it is believed to have found his end after melding himself into (and thus becoming) the new Overmind.
  • Kagg, Cerebrate of the Surtur Brood.
  • Nargil, Cerebrate of the Fenris Brood.
  • Araq, Cerebrate of the Jormungand Brood. Its status is unknown. A sub-Cerebrate of Jormungand served Sarah Kerrigan for time, and was possibly killed on Shakuras. (Based on Brood color alone, it is possible that several sub-Cerebrates or even Araq itself served Kerrigan and acted as the player's character in-game.)
  • Zasz, Cerebrate of the Garm Brood, had a bad relationship with Sarah Kerrigan. Zasz was the first Cerebrate that had ever been permanently killed, by Zeratul.
  • Gorn, Cerebrate of the Baelrog Brood, and widely viewed as insane, killed by Zeratul (unconfirmed- hypothesis based purely on brood color).
  • Kaloth, Cerebrate named in StarCraft Resurrection IV.
  • In addition, an unnamed Cerebrate that controlled the Grendel Brood (Color: Brown) was killed by Zeratul at about the same time Gorn was permanently killed. In the StarCraft: Enslavers missions, Alan Schezar gained control of another Cerebrate, but it was killed. Early in the Brood War, the Dark Templar killed two Cerebrates studying the Xel'Naga Temple, and finally, while the Psi Disruptor was active, the United Earth Directorate killed three more. These may have been reincarnated by the second Overmind later. Finally, when Infested Kerrigan defeated the second Overmind, its Cerebrates may also have died.
  • Infested Kerrigan is technically a Cerebrate (first revealed to be true in the briefing for Battle on the Amerigo), though she retains basic human physiology and appearance. Upon the first Overmind's death, she was freed from her bond to its will, and at the close of Brood War was essentially the new, third Overmind.

Although each Cerebrate allegedly lords over a Brood, there may also be other Cerebrates, or some Broods may be headed by multiple Cerebrates. Several Broods have their Cerebrates killed multiple times, but survive. For example, the Garm Brood has had at least three Cerebrates: Zasz, an unnamed Cerebrate on Shakuras prior to the activation of the Xel'Naga Temple, and another unnamed Cerebrate on Char, prior to the UED's attack (due to the fact the latter was not killed by Dark Templar energies, it may have later been reincarnated). This is unconfirmed and based purely on Brood color.

[edit] References

StarCraft by Blizzard Entertainment
StarCraft Universe Gameplay of StarCraft • Psionic technology
Species Terran • Protoss • Zerg • Xel'Naga • Hybrid
Factions and Organizations Judicator Caste • Kel-Morian Combine • Khalai Caste • Protoss Conclave • Pirate Militias • Raynor's Raiders • Sons of Korhal • Templar Caste • Terran Confederacy • Umojan Protectorate • United Earth Directorate • 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
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