How many protoss do we have?

Are zerg able to operate the toss ships?

>>11513123
We have 18 Infested Protoss warriors.

We could easily evolve strains of Zerg that can pilot the Protoss ships...or pilot them with our Infested Terrans...even the fleshlings might be able to do it. We haven't used them for much recently, anyway.

>>11513153
Test our fleshlings to see how good they are at operating the ships. If they do a fair job of it, then go with that.
If not get labrate to make up a shipling strain going that specializes at operating toss ships.

Keep all of our infested toss warriors in a single squad and use them as a personal body guard for now.

Also can we get some info on the nearest plants that can support life?

>>11513153
>>11513153
>Infested protoss

Stopped caring right there. You do not understand StarCraft's fluff well enough to be doing this.

Kindly fuck off.

>>11513233
Oh you.
Infested protoss were a unit back in bata for SC2.
They retcon'ed that bit of fluff.

>>11513226
After some experimentation, it seems that the fleshlings can fly the carriers. The ships do not seem adversely affected by the Creep that grows around the fleshlings' feet.

>>11513250
The entire conflict of the first game was that the Overmind could not assimilate Protoss in the conventional manner. If the second game changed that, you do not embrace it, or else you are part of the cancer that fosters sophomoric game stories.

Go back to /v/, they seem more your speed

>>11513233
I know exactly what the problems are.

We infested them by shooting them up with drugs and tempting them to release the Khala's protective psionic shell with promises of fortune and rest.

It took a long-ass time.

Kindly read the old threads before you burst in and act like a fuckwit.

You can not 'infest' protoss - It just doesn't work that way.

Any sort of zerg-protoss combination is a hybrid, and they're not created through normal means.

>>11513289
Kindly go back to /v/, where StarCraft belongs

(Protip: quests don't belong anywhere here. Take your freeform to Gaia, maybe).

>>11513274
>thinks starcraft's fluff is worth caring about.

>>11513307
>hypocrite, by participating in an SC2 quest thread

/b/ suits you.

>>11513300
>NO FUN ALLOWED

That's something retarded that Blizzard came up with later because it didn't make any sense that the Overmind would conquer Aiur specifically to infest every Protoss and never get around to infesting any Protoss.

"Uh, well, that's because you can't do it. Like, ever."

It's retarded, and it came up after the fact. You're endorsing the same kind of shit you're condemning.

Now get out of my quest.

>>11513320
>assuming this is a SCII thread

The Overmind's still alive, numbnuts.

>>11513325
He conquered Aiur in his attempt to do so. The manual states that conventional infestation doesn't work.

So you didn't even read the original source of SC fluff, the manual.

I will not leave this quest thread alone until you leave, by the way.

>>11513034
Anyway, do we have the coordinates and comm codes for the science vessel Magellan?
I want Terran dropships readied with fleshlings, zerglings, gausslisks, and infested Terrans to take that vessel.

Oh, and I thought you were doing this Monday? I wasn't expecting you today.

http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Infested_protoss

GET. THE. FUCK. OUT. Of. ZERG QUEST.
Lets see, kerrigan should request to recon xenta, saying she found interesting stuff there.
Que infestation.

>>11513350
What, the manual to the second game, after they retconned that in? Yeah, I read that. We're ignoring the SCII fluff because this quest began before that game came out, and this is set 5 goddamn years earlier.

>LOL I'm going to stay in your quest, being a troll, until you leave!

--------

The Overmind reminds us that it desires this Kerrigan woman on Xenta immediately. The fleet is still in warp. How shall we obtain her?

>>11513392
The manual of the first game, actually.

Listen, there's a certain class of people we like on /tg/, and a class we don't. Those we can't tolerate are those who disregard canon.

/b/, please.

>>11513034
sage for quest

>>11513392
This might work >>11513388.
Perhaps include an encoded message from one of our infested Terran comm systems, using an encryption used by the Sons that Duke and Kerrigan would have access to.
It could detail something interesting, preferably psionic technology in nature, that Kerrigan would be a natural pick for to investigate.
Try to play it off as a small lead, and only requiring Kerrigan and maybe a small Ghost contingent to investigate.

>>11513392
Oh, since we infested two high-ranking Korhol members, have we gotten access to those psi emitter schematics?

>>11513354
Yeah, I mentioned it last week, but the cable company took its sweet time in hooking up my Internet, so I moved it. :) Hope that's alright.

(All our dropships are in the SoK fleet, so we're going to hit that up first)
We direct Kerrigan to her superior, the leader of this group. His name is Arcturus Mengsk, and he is single-mindedly devoted to his violent goal. He reminds us a little of Bernie, actually.

What should she tell him?

Quests don't belong on 4chan.

SC doesn't belong on /tg/

>>11513404

unless its 40k, cause no one actually knows what the fuck is canon in 40k

yep, what that guy said.

>>11513455
Can we go with these two
>>11513388
>>11513431

>>11513490
sage for 40kiddy

>>11513404
No. This is wrong.

The Overmind couldn't infest the Protoss because they were too goddamn strong, not because it was impossible. He then saw humanity and thought, "Hey, I'll add them to my numbers, and then we'll wreck the Protoss' shit."

Way to not read the thing, man.

>>11513508
>BAWWW you're pointing out the flaws in my badly written quest u r a meenie

/b/

>>11513520
For every one of us you knock down, another shall rise in their place.

>>11513498

hey man I'm not even involved in this quest, just browsing and thought I'd say it for the hell of it.

but if saging people's threads is your thing go for it

>>11513452
Duke has a high enough clearance to access the schematics. After a little digging, it appears that the signature broadcast by the emitter was that of the Kerrigan woman. That may be part of why her mind is so strange to us.

The Overmind orders us to destroy the emitter plans.

We activate communications operations on Xenta, and Artisanlord leaps at the opportunity to put on a show for a nonzerg audience. After convincing it that an ad-lib performance would show just how skilled it is (and in doing, keeping it from delaying the operation months for scriptwriting, make-up, casting, etc), a convincing news report is made and transmitted to the fleet.

As expected, Kerrigan is ordered to investigate. We make sure that the dropships carrying her troops are all piloted by our people. They will be on their way soon. If we intend to do anything (sending copies of the psi emitter plans with them, sabotage, a dramatic faux fight with Duke to incite rumors, etc) before they leave, now would be the time.

>>11513631
Yes, send copies of the psi emitter plans along with Kerrigan. Make sure that the air and water filtration systems on the dropships are all completely infested, so that the troops will be ours by the time they make planetfall.

Also, set up a fight between Kerrigan and Duke. Have Duke level accusations that Kerrigan is acting strange, and maybe she's been talking psionically with someone; if we can blame the Protoss, all the better. Plant the seeds of doubt before she leaves, and a logic bomb with her security signatures on the psi emitter schematics in the Korhol databanks which will go off when she is well on the way to Xenta and completely destroy the plans.
If this goes off without a hitch, Duke will be more trusted within the Korhol fleet, and we will have successfully destroyed the psi emitter plans as ordered.

>>11513716
We quickly copy the plans of the psi emitter to a data disk to be sent with Kerrigan. We send Kerrigan and Duke toward a public place for their staged confrontation, but Kerrigan is stopped by a man named Raynor. Our shared memories indicate that there is a romantic infatuation between the two. Several infested agents are nearby, should we choose to infest him. Alternately, we could use this interruption to further our goal of discrediting Kerrigan before our departure. Or, we could blow him off.

How should we handle this?

Bring the plans with, if possible! And continue infestation of everyone in the Sons of Korhal Terrorist group. Start making subtle alterations to corse projections, leading them deeper into zerg space.

Anyway, hand over at least half of the protoss technolgoy - and by technology I mean units - to Labbrate. See if he can find a way to dupicate them with what we have. Macgyver it, if we have to, from protoss parts, zerg grown parts, and Terran ingeunity.

Wonder where we learned the term 'Macgyver it' from.

Question Artisanlord if he could make some more of those beautiful songs and artwork venerating the overmind and zerg? Those were pretty.

ZERG WORLD AND PLANETBRATE! JOUNRY FROM STAR TO STAR LEACHING THEM DRY OF MINERALS AND GAS AND ANY BIOMASS WE COULD POSSIBLE USE! PLANETBRATE, PLEASE DESIGNATE HOW TO PROPERLY SET UP OUR CITIES FROM YOUR PLANET FORTRESS!

>>11513811
Infest, but afterward. don't be hostile - possible have one of our 'friends' talk with Raynor, while Kerrigan goes 'talking' to Duke.

Infest raynor. their relationship cannot end in heartbreak.

>>11513811
Was Labbrate able to increase the effectiveness of direct agent infestations? I recall that they were originally less effective than air-borne or water-borne spores.
If their effectiveness has been increased, then by all means infest him. Isolating the command structure of the enemy is one the first goals of war.

Alternatively, if their effectiveness is diminished, then we should hold off, and infest him in the standard way (via air or water). Then use this opportunity of Raynor interceding for Duke to also discredit Raynor as well.

>>11513826
Our cerebrates remind us that the Zerg World is ridiculously inefficient, requiring the full resources of mining an entire planetary system to move it, and once more suggest that we only use it for emergencies.

Use Artisanlord for something useful and tell him to give us performing zerg so we can use them to transmit incoherent signals when we need to disrupt comlinks.

Wow
>>11513350

Congratulations, Cerebrate Anon, you got your own dedicated troll just like Gsama!

>in prancing
YAY

>>11513826
I'm okay with having Citybrate continue mining and consuming uninhabited systems, but I think that we should keep the Zerg world-ship where it is for now, and prepare it to warp whenever and to wherever we are experiencing a heavy siege. Something to make it a very, very bad day for our enemies.
Targets that come to mind are Tarsonis and Auir.

>>11513879
Oh, bequite. There is a PLANETBRATE growing in there. Yeah. Not so tough now, are you, accountant? With your accounting.

>>11513900
>My own personal troll to water and feed and hug and love

Actually, he got bored when I turned out to know what I was talking about. I think I'll live.

>>11513869
>>11513855
>>11513878
(By popular demand!)

We direct Kerrigan to entice Raynor into a side room, which is so easy, it's farcical. The room is, of course, full of our agents, who restrain him as they fill him full of spores. His consciousness floods into ours. We send Kerrigan back on track to fight with Duke.

What shall we do with Raynor?

>>11514060
Keep him with the Korhol fleet. Have him show remorse and regret at Kerrigan's inevitable betrayal. He is to then proclaim re-dedication to Mengsk's cause.
Arcturus will think that this will be a good thing, that Raynor being driven by thoughts of revenge will be easier to control. And this gives two agents within the Korhol High Command.

Raynor and Duke could even continue their rivalry, to further divide the Terran forces and make assimilating them all the easier.

>>11514060
send him back to do his thing

We're gonna make him a candidate for Terran leadership when the opportunity shows up, and our mean guy cover for special operations

>>11514187
>>11514154
Yeah, these. Also, what precent of the fleet is ours?

And IDEA!
Drop one drop ship like it's been damaged, or heavy internal malfunction. Try to make sure it gets picked up by the Confedercy. Start infesting Confedercy. Leave Minsk only person uninfested. Troll Minsk.

>>11514327
Don't you mean Mengsk?

>>11514371
Damn it, now I wanna mind control Mengsk and make him think he's Minsc.

>>11514427
What, and create a strain of giant zerglings, then a mutant strain of them so that he could have a miniature Giant Space Zergling?

>>11514545
I direct you to Planetbrate that is growing in our Zerg World. Just make a smaller one!

>>11514586
Well, I guess we could work on a mutant cerebrate strain specifically designed to live within a terrarium. Would that fit the bill of "miniature Giant Space Zerg"?

(Sorry about the delay. We just set up a wifi network called "Your Imagination." Also, I have animal crackers. Mmmmm)

>>11514327
>infest every human in the sector just to fuck with Mengsk
>>11514427
>psionically gaslight Mengsk by making him or others think he has a different name

I love you guys.

>>11514187
>>11514154
We send Raynor back to his duties. Kerrigan and Duke meet in the Norad II's bar, have a cataclysmic argument which includes the throwing of glassware and accusations of treason. Kerrigan storms out, walks directly to her shuttle, and sets course for Xenta (JUST AS PLANNED.jpg).

As Kerrigan pulls away, Mengsk calls Duke to his quarters. He is enraged, and threatens to have Duke removed from command if he ever does anything like that again. With any luck, the intense malware infection we left in the Sons of Korhol fleet network with Kerrigan's security signature will vindicate us.

The Overmind's voice pierces our thoughts.

"My Child, Our magnificent journey nears its end. Though you are new to the Swarm, you are yet the greatest of My agents. However, you were created to go your own way, and I shall not take that ferocity of spirit from you. I am preparing the Swarm to claim the Holy Ground of Aiur, and solidify our hold upon the First Children. Perfection is but a hair's breadth away. If you choose, you may participate in this assault, or you may continue to grow your Brood in your own fashion. What do you choose?"

>>11514664
I say we send our Zerg world-ship to help siege Aiur. The only thing that we want in return is access to the Protoss archives, and intact examples of their technology.
With the Zerg World assisting them, the Swarm should be able to take Aiur in a vastly shorter amount of time. Also, Tassadar has not seen this weapon in action, so will not have been able to plan for it.

We must continue our journey to become Perfection, the perfect fusing of both worlds, biological and mechanical.

And Artisanlord will likely create plays about it.
captcha: it yodels

Let's stay and hold the Terran back until that whole psi emitter deal is resolved

We could probably work something for Labrate to get some of the Aiur loot, though

We need more test subjects. For auir!...er, the Overmind!

Also, we should make menjsk empire of zerg!!!one!!!!1!!!!!111!0101!!!
captcha: economic barbary

"Overmind, most glorious father and blessed progenitor, it is with a heavy heart I decline. I am not made for battle as Daggoth is. We are subterfuge, the hidden blade. The Hassassin Brood offers it’s Protoss to sneak in, the weaken the defenses, our World Zerg to break the Protoss to nothing, but it is our wish to defend your prize, oh great father, and craft our brood – the strains of Zerg, and the powers of the Protoss and the Terran – to better suit the Will of the Overmind. Perhaph...Perhaph I could offer a detatchment...part of us yerns for war.”

Vote: stay and help grow our brood, but offer as much help as possible.

>>11514664
I want to follow our own path, continuing to infest Terrans and Protoss alike, and have their machines integrated with our biological forms.
Send just the Zerg World to help the Overmind with Aiur. Try to get access to the Protoss Warp technology. It would vastly help our harvesting operations of uninhabited worlds.

For now, have Raynor and Duke continue with business as usual, and continue the infestation of the Korhol fleet.

Oh, and once Kerrigan and her dropships arrive at Xenta, can we load them up to capacity with infested Marines, zerglings, and fleshlings, and go after that science vessel?

>>11514765
I would hope the machine stops giving Artisanlord IDEAS!

god, yodling Zerg. I think Ernie just made a greater weapon then Bernie ever did.

>>11514664
Of course, we will participate.

"Look towards the stars on the dawning of the third day."

On the Third Day, have Zerg World emerge in orbit around Aiur and dump the whole swarm. It'll be fantastic, especially if we save the Overmind's non-existent ass from Tassadar's psionic penis.

>>11514870
Addendum: When we drop out of warp, psychically yell "WAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!" to everybody. Zerg, Terran and Protoss alike.

>>11514839
I sense another writefag in this thread. Iiiiiinteresting

Vote to participate. This is the most important event in canon SC history to date. We should be there, if for no other reason than to help Artisanlord chronicle the events.

>>11514870
Mmhm...Have any of the minds we've controled heard of a obscure planet called Azeroth? I'd like to have magic before we did this.

Actually, has Labbrate been able to research the Protoss Warp Gates enough that we either disrupt them, or possibly send something BACK through one of them?
Something like, a good chunk of a Brood, or a few captured Terran nukes?
Even being able to shut down the Gates temporarily would give the Swam a huge opening in the Protoss defenses.

We respond to the Overmind's grandiose speech with an enigmatic proclamation: "When Aiur falls under the shadow of a new moon, we shall come to your aid."

After consultation with Citybrate, we estimate that the Zerg World will reach Aiur within the week. Accountantbrate engages in a long rant concerning the fact that the Protoss have likely mined their system nearly dry, and so this will come entirely out of its own coffers. We softly chide it; the gain of a unique world and an opportunity to devour the full progeny of the Xel'Naga is worth any expense.

Meanwhile, Kerrigan has arrived on Xenta. She has been encased in a Chrysalis for safekeeping during her advanced infestation, as directed by the Overmind. Her forces are quickly overwhelmed and infested, and her dropships are packed full of zerg for their expedition to the science vessel, Magellan.

In the Sons of Korhol fleet, Duke and Raynor play their parts well as Mengsk rages against the massive cascade software failures supposedly caused by his now-missing second-in-command. He seems ready to demand that the fleet turn around, warp to Xenta, and make her pay for this action immediately. Despite our control of nearly a third of the fleet's staff, it is unlikely that we could keep much of the fleet from destruction in the ensuing battle. Shall we attempt to dissuade Mengsk?

>>11514894
Cerebrate, I am proud to be called such. See you in the archive, space-bug.

You cant infest protoss.

>>11515060
Labbrate reminds us that we have yet to obtain a Warp Gate for study, but states that it is likely just a more advanced version of the Warp technology we and the Terrans employ for long-distance transport.

The Protoss' warp rift technology, including its use of Gateways to transport troops, appears to be very involved. Labbrate regrets that we have only exit points for them, and not a schematic for the central fabrication hub on Aiur. With that, we could develop our own version, and send troops around with ease. It suggests that we strike for the hub when our forces join the Invasion of Aiur.

>timing nevertheless

We shall dissuade him by infesting him.

>>11515307
Yes, let us dissuade Mengsk. Specifically, it should be Duke that does it. He has been vindicated, and so the command staff will look to him for guidance.
He should counsel calm, and patience; Mengsk and the Sons of Korhol will extract their vengeance from Kerrigan, but in due time. Right now, they must concentrate on conquering the Confederacy and uniting the sector under Mengsk's rule. Then we will have the forces necessary to hunt down Kerrigan, for we don't know who she was working with.
I'm not sure about Raynor yet. To maintain the facade, he might have to press for going to Xenta. But I would rather not destroy the Korhol fleet yet; I wan them destroyed against the might of the Confederacy, weakening both sides for our eventual assimilation.

Stage a leave her/don't leave her debate with Duke and Raynor. Have Raynor be sent down with as many How popular are Raynor and Duke?

We could have one of them sent down to pick up Kerrigan (and we infest even more forces) while the most influential stays to turn the tables on Mengsk

>>11515365
We had this argument. That's a retcon Blizzard introduced because it would annihilate any kind of game balance, and to plug the plot hole of "The Overmind invaded Aiur specifically to infest Protoss, and never got around to it." Because I don't care about game balance, and this is obviously set before the normal invasion, I have room to incorporate the infestation of Protoss.

>>11515461
Split the enemy forces?
Even better!
Here:
We use Raynor and Duke to stage a great debate of whether to go after Kerrigan now or later.
Have Duke win, but with a compromise. The bulk of the fleet will continue towards Tarsonis and the subjugation of the Confederacy. Raynor, and a small detachment, will go after Kerrigan to Xenta.
Raynor's entire detachment will be infested by the time they arrive. Artisanlord is to go to Xenta, and arrange a grand play, a deception of epic proportions.
Artisanlord's forces and Raynor's detachment will fight a mock battle over Kerrigan's chrysallis. At the last moment, our infested Protoss will arrive to 'lend aid' to Raynor's forces, who will succeed in destroying Kerrigan (a body double).
Bloodied yet victorious, Raynor will return to the Korhol fleet. This will lull Mengsk into a false sense of security.
An additional subterfuge could be aimed at the Protoss. We have them transmitting the battle back to Aiur, showing it as a major setback for the Zerg, and hopefully also letting them think they have secured a measure of false security.

captcha: of pending

Just a side-note, guys. Mengsk's whole plan for destroying the Confederacy hinged on using the psi emitter to make the Zerg do it for him. We have destroyed the psi emitter.

I believe his plans for forming a Dominion with him as Emperor are completely and totally shot, unless somebody's a mastermind and can tell me how else he could do this.

>>11515707
I'm tempted to say let him capture some of our infested agents. Being a devious jerk, I'm sure he'd consider letting them loose onto Tarsonis, at which point he can either hope the Protoss notice it or they could try contacting the Protoss themselves and see if he can get them to purge the infestation from Tarsonis.

>>11515707
Well, here's an option I can think of:
"Backups!"
A tampered version of the psi emitter is released back to the Korhol fleet via a "system backup" that 'survived' the cascading worms that destroyed the original psi emitter. This psi emitter LOOKS like a real one, but actually does nothing.
We have our Brood work with Duke and Raynor, coordinating strikes into Confederate territory so that it appears that the psi emitter is working, and Duke is living up to his position as general by skillfully "manipulating" the movements of a Zerg Brood.
It will be costly, but less so than fighting both the Sons of Korhol and the Confederacy.

Our infested Protoss could play the part of "X-Factor" to Raynor's advantage.

>>11515819
No, because then he would suspect infestation amongst his own personnel first.

Another option could be using the Magellan to our advantage. Once we secure it, we could send a communication from it to Duke, relaying the development of another psi emitter. We could pass if off as being developed from OUR own psionic signature, allowing the baiting of Brood forces at the edge of our control. Duke has Raynor go to secure this pseudo-psi emitter, and it 'successfully' draws in a small portion of our Brood as a test.
This could then be used by Mengsk to draw the Protoss out so that the Confederacy would be hit by us and the Protoss. This would also help the Overmind by drawing Protoss away from Aiur prior to its invasion.

>>11515853
Is our brood even big enough to take on Tarsonis?

>>11515853
Yeah, he'd have his science geeks pull it apart to reverse engineer the plans. Then they'd realize it's just a neat case with a couple of AA batteries connected to a motor to make the top spin. Whole lot of troubles.

>>11515819
We're pretty aware that the Protoss are about to be VERY busy...

>>11515930
That's why I said tempted. Alternatively, we could try sending our agents to Tarsonis and start infesting people. It'd take a long time for it to be useful and it'd delay the Dominion but when enough people are infested, we could use Duke to say he has insiders in Tarsonis that will help them and all that jazz.

>>11515936
Probably not by itself, but if we could get another Brood to help, draw in the Protoss for a big 3-way, or we bring in our Zerg World, I think we could do it. Especially if we send in saboteurs first.

We should probably begin that now. Send in our infested specialists to prepare Tarsonis for invasion. Begin the infestation of their air and water.

>>11515962
3rd Option:
We could send infiltrators to Tarsonis, and begin the infestation of the air and of the water.
Duke will recommend that the Korhol fleet do what it can to demonstrate the inability of the Confederacy to protect the colonies, while the Sons can. Mention that he has some contacts on Tarsonis that could help, but they need propaganda victories to work with.

We consider infesting the Confederate homeworld of Tarsonis. This would be easier with Terran dropships, though theoretically it could be done with a cloaked overlord...

>>11516157
Haven't our additional factories and spaceports that we set up on Antiga finished the production of Terran dropships yet?

>>11516157
Oh, has Labbrate had enough time to be able to build a defense against the psi emitter?
If we could defend against it, then it would be safe to give it back to Mengsk, and let him think that his plans are on track again.

captcha: prospered option

>>11516245
Our facilities on Antiga Prime are spotty, at best. It has only been a few days since the whole planet was crushed.

We continue to ponder our options as Mengsk rants and raves. We should decide quickly, or even Duke and Raynor together won't be able to dissuade him.

>character cloudier

Attacking Tarsonis would not only be a great drain for us, but it might also force the hand of other Zerg forces in the sector. Tarsonis is a major world and may play into the plans of other Cerebrates, or the Overmind itself.

I think we should plant agents and saboteurs, but not invade. If we can get some agents into their communications systems, we can give bad orders and firing solutions, causing damage to the Terrans without risking ourselves.

Also lets us program security holes for when we DO invade.

>>11516415
I have to agree with this plan. Lay plans for the long-term siege of the planet starting with infestation of various locations. Since Aiur is going to be invaded, we shouldn't put more strain on the other broods and since we can't do it alone, we should plan for the future. Mengsk is going to have to be happy with minor propaganda victories for now.

>>11516462
>>11516415
Very well, let's lay the foundation for the fall of Tarsonis now.
In the meantime, shall we go with this: >>11515575
This will keep Mengsk from attacking Xenta with his full forces.

>>11516341
Labbrate informs us that the psi emitter's designs are strange. They broadcast the psionic signature of a person's mind. For a regular mind, this would do nothing but annoy us. For a powerful psionic, it would attract us (though it is obvious that Kerrigan's abnormally strong psionic energies have a singularly powerful effect). However, for an agent of the Swarm, it could be used to transfer control of a zerg unit to the Cerebrate whose signature was registered with the emitter.

There does not appear to be a way to negate its effects...while this seems to preclude allowing Mengsk to continue using it, this does open up options for us should we choose to leave the Swarm again. We could convert troops loyal to the Overmind to our control.

Mengsk seems to be approaching critical mass in his ranting.

>>11516547
Let's go with my plan >>11515575
to keep Mengsk and the Korhol fleet busy.
Then we can prepare for an invasion of Tarsonis without Mengsk being an unpredictable element or draining more of our resources.

Now is a good time for Duke to calm him down.

We load agents on to a cloaked overlord and send them toward Tarsonis.

Before Mengsk can finish his rant, Duke bursts in. "Y'know, I'm not particularly fond of lettin' traitors away, but I don't know if now's the time to go chasin' after a lost little girl. Ain't we got plans for the Confederacy?"

Before he can reply, we have Raynor interject: "She pantsed the whole damn fleet, Duke! She played us all for fools. Even me. Especially me. For all we know, she's givin' our access codes to the damn Feds right now!"

Mengsk looks back and forth, now, between his most trusted general and the ragged Marshall who never backs down. For a moment, we wonder if he will actually send the whole fleet to reacquire Kerrigan.

"No, Jim. We can't derail our whole plan for one woman. Freeing the sector from the tyranny of the Confederacy is more important than any one person. Kerrigan will answer for her crimes in due time. For now, we must press onward..."

The meeting continues dragging along. Eventually, our use of Raynor's image as a reactionary works to our advantage, and Mengsk agrees to send him and a small detachment of forces to find Kerrigan while the main force gathers at Umoja. Apparently, Mengsk's back-up plan is to mobilize the Umojan Protectorate into an army to rival the Confederacy.

We welcome Raynor's troops, infesting those who are still outside our influence. We record false images of combat, and tear up the hulls of the ships we send back. With any luck, Mengsk should believe that Raynor killed Kerrigan with his own hands in vengeance for a lover's betrayal.

cont.
(Congress ovary)

>>11517122
cont.'d

Artisanlord complements us on our devious machinations. It resolves to write a screenplay depicting them in a science fiction setting. We refrain from asking how it will cast us.

Our ships arrive at the Magellan during the night shift. After killing several night watchmen, primary control of the vessel is ours. Despite this, the Terrans aboard could still mount a defense if we do not dispose of them before they realize what has happened. How shall we proceed?

(Pic is still just funny to me)

>>11517138
Flood the entire station with toxic, choking spores.

Failing that, flood the entire station with violent, slashing zerglings.

>>11517163
Clarification: choking spores for infestation, or choking spores for death?

It'd be ludicrously easy to just flood the place with chlorine gas, but infesting people via aerial spores takes days.

>>11517138
Primary concern is to secure the communications room, the control center, and engineering. Then use our standard boarding techniques of infesting the air and water circulation and filtration systems.
Then do a systematic search of the ship, infesting or killing all those that resist.
Leave the way to the hangar bays lightly defended, so that the survivors will think that they have a chance at escape. They will board the dropships there, only to fall right into the waiting claws of our fleshlings and zerglings.

Make sure that we have Engineering and the command center secured, in order to prevent a self-destruct from being armed, and also have the communication array locked down to prevent a distress call from getting out.

>>11517238
We send troops to secure vital areas of the ship, unsure of whether we'll be able to hold them long enough for the spores to do their work. Already, the noise has woken some of the Terrans, and our inability to account for the ruckus to them has raised suspicions (thankfully, none of our overtly Zerg units have yet been seen!). It seems that very soon, all of the Terrans will be awake and trying to regain control of the ship. We can still act before this resistance materializes...

>deterministic radiate

>>11517470
Lock down the areas where the scientists are.
Reroute poison gas to kill off security personnel.
I wish we could have taken this place more intact, but the science team and their equipment will have to do.

>>11517238
>>11517163
Spores to kill. We're here in force, we don't need to infest. We can bring our own crew on board at our leisure once the ship is ours.

>>11517499
Wait, couldn't we fake a reactor overload, and force the humans to abandon ship? Then we can kill them all as they head towards Engineering to attempt to fix the reactor, head to the hangar bay to get on dropships, and pick them up later if they made it to some escape pods.

captcha: Journal prettying

>>11517524
We need to maintain the scientists if we can at least. There's potentially a nice vat of knowledge in each scientist we take and it'd save us time rather than figuring out what they've been doing on our own.

>>11517533
>>11517524
>>11517499
We consider whether we should merely poison the more dangerous Terrans and infest the scientists, poison them all to be sure, or manufacture a spectacular ambush to kill them all off.

It is likely that we can extract the facility's secrets either way, though the scientists' authorization codes would expedite the process.

>>11517596
Aha! Lockdown the scientists to keep them safe for later infestation, then route poison towards the security personnel, while at the same time declaring a ship-wide emergency to abandon ship.
The security guards not killed by the gas will be left adrift in life boats to be picked up and infested later. If any make it down to the hangar bay, they'll be killed by our Zerg forces there, and we have forces at the critical areas so stragglers can't retake control of a vital ship system.

I think this can work.

How about paralyzing spores then?

I'm sure Bernie would have loved paralyzing spores.

>>11517672
We initiate the hermetic seals on the sleeping quarters of the science crews. Once our crew on the bridge receive a positive seal confirmation, they immediately begin venting chlorine gas into the rest of the ship. Within seconds, screams come across the shipboard comm. Within minutes, the surveillance cameras for the rest of the ship display only corpses, while the cameras in the science dormitories go black.

After a few moments of trying to regain contact with the dormitories, we receive word that several vent shafts nearby to the dormitories are being aerated, and internal scanners reveal a line of heat signatures moving through them.

>how weaseled

>>11517830
Are there any knockout gases available for venting? If so, we should vent that entire block with it.

Otherwise, take a quick look at the armor used by the onboard security, and the armor of our infested marines. If they match, we will use a team of marines to make contact with the scientists and while impersonating security personnel, lead them into a trap.
Otherwise, head them off at the next intersection with a squad of Marines, and bring a litter of zerglings to get into the air vents.

>>11517888
Zerglings in the vents? It's gonna be like Alien.

>>11517915
You say that as if it's a bad thing.

Besides, we're big alien bugs in space, chasing humans through an unsecure spaceship. I think it fits pretty well.

Can we...can we infest Tychus and have him stick with us?

I wish to have his baritone southern drawl resonate throughout the hive mind for all eternity.

>>11517932
I definitely didn't mean it as a bad thing, heh. We should probably try to see if we can find out where those vents lead. If they lead to anywhere that can go boom, that would be bad. Actually, we should send forces to secure anything that can go boom period just in case now.

>>11517888
After a few moments' work, it seems like the ventilation controls have been locked out. Without the proper password, any attempt at changing airflow results in the message "FAILURE! You'll never take us alive, zerg scum! -K"

We manage to plot the path of the scientists before the internal scanners are also locked out ("FAILURE! Now you're blind, dirty bugs. -K"). They are either headed toward the communications center, or the hangar. Theoretically, they could be headed toward a reactor regulation console, but that would indicate a suicide mission, as any tampering would flood the compartment with deadly radiation.

We attempt to enact security measures to keep this "K" from locking out any more systems, but we can't know how successful they are until "K" tries to lock out another system.

We outfit our Marines with local security outfits. We only brought 5 of them. Where shall they go?

>>11518007
(Alternately, "Breathe Deep. -K" and "Black Sheep Wall. -K." You know, for the metagame touch)

>>11518007
K obviously has root system access. Look for a command station and have one guy try to trace where he's controlling from.

>>11518007
Send 2 Marines to the Comms Center, and 3 to the Reactor Control Console. Don't underestimate the willingness of these singletons to sacrifice themselves if their individuality is threatened.
Make appear as if the Marines have barricaded themselves at each location, with a token hydralisk force, and have each force take potshots at each other to keep up the deception.
Two larger forces composed of zerglings and fleshlings will remain hidden in side rooms and corridors, ready to burst forth once the scientists take the bait.

>>11518089
After a bit of doing, it becomes obvious that "K" has linked a personal datapad into the station's wireless network. Labbrate informs us that this means he can issue commands to the vessel's computer systems remotely. From what it's seen, Labbrate is sure that we are dealing with a very resilient computer programmer.

We still haven't decided where to send our 5 Marines.

>suggest sprayer
reCaptcha thinks you should use hydralisks, I guess.

>>11518157
Right here: >>11518148
Also see if we can shutdown the ship's internal wireless. At least force him to splice directly into a communication line and stay still while we track him.

This programmer is good. I want him take alive if at all possible.

>>11518148
>>11518201
We split our Marines between two of the potential target locations. We quickly erect makeshift barricades at both locales and stage a resistance. If the scientists reach either point, they will see what appears to be the last stand of the security team.

Our pilots in the hangar feel exposed.

After a few minutes, presumably for the scientists to move along their path, warning lights flash near the Reactor Control Console and the fire suppression systems activate. The hydralisks and zerglings outside the barricades are coated in a blue liquid that coats their carapaces. Their vision is impaired as the only security turret in nearby activates and peppers them with automatic gunfire.

>>11518413
As the units in the hallway react blindly to the sudden gunfire, a voice crackles over the internal comm behind the barricade. A male Terran voice asks, "You boys on our side?"

>>11518413
Have the hydralisks and zerglings pull back, so that the scientists rush in to get behind the barricades.
Once the infested marines have a positive fix on them coming in, have the rest of our zerglings and fleshlings break cover and capture the scientists, while the hydralisks and zerglings rush back in to destroy the turret.
As for the pilots, have them button up in their dropships. If they are attacked, have them decompress the hangar bay.

I'm liking how this is going.

>>11518451
"We're shootin' the damn bugs, aren't we?! Anybody got a ride outta here? Ammo's runnin' low!"

>>11518506
"Not what I asked. I asked if you were on our side. Avoiding the question isn't a good way to convince me."

>>11518470
Our zerg fall back away from the turret, and attempt to wipe the filthy blue filth off of their carapaces.

The pilots lock down the dropships they arrived in, but there are still two more dropships and a wraith in the hangar. We reroute the decompression sequence through their onboard controls.

>>11518623
"You got about ten seconds to convince me, soldier."

C'mon, /tg/.

Don't die on me now.

>have frenzy

>>11518623
"Well excuse me for not being eloquent enough for your tastes while under fire!
"Look, I don't who you are, but me and my men were stationed on Antiga Prime when the Zerg came swarming in. We got here in a banged up dropship to get some repairs done and load up on some consumables. We heard from the Conn that some more dropships were inboud; figured they were other survivors like us.
"Next thing I know, alarms going off, environmental sensors say there's chlorine all over the place, and this entire ship crawls!
"So, I don't know if I'm on your side or not, 'cause I don't know who you are!"

While our marines keep them distracted, begin locking down blocks of the ships and do methodical security sweeps. Also see if Engineering can temporarily shutdown power.

>>11518623
Are any of the dropship pilots rated for Wraith operation? If so, have one of them abandon their dropship and get into the Wraith.
At that point, even if the humans steal one of the dropships, the Wraith can disable it or destroy it before it can get away.

captcha heaven Banahan

>>11518751
Since all of our pilots share one mind, all of them are capable of piloting the wraith. We send one of them to strap in.

>>11518725
"The name's Kingston. I'm a human being, and I've got a lot of interesting files pulled up on my personal datapad. Would you like me to tell you about the most interesting ones?"

Our forces in Engineering could easily shut down power. That might be what this Kingston wants, though. Proceed?

>>11518828
Hold off on shutting off the power. For all we know, he might have placed a contingency logic bomb that will cause the reactor to go critical if power is shutdown. But, prepare it just in case.

"Yeah? I'm sure it must be interesting to you, but I'm only interested in getting me and my men out of this alive. Do your files help me do that?"

Otherwise, have our other team at the Comms Center continue their ruse, and our other Zerg teams continue their search for this Kingston. Also make sure that our fleshling and zergling teams are ready to capture those scientists at any time.

captcha: spored means

>>11518828
>>11518868
"Name's Ramirez, by the way."
Hopefully this was the Marine's name before he became infested. Otherwise, change it to his original name so that it matches up with Kingston's records.

>>11518868
"One of the most interesting right now is a manifest of arrivals and departures. It's interesting because it says we haven't had a ship come in from Antiga Prime since before that Sons of Korhol riot a few weeks back. Another is the wireless transponder for your suit, which identifies you as Puchev, Andrea J. You're a bit masculine to be an Andrea."

This is not going well.

Our teams rove the bulkheads of the ship, but the ship is massive. It could take two days to search the whole thing. If this Kingston is anywhere near as crafty as he seems, we doubt we have two days before something happens.

>>11518962
Do a data dump of everything that they were working on here, and get it to the Wraith, then launch it. Have it cloak and then loiter a little beyond the explosion radius of the Magellan if the reactor goes critical. Have it ready to shoot anything down that isn't ours.

"If we're not on the manifest, then explain why our dropship is in the hangar bay.
"As for the suit transponder, yeah, I admit it's not mine. I didn't have the time to be choosy or to register a transponder to myself."

Have our Engineering teams ready for a manual shutdown of the ship's reactor. Prep it for manual ejection in case Kingston set up a little trap.

>>11518962
"Not talkative? That's alright. I'm not particularly interested in talking to Korhol spies, either. I'd try to ask how it is you're controlling those zerg, but you'd just lie to me again. That's why I've just shut down the power to your armor. Oh, I know that once the pressure sensors realize you're still inside, it'll boot back up, but that'll give Ranger and Stilgar enough time to rig up a reactor overload."

The doors around the room seal shut as a vent shaft pops open and two Terrans in pajamas crawl out. They begin typing at the console while our troops outside rush the turret, disabling it quickly and turn toward the door.

>>11519151
EJECT THE REACTOR CORE!!
EMERGENCY MANUAL RELEASE!!!

>>11519151
Fucking damnit!
Were we able to get the research data onto that Wraith and did it launch?
Can we eject the reactor in an emergency manual release? Don't bother with trying to countermand their programming, just eject the reactor.

>>11519196
>>11519085
We react quickly, ejecting the reactor core into space. Main power drops offline. We wait for a moment before we realize that the emergency backups are not coming on.

Our marines at the Reactor Control panel hear an electronic beeping noise before a female voice says, "Sounds like they fell for it, Kingston. Meet you in the Armory." A few clinks and clanks later, there is silence. Soon, the power armor reboots, and its lights activate just as a zergling breaks through the security door. The room is empty.

Without main power, it is impossible to transfer the ship's data to our ships, launch our ships, or access the Confederate datanet. After we find this Kingston, we'll have to bring a new power source from Xenta if we intend to get anything from this vessel but scrap metal and regrets.

>>11519271
.....Oh, he's good. We are so infesting him.
Prepare reactors at Xenta to be transferred here to restore power.
See if it's possible to manually launch the Wraith.
Also, try to head them off to the Armoury, and to anywhere where there is a vac suit or other environmental protection suit. Don't bother securing them; simply shred them to pieces to prevent them from being used.
Then flood the ship with infestation spores. They'll not get away from us.

captcha: away locals

>>11519303
We pull troops off the room-by-room search and the now-superfluous reactor controls to siege the Armory. After the doors are pried open, one of the Marines shines its lights into the room. For a science vessel, the Armory is surprisingly well-stocked. Gauss rifles, Perdition flamethrowers, and even a few Spider mines are neatly arranged around the room...but no sign of scientists.

The pilot in the wraith hears noises coming from the deck above him.

>>11519384
Ha! I knew that the Armory was going to be nothing but a ruse.

So, can our Wraith pilot launch out of the hangar manually? Can they still decompress the hangar bay if they need to? And get a team of fleshlings and zerglings to run down to the hangar and catch those scientists. Alive. No eating.

The ship rocks as the reactor explodes outside.

We won't know if it caused any damage until we have main power, or until one of our units steps into a section that has lost compression...

>>11519384
Does the pilot have a sidearm? And what about the other pilots? Do they have any weapons, and what happened to the security detail I wanted hidden in the dropships?

>>11519441
Hangar compression sequences require at least emergency power to operate. The wraith pilot could, theoretically, tear loose of the docking clamps and fire on the docking bay doors, but this would damage the wraith and be generally problematic for docking ships later.

The wraith pilot is sure he hears noises from the deck above, now.

As we decide to rush there, the door to the Armory slams shut, severing a hydralisk's claw. About half of the troops we had investigating the Armory are inside, and will require several minutes to break through the door.

>>11519467
All of the pilots have sidearms.

(I don't remember anybody sending any security to the hangar. Even so, we're currently occupying several sections of this ship. Any security detail left behind would have to be laughably small, dropship cargo loads being what they are)

>>11519498
Again, does the Wraith pilot have a sidearm, and is he in a vacuum suit?
Have our fastest zerg get down there, and tell the Wraith pilot to prepare for combat.

>>11519519
Huh. I asked for some Zerg to be stationed at the dropships here >>11517238
Anyway, have the pilots ready to fight in case the scientists attempt to hack the onboard computers of their ships. The Wraith should also be prepared to blow a hole in the hangar bay door, and get out. It'll make recovery more troublesome, but I'm not about to let such skilled scientists leave uninfested.

>>11519546
Again, yes.

Several zerglings and fleshlings arrive in the hangar. As the step inside, sparks begin to spout out of the ceiling of the hangar.

>>11519586
(Oops. My bad. Anyway, now you've got fleshlings and zerglings in the bay. Same thing)

>>11519602
Have them hide and prepare to ambush the scientists when they make a break for the dropships.
Have all but three Zerg shield whatever sensory input organs they have; I have a sneaking suspicion that the humans will use flash-bangs or other such devices. The three who have not turned away will continue watching the hole being cut in the ceiling.

>>11519639
The zerg cover their sensory organs in preparation for a flash bomb that never comes. A loud banging accompanies the sudden sealing of the hangar's security door. After a few seconds of sparks from above, the input from the zerg- and fleshlings becomes confusing as the sudden decompression lifts them to the ceiling, and then through the large hole. Once through, they are coated in heavy weapons fire from the scientists, nestled in the Goliath mechs they activated in the machine bay (which, from all evidence, is what the room one deck above the hangar is).

If we have orders for the pilots, now is the time for a bold, unstoppable plan.

>>11519783
The scientists know the layout of the ship better than us. I am loathe to admit it, but they had outmanuevered us not simply because of the terrain advantage, but also because we failed to take advantage of some of the most basic of tactical protocols, such as identifying what the fuck is right above the hangar.

So, can the Goliaths either get down to the hangar, or would it be possible for them to open up a way down?
Is this vessel equipped with any space-based weaponry that could be used to to shoot down any ships that try to get close?
How long would it take to get reinforcements to this vessel from our closest hives?

Also, identify all means of exit from the machine shop, and mine and boobytrap every single hallway and corridor in the entire block.
Have some of our Marines get into vacuum-sealed marine power-armor, and shutdown their internal comms systems so they can't get hacked, then go EVA on the outer surface of the ship with anti-vehicle weaponry. If the Goliaths attempt to open up a hole to fire on our reinforcements, our Marines should be ready.

As for our Wraith, have it blast out of the hangar bay, and our dropships are to follow close behind. Then the wraith will destroy what's left of the bay and the unused dropships.

>>11519847
Once the Wraith has destroyed the hangar, have it and the other dropships move out of range.

Once the preparatory measures have been put in place, prepare to storm the machine bay by using explosives from the Armoury to blow open a hole in one of the walls.
Two can play at this game.

....Can Goliaths be operated remotely? Did our Zerg actually see any of the scientists inside the Goliath suits?

>>11519847
>we failed to take advantage of some of the most basic of tactical protocols, such as identifying what the fuck is right above the hangar.

All you guys had to do was ask. :D

>Is this vessel equipped with any space-based weaponry that could be used to to shoot down any ships that try to get close?

It has some devices that could be adapted to weapons, but none of them that would work without main power.

>How long would it take to get reinforcements to this vessel from our closest hives?

Perhaps two hours. Certainly long enough for the Terrans to escape if we do not act.

>Have some of our Marines get into vacuum-sealed marine power-armor, and shutdown their internal comms systems so they can't get hacked, then go EVA on the outer surface of the ship with anti-vehicle weaponry

Our 5 Marines close the pressure domes on their suits and head for an airlock.

>As for our Wraith, have it blast out of the hangar bay, and our dropships are to follow close behind. Then the wraith will destroy what's left of the bay and the unused dropships.

The ships activate their engines and begin tearing free of the docking clamps as the three Goliath mechs drop from the ceiling (not too much further than a standard dropship combat fall) and open fire on the wriath. It manages to get off two shots before the combination of stresses on its hull from the docking clamps and the gunfire disable the ship. The Goliaths turn their guns on our dropships as two SCVs drop behind them and make a beeline for two of the unoccupied dropships.

NOTHING GETS ME PUMPED LIKE BITCHING ABOUT STARCRAFT

>>11519963
>I apparently read the troll posts way up top, assumed that the rest of the thread was trolling instead of the obvious Quest Thread, and saged without looking

That's nice. Go away.

>>11519936
Damnit, should have disabled their engines when we had the chance.

Do the following if our dropships or Wraith are capable of catastrophic self-destruct in order to destroy the entire hangar bay:
Open a general communications channel. Have all of our infested Terrans talk at once.
>"Well played, Kingston. Your scientists and I would have made a great team. Prepare to terminate."
Then touch off all of the onboard self-destructs and destroy the entire bay.

We'll have to content ourselves with just the ship when our repair teams get here.

>>11519963
>mailto: sega

This sounds like the perfect time for a sexy party.

>>11519983

>>11520015
If by "sexy" you mean "catastrophic" and "party" you mean "explosion", then yes, I would have to agree with you.

>>11519985
Not going to advance the scene yet, because it doesn't seem like light transport ships ought to have a "gigantofuckyoubomb" core...though, really, the Confederates should have added them in by now. Why aren't more things in SCII explodey?

*sigh* Stupid Terrans and their respect for the sanctity of human life.

>>11520042
Well, Terran built units have a tendency to explode when they die; it could mean that it touched off their power reactor, whatever that may be.
At the very least, have the Marines ready to blast whatever comes out of the hangar bay with whatever they've got. And have any available troops try to bust into the hangar bay to prevent the scientists from leaving.

>>11520069
The Marines have gotten out the airlock, but the surface of the ship is quite large. They may not reach it in time.

Next post will advance time, so there's still time for a great plan.

Time's up!

The SCVs reach the dropships as various deaths or incapacitations befall our own dropship pilots. Within moments, the scientists are out of their SCVs and piloting the ships. They load the Goliath mechs as emergency power comes back online in the bay, the clamps on the ships release, and the bay doors open.

The ships pull away at maximum speed as our 5 Marines open fire. They do not cause enough damage to hinder the escape. The comm systems hum back to life just long enough for a message to come through:

"The name's Kingston. Remember it, y'hear? I get the feeling you'll hear it again."

>>11520081
Are our dropships free from the docking clamps? Can they ram the Goliaths?
As for the Wraith, does it still have power?
Is there any way to cause it's onboard powerplant to detonate?

Those are the only ideas I have, and I have to go to work now. See you next week, Cerebrate Anon, and sorry that I couldn't be of more use, fellow players.

>>11520186
>RAMMING SPEED

You were just a tad late. That's what I was holding out for.

>>11520165
We will hunt him down and forcibly infest him.
This I/we vow.

Bring up repair teams from Xenta, and have Labbrate begin using this science vessel's labs for further experiments. Meanwhile, I want our infested agents to keep an eye-stalk out for this Kingston and his crew.

captcha: much hassled
Indeed.

>>11520194
FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KINGSTON!!!!!

And Cerebrate Anon discovered that the Terrans had fight left in them, still. This Kingston had shamed its minions. Yet still, Anon profited. The Magellan was firmly in its grasp, and once a reactor was installed, so would its secrets.

The Sons of Korhol, fleet, now almost 45% infested, dealt with the loss of one of its commanders and, more importantly to them, its psi emitters. It continued fomenting rebellion against a Confederacy, now the target of infestation itself.

On Xenta, a Chrysalis protects the powerful Kerrigan, and an honor guard of infested Protoss protects Anon's physical form. The Overmind's assault on Aiur is set to begin at any moment.

Events are accelerating, and in the shadows, forces yet unrevealed prepare to enter the fore.

(Thanks, guys! I never know how you'll deal with the stupid shit I throw at you. I'll see you next week on Monday...y'know, unless something ridiculous happens, as has become kind of normal for me)

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/11513034

Archive'd

captcha: to strong

>>11520264
Thanks for the game, OP.
Though I think from now on a part of ourselves is going to fanatically hunt Kingston through all of Terran space.

KIIIINNNNGGGSSSTTTTOOOOOONNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>captcha: payoffs in
Oh yes, there will be a reckoning, and there will be a payoff at the end.