>>15427458
we must launch some kind of invasion, to steal the crystal!

With fire!
And Berney!
And Berney on fire!
With midgets.... That are also on fire.

Drop a few nukes onto them?

Or go the infestation route.
>>15427489
No. Just... no.

>>15427489
You want to send in Bernie?

>>15427502
NO!

Instead, send them a fruit basket.

>>15427502
YES!

>>15427517
NO! Send the fruit basket!

Watch them scratch their heads in confusion!

>>15427536
Only so long as the fruitbasket is also delivered with something to infest the protoss with.

For ambassadorial reasons.

>>15427502

Bernie is a sadistic creature that delights in the pain and suffering in others. At the same time, however, he is still very cunning and effective at killing things.

But he likes to take his time and savor the moment. That could be fatal if we need to take something out quick.

How many Valkyries do we have constructed as of now? IIRC, Kingston's fleet used about two or three dozen to turn Shakuras into a nuclear wasteland. Perhaps we can send in Bernie and/or Gorn as a distraction, then send in a flight of Valkyries with air support to carpet bomb the crystal with nukes. Then drop in a few hatchworms to hang around the planet and possibly belch out drones to make underground hive clusters so we can keep an eye on things after the battle is done.

>>15427549
We would need a type of zerg able to withstand any amount of glassing, which then carves out caverns and spawns drones...

We will call them.... Blackheads.

>>15427536

>To: Protoss
>From: Zerg guys

>We are very sorry for trying to infest your race and incorporate your biological distinctiveness into our fold. Please accept this fruit basket as an apology.

>By the way, if you're still reading this, these really aren't fruits but are instead painstakingly painted and crafted novelty infestation spores. We're still very sorry, though.

>>15427513
>>15427517
I'm getting mixed messages, here...

>>15427549
We have plenty of the things, but we've never actually tested them with a nuclear payload. All evidence seems to show that Valkyrie nuclear strikes are Kingston's preferred method for a global target. We usually just strike individual targets.

Of course, who knows what else is on this planet.

>>15427582
> We only sent spores for... Ambassadorial purposes.

>You understand, right?

>>15427591

Kerrigan also said earlier that a direct assault on Aiur was way out of our league. If that means that we have no chance of winning an all-out war on Aiur, this probably means that the Protoss have rebuilt their military (or united other separate tribes) to a large extent. Which means that any strike we can muster has to be very quick and decisive, or any distraction we have has to draw their attention enough so that we can strike at the crystal with minimal resistance.

If we attack at the planet directly, they will probably assume the worst and have tons of forces ready at the Resurrecting Crystal Thingy before long. Unless the commander there is a stuffy old-school Conclave protoss.

Consult with Kerrigan. Did she learn anything about this type of Xel'naga artifact during her internal strife/sabotage tour with her infested Conclave? Does she know of any other targets of opportunity on Zhakul that could be taken out and negatively affect the function of the Xel'naga crystal?

So, how are you stopping this ritual to restore at least one Protoss from the dead?

Also, somebody roll a d100 for confidential purposes.

>>15427591
Can't we just send the fruit basket, filled with actual fruits, and have the planet destroyers waiting nearby in case whoever they resurrect is someone we hate?

I mean, theres nothing stopping us from lying like a bastard, especially given that they have no way of verifying anything except through the Archon colony, which we've been nothing but cordial towards.

>>15427649

rolled 40 = 40

>>15427656

>>15427649
I mean, we don't need to interfere with the ritual. WE can just play the long game, and twist their perceptions of us.

We have centuries of life ahead of us, your average protoss doesn't.

WE can play the long game.

>>15427661
we could always say we were... helping.

>>15427643
Kerrigan says that all she knows about Zhakul is that it's where the Preservers hold all of the Xel'Naga artifacts the Protoss have ever found that weren't deemed safe to be left elsewhere, either because they didn't function properly, they were incredibly destructive, or their use had political/ethical ramifications that made the Conclave uneasy.

She doesn't know of any specific plans involving the planet, though. If this is sanctioned by the Protoss on Aiur, it is being kept very secret.

>>15427672
...Really?

Shit. Protoss black ops.

and loot. lots of loot.
This world must be ours!

Through zerg ships disguised as human ones, of course.

ANd hopefully, Cyberbrate can shut down their network of sensors.

>>15427652

So this could be a power grab by another group of Protoss, then. Resurrect a lost leader from before, then try to worm their way into power via the vacuum left in the Protoss leadership due to the fallout from Kerrigan's infested Conclave.

In that case, we should prep forces to invade Zhakul and bombard the crystal, and leave nothing alive within a 1000 mile radius within that point. But before we do so, send in a drobpserver or observer to spot what/who they are resurrecting.

>>15427686
but if we use the crystal, we could, potentially, bring back any number of dead cerabrates, and even the overmind himself (if it is necessary...)

>>15427686
We have a dropserver in the system, watching the ritual.

It seems to be nearing completion. If we desire to act, we should do so quickly.

>>15427694
can we hit the protoss involved with our equivalent of a psionic high five?

And then invade with a minimal of forces (really, just scourge, valkyries, nukes, and a hell of alot of zerglings, hydralisks, and ultralisks)

>>15427694
Can we just wait?

If all else fails, theres noone they could resurrect that can survive being nuked from orbit.

(It's the only way to be sure, after all.)

>>15427706
pre-emptive tactical nuclear bombardment solve alot more problems...

>>15427694
Let's see who pops out, then we INVADE AND INFEST AND PLUNDER!

>>15427718

And can permanently seal the doors of Political shenanigans.

We will always have the nuke it till it glows option.

We might not have the diplomatic option.
Especially if we nuke them. The tiniest evidence it was us, and we get the Protoss on our asses again.

>>15427729
It appears I am outvoted.

Very well.

Send out more colonization waves as we wait, and prepare an invasion force rivaling that which assaulted Auir.

Have them set up a staging ground for us to warp into from the next system over.

>>15427694
Although, if it's the bitch then we nuke her on the spot.

>>15427739
Agreed.

But, just to reiterate what I said last week we jam all communications when we enter the system, grab the protoss, take them out of the system for infestation, then plunder the planet before the protoss fleet probably shows up.

>>15427758

I'm voting for this option. Seems to be safer than waiting and seeing what happens.

We can see what they were planning if we infest those conducting the ritual, after all. And we get more Protoss genes to play around with, and possibly the knowledge of the Xel'naga junk on the planet!

>>15427758
can we at least prepare to nuke any that do show up?

proving it was a human raid?

>>15427701
We could. We don't know if they would feel it, or how interrupting the ritual would affect it.

>>15427706
We could.

>>15427718
We could also do this.

Do we have votes for any of these?

>>15427783
I think interrupting the ritual would be fun. Let's go with the psionic high-five plan, with a backup nuclear strike ready to go. It kind of worked on Zeratul if I remember right.

>>15427781
Why wouldn't we go in ready to destroy as much of the protoss fleet as possible at a minimal cost. I'm thinking nuclear space mines. But, I still think not interrupting the ritual is a good thing.

>>15427783
I vote waiting, and saying Hello to the protoss.

Preferably with ZergTV.

"This is Good Morning Universe, and I'm your host, Artisanbrate."

>>15427804
ALright, prep for nuclear assaults, and wait. thats my vote.

Damnit, I'm late by an hour and everything is about to go all to hell.

What about the plan we had in place last session before the cutout?
Warbrate in charge of overall operations.
Warp in the Swarm and set up a communications blackout and an orbital blockade. Nothing leaves the system unless it's Zerg.
Landing operations to capture and Infest those three at the crystal, secure a perimeter around the crystal, and then to capture the libraries intact.

Prep 75 nukes for launch, and enter in the Xel'Naga crystal as the target, just in case.

>>15427829
Don't jump to conclusions, see
>>15427804
>>15427758
>>15427729

>>15427829
I like this plan best seconded

>>15427829

I'm voting for this.

If they're resurrecting Someone Important, that's bad for us. All the Protoss historical figures don't seem to be very pro-zerg; if Zeratul perished on Shakuras, his resurrection will certainly mean a HUGE thorn in our side later on. If it's Feneschal... well, I don't need to elaborate on that. If it's Artanis (who died to destroy the infested conclave), that's another annoying and daring Protoss we'll have to kill later.

If we infest the Protoss conducting the ritual, we can know what they were doing and possibly how they were going to do it. Plus any other tasty bits of knowledge they have.

>>15427829
>>15427856

If we're going to do this, have a reserve force of cloaked queens on standby within the system to infest the three Protoss at the Xel'naga crystal. Or any other important-looking protoss.

>>15427856
Or they could be bringing out Adun. Now ask yourselves, don't you want to infest THE Adun.

>>15427846
But jumping to conclusions and making short-term advantageous decisions is what we do best here.

>>15427880

In that case, we can have our newly-infested Protoss preservers carry out the ritual and resurrect Adun. Whom we promptly infest.

>>15427877
Infesting Khala protoss doesn't quite work that way, it will take time to do it. Void protoss just need a brain parasite for pupetry, but still can't do true infestation on them.

(God, this guy never stops talking, and I find it hard to quest and hold the phone. Gimme a bit)

>>15427890
I was referring to the conclusion that we're doing something blatantly stupid, as opposed to our normal stupid. Seems to happen early in the threads before the regulars show up.

BROS.

Sup? Heard we got some toss biddies reviving some old leaders and shit. Ya'll don't mind another bro to rage the face off of fucking Geed-Toss. So let's go show those guys how the fucking Zeta Epsilon Rho Gamma RIP AND TEAR.

>>15427899
but... we can.

>>15427919
Or not, but I think you need to go into the tanks.

>>15427937
But we were never able to gain access to the minds of the DTs we infested, move them around yes, brain eating, nor so much.

>>15427950
...well, we simply have to...
Research.

*cackle*

>>15427950
Come to think of it, if we we able to crack open a DTs head, metaphorically, we would probably learn the location of their archive/library planet.

>>15427938
Bro I'm not down with that. Shit's scary and it's hard to shotgun a keg in there. But I'm serious bro, I know I may have a fratty nature that seems off putting, but bro, I love my brethern and would gladly die raging on top of a burning tossy home world.

I just need the chance bro, you can totally pledge me first.

(Talked my ear off. Yeesh)

(ALRIGHT! Looks like you want to wait it out. Cool. Let's me use this:)

As Toaster preps a small contingent of nuclear missiles and Warbrate readies a fleet, our dropserver quietly approaches Zhakul, and Cyberbrate works to zero in its instruments on the Protoss.

The energy building off of the crystal is immense. Everything in the system gets darker, though our dropserver can't determine how, as there are just as many photons. Things are just different.

As the energy level builds, Cyberbrate gets a bead on the Protoss and provides us with an enhanced version. The Protoss speak in unison in Khalani, though we have never heard some of the words before, and can only guess to their meaning.

"--kul Fa! Zz'drateen al'Khas! Rise, ye fallen! Rise, Patriarch fin su Ara! Come, He Who Brings Order! The First Children need you again! Be risen, Savassan! Save us once more from Strife, dear Khas!"

At the mention of strife, the psionic energy in the system spikes to our overlord in deep orbit, the planet shines like a sun. Like a supernova. Like a hundred supernovas detonating at once.

To the dropserver's cameras, the green crystal shimmers with emerald light, shakes, and a bright light shines from the opening as a Protoss walks resolutely from the crystal. His eyes look upon the three Protoss around him, who prostrate themselves at his feet.

He leans down to them, and says, "Und lara khar. Stand, my children. I am here."

>>15428071
(This, by the way, is what >>15427659 was for!)

>>15428071
....Well, I hope that waiting for the resurrection process to complete wasn't a strategic blunder on the order of allowing Kingston to escape.

>>15428071
KHAS! Right well, now that that's settled. Once our deep space overlord isn't blind, we jam communications and so on.

>>15428101
Oddly enough, from a narrative stand point, bringing back Khas does seem like a sensible thing for the protoss to do.

>>15428071
Implement our invasion plan.
Make sure that we jam EVERYTHING, and that we work fast.
Warp in Battlecruisers as part of the invasion force to provide orbital strikes and to help destroy any defense grid that might be in orbit.

>>15428158
(I assigned ranges for the Protoss I imagined they could possibly revive, based on likelihood out of 100. Adun and Khas both seemed like solid, 30-point choices)

>>15428172
>>15428128
Toaster wants to know if we plan on using our nukes.

Warbrate wants to know if we want a Zerg, Terran, or mixed force, and definite orders on prisoners (Take them? Don't bother? Which ones?)

contact him!

With the dropservers, or with psionics.

Welcome him back to reality.

>>15428197
And the other 40? Artanis and some conclave people?

>>15428220
Nukes in reserve for when the protoss fleet shows up. A mixed terran and zerg force with the primary objective being to capture Khas, then the preservers. Once they are captured and out of the system we infest them, and start plundering the planet for as long as possible.

>>15428236
Artanis, Feneschal, and a couple points for me making up a dead Protoss hero.

A botch would have had them going balls-to-the-wall and resurrecting a Xel'Naga, because fuck the world.

>>15428234
Talk instead of attack?

>>15428289
Oh, and like, three points for Aldaris, because Derptoss.

>>15428261
Talk: 1
Attack: 1

If attack,
Capture Khas and the Preservers: 1

>>15428289
yes, but prepare to attack just in case.

speak softly, and carry a big stick

>>15428220
Nukes on standby, ready to vaporize any Protoss reinforcements that might Warp in.

Capture Khas and any Preservers for later Infestation once they're safely out of the system.
Have Labbrate prepare an Infestation team in an uninhabited system; we don't want to lead any Protoss back to our core worlds if they follow Khas' psionic signal.

Try to take structures intact; plunder as much as we can, as intact as we can, concentrating on Xel'Naga artifacts.

>>15428289
But if we ate a Xel'Naga then we would really become the overmind... you're lucky we only got a protoss.

>>15428315
By speak you mean psionic high five, right.

>>15428346
No, if we can get the Xel'naga to understand we are changed from what we were, then lets do so.

We can always nom him later.

>>15428359
But Khas is just a toss, a famous/mythical one, but still just a very very wise protoss who we should infest. I'd be damn hard to make him forsake what he made.

>>15428400
we are not making him forsake them, merely accept us.

And accept that we cna live in peace, or he can live in peices.

>>15428289
TALK!

Begin Operation:POLITICS

>>Indeed, assely
Captcha, even you?!

>>15428400
gah. in his wisdom, he could hopefully see us as beings to accept.

>>15428417
No we begin operation "get in there and grab them" or GITAGT.

>>15428441
He'd have to forsake the Khala first, stupid rules governing the infestation of protoss.

>>15428335
Depends on how I deal with the 'Naga. Blizzard seems to think they're 30-foot-tall demons that can kill a dozen zealots from 200 yards away with mind bullets.

>>15428359
a 100 would have gotten you a Xel'Naga that...well, let's just say it'd be interesting.

Anyway, what's the plan, Stan?

>>15428461
The plan we agreed to earlier of going in and taking everything.

>>15428461
give him a mental 'tap on the shoulder'.

Then greet him, and welcome him back to existence. Ask for his purpose here, and if he inquires as to our reasoning for asking, inform him that its not every day someone comes back from the dead, and that we wanted to know why someone felt it necessary.

>>15428491
While we jam all comm traffic and warp in our forces? If that's the case then sure.

>>15428461
TALK! SPEAK WITH HIM FIRST, BEFORE DESTROYING ANY POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONVIOLENT INVOLVEMENT!

>>15428502
No, Forces are still on standby. Ready to go in an instant, but not yet.

>>15428461
We should proabably send some sort of military force to the system just in case things turn too sour. We need this crystal.

>>15428417
>>15428323
Talk: 2
Attack: 2

Huh.

>>15428503
Why is everyone so keen on allowing for the possibility for the guy who united the protoss and ended the Aeon Strife to get off that rock? Call me paranoid, but I don't want him to be free.

>>15428502
...Sure.
If that would, in any way, help a diplomatic meeting with someone who just came back from the dead, probably with tons of energy just waiting to fry every single thing that attacked him.
((That was sarcasm.))

>>15428461
Warp everything in, block every communications, get Warbrate and Bernie ready to rush the everloving shit out of the 'toss down there, but don't do so yet.
Say "Hi" to Khas.
We want to eventually infest those preservers, and infest Khas, and steal the crystal. If we can resurrect and infest important protoss - like Adun, Zeratul, and Tassadar (wait, did he die in this timeline), then we can start our own Khala.
With Blackjack.
And Hookers.

>>15428516
Screw the crystal, the knowledge in the preservers heads is worth more, Khas would be better. Also, there's a lot more on that planet, like things that we could re-engineer to fuck over Kingston, or maybe make 5th dimensional materials.

>>15428536
I did initially say "wait until our deep space overlord isn't blind"

>>15428491
>>15428502
Those

>>15428531
Because the protoss civil war is pretty much over now, isn't it? The 'toss have unified.

>>15428541
Tassadar is still alive and has united the Protoss, as well as gearing them up for total war.
Zeratul is possibly still alive somewhere as well.

>>15428541
Tassadar, Fenix, and presumably Zeratul are all alive and well.

>>15428541
I second this. But maybe without Bernie. How are our far-out colonies? Didn't we tell colonylord to infest some planets WAY far out? If they haven't been doing much, can we make a world or two focus on our space-faring units like scourges and mutas? We tend to use them up pretty quickly, and I feel like we are going to need to flood some atmospheres soon

How the FUCK are we gonna get out of this one?
Kingston's in control of a mostly-intact terran confederacy,
the Protoss have united and are preparing for war, after having taken back Aiur
the UED just showed up

I mean, shit son. As soon as they get that Psi Disrupter up and running, we are TOAST.

>>15428503
Decision maker.

We route a psionic communique through our overlord and to Khas. We welcome him back to life, and introduce ourselves as the new leader of the Swarm.

Our dropserver, still filming him, registers his head snapping to look directly toward the cloaked overlord, despite it being cloaked in space nearly 200,000 miles overhead. After a moment's discussion with his Preservers, the voice of Khas rings out in our mind.

"What manner of creature are you? They tell me the Zerg defiled Aiur and instigated the fall of my Conclave."

>>15428594
"The Now dead Overmind did that. We are not quite so homicidal as to commit rampant genocide.

As your own troops will tell you, outside of an infested Terran, who was made by the Overmind, we have not engaged in any hostile actions against the Protoss.

>>15428593
(Well, Kingston's Confederacy is down to three planets, one of which is talking about secession, and we blew the fuck out of the Disruptor a long time ago, back when Kingston turned it on)

>>15428594
Zerg: Psychic collective, ruled by whoever's the biggest brain at that point in time.
The big brain, also known as the Overmind, ordered the attack on Aiur and died there.
When he died, we were no longer slaves to his will, and have tried diplomacy and peace instead of invasion and slaughter.

...

Nuke him. Nuke the everloving shit out of him.

>>15428593
>Psi Disruptor
Kingston already deployed the Psi Disruptor. Fortunately, we destroyed it.
Unless you're referring to one that the UED might build, or that Kingston might construct another one.

>>15428620
Man, I'm so out of the loop then.
How are the Terrans of the Koprulu sector going?
Did Shakuras and the Dark templar get royally arseraped and pounded into dust?
We may need to either:
A. sic the UED on the Protoss
B. recover the Psi Disrupter, and build a Khala Disrupter.

>>15428624
Not Yet.

See if we can convince him of our "peacefulness" now that the Overmind is dead.

If we can, we can avoid pissing off the Protoss, and even potentially gain the option of taking over the protoss without needing to expend resources.

>>15428636
UED has not entered the Koprulu Sector yet, and they are currently being infiltrated by Dyles.
As for the Psi Disruptor, that got turned into radioactive dust when we nuked it to prevent Kingston from recovering anything from it.

>>15428609
Alright, our peace-seeking facade may still work.
Seconding your post.

>>15428594
"Khas, you know better than anyone alive the strife that comes from warring between the children of the Xel'Naga. You have already united your people, now maybe you may be able to unite us all. We ask only for a chance to plead our case and work towards a future in which we all have a place. Please allow us to atone for the sins of our father."

Of course his "place" is six feet under and our father's "sin" was not finishing the job, but he doesn't have to know that until the wings/appendages of a million zerg block out the sun and secure that ccrystal.

>>15428654
What, in theory, would prevent us from glassing Aiur in the same manner as the terrans glassed Korhal?

Hey, can we send a scouting fleet to warn the UED?

Get their thanks, a favor, etc.

>>15428594
The second born to the Xel'naga.

We were enslaved to the will of the overmind, unable to break our bonds even when commanded to. We were freed from that control after the Overmind was slaughtered on Auir. We commit no genocide, and consistently try for peace with the beings which we meet. We have made mistakes, and we try to atone for the innocents whom have died for these mistakes. (the AI.) May I inquire as to why the firstborn felt a need to resurrect the peacemaker?

>>15428674
Protoss defense installations.

Outside of that, nothing.

>>15428609
>>15428624
>>15428652
>>15428662
We lie, and we hope that we lie convincingly. We particularly mention fighting off VoidGate's attack on Ash'Arak (which was our idea), and our peaceful interaction with the Jael'Aten.

Best of the first two replies with a 1d100 determine if the sucker falls for--I mean, whether we convince him of our good nature.

rolled 82 = 82

>>15428703
dice

rolled 57 = 57

>>15428703
The second born to the Xel'naga.

We were enslaved to the will of the overmind, unable to break our bonds even when commanded to. We were freed from that control after the Overmind was slaughtered on Auir. We commit no genocide, and consistently try for peace with the beings which we meet. We have made mistakes, and we try to atone for the innocents whom have died for these mistakes. (the AI.) May I inquire as to why the firstborn felt a need to resurrect the peacemaker?

>>15428703
Please, PLEASE WORK!

rolled 18 = 18

in b4 everyone rolls 10 or less

>>15428725
Dammit, forgot the diceroller!

>>15428715
You rock sir.
Be excellent.

rolled 46, 35, 54, 57, 43, 40, 52, 87, 14, 5 = 433

>>15428715
We used up a lot of our good luck on that roll.
Allow me to generate some Bad Luck to counteract it, so we can save our Good Luck for later.

>>15428715
(The /tg/ dice always make interesting decisions)

"Your words slither like serpents, but I see no violence in them. If our distant cousins truly seek peace, then peace shall there be. I must speak with the one who carries on my work of unification by standing on the skulls of my Conclave, this...Tassadar...and see to my people, but if you truly intend us no harm, bring an unarmed messenger to Aiur in three days' time. I shall speak to you, then."

We feel his consciousness wall itself away from us, ending the conversation. We can see how the Protoss could unify under this one. He speaks with a conviction we have seldom heard, except from Father.

In orbit, a small fleet of carriers arrives out of Warp. They begin descending toward the planet. Warbrate is sure this is an honor guard to take Khas to Tassadar.

>>15428824
Well, I say we meet him in 3 days time.

But also keep our guns trained on this fleet, so if they fire we attack them.

>>15428824
Do we have any ability to block Khala links? If we attack Khas then he'll broadcast our attack to pretty much everyone on the Khala, and he's loud enough that they'll hear it.
On the flip side, once Khas pisses off away from this planet, we can infest the entire fucking thing.
I'm thinking we wait 3 days then glass the everloving shit out of Aiur. Cloaked Nukes, anyone?

Do we have any way of Jamming or Hijacking the Khala? We could at least troll the protoss by sending advertisements and/or hardcore templar pornography over the Khala.

>>15428837
Gorn, on the other hand, suggests wiping this fleet away with nuclear fire and seizing the crystal and its users for our own. Nargil hesitantly agrees. If the crystal could be used to resurrect the Overmind, it believes we should take that chance, Protoss or no Protoss.

>>15428824
We will meet with him, via an unarmed, regular Overlord, in 3 days time.

I think in the short-term, we should honor this cease-fire. It will allow us the breathing room we need to finish off the Confederacy, and to take on the UED. We will leave the Protoss for last.

That said, how goes progress on Labbrate's cloning program, and Cyberbrate's repairs.
Also, has Nargil found anything interesting or new in his search through Colonylord's holdings?
Which reminds me, we should ready the next Colonization Wave.

>>15428870
Say, how does everyone feel about using Bernie as a deniable asset?

We get the crystal, and an excuse to slaughter Bernie!

It's win win!

>>15428899
Never. Bernie is one of us, and has been with us since the beggining. We are Zerg, not animals

>>15428870
How about we wait until the honor guard is gone, then we steal the crystal, with as little violence as possible? Or we wait three days, we can always steal it after we figure out what's going on in UEDland

>>15428877
Labbrate has worked out the bone issue, and is incubating its first set of clones. It expects them to be ready in a few hours.

Nargil won't talk about work. It insists that we make a decision about the crystal.

>>15428899
We certainly could try. The Protoss have seen Bernie before, and don't seem to have made the connection...

>>15428870

Just to get an estimate here...

About how many protoss ships are there near Zhakul? How close is the system to other Protoss outposts? How many forces can we muster on such short notice?

If the protoss have rebuilt as much as Kerrigan says they have, we may not be able to hold the crystal for very long, even if we do manage to take out the grandfather of Protoss psionicists.

Cerebrate Anon, what would we need to do, in order to fuck with the Protoss's psychic links?

>>15428930

Can we make a fake Cerebrate, just the body without a mind?

We'll use that as "Bernie", and use his brood as the thieves, to steal the crystal.

Naturally, Bernie himself will have moved to a planet we've specifically picked out for him as far from the protoss as we can manage.

Then, once he's made off with the crystal, it's tranferred to a secure postion, deep within our defenses, preferable on the most well defended planet we've got.

While Bernie is busy fighting the Protoss, and faking his death, we will resurrect the Overmind, and quickly fill him in on our plans.

>>15428877

This seems to be a good idea, for now. The UED or the UEDyles is a bigger threat than the Confederacy and the Protoss combined (this was even the case in the SC canon, when all of the factions were stronger than they are now). We need to engineer a way for both of our old enemies to see the UED as a mutual enemy (or prompt the UED to stage attacks on the Protoss/Confederacy so that both will see that the UED is a bigger threat than we can ever be for a looong time).

>>15428959
The UED might not necessarily be a threat, provided POLITICS occurs. It's Dyles thats the problem.

Send scouts to Earth, to see if the UED has been fully compromised, or just the outer colonies.

>>15428930
Respectfully tell Nargil that, for the moment, we can't seize the crystal without bringing in the entire protoss fleet. Wait three days and seize it while we talk to Khas on Aiur via a regular overlord with big pauldrons.

>>15428934
There are five carriers, with four of them forming a protective barrier around the lead ship. This would be easy to destroy with one or two well-placed nuclear missiles. Warbrate has the resources to destroy them the old-fashioned way, as well.

However, it will be obvious to Khas that we lied if we do so, and any observers in the system could relay the incident back to Aiur.

>>15428942
It would be difficult to disrupt them on a local scale, especially since any device that did so would carry the risk of being effective on us, as well. On a larger scale, it would be guaranteed to disrupt us.

(Like trying to shut down a distributed P2P network by shutting down the Internet)

>>15428930
Addition to the ghost cloning/breeding program, could we splice in some protoss and/or zerg genes in there too? Just to help with the psionic linkages and maybe some durability/regeneration/protossplantness

>>15428930
Tell Nargil that an all-out assault right now against Khala would be inadvisable. The amount of psychic power he possesses would allow him to warn the entire Protoss Empire, and we can't afford that.
Even if we were to succeed in resurrecting the Overmind, only to have created a situation that would have put us at a near-untenable disadvantage, would only garner the disapproval of Father.

Wait 3 days time, when Khala will be out of the system and his guard is down. Then we can swoop in and steal the crystal using an all Terran strike force, making it appear that the Terrans are to blame.
Extra points if we paint them as the Kel-Morian Combine to cause even more strife between the KMC and the rest of the Confederacy.

>>15428930

We'll take the crystal later. To attempt to take it now would bring the collective wrath of ALL the Protoss upon us (which will probably inflict irrecoverable losses on the Swarm). Kerrigan already said outright that we don't stand a chance in a straight-up shootout. If we try to take the crystal now, there will BE NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER OF OVERMIND RESURRECTION. EVER. FOREEVVVVVER. Unless one of our Cerebrates or Kerrigan knows where we can get billions of Zerg troops from within the next three days, or otherwise can bring the UED to launch a full attack on Aiur.

Ooo! Do we have time to whip up somekind of 'Mouth of the Swarm' zerg to send? I know three days is a bit of rush job for something like this, but making a talky, slightly psychic take-me-to-you-leader zerg for negotiation and diplomacy action would be kinda cool, and it'd be a chance to show off our more artistic side, which is something we've avoided in the past in favor of planatary infestions and bernie and orbital fission rain.

>>15429003


So, about my "Fake Bernie" Plan? Workable?

>>15429017
An overlord dressed as a zealot! BIG PAULDRONS!

>>15429003
Link Bernie up to the Khala

>>15429017
Make one in a perverted, Zerg-like image of a Protoss! And give it HUGE pauldrons!

"You mean huge pauldrons AREN'T a sign of status and respect in Protoss society?"

>>15429034

We should send an impeccably dressed Thumbling. Complete with monocle, top hat, diamond cane, and HUEG ZEALOT PAULDRONS. And the finest Zerg fashion decorations designed by none other than our very own Artisanlord. After all, many of our impossibly awesome Cerebrates had their humble beginnings as zerglings. Perhaps this may be the start of a diplomatbrate's long and fruitful existence!

>>15429039
That has been a reoccurring, but still unknown as to how it would be accomplished, plan since shortly after Berniebrate was made.

>>15429062
A well dressed thumbling that thinks in a posh english accent?

>>15429025
Possible, though you'll need support from /tg/.

>>15429034
I do loves me some pauldrons...

>>15429014
>>15429012
>>15428972
Nargil doesn't like waiting, but understands our reasons. It quits ranting about Blessed Resurrections in our mind, which is a relief.

>>15429060
>>15429062
/tg/ likes the pauldrons, too!

>>15429003
I figure that there are some messages that'd work on Protoss that wouldn't work on Zerg.
Messages ordering the 'toss to "disobey", to "dissent", to believe more strongly in individuality, or to believe that communal psychic links are "too mainstream" would work more effectively on the Protoss than on Zerg units.
Since Zerg don't buy or sell things, we could spam the psychic links with Advertisements.
Since Zerg units don't have sex drives, we could spam the psychic links with pornography.
Since Zerg units don't have social lives, we could start the psychic equivalent of Facebook and have the Protoss waste time that way.

We could have Artisianbrate invent catchy music with subtle "serve the zerg" messages in it. It'll get stuck in the Protoss's heads as they keep thinking about the catchy tunes, spreading the pro-zerg propaganda across the Khala.
Yes. I am suggesting that we sabotage the Khala by playing Radio Free Zerg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKeGwOKr7K8

>>15429100
So, instead, tell Nargil and Warbrate of the "Fake Bernie" Plan, and get their opinions.

>>15429110
Mraws Eht Nioj?

>>15429136
Serve the hive.
I control the groove
Serve the hive.
I control the groove.
Serve the hive.
I control the way you move.

>>15429183
How do you like my groove Daggaloth.
Well done.

>>15429183
Serve the Hive.
Feel the groove!

>>15429205
Hey, go tell Artisanlord about the song.

See what he does with it.

Also, send a fleet to the Confederation. Offer to completely cease all combat operations against them in exchange for Kingston.

Alive.

I vote to use Bernie's swarm as a deniable asset and get him to steal that crystal so that we can resurrect the Overmind

Anyone spying on the Swarm telepathically must be confused as fuck right now.

>>15429263
We must bring back Father! The Overmind and his wisdom shall live once more!

>>15429237
I know making peace with the Protoss is making people act funny, but we don't have to. We could wipe out the Confederacy at any time, we have enough nukes and carriers. A better idea would be to see if we can diplomatically annex Moria and make it a semi-autonomous world.

>>15429110

Khas would probably see through that subliminal shit in an instant. Let's not risk it.

Instead, we shall introduce it to the stupid emotional teenagers within Terran space. With their contrarian attitudes and rebellious natures, we will have an army willing to do anything for us just for a pat on the head!

>>15429205
(>^_^)>
Turn it up!
<(^_^<)
Turn it up!
Serve the hive.
Feel the groove.
I control.
The way you move.
^(^.^)^
I got the skills
v(^.^)v
Serve the hive
Feel the groove
I control
The way you move
(/^.^)/
\(^.^\)

>>15429279
Why don't we send an ovelord to Moria and try to strike up some sort of deal with the powers-that-be there? If secession has been on their minds maybe they can give us some info in exchange for our help. Offer them a world or two in exchange for whatever would help us get Kingston. I say we open up a line of communication.

>>15429304
A better question is whether ZergTV is available in protoss space. If it is then we could just start adding in subliminal messages in the advertizing. Why do we have advertizing on a tv station that we solely own? And why does it advertize products that don't exist? Why not.

>>15429317
After we crack the two remain terran encryptions.

>>15429263
...
1 vote having Bernie steal the crystal, then.

>>15429264
"Alright, you're in?"
"Yes. I can hear the Swarm's thoughts."
"Well?"
"..."
"What are they saying?"
"Uh...Murder them all, no, peace is the way, no, bring back father, no, peace for now, no, fuck peace and eat them, no, we'll eat them once the peace is done with, no, lets have our peace and eat them, too?"

>>15429237
>>15429279
>>15429317
Fuck Kingston, Peace with Tarsonis: 1
Fuck Tarsonis, Peace with Moria: 2

>>15429306
Aw, now I'm imagining that bouncy-breasted girl from that ancient Comic-Con .gif singing the song.

>>15429025
>>15429263
I like the using Bernie to grab the crystal plan, only using the real Bernie. He is a part of us after all! We should not shun him!

>>15429347
Make that two!

(Note: I floated the Idea originally)

>>15429347
No peace with terrans. At most we back off of them and give them space.

>>15429355
The real Bernie is involved! He'll just have a body double to get killed instead of himself.

>>15429347
1 vote AGAINST using Bernie in any capacity.

1 vote against making any overtures to Kingston, Tarsonis, or the Kel-Morian Combine.

1 vote FOR preparing a dapper Overlord for our meeting with Khas in 3 days time, and preparing a Terran strike force in Kel-Morian Combine colors and transponder signals, using their encryption key, for striking Zhakul and stealing the crystal if we can't negotiate for our studying of it.

>>15429347

I'd vote for sending a representative to Aiur in 3 days, as Khas said. Remember, Khas is all old-school protoss (he created the Conclave!). As I recall, Tassadar annoyed and outright pissed-off many of the Conclave members and other protoss hardliners. Khas may be much less than impressed with Tassadar. At the very least, it is worth seeing how they react.

As for the Bernie plan, remember that Khas was able to pinpoint our Overlord's location despite it being cloaked and in orbit around Zhakul.

Hey, can we make ourselves mobile?

I.E. can we strap ourselves to an ultralisk?

A Cerebrate with legs is much less vulnerable thatn one without.

>>15429403
Even if he can pinpoint locations, doesn't mean he can tell whether or not Bernie is part of our swarm.

Let Bernie do his thing and capture the crystal. Right before he jumps in, we can tell Khas "Oh yeah, watch out for the rogue zerg. You'll know it when you see it."

>>15429368
Two for...Bernie? Tarsonis?

>>15429355
A vote, or just an opinion?

>>15429433
WE won't even need to fake our revulsion!

He maybe family, be he's still horrifying.

Besides, leaving the crystal in protoss possession is a bad idea. Either it can resurrect any amount of times, and they can just bring back all they want, or it can only be used a limited amount of times, in which we should use it to bring the Overmind back BEFORE the protoss use it up.

>>15429433

The Protoss probably won't be so discriminating once Bernie nabs the crystal. They'll probably enter "kill all Zerg mode" and start mobilizing their huge rebuilt fleets to glass our planets. And all this happens RIGHT AFTER we try to convince Khas of our plausibly peaceful ways? They're going to know that it's us!

>>15429441
Two for Fake Bernie.

And for sending a Dapper Overlord to speak with Khas

>>15429355
>>15429441

Vote

>>15429463
We'd need to take the preserves with the crystal, and Khas might decide to kill Tassadar for us. Wouldn't that be nice. So, no stealing the crystal until the three days are up. Until then, prep a zerg with big pauldrons to be our mouthpiece on Aiur, probe the UEDyles, and add in a few more ZergTV channels.

>>15429463

We don't even begin to know how to use the crystal. We need to infest the keepers that performed the ritual, break their wills, then sift through their minds and extract the information we need. We also need to be able to HOLD Zhakul for an indeterminate amount of time AND need complete memories of the Overmind. The Protoss will be all over our asses if we try to nab the crystal and resurrect the Overmind now. We'd be at a ball-breakingly severe disadvantage! Even if we do resurrect the Overmind on the spot, what is it going to do? It can't spawn a gazillion Zerg to miraculously turn the tide of battle! All the Overmind can do offensively is command a shit-ton of Zerg and reincarnate Cerebrates!

In terms of Starcraft, it'd be like building the most awesome supply depot ever that provides control for 50000 troops. But we only have 30 at the moment, while our opponent has potentially more than twice that amount!

*sigh*

Ok, I'm not going to tell you that you can't send Bernie after the crystal, but you'll have to get above a 95 on a d100 to smooth-talk the resurrected prophet-king of the Protoss, who once united and ruled an interstellar empire, that you had nothing to do with the coincidental fleet of creatures that arrived moments after we watched him leave the system to steal the artifact that only we know about.

With that in mind, are you guys still behind this plan?

>>15429509
We saw the protoss doing the chanting stuff. We can just give Bernie to capture them, and while they may be traumatized they'll still do. Besides, even if we can't use the crystal right away, we'd at least have it out of protoss hands. We'll move the crystal to a place they don't know about.

>>15429523
Wait, you mean send Bernie now? NOOOOOOO!

Send him a while from now, after we've grown a fake Bernie for the Protoss to kill and the DapperLord has spoken with Khas!

>>15429523

I'm against the Bernie plan. It's dumb and would involve risking Bernie. Not to mention that it assumes that Khas and the Protoss are the derpiest derps to ever herp.

>>15429523
Having the crystal and bringing back the Overmind while denying it to the protoss is much more important than maybe being friendly with the protoss. I'm still for it.

As the person who came up with the Idea, I feel the need to mention that I didn't intend to do this Immidiately, but after a little while had passed, so we had plausible deniability with the Protoss.

Say, can we send a message to the ArchonProtoss, get their opinion?

>>15429523
We could also run a documentary on ZergTV about Zhakul, and what mysteries it might hold. Could get Kingston to try and pull something. Our defense is "We like teaching children about the universe around them, how were we supposed to know that the terran command would do that?"

>>15429539

Meanwhile they'll be stuffing so many carrier planet-cracker beams down our collective asses that we'll be barfing diamonds.

As Cerebrate Anon said, the Protoss know that WE are the only Zerg that know about this right now.Even if they have a list of other possible rogue broods that might hypothetically exist, who's going to be their first choice of exterminatus? US! Because we're the smoothest-talking, most cunning Zerg to ever exist aside from Kerrigan!

There might be the off-chance that they'll discount us due to how horribly retarded nabbing the crystal right now is. But that risk is not worth taking.

>>15429523
Still against the Bernie plan. It's got too many connections to us, and I think we're vastly underestimating the psionic abilities of Khas.
Gotta remember that all psionic communication has a specific imprint, and that Bernie is imprinted with OUR signature.
They WILL be able to track it back to us.

rolled 2 = 2

>>15429523
Don't worry guys, I got this

>>15429588
How would we phrase this that doesn't sound like we're asking for advice on how to best murder Protoss and get away with it?

>>15429588
Right, need to tell the Jael'ishy that Khas is alive and well, again. See how they respond to that.

>>15429568
We aren't guaranteed, or even have a good chance, at bringing back the Overmind with the crystal.
Also, if the Protoss Empire mobilizes against us, we are FUCKED. We only have a listening post near the UED border, and that's nowhere near ready to be a fallback position.

>>15429605
Ok, so if this gets enough votes, we'll accidentally leave our psionic mic open while we explain the plan to Bernie...

>>15429605
Since my last count put the stupid bernie plan at 2, your terrible roll is irrelevant.

rolled 67 = 67

>>15429633
At least it wasn't a 1. :P

>>15429609

"Hey, Khas just got resurrected. Since we seek peace with the Protoss, what is your opinion on the coming negotiations?"

Guys, I think we're all forgetting something important: does the crystal have any kind of psionic signature or output signal?
It's a Xel'Naga artifact; could it be psionically tracked down if someone knows about it?

>>15429633
Understandably, I vote for doing the plan, a month or 5 from now, not immediately after Khas' resurrection.

>>15429588

HEY GUYS! WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR NABBING THIS PRECIOUS XEL'NAGA ARTIFACT FROM UNDER THE CONCLAVE'S NOSES? ALSO, DO YOU GUYS NOT PROMISE TO HINT TO THE OTHER PROTOSS GUYS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DEFILING A POTENTIALLY SACRED ARTIFACT TO YOU GUYS TOO EVER AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE? I MEAN, IT'D JUST MEAN BEING RACE TRAITORS FOREVER, BUT WE'RE BROS AMIRITE?

I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO ASK KINGSTON ABOUT THIS IDEA. HE'S A SMART DUDE.

>>15429651
What the hell is with this WHY meme that I'm seeing all over the place? And what the hell does it have to do with that homosexual sports newscaster?

>>15429651
That's a great idea! Let's not steal the crystal, tell the Jael'chon that Khas is back, and talk about Zakhul on ZergTV, why didn't I think of that.

>>15429645
Actually, since Khas stepped out, it's been completely inert. Without revealing ourselves, we can't test for an innate resonance, but there's no actual emanation of psionic energy. It could very well just be a very large emerald, if we didn't know better.

>>15429651
That's a delightful picture, man.

>>15429678
Pfft, like you ever make suggestions.

One of the people that voted for Bernie snatching the crystal. I still support it only on condition that we wait until we can plausibly deny our involvement in it. Maybe even use infested terrans to steal it if that'll work better?

Hell, maybe hire mercenaries through infested terrans to steal the crystal for us.

>>15429651
Hey, I meant question them like this:
>>15429639

Not about stealing the damn crystal.

>>15429715
I am aware of the fact that I haven come up with anything good since sending Kingston at Shakurus, but come on, that was a one in a lengthy period of time suggestion.

>>15429729
(That makes a lot more sense. Sorry. There's theft talk about. I'm pretty sure the not-stealy talking option has enough votes, actually)

When we open talks with the Jael'Aten's representative, they express their pleasure at our continued peace. It seems that our prolonged decision not to annihilate them is quite popular with these people.

When we mention, Khas, however, they are much less polite to us. Suddenly, their representative leaps out of the room shouting for their fellows. It seems that they are quite concerned with this. After a few minutes, several of the archons return and ask us about Khas. Is he truly back from the dead? Has he truly returned to reunite the Protoss again?

>>15429800

"It would appear so, yes."

>>15429800
Mention only that while we were exploring, one of our overlords noticed a massive psionic burst of energy. We arrived, to find Khas back from the dead. We have a meeting scheduled with him in 3 days.
Inquire as to their reaction.

>>15429800
Ants in you psionic plasma stuff? Or is Khas really that scary, we don't really know anything about him, other then we might be able to strike a peace with the protoss as a whole.

We could just leave the planet be for now and monitor it to see if they take any artifacts elsewhere.

We should send a few of bernies overlords to probe protoss space to make them seem like there is another entity controlling them. Possibly another cereberate separate from us that we had no contact with after the death of the overmind. If it's been separate from the rest of the swarm for so long the protoss might assume that it's been mutating and gathering resources while biding its time until it's forces are strong enough to easily sweep away everything in this sector and its neighbors.

Oldest strategy in the book. If nobody knows you're there you can build up your forces until they are strong enough to win.

>>15429844
However, you need to take into account that the Protoss have very advanced psionic abilities and technology.
They may be able to isolate our psionic signature and realize that Bernie's brood contains the same signature. There is far too many things that could go wrong with this plan.

>>15429832
>>15429820
>>15429806
As soon as we verify Khas' resurrection, they begin discussing it amongst themselves. It seems that one of them believes Khas will destroy them for being a separate sect, in order to unite the Protoss. They support hiding, and preparing what they can to flee if they are discovered. The other two in the room argue that Khas will understand that the Jael'Aten do not reject the Khala, but enhance it with a greater understanding of what it means to be Protoss. They support packing up all of their things and going to Aiur to present themselves before Khas immediately.

We doubt we get a vote, but we might be able to sway an opinion or two. Should we say something?

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR ZERG QUEST ON SUPTG IF YOU LIKE IT!

rolled 27 = 27

>>15429904
Let them decide!

Above 50, they hide. Below 50, they go to Aiur!

>>15429904
If we can convince them to hide they might allign themselves with us for protection. Which might mean WONDERFUL PROTOSS TECHNOLOGY!

>>15429904
Ask if they would like us to mention their existence, and more importantly their fears, to Khas when we talk to him again, or to act as an intermediary until normal relations are established.

>>15429904
I vote asking them to wait three days, at which point we'll give them a lift to the negotiations, where they can both speak with Khas, and act as character witnesses for us.

Also, It allows them time to discuss the resurrection with each other, and work on what they plan to say.

>>15429904
Say that perhaps they should not place all of their larva in a single basket, as it were.
They could send a delegation to Aiur, and if they are met unfavorably, then the remaining members can flee into the deep reaches of space, beyond the grasp of Khas.

>>15429904
Also tell them that the conclave is the one providing Khas with his ENTIRE situation report. They will likely skew the facts in their ideological direction and against the Jael'Aten.

I wouldn't put it past the conclave to just straight up lie to Khas and tell them the Jael'Aten (and whatever splinter groups exist) are EVIL HERETICS!
For all we know it could already be too late for anyone to change Khas opinion on the Jael'Aten.

Remember, Khas may be just short of a god in their eyes, but even gods can be fooled.

No on the Crystal stealing. It's useless to us at this stage since the Overmind is not part of the Khala and cannot be resurrected.

The Zerg still theorhetically has the means to bring cerebrates back from anything short of Void-powered attacks (although this hasn't been tested since the Overmind died).

Also, I believe that we need to make peace with the Protoss if we are to ever be 'perfect'.

The Xel'naga created both the Zerg and the Protoss to be complimentary halves of the whole. Completely enslaving/erradicating the Protoss race is probably NOT what the peaceful Xel'naga intended.

Do the cerebrates have in-game knowledge of the importance of the Protoss to all Zerg?

As for who to send as a negotiator, get assurances that we'll be given safe passage and we might risk going there ourselves. Or send Artisanlord.

I'd even consider sending Kerrigan in if she hadn't already failed her 'diplomacy' attempts. Also, she's great a convincing people to do really stupid things but that only works until she stabs them in the back. Long term diplomacy is not her expertise.

Last solution would be to ramp up our cute-ling development. We may be efficient fighters but we're ugly as hell and really need a boost to our natural Charisma stats.

>>15429944
>>15429945
>>15429958
>>15429973
Run: 1
We'll talk for you: 1
Talk: 1
Talk, then Run: 1

Too many ostriches.

>>15430000
We are waiting until later to steal the crystal. And no matter what, we are NOT going ourselves. We will send Dapperlord.

>>15430006
Get them to send a representative along with Dapperlord.

That's my vote.

>>15430000
Quad get.

>Do the cerebrates have in-game knowledge of the importance of the Protoss to all Zerg?

If memory serves, the Overmind went on and on about it at length.

>>15430006
I wasn't saying we would talk for them, but convey a message to Khas, and then one back. Just something like, "Oh by the way, there's this group of protoss that we've been in contact with for some time, and when we mentioned your return they started to panic about being branded as heretics for 'enhance it with a greater understanding of what (the khala) means to be Protoss.' They're a bunch of archons apparently indefinitely. So, what's your stance on them, Mr. Olde Pauldrons?"

>>15430045
"We shall be... Perfect" and all.

>>15430006
Talk then run is my vote.

>>15430039
Both delegations should be kept separate, for both our sakes.

If the Protoss likes us but hates our hand-in-hand association with the Jael'Aten, things would go bad for both of us.

If the Protoss is willing to accept with the Jael'Aten but hates them for associating with the 'destroyers of Aiur', the Jael'Aten's chances of peace are shattered.

When we go to the diplomatic talks, we will merely convey the Jael'Aten's request for a chance to state their case. That way, no Jael'Aten risks being captured and interrogated for the location of their secret hide-out or their plans for escapte.

>>15430085
I agree with keeping the two delegations separate.

So, I think talk wins?

It looks like, while details vary, we plan to suggest they talk it out with Khas.

Ok. On the plus side, we've gone a whole two weeks without turning the surface of a world into a smoldering sphere of radioactive glass. If we keep this up, we'll get our 90-day chip in no time, and our sponsor will be so proud.

On the minus side, my chronic lack of sleep is demanding retribution from me. I must retire for the night.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15427458/

Next week, we'll see if this diplomatic attitude lasts!

Also, I support what >>15429920 said. Not that I'm biased or anything. Nope. Not me.

(I searched and searched, but there's nothing in my SC pics folder that indicates that the Zerg are sleepy. Would infested creatures even need sleep? Who knows)

Does the conclave know of the Jael'Aten?

If they don't then revealing their existence could have dire consequences for them depending on what Khas decides to do.

Present the case to the Jael'Aten like this.
1) If Khas is going to destroy you to unite the protoss they would have to go through us first if you align yourselves with us.
2) If he is going to unite the protoss peacefully he will likely not be angered at you taking refuge with us as long as you unite.
3) If the conclave has convinced Khas that you are evil heritic abominations that must be purged we would have a stronger opposing argument if you were aligned with us.

In all three of these situations we could possibly gain some protoss technology from the Jael'Aten under the guise of being able to produce weapons of war if Khas decides to try to destroy them.

We need the Jael'Aten to align themselves with us. We might gain protoss technology and it might go over well in the eyes of Khas.

>>15430268
I always vote for zerquest, and this is as close to sleepy zerg as I can find on short notice.

>>15430289
THAT is going into the folder right now.

>>15430278
They know about the Jael'Aten as a crazy cult of Archon-worshipers.

Of course, I remind you that the Conclave is dead. Tassadar rules the Empire, in what could possibly be seen as a military takeover by the Templar.

>>15430268

It seems like we're reaching some sort of end-game. With the threat of the UED looming in the distance, beating up the locals is no longer as good an idea as it used to be.

The violence junkies have had an absolute field-day with the war against Voidgate and their thirst of blood is temporarily sated, so its time to start planning for the future.

With luck, we'll be able to discover some really neat technology/xenology that we'll be able to hold in reserve (or use at the slightest excuse, the players are unpredictable like that).

Possible new advances:

1. Psy-amplified-cerebrates:
Basically use arrays of hundreds of psy-amplifiers as mega-phones for cerebrate communication. That should strengthen our own communications infrastructure (i.e. let us resist psy-dampener effects) and be a useful tool against those brain-tadpoles.

2. Link to the Khala:
Combined with the above technology, we could either become 'Perfect' with the Protoss or throw a Psy-amplified Bernie into the collective psyche of an entire race. Failing that, spam Aiur with that 'Friday' song...

>>15431019
3. Cute/Likable/Not-hideously-ugly Zergs:
As much fun as it is to run around as the local gribblies, we are seriously lacking in the ability to interact with other races in non-violent ways. I'm actually amazed at the TOLERANCE that the Protoss have show to us, despite our monstrous appearances.

4. Zerg-corp mining:
It's very hard to declare war on someone when you have strong economic ties to them and, in terran society, money TALKS. The swarm has dozens if not hundreds of things that can be commercialised for the mutual profit of both Terrans and Zerg such as our ability to strip entire planets of resources in months rather than centuries and our mastery of bio-technology. Our communication system may also be turned to profitable ends (fluffy-mini-overlords that allow instantaneous interstellar communications would sell for tens of thousands AND let us gather intelligence).

>>15431024
5. Organic warp beacons and free-standing warp-tolerant missile clusters:

Pros: missiles are easy to mass-produce, can be potentially devastating and can be targetted

Cons: missiles are short-ranged and slow when it comes to interstellar combat, missile carriers help solve the range issue by ferrying missiles to the destination (or warping close) but the carriers themselves are harder to mass-produce and needs a crew (or an Overlord).

Partial solution: Missile clusters/batteries that are designed to be warped in practically next to their intended targets and immediately fly to the target once warped.

Con: Although warping in missiles would solve the transport side of things, missile-carriers also served as a means to guide the missiles to the correct target. Also, warping in 'blind' is extremely hazardous, as you risk warping into an enemy fleet (not an issue since you intend to destroy them anyway) or into your own forces.

Final solution: we need some way to increase the accuracy of our warps and tell the missiles who to target. The creation of mini-overlords that serve as both 'warp beacons' and targetting devices would be ideal. The baby-lords would warp/fly to the desired location (or the general area) then the missile-batteries will warp in and destroy the target.

>>15431030
6. "Swarm-minds": the Zerg currently have problems creating and controlling zergs smaller than a medium-sized dog. This is a huge restriction as smaller zergs would be cheaper to produce and provide more room to evolve. It's basically an evolutionary glass-ceiling.

The problem with creating smaller zergs, as I understand it is that the mind of a smaller creature is too small for the fumble-fingered Cerebrates and Overlords to handle as well as being too faint to register.

My proposed solution to that is to develop Zergs that don't operate as individuals, instead, they function as a collective hive-minds. Imagine a swarm of bees sharing information and computational power in some organic version of cloud computing, becoming smarter with more members of the swarm and dumber when members die (but always capable of multiplying again to regain intelligence if the conditions are favourable). Such "swarm-minds" would be impervious to bullets.