Dark Swarm
Background information on the mini-campaign "Dark Swarm"

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EPISODE II SYNOPSIS
Part I

“Join me,” the Prophet offered, “The Overmind and its wretched Swarm will fall!”

Still consumed by the desire for revenge, the Cerebrate joined with the mysterious speaker, allowing a mind-merge.

In yet another series of flashing dreams, the Cerebrate was shown the history of this Prophet. It was made clear that the Prophet was in fact a banished Cerebrate as well, exiled for its knowledge and potential. The Prophet claimed that the Overmind simply became envious of its power, and so sealed the Prophet’s physical form within the core of a planet named Nogg’Thash – or Argus IV as the Terrans call it.

The Cerebrate asked why it had been chosen by the Prophet. The answer was puzzling:

”There could be no other.”

The Prophet then told the Cerebrate to find its former ally – the Infested Terran named Sterling. Vail Sterling possessed a power that the Prophet required, and only the Cerebrate was close enough to the former Terran to be able to access this power. As the Cerebrate’s form was weak, it had to send an extension of itself, a powerful Hydralisk named Kuraje. Kuraje found Sterling, imprisoned within a stasis cell on an abandoned platform in the vicinity of Argus IV.

Sterling was freed, but Kuraje’s forces were immediately attacked by a horde of Zerg. It was unclear to whom these Zerg belonged, but Sterling and Kuraje’s troops were able to kill them all. Sterling explained that he had no recollection of being captured – let alone who was responsible for it. He told Kuraje that Grathax was dead, ‘or at least warped to the other side of the galaxy, which is pretty much the same thing’. Kuraje was confused. He had sensed that the Zerg that had attacked them on the platform were not connected to the Overmind, but they were far too powerful to be renegades. Sterling advised Kuraje to use this platform as a base of operations. Kuraje agreed.

It wasn’t long until a Terran expedition stumbled upon the platform. Their commander, identified as Confederate Commander Jackson Fitzgerald, threatened Kuraje and Sterling:

”You damn alien scum! I thought we’d made this clear before – we don’t want no slimy bastards creepin’ around in our space!”

Sterling replied in his usual casual tone:

”Oh? Looks like your boys did a poor job, then. Look around. We ain’t gone and we don’t intend to go either!”

The Confederate Commander called in a fleet of Battlecruisers and deployed his ground troops to assault the platform. Kuraje’s forces were able to defend their base, and Sterling managed to infest a number of Commander Fitzgerald’s men. Fitzgerald commented:

“Alright, you win. I ain’t gonna sacrifice no more of my men to you.”

“Then go,” Sterling offered.

“We’ll cause no more trouble for you guys. Don’t come followin’ us. Be seein’ ya.”

At that, the Commander and the remainder of his fleet departed. Kuraje’s Zerg overtook the Commander, and killed everyone.

With no immediate threats from the Terrans, Kuraje and Sterling were able to rebuild their platform. Sterling asked how the Cerebrate had survived the banishment from the Swarm, and where the Overmind and his minions had gone. Sterling was invited to the dark moon, where the Cerebrate itself explained everything.

Part II coming soon!