I just found the perfect weapon against the Zerg.

[Sheliek]

The zerg could control machines in two ways:

1) Infest whatever is inside. (Since they cannot infest protoss [yet anyway], they can't infest a dragoon this way.)

2) Infest the machine. That was something you could do in StarCraft: Ghost. (Nova could control a zerg into infesting a machine. That wasn't necessarily in the last build of Ghost that they worked on though.)

The latter is what I was mostly referring to, though I didn't know it was canon.

Nano-machines would, in my opinion, be too small to feasibly infest, though we could easily be proven wrong (I'd prefer a good explanation as to how, though).

[Shadow Archon]

I was under the impression that the infestation process is performed by Queens, and that Overlords are the ones that scout out potential new strains for the brood. (please correct if me I'm wrong)

Based on those assumptions, individual zerg strains could easily be wiped out if there are no Queens or Overlords nearby. Or, conversely, if the disease/virus itself was engineered specifically to destroy Queens and Overlords, the brood would have no defenses.

That is, at least, my understanding of the situation. Anybody care to rebuttal?

Zerg can infest in multiple ways. Queens, as you said, are one. Zerg Spores are another, which the Overmind used on Chau Sara. The Zerg Corruptor and Infestor in SC2 also show feats of infestation.

Zerg have the intense ability to control the route that evolution takes. They turned the giant silk worm like Slothien into the dreaded Hydralisk as an example. I doubt this would be a problem for them.

[Norfindel]

The zerg could control machines in two ways:

1) Infest whatever is inside. (Since they cannot infest protoss [yet anyway], they can't infest a dragoon this way.)

Of course, they can infest the operator, but will them retain the capability to even operate the equipment?

2) Infest the machine. That was something you could do in StarCraft: Ghost. (Nova could control a zerg into infesting a machine. That wasn't necessarily in the last build of Ghost that they worked on though.)

I didn't read the book, but when the Zerg infest a Command Center, or an air unit, they just grow organisms there, not really control the machines. The machines themselves aren't really infested.

Maybe if they design specific organisms that interface with the machines, but that would require very specific knowledge about the machines, and the skill to perform heavy modifications. If faced with completely new nanobots, they will have a tough time trying to stop them.

They used nanites to de-infest Stukov, after all, not a virus.

[Shadow Archon]

Of course, they can infest the operator, but will them retain the capability to even operate the equipment?

Infested Marines can still use their Gauss rifles. I don't recall infested terrans using machines beyond that though.

[Pandonetho]

Well using a Gauss Rifle requires no comprehension really. If I suddenly gave you a gun all you'd have to do is point and press the trigger.

[Kimera757]

Infested Marines can still use their Gauss rifles. I don't recall infested terrans using machines beyond that though.

Infested terrans are generally "brain dead".

However, in StarCraft: Ghost, they actually "infested" their rifle so it fired poisonous bullets.

[Xyvik]

They used nanites to de-infest Stukov, after all, not a virus.

Off-Topic:
Might I inquire as to Stukov's current state, then? I've not seen any mention of him. Of course I've only read the Dark Templar trilogy...

On-Topic: Forgot about Spores. But still...I would think that the individual zerg strains, IE zerglins, Hydralisks, ETC, would be highly susceptible to engineered diseases and viruses until a Queen/Overlord/Infestor/Corruptor got ahold of it. The evolution of the zerg is at a macro level, overall, otherwise we'd see zerglings and hydralisks doing stuff on their own. So if the macro part never got ahold of it...would it still work?

[n00bonicPlague]

Well the thing is that each cordycep would be specifically engineered to kill off an individual zerg strain. There would be one for lings, one for hydras, one for ultras, and so on. Also, even though it would take a while before the infected organism would die, the psychosis caused by the spores would begin within just a few hours (if not minutes), so there would be very little time for the swarm to be able to adapt. Though you might not be able to annihilate the entire swarm, you would, with some good planet selection, take a sizable chunk out of their numbers.

[Kimera757]

Of course, they can infest the operator, but will them retain the capability to even operate the equipment?


I didn't read the book

I'm not using the book as a source, but an old gaming news story from 2005. So I wouldn't say canon.

Of course, the game takes place around the same time as the Dark Templar Saga, where we see an intelligent infested terran not named Kerrigan or Stukov, so maybe by that point infested terrans aren't brain dead.

They used nanites to de-infest Stukov, after all, not a virus.

Yup.

Off-Topic:
Might I inquire as to Stukov's current state, then? I've not seen any mention of him. Of course I've only read the Dark Templar trilogy...

Nobody knows. In a recent interview video, they said he won't be in Wings of Liberty but, if they can leverage him right, he might be covered in the zerg expansion.

Every time Blizzard said anything about Stukov, they always spoke about zerg, not terrans, although they never said if Kerrigan even knew about him...

[Xyvik]

Okay, so where was it mentioned he was de-infested with nanites?

n00b, that sounds like it would work to me! that was essentially what I had in mind. If you assault the right places the infestation and adaption of the zerg strains would be hindered to the point where you could knock off quite a few numbers.

Once the Overlord/Queen gets ahold of it, though, then there might be problems.