I own nothing that is not original...
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Well, I am trying a new style to help with the 'wall of texts' issue in this story. However, as more 'characters' appear, the dialogue would lessen the burden on the eyes.
Thanks for everyone who liked it!
Chapter 6
Once the human attackers were done, my attention shifted to the matter of the Orks and their massive attack. It was not like the minor attack of the humans who were so easy to deal with because of their physical weakness and their tendency to panic if things went bad. The Orks, on the other hand, would not break as easily as humans did. Although killing their Warboss may work but that could easily cause further problems.
My logic was that if I began with the assassination of the Warboss, there always was the chance of the Orks fleeing back to their land. I didn't want that to happen. If the fleeing Orks alert other Ork clans, then I would not be able to handle massive Waaagh! in time.
~I need a tactic to wipe them out in a single strike. Few stragglers can be chased down, but I cannot have several hundred Orks scattering all the way back to their territory. Considering the possibility of losing a large portion of my Zergling forces, chasing them down would be ill-advised. I cannot afford to chase down an entire army fleeing from the theatre of war...~
I did have a couple of advantages however. Firstly, the biggest advantage I had was that the Orks had never encountered the Zerg before. They had no idea how to fight us but I knew quite a lot about them. This was the advantage most decisive to our favor.
Another advantage was that I had the element of surprise. The Orks were oblivious to any fighting before they got to the human realm. On the other hand, I was fully aware of their every movement thanks to the Overseer keeping its many eyes on them.
~Hmm... and I would be arrive at the theatre of war at least a couple of days earlier. This is good.~
The chosen battlefield was in direct path of the Ork army and it was also the location a human castle destroyed a decade ago in the previous Ork invasion.
~Lucky that I have these upgrades ready.~
In fact, I had both of Overlord upgrades completed. It was ready just in time for me to ferry new Infesters to the battlefield. The Zerglings with their speed upgrade were sent by themselves, but Infesters were expensive slow units that needed to be handled with care.
Another upgrade to be complete just in time was the Gorgeling. This variant of Baneling would have special acid that would convert the enemy into useable resources. This fast completion of research was surprising as it was the first of the four evolution projects to be finished. This expedient upgrade was possible thanks to the Nutrient Pit. By actually making the Nutrient Pit to ooze powerful acid that allowed the dissolving of the materials into useful goo of nutrient, I had unwittingly created the acid that could easily be used in Gorgelings.
The upgrade required some modification of the acid but the result was still the same. The acid would disassemble the molecules of the enemy and turn them into easily digestible goo. It was a very minor step from the Nutrient Pit, but I was proud of my unexpected scientific breakthrough. Since this was no computer game, there were some necessary adjustments made to ensure successful recovery of the resources garnered by the Gorgeling acid. The acid would not only melt and dissolve an enemy, but it would then coagulate into little blobs that can be easily handled by the Drones. If the kills were made on top on a Creep field connected to the Hive Cluster, then Drones would not be needed but in a battle so far from my base, I would need to deploy Drones afterward.
~Besides, the fourteen hundred or so of big burly Orks would make a nice feast for my Swarm. I shouldn't forget to prep the Drones to harvest them.~
I kept on sending newborn Zerglings to the battlefield to replace the number that were turning into Banelings and Gorelings. I already had almost a hundred Zerglings morphing into Gorgelings and Banelings. One of the things I improved upon was on the issue of permanent mutations of the species. I didn't want all of Banelings to be Gorgelings, and I didn't want all of my Zerglings to be Raptors. So I had built new Spawning Pools and Baneling Nests to store the mutations. The Gorgeling Nest looked purple compared to the green color of the Baneling Nest.
~Let's see... Hydralisks should do fine from the high grounds provided by the ruins of the castle and... Roaches should flank the Orks from the other side. That should sandwich the Orks between Roaches and the rubble.~
I reviewed the battlefield as seen by the Overlords and Overseers.
~That leaves the issue of the Warboss... again. Killing him too early or too easily with mass Banelings would not be wise, but letting the Warboss alive too long is also a burden. Then... there is that damned Squiggoth.~
I wished that I had another two or three Ultralisks, but I could not muster them in time. If I wanted to be most effective in protecting the village from the Orks, I needed to strike at the specific time, and that had meant fewer Zerg units of higher echelon.
~The Squiggoth is at the rear of their army, and if they maintain the formation... then I should... Ah, yes... Two Ultralisks hiding on either side of the Squiggoth and the last Ultralisk should be in front fighting the Warboss.~
The plan began to solidify in my mind as I used memories of James to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of my Swarm and of the Ork horde.
~The legs of the Squiggoth should be disabled... Roaches? No... Banelings and Gorgelings... but I don't really have that many and too few Infesters. I guess I've got to make the most of Mutalisks and Corruptors.~
I currently had four Corruptors, including the 'old one'. I was fully hoping to use their Corruption against the Warboss and the Squiggoth.
~I really got to make that Corruption ability an area-effect. I just hope that the Fungal Growth would hold down the Orks long enough.~
In truth, I was sorely disappointed in James. Although James was a major part of my identity and the main proponent of me recognizing myself as a male human/Zerg Overmind, but for a nerd with so much information at his disposal, he was really lazy at implementing his innovation. I guess he thought that minor innovations were enough to give him advantages against the Terrans and Protoss. My problem was that, despite my denial, I was in Warhammer 40K universe, which only features wars of massive scale against enemies of incalculable destructive potential. Although I was tempted to take time to consider all possible innovations I can make, dealing with the Orks was the priority.
Deep within the artificial forest of the village of Polton, a group of men gathered together. These were not the villagers nor were they the soldiers defeated by the Banelings and the Infesters. Among them, a dozen men wore same dark green attire with steel armor painted with same blotchy dark green color. Each of them held a Lasgun and a power pack on the back, a rare weapon on this isolated planet. These were the King's Imperial Guards.
Their leader was a grim looking captain with several medals on his chest. The captain was a baron somewhere north, and rest of the Imperial Guards were all sons of noblemen. This was because the original Imperial Guards who landed on this planet in their escape pods ruled over the primitive locals and became the new aristocracy. Many could not endure the tests of time, but the King, the descendent of the ship's captain, and the Dukes, the descendents of the high ranking officers, maintained a number of noble houses to man the Imperial Guards.
Usually the second sons became the Imperial Guards and would get an empty title and quite a bit of pension when they retire, and such has kept the loyalties of the Imperial Guards in check. It was also the fact that the Imperial Guards were rarely sent to war. After all, they were the King's Imperial Guards and they were the King's true military might. Only the King had armored vehicles and his Imperial Guards were most numerous and well-armed, which subdued the nobles from taking over.
The dozen Imperial Guards were not alone however. They were met by another dozen men, all dressed in black with white trimmings. The second group was the Knights of the Imperial Cult. Though they weren't nearly as well armed as the King's Imperial Guards, they all had a Laspistol each and carried a sword. The Imperial Cultists were also wearing steel armor under the clothing. These men were here to battle, and they were ready to kill.
As the sky darkened with the sun setting beyond the horizon, the group whispered to each other. The two captains met and shook hands. The Imperial Guard spoke first.
"Well met, Sir Ardigan. Your reputation proceed you."
Sir Ardigan, of the Imperial Cult, was a notorious warrior with infamy for his brutality against the 'heretics'. He and his men supported many Inquisitors and the results almost always bloody.
"It is good to meet you too, Captain Barridon. I also have heard of your fame. However, I think this is too low key for you."
Captain Barridon was also a figure of certain repute. Being an excellent shooter, he was the instructor at the Imperial Guard Academy, and many seasoned Imperial Guards learned to shoot under him. However, he was also known for his cold-hearted slaughters of King's enemies. By his experience and achievements, he should be a general by right, but the massacre of Count Olphran's castle, the slaughter at the Vedren Rebellion and other atrocities had kept demoting him.
Barridon shook his head.
"I am retiring soon, Sir Knight. This would be my final work before returning to my teaching position for few more months and then I shall return to my fief and send my sons in my stead."
"Well, I do hope that this exercise would give you a closure, captain."
A voice cut their conversation short.
"I believe that that is enough small talk, gentlemen."
Suddenly, a man in black armor, cloak and hat appeared from nowhere. He carried a large golden 'I' on his chest as a necklace and four smaller ones around his limbs. On his belt was a Laspistol and a power sword, a truly rare item on this world. Ardigan bowed his head.
"Inquisitor Pardia. I didn't know you were here already."
The Inqusitor's eyes gleamed with murderous glare that unnerved hardened men like Ardigan and Barridon.
"I was here before you have arrived, Sir Knight. I have been observing the villagers."
He showed his monocular, also a rare item that few could afford. Barridon was impressed.
"A 'Seeing Glass Tube'? Isn't that expensive even for an Inquisitor of your level?"
Pardia sneered.
"The Inquisition is fully supported by both the King and the Cult. We have access to things you cannot even imagine."
"Of course."
Ardigan nodded too and then looked at the direction of the village.
"So, what have you found out, Inquisitor?"
"It truly is a genuine daemon hound. It looks nothing like any animal on this world, and it is built for murder. The witch-girl seems 'innocent' but it was so obvious that she was actually the puppet of the daemon."
Barridon licked his lips in anticipation.
"Oh, I cannot wait to kill such game."
The Inquisitor sneered again.
"It is not a 'game' that can so easily be hunted, Captain. A daemon hound, by all records of the Imperium that we have access to, is a powerful thing. However, I believe that this 'Flesh Hound of the Blood God' is only a young one that only just arrived in this world."
Ardigan narrowed his eyes.
"Do you mean to tell me that this creature can pose threat to us?"
Pardia shook his head.
"No... we are too many and too well-armed. However, I am worried about the source of this daemon hound. You two can kill it if you wish, but only after I found the heretic who has first summoned it."
Ardigan smiled in anticipation for blood and battle.
"Kill the girl then?"
Pardia narrowed his eyes and tapped his monocular.
"No... there was something about the girl. The hound was intent on protecting her. Hunt the girl, but do not kill unless you absolutely have to. That will drive the girl to the true master of the daemon hound."
Barridon agreed.
"Yes, Inquisitor Pardia. As the King wills."
Ardigan also spoke aloud his agreement.
"In the name of the Emperor."
The Inquisitor nodded.
"We move out when the girl and the hound goes out to the field to play. Then we shall 'subdue' the village first, and then chase her down. We cannot take the chance of the daemon-enthralled villagers coming to her aid if we attack her first."
~What is this? A warning?~
I could not shake this feeling of strangeness and foreboding sense of danger that began a few hours earlier. It emanated from the Khydarin crystal shards that I planted near the first Nutrient Pit. They had grown a lot since the planting, and I could harvest some of them and planted at other Nutrient Pits. The long exposure to the Khydarin crystal's energy had left me fulfilled. It appeared that I could consume psionic energy like food. I felt it strengthening my control over my Swarm.
The primary conduit of the psionic energy was still the Protoss Pylon on top my Hive. It had become the focal point of my mind, and I had such powerful control over my minions through that. It also helped the minions around the Hive as well. The 'old' Queen who came with me from the Starcraft universe had become a more powerful creature with at least double the maximum energy and greater health. In fact, she was on the verge of gaining an independent individual mind. Of course, I would still maintain absolute control, but she was becoming more intelligent than any other Queens since hatched.
The effects were not only limited to the Queen. All of the 'old' units who were near the Pylon and the Khydarin crystals became stronger and faster, albeit at very slow pace. The 'old' Ultralisk, who had been working around the Primary Hive Cluster, had gained a thick film of extra carapace and its Kaiser blades slightly glowed blue with psionic vibration, and could swing them faster and in varied angles. The Roaches, originally pouring acid into the Nutrient Pit, had become more powerful too. Their attack range and attack speed increased as well as their normal regeneration factor.
The Hydralisks and the Zerglings had shown the most dramatic changes. Once I felt the effect of the psionic power, I had the 'old' units stay near the Pylon and the shards, except for Toby, and they began to impact on them. The Hydralisks became slight larger and they gained more tentacles on their tail, making them faster. They also grew several scores of horns on their body. As sharp as razorblades, these horns would be great in close combat. In fact, they made the Hydralisks a lot more nightmarish.
The Zerglings became larger as well. However, their size wasn't the primary change. Their attack claws got longer and serrated, and they grew tiny glands at the roots of their claws that slowly excreted acid that did not harm the Zergling itself. Their brain got slightly bigger and they could now move sideways in certain situations. Some of they also exhibited the ability to howl loudly, and the piercing noise had such sonic vibrations that the Drones, normally so focused on their tasks, paused work seemed stunned for a few seconds.
These were promising effects of the Khydarin crystal, and I did include few of these upgraded units to the battle against the Ork army, including the Ultralisk, which I decided to give the name of the Ultralisk hero from Starcraft 1. The new Torrasque was going to take on the Warboss, and it burrowed where I designated it. Unfortunately, I began to notice that the new upgrades gained from the psionic energy of the Khydarin crystal began to fade slowly. In a week, the Torrasque would return to being normal Ultralisk, but with slightly greater armor. The extra carapace would remain but it would eventually rot away without the connective tissues.
However, I still could use the Torrasque at the moment, so that was the important thing. The special Roaches were positioned between Torrasque and the Infesters to protect the Infesters, and I had rest of my army burrowed into the ground.
I was ready for war.
"We's gonna hava a propa Waaagh!"
The Warboss boasted to his Nobz/Brutes. They could have been called Brutes, but the Warboss managed to get them some sluggas, so they could be called Nobz, and these Nobz were itching for a good Waaagh!
"Yes, boss! Yu's gonna getus a good Waaagh!"
The Nob said 'Waaagh!' a little too loud and the Boyz shouted Waaagh! together. The Warboss didn't like that a mere Nob instigated such arousal of the crowd. He swung his large chain axe.
"Nobody says 'Waaagh!' unless I says so!"
Vroooom!~
The chain axe chewed its way into the Nob's chest and the Nob, being an Ork and unwilling to die without fighting, fired his slugga at the Warboss. However, the Warboss had some steel armor and he easily dodged the shot. Now angry, the Warboss swung the axe again and lopped off the Nob's gun arm. Stomping on the fallen arm, he roared.
"WAAAGH!"
With a big overhead swing, the Warboss split the Nob's head in two and stomped on his body.
"SEE! I da big bad WAAAGH BOSS! Nobody outdoes me!"
Once again dominating the mind and fear of his Waaagh! under his control, the Warboss led his Orks northward again. They continued to march and despite the continuous infighting, the Warboss managed to keep the self-inflicted casualty down to a minimum.
Eventually, they arrived at a hill that overlooked the small town that used to be the main town of the destroyed fiefdom. The town and the castle inside the town were absolutely demolished and only piles upon piles of rubble remained there. To an Ork, that was a magnificent sight. It was the sign of a good and proper Waaagh! that happened before.
"Boyz, let's go!"