Some might wonder: shouldn't the Swarm know immediately when its creatures are captured?
In truth, factions in StarCraft 2 frequently capture Zerg for experimentation. Narud—who used Zerg to create hybrids—aside, various laboratory factions also contain numerous contained Zerg specimens. Capturing Zerg is hardly uncommon.
The reason such captures are possible is the Zerg's hierarchical command structure.
Overmind — Cerebrate — (Brood Queen) Overlord — Other units.
Overlords assist Cerebrates by filtering most information, forwarding only relevant data. Cerebrates then filter again, forwarding only pertinent intelligence to the Overmind.
As the Overmind previously told Zasz: "Do I need to be consulted over killing or sparing a few individuals?" The Overmind doesn't require granular oversight. He issues commands; Swarm units execute.
Casualties or losses during operations are inconsequential.
Furthermore, the hive mind isn't uninterruptible. Anyone who's played Zerg campaigns knows: Zerg can lose control, becoming wild specimens. These feral Zerg have simply lost Overlord oversight.
Yet the presence of a single command unit rapidly reintegrates them into the hive mind.
Even after the Overmind's death, the Swarm fragmented into two factions—New Overmind and Queen of Blades. Kerrigan's faction was smaller, yet she retained Zerg control.
By now, the principle should be clear.
The Swarm is a unity. Countless local area networks constitute larger networks; countless larger networks constitute the internet—this is the hive mind. The Overmind can actively disconnect specific subnetworks.
As scale expands, minute details become impossible to track. This applies to both Zerg and Tyranids.
Contrary to some assumptions, Zerg aren't individually numbered. The Overmind cannot query "which Zergling is missing?" upon each loss.
Thus: Nydusara's mission. Commorragh reconnaissance. Determine if other Zerg are captive. Re-establish network connectivity with captured Swarm units. Execute Overmind directives.
†Abathur. Nydusara's modification status?†
"Complete. Brood Queen, Nydusara. Spawning capabilities enhanced: Zergling, Hydralisk, Roach incubation feasible. Neural architecture further reinforced: expanded Swarm unit control capacity."
†Excellent. Nydusara. You have a mission.†
"Awaiting the Overmind's command."
Nydusara inclined her head.
†Upon reaching Commorragh: assume Swarm command. Survive. Propagate. Evolve. Conquer. Create chaos. Report daily through the Webway Gate. If three days elapse without communication, I shall presume you deceased. Understood?†
"As you command, Overmind. I shall bring endless terror and torment to the Swarm's adversaries!"
Nydusara ventured alone. No honor guard. The Overmind had evidently prepared for her sacrifice.
After all, the Overmind's directive was harassment—not Commorragh's destruction.
The current Zerg Swarm lacked capacity to destroy Commorragh.
But Commorragh… is VAST!!!!
†Go. Nydusara.†
Nydusara activated the Webway Gate. She entered Commorragh.
Commorragh's Webway Gates are innumerable. So numerous that even native Commorrites cannot quantify them. As the Webway's largest node-city, Commorragh itself is galactic in scale.
Yet upon arrival, Nydusara immediately detected Zerg units. She re-established hive mind linkage. Accessed captive Zerg memories.
"This is… Commorragh?"
Before Nydusara: an immense metropolis of intersecting, vertiginous black spires. Limitless. Distant skies hosted multiple Dark Eldar vessels.
Commorragh is a vast Webway city.
So vast that a falling individual could plummet from birth until death without reaching bottom.
Nydusara's Webway Gate was distant from the arena.
"Such distance. The captured Swarm units are so far."
Fortunately, Abathur had reinforced Nydusara's neural systems. Commorragh's scale would otherwise preclude complete coverage.
"Only a hundred-odd? Acceptable. One Drone survives. Excellent. It shall serve as my hatchery. Provide inexhaustible reinforcements."
Nydusara surveyed her surroundings. She selected a relatively secure conduit, coiling within. Her distended abdomen commenced oviposition. Eggs containing Zerglings—her first wave of guardians.
Simultaneously, she exerted control over the Commorragh-captured Drone.
The Drone was caged. Arena warehouse. Unused. Adjacent cages contained numerous Zerglings, bizarre megafauna, Orks—and a Space Wolf Astartes.
Dark Eldar truly feared nothing.
"Priority: Drone extraction. Can Zergling claws breach cages?"
Zergling claws scraped against arena bars. Squealing friction. Superficial scoring. No effective damage.
At this rate: three, perhaps four days to breach.
"CEASE THAT NOISE!"
The adjacent Space Wolf, roused by Zergling claw–metal screeching, snarled: "Can you beasts not be still?!"
Nydusara assessed: Zergling offensive capability insufficient for cage breaching. Deliberation. Conclusion.
"Local evolution. Baneling."
Several Zerglings pupated. Remaining Zerglings sheltered in cage corners, avoiding impending acid splash.
Zerglings → Banelings. Nydusara directed the first Baneling against the cage bars.
Acid sprayed across the bars. Sizzling corrosion. Metal—invulnerable to Zergling claws—visibly dissolved.
"Effective. Continue."
Second Baneling detonated. Acid ate through the bars. A Zergling-sized aperture.
"???"
The Space Wolf stared.
"What ARE these beasts?! They breached the cage!"
This Space Wolf had attempted cage breaching. Unarmed, he couldn't penetrate these bars.
Escaped Banelings rolled before the Drone's cage. Four Banelings' acid dissolved a substantial aperture. The Drone emerged.
A scene evocative of Aliens vs. Predator: Xenomorphs deliberately wounding themselves, their acidic blood dissolving the Queen's restraints.
Next: Hydralisk cages. Captive Hydralisks: fewer than ten. These Hydralisks would constitute the Drone's primary protection. Critical for Drone→Hatchery transformation.
"Insufficient space. I require larger area for hatchery incubation. Wall breaching necessary."
Hydralisk osteoclasts couldn't breach walls. Nydusara required larger, more potent units.
"Hydralisks. Local evolution. Lurker."
Surely no one imagines Lurkers' burrowing claws are purely for excavation.