The Norn Queen figured it out too.
If you can play the suicide game, so can I!
Although Tyranid suicide units were rarely used in planetary assaults, the Norn Queen didn't care about conventions now. She felt exchanging Termagants for Banelings wasn't cost-effective. She had to use even cheaper Spore Mines to trade for Banelings and Scourge.
Don't talk to her about evolution or efficiency. Today, she must bombard this planetary species.
Countless drop pods and Spore Mines descended, all aimed directly at the Zerg Swarm's positions.
Instinctively, Cerebrate Zasz was wary, thinking it was the enemy's secret weapon. But when the spore pods burst open, they revealed balloon-like Spore Mines.
Then...
Boom, boom, boom. Explosions erupted one after another within the Zerg Swarm lines. The spore toxins released by the mines rapidly spread through their defenses.
Only then did Zasz realize these were the enemy's suicide weapons.
But knowing didn't help much. Scourge couldn't approach these drop pods anymore. The descending Spore Mine clusters blocked their flight paths, forcing Scourge to collide with the mines instead.
Ironically, this was part of the Spore Mines' original function: as aerial mines against flying units.
†This is bad. I'm not afraid of the Tyranids using tactics against me. What's scary is when all tactics devolve into a suicidal brawl.†
A suicidal brawl is no good. How can you profit from biomass that way?
The Swarm Overmind didn't want to fight like this. The Tyranids could afford the attrition; he couldn't.
†But this move is indeed hard to counter. It's simpler for the Protoss, but for the Zerg, suicide attacks almost have to be tanked.†
The Protoss have shields; a single explosion won't kill them. But most of the Zerg Swarm are flesh and blood.
With the Norn Queen's strategic shift, the battlefield advantage swung back to the Tyranids.
†I need to think of a way.†
A decapitation strike is impossible. Even a squad of dozens of Custodians couldn't break through the Norn Queen's Norn Emissaries and elite guard.
Moreover, the Zerg Swarm lacks units suitable for decapitation strikes. The only Zerg unit with decent infiltration and assassination abilities, Dehaka, is from the Primal Zerg.
Primal Zerg aren't part of the Zerg Swarm.
†No choice. If this continues, we'll lose eventually. So, according to common sense, fleeing is the best!†
The Swarm Overmind prepared to flee!
This isn't shameful. From the moment the battle started, the Overmind was mentally prepared to run.
If the Tyranid Hive Fleet had only one or two Hive Ships, running wouldn't be necessary. But against dozens of Hive Ships, anyone trying to out-attrition them is an idiot.
The Leviathan's egg cracked at that moment. The massive biological vessel slowly ascended, revealing its colossal form.
It was a behemoth with a spindle-shaped body, looking somewhat teardrop-shaped—pointed at the head, wider at the abdomen.
Its body was covered with numerous slender attack tentacles, resembling the tentacles of the Zerg Swarm's ground defense structure, the Spine Crawler.
"Abathur, begin transfer."
Abathur transferred into the Leviathan the moment it hatched. There was a specially prepared evolution chamber for him inside.
Cerebrate Zasz also entered the Leviathan under the escort of numerous Zerglings.
The Overmind's massive body needed some time to enter the Leviathan.
Don't worry about whether it could fit. The Leviathan's size was enough to contain several Hatcheries, so naturally, it could fit the Overmind.
The only concern was that this Leviathan was currently the Zerg Swarm's sole biological starship. If it was lost, the Swarm's command structure would be doomed too.
†Fill the Leviathan with biomass, prepare for departure at any moment. And... my loyal servant, awaken!!!†
The Imperial ship downed by the Zerg Swarm now reactivated.
Its engines roared to life. The writhing Creep hinted at its firepower. Before the ship fully lifted off, its tentacles eagerly swept through nearby Tyranid forces.
One Leviathan, one infested Imperial ship, plus countless Zerg aerial units.
"Prepare for breakout!!!"
Before the breakout, the Overmind hatched numerous Overlords on the planet to serve as secondary command units after its departure.
If necessary, they could also carry Zerg units for interstellar travel, expanding the Swarm's development.
Only a small portion of precious units like Hierodules and Ultralisks were left behind; the rest were taken into the Leviathan.
"Depart!!!"
The infested Imperial ship ascended first, followed closely by the Leviathan.
As soon as the infested Imperial ship breached the exosphere, it was attacked by Tyranid Hive Ships. Over eight Hive Ships on this side of the planet opened their maws, spewing massive acid projectiles.
The acid projectiles struck the infested Imperial ship, instantly corroding large swathes of Creep and ship armor.
Even several Spore Crawlers were destroyed—their size was no smaller than Imperial macro-cannons.
And there were three more such acid projectiles.
Hiss—!
Taking four acid projectiles head-on, the infested Imperial ship lost nearly one-tenth of its structural integrity.
But it didn't matter. The Creep coverage was still extensive enough; the ship wouldn't lose control.
As long as the engines could still function, the ship could move.
The infested Imperial ship retaliated. Spore Crawlers spewed acid projectiles. Though smaller than the Hive Ships' projectiles, they could fire continuously.
As the distance closed, the Hive Ships began attacking with tentacles. On the infested Imperial ship, Spine Crawlers violently extended their sharp tentacles, using their tips to stab at the Hive Ships' chitinous carapaces.
Both sides engaged in a form of close-quarters combat resembling boarding actions.
The Leviathan was luckier. The infested Imperial ship absorbed massive damage, preventing the Leviathan from being attacked immediately.
"Overmind, the infested ship won't last long."
†I know.†
That infested Imperial ship was always meant as cannon fodder.
Tyranid bio-ships lack FTL warp technology. As long as the Overmind escaped their attack range, they couldn't catch up.
But the Norn Queen had long noticed this biological vessel. From the planet's dark side, several more Hive Ships slowly appeared, positioned along the Leviathan's flight path.
†Dammit! Won't let me leave, huh?!†
The Overmind knew the Tyranids were determined to stop its escape, but sending over a dozen Hive Ships to intercept a single Leviathan was ridiculous.
You'd need something like the Phalanx to face over a dozen Hive Ships.
†Want to stop the Swarm Overmind? Scourge, attack!†
Scourge—countless Scourge poured out from the Leviathan's body orifices. Mutalisks and Devourers also emerged, escorting the Leviathan.
The Swarm Overmind prepared to force a breakout. Succeed or become biomass!