The space battle wouldn't end nearly as quickly.
Currently, the Zerg Swarm lacked sufficient boarding capabilities, forcing them to rely on primitive ship-to-ship combat.
That phrasing sounds odd, doesn't it? As if the ancient tactic of boarding is somehow more effective than conventional naval warfare. Yet in the Warhammer 40K universe, destroying a ship in a short time is extremely difficult.
With the triple protection of Void Shields, structural integrity fields, and ship armor, completely destroying a vessel of similar size takes considerable time. Shields first, then armor, then structure.
Keep in mind, Warhammer 40K ships are generally massive—from 1km destroyers, several km cruisers, dozen km flagships, to hundreds or thousands of km colossal space fortresses.
Some are literally planetoids converted into battle moons. Conventional firepower is useless against those.
But you can board and destroy critical components, or execute decapitation strikes. Then the ship loses combat effectiveness.
War Thunder players know this: can't penetrate their armor? Kill the crew. Even without killing all crew, destroying the Machine Spirit or Void Shield generators can cripple them.
That's why boarding is often more efficient.
Frank was caught off guard by the Zerg Swarm, but his combat experience was vast. He positioned the Emperor-class as the primary frontline tank, supported by Lunar-class cruisers for supplementary tanking and damage. Their 'I' formation ensured unobstructed broadside macro-cannon fire.
Weapon batteries above and below also laid down terrifying firepower.
This maximum-firepower formation further reduced the Zerg Swarm's efficiency in destroying ship weaponry.
†Abathur, we might need stronger aerial units.†
"Acknowledged. New Swarm air force. Project prioritized. Requires biomass."
[Mission: Collect 1,000,000 Biomass (Current: 0)]
[Mission Reward: Random aerial unit variant]
[Mission Description: The Zerg Swarm's air force struggles against well-coordinated, high-firepower Imperial fleets. They need stronger Zerg aerial units better suited to current combat conditions. Collect biomass for Abathur to conduct sufficient research.]
†Biomass? That's easy.†
A freshly hatched batch of Zerglings, under the Overmind's control, each looked at their brethren.
†Begin! The Rite of Lak'Shir! Or primal dueling, call it what you want. KILL!!!†
Zerglings began slaughtering each other. This resembled Primal Zerg dueling evolution, but the purpose was simply acquiring more biomass.
No one said biomass must come solely from enemies. Recycling from dead Swarm units is also standard practice—Tyranids do the same. Waste is shameful.
Though Abathur could study live specimens, killing them for biomass was more efficient.
A million biomass was pocket change for the current Zerg Swarm.
[Mission Complete.]
[Unlocked: Mutalisk Variant — Brood Lord.]
†Huh, Mutalisk variant—Bro... Since when is a Brood Lord a Mutalisk variant?! Where's my Corruptor?! Give me back my Corruptor, the Swarm's best unit!!!†
The Overmind briefly suspected the system was malfunctioning.
Because the Brood Lord, affectionately called 'Big Daddy' by players, is a colossal Zerg aerial unit. It normally evolves from Corruptors.
Corruptors are mainline Swarm air units, vastly superior to Mutalisks in combat power. Their size rivals small warships, their firepower surpassing Devourers and Guardians.
Technically, Mutalisks should be reconnaissance flyers. Corruptors are the true aerial kings.
[Confirmed. Mutalisk variant.]
†You're full of...†
Before the Overmind could finish, the system panel displayed the Heart of the Swarm Mutalisk evolution tree. And indeed, Mutalisks could evolve into Brood Lords.
†Fine. I won't nitpick. The campaign vs. versus mode conflict isn't new. Blizzard changes patches constantly. This Brood Lord arrives right on time.†
Just as the Overmind worried about boarding capabilities, here came a boarding unit.
The Brood Lord is a massive flying aerial unit—the largest conventional Swarm aerial unit. Note: conventional. Leviathans aren't conventional.
[Name: Brood Lord]
[Length: 100m - 500m (variable)]
[Role: Siege aerial force]
[Armament: Broodling strike]
[Description: These manta-ray-like colossal flying creatures are the Swarm's newest aerial siege weapon. They seem to have replaced the Guardian's position in the Swarm, becoming the Zerg's most powerful long-range air-to-ground bomber. Brood Lords evolve from preserved Corruptor genetic remnants within Greater Spires. Beneath their carapace lie multiple sacs parasitized by countless restless Broodling colonies. These small, symbiotic organisms are living artillery shells.
Brood Lords violently launch Broodlings to attack fortifications and enemy ground forces. Each expelled Broodling possesses shell-like explosive power. Targets suffer initial impact damage; Broodlings landing on the ground then furiously swarm the target until destroyed or until their brief natural lifespan expires. Unharassed Brood Lords can effortlessly spew vast Broodling swarms, tearing through heavy mechanized armor blocking their path during rapid advances.]
Brood Lords generally cannot attack air targets but possess anti-air-platform capabilities.
Imperial warships of this scale are effectively large air platforms to Brood Lords. Broodling strikes threaten Imperial ships much like boarding torpedoes.
Don't underestimate those Broodlings. They're larger than Zerglings!
"Overmind, research complete. New Swarm unit: Brood Lord. Ready for incubation."
†What are we waiting for? Zasz, begin Brood Lord incubation!!!†
"As you command."
The new Mutalisk variant hatched. These particular Mutalisks differed from standard ones—a large cyst grew on their backs. Though with great combat capability, it certainly affected aesthetics.
These specialized Mutalisks then ascended beyond the atmosphere for secondary evolution, forming massive chrysalises that began expanding.
These chrysalises already exceeded Mutalisks, Devourers, and Guardians in size, nearly half the length of a Cobra-class destroyer.
When the chrysalises burst, colossal Brood Lords emerged. Their manta-ray bodies floated in the void. Within their massive surface cysts, Broodlings already stirred restlessly.
Brood Lords might not match destroyers in size, but compared to Warhammer 40K atmospheric combat units, they were absolutely staggering.
Most terrifying: their mass-production speed exceeded Imperial destroyer construction.