Infection is the Grand Finale

"Emergency SOS! Emergency SOS! Severe damage! We have been severely damaged!"

"The bugs are crawling in, they're in the exhaust pipes, hatches, supply compartments—ignore them, retreat! Retreat!"

"Come, for the Earth, for humanity! Ah--"

The Revolutionary Army's communications station intercepted a portion of the UED Fleets's communications across all frequency bands. The shouts and screams of these Earth soldiers inevitably moved Raynor and others to pity.

Following the super cyclone formed by the wormhole created by the Overmind, the Swarm devoured everything in the sky except themselves; they were as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, blotting out the sun. The Milky Way was nowhere to be seen; instead, countless long, brownish-gray rivers, formed by the convergence of thousands upon thousands of Zerg, hung in the somber sky of Char, like ribbons connecting the horizon, stretching from one end of the North Pole to the other.

Like ants swarming onto syrup, thousands of Mutalisk swarmed over those magnificent warships that were thousands of feet tall, tearing apart and shredding their composite steel armor bit by bit.

The cries for help uttered by the Earthlings before their deaths were nothing more than the final lament of this magnificent Fleets.

Within minutes, the last few UED ships that were still desperately dodging the attack were shot down and turned into falling fireballs.

A short, sudden shower of debris, formed from the wreckage of the Fleets, fell from the high orbit above, and in an instant, all that remained above people's heads were swirling strange Mutalisk and other ferocious and terrifying flying monsters.

"Humanity is finished, Gerard DuGalle is finished too. Hopefully, that old guy will repent for what he did before he dies." Raynor tried to contact one of the warships, but it was no use until all channels were silent.

The once-invincible UED Fleets couldn't hold out against the Swarm for long. They were only able to penetrate deep into Char because the Zerg were focused on Tassadar's Daelaam Fleets.

When Raynor looked up again, Gerard DuGalle's flagship Aleksander, was nowhere to be seen. If they were lucky, these UED battlecruisers might have been able to initiate an emergency, unorienting coordinate jump to escape, but no trace of the space jump was found.

To be fair, although DuGalle was a cunning opponent, he was undoubtedly a respectable human. Not all human commanders possessed the courage and determination to sail their flagship to the Zerg's main hive world Char.

"The spirit of warriors deserves praise," Fenix added. "They will surely meet again in the Hall of Heroes of humanity on Earth."

Compared to Raynor, Fenix, as Protoss with extremely keen telepathic abilities, was even able to receive the thoughts and feelings of these Earthlings in their final moments.

Undoubtedly, the vast majority of ordinary UED soldiers joined the expeditionary force simply because of the United Earth Directorate's declaration to defend Earth after the discovery of the Zerg and Protoss. Thus, they embarked on this mission—to ensure that their families could live in a safe world.

"Great, it was the bugs that killed them, not us." Raynor's heart was filled with complex emotions; they were originally destined to be enemies.

But if the main force of the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet is wiped out at Char, then the remaining Earthlings will be much easier to deal with.

"The Overmind has escaped." Compared to the humans, Raynor's chief of staff Charles, was more concerned about the Overmind. He was so shocked that he stared at the suddenly appearing wormhole for several seconds before confirming the fact:

"But why?"

"That's right, something's not right. The insects have an overwhelming numerical advantage and are playing on their home turf. They could easily take their time to completely crush us." Raynor agreed with Charles's assessment. In fact, he was no less surprised than Charles.

"Could it be that it was really intimidated by Azma's Dark Templar Dark Prelate? I bet you everything in my pocket, Charles, that's not the case."

"But what's left in there? Mud or ash? Or that bottle of No. VIII whiskey the Marshal gave you?" Charles scoffed.

As is well known, General Jim Raynor was a penniless man who never used his position to gain any personal benefit within the Revolutionary Army system, and sent all his salary home, a stark contrast to Tychus Finley.

Because Raynor's parents taught him to be an upright person who would be useful to others. After joining the army, Augustus had a profound influence on Raynor. Even though Raynor was close to Tychus, he was not influenced by the latter.

Raynor owns a Colt military revolver, an antique from hundreds of years ago, with each bullet specially made, making it both rare and expensive.

Therefore, Raynor preferred to use a modern electromagnetic pistol rather than this revolver, but he would still carry it without firing a single shot, to show his outdated taste. He claimed that it would come in handy someday, but it was only good enough that his head hadn't yet entered the crosshair.

"Didn't the Protoss say that this new Swarm Overmind was formed from the fusion of Cerebrate? Char's Cerebrate was so Dark Templar that it dared not show its face."

Charles continued, "Besides, when that Overmind awoke, he really did have several Dark Templar sharpening their knives by his side. Even I would wet my pants."

"So you're not the Overmind." Raynor gestured with his chin.

"The Dark Templar, led by Dark Prelate Azma, consists of hundreds of powerful Dark Templar Masters. They came to Char for only one purpose: to slay a Cerebrate or Overmind. That is the only requirement for joining the Guard of Archbishop Raszagal," Fenix said.

"This doesn't sound easy—I'm just kidding." Raynor could probably understand the pressure and fear that the nascent Overmind felt, but he was still a little unsure. He always thought that a dignified Overmind wouldn't be scared out of its wits by a group of straightforward Protoss Dark Templar.

"Where does that wormhole opened by Overmind II lead? If it's right in the center of the Koprulu Sector, that's terrible." He stared intently at the spinning black hole in the sky.

The Zerg are truly the most incomprehensible race in this universe. They don't need any technological power to open spacetime tunnels connecting two points with their organic bodies, and they can traverse the void with their bodies.

"Without precise coordinates, even the Overmind cannot open a wormhole. Even the slightest deviation could lead to a completely different destination." Fenix's voice came from the other end of the Holographic Projection projector.

"Then this location must be one that the Swarm has been to, or a known coordinate."

"Is there any research proving that a reborn Overmind inherits memories from its predecessor?" Raynor asked.

"Even our Khalai scientists can't figure it out." Fenix seemed to have consulted other Protoss within the psychic network Khala.

"Research shows that Zerg have their combat instincts programmed into their genes, and reborn Cerebrate also retain the memories of their previous deaths to ensure that every neuron in the brain, along with its location and the order in which nerve impulses are transmitted, remains exactly the same as before."

Fenix explained to Raynor, "But this Overmind isn't the one that died on Aiur; it's new—a unique individual. We're not sure if it remembers Aiur and the other planets, perhaps the very place where the Swarm originated. For Char, the Zerg are also recent invaders."

"I think I get it. I really hope this wormhole can kick this monster to the most remote corner of the universe." Raynor thought he understood, "In any case, it's best to throw some 'souvenirs' in now to figure out where it went."

"Leaving aside how to send the tracking and positioning equipment over such a long distance, the other end of the wormhole may be thousands or tens of thousands of light-years away from Koprulu, which is beyond the reach of current technology," Charles said.

"No need to worry, I've ordered some of the Observer to follow the Swarm into the wormhole. Meanwhile, Dark Prelate Azma and his Dark Templar have also entered it," Fenix said.

"There is no place where even the warriors of the Protoss dare not tread," Charles praised.

"Alright, alright, I can't worry about that now." Raynor noticed the sudden increase in red dots on the radar scan and life detection map.

Even before the Overmind awoke, the Psionics winds it brought had significantly limited the effectiveness of Psi Disrupter. The number of Zerg signals around the Revolutionary Army's positions began to increase exponentially, as they continuously crossed wormholes at the Overmind 'Swarm summons without any hesitation or delay.

These Zerg were focused solely on entering the wormhole and had no time to attend to the enemy. Even so, the Revolutionary Army, UED landing forces, and Protoss forces in their path were the first to be hit.

Massive Nydus Worm burst forth from the ground, shattering the once impregnable position. The Hydralisk warriors, unique to the Tiamat Brood, surged forth like a tidal wave, mercilessly reaping the lives of humans and Protoss.

The only good news is that only a portion of the forces launched the attack.

"After the Overmind entered the wormhole, the powerful Psionics influence it exerted on the Swarm's mind-to-mind connection is waning. The ' Big Bill ' Psi Disrupter is expected to reactivate in about 20 minutes," Charles told Raynor.

"We must hold on until then, no matter what."

"Although it's just hindsight, if I had spoken a couple of days earlier, I would have advised my past self not to block the path of the Swarm, but to make way for them sooner," Raynor said.

"Fenix, I need your support. The less land we have to defend, the stronger our defenses will be. The Revolutionary Army and the Protoss must unite."

"It would be an honor," Fenix said. "I will crush them like bugs."

"Try contacting the UED members still on Char, find their highest-ranking commander," Raynor said. "Poor old Gerard, even if he's still alive, he probably won't be able to command his troops anymore. If those Earthlings are willing to fight the Zerg with us, they won't be left without even a ship leaving Char after this."

"I don't like Earthlings, and I don't trust them—I wish they were all dead here." Charles shook his head. "But sometimes the living are more useful than the dead. And how are you supposed to deal with Earthlings if you don't understand them?"

Next, Raynor turned on all the channels for his troops, and thanks to the amplification equipment, the sound could be heard even from the nearby UED positions.

"Brothers, it's not time to call it a day yet."

"Char is of paramount importance; Char must be kept under human control. Holding Char and resisting the Swarm here will prevent other idyllic worlds from being ravaged."

"If the Confederacy can't do it, then we will, the Revolutionary Army," Raynor said.

"Marshal Augustus Mengsk entrusted this task to us—his most valiant and skilled warriors. Do not let him down."

"In the darkness of the universe, humanity can only survive by supporting each other. This is our mission: to defend the last hope of Terrans with our blood and sweat," he said.

Even at the cost of one's life.

"Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!"

Where are my feet? Where are they?

"Help me! Help me! Ah--ah--"

The wailing that so delighted the Cerebrate Carlos came from humans, a race that fascinated it immensely. This race wasn't the only one that used viruses and infections as weapons, but they were most interested in Infested Terran.

Members of Carlos's tribe are wandering the corridors and cabins of the United Earth Directorate Expeditionary Fleet Fleets flagship, the Aleksander, searching for survivors on the deck covered with dark gray carpets.

This once formidable supership, a symbol of Earth's military might, has crashed and lies helplessly in the acidic swamp west of Char's main nest area, filled with acidic liquid. Its magnificent bridge and even its steel-cast hull were shattered upon impact, with most of the ship engulfed in flames.

There are still some survivors on the Aleksander, who may still hold onto the hope of surviving.

Yes, the great Carlos Swarm Master will allow them to live, but his definition of the word and the concept may be very different from that of humans.

At this moment, Carlos is deep within his Zerg hive, controlling his swarm members to penetrate the interior of the Aleksander, hunting for the Swarm's sustenance and experimental subjects for his infection program.

If these fragile humans believe that death is the final end, then they have strayed far from the truth.

Death is not a final relief; Carlos will pull them all up from the grave and reshape their bodies and minds with the virus.

Even the dead must serve the Swarm.

The Swarm learns from its enemies, the Swarm adapts, the Swarm evolves. Until then, it never stops.

"Turn left at hatch 112. There's a shuttle with Warp Drive there. The shuttle has Earth's coordinates on it. Fly it and you can leave this hell." A voice caught the attention of a Zergling from the Carlos clan, and Carlos also spared a bit of attention to control the squeaking little monster.

"Sir?"

"I'm going to die. We've failed. Remember, the Council's greatest loss was Gerard DuGalle, not us. If you feel guilty, take this back to Proxima Centauri, there."

Without a shred of mercy, Carlos's Zergling tore the two Earthlings apart before moving into another collapsing compartment.

In the ensuing rummaging, a blood-soaked man in a general's uniform was dragged out by Carlos's Zergling. Even though his gaunt face was covered in blood, his glaring eyes still silenced his former subordinates.

Gerard DuGalle.

The human hand.

"A human leader with exceptional vision and strategic foresight, your death is a loss for your race, but a benefit to the Swarm." Carlos spoke silently to the deceased DuGalle through the power of his mind:

"Human leaders are unique and full of wisdom, commanding their people with unwavering obedience, just like the Cerebrate. Your experiences, your wisdom, and your strategies will all belong to the Swarm."

"You are dead, but I can regenerate your organization. I will infect you and incorporate you into the Swarm."

"And you are just the beginning. I will not fail in my mission until all of humanity is infected," Carlos said quietly.

Amid the wails, cries, sobs, and roars of Earthlings, deep purple Creep and filamentous hyphae are spreading across the surface and interior of the Aleksander, while rampant veins and twisted, proliferating skeletons are joining the warship's cracked armor together.

Where the sensors once were, terrifying, rotating insect eyes sprouted, along with countless ugly tumors and pus-filled umbilical hernias. Giant Psionics organs grew in the engine bay, and the locations that were once propulsion units became jet nozzles even larger than those of the Valkyrie. Layers upon layers of exoskeletons reshaped the Aleksander's armor and her once magnificent island and bridge.

"Gerard DuGalle, you will become the leader of my army of Infested Terran, a powerful being far removed from the inferior genes of humanity."

"Now, you will witness firsthand the warship, the Aleksander, taking off once more. You will become—"

"Hand of the Swarm"

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