Zasz (StarCraft)

Zasz is a Zerg Cerebrate and the leader of the Zerg Garm Brood in the StarCraft universe.

Zasz is one of the most clever Cerebrates, who never ceases to question his fellows in an irritating, snivelling manner. He coordinates the actions of multiple Cerebrates and also has powerful clairsentient abilities, enabling him to detect enemies (and the truth of them) over great distances. While somewhat unstable, he is extremely loyal to the Zerg Overmind.

The Garm Brood is part of the Zerg Swarm's main attack wing, along with numerically far superior Jurmongand and Surtur broods. The brood makes up for its relatively small numbers by employing guerilla tactics, including surprise attacks and frequent raids. It is known both for its extreme ferocity and the speed at which it attacks.

Zasz advised the Zerg Overmind's newest Cerebrate, in charge of Infested Kerrigan's chrysalis, and his aid extended to detecting nearby enemies, such as the remnants of Omega Squadron, which threatened the chrysalis on Tarsonis, and Tassadar's Expeditionary Force. He also helped to prepare the new Cerebrate for a jump through warp space.

Upon the arrival of the chrysalis at the planet Char, its psionic emanations drew the attention of Terrans, such as Arcturus Mengsk, who dispatched General Edmund Duke to recover it. Zasz was able to detect their transmissions and relay them to the Overmind.

The product of the chrysalis, Infested Kerrigan, immediately began a quest to empower her psionic abilities. Doing so required her to infiltrate a Terran science vessel, the Amerigo, and collect information on the Terran Ghost program.

Zasz accused her of putting her own whims ahead of those of the Overmind, to which Kerrigan responded that nothing would stand in her way, not even Cerebrates; but the Overmind said that Kerrigan retained most of her spirit, but was still strictly under control.

Shadow Hunters

Infested Kerrigan's new psionic powers enabled her to detect the presence of Protoss on Char, which even Zasz had not been able to detect. Discovered, Tassadar contacted her and challenged her to single combat. Zasz detected something strange about Tassadar, probably his training in the dark arts and warned Kerrigan not to fall for Tassadar's tricks.

Kerrigan was very angry. "For the last time Zasz, you question my motives and authority at your own peril."

Zasz: "You dare threaten a Cerebrate? You will be the doom of us all!"

The duel turned out to be a distraction. While she sought Tassadar, the Dark Templar Prelate, Zeratul, slew Zasz. When Kerrigan heard about this, she gloated, until she realized the truth: Zeratul's attack permanently slew the Cerebrate, somehow silencing the Overmind and driving the Garm Brood into insanity. Now the primary Hive Clusters were being threatened.

Consequences

While Zeratul's blade was stuck in Zasz's body, he and the Overmind were able to read each other's thoughts. Zeratul discovered the Overmind's origin, and the Overmind learned the secret location of Aiur in a way useable to it. However, the attack temporarily injured the Overmind, and it did not recover until the destruction of the Garm Brood.

References

• StarCraft homepage at Blizzard Entertainment
• Battle.net StarCraft Compendium
• Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.