Omake: A Solid Foundation
Echidna was less than pleased with her current situation. #he had been separated from the bulk of her brood and been stranded on a foreign world. One that was going to be annoying to work with if it was all water like she suspected. What really vexed her was that she couldn't properly use her usual strategy here. The massive strains she favored would only sink here and that was discounting the problems that would come with spawning them.
Bah no matter, she was still Zerg. Unlike Terrans or Protoss, they were not ones to bemoan their circumstances. No, they fought, adapted and thrived against all odds. She would overcome this obstacle and return to the swarm. Rebuild her brood and destroy whoever was responsible for this. It was simply a matter of time and devising how. This world would be hers before too long.
Something that she was distinctly well suited to do. Brood mothers like herself often did not indulge in weaving essence. Instead relying on the evolution chambers and Master. Echidna though was not so complacent as she understood that evolution was the swarms greatest strength. The broodmother strove to always be able to improve upon her strains and raise them to ever greater heights. This was just one more cycle of improvements.
First and foremost was devising the means for her brood to exploit the oceans around them. The Zerg did not often dive below but they were fully capable of it. Especially when they got samples of local wildlife. Until then she would have to make do with existing essence. Fortunately, she already knew a decent basis to work with. The ocean was not that far from a field she knew well.
The void of space carried a certain similarity to the depths of the ocean. Both were three dimensional environments, devoid of conventional atmosphere and possessed suffocating pressure. At greater depths, the loss of light was apparent and vision became unreliable. The need to survive with little warmth of any kind. How certain frames were useless because they could not properly move about as needed.
She could not make any void borne strains at the moment but she could still access their essence. They would provide an excellent spring board into the waves below. First she would take their ability to survive without atmosphere. This would be essential for her work here. These new creatures would need the capacity to work with little to no proper air for extended periods of time. The leviathan could provide that with its ability to move from void to atmosphere.
Next would come the needed dynamics of the body. Extra limbs were only a hindrance in the depths. Reducing speed and creating drag on the body. They needed a dynamic form flexible yet strong to propel itself. The corrupter could be of use here. A creature that was aerodynamic in build and could survive under great pressure.
Finally the means to survive in low temperatures. Any void strain could be used for this. They all possessed the capacity to survive in extreme low environments. Perhaps the behemoth of old would be able to provide. Not a common strain anymore but it still had its uses.
Yes this new adaptation was coming along well thought Echidna as she watched the essence shift.
@Planetary Tennis
