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The queen
The queen was a zerg support unit.
Overview
A queen during the Great War
The queen was derived from the Arachnis brood-keeper.[1] While the brood keepers were capable of laying clutches of eggs, such an ability was deemed unnecessary for the queens, as their role in the Swarm was not tied to reproduction.[2] It possessed numerous tentacles, a sinuous head, and a stretched skin membrane.[3] As with the overlords, queens were subordinated to the cerebrates to help administrate the Swarm. Queens usually stayed near the hives where they oversaw maturing zerg and drone activities.[1]
On the battlefield, one of the queen's primary functions was to implant parasites in its enemies. Able to be launched from a distance, a tiny, remora-like parasite attached itself to the target,[1] 'bonding' with it should the target be organic. The parasite allowed higher zerg strains to see whatever the target sees and at the time of its use in the Koprulu sector, could not be removed without killing its host.[1] The parasite could also provide a link for the zerg to "talk" to the host.[4][5]
With the arrival of the United Earth Directorate in the Koprulu Sector however and the introduction of nano-conveyed anesthetic and attenuated laser technology they brought with them, the parasites could be safely removed if detected by medics using the Restoration ability.[6] However, by 2503[7] at least some parasites could not be detected by terran technology.[4]
The queen could also infest other creatures, causing them to expire and broodlings to emerge from them.[1]
It took time for the queen to produce these creatures, though the rate of reproduction was able to be increased through the use of gamete meiosis. In the meantime, the queen was able to spray its victims with a thick mucus, slowing them down drastically before dissolving. Most feared of the queen's abilities however, was its ability to produce parasitic bio-toxins. Once released onto a structure (usually a terran command center), these toxins quickly infested the facility,[2] bringing the structure and those inside it under the control of the zerg. The only safeguard against this ability was that the structure had to be in a state of disrepair before the toxins could be deployed.[1]
Following the Brood War, a small number of older queens continued to exist.[8][9] However, their role and biology was re-purposed into a new form.[2]
Game Unit
StarCraft
A queen has no normal attack and uses its speed to escape danger. The queen may be a nuisance raider using Spawn Broodling against high-value units like siege tanks and ultralisks. Spawn Broodlings may also be used on zerg eggs.
It is relatively fragile for cost. Defensive counters include groups of air units and enough automated defense structures to either prevent a queen from sneaking into a base or kill it before having a chance to escape.
Abilities
Converts a badly damaged terran command center into an infested command center. A queen moves over a flying or grounded building and disappears for a short time. Control of the building only changes when the infesting queen reappears. The now-infested command center is restored to full health.
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Attaches a parasite to target unit or critter. Infecting player sees everything the infected unit sees. Infected detectors reveal cloaked and burrowed units. Infected cloaked or burrowed units are always visible to the infecting player.
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 Ensnare All units in the 4 x 4 targeted area when Ensnare is used will have their movement speed reduced by half and attack cooldown increased by half. Cloaked units caught in the area will also be revealed for the spell's duration.
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 Spawn Broodling Creates two broodlings from the targeted ground mechanical or organic unit. The target is instantly destroyed in the process. Archons, dark archons, and robotic units such as probes and reavers may not be targeted. Broodlings last a maximum of 180 seconds.
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Upgrades
 Gamete Meiosis
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StarCraft II
The queen is included in the Galaxy Map Editor for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.[10]
Queens appear in the campaign frequently under the control of Amon, as they were among the feral zerg on Aiur that he took control of. They retain their Parasite, Ensnare, and Spawn Broodling abilities.
Special Queen Strains
A queen's visage
References
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