Scourge

That old saw about "to understand all is to forgive all" is a lot of tripe. Some things, the more you understand the more you loathe them.

- Robert A. Heinlein

The Scourge are a technologically advance race of neuro-parasitic xenos in the 10mm-scale wargame Dropzone Commander and are pretty much just even more Grim Dark Yeerks

Morphology

The Scourge are best described as a jellyfish-like species with fragile, boneless bodies comprised of a central mass and a myriad of tentacles. They are unable to move freely outside of liquid in gravity beyond 0.5G, suggesting an aquatic natural environment. Scourge communication is entirely silent leading to theories ranging from telepathy to ultrasound as to how they communicate. It is also theorized that the parasitic aspects of their species did not appear until late in their evolution, as Scourge beyond the larval stage of their lifespan are unable to manifest such abilities.

Possession

Scourge larvae have the ability to integrate themselves with the nervous systems of other creatures, taking control of the victims body in the process. It is reported to take up to several months for full integration with a human host, an experience that is understood to be incredibly painful for the victim. It is believed that Scourge hosts retain full awareness whilst possessed, leading to a long life of constant pain and eventual insanity.

Shortly after integration, Scourge hosts lose the ability to produce pigments, essentially becoming an albino. In addition, the host begins to sweat profusely and constantly resulting in extreme dehydration. The resulting thirst is such that many Scourge take to drinking the blood of the fallen, both friend and foe alike.

Possession of a host gives the Scourge access to all of its abilities, immunities, and memories of its victim. This knowledge allows the Scourge to utilize the technology and infrastructure of the host species for their own ends. This ability to possess, adapt, and repurpose makes the Scourge the apex predator of the galaxy.

The Scourge parasite can extend the lifespan of its host for several centuries although as the parasite ages its grip on its host's body begins to falter. Scourge "Aged Ones" are known to twitch and spasm erratically as the tortured consciousness of the host begins to manifest. Eventually, the Scourge dies, often before the host itself, thus leaving an insane, screaming, convulsing, pain-wracked albino behind.

Technology

The Scourge possess many advanced technologies derived from those of the various species they have possessed. This includes plasma-based weaponry and propulsion systems, and mass repulsion (anti-grav) technology. For power, Scourge appear to rely on fusion reactors, even going so far as to mount them on their vehicles.

Vehicles

All Scourge vehicles are at least partially organic in nature and are piloted by adult Scourge that failed to take a host before maturity. The pilots are suspended in a black, tar-like nutrient soup and neurologically (and permanently) integrated into their respective machines in a technological reproduction of the Scourge possession process. This melding of alien and machine gives Scourge pilots an unprecedented level of control over their vehicles, resulting in incredibly organic and instinctive maneuvers unmatched by any other species.

Scourge vehicles, both on land and in the air are powered by on-board fusion reactors that rely on mass repulsion systems to maneuver. Although highly advanced, this technology drastically lowers the maximum altitude of Scourge aircraft as higher altitudes exponentially increase the power draw from the reactor. The end result is that during a planetary invasion, Scourge aircraft must be dropped into a planets atmosphere from low orbit and freefall until they reach an acceptable altitude.

Weapons

Most Scourge weapons utilize solid projectiles surrounded by blue-white plasma. Although immensely devastating, this drastically reduces the range of most of their arsenal.

To fill the role of an anti-aircraft weapon, however, the Scourge prefer to use bolts of energized ions which latch onto isolated objects (such as aircraft). These "Arc Casters" are entirely useless against ground targets, however, as there are too many objects for the ion streams to latch on to. The Scourge compensate for this with the Ion Storm Generator, a massive weapon mounted only on Scourge command vehicles that unleashes a devastating blast of energized ions that compensates for being unable to hit one object by hitting every object.

For building clearance, the Scourge occasionally make use of pressurized hoses firing a potent acid that instantly dissolves organic tissue. As an added bonus, this acid quickly evaporates into noxious fumes.

Combat Doctrine

Above all, what the Scourge special in most is planetary invasion, preferably without damaging the planet's infrastructure so that it can be utilized once the defenders are wiped out. The Scourge are a purely offensive race relying on speed and shear aggression to dominate the battlefield. Their dropships are entirely one-way, unable to either return to their parent ship nor retrieve their cargo once deployed (with the exception of infantry the rules allow them to though). As such, the only way for a Scourge warrior is forward and to that end the Scourge excel. Their Main Grav-Tank, the Hunter, is over twice as fast as the UCM Sabre MBT, and three times as fast as a PHR Type-1 Walker. This speed is the life blood of Scourge tank commanders as without it the almost comically short-ranged weapons of the Scourge would be utterly useless. This combination of speed and devastating point-blank firepower makes the Scourge the undisputed masters of close-quarters urban combat. When caught in the open, however, well...