Classification: necromorphic host bodies reconfigured by means of nanomachines.

Colloquial name: (Vorsook) drones.

Origins: drones are a fitting physical representation of the Vorsook's preference to achieve their aims by using other people, including each other. The Vorsook being an expansionistic but miserly expansionistic empire, they rarely participate in the infiltration or invasion of target worlds, and when they do, it is either in small numbers or because any threat has already been pacified.

The Vorsook prefer to do much with little, but they do recognise the need for fitting tools. The dominant species of their most recent target world, Earth, is not particularly powerful or esoterically versatile, though humans have the potential to become so. As such, the Vorsook use their nanomachines to both take over and enhance those humans they deem unfit to serve as sapient proxies.

Vorsook drones can be created by nanomachines administered by a construct that burrows into flesh, though the Collective suspects they have the means to inject their nanomachines in less dramatic manner, such as in a literal injection or equivalent, though this is likely performed in laboratory condition. These nanomachines can overcome the were and vampire viruses in great enough numbers.

Description: although the Vorsook's puppets are often collectively referred to as drones by this Earth's defenders, they are not a single category of beings. Rather, there seem to be multiple stages in their life cycle or development process. Brainwashed humans whose bodies have been enhanced and their spines replaced with replicas of Vorsook alloys might be considered drones in a technical sense, but the term is usually used for host bodies displaying behaviour fairly similar to our feral zombies, such as catching beings to catch them despite not needing sustenance.

Once injected with nanomachines, "Vorsook zombies" often take on a dishevelled appearance. Their blood becomes dark and oozing, and similarly dark plates of diamantine material appear over their skin. As the drones develop, they become tens of centimetres taller than standard humans, as well as appropriately broad, their pallor and elongated heads conferring them an inhuman aspect. By this point, their bodies are almost entirely covered in a diamond-like but flexible substance, while the eyes become small and insectile.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Behaviour: Vorsook drones resemble the nodes of primitive hive minds more than thinking beings. They are programmed (or brainwashed, depending on one's perspective) to obey their alien overlords. When confronted with threats to the Vorsook's plans, they become aggressive, but only in the strictest sense. They are not distracted by pain or anger, as they can feel neither. This does mean they rely on the Vorsook's planning and can be tricked if one can keep a cool head.

Threat level: local. Vorsook zombies can punch through steel doors as if they are made of wet cardboard and dash, fight and react at supersonic speeds. Since they do not feel pain and possess mild regeneration, healing what would be deadly wounds to humans in timeframes visible to such, they can recover from damage that would kill mundanes multiple times over. This regeneration can be sped up by the consumption of organic matter, which is rapidly converted into biomass or protoplasm and added to the zombie's body, to be rearranged as decided (in this regard, the zombies possess some autonomy).

Fully-developed Vorsook drones are several times more powerful than their lesser counterparts, being capable of withstanding forces that would shred Vorsook zombied and keeping up with Chris Gordon or backhanding him to the ground, which a speeding truck would fail to achieve. Mature Vorsook drones can persist after the destruction of their heads and require high amounts of heat, such as the deployment of thermite, to take down.

Neutralisation: the violent vapourisation or atomisation of Vorsook drones is advised, to dispose of nanomachines. Reptilians unequipped with Warscale or other enhancements are advised to deploy thermal weaponry and keep their distance: Vorsook nanomachines might be able to overcome a Zhayvin's regeneration and immunities, and are suspected of being able to map one's mind and send information to the Vorsook.