Matthew Kane, imminently to have his legs replaced at the thighs
Stroggification is a colloquialism that quickly became official medical terminology to refer to the process of an unwilling human victim undergoing advanced Strogg cybernetic augmentation and thereby being transformed into a Strogg soldier. The Quake 4 manual describes it much simpler as "in a brutal surgical process, the limbs and flesh of the fallen are fused with metal and machinery to create the monstrosities that are the alien Strogg". In a broader sense it can therefore mean the process of creating any Strogg, which is the only method of Strogg procreation, which is achieved using mechanical parts and harvested biological components, usually from unwilling or dead donors. It is possible that the Strogg also clone bodies specifically for this purpose, genetically engineered and subsequently stroggified for maximum combat performance.
It is notable that the Strogg seem to be able to assemble units even from dead body parts. This requires highly advanced medical technology that is capable of reanimating dead tissue and also of controlling its biological functions.
Apart from "standard" Stroggification, the Strogg sometimes take subjects to experimental Stroggification sites where prototypes of potential new Strogg units are developed. The only known human who underwent this procedure is Lt. Voss of Rhino Squad.
Although Stroggification can mean the general act of creating a new Strogg, it most famously refers to the process applied to captive marines to create the Tactical Class Strogg. This famously was undergone, and survived by a very lucky Corporal Matthew Kane, whose newly acquired Strogg physiology proved to be invaluable to the human war effort in the Second Invasion of Stroggos.
Tactical Transfer Stroggification[]
A fully functional Tactical
Intact marines' bodies are typically augmented to create units of the Tactical Transfers class. This is the most infamous form of Stroggification, occurring in Strogg Medical Facilities. The barbaric and completely unethical procedure is undertaken with no anaesthetic. A captured victim is partially undressed, then placed on a conveyor belt and given a large amount of drugs. These victims then are surgically mutilated, with "unnecessary" nervous, cardiac and pulmonary organs removed. Their limbs may be amputated and replaced by cybernetic limbs. The final step of Stroggification is the implantation of a neurocyte within the brain, for the purpose of control over a victim. Upon neurocyte activation, the victim will become fully Strogg, eager to obey the current Makron and capable of understanding and utilizing virtually any kind of Strogg technology. Kane, for example, after Stroggification, can use any Strogg health station and teleporters, read Strogg language, and pass security lasers without a problem despite being otherwise fatal.
Here is the overview:
- Transfer is stripped to undergarments (procedure not shown onscreen).
- Transfer is scanned in a personnel containment unit via laser.
- Transfer is injected with steroid dosage and accompanying nanite colony via cardiopulmonary system.
- Transfer may also undergo additional steroid injection and facial mutilation by a Strogg Scientist.
- Transfer's legs are amputated, cutting directly though the femoral arteries via circular saw blade.
- Mechanical legs are placed where the transfer's legs used to be. Metal plates are riveted to the arms and body, and the legs are attached to the transfer's stumps.
- Neurocyte is implanted into the cerebrum using a large hypodermic needle; the subject almost immediately gains knowledge of the Strogg language.
- Metal plates and armor are attached to the subject's backside, including the body and the back of the head.
- Transfer is put in a tank and transported to the Registration Station.
- Neurocyte is registered and activated; Subject becomes fully Strogg.
- Sequence completed.
Weaknesses[]
The Strogg neurocyte effects can be prevented if the Strogg transfer is intercepted before is allowed activation. Interrupting stroggification at any other phase could prove fatal to the patient. Matthew Kane was rescued in the intermediate phase between neurocyte implantation and neurocyte activation - this is a window of only a few seconds. Luckily, the process was carried out by hand via a Strogg scientist whose dispatch meant the procedure was aborted.
failed transfers' remains discovered dumped on the floors of the Stroyent Dispersal Facility
Failed transfers are disposed of into the Waste Processing Facility, possibly one of the most sickening installations found on Stroggos. Though the success rate by far exceeds the failure rate, the number of Marines processed in the Strogg Medical Facility is on such a scale that a great quantity of transfers and their remains have to be recycled into Stroyent, through various major Strogg facilities. Interiors of facilities have been explored that are virtually paved with the bones and rotted flesh thr horrifically mutilated dead and Strogg soldiers.