I think there should have been an option between the last two options. I would probably be involved in a violent resistance that did not go nearly as far as the 4th option.
All three types would be on the field, although you'd probably see fewer Guardians as most of the fighting will be between creations and involved long-distance magic spell-flinging. Probably Guardians would stand back and hurl Reaper batons while killing and creations that break through and advance on the Shapers and Agents.
The Geneforge in GF4 is very different from the Sucia Geneforge. The GF4 Geneforge takes non-Shapers and gives them the ability to Shape. The GF1 Geneforge takes Shapers and makes them uber, like having dozens of canisters at once.
Trajkov was the leader of the Sholai from Geneforge 1. His story has been passed down and no doubt changed many times, along with his name, in order to become a legendary character in the Shaper world.
Empire Archers are my favorite capture.
Having discussions like this reminds me how much I loved Exile III, and why it's still my favorite non-BoE spidweb game.
You can also cast Slow All and Mass Paralysis to stop them all from coming at you at once. Or have your priest cast Mass Sanctuary at the end of each round so that they can't see or hit you.
Parasitic Shade wasn't bad. For me the killer was Mystithus pre-nerfing. That beta version of Mystithus was absolutely brutal on torment with a missile weapons servile.