I Am The Swarm

When the Swarm arrived at the Twin Star Defensive Zone, the Rikens, who had never communicated with the Swarm before, chose to broadcast indiscriminately to the Swarm forces.

They used a very euphemistic tone, roughly meaning that for the sake of peace between the two neighbors and to avoid further bloodshed, they were willing to make concessions, and so on—a long-winded speech. The central message, however, was ‘we surrender’, delivered in the Riken language.

After receiving this message, both sides entered a period of silence. The Swarm forces did not attack, nor did they show any other response, leaving the native Rikens feeling extremely uneasy.

Several days passed like this. Eventually, the new Riken President, Milton, arrived at the front lines from the home planet and made a more formal broadcast.

Thus, in a small, private meeting, the Rikens finally met the legendary “Swarm people” for the first time.

“I knew it! Those octopus freaks aren’t their true forms! This appearance is much more pleasing to the eye,” remarked Alcer, gazing at the female Swarm figure engaged in conversation with the President.

Her slender physique, armored plates covering vital areas, and spiky joints presented a visage both menacing and beautiful—aligning well with the aesthetics favored by the military’s tough personnel.

As Fleet Commanders of the three main Riken fleets, Alcer and his peers held positions of power and real authority, making them naturally eligible to attend the meeting. The camaraderie they had built during their previous joint operations also drew them together now.

“Shut it, Alcer. We’re the losers here; we need to stay humble,” scolded Hamis.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I didn’t say anything bad. Besides, we’re so far away that even if I had, she wouldn’t hear it,” Alcer said dismissively.

Yet, just as he finished speaking, the female Swarm figure turned her head and gave him a slight smile.

Alcer awkwardly raised his glass in acknowledgment.

When she turned back again, he exchanged glances with the other two and, in tacit agreement, the trio retreated further into a corner of the room.

“Alcer, you really need to curb that habit of yours—running your mouth like that,” whispered Novaul.

“How was I supposed to know they could hear that well?”

“I’m not so sure she heard it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing concrete, just a feeling. Anyone being stared at by eyes like searchlights would probably sense something.”

At that, Hamis and Novaul gave each other a high five and laughed out loud.

Alcer, somewhat flustered and annoyed, chose to deflect. “I think they’re being overly cautious. We’ve been fighting them for so long—what, decades now? And only now do we get to see what they really look like. Other than their appearance, we still know absolutely nothing about them. So, who do you think they’re guarding against?”

“It’s definitely not us! After witnessing that last battle, it’s clear how laughable our strength is now. If the Swarm unleashed their full firepower, one charge would wipe us out.”

“I think they may not be guarding against a specific target. They’re powerful enough to conceal certain things, which makes them seem mysterious and unpredictable. This strategy probably serves to deter potential enemies more effectively.”

The group nodded in agreement. That was indeed a logical conclusion. At the very least, the Daqi Empire would have to think twice before making any rash moves.

“But their terms are surprisingly lenient—far beyond what I expected.”

“Exactly. If I were in their place, there’s no way I’d be this magnanimous.”

As the defeated side in a war between civilizations and species, it wouldn’t be incomprehensible if the victors chose to exterminate them completely.

In their current predicament, where they were like fish on the chopping block, even if the Swarm proposed harsh conditions, as long as it wasn’t total annihilation, the Rikens were prepared to grit their teeth and agree. They had already steeled themselves for this eventuality.

The Swarm’s conditions stunned the Rikens. First, both sides would maintain their current spheres of influence: the outer edges of the star system would be divided by the Twin Star Defensive Zone, while the inner region would be delineated by Planet Three. The territories within these boundaries would remain under Riken jurisdiction, while territories outside would require further negotiation for passage or development.

When this condition was first announced, every Riken present at the meeting was dumbfounded.

Before their surrender, the Rikens had held several internal meetings to establish certain so-called “bottom lines.”

For example, regarding borders, they had anticipated that the Swarm would confiscate their warships, defenses, and colonies, forcing them to retreat entirely to their home planet. Based on this assumption, they had resolved to fight hard to retain development rights for all the satellites of their home planet.

Unexpectedly, the Swarm’s terms were even more lenient than what they had hoped to negotiate for. It was as if someone intending to haggle for an item priced at 100, hoping to bring it down to 80, was suddenly told by the seller to take it for 20.

This psychological gap left the Rikens simultaneously overjoyed and strangely disappointed.

The tendency to push boundaries is inherent to all intelligent life forms. A few Rikens, emboldened by the Swarm’s apparent reasonableness, sought to renegotiate and press for more favorable terms. However, the Swarm’s representative, a female named Marlene, displayed an imposing demeanor. As a general within the Swarm’s hierarchy, her identity alone spoke volumes.

There was no need for much elaboration: to act as the Swarm’s representative in negotiations with a civilization underscored her prestigious status. Marlene had previously served under Empress Sarah Kerrigan as one of her more than ten high-ranking commanders, the only female among them. Attaining such a position as a combat leader required extraordinary effort and demonstrated her unparalleled capabilities.

After her death, Marlene had been fortunate enough to be chosen as an Intelligent Entity, continuing her service within the Blades. When the Swarm Overlord ordered Sarah to establish a structured civilization, Marlene, being a veteran from that era, was naturally enlisted.

Having long held a position of authority, Marlene exuded an undeniable aura. A mere glance filled with murderous intent was enough to silence the dissenting Rikens, leaving them cold and painfully aware of their circumstances.

With territorial issues settled, the discussion moved on to the matter of the Treasure Starship.

Faced with the temptation of relics from an advanced civilization, the Swarm merely requested the establishment of a research team, leadership of the Riken research team, and access to prior research findings.

The Rikens had originally assumed the Swarm would simply seize the starship outright. Instead, the unexpected turn of events left them not only keeping the starship but also gaining the opportunity to participate in its research. Since the results would be shared, relinquishing leadership over the research team seemed like a minor concession.

Upon hearing this condition, before others could voice their opinions, the leading Riken researchers enthusiastically nodded in agreement. Their intense gazes toward their colleagues carried a clear message: anyone who dared to protest would face their wrath.

Perhaps it was the researchers’ veiled threats, or perhaps it was the lingering chill of Marlene’s earlier glare, but the Rikens fell into silence, abandoning any thoughts of further bargaining.

Marlene looked at the Rikens before her with satisfaction. She knew that everything happening here was being closely observed by the revered Overlord. She could not afford to let him down.

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