I Am The Swarm

Luo Wen had considered all these scenarios when devising the method of hiding forces in plain sight. During the Troi Civilization’s military incursion, Luo Wen had nearly been forced to reveal this secret prematurely.

Fortunately, the Troi Civilization acted rationally, and conflict was avoided, allowing the secret to remain undisclosed.

After handling the expansion efforts, Luo Wen’s next focus was on the so-called “head tax”—a term coined by alien civilizations to describe researchers “sold” to the Ji.

The Swarm’s researchers were certain to be under strict surveillance, so only a limited number could be dispatched. However, the Swarm could leverage its influence within the Riken people. Over years of covert operations, the Swarm’s intelligent entities had secretly gained considerable influence among the Rikens. By subtly inserting their own people into the head tax system, they could achieve their goals effortlessly.

The Swarm’s infiltration techniques were unrivaled. Given the right opportunities and methods, they might even find individuals aligned with their ideologies.

—

Inside a resting cabin aboard a Troi warship, Bular sat at a desk, meticulously documenting every detail of the recent mission.

“The mission took place at A11, a Swarm planetary base in the Rat Folk star system. This location is suspected to be a Swarm stronghold, but since we were not permitted to visit other planets, this remains unconfirmed.”

“We encountered three Swarm representatives during this mission—two males and one female—who were the only Swarm members we interacted with throughout.”

“From observation, they continuously wore what appeared to be protective exoskeleton armor. Strangely, the armor was exceptionally form-fitting, showing no visible signs of wear or attachment. Noticing this anomaly, I informed the Adjutant and several negotiation delegates. Over subsequent days, through multiple close encounters, observations, and even physical contact, we still found no seams or indications of the armor detaching from their bodies. Even within the ecological chambers they constructed, the armor remained in place.”

“This anomaly leads to several hypotheses. First, the armor might be innate to the Swarm, suggesting that either their evolutionary history is short, retaining many primitive traits, or they are a highly militant and cautious species that preserves such traits through frequent combat.

“The third hypothesis posits that the armor is a technological product, created by the Swarm’s advanced biological technologies to replicate and enhance ancient characteristics. This seems the most plausible. Regardless, the external traits of the Swarm suggest that they are an aggressive and warlike species.”

“The Swarm is suspected of being capable of surviving in space. While this was not directly observed, external ship monitors captured a scene supporting this theory. A video clip, labeled #4121, shows a Swarm member appearing on a planetary surface without any protective breathing apparatus.”

“Hypothesis 1: The Swarm’s armor includes a field protection function capable of forming a protective barrier around the face, shielding it from the harsh environment of space. An internal airbag module may provide life-sustaining gases directly to the respiratory system, ensuring survival. Given the Swarm’s mastery of field technologies and advanced biological systems, this hypothesis is highly likely.

“Hypothesis 2: The Swarm is an inherently space-adapted species, capable of maintaining internal circulatory functions without external gases. This could be either an innate trait or a result of post-birth modifications. However, given that even the Ji have not achieved this technology, this hypothesis seems improbable.”

“Over the recent period, the Swarm representatives observed did not consume any visible food or water, nor were similar items detected within their ecological chambers. Thus, their diet remains entirely unknown in terms of type and scope.”

“The Swarm negotiator for this mission identified himself as Major General Danton, but given that he communicated in the Riken language, the accuracy of this rank description is uncertain.”

“Reasons for skepticism include the Swarm’s exceptionally austere living conditions. Visual observation revealed no monitoring equipment, nor were any hidden receiver devices detected on their protective suits. Additionally, there was no indication of private or covert communication during the negotiations.”

“However, throughout the discussions, the Swarm negotiator made significant decisions after only brief moments of thought, indicating a level of authority far greater than would be expected of a major general. This inconsistency suggests his rank may not reflect his true level of power.” Writing this, Bular touched his own shoulder insignia. How could the same rank mean such vastly different levels of authority?

“During the mission, we toured several Swarm facilities. Overall, the impression was one of extreme primitiveness and backwardness; there was no sign of anything resembling modern technology. Furthermore, no other Swarm members were observed, nor were there any signs of habitation. If they were not deliberately avoiding us, the Swarm population on this planet must be exceedingly sparse. Considering that this star system is said to host the largest Swarm garrison and is suspected to be their main stronghold, such low population density is puzzling and suggests the Swarm may have very few individuals.”

“Contrary to the apparent scarcity of Swarm members, their biological weapons exist in vast numbers. These are referred to by the Swarm as bugs, most of which resemble octopuses of various sizes. The smallest measure one to two meters, while the largest exceed hundreds of meters. They are also the most numerous. Regardless of their size, these bugs are extremely lethargic, performing no work and floating aimlessly in planetary orbit like lifeless objects.” ȓåƝꝊ฿Ê𐌔

“In addition to these, there are other types of bugs that exhibit high levels of diligence and basic intelligence. They carry out simple, repetitive tasks tirelessly, day and night. Strangely, no supervisors or managers were observed in any of the facilities, yet the bugs never made mistakes, and everything operated in perfect order. This suggests they are far more than ordinary biological weapons.”

“All observed Swarm members and bug designs have been recorded and preserved as visual sketches by the mission’s artists.” Bular’s team was notably professional, with members possessing diverse skills. For instance, both his adjutant and one of the negotiators held advanced artistic qualifications, making sketching the bugs a straightforward task.

“Most areas within Swarm territory are covered in a purplish-gray, fleshy carpet-like substance, referred to by the Swarm as the Fungal Carpet. It is said to create a comfortable living environment for the Swarm. However, since this carpet has been observed in previous Swarm wars, the team suspects its functionality extends far beyond mere comfort.”

At this point, Bular paused, deep in thought. Before his departure, his superiors had instructed him to investigate the Swarm’s marketplace to identify any unique goods that might hold value.

Given the relatively amicable relations between the two sides, it was important to capitalize on this honeymoon period for maximum benefit.

As a civilization that followed a unique biological development path, the Swarm undoubtedly possessed many distinctive “specialties.”

Yet during the mission, Bular hadn’t come across even a small shop, let alone a full marketplace.

This part of his mission, which had been given special attention, yielded no leads whatsoever, leaving him somewhat frustrated.

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