I Am The Swarm

When the stakes become high enough, risks lose their weight. The intelligence report submitted by the New Ji Race task force caught widespread attention, but most people only focused on the segment regarding the speculation about immortality. The subsequent conjectures about the creators, however, were largely ignored.

The Swarm, being solitary and without allies, had no one to inform them of the growing conspiracy. Every faction seemed to be making moves, yet all cooperated tacitly to conceal their actions from the Swarm.

In the New Ji Race research lab within the Riken System, the first phase of their task had already been completed. However, the next stages required more resources than the Riken System could provide, forcing them to relocate to a larger resource production base.

The baffled researchers could not comprehend the sudden need to move. Even if the Riken System’s materials were insufficient, they could always be sourced from elsewhere. Nearby, the Koya Alliance’s material production base had developed enough over the years to meet their needs.

Their confusion, however, was left unanswered. The entire team was ordered to relocate within a strict timeframe. Some who delayed were forcibly placed into cryo-sleep pods and taken away.

The bustling trade convoys that once traveled to and from the Riken System gradually disappeared, replaced by increasing numbers of ships with unclear purposes. The region retained its lively atmosphere but with an air of secrecy.

Gradually, many unidentified ships began to deploy unknown devices in the void outside the Riken System. These devices effectively disrupted electromagnetic waves and light signals, preventing the Swarm from accurately gathering information about the external environment through their radar systems.

The number of unidentified fleets grew steadily. Under the guise of legitimate trade activities, they subtly reinforced the blockade along the Swarm’s borders. Not only in the Riken System but also in the Sandstorm System, Golden Horn System, White Grub System, and Red Ant System—regions bordering the Interstellar Technological Confederation—traces of these fleets could be found in the void.

The Koya Alliance, located at the junction between the Riken and Sandstorm Systems, naturally became the frontline of this major event as the faction closest to Swarm territory.

These outwardly independent outer-ring civilizations, which often appeared to enjoy considerable autonomy, found themselves helplessly swept along when faced with a true tempest.

A similar situation unfolded in the Locke Mutual Aid Society. Its leader, the Troi Civilization, had maintained amicable diplomatic ties with the Swarm for years as they were their ‘invited race’. Yet, in this major event that swept across the entire Interstellar Technological Confederation, they too had little choice in their course of action.

“Overlord, they’ve blocked our communication channels. Using conventional methods, we can no longer obtain accurate information about the outside world,” Sarah Kerrigan calmly reported.

The tense situation, like a brewing storm, did not faze her. Since the Overlord had declared his intention to overturn the table and drag all the players into the open, her role was simply to perform her duties with unwavering focus.

“It doesn’t matter. They cannot block the Swarm Network. This is an excellent opportunity—whether we’ll encounter such a situation again in the future is uncertain. I’ve already authorized the Blades. Don’t let this chance go to waste.”

“Yes, Overlord.”

The Riken System had long since been infiltrated by the Swarm, turning it into a sieve. The once bustling trade convoys, unsuspecting of any threat, had provided Luo Wen with a vast array of genetic samples. Coupled with the presence of cryo-sleep pods, Luo Wen only needed the right opportunity to ensure the “seven-day surgical period” for his targets was no longer a concern.

As the trade convoys departed, seemingly unharmed, they might unknowingly be carrying half a cargo of intelligent entities. With each cycle, the Swarm’s node units outside their territory grew ever more numerous.

With Luo Wen’s abilities rapidly growing, what once required over ten thousand node units concentrated together to locate a target now only needed three thousand units within a one-light-year radius. With this, Luo Wen could envelop an entire region within the Swarm Network’s coverage.

This expansion had illuminated a significant portion of the Interstellar Technological Confederation’s territories for the Swarm. For factions like the Koya Alliance and Locke Mutual Aid Society, which bordered Swarm territory, their domains had long since been fully “lit up.”

Initially, Luo Wen had considered restricting the Blades’ access to this intelligence gathered through the Swarm Network. However, after repeated deliberation, he concluded that intelligence warfare and infiltration were the Swarm’s inherent strengths.

The Blades had no reason to abandon these specialties, effectively crippling themselves by fighting on their weaker fronts. On the contrary, they needed to leverage these strengths even further, devising strategies and adopting tactics that fully utilized their unique capabilities.

—

“The Swarm seems to have sensed something. Their newly developed star systems have already ramped up production. Should we strike first?”

“There’s no need. The forces we’ve gathered at the front lines are still too few, and those outer-ring civilizations are too weak. Starting a war now wouldn’t even make them viable cannon fodder. Those new star systems—while the Swarm hasn’t occupied them for long—won’t pose a significant threat.” ʀ𝘈𝐍Ő𐌱Ëṡ

“But their numbers are still considerable.”

“No matter. Once our main fleet arrives, we can use our speed advantage to blockade the void between their star systems, isolating them. Then we’ll leverage our superior forces to crush them one by one.”

—

“Even if those minor races manage to seize the artifact, it would be useless. The real game will be decided between us and those at our level.”

“Indeed. For now, our task is to accelerate the construction of the star gates so we can quickly deploy our main fleet and seize the initiative.”

—

“The Swarm’s propulsion technology is relatively underdeveloped. This limits their offensive capabilities, but their defenses are another matter—especially against fleets like ours. On that front, they’re more than adequate. Remind the front-line forces to stay alert and prioritize self-preservation when it matters most.”

—

“We’ve been planning this for so long, and now everything has been disrupted. They’ve ruined it.”

“Not necessarily. The Swarm has already become a target of universal hostility, which aligns with our plans.”

“But we’re no longer in control of the situation. The external races remain fragmented, and with that artifact in play, unity among them is impossible.”

“The Swarm is still too weak, far from meeting our requirements.”

“Perhaps the Swarm isn’t as weak as you think. While that artifact prevents unity among the external races, it has also deepened divisions within the New Ji Race. The future remains uncertain. We still have a chance, and the outcome might be even better than expected.”

“Hmph. Then let’s wait and see.”@@novelbin@@

“If we fail this time, it may be challenging to find such an opportunity again.”

“Even so, it would just mean repeating the past. We’ve already done our best.”

—

Conversations like these echoed in countless corners, with plots and schemes unfolding endlessly. As for the Swarm, having decided to overturn the table, they naturally wouldn’t play along with their opponents’ expectations.