I Am The Swarm

The inspection team arrived, composed of forensic experts, criminal investigators, and renowned detectives. They wore uniformly issued white coats and approached the scene.@@novelbin@@

“All victims were killed with a single strike, with almost no signs of resistance!”

“These must be highly stealthy and ambush-oriented combat units. The Swarm’s cloaking technology is incredibly advanced, so it’s not surprising they could create something like this. However, this combat style completely redefines my understanding of the Swarm.” To this inspector, the Swarm had always been synonymous with brute force.

“Then your previous understanding might have been biased. Perhaps this is the Swarm’s true nature, but it couldn’t be fully utilized in space environments.”

“I agree. Early records of the Swarm, especially those from the Riken, describe them as mysterious and enigmatic.”

“Enough of this. What else have you found? Can you infer the appearance and abilities of these Swarm units?”

They exchanged glances and nodded. One of them spoke up: “We’ve made some progress on one type.”

“One type?”

“Correct. There are at least two different types of Swarm units involved in this attack.”

One inspector flipped through the bodies and addressed the commander: “First, let’s talk about the one we’ve made progress on. Look here, here, and here—all these points show signs of being pierced by a sharp object.” He pointed to several damaged areas on the protective suits of the corpses.

The commander stepped forward and examined the damage closely. Indeed, there were abnormal punctures on the limbs and backs of the suits. The edges of the holes were clean and fresh, with some still oozing blood, indicating they had been made recently.

“Our sentries were stationed in groups, positioned at angles to cover each other. To approach them, these units must have cloaking capabilities and exceptional agility. Additionally, to prevent the sentries from raising alarms, they must possess incredible communication and coordination skills, allowing them to strike simultaneously.”

The commander nodded in agreement. The inspector then positioned himself on all fours around the corpse, mimicking a crouching posture, and said, “It’s likely they attacked from behind like this. But our soldiers aren’t amateurs, so these units must be large, heavy, and possess enough strength to subdue their targets instantly. Then, they’d strike like this…”

The inspector extended a hand, mimicking a piercing motion at the wound: “Every action must be swift and seamless. Only then can they silence their targets without giving them a chance to call for help or sound the alarm. They’re elite assassins, machines of slaughter.”

“You mentioned you’ve made some progress on their appearance?”

“Correct. We’ve reviewed footage of our soldiers eliminating Swarm airdrop units and noticed a spider-like unit. If we scale it up slightly, it matches the profile of these attackers.”

The commander looked at the bodies on the ground, imagining the inspector’s posture replaced by a giant spider, with the punctures in the suits aligning perfectly.

He nodded, accepting the explanation.

“So, how do we defend against them?” the commander asked.

The inspector stood up and shrugged: “That’s a question for the military, but I think sonar detectors might help us spot them in advance.”

“What about the other unit?”

“Take a look here, Commander,” another inspector in a white coat stepped forward. He moved to two corpses and pointed out their wounds. The injuries were similarly located, concentrated around the head, but upon closer inspection, the commander noticed a difference.

One of the deceased Moto had a twisted expression but a normal body posture, with signs of struggle on his clothes. The other, however, showed no signs of struggle—his clothes were clean, but certain parts of his body were unnaturally contorted.

“What’s going on here?”

The inspector pointed to the second corpse: “This is a clear case of neurotoxin poisoning. He was incapacitated by poison before being killed. The Swarm units must have some form of toxin delivery system.” ȓΆΝŎ𐌱ÈS

“The other unit we discussed is physically strong; it wouldn’t need to poison its targets first. Therefore, we believe the poisoning was done by a different unit.”

“All poisoned soldiers wore less comprehensive protective gear, with some body parts exposed. Those in fully enclosed suits weren’t poisoned before being killed, which suggests that full-body suits are effective against this toxin-delivering unit.”

“Is there more?”

Another inspector stepped forward, flipped the corpse, and pointed to a small puncture on exposed skin: “There’s a tiny needle mark here, almost healed. I suspect it’s from a unit capable of firing venomous projectiles from a distance.”

He pulled out a fine needle and a laser pointer, manipulated them around the mark, and explained: “The attack came from above. If there were no high points nearby, then this projectile-firing unit must also have flight capabilities.”

“If they can fly without alerting the soldiers, cloaking alone isn’t enough.”

“Correct. They’re likely small in size and make minimal noise when flying.”

“How do we defend against this unit?”

“Theoretically, this unit would be physically weaker, with limited combat abilities and ambush potential. Soldiers wearing fully enclosed suits should be able to defend against them effectively.”

“What about the neurotoxin? Can we treat or neutralize it?”

“It’s hard to say. We don’t know its exact composition or mechanism. Perhaps we can find traces in the soldiers’ bodies and develop a countermeasure from there.”

“Good. Any other findings?”

“Not for now. Further autopsies might reveal more.”

“Time is of the essence. Proceed immediately, and report to me directly if you need anything.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The inspectors left, and multiple laboratories were hastily established across the planet. Based on the information gathered, the commander ordered the military to implement several countermeasures.

The Moto didn’t know when the Swarm would strike next, but since there had been no attacks during the day and both units excelled in ambushes, experts concluded that the Swarm would likely attack again at night.

Soon, darkness fell once more.

The Moto soldiers were prepared. Everyone was fully covered, and those without fully enclosed suits used other clothing to protect exposed skin.

Sentinel posts were equipped with additional lighting, sonar detectors, barricades, barbed wire, and heavy weaponry.