I Am The Swarm

“Overlord, Knight 3857 is honored to serve you,” greeted the Knight controlling the Bio-ship, sensing Luo Wen’s consciousness descend.

A year earlier, two Egret-class transport ships carrying Luo Wen’s physical body had traversed the outermost asteroid belt of the Neighboring Star System and arrived near Planet A5.

The two Bio-ships, disguised as meteors, didn’t head directly for the Great Dawn Planet. For a Bio-ship to reach the Great Dawn Planet, it required multiple deceleration maneuvers and orbital adjustments—behaviors inconsistent with a natural meteor.

Additionally, the Swarm lacked information about the observation capabilities of the alien civilization’s shipborne systems. Such maneuvers could expose anomalies in the meteor disguise.

To remain cautious, the two meteors simulated being captured by the gravitational pull of Planet A5, following a natural trajectory to impact Satellite 2 of Planet A5.

After landing, Luo Wen’s consciousness descended to inspect his physical body, which had been dormant for decades but remained in good condition. Satisfied, he directed the fungal carpet to begin its work and ordered the hatching of ten Brood Queen eggs.

Thanks to advancements in Swarm technology, the Egret-class transport ships, which no longer required an ecological recycling system, featured significantly larger internal spaces than older Swarm Meteors. These spaces could carry much more cargo.

Luo Wen’s personal transport ships alone housed dozens of Brood Queen eggs, each of which had been in close proximity to his physical body and was encoded with the latest gene library version.

A month later, the Swarm base on Satellite A5B2 began to take shape. Besides hatching auxiliary worker species for excavation, the Brood Queens focused on producing Bio-ship eggs.

During the egg development period, the Swarm discovered a radiation-rich mining area on the satellite. Though the Neighboring Star System lacked giant gaseous planets that could serve as massive energy sources, certain radiation deposits were adequate substitutes.

Once hatched, the Bio-ship larvae thrived in the radiated caverns, which had been excavated into vast chambers. When the larvae reached a size of three to four meters, they were sent into space to absorb cosmic radiation directly.

These Bio-ships, primarily composed of transparent aerogel-like materials, were further camouflaged with a coating of nanocrystals. Without close-range, focused detection, they were nearly impossible to spot.

While the Swarm continued amassing strength near Planet A5, the Riken’s investigations on the Great Dawn Planet yielded initial results.

“Reggie, after years of effort, we’ve mapped out the planetary surface and constructed a comprehensive model. However, apart from a few more sites with radiation remnants, we’ve found nothing else,” Dr. Lute reported in the Captain’s quarters.

Besides Dr. Lute, the room also held Captain Reggie and Major Camis, who oversaw the mission’s security. These three were the most powerful figures aboard the Cat’s Ear Spaceship, representing administration, military, and science respectively.

Though the meeting appeared informal, it carried significant weight.

“So, the anomalies must be hidden underground or underwater? A subterranean or deep-sea civilization?” Captain Reggie speculated.

“It’s too early to conclude that. For years, we’ve been operating openly on the surface without encountering any attacks. If a civilization is hidden here, their restraint is extraordinary,” Dr. Lute reasoned.

Captain Reggie nodded in agreement. If he were in their position, he would have at least attempted contact.

He glanced at Major Camis, whose expression betrayed the military’s impatience. They would likely resort to force rather than wait.

“Still, I believe the possibility of a subterranean civilization is higher,” Captain Reggie remarked. “I’ve allocated most satellite resources to monitoring oceanic anomalies and directed Celia to focus processing power on analyzing these areas. Yet we’ve found nothing.”

“Given the lack of artificial evidence in planetary orbit, it seems they haven’t ventured into space. Surveillance from ten kilometers above the surface should be undetectable. If we still can’t find anything, they’re likely not underwater.”

“That’s possible, but I have another hypothesis,” Dr. Lute interjected, pausing before nodding, then shaking his head as if deliberating.

“What is it?”

“What if the nuclear explosions were caused by a creature, a biological entity stronger than the beasts we’ve seen? A predator that usually hibernates but emerges to hunt when hungry. That would explain the anomalies quite well.”

“I thought you were a scientist, but it turns out you’re a fantasist. Do you have any idea what temperatures such a creature would need to endure internally? It’s impossible,” Captain Reggie retorted, his expression shifting as Dr. Lute remained serious. “You’re not joking?”

“Of course not. The universe is vast and filled with unknowns. We shouldn’t define it with our limited understanding of science,” Dr. Lute replied confidently.

“Have you discovered something?”

“Near the two initial radiation sites, I found several shallow pits along the coast, about ten kilometers away. These pits are remarkably uniform in size and shape. Analyzing the surrounding environment and sediment layers suggests they are footprints of some kind of creature. Initially, the footprints were likely much deeper but became shallow due to the high water content in the sand near the sea. I estimate their formation to be about ten years ago.”

“You’re saying these footprints coincide with the timeline of the observed fusion reactions?” Captain Reggie immediately grasped the implication.

“Exactly. Imagine two groups of beasts clashing on the plains. Suddenly, a massive creature emerges from the sea, fires two fusion blasts at them from a distance, and then returns to the ocean.”

“That’s… beyond imagination,” Captain Reggie admitted, stunned by the concept of a creature capable of firing fusion attacks.

“It’s just a theory. But if true, the creature would be colossal—over a hundred meters tall and weighing tens of thousands of tons,” Dr. Lute explained.

Captain Reggie’s lips moved, but he hesitated to voice the phrase “That’s unscientific.”

If Luo Wen were present, he would have applauded Dr. Lute’s deduction. Aside from the exact parties involved in the plains battle, the doctor had almost perfectly reconstructed the events.

Seeing his friend’s astonished expression, Dr. Lute chuckled. “Don’t worry. Even if it’s true, it’s just a creature. We’re a spacefaring civilization. Are we really afraid of one monster?”

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