I Am The Swarm

When his old friend posed the question, Dr. Lute fell into deep thought. As time passed, his expression grew increasingly twisted, as if he were wrestling with his conscience.

What should they do now?

He felt a flicker of resentment toward his friend for forcing him to confront such a dilemma.

Lute had always been a clever, rational man, yet in the face of death, he was no different from anyone else. Seeing his friend’s contorted face, Reggie found it oddly amusing; the dark mood that had gripped him began to lift.

“Lute, since the enemy possesses intelligence, do you think it’s possible to communicate with them?” Reggie asked.

The question struck Lute like lightning, jolting him to his senses. Though he had acknowledged their intelligence in words, he had subconsciously categorized them as mindless beasts.

But if they truly were intelligent, communication had to be a possibility.

“What’s your plan?” Lute asked.

“Demonstrate our value and buy time. Do you remember what I said about reinforcements possibly arriving sooner than expected? If we can delay things, we might actually survive until help arrives.”

“It’s not that I’m withholding information—I’m just not certain. Remember when we reached the T85 Star System and detected that energy burst? We managed to relay a message back to the homeworld then.”

Lute nodded, prompting Reggie to continue.

“Years ago, we received a reply. It briefly mentioned technological advancements. Apparently, some external force helped them achieve breakthroughs, though the details were vague.”

Lute understood. Interstellar communication rarely conveyed complete details. If something made it into the report, it was undoubtedly significant.

“So, what now? Wait and see? Judging by the fact they haven’t destroyed the ship, it seems they want to take us alive. Should we surrender outright?”

“No, no. Let’s observe first. If they can’t even breach these bulkheads, our bargaining position will only improve.”

As they spoke, the surveillance feed showed the alien creatures emerging in full view. Their large, bulbous heads were ringed with a dozen writhing appendages.

“They look like some sort of mollusk.”

“It’s hard to imagine they’re intelligent.”

Suddenly, the creatures retreated, clearing the space. Then, a larger one crawled into the chamber.

“What are they doing?”

“No idea.”

In the footage, blue electrical arcs flashed.

“Boom!”

An irregular circular hole was blasted through the bulkhead. The mollusks worked together to enlarge the breach, allowing a swarm of them to pour in.

On the bridge, Reggie, Lute, and the rest of the crew watched in stunned silence.

“Lute, you’re the expert. Are these really living organisms?”

“They… they should be. If a monster capable of deploying nuclear weapons exists, why not creatures that can function as electromagnetic cannons?” Lute replied, though his wavering voice revealed his struggle to process the absurdity. Internally, he cursed, What the hell is this?!

The Riken had chosen an energy-focused path for their technology, though they had a thorough theoretical understanding of electromagnetic weapons. Seeing such a weapon integrated into a living organism was mind-boggling.

“It seems we should prepare for surrender. Let’s hope they offer a dignified process,” Reggie remarked with a bitter smile. “Celia, open communications with the entire crew.”

“Yes, Captain. Communications are live.”

“My fellow Riken, it seems our first encounter with an alien intelligence has led us to this. To minimize casualties, I have decided to surrender. Take care of yourselves, but never compromise the honor of our people.”

“Celia, unlock all bulkheads.”

Given their intent to take captives, the aliens would likely use the ship as a holding area since it was already equipped to sustain Riken life. By opening the bulkheads themselves, Reggie hoped to ensure better treatment in captivity.

With the Riken presence in the neighboring star system neutralized, Luo Wen turned his attention to reaping the rewards.

First, Luo Wen organized a team of 50,000 Intelligent Entities to reverse-engineer the alien technology. While the Riken’s advancements were only slightly ahead of the Swarm, their unique strengths presented valuable opportunities.

Weaponry: Mastering their designs could enable the Swarm to develop bio-organs for long-range attacks, reducing reliance on melee combat.

Observation Technology: The Swarm’s initial neglect in this area had left them behind. Riken expertise could fill this gap.

Artificial Intelligence: Although overlapping with the Swarm’s Blade systems, Riken AI offered potential performance enhancements for Swarm units.

Solar Sail Technology: While not particularly advanced, it inspired Luo Wen to consider developing a space-adaptive fungal carpet to absorb radiation more efficiently. Modifications to energy transmission systems could accelerate the growth of Swarm space units.

Other Riken technologies, such as protective suits and communication systems, were deemed inferior to the Swarm’s and only warranted minimal analysis.

With the ship secured, Luo Wen’s focus shifted to the prize still waiting on Great Dawn Planet – Godzilla.

The creature’s genetic material could unlock controlled fusion technology for the Swarm. Additionally, its mysterious abilities—such as its magnetic propulsion and weight-reduction mechanisms—presented opportunities for further breakthroughs. Whether these were physical adaptations or electromagnetic phenomena, they promised valuable insights.

The banquet was prepared, and the Swarm was ready to feast.

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