I Am The Swarm

“Doctor, what exactly are you trying to say?” a Riken captain asked impatiently. This man had just delivered a lengthy monologue, none of which seemed related to the rescue operation.

“Everyone, I used to think they were simple, brainless beasts. But think about the raiders’ behavior during that last battle. Tens of thousands of them fought to the death without a single one retreating. Underground, not a single bug lingered in tunnels hundreds of meters deep.

“This behavior, to be honest, would be difficult even for our troops to achieve. So I believe this isn’t the behavior of mindless beasts. My earlier assumptions were wrong.

“If their functions are so highly specialized, could there be a type of bug specifically responsible for command and coordination? These would be the brains of the entire Swarm, possessing a certain level of intelligence. That’s why we found almost no brain structures in the raiders; they don’t need them. Their sole purpose is to fight, while the thinking is handled by other bugs specialized for this task. Perhaps we can call them ‘Thinkers.’”

The room grew tense. Fighting a pack of wild beasts was entirely different from combating an intelligent species. No wonder the Swarm was so difficult to deal with—this explanation made sense. Dr. Balt’s hypothesis had convinced them.

“Furthermore, where do all these bugs come from? There must also be breeders responsible for reproduction. We still don’t know how many other types of bugs exist, but I have a bad feeling about this—though I can’t pinpoint why.”

“Doctor, maybe you’re overthinking it. You were the one who confidently claimed they were just brainless, low-level creatures,” a captain said snidely, taking advantage of his personal grudge against Dr. Balt to mock him.

“In any case, I’ve said my piece. Everyone, please stay vigilant.” Dr. Balt did not argue. Those were indeed his earlier words, but further research had changed his perspective.

“Alright, let’s get back on track and discuss how to rescue those patrol teams,” General Masai said, steering the conversation back to the mission.

The Riken launched a massive operation. Numerous transport ships ferried personnel and equipment between the surface and orbital bases, steadily deploying resources onto the Great Dawn Planet.

The military was mobilized, and the rescue operation commenced. Eleven underground Swarm nests needed to be breached, with their locations already identified by scout drones.

Over 200,000 Riken troops were distributed across the 11 battlefields.

Based on data from the previously conquered nest, the straight-line distance from the surface to the “granary” was less than a kilometer. However, the labyrinthine tunnels required extensive manpower to navigate. Despite this, only a limited number of soldiers could enter the tunnels at any one time.

Thus, most of the troops remained outside to guard against a counterattack. The previous battlefield, where a digging operation nearing the “granary” provoked a deadly Swarm charge, was still fresh in their minds.

A large number of gunships patrolled the skies, keeping watch for ambushes. Transport and rescue ships stood by, and a field hospital was hastily set up five kilometers from the battle zone.

The Riken’s efficiency was impressive. Within just one day, all preparations were complete, and the offensive began the following night.

Taking advantage of the Swarm’s regular hunting patterns, the Riken first ambushed raiders emerging from cave entrances, weakening the enemy’s combat strength.

Without pause, the assault troops, led by special forces units, stormed the tunnels.

To prevent underground collapses, explosives were avoided. Instead, flamethrowers became the primary weapon for firepower suppression.

The soldiers wore heavy protective suits and carried oxygen tanks. Flamethrowers consumed large amounts of oxygen, which was scarce in the tunnels, necessitating their own breathing equipment.

Biological experts noted that the toxins generated by flamethrower combustion, combined with oxygen depletion, would also inflict significant additional damage on the Swarm.

Concerns about how oxygen depletion might affect the “granary” were conveniently ignored.

The soldiers advanced steadily, splitting into smaller groups at intersections to cover more ground.

The operation proceeded unusually smoothly. Although the Swarm launched attacks, the flamethrowers proved devastating in the narrow tunnels. Even bugs that charged through the flames were heavily injured, becoming easy targets for soldiers following behind.

However, the Swarm’s relentless aggression forced the flamethrowers to work nonstop. Charred bug carcasses clogged the passageways, necessitating frequent clearing. Consequently, after two hours, the troops had advanced less than 500 meters. The attacking force had even cycled through three waves due to depleted fuel and oxygen.

Fortunately, Riken casualties were minimal, with most injuries caused by friendly fire—a common hazard in the cramped tunnels.

Meanwhile, commanders monitored the battlefield via real-time feeds.

“The operation is going well. These beasts underestimated the power of technology,” one captain remarked, visibly relaxed as he watched the footage.

“It seems Dr. Balt’s concerns were unnecessary,” added the captain who often clashed with Balt, his tone laced with mockery.

“Who would’ve thought they’d be so fragile? And to think we were worried before.”

“This method is consuming a lot of fuel and ammunition, though.”

“Don’t worry. That’s a small price compared to lives lost. Once we secure a safe environment, factories can be set up quickly, and supplies will be easy to replenish.”

“True enough.”

“At this pace, we should finish by tomorrow. I wonder how many people we’ll rescue.”

“Hard to say. That biologist later analyzed that rescuing nearly half of the captives previously was due to us depleting so many bugs, which increased the available food. These other nests haven’t been weakened, so losses might be heavier.”

“The results don’t matter, do they? We’re doing what they hoped we’d do.”

“Exactly.”

Meanwhile, at Lieutenant Colonel Cross’s base.

Since the nearby Swarm nest had been severely weakened, the Riken had been operating there without further attacks for some time. Now, with operations underway elsewhere, most of the forces had been redeployed, leaving only Cross’s garrison to guard the enormous pit.

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