I Am The Swarm

The first theory had garnered significant support.

The Swarm was first discovered on the fifth planet of the T85 Star System, a barren, atmosphere-less world. According to the Rikens’ evolutionary theories, such a planet lacked the conditions necessary for life to emerge.

Yet not only was life present, but it also belonged to an advanced civilization.

However, whether the Swarm qualified as a “civilization” remained a contentious debate among the Rikens. To this day, they had not fully grasped the Swarm’s true nature.

Regardless of its essence, the Swarm had demonstrated the ability to travel between star systems. Though the Rikens had yet to crack the Swarm’s gene lock, one thing was clear: the Space Octopuses, regardless of size, had no onboard operators.

This was the central puzzle surrounding the Swarm’s identity, and the key argument supporting the first theory.

If the Space Octopuses were not some kind of biomechanical weapon but actual members of the Swarm, then the Swarm might not be the bio-technology-focused civilization the Rikens had previously assumed.

This line of thinking suggested that the Swarm might be a species with a hive-mind consciousness, exhibiting coordination and fearlessness akin to insect colonies.

If so, and if the Swarm was naturally capable of surviving in the vacuum of space, it stood to reason that they had expanded into surrounding star systems long ago. Planet Raze could have harbored Swarm units for years, allowing them to develop and grow unnoticed.

Despite its plausibility, the first theory faced considerable opposition. While it provided a partial explanation for the presence of so many combat units on Planet Raze, it raised more questions than it answered.

First of all, could a naturally evolved species develop electromagnetic railguns and plasma propulsion systems?

Supporters of the first theory argued that while the Swarm exhibited hive-mind traits, this didn’t preclude technological advancements. Perhaps their current abilities reflected centuries of self-modification. However, this interpretation circled back to the idea of a bio-technology civilization.

Secondly, the fungal carpet (the purple-gray patches) presented a significant conundrum. These entities were clearly not individual Swarm units, yet they exhibited functional characteristics similar to those of the Space Octopuses.

The electromagnetic railguns present on the fungal carpet mirrored those mounted on the Space Octopuses, which seemed inexplicable under the first theory.

Finally, if the Swarm had indeed been developing forces on Planet Raze for years, why didn’t they deploy them during the first defense of Planet Raze? Letting so many units lie dormant while sacrificing countless others seemed irrational. Even proponents of the first theory struggled to address this point convincingly.

In response to these criticisms, a second theory emerged.

The second theory posited that the Swarm was a bio-technologically advanced civilization. The exact form of its members remained unknown, but the Space Octopuses were considered biomechanical weapons, as were the fungal carpets.

Under this framework, the Swarm’s various units shared functions and features because they were products of the same technological ecosystem. Though the Rikens had yet to unravel their structures, their external similarities and operational characteristics supported this hypothesis.

Additionally, these units could sometimes transition between forms. This explained why electromagnetic railguns appeared across different Swarm entities, from Space Octopuses to fungal carpets.

Delving further into this perspective, it raised the question: if some Swarm units could transition into others, might they all be interconnected? Could certain units function as hatcheries for other combat entities?

This theory implied a highly adaptive and modular biological system, wherein the Swarm’s technological and biological components were seamlessly integrated. It also hinted at the terrifying possibility that the Swarm’s ability to repurpose its own units extended far beyond what the Rikens had observed.

This perspective could explain why, during the first defense of Planet Raze, the Swarm went to such great lengths, sacrificing an entire fleet just to establish a foothold.

The purpose was to deploy unit-producing structures on the planet. Over the subsequent decade, these structures produced vast numbers of combat units. Evidence of this could be seen in the final assault on the underground nuclear power plant, where surveillance footage captured the presence of numerous small Space Octopuses.

“In this light, the second theory does seem much more plausible than the first,” one participant acknowledged.

“Hmph! Until we discover proof of individual intelligent life within the Swarm, I’ll stick to the first theory,” another countered.

“Why couldn’t it be a combination of both theories?” someone suggested.

“You mean they used technology to transform themselves into those things? What’s the point of survival for their individuals, then?”

“How do you know their survival has no meaning? Don’t impose your narrow values on other intelligent species!”

“What’s this? Did you take a bribe from the Swarm? Why are you defending them? This is a war of civilizations! A war between species! There’s no such thing as surrender!”

“You’re full of crap!”

“That part is indeed strange,” a Riken strategist remarked, attempting to shift the conversation. “With the Swarm’s advanced technology, you’d think communication would be possible. We were wrong to invade their star system first, but why didn’t they attempt any form of communication before launching a war?”

In the decades of conflict between the Rikens and the Swarm, there had been no attempts at diplomacy or even simple communication. To this day, the Rikens didn’t even know whether the Space Octopuses were the Swarm’s true members or merely their constructs.

This lack of information had left many Riken experts with little to contribute.

In interspecies interactions, even seemingly insignificant details could reveal crucial information. For example, creatures with eyes positioned at the front of their heads were generally predators. Forward-facing eyes provided better depth perception and spatial awareness, traits advantageous for locating prey. Such species often exhibited higher aggression and a predilection for meat consumption, or at least omnivory.

Conversely, creatures with eyes positioned on the sides of their heads tended to be prey animals. Their wider field of vision helped them detect threats and escape. These species were typically herbivores, less aggressive, and lower on the food chain.

While such primitive analysis might not fully apply to advanced intelligent civilizations, the evolutionary roots of sentient species often influenced their behavior to some degree.

Beyond eye placement, physical characteristics such as height, posture, cranial size, muscle distribution, and skeletal structure could provide critical insights.

Unfortunately, these fields of study were rendered useless by the lack of information about the Swarm’s true form. If the Space Octopuses were indeed individual members of the Swarm, their design suggested an overwhelmingly aggressive and militaristic nature.

Every component of their bodies seemed to serve as a weapon or as support for weapon systems. This appearance had led most Rikens to believe that the Space Octopuses were not members of the Swarm but rather biomechanical weapons.

“Maybe we just haven’t found the right way to communicate with them?” one participant suggested tentatively.

“I agree. This war feels utterly senseless. We don’t have any deep-seated hatred toward them. How did it come to this?”

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