I Am The Swarm

“Milton, you’re oversimplifying things. Don’t forget about our soldiers on the front lines! We can’t completely sever their communication with the homeworld. The earlier leaks have already dealt a severe blow to morale!” a general retorted.

Being on the front lines, he had greater authority on the matter. Much of the Swarm-related information had been deliberately withheld from ordinary Riken soldiers because battles perceived as unwinnable would severely undermine morale.

In the past, the hope of a desperate, last-ditch effort could sometimes spark a reversal in morale. However, the Swarm’s surrender offer had utterly dashed those hopes.

Now, differing voices were emerging among the Riken soldiers. Both hardline resistance supporters and advocates for surrender had grown in number, creating significant risks to the defensive lines.

“Exactly! If the information spreads too widely, and we engage in conflict with the Swarm, captured soldiers could leak the information. Losing this bargaining chip would place us in a highly disadvantageous position.”

The old general supported this stance, though he left one thought unspoken: if the information became too widespread, surrender advocates might commit actions that would bring shame upon the Rikens. Such individuals, desperate to curry favor with the Swarm, would eagerly use valuable information to gain their favor.

This was a flaw inherent to civilizations composed of intelligent individuals—there would always be a few who acted against the greater good for personal gain.

Milton fell silent. Stationed on the homeworld, he had never even visited the Twin Star Defensive Zone, let alone the second colony. His understanding of the military situation was surface-level at best, shaped by polished reports far removed from reality.

After hearing the generals’ concerns, he realized his oversight but quickly raised another issue.

“Have you considered the possibility that previously missing personnel, those aware of this information, might have been captured by the Swarm? What if the information has already been leaked?”

“Don’t worry. Every senior officer on the front lines with knowledge of this information voluntarily implanted a small device in their heads to ensure the data remains secure,” the old general replied before lapsing into silence.

The “voluntary” nature of these implants was debatable. Officially, the devices were described as self-detonating upon activation. In practice, their trigger mechanisms were far stricter—if an officer moved beyond a certain distance from their fleet, vehicle, or escape pod during wartime, the implant would automatically detonate.

Given the unpredictable nature of the battlefield, unforeseen incidents or misjudgments were inevitable. Yet, those Rikens privy to such classified information and enjoying its accompanying privileges were expected to bear greater responsibilities and risks.

“Rest assured, the front line is secure. If a problem arises, it’ll be on your end—within the council. Some of those individuals can be too clever for their own good, often making foolish decisions.”

As the discussion veered into unproductive territory, Antonio prepared to steer it back on track.

However, the old general continued, “The matter of the treasure requires a two-pronged approach. First, the specifics of what it is must remain a closely guarded secret. Second, we must enhance security around the laboratory. Even if the Swarm discovers what the treasure is, not knowing its location will still leave us with leverage.”

“Agreed. The laboratory has already implemented stricter security measures. All personnel with access to the treasure are under complete isolation. Most haven’t left the facility in years,” Antonio confirmed.

“That’s good.”

Since the beginning of the Swarm-Riken conflict, the laboratory’s security measures had been continuously upgraded. Previously, before the Swarm emerged as a threat, security had been stringent but not to the extent of restricting personal freedom entirely.

Although Cleo had initially adhered to confidentiality protocols and withheld specific research results from Lieutenant Colonel Cross, she had overlooked some peripheral details. This lapse allowed Cross to piece together fragments of information. However, because these fragments were not part of official records, the Rikens never suspected the missing Cross had access to anything critical.

Unbeknownst to them, the so-called “treasure” had already been fully exposed to the Swarm. To make matters worse, even among the supposedly isolated and restricted scientists, several intelligent entities loyal to the Swarm had infiltrated their ranks.

The meeting continued for some time, ultimately resolving to keep the “treasure” a closely guarded secret. Afterward, the recalled Riken generals hurriedly boarded their warships and returned to the front lines.

Before departing, the old general lingered in thought before issuing a stern warning.

“Ladies and gentlemen, regardless of the referendum’s outcome—whether we fight or surrender—we must assert our value. Only by holding leverage can we negotiate for our interests. I don’t care if there are opposition members or other factions among you. President Antonio will undoubtedly safeguard the treasure’s secrecy, but I expect none of you to leak information through other channels.”

His sharp gaze swept over the silent council members, his tone turning cold and menacing. “I don’t care what schemes you’re plotting or what grudges you harbor, but remember this—you are Rikens. There are lines you cannot cross. If I find anyone betraying our species, I will return with my fleet to destroy them myself, even if it means abandoning our war with the Swarm. I’ll make sure they are buried before the extinction of our people!”

Having delivered his message, the old general turned and boarded his warship.

As the bright glow of the engines faded into the distance, the remaining Rikens watched the massive steel vessel disappear, their expressions shifting between uncertainty and resolve. Each harbored private thoughts but chose to remain silent.

The old general’s warning had its intended effect. Public discourse on the Riken homeworld became noticeably more restrained, with fewer instigators stirring up dissent. Antonio seized the opportunity to divert attention by releasing a flood of unrelated news stories and imposing stricter controls over the network.

The military’s growing influence created a subtle but tangible rift from Antonio’s authority. With their decisive interference, both Antonio and the opposition tacitly reduced the focus on divisive issues.

The once-vigorous public referendum gradually lost momentum as the populace adopted a wait-and-see approach, hoping to gauge the Swarm’s bottom line before making a decision.

The Swarm’s silence played into this strategy, as the Rikens decided to observe and wait. As the old general had phrased it, rushing forward uninvited would not only weaken their position but also expose vulnerabilities, harming any future negotiations.

Time passed swiftly, and the Riken public referendum became a farce. Regardless of the outcome, factions arose to demand re-votes for various reasons. So far, three rounds of voting had been conducted, leaving the Riken populace apathetic.

Then, just as the Rikens anxiously awaited developments, the Swarm finally made a move.

A massive force of 20,000 Primordial bodies assembled and began to drift away from Planet Izumo’s orbit. Having rested there for a significant period, many had grown to nearly 600 meters, with some elite units surpassing 700 meters.

This dramatic military maneuver was immediately detected by the ever-vigilant Riken forces, who promptly adopted defensive postures.

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