I Am The Swarm

In Diallo’s father’s generation, the battle for succession saw 34 princes competing for the throne. By the end, only two remained. His father ultimately claimed victory by orchestrating the demise of eleven rivals, earning the crown through the points system.

Such ruthless competition ensured that only the strongest survived. Even in the rare instance of a “lucky winner,” the royal family’s secretive institutions were in place to either support a capable king or reduce an incompetent one to a mere figurehead.

For over a millennium, this system, bolstered by oversight and assistance from the suzerain nation, had allowed the Daqi Empire to thrive. However, with the aging king nearing the end of his reign, a new round of succession battles was imminent.

As the third prince, Diallo was well-positioned for the contest, commanding a fleet of over 2,000 warships. However, he had little interest in ruling. Becoming king would tie him to the Daqi homeworld, making it nearly impossible to roam the stars—a prospect he could not accept.

When the suzerain nation issued a mission, Diallo eagerly volunteered. It provided the perfect excuse to evade the succession war while taking his fleet on an extended adventure. If he delayed his return, he risked losing his military command and being relegated to the title of duke, but Diallo found this preferable to being bound to the throne.

Diallo’s adjutant and one of his many consorts, Aslit, accompanied him. Though Diallo had numerous consorts, only one held the position of his adjutant, and that honor belonged to Aslit.

The Daqi culture exalted the aesthetics of violence. From the brutal succession rules to the dark red patterns adorning their warships and uniforms, their appreciation for power was unmistakable. Aslit’s position had not come without fierce competition; despite her calm demeanor, she had once cut down many rivals to secure her place.

“Aslit, they’ve spotted us. What kind of grand entrance should I make?” Diallo asked, gazing at the screen before him. He ran a hand through his short dark-red hair, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Beneath Diallo’s seemingly sinister exterior lay a playful, unpredictable personality. His decision to accept the mission and travel to the Riken Star System was equivalent to forfeiting his claim to the throne, shocking many Daqi citizens and infuriating his brothers.

As the powerful third prince, his deliberate withdrawal from the contest left many other princes envious of his privilege.

Among those vying for the throne, however, his decision was met with genuine relief. They even offered heartfelt blessings for his departure.

Aslit didn’t respond immediately. She knew that when Diallo posed such questions, no answer was necessary unless he pressed further.

Sure enough, Diallo didn’t expect a reply. Instead, he continued, “I’ve decided. Let’s give them a grand welcoming ceremony—just like Troi did for us back then.”

“Your Highness, I advise caution. That was over a thousand years ago. Our relations with Troi are stable now,” Aslit reminded him gently, aware that the ship’s AI was recording his every word.

“What’s there to fear? Remembering history doesn’t prevent us from maintaining good relations with them. Weakness is a sin, and I’ve never thought Troi was wrong. Look at us now—we’re equals. I think these two new civilizations need a similar lesson. Let the handsome Diallo play the villain for once.”

Aslit sighed inwardly but dutifully replied, “Your Highness, your intentions are difficult for ordinary people to comprehend.”

Diallo smiled warmly. “They don’t need to understand. It’s enough that you do.”

“…”

Seeing his consort and adjutant’s pained expression, Diallo burst into hearty laughter. Turning toward the lower deck of the bridge, he commanded, “Clear the path. Accelerate forward. Let’s greet our new friends.”

“Your Highness, the Rikens are manageable, but the Swarm is peculiar. The suzerain seems to take them quite seriously. We should proceed with caution.”

“Be more confident, Aslit. Perhaps they’ll surpass us in the future, but for now, we still hold the lead. Besides, isn’t it all the more fascinating that the suzerain cares so much about them? Hahaha…” Diallo laughed, his tone a mixture of amusement and arrogance.

“I’m worried that they might retaliate against us later…” Aslit said cautiously.

“Hmph! Every civilization has gone through this phase—it’s an unspoken rule. If they dare resist, they’ll be challenging the entire alliance. Look back over millennia—who’s ever opposed it?” Diallo dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand, his fiery gaze fixed on Planet Izumo in the distance.

This mission was a plum assignment—leveraging their technological superiority to dominate and exploit lesser civilizations, who would then treat them as honored guests. In Daqi’s history, they’d only undertaken such a task once before, and the mission report described a process that had long fueled Diallo’s ambitions.

This time, there were two civilizations involved—ample opportunity for extended entertainment.

“But the suzerain won’t intervene in smaller conflicts,” Aslit said, still apprehensive.

She knew Diallo well. Beneath his playful exterior lay a reckless, volatile core that, once provoked, could lead to catastrophic actions. The Swarm was particularly concerning, being a civilization the suzerain watched with great interest.

From the intelligence gathered, they didn’t appear to be the type to take kindly to subjugation. If Diallo pushed too far, it might lead to repercussions that the Daqi Empire would regret for generations.

“Enough,” Diallo cut her off, his voice tinged with impatience. “By the time they’re strong enough to challenge the Daqi Empire, I’ll probably be long dead. And if they end up tearing each other apart, what’s it to me? It’s not like Daqi’s future king will be my descendant anyway.”

“Ah…” Aslit sighed deeply but chose to remain silent. She feared that continuing to argue would only provoke Diallo further.

As the third prince, raised amidst the pinnacle of privilege and power, his unique upbringing had made him resistant to opposition or counsel, often reacting contrarily when pressed.

Diallo’s fleet entered the Riken Star System at a position alarmingly close to both the Twin Star Defensive Zone and Planet Izumo. It was likely a deliberate maneuver on their part.

The Daqi warships, their prows equipped with shield projectors, moved with reckless speed, undeterred by obstacles large or small. This allowed them to maintain a formidable pace as they approached their destination.

From afar, the sight of over 2,000 warships, adorned with dark red patterns and boldly unshielded, streaking directly toward the tense standoff between the Rikens and the Swarm, painted an audacious image.

Sarah Kerrigan watched the spectacle unfold on her command display, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Oh? Arriving here and immediately picking a two-front fight? Such confidence… I like it.”

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