I Am The Swarm

The Troi officer’s statement wasn’t entirely wrong. Over the past few years, the Swarm had rapidly deployed a massive number of combat units across several nearby star systems. After nearly two decades of dormancy in solar orbital positions, these units had now fully matured.

According to the Ji Race’s latest intelligence, the Swarm had relatively few 3,000 meter class combat units comparable in size to conventional warships, most of which were concentrated in the Genesis System.

However, the number of combat units exceeding 500 meters had surpassed ten million. Coupled with the Swarm’s “bad habit” of hiding assets within planetary interiors, their concealed strength was virtually impossible to predict.

Had the Daqi possessed this more accurate and reliable information back then, they likely wouldn’t have dared to showcase the “Crimson Kiss” as an invitation tool.

“We hold a speed advantage. We can conduct guerrilla tactics, wear them down, and eliminate them piece by piece. Even if we can’t directly harm them, we can force them to consolidate, slowing their development,” proposed another lieutenant general.

This officer appeared to have carefully studied the Swarm and offered a strategy that, while devious, could indeed cause some trouble for them if implemented.

Viller considered the suggestion seriously but ultimately rejected the tempting plan. The complex environments within star systems, coupled with the unknown limits of the Swarm’s capabilities, rendered such an approach too risky. Neither the Riken nor the Daqi civilizations had been able to push the Swarm to its full potential.

What other surprises the Swarm might have—like the sudden introduction of their energy cannons, which had decisively turned the tide in past battles—remained an unsettling mystery.

Viller, holding a prestigious position, wasn’t willing to gamble. Losing the wager would be a minor issue compared to jeopardizing his life and reputation in the process.

Moreover, this operation was clearly influenced by the Ji Race, who were notorious for their hidden agendas. Whatever motives they harbored this time were undoubtedly self-serving. Their intentions, however, were relatively transparent: since neither the Riken nor the Daqi could determine the Swarm’s limits, they sought to send a stronger adversary to probe further.

But the Troi Empire wasn’t particularly eager to serve as this “adversary.”

What puzzled Viller even more was why the Ji Race, given their apparent interest in the Swarm, refused to engage directly.

Although the Interstellar Technological Confederation was rife with internal conflicts, real authority ultimately stemmed from raw strength. The Ji Race was incredibly powerful. Even if the Swarm’s capabilities were multiplied tenfold or a hundredfold, they still wouldn’t be a match for the Ji Race.

While the Ji Race claimed to abstain due to protections for nascent civilizations within the Confederation, Viller dismissed this justification with scorn. In inter-civilizational dealings, strength was the only truth that mattered. If the Ji Race truly wanted to act, they could easily fabricate a pretext to bypass these rules—they’d done it before.

Once they acted and cemented the results, no other civilization would challenge the galaxy’s strongest faction to defend a primitive race. The reality was harsh: weakness was the original sin, and every civilization should accept this truth.

The Swarm itself wasn’t innocent, either. It seemed to have emerged out of nowhere, with a technological trajectory utterly alien to the norms of established civilizations. If the Ji Race decided to intervene, the rest of the Confederation would simply follow behind, hoping to scavenge benefits. No one would protest.

However, the Ji Race’s continued behind-the-scenes maneuvering was deeply unsettling. They were undoubtedly withholding some critical, possibly decisive, information about the Swarm. This secrecy amplified Viller’s apprehension.

The officers now arguing in the conference room were at least brigadier generals, each one a veteran of hard-fought battles. The brainless ones had long since died on the battlefield. Viller trusted that, after reviewing the intelligence, most of them could reach the same conclusions.

That said, the one who had started the commotion was indeed among the minority—arrogant and foolish to a fault. This was why Viller had instructed his subordinates to shut him down, hoping it would silence him.

Viller had underestimated the sheer arrogance of that particular officer. However, as the argument escalated, it became clear that the newcomers joining the fray were far more cunning.

None of them truly wished to probe the Swarm’s full strength, but they naturally split into two camps and escalated the dispute—not to alleviate boredom, but with calculated intent.

Even within Viller’s own faction, there were varying degrees of loyalty, to say nothing of a 200,000-strong fleet drawn from over a dozen star systems. While everyone was content with the current status quo, plans never kept pace with changes in reality.

If circumstances shifted and they truly had to engage the Swarm in battle, who would take the vanguard? Who would handle the riskiest missions?

As the highest commander of the expedition, Viller’s faction and its close allies were undoubtedly pleased with their positions. However, those less aligned—or even hostile—were likely feeling uneasy. It was only natural for them to worry about being sent to bear the brunt of danger. РåΝȫʙЕș

Faced with potential future risks, it was better for these factions to act preemptively. Everyone was fully aware of the fleet’s intricate web of relationships. By continuously creating friction and conflict, they could make Viller’s position increasingly difficult. Undermining his authority and portraying him as unfit for command would help justify any future acts of insubordination.

This was an open scheme—one they didn’t fear Viller uncovering.

Viller shook his head with a wry smile. It was a situation with no easy resolution. Even if he managed to resolve this particular dispute, the underlying tensions would persist, and these people would inevitably stir up new trouble.

Still, he understood their motivations. It was all about survival and power. If their roles were reversed, he admitted he might be causing just as much trouble. In his younger years, when he’d been clawing his way up the ranks, he’d been a master of such tactics.

For now, all he could do was hope the mission would proceed smoothly, that no unexpected disasters would arise, and that everyone would complete their tasks peacefully. A win-win situation, with no one needing to be burdened with undue stress, was his ideal outcome.

“While we have a speed advantage, we lack range superiority. Additionally, aside from their solar orbital bases, most of the Swarm’s other bases are hidden underground on their planets. Unless we destroy the planets themselves, it’s nearly impossible to completely wipe out their forces. Meanwhile, their solar orbital bases are heavily fortified. They don’t even need to match our speed—by simply defending, they could nullify our advantage.”

“But we could still isolate them, cutting them off and turning their bases into islands.”

“Are you an idiot? Even if you isolate them, can you wipe them out entirely? And do you think the Swarm operates like us, requiring logistical support? They can just sit in their solar orbital positions and continuously grow stronger through division and evolution. Isolating them does nothing—they don’t even want to come out!”

“True. According to the intelligence, the Swarm is incredibly reclusive. Without military provocation, they can remain in their bases for decades or even centuries without needing to interact.”

“Interact? With what? The units out there are all bioweapons. Bioweapons don’t need to interact! The real Swarm leaders are hiding who-knows-where. Even with the Ji Race’s resources, they still haven’t located them. Unless we find and eliminate those hidden entities, destroying countless bioweapons will mean nothing!”

Watching the heated arguments, Viller adjusted his mindset and relaxed. Let them argue, he thought. It’s something to do, and it keeps them busy.

For now, he saw no harm in letting them vent—it was as good a way as any to pass the time.

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