I Am The Swarm

A Swarm Meteor launched randomly over a century ago, after numerous course adjustments, was now miraculously on the verge of entering the Neighboring Star System.

If it had maintained its optimal speed, it should have reached this position more than 30 years ago. However, repeated deceleration events had significantly delayed its progress.

Despite its reduced speed, the meteor required less than two months to reach the outermost planetary orbit of the Neighboring Star System.

This was the closest any Swarm Meteor had come to the system.

A response team of 20,000 members was assembled, consisting of experts in fields like astrophysics, spectroscopy, mathematics, physics, and environmental sciences.

Since these experts were all Swarm Intelligent Entities, the assembly process was highly efficient. Entities without physical bodies simply transmitted themselves into the Swarm Network’s dedicated research spaces, while those with bodies stored them in nutrient chambers at nearby Swarm bases or facilities before returning to the network. Luo Wen then pulled their consciousnesses into the task force.

Codenamed “Visit,” the team swiftly took control of the Swarm Meteor, referred to as “Greeting Gift.”

All data collected by the meteor’s observational organs—spectral readings, radiation levels, and information about surrounding celestial bodies—was continuously transmitted back for analysis.

The team faced challenges due to the meteor’s outdated technology from a century ago. Its radar system was particularly primitive, capable of detecting smaller asteroids or meteors only at very close ranges.

Although this extended the time needed to reach the outermost orbit from a few weeks to over a year, the denser obstacles within the star system required slower speeds to allow sufficient reaction time.

Navigating the Outer Asteroid Belt

Months later, the Swarm Meteor cautiously approached the outer asteroid belt of the Neighboring Star System. This belt, a chaotic field of small obstacles, formed the system’s first line of defense. Careless navigation could easily result in collision and destruction.

During this phase, the “Visit” team expended immense effort analyzing and calculating trajectories. The workload became so heavy that the team expanded to 100,000 members. Eventually, the Swarm Meteor safely identified a less congested route and successfully traversed the belt.

The belt was over 10 million kilometers wide. Although the Swarm Meteor successfully crossed it, multiple unavoidable deceleration maneuvers reduced its speed to 20 km/s—only a fraction (1/1,500) of its initial 30,000 km/s. This further extended the time required to reach the outer planetary orbit.

Such complications stemmed from the outdated technology onboard the meteor. Its propulsion system, a simple hydrogen-oxygen reaction thruster, was vastly inferior to current Swarm bio-ships.

Modern bio-transport ships, like the one Luo Wen used, could detect obstacles from much greater distances and react with far greater agility. Even when forced to decelerate, their powerful propulsion systems could easily regain speed afterward.

The latest bio-ships, equipped with electromagnetic propulsion systems, could reach 20 km/s effortlessly in space and exceed 50 km/s under higher power. Within planetary atmospheres, their speeds ranged from 1 to 10 km/s depending on their size and air density.

In contrast, the Swarm Meteor’s outdated technology meant that once its speed decreased, regaining momentum became nearly impossible.

Targeting the Neighboring Star System

The Neighboring Star System was slightly smaller than the Genesis Star System, with only seven planets. Based on spectral analysis, the Swarm aimed to land the meteor on the third planet.

This planet, slightly larger than Genesis Planet at 1.2 times its volume, had an atmosphere and temperatures ranging from -30°C to 50°C. Spectral data indicated the presence of abundant liquid water on its surface.

These characteristics strongly suggested that the planet, named Neighboring A3 or “Great Genesis,” might harbor life. For Luo Wen, alien genetic material was an enticing prospect.

The Swarm Meteor was approximately 6 billion kilometers away from this planet. At its current speed, it would take nearly 10 years to arrive.

Fortunately, the gravitational influence of celestial bodies ahead cleared the space significantly, improving safety.

Although the extended mission duration posed challenges, the “Visit” team remained active. According to projections, several other Swarm Meteors would navigate through obstacles to reach the Neighboring Star System in the coming years.

The team’s responsibilities expanded to include trajectory planning and landing site selection for these incoming meteors. Members without physical bodies remained permanently assigned to the team, while those with bodies rotated shifts for rest.

Ten Years Later

As a decade passed, the “Greeting Gift” Swarm Meteor was joined by three more meteors under the “Visit” team’s guidance, successfully crossing the outer asteroid belt and entering the Neighboring Star System.

The seventh planet in the system, named Neighboring A7 or “Great Valley Planet,” served as a resting point for one of the meteors.

Unlike the Genesis Star System, which included the gas giant A7, the Neighboring Star System consisted entirely of terrestrial planets. Such planets were ideal for establishing Swarm bases.

Great Valley Planet, composed mainly of rock and ice, was only about one-tenth the size of Genesis Planet and lacked an atmosphere. Despite its small size, it boasted three small moons—one more than Genesis Planet.

However, its distance from the sun resulted in surface temperatures averaging -200°C.

Although the Swarm had experience constructing bases on similarly harsh planets, such as Genesis A11, Great Valley Planet’s conditions posed unique challenges.

When the meteor was launched, Swarm technology was still lacking. While the Fungal Carpet could withstand such environments, it could not directly absorb radiation for sustenance. It relied on an internal ecosystem for energy, which was highly inefficient.

Additionally, the Brood Queen egg carried aboard the meteor had a gene pool barely adequate for establishing a base on Great Valley Planet. However, it lacked the capability to produce new combat units, making its presence only marginally meaningful.

Updating the gene pool required a direct link with Luo Wen’s primary consciousness. Fortunately, Swarm technology had advanced significantly since then. In about 20 years, Luo Wen’s primary body would pass through Great Valley Planet’s orbit, updating the gene pool and establishing a Swarm base on the planet.

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