I Am The Swarm

Although these intelligent mines were equipped with a friend-or-foe identification system, this system only prevented them from activating their tracking mechanisms when friendly units passed nearby. However, if a friendly ship blindly collided with a mine, the mine would unlikely tolerate the intrusion.

Thus, corridors were deliberately left between minefields to allow friendly units to traverse quickly.

“What are those things?” Sarah asked, her eyes fixed on the image before her.

The Riken’s assumption that the Swarm lacked advanced optical observation technology was purely self-assured delusion.

When radar technology lagged, the Swarm had focused heavily on developing optical observation systems linked to visual perception. The earliest observation organs inside Swarm meteors relied entirely on this system.

The Giant-Eye Bugs once stationed at the Red Moon Base could observe scenes light-years away and perform close-range scans of areas spanning tens of thousands of kilometers. With several rounds of updates since then, the Swarm’s capabilities in this field had grown even more advanced. Primordial bodies of significant size were retrofitted with upgraded detection organs as standard.

Consequently, the Riken’s stealth coatings were virtually useless against the Swarm. The moment these small objects were deployed across space, they were instantly detected.

“Your Majesty, according to the intelligence provided by nearby Intelligent Entities, these are automated, self-destructing devices capable of seeking targets,” Tella reported after accessing the Swarm Network for more information. She also relayed the Riken’s speculations about Swarm technology.

“…” Sarah silently processed this information. These devices functioned similarly to a type of Swarm bug from the past. If left unnoticed, they might cause minor trouble, but now that they were identified, their threat was minimal.

However, Sarah was left speechless by the Riken’s speculations regarding Swarm technology. It seemed that the looming existential crisis had dulled their critical thinking.

Was this how they built their confidence?

“If they’ve decided to assume we’re blind, we’ll humor them. Pretend not to see their mines and continue playing along,” Sarah said slowly, her former regal authority starting to resurface.

Unaware that their plans had been thoroughly exposed, the Riken took great satisfaction in their perceived success. Watching the steadily forming minefields with no apparent response from the Swarm, they were overjoyed.

Several days passed, and Raze was now within sight. The abnormalities on its surface could no longer be effectively concealed. Even if Swarm technology was rudimentary, by now, some reaction would have been inevitable.

“Order the Swarm forces to retreat to a safe distance and avoid Raze’s orbital path,” Sarah commanded.

Upon receiving the order, the Swarm fleet immediately began adjusting its formation. The ever-watchful Riken fleet promptly detected the anomaly.

Based on the Primordial bodies’ adjusted angles, the fleet’s main computer worked at full capacity and swiftly calculated the Swarm’s probable intentions. A staggering 96.5% probability pointed to the conclusion that the Swarm was maneuvering to avoid Raze.

“They’re trying to run! Notify the Second and Third Space Fleets to intercept their retreat route at full speed!” Hamis ordered urgently upon receiving the data.

His fleet under direct command launched the first wave of pursuit.

Over the past few days, as the Swarm’s bombardment firepower continued to weaken, Hamis had exploited the situation to repeatedly accelerate his fleet, edging closer to the Swarm forces. The Swarm, seemingly “forced into a corner,” had responded with full-scale firepower—8,000 railguns firing in unison—to drive the Riken fleet back to a “safe distance.”

Although this maneuver resulted in higher losses for the First Space Fleet, Hamis believed the heavy consumption of Swarm ammunition justified the cost. This was evident as the Swarm’s subsequent bombardment firepower dropped to less than 20% of its initial strength.

At this level of bombardment density, unless their luck was abysmal, even if the fleet didn’t entirely escape the artillery’s coverage area, the sparse distribution of shells posed minimal threat to them.

Additionally, with large minefields surrounding the Swarm fleet, the Riken only needed to block the retreat path. Though the First Space Fleet and the Swarm had been locked in a grueling battle for more than ten days, leaving both sides utterly exhausted, the other two Riken fleets moving in from the flanks were fresh and ready for action.

Once they arrived, the Swarm would face their reckoning!

Anticipating this scenario, the mine-layers had concentrated their efforts on this retreat route. With large portions sealed by extensive minefields, Hamis and his forces only needed to guard a small area to block the Swarm’s escape.

When the Swarm fleet “accidentally” triggered a few mines, causing several explosions, they conveniently exhibited a cautious response, slowing their retreat significantly.

At the same time, they deployed several small space octopuses to probe the extent of the minefield.

“Hmph! So, these creatures really can’t detect mines from a distance.”

“Of course not. Even our own warships suffered heavy losses during simulations against these mines back in the day.”

Observing the Swarm fleet’s behavior, the Riken First Space Fleet’s communication channels echoed with mocking remarks from various captains. Clearly, many of them had fallen victim to these little devices in virtual drills.

“Still, they’re being overly cautious. As soon as they touched the minefield, they retreated. It seems the mines won’t be able to destroy many more of their units.”

“That’s actually better. Our task isn’t to destroy them outright. Now that they’ve slowed down on their own, once the other two fleets arrive, they’ll be sitting ducks!”

“Exactly. This juicy piece of meat has been cooking long enough—it’s about time it’s ready to eat. I don’t want to be forced out of the battle right before the feast.”

The captains nodded in agreement. This was a shared sentiment. Having endured so many days of relentless combat, the decisive encirclement phase was finally at hand. Suffering damage from reckless moves and being unable to participate in the final strike would be a waste.

At present, the First Space Fleet had fewer than 700 active warships remaining in its battle sequence. Over 100 had withdrawn from the fight, and two had been completely destroyed earlier after suffering critical damage during a risky advance and failing to retreat in time.

Meanwhile, the mine-layers, having depleted their supply of mines, had already withdrawn from the battlefield. These utility ships had minimal firepower and, in a direct fight, offered little more than serving as target practice.

The Riken First Space Fleet maneuvered back and forth at the edge of the Swarm fleet’s maximum firing range, occasionally feinting advances to slow the Swarm’s retreat and push them further toward the minefields.

The Primordial bodies were now struggling with every step.

By this point, Raze was less than 100,000 kilometers from the battlefield. The two fresh Riken fleets emerged from behind the planet, engines roaring at full power. They were expected to reach their designated positions within an hour.

The energy fluctuations from their engines were impossible to conceal at such close range.

The Primordial bodies of the Swarm “immediately” detected them and “quickly understood” the Riken’s strategic intentions.

Their retreat speed suddenly increased, releasing a swarm of mature bodies and larval bodies into the minefields. They were willing to sacrifice their physical forms to pave a path through the mines.

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