I Am The Swarm-Chapter 669: Assembly

Though the Red Fang Breakers had only appeared once, and Luo Wen had been extremely cautious about secrecy, the probing devices of advanced civilizations were everywhere. Even a slight oversight could result in data being recorded, so the image of the Red Fang Breakers had already been cataloged in the Confederation’s database.

“This thing is a no-name product—we know nothing about its capabilities.” Since there was no footage of the Red Fang Breakers in combat, their entry in the database included only an image and a codename.

“Perhaps they’re part of the Swarm too. From my perspective, their appearance isn’t that different from others.”

“Hah, to you, anything walking on two legs looks similar.”

“I’m warning you—don’t insult his intelligence. At least he can tell the difference in height.”

“…”

There were many ordinary crew members aboard the ships, and their ability to handle stress couldn’t compare to the battle-hardened commanders. Perhaps it was the relief of finally receiving a response, or perhaps it was simply a way to release tension—they teased each other while also trying to bolster their courage.

The Red Fang Breakers paid no attention to the whispered conversations around them, nor did they worry about resistance. After all, there weren’t just two Red Fang Breakers on each ship. Surrounding them were numerous specialized Spider Combat Bugs. In the complex environment of the ship and at close range, these creatures were more than capable of controlling the situation.

Though the Red Fang Breakers were stripped-down versions, they had been equipped with vocal organs to better communicate with the Confederation members—and to avoid revealing more advanced technology.

“On behalf of Her Majesty, we accept your surrender. Who is the captain?”

Since their appearance, the Red Fang Breakers had maintained a cold, imposing demeanor. Their charcoal-gray fur, over ten centimeters long, moved as if caught in an invisible breeze, giving them an impressive aura. However, despite striking poses, they remained silent for some time.

Though they appeared formidable, their bodies consisted only of ordinary exoskeletons, protruding muscles, and fur. Aside from their humanoid shape, they didn’t look particularly advanced—in fact, their combat strength seemed inferior to the stealthy giant spiders.

Thus, the Confederation members couldn’t determine whether these beings were ordinary biological weapons or the supposed liaisons. With no formal records of the Swarm accepting surrenders, no one knew the proper protocol. As a result, no one dared to step forward and speak rashly.

Suddenly, the Red Fang Breaker’s voice—a raspy, low growl—cut through the soft murmurs in the cabin, startling the already tense Confederation members.

“This thing can talk? Maybe they really are part of the Swarm.”

“Shut up! They can understand what you’re saying.”

“We’re far apart, and I’m whispering. What’s there to fear?” The crew member dismissed the warning.

“Fool. They follow a biological route—who knows if they’ve enhanced their hearing or something similar?”

“Unnecessary worry…” Though he said this, the crew member had taken his teammate’s words to heart. After mumbling under his breath, he fell silent.

The captain wanted to reprimand them but feared causing unnecessary misunderstandings. Instead, he shot a fierce glare at the source of the noise and signaled to his adjutant.

These guys are truly troublesome, the captain thought with a sigh. Stepping down quickly from the bridge, he approached the Red Fang Breakers and announced loudly, “I am the captain of this vessel. May I ask how to address the two of you?”

“I’m Chi, and he’s Na. Since you’ve surrendered, you have half an hour to gather all personnel on this ship here. Afterward, we will inspect the entire ship. Anyone not present will be considered an enemy and attacked accordingly.”

The Red Fang Breaker’s words were formulaic, yet they didn’t provoke any dissatisfaction among the Confederation members. First, as the defeated party, they had no right to demand a certain attitude. Second, this was simply the Swarm’s style—not just now, but historically.

According to records, even during the diplomatic and trade interactions during the “honeymoon period,” the Swarm had adopted the same approach. If they hadn’t possessed real power, the trade city would have collapsed centuries ago.

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Understanding and confirming the Swarm’s style, the captain didn’t waste time with further discussion but immediately followed their instructions. These individuals were sharp—they knew what to do and when to do it.

If the Swarm’s position were occupied by a slightly more conventional civilization, he would undoubtedly have dragged out the conversation for half an hour, extracting information before proceeding based on the actual situation.

But facing the Swarm, he didn’t dare. He couldn’t even tell whether these things were part of the Swarm or merely biological weapons. Attempting to engage them might lead to a cold reception at best—if they were intelligent beings—or worse, if they were mindless automatons, they’d act according to rigid protocols. If he spoke too much and violated some taboo, he might find himself eliminated without recourse.

The captain’s orders were swiftly issued, but he quietly observed the Red Fang Breakers from his close proximity. It would be a shame not to take a closer look.

However, the more he watched, the more convinced he became that these two weren’t intelligent Swarm members but rather biological weapons. After speaking, they stood motionless like statues. If not for the occasional movement of their eyes, the captain might have thought they had entered a standby mode—though he wasn’t sure if biological weapons even had such a function.

The Confederation members quickly assembled. Space warfare differed from ground warfare. During planetary conflicts, surrendering soldiers could hide in concealed corners and later attempt to escape.

But in space, the activity range was severely restricted. The ships were finite in size, and given the Swarm’s spider-like units, it was hard to imagine any nook or cranny stopping them.

Moreover, as masters of biotechnology, the Swarm’s ability to detect living organisms was undoubtedly exceptional. The Confederation members couldn’t flee the ships into outer space—their escape pods’ speed wouldn’t allow it. Even if they ignored fuel constraints and let the pods travel for half a month, the Swarm could still catch up effortlessly.

Thus, with no way out, the Confederation members cooperated fully. After receiving the captain’s command, they began orderly assembling at the designated location. However, there were always exceptions, especially among those who still held some means of resistance.

“Squad leader, should we listen to the captain’s order and gather there?” Knox’s team huddled in a room, where they had been confronting the Swarm units occupying the energy hub.

Just as they speculated that gathering nearly a hundred races’ worth of advisors would surely yield a brilliant solution, they received the retreat order from the Confederation’s supreme commander, Conradus. The subsequent series of events unfolded in rapid succession, culminating in the current situation.