I Am The Swarm-Chapter 526: Response

“Since the coalition’s central route is the slowest, we can appropriately redeploy some of the garrisoned forces from the corresponding star systems to reinforce the flanks. The defenses there can temporarily be handled by fixed defense systems and subsequent reinforcements. This will make our available forces on the flanks more abundant.”

After careful consideration, many of the Blades nodded in agreement. This plan was indeed feasible. The outer-rim civilization fleets in the coalition’s central route would take over two years to reach the Swarm’s star systems, while the mid-rim civilization reinforcements assigned to the central route might take four to five years to arrive.

On the other hand, the flanks might engage in combat in just over a year. Given this, it made sense to temporarily redeploy the Swarm’s central route forces to support other areas.

“Then let’s not delay. The garrisoned forces in the flanking star systems can set out first, while the central route reinforcements can take over the defense of the central star systems. Other specific details can be discussed later.”

Sarah nodded, approving the suggestion. The troops would take at least half a year to engage in combat, which was more than enough time to discuss the details. Moreover, she needed to meet with the Overlord. For the plan to proceed smoothly, there had to be “insiders” within those forces.

The movement of tens of billions of troops, no matter how advanced the Swarm’s stealth technology, could not be concealed. Even the change in the brightness of the stars would draw the attention of the Interstellar Technological Confederation, not to mention the countless reconnaissance ships and devices hidden outside the star systems.

Thus, when the massive Swarm forces set out, the coalition’s command center immediately received the news.

“Over half of the forces from Star Systems 1 and 9 have set out, while the forces from the other star systems have mobilized entirely? The forces from Star Systems 1-3 and 7-9 are advancing toward us, while the forces from Star Systems 4-6 are moving toward the flanks?” Just as the Swarm had numbered the coalition’s star systems, the coalition had also numbered the Swarm’s nine star systems.

“It seems they didn’t fall into the trap we prepared,” said another foreign commander, somewhat frustrated.

“That’s normal. Didn’t the Troi representative say that the Swarm isn’t just a bunch of beasts? We mustn’t underestimate them because of their appearance.”

At this moment, the representatives from the Koya Alliance and the Locke Mutual Aid Society were the most pleased in the meeting room. Although they had thought it unlikely, if the Swarm’s decision-makers had been foolish enough to fall into the central route trap, they would have been in serious trouble.

According to the war simulations, their central route forces would have to hold off the Swarm for about two years to allow the flanking forces to complete their encirclement.

A war involving billions of troops spanning several light-years could easily last two years. However, the key issue was that during those two years, they would have to prevent the Swarm from learning of the plan and retreating early. In such a scenario, one side would be desperate to break through, while the other would be desperate to hold them back, leading to an extremely brutal and intense conflict. Small civilizations like theirs couldn’t withstand such devastation.

Now it seemed that the Swarm was indeed as intelligent as ever and hadn’t been fooled by such a simplistic trap. As a result, their central route had become the safest area. Hadn’t they noticed that the Swarm forces in their target Star Systems 4-6 had already been redeployed?

For the time being, the outer-rim civilization representatives were free from danger and quickly turned into spectators, watching the mid-rim civilization representatives continue to discuss their battle plans.

However, the mid-rim civilization representatives weren’t too concerned when they heard the news.

“Everyone, remind your forces to be cautious.”

“What’s there to fear? I don’t believe the Swarm can intercept us.”

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“Haha, true. They might be trying to pull off a desperate counterattack. I suggest that the outer-rim civilization forces following our fleets turn back and defend instead.”

“Exactly. Once we take their home base, we can turn around and wipe out these homeless wretches. That’s much more reliable than the initial trap.”

Hearing this, the outer-rim civilization representatives, who had been happily spectating, felt a pang of unease. Although the mid-rim civilization representatives were somewhat dismissive of the Swarm, their reasoning wasn’t entirely without merit.

The entire front spanned fifty light-years. Even if we exclude the central section, the remaining flanks still cover about thirty light-years. In this vast space, thirty to forty mid-rim civilization fleets are spread out.

Moreover, the mid-rim civilization fleets generally travel at around four times the speed of light. The phrase “a single leap covering 108,000 miles” doesn’t even come close to describing their speed. Additionally, during their journey, the fleets are within warp bubbles, making them undetectable by conventional reconnaissance methods.

Even if they were detected, intercepting them without a significant speed advantage would be extremely difficult. Based on the Swarm’s previous performance, they simply don’t have the capability to achieve such interception speeds.

Unless the Swarm could obtain the flight paths of each fleet and intercept them in advance. But how is that possible? Not only are the flight paths of each fleet highly classified, but many mid-rim civilization fleets’ paths are known only to themselves.

Even if we assume, for argument’s sake, that the Swarm detected the fleets’ movements as they departed and calculated their approximate flight paths, such basic counter-reconnaissance measures wouldn’t be overlooked, no matter how overconfident the races might be.

To address this, fleets adjust their flight paths periodically during their journey to prevent the enemy from making preparations based on their departure information.

Furthermore, during warp travel, only quantum communication devices remain operational. These devices are limited in number and are closely guarded, with only core personnel in the fleet having access to them.

Even then, during the journey, these quantum communication devices remain silent, only activating at fixed times each month to exchange information with the rear command center. After the exchange, the flight path is immediately altered.

In the long history of the Interstellar Technological Confederation’s races, a rigorous and mature set of countermeasures has been developed to prevent flight paths from being discovered in advance, ensuring that fleets are not ambushed before reaching their target locations.

This is precisely why the mid-rim civilization representatives remained unconcerned upon hearing that the Swarm had mobilized en masse to intercept them. In their view, locating dozens of fleets in the vastness of space is an insurmountable challenge, one that even the Ji race couldn’t overcome.

But if the Swarm couldn’t intercept the mid-rim civilization fleets, their massive forces might take the opportunity to attack the coalition’s star systems. In that case, the outer-rim civilization fleets trailing behind would have no choice but to turn back and engage in combat.

If, during the heat of battle, these Swarm forces learned that their home base had been captured by the coalition of mid-rim civilizations, surrender would be out of the question. The Swarm doesn’t even communicate, let alone surrender.

Instead, it would likely fuel their rage and ferocity, and the outer-rim civilization coalition forces would bear the brunt of their wrath, becoming the primary targets of their fury.