I Am The Swarm

“Milton, you’re oversimplifying things. Don’t forget about our soldiers on the front lines! We can’t completely sever their communication with the homeworld. The earlier leaks have already dealt a severe blow to morale!” a general retorted.

Being on the front lines, he had greater authority on the matter. Much of the Swarm-related information had been deliberately withheld from ordinary Riken soldiers because battles perceived as unwinnable would severely undermine morale.

In the past, the hope of a desperate, last-ditch effort could sometimes spark a reversal in morale. However, the Swarm’s surrender offer had utterly dashed those hopes.

Now, differing voices were emerging among the Riken soldiers. Both hardline resistance supporters and advocates for surrender had grown in number, creating significant risks to the defensive lines.

“Exactly! If the information spreads too widely, and we engage in conflict with the Swarm, captured soldiers could leak the information. Losing this bargaining chip would place us in a highly disadvantageous position.”

The old general supported this stance, though he left one thought unspoken: if the information became too widespread, surrender advocates might commit actions that would bring shame upon the Rikens. Such individuals, desperate to curry favor with the Swarm, would eagerly use valuable information to gain their favor.

This was a flaw inherent to civilizations composed of intelligent individuals—there would always be a few who acted against the greater good for personal gain.

Milton fell silent. Stationed on the homeworld, he had never even visited the Twin Star Defensive Zone, let alone the second colony. His understanding of the military situation was surface-level at best, shaped by polished reports far removed from reality.

After hearing the generals’ concerns, he realized his oversight but quickly raised another issue.