"That was a good session, I feel that we are making great progress." a young woman says as she sits on a chair made of creep.
"It was, I didn't realize this would help so much." Izuku responds thoughtfully, he lies on a couch of creep in a small cavern, coated with creep and bioluminescents.
"Everyone can use some therapy." the therapist replies.
"I see that, let's talk about the therapy brood then." Izuku says.
"I have some concerns with using queens as a basis." the therapist says.
"They are relatively intelligent and already have empathy. What is the problem?" Izuku asks.
"Appearance mostly, few humans can truly feel comfortable near something with so many legs and an exoskeleton, biologically we have evolved to be wary of these traits." the therapist explains.
"I see, but zerglings and larva have been generally well received." Izuku questions.
"Sure, here on Terra, where we have grown used to insect mutations over several generations. But for the rest of the galaxy? I think not." the therapist argues.
"I see, it looks like you have a bit of a project on your hands then." Izuku begins, "designing a new strain from scratch isn't easy."
"Can't I just put the nervous system from the queen into a better body?" the therapist asks.
"Not without some modifications, remember motor control is in that system as well." Izuku answers.
"That's annoying but I think I will be fine." the therapist says. "I think I want a bear body, the ability to speak verbally and natural empathy."
"Let me take you to the evolution pit, I'm sure an evolution apprentice is available to help you. If you need a bear sample, don't hesitate to ask for help from one of the combat broods." Izuku says as they stand and exit the small cavern.
"I will." the therapist says.
"I heard you finished creating our new scouts." Kyoka says as she enters the main infested Starport on Mars.
"Yes we have, Mei says they are good to go." Melissa answers as she enters with Momo.
"Exciting, we won't be able to use Overlords and Overseers as much once the galaxy discovers they are ours and they lose the ability to pose as harmless space creatures." Momo says with curiosity.
"A shame really, but these will do a better job, and are more survivable in a pinch." Melissa explains.
The trio quickly move to the main hangar, which was filled with the prepared vessels. Currently it was a small fleet of YT-1300s, as the larger VCX-100s they had purchased on Corellia were still being prepared for infestation into a similar if longer range role. They walk up the main ramp of the first freighter and it all seems rather normal, except for the cockpit access corridor which had a door. Kyoka moves to hit the open button on the panel but Melissa stops her.
"Don't bother, after installing one way mirrors on the cockpit glass that entire section has been infested. Using overseer essence we have basically put one into that space, becoming the brain of this vessel. It can create changelings and send them out this door if it needs to interact with locals." Melissa explains.
"That's creative, I would have put that in the cargo hold." Momo comments.
"That was the idea at first, but we quickly realized that inspectors would actually check those and saying they were blocked off wouldn't be a solution." Melissa says.
They move into the main hold and notice it is nearly completely full of steel drums. And a look through the loading room shows the secondary hold in similar shape.
"What's all this?" Kyoka asks.
"Our cargo. Vats of protein gel, labeled to be sourced from insects. In this hold they are all full, but in the secondary hold, next to the cockpit, only the first two rows are actually protein, behind that is a wall that looks like more drums but is actually extra space for the overseers organs. This protein can be used as biomass for longer journeys as well." Melissa explains before squeezing past the cargo and restroom, which had a drum in it as well and into the main corridor through the second door.
"Why was there a drum in the shower?" Momo asks. "Wouldn't that reveal our deception?"
"It actually doesn't, as all these freighters are assigned to a shell company we created, and this gives us a reputation of overloading and poor crew conditions. Reducing the inquiries for a job or ride along with making inspectors lazy as they know how much our ships will be carrying and won't want to deal with it." Melissa explains.
"I didn't consider that." Momo says, surprised by the thought put into this deception.
"That's the idea." Melissa quips.
The docking tube and dormitories similarly contain steel drums, not enough to make them unusable, but enough to seriously irritate any would-be crewman or passenger. At the rear they find the engineering space and cargo elevator room full of drums as well.
"These drums also have a fake stacking, so a smaller infestation can control engineering as needed." Melissa says as she points to one side of the cramped space. "While the overseer-like brain can open wormholes, the engines are needed for sunlight travel and the hyperdrive is fully functional." she explains before leading them to the tertiary cargo hold. Which was of course full of steel drums again. "In here we have another fake stack of drums to hide the miniaturized Yaororo-extractor creature that is connected to fuel and coolant lines that we redirected to this cargo hold. This allows near unlimited range as long as some kind of biomass can be supplied."
They soon move to the observation deck access, where the ladder down is blocked by another drum.
"Below here is a digestive creature of sorts, the lower observation window, which also features a one-way mirror, can be opened and a mouth of sorts can extend down and consume biomass or other materials while this top drum can be lifted along with a fake top below it and protein can be dumped down by changelings on longer journeys." Melissa explains to the now slightly disturbed faces of Momo and Kyoka, "Above is a functional dual blaster cannon, nothing particularly powerful, and completely legal. Enough to buy time for an escape. It, like most systems, is controlled by a central computer that the brain has access to. ANy questions?"
"Yeah, how does this mouth send nutrients to the other parts?" Kyoka asks.
"Not familiar with infestation? We use air vents by default for this, filled with growths and creep." Melissa answers.
"Did you use any quirks other than mine?" Momo asks.
"Yes, we have a jamming quirk and an electricity quirk. Jamming is used in emergency escapes and electricity acts as a backup for the main systems, which this freighter didn't have stock. The overseer has Mei's eyes on top of other overseer visual organs. Tool arms quirk is also present as a last ditch defense in the cockpit. The otherwise unused limbs of the overseer essence can be used to eliminate any intruder that breaches the cockpit. Combining that with sprays of virus filled liquid from the vents and no enemy will leave this ship alive."
They all take a moment to process that.
"So... we've built a true horror ship then." Kyoka says.
"Yep."
"Indeed."
After they exited the ship Melissa sent the command to begin missions and as one all craft start, lift off and exit the hangar to planets all across the known galaxy.
"I forgot to ask, is any of the tech upgraded?" Momo asks after the last ship leaves.
"We upgraded the shields to the same level as one of the frigates that attacked Sol, but that's all." Melissa answers.
"That's all?" Kyoka says sarcastically.
Meanwhile in Mei's lab:
"Izuku wanted a salvage ship, and I have just the idea." Mei says to herself as she unrolls her latest drawing.
Observing through the hivemind, Nezu begins cackling. Mei had drawn a normal CR-90 but the second drawing of it had the cockpit open to reveal a massive mouth.
Across the galaxy Republic Admirals and Jedi received new interns, the Jedi Council had finally approved the swarms proposal and soon UA swarm members were joining task forces with varying levels of success:
Reiko had volunteered to join Admiral Nelson, a republic admiral in charge of a response force. His role was to join space battles and win them. As his forces never landed on a planet, no Jedi had been assigned to him.
"Can I try something?" Reiko asks during the third day of battle defending a group of Republic hospital stations.
"As long as it doesn't interfere with my line of battle." Admiral Nelson says tiredly.
"It won't." Reiko says before turning towards the view ports, 'Ochako now' she sends.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the leading Separatist dreadnought:
"Sir, by my calculations we should defeat these Republic organics in only 219 days." A tactical droid declares proudly.
"We don't have that much time!" the Neimoidian admiral shouts, "Call for reinforcements."
"Yes sir." the droid says.
Before the droid could walk to the communications terminal a large wormhole appears to the right of the fleet, and a small asteroid exits, heading slowly towards the fleet.
"What is that!" the admiral shouts with his species typical fear.
"And asteroid, we should move the fleet. The asteroid will strike us within the hour. This alters my calculations, it will now take us 273 days to defeat the republic." the droid says.
"I don't care! Why did it appear!?" The Neimoidian shouts.
"Unknown, will calculate." the droid responds.
Suddenly a great cloud rises from the asteroid and begins traveling towards the fleet at great speed.
"What is that?" The admiral cries.
"Scanning, a cloud of lifeforms." One of the B1 droids responds from his console.
"What? We are in space!" the admiral shouts in confusion and growing fear.
"It will strike our flank in several seconds." the tactical droid reports.
As the cloud strikes the first frigate it quickly explodes and the cloud picks up speed and forms into a tentacle like formation.
"Abandon ship!" the admiral cries as he flees the bridge.
"Does not compute! Does not compute!" the tactical droid declares as it freezes in place.
The captains of the republic fleet could only stare in awe as the separatist fleet begins to disintegrate in front of them, until Admiral Nelson shouts through the comm:
"What are you all waiting for!? Cut off their retreat, force them to surrender!"
The battle didn't last long after that.
Around the same time on a far away world, a small republic task force led by an inexperienced human Jedi had snuck onto a planet to destroy a separatist droideka storage facility. They brought their new intern, Yui Kodia with them. Unfortunately the Jedi blundered into an alarm system and now the droidekas were being activated.
"Damn that useless Jedi." the veteran clone commander curses as droidekas begin pouring out of the main doors.
"What is the problem?" Yui asks innocently as she appears next to the clone.
After jumping in shock the clone swears and grumbles to himself, "why couldn't she be the general? She can sneak around just fine." before turning to Yui, "These droidekas will tear us apart."
"I don't have enough experience to be general, but I can help against a few droidekas.
"That would be great, we just need to get out of here." the commander says.
"Scariest rollie pollies in the galaxy." A clone comments.
"Oh?" Yui asks. "I am offended by that remark. I will show you what's scary. IZUKU!"
'Fine Yui, I'll send you some banelings but you should start a hive of your own.' Izuku sends tiredly, wondering why he even asked the Jedi if he could do this.
"Buy me an hour. Help is coming" Yui says before running off.
"You heard her! Get some traps set up. We can hold them off for an hour! And find that Jedi!" the clone commander orders.
An exhausting hour later and Yui returns.
"Behold, the actual scariest rollie pollies of the galaxy." She declares in monotone as countless purple creatures roll by and race for droid lines.
"They don't look scary." A clone comments just before the creatures reach the first droideka and explode, sending acid in all directions and melting the droideka.
The few droidekas that survive the acid explosions find their legs melting into the pooled acid and their reactors exploding soon after. From the acid countless tiny versions of the purple creatures appear and race towards surviving droidekas. It looked like the day would be won until a Munificent class frigate races into the atmosphere and begins bombarding the banelings, stalling their charge and terrifying the unprepared clones.
"Now we're doomed." a clone says.
"We were too slow, reinforcements are here." Another laments.
"Don't worry, I grew scourge nests." Yui says, as a small cloud of brown races from behind the clones and quickly collide with the frigate, sending it to the ground next to the warehouse.
"Looks like you could win the war on your own young one." the clone commander says, full of respect for the young girl that had saved his men.
"Unknown." Yui replies, thinking about her yet to be completed, infested Odin.
"Is the intern project going well?" Inko asks Izuku as he enters her office.
"Relatively, it's been expensive and we may have revealed a few to many cards." Izuku replies as he sits on the couch near her desk.
"Isn't that the idea though? To make us seem larger than we are?" Inko asks.
"It is, but I worry that we might scare the republic." Izuku reveals.
"Didn't Nezu agree to this plan?" Inko asks.
"Yes, he did." Izuku answers.
"Then it will be fine, trust in your recruits and know the swarm will live on no matter what." Inko says kindly.
"I will for now. I just feel the need to lecture some of them on restraint." Izuku says.
"Then do it, this is an educational experience for them after all." Inko says.
"I will." Izuku says as he stands up. "Thanks mom, you always know what to say."
"You're welcome dear, do visit more often." Inko says.
"You talk to me over the hive mind every few hours." Izuku whines as he opens the door.
"That's not the same as seeing you." Rei interrupts, "Shoto visits me every day."
Izuku sighs, "I will try to visit you more often mom."
"Thanks dear." Inko says as Izuku closes the door behind himself. 'Well, now I have a few moments to myself and a colleague to thank.'
"Rei, can you come in here? I think one of my pens rolled under the desk." Inko shouts.
"Of course Inko, I'll be glad to help." Rei says, walking slowly into Inko's office.
Toru continues to watch the Jedi fumble through supporting rebels on Onderon. They had purposefully asked the swarm not to interfere as the Jedi felt this was dirty work and not worthy of outside support. Toru didn't care though and easily snuck in with the Jedi and provided all kinds of support to their efforts.
'The people are too easy to sway on these planets.' Toru sends after one relatively basic speech manages to incite a riot. 'We need to seed the enlightenment and education reform otherwise these people will follow the first charismatic or terrifying figure that shows up.'
'Mina's secret project will help with that.' Izuku replies. 'Continue your mission, but start considering revealing yourself as part of the swarm. These rebels may be useful contacts one day.'
'I will.' Toru sends before walking casually up to the rebel leader Steela.
"Hello young one." Steela says, speaking to Toru's disguise as a young girl from Onderon's north. "I've been meaning to speak with you. You have proven to be a capable fighter, your bravery eclipses your abysmal accuracy. Perhaps a chance to lead would be good for you."
"Thank you, but I'm not interested in a leadership position." Toru replies.
Before Steela could discover why an unknown vessel lands near the base and pirates unload a cargo of rocket launchers.
'One little shipment of gold, the Jedi owe us and we have relations with one of the few decent pirates in the galaxy.' Izuku sends.
Toru stays close to Steela through the rest of the battle. Intending to reveal her identity but the chance doesn't come until Steela is hanging on for her life after a Droid gunship is shot down onto the cliff they were standing on. Toru was effortlessly hanging next to her and signals for Ahsoka to lift Steela up first. When the gunship interferes by shooting Ahsoka, Toru lets go and grabs her on the way down.
"This isn't the best time for this." Toru begins as they fall, "But I'm not actually from this planet. My name is Toru, and I am a broodmother of the Zerg Swarm." she declares proudly before shapeshifting wings onto her back and casually gliding to the ground, stunning Saw, who was running towards them.
"What are you?" Saw asks as he reaches the pair.
"A broodmother of the swarm." Toru replies. "We are allied with the Jedi but not part of the Republic. The Jedi asked us not to interfere with this conflict, but I couldn't resist so I snuck in. I apologize for not revealing myself sooner, but the Jedi would not have approved."
"We understand." Steela says.
"But what is this swarm?" Saw asks.
"They are a minor galactic power from the unknown regions. They appeared when they heard a distress signal from a Wookie and came to his aid from the Trandosian hunters. They are helping the Republic on several fronts, but were supposed to leave this one alone." Ahsoka explains with some irritation.
"We already provided the currency for those weapons, and we are always willing to support anyone fighting oppression anywhere." Toru declares confrontationally.
"And Jedi contacts delivered them." Ahsoka counters. "Your biological forces can't support rebels properly."
"Who said we only have biological forces? The swarm has assimilated technology from many cultures." Toru argues.
"Oh, I didn't know that." Ahsoka admits, standing down.
"Indeed. Steela, Saw, if you ever find anything else to rebel against, just give the swarm a call. I'm sure Melissa has plenty of technologies worth experimenting with. And power armor, lots of power armor." Toru says.
"And how would we call you?" Saw asks.
"I'm sure we can establish an embassy here if you are interested." Toru says. "But first we have a victory to declare and a capital to retake.
In the end they didn't have to retake the capital as the droid forces had abandoned it rather quickly after that defeat. Rebel spies reporting them saying conflict was no longer worth it.
"New development with stockpile quirk." Abathur declares to Ochako, All Might, Nana and Itsuka.
"Pulled out another quirk?" Ochako asks.
"Negative, analysis shows quirks will arrive in time. Sped up by increasing stockpiles power." Abathur states.
"How? One for All has grown steadily as users possess it." All Might asks.
"Incorrect. Mutation siphons energy from quirk use. More quirk use, more growth." Abathur says.
"So if we train hard it will strengthen faster?" Ochako asks.
"Correct." Abathur says.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Itsuka asks as she begins sprinting for the evolution pit's exit. "Allen and the other Ultralisks are already training hard!"
With those words the group of muscle heads sprint to the nydus network and take the shortest worm to the surface. They all jump to the moon, causing excessive property damage and causing Gran Torino to end his short vacation to beat them all black and blue. A considerable feat against any member of the swarm.
"Why are we visiting this ice ball?" Mina asks as one of Ochako's leviathans enters low orbit over an icy world.
"Location is part of it. We are one overlord jump away from one of the origin points of the only hyperlane that heads close to Sol." Ochako explains.
"And we have heard of a few battles that happened in orbit of this world long ago. There may be some tech deep within the ice worth looking into." Izuku adds.
"Then why bring me of all people?" Mina asks.
"Figured you might want to play in the snow with Eri while we work. We promised to bring her out of the Sol system and this seems like a safe option." Ochako answers.
"Oh, that does sound fun." MIna says.
"Good, let's get to the surface." Izuku says as he leaves the control room.
"Why not land the Leviathan?" Mina asks.
"We won't be keeping it here and shouldn't need it to get back." Ochako explains, "Besides, aren't drop sacs way more fun?"
"You're right! Let's go!" Mina cheers before racing past Izuku to the nearest sac.
Soon they land near the North pole of the planet, hoping the extreme cold would stop any curious explorers from finding them. This swarm was grown with this cold in mind and didn't mind at all.
As the hive cluster grew under the careful eye of Ochako and Izuku, Mina and Eri had traveled to a large hill far from planned creep spread.
"Whoever makes the most snow angels wins!" Mina says before flopping into the snow next to Eri.
Soon enough an entire square kilometer is covered in snow angels, both members of the swarm giggling like mad as Izuku and Ochako return.
"It will be some time before we find anything interesting." Ochako explains to Mina as Izuku moves to pick up Eri.
"It's hot chocolate time!" Izuku cheers before signaling Ochako to open a wormhole to I-A's dorm kitchen, where Tsu had prepared the drinks.
The portal opens letting a freezing wind towards the relaxing Kaminari, who jumps in fright as his tea freezes in his hand. Shoto rolls his eyes and begins melting the room as Eri and co. sit down to enjoy their treat.
AN: Well, it has been a while to say the least. To keep it brief I got Covid at work and that knocked me out for a week, then I ended up with long Covid symptoms that still aren't fully gone. The largest problem has been the poor short term memory and trouble focusing. A bit hard to write, but at least my notes are rather well organized, otherwise this story would be dead now. Also, being sick and unable to focus long enough to write caused me to develop a bit of a gaming habit. Europa Universalis 4 has also eaten my free time.
Anyway, I do hope this chapter turned out well, I don't actually remember everything I've written at this point. But Eri is there, Mei keeps getting more scary, and the Jedi continue to fail at fighting a war.
This chapter's entry on infested is my cannon as complex infestation is not heavily explained as far as I can tell.
The infestation of Terran technology is pervasive enough that the swarm has developed a standard method of infestation. Upon receiving new technology or vehicles to infest the swarm begins by selecting the prototype in the best condition and then merely operating the rest with the infested acting as human crew. These early infested are sent back to fight their enemy in this recognizable and terrifying form. The prototype on the other hand is scanned and its schematics memorized for future development. If a design is selected for permanent infestation a brain is chosen based on the device's intended role. A fast ground based ranged attacker will start with hydralisk essence as an example, while a starship will begin with devourer or leviathan essence. The infestation is then methodologically spread throughout the device, utilizing otherwise useless ventilation and plumbing to connect several 'body parts' placed around a ship. A minotaur class for example has a leviathan brain in the bridge, with its stomach in the cargo bay and a larva spawning area in the hanger. Interesting weapons systems are operated by lesser minds, often hydralisk derivatives, and new weapons like tentacles are controlled by a mind similar to their closest structural counterpart, like a spine crawler. In the end it surprises newcomers and allies of the swarm that their infested machines aren't just an out of control virus, but rather a complicated hybrid of Zerg and machine.