I Am The Swarm

Chapter 282: The New Team

The Riken Star System had its primary planet, the fourth one, designated as the Riken homeworld. The fifth planet was named Riven, and the sixth, Riwu.

One stood for civility, the other for strength—together, they guarded the homeworld.

The returning expedition fleet began disbanding upon reaching Riwu’s orbit. A portion of the fleet remained stationed there for repairs and upgrades, while the rest continued to Riven’s orbit, where they were entirely stationed.

The captains, officers, and staff of the ships traveled to Riken aboard small transport vessels, relinquishing their military authority in a peaceful transfer before returning home.

For defeated soldiers, no grand welcoming ceremony awaited them. President Antonio met them discreetly.

The endless expanse of space, while awe-inspiring and beautiful, can grow tiresome after years or even decades of unchanging scenery.

As a result, casual chatter became the best way to pass the time.

However, onboard, either people were in hibernation, or everyone was similarly cut off from external information for decades, leading to high redundancy in conversations.

No secret could remain hidden for long in such a closed environment.

Take the Longevity Plant as an example. Originally known only to the top command and re

“Foolish little sister, you’ve finally returned. I heard you encountered some mishaps this time? Almost got eaten by a beast? Hopefully, this experience has helped you mature a little.” The elder sister, though worried about her sibling’s ordeal, had initially considered hijacking a warship to rush to the T85 Star System. Yet, when it came to expressing her concern, the words took a different turn.

“Eh? Are you mom’s sister? I don’t think we’ve ever met. You look at least 50 years older than me!” The younger sister’s sharp response immediately made the elder sister wish the beast had finished the job.

Despite this exchange, both smiled, and the five-decade gap between them melted away.

“Though you remain as annoying as ever, seeing you like this puts my mind at ease. It seems you’ve indeed grown.”

“Ah, it was an unforgettable experience,” the younger sister said, her eyes filled with reminiscence, as if recalling a great being. She emphasized again, “An experience you absolutely cannot imagine.”

Though the elder sister looked intrigued, Lieutenant Colonel Cross wasn’t inclined to elaborate further. Instead, she said:

“Old woman, despite our rough return, we brought back some good stuff.” She spoke about the Longevity Plant: “You better seize this opportunity. I hear the materials are running out. To stay my sister, you’ll need to look even younger.”

“If you’d change how you address me, I might like you more. But for now, you should rest. Leave the rest to me.”

“And how about your research? Have you reverse-engineered anything good over the years?” Cross asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“It’s a secret!” came the usual answer.

“Meh.”

The sisters chatted for a while longer before the elder sibling hurried off, clearly still busy. Even visiting her sister had been squeezed into her packed schedule.

Watching her leave, Cross’s gaze turned playful. “Foolish ‘sister,’ how could two species truly become siblings? I can’t wait for the day you once again become my ‘sister.’ Then you’ll understand just how wonderful this world truly is.”