Chapter 755: Capturing Biological Samples
Rewind the clock to slightly earlier.
The Eternal Seeker hovered silently in the outer orbit of the Mar Sara system, its hull's camouflage system seamlessly blending it with the deep space background, like a silent meteorite.
Inside the main bridge, Ryo's main body stood silently before the primary observation console.
His crimson optical lenses focused on the main screen, where the rust-red planet was gradually being consumed by purple.
Real-time data streams transmitted by the auspex arrays scrolled across the side screens, outlining an precise picture of the Swarm's expansion on this planet.
Viewed from orbital altitude, the changes on Mar Sara's surface were vividly clear.
The once expansive rust-red rocky terrain and scattered human settlements were being covered by a viscous, constantly undulating purple substance—the Zerg creep.
This biomass, like a living plague, spread outward from several primary invasion points, devouring all organic matter in its path.
Wherever the creep reached, the remaining vegetation vanished completely, the soil metamorphosed, and the atmospheric composition underwent minute but detectable alterations.
"Creep expansion velocity: Average advance of 1.2 kilometers per hour, reaching 2 kilometers per hour in localized hot zones," a Tech-Priest reported the data. "Biomass conversion efficiency models indicate that at the current rate, the primary continental regions of this planet will be entirely covered within forty-eight standard hours."
Ryo's optical lenses shifted slightly, focusing on several zones where the creep was spreading most rapidly.
High-resolution imagery revealed tower-like structures composed of chitin and biomass rising from the surface in those areas—Hatcheries.
Countless Drones bustled across the creep, transporting gathered resources back to the Hatcheries, which in turn continuously spawned new Swarm units: Zerglings, Hydralisks, Roaches...
"Typical Swarm expansion pattern," Ryo's synthesized voice analyzed calmly. "Establish incubation clusters, lay down creep to provide energy and material foundations, rapidly produce basic combat units to consolidate the control zone, and then push toward the next sector. Terrifying efficiency."
His logic core rapidly processed the various data sets returned by the auspex arrays: biomass density, energy flow patterns, unit production rates, fluid dynamic models of the creep's spread... Every data point was precisely recorded, archived, and analyzed.
"The Swarm has established thirteen primary incubation clusters and thirty-eight secondary clusters on the planet," the Tech-Priest continued. "Signs of Brood Lord and Corruptor production detected, and preliminary Ultralisk incubation activity has been observed. The Swarm is transitioning from the rapid expansion phase into the consolidation and escalation phase."
Ryo's attention turned to the rapidly vanishing signals of human activity on the planet.
The evacuation operation led by Raynor, previously reported by Valerie, had concluded, and the Hyperion had warped away.
The final energy signatures indicated that a few isolated pockets of human survivors were still resisting, but like candles in the wind, they could be extinguished at any moment.
"Target Raynor's team has completed the acquisition of the Artifact fragment and evacuated." Ryo retrieved the final communication logs. "There are no friendly units or facilities remaining on this planet that require preservation."
His logic core evaluated the situation: Mar Sara had essentially fallen; the Swarm-controlled area exceeded sixty percent and was still expanding rapidly.
This planet would be completely Zerg-ified within two days, becoming a new springboard for the Swarm's expansion into neighboring star systems.
At this moment, the only things left on the planet were Swarm units, a handful of human survivors, and remnant indigenous flora and fauna.
"Before the Swarm completes the total conversion of this planet, acquire live biological samples," Ryo issued the directive. "Organize a reconnaissance squad. Board a stealth shuttle and touch down in the sector at 22 degrees North latitude, 45 degrees West longitude."
"That sector has approximately forty percent creep coverage and moderate Swarm activity density. Mission objective: Collect creep samples, live Drones, and samples of any basic Swarm units that can be secured safely."
"By your command, Magos." The Tech-Priests began deploying the mission.
Three hours later, a specially camouflaged small shuttle silently glided out of a concealed launch bay on the Eternal Seeker, descending toward the surface of Mar Sara.
It employed state-of-the-art stealth technology, shielding it not only from conventional radar and optical detection but also possessing the capability to somewhat interfere with the biological senses the Swarm likely relied upon.
The shuttle landed successfully in the designated zone.
An extraction squad comprising five Skitarii soldiers clad in sealed, hazard-rated power armor swiftly commenced operations.
They used specialized cutting tools to harvest creep tissue, energy nets to capture four Drones, and successfully stunned and captured three Zerglings.
The entire process took thirty-one minutes, during which they encountered a small patrol of Zerglings, which were swiftly and silently eliminated.
The samples were sealed in multiple layers of biochemical isolation containers and transported back to the shuttle.
The shuttle then lifted off, returning to the Eternal Seeker.
The samples were immediately transferred to the ship's biological research laboratory.
The lab had undergone specialized modifications, equipped with multi-layered physical isolation, energy barriers, and decontamination systems designed for high-threat biological samples.
Ryo's main body observed the preliminary analysis remotely via datalink.
Under the scanning electron microscope, the creep samples exhibited a complex biological structure: countless microscopic tubular networks transported nutrients, while the surface was covered by a specialized layer of cells capable of secreting acidic enzymes and rapidly repairing damage.
Energy readings indicated that the creep itself could perform basic photosynthesis, but the vast majority of its energy was derived from decomposing and absorbing organic matter.
"A semi-autonomous bio-energy and matter circulation system," Ryo recorded the observations. "Efficiency far exceeds conventional ecosystems. Possesses significant aggressive and environmental terraforming capabilities."
A live Drone was restrained on an dissection table.
This unit's structure was relatively simple, but the strength of its carapace, the explosive power of its musculature, and the specialized glands within its body for gathering and transporting resources all indicated highly specialized design.
Genetic scans revealed that its DNA structure was extremely unstable, riddled with massive "blank zones" designated for rapid adaptation and mutation.
The Zergling samples were far more aggressive.
Even while immobilized by energy restraint fields, they struggled ceaselessly, attempting to strike the restraints with their razor-sharp, scythe-like forelimbs.
Dissections showed that their nervous systems were highly simplified, relying primarily on instinct and the remote guidance of the Swarm's hive mind.
Their metabolic rate was incredibly high, but their life expectancy was extremely short—these were quintessential expendable units.
"A highly specialized biological weaponry system," Ryo concluded. "Clear division of labor, rapid production, low cost, absolute obedience to the collective will. Individual units possess low intelligence, but the swarm exhibits impressive coordination."
The preliminary analysis continued for several hours.
Ryo collected sufficient baseline data, but deeper research—such as the operational mechanics of the hive mind, the storage and invocation methods of genetic templates, and how to effectively disrupt or control the Swarm—would require significantly more time and far more dangerous experiments.