Shaper / Mechanist Stories: Swarm Summary

An Ensign Investor takes Captain-Doctor Simon Afriel to the nest of the Swarm, where he will be left for two years of study. When they arrive, a symbiote comes aboard the Investor ship as an advance envoy. The symbiote is not happy with Afriel's arrival, telling the Investor Commander that they have had trouble with humans in the past. The Commander wishes Afriel luck and promises to return in 612 days. The airlock opens into a round, stone tunnel and Afriel dons infrared glasses. He is greeted by Dr. Galina Mirny, who instructs him to follow her after confirming that he has no luggage. There are approximately a quarter of a million in the Swarm, although there are still many stretches of the nest that Dr. Mirny has not explored as yet.

Dr. Mirny grabs the back of...