The Swarm Cycle is a collection of stories written around a concept introduced by the Thinking Horndog about an alien invasion and Earth's reaction to it. The intent is for it to be a public, multi-author universe after the fashion of the popular Naked in School stories.
The Sa'arm, a tripedal race with some physical resemblance to a cross between a mushroom and a lizard but with a hive mind, is sweeping across this galactic arm toward the center. They communicate by some sort of ESP, and ignore any race that does not. In their path is the Confederacy, a Galactic civilization that universally practices nonviolence -- and Earth...
Interested authors should visit our wiki at: https://swarmwiki.tampaad.net/index.php?title=Main_Page This describes canon for the Cycle -- the rules, if you will. We have an author support group, but are suffering issues over the email list. Contact Thinking Horndog or Zen Master.
The Salah al-Din returns to Earth after years away, and finds that some uninvited guests have also arrived.
This story is obviously heavily indebted to Duke of Ramus' story "In the Name of the Prophet". My thanks to him.
The pick-up is finally happening! Even better, my girlfriend, her sister and their two friends are sitting in the restaurant where I work, in my section even. Only problem is, I am on the wrong side of the grey barrier! Never, ever ask “What else could possibly go wrong?”
Chris Piper's girlfriend had just announced she was dumping him. He might have welcomed the arrival of the Swarm just then, but then the Confederacy showed up instead. He was in the middle of a pick up and everything changed.
Outpost series #1
An interesting foursome listens for Sa'arm communications at the deep space listening post Heinlein station. A short peek into the intelligence side of the Swarm Cycle.
As soon as the Marines announced it was a pickup, dozens of armed people jumped up. As fast as the Marines were, they did not have time to get a shot off. Sadly, that was not the only excitement in store for the new colonists. This story is a wartime story with a horror code, be forewarned.