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:''For the virus in [[DW]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy]]'', see [[The Swarm (The Invisible Enemy)]].''
{{Infobox Species
{{Infobox Species
|Species name = The Swarm
|image = The Swarm.jpg
|type         = Flying stingray-like aliens
|type = Flying stingray
|aka          = Alien stingrays
|first  = Planet of the Dead (TV story)
|appearances  = [[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]''
|appearances = [[WC]]: ''[[Hall of Monsters (webcast)|Hall of Monsters]]''
}}
|clip = The Lady is a Thief (HQ) - Doctor Who - Planet of the Dead - BBC
'''The Swarm''' were creatures that lived in swarms of billions and due to their sheer mass were able to open [[wormhole]]s in space by moving at fast speeds. They were named "'''alien stingrays'''" by [[UNIT]] due to superficial resemblance to the stingrays that live in [[Earth]]'s seas.  
|clip2 = The Routemaster Returns to Earth (HQ) - Doctor Who - Planet of the Dead - BBC
}}{{dab page|Swarm (disambiguation)}}
'''The Swarm''', ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'') a group made up of creatures known as "'''Stingrays'''" ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Lord Letters (novel)|The Time Lord Letters]]'') were creatures that devoured everything on a planet and could travel through [[wormhole]]s to new ones. They were named "alien stingrays" by [[UNIT]] due to their superficial resemblance to the stingrays that lived in [[Earth]]'s seas.


==Biology==
== Biology ==
The Swarm had an exoskeleton of metal to enable them safe travel through the [[Wormhole]]s they created. Their digestive system allowed them to eat anything, including metal, which was used to make their exoskeleton once digested. They were seemingly unintelligent and incapable of speech. They acted on the instinct to devour and move on. They moved from planet to planet by creating wormholes. They created these by swarming around the planet many times so their sheer mass would rip space creating a wormhole they then traveled through. Their exoskeleton could protect them against bullets but not explosives as shown when UNIT managed to dispatch three of their members using a mounted rocket launcher when ordinary rifles had no effect.
Stingrays had a wide head with little eyes and gills, a long tail and fins down their side. They were the size of a small [[car]], but were still capable of flight at speeds of at least 300 miles per hour. They were extreme omnivores, capable of eating meat, plants, rock or metal. Any metal they ate would be extruded into their exoskeleton, making them bullet proof, though not immune to explosives. Stingrays would also go into hibernation when cold.


==History==
Their metal exoskeleton allowed them to produce large amounts of [[static electricity|static energy]] when they travelled in groups, which was capable of creating [[wormhole]]s. After eating everything on the planet, the whole swarm would start to circle the planet. The sheer mass and speed of billions of individuals would rip open the fabric of space, creating a wormhole, allowing them to travel from [[planet]] to planet and continue this life cycle. Their metal exoskeleton would allow them to survive the passage.
The Swarm opened a wormhole that led them to the [[planet]] [[San Helios]]. There they attacked the planet and devoured everything, turning it into a barren desert. They then began making a second wormhole with which to leave the planet. A number of individuals were trapped in the hull of the [[Tritovore]]'s ship. Lying dormant due to its low temperature, but when Christina de Souza went to retrieve the ship's crystal nucleus, her body heat raised the temperature just enough to revive them, after which they tore through the ship and devoured the two Trivore occupants. [[Malcolm Taylor (Planet of the Dead)|Malcolm Taylor]] managed to close off their latest wormhole that lead to [[Earth]]. However, three individuals made it through. Conventional firearms were useless against them, but UNIT's mounted missile launchers proved more effective. The ones trapped on San Helios could easily make another worm hole, but the Doctor stated he will attempt to guide all their wormholes onto uninhabited planets, where they could feed on natural structures.


{{Template:2009 Specials aliens}}
They appeared not to possess any real sentience and acted on primal instinct alone. When talking with Captain [[Erisa Magambo]], the [[Tenth Doctor]] stated that what the stingrays did was not their fault and they merely acted on instinct. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')
[[Category:Tenth Doctor enemies]]
 
== History ==
Circa [[2009]], the Stingrays opened a wormhole to the [[planet]] [[San Helios]], where they ate everything within a year, leaving only barren deserts. They then began making a second wormhole with which to leave the planet. When a [[Tritovore ship]] came to the planet to trade, it ran into the swarm. In a manner similar to birds clogging the engines of a plane, the Stingrays clogged the vents of the ship, causing it to crash from ten miles in the air. At least two Stingrays were involved in the crash and were put into hibernation by the cold.
 
After devouring San Helios and turning it into a desert, the Stingrays began generating a new wormhole to move on. The wormhole eventually opened up into [[Earth]], accidentally pulling [[the 200]] to San Helios. Though they saw the Stingrays from a distance, they were unable to identify what they were without the help of the Tritovore's probe. Later, when [[Christina de Souza]] went to retrieve the [[crystal nucleus]] from the Tritovore ship, her body heat raised the temperature just enough to revive the hibernating Stingrays. Though Christina managed to kill one with the ship's security grid, the second devoured the two surviving Tritovores.
 
The [[Tenth Doctor]] was able to return the 200 just before the Stingrays made it to the wormhole and [[Malcolm Taylor]] managed to close the wormhole after them. However, three Stingrays made it through. Conventional firearms were useless against them, but [[UNIT]]'s mounted missile launchers proved more effective.
 
After the threat to Earth was over, the Doctor admitted to Captain [[Erisa Magambo]] that the Stingrays would simply start again and generate a new wormhole. However, the Doctor acknowledged that their actions weren't their fault, being instinct and stated an intention to try to "nudge" the Stingrays wormholes onto uninhabited planets where they could feast without ever harming anyone. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'')
 
A Stingray was exhibited in the [[Space Museum]] when the [[Vashta Nerada]] invaded. ([[WC]]: ''[[Hall of Monsters (webcast)|Hall of Monsters]]'')
 
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Predators]]
[[Category:Predators]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Species with brown skin]]

Latest revision as of 20:51, 5 February 2024

You may wish to consult Swarm (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

The Swarm, (TV: Planet of the Dead) a group made up of creatures known as "Stingrays" (PROSE: The Time Lord Letters) were creatures that devoured everything on a planet and could travel through wormholes to new ones. They were named "alien stingrays" by UNIT due to their superficial resemblance to the stingrays that lived in Earth's seas.

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Stingrays had a wide head with little eyes and gills, a long tail and fins down their side. They were the size of a small car, but were still capable of flight at speeds of at least 300 miles per hour. They were extreme omnivores, capable of eating meat, plants, rock or metal. Any metal they ate would be extruded into their exoskeleton, making them bullet proof, though not immune to explosives. Stingrays would also go into hibernation when cold.

Their metal exoskeleton allowed them to produce large amounts of static energy when they travelled in groups, which was capable of creating wormholes. After eating everything on the planet, the whole swarm would start to circle the planet. The sheer mass and speed of billions of individuals would rip open the fabric of space, creating a wormhole, allowing them to travel from planet to planet and continue this life cycle. Their metal exoskeleton would allow them to survive the passage.

They appeared not to possess any real sentience and acted on primal instinct alone. When talking with Captain Erisa Magambo, the Tenth Doctor stated that what the stingrays did was not their fault and they merely acted on instinct. (TV: Planet of the Dead)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Circa 2009, the Stingrays opened a wormhole to the planet San Helios, where they ate everything within a year, leaving only barren deserts. They then began making a second wormhole with which to leave the planet. When a Tritovore ship came to the planet to trade, it ran into the swarm. In a manner similar to birds clogging the engines of a plane, the Stingrays clogged the vents of the ship, causing it to crash from ten miles in the air. At least two Stingrays were involved in the crash and were put into hibernation by the cold.

After devouring San Helios and turning it into a desert, the Stingrays began generating a new wormhole to move on. The wormhole eventually opened up into Earth, accidentally pulling the 200 to San Helios. Though they saw the Stingrays from a distance, they were unable to identify what they were without the help of the Tritovore's probe. Later, when Christina de Souza went to retrieve the crystal nucleus from the Tritovore ship, her body heat raised the temperature just enough to revive the hibernating Stingrays. Though Christina managed to kill one with the ship's security grid, the second devoured the two surviving Tritovores.

The Tenth Doctor was able to return the 200 just before the Stingrays made it to the wormhole and Malcolm Taylor managed to close the wormhole after them. However, three Stingrays made it through. Conventional firearms were useless against them, but UNIT's mounted missile launchers proved more effective.

After the threat to Earth was over, the Doctor admitted to Captain Erisa Magambo that the Stingrays would simply start again and generate a new wormhole. However, the Doctor acknowledged that their actions weren't their fault, being instinct and stated an intention to try to "nudge" the Stingrays wormholes onto uninhabited planets where they could feast without ever harming anyone. (TV: Planet of the Dead)

A Stingray was exhibited in the Space Museum when the Vashta Nerada invaded. (WC: Hall of Monsters)