The Swarm (The Invisible Enemy): Difference between revisions

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{{Template:Infobox Species
{{Template:Infobox Species
|image= [[File:Virus2.jpg|250px]]
|image       = Circle of light.jpg
|Species name= The Swarm
|aka         = "Giant prawn"
|aka=
|type       = [[Virus]]
|type= [[Virus]]
|affiliation =  
|affiliation=  
|origin     =
|origin= Unknown (found near [[Saturn]])
|first cs    = The Invisible Enemy (TV story)
|appearances  = [[DW]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy]]''
|appearances = {{Il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]''|[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Revenge of the Swarm (audio story)|Revenge of the Swarm]]''}}
|individuals =[[The Nucleus]]}}
|individuals = [[The Nucleus]]
}}{{dab page|Swarm (disambiguation)}}
'''The Swarm''' was a parasitic, [[virus]]-like entity which could assume many forms.
'''The Swarm''' was a parasitic, [[virus]]-like entity which could assume many forms.
== Biology ==
== Biology ==
The Swarm worked like a disease, spreading through [[electricity|electrical]] pulses which needed to make contact with a victim's eyes. This would turn victims into agents of the Swarm, answering to a [[The Nucleus|Nucleus]], a microscopic and virus-like sentient organism that controlled the swarm. Visually, an infected lifeform could be recognised by the growing of grey filaments around their eyes and hands.


The Swarm worked like a disease, spreading through [[electricity|electrical]] pulses which needed to make contact with a victim's eyes. This would turn victims into agents of the Swarm, answering to a [[The Nucleus|Nucleus]], a microscopic and virus-like sentient organism that controlled the swarm. Visually, an infected lifeform could be recognised by the growing of grey filaments around their eyes and hands.
There was no physical matter for the virus, which existed in the [[mind-brain interface]]. The Swarm could affect non-living sentients such as [[robot]]s, though the infection can be removed easily if the robot shut down. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Invisible Enemy (TV story)}})
 
== History ==
The Swarm lay dormant in cloud-like anomalies in [[space]], including the area near [[Saturn]] for untold millennia, until spaceships passed through them. In the year [[5000]] it was picked up by the crew of a passing [[spacecraft]]. It infected the relief crew for the [[Titan Base]], and through them eventually most of the [[Bi-Al Foundation]], located on [[Asteroid]] [[K4067]].
 
Certain individuals (such as [[Leela]]) had antibodies that could defeat the virus. Additionally, the progress of the virus could be slowed simply by not thinking. Known victims of the Swarm included the Fourth Doctor, [[K9 Mark I]], Professor [[Frederick Marius]], the crew of the Titan Base and most of the [[Bi-Al Foundation]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Invisible Enemy (TV story)}})
 
The Swarm remained dormant in the TARDIS' computer until the Doctor's [[Seventh Doctor|seventh incarnation]]. Shortly afterwards, the Doctor returned to Titan Base in the company of [[Ace]] and [[Hex|Hector Thomas]] in [[4920]]. The TARDIS had been commandeered by Hector, who had fallen under the control of the Swarm. It ensured its own creation by returning to the Bi-Al Foundation, where it mutated from the [[Saturnian plague]].
 
While in 4920, the Nucleus [[clone]]d itself and uploaded its mind to the Bi-Al Foundation computer. It then used the TARDIS to travel forward in time to the [[52nd century]], by which time the centre had become a [[Hypernet]] relay station. Using the TARDIS' [[Relative Dimensional Stabiliser]] and the power of the Hypernet, it intended to recreate itself and become corporeal. However, it was defeated by the Doctor, Ace and Hector when the Doctor was able to trick it into trying to reinfect Hector after he had treated Hector with his own antibodies, disrupting the Swarm's control of the Hypernet long enough for its physical body to be destroyed. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Revenge of the Swarm (audio story)}})
 
In a similar adventure to the Doctor's, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Invisible Enemy (TV story)}}) {{Manning|c }} caught a [[lurgy]] from a [[sandwich]] she bought and ate from a [[motorway services (From Wildthyme with Love)|motorway services]]. After meeting [[Professor (From Wildthyme with Love)|a Professor]] and his robot companion [[PAND-R]], with the duo and Iris being [[clone]]d, [[Miniaturisation|shrunk]], and sent inside Iris' body, the lurgy turned out to be a giant prawn. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|namedep=15}})
 
== Behind the Scenes ==
In his introduction for the [[Pinnacle Books]] edition of ''[[Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen]]'', [[Harlan Ellison]] cited several of the Fourth Doctor's enemies, including "the virus swarm of the Purpose."


There was no physical matter for the virus, which existed in the [[mind-brain interface]]. The Swarm could affect non-living sentients such as [[robot]]s.
{{TitleSort}}
==History==
The Swarm hung dormant in a cloud-like area of [[space]] near [[Saturn]] for millennia, until in the year [[5000]] it was picked up by the crew of a [[Titan shuttle]]. It infected the relief crew for the [[Titan Base]], and through them eventually most of the [[Bi-Al Foundation]], located on [[Asteroid]] [[K4067]].


Certain individuals (such as [[Leela]]) had antibodies that could defeat the virus. Additionally, the progress of the virus could be slowed simply by not thinking. Known victims of the Swarm included the Fourth Doctor, [[K9 Mark I|K9]], Professor [[Marius]], the crew of the [[Titan Base]] and most of the [[Bi-Al Foundation]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy]]'')
{{Season 15 aliens}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swarm, The}}
[[Category:Hive minds]]
[[Category:Hive minds]]
[[Category:Parasitic species]]
[[Category:Parasitic species]]
[[Category:Energy beings]]
[[Category:Energy beings]]
[[Category:Diseases and illnesses]]
[[Category:Diseases and illnesses]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Sol System species]]
[[Category:K9 enemies]]

Latest revision as of 21:48, 12 February 2024

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

The Swarm was a parasitic, virus-like entity which could assume many forms.

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Swarm worked like a disease, spreading through electrical pulses which needed to make contact with a victim's eyes. This would turn victims into agents of the Swarm, answering to a Nucleus, a microscopic and virus-like sentient organism that controlled the swarm. Visually, an infected lifeform could be recognised by the growing of grey filaments around their eyes and hands.

There was no physical matter for the virus, which existed in the mind-brain interface. The Swarm could affect non-living sentients such as robots, though the infection can be removed easily if the robot shut down. (TV: The Invisible Enemy [+]Loading...["The Invisible Enemy (TV story)"])

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Swarm lay dormant in cloud-like anomalies in space, including the area near Saturn for untold millennia, until spaceships passed through them. In the year 5000 it was picked up by the crew of a passing spacecraft. It infected the relief crew for the Titan Base, and through them eventually most of the Bi-Al Foundation, located on Asteroid K4067.

Certain individuals (such as Leela) had antibodies that could defeat the virus. Additionally, the progress of the virus could be slowed simply by not thinking. Known victims of the Swarm included the Fourth Doctor, K9 Mark I, Professor Frederick Marius, the crew of the Titan Base and most of the Bi-Al Foundation. (TV: The Invisible Enemy [+]Loading...["The Invisible Enemy (TV story)"])

The Swarm remained dormant in the TARDIS' computer until the Doctor's seventh incarnation. Shortly afterwards, the Doctor returned to Titan Base in the company of Ace and Hector Thomas in 4920. The TARDIS had been commandeered by Hector, who had fallen under the control of the Swarm. It ensured its own creation by returning to the Bi-Al Foundation, where it mutated from the Saturnian plague.

While in 4920, the Nucleus cloned itself and uploaded its mind to the Bi-Al Foundation computer. It then used the TARDIS to travel forward in time to the 52nd century, by which time the centre had become a Hypernet relay station. Using the TARDIS' Relative Dimensional Stabiliser and the power of the Hypernet, it intended to recreate itself and become corporeal. However, it was defeated by the Doctor, Ace and Hector when the Doctor was able to trick it into trying to reinfect Hector after he had treated Hector with his own antibodies, disrupting the Swarm's control of the Hypernet long enough for its physical body to be destroyed. (AUDIO: Revenge of the Swarm [+]Loading...["Revenge of the Swarm (audio story)"])

In a similar adventure to the Doctor's, (TV: The Invisible Enemy [+]Loading...["The Invisible Enemy (TV story)"]) Iris Wildthyme caught a lurgy from a sandwich she bought and ate from a motorway services. After meeting a Professor and his robot companion PAND-R, with the duo and Iris being cloned, shrunk, and sent inside Iris' body, the lurgy turned out to be a giant prawn. (PROSE: "15" [+]Part of From Wildthyme with Love, Loading...{"namedep":"15","1":"From Wildthyme with Love (novel)"})

Behind the Scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

In his introduction for the Pinnacle Books edition of Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen, Harlan Ellison cited several of the Fourth Doctor's enemies, including "the virus swarm of the Purpose."