The Swarm is a type of space-borne organism which had hanged dormant in a cloud-like area of space near Saturn for millenia, until in 5000 it was finaly picked up by the crew of a Titan Shuttle. It infected the relief crew for the Titan Base, and trough them eventualy most of the Bi-Al Foundation
The Swarm worked like a disease, spreading by electrical pulses, which should make contact with the victim's eyes. This would turn victims into agents of the swarm, answering to a nucleus, a microscopic and virus-like sentient lorganism that controlled the swarm. Visualy, an infected lifeform could be recognised by their growing of grey filaments around their eyes and hands.
There is no physical matter for the virus, which exists in a state in the mind/brain interface (though the nucleus has a crustacean-like form). This means the swarm can affect non-living sentients like robots and can have less of an effect on instinct-based individuals.
Certain people (such as Leela) have certain antibodies that can defeat the virus. As well, the virus can be slowed simply by not thinking.
Known Victims
- The Doctor (DW: The Invisible Enemy)
- K-9 (DW: The Invisible Enemy)
- Professor Marius (DW: The Invisible Enemy)
- the crew of theTitan Base
- Most of the Bi-Al Foundation (DW: The Invisible Enemy)