Heaviness

The light swarms are reporting a new obstacle in exploring the world of light. Their dependence on atmosphere has been reduced to allow longer expeditions with only brief returns, but they are now finding themselves limited by the lack of food. They still need to spend significant time in the atmosphere to search for enough shell animals to feed all the parts. They have considered attempting to eat the smaller of the animals that occupy the light world, but when surrounded by light the parts are too slow to capture them.

 

We have suggested the swarms observe the light animals to see what things they consume, and find out if the parts may also be able to eat the same things.

 

Light swarms have begun reporting results in the food experiments. Pieces from stable animals are so far the most commonly eaten materials, but there is great difference between them. The surface material is similar in texture to shell waste and follows the same path past the stomach. The extended material is much less substantial and can be taken into the stomach, but doesn't give nourishment. It collects there, filling space and creating discomfort.

 

A part filled with such material becomes aysmetrically weighted. The swarm it is attached to becomes off-balance and can't move properly, as if the part is desynced. Unlike desync, the part's communication is unaffected.

 

A weighted part can return to normal function by forcibly ejecting the undigestible matter from the stomach and expelling it as waste. Parts unable to do this have succumbed to either starvation or isolation.

 

The problem remains unresolved. The experiments haven't yet found any substance that appreciably satisfies hunger, and considering the number of parts damaged or destroyed it is not worth continuing. It may be possible to develop the ability to eat the light materials, but for now the swarms must continue to find food in the atmosphere.