System conversion

System conversion is the term used when a swarm such as the Virgon or Hydra remakes a star system in their image. The specifics vary depending on the type of system, but some common features include:

• Combining red dwarfs in binary systems to create a mass sufficient to host a stargate - this is not unheard of amongst 'civilized' races, but the Virgon and Hydra both do this to every suitable system they find.
• Hyperfusing stars. Essentially, a giant, artificial fusor net is constructed around a star, turning it into high gear, sometimes even prematurely triggering a supernova, so that they might gather more high-element resources. This effectively forms the 'brain' of the system, and functions as a powerful satmet - directly communicating with nearby 'hives' to coordinate the spread of the swarm and allocate resources.
• Complete matter-destruction of planetary discs. After a system has been completely converted, only neatly organized resource pools remain.

Reversing partial system conversion damage is, of course, difficult. Native sapiences are usually transported to a safer place, instead, along with a chunk of their biosphere.