Chrysalis

The Queen was in her chamber much the same as she had been over a day ago, covered in workers and resting peacefully. She hasn't had any reason to go out and fight lately so I hope she's enjoying a period of relaxation.

Considering the measly supply of Biomass that the workers have been extracting from the surface there hasn't even been much laying to do. I'm not sure if Queen ants can get bored but perhaps she might be feeling that things have become a little dull?

[Bored?] she responds when I ask her, sounding for all the world like she didn't even understand the word, [why would I be bored?]

[Well, there isn't much to do at the moment?]

[Foolish child] she chides me, [the colony is not under threat and you have provided food and a great hope for our family. I am content, as we should all be]

How is this giant ant monster always so positive?! Such a good mother!

Before I can get too emotional I need to focus on the present.

[So you've received the Biomass we sent up?]

[Yes. The children have been working as hard as they can. They found it and brought it to me]

[awesome]

I stare hard at the Queen for a moment, trying to judge whether she's upgraded herself as we discussed. Rather than accuse my own my own mother of lying, which would be rather tactless, I try a different angle.

[Is it ok if I check on your core? There may be more that I can do to improve our chances]

[of course child]

She answers without hesitation. I seriously doubt that she's even capable of doubting her own children. I wonder if all the ant Queens are like this?

activate the core surgery skill and spin my mind up into overdrive to handle the flood of information that nearly knocks me off my six feet. Okok. Here we go

been surprised if she had neglected my advice in order to produce more young. I believe that she considers producing young as her primary responsibility and the best way to serve the family as a whole, so it's only natural that she would prioritise it over everything else, but

see the upgrades to the three egg

Biomass Deconstruction Organ +5, increases the efficiency of the organ

utilises less deconstructed mass

production Gland +5, Gives a bonus +2

Fantastic!

studying the organs carefully, I estimate that these

might not sound like much, but it isn't as if the Queen will be producing ten eggs per year once the colony gets rolling. My dream scenario would have the Queen producing about a million ants a year,

in the egg production gland. +2 might not seem like much but it's enough to make my mind

were to think of the Croca beasts and how much Biomass would be needed to create one as opposed to a hatchling worker, I would guess that for each Croca Beast that was hatched would be able to

fact… I can

to its limits to enforce them. I trim

more cheaply than before but still be a little stronger in the end. Win-win! However there is

the Queen's core I immediately congratulate her

efficiency upgrades will mean more workers and the +2 to all stats was perfect. Great

you child] the Queen sounds genuinely pleased to be praised in this way. [Are we

Hold on

pumped up to get back to growing the colony and the promises I've made about the next generation are clearly exciting for her but she

yet!] I say

she is genuinely

sure. If it's possible to get another +2 to all stats to stack with the existing advancement that will absolutely insane. Game breaking even. I'm not

a moment. I can almost

ok! It won't take long! We brought up a huge feast from below, it'll surely get you to +10! I'll make

you child] she says