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?

skill and spin my mind up into overdrive to handle the flood of information that nearly knocks

I would not have been surprised if she had neglected my advice in order to produce more young. I believe that she considers producing young

see the upgrades to the three egg production organs

the efficiency of the organ to

process utilises less

Egg production Gland +5, Gives a bonus +2

Fantastic!

sort of thing I spoke to the Queen about. After studying the organs carefully, I estimate that these two advancements will synergise together to boost the egg production by 10%! Possibly

per year once the colony gets rolling. My dream scenario would have the Queen producing about a million ants a year, so an extra 10% would represent an

to make my mind boggle! That's a huge deal! The ants will be so weak that +2 to their physical stats is going to be significant enough but +2

one as opposed to a hatchling worker, I would guess that for each Croca Beast that was

fact… I can make use of

boost from the Queen I make a few minor adjustments, bending my mind to its limits to enforce them. I trim down on the workers a little, basically shaving one point from each stat and giving clear paths for the bonus stats to

before but still be a little stronger in

mind from the Queen's core I immediately congratulate her on the wise choices she

upgrades will mean more workers and the +2

the Queen sounds genuinely pleased to be praised in this way. [Are we ready to lay the first

Hold on a second!

growing the colony and the promises I've made about the next generation are

yet!]

Why?] I can tell she is genuinely disappointed. Sorry

get that egg production gland to +10 for sure. If it's possible to get another +2 to all stats to stack with the existing advancement that will absolutely insane.

moment. I can

a huge feast from below, it'll surely get you to +10! I'll make sure the workers bring every bit of it here for you, ok?!]

child] she