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?

into overdrive to handle the flood of information that nearly knocks me off my six feet. Okok. Here we

advice in order to produce more young. I believe that she considers producing young as

me I can plainly see the upgrades to the three

efficiency of the organ to produce more

Recoding Gland +5, the recoding process utilises less

a bonus

Fantastic!

After studying the organs carefully, I estimate that these two advancements will synergise together

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, so an extra 10% would represent an increase of 100,000

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

hatchling worker, I would guess that for each Croca Beast that was hatched would be able to make eight worker ants, perhaps more. An extra two stats on one Croca won't make that much difference but for eight workers? The difference is

fact… I can

that every worker is going to be getting this 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 slide

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

immediately congratulate her

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

this way. [Are we ready to lay the

Hold on

is 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 needs to

Not yet!]

Why?] I can tell she is

production gland to +10 for sure. If it's possible to get another +2 to all stats to stack with the

silent for a moment. I can almost feel

a huge feast from below, it'll surely get you to +10!

you child]