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?

I 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 then. Ah, this is the bit I'm

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

can plainly see the upgrades to the three egg

+5, increases the efficiency of the organ

recoding process utilises less deconstructed mass to encode

production Gland +5, Gives a bonus +2 to all stats for each

Fantastic!

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

eggs per year once the colony gets rolling. My dream scenario would

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 to the mental stats

to create one as opposed to a 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

fact… I can make use of

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

more cheaply than before but still

from the Queen's core I immediately congratulate her on the

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

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

on a

and the promises I've made about the next

yet!] I

Why?] I can tell she is

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. Game

for a moment. I can

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

you child] she