Chrysalis

Finally back!

In reality it probably didn't take that long, but leading these hatchlings around and making sure that they don't get themselves killed has been a royal pain in the global financial markets. Although they displayed surprising tactical acumen, organising themselves and operating as only a team of ants could, stamping out the remaining impulse towards sacrifice and martyrdom from their minds has proven to be difficult.

"It's the most efficient strategy" one of them protested to me at one stage.

THWACK!

"Efficient how?! Whilst having a decoy worker draw away the majority of the pack will allow the rest to engage the mature wolf hound in safer conditions, it's a suicide mission! One hatchling is no match for ten wolf hounds, even if they are cubs!"

The victim of my rage rubbed at their head with an antenna. "It's time efficient and makes use of the resources we have available to minimise losses!" they protested, "it's not the same as pointless self-sacrifice!"

"Time efficient is it?" I growled, "let's see about that."

I turned to the rest of the hatchlings. "Who volunteers for the suicide mission?"

Nineteen antennae went into the air. Turning back to the hatchling who had suggested the plan I found they had raised their antenna as well.

"So, how quickly and efficiently are you going to collectively decide who is going to go?"

The mastermind of the scheme looked a little dejected. "I see your point."

I corrected them, "you are still only seeing part of

THWACK!

vicious double barrelled thwack, I smack the workers head

can achieve in the future! You would throw all of that away over one hunt?! It's not worth it, not even for one of you! AND …" I spit, rounding on the rest of them, "with even a little thought, you could have made arrangements for the ant

all stare at me blankly. The thought hadn't even

tunnel for them to run to in advance, prepare a hiding place, use a pit trap, connect the tunnels so they can loop back, there

few hatchlings to break out in a cold sweat on the inside of their carapace, I've

will go ahead with the diversion plan, but

"No!"

"Dammit!"

should have

had planned

them, "no dangerous jobs for

roundly boo me for taking

take the time to prepare a way out for me, even though I didn't really

couldn't handle and feeding them the last hits. With their stomach upgrades making it so that they suffered no Biomass penalties for their only evolution, they racked up the points and mutations quickly

When I think about my own struggles

If these guys can take care of the colony then you won't have to! Remember to play the

nest, I get the ants to form up around me. I want to give them a little pep talk before the second

step in your lives. At this evolution you will be the first workers to select a caste that will determine the nature of your service to the colony. This is the system I designed to allow each individual to choose

all nod at that. Being efficient and getting the most out of every worker has been one of the