Chrysalis

As the Colony expands and grows, it's becoming increasingly difficult to get the Council together. The members are needed all over the place. Victoriant and Antionette have their regular egg-laying duties, which takes the bulk of their time. When they aren't laying, they usually have a ridiculous amount of Biomass they need to consume, as well as accruing experience from the monsters the Colony brings to them for last hitting. Evolving the Queens is still one of the top priorities of the Colony after all.

Needless to say, Burke and Wills have covered an unbelievable amount of territory over the last week. I don’t think I've ever seen either of them look tired, but their legs are definitely hanging a little lower as they rest on their chairs. Coordinating the scouting expeditions throughout the literally thousands of tunnels and branches in every direction must have come close to frying their brains. Turns out when your territory is largely spherical, it's harder to manage than a nice flat piece of land.

The Soldiers have all been fighting in the many, many battles of expansion taking place all throughout the second strata as we strive to soak up as much space and resources as we possibly can before the attack begins. Chief amongst those resources is Biomass and experience. Our troops need to be fighting fit and as strong as they can get, as fast as we can get them there. Needless to say the Generals have been heavily involved in this activity. Organising the logistics of it all must have been a nightmare.

The worker classes have all been busy running support in the meantime, not to mention the constant research and development that goes on. Nest building, manufacturing, testing, experimenting and pushing the boundaries of possibility in all areas. They are the scientists and engineers pushing the Colony forward. Which reminds me of something.

"I understand you had something of a breakthrough recently?" I ask Ellie and Bella, the two core shapers as they settle into their chairs.

The two of them perk up immediately, delighted to talk about their work.

"Oh, we sure have! We've been testing with that core combination technique you brought back to us from the Sophos, geez I'd love to meet them. Anyway, since we've evolved to tier four, along with many of our fellow researchers, we've been making a lot of headway in utilising the technique. Our first 'folded' pet core design was completed yesterday!"

"Oh? What did you manage to fuse?"

"A centipede and a garralosh infant…"

Holy heck. I do NOT want to see that.

"How on Pangera did you manage to get those two to go together?"

Their antennae twitch wildly.

the cores were able to merge. We don't believe the resulting creature will be useful,

didn't actually reconstitute one of these

"We did not."

should not be called into existence, even in the

high hopes for you. If we can develop more powerful and useful pets, it can have a positive impact

already proven that their pets can

I address the gathered council members,

you mean, Eldest?" Victor

gone

around the table as the

Burke admits, "we've been expanding our zone of control in every direction and our scouts have pushed hard toward golgari territory, but so far there hasn't been any sign

backs her

as soon as they spot anything approaching through

Advant warns the table, "we are still expecting a large enemy force to approach

strata nests are active and we've begun to develop surface nests to complement them. The new Queens are in place and the Biomass

going to put a strain on the academy as we attempt to graduate these larger classes.

estimate that the total number of members in the Colony at around a hundred thousand,”

A hundred thousand?!?!" I

*THWACK!*

What was that

I was shocked there for a