Chrysalis

In this world.

All things.

Flow.

To the Colony.

• Spoken by Cobalt at the seizure of the lightning mines of Al'Razza.

The plan has to have a name, of course. What is it with these ants and their insistence on stupid names?! I shoot down a few of the more obnoxious ones, like "Omega Seed Shield" and "Phoenix Ant Flames". I mean… why?! What the heck does flames have to do with anything, even if there are phoenix flames? That's just stupid and I administer a phew THWACKS to drive the point home to these thickies.

In the end, I manage to sell them on "Slow Grow".

"There's a chance that through some unknown magical means, the enemy may be able to interpret our pheromones," I tell them, "so any reference to seeds or phoenixes may lead them to uncover the plot and immediately know what it means. From this point, Slow Grow will be used to refer to this concept, and any pheromone messaging related to it will be scrubbed as thoroughly as possible. Acid wash the whole room if you have to."

The council agreed immediately. No measure is too extreme when the survival of the Colony, and indeed, our entire species may be on the line.

"Make this a priority," I inform them, "for my part, I'm going to get myself back out into the tunnels, scouting and fighting. I'll make sure not to get too far away, and I'll keep a scout relay between me and the nest at all times. Vibrant, you should get your team back out into the field as well. Skills and levels are going to win us this war, we need to get 'em."

"Are you sure you don’t want to go with Vibrant again, Eldest?” Sloan asks, "your last expedition was very fruitful as I understand. The expanse you conquered is certainly one of the largest we've yet seen."

"Be careful in there," I warn her, "the big spider mother in there wasn't defeated and I get the feeling she holds a grudge. She's a sneaky so and so, don't take any risks. If she's still in there, we'll need an extensive digging project to get her out."

Leeroy looks like she's about to volunteer something, but her fellow Soldier, Brendant, puts a claw on her back and she quiets. Sending her and her squad after a large, powerful monster would be exactly the sort of thing she'd be looking for to enact her 'glorious sacrifice' plan. That's not happening.

I've seen the work that Smithant has done for Leeroy and the group and after talking to her, it's become clear

Cobalt shift in their

to pour their effort into making things that we get naturally. If we want tougher defences, just mutate your carapace, if we need stronger weapons, mutate the mandibles. So

they, in part, seem to agree with this sentiment. Sheer stupidity

hundred years, that'll change, but for now, it's not. So if a soldier has maxed mutations for carapace, mandibles and whatever

"the armour can be used

the armour will help keep them alive until they can evolve. It's win-win. After my next evolution, I myself intend to order a set. I'll certainly get

a few more crafters may be willing to lend a hand," Cobalt

sets to clad even a small force of ants on her own is just

I have a think.

I leave," I announce, "from what I hear, we haven't gotten much out of them,

with the two new ones you brought in, Eldest," Mendant tells me in her gentle, soothing

great. He'll be filling their heads

their approach, we need to meet back here as a matter of urgency. Until then, continue the expansion, continue to develop our defences and networks, and

are plenty of cities with one hundred thousand people in them who get by with a council, but geographically we are covering a huge amount of space. The two new nests are one thing, but the hunting territories around them, the various expanses that the Colony has conquered, the extensive mining operations,

rate the eggs are going to be laid, we'll be up to a million strong Colony before too long! What an exciting and scary thought! If the golgari were scared of us before, they'll be terrified

contemplate their roles under the threat of the impending invasion. A million things to do, but all of them will be dropped the instant one of those

stronger, and allow my siblings to rise up

end, we need MOAR

we heading back out into the Dungeon, Master?] Crinis

Crinis. I just walk around assuming that you know what's been discussed after a

checked the menu last time, it was unusually expensive. I think because I have none of the sensory receptors or nerve centres required to

remind me and I'll be happy

I will do that, Master,] she sounds

the by, what level

21 Master,] she

so bad! Why are you down