Chapter 272 Triumph of training (1/2)
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 ac.u.men, 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.”
”No” I corrected them, ”you are still only seeing part of it.”
THWACK!
Using my antennae to bring down a vicious double barrelled thwack, I smack the workers head straight into the ground.
”You are STILL not measuring the weight of your lives correctly! The ama.s.sed experience and resources, the investment the colony has made in you, the potential work that you 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 tasked with the diversion to survive!”
They all stare at me blankly. The thought hadn't even crossed their minds, I bet.
”Dig an escape 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 are many options.”
The menace in my voice caused quite a few hatchlings to break out in a cold sweat on the inside of their carapace, I've not doubt.
”For not even thinking of preserving your own lives, we will go ahead with the diversion plan, but I will take the role of the sacrificial diversion myself.”
”No!”
”Dammit!”
”That should have been me!”