Chapter 372 Contac (1/2)
”About time they got here,” Burke muttered to herself as the horde made its final approach to the outer layer of fortifications the colony had erected.
”Everything ready?” Wills asked for the fourth time in the last five minutes.
”Yes, everything is ready. You really should have rested when you were told to.”
”Couldn't,” Wills flicked her antennae, ”the scouts were still out there.”
”That doesn't mean that you had to be.”
”We disagree on that point.”
”I know,” Burke lifted an antenna and brought it down with a gentle thwack on her siblings head. ”Now that the battle has arrived, you're useless. Go back with the other late returning scouts and get an hour of rest. This isn't going to be over by then.”
Stubborn, Wills shook her head.
”I'll be fine for a while yet,” she said, ”I've got a full load of acid and I'm not sleeping till these invaders have felt every drop of it.”
”Fair enough then. Just make sure you don't push too far forward. Stick to the plan. Deliver the product and then get to safety.”
The two scouts fell into a companionable silence as the horde made its final approach. One hundred metres. That's all that separated the enemy from the first defensive line. After a week of solid fighting, it was a relief to have it come to this.
”About time then,” Burke announced.
”Seems like it,” Wills agreed.
”Pa.s.s the order to open fire,” Burke told the general resting behind her.
The ant snapped out a quick salute.
”Of course, Elder. Fire when ready!”
All along the outer wall the order was pa.s.sed in rapid pheromone communication. Not a single sound was uttered yet a thousand monstrous ants leapt into motion simultaneously. Not far away the human defenders could only marvel and the eerie quiet in which the ants operated.
To the ants however, the 'noise' was deafening.
”Scouts prepare to fire! Long range will engage in ten seconds! Ten seconds! Soldiers and generals will fire in thirty seconds! Wait for the command!”
”Here they come! Are you ready to work?!”
”Five seconds! Five seconds! Check your angles! Don't aim for the front line! Second row!”
”Show them what real monsters are made of!”
”Two! One! FIRE!”
In an instant the entire scouting brigade of the Formica Sapiens, their collective business districts already pointed at the foe, unleashed a barrage of acid skyward.
POW!