Chapter 596 Where the hell are they?! (1/2)
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 Bioma.s.s 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 s.p.a.ce and resources as we possibly can before the attack begins. Chief amongst those resources is Bioma.s.s 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 cla.s.ses 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 pus.h.i.+ng the boundaries of possibility in all areas. They are the scientists and engineers pus.h.i.+ng 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.
”It … wasn't easy. Extensive modifications were made to both creatures before the cores were able to merge. We don't believe the resulting creature will be useful, at all, but it's an important milestone!”
”Agreed… you didn't actually reconst.i.tute one of these did you?”
”We did not.”
Phew. Such a monstrosity should not be called into existence, even in the name of progress.
”This is really good news. Keep it up you two! I have high hopes for you. If we can develop more powerful and useful pets, it can have a positive impact in all aspects of the Colony.”
The two core shapers happily salute me and prepare for the council proper to begin. I sincerely believe what I said, the Sophos have shown the raw power that pets can hold. The core shapers have already proven that their pets can be useful, but with time, and as their Skill levels rise, their creations will become more and more deadly. The Colony will be able to pour enough resources into those pets that they can become truly powerful.
”Alright then,” I address the gathered council members, ”where the h.e.l.l are they?”
”What do you mean, Eldest?” Victor asks.
”We're expecting an invasion from multiple fronts! Where are they?! Have they just given up and gone home? Are we safe? I mean, has anyone seen any sign of the golgari invading us?”
There's an awkward moment around the table as the ants look at each other.
”We haven't seen anything,” 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 of them.”