“Which front?” Sloan snapped.
“The deeper front! The enemy advance has shattered the first outpost. Casualties were heavy.”
Ice struck the general’s heart, but she steeled herself against it. She resisted the urge to indulge in her nature like Leeroy and throw herself out of the command post, rush to the front line and die with her siblings. She could do far more good for her family here, so here she would remain.
It was hard, but she would do it.
“What about the eldest?” she asked.
“The eldest and all guardians were able to retreat safely. Only thanks to their intervention were any saved at all.”
That bad?
“Is there a full report coming?”
“Yes, General. Should only be a few hours behind me.”
The weary scout stood on shaking legs, having pushed herself to the limit to bring this dire news to the nest. Runners like her were racing through the colony’s territory without pause during this conflict, hundreds at a time.
“Go rest, Scout. You’ve done well.”
Sloan saluted the exhausted ant with one antenna and nodded when the gesture was returned. Medics hurried to tend to the scout before she collapsed and the council member turned back to the war map. The enormous sculpture took almost ten cubic metres of space in the centre of the open command post. A host of carvers crawled over and inside the thing, being careful not to damage the incredible piece of work. Using Tunnel Maps and Earth Magic, the carvers had created a vast statue of stone that accurately depicted the territory of the colony.
Even the fine details were accounted for, the defences and gates, the location of forces, and even a special flag to indicate the location of the eldest was present. Sloan watched with interest as one of the Carvers responded to the most recent news, grasped that flag in her mandibles and shifted it closer to the nest.
“What did I miss?” Victor asked, rushing into the chamber.
“Assault on the deeper front. The first outer fort has fallen. How was your rest?”
“Terrible. It’s impossible to enjoy torpor with all of this mess running through your head.” Victor gestured with one mandible to the flurry of activity that surrounded them.
“I’ll save you a bit of trouble,” Victor continued. “The enemy has broken through in the east as well, I intercepted the scout on the way in. You know the weirdest thing? Not a single one of the Immortals was killed in the retreat.”
Sloan stared.
“How is that even possible? They volunteered to be the front of every conflict!”
Her fellow general could only shrug her antennae.
“They are supposed to be ‘Immortal,’ right? Say what you want about that armour, but it does a good job of protecting them. After the beating they received in training, their armour Skills should be decent as well.”
“They are going to be even more insufferable when they get back.”
“…You’re right.”
They turned to view the territory of the colony, making calculations as the little flags which represented their enemies advanced closer to the nest.
“The first ring of defences has fallen along with many of our siblings,” Victor observed.
“I don’t want to sound callous, but more have graduated since the beginning of the conflict than have died. In terms of numbers, our situation has improved, not gotten worse.”
“I don’t think the eldest would like that thinking.”
“I doubt they would, but we have to deal in realities. There is no way the colony will be able to survive without sacrifice.”
“I understand that. You and I have been given the job of observing the conflict as a whole. The eldest on the other hand… they might take things a bit more personally.”
Sloan agreed. The eldest always placed a high priority on the lives of the colony. Higher than the individual ants themselves ever did.
“You don’t think the eldest will do something… unwise… do you?” she asked tentatively.
“Think? No… I’d bet on it.”
93. Vengeance will be Mine!
It was already personal. Now it’s… more personal. When the armoured death machines started to advance, the scouts alerted me and I’d gathered the troops and headed to the first defensive position. The carvers had been working overtime, throwing up walls, forts, and all sorts of little traps throughout the entirety of the colony’s territory.
When the killers arrived, they’d cut through our defensive line with ease. Hundreds of them had advanced against our position, weapons aglow with deadly light and armour pulsing with Mana. They had been visible, even through the thick darkness of the second stratum. Magic hadn’t affected them much, acid hadn’t slowed them down, they just kept coming.
When the leader drew close enough, they’d drawn back with a massive axe and unleashed something I’d never seen before. It wasn’t a slash, or an arc of blade light. It was more like a freakin’ WALL. When it closed in on me, it was like the entire world went white. I’d tried to protect my siblings by leaping in front of those near me, and the resulting wounds put me out of the fight. Without Invidia shielding and healing me, I might not have made it out at all.
Those damn metal bucket murderers! Hundreds of my siblings died in the chaos after that! They charged and cut through the lines. Protectant and her group appeared and dragged me out, right when I was getting my guts back insi—I mean… warmed up!
Geh…
It was a defeat. A total defeat. The rest of the colony fell back to the next defensive position, ready to try again, undeterred by the deaths. Not me, though. I have too much rage! WAY too much rage!
“I don’t think this is wise, eldest…”
I won’t be satisfied until I inflict damage on the enemy. My mandibles must rend. REND, I SAY.
“Eldest…”
I can’t take on hundreds of them at once… no. That would be suicide, even for me. What I CAN do is ambush one of their patrols. With my pets and Protectant’s crew, we should be able to overpower and finish them off before reinforcements can come.
“I don’t think the council would approve…”
Who cares if these stupid tin cans get angry? They’re already here killing us! Time to return the treatment back to them, with extreme vengeance. A second of my babysitters materialises out of nowhere.
“I agree with Protectant. This isn’t a good idea.”
I’ve been ignoring Protectant, as is my policy when she offers advice, but who the heck is this?
“I’ve never seen you before. Why are you popping out now?”
The ant shifts uncomfortably, unhappy to be out of the shadows.
“It didn’t seem like you were listening, and I felt our point of view needed to be emphasised.”
“What’s your name?”
“Defendant.”
Seriously?
“Look. Our colony members have been killed, and I am determined to seek righteous vengeance! Justice! What can you possibly have against that?”
“You would be better served to join with the rest of the colony and assist in the defence. Your capacity to punish the enemy will surely be higher there, not to mention your own safety…”
“Safety be damned! This is about attack! Aggressive moves to let them know they can’t kill us with impunity!”
Protectant and Defendant share a nervous twitch, and I can tell they are watching each other carefully. I cut them off before they can start to organise against me.
“Let’s discuss this rationally,” I begin. “I want to establish a few things first, though.”