Chapter 1401 – The Colony Invades!

Well, let me say this, Solant really does know how to host a get-together. I get the best view, because, as usual, I’m the lucky chap who gets to go down the tunnel first. Which means I’m right in the middle of the staging ground as the full invasion force takes shape around me. As Solant had predicted, it takes hours for everyone to get into place, not just row after row of ants, but the allies going down with them, the wuffers, the carvers and all the materials they need to construct the nodes as we go.

I’ve only taken a glimpse at the full extent of the plans Solant has laid out, but even that was enough to give me a headache. As I look out on all of these individuals, I know that Solant has given each and every one of them extremely detailed orders, down to the minute of execution.

This whole thing has been planned down to the seconds. Good thing I gave Invidia and Crinis the schedule, otherwise I’d have no chance of keeping up.

There’s a whole lot more wuffers here than I expected. I don’t know how the core shapers are managing to pump them out, but whatever they’re doing, it’s working. The ones who saw experience in the fifth already have evolved a step as well, which puts them at tier six.

Each of them represents a massive investment of resources from the Colony, and we absolutely can’t afford to let them be caught by the enemy. Of all the things that this invasion plan focuses on, the safety of the wuffers is of the utmost importance.

When everyone is assembled, it’s a fearsome sight. A million ants, each in perfect formation along with our allies, united in purpose. Their Will flows into me, filling me with their thoughts and expectations. Each of them believes in the absolute victory of the Colony, and that thought pours into me over and over again, until our success becomes inevitable in my mind.

There’s never a time I’m more frightened of the Vestibule than when such large numbers of ants are so in sync. Their Will forms such a raging torrent it almost washes my own thoughts away.

“You ready, Solant? Let’s do this!” I exclaim.

My core is thumping with energy, and the energy is pounding throughout my carapace.

Despite everything happening around us, Solant is perfectly calm; not even a twitch of her antennae betrays a hint of nervousness.

“It’s not time yet, Senior,” she tells me.

“When will it be time?” I demand.

She confers with an ant beside her.

“One minute and nineteen seconds,” she tells me.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Dammit!”

I’m starting to feel a little self conscious standing here with over a million individuals looking at me. Surely we can go? The wait for the final minute is almost unbearable, but I master myself, and the seconds tick by.

“Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Begin the invasion,” Solant announces calmly.

“Whoo!”

I practically dive over the edge and into the tunnel to the fifth, freefalling for a dozen metres before I slam my legs into the rock wall, gripping tight to slow my descent.

“Not much for inspirational speeches, are you?” I call back to Solant.