Chapter 1417 – Solant’s Plotting

The influence of Solant on the organisation of the Colony is difficult to overstate. Perhaps of all the champions who arose within the Colony, her impact was the greatest, even when compared to Brilliant, or Merchant.

By our very nature, the ants of the Colony formed an effective military. Cooperative, egoless, selfless, unafraid of death, we were able to organise readily, train relentlessly, and confront our enemies with confidence and overwhelming numbers.

Solant was not satisfied with that.

She turned the Colony into a proper military. Every caste was brought into a unified command structure that made the best use of their talents, in ways no other ant had ever dreamed of. It was no longer enough to simply train, gain experience and improve levels. Endless drills, complex formations, backup plans within backup plans, contingencies, redundancies. The exhaustive drive and intellect she possessed was laser focused on one single thing: preparation.

Yes, Solant was the greatest battlefield general the Colony ever produced, but her true power and influence was in reshaping the Colony’s approach to not only battle, but war.

It is due to Solant that we came to be so feared.

– Excerpt from the private notes of Historiant

Some among her closest advisors, her broodmates who she’d grown up with, considered Solant to be something of a pessimist. They all saw the wisdom in planning for the worst, but she truly seemed to expect it, which appeared excessive to them at times.

To her mind, it was only prudent. If she expected the worst, then she wouldn’t be in the slightest surprised when it almost inevitably happened. Also, she wouldn’t be too shocked when something even worse occurred.

So far, everything to do with the invasion of the fifth stratum had been going according to plan. According to her expectations, that meant that something awful should happen right about…

“General Solant!”

… It was difficult at times, always being correct.

“Make way for the messenger,” she demanded, cool and calm as always.

The forward command post was a hive of activity, not least because it was constantly moving. As the area covered by the purified mana pushed deeper into the fifth, so too did the frontline of the invasion. As the commander, she needed to stay close to respond to any disasters as they took place. Such as now.

The many bustling ants gave way and soon a clearly stressed scout stood before her.

“There has been some form of attack!” she burst out. “Toxic mana is spreading everywhere within the safe-zones!”

What? That shouldn’t be possible…

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“How?” she demanded. “Has anyone identified the source?”

“Yes, general,” the scout nodded her antennae frantically. “It’s the vents! Those strange openings along the tunnels. They suddenly opened up and started spewing toxic mana everywhere! Some parts of the invasion force have already been cut off!”

Of course. Even worse than the worst case scenario. If the local Krath hadn’t overplayed their hand so severely, this would be the perfect moment for them to have attacked….

She’d gotten lucky.