Sir! Exclaimed the mighty winged Thel kula as he rushed inside parting the tent flap with a flash of cloth. "Sister come back! Alone with news!
The diminutive Kjea soon followed in, shoving him aside despite being a third his size. Despite being small and young. She was bold. She was but a lone diminutive trench digger recently armed with just a wooden spear as was deserving of one as inexperienced and lowly as her. A soft shell yet to prove herself donned in flimsy tattered cloth, she couldn't compare to her more decorated brother who had survived multiple raids. All the more reason for the fresh hatchlings to be the ones to take the greatest risks.
The skinny scout who had been the first to volunteer to go into no man's land limped forward toward the center of the tent packed with commanders and those above her. Bloodied, and beaten, out of breath, and weak, she lumbered forward regardless with one agonizing step after another, hellbent on giving the message she had carried back with her all this way, trailing drops of yellow blood as she limped toward the swarms leader.
"Father." She whimpered and bowed before him.
"Thel help your sister." the general muttered Hard at work in finalizing the details of tonight's soon to be victory she knew. He could do no wrong after all.
Thel grunted reluctantly and stepped forward to assist the hatchling. "Hold still grunt."
The monarchy springstar barb she had taken while scouting was pulled out hastily and clumsily, doing more damage. Causing her to collapse to the floor momentarily. She cast aside the pain as best she could and knelt down on the floor with much difficulty with the others in front of the table in silence while Father planned the assault. Hard at work in finalizing the details of tonight's raid. She remained completely silent not bothering to tend to her wound until the general had finished planning his attack. One waited to be spoken to, or one did not speak at all.
"Report." The cloaked leader said sternly at the center stage of the circle. Not bothering to look up at her. What have you seen?
The scout nodded graciously for her permission to speak and stumbled up to full height as best she could which was nothing compared to his and his looming presence over everyone in the room. "Count less than ten on front line at pass. The girl panted and winced, clutching her back. "Bad men got another sister. Shot on me as ran. Try to stop me but fail. I run back to camp."
So...he had lost another one. A pity. But he still had close to two thousand in reserve to use for the coming storm. So it did not matter. But still. He was running dangerously low. He could afford no more slip-ups. He turned his gaze back below him to what mattered to him most tonight.
The Savanna Sovereignty had declared war against their former allies of the Ocean Monarchy. And once again the Savvee's immediately turned to their favorite source of hired muscle to lead the charge in exchange for weapons and gold. This was a stupid war. But the reward was too good to pass up for being a part of it on the winning side.
Still. That didn't mean army ants enjoyed working for their extremely wealthy and equally arrogant employers back east. Far from it. There wasn't a Savannah soldier in sight to join them in the thick of mud and battle this time. His swarm had successfully surprised the monarchy's initial expeditionary force to stop the buildup of the invasion weeks ago as was carefully planned. Digging a network of tunnels under a vast field and drawing them in with a few hundred savanate forces having reluctantly volunteered until the monarchy expeditionary force was surrounded by a near a quarter of a million ants. Emerging from the ground like wraiths to encircle and slaughter the hopelessly unaware marching aquatics. It had been an amusing fun battle. But that was not the case anymore. Those that had escaped had regrouped to this old fort to make a last stand. And tonight his swarm would finish the job they had been stuck at this stubborn fort for weeks.
But they would be spearheading this attack alone. The savannah not wanting to waste valued men and recourse's on a lengthy siege. And while they had won that battle beside the ants, it had been costly for both of them. The monarchy had but up an admirable yet equally infuriating fight. Even the general had to admit that. Even more so now that they were completely surrounded in a sige. He knew that those who were corned had nothing left to lose. The Marines fought with dignity and honor, but they were just one more obstacle for him to overcome. A very difficult one. He knew he needed more time and further aid from the sovereign forces to take the fort. But explaining that to their employers and convincing them to send further aid had been even more difficult and fruitless than this winning this battle.
And so. The former raider champion had stretched and pinned his map across the massive table with four daggers at each of its tattered corners, resorting to planning this assault by himself. It was an ancient outdated map of the area, but it was the best they had to go off of. The general studied it carefully as if a battle itself were laying before him that no one else could see. He continued watching the chaos, moving numerous red wooden pieces with each of his arms into proper places. The army ant's strength was in their numbers, but without that advantage he had to start thinking more carefully now that so much was at risk.
He continued weighing the red pieces' personal and strategic worth, knowing they represented not just a warrior, but a child. His child. He contemplated how best to use each and every one of them for what felt like an eternity as all time seemingly stopped around him. Focusing only on how he could use the pieces to protect those who mattered more in helping achieve victory tonight and the real prize beyond. Their biggest contract yet. Wealth and riches unimaginable for future generations of their hive.
It would all be worth it in the end.
It had to be.
"Are you sure they are down to their last men?" he responded. Moving another child into play on the map. I'd hate to have us all walk into another slaughter on account of a false report.
Yes.. Yess! Very sure! The scout clicked excitedly before wincing in pain from the sudden movement. They a fragment of what remained in last attack.!! We finish them!! Finish them!! The girl said excitedly, coughing on her own blood.
"Do not be so hasty to meet your death this time." He responded in a calm menacing snarl as he finished removed a few of the surviving blue pieces he most despised at the center of the hill to match her description. "It may serve a better purpose how I see fit."
Of course sir. The girl said ashamed at her foolishness. So...if permit. Ask..What plan? What tell sisters? We wait's for reinforcements? We return home to bivouac?
Before the general could speak a round disk from the center of the war tent began to glow. The general grew tense. He knew what it meant.
Its him. Put him through. The general said with reluctance before kneeling.
Lion Commander Kadeo appeared out of nowhere, looking on with great displeasure through the yellow sun hologram. His one remaining eye narrowed in anger upon the creature he blamed for the delay.
"You are failing us general."
The war tent was now dark and utterly quiet, with the light of the lion at the center of the room towering over the general and his children. Commander Kadeo stood tall in his glimmering gold and black armor. His sheer Prescence and superiority an uncomfortable reminder of how their swarm were at his beck and call. It felt wrong to take orders from someone other than the queen. But she had started to rent her swarm out to anyone much like most surviving insect races in bid to stave off poverty and reclaim lost wealth and territory. So long as the price was good. And from the savannah. It was very very good. If they could get the job done that was. So far that wasn't happening. And their employers ambitious were beginning to match their wealth. They were getting impatient. And that meant trouble for all of them.
"I need to move my men and tanks across the pass tonight. The lion general snarled. The fire ants in the north and the hornet swarms in the south have broken through and yet here you still are lying on your backsides. We have already waited far too long, any more and we buy time for monarchy border forces to escape and regroup on the other side. I will not hear any more excuses. Only results come morning. You move your forces and take the fort. Now.
"I understand that sir. We just... We did not anticipate this arduous of a battle. The enemy commander has been more...resilient than we anticipated. We have begun digging tunnels to get around their defenses but it has been a slow process. We need more time to wait for more of our queen's forces to arrive and then we shall overwhelm them with sheer numbers. Or perhaps... you could commit some of your own forces to..."
I will not waste my men on a task that is not our own! The commander roared. We are currently rallying our forces across the border for the invasion this very instant. The invasion might I add you is being bottlenecked by your current failure. The High Sassanate hired you and your children for this job. I was told army ants never surrendered. Perhaps I was mistaken. If you and your children cannot take one measly fort. Perhaps we'll find someone who can. The fire ants are giving us results. What are you giving us? Nothing.
That struck a nerve. But of course he said nothing. You don't insult the hand that feeds you. Or at least not directly to its face.
"We will take this pass tonight. Or die trying sir. The general vowed. lowering his head as he knelt to touch the floor. Clutching his fist in anger behind his cloak cleanly out of view. His children turning their heads away in discomfort at the sight of their proud father bowing to someone other than the queen. A gesture only reserved for her. But they knew flattery would buy them more time to get the job done. And they knew one day when they were powerful enough, they sovereignty would be the one bowing to them.
See that you do general. The lion sneered. I would hate to inform your queen that her most trusted general had failed her and our current contract null. Isn't punishment for failure especially for a Tel queensguard death, and for their children exile?
...yes.. Sir.. The general responded. His teeth grinding in rage.
Then you will know what happens if you fail us. That will be all. You have your orders and have until dawn. Either you and your pathetic horde be on that fort raising our banner, or we'll mow you over if we have to take it yourself. I don't care how many of your disgusting children are caught in the crossfire. You and your kind are barely worth the money and weapons we have scrounged up for you. Make use of them. They are more valuable then any of you could ever be."
Yes...sir.
"See that you do not fail me. You are dismissed ant. That will be all"
The light vanished. leaving a long vengeful silence of pure seething hatred in the packed room.
Pampered fool. Muttered the general now that he was free to speak his mind.
Without warning. The general grabbed onto the table holding his map and threw it to crash into the weapons rack with a thundering crash. His children stunned but silent. The lion couldn't have waited to let him do it his way? Now it had to be the hard way for him and his children as usual Of course. No matter the cost. He would break the monarchy tonight. Once this contract was fulfilled he swore. He and his children would never be used as cannon fodder again.
The cloaked leader stood up and composed himself. Donning his sabers and fastening them to his belt as he approached the other swarm leaders one by one, waiting patiently for their instruction on what to do next. Whatever it was. They would follow it unconditionally to the final letter.
So what is plan father. We wait for more brothers and sisters from mother?
No. We never retreat.
We will take this mound tonight my children. The general then turned forward and glanced at everyone in the room with a savage fearless fire in his voice. Making sure they got the message. There would be no cowardice or ignorance in his line. They were his flesh and blood. And if he never backed down in the line of duty. Neither would they.
Mobilize your sisters. Every. Single. One. Skirmishers. Warriors. Hypaspists. And flagbearers. I don't care if they are too sick or injured to fight You will begin your charge along the main chasm. Draw their fire away from the sky for as long as you can.
You honor us father this task father. It will be done. This we swear. The warrior put a hand to her chest and departed the tent in haste with half of her sisters in tow. Finally he faced his pride and joy. His battled hardened monstrous sons. The headhunters. Khel stepped forward.
Once their job is done. You will be supporting them in strafing runs. Have all your brothers hide among the clouds above, ready to bombard them all safe from the air and dive in to face them in person when the time is right to clear our path up the hill.
It will be done father.
Destroy them. Crush them in their own graves they have dug for themselves. Die if you have to. But take as many as you can before the night is through. Let none escape. We will put everything we have left into breaking through. I will not allow this stubborn prey to keep us at bay one second more from finishing the job we were hired to do for her majesty. This ends. Tonight. There is no failure. For any of us. We either fulfil this contract. Or we don't return home at all.
"With pleasure..."The ants smiled as they bowed their head all the way to touch the floor at his feet. Unafraid to die if it mean making him proud at last any way they could. For these ants had never felt happier. Especially for some more than others. This was the first time the scout had ever met him in person. He was everything she had ever imagined and more. So much more.
The scout grabbed her weapon from a pile and rejoined her older standing sisters beside her. Ready and eager to spend her last remaining hours alive in sacrificing for the glory of her family and siblings by fighting beside them by breaking through the defender's last line. She might never obtain such glory, however. She could be dead by morning. That was fine with her. The monarchy soldiers claimed to be brothers and sisters in arms.
Her and her swarm were that in blood and so much more. Victory would be theirs tonight. She didn't care if she died. She had her swarm. And her father leading them into battle. What more could she ever ask for.
What more could she possibly need in life that was his to have given someone as worthless as her.
"Fight well children." He smiled proudly as he exited the tent and out into the heavy rain and thunder. Still not bothering to look any of his loyal followers in the eye who would all die for him unquestioningly. He loved the best about them. He loved them all. His greatest weakness. But it wouldn't stop him from achieving victory tonight.
"Die well."