Chapter 172: Chapter 159

 

I stride with a sense of budding confidence in the direction of Princess Chera's quarters.
I finally came up with a valuable option and won't allow it to be dismissed before I can state it.
Of course, I'm once again under strict observation from all the surrounding drones, but I manage to force them to open a way by giving off the right kind of pheromones.
It doesn't take long and Chera is once again on the task.

 

<Erys, you shouldn't move as much. This isn't good for your production and this is already the third time that I had to move out today. We need to agree on some rules for our future cooperation.> (C)

<Chera, to say this clearly, I don't plan on having a joint hive with you. I doubt we are compatible, and even if we are, I want something for myself.> (E)

 

For a moment, she stares blankly at me, before forcing herself back to her controlled conduct.

 

<That doesn't matter. This hive needs another princess to function properly!> (C)

 

Wasn't that just the sudden idea you got during your breakdown?
Also, I think it was merely because she doesn't want word getting out about how much she's struggling.

 

<Look, I don't plan on revealing anything about your problem, but your plan won't work. There simply isn't enough food to support greater numbers. Forcing me to produce additional troops will only lead to greater casualties. > (E)

<We can do this! As soon as we reclaim the mycelium there will be enough food, if we still continue to process the bodies of our opponents, that is. It might be difficult at the start, but it's only a question of time till we achieve stable conditions.> (C)

 

That's just wishful thinking!!!

 

<No, it isn't! You have no idea what I went through to make this happen! I fought so hard to establish myself and won't give up because of some mere setbacks! I won't allow that this all will have been for naught!> (C)

 

Oh damn, I let my thoughts slip out as pheromones.
She's totally upset now.

 

<Would you at least listen to a single thing I have to say?> (E)

<I am listening! I’ve been listening the whole time!> (C)

<Fine, then hear me out on this. What if I provided you with a solution that would allow you to deal with all of your problems without the need for me to settle down here with you?> (E)

<I'm not going to ask Mother for support! This is my hive! My responsibility!> (C)

<I didn't mean your mother. I meant a way where you could solve everything completely by yourself without having to ask anyone else for help.> (E)

 

If I understand this perfectionist child right, this should be the way she prefers it.
She doesn't really want help.
She wants to succeed at all costs.
However, even if this is basically all she wishes for, her response is rather dispassionate.

 

<Ridiculous. If there'd be something so simple that you could find it after a single day, then I wouldn't still be in this position.> (C)

<I'm pretty sure it's viable. You said you would hear me out.> (E)

 

Once again she stares blankly at me, before coming to a conclusion.

 

<You seem confident. Why?> (C)

<Well, because I think it will work. What kind of reason would I have to lie to you?> (E)

<Lie?> (C)

 

Oh please, you did it yourself.

 

<It means to intentionally relay false information for one's own purpose. Yet in this case, this should be no factor. I will merely state the facts and you can confirm them later and decide on what you hear.> (E)

<You are strange.> (C)

 

What does it say about her that she needed so long to come to this conclusion instead of thinking so when she first saw me?

 

<Well, then let's hope this strangeness works in your favor. Maybe I have a unique view on things.> (E)

<Alright, accompany me to my quarters. I’ve decided to humor you.> (C)

 

Great!
Seems like I made it over the first hurdle.

I walk with Chera to her place.
Naturally, everyone else has to stay outside.
In there, I settle down on an earthen bench.

 

<You said you have a solution. Then begin. I want to hear it.> (C)

<First, I would like to know how long you think you'll be able to maintain the current status. Are there any time-pressing matters?> (E)

<While my hive might be in a dire state, the current defensive measures work. The regular skirmishes with the crusteans and the less-than-optimal conditions may slowly dwindle my numbers, but I prevailed for five cycles and will manage just as long, if not longer.> (C)

 

Sure you have.
At least, that removes my greatest concern, that there is no time to put my plan into practice.

 

<That's good to hear. Second question, would you be able to assign your drones on side projects, even in the current crisis?> (E)

<You promised me a solution. All I hear as of yet are inquiries.> (C)

<Please, this is necessary groundwork. I need to know what is possible to give helpful advice.> (E)

<Sigh, fine. My brood is weakened. The guardians receive preferential treatment and more food to remain operational. Those who are not fighting don't receive as much. Also, naturally, I adjusted my production to guarantee a steady flow of fighters. In practice, this means that my workers aren't in a great condition to do side projects. Yet they should be able to work within their limits. Digging tunnels and carrying resources is still possible. Just with lowered efficiency.> (C)

 

That's not as great.
I had hoped she would have more to spare.

 

<If they had food, would they be able to work better?> (E)

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<Some have deficits from their upbringing in the sub-standard nursery, yet a general increase in their performance would be expected. What is it now? Are you just wasting my time?> (C)

<No, I'm not. At the moment, I can offer you a way to break through the plate that restricts your expansion, enable your brood to fight those crusteans far better, and in the long run get you the food you need, as well as maybe an opportunity to let someone else, not Uma, do the fighting for you.> (E)

<Is this a 'lie'? It sounds completely implausible! Was anything you just said possible?> (C)

<I told you the truth, and the answer to all the things I just mentioned is always the same. Humans. They'll make possible what I just promised.> (E)

<Humans!? Those strange surface dwellers? How would they be of any help to save my hive? Why would they help? In the first place, didn't I tell you that I won't rely on anything I can't do myself?!> (C)

<Scruh, Skriak!/You got it all wrong. You won't just receive their support. The country above has its own problems. They don't care in the slightest for you. Well, you're quite close to the capital, so they might see you as a threat.> (E)

 

The most important part here is that I relay everything to her in a manner that it's going to make sense to her.
She knows what lying is, so I need to convince her to believe me.
Just making grand promises isn't going to cut it.

 

<Then where is this leading?> (C)

<The most important thing you need to know about humans is that they, first and foremost, only think about the things they want. Not their masters, not the collective, only what they want matters.> (E)

 

This might be quite fatalistic, yet essentially it's the truth.
I wouldn't know about a single human who'd want to do something for no reason, even if it's just the good feeling to have done it.

 

<Such creatures. Barbaric savages! How is this of any help? You promised me a solution and I have yet to hear of one!> (C)

<Because you keep interrupting! I'm trying to elaborate on my solution to you.> (E)

<Don't mess with me! You only told me that those humans won't help. That no one will help! This isn't helpful!> (C)

<Fine, then listen carefully, now! Yes, humans only do stuff if it gets them what they want. However, funnily enough, you have what they want! You only need to offer it in exchange for their support.> (E)

 

I pay special attention to conveying my pheromones clearly.
There can't be any doubt about my thoughts.
If she gathers from those that I'm convinced of my words, this will already convince her as well of my intentions.

 

<I have what? Didn't you pay attention? My resources couldn't be any more limited! I have nothing to offer!> (C)

<But you do. The plate of black stone and the shiny gems within.> (E)

<I told you not to mess with me! You're telling me they would be interested in useless stones?! Stones I can't even gather?! This talk is over!> (C)

<Would you fucking listen to me while I tell you how to save your goddamn brood?!! If you care even the slightest bit about their lives then you'll hear me out to the end!> (E)

 

That shut her up.
She's obviously not used to being talked to in such a manner.

 

<I'm now going to teach you about the second thing you need to know about humans. Compared to the swarm, humans are weak. They neither have claws, nor a carapace, nor the kind of unity the swarm has. They don't even have any real strength to speak of. The common humans at least. However, what they do have is boundless ingenuity. A drive to see any problem pointed at them as a challenge and use all they find to their advantage, because, as I mentioned before, humans are selfish. It doesn't matter what it is, if there's an application, they'll find and exploit it to overcome any obstacles. So, if they're confronted with a massive plate of almost indestructible matter, what do you think they would do?> (E)

<If I would know, I wouldn't be in my current position.> (C)

 

Fair enough.

 

<Then let me give you the answer. Humans use tools. Foreign objects to increase their own capabilities. Be it hard plates around their bodies to increase their defensive potential, or blades and spikes of hard material to do more damage than they could inflict with their squishy little hands, humans simply make use of it. So if there is something even harder than what they're used to, they'll gather as much of it as they're able to, in any way possible, process it into an even purer form, and make tools out of it. An object designed to break through the stone that was too hard before, only to make more of it. And believe me, humans are capable of even using what lies below your hive.> (E)

<I can't possibly imagine such a thing. So are you suggesting I should let the humans eviscerate the area below my hive to expand?> (C)

<Of course not! It would be plain stupid to grant selfish beings full control over the things they want. You need to understand how valuable these stones are. The tools they could make out of these would naturally also suffice to overcome all lesser challenges. That's an incredible advantage. If you'd offer them all of it, you would directly invite them to take advantage of you. No, you need to make an offer to these selfish creatures. Get the operation going, so to say. Naturally, under your control. You offer them the very same stone that causes so many problems for you, and in return, you can ask for anything you want. Be it food, tools, weapons, help, or even soldiers.> (E)

<This went too fast for me. I could ask for what?> (C)

<It's simple. You have what they want, you give it at a price. The food you could acquire for the ore will greatly exceed the latter in quantity because the stones are so much more valuable. You'll also naturally want the tools for mining any notable quantities. They might offer you help with the mining, to get a greater yield quicker. So why don't you just let them help you if they're so eager? But it doesn't end with this. How do you think your drones will fare against the crusteans if they were clad in a shell that is even harder than the ground they couldn't penetrate, with claws originally thought to tear through the impenetrable stone? Not to speak of, in the long run, you might let the humans do the fighting for you instead of having to send your own brood. For a reasonable exchange naturally. Reasonable, but not too much.> (E)

 

I think I got her.
In the end, she was all ears to my explanation.

 

<Could this really work?> (C)

<I'm not saying it's going to be easy. I would start by acquiring tools from them. The current situation in the human country is quite problematic, but it should still be possible. We hold a position of power, so it should be possible to get something going. I personally know a merchant who would love to handle the exchange of goods for you.> (E)

 

I only have to remember telling Olira about it.
I mean, that bit of extra work shouldn't be an issue, right?
The chance to basically gain management rights on a whole hive with ultimate resource access should be something she jumps on.
If this really helps Chera to get out of her low, she might be supportive of me in the long run.
Furthermore, she might support me if I have to defend my human-relations agenda before the queen in the future for getting captured.

 

<You make this seem so obvious. As if this is something I should've known.> (C)

<No, it isn't. It's simply something that is natural to me. As a former human, I'm bound to have a different outlook on things.> (E)

<I see now why Mother decided as she did when she made you a princess. You're offering new ways to our swarm. Change that can be very valuable> (C)

 

I'm honestly not sure if she thought that far.

 

<If you give me a chance, I'll make it worth it for you.> (E)

 

Now Chera stays quiet for a moment.
She has a rather somber expression as well as the corresponding pheromone image to her.

 

<Alright. I'll put my trust in you. Please, don't let my brood perish.> (C)

 

That was the most honest thing I ever heard from her until now.
She truly meant it.
She might be stubborn, unreasonable, dogmatic, and imposing.
But in the end, she's still a broodmother.
And she cares.

 

<I have no intention to fail you.> (E)