[x] Defensive Positioning (0/0) (1 die, +5)
The Zerglings move around the spinelings moving in concert to prepare to defend from unseen unknown foes. For the cerebrate this is good, it can feel the creep shift under many claws, the spore colonies moving tracking foes in the sky. Defenses core to the swarm protecting the growing mass of the hives.
But as you position the forces you consider the other pillar economy. There are pieces of genes that had been the newer queen designs completely unable to be built into a new template but the potential remains a quick movement of some of the genes and using the creep colony as a base you are able to rebuild the creep tumors using the colony as a core for a network of tumors around it. This new design the Cancer Colony will slowly spread out creep using tumors to vastly increase range. The tumors could be modified in the future with scourge acid to act as mines around the hives.
[x]Repair an available damaged Essence
-[x]Defense (63/100+) (1 die, +10) 36
The work on the Cancer Colony has helped you understand the Creep Colony and many of the defenses that are based around it. However, you are still aways away from a breakthrough in reconstructing the Spore Cannon's genetics.
(99/100+)
[x]Thinker (88/100) (1 die, +10) 24
The thinker is a potential boon for the hive going forward though they represent a cost of resources. Though the growing numbers of hatcheries should soon alleviate any resource concerns.
(112/100)
[x]Hatchery (0/50) [300] Cluster 1 37
[x]Hatchery (0/50) [300] Cluster 2 56
[x]Hatchery (0/50) [300] Cluster 3 70
[x]Spawn Structure |105D|
-[x]Sunken Colony [50] /Creep Colony\ (1750 Minerals, 35 CC)
--[x] 11 cluster 1
--[x] 12 Cluster 2+3
-[x]Spore Colony [50] /Creep Colony\ (1800 Minerals, 36 CC)
--[x]15 cluster 1+2
--[x] 6 cluster 3
-[x]Gas Refinery [50] (total 11, 550 Minerals, 11D)
--[x] 3 Cluster 1+3
--[x] 5 Cluster 2
-[x]Creep Colony [75] (5,250 Minerals, 70D)
--[x] 26 Cluster 1, 2
--[x] 18 Cluster 3
-[x]Spawning Pool [200] (400 minerals, 2D)
--Cluster 2+3 (400, 2D)
[X] Metomorph Creature |36L|
-[x] Drone [50] X36 (70 drones for defenses, 2 for hatcheries, take 15 from rich mines)
All across the hives, new structures are born though one of the hatcheries prove difficult to manage as a cascade in its genetics caused it to grow malformed a process you had to undo in order to keep the structure from dying as it was born. It will take time for it to finish its development though after such delays.
All of this is fed by a practical army of drones spawned just to be diverted into the production of new structures. The cocoons coating the hives grow dense as the swarm grows.
[x] Worm Watch (87/150) (1 die, +5) 68
The worm is an interesting prey. The overlord spends much of its time watching it move through rock not straying far from its territory. You had almost written the observation as done when you see it strike a cliff and get battered by the avalanche only to shake it off without visible damage. It would be foolish to attack without a great force, or a detailed plan to get around its durable hide. Though that hide would be a boon to the swarm, or its burrowing, or the complex photosynthesis it must use to sustain itself.
(155/150)
"Lanus, I want to get up close to one of the Areomorphs. They move to and away from each other in a complex pattern. It must be amazing, they are not native and I would love hits to know their origins."
"Kila, you don't know if there are any other slavers here. They cleaned out the base while the patrol reported back so they have to be in the system at least. I can't allow you to die under my watch."
The two figures moved above the spineling waited, hairs on its carapace allowing it to hear the words even if it couldn't understand them sending them back to the cerebrate as the overlord moved close enough. Days of listening and the two languages only partially known by the captive were now mostly discovered by the cerebrate.
The Female moved to the edge of the platform. "How long until the Hantalon returns?"
"A few days a most." The first figure moved walking to a device in the tent the structure obscuring enough noise for the swarm to miss what is said inside. The female leaves the tent after nearly an hour.
"We are going over, I am going to try and get a read on it." The other figure slumped but held up some kind of weapon. The cerebrate considers the situation, they still consider them animals, an attack now would dispel that. However it did have forces arranged and the female only had a sidearm, and the rifles of the other two were not likely to be able to kill all the forces at the location.
Of course, letting her examine the overlord closer could be harmless and lead to a quiet period to return to recovering.
[]Response?