Morning light filtered down through the upper tunnels of the colony, breaking into faint, uneven streaks against the packed soil walls.
Below, in the lower tunnels, worker ants moved in steady formation.
Their legs pressed into the soil floor with small, consistent taps as they hauled supplies through narrow passages.
Cylindrical barrels scraped softly along the ground, leaving faint tracks in the dirt behind them.
At the main entrance, twelve soldiers stood assembled in formation.
Their exoskeletons caught the faint light from above, reflecting it in short, dull glints that shifted as they made small adjustments to their stance.
Valeria stepped forward, arms crossed over her chest.
"Now that you're all gathered here, I'll make this brief," she said.
"Your objectives are clear: locate the craters and earthworm tunnels, neutralize any found, and mark all carcasses for retrieval if the location is safe from collapse or risk of injury to our workers. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain," they all responded.
"You will be divided into two teams. Team A will cover the southern sector sightings.
Corporal Beatrice will lead, with Corporal Quinn, Lance Corporal Ari, and"
Valeria paused, eyes shifting to two other soldiers.
They avoided her gaze, sweat forming at their temples.
Valeria turned her head slightly.
"Those two Lance Corporals will be accompanying you as well. And finally, Private Nova."
The two unnamed Lance Corporals exchanged a brief, stiff glance.
Their eyes widened slightly.
One quietly lowered his head.
The other rubbed the back of his neck.
"Team B will cover the northeastern sector," Valeria continued.
"Corporal Lily will take point, accompanied by Lance Corporal Isla, Lance Corporal Rory, and three other Lance Corporals from the expedition team."
Lily raised her hand.
"I'm flattered you put your faith in me, Captain. I'm really happy."
She smiled.
Lancelot's eyes shifted down to her.
His gaze paused.
A slight tension pulled at his brow.
He blinked once.
What is a kid doing here? Wait… I've seen her somewhere before.
His eyes narrowed a little.
She's… that short stack I saw with Beatrice.
A faint exhale left his nose.
So she's a Corporal too.
Valeria closed her eyes and exhaled.
"I expect you to take this mission seriously, Lily."
She opened her eyes.
"Though the earthworms are not direct threats, they're dangerous underground. They can collapse the tunnels they dig, and bury you all alive."
"The lives of your team and your own are in your hands."
Lily gave a short laugh.
Her grin faded as she straightened.
"That's a lot of responsibility for a Corporal."
"I'll complete this mission, Captain."
She saluted.
Beatrice's armored feet clicked softly against the ground as she saluted as well.
Ari looked over his shoulder.
So her name is Nova… and she's a Private.
Nova stood rigid, her face focused.
She suddenly turned to Ari, glaring at him.
Ari's eyes shifted away quickly.
Seriously… what's her problem?
On the opposite side, Isla shifted slightly, her hands adjusting her sheaths.
She looked around.
I wanted to be on the same team as Ari… the three of us always go through everything together.
She sighed.
A hand suddenly gripped her side.
She let out a quiet squeal.
Her antennae snapped upright as her thoughts scattered.
"Focus. I'm not losing anyone under my command today," Lily whispered near her ear, teasing.
Isla gave a nervous nod.
Her cheeks warmed.
"The tunnels are unstable, and the earthworms' movements are irregular and unpredictable. If the situation is out of your control, retreat and report."
Valeria looked up.
"Move out."
After a brief silence, Everyone began walking.
Ari turned, following his squad, eyes briefly catching Nova.
Before they reached the outskirts, Lily inhaled sharply.
"Ari! You better take care of Beatrice! She acts tough, but she isn't always, so just protect her, okay? Even if she doesn't ask for it!"
Isla and Lancelot turned toward her.
"…Huh?" Isla blinked.
"Um…" Ari's voice caught.
His posture stiffened.
Beatrice pinched her temple with two fingers, eyes narrowing as she shot Ari a sharp glare.
"Seriously… she's so annoying. Ignore whatever nonsense she's saying. You got that?"
She leaned in, eyes level with his.
Ari stepped back immediately, hands half raised.
"Uh...yeah. Right, Corporal."
Without a word, the soldiers split, one group moving toward the southern craters, the other toward the northeastern sector.
The southern edge of the colony marked the boundary between packed soil and the forest beyond.
Ari led the way, cutting through hanging vines with his mandibles, clearing a path.
A hand tapped his shoulder.
"Lance Corporal Ari, right?"
Ari paused and turned slightly.
"Yeah…"
The ant gave him a small smile.
"I'm Corporal Quinn. It's nice to finally talk to you."
Ari blinked once.
"...Have we met before?"
"Only briefly," Quinn said.
"The day Helena's colony attacked ours."
Ari's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait... you were there too?"
Quinn nodded.
"I was. But you were a prisoner then, and there were over six hundred soldiers on the battlefield. I wouldn't expect you to remember me."
Ari looked at her for a moment before giving a small nod.
"...You're right."
Quinn smiled.
"Still, I've been wanting to introduce myself."
Ari looked at her.
"Congratulations on making Lance Corporal."
"...Thanks."
"You've earned it. Helping secure food for the colony and bringing back intelligence on the termite colony made a real difference."
Ari rubbed the back of his neck.
"I just did what I could."
Quinn gave a small nod.
"Maybe. But not just anyone could've done it."
"Keep it up. I have a feeling we'll be working together more often."
Ari gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Ari looked ahead again, spotting freshly cut vines.
Found it.
The squad reached the crater's edge.
Ari crouched slightly, scanning the disturbed soil below.
Dark streaks of slime clung to exposed ground.
Hollow tunnels opened beneath the forest floor.
"So this is the crater your patrol discovered," Beatrice said.
"Stay close enough to see each other, but keep distance. One wrong move could trigger another collapse. We don't know how far the hollowing goes."
Her eyes moved across the crater.
"The lower side is more stable. We'll enter from there."
"Right," the squad responded.
They moved around the crater's rim.
Ari knelt beside a patch of disturbed soil, brushing away loose leaves with the back of his hand.
A heartbeat later, another pair of armored feet stopped behind him.
Nova leaned slightly to look over his shoulder, saying nothing.
Ari glanced back slightly.
"...Nothing here," he muttered, pushing himself back to his feet.
The patrol moved on.
Twenty paces later, Ari crouched again beside a broken fern.
Before he had even finished examining it, Nova came to a stop behind him once more.
She waited.
When Ari stood, she fell into step without a word.
Quinn's eyes drifted toward them as she swept the trees on the opposite flank.
The same thing.
Again.
Her brow pinched.
"What's with Nova today..." she muttered under her breath.
Ari slowed near a break in the terrain.
"This is it," he said quietly.
"This is where the crater opened during patrol."
Quinn crouched at the edge, studying the opening.
"I see…"
Her gaze tracked the tunnels beneath.
"This matches the report from Private Nova's team."
"And Ari brought us straight to it."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But no earthworms were sighted here. We can't assume it's clear."
"That was solid work, Lance Corporal Ari," Beatrice said.
Nova's jaw tightened.
Her eyes flicked to Ari, then away.
Corporal Beatrice trusts him…
Her fingers curled.
But not me. I trained under her…
Her jaw tightened.
Why him?
Beatrice's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Quinn's right. We descend and stay alert. Don't act without my order."
"Yes, Corporal Beatrice," they all responded.
Beatrice exhaled once and jumped.
Ari stepped forward to the edge immediately, looking down.
Beatrice landed on the crater wall, mandibles driving into packed soil.
She slid down with controlled movement, metal scraping against earth.
She reached the bottom and steadied herself, then signaled upward.
The rest followed in formation.
Quinn and the two Lance Corporals descended first, each landing firm, mandibles anchoring into soil before release.
Ari dropped next, landing cleanly.
Nova's breathing tightened.
Her eyes darted between the edge and the tunnels below.
Deep breath. You've trained for this.
Her fingers tightened around her mandibles.
I can't hesitate in front of Beatrice…
If he can do it… then I can too.
She stepped forward and jumped.
Her mandibles bit into the crater wall, sliding her down.
As she landed, her footing slipped into a hollow pocket.
Her body tilted forward.
Her eyes widened.
Ari moved instantly.
His hand caught her wrist mid-drop.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low.
A brief pause.
Nova yanked her arm back and slapped his hand away.
"I'm fine."
She looked away.
I don't need saving. Especially from him.
She straightened and walked past him, shoulder bumping his.
Ari exhaled softly and turned to watch her go.
The main tunnel stretched ahead.
Its opening was wide, framed by loose soil and exposed roots.
Small stones shifted underfoot as the squad approached.
Beatrice crouched at the entrance.
Her fingers brushed the tunnel wall, dragging lightly over thick dark slime coating the surface.
She rubbed it between her fingers.
It hadn't dried.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Fresh."
She studied it for a long moment before standing.
"Stay close. No one wanders off."
The squad answered in unison.
"Yes, Corporal."
Ari looked into the tunnel.
Beyond the entrance, there was nothing but darkness.
A cool draft drifted from within, carrying the damp scent of freshly turned earth.
Nova tightened her grip on her mandibles.
Quinn adjusted her stance.
The two Lance Corporals exchanged a quiet glance.
Beatrice took one step toward the opening.
"We're going in."