By Dave Rocha and Paul Reaume.

Nothing.

Styx, Blademaster of Coryn and captain of the Zealots Elite could smell nothing at all. On top of that, he was stuck here once again babysitting the prince of the colony Loxyn. Styx knew that his time would be better spent seeking out any new threats to his home and reporting them to Queen Azulon. This current state of complacency was dangerous and it was only a matter of time before someone would come to take advantage of it. Styx’ musings were suddenly halted by the bellows of that very same Prince Loxyn.

“Anything Styx?” The prince called out, “ I doubt it as I have sensed nothing.”

The Elite Captain kept his thoughts to himself, knowing that his prince did not care to be questioned or doubted. The Man-Beasts had been seen leaving this location earlier in the day, and searching for food was an important mission after any such gathering. Unfortunately, they seem to have cleaned up after themselves, leaving no scent trails  or resources for the ants to forage. Styx knew this much as he left Coryn but something else, drew him to this place and thought that Loxyn’s expedition of personal indulgence was a good excuse for a scouting mission. Feeling the air with his finely tuned antennae, he detected a strange presence. This was not the first time Styx had sensed this, though now he was much closer to the source, and his curiosity was undoubtedly peaked.

Loxyn saw that Styx was probing the air again and inquired sharply, “What is it now Styx?”

“Nothing my liege. My senses must be out of whack today. I will investigate alone while you take the expedition back to Coryn if you see fit.”

Styx knew full well that this was worth investigating and didn’t want the Prince in the way. Loxyn also relished in any excuse to be away from the grizzled captain. It was no secret to the colony that Styx was a traitor’s son, and the young prince failed to show the same level of trust that the Queen had endowed upon him. They didn’t like each other, that much was obvious. However, they both understood the necessity of protocol and were always venomously civil and respectful of each other in public.

“Agreed. When you are done with your wild goose chase meet me in the Queen’s chamber so we can deliver our report.”

With a flourish of his cloak, Loxyn and his retinue vanished into the underground through one of the tunnel openings nearby. Styx said nothing until he was out of sight. He then exhaled sharply, “Thank the Earth, finally some peace.”

Instinctively, Styx drew his blades as he made a direct path towards the strange scent. As he approached, however, he did not notice an alarm pheromone in the air, no signs of threat or danger. Knowing that his senses were rarely wrong he resheathed his blades just in time for his quarry to come into view. It was a wounded firefly, fully conscious but unable to fly due to a tear in its right wing. The injury was not too bad and Styx thought to himself that he could indeed mend it. He extended a hand and started to pet the beast. Surprisingly, the firefly didn’t recoil and started to vibrate in acceptance of his compassion. This resonated well with Styx, and he even allowed himself to smile if only slightly.

Elsewhere, Queen Rhi Mei of the great Termite Union was relaxing on her beautifully ornate, gem encrusted throne. Being a termite queen of the Rhi Dynasty meant she was forever cursed to be stuck with this enlarged abdomen of hers and it’s ability to make her mobility difficult.   Kneeling before her was Rhi Chan her most trusted “worker” army officer delivering the report she had been waiting for.

“Rise Chan and speak!”, the Queen exclaimed as if her every dream were pinned on his response.

“Your Majesty Empress Rhi I have found Coryn and it was everything you hoped it would be. My scout party is raiding the city from the underground as we speak hoping to provoke them into a fight.”

“Excellent my son assemble your army and crush them.”

“Yes my Queen.”, and with a bow he energetically turned, exiting the throne room through one of the windows.

It was all going according to plan and she would soon have a new home. She could secede from this rotting Union and live in peace. That was a most pleasant thought indeed but this was not the time for such fleeting thoughts of peace. She raised her hand gesturing for the attention of her servants. All ten of the queen’s retainers saw the signal and rushed to grab their corresponding hand grip around the base of her throne, and lifted the massive litter. Being a queen didn’t make her immobile just a little slower than most. The retainers instinctively knew their Queen’s wishes, and moved in unison carrying her to the viewing window. From her vantage point high in the Rhi Tower she could see all of colony before her. With her dew drop telescope she could see her troops assembling from here and that sight made her eyes tear up from the pure joy of the moment.

“Finally.”

Working tirelessly in the wilderness, Styx took a moment to examine the splint he had fastened to the injured firefly. The splint was light and appeared to be flexible enough to facilitate flying.

“There’s only one way to find out.” He thought to himself, still a little apprehensive about the whole situation. It was unnatural for ants to fly unless they were royals on a nuptial flight. However; if this experiment proved successful, the firefly could add an unexpected element to Coryn’s military forces. The enemies of the colony would be completely unprepared for this unless Loxyn made a fuss about it  in his typical fashion. Styx finished his repairs, and the firefly seemed content to let him do so.

Carefully, Styx raised a makeshift saddle and harness onto the firefly. “Fear not my friend.” He said, affectionately stroking the beast’s brow, “From now on, you will be known as Charon, and I will take good care of you.”

Climbing atop the firefly, the Zealot captain made one last check to his straps, and bindings. When all seemed to be in good repair, he pulled slightly on the yoke. Charon lept into the air with such force that it would appear that he had never been injured at all. The rushing wind pushed Styx’ antennae back, as they soared through the air. High above the grassline, and with no one around to see his amusement, Styx let out a joyous shout; a moment of sheer elation that he seldom afforded himself. His excitement was cut short however, as he noticed a large force of Termites below marching around the perimeter of The Birch, en route to Coryn. Knowing that the Queen must be informed, Styx turned his mount around and headed home. As they descended towards the tree stump at top speed, the Hill Ant’s senses lit up like a wildfire.

“Alarm pheromones” Styx thought to himself, “Coryn is already under attack!”

A sense of dread washed over him as he realized that the termites he had seen must be the main force, while Coryn is likely being raided by an advance troupe. With any luck Prince Loxyn could keep them busy, while Styx made his return with news of the second assault force.

Far below in Coryn’s royal chambers, Queen Azulon was being preened by her servants. A nearly constant task to keep the undisputed ruler’s abdomen moist. She had nearly fallen asleep when Loxyn, her beloved son and heir entered the chambers. His arrival shocked the Queen, as he was no longer accompanied by the Captain of the Zealots Elite. Something was amiss, and Azulon’s senses were immediately on alert.

“Welcome back my son, where is Styx?”

Loxyn sighed with indignation “We found nothing to forage my Queen. Styx’ senses were playing tricks on us so I allowed him to go off on his own, to satisfy his wandering imagination. He should be back soon with nothing to report but tales of grass and dirt.”

“Are you sure Loxyn? There’s something not right, I feel uneasy. I think you should check with Raymus and the other Zealots and ensure that the perimeter sentry is doubled.”

With another one of his famous flourishes he spun and departed to carry out his Queen’s commands, sharply replying with, “Yes at once my Queen, I will allay your concerns of course.”

The Queen’s servants stared up at her with concern. “Loxyn was a good and loyal prince, but a little too sure of himself at times. I am certain that he will deal with whatever the problem is.” She said to them, soothing the distress that was so obvious in their faces. The Queen of Coryn had an unprecedented ability to soothe even the most restless of hearts. It was this trait especially that made her such a successful leader, and diplomat. Still she could not hide her own concern, as she whispered to herself, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

No sooner had she spoke, the walls of her chamber rumbled around her and she signalled to all of her progeny with one pheromone release.

“Coryn is under attack!”

The outer wall of the Replete Cell burst to pieces under the force of the Termite raiding party. They were of the Chi lineage, not only were they bred for this confrontation, they savoured it. The queen’s guard were no match for the surprise strike force. Termite after termite poured into the room and engaged the scant defenders in hand to hand combat. It wasn’t but a few seconds before Khal Jurga, leader of the strike force, entered the chamber right behind the Chi assault drones. A grotesque scar disfigured the right side of his face, obstructing his eye; a lasting reminder of a battle with King Thallyn himself. Jurga stood triumphantly as he watched his drones behead the final ant warrior.

“Your treasure stores are mine, Azulon!”, he screamed into the air.

Jurga clapped his hands together with authority and the drones came to attention in unison and with another clap began to load the larger transport workers with barrel after barrel of pure honeydew. A second group of drones began to gather the repletes anchored to the ceiling of the vault. The abdomens of the ant repletes were beginning to swell with their invigorating nectar. Repletes are highly prized in the Underground for this elixir due it’s ability to energize those who imbibe it. Juga knew this all too well and couldn’t wait to drink from one at the victory fire.

“Five more seconds, 4 … 3 … 2 … 1!”, he clapped one final signal.

The termites poured back into their tunnels and vanished, leaving the vault ravaged and littered with the bodies of the dismembered ant defenders. Termites were the natural enemy of ants, the proof was the ant blood that now spilled freely into the soil. Like a ghost in the night they were gone and Coryn would never be the same.

The cleanup of the vault didn’t take long and Raymus was soon hurried before the Queen. Raymus hated war and prefered to head-up Coryn’s defenses rather than engage in the gruesome task of fighting on the front lines. He was an army ant in build only but make no mistake that a safe Coryn was his top priority.

Kneeling with his head lowered before his beloved Queen, Raymus of the Elite, spoke slowly and with a heavy heart. “My Queen, Sarka has returned with news of the main Termite force.”

“Main force?” Azulon responded, obviously bewildered.

“The army is assembled in the growth just outside our border.” The towering ant continued “Our army has assembled in the staging cell nearest the enemy position. The raid was purely a message to tell us that they wanted a fight… now.” Raymus looked up at the queen with dread in his heart. He was an army ant by build only. While maintaining the peace of Coryn was always his top priority, he would prefer to do so in a more passive way than direct conflict. War was his birthright, but never his choice.

“Blow the tunnels into Coryn and engage the enemy. Styx will have to find another way to the fight, I just hope he doesn’t miss it.”
Azulon closed her eyes and thought to herself, “Styx, hurry my son, I need you.”

Coryn’s main entrance guards had been waiting for Styx’ arrival since the queen’s initial pheromone release. As of yet, the captain of the Elite had not been sighted, and worries that he had been ambushed by the enemy forces were beginning to arise. Suddenly, with the speed and grace of dragonfly Charon dropped from the sky, coming to a perfect hover in front of the colony guards.

“Queen Azulon, is she safe?” Styx growled without dismounting his Firefly steed.

One of the guards stammered through is surprise and amazement, “Styx! You must hurry, the interior tunnels have been sealed by Raymus and an enemy termite army is forming across the field as we speak.”

Without replying, Styx launched Charon in an inverted arc straight up and behind him. The pair spun to right themselves and flew away at top speed. Styx knew where the two armies were sure to meet in battle, and he steered Charon towards an emergency tunnel that would lead him straight there. An enormous cavern beneath the surface of the Underground, a place referred to as the War Cavern. Time for a entrance the Termite scribes would record for all history. Time to make them pay for threatening his Queen and his home.

Marching in columns six ants wide, the Royal army of Coryn emerged from the many tunnels bored into the wall of the War Cavern. The cavern itself was a massive affair and the only place in the underground capable of hosting such a battle. They assembled in formations six wide and four deep and stretching completely across the width of the battlefield. Behind them was their commander Prince Loxyn getting a rare opportunity to display his military brilliance.

“Lets show them we mean business.” Loxyn said with pride swelling his thorax, “Bring up the artillery!” Loxyn bellowed to his personal herald who sounded the order by blowing a reed horn he kept fastened to his belt.

One by one the Artillery pieces lumbered into formation in a semi-circle facing the enemy. Each was a marvel unto itself, an armoured orange and black bombardier beetle. In unison they anchored themselves in the rocky ground awaiting the order to fire, workers and herders fastening and preparing the firing mechanisms. Lor, Chief Ordinantor, sat atop a particularly decorated beetle. From her vantage point she could assess the battlefield, and direct her unit’s assault towards the enemy’s weakest points. When all preparations were set, Loxyn continued his rant.

“You dare raid our majesty’s vault and wait for us to come to you? Feel our wrath cowards! FIRE!”

Six Bombardier riders pulled their firing levers, prodding their mounts into an involuntary release of their volatile munition. Streams of boiling milk-white liquid scalded the first few ranks of termites into a writhing death, but did little damage as they were quickly replaced by fresh Chi drones. Seconds after filling the gaps in their ranks, the drones parted to reveal their secret weapon as it marched onto the battlefield. Mounted atop a blind soldier, the Terseon Turbocannon consisted of a long barrel attached to a cylindrical charging chamber at the rear. Six Terseon Nasutes inserted their spray nozzle proboscis into the chamber, and awaiting their commander’s order.

Rhi Chan, the favored son of their Supreme Queen answered Loxyn from across the field with a command of his own, “Fire.”

Each nasute fired into the chamber making it swell due to the violent chemical reaction taking place inside. Once swelled to capacity, it implosively contracted blasting a pressurized beam of acid that melted the Coryn artillery and most of Loxyn’s entourage sending the young prince scurrying for cover. The Coryn army collectively gasped in horror.

Like a lightning bolt crashing down to earth from the heavens, from the ceiling of the cavern came a green glow screaming down onto the Turbocannon. At the instant before hitting the cannon, Styx leapt from his mount and carved clean through it with his twin blades. Being prepped to fire a second salvo, the cannon fired almost on top of itself, vapourizing a group of Termite drones. Styx landed in a roll and launched himself at the termite ranks cutting a swath all the way to Rhi Chan. Coryn’s defensive lines erupted in cheers as they took a more aggressive posture and then charged the battlefield. The Union drones matched their charge and the two armies collided head-on. Mandible met mandible and sword met sword. Drones and ants were forming in piles of dismembered bodies everywhere as reinforcements continued to pour in.

Somewhere near the center of the battlefield, Chan drew his longsword from his back and began to circle Styx as a crowd of drones began to form around them.

“Call off the attack and return to the Union, you got what you wanted!”, Styx demanded stoically standing his ground, unmoving and unflinching.

“Not everything… yet. We are here for Coryn, the replete raid was just a message.”

Styx lunged at Chan with both blades swinging. Chan planted all his feet and easily deflected both wild attacks with a single circular motion of his sword. Plunging his sword into the earth, he then used it as a pivot to swing his body around and kick Styx with each of his legs. Styx grabbed him and the two were sent into a spin before crashing into a cluster of rocks. Styx found himself on top of the disarmed Rhi general with both blades at his throat.

“You are beaten, call off the attack now.”, Styx demanded

“Only with you as my prisoner with the intention of delivering the terms of your surrender directly to the Empress Mei.”, Chan responded with resolve as Charon in chains was thrown down beside him from the drone spectators. Styx looked back over his shoulder to the raging battle behind him. The Termite Union were dominating the battlefield, Coryn’s forces were outnumbered, their artillery were demolished, and their troops were falling quickly.

“Agreed.”, Styx sneered before getting up and tucking his blades into his belt. He folded his arms behind his body, as Termite drones descended upon him. Styx was quickly bound, and thrown onto a transport wagon along with his firefly mount, Charon. Chan stood up dusted himself off, and gave the order to his forces to pull back. The drone army retreated through the tunnels, while Coryn’s battered forces regrouped. By Loxyn’s lead they headed home, unsure of Styx’ fate.

Styx was blindfolded even his antennae were bound and covered. Without the use of his antennae he was disoriented, and completely unable to assess his surroundings. He could hear the scuffling of activity around him, but could make no sense of it. The blindfold was removed abruptly and he was forced on his knees. It was dark, as he expected. The termites had a natural aversion to sunlight from spending so much time in their subterranean homes.

Four termite attendants, cleaned, groomed and changed his battle torn sagum. To increase his surprise, another termite worker was perched in the corner of the room, sharpening Styx’ blades on a large grinding wheel. When he had finished, he stood up and approached the captain of the Zealots Elite, and spoke in a grizzled voice.

“Don’t draw these unless you want to die.”

The old worker tucked the deadly sharp blades back into his belt, then ushered him out of the holding cell. His termite captors led him through a series of intertwining tunnels and corridors, until at last they stood in the center of a large amphitheater.

The massive room was filled with drones, and above Styx head, six platforms were suspended from the ceiling by strands of silk. The silk ropes passed through a series of pulleys, which allowed the stone platforms to be raised or lowered. Styx marveled at the peculiar sight around him, never before had he witnessed six different species of termite gathered together peacefully.

The sea of drones seemed to be organized by species, or ‘dynasty’ as they preferred to be called, and then they were further separated by caste. The suspended platforms supported a ruling queen for each dynasty, though one appeared to be empty. The largest platform was directly in the center of the room, and oddly enough, it was occupied by the smallest of the termite queens.

“This is feeling less like surrender and more like a tribunal. I broke no treaties. You were attacking us …..”, Styx managed to bite out before the loud disapproval of the assembled crowd cut him off.

Rhi Mei, High Queen of the Termite Union, gestured to her servants and had her platform lowered towards Styx. She appeared remarkably calm, pensive, and even intrigued by the ant soldier brought before her.

“Styx, I hear you bested Chan in battle? Is this true?” She asked as she descended toward her captive.

“Yes, I kicked his …”, his words were once again cut off by the crowd.

“You will address me as your most supreme ruler of the Termite Union, High Queen Mei.”

Styx rolled his eyes. Formalities were never his strong suit, a point which has landed him in more trouble then he could remember. “My most supreme ruler of the Termite Union, High Queen Mei, may I speak now?” Styx blandly quoted back before continuing. Mei began to blush while remembering the same defiance in her long absent King Xhu.

“Yes your majesty, I did defeat him but my army was collapsing. I failed Coryn.” The ant’s shoulders slumped slightly as he finished his explanation.

“I realize this noble warrior, and it is why I have chosen to release you.”

Mei responded in a calming voice that seemed to temporarily soothe even the mass of drones filling the amphitheatre. Styx’ antennae twitched as he sensed the pheromones she was releasing as a sort of crowd control. She must be nervous, Styx thought to himself. She is not so intimidated by Styx’ response, as she is that of her own colony.

“For that I am most grateful , but at what cost am I awarded this freedom?”, Styx replied visibly elated but contained and stoic as always.

“You will stay here as Field Marshall of my army.”, Mei countered resulting in a chorus of gasps and boos from all the dynasties except the Rhi. Styx shook his head before responding. This was blasphemous. Termites and Ants were born enemies, the Union was constantly evolving itself to better oppose Styx’ species. If the Elite Captain agreed to such terms, it would be an affront not only to Coryn, but indeed to nature itself.

“I cannot your majesty, I am currently in the life long service of my Queen Azulon.”, Styx’ denial also incited the same negative reaction from the crowd. “Do you people ever cheer?” He responded nonchalantly.

Mei blushed again, composed herself and responded, “Very well, Styx Blademaster of Coryn, you may return home on Charon and then say your goodbyes. As far back as our lineage stretches, we have hidden from the sunlight. We have built our homes beneath the Earth’s surface, relying heavily on our sense of touch and smell. You have brought us a valuable gift, Styx, though you may have yet to realize.”

Somewhere behind Styx another chamber door opened, without looking, Styx felt the presence of his new mount Charon. Though visibly unflinching, the captain’s heart sank as he realized what the new cost of freedom would be.

“ This beast has shown me something that I never knew existed. Light, glorious light that is harmless to our sensitive skin and eyes.” Mei continued affectionately as the firefly was brought to Styx’ side. The warm affection in her gaze disappeared quickly though, as his tone of voice dropped.

“If Charon does not return to us, Coryn will fall. Mistake me not  Blademaster, we will spare you no quarter next time.”

“Yes your majesty I will comply .” He bowed his head, and mounted Charon. With one final nod to the Queen, and a defiant stare to Rhi Chan, Styx and Charon flew out of the amphitheater through a tunnel carved into the ceiling as fast as they could. Surely, no ant back in Coryn was going to believe this.

After reporting back to Azulon, Styx said his goodbyes and sent Charon on his way. If it weren’t for Charon, the army would have collapsed and Coryn would be a new colony of the Union. He hoped that a good life in service of Mei was Charon’s destiny.

As all tragedies must end this way, this was not to be and the situation was to stay as volatile. Charon was spotted by the Hive Embassy’s Shock Troops. The yellow-jacket wasp, Damocles went in alone to intercept the firefly. He was a sadistic and ruthless soldier in the service of the Hive, and needed little encouragement to engage in battle.

Damocles had heard through his informants of what had transpired in Rhi Tower and had clear determination to spoil this alleged peace between Coryn and the Termite Union. Silently, he stalked his prey until he was close enough to stab him with his trident and entangle him with a net. He viciously stung the poor firefly, paralyzing him in mid air. As Charon began to plummet to the ground, Damocles beheaded him, and let the body fall to the ground below.

With a maniacal laugh, Damocles flew down to the corpse and cut open his glow sack with a dagger. He smeared the glowing green substance on his face before flying home with Charon’s head as a present to his master Baron Tarq. Coryn and the Termite Union were just not meant to be at peace after all. That was the nature of the Underground. Now was the just the calm. The storm is bound to be on the horizon. The question is when. The answer is ….