Chapter 187: Core Directive

Chapter 187: Core Directive

Legiana prowled the halls of the palace as she always did. There were benefits for the cattle and prey to see her being present. Her king had decided to give her a body that naturally drew the eye. Her body came with all the frills as he put it. Although the silk-like extensions around her arms and neck flowed over her body like a piece of fine clothing, they were not, in fact, purely for aesthetic purposes.

In her kings endless wisdom he has engineered these silk-like sheets to be able to harden into armour when required, they also had the nifty benefit of being able to vent excess heat. With Legianas hardened carapace and twin ether cores, her body gave off alot of heat while in combat. Her training sessions with Mahaila often ended with her practically glowing with heat.

The lines between her armour plates were often left with an eerie orange glow as her internal temperature was high enough to melt steel. It's not high enough to melt mithril but indeed hot enough to burn the flesh from the bone.

As she walked past a group of nobles they gave her an uneasy gaze as she walked past. Even years on they still feared her as they should. She was no queen, she was the matriarch of the Hive. It was all but common knowledge that with but a single command, she could end this empire. She would never do such a thing of course, her loyalty to her king was not just compelled, he has proven time and time again that he was a capable ruler.

The hive has swelled, and unlocked hidden secrets. The very same secrets that the Seraphim had tried so hard to keep buried. But for all their efforts they failed spectacularly, the loyalists of the ancient past kept a single treasure alive.

That treasure was Malegaros, right hand to the Eternal Mother. Although Malegaros would never learn of it, Legiana herself felt he was a great asset. His mind was packed with the oh-so delicious genetic blueprints of ancient horrors.

Well, today was going to be rather interesting. Today was the day that the Hive officially received an office. Cecilia believed that with the war looming ever closer and the angels now prowling the Empire, the hive needed to up its public relations.

Legiana felt the task was both prudent and extremely tiresome. The benefits of siding with the hive should be self-evident. The first and foremost reason is that the Hive could kill anyone who turned against it. But as her king always says, tribute does not flow from a dead race.

Still, as Cecilia has said, humans can be finicky, temperamental even. So she was there to oversee the opening of the new Hive Resource Centre. It was a place that allowed the common citizens to speak on any manner of minor grievances they had towards the Hive. The Faith of Unity has also offered to maintain an on-site presence to help grease the wheels of communication.

Legiana took a right turn and reached one of the many hive tunnels built right into the palace. Just as she did, a worker drone crawled out of the dark hole in the wall and went on its way.

Legiana paused for a moment and took a look at the hallway and saw as usual that this particular hallway was deserted save for a few young beastiarians who were watching the worker drone amble past.

The older humanoids were still greatly unnerved by the Hive, but the young ones seemed far more receptive. From what the Hive is reporting, this issue was far more pronounced in Voleria and Zarima. However, the Vampires seemed to have no great reservations towards the Hive.

Legiana calmly stepped into the rather large hole and fell straight down. There have been cases of children falling into these holes but of course, the hive was always swarming up and down the tunnels so it was a simple manner of the child being grabbed by a drone and spat back out of the hole.

There was this interesting case of a child who liked it so much that they kept doing it. Eventually, the mother found out, and she was less than pleased. She was, however, polite enough to ask the Empress to pass on her thanks to the Hive and to apologise for the trouble.

Legiana remembers the reaction from the Hive well. There was slight confusion at the thanks and a dismissive grumble before everyone went back to their duties. A small peculiarity that warranted no further consideration.

Thanks conveyed, message received, proceed with duties. The King demands it to be so. Do not question, we live only to obey.

From there was, as much as Legiana loathes to admit it, the core limitation of the Hive. The humanoids had an innovative spirit, messy though it was, the humanoids were an excellent source of ideas. Their ideas could then be groomed and fine-tuned into something serviceable.

Legiana landed at the bottom with a calm flex of her legs, and the nearby drones all reverently parted and bowed their heads. She was after all the supreme leader until their king returned. She lacked his scope of control, but it was more than enough to handle day-to-day activities.

Legiana calmly waved off an offer for transportation from a queen and decided to simply run. It was faster this way and she had things to do. It took merely a few minutes for her to cross the few kilometers of distance towards the Hive Resource Centre. Then with a calm leap she sprung out of the hive tunnel in the centre scaring a few of the Unity Faith adherents nearby.

The rest of the Hive just carried on as usual, they knew she was coming. In the Hive everyone knew who or when anyone was coming. The humans on the other hand took a moment to compose themselves as they stared at the Great Beasts right hand. Though only being a bit taller than your average human, Legiana practically oozed power.

Where is the High Father? Legiana asked calmly, her voice the even cold sound it always was. Her domed head also added to her mystique, with no eyes to speak of, no one really knew who or what she was looking at. A silly question of course, she was looking at everything all at once, at least everything within her 270-degree cone of vision.

If you would follow me my lady the young disciple said after some brief hesitation. This specimen was female, with weak genetics, poor bone density, slightly atrophied muscles, and some hints of malnutrition within physiology. The hints were faint but there, this one must not have been eating much a few years ago.

The Inquisitor was only stopped thanks to one of his sharper fellows when he realised every Hive creature in the vicinity had stopped to stare at them. It was a clear threat of course, land that blow and there will be blood.

These Inquisitors need to learn that their rules do not hold sway here. Legiana said.

Indeed, the Sacred Order rules in Heaven but here in the Empire, the Great Beast and the Empress hold sway. Navis agreed.

Do you foresee any future issues? Legiana said lightly.

If I said no, what would you do? Navis asked wryly.

I would suggest to the Empress to have you replaced. Legiana replied bluntly.

This will only get worse, the Seraphim are becoming more pressured. Some Divonian refugees have arrived in the Capital, and word is that the Angels are conducting raids in Divonia. As far as anyone is concerned the Divonian Empire is under Serpahim occupation. The Demons are not letting up and acting more openly as well. Navis said, and Legiana nodded. Her own infiltrators say more or less the same thing but with more juicy details of course.

I would assume you have a plan. Legiana stated and Navis nodded.

We serve the greater good, conflict with the Church of Order and the Seraphim would do no good. The immediate plan is for us to assist with the healthcare within the Empire. We plan to work more closely with the Church of Order to help provide care to those in need.

The Church was always spread thin, but with desperation in short supply their numbers have been suffering as of late. Navis said and Legiana couldnt help but let out a small laugh.

What pathetic organisation the Church of Order is. They got weaker when the nation got stronger. It was obviously by design, the Angels liked the sheep weak. So obviously they would design their Church to account for that scenario.

And the specifics? Legiana asked.

A joint hospital in the Capital, with the population having swelled four-fold since the Empresss coronation, the Church is struggling to keep up even as their membership falls. Navis said.

We will provide funds and assistance in the form of helpers. We might not be able to heal but we can help facilitate the running of the hospital. Navis said.

And the fact that your followers will be at the beck and call of the Church of Order within the hospital would soothe friction. Legiana said and Navis nodded.

Clever, very clever. Yes it would make the Faith of Unity seem weak but it would also give the impression that the Faith of Unity and the Church of Order were peacefully coexisting. This would make it harder for the Angels to persecute the Faith of Unity. Afterall, they are already working together on what grounds could blatant discrimination stand?

Very well, you will have your funds and construction drones for the hospital. I will suggest to the Empress to give you a good location. The Church will also be informed that the prime location and Imperial support hinges on mutual cooperation. Legiana said.

That will be most appreciated, Matriarch. Navis replied.

See to it then, we must keep the peace for now. It wont last of course, the Angels will not suffer another great power. Legiana said as she rose to her feet.

Is there truly no other way? Could we not coexist? Navis asked a hint of of naivity shining through. Or perhaps it is simple Humanoid idealism. Either way it was a foolish thought.

But still deception was in order, it didnt matter what the Angels want. Legaiana knew the Great Beast would not suffer another great power either. The strong stood alone. That is the way of this world.

Peace would depend on them

Our core directive is to survive and prospe