Chapter 115: The New Main Combat Species (2)
The swarm’s first batch of aerial units would use the flying insect template, divided into two versions: Type I and Type II. Type I closely adhered to the original template, with the only significant addition being an echolocation system.
Their primary roles on the battlefield included aerial reconnaissance, target acquisition, marking, and interception. With the swarm now equipped with a real-time communication system, it was crucial to fully leverage it to achieve true coordinated combat.
Type II flying insects, on the other hand, would incorporate some genes from the Fart Bug.
These were slightly larger than Type I, with their abdominal poison sacs replaced by storage sacs and their tail stingers swapped for small cannon-like appendages capable of firing viscous toxin projectiles.
The Fart Bug, due to its limited mobility and range, was no longer suitable for the current version of the swarm. Type II flying insects were designed as their replacements.
The role of Type II on the battlefield was to provide aerial fire support and precision strikes. Though their attacks targeted single units, their significantly lower production cost compared to Fart Bugs meant that their numbers could compensate for this limitation.
The original Fart Bugs would also cease production due to their mobility issues, susceptibility to terrain, high cost, and limited firing angles.
Additionally, their commander, the Type I Queen Ant, would undergo some modifications. A pair of membranous wings and an optical stealth system would be added to adapt to new combat scenarios.
Two days later, the swarm established its first tree-based sub-base, which was officially inaugurated on a nearby tree trunk. Two Type III Queen Ants were sent to develop the new base. Given their initial lack of available combat units, some Worker Ants were dispatched to handle their feeding, nest-building, and daily maintenance.