The end of the international summit marked a phase of higher aggression in the war against the gnomes.

With most of the Hive’s leadership returned to their home and some of them to the front and the territory they’d occupied in the Gnomish Confederation, the hive was pushing harder. Clearly, the gnomes had been preparing as well, though.

While the Hive had lost thousands of drones, it felt like they were past the most critical point. By now, their losses were no longer in danger of outpacing their new ‘recruitment’. The gnomes had clearly been recruiting as well and their veterans had earned new levels, but the balance was unmistakably tilting, giving the Hive a bit more breathing room. At least in this regard.

Janis stared at the neatly tabulated columns of numbers and the carefully drawn graphs she’d penciled in beside them and didn’t know whether she should smile or give in to the slightly more uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Math was not one of her strong points. Not comparatively. Most likely because she had not received a good education, at least compared to Regina, definitely, and even Kiara, probably. The drones who had inherited some of their knowledge from Regina also tended to be more on her level than Janis’. She’d caught up some, had learned more since joining the Hive, but it was still frustrating to feel like the stupidest person in the room on the occasions it came up. Still, she was good enough for basic algebra and dealing with simple functions. She was confident in the projections she’d sketched out, at least if the — admittedly simplified — assumptions held. Of course no one could know the future, but the Hive was definitely going to grow unless something really major happened.

She closed her eyes and focused on the psychic link, sensing the Hive. This time, she tried not to focus on anyone in particular, but instead to get a sense of the minds in the link. There were definitely more, of course, and they seemed younger, if she wasn’t just imagining it. That was another obvious consequence of exponential growth like this, though. It felt a little weird that many of the drones she would meet and work with would be born into an already established Hive. But Janis had grown used to things like that since she joined the Hive.

Carefully putting away the papers, she stood and left her apartment. She was grateful that she had a room of her own, and even a small bathroom off to the side. Even if the warm water was still spotty, the plumbing system the Hive had built here was one of its biggest accomplishments in her opinion, but more than that, she appreciated the privacy. As far as she knew, Regina was the only other person who had their own bedroom here. It was a good thing the drones liked to cuddle, since they’d probably have to share dormitories anyway. You were rarely ever alone here, though, even in a separate room, as Janis noted again as she walked out of the base. Someone had already noticed her leaving and sent a drone mount to the inner courtyard they usually used.

She climbed into the simple saddle they’d affixed to the drone and told it to fly without further ceremony. Tilting her head to the side, Janis enjoyed the wind against her face, before she opened her eyes to check their height and turned the drone to head south. Then she focused on the psychic link again. It was a nice view, but she’d flown this way before often enough that just watching the landscape had lost most of its appeal.

Despite now being officially a princess, Janis was determined to contribute as much as before. When she’d expressed some concerns about her ability to live up to that title — surely she could be named heir without having such a title or position? — Regina had been unsympathetic and told her to suck it up. She wasn’t going to be reduced to staying put and looking pretty or only doing PR functions, though. Janis also wasn’t going to be dragging a horde of bodyguards behind her like Max bullied Regina into doing, not until she absolutely no longer had a choice.

Of course, she also wasn’t stupid, so Janis didn’t fly too far into gnome-held territory, and instead waited at an outpost that was a comfortable distance into an area the hive controlled for a small escort of high-level Winged Drones to arrive for her, before she ventured on towards the front. Ada was waiting for her up ahead on another Winged Drone Mount, having swerved off from a scouting patrol going back towards the hive’s positions.

Anything I need to know that we haven’t talked about before? Janis asked.

Ada shrugged. There’s some more activity in the northeastern quadrant, she said. Nothing spectacular.

Send another scout there, Janis decided. With Ash taking over back at home base we should use the opportunity. Choose someone with a bit of experience and have them take a few higher-level drones and fly a full sweep focused on the far side, okay?

Will do, Janis, Ada acknowledged. Or should I call you ‘Your Imperial Highness’ now?

Not unless you want to see how far I’ve come with Fire Manipulation, she mock-growled.

Ada snickered and her Mount winged to the side to get back to the outpost. I’ll be watching for it on the battlefield, she tossed back.

Janis shook her head with a smile and spurred her own drone on to continue on their way, deciding to keep going instead of stopping over at this outpost. She’d been in the air for a while by now, of course, but she could tell that her mount still had a few kilometers in it. That was another thing she’d gotten pretty good at estimating.

She also wouldn’t have to take long to get to a battlefield. There had been frequent skirmishes between Gnomish Confederation and Hive forces, and they’d increased in intensity recently. It would have been a clear sign of an offensive being prepared if nothing else was, but at this point, she was pretty sure everyone could read the lay of the land. The only real question remaining was if the gnomes had the strength they would need to stand against the hive.

Janis half-closed her eyes as she dove into the psychic link, making sure to ‘surface’ occasionally and retain some awareness of her surroundings. She could only direct the hive’s forces through the psychic link, but focusing too deeply on it might make her vulnerable so close to the action. Being here in person also allowed her to go where trouble might start and intervene personally, though. For now, she examined their troop placement and sent a few orders to adjust it, silently querying other commanders on their status and the progress they’d made.

Once she judged their general status and preparedness satisfactory, Janis focused on the area that contained the actual front line. The gnomes had taken to using a strategy of quick strikes, using their rudimentary rail lines to bring units close to their targets, but still keeping far enough back the hive couldn’t just destroy them before they formed up easily. The carts and tracks were high-value targets, in the sense that capturing them intact would be very helpful. Janis could give the order to destroy them instead — although it would need quite a number of flying drones and explosives since the gnomes were certain to defend them fiercely, and some were underground — but she wouldn’t. Besides, it was a good indicator that the gnomes had to rely on regular, at least non-elite troops for their strikes instead of just sending highly mobile high-level fighters.

Their numbers were dwindling while the Hive’s were only growing.

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As she was just mentally going through the sight of several Winged Drones in various quadrants, she noticed another attack starting. Janis immediately sent the alert to the sapient drones responsible for that area before she focused in, nudging one of the Winged Drones to fly a bit closer. Her initial impression was right, as she saw a small convoy coming from the southeast, backlit by the sinking sun so it was harder to make out details. A few small wagons with supplies and physically weaker members, probably healers and mages, accompanied by a column of soldiers. They were moving quickly, undoubtedly under the effect of a Haste Spell or something similar.

She felt Ben reach out to her and quickly showed him what she was currently focused on. There’s a town in a strategically important position not far from them, she said. If we beat back this attack decisively, we can advance on it and take it before they’ve got the time or resources to react.

It would be a bit of a gamble, Ben replied consideringly.

I’ll take charge of it myself. Janis let the confidence she felt seep through the link.

Just want to fight some gnomes? he teased.

Janis shrugged and grinned. It was a good tactical move, she was confident in that, but he wasn’t exactly wrong either. She didn’t know what she wanted to prove or to whom, and this wasn’t the time for introspection, but she did want to fight.

Ben sent back an acknowledgment and then withdrew slightly, while Janis contacted the other drones and quickly organized their response. In the meantime, she had her drone mount fly closer to the action, advancing quickly. She also summoned another one as a remount since her current ride was getting tired, and she wanted to be fresh for the battle. Luckily, the Hive kept a lot of its Winged Drone Mounts here in the area, in case sapient drones needed to make a quick getaway or just reposition. They also kept a horde of basic Winged Drones for less urgent or dangerous transport to have them Evolve into Mounts. Although Regina had also been pushing every Winged Drone she could into that Class recently, so maybe it wasn’t as important now.

Janis met up with a few other drones in the air, mostly younger Shooters, Witches and a few Attendants working as healers. Scouts and Fliers were further out. Janis greeted them quickly, then focused on the Warriors and ground-based drones. Let them come to us, she instructed. We’ll keep circling on high for now. Warriors, split into two wings, with a reserve — right, like that. Two further units to the left division, let’s take those on the small hill over there, seems like a good range of Classes. Alright. We’ll drop down on them. Ara, take these guys, she mentally marked everyone in that group, and circle around a bit, as soon as they get close enough not to disengage - I’ll tell you when - then come from above and behind, use enough of your Swarm Drones to cut off their retreat, keep magic and javelins from above. I’ll be leading the mages and ranged in the central flight. Everything clear?

They all responded with affirmatives, so Janis sent a feeling of acknowledgment and anticipation to them before she corrected a few minor details, talking to the various group leaders. They’d used formations like these enough that she wasn’t worried about anyone screwing up.

What’s our ROE? one of the younger Warriors asked.

Same as usual, take prisoners if feasible, accept surrenders unless they’re obviously faking, but prioritize your own lives and health. Priority targets are healers and mages, make sure we’re all aware of high-level threats, but don’t take them on unless you’ve got a sufficient number of Swarm Drones. I’ll be fighting their heavy hitters, but we’ll be using large-scale elemental attacks on occasion.

There shouldn’t be anyone too dangerous in this group, Ara muttered, We’ve sent their elites packing the last times they tried. My Danger Alarm Skill isn’t giving me any warning, either.

Good, but focus on your assigned targets. Get ready, everyone.

Janis didn’t have to wait long for the battle to start. Not that she jumped the gun and attacked early or anything, the gnomes were just faster than she’d hoped. They clearly saw the Hive’s fighters as well, hiding every drone would have been a tall order, but they still advanced.

Move now, she told Ara, then to everyone, skirmishing is starting.

Janis waited for a bit, watching the start of the battle, before she descended on her Mount. It was starting fast and hard, a few exchanges of arrows and Spells quickly moving on to troops clashing in the field. They were still some distance from any real settlements or fortifications, this would be a pure slugging match.

Drones crashed against gnomish soldiers, were pushed back and came back in great numbers to overwhelm them. Janis watched the play of Skills and magic across the battlefield, sensing the ebb and flow of it. In staggered waves, she told the fliers to join in, dropping what payloads they had and letting riders or drones flying on their own loose projectiles.

The gnomes were good. They put up magical shields over part of their forces, flickering into place where needed. They moved into a tight formation, supporting each other against the Hive’s thrust. They took advantage of every gap, every opportunity to send salvos and attacks of their own.

They weren’t good enough.

Janis dropped further, then called on her magic, sending a torrent of Fireballs shooting diagonally across the enemy ranks. She watched the smooth way drones moved out of the way that might otherwise have been caught at the edges, the tiny staggering of the gnomish soldiers.

Someone else sent ice spikes after hers, circumventing any heat- or fire-based protections the gnomes might have deployed. Janis felt the rhythm and followed up with another wave of fire, a whip of flame spreading across the enemy at precisely the right time.

Then she took control of the steam that was shooting up, sending it exploding outwards in a horizontal wave.

Finally, some of the heavier hitters seemed to be zooming in on her, and Janis casually sent her ride into a small corkscrew dive to evade a shadowy spear whipping past her. She could see who it came from, watching despite not being close enough to make out details with her own eyes. Flicking her fingers, she sent a small barrage of Magic Missiles at him. Then, timing the start of the attack just so, she guided some War Drones into letting up on their targets and falling onto his side.

He managed to block the Missiles, but didn’t get away before a drone clamped onto his arm. From there, it was only a matter of seconds until he died, the killing stroke delivered by another Shooter’s projectile from above.

Janis pulled up a bit, sending her mount higher in the air while she evaluated the state of the battlefield. The back rank of the gnomes was wavering and it looked like they might start trying to retreat soon. Fortunately, her split-off company had drawn close enough to make that quite hard. Their flying elements were already engaging and the War Drone units earmarked for that purpose had been working their way around the major battle. Having a large numerical superiority does have its benefits, she thought with a smile. Then Janis focused on nudging their commanders to adjust the positions slightly.

From there, it didn’t take too long. She fought another grounded mage, making use of her improved maneuverability. It cost a few flying Swarm Drones behind her their lives, unfortunately, but she managed to take the gnome out with a well-placed Fireball to the face after slowing him down in the muck.

By the time she was done with that, the battle was almost over. Janis did another sweep, but she focused more on managing their units and commanding the other sapient drones. It took another exhausting, tense hour but finally, their victory was not just assured but had fully arrived.

They lost more Swarm Drones than the gnomes had sent soldiers. A few thousand dead she could have seen in the Hive. It was a bitter feeling for Janis, but she knew it was a good exchange. They hadn’t lost any sapient drones and while some gnomes had escaped after their ranks broke, most had been killed or taken prisoner. Those would be filling the improvised camps the Hive had erected, with the help of the Delvers, adding to their logistical burden, but it was still worth it. It might be some time before they had a field battle like this to fight again.

Janis rolled her shoulders, then dove into the psychic link and called up all her commanders. It took a bit of organizing and she had to juggle sending orders to several groups practically at the same time, but they managed to make it work. Instead of stalling completely or going back to base, the Hive’s forces pushed on to their next objective, which the victory had opened.

A few kilometers and some intense but brief fighting with the dregs and clearly quickly drawn together lines of scared gnomish soldiers followed. She got another level out of it and some opportunity to try a new trick involving using her air magic to guide the fall of explosives against stationary targets.

It didn’t take long for the gnomish town to fall.

Give the Hive a few weeks to consolidate their gains and to resupply and swell their numbers further, and the first major city in the borders of the Gnomish Confederation would soon follow.