Despite Tarl’s pessimism, I’m pretty confident the ODA can do something if things really go pear-shaped, even if it only ends up being an early warning. Of course, I’m still going to do my best to keep things under control. It’s difficult to not wonder about Tarl’s vision, though.

How much of Earth did he see? How much did he understand? How much detail could he glean about the voids? If they were clear silhouettes, that doesn’t hide all that much, honestly. Well, whatever he saw, he has trouble describing it, so I guess it’s a moot point. Still, it nibbles at my curiosity.

I’m going to need to ignore it for now, and probably for later, too. The search for Aranya’s old dungeon and the source of the weird invaders are both important enough that I should try to keep distractions to a minimum. Scouts are still scouting underground, and still not finding anything resembling an actual trail, so that is still normal on that front.

The other front is turning into a proper front over with the Southwood. Honey and Leo requested some wyrms and healing slimes, which I sent pretty much immediately. They’re both a bit slow to move, but should get there in another day or two. The wolves should be reinforcing the lines a lot better since I upgraded the spawner, and I’m tempted to spend mana there until I get the next variety of wolf, but I hold off for now.

Instead, I decide to send a bit of everything to go reinforce, too. I don’t think the normal leafcutter ants will be able to do much, but I’ll leave that to Leo. Maybe he’ll come up with some novel use for them. Honestly, even just using them to help the Southwood’s herbalism nodes probably wouldn’t be a terrible idea.

Sending a bit of everything is mostly because of a good bit of wisdom I first heard in a terrible movie: I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. I don’t think it saved the character in the movie, but it’s still good advice.

As for what I expect Leo will use the reinforcements for: I don’t know specifically, but I get the feeling the other shoe is getting ready to drop up there. Things have been progressing pretty smoothly, with the tundra wolves being great at hit and run kind of tactics. I’d like to think it’s just tactical expertise on Leo’s part, and honestly the ease and success of what he’s doing there is thanks to that, but the invaders will have to start adapting to the change eventually, right?

I dunno, I just don’t like it. I don’t think Leo likes it, either, and even Honey seems to feel the growing tension in the air. Leo’s even changing the plans for the defense, at least a little. Before, I think he was going to try to be subtle and nudge attacks and potential observers away from the planned illusory killing field, but I think he’s tossing subtle out the window, at least as far as keeping the invaders well away from the border goes.

He has enough scouts and forces now to be able to project a stronger presence outside Southwoods’ territory, and with having pushed the invaders back a bit, he can be more proactive about keeping them away. With them not able to get close, the work can continue quicker, now they don’t need to be subtle about it.

I think speed is going to be important, too. If they’re putting up less of a fight, they might be trying to gather their forces and make a more concentrated assault, instead of the semi-random attacks all over the place.

…Maybe I should see if Rocky wants to go help. I’d been keeping him and Fluffles here in case we suddenly trip over Aranya’s old dungeon, but that’s looking less and less likely. I want to keep Fluffles close still, just in case, but it shouldn’t be too risky to send Rocky.

I could maybe try to send Slash, too, but I think I’ll keep him close as well. His music would be a great way to help keep my dwellers safe if fighting erupts around here. The only other I might send would be Nova, but I think I’d like her to stick close until she’s a bit more experienced. And I’m not sure she has the temperament for a long expedition and constant fighting.

Yeah, let’s see if Rocky wants to head out with the sampler pack of reinforcements.

I’ll need Teemo, and it looks like he’s just relaxing with Yvonne as she tests some more bows. The first prototype was basically all steel, which makes it a bit heavy, but easily able to handle the forces. A little enchanting by Thing is enough to make it light enough to carry around, but we also have those fancy new magical metal nodes.

Right now, she’s just methodically going through every combination of metals for both the body and the arms as we can think of, looking for the best mix of weight, strength, and cost. Engineering wisdom says you can pick two, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as we find the balance.

Hey Teemo, can you go talk to Rocky for me?

“Sure, Boss. The bees have all the writing handled. Hey Yvonne!”

“Hmm?” She looks up from assembling the latest combination of body and arm.

“The Boss needs me to go talk to Rocky. You good here without me?”

She smiles and waves him off, returning her focus to the bow. “I’ll be fine. Just make sure he keeps some healing ants around to help with my shoulders. I’m enjoying the process, but I’ll get sore without some of their help.”

I make sure to send in some more ants as Teemo heads down a shortcut. Queen would usually handle them, but she’s up to her gaster in the alchemical traps in the lava labyrinth, so I can deal with it on my own.

My favorite zombie is enjoying himself in his arena, currently beating the sand out of a heavy bag. I need to have Thing enchant something to be strong enough for Rocky to punch regularly, but it’ll have to be pretty low priority for now.

Teemo exits his shortcut atop a turnbuckle and shouts. “Hey Rocky! Leave that poor bag alone! What’d it ever do to you?”

Rocky laughs and gives the bag a stay of execution as he walks over to my voice.

“Heya Rock. The Boss wants to know if you want to head to the Southwood and lend a hand with the defense? Nah, nothing is going particularly bad there, the Boss just wants to make sure everything will be fine.”

Rocky chews on his mouthguard as he thinks, and grunts a question.

“Will he be in his lich outfit?”

Eh… up to him, really. If he wants to, he could even go there in the disguise, and drop it if the fighting calls for it.

Teemo repeats me and Rocky thinks a bit more. I’m going to need to make sure to send a few extra mouthguards for him, too. Another grunted question, and Teemo doesn’t bother translating it straight to me.

“Nah, everything should be safe around here. He wanted to keep you here in case we found the dungeon Aranya fled, but it’s looking like it’s going to take longer than expected. Besides, even if things do get dicey, we’ll still have Fluffles and Slash, not to mention Tiny and Poe. Nova can probably handle a good fight, too.”

Rocky nods at that and rubs his chin with his gloved hand, then nods.

“Great! You’re gonna pretend to be a lich at first, then?”

My zombie nods again and starts digging around beneath the ring, where he presumably keeps his stuff.

Don’t sell yourself short when it comes to fighting, too, Teemo. You handled the Stag like a pro. My Voice just shrugs.

“Eh, maybe, but in a real fight, I don’t know how well I’d do.”

I think it was a real enough fight for the Stag.

Teemo grins. “Yeah, but not for me. He’s strong, sure, but he’s slow enough I probably could have dodged everything even without shortcuts.”

That sounds to me like you’d be pretty good in a fight, then.

Teemo raises a finger to argue the point, but lets it droop as he fails to find a good argument. After a few seconds, he just huffs and folds his arms.

Hey, I’m not going to go throwing you on the front lines or anything, I’m just pointing out a fact.

“Yeah, but I’m the one who’s supposed to knock you down a peg or two and point out what you’re missing. You’re not supposed to do that to me!”

Rocky grunts as he pulls his black robe out from under the ring, and gives Teemo a curious look.

“Nah, not you, Rocky. The Boss is pointing out facts that I don’t like.”

My boxer grunts and gets his gloves off, and slips on the robe, and Teemo smirks at what he said.

“That’s fair. Facts don’t really care if I like them or not, and it’s not a great idea to try to ignore them. You gonna practice your affinities on the way there?”

Another nod and another grunt has Teemo tapping his own chin. “A staff with an orange ball? I bet you Larx can help with that. You might be able to get Thing to do a few quick enchants on it, too.”

Rocky grunts again and Teemo laughs. “That’s also fair! You gotta look the part! If you’re going to rope a dope, it helps to lean into it a bit!”