Possible idea to be considered: Beetles seem to be able to communicate with each other in some way. Would recommend that we take the time to figure out how they do so in order to be able to commune with them ourselves. Communication leads to options, be it coexistence and cooperation or gives us tactical options when dealing with the beetles in the future.

On similar note, attempt to discover a means to commune with the bees. They are not an active threat to us and thus coexistence is assured, but opening means to communicate would allow for cooperation.

Suggestion: Spider's silk 'web' creating ability should be examined and if possible, some members of the hive should be restructured to benefit from this knowledge. The development of our own silk gives us construction and tactical benefits.

Spider silk has extremely useful properties and should be studied to its fullest extent if possible workers should be able to produce their own silk to make tunnels and future constructs more stable.

Yes, I would rather not wipe the beetles out if they agree thinking creatures like ourselves. I doupt they would be terribly open to an envoy right now, though luckily we have those border guards. Set some drones up opposite them to observe how they interact, maybe feign a few attacks to see how they react or if there's any sort of command structure.

In order to satiate the Hivemind's newfound curiosity with the other local insects and their means of communication, the bugs begin to watch the bees and beetles in a different manner. Previously the drones had mostly paid attention to where the other insects were, where they were going, and how many of them were about; however, now they were looking very closely at other species' strange biology. The goal was to try to find some pattern to the madness that was the other bugs' mannerisms, but it seemed futile. Perhaps more promising was the idea that these other bugs might communicate with some sort of smells or chemicals, so whenever the bees or beetles would leave an area, our own drones would quickly try to sweep it for any pheromone trails or other scents that might have been used for communications. If there were any pheromones, they weren't the same ones that our species evolved to smell and utilize.

It seemed like a rather Sisyphean task, at the end of the day. Though the Hivemind as a whole was undeniably sapient and capable of logic and imagination, far less could be said for the bugs as individuals, especially in the case of the worker drones. Those bugs just acted almost like tools, using almost all of their limited autonomy and brainpower to interpret and fulfill their orders, rather than to think critically on a higher level. The warriors were slightly better off; they had to have some innate understanding of tactics in order to effectively work together and protect the Hive. Still, their intelligence was highly specialized and their minds were mostly concerned with things like searching for interlopers and how to most optimally fight beetles.

So neither the drones nor the warriors were able to glean much through their continued observations of the other bugs. Even if that obstacle could be overcame, with what resources and abilities the Hive possessed, composing and delivering some sort of message would have likely been difficult even if they discovered the mechanism by which the other species could communicate. But ever persistent, the Hivemind did not give up. In order to solve these issues it generated a plan that was maybe just crazy enough to work, and impulsively began work on it immediately.

Numerous ideas were floating around for how the Hive might best direct the species' evolution, either through enhancing the warriors or through trying to have the workers emulate the spiders' natural silk, but all were pushed aside at least temporarily while the forgettable prince caste underwent some drastic changes. Prior to this point the princes only had been charged with one job, and they had done it admirably; they lived for just a few weeks, and existed only to mate with the queens. All of their spare time was spent idling around and being utterly unproductive, despite them being more numerous and certainly far more expendable than the queens.

That unfulfilled potential was shaped into a new purpose by the evolution of much more sophisticated neural networks inside the princes. They grew to be intelligent, more than any of the drones and even the queens. To accommodate the increase in autonomy and intellect, the princes' bodies grew larger to the point that they could rival or even surpass the warrior drones in size if not sturdiness and ferocity. Their lifespans also became greater than before. They still are fleeting to the point that they individually might struggle to innovate or advance much, but it is no matter. They can work together, and the Hivemind remembers. If one generation dies too soon and leaves something unfinished, the next will be ready to pick right back up where they left off.

Eventually these princes might become even more autonomous, to the point that they could act as extensions of the Hivemind by organizing and directing the drones around them, and perhaps acting as ambassadors or generals. But for now, they are just smart enough to perhaps succeed where all others failed in studying the beetles and bugs. We'll just have to figure out exactly how they should go out and try to get the other bugs' attention.

The improvement of the Princes is an unexpected but highly welcomed addition to the Hive. Their advanced reasoning skills should be focused towards understanding the bees, since the bees are relatively peaceful and the Princes are unlikely to be accidentally brought into harms way.

Incorporating spider silk production into the hive should be brought back to the forefront.

Possible suggestion for a new militant caste: A smaller breed of warriors without the mandibles but with thicker armor so that they can serve to bait the target into attacking a target they will do little to no damage to while the attacking warriors flank the target and rip it apart.

Previous recommendation maintained. Awaiting aknowledgement.

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Analysis of spider and snake venom recommended. Traits of these substances are to be used to further enhance the paralytic agent of warriors.

Analysis of beetle carapace structure recommended. Warriors are to have their armor reinforced based on the beetle carapace characteristics. Strengthen frontal legs of warriors and add armor plating equipped with sharp serrations to increase combat effectiveness.

Use small squads of drones to bait beetles away from main nest. Draw beetles into prepared ambushes of hidden warrior ants.

Once the numbers of the beetles have been deemed sufficiently culled, preparations for full assault may begin.

Create tunnel from secondary hive extending near to the border of beetle territory. Tunnel is to be braced with spider silk and twigs. Establish small; completely underground, hive to serve as a hidden staging ground for future assault.

Addendum: advised action adjusted to allow for tactical development project.

New potential project available.

Goal: increase tactical capabilities of hive.

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Prince development acknowledged-- produce 2 'Warlord' variant princes.

Warlords are to have further enhanced cognitive ability, as well as an extended lifespan surpassing that of even a queen.

Warlords are also to adopt traits of current warrior drones.

Warlords should have ability to command and micromanage lower ranking drones.

Tactical development project--

Two small hives; disconnected from any existing hives (or each other), are to be established on the eastern border and western border of beetle territory.

These hives are to be completely autonomous from the rest of the hive and must provide for themselves.

One warlord to each hive. Warlords are tasked with ensuring the survival and growth of their own hive, and to eradicate the other warlord's hive by any means necessary. Each warlord will be provided with 200 drones, 3 normal princes, a single queen, and a few days' food to start off with.

Warlords are prohibited from utilizing any resources in areas currently being used for the main hives.

Warlords are to be given full control of their own hive's evolutionary development and any other functions; but must still maintain subservience to the overall hivemind.

Warlords cannot send troops through territory already claimed by the main hive, and must find other routes to send forces.

Project will be considered complete when one warlord emerges victorious.

I understand what you're trying to achieve, but the creation of two smaller hives solely for the purpose of pitting them against each other is a waste of resources: Both for the investments into the hives themselves and for the loss of possible resources for the main hive as two smaller hives fight for resources we don't currently control in order to wage war with each other.

Also, the development of 'Warlord' variant Princes to requirements asked would be a timely, resource intensive process that the hive cannot afford at this time. Alternative Suggestion: develop a strain of Princes with defensive military improvements, increased sensory systems and turning the advanced intelligence of the Prince caste towards tactical matters. Let them serve as a leading figure for the warriors to better coordinate and plan defenses and possible future campaigns for the hive.

Analyzing response from separate synapse.......

Resources lost from conflict can be reclaimed by cannibalizing dead. Hive does not need to continue expansion south. Further cultivation of berries calculated to greatly offset initial resource demands. Forest east of secondary hive yet to be explored, can send expeditionary forces to find new food. Project gain calculated to be greater than overall loss.

Warlord creation enables new possibilities for hive.

Limits of rapid advancement-- made to be tested.

PROJECT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR UNDERTAKING.

Whispers of engineering a rivalry between two augmented 'warlord' princes with independent hives ultimately had to be rejected due to a lack of resources. With the Hivemind only having two hives, two queens, and a little over a thousand drones to work with, a project of such a scale was deemed infeasible at the current time.

Some attention was directed towards further evolution, though. Adding stronger forelegs and chitinous barbs to the warriors was easily done, and it has increased their effectiveness. There was also effort devoted towards mimicking the venom of spiders and snakes, as well as on the webweaving ability of spiders, but for now those have yet to fully meet the desired results. A subset of worker drones has adapted to generate proteins that turn their saliva into a sticky goop, and a matching ability to spit this fluid a short range with some accuracy. While that initially seemed like a failure as they lack the ability to draw out threads of the protein and finely weave it like spiders do, it's still somewhat useful. They are able to chew bits of wood and other organic matter, allow it to mix with their adhesive saliva, and then regurgitate it as a sort of papery material that is useful for construction. Their spitting might also be useful in combat situations as a distraction or as a means of constructing sticky traps; we could consider adapting this new worker type to fulfill a supportive role to the warrior drones much like the proposed smaller and better armored "bait" warriors, or we could instead evolve them to gradually become more like spiders. Or we could perhaps just accept their current state and use them for construction workers.

One of the newly enhanced princes left the main Hive, accompanied only by a few bodyguard warrior drones. It attempted to hail and observe the various bees that it saw, but most seemed to just buzz by obliviously. Eventually it grew frustrated and took a more direct approach, marching to the nearest beehive and sitting underneath it. For a long time the prince looked expectantly at the beehive, occasionally clacking its mandibles together and gesticulating (in what it hoped was a non-threatening way) with its various limbs. A few bees hovered closely to investigate this strange visitor, and after some more time passed, one of them returned into its hive. A few moments later, dozens of other bees emerged. They began to slowly circle around, with about seven of eight of the little buzzing things edging closer and closer to the prince. The bodyguard warriors were apprehensive and their instincts were screaming to bite at the bees, but sensing that such an effort would have been futile, the prince made them stand down and offered no resistance as the bees grabbed onto his bulk and slowly lifted him into the air, up to the hive. They set him down upon a small branch up in the tree just next to their hive, and then from out of the beehive's opening peeked the head of one massive bee, their queen!

Much clicking and clacking and buzzing followed. Without any mutually intelligible language, communication was very difficult and slow, but the queen bee seemed to be of a reasonable intelligence and to have some desire, or at least receptiveness, towards taking the time to communicate. The queen bee gestured repeatedly in the general direction of our central hive, towards the berry bushes that we planted and which were just now beginning to bloom for the first time!

Ahhhh, my planning has nearly born fruit. Literally!

Try to convey the fact that we were the ones responsible for the new bushes.

Also try and convey the fact that we are happy to let the bees do their thing with our new bushes and that we will be happy to protect them while doing so.

Let the current 'silk' drones join the workforce properly. We'll see how they work in practice and thus where improvements are required later on.

Send detatchment of drones, warriors, and a prince to explore east of secondary hive. Identify any potential threats, resources, or other things of interest.

Prioritize further cognitive enhancement of princes.

Increased mental faculties of Princes should be a priority, perhaps an even greater boost in their lifespan would also be beneficial? More experienced Princes will be more competent.

Perhaps the negotiation of resources with the bees could be offered? Access to protected berry bushes in exchange for honey and wax?

At a modest yet reasonable pace, the princes were growing more mentally capable, and with that increased brainpower came something very unusual for insects...boredom. When faced with little to contemplate or do, they started to find things to occupy their time. Often this took the form of strange hobbies, like having the worker drones organize gathered sticks and pebbles by size or scour the riverside for pebbles of unusual colors. Sometimes it acted as a much more productive driving force, though. The thought of exploring the lands east of the forest and the central hive arose, and no sooner did it reach one restless prince's mind than he was rallying dozens of drones. Within an hour that prince was had launched the scouting expedition. To ensure that this group did not vanish into thin air as had that fateful group that ventured the other way into the grasslands, the prince was accompanied by mostly warrior drones and had made plans to send back small groups of messengers back at regular intervals.

Meanwhile, the prince that had been assigned to treat with the bees began attempting to explain the Hivemind's role in the creation of those new berry bushes, but the bee queen seemed to be well aware. Perhaps the drones that served her weren't as oblivious as they seemed. She brushed past the topic and kept pointing at the new bushes as well as their surrounding area, though the prince wasn't sure what to make of that. He in turn tried to express a receptiveness towards allowing the bees to drink the berry bushes' nectar (though he did also at least try to solicit some sort of favor in return) but communication was difficult and after the better part of a day, the queen grew tired of the talk and retreated back into the beehive. The prince was brought back onto the ground where his bodyguards waited, and then he made his way back to the central hive.

A period of some heavy rains followed. Flooding killed many drones and damaged parts of both hives, as well as made it quite difficult for the drones to leave the hive in search of food or to patrol the borders. The bees were not seen either, and seemingly were waiting out the bad weather in their nests and consuming stored food. On the other side were the beetles, who didn't seem so disturbed by the rain at all. They maintained an active presence patrolling in the forest even as our own hivemind's warriors hunkered down in their small outposts or retreated back to the nests for shelter.

The newly mutated worker drones that possessed the capability to make the papery material proved quite valuable. By coating the most vital tunnels and chambers in the nests with their biological building material, they were able to stop large parts of the nests from caving in. Still, large parts of both nests did collapse. That was the folly of living inside of dirt mounds.

The rain probably also explained why no word had come from the prince leading the eastward-bound scouting expedition; they too were likely rendered immobile by flooding, but unfortunately they probably had even less shelter than everyone else.

Well, we need to do some damage control; Try and recover what supplies and drones are trapped in collapsed tunnels and sections of the hive, but right now we need to outlast the waters and preserve what parts of the hive are still intact.

The question we need to ask now is: Do we rebuild the hives as underground tunnels (with the addition of the biological enforcement to ensure this doesn't happen again) or do we need to develop a new kind of home structure going forward?

Perhaps for future protection, the colony can be expanded into the trees themselves? They offer greater protection from the elements and often bear fruit that may be used to feed the colony.

Perhaps that's why the beetles chose to nest inside the hollow log.

Our new workers were able to reinforce the walls of our tunnel with their new sticky fluid and hold back collapse, but perhaps we can go farther than that? Could we mix the spit directly with the mud in order to create a building material that is more fundamentally sturdy? With that we may be able to build up, store out food and grubs safely above the flood line.

Use previously gathered river stones to set up better drainage within the hive.

Maybe we can combine the two? Start developing an above ground structure to give us additional room above ground that can be used as a marker for scouting parties, first response garrison forces and as a shelter in the case of tunnel collapse and flooding in the future, but in turn maintain an underground tunnel network and chambers like we currently do with the new organic upgrades?