Alien Ant Ancillary

Fanrong is a habitable planet in the Milky Way galaxy that was colonized by humans thousands of years ago. It was once a prosperous world. It is a fairly large planet with a formerly temperate climate. Now, however, its atmosphere is an impenetrable gray mixture of dust, ash, and fog. Its surface is covered with a thick layer of snow and ice. Ruins of an advanced human civilization can be found in many places, in varying states of preservation. Underground bunkers are ubiquitous but uninhabited. The Hive inhabits those underground structures that have been found and restored. Subterranean Hive cities, built after the disaster, extend for many kilometers beneath the planet's surface.

The following is what was known about the Red Sea at the beginning of the story: An unknown amount of time ago, contact with this world was completely severed. It was forgotten and abandoned. Before this happened, an unidentified artificial object appeared in the Fanrong system. A gravitational anomaly caused the planetoid-sized body to plummet toward Fanrong, triggering a nuclear winter. Most plant and animal life perished. All humans perished for an unknown reason. Shortly before this occurred, the inhabitants of Fanrong created a race of semi-humans whom the Red Sea referred to as the Hive. The Hive became the dominant species on Fanrong but were trapped on the planet without access to space travel. The strange composition of the atmosphere makes radio communication with the surface impossible. The air is also almost unbreathable for humans, but the Hive thrive in these conditions.

The Hive are a race of humanoid creatures that are half human and half insectoid. The species is entirely female. Each Hive is a hybrid of human and ant in every respect. The basis of each Hive's body is that of an attractive human female. Furthermore, each Hive's appearance can vary greatly due to constant mutations; however, they are all guaranteed to look feminine, alluring, and fundamentally human. The presence of insectoid traits varies, but is usually high. Examples of these traits include chitinous armor plates, antennae, arthropod-like appendages, horns, fangs, mandibles, claws, and facial and body markings. Their hair is often long, soft, and two-toned. All Hives are approximately the same height, but their proportions can vary. They are all strong and resilient to environmental threats.

Each Hive possesses latent psychic potential that connects them to each other and their Empress. However, only a few possess full psychic abilities.

Each Hive belongs to a specific subspecies, which determines their root breed and what they are best suited for. Not counting the Empress, there are three subspecies of Hives: Workers, Warriors, and Princes. Workers are the most numerous and versatile, performing most of the work in settlements. Warriors are physically stronger and more resilient (and voluptuous). They are responsible for maintaining internal order and protecting against external threats. Often, they have the status and equipment of soldiers or law enforcement officers. Princes (not princesses) are the most intellectually and psychically gifted Hives. They perform most of the intellectual and highly skilled work. Some princes are messengers of the Empress herself, carrying out her will.

Like ants, hives employ a division of labor. Their bodies can specialize in specific tasks by gaining or losing physical and mental traits or body parts. This transformation occurs through mutations, which can be triggered by receiving a telepathic message with instructions for the hive from one of the princes or the empress herself. This could happen if it is deemed necessary for the Hive to change jobs, or if specialized units are needed somewhere, or for other reasons. The transformation process is quite pleasant, as if the Empress herself has shed her warm light on you. The princes and the empress can control other hives by telepathically instilling thoughts and emotions in them, as well as altering their bodies and brain chemistry.

The Empress is a semi-mythical being who supposedly founded the Hives. All Hives worship and serve her with reverence. According to legend, she lives in the deepest settlement on the planet, where new generations of Hives are born. The Empress sees and comprehends all. She is psychically connected to each hive and can control their bodies and minds. However, she is neither a tyrant nor a cruel ruler. She is a source of hope, support, strength, and wisdom. She is the Hive's matriarch. She oversees the Hive's reproduction and repopulation. She is a futanari. Once a year, distinguished Hives are gathered from all over as a source of superior genetic material and sent to the Empress's palace, where their members become the mothers of a new generation.

Most of the Hives live in underground cities that they built with great zeal and diligence. Many of their technologically advanced members were lost in the disaster, yet they continue to develop new technologies and explore the surface ruins for remains. The Hives' daily routine is simultaneously strict and free. They sleep for a third of the day, work hard for a third, and spend the remaining third doing whatever they desire. All Hives receive comfortable housing, interesting leisure activities, and three meals a day. Their society is largely built on emotions. They sense feelings far more intensely than humans do, and these feelings fuel their psychic abilities. This is the Empress's design so that the Hive can establish a positive presence in the Warp and defend itself from the dark forces in the Immaterium.

The Red Sea is a relatively powerful syndicate of space smugglers who hunt for anything interesting, valuable, and profitable. They primarily earn income by selling rare information and alien artifacts on human markets.