A month later

Many centipedes dragged through the huge tunnel a large living spacecraft, which sometimes yelled in happiness. The huge insect knew that soon it would fly.

Seed – staying deep underground – observed this process.

The living spacecraft didn't have any legs. They were unnecessary. The huge insect was too heavy. Besides, it didn't reach its full size. The spacecraft would continue to grow outside, getting stronger. Save its usual diet, the insect would begin to consume some metals and minerals in space.

Soon the living spacecraft was drugged outside and yelled happily.

That's good that the abrai had left the planet, Seed thought.

The centipedes moved away from the spacecraft which began to open its numerous wings. It opened them wide, and slowly the huge mass had been lifted upward.

It's hovering over the earth without visible problems. Good!

Seed connected his mind with the spacecraft's mind and ordered. Go to space.

The ball felt that his creation agreed.

The huge insect began to increase the altitude, and soon it had reached space where the spacecraft hid its wings. They weren't necessary anymore.

The living spacecraft felt well in open space, its outer skin could withstand the negative influence of the airless environment, and its gigantic lung could store a lot of oxygen.

Seed could see Ka'tak through the eyes of his creation. The planet was huge and green.

That's good. It has a lot of biomass.

The spacecraft shot fuel out on the end, and it propelled the insect forward. The spacecraft could produce the fuel from the eaten biomass right in its stomach.

Seed looked around. He could see some planets and a few asteroid clusters. The planets were far away but the asteroid clusters were much closer to Ka'tak.

That's good. We have some metal in the vicinity.

The spacecraft moved towards the asteroid clusters. It had enough food in the stomach and its lung had a lot of oxygen in it. It was the insect's test fly.

Seed left the process of observation to his biocomputers and paid his attention to the second underground hangar where the weapons and armors were being produced in small quantities. The hamsters' primitive civilization didn't need much now.

Seed had checked the working organs. They didn't show any signs of malfunction.

Then the ball observed the mouchi's development.

The main settlement continued to grow in number. The new fields - where the abrai's crop grew – gave the hamsters a lot of food.

The mouchi race had established some new settlements along the river. By the way, the hamsters began to call the river “Blue”. The settlements developed and grew in number steadily, and – like the main settlement – had attracted many predators to themselves. The predators just couldn't resist the temptation to eat fat and juicy hamsters. Unfortunately to the predators, their prey had the living weapon and the living armor. As a result, the hamsters had enough meat.

Seed looked at the rescued ka'shogs. They lead the armed mouchi to their own tribe to tell the truth about the kind god, who lived under the mountain range. Sussi – the annoying female mouchi – was with the expedition. She often spoke with the ka'shogs about Seed's greatness and his fantastical achievements. The green primitives looked happy.

Seed looked at his insect colony that was deep in the jungle. It also grew rapidly in number. The centipedes – which were a majority in the colony – built underground tunnels and cleared space for more biocomputers and many other production lines. Seed needed an army of insects. With their help he planned to conquer the underground world of Katak.

The ball was satisfied. Gradually Seed's empire grew.

+++

Soon the living spacecraft had reached one of the asteroid clusters. The huge insect had spent just a small part of its food and oxygen. It came closer to the nearest asteroid and began to eat it.

Seed observed as strong jaws bit off the pieces of the rock. In the stomach these pieces were becoming metal and minerals that should strengthen the spacecraft's system in the future.

Unfortunately the huge insect wasn't hungry, thus it ate a little.

Move among the asteroids, Seed said to his creation and got its consent.

The spacecraft began to do its task. The insect's turns looked clumsy. Besides, it had bumped against the asteroids a few times.

Seed felt the spacecraft's pain each time. Fortunately, the speed was low and the cuts weren't deep.

The maneuverability is pathetic. Let's check its weapon.

The ball ordered the spacecraft to annihilate one of the asteroids. The huge insect halted its movement and sent a large green ball of toxic acid; its corrosive potential was high. Quite quickly the acid had eaten away a huge piece of the asteroid.

The acid was produced by the special organ that stored the dangerous liquid in the front part of the body in the special bag.

Good result, Seed concluded.

The huge insect was also satisfied.

Seed looked at the asteroids and chose the small one, but still that huge rock was bigger than the living spacecraft.

The ball sent an image of the asteroid to his creation.

Ram it, He ordered.

The insect turned to the said asteroid and shot fuel out. The speed began to accelerate.

In a while the huge insect rammed the said asteroid. The impact was strong, thus the living creature felt pain. As well, the spacecraft's front was seriously damaged, but the asteroid also sustained a lot of damage.

Seed was satisfied with the outcome.

Return home, He sent another command.

The creature agreed and turned back to the green planet. Its pulse was high at that moment, thus the consumption of oxygen went up.

+++

The bleeding spacecraft – yelling in pain - had landed beside the mountain range; its wound on the front looked worse than Seed thought.

I guess a tactic of ramming potential enemy spacecrafts can be inefficient.

A bunch of insects hurried to the wounded spacecraft. They were so-called “medical insects” which could produce some special gel that could disinfect and heal wounds.

Later Seed analyzed the biocomputers' report. It turned out that the current model of spaceship was inefficient. They recommended building specialized spacecraft without wings or an ability to fly in the air.

I need to build a spaceport in the future, Seed concluded.

+++

Far away from Ka'tak

Recently Clarissa had closed a couple of contracts successfully.

The first contract was with a small station whose miners foolishly thought that they had some rights. It turned out that this conviction was quite naive, and the brave guys helped the miners to realize that.

The second contract was with some rebels who wanted to bring happiness and prosperity to the citizens of their planet. Of course, Clarissa had answered to this honor call and – in exchange for some money - helped the good guys to kill a bunch of bad guys.

As a result, the fame of “Brave guys” grew. They weren’t noname anymore. Clarissa's company had got some fame, therefore their price tag became a little bigger.

Clarissa and her uncle were glad. At last their family business began to earn them some dividends. But both knew that their current success was due to the mouchi: the recently hired mercenaries. Those funny-looking creatures were perfect soldiers. They didn't hesitate or fear. They just executed commands of their superiors. Besides, they fought quite well as true vets.

So far, the “Brave guys” had lost many new recruits. They needed to replenish their losses, because the mercenary company had some interesting offers.

Clarissa and Teodor – her uncle – decided to go to the planet Ka'tak personally. They wanted to recruit new hamsters to their company and built a friendly relationship with that race.

I guess I need to bring some gifts along.