Hail the Hive Queen!
Let's make something strange and not what was expected for this month's MapMelee by the Worldbuilding community.
HMSS...no, it doesn't actually have a name. Because...cultural diversity.
So, this is my map of A starship of A Hive Queen. It's self-sufficient although not the greatest ship in the Star Ants' fleet. It's more like a colony ship. And it does not need to colonize any planet. It can set up a fully functional Star Ants colony in open space. Near any group of asteroids, for example. In relative proximity to any star.
How? I'll tell you.
Four elements were required in the contest. The rest is simply logical.
Those elements were:
Cockpit
Engine Room
Mess Hall / Kitchen
Dormitories for the crew
Queen's Chamber (Cockpit/Bridge/Helm and more)
This is where the steering of the ship happens, actually, since the Hive Queen is connected to the vessel. Her mind gives the commands that both ship and crew follow. A-a-and the energies that flow through and about the ship. This is how she steers, directing the flow of energy.
Fusion Reaction (The External Engine Room)
It happens in front of the ship and sheds huge amounts of radiation which is directed along an incomplete oval and encases the ship in an energy field, which ends in a long trail behind.
It has four functions — Protection, Movement, Sustenance, Attack.
Each spire or spike upon the outer case of the ship can be used to channel tight radiation beams that damage most of the other species the Space Ants Hive could encounter. And their environment or technology.
Of course, only used if necessary.
Radiation Pockets (Mess Halls, Energy Depots, and Internal Defense)
Few would survive just passing a few clicks from them. The Space Ants, though, they feed on radiation. They bask in the Sun. And other stars. This is why they need neither atmosphere to protect them, nor oxygen to do the heavy lifting for their metabolism.
The Hatchery, the Workers'Resting Chambers, and the Warrior's Resting Chambers (Dormitories)
For the class-separated crew. Each type of ants has its own functions and place on the ship. Both warriors and workers go upon the surface of the hull, though, to construct or man (actually is it "to ant"?) the interceptors and the mining shuttles.
It's a very simple and efficient system, no? It would be an almost impossible task to infiltrate one of those.
Good luck and have fun!
Yours,
Manol
