The Orchid Widow

The Orchid Widow does not use a personal name now. They were a high broodmother of the Orchid Court, a small wealthy hive that bred pollen-class vessels for inner-ring aristocrats. Three years ago Queen Apex's Throne Organism ate the Court whole, one of the internal predations the Collective does not formally acknowledge.

The Widow was aboard the Pollen of the Last Court, on a trade run to the Pearl Atelier, and watched the consumption from twelve light-minutes out, on slow telemetry. Spawn, consorts, and broodmothers were eaten. The Pollen is the only Court vessel still flying. They do not fight Apex directly. The Throne Organism is too large, and they are too proud to lose. They will fight for any fleet that denies her a meal in the outer rings. They have a great deal of patience, and nothing left to spend it on but that.