Hive Queen

Hive Queens are the second highest class of hive bots, just below the Leviathan. Their goal is to fortify Settlements into Bastions, which can eventually become a Stronghold. Every system has at least one, it's just a matter of finding it. They are heavily guarded by Overseers, Guardian drones, Transport drones, and Assault drones. The Hive Queens themselves are armed with a Frigate Gun, which is similar to a Gatling Turret. However, the Frigate Gun is several times more powerful, is faster, and has better auto-aim. This gun was originally mounted on the Frigate and can kill a fighter in two or three shots.

Killing a Hive Queen will not only give you thousands of experience points, but will also give you credit towards a Queen Hunter Badge, which entitles you to a special reward weapon (Mega Positron Blaster).

From the desk of John "Incarnate" Bergman -- Hive Queens (Taken from: Design Wiki)
Mistresses of the Hive. Creator of all Hive minions, who ultimately may also form the Leviathan, who then creates the Queens, creating the circle of the Hive. Hive Queens act partially as repositories for minerals and ore, building complex alloys from the basic components mined by Collectors. These alloys are then used by the Queens to create the lesser classes of the Hive, from Observers to the Overseers.

Queens either serve in the Court of the Leviathan, or are sent to remote locations (Settlements) to fortify them into Bastions and create additional resources for the Expansion of the Hive. Queens are not aggressive, but heavily defended by both their own means and their Retinue. As the remote authority of the Leviathan and the source of new generations of the Hive, they are highly valued and protected by the Hive. Once a Queen has created a new Bastion, they do not retreat from the area but will continue to attack any opposition until all threats are removed, or they themselves are destroyed. During this time they may also call in reinforcements from the Stronghold of their Leviathan. Destruction of a Queen results in utter retreat by the Leviathan. The Hive will not risk more resources once a Queen has been lost (athough, if sufficient time passes and the area is re-surveyed by Observers, it may be re-Settled and the process begin anew).

Statistics

Weapon XP	Combat XP	Hull Strength	Mass	Weapon Ports	Max Speed	Turbo Speed	License	ALA
2000	_	300000	40000kg	2s 1l	_ m/s	_ m/s	30/30/30/0/4	_

How to Kill

The tactics used to kill hive queens are as varied as the ship choices in Vendetta Online. I will first explain how to find a queen, and then outline two of my favorite kill methods.

To find a queen, visit a sector with collector bots. Watch them mine, do not interfere. One will likely follow you, but they're easy to outrun. Eventually the miners will leave the asteroids to jump out of the sector. Be within 1000m when they jump to see where they went. In their destination sector is a hive queen. If the sector has a transport, kill it when you arrive, because otherwise the collectors will go to the transport rather than the queen.

The first method requires a group of at least three players. Equip yourselves with energy weapons, at least as good as Neutrons. Engage and destroy the entire escort. When the queen is alone, combine your firepower on the queen's shield. If your timing is good, you'll have easy sailing.

The second method only requires access to the Ragnarok, fast charge power cell, chaos swarm missiles, and gemini missiles. Load up your rag with this equipment. Fly toward the queen at a slight angle to protect yourself from the escort if you choose not to destroy them beforehand (in any ship of your choice). Keep circling and using your turbo toward the queen until you get a shot where it is flying toward you. Then, at any time within 1200 meters, unload all your ammo while turboing into the face of the hive queen. You do not need to ram it, of course. This will break the shield. Now you'll need to either reload, or come back with a different ship to finish it off; but do not take too long, if the queen is not damaged for five minutes the shield will return.

Note: Hive Queens in Gray Space give 2300XP. The blast radius when a queen explodes is between 500 and 600 meters.

From the desk of John "Incarnate" Bergman -- The Hive Queen's Retinue (Taken from: Design Wiki)
The Queen's Retinue is defensive in nature. Several Overseers, Guardians and Assault class minions follow her everywhere. In addition, when she establishes herself at a Bastion, she will generate more Assault and other attack drones for patrolling the borders of her established area and defending her mining Collectors.

When a Queen is established in the Court of the Leviathan, her Retinue exists, but is mixed in with the general population of the Stronghold. Only when she leaves the safety of the Stronghold does the Retinue emerge to protect her.

Hive Queen Drops

	Hive Fast Charge	Capacity	Charge Rate	Mass
	Hive Fast Charge	300	48/s	110kg

	Hive Positron Blaster	Damage	Velocity	Energy	Delay	Mass	Port	Targeting	DPE
	Hive Positron Blaster	800	210	16/blast	0.21s	400kg	S	Excellent	50.00

	Hive Gatling Turret	Damage	Velocity	Energy	Delay	Mass	Port	Targeting	DPE
	Hive Gatling Turret	450	200	12/blast	0.10s	2000kg	L	Excellent	37.50