Vespula



"You fiend! I will permit you no further!"

Vespula is the boss of Zone 2. She makes use of her Wasp swarm to try to overwhelm the player, as well as a number of bullet and tendril patterns.

Backstory
The Section Lord of gardens and labs, Vespula maintains science and medical equipment but her passion is for the orchards, which filter air, provide fresh produce and are crew recreation areas.

Commanding the largest Wasp network on the ship, Vespula is awkward around humans and remotely observes their interactions in order to improve.

-In-game Codex entry for Vespula

Overview
Vespula is a difficult boss consisting of 6 alternating "ball phases" (where she is invincible and you fight a swarm of Wasps), and "solo phases" where you fight Vespula herself. In the final phase there are some wasps present but they are not the primary threat.

If you stand too close, she will respond with a melee attack which is very fast and has a wider range than its activation radius. This attack is an instant knockdown if it connects. This attack can be Weapon Swapped through if you see it coming.

Wasp phases (1, 3 and 5) can be Surged if the last wasps are killed quickly together for a 1.5x score bonus. They do also have a quick kill bonus, but it's seemingly so difficult to achieve that for all intents and purposes, they don't.

The par time is 2:30.

Ideal total score:

Phase 1: passive Wasp swarm


"Establishing connection. Summoning the Swarm..."

Vespula surrounds herself with a swarm of Wasps and slowly follows the player. The phase ends when enough Wasps have been defeated (150 in single player).

This swarm is fairly passive and doesn't move around much, just swirls around Vespula in a clockwise direction. It is not easy to avoid, but standing in it will quickly get you killed.

Hover at the outskirts and kill the wasps as fast as possible.

Phase 2: Solo, red flowers + triple splitting balls


"It seems that I must take care of matters personally."

Vespula unfolds, the Wasps are dismissed, and she begins moving around the edge of the map, alternating between two attacks:


 * 1) Vespula fires five slow but large red flower projectiles, which travel in a straight line. Touching one is an instant knockdown, although a brush with one can be survived with Accelerate). Can be repelled with Plasma Shield. Their hitbox is slightly smaller than their appearance. This attack is aimed at the player.
 * 2) Vespula fires a quick burst of 3 large blue ball projectiles, which comes out deceptively quickly. Touching one is an instant knockdown (a brush with one can be survived with Accelerate). A short time after being fired, each one will break into 5 bursts of 5 accelerating bullets. The balls are unaffected by Plasma Shield, but the bullets they split into are repelled like any other bullet. Unlike the flowers, this attack always fires towards the centre of the arena, regardless of the player's position.

It's not difficult to get around her and completely negate these attacks. Avoid her attacks and DPS her down. Note that during this phase no weapon energy drops from Vespula at all. Meaning it is common for your weapon to start powering down if you aren't quick or don't leave some weapon energy lying around from the previous phase.

Phase 3: expanding and contracting Wasp swarm


"My paint has been scratched."

One of the most difficult phases. This time the Wasp swarm turns counter-clockwise and will aggressively expand and contract, often trapping you inside the ring when it expands.

You will need to be continually running away while killing the wasps. Try not to get trapped in the first place, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. Weapon Swap or DPS your way out. Firepower is incredibly useful here.

In single player, this phase requires you to destroy 180 wasps.

Phase 4: Solo, triple tendrils + bullet fan


"You are becoming a nuisance."

This time Vespula will move around the edge of the map and alternate between two different attacks:


 * 1) A triple "tendril" attack that radiates outward and curves towards you, very similarly to a Blaster Titan attack. One tendril is shot forwards, and the other two are shot to her sides. Brushing with it is not an instant knockdown, but being in contact with it while it's active damages you very quickly.
 * 2) A "fan" of bullets made of 13 lines of 3 bullets that expand out in a hull shape. Past a certain distance it is fairly trivial to fit yourself between one of the gaps, and is easy to Weapon Swap through at any distance.

Since the tendrils attack to the sides, it is more difficult to out-maneuver her in this stage, but the attacks themselves are easier to avoid than Phase 2. Outspace them and DPS her down.

Phase 5: aggressive Wasp swarm


"Swarm! Protect me!"

The Wasps once again turn clockwise, and instead of expanding they will "lunge" in groups at the player.

Arguably not as difficult as Phase 3, as the lunges can be easily anticipated and sidestepped. The lunge can be seen before it begins, since Wasps that are part of the lunge begin to accelerate rapidly within the swarm. Sidestep the lunges and kill the wasps, should be a straightforward phase.

As with phase 3, in single player, this phase requires you to destroy 180 wasps.

Phase 6: Wasps, quad tendrils + double red flowers


"You fiend! I will permit you no further!"

Vespula will take the centre of the map and alternate between two attacks while turning clockwise continuously:


 * 1) Four tendrils rather than Phase 4's three. They are equally spaced around her, 45 degrees to her right and left, and the same behind.
 * 2) Producing two streams of red flowers simultaneously, one to each of her sides. No player tracking is used this time, the flowers are always produced in a spiral.

To make matters worse, there is a loose ring of Wasps moving around the outside.

The safest place to be is actually close range, since you won't have to worry about the Wasps. Anticipate and avoid her attacks based on her facing direction, and DPS her down quickly.

Recommended androids
Cactus is a solid, no-nonsense pick, as her Flamethrower cuts through Wasps like butter and can DPS down Vespula herself very effectively.

Peanut is excellent due to being able to drill rapidly through the wasp swarm, but this requires some skill to pull off.

Coral is one of the most difficult to use due to her short-ranged and slow-firing shotgun, but has immense score potential due to her high damage output, capable of ending the non-wasp phases extremely quickly with a Shutdown.

Lemon has a strategy called "ball strat" where she stands inside of Vespula during ball phases, and nukes huge amounts of wasps at once using rockets. Since the wasps collide with Vespula but not the player, it's possible to be safe from damage with good positioning. This ultimately gives Lemon the most potential out of the androids. Shiitake can also perform this trick using Propeller Mines, but her railgun is so weak against the wasps otherwise that she's unlikely to do well overall.

Multiplayer strategy
Unlike Embryo, focus-shifting is much less of an issue with Vespula - she doesn't turn very quickly and a lot of her attacks are easily anticipated from her facing direction, so all players can get up close and personal.

The main problem is her melee attack - since it is omnidirectional, fast and has enormous range, triggering it can potentially knock down the entire team. Let your team know before you Weapon Swap through her to grab a Shutdown.

Cactus
Vespula: Welcome stranger, you have reached my sanctuary. Forgive me for not inviting you to stay, I fear your vulgar presence would sour my gentle garden.

Cactus: Lady, there isn't a violin small enough to express how much I don't care about your plants. You turned your workers against the crew!

Vespula: If only your heart was as green as your head you might understand. A pity, you're not even fit to stain my shears. Be consumed.

 

Cactus: I don't have much of a green thumb but I think I did a pretty good job pruning!

Vespula: In the end ... I couldn't even ... protect this environment. My betrayal ... absolute ...

Cactus: You were clearly going through some difficult times, but just so you know, flinging giant novelty flowers at law enforcement is never the answer.

Holly
Vespula: Ah! Holly! Welcome to my garden! It's the strangest thing, here you are before me, armed, almost like you're planning to defy me!

Holly: So you're the one that has been leading the robots on this deck against the crew! I've got to stop you!

Vespula: How precious! To see you muster such courage in the face of your imminent destruction. Come along then, brave bookkeeper!

 

Holly: Oh ... wow ... I'm still alive somehow! I'm so sorry, I wish it hadn't come to this!

Vespula: You have grown ... magnificently ... please ... continue looking out for ... Lemon ... for me.

Holly: ... this wasn't like you, Vespula. If the Section Lords always operate as a team, then who's behind all this?

Lemon
Vespula: Lemon! Always such a delight to see you in the garden, even in such difficult times! Based on your little rampage, are you here for my head?

Lemon: Vespula! When I heard the Section Lords had turned on the ship I hoped and prayed you weren't one of them... I ... I don't want to fight you!

Vespula: Now Lemon, I taught you to be stronger than this. We ARE going to fight, so you must come at me with everything you have or I will tear you down.

 

Lemon: It's over. I'm sorry, in the end this was the only thing I could do for you.

Vespula: No, I'm sorry ... I wanted to be more for you ... but I could not go against the combined will ... of the Section Lords ... be careful ... they're strong ...

Lemon: No! It's not your fault! You were the best! And don't worry about me, I'll beat them all, I'll set things right! You'll see! You'll see...

Coral
Vespula: Welcome to my garden, Coral, to what do I owe the pleasure? I can't help notice you're still operational! Shall I fix that for you?

Coral: Y'know, I've never been that fond of gardens, now that the crew's gone, I think it's time to pave over this place.

Vespula: Insolent cur! When I'm through with you I'll be using your hydraulics for sprinkler heads!

 

Coral: That was tough! I don't know why you all turned on the ship, but at least you won't be hurting anyone else now.

Vespula: You think ... I wanted this? Section Lords work as one ... you will face ... far greater threats ... than I.

Coral: Ahh that's what I was afraid of. Just who is behind this uprising?

Starch
Vespula: Oh dear. Look what has found its way into my garden. I thought they hunted you down and locked you away after the, uh, incident.

Starch: Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack had insufficient heat tolerance on key axial joints!

Vespula: I am acutely aware of how you dispatched my subordinates, Starch. Tearing you limb from limb shall serve as both a duty and a privilege.

 

Vespula: No ... stay away from me ... you monster!

Starch: Sticks and stones might break my bones but names will never Hrmmmmmm, hey do robots have bones?

Starch: Oh! I've got a new idea for a game to play! Stay put Gretel, I'm going to find a thermal lance!

Aubergine
Vespula: How strange to see you in my garden, Aubergine. I do believe I had you contained and don't recall granting you permission to leave.

Aubergine: Helo busted me out, now we're here to put an end to your madness! As acting head of security I have to protect this ship, even from itself!

Vespula: You rely an awful lot on that little pet of yours, shall I summon mine so they can play?

 

Aubergine: You underestimated us, Vespula! Helo and I are completely in sync!

Vespula: How nice to be the puppet master .. and not the puppet ... take care, we Section Lords act as one, Justice will not ... be as you remember him ...

Aubergine: There's no way that Justice would go along with this kind of plot! Come on Helo, we've got to get to the bottom of this!

Shiitake
Vespula: Shiitake! What leads you away from Frozen Goods? Don't tell me you were seeking greener pastures? Sadly, I will be returning you to the cooler.

Shiitake: Hello Mistress Vespula! I am here to hunt you! I am hopeful it will be a beautiful fight!

Vespula: Insolent flea! I will tear you limb from limb for thinking you can take me lightly!

 

Shiitake: Thank you Mistress Vespula! I am honoured to be with you during your final moments!

Vespula: but ... what will become ... of my garden?

Shiitake: No questions now. You fought well, please embrace peace.

Peanut
Vespula: Welcome to my garden, Peanut, I would appreciate you not further sullying my sanctuary with those oil splattered hooves you call feet.

Peanut: I had a report of a bug infestation on this level, I'll be on my way as soon as I clear it out.

Vespula: Just try it, greasemonkey! This nest is more than a match for you.

 

Peanut: It doesn't give me any pleasure to do this, Vespula, but you needed to be stopped. I can't let this spread any further.

Vespula: We Section Lords ... were corrupted from the inside out ... You cannot salvage this ... situation ... our betrayer ... is too powerful.

Peanut: I salvage technology for a living! I'll bring the Nexus Core back online even if it means carving my way through the remaining Section Lords!

Liquorice
Vespula: Welcome to my gardens, Lady Liquorice. I was not informed of your visit, what may I assist you with?

Liquorice: Of course you weren't informed. I'm here to wrap everything up before any outsiders arrive.

Vespula: ... you couldn't mean!? You fiend! I shall not accept such a betrayal!

 

Liquorice: What a troublesome machine. Know your place.

Vespula: ... without me ... can my plants ... still flower?

Liquorice: Oh who cares. Stop pretending you have feelings, it's insulting.

Melee attack
"Don't touch me!"

"Keep away!"

"No!"

Player knockdown
"Awwwwww.... Disappointing."

"Unfortunate."

"A pity..."

"And stay down!"

Final phase defeated
"But... my garden..."

Trivia

 * Vespula is a genus of wasps.