Intergalactic conquest with an AI

[Hostile fleet detected. Activating Alert Level 3. Civilians, proceed to the fortified shelter immediately. All combat-ready individuals report to the armory to defend the station. I repeat...]

The cold, mechanical voice of the trading station's AI echoed throughout the station, accompanied by flashing orange lights. Designed by Cleo herself, the AI was a crucial part of the station's defenses, managing the energy shields and overseeing the weapon platforms.

Cleo stood at the heart of the command center, her calm demeanor masking the storm of calculations running through her mind. The enemy had arrived. And they were wasting no time.

"The enemy fleet is here," Cleo stated, her voice sharp and commanding. "Deploying stealthy explosive drones. Attention all fighter squadrons: be ready to deploy on my signal." Her fingers danced across multiple consoles, sending hundreds of commands in the span of seconds.

[Alert. Enemy fighters incoming.]

"Deploy fighters from Carrier One," Cleo ordered. Moments later, the hangar doors of the Leviathan-class carrier opened, releasing wave after wave of Kaelzar fighters into the void. The sleek ships ignited their engines, accelerating to intercept the approaching enemy.

[Hostile fighter squadron contact in: 10 minus 4…]

[3…]

[2…]

[Contact.]

The first clash was sudden and violent. The Kaelzar fighters, designed for speed and firepower, unleashed a storm of plasma bolts and missiles. But the Revenant fighters, shaped like jagged, obsidian rocks, employed brutal tactics, ramming their opponents with their reinforced hulls.

Their pointed, crystalline structures smashed through Kaelzar ships like blades, leaving destruction in their wake.

Cleo's eyes narrowed as she watched the battle unfold on the holographic display. The Kaelzar ships were fast and deadly, but their superior firepower was being neutralized by the suicidal tactics of the Revenant fighters.

"Fighter squadrons are being dispatched at an incredible rate," Cleo muttered, her voice calm despite the rising tension. "Initiating countermeasures... adapting to enemy tactics." With a few swift commands, she reprogrammed the fighters to focus on evasion, sacrificing some firepower in exchange for better survival odds.

The shift in strategy stabilized the battle, tilting it into a delicate balance.

Meanwhile, aboard the Revenant fleet's command vessel, a towering golem with a glowing crystal embedded in its forehead stood before his leader. The golem's voice rumbled like grinding stone. "Great Rock, the enemy has adapted to our tactics. What are your orders?"

The Great Rock, an imposing figure whose chest radiated a sinister purple light, stood unmoving, his voice dry and emotionless. "It matters not. Those are mere inferior golems. Their deaths are inconsequential."

His glowing eyes flickered as he turned toward the tactical display. "Prepare the long-range launchers. We will target their larger vessels."

Back on the Cleopatra, the station's AI issued another warning.

[Warning: Enemy large vessels are preparing to make a move. Insufficient data to analyze enemy strategy. Requesting more information.]

"Request denied," Cleo responded immediately. "Reason: we don't have more data. But that doesn't mean we sit around and wait." A sly smile spread across her lips as an idea formed.

"Order to the Liberator: prepare long-range artillery. Fire the moment the enemy makes their move. Or as Rex would say… hit first, ask later."

The command echoed across the fleet, and the Liberator, the massive dreadnought at the forefront of the formation, shifted into position. Its massive artillery guns began charging, glowing ominously as energy built up in their cores.

Moments later, the Revenant fleet unleashed their attack. Bright red crystals, glowing with an eerie light, launched from their larger ships, streaking toward the Kaelzar fleet like meteors of doom.

"Fire!" Cleo shouted, and the Liberator responded instantly, its long-range artillery unleashing explosive rounds toward the incoming projectiles. The explosive shells collided with some of the red crystals, detonating them in midair, but many still broke through the barrage.

"Order, all vessels execute defensive maneuvers," Cleo commanded. "Target and destroy those crystals before they hit the shields!"

The Kaelzar fleet erupted into action. Every turret and gun focused on the incoming projectiles, firing in synchronized precision. Bright explosions lit up the battlefield as the crystals were destroyed one by one, but a few managed to slip through, slamming into the fleet's shields with devastating force.

The energy barriers rippled violently, absorbing the brunt of the blasts but straining under the pressure.

[New data obtained. Enemy projectiles identified as explosive crystalline shells. Updating battle formation.]

"Good." Cleo nodded while already issuing new commands. "Reform the fleet into a spread formation. Reduce cluster density to minimize damage from those crystals."

The Kaelzar ships began shifting into a looser formation, spreading out across the battlefield. It was a risky maneuver; isolating the ships made them more vulnerable to concentrated attacks, but it drastically reduced the damage from the explosive crystals.

On the Revenant command vessel, the Great Rock watched as the Kaelzar fleet adapted to their tactics once again. His expressionless face betrayed no hint of emotion, but the purple glow in his chest pulsed faintly.

"They adapt quickly," the golem at his side observed. "Shall we deploy the Void Shards, Great Rock?"

"Not yet," the Great Rock replied. "Let them exhaust themselves first. This battle is merely the opening move. Our true strategy has yet to begin."

As the Revenant fleet prepared for their next assault, Cleo stood resolute on the Cleopatra, her mind racing through dozens of scenarios. She knew this fight was far from over, but she wasn't about to let the Revenant Ascendancy steamroll her forces.

"Keep the pressure on them," she said to her AI assistant. "This is just a test for them... but it's also a test for us. Let's show them the might of the Kaelzars."

The void of space lit up with streaks of fire and explosions as the two fleets continued their deadly dance. The first chapter of open war between the Kaelzar and the Revenants had begun, and it was clear neither side was willing to back down.
Experience more on empire

While the battle at the trading station raged on, Rex stirred awake, his body heavy and his mind clouded with exhaustion. It was the first time he had ever blacked out since becoming half-Kaelzar, it was a humbling reminder that even with his newfound strength, he wasn't invincible.

As he opened his eyes, he felt warmth on his chest. There, lying on top of him, was Xytrallia. Her glowing green eyes met his the moment she realized he was awake. A soft smile spread across her lips as she gently traced the tip of his nose with her finger.

"Hey, welcome back～," she said softly, her voice carrying an almost teasing warmth.

"What the hell just happened?" Rex groaned while bringing a hand to his head as a dull, rhythmic pulse throbbed through his temples. "Feels like I got hit by a starship."

Xytrallia chuckled, her laughter as sweet as it was mischievous. "Mmm, I wonder～?" she said, her tone playful as she shifted slightly, now sitting up on top of him. "All I can tell you… is that it worked." Her hand rested lightly on her stomach, the gesture almost casual, but meaningful.

"What worked?" Rex muttered, struggling to piece together his fragmented memory. His thoughts felt like broken shards scattered across a dark floor. "I don't remember doing much…"

Leaning in closer, Xytrallia gave him a sly smile, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Well, what do you think… papa～?"

The word sent a cold shiver down Rex's spine, followed immediately by a flash of heat. He froze, staring at her in shock as the puzzle pieces suddenly clicked together. The memories rushed back, all the moments of intimacy and the surreal haze that had followed.

"Wait, wait, wait," Rex stammered while grabbing Xytrallia by the arms as he stared at her with wide eyes. "Are you saying that… right now… inside you… is my son?"

Xytrallia tilted her head slightly, her expression softening into something unexpectedly vulnerable. "Indeed," she said, her voice quieter but still laced with confidence. "Why? Are you displeased that your firstborn will be born from this queen?"

"What?! No!" Rex's grip on her arms tightened, but his tone was filled with excitement rather than fear. "I don't care about that! I'm going to be a father!"

Without hesitation, Rex pulled Xytrallia into a tight embrace, his emotions pouring out like a flood. For Xytrallia, this moment of pure, unfiltered love was alien and overwhelming.

As a queen, she had never experienced anything like this before. Her previous offspring were born from enemies, creatures she had killed and devoured, using their nucleos to create her brood. But this… this was different.

Rex wasn't just another source of material for her hive. He was her partner.

And while Rex was blissfully unaware of the deeper implications of what had just happened, Xytrallia was all too aware. Khryssari females were notoriously protective of their partners, driven by instincts that bordered on obsessive.

In many ways, they were as loving as they were dangerous, an instinctive blend of devotion and possessiveness that most species couldn't comprehend.

"I-I-I know you're excited," Xytrallia stammered, her usual confidence wavering for just a moment. "But… can you please let me go now? We don't have time for this. My explorers have reported that the enemy is already at your base." Despite her words, part of her didn't want him to let go.

Rex immediately snapped out of his euphoric haze, his mind switching back into soldier mode. "Oh right! The trading station!" he said while releasing her and standing up in a hurry. "I'll meet you in the throne room!"

Summoning his wings, Rex launched himself upward, flying toward the same opening he had fallen through earlier. Xytrallia watched him leave, her glowing green eyes lingering on the fading shimmer of his wings.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Slowly, Xytrallia placed a hand on her stomach, her fingers brushing gently over the spot where new life was growing. It was a strange, intoxicating feeling, one she had never known in all her centuries as queen.

This child wasn't just another tool of war for her swarm. For the first time, she felt something foreign yet addictive: motherly love. It coursed through her, lighting a fire in her soul that no battle or conquest ever had.

"This feeling…" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly. "It's dangerous. But… I want more of it."