Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Cleo's fingers moved swiftly across her screens. "I'm rerouting a squadron of bombers to her location. They'll clear a path and buy her some time."

Rex nodded while his eyes never left the feed. "Do it. And get those factories online as fast as possible. We're running out of time."

As the bombers streaked toward Nyra's position, Rex's mind raced. The Mist Planet was proving to be far more dangerous than they had anticipated. The creatures were relentless, the mist was a constant threat, and their forces were stretched thin. But they couldn't afford to fail.

"Lyra," Rex said while activating the comms. "How's the plateau holding?"

Lyra's voice came through, calm and composed despite the chaos around her. "We're holding, Master. The northern and southern slopes are secure for now, but the creatures are relentless. We need those factories operational as soon as possible."

"Understood," Rex replied. "Cleo's deploying the construction drones now. Hold the line a little longer."

"Understood," Lyra said with her steady voice. "We'll hold."

Rex leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the holo-screen showing the construction progress. The factories were taking shape, their skeletal frames rising from the plateau like beacons of hope. But they weren't online yet, and every second counted.

The reconnaissance drone's feed flickered, the image distorting as the mist's EMP pulse began to take its toll. Rex's heart sank as the screen went black once more.

"Drone's down," Cleo reported, her voice tight. "We're blind again."

Rex exhaled slowly, "We need a new plan. We can't keep throwing resources into the mist and hoping for the best."

Cleo's golden eyes met his with a flicker of determination in their depths. "Agreed. I'll recalibrate the drones to operate in shorter bursts. It's not ideal, but it might buy us enough time to get the factories online."
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Rex nodded. "Do it. And keep me updated on Nyra's status. We can't lose her."

As Cleo worked, Rex turned his attention back to the tactical displays. The battle was far from over, and the Mist Planet was proving to be a formidable enemy. But they had come too far to turn back now.

The battle had raged for two relentless hours.

Nyra's muscles burned, her breathing was heavier than she wanted to admit, and her armor was splattered with acidic residue. Her twin swords had long since lost their pristine shine, now coated in the grayish remains of the creatures she had cut down by the thousands.

But the harvesters, as Cleo had named them, kept coming.

The scout drones had recorded footage of the creatures dragging fallen Aegis units into the mist, disappearing into the depths with unsettling efficiency. Their purpose was still a mystery, but one thing was certain... their numbers were still endless.

And they were evolving.

Not only could they spit acid, but the constant EMP pulses within the mist had crippled the Aegis defenses. Their shields, once capable of withstanding dozens of hits, could now only take three direct acid strikes before failing entirely.

Nyra's forces had been cut down from 500 to just 236 units.

But thankfully, she was still standing, still faster than their acid spits, but exhaustion was creeping in. She could feel it in the way her movements were just a fraction slower, the way her breaths came sharper with each passing minute.

[General, your body is showing signs of fatigue. I advise you to fall back and rest.]

One of the Tyrant-class bodyguards at her side spoke as he cleaved through five harvesters in one swing, his plasma-coated blade igniting the mist with every strike.

Nyra exhaled while her grip tightened on her swords. She cast a glance toward her defensive perimeter, a thin, wavering line barely holding against the endless swarm.

{Zero visibility. EMP interference. No thermal signatures... }

This mist was designed to counter robotic life forms.

{If it weren't for the air support from master bombers and the frigates orbital barrages, we would have been overrun in the first 30 minutes.}

She clenched her jaw. They were holding on... but barely.

Finally, she sighed while sheathing her blades. "Fine. I'll take a short break."

She stepped back behind the defensive line, lowering herself onto a jagged rock. The moment she did, her legs protested, but she ignored them.

"Any news on reinforcements?"

One of the Tyrants blocked an incoming acid projectile, the corrosive liquid sizzling against his blade. Without missing a beat, he responded.

[Affirmative. Forty minutes ago, a cargo drone arrived and deployed a wired radio transmitter. It bypasses the mist's EMP interference. General Lyra has confirmed reinforcements of 500 additional Aegis units and two Juggernaut Maulers from Central Command.]

Nyra raised an eyebrow. "That's… a lot of reinforcements. Rex wouldn't be sending Maulers unless he had a reason. Did they mention an objective?"

[Negative. No new objectives have been issued. However, with the Maulers, Central Command is also deploying a new unit. This entity will serve as your direct liaison with command.]

Nyra frowned. "A new unit? Huh. That's interesting."

She lifted her gaze to the night-shrouded sky, where hundreds of small lights were descending like falling stars. Two brighter lights, far larger than the rest, followed; it was a clear sign of the approaching Maulers.

A smirk tugged at her lips.

"Well, looks like our reinforcements have arrived." She rose to her feet while stretching out the stiffness in her limbs.

Her golden eyes gleamed as she stared upward.

"Let's go meet our new guest."

Nyra's smirk widened as she watched the reinforcements descend through the mist, their forms growing clearer with each passing second. The two Juggernaut Maulers were unmistakably massive, hulking war machines that seemed to blot out the sky as they approached.

Their armored frames bristled with weaponry, and their heavy footfalls shook the ground even from a distance. Between them, a smaller, more agile unit descended, its sleek design standing out against the brutish Maulers.

The new unit landed with a soft thud, its movements fluid and precise. It was humanoid in shape, but its design was unlike anything Nyra had seen before. Its armor was a deep, matte black, with glowing blue lines tracing intricate patterns across its surface.

Nyra crossed her arms, her smirk turning into a grin. "Well, well. Aren't you a fancy one?"

The unit stepped forward, her movements eerily silent. When she spoke, her voice was calm and measured, with a slight synthetic undertone.

[General Nyra. I am Unit X-7, your direct liaison with Central Command. I have been deployed to assist in coordinating your efforts and ensuring mission success.]

Nyra raised an eyebrow. "Assist, huh? You sure you're not here to babysit me?"

X-7's head tilted slightly, her glowing eyes narrowing as if it were studying her.

[My primary function is to provide tactical support and real-time data analysis. However, if you require assistance in maintaining operational discipline, I am equipped to provide that as well.]

Nyra let out a short laugh while shaking her head. "Cheeky little thing, aren't you? Alright, X-7, let's see what you've got. We've got a swarm of harvesters to deal with, and I'm not exactly in the mood to lose any more of my units."

X-7's head straightened, and the glowing lines on her body pulsed faintly. [Understood. I am establishing a secure connection with Central Command and integrating with your tactical network. Please stand by.]

Nyra watched as X-7's body seemed to come alive, the glowing lines flickering rapidly as it processed data. Within moments, a series of holo-screens materialized around it, displaying real-time battlefield information, enemy movements, and the status of their forces.

[Connection established,] X-7 announced. [I am now fully integrated with your command network. General Nyra, I recommend we consolidate our forces and establish a stronger defensive perimeter. The harvesters are adapting to our tactics, and their numbers are increasing. We must act quickly.]

Nyra nodded, her grin fading as she focused on the task at hand. "Alright, X-7. Let's get to work. Tyrants, form up on me. We're pushing forward and linking up with the reinforcements. Aegis units, hold the line and cover our advance."

The Tyrants moved into position, their massive frames towering over Nyra as they prepared to lead the charge. X-7 fell in beside her, its movements smooth and precise.

[General, I am detecting a significant concentration of harvesters to the east. They appear to be massing for a coordinated assault. I recommend we neutralize that threat before it reaches our lines.]

Nyra's eyes narrowed as she glanced in the direction X-7 indicated. "Got it. Let's move."

With a sharp gesture, she signaled the advance. The Tyrants surged forward, their plasma-coated blades cutting through the mist and the harvesters alike.

Nyra followed close behind, her twin swords flashing as she carved a path through the enemy. X-7 moved with her, her glowing lines pulsing in time with her movements as it provided real-time updates and tactical suggestions.

The battle was far from over, but with the reinforcements and X-7's support, Nyra felt a renewed sense of determination.

As they pushed forward, Nyra couldn't help but glance at X-7. "You know, for a walking computer, you're not half bad."

X-7's head tilted slightly, the glowing slit narrowing again. [Thank you, General. I will take that as a compliment.]

Nyra barely flinched as she parried a streak of acid, the corrosive liquid sizzling as it splattered against her twin blades. The moment she deflected the attack, a barrage of plasma fire rained down, shredding through the incoming wave of harvesters in a brilliant cascade of energy.

She let out a breath, her muscles coiled and tense. "So, what's your strategy? Just rush east with this small amount of firepower?"