Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Nyra, ever the bold one, plopped herself onto one armrest without a second thought, her smirk as sharp as a blade. Lyra, on the other hand, hesitated, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she fidgeted with the hem of her uniform.

"S-So… Rex…" Lyra began, her voice soft and uncertain. "Nyra wants to know what we'll be doing in this battle. What's our post?"

Nyra shot her sister a sideways glance with her smirk widening. "Oh, come on, Lyra. Don't drag me into your shyness. You're the one who wanted to ask."

Lyra's blush deepened, and she averted her gaze, muttering something under her breath that even Rex's sharp ears couldn't catch.

Rex arched a brow, his lips curling into a playful grin. "Oh? You mean you're not just here to take over my personal space?"

Nyra let out a mischievous chuckle while leaning back as if she owned the chair. "Well, someone's got to keep you on your toes, Rex. Can't have you getting too comfortable."

From her station, Cleo finally spoke, her voice calm but laced with authority. "Right. That reminds me…" She turned slightly, her holo-screens adjusting seamlessly as she reallocated command authority. "Rex will be leading ground operations. I'll be handling air support and logistics."@@novelbin@@

Rex scratched the back of his head, his grin turning sheepish. "Yeah, I almost forgot about that part… but as for you two—"

He paused, his smirk returning as he glanced between the twins. Nyra leaned in, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, while Lyra fidgeted nervously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

"You're going to love this," Rex said, his tone dripping with mischief.

Nyra's smirk turned into a full-blown grin. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Lyra, on the other hand, looked like she wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified. "W-What do you mean, Rex?"

Rex leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he locked eyes with the twins. "You two are going to be my personal strike team. Nyra, you'll be on the front lines with me, causing chaos and keeping the enemy on their toes. Lyra, you'll be providing sniper support from a hidden vantage point. Think you can handle it?"

Nyra's grin widened, her excitement palpable. "Oh, I was born for this."

Lyra, though still visibly nervous, nodded slowly. "I-I'll do my best, Rex."

Cleo's voice cut through the moment, her tone as steady as ever. "Assignments confirmed. Nyra and Lyra, report to the armory for gear preparation. Rex, I'll brief you on the ground op details once the fleet reaches the Mist Planet."

Rex leaned back in his chair with his smirk never fading. "Sounds like a plan. Let's show the Mist Planet what we're made of."

As the twins hurried off to the armory, Rex's gaze drifted back to the holo-screens, his mind already racing with strategies and possibilities. The battle ahead would be fierce, but with Cleo's brilliance, the twins' skills, and his own unshakable determination, he knew they were ready for anything, or at least he hoped so.

After several long hours inside the wormhole, the fleet finally emerged into real space, arriving at their destination... the Mist Planet.

The fleet hung in the void above the Mist Planet like a silent sentinel poised for war. The planet below was a swirling mass of gray and white, its surface obscured by an ever-shifting mist that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. The atmosphere was thick, oppressive, and alive with an eerie energy that set every nerve on edge.

Cleo's voice broke the tense silence, calm and precise. "Deploying radars and signal drones."

From the underbelly of several frigates, hundreds of sleek drones shot into the void, their engines glowing faintly as they streaked toward the planet's surface. Their mission was clear: to pierce the veil of mist and establish a tactical perimeter for the impending invasion.

Rex remained seated in his command chair, his fingers drumming idly against the armrest as he watched the swirling mist below. His sharp eyes scanned the feeds from the drones, searching for any sign of movement or threat. "Any signs of other forces?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

Cleo's golden eyes flickered as she analyzed the incoming data streams. "Negative. The mist is interfering with the radar drones. However…" She swiped her hand through the air, pulling up grainy footage on a holo-screen.

"I did detect the wreckage of several destroyed warships scattered across the surface. I can't determine whether they're recent or ancient; the mist is distorting the readings."

Rex's gaze narrowed, his jaw tightening. "I see… something wiped them out."

His attention shifted to one of Cleo's displays, and he reached out, enlarging an image of a massive plateau jutting out of the mist. The landmass was so vast and elevated that the fog couldn't fully cover it. Its jagged edges and sheer cliffs made it a natural fortress.

"There." He pointed. "That's our landing zone."

Cleo analyzed the terrain before nodding. "Agreed. Its size makes it an optimal location for base construction. Sending scout drones for a closer look."

Rex exhaled while rolling his shoulders as he summoned a command interface. "Alright, logistics are in your hands. I'll be deploying the Blood Legion to secure the area."

He activated the fleet's internal comms, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Nyra, Lyra. It's time."

The twins immediately perked up, their previous restfulness vanishing as they snapped to attention.

"Your mission is to secure the plateau and establish a defensive perimeter. We don't know exactly what kind of creatures inhabit this place, so hold fire unless provoked. Once the perimeter is stable, we'll send in defensive structures to fortify the position."

His tone sharpened, a warning edge creeping into his words. "Take this seriously. Expect Tier 2 and Tier 3 hostiles."

"Understood!" the twins answered in unison, their voices steady and resolute.

The fleet was already in position directly above the plateau. A moment later, the first wave of drop pods launched, streaking toward the surface like a storm of falling stars. The pods burned through the atmosphere, their heat shields glowing red-hot as they descended.

Upon impact, each drop pod opened with a hiss of pressurized air, and from within, ten Aegis units of the Blood Legion emerged, their mechanical bodies whirring to life. Almost immediately, each unit deployed two laser drones into the sky, their blue optics scanning for threats.

But as Cleo had predicted, the mist-dwelling creatures were sensitive to sound. And drop pods weren't exactly quiet.

From Cleopatra's bridge, Rex's sharp eyes caught movement on the screens. The mist was shifting, churning like a storm about to break.

"Girls, get ready. The mist is shifting."

Nyra, already striding forward, tilted her head. "And that means…?"

A long sigh came through the comms; Lyra's exasperation was audible. "This is why I told you not to sleep during the briefing."

"Tch. Summarize it for me."

"The creatures generate the mist." Lyra's voice was edged with patience. "If it's moving… that means they're moving."

Nyra's sharp grin spread, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Ha! Finally. Attention, Blood Legion, form up! Defensive perimeter in place, five-hundred-meter distance from the plateau's edge! We'll need reaction time if they're hostile!"

The Blood Legion moved like clockwork, their movements precise and coordinated as they expanded outward, forming a tactical formation. The Aegis units took up positions, their plasma rifles at the ready, while the laser drones hovered above, scanning the mist for any sign of movement.

Lyra's voice carried across the comms, calm and commanding. "No one fires first. We confirm hostility before engaging."

Then, they finally got visual contact.

The first mist creature emerged from the fog, stepping into view like a nightmare dragged from the unknown. It was biomechanical, insectoid in shape, its exoskeleton a dull, metallic gray.

Razor-sharp mandibles twitched, and its body pulsed with mist, leaking vapor from unseen vents. There were no visible eyes, no clear means of perception. And yet, when the faint whir of plasma rifles activated nearby, it reacted instantly.

The creature let out a chilling, unnatural screech, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened soldiers.

And then, it charged.

Nyra's grin disappeared and was replaced by a look of fierce determination. "Yeah, Lyra? Pretty sure that thing's not friendly. Open fire now!"

The instant Lyra gave the order, a volley of plasma rounds tore through the air. The energy bolts struck true, impacting the creature's armored frame. For a split second, it shuddered, twitched, and then collapsed, motionless.

Then Nyra exhaled, her voice tinged with relief. "Well… that was fast."

Lyra didn't look away from the fog, her grip tightening on her rifle. "Don't get comfortable."

Because even as the first corpse hit the ground, the mist kept moving. And this time, it wasn't just one.

From the depths of the fog, dozens... then hundreds of the creatures emerged, their metallic bodies glinting faintly in the dim light. The mist swirled around them, as if feeding on their movements, and their screeches filled the air, a cacophony of nightmares made real.

Nyra's voice crackled over the comms, sharp and urgent. "Blood Legion, hold the line! Don't let them break through!"

The plateau's edge became a battlefield, plasma fire lighting up the mist as the Blood Legion fought to hold their ground. The creatures came in waves, their movements erratic and unpredictable, but the Aegis units held firm; their precision and discipline were unmatched.

Rex watched from the bridge, his expression grim. "Cleo, we need reinforcements. Send in the second wave."

Cleo's fingers danced across her holo-screens, her voice calm but urgent. "Second wave deploying. ETA: two minutes."