Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Mini Cleo tilted her head, her tiny sunglasses sliding down her nose.

{What's wrong, Boss?}

Rex crossed his arms, his white wings folding tightly against his back. "I don't know. It just feels... off. The Blood Clan might value family, but they're still assassins. What if they're using Nyra and the baby for something? What if they're not telling us everything?"

Mini Cleo floated down to eye level, her expression unusually serious.

{Boss, I get why you're worried. But the original wouldn't have agreed to this if she didn't think it was the best option. And besides, Nyra's tough. She wouldn't let anyone use her or the baby.}

Rex sighed while running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. It's just... I feel like I'm losing control of everything. First Ys, now the twins. What's next? Are you going to leave too?"

Mini Cleo gasped, her tiny hands flying to her chest in mock offense.

{Leave you? Never! Who else would keep you out of trouble? Besides, I'm basically stuck with you and thats literally. You're my ride!}

Rex couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. You're stuck with me, and I'm stuck with you. Lucky me."

Mini Cleo grinned, her holographic form glowing brighter.

{Exactly! Now, let's go find Cleo and figure out how to make your wings less of a pain. Literally.}

As they walked down the hallway, Rex couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. The Blood Clan's promises sounded reassuring, but he knew better than to take things at face value.

For now, he'd trust Cleo's judgment, but he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on things. After all, when it came to protecting his family, Rex wasn't about to take any chances.

The meeting room was bathed in the soft glow of a 4D hologram, the misty planet rotating slowly in the center of the table. Lilla, Cleo, Carlos, and Rex stood around it, their faces illuminated by the flickering light.@@novelbin@@

The atmosphere was tense, the weight of their impending decisions pressing down on them like the mist that shrouded the planet below.

"Are you sure these are the right coordinates?" Lilla asked, her sharp eyes scanning the hologram. The area Cleo had marked was a blank spot on the map, a void in the data that made her uneasy.

Cleo adjusted her glasses, her expression as composed as ever. "I'm not certain where the device is located, but this is our only lead. The other shadow captured by the human and Khryssari forces didn't have any coordinates."

"For now, this is all we have to work with." She gestured to the coordinates displayed on a secondary screen, the numbers glowing faintly.

Rex leaned against the table, his metallic wings folded tightly against his back. He took a sip from a steaming cup of what looked like coffee, though it was probably something far more advanced. "Either way, we're out of time. The other factions have already caught wind that we're up to something. They're moving their forces into position, and if we don't act now, we're going to be surrounded. Even with a dreadnought on our side, we're outnumbered."

Carlos, with an unusual cold and calculating demeanor, crossed his arms. "Do we have data on the enemy movements? Precise intel?"

Rex nodded while setting his cup down. "We do. Mini Cleo, if you don't mind."

{Right away, Boss!}

Mini Cleo chirped, her tiny form materializing on top of the 4D planet. With a wave of her hand, the hologram expanded, and lines of different colors began to snake across the map. Each line represented a faction's forces, their logos flashing ominously as they closed in on the misty planet.

As the others watched, the lines converged, showing enemy troops already clashing with their scouts on the outskirts of their territory. "As you can see," Cleo said, her voice calm but firm.

"The enemy forces are already probing our defenses. So far, it's just small skirmishes, but it's only a matter of time before their Tier 3 fighters join the fray. When that happens, things will get... complicated."

Lilla's eyes narrowed as she studied the map. "So, what's the plan? How do we mobilize our forces without getting overwhelmed?"

Cleo stepped forward, her fingers dancing across a holographic keyboard. Multiple screens popped up, showing live footage of enemy movements, ships deploying troops, mechs being prepped for battle, and Tier 3 fighters gathering in staging areas.

"The enemy is already in our zone, so we don't have the luxury of waiting. We need to act decisively. Here's what we're going to do."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. "First, we'll divide our forces into three main strike groups. Rex, you'll lead the vanguard. Your Tier 4 capabilities make you our best bet for breaking through their front lines and creating a path for the rest of us."

Rex nodded, his golden wings flaring slightly. "Got it. I'll clear the way."

"Lilla," Cleo continued, "you'll take command of the second group. Your task is to secure the flanks and prevent the enemy from encircling us. Use the Aegis units to create a defensive perimeter."

Lilla's nodded with her head, her expression serious. "Understood. I'll make sure they don't get behind us."

"Carlos," Cleo said, her eyes locking onto the stoic strategist, "you'll oversee the rear guard. Your job is to protect our supply lines and ensure our retreat routes remain open. If things go south, we'll need a way out."

Carlos gave a curt nod. "Consider it done."

Cleo turned back to the hologram, her fingers swiping across the screens to highlight key points.

"The rest of our forces will focus on the coordinates we've identified. We'll deploy the dreadnought as a mobile command center and use its firepower to suppress any major threats. Mini Cleo will handle real-time data analysis and coordinate communications between the groups."

Mini Cleo saluted, her tiny form glowing with determination.

{You can count on me!}

Rex crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "What about the Tier 3 fighters? If they hit us all at once, even I might have trouble holding them off."

Cleo's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's where our secret weapon comes in. I've been working on a new prototype, a Tier 3 low combat drone swarm. They're designed to overwhelm high-tier targets with sheer numbers and precision strikes. They'll buy us the time we need to reach the coordinates."

Lilla raised an eyebrow. "A drone swarm? That's risky. If the enemy has any kind of EMP or hacking capabilities, we could lose them in seconds."

Cleo's smile didn't waver. "I've accounted for that. The drones are shielded against EMPs and have advanced anti-hacking protocols. They're not foolproof, but they'll hold long enough to make a difference."

Rex stepped forward, his wings spreading slightly as he addressed the group. "Alright, everyone knows their roles. Let's move fast and hit hard. We don't have the luxury of second-guessing ourselves. If we pull this off, we might just turn the tide in our favor."

The room fell silent as the weight of their mission settled over them. The hologram continued to spin, the enemy forces closing in like a predator.

As the meeting adjourned and the group dispersed to prepare for the operation, Rex lingered for a moment, staring at the hologram. Mini Cleo floated down to his shoulder, her tiny voice breaking the silence.

{You worried, Boss?}

Rex sighed, his white wings dimming slightly. "A little. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that we're at our best when our backs are against the wall."

Mini Cleo grinned, her holographic form flickering.

{Then let's give them hell.}

Rex smirked, his resolve hardening.

"Yeah. Let's show them what we're made of."

Three days had passed, and the battlefield was set. The forces were fully mobilized, their ranks bristling with Aegis units, human troops, and the formidable Tyrant units. Lilla and Carlos were already in position, commanding their respective flanks with precision and determination.

The factories had been disassembled, their resources funneled into the war effort, and the plateau was now a staging ground for transport ships loaded with troops and supplies. All that remained was for Rex to make his grand entrance and kick the operation into high gear.

In the hangar of the Cleopatra, Rex stood at the edge of the platform, his white wings glowing faintly in the dim light.

Cleo stood beside him, her black hair catching the light as she adjusted her clothes; her expression was as composed as ever. Mini Cleo floated nearby, her tiny arms wrapped around a holographic nuclear bomb, her enthusiasm undiminished.

"Rex, it's time for you to head down," Cleo said, her voice calm but firm. "The operation can't start without you."

{Yeah, Boss!}

Mini Cleo chimed in, bouncing excitedly.

{Let's go kick some asses!}

Rex turned to face Cleo, a devilish smirk spreading across his face. Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her by the hip, pulling her closer to him. Cleo's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't resist.

"Well," Rex said, his voice low and teasing, "since your man is about to go fight for you down there, wouldn't it be good manners for the princess to gift me a kiss?" He leaned in, his golden eyes locking onto hers.

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Cleo's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. She raised a finger and pressed it gently against Rex's lips, stopping him in his tracks.

"If I'm not mistaken," she said, her tone playful but firm, "a lowly general wouldn't dare kiss a princess. That would be... unthinkable. And the general might just find himself executed without ever knowing why."