Intergalactic conquest with an AI
Chapter 52: The first wave (1)

Once the recruiter left the room, Rex let out a long, exaggerated sigh of relief. "Damn, I didn't think I'd actually have to act like someone important for once."

Through the communicator, Cleo's voice crackled with amusement. "Rex, you really don't understand what a big shot you are right now, do you?"

Before he could answer, Ys suddenly appeared at his side, dropping her invisibility with a smirk. She gracefully perched on his lap like she'd been there all along. "Cleo's right, you know," she purred, brushing a strand of hair over her shoulder. "You're pretty much the only man in the galaxy destined for greatness, darling."

Rex raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Greatness, huh? I mean, I know I'm handsome and all, but that's a bit much, don't you think?"

Ys laughed, the sound low and teasing. "Oh, silly, it's not because of that. You're destined for greatness because you're the partner of a princess of the Hive Minds. Do you even realize how rare that is?"

"Mmm? I mean, there's more princesses and queens out there, right? I'm sure they have partners too," he said, absentmindedly running his fingers through Ys's hair.

"Sure, other princesses have... let's say 'companions,'" she replied, looking amused. "But they're usually mindless beasts. The Hive prefers partners with no sentience, so their powers remain... undivided."

Rex blinked, processing that. "Wait a second. Are you saying I'm the same as some no-brain beast?"

Ys was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "What? No, no, darling. You're special because you have enough mental power to potentially threaten the Hive's control. Do you get how wild that is?"

Rex scratched his head, still skeptical. "Then why'd you pick me? It can't just be for my genes, right?"

Ys leaned in, a playful glint in her eye as she pressed a finger to his lips. "That's a secret, my dear. I might tell you one day... if you prove yourself worthy," she teased, her smile both mischievous and cryptic.

Cleo's voice cut back in, irritation clear. "Are you two done flirting?"

Rex grinned, looking up at the communicator with mock innocence. "Flirting? Us? Nah. Jealous much?"

"Why would I be jealous?" Cleo snapped, sounding slightly flustered. "Look, I don't care what you two do, but we need to get moving. The fleet departs in two days, and we have a lot to prepare."

"Aye aye, ma'am," Rex replied with a cheeky salute.

Two days later, the preparations were complete, and the new allied fleet of the megacorps assembled above the planet. It was a jaw-dropping sight since hundreds of ships of every size and shape filled the sky like a storm. This was the largest fleet anyone had seen in a century, a true behemoth ready for war.

At the heart of it all was Rex aboard Cleo's newly upgraded ship, now bristling with enough weaponry to make even seasoned pilots nervous. The vessel had been transformed into a formidable gunboat, sleek and armored for both aerial and ground support. And flanking them were the Wraith-Class Fighters, four deadly silver machines, each one a gleaming predator in the void.

The Wraith-Class Fighters were a marvel. Sleek, silver, with sharp, angular wings that glinted menacingly against the stars. The energy core at the center pulsed with a fiery blue glow, like the heartbeat of some futuristic beast.

Their reflective surfaces made laser fire glance harmlessly away, while twin pulse lasers, short-range plasma rockets, and EMP projectors promised nothing short of devastation.

And best of all? Each one was piloted by Cleo's AI subroutines, making them as sharp and unpredictable as the best human pilots, maybe even better.

As Rex gazed out over the fleet, lost in thought, a small red light on his communicator blinked to life, snapping him back to the moment. He clicked it, and a booming voice filled the cockpit.

"Attention to all ships. This is the Supreme Commander," the voice crackled with authority. "As you all know, those damned bugs dared to attack one of our newly settled planets, massacring innocent civilians. As defenders of this galaxy, we have a duty, a duty to make them pay. This fleet has one purpose: punishment."

There was a pause, thick with anticipation.

"And so, by my command, this war begins! All ships, activate wormhole devices, and prepare for a jump. To battle, my compatriots! Let's crush those bugs!"

With that rallying cry, the fleet surged to life. Countless wormholes blink open across the void, swallowing ships whole before vanishing in seconds. The stars seemed to ripple as the massive punishment fleet leapt through space, like a cosmic tidal wave ready to crash down on the Hive.

Moments later, Rex's small fleet emerged from their wormhole, only to be met with a dark swarm of Hive-mind fighters, organic and alien, filling the space around them like a living cloud.

"Shit! Cleo!" Rex shouted, hands flying across the controls as he twisted the gunboat to dodge incoming fire. The swarm's attacks were relentless, lighting up the darkness with neon flashes as the gunboat's turrets unleashed a torrent of laser and kinetic rounds.

"Leave it to me," Cleo replied, calm as ever. She took control of the Wraith-Class Fighters, their sleek forms diving and weaving around the gunboat to carve a path through the enemy. "Our mission isn't to fight here, Rex. Head toward the planet; they won't follow us there."

"You got it, beautiful!" Rex replied, gripping the controls and steering the gunboat toward the planet below. All around them, other ships weren't so lucky; massive transport carriers and smaller escorts were torn apart by the Hive ambush, debris scattering across the void like twisted confetti.

Thanks to Cleo's tech expertise and the reinforced Kalezar shielding, their gunboat held steady. The energy shield shimmered under the constant barrage but stayed strong, deflecting the desperate lunges of the Khrassari, the Hive's vicious, bug-like fighters. Any that got too close were swiftly blasted apart by the gunboat's turrets, each shooting a burst of light against the darkness.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was only minutes, they broke through the swarm and began their descent to the planet's surface. But as they breached the atmosphere, the scene below was just as grim.

The ground was a writhing mass of black and green, a seething ocean of Khrassari troops. The entire landscape seemed alive, crawling with the hive's forces as far as the eye could see. It was an alien nightmare, the skies dark with the shadows of Hive drones circling like vultures over a fresh kill.

Rex took a shaky breath, gripping the controls tighter. "Alright, Cleo. Let's get down there and show these Khryssari what happens when they pick a fight with us."

The gunboat's turrets retracted smoothly into the hull, only to reemerge moments later from the underside, their positioning now optimized for Rex's next move.

"Everything's ready, Rex. Whenever you're set," Cleo said, standing beside him, surrounded by floating blue screens filled with tactical data.

Rex grinned, tapping the automatic fire button on his console. "Now this feels like being a big shot!" As the command registered, the turrets unleashed a storm of laser fire and copper rounds, raining destruction down on the Khryssari forces below. In mere seconds, the swarm of alien warriors directly beneath them was vaporized into smoking craters.

"Now, Cleo! Deploy the Aegis Units!" Rex said, jumping up from the pilot's seat. "I'm heading down; the gunboat's all yours. Keep me covered, unless you're ready to be a widow!" he added with a mischievous smirk.

Cleo rolled her eyes. "Hmph."

Leaving Cleo to the controls, Rex made his way to the cargo bay, where Carlos and Ys were waiting. Carlos stood with his usual swagger, holding a massive hammer in one hand and a reinforced gunshield in the other, a grin plastered across his face.

"Hey, you two ready for some fun?" Rex asked, cracking his knuckles.

Carlos gave a hearty laugh. "Ready? I'm a damn tank now! Six months of training, and I'm tougher than ever!" He pounded a fist on his chest armor, a dull metallic thud echoing through the bay.

Rex smirked. "Still the same, huh? Good to see you haven't lost that ego, baldy. Guess that means I can sit back and let you handle everything?"

Carlos scoffed, holding his gunshield up with pride. "Pfft. Feel free. But if that pretty little face of yours gets a scratch, you know the girls are going to kill me."

"Who you calling pretty boy?" Rex shot back with a grin. "You wanna settle this right here?"

They both stared each other down, silent… until they burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"Good to see you back, my bald brother!"

Carlos clapped him on the shoulder. "Same to you, sissy-looking brother!"

Ys rolled her eyes, pouting. "Ugh, why are you more excited to see him than you are to see me? Is he that much better looking in your eyes?"

Rex threw her a teasing grin. "Aw, c'mon, Ys. I just missed my bald-headed brother here! Besides, he's basically your brother-in-law too, so you better keep his shiny head safe down there!"

She sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But no promises if he messes up."

Rex laughed and stepped forward, a confident gleam in his eyes. "Alright, enough banter. Time for the stars of the show to make their entrance." At his command, his armor materialized around him in a brilliant display, gleaming white with golden accents, each piece locking into place until his helmet sealed with a satisfying click.

Golden light shone from the helmet's eye slits and trim, casting an almost holy glow over the entire suit.

"Remember, Ys," Rex said, glancing over his shoulder, "no wings. We don't want to blow our cover. For now, hop on my back; I'll get us to the ground."

Ys grinned and climbed onto his back, settling in comfortably as he adjusted his stance to balance her. With a final nod, he called out, "Cleo! Activate the Aegis Sentinels!"

And so, the first great war of Rex begins!