Intergalactic conquest with an AI

The circles began to slow, their red hue fading into yellow as the final adjustments were made. Slowly but surely, the yellow began to turn green, one circle at a time. The rotation stopped completely when all the circles were glowing a steady green.

"Status: All green. Main cannons ready," Cleo said, her voice perfectly even.

Her glowing golden eyes narrowed slightly as she lowered her finger, mimicking the act of pulling a trigger. Her lips curved into a faint, almost absentminded smile as she whispered one word...

"Bang."

The action was so subtle, so seemingly insignificant, and yet it carried an unmistakable weight. Cleo had spent so much time with Rex that, unknowingly, some of his mannerisms and quirks had imprinted on her.

This small gesture, a finger gun and a whispering bang, was a reflection of that, a quiet echo of the human who had left his mark on her.

The moment she gave the signal, the green circles around her arm flared to life, shifting into a brilliant blue.

The Cleopatra and the Liberator fired simultaneously, their main cannons unleashing beams of energy that roared across the void like lances of pure light. The beams illuminated the battlefield, cutting through the darkness of space as they tore toward their target.

At the same time, the Leviathan-Class carriers launched their payload of long-range missiles, dozens of them streaking through the void in perfect formation. The missiles left glowing trails behind them as they locked onto the Revenant flagship, their guidance systems ensuring pinpoint accuracy.

The sheer coordination of the assault was breathtaking, a testament to Cleo's tactical genius and the technological superiority of the Kaelzar fleet.

On the Revenant flagship, alarms blared as the enemy's combined firepower converged on their ship. The jagged crystalline vessel trembled as its shields flared to life, trying desperately to absorb the incoming attack.

"Great Rock! The enemy fleet has launched a full-scale assault on us!" one of the golems reported, its deep, gravelly voice filled with urgency.

The Great Rock, the towering commander of the Revenant forces, stood motionless at the center of the command deck, its glowing purple crystal chest pulsating faintly. "Do not panic. Our shields will hold. They cannot pierce the power of the Revenant Ascendancy so easily."

But even as the Great Rock spoke, cracks began to form along the crystalline surface of their shield. The energy from the Kaelzar cannons was immense, each beam tearing away at the defenses with relentless force.

The long-range missiles struck next, detonating with devastating precision. Each explosion rocked the flagship, causing entire sections of the ship to fracture and collapse. Fire and debris spilled into the void as the shields flickered and failed entirely, leaving the vessel vulnerable.

"Our shields are gone! Damage is spreading across multiple decks!" Another golem shouted with its voice laced with panic.

The Great Rock's eyes flared briefly before dimming. It realized too late that this was no ordinary assault; this was a coordinated, calculated death blow.

Back aboard the Cleopatra, Cleo's gaze remained fixed on the holographic display, watching as the Revenant flagship was engulfed in explosions. A faint hum of satisfaction escaped her as she whispered to herself, "And that's checkmate."

"Ma'am, the enemy flagship has been critically damaged!" One of her Aegis officers reported, it voice was steady and mechanical.

"Good," Cleo replied calmly, lowering her hand as the tech circles around her disappeared. "Keep firing until there's nothing left but dust. No survivors."

On the battlefield, the Revenant flagship began to collapse in on itself, its massive crystalline form disintegrating under the relentless onslaught. The remaining enemy ships faltered, their formations breaking apart as panic spread through their ranks.

The Kaelzar fleet pressed the advantage, their fighters and bombers mopping up the remnants of the enemy forces with ruthless efficiency.

Cleo sat back on her command throne; her expression was calm but with a subtle hint of satisfaction. The battle was all but won, and she had orchestrated it with flawless precision.

"Status update," Cleo commanded.

[The Revenant fleet has been neutralized. Remaining enemy forces are retreating or destroyed. No major casualties on our side] Cleopatra's main system answered.]

[....]

[Detecting a space warp signature near the debris zone.]

The Cleopatra's system immediately zoomed in on the location of the anomaly. Cleo's golden eyes narrowed as she studied the screen. The feed showed a small tear in space forming amidst the floating wreckage of the Revenant fleet, a faint, glowing crack in the fabric of reality.

From the rift emerged the lonely figure of the Great Rock, surrounded by a swirling, malevolent purple aura. His jagged, crystalline body was chipped and fractured, evidence of the brutal punishment his flagship had endured.

One of the purple crystals on his shoulders was missing entirely, leaving only two faintly glowing shards that pulsed with a dim but defiant energy.

"So, it seems this wasn't going to be so easy after all, huh?" Cleo muttered to herself, her tone calm but tinged with mild annoyance.

She returned her consciousness to her physical body and immediately made her way toward the Cleopatra's hangar. Upon arrival, she boarded a sleek transport ship, its surface gleaming with Kaelzar engineering, and issued orders for several fighter squadrons to escort her to the debris zone.

As the transport ship approached their destination, Cleo stood inside the secondary hatch, her expression as neutral and composed as ever. When the hatch opened, she stepped out into the void of space, her presence commanding.

Cleo wore a pristine white-and-gold military outfit, tailored perfectly to her figure. Her hair, tied into a long, elegant ponytail, swayed slightly in the zero-gravity environment.

Surrounding her were four floating swords, their sharp edges glinting with a faint golden glow as they hovered in perfect formation. Behind her, angelic wings of shimmering light extended, radiating an aura of power and authority.

The Great Rock's gaze shifted toward her, his purple eyes flaring slightly as his deep, gravelly voice broke the silence. "Hahaha… so I finally get to see the face of my enemy. To think you could obliterate my entire fleet with a single strike... I must admit, I didn't see that coming."

His laugh was low and menacing, but there was a strain beneath his voice, a sign of his weakened state. Still, despite his battered appearance, he exuded defiance.

Cleo's sharp and calculating eyes noticed the missing crystal on his shoulder. She deduced immediately that he must have used its energy to create the warp signature that allowed him to escape the destruction of his ship.

"Mmm," Cleo murmured while tilting her head slightly as she observed him. "Seeing as you've decided to show yourself in front of me like this, can I take it as you surrendering yourself?" Her voice was calm, with an edge of cold curiosity.

"Take it however you want," the Great Rock growled, his remaining crystals starting to glow faintly, their hue shifting to a more intense purple.

Cleo's golden eyes glinted as she crossed her arms. "Well then, let me ask you, why are you attacking us?"

The Great Rock chuckled darkly. "Heh. There's not much of a reason. Just orders from the Great Revenant."

Cleo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Orders from your master? Then I'll assume there's no deeper strategy behind this pointless destruction." She sighed softly. "Well, since you've already lost the battle, don't resist and prepare to be captured."

As she spoke, her golden eyes briefly flared with a faint light. In response, two battle drones emerged from the transport ship behind her, their sleek designs equipped with energy emitters. The drones encircled the Great Rock, projecting a powerful energy shield around him like a glowing bubble, trapping him inside.

The Great Rock let out a low, guttural laugh. "Kukuku… do you really think you've already won?"

Cleo stared at him, her expression as neutral as ever. "According to the data gathered from the battlefield, yes. I have already won."

Despite her calm response, there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, an intuition that something wasn't right.

"Kukukuku…" The Great Rock's laugh grew louder and more unhinged, his voice echoing through the void of space. Cleo's eyes sharpened as her instincts kicked in, her gaze fixed on the glowing crystals on his shoulders. Their light was intensifying, becoming almost blinding.

Before she could react, a red holo-screen flashed next to her.

{Warning: Multiple powerful explosions were detected inside the trading station. The structural integrity of the station is at risk.}

Cleo's head snapped toward the screen as her mind raced. She quickly turned her attention back to the Great Rock, her eyes widening slightly as she noticed his crystals glowing even brighter, their purple energy radiating outward in chaotic waves.

"For the Great Revenant!" The Great Rock shouted out, his voice filled with fanatic fervor. "Long live the Conqueror!"

Cleo's golden eyes narrowed in realization as the crystals on the Great Rock's shoulders began to crack. "No…"

Before she could issue an order or move, the two remaining crystals exploded simultaneously, unleashing a massive surge of energy.

The explosion didn't just release a wave of destructive force; it also created massive space distortions, rending the fabric of reality itself. The distortions grew larger with each passing second, warping the debris field and sending shockwaves rippling through the surrounding area.

The nearby fighter squadrons and Cleo's transport ship were thrown off course, their systems struggling to compensate for the sudden gravitational anomalies. Cleo's glowing wings flared brightly as she stabilized herself in the chaos, her floating swords spinning defensively around her.