Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 324 : Hive city war. {2}

The Supreme Commander's face turned ashen. "What do you mean, down!?" he was shouting while storming over to the console. He stared at the flickering screen, his mind racing. "How is this possible? Who could have—"

Before he could finish, the ground shook violently, the sound of distant explosions echoed through the command center.

The lights flickered, and the hum of machinery sputtered. Outside, the sky was lit up with streaks of fire as drop pods and fighters clashed in a deadly dance.

On the battlefield, the Aegis Legions and human forces continued their relentless advance. The safe zone was growing while the civilians were being ushered to safety under the watchful eyes of their protectors.

The tide of the war was turning, and the Supreme Commander knew it. Cut off from reinforcements and with his forces crumbling, he was running out of options.

But in the shadows, a new threat loomed. The Elders, watching from their hidden stronghold, began to mobilize their own reserves.

"Have we got any news about these invaders?" The Great Elder's voice boomed through the dimly lit chamber, echoing off the ornate walls.

He reclined in his massive chair while savoring a steaming cup of some dark, fragrant liquid. On the table before him, a plate of what appeared to be roasted insects sat untouched, their glossy exoskeletons glinting in the flickering light.

One of the elders stepped forward while bowing slightly. "Little to none, Great Elder. All we know is that they are outsiders, and their fleet is currently engaged in battle with the Nexum fleet."

He gestured to a holo-screen, which was displaying grainy footage of the space battle above. Explosions lit up the void, and ships clashed in a deadly ballet of destruction.

The Great Elder leaned forward while his sharp eyes scanned the images. "Any identifications? Symbols, markings, anything that could tell us who they are?" He swiped through the photos, his fingers brushing against the holograms as if he could pluck the answers from thin air.

Another Elder, clad in battle-ready gear, shook his head. "Nothing conclusive, Great Elder. We've tried to reach our spies within the Nexum fleet, but all communications have been cut. It's not the work of the Supreme Commander; our scouts report that his forces are equally crippled. They're struggling to coordinate as well."

The Great Elder's lips curled into a frown. "Mmm. So, these invaders possess technology superior to ours. They've disabled our communications with ease."

His cane was tapping rhythmically against the floor. "No matter. We'll use the local transmission devices within our control. Elders, prepare to mobilize. We move out immediately."

With a groan of effort, the Great Elder rose from his throne while leaning heavily on his cane. He shuffled toward a hidden door to the left of his chair, its surface blending seamlessly with the wall until it hissed open, revealing a shadowy passage beyond.

"Understood, Great Elder!" The other Elders answered in unison while rising from their seats and filing out of the chamber with purpose. The room, once filled with tension, now buzzed with the energy of impending action.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Commander was pacing in his command center; his frustration was already palpable. Years of meticulous planning were unraveled in a single day by an unforeseen invasion.

"How is the situation in the Hive City?" he shouted out while turning to an officer who was hunched over a console, monitoring scout drone feeds.

The officer hesitated, his voice tight with unease. "Not good, sir. Our troops have ground to a halt. With communications down, they've defaulted to standard protocols for such scenarios, holding their positions and awaiting orders." He pulled up a series of holo screens, displaying footage from the drones.

The Supreme Commander's eyes narrowed as he grabbed one of the screens, zooming in on a particular scene. "What is this?" he muttered, his voice clearly low and dangerous.

The footage showed the invaders, soldiers in unfamiliar armor, herding civilians toward a fortified zone. The area was heavily guarded, a stark contrast to the chaos engulfing the rest of the city.

"It appears they're establishing a safe zone, sir," the officer explained cautiously. "They're rounding up civilians and protecting them. It's... unusual."

The Supreme Commander's jaw tightened. "Unusual? It's a damn strategy. They're winning the hearts of the people while we're stuck here, blind and deaf."

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He slammed his fist on the console, causing the holo screens to flicker. "Find a way to restore communications. Now. I need to know who these invaders are and what they want."

"No... wait... I have a better idea," the Supreme Commander said, his voice dripping with malice while a grin spread across his face... a grin so dark and twisted that even the devil himself might have hesitated to claim it. "Fix the Hive City speakers first. Let's see how these saviors handle a little... chaos."

The officer nodded while his fingers flew over the console. Within minutes, the city's ancient speaker system crackled to life, its distorted hum echoing through the streets. The Supreme Commander leaned back with his grin widening. "Let's see how they like playing the hero when the people turn on them."

In the safe zone established by the Kaelzar and human forces, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. Medics from both factions worked tirelessly, their hands moving with precision as they tended to the wounded.

The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the low murmur of voices, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Among the civilians was a pregnant woman of an alien race, her body bruised and battered, her multiple eyes filled with fear.

She clung to her husband, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Husband... what do you think will happen to us?" Her words were barely above a whisper; the weight of despair was pressing down on her.

Her husband, equally injured, winced as he adjusted his position. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandages wrapped around his torso, and the bullet wound in his shoulder pulsed with pain.

Despite his injuries, his grip tightened on the handgun hidden beneath his jacket. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice strained. "If they're keeping us here, it's probably to capture us. They're likely slavers."

The woman's eyes widened in horror. "S-slavers?! Husband, we can't let that happen! We have to run! I don't want our child to be born into slavery!"

Her voice rose in panic while tears streamed down her face. Her hands instinctively cradled her stomach, as if she could shield her unborn child from the nightmare unfolding around them.

The commotion drew the attention of a nearby Tyrant unit, the towering Kaelzar warrior clad in imposing armor. His massive frame and warm, almost glowing appearance should have been comforting, but to the terrified couple, he was a nightmare come to life.

The husband staggered to his feet, positioning himself between the Tyrant and his wife, his handgun trembling in his grip.

The Tyrant raised a hand, reaching toward his back. The husband's mind raced, convinced the warrior was drawing his massive sword.

Without hesitation, he fired his handgun at point-blank range, the sharp crack of gunfire echoing through the safe zone. Everyone froze, their eyes snapping toward the scene.

But the bullets did nothing. The Tyrant's advanced shields absorbed the shots effortlessly, not even registering a scratch. When the husband's gun clicked empty, he could only stare in horror; his body trembled with fear and exhaustion.

The Tyrant, unfazed, continued his motion, retrieving not a weapon but a small medical kit from his backpack. His deep, resonant voice broke the silence.

[Multiple injuries detected. Medical attention is required. Sending assistance code... Please wait for a medical unit. In the meantime, use this painkiller to relieve your pain. Administer it to the pregnant female behind you. Caution: it is dangerous if misused.]

He extended the painkiller toward the husband, his massive hand surprisingly gentle. The husband hesitated; his mind struggled to process what had just happened. Slowly, he took the painkiller, his eyes never leaving the Tyrant's impassive visor.

Without another word, the Tyrant turned and returned to his post; his movements were calm and deliberate.

The safe zone erupted into murmurs from the civilians and soldiers alike that were stunned by the encounter. The husband sank to his knees while clutching the painkiller in one hand and his wife's hand in the other.

"They're... not slavers," he whispered, his voice breaking. "They're here to help."

His wife nodded with her tears now mixed with relief. "Maybe... maybe there's still hope for us."

But outside the safe zone, the Supreme Commander's plan was unfolding. The city's speakers crackled to life, his voice booming through the streets.

"Citizens of the Hive City! Do not be fooled by these invaders! They are not your saviors, they are your captors! Rise up! Fight for your freedom!"

tone dripping with faux sympathy. "I don't know how to deliver this news, but my soldiers fighting against these invaders in space have detected something... horrifying..."

"They're preparing to bombard the Hive City from orbit. My spies have confirmed it... they're gathering people in one place to kill them all at once. I couldn't believe it at first, but... it seems it's all true."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence, spreading panic like wildfire. Civilians who had just begun to feel a glimmer of hope now looked at the Kaelzar and human forces with suspicion and fear.

Whispers turned to shouts, and the safe zone teetered on the brink of chaos.

As the transmission continued, the night sky above the Hive City began to change. A deep, ominous crimson glow spread across the heavens, as if the stars themselves were bleeding.

Then, without warning, the sky erupted....

Massive laser beams, each one brighter than the sun, streaked down from orbit, cutting through the atmosphere like divine wrath. The ground trembled as the beams hurtled toward the safe zone, their targets were unmistakable.