Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 325 : Hive city war. {3}

Inside the safe zone, the pregnant woman and her husband clung to each other, their eyes wide with terror as they stared at the crimson-lit sky. "Husband... is this it? Is this how it ends?" she whispered to her husband while her voice was breaking as she hugged her stomach.

Before he could answer, the Tyrant unit who had helped them earlier stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the couple. His deep, resonant voice cut through the panic. [Incoming orbital strike detected. Activating emergency shielding.]

The ground beneath them hummed as energy shields flared to life, their blue glow contrasting sharply with the red light above.

The Tyrant raised his arm, and a holographic display projected from his gauntlet, showing the trajectory of the laser beams. [Impact in 10 seconds. All personnel, brace for shockwaves.]

The humans and Kaelzar soldiers moved with practiced precision, ushering civilians into reinforced shelters and activating additional layers of shielding. The pregnant woman and her husband were gently but firmly guided toward a bunker, the Tyrant's massive hand steadying them as they moved.

Outside, the laser beams struck. The ground shook violently, and a deafening roar filled the air as the beams collided with the energy shields.

The shields held, but only for a few seconds before cracks began to form, spiderwebbing across their surface as the sheer force of the bombardment threatened to overwhelm them.

The Supreme Commander, watching from his command center, smirked as he saw the explosions light up the horizon. "Let's see how they handle this," he muttered, his voice filled with dark satisfaction.

But his triumph was short-lived....

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Zynaria materialized in the center of the refugee safe zone, her glowing red hair whipping wildly in the chaos.

The air crackled with energy as the Nexum destroyer's laser beams slammed into the energy shields, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Civilians screamed, soldiers scrambled, and the sky burned with the fury of an orbital bombardment.

"Are you sure you only want me to do that, 5th sister?" Zynaria's voice cut through the pandemonium; it was calm yet laced with a hint of mischief. She tilted her head, her glowing eyes scanning the heavens as her HUD locked onto the incoming laser beams.

Cleo's voice crackled through the communicator, cool and collected. "Yes, 3rd sister. It's too early to reveal you to the enemy. We don't know what tricks they're hiding. Just deflect the lasers and make it look like the shields did the work. Understood?"

Zynaria smirked, her lips curling into a devilish grin. "Understood. But you owe me a favor after this." She raised a single finger, her gaze sharpening as her HUD finished its calculations. The world seemed to slow as her eyes flashed with an otherworldly light.

"Begone," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of destruction.

In an instant, space itself fractured above the shields. Jagged cracks split the sky, swallowing the laser beams and hurling them into the infinite void of space. The ground trembled, and the refugees stared in awe as the bombardment ceased. The shields held... or so it seemed.

On the bridge of the Nexum destroyer, the supreme commander slammed his fist onto the console; his face was red with rage. "What!? How is this possible!? That energy generator shouldn't be able to withstand an orbital bombardment! Do they have a fortress hidden down there or something!?"

His officers exchanged nervous glances, none daring to speak. The commander's fury was legendary, but this… this was something else. His carefully laid plans were crumbling before his eyes, and he had no idea why.

Meanwhile, Cleo leaned back in her chair with a sly smile playing on her lips. She had been waiting for this moment. Years of staying by Rex's side had taught her more than just strategy; it had taught her the art of face slapping. And oh, how she loved it.

With a flick of her wrist, she hijacked every communication channel in the hive city. Screens flickered to life, displaying a stark white background with a strange, glowing emblem, a symbol no one recognized but everyone would remember.

["This is the Kaelzar admiral of the fleet currently engaged against the corrupt Nexum forces,"]

Cleo's voice echoed through the city, calm and commanding.

["The so-called supreme commander of this planet has chosen to bombard the very safe zones meant to protect civilians. He claims it is our fault, but fear not. Thanks to the bravery of our soldiers, everyone is safe."]

The civilians hearing this got their fear momentarily replaced by confusion. Even the hostile soldiers hesitated, their weapons lowering as they listened.

["I know some of you still doubt us,"] Cleo continued, her tone softening. ["But we are here to aid the legitimate heir of the last governor. And to prove it, allow me to reveal the truth."]

The screens shifted, displaying damning evidence of the supreme commander's treachery secret deals, hidden agendas, and the cold-blooded plan to sacrifice the hive city for his own gain. The city erupted in outrage, the once-divided populace now united against a common enemy.

As the transmission ended, the screens went dark, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Cleo leaned back, her smile widening. "Let's see how he struggled out of this one."

Back on his base, the supreme commander stared at the blank screen, his face was already pale.

"Cut the transmission! Cut it now!" he shouted out, but it was too late. The damage was done. His officers exchanged uneasy glances, and for the first time, he felt the weight of their doubt.

"Sir," one officer ventured cautiously, "what do we do now?"

The commander's jaw tightened. "We fight. And we win. Or we die trying."

On the ground, Zynaria stretched lazily, her glowing hair settling as the chaos subsided. "Well, that was fun," she said to no one in particular.

The Grand Elder's laughter echoed through the dimly lit chamber like a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down the spines of those present.

His grip tightened on his ornate cane, the knuckles of his hand turning white as he stared at the screens displaying Cleo's damning broadcast.

"Hohoho, it seems they've got us good this time," he chuckled, though his eyes burned with a cold, calculating fury.

The other Elders shifted uncomfortably, their faces pale as the evidence of their corruption and the Grand Elder's particularly scandalous secrets played out for the entire hive city to see. Even his closest allies averted their eyes, too horrified to speak.

"Well," the Grand Elder said to break the tense silence, "it seems we'll have to accelerate our plans. Prepare the troops. We strike at the sunrise."

Through the night, the hive city was eerily quiet. The Kaelzar legions patrolled the streets, their presence a silent warning to anyone who dared cause trouble. But beneath the surface, two titanic forces were preparing for a clash that would shake the very foundations of the city.

The Grand Elder, now fully in command of the combined forces of the Elder Council, amassed an army of nearly one hundred thousand strong.

Infantry, mechanized units, armored vehicles, and fighters, all marched under his banner, their eyes fixed on the lower levels where the supreme commander's fortress loomed like a dark monolith.

Meanwhile, the supreme commander, knowing the Grand Elder's movements, had fortified his position with everything he had.

His eighty thousand troops stood ready, their weapons gleaming under the artificial light of the lower levels. Defensive walls, turrets, and trenches surrounded his fortress, a testament to his determination to hold out until Nexum reinforcements arrived.

"Commander," a scout officer knelt before him, his voice trembling slightly. "The Elders are advancing. They'll be here by dawn. What are your orders?"

The supreme commander smirked, his confidence still unshaken. "We've made our preparations. All we need to do is hold the line until reinforcements arrive. Let them come. We'll crush them against our walls."

As he spoke, the mother of the little girl approached with her hips swaying seductively. She was flanked by maids, their heads bowed in deference. "Honey," she purred, grasping his arm and pressing it against her ample chest. "have you eaten anything"?

The commander chuckled and pulled her close. "Don't worry, my love. I've made all the necessary preparations. We'll hold out until the reinforcements arrive. Then, we'll wipe out those invaders and take back what's ours."

She pouted, her voice dripping with faux concern. "But why is that old fossil attacking us instead of the invaders? It doesn't make sense."

The commander's smirk turned into a sneer. "That old fool is nothing but a bootlicker. He probably thinks he can offer our heads to the invaders in exchange for a safe escape. Pathetic." He pushed her away gently, his voice rising to a thunderous roar that echoed across the fortress.

"EVERYONE! PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"

The troops roared in response, their voices shaking the very ground. The supreme commander, a Tier 4 peak Bionic Warrior, stood tall, his presence alone enough to inspire both fear and loyalty in his men.

As dawn broke, the hive city's lower levels became a battlefield. The Grand Elder's forces descended like a tidal wave; their numbers were overwhelming.

Tanks rumbled forward, fighters streaked across the sky, and infantry marched in perfect formation. It was a show of force meant to intimidate, to crush the enemy before the battle even began.

But the supreme commander's forces were ready. Defensive turrets roared to life, artillery shells rained down, and the air was filled with the deafening sound of clashing metal and explosions. The two armies collided in a storm of fire and steel, each side fighting with a ferocity born of desperation.