Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 387: Ending a war to start another war. {5} Cleopatra might.

One of the most powerful beings in the known galaxy had just arrived on Xylos.

This was no ordinary presence... it was her. The same legendary existence who had once led the Humanoid Titans into battle against the Titan Beasts millions of years ago, back when the galaxy was still young and the stars burned brighter and closer.

When she first rose to command, she was already at the Peak of Tier 8... an unmatched power even then. But now, after eons of silence and solitude, her true strength had become unknowable.

She had lived through cosmic ages, outlasted entire civilizations, and watched suns collapse into black holes. Her return… was nothing short of monumental.

And yet, such a force had chosen a stick insect as her medium.

It was a surreal sight: this tiny, unassuming creature now hovered in the sky between two of the galaxy's most dangerous beings, calming the storm with a single flutter of its leaf.

The moment she arrived, a calming wave spread across the planet.Everyone on Xylos could suddenly smell a mix of peaceful aromas, wet earth after rainfall, fresh green grass, salt from ocean waves, and the cold yet comforting breeze of a high mountain morning.

The wind blew gently across the land, making trees sway and soldiers breathe easier.

"Well then," the stick insect said in a soft, breezy voice that echoed in everyone's minds, "since no one seems to object to my opinion… let's call it a day. Everyone take a step back, alright?"

The little insect then floated down and settled gently atop the Lady in White's head like a crown of leaves, crossing its tiny arms while staring at Xytrallia.

"Let this little mischief slide, yes?"

Xytrallia did not respond immediately. Her glowing green eyes locked on the insect and the Lady in White. For nearly a full minute, she remained silent, her mind deep in thought.

Finally, she replied with firm telepathic speech. "That cannot be allowed. She broke one of the ancient laws. If word of this gets out, the Titan Beasts could use it as an excuse to start another galactic war!"

But the ancient being inside the insect simply chuckled; it was a soft, amused sound like wind chimes in a gentle breeze.

"If we're going to talk about ancient laws," she said with calm mischief, "then perhaps you should explain why you've violated them too? Wasn't it forbidden for guardians to tamper with Titan genetics?"

At that moment, Xytrallia felt it...

A gaze...

It came from far beyond the stars, yet it focused solely on her. A presence so vast and ancient that even her Hive-mind consciousness trembled under its weight.

There was no aggression, no killing intent... but the sheer pressure of being watched by such a power was overwhelming. It was as if a god had opened its eyes just to look at her.

She said nothing.

The insect continued, its tone lighthearted yet commanding.

"Well then, since there's nothing more to discuss, I'll be taking my little sister with me. Let's leave before the beasts sense our presence."

With a casual wave of the leaf in its hand, the stick insect disappeared in a swirl of soft green light.... vanishing along with the Lady in White. All that remained was a gentle shower of leaves falling from the sky, fluttering in the breeze like the closing curtain of a grand play.

A moment later, the space rift behind them slowly sealed shut.

Only Xytrallia remained floating in the sky. She let out a long, exhausted sigh, then opened her own emerald-colored rift. With one last glance toward the planet below, she disappeared through the rift, leaving only silence in her wake.

Back on the surface, Rex stepped forward and looked around at the many Xylos officers, all of whom had collapsed unconscious under the divine pressure that had just lifted. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Ahem… ahem… it seems the negotiations will have to wait until everyone regains consciousness."

Several hours passed.

Eventually, the talks resumed, though in a far calmer and humbler atmosphere.

The planet Xylos officially joined the Alliance. Though they were granted a large degree of autonomy, two military outposts, one human and one Kaelzar, would be built to help protect the world from pirates, slavers, and other threats that frequently plagued the outer rim worlds.

The trade agreement was simple but fair: Xylos would supply the Alliance with valuable metals and minerals mined from their mountainous terrain.

In return, they would receive food, water, and essential goods and items they sorely lacked due to the planet's rough, rocky environment, which made large-scale farming nearly impossible.

Finally, there was the matter of tribute.

Each year, 60% of the planet's total commerce revenue in credits would be sent to the Alliance. It was a high price, but given the protection and trade benefits, the Xylosian leaders accepted it.

And with that, the negotiations were finally concluded.

But it had barely been in time.

While the inhabitants of Xylos were busy repairing their cities, reforging their fortress walls, and burying their dead, the Allied Fleet remained on high alert, hovering in space between Planet Kator and Xylos, silently bracing for what was to come.

The threat was clear: the Nexum Fleet was approaching.

However, their point of arrival remained a mystery. No one knew which world they would strike first, so the fleet had taken a neutral stance, stationed precisely between the two planets, ready to respond instantly in either direction.

Inside the floating Cleopatra Fortress, a warship so large it cast shadows across moons, a meeting was underway.

The massive conference hall, if it could still be called that since it felt more like an imperial court from a forgotten age. At the very top of the chamber, upon a towering silver throne that shimmered like liquid moonlight, sat Rex, his expression unreadable.

At his right, seated with elegance and quiet strength, were the women closest to him, commanders, warriors, lovers, and friends. Each one bore the air of power and confidence, yet today, there was tension in their eyes.

"Lilla. Is your fleet still capable of fighting?" he asked directly, his voice firm but not hostile.

Lilla gently placed her teacup back on its saucer, the sound soft but clear in the silent hall.

"I'm ashamed to admit, we are not," she replied, her voice composed yet faintly bitter.

"After our battle with the Nexum General Fleet, our ships were left in critical condition. Repairs on this scale cannot be done in the field. We need to retreat to a safe haven, somewhere with proper infrastructure, before we can be battle-ready again."

Rex gave a slight nod. That answer was expected. He had already seen the wreckage of human vessels in the fortress shipyard; they were scarred, sparking, and barely held together.

His gaze shifted to Ys, who was to his right.

She looked up just as his eyes met hers, the bright glow in them faltering slightly.

"And your fleet, Ys?" Rex asked, this time with hope in his voice. He had seen the recordings of the monstrous Khryssari fleet that had arrived under her command and had been devastating in power and numbers. They could turn the tide of a campaign alone.

Ys puffed out her cheeks slightly and twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. Her tone, though sweet, was tinged with regret.

"While I want nothing more than to help my darling with anything he asks…" she said with a playful yet apologetic smile, "… I'm afraid I can't summon the fleet again for a while."

She paused, eyes lowering slightly.

"Since we didn't consume the planet after the battle, Mother recalled them to resupply and maintain their hibernation cycles. She also… gave me a direct order not to make any large-scale moves for the time being."

A heavy silence followed her words.

Rex leaned back in his throne, deep in thought. The fleets he could rely on were diminished or temporarily out of play. The Nexum's arrival was inevitable… but his options were narrowing.

[If I may speak,] a calm voice echoed across the room.

The young AI appeared out of thin air in the center of the grand hall, her projection flickering softly like gentle light. She bowed slightly toward Rex, who remained seated high above on his majestic silver throne, still as a statue.

Rex looked down and made a small gesture with his hand. "Speak."

[Even if we don't have support from the allied fleet, we still possess the Cleopatra Fortress,] the young AI said with quiet confidence, her voice precise and measured. [That alone should be more than enough to deal with a simple incursion fleet.]

Rex leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on one hand as his other tapped the armrest.

"Mmm… that sounds reassuring. But last I checked, weren't most of the weapons still under construction or disabled due to maintenance?" he asked while raising an eyebrow as he stared at the AI.

The young AI nodded respectfully.

[You're correct. However, based on our current pace, all remaining construction will be finished in two days. Maintenance on key systems will conclude in just one day. Everything is progressing faster than anticipated thanks to the support drones and the Kaelzar tech upgrades.]

Rex's expression shifted from mild concern to curiosity.

"Alright then," he said, his voice growing firmer. "If you're that confident, tell me... how heavily armed are we, exactly?"

In response, the AI raised her hand. A 3D projection of the Cleopatra Fortress appeared in the air, glowing in soft blue light, rotating slowly to display every detail. As she spoke, colored highlights marked the various weapon systems.

[As of now, when the upgrades are completed, the Cleopatra Fortress will have:]

– 300 laser turrets, designed for rapid-fire precision against light and medium ships.– 300 kinetic turrets, delivering heavy projectile barrages for breaking armor.– 100 plasma turrets, ideal for melting through shielding and hulls.– 100 long-range artillery cannons, meant to bombard enemy fleets from across the system.

– 6 main plasma cannons, the fortress's primary siege weapons, capable of wiping out capital ships with a single blast.

– 200 rail cannons, with enough kinetic force to pierce through battleships.– 100 guided warheads, custom-built for strategic strikes.– 50 Torpedo launchers, especially useful against slow or shield-heavy vessels.– 50 missile launcher platforms, including both short- and long-range variants.]