Intergalactic conquest with an AI-Chapter 301 Besieged. {2}

The plateau was in chaos. The pirate bombardment had shattered the energy shield, leaving the defenses vulnerable and the shield generators in ruins.

The remaining generators struggled to maintain a smaller, localized shield around the factories, but it was a far cry from the impenetrable barrier that had once protected the entire plateau.

Cleo's forces scrambled to regroup, their Aegis units forming defensive lines as the pirates prepared to land.

"Take the remaining energy generators and install them around the factories! Focus the air defense turrets around the station!" Cleo commanded with her voice, cutting through the din of explosions and alarms. "All units, prepare for combat!"

She knew what was coming next. With the shield down, the pirates would do what they did best: board and overwhelm. The plateau was about to become a battlefield, and Cleo's forces were outnumbered and outgunned. But she wasn't about to go down without a fight.

The pirate boss stood on the bridge of his frigate while his laughter echoed through the ship as he watched the plateau's defenses crumble under the relentless bombardment.

"Bahaha, now is the time, lads! Send some barrages to clean the zone even more before we land! Let's show them the power of the Triad!" He shouted out while his gold-capped teeth gleamed in the dim light.

The frigates under his command unleashed another volley of high-caliber projectiles, the explosions rocking the plateau and further weakening the defenses.

The Aegis units, though equipped with personal energy shields, were no match for the sheer firepower of the pirate fleet. Their shields flickered and failed under the onslaught, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.

Even as the barrage continued, the pirate transport ships began their descent with their engines roaring as they approached the plateau.

Onboard, the elite forces of the pirate boss, all of them Tier 3 warriors clad in scavenged power armor and wielding an assortment of deadly weapons prepared for the fight. They were the best of the worst, hardened by years of raiding and pillaging, and they were eager to claim their prize.

"Hahah, this air feels so nice!" One of the elites shouted with his voice filled with glee as the transport ship touched down.

"What nice air!? This mist smells like your arse!" another retorted, eliciting a round of laughter from the group.

"Bahaha, I wonder what good stuff we'll find here!" A third pirate chimed in with his eyes gleaming with greed. Continue your journey with novelbuddy

The moment the transport ships landed, the pirates poured out with their weapons at the ready. They were a motley crew, armed with everything from electric guns and laser rifles to crude melee weapons.

Some wore outdated military power armor, its once-pristine surfaces now scarred and patched with scrap metal. They moved with a chaotic energy while their laughter and shouts filled the air as they charged into battle.

[Hostile detected. Proceeding to eliminate.]

The Aegis units opened fire with their plasma rifles, cutting through the pirate ranks with deadly precision. Some pirates fell immediately, their bodies crumpling under the intense heat of the plasma shots.

But others, particularly the Tier 2 and Tier 3 elites, dodged the attacks with surprising agility. Plasma shots, while powerful, were slower and less accurate than laser fire, and the more skilled pirates used this to their advantage.

Despite the Aegis units efforts, the pirate frigates continued to bombard the plateau, their projectiles tearing through the defensive lines with ease.

One of the pirate elites, a Tier 3 middle, led a charge toward a group of Aegis units; his weapon was a massive, electrified hammer that shattered their armor with each swing, while his laughter echoed across the battlefield as he carved a path of destruction.

"Bahaha, was this all? I thought they were stronger!" He taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Look here, brothers, these metal cans have good weapons! They look like plasma!" another pirate shouted while holding up a plasma rifle he had looted from a fallen Aegis unit.

"By the look of it, it can be sold for a good price with the weapons dealers in Sector 35," a third pirate added while his eyes gleamed with greed.

One of the elites stopped what he was doing when he noticed an Aegis unit that was still functional while it dragged its broken body toward a plasma rifle just a few meters away. "Mmm? Oi, lads, this metal can is still alive!" he said with a cruel grin spreading across his face.

"Ops! Where do you think you're going, little robot?" The pirate elite stepped on the Aegis unit's broken body, pinning it in place.

{What should I do with you? Mmm, should I hack it and keep it for me? After all, it looks cool... Mmm, nah, there's not enough time for that.}

He raised his laser spear, its tip glowing with deadly energy, and prepared to deliver the final blow. But before he could strike, a powerful force slammed into his weapon, sending him stumbling backward.

"Who is it?!" he shouted while his eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. And there, standing between him and the Aegis unit, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her presence was commanding, her armor gleaming with a golden light that seemed to cut through the mist. Her sword, glowing with a faint golden energy, was poised and ready. Her eyes, sharp and determined, locked onto the pirate elite with an intensity that made him hesitate.

"You're not laying a finger on my units," she said with her voice calm but laced with steel. "Not while I'm still standing."

The pirate elite smirked after recovering from his surprise. "Well, well, looks like we've got ourselves a real fight now, boys!" he shouted, raising his laser spear. "Let's see what you've got, pretty lady!"

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The battlefield seemed to hold its breath as the two faced off, the clash of their weapons signaling the start of a new, more personal battle.

The battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos and destruction; the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning metal and the cacophony of clashing weapons. The moment Cleo's sword met the pirate elite's spear, a shockwave erupted, sending both combatants skidding backward.

But Cleo didn't hesitate and with a powerful beat of her wings, she propelled herself forward while her blade was aimed squarely at her opponent.

"I like girls that are decisive!" the pirate elite taunted with his voice dripping with mockery as he raised his spear to block her strike. The impact was brutal, the force of Cleo's attack driving him back several meters before he managed to plant his feet and halt his retreat.

His grin widened, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. This woman was stronger than he had anticipated.

"What are you all waiting for? Attack her too!" the pirate elite shouted with his voice cutting through the din of battle. The other elites, momentarily distracted by their own skirmishes, turned their attention to Cleo while their weapons gleamed with deadly intent.

But Cleo wasn't alone. Her voice rang out, clear and commanding, through the communicator. "Attention to all units, begin the counterattack!"

The response was immediate. Ys, in her black serpent form, coiling with lethal grace, emerged from the shadows and lunged at one of the pirate elites with her fangs sinking into his armor with terrifying precision.

Lilla and her brother, with their movements synchronized, engaged two more elites, their weapons flashing as they parried and struck with expert skill.

Above, the allied fleet launched a coordinated assault on the pirate frigates, their fighters weaving through the sky like a swarm of angry wasps. The pirate bombardment, once a relentless onslaught, was now silenced as the frigates were forced to divert their attention to the aerial threat.

For an hour, the battle raged on while the plateau trembled under the weight of the conflict. The Tier 3 fighters, with their strength and skill unmatched by the lesser combatants, clashed in a deadly dance of blades and energy.

But as the dust settled, it became clear that Cleo's forces were at a disadvantage. Though their quality was superior, the sheer number of pirate elites made this an eight against four.

The two sides drew back with their fighters standing a kilometer apart, their breaths heavy and their bodies battered. Cleo's golden blood dripped from a shallow wound on her cheek, a stark contrast to the silver gleam of her armor. The pirate elite who had wounded her licked his spear with his grin widening as he tasted her blood.

"Bahaha, what's the matter, beauty? Are you tired already?" He jeered while his voice dripped with arrogance. "Well, it's not like I can't let you live. If you promise to submit to me, I don't mind letting you live! After all, that was the only reason I didn't injure your little face too much, bahaha!"

Cleo ignored his taunts and instead her mind racedas she assessed the situation. Her strategies, meticulously crafted and flawlessly executed, had all failed to turn the tide.

The pirate boss's unpredictability was his sheer incompetence masquerading as cunning had thrown her off balance. She didn't know his next move, and that uncertainty was her greatest weakness.

Her eyes flicked to her allies. Ys in her serpent form coiled protectively around her, hissing in defiance. Lilla and her brother stood ready, their weapons gleaming despite their fatigue. They were outnumbered, but they were not defeated.

"We need to regroup," Cleo said with her voice being low but firm. "We can't win this fight head-on. We need to outthink them."

Ys nodded while her green eyes narrowed. "Agreed. But how? They have the numbers, and their elites are no pushovers."

Cleo's gaze shifted to the pirate elites, their laughter and jeers echoing across the battlefield. She clenched her fists while her mind raced through possibilities. The pirate boss was the key. If they could take him out, the rest would crumble. But how?