Intergalactic conquest with an AI

After a bit of total silence, Rex's grin only widened. "Of course, sir. Anything to keep things professional." He shot one last look at Leena, who was doing her best to regain her composure, and gave her a mock salute.

As the General stood there, her expression a blend of frustration and defeat, Carlos leaned over to Ys, whispering, "That's twice in one day she's been shut down. Almost feel bad for her."

Ys smirked, her gaze fixed on Rex. "Almost."

Rex then clapped his hands together, his voice cheerful as he addressed the troops around him. "Alright, show's over, everyone! Let's get back to saving the world or whatever it is we're paid to do."

The gathered soldiers chuckled, some even applauding as they began to disperse, leaving Leena standing alone, staring daggers at Rex's back. And as he walked away, Ys and Carlos moved to his side.

"Wait a second there, Captain Rex; we still have something to discuss," the high-ranking officer said while his image was crackling on the screen.

Rex paused for a bit when he heard those words, making him turn back with a puzzled look. "Hmm? Wasn't the issue with the worm dealt with? What else is there to talk about?"

"I think you're misunderstanding something here, Captain," the officer replied, his voice calm but firm. "I didn't call you here about that matter. That's between you and the general. I called you because I have a mission for you of a critical value."

The officer straightened, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "Oh, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Admiral Kael Voss, commander of the battle currently raging over your heads and supreme commander of this entire allied fleet."

At the mention of his name, Rex's expression shifted. Since he recognized that name since it was the same name Cleo had mentioned before, he was the one who'd sent reinforcements. Rex's posture tightened with respect. "Admiral, forgive my lack of formality. I didn't realize."

"There's no need for courtesy between us, Captain," Voss replied with a slight nod. "I value talent, especially in young soldiers with promise, like yourself. Now, back to the mission at hand. You've experienced how brutal it is fighting in that sandstorm, haven't you?"

As Voss spoke, a series of grainy, chaotic clips played on the screen. It was the footage from the spy drones that captured the massacre inside the storm.

"As you can see, the sandstorm doesn't favor infantry," Voss continued, "but in the air, it changes the rules entirely. Our ships are crippled, unable to provide support. But the Khryssari Skydancers... they adapt. Their organic forms allow them to navigate that chaos, to lend strength to their ground forces."

He leaned closer to the screen, his voice dropping. "But what if I told you this sandstorm is artificial?"

With a flick of his hand, Voss brought up a massive map of the planet. The image zoomed in on a desolate area behind enemy lines, where a strange device pulsed ominously. "Our scouts discovered a Khryssari machine. This device is what's sustaining the storm over this entire region."

Rex studied the map, his eyes narrowing. "So... our mission is to destroy that device?"

"Exactly," Voss confirmed. "After two hours that your squad breaches the frontline, we'll begin a massive deployment to push the Khryssari back. Whether this battle ends in victory or defeat hinges on you taking down that device."

The image on the screen shifted to show the target again, the machine looming in the shadows. Voss's gaze was unyielding as he looked Rex straight in the eye. "Once that device is destroyed, the storm will clear. We'll have air superiority, and our fleet will crush them from above. So, Captain... are you up for this task?"

After a long pause, Rex finally broke the silence; his voice was steady, but his eyes were glinting with mischief. "Well, by the look of it, this mission's pretty important, right? So I imagine the bonus should match that, no? just saying"

Voss's eyebrow shot up, clearly unimpressed. "I'm here telling you this mission is vital to winning the war, and you're haggling over pay? What happened to pride and honor, Captain?"

Rex rubbed the back of his neck with a crooked grin. "Well, pride and honor don't feed my men, do they, sir?"

For a tense moment, Voss just stared at him with a frown on his face before a slow grin crept onto his face. "Ha… hah! Fair enough, Captain. Don't worry. The reward will be enough for your men to live like kings for a few years. You've earned it."

"Oh, now we're talking!" Rex smirked, leaning back with a twinkle in his eye. "Knew you were a good guy, sir."

After an hour of strategizing and going over the mission details, Rex and his team finally stepped out of the HQ tent, their expressions a mix of focus and excitement. As they made their way toward Cleo's ship, Rex glanced over at Ys, curiosity tugging at him.

"Hey, Ys," he started, keeping his voice casual, "you've got that worm core now, yeah?"

"Hm? I do, darling," she replied, looking up at him with a playful glint. "Why do you ask?"

He gave her a teasing look. "Well, someone mentioned a reward if I managed to beat that thing. You remember who that might've been?"

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Oh, really? Was she cute?" she asked, her voice dipping in a way that sent a little spark through the air.

Rex blinked, caught off guard, before trying to recover with a laugh. "Wait—are you serious?"

She let out a soft giggle before dashing off toward the ship, leaving him staring after her with a mix of confusion and amusement. Carlos, who'd been trailing behind them, threw up his hands. "Alright, you two, I'll see you later. I'm off to find some real food. No interest in listening to this flirting," he muttered, wandering off toward the frontlines' mess area.

But Ys and Rex were too wrapped up in their own banter to pay him any mind. Rex followed her up the ramp, finally catching up inside the ship's warm, dimly lit interior. Ys was already chatting with Cleo, and before Rex could say anything, Ys pressed a small dish into his hands, the smell of spices and something rich wafting up.

"What's this?" he asked, sniffing it suspiciously.

"Cleo says you need it," Ys replied, looking up at him with an innocent expression that didn't fool him for a second. "It'll help you recover faster since it is full of nutrients and all that."

Rex eyed the dish warily. "This won't knock me out or anything, will it?"

"Relax," Cleo chimed in, her voice smooth as ever. "It's just good for you, Rex. Nothing extra."

He held her gaze for a second, still suspicious, but eventually shrugged and took a bite. The flavors hit him hard, rich and savory, and as he ate, he couldn't shake the feeling that both Ys and Cleo were watching him with barely contained amusement.

Whatever game they were playing, he was pretty sure he'd walked right into it, and oddly enough, he didn't mind one bit.

"Mmm, this is actually delicious. Have you tried it before, Ys?" Rex asked, glancing over at her as he ate off the last bite since Cleo had disappeared to the second floor, leaving just the two of them alone in the cargo bay.

She let out a low mischievous laugh, her green eyes gleaming. "Oh, I can't eat that, darling. It's a... special dish, just for men. I think the effects should be starting to kick in about now," she said, her voice dropping into a soft, devilish tone as she watched him intently.

Rex blinked, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Just for males? What's it made of?"

"Elphey egg～," she replied with a teasing smile playing at her lips.

He shrugged, unfazed. "Never heard of it... so what? Does it make me more handsome or something?"

While Rex was busy with his last bite, Ys had already consumed the core she'd been holding. Now, as he looked up, he noticed something different. She was… taller. A lot taller. Her whole demeanor had shifted; where there'd once been a playful, almost girlish air, now there was a striking, mature beauty that caught him completely off guard.

"Mmm… Ys?" he stammered, his voice trailing off.

"Shhh…" She placed a finger gently against his lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I heard someone's been searching for a reward～. Would you happen to know who that is?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but laced with an irresistible allure.

Before he could respond, she leaned in closer, the warmth of her presence making his pulse quicken. With a smirk, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. "Mmm, maybe I do... but information like that doesn't come cheap, you know."

"Aha～, is that so?" Ys teased, pressing a finger to his chest and pushing him back until he was seated on one of the metal crates scattered around the cargo bay. "And how exactly does one pay for such valuable information?"

Rex grinned, his eyes never leaving hers. "Well, nothing's free in this life, little girl."

She laughed softly, sliding onto his lap with a sultry look, her fingers tracing slow circles on his chest. "Lucky for you, I came prepared," she murmured.

In one smooth motion, the green and black armor she wore began to dissolve, leaving her in a simple black top that hugged her form, accentuating every curve, and a pair of shorts that barely covered her toned legs.

Rex felt his throat tighten, his usual confident composure faltering for a moment as his eyes took her in. She was breathtaking, every detail of her refined, her gaze holding him captive. All he could manage was a faint, involuntary sound.

"Gulp."

Ys chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction as she leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his ear. "Now, Captain," she whispered to his ear, "tell me... what is it you really want as your reward?"