"How is this possible?!"


    The piratemander, known among his crew as the "Big Boss," roared, his voice booming across the bridge as he struck the trembling pirate officer in front of him. The force of the punch sent the man staggering backward, clutching his bleeding nose.


    "Can someone exin to me,"


    the Big Boss continued, his voice seething with fury, "


    how in the void our fighters outnumber theirs three to one, and yet not a single one of theirs goes down?! Instead, we''re the ones getting ughtered out there! Look at that!"


    He gestured wildly at the holographic disy showing the ongoing dogfight, where the sleek Wraith fighters of Cleo''s fleet tore through the pirates'' disorganized ships with ruthless precision. The pirates'' numbers dwindled by the second, their formations reduced to scattered chaos.


    "My Lord, please calm yourself,"


    the pirate leader from the failed trading station assault interjected, bowing slightly in deference. His face was pale, his confidence clearly shaken.


    "This isn''t this poor bastard''s fault,"


    he said, pointing to the officer who had suggested the ill-fated raid.


    "This is all because of that damn mayor. He told the King there wouldn''t be any military intervention at the trading station, but it''s clear as day now that he betrayed us. He''s the one to me."


    The Big Boss''s fist clenched, his knuckles cracking loudly. His yellowed teeth ground together as he spat out his fury.


    "That damn octopus-headed fool! When I report to the Lord about the losses we''ve suffered because of him, he''ll be the one begging for mercy. I''ll see to it that his slimy little head gets cleaned, permanently."


    Turning on his heel, the big boss marched to his grotesque, jewel-encrusted throne, copsing into its plush cushions with an exaggerated groan.


    "Helmsman! Take us out of here! We''re retreating! Warp back to base immediately!"


    Just as the helmsman began keying in themands, an automated voice red from the ship''sbat system:


    ["Warning: medium-sized ship warp detected."]


    "What!?"


    The Big Boss bolted upright, his bloodshot eyes snapping toward the viewport. His jaw dropped in disbelief as he saw the spot where the white and gold enemy vessel had been, only to find empty space.


    "Where did they—"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A secondter, the space beside the pirate battleship rippled and distorted, as though reality itself were being stretched. Within moments, Cleo main ship emerged from the warp, its massive form shimmering in the void, positioned just


    one kilometer


    off the pirate ship''s starboard side.


    The sheer audacity of the maneuver left the pirate bridge in stunned silence.


    "They''re insane!"


    the Big Boss shouted, his voice cracking as he leapt to his feet.


    "All stations prepare forbat! Redirect the wormhole energy to the shields! Now!"


    Though a pirate, the Big Boss was no fool. He had decades of experience in space warfare, and his orders reflected the logic of a hardened veteran. His crew scrambled to obey, rerouting power to the ship''s shielding systems as rms red throughout the battleship.


    But the pirate boss''s orders barely registered with Rex, who was watching the entire scene unfold from the bridge of the Legion gship. His golden eyes sparkled with amusement as he leaned casually against themand console, a wide grin stered across his face.


    "Hahahaha! We''ve got them now, Cleo!"


    he said, pointing dramatically at the pirate ship through the viewport.


    "Let''s show these fools what happens when you cross us. Cleo! Unleash the power of the turrets!"


    Cleo''s voice echoed softly through the bridge, her tone icy yetposed.


    "Understood."


    Within moments, the ship''s automated systems sprang to life. The rows of kic turrets mounted along the main ship hull rotated with mechanical precision, locking onto the pirate battle cruiser''s starboard side.


    The first salvo of kic rounds erupted from the cannons, streaking toward the pirate vessel with deadly speed. The impact rippled across the battleship''s shields, causing bursts of bright blue energy to spark and ripple along its hull.


    "Return fire!"


    the Big Boss bellowed, gripping the armrest of his throne as he barked orders.


    "All batteries—fire everything we''ve got! Missiles,sers, sma, throw it all at them! Tear those shields apart!"


    The pirate ship''s weapons sprang to life,unching a chaotic barrage of firepower. Missiles streaked across the void, sma bolts sizzled through the darkness, andser beams carved erratic paths toward the white and gold gship. But the disorganized attack wasughably ineffective.


    On the main ship bridge, Cleo tilted her head slightly, her holographic avatar flickering faintly as she observed the iing fire.


    "Do they truly believe such outdated, poorly calibrated weaponry could breach my shields?"


    she muttered to herself, her voiceced with disdain.


    "Their ipetence is an insult to the concept of warfare."


    Her holographic form suddenly disappeared from the bridge, reappearing momentster


    outside


    the main ship, standing atop one of the three massive main cannons. Her translucent, shimmering figure radiated a faint glow as she raised one hand, pointing toward the pirate battle cruiser like a queen passing judgment.


    The main cannons began to rotate, their massive barrels aligning with the pirate vessel. The movement was slow, deliberate, and menacing, each rotation apanied by the faint hum of charging energy.


    Back on the pirate bridge, panic was beginning to set in. The Big Boss watched the cannons turn toward his ship, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.


    "What are they doing?"


    he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Cleo''s voice rang out across themunications, cold and resolute.


    ["Loading explosive shells."]


    The pirate crew froze, their faces pale as Cleo''s voice continued.


    ["Ammo loaded. Status: all green. Target locked. Ready to fire in 3... 2... 1..."]


    The glow of the three cannons intensified, the barrels radiating an almost blinding golden light.


    "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"


    the Big Boss screamed, clutching his throne as the pirate crew scrambled to hold on to anything solid.


    A deafening roar filled the void as the Legion gship''s main cannons fired in unison. Three massive explosive shells streaked across the distance, their trajectories precise and unerring. The pirate battleship''s shields red violently as the shells impacted, but they were no match for the sheer power behind Cleo''s weapons.


    The first shell shattered the shields entirely, detonating against the cruiser''s side with a fiery explosion. The second shell punched through the armor ting, tearing a massive hole in the hull. The third shell hit the cruiser''s core, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction.


    The pirate ship erupted into a massive fireball, chunks of molten debris scattering into the void as secondary explosions rippled across its length. The once-mighty battle cruiser was reduced to a smoldering wreck in mere seconds.


    Back on the main ship, Cleo''s hologram flickered back onto the bridge, her golden eyes glowing faintly.


    "Target neutralized,"


    she said calmly.


    Rexughed, throwing his arms in the air in triumph


    . "Now, that''s what I call firepower! Beautiful work, Cleo."


    "Of course,"


    Cleo replied, her tone asposed as ever.


    "And now, the pirates will think twice before crossing us again."


    Rex smirked, leaning against the console.


    "Or maybe they won''t. Greed makes people stupid, after all. Either way, I''d call this a win."


    Cleo mainship hovered silently over the wreckage, a testament to its unmatched power and the folly of those who dared challenge it.


    "I wonder who the real viin is here,"


    Carlos said, leaning back with a smirk as he watched Rex bask in the moment like a king on his throne.


    "Oh, shut up. You''re the one with the evil face,


    " Ys snapped, her eyes narrowing dangerously.


    "Leave my adorable darling alone. He''s just having fun!


    " Without warning, sheunched herself at him, her leg arcing in a perfect flying kick.


    But Carlos was ready. A shimmering energy shield materialized around him, blocking her attack with a loud


    ng


    . The force of the impact sent a sharp ripple through the air.


    "Heh,"


    Carlos chuckled, his smirk growing wider as Ys staggered back.


    "That all you got?"


    "Oh, so that''s how we''re ying it?"


    Ys hissed, her lips curling into a wild grin. Before anyone could stop her, her right arm twisted and warped into a massive ck de, its razor-sharp edge glowing with an eerie green light.


    "Both of you stand down. Right now,"


    Cleo yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos like a whip.


    "If you start a fight on my ship, I''ll toss you both out into space myself."


    Her re was so sharp it could''ve sliced through steel.


    "She''s right,"


    said Rex, who was still lounging like he didn''t have a care in the world.


    "Come on, guys, stop being so dramatic. I promise we''ll build an arenater where you two can blow each other to pieces. But for now, maybe try not to destroy Cleo''s ship? You know how she gets."


    Cleo shot Rex a look but didn''t argue. Instead, she turned back to the controls. "


    Taking us to the trading station now,"


    she said tly, still radiating the kind of energy that made everyone want to behave.


    As the crew settled down, the ship hummed softly, its engines powering them forward. But for the group of rescued passengers watching all this unfold, the scene felt nothing short of surreal. Not only had this crew taken on a notorious pirate lord, but they''d also wiped out his infamous gship in what felt like seconds.


    The trading station administrator stood frozen, staring out at the docked ship from the observation window. Even in his decades of military service, he had never seen anything like it. The vessel''s sleek design, its unmatched firepower... it was enough to make his stomach churn.


    "Gramps, you think we''re safe with them here?"


    the young engineer asked, his voice trembling as he gently touched his grandfather''s shoulder.


    "I don''t know, kid,"


    the administrator replied with a heavy sigh. He straightened up, his face lined with worry.


    "Go gather everyone in the cargo bay. We''ll wait there and see what kind of envoy they send."


    He gave the boy a reassuring pat on the back, though his own thoughts were far fromforting.


    He couldn''t shake the growing sense of dread. Someone with that kind of firepower didn''t just show up for a friendly visit. They were either a noble or worse....


    A conqueror.