All other concerns... pirates, political machinations, even the enigmatic void gems blurred into insignificance. The moment he had been silently counting towards, a date circled in fate's own ledger, was finally here.

The news arrived not with a shout, but with a soft chime from Cleo's interface directly into his neural link. The message was simple, yet it carried the weight of a universe being born.

[The labor has begun.]

The world seemed to slow, its colors sharpening and its sounds muffled. The reports on his screen, the strategic maps of star systems, all of it dissolved into meaningless static.

For the first time in a long time, the cold, calculating mask of the ruler slipped entirely, revealing the man beneath... a man gripped by a terrifying, exhilarating, and utterly primal wave of emotion.

His first son. A child he knew of, a living, breathing testament to a future he was still learning to imagine, was drawing his first breath. The long wait was over. A new chapter, vast and unknown, was beginning.

The medical technology in the Villa and aboard the ship was more than capable of making childbirth instant and painless. But Nyra had chosen a different path.

She wanted to bring her son into the world naturally, with only the silent, watchful medical bots for support. For nearly an hour, the soft sounds of her labor filled the room. Then, a new sound joined it, the strong, healthy cry of a baby boy.

For the next two weeks, Lyra found herself in a constant battle with Rex. His excitement was a force of nature, and she had to physically block the door to the medical bay to give Nyra and the newborn their rest.

The situation grew so tense that Lyra finally asked Cleo to lock the door entirely. Only she could come and go as she pleased, and Rex was granted strict visiting hours. In short, he was kicked out of his own home.

He walked into the command room of the docked ship and let out a long, deep sigh. The silence of the empty bridge greeted him. "Well...." he muttered while sinking into the command chair. "At least I have something to do until visiting time."

He activated the consoles. Panels glowed to life and hundreds of holographic screens flickered into the air, painting the dark room with cool, blue light.

"Cleo, situation report," he said.

Cleo materialized beside him in a shimmer of holographic form. "The production of troops across all conquered worlds continues on schedule. However, our ship production has slowed due to a shortage of rare materials."

Rex leaned forward, his eyes scanning the data on a nearby screen. "We just built three new trading fleets. How are we still short?"

Cleo lifted a hand. New screens bloomed in the air, showing detailed complex logistics. "Our trading fleets are operating at maximum capacity. However, they have been forced to take longer, alternative routes. Pirates have discovered our primary paths."

A low, thoughtful sound rumbled in Rex's throat. He stroked his chin, his gaze fixed on the pirate activity reports. "Send my orders to Admiral Carlos and T-2. Tell them to patrol our main trading routes. I want checkpoints established in these key zones to protect our cargo ships." He highlighted several sectors on the map.

"Understood. The orders have been sent."

The scattered holograms vanished. In their place, a massive star map filled the center of the room. A thousand points of light shifted and flowed, tracing the movements of his entire armada against the dark tapestry of space.

Rex's eyes tracked the movements of his Kaelzar fleets on the glowing star map. "What's the status of conquering the nearby trading and mining stations?" his voice sounded like a low rumble in the quiet command center.

"We are facing stronger resistance than anticipated." As Cleo reported, the galactic map bloomed with angry red markers in the asteroid mining zones. "Fleets T3, T4, and T5 have all reported ambushes. Data suggests a 70% probability these asteroid fields conceal a pirate king's nest."

"Did our fleets mount a counterattack?" Rex asked while studying the casualty reports.

"They attempted to, but the pirates refused to stand and fight. The moment the battle turns against them, they warp away. It is a classic tactic."

"Their forces are primarily small fighters and frigates, perfect for using the asteroids as cover. Our fleets, built around heavy destroyers and a carrier, are at a distinct disadvantage in such tight, chaotic spaces."

A grim smile touched Rex's lips. "Then we change the game. Pull all capital ships out of the asteroid belts. Have them patrol the perimeter. Send only our fighters inside to hunt."

"Once they locate the pirate base, the destroyers will move in and obliterate the entire area with their main cannons." He leaned forward, his face hard in the holographic light. "Even if we destroy precious resources, it does not matter. We must speed up our production, and we must do it now."

"Understood. Relaying orders now." The red markers on the map shifted as Cleo coordinated the new strategy. "The fleets will need approximately two hours to disengage and reposition."

As the tactical display cleared, a new map filled the space between them. It was unfamiliar, a patchwork of territories labeled with the names of megacorporations and other factions.

Rex frowned. "What is this?"

"This is the current situation of the Void invasion across the galaxy," Cleo explained. "I have compiled data from every hacked communication and news feed that reaches our worlds. As you can see, the Void has made significant incursions into both the Free Colonies and the Syndicate's territory."

Rex studied the map, his brow furrowed in thought. "I thought the Syndicate was the leading megacorp. Why have they lost more ground to the Void than the Free Colonies?"

"The Syndicate's economic and military power is indeed the greatest," Cleo confirmed. "But they grew complacent. Their core worlds were not fortified for a direct, massive invasion because no one has dared to challenge them for years. Their strength became their weakness."

She zoomed in on the Free Colonies. The territory was a fractured mosaic of warlords and minor factions. "The Free Colonies, however, are always at war with one another."

"Every planet is a fortress, every leader a battle-hardened veteran. Ironically, this constant strife meant they were prepared to fight the Void from the very beginning."

"They put up a fierce fight, but because they fight as individuals and not as one, they are now slowly, inevitably, losing their worlds."

Rex stared into the star map, the ghost of the Void monstrosity he had faced flashing in his mind. "Based on what you know," his voice tone being low, almost like a whisper, "what is your prediction? Is this a full-scale invasion, or is it just contained to that sector?"

Cleo's holographic form seemed to solidify, her gaze piercing as if she could feel the chill running through him. "According to the current rate of the Void's advance into the Free Colonies and the Syndicate," she stated, her tone clinical yet grave, "I am 95% certain this is not their main force. These are most likely scouts."

The word sent a jolt through him. "Scouts?" he asked, his nervousness sharpening into alarm. "How can you be sure?"

"My father fought the Void twice, when our empire was the undisputed power in the galaxy," Cleo explained. "The scout forces, while numerous, were never a true threat to our superior firepower and shielding."

"The real war began when the Vanguard arrived. That was when the conflict became a bloody, push-and-pull struggle across the stars. And what made the Void so terrifying... was their main force. They always bring Tier 7 monstrosities. Beings of immense size and nearly impossible to kill."

"Why?" Rex asked, the question leaving his lips before he could stop it. "What makes them so hard to kill?"

"Because their only weak point is a gem."

Cleo's words struck a deep chord. Rex's hand instinctively clenched, a phantom memory of the gem's violent explosion and the warp rupture it created burning in his mind.

"Oh," he whispered, the pieces clicking into a horrifying picture. "They create warp ruptures... they teleport anyone within range directly into the Void."

"Affirmative." Cleo nodded.

The scale of the threat settled over the room like a physical weight. "As a precaution," Cleo continued, "I have dispatched Little Red with a fleet of four thousand ships to fortify our two core worlds." She highlighted their defensive positions on the map.

Rex stood up from the command chair, his movement being restless. "And the humans? Did you inform them?"

"I sent them basic information about the invasion. Anything more would not be beneficial to us at this time." With a wave of her hand, she dissolved the holograms, plunging the command center into a softer, dimmer light.

Rex nodded slowly, his expression hardening. "You're right. We can't be their nannies forever, especially when we get nothing in return. If it weren't for Lilla and her brother..."

He trailed off, his gaze finding Cleo's luminous form. A rare moment of vulnerability surfaced. "Do you think I'm being cruel? When we are all, technically, human?" The question hung in the air; it was simple and direct... yet heavy with the burden that faced those in command.

Cleo's form glided silently toward him. She stopped in front of Rex, her luminous eyes holding his. In a gesture that was more symbol than sensation, she lifted a hand as if to cradle his cheek. A soft, blue light was all that touched his skin, a phantom comfort from a ghost in the machine.