I moved through the vast workshop, my consciousness split between multiple tasks, yet still focused on the final iteration of Star Lance. My clones inspected the latest prototype iteration sixteen after a gruelling series of failures, each one a lesson in refinement rather than a setback. Every malfunction, every explosion, and every design flaw had driven progress forward.

Now, at last, it was ready.

I approached one of the missiles, its outer shell glistening under the workshop’s organic lights. The composition had been refined to maximize resilience and efficiency. The outer casing fused high-yield iron with advanced polymer-like biological compounds, granting it superior heat resistance against atmospheric re-entry and sustained plasma exposure. The reinforced structure was dense yet lightweight, ensuring optimal acceleration while maintaining defensive capabilities.

I placed a hand against the missile’s surface, my tentacle's sensory nodes detecting the intricate web of internal systems. Beneath its armoured skin, a network of specialized biological components pulsed with stored energy.

The missile’s power core relied on bioengineered hydrogen-rich fuel sacs, inspired by the Valurian records I had assimilated. These sacs stored organic compounds designed for rapid breakdown through catalytic enzymes, producing energy-dense plasma on demand. The propulsion system consisted of a bioelectric organ generating intense electric currents, ionizing the fuel and expelling it through an adaptive plasma nozzle.

An elegant solution to a long-standing problem.

The propulsion system had undergone the most rigorous trials. Initial designs had suffered from instability plasma backflow, combustion inefficiencies, and erratic flight paths. Now, the solution lies in a hybrid circulatory system that regulates thermal output. High-heat-capacity bio-fluids cycled through internal veins, preventing tissue degradation during sustained plasma ignition. Symbiotic microbial colonies enhanced energy generation, ensuring long-range viability.

Beyond propulsion, manoeuvrability had also been refined. The missile’s internal muscular structure, reinforced with bio-magnetic fibres, allowed for precise mid-flight corrections. As the Star Lance adjusted its trajectory, its electromagnetically active tissue generated localized fields to modulate plasma output, creating controlled bursts for course adjustments.

Even so, I continued refining the design. The exhaust ports needed further optimization. Current simulations suggested that fine-tuning the plasma dispersal pattern would improve evasive capabilities, reducing enemy interception rates. That, however, was a secondary concern.

The payload remained my primary focus.

The enemy’s warships were resilient. Their hulls were constructed from layered alloys designed to withstand high-velocity impacts and energy-based weaponry. Standard kinetic warheads would be insufficient. Even high-yield plasma detonations might struggle against reinforced bulkheads.

A two-stage attack was the optimal approach.

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The first wave of Star Lances would carry an overcharged plasma payload, detonating on impact and subjecting the target to extreme thermal stress. The goal wasn’t immediate penetration but rather armour degradation—softening their defences for the secondary strike.

The second wave carried a different form of devastation.

A rupturing sac filled with corrosive enzymes would burst upon impact, reacting violently with any material it encountered. I had tested these enzymes on mined high-yield Kranrhotite samples, observing the accelerated breakdown of even the toughest metal I had. If successful, enemy ships would suffer catastrophic structural failure.

Scorched, melted, dissolved. A fitting end.

With the weapons finalized, I turned my attention to the next stage of the war. Star Lance would cripple their defences, but victory required more than mere destruction. I needed their knowledge. Their ships. Their industrial capabilities.

Once the enemy’s vessels were damaged, I would need a strike force capable of breaching their interiors and eliminating resistance. My current forces are optimized for this purpose. The assault variant requires a few adjustments and redesigns, possibly necessitating a new classification, perhaps “raiders” or “assault raiders.” While my naming conventions are not always ideal, this would suffice.

Capturing their ships meant gaining access to their data banks, communication networks, and possibly even living prisoners.

Of particular interest was Dauqils species. Their knowledge of their home world and technological infrastructure would be invaluable. If I could seize one of their command vessels, the intelligence gained could accelerate my expansion beyond this moon.

With control over the moon's orbit, I could cripple their entire operation, sealing the fate of those here. Once their fleet was neutralized, my assault would commence across the moon’s surface.

The enemy’s facilities were vulnerable. Though heavily guarded, their infrastructure was reliant on predictable supply chains and automation. A rapid, coordinated strike would leave them unable to mount a proper defence.

Factories, drone forges, mining operations—I would take everything or leave nothing behind. Captured facilities would serve as a temporary production base for my needs. If their infrastructure could not be repurposed, it would be obliterated.

This phase of the war had a clear time limit. If I hesitated, their reinforcements would arrive in overwhelming force. I had sixty to ninety days before a counteroffensive became inevitable.

Sixty days to plant my flag on this moon.

With Star Lance complete, I turned my attention to another critical project, the optimization of my existing drone forces.

The mosquito and suicide drones required a complete overhaul to integrate plasma technology. The frames require reinforcement to accommodate the increased energy output, while the neural structures must be reconfigured to manage the enhanced output and perform precision calculations.

The Mosquito drones would now be armed with specialized plasma missile pods, extending their effective strike range. Suicide drones, meanwhile, would carry volatile plasma cores, capable of detonating with surgical accuracy against enemy armour and structures.

Once their modifications were finalized, production could begin immediately.

With my primary objectives aligned, I moved deeper into the second-largest chamber of my underground complex.

A hundred sealed growth chambers lined the walls, each containing the embryonic form of my first-generation warships. The Zhyrraak Assault Ship is designed for rapid deployment, independent operation, and devastating combat effectiveness.

In human military classifications, this would be considered a destroyer. Each unit would function autonomously, capable of ship boarding, fleet engagements, and minor planetary strikes. Zhyrraak would need a more advanced hybrid propulsion system of the star-lance missile's organic plasma thrusters for high-speed manoeuvres.

The ship’s hull integrated Kranrhotite, in its bio-metallic composite, providing much more protection than the Star Lance outer shell, ensuring maximum durability. Internal structures were modular, allowing for quick adaptation based on mission parameters.

Though still in the early stages of development, the first generation would be ready within the next several days, possibly even seventy days as their final more intricate components required work.

As I studied the forming structures, I felt an odd sense of nostalgia, though the emotion was fleeting.

At another time, I might have marvelled at the ingenuity of such creations. But now, they were merely tools. Instruments of war. Extensions of my will.

With everything in motion, I prepared for the final phase.

Still, this introduced a new line of calculation would the enemy commit to full-scale extermination if resistance proved insurmountable, or would they shift strategies to counterattack?

There was still much to account for, and every possible outcome demanded preparation.