Galactic Star Calendar 3036, the end of June
There remained but three days to the month's end.
These three days, to the world outside, may be no more than the end of a month like any other month gone before.
But here with Zhao Chen it is another matter.
【Quarterly mission: The Allies' War
Mission content: make certain that the allies' losses do not exceed a set figure.
Requirement one: the Angel Race's loss of interstellar warships must not exceed one million. (Above five hundred thousand warships lost)
Requirement two: the Machine Race's loss of interstellar warships must not exceed one million five hundred thousand. (Above one million two hundred thousand warships lost)
Mission reward: 10,000 task points】
"Three days yet.
"This quarterly mission, and that quarterly mission before it, may both be completed." Zhao Chen kept his eyes upon the mission page.
By the case as it now stands, this quarterly mission is of no very great difficulty to complete.
For the narrowness of the mechanical royal court's field: though the Demon Race fleets hold the advantage in strength, they cannot be spread out to the full, and so the number of warships that fall upon the field is not very great.
There remain three days at the last; and it needs only that within these three days the Machine Race's loss of warships not exceed three hundred thousand.
"Leaning upon the T5 Prisoner-class Heavy Interstellar Assault Battleships I furnished them, they should be able to lift the threat of the quasi-T6 Destroyers.
"And pass safely over into next month.
"And next month, with the last quarter's mission no longer binding us, we may stretch out our fists and feet to the full." Zhao Chen turned it over within himself.
Thinking upon the two quarterly mission rewards about to come into his hand, Zhao Chen was very glad within.
And hummed a little tune besides.
"I wonder how Charlotte's drawing up of the plan of battle goes.
"This time the Demon Race fleets are to be destroyed within the shortest time — only that the industrial bases where the Demon Race builds its warships have still not been found, which is very troublesome." Zhao Chen swirled the wine-cup in his hand.
The time drawing near, Zhao Chen had charged Charlotte with the task of battle, telling her only that upon the first of July the Owl Dragon Legion might take part in this campaign.
Charlotte had begun her planning of the fighting long since; having held it in so long a time, she must fight a good one and let it out.
Beep, beep, beep.
At this time a video window sprang up before Zhao Chen; it was the secretary officer Lilith.
Zhao Chen touched it open.
Lilith said with a grave look, "Commander, the latest word sent back by the interstellar stealth scouts at the front-line field.
"At several star gates within Demon Race territory a great quantity of warships has welled up.
"The number is reckoned at near two million, and rises without cease.
"And for the appearing of so many warships, the star gates they pass through have even fallen into congestion."
"Near two million Demon Race warships? Where has the Demon Race squeezed out so many warships from?" Zhao Chen was checked.
To have fought a war to this hour, and the Demon Race to have yet so many warships unused.
Which made Zhao Chen marvel the more at the industrial power hidden behind the Demon Race.
That power should properly not belong to the Demon Race at all; else, with a capacity to burst out some millions of warships within these few short months, and that quasi-T6 Destroyer besides.
The Demon Race would long since have held the power to make this universe one.
"These Demon Race warships that have appeared — are they all bound for the mechanical royal court's field?" Zhao Chen asked with drawn brows.
"Yes.
"Every one of them thrown into the Machine Race's field.
"The Machine Race has word of it too, and is at present making ready.
"The object of these two million Demon Race warships is not the mechanical royal court alone; they would destroy besides every star gate, star port and interstellar fortress about the mechanical royal court, and then open an attack at the same time from the mechanical royal court's other end.
"And under a strike from both sides, take the mechanical royal court," Lilith said, her face set.
Zhao Chen raised a hand and called up the Dragon Emperor's artificial intelligence, the Little Dragon Girl.
"Little Dragon Girl, put these figures into the simulated war-game; I would know how the field reckons out three days hence."
"Very well, Commander." The Little Dragon Girl set to work at once, putting these added figures into the field information she had, and then reckoning it through without cease.
And in the end the Little Dragon Girl gave out a string of results.
"If there be no interference from outside, the mechanical royal court will fall within ten days.
"And the whole of the Machine Race's territory will fall within one month," the Little Dragon Girl answered.
Zhao Chen asked, "And before the zeroth hour of July the first, how great a loss will the Machine Race pay?"
The Little Dragon Girl looked over the reckoning and said, "That depends upon whether the Machine Race fights conservatively or fights of its own motion.
"Fighting conservatively — that is, giving up certain places of strategic weight of their own accord — the Machine Race is reckoned within three days to show a loss of three hundred thousand warships; but the likelihood of the Machine Race choosing that course is exceedingly small.
"Fighting of its own motion is that at every local field the Machine Race fights to the end.
"Then the Machine Race's field losses within three days are reckoned at some four hundred thousand to five hundred thousand warships."
Hearing this result, Zhao Chen seemed to see the ten thousand task points that had already dropped into his own pocket fly away.
And flying away with them, the T6 shop!
No!
Such a thing may on no account be allowed to happen.
But should they fight conservatively, the mechanical royal court would in high likelihood fall — which is a thing he cannot accept either, and to which those two mechanical beauties of the Machine Race would assuredly never consent.
Then there is nothing for it but to find means to withstand the Demon Race's assault, and at the same time to lessen the Machine Race's own pressure.
Two ways came into Zhao Chen's mind.
"Get me the Machine Race and the Angel Race!
"At once, this instant!" Zhao Chen gave the order.
Time now is exceedingly precious; and for Zhao Chen's ten thousand task points, Zhao Chen must pay some price besides.
In this world there is indeed no bargain that gains without ever losing.
Thereafter, in an hour's negotiation, Zhao Chen persuaded first the Angel Race and then the Machine Race to fall in with his plan of battle.
First upon the Angel Race's side: at the first moment the Holy Dragon Angel Legion, led by the angel Tilia, was to open an attack upon an important star-gate junction within Demon Race territory.
To attack that junction can work upon the efficiency with which the Demon Race throws its forces across.
And so lessen the pressure upon the Machine Race's field.
And at the same time, upon the other side.
Certain guests appeared within the Owl Dragon Star System.
Zhao Chen looked at Ah-Yin before him and said with feeling, "The last time we met was upon your Machine Race's ground.
"I had not thought that this time we should meet in my own Owl Dragon Star System.
"How do you find the technology of the T5 Prisoner-class Heavy Interstellar Assault Battleship I gave you?"
Calling to mind their first meeting then, and looking at the case as it now stands.
Times have indeed changed and circumstances shifted.