Having dealt with some of the busy affairs the newly founded Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had brought forth,
Zhao Chen at last found the time to seek out the three Owl Dragon chief engineers.
Within the office of the T5 Galaxy-class Large Interstellar Industrial Base, Chief Engineer Nana and Chief Engineer Spider Queen Iris had long been waiting here, and could hardly wait for Zhao Chen to come.
Annie, for her part, sat in a chair swinging both legs, with no expression whatever upon her face.
Those two eyes of hers, showing nothing, seemed to have seen through the whole of life.
She knew well that at the opening of a year, the Commander, no, he should be called the Emperor now.
For the Emperor to come seeking them out could mean one thing only.
And that was the laying out of the new year's production plan, and the bringing forth of a fresh series of starship technologies.
Recalling every year gone by, it had been very nearly so each time.
Painful, and joyful with it.
Enjoying the holiday at the turn of the year upon the one hand, and upon the other facing an opening to the new year that was as a nightmare.
Annie knew this was a thing not to be avoided.
All she could hope now was that His Majesty the Emperor might lay his hand upon them more lightly this time.
Tramp, tramp, tramp.
The sound of footsteps came, and Zhao Chen walked into the office in a suit of magnificent dress.
Annie looked at the Emperor in some astonishment; every other time she had seen Zhao Chen, he had been in plain clothes for the most part, or else in the Owl Dragon-pattern uniform.
It was the first time she had seen Zhao Chen appear here in these magnificent clothes.
And say what you will, there was a gallant and handsome air about it.
If, in a little while, he would refrain from adding to their production tasks for the new year.
That would be handsomer still.
"Your Majesty." The two chief engineers made their salute with one voice.
Annie was first to hop down onto the floor, and then made her salute meekly.
Zhao Chen nodded: "Be seated. What we speak of is a matter of industrial technology; there is no need to mind these forms and ceremonies."
In truth Zhao Chen greatly disliked this very formal dress upon him.
But it could not be helped; his standing was not what it had been.
Wherever he might be, he must mind the image he showed to others.
Before this he had been only a lord, and the commander of a legion fleet.
And now he was the strongest Emperor of this universe.
"Aye." Chief Engineer Spider Queen Iris was the first to sit down in a chair.
Chief Engineer Annie, for her part, turned about, took hold of the chair with both hands, laid the upper half of herself over it first, and then, leaning upon gravity, contrived to climb up onto it.
The whole proceeding looked exceedingly comical.
While Chief Engineer Nana beside her gave a light tap upon the device at her wrist, whereupon her body floated up outright and settled slowly into her chair,
with nothing at all of Chief Engineer Annie's comical business about it.
"You…" Chief Engineer Annie looked at her sister's composure.
"Hovering shoes. Are they so very hard to build?" Chief Engineer Nana said, light as a drifting cloud.
Chief Engineer Annie was checked, for she had never set her own weight upon such things in private; the whole of her thought went upon how she might eat and play more enjoyably.
"This year the core of our manufacture will rise from the T5 stage to the T6 technological stage. So there will be a great many new T6 technological weapons and equipment to be built." So Zhao Chen said, and raised his arm as he spoke.
Images of light were cast forth one after another.
The first of them was a vast interstellar city, very much in the style of a mechanical making.
And above the projection there were words setting out what it was.
【T6 Steel Star City】
【Flagship-model T6 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship】
【T6 Seraph-Ballista-class Interstellar Long-Range Hunter-Killer Ship】
【Flagship-model T6 Demon Emperor Carrier Starship】
【Flagship-model T6 Gluttonous Demon King Starship】
【T6 Supernova Ultimate Bomb】
【T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starship】
【T6 Lord-of-Thunder-class Heavy Interstellar Destroyer】
These eight T6 technologies were set out before them.
Chief Engineer Nana's and Chief Engineer Spider Queen Iris's eyes shone, as though they had seen some great treasure.
Chief Engineer Annie covered her face with both hands, unable to believe what lay before her.
So many of them!
Was one to be left alive at all?
There was simply no working at this post any longer.
Zhao Chen began to set out these new technological makings briefly.
"The T6 Steel Star City is a building project we must chiefly finish at the beginning of this year. For it can greatly quicken the efficiency with which we build T6-grade interstellar warships. This is of the first importance."
"The Hades is at present in the stage of her upgrading. Once the Hades has been remade successfully, we may make ready to upgrade the Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship. And at the same time build the other two flagships, the T6 Gluttonous Demon King Starship and the T6 Demon Emperor Carrier Starship."
"The T6 Supernova Ultimate Bomb, this weapon matters greatly too, though it can be used but once. Its effect is exceedingly good, and we must lay up a certain number of them. They are a strategic necessity!"
"The T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starship. This is an auxiliary-type interstellar warship, and our own grain supply is ample enough at present. But considering that the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire is only newly founded. With the map so suddenly enlarged, there are more places we must see to. Above all upon the Demon Race's side. And grain is the best means of control. So, for the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's stability, we must greatly increase the output of grain. This T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starship, unimportant as it seems, will be the weightiest thing of all at the founding of our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire!"
"Last, these two mass-production T6 interstellar warships. The T6 Seraph-Ballista-class Interstellar Long-Range Hunter-Killer Ship and the T6 Lord-of-Thunder-class Heavy Interstellar Destroyer are the key to raising the Owl Dragon Legion's fighting power. We must build a certain number of T6 interstellar warships. Above all these two classes, which may serve a most critical use in the war to come against the interstellar hive-race!" Zhao Chen said in earnest.
Of these seven technologies he had brought forth,[1] two had in fact only just been had in exchange.
Those were the 【T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starship】 and the 【T6 Lord-of-Thunder-class Heavy Interstellar Destroyer】; though to be exact there should be three.
Upon the strength of the three exchange slots that refresh each quarter, Zhao Chen, with his ample purse, had exchanged for them outright.
But only two of the technologies were displayed before the three chief engineers.
That was because the remaining one was not fit to be shown.
"With these interstellar technologies, our Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's strength can be raised quickly!" Chief Engineer Nana was beside herself with excitement.
Her whole heart was now thrown into the Owl Dragon's work of industry and building; to build more interstellar warships and more interstellar makings for the Owl Dragon Empire and for the Emperor was, to her, a thing of the greatest happiness.
"It is so. And to increase what the Owl Dragon can build, we must plan and arrange it as a whole. For our time now is of the first importance!" Zhao Chen said gravely.
In three months the Machine Race would withdraw utterly from this universe.
And then every crisis within this universe would have to be faced by the Owl Dragon Empire alone.
"Understood! What requirements have you?" Chief Engineer Nana said in earnest.
Seeing Chief Engineer Nana so decided,
Zhao Chen came straight to the point and set out his requirements.
"First: the two flagship-model interstellar warships must be delivered before the middle of the year."
Chief Engineer Annie had said nothing all this while, but she was listening to it all.
For these things must in the end be borne upon her shoulders.
"Second: the enlargement of those industrial facilities below T5 I leave to you. But of the T6 Steel Star City, at least three must be delivered before the middle of the year. And before the year's end, at least ten!"
Chief Engineer Annie swallowed.
"Third: the production of the Purple-Gold Eden-class Starship you must not let fall behind either. I know there are many building tasks; but so far as it does not touch those combat-type interstellar warships and the enlargement of the starship works and other such important production. On the average each month, at least ten T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starships must be delivered to the Eden Grain Trade Group. And before the year's end, at least a hundred and fifty!"
Chief Engineer Annie's body gave a shudder; but at the thought that these were T6 Purple-Gold Eden-class Starships, she could comfort herself a little.
This was so that better foodstuffs might be had!
Such a labor was worth it after all.
"Fourth: of the two mass-production T6 interstellar warships, at least ten must be built and delivered into service before March. Within half a year the number must reach at least thirty. And before the year's end, the whole Owl Dragon Legion must have a hundred T6 combat-type interstellar warships in service. If further building technologies for T6 interstellar warships come after, I shall tell you immediately, and they will be added to this production plan."
A hundred T6 interstellar warships!
Annie felt in an instant that this year of her life would be without sun or sky.
"That will be all for the present," Zhao Chen said slowly.
For the present?
You call this for the present!
Explain to me properly what is meant by for the present!
So Annie shouted, pointing at Zhao Chen's nose.
But this was only Annie's fancy; she sat there dazed, as though turned to stone.
"Your Majesty may set his mind at rest. These building plans we shall plan and arrange as a whole. We guarantee that every production task will be completed to time and to measure. Within three days we shall draw up a full production plan for the coming year, and set it before you then."
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction; then something came into his mind, and he added a word: "Ah yes. Since the Machine Race's territory has all been taken over by us. And a good many of the building and industrial facilities within it have been withdrawn. So we shall need a great many interstellar transports, interstellar mining ships, and industrial works besides. These too you may need to take charge of building. And not the Machine Race's territory alone, there is the resumption of work and production within the Demon Race's territory, and the upgrading of industry within the Angel Race and the three great empires."
Within herself, Annie was in ruins.
Is this never to be finished! Is one to be left alive at all! If no one holds me back, I shall have it out with you here and now!
And what made it more hateful still, at this very moment.
A voice came from beside her, full of solemn assurance.
"Very well. None of this is any trouble."
No trouble?
Annie turned her head in amazement and looked at this dear sister of hers.
You say there is no trouble without so much as thinking?
Yet it must be owned that in one respect she came nowhere near her sister.
And that was that Nana could always find some way to fit whatever building task Zhao Chen set down into the production plan, and finish the whole of it besides!
In this, Annie truly and deeply admired her.
"Then I leave it to you." Zhao Chen looked at the three chief engineers.
Then, having settled a few simple matters, he left.
"Waaah… there is no living at this. There is simply no living at this." Annie fell straight down upon the floor and rolled about without cease.
Chief Engineer Nana looked at her elder sister lying there like a salted fish, and hauled her up by the collar without the least ceremony: "Come along. It is time to work."
"Nana, I break with you! I shall sever our sisterhood!"
"If you would break with me, finish this year's building plan first."
"Waaah… Nana! In your eyes, which matters more: your elder sister, or these building plans?"
"His Majesty's building plans, of course."
"…o(╥﹏╥)o…"
Back upon the Dragon Emperor's bridge.
Zhao Chen looked at the imperial throne, walked silently up to it, and sat.
The Dragon Emperor's bridge had undergone a small remaking.
This throne could be set upon the bridge.
And the sofa Zhao Chen had been used to was long since nowhere to be seen.
"You have settled it with the three chief engineers." Lilith came before Zhao Chen and asked.
"I have; it is all settled. They will draw up the building plan within three days. Lilith, you must reckon out whether our resource yield each month can meet the needs of our industrial building," Zhao Chen reminded her.
Lilith nodded, and gave her assurance: "I shall certainly finish that reckoning within three days, and work together with the three chief engineers. I guarantee this year's building plan shall go forward smoothly."
At this Charlotte came over, with several legion marshals behind her.
"Your Majesty." The several legion marshals all made their salute to Zhao Chen.
"You may dispense with the ceremony," said Zhao Chen; and as he said it, he was somewhat ill at ease.
"Upon the plan for building the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's military system, we have talked it over. And have broadly arrived at a draft. Look it over, if you will." Charlotte raised her hand, and an electronic screen appeared, and upon it was the rough plan these veteran legion marshals had settled among them.
For it was the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire now, and no longer the Owl Dragon of before.
At the same time, by the agreement, the rights of war and of diplomacy of every interstellar territory under the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire must be given over to the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
So the military system of the whole universe must be established anew.
"We have determined upon a five-grade military system. Fifth grade · lesser-lord fleets. These are the most basic, charged chiefly with keeping order within their several territories; they may not leave the bounds of their own territory without orders, and the number of ships a fleet may hold must pass our examination. Broadly it is the number of legion fleets those interstellar powers already hold, and some part of it may be adjusted afterward. Fourth grade · great-lord fleets. These are built upon the lesser-lord fleets. Take the three great kingdoms: beneath a kingdom there are not a few territories besides, and the lords of those are the lesser lords. While one such as Queen Qin Xiaolei belongs among the great lords, and their armies are renamed great-lord fleets. Chiefly they hold rule, upon her behalf, over that one great territory of theirs. Third grade…"