Dividing themselves by means of the fixed stars!
Hearing this, Charlotte and Lilith were more astonished still.
"Upon this the institute has made trial as well. They built a single-use artificial star. And then put undead into the chamber that held it. And so arrived at this conclusion." Zhao Chen set the records before the two women.
This was another record of experiment.
Within a vast experimental chamber there could be seen an artificial star, but of a bulk hardly greater than a football.
And very soon several undead of human shape were driven in.
Having entered the chamber, these undead drew of their own accord toward that artificial star in the middle, as though something there drew them.
Once near the artificial star, their bodies began to go half-liquid; and at the last, under the eyes of them all, split into two things exactly alike.
The whole process was very quick.
As though, when you looked at the undead the first time, it was still a single body.
When you looked the second time, you seemed in your confusion to see a doubled image.
And at the third glance, there were two undead before you, exactly alike.
The speed of the division was exceedingly fast!
"So fast? Then at that rate, one into two, two into four, four into eight…" A look of terror came over Lilith.
Zhao Chen said: "This division is not without end. First, it consumes the star's energy. Take our institute's artificial star: by observation, when these undead divide they consume the star's energy at the same time, and in some measure hasten the star's aging. Which is to say that once a star is spent, these undead can divide no further, unless they find another star. And the stronger the individual undead, the longer its division takes and the more stellar energy it needs."
Lilith let out something of a breath.
Charlotte said gravely: "Put so, all these arrangements of the enemy's make sense. These undead are, in effect, a virus Order has set within us. And the stars are the catalyst of that virus. They mean to divide these undead without cease by means of the stars, and form a vast and mighty undead army. And then, by slaughter, convert our lives and our warships, and expand that undead army further. And even seek out more stars!"
Zhao Chen nodded: "That is broadly the case. Once these undead run rampant, it will be quite a thorny problem. And at the same time, if our warships are converted into undead starships. Then…"
"Then our own excellent Owl Dragon-line warships become a blade pointed at us," said Charlotte.
Zhao Chen nodded; never once had he thought that his fleet's strength might one day become a double-edged sword.
Perhaps that is the very nature of this undead threat.
The stronger the enemy, the stronger the undead fleet they may come by!
"In this case. We must strangle this undead virus within a certain compass. They cannot be let grow further! Otherwise, if they come to control too many systems and stars, their threat will rise by the power of ten!" Zhao Chen said gravely.
Charlotte nodded: "I understand. I shall alter the plan of battle at once. Upon condition that we hold the blockade of these undead-controlled regions, we shall clear them out one by one!"
"I leave it to you. Lilith, you take charge of the Empire's logistics, and give Charlotte's military dispositions your whole support!" Zhao Chen charged them.
"Aye!"
Zhao Chen stared at the interstellar holo-table before him, upon which at least ten stars were now marked as blackened, or blackening.
"At need, a star fouled by the undead may be destroyed outright," Zhao Chen said in a low voice.
Charlotte's and Lilith's faces grew somewhat heavy.
To destroy a star is, for the people of that system, a calamity past all remedy.
"The mechanism of compensation, and the resettling of the evacuated inhabitants afterward, are yours to carry out, Lilith. The Empire is newly founded, and there must be no unsettling of men's hearts!" Zhao Chen looked at Lilith.
To destroy a star is a thing done for want of any other course, and such an act must bring a train of ill effects behind it; so a way must be found to bring those effects to the least.
"For the inhabitants of systems whose home star is destroyed. The Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire will give generous terms of resettlement. They shall have at the least three choices. To stay in their homeland and rebuild it: though the want of a star will change the ecology of many planets, we can use the T5 Creator-class interstellar warships to remake those planets to suit the new conditions. Planets fit to live upon even without a star. To these people we shall give at the least thirty years of living allowance, and arrangement of work. The second is removal to another star system; for those who remove, we shall arrange work and housing directly in the new system, and at the least twenty years of living allowance. The third, for those with ambition, is that they may be placed directly in important posts within the Fifteen Owl Dragon Star Regions; and where they want ability or skill, we shall train them without charge. In the course of it we shall likewise give at the least thirty years of living allowance."
At present the development of the Fifteen Owl Dragon Star Regions has been the most sought-after employment in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
Every time a plan of recruitment is published, there are close on millions contending for a single post!
For to work in the Fifteen Owl Dragon Star Regions is to gain outright the standing of a direct employee of the Owl Dragon Empire, and the terms of that are another thing altogether!
"Do as you have said." Zhao Chen nodded.
There was a price to be borne, but it lay within what could be accepted.
Zhao Chen did not forget to add: "Remember to have the greatest care for those two hive-race nests; on no account let this undead crisis slacken our watch. Be wary of the possibility that they strike from both sides at once!"
Charlotte nodded: "There is no need to fear upon that point. The Owl Dragon Legion's Third Fleet Group is at present charged expressly with guarding against those two hive-race nests. I do not for the present mean to use the Third Fleet Group in this undead crisis. I shall chiefly move the First and Second Fleet Groups, and where matters stand worst, consider mobilizing an ace legion."
Zhao Chen nodded.
Charlotte, as a five-star marshal, still held as before the right to dispose and deploy every fleet of the Owl Dragon Legion.
"Make ready for battle. This is the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's first war. Let it be fought handsomely!"
"Aye!"