Rakshasa-Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought · bridge.
Zhao Chen sat expressionless in the captain's chair.
This time, the miscalculation over the star's explosion had made the undead threat worse.
Above all, it had turned this undead host into a hot potato.
There was no way but to contain it.
And the other side, besides, could cling to a star and keep breeding its undead host without end.
To fight was wrong, and not to fight was wrong.
"If Mili ever learned how things stand now, she would likely plant herself in front of me with her hands on her hips and laugh at me. Her Machine Race host has barely left, and already this universe faces a threat," Zhao Chen murmured, mocking himself a little.
He did not know how things stood now on the Machine Race's side.
The Gate of Gaia was now wholly closed,[1] and neither side could learn how the other fared.
"Your Majesty, here is the plan for the defense lines to be raised around the Judgment Angel star system." Charlotte came before Zhao Chen.
She raised a hand, and a star map appeared before their eyes.
At its center lay the Judgment Angel star system, stained black; around it, six neighboring star systems.
Where the six neighbors met the Judgment Angel star system, yellow dotted lines could be seen, one after another.
These marked where the Owl Dragon meant to raise its defense lines.
Zhao Chen swept his eyes over it.
He could make out close to fifty defense lines.[2]
Though they were divided, too, into thick lines and thin ones.
Charlotte explained from beside him: "I have set the defense lines as primary and secondary. There are six primary lines in all, the six points facing the Judgment Angel star system most closely. These six primary lines are held by the First, Second, and Third Legions under the Owl Dragon First Legion Fleet Group. The Fourth Legion is responsible for the remaining thirty-six secondary lines, and stands ready at all times to support the fighting on the primary lines."
Zhao Chen looked over this whole set of arrangements and asked, somewhat worried, "Defended like this, it is certainly sound. But you have put the whole Owl Dragon First Legion Fleet Group here. Will that not leave other places short of forces?"
At present the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had only three Legion Fleet Groups in all, and the Third Legion Fleet Group was stationed where the Empire bordered the two Hive Nests.
That left only two Legion Fleet Groups.
And now the First Legion Fleet Group must hold against the threat of the undead host in the Judgment Angel star system.
All that remained free to deploy was the Second Legion Fleet Group.
"For now, the Owl Dragon Second Legion Fleet Group can still hold down the other places in the Empire where the undead threat has appeared. Because of this star's case, I have given Chu Xuan's Owl Dragon Second Legion Fleet Group new combat orders: in the other star systems the undead threaten, use containment, just as against those permanent cosmic bug-nests, and keep the undead's numbers within a safe range. We have much experience of the whole procedure; it is very like dealing with the hive-race inside the cosmic bug-nests, except that one must take a little care not to be touched by these undead armies, and be infected and converted. And as the undead in the other star systems are not strong at present, that Legion Fleet Group of ours[3] can deal with them well enough; only, over a long stretch, it will be a very great test of our ammunition supply and logistics," Charlotte said.
She had analyzed every problem, and laid out both the advantages and the risks to Zhao Chen one by one.
"In other words, our greatest problem at present is making sure the logistics supply runs smoothly," Zhao Chen said.
"Yes. I have a feeling the Hive Nests will never let so rare a chance slip by. They are sure to launch an attack at some moment soon. I have already warned Commander Medusa of the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group, and the alert patrols along the border have been stepped up. But once war breaks out with the hive-race, as we all know, the drain on ammunition is enormous. By then we may have to deal with fighting on several fronts. And once anything goes wrong with the logistics lines, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire we have only just founded may face very great hardship," Charlotte said gravely.
Zhao Chen frowned.
Ever since the Machine Race withdrew, one threat after another had appeared before Zhao Chen and the newly founded Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire.
That it was chance, Zhao Chen did not believe.
"Hmph. Order. If all this is your doing, well played. But if you think this alone will finish me, I tell you: it cannot be done!" Zhao Chen said through clenched teeth.
He looked to Charlotte. "If all of this comes to pass, do we still have a chance?"
Charlotte nodded. "We do. Suppose all of the above comes to pass: most likely those who have gone over to Order will seize the chance to strike at our logistics lines or our transit starports. So we must be ready for everything. Suppose the Institute confirms that the T6 Supernova Ultimate Bomb works against the stars the undead control, then that is our chance. We must hold out until the first batch of T6 Supernova Ultimate Bombs is built, and root out the threat within, the undead, completely. And in the course of it we must root out every threat that dares show itself in this stretch to make trouble for us. That, I think, can go to Zhao Waner's Shadow Hunter ace fleet group, with her interstellar warships working alongside our intelligence network. As for the troubles that crop up on the battlefield then, that depends on how we play the aces in our hand. The first three months will be the hardest. But so long as we hold out through the first three months, we can root out every one of these threats!" Charlotte said, full of confidence.
Three months…
The timing was in fact rather delicate.
For Zhao Chen knew that in three months a large batch of T6-grade interstellar warships would come off the line into service.
By then the whole Owl Dragon Empire fleet would be raised a step further.
And at the same time, several T6 flagships would come off the line and join the Owl Dragon's active legion fleets.
That would be the Owl Dragon's chance to strike back.
"Charlotte, all this I leave to you. But…" Zhao Chen fixed his eyes on Charlotte's already rounded belly and warned her very gravely, "take good care of our children. Do not let yourself grow too busy; hand things off to your subordinates. Remember: your body now carries not only your own life, but our two children as well!"
Zhao Chen's expression was very grave.
It was a look seldom seen on his face.
Charlotte stroked Zhao Chen's face, then touched her own belly. "Do not worry. Even if not for my own sake — for our children, and for you — I will take good care of myself! We will get through this trial!"