That was right!
Zhao Chen meant to use the T3 Blizzard for this rescue plan, for in the rescue plan he'd just laid out, the T3 Blizzard was, beyond doubt, the most fitting.
But this would mean Zhao Chen taking an enormous risk.
First was the risk of the rescue task itself; second was the risk of Zhao Chen exposing that he possessed a T3-grade warship.
That Zhao Chen possessed T2 ships of unknown origin was one thing — but now Zhao Chen was bringing out a T3 ship of unknown origin besides.
This would surely draw outsiders' notice, and in so great a rescue operation there'd simply be no hiding it!
But, as Zhao Chen had just said—
Some things, even knowing them fraught with peril, a great gamble, one must still do!
Zhao Chen sprang aboard a flying-car and keyed in the starport as destination.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps came from behind; Chu Xuan caught up to Zhao Chen in her haste and, before the car set off, clambered in with him. "Zhao Chen, you must keep calmer. I know you're deeply worried for your sister's safety, but you have to think of yourself too, don't you. The teachers' words were a touch cruel, but… but… that's a kind of reality too, isn't it. Would you have your sister know that, to go and save her, you threw away your own life? If that were so, I believe your sister would surely not wish to see you do such a thing! On my side I'll find a way to reach the imperial military; I'll have them speed the mustering of the imperial fleet. They could even form a fast rescue fleet to go in support, carrying out the rescue plan you just described — and I can go to my grandfather too and ask him to spare a T4 ship. Just give me a little time, all right!"
The flying-car set out for the destination Zhao Chen had set, racing straight for the starport.
Zhao Chen looked at Chu Xuan. "What we lack right now is exactly time! Perhaps everything you've just said you could truly do — but it would take far too much time. My sister and the others can't wait!"
"But…" Chu Xuan still meant to talk Zhao Chen round.
"Chu Xuan — if you want to help me, then I'll trouble you to do one thing," Zhao Chen said in earnest.
"Say it; so long as I can help you, I'll do it," Chu Xuan said sincerely.
Zhao Chen said, "Please pass word to your grandfather, the Chu River Governor, for me — say that I'm willing to cooperate with the Chu family."
"Now's not the moment to talk cooperation or no… what's before us is…" Just as Chu Xuan was speaking—
—the flying-car reached its destination; Zhao Chen sprang straight out and walked toward the starport berths.
Chu Xuan followed close behind. "Even if you mean to go save people, with your two T2 ships, how are you going to do it?"
"Who said I mean to use T2 ships to save them?" Zhao Chen halted; through the transparent glass of the starport gallery he looked at the cosmos outside.
At this moment, an enormous warship had appeared at some point outside the Northstar Academy starport — but it hadn't entered the port, only hovered there.
Merely hovering, and yet like a resplendent star!
"That's…" Chu Xuan looked in astonishment at that warship in its blue-and-white two-tone paint.
The hull ran about a kilometer long, its whole body showing a graceful arc, for all the world like a keen sword, an arrow's fletching!
On the hull one could see a main gun and several secondary guns, missile-launch silos, and other weapon modules besides.
To speak truly, the first moment Chu Xuan laid eyes on this warship, she was left breathless by the ship's hull design — it was truly beautiful!
Of all the warships she'd seen, there was none more beautiful than it.
Like a holy maiden!
"Commander, sir — we're over here!" A call came just then.
A shuttle had already docked at the starport's express entrance; Secretary Lilith was waving at Zhao Chen without let-up.
This was a shuttle from the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship; Zhao Chen had instructed Lilith early on to pilot a shuttle and wait here.
"Everything else, we'll talk after I return," With that, Zhao Chen ran off in haste toward the shuttle and strode straight into the cabin.
"Quick! Let's go!"
Because the T3 Blizzard entering port to dock and then setting out again would take a great deal of time, Zhao Chen simply hadn't had the T3 Blizzard come in, but transferred to the shuttle instead.
"That ship really is yours? That's a T3 ship, isn't it?"
Just as the shuttle lifted off, a voice came from behind Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen whipped his head around, and — of all things — saw that Chu Xuan too was aboard the craft.
"How did you get on?" Zhao Chen was taken aback.
Chu Xuan spread her hands. "My grandfather told me to keep an eye on you; naturally I have to follow you."
"Do you know where I'm going now? Would your grandfather let you follow me on so dangerous a thing?" Zhao Chen shot back.
Were the Chu River Governor to know, he'd surely never let Chu Xuan be so reckless.
The danger-grade this time far outstripped that earlier Grade-2 cosmic bug-nest affair!
"I'm only following my grandfather's instructions," Chu Xuan said. "What's more, with me, the eldest miss of the Chu family, along, your going to the Water-Lily Star System afterward will be a great deal more convenient. Else, using the star-gates of the systems along the way, you'd have to queue. You said it yourself — right now the most important thing is time."
Zhao Chen covered his face; this eldest miss truly was mad. He looked at Chu Xuan in earnest. "You're sure you want to follow me? Bear in mind, this time I'm going to a place the interstellar bug-race holds. I can't vouch for your safety! It's not too late to regret it now — in a moment you can pilot the shuttle back!"
Chu Xuan, at this moment, looked at Zhao Chen just as earnestly. "I'm in earnest too. The teachers and students of the two academies' fleet are all the empire's future elite. As an imperial soldier, I have a duty to guard their safety. So — please let me take part in this rescue operation of yours! I'll heed your orders, and use my ability to help you as best I can!"
Nearly forgot — this was an eldest miss brimming to bursting with a sense of justice.
Still, what Chu Xuan had just said was true too; with her along, it could indeed spare a great deal of trouble.
"Then you stay at my side, and you're not to leave my sight! Understood!" Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Yes! Commander, sir!" Chu Xuan straightened up, laid a hand over her chest, and gave Zhao Chen a standard imperial-military salute.
"Oh, right — what's this T3 ship of yours called?" Chu Xuan pointed at the warship this shuttle of theirs was now flying toward.
"The Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser."
……
"Look, quick — that one looks like a T3 ship!"
"This warship's so gorgeous! And I've never seen a warship of this model!"
"That crest on the ship is so familiar — where have I seen it before?"
At the Northstar Academy, no few people caught sight of that never-before-seen warship docked out in the cosmos.
Jiang Shasha looked at this warship; when she saw that all-too-familiar crest, her expression was quite a sight.
That was… the Owl Dragon crest!
How could it be?
A poor Owl Dragon System — how could it possess a T3-grade ship!
Jiang Shasha lifted her head, gazing up through the academy skydome at that warship, unwilling to believe this T3 warship belonged to that man.