Zhao Chen, in the middle of his escort duty,
suddenly received a message.
A video window opened.
The general from before appeared once more.
"General." Zhao Chen drew himself up properly.
He was another man's subordinate now, and naturally had to behave.
The general's face was somewhat gloomy; having seen Zhao Chen, he said nothing for a long while.
Zhao Chen did not speak either.
A man of such standing does not call on you without cause.
Their Eighteenth Squadron had already been told to rest here, so there should be nothing else to discuss.
However well Zhao Chen had done, he was only a fighter pilot, the leader of one squadron.
For a general and commander to spare the time to commend him was rare enough.
To be contacted again now,
surely meant nothing good.
"Zhao Chen. There is a very hard task now. After thinking it over, I believe only you can carry it out." The general spoke at last.
Just as he thought: nothing good.
Zhao Chen's heart sank, but rank crushes rank, and Zhao Chen had no right to refuse.
He asked directly, "What is the task, General?"
"We have word that the enemy's fleet reinforcements will arrive early. If those reinforcements reach this battlefield now, we cannot destroy this industrial base entirely, nor withdraw safely. So we need someone to lead a body of fighters and intercept that relief fleet, and buy us at least half an hour! After our screening, we believe you are the best choice."
Hearing the general out, Zhao Chen swore inwardly.
He had known it: do not show off, or nothing good comes of it.
But with the man saying it outright, Zhao Chen could not possibly refuse.
He could only ask, "May I ask how many warships the enemy's relief fleet has?"
"Thirty thousand."
Zhao Chen's face grew gloomier still.
Hold off thirty thousand warships with fighters alone?
"How many fighters can you give me?" Zhao Chen asked.
Since the task could not be refused, Zhao Chen had to understand exactly what it was.
Seeing this, the general simply told Zhao Chen everything.
Hearing it, Zhao Chen felt all the more like flipping the table.
Hold off thirty thousand enemy warships for half an hour, and among those thirty thousand were three that looked to be quasi-T6, three hundred T5, five thousand T4, and the rest T3.
And what Zhao Chen was given was one million fighters!
There were thirty million drones besides.
"Could the number of fighters not be increased a little?" Zhao Chen ventured.
The general shook his head helplessly. "For this operation we mustered thirty million fighters in all. Setting aside the bombers, scouts, supply transports and other types. The true fighters number only twenty million. And in crossing the great belt, and attacking the two thousand enemy ships' position. We have already lost ten million. And in this industrial base two or three hundred enemy ships are still struggling on, and attacking the base's defensive installations needs fighter support too. So all we can give you here is one million fighters."
Zhao Chen frowned a moment, then said, "General, this task is very hard."
"Zhao Chen! The General is not discussing it with you. It is an order. An order you will carry out whatever happens." Just then a gloomy, haughty voice came from beyond the video window.
Zhao Chen frowned.
The general glared at whoever stood outside the frame.
Then looked at Zhao Chen with some shame. "I know this task is very hard. But from your command of the Eighteenth Squadron, I believe you are the fittest man for it. Of course, you may also refuse. If so, I can only send someone else, and the result is not to be known. But whatever happens, even if we are wiped out to the last, this industrial base must be destroyed entirely. Not a result we wish for. But it is our mission this time!"
The general's words set Zhao Chen over a fire.
So that taking the task would not do, and refusing it would not do.
Take it, and the task was plainly very hard.
Refuse.
And by the general's attitude, destroying this industrial complex was something he was set on.
At which point whether Zhao Chen could leave at all would not be his to decide.
At last Zhao Chen said, "General, I am willing to take this task."
Better to hold one's fate in one's own hands than leave it to others.
"Excellent!" Seeing Zhao Chen accept, the general was greatly moved.
He said, "Rest assured, I will not treat you badly. From this moment you are promoted to major! So long as you can hold half an hour. When we are back I will put you up for merit. A senior colonel at the least!"
The promise the general made just then,
left the staff officers around him astonished, every one.
The man who had spoken so haughtily a moment before hurried to argue, but one glare from the general drove him back.
What does a senior colonel mean?
Above senior colonel comes brigadier general,
which is this general's own rank.
Meaning that this Zhao Chen might even hope to command a starship legion outright.
In the Star Alliance's history there had never been a legend of such a rate of promotion!
"General, these rewards do not matter. I can take this task. But I have several conditions," Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Name them!" the general said without hesitation.
"First, whatever my present rank, and whatever the ranks of the squadron leaders among the million fighters I command. They obey my orders without condition!" Zhao Chen said.
"No difficulty! I will give you an authorization. Here, you are equal to me!" the general agreed outright.
"In the fighting, whatever order I give. Even if it is extreme, even if I send all million fighters on what amounts to a death mission. Not even you may interfere!" Zhao Chen said.
The general was taken aback, but said, "Very well! I agree. From this moment even I will not interfere with any order of yours."
"One last condition." Zhao Chen paused. "The Eighteenth Squadron takes no part in this mission."