The T6 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship · the bridge
"It can be confirmed now: it's the Devourer Civilization's invading fleet!" Secretary-Officer Lilith stood beside Zhao Chen and said it gravely.
Zhao Chen looked at the interstellar holo-table before him, covering the whole Owl Dragon Empire, on which the situation everywhere in the Owl Dragon Empire was clearly marked.
Three red areas could be seen, the most conspicuous of all.
Lilith pointed at these three areas beside him, and detailed battlefield data surfaced over them at once.
"At present the areas the enemy is invading are just these three. Area XQ003 is the Northern Luoyang Battlefield, Luoyang System 02. Area XY771 is the Western Jinling Battlefield, the Millermo System. Area XM981 is the Eastern Kaifeng Battlefield, the Manticore System. Of these, Luoyang System 02 is rather special. It's very near the Luoyang System, where Luoyang City lies, and very near Luoyang System No. 08 too, where the universe star gate to and from the Sacred Elf Empire is being built. As of now, Marshal Xue Xiaoxiao, commander of the Owl Dragon Fourth Legion Fleet Group, has already sent forces to Luoyang System 02, to make sure the enemy's invasion doesn't threaten Luoyang City or the star gate under construction. On the other two battlefields, the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group and the Owl Dragon Second Legion Fleet Group have each, by the original battle plan, gone at once in support to steady the situation!"
At this point a hologram of Charlotte beside Zhao Chen spoke. "Though the Devourer Civilization's invading fleets that have appeared on the three battlefields so far haven't passed a hundred thousand warships on any, at the present rate of increase, and by the intelligence the Sacred Elf Empire shared before, we make a first estimate of the enemy's fleet at five million warships. So we must be ready for the worst, and make our dispositions ahead of time. Given how important the Luoyang System 02 battlefield is, I'll lead the Reverse Scale ace fleet group in person, with the Owl Dragon Fifth Legion Fleet Group and corps fleets from the Queen of the Starry Sky ace fleet group and the Hell-Angel ace fleet group, to support that battlefield. Besides that, I suggest the Owl Dragon First Legion Fleet Group go at once to support the Millermo System battlefield, and the Owl Dragon Sixth Legion Fleet Group the Manticore System battlefield. The Queen of the Starry Sky ace fleet group and the Hell-Angel ace fleet group, those two ace fleet groups, each divide into five. The three battlefields each get three of them, and the remaining two wait for the next order, to be moved as the battlefields' actual situation requires. The Blizzard ace fleet group and the Shadow Hunter ace fleet group are on standby too; the enemy hasn't shown all its moves yet, and we can't bring out all our hole cards either!"
Zhao Chen agreed.
"And besides, there's the elf legions' side. I've already explained the present situation to that Flame Elf Queen. The Flame Elf Queen says that of the five million warships in her hand, she's willing to send a million elf warships to each battlefield first, straight away. The remaining two million elf warships wait for how the battlefields change next before being assigned. That way we make sure every one of the three battlefields has at least two million warships of our camp. That way, even if the enemy truly sends five million warships to every battlefield, we're the defending side, and can still hold the initiative on the battlefield! We adapt as things come!"
"Mm; do as you say," Zhao Chen said.
Charlotte's hologram dispersed for the time being.
Zhao Chen looked at Lilith. "We heard before that the Devourer Civilization has a technological creation called the 'Soul Altar,' which it can use to form Pitch-Black Legion fleets. Has this thing appeared on the battlefield now?"
Lilith said, "We're all watching closely for this 'Soul Altar' too. The moment it appears on a battlefield, it'll be reported at once."
Zhao Chen lowered his head and went on watching the Owl Dragon Empire's interstellar holo-table; those three red areas on it were like three fires burning on a peaceful grassland,
with every sign of meaning to burn the whole grassland down.
……
The Manticore System
This stretch of starry space, once so wide and open, was now 'riddled with holes,' and squadron after squadron of the Devourer Civilization's invading fleets appeared in this stretch of starry space.
And not far off, the defenders here had made ready long since.
At the same time, from a star gate in the distance, interstellar legion fleets were coming in support without end.
At some point the warships coming in support had changed from Owl Dragon-line warships to elven warships.
Squadron after squadron of elf legion fleets appeared here.
"Go to battle stations at once."
The Sacred Elf Seventeenth Legion Fleet Group · the flagship's bridge
The fleet group commander, on reaching this battlefield, at once gave the fleet its order.
At the same time he looked out over this battlefield.
The Devourer Civilization's interstellar fleets:
they were no strangers to him.
Seeing these warships, this fleet group commander, who commanded a million warships, actually had fear flickering at the bottom of his eyes:
the fear of what he had once seen with his own eyes.
At the same time he also saw, on the other side, the Owl Dragon corps fleets formed up into battle formations in perfect order.
At the first glance this fleet group commander was taken aback; then he looked a while more closely, and his face went from indifference at first to disbelief.
"Report, Commander: a hundred thousand of our warships have arrived first. By contact with the star gate's managers, delivering the remaining nine hundred thousand warships is expected to take at least nine hours!" the adjutant beside him reported hurriedly.
But he saw his commander staring blankly at the Owl Dragon legions' battle positions.
He asked curiously, "Commander, do you want to contact the Owl Dragon Empire's commanders first?"
The fleet group commander stared at those Owl Dragon warships and said gravely, "I thought at first this Owl Dragon Empire only had some rather advanced warships. But it looks now as though their legion fleets' fighting discipline is very high too. Every corps fleet carries out its orders to the letter. In some ways they even do a little better than our elf legion fleets."
The adjutant looked over; it was indeed as the fleet group commander said; he thought a moment and said, "Perhaps it's because they've had combat experience lately."
The fleet group commander raised his hand. "Get me the supreme commander of the Owl Dragon Legion here."
"Yes."
Very soon two video windows appeared before him.
"Hello; I am Jeston, commander of the Sacred Elf Seventeenth Legion Fleet Group."
The two in the video windows opposite introduced themselves too.
"Medusa, commander of the Owl Dragon Fourth[1] Legion Fleet Group."
"Zhao Ruyue, commander of the Owl Dragon Sixth Legion Fleet Group."
Zhao Ruyue?
Hearing this name, the elf fleet group commander took a special look at this Marshal Zhao Ruyue.
For in their database there was a note that one of the Owl Dragon legion fleet group commanders was the Owl Dragon Emperor's own elder sister.
It seemed this was she.
"I've come on the Lady Flame Elf Queen's orders to support this battlefield. I'd like to ask you both about the battle dispositions to come," the elf fleet group commander asked gravely.
It had been stated in the alliance agreement before that each side's military fleets were commanded by its own commanders.
Marshal Medusa glanced first at Marshal Zhao Ruyue.
Zhao Ruyue said nothing.
She knew well how her standing differed; but by post alone, though she and Medusa were both Imperial marshals and fleet group commanders,
the other had far more seniority than she.
At a time like this it was naturally for the senior to speak first.
She could not steal the limelight just because she was the Owl Dragon Emperor's sister.
Medusa too spoke up at once. "Our higher-ups have discussed this point already. The basic principle is that, since our two sides' military fleets have no great understanding with each other yet, on the battlefield each fights its own fight as far as possible, bringing its own fighting style to bear. So for now we need only settle our battle objective. Our battle objective is to seal the battlefield within the Manticore System, and not let it spread. Within this battlefield, wear down the enemy's fleets as far as possible. For now, going by the present battlefield, I've laid out this line of defense in depth. Because of the abnormal electromagnetic reaction around the Devourer Civilization's spatial fold points, going into that area to fight may widen our own fleets' casualties. So for now, on this line of defense, we need only wear the enemy down with fire. And by the word I have, in the end you and I will gather two million warships between us here. And the enemy's number in the end will be five million. So my view is this: divide the two million warships we have here into four parts. My Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group and Marshal Zhao's Owl Dragon Sixth Legion Fleet Group make two parts. Your Sacred Elf Seventeenth Legion Fleet Group divides into two parts. We fight by rotation. One fights on the first defensive line, one stands ready on the second defensive line to take over, and the other two rest and refit on the third defensive line. That way we make sure each of our legion fleets can bring its own fighting power to bear on the battlefield. And at the same time rotation keeps our legion fleets in fairly good fighting condition. The first round of rotation is at intervals of three hours; if it needs changing later, we'll discuss and settle it. Starting with the fleet groups of our Owl Dragon Empire's side. How does that seem to Your Excellency?" Medusa set out her plan; it was also the combat system summed up after reporting to the Dragon Emperor.
In the main, all three battlefields used this pattern,
only with different lines of defense.
"No problem." The elf fleet group commander nodded; he agreed with this battle plan too.
That way, whoever had trouble in the fighting later would be plain to see.
There would be no passing the blame, dragging the others down, or even showing up without putting in the effort.
And so
this defensive battle formally began.
First on, naturally, was the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group, already in the fighting.
Five hundred thousand warships, in battle squares along the first line of defense, poured fire on the Devourer Civilization's fleets as they came without end.
Though the Devourer Civilization's fleets were still growing without pause, at least a good many of the enemy's warships were destroyed.
While the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group fought,
the command channel set up was kept open all along.
At this point the elf fleet group commander noticed too, to the rear and flank of the battlefield, two separate battle positions,
one spread with interstellar missile ships and one with carrier starships,
in very great numbers.
"Marshal Zhao, do these two fleets belong to your legion fleet group?" the elf fleet group commander asked.
Zhao Ruyue shook her head and explained, "These two fleets come from the Queen of the Starry Sky ace fleet group and the Hell-Angel ace fleet group respectively. Their combat task is to give us fire support on the battlefield. They're our trump card. If your side's fleets run into some thorny special situation while fighting, you can ask for fire support too."
The elf fleet group commander glanced at those warships.
He knew the firepower of interstellar missile ships.
But he did not think, for now, that his Sacred Elf fleet group needed these Owl Dragon Empire fleets' fire support.
The fighting on the battlefield went on.
One hour, two hours… three hours……
Very soon it was time to rotate.
At this point this elf fleet group commander watched the rotation on the battlefield closely.
For mind: this battle plan sounded very good; by rotation the legion fleets in good condition could relieve the legion fleets long in the fight, and so bring the fighting power of the fleets at the very front to its highest,
and cut one's own fleets' casualties too.
But!
The process of rotation was very dangerous.
It could very easily leave a gap in the fire, and once the enemy got in through it, it might cause the line to collapse, and so affect the whole course of the war.
But what this elf fleet group commander admired from his heart was that these two Owl Dragon Empire legion fleet groups carried out the whole rotation very smoothly,
giving the enemy no chance at all to catch a gap.
The two of them, near a million warships together, took only ten minutes to complete the whole rotation!
A textbook piece of battlefield deployment.
"Tell me: when we rotate, can we do it to this standard?" the elf fleet group commander asked, looking at his adjutant.
The adjutant gave no confident answer this time.
They elves were very proud, even arrogant, but they would not claim they could do what they could not.
And this was a thing they could not do.
"We've trained in this kind of battlefield rotation too. But we can't get anywhere near the Owl Dragon legion fleet groups' effect in rotating at all. On time alone, they need only ten minutes. We might need twenty minutes. And that's without any mistakes," the adjutant said seriously.
"Have the staff department plan this stage properly. I don't ask that we match the Owl Dragon legion fleet groups; just don't shame us elves."
"Yes."