"Latest news! Two waves of invaders from the Devourer Civilization have appeared in Luoyang System No. 11 and Luoyang System No. 04!"
Secretary-Officer Lilith reported this, somewhat tense, to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen looked at the two red areas newly added on the interstellar war holo-table, widening without pause.
Zhao Chen, for his part, was not much alarmed.
When he learned how vast the Devourer Civilization's legion fleets were, and that it had used only fifteen million warships in this invasion,
he had made ready in his mind for everything.
That included the enemy sending more interstellar fleets.
"It seems the enemy has seen too that the fifteen million warships sent to the three battlefields opened so far aren't enough to beat us. So they've chosen to open two new battlefields. And these two new battlefields are very well chosen. They're placed right around the Luoyang System, forming a triangle." Zhao Chen looked at the three red areas, one large and two small,
which enclosed exactly the star system where Luoyang City lay.
"This time the enemy is likely doing it on purpose, aiming at Luoyang City and the universe star gate we're building. By the intelligence the Flame Elf Queen gave before, this kind of cross-universe delivery demands very high spatial stability. The great majority of devices of this kind have limits. We estimate that, as things stand, the Devourer Civilization's cross-universe spatial delivery devices can likely hold a scale of only five million warships within one star system's space. And not every star system's space can serve as a spatial delivery point. They have to be chosen." Zhao Chen pointed at the positions on the interstellar holo-table. "As things look now, the enemy's attack shows they know how important our Luoyang City and the universe star gate under construction are. The star system where Luoyang City lies, because Luoyang City itself has space-related functions, can't be delivered into from outside. The same goes for the star system where the universe star gate lies. So, to attack these two places, they can only do it by attacking the star systems around them."
"Which means the enemy will send ten million more warships to the two new battlefields!" Lilith frowned, somewhat worried.
"I don't think it's necessarily ten million," Charlotte's hologram said beside them. "If I were the commander of the Devourer Civilization's invading fleet this time, I'd keep part of the interstellar fleets in hand. That part could be used as things came. On one hand, feed them without end into every battlefield, keeping the Devourer Civilization's legion fleets on every battlefield at five million, so as to keep up high pressure on us without pause! And next, if the chance came, they could choose one star system and launch the fiercest, most intense attack, to tear open a gap in the battlefield!"
Zhao Chen put his hand to his chin and said thoughtfully, "At this point it's a contest of how much military resource each side has in hand. Our six Imperial legion fleet groups have all been sent to the battlefields; only a few ace fleet groups are on standby. And on the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups' side there are two more, two million warships in all, that can be moved."
"The first question now is dealing with the trouble in front of us. The two new battlefields: we need fleets to plug this gap. But right now there are very, very few fleets we can move." Lilith pressed her brow, looking at a loss.
Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte. "Do you have a plan now?"
Charlotte looked at the interstellar war holo-table and said slowly, "There are no more than two ways. First, we draw part off from the six Imperial legion fleet groups we have, and draw some fleets from every part of our Empire as well, to form two legion fleets to take charge of these two new battlefields. Second, give these two new battlefields to the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups; they have two million warships more. Used on these two battlefields, they can't solve this trouble, but holding it off for a while is no problem."
Zhao Chen drew a deep breath.
Too few forces!
That was the Owl Dragon Empire's most troublesome problem now.
"You said before we still have some warships to spare, didn't you?" Zhao Chen looked at Lilith.
Lilith nodded.
"About how many?" Zhao Chen asked directly.
"Three hundred thousand in all," Lilith answered.
"The plan arranged before, to support every legion fleet group and make up losses, is suspended for now. Divide these three hundred thousand warships into three Imperial fleet groups, each a hundred thousand strong. Two of them go to the two new battlefields. The remaining one is a reserve, standing by at all times. Then, together with what was said before, have the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups' side step in. Charlotte, do you think this arrangement will work?" Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte.
Charlotte nodded. "That really is the most fitting. We can't hand the lead on the battlefield wholly to the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups, or once something unexpected happens on the battlefield, we may find enemies before and behind us! Arranged like this, at least we keep some room."
"Then go and arrange the dispositions for this now. Forming legion fleet groups at short notice is no small difficulty. But it must be done quickly: within twenty hours, three Imperial fleet groups must be fully formed. Before that, I'll contact the Sacred Elf legion fleet groups' side first and have them step in. Our forces step in within twenty hours. But their fighting power must be assured." Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte gravely.
Charlotte nodded and said confidently, "That's no problem; those warships are reserves to begin with, but every warship's crew is arranged. They're ready to fight at any moment. Forming legion fleet groups is very sudden, true. But we've long had the system and rules to match, so they can be formed in a short time. The main thing is the leadership. To form three Imperial legion fleet groups, first of all three fleet group commanders have to be appointed."
Zhao Chen thought a moment.
He spoke three names: "Qingman, Wei Shishi, Midai."
Qingman, the snake-woman, had been Medusa's trusted general in former days; after Medusa joined the Owl Dragon Legion, Qingman had followed her all the way to now,
holding important posts in the Owl Dragon Legion.
At present she was deputy commander of the Owl Dragon First Legion Fleet Group.
Wei Shishi had once been a trusted follower of Princess Qin Xiaolei of the Starlight Empire, and a comrade who had fought shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Ruyue.
Since the Starlight Empire became a kingdom and joined the Owl Dragon Empire, she too had joined the Owl Dragon Legion, and was now deputy commander of the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group.
Midai was Charlotte's half-sister by the same father, beast-folk of the White Tiger tribe.
She worshiped her elder sister, and on her own ability had passed assessment after assessment at the military academy and enlisted, and come all the way to now: deputy commander of the Owl Dragon Second Legion Fleet Group.
All three held the Imperial rank of general!
"Very good." Charlotte nodded in agreement.
These three choices were Imperial generals to begin with, and had served as deputy commanders of legion fleet groups, with very rich experience in this field.
"Then contact them at once, and have them hand over their present work quickly! As for any ceremony of conferring rank, this is a special time; everything is kept simple. Just issue their appointments directly. As for rank, they keep their present Imperial rank of general; whether they're made marshals later depends on how they perform in this operation."
Zhao Chen said it gravely.
"Good; I'll contact them myself," Charlotte said with a nod.
After that they talked over some more things.
Charlotte went at once to see to it.
She contacted them one by one.
"By the will of His Majesty the Emperor: Wei Shishi, deputy commander of the Owl Dragon Third Legion Fleet Group, is relieved of her present post for the time being. She is to hand over her present work, and command of her fleet, in the shortest time!" Charlotte announced the order on her side of the window.
On this side, Marshal Medusa, General Wei Shishi and the others were all astonished in the first instant of hearing it.
Relieved of her post?
Relieving a senior commander in wartime was a grave taboo!
And General Wei Shishi's showing on the battlefield had been creditable; even if she had no great merit, she had no fault either!
"At the same time, once she has handed over her present tasks, Wei Shishi is to hurry back at once to the Owl Dragon System to form the Owl Dragon Seventh Legion Fleet Group, provisionally of a hundred thousand warships. Wei Shishi is to serve as supreme commander of the Owl Dragon Seventh Legion Fleet Group."
When Charlotte had finished saying this,
only then did Medusa breathe easier, and could not help grumbling, "Marshal Charlotte, next time could you say it all in one breath?"
Charlotte smiled slightly, then looked at Wei Shishi, whose face was somewhat dazed.
"General Wei Shishi, I've announced His Majesty the Emperor's will. You have one hour to hand over your present work tasks. After that go at once to the Owl Dragon System and form the Owl Dragon Seventh Legion Fleet Group. Within twenty hours it must be fit to fight, ready at any moment to take its orders and carry out the combat tasks given it! General Wei Shishi, any problem!"
By now Wei Shishi had come to herself too; she stood up straight and said, firm and unshaken, "Let Grand Marshal Charlotte and His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor rest easy. Wei Shishi guarantees to carry out the task. If anything goes amiss, Wei Shishi will answer to martial law!"
"Good; I have some more orders to pass on here. I won't waste time with you here." As she spoke, Charlotte made to end the communication.
But Medusa called her back.
At the same time Medusa used her own authority to close the other people's communication windows outright, leaving only herself and Charlotte.
"Charlotte, I know it's not fitting to ask this now. But I still want to ask. As I understand it, the Owl Dragon System's reserve is three hundred thousand warships. Since the Owl Dragon Seventh Legion Fleet Group Wei Shishi is forming is provisionally a hundred thousand warships, then the remaining two hundred thousand: are they to form two more legion fleet groups? Then the supreme commanders of the other two fleet groups……" Medusa asked with concern.
"Three choices, and Qingman is one of them." Charlotte left the one sentence, crisp and clean, and ended the communication outright.
Medusa looked at the video window gone dark; Medusa, who seldom smiled as a rule, could not help the corners of her mouth lifting now.
Qingman was of her own people, and had come all the way with her.
For Qingman to become supreme commander of an Owl Dragon Empire fleet group now made her happier even than her own promotion would have.
Whether from her own point of view or her race's, it was a happy thing.
For herself:
in her eyes Qingman had always been like her child, her little sister.
For her race:
though the appointment did not announce Qingman as an Imperial marshal,
surely, once this war was over, so long as Qingman made no great mistake, it was bound to come.
And then, in the Owl Dragon Empire,
the snake-folk would have two Imperial marshals!
That was enough to settle the snake-folk's standing in the Owl Dragon Empire for hundreds of years to come.
"Little lass, don't let me down," Medusa said in a low voice.
……
"General Qingman, here is His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor's will. You are relieved of your post as deputy commander of the Owl Dragon First Legion Fleet Group; you are to hand over your work within one hour and go to the Owl Dragon System. There you are to take charge of forming the Owl Dragon Eighth Legion Fleet Group, with yourself as supreme commander, provisionally of a hundred thousand warships. You have only twenty hours to carry out these tasks. After twenty hours, your Owl Dragon Eighth Legion Fleet Group must be ready to go into battle at any moment! Understood!"
"Qingman receives the order!"
……
Charlotte looked at Midai before her, and her gaze softened somewhat.
This was a child she had watched grow up.
Once, tagging along behind her playing at war, she had been a mere youngster.
Back then she had said she would always follow 'Big Sister Charlotte.'
Who would have thought the child would truly do as she had said? She had indeed followed close in Big Sister Charlotte's footsteps all along.
"General Midai, here is His Majesty the Owl Dragon Emperor's will. You are relieved of your post as deputy commander of the Owl Dragon Second Legion Fleet Group; you are to hand over your work within one hour and go to the Owl Dragon System. There you are to take charge of forming the Owl Dragon Ninth Legion Fleet Group, with yourself as supreme commander, provisionally of a hundred thousand warships. You have only twenty hours to carry out these tasks. After twenty hours, your Owl Dragon Eighth[1] Legion Fleet Group must be ready to go into battle at any moment! Did you hear me!"
Hearing Marshal Charlotte's words, Midai was dumbfounded at first.
Her face was somewhat dazed, and even the tiger's tail behind her stopped still, as though a spell had frozen her in place.
"Midai!" Charlotte's tone grew heavier.
At once Midai came back to herself, stood up straight, and answered without thinking, "Heard and understood."
But very soon she looked at Charlotte somewhat nervously.
"Big Sister Charlotte… Grand Marshal… me, serving as commander of a legion fleet group……" Midai hesitated somewhat.
Of the three appointed this time, Midai was the youngest, with the least combat experience.
So all along the pressure on her had been greatest too.
"If you think you can't do it, you can tell me now. I can ask His Majesty the Emperor to change the choice. But there's not much time for you to think. One last question for you. Midai, are you ready or not!" Charlotte's tone grew heavier again.
Midai looked at Big Sister Charlotte before her, and clenched her fists.
Yes.
Hadn't she always been ready to follow close in her sister's steps?
Why was she afraid, now that it had come to this?
"Let His Majesty the Emperor and the Grand Marshal rest easy. The Owl Dragon Ninth Legion Fleet Group, within twenty hours, will surely be fit to fight, and ready at any moment!" Midai shouted loudly.