"Damn! This starship's energy core was hit, and it didn't explode. You lot really were lucky." A starship engineer looked at the interstellar warship before him with a great hole torn in it, and could not help marveling at how lucky these people had been.
It was pure dumb luck; otherwise most of the people on this starship would never have come back.
"Get moving, all of you. First check whether this starship is still worth repairing. If it can be repaired, assign a repair team to repair it; if it can't, send it to the dismantling department. We've got a great deal of work ahead of us. Don't waste time here!" the engineer shouted.
For the factories under the Fierce Dragon now, and the interstellar industrial ships, had their tasks scheduled for almost every minute.
People could rest in three shifts, but these machines had to run around the clock without rest.
There were simply too many work tasks of every kind.
"Ah, that's good." Fire Lydia pulled open her collar and took a big gulp of ice-cold beer in a bar.
That refreshing feeling ran from her throat all the way to her heart.
It felt as if she were about to fly, and Fire Lydia shut her eyes in enjoyment.
While carrying out combat missions on a starship, drinking was forbidden.
And Fire Lydia, back in her pirate days, had long since been taught to drink by her brother.
Even serving in the Frost Dragon Kingdom's navy fleet before, she would drink on the sly by herself.
But after joining the Fierce Dragon fleet,
because of the Fierce Dragon fleet's strict rules, she, hard drinker that she was, had held back her craving after all.
During the combat mission she had not touched a drop, not even on the voyage home.
Only once the interstellar warships were moored and they, the officers and crew, could rest in rotation
did she truly let go, and she ran at once to this favorite bar of hers and began to drink to her heart's content.
"Our T2 Snow Mastiff-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship really is something. That heavy gun is far more imposing than the battleships we had at sea!" a colleague who had come along beside her said excitedly.
Everyone was talking over their experiences in this interstellar war.
For some of them it had been their second interstellar war, for some only their first.
Though in holographic simulated combat they had been through it who knew how many times,
none of it compared with the thrill of a real interstellar war!
"Captain. I hear we'll soon have T3 interstellar warships entering service. Do you think, on the strength of this mission, we could get a T3 interstellar warship assigned!" a petty officer beside her asked quietly.
The others too turned excited, expectant eyes on her.
Fire Lydia glanced at these people; they counted as senior officers too, so catching some wind of it was nothing strange.
But she still said coldly, "Things the higher-ups haven't arranged, don't go dreaming about yourselves. We're Fierce Dragon crew now. Never mind a T3 interstellar warship. Even if you're assigned to a T1 interstellar warship, you'll go there like a good soldier!"
"I was only curious. I'll drop it, I'll drop it."
Fire Lydia took a drink and thought of T3 interstellar warships; in truth her own heart itched too.
If T2 interstellar warships were so terrifyingly strong, one could imagine what T3 interstellar warships were like!
Maybe she really did have a chance?
At the thought of it she felt her blood run hot again, and could not help taking a few more drinks.
So good.
——————
Elsewhere.
In a conference room of the Dragon Palace Starport,
Zhao Chen, Secretary Officer Barbara, Marshal Chu Xuan, Marshal Medusa and others were present.
All were senior officers of the Fierce Dragon Kingdom, every one of them of the Fierce Dragon's own inner circle.
"This battle was beautifully fought. The best result for the fewest casualties." Zhao Chen first commended Marshal Chu Xuan's performance in this battle.
"The Lanners civilization's representative has proposed three-way talks with us and the Frey civilization. What are your views?"
Zhao Chen asked those present.
"Talks: they're about nothing but dealing with the Dax Empire. Middle of the road. Nothing will go wrong, but I don't think it's our best choice," Marshal Medusa said with a frown.
"I think we can talk. But not as three powers. Three seats is one too many," Marshal Chu Xuan said, drumming her fingers on the table.
"Tell us what you're thinking, Chu Xuan." Zhao Chen looked at Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan went on, "The aim of these talks is nothing but three-way cooperation. And the result of three-way cooperation is keeping all three powers as they are now, then fighting the Dax Empire together. For the Lanners civilization, that's the best situation for them. Because our existence can hold up the Dax Empire and win the Lanners civilization time. But for us, our pace of development can't pick up. Our territory is only this big, and we can't expand our territory beyond the star system either; for us, the only direction of development is in fact the other side of this star system."
The other side of the star system was naturally the Frey civilization.
"You mean we should take the Frey civilization first, Chu Xuan? But the Dax Empire is still there; if we attack the Frey civilization now, won't something go wrong?" Secretary Officer Barbara was somewhat worried.
"That problem does exist. But we can't let it hold up our development. If we don't take the Frey civilization, then in the half of the star system we control now, however we develop it, we can no longer reach the efficiency of the early days. So we take this chance now. A blitz on the Frey civilization, to destroy the Frey civilization at one stroke. Developing with a whole star system's resources, we can speed up our development greatly! After all, you have to know: our rivals aren't only the Dax civilization, but the Frey civilization too, and the Lanners civilization as well. And other Trial civilizations besides. We've already lost a great deal of development time because of the Dax civilization. We have to pick up the pace," Marshal Chu Xuan said gravely.
Zhao Chen looked thoughtful.
He tapped his fingers on the table a few times.
"Chu Xuan, when do you think we should attack?" Zhao Chen asked.
"Right during the talks." Marshal Chu Xuan named the time.
"And when are the talks?"
"In half a month!" Marshal Chu Xuan gave the exact time.
"Is half a month enough?" Zhao Chen was somewhat worried.
Marshal Chu Xuan said, "It's enough. This week is enough for our fleet to rest and refit;[1] besides, our ten T3 interstellar warships will be combat-ready by then too. With these ten T3 interstellar warships, we're sure of finishing the Frey civilization! Ten T3 interstellar warships can greatly increase the Fierce Dragon fleet's fighting strength. Most important of all is the timing of the attack. We can catch the Frey civilization completely off guard. They've just been through a battle, and we've agreed to talks. The Lord of Frey will never imagine that at this juncture we'd tear up the pact with them! That's surprise!"
Hearing Chu Xuan's analysis,
everyone's eyes lit up; they thought Chu Xuan's decision very sound!
"If we break our alliance with the Frey civilization, won't the Lanners civilization's representative think us too treacherous?" Secretary Officer Barbara was somewhat worried.
But at this point Zhao Chen said, "Treacherous? The Lanners civilization won't worry that its partner is treacherous, so long as we show our value. Cooperating with two civilizations or with one makes no difference to them. Besides, from first to last we never made a formal treaty of alliance with the Frey civilization; who says they're our allies?"
At these last words, Zhao Chen and the others exchanged a look and smiled.
The Frey civilization.
In the temple,
the Lord of Frey heard the news that this second campaign was over and let out a breath of relief.
"Thank goodness a third power joined in this time. Otherwise, in this battle, with the ten T3 interstellar warships this Dax Empire civilization sent, they really would have given us a hard time," the Lord of Frey said gravely.
"Master, the Lanners civilization's representative has proposed three-way talks between us and the Fierce Dragon civilization, to settle how we deal with the Dax Empire from here on," a subordinate said in a low voice.
The Lord of Frey thought for a while and nodded, saying, "I have no objection to this. Fix the time, and we'll send people from our side to hold talks with them. This Dax Empire civilization has T3 interstellar warships. On our own we're no match for this civilization; we have to seek help from outside, and so buy time for our development."
"Yes!"
"Master, there's one more small thing. Perhaps because of our strict laws this past while, a good many underground factions opposing us have appeared on our planet. Will this bring us any trouble?" the subordinate said with some worry.
But the Lord of Frey said, not caring in the least, "Just a pack of ants. If I didn't still need these people to work for me, why would I bother with this way of storing up blood? I'd have simply seized people long ago. They have no technological weapons; they can hardly even leave the ground. So long as our starships hang over their heads, they can't make any waves. It's quite good to have these people around; have more people search for them. Find them, arrest them, and they'll do nicely for filling our blood bank!"
"Yes!"
As the Lord of Frey saw it, none of this was any problem at all.
But little did he know
that right under his nose, some changes were taking place on this planet.
In an underground hall dozens of meters below the ground,
in the dim light, several people in different dress had gathered.
"Everyone. I've specially called you all here to introduce a friend who can help us overthrow the Frey civilization's tyranny!" One of them pointed behind himself, where a figure stood.
The others looked over one after another, their eyes wary.
"All this while, the infantry weapons given to you all, even the mecha weapons: all those technical plans came from this man. He's from another planet; he counts as an enemy of the Frey civilization. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This friend is willing to help us overthrow the Frey civilization!" said the man making the introduction.
"How can I know whether he can be trusted? He's helping us, but his aim may be the same as the Frey civilization's, just to enslave us! If that's so, and we help him overthrow the Frey civilization's tyranny, isn't that letting the wolf into the house!"
"That's right! We can't trust a man so easily!"
"Who knows what they really want!"
Hearing these people's murmuring, that stranger did not get angry in the least.
Instead he said calmly, "I can give you a chance to choose. Stand up when the chance comes. Or go on hiding down here as rats that never see the sun. The choice is yours. Whether you trust me or not, it doesn't really change anything. If not for those weapon plans I gave you, could your last few attacks have succeeded?" The stranger shrugged and spoke calmly.
Everyone fell silent.
For it was indeed the truth.
Before this, technological weapons had always been controlled by the Frey civilization.
These people could not learn the least bit of it.
"What do you need us to do?" someone asked.
"I've said it: wait for a chance. Then you'll know what you ought to do. This is the last time we meet. In here is my last gift to you. Whether you want it or not is up to you." With that, the stranger dropped a data disk and made to leave.
"Wait, then how will we know when this chance comes?" someone called.
"When the chance comes, you'll know of your own accord." The stranger left behind a line that sounded somewhat baffling, and was gone.
Those people looked at the data disk.
One took out the computer he carried and plugged the data disk into it.
In it were two files.
One file was the methods of making some infantry weapons.
The other file marked out some locations.
Beyond that there was no other explanation.
No one knew what these locations meant or stood for.
"I choose to believe him. Rather than be stuck here as a rat hiding underground from morning to night, I'll stand up too, and see the Frey civilization destroyed with my own eyes. Even if what I bring may be another demon!" a man whose face was covered in scars spoke up.
Everyone looked at him; they all understood this man's thinking.
Of all the people in these organizations of theirs, this man hated the Frey civilization most; those who had joined his organization were, without exception, all very violent people.
He was also the one who had carried out the fiercest revenge attacks against the Frey civilization.
For this man's wife and children, his whole family, had all been killed by the Frey civilization.
He had a blood feud as deep as the sea with the Frey civilization, so even if he summoned a demon, so long as the Frey civilization could be destroyed, he was willing!
Some present said they were willing; some chose silence.
But more were curious: when would this chance appear, and what would it be?