Claiming the mission reward.
Congratulations — acquired: "one high-quality interstellar resource."
Zhao Chen blinked. What sort of strange reward was this? He tapped to look.
The Host is to designate, within 30 minutes, the star-system range for the reward's delivery. Once the range is set, within three days the System will deliver "one high-quality interstellar resource" in a manner the world accepts by default.
It seemed he was to be given a mining star? Was it to be conjured up out of nothing for him? Zhao Chen felt some anticipation, but the System offered no great explanation. In any case, the System had said "a manner the world accepts by default," so there'd be no problem there. Zhao Chen set this system range to his own Owl Dragon Star System.
"Commander, we've gathered raw-material resources worth 300,000 star coins from the surrounding planets," Secretary Aili reported at his side.
A mere 300,000 star coins of materials — that was awfully poor. But come to think of it, it made sense. Interstellar powers like these in the Reef Star Region rarely stored much ready resource; they'd basically turn it, as fast as they could, into warships or ship munitions and energy blocks — military materials. For here, strength was the factor that decided everything. With absolute strength, want of resources was no matter — at worst, one simply went and took them.
"Never mind — let's head back." Zhao Chen looked at the distant Fire Salamander starport, its fires gone out now, ruins everywhere. That starport, and the wreckage of the ships blown apart inside it, gathered up, ought to be worth a few million or even tens of millions of star coins. But that would take an enormous labor. Zhao Chen had no time to waste here; in time, that could be left to the Snake-folk, and he'd just collect some ready resources.
The Owl Dragon Fleet, several "borrowed" interstellar transports in tow, began the return to the Lion King System.
When they returned to the Lion King System, Commander Qingman's fleet had finished clearing the battlefield too. She'd had no intention whatsoever of quietly keeping any of the ship wreckage on the field; she'd piled all of it in one place, left for Zhao Chen.
"Commander, our Queen will hold a comm with you shortly," Commander Qingman said respectfully.
"Understood," Zhao Chen said with a nod.
Commander Qingman said again, respectfully, "And here I must express my deep thanks for the aid you gave our wounded. Were it not for your interstellar medical ship, our Snake-folk might well have paid at least 30% more in casualties in this battle!" By now Commander Qingman had received back the Snake-folk warriors, treated and returned — some of them even from destroyed Snake-folk ships, who by one chance or another had survived their vessels' fall. But for the rescue of Zhao Chen's T3 Andromeda-class Interstellar Medical Ship, nine in 10 of them would still have died. It was the T3 Andromeda that had given them the hope and the chance to live — not only saving them, but healing their wounds besides.
"As comrades-in-arms in one battle, it was only what we ought to do," Zhao Chen said mildly.
Commander Qingman was somewhat moved. "It's my honor to have been your comrade-in-arms, Commander."
After that, a video-comm request came through to Zhao Chen. On the other end was the Snake-folk queen, Medusa.
"Commander, you've truly brought me a great surprise. With zero losses, you defeated 1,500 warships — no, I hear you destroyed 1,000 more at the Fire Salamander home base besides. That makes 2,500 warships. A record of sheer terror." Queen Medusa's lovely eyes rested on Zhao Chen, sparing no praise. When she'd learned the battlefield's details, even she had been dumbstruck. Her 500 Snake-folk warships had lost 200, true, but set against the enemy fleet's losses, that was nothing at all. Most important of all was the killing of three interstellar powers' leaders. Those powers would, in time, choose new chiefs and leaders, of course — but at least in the short term they'd be gravely weakened, a host of dragons without a head; the very finest chance for her follow-on cleanup.
Zhao Chen didn't take up Queen Medusa's words, but asked instead, "How went the fighting on your end, Your Majesty — did it go smoothly?"
"Very smoothly. I struck several interstellar powers' three star-fortresses, defeated several of their main fleets, and took control of some important strategic positions. After this, I'll expand steadily and bring these systems fully under control. Barring the unexpected, within three months I can control the several systems of the Gebo clan, the Black Boar-folk, and the Fire Salamander clan!" Queen Medusa said.
Zhao Chen smiled and offered his congratulations. "Then let me congratulate you first, Your Majesty — on a successful revenge, and so great a harvest besides."
"No — this isn't my harvest alone. It's the harvest of the two of us. By our earlier agreement, the gains of this battle we split 50/50. Of these several systems, whichever you want, take your pick." Queen Medusa waved a hand and put up the map of the Reef Star Region, with the several systems belonging to the Gebo clan, the Black Boar-folk, and the Fire Salamander clan specially marked out.
Anyone else, at this moment, would surely have been thrilled. For within the Starlight Empire, one who could hold several systems was a Count-level existence! The reason Queen Medusa was so forthright was, in fact, still the strength of this "Lion King Fleet," As she'd said before, only two of matched strength could be called partners. Had Zhao Chen's fleet not shown the combat power it did in this battle, Queen Medusa's attitude now would be the very opposite; perhaps she'd have given Zhao Chen his due by her promise, but never so lavishly as this.
"The systems I'll pass on; if Your Majesty likes them, take them by all means. I want only the raw-material resources. And the starport at the Fire Salamander home base — Your Majesty might make time to clear it; it should still be worth a good few million star coins." Zhao Chen declined Queen Medusa's offer to divide these systems.
It wasn't that Zhao Chen had no wish to enlarge his domain. It was that the Owl Dragon Star System and the Lion King System were enough for him now. As for these several powers' systems — the resources one could extract from them in a year, plus taxes, came to only some 10 million star coins; and they'd take enormous effort to manage: deploying interstellar mining ships, arranging garrison fleets, and the rest. For Zhao Chen as he was now, holding these low-value systems wasn't worth it. Better to convert it straight into ready raw-material resources.