Soon enough, these two crew members, under the medicinal sedation and Zhao Chen's soothing, had their emotions gradually settle down. But there was still, in their eyes, a kind of not-yet-steadied, soul-shaken emotion.
"I know that having you recall your earlier memories may well stir up bad emotions in you. But some things — only by facing them head-on can they be conquered and overcome." Zhao Chen looked at the two women.
The two women, their emotions steadied, began to tell of their own experiences.
The woman-soldier on Zhao Chen's left hand, who'd said it was so hot, was the pilot of a T3 Phoenix-class interstellar fighter. While she'd been piloting the T3 Phoenix-class interstellar fighter in battle, the fighter's belly had been struck by a stray shot, which at the same time caused the escape apparatus to malfunction. And, moreover, a fire had broken out within the cockpit. She'd had her body scorched by the flames; though the whole process was only some 10-odd seconds' time before the interstellar fighter exploded — those 10 seconds of pre-death memory truly were, to her, like a very nightmare. A searing, burning sensation coming from the skin of her whole body, head to toe. When she brought up this stretch of memory, this woman-soldier still wore a whole face of terror.
The other crew member had been a crew member aboard the same interstellar warship as Guan Tongtong, but her luck had been very bad. The cabin where she'd been was severely wrecked; because of the cabin's breach, a sharp object had pierced through her body, and before her death she'd tasted this pain. Very painful, very painful.
Zhao Chen, heavy of heart, soothed these two crew members; a full half hour later, the two of them fell asleep once more, and only then did he leave the recovery room.
At this point, the medical personnel assembled before Zhao Chen.
"All the patients have awakened; some of these matters you've, as well, heard something of. I'll stress it here once more: remember the principle of confidentiality. And at the same time, take good care of these patients — they are the heroes of our Owl Dragon Fleet," Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Yes!"
Upon learning these patients' "identity," the medical personnel, along with their astonishment, held these crew members all the more in respect.
Zhao Chen, having finished laying out his instructions, made ready to head back. For, after all, the Reef Star Region still had a whole pile of matters awaiting his handling.
Back aboard the shuttle, Zhao Chen stared at the T4 Reviver-class Clone-Human Starship. The memory-trauma of the reborn was a very great problem. Burns, pain — these were all things some crew members would go through before their death; there would even be some more agonizing death-experiences besides. For some whose psychological endurance was poor, after revival, upon receiving that stretch of memory, it might well cause the whole person to sink into a kind of collapsing emotion. This was a problem, and one that needed some method thought out to resolve it. As for the matter of concealing those of the "reborn" identity — that, of course, could wait until the Owl Dragon Fleet possessed strength enough; then there'd be no more need to keep it secret.
Half a day later, Zhao Chen returned to the Lion King System.
T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship · bridge.
"How has the fleet's rest and refit come along?" Zhao Chen inquired.
Lilith answered, "All the interstellar warships of the Owl Dragon Fleet have fully completed their rest and refit; all the interstellar supply ships have already replenished enough strategic materials, and are readied for the fighting to come."
"And the attitudes of the Reef Star Region's various forces?" Zhao Chen asked.
Lilith said, "According to the intelligence our T3 Silver-Rats have gathered — on account of the Snake-Sovereign Fortress defense battle, the situation of the Reef Star Region has begun to turn wondrous and strange. First, the total number of the Starlight faction's interstellar fleet: only 50,000-odd combat-type interstellar warships remain; but because the leaders of two of the interstellar forces gave their lives, a situation of order breaking down within has arisen. Besides, the total number of the Warhammer faction's interstellar fleet is 70,000 interstellar warships remaining — the situation much better than that of the Starlight faction's interstellar fleet. And, what's more, the Warhammer regular fleet is on the road, hastening here. It's estimated to be three legion fleets — close to 10,000 interstellar warships."
Zhao Chen fell silent a moment.
These 10,000 interstellar warships, though not so great in number as the former tens-upon-tens of thousands — those were, after all, Warhammer's regular army; their combat power was not something the pack of fish-fleet interstellar warships of the Reef Star Region's pro-Warhammer faction could be measured against.
"Lord Commander, by the look of the present situation — to thoroughly take control of the Reef Star Region, the price to be paid is no small thing," Lilith said with some worry.
Zhao Chen fell silent. To speak truly, were it not for the System mission sitting there, Zhao Chen might well not have taken the risk of doing this thing at all. In the present state of things, it truly was necessary to weigh out the gains against the losses.
And it was just at this point that the System's prompt-tone sounded in Zhao Chen's mind.
The Reef Star Region Campaign, 3/3
Please thoroughly take control of the Reef Star Region, and possess absolute control over it.
(Should the above three be completed smoothly — reward: you may acquire the "T4 Vermilion Bird-class Medium Interstellar Cruiser" technical blueprint.)
This System!
It truly had Zhao Chen's little private cravings gripped dead-tight. You think that on the strength of just such a T4 interstellar warship, you can make me, Zhao Chen, yield!
Zhao Chen looked at Lilith beside him in earnest. "This battle for the Reef Star Region — we have no way of avoiding it; once the Reef Star Region slips out of our control, then the Lion King System we schemed and racked our brains to obtain is gone. What we lack now is time — and a delay here only costs us more of it."
Lilith was taken aback a moment, then slowly nodded. As for Zhao Chen's notion, she merely offered her opinion; if Zhao Chen truly wished to do it this way, then she, of course, would carry it out unconditionally. Never mind her — even the whole of the Owl Dragon Fleet would carry out Zhao Chen's orders unconditionally!
In truth, even Zhao Chen himself didn't quite believe this "reason" of his — there were too many holes in it.
But there was nothing to be done.
Who told… the System to be so very good at this!
Since this battle absolutely had to be fought — then it had to be fought beautifully!
"Lilith, get in contact with the several fleet commanders; we're going to discuss the detailed disposition for the coming several battles," Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Yes!"
Next, Zhao Chen, together with Charlotte, Zhao Wan'er, Shen Bing, Chitong, and the rest, began discussing the combat disposition for what came next, settling every single step. All the way until the next day.
Zhao Chen's Owl Dragon Fleet once again came to the Snake-folk system. At this moment, Medusa's Snake-folk interstellar fleet had, too, completed its readying — 15,000 interstellar warships waiting in full array.
"Your Excellency Zhao Chen, the fighting to come — my fleet, one and all, heeds your command and dispatch!" Medusa said in earnest before Zhao Chen. Since she'd already chosen to join Zhao Chen's side, then Medusa, too, knew clearly: now was the time for her to make her showing.
"Make ready — 10 minutes from now, we set out." Zhao Chen handed down the order.
"Yes."
The 10 minutes' time came in the blink of an eye; and it was just as Zhao Chen was making ready to set out on the distant campaign —
Lilith, in a great rush, reported to Zhao Chen a piece of news that utterly threw all of Zhao Chen's dispositions and arrangements into disarray.
Lilith looked at Zhao Chen in anxiety. "When our T3 Silver-Rat was spying out the Starlight faction's interstellar-fleet intelligence, we came, by chance, upon a piece of news… The interstellar fleet led by the Starlight Empire's First Prince has been wholly annihilated by someone! The First Prince… has fallen and given his life in battle."
Zhao Chen's face gave a jolt.
Such earth-shaking news…
This Starlight Empire's sky was about to change!