"Lord Commander, are we truly to campaign all the way to the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth? According to the coordinate-positions Charlotte provided, it's very, very far from where we are." Lilith stood at Zhao Chen's side and inquired.
"Far? Can the T4 Lucent-class Interstellar Jump Ship reach it?" Zhao Chen asked back.
Lilith nodded.
"It's still within the T4 Lucent-class Interstellar Jump Ship's coverage range."
"Then it doesn't count as far."
Zhao Chen raised a hand and opened up Warhammer's interstellar territorial map; the interstellar map was close to twice as large again as the Starlight Empire's — the largest interstellar territory among the three great empires.
But its average degree of richness was, on the contrary, the worst of the three great empires.
To put it simply: though the interstellar map was large, the great majority of it was resource-poor star systems.
Lilith, having confirmed Zhao Chen's resolve to insist on the campaign, being a secretary said no more; rather, she introduced for Zhao Chen at his side, "The Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth, too, is divided by star region upon star region — 18 star regions in all. But it's somewhat different in system from our Starlight Empire; we have star-region governors set up, but they have tribe upon tribe controlling these star regions. Indeed, some star regions may be controlled by multiple tribes; and over 80% of the star regions are grasped in the hands of the twenty great-tribe forces. These tribal chieftains are the equal of an existence like our dukes, our star-region governors. And the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's monarch is elected every 10 years by the twenty great-tribe chieftains; at present it's held by the chieftain of the Half-Dragon tribe, among the twenty great tribes, who's been re-elected for nine terms running."
"Nine terms? That's 90 years, then? This Half-Dragon tribe is so strong?" Zhao Chen was somewhat astonished.
"The Half-Dragon tribe possesses two of the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's three classes of T4 interstellar warship, and at the same time the number of their interstellar fleet occupies 20% of Warhammer's interstellar warships; and, moreover, there are, besides, several great tribes exceedingly loyal to the Half-Dragon tribe. All added together, it can reach 40% of the interstellar-fleet number, and the fleet quality is very high. This is what cemented the Half-Dragon tribe's standing. Of the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's most recent hundred successive monarchs, close to 70 terms were held by Half-Dragon-tribe chieftains. Among Warhammer's many tribes, if the Half-Dragon tribe calls itself the second, no one dares call themselves the first. There's even been this saying: 'Where the Dragon-banner reaches, the myriad beasts submit'!" Charlotte walked into the bridge and appeared at Zhao Chen's side.
Following at her side, besides, was Midai'er.
Having once been a member of the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth, she knew the Half-Dragon folk's strength better than anyone.
"Three classes of T4 interstellar warship? Of all things, one more than the Starlight Empire!" Zhao Chen was astonished; in his impression, the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth belonged to the technologically backward sort of force, one that more often than not won by starship numbers.
Charlotte said, "Though Warhammer possesses three classes of T4 interstellar warship, of them two can only be called quasi-T4-grade. The T4 Dragon-Knight-class Heavy Interstellar Cruiser, the T4 Armored-Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Frigate, and the T4 Butcher-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer. The former two are both developed by the Half-Dragon tribe; apart from equipping them themselves, they'll, besides, sell a small number to tribes on good terms with them. The latter is jointly developed by three other tribes, and is, at present, the most numerous class of T4 interstellar warship within the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth. But of these three, only the T4 Armored-Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Frigate can be counted a true T4-grade interstellar warship; the remaining two both have, in the matter of T4 technology, defects to a greater or lesser degree, and can only be counted quasi-T4-grade interstellar warships."
Zhao Chen nodded in understanding.
This being so, it was explained through.
Zhao Chen looked toward Charlotte.
"How has our fleet's readying come along?"
Charlotte half-consciously straightened her body, and reported, "In accordance with your instruction, for this campaign the flagship is the T4 Vermilion Bird-class Medium Interstellar Cruiser. The fleet is composed of one T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship, four T3 Imperial-class Heavy Interstellar Battleships, 30 T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruisers, 10 T3 Phantom Assassin-class Light Interstellar Stealth Bombers, five T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ships, and 200 T3 Triceratops-class Interstellar Heavy Assault Frigates. Along with one T2 Queen Bee, five T2 Lion Kings, 10 T2 Snow Mastiffs, and 100 T2 Black Rhinos. Besides, there are the auxiliary-type interstellar warships: one T3 Andromeda-class Interstellar Medical Ship, five T3 Silver-Rat-class Light Interstellar Stealth Reconnaissance Ships, 10 T3 Virgo-class Heavy Interstellar Supply Ships, and 10 T3 Great White Whale-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships. And last are the two Lucent-class Interstellar Jump Ships. This fleet campaign carries close to 5 billion star coins of strategic resources, which can guarantee the war-consumption of one local large-scale engagement."
Listening to that string upon string of figures, the corner of Zhao Chen's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
It was precisely this feeling.
Before setting out on campaign, listening to one's own subordinates reporting off string upon string of figures — within, one couldn't help but feel a rise of some indescribable exhilaration.
And Midai'er, behind Charlotte, hearing these names — that T3 interstellar warship after T3 interstellar warship… she was dumbfounded.
Close to 300 T3 interstellar warships!
Just what sort of interstellar force had her Sister Charlotte joined, that it would, of all things, have so many T3 interstellar warships?
Could it be that this man before her was a bastard son of the Starlight Empire's?
Charlotte went straight on, "Apart from the campaign fleet, we've, besides, left behind on garrison 10 T3 Blizzards and 50 T3 Triceratops, distributed across the Owl Dragon System and the Lion King System. This can ensure the safety of our territory."
Hearing Charlotte's disposition and arrangement, Zhao Chen was truly much at ease.
"Since everything's ready, then let's set out." Zhao Chen sat in the captain's chair, holding no small anticipation for this campaign.
This was, after all, his first true campaign in the proper sense since coming to this world.
"Convey the Commander's order — the whole fleet, make ready to set out." Charlotte began to convey the order.
After Charlotte's several hours of readying, those interstellar warships she'd spoken of just now had long since arrived at the Lion King System and assembled.
Close to 400 interstellar warships hovered within this stretch of star-firmament, waiting in full array.
"From here to return to our home-base planet needs, at the very least, a month's time of warp navigation; there's no knowing whether we'll be in time." Midai'er clenched both hands, somewhat worried over her kin in the distance.
For this campaign, Midai'er's interstellar fleet, being in a comparatively poor state, had been left in the Reef Star Region.
It was Midai'er who accompanied them on the departure.
"A month? It won't take that long. It's a matter of a few minutes." Zhao Chen, his hand propping his own chin, said with a light laugh.
It was just at this point that an interstellar warship sailed slowly to the very front of the fleet, and thereupon a beam of light shot forth, forming a huge star gate.
Midai'er's eyes went wide.
"My goodness gracious…"