The Third Prince's fleet · the flagship.
"Heh, heh, heh — a warning! The consequences one's own responsibility? Just what does that Zhao Chen take himself for? Does he truly imagine he's some hero? Pah — he's no more than a dog our royal house has kept. We bestowed a marquisate on him, and he really does fancy he's got some ability."
Qin Hu, in his fury, turned instead to a laugh.
"Even if the fleet that saved the little Princess out from under my very eyes before truly was his — even if he'd hidden his own strength — back then it was his 500 interstellar warships against this prince's 10,000, and he was no match for me. But now this prince has a full 20,000 interstellar warships! And five T4-grade interstellar warships besides. The advantage lies with us! What has he to fight me with? Those 500 interstellar warships of his?"
Qin Hu sat in the captain's chair and laughed in disdain.
"Your Highness is right. That Zhao Chen isn't fit even to carry your shoes. Now we're about to enter the interstellar edge-space; once we've crossed this interstellar edge-space, we'll enter the bounds of the Owl Dragon Star System. Do we warp-travel to hurry the journey?" the adjutant inquired with a placating smile.
Qin Hu's gaze carried a killing intent.
"Though that fellow Zhao Chen is arrogant beyond measure, his interstellar warships are, all the same, no common sort — above all that T3 interstellar missile ship. And he's equipped, besides, with T3 interstellar stealth bombers, so we can't truly hold him too light. Relay my order: first, toward the fleet's direction of travel, dispatch three interstellar patrol fleets, charged with the reconnaissance work; on ascertaining the route is safe, the main fleet-group is to continue its passage. Though this will delay us somewhat in time, that's nothing at all — let that fellow Zhao Chen enjoy his terror a while longer."
Qin Hu, irascible and warlike though he was, was no fool.
He'd suffered a loss at the hands of Zhao Chen's interstellar fleet before, and the same thing he'd absolutely not let happen a second time.
And so, this time, he'd made ready quite thoroughly.
Fitted into the fleet was, besides, a considerable number of interstellar anti-stealth ships.
Very soon, the 20,000 interstellar warships drove, mighty and sweeping, into the interstellar edge-space.
One could make out, besides, a small clutch of special interstellar warships following this vast Third Prince fleet.
These interstellar warships were, for the most part, T2 interstellar warships, chiefly of the small and highly maneuverable sort; upon their hulls they bore no fleet-crest of any interstellar power, but rather the crests of certain interstellar media.
This meant that these were all interstellar media of the bolder sort.
They would follow and film this eye-catching interstellar war.
Whether they did so out of their own interests, or whether someone was behind the arrangement — in sum, this small-scale interstellar campaign was to be "live-broadcast" across the whole of the Starlight Empire.
…
The Owl Dragon Star System.
"The latest word received: the Third Prince Qin Hu's fleet has already sailed into the interstellar edge-space, but its passage is exceedingly cautious — it's sending interstellar scout ships ahead along the route to reconnoiter, and is equipped, besides, with some interstellar anti-stealth ships. So our T3 Silver Rat-class Light Interstellar Stealth Reconnaissance Ships can't close in to reconnoiter, and can only scout and trail from the periphery," Secretary Lilith reported to Zhao Chen, seated in the captain's chair.
"Being careful and cautious, is he." Zhao Chen looked, with a light laugh, at the star-map of the Owl Dragon Star System's surroundings before him.
In one direction, one could see the cursor representing the Third Prince's fleet moving.
"Though this time we've prepared no tricks of any sort — those 20,000 interstellar warships of his aren't worth it." Zhao Chen gave a disdainful little smile.
"Furthermore, our T3 Silver Rat-class Light Interstellar Stealth Reconnaissance Ships have, besides, detected some interstellar-media interstellar warships; they may well film the course of this interstellar campaign and broadcast it out. Some of them are arranged by the Prince Faction — the Prince Faction wishes, by means of this campaign, to greatly blunt the prestige of the Chu River Star Region and the North Wind Star Region, and at the same time to establish the Prince Faction's authority, making ready for the Second Prince Qin Ming's future succession to the throne." Lilith looked toward the commander and inquired, "When the time comes, will it be necessary to drive off these interstellar-media warships?"
"Drive them off? Why drive them off — they can just do the advertising for our Owl Dragon Star System. What did I publicly humiliate Qin Hu before for? It was precisely to blow the commotion of this thing up as large as possible. The Starlight Empire is bound, sooner or later, to fall into chaos; and rather than let the Prince Faction hold the initiative, better that I be the one to raise this storm," Zhao Chen said with a cold smile.
"Their broadcasting the footage of this campaign, on the contrary, does us a service."
"Understood." Lilith at once grasped the commander's meaning, and thereafter said, "Going by the Third Prince fleet's present speed of passage, it's estimated it'll be delayed to around the second of July before reaching our Owl Dragon Star System's border."
"It's no matter — just let the Third Prince caper about a few more days," Zhao Chen said mildly.
And it was just at this moment that a video-comm request popped open.
Zhao Chen cast a glance at it — it was from the little Princess.
The video window opened, and two lovely figures appeared on the far side.
They were, respectively, the little Princess and his own big sister, Zhao Ruyue.
"Qin Hu's interstellar fleet is coming, isn't it!" Qin Xiaolei said with some agitation, that clenched fist of hers for all the world as though ready to throw down in a fight at any moment.
Zhao Ruyue said, too, at her side, "Then now we'll move the Princess Legion over to the Owl Dragon Star System."
"Eh? Just what are you two talking about? I never had you mobilize the Princess Legion." Zhao Chen was taken aback, not following what these two women were muttering about here.
Qin Xiaolei looked at Zhao Chen.
"We'll help you fight that fellow Qin Hu! Relying on those interstellar warships you provided, we've by now readied 20 interstellar legions — a full 60,000 interstellar warships! These interstellar warships can join the fight at any moment! And there's a further portion still in training besides. But this time it's 60,000 of ours against 20,000 of theirs — more than enough!"
Zhao Chen let out a pff of a laugh, understanding the two women's meaning.
"I have no intention of having you take part in this campaign."
"You don't need our help? You must bear in mind that opposite are the Third Prince's 20,000 interstellar warships!" Zhao Ruyue knit her brows, and said with worry.
"This campaign is my contest with the Prince Faction. Your Princess Legion has only to hold its troops in place. It's not yet the time for you to step forth," Zhao Chen said, mild and unruffled.
"But…" Qin Xiaolei was beside herself with impatience; she'd already borne it a good half-year and more, and had at last come by a chance to get some of her own back.
And now she wasn't to be permitted…
"Do you truly not need our help?" Zhao Ruyue held down the somewhat hot-tempered Qin Xiaolei, and inquired of Zhao Chen.
"These mere 20,000 interstellar warships, I can handle. Your existence is, at present, still a hole card in my hand — one to be played only at the most opportune moment, so as to achieve the finest effect!" Zhao Chen said with a nod.
"Very well; we'll wait here for your good news, then." Zhao Ruyue nodded lightly, and thereafter cut off the comm.
Zhao Chen's big sister, after this while past of coming to understand Zhao Chen, trusted him quite considerably.
As for Qin Xiaolei's end — Zhao Ruyue ought to be able to soothe her.
"Lilith, how are those things I charged you to do coming along?" Zhao Chen suddenly asked.
Lilith raised a hand and put out a name-list.
"These are the 28 interstellar forces that have, this time, taken their stand with the Third Prince's fleet; of them, six are from the North Wind Star Region. Marquis North Wolf is among them — he's publicly dispatched 500 interstellar warships to the Third Prince's fleet," Lilith said.
Zhao Chen gave a cold little smile.
"Write every one of them down. Afterward, we'll settle accounts with them one at a time."