Galactic Star Calendar 3033, the last day of November
No. 5 star region · temporary space station
Zhao Chen's Owl Dragon Legion, 3,000-odd interstellar warships, hung in position here.
And not far off, a furtive interstellar scout ship was using advanced far-viewing gear to observe the state of the Owl Dragon Legion fleet opposite, and transmitting all this imagery back to its own fleet flagship.
"Report, Commander — we've detected the enemy fleet at some 3,000-odd ships, hanging in position around a temporary interstellar space station. This legion fleet's ship-classes are exceedingly complete, and it's fitted with one class of T4-grade interstellar cruiser; all the rest are T3-grade interstellar warships! Their specific combat power is unclear." the interstellar scout ship's captain reported to the fleet flagship, to the honored Saint Cana.
"A legion fleet of 3,000, all of a single stripe T3-grade interstellar warships… No wonder the Starlight Empire made a name for this legion fleet. An interstellar legion fleet of this establishment is something we too have only begun to build up in the last 10 years. Even of the 10 Sacred-Light Legions, only half have reached this step," Saint Cana said appreciatively.
An adjutant beside her said haughtily: "Though they're all of a stripe T3-grade interstellar warships, set against our Holy Radiance Empire's interstellar warships they still fall well short. The interstellar warships our Holy Radiance Empire turns out have ever been second to none in the Galactic Alliance."
Saint Cana paid no heed to this self-praise; she went on asking: "You said just now you'd found only one class of T4 interstellar cruiser? You didn't find their T4 interstellar battleship? Something like that T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship?"
The scout-ship captain shook his head: "No. We did look carefully at the other side's interstellar battleships just now, but there was only the one class of T3-grade interstellar battleship."
Saint Cana knit her brows slightly.
"Surely the other side doesn't mean to pit a T3-grade interstellar battleship against our T4 Retribution Angel?" the adjutant said with a snort of laughter.
Saint Cana shot the man a glare.
This adjutant at once understood that his feelings had run a little out of check, and reined in the expression on his face.
Saint Cana muttered: "I'd have thought this Zhao Chen would face off against us with that T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship. Given their close ties with Governor Chu, borrowing a few T4 Boreas-class Heavy Interstellar Battleships would be no trouble at all."
"My lady, I think we have no need to mind this matter at all. This Sacred War Duel has only one result — that we win an absolute victory!" the adjutant said, brimming with confidence.
Saint Cana glanced at her subordinate.
Though the Sacred-Spirit race pursued a state of no desire and no want, exceedingly few could truly attain it.
Worst of all, over these years she'd found that among the upper echelons of the Sacred-Spirit race, an emotion of arrogance was spreading without cease — above all since the Mechanical Race withdrew its forces.
Speak of the Starlight Empire or the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth, and the words of the upper echelons brimmed with arrogance.
Though inwardly she too held that in this Sacred War Duel she had no possibility of losing — at the least, on the surface she would not let it show.
"The time of the decisive battle draws near. Whatever manner of opponent we face when the time comes, at the least we ourselves cannot grow careless. Pass my order: over these next few days, the whole fleet will run a combat-readiness drill." Saint Cana gave the command.
"A combat-readiness drill? Commander, this… is this necessary? We're only dealing with…" Before the adjutant had finished, he met Saint Cana's cold gaze.
"Understood; I'll go arrange it now." The adjutant lowered his head and honestly went to see to the matter — though in his heart he still held that Lady Saint Cana was making a mountain of a molehill over this Sacred War Duel.
A mere newly risen legion fleet of the Starlight Empire's — could it truly defeat the Sacred Angel Legion, one of the mighty 10 Sacred-Light Legions?
What Sacred-Light joke was that.
The interstellar scout ship transmitted all this information back, then slipped soundlessly away.
It had supposed a reconnaissance action of this sort was well hidden.
In fact, not far from this interstellar scout ship, an Owl Dragon Legion T3 Silver-Rat-class Light Interstellar Stealth Reconnaissance Ship had been watching it the whole while — and had even hacked into the other side's comm channel.
"Report, Commander — the Sacred Angel Legion's interstellar scout ship has departed. They only reported the count of our Owl Dragon Legion's fleet and the makeup of our ship-classes." the captain at once reported to the Commander.
Zhao Chen said: "Understood; pay them no mind. This much intelligence they can look at all they like — it's no secret."
"Yes."
The comm ended.
Zhao Chen looked at the 3,000-odd interstellar warships of his Owl Dragon Legion on the holo-table before him, his mood a touch stirred.
King against king.
This was a thing Zhao Chen had long looked forward to.
Earlier he'd assumed the Owl Dragon Legion's first such contest would be against the First Prince's Royal Legion.
Who'd have thought the Holy Radiance Empire's Sacred Angel Legion would beat them to it.
"Report, Commander — latest word from base! The 04QYBL build-project that Chief Engineer Annie personally oversaw is finished and off the line!" Secretary Lilith suddenly reported a piece of news.
Zhao Chen looked at the deadline — over 10 hours still to the end of November.
Zhao Chen let show a satisfied expression: "What did I tell you? If you don't give our Chief Engineer a push, you'll never know how great her potential is."
Lilith covered her mouth and laughed softly.
She'd heard that Chief Engineer Annie had overseen the whole thing this stretch of time, and had even brought in her younger sister Nana to assist.
In the end, snatching at every hour and minute, she'd managed to complete the build task within the time-limit.
After his little quip, Zhao Chen added: "Don't forget Annie's month's portion of special-supply ingredients — and give her another half-month on top. Besides that, take down the names of every worker who took part in this build project, and by the reward system, grant them the rewards due!"
Zhao Chen might be a 'boss' who squeezed his crews.
But he understood very well the principle that if you want the horse to run fast, you must feed it well.
So what ought to be given, Zhao Chen would not stint in the least.
"Then since it's finished and off the line, when can this interstellar warship of ours get here?" Zhao Chen asked.
Lilith answered: "Chitong is already seeing to it over there; the crew team she arranged in advance has already boarded and begun trial-voyage training. Chitong promises a week at the most, and this interstellar warship of ours will hurry over to join up with us!"
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction: "As it happens, the Sacred Angel Legion's side keeps pressing us for the time of the decisive battle — so let's set it for December 10th!"