Zhao Chen returned to the command center; and though he passed the VIP spectators' gallery—
and those guests looked over at him one and all with eager eyes—
Zhao Chen behaved toward their earnestness for all the world as though he had not seen it.
And went straight back before that huge interstellar holo-table.
"How stand the several battlefields? And where have their reinforcements reached?" Zhao Chen looked to Lilith, who had taken over his command duties.
It was because Lilith was here holding the seat that Zhao Chen had dared slip off with an easy mind to look in on Charlotte, and there administer several hours of comfort to Charlotte on the levels both of spirit and of flesh.
Lilith pointed at several positions on the interstellar holo-table. "First, the position we now occupy. The Black Tiger First Star System, the Black Tiger home star — this is now thoroughly under our control. Though some resisting personnel still exist within the home star, under our suppression they can raise no great wind or wave. The other four Owl Dragon legions have all completed their respective missions to perfection. At present they all stand by where they are, carrying out rest and resupply operations. And can await our summons at any moment! The T4 Lucent-class Interstellar Jump Ships attached to the fleets are all in readiness besides."
Thereafter Lilith pointed at the whole Black Tiger Star Region.
"At present, although we have attacked only five areas in five star systems of the Black Tiger Star Region— we have as of now annihilated at least 90,000 Black Tiger tribe interstellar warships. There remains only a small number of Black Tiger tribe interstellar warships garrisoned here and there, fewer than 1,000 in number, and most of them old and outdated hulls. Their strength is not to be feared. One may put it this way: the Black Tiger Star Region now is a piece of prey that has lost its claws and its fangs, wholly without power to resist. Should we wish it, we can thoroughly control the whole Black Tiger Star Region within a week!" Lilith said.
Thereafter Lilith went on, "As of now, the only relief to have entered the Black Tiger Star Region is this one Dragon-folk fleet group in the Black Tiger First Star System, together with some accompanying tribal fleet reinforcements. The former number 30,000, the latter 20,000 — 50,000 interstellar warships in all. Besides this, the Black Tiger chieftain had earlier sent out pleas for aid to other tribes. But upon learning that the Black Tiger home star had fallen and the Black Tiger King Legion was destroyed to the last man— those relief fleets originally preparing to run straight for the Black Tiger Star Region all changed their destinations. And have concentrated in several star regions about the Black Tiger Star Region. Their total number is roughly 300,000 interstellar warships. Led by the fleets of the Dragon-folk tribe, the Giant Lion tribe, the Minotaur tribe, the Lizardfolk tribe, the War Elephant tribe, and the Boar King tribe. These are all powers within the twenty great tribes possessing large numbers of interstellar warships. Though at present they have made no further military move; presumably they are in a state of watching and waiting."
These developments Zhao Chen had in fact known long since.
When Charlotte drew up the operational plan earlier, she had anticipated several courses that developments might take.
And one of them closely resembled the present situation.
Once the first stage of the lightning war upon the Black Tiger Star Region was past, the twenty great tribes would without question not be without measures, and would certainly dispatch relief.
Only the number of that relief was uncertain.
And next, their attitude was still unclear.
But however that might be, the present state of deadlock was beyond doubt exceedingly favorable to the Owl Dragon Legion.
More time to rest and refit would let the Owl Dragon Legion recover its combat power and meet the challenges to come.
Though at present Zhao Chen had already made ready his next step.
"Get me Chieftain Ted and Midai'er," Zhao Chen said.
Two video windows appeared at once.
The two of them, who had waited long since, appeared before Zhao Chen.
"Commander-in-Chief." The two saluted, a look of impatient eagerness in both their eyes.
They understood very well what Commander-in-Chief Zhao Chen was contacting them for now.
"Above 90% of the Black Tiger Star Region's military strength has already been destroyed by us. And the news of the relief forces you must both know by now. But over these you need not worry; the relief outside, the enemy's main fleets, our Owl Dragon Legion will take on and handle. You need only carry out your own combat missions well," Zhao Chen said.
"Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, hand down your orders. My Dragon-Tiger Legion is ready for battle." "My Hundred Beasts Legion is ready for battle." Midai'er and Chieftain Ted said it together.
Command of both the Dragon-Tiger Legion and the Hundred Beasts Legion had originally rested with Charlotte, she being the Hundred Beasts Alliance's supreme leader.
But because she was needed besides to command the Owl Dragon First Legion—
command of these two legions had been temporarily handed over.
To Midai'er and Chieftain Ted respectively, the two of them to be responsible for them.
"Midai'er, you will lead the Dragon-Tiger Legion and attack chiefly the harder nuts in the several star regions. Any who are unwilling to surrender and resist obstinately — no report needed; destroy them outright. Chieftain Ted, you will lead the Hundred Beasts Legion and be responsible chiefly for recovering and controlling the planets of those star systems. There is no need to bring every planet under thorough control. You need only control their leadership, and make them listen obediently and submit to us. As for any who do not submit, you know how to handle it. So long as they are obedient, we shall go on using them, and can even give them some petty profits. In the present situation we cannot replace the leadership or the family powers of these systems and planets in any short time. So long as they are obedient, we shall go on using them to administer, and keep the production and daily life of every star region in normal order as far as may be! All raw materials and stores produced by those resource mining districts are to be supplied to our Owl Dragon Legion with unconditional priority. Mind: so long as we keep a tight grip on the knife laid across their necks. If some dog will not be obedient, we need only change it for another." Zhao Chen said it gravely.
Midai'er said excitedly, "Set your mind at rest, Commander-in-Chief; I shall certainly destroy every power in every system of the Black Tiger Star Region that attempts resistance! They shall assuredly not have the nerve to jump out and caper again!"
Chieftain Ted's expression held more excitement still, though this excitement was unlike Midai'er's.
Midai'er longed rather to command this battle — though strictly speaking it was only a mopping-up job, for Midai'er it was enough.
Whereas what Chieftain Ted sought was that at last, within his own lifetime, he might recover this star region.
For it must be understood that in those days this star region was not called any Black Tiger Star Region.
But the Tiger King Star Region, in which the White-Tiger tribe was supreme!
"Set your mind at rest, Commander-in-Chief; I can assuredly bring every planet of every star system back into our hands as nearly whole and undamaged as may be," Chieftain Ted promised.
Had it been another's promise, Zhao Chen might not have believed it.
But Chieftain Ted was another matter — this was his native place, and who is willing to see his own native place ruined?
Which was also why Zhao Chen was willing to hand this task to Chieftain Ted.
At this point Zhao Chen turned his head and looked at those people in the VIP spectators' gallery, the corner of his mouth rising slightly.
Within that confident gaze it was as though he were putting a question to them.
Now — you believe it, do you not!
Every sentence I speak will become reality!