"Though while the star shield is open, no energy replenishment can be carried out. Which is to say that replenishing the star shield's energy must be done in a non-combat state," Annie stressed.
"So starting up that 'Hades Domain' just now consumed 50% of the Hades core's stored energy outright?" Zhao Chen asked.
Annie nodded. "It did. The 'Hades Domain' is one of the two special attack modes upon the T5 Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought. And there are two ways of using the Hades Domain. One is to release it outward with the Hades herself as the center, which gives the greatest range. The other is to designate an area within firing range and deliver the 'Hades Domain' there; a 'Hades Domain' released in this manner has a lesser range than the former, and just what area it can affect must be determined by the actual conditions of delivery. By our estimate, it comes to under a fifth of the former. But a 'Hades Domain' released with the Hades as its center has one small problem: it is a weapon of indiscriminate attack, and apart from the Hades herself, friend and foe alike within it are affected. And the effect you have all seen. It can paralyze the electronic systems of every interstellar warship within that range save the Hades; the principle of it being the release of a kind of electromagnetic pulse—"
"That will do; say only so much. For these commanders it is enough to understand how it is used, and the basic information." Zhao Chen cut Annie's words short.
Annie pouted. If I'm not to say it, I shan't; I never wanted to say it anyway.
Annie took up her chopsticks and prepared to help herself to her beef.
"And the other mode — how much of the Hades core system's stored energy does it consume? Besides which, you seem not to have said what conditions the 'Hades Domain' requires." Zhao Chen interrupted Annie's fine meal once again.
The veins stood out on Annie's forehead; she sprang up onto the table, pointed at Zhao Chen's nose and roared, "Do you not know that to disturb a person while they are eating is exceedingly ill-mannered, and shows no respect for fine food! And all these things you are asking, I wrote long ago in those electronic manuals handed over with the Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought. Can you not read them yourself? And this interstellar warship's material and data were given me by you in the first place. Do you not know that! Do not suppose that because I work for you, I have sold myself body and soul. Do you think I won't hand in my notice!"
The above was merely a thing imagined inside Chief Engineer Annie's head.
The reality was that Annie looked at Commander-in-Chief Zhao Chen with a face full of smiles. "The other attack mode consumes in a different manner: starting it up requires 30% of the core's stored energy, and the consumption thereafter depends upon how long it is sustained. After each use there must be an interval of 10 minutes, waiting for that weapon module to reset before it can be used again. As for the Hades Domain, it too has a 10-minute reset after use. So there is no great difficulty on the side of time; the chief question is the efficiency of the core's stored energy. Only by employing the Hades core system rationally can this interstellar warship's strength be brought out."
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Annie squeezed out a thread of a smile and looked at the Commander-in-Chief. "Are there any other questions?"
"None for the present," Zhao Chen said.
The corner of Annie's mouth twitched slightly.
Be easy, Annie. Be easy, Annie.
Fine food! Fine food! Only in the best state of mind can one savor the finest food.
Annie looked at that pot of beef with a face brimming with smiles, and lifted out a slice.
"Report. Radar has discovered several Holy Radiance Empire legion fleets closing! They will enter our Hades's firing range in one minute."
A sudden voice made Annie's chopsticks tremble, and the beef dropped straight to the floor.
Annie pouted in injury, but there was nothing she could do.
She could only comfort herself inwardly: pick it up and it can still be eaten; pick it up and it can still be eaten.
It must not be wasted!
Sis Bull has said it: waste is shameful!
She picked the beef up off the floor at once and stuffed it into her mouth.
Annie's expression turned bitter.
It grates on the teeth… boiled too long… far too tough…
Annie looked at that pot of beef in injury; she felt her heart dripping blood.
If Sis Bull saw this, she would certainly grieve over it.
Though at this moment no one, naturally, had attention to spare for the chief engineer's affairs.
Because the T5 Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought's second batch of enemies had now appeared.
"Xiaoxiao, do not be hasty. First confirm the number of the enemy's interstellar warships," Zhao Chen said.
"Yes." Xue Xiaoxiao at once set about it.
Definite word soon came.
There were eight Holy Radiance Empire legion fleets, above 24,000 interstellar warships, sailing toward them in a fan-shaped formation.
And by the posture of the enemy's interstellar warships, they too must have discovered the Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought's existence, and were holding a state from which they could give battle at any moment.
Presumably these were all reinforcements come to the Sacred Wing Legion's relief.
Only, more's the pity, they had come too late.
Though with good luck, they might yet catch up with the Sacred Wing Legion.
"Xiaoxiao, use the other attack mode next; let the enemy come as close as you can," Zhao Chen instructed.
"Yes." Xue Xiaoxiao nodded excitedly; she had had that very notion herself.
She had earlier meant to use the other special mode once the Hades Domain had been released, and had not thought the Sacred Wing Legion so unable to take a beating.
3,000 interstellar warships annihilated entire so very fast.
But she had never thought that another batch of enemies would just then deliver themselves to the door.
Xue Xiaoxiao at once began handing down orders, making every disposition, and waited only for the enemy to step into her hunting ground.
"Report. The enemy's fleet has entered our firing range! 20 seconds remain until we enter the enemy's interstellar warships' firing range. In one minute this ship will lie within the firing range of every one of the enemy's interstellar warships." A subordinate reported to Xue Xiaoxiao.
"Do not be hasty. Let them all come in. The closer the better!" Xue Xiaoxiao said with a wicked smile.
Set beside the 'Hades Domain,' she liked the other attack mode better.
Time passed by degrees.
Xue Xiaoxiao felt at this moment that the enemy's interstellar warships sailed far too slowly — every one of them slow as a tortoise.
And soon the enemy's interstellar warships began launching probing attacks upon the Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought.
But because the star shield was there, these attacks could pose no great threat to the Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought in any short while.
Though because the enemy fleet drew ever nearer, the intensity of these attacks grew ever greater as well.
Soon the star-shield system's energy value fell below 30%.
A subordinate asked Captain Xue Xiaoxiao.
Xue Xiaoxiao licked her lips and said, "Wait another half minute!"
Half a minute later.
Xue Xiaoxiao's eyes blazed; she set to work at once, and called out at the same time, "Start up the 'Sword of Hades'!"
The bridge crew, ready long since, worked at the greatest speed.
Soon an authorization window appeared before Xue Xiaoxiao.
Without a word Xue Xiaoxiao worked the authorization.
Start up!
Sword of Hades attack mode starting up…
While in the eyes of the Holy Radiance fleet opposite, this unidentified giant ship, which had been bearing their attacks without a stir, suddenly underwent a change.
At the position of its bow, it slowly split open.
And out of that parting there extended an enormous ship's cannon, wound about with black and gold, and bearing a dazzling radiance of energy particles besides.
Like a keen sword about to leave its scabbard.