Having ended the video call with Charlotte.
Zhao Chen glanced at that communication request from the Fury Bear chieftain, which had by now sprung up several dozen times.
By the look of it, this fellow would not give up until he had a definite answer out of him today.
And so it was — for the fighting to resist the Demon Race fleet in the Dragon-folk tribe's northern territory was about to begin.
And to be able to command a mighty interstellar warship into battle at such a time was naturally a most stirring prospect.
Zhao Chen called up several files, and made an inquiry of Lilith; and having got the answer he wanted—
Zhao Chen still did not connect the communication with the Fury Bear chieftain, but sent him a message directly.
Upon receiving that message, the Fury Bear chieftain troubled Zhao Chen no further.
——————
Several days later
Within the Storm-Fortress-class Large Star Port of the Owl Dragon forward base
Zhao Chen sat upon the couch, listening to Lilith report the various situations to him.
Order within the Starlight Empire was recovering very well; with the help of those Owl Dragon Legion industries, it was returning to its pre-war level at exceeding speed.
The one problem remaining was perhaps that permanent Grade-4 cosmic bug-nest in the Snow-Swallow Star Region.
"Concerning this permanent Grade-4 cosmic bug-nest, we have named it the Snow-Swallow Grade-4 Bug-Nest — also called the 'Snow-Swallow Interstellar Drill Ground.' Empress Qin Xiaolei's side has dispatched 100,000 interstellar warships to garrison it, and the Chu River legion fleets have detailed 50,000 interstellar warships besides. Which ensures that 150,000 interstellar warships are garrisoned at the Snow-Swallow Grade-4 Bug-Nest at all times — among them 50 T4-grade interstellar warships and above 3,000 T3-grade interstellar warships. At the same time, Empress Qin Xiaolei's side has passed the scheme for raising an elite Imperial Army fleet, whose establishment requires uniform T3-grade interstellar warships. And as for the T3-grade interstellar warships within it, they are chiefly the T3 Flame Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer; Empress Qin Xiaolei is applying to us besides, hoping we may open the purchase privilege for more T3-grade interstellar warships." Lilith looked to Zhao Chen.
"We may open to them the purchase privilege for the T3 Triceratops-class Interstellar Heavy Assault Frigate and the T3 Wind-Eagle-class Medium Interstellar Cruiser. And license the technology of these two classes to the Northern Goose Group besides, and have them take charge of building them. As for the other interstellar warships, continue by the former regulations of control: each month permitting only a certain number of restricted-grade interstellar warships to be supplied to them," Zhao Chen said.
Lilith nodded, and recorded the Commander-in-Chief's view upon this matter.
As of now, above 90% of military procurement within the Starlight Empire was monopolized by the Owl Dragon.
And for the advanced and mighty interstellar warships in the Owl Dragon Legion's hands, they were naturally most covetous.
Zhao Chen too was willing to strengthen the Starlight Empire's military power — but it must be under his own control, and must not affect the Owl Dragon Legion's own procurement and expansion plans.
So the T2-grade interstellar warships the Northern Goose Group supplied were unlimited: so long as you had the money, you could buy.
And earlier Zhao Chen had opened the privilege for the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser.
And now he had opened the sale privilege for two further classes.
As for the other interstellar warships, they had a chance of obtaining those as well; but how much was supplied there rested wholly upon Zhao Chen's determining.
If this month's output was good, for instance, then five T3 Imperial-class Heavy Interstellar Battleships might be released to them, or a few T4 Paladin-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Frigates.
By which the Starlight Empire might be brought to grow by degrees, without affecting the Owl Dragon Legion's own development.
"Besides which, on account of the 'Snow-Swallow Interstellar Drill Ground,' our recruit training has gained an enormous advantage. Essentially every recruit, before entering formal service, will undergo 100 combat hours of live training at the 'Snow-Swallow Interstellar Drill Ground.' Under such an arrangement, we can supply our Owl Dragon Legion an average of 1 million seasoned interstellar soldiers per week. And this figure, because we have extended the recruitment range to the whole Starlight Empire, is growing at a considerable speed each week," Lilith said.
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction. "In the matter of recruitment there must be no carelessness. We would rather have soldiers without ships than face the awkward case of ships without soldiers."
Lilith nodded in understanding.
Under the Owl Dragon's present industrial system, an astonishing number of interstellar warships rolled off the line into service every month, so that great numbers of recruits were needed in service.
For which reason Zhao Chen had opened the range of recruitment; but upon the assessment of a recruit's ability there was no slackening whatever.
One must pass the assessment, and possess combat ability strong enough, before setting foot aboard an Owl Dragon interstellar warship!
"Through these several days of refitting, all six of our legion fleets have completed their refit and war-readiness work. Next comes the disposition of their tasks hereafter." Lilith said it, looking toward the eight fleet commanders before the round table.
Charlotte, Chitong, Shen Bing, Su Lan, Chu Xuan, Medusa.
And two special fleet commanders besides: the wolf-girl Baixue and Zhao Wan'er.
"Concerning the data upon the Demon Race fleet, we have finished putting it in order on our side. Within it, besides the data from the Dragon Emperor's actual engagement with the Demon Race fleet, there are besides certain materials from his own quiet observation of the Demon Race over these years."
Lilith said gravely, "Perhaps the Dragon Emperor chose the wrong road from the beginning; but at the least he was a conscientious and dutiful chieftain and sovereign."
Zhao Chen nodded.
And perhaps it was on account of the Dragon Emperor's last battle that Zhao Chen too was sincerely willing to defend the Dragon-folk tribe's frontier — and not wholly for the sake of that annual task reward.
If the Dragon-folk tribe hereafter knew good from ill, Zhao Chen was willing besides to give them a place to set their feet within the new Warhammer order to come.
But if they did not…
Then Zhao Chen could only change the Dragon-folk tribe's leadership thoroughly, and let the Dragon-folk tribe of the future sink altogether into a third-rate tribe.
"You all know our chief task in the next stage. Against an enemy we have never faced — one come, indeed, from the other end of the universe — we must now seize upon every thread of a chance to learn the enemy's information. Only so can our Owl Dragon Legion fleets win victory in the war to come at the least cost in casualties!" Zhao Chen looked at these Owl Dragon commanders he had cultivated himself.
The Owl Dragon commanders sat about the conference table, waiting upon Lilith's material.
Lilith raised a hand, and what appeared first were projections of interstellar warships never seen before.
The outward design of these interstellar warships was wholly unlike the design conception of the Galactic Alliance's three great empires.
The hulls were blood-red throughout, for all the world like interstellar warships dyed red with fresh blood.
If there were anything they resembled.
It was that these interstellar warships bore the characteristics of biological warships, much like a Hive Mothership — and yet had the characteristics of mechanical interstellar warships besides.
Add to that that dark and gloomy air about them, and they seemed an interstellar fleet sailed forth out of hell.