The business of the Dragon-folk tribe came for the present to a close.
Zhao Chen went on to consult with the several legion commanders upon the business to come.
"In this campaign, the Demon Race fleets lost near 60,000 and more interstellar warships, and above 60,000 more Demon Race interstellar warships withdrew from the field. Of these, the number of Demon Race interstellar warships destroyed by the fleets Leona and Blanche commanded was 1,000 and more; all the remainder were annihilated by our own side. The Demon Race fleets' losses in personnel are estimated at some 60 million." Lilith set out the state of the enemy's destruction first.
Four Demon Race fleets in all: one annihilated to the last, and the remaining three, seeing the case turn ill, withdrawing in good time.
That after fighting so bitter as this, with the Owl Dragon Legion's whole army committed, 60,000 Demon Race interstellar warships were still let slip away, shows well enough that the combat power of the Demon Race's interstellar warships is stubborn indeed.
"Upon our side, the interstellar warships of the six Owl Dragon legions, and the relevant special fleets. Lost 3,132 interstellar warships in all, with 711 interstellar warships gravely damaged. Among the interstellar warships lost were 67 T4-grade interstellar warships; all the remainder were T3-grade. In combat personnel casualties, 1,400,000 and more fell, and 880,000 and more were wounded lightly or gravely; the wounded have all been properly placed already. In this campaign, in the consumption of combat munitions and materiel alone, the total came to near 600 billion star coins, of which 300 billion star coins were the consumption of interstellar missiles."
When Lilith had said all this, Zhao Chen's heart gave a lurch.
This was the feeling of a purse in pain.
This campaign, from its opening to its close, with the process of tidying up afterward besides, had not run to 10 hours.
And in that time he had actually spent 600 billion star coins of his own!
Very near the Owl Dragon's whole present income for a single month; and this without yet reckoning the figures for the subsequent medical care of personnel, or for the interstellar warships lost.
It hurt in the flesh.
But on the other hand, upon reflection, it was by relying upon this extremely high investment in war that the Owl Dragon Legion was assured of putting out an exceedingly fine combat-loss ratio in every engagement.
As for instance in this campaign: 60,000 and more enemy interstellar warships destroyed in all.
Of which 1,000 belonged to the Dragon-folk tribe's side, though that might in the main be left out of the reckoning.
Beyond which, the T5 Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought had destroyed some 10,000 and more interstellar warships, which was not counted within regular operations.
But the enemy-destruction figures of the Owl Dragon interstellar missile ship special fleet the wolf-girl Baixue commanded might be counted within it.
Which is to say that the Owl Dragon Legion's enemy-destruction figures, the T5 Hades-class Interstellar Dreadnought excepted, came to some 45,000 and more interstellar warships.
Against a loss to itself of 3,000 and more interstellar warships.
Which is outright an astounding combat-loss ratio of 15 to one.
It might fairly be called a great victory.
"Which is to say that our Owl Dragon Legion's combat-loss rate this time stands at about 17%," Zhao Chen muttered.
"That is about the figure. Though by any estimate it will rise somewhat further. Because hereafter we shall make our assessment of those interstellar warships that suffered grievous damage; and should the assessment find a hull's condition exceedingly poor, it will be broken up and sent back to the furnace outright," said Lilith.
Because the Owl Dragon Legion possesses an industrial system of its own, and because it has all along followed a policy of elite troops, the demands it makes upon the performance and quality of the interstellar warships in its own service are of the highest.
After every campaign ends, the damaged interstellar warships are assessed when they come in for repair.
The assessment is divided into five ranks. The fifth rank is exceedingly poor: in the main upon the verge of being written off, and sent straight back to the furnace to be made anew.
And the fourth rank is poor; at this level the Owl Dragon Legion will use them no further.
Commonly they are patched up a little, and then, according to ship type and grade, either sold off to certain lords and other local powers, or else stored first and sold later on. Those stored first are so kept because their present security classification is rather high, and they are for the most part T4-grade interstellar warships.
As for the third rank, that goes by cases.
Some may serve again within the Owl Dragon Legion — T4-grade interstellar warships, for instance, the Owl Dragon Legion's need for T4-grade hulls being still fairly high at present.
As for the T3-grade: were they interstellar battleships or carrier starships and the like, they would continue in the Owl Dragon Legion's service.
But were it an interstellar frigate such as a T3 Triceratops, or an interstellar destroyer, it would be tossed straight to the Northern Goose Group to be patched up and packaged off to the Imperial Army, or to other powers on good terms with the Owl Dragon Legion.
The two ranks above that are in the main not much damaged; a little repair, and they return to the Owl Dragon Legion's order of battle.
"As to the handling of the wounded, that is to be arranged with particular weight. Set out an itinerary for me hereafter; I shall go and call upon certain of the wounded who bore themselves notably in the fighting. And have our media department record the deeds of these notable wounded besides, and spread them abroad; it will help increase our Owl Dragon Legion's cohesion. And the wounded men's pensions above all, and their leave benefits, and their rewards. Whatever is due is to be short by not the least amount. And should anyone dare skim or squeeze within it." Toward the end of this Zhao Chen's face darkened.
"Rest easy, Commander-in-Chief. I know how it is to be handled," Lilith said gravely.
For such a body as the Owl Dragon, which rose from a military fleet and which upholds Zhao Chen's authority, the fleet's cohesion is exceedingly important!
This is Zhao Chen's foundation.
For anyone to work mischief within it would past dispute be to dig away at the very artery of Zhao Chen's life.
And this too is Zhao Chen's bottom line.
Go and bully others, and so long as you do not go too far, I can shut one eye.
Bully your own people, and then do not complain that military law is without mercy!
And above all because the Owl Dragon Legion's regulations require of the crews that in battle, save where necessity compels, and without a superior's order, once the destruction of a starship has become a fact accomplished.
All crew are to hold the preserving of their own lives for their chief business.
Which brings it about that in every engagement the Owl Dragon Legion's proportion of wounded is the highest of any!
And so, upon the placing and handling of the wounded, Zhao Chen has always set the greatest store.
These words, heard by Charlotte and the crowd of commanders beside her, left them all lifted up past all measure in their hearts.
This was the Commander-in-Chief they followed.
"Through this campaign we have come to know the Demon Race fleets' combat power. Though the combat power of their interstellar warships cannot match ours. The numbers of their fleets will, by any estimate, be very vast. And so the most urgent business is to hasten the pace at which we build out our interstellar warships. And beyond that, to enlarge our reserves of military resources, and assure so far as may be that our Owl Dragon Legion of the future has munitions enough to use. Rather than, as in this campaign, being able only to watch with open eyes as the enemy flees away." Zhao Chen clenched his fist.
These were the Owl Dragon Legion's two present straits.
"I shall act in concert with General Charlotte to hasten the absorption of the Warhammer. And use the Warhammer's resources to feed back into our Owl Dragon Legion," Lilith swore upon her word.
Charlotte too said gravely, "Rest easy, Commander-in-Chief. The Warhammer shall be loyal to you forever, and forge more interstellar warships for you!"