If at this moment some eye of heaven could look upon the whole space about the cosmic bug-nest, it would find a black press of hive fleets across the whole of it!
That number was terrible past the utmost.
By estimate, even were certain giant planets thrown in among them, these swarms could digest them in the shortest time.
And these hive fleets had already begun to move off by twos and threes in their several directions.
They were too hungry; they wanted the hunt; they wanted food!
In the course of it certain interstellar stealth scouts who could not withdraw in time became of course the first sacrifices of this campaign.
But their sacrifice won the field's first-line intelligence.
And certain probes left behind would send the enemy's intelligence back in good time as well.
The T5 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship · bridge.
Above an hour had passed since the swarm tide appeared, and several high commanders of the legion fleets opened the first council of the war.
Zhao Chen sat in the chief seat and looked at the holographic figures assembling one by one.
"Commander, all are here," Lilith said quietly, standing behind Zhao Chen.
By Zhao Chen's own intent, Lilith should have sat beside him.
But Lilith said she was only a secretary, and a secretary should stand behind her own Commander; and she liked the position better herself.
Seeing she would not be persuaded, Zhao Chen had let it be.
"You will all have seen the latest field intelligence, I take it." Zhao Chen opened, looking round at the company in the conference room.
The air was somewhat heavy.
"My lord, upon the intelligence. Among the hive fleet strength already made out, there are 11 T5 Leviathan-Sovereign-class Hive Motherships. Is that certain?" The high-order angel Berkeley asked it first, gravely.
"I hope I shall not hear a doubt of that kind a second time. This is the enemy's case, made out at the cost of three T4 Banshee-class Light Interstellar Stealth Scouts of our Owl Dragon's." No stir of feeling whatever could be heard in Zhao Chen's voice.
The high-order angel Jessie said in apology, "Forgive us; I apologize for Berkeley's discourtesy. By what the intelligence sets out, the number of hive fleets made out at present passes 30 million. This number…"
Coming to this, there was something complicated in the high-order angel Jessie's eyes. "I hope that as to this campaign we had better lay our plans at leisure. And our side must get in contact with the Angel Kings again besides."
Zhao Chen's fingers tapped upon the table, and he said levelly, "To speak exactly, of these 30 million Hive Motherships, the vast majority are but T1 and T2. Of T4 Hive Motherships, by the present investigation, the number is under 5,000."
"But…" The high-order angel Jessie's bearing at this moment was plainly of one who thought very ill of this campaign.
To hold off 30 million hive fleets with above 2 million interstellar warships — the scene of it was truly hard to imagine.
"You need only carry out what we agreed," Zhao Chen said coldly.
Just so: people not upon one ship will never have their hearts drawn together.
The people of the three great empires had said nothing here, however great the fear within them might be.
But the Angel Race were another matter: the interstellar hive-race was indeed a threat to them, but as things now stood only a chronic complaint — still more with the Machine Race lying between.
Had they not set store by the Owl Dragon's capacity, the Angel Race would never have wasted troops here.
"Jessie, say no more. Since we have agreed, then here we shall fight." The angel Tilia stopped these two subordinates of hers from speaking further.
She looked toward Zhao Chen. "Our Angel Race's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold; we shall keep the agreement."
Zhao Chen paid these angels no further heed.
He said, with his face set, "Nor do I mean to speak any words here to hearten you. The hive fleets are upon the road of their attack already; the swiftest of them will, by estimate, be engaged with our line within the hour. All is to go by the tactical policy we settled before.
"Though you come from three great empires, and from different star regions. Yet here, now, we all fight for the future of our home. Perhaps we might now flinch, might now run away. But before the interstellar hive-race, where can we run to? We might run — but can our wives run, can our children run?
"At the least, I shall not go. And I can give you my guarantee. I and my flagship the Dragon Emperor will garrison the No. 1 Main Position to the death."
Zhao Chen struck a fist upon the table.
"Let the Owl Dragon's lord set his mind at rest; our Dragon-Tiger Legion is willing to live or die with the position!" Chief Ted set a hand upon his breast and said it with confidence.
"An old man has not fought so stirring a battle in a long while. They are only bugs; tread them dead, and there's an end." Marshal Chu Changhe stroked his white beard.
"This is our home, and I will let the bugs ravage my homeland no more!" The Empress Saint Cana clenched her fist; however much fear there was within her, her conviction was past all shaking.
"We are willing to go forward and back with the Commander!" The company of Owl Dragon generals made Zhao Chen a military salute.
Zhao Chen rose, and returned the salute to them all. "Till the hive-race is destroyed, I do not withdraw!"
"Till the hive-race is destroyed, I do not withdraw!"
"Till the hive-race is destroyed, I do not withdraw!"
"Till the hive-race is destroyed, I do not withdraw!"
With cry upon cry, the figures of light within the conference room dispersed.
And this council before the battle ended here.
Zhao Chen rose, straightened his uniform, took up the uniform cap he had not worn in a long while, set it on and squared it, and walked quietly out of the conference room.
Lilith followed behind.
The two came back to the bridge.
The petty officers and crew upon the bridge marked their Commander's return, but only went earnestly on with their own work.
Only when he came near did they salute slightly, and then at once go on with what they were doing.
This time Zhao Chen did not sit upon that comfortable sofa, but in the captain's chair of the T5 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship.
His two eyes were like torches upon the interstellar war sand table before him, watching those black torrents begin to pour out of the red zone centered upon the cosmic bug-nest toward the outer districts.
As though they would swallow every golden circle, great and small.
"Only 30 million bugs; at the worst we shall be some little time longer treading them," Zhao Chen said coldly.
Whether by some coincidence out of the unseen, there was no telling.
The first to be engaged with the interstellar hive-race was the No. 1 Main Position where Zhao Chen's T5 Dragon Emperor lay; and by the enemy's lines of attack as at present observed.
The hive fleets swarming toward the No. 1 Main Position were the most in number besides.
At which Zhao Chen only smiled slightly.
It was as he had said.
This battle! Till the hive-race is destroyed, I do not withdraw!