In fact, to infer this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership's position was no hard thing.
Zhao Chen had two threads to it here already.
The first was what the little girl had told him: that the first batch of worm-way jump points could lie only within a certain compass of the T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership.
By which, from the three worm-way jump points known to have appeared, a rough district could be marked out.
And should more be found hereafter, that district could be brought within a compass more exact still.
The second, likewise by the little girl's intelligence: that once this Leviathan-Shaman begins establishing worm-way jump points, it can no longer move.
And so, for a strategic unit of such importance, protection must assuredly be wanted.
Which meant one need only look at the interstellar hive-race's disposition of strength through this stretch of time.
With these threads brought together, Little Dragon Girl very soon settled roughly the coordinates where this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership lay.
Which differed little from the coordinates the little girl had given.
"It should be here. For when my sister Charlotte led the mixed legion fleet in killing her way into the enemy's positions, near six T5 Leviathan-Sovereign-class Hive Motherships and the hive fleets about them showed signs of movement, one after another.
"But the four T5 Leviathan-Sovereigns within this one district have never made any movement whatever.
"And the positions they hold seem to enclose a certain district in the middle.
"Setting that beside the radius of those three worm-way jump points, it may in the main be settled that these Leviathan-Sovereigns have made no movement all this while.
"Because they are guarding this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership!"
Such was Little Dragon Girl's analysis.
But the trouble at present was this.
Though Zhao Chen now knew where this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership lay.
How to deal with the creature was a very great problem.
Understand that at present Zhao Chen had given every one of his most elite interstellar warships to Charlotte.
And if Charlotte's mixed legion were now recalled and this task set her instead.
They must assuredly want a stretch of time to refit; and the return, the refit and the setting out again would spend no small time together.
"This business must have a plan of battle settled as fast as may be. There may be only a few hive jump points showing in our rear now; but should the number grow. It must lay a burden upon our line of logistics and supply, and a moment's carelessness might well throw one of our main positions into crisis," Lilith said gravely.
Zhao Chen thought a moment.
He said, with his face set, "I have thought of a means, but Charlotte's side must be told first. Get me Charlotte at once!"
"Very good." Though Lilith did not know what means the Commander had thought of, in military matters General Charlotte was beyond doubt the Owl Dragon Legion's greatest authority.
Very soon Zhao Chen had Charlotte.
There was a plain weariness in Charlotte's eyes.
The killing within the enemy's array through this stretch of time had left her at every moment within an air of tension.
Even she dared take nothing lightly.
"Commander, you have called me — has something important happened?" Charlotte inquired in her concern.
She knew that at so important an hour, were it not a business as great as the sky, the Commander would never have contacted her.
Zhao Chen told Charlotte the whole of it, item by item — the T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership and the worm-way jump points.
Hearing it out, Charlotte's look grew heavy as well.
She had never thought that in so short a time their own back yard should be afire.
She said gravely, "Since we have now made plain the threat of this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership, then for this campaign it is beyond doubt our greatest strategic object.
"Indeed, by the intelligence we have at present, if it can be destroyed, it may perhaps change this campaign's whole development!
"So come what may, we must find a means to destroy this T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership as fast as we can!"
From this brief exchange Charlotte grasped clearly how important the T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership was to the Owl Dragon Legion.
The urgent business now, then, was to think how to deal with the thing.
Charlotte said, her brows slightly drawn, "The present case is somewhat thorny. Were I still within our own positions, I could quite well gather a body of elite fleets and storm the place where this Leviathan-Shaman lies. But now…"
The rest Charlotte did not say. Fighting all the way at the head of the mixed legion, she had wrought no few brilliant actions.
But her mixed legion's fighting power had now fallen a good deal too, and she had no full certainty of carrying out such a decapitation besides.
"Charlotte, I have a thought; hear it and see how it strikes you." And Zhao Chen set out a thought of his own to Charlotte.
Charlotte listened earnestly to Commander Zhao Chen's thought.
And having heard it out, a keen light glittered in her eyes.
"That tactic is excellent! And it is the one of highest workability we have at present!" Charlotte said in agreement.
But Zhao Chen at this moment showed no gladness whatever at winning the agreement of so professional a judge.
He looked at her earnestly. "But to carry out this plan of battle. Means that… you must bear a heavier pressure yet."
Charlotte smiled slightly, and said it as lightly as a passing cloud. "Commander, carry out this plan with an easy mind. As for my side, you need not be anxious at all."
At Charlotte's words Zhao Chen clenched his fist.
At the last he fixed his eyes upon her. "Remember: at any danger whatever. Quit the fighting at once; we may yet think of other means. Promise me! If you will not promise me that, I shall on no account agree to this plan of battle."
Feeling the Commander's care.
Charlotte showed her small tiger-teeth in a happy smile, made her Commander a military salute, and pledged it with the most solemn assurance. "Let the Commander set his mind at rest; I promise to follow your arrangement for the battle, and should any danger truly arise, I shall be the first to lead the fleet clear of it."
And as she said it she showed Zhao Chen a smile besides.
Anxious as he was within still, Zhao Chen knew this was the one way at present of breaking the deadlock.
He was of course unwilling to hazard it.
But in interstellar war there is never an hour without risk!
And what he could do was to do his best within the compass of his own ability!