The T4 Gemini-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships put out some tens of vast mechanical arms and working platforms, and could take repair tasks upon them — and even a part of what an interstellar supply ship does: the changing and replenishing of ordnance, engine energy blocks and the like.
The T4 Great-Whale-class Heavy Interstellar Transports opened their holds, within which lay a great quantity of strategic stores and raw materials ready made.
Among these the T4 Moon-Goddess-class Heavy Interstellar Supply Ships had the heaviest task.
For they must complete, in the shortest time, the supply of these T5 warships in every particular.
Not only the starship energy spent, and the ordnance and stores.
But the hastening of the star-shields' recovery through external equipment, and other logistical work besides!
Every working was exceedingly careful and exceedingly swift.
The crew and petty officers charged with it knew very well how important this supply task was, and that they must, upon the condition of keeping the supply safe and smooth, complete it as fast as ever they might.
While the time served.
Zhao Wan'er fell to talking with Xue Xiaoxiao, and asked, "How stands it with Charlotte?"
Xue Xiaoxiao said, "When we left, the case was well enough… but with the firepower support of these 15 T5s gone. The pressure upon Charlotte must rise sharply. As for how it will end at the last, no one can say. We can only hope our own action here, if it can be smoothly done, may ease the pressure upon her."
Zhao Wan'er nodded, and said with conviction, "It assuredly can! And my brother's side waits upon good news of us too!"
"Was your coming in smooth?" Xue Xiaoxiao asked.
Zhao Wan'er said, "In the scouting before the task, the difficulty was great enough. But with the attack from the three main positions upon my brother's side, and the confusion it made, and the great quantity of hive fleets drawn off toward that quarter. We had our opening, and my special fleet slipped in smoothly. And found this safe set of coordinates. From here to the target position the Dragon Emperor calculated is under half an hour's sailing. Though set your mind at rest. My own ships and the Banshee-class scouts I brought are all out upon the ring, scouting under stealth; should any hive fleet appear about us, we shall know at the first moment."
Xue Xiaoxiao nodded, easy in her mind.
She drew a deep breath, and called to mind the whole train of the plan Commander Zhao Chen and General Charlotte had told her.
First, Charlotte's mixed legion drawing upon itself the notice of the hive fleets and Leviathan-Sovereigns guarding the T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership.
Then Commander Zhao Chen's three-line assault.
Which looked to be simply a disposition of crying in the east and striking in the west, drawing off a portion of the hive fleets and the Leviathan-Sovereigns.
In fact that was only the second step.
Commander Zhao Chen knew very well that with these two steps alone, driving in from the front, they might perhaps at the last reach that T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership and destroy it.
But in time and in losses alike, the figures would be ones Zhao Chen would not be content with.
That being so, Zhao Chen simply made bait of himself as well.
In fact Zhao Chen had a third piece.
An attacking fleet made up of Zhao Wan'er's Owl Dragon interstellar stealth bomber special fleet and the 15 T5 interstellar warships.
First, once Zhao Chen's side had drawn the great mass of the hive fleets' notice.
Zhao Wan'er's stealth bomber special fleet would slip quietly to the nearest safe position to the T5 Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership, and make ready to receive the 15 T5s.
And thereafter it was for them to fall upon the final target.
An hour is not long, and yet not short.
Zhao Wan'er and Xue Xiaoxiao modeled the coming action several times over besides.
The hour of supply being up, the auxiliary starships of every model drew in their working equipment and platforms at once and withdrew to a safe position.
"Commanders, our supply is complete," that woman captain of the logistics fleet reported to the two of them.
"Very good; your task is done, and you may sail home." Zhao Wan'er nodded.
"I wish you both a triumphant return." The woman captain saluted them both again, with admiration in her eyes.
She too knew what these Owl Dragon warships went for.
This was an exceedingly hazardous task, and wanted courage of the greatest.
Zhao Wan'er and Xue Xiaoxiao returned the salute, and at once made ready to sail.
"How do those 15 T5s of yours stand? Will it tell upon the fighting to come?" Zhao Wan'er inquired.
Xue Xiaoxiao had by now the reports the several T5 captains had sent up.
She said, "In the main every T5 has completed above 50 percent of its state of supply, and the star-shield energy of all is back above 60 percent. My Hades' energy store is back to 78 percent. It is not the fullest state, but for this task there is no trouble."
"Very well; let us make ready to set out. I shall send you the course from here; you need only sail as I send it!" said Zhao Wan'er.
"Very good."
Thereafter the 15 T5 interstellar warships set out.
The logistics fleet behind gathered slowly together; they too must make ready to sail home.
That captain of the logistics fleet gazed after the shapes of those 15 great ships as they drew away, and knew that in places she could not see there were more Owl Dragon warships still.
Who would go forward without turning back, for the Commander's great plan, to annihilate the strategic target!
At the thought of it a solemn reverence rose in her again, and she made another military salute toward the quarter where they had gone.
These were soldiers worthy of their admiration!
The T5 Dragon Emperor Interstellar Command Ship · bridge.
"Commander, newest word. Zhao Wan'er's and Xue Xiaoxiao's commands have completed the last round of logistical supply, and have set out to carry out the final stage of the task!" Lilith looked toward Zhao Chen and reported it.
Zhao Chen kept his eyes upon the war sand table before him.
Every one of his pieces was, in this moment, laid down.
What came next was to see how the highest passage of this performance would be played.
"Make ready every emergency plan. Whatever may arise, we must be ready to answer it in the shortest time," Zhao Chen said gravely.
"Set your mind at rest; we stand ready at every moment!" Lilith said firmly.
Zhao Chen's eyes fell upon that red district of the sand table.
Leviathan-Shaman-class Hive Mothership… I wonder whether you will like this gift I have made ready for you.