"Three hundred thousand interstellar warships are closing from every direction and mean to ring us about. And a further 200,000 are garrisoned at the Mechanical Prophet's base and have not come across." Charlotte's holographic figure appeared at Zhao Chen's side; by the newest intelligence received, she set it out for him.
"Three hundred thousand warships." Zhao Chen rubbed his chin, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Though we hold every item of information upon Machine Race warships, that is paper data when all is said.
"We cannot judge by that one thing alone.
"We must see the other side's fighting power in a real engagement."
Charlotte said in agreement, "That we all understand.
"Everything at present stands within our compass of control."
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction, and the corner of his mouth rose. "Then let them look properly upon the Owl Dragon Legion since its expansion."
…………
Three Machine Race fleets came closing about them, each of 100,000 warships.
Upon the flagship bridge of one such fleet.
Set against the bridges of other carbon-based lives' starships, a Machine Race bridge looks a good deal colder.
Aboard a T5 warship there would normally be several hundred souls upon the bridge at the least.
But here one could see only some tens of strangely shaped mechanisms giving off a faint red light.
"By the intelligence received, the attackers hold 60,000 interstellar warships, and come of an interstellar power named the Owl Dragon Legion." The mechanical commander seated in the captain's chair gave out a cold voice.
Before it were two video windows; across them two other mechanical commanders sat in captains' chairs.
A mechanical commander is a high intelligent mechanical life among the Machine Race.
They hold a standing and a capacity far above other mechanical lives.
"The Prophet has said that this is our holy ground. Any life whatever that dares break in here must be destroyed!" The voice from across was exceedingly shrill and grating.
"Destroy these cursed carbon-based lives! Destroy! Destroy!" The other voice was exceedingly violent.
"Then let us act by the plan and destroy this Owl Dragon Legion fleet."
The mechanical commander raised a hand; at a stroke of its finger the two video windows shrank and were set aside for the present.
"By the system's calculation, our side holds 300,000 interstellar warships, the enemy but 60,000.
"By the system's comparison of the two sides' warships in fighting power.
"The fighting power of the warships the Owl Dragon Legion holds far surpasses our Machine Race warships of the same grade.
"But we hold the advantage in number.
"So the system judges that we hold an 87 percent rate of victory," the starship artificial intelligence beside it gave out.
The mechanical commander said nothing further; an 87 percent rate of victory wants no further words.
Zzzt, zzzt, zzzt.
The mechanical commander of a sudden heard what seemed the sound of a current at its ear.
"What sound is this?" the mechanical commander inquired.
"It may be… the effect of this star system's strong electromagnetic interference; this has often appeared before, for the system the Prophet chose is rather particular," said the starship artificial intelligence.
Hearing this, the mechanical commander thought no further of it.
"Warning! Warning! Warning! In three directions about our fleet, three points of anomalous spatial fluctuation have appeared!"
Red light flashed upon the bridge, and warnings sounded one upon another.
The mechanical commander looked without any stir of feeling at the points of light appearing upon the war sand table; and at the same time an image appeared before it.
Those were rings of light appearing out of nothing; and as the rings dispersed, warship after warship hung there.
Upon every warship stood one same fleet blazon.
And behind it one could see a golden number besides.
4!
"Reporting — the Owl Dragon Fourth Legion's whole fleet has completed its spatial jump and reached the appointed position of battle.
"The target of attack is found; the Fourth Legion will enter a state of battle.
"Report complete!"
Upon the bridge of an Owl Dragon warship, Commander Su Lan reported the fleet's case calmly, her eyes sweeping once over that mass of 100,000 Machine Race warships across from her.
Though here she had but 30,000 Owl Dragon warships.
Set the two numbers against one another and the disparity is plain.
"Received; carry out the plan of battle," came the voice from the communication window.
Commander Su Lan said, "Understood."
Thereafter Commander Su Lan began giving out a train of orders; and this time she did not put out all her fighters and drone swarms at once.
She ordered her fleet only to make firepower attacks upon the outer ring.
And held the distance between herself and the enemy with the nicest judgment.
And the Machine Race fleets, taking the attack, tried as well to close the distance between them and make an answer.
But to very little effect.
At the same time the two other Machine Race fleets, which had meant to support the Demon Race fleets, were likewise struck by Owl Dragon Legions appearing out of nothing.
"The Owl Dragon Fifth Legion has completed its spatial jump and reached the appointed position of battle; the action begins!"
"The Owl Dragon Sixth Legion has completed its spatial jump; the target is found; the action begins!"
Likewise 30,000 Owl Dragon warships answering 100,000 Machine Race warships.
Word that fleets upon many roads were under attack of course ran through the mechanical commanders' high command.
"These low carbon-based lives dare enter our holy ground! Destroy them!"
"This is to declare war upon us; we should hold no further mercy — wipe them out utterly. The universe has no need of these carbon-based lives!"
Hearing its fellows' words.
The mechanical commander glanced at its own starship artificial intelligence.
"The attackers' fleet data is revised; at present the enemy has shown 150,000 interstellar warships.
"Though the enemy's fleet number rises, we hold still a 68 percent rate of victory.
"And we may call for support besides.
"Within this star system our support can arrive within fifteen minutes." So the starship artificial intelligence reckoned it.
Which set this mechanical commander's mind at rest; it has always trusted such figures.
"Fight on; destroy these attackers," the mechanical commander said levelly.
Upon four fields the fire was exchanged.
Save for that field where the Demon Race fleets were being hunted down, the remaining three interstellar fields had one thing in common: that the Owl Dragon legions, from the outset, made high-saturation medium- and long-range firepower strikes.
And showed not the least intent of falling into that contact fighting at medium and short range with the Machine Race fleets, but held the distance between them all along.
Which meant that the medium- and close-range weapons upon both sides' ships had in the main no ground to be used upon.
Three hours of engagement passed at a stroke.
Save for the Demon Race fleets, who were being soundly beaten.
Upon the other three fields, though the Owl Dragon Legions' long-range firepower had worked no small casualties.
Yet because no engagement of high intensity had broken out, the losses were not to be reckoned great.
"It seems this crew of iron lumps have no small patience." Zhao Chen rubbed his chin and looked at Charlotte's holographic projection beside him.
"Then the second plan of battle may begin," Charlotte said levelly.