Of the five T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships brought, Zhao Chen ultimately assigned only two to transport the fifty thousand Dwarves. As for the remaining three, they were ordered to stand by for now.
Over the past three days, the fifty thousand Dwarves, bringing their families and even carrying their few belongings, had boarded the T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships one after another via unmanned cargo shuttles.
In the modified cargo holds of the T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships, three levels were divided into sections, each containing rows of beds.
Additionally, large group hibernation pods were specially prepared for collective hibernation. While not as comfortable as the single-person pods Zhao Chen had used before, they would suffice for the final leg of the journey to the Fierce Dragon Star System.
At this moment, in a section of five connected beds:
Annie carried a sack in her left hand, a box in her right, and a backpack on her back that was three times her own height.
Here, she fully demonstrated that the food she ate was not for nothing—her strength and endurance were truly remarkable.
"Whew!" Annie placed all the items down and looked at her mother and five siblings. "Rest well here. It should take just over half a month to reach Fierce Dragon Territory. Although I haven't been there yet, trust me! Commander Zhao Chen won't lie to us. Once we arrive, we won't have to endure hunger, fear, or hardship anymore."
"Sister... aren't you coming with us?" asked the second eldest sister, Nana, looking at Annie nervously.
Annie patted her sister's head. "Nana, when I'm not here, you're the eldest child in the family. Take good care of Mom and our younger siblings. I'll be back soon."
Nana, who bore some resemblance to Annie, nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Sister. Nana will definitely take care of Mom and the younger siblings!"
Annie took a few lollipops from her pocket and handed them to her younger siblings, then pointed to the large bundle. "At the bottom of the bundle, I've packed some food for you to eat on the way. Once you reach Fierce Dragon Territory, you'll have the chance to eat food like this every day!"
Seeing the snacks in Annie's hands, the little Dwarves' faces lit up with joy.
"Annie, you've really grown up," her mother said, stroking Annie's head.
Annie grinned cheerfully. "Mom, don't worry. Annie has a job now and can support you all!"
After seeing off her mother and siblings, Annie left the T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ship and returned to the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser.
Afterward, the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser escorted the two T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships to the Stargate.
Once they passed through the Stargate, left the Reef Starfield, and entered the territory of the Stellar Glory Empire, the two T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships would be safe.
After sending off the T2 Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships, the T3 Blizzard returned to the vicinity of the Dwarf planet.
Zhao Chen sat in the captain's chair, gazing at the planet before him and the interstellar battlefield ruins that had yet to be cleared.
He had already arranged all matters on the planet, and the interstellar transport ship had been sent away. Now, all that remained was to wait for the arrival of the Fire Lizard Fleet.
As for ruling this star system, all Zhao Chen needed to do was deliver a resounding victory when the time came, allowing the indigenous inhabitants of the planet to witness it firsthand.
Once that was achieved, establishing authority would become much easier.
"All we can do now is wait," Zhao Chen said, sitting in the captain's chair as he gazed at the planet inhabited by the Dwarves behind him.
"Commander... Annie... Annie can repair the starship armor of the T3 Blizzard!" Annie suddenly raised her hand.
Zhao Chen looked at Annie in surprise. It was unexpected for her to take the initiative to request work.
"But we don't have the equipment of an interstellar industrial ship or a starport here," Zhao Chen remarked.
Annie replied, "I had my father prepare some simple equipment for me. I can wear a space work suit and go outside the ship hull to repair the damaged starship armor.
Although the efficiency might be slower, the quality will definitely be no worse than what an interstellar industrial ship or starport could achieve!"
"Isn't that too dangerous?" Zhao Chen asked, looking at Annie.
Annie said firmly, "I've done this kind of work before. When I was still living here and hadn't come of age, I used to help my father repair the starships of the Dwarf race. There's no real danger involved.
Commander, please let me do it."
Come to think of it, on such a barren planet, starports were considered a luxury, and the prices of various raw materials were much higher than in the Stellar Glory Empire.
If something could be done on their own, they naturally did it themselves.
Seeing the rare look of determination on Annie's face, Zhao Chen finally gave his permission.
It seemed that this girl had grown up after seeing her own people again.
"Um... Commander... I... I couldn't resist using my food allowance standard earlier and bought some food and snacks for my younger siblings...
There are still three to five days left until the end of the month... Could you possibly advance me a little... Otherwise, Annie... might go hungry..." Annie suddenly turned around, looking at Zhao Chen with a pitiful expression.
Zhao Chen retracted his earlier thoughts. This was still the same silly girl.
"Just come with me when it's time to eat," Zhao Chen said helplessly, waving his hand.
"Thank you, Commander!" Annie bowed to Zhao Chen, then happily left the bridge to begin her work.
For the next week or so, Annie could be seen wearing a space work suit, holding tools as she patched up the damaged sections of the T3 Blizzard's hull from the outside.
Whenever it was mealtime, she would rush to Zhao Chen's side, blinking her watery eyes at him like a kitten waiting to be fed.
The Fire Salamander Tribe directly controlled five star systems, commanding a fleet of three thousand starships, including five T3 interstellar warships. Relying on this power, the Fire Salamander Tribe had become a second-tier force within the Reef Starfield.
They were only one step away from being considered a first-tier force.
Unexpectedly, just when they needed it most, fortune had come their way.
A mineral vein had been discovered on the Third Planet of the FY Star System, a planet under their control that had previously yielded little profit!
Initially, the Dwarves proposed that they could mine the resources and sell them to the Fire Salamander Tribe at a low price.
How could that be possible?
Such a massive gold mine could never be handed over to those short-statured beings. Of course, it had to be kept firmly in their own hands.
He even felt it necessary to drive away all the inhabitants of that planet, otherwise those guys would surely steal his wealth!
This later led to the expulsion of the Dwarf race and the ensuing conflict with them.
In the eyes of the Fire Salamander Tribe's leader, the interstellar fleet of the mere Dwarf race held little combat capability.
He believed that dispatching a single T3 Arkham-class Medium Starship Battleship along with a fleet of three to four hundred starships would be enough to settle the matter with the Dwarf race.
Yet, to his utter surprise, he received news of the T3 Arkham-class Medium Starship Battleship's destruction.
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