By the time Zhao Chen returned to the Fierce Dragon Star System, it was already the end of July.
This round trip to the Reef Starfield, along with handling matters there, had taken nearly a month.
"Once the Stargates for both star systems are completed, travel will become much more convenient," Zhao Chen remarked, standing on the bridge of the T3 Blizzard. He sipped the beverage prepared by Secretary Officer Lilith as he gazed at the vast starry expanse outside.
"Chief Engineer Annie has sent a notification that the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate in the Fierce Dragon Star System has been completed. She requests your inspection," Secretary Officer Lilith reported beside him.
"We should go take a look. But I bet that little girl will bring up the bonus again," Zhao Chen said, thinking of the petite figure. Her work attitude and her usual demeanor were like two completely different people.
Just imagine a group of demi-human craftsmen and dwarf craftsmen standing respectfully before Annie, addressing her as "Chief Engineer."
Somehow, that image felt inexplicably comical.
The T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser began its journey toward the location where the Stargate was constructed.
A few minutes later, Zhao Chen could faintly make out the massive Stargate. It was not yet activated, giving off a lifeless and inert impression.
Nevertheless, it still exuded a sense of majesty intertwined with artistic beauty.
The design of the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate resembled two "crescent moons" reflecting each other. One of the materials used for the crescent shape was a translucent, high-strength mineral, further enhancing its artistic appeal.
"Report, Chief Engineer Annie is aboard a shuttle and requests permission to board the ship," a bridge crew member announced.
"Let her in," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
He could almost predict what would happen next.
"Lilith, want to bet? That girl will walk onto the bridge, start complaining to me, and put on a pitiful act like she's lost half her life," Zhao Chen chuckled, glancing at Lilith.
Lilith smiled without responding.
Soon, the bridge doors slid open automatically. Annie walked in with dark circles under her eyes, a vacant stare, and her arms hanging limply at her sides, moving like a zombie.
"Commander... sir..." Annie mumbled without even lifting her eyelids to greet Zhao Chen. She then trudged straight toward the captain's chair.
This time, she simply flopped her upper body onto the chair, letting her legs dangle lifelessly on the floor.
Zhao Chen didn't even glance at Annie sprawled over the captain's chair. Instead, he pointed toward the distant Stargate and casually chatted with Lilith about some of its key technological aspects.
"The earliest Stargates were T2-level Stargates because, at that time, T2-class interstellar warships still used Level Four Warp Engines.
Traveling within a star system wasn't an issue, and short interstellar voyages—like from our Fierce Dragon Star System to the neighboring Arctic Fox System—took about four to five days via warp navigation, which was still acceptable.
But if you needed to travel across multiple star systems...
Back then, the concept of a 'star sector' hadn't even been defined.
Otherwise, relying solely on T2 Starships to traverse the North Wind Star Domain would have taken at least half a year.
Now? With Stargates, it only takes a day or two.
So, it was Stargate technology that bridged time and space.
Subsequent upgrades to T3 and T4 Stargates primarily focused on improving navigation stability, safety, the number of fleets they could deploy, the distances they could span, and so on."
"Although our T3 Stargate doesn't transport as many fleets as other Stargates of the same level, the distance it covers has already reached T4 Stargate standards..."
Annie lay sprawled on a chair, her small eyes wide open. She had waited and waited, but Commander Zhao Chen still hadn't called her name, as if he were completely ignoring her existence.
Listening to that rambling voice, it seemed like he could go on for hours.
Annie, who had never been particularly patient to begin with, finally pouted and sat up: "Commander... Annie... I'm so exhausted I collapsed here. How could you... not even care about Annie?"
"Tired? If you're tired, lie down a bit longer. Lilith, go get her a blanket," Zhao Chen said without turning his head.
Annie walked up to Commander Zhao Chen, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice: "Commander... Annie... to complete the Stargate construction project as quickly as possible... I've lost several pounds over the past two months!"
Zhao Chen snapped his fingers, and a small robot appeared, lifting Annie up.
Before Annie could even react.
The small robot reported in a mechanical voice: "Weight... 28 kilograms..."
Zhao Chen squinted at Annie: "I seem to remember Annie's weight two months ago was only 25 kilograms..."
Caught red-handed, Annie's eyes darted around. She put on a weak expression, swaying her body: "Maybe... I... got fat from exhaustion."
Zhao Chen smiled and raised his hand, projecting a video.
It showed the T3 Blizzard's Hangar and corridors.
It recorded Annie's entire journey from getting off the Shuttle in the Hangar to arriving at the bridge.
Annie leaped down from the Shuttle, then jogged the whole way, even skipping and hopping.
She didn't look the slightest bit weak.
But just as she was about to reach the bridge, Annie immediately stopped, patted her face, and the next second, she was in character—looking half-dead.
"You seemed quite lively earlier. How come you're so exhausted the moment you step onto my bridge?" Zhao Chen looked at Annie with a half-smile.
Beside him, Lilith struggled to hold back her laughter, tears nearly welling up.
Well, now Annie's disguise was exposed, as if she were being publicly executed.
Annie pouted and plopped down on the floor, deliberately rubbing her eyes with her hands: "What am I working so hard for? Isn't it for our respected Commander, for our Fierce Dragon Fleet?
I'm like this... I'm like this because I want to ask for more benefits for everyone."
As she said this, Annie's tears streamed down.
"Alright then, in recognition of our Chief Engineer Annie's selflessness, benefits can be granted." Zhao Chen paused.
Annie immediately looked up, eagerly watching Zhao Chen.
"All technical employees who participated in this Stargate construction project, except for our selfless Chief Engineer Annie, will receive a bonus equivalent to half a month's salary."
Hearing Zhao Chen's words, Annie was dumbfounded.
Well, now she was the only one left without any reward.
Zhao Chen suddenly walked up close to Annie. He reached out and touched the "dark circles" under her eyes.
The "dark circles" were partially wiped away by Zhao Chen, and they carried a faint scent of onions.
"It seems our Chief Engineer Annie really is exhausted," Zhao Chen said with a grin, looking at Annie.
Annie was now completely too embarrassed to face anyone, darting behind Lilith in an instant and burying her face in Lilith's waist.
"Alright, the commander was just teasing you. For the technical workers involved in this Stargate construction project, each person will receive a half-month bonus.
You have one too; this was something the commander decided long ago." Secretary Officer Lilith patted Annie's little head.
Within the Fierce Dragon Fleet's welfare system, aside from standards like meal allowances and monthly salaries, additional reward benefits had been added later.
For example, combat personnel who participated in the battles in the Lion King Star System received Wartime Subsidies.
As for the technical employees building the Stargate on the home front, working overtime to complete it naturally also earned them bonuses.
Annie immediately turned her sorrow into joy, looking at Commander Zhao Chen with a grin and pouting as she said, "The commander just loves to bully Annie!"
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