With the commissioning of the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship into the Fierce Dragon Fleet, the interstellar warships from the original construction plan were also completed one after another. After the crew boarded the ships, they officially joined the ranks of the Fierce Dragon Fleet.
Galactic Stellar Calendar, December 25, 3031
The construction plan Zhao Chen formulated at the end of September, which included all interstellar warships except the T4 Reborn-class Clone Starship, was completed nearly a week ahead of schedule and integrated into the Fierce Dragon Fleet's combat sequence.
Bridge of the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship
Secretary Officer Lilith stood to the right of Commander Zhao Chen, while Deputy Captain Red Eyes stood to his left.
"The Fierce Dragon Fleet is fully prepared.
The fleet consists of a total of 102 combat-type interstellar warships, including 26 T3 interstellar warships and 76 T2 interstellar warships.
The total combat personnel number 7,300.
These are the detailed statistics of the Fierce Dragon Fleet." Secretary Officer Lilith raised her hand and projected a data panel in front of Commander Zhao Chen.
T3 Interstellar Warships:
One T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship
Five T3 Phantom Sting-class Light Interstellar Stealth Bombers
Twenty T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruisers
T2 Interstellar Warships:
One T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship
Five T2 Lion King-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ships
Ten T2 Snow Mastiff-class Heavy Interstellar Battleships
Sixty T2 Black Rhinoceros-class Interstellar Heavy Assault Frigates
In addition to the commissioned T3 interstellar warships, Zhao Chen also utilized surplus production capacity to add several T2 interstellar warships to enhance the fleet's overall combat capability.
Although this interstellar fleet barely reached the number of one hundred warships, its actual combat strength could even rival a second-line Imperial Army fleet of three thousand interstellar warships at the corps level, with a winning probability of over ninety percent!
After all, the dominance of T3 interstellar warships was undeniable.
Currently, Zhao Chen's fleet development strategy was focused on quality over quantity!
Zhao Chen turned to Deputy Captain Red Eyes beside him: "Red Eyes, how is the combat plan report I asked you to prepare earlier coming along?"
"Huh?" Deputy Captain Red Eyes was momentarily taken aback before understanding the meaning behind Commander Zhao Chen's words.
With a mix of disbelief and excitement, she presented the combat plan she had prepared long ago.
It was a battle plan for a surprise attack on the Slave Merchant Starport under the Prince Party's control.
Zhao Chen had previously asked Red Eyes to draft a plan in advance, and she had done so faithfully. She never expected Commander Zhao Chen to put her plan into action so quickly.
After all, it was a force under the Prince Party.
It was also the Prince Party's money tree, and in the eyes of ordinary nobles, the slave trade was insignificant.
Who cared about the lives of a bunch of slaves? Most of them weren't even considered human.
Zhao Chen noticed the disbelief in Deputy Captain Red Eyes' eyes. It seemed this girl still didn't fully believe he would keep his word.
"Don't forget, this is what I promised you before.
I have a habit: I can forget almost anything, but two things I remember clearly.
One is the money others owe me, and the other is the grudges others hold against me.
Since you've joined the Fierce Dragon Fleet, your grudge is now the Fierce Dragon Fleet's."
"An eye for an eye is the fine tradition of our Fierce Dragon Fleet!" Zhao Chen said with narrowed eyes.
Deputy Captain Red Eyes took a deep breath, controlling her excited emotions: "Yes! Commander, please review my combat plan report..."
"Wait a moment, I'll first send this combat plan to Charlotte, Zhao Wan'er, and the others. Let them share their thoughts," Zhao Chen said.
Subsequently, Deputy Captain Red Eyes began to explain her combat plan in detail.
This combat plan was extremely comprehensive.
It included the departure from the Fierce Dragon Star System, the route to take, which locations to pass through, where to go next, and the estimated arrival time at the combat location.
It also covered the approximate scale of the enemy fleet they would face, recommended combat methods, estimated battle duration, the potential number of reinforcements the enemy might dispatch, the timing of such support, and so on.
Finally, it detailed the withdrawal route after the battle concluded.
Deputy Captain Red Eyes described everything with meticulous detail. After reading it, Zhao Chen felt as though he had mentally walked through the entire process.
Moreover, this combat plan report didn't just contain one plan; it included dozens of alternative routes and contingency plans for various special situations.
"Were you really only in a stellar mercenary corps before?" Zhao Chen looked at Deputy Captain Red Eyes with pleasant surprise.
Red Eyes pointed somewhat sheepishly at her head: "I have a talent—I can create a mental space in my mind, almost like repeatedly reloading a game to simulate and deduce a scenario over and over.
When I was in charge of the Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps, I would conduct hundreds of simulations and deductions for every operation to ensure nothing went wrong."
Damn, isn't this like a protagonist's halo?
Zhao Chen looked at Red Eyes as if she were a piece of gold.
In Zhao Chen's view, Red Eyes's combat plan was already flawless. Charlotte and Zhao Wan'er had also provided feedback, basically agreeing with the combat plan Red Eyes had formulated, only adding a few supplementary points.
With these capable officers by his side, Zhao Chen truly felt remarkably at ease.
"Since there are no issues, Lilith, convey my orders.
Leave ten T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigates to guard the Fierce Dragon Star System. All other starships are to complete combat preparations within three hours, replenish starship energy and ammunition supplies, and simultaneously modify and disguise their ship hulls.
Three hours from now, depart according to this route," Zhao Chen directly issued the combat preparation order.
Secretary Officer Lilith said solemnly: "Understood!"
"Red Eyes, now establish a command network hub consisting of me, you, T3 Blizzard No. 1 Ship Captain Charlotte, T3 Phantom Assassin No. 1 Ship Captain Zhao Wan'er, T2 Snow Mastiff No. 1 Ship Captain Shen Bing, and T2 Lion King No. 1 Ship Captain Bai Xue," Zhao Chen continued with his orders.
"Yes!" Deputy Captain Red Eyes immediately carried out the command.
The network command system, primarily built around the T3 Phoenix-class, was quickly completed.
Video windows for Charlotte, Zhao Wan'er, Shen Bing, Wolf Girl Bai Xue, and others appeared in sequence around Zhao Chen.
"Confirm the route," Zhao Chen said.
Secretary Officer Lilith reported: "Executing Route A. Estimated travel time: five days. We will approach the target 'Slave Merchant Starport' at 03:00 hours on December 31, 3031, Galactic Stellar Calendar."
According to the battle plan, the "Surprise Annihilation Operation" is expected to last five hours, with withdrawal from the battlefield no later than ten hours after combat begins!"
Zhao Chen looked at the Star Map before him. Two dotted lines marked the departure and return routes, with their intersection point being this operation's target.
Slave Merchant Starport!
Zhao Chen took a deep breath and began to wait quietly.
Three hours passed quickly.
"Report, the Fierce Dragon Fleet is fully prepared and ready to depart!" Secretary Officer Lilith reported.
Zhao Chen said coldly, "Depart!"
An interstellar fleet composed of ninety-two Starships, all painted in gray and bearing no Emblems of any stellar power.
Began sailing toward the interstellar border space beyond the Fierce Dragon Star System, disappearing into the darkness!
Among them, the massive Carrier Starship resembled a giant beast in the blackness, ready to bare its fangs for the first time.