A fleet of half the Alliance!
Three weeks later, the Endaro Star Region was just a warp away from the border.
After listening to Charlie's report, Xia Fei said in a deep voice, The plan to relocate the headquarters is a great success. The next step for the company's research and development, as well as the administrative center, will be placed in the capital ring, but you must remember that Harriss mustn't be allowed to get close to the capital, not even in a bustling city. I can't tell you why, but just do as I say.
Charlie nodded. "Don't worry. Harris will remain in the research center on Earth and keep in touch with the capital ring's research division through the interplanetary internet. Right, what are the two large boxes you left behind before you left?"
Xia Fei smiled. "That's the last guarantee I left for the company. They're all very valuable ores called Purple Hearts of Spirit. If the company runs into some problems while I'm gone and is in urgent need of funds, you can sell those two boxes. As for how you're going to do it, old man Qin Mangs and Uncle Thuram will help you."
Charlie said, "Don't worry. With us watching over the company, nothing will go wrong. What do you think about the military's request for us to set up a branch near the Declan Star Region?"
Earth was located at the edge of the Pan-Human Alliance, so transportation was not convenient. After all, the Pan-Human Alliance spanned a large area, and even the fastest warship would take more than two months to travel from one end of the Alliance to the other, not to mention the cumbersome cargo ships.
The military hoped that Quantum Holdings could set up a branch near the core of the capital to reduce transportation time and logistics costs.
Xia Fei thought about it and said, "Actually, setting up a branch near the core of the Alliance is also part of my plan, but the military's request is a full year ahead of what I expected. We can't possibly guard Earth forever, so since the military is willing to provide us with land, we'll use this opportunity to secure the land first and then develop at a leisurely pace."
Charlie nodded and said, "I understand. You mean to build Earth first before considering other planets. I will let the Ministry of Construction be stationed there and build the infrastructure first. Once the infrastructure is completed, we only need to station machines and workers, and we can immediately start production."
Xia Fei smiled. "That's exactly what I mean. I didn't say it because I won't be staying in the Alliance for some time, so you'll have to get used to being your own boss from now on."
Charlie was stunned for a moment before he said firmly, "Don't worry. We'll devote two hundred percent of our energy to this work. Quantum Holdings will develop rapidly, just like before."
Xia Fei said, "I believe you. The ship will enter the wormhole soon, and we'll be in the Wild Star Region in the next jump. There's no interplanetary internet there, so we'll use the Black Bat radar to communicate."
…
Turning off the screen, Xia Fei stood in the command deck and made the call.
More than ten thousand members of the fleet raised their heads to look at the screen, only to see Xia Fei wearing his navy blue captain's uniform for the first time, his head held high like a general who had been on the battlefield for many years.
His hair was a little white, and he looked a little older than his actual age. His eyes were like torches, as if he could see through your inner world.
Clearing his throat, Xia Fei spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. "Good day, everyone. This is a full-frequency broadcast. I am Quantum Holdings' First Fleet Commander, Xia Fei."
"In a few minutes, we'll be leaving the Pan-human Alliance's territory and entering the Wild Star Region. A week later, we'll be entering the unfamiliar insectoid territory. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you exactly who you'll meet or what's going to happen in the insectoid territory, for humans have never set foot on it before. We, along with two other fleets from the Alliance, will be the first fleet to enter the insectoid territory in human history.
"This is, of course, a great honor, but it's also a great responsibility.
"As the commander of this historic mission, what I want to say is, make the best use of your remaining time to give your family and friends a call or send an email. I don't know when we'll be able to contact them through the interplanetary internet again, and I can't guarantee that everyone will have this opportunity."
"That's all. I wish you all the best!"
Though Xia Fei's announcement did not have any flowery words, nor was it anything that would make anyone's blood boil, it was a great encouragement to this fleet that had been put together at the last minute.
Call your family. It was such a simple and intimate order, but there was an inexplicable sorrow in those words that made everyone sigh.
With a light tap of his finger, Xia Fei wrote a short email, but he hesitated to send it out.
It was only at the very last second before the Impaler entered the wormhole that Xia Fei lightly pressed the send button.
"Avril, I'm leaving. Don't miss me."
…
Fifty-eight hours later …
"Xia Fei, we're very close to the Thanatos-class carrier. It'll only take three warps to get there," Phantom said as he looked out the window.
Xia Fei nodded. "I know, but now isn't the best time. Even if I can defeat the Black Star Phantom Bat and obtain the warship, I won't be able to take it away. The insectoids won't allow me to pilot a carrier into their territory. Let's wait until we're on our way back."
Phantom regretfully said, "That's all we can do. Right now, it's still very difficult for you to deal with the Black Star Phantom Bat by yourself. You'll probably have a better chance when we're on our way back.
At this moment, the radar system showed an encrypted signal. It was a call from the military.
Williams had a very serious expression on his face, and there was a hint of worry in his eyes. Xia Fei's heart tightened as he once more had a bad premonition.
"A few minutes ago, I received news that a powerful insectoid fleet has suddenly appeared on the border between the Wild Star Region and the insectoid territory. They're fully armed." As he spoke, he gently massaged his temples. He had not slept for a very long time for this mission, for there was simply too much information to consider and analyze.
Xia Fei thought about it and asked, "How many insectoids are there?"
"About three hundred combined fleets."
Xia Fei was startled. Three hundred combined fleets! It had to be understood that every combined fleet would have at least one capital ship. Three hundred capital ships and tens of thousands of battleships … To use such a large fleet to welcome guests from the human side was a little too much, was it not? Could there be something fishy going on?
Williams could see Xia Fei's worry and smiled. "It's still hard for us to trust the insectoids. Sending such a large force to guard the border is just to intimidate them. You don't need to worry about that. Do you know how many fleets the Alliance has gathered in the Endaro Star Region?"
Xia Fei shook his head, indicating that he did not know.
Williams whispered mysteriously, "Half of the military's combat power is in the Endaro Star Region, with Admiral Layton personally in command."
Half of the military!
That meant that half of the Alliance's military was stationed at the border!
How many fleets the Alliance had was a secret, and Xia Fei had no idea. He remembered Thuram mentioning before that the Alliance had no less than a thousand combined fleets, which meant that there were more than five hundred combined fleets behind Xia Fei, holding the line!
That was five hundred combined fleets! It was simply too shocking!
The total number of people in a fleet was in the billions! They could easily flatten an entire star region!
Xia Fei laughed heartily. "So the military has already taken precautions. I'm relieved then. They don't trust us, and we don't trust them, either. It's very fair."
Williams nodded. "It's good that you understand. I was afraid that you'd be scared witless when you see the enemy's powerful formation, which is why I informed you in advance. When the time comes, how will your three small trade fleets face off against a super fleet made up of tens of thousands of battleships?"
Xia Fei imagined it in his mind, but unfortunately, he had never seen such a large fleet in his life. He could not imagine the scene. Would it be like an ant facing off against an elephant? No, perhaps it would be as absurd as an ant facing off against the entire Earth.
Xia Fei smiled. "What's there to worry about? The insectoid trade fleets received an even warmer welcome when they arrived in the Endaro Star Region than I did. They should be the ones scared witless."
Williams laughed. "The insectoids used their large fleets to scare you, so I'll use an even larger fleet to scare them! You have to remember that half of the Alliance's military power is cheering for you. "
Xia Fei shrugged. "I'm not scared. I'm already mentally prepared for this trip to the insectoids."
Williams asked, "Are you satisfied with Colonel Song Fei?"
Xia Fei nodded. "Song Fei is a very steady person and doesn't like to talk too much. As for cooperation, I'm afraid that we'll have to spend some time together before we can understand each other. After all, we still don't know much about each other."
Williams said, "Of the three fleets, I feel the most at ease with yours. You're crafty enough, while Song Fei is calm enough. The two of you complement each other very well."
…
Another seventy hours passed.
The three trade fleets of the Alliance passed through a wormhole and officially entered the insectoid territory.
Just as Williams had described, what appeared in front of Xia Fei were several hundred insectoid fleets!
The insectoid warships had strange shapes, like black insects flying in space. The cannons protruding from the warships were like tentacles, and the portholes were like countless eyes.
Even though he was mentally prepared, Xia Fei was still intimidated by the massive fleets. They were in groups of several hundred, densely covering the entire starry sky!
No matter where he looked, all he could see were warships! An endless fleet of warships! They varied in size, and there were too many to count!
"Look! That's the insectoid capital ship! "Phantom sternly said.
Xia Fei followed Phantom's gaze and saw that each fleet had two of the largest warships. They were so mighty, with several hundred warships closely surrounding the capital ship, they were like a swarm of bees surrounding a beehive.
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