That evening, Chu Xuan reserved a private room at a restaurant, and Zhao Chen arrived as promised.
"To be honest, I really didn't want to talk to you here about family matters," Chu Xuan sighed. "But I have no choice—I bear the surname Chu.
However, as a friend, no matter what decision you make, I will do my best to advocate for the best outcome for you with my grandfather.
I don't want us to become enemies."
Zhao Chen could sense that Chu Xuan's words were sincere.
From their interactions during this period, he could tell that Chu Xuan was a woman who revered starships and held strong military convictions.
Yet, at the same time, she carried the responsibilities of her family.
"I also don't want to stand against the Chu Family, so I..." Just as Zhao Chen was about to continue, Chu Xuan's handheld terminal flashed with a red light.
That indicated a message of utmost importance.
Chu Xuan apologized to Zhao Chen and then checked the message on her handheld terminal. Her expression immediately changed drastically upon reading it.
"Has something happened?" Zhao Chen noticed the look in Chu Xuan's eyes.
Chu Xuan looked at Zhao Chen with a complicated expression. "Zhao Chen, if I remember correctly, you have a younger sister named Zhao Wan'er, right?"
Zhao Chen frowned. "Yes. Has something happened to her?"
"Come with me. I'll explain on the way."
Chu Xuan stood up and hurriedly left the restaurant, leading Zhao Chen to a flycar.
"To the Dean's Office!" Chu Xuan input the destination.
"What exactly happened?" Zhao Chen asked solemnly.
Over this period, he had fully immersed himself in the identity of 'Zhao Chen.' He could no longer distinguish whether he was a transmigrator or not, but that no longer mattered.
All he knew was that Zhao Wan'er was his sister.
The Fierce Dragon Star System was his territory, and the Zhao Family was his family.
That was enough.
"Before I tell you this, I hope you can remain calm," Chu Xuan said, looking at Zhao Chen with concern.
Zhao Chen nodded.
Chu Xuan took a deep breath and spoke seriously, "I just received the latest news. Approximately five hours ago, a Level 3 Cosmic Bug Nest and four Level 2 Cosmic Insect Nests appeared in the Water Lily Star System, located in the Azure Star Domain of the Western Star Sector!
The entire star system is now in chaos!
Unfortunately, the joint interstellar mission organized by the North Star Starship Military Academy and the Tianyao Noble Starship Military Academy this time is taking place in that very star system!
And one hour ago, the fleets from both academies completely lost contact..."
Zhao Chen felt as if struck by lightning.
He immediately said, "Send reinforcements quickly! I remember the Water Lily Star System has a Stargate!"
Chu Xuan shook her head. "Unfortunately, the first Level 3 Cosmic Bug Nest appeared right around the Stargate in the Water Lily Star System.
Almost immediately, the Stargate in the Water Lily Star System was overrun and destroyed.
This has prevented the Imperial Army's reinforcements from using the Stargate for rapid support to the Water Lily Star System.
They can only enter the Water Lily Star System by crossing interstellar border space from adjacent star systems!"
The Stargate was destroyed!
Zhao Chen's expression stiffened; this news was like adding fuel to the fire.
With the Stargate destroyed, the rescue operation would now take several days.
And in those several days, the Interstellar Zergs could accomplish a great deal.
But Zhao Chen understood that now was not the time to panic.
Zhao Chen fell silent for a moment. He raised his hand and pulled up the star map of the Azure Star Domain. While reviewing the information and data, he asked, "What about the garrison in the Water Lily Star System?"
"According to the latest reports, the garrison in the Water Lily Star System consists of only 300 lord starships and 100 Imperial Army Starships.
It's important to note that the Imperial Army is divided into three tiers.
The first tier is a small number of Imperial Army units stationed at the imperial capital star to protect the royal family. They are equipped with a large number of T3 and T4 starships and are considered the elite of the elite within the Imperial Army.
The second tier consists of Imperial Army forces deployed on the war frontlines. Their main fleets are composed of T4 and T3 starships, supplemented by a small number of T2 starships.
The third tier comprises Imperial Army garrisons stationed across various territories. These are primarily equipped with T2 starships. Often, even a corps-level fleet of three hundred starships would have fewer than ten T3 starships.
So... the combat capability of the Imperial Army garrison in the Water Lily Star System..." Chu Xuan didn't finish her sentence, but Zhao Chen already understood her meaning.
He clenched his fists, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.
Soon, the flycar arrived at the building housing the dean's office.
"Let's go see the dean first. This time, the elite students from both the North Star Starship Military Academy and the Tianyao Noble Starship Military Academy are trapped. Both academies will definitely not stand by idly.
Perhaps we can come up with some rescue plan," Chu Xuan comforted Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen remained silent, simply following Chu Xuan into the dean's office.
At this moment, the originally spacious dean's office appeared cramped and narrow.
All the vice deans and important instructors and professors were present. In the center was the star map of the Azure Star Domain, along with a series of intelligence reports that had been transmitted back.
"Zhao Chen, why are you here..." Vice Dean Hong saw Zhao Chen and showed a surprised expression.
He knew that Zhao Chen's younger sister was among the students in distress this time, but normally, Zhao Chen, despite being an outstanding student, wouldn't have the qualifications to attend such a meeting.
However, when he saw Chu Xuan beside Zhao Chen, he said nothing more.
Zhao Chen might not have the qualifications, but Chu Xuan certainly did.
Moreover, there had been recent rumors at the academy that Chu Xuan was Zhao Chen's girlfriend. Although it was unclear whether it was true or not, some rumors didn't arise without reason.
Especially considering the rather ambiguous attitude the Chu Family had toward Zhao Chen.
"Dean Qin, my friend's younger sister is also part of the academy fleet on this interstellar mission.
We want to know the current situation in the Water Lily Star System," Chu Xuan said directly, bypassing the other vice deans, professors, and instructors to approach an elderly dean.
This was also Zhao Chen's first time meeting the dean of the North Star Starship Military Academy in person—a man over a hundred years old.
But one should not underestimate this seemingly frail old man. It was said that he served as the chief designer for the research and manufacturing of the T4 Boreas-class Heavy Star Battleship.
Among all starship designers in the Stellar Glory Empire, he undoubtedly ranked within the top five, a national treasure-level figure.
Seeing that it was Chu Xuan who had arrived, and being familiar with the Chu Family, Dean Qin briefly explained the current situation.
More than five hours had passed since the Interstellar Zerg invasion. They could still establish some contact with the areas of the Water Lily Star System that had not yet fallen, but because the Stargate was destroyed, the fastest Imperial Army reinforcements would take at least three days to arrive!
And that was just the time needed to traverse the interstellar border space.
In three days, no one could guarantee what the Water Lily Star System would become.
"The Water Lily Star System has nearly a billion people. If even one-tenth of them become food for the Interstellar Zergs, they could reproduce many more Zergs in a very short time!
So, the Imperial Army will most likely not launch a rash attack. They will need to mobilize forces from surrounding areas, at least several times the size of the Zerg forces, before beginning the cleanup operation," Dean Qin said gravely.
"Then during this time, you're just going to abandon those trapped students?" Zhao Chen stepped forward and questioned.
"How can we save them? You have to understand, that's one Level 3 Cosmic Bug Nest and three Level 2 Cosmic Insect Nests! That means there are currently at least five T3 Hive Motherships, nearly a hundred T2 Hive Motherships, and over a thousand T1 Hive Motherships in the Water Lily Star System!" a mentor said helplessly.
"But those are all promising students from our Academy! If... all of them... are... lost... it will be a huge blow to our North Star Starship Military Academy!" a female mentor said with anguish.
"Who could have imagined that in such a star system, four Cosmic Insect Nests would suddenly appear, one of them even being a Level 3 Cosmic Bug Nest," Vice Dean Hong sighed deeply.
Chu Xuan bit her red lips lightly, her expression complicated as she looked at Zhao Chen. She didn't know how to comfort him now.
Because from the looks of the situation, the trapped teachers and students from both academies were basically in grave danger.
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