After concluding the meeting, Li Yaqi immediately revised the previous project plan.
She directly prepared to expand the existing starship factory tenfold!
And this was only the first phase of the plan, considering cash flow. Once sufficient funds were available later, she would continue expanding!
With the four newly added starship technologies, Li Yaqi was confident she could transform Northern Goose into a top-tier starship technology group in the Northern Star Region of the Stellar Glory Empire, and possibly even become the Empire's Shining New Star overnight!
As for the 20 million Star Coins requested by the other party, Li Yaqi transferred the entire amount without hesitation, even when faced with curious questions from several uncles about the reason for such enormous expenditure.
Li Yaqi offered no explanation.
Now, her authority within Northern Goose was almost the highest, second only to her father.
Zhao Chen no longer needed to worry about raw material issues.
As for why he didn't produce and sell these starships himself, on one hand, he currently lacked such a massive industrial foundation.
On the other hand, if he, as an individual, suddenly introduced some T1 starships, the risk might not be too great. But if it were T2 starship technology, it would attract attention.
In contrast, Li Yaqi launching these starships wouldn't raise eyebrows, as she was already in this line of business.
Moreover, Zhao Chen had many affairs to handle. Engaging in production and sales himself would require a significant amount of time, as well as large-scale procurement of labor and raw materials, sales channels, and so on.
In these aspects, he was a complete novice.
So, for now, it was better to utilize Li Yaqi's resources for this work, providing a blood transfusion to Zhao Chen's Fierce Dragon Fleet. In the future, when Zhao Chen truly had the capability, he could establish his own sales network and step out from behind the scenes!
...
North Star Starship Military Academy
After half a year, and with the semester having started three months ago, Zhao Chen entered his fourth-year classroom for the first time.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, everyone's eyes were on him.
Even the teacher giving the lecture was surprised by the sudden appearance of this student who had been absent for three months.
The system at the North Star Starship Military Academy was one year of study followed by a three-month break, which was the period when Zhao Chen had returned to his territory.
Zhao Chen casually took a seat in the back row, not paying close attention to the lecture content.
Because to accumulate triple assessment credits, relying solely on the credits from attending classes was far from enough.
Under the North Star Starship Military Academy's Credit System, completing the assessment requirements for an academic year only ensured progression to the next grade.
To accumulate triple credits, one had to take an unconventional path.
And Zhao Chen quickly found one such path.
Imperial Army Missions
Currently, the Galactic Alliance was still at war with the Mechanical Race, and the Northern Star Sector of the Stellar Glory Empire was located on the battlefront border. Therefore, some Imperial Army missions were issued.
These Imperial Army missions could be undertaken by private fleets, typically simple tasks such as patrols or escorting transport fleets. Completing these missions offered high bounties.
To test students, the Starship Military Academy also allowed them to accept some Imperial Army missions. Once completed, they could not only receive high bounties but also earn substantial Grade Assessment Credits.
This was the fastest way to obtain grade assessment points, but also the most difficult.
After all, it was on the edge of war; who knew what might happen.
In the history of the North Star Starship Military Academy, there were no shortage of students who accepted seemingly low-risk Imperial Army military missions, only to ultimately... encounter the enemy, resulting in the destruction of their ships and their own deaths.
But to complete the annual mission, Zhao Chen had no other choice.
He began to open the Imperial Army Military Mission page on his own during class, scanning through the various tasks.
From small-scale patrols and transport ship escorts,
to directly supporting combat operations on the battlefield—there were all kinds of missions.
However, few were generally willing to undertake combat missions on the frontline battlefield, as the casualty rate was too high.
After searching for several minutes, Zhao Chen's gaze settled on one mission.
[Escort an Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet to Quicksand City Starship Fortress]
The difficulty of this mission was moderate, and it offered more than double the required fourth-year assessment credits for the North Star Starship Military Academy at once!
The mission involved departing from the Northern Star Sector Third Military Base to escort an interstellar transport ship fleet to Quicksand City Starship Fortress, located in a battle galaxy on the frontline.
The mission duration was approximately one month. In addition to assessment credits, a reward of 200,000 Star Coins was offered, with additional compensation available if combat occurred.
"This is the one," Zhao Chen immediately clicked to apply for the mission. When prompted to input the fleet size,
he thought for a moment.
He entered a fleet formation of five T2 Star Escort Ships and one T2 carrier starship.
During this period, the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship would be engaged in production work and could not leave.
Therefore, several starships had to remain behind to undertake escort duties. Zhao Chen planned to assign five T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigates and one T2 Zero Blizzard to guard the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship.
The remaining starships would participate in this military mission.
After submission, all that was left was to wait for approval.
Several hours later, Zhao Chen received a response: his application had been approved.
He was ordered to arrive at the Northern Star Sector Third Military Base by January 20, 3031, Galactic Calendar, and await further instructions. Failure to arrive on time would result in a three-year ban from accepting Imperial Army bounty missions.
Although there was still plenty of time, Zhao Chen began making preparations.
This would be his first time truly approaching the battlefield so closely.
Compared to a real battlefield, Zhao Chen's previous minor skirmishes were nothing.
Once everything was ready, Zhao Chen first informed Zhao Wan'er and Li Wei that he had matters to attend to and would be away for some time.
Zhao Wan'er asked what it was about.
Zhao Chen simply said he was going to carry out a bounty mission.
One of the assessment requirements for fourth-year students was to complete a starship mission, though most students opted for simpler tasks.
Zhao Wan'er didn't think much of it, completely unaware that Zhao Chen had accepted a military mission.
Those were typically only undertaken by fifth-year students, and even then, usually only the most routine ones.
With preparations complete.
Zhao Chen led his starship away from the North Star Starship Military Academy. Instead of heading directly to the mission-required Military Base No. 3, he first went to the Osprey Fleet Temporary Base.
Upon arrival, Zhao Chen could already see a nearly completed T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship.
Although Zhao Chen was at the Academy, he had been closely monitoring the progress here.
After his twenty million Star Coins were credited, he immediately purchased a batch of raw materials. Once they arrived in the surrounding star sector, they were transported here by Zhao Chen's starship.
With the support of these raw materials, the construction of the second T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship proceeded smoothly and was even completed ahead of schedule.
Once the second T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship was finished, it would be time for the long-awaited construction plan of the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser.
This was the flagship he had been eagerly anticipating!