CHAPTER 1553: CHAPTER 47: THE DYED SONGSTRESS

"If there’s a drawback, it’s that its propulsion is far behind the new eighth-generation battleships, making it unable to transfer and advance at high speed."

"But there’s no way around it. If we want to modify the propulsion system and use the technology of the ’Children of the Stars’ Alliance, it would require a comprehensive overhaul of the entire battleship. Not to mention, the various complex components and materials needed for the new propulsion navigation system are now extremely difficult to produce in the Western Star Region." The technical bureaucrat shook his head, explaining regretfully.

"This battleship prototype was only completed with the assistance of hundreds of thousands of workers and thousands of companies. In the future, expanding production and the time required for normal production of a single ship will surely not be so fast."

"The current plan is to first retrofit the past ’Brass Dragon’ class battleships, upgrading them to ’Radiant Stone Dragon’ class warships before considering full-scale production."

"It is estimated that in half a year, if all goes smoothly, we can retrofit 600 ’Brass Dragon’ class battleships, and as technology and personnel become more proficient, efficiency can double."

"...This is the most ideal outcome." As he spoke to the end, the technical representative closed the record board in his hand.

The many high-ranking officials present from the Western Star Region were not satisfied with this result because the speed was still too slow, and the mobility of the ’Radiant Stone Dragon’ warships was too poor, making them especially passive in battle.

"If we can’t catch up with the enemy, the situation will become very dire." Some generals expressed their concerns worriedly.

"There’s nothing we can do about it; the technological barriers of the Children of the Stars Alliance are not easy to overcome."

"Can’t see the hope of victory..."

After the initial fervor, facing the objective reality of data simulation, many became calm and pessimistic.

In this situation, the experts from the Southern Star Region knew that persuasion and consolation would not be of much use and merely silently recorded the scene, preparing to report it later to the ’Jade Dragon’.

——————

May, Southern Star Region, Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, Two-Axis Crystal Space Station.

Tilan had just finished her visit to this Star Child Space Station when she received news of the expert team’s return.

"Her Highness Hexia, they have returned, but considering later support, one-third of the members remain in the Western Star Region."

"I understand, take me to meet them." Tilan sat in front of a mirror while several Blood Clan maids helped arrange her gown and hair, and then accompanied the young lady out of the room.

Three minutes later, in a side hall reception room, the young lady met members of the expert team who had just disembarked from the starship.

"How is the support situation this time?" She had received reports already but wanted to hear everyone’s true feelings.

An older, slightly graying, patchy-haired technical officer stepped forward to speak.

"We have done our utmost to assist in the military industry production of the Western Star Region."

"But from the perspective before we left, they really can’t see the hope of victory." Another technical officer also stepped forward to answer.

"The objective fundamental conditions are there, and what we can do is ultimately limited. Whether in manpower, financial power, or the strength of resources and the industrial system, the Central Star Region far surpasses the Western Star Region."

...

After listening to everyone’s answers, Tilan nodded, her eyes slightly closed, then opened them again.

"So unless a miracle happens or there’s outside intervention, the Western Star Region is bound to lose in future wars, is that right?"

"That’s correct." Many nodded.

The young lady didn’t answer to this but instead walked silently to one side, as if hesitating over something.

Thus, the hall was quiet for several minutes; seeing Tilan pacing thoughtfully, no one dared to interrupt.

Finally, the black little leather shoes stopped, and the young lady turned around, looking at everyone.

"If we add the full assistance of the Southern Star Region, can we resist the military forces of the Federal Center?"

"This..." Many present were merely experts in military industry research, not high-ranking military officers, making it difficult to judge.

"It’s okay, you can go and rest." Tilan did not make it difficult for them.

Actually, the decision just now was not made in a moment of impulsiveness but was the result of deep, thoughtful consideration.

It would be better to develop for a while longer, waiting for the internal issues of the Federal Center to erupt would also be good, but the timing doesn’t always allow for that. Once the Western Star Region falls, it will then have to rely solely on the Southern Star Region and a half-crippled Eastern Star Region to contend with more than half the Federation, making the situation extremely difficult.

In those years, Her Highness Emuralin was also a Color-level Songstress, and even with her presence, the civil war proceeded with grave difficulty. In the early stages, standing their ground under tremendous disadvantage inevitably led to that great tragedy, which was the main reason why Her Highness Emuralin voluntarily accepted trial later.

If she doesn’t support the Western Star Region now and doesn’t intervene in their most perilous moment, even if she restores the entire Federation in the future, there will be many appeasement issues to face.

It is always inescapable... Tilan silently mused in her heart.

Prin’s fiery and intense character disrupted the pace of many and gradually pushed her to a corner where choices must be made.

The conditions are still immature, but it seems there is no time to care now; they can only continue fighting and evolving simultaneously.

In the afternoon, Tilan met with the chief expert group inside the ’Jade Dragon’ for approximately four hours to understand the current situation of various star domains within the Southern Star Region and the gap with the Central Star Domain.

Regarding such requests, these geniuses were not surprised. Although they did not know the true intentions of Tilan, based on the increasingly tense situation of the Federation, they could guess more or less.

No matter how unwilling, the words ’Federal Civil War’ loomed like dark clouds on the distant mountain, slowly pressing down, bringing desolate cold winds sweeping over the land.

"Understood, we will speed up the research and development process and determine the blueprint for the new-style battleship by August, then complete the first production line construction by the end of the year."

After making arrangements, Tilan then met successively with representatives of various patrol fleets from the Southern Star Region. Most of them sided with the ’Jade Dragon’, expressing that they would head into battle at the Songstress’s call.

"However, just thinking of confronting the six main Federal Center fleets gives me a suffocating pressure," Deloris said while accompanying Tilan.

"Yes, the six main fleets, how formidable. Even if one fleet is no longer, the remaining five fleets are enough to subdue the entire Milky Way, quelling any Black Suns daring to rise." The young lady sighed softly.

"Back in those days, Her Highness Emuralin roped in three of them, only then having the confidence to conduct reforms within the Federation. Previously stationed in the Twin Trees Star Domain were not the Fourth Fleet but the First Fleet and Second Fleet, these Twin Fleets."

"The only hope is that the Federal Center can command only the Fifth Fleet and can’t easily mobilize the other fleets." Deloris spoke somewhat worriedly.

Seeing her friend so anxious, Tilan went over and gently embraced her in comfort.

"It’s okay, I’m here." Her fingers brushed through Deloris’s hair, pressing lightly on her back, a faint fragrance of flowers and grass wafting from the strands.

Speaking of which, it was her first time seeing Deloris with such an expression. In her memory, the young lady had always been confident and generous, sometimes even taking care of Tilan herself.

But thinking carefully, it’s not Deloris’s fault either. Currently, the influence of the ’Fire Lotus - Radiant Star’ faction sweeps the entire Federation, infiltrating almost everywhere. Anyone opposing this giant behemoth is bound to feel fear and dread.

Within the Southern Star Region, even inside the ’Jade Dragon’, there are those who feel the same, Tilan thought while comforting Deloris, pondering over another point.

If the Western Star Region were to fall this time, it would be much harder for her to lead the Southern Star Region in resistance later. People would become fearful, and the number of defectors and wavering individuals would increase significantly.

Initially, she wanted to wait a few more years because she knew, with Prin’s intense and fiery methods, while the Central Star Domain could be exceedingly glamorous and prosperous in a short time, it would also bring various after-effects.

Now it seems that Prin isn’t planning to leave her any time, it’s just unknown where Prin will lead human civilization after unifying the Federation.

She always felt that if the ’Fire Lotus - Radiant Star’ faction continued to develop in its style, it would lead to an exceedingly perilous future; the entire country would either rise to the sky, using continuously advancing new technologies to suppress social contradictions or burst apart in its highest and most intense state, exploding into pieces.

Well, that aligns with Prin’s nature, fiery as her ways, straightforwardly gambling; if let alone waiting patiently as she does, it would probably be excessively uncomfortable.

Different Songstresses guide civilization in different directions, painting it in their color.

The strongest Songstress among them, the beautiful color she brings will be remembered in history, known as the ’Color Level’ Songstress.