Chapter 414 The Exploration Plan

Herber and Commander Klent weren't surprised that the Empire would send monitoring forces; they remained indifferent.

Tarrokov pointed at the star chart, explaining the precautions, and everyone listened silently.

Once Tarrokov finished speaking, Commander Klent suddenly asked, "We understand everything you've said. I want to ask about something else. We, the Shattered Star Ring allies, are the first pioneers involved in the exploration. The Empire will arrange for allies from other star systems to join later. So, when will the next batch of allied forces arrive?"

The star field was vast. Despite their seemingly large forces, they were merely a ripple in the ocean. Exploring the Flickering World with just their manpower would take forever. Therefore, the Empire would invest more resources in the future. These arriving allies were both partners and new competitors.

Klent was concerned about when these competitors would arrive and how much of a lead time he had.

Tarrokov smiled. "That depends on the arrangements of the Empire's upper echelons, the progress of the allied forces' gathering, and our exploration progress. I haven't received a specific date yet. If I had to guess, the Empire will dispatch the next exploration team at least half a year from now. Until then, the Empire is relying on you all. If the exploration progress is pleasing, the Empire won't be stingy with rewards."

The others nodded. If the exploration went smoothly and the results exceeded expectations, it would all be to their credit. The Empire would take the lion's share of the resources but would also give them extra rewards based on their progress. This was the focus of their competition.

Whoever pioneered more successfully and harvested more abundantly would receive greater merit.

Tarrokov paused and asked, "Have you all chosen your exploration clusters and prepared to enter from which direction?"

A star cluster's area was vast, divisible into dozens of star systems, all explored from the edges toward the center.

The borderlines were extremely long, making the entry direction very important. Starting from a barren area, wasting time without discovering many resources, would be a huge loss.

The exploration team's reference material was only a half-finished star chart from astronomical observations, at best avoiding obviously desolate cosmic belts with sparse planetary distribution, but the resource levels of each planet were unknown.

Although Tarrokov was only asking now, the others had already analyzed the situation privately and had plans in place.

Herber and Klent were working together, planning to divide their forces into twenty-three units, entering a chosen star system from twenty-three locations. The units would be relatively close to each other, arranged like a comb, preparing to advance simultaneously, responding to each other, gradually converging at a certain point to establish a large transit base, and then continue dividing forces to radiate outward, minimizing overlap in each unit's exploration range.

Han Xiao listened to Commander Klent explain the plan and nodded silently.

Herber had chosen well. The first area they would explore was the Gelaton Star System, a rather prosperous star system in the Reynold Star Cluster in his previous life, indeed rich in resources.

If the Flickering World's star chart were flattened and connected to the explored universe, the Morning Star Cluster would be located at the westernmost end of the Flickering World. The three adjacent star clusters, from north to south, were Goru, Reynold, and Crown Ring, with Reynold sandwiched in the middle, an advantageous geographical position. The Gelaton Star System, which Herber and Klent were exploring first, was the southwestern border star system of Reynold.

Tarrokov nodded and turned to Han Xiao. "What about you?"

Han Xiao pointed to the southernmost border star system of the Goru Star Cluster, then drew a line upward, creating a route through more than a dozen star systems, connecting the southernmost and easternmost parts of the Goru Star Cluster.

"What does this mean?" Tarrokov asked, surprised.

"Alright," Han Xiao smiled mysteriously, saying casually, "I'll have the main force explore the southernmost border star system, while sending out a special task force with star gate equipment, advancing all the way, only setting up star gates along the way, not stopping at other times, first building a star gate route to connect these dozen star systems."

"You want to establish a long-distance transportation artery first?" Tarrokov raised an eyebrow.

"Not just that. Every time the task force connects to the next star system, I'll keep dividing forces and sending people to explore other star systems," Han Xiao shrugged, his expression unchanged.

Tarrokov frowned upon hearing this. Commanders Herber and Klent exchanged glances, somewhat speechless.

In their eyes, the problem with Black Star's exploration plan was too obvious: he didn't have enough manpower.

With so few people, exploring a single star system would take a lot of time. Black Star wanted to explore a dozen star systems together. Would he have enough manpower? His appetite was too big, exceeding his capabilities.

Establishing a long-distance transportation artery first was good for the Empire. Tarrokov had no objection to this, but it didn't align with the interests of the Empire's allies, so Han Xiao's decision surprised him.

This wasn't about grabbing territory. Seizing control of a dozen star systems ahead of time was useless if you couldn't explore them. Since exploration efficiency was limited, the long-distance star gate channel established with wasted manpower would benefit latecomers. With the Empire here, it was impossible to monopolize the channel and not lend it to other allies. This would make it easier for later forces to travel to other star systems and compete with them, which was more harmful than beneficial for the pioneers.

Klent and the War Realm preferred to be steady and thorough, exploring one star system before moving on to the next area. In comparison, they were doing area exploration, while Han Xiao was doing linear exploration.

To balance the interests of the allies, the Empire's plan was also to advance gradually, slowly exploring, not preparing to immediately lay out a complete star gate transportation network in unexplored areas – because astronomical observations had already provided a half-finished star chart. They weren't lacking an overall map, but rather on-the-ground surveys and data refinement. Therefore, the goal of the first phase of exploration was only the three areas adjacent to the Morning Star Cluster, creating a bridgehead.

During the slow exploration process, the exploration teams would constantly set up star gates, so long-distance star gate channels would naturally appear. There was no need to specifically send people to build them.

Therefore, the Black Star Army's actions were wasting their own resources and time, achieving half the result with twice the effort, which Tarrokov, Herber, Commander Klent, and others found puzzling.

"Do you want to reconsider?" Tarrokov asked kindly.

Han Xiao waved his hand, grinning. "No need. I like to try my luck. Maybe I can discover some fertile resource planets ahead of time."

Seeing Black Star being headstrong, Commander Klent watched coldly, sneering in his heart. This kind of exploration plan, without careful consideration, would definitely not go smoothly. They would probably be able to outperform the Black Star Army this time, greatly impressing the Empire and making Black Star pale in comparison.

"Alright," Tarrokov said, no longer trying to persuade him. No matter what posture the allies used to explore, the Empire wouldn't suffer any losses anyway. After all, the entire star field belonged to them. The only loss would be to the Black Star Army's own interests. Since Black Star didn't care, he wouldn't interfere.

Han Xiao smiled, making it impossible for the others to see through his thoughts.

In fact, this seemingly short-sighted exploration plan was most in line with his interests.

The reason why Sui Yi said that the fewest forces chose to explore the Goru Star Cluster was precisely because there were obvious desolate cosmic belts among the several star systems in the southern part of the Goru Star Cluster, and resources were not abundant. If he imitated Herber and the others and only explored one border star system, the result would be obvious: he would definitely not gain any credit.

He adopted this exploration plan to take the lead in developing those famous, rich planets in his memory.

On this transportation route from the southern part to the eastern part of the Goru Star Cluster, there were several star systems that were very prosperous areas in his previous life, containing quite a few famous planets from his previous life, rich in resources, which only he knew about at the moment.

By lengthening the exploration line, the Empire's monitoring forces would likely become somewhat disjointed, which would provide room for maneuver.

Han Xiao wouldn't give up such a good opportunity.

If the Black Star Army advanced slowly, it would be picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons, entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed, being seduced by a beauty but not taking her!

In a word, a loss!

The second purpose was to create a smokescreen.

Han Xiao hoped to get to the eastern part of the Goru Star Cluster as soon as possible without being too conspicuous.

Because the Flickering World's unclaimed universe treasure in his memory was located in another star cluster bordering the eastern part of the Goru Star Cluster!

Only by establishing this star gate route could he get the unclaimed universe treasure as soon as possible!

Tarrokov turned off the star chart and said in a deep voice, "Then it's settled. You will stand by here for two days while I transfer troops to join your teams and hand over the exploration equipment such as star gates and buoys to you. We will officially depart in two days."

"Alright."

Commander Klent responded.

Han Xiao and Herber nodded without speaking.

Everyone stood up and left the conference room.

Stepping out of the door, Han Xiao and Herber exchanged a glance, as if an invisible bayonet charge had collided, sparking a flash, then the two turned their heads and left in opposite directions with their cadres.

…

"Tell me, what is Black Star thinking?"

Herber and Klent's two groups walked together. On the way, a vanguard officer couldn't help but ask his adjutant, Jode.

"What are you trying to say?" Jode glanced at him.

"Don't we know what kind of person Black Star is? Cunning and treacherous, a seasoned schemer. He's not someone who's willing to take a loss. Knowing that establishing a long-distance star gate channel ahead of time has no benefits, he must have other intentions."

Jode's eyes flickered upon hearing this. "Indeed, Black Star's decision is strange…"

"Chief of Staff, what do you think his purpose is?"

The people around them pricked up their ears, listening secretly.

"I'm not Black Star," Jode said helplessly. "The only thing I can think of is that Black Star is unwilling to explore the barren border star systems of the Goru Star Cluster, but there's no need to waste time crossing more than a dozen star systems at once. I can't think of any other reason… Maybe his appetite is too inflated, or he really wants to try his luck?"

"Could it be that he wants to seize planets that will become transportation hubs in the future?"

"You're overthinking it. The Empire won't allow one force to control too many strategic locations."

Because the Flickering World was an undeveloped new star field, everyone subconsciously made assumptions. No one knew the specific situation of the Flickering World, so basically no one could guess Han Xiao's motives.

Commander Klent's eyes flashed. He quickly moved closer to Herber and whispered, "Your Excellency Hegemon, do you think we should…"

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't make me guess," Herber said without looking sideways.

"…Should we send people to secretly go to the Goru Star Cluster to monitor Black Star's movements?"

"What's the point?" Herber's gaze swept downward, glancing at him, and asked, "Do you dare to interfere with the exploration work in front of the Empire?"

Commander Klent was stunned. After thinking carefully, he was alarmed.

Exploring the Flickering World was an important strategic goal of the Empire, so even if they knew what the Black Star Army was doing, they couldn't interfere. If they hindered the exploration progress for personal gain, the Empire would never be soft-handed. They would definitely kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, letting other allied forces participating in the exploration in the future see what the consequences would be for messing with the Empire's strategy.

Thinking of this, Commander Klent retreated awkwardly, no longer mentioning the matter, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

It seemed that if they wanted to surpass the Black Star Army, they could only compete with each other's exploration results, competing fairly and squarely.

Fortunately, Black Star had chosen the Goru Star Cluster and adopted a short-sighted exploration plan. They and the War Realm were guaranteed to win.