It was already mid-March when Zhao Chen returned to the Owl Dragon Star System.

After a month and a half, when Zhao Chen returned to his Dragon Base, he found that significant changes had taken place since he left.

First and foremost, several brand-new Interstellar Warship had been added.

T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship · Bridge

Zhao Chen looked at the Interstellar Warship hovering in the distance, feeling a little excited.

The Adjutant and Vice Captain Crimson Eye beside him were even more fixated on one particular interstellar warship.

"Is that the T4... Hui Guang-class Interstellar Jump Ship?" Vice Captain Crimson Eye looked at the interstellar warship, which resembled a work of art.

It had no weapon modules, but its inherent value even surpassed that of Interstellar Warship like the T4 Boreas.

Beep, beep, beep.

A communication request came in.

It was Chief Engineer Annie.

Zhao Chen clicked to accept, and a holographic image appeared beside Zhao Chen.

"Commander Zhao Chen, Annie missed you so much!" Annie exclaimed with the excitement of a devoted fan.

"Get to the point, has the T4 Hui Guang-class Interstellar Jump Ship been completed?" Zhao Chen asked.

Annie immediately said proudly, "Under my brilliant and mighty leadership, the T4 Hui Guang-class Interstellar Jump Ship was completed half a month ahead of schedule!"

"And the sea trials?" Zhao Chen asked.

"The sea trials went perfectly. We conducted a trial mission to the Lion King Star System, and it was very smooth!" Annie replied.

"Very good." Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction.

Actually, in Zhao Chen's mind, having just one was only a start. It would be best if these Interstellar Warship came in pairs, allowing for a perfect back-and-forth partnership.

However, the current situation did not allow for such a requirement.

Zhao Chen then asked, "What other Interstellar Warship have been completed?"

Annie began to list her 'achievements' during this period.

The construction plan originally set for the first quarter of this year saw the T4 Rebirth-class Clone Starship more than halfway completed, expected to be finished before mid-year.

The four T3 Furnace-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships were completed first. The five T3 Virgo-class heavy interstellar supply ships, originally planned for construction, had their construction time advanced and their number expanded to ten due to the sudden outbreak of the Zerg battle.

The T4 Hui Guang-class Interstellar Jump Ship was also successfully completed and delivered.

Additionally, out of the fifty T3 Triceratops originally planned for production, thirty have already been delivered, with an estimated twenty more to be delivered within the next week.

In short, this series of construction plans was not only fully completed but also finished nearly ten days ahead of schedule!

Zhao Chen looked at Annie in front of him, increasingly realizing what a treasure she was.

It was as if Annie came with an 'industrial acceleration aura' built-in.

"Commander Zhao Chen, are you going to give me a big reward!" Annie looked at Commander Zhao Chen expectantly.

Commander Zhao Chen rubbed his chin: "A reward is certainly possible, but our Chief Engineer Annie has worked so hard and achieved so much, this reward must be presented in front of all the high-ranking officials of our Xiaolong Fleet!

It needs to be grand!

It needs to have a sense of ceremony!"

Listening to Commander Zhao Chen's words, Annie felt a bit lightheaded.

Her lips unconsciously curled into a grin, and she waved her hands repeatedly, saying shyly, "Keep it low-key... low-key..."

"This cannot be low-key! This is an honor earned by our own ability! What's the point of hiding it?

No time like the present, let's do it tonight!

I'll gather the high-ranking officials of our Xiaolong Fleet and hold an commendation conference!" Zhao Chen said seriously.

"Oh, how embarrassing..." Annie chuckled, her eyes narrowing into slits from happiness.

...

Half a day later.

Dressed in her finest attire and even specially sprayed with perfume, Annie looked at everything before her with a darkened expression.

This was not a grand commendation conference at all; it was clearly a picnic and camping site!

"Bessie, the grilled fish is gone, help me get some more fish over here." Zhao Chen was surrounded by barbecue grills, and at this moment, he was like a grill master.

"Wuwuwu... I want three more skewers of grilled fish! I never thought... Commander Zhao Chen... you actually have this skill." Charlotte held a grilled black fish in her left hand and a fish fillet in her right, still sucking on a fish bone in her mouth.

"Brother, robots could clearly handle the grilling, why do we have to do it ourselves?" Zhao Wan'er, beside him, looked at Zhao Chen in confusion.

Zhao Chen used both hands, working on both sides, and said while operating: "Food, what machines make and what you make yourself, the feeling is still different.

Look at our Starship Mess Hall, except for some steps that don't affect the taste but save time, most of it is cooked manually.

That's what you call a delicacy on the tip of your tongue."

"Wuwu... I... agree..." Charlotte said, gnawing on a fish bone.

"Commander Zhao Chen's barbecue tastes really good." Shen Bing praised from the side.

"You all should go and try Lilith's cooking too." Zhao Chen pointed to the stall next to them.

Lilith was busy preparing food.

Compared to Zhao Chen's 'chaotic' side, Lilith's side seemed much more elegant, and she was making all sorts of dishes.

When she was wandering before, she didn't have such opportunities.

Now, whenever Lilith had time, she would learn various cooking skills.

Zhao Chen's afternoon tea snacks were all prepared by Lilith.

Annie suddenly stood up, pouting as she stared at Commander Zhao Chen: "Commander Zhao Chen, didn't you say earlier... didn't you say... that everyone gathering here was for me to hold... a commendation conference...?

This... why are we having a barbecue picnic?"

"Oh, right, the commendation conference! Bessie, bring out what I asked you to prepare earlier. Shen Bing, help me watch the fire, don't let it burn."

Zhao Chen stood up purposefully, wiping his hands casually on his apron, then said with a serious expression: "Everyone, please pause what you're doing.

During this period, Chief Engineer Annie has been diligent and responsible, establishing a complete construction plan for our Xiaolong Fleet and efficiently completing the construction tasks.

Therefore, I specially present Chief Engineer Annie with the outstanding employee... ahem... outstanding crew member commendation!

Everyone, clap and congratulate!"

Saying that, Zhao Chen quickly clapped a few times.

At the same time, Bessie, from who knows where, pulled out a party popper and activated it behind Annie. A pollution-free particle confetti blossomed behind Annie, dispersing after a few seconds.

Everyone around also clapped.

Zhao Chen clenched both fists: "That's enough!

Alright, let's continue with the barbecue; Charlotte, don't just eat fish, eat other things too, for a balanced diet!"

The applause stopped abruptly at this moment.

Everyone continued to enjoy their food, as if nothing had just happened.

Annie stood dumbfounded in place.

"Commander Zhao Chen... this is what you called... grand? A sense of ceremony?" Annie looked at Commander Zhao Chen with a hint of resentment.

Zhao Chen clapped his forehead: "I almost forgot something important."

After speaking, Zhao Chen took a tea mug from the side and placed it in front of Annie: "This is the gift I prepared for you."

Looking at the tea mug, the words 'Labor Model' were written on it in red font.

Annie tilted her head, looking utterly bewildered.

Did she open this in the wrong way?

It was completely different from what she had imagined.

"Oh, right! There's one more important thing!" Zhao Chen thought of something else.

Annie looked at Zhao Chen expectantly; she knew that Commander Zhao Chen couldn't possibly handle these matters so casually!