After discussing the plan of action, everyone left the conference room. The commanders of each ship had to return to their vessels to prepare for the battle against Mars. They also had to urge their maintenance crews to bring the units into peak condition as quickly as possible, while ensuring the pilots got enough rest for the next battle.
Although it would take around twelve hours for the Federation to send people over to take over Amaterasu and deliver supplies, that did not mean they could launch the attack on Mars exactly twelve hours later. They would still need time to travel there. Even with the Nadeshiko using Boson Jump to bring all the warships over, its jump equipment would still need adjustments.
Thus, those twelve hours were merely preparation time. The pilots could rest, but it would also be the busiest period for the non-pilot personnel aboard the ships.
However, Xiao Ran stopped Juzo Okita alone as he was about to leave.
Juzo Okita set his cap on the table before him, took out his pipe, and drew on it lightly twice. Only after slowly exhaling a cloud of white smoke did he speak. "When you asked me to wait, I knew what this was about. But now isn't the time."
"When will it be the time?" Xiao Ran asked.
Juzo Okita did not answer. He merely smoked with an air of profound solemnity. Seeing him like that, Xiao Ran shook his head. "Now is the best time. You need to understand that everything we are facing now, everything in my world and yours, is only the beginning. As we pursue different objectives and go deeper in certain directions, we will inevitably encounter more trouble and threats."
"When that time comes, it will be impossible to barely keep things