Unveiling the Scale of Power
Fred’s Perspective
Fred adjusted her grip on the antimatter launcher, her scientific curiosity ablaze as she processed everything Spotty had already shared. But one thing nagged at her—these fleets Spotty kept mentioning. She couldn’t help but ask, her voice tinged with awe, “So these fleets… how big are they?”
She wasn’t sure what she expected—a few hundred ships, maybe? But when Spotty glanced at her with that smirk, Fred felt a chill of anticipation. I might regret asking this.
Spotty’s Perspective
Spotty tilted her head, studying Fred with a faint smile. Curious, brilliant, and bold. I like her. She decided to humor Fred’s curiosity, knowing full well how overwhelming the truth might seem.
“My my, you’re curious,” she said, her smirk widening. “Between 500 and 1000 ships per fleet. Supercarriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and a few special surprises.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle before adding casually, “Let’s say 750 on average. That’s roughly 15,000 to 30,000 fighters and fighter-bombers per fleet, plus around 75 divisions of ground forces attached to each fleet.”
Spotty’s crystalline blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched Fred’s reaction. She’s doing the math in her head. Wait for it…
Fred’s Reaction
Fred’s mind raced, the numbers forming in her head almost faster than she could keep up. 750 ships on average… 15,000 to 30,000 fighters per fleet… 75 divisions… Multiply that by 500 fleets... That’s 375000 of ships. 11 millions of fighters. 750 millions of ground troops. Give or take.
She stared at Spotty, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s… insane. How do you even manage that? How does anyone manage that?”
Elizabeth’s Perspective
Elizabeth, standing nearby with her own launcher slung over her shoulder, watched Fred’s reaction with a knowing smirk. It’s always the same. They ask, they hear the answer, and then they try to wrap their heads around it.
She decided to join the conversation, her tone teasing. “You should see the paperwork. And that’s just for one fleet, let alone hundreds.”
Spotty chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Elizabeth’s not wrong. Keeping it all organized is… well, let’s just say we’ve optimized a lot of things.”
Elizabeth added dryly, “Optimized being code for having me deal with most of it.”
Ila’s Perspective
Ila leaned against a nearby boulder, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and pride. Spotty always knows how to leave an impression.
“Fred, you should’ve seen her when we were planning the liberation of Hell,” Ila said, her amber eyes gleaming. “That was thousands of fleets, give or take, and trillions of soldiers. It was a logistical masterpiece—or a nightmare, depending on your perspective.”
Fred turned to Ila, her expression still stunned. “Thousands of fleets? And you just… commanded all of that?”
Spotty waved a hand dismissively, her tone light. “It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Once you have the right systems and people in place, it practically runs itself.”
Ila snorted, crossing her arms. “Says the person who micromanages half of it because she doesn’t trust anyone else to get it right.”
Spotty smirked at Ila. “Trust is earned, red-haired menace.”
Fred’s Follow-Up Questions
Fred shook her head, still grappling with the scale of it all. “But how do you even recruit and train that many people? And what about resources? Fuel, ammunition, food—doesn’t it ever run out?”
Spotty’s expression turned slightly more serious, though her confidence remained. “The Empire spans countless worlds and universes. Resources aren’t an issue when you can tap into entire planets and industrial hubs. As for recruitment, people flock to us because they believe in what we’re doing. Training is rigorous, but we have the time and infrastructure to make it work.”
She paused, her crystalline blue eyes softening slightly. “I won’t lie—it’s a massive undertaking. But it’s necessary. We’ve seen what happens when we’re not prepared. We can’t let that happen again.”
Fred’s Thoughts
Fred couldn’t help but feel a pang of admiration. They’re not just powerful—they’re prepared. They’ve thought of everything.
Still, she couldn’t resist one last question. “So… you really have fleets just waiting around for a call?”
Spotty grinned. “Would you expect anything less from the most powerful, bravest, and craziest all packed in one—oh, and smartest and most beautiful?”
Ila’s Final Comment
Ila chuckled, shaking her head. “You forgot humble.”
Spotty shrugged, her smirk playful. “Did I, though?”
The group laughed, the tension easing slightly as Fred processed the sheer scale of what she had just learned. Despite the overwhelming numbers, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were in good hands.