After Tanera explained everything, it was time to get busy with the shopping.
All the stations sent the list of the items and modules they needed, including the shipyards.
The same kind that Nairin built as part of her assignment, and the helium 3 collectors, as they would all need to collect the fuel needed for the big shipyard and the ships.
The second big purchase was the storage modules.
However, everyone wanted tier 3 storage modules as their capacity was ten times bigger than their predecessors, with each one topping out at 5000 tons.
Of course, these were just a few items from each list, and the main question was if they could afford it all.
After reading through the lists, Andrew decided that each station had to have enough food for a minimum of half a year, Additionally, he also invested in getting them some hangar modules and living quarters.
The next in line were the shipyards and helium 3 collectors.
Equipping every station with only these things cost him over 1200 silver credits, and that was just the beginning.
Luckily, he had some credits saved up from before, and with the addition of the ones he got from the merchant for the crates he just sold her, he was easily able to afford it all.
He also equipped each station with two small MACs to boost their defenses.
Then he took care of his own station, buying 400 tier 3 storage modules, another 10 hangar modules, 20 helium 3 storage modules, and 5 fusion generators.
With these, he could power the whole station, but of course, they needed fuel to work, so he also got 50 Helium 3 collectors to provide said fuel.
The last thing he got was a set of space armor for everyone on the station.
with the only exception being the crews of the Adurian ships, as they were still not sure if they should join him or ask to be repatriated.
With all of this, he decided to allocate the rest of his funds to the other stations as they needed them more.
The main focus of everyone was the defense of their stations and supplies to last for as long as possible.
The rest of the modules they could build themselves.
-Don't you want to buy any ships?
Tanera asked Andrew, seeing that he still had over 5000 silver credits after buying everything he wanted to get and fulfilling shopping lists from his other stations.
-Can I even afford one?
He asked, with a smile.
-They are not cheap, but I could sell you a destroyer for 4700 silver credits.
It's one of the older models and doesn't have energy weapons, but it is a destroyer and is fully operational.
She said, showing him the ship on her tablet.
-Or I could sell you two heavy frigates for 2300 silver credits each.
They are a bit newer, and they do have energy weapons.
What's more, they use hydrogen as a fuel, so you don't need to worry about resupplying.
She showed him a smaller but better-looking ship.
-I also have some standard frigates and corvettes, but I doubt you would want them since they are way overpriced.
She showed him the ships, and their prices were ridiculous as a single frigate was priced at 2000 silver credits.
-I can also sell you this, but I dont know if you need it with all the collectors you just bought.
She said, showing him another ship.
-What is this thing?
Andrew asked, not recognizing the ship's configuration.
-It's a helium 3 tanker collector.
It's fully automated, and it can get much closer to the stars to collect more helium 3.
-In a binary system like this one, it should be able to collect about a hundred tons a day, however, the journey there and back will take about a week, so if you want it, I would suggest sending it for a longer expedition.
It can carry up to 5,000 tons of Helium 3.
Tanners said, presenting the ship.
-It is tempting, but it's also a big target.
Andrew said after a moment of thought.
-I'll take the two heavy frigates; they should be able to go against a destroyer, and with the ones that will be repaired soon, I'll have 5 of them.
-Alright, are you sure you don't want anything more?
I might not be able to come here for a while unless you activate the jump gate.
-I'm actually thinking if I should even activate it.
Andrew responded.
-Why?
With the jump gate, you would have a supply line from the Empire.
-If the empire takes part in this invasion, then they might want to use the gate to send their forces into this universe.
If you think about it, they might even take control of this system and my territory to use it as a staging ground to conquer this galaxy.
Andrew said seriously.
Even if technically he was a noble of the empire, he was not exactly happy about them taking over his territory, leaving him with nothing.
-I never thought about it this way, but now that you said it, you might be right.
However, that's not a bad thing.
If the empire conquered this galaxy, then it would be sent into the empire's territory.
Then you would not need to worry about anything ever again.
-That's if they conquered it, but if they didn't, and the gate fell into the empire's enemies' hands, they could use it to attack the empire from within.
Andrew argued, not mentioning that he had a lot of things he wanted to do in this universe and there were some people he wanted to find and one of them was Alex.
-That's a possibility, but I don't think the Empire would leave the gate unguarded, and in the worst-case scenario, they would most likely blow it up.
Tanera said.
-Yeah, I'm not risking it.
Andrew shook his head.
-The Empire is my only real fallback plan, and I don't want to compromise it.
He explained.
-If you don't want to do it, then no one can force you to; the gate connection has to be initiated by you anyway.
The elf said.
-We got off-topic a bit,
She then said, changing the subject.
-Is there anything you wish to add to the list before I process it?
The merchant asked.
Andrew thought about it for a while before shaking his head.
-Nothing comes to mind; you can go ahead with the trade.
He said, unable to think of anything he could need at the moment.
Tanera pressed a few times on her tablet, and the transaction was approved.
-The modules and ships will arrive within half an hour..
As for the items you ordered, they are already being transported to the storage module you used for crates.
Andrew didn't even need to ask about it since this time they had bought a lot of items, and there was no way in hell they could be placed in a command center.
He immediately called in the gunships from every station to come and get their items.
The modules would be sent directly to the stations that ordered them, but other things they needed to take care of themselves.
-With this done, I have to go; there are still over an hour left before the portals stabilize, and I don't want to be here when the invasion begins.
Tanera said, with some sadness in her voice.
-You don't need to be sad.
If things go the way I think they will, we will see each other again and quite soon, and if they don't, then I'll see you in the empire.
Andrew said, trying to comfort her.
-Why does it not surprise me that you don't even consider the possibility you might die along with everyone else?
The elf shook her head.
-Probably because I have no intention of dying.
Andrew grinned, making her chuckle.
-Then, see you soon.
She said, and left for her ship.
It still took the next twenty minutes to finish transporting all the items Andrew had bought, and by the end of it, the storage module was full, so the rest was stacked in the docking module.
As soon as this was done, the ship undocked and left, jumping into FTL as soon as it reached a safe distance from the station.
Once the merchant left, Andrew tasked the droids to store their items and transport the items meant for other stations to the hangars.
While this was being done, he went back into the command center.
-Aelita, how long will it take to add the new modules to the station?
He asked, sitting down in the command chair.
-We should finish within an hour, but setting up the helium 3 collectors will take about a day
They need to be placed way closer to the stars to do their work.
The engineer said.
Andrew nodded and turned to Sarill.
-Contact Runir and tell her to expect two heavy frigates.
One is for her, and the other one is for Arien to take over as a captain tell her to find someone to replace them on their current ships.
He said.
The girl nodded and started doing her work.
-Nairin, how long till the repairs of the three heavy frigates are done?
He asked, turning to the girl.
-They are already done, but it will take another hour or so to load them with ammo and preoivissions.
The girl replied.
-How are we on resources?
He asked, turning to Jalina.
-Until we have more storage modules, we are at full capacity and that includes both shipyards.
She answered.
Andrew nodded with a smile.
With the shipyards filled and all the storage modules at full capacity, they had enough to start building ships, and that was exactly what he intended to do.
-Sarill, contact the shipyard and tell them to start building 10 corvettes and 5 frigates.
I want their estimate on the time of completion and the resources needed to complete the order as soon as they have one.
Andrew said, hoping that they would have the time to build more ships for the fleet.
-Nairin, order another 20 fighters and 20 heavy fighters to be added to our forces, and start producing rockets and bombs with the explosives we just bought.
-I already started.
As for the fighters, they should be ready in a few hours.
She said.
-Aelita, I wanted to ask you about this tomorrow, but could you go and activate the matter converters in the workshop module?
Also, move the fabricator to one of the hangars once they arrive and activate it as well.
-Sure, as soon as I'm done with my work here.
She agreed.
-Lan, is there any activity on the sensors?
Andrew then asked, turning to the geologist.
-Nothing much, just some pirate ships moving from one place to another, but they are over 400 light-years away.
Other than that, the Adurian fleet is mobilising, but they seem to be keeping a defensive formation around one of their systems.
-And what about our fleet?
Andrew asked.
-The fleet is ready; all ships are in working order, and as soon as they are available, the heavy frigates will join us.
Runir, who was on the comms since Sarill informed her about the heavy frigates, reported.
-However, I would like to divide them, sending one to each system to boost their defenses.
She said.
-You are the fleet commander; it's your call.
-I'm a fleet commander, but you are the commander-in-chief.
Runir reminded him.
-Then you have my permission to allocate them to each system as soon as they are ready.
-Thank you.
She said and returned to planning their defense.
-Ilia, how are we on the medical front?
Andrew asked, not even bothering to call her as he knew she was listening in.
-Since everyone was just healed, all the tanks and capsules are free at the moment, and our solution and drug supplies should last us for at least three months, even if we use them at the full capacity of the medical modules.
The same could be said for the hospital at the shipyard, so we don't need to worry about that.
Iliana replied almost immediately.
-Thank you.
Andrew said and then contacted every station master in his territory to hear their reports about the readiness of their forces and the supply situation.
They all knew that the storm was coming, and all of them prepared as much as they possibly could.