Chapter Thirty-One: The First Lesson

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31. The First Lesson

The screen before them began playing footage of the asymmetrical space battle. The three bounty hunters’ ships had cut through the Fourth Civilization’s fighter formation as though no one stood in their way. The Blade fighters’ basic electromagnetic cannons could not inflict the slightest damage on their shields. Even after being equipped with infrared laser weapons, their insufficient power merely caused faint ripples across the shields.

By contrast, the three ships’ turbolaser cannons and blaster cannons destroyed the Blade fighters with a single shot each. Thirty-four fighters were destroyed, along with all thirty-four pilots. Four transport ships were destroyed, and all eight pilots aboard them were killed. In other words, they had not even been given a chance to escape.

“It was only later that the visiting Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, intervened. Their piloting skills were extraordinary. With a single ship, they managed to shoot down all three bounty hunter vessels. Afterward, they simply left,” Clement explained from the side.

As he watched the devastating battle, Tang Xiao clenched his teeth, fury filling his heart. Influenced by his Force, the small objects around him began to tremble, as though a minor earthquake were taking place.

When the video ended, he drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. Only after a long while did he say, “Bring Feng Yongwang and Guan Yan here.”

When the two scientists arrived, he asked them directly, “At the current rate of progress, how much longer until the Ghost fighter is completed?”

“We are gradually speeding things up. After those two elite computer and engine specialists joined us, our progress accelerated further. Even so, we estimate that it will still take another six months.” After finishing, Feng Yongwang glanced at the video, gritted his teeth, and added, “We will do everything we can. We will work overtime, even around the clock, if necessary, to complete the project.”

“Haste leads to mistakes. Continue at a normal pace and maintain a balance between work and rest. I do not want fatigue to cause errors during the research process. The consequences would be catastrophic.” Tang Xiao then turned to Guan Yan. “Next, I need you to lead your team in two areas of work.”

“Please go ahead,” Guan Yan replied with a nod.

“First, the small space dock should be finished by now. I need at least one usable light frigate to enter our production line. Second, during this window of time, we need to further exploit the potential of the Blade fighter and improve its combat effectiveness as much as possible,” Tang Xiao said.

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Guan Yan nodded. “As for the second matter, we already have a plan. Dr. Feng, why don’t you explain?”

Feng Yongwang nodded. “We are currently analyzing the Ghost fighter’s weapons systems, and the work should be completed soon. Its primary weapon is the Gemini missile, an exceptionally advanced air-to-air missile. Once the analysis is complete, I will hand the results over to Dr. Guan’s team so that we can install this missile on the Blade fighter.”

Guan Yan continued, “We are also developing basic energy shields and a small nuclear fusion engine. The technology in these areas is relatively mature, so we should be able to put them into use soon. Once that happens, the Blade fighter’s energy supply will be raised by an entire level. That will allow us to increase the power of its infrared laser cannons, while the basic energy shields will make the fighters even more formidable. However…”

“Go on. Whatever difficulties you encounter, I will do my best to resolve them,” Tang Xiao said with a nod.

“We lack personnel. Our team no longer has the capacity to take on additional research projects. At present, only six people are working on the analysis of the light frigate, which is nowhere near enough. But increasing our manpower would require more laboratories, equipment, and facilities, all of which would take time to build,” Guan Yan said.

“I will do my best to provide the personnel and facilities. First, tell me about the frigates,” Tang Xiao said.

“There are currently two basic light frigates to choose from: the Knight-class light frigate and the Hammer-class frigate. The former is 28.5 meters long and is a fairly versatile vessel, with acceptable firepower, speed, and armor. The Hammer-class is 31.4 meters long and places greater emphasis on armor protection and firepower. If we want to manufacture any of the other frigate-class vessels in the technology archive, we will need to spend considerably more time integrating their technological systems,” Guan Yan replied.

“Abandon the Knight-class. Proceed directly with the analysis of the Hammer-class frigate. Set aside vessels from the other technological systems for now. We can consider them once we have more teams,” Tang Xiao decided.

“Understood. Administrator, I will have to trouble you with securing the personnel and research facilities.” With that, Guan Yan and Feng Yongwang withdrew together.

Tang Xiao closed his eyes and pondered for a while. Then he opened them and said to Qi Jian, “Arrange for personnel to begin training on the captured YV-865 Oro-class freighter as soon as possible. Train a crew to operate it. Alternatively, I can see whether there is an elite pilot available to awaken.”

“Yes,” Qi Jian replied at once. “Also, the wreckage of the three bounty hunter ships is already being recovered by engineering vessels. We have recovered two turbolaser cannons that are still operational. I intend to install them on one of our transports and use it as a gunship. It should strengthen our firepower to some extent.”

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“You did well, Qi Jian. You did everything you could. This was not your fault. We never imagined that, having just arrived here, we would be discovered so quickly. With our battle preparations incomplete, this was the only outcome possible,” Tang Xiao said.

“I understand, Administrator.” Qi Jian still looked somewhat dejected.

Tang Xiao walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “Perhaps in the future, we will face even more devastating sacrifices. But this is the road we must walk. Let us grow together, Qi Jian. This is our first lesson. There will be many more challenges waiting for us.”

Tang Xiao opened the personnel roster and discovered that many pilots in the elite ranks were already standing by. They were all outstanding pilots tempered through countless trials.

For the moment, however, there was no need to use so many of them. Having such pilots fly Blade fighters would truly be a waste of their talents. He awakened only one of them to pilot the YV-865 Oro-class freighter: a Black female pilot named Glory Judith.

Why had he chosen a female pilot? Why was she Black, and why did she have such a beautiful name? It was not because Tang Xiao had suddenly awakened to some peculiar preference. Rather, it was because—

This woman was practically a walking black tank!

According to her records, she stood 1.92 meters tall and weighed 172 kilograms. And she was not fat. In other words, every bit of that weight was muscle. To top it off, her favorite pastime was beating people senseless in flight simulator training, then dragging them to the combat arena and beating them senseless all over again…

Tang Xiao immediately decided that Judith could be assigned to the same team as Kunto. If Kunto harbored any ulterior motives, Judith could probably beat him so thoroughly that even his mother would fail to recognize him.

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