Chapter 58: Iron Fang Attacks (Part II)

57. The Iron Fang Strikes (Part II)

The Aurek-class fighter was also a combat aircraft from the era of the Sith Wars, one or two thousand years ago. Although it was merely a 9.2-meter-long triangular light fighter, it was equipped with proton torpedoes and functioned as a multi-role starfighter. During the Sith Wars, it served as a mainstay for the Galactic Republic.

While it was considered quite outdated by modern standards, considering that the Galactic Republic's military preparedness had lapsed for over a thousand years, the degree of obsolescence was not as absurd as the millennium-long gap might suggest.

Even if these Aurek-class fighters could no longer be compared to the primary fighters of the current galaxy, the fact that the Iron Fang-Kuken possessed a cruiser and its own carrier-based aircraft meant their strength was a lethal threat among pirate factions.

Twelve Aurek-class fighters circled the mothership, firing proton torpedoes from various angles while simultaneously maintaining a barrage of laser cannon fire.

Yet, the mothership remained unmoved.

On the bridge of the mothership, Tang Xiao maintained a steady gaze, watching the battlefield situation projected via hologram.

The current combat situation could be described as tedious. Two ships, one large and one small, were continuously circling each other, while the twelve small fighters struggled to mount an attack. Despite this, Tang Xiao stared intently at the hologram, only blinking when his eyes began to feel dry.

"Energy shield power has dropped by 1%! The proton torpedoes are more powerful than we anticipated," Qi Jian reported, looking back.

Tang Xiao nodded and asked, "According to the Mainframe's simulation, how much time do they need to breach our shields?"

"Based on the enemy's remaining stock of proton torpedoes, the time will range between 200 and 1,700 hours," Qi Jian answered.

"Are we confident in our plan?" Tang Xiao asked again.

"Seventy percent," Karls Walton replied with a grave expression.

Tang Xiao began unbuttoning his coat, revealing well-trained muscles beneath his tight flight suit. "I'm leaving command to you. Issue the order: the first wave of fighters takes off in ten minutes!!"

"Yes, sir!"

Tang Xiao did not linger. He took the elevator directly down to the massive hangar platform. There, seventy-three modified Blade fighters were ready, pilots were in position, and ground crews were performing final preparations.

He walked straight toward an empty fighter and leaped into the cockpit with agility.

Ever since awakening the Force, Tang Xiao had been training himself through various means. He understood that with the help of the Force, his piloting skills would be bolstered significantly. Consequently, he had begun training in the Blade fighters several days ago, and his progress had been rapid.

"Commander, you can do this!" a wingman's pilot gave him a thumbs-up from the adjacent cockpit.

"Leave it to me! This time, I will lead you to victory!" Tang Xiao responded with a thumbs-up of his own, then pressed the button to close the canopy and ignite the fighter's engines.

At that moment, the hangar lights turned red, and the Mainframe's voice rang out: 【First Fighter Squadron, prepare for takeoff. Repeat, First Fighter Squadron, prepare for takeoff.】

Tang Xiao's gaze sharpened. He slammed the control stick forward, and the fighter shot out like an arrow from a bow!

The view darkened as he entered the endless void of space. Following the guidance of the onboard navigation system, he pushed the stick to the left, maneuvering the aircraft in that direction.

Rounding the mothership, the green silhouette of the Dawn planet appeared, along with the Hammer-class cruiser that was relentlessly firing at the mothership!

"Target confirmed," Tang Xiao said coldly, staring at the cruiser.

"Follow the plan! First Squadron, conduct a probing attack!" Karls Walton's voice came through the comms.

"Copy that. First Squadron, follow me." Tang Xiao pushed the stick forward, leading all twelve fighters of the First Squadron in a direct charge toward the cruiser.

As if they hadn't expected the previously dormant mothership to suddenly launch fighters, the enemy's twelve Aurek fighters did not immediately move to intercept. This lack of immediate response revealed the inherent lack of discipline and training among these pirates.

Upon reaching the firing position, Tang Xiao shouted into the comms, "First Squadron, open fire! Execute the first wave of missile attacks!"

With that, he flipped the safety cover off the firing button. Assisted by the mothership's data link, the fire-control radar locked onto the Hammer-class cruiser, and he slammed the button!

From the belly of the craft, a Gemini air-to-air missile, over two meters long, ignited instantly and streaked toward the cruiser.

All the Blade fighters in the First Squadron were equipped with Gemini missiles, and they launched them simultaneously. Supported and corrected by the massive computational power of the mothership, all twelve missiles hit without exception!

Over a dozen explosions erupted against the Hammer-class cruiser's deflector shields, but the attack was still repelled.

Despite the successful hit, Tang Xiao did not press the advantage. He immediately led the First Squadron into a turn, flying toward the flank of the mothership.

Like sharks smelling blood, the pirates' twelve Aurek fighters immediately gave chase! The attack on the cruiser had ignited their ferocity.

Kuken roared furiously over their communications, cursing and ordering the twelve Aurek fighters to rush forward and tear those seemingly obsolete fighters to shreds!

The First Squadron did not linger in combat; they quickly reached the designated area on the side of the mothership. Tang Xiao announced over the comms, "First Squadron is in position."

"Activate the mothership's point-defense systems! Second Squadron, launch!" Qi Jian commanded from the bridge.

Hatch doors opened across the massive hull of the mothership, and one twin-linked electromagnetic autocannon after another rose from within, opening fire directly on the surrounding Aurek fighters!

Countless rounds streaked out, forming a wall of lead around the mothership.

The Aurek fighter formation was immediately scattered by the barrage, with the pilots flying erratically to dodge the point-defense fire.

In truth, the reason they had waited until now to deploy the point-defense curtain was that the armament of this Kushen mothership was quite lacking. It possessed only 377 point-defense guns, all of which were 30mm twin-linked electromagnetic autocannons. At most, there were 754 barrels, and the resulting barrage could not fully cover a giant vessel that stood 41,370 meters tall.

Under normal circumstances, these twelve Aurek fighters could easily dodge the point-defense fire and pull away. After all, these were electromagnetic autocannons; while they had infinite range in the vacuum of space, their accuracy was quite poor.

These fighters could easily fly over a hundred kilometers away. At such a distance, even a 0.01-degree deviation in the rotation of a point-defense gun would result in a massive miss, making a hit nearly impossible.

However, one must not forget: there was still the Blade fighter squadron led by Tang Xiao!

***

[Easter Egg Attachment 1: Aurek-class tactical strikefighter]

(End of Chapter)