Chapter 56: A Great Enemy Approaches

55. A Great Enemy Approaches

"Administrator! We have received an emergency transmission from the *Lancer*!" On the bridge of the mothership, Qi Jian ran toward Tang Xiao with a document in hand to report.

"Speak!" Tang Xiao was currently arranging the next batch of awakening tasks; he was preparing to awaken several elite-level talents to specifically handle personnel management for him.

For instance, once he awakened an individual, the Personnel Department would assign them tasks and arrange the handover process with the personnel in their original positions.

The colony's affairs were neither too large nor too small at the moment, so Tang Xiao kept much of the power tightly in his own hands. He had subdivided all work so that every person assigned was responsible for only a specific part. This prevented anyone from taking on too much responsibility and threatening his authority.

With a solemn expression, Qi Jian handed over the document and said, "Vunt has obtained intelligence. The Hammer-class cruiser 'Iron Fang'—belonging to Kuken—is preparing to depart in three standard hours to launch an attack on the Endo system. Furthermore, Vunt and Qunto and the others are trapped on the cruiser, but he has sent over the specific parameters of the ship and has managed to sabotage it to some extent."

"That finally gives us a glimmer of hope. Anything else?" Tang Xiao nodded.

"Also, Yuri Orlov has obtained two... no, one proton torpedo, which has already been installed on the *Lancer*. However, the *Lancer* just lost contact with us," Qi Jian said.

"Those bastards, Qunto!" Tang Xiao said through gritted teeth. "Sound the combat alert! Prepare for battle! Also, call Karls-Worton over."

"Yes!" Qi Jian responded with a salute and immediately went back to make the arrangements.

Soon, a soldier in his 40s with a square face and a fierce appearance arrived and stood at attention beside Tang Xiao. "Administrator, you summoned me?"

Tang Xiao nodded. Karls-Worton was an elite-level military commander he had just awakened. However, because although Qi Jian was an ordinary-level talent, he performed his duties well, Karls-Worton was temporarily assigned as an adjutant under Qi Jian. Nevertheless, Tang Xiao intended to cultivate Worton properly.

"What are your thoughts regarding this upcoming battle?" Tang Xiao asked.

Worton immediately stood at attention and said, "We currently have 73 upgraded Blade-class fighters divided into six squadrons. All are equipped with energy shields and infrared laser weapons, with 20 of them equipped with Gemini missiles. We have three Hammer-class frigates, one of which is equipped with a turbine laser cannon, and one modified YV-865 Oro-class armed freighter."

As he spoke, he opened rows of data on the screen and continued, "I have just reviewed the parameters of this Hammer-class cruiser. The ship has been modified. Originally, it only had two point-defense turrets, but they have been increased to eight, likely to account for independent combat operations. However, among these eight point-defense turrets, the six newly added ones have been tampered with. Therefore, the threat our fighters face during combat will be somewhat reduced."

"Furthermore, according to calculations, the engine thrust of this Hammer-class cruiser is insufficient. Its cruising speed in space is not fast, which should provide us with a significant opportunity."

"So, you have already reached a conclusion?" Tang Xiao asked.

"Correct. I have already formulated a combat plan and handed it to Chief of Staff Qi..." Worton said.

Tang Xiao nodded with satisfaction. Karls-Worton did not feel resentful about being an elite-level talent serving under the ordinary-level Qi Jian, nor did he withhold his plan to show off to Tang Xiao; instead, he openly submitted his plan for everyone to discuss.

This level of openness was worthy of a qualified soldier.

In fact, according to Karls-Worton's records, he was indeed a commander who had fought his way up through the ranks on the battlefield.

Tang Xiao smiled and said, "Since Vunt has helped us resolve the issue with the point-defense turrets, I feel much more at ease."

"Indeed, Administrator."

"I mean, if I personally take to the field, I will have more confidence. Otherwise, I would be quite terrified," Tang Xiao said with a laugh.

"What! Administrator... you must not!" Karls-Worton was stunned and rushed to stop him.

Tang Xiao waved his hand and said, "I know my situation. I have been studying how to pilot the Blade fighter these past few days, and I am much more proficient now. And most importantly... I am not like you all..."

He spoke calmly and lightly raised his hand; a nearby teacup flew into the air out of nowhere. He had practiced for a long time, and now the teacup did not break but instead rotated slowly around his palm.

"If you are still worried... Mainframe, display my simulated piloting results." Tang Xiao said with a smile.

【Understood, Administrator. In a 99.9% fidelity simulation piloting system, you defeated the majority of the flight squadron pilots, with a record of 63 wins and 4 losses. All 4 losses occurred during the initial stages when you were unfamiliar with the aircraft.】

...

A flash of white light passed, and the massive body of the Hammer-class cruiser suddenly appeared in the Endo system. Its gargantuan 315-meter frame was even larger at the bow, looking like an upright iron hammer.

Even after thousands of years, this classic cruiser still exerted its power in the current galaxy, demonstrating the formidable strength of one of the galaxy's largest spacecraft manufacturers—the Lundili Interstellar Engineering Company.

This Hammer-class cruiser was named the *Iron Fang*, directly adopting the nickname of its captain, 'Iron Fang' Kuken; whether Kuken was named after this cruiser or vice versa was now unknown. The only thing known was that despite its age, this cruiser was still not something ordinary bounty hunters or pirates would dare to provoke.

In the chaotic surroundings of the planet Tatooine, the *Iron Fang* cruiser was a symbol of power!

"Is that the giant ship?" On the bridge, Kuken and his band of pirate leaders stared at the behemoth appearing before them, stunned despite being mentally prepared.

A height of 41,370 meters! If it stood on Earth, it would pierce through the troposphere and reach the stratosphere! Almost all aircraft in the 21st century could only fly to the mid-section of this spacecraft; any higher would be impossible, and to see the top of the ship, one would need to pilot an experimental aircraft!

If this giant ship were to lie flat, it would span the distance from the Imperial Capital straight to Langfang!

If a person stood on the hull of this giant ship, they would not be able to see any shape of the vessel, seeing only an endless expanse of metallic earth!

This was the scale of this Koushen mothership—a mothership that, even in the current *Star Wars* universe, possessed massive proportions!