Chapter Forty-Nine: A Grandmaster of His Generation [Monthly Votes, Recommendations, and Continued Reading Appreciated]

Page 1 of 3

49. A Grandmaster of His Generation

Sure enough, Professor Chi continued, “I compared it with the technological system of the Kushan civilization, which is the one we understand best. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the technological system of the Trade Emergency Alliance. Compared with the Terran Empire, to which the Ghost fighters belong, the similarity is even greater. In other words, we should be able to analyze and integrate the Trade Emergency Alliance’s technology with considerable efficiency. There is one more crucial point…”

Chi Jianjun adjusted his reading glasses. “The Trade Emergency Alliance possesses a far more comprehensive technology tree. It has a whole range of functional structures and spacecraft, including stationary defensive turrets, orbital space hangars, and planetary fortresses—not to mention the immense Titan warships. If we can finish deciphering this civilization’s technology, I believe we will have the strength to contend with the potential threat posed by the Galactic Republic.”

Tang Xiao nodded. “So, during this interim period before the Ghost fighter is completed, our primary defenses will be the improved Blade fighters and these Hammer-class light corvettes?”

“Exactly. The Blade fighter modifications are complete. The design has been finalized, the production line adjusted, and production is proceeding according to Qi Jian’s requirements. After the improvements, the fighter’s length has been increased to 8.6 meters. It has been fitted with a small fusion engine, a basic energy shield, an infrared laser cannon, and two Gemini missiles. We also removed unnecessary armor, giving it at least a fighting chance.”

Chi Jianjun went on. “As for the Hammer-class light corvette, apart from replacing its electromagnetic cannon turrets with infrared lasers, we rejected the plan to install Gemini missiles. Instead, we intend to equip the corvette with a new type of plasma bomb.”

“The plasma bomb technology has already been deciphered?” Tang Xiao asked.

“We are still working on it. In the Kushan civilization, it was originally a weapon used by bombers specially designed to attack large ships. We believe those bombers themselves are unnecessary, but their weapons systems are excellent. These plasma bombs travel relatively slowly, but they inflict tremendous damage on energy shields. The Hammer-class corvette is also just large enough to accommodate such a power-hungry weapons system.” Chi Jianjun continued, “This is the weapons modification plan we developed in preparation for the Hammerhead-class cruiser that will soon arrive.”

Chi Jianjun then produced two more blueprints. Tang Xiao was familiar with one of them and blurted out, “Isn’t that an SCV?”

The Terran worker from StarCraft!

“That’s right. The T-280 Space Construction Vehicle is a general-purpose engineering exosuit, twelve feet tall, capable of performing the vast majority of construction and engineering tasks. The mechanized engineering exoskeletons currently used in our colony are no longer adequate. These SCVs can even operate in space, making them exceptionally capable pieces of engineering equipment.”

He added, “SCVs are also products of the Terran Empire. Consequently, while researching the Ghost fighter, we have already accumulated some experience with Terran manufacturing techniques. The development of the SCV will therefore proceed much more quickly.”

Page 1 of 3

“What about this one?” Tang Xiao asked, pointing to the other blueprint.

“That is an engineering vessel used by the Trade Emergency Alliance. It too can construct most space structures, and it does so with remarkable efficiency. They also possess heavy engineering vessels capable of building larger orbital structures. Their entire system is highly integrated,” Chi Jianjun explained.

Tang Xiao nodded. Once the Ghost fighter entered service and the security situation temporarily eased, he would indeed need to devote greater effort to civilian affairs and development. Mass production of SCVs and engineering vessels would greatly facilitate the colony’s construction. At present, the colony’s greatest constraint was its inability to build structures quickly enough, which had kept its population from growing beyond roughly six or seven thousand.

Among all the problems restricting the colony’s strength, infrastructure was now the most important. Even population was not truly a major concern. The cryogenic embryo bank contained a full five billion embryos, all of which could be brought to term within ten years. Reliable intelligent robots could also be found in the technology archive to help solve the problem.

Infrastructure, however, offered no shortcuts. It had to be built step by step.

Professor Chi Jianjun had seen this clearly. He had immediately prepared to launch both the SCV and engineering-vessel projects.

“There is one more matter. The Kushan technology archive also contains a stealth fighter. Its stealth capabilities are subject to considerable limitations, but we may be able to use it as a shortcut and enable the Ghost fighter to acquire stealth capability sooner.” After finishing, Professor Chi summarized, “Together with the blue-violet laser weapons we are currently exploring, these are the primary projects of our research division. Our existing personnel and equipment are basically sufficient, so you should direct more resources toward the colony.”

With that, he said no more. After giving a simple salute, he led Doctor Feng Yongwang and the others back to their work.

Seeing Professor Chi like this, Tang Xiao was nearly moved to tears. Where was the old man who had once stormed into his dormitory clutching his clothes, bare-chested, shouting for help while commandeering Tang Xiao’s bed? Before him now stood the very embodiment of a seasoned professor—a grandmaster in every sense of the word.

Not only had he organized the current research agenda with perfect clarity, he had also integrated the available resources to the greatest possible extent, identified the most urgent research priorities, and ensured that the Fourth Civilization’s resources would not be squandered.

Unlike those researchers who began and ended every sentence with demands for more resources, Professor Chi’s vision encompassed the entire situation.

He truly was a master. A national treasure. With a talent like him lending his aid, the revival of the Fourth Civilization was within sight.

It was a pity that he was willing to work for Tang Xiao for only five years.

Page 2 of 3

Tang Xiao could not help but marvel. What kind of magnificent nation had been able to produce a grandmaster like this?

…

Meanwhile, at the edge of Hutt Space on the opposite side of the galaxy, a great battle was about to erupt on the planet Tatooine.

Boom!

An explosion erupted at the entrance to a spaceport in Mos Eisley. The spaceport was a circular tower more than twenty meters tall, with six docking berths. It could also accommodate medium-sized vessels measuring roughly one hundred meters in length, making it one of the larger spaceports on Tatooine.

Few people knew that a concealed elevator lay within the middle of the tower. It was used exclusively to transport secret contraband, such as spice capable of inducing intense excitement and hallucinations.

Today, however, the spaceport came under attack.

Before the smoke from the explosion had even cleared, a band of vicious Bosa stormed inside. The Nikto mercenaries guarding the spaceport hurried out to resist them. Some took cover behind barricades with blaster rifles, while several others rushed straight toward the rapid-fire blaster cannons mounted on the elevated platform.

—

Bonus Chapter Illustration 1: Nikto

Page 3 of 3