Chapter 55 Facing a Formidable Enemy

Imminent Threat

"Manager! We've received an emergency transmission from the *Lancer*!" Qi Jian hurried over to Darth Tenebrous in the mothership's bridge, clutching a data pad.

"Speak!" Darth Tenebrous was currently arranging the next batch of personnel revivals, preparing to wake up several elite talents to specifically handle personnel management for him.

For instance, once he awakened someone, the Human Resources Department would arrange work for them, as well as the handover process with the person previously occupying that position.

Right now, the colony's operations were neither too large nor too small, so Darth Tenebrous still tightly grasped a vast amount of power. He had subdivided all tasks, ensuring that every person he assigned was responsible for only a fraction of them. This prevented anyone from monopolizing too much power and threatening his authority.

With a solemn expression, Qi Jian handed over the data pad and said, "Cvlt has obtained intelligence. 'Iron-Tooth' Kuken's Hammerhead-class cruiser is set to depart in three standard hours and head to the Endor system to launch an attack against us. Additionally, Cvlt, Quinto, and the others are trapped aboard the cruiser, but he managed to transmit the exact specifications of the vessel and caused a certain degree of damage to it."

"That at least gives us a glimmer of hope. Anything else?" Darth Tenebrous nodded.

"Yuri Orlov also managed to acquire two—no, wait, one proton torpedo, which has already been installed on the *Lancer*. However, we just lost contact with the *Lancer*," Qi Jian reported.

"Those bastards, Quinto and company!" Darth Tenebrous said, grinding his teeth. "Sound general quarters! Prepare for battle! Oh, and call Karls Vulton over here."

"Yes!" Qi Jian snapped a salute, then immediately turned to make the arrangements.

Soon, a man in his forties with a square jaw, wide mouth, and a fierce appearance arrived at Darth Tenebrous's side, snapping to attention. "Manager, you called for me?"

Darth Tenebrous nodded. Karls Vulton was an elite military commander he had just awakened. However, because Qi Jian—despite being a standard-tier talent—had been performing his duties quite well, Vulton was temporarily assigned as an executive officer under Qi Jian. Nevertheless, Darth Tenebrous intended to groom Vulton properly.

"What are your thoughts on this upcoming battle?" Darth Tenebrous asked.

Vulton immediately saluted and replied, "We currently have seventy-three modified Blade-class starfighters divided into six squadrons, all equipped with deflector shields and infrared laser weapons, with twenty of them carrying Gemini missiles. We also have three Hammer-class corvettes—one of which is armed with a turbolaser cannon—along with one modified YV-865 Auro-class armed freighter."

As he spoke, he pulled up rows of data on the display screen and continued, "I have just reviewed the specifications of that Hammerhead-class cruiser. The vessel has been heavily modified. Originally, it only had two point-defense turrets, but that has been increased to eight, presumably to account for the need for independent operations. However, among those eight point-defense turrets, six of the newly added ones have been tampered with, so the threat our starfighters face in combat will be somewhat reduced."

"Furthermore, according to our calculations, the cruiser's engine thrust is inadequate, and its cruising speed in space is not particularly fast. This also grants us a significant tactical opportunity."

"So, you've already reached a conclusion?" Darth Tenebrous asked.

"Yes. I have already drafted a combat plan and submitted it to Chief of Staff Qi..." Vulton said.

Darth Tenebrous nodded in satisfaction. Karls Vulton had not harbored any resentment over being an elite talent subordinate to Qi Jian, a standard-tier officer, nor had he kept his plan hidden to present exclusively to Darth Tenebrous. Instead, he had openly submitted his plan for everyone to discuss.

That sense of magnanimity alone made him worthy of the status of a true, qualified soldier.

Indeed, according to Vulton's file, he was a commander who had clawed his way up step by step through the crucible of war.

Darth Tenebrous smiled and said, "Since Cvlt has already helped us resolve the issue with the point-defense turrets, I feel much more at ease."

"Indeed so, Manager."

"I mean, if I personally take to the field, I'll have even more confidence. Otherwise, I really would be quite terrified," Darth Tenebrous said with a chuckle.

"What! Manager... you must not!" Vulton was startled and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Darth Tenebrous waved a hand and said, "I know my own situation. For the past few days, I've been studying how to pilot a Blade-class starfighter, and I've grown quite proficient. Most importantly... I am not like you all..."

Speaking calmly, he raised a hand slightly, and the teacup nearby rose into the air by itself. He had been practicing for a long time; now, the teacup did not shatter, but instead revolved smoothly around his palm.

"If you're still worried... Mainframe, display my simulation flight scores," Darth Tenebrous said with a smile.

[Understood, Manager. You have defeated the majority of the fighter pilots in the 99.9% fidelity simulation flight system, achieving a record of 63 wins and 4 losses. All four losses occurred during the initial period when you were still unfamiliar with the aircraft.]

A flash of brilliant white light cut through the void, and the massive form of the Hammerhead-class cruiser abruptly materialized within the Endor system. Stretching 315 meters in length, its bow was exceptionally broad and heavy, resembling an upright blacksmith's hammer.

Even after thousands of years, this classic cruiser continued to exert its power across the contemporary galaxy, a testament to the formidable engineering prowess of Rendili StarDrive, one of the galaxy's largest shipbuilders.

This Hammerhead-class cruiser was named the *Iron Tooth*, directly adopting the nickname of its captain, "Iron Tooth" Kuken—though whether Kuken took his name from the cruiser or vice versa was now lost to history. What remained certain, however, was that despite its age, this cruiser was still not a presence that ordinary bounty hunters or pirates dared to provoke.

Around the lawless world of Tatooine, the cruiser *Iron Tooth* was the very embodiment of power!

"Is that the colossal warship?" On the bridge, Kuken and his cohort of pirate leaders stared at the behemoth materializing before them, struck dumb with awe despite having mentally prepared themselves.

It stood 41,370 meters tall! If erected on Earth, it would pierce straight through the troposphere and well into the stratosphere! In the 21st century, almost all aircraft could only fly about halfway up the height of this vessel; anything higher was impossible, and to see the ship's apex, one would need to pilot an experimental aircraft!

If this colossal warship were laid flat horizontally, its length would span the exact straight-line distance from the imperial capital all the way to Langfang!

If a person were to stand upon the outer hull of this giant warship, they would perceive no recognizable shape of the vessel at all—only an endless, boundless landscape of metal earth!

Such was the scale of this Kushan mothership: a vessel of staggering magnitude, even by the standards of the current *Star Wars* universe!