Chapter 11: Superweapon?

In the shipyard on Sith's moon, a corvette was undergoing modifications to install the superweapon.

After thirty days of intense research and manufacturing, and with the full strength of the empire devoted to its completion, the superweapon was finally ready!

Codenamed "Sugar-Coated Bullet," officially named "Starbreaker," this weapon compressed hydrogen using energy from the entire empire's power stations and locked it in place with force fields. Fusion energy then triggered its activation. The entire Starbreaker measured twenty meters in length, width, and height, and upon detonation, it would unleash an explosion equivalent to three billion tons of TNT.

The Sugar-Coated Bullet plan involved placing the Starbreaker in the reactor chamber of a warship, replacing its original power core. The ship would instead function as a massive energy storage unit to prevent enemy scans from detecting the hidden weapon.

Meanwhile, the empire had urgently constructed a decoy shipyard in the Vicat I system. Three corvette were stationed there, one of which contained the Starbreaker. If the enemy attacked again, ten corvette would feign defeat and retreat to Sith, luring the enemy into capturing the three "damaged" corvette docked for repairs.

The enemy, thinking they had gained valuable warships as spoils of war, would tow them back to their home base. Once there—duang!—the plan would be complete!

Of course, if the enemy never returned, that would be even better, granting the empire time for stable development.

Vicat I Orbit - The Trap is Set

Above Vicat I, in a massive maintenance dock, three corvettes sat silently in port.

Meanwhile, ten corvette patrolled near the space station, as if on high alert.

Suddenly, in the distant starry void, ten blue flashes appeared.

The enemy fleet had arrived.

Warping in near Vicat II's orbit, the enemy vessels swiftly locked onto their new target and accelerated toward Vicat I's shipyard.

"This is Tree Stump. The Rabbit has appeared! Begin the plan! Over."

Receiving the signal, the imperial fleet ignited their main engines and charged toward the approaching enemy.

"Full left rudder, descend 20 degrees! All missiles—fire! Focus all attacks on the first enemy warship!"

"Ship Two, acknowledged!"

"Ship Three, acknowledged!"

"Ship Four, acknowledged!"

From the corvette, a storm of missiles streaked through the void, hurtling toward the lead enemy warship. The alien vessels attempted emergency evasive maneuvers, but the missiles were guided—escape was impossible.

Explosions blossomed like fireworks across the enemy hull, scattering debris into space. Soon, the first enemy ship was engulfed in flames, its structure heavily damaged!

However, it did not explode.

The enemy, enraged, retaliated instantly.

Forty crimson beams of energy slashed through the imperial fleet. Two light cruisers, unable to withstand the firepower, were shredded into pieces!

"Retreat! Retreat! Mission complete!"

"All ships initiate emergency warp! Enter hyperspace!"

The remaining eight imperial cruisers shimmered with blue light and vanished from the battlefield.

This emergency warp technology was highly unstable, used solely for retreat. The ships would drift unpredictably through hyperspace, only emerging weeks later at the nearest warp exit. Worse yet, entering hyperspace in such a way was extremely risky—there was always a chance of catastrophic failure.

With the imperial fleet gone, the alien warships accelerated toward the maintenance dock. They sought valuable intelligence—perhaps data on this empire's technology, its military, or its homeworld.

Aboard the enemy command ship, an alien officer reported:

"Commander, we found undisposed data fragments on a damaged circuit board from the station's recycling center. It suggests that this species is developing a new type of reactor. There's an experimental ship here, along with two damaged warships. Their hulls and engines are partially compromised, but we can tow them back to our base for further study."

The alien commander's tentacle-covered chin quivered in delight.

"Excellent! Secure these vessels and take them back to base. Looks like we've just gained three new warships!"

In the imperial command laboratory, an officer bowed and reported to Emperor Li Mingze:

"Your Majesty, the Sugar-Coated Bullet has been captured and is now being towed back to their base."

Li Mingze smiled. "Good. Prepare the fleet. We're going scavenging!"

Returning to his office, he entered his Will Projection Chamber and laid down.

Imperial Fleet Mobilizes

Above Sith, a heavily armed warship floated in space, surrounded by twenty-three escorting light cruisers.

Inside the flagship's command bridge, Li Mingze—now projected into his avatar—finished donning his armor and took his seat.

"All ships, listen up! Once we reach the enemy home system's periphery, we'll warp in and launch an immediate strike!"

"Detonate Starbreaker upon arrival, then withdraw!"

"Now… let's sit back and enjoy the fireworks!"

The enemy fleet, hauling their three captured warships, slowly approached a dense asteroid field. Seven additional warships escorted them.

At the center of the asteroid field floated a massive, hollowed-out asteroid, nearly 100 kilometers in diameter. It housed a pirate stronghold containing over a dozen ships undergoing repairs.

Inside the pirate base's bar, loud music blasted as groups of tentacle-faced aliens celebrated around tables.

"Cheers! That merchant ship we raided last week had a fine female captive! Those slimy tentacles of hers—ah, you wouldn't understand the pleasure!"

"Hah! That's nothing! Yesterday, we hijacked an entire slave ship full of women. The captain declared—every raider gets one! Cheers to that!"

Laughter and congratulations echoed through the bar.

Suddenly, someone near the window shouted.

"Look! Old Barton's fleet is back! And they stole three warships!"

"By the void! That's incredible! We've been scavenging rusty old wrecks for years. Finally, we've got some real new ships!"

What the pirates didn't know was that their new prize contained death itself.

Had Li Mingze known that this "enemy fleet" was merely a band of space pirates from the Parker League, he likely wouldn't have cared.

He would have just shouted:

"The Parker race will eventually become Imperial slaves anyway! The Parker League's planets have always been part of our empire's rightful territory! We're merely reclaiming lost land!"

Hundreds of eager pirates swarmed the docking bay to get a look at their stolen warships.

Unlike other factions that pieced together ships from junkyards, or purchased second-hand vessels, Old Barton's fleet had secured three intact corvettes!

The docking bay's heavy blast doors rumbled shut as the ships were brought inside.

In the crowd, a pirate captain named Choba suddenly felt a chill of unease.

Something wasn't right.

He didn't know why, but a deep sense of doom crept up his spine.

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and decided to take his own three small ships out for a raid. He was the weakest among the pirate fleets, and had yet to make any major scores. Staying at port only reminded him of his failures.

As his ships exited the asteroid base, he looked back—

And what he saw stunned him speechless.