Chapter 10: Research Projects

The CFA-17 Wraith Fighter, straight out of the Terran Confederacy’s arsenal in StarCraft, was their go-to starfighter.

Ventus had noticed that the CFA-17 Wraith they could research and produce was just the early model—no pulse lasers for ground attacks yet. Still, the Wraith was a proven beast, capable of dogfighting in both atmosphere and the vacuum of space. In StarCraft’s brutal wars against the Protoss and Zerg, it had earned its stripes as a top-tier fighter.

Better yet, later models came with cloaking systems, turning them into true stealth predators—ghosts in the void.

The catch? The mothership’s tech base was rooted in Homeworld, not StarCraft. To build the Wraith, they’d need to bridge the gap between the two universes’ manufacturing and tech systems. Ventus was convinced this hurdle had to be cleared. Both were human-designed tech trees, so reverse-engineering the Terran Confederacy’s tech should be manageable with the resources at hand.

Seeing Ventus’s resolve, Qiiji didn’t push back. As a subordinate, his job was to voice concerns and suggestions, then follow orders. Now, it was time to execute.

Ventus summoned Daphne Clement and asked, “We still have modular buildings for an engineering research facility in the mothership’s inventory, right? What’s the scale?”

Clement replied, “Given the risks in engineering research and the space needed for experiments, the mothership carries a modular research space station. It can house about 20 experts for experiments and studies.”

“Order the engineering team to start assembling that station immediately,” Ventus commanded. “I want it operational by the end of the day.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ventus opened the mothership’s personnel awakening database, scrolling for suitable candidates. In the elite tier, he found three engineering experts and summoned them to the bridge.

The trio—two women and one man, all in their 30s to 40s—arrived and saluted respectfully. The lead expert, a woman, spoke first. “Greetings, Administrator. I’m Guan Yan, energy systems specialist. This is Dr. Feng Yongwang, mechanical engineering expert, and Dr. Qu Xuewen, materials science expert.”

Ventus got straight to the point. “I’m launching two research projects. One: infrared laser weapons. Two: the CFA-17 Wraith Fighter. Tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best to provide it.”

Guan Yan frowned, thinking. “Infrared laser weapons? That’ll require a physics lab and at least 20 physics specialists.” She handed the Wraith’s data to the man. “What do you think, Dr. Feng?”

Feng Yongwang, wearing glasses, studied the Wraith’s specs and shook his head. “Its tech base is different from ours. It’s not impossible to crack, but it’ll take time. Dr. Qu and I can start prep work with a small team—five mechanical engineers should do for now. I’ll submit additional personnel and material requests as we go.”

“How long?” Ventus asked.

“With all the data we have, infrared laser weapons should be ready for deployment in about a month,” Guan Yan said.

“The Wraith’s trickier,” Feng Yongwang added. “Even with complete data, adapting it to our production capabilities will take at least a year. A master-tier expert leading my team would speed things up.”

“I’ll back you with personnel and resources,” Ventus said. “Get to work. Thank you for your efforts.”

“No trouble at all, Administrator,” Qu Xuewen said smoothly, flashing a smile. “You’re the one steering the ship. We just do our jobs. We should be thanking you.”

“I’ll compile a resource list,” Guan Yan added.

Research, Ventus thought, was a money pit and a time sink no matter where you were. As the sprawling list of required materials filled the screen, he kept a calm smile, but inside, he was wincing. The colony was just starting to stabilize, with a modest stockpile of resources. Now, poof—it was all being funneled to the research team.

---

*Outer Rim, Western Reaches, Model Sector, Hyperspace*

“Time to wake up, love. We’re about to drop out of hyperspace.” Aboard a disc-shaped Corellian YT-1000 light freighter, a human woman piloting the ship nudged the dozing man in the co-pilot’s seat.

The man, in his early 30s, shook his head groggily. “I’m starting to miss Corellia’s fizzwine. After this job, I’m going home and sleeping for three days straight.”

“Corellia’s no place for folks like us, Kunto,” the woman said, leaning over to kiss his forehead. “I like this better—free, no strings attached.”

A loud curse erupted from the engine bay, followed by a metallic clang—someone had kicked the machinery. A Rodian stormed out, grumbling.

Rodians looked like upright seahorses, with bulging lidless eyes and straw-like mouthparts. A hunting species, even in the Galactic Republic’s interstellar age, they often worked as bounty hunters.

“What’s wrong, Spard?” Kunto called back.

“Oh, nothing major—just that we might die,” the Rodian snapped. “Felasi, you see that seventh indicator light on your left blinking like crazy, right?”

The woman glanced over and yelped. “Oh, stars! The hyperspace shunt’s not responding! How did this happen?!” She frantically worked the controls, but nothing helped.

“Well, guess we just pray we don’t get ripped apart when we exit hyperspace,” Spard said, slumping to the floor in resignation.

“The hyperspace shunt keeps us from being torn apart by physics when we drop out of hyperspace,” Kunto said. “If it’s busted, we shouldn’t even be able to start a jump. So, unless we’ve got the worst luck in eight generations…”

Before he could finish, the ship lurched out of hyperspace.

From the outside, it would’ve looked like the freighter materialized from nothing into realspace.

After a violent shudder, they stabilized the ship. Kunto stared at the colossal object ahead, muttering, “That… that’s no accident.”

“By the Spirits of Calaya…” Felasi gasped, frozen in shock.

On the radar, a massive crescent-shaped starship loomed in synchronous orbit around a planet. It was so enormous that, from the YT-1000’s cockpit window, all they could see was an endless wall of metal.

---

*[Easter Egg Chapter Image 1: Corellian YT-1000 Light Freighter]*

*[Easter Egg Chapter Image 2: Rodian]*