Chapter 5: Star Wars! It’s Confirmed!

Ventus was buried in reports, the data merging seamlessly with the knowledge that had been uploaded into his mind. It was starting to feel like it truly belonged to him.

But reading files wasn’t enough. The real key was putting that knowledge to use.

“Mainframe, I’m heading down to Dawn Planet for an inspection. Make the arrangements,” Ventus said, shutting off the screen in front of him.

*[Understood, Administrator. I recommend bringing your personal bodyguard for safety.]*

“I have a personal bodyguard? Send him in.” Ventus was genuinely curious about this.

The bridge doors slid open, and a towering, muscular figure stepped inside. Dressed in a military uniform, he had the classic inverted-triangle physique and a face as unyielding as steel—eerily familiar.

The moment Ventus saw him, his jaw dropped. “No… you’re not… are you…?”

“Starting today, I will serve as your personal bodyguard. You may address me as T-850,” the man said, standing ramrod straight, hands clasped behind his back, his gravelly voice ringing with authority.

“You’re a Terminator?!” The military uniform didn’t quite match the style Ventus associated with the character, but this was unmistakably Schwarzenegger!

“I am a T-850 combat robot. The term ‘Terminator’ is not in my database. Please clarify,” T-850 replied stiffly, not moving an inch.

“Are Terminators part of our tech list, Mainframe?” Ventus asked.

*[The T-850 is a robot bodyguard assigned to you, Administrator. Its database contains extensive protocols for protecting high-value targets and engaging in combat across various scenarios, ensuring flawless mission execution.]*

“No, I mean, can we mass-produce these Terminators?”

*[T-850 robots can be manufactured, but they require a rare tantalum alloy, which severely limits production. Tantalum alloy is also critical for ship construction, so mass production is not advisable. Using standard steel would compromise the robot’s structural integrity, reducing performance.]*

Ventus nodded, staring at the face he’d seen countless times on the big screen. “Grab your weapons and come with me.”

---

The transport ship touched down on a leveled landing pad on Dawn Planet’s surface. Ventus and T-850 disembarked, while workers immediately began unloading supplies from the ship.

The workers wore mechanized exoskeletons—basic models designed for engineering, covering only the limbs. They looked rudimentary but were equipped with various tools, capable of handling heavy construction tasks and carrying up to 500 kilograms.

The colony was taking shape. Over a dozen two-story residential buildings had been erected, and support facilities were under construction. Ventus even spotted a few residents setting up open-air hydroponic units by the lake, already planting crops.

Every resident who saw Ventus bowed respectfully and greeted him warmly.

“Greetings, Administrator! I’m Graham, certified in elite-level management. I was just appointed village chief of this colony by your order,” a young man with brown hair said, shaking Ventus’s hand with excitement. “I was sent down right after the appointment and didn’t get to meet you in person. I was disappointed, but now you’re here inspecting in person—what a thrill!”

Ventus clapped him on the shoulder encouragingly. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on the colony’s progress. Report any issues directly to me.”

“It’s my honor! You gave me the chance to board the mothership and entrusted me with this responsibility—I can’t thank you enough!” Graham said, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. He quickly composed himself. “Oh, Administrator, during construction, we discovered some native creatures—likely intelligent life. How should we handle them?”

“Native inhabitants?” Ventus frowned.

“Look, over there.” Graham pointed toward the edge of a nearby forest, where vague humanoid shapes were moving.

Ventus raised his binoculars and saw what looked like upright, bear-like creatures, about a meter tall. They wore animal hides and clutched stone spears, pointing curiously at the colony. Some cheered and waved at a passing transport ship, while others knelt in awe.

A chill ran through him, and the smile faded from his face. As a longtime Star Wars fan, the memory gates in his mind swung wide open, and he recognized these aliens instantly.

“Ewoks… Could they be Ewoks…?” he murmured.

No wonder the planet felt so familiar. A system with nine planets orbiting a gas giant instead of a star was highly unusual. Before he’d named it Dawn Planet, this world had another name: Endor. The planet Endor!

He knew this because Endor was one of the most iconic planets in Star Wars! In Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Endor was the main battlefield between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance!

If that was true, this was undeniable proof—they were in the Star Wars universe!

It’s really Star Wars… Ventus sighed, rubbing his forehead. And Dawn Planet is a major battlefield! Star Destroyers are a real threat now. His meager resources were nothing in this universe. The Kushan mothership, while massive, was just a civilian colony vessel.

The question now was: what era were they in? The space around Endor showed no signs of war debris, meaning the battle that toppled the Galactic Empire hadn’t happened yet. But before that battle, this universe saw countless events and wars—the fall of the Galactic Republic, the rise and fracture of the Galactic Empire…

This was a galaxy consumed by conflict.

After a moment’s thought, he turned to Graham. “Inform the mothership to send down a few crates of candy and some heavy machine guns with the next transport. These natives aren’t highly aggressive. Approach them cautiously, use the candy to build friendly relations, but also bolster our defenses. Build a few watchtowers around the perimeter and increase surveillance.”

“Understood, Administrator. I’ll get it done,” Graham replied.

Ventus patted his shoulder again. “Keep it up, Graham. Running a village of a few hundred is just the start. I’m looking forward to seeing you manage a town, a city, maybe even a whole province one day.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll make it happen!” Graham’s eyes lit up. He saluted sharply, then, with 200% enthusiasm, grabbed a large crate—without even using his exoskeleton—and sprinted toward the wind power station under construction, diving into the bustling work.

Ventus let out a relieved breath and took a few steps forward, gazing at the vibrant, untouched world before him.

Clear streams babbled, the lake shimmered like a mirror, and flocks of unfamiliar birds soared overhead. Startled herds of animals galloped across the grasslands, pursued by predators waiting for their chance.

In the distance, towering trees stretched toward the sky, and endless mountain ranges loomed faintly. A thin layer of clouds was gathering, hinting at rain in the near future.

If not for the alien flora and fauna, Ventus could almost believe he was standing on the African savanna in spring. The thriving world finally began to lift the gloom from his heart, and he took a deep, cleansing breath…

---

“Administrator!”

“Administrator! Wake up!” Urgent voices jolted Ventus awake. He realized he’d somehow fallen asleep—standing up?!

“What’s…” Before he could finish, a series of loud thuds rang out. Over a dozen crates had crashed to the ground, their contents spilling everywhere.

“What happened?” He turned to T-850, who had remained at his side.

“Moments ago, objects around you began floating uncontrollably. Your vital signs remained normal, as if you were asleep,” T-850 replied matter-of-factly.

“I was standing there asleep, and stuff started floating?” Ventus glanced at Graham, who was nearby, and asked for confirmation.

“Yes, sir. We didn’t dare approach. Your bodyguard said your vitals were stable, so we didn’t take further risks,” Graham said, still shaken.

“What’s going on? Oxygen intoxication? Or…” Ventus’s heart skipped a beat as a possibility dawned on him, but he needed more evidence. He nodded. “Never mind. I’ll take the next transport back to the mothership for a full medical checkup.”

*[Administrator, I apologize for interrupting, but an urgent matter requires your immediate decision. Moments ago, the mothership intercepted a hyperspace transmission originating from Dawn Planet.]* Mainframe’s voice crackled through his communicator.