New Results

New Results

The Fourth Civilization's greatest problem was the enormous gulf between itself and the Galactic Republic. They truly needed someone like this to connect their economic system with that of the Republic, allowing them to claim the final dividend before the war.

Semir's arrival was exactly what they needed.

Tang Xiao was not worried that Semir might harbor ulterior motives. In this vast galaxy, there was no longer any place for him. The moment he showed himself, he would draw the InterGalactic Banking Clan's endless pursuit.

Semir's only choice was to remain with the Fourth Group. He should also understand his situation: if he failed to demonstrate sufficient value, Tang Xiao would certainly not hesitate to "dispose of" him, while also doing Hego Damask II a favor.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiao's mood improved considerably. He walked to the viewport and looked outside the mothership. The area around it had become much busier. Numerous transport ships shuttled between the gas giant and the five mining stations that had now been expanded.

A large number of transport ships also constantly traveled between Dawn Star Planet and the mothership. Following the expansion, they now had more than twenty transport ships, while the mining transports capable only of operating in space had reached one hundred.

Two enormous umbrella-shaped space research modules, each more than two hundred meters in diameter, floated around the mothership. Captured by the mothership's own gravity, they slowly moved with it in synchronous orbit. They were the Physics Laboratory and the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory.

The Engineering Research Institute had gained many additional modules and was even larger. A spacecraft over thirty meters long was docked outside it. Two large turrets had been installed on the ship, making it look somewhat out of place.

On the other side were two space docks, one of which was still under construction. These were small space docks intended for frigate-class vessels. The rectangular assembly factory was roughly one hundred meters long, with more than a dozen engineering arms in the dock area beside it to secure unfinished ships. Judging by the arms' range of coverage, they should be able to construct frigates no longer than fifty meters.

This was also the standard size classification for light warships of the Fourth Civilization—

Aircraft under fifteen meters were classified as light fighters;

Aircraft between fifteen and thirty meters were classified as heavy fighters;

Aircraft between thirty and fifty meters were classified as light frigates;

Fifty to eighty meters were heavy frigates;

Eighty to one hundred fifty meters were light destroyers;

One hundred fifty to three hundred meters were heavy destroyers;

Three hundred to five hundred meters were Light Cruisers;

Five hundred to one thousand meters were Heavy Cruisers;

Anything above one thousand meters was a capital ship. Capital ships had even more classifications, such as aircraft carriers, battleships, battlecruisers, and so on.

Inside the completed dock, a spacecraft nearly identical to the one parked outside the Engineering Research Institute was being assembled. However, the turrets on this ship were much more appropriately sized. Its frame had already been completed, and automatic mechanical arms on several engineering booms were installing heavy external armor.

Around the unfinished dock, more than a dozen small engineering ships worked continuously. Construction workers piloted the ships to retrieve processed equipment parts from the mothership's manufacturing center, then flew over to install them on the dock. It looked as though the dock would need several more days before completion.

Tang Xiao nodded and picked up his communicator to contact the laboratory. Dr. Qu Xuewen answered. After giving Tang Xiao a slight bow, she asked, "What can I do for you, Administrator?"

Tang Xiao asked directly, "Has research on the Hammer-class frigate been completed?"

Qu Xuewen nodded. "Yes, the research was completed two days ago, while you were still on Dawn Star Planet. Qi Jian was pressing us hard, so we immediately began production."

"By the way, that frigate docked outside your research institute..."

"It looks different, doesn't it?" Qu Xuewen smiled. "That frigate is the first Hammer-class frigate we built. Its turrets are two Turbolaser Turrets. They were relatively intact components recovered from the wreckage of the three bounty hunter ships that attacked us before. Installing them on transport ships would be too wasteful, so Professor Chi is leading us in making some modifications and finding a way to mount the Turbolaser Turrets onto frigates."

"Can I come take a look?"

"Of course, Administrator. I'll report to Professor Chi immediately and make arrangements."

Tang Xiao took a transport ship to the Engineering Research Institute. This was his first time here; previously, he had only visited the engineering laboratory inside the mothership.

This research center built in space had a much more compact structure, but its equipment was denser and more advanced.

Tang Xiao also saw a Medium Blue-UV Laser Cannon test firing underway inside one laboratory. A laser cannon more than four meters long had been mounted on a framework, with a dense mass of wires and pipes behind it. At a technician's command, the laser cannon fired a blue beam that was not particularly dazzling, striking a target set up in outer space.

However, the beam illuminated the target for less than a second before thick smoke suddenly billowed from the lines behind it, accompanied by flashing electrical sparks. The technicians hurriedly stopped the test, and several people in protective suits rushed in carrying fire extinguishers and sprayed the lines.

Qu Xuewen came over. Following Tang Xiao's gaze, she smiled and said, "This is a Blue-UV Laser prototype sent over by Guan Yan from the Physics Laboratory. It has already undergone three tests today. Blue-UV Lasers are far more powerful than infrared lasers, and because their wavelength is shorter, they suffer less interference and have a longer range. But our current weapons platforms are still incapable of using such advanced lasers."

She walked over to inspect the laser cannon, now covered in firefighting foam, then shook her head and said to a technician beside her, "This prototype can no longer be used. Send the data feedback to Dr. Guan Yan. Tell her the energy conversion relay parameters are too high. If we want our current energy supply equipment to support it, the parameters must be lowered by at least another five percent."

"Another five percent? Dr. Guan will definitely curse us out when she hears that..." The technician wiped cold sweat from his forehead.

"Then let her curse. She'll be cursing the street, not me." Qu Xuewen brushed back her hair, unconcerned. "Leave this to them. I need to accompany the Administrator to Professor Chi's place."

"Ah? Administrator! Hello, Administrator!" Only then did the technician notice Tang Xiao and hurriedly bow.

Tang Xiao nodded in return, then continued touring the research center with Qu Xuewen as they headed toward the other side. Along the way, Qu Xuewen enthusiastically introduced the projects and facilities there. She was clearly completely different from the socially awkward female PhDs Tang Xiao had imagined; rather than being afraid of social interaction, she was quite talkative.