MTLNOVEL Chapter 22: CH: 21 Who poked the hornet's nest?
{Chapter: 21 Who poked the hornet's nest?}
A spaceship suddenly emerged from hyperspace, its sleek hull shimmering as it exited the jump.
"Alright, we've entered the gravity well of Mygeeto. Preparing for descent," Edison announced from the pilot's seat, his hands deftly working the ship's controls.
Leo leaned closer to the window, his gaze fixed on the breathtaking sight before him. The planet Mygeeto stretched out in the distance, its surface a vast, icy expanse. Towering glaciers and frost-covered plains reflected the pale light of the distant sun, making the entire world resemble a massive, glittering gemstone suspended in space.
In the language of the ancient Muun people, the word Mygeeto meant "gem," a name fitting for the frozen beauty of the planet.
The YT-1000 freighter continued its steady approach toward the planet, gliding smoothly through space. Thanks to the identification codes provided by Hego Damask II, the ship bypassed the planet's defense perimeter without resistance. It soared past several enormous Munificent-class communications frigates, their hulking forms looming ominously against the backdrop of Mygeeto's icy horizon.
The Munificent-class frigates were products of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, feared across the galaxy for their use as enforcers in financial disputes. To the untrained eye, they appeared to be mere support vessels, but in reality, they were warships capable of exerting overwhelming pressure on any planet that dared challenge the Banking Clan's influence.
Though officially classified as "frigates," each of these behemoths was 825 meters long—far surpassing the size of conventional warships. Compared to their own YT-1000, which measured only 28 meters, these frigates were like towering giants, making Leo's ship seem as insignificant as an insect flitting past a leviathan.
Leo's pulse quickened as they passed the warships.
Every man dreams of commanding such a colossal battleship at least once in his life.
And yet, in the vast expanse of the Star Wars universe, the Munificent-class was considered a mere mid-tier vessel. The galaxy was filled with star destroyers, dreadnoughts, and titanic space stations that dwarfed even these formidable warships.
As the spacecraft breached Mygeeto's atmosphere, the windows were momentarily engulfed by a veil of fiery light. Friction between the hull and the atmosphere created a spectacular display, but the ship's deflector shields held firm, absorbing the deadly heat.
Moments later, the fire dissipated, revealing the planet's frozen landscape in all its glory.
The world below was an endless expanse of ice and snow. Mountains, valleys, plains—every geographical feature was buried beneath layers of ancient frost. The weak sunlight barely warmed the surface, but the ice reflected a mesmerizing array of colors. These shimmering hues didn't come from the sun itself but from a rare type of energy crystal embedded deep within Mygeeto's glaciers. These precious crystals were the cornerstone of the Muun people's immense wealth.
Despite Mygeeto's vast surface, no major cities dotted the landscape. The Muuns had built their civilization underground, away from the planet's brutal cold. Only scattered industrial complexes and transport pipelines marred the frozen wilderness, threading through the ice like the veins of a colossal beast.
Edison compared their coordinates to the ones provided by Hego and steered the ship toward a massive frozen mountain. As they approached, Leo noticed over a dozen enormous pipelines stretching between the peaks, forming a vast network of trade and transportation. Countless freighters, cargo haulers, and hover trains moved through these conduits, resembling ants carrying vital resources to sustain the underground empire of the Muuns.
Leo sat in silence, staring at the icy peaks in the distance.
His thoughts lingered on Hego Damask II.
The Sith Lord's request weighed heavily on him. No mission involving a Sith could ever be considered safe.
But from a purely political perspective, setting aside his Sith identity, Hego was undoubtedly one of the most powerful figures in the InterGalactic Banking Clan. If they could establish a favorable relationship with him, the benefits would be substantial. The New Civilization, which Leo was working to build, could gain access to invaluable resources and financial backing.
Yet, there was another concern—Hego's eventual fate.
Leo frowned as an audacious plan took root in his mind.
The idea was so bold that it sent a shiver down his spine. His body tensed, and a cold sweat formed on the back of his neck as he considered the implications.
At the other end of the cockpit, Edison, Quinto, and Spade were engaged in a heated debate.
"I'm telling you, this 'Semid' we're picking up is probably some high-profile criminal," Quinto argued, crossing his arms.
"Or worse," Spade added. "Maybe he's a murderer running from the law."
Edison scoffed. "Would the Banking Clan really go through all this trouble for some low-life? If Hego Damask himself is involved, this guy must be important."
Their conversation was abruptly cut short by a thunderous explosion.
One of the massive pipelines in the distance erupted violently, sending shards of ice and metal flying into the sky.
From the smoke and debris, a hover car shot out of the gap, speeding toward them at breakneck speed!
"They're here!" Edison shouted, immediately reaching for the controls to open the ship's hatch.
"There are pursuers behind him!" Quinto yelled.
Sure enough, trailing the hover car were dozens of STAPs—swift, single-pilot hovercraft. Each one was manned by a B-1 battle droid, their mechanical limbs gripping the controls as they gave chase.
Bright red blaster bolts filled the air as the droids fired relentlessly at the fleeing vehicle.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the frozen landscape, sending plumes of ice and vapor into the sky. The hover car swerved desperately to avoid the incoming fire, but a stray blaster bolt struck its rear engine. Smoke billowed from the damaged vehicle as it struggled to maintain altitude.
A holographic projection flickered to life on the ship's communicator, revealing the panicked face of a Muun.
"Are you the ones sent to rescue me?! Please, help me! HELP ME!!" he shouted, his elongated face contorted with fear.
"If we stay idle, we're going to get caught in the crossfire!" Quinto warned, his voice rising in urgency.
Edison gritted his teeth. "I know! Quinto, man the turret! I'll handle the rest!"
Without hesitation, Edison ignited the YT-1000's engines, and the ship lurched into motion. The disc-shaped freighter lifted off the ground, its repulsors kicking up a cloud of snow.
"Wait! You didn't close the hatch!" Quinto shouted as he scrambled toward the turret.
Ignoring the bitter cold rushing in through the open door, Quinto threw himself into the gunner's seat. He wrapped his fingers around the twin laser cannon's controls, took aim, and squeezed the trigger.
A stream of red energy blasts erupted from the ship's underside, cutting through the icy sky.
Whoosh~~~~
A green laser beam slashed through the air, slicing two individual flying vehicles cleanly in half. The resulting explosion sent debris and flames scattering in all directions, illuminating the icy landscape in bursts of orange and red.
Meanwhile, the other STAP individual aircraft had already begun to maneuver, encircling the hover car from both sides like predators closing in on their prey. One of the B-1 battle droids, perched atop its vehicle, mechanically raised its blaster and took aim at Semid.
Edison gritted his teeth as he piloted the spacecraft, adjusting its trajectory with calculated precision. He pushed the controls forward, sending the YT-1000 into a dangerously low-altitude flight, barely skimming the icy terrain. The ship's shadow stretched across the frozen wasteland, mirroring its movements.
"What the hell are you doing?! The ship's gonna crash!" Quinto yelled from the gunner's turret at the bottom of the craft. From his perspective, it felt like they were scraping against the ground itself.
"Trust me! I know what I'm doing!" Edison shouted back, his fingers white-knuckled on the controls. He kept lowering the altitude, guiding the spacecraft toward a jagged ice formation.
The ship's landing gear clipped the rock with a resounding clang, momentarily shaking the entire vessel before stabilizing. Edison clenched his jaw, pushing the ship forward at full throttle.
As they passed over the hover car, Edison executed a daring maneuver—positioning the YT-1000 directly between Semid and his pursuers. The sudden obstruction caught the B-1 droids off guard.
"Hang on!" Edison warned as he braced himself.
The STAPs had no time to react. One by one, they slammed into the ship's reinforced hull, the impact instantly reducing them to a cascade of metal shards and fireballs.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions erupted as more than a dozen individual flying machines were obliterated in rapid succession. Their remains scattered across the frozen wasteland, dark smoke rising into the frigid air.
Despite the destruction, Edison didn't slow down. With a sharp turn, he brought the YT-1000 around for another pass, swooping low once more.
Inside the hover car, Semid's hands tightened around the controls as he tried to keep the vehicle steady amidst the chaos.
Edison's voice crackled through the communicator. "Move it! Get in now!"
Without hesitation, Semid slammed his foot on the accelerator. The hover car surged forward, racing toward the open hatch of the YT-1000.
Just as it was about to crash inside, a towering figure stepped forward.
T-850!
The moment the car breached the entrance, the cyborg lunged forward.
BANG!
With an almost inhuman level of strength, T-850 extended both arms and braced for impact. Metal screeched as he caught the hover car head-on, his feet sliding backward slightly across the ship's interior. Sparks flew as the tires scraped against the floor, but the cyborg didn't budge.
After a tense moment, the hover car came to a jarring stop.
"There's more incoming!" Quinto's panicked voice rang out from the turret.
Edison turned to the viewport just in time to see another wave of enemy aircraft flooding through the broken pipeline.
Hundreds of STAPs.
Not just that—high above, sleek fighter planes were descending from the sky.
A cold realization settled in.
Whatever Semid had done, he had just stirred up a hornet's nest. And now, they were in the middle of it.
*****
[Attached picture 1 of the Easter Egg Chapter: STAP single-soldier flying platform]
[Attached photo 2 of the Easter Egg Chapter: Generosity-class Communications Frigate]