Super Mothership
Ryan Star.
This was a remote and inconspicuous planet located in a corner of the Titan star cluster under the Jinlok Consortium.
The planet was covered in deserts, poor in resources, and inhabited by a large number of ferocious subterranean creatures. According to the classification of the Wolf Empire, it could not even be considered a habitable planet.
Originally, there had only been a large mining base belonging to the Jinlok Consortium. However, after Jinlok purchased the Ryan Tribe, he forcibly relocated all of them to this planet and renamed the previously numbered world “Ryan Star.”
The Ryan Tribe had been enslaved by the Wolf Empire for nearly a century. Their previous owner had lost a political struggle, leading to the collapse of his family, and they were sold off as “assets,” eventually ending up in Jinlok’s hands.
After changing masters, conditions for the Ryan Tribe not only failed to improve—they worsened.
Jinlok used the Ryan Tribe to clear out dangerous beasts and serve as guards for the mines, while simultaneously restricting supplies, using brutal natural selection to filter out qualified warriors.
This planet was like a cage, trapping the entire Ryan Tribe within it. In orbit around the planet, ten interstellar warships belonging to the Fifth Fleet acted as “wardens,” responsible for surveillance and suppression.
Centered around the only large mining base on the planet, hundreds of Ryan Tribe villages of various sizes were scattered across millions of kilometers.
Due to the harsh environment and the constant presence of subterranean creatures, they had to fight not only against nature and terrifying beasts, but also against each other, as villages clashed over scarce resources.
Today, the Ryan Tribe’s population had dwindled to just over five million. Each year, they were also required to supply Jinlok with a large number of warriors for his use, in exchange for pitiful amounts of survival resources.
…
“Name?”
“Spartacus. This is my attendant, Sura.”
“Identity confirmed. You have one day to return to Village No. 67 to select 30 retainers and receive a batch of supplies as a reward for your promotion to Senior Bronze Warrior. Additionally, starting today, Village No. 67 will receive 10% more supplies annually.”
A Wolf warrior wearing the insignia of the Jinlok Consortium verified their identities using a data pad, then began scanning him from head to toe.
After confirming that he carried no dangerous weapons, he waved impatiently. “Next!”
Following the line, Spartacus and Sura, who had just arrived, were quickly sent onto a small landing craft. Once it was full, it departed toward the planet’s surface.
“Spartacus, the village chief will definitely be happy when we return. You’re now the only Senior Bronze Warrior in our village. With these promotion rewards, life in the village should get a bit easier,” Sura said happily, holding his arm.
“Mm…” Spartacus smiled somewhat unnaturally, his gaze quietly falling on the tattoo on the back of his right hand—the “Hammer of Destruction.”
With the help of that mysterious entity and the “Hammer of Destruction,” Spartacus had quickly risen above the other Ryan Tribe warriors.
After achieving several “mass slaughter” feats on the battlefield, he was promoted to Senior Bronze Warrior.
In this unique system where status was determined primarily by individual strength, his rate of promotion wasn’t particularly shocking.
However, along with the promotion came a new mission—one that left Spartacus completely baffled…
“Mission Name: Spartacus’ Redemption.
Mission Description: Someone once spent twenty years digging through a prison with nothing but a spoon. Would you dare, like him, to go mad for freedom?”
When Spartacus first saw this system prompt—which didn’t even include any mission requirements—he was utterly confused.
No matter how much he tried to ask, the temperamental system, which only worked intermittently, gave no response. Still, Spartacus vaguely sensed that this mission might be related to his status as a subordinate race…
…
Half an hour later, the small landing craft slowly descended into a valley.
From above, one could see crude stone houses scattered throughout the valley. At the entrance stood a rough boulder barricade, allowing only a single Ryan Tribe member to pass at a time, serving as protection against the ever-present subterranean beasts.
The Ryan Tribe had never been known for technological prowess, and with their civilization dismantled by the Wolf Empire, their weapons and supplies were entirely controlled by the Jinlok Consortium, which strictly forbade them from developing their own technological systems. As a result, their living conditions were only slightly better than those of primitive humans.
Most wore crude armor made from unknown beast hides, and many warriors carried massive serrated greatswords, exuding a savage, barbaric aura.
The only thing that stood out against this primitive tribal atmosphere was the dozen or so dilapidated mechas in the central square.
What the Jinlok Consortium needed were cannon fodder for interstellar battlefields. While brutal combat could hone skills and temper willpower, it couldn’t teach them how to operate mechas. Thus, these outdated machines—long retired from the battlefield—served as the cheapest “training units.”
In each village, only the strongest warriors were qualified to pilot mechas. After fierce competition, only a handful would ultimately become Bronze Warriors, gaining a chance to change their own fate and that of their people.
Spartacus was one of those lucky few.
At this moment, the noise of the spacecraft landing had already drawn the attention of the Ryan village below. They quickly gathered, numbering around three to four hundred people.
Everyone—men, women, young, and old—stood in silence. Led by an elderly man missing his right arm, they quietly watched the landing craft’s hatch slowly open, their eyes filled with both anticipation and unease.
The Jinlok Consortium usually left them to fend for themselves. Aside from the annual delivery of supplies, there was only one other situation in which ships would arrive—
When someone from the village advanced to become a high-ranking warrior… or when they were wiped out in battle!
Only at such times would the ships bring rewards, or select new warriors to be sent to the battlefield.
Under the pressure of survival, the Ryan people continued their civilization in this way—humble, yet resilient…
“Look! It’s Sister Sura!” At that moment, a little girl in a woman’s arms recognized the figure stepping off the ship and immediately shouted in excitement.
“Haha! It’s that kid Spartacus!”
“He made it! I knew Big Brother Spartacus would succeed! Hooray!”
“……”
Cheers quickly erupted from the crowd, growing louder and louder.
They knew that Spartacus’ return meant their village would gain better living conditions—at least until he died in battle.
“Kiki!” Sura joyfully opened her arms, taking the little girl and planting several kisses on her cheeks, making her giggle happily.
“Spartacus! Well done! As expected of my finest disciple! Hahaha!” The one-armed elder stepped forward and gave Spartacus a big hug with his remaining arm.
“Village Chief, didn’t you say yesterday that I was your best disciple?” a young warrior shouted with a laugh.
“Hahaha!” The crowd burst into laughter, and the atmosphere became lively.
“Village Chief!” Spartacus was equally excited.
Every village chief was a disabled veteran from the battlefield, responsible both for managing the village and training new recruits.
To Spartacus, the chief was not only a mentor and father figure, but also family.
“Sister Sura, where’s my dad?”
Seeing that only Spartacus and Sura had disembarked, little Kiki didn’t spot the person she had been hoping for and asked in disappointment.
Sura’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her gentle smile. “Kiki, be good. Your father is still fighting on the front lines. He couldn’t come back this time.”
“Hmph, Daddy said he’d bring me something tasty…”
Kiki didn’t notice anything unusual, but her mother, standing nearby, saw the brief change in Sura’s expression. The brightness in her eyes faded instantly, and silent tears began to fall.
On the battlefield, how could there be no deaths?
For a subordinate race used as cannon fodder, the casualty rate was even more terrifying.
The cheerful atmosphere around them fell silent for a moment because of the exchange.
Soon, the landing ship dropped off a batch of supplies and took off again toward the next Ryan village. Meanwhile, the villagers immediately opened the supplies, taking out food and their treasured wine, and began celebrating on the spot.
They knew that Spartacus and the others would soon head back to the battlefield, and no one knew if they would ever return. This was their way of thanking him for what he had done for the village.
What Spartacus didn’t notice, as he was being pulled by the village chief and made to drink, was that the tattoo on the back of his hand suddenly flickered, emitting a faint silver glow…
…
At this moment, in the outer space of Ryan Star, a large number of warships had activated optical cloaking and were silently closing in from all directions, surrounding the ten “wardens” stationed in orbit…
Not long ago, when Spartacus—the “inside agent” casually planted by Nie Yun—sent back intelligence that he was about to return to Ryan Star, it immediately gave Nie Yun a very bold idea!
Thus, the entire pirate fleet mobilized!
Relying on the positioning function of the mechanical bugs inside Spartacus, Nie Yun’s Ghost Pirate Crew practically tailed Spartacus’s ship all the way to Ryan Star, preparing to launch their first proper “raid”!
Mixed in with the pirate fleet were nearly fifty Gemini warships from the Fallen Angel and Beckman special task fleets.
Clearly, before letting “Arthas” return in glory, Nie Yun intended to add another major achievement to his record. After all, making a trip to the Wolf Empire and bringing back only intelligence would feel somewhat lacking.
Hiring pirates to raid the home base of a Jinlok Consortium subordinate combat force—this should count as a great merit, right?
Once this job was done, the Gemini side should finally trust the Ghost Pirate Crew’s “professional standards” and be willing to “increase their investment,” right?
But that wasn’t all. While continuing to rake in money and merits, Nie Yun had also set his sights on the Ryan Tribe—a fierce warrior race.
This time, he wasn’t after money—he was after people!
With their superb combat skills and tough, ferocious nature, the Ryan people were, in Nie Yun’s eyes, perfect candidates for becoming pirates. They had to be taken to strengthen his Ghost Pirate Crew!
Relying solely on slaves and local pirates might increase numbers, but the quality would be uneven.
However, with the right methods, the Ryan Tribe—currently trapped in dire circumstances—could make up for this weakness and become the backbone combat force of the pirate crew!
Using Gemini’s money, borrowing Gemini’s troops, expanding his own power, and at the same time carrying out the noble cause of saving a civilization and fighting for freedom—
Such a righteous job, Nie Yun was sure, couldn’t even be found on 58.com!
A total of over 150 warships surrounded the space around Ryan Star like a pack of hunting wolves.
“R-r-r-robb—robbery!”
As alarms blared wildly across the Fifth Fleet’s warships, and that outrageously arrogant classic line echoed in their ears, the stunned soldiers of the Jinlok Consortium realized…
Everything was already decided.
One hundred and fifty against ten!
This was a maiden raid with absolutely no suspense.
TL Note- Pirate Time...
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