Star Wars: Empire of the Eternal Star

{Chapter: 11 The first legendary figure}

"I understand now… It's the gravity fluctuations caused by this enormous spaceship, combined with their signal interference, that made our hyperspace diverter malfunction…" Quinto murmured, his voice laced with disbelief. His eyes remained glued to the monstrous vessel looming ahead. "I've never seen such a colossal spaceship in my entire life… Is this even a spaceship? Or could it be some kind of massive space station?"

"The real question here is—why in the hell has such a gigantic ship appeared outside the planet Endor?" Farrasi's voice trembled slightly, betraying her rising anxiety. "And if that's the case, then what about Kenneth and the other three? Could they have already—"

"Communications have been completely cut off." Spade's voice interrupted from the rear cabin, his tone resigned.

"Of course, that was inevitable," Quinto sighed, leaning back into his seat, staring blankly at the console. "Think about the sheer magnitude of their energy output compared to ours. It wouldn't even take a direct attempt to jam us—just their normal electromagnetic interference is more than enough to render us completely blind and deaf."

Before they could dwell on their grim circumstances, a new development drew their attention. The enormous ship's central hangar bay was now opening, and more than a dozen sleek fighter jets soared out, heading straight for them.

"Well, since they haven't outright blasted us into space dust, that means they probably want to talk first. That's good. Just surrender. I doubt a force that commands a ship of this scale would bother making things difficult for nobodies like us." Quinto took a deep breath, his hands tightening on the armrests. "Listen, when we meet them, stay calm. Don't show weakness, but don't provoke them either. We need to make them believe we're worth more alive than dead. Understood?"

"No problem, just watch me," Farrasi muttered under her breath, adjusting her grip on the ship's controls.

Under the silent yet ever-watchful escort of the fighters, Farrasi carefully guided their light freighter towards the massive hangar bay entrance. As they got closer, the true scale of the structure became even more staggering.

"This hangar…" Farrasi whispered in awe, her eyes scanning the seemingly endless interior, "It's big enough to berth an entire fleet of the Republic's Judicial Fleet cruisers! What an absurdly grand project!"

The ship touched down, its landing struts hissing as they absorbed the impact. As the ramp descended, the three stepped out cautiously—only to be greeted by the sight of an entire platoon of fully armed soldiers awaiting them.

Unlike the lackadaisical troops often seen in the Galactic Republic, these soldiers carried themselves with strict discipline and deadly precision. Their movements were synchronized, their posture unwavering.

The moment the three smugglers stepped onto the deck, the soldiers in front of them pulled back the bolts of their rifles in perfect unison. The sharp, metallic click! sent a shiver down their spines. The message was clear—step out of line, and you die.

Farrasi barely managed to suppress a shriek as her legs buckled, and she dropped to her knees with her hands raised high. Turning her head slightly, she saw that Quinto and Spade had already hit the ground faster than she had, hands behind their heads in an absolutely textbook surrender posture.

Inside the bridge, Leo watched the scene unfold through the surveillance feed, his brow twitching slightly as cold sweat formed at his temples. He turned to Qi Jian and sighed. "I suppose it's safe to assume these three are in the same group as the ones we caught earlier?"

"I'd say that's a fair assumption." Qi Jian nodded, arms crossed. "Administrator, we don't even need to interrogate them to know what they are. They're smugglers, through and through. You don't make a living smuggling without getting your hands dirty at some point. Arresting them, maybe even executing them, would hardly be unjustified."

Leo exhaled and rubbed his temples. "Let's not be too hasty. Bring them in for questioning first. I have some things I need to ask."

Within minutes, the three were hauled to the bridge under heavy guard. Standing before Leo, they shifted uncomfortably as a translation robot facilitated their communication. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to glean from them—these were simple profiteers, with no real interest in the greater galactic political landscape. Their concerns began and ended with their wallets.

The middle-aged man, Dubrak-Quinto, was the leader of their little operation, and the striking woman beside him, Mars-Farrasi, was both his partner and his lover. Their primary business revolved around working under the Hutts on Tatooine, frequently smuggling various exotic goods—beast pelts, gemstones, and whatever else they could get their hands on from Endor's wilderness—to be sold at a high price.

"The Hutts…" Leo muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping lightly on the console. His gaze darkened slightly as he considered the implications.

The Hutts were an ancient species from Terex, resembling grotesque, oversized slugs. Despite their repulsive appearance, they were an old and formidable power, their influence dating back to the era of the ancient Hutt Empire. Even after being nominally absorbed into the Galactic Republic, the Hutts continued to thrive—diverting their vast wealth and resources into less-than-legal enterprises.

Put simply, every single Hutt was a crime lord, and each one was incredibly wealthy and influential in the galactic underworld.

Leo sighed and gestured to the guards. "Take them to the holding cells. We'll decide what to do with them later."

As the smugglers were led away, Leo turned his attention back to his console. Pulling up his strategic interface, he added a new note to his timeline and territorial analysis, marking down the name Hutts as a faction that required further consideration.

At that moment, the Mastermind AI sent a sudden notification.

[Administrator, the necessary conditions to awaken a legendary figure have now been met. The individual can be activated immediately.]

Leo's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected message.

"A legendary figure? Already? That was faster than I expected…"

Quickly navigating to the character database, he opened the corresponding page. Sure enough, among the list of potential legendary figures, one name had now been illuminated—indicating that the individual was prepared to be awakened and would pledge absolute loyalty to him.

Leo leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Let's see who we have here…"

Name: Edison Trent {1}, Explorer

Expertise: Interpersonal Communication, Smuggling, Spaceship Piloting, and Modification.

Leo read through the details displayed on the screen, his expression unreadable as he analyzed the information.

Awakening Conditions: A Grand Stage and an Excellent Spaceship.

This requirement was both specific and vague at the same time—it could be incredibly challenging to meet or absurdly simple, depending on the circumstances. The flexibility of this condition suggested that the individual in question wasn't bound by rigid expectations regarding when or how he was awakened. What mattered most to him was the promise of adventure.

Though the database lacked an in-depth biography, Leo already knew exactly who this person was.

Murataka! The legendary protagonist of Freelancer!

A surge of excitement welled up within him. If there was ever a man perfectly suited to navigating the complexities of interstellar politics, uncovering deep conspiracies, and piloting a ship through the most treacherous battlefields, it was Edison Trent.

"Awaken him immediately and have him report to me as soon as he's ready," Leo ordered.

However, as soon as he issued the command, he reconsidered. "Actually… never mind. I'll go to the medical bay myself and meet him there."

Without another word, Leo turned on his heel and strode toward the medical facility, his mind racing with possibilities.

When he arrived, he found a rugged man undergoing a full-body scan. The stranger stood tall, his well-built frame exuding confidence. He wore a worn leather jacket, its creases and scuffs telling stories of past adventures. His golden-blond hair was slightly tousled, complementing his sharp yet weathered features. A light stubble adorned his face, lending him the aura of a man who had seen both the best and worst of the universe.

The moment he spotted Leo, he grinned and raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Administrator! You came all this way just to see me? I'm flattered." His voice carried a casual charm, the kind that made it difficult not to like him instantly.

Leo extended his hand, shaking Edison's firmly. "We're in a galaxy filled with complexities and dangers, where thousands of intelligent species coexist within a volatile political landscape. That means I don't have the luxury of letting my guard down—not even for a moment. This is exactly why I need you."

He paused, then added with a smirk, "I just confiscated a spaceship, and now it's yours."

Edison let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, I saw the details on the core computer. That ship's a beauty! I can't wait to take her out for a spin. Looks like I picked the right time to wake up."

His voice carried an undeniable excitement, the kind only a true spacefarer could possess. There was something infectious about his enthusiasm, as if the thrill of the unknown was embedded in his very soul.

As the two spoke, Edison's natural charisma took center stage. With effortless charm, he shifted his attention to one of the nurses monitoring his vitals. Within moments, he had her giggling uncontrollably with his playful banter. His words were smooth, his delivery impeccable. Even in a situation as mundane as a medical check-up, he managed to turn the atmosphere lighthearted.

Leo, however, wasn't the least bit surprised by this. What truly excited him wasn't Edison's flirting skills—it was his potential.

Most people in this era had never heard of Edison Trent, but Leo knew exactly what he was capable of.

In his time, Edison had played a pivotal role in shaping the fate of an entire star system. As a citizen of Britannia in the Freelancer universe, he had once single-handedly thwarted an all-out invasion by the Nomads—a race of enigmatic interstellar beings.

He had started his journey with nothing but a basic ship and a dream, yet he carved his name into history through sheer skill, wit, and resilience. Time and again, he had found himself embroiled in galactic-scale conflicts, navigating deadly political intrigue, and surviving impossible odds.

His most legendary feat?

Piloting his ship deep into the Nomads' stronghold—a place akin to the mythical dragon's lair—where he fought his way through an armada of enemy forces, reached their primary hive, and stole their core. It was an act that bordered on the impossible, an undertaking that defied logic. And yet, he had done it. Alone.

Such a man was more than just an ace pilot—he was a force of nature.

Now, with Edison joining his ranks, Leo saw the potential to push his own ambitions to the next level.

The two continued their conversation in the medical bay for a while longer. Once Edison's check-up was complete, he gave Leo a casual salute and made his way toward the hangar to inspect his new ship.

Leo watched him go, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.

The timing of this awakening was perfect.

With a man like Edison Trent at his side, there was no telling what heights he could reach in this universe.

*****

[Attached Easter Egg Chapter 1: The protagonist of "Free Lancer", Trent]

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