To land, they needed to scan the terrain, so Solo deactivated the Star Falcon's stealth mode.
His premonition grew stronger. The enemy had likely already reached Zhai Planet and left their spacecraft.
The enemy couldn't conduct large-scale scans, and the Star Falcon had been flying in stealth mode over vast areas. As long as they weren't visually spotted now, the element of surprise remained theirs.
But now, taking the risk was their only option. They had to find a suitable landing site.
"The scanner shows a landing platform in the Palace's auxiliary buildings," Solo said, staring at the screen. "Looks like a hangar area, probably used for spacecraft takeoffs and landings in the past."
"Let's land there," Taidor said immediately.
"Radiation levels in the Capital area are normal, but they're generally higher in other regions," Solo added, then frowned. "Wait, I'm detecting an unknown signal fluctuation—there are other people on this planet. Two hundred kilometers east, there's an unidentified spacecraft that just established contact with an unknown location."
"Master, have we been discovered?" Ahsoka tightened her grip on her lightsaber at her waist.
"It's hard to say," Solo analyzed. "We were in stealth mode, but when I activated the scanner, it might have picked up our signal."
"Why did you have to use the scanner?" Sheldon's voice carried anger.
"Blind land in the mountains?" Solo countered, simultaneously piloting the ship toward the narrow landing platform. "See for yourself."
As the ship slowly approached, the group clearly saw the landing site. The platform was cramped, with an entrance barely wide enough for a medium-sized ship to squeeze through.
"Even with the Force, a blind landing here would be nearly impossible. Without scanning, we wouldn't have known we could venture outside without radiation suits, nor would we have discovered the presence of others."
He paused, his tone serious. "We'll be discovered eventually. Even if that ship can't identify us, we'll eventually encounter its master. Stop complaining and prepare yourselves. The elevator is over there."
Solo pointed toward the elevator door leading to the first floor. Sheldon muttered a few disgruntled phrases in the Matukai language, but still hurried toward the exit.
"You're too harsh with him," Taidor said.
"You're too lenient," Solo replied. "Based on my experience, young men like him—"
"They need proper discipline, or they'll end up a mess and never become a respectable warrior—Ahsoka, get suited up!"
"Uh... Master, do I really have to?"
"What do you think?" Under everyone's astonished gaze, Solo donned his newly purchased armor, instantly transforming from a Jedi into an imposing warrior.
Ahsoka dashed into the cabin to change into her red armor.
"You... Jedi actually wear armor?" Sheldon stared in shock. "Where did you get this? It looks pretty good!"
Rick Dagon snorted, clearly disgruntled but remaining silent, his gaze fixed intently on the Palace.
Shadow Warrior Mo gripped his double-bladed lightsaber tightly, his Self-Light sweeping across the rubble-strewn platform.
Solo sighed and turned to the Clone Captain. "Captain, listen carefully: if anyone besides the six of us tries to board the ship, initiate engine start-up and leave this planet immediately."
"But General, what about you?" the Captain asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"This order only takes effect under one condition: when you connect to my data pad and detect a complete absence of my vital signs," Solo replied, his voice unnaturally calm. "Ahsoka, stay close to me!"
"Regardless of anything else, if you detect an intruder with non-biological signatures, initiate immediate evacuation," Solo emphasized again.
"Understood, Commander."
Solo turned to address the group. "Ahsoka and I will lead the way. Mo, bring up the rear and keep watch. Taidor and Sheldon, guide us. Dogen, cover the left flank. Any objections?"
Seeing none, the six of them exited the ship one by one and walked through the Palace's hangar district corridor. Solo scrutinized every corner.
Everything here was preserved in remarkably good condition. The corridor was lined with a steel-like alloy, and multiple hangars lined both sides, most of them empty.
As they reached the end of the corridor, the last hangar, separated from the corridor by an automatic door, revealed an ancient spacecraft.
"Let's take a look," Taidor suggested.
"Watch out for traps," Mo cautioned, stopping first. A Shadow Warrior, he possessed a keen intuition for dangers lurking in the darkness.
He stepped forward cautiously to inspect the automatic door's control panel. Only after confirming there were no explosive devices did he signal the group to enter.
As they entered the hangar, a sleek, single-seat fighter stood at its center. Its streamlined fuselage tapered sharply to a tail that split into two wings, each mounting a laser cannon and a torpedo launcher.
Judging by the structure, each launcher could hold five proton torpedoes, though none were currently loaded.
What astonished Solo most was the fighter's hyperspace drive. The entire vessel was approximately fifteen meters long.
"How long has it been here?" Ahsoka couldn't resist reaching out to touch the hull, but Solo stopped her.
"The Kingdom of Zai collapsed around seven thousand years ago," Taidor said, gazing at the fighter with a complex expression. "This vessel must also be seven thousand years old."
"Seven thousand years?" Solo's astonishment was plain. "How is that possible? It looks practically brand new!"
"To maintain this condition after seven thousand years?" Dogen circled the fighter, equally incredulous. "Even the Republic's most advanced fighters might not boast such craftsmanship."
"It might be related to the hangar design in the Kingdom of Zai," Taidor mused, resting his chin in his hand. "Their hangars were originally built for long-term storage of spacecraft. Due to the Orudim Act, which prohibits expansion beyond the galaxy, the Matukai people rarely leave the galaxy, yet they need to maintain their spacecraft's combat readiness. They likely used specialized long-term storage technology. Judging by the model, this appears to be a spacecraft designed for long-range reconnaissance."
"Let's examine it first," Solo suggested, approaching the ancient fighter. "If we connect it to our navigation computer, we might find some useful information. Theoretically, the spacecraft's reactor shouldn't be completely drained. Even if the fuel isn't active, it can remain preserved in the core for an extremely long time."
He found a start button near the cockpit. Using the Force, he gently touched it, and the canopy slowly opened, releasing a pungent stench.
"Ugh, that's foul!" Sheldon exclaimed, covering his nose.
Mo frowned and channeled the Force again, pulling the source of the odor out of the cockpit.
It was the fragmented skeleton of an intelligent being, many bones scattered and missing.
Judging by the state of the remaining bones, the creature seemed to have died from poisoning. The foul odor of decay was nauseating.
"This place needs to be disinfected," Sheldon said, covering his nose and coughing. The stench had already permeated the entire hangar, clearly indicating that the cockpit had been sealed the entire time.
"He died from poisoning!" Taidor leaned down to examine the bones. "It looks like he was poisoned and tried to escape in this fighter, but the toxin acted too quickly. He couldn't even start the reactor, and—"
He looked up at the hangar ceiling. "The hangar gates are closed, which means someone didn't want him to leave."
He pulled two spray cans from his inner pocket. "This will completely eradicate all living organic matter from the cockpit's decay. As for the poison, we can't identify its components, but it should be harmless in gaseous form now."
"There's no way to verify it," Jedi Knight Mo shook his head. "We'd need organ or blood samples, but those have long since vanished."
"Then spray the standard neutralizer and leave it to fate." Taidor handed the cans to Sheldon. "Also, we might be able to find helmets with air filters. An extra fighter can't hurt. Sheldon, spray both solutions in the cockpit."
"Why me?" the Matukai protested indignantly.
"Solo, Mo, and Dogen are Jedi, and their Force skills are focused on combat, not detoxification. Ahsoka is too young, and the risk is too high," Taidor explained. "But you, my apprentice, are fully capable of handling the potential consequences. This skeleton was once a Matukai, perhaps even stronger than you, but after seven thousand years, the poison's potency has greatly diminished."
"Alright, Master," Sheldon accepted the explanation and leaped into the cockpit to begin spraying the agents.
"This fighter is equipped with a hyperspace drive," Solo remarked, examining the fighter's tail section. "But it looks to be of very low grade. You intend to take it with you?"
"Yes, it can still be useful," Taidor nodded.
"Are you planning to give it to your apprentice?" Solo raised an eyebrow.
Taidor rose from beside the remains and met Solo's gaze. "Is there a problem with that?"
"No," Solo shook his head. "This junk is useless to me. I have better things to do than waste time on it. Take it."
"Thank you," Taidor replied curtly.
Once Sheldon finished spraying the agents and jumped down, Solo immediately dove into the cockpit.
Inside the cockpit of the seven-thousand-year-old fighter, a thick layer of dust covered every instrument, and the air reeked of chemical agents and dust.
He checked the control panel, which was covered in Matukada hieroglyphs. Fortunately, he quickly found a button that seemed to say "Start Reactor."
The moment he pressed it, indicator lights lit up, and information appeared on the display. Surprisingly, a language selection interface popped up:
Matukada or Galactic Standard.
Solo smiled at this thoughtful design. He tapped the touch screen to select Galactic Standard, and the interface immediately switched to an understandable format.
He found the "Pre-flight Preparation" option in the menu and tapped it. The roar of the engines warming up filled the air, and a 3D model of the spacecraft appeared on the display, with data refreshing one by one:
Structural Integrity and Airtightness: Uncompromised!
Engine System: Normal!
Hyperspace Drive: Normal!
Fuel Level: 80%!
He took a moment to check the journey time to Lylos, then shut down the ship's systems and jumped down.
"How is it?" Taidor's voice called out.
"Everything's fine," Solo replied. "But flying to Lylos from here will require five days of hyperspace travel."
"You're joking!" Sheldon exclaimed. "It only took half a day to get here from Lylos on your ship!"
"By modern standards," Solo mused, "this should be at least an eighth- or even tenth-tier hyperspace drive—only slightly faster than the Trade Federation's cargo ships."
"Better than nothing," Taidor nodded approvingly, turning to Sheldon. "It's yours, my apprentice. From now on, it will be your personal vehicle. We'll replace the drive when we have the chance."
"Really?" Sheldon's face lit up with surprise.
"Absolutely," Taidor confirmed. "These old bones of mine aren't fit for piloting such a fighter anymore. For you, though, once you earn your Matukada tattoo, it will be a useful tool."
"Thank—thank you, Master!" The young Matukada, overcome with excitement, immediately leaped into the cockpit to study the control interface.
"Alright, don't play with it too long," Solo said firmly. "We're here for the Royal Library. It's time to move out."
Sheldon reluctantly emerged from the cockpit, his face still glowing with excitement. "The navigation computer only has galaxy maps and no other useful information."
"As expected," Solo said, turning toward the hangar exit. "Let's go. It's time for the Royal Library. Taidor, do you remember the route?"
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