Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 9-9 - Asagi Ventress
Somewhere in the Morava star system.

Abrion Sector.

The "Repel" squadron slowly sailed toward the designated coordinates, the three escort ships like lifeless shells, silently carried by the calm "current".

Directly ahead, the twin stars resemble golden marbles, their light softened by the distance and the automatic shading mechanism of the viewing window.

Nearby, the desert planet Morava stands out prominently. This star system is insignificant and unremarkable.

This is a carefully chosen place.

The only people who would be interested in this place are those who can't stand the light of day. For the sake of the operation's safety, if necessary, we could shoot them down, but no one would care.

“Communication received from Moravall, sir,” the communications robot tapped the digital control panel. “Encrypted data file, triple-coded, multi-channel short-pulse transmission. It appears to have been sent after the uplink detected our transponder signal in the galaxy.”

“That’s very thoughtful,” Ryan commented. “I’ll send it to my tablet.”

He quickly opened the document and began to carefully study the task briefing, memorizing it word by word to avoid missing any details.

General Tann preferred simplicity and clarity.

This characteristic was also reflected in the briefing.

Unfortunately… her concise style almost made it clear that, at best, this operation would be exceptionally daring. He also learned that Asajj Ventress had been given the rank of commander for this mission, which indeed made her his direct superior.

In particular, they would be dealing with the Hutts on Hutt territory.

“We’ve detected Kronau radiation in the galaxy, sir,” said the B1-OOM-2200 combat droid. “A small spaceship has just jumped out of hyperspace.”

Taylor and the rest of the bridge crew are on rotation to perform necessary maintenance and charging.

B1 - OOM-2200, also known as Taylor, has been with Ryan since he took command of the "Repulsion," even before Taylor.

Little Tower was assigned to him after he was assigned to command the Resistance and the Renown.

The original command robot for "Knockback" had a manufacturing defect that made its processor a bit sluggish, so he scrapped it and then used a little connection to reprogram it so that Taylor could take over its position.

“Locate its position,” Ryan ordered. “Prepare the traction beam launcher.”

We can't let anyone ruin their plans, right?
“Sir, our launchers are for guiding the Vulture robot fighters,” Little Tower reminded him, “they don’t have enough power—”

“There’s no need to make it that strong, sir,” Taylor interrupted him. “We just need to slow it down so that the ion cannon can disable it.”

Little Tower slowly turned his head to stare at Rein, as if he couldn't understand how a B1 robot dared to contradict him.

“What?” Ryan raised an eyebrow, not the type to be unable to accept being contradicted. “Taylor is right, and he’s more senior than you, so don’t give me that look.”

“Target at the edge of the galaxy, sir,” Taylor reported. “The launcher is charging. Shall we plan an intercept route?”

“Plan it, thanks,” Ryan said, clenching his fist. “Determine the model as soon as possible, and signal them once they are within range. I need their beacon identification codes.”

"Repel" adjusted its course, activated its weapon system, and rotated its turret, aiming at the unfortunate fellow, who had simply arrived in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Renown and Resistance activated their ion engines, and the squadron began accelerating toward their target, a distance that would normally be several light-hours apart.

“Model identified, sir!” Taylor remained focused on the control panel. “Krelian manufacturing, G-9 converted cargo ship.”

G9-type converted cargo ship...

Ryan glanced quickly at the data panel and squinted.

“Earlier than expected…” he muttered under his breath, then raised his voice, “I still need their beacon identification code.”

“Yes, yes,” Taylor nodded, expertly opening the communications window. “Cargo ship, this is the Confederate Navy. You are flying in Confederate airspace. Please identify yourself.”

Several seconds passed, but there was no response.

Well, if they're not willing to cooperate, Renn doesn't need to be polite.

"Target is within range of the forward-firing ion cannon," the gunner robot said. "Activate weapon system?"

“Start,” Ryan ordered. “Taylor, crack their code and run the identification program.”

“Yes, yes,” the robot said. “...Calling name ‘Dawn,’ registered in Coruscant Galaxy City. Extensive record of spice smuggling...Summoned multiple times, but no bounty offered.”

“Looks like this is the cargo we’ve been waiting for,” he scoffed. “No need for all this trouble. Disarm the weapons and clear port hangar.”

“Dawn, you have been cleared to enter the port hangar,” Taylor responded. “Disengage the stabilizers and prepare for tractor beam guidance.”

Ryan absentmindedly stroked the tablet screen, took a deep breath, and prepared for what might be the most stressful "routine patrol" of his life.

“Little Tower, take a team down and bring our guests here,” he sighed. “The rest of you: conceal your weapons and put your blasters into stun mode.”

Raine typically does not allow blaster guns on the bridge because they are considered a workplace hazard.

But in this special situation, they became a safeguard.

General Tann said he would protect him, but based on his understanding of Force users, they were quite... unpredictable.

Hopefully, Asagi Ventress will respect professional ethics like Severn Tannen, but for some reason, Renn is skeptical.

The sound of the blast door sliding open was louder than he remembered, as if urging him to stand up from his chair and turn around to greet his new "criminal partner".

The first thought that flashed through Ryan's mind was: she really is like "Asagi Ventress".

She was clearly a woman, but her sickly pale skin made her look more like a ghost than... whatever human-like race she belonged to. Humans don't look like that, after all.

Although a flowing hooded cloak covered most of her outfit.

Force users seem to like this style.

Raine could still vaguely see the hilts of the two lightsabers at her waist.

She pulled down her hood, revealing a completely bald head that tilted downwards to a pointed chin.

Dark lipstick, dark eyeshadow, and very long eyelashes, especially the lower lashes—

What the hell!

I'm actually going to have to work with someone who has a gothic style.

Moreover, judging from his appearance, he is an extremely unstable goth.

If you ask Ryan to guess... it must be due to problems in the father-daughter relationship.

“Asagi Ventress?” Renn tried to make his voice sound calm and polite. “Welcome aboard. I am Renn Bontri, and I look forward to working with you.”

Ventress stared at him with her dark eyes for a long time, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Renn didn't want to get into a staring contest, so he tried to distract himself by watching the constantly beeping data panel.

“Me too.” Her voice carried a chilling quality.

He fucking hates space wizards.

You'll never know what they're thinking.

“May I confirm our objective, Commander Ventress?” Raine tried to break the tension.

The result was the opposite.

"our?"

Ventress asked dangerously.

This...this capricious and despicable person.

His smile froze involuntarily.

Taylor moved, and the servo hummed.

His blaster was placed behind the control panel, just out of sight.

Another robot on the lower deck noticed and turned around.

He could already sense that behind their dark light sensors, the original combat program had been activated.

“I have no intention of stealing your credit,” Ryan said, extending a hand, both to appease the fierce woman and to signal the robot to calm down. “In fact, this mission has nothing to do with me, but we must cooperate to fulfill your…master…request. This is a warship, and in this mission, you are my superior. I will carry out your orders, and I hope you will allow me to do my best to complete the mission.”

Ventress sized him up again, her expression calm yet unsettling. She shifted her weight between her feet like a cat, seemingly deciding from which angle to pounce on her prey.

Finally, she stepped aside, revealing an RA-7 etiquette robot holding a cage that looked like a pet cage.

The first thing that hits your nose is a smell.

Then Ryan saw the disgusting, writhing creature in the cage.

It looked like a giant slug, even bigger than his head.

It squeaked and made gurgling sounds, waving its little arms.

Renn had no idea that Jabba the Hutt had a son.

I didn't see him in the original trilogy... This creature may be repulsive, but I still can't help but think of this child.

He's just a child after all.

They may have died before the movie's timeline.

Hopefully, this mission will not be the cause of his death.

Rein nodded vigorously, turning his head away from the smell. "We'll be traveling to Teth aboard the 'Trielus.' Considering there's only one hyperspace route with no branches, it'll be a quick journey."

Without a word, his robotic crew immediately steered the "Repulse" to turn and accelerate toward the pre-calculated hyperspace entrance.

As Ryan sat back down, he could feel Ventress's gaze still fixed on the back of his head like a drill.

Even Little Tower started to feel uncomfortable, and he slowly turned his head to peek between them.

"Please make yourself at home, Commander Ventress," Raine said, staring ahead. "If you wish, my tactical robot can take you to your compartment."

"...Don't make unfounded assumptions about me," she said softly.

Ryan closed his eyes.

Screw it.

(End of this chapter)