Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 199, Section 201: Hesitation
Pain is like an invisible spider web, spreading from its empty core to the farthest edge of the galaxy, with each node curled up toward death.

This is an endless lament, sung through the ripples of the Force.

As time went on, millions of new voices joined the mournful chorus every minute, the sound waves constantly accumulating and intensifying.

Asagi Ventress meditated in the darkest corner of the Dark Servant, adjusting her breathing to the tides of the Force, feeling the energy surge and recede in her mind and muscles with each movement.

She was unlike the weak Jedi outcast Vinok, who was almost crushed by the overwhelming force of the dying will of millions of beings in Eliado.

Ventress was forged in Ratatarak and shaped by its cruelty, struggling to survive at the bottom of the galaxy from a young age.

The day her master, Ki Narek, died in her arms, her innocence as a young girl came to an end.

On her bald head were twelve dagger-shaped scars, each representing a Latatak warlord she had sworn to kill and ultimately brought to her own.

She herself was like a poisoned dagger, forged in the furnace of Ratatak, but ultimately forged and polished by Count Dooku himself, becoming even sharper and more deadly.

In this galaxy filled with hatred, it is easy to use anger as a source of power, but blind anger is as cheap as a grain of sand in the desert.

It's easy to succumb to the dark side of the Force and be consumed by it, but to truly master the dark side... that's exactly what Vinok lacks.

And she possesses it.

Blindly and aimlessly venting is neither a way to survive nor a way to win.

Actions must be focused, directional, have clear goals, and be executed swiftly.

Ventress is both a thorny rose and a deadly thorn.

It's the muffled sound of a blade piercing flesh, and the pungent taste of blood oozing from the enemy's lips.

Similarly, Eliadu's destruction was focused, directed, and had a clear strategic purpose.

That's why its echo in the Force is so strong and unique, like a precise, powerful punch.

Ventress was not entirely unprepared for this.

From the very beginning, she knew the cold, cruel nature of this galaxy.

Two and a half billion lives?
On the scale of the vast Milky Way, it's just another ordinary statistic.

The reason people were shocked was simply because the name Eliadu had occasionally appeared in holographic news over the past millennium.

Ventress slowly opened her eyes.

The holographic projector in front of me flickered silently, like a lonely lighthouse in the pitch-black cabin.

She didn't even need to look to know who was on the other end.

She calmly transitioned from a deep meditative posture to kneeling on one knee and accepted the communication.

"Master."

"Asaj."

Count Doocu.

Ventress's old scar on his head began to throb, as if hot lightning was leaping and piercing under his skin. The bruises on his cheeks, which had long since healed, seemed to awaken as well, sending out waves of dull pain.

She knew it was him.

"Is it time to take action against Severn Tann, Master?"

The hologram of Count Dooku was as imposing as the last time she had seen him.

With his upright posture and broad shoulders, he showed no signs of being 82 years old.

This is thanks to his profound understanding and mastery of the Force, which makes him appear more energetic than many humans who are only half his age.

“She has always had rebellious tendencies,” Dooku said calmly, “but it has always been within a controllable range until now.”

Until now.

Ventress had reminded her mentor a few years earlier, when she still craved his favor and approval and wanted to prove her worth.

She worked hard for Dooku, eagerly learning every bit of knowledge he imparted, like a begging cat.

How many of the believers in darkness are like her?

In contrast, Severn Tann was much more composed.

The blue-skinned Pantora man calmly accepted every lesson and every punishment from Dooku.

She never complained when Dooku hinted at more powerful techniques but only taught the basics.

She never backed down when Dooku threatened her with crackling lightning from his fingertips.

The Force flows around Tann in a completely different way.

Through her blood-red eyes, she always seemed to be examining the world with a calm, calculating gaze.

Ventress felt that the other believers were not worth mentioning and did not deserve the Earl's attention.

But Severn Tann?

Deep down, she desperately wanted to prove that she was better than this woman.

In training and in actual combat, Ventress has defeated Tann time and time again.

However, Dooku repeatedly chose Tann to participate in his core schemes, revealing her the most confidential plans and secrets.

Everyone has their own strengths, and Ventress doesn't need anyone to tell her that.

But jealousy, the beast roaring in one's heart, is not so rational.

Ventress was perceptive enough.

She discovered that Tann was the oldest among them, yet he had never truly respected the master-disciple relationship.

Tann listened and learned, but never yielded.

She never called Dooku "Master," always referring to him as "Count" or "Sir."

She even occasionally showed disdain for the count.

When Dooku couldn't immediately keep up with her complex strategic deductions, Tann's expression of "no one can understand my vision" became even clearer.

On one occasion, Ventress pointed out to Dooku that Tann would inevitably betray them once she no longer needed them.

To this, Dooku simply responded calmly: "I know this is an unavoidable risk when embracing the forces of the dark side."

Ventress knew exactly what was going on.

This has never been related to the mystical aspects of the dark side.

She had warned Count Dooku long ago, her tone growing increasingly impatient and agitated. While the other Sith followers were still buried in those obscure, moldy ancient books, restless over fragments of information, Tann looked at them as if she were examining a room full of fools.

It's not about learning, but about dissecting the foolish mistakes made by our long-deceased predecessors.

For Tann, siding with the Separatist forces was a pure transaction.

The Dark Force?

It was merely a path for her to reach the pinnacle of power.

Once she finds a faster ladder, she will not hesitate to shake off the darkness and climb the new path.

And indeed, she found a more suitable ladder in the halls of political intrigue and military power.

Moreover... Ventress himself also tasted the power.

She was stepping onto the first step of the power ladder that Ryan Bontry had laid out for her.

This is different from using a lightsaber to fill the enemy's eyes with fear.

With just a few words, a perfectly timed instruction, and a gentle pull of the trigger, one can witness thousands upon thousands of people dying in agony for that distorted republic…

This feeling has a unique and captivating magic.

Nevertheless, Ventress's initial warning proved to be correct.

At this moment, the satisfaction of being "proven right" strongly overwhelmed her usual obedience to Dooku.

She didn't speak, but simply raised her hairless eyebrows slightly, everything was understood without words.

“I guess,” Count Dooku saw through her silence, “you didn’t come here just to show off ‘I told you so.’”

“I remember you taught me not to do such pointless things,” Ventress told a small lie, her tone flat.

“That’s natural.” Dooku nodded solemnly, as if confirming a universal truth.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment, with only the invisible tension flowing between the two of them.

“That being said,” Ventress broke the silence with a wry smile, “but I…did remind you.”

A trace of annoyance, all too familiar to Ventress, flashed across Dooku's aristocratic face.

But this emotion was fleeting, quickly overshadowed by his usual authority and all-controlling demeanor.

Dooku chose not to argue with her, partly because he felt it would be beneath his dignity, and partly because... he had to admit deep down that she had indeed hit the nail on the head.

"You thought you could strike first and eliminate her before she betrayed you, didn't you?" Ventress pressed on fearlessly, her voice clear and cold. "You underestimated her, thinking she was incapable of plotting under your nose and gradually eroding your power base."

"Enough." Dooku's voice was soft, yet it pierced Ventress like an invisible icicle.

Her heart suddenly clenched, as if a cold hand was gripping her chest tightly, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

"Ventris".

The count's tone carried an unquestionable command.

“…Yes…yes,” Ventress managed to squeeze out the words from her throat, lowering her head to avoid his piercing eyes, “Master.”

Dooku didn't even lift a finger; the sheer force of will and the power of the Force was enough to subdue her.

“The reason she was able to succeed,” Dooku’s voice returned to its icy tone, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself, “was because there was a traitor within our ranks.”

Who can blame this?
Isn't it all caused by your own indecisiveness and repeated political mistakes?
Ventress forcefully suppressed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

Who supported Tann's regime?

Admiral Trench is one of them, that annoying Hatch man.

He was once loyal to Dooku, until the Earl ruthlessly trampled on Trench's pride and allowed an unknown nobody to ride on his head in order to put Grievous in the position he coveted.

There is also the Peremian Alliance and its two leaders, Carly Trilm and Ryan Bontri.

Carly was Dooku's personal assistant, while Ryan was an obscure nobleman from the Ondron Sector.

Could their later rise have been predicted?

Maybe, maybe not.

But if Dooku hadn't stubbornly placed his puppet in the Confederate armed forces to seize military power, thereby offending the vast majority of senior military commanders within the Confederacy and creating a huge power vacuum... how could the Peremian Alliance have seized the opportunity to quickly fill that void?

“As you say, Master.” Ventress’s voice regained its submissive calm. “Then, how do we get rid of Tann? She’s holed up in the Independence space station now, surrounded by her private fleet and layers of her most loyal henchmen… It’s a place I can’t even find a crack to sneak into.”

“I’ll handle that girl,” Dooku said confidently. “Tann may treat the Confederate Armed Forces as her private kingdom, but she doesn’t have the guts to openly defy the Lax government. The ‘Independence’ has been formally summoned to Lax Subplanet for questioning and hearings regarding Horn Ambigine’s actions. I will go there personally to deal with her.”

"And what about me, Master?" Ventress raised her head, a hint of expectation flashing in her eyes.

“Go and take care of her two most capable henchmen,” her master gave the cold order. “Carly Trilm and Ryan Bontley. Make them disappear from this galaxy completely.”

"clear."

Ventress answered succinctly.

Is this really true?
A thought quietly took root in her mind.

They were indeed Tann's men, but undeniably, they also served the Confederacy.

Without Carly Trillm on the Peremian front, who used her personal prestige and influence to unite the disorganized troops, could the Confederation have withstood the Republic's onslaught?
Could the Confederation have won that crucial victory without Ryan Bontry's masterful strategic and tactical command in the Salust system?
Now, the Confederation is at a critical juncture. The call to counterattack is about to sound, and an offensive aimed at striking the heart of the Republic is brewing, to make those corrupt core planets tremble in fear.

What would be the consequences of eliminating the two key planners and executors of this offensive?
Can this counterattack still be launched as scheduled?
"Asajj, you're hesitating?" Dooku's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm, pulling her back to reality: "Have you had a change of heart?"

“No, Master.” Ventress quickly swallowed all her doubts, her voice regaining its firmness. “But I can’t go to Bontri’s flagship right now. My troops are about to make a hyperspace jump, and our target is the Yagedul system.”

“Even if you were on the same ship as him, you couldn’t kill him.” The count waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly. “Bontri has an entire Kotosis combat robot guard protecting him. Even if your sword could pierce him, the robots’ counterattack would kill you on the spot. Your life is of great use to me, apprentice.”

"Then what should I do..."

“Be patient, Asagi,” Dooku interrupted her.

Asagi Ventress lowered his head again, indicating his submission.

“I have prepared a secret fleet for you, which is lurking in the southwest of the Yggdul system, about a day’s journey from you.” A glint of triumph flashed in Dooku’s eyes. “Two hundred of the latest battlecruisers. The firepower they carry is enough to destroy Bontri’s entire fleet. No matter how many tactics or strategies he has, they are all in vain in the face of absolute destructive power.”

Ventress's breathing quickened involuntarily.

A secret fleet?
Two hundred new warships?
Dooku had such a trump card up his sleeve.

“Understood, Master. I will carry out your orders.” She tried to keep her voice calm. “Where will we receive this fleet?”

"Long'en Nebula".

(End of this chapter)