The long and arduous journey to Ventoux has taken its toll on the rebels. Unable to make the jump to hyperspace for fear of attracting the attention of the Empire forces, the alliance is forced to pick its way through a dangerous asteroid belt to access the planet.
Chavanel, the respected star fighter pilot and lieutenant of Cavrissian, leads the alliance to the landing point. The heavy atmosphere of the planet precludes the use of the rebels’ small and agile fighter craft, and they are required to make their way to the central administration district on foot or by land craft. There, they hope to gain admission to the inner chamber and gain control of the planet. Crucial differences still exist within the alliance as to the best method to achieve this end. Skyrider still wishes to use persuasion to convince the Administrators of the Ventoux to join the rebel alliance, whereas Contador Solo is prepared to use force, if necessary, to secure the outpost for the alliance.
Jar-Jar Schleck struggles with the pace of the rebel advance combined with the choking atmosphere of Ventoux, and is unable to proceed at the same tempo as the leaders. Soon many others are also struggling with the speed, amongst them Rolland, the former Bounty Hunter decorated as the warrior champion of the Europ’car, and Evans, the legendary and heroic Jedi veteran of the Clone Wars.
Soon, the rocky and desolate moonscape of Ventoux has decimated the rebel advance. A group of three, led by the Padawan Porte, and including Skyrider and Solo, are left to head up to the Administration centre alone. A small, select group of trusted fighters follows behind them, including the reliable Belkins Mollema and TenDam, and Solo’s Millennium Falcon crewmember Kreuziger.
The desolate lunarscape of Ventoux and the rebel assault.
As they reach the outskirts of the administrative centre, Porte alerts Skyrider and Solo to the presence of the Quintana, speeding away out of sight. Convinced he can persuade the Quintana to abandon the Separatists and join the rebels if only he can gain it’s trust, Skyrider races after the disappearing form.
The exhausted Porte can no longer stay with his mentor, and Skyrider has exploded with an acceleration even Contador Solo cannot match. Skyrider uses all his mastery of the Force to catch up with the Quintana. He is determined to gain the respect of the Quintana in order to convince him to abandon the Separatists and aid the efforts of the rebels. Several times Skyrider tests the speed of the Quintana, and every time the Quintana is able to maintain the pace.
Eventually, after many efforts, Skyrider finally outmanoeuvres the Quintana. Both drained by the experience, the Quintana has reluctantly developed a respect for Skyrider, as no-one has been able to match its speed before. The Quintana agrees to support the rebels, and Skyrider races on to his goal at the stateroom of Ventoux. Beneath the Red Flag heralding the entry to the courtyard he spots a committee of Ventoux Administrators, their arms raised aloft in the traditional greeting of their people. It seems the Ventoux are glad to see the rebels and have sent a welcoming committee, rather than a guard to offer resistance. In the event, the taking of Ventoux was bloodless, as Skyrider intended. As the rebels celebrate, the words of Master Yoda ring in his ears: “Do, or do not. There is no try.”
To be continued…
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