C1P7

Khorm, Surface

Warlord Gout's Redoubt

Our ten ships landed at the pads arrayed south of the mountain base, offloading mechanical troops as fighters landed in walker mode by the hundreds. Unger Gout was present to meet us, standing in front of a rail jet hovertrain, clad in his purple cloak and his tusks gleaming white as if he had just finished polishing them.

"Assaj Ventress, it is a pleasure to have you with us," rumbled the khamai warlord, his head inclining slightly to the acolyte. "Come, come, it is cold and freezing out here."

The hovertrain was noticeably warmer, and I was glad for it as my joints were beginning to feel slightly stiffer. The large warlord regaled us with reports of having vast quantities of agrocite being mined, but alas the Republic managed to defeat one of the droid garrisons and took a processing facility as their base of operations.

"Are these ground troops and vehicles all they have?" I asked.

"It appears so! They managed to land many of their soldiers and walkers, and they all are currently occupying the facility. It would full hardy of them to attack my redoubt with only their ground troops," boasted Gout, preening. He smiled toothily at Ventress, "Aside from the troops and defenses Count Dooku has provided me, I have a surprise waiting for the Republic should they ever dare attempt such a thing upon my base."

The hovertrain shot into a tunnel at the base of the mountain, before slowing down and sliding into a port. Gout then proceeded to give us a short tour of his mountain fortress.

"I still cannot understand why Dooku would send you to help me, though I do appreciate the reinforcements," muttered the walrus-like warlord, shooting me an ugly stare. "My position is perfectly tenable. The Republic nor their Jedi can defeat me here."

We were walking across a great bridge that looked over the mines. It was filled with natives with powerful jackhammers, slowly breaking the violet crystals from the confines of the durable rock.

"The agrocite mined on your world is far too valuable to the Separatist Alliance to lose." Ventress purred, serreptiously laying a reassuring hand on Gout's shoulder. "Not only is agrocite a most powerful fuel enhancement, but I have reports that it has vast potential in the development of beam weapons."

The Death Star flashed through my mind and I suddenly felt more keen on listening in. "I believe you submitted a report to Count Dooku regarding a 'surprise' you had in store for him, Warlord Gout?"

"Why...yes, yes I do in fact have a surprise for the good Count, and it is indeed as you say my lady," said Gout, blatantly ignoring me as he pulled out a datapad and pressed a button with his enormous digits.

A blue hologram of a large and heavily modified turbolaser cannon appeared. It was titled as 'experimental agrocite-powered plasma cannon'. If I still had them, I would have raised an eyebrow.

"You have successfully created more powerful turbolasers?" Ventress asked, surprised.

"Indeed! With the agrocite mined from the slaves, I have managed to refine them and use it to increase heavy turbolaser firepower by an entire magnitude!" He boasted. "A single one can destroy an entire starship in one shot!"

"Why do you have slaves mining the agrocite?" I asked, looking down at the cacophany of jacks hammering away at the rocks. "Would it not be easier to use droids? Far cheaper and more efficient."

"Eh..." At this, the warlord stumbled slightly before recomposing himself and turning to glare at Ventress. "Your droid is most insufferable! Have it's memory banks mindwiped!"

"I may consider it later, but for the moment it would be best if we hurry this tour along." Ventress replied, her attitude entirely aloof. "I have a job to do and Jedi to kill. Commander Seven-One-One will assist you in defeating the conventional troops the Republic has."

"Hah, very well. Rest assured, however, the droid's help will not be needed in the end," said Gout with a mirthful laugh. "Here we are!"

The command center itself overlooked the assembly area that made up the very base of the mountain and the entrance to the mines themselves. The holoprojector was currently showing a large group of red dots and triangles covering a domed structure with walls and several smokestacks. The agrocite processing facility was completely surrounded by just under ten thousand soldiers, with several thousand vehicles, mostly light artillery and reconnaissance walkers, though an armored column of AT-TEs and Juggernaught assault vehicles were the most worrying.

"Have the droids identified the jedi?" Demanded the witch, her face still coldly composed, but her eyes gleamed like that of a predator's.

"Three," replied Gout, tapping a keyboard on the projector. Three faces appeared. Plo Koon, Kel Dor male, Jedi Master. Kit Fisto, Nautolan male, Jedi Master. Tauht Yng, human male, Jedi Master.

"Three Jedi Masters?" Ventress drew a shaking breath, palming her face as she lowered her head.

The warlord scowled at her, looking disgusted. "Too much for you?"

"Not at all," hissed the acolyte as she lowered her hand slowly. A toothy grin stretched across her face almost comically as she trembled in joyful malice. Gout took a step back at the sight of her gleeful expression, his own face mixed with fear warring with an attempt to compose himself.

"Asajj, perhaps it would be best if you infiltrated the processing plant from the southwestern side while I launch the counter attack and retake the facility. We can catch the clones and Jedi by surprise while you hunt down the Jedi commanders," I suggested, bringing in my own input. Ventress didn't seem to mind my use of her first name, appearing to consider it.

Well, at least before the warlord decided to explode.

"You? Command my troops? I think not!" Shouted Unger, his instinctual fear suddenly replaced by anger over what he felt was an affront to his honor. "Some programmed cannon fodder thinks he can go lead a counter attack I am more than sufficiently capable of-"

Ventress glanced at the raging khormai and caught his attention with a calming hand on his shoulder. "It would be best if you let us take care of this matter for you, my lord. We will remain in contact with you as we decimate the Republic and kill their Jedi. Rest assured, I think their lightsabers would hanging off your belt would look most handsome on you, hm?"

"Er...yes," agreed Gout, caught off guard as he stared at the hand on his shoulder as though it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. "Yes, I suppose it would, wouldn't it?"

"I will begin my preparations then," I replied nodding.

"I will have to do the same," agreed Ventress, smiling demurely at the warlord as she too departed. I turned slightly as Gout's piggy little eyes followed her swaying hips. I caught her eye as she purposefully walked away, almost bellydancing for the warlord.

Filing away the event for a moment, I left Gout standing by himself in a daze.

I had a battle to win.