The Clone Wars: The Valsedian Operation

The narrative of The Valsedian Operation commences precisely where Act on Instinct concluded. Following their expulsion from Ukio, now a Separatist controlled planet, Jedi General Keelyvine Reus, along with her Padawan Tyzen Xebec and Clone Commander Ganch, are en route back to Coruscant. They are accompanied by AgriCorps member Sanya, whose contributions were vital in opposing the Separatist forces on Ukio. As their cruiser docks, Tyzen welcomes Sanya back to her former home, while Reus expresses gratitude for her service to the Republic. Reus assures Sanya that her assistance will be noted in her report to the Jedi Council and could influence her future AgriCorps assignments. Upon disembarking, the group encounters Captain Rex, who delivers a high-priority message instructing the two Jedi to immediately report to Master Yoda. Rex also suggests taking Ganch to an RSO Center for some relaxation. Ganch initially hesitates, but agrees when Reus insists he should go and remain on standby. He invites Sanya to join him, and she readily accepts.

Reus and Xebec reach the Jedi Temple and enter a communication chamber, where they find Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano. A hologram of Chancellor Palpatine appears, informing the Jedi about a situation involving the Republic's new allies—the Hutts. Palpatine relays that Jabba informed him that a distant cousin, Torpo the Hutt, has disregarded the treaty between the Republic and the Hutts by selling the Valsedian asteroid belt—a valuable source of ore used in fuel, armor, and weapon production—to the Separatists. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Reus, and Tyzen are tasked with investigating, but without clone or military support, as any Republic military presence in Hutt space could create a sensitive political situation. Anakin suggests using the Twilight and posing as smugglers.

Rex, Ganch, and Sanya arrive at the RSO Center when Reus contacts Ganch to inform him that his services will not be needed for their upcoming mission.

At the Archives inside the Jedi Temple, Reus reveals to Obi-Wan that she received lightsaber training from Dooku.

Back at the RSO Center, Rex, Ganch, and Sanya are invited by Commander Cody to join him at his table. As the clones are having drinks and discussing the war, Sanya accidentally drops a fork. Upon picking it up, she discovers detonite charges planted beneath the chairs. An RSO staff member determines the charges are not timer-based and are likely connected to a remote detonator. Since it's unsafe for the clones to move, she suggests the RSO staff disarm the charges.

Later, on a landing platform, Ahsoka and Tyzen are loading supplies onto the Twilight, discussing Xebec's experiences during the battle of Ukio.

Meanwhile, in a concealed facility within one of the asteroids in the Valsedian belt, a group of pirates—a Gamorrean named Duroc, a blue-skinned male Twi'lek, a yellow-skinned female Twi'lek with an eyepatch, and a purple-skinned male—are enjoying their payment for guarding a seemingly worthless rock. Suddenly, Duroc begins choking and is thrown into a wall. The attacker is revealed to be Asajj Ventress, who enters the room. Accompanied by the pirates, Ventress inspects the mining operation inside the facility, where Ugnaught workers are forced to process ore by battle droids. Ventress expresses her dislike for the pirates and instructs them to guard the workers and ensure their productivity.

Returning to the RSO Center, Sanya informs Ganch that there are charges under the chairs at every table where clones are seated. Noticing the charges blinking in unison, Sanya is certain they are linked. The RSO staff must defuse all the charges simultaneously. To maintain communication, they wear the clones' helmets. Cody connects his helmet to theirs to monitor their progress, guiding them through the defusal process, which they successfully complete. Suddenly, an RSO staff member flees. Sanya and Ganch give chase, but just outside the RSO Center, she manages to shoot a clone trooper, steal a BARC speeder, and escape. Ganch and Sanya quickly commandeer another speeder and continue the pursuit.

As the Twilight arrives at the Valsedian belt, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Reus are in the ship's hangar with a red Delta-7B starfighter and R2-D2 in its astromech droid socket. Despite his reluctance, Anakin, being the most skilled pilot, is assigned as backup. He enters the starfighter and departs the hangar. Ahsoka and Tyzen navigate the Twilight through the asteroids into a cave inside the largest one, where they land. The asteroid has stable pressure and a trace atmosphere, so the Jedi don breath masks.

Due to unreliable sensors in the narrow tunnels, the Jedi split into two groups. The Padawans are to scout the smaller tunnels, while the Masters take a different route. Obi-Wan and Reus reach breathable atmosphere and remove their masks. They encounter a Twi'lek, likely an administrator of the facility. Reus seizes him and uses a Jedi mind trick to ask about his master's location. The Twi'lek replies that his master is far away. Reus then asks who is in charge and who the Twi'lek answers to, and the Twi'lek says it is his master, confusing the Jedi. Meanwhile, the Padawans crawl through a tunnel and fall into a room filled with battle droids. Ahsoka and Tyzen ignite their lightsabers to engage the enemy. Obi-Wan senses the young Jedi are in danger and rushes to their aid, while Reus continues to question the Twi'lek.

Upon receiving reports of Jedi intruders, Ventress orders the four pirates to deal with the Padawans, but to leave the older Jedi to her.

In space, Anakin is attacked by Vulture droids while orbiting in his starfighter.

The speeder chase continues through Coruscant's skylanes. The saboteur RSO girl makes a sharp dive, and Sanya and Ganch follow.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan arrives to assist Ahsoka and Tyzen, finding they have the situation under control. Together, the three Jedi continue battling the droids.

In the nearby tunnels, Reus chains her Twi'lek prisoner to a wall and demands to know Torpo's location. To the Jedi's surprise, Torpo is revealed to be in the facility. Suddenly, Ventress attacks Reus, and the two engage in a lightsaber duel.

Obi-Wan and the Padawans manage to destroy all the battle droids when they hear a cry for help. They enter a room where the four pirates have captured the Ugnaught workers under a shield and threaten to kill them. The Jedi engage the pirates. While Obi-Wan fights the purple-skinned pirate, Ahsoka and Tyzen defeat Duroc and the female Twi'lek.

As the duel between Ventress and Reus continues, Asajj manages to break the Twi'lek prisoner's chains, and he escapes.

Above, Anakin uses podracing maneuvers to evade his Vulture droid pursuers.

Obi-Wan's battle with one of the pirates continues, but the Jedi reveals he was merely stalling to give the Padawans time, and quickly ends the fight with a Force Push. Ahsoka reports they cannot deactivate the shield because its generator is on the surface. Kenobi contacts Anakin and instructs him to destroy the generator, despite still being pursued by Vulture droids.

Ventress and Reus reach a large door during their fight. The assassin's lightsabers accidentally cut the door, revealing Torpo, who screams about conspiracy and invasion, begging for help. Suddenly, Ventress' red blades pierce the Hutt's body, killing him. Using the Force, Asajj pushes Reus into a wall and throws Torpo's body at her. By the time the Jedi manages to remove the corpse, she is covered in Hutt slime, and Ventress has disappeared.

Back on Coruscant, Ganch and Sanya find the RSO saboteur's speeder abandoned and hear blaster fire. They find the girl dead, but the shooter has already left.

In the asteroid belt, Anakin leads his Vulture droid pursuers to the shield generator, where he performs a sharp turn, causing them to crash into the structure. The shield is deactivated, freeing the Ugnaughts. Anakin lands inside the facility as the Chief Foreman expresses his gratitude to Obi-Wan. Reus joins them and informs them that Torpo is dead and Ventress has escaped. The Chief Foreman reveals that Torpo was not in charge; it was Bib Fortuna—Reus' Twi'lek prisoner—who also escaped. Anakin becomes angry, realizing Fortuna is Jabba the Hutt's henchman, and that they were deceived. However, without proof, the Jedi can do nothing.

Elsewhere, Ventress informs Dooku that the Valsedian belt is no longer under their control. Understanding Jabba's scheme, the Count assures her that they will ensure he never acts so boldly again.

The Twilight lands back on the platform on Coruscant, where Ganch and Sanya are approached by another RSO staff member. She informs them that the saboteur was not one of them, as all RSO members have been accounted for. Shortly after, Reus orders Ganch to join her in the Jedi Temple war room in 25 minutes, as Master Yoda has a new assignment for them.