Ventres'catan, known usually by the split name Ventresca Tan, was a Twi'lek vigo in the service of Ara Merquise, and later Tak Sakaros. He was the Merquise Syndicate's vigo in charge of Information and Espionage, and managed the outfit's information brokering activities.
Biography[]
The vigo[]
Little was known publicly about Tan, though it was known that he came from Tatooine. He was a reputed slicer in the Merquise Syndicate, but following the destruction of Ara Merquise's palace in 138 ABY, Tan was promoted to vigo, replacing one of those killed in the explosion. He continued to serve in this position when Tak Sakaros took over the organization. It eventually came to light that Ventresca's cousin was among the leaders of a Twi'lek rebellion on Ryloth against the forces of Darth Krayt's Empire.
Aside from his apprentice, Alluria Quinn, Ventresca Tan was the vigo to whom Tak Sakaros was closest, and the one he thought best to lead the organization if Tak himself should die. Tan was ambitious and talented, but not treacherous. When Tak did die fighting Gav Daragon in 139 ABY, he left the Merquise Syndicate to Tan in his will—and instructed Alluria to kill Koswee Alwos before he could pose a threat to Ventresca's rule.
The boss[]
Ventresca's first years as leader were devoted to consolidating his rule; Tak's death made many of the Hutt kajidics more willing to attack the Syndicate. Alluria consented to stay on as a Vigo, assisted by the Coruscanti Jarek Solios. The two, along with Reiko Kaytana and Alluria's apprentice Odala van Meer were able to prevent most of the danger to the Syndicate, though they also drew some more dangerous enemies than most criminal organizations had to deal with, including the One Sith. In turn, and out of lingering respect for Tak, Ventresca protected Reiko and her son by Tak, Nagarian Sakaros. His fidelity to Nagarian earned Ven the support and covert backing of Rin Sakaros and her coterie of Centurions.
A few years after the birth of Jarek and Alluria's daughter Octavia, Jarek convinced Alluria and the rest of their makeshift family to leave Nar Shaddaa for Belsavis. Ventresca did not hinder them, and indeed covered their tracks to protect them from the enemies they had acquired. In return, they left eleven of their twelve MagnaGuards behind to serve as personal protectors for Ventresca and his Vigos.
In the following years, Ven managed to outwit numerous Hutt and other competitors, spreading the Merquise Syndicate's arms dealings throughout the galaxy. He continued Ara and Tak's program of protecting the people in his district, keeping their loyalty and maintaining a buffer against Hutt infiltrators. A few times, dangerous enemies disappeared or died mysteriously without Ventresca acting, and he came to suspect either Rin or his comrades on Belsavis were looking out for him. His experience in intelligence also led him to greatly expanded the Syndicate's information brokering, earning him the moniker "the best-informed alien in Hutt Space".
The retirement plan[]
By the mid-150s, Ventresca was considering retirement, either alone or with his secretary and lover, Sheya Lassan. Rin came to Nar Shaddaa in late 156 ABY with a proposition—if Ventresca would help her start a war, she would help secure his retirement by protecting him from his adversaries or eliminating them. Seeing the opportunity to maintain the goodwill of his benefactor and eliminate some of his own competitors and rivals, Tan accepted the deal and began supplying arms to House Cadriann and House Calipsa in the Tapani sector. Acting through intermediaries and shell companies, he ensured both sides were well-equipped enough to brutally fight what became the Tapani Conflict. When the Galactic Federation Triumvirate finally intervened, Jedi Knights were able to track down some of the rival cartels and their agents, but the Merquise Syndicate escaped detection.