This is my first draft. Read if you so wish, review if you so wish, and trash it if you so wish. I, like so many RC fans really wanted that IC2 book, and this is my attempt. When I sober up, myself and the twelve Drunken Angry Ferrets that typed this thing may opt to revise it.

(Inspired by ? And the Mysterions, Captain Morgan, the Groovie Ghoolies and (of course (*genuflects*) the Mand'alor herself, KT)

Umm.. what to say (*clasps hands over the mouths of the twelve Drunken Angry Ferrets at random intervals as they are currently being exceptionally rude...*) KT is a goddess.. we are mere ants in the afterbirth (DAF2 mumbles out from under a hand that I just cribbed that line from Red Dragon, which.. erm.. I really can't argue. (but it's still an awesome line.)) Anyway this is my first attempt, so be kind, but unwind, and read my attempt at Imperial Commando 2, which in a proper and merciful alternate universe KT herself has already writtten and published. Jate'kara ratiin sosol ti jate'kara

The Original Author scratches head and wonders what else to say...

Drunken Angry Ferret 3 throws a rock at the back of the Original Author's head

After the OA gets done rubbing the back of head and giving DAF 3 a dirty look.

Believe it or not, I'm actually trying really hard at this -

gives a dirty look to the Drunken Angry Ferrets and starts to wonder why they've actually been allowed on this project

- this is nothing other than a labour of love.

(And please ignore the DAFs as they are generally a bad influence.)

Recovered from the journal of Kal Skirata

You drink a few tihaars til your eyes cross, then you drink a few more to uncross them.
This isn't how I want my sons to remember me... a drunk old man who's given up.
But the galaxy, for as large as its supposed to be is closing in on me. When I look at it, back on this end of things, I just... feel... tired.
I can make the one last push, but what then? (There's always one last push.)
I've fought over a decade for my boys, but I'm fast becoming a relic.
They can make their own way without me, they've all surpassed what I could teach them - by amazing measures.
I did what I set out to do. So what does that leave for me?

Keldabe

Mandalore Hill

Overlooking the Imperial Outpost ABG +1652

I hate to say it, but Mandalore is getting too hot.
This was supposed to be the great equalizer, but the Imps have moved in, and no one, not Mando nor Jetii are safe.
So how do I protect my brothers?
The "war" has been over for more than a year, yet I don't feel the crosshairs lessening any more.
The Nulls, Fi, Atin, and Corr are here.. but so are a few jetii.. my former master Arligan Zey, Scout, and Kina Ha. Shab, all we need is Yoda here on Manda'yaim. I used to be a jedi, and according to some, specifically Palpatine, I still am a jetii. No wonder Darman is angry. We could basically form the new Jedi Council here on Mandalore. I don't think that's what Kal intended, but it's happened nevertheless. I've got to get rid of them. And keep my brothers safe. Not the jetii, but my vod'e. And somehow see all of us out of this dark time. No sweat then. I used to be a jedi knight, but now I'm a Mandalorian - I've never done anything by half-measures, not by any chance. I couldn't stand to see my brothers used up in the war and thrown away - not jedi, but clones. The jedi always had a choice - I can't help but think that they brought on this darkness themselves. This darkness it's powerful enough that it feels like the cold embrace of a lover scorned sliding up my back to my neck at times. So where does that leave me?

I shake my head in frustration and turn to Ordo "You know this is going to end in tears?"

Ordo looks at me with his intense stare. But I can't help notice him clenching and unclenching his right hand, "It's going to end in tears, but not for us Bard'ika."

I admire his confidence, but Kal'buir didn't raise the Nulls in half-measures, not by any chance. The galaxy could be crashing in around us, and Ordo would still exude that same calm. I can feel, even now, that greater darkness closing in around us, but if ever, it's the time to focus on the here and now. Not what's coming in the future. Sometimes I wish I could close off my jedi senses, excepting my healing skills. It's my status as a former jedi general that makes me feel at odds with the general Mandalorian population. Cin vhetin, but for former jedi generals apparently that blanket of snow needs to be a bit thicker than for others. But it's quickly becoming irrelevant. We're going to have to bug out of here. And my Mandalorian armor is going to mean sweet naas to the galaxy at large. Not with a baby in my arms. I promised Etain I'd watch over her son - my life be forfeit - but I had foolishly envisioned living that life out here on Mandalore with my clan.

.. and her

... and Darman.

But Order 66 put paid to all that - it doesn't matter if Jango was playing the long game or not, the end result is all the same. But the Chancellor long ago sold out to the dark side and much later the ruling clans sold out to the Imperials, and these days anyone with a few midichlorians in their blood are lucky if a quick execution is all they get. And this is my letter from this last unmerciful morning before our exile as the long, long army of troopers march out row by row. They should be our vod'e as well but for the fact they were grown in a year on a moon of Coruscant - they're not a part of the original three million. Those did their job, they killed the jedi. I'd feel bad for those jedi, but Windu was their clarion, their rallying point - and all he could apparently do in the end was embrace that one and same darkness. I've embraced my new life as a Mando, no light-side no dark-side to worry about, but like a child who is left alone, and throws a wild party, when his parents finally come home - and the party is over and the mess cleaned up - I can't help but wonder if the path I've chosen is the right one for a force user. So where does that leave me?

Ordo glances at me and raises an eyebrow. He doesn't need any hinky powers to read my mood. "Is this it?"

I nod and reply, "Yes my vod'e I believe it is. I hope we're ready for what the galaxy may bring to us."

He smiles an ironic grin, "I hope the galaxy is ready for us."