A/N We now have a Forum and a Community all Different Destiny, if anyone would like to join just search Different Destinies, we take suggestions on where this story goes into consideration. Would love to have your input. Also, for those of you who enjoy the character of Aleynn, who will be making an appearance shortly. She also has history with Qui-Gon and Tyrone and will be appearing in Transcending Tyrannous for those of you who are reading it. Also Aelynn was initially introduced by Tailcor in her story Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, it's a wonderful tale featuring Anakin Skywalker AND Darth Vader as well as Padme Amidala, Mon Mothma, Yoda, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. I don't want to give away any spoilers but it's a great tale.
Mandalorian Palace
The Palace of Mandalore stood as majestic as always. While the citizens of Mandalore starved, sickened, and died, the palace stood as a living monument to the wealth of Mandalore and the vizier. It was a symbol of how Mandalore had sided with the Empire and all the Empire could offer. The Empire had destroyed middle-class, and Mandalore was a prime example of this. Only the rich prospered and the lower class suffered. There was no middle class; it was those the Emperor favored and those he didn't.
Slavery was at an all time high in the Galaxy, and this saddened Rex Tano greatly, he had spoken with General Skywalker on the subject many many times. It would be the first thing that would go with the Emperor's death. Of course, the Empire didn't want to seem heartless so there were government funded programs that were designed to feed the poor and to keep them poor, though the poor often didn't realize that that was how they were designed, and those that were on the programs often remarked at how kind and how giving their Emperor was.
The Emperor was nothing if not clever. He knew how to keep the people indebted to him, and sometimes when the poor got desperate or desolate enough, they offered themselves to him body, mind and soul he owned them.
Rex Tano moved a finger to his mouthpiece to silence the Duchess and Death Watch, as he saw two guards pass. The guards came closer and closer, wearing stormtrooper armor. "Rex?" one asked.
"Fives?" Rex asked. "Jesse?"
"That's us, boss. We've got this whole place mapped out, and our men are among theirs. They trust us, they believe we are stormtroopers the same as them. How'd this mission go?"
"A success as always," Rex replied. "Where are the others?"
"They are guarding different sections of the palace but it would be nothing to get up with Cody and overtake the Palace, we have enough men now," Fives explained. Fives showed Rex his datapad as he brought up the map of the palace and explained everywhere they had men stationed. The vizier would be powerless to stop them; he was just a figurehead, really, just a decoration, a grotesque ornament. Soon things would change, and Mandalore would recover from the Empire's occupation.
Satine spotted a familiar figure, and though they had rarely gotten along, they were blood, and Obi had more than once told her how this lone figure cared for her. "Satine," the voice called out, arms opened as they embraced her in a hug.
"Bo-Katan, it has been too long," she said, kissing her sister's cheek. "How did you know?"
"You can thank your clones," Bo-Katan told her, "But they've got Korkie, as insurance. I came as soon as I could."
"Thank you, sister," said Satine "we may not have always seen eye to eye but we've always wanted the best for each other and for Mandalore."
"Of course," said Bo-Katan Kryze "so what is the plan?"
"Well, first of all, we have to save Korkie and any others who have been imprisoned by the imperial government."
"Alright, I can can handle that with some members of Death Watch." Bo-Katan offered.
"While you do that the rest of us can move to displace Almec" Rex stated "but we can't just go in with blasters raised, we need a plan, and I think I've got one," Rex continued, a smile that they couldn't see alighting his face. Rex was in his element. "Fives, Jesse, you can get us inside the palace?"
"Yes, sir," they said together as they saluted him. "Come with us."
Fives and Jesse led Rex, Death Watch, and the Kryze sisters into a hidden entrance.
"Good work, men," Rex congratulated his brothers. "Now we just need to replace the Vizier with the Duchess. Lead the way, Fives," he said.
"This way," Fives said, looking both ways as Rex, Satine, and the members of Death Watch under their command followed while Bo-Katan and her group went a different way. Rex and his men headed for the throne room, blasters drawn as they crept through the hallways, avoiding patrols of stormtroopers. Fives made a signal toward other disguised clones as their group grew. The passageway was long, dark and narrow but Fives seemed to know his way around. While Rex had been fighting for the title of Mandalore and control over Death Watch, Fives and Jesse and the rest of the men had infiltrated the palace. The corridors were dark and slightly damp as Satine and his sister followed the Clones. Jesse was pushing aside the throne so that they could all enter the throne room. The rest of the 501st was already there, posed and awaiting commands.
Eventually they reached the chamber outside the throne room but were there met with an obstacle. The entrance to the throne room was swarming with stromtroopers. It would be impossible to sneak past so many and the time it would take to fight them off more would have arrived and the element of surprise would be lost.
"I hope you can get us past that," Satine said nervously, peered around the corner at the crowded antechamber.
Rex made a quick scan of the problem before addressing the disguised clones. "Boys, can you convince them that you are replacing them on guard duty?"
"I doubt it, sir," said Fives, shaking his head, "they would need confirmation from Almec."
"That's what I thought," said Rex, "however, if you can distract them long enough for one of you to get the doors open the Duchess, Death Watch, and I will be able to apprehend the vizier."
"But what happens when the stromtroopers realize what is going on?" asked Satine, "Rex, your men may be trapped outside."
"We can handle it, Duchess," assured Jesse, "don't you worry about us."
Satine didn't look convinced but Rex said, "it's the only chance we got and Jeese's right, the 501st always gets through. We're meant for the tough jobs, right boys?"
The clones all gave a silent cheer which made it difficult for Satine to argue and before she could continue her protestations the clones had already left to approach the lead stormtrooper. There was a brief conversation but soon the clones began to open fire. Blaster fire poured forth from Fives's minigun, causing stormtroopers to scatter in search of cover. In the chaos Boil dashed over to the door's control panel, pushing aside a startled Mandalorian guard, and inserted a key card which cause the door to slide open, revealing the stunned prime minister Almec.
As soon as the doors opened Rex and Death Watch ran to towards the throne room in tight formation around Duchess Satine. Well-aimed shots from Rex's dual pistols eliminated the stormtroopers that flanked Almec and soon the vizier was surrounded.
"I'm sorry Vizier," Rex intoned, "But your time as ruler is over. Your term has expired; you are being replaced by the true ruler of Mandalore, Duchess Satine Kryze Kenobi."
"She can't protect the people, she is nothing, she can't even protect them from Death Watch." scoffed Almec.
"She doesn't need to," Rex replied, as his own troopers came up and joined Death Watch, fully surrounding the Vizier, blocking off any chance of escape "I am Rex Tano, husband to Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano, and Leader of Death Watch, which under my leadership has devoted themselves to the Rebel Alliance and to the protection of the Duchess," Rex said in a loud, clear, and concise voice. "The Empire's occupation of Mandalore will cease as Mandalore is now devoted to the cause of freedom for Mandalore and the Galaxy."
Satine raised her blaster and pointed it at the Vizier. "Step down, Vizier, and you will not be harmed."
"So it's the pacifist again is it, Duchess," the Vizier lowered his voice, "Tell me, Duchess, just how much of a Duchess did you feel sitting in Jabba's Palace."
"If you had a hand in that…" the Duchess began.
"Oh, me of course not," Almec said with a maddening grin as he motioned forward and stormtroopers appeared creating a perimeter around Death Watch and the Duchess. Members of Death Watch and the 501st turned their blasters on the stormtroopers, while Rex and Satine remained focused on Almec.
"Ever thought about fighting fair?" Satine asked him.
"And what do you deem fighting fair your highness? Marrying a Jedi and taking Mandlore from those who have earned it?"
"My marrying Obi-Wan has nothing to do with Mandalore."
"It has everything to do with it. His Lordship, Darth Wrath handed Mandalore to me, assured me as your master that it was mine."
"What?" Satine asked.
"In facts he owns you; you are nothing, Duchess but an escaped slave. Slaves can marry.."he said snidely. "But their children belong to the master. Your children Mara Jade and Anella belong to Darth Wrath and his master, our Emperor."
"No, you can't have my children."
"Then I suggest you turn around and head back to your little Rebellion, and forget Mandalore. You have a nice life, Duchess; if I were you I wouldn't put it in jeopardy."
"The Duchess cannot be manipulated. I, Rex Tano, am the true Mandalore and Death Watch will stand only behind the Duchess," Rex cut through Almec's manipulative words. "And vizier," Rex said coolly, "I would hate to be the one to tell General Kenobi that his children do not belong to him. Have you ever seen what happens to a Jedi when someone gets between the Jedi and their child?" Rex asked, conversationally.
"They are Jedi, they are pacifist."
"If you stand between General Kenobi and his daughters' the Sith, the Empire, the Rebellion that will be the least of your worries," Rex continued. Almec looked nervous like he was afraid General Kenobi was skulking around waiting to unleash the wrath of the Force him.
"The Emperor and Lord Wrath…"
"Are not here," Rex stated, "You have a choice to make, either stand down or be executed. I will not offer you a choice again; this is your only choice. Choose wisely among the stormtroopers even those pointing at us are my men, it could be one man, it could be hundreds, are you willing to take that chance?"
"Will you give your life for Lord Wrath's," the Duchess began standing atop the table, so that all eyes were on hers, "Or the Emperor's? Would he give his life for yours? It certainly doesn't hurt the Emperor to have loyal citizens lay down their lives. We may be citizens of the Empire or the Rebellion, but first and foremost we have a duty to Mandalore? Who will lay down their arms and join me?"
Slowly, a few of the stormtroopers shrugged while others made a move to blast the Duchess then and there. Fives was close to her, and he pushed her down, covering her body with his.
"Get off me," Satine ordered.
"As you wish, your highness," replied Fives as he pulled out both blasters and protected her. The 501st moved out of the way as Dogma threw a small grenade destroying half of the forces. He shrugged, that was one way to go about it.
"Now I repeat, who will join us?" Satine asked. The stormtroopers scattered rushing away from the 501st, Death Watch, and the Kryze sisters. "Take him to the brig and contact the Emperor," Satine told Death Watch.
Satine took Almec to the prisons and locked him up again; never again will you oppress the people of Mandalore. As she was leaving she found Bo-Katan and Korkie waiting for her
"Aunt Satine, I'm glad to see you." said Korkie
"And I am glad to see you are unharmed."
"Not really," shrugged Korkie, "the stormtroopers had more prominent rebels to deal with."
"Indeed," said Bo-Katan, "these cells were packed with those who did not support the imperial regime. I just now finished getting them all out of here."
"We wont have to worry about that anymore," assured Satine, gesturing towards Almec.
"You Kryzes wont get away with this!" he spat as Bo-Katan kicked him into his cell.
"Looks like we will," smirked Bo-Katan as she, Satine, and Korkie returned to the throne room.
Rex, Korkie, and Bo-Katan watched as Satine went through Almec's datapad. Satine went hooked it up to the transmitter in front of the throne and sent a holo-transmission to the Emperor; unfortunately her call was rerouted to Darth Wrath. She shivered as she saw his dark face appear. He smiled widely at her. "Ah, my pet, just what can you do for me?" he asked, and Satine was speechless for a moment. What could she do for him? Why he hadn't changed a bit! He was as despicable as ever!
"Master Jedi," she began as his face darkened.
"My name, my pet, is Darth or Lord Wrath, I am no more a Jedi than you are," he said and made a motion with his hand, which left her gasping for breath. "Now hurry up, I'm a busy man, and I do not have time for your games, Wermo" sneering as he used the slave name Darth Maul had given the duchess. Satine however, ignored him, addressing him with as much regality as she could muster.
"Mandalore is formally joining the Rebel Alliance; we decline to accept any help or aide from the Empire."
"Don't test my patience, girl."
"I am not a girl; I am Duchess Satine Kryze Kenobi, wife of Jedi General and High Councilman Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Imbecile. Did you tell him what happened at Jabba's?" the former Jedi sneered.
"Obi-Wan loves me for who I am not for the past you forced on me."
"Well, is there anything else? Be gone with you I have people to torture, planets to enslave, get on with it!"
"That will be all, we will not stand for anymore stormtrooper occupation."
"I will have to discuss that with my master," Darth Wrath said.
"So even you answer to someone? Perhaps, you aren't as free as you believe?" she said before the connection was severed. Satine walked toward the window as Korkie and Bo-Katan wrapped their arms around her.
"Duchess, the Death Watch will stay to protect you but the 501st will be returning to the Alliance, we need to report the success of our mission," Rex explained as he gathered his men and prepared to leave. She watched them leave with a heavy heart, she still didn't know the fate of her husband and she missed him dreadfully, and now seeing the Fallen Jedi had brought back many memories she had thought she had put away forever. She missed her husband and her daughters. Soon she would leave her sister and nephew in charge and return to them. Once she knew Mandalore was safe.