"How can our forces stand up to them?"
"Ahor has several dozen fighters at his disposal. That will give us air superiority," Carnada assured them. "Between those, Shilrakaen's six Z-95's and its anti-aircraft guns, dropping off troops will be very difficult for them."
"Again, if you can get your council to actually use those guns."
Carada was unfazed by their doubt. "There is no if."
No one tried to question her again.
"Mandalore, how are your preparations going in Davn?"
"Extremely well," she told them. "My envoy is currently working with the Infiltrators and his reports suggest that they will turn on their brethren."
Teller stood behind Thayla and Jon, who were seated in the circle of leaders, commanders, owners and elected officials. He was surprised by how calm they were, listening to her speak.
"Make sure you are coordinating with the rest of our forces there," Carnada told Mandalore.
"I haven't heard any of these supposed reports." The holographic gentleman interjecting was wearing an old but very well-kept military uniform, though Teller couldn't recognize what war or faction it belonged to. He had a handlebar mustache and was quite old, but still held an aura of authority around himself. "We require full cooperation from all of our resistance groups in Davn, if we are going to make this work."
"The Mandalorians are the greatest warriors the galaxy has ever seen. Don't think for one moment that we need help from your peasant militia."
The man started to respond, but Carnada cut him off. "Mandalore, I implore you to see the value in trading information. A coherent battle strategy is key to victory, whether your troops are peasants or the greatest warriors in the galaxy. For the sake of those you will be fighting with, please extend to them the same courtesy that they have extended to you."
Mandalore pondered for a moment. "Fine, you can have your reports, if they are so important to you."
Once again, the old man's response was cut off by Carnada. "Excellent. That is settled, once and for all. We will conclude for today, but I'd like to thank each and every one of you for making history. By being here, you are telling the people of Centrallis that they matter and that their voices are going to be heard."
Several of the holograms disappeared before the High Counselor could even finish her speech. Mandalore was among them.
The rest gave a quick goodbye before phazing out of existence. The members who had attended in person rose from their seats and stopped to shake hands before heading for the door.
Teller quickly noticed that an entire group of mousy attendants had gathered outside the door, leading each of the Demagogues in a different direction.
Thayla was buzzing with excitement when the room had cleared and she was finally able to speak to Carnada.
"Jedi," the High Counselor called out. "You were surprisingly quiet during the proceedings."
"It was just a pleasure seeing you in action. You took control of the room like it was nothing."
"A decade ago I served in the Imperial Senate," she said, before scratching her chin. "I guess it was longer than a decade now. Time flies. Anyway, I'm more than accustomed to working with groups who would rather kill each other than compromise."
"That's amazing. Since you have so much sway, I was hoping we could ask you for your assistance with something very important."
"Jamie is already on her way here."
Thayla was completely shocked to hear this.
However, what was more surprising was that the statement hadn't come from Carnada, but from Jon.
"How do you know that?"
Jon simply shrugged and gave Thayla a look.
Carnada still managed to put the pieces together. "I've heard about you Jedi and your strange abilities. Yes, I've been negotiating with the Mandalorians for some time."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Thayla exclaimed.
Carnada took a long pause before answering, seeming to chew on her words before finally uttering, "There are a lot of groups on Centrallis, and the Jedi and the Mandalorians are not the only long-time rivals. I will simply say that your daughter is not the only hostage negotiation that I've had to deal with in the past week alone."
"Oh…"
"Until the girl was here and safe, I didn't plan on disclosing anything, but I suppose with Jedi secrets are very hard to keep."
She looked at Jon, expecting him to have an outburst, but he just shrugged. "I just want my daughter back. Do whatever you have to do to make that happen."
"I assure you, I shall. Now, I think it would be best for you to return to your quarters. Eighteen will guide you back out of the sight of any Blood Battalion informants."
The same girl who had led them to the comm center arrived at the door and beckoned them to follow.
Jack carefully hung his uniform with that care that was expected of a member of the Brass, especially a high-ranking one. However, he didn't get to spend more than a few minutes in his fatigues before a call came in on his transmitter.
"This is Blood Battalion Officer Third Brass Jack Orin. Respond?"
The glowing blue hologram appeared in the tiny apartment he had rented with the expense account allotted to him by the Blood Battalion.
"Respond?"
The fuzzy image slowly grew more clear, until a Mandalorian warrior appeared before him, with crystals protruding from its armor. "It's good to see you, Jack."
"It is always nice to greet one of the greatest warriors in the galaxy. How may I assist you, Mandalorian?"
The warrior looked at him, confused, before suddenly being hit by a realization. "Jack, it's Hyne."
"Hyne?"
"Yes, it finally happened. I've taken control of the Mandalorians."
Orin just stared with his mouth hanging open.
"I'm sorry. I didn't call you because it all happened pretty fast, but I have become the leader of the greatest-"
"You went native."
Hyne was surprised by his response. "Excuse me?"
"You went native. They trained us for this. You never get invested."
"I didn't."
"You are there to do a job, Hyne."
"Well, now I have a better job."
"You're living amongst the savages. You're like a gundark wrangler at a zoo that's decided to live in the cages."
"Stop it."
"You're just another glorified raider. Those people are common thugs with better marketing."
"I am Mandalore, ruler of the First Tribe, and you will not speak to me this way!" Hyne exclaimed.
Jack crossed his arms, defiantly. "I always thought you were better than this, Fiona."
Hyne looked down at the ground, but eventually came back up to look him in the eyes. "I didn't come here to fight. There is something you need to know."
"What?"
"Quite simply, that the Blood Battalion is doomed."
