Author's Note: For the purposes of my story the events that occurred last chapter (when Alrich Wren was rescued and the Duchess was deployed) happened just after sunset, so it was basically night time at that point.
Mandalore - Outer Rim Territories
3rd person POV...
Approaching the battlefield from the air filled the Mandalorians and rebels with immense surprise and horror, seeing nothing but complete devastation. A few smoking Imperial tanks and transports lay scattered around the area, as well as the bodies of stormtroopers. But as for the Mandalorian strike force that attacked to create a diversion was nowhere to be found... not even their bodies, just piles of ash and charred armor.
Mara landed on the ground with the rest of the group, staring wide-eyed at the devastation surrounding them—Merrin and Cal appeared in a column of green magick. Sabine was farther ahead of them all, guilt and anguish rolling off of her as she surveyed the area.
"What happened here?" Ezra murmurs uneasily.
"Where are the survivors of this battle?" Bo-Katan asks in wary confusion, looking around in astonishment. "The wounded... the victors?"
"I see, only the defeated," Alrich Wren replies sadly.
Mara looked around her with a growing sense of fear and anguish, reaching out into the Force while trying to spot any signs of life.
"Dad?" she calls out, taking off at a jog. "Please... please, please..."
Kanan frowns in concern while Cal and Merrin share a worried look. Ezra takes notice of one of the piles of ash, realizing that some of it was the partially disintegrated remains of a Mandalorian warrior's beskar armor.
"Mandalorian armor?" he asks incredulously. "What could do this?"
"A weapon did this," Alrich explains grimly. "A weapon, created by my daughter."
Sabine collapses to her knees over one of the piles of ash and armor, breaking down into silent sobs while the others look on in sadness and disbelief. Bo-Katan takes a few steps forward with narrowed eyes, bewildered by what Alrich just said.
"What are you talking about?" she asks him, looking down at one of the piles of ash. "I've heard that there were rumors the Empire was working on a weapon to neutralize Mandalorian armor... that it had even been tested on our people, but I didn't believe it."
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid it is true," Fenn Rau sighs bitterly. "Based on what I'm seeing... the Empire may have already finished such a weapon."
"The Empire didn't create it," Sabine corrects him in a trembling voice. "I did. This is all my fault."
"Are you and Alrich both saying that you are responsible for this weapon?" Bo-Katan demands, her voice hardening.
"...I did," she whispers guiltily.
"Sabine you can't blame yourself for this!" Ezra protests incredulously. "You tried-"
Everything my father said was true Ezra!" Sabine suddenly snaps in a grief-induced rage, getting to her feet. "This is my work! I created the weapon that did this, and because of me, the Empire is going to turn my world into a graveyard! Because of me, Mandalorians are going to die! Because of me, Jarik Shan—the galaxy's greatest hope against the Empire—is now dead!"
"Dad?!" Mara calls out once more.
She rushes around the smoldering battlefield desperately seeking for any sign of Jarik, refusing to believe that he is among the fallen. She then pauses, detecting the signs of life near a transport obscured by smoke, spotting several figures limping out from behind it. Widening her eyes with newfound hope, Mara immediately takes off over in their direction while calling out to the others.
"Guys! I found survivors!" she exclaims, gaining their attention.
As the small group exits the smoke cloud, their identities become more clear: Tristan is helping Ursa limp forward, whereas and unconscious Raman is being dragged along by Crassus and Shae, his arms gripped around their shoulders. All five of them were covered in ash and dust, several scorch marks adorning their armor. Mara's grin falters at seeing no sign of Jarik, but she nevertheless presses forward. Sabine also comes sprinting over as fast as she could, the rest of the group following behind her.
"Mara?" Crassus mutters in surprise.
"Tristan! Mother!" Sabine shouts in tearful relief, before her guilt swiftly rushes back. "I- I thought I lost you!"
"We were caught at the edge of the weapons range," Ursa tells her, and Sabine moves to her other side to support her. "Thanks to your warning, we made it out."
"Many of the others weren't so lucky," Tristan states bitterly.
"What... about my Dad?" Mara asks anxiously, her fear returning.
Fenn Rau and Kanan both take the place of Crassus and Shae in carrying Raman.
"I... I don't know," Shae replies worriedly.
"Did he have Mandalorian armor on?" Cal asks cautiously.
"Yes..." Mara whispers, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please... please tell me he's alive!"
Before any of them could answer, another voice echoes across the battlefield.
"MEATBAGS! STOP CHATTERING! I NEED YOU HERE NOW!"
Everyone turns their heads to look in surprise at the sound of the voice, and spot the slightly obscured figure of HK-47 in the distance.
"Everyone get over there. Rau, Alrich and I can take care of the wounded," Kanan advises.
Mara was barely listening before she took off running for HK-47, pleading with the Force to not crush her hope again. Ezra, Cal, Merrin, Bo-Katan, and Shae followed behind her while the rest stayed put, Sabine, Tristan, and Crassus refusing to leave their respective parent's side. As they get closer, they see a few other surviving Mandalorians with the assassin droid as well, although they were all in poor shape. Zhianaa and Krunald were practically being carried by HK, stumbling dangerously on their feet, while Jag was a few feet behind them on his hands and knees.
"Guys! You're okay!" Shae exclaims in relief, before frowning in concern. "Where's Phanaa and Kira? Did they..."
"Statement: Phanaa is over there..." HK replies, pointing towards a ruined transport.
They looked over to see Phanaa also on her hands and knees, though she did not seem to be in as much physical pain as Jag was. However, it was quite clear that she was experiencing a much different form of pain. Shae takes a few moments before widening her eyes in alarm, quickly rushing over to her side while Bo-Katan, Cal, and Merrin help in supporting Zhianaa, Krunald, and Jag; the latter three had clearly sustained several burns over their bodies, mostly on one or two of their limbs each. HK continues talking
"...but as for Kira..." HK pauses for a moment. "Musing: I last noticed her being pulled out of the air by means of the Force, after foolishly charging in our direction in complete disregard to my warning."
Mara's breath catches and she tries to ask him something, but fear keeps her voice trapped in her throat. The question was obvious however, so Ezra asked it for her.
"What about Jarik? Did you see him?" he anxiously asks the droid.
"Statement: He ran after Kira to try and stop her foolish charge," HK explains. "He did have the foresight to rip off his own Mandalorian armor, as the weapon exclusively targets vibranium."
Mara's flooding sense of relief was quickly quelled by the fact that he still wasn't anywhere to be found.
"So he's still alive!" Ezra says, smiling at Mara.
"Musing: Actually, that is still up for debate seeing as his prosthetic arm is also made of-" HK begins saying.
"Do not finish that sentence, assassin droid," Bo-Katan interrupts coolly. "I can not believe Shan would be felled by this."
"Then where is he?" Merrin asks worriedly.
Mara breathes heavily, recalling the lessons she's been given by her adoptive parents in an attempt to control her emotions and keep a level head, and resumes looking around in a frantic attempt to find her father, stretching out her senses. Her search is brief as she notices movement a short distance away as a result of a fluttering cape being disturbed. Sensing a familiar presence in the Force steadily growing in strength, she gasps in relief and runs as fast as she could, prompting Ezra to follow after momentary surprise.
"Dad!" she whispers, getting closer and closer. "Dad!"
As soon as Mara is by his side she drops to the ground, pulling the cape off to reveal both Jarik and Kira stirring out of unconsciousness with pained groans, the former having covered the latter as a means to use himself as a living shield. Mara helps pull Jarik off of Kira and sit him up, which he does so with weary eyes and groans of pain; Ezra also helps to support Kira as she regains consciousness.
"Mara...?" Jarik murmurs.
"Daddy!" she cries, flinging her arms around him in a desperate hug. "Do you always have to make me think you got killed?!"
"It's not on purpose, sweetheart," he replies with a pained chuckle.
"Hey, Kira, you alright?" Ezra asks in concern.
"Yeah, yeah I think I'm good," she murmurs, holding a hand to her head. "Is everyone..."
Kira widens her eyes in shock at the sight surrounding them, astonishment quickly turning to horror at the realization that this devastation was all the remained of their strike force. Mara on the other hand looks at Jarik's left arm, concerned at how the top of his hand was partially melted.
"Dad, your hand..." she says softly.
Jarik glances down at his hand with a sigh.
"It's not the worst thing... probably the most painful though," he mutters. "Where's everyone else."
Whatever response would've followed was interrupted by the loud scream of rage and grief from Phanaa, who was still kneeling on the ground before a pile of what used to be a living Mandalorian warrior, while Shae did her best to console her.
After confirming that there were no more survivors, everyone regrouped together where Kanan, Rau, Crassus, Raman, and the Wrens were still at. Ursa was well enough to stand, being supported by her son and husband. Raman was now conscious but sitting on the ground, forcing himself not to focus on the dull but burning pain he could feel from his left leg due to receiving a shock from the weapon. Likewise, Zhianaa, Krunald and Jag had received burns from the weapon, but they were minor, and only Jag was unable to stand. Phanaa was fully without injury and stood in silence like a stone wall, only there were tears spilling down her cheeks; Shae and Kira were doing their best to console her.
"I'm so sorry Phanaa," Shae says sorrowfully, she and Kira withholding their own grief at the loss.
"She never even told me... I- I could've done something!" Phanaa whispers, her lip trembling. "Why...? Why would she do that?"
"You can't blame yourself, Phanaa!" Kira insists.
"I could've pulled her with me!" she argues.
"Phanaa, there is no place for blaming yourself over your mother's choices," Raman quietly advises her. "Kayli loved you as any mother would her child. Do not fall into despair over her sacrifice for you."
"He's right. Your mother knew the risk, yet she never hesitated," Bo-Katan adds in support. "Honor her memory."
Phanaa glanced at the two of them before returning her upset gaze to the ground. Jarik looked on sadly, mourning the loss of another great person who he never got the chance to call a friend. It felt a bit more personal to him seeing as Kayli was once in love with his own father, Marcus.
"So, what's our next move?" Krunald asks.
"Statement: I would suggest a return to base. We're far too exposed out here," HK-47 states.
"I agree with the droid. Clan Saxon will be back soon," Raman says.
"And we also need to get you all back so your injuries can be treated," Kanan adds.
"Problem is, we don't have a ride," Cal points out.
"Neither can I teleport such a large group of people," Merrin adds.
"I'll contact the Nite Owls for pickup," Bo-Katan says.
Before she could do so, Chopper rolls forward with urgent beeps, his antenna rotating above him.
"Looks like Chopper's picked up something," Ezra explains.
"More survivors?" Crassus asks hopefully.
Rau puts his helmet on and scans the skies, giving a grim response.
"No. The Empire's coming back to finish the job," he reveals.
His statement quickly becomes true as a squad of flying Imperial super commandos are visible on the horizon, fast approaching their position. HK-47 takes less than a second to assess the approaching Mandalorians before he aims his blaster and begins shooting. With pinpoint accuracy, one of the commandos is struck in the face by a blaster bolt and falls out of the sky, while the rest return fire. Mara, Kanan, Ezra, and Cal rush to the groups defense by igniting their lightsabers, deflecting bolts headed for anyone around them. Jarik raises his left arm to let a shot bounce off the metal harmlessly, as it did not suffer any serious damage beyond what was inflicted to the hand.
"We're too exposed out here!" Cal exclaims.
Laser bolts striking the ground close to the injured prompt both Sabine and Phanaa into a wild rage, the latter seeking vengeance for her mother. She charges forward with an enraged scream, taking flight with her jetpack, whereas Sabine ignites the Darksaber, firing at the commandos with her blaster. Merrin stood still for a few seconds as her hands began to glow, before thrusting her arms outward to create a translucent green shield around the group that wards off blaster fire.
"I can't hold this forever," she warns, her face contorted into intense concentration.
"And several of us can't fight," Bo-Katan adds, glancing at the group. "The injured need to be moved away quickly!"
"Ezra, you take Sabine's mother and father!" Kanan states.
"Got it!" he replies, waving to them. "Come on!"
He and Chopper start leading them over towards the nearby speeder bike, while Jarik helps Shae and Crassus move the injured over towards Merrin, mainly helping Raman and Jag to move.
"I can fight!" Jag growls in protest.
"No you can't," Jarik retorts firmly.
"He's right," Raman says in bitter agreement. "Crassus, you, Krunald and Kira need to get Phanaa back here."
"You might need to teleport them out," Cal advises Merrin.
"I'll try," she murmurs, shrinking the bubble a bit so just the injured are covered, also allowing her to conserve some power.
Phanaa slammed her foot into the head of an Imperial commando before tackling another, slamming them into the ground as hard as she could. She angrily shoots him dead with her blaster before focusing on the other commandos; Sabine also tackles a commando out of the air, slamming him against a transport before viciously slashing the Darksaber across his chest.
Fenn Rau and Bo-Katan both engaged the commandos from the air, flying around while shooting their blasters in order to outmaneuver their opponents. While Cal remains near Merrin and the injured for protection, Kanan and Mara rush around deflecting blaster fire with their lightsabers, trying to thin the commandos ranks by splitting them up amongst different targets. Jarik uses his flesh hand to fire back at the commandos with his blaster pistol, covering himself with his prosthetic arm against incoming shots. HK-47 casually sidesteps a few blaster bolts and then throws a sonic detonator at a trio of commandos; the resulting detonation sends all three tumbling to the ground with yells of pain as their eardrums burst.
"Statement: I'm certain we can eliminate all of these meatbags," HK says, unconcerned.
Jarik warily observes one of the Imperial commandos, sensing surprise and recognize from them.
"Not if they call reinforcements," he disagrees with the assassin droid.
Before the commando could attempt to contact anyone, Jarik reaches out with the Force and pulls him down from the sky. At the same time, Mara leaps forward and swiftly kicks him in the head before he hit the ground, knocking him out cold. Meanwhile, another commando noticed the escape attempt by Ezra's group, and shot a rocket that destroyed the speeder, sending them sprawling.
"Are you alright?" Ursa asks Ezra in concern.
"Better than the bike!" he groans bitterly.
Phanaa rammed into a commando as hard as she could, pinning him to the wall before punching him repeatedly as a means of expressing her anger. Crassus and Krunald engaged nearby commandos that she overlooked while Kira rushed over to Phanaa, who was still punching the commando over and over even though he was already unconscious.
"Phanaa! Phanaa, stop! We've got to go!" Kira exclaims.
"I need justice!" she shouts angrily, still punching away.
"Listen to me!" Kira snaps, forcefully shoving her around. "You can have it later, but now is not the time!"
Phanaa growls at her but reluctantly concedes, giving the commando one last kick before running back to the others with her; Kanan had also pulled Sabine away from her rage, and soon everyone was grouped back together in a circle while the remaining commandos encircled them in the air to prevent any escape attempts.
"They've cut us off!" Ezra exclaims.
Two commandos fire their rockets, which explode against Merrin's shield and knock her down with a startled cry. The situation becomes worse as the recognizable screaming of TIE Fighters reaches their ears, signaling a small squad flying towards them. Fortunately for them, one of the TIE's is suddenly shot down by a Gauntlet fighter, which swiftly heads in their direction. The Gauntlet also takes out a few surprised commandos before landing on the ground with its entry ramp open, Bo-Katan already at there and waving to the rest.
"Come on!" she urges.
"I'll take him," Merrin says, referring to Raman.
The others waste no time in retreating to the Gauntlet fighter, Crassus and Krunald helping Jag move while Merrin disappears in a flash of green alongside Raman, having teleported into the ship. HK takes the opportunity to shoot down the last commando moments before Bo-Katan intended to, earning her irritation, as the last of the group runs up the ramp. As soon as they're in the ship takes off once more, with Rau rushing to the cockpit while the others get settled, Jarik assisting his cousins in situating Raman as comfortably as possible on one of the benches. The ship shakes violently when a green laser bolt strikes the left wing, prompting Sabine and Jarik to join Rau and the Nite Owl pilot in the cockpit.
"Weapons are down. We're losing power!" the Mandalorian says in concern.
"I can keep us in the air but we can't take another hit like that!" Sabine replies, immediately ducking below to boost the ship's power.
Jarik stands behind Rau's chair in the cockpit, intently watching the two TIE Fighters soar past them out the window. At the same time, Bo-Katan marches up to the troop deployment hatch and opens it, Ezra and Mara following behind her in surprise.
"Where are you going? Rau said our weapons are down," Ezra points out.
"A Mandalorian with a jetpack is a weapon," Bo-Katan retorts calmly, jumping out into open air.
"I'm not a..." Ezra protests, before sighing. "Mandalorian. I don't want to be a Mandalorian."
"It's alright Ez, I got this one," Mara grins confidently in reply.
"Please, by all means!" he remarks, still uncomfortable with jetpacks.
Mara lifts her cowl over her head then pulls her goggles down over her eyes, following Bo-Katan's example by dropping out of the hatch. Ezra watches her go before jumping in surprise at the sudden appearance of HK-47 standing beside him.
"Musing: That certainly looks fun," he remarks.
"You joining them too?" Ezra asks incredulously.
"Statement: I wish," HK scoffs irritably. "Unfortunately, I have no flight capability."
After dropping out of the gauntlet fighter, Mara's breath caught in her throat as she stared wide-eyed at the clouds below her, momentarily panicking at the height. Steeling her nerves however, she takes off with her jetpack after Bo-Katan, who was further ahead. She watches in awe as Bo-Katan shoots out a grappling line just before passing the lead TIE, swiveling around before reeling herself in.
Mara's distraction cost her however, as when facing forward again she flailed her arms in alarm due to the second TIE Fighter being directly in her path. Using a combination of her jetpack and the Force, she managed to soften her impact against the cockpit, though she still lets out a groan of pain. Flattened against the viewport by the intense wind, Mara catches a glimpse of the startled pilot inside, and sheepishly waves her hand. The pilot starts jerking his ship from side to side in an attempt to dislodge her, and she clings on for dear life.
Getting an idea, she edges toward the wing and pulls out her lightsaber, however another jerking motion throws her off with a startled cry. Flailing her saber around, she still manages to cut through the wing completely, sending both Mara and the TIE Fighter tumbling out of the air. Reorienting herself in the air with her jetpack, Mara stops for a moment and notices the pilot had also managed to escape his predicament, and was now hanging from his chair's parachute. With a grin on her face she flies to stop in front of him, much to his surprise.
"You seem to be pretty 'TIED' up," she teases.
"You little..." he snaps in frustration, unable to do anything but float downwards.
Laughing, she smacks the top of his helmet before following Bo-Katan back to the Gauntlet fighter, which had slowed down to pick them up.
Tiber Saxon's Star Destroyer, Sundari - Mandalore
3rd person POV...
In the bridge's command center of Tiber Saxon's Star Destroyer, he and Captain Hark stood in front of a holographic screen showing a recording of the recent battle that took place between the Mandalorians and Imperial forces; Lorka and Rook stood a few feet farther back. Beside them stood a hologram of Marshal Gideon, who held his hands behind his back with a curious expression on his face.
"In this recording you will see the first test trial, of the weapon used against the the traitorous clans," Tiber states with a prideful grin.
The man glances over at Tiber for a moment, taking note of his demeanor, and then refocuses his attention on the recording. The Mandalorians of clan's Wren and Ordo attack viciously, with the Imperials struggling to press back against them. The camera then focuses on a scout walker sitting between several troop transports, of a much different design than the normal walkers. Blue light begins to emanate from the armaments, and then large bolts of electricity shoot out of the arc pulse generator stationed at the front of the walker. The attacking Mandalorians are suddenly struck by the lightning, letting out screams of agony before collapsing to the ground in a pile of ash.
Despite knowing of the weapon's existence, and its capabilities, Captain Hark nevertheless was unable to suppress an uneasy grimace at seeing it in action. Rook and Lorka on the other hand were appalled, staring at the video recording in shock. To them, the sight of Mandalorians being disintegrated by their very own armor was horrific; knowing that it was at the behest of a Mandalorian was even more astonishing. The pair looked on with wide eyes, bewilderment and disbelief keeping their anger at bay.
"As you see, the arc generator's energy pulse is drawn to the beskar alloy in the Mandalorians armor, superheating it, and instantly vaporizing the target," Tiber states with a smile, looking at the screen which shows the arc generator ignoring the stormtroopers. "All the while, doing no harm to our Imperial stormtroopers. The weapon is fully operational as promised, Marshal Gideon."
"This display does show it to be quite effective, Governor Saxon," Gideon remarks, turning to face him. "I do find it rather ironic that it turns the properties of beskar, legendary for its strength, into a crippling weakness. I'd imagine that strikes particularly hard at the heart of Mandalorian tradition, does it not?"
"Grand Admiral Thrawn said the Emperor wanted this uprising dealt with quickly; this will end it," Tiber says firmly.
"Indeed. However, I feel that I should point out to you the major flaw in your weapon: its limited range," Gideon states, raising an eyebrow as Tiber grimaces. "I know that you promised the Grand Admiral a much greater output than this... or you thought I wouldn't have noticed?"
"I only had pieces of the prototype, marshal. I've done all I could!" he says defensively.
"You promised a weapon capable of decimating entire armies, yet this only handled a small margin of that," he states with narrowed eyes, putting on a show of disinterest. "Considering what is coming, I'd say you need its full capabilities."
"What do you mean?" Tiber asks.
"You're not aware?" Gideon questions, looking back at him. "Our agents in ISB have heard rumors that Clan Wren and Clan Ordo are in the possession of two artifacts: the Darksaber, and Mandalore's Mask."
Tiber Saxon widens his eyes in surprise and disbelief, while the other three Mandalorians present in the room whipped their heads over the gaze between the two in astonishment, sharing looks of surprise.
"What?!" Tiber demands angrily.
"Of course, nothing is confirmed," Gideon adds casually. "But as I understand it, if they do possess both artifacts, then that would enable them to unite all the Houses of Mandalore against the Empire... am I correct?"
"I assure you, marshal, that will never happen!" Tiber declares fiercely. "If that is true, then I'll see to it that both relics are destroyed immediately!"
Hark, Lorka, and Rook all stare at Saxon incredulously, though Tiber ignores the look, whereas Gideon raises an eyebrow at him. Lorka's hands curl into fists in outrage, with Rook not faring much better.
"Hmm... you're different than your brother. How would Gar Saxon feel about your willingness to betray your heritage?" Gideon asks curiously.
"He no longer feels anything," Tiber says dismissively. "I have evolved, and Mandalore must evolve with me; not continue to cling onto simple relics of the ancient past."
"I see. Since you care nothing for both items, I'd be happy to relieve you of the trouble they represent, if you don't mind?" he asks.
"If you wish for both artifacts, then I shall see them delivered to you, marshal," he replies with a nod. "A Mandalorian is no more than a common soldier without these things, or the armor that they cherish. I assure you, fear, will compel them to join the Empire."
"We shall see, Governor," Gideon says thoughtfully. "As it so happens, I already launched a strike against several clans who have not chosen to join us. With them scattered and distant from each other, it should be no problem for you and Count Gedyc's forces to deliver a crushing blow if they still resist us."
"Understood, marshal. Gaining their compliance will be of little trouble," Tiber says contendedly.
"We... shall see to it as well, Marshal Gideon," Rook adds in a neutral tone, proclaiming her and Lorka's consent.
There is some hesitance to her response however, her admiration of Gideon's qualities partially shaken by his involvement with a weapon that goes against her entire culture. If Gideon noticed her discomfort, he didn't acknowledge it.
"Very good," he nods in satisfaction. "As for the weapon Governor, I suggest you gain the assistance of someone who actually does understand its functioning: Sabine Wren is the weapon's creator, is she not?"
"She is," Tiber confirms.
"Then use her," he orders, and Tiber nods in reply.
With that being said, Gideon's hologram vanishes. As soon as he's gone, the raging emotions of the three Mandalorians explodes outward.
"Are you out of your kriffing mind?!" Lorka shouts incredulously.
"Is there a problem, Count Gedyc?" Tiber asks irritably with a raised eyebrow.
"A problem? No, this is something much worse than a simple problem, Saxon," he growls seethingly. "Ni'duraa!"
"I'd suggest you control yourself before even attempting to speak with me," he says dismissively.
Lorka scowls at him and prepares to march forward, but Rook holds him back with a shake of her head.
"Governor, I mean no disrespect, but what will stop the Empire from using the weapon on us as well?" Hark asks uneasily.
"Unquestioning loyalty, captain," Tiber responds.
"And if Marshal Gideon's reports are true? That Clan Wren and Clan Ordo are in possession of Mandalore's Mask and the Darksaber?" Captain Hark asks. "We can't just throw them away! We could use them to unite Mandalore under our banner instead!"
"And sink to the lows of the rest of the Clans by pledging our loyalty to mere trinkets?" Tiber retorts with a disgusted look on his face. "I think not. After all, our blind devotion to such things is precisely the reason that Mandalore was fractured by Revan so long ago. It's time Mandalore evolved past this petty nonsense with the Shan family."
Captain Hark looks down in defeat, bitter and frustrated, while the other two glare angrily at him.
"It is Mandalorian tradition, Tiber," Rook states firmly. "You can't be so arrogant to assume that you have the power to wipe it all away in favor of your own rule!"
"I assure you Kast, with the Duchess on my side, I most certainly can," Tiber smugly replies with a smirk, before walking away. "Now, find Sabine Wren."
Hark stiffly nods in acknowledgement of the order while Rook narrows her eyes furiously at Saxon's retreating form. As soon as he's gone, Lorka reaches behind him for the power hammer strapped to his back, his weapon of choice, and angrily smashes it against the wall to create a large dent. Hark jumps slightly in surprise from the action but doesn't comment, empathizing with his rage, while Rook doesn't react aside from a small grimace.
Jarik POV...
It was still a few hours away before the sun would start to rise again; we were almost back to the command camp, and luckily there was no sign that we were being followed by Imperial forces. After returning from her little 'trip' with Bo-Katan on jetpacks Mara anxiously returned to my side seeking comfort in my presence. I held her gently with my right arm as a silent assurance that I wasn't seeking to frighten her by almost dying anytime soon, and she accepted my embrace by leaning her head against me. Everyone was relatively silent on the way back to the camp, the Mandalorians especially reeling with horror at the devastation caused to their people by the weapon.
"How are you all doing?" I ask Crassus.
"Not well, to be completely honest," he murmurs in reply. "It's hard to consider the mission a success after losing so many."
I nod my head sympathetically, feeling that words can wait for a little bit. Phanaa was sitting in the corner, still sulking in grief despite Kira's attempts to console her.
"Statement: I've never encountered a weapon such as this before," HK-47 remarks. "There aren't many things capable of doing such damage to vibranium, let alone incinerate Mandalorians within their armor."
"What I want to know is how the Empire accomplished making such a weapon," Raman adds, frowning grimly.
From what I can sense, Raman's comment seems to cause a rise of tension among several people in the room, as well as waves of guilt from Sabine. I turn around to see Tristan approaching Sabine, his expression towards her hardening.
"You told us you destroyed it," he says with restrained anger and frustration.
"I did!" Sabine replies helplessly. "The Empire must've rebuilt it somehow-"
Phanaa whips her head up with a disbelieving scowl of rage, jumping to her feet.
"You created that thing?!" she demands furiously.
Kira moves to stop Phanaa from charging at her, but someone else got to Sabine first. Having stormed into the room with pent up rage, Bo-Katan gripped Sabine's shoulder and then swung her around to hit the wall, pinning her there with an arm held at her throat.
"You're a Mandalorian!" Bo-Katan roars furiously, glaring down at her. "Why would you create such an abomination?! This is the weapon of a hut'uun!"
Ezra went to diffuse the situation but was held back by Kanan, who shook his head. Likewise, Crassus kept Shae from going to intervene, while Phanaa was stilled by Kira's hand on her shoulder, as well as Sabine already at the mercy of an angry Mandalorian. Mara jumped at the sudden commotion and looked up at me uncertainly, but I shook my head in response.
"She has to answer for herself," I say quietly.
Sabine's parents knew it as well, as did Raman and Fenn Rau.
"I was young. It was a challenge, and I was arrogant," Sabine replies guiltily, feeling ashamed of herself. "But when I realized the Empire tested it, and actually planned to use it, I sabotaged the prototype and destroyed the plans! I thought that was the end of it, I swear to you!"
Having heard enough to stay her wrathful hand Bo-Katan releases her, albeit with a harsh shove, and gives her a withering glare before turning away. I then take my own turn to diffuse the tension by coughing into my hand.
"Well, if it means anything, I, for one, favor the idea of not making harsh judgements over what happened in the past," I casually suggest, shrugging my shoulders.
A wry smile spreads across Raman's face.
"Indeed," he remarks.
"Statement: And I thought the Mass Shadow Generator was creative," HK-47 says.
I shut my eyes with a frustrated sigh, knowing full well that was only going to piss everybody off. Phanaa whips around to glare at HK, and begins storming towards him.
"Why you-!" she snarls.
"Woah, easy!" Kira exclaims in alarm.
She, Crassus, and Shae, all jump in front of Phanaa to prevent her from charging at the assassin droid, whereas Krunald and Jag simply glare at him with murderous intent.
"Just let it go," Shae urges.
"It's not worth it," Crassus advises irritably.
Bo-Katan also moved to voice her own displeasure with him.
"I've just about had it with you!" she snaps angrily. "You should learn a little more respect!"
"Bo," I call out, shaking my head at her.
"Just let me punch him once!" Phanaa argues with her friends.
"Enough of this! All of you!" Raman shouts, looking around with a stern glare of disapproval. "This arguing is pointless!"
He gets the desired effect, calming everyone down once more, though simmering tempers still remain. I look over at HK-47 in frustrated exasperation.
"Can you at least spare one circuit of sympathy?" I ask irritably.
"Statement: It's not in my programming," he shrugs dismissively. "I've said it before, I only give my honest opinion, and I don't care if others don't like it."
Mara rolls her eyes at him, while Alrich Wren looks on with a wary frown.
"Who is this droid?" he questions cautiously.
"Query: Who am I?" HK asks, his demeanor brightening up in eager excitement and mischievous glee. "I am-"
"Not important right now," I interrupt with a light glare.
He waves a hand at me as a dismissive insult, but remains quiet.
"What is important, is figuring out how to stop such an abomination of a weapon," Raman states firmly.
"I've got an idea!" Ezra chimes in. "This weapon only targets Mandalorian armor right? So why not make your armor out of something different?"
Every Mandalorian in the room stares at Ezra with narrowed eyes in a mixture of annoyance and disgust at the suggestion.
"I'm going to assume you all don't like that idea?" Cal says.
"Query: And you thought I was the offensive scumbag?" HK-47 scoffs at everyone in the room.
"What?" Ezra asks defensively.
"Ezra, the armor I wear is five hundred years old," Sabine explains. "I reforged it to my liking but, the battles, the history, the blood, all lives within it. And the same goes for every Mandalorian."
"This armor is part of our identity," Alrich adds in support. "It makes us Mandalorians who we are."
I glance down with a small frown at his statement.
"Hmm, I disagree," I say thoughtfully.
HK whips his head to stare incredulously at me, slightly annoyed too. The others all turn towards me as well, several of the Mandalorians looking annoyed.
"Excuse me?" Bo-Katan asks coldly, narrowing her eyes.
"I recognize that I don't have the best position to say this, but your armor is not your most defining trait, anymore than a lightsaber is for me," I tell them. "It only symbolizes your strength."
"So what you're saying is that we might as well disregard our armor altogether?" Phanaa scoffs.
"Or throw away Mandalore's Mask?" Krunald adds, rolling his eyes.
"What I'm saying..." I continue with a sigh of frustration. "...is that Tarre Vizsla became a legend because of who he was, not the equipment he carried. Symbols are a representation for something, not the other way around."
Most of the annoyance fades away as they consider what I'm saying, however Bo-Katan's bitterness still remains as she looks at Sabine once more with a hard stare.
"And now that symbol is going to make us dead," she says, storming off.
Mandalorian camp - Mandalore
Upon our return to the command camp near the cliffs, it became swiftly apparent that something wasn't right. From the air we could see smoke rising from several areas, as well as a few destroyed vehicles and burning structures. I share a concerned glance with Fenn Rau in the cockpit before going to join the others in the hold.
I grimace with pain at a the sudden movement of my arm, placing my right hand against my left shoulder where the prosthetic was joined with my body. The brief moment of contact from the weapon was enough to burn me around the area my skin touched the prosthetic. Considering the state of the rest, it's a miracle that Kira and I got off this lightly.
The ramp opens, and I help Crassus to support Raman as we head outside, all of us pausing for a moment to observe the sight around us.
"What... what happened here?" Kira asks in alarm.
"Were we attacked?" Zhianaa asks worriedly.
"Statement: Clearly-" HK-47 starts to say mockingly.
"Don't even start," I interrupt with a firm glare.
At our landing, a few Mandalorians of Clan Kryze and Clan Ordo came forward, cautiously at first, though they eased up upon recognizing us. However, the moment Sabine steps out of the ship they immediately become hostile, whipping out their blasters and aiming at her.
"Sabine Wren!" one of them roars. "We know you built that weapon, traitor!"
Ezra ignites his lightsaber with a glare on his face, standing protectively beside Sabine. Mara tenses up for a fight as well, although doesn't yet activate her lightsaber, while Raman and the others look around with stern, cautious expressions.
"Stand down, all of you. We have bigger problems to worry about than assigning blame to others," Raman states, looking pointedly at the warriors from his own clan.
"With all due respect Count, the blood of our people is on her hands!" a Clan Ordo warrior states angrily. "She must answer for it!"
"Musing: This is interesting," HK-47 remarks in amusement, though everyone ignores him this time.
"I said, stand down," Raman repeats, glaring now.
Crassus and Kira back up their father in his statement, the latter moving up to stand beside her brother. Those from Clan Ordo falter in their stance, glancing at Raman and each other uncertainty, though the Clan Kryze warriors remain firm.
"I'd listen to them if I were you," Ezra adds as well.
"Stay out of this, Jetii!" one Mandalorian snarls.
The rest of the group continues to filter out of the gauntlet fighter in the meantime, including the rest of Sabine's family.
"Lower your weapons!" Alrich calls out, his arms raised placatingly. "Sabine did everything she could to stop this from happening. You must believe us!"
"Any attack on my daughter, is an attack on Clan Wren," Ursa states fiercely, she and Tristan pointing their blasters.
Some of the Mandalorians switch their aim to include them as well, prompting a tense standoff on both sides. Mara also ignites her lightsaber and holds it by her side as a precaution, glancing around uneasily.
"Maybe we could just talk it over?" she jokes half-heartedly.
"I'm just surprised that for once, in a group of Mandalorians, nobody is pointing a blaster at me," I remark quietly with a shrug. "Doesn't anyone want to aim at me?"
Mara lets out a brief snicker, and a few of the others around us let out small smiles of amusement. I then hear the sound of a blaster being held up to my head, and I glance over to see it being none other than HK-47. Everyone stares at him in surprise while I look at him with a dry expression of annoyance.
"Really?" I deadpan.
"Query: You asked, didn't you?" he asks carelessly.
"Alright, that is it!" Sabine exclaims.
Sabine throws down her helmet and takes a few steps forward, much to Ezra's alarm.
"Sabine, what are you doing?" he demands anxiously, though she shakes brushes past him.
"I'm prepared to take responsibility for my actions," she declares, and everyone's focus turns to her. "It's true, I designed the weapon as a loyal student at the Imperial Academy. The Empire is using my prototype, but it's only functioning at a fraction of its capacity. At full power it will destroy armies!"
"Statement: Sounds familiar," HK-47 remarks.
I turn my head to tell him off again, but before anyone could respond Sabine does first.
"Yes... it does," she says softly, looking depressed for a moment. "And unlike Jarik, I'm the one at fault, not my ancestors."
She glances briefly at me, and I look back with a small nod of encouragement, impressed by her her words and willingness to take action.
"But it's a fault I'm more than willing to correct," she continues once more, growing bolder. "So, you've got a choice to make: we can fight each other, or we can destroy this weapon once and for all!"
I sense Bo-Katan's gaze linger on both me and Sabine, and I turn to look at her. We lock eyes for a moment, noticing the heavy contemplation within her before she takes a step forward towards her warriors.
"I feel and understand your anger, but Sabine is right," she states firmly. "Now is not the time to be divisive. She knows the most about this weapon and how to destroy it. We need her."
After a few more moments of hesitation, the Mandalorians all drop their weapons in acknowledgement, accepting both Sabine's sincere statement and Bo-Katan's reasoning. Likewise, everyone on our side does the same, and I smack aside HK-47's blaster pistol once a few Clan Ordo warriors come forward to take the place of me and Crassus in supporting Raman. As everyone starts walking away, Bo-Katan turns to face Sabine.
"It's time for you to prove your loyalty," she says. "Not just to your family, but to all of Mandalore."
Sabine holds up the Darksaber in her hand uncertainly while Bo-Katan turns her gaze toward me.
"I think we need to talk," she tells me.
"About time," I reply with a small grin, to which she narrows her eyes. "We can chat once we get everything settled."
Bo-Katan stiffly nods her head before heading off, prompting a small scoff from Mara.
"How did Mom ever get along with her?" she asks me.
"Easy. She's not me," I reply, shrugging. "Also, warrior's respect."
Those of us who were injured from the arc generator went to the medical tent to receive aid, although Ursa Wren stubbornly refused help in favor of planning out the next mission in the command tent. While HK went to join them, Mara and I joined my relatives in the medical tent, seeing as I was injured myself. Raman, Jag, Krunald, and Zhianaa were sitting on cots, the former two laying down with bacta patches over their injuries, while Kira, Crassus, Shae, and Phanaa were standing.
"All of them... now dust," Crassus says quietly, still shocked.
"Dust," Phanaa repeats darkly, her voice no more than a murmur.
"I'd rather not think about it right now," Shae sighs bitterly.
"How're you feeling uncle?" I ask, approaching Raman's side.
"I've received worse," he replies with a light scoff.
"He exaggerates. He's never had it as bad as you cousin," Kira calls out in an attempt to lighten the mood of the room.
There's some amusement from everyone, even Phanaa letting out a small scoff, and I smile lightly at the comment. Mara rolls her eyes with a sigh, slugging my right arm.
"I feel like I'm the parent sometimes," she replies.
In response I smack Mara's back with my hand, making her stumble forward slightly in surprise.
"That's cute," I tease her, and she makes a face at me.
Our banter is interrupted when several others rush inside: Zhianaa's parents, Jag and Krunald's mothers, and Phanaa's father among them. They swiftly go towards their respective offspring, but were led in by a few more faces more familiar to me: Aathias, Hadrian, and Shae's parents Jovani and Ivanka.
"Raman! You're alright!" she cries out in relief.
She quickly makes her way over to us in order to hug him, which he returns as best he could from the bed. Kira and Hadrian also share a tight hug with each other, while Shae's parents reacquaint themselves with her, and Crassus too.
"For the most part," Raman replies, grimacing slightly.
"When the attack came, I feared the worst," Aathias continues.
"Attack?" I ask cautiously.
"Mother, what happened here?" Kira asks, referring to the sight of the campsite that greeted us.
"The Empire attacked us," Hadrian answers for her.
Surprise runs over us at the prospect: this camp was supposed to be secret, right?
"It was a hit and run," Jovani goes on to explain. "They used gunships outfitted with E-Web's and rained down fire on us."
"Hit and run? They just fired a few shots and took off?" Mara asks in confusion.
They targeted the younger recruits," Ivanka states bitterly. "They were training in the fields. By the time we were ready for a counterattack, they left."
"Utyc hut'uuns!" Crassus scowls angrily.
"If there was any doubt in my mind that Saxon has no honor, it's already gone," Kira scoffs angrily.
"Where is Kayli?" Ivanka asks, looking around with a concerned frown.
Everybody becomes saddened at the reference to her, and I look down with a sad sigh.
"Don't tell me..." Aathias says in alarm, looking at Raman.
"She gave her life so that Phanaa could live," he says sadly.
Aathias chokes up in despair, forcing her sobs down while Jovani and Ivanka share surprised and disheartened looks with each other, the two of them glancing over to see Phanaa hugging her father, both of them grieving for the third member of their family.
"At least it was her choice," Aathias manages to say.
"I don't know about everyone else, but I want- no, I need to teach some bucketheads just who they're dealing with," Crassus snarls.
"Babe, no," Shae urges anxiously, holding his hand. "Not now."
"She's right son. We can't afford to act rashly right now," Raman adds.
"One thing is certain: Saxon's strike was clearly a message," I chime in, analyzing the situation. "It's a common fear tactic, but no less effective. He wants you afraid."
"Not just us," Aathias interjects with an uneasy frown.
"What do you mean?" Raman asks in confusion.
"We also heard that others all around the planet suffered similar attacks," Jovani explains. "Clan Eldar, Clan Rook, Clan Kryze: they were all hit by the Empire too. Every clan's rising warriors were the target."
Everyone looks at him in astonishment and horror at the prospect, and I share a worried look with Mara. This wasn't just to make Mandalorians afraid: it was also to keep the clans separated, and to punish them for disobeying the Empire by slaughtering those of the next generation.
"I don't believe this..." Shae says softly, anxiously running a hand through her hair.
Kira covers her mouth with a hand to obscure her expression of horror, and Hadrian allows her to lean on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her for comfort. Crassus had his fists clenched with a hard glare of cold fury, whilst Raman looked seriously troubled.
"Well if there's one thing I know about Mandalorians..." I start to say, getting everyone's attention. "They're a tough crowd. You know what that means?"
"What?" Ivanka asks in confusion.
"Bad things will happen if you piss them off," I simply state, giving them all a knowing look.
Several of them all share subtle smiles of agreement with each other, filled with determination and extra motivation, and Kira throws me a grin.
"You sure you're a Jedi cousin?" she jokes. "Because that's pure Mandalorian."
"He is both," Hadrian shrugs.
Tiber Saxon's Star Destroyer - Sundari
3rd person POV...
"Tiber Tiber Tiber Saxon..." Lorka mutters irritably, pacing back and forth. "Not only is he arrogant, he's a traitor to his own culture."
Captain Hark stood nearby with his arms crossed, while Rook was seated on a chair in front of the space that Lorka was pacing, her hands underneath her chin in a troubled expression. The three were meeting together in a smaller, more private room where their conversation wouldn't be overheard by the Mandalore's Governor.
"How could he have gotten like this?!" Lorka demands angrily, whriling around towards Hark with an accusatory tone.
"Calm down Lorka," Rook urges.
He sighs in frustration but acknowledges her with a nod, backing off.
"Trust me, I never thought he would go this far," Hark replies defensively, with some bitterness in his tone. "He argued in support of the weapon because it would enable us to crush the traitors faster."
"And you agreed with that? It is not our way," Rook points out with a frown.
"I know that," he retorts.
"So you willingly agreed to something that is abhorrent to Mandalorian culture?" Lorka scoffs in disgust.
Hark uncrosses his arms and storms up to him with a growl.
"Are you suggesting that I would throw away my heritage too?!" he demands angrily.
"Saxon's your boss, you tell me!" Lorka retorts.
"Enough!" Rook snaps, jumping to her feet and getting between the two. "Bickering solves nothing! We agreed to align ourselves with the Empire, because it has the strength to rebuild our people! We all wish to preserve Mandalorian culture, correct?"
Lorka and Hark both nod their heads.
"The Empire desired our service because we are the greatest warriors in the galaxy," Rook continues to say. "Our alignment is born from the mutual respect of each others strength."
"Not with this weapon," Lorka scowls. "If they can trample us like this, then our strength will mean nothing to them anymore."
"Which is what we cannot afford," she replies in agreement. "We can't let our alliance go to waste."
"I understand. I only wish that Governor Saxon would," Hark says in frustration.
"Tiber is a lost cause," Lorka replies dismissively. "I'd be more than happy to challenge him to single-combat, if not for the fact that he wouldn't care."
"And what of the traitors?" Hark points out. "Sabine Wren will be leading a strike force here soon."
"You actually believe that?" he asks skeptically.
"Misguided as he is, Governor Saxon is no fool with strategy," he argues firmly. "Wren will respond to her guilt and seek to amend for her mistakes by coming to destroy the weapon."
"I imagine Clan Kryze will be with her, given their involvement in the rescue of Alrich Wren," Rook adds.
"Then this presents an opportunity to solve all of our problems simultaneously," Lorka states with a smile. "The issue of the weapon can be resolved with the traitors destroying it. Once that is done, then we can eliminate the lot of them. If everything works out, then we'll have defeated the Mandalorian resistance and secured our position with the Empire. Even Saxon cannot argue with the results, despite the loss of his toy."
"You believe that will work? Saxon has his own plan for Sabine Wren," Hark reminds him.
"I'm sure it will. I recommend you stay by Tiber's side. Ensure the arc generator is not upgraded in whatever way you see fit," he states, his expression suddenly hardening. "I have some personal business to settle with Clan Ordo."
"I can say the same for Bo-Katan," Rook readily adds in agreement.
"Very well," Hark nods in acceptance. "For Mandalore's sake, I hope you succeed in defeating the resistance leaders."
Author's Note: Wasn't expecting to add a fourth part to this story arc, but this ended up being longer than I expect lol. Next chapter will for sure be the end of it though, and I'd say 90% of it will be intense action. It'll be very exciting, that's for sure!
I've said it before and I'll saying it again. Writing with so many characters is hard, because I always feel like someone is being neglected. That's why I only had Cal and Merrin join the team, and not the entire Mantis Crew. :P
MANDO'A TRANSLATION:
Hut'uun - Coward
Jetii - Jedi
Ni'duraa! - You disgust me!
Utyc hut'uuns! - Slimy cowards!