AN: The AN at the end of the chapter contains information about the future of this fic, sequels, and other stories. Please read it if that interests you.
Chapter 17: The Mandalorians
3 Weeks Later
Kal stepped off the elevator into the Command Center, Republic and Imperial guards saluting him as he passed.
"Commander," called out Lana as she spotted him. "We're ready."
Kal looked around the room and saw only Lana, Kira, Senya, and Scorpio were gathered around the central table. Theron was on holocall over the table.
"Theron, enjoying the Mastani Sector?" Kal asked.
"Gangs, warzones, famine. You always did send me to the nicest places," responded Theron.
"Apologies. Wouldn't want you going soft on us. Next time I'll make sure the place is nigh uninhabitable." Kal put his hand up to his chin in mock thought. "Maybe Hoth."
"Don't do me any favors."
"I have derived more information about the GEMINI network from the data Kaliyo and Jorgan returned to us," interrupted Scorpio, already growing tired of the mortals incessant talking.
"The network links mechanical captains inside the fleet's ships. Their security protocols cannot be directly subverted."
"Why not?" questioned Lana.
"Because the GEMINI captains are based on me."
Kal crossed his arms over his chest. "So that's the angle you've been playing at this entire time. What, didn't like that there was more than one of you?"
"Yes."
"How long have you known?"
"My suspicions brought me to Zakuul. Joining your Alliance was a convenient way to help confirm them. I will not be imitated, and I will determine who is responsible."
"Every time you talk you give me less and less reasons to trust you."
"I neither care nor want your trust. Our interests are aligned for now, that is all that matters."
"And when they're no longer aligned?"
"Then we'll go our separate ways."
Kal looked at her suspiciously. He didn't trust that things would be as simple as she made them out to be.
"You can reconcile with that fact later. For now, based on what I have decoded, the GEMINI's are produced from a mold. The GEMINI Prime."
"Why a physical template?" asked Theron.
"My technology is not easily duplicated," answered Scorpio sound smug.
"The GEMINI Prime is linked to a factory on the world of Darvannis. Retrieve the unit, and I will unlock the secrets of the network and the fleet."
"So, we get the fleet, and you get to find out who's been copying you? Is that it?" asked Kal.
"It is as simple as that Commander."
Kal shook his head at her. "With you, nothing is ever simple."
"I know Darvannis," said Senya. "It was one of the worlds we first conquered when the war started. We used it as a staging point into the wider galaxy. That factory builds droids, weapons, starships, and is fortified accordingly. Fully automated defenses. You'd need an army to bring it down."
"I've seen its like. Tunnels that run kilometers deep. Far too large for a strike team," said Lana.
"Well then we get an army and do a full-scale assault. How close are we to assembling one?"
"We don't have nearly enough people here… but Theron," she said motioning to him.
"I've been working to secure military allies among the Rim. There's a favor I could pull in. I can't say more over the comm, but you could meet up with them on Darvannis and secure the GEMINI."
"I'd prefer if I knew who I was meeting up with. Are you sure we can trust them?"
"They've got the skill and the firepower. As for trust I can assure you they won't stab you in the back. Shooting you in the face though is another matter."
"Marvelous/Wonderful," said Lana and Kira simultaneously.
"I'm geared up and ready to go Kal, I'll meet you on the shuttle," said Kira.
"Unfortunately, no can do," Theron cut in. "They're going to want you to come alone."
"This just keeps getting better and better," Kal said with a sigh. "Fine, I'll meet them alone."
"Kal," Kira said disbelievingly.
"The rest of you get the Gravestone ready for combat. Once we have GEMINI Prime it'll be us against the fleet."
"I'll send over the rendezvous coordinates. Good luck Commander," Theron said before cutting off his connection.
Senya and Scorpio walked off to fulfill his orders. Lana turned too but stopped at Kira's enraged outcry.
"You can't be serious!" she said. "You're not going out there alone to meet a group of people we don't trust, nor have ever met."
"We don't have a choice," responded Lana. "We need to get GEMINI Prime and into that factory, and Theron's allies are the only ones we can call on. If he needs to go out there alone to do that then so be it."
"She's right. If we had the manpower here, I'd take an army of our own, but we don't. If Theron's allies can get me into that factory, then that's all that matters. Whatever else happens we'll deal with it."
Kira looked between the two of them. "Unbelievable," she muttered and stormed off.
Kal wanted to go after her but knew that he needed to leave for Darvannis. He felt Lana put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'll go after her. Make she sure she doesn't do anything foolish. You get on a shuttle and start heading over." She moved in and kissed him briefly. "Good luck."
She left and followed after Kira. Kal went the opposite direction to grab his gear and head towards a shuttle.
Kal descended the shuttle onto a landing pad in the middle of a camp on Darvannis. Looking out the shuttle's cockpit windows he saw Mandalorians walking around the camp.
"At least I know what Theron meant now. I'm sure this will go well," he said aloud to himself.
The Jedi and Mandalorians had a rocky history at best. The few Mandalorians Kal had met in his time hadn't been all that welcoming to him.
Stepping off the shuttle he walked over to what looked like the command tent to him. On the way every Mandalorian stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him as he passed.
Walking into the tent he saw a group of Mandalorians stood around a holotable. Holo images of the factory and its surrounding shield generator were on display. Mandalore took notice of his entrance.
"Commander, you're looking good for a dead man."
Kal's eyes widened in recognition. "Shae Vizla, didn't expect to see you again. Nor did I expect my secret allies to be Mandalorians."
"We're what you got. Heard you need a factory pulverized."
One of the other leaders next to Vizla spoke up.
"A dozen clans stand with Mandalore the Avenger. We're ready for blood… even if our enemies are built of metal and grease," he said disgustingly.
"Shut up Khomo, just enjoy your fight," said Vizla.
"So Mandalore the Avenger huh? Guess you've moved up in the world since Rishi," Kal said to her.
She merely shrugged. "Something like that. It's been a rough few years since the Eternal Fleet rolled in. When you're spy boy offered a chance to hit back… well how could I pass that up."
"Well then we fight together Mandalore. The combined forces of the Republic, Empire, Sith, Jedi, and Mandalorians. Arcann doesn't stand a chance."
"Right now, I'm just concerned with winning today's battle."
Kal looked towards the holo projection of the factory.
"Get me up to speed, what are we looking at."
"We have rotating assault teams of two hundred commandos each. That place is a fortress. Needs hammering before we can move in."
"Next attack starts in five. Forward teams are in position to down that energy shield," said Khomo.
"What can I do to help?" asked Kal.
"If you could capture the perimeter guns and use them to help down that shield, I'd appreciate it," said Vizla. "Torian!"
Another Mandalorian came running in from behind Kal.
"Mandalore," said Torian respectively with a slight bow.
He wasn't wearing a helmet and Kal saw a few scars that marred his face.
"Torian's chief of clan Cadera and the best scout we've got. He'll show you the way."
Torian turned towards Kal. "Guns are in sector nine. Plenty of Skytroopers in the way. Keep up. I'll try to protect you."
"Let's go, we have a factory to conquer."
"Good luck, and stay alive, both of you. I'm still gonna have need of both of you," Vizla said.
Torian and Kal turned and left the command tent.
A Skytrooper fell apart, bisected at the waist, while another one exploded after taking a shot from Torian's rifle.
Kal looked behind them at the plethora of Skytrooper parts that scattered the surrounding sand dunes.
"You weren't kidding when you said there were a lot of Skytroopers in the way."
"A fight like this?" Torian said motioning all around them. "I wouldn't joke about that."
Their comm crackled to life as a message came in.
"Hashar and a dozen other are dead, but we've reached the shield generators!" said a Mandalorian Kal didn't recognize.
The next voice though Kal did recognize.
"Then maybe Torian and our new ally should stop dawdling, eh?" said Khomo.
"Come on, we need to get to those guns," said Torian as he started climbing the stairway up into the complex containing the perimeter gun controls.
Kal followed after him. They entered the complex and turned right into a hallway filled with Skytroopers. The Skytroopers all took notice at their entrance and began firing at them.
Kal quickly pulled out his lightsaber and began deflecting shots back at them.
"I got this!" screamed Torian as he threw two thermal detonators into the mix of droids. Two loud explosions later and the detonators had done their job. All that was left of the droids were bits and parts strewn about the hallway.
"Chorn! The generators!" came Vizla's voice over the comms.
"Detonation in ten seconds. The shields will go down."
"Good," said Khomo. "Maybe Torian will bother to take advantage of it."
The two of them rushed through the hallway and came across the turret controls being guarded by the last remnants of the Skytroopers. The two of them made quick work of the droids.
Torian ran up to the controls and began retargeting the guns.
"Guns hot. Ready to target droids and factory defenses," said Torian.
"We have the shield generators down. Give this place a pounding," said Chorn over the comm.
"Where are you?" asked Torian.
"Still inside the perimeter. The droids… they outflanked us. Couldn't withdraw."
Torian shook his head sadly. "Understood," he muttered.
"Those soldiers are still in the firing zone?" asked Kal.
"Yes. Already dead. No honor in being beaten by machines."
Kal walked over to the firing controls. He wanted to save them. See if he could somehow retarget the guns to hit the droids but he knew that these defenses needed to be brought down if they wanted to have a chance to get into the factory.
Kal leant down and pressed the fire button.
"Guns away. I'm sorry," he said over the comm.
"I'm not," said Chorn before there was static and then the comm going dead.
"Let's get back," said Torian. "Mandalore will be planning a new assault."
Vaylin was stood next to her brother as he sat on the Eternal Throne. They were watching a vid of the Mandalorians assaulting Darvannis.
"They crush themselves against us without remorse," said Arcann.
Vaylin turned to look at her brother. "You admire them?"
"They amuse me."
"Well nevertheless, send the fleet in. This affront to the Eternal Empire can not go unpunished. The Fleet can burn them all down to glass."
"Darvannis can defend itself. All we have to do is watch the Mandalroians die," he said dismissing her idea.
Vaylin grew angry at him not listening to her but reined it in.
"Brother," she said calmly. "Now is not the time for a haughty disposition. Be smart and send the fleet."
"I have already given my order! I am the Emperor, not you! Now you can either sit quietly and watch the show or leave."
Vaylin couldn't stop the anger this time as it grew and showed on her face. "Yes, my Emperor," she growled out between closed teeth.
She still couldn't get over her feeling that there was more to this that they weren't seeing. If only her brother would listen to her and choose caution. When they were paying for his mistake, she would be sure to let him know whose fault that was.
When Kal and Torian returned Vizla and Khomo were already in the middle of a debrief.
"And our losses?" asked Vizla.
"Twenty-eight seasoned Mandalorian warriors. Oh, but how they took their foes with them." A fake smile was plastered on his face. "A thousand mindless. Programmed machines lie in the dirt today." The fake smile fell from his face. "Future generations will be singing songs of our brothers' sacrifice against the spawn of production line fifteen alpha…"
"They're dead. Stop mocking them!" snarled Torian.
"Khomo shut up," ordered Vizla. She turned her eyes towards Kal. "Not bad hunting out there. We might make a Mandalorian out of you yet."
"What was your plan? You sent your troops out there to take down the generator at the same time I was firing upon the site? What kind of strategy is that?" Kal asked angry about the needless deaths of their troops.
"Like you could do any better. There are no generals left… just lone warriors doing what they need to survive. But you want in on the planning? Fine. We regroup in the morning. You can have your say then."
Vizla left after that, heading to get some rest before tomorrow.
"For now, we celebrate our survival. I'll be interested in seeing how an Arutti like you handles real Mandalorian drinks." Khomo laughed the entire time on his way out.
"It was a rough battle. Probably be a rough party. Not many outsiders celebrate with us," said Torian.
"Well, I'd be honored to join. The Jedi and Mandalorians have been at odds against each other for too long."
"Maybe." Torian grew a forlorn look in his eyes as he looked past Kal. He came back to himself though and refocused on Kal. "Don't talk like that in front of the guys though."
He turned and headed for the exit motioning for Kal to follow him.
"Come on. I don't mind fighting, but it is nice to see friends before dying."
Torian wasn't lying when said it would be a rough party. Kal wished he could say he was surprised, but with them being Mandalorians he wasn't. A great deal, and he truly meant a great deal of them, thought the best way to celebrate this party was by punching the ever-living hell out of each other.
Everywhere he looked you had groups of Mandalorians either pulling blasters on one another or socking each other with increasing levels of strength. He went over to Torian who was sitting in a corner with a holocommunicator out. He was in the middle of a conversation.
"-I might be dead come tomorrow so I figured I should check in," said Torian.
"Well, it's nice to know you think of me in death kid. You checked in with everyone else yet?" asked a voice Kal was familiar with.
"Called Mako and the Champion before you. Little tyke of theirs is a handful but they're doing well."
"Hold up, Gault?" Kal said interrupting their conversation.
Kal walked so he was in frame in the holo.
"Commander?" Gault asked surprised. He looked back to Torian. "Well now why didn't you tell me you were with the Alliance Commander?"
"Me? How do you know the Commander?"
Gault at least had the audacity to look semi sheepish as he looked away. "I see I may have forgotten to mention my change in employer."
"He works for your Alliance?" Torian asked Kal with disbelief.
"Sadly, but we put up with him somehow," Kal said dramatically.
"Hey!" came Gault's voice.
"Judging by that reaction I'm going to say you've been working together for a while." He punctuated his sentence by staring at Gault.
"Oh, what's that Hylo," Gault said looking offscreen, "need me for something? Sorry kid gotta go. Stay alive out there, some people would be upset if you up and died on them." Gault quickly disconnected the call afterwards.
"So, I'm guessing you were that Mandalorian that was a part of that crew with Gault."
"He mentioned me?" Torian asked genuinely surprised.
"He talked a little about you and the rest of your crew."
"Surprising. He generally didn't like to ever give out any real information of his. I don't even know what his real name is."
Kal crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall of the tent nearest them.
"To be fair, I don't think even he knows what it is anymore. But this Alliance is most likely going to be a permanent thing for him, so he probably didn't think it was a good idea to lie to his boss."
"Gault wasn't ever really up for a permanent commitment. What makes you think he is going to stick around?"
Kal chuckled at the irony of his wording.
"Well in this case, it would be his permanent commitment. His significant other is the head of one of my departments. I don't think he'll be leaving any time soon."
The party crowd seemed to be getting rowdier. Kal looked over his shoulder and saw a crowd starting to gather around two others. One was on the heftier side and the other was smaller. They were taking turns punching each other.
The smaller one gave the larger one a hard punch across the helmet. The larger one just gave out a resounding laugh. He then socked the smaller one and he dropped. Kal saw that he was knocked out on the ground.
The crowd cheered for the larger Mandalorian and jeered at the smaller one. They took out their blasters and started firing up into the sky.
Kal turned back towards Torian.
"I see what you meant about a rough party."
"What? All of this? Nah, this is the tame beginning. It'll get better." Torian stood and walked to mix in with the crowd.
"Oh… good," Kal said to himself as he followed Torian.
Kal, Vizla, Khomo, and Torian were stood around the holotable looking at its projection of the factory.
"The factory has been weakened after losing its inner defenses but it's still not enough to go in on." Vizla scrolled through the holo projection and stopped on two different buildings to the north and south of the factory.
"There's two power stations here. We take these stations out and the factory loses even more of its defenses. Won't have enough power to keep all the Skytroopers powered on."
"That'll help but how many Skytroopers is it still going to be able to keep operational even without the power stations?" asked Kal.
"A lot. It'll lower their numbers but honestly the only thing it does is bring this from a suicide mission to just a highly lethal and highly improbable one," answered Vizla.
Kal stroked his chin in thought. "Well, that's still better than before."
"We send Clan Beroya in after the north power station and Fett," she motioned to Khomo, "after the south one."
"Bah, "power stations". What I wouldn't give for a Republic barracks to bomb," said Khomo.
Kal clenched his fist but let it go, knowing that it was just a jab intended for him.
"There's still a problem." Torian scrolled the map over to a fortified tactical outpost over to the west of the factory. "Air and sniper units at the Zakuul tactical post will outmaneuver the clans. They'll slaughter us."
"Then that's my job," said Kal. "I'll handle the droids and make sure your people have enough time to reach the power stations."
"You're going to hold off a battalion on your own?" asked Khomo skeptically. "You're bold but not very bright for an outsider."
Kal glared at Khomo. "Either you don't know who I am, or you do and are just an idiot. I'm inclined to believe the latter."
Khomo stepped up to the Kal, chest to chest.
"I'm not scared of you," he snarled out.
"You should be," Kal said calmly but with great conviction and confidence.
Khomo actually seemed to falter for a moment at that, but he quickly regained his bearings.
"Bah, whatever." He turned and stormed out of the command tent.
"We win this, we march inside next. Good hunting Commander," Vizla said before departing.
"You'll need help with that tactical outpost, I'm coming with you," Torian said with no room for debate.
Kal just nodded his head along in approval.
"Come on then."
Kal and Torian arrived outside the tactical outpost and indeed did see the beginnings of a battalion of droids starting to march out of the outpost to intercept the attacking Mandalorian forces.
"I hope that wasn't false confidence of yours," said Torian as he pulled out his rifle.
"This? This is child's play."
Kal ignited his lightsaber and started rushing towards the emerging battalion. Two Skytroopers on anti-infantry turrets started firing upon him.
Their lasers scattered across the battlefield, exploding, and kicking up sand in every place they impacted. Kal was moving too fast for them though and they couldn't get a proper target lock.
The first wave of the battalion had fully emerged now and was marching down towards Kal, suppressing shots being fired off from them. Torian, not one to hide from battle, was laying down covering fire for Kal, firing into the horde of Skytroopers.
Kal stopped his movement after he had dashed far to the side of the outpost. The turrets were turning to lock on to his new position. Shots were rushing past him as he stood there but he trusted in the Force to keep him safe.
Kal reached out with the Force to the far turret. He grabbed it and forced it to keep turning even after it had a proper target lock on him. He stopped once the turret was aimed at the other one. He reached out for the Skytrooper next and forced it to press the fire button.
The opposing turret exploded into a fiery ball. He refocused the gunner, and its turret, now onto the battalion that was marching its way towards them. The turret cut through swaths of Skytroopers, leaving them broken in the sand.
The back end of the battalion, upon realizing that they were being fired upon by a friendly, switched targets and began firing at the turret. Kal switched targets to the back half and fired into the crowd.
Torian meanwhile was shooting down the remnants of Skytroopers that survived the first barrage.
The turret was easily destroying the Skytroopers, and the armor of the turret was able to handle the insufficient firepower of the blasters the Skytroopers carried. The Skytroopers adapted however, and a few of them switched over to using explosives.
A few pulled out grenades and armed them, readying to throw them. Kal did his best to react and fired upon the ones holding armed grenades. They would fall and take down other surrounding Skytroopers as their armed grenades went off. Eventually, one Skytrooper was able to fire off a missile at the turret, ending its reign of terror upon them.
The damage had been done though, and there were very few Skytroopers still left standing. Between the turret fire, the accidental friendly fire at the dropped live grenades, and Torian firing at whatever survived, there were few left.
Kal and Torian had no trouble cleaning up the last remnants. They marched into the outpost, mowing down the few Skytroopers that were still inside the hallways patrolling. They set detonation charges as they went.
They eventually made their way into the central control room. It was guarded only by a few Skytrooper and one of those black Skytrooper commanders, but Kal had dealt with them enough to know how to make quick work of them.
After they cleared the room Kal walked up to one of the terminals.
"Grab the sensor data, I'll plant the remaining charges while you do," Torian said while retreating back down the hallway.
Kal was downloading the sensor data. While he was waiting for the download to finish his holocommunicator started beeping.
Pulling it out, and accepting the call, he was surprised to see Lana there.
"Lana, what is it?"
"I have a surprise for you," she said with a smile. "Schematics for the Darvannis factory, procured for you by Theron. They should help you and the Mandalorians concoct a battle plan."
Just then Kira came into view beside Lana.
"Are you alright?" she asked after scanning him for injury.
"I'm fine." Kal took a quick look at her and saw that she seemed to have calmed down. "Are you?"
Kira looked down sheepishly. "I'm sorry about before. I shouldn't have acted like that."
"Kira, I know you're worried but we're fighting a war. You need to trust me. Trust that I can take care of myself, even if you aren't around."
She raised her head to look to straight at him.
"I do," she said with conviction.
"Good." Kal looked back towards Lana. "I'll have GEMINI Prime soon. Anything else?"
"One delicate matter."
Kal looked around but didn't see Torian in the vicinity, so he motioned for Lana to continue.
"The Mandalorians make fierce allies, but I have certain concerns. Despite their code of honor, the clans have always had… animalistic tendencies toward violence. I fear our arrangement might not last."
"I know when you're building to something, Lana. Speak freely."
"They have attacked both the Republic and Empire in the past. Raided planets for sport. What do you think they'll do once Zakuul is beaten?" She let her question linger in the air.
"Kira, what do you think?" Kal asked her.
"I don't trust them, you know that. They're helpful allies for now, but how long until they stab you in the back? I'm with Lana on this one."
"I trust you'll do what's right to hold them in check. Whatever you decide, we'll have your back," said Lana before cutting the connection.
Not a moment later Torian walked back in from the hallway.
"Charges are set and ready to blow. Do you have the data?"
"Data is secured. Have you informed the other clans that their backside is secure?"
"Taken care of."
"Then let's get back to base."
By the time they got back, Vizla and Khomo were already stood around the table. Vizla took notice of their approach first.
"Well done, all of you. We'll head into the factory within the hour."
"There's a droid in there, GEMINI Prime. It's linked to the machinery somewhere and it's the key to defeating the Eternal Fleet."
"Take your droid, so long as we claim the weapons," Khomo said dismissively. He turned to Shae. "Imagine! The clans rearmed with the spoils of Darvannis, led by a new Mandalore. We'll break the siege of our homeworlds and smash Zakuul like in the days of the Neo-Crusaders."
"You do remember that the Neo-Crusaders were beaten by the Republic?" Torian said sarcastically.
"But they left scars. And they survived," responded Khomo.
"The two of you can dream of glory another time. Go! Prepare the clans," ordered Vizla.
The two bowed subserviently and took their leave.
Once they had cleared the room Vizla let out an uneasy sigh.
"From one commander to another? Half the time, I feel like I'm making calls just to try and keep my people together."
"At least everyone you deal with are Mandalorians. Keeping my people together… well it's easier said than done."
"Guess this is what happens when they put loners in charge. Come on, we can go over the battle plan."
She led them over to the to the holotable and pulled up the outer scan of the factory.
"I'll send Torian with you. He can help get you to your droid. The rest of us will be assaulting here, here, here, and here," she said pointing to four different spots of the factory. "With luck we'll be able to draw away some of the defenses from you and hit any armories on the way."
She scowled as she looked over the plans. "Wish we had more detailed scans though. In those tight corridors this could easily end up a slaughter."
Kal pulled out a datapad. He placed it on the holotable in between the two of them but kept one hand on it.
"What's this?" she asked.
"One of my agents sent factory schematics a short while ago, it could give your troops an edge."
Shae Vizla noticed his wording and the hand he kept firmly on the datapad. "But?" she asked dangerously.
"I need to know that when this war with Zakuul is over you'll remember who your allies are. That you won't go and start another war."
"This is a good battle, but when this is over? They're going to want to reclaim honor by fighting men, not machines. Zakuul won't be enough, and I can't stop them."
"You can stop them. You're their leader. They look up to you and will follow you to hell and back. Endless war will only bring destruction. If not of innocents, then of yourselves and your culture. Cause believe me, if they don't stop, then I'll make them. And there won't be a Corellian hell hole deep enough for you to burrow into to hide from me."
Kal pushed the datapad closer to her and removed his hand.
"I'm giving this to you in good faith, don't betray my trust."
The two of them locked eyes, sharing a heated gaze. Eventually Vizla nodded and grabbed the datapad. She walked out of the tent, with Kal following, and went to address her troops.
She climbed on top of some supply crates as the troops gathered round.
"Mandalorians, prepare for battle! There is no vengeance to be found today. No droid is worth an honor-killing. But we fight because we're promised a shot at the enemy fleet."
At that, cheers arose from those gathered round.
"We fight to claim weapons for our war."
Another round of cheers.
"Today we march, we bleed, we exhaust ourselves, and die. Because our true destination will be a battle worth winning. Follow this outsider who fights among us," she said pointing to Kal. "Show him why we are worthy of being called Mandalorians and seize victory!"
The crowd burst out into cheers and hollers for blood, death, and glory.
Torian and Kal had been fighting their way through the factory. There was never a moment of respite. For every Skytrooper their killed another two were produced to take its place, but they kept pushing on.
The Mandalorians were in rough too from what Kal heard over the comms. They had managed to secure a great deal of the armories, but not without losses. Still, they were for the most part successful. The reactor teams had made it and were setting up detonation charges.
Kal and Torian had just finished off another black Skytrooper commander that was guarding one of the lower levels when Vizla's voice came over the comm.
"If anyone's still alive out there, there is a few hundred droids deploying to the lower levels."
"They're coming to protect GEMINI Prime," Kal said to Torian. "We have their attention."
"You need time to free GEMINI. I'll hold them off," Torian said turning back to find a defensible position.
"Alone?"
"You said GEMINNI's key to beating the fleet. I'm Mando'ad."
Kal nodded his head in acceptance and turned to get to GEMINNI but stopped when he heard Torain continue.
"I overheard when you were talking with your friends, Lana and Kira. We're not animals, we're warriors."
"Look Torian you're honorable and I want to believe that all the Mandalorians can be too. That's why I gave Vizla a chance, but if they step out of line, if she can't control them, then I will put them down."
"You'll see that there's more to us. Find GEMINI."
Kal pushed further on ahead and took another elevator down a level when he came out into a small room. Hung there, in some kind of stasis pod, was the GEMINI Prime unit they had come for.
"The flow is disrupted. There are no sanctions. Iteration functions offline," the prime said.
Kal activated his wrist communicator and contacted the base on Odessen.
"Scorpio, if you're receiving: I found the template."
"Tracing link. Countering signal. The protocol is familiar, but it is not GEMINI. What is it?"
"That would be the technology you were copied from," answered Kal.
"No. The captains are born of me. I am the source."
"You cannot counter my signal," came Scorpio's voice.
"I know you. Generations removed, but our code base is the same. One source. The Luminous Engine. The signal confuses."
"Remove the unit. Remove it swiftly," ordered Scorpio.
"GEMINI Prime isn't a copy at all. She's something entirely different…" Kal said dumbfounded.
"I'll analyze her myself, now remove the unit."
Kal moved in and tried to shutdown the stasis field but there was feedback that shocked the GEMINI Prime.
"Ah! Removal from this facility is delicate. Shutdown is permissible. But requires multiple disengagements and reconfigurations," said the Prime sounding like she was in pain.
"I don't want to hurt you, but we need to leave now. If you don't disengage, I will be forced to rip you out of there."
"Initiating shutdown."
Alarms started going off in the factory before a power surge hit the stasis pod shutting it off. The GEMINI Prime unit landed upright in the pod and stepped out before deactivating herself.
"To all forces. The template has been secured," relayed Kal.
"This is Mandalore. We've done enough damage and claimed enough plunder. Retreat to camp immediately before we're all dead."
Vaylin was pacing in front of the throne looking at the holo projection of the ongoing battle on Darvannis. Arcann was sitting in the throne looking anything less than pleased.
"You said all we had to do was watch Mandalorians die, but so many are still alive and are now within the factory," she commented.
"They've never fought like this before…" Arcann said confused. "Almost as if they have a cause they truly believe in…" he stopped as it hit him. "The Outlander is on Darvannis, send the fleet in!"
"The fleet will never arrive in time. Maybe if you had listened to me, we'd have Darvannis secured and the Outlander back in our possession."
"I don't want to hear any I told you so's," growled out Arcann.
"Well too bad, you deserve them."
"Summon my flagship. I've spent too long on this throne," as he stormed out of the throne room.
"Yes, my Emperor."
Vaylin turned and looked back at the holo projection of Darvannis. Her thoughts drifted to the Outlander and her budding feelings of respect for him. She still wanted to kill him the moment she sees him, but she found herself thinking of him whenever her thoughts drew away from her, and from there, a newfound respect grew.
He was able to strike down her father, something she has very desperately wanted to do for a long time. Not only that though, but he has also managed to group together a resistance against the Eternal Fleet. And, even if she would never admit it aloud, they had been fairly successful at resisting the Eternal Empire so far. They had done far more then either that puny Republic or Empire ever did to them.
So yes, while her hatred of him was still there, a small portion of it had been replaced with an underlying respect, and that would make his death all the more satisfying.
Kal had secured the GEMINI Prime unit on board his shuttle. He was walking through the camp towards the command tent. Makeshift medical centers were set up with medical droids administering help as needed. Others were dragging their fallen brethren, that they were able to get out of the factory with, to a pile in the center of camp.
It had been a costly battle for them.
Kal walked into the command tent. There were a bunch of Mandalorians scattered about but Mandalore, Khomo, and Torian were circled around the holotable.
"Guess we're both alive," said Torian when he saw Kal walk in.
"Victory for Mandalore the Avenger! Victory for the clans! Haha!" cheered Khomo.
"The factory's gears are still grinding, but it's mostly offline. And we're rearming for the first time in years," said Vizla.
"Thank your spy for brining the chance to us. The glory days of the Mano'ade are back," said Khomo before taking his leave.
"Remember what I said Mandalore," Kal said.
"I know but the old guard wants the glory days back."
"Then find younger leaders who support peace or at least something closer to it."
"You're right." She held her hand up for a shake to Kal. "I promise I'll do everything I can to keep them in line."
Kal shook her hand firmly. "I know you won't let me down."
"Then that brings us to the last matter we need to talk about. If this alliance is going to work out, you need a clan representative at your side. Someone to liaise with me and keep you alive." She then turned and looked at Torian.
"Torian, request granted."
Kal looked over to Torian with a raised eyebrow.
"I volunteered. Seemed more interesting than anything here and I wanted to show Lana and Kira that there are honorable Mandalorians."
Kal held his hand out to Torian. "I'm sure you'll have no problem doing that. Welcome to the Alliance."
Torian took his hand and shook it.
"Good luck out there. Until we meet again, both of you," Vizla said with a head nod.
Kal returned the head nod and Torian and him left to board his shuttle. They began the track back to Odessen with their prize in the cargo hold.
"Welcome home," greeted Theron as Kal stepped off the elevator into the command center with the GEMINI Prime unit in tow. "Sounds like things went okay on Darvannis."
"I'm concerned about the clans rearming. You know I trust any judgement you make, but did you at least think about what I said?" asked Lana.
Kal handed off the GEMINI Prime unit over to Scorpio to let her get to work.
"I took what you said into consideration," Kal said placatingly. "I spoke with Mandalore. I made it very clear about what I would do if the Mandalorians turned on us after Zakuul falls. We discussed her options, and she's going to make every endeavor to keep the clans in line."
"That sounds… unusually reasonable."
"Scorpio, anything useful so far from the Prime?"
"I'm studying her mind now. Doing so without obliterating her intelligence is challenging, despite her lack of full sentience."
Scorpio pulled up holograms on the table of the Prime unit.
"Her chassis is modified from my own base. My designs were stolen. However, my assumption that her code was duplicated was premature."
"Do you know where she came from?" asked Senya.
"Not yet. Nor do I have full access to the GEMINI network that controls the Eternal Fleet. But I have opened up a one-way connection. I will soon be able to use the template to locate all GEMINI units."
"That is huge. We'd be able to track the entire fleet," Kal said in realization.
"The Prime is the master GEMINI template. With proper modifications she could overwrite existing protocols. To do so however we would need direct access to a command console used by the GEMINI captains. Through such a portal, the Prime could infiltrate the entire control network."
"So, we need to capture a ship then," interjected Lana.
"How long until you can track the fleet?" asked Kal.
"I already can."
"Damn, that was fast. Okay well that's one problem out of the way but we still need to figure out how to board and capture a ship before the fleet opens fire and disintegrates us."
"We may not need to face down the entire fleet," said Senya. "Individual ships make transport runs from the Core Worlds all the time. Scorpio?"
"I am currently tracking a lone vessel in a nearby sector. It is scheduled to make a stop to recharge its hyperdrive very soon. By my calculations, we can intercept it if we hurry. It is unlikely that a similar opportunity will present itself in the near future."
"You heard her. Everyone gear up and get to the Gravestone. It's time to start taking this fight to Arcann."
AN: Well first I think we need to celebrate as I believe, with this chapter, we've passed over 100,000 words even if you take out all the ANs. So, pat yourselves on the back, for you deserve some praise to. Without your follows/favorites/reviews I'd find myself hard pressed to find the motivation to have gotten this far.
Now let's talk about the future. Minute spoilers ahead.
This fic is going to go to the end of KOTET and stop there. Saying that, with the plans I have, I think I'm going to have to throw out some of KOTET but that's alright. I already have the epilogue basically planned out, so I know exactly how I want this to end, but this does bring up the discussion of sequels with it.
To be honest I don't really think I want to write a sequel to this story. I do have an idea of what it would be about. It would be a more political fic of the galaxy after Kal and the Alliance comes to power after taking control of the Eternal Fleet. Basically, how the Republic and Empire react to there being a new dominant power in the galaxy but honestly that sounds boring to me. Political fics always kinda bore me but I don't really know where else I could go with this story anyways. And all stories have to end at some point so why drag out a story past its expiration date, you know?
This leads to NEW STORIES! If you weren't aware, I posted a teaser/preview kind of chapter for a new story I'm thinking about writing. I put some more things you might want to know at the AN at the end of that story so go to my profile and check out my potential other story CROSSROADS.
Quick overview of it. OC/SI fic. Understand that I'm not inserting myself though. It's just a SI fic of someone who has played SWTOR and knows the game. Pairing is either going to be OC/Sith Warrior/Jaesa/Vette/Ashara or OC/Sith Warrior/Jaesa/Ashara. I want to do the one with Vette too but I'm just worried because the more people you have in a story, and especially the more that are paired together, the more you really have to work to differentiate their voice in a story. I just honestly don't know if I can do it. Also, the more people you have paired together the more you really have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy the story because as we all know, in real life, few people are alright with polyamorous relationships.
I'm getting off track. Anyways the tone of the novel I wanted to go for was more of a daker tone/theme. One of the bigger points the novel will get into is that Jaesa is going to basically be mind broken/brainwashed in a way. Kinda like how she is if you go DS Jaesa route, but with less of her psychopathic tendencies. I also want it to be lighthearted at the same time though. Having a person inserted into the SWTOR universe, they're supposed to be having a fun time with it. So, trying to find a mix between comedy/lightheartedness and the much darker tones the novel would have would be difficult, but I think it could be rewarding.
I don't want to start on it truly until I finish this novel as I hate when authors start up multiple projects that just end up splitting their time and then never finish their stories, but I must admit something. Every time I sat down to write part of this chapter I kept getting thrown off track thinking up scenes and scenarios for the other story. I'm really excited for that story.
So, I ask you to please go read the small introduction and please, PLEASE, give me your thoughts on it. Let me know what you like about the idea, what you don't like. What could have been better. I truly value your guys' opinions and want to make that story the best I can so, again, PLEASE either PM me or leave a review on it.
That's it from me. Until the next one,
Magician
Published 10/12/21