For the first time in over three thousand years a Jedi Defender class corvette landed on the pad on the Jedi Temple grounds it was made for. Several speeders rushed out to the freshly landed ship as a ground crew started to do their job as the ramp on the defender lowers while a group of six come down the ramp.
"Ras, Vrik, and Elaine probably best if you stay with the ship."
"Yes Commander we shall guard the ship and make sure it is ready to fly on your command."
"Elaine do you always have to be so bloody formal like." Vrik the Ugnaught said in his tongue. Ras just laugh under his helmet.
"Never did see this planet after it was sacked. Darth Malgus should have occupied the planet back then." Lord Parios sniffed the air. "Still stinks of the dark side."
"I feel it too, Parios." Darra agreed. "Nils how does this place feel to you?"
"Darkness surrounding the light as the powerful cover the poor with their shadows."
"So completely corrupted." Master Qui Gon and Obi Wan came down the ramp with Anakin in tow who was the only one that saw the sparkle and glitter of Coruscant. The three speeders stopped as two dozen Temple Guard jump off their flat beds as four members of the High Council get out of one of them. The three on the ramp spread out as Teeseven and HK51 come down the ramp. The large guns on the defender begin to move as the ground crew backed away as the Temple Guards spread out.
"Ah looks like they don't like us." Lord Parios twirls his polesaber around as it extends to its full length to the right of the Commander.
"Probably smelled you from orbit, Sith." Nils pulled his shield from his back taking up a defensive stance on her right as the four council members came closer.
"I would not advise that this is a time to fight." Master Jinn warned. "You are out numbered."
"Looks like a fair fight to me." Ras said right next to him. "Don't even think they will need us."
"I am Master Mace Windu of the Jedi Order, you will stand down and surrender your weapons." Darra held her hand up and stepped forward.
"I am the Grand Battlemaster of the Jedi, Lord Commander of the Eternal Alliance Darra Suro. We will not surrender our weapons. Tell me why you fear me."
"Fear you we do not. Master Yoda I am . Allow a Sith on Temple grounds we can not." She looked over the small Jedi and felt he was strong in the Light side of the Force much like Master Windu though he leaked the dark side in the mists of his light. The Cerean Master looked cold and emotionless and his presence in the Force reflected it. The Kel Dor also radiated the light more so than Master Yoda. He had a kindness where Master Yoda was showing wisdom.
"Do I look like a Sith to you?" Lord Parios laughed as he ignited his silver blade for the briefest of moments. "I do not have red skin and dangle bits on my face. I also have eyebrows."
"Do you really think this is a time for mockery." Master Mundi declared.
"No, I do not. Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi it seems that the Jedi do not want us here."
"Master Windu, Master Yoda there is much more going on then you think there is. There is no reason for this show of force. I am sure we can discuss any issue inside the Temple."
"Qui Gon you continually test the council's patience. This time you have gone too far if you are siding with known Sith." Master Windu was not happy most times but Jinn could feel his anger that he was holding.
"Known Sith?" Darra stepped forward getting closer to the other Jedi as they could not conceal their hands moving to their lightsabers.
"The Senator from Naboo showed us the recording he made of his governor's report that all was well. One of his aides pointed out that a member of your group was a genetic Sith. With that we can only conclude that you are all Sith now known to us." Master Plo Koon calmly answered as Darra fully opened herself to the Force. As a Guardian it was harder to Meditate this way, but the results were worth it as she began to glow. It was a show of how fully aligned to the light side of the Force she was. The display made Lord Parios take a step further away.
"Trick us you can not. Tested you with the Force we have. Resides the dark side in all of you."
"Master Yoda there has been times that the dark side touches us all and leaves its mark. Lord Parios has been trained as a Sith Sorcerer, but has found a balance between the light and the dark. Captain Guardian Nils Vortena has known no such separation as to a Zakuul Knight the Force is just a tool. I myself was an unwilling vessel for part of Tenebrae's soul after I killed him a second time. You have no idea the true meaning of the Force." Darra released the light side energy she had gathered allowing it to push back the dark side cloud that she had been feeling. Master Windu staggered as did Lord Parios.
The effect did not last but it showed Darra who was most affected by the dark side. Far away in the Senate Rotunda offices Palpatine, as did Hego Damask noticed the sudden surge of the light side. Both of them reapplied their shields before Palpatine typed furiously at his pad before a holovid appeared of a ship and dozens of Jedi surrounding it.
"This Commander must be here."
"Let us watch and see what the Jedi will do." Sidious snarled knowing full well that his master should have gone to Naboo to test these new Sith. He would have been able to had he become Chancellor. Though his plans will take out Chancellor Antilles soon enough, but an entire year needed to go by to distance such an assassination from himself. Perhaps he could successfully pin this on the Trade Federation's Senator Lot Dod since even he could not say where Gunray had vanished to. He at least knew he was still alive. Palpatine turned back to the holovid seeing none of them had moved.
"Strong in the Force you are. Listen perhaps we should. Interested in how Jedi and Sith learned to work together I am. Enter only you three I shall allow." Master Yoda turned his little hover chair around to look at Master Windu.
"I disagree."
"Decided I have. More to their story to hear there is. Exposed we all are." He moved to the speeder as Darra nodded to Parios and Nils. Nils put his shield on his back as Parios's polesaber collapsed into itself before they joined the master's on the center speeder. Parios even offered to help Master Windu up, but was not surprised as he refused.
"So strange seeing the Jedi Temple completely rebuilt."
"What do you mean?" Plo Koon asked as they traveled to the Temple garage.
"As you will find out there is more to us than we have let on." Nils replied as Darra continued to stare. She was not the only one staring as Anakin's eyes looked to be bulging out of their sockets.
"For us the Sith Empire sacked Coruscant a bit more that twenty years ago. I see the redesign will prevent a repeat maneuver of ramming a ship into the Temple entrance." Lord Parios pointed to the large pillars guarding the entrance to the Jedi Temple. Though he did not point out the lack of any security forces being present other than the Temple Guards that were in the other two speeders.
"That was nearly 4000 years ago."
"3598 years to be exact." Darra corrected.
"You are stating the impossible." Master Mundi countered as the speeders came to a halt.
"Master Jedi you of all people should know that all things are possible in the Force."
"True the Force is telling me. Argue here we can not. High Council's lounge we shall go. Hungry our guests are."
"I'll signal the rest of the council to meet us there." Plo Koon pulled out his comlink and sent out a quick message as they reached the lifts. The Temple Guards felt uneasy as the nine entered the lift leaving no room for any of them. After a half an hour the council and the three were sitting listening to a more in depth report from Master Qui Gon.
"I have one more thing since I have now learned about the ability the Zabrak was using to project his hatred to possibly interrupt my connection to the light side confirms he was Sith and not an average darksider."
"How can you be so certain? Other than the Alliance I said before the Sith have been extinct."
"True, but Sith like Lord Parios have demonstrated their abilities and it was the same feeling."
"Troubling this is Master Qui Gon. Go rest and prepare Obi Wan for his trials." Mace paused only long enough to cut Qui Gon off from his next question. "Skywalker's fate is yet to be decided. Take him to the healers wing and tell them to give him a complete physical and immunization board. From there he will be taken to the Service Corps initiate quarters for the pilot corps due to his ability in winning the Boonta Eve Podrace."
"Then you have already determined he is not to be trained?" Mace sighed as he looked right at Anakin.
"He is to be put where he will feel most comfortable. Putting him with the initiates that are preparing to be selected by a master would confuse them and be unfair to Skywalker. As a pilot he will have something in common with initiates his age that are destined to be pilots." Depa Billaba took over next.
"This is also as they nor him will be under such assumptions that he would be taking a potential master away from them." Plo Koon then felt a need to add his opinion as well.
"I will then evaluate the young boy in a more informal setting seeing how he forms friendships with the others and to teach him enough to hone his focus."
"Focus on the trials you will." Master Qui Gon bowed with Obi Wan before they left the lounge.
"Now tell us who you really are and why you work with Sith." Darra nodded as she took a sip of her tea.
"We are from 4347 CRC or twenty three years after the Sacking of Coruscant and the Treaty of Coruscant. A hyperspace miscalculation took us to..." Darra told of her history from the time she began her training to the final defeat against Tenebrae/Valkorion/Vitiate. Nils told of his training and the history of Zakuul where Parios related the basics of his life and the Sith Empire at the time and his loyalty to Commander Darra Suro. It was Jocasta Nu that broke the silence once the three were finished.
"If it is possible I would like a holocron from all who can create one. Such a time was lost in the darkness of the last several thousand years. This Valkorion and the Zakuul Empire was never mentioned in the archives."
"The ability to make a holocron is lost to us. How can you ask them? Which holocrons are we going to sacrifice to gather their knowledge?" Oppo Rancisis inquired.
"The creation of a holocron is one of many abilities we will be glad to teach your Order."
"That you bring Sith and a faction that does not abide by any code we will have to have them submit to the Jedi Order." Mace declared as Parios started laughing.
"Do you really think that the former members of the Sith Empire would willingly submit to a bunch of political attack dogs as yourselves? I love politics and their effects on different governments. Once I knew there was no Sith left in the galaxy I looked to learn everything there was about current events. You follow the will of the Senate without flaw to the point of genocide. You are no Jedi. On top of that being a Sith is no longer against your laws. Commander I believe a more formal and fair treaty can be had dealing directly with this new Supreme Chancellor."
Shae Vizla frowned as the globe of Manda'yaim appeared in her view screen. She nearly shuddered with how barren it looked. The other Mando'ade in the cockpit did gasp or growl out their outrage. She had brought only the new clan leaders and their seconds with her. They all wanted to see for themselves what had happened to their home world. Seeing that one the planet was a wasteland she pointed to Concordia.
"We will land there. From what I have read our clans live there."
"So our mission is to recon, but what are we really looking for?"
"You are to travel to your respective clan holds if they exist. If not go to support one of the other teams. Present yourselves as Children of the Watch and act accordingly."
"What are you going to do Mand'alor?"
"After I meet with the clan alor of Vizla I am going to talk to this governor. If we can relocate the fleet here it would be a coup on these New Mandalorians."
"Dar'manda scum."
"Perhaps, but they did what they had need to do to survive."
"Ya once they see a true Mando'ade they will restore their oath to the Resol'nare."
"Do not get you hopes up, Jos." They all knew that things had changed and Shae was ready for anything as she made her way to Viszla's Estate. Many of the locals that thy passed gave them wary looks as they whispered to each other not knowing that her buy'ce could pick up every word. It was as if they were not welcome and their words that she heard confirmed it. As she got to the gate several guards stopped them.
"You know better than to come here in full armor." That they spoke with Galactic Standard told her enough. She studied the four men and then laughed.
"Dar'vaabir sushir bah laandur'ade."
"Did she just say what I think she said?"
"She called you a weak child."
"You're going to pay for that." They all raised their weapons. Jos and Shae as one raised their arms and blasted all four of them with carbonite. She then walked passed their immobilized forms and into the estate. Once the door closed Jos hit the lock pad on the door and a blaster door dropped into place. They moved through the hall finally coming to another large door. They nodded to each other and then opened the door just enough to throw two flash bangs inside.
They then walked in stunned several servants and a few guards before moving on through to have Jos kick open a wooden door that lead into a very ornate office. Shae crossed her arms as Jos aimed at the man who was nearly finished with putting on armor. She looks him over as he glares at her.
"About time I find a Mando'ade or are you a pretender?" He snarled at her insult.
"I am Governor of Concordia, Pre Vizsla of House Vizsla, Clan Vizsla." He looked her over and he could see no clan markings but the gold cords and the powertech buy'ce made his eyes widen in recognition. It was a very old armor set one that had not been seen or made by any armorer he knew. The other Mando had a distinctive helm as well one that was known during the Great Galactic War before the galaxy went dark. When Mandalore was stronger, but not as strong as they were during the crusades.
"Who are you?" She took a step forward with each name.
"House Vizla, Clan Vizla, Shae Vizla, Mand'alor the Avenger. I came to find out if there were any who were not dar'manda." She pulled her buy'ce off and a smile grew on his face. Her face was a perfect copy of a portrait he had seen in House Vizla's main building of their estate. The other Mando took off his helm as he introduced himself.
"Jos Beroya Clan Vizla." Pre weighed his options as he had seen what they had done to his guards and on the way to his office. As they were he would have no options until other members of Death Watch arrived. In that time he could be dead.
"I am the leader of Kyr'tsad. Sadly we have to remain in hiding."
"Death Society?"
"Close, Death Watch."
"So our way has fallen so far as to be shunned?"
"Do you not know this?"
"No." Pre moved to his desk and sat down pressing the stand down switch with his toe. They would still come but would not come in guns blazing.
"Mand'alor the Avenger. You do look a lot like her, but I would think you would have less scars."
"Don't tell me that horrible painting survived?"
"You killed the painter right?"
"Yes I did."
"Are you trying to claim you are her? This have anything to do with what happened on Naboo?"
"Yes I am and yes. It is a long story."
"Have a seat I will bring in refreshments. Once you tell your story, I will tell you the history that the Republic did not publish. From one leader to another."
"So you are the current Mand'alor."
"I am the leader of the last faction of Mandalorians. Some would claim that Jango Fett is Mand'alor, but he is without clan. I hold the dark saber created by Tarre Vizsla Mand'alor before the Return as a symbol of my house and a leader of Death Watch."
"What happened to Clan Fett?" They were wiped out by the Jedi as they were killing entire villages. You see..." Pre gave them both a very Death Watch flavored history of the last thirty years and then went farther back nearly a thousand years. Hearing again of the excision or annihilation of Mandalorian Space from the point of a Mandalorian made Shae's blood boil. Pre knew he had her on his side easily. Then she told him of the beginning of the Great Galactic War her part in it, the cold war and then the Chaos of the Eternal Empire and the renewal of the Galactic War once they were destroyed.
Shae might have been partially on Pre's side, but as the day and evening progressed and after she visited Death Watch's secret camp she was disgusted with how different and excessively violent these Mandalorians were. It was not until late at night that they returned to their ship. The others were back as well and most were as angry as she was. Their clans were cruel shadows of what they used to be. Some had gone so far as to throw rotten food at them.
"Nothing but a bunch of dar'manda scum."
"They just lost their way. It is up to us to teach them properly."
"What is next, Mand'alor?"
"I would like to visit Sundari the current capital of Manda'yaim, but I think it would be better to send all of Mandalore a message."
"Uh oh I smell a battle." Shae shook her head.
"This is not going to be that kind of battle. With the Commander's permission we will take back system after system that belongs to us. I did not become Mand'alor the Avenger to see my culture thrown in the gutter. Better to die then to become peace loving weak dar'manda or the demagolka that Kyr'tsad thinks that Mandalorians should be."
"I came across an armorer that talked of Jaster Mereel who came up with a Super Commando Codex. He also warned me against this Death Watch." Khomo Fett stated.
"Speaking of Clan Fett Pre Vizsla himself says that a Jango Fett is the current Mand'alor." Shae was looking for a reaction but he only looked sad.
"He was thrown into slavery and it is rumored he escaped as his armor went missing two years later. Became a bounty hunter from what this armorer said. That was after Tor Vizsla and Governor of Galidraan set them up. The Jedi killed most of all the Haat Mando'ade. Over three hundred Mandalorians fell to watch dogs of the Republic."
She listened to their other reports and it all sounded the same. What the New Mandalorians had forgotten was no society can live truly at peace without some holding the beskad. It was their way of life, the Resol'nare. You were not a Mandalorian if you did not follow the code. Sure you did not have to be a super commando, but you did have to be a warrior and heed Mand'alor's call.
"We will find this bounty hunter and hear his side. Right now we will need to return to the fleet and come up with a battle plan to take control of Mandalorian Space."
"I suggest we take Galidraan first."
"Concord Dawn or Breshig should be one of our targets."
"All three have a value to them, but I think Galidraan will have a more symbolic message." The next morning they were preparing to leave when a man banged on the hull of the ship. Shae came out and looked over the man and noticed his hidden beskar'gam armor.
"What do you want?"
"Heard your group was asking around and I also heard you came from siege at Naboo. Name's Kal Skirata. Wanted to warn you away from the Sheb Pre Vizsla."
"I talked to him and so I know. Why do you care?"
"Heard there is a Fett in your group. Heard your group was asking around about Jango Fett."
"Perhaps, do you know where he is?"
"Better I could take you to him, but only you." Shae looked him over and she felt the Ka'ra was silent about him. That didn't mean much, but her gut was talking to trust this Mando.
"You got your gear?"
"Left it at the door."
"Good come with us back to Naboo and you can then take me to Fett."
"Great, so what do I call you?"
"Mand'alor or Shae Vizla."
"Oh Fett is not going like that, but then again he might."
"Good go get your gear. You tell me your story and we'll tell you ours." Shae offered. Kal nodded and it was not long before the ship took off back to Naboo.