My name is Jera, and I am a bounty hunter like some of my people. My home world which was destroyed by a Jedi exile in the last battle of the Mandalorian War, is still rebuilding itself. My birth clan is scattered and few among the galaxy, with no hope of reuniting. I have no love of the Fetts, but I have to say that these clones that have Fett's DNA are extremely deadly and the best soldiers I've ever worked with.
"Jera," I heard suddenly, "We're nearing the target location."
I sat in a seat of a republic gunship, with an older style of republic armor from nearly 4,000 years ago donned on my body. I found this armor in the ruins of an old Republic operations base... In mint condition too. I had pained the armor red and blue, to honor my parents who dies bravely and my reliability to get the job done.
"Jera," The voice repeated, "You need to get ready before we reach the location."
I finally snapped out of it. The voice was of the Jedi general leading an assault on a Separatist outpost on a remote moon. I stood up and put my helmet on.
"Remember that I'm a bounty hunter and a mercenary," I told the Jedi, looking her in the face, "Not your bantha fodder that you throw at your enemies."
"That may be so," The Jedi said, "However, you've pledged your service to the Republic and the Jedi council; and right now, you've been placed under my command for this mission."
The Jedi looked around the gunship and saw that the remaining clones in there were stood up.
"Let me remind you of our objective," She instructed, "There is a Separatist outpost on this moon. Generals Kenobi and Skywalker have instructed us to halt the production of its shipyard, by any means we see fit. Jera is here to provide extra support, force knows we'll need it, so that the rest of you can plant a bomb that will make the outpost space dust."
The clones looked at each other then back the Jedi.
"General, if I may," One of the clones said, "What if that plan fails?"
I breathe in and out to calm my nerves. The last time I did something like this was when I has to protect moister farmers on Tatooine from the Tusken Raiders. That ended up turning into a bloodbath on both sides. Now that I remember, that's the exact reason I started working alone.
"If the plan fails," I spoke up, "Then chances are, the general has died. If that happens then I'll take charge of the operation as per the brief back on Coruscant. The mission shouldn't run into any problems, and we do run into problems then we adapt as planned. We've all run through the simulations on this mission. If we fail, the Republic fails."
The general looks over at me and watches my hands shift from open palm to clenched fist multiple times. The gunship door opens and she ignites a double bladed orange lightsaber.
"Let's move," She says as the strike team loads off of the gunship and it takes off to a safe distance.
The surface of the moon is breathable, most likely so that the important figures don't suffocate. It's also dark and quiet... A little too quiet for my liking.
The general leads the way across the surface of the moon towards the outpost, avoiding patrols and turning her lightsaber off when any droids notice the light from the brilliantly colored blade. Any droids that do wander too close, me and the troopers take them out quickly and quietly.
"I seem to be noticing," I whispered, "That the patrols seem to be lighter towards the door. I don't like it."
"Neither do I," The general whispered back, "I sense that something's wrong. stay on your guard.."
The clones nodded and we continued on into the outpost, which was barren and void of any droids except for deactivated ones. We reached a weapons room which housed the blasters that the droids used and a couple of pieces of heat resistant metal on a table.
I Picked up one of the pieces of metal and held it up in the light.
"Looks like this outpost has more than just a couple purposes..." One of the clones said.
I heard a clank and turned towards the door to see it shutting. I looked back at the general who already has her lightsaber activated.
"Hurry to the reactor!" She shouted as the droids in the outpost started to activate, "Complete the objective!"
The clones ran through the door before it closed, but I elected to stay behind and help the general keep the droids back.
"Jera," She said, "Why didn't you go with the clones?!"
"Couldn't let you have all the fun, general," I told her, "Also, you forget. I'm Mandalorian, I live for battles like these."
I started to burst fire at the droids closing in on our position, struggling to keep them back but getting at least three droids each clip.
"They're getting to close," The general said and stuck her lightsaber in the blast door behind us, opening it, "Follow up with the clones. This is your mission now."
Refusing to abandon the general, I pulled out a Vibroblade and started to hack at the droids one by one, as the general kept telling me to fall back.
"Jera!" The general said, "That's an order! I'll hold them back. Just go!"
"I'm not letting you die!" I shouted.
The general pushed he hand out and forced me past the door and started to seal it again.
"You underestimate the force too much, bounty hunter," The general smiled, "Go. I'll be fine."
The door closed again and I turned to walk down the corridor to follow up with the clones.
"There are too many of them!" I heard a clone shout.
"Where's the general and Jera?" Another shouted.
I saw the clones pinned down by a couple of super battle droids and fired a power blast at one of them, hitting it's leg and knocking it down to the ground. One of the clones then shot the droid until it didn't get up.
"Right here," I said, "The general's been compromised. We need to finish the objective."
The clones froze for a second then nodded and stood up to push the droids back and eventually destroy them. Eventually, we reached a fork
"Which way to the reactor?" One of the clones asked me.
I pulled out a data pad with schematics and pointed left, which prompted us to all run down that hallway until we reached the reactor.
"Find them," A droid's voice sounded though the halls.
"Plant the explosives," I told the clones, "I'll cover you if they find us."
"Got it," One of them said, "Let's plant them and blow these clankers to hell boys."
The next few moment were nerve wrecking for me, as I kept flinching at every small sound and figure off in the distance. Just as the clones finished planting the explosives, a pair of droidekas found us and started to move in while firing.
"We can get through this Jera," One of the clones said, "But one of us would need to make a sacrifice so the others can get away safely."
I was looking around, considering our options when I heard the hum of a lightsaber and the impact of a shield.
"Go!" The general said, "I'll make sure the explosives go off."
I looked up and saw the droidekas cut in half and the general standing there with her lightsaber. The clones and I walked past, but the general grabbed my arm to stop me.
"Jera," The general said, "I've already notified the council of your bravery and service here. Take my lightsaber with you and give it to Jedi Master Yoda. He'll know what it means and what to do next. May the force be with you."
The general handed me her lightsaber and I ran with the clones to the pickup.
We climbed in and the pilot took off and closed the door as the outpost exploded.
I stood outside the council room, waiting to meet with them as I clutched the lightsaber given to me by the late general. Eventually I was called into the council chambers.
"Trust I do," Yoda spoke, "here to discuss the mission you are."
"That is correct," I spoke and held up the lightsaber.
Yoda closed his eyes and looked down.
"Jedi Knight Kyra was a great asset to the order," Master Windu spoke, "Her death is an inconvenience to all who served under her."
"You did a good thing returning her lightsaber," Master Kenobi said, speaking through a hologram, "But I sense something else within you."
"Sense it as well, I do," Yoda said, "Wish to lead in her place, you do?"
"Yes," I answered, "I know that I am no Jedi, but I believe that Kyra's sacrifice should not be in vain. I wish to lead the small group of clones she led, with the council's permission of course."
"That is something we will consider," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, "Something we must discuss before a decision can be reached."
'Indeed," Yoda said, "Dismissed, you are."
I handed Master Windu the lightsaber and walked out of the council room to walk around the temple and clear my mind.
Shortly after, I was approached by a Clone trooper and hailed.
"Jera, sir," The clone said, "They've found what you asked them for."
"I see," I said, "Thank you, trooper."
After making my way to the landing dock I was told to go to, I laid my eyes upon a ship that looked old and run down.
"Ah, Jera," A mechanic said, "Do you really want us to repair this junk pile?"
"Does the ramp lower?" I asked.
"We haven't tried that yet," The mechanic said, "We wanted to get your confirmation first."
"Open it," I instructed.
The mechanic hooked a datapad up to the ships's boarding ramp and fiddled with a few things until the ramp finally lowered. I moved to walk inside to inspect the inside, which was also old and run down with the mechanic at my heels.
"I just don't think it's gonna be worth the problems to fix this junk," He told me, "I think you should just use one the republic has ready."
I reached the cockpit without saying a word and pressed my hand on the nav computer, which flickered to life for a second, then turned back off.
"All it needs is to be restored," I said, "Do whatever you deem fit to get the girl space-worthy again."
"I still don't see the point," The mechanic sighed, "What's the significance of this thing?"
"Have you ever heard the tale of the Jedi Crusader?" I asked him.
"No, I have not," The mechanic said.
"You won't really find much information on him here," I started, "Since he was trained on Dantooine. When the Mandalorians started a war with the Republic many years ago and the Mandalorians were actually winning, the Crusader went against the council's wishes and gathered any Jedi that would follow him to help the Republic. With the Crusader at the head of the Republic military, they quickly pushed the threat back to Malachor V and dealt a crushing blow, ending the war. Malachor V was not destroyed by any bombardment, it was destroyed by the most horrifying weapon."
"What was the weapon?" The mechanic asked, confused.
"The Force," I told him, "The Force in it's raw form, ripped Malachor V apart, showing us Mandalorians, that we can never win against the Jedi. The Jedi that committed this horrible act had used up all of the Force inside of her, effectively cutting her off from it; she was now an exile from the force and the Jedi Order."
"What about the ship though?" The mechanic asked, "That tale told me nothing about it."
"That's not important right now," I told him, "I need to return to the council at the moment. Continue the repairs."
I returned to the council chamber and stood outside the door before being called back in. Once I was, I saw that the Jedi masters had concerned looks on their faces.
"We have looked into letting you do as you asked," Master Windu started almost immediately, "However, there is something we must address first."
"Which is what?" I asked.
"Where were you born, Jera?" Master Windu asked.
"I was born on Onderon's moon," I answered, "My parents ended up moving to a new settlement the Mandalorians tried to start to repopulate Malachor V."
"Destroyed, the settlement was," Yoda said, "Influenced your decision to influence to join the republic, did it not?"
Yes, it was destroyed," I said, anger flashing quickly across my face, "By the Separatists. It did influence my decision, however, I am Mandalorian. Mandalorians usually yearn for battle, but I wanted something more... I wanted to serve somewhere I felt I was needed. That's why I came here, Masters. It's why I didn't leave right after my contract was fulfilled. I personally have no idea why I stayed... It just felt like something told me to stay."
"Something like the force?" The hologram of Master Kenobi questioned.
"I..." I began, "I have no idea."
"More time to discuss this decision, we need" Master Yoda said.
"Indeed," Windu agreed, "For now you'll report to a small strike team similar to the one in your last mission. You will be leaving for the Japrael Sector tomorrow."
"I'm returning home?" I asked.
"After the droids on Onderon were defeated," Master Kenobi said, "The very few Mandalorians living on the moon of Dxun have contacted the council trying to reach you in hopes that you'll help them. We've decided to send this small strike team so that they can get in and out quickly."
"I understand," I said, "I shall leave first thing tomorrow."
"We've arrived at the drop spot," the pilot of a transport said to me. "Give those droid hell for me, will you?"
I nodded and stepped off the transport as it began to take off again and approached a small camp with five clone troopers in it.
"You must be Jera," One of them scowled.
"Can it, Legion," Another said, "He's here because he knows this moon better than the rest of us."
"Yeah, if we tried on our own," A third chuckled, "We'd get lost in this forest once we went in. You're not exactly the best tour guide."
"Welcome to the op, Jera," The fourth said, "As you probably guessed, the angry one is Legion. Now, the one in Orange is Devran, we call the one in Blue Axis, the guy in Yellow calls himself Algiz, and the quiet one in Green is Smother. Oh, and I'm Tripp."
"Why do you call him Smother?" I asked.
"Honestly?" Axis said, looking at Smother, "We don't know, that's what his co from the 41st called him. He's one hell of a sniper though."
"So what battalions are the rest of you from?" I asked.
The clones looked at each other, shrugged and proceeded to answer one by one.
"501st," Axis answered.
"104th," Legion said begrudgingly.
"Algiz and I are from the 212th," Devran answered.
"91st," Tripp said, "As you could've guessed, all five of us were placed on this op cause we had some useful skills. Legion is the tactics, Devran is the Heavy support, Axis is an Arc trooper, Algiz specialized in Explosives, Smother is the sniper, and I'm more along the lines of an infiltrator."
"I assume we're actually going to start the op now that Jera is here?" Legion asked.
The clones started to pack up the campsite and get their gear together after that as Legion walked up to me.
"Just follow orders and take us to the Mandalorian outpost." he told me, "I'm in charge of this op and I need you to remember that."
"No problems here," I told Legion.
After around an hour of walking, we reached a clearing in the forest and I motion for everyone to lower their weapons.
"Ni ganar returned yaim," I spoke Mando'a for the first time in years, as rusty as it may be and two Madalorians turned off their cloaking devices and greeted me.
"Jera? is that you?" One of them asked.
"Of course it is, Lynx The other said, "Who else would wear that old armor?"
Both of them hugged me for a second and then pulled away.
"I assume you got our message if you're here with these Fett clones?" The second Mandalorian said, disgusted.
"Respect, Oxis," I told him, "They may be clones of Fett, but I can assure you that they hold no affiliation to any of the clans."
"Yeah, that's what worries me," The Lynx said, "Follow us, the ones of us here will be happy to know that you're back."
A couple more minutes of walking brings us to a run down outpost on the edge of the forest with working communications and defenses.
"Things have gotten worse since your family left, Jera," Lynx said, "We haven't had a good leader since your mother."
"There was one time that Lannus tried to lead us," Oxis shook his head, "We had to drag him out in the middle of the night and tell him he wasn't fit."
"The place certainly does look to have more people than last time," I observed.
""That's cause some of the nameless have come here seeking refuge from the war," A female Mandalorian said.
I turned my head and cracked a smile when I saw a Chiss mandalorian.
"Isa, it's been too long," I said, hugging her.
"I could say the same thing to you, Jera," She said, "Follow me."
"So who's in charge now?" I asked her.
"I am," She answered, "None of these cowards wanted to lead after Dex was killed in the raid last week."
"What did they take?" I asked another question as we walked into the leader's room.
"Hostages and lives," Isa answered, "They also demanded that we side with them, but nobody moved except for Lannus, that damn Hut'uun."
"Well, the Republic sent us to help," I gestured at the clone troopers behind me.
"I'll take it from here, Jera," Legion said as motioned me aside.
"The Republic sent us to destroy the droid forces on this moon, not help you with your every need," He told Isa, "Just tell us where the Droids are and we'll take em out and get off this moon."
"That's not going to happen," Isa told Legion.
"And why not?" Legion asked, getting agitated.
"One, we don't know where exactly they are," She said, "Two, they always send their whole force to this outpost and have their leaders stay back at the entrance where we can't get them. Three, I am leader of this outpost and my. Word. Is. Law."
"Well," Axis said, " We may as well get comfortable here, cause we aren't going anywhere for a while... I can feel it."
"If any of you want to follow me," I said, "I'll be participating the the unarmed tournament."
Isa smiled and followed me, including all the clone troopers except for Legion, who I can only assume called Palpatine.
"I want to participate in the unarmed bout," I said as I walked up to the trainer.
"Great, I'll set you up with-" The trainer turned to look towards me, "Why, Jera! You're back!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I told the trainer.
"I'll get the match started right away," He told me, "One of the Clanless joined our little militia and he needs to prove himself."
I stepped into the ring after taking all of my weapons off and faced my opponent. A young man who was shaking where he stood.
"Do you know how to fight yet, kid?" I asked him.
The kid continued to shake where he stood uncontrollably. Eventually I walked up to him and adjusted his stance for him.
"You want your feet like this and the arm you throw straights with needs to be next to your chin. Your Jab hand needs to be in front of that one." I instructed him, "If you stand like how you've been standing, you won't get any good throws in."
The kid followed everything I was telling him until I decided that he's gotten the hang of it. I went back to my started position and we started the bout.
We walked up to each other and started to throw punches and block respectively. The kid got a good hook in on me and I felt my jaw line.
"Not bad," I told him.
Before anything else could happen, an alarm sounded.
"The outpost is being attacked!" Isa Shouted, "Everyone to arms!"