Two weeks later, Obi-Wan stepped onto the deck of his star cruiser, followed by Ahsoka and Anakin. He wore his new armor, colored the same blue that his wife wore so much, the colors of their house. The other two wore similar armor, but colored a slightly different blue, matching the armor of the clones. The clones had been told that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano had resigned from the Jedi order the day after they had informed the council, and yesterday had been told that their new commander would be the Duke of Mandalore.
Obi-Wan still wore his helmet as he stepped into the command room, as did the other former Jedi, and all the clones snapped to attention in front of him. Cody and Rex were at the front of their men, clearly nervous, but still determined to be professional. "Sir!" Cody greeted them. "Please, relax. Remove your helmets. There is no need for ceremony with me." The voice modulator on his helmet scrambled his voice past recognition. As the men relaxed, Rex removed his helmet. "Sir, do you know what's happened to General Kenobi? He was a good friend of many of ours."
Obi-Wan removed his helmet. "I'm still here, Rex, although not General anymore."
A cheer went up from the men as they saw his face, the face of their beloved general where they had expected to meet a stranger as the Mand'alor.
"You, sir?" Cody gasped again as Anakin and Ahsoka removed their helmets.
"The council has asked us to remain as your commanders until they can find suitable replacements for us. When they found out about my marriage, they were extremely upset. I resigned my position rather than be forced out, but I can no longer fight in their war. I believe it to be unjust, and no longer necessary. There are other ways to achieve our goals. And so I ask you, not as the mand'alor, but as your former captain and friend, to follow me when I leave. To follow this." He ignited the darksaber at his side, the men gasping around him.
"He carries the Kad'dha!" Most of them knelt immediately, the rest settling for a deep bow.
"You are all Mando'ad, and on Manda'yaim you could be free to live your lives as you see fit, not as you're forced to."
The men rose to their feet, cheering again, even louder this time. Obi-Wan had no doubt they would follow him, and with their strength, Mandalore would be a force to be reckoned with if the council ever decided to break their treaty with them.
"Sir," Cody stepped up, looking almost sheepish. "How long have you known Mando'a?"
"The Duchess taught me twenty-five years ago, when I was her protector for a year during the civil war. We were married twenty years ago, and it's gotten a lot better since then."
"So, you're fluent?"
"I would say so, yes."
Cody cringed. "So all those times we were speaking Mando'a among ourselves, you could understand us?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan laughed. "Even the times you were making fun of me."