Tairek and I awoke hours later, tied up to trees in the middle of a forest. Surrounding us were at least three dozen people – mostly human females, along with the traditional local races – Gungans, Zabraks, and Twileks. Also present was our Toydarian 'friend,' along with what looked like several members of the militia. Our blaster pistols along with the long barreled rifle were taken. A fire was going, and the night sky had long since put the sun to rest. This was the grove, and it was midnight. The Toydarian spoke.
"Eh, I would've killed you, but Jan wanted to interrogate you. I think you would have preferred your deaths instead." The Toydarian said. A human female with red hair walked towards us. Jan.
"I understand you two have been very curious. Too curious perhaps." Jan said. Tairek and I were Mandalorians, and were trained to endure extreme pain under such circumstances. But no one lasts forever in interrogations. We just were trained for higher tolerances of pain. We said nothing. "The silence is deafening, they say. Very well. Our organization can't continue while rogue elements collaborate with the enemy. I'm going to ask you very nicely who sent you, and if you don't answer correctly, then regrettably a few of my more unforgiving associates will have to force the answers out of you. First question. Are you Republic spies?"
"No." Tairek said in his Caledonian brogue.
"I find that hard to believe. We know this was your first time entering the city of Gardoose, but after cross checking your IDs, we've discerned that there was never a 'Wesford' or an 'Atin' living in the countryside for the past five years. The only obvious conclusion is that you two are spies of the Republic, sent to destroy us from the inside out."
"You have it all wrong lady. We're not working for the Republic. Far from it. Your pithy organization isn't worth the time for the Republic to destroy. They have more pressing matters at hand in the rest of the galaxy." Tairek replied. He looked deadly serious. Jan became flustered.
"The Mandalorians are just the same as the Republic, if not worse. They destroy planets, they destroy innocent lives and bring suffering wherever they go!" Jan shot back. Two Gungans and an Iridonian militiamen pointed blasters at us. I looked at the Iridonian.
"To burst your bubble, this isn't the first time I've had a blaster pointed at me." I said. Jan raised her brow at me, then looked at Tairek. He looked dark, grim. Interrogation was nothing new to him.
"Have it your way lady, but would you, a regular working mom from the looks of it, continue your life with a clear conscience…knowing you tortured and killed two men, who you were not even sure were working for the Republic?" Tairek said to Jan.
"If you really aren't from the Republic…who are you with?" Jan asked, suspicious as usual.
"You wouldn't like our answer no matter what we said." Tairek replied.
"Humor me."
"Let's just say…my people are here on Rori to fight the Republic, not the locals." Tairek said. Realization dawned on the gathered people, and the militiamen aimed their blasters at our heads. Jan reached and put their blasters down.
"Mandalorians! You scum…masquerading as one of us! I should have you shot, I'd be saving lives!" Jan said.
"And you'd be losing yours! Your organization is no good without a military wing." Tairek said. I turned to Tairek, confused.
"Tairek…what the hell are you saying?" I murmured.
"Yes…what the hell are you saying?" Jan retorted.
"I'm saying that whatever you have planned with your people, it will lead to armed conflict." Tairek said.
"We are civil servants, and good working people. Protests against the Republic will raise awareness, a temporary council will be formed and we'll vote that the Republic should leave!"
"Delusions humoured by foolish optimism. As you've noticed, the Republic here on Rori doesn't recognize any civil rights the locals have. You can protest, form your bureaucratic councils, and they will still hunt you and arrest you. Your organization is nothing without an army to carry out its whims."
"A large number of the militia have joined our organization, and more join us each day."
"Your 'militia' is weak and complacent and hasn't had a victory against an armed force in a year. They can barely keep a straight face and hold their blasters straight while their hands shake like a nervous girl's! They're amateur and green! When your 'civil' coup is launched, your 'militia' will barely be able to protect themselves against the ERCS and the Feeorin mercenaries that trained them." Tairek shot back. Jan's face turned red. She yelled out a cry of anger and turned to walk away. More militiamen crowded around as Jan went to speak with others. A few minutes later, the Toydarian from before came to speak to us.
"Eh…we have some questions for you before we even think of releasing you. First! We know the Mandalorians are still strong, as we hear everyday from folks in the country that their homes were attacked. How many of you are there, and where are you located?" The Toydarian asked. Tairek and I hesitated at first, but we pressed on.
"At least 200. In the mountains south of Gardoose." Tairek replied. I hoped the revelation wouldn't compromise our comrade's lives.
"Hnn…well armed?"
"Extremely."
"Still battle ready as they were a year ago?"
"We Mandalorians are trained for combat as early as four years old. It's in our blood." I said.
"And I suppose it helps that you've been raiding the countryside so much….killing innocents keeps you in shape I guess." The Toydarian sneered. He left, and the militiamen surrounded us again. A few minutes later, the Toydarian and Jan returned.
"We have decided on the terms of your release. Brog, myself, and our soldiers will escort you to your base. There, Brog and I will speak to your leader." Jan said.
"You've got it wrong lady. If we just walk in, they'll shoot you on sight. You don't just drop in. The lad and I will have to contact our commander and arrange a meeting." Jan and the Toydarian, Brog, murmured something between themselves, and then looked back at us.
"Very well. How do you plan on contacting them?" Jan asked.
"Our general ordered us to make contact via comlinks when we found out something. If we don't contact him by at least dawn, he'll assume we were killed. We should have left hours ago." Tairek said.
"The Republic has at least one listening post set up in Gardoose, but we've tested its range and it doesn't go as far as the marshes. We'll escort you south, and you can contact your general from there." Brog said.
"Very wise." Tairek said.
The militiamen untied us from the trees, but still kept us cuffed. Jan and Brag ordered their gathered associates to disperse, and then went with us as we left the grove. The militiamen kept their blasters aimed at our backs, as Jan and Brog led us south. Tairek and I got a better picture of the lay of the land as we exited the forest. Gardoose was off to our east while we headed south to the marshes, meaning the grove was north east of the city. After an hour and a half of marching through the darkness, with only torches held by Jan and Brog, we reached the marshes. It seemed more a perfect spot to kill us and hide our bodies, but they untied us. The militiamen still trained their blasters on us as Jan handed us our comlinks.
"Here. We're out of range of the city. Contact your leader." Jan said. Tairek nodded to me and let me do it. I flicked the comlink on and made the call.
"Fett? Tairek? You there?" Conall asked.
"Conall, it's Doug. I apologize for the wait."
"Thank Mandalore. I thought you two were dead. I want a status report immediately."
"Vod, I can't talk long. Tairek and I were captured by forces opposed to the Republic…their leaders want to meet with you."
"I see…tell them they can meet me in the abandoned village of Gildillan, in the foothills."
"Got it." I said. Conall and I cut the line, and I looked at Jan and Brog.
"Our general will meet with you in Gildillan."
"Very well. Brog, shall we?" Jan said.
She turned and kept walking, while the Toydarian leered at us. We kept walking. After another 45 minutes, we eventually reached Gildillan. It was one of many villages Conall and his men ransacked early on when they became a guerilla force. Now it was a mere ghost town. Two dozen shacks made up the village, all empty. When Jan, Brog, the militiamen and Tairek and I entered the village, passing through rows of shacks, it looked as though Conall hadn't shown. But Tairek and I knew better. With their torches, Jan and Brog tried to spot any nearby Mandalorians, but came up with nothing. They turned on us.
"If your supposed 'general' has duped us, then we may as well kill you right here and now!" Brog yelled. Hidden inside the shacks, Conall and his men emerged, armed and armoured, their rifles trained on our captors.
"PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN AND LET MY BROTHERS GO!" Conall yelled. The militiamen dropped their blasters. "HANDS UP! ON YOUR KNEES! ALL OF YOU!" Conall yelled again. Tairek and I took Jan and Brog's torches along with our blasters, while our captors dropped to their knees and put their hands in the air. Conall's men kept their blasters aimed, while Conall put his away and approached Jan and Brog, squatting in front of them. His helmet's visor peered into their eyes.
"So, I understand you two aren't so happy with the Republic?" Conall asked, relaxed. Jan and Brog nodded. "Well, it seems we have something in common. At ease, comrades." Conall ordered. His men relaxed, letting their rifles down. The militiamen stood back up, along with Jan and Brog. Conall shook their hands.
"I'm General Conall MacBroek of clan MacBroek, at your service. Please, have a seat, relax." Conall said, motioning to a table and chairs inside one of the shacks. Tairek and I followed them inside, and stood near the doorway as the three sat. "So, what is your glorious plan for tossing the Republic out of this sector?" Conall asked mockingly. Neither of them answered. Tairek spoke.
"Cousin, they fooled themselves into thinking Republic forces here would've been ousted by a vote of the people." Tairek said. Conall leaned his head back and nodded.
"Ah yes, democracy. Funny thing it is. In an ideal world, a government of the people would be enough to topple a government that's oppressing the people. But this is the real world, and the only way to truly get things done is with a blaster and a couple thermal detonators. Did you two really think you could stage a revolution without an army? I'm not an historian, and even I know that major change can't be forged without resorting to war. But I guess that's why we're here, isn't it? Change." Conall said. Jan and Brog still looked uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Jan spoke.
"Yes. Republic forces here have been terrorizing the people of Gardoose for nearly two years now. We want them gone." Jan said.
"Ah, they speak. Well, tell you the truth, I want them gone too. My mission on Rori was never to start a war with the locals, if you'd believe that. We were only to build a small fortress on the chance that we'd lose and the clans dispersed. Would you believe that?" Conall said. That was Mandalore's contingency plan in a nutshell.
"Perhaps." Jan replied.
"Fair enough. To be quite frank, my culture, the Mandalorian culture, one of its core tenets is adaptation. Change, go with the flow. Work with what you've got, fight alongside unlikely allies, avoid death, and have a drink with newfound friends after the fighting is over. So let's chat. Your organization…who is in it, what does it have?"
"We have 50 members, citizens of Gardoose who are in every rung of society. We have members of the militia with us too. We meet once every week in the forests north east of the city."
"And has it been productive?"
"…No."
"Why not?"
"Many other women in the organization have jobs in the Republic offices, but it's hard to find out anything from there. They're kept in the dark from their superiors."
"Ah, so it's information you're having trouble with. Tell you what. The next meeting you have, Tairek, Doug, and myself will attend, and we'll help you out."
"…Ok. It will have to be soon then, given the most recent developments regarding…you guys."
"Of course."
"My apartment…you two. Meet me there tomorrow at 3 o'clock." Brog said to us.
"You won't drug us again, will you?" Tairek asked. Brog said nothing.
"Very well. Tairek and Doug here will be my liaisons with your organization. I hope we can do business again soon."
"We need to get back…I have to work and earn a paycheck like everybody else. It's getting late, and the guards won't like us coming inside the city at such a late hour. Today, I'll get the message across to the rest of my people about the next meeting." Jan said.
"Very well. It was a pleasure meeting you." Conall said, with a hint of sarcasm. It was a tense beginning for an alliance, which as far as we knew at the time may not have even lasted long. These people were rogue elements, dissenters in an authoritarian city. Their death was always a possibility. Jan, Brog, and the Gungan, Iridonian, and Twilek miltiamen were allowed to leave. Conall's men stayed outside, keeping guard, while Conall looked at us.
"Good work you two. We've made the first step forward, now we just have to keep our balance for the rest of the walk. Let's head back to camp."