Episode 14 – Aruetii
Ambushed near Bogdan! In her mission to identify the mastermind behind the attack on the Yularen, Mandalorian Bounty Huntress Ailyn Vel and her team of Mandalorian Supercommandos, known as the Werda Tsad, have reached an apparent dead end! But this has now changed with an apparent discovery by the Werda Tsad's demolitions expert, Sabine Wren, leading to Ailyn Vel scheduling a rendezvous with the former Rebel and the rest of the Werda Tsad!
Skirata Clan Homestead, Keldabe…
A speeder pulled up outside of the Skirata homestead with a casually dressed Ailyn at the controls. Ailyn immediately disembarked and approached the door which was opened by Bresha Skirata.
"Alor Vel, welcome." Bresha greeted.
"I was told Wren was here." Ailyn replied.
"She's here. Along with the others." Bresha said as she ushered Ailyn into the kitchen/dining/family room of the homestead. The rest of the Werda Tsad were gathered there already but they were joined by two additional people. Both were older human men, one of whom Ailyn immediately identified as an old Fett Clone that had a wounded eye with a scar over it to boot. The other was not a clone but she could tell that there was something strange about him.
"Ah, Vel, Su'cuy. Glad you could make it." Venku commented.
"This had better be worth it Skirata. The trail is getting colder by the day and my clients are getting impatient for answers." Ailyn stated with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Hopefully the Jedi Council and the Republic Brass shouldn't have to wait for very long." The old man seated near Venku said. This earned Venku a scathing glare from Ailyn.
"What did you tell him?" Ailyn asked.
"Everything I knew. This is Gotab, a trusted friend and member of House Skirata. You will show him the proper respect, Vel." Venku said, daring her to object. Ailyn's expression softened slightly.
"Apologies, Alor Gotab." Ailyn said albeit still annoyed that Venku had brought someone else into the fold. Gotab gave a dismissive wave.
"No apologies necessary. Kad brought us in to help identify the explosive you found. There are a lot of Clone Wars veterans in the clan so he asked me to find one well versed in old Separatist Explosives." Gotab said as the Sabine held up the bomb they had found in the station.
"Here's what we know about it. It's a modified Merr-Sonn TB-44, an explosive with easy-program detonation system. They were used exclusively by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars, primarily by Commando Droids to sabotage Republic installations. After the Clone Wars they were discontinued and the surplus seized and used by the Empire during the subjugation of various worlds. They were extremely rare to find fourteen years after the Clone Wars so it's very likely that any others we find now would come from the same place as this one." Sabine explained as Ailyn arched a curious eyebrow.
"And where would we find those?" Ailyn asked.
"That's where I come in, vod'ika." The old Clone said as he took the bomb from Sabine. This caused Ailyn to scowl.
"Don't call me that." She muttered warningly.
"This is Wolfe, the head of Clan Wolfe, one of House Skirata's smaller clans. He served in the G.A.R. like my father. He's House Skirata's foremost expert on old Separatist droids and their tactics." Venku explained as Wolfe examined the explosive.
"No disrespect but what could an old bomb possibly tell us?" Bralor asked.
"More than you think. For starters, this bomb is a reproduction. Made to look exactly like this one." Wolfe said as he pulled a matching but more weathered bomb from a satchel at his side.
"Why do you have one of those?" Hokan asked, surprised. Wolfe merely pressed a button on the older bomb, part of its casing lighting up, producing a soft yellow glow.
"Picked it up as a souvenir after the Republic captured Muunilist for the second time during the Clone Wars. My eldest turned it into a glow lamp for my thirtieth birthday." Wolfe explained before setting the glow lamp down and examining the reproduced explosive.
"So what can you tell us about this one?" Ailyn asked.
"Quite a lot actually. The tool marks are consistent with the ones on the glow lamp. It was made from the exact same place or at least with the same equipment." Wolfe explained.
"That only reinforces what Wren said. It doesn't tell us where it was made." Bresha commented.
"No but the serial number will. Kad, you have that list I asked for?" Wolfe asked as Venku produced a datapad and handed it to Wolfe.
"Merr-Sonn serial numbers always have a segment which references the factory the product was manufactured from. We can use that number to identify the factory and where that factory is located." Sabine explained as Ailyn smirked slightly.
"Which means we can go to the source and find out who commissioned the bomb's production. Fifty credits says the commissioner is the one responsible for the Yularen Incident." Ailyn said as Wolfe furrowed his brow.
"That's odd." Wolfe commented as he looked at the datapad.
"What is it, Alor?" Venku asked.
"According to these old Merr-Sonn Records, the serial number on the bomb matches that of a factory on Hypori." Wolfe explained.
"Why's that odd?" Ailyn asked.
"Because according to these records the Hypori Factory was shuttered at the end of the Clone Wars. The Separatists had financed its construction for Merr-Sonn as part of a much larger Droid Factory there." Wolfe explained as the Werda Tsad looked at each other.
"Separatist Droid Factory with a Merr-Sonn munitions factory on the side. Armor up, we're headed to Hypori." Ailyn said with a smirk. Sabine, Hokan, Bresha, and Bralor were headed for the door, Ailyn about to fall in behind them when she heard her comlink start beeping. She immediately pulled it from her pocket.
"Vel here." She replied.
"Lyn, your father needs to see you. He says it's urgent." Sintas said on the other end, earning a groan of annoyance from Ailyn.
"Where?" she asked.
"Docking bay 12. Slave I. And bring Skirata with you." Sintas replied as Ailyn looked to Venku who nodded, grabbing his helmet.
"On our way."
…
A few minutes later, Venku and Ailyn entered the docking bay where the infamous Slave I was sat docked, the boarding ramp retracted and the ship itself, sealed.
"Typical welcome from my father." Ailyn muttered in annoyance at the sight of the closed boarding hatch.
"He might not be here yet." Venku commented. Ailyn was about to make a cutting remark when she saw her father, in full armor, emerge from behind them.
"What kept you?" he asked as he passed them, pressing a button on his wrist gauntlet, causing the boarding ramp to extend on Slave I along with the boarding hatch. He had only just arrived. Ailyn rolled her eyes as they followed after him, boarding the ship.
"Okay, you wanted to see us, so we're here. What's this all about?" Ailyn asked as Boba closed the door behind them, taking his seat at the helm. He pressed a button that caused the cockpit viewport to polarize, tinting it solid black as the ship's interior lighting came on. Boba then removed his helmet.
"The only listening devices here are mine and they're shut off anyway." Boba said as he motioned towards the copilot and passenger seats on either side of him. Venku obliged but Ailyn remained standing, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Enough of the theatrics. What is this about?" she asked as Boba reclined in his seat.
"You've got a leak." He stated plainly, earning a startled look from both Mandalorians.
"I assume you're not talking about plumbing." Ailyn said as she uncrossed her arms.
"What kind of leak?" Venku asked, removing his helmet as Boba reached into his pocket.
"I got a message from Starkiller. It was transmitted directly to Slave I's communication's system via an old code I gave Lord Vader long ago. It was a short message, stating that the Sith ambushed one of their Commando Teams almost by accident." Boba explained.
"And that implies a leak on our end?" Ailyn asked.
"The Commandos the Republic sent in were following a possible lead from the information you recovered on your trip to the moon of Bogdan. The Sith arrived first, following a similar lead where the two teams encountered each other." Boba explained as Venku sat back in his chair in disturbed realization.
"And the only way they could have gotten a lead was if they got that same information. But couldn't they have simply gotten it from the leak in the Republic?" Venku asked.
"No, no they couldn't." Ailyn replied, earning a confused look from Venku and the usual blank stare from Boba.
"What do you mean?" Venku asked as he noticed a look of consternation on Ailyn's face.
"I handed that data over directly to Marek's droid. I've worked with the Marek family enough to know that they're not so easily duped." Ailyn explained.
"Kento fell for that changeling masquerading as you." Venku said as Ailyn bobbed her head slightly.
"I was referring more to Starkiller. But knowing him, he would only let news of a security breach be known to a handful of people, and even then on a need-to-know basis. Plus, why would the Sith follow a lead based on data we recovered if it was them? Throw us off the track? I don't think so. My gut says otherwise." Ailyn said as she looked at Boba who simply stared back at her.
"What else could it be?" Venku asked as Ailyn continued to look squarely at her father.
"It wasn't an attempt to throw the Republic off track. It was an accidental admission of innocence on the Sith's part. They're trying to find the leak too aren't they? And if they're trying to find the leak, then that means they aren't the source of the security breach we're hunting for at all." Ailyn said as Boba gave a nod.
"The question then becomes; how did they get the same information you did?" he asked as Ailyn scowled.
"Death Watch." She replied as Venku raised his head with a look of anger on his face.
"We have a spy on our team. The spy passed the information off to Death Watch, and Death Watch passed it off to the Sith." Venku said as Ailyn looked towards him.
"Question is, who is it? It could be either one of you since you've both tried to kill me at some point." Boba commented, causing both Mandalorians to look away from him, neither saying a word.
"That said…" Boba said after a pregnant pause, "…I've dismissed you both as suspects. Ailyn your reasons for killing me were personally motivated and based on a misunderstanding. Skirata your motives were similar. You thought I was too weak to lead our people and tried to kill me. Your attempt failed. Since then you've made public your disapproval of some of my actions and publicly approved of others. You're either very smart in hiding your tracks or it's a subtle show of loyalty."
"Call it what you will. Being a sycophantic yes man would only confirm guilt." Venku said as Ailyn looked thoughtful.
"The majority of Death Watch were clans or individual clansmen that had sworn loyalty to House Vizsla." Ailyn pondered aloud.
"Finding them would be impossible. With the exception of House Fett, practically every Clan on Mandalore has at least one traitor in their midst at some point in their history. Even House Kryze had a Death Watchman. Accusing Ordo, Wren, or Bralor would be like accusing their whole clans. We'd be starting a feud between our clans." Venku said.
"Not with Clan Wren. She's an aliit-be-solus." Boba replied as Ailyn pondered.
"But that's not to say she wouldn't have past ties. The kid did get stuck in hyperspace for thirty years. Times might've changed but her loyalties may not have." Ailyn said as Venku nodded.
"I hate to suspect any of them. They're our brothers and sisters." Venku said as Ailyn looked towards Boba.
"Thanks for the heads up. We'll take it from here." Ailyn said before turning and leaving, disembarking the Slave I.
…
Soon the Makin was leaving Mandalore orbit, making the jump to hyperspace. In the main hold, the Werda Tsad was gathered around a holoprojector on the floor which displayed flat-holo images of the Hypori Droid Factory taken during the Clone Wars.
"Alright, thanks to a few contacts of mine in the Republic, I was able to get these. These records are outdated but it's still better than nothing. We already know the factory was an old Separatist droid factory that was shuttered by the emergent Empire following the Clone Wars. The Rebellion actually managed to use the factory for a while before the Empire chased them off. The Empire moved in for a while after but after Endor, they abandoned it. It's been that way ever since, or at least it should've been." Ailyn explained.
"Whoever made the bombs and the droids likely built them from this factory. It's one of the few remaining Separatist Droid Factories still in existence in the Galaxy. So whoever's running the factory now is likely the culprit behind the incident over Bogden and the attack on the Yularen." Venku added.
"So our mission is to get in, blow up the factory, and leave?" Sabine asked.
"That's our secondary objective. Primary objective is to identify the operators and who they're working for." Ailyn replied.
"My money's on the Sith." Hokan commented.
"Nah doesn't seem right. That would mean the expenditure of millions of credits to hire the mercs, build the droids, presumably restore the factory…nah they wouldn't do it." Bresha replied.
"Underworld rumors might substantiate it since we know Rotta the Hutt is well entrenched within the Sith Empire. He might have made the arrangements under their order." Venku added but Bralor shook his head.
"But again, that's millions of credits and a whole lot of hassle for very little return. The Hutts are even less likely to do this." Bralor commented.
"At this point all we can do is speculate. We have no evidence to confirm one or the other. We'll need to go in with zero expectations. For now, we have some prepwork to do. Hokan, you have the helm for now. Bralor, double check the cages in the back. We may end up taking prisoners, you never know. Wren, check our arsenal supplies. Bresha, med bay." Ailyn said as the four all gave a quiet nod and headed into the ship to do what they were ordered to. Once all four had left, Ailyn and Venku stepped towards each other, Ailyn producing a small data rod.
"Is that from Starkiller?" Venku asked softly.
"Yeah. He's making preparations. He's passed along the coordinates of four Republic Staging Areas. This rod has two of them. Give one to Hokan and one to Bresha. I'll give Wren and Bralor the other two. Make sure it comes up in casual conversation." Ailyn whispered.
"And if the Sith or Death Watch attack those locations?" Venku asked.
"Two birds, one stone. Enemy gets caught in a trap and our spy is exposed." Ailyn whispered back before they headed in different directions. Ailyn's first stop was Sabine in a small space dedicated to storing Ailyn's weapon cache. It wasn't her full cache though since it was hidden throughout the ship. Sabine was checking a bandoleer of thermal detonators as Ailyn entered.
"Wren, how's our arsenal looking?" Ailyn asked.
"Looking good. It's good to know thermal dets haven't changed in thirty years." Sabine replied, setting down the bandoleer.
"Yeah. You had a chance to see much of the galaxy outside our missions?" Ailyn asked.
"Aside from Mandalore and Coruscant, no. Got any recommendations?" Sabine asked back.
"I like Ord Ibanna. Gas giant but has some incredible views. It's a staging area for the Republic forces right now though so just remember to say please and thank you." Ailyn commented, earning a chuckle from Sabine.
"Come on, I'm old Rebellion. They'd probably give me a pass." Sabine replied.
"Possibly. Speaking of which, find anyone from your past?" Ailyn asked but Sabine lowered her head.
"No. Everyone I knew from the old days are gone except for the friends that got stuck in hyperspace with me. Only one I was interested in anyway, Ketsu Onyo, was killed by a bounty hunter years ago. Never found out who it was." Sabine replied somberly.
"No family? No Clan? No House?" Ailyn asked but Sabine's mood seemed to darken.
"I'm alit be solus. Clan of one. I have no clan anymore and my house…my house is my mortal enemy." Sabine explained, Ailyn arching a suspicious eyebrow.
"You mean…"
"House Viszla. Clan Wren served House Viszla. My mother was Death Watch. I'm a Mandalorian." Sabine said as Ailyn eyed her suspiciously.
"That's a dangerous admission this day and age, Wren." Ailyn commented softly.
"Yeah but Death Watch is extinct now, aren't they?" Sabine asked but Ailyn shook her head.
"Not in the slightest. They're back and they're aligned with the Sith. We don't know who their leader is, but just admitting that your clan served House Viszla, the House that founded Death Watch, is enough to warrant suspicion." Ailyn said as Sabine rose to her feet, a stern glare in her eyes.
"Like I said, I'm Mandalorian. I'm no traitor." Sabine said as Ailyn gave a slight hand gesture to calm her down.
"Udesii. I trust you, Wren, but be wary. Death Watch is out there. Lurking and waiting." Ailyn said before leaving Sabine alone in the arsenal room. Ailyn went down to a lower level to where Bralor was checking a row of three empty holding cells. The cells were thick metal bars and the internal walls could, with enough warning, be removed to hold larger quarry such as Hutts. Bralor was making sure the doors were secure enough.
"How's it looking, Bralor?" Ailyn asked.
"These cells would hold a ravenous gundark on glitterstim. Very nice if you ask me. Must've set you back a bit." Bralor complimented.
"I've had to learn the hard way that sometimes you need to spend a few creds to keep your quarries for delivery. Lost more than one prisoner to faulty forcefield generators." Ailyn said as Bralor shrugged, moving onto the next cell.
"Well I'm no bounty hunter. I wouldn't know really." Bralor said as Ailyn chuckled.
"Take my word for it. I remember catching a Devaronian who likened himself to be the second coming of Kardue'sai'Malloc got himself on the Galactic List. That's one level short of the Galaxy's Most Wanted. Cornered him on Phindar and had gotten him as far as the Devaron system when he escaped, jumped in my ship's one escape pod, and ended up shooting himself into the sun. Probably the only time I ever shed real tears over letting one get away. Thank the Taung the Republic had that outpost there. Hear it's a Republic staging area now." Ailyn explained as she acted like she was checking a nearby console.
"That so? Hmm, you don't get paid if they're dead?" Bralor asked.
"Depends. In this case, he was worth more alive. Bounty specified a need for a body if he were killed so of course, no body, no credits." Ailyn said as she headed back for the stairs leading back up to the cockpit level.
"Hope you got nice and haryc b'aalyc after that one." Bralor said, Ailyn sorting in amusement.
"You know it. Oh, helpful hint. I don't know what Devaronian Blue Whiskey would do to a Pantoran, but on a half-breed like me…haar'chak." Ailyn commented, earning a laugh from Bralor as she ascended up the stairs.
"Devaron system hmm?" Bralor mumbled to himself.
Hours later…
The Makin dropped out of hyperspace over Hypori, approaching the planet where they saw something concerning in orbit.
"Hey, Hokan, am I seeing things or is that an old Trade Federation battleship?" Venku asked as they saw the battleship in question in space nearby. It was old and had several rusted spots. However, it did have strange yellow markings along its hull. Its core ship was missing however, presumably on the surface.
"You're not haryc b'aalyc, because I'm seeing the same thing." Hokan said, the Makin slipping past unnoticed thanks to its stealth systems.
"This is getting weird." Ailyn commented.
"You're telling me. Battle droids? Clone War era explosives? Trade Fed Battleships? What, is someone rebuilding the Separatist army or something?" Venku asked.
"Don't laugh. At this rate, Count Dooku could drop out of the sky alive and well and I wouldn't bat an eyelash." Ailyn commented as they passed through the atmosphere into the planet's dark side, finally getting a good look of what they were headed for. Before them was a large structure built similar to a Geonosian Hive only made of a native green-blue material over the red sands of Geonosis. Sitting outside the structure was a large landing tarmac full of transports and the core ship sitting just outside the tarmac.
"Hokan, scans." Ailyn said as they started to touch down in an old crater.
"Hard to get a good read. Looks like part of the factory is underground. What I can say is that this most definitely is where the battle droids we encountered are being made." Hokan replied as Bralor, standing just outside the door gave a nod.
"Similar comm frequencies too. This is the place alright." Bralor said as they touched down, Ailyn shutting down the ship's systems and standing up from the helm.
"Good thing I thought to pack a few leftovers from the Clone Wars." Ailyn said as she made her way to the cargo hold where an old crate marked with a faded Old Republic sigil sat. She opened the crate to reveal a foam pallet packed with eight old DC-15S blaster rifles in like-new condition.
"DCs? Where'd you get those?" Hokan asked as Ailyn pulled one of the rifles, checking the sights on it.
"I've got friends in the Republic's 501st. They've got lots of Clone Wars surplus. Said I'd be dealing with droids, and next day, this shows up on my doorstep with a note saying 'happy hunting.' Feel free to borrow one." Ailyn explained as she stepped back into the main hold where the rest of the team was gathered.
"Alright, infiltration plan. This is an all hands on deck situation. This facility is live and running. Whoever is running this facility knows who was behind the Yularen attack. Bralor, we're definitely going to need your slicing skills here." Ailyn said as Bralor gave a nod.
"And here I thought you brought me along for my dashing good looks." Bralor said as Bresha scoffed.
"Well I guess someone has to find a walking sarlacc dashing." Bresha mumbled, but Bralor laughed.
"I don't think I can be mad at that one, Skirata. That was good." Bralor chuckled.
"Knock it off. We don't know what these droids are going to be used for, so just to be on the safe side, Wren, we'll need to leave a few presents behind." Ailyn said as Wren looked at the factory.
"Well, if we can find the factory's main reactor or their coolant tanks, I could overload it with a few well-placed charges." Sabine said, gently tossing a thermal detonator up and down in her hand.
"Hokan, I want you to see if you can get on one of those ships and download their navicomputer and communication logs." Ailyn said as Hokan gave a nod.
"One of the landers should have what we're looking for." Hokan said as Ailyn looked to Bresha.
"How good are you with a sniper rifle?" Ailyn asked.
"Good enough." Bresha said, drawing a scoped blaster pistol.
"Nice hand turbolaser." Sabine complimented.
"Thanks. Custom design." Bresha replied.
"We'll need you to provide sniper support, just in case. Venku and I will be assisting with both Bralor and Hokan's assignments. Alright, let's go." Ailyn said as they headed for the boarding ramp. The team almost instantly split up into two groups, with Hokan and Bresha heading for a steep hill just outside the facility while the rest headed for the factory. Ailyn and the others reached an unguarded base of the factory, jetpacking up to one of three exhaust vents.
"It's getting a little warm up here." Bralor commented.
"Heat exhausts channeling the heat from the machinery inside. It's going to get a little hotter so check your suit insulation." Venku said as they approached a tall grating that blocked their path. Ailyn quickly unclipped the stolen Sith lightsaber from her belt, activating it and beginning to cut a hole in the grating with it.
"Where'd you get that?" Sabine asked.
"Stole it off a dead dar'jetii. Comes in handy for things like this." Ailyn replied, kicking the cut-out portion of the grating free from the rest before clipping the lightsaber to her belt as the rest of the team filed in through the breach, the ventilation shaft leading straight down into one of the main factory areas. The four jetpacked down into the factory, landing on an empty catwalk.
"Wren, I think this might be a good place for a charge." Venku said as Sabine gave a nod, placing an explosive charge in a corner on the machinery.
"Command Center's probably above us. Come on." Ailyn said as they hurried across the catwalk, passing over conveyor belts of droids being manufactured beneath them.
"This place appears to be largely automated. I don't think we'll need to worry about detection." Sabine stated but Venku spotted something.
"Nope, we do. Look." He said, motioning towards a turbolift shaft in the back. The turbolift was moving downward towards their level from one of the upper levels, several individuals riding the platform down.
"Scatter." Ailyn ordered softly, the Mandalorians quickly moving to take cover behind consoles and support columns. The platform came to a stop on their level, the doors to the shaft opening and allowing a pair of humanoids in full yellow armor to emerge followed closely by a Neimoidian man and something that surprised the Mandalorians.
"Is that a Super Tactical Droid?" Venku whispered.
"I thought those things didn't exist anymore." Bralor commented as Ailyn pulled something from a pouch on her belt, loading it into a wrist mounted slug thrower.
"This might help get us some answers." She said, aiming the slug thrower towards the man and droid before firing the weapon silently, a small black metal object encased in a sticky slime proceeded to hit the droid on back shoulder plate as the group walked away on a different platform. It was a Spy Probe. She then attuned her comlink to receive the audio from the probe.
"And you are certain that our business arrangement will not be traced back to us. This factory's ownership rights have been caught up in litigation since the fall of the Empire. We technically don't have the right to even use this place." The Neimoidian man said, Ailyn's ID scanner swiveling down to get an ID.
"Your payment is being taken care of and will appear on your statements as a series of charitable donations. The likelihood of detection is thirty-eight million to one." The droid stated.
"And what if someone discovers you have been using this factory to build your army? Do we feign ignorance?" the Nemoidian asked.
"Affirmative. Claim ignorance. No documentation of our interaction exists. The Trade Federation's involvement can easily be dismissed in Republic Courts." The droid stated as the four stepped onto another turbolift near the front of the facility.
"Good. Now if you excuse me, I must return to Coruscant immediately before I am discovered missing." The Neimoidian said as the lift started to move down into another part of the factory. Ailyn then cut the audio feed.
"Well-well. Senator Need Fatar of Cato Neimoidia. I know a certain Republic General who would love this little recording." Ailyn mumbled, saving the audio file to her helmet.
"Come on, let's keep moving. Turbolift's that way." Venku said as they hurried towards the turbolift.
…
Outside, Bresha was surveying the landing area with her sniper rifle from atop a steep hill outside the landing area. She was lying in the prone position as she looked through the scope. She could see Hokan slipping into an area behind a small warehouse meant to house equipment and supplies. The Rodian Mandalorian had a blaster pistol in hand as he crept through the shadows.
"Hokan, hold. Battle droid patrol heading your way." Bresha whispered into the comlink. Hokan froze and hid in the shadows of the building as a pair of B1 Battle Droids passed by, not stopping as they circled a landed cargo transport. The transport wasn't like the ones used by the Separatists during the Clone Wars. The cargo vessel was stood on a pair of long stilt-like struts and a large hold waiting for cargo to be moved into positon beneath it. Finally, the droids were out of the way, Hokan rushing towards the transport and jetpacking up into the ship undetected. Inside the ship's cockpit were a pair of Nikto crewmen who were, to say the least, startled to see a fully armored Mandalorian appear in the cockpit doorway. Hokan quickly shot the two with his blaster, the sound confined to the cockpit. He quickly rushed to the controls and pulled a small datapad from one of the pouches in his belt, plugging the device in and attempted to download the ship's navigation records but an error appeared on the screen.
"Please speak passphrase to unlock." An automated voice said in Huttese, causing Hokan to let out a huff of annoyance.
"Navicomputer is voice locked. Going to have to try another ship. All clear out there?" Hokan asked as he stepped out of the cockpit, using a Rodian dagger to destroy the door controls, jamming the cockpit door shut behind him.
"All clear. There's a stock freighter about a quarter klick west of your position. Do you see it?" Bresha asked as Hokan dropped down from the freighter, moving to hide behind some crates nearby. He looked and saw a small stock freighter nearby.
"I see it but I'm thinking that perhaps the freighters aren't going to be a good idea. These guys are smugglers and most of them likely have voice locked systems. Only one that wouldn't though…" Hokan said, eying the Core Ship parked nearby.
"The core ship? A bit risky and I'll need to take up a new position if I'm going to cover you." Bresha said as Hokan checked over the crates, seeing a transport sled with a fully loaded transport rack of battle droids pulling up to one of the large freighters.
"Make it fast. I'll be intel gathering in the meantime." He replied, his ID scanner swiveling down and starting to record what he saw.
…
The Factory Command Center was a large rectangular room with controls and displays scattered throughout. The personnel in the Command Center were mostly battle droids with a couple of humanoid guards in yellow armor while an older model Tactical Droid in yellow and black hazard stripes oversaw the factory's operation. They weren't expecting the turbolift doors to open and two small blue colored thermal detonators to come rolling inside.
"Hey, what's that?" one of the droids asked before the detonator went off, unleashing a sudden omnidirectional burst of ion energy, frying the circuitry of the droids caught in the blasts. The surviving droids and guards quickly raised their weapons, the tactical droid looking towards the turbolift as the team of four Mandalorians came rushing into the Command Center, blasting the remaining droids and gunning down the two guards with ease, leaving only the tactical droid functioning. The droid attempted to reach for the button to trigger the alarm but had the business end of Ailyn's DC-15 pointed at its head.
"Don't move, clanker." She warned, the droid raising its manipulators in surrender.
"I surrender." The droid said in its monotone voice.
"Step away from that console. Bralor, get slicing." Venku said as he kept his blaster trained on the droid, Sabine checking to make sure the droids were offline. Bralor did as instructed, moving to one of the consoles and beginning to slice into the factory systems.
"Alright droid, who do you work for?" Ailyn asked.
"That information is classified. You do not have the proper clearance to access that information." The droid replied but Ailyn pressed her blaster against its head again.
"This is my clearance. You remember the DC-15 from the Clone Wars? The effect it has on droids? Does that loosen your mechanical tongue at all?" Ailyn warned.
"The information you have requested is classified. No amount of threats will make me surrender that information. I shall take that information with me to the scrap piles of Raxus Prime." The droid replied as Ailyn looked to Bralor.
"Any suggestions, Bralor?" Ailyn asked. Bralor simply shrugged, drew a blaster pistol and blindly shot the droid in the chest, the machine tumbling to the ground, its photoreceptors flickering out.
"Droid wasn't going to talk. Salvage its head. We can crack it open on Mandalore. It's better than interrogation." Bralor replied, still slicing into the computers.
"Make it quick. Sabine, you have what you're looking for?" Venku said to Sabine who was looking over the factory schematics.
"I've found a few places to set the charges. I can access them easier through the ventilation shafts here." Sabine said, pointing to the map.
"Those vents are a little too small for us but you should fit perfectly." Ailyn said as Venku stepped over to one of the ventilation grates, pulling it off.
"Right. I'll signal if I need any help." Sabine replied before ducking into the shaft, Venku closing it back up behind her.
"Alright, so what've we got so far Bralor?" Ailyn asked as she stepped over to the slicer.
"So far a bunch of clerical business osik that I can't make sense out of." Bralor mumbled.
"Doesn't have to make sense to us, but if we can get it to my Republic contacts, they'll be able to decipher it." Ailyn said as Venku knelt down near the destroyed tactical droid, using his mother's lightsaber to carefully cut its head free. When he did, he heard a beeping noise coming from inside the droid's torso.
"What's that beeping?" Venku asked as Bralor froze.
"That sound means we're going to have company!" Bralor said as alarms started sounding throughout the factory. Ailyn and Venku raised their blasters.
"We'll buy you the time you need to finish the download, Bralor! Skirata, let's go!" Ailyn said as she and Venku hurried to the turbolift.
"Right!" Bralor replied as the two disappeared into the turbolift. After a couple of seconds, Bralor looked towards the turbolift before turning towards the command chair, hurrying towards it. He entered a few commands into the chair, a holoprojector built into the roof activating to project a hologram of an armored Mandalorian with the Death Watch insignia on his helmet.
"Bralor? What is it this time?" the Death Watchman asked.
"Mand'alor Vizsla, I've got more information that might be beneficial to our cause and to our Sith allies. I overheard Fett's daughter mention that there's a Republic Staging Area on Devaron." Bralor explained as Vizsla crossed his arms over his chest.
"Devaron? Interesting. I'll be sure to pass along the information. Anything else?" Vizsla asked.
"I'm working on gathering more information regarding that security breach with the Republic. I'm not sure how useful it will be but you will have a copy as soon as I can get it back to Mandalore." Bralor replied.
"Very good. We will await you at the usual location. Vizsla out." Vizsla replied before he ended the transmission, leaving the traitorous Bralor alone in the command center. Bralor quickly shot the transmitter controls, disabling them before returning to the console.
…
Down below the Command Center, Ailyn and Venku emerged from the turbolift and quickly started setting up crude barricades using some empty cargo containers. They could hear the rhythmic thumping of the approaching droid forces, the first droids rounding the corner.
"Here they come!" She exclaimed, opening fire on the droids, downing a couple as the droids opened fire on the two Mandalorians.
"If my old man could see me now!" Venku said as he lobbed a thermal detonator into the crowd of droids, the detonator exploding and taking out several of the droids. The droids were soon joined by some of the yellow armored guards, the guards firing at the two Mandalorians.
"Heads up!" Ailyn remarked as a black and white colored detonator bounced behind their barricade. Ailyn scoffed at it though.
"Flashbang? Get real!" she said, hitting a button on her helmet, just as the detonator went off, her helmet easily protecting her from the effects of the flashbang. Venku was safe as well, the two continuing to fend off the attackers. There was suddenly blaster fire coming from both directions to their sides as droids started marching towards them, closing in from all directions.
"Now would be a good time to fall back!" Venku commented as Ailyn gave a nod.
"Agreed let's mo-AUGH!" she grunted as a blaster bolt struck her helmet head on, sending her to the ground.
"VEL!" Venku exclaimed, Ailyn letting out a groan as she pushed herself up, the helmet having been thick enough to absorb the shot.
"I'm good! Keep fi-." She said but was silenced when one of the yellow armored soldiers leapt over the barricade and fired a stun shot at her, knocking her out. Venku shot the soldier in the head in retaliation before he too was stunned from behind by another soldier.
"Take these two to the Core Ship. The General will want to see them. The rest of you retake the Command Center!" one of the soldiers ordered.
"Roger-roger." One of the droids replied, a contingent of droids and soldiers stepping into the turbolift while a pair of other soldiers started to carry the unconscious Mandalorians away.
…
Outside the factory, Bralor destroyed the transparasteel windows to the Command Center, rocketing out of the factory on his jetpack, flying to a safe vantage point among the stacks with the head of the tactical droid under one arm.
"Bresha, Ordo, Wren, come in!" Bralor said into his helmet comms.
"Bralor?! What's going on?! The facility's gone into lockdown!" Bresha reported.
"We tripped the alarm. I'm getting static on Vel and Skirata's comm frequencies. I think they've gotten pinched. I haven't heard from Wren." Bralor said as he looked out towards the Core Ship.
"I'm here. I'm just making my way out now." Sabine replied.
"And Ordo might not be able to hear us right now. He said he was going silent. I think he's boarding the Core Ship right now." Bresha said as Bralor saw an armored speeder heading towards core ship, spotting an open crate in the bed of it with some familiar weapons and helmets.
"I think Vel and Venku are heading there too, but with a few friends. We need to regroup. Rendezvous at the Makin as soon as possible." Bralor said before beginning to make his way down the side of the factory.
"Copy that." Bresha replied.
"You got it." Sabine added.
On the Core Ship…
Ailyn and Venku had both regained consciousness not long after arrival and were being escorted through the halls of the Core Ship by both droids and the yellow armored soldiers. Their helmets and weapons had been confiscated along with their jetpacks, all of which were being transported in separate repulsor crates behind them. They had their hands behind their backs with binders on their wrists.
"Ugh…captured by clankers. If my old man saw me now…" Venku grumbled.
"My old man wouldn't give an osik." Ailyn added.
"Hey, quiet back there." One of the battle droids rebuked in its robotic and nasally voice as they were escorted onto the bridge where the Super Tactical Droid sat in the command chair. The droid then rose to its feet, looking the two Mandalorians over as the two were forced onto their knees in front of the droid.
"Mandalorian Supercommandos. Your presence does not compute." The droid said as it approached the crates of confiscated weapons.
"Neither does yours. Who are you? What are you doing here?" Ailyn asked, the droid looking down at the contents of the crates before turning towards the two prisoners.
"I am Super Tactical Unit K4-14NI, commonly referred to as Kalani. Colloquially known during the conflict designated as the Clone Wars as General Kalani. I am in command of the forces in this system. Your presence is unauthorized. State your intentions." The droid said as Ailyn shrugged.
"Looking to buy some battle droids. Thought you might be selling." Ailyn replied flippantly.
"Probability of deception: 94%. You are here as spies. Are you aligned with the Republic or the Sith Empire?" Kalani asked.
"Take a guess, clanker." Venku replied, Kalani looking at him and then at his armor.
"Your armor is an 87% match to the known profile for Katarn Commando Armor used by the Grand Army of the Republic. Mandalore is a member state of the Republic. You are aligned with the Republic." Kalani commented as Ailyn rolled her eyes.
"And if we are?" she asked.
"Your status is irrelevant. You are to be held within our custody until it can be determined what measures would be considered appropriate for a long term solution. Take them to the detention level. Place them in separate cells." Kalani instructed.
"Roger-roger." One of the droids replied, Ailyn and Venku rising to their feet and being forced out of the room at blaster point, leaving Kalani and the bridge crew alone.
"Begin takeoff procedures. We will be departing for the rendezvous point as soon as we are able." Kalani ordered the bridge crew as he returned to sit in the command chair.
...
Ailyn and Venku were being escorted through the corridors of the Core Ship by a squad of Battle Droids and two of the yellow armored soldiers. Both of the Mandalorians were looking around for some means of escape.
"Any ideas?" Venku mumbled.
"None yet." Ailyn replied softly as they entered a turbolift that overlooked a part of the core ship's interior. The Core Ship was fully loaded with large metal containers, each containing hundreds of inactive battle droids. Ailyn saw this and took a loud breath as the turbolift started to move downward.
"Well, this is concerning." Ailyn mumbled before getting shoved slightly by one of the battle droids.
"The prisoners will remain silent!" the droid warned, earning a scowl from Ailyn.
"I'll be keeping your head as a trophy when this is over." Ailyn mumbled as the turbolift came to a stop at one of the lower levels. The droids then forced the two off at blaster point into the hallways leading to the detention area. Just as they exited the corridor, they saw a small white and blue sphere drop down from overhead.
"Grenade!" one of the guards exclaimed, diving for cover but neither Ailyn or Venku budged, the grenade detonating in a bright blue flash and frying the droids, leaving the guards and two Mandalorians unharmed. It had been an ion grenade. Ailyn and Venku quickly turned and slammed into the two guards, pinning them against the walls just as Hokan dropped through a ventilation grate overhead. The two Mandalorians ducked away from their guards just as Hokan blasted the guards with a pair of blaster pistols.
"What kept you?" Ailyn asked as Hokan holstered his blasters.
"Radio silence. Didn't learn you two had been captured until long after I'd gotten aboard." Hokan said, retrieving one of Venku's lightsabers and using it to cut the binders off of the other two. Venku and Ailyn immediately set about rearming themselves.
"Did you get the navigation data?" Ailyn asked, Hokan patting one of his belt pouches.
"Downloaded, yes. Analyzed, no. Bresha, Wren, and Bralor are all on the Makin right now, waiting for the signal. We need to hurry getting out of here though, the Core Ship will be leaving to rendezvous with the rest of the ship and leave the system." Hokan said as Ailyn helped Venku with his jetpack.
"Any chance of stopping it?" Venku asked, putting on his helmet.
"Negative. I haven't had a chance to set explosives. Besides, the engine room is too well guarded. The Captain's got Destroyer Droids guarding it and that was my only ion grenade." Hokan replied as Ailyn pulled on her gauntlets.
"Fair enough. We've got enough information to satisfy our clients, I think. Let's get out of here." Venku said as Ailyn stepped over to one of the destroyed battle droids, reaching down and putting a boot to its neck before pulling the droid's head off.
"Agreed, let's go." She said, sticking the droid's head in her belt while drawing her blaster rifle, the three hurrying back onto the turbolift, just as alarms started sounding.
"Damn it the droids must've noticed us!" Hokan said as the turbolift started moving upward but Venku wasn't convinced.
"Those aren't security alarms! That's signaling the crews to their stations! They're beginning to launch!" Venku argued as the turbolift stopped at a docking level. Ailyn put a hand to her helmet.
"Vel to Makin! Come in!" Ailyn said as they started running through the corridors, Hokan taking point and leading them towards the nearest docking ring.
"We read you, Alor! We're airborne and pursuing the Core Ship! You're less than a kilometer off the ground but gaining altitude and speed quickly!" Bresha reported, the Mandalorians running into a squad of battle droids that immediately started firing on them.
"Copy that! Get a lock on our signal and stand by to pick us up!" Ailyn said as the Mandalorians returned fire, taking flight on their jetpacks and rocketing through the halls.
"Signal lock confirmed! Make it quick Alor! Two kilometers and rising!" Bresha reported as the three rounded a corner and spotted an airlock guarded by a pair of Super Battle Droids, the droids opening fire upon seeing them. The three landed on the floor, Ailyn dropping down into a kneeling stance and pivoting her upper torso forward, ducking her head down just before firing the rocket from her jetpack at the airlock, the rocket blowing out the airlock completely, the depressurization sucking the droids and three Mandalorians out. The three Mandalorians quickly activated their rocket packs and started flying away from the Core Ship as fast as possible, spotting the Makin fast approaching beneath them.
"There's our ride!" Ailyn called out as they quickly started to idle in the air, the Makin flying up to idle next to them. The three quickly flew into the open airlock, boarding the ship. Inside the cockpit, Ailyn hurried inside, taking the helm from Bresha.
"Thanks for the pickup, vod'ika." Venku said as he sat down in the copilot's seat, the Makin veering away from the Core Ship and heading back towards the surface.
"Don't mention it!" Bresha replied as the proximity alarms started sounding.
"We've got incoming! Bralor! Hokan! Man the turrets! Wren, make sure our seismic charges are ready!" Ailyn ordered as squadrons of Vulture Droid Starfighters in yellow markings started to close in on the comparatively slower vessel.
"You have a plan, Vel or is there another reason we're going back towards the factory?" Venku asked as the turrets on the Makin started firing.
"I want to make sure that factory goes boom!" Ailyn replied as they saw the factory in the distance ahead of them.
"Way ahead of you, Alor! Just say when!" Sabine replied from the seismic charge launcher.
"Punch it!" Ailyn ordered, Sabine quickly hitting a button on her left gauntlet. Even from the rapidly closing distance between the Makin and the factory, they could see the explosives going off and a chain reaction beginning to rip the structure apart, the factory starting to collapse in upon itself.
"Nice work Wren!" Venku complimented as Ailyn pulled back on the controls, bringing the Makin back around to break for orbit, the droid fighters still on their tail.
"Go ahead and enter the coordinates for home into the navicomputer! I want to make the jump as soon as we're clear of atmo!" Ailyn ordered.
"Way ahead of you!" Bresha replied, already half-way through entering the coordinates for Mandalore into the computer. Meanwhile, the Core Ship had docked with the rest of the battleship and Kalani was monitoring the chase from the bridge.
"General, the Mandalorian ship is charging its hyperdrive. Should we send more fighters to attack?" one of the droids asked.
"Negative. The probability of preventing their escape is approximately four-million to one. Recall the fighters and prepare to jump to the rendezvous point." Kalani ordered. Back on the Makin, Venku spotted the starfighters veering off, heading back towards the battleship.
"They're running away! Did we just win?" Venku asked as Ailyn shrugged.
"I'm not looking this gift bantha in the mouth! We're out of here!" she said, the hyperdrive indicator giving an all clear signal. She quickly pushed the hyperdrive lever forward, the Makin lurching into hyperspace, leaving Hypori behind. Back on the battleship's bridge, Kalani was still focused on the displays.
"The Mandalorian vessel has escaped, sir." One of the droids reported.
"Contact the Master. He must be informed of the recent developments." Kalani instructed, rising from his seat and moving towards the back of the bridge where a communications screen was located. As he approached, the screen activated to show the cloaked figure.
"What is it, General Kalani?" the figure asked.
"Master, our factory on Hypori has been destroyed. Mandalorian saboteurs are responsible. Evidence initially suggested these Mandalorians were aligned with the Republic. However, we intercepted a message from one of the saboteurs to a Mandalorian bearing the insignia of the known Sith Aligned Mandalorian sub-faction known as Death Watch." Kalani reported.
"The loss of the factory is of no consequence to me or my plans, General. We have plenty of other sources to supply our army. As to the Mandalorians, this is an unusual development. Twice now, Mandalorian forces have resulted in the destruction of my property. My sources indicate that these Mandalorians are aligned with the Republic but with a Death Watch agent amongst them. Continue as ordered, General. It is highly unlikely that they will be able to thwart our plans." The figure instructed, Kalani giving a bow.
"Roger-roger." Kalani replied before the transmission ended.
Later on Mandalore…
It was late evening on Mandalore and the Makin had already touched down, the Werda Tsad heading their own directions. Ailyn and Venku were the only ones still onboard. Ailyn was hanging the droid head up on a blank wall in the main hold that she intended to use to display trophies as Venku came into the main hold from the cockpit.
"We've gotten through to General Marek, private channel." Venku said as Ailyn turned towards the holotable in the center, just as a hologram of Galen Marek appeared before them.
"Miss Vel, I understand that you have good news for us?" Galen asked as Ailyn held up a data disk.
"A lot of clerical information taken from an old Separatist Droid Factory on Hypori. Someone had started it up again and hopefully the information is in the data. Barring that, we have evidence to prove that Senator Need Fatar is in league with whoever is operating it. The one in charge of the facility was an old tactical droid that identified himself as Kalani." Ailyn reported, plugging the disk into the holotable, transmitting the data straight to Galen. The Jedi Grand General furrowed his brow.
"Senator Fatar? Interesting. I'll inform the Chancellor and Republic Intelligence about this. But Kalani? Are you certain about that?" Galen asked.
"Positive. Skirata and I had a…face-to-face meeting with him." Ailyn commented as Galen gave an understanding nod.
"General Kalani was one of the Separatist Droid Generals from the Clone Wars, arguably their most celebrated one at that. His only major defeat was the Occupation of Onderon but he hasn't been seen since the Clone Wars ended. Do you believe that he is responsible for the attack on the Yularen?" Galen asked.
"It's possible but my gut says no. I think he's just one of the figureheads. I think he's answering to someone else." Ailyn said as Galen gave a nod.
"Understood. Do you have any fresh leads to follow?" Galen asked.
"We're looking through the data we sent you right now. If there's a fresh lead, it'll be in there." Ailyn replied as Galen gave a nod.
"Right. Contact me if you-…" Galen said but was interrupted as a Republic Officer stepped into the hologram, whispering something in his ear. Galen's brow furrowed in contemplation.
"You're sure?" he asked, the officer giving a nod. Galen gave a nod and motioned for the officer to leave before turning back towards Ailyn.
"Vel, remember those traps we set for the spy? One of them just got tripped!" Galen reported, Ailyn and Venku looking at each other anxiously.
"That was quick. Which one?" she asked.
"Devaron system. Admiral Nien Numb of the 4th Fleet is reporting that several Sith cruisers have dropped out of hyperspace in the system." Galen reported as Ailyn scowled with anger.
"Got it. Thank you, General." Ailyn said before closing the transmission. She then turned to Venku.
"Who did you give Devaron to?" Venku asked as Ailyn entered something into the holotable. Suddenly a hologram of Boba Fett appeared.
"Lyn? What do you want?" he asked.
"Rally our faithful Mando'ad vode! I've found our aruetii!" Ailyn replied.
In the ruins of Sundari…
Bralor had just touched his airspeeder down at one of the abandoned docks, several Death Watchmen approaching him from the shadows.
"What was so important that I come all the way out here?" Bralor asked.
"Mand'alor Vizsla just received word from our Sith allies! That information you passed along was a set up! There was a whole Republic fleet waiting for them when they arrived!" one of the Death Watchmen hissed angrily.
"What?! Impossible!" Bralor exclaimed.
"You set us up, Bralor. Question is, was it deliberate?" Vizsla's voice echoed as he emerged from the shadows, escorted by two more of his men.
"Mand'alor! I was set up! Vel must've fed me some false intel! I would never betray our brethren!" Bralor stated, removing his helmet.
"No? Then what do you call that?!" Vizsla asked, pointing towards something behind him. Bralor turned around to see what looked like a cloud reflected by the moonlight but quickly realized this cloud was a swarm of Mandalorian Krayt class gunships and starfighters with Slave I leading the charge. The gunships and Slave I opened fire, firing a volley of missiles at the ruined city, the missiles setting the docks on fire, both Vizsla, Bralor, and the other Death Watchmen shielding themselves from the explosions.
"They followed you, Bralor! You've been discovered! Kyr'tsad! OYA!" Vizsla yelled as he drew a blaster rifle and opened fire at the approaching Mandalorians. At his command, a host of Death Watchmen, emerged from the ruins, engaging their hated rivals. Bralor snarled in fury as he put his helmet on his head and turned his weapons towards the approaching Mandalorians. The Mandalorians on the gunships took to the skies on their jetpacks, a pitched air and ground battle breaking out on the docks. Ailyn and the Werda Tsad were on one of the gunships, Ailyn spotting Bralor.
"There's the aruetii! Let's get him!" Ailyn said, the team quickly disembarking the gunship and jetpacking to the docks with weapons raised as they started fighting their way towards him. Bralor and Vizsla were fighting close together, Bralor with his helmet on his head, when he spotted Ailyn approaching.
"Mand'alor! It's Fett's daughter!" Bralor exclaimed. Vizsla looked towards the approaching Werda Tsad, looking squarely at Ailyn for a moment.
"Get to the ship, Bralor." He ordered calmly, earning a surprised look from Bralor.
"Sir?" he asked, confused.
"You have your orders." Vizsla instructed, pulling his cloak around to obscure his left side. Bralor gave a nod before turning and jetpacking away. His escape didn't go unnoticed by the Werda Tsad.
"Vel! Bralor's getting away!" Hokan yelled.
"But look who's waiting for us though." Venku said as they saw Vizsla ahead of them, looking straight at them.
"Vizsla…I'd know those markings anywhere." Sabine said as Ailyn started to approach him, her blaster raised towards him. The rest of the Werda Tsad quickly turned to intercept a force of approaching Death Watchmen as Ailyn stepped towards Vizsla.
"Hold it, traitor!" Ailyn yelled, Vizsla looking at her.
"I must commend you for finding out Bralor, vode. You always have been cunning. You get that from your father I suppose. Surprised you've let go of your vendetta against him so easily." Vizsla said as Ailyn kept her blaster trained on him, the battle raging around them.
"Don't pretend to know me! You're House Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch! You know how much you're worth dead? I could retire off of your head." Ailyn said but Vizsla chuckled.
"Oh, I know you better than you think…Lyn." Vizsla said, causing Ailyn's eyes to widen beneath her helmet, her blaster lowering slightly.
"What did you just call me?" she asked. Vizsla suddenly launched forward, igniting a blade made of black energy beneath his cloak. Ailyn leapt back in time to narrowly avoid getting decapitated by Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch wielding the legendary Darksaber, the symbol of Death Watch's leadership. Her blaster got sliced in half from the swing but she narrowly managed to block another swing with her stolen Sith lightsaber, Vizsla and Ailyn glaring at each other through their helmets as their blades pressed against one another.
"Who are you?" Ailyn asked.
"I am Mand'alor Kel Vizsla, leader of Death Watch and the true Mand'alor!" Vizsla replied before leaping back and jetpacking into the air just as a black and silver Death Watch Crusader Gunship burst out of the ruined city, numerous Death Watchmen and Vizsla flying towards the ship as its twelve laser cannons opened fire on the surrounding Mandalorian gunships, downing several. Vizsla boarded the gunship via airlock, pausing to look down at the stunned Ailyn below for a moment before hurrying inside. The gunship immediately took off towards the skies with several Mandalorian fighters in pursuit. Ailyn stood watching the gunship disappearing into the Mandalore skies as Venku approached.
"Vel! What happened?! Was that really Vizsla?!" Venku asked.
"Yeah, that was the chakaar. Had the Darksaber and everything." Ailyn said as Venku took a breath of consternation.
"Mand'alor's ordered the fighters to break off pursuit. They'd get shredded by that gunship and the battleships won't be in range fast enough to intercept." Venku said as Ailyn removed her helmet, looking at the Mandalore moon.
"He called me 'Lyn.' Why?" she asked, lost in thought.
"Something up?" Venku asked.
"I dunno. I think he knew me somehow. I would know meeting a traitor like him before." Ailyn said as Venku removed his helmet.
"But we didn't know Bralor was a traitor until we caught him in a trap. It makes me wonder if perhaps Death Watch has always been amongst us." Venku commented as Ailyn started walking towards one of their gunships.
"That's what concerns me." Ailyn replied, tucking her helmet under her arm, a consternated look on her face, unable to escape her encounter with Vizsla from her mind.
End Episode 14
General Kalani was a case of, "Rebels brought him back. I like the idea. I like the character. I'll do it too."
I own Kel Vizsla.
Just in case you're wondering, Aruetii is Mandalorian for "traitor."