Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Mandalorian Wars
Chapter 6
Invade… the Republic? Avner stared at the prime minister, not certain he'd heard correctly. He knew the mandalorians were a war loving race and he knew they loved challenges, but why invade the Republic? It was pure suicide.
"Why? What could they gain from an invasion?" Avner asked his voice calm despite the unwanted panic welling up in him. There is no emotion; there is peace, he repeated the phrase over and over again until his heart calmed and his mind cleared of the panic. The Republic was fine. There was no way it could be threatened by the mandalorians.
The prime minister laughed. "You tell me, oh great master Jedi!" he laughed again. "Why do you think they're attacking outer rim worlds the Republic has little to no interest in? For the hell of it?!"
Avner shook his head, staring at the man. If what he was saying was true then – then by the time the last of these supplies worlds had been attacked, they would have enough weapons and resources to nearly match the Republic's military forces. Take into account every mandalorian child was trained for war and what it brought would be disastrous.
"You're now just giving me this information," Avner stated. "Why? You work for the enemy of the Republic."
"Why, you ask. Well, let me spell this out for you, Jedi, you are no one. Even if you make it off this world, which you won't, who would listen to your warning, knight?" He seemed to spit Avner's title at him.
Every muscle in his body seemed to stiffen with shock. If Avner somehow did make it back to the Republic, who would heed his warning? There were few masters who would speak with him: Vandar, Zez-kai Ell, and Kavar were the only three who would speak with him. The others were either too busy, disliked Avner, or he'd only met them in passing.
The lightsaber shook in his hand. The master's aside, the people of the Republic didn't want another war. The last one, though it had been thirty-years-ago, was still all too fresh in everyone's minds. The fear of the Sith returning would ground most people into place on their beliefs that another war wasn't coming. Then there was the fact, Anver didn't like the idea of gaining attention. He'd always been one to stay hidden. If he acted, if he tried to warn the Republic, there was a chance of them listening. Even if they didn't, it wouldn't keep him off the news. A Jedi gunning for a war wasn't exactly common.
"Even still," Avner started his voice oddly calm and lightsaber now steady in his hand, "it doesn't mean I won't try to warn the Council and the people of the Republic."
The more Avner thought on it, the more a war seemed all too likely. Most of the worlds that had been attack were supply worlds for Taris. While the planet wasn't a member world of the Galactic Republic, it was on the verge of becoming one. The Jedi council had already started getting ready to set a temple there to show their support for the decision. If the mandalorians attacked the world after it became a member world, then it would be war declared on not only the Republic but the Jedi Order as well.
"Then, you'll be the one to fall victim to the people's dislike and your Order is nothing but a group of cowards."
Avner lowered his lightsaber. "Cowards?" he cocked an eyebrow at the prime minister. "There are many within the Order who would do anything to protect the Republic and its people."
It was bluff. There was really only one other Avner knew of who would and that was Kavar. Out of all of the masters he was one of the few would be ready to act if the Mandalorians did attack the Republic. Perhaps Avner wouldn't have to do more than just tell Kavar his findings here. The master had far more influence than he did and would be able to warn, not only the Jedi council, but the senate as well.
"Kavar?" the prime minister voiced the master Avner had been thinking of. "He's unlikely to act soon enough to help your precious Republic." The prime minister grinned at him. "He won't act until the Republic's outer rim has fallen, when there is only one option for you Jedi: to head to war."
Avner looked at the man with a close eye, almost distrustful of what he was hearing. "Kavar wouldn't hold back and he wouldn't wait that long." Even as Avner said this a chill raced through him. Kavar wasn't brash; he would wait and listen to the console of the other masters like Vandar and Vrook, both of which would advise against acting even as the Mandalorian attacked the outer rim.
"You're a fool if you believe such," the prime minister spat at Avner's feet.
"Then I'm a fool."
Avner turned away from the man and deactivated his lightsaber. The words were spoken only to bring a close to this conversation. Deep in his heart he knew he couldn't rely solely on Kavar's personality and history to prove what would happen in the future. If and when Avner returned to the Republic and the Order with his findings, he'd see how Kavar would react and if the man would act on the information or wait along with the other masters.
"You should lock him up," Avner stated, "and prepare yourself for how to tell the people of his betrayal." With those words Avner left the room. Before too long he found himself back on the upper level and sat down in the blown out window. A light breeze pulled at his hair.
In the end, what could a knight like him do? He closed his eyes, pushing away the emotions which rose unbidden in him. One knight, one knight known as a trouble maker within the order for his wish to learn more about the Force, could never hope to convince another that war was coming. His only hope, the only hope of the Republic, rested with Kavar.
xxx
"I'm not being assigned to another mission," Alek protested, glaring at the masters assembled before him. "I told you, I'm only here to ask to go after Avner." It was taking a lot for him not to strike at the three masters in the council chambers. As if it wasn't bad enough that these three wanted to assign to another mission right then, the others hadn't even deemed this matter important enough to come.
"Every knight is needed right now," Vrook said in a tight, almost hostile voice.
Alek leapt on his words. "Then we should go after Avner get him back. All knights are needed, right?"
"Avner is capable enough he can take care of himself," Vrook countered. "You are needed on the outer rim, not waiting around here."
Alek glanced at Vandar, who hadn't spoken up against the other master. His eyes then traveled to Kavar, one of the few people Alek couldn't best in the 'saber, and a master Alek had once thought more rational than the other, more pacifistic and "traditional" masters. He'd not said a word against this appointment and seemed to be supporting Vrook in the decision.
"If there's news, we'll update you," Kavar spoke in a calm voice. Kavar was an unimposing man who stood at average height. His blond hair was cut short and his brown eyes were keen as he looked at Alek. This time it seemed Kavar was agreeing with the other two.
"You won't be alone on this mission. Knight Darious and his padawan will be going with you," Vandar added in. "We'll be heading for Taris," he continued. "Once there the three of you will be speaking with the representative of the world."
"It's your job to show them the Jedi are behind them joining the Republic," Kavar continued.
"Don't screw it up," Vrook added as a dismissal.
Alek stood there in the center of the council chamber. The nails of his hands dug into the soft skin of his palm. Turning on his heel, Alek shot one last look at the three masters before he left the council chambers.
"By your expression, you're not too happy with this appointment," Darious stated. He was leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest. Jasper was nowhere to be seen.
"I bet Atris convinced them to leave Avner on Tarnith." Alek shot a look back at the chamber. Though Atris had only been conspicuous by her absence this time.
Darious straightened and lifted his hands in a shrug. "I doubt it. Look," he started with a small smile, "Tarnith is a supply world for Taris… or it was. If Avner manages to escape—"
Alek looked at Darious with narrowed eyes.
"I mean, when he escapes, he'll be able to make it to Taris with no problems. Most shuttles there are meant for traveling to and from Tarnith and Taris on supply runs." He smiled. "In our spare time we could look around and see if Avner managed to make it to Taris."
That was if Avner had managed to escape and would head for Taris. Though, why he would, Alek didn't know. Taris was a backwater world that was trying to enter the Republic. Alek didn't know much about the world other than what had been on the news as of late. It was the topic which had dominated the holo-vids for awhile now. All of it would go away a few weeks after the Taris got a seat in the senate, for which Alek would be grateful.
In his opinion the mandalorians and their moving on the outer rim should've been the topic on the vids but it wasn't. Most people didn't seem to care about those who weren't in the Republic. What if Mandalore had his people attack the Republic? Would the people then care?
Alek shoved these thoughts away. He shouldn't be thinking about this as it was. The Jedi were to serve the Republic and the Jedi Order. If, and it was big if, there was a war coming, the Order would enter when the masters saw it was necessary.
"We should find your padawan," Alak stated as he started down the ornate hall. The red rug showed no signs of wear despite the fact many masters, knights, and padawans had walked this way to speak with the Council. Generations of Jedi had inhabited the temple on Coruscant. Many more would follow, until the temple lay in ruins and the Jedi were no more.
"Now you're ready to get going," Darious laughed as he caught up and matched pace with Alek's longer strides. "I thought you'd be if there was possibility of our valiant leader being on Taris."
"It's just a possibility, nothing more," Alek demised Darious' words. Even still his heart flickered with the hope that Avner would be there and would all right. The three of them had been friends since they were padawans back on Dantooine. In a since they were all as close as brothers.
x – A Day Later – x
Fire raged around Avner. The flames licked at the earth, scorching the land and leaving nothing alive in its wake. Screams echoed through the air. The haunting cries of the dying, leaving their last chilling note before being snuffed out.
People raced passed Avner, eyes wild with fear. A child cried, curled up against a building, lost, scared; confused. The city burned around the child. The flames lapped at the feet the fleeing citizens.
"Taris is the key to a war with the Republic," a voice Avner didn't recognize sounded over the roaring flames and terrified people. "A war which will test the mandalorian people to their limits! They defeated us during the Great Sith War, but this time, we'll be the ones to rise to the top in victory. This time we fight on our own as a free people, without the Sith! For glory and honor!"
"For glory and honor!" the cry rose until it was thunder over the city of Taris, until even the cries of the dying, of the fearful, were down out by chant's might.
"Avner!" someone was shaking him, a voice calling to him through the haze of the dream. "Avner, wake up."
Avner blinked open his eyes. He was slumped over just under the blown out window. He must've fallen asleep while thinking on what should be done if he could leave this planet.
"Good, you're awake." Susan was kneeling before him, her eyes shifting from him to the stairs to the lower level. "We need to move quickly before the lieutenant realizes what's going on."
Straightening, Avner looked around. The light of pre-dawn poured into the space. "What's going on?" he asked in a voice barely more than a whisper.
"You'll see." Susan pulled him to his feet. "Now, come on. The head of security is waiting."
Avner nodded and followed her down to the lower levels. She led him around the sleeping people and – he noted – well out of sight of where Lieutenant Carvan was normally seen to be. The two of them headed deeper into the place than Avner had traveled before. He'd only gone as far as the room where he'd helped the head of security stop that mess yesterday. Now they were in a part of the building which had been restricted when Avner had first come to this world… both times.
"In here," Susan lead him through the doors into a – a hanger.
The head of security was already there with a few other people. Some of them had bags, others only the clothes on their back. And nearly every one of them had a child with them.
"There you are," the head of security raced over to them.
"What's going on?" Avner eyed the shuttle. He hadn't been aware there was one left in their control. "I thought the mandalorians had destroyed or taken all of the shuttles."
"So had we," the head of security confessed. He smiled. "Turns out the prime minister…" he winced, "the former prime minister, had a personal shuttle stored here for when the mandalorians attacked the building."
Avner frowned. "How many others were in on what the man was doing?" he asked. Keeping a shuttle secret would've taken more than just the prime minister. There had to be a pilot and several others who could maintain the shuttle.
"Don't worry about it; we're working on rounding up the people. Right now you need to help get these people to Taris." The head of security gestured to the people in the hanger.
"You want me to abandon the rest of you here?" Avner asked, both his eyebrows rising in shock. "There are more people than just this who need to be evacuated and others who could go in my stead."
The head of security shook his head. "None that are pilots or know how to fly like you do. You're the only one here and in this room who's even had basic training in piloting."
"What about the other pilots on the planet?"
"Ha, I'm not letting any of them out of my sight until I know where the allegiance lies."
"Avner," Susan started, "you head back to the Republic, warn them what the mandalorians are planning and help prepare them for the war."
"But…" he started to protest. It wasn't right for him to take the place of another. As a Jedi it was his place to sacrifice everything for the Republic and the people of the galaxy.
"Most of these people can't fight and would never last if we lose this war," the head of security put in. "They need to get off this world. There's enough fuel for you to just make it to Taris."
Avner hesitated before he nodded. "All right, but I swear I'll be back to help again." He held out his hand to the head of security.
"I'll keep you to that, friend." He clasped his hand. "By the way, the name's Laird."
Bowing his head, Avner smiled. "I always keep my promises." With those words, Avner turned to the group of people. "We're to head for Taris."
They exchanged looks before a few smiled. Others looked as if they would faint from relief. One by one they got into the cargo shuttle.
"It's not going to be an easy trip," Laird stated with a frown, "but at least they'll be safe."
"For a time, at least," Avner's voice was grim as his dream surfaced in his mind's eye and the memory of what the prime minister had said. "I don't know how long it will take me to get back here, but—"
"We'll hold out until you return," Laird clapped Avner's shoulder. "Susan's agreed to stay behind and we do have that lieutenant."
"The other soldiers agreed to stay… well, all but Carvan." Susan smiled. "We sort of made that decision for our leader."
Avner shivered. "Let's just hope he doesn't learn about this, otherwise—"
"You're keeping them waiting, Master Jedi," Susan nodded to the shuttle. "Go, and be safe."
Avner moved to the ramp before he turned and bowed at the waist to them. "May the Force be with you." With those words he entered the shuttle and moved through the crowd to the cockpit. In the end they would need the force on their side far more than he would.