SLotH4's Note: Once again, major props to Xabiar. Truth be told, this dossier came down to either Tlon Fett or Grand Master Undien… which was decided by coin toss. I suspect Fett was originally meant to be a cookie-cutter villain, but I think we can do better than that. Enjoy.
UPDATE: Shout-out to HailToTheKing/Throne_Of_Terror (he goes by both) for the awesome cover-art he made for this. Show him some love, people! He makes cover-art for Xabiar as well.
SotP Addenda - Mandalorian Union, Glory and Honor
MANDO'TSAD
INTELLIGENCE REPORT 00316-ALPHA
COMMISSIONED AND AUTHORIZED BY MAND'ALOR JAVEN'PANLIE ORDO
EXECUTED BY DALLONX'LARIN FETT
TLON FETT
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND BASIC INFORMATION
Name: Tlon Fett
Nickname(s): the Warlord; haar Vemann'mand'alor (by his followers); haar Jahaat'mand'alor (used as a direct insult by true Mando'ade)
Birth Clan: Fett
Current Clan: None (banished); Vemann'fett (self-proclaimed)
Previous Occupation(s): Akaan'ade Kando'aliit'alor of Clan Fett
Current Occupation(s): Slaver; terrorist; demagolka
Languages Spoken: Mando'a; Galactic Basic; Huttese
Birth Parents:
- Father: Toland Fett (deceased)
- Mother: Tirsae'Tupo Fett (deceased)
Adoptive Parents: N/A
Siblings:
- Elder Brother: Gustav Fett (alive)
Spouse:
- Lifemate: Suni'Andu Fett (alive)
Children – Fathered:
- First Son: Dirn Fett (alive)
- Second Son: Vegao Fett (alive)
- Third Son: Tao Fett (alive)
- Fourth Son: Vriol Fett (deceased)
- Fifth Son: Drulais Fett (alive)
- Sixth Son: Qalo Fett (alive)
- First Daughter: Arri'caidan Fett (alive)
Children – Adopted:
- Adopted Son: Vray'Kidoth Fett (alive)
- Adopted Daughter: Thisma Fett (alive)
Age: 57
Species: Human
Force-Sensitivity (Gndaa Scale): Tier 1 (non-Force-sensitive)
Height: 1.9 Meters
Weight: 121 Kilograms
Physique: Extraordinary
Dominant Hand: Ambidextrous, but favors right hand
Pain Tolerance: High
Skin Color: Tan; weathered
Hairstyle: Buzz
Hair Color: Gray
Eye Color: Gray
Scarring or Disfigurements: Loss of right eye; facial scar over the wound; indentation scar on left side throat
HISTORY
Tlon Fett is unquestionably the largest threat to the Mando'Tsad that currently exists. This is not necessarily because of his skills, resources, or tactics, but by the damage he causes to our reputation and the civilian understanding of what it means to be Mando. Left unchecked, he could very well lead to our destruction – not from the Warlord himself, but outside forces that are larger and more powerful than us.
With that said, it does not mean that Tlon Fett is any less dangerous. The limited few who will read this report already know the danger he poses, through personal experience or Tlon's own reputation. But with some confidence I can state that none of us knew just how deep Tlon's own hatred and depravity ran.
I want to make something very clear: It is a common belief to dismiss Tlon Fett's horrific actions as those of a madman or just insanity. As I will explain later, I do not believe this to be the case in any capacity. Tlon is not suffering from some kind of mental illness; that I can say with certainty. He is fully in control of his actions and mind, but his actual intentions and motivations are no less horrifying and ambitious.
I have acquired the information used to fill this document from several different sources:
- Individuals who have met with, or interacted with, Tlon, including Clan Fett, Mand'alor, survivors or captives of his attacks and raids (the few who exist), and my own personal experience.
- Documents (digital and physical) and audio/visual photographs/videos/audio logs which include, were shot/captured by, or written by Tlon Fett. Much of these were sourced from Clan Fett, while others were combat footage from the Mando'Tsad and recovered digital storage from engagement with Tlon's men.
- Travel and investigation of areas Tlon has visited, raided, or resided in (pertinent to the tactics and weaponry section of this report), reviewing and researching the areas and circumstances of the conflicts as well as outcomes, gains, and losses from all sides.
I will begin with his history. Some of this you may be familiar with, other parts were more shrouded.
Childhood: Tlon Fett was born to Toland and Tirsae Fett on Mandalore, and was a normal healthy baby boy. Toland Fett at the time was an Akaan'alor of Clan Fett, and Tirsae Fett was a Child Arms Instructor. His parentage gave Tlon an early start on weapons training, leadership, military strategy, and tactics. However, his situation was not completely unique, and there was very little in his early years which indicated anything atypical of a young Mando boy. His interest in weapons and strategy was normal, and the only thing which stood out was a fascination – or obsession – with history and the wider galaxy.
This will become relevant soon.
Ascension to Akaan'ade Kando'aliit'alor of Clan Fett: As a child, Tlon was marked very early as a man with an extraordinary amount of potential. No one his age could match him in the dueling ring, in weapons knowledge, or in leadership. He made friends easily enough, although from speaking with several individuals who knew him back then and his current psychological framework, he treated them closer to subordinates than comrades. They noted that even back then he was an exceptionally gifted leader and speaker nonetheless.
Tlon was prime officer material and everyone knew it. Tlon took part in war games, tournaments, hunting expeditions, and duels whenever he could, and by the time he was eighteen, he had the attention of Clan Fett's leadership, as well as Aliit'alors from other clans. It was also during this time that he met his future lifemate, Suni'Andu. It was no surprise that he achieved the position of Ver'alor in Clan Fett's militia – one of the youngest to ever be promoted to that position.
Upon commissioning, Tlon accepted his role and began working and drilling the soldiers in his platoon. He pushed his men hard, but saw to it that they were rewarded for their work, and began cultivating loyalty from the men and women under his command. This is where the more… troublesome aspects of Tlon began to surface.
Promotion came fairly quickly to Tlon, and with that, came more soldiers under his command, and more responsibility. With his influence, Tlon began pushing within Clan Fett to be more proactive outside Mando'Tra. He and his soldiers were not satisfied with endless drills and wanted real combat experience.
After some time, he was permitted to take a platoon and attack a nearby pirate outpost just outside Mando'Tra. Unsurprisingly, the ge'hutuune stood no chance against Tlon and his soldiers, as they were butchered beyond recognition with the leaders interrogated by Tlon himself for more information. I was unable to learn the full details, but Tlon was able to learn where another base was, and took himself and a small number of his men to pursue while the rest returned with the acquired spoils.
The leadership of Clan Fett was understandably concerned by how Tlon had dealt with the pirates, and even less pleased when they learned he'd gone off in pursuit of more.
When Tlon returned later with even more credits, ships, and resources, it was difficult to deny that his venture had been a successful one. Mand'alor Kal'Panlie, however, forbade further action outside the Union, and this was likely more out of how Tlon had dealt with the pirates than the actual worth of the mission. Tlon was not reprimanded, but he knew Mand'alor disapproved of what he'd done. I believe this was what planted the idea in his mind that Mand'alor needed to be replaced.
Within his clan, Tlon continued to ascend, until he achieved one of the highest ranks short of Aliit'alor – that of Akaan'ade Kando'aliit'alor of Clan Fett. A short time prior to this, Gustav Fett was chosen to become the Aliit'alor of Clan Fett, and personally approved Tlon's own promotion. A decision that would haunt him, as upon reaching this rank, Tlon began slowly subverting traditional Mando customs and beliefs into his own twisted interpretations.
The Murder of Mand'alor Kal'Panlie Ordo: There was, and continues to be, talk over how the Warlord managed to successfully kill Mand'alor in the first place, as such an act seems unthinkable, especially with only one clan. But what they keep forgetting is that Tlon was in charge of most of the Fett Clan soldiers for seven years, and he had not been idle.
The Fett Clan, aside from some of the elders and older advisors, were slowly indoctrinated into what Tlon believed. There were efforts to curtail him, of course, but even Kal'Panlie severely underestimated how loyal the majority of the Fett Clan were to Tlon. For years he'd drilled, trained, and motivated them personally; taking part in invasion simulations on moons and planets within Mando'Tra; teaching and emphasizing doctrines of terror and ultimate victory; over and over again. Whenever they flagged in exhaustion or loyalty, he personally made sure to inspire them; continuously reminding them that one day the galaxy and the Union would recognize and respect their might.
As the Akaan'ade Kando'aliit'alor, he was far less picky about who he allowed to be a soldier of Clan Fett. Men and women with previously problematic behavior were welcomed by Tlon. Conduct was never great within the Fett Clan, but Tlon made it worse by lowering the standards so drastically, and he arranged his promotions to surround himself with those who had similar mindsets as he did. Nearly everything was permissible, so long as they kept it to themselves and knew who was ultimately in command.
Tlon had quietly been stoking them into a war frenzy for years, and it finally came to a head when Tlon – years after his previous raid – announced he was planning an attack on a planet controlled by the Hutt Cartels. Perhaps if he had consulted Mand'alor beforehand, it might have been allowed, but Kal'Panlie outright refused to allow it and threatened exile if it was followed through. It was clear he didn't trust Tlon or want to encourage his behavior, but in retrospect, this played into exactly what Tlon wanted.
That was all the justification Tlon needed and he gathered up the most loyal and brutal of his soldiers and planned the capture and death of Mand'alor Kal'Panlie and his entire family. One day, when Kal'Panlie had left Ordo to bring the young Javen to Mandalore with them, Tlon attacked and took Mand'alor and his family captive after killing off the Ge'tal'aran, Mand'alor's honor guard – a worrying display of the skills and planning of Tlon's soldiers.
What followed is, perhaps, the first documented instance of the true depravity of Tlon Fett. While specific details remain opaque, it is unlikely that the context would make the Warlord's actions any more understandable or acceptable. The visible aftermath of Kal'Panlie and his lifemate's treatment left little to the imagination as to what they had been subjected to, and his attempt to murder their children is arguably more reprehensible.
By some miracle, Master Tokare managed to locate them, and when Tlon heard this, he immediately killed Kal'Panlie and prepared to leave. During the process, he lost several of his soldiers, but escaped intact, even if he ultimately failed to kill Mand'alor's entire family. To this day, I am unsure why the Warlord was uncharacteristically unprepared for possibly being tracked and attacked. Perhaps back then he was too overconfident, or maybe he simply miscalculated. He had recorded the entirety of the torture, and likely had plans for it, but to this day, it hasn't emerged.
Regardless, the deed was done and Mand'alor was dead, just as Tlon had wanted.
Exile from Clan Fett: When what happened eventually came to light, Clan Fett proved it hadn't completely fallen under Tlon's sway, and there was a unanimous vote that banished Tlon Fett and all who followed him and enforced by the Dar'mand'alor Jagi'Panlie. Tlon Fett was reportedly shocked at this decision, and is suspected to have come very close to revolting against all of Clan Fett and taken control.
In retrospect, it was a very risky thing the leadership of Clan Fett did. Tlon had the respect and loyalty of much of Clan Fett's soldiers. If Tlon had refused to comply with the directive… he likely could have won. But he must have also considered that Clan Ordo would have waged a Blood Hunt against Clan Fett, which would weaken anything he could do.
Tlon Fett accepted exile not because he had to, but because he was considering a future where he rebelled, won, and then faced a furious Ordo Clan not including any others who would have taken part. It also allowed him what he had likely wanted from the beginning – unrestricted freedom. He departed Clan Fett, but not before a final speech and warning to the leaders of Clan Fett – and taking nearly three-quarters of Clan Fett's fighting force with him.
Everyone knew he would return to challenge for the title of Mand'alor, but until that day came, the Warlord never stepped foot into Mando'tra.
This does not mean he was idle.
The Warlord, contrary to popular belief, was not simply doing nothing in the years prior to his duel against Javen'Panlie. He had some of the most dangerous Mando-trained soldiers, a fair number of ships and resources, and no outlet for his simmering anger. Tlon began his raiding that year, and establishing his power base in the Outer Rim and hutt territory soon after.
His numbers grew then, and during this period he likely grew arrogant; not believing the young son of Kal'Panlie would be able to challenge him, and prepared more for his planned war in the Outer Rim than the actual duel for the title of Mand'alor.
This is the only explanation I can give for how Tlon Fett lost that day.
Duel against Javen'Panlie: The duel for Mand'alor was the second largest mistake Tlon Fett made in his life. Everyone who will read this remembers the duel between the man and boy, the beatings each of them received and how the future of our people hinged on the outcome. There would be a new Mand'alor that day, and we would follow regardless of who it was.
Tlon Fett underestimated Javen'Panlie as a credible threat, and this meant that when the young boy hit with the strength and skill of a veteran, Tlon was unprepared for what happened, which is… uncharacteristic of him. For such an important part of his plan, Tlon did not truly plan for Javen. Even a Force-user should have difficulty against Tlon, but with no means of protecting, negating, or accounting for the blows Javen rained upon him, he had no choice but to take it.
In desperation, Tlon broke custom and accepted a weapon from the crowd and nearly killed Javen with it, and once again grew arrogant, either in relief or delirium I am unsure, but he wanted to watch Javen die slowly like his family. A mistake, as Javen pulled the blade out of his chest and leapt at Tlon when his back was turned, delivering a mortal blow to the neck that left him pinned to the dirt.
But as we all know, before he delivered the final blow, Javen'Panlie instead declared himself Mand'alor, healed Tlon Fett, and banished him forever from the Mando'ade – which technically didn't change anything, as Tlon had already been banished before the duel even began. But the point was made, and Tlon Fett left – in disgrace and defeat.
Recovery and Resurgence: With respect to Mand'alor, letting Tlon Fett live was a mistake we continue to regret to this day. With that stated, I will now explain why.
Tlon Fett was not defeated that day. He was given a wake-up call. A second chance to achieve his plans and goals. He was not stopped that day, and because he was spared, he's grown far more dangerous than he ever had because now he no longer underestimates anyone.
Losing didn't hurt the power base he had been building either, and now it was personal. His loyalty from his forces was absolute, and even such an embarrassing defeat didn't shake their resolve. He returned, gave an oddly humble speech which actually acknowledged that he'd badly screwed up, and proceeded to reestablish his dominance by raiding the stronghold of a minor hutt while sanctioning the murdering, raping, and stealing that took place on that planet.
He also turned his sights far closer to the Mando'Tsad itself, and began attacking and raiding along the outlying territories and against the unaffiliated clans, and specifically targeted allies of the new Mand'alor.
Clan Tacynar Massacre: This specific atrocity by the Warlord is worth some additional detail. To provide some context as to why Tlon targeted this clan specifically – and not another one allied with the Mando'Tsad or living independently. Aside from Clan Tacynar being a direct offshoot of Clan Fett, with whom they had been allied with closely, Varek Tacynar – Aliit'alor of Clan Tacynar at the time – was actually an ally of Tlon's.
It would be a stretch to say they were friends, but there was a mutual respect between the two, and Tlon supported and encouraged Varek's dissatisfaction with the current Mand'alor – at the time, Kal'Panlie. It is not out of the question to say that when Tlon was planning his assassination of Mand'alor, he was expecting to be supported by Varek, and by extension, Clan Tacynar.
To his likely surprise, Varek and Clan Tacynar turned on Tlon just as the leadership of Clan Fett had, condemning his actions and going so far as to state that their god would punish him for what he'd done. Tlon never directly addressed Clan Tacynar when he departed Mando'Tra, but he clearly never forgot.
The Warlord struck the clan without any kind of warning; one of his most elaborate operations, as he left no chance for the outlying clan to escape or call for help. Crippled communications, sabotage, scouts and agents, it showcased the danger Tlon posed to anyone caught unprepared, and Tlon was merciless in taking his revenge.
The reports on the massacre are unsettling for a number of reasons. The first is that no one was spared, and the attacks were done in such a way as to be as violent and painful as possible. Vibroswords, fragmentation grenades, and slugthrowers were all used in the massacre, and the only assurance the Warlord's soldiers made was that they were injured enough to die.
The reports also showcase something else. Of the bodies that were recovered, very few of them were women or children. Some fell in combat, others in crossfire, but the vast majority that died were male. The only children that died were male as well, all above the age of twelve. The implications are clear and sickening to consider, but it would be fully expected of the Warlord to take captive the women and children of the clan.
Where they are now, we can only speculate. But it's likely that they have been killed or worse. That there are sightings of children being used in low-risk operations by the Warlord's forces paints a grim enough picture of what could have become of some of the victims of the massacre.
Closing Notes: Since the attack on Clan Tacynar, Tlon has continued to wage a limited war on the outskirts of the Mando'Tsad though has not targeted any other clan with the same violence or sophistication. If he plans to do this in the future is unknown, and likely contingent on how the independent clans treat him and his soldiers.
Historically, he has also avoided direct conflict with the Fellan Imperium and the Galactic Alliance, though he has began testing the limits of the latter. But even true conflict with us is limited. His true focus is on the Outer Rim, and his territory is growing larger as are his numbers. We have a tendency to think of the Warlord as a dishonored Mando pirate. That is a dangerous assumption, as it ignores how ambitious Tlon really is, and what his plans actually are.
The most direct attempt against Mand'alor failed and resulted in the death of Vriol Fett, and there have been no further attempts since then. I am personally unsure of if Tlon actually intended to kill Mand'alor that day – or was testing him to see how he would react if threatened.
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
The largest question that any report on Tlon Fett needs to answer is the why, what, and how. Why is Tlon Fett the way he is today, despite growing up as a normal child in our society? What are his underlying motivations, beliefs, and values which have shaped him into the demagolka he is today? How did a purported madman and dishonorable hut'uun manage to convince the majority of Clan Fett to follow him and rose so high in the ranks long before murdering the Mand'alor, despite Clan Fett knowing that he held problematic views?
No one would be surprised to learn that Tlon Fett is an amoral bastard and dishonorable chakaaryc. What I've learned – that most would not suspect – is that Tlon does have a coherent psychological framework he works within, and a coherent lens that he views the world through. It is perhaps completely unique, as not even the Empire has gone as far as the Warlord has in their own wars, even going back to the ancient Galactic Empire of Palpatine.
Learning how Tlon Fett became the man he is required a lot of investigation and making justifiable conclusions based on the pieces I had before me. His own psychological framework is different from most in that it will only make complete sense if one understands that it is the combination and adoption of major influences and inspirations from history – both relatively recent and ancient.
I've mentioned earlier that Tlon Fett had developed a fascination with the wider galaxy and its storied history, both events and figures. That fascination ultimately helped shape him into the man he is today, and as he became older, he never really dropped this fascination. No one really noticed or commented on it, but Tlon continued to take inspiration and ideas from historical figures of old – and in his own view, refine them further.
There are several in particular I will focus on to help build a solid case for how Tlon views the galaxy, and, working from that framework, extrapolate to other subjects and his own personal views. These major influences are listed in order of importance to Tlon and how greatly they've shaped his own actions and philosophy.
Darth Jadus: I will admit that I originally had no idea who this particular Sith was, and was confused why Tlon would have drawn so much inspiration from him. The short version is that Darth Jadus lived during the period of the old Sith Empire of Lord Vitiate, was a member of the Dark Council overseeing the Sphere of Intelligence, and was reportedly only second in power to the Emperor himself. What happened to him is unclear, and is largely unimportant.
Darth Jadus was a Sith Lord who created, manipulated, and used terror and fear; then studied and observed the role they played in society. His own memoirs and teachings emphasized the controlled spread, distribution, and propagation of terror. Both were best used in highly specific ways and situations, to be manipulated at the discretion of the one who pulled the strings. Jadus himself was reportedly a highly emotionless individual; executing schemes and plans with a cold efficiency while the body counts piled up in the millions.
It should be extremely obvious that, when viewed through the lens of Jadus, some of Tlon's more horrendous actions may have a purpose beyond sheer terror and sadism. Jadus viewed these actions as tools used for a greater purpose, and it appears that Tlon has similarly adopted this belief. A final note regarding Jadus is that there are rumors – none that I can confirm – that Tlon Fett has the holocron of Darth Jadus.
Before you dismiss this as impossible since no Sith would ever deal with a non-Force-user – another note of Jadus that I learned is that all of his close followers were non-Sith. This scenario is not as outlandish as you might expect, and if this is true – it is very, very worrying. Until then, understand that the motivations and intentions behind some of Tlon's operations stem from his study of Darth Jadus.
Armitage Hux, Voice of the Supreme Leader: The official propagandist of the First Order is also an odd inclusion, but if you think about it, it should begin to make sense. Armitage Hux on his own managed to convince entire planets and systems to join the First Order and abandon the Empire. The rank-and-file of the First Order were fanatical and unbreakable thanks to his fiery speeches and calls to action – as well as the unceasing broadcasted messages from the Voice himself conveying the will of the Supreme Leader.
Hux is rightfully recognized as one of the greatest speakers in galactic history, and he did nothing except talk. His power with words was one Tlon was fascinated by, and wanted to emulate. He kept several books of Hux's speeches, and they were always on hand when he wrote what he would say to his men. Nothing was ever spur-of-the-moment to him. Those speeches he gave to motivate his soldiers in training and battle? All prewritten and memorized for the right occasion.
The rule he learned from Hux was that a good writer knows his audience, and writes in a way which leads them along a certain path unconsciously. Tlon became the leader he is today because he exploited this rule. To this day, he still retains this lesson, and his incredible execution of this rule has been a contributing factor to the continued loyalty of his soldiers.
Charisma is just as important for cultivating loyalty as competence and strength. Tlon Fett learned this early on, and the spirit of what Hux achieved is carried on through him.
Grand Admiral Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Thrawn): Everyone knows of the last Grand Admiral who almost brought the fledgling New Republic to defeat, and it should be no surprise that Tlon is an admirer of his work. What Thrawn did is still discussed and debated to this day. The question that should be asked is not why Tlon considers him such a major influence, but what about Thrawn he has learned from.
From my own investigation, it was how Thrawn waged a war against the established power with a weaker and mobile force, and still almost won. Perhaps he sees some parallels with the current state of the galaxy today. Galactic strategy is a notable weakness of his, and that was an area Thrawn excelled at. How better to counter this weakness than by studying one of the best in the galaxy?
This is not to say he solely focuses on the grand strategy of Thrawn. He has holorecordings of all the battles Thrawn participated in and refers to them often. He also reportedly attempted to emulate Thrawn's understanding of art… but seeing as how Tlon doesn't know the first thing about it, he spent a respectable amount on what amounts to fancy decorations.
Decorations which were also reportedly destroyed when he became frustrated at his own inability to get anything useful from them. He's far from Thrawn, even if he's trying to learn.
Te Ani'la Mand'alor (Mand'alor the Ultimate): This is the core influence of Tlon, and if there is one being he wishes to emulate, it is the man who nearly conquered the Republic during the Mando'Akaane. Mand'alor the Ultimate is, in Tlon's mind, the ultimate example of what it means to be Mando. He raised an army under one banner, and led them on a brutal conquest across the galaxy, and had it not been for the intervention of Revan, he would have succeeded and we might be living in a very different galaxy now.
When he was a child, the stories of Mand'alor the Ultimate were the ones he gravitated to. Not Canderous Ordo, Boba Fett, or any of the better-known Mando'ade of legend, but the one that today would be considered an insult to our honor. Mand'alor the Ultimate is Mando in nothing but name, from a time when our kind were more barbaric and violent.
But that brutality, ambition, and vision appealed to Tlon. That combination led to him almost conquering the galaxy. Tlon Fett has thousands of documents on the Mando'Akaane, ranging from the planetary invasions commenced from the Basilisk War Droids, to the exploits of Revan and Malak, to the political instability and infighting between the Jetiise and Republic. Tlon could almost be considered a scholar of the Mando'Akaane in his own right.
Now, why would he take such an interest in that conflict?
Now we reach the conclusion of all of these conflicting and unique influences.
Tlon's ultimate goal is another Mando War, and he will perform whatever means are necessary to achieve this dream. Insane, outlandish, or straight di'kutla, I firmly believe this to be the endgame to Tlon Fett. A new Mand'alor the Ultimate for a new era. This is what motivates him the most. Deep down, he still considers himself Mando, even if he was rightfully banished.
Based on these influences and his actions, we can build a framework to extrapolate his views on other subjects. Viewed in this context, his actions begin to fall more into a pattern. He is an extremely calculating individual, he likes to make plans and then execute them. He isn't good at adapting, but he rarely moves unless he expects a plan to go near-perfectly.
To Tlon, knowing what you want out of a conflict is the key to designing it. He knows ideologies, and how those who follow them think and will likely react. Terror and fear are tools for him to use and withhold depending on the context. No tactic is too vile, no line is too red to be crossed if it achieves his goal. But his operations are not universally vile or bloody.
But from our perspective, this is not the case. Why is it this way?
Because Tlon knows how we will react. He knows the best way to get into our heads and under our skin. Butchering and raping innocent colonists? He is daring us to come after him. He wants the Union to act against him, and is perfectly content to murder as many as possible until we are goaded into making a mistake or hastily walk into a trap.
He likely enjoys the mind games that go into each operation. Determining who he is facing, envisioning their mindset, and working to exploit and break it. A raid against a Hutt-controlled planet would just result in a relatively clean and effective operation if he just wanted resources, credits, or slaves; if he wanted to send a message, he would burn a village or city under the protection of the Cartels and send the hutt in question body parts for several months as a constant reminder. A raid against an Alliance outpost is trivialized by strapping kids with explosives and sending them to the defenders.
Would the soldiers shoot these kids? Unlikely, and if they did, they would likely become traumatized – which could very well be what Tlon wants. An engineered battle which is a win-win.
When viewed in the context of his ultimate plan, the lives of a few slaves are nothing to him.
Tlon Fett is firm in his beliefs, and that combined with his natural charisma, attracts others. He prefers to talk simply and directly to us; no mincing words, but it's a mistake to believe he's poorly spoken or not diplomatic when he wants to be. It will largely depend on who he speaks to. The Warlord attracts a certain crowd with his actions, but he holds a personal disdain for the pure murderers and rapists of the galaxy. They are tools he will accept, but only use sparingly, and may hopefully be forged into a better weapon later. He is careful with how he manages his forces. He keeps the troublesome men and women away from the ones he actually values.
Instead he prefers a more… refined and intelligent crowd and surrounds himself with such. Outcasts and misfits are especially attractive to him and he will directly contact and attempt to radicalize them to his cause. Drifters, smugglers, Cartel assassins, outcast Jetiise and young Imperial Knights, those are prime targets for Tlon, and he is often more successful than he is not.
You might of course wonder how anyone could subscribe to, or justify the actions Tlon takes. It's deceptively simple for the Warlord– simply convince an individual that the galaxy needs a new change of leadership, provide himself as the alternative who would do what it took, and the necessity of a new galactic conflict. The rest of the pieces will fall into place. The individuals Tlon recruits are not stable, good, or otherwise extremely powerful on their own.
I stress this because the more people like this Tlon recruits, the more dangerous he becomes.
This is a good place to discuss several of his own views, particularly on aliens. His sons have loudly and proudly espoused the 'purity' of the Fett line which is only composed of humans (incorrect by our own records), but Tlon, curiously enough, does not seem to especially care too much one way or another. I don't know if he truly does not care, or if he holds his own personal biases but has decided to temper them until he no longer needs his alien allies.
I suspect he has an interest in preserving the line, and has said as much to his sons, but that has never stopped Clan Fett – and Tlon's heretics – from having aliens in their ranks. That Tlon personally adopted a miraluka into his clan, and that his soldiers are composed of multiple species (weequay, gamorreans, nikto, the usual species you would expect from the Outer Rim and Hutt Space), I can say with some certainty that the Warlord does not care about aliens, only what they can offer to him.
The same can be said for his view on women. The majority of his forces are male, but to say there are few to no women in his entourage is simply false. But make no mistake, they are every bit as vile and twisted as he is. Remember that his treatment of women during his raids is largely due to calculation. He knows how we, and others, react to it. It's an emotionless data point to him – it isn't anything more.
He has an equally pragmatic view of the Force. Although his own experiences have certainly left him with a distaste for the act. He is extremely suspicious of Force-users, and personally enjoys killing them, but considering that there are a very few in his entourage – and if the rumors of a holocron are true – he understands that it can be something to be used to his advantage.
But I want to finish up this section by posing another question: Does Tlon consider himself a true Mando? Could he rationally consider himself one while still performing the acts he does?
Yes, he does, and yes, he can. I will refer back to Mand'alor the Ultimate for this. Mando'ijaat is more fluid than we want to admit. The Mando'ade under the Ultimate were, in complete truth, not all that different from Tlon Fett and his warriors. But they still espoused their own 'honor' even if it would be worthless by our own standards. Tlon is no different. Mando'ijaat to him is achieved through conquest by any means necessary.
Tlon still trains our techniques, maintains our ways and traditions, and speaks our language. But he doesn't follow our understanding of Mando'ijaat. Instead he follows the understanding of Mand'alor the Ultimate, and believes that archaic interpretation to be the correct one. Could he be considered Mando in this context still?
You can answer that. I personally won't dignify that question with a response, but I believe it is an important question to pose nonetheless.
KNOWN ASSOCIATES AND ALLIES
Tlon Fett does not have personal 'allies' in the traditional sense. There is no organization or group which has allied themselves with him and the banished clans. He likely considers such alliances unneeded and trivial, and no one in their right mind wants to be associated with this man. So the few that I would list here are people that Tlon is either closely connected to, interacts with the most, or a combination of the two. This is not a comprehensive list, but it does include the most important. It is also not a breakdown of his own military structure and chain of command. Refer to Intelligence Report 00317-Alpha for more information on the Warlord's own forces.
Dirn Fett: All of Tlon's surviving sons (and single daughter) could rank on this list, but none are as important or as dangerous as Dirn, his eldest. While not the warrior or strategist his father is, Dirn is nonetheless an extremely dangerous opponent and skilled enough that Tlon has preferred to use him as a sole operative or in command of a small team on surgical missions, typically involving sabotage and assassination.
Dirn communicates with his father regularly, and personally leads Tlon's own Supercommandos in the rare event they are deployed. There is little difference between his own views and his father's; Tlon made sure of that, although Dirn has supposedly acquired a taste for interrogation, and practices on survivors after battles. Tlon appears to tolerate this, though not necessarily approve of it. But until some unknown point is reached, it hasn't been broached.
Dirn's lifemate is Valin'Laris Fett, and he has two sons and one daughter.
Lara Senar'tal: It's unsurprising that the slavers would ally with the Warlord so quickly, and Lara is perhaps the worst of them. She was one of the first to join Tlon and has been a steadfast ally to him ever since his initial exile. She has been instrumental in slowly bringing over all of Clan Senar'tal into the Warlord's army, although there are still holdouts.
Until that point, she assists him in being the primary manager of the slaves and captives they acquire in their raids. She is also the primary advisor for how they should be used, and keeps a frequently updated index on biological and psychological information on them. She is highly organized and cold towards management, and also assists Tlon whenever he plans raids on civilian colonies.
She has no lifemate, but her two most favored slaves (a male human and female twi'lek) are purported to be her lovers. Or more accurately, victims.
Adomick Vizsla: Another of the banished clans, Adomick was also one who quickly joined Tlon when he was exiled, and has since risen to something resembling a second-in-command. He is heavily involved in any strategies and plans Tlon devises, although unlike Tlon, doesn't personally involve himself in the operations themselves, preferring to largely be just a strategist and commander. This is not to say he isn't skilled on his own, but fighting is not his strength, and he is normally left in command when the Warlord takes the field himself.
He has no lifemate at this point in time, but is involved with Sabrina Taltora.
Thisma Fett: This is the result of Tlon's radicalization efforts in the Outer Rim. Thisma was not a Mando when the Warlord learned of her, but part of an interrogation crew for one of the hutts. How Tlon learned of her I don't know, but through multiple conversations and meetings, he gradually convinced her of his own plan and she agreed to help him. A miraluka with some Force training, she presumably assists in regularly testing and training the Force-resistance of his soldiers, but primarily serves as an interrogator who assists in extracting information from captives or brainwashing them for whatever roles Tlon envisions.
Thisma is also reportedly capable of defending herself, either through her martial skills or Force capabilities. However she earned her position, it was enough for Tlon to personally adopt her, which is an extremely unique situation.
Kensin Ullo: One would expect that Tlon Fett wouldn't want anything to do with a science experiment like Kensin Ullo, but as it turns out, Tlon is full of surprises. Kensin Ullo of the now-declared Ullo Clan is one of the most brutal, intelligent, and dangerous warriors which roams the galaxy.
A twi'lek produced through a failed science experiment, he – along with his declared clan – was grown with the supposed purpose of spreading an enhanced breed of twi'leks designed to be better in every way to their natural brethren. We will never know for sure, as Kensin and his clan killed their creators and have since spent their time terrorizing the galaxy.
Both men are naturally difficult to impress. Tlon already likely has a mild disposition against aliens, and Kensin despises anyone he believes has a lower intellect to himself and his clan. Thus for both men to not only work together, but become exceptionally close allies is both fascinating and disturbing.
Tlon appears to respect Kensin primarily for his own martial prowess and willingness to directly involve himself in combat, as well as possessing a highly tactical mind. This combination is almost always going to improve one's opinion before Tlon Fett, and he earned Kensin's own respect through his own strength, leadership, and vision for the galaxy.
They first met soon after Tlon left the Union, and Kensin along with his clan are among his oldest allies, and both men have become friends, Kensin is one of the few individuals Tlon appears to legitimately trust to share his most secretive plans with and share his true intentions for the galaxy. For his part, Kensin is extremely loyal to Tlon, and appears to be fully committed to him as he prepares for his future plans.
He presents something of a weakness for Tlon, as eliminating him would not only deal a practical blow to Tlon's operation, as he currently holds the position as his Executive Officer, but it would deal an emotional blow to Tlon as well. The Warlord may not feel grief as we do, but losing a man he considers a friend will affect him – on that, we are certain.
Suni'Andu Fett: Suni'Andu is not a typical Mando woman, even when she was younger and before meeting Tlon. She wasn't the strongest, smartest, or fastest child, and was instead more submissive than her peers. I'm unsure what about her caught Tlon's eye, but it is entirely possible that her submission was an attractive quality to him, and even if it wasn't the original intention, it is largely how their relationship has progressed.
Tlon is the dominant partner in all aspects of their relationship, and to my knowledge, Suni has never once gone against him publicly or privately. I suspect their relationship is strained, as Suni does not appear in public very often and seems disconnected from Tlon and his actions. However, it could be because she doesn't want to interfere and their relationship could still be proceeding as normal.
But every time she has appeared, she looks drained and haunted. She is not happy, and she can't do anything to hide it from anyone observant. Exactly as to what makes her unhappy is unknown, but I would not be surprised if her love for Tlon has faded. Unlike him, she had a completely normal and typical childhood, and it would not be out of the question to speculate that she hates what he does as much as we do but sees herself as trapped.
Make no mistake – if Tlon ever found out she was going to leave or betray him, he would kill her.
KNOWN OPPONENTS AND ENEMIES
Tlon Fett has no shortage of enemies which would happily see him dead or destroyed. At the same time it should be noted that these groups are 'enemies' of the Warlord in the same way that they are 'enemies' of organizations like the Hutt Cartels and other criminal and pirate bands. They will fight them whenever they show up, but they don't consider it worth it to expend effort removing him for good.
The Jedi Order: The Jetiise have seen the consequences of the Warlord's attacks and know more about the threat he can pose than most other groups in the galaxy. Some of their own have been involved in engaging with his soldiers and know that something must be done about him. But to the Jetiise Council, Tlon is another dangerous warlord and as long as he stays in the Outer Rim, they will always have more important matters to handle.
An unfortunate consequence of the Warlord's actions – and one that Tlon has no doubt been pleased by – is that opinion of the Mando'ade in the Order has become increasingly more hostile. While it can be blamed on Jetii ignorance and lack of any desire to do actual research, we are partially at fault for not countering the damage Tlon is doing to our reputation. Jetiise do not know, or care, that the Warlord is no true Mando; they just see the armor and the atrocities he commits.
Because of that, they associate his actions with other Mando'ade, which in turn makes the Jetiise an unreliable ally at best. They may be against the Warlord, but unless steps are taken, they will transfer that animosity to us.
The Galactic Alliance: It would be more accurate to say that the Warlord is now on their radar, rather than a legitimate 'enemy.' Since he's begun attacking Alliance-affiliated planets and companies, the Galactic Alliance has become aware that he poses a threat to aligned colonies and companies in that region, although their response beyond this has largely amounted to advisories and a few more token defenses that pose almost no challenge to Tlon. They don't really know who Tlon is other than a Mando warlord, and if they have made inquiries to the Union, I am not aware of them. But if we provided them anything, it isn't reflected in how they are addressing his threat.
The Mando'Tsad (Mandalorian Union): Tlon Fett is everything a Mando is not. He is an enemy of the Union and will be until the end of his days. His status as our enemy is not in question, but if we want to make this more pronounced we need to take more direct action against him. This may be what the Warlord wants, but the alternative is allowing him to continue growing in numbers and strength. A war with Tlon is inevitable, but it would be better if Tlon, not the Union, was on the defensive when it happens.
On a more personal note, Clan Fett itself looks forward to cleansing the galaxy of this aruetii and cleansing our tarnished name. Tlon is unworthy of his birthright, and the only way it will be taken back is through blood. Until that day comes, his very name is an insult to what it means to be Mando and a proud part of Clan Fett.
The Hutt Cartels: This is perhaps, at the moment, the 'main' enemy of Tlon Fett. It is almost brazen how much Tlon is antagonizing the Cartels, and with every minor hutt relative that is killed and every slaving or narcotics operation smashed, the more they are aware that there is a new threat to their territory. What I think is concerning to the hutts is that Tlon is not an enemy they are used to facing. He doesn't care about innocents or civilians, he doesn't necessarily care about the drugs or slaves, he is just interested in causing chaos and terror – while stealing anything of value to supplement his forces.
The hutts he manages to capture he kills slowly and painfully while broadcasting them to the HoloNet, where he knows the Cartels watch. The executions range from feeding them to their own pit monsters, lowering them into vats of acid or molten steel, or just simple dismemberment and vivisection. Tlon can and will get creative.
The bounty on his head continues to grow, and has recently passed twenty million credits. The Warlord has so far either killed the ones who've taken the contract and sent their bodies back to the Cartels, or the ones unfortunate enough to be captured alive are subjected to the same treatment as the hutts. Regardless, after each failure, the price on his head is raised.
CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE OPERATIONS
I would refer you to Intelligence Report 00317-Alpha for a more complete picture as to the current operations the Warlord's forces have been conducting and their likely plans for actions, but what Tlon Fett is likely to do in the future is worth covering in some detail. Right now he is not focused on the Mando'Tsad, but securing additional territory in the Outer Rim and making inroads on Cartel territory.
This is not to say that he has forgotten about the Union, and it's a near guarantee that he intends to return and kill Mand'alor Javen'Panlie. How he will execute this is not known. He will not wage a conflict in any honorable or straightforward way. He could attempt to assassinate Mand'alor in the dead of night, or he could launch a full invasion on the Union.
But Tlon has learned from his mistakes and the mercy granted to him. He will take his time in plotting his revenge on us. But in our interest to remain out of galactic society, it has also hindered our own potential growth. Tlon is not as organized, powerful, or influential as the entire Union, but he is attempting to reach it. He's proactive in securing territory and resources; he's actively recruiting new soldiers and bartering with the underworld for exotic weapons and materials.
His plan is beyond the Union, and we are likely considered a stepping stone to his attempt to completely conquer the Outer Rim before moving coreward. How he would fare against the armies of the Galactic Alliance is unknown, as his tactics are particularly effective against their citizens and soldiers, and Tlon prefers to wage asymmetrical warfare which the Alliance might have trouble adapting to. Which is to say nothing of the politics that cripple the institution, and where the Jetiise fall could be anyone's guess. A repeat of the Mando'Akaane is not completely out of the question.
The Empire I do not think would be as easy for the Warlord to break. He has avoided antagonizing them so far, and that is likely deliberate. Unlike the Jetiise, the Imperial Knights would not refrain from fighting, and that would be a significant force-multiplier in favor of the Empire.
Is it likely that Tlon could potentially start a new Mando conquest of the galaxy? No, in my professional opinion. It would take too long, there are too many opponents, and the Warlord's forces and strategy are not conducive to long-term sustainability in a war. But does Tlon think he could pull this off? Yes, and he is going to try whether we like it or not.
EQUIPMENT
Tlon was trained as a Mando, so it should not be surprising that he maintains similar equipment and weapons to our own soldiers. A difference, but an unsurprising one, is that Tlon is familiar with far more weapons than the average soldier – mêlée, ranged, and other exotic weapons. He also specifically kits himself out depending on the mission he is participating and who he will likely fight. All of this should be considered as a possible loadout for Tlon, and if he is likely to fight, consider what is the most effective weapons loadout to use against you, and those will likely be what Tlon brings.
Armor: Mando beskar armor; the same he had when he was part of the Union. It is still his original armor and helmet, although upgraded and repaired over the years. Since his exile, he's colored his armor black and silver, with the Fett Clan emblem on his chest. He almost always wears the accompanying jetpack as well, though will forgo this in close quarters (such as space stations and ship-to-ship boarding) in favor of other attachments. The suit is pressurized, EMP-resistant, and has an oxygen supply of at least thirty minutes. Air pumps can be attached to increase this limit.
Weapons: Nearly anything and everything is a possibility. Pistols, rifles, vibroswords, sniper rifles, Tlon has experience with each and every one of these, and what he uses is tailored to what he suspects will be most effective on his mission. Normally, he will carry two to three primary weapons at a time if they are rifles or smaller, or one to two more powerful weapons such as sniper rifles or autocannons.
Explosives: Primarily thermal detonators of all classes (it is rumored he carries a class-A detonator as a suicide weapon in case he is defeated), but will switch those out for gas and sonic grenades if fighting in close quarters. AP and acid grenades are common if participating in terror operations or armored opponents. EMP grenades are also a favorite against heavily teched out enemies, which has caused certain hutt mercenaries no end of problems.
Disposable Weapons and Equipment: The Warlord seems to have a tendency to be drawn to unstable or dangerous technology, as there seems to be nothing he won't use, despite the risk to himself. Monomolecular blades are a favorite of his since they cause massive internal damage when snapped off inside the victim, and he often employs them when fighting larger opponents or Force-users. Self-destructive nanoweaponry is also a favorite, and only saved for special occasions (such as the time he had one bounty hunter eaten alive by one nanite at a time). Less dangerous pieces of tech like burnout shield generators, disposable flamethrowers, stimpacks, and medkits are all part of his arsenal.
Gadgets: Just as varied as the above. Clingwire, integrated flamethrowers, wrist rockets, and chemical dispensers are all valid options to him, and which he uses to great effect. He is familiar with multiple infowar gadgets, but typically does not use them himself, instead relying on his own specialists to handle that aspect of warfare. In addition to that, he also wears a device over his missing eye which allows him to perceive objects and individuals in, and slightly beyond, his field of vision. The full capabilities of this augmentation aren't known, but we should assume that it is just as capable as an organic eye – and most likely better.
Traps: Tlon normally does not use traps, as his tendency is offensive and proactive, not defensive. With that said, he knows how to set mines of various types, as well as more traditional tripwire and laser traps. However, this is a pool of resources that he rarely draws from.
Exotics: At every chance he gets, Tlon attempts to acquire irreplaceable or exotic weaponry. He has supposedly experimented with yuuzhan vong biotech, and he has attempted to create his own lightsaber, but he has never actually used one in combat. He's acquired several unstable gamma and microwave weapons which have had messy results when used on hutts. He also deliberately seeks out anti-Force technology, and – after his raid on Myrkr in 454 ABY – is reportedly breeding ysalamiri for operations against potential Force-users. Vornskr are also a concern, but we all know that the ysalamiri are the more alarming prospect.
WEALTH AND RESOURCES
I will preface this section by saying that much of this is estimation and there are no hard numbers on how much Tlon actually has or what he is worth. Keep this in mind while reading.
Credit Worth: Considering the amount he has taken from the Hutts, and regular sales of arms, slaves, and narcotics, it would not be out of the question for his worth to be between two to four million credits. The hutts value him at twenty million as mentioned earlier, and while that's probably pocket change to them, it's not an insignificant amount by any means.
Liquid Assets: Based on the weapons, ships, tech, and resources that he acquires in his raids, this number is impossible to fully calculate at any given time as Tlon has a fluid system of sale to various buyers every day. However, his personal liquid assets, which include his own armory and starfighter, likely amount to between five and ten million, which is an extraordinarily high number if you don't take into account that the Warlord has a significant amount of unique and valuable items at his disposal.
Non-Liquid Assets: Tlon has amassed a respectable collection of artifacts, art pieces, and historical documents almost by accident. The possible Sith holocron in his possession alone is something the right people would pay millions for, and his literature collection on the Mando'Akaane is equally valuable to the right people. However, this could range from one to twenty million simply because there is no solid record on what Tlon does, and does not, have. Any holocrons might also be more or less valuable depending on the objects creator.
Property: The Warlord has a base of operations, but this world I was unable to locate, and it's unlikely he owns it himself and is managed primarily by his own soldiers.
Vehicles, Equipment, and Weapons: Taking into account his armory and his flagship; which has reportedly been extensively modified, it is likely close to five to ten million credits altogether.
Estimated Tax Bracket: Why do we still have this on the template? We never use it.
TACTICS : STRATEGIC COMBAT
As Tlon is the leader of his band of bastards, he is in charge of all facets of combat, both on the strategic and tactical levels. His attempts to do both are a possible weakness which will be addressed once these sections have been finished. We have enough information on his previous attacks, and from his own psychological framework, to put together a largely accurate model of what to expect from an attack.
Fleet: The main advantage of the Warlord's army is his soldiers in direct combat, and he knows this. He doesn't have a large fleet, both because he lacks production capabilities (that we know of) and because normally he doesn't need one. His fleet is a mishmash of various kinds of ships, and this is because his main plan of attack is using starfighters to engage enemy fighters and bombers, while ships carrying boarding parties invade the larger spacecraft and/or space stations, and take them over from the inside, which will then be added to his armada.
His primary plan for encountering an enemy fleet is to distract and subvert them. Once his soldiers breach the interior of ships, it's usually over soon after that. However, it should be noted that Tlon has never faced anything more dangerous than mercenary fleets on the payroll of the Cartels – and our own fleets, which have beaten him decisively before.
It is likely that if he attempts a naval attack against a trained crew, he would have more difficulty. This is the weakest theater of Tlon's strategy, at least from what I can determine.
Planetary Invasion: The kind of attack largely depends on the mission in question and the opponents being faced. If Tlon determines that they can outright win the fight, he will order an attack directly at the main heart of the defenses and pick off the remainder whenever that is finished. If it is a more entrenched enemy, he will attack vulnerable outposts and locations before moving onwards to the now-weakened stronghold.
For particularly difficult targets, he will utilize orbital bombardment and bombing runs liberally, especially against military targets. Attacks will also take place simultaneously, and ships attempting to enter and leave the planet will be shot down or captured. Once the stronghold is captured, whatever resources or weapons it holds will be confiscated and the defenses of the planet commandeered.
Since this is a planet intended to be captured, Tlon will try to deliberately avoid damaging the infrastructure of factories or production plants, though he won't let that stop him if they hinder a decisive victory.
Planetary Raid: Raids are defined as the Warlord intending to either steal or capture resources, or to just cause terror. The strikes are fast and bloody, often completed in a matter of hours before the Warlord's soldiers are gone, while leaving a ruined planet in their wake and countless victims. Terror raids target civilian populations and are broadcasted to the rest of the planet to cause further chaos. There is no objective other than pure terror, often accompanied by looting whatever they can get their hands on. Slaves are sometimes taken, but they are not a priority and only allowed if there is time or room. This is usually accomplished by liberal deployments of chemical weapons and firebombs dropped by aerial soldiers. Close combat is usually only after the majority of civilians are dead and stragglers remain, or if Tlon determines that a more powerful message needs to be sent.
Resource raids often revolve around asset acquisition and denial. These are the attacks where weapons, drugs, materials, and slaves are taken, and the means of holding or producing those resources are destroyed. Entire cities and towns are destroyed after these operations to prevent anyone else from using them. Tlon acquiring these resources is only one half of what he wants with these attacks, if they fail to destroy what is left behind, he considers it a failure.
Star System Attack: To date, the Warlord has never attacked what could be considered a 'fortified' star system with multiple defended planets, moons, and orbital stations, and I cannot accurately predict what his tactic would be in this case, but based on his history, he would likely disable any kind of sensors and surveillance to blind the entrenched enemy, and then begin campaigns on outer planetary outposts and moon bases. While the lesser hutts do have small fleets and some measure of protection in their systems, it is nothing like the Imperial or coreward Alliance planets.
Prioritized Targets and Personnel: In combat, there is a clear prioritized targeting list that Tlon utilizes when leading his invasions. Generally, it follows that whoever – or whatever – is the largest threat to his force is the immediate target. Jetiise, Imperial Knights, military officers and commanders are all near the top and prioritized in combat. Artillery, armored vehicles, and special forces are a close second, and the remainder of enemy combatants follow. I will emphasize the word 'prioritized.' The Warlord won't permit a blind charge at a specific enemy at the expense of all else.
As far as infrastructure targets go, communications equipment is the highest priority, followed by production plants, civilian housing (which forces additional panic and chaos), and farms or livestock production. Essentially, any target is valid, but the priority depends on the mission in question. This doesn't apply as much during planetary invasions where Tlon wants control of the planet itself.
TACTICS : DIRECT COMBAT
I will preface this section by saying that only a few individuals can actually fight Tlon Fett and live. If you are unfortunate enough to be in the same place as him, your best chance for survival is to retreat and look for someone better than you are.
Starfighter: Tlon has a starfighter. He has never once used it in combat. It's unknown how skilled he is in ship-to-ship combat, but given his other skills, some degree of competence can be assumed.
Ground – Long-range: Tlon rarely engages at long-range, and if he is at this distance from actual combat, it is far more likely that he is coordinating multiple attacks and issuing orders. When he does participate, he uses a sniper rifle to target high-profile targets. At long enough distances, he will use his jetpack to gain an aerial advantage, but will only take this risk if there are no enemy marksmen. The other tactic he uses at this range is calling down airstrikes and bombardments.
Ground – Medium-range: Tlon becomes far more dangerous at this range, as the majority of his weaponry is effective, and where he also becomes a much more mobile force. Explosives, gadgets, and rifles are used in quick succession, and he uses his jetpack to quickly navigate, unbalance, and flank enemies. He takes the environment into account here, and will perform actions such as attacking an entrenched enemy from the top story and fighting down, or would just collapse the building itself regardless of collateral damage. Rockets and explosives are most used at this range.
Ground – Short-range: Fighting the Warlord up close is near-suicidal. He doesn't just have access to flamethrowers and chemical dispensers, but is also one of the most dangerous unarmed combatants that are alive, again discounting his proficiency with mêlée weapons. At close-range, Tlon will attempt to close the gap rapidly and kill as soon as possible. Confined spaces are prime conditions for flamethrowers and gas grenades. Avoid close-range combat if at all possible.
Ranged Proficiency: Tlon is an excellent shot, and is most effective at longer distances. Medium-ranged shooting is dangerous, but his focus on mobility over stationary attacks lowers his overall shot effectiveness, and is more accurately classified as harassment or suppressive fire. That isn't to say Tlon can't shoot someone lethally at this range, but he is not the most effective with ranged weapons. He makes up for it with his myriad of explosives and gadgets.
Mêlée Proficiency: Tlon is extremely skilled with vibroblades of all kinds, knives (throwing and non-throwing), and monomolecular blades. He can duel a Jetii to a standstill at worst, and can easily match any non-Force-user who he engages with. He's studied all the lightsaber combat styles of the Jetiise, and has some skill with each of them (Form II in particular he's trained in). The only mêlée weapon that he has likely not mastered is the lightsaber, or if he has, he has never used one.
Unarmed Proficiency: See the following section. Do not engage Tlon Fett in a fistfight if you want to live.
Darasuum Kar'ta (The Eternal Heart): We're trained in martial close quarters combat, and Tlon was no exception, and, in fact, excelled in it like most training he did. He normally wouldn't be more dangerous in this category than most Mando'ade other than for the fact that he has, somehow, managed to learn the ancient echani combat style known as the 'Eternal Heart.'
Based on what has been relayed to me… it combines speed, power, balance, and was designed for three people to use in harmony. The style itself focused on balance, with the heart and the Force as the center of the universe. Poetic, but it doesn't fully explain how it works, but there are two conclusions that can be drawn from this: it needs three people to be used correctly, and it implies that some degree of Force-sensitivity is needed.
A modified version of the Eternal Heart for one person does exist, but previously, only one has mastered it to its full potential. Which raises the question of how Tlon Fett managed to learn this on his own, and beyond simply learning, actually mastering the style. Consulting with one of the three actual practitioners of the Eternal Heart confirmed that Tlon is following the form, but it is noticeably altered for only one person, without taking Force-sensitivity into account.
Tlon has almost certainly been aware of the existence of the Eternal Heart, as his brother Gustav was one of the only users for years, but it was only after his defeat at the hands of Mand'alor Javen'Panlie that Tlon appeared to make a deliberate effort to completely master it.
Force-users: Tlon takes no chances when fighting Force-users. He doesn't care about fighting fair or honorably so long as he wins. If Jettise ever engage him in a lightsaber duel, he will oblige and use every trick possible to win – sonic grenades, flamethrowers, nanoweaponry, etc. It also doesn't help the Jetiise that Tlon may have brought in an ysalamir cage to effectively negate their greatest advantage. The good news is that Tlon has notably never used ysalamiri offensively, although note that this can change. Tlon also has been known to use a very rare and exotic anti-Force grenade that originated from the yuuzhan vong, that when used, disperse spores which retard the Force in a certain radius, giving him a brief opening – and that is usually all he needs.
Improvised Tactics: Tlon is excellent at improvised tactics – from noticing weak points on buildings, to using pipes and throwing stones on the ground. He sees opportunities and takes advantage of them as soon as possible. If he runs out of energy for his blasters, he'll use them as projectiles or clubs in close combat. Losing weapons or gadgets doesn't faze him, as he'll just move on to the three backups he brought along while throwing a thermal detonator towards the offending party.
It's difficult to stump or surprise him. Don't try tricking the Warlord. Just kill him.
COUNTERMEASURES
Be aware that the following is a general outline of possible measures to consider against the Warlord based on the information that's been provided. It is not comprehensive, and is theoretically based on records of Tlon Fett's own combat composition, tactics, strategies, and resources.
Space – Strategic: Short of having a fleet over all of our colonies and bases, the establishment of outer-system sensors to detect incoming fleets and provide an early warning to the planet coming under attack. We should have a large fleet of fighters as well, enough to overwhelm the Warlord's own fleets. If possible, his flagship and larger craft should be considered priority targets.
Space – Direct: Immediate targeting of all boarding craft through fighter swarms or corvette targeting. It is vital that boarding parties be stopped at all cost, as onboard crews will likely not be able to stop a fully trained and armed raiding party, or suffer extremely heavy casualties in doing so. At minimum, it will briefly take a friendly ship out of the fight.
Again, the targeting of larger ships should be a priority, as those will likely have at least one member of the Warlord's command staff involved – or possibly Tlon himself.
Planetary – Invasion/Raid: Ground-to-space and ground-to-air defenses are essential, as it would negate any aerial support Tlon can call in, and could also assist in nearby space battles. Food and weapon stockpiles in the event of a raid are essential. In truth, the Union is largely capable of combating the Warlord's soldiers well enough, but we should not take unnecessary chances.
Direct Combat – Long-range: If possible, an orbital strike or counter sniper fire. Fire should be held until Tlon attempts aerial sniping for maximum effectiveness. Otherwise, counter-sniping is the most realistic option available.
Direct Combat – Medium-range: Disabling his jetpack would cripple his mobility, and following up with healthy amounts of explosives is recommended. His armor can take multiple shots, and you're unlikely to kill him that way. Anti-armor weapons are preferred, acidic and incendiary grenades are also recommended. If on hand, nanoweaponry and gamma weapons would bypass or subvert his own armor, although the risk for friendly fire is high. This is the best range to effectively kill him.
Direct Combat – Short-range: Retreat. If you cannot retreat, the only option with the best chance of killing Tlon is self-sacrifice with nearby grenades or explosives, or holding him in place while others throw the explosives. If a friendly Force-user is cut off from the Force when engaging the Warlord, and no anti-Force tech was used, it is due to a nearby ysalamir – find it and kill it if you can. No one should ever attempt engaging Tlon at close-range, Force-user or not, because in nearly all circumstances you will lose. And if the rumor about his carrying a class-A thermal detonator is also true, even if you win you may still die.
Exploitable Weaknesses: If there is anything solid that we can exploit against Tlon, it is that for all his grand plans, he prioritizes the message over the long-term. He doesn't care about allies, gathering them or otherwise. He wouldn't stop a terror attack even if it was an objectively bad idea because he's more interested in sending the message of what will happen to his enemies than considering that these tactics could be used as rallying points against him.
He is also going to face a problem in the future when he expands too far and realizes he doesn't have the production capability to meet the demands of his army. He's so concerned with destroying production plants and farms of other planets, but he is going to need those in the future if he wants to achieve anything close to his goals. His strategy at times can largely be boiled down to a zero-sum game – either he gets everything, or no one gets anything. This works fine for a pirate, but Tlon has higher ambitions.
His priorities right now are skewed towards asset denial and mobility. This isn't sustainable in a larger war, and Tlon has already hindered himself here. He will likely realize this soon, but because of it, his own forces are more vulnerable to being overwhelmed and outmatched by a more advanced force. But this won't last forever, and this is a long-term problem, not one that affects him at this very moment.
Keep it in mind though; we need to consider every advantage we can.
Tlon is the ultimate focal point of his entire army. If he dies, it will likely completely fall into chaos. He is too important to them, but despite this, he knowingly puts himself in danger and at the same time deprives them of one of their better strategists. This is something to also keep in mind – Tlon being on the battlefield means he isn't somewhere else – which means his other forces wouldn't be able to respond as well to sudden attacks or surprises.
Contingency Planning: Our own contingency plans must be updated to take into account the Warlord's tactics and the effect they have on us. He has very specific goals, and we need to have equally specific responses to any attacks against the Union. If we suspect that Tlon is going to attack somewhere – within the Union or not – we need to have a plan. If we wake up to the news that Mand'alor has been assassinated or one of our planets comes under attack by the Warlord, we don't need to have just a plan or a contingency – we need to have a response.
I understand that the Union wishes to avoid spreading ourselves too thin, and this may be exactly what Tlon wants, but continuing to ignore the Warlord is not going to do anything but make him feel more emboldened and grow stronger.
Bolstered Counterintelligence: I recommend, based upon the findings of this report as well as Intelligence Report 00317-Alpha, that several long-term operatives be commissioned to scout and infiltrate the Warlord's territory and make intermittent reports on the state of his operations and forces. Even if we ultimately take no action against Tlon, it is essential that we know what he is doing. As established, his plans are larger than the Mando'Tsad, and knowing the composition of his army is useful for ourselves – and other possible enemies of Tlon.
CONCLUSION
Tlon Fett poses a threat to us beyond his soldiers and personal skill. He is, at this point, the most public Mando in the galaxy and has done nothing to hide it, nor have we gone to efforts to disavow him. Eventually, Tlon is going to stir a fire wasp nest and the galactic population doesn't particularly know or care about the differences between us. Mando'ade are all the same to them, and there is very little stopping the Alliance or the Empire from using Tlon as a reason to attack the Union, or otherwise justify certain actions.
Stopping Tlon Fett is essential not just because it would put down one the worst demagolka to ever stalk this galaxy; not just because it would stamp out this perversion of our beliefs; not just because it would save countless innocents from being murdered, enslaved, raped, and drugged; and not because it's the right thing to do.
It is essential because it is directly tied to our own survival and independence. We may be dragged into a war not of our own volition because of Tlon; perhaps that is what he's actually counting on. We can fight against the Warlord, the Cartels, and any other minor power stupid enough to attack us, but against the superpowers of the galaxy we would be defeated and scattered, no matter how skilled and trained we are. We're too few in number, control too little territory, to hold out for long.
And when it's over, Tlon Fett will swoop in and rally the survivors who have nowhere else to go, and the only Mando'ade in this galaxy will be those who follow the Warlord. That is the risk we run by allowing this man who is dar'manda to continue acting unmolested. It is a worst-case scenario that may not come to pass, but considering the unstable nature of the galaxy, it is not impossible.
It needs consideration, even if it is an inconvenient truth.
SLotH4's Note: This piece had a lot of Mandalorian words interspersed. For those of you without a Mando'a-to-Galactic Basic dictionary, I offer a word key:
Akaan'ade Kando'aliit'alor – Major General of ground forces – commands divisions (10,000 to 15,000 soldiers)
Akaan'alor – Colonel – prominent field commander who controls units up to regiment size, anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 Mandalorians and assorted war machinery
Aliit'alor – title for both high-ranking generals/admirals and the chieftains of their respective clans – depending on clan size, an Aliit'alor can expect to command anywhere from brigade-size units (3,000 to 5,000 soldiers), to whole divisions (10,000 to 15,000 soldiers), to full corps (20,000 to 40,000 soldiers) and even whole armies (80,000 to 200,000 soldiers)
Chakaaryc – rotten, low-life – generic adjective to describe an undesirable person of dubious ethics
Dar'mand'alor – acting-Mandalore
Demagolka – someone who commits atrocities, a real-life monster, a war criminal – from the notorious Mandalorian scientist of the Old Republic, Demagol, known for his experiments on children, and a figure of hate and dread in the Mandalorian psyche
Ge'hutuune – bandits, villains, petty thieves – can also mean serious criminals you have no respect for
Ge'tal'aran – Crimson Guard – personal honor guard to Mandalore and his/her immediate family
haar Jahaat'mand'alor – the False Mandalore
haar Vemann'mand'alor – the True Mandalore
Hut'uun – coward (worst possible insult to a Mandalorian)
Jetii/Jetiise – Jedi (singular/plural)
Mand'alor – Mandalore
Mando'a – Mandalorian language
Mando/Mando'ade – Mandalorian/Mandalorians
Mando'Akaane – Mandalorian Wars – intragalactic war between the Mandalorian Clans and the Old Republic, circa 3960s BBY
Mando'ijaat – Mandalorian honor
Mando'Tra – Mandalorian Space
Mando'Tsad – Mandalorian Union
Vemann'fett – Tlon Fett's faction; roughly translates to the 'true Clan Fett'
Ver'alor – Lieutenant – commissioned officer and commander of a platoon; unit usually has anywhere from 25 to 50 Mandalorians in it, plus any vehicles assigned to the platoon