The Mandalorians
Chapter 4 - The Pirate
The Mandalorian covert began their daily training routine in combat and weaponry. Everyone paired up, prepping themselves, when Osa and Yazel froze sensing something approach.
Osa went to her father to warn the covert, "Papi an X-Wing is coming."
"Is it your old Master?" Din questioned slightly fearful, hoping Luke Skywalker wasn't coming to recruit his children again.
"No, it's someone from the New Republic, someone we encountered before," Osa remembered the pilot who rescued them from the Krykna spiders.
Suddenly the Armorer emerged signaling for everyone to take refuge, that their scope had picked up a signal of an X-Wing heading their way. The Mandalorians wasted no time and took action, perching themselves around the mouth of their cave ready to ambush.
Carson Teva followed his scanner, listening to the beeps pinging faster and faster as he approached his destination. He monitored his scope and lowered his X-Wing when he noticed Bo Katan's ship the Gauntlet. Knowing this was the spot, Carson landed and engaged the mouth of the cave with his hands up and in caution.
"Captain Carson Teva, Adelphi Rangers. I have a time pressing matter to attend to."
Immediately Paz Vizla emerged with the other Mandalorians, weapons drawn and demanding Carson to clear out, "The New Republic isn't welcome here, Blue Boy," Paz spat.
"Sorry for dropping in unannounced, but if I'd given warning, your settlement would've cleared out before I ever hit atmosphere," Carson reveled.
"How did you manage to find us?" Din asked while moving towards Carson as Osa followed behind her father, "Mandalorians pride ourselves on our secrecy," when Din stopped in front of Carson.
"Fortunately, someone I served within the Rebellion is amongst your ranks."
Din and the other Mandalorians looked within their clan as Osa turned to R5 immediately, smiling to herself.
"The entire covert will now have to relocate," Din said.
"Or we could kill him and stay right here," Paz stated in all seriousness.
"Or we could finally be civil and do none of that and get a better reputation to our name. Remember Papi, he did help us in the past," Osa included.
"My daughter is right. This man cut us a break once and now I'm returning the favor. Clear out, Blue," Din ordered.
"Greef Karga sent this holo-message," Carson slowly pulled out his comm because the Mandalorians cocked their weapons. He threw Din the comm when he continued, "Nevarro is under siege by pirates. He's asking for help."
Din walked up to Carson asking why he was really there as he led Carson away from the covert.
"They're about to blow Neverro to hell," Carson informed.
"Then call in a strike," Din said, "We don't even have ships."
"Coruscant doesn't care. Karga is your friend. You won't let him die."
"What's in it for you?" Din wondered.
"The New Republic has to know that the Empire is growing again," Carson honestly said.
"And you think the Pirate King has something to do with it?" Din grew weary by hearing the word Empire, fearing for the safety of his children.
"I can't say for sure, but something doesn't smell right. Look, it's not your fight. I just came to tell you, your friend is in danger and I thought you should know," Carson ended and headed back to his ship as Bo and Osa drew near, "I know you'll relocate anyway," Carson said from his X-Wing, "but you have my word, I will not revel your location. Sorry to intrude," Carson sincerely said and took off.
Din, Bo, and Osa looked on when Bo spoke first, "So, what are you thinking?"
"There is no thought," Osa quickly said, "We're going to help Karga."
Din pulled out the comm, "You are correct Mi Pequeno."
"You can't do it alone," Bo glanced back at the covert knowing they wouldn't be easily persuaded.
"We won't be alone, because Papi is great with words," Osa said while heading back towards the Mandalorians.
The entire covert took a seat around a massive fire as Din took the floor, "Now, many of you don't know Greef Karga. And those that do fought against him when you rescued me from his ambush many cycles ago on the streets of Nevarro," Din reminded, "Since then, he's had a change of heart and has risked his life to save mine as well as my children. I stand before you to petition an intervention. To help rescue Nevarro before it's too late. I am in no position to ask any more of you."
"Technically he is since Papi has the saber, per from what you say," Osa whispered to Bo.
"However, the enemy that decimated this very covert were Imperials. Not Greef Karga's bounty hunters. Greef Karga is now a High Magistrate and has offered me a tract of land on his independent world. Perhaps it is time for us to live in the light once again on a planet we are welcome. So our culture may flourish and our children can feel what it is like to play in the sunlight," Din handed the Armorer her gravity hammer back as this acted as the item to speak among the group.
"Does anyone else wish to speak?" The Armorer asked the covert.
"It's up to them now," Din said to Osa and Bo.
"I do," Paz Vizla rose.
"Welp there goes your whole motivational speech Papi," Osa slapped her knee, "Now's the time to pull out the Darksaber and use a power move."
Din shook his head "no" and pointed for his daughter to listen.
"I was there on Nevarro that night," Paz began, "I fought against Greef Karga and his hunters. I saw my brothers and sisters fall at the hands of the Imperial butchers that hunted us in the sewers. I saw many die to save the life of this one, tiny foundling. We also knew the risks when Din and Osa were allowed back into the covert, but did that stop us? And now we are asked to sacrifice yet again."
The covert started to chatter, reminding themselves not only did they have to stay hidden to make the galaxy unaware of their scarce numbers. But having to stay hidden because of the oath they swore. To protect their clan members from threats, even if that threat was one of their sworn enemies; a Jedi.
"The question we should be asking ourselves is, why? Why should we lay our lives down yet again?" Paz stated, rehashing all the sacrifice the covert had to do in order to protect Osa and then Yazel.
Osa always felt the guilt she inflicted upon the covert with her abilities, and with Paz's words reminding her, stung once again, but then the infliction in his voice changed.
"Because now I understand what someone would do to save their flesh and blood. Now I understand the meaning of being a parent, but mostly what it takes to be a Mandalorian."
"I have had my disagreements with this man, but he and his daughter risked their lives to save my son. And Bo-Katan Kryze did not give up on my child's life even when the rest of us did. These three are asking us to take up arms in the name of a brighter future, and I for one will take up arms to fight by their side. This is the way," Paz ended when the entire covert repeated agreeing to fight.
"Looks like you haven't lost your touch Papi," Osa hugged her father from behind as he patted her in return, happy with the outcome.
Bo walked along a line of Mandalorians, going over details, "This is a Kom'rk Class fighter transport. I'll use this to drop you in and you will operate as a tight military unit. Din and Osa and myself will reinforce from above. If everyone acts as they should, we can use the element of surprise and defeat an enemy that outnumbers us."
The entire covert began their travels through hyperspace as Bo continued briefing them, "Pirate King Gorian Shard is captaining a Cumulus Class Corsair carrying a complement of snubfighters," a hologram of Shard's ship displayed in front of the Mandalorians," It has aerial bombardment capabilities, the N1 will distract the Corsair and snubfighters as we drop in to liberate the planet below. Nevarro is an independent planet and no longer under remnant Imperial or New Republic protection. But it's that very independence that makes it appealing for you to settle. You lived there once, hiding in the sewers, but now, you can be heroes," Bo ended as the two ships exited hyperspace and entered Neverro's atmosphere.
Din maneuvered the N1 into attack position and fired upon the Corsair, making a direct hit. He flew past making his way to the underbelly seeing the Corsair man its guns.
"This is where the fun begins," Osa said through a smile while Yazel giggled sitting on his father's lap when Din destroyed three of the Corsair gunners, "Shard is launching his snubfighters," Osa reported seeing them appear on her scope when Vane came over their comms.
"Bold of you to return, Mandalorian. Blast that ship!" Vane, the pirate Greef allowed to live, commanded of his fleet.
Din wasted no time maneuvering the N1 as Osa guided him where Vane's crew was. Din blasted away taking out a few more snubfighters when Greef Karga came over the comms, "Thanks for your help Mando and Kiddo."
"I decided to take you up on your offer for a tract of land," Din said.
"Be careful my friend. They've got you outnumbered ten to one," Karga informed.
Din played chicken with two approaching snubfighters, when he quickly steered to the right as the two ships collided.
"Oh we like those odds," Osa snickered.
"I bet you do," Greef chuckled as he watched Shard's ship follow the N1.
"The Corsair's on us. Coast is clear," Din radioed to Bo as she airdropped the first team of Mandalorians to city level.
They wasted no time and took out the ground assailants while the second team also made contact. Din continued destroying Shard's snubfighters while also blasting away at the Corsair. Vane wasted no time leading the charge as Din led them away.
"Osa what's your position?" Bo radioed.
"We're over the flats with Vane's fighters in pursuit," Osa informed.
"You're clear to start your run," Din stated, leading Vane's fleet into a tight cavern when they didn't stay on the N1 for long as they were called back.
"Bo they're heading back towards you," Osa reported.
"Thanks kiddo," as Bo maneuvered taking some shots at the Corsair before going into defense.
The snubfighters began their pursuit but they never got a shot off because the N1 fired first, taking out another, and then another, and another when word from below radioed in.
"We're getting ambushed, we need back up," Paz yelled as his fellow Mandalorians were getting picked off by a pirate's Gatling gun.
From above Bo nor Din could take out the assailant as Osa knew she needed to help.
"Papi get low enough to drop me off on top of a building," Osa informed.
"No, you will not be put at risk," Din honestly said.
"What happened to knowing your children can take care of themselves motto? Our clan needs help. For years they have protected me, now I must return the favor."
Din hating the idea quickly maneuvered the N1, just long enough over the roof of a building. He pulled a lever that opened the bottom of the ship, making Osa's seat recline, when she slide from her seat and onto the roof.
With urgency Osa made her way down to the fight as Din took back to the sky. She ran straight into the line of fire, arms extended and then froze, acting as if she was pushing against something that wasn't there.
The sniper continued shooting, when in mid air the blaster rays froze in place as Osa began changing the trajectory of the line of fire towards the sniper. She shook uncontrollably but then finally released the rays taking out the assailant.
With this victory Paz ordered everyone forward as the remaining Mandalorians took out the surrounding pirates with ease. The pirates retreated, leaving the city but were met by the angered civilians of Nevarro and Mandalorians who encircled them at gun point.
"Leaving with out saying goodbye," Osa stated when she force pulled the pirates weapons from their hands, "Won't be needing those."
Everyone could feel victory closing in when the Corsair opened fire on the city below.
"He's targeting the townspeople below," Bo radioed.
"Yeah, we don't want to get flambé," Osa screeched back.
"We've gotta take him down. Focus fire on their last engine," Din informed. Wasting no time Bo and Din blasted away causing the ship to crash below.
The entire town and Mandalorians stood outside the city as Greef Karga stepped forward to address his people.
"Thank you to all of you, and especially to our fine Mandalorian liberators, to whom this planet is forever indebted. Mandalorians, I know that we have been on opposite sides in the past, but that is behind us. From this day forward, I, Magistrate Greef Karga."
"High Magistrate," Osa yelled from the back.
Karga chuckled and corrected himself, "High Magistrate Greef Karga herby cede all land from the western lava flats to Bullock Canyon to the fine people of Mandalore. You may no longer have a home planet, but you do now have a home. Welcome and thank you," Greef and everyone clapped and cheered their heroes.
Greef looked to Din and Osa, giving them a grateful nod, knowing if it wasn't for them there would be a different outcome. Ecstatic she was able to help, Osa looked to Bo but she was being escorted off by Paz.
Osa stretched her head to see where they were going when it appeared the two were heading towards the sewers, where the covert use to call home.
"Come, we must prepare," Din instructed Osa towards the N1.
Din ran diagnostics while Osa obtained to minor damage when a murmur whispered through the Mandalorians. The Armorer walked with a helmetless Bo when the two stopped in front of the Gauntlet and addressed the crowd.
"You broke the Creed?" Osa said to Bo with disappointment, but Bo wasn't able to answer back when the Armorer spoke.
"Bo-Katan Kryze is going off to bring other Mandalorians in exile to us, so that we may join together once again," the Armorer stated confidently.
"But she shows her face," Paz stated.
"Bo-Katan walks both worlds, and she can bring all tribes together. It is time to retake Mandalore," the Armorer spoke with certainty.