The Talons of an Empire
Prologue - A New Order
Krownest, New Kleyman System, Mandalore Sector, 19 BBY
"Welcome to the Clan, young one," Poseidon told the young woman, embracing her gently. "Selene was dear to me, and that the one who she considered so highly is happy makes me just so."
"Thank you, Count Tritonis," Reyna replied as she attempted to conceal a blush, "it is an honour to be here."
"None of that, Reyna," Poseidon chuckled, "Perseus calls me Poseidon, and you shall do the same."
Reyna smiled up at the Mandalorian once more, and once again she was struck at just how tall the man was. Poseidon Tritonis stood a good two or three heads taller than her, dwarfing even Percy, who Reyna had always considered to be tall.
She and her new husband had spent the past months since the fall of the Republic and the former Chancellor's successful refashioning of it into the Galactic Empire on his homeworld of Krownest, the planet which Clan Tritonis shared with those to who they offered their vassalage in Clan Wren.
She had not been introduced as yet to their allies in Kyrt'sad, the Death Watch, but she knew that, as a new member of Tritonis, she was also among them. For all that she had heard about the feared extremist organisation, it was telling that it was Lady Bo-Katan of Clan Kryze who had stood to oppose Maul's oppression, and even more so that they had chosen to ally with their historic enemies in the Jedi over the course of the Siege of Mandalore.
Poseidon had explained to the pair of them about the fracturing of what had become a feared terrorist organisation, with clans such as Kryze and Wren claiming to be the Death Watch Loyalists, broadcast to the wider galaxy as the true Death Watch, fighting to restore the proud warrior traditions of the planet, and a resistance against Gar Saxon's Imperially instated reign as Mand'alor.
Few dared interfere in the internal affairs of Mandalore's clans, especially past the fall of Duchess Satine Kryze's institution of 'New Mandalorians'. The Great Peace had come to an end, and once more the people of the warlike culture had reverted to their old ways of cutthroat politics and war.
The pleasant period of musing to herself, however, was cut off abruptly, as a young lad rushed up to the three of them. The messenger, a teenager clad in the turquoise-accented beskar of Clan Tritonis, saluted Poseidon sharply before he turned to Percy.
"Sir, I've just seen a report on the holonet - the facilities on Kamino have been destroyed. Unknown as to who it was, but it appears to have been Imperial Vessels that have done it.
Percy swore.
"Poseidon, I'll have to go," he announced. "I do not know if I'm able to come back, but if I do not, know that my blasters are yours to command."
Poseidon nodded, and the Admiral turned to his wife.
"Cyar'ika, I'll see you soon."
At that, he placed his helmet on his head, and with a last glance back at his family, blasted off towards his personal Kom'rk-class transport. He had some idiots to deal with.
A/N
Welcome to the Talons of an Empire!
Initially, I had planned for this fic to be joined onto the back end of Wings of a Republic, and then Dudududhehe gave me this beauty of a title.
Those of you finding this story without having first read Wings, I'd recommend giving it a read, but I honestly doubt that you'd need to have read it; it's not like we knew about the actual Prequels when the Original Trilogy came out, is it?
Chapter 1 should materialise for you fine folks within the week, and chapter 2 will follow.
I loved writing Wings, and I'm loving writing this story so far. I'm continuing to strive towards being as canonically accurate as I can be, aided by my mate Dudududhehe (Check out his work too - good shit going on there) and we'll see where we get, shall we?
Hopefully this fic is as enjoyable for you guys as readers as it is for me as a writer.
Until next time then,
Sol
I do not own PJO, Star Wars or any related media.