The prosthetic arm felt slow. Cumbersome. Unresponsive. Bo-Katan had been assured that as time went on, her body would adapt to the new device- but for the time being, it had become an ever-present reminder of her failure to remain vigilant.
"Whoever did this to me will pay the price," she'd thought to herself. The moment she was physically able, she lumbered out of the hospital despite the medical droid's protests. On the way out, she'd collected what was left of her armour- disconnected plates of scorched beskar- and demanded immediate intel from her Nite Owl operatives. The information they'd uncovered did little to soothe her discontent.
It was an attack whose scope was unprecedented and catastrophic. The entire council chamber of the Sundari Royal Palace had been reduced to a crater, and only the protection of beskar allowed most council members to make it out alive. Still, there were fatalities- mostly members representing some of the lesser houses- and very few survivors were left unscathed. Even more disconcerting was the fact that several people had gone missing, including Ursa Wren, one of Bo-Katan's most trusted agents. Excavation and analysis of the detonation site was ongoing- but the High Paladin was not hopeful for their prospects.
In her absence, the political climate of Mandalore had devolved even further. Hysteria ran rampant among the populace. A state of emergency was declared, curfews were enforced, and streets once bustling became devoid of traffic as a great quiet spread across Sundari. But in the midst of it all was a manifesto circulating the holonet, purporting to be from the group responsible for this carnage.
"We are the Children of the Watch," a distorted voice had said, "...and we are here to liberate Mandalore. That is our purpose- as true Mandalorians! The actions of those who claim authority over us tarnishes our people's very name. This so-called 'First Light' has turned us from the old ways, filling that void with cheap mysticism and ritual. They claim to have strengthened us. But they have weakened us! Our attack on the Ruling Council was an attack on those who have turned our proud people into lapdogs for the Empress! The same Empress who claims to be one of us but betrays our traditions at every opportunity! The same Empress who poisons our society and erodes our values, all to further her own twisted ends! The same Empress who knows nothing of our struggle yet has the gall to call herself Mand'alor! But this is only the beginning. We make this solemn oath to all those we fight for- the Children of the Watch will not rest until our people are free from the shackles of outsiders!"
There was a time when Bo-Katan might have sympathised with these ideals. When Darth Maul slew Pre Vizla, leader of the Death Watch, she'd proudly proclaimed "no outsider shall ever rule Mandalore". She'd fought to free the planet from the clutches of a monster- a man she knew only saw her people as tools. But Ahsoka was different. Surely Ahsoka was different. At least Ahsoka fought with an unshakable conviction for what she believed was right. At least Ahsoka promised Mandalore a real chance for strength, prosperity, and above all, unity. And unity, Bo decided, was all that mattered now. Enough Mandalorians had already died by Mandalorian hands.
"I told you. It doesn't matter how thorough our analysis of hyperlane traffic is. Somehow they manage to enter the system completely undetected."
Sitrep shook his head at Thrawn, who stood in the midst of a large holographic depiction of the Mandalore system. At Sitrep's comment, Thrawn remained completely silent.
"Sir?"
"I heard you. But you're focusing on the wrong data. Don't ask how they enter the system- ask how they leave it."
"I don't follow... but according to the data reported by pursuit ships, the Beskar Raiders exit the Mandalore system on entirely random vectors. None match any known hyperspace routes. Could they have scouted new-"
"Are the vectors truly random?"
"I..."
Thrawn pressed a button on his datapad, and a series of red lines appeared depicting the exit routes of various Beskar Raider attacks.
"...yeah," muttered Sitrep, "...they look pretty random to me."
"At a first glance, perhaps. But a static picture can deceive. Consider the movement of celestial bodies in the Mandalore System..."
Suddenly, the entire display came alive. Planets and moons traversed the path of their orbit, and after several seconds of examining the display, the pattern occurred to Sitrep.
"Mandalore's- no, wait, Concordia's-" exclaimed Sitrep in startled realisation. A small smile spread across Thrawn's face. With a press of the datapad, the holographic display zoomed in to Concordia, the moon of Mandalore.
"What about Concordia?"
"The exit vectors are always so close to points in Concordia's orbit!"
"Not just that- every exit vector is perfectly perpendicular to Concordia's orbital plane. And given an infinite number of potential vectors, it is far too unlikely to be a coincidence. Now ask yourself- why is this significant?"
"I'm... not sure."
"Then ask instead why I concern myself with the exit vectors specifically."
"To predict their escape route? So we can cut them off?"
"They've already proven their ships far faster than our own. Even with such knowledge, we wouldn't be able to catch them."
Finally, it dawned on Sitrep.
"You think that they arrive along the same route they escape!"
Thrawn gave an approving nod.
"Exactly. If my hypothesis is correct, the Beskar Raiders enter the Mandalore System from a very specific position directly above Concordia. The mass shadow of the moon no doubt helps to conceal their approach."
"...I don't understand. They would still need a safe pathway through hyperspace, right? How would they calculate such a precise route?"
"I have my suspicions. But we shall know for certain soon enough... when we put this theory to the test."
Bo-Katan was no stranger to the devastation war wrought. Indeed, a version of her would have once revelled in such carnage. But seeing ground zero of this bombing was something profoundly distressing. This was part of the Royal Palace- a building of legendary significance and history. How could a group dedicated to the old ways so callously bring it to ruin? That was to say nothing of the loss of life- the good and honourable people who had perished in the explosion. Droids and probes flew this way and that, meticulously scanning for the smallest of clues, while Bo-Katan surveyed the scene from the edge of the crater.
"It's a site to see, isn't it?"
The voice from behind Bo-Katan came from Axe Woves, a man whose skill and pragmatism had proven invaluable on many an assignment.
"I'm not sure that's how I'd describe it," muttered Bo-Katan. "You sound almost like you admire them."
"Admire? No. But respect? Absolutely. Weapons were of course permitted inside the council chamber, but... how someone could sneak in something so-"
"Sneak in? You mean-"
"Almost certainly, yes. The pattern of debris suggests the explosive was triggered from inside the council chamber. Councillors and their guards are all potential suspects. Aside from you, High Paladin. The Empress herself requested that once you recovered, you were to be granted complete authority over the investigation. She's... fond of you, isn't she?"
Bo-Katan gave a weary shrug.
"I guess you could say that. What do we know so far? Have we determined how the attack was carried out?"
Woves shook his head.
"Nothing. Spectrum analysis of the crater is ongoing, but... to tell you the truth, we don't even know what kind of explosive we're dealing with. It's unprecedented- even the First Light Navy has taken an interest."
Bo-Katan's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, uh- Captain Thrawn of the Blitzkrieg requested data regarding the attack. Some kind of investigative task force dispatched to-"
A disdainful look spread across Bo-Katan's face.
"I'm familiar."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Bo-Katan's admonition came through loud and clear through the speakers of the Blitzkrieg's command centre. Thrawn merely stood in front of the High Paladin's holoprojection- a figure who looked every bit as formidable as before, even with her visible injuries and civilian attire.
"Carrying out the task assigned to me by our Empress. I was quite dismayed to hear of the events transpiring on Mandalore and-"
"Your assignment was to investigate the Beskar Raiders. Abusing the status of an investigative task force to acquire information not related to your investigation is-"
"You make a deadly assumption."
"What? I- listen, I may have humoured you for the sake of our Empress, but- a lowly naval officer has no place speaking to a High Paladin thusly. The bombing of the council chamber is my investigation, and I will-"
"You will fail to make any progress if you fail to recognise the pattern."
"What pattern?!"
"The bombing and the Beskar Raiders are connected. I requested data from the spectrum analysis to confirm that fact."
"Conjecture!"
"Not at all."
The High Paladin gritted her teeth. Her body broken, her planet's stability shattered- and now she had to once again deal with the endlessly infuriating Thrawn. Still, she had a job to do. Taking a breath, she forced a facade of calm as she spoke.
"Then enlighten me, Captain Thrawn. How can you be sure they are connected?"
"I await their next attack to demonstrate that-"
"So I was right. Conjecture."
"Call it what you will. But perhaps you might be interested in the findings of my investigation?"
"...fine. Go on."
"Most of the substances identified by spectrum analysis are what one would expect from the site of an explosive detonation. However, there is one particular pattern your people have failed to recognise. It is there only in trace quantities- microscopic fragments. But its signature is undeniable. Kyber."
Bo-Katan's eyes widened.
"Kyber? You mean-"
"The very same sort once employed in the blades of the Jedi. A crystal with extreme piezoelectric properties, and a near-boundless source of energy if effectively harnessed and directed. I believe the weaponisation of this crystal is what allowed for destruction on such a large scale."
"But what would Mandalorians..."
Thrawn nodded.
"Indeed. What would Mandalorians be doing with kyber, the tool of their ancient enemy? And how would they obtain the technology and knowledge to effectively weaponise it?"
"Are you implying... that they're receiving aid from a third party?"
"Perhaps. Nothing can be said for certain, but that deadly assumption you so readily made? It would be wise to reconsider it."
Staggering into her Sundari quarters after almost 72 hours of uninterrupted consciousness, Bo-Katan was close to collapsing. She had just submitted a report of her findings to the First Light administration- a lengthy document full of witness statements, interrogation transcripts, and forensic analyses all working in the vain hope of identifying the culprit. She'd also included the concerning revelations yielded by Thrawn's overreach- the prospect of weaponised kyber. Without changing out of the clothes she'd worn, she fell onto her bed. First Light Paladins had no official uniform beyond their Mandalorian armour- but Bo-Katan's had been so heavily damaged that she'd requested a complete repair and reforge. Meanwhile, she'd had to settle for civilian clothing. It was unnerving, being outside without the reassuring weight of beskar on her shoulders. But now that she was home- or at least, as close to home as Bo-Katan knew- she was thankful for the comfort.
"What are you doing?" she thought to herself.
It was a question she had been asking herself more and more as the years went on. There was a time when her purpose had been so obvious- so self-evident. She was a warrior. She fought for the future of her people. But only recently had Bo-Katan begun to reconsider. She had already achieved exactly that which she once sought- a future where her people were feared and revered as legendary and glorious warriors. And what had it led to? The Paladins of Mandalore were spread far and wide, crushing all who stood against the First Light.
No longer did any planet dare to harbour slavery operations. Galaxy-wide criminal networks had all but ceased existence. Pirates and bandits refused to embark on any endeavour which risked First Light retaliation. The power of Imperial warlords was broken. It was Bo-Katan and the efforts of those under her who brought about this new age. But this stability came at a harrowing cost. Since worlds harbouring criminals were legitimate targets for First Light crusades, planetary governments became increasingly authoritarian in an effort to be spared the empire's wrath. Official membership in the First Light was ostensibly voluntary- but worlds both within and without feared the devastation a strike force of Paladins could unleash. And so, on many planets, strict controls were placed on what could be said and done. Even blasphemy and the denial of Ahsoka Tano's godhood came to be viewed as a terrible risk, punished harshly on a planetary level before it could draw the ire of the Light.
But it didn't stop there. What started as external compulsion turned into norm and willing submission. Soon, to be anything less than a devout believer was not illegal- it was sinful. To defy Ahsoka's regime was no longer a mere crime- it was morally repugnant. The disbelievers- the Faithless- were ostracised, demonised, and came to be seen as inherently monstrous. This was true even among her own people. They had become devoted not to Mandalore but to the First Light- to Ahsoka Tano. And the only group who seemed willing to oppose this state of affairs- the Children of the Watch- were the very same enemies Bo-Katan had vowed to vanquish. If events had unfolded just a bit differently, Bo-Katan could just as easily picture herself fighting to the death alongside them- fighting to restore the identity and dignity of Mandalore. But she'd chosen a different path.
"Why?"
Was it a weariness of warfare that came from a lifetime of bearing witness to death and desolation? Was it the belief that Mandalore was genuinely better off under Ahsoka's guidance? Perhaps it was loyalty- loyalty for the woman who had risked her life to liberate her people from a monster. But be it Pre Vizla, Darth Maul, or Ahsoka Tano, it seemed that Bo-Katan Kryze was destined to remain a tool for greater powers.