Sundari's central square was a mass of people shrouded in darkness. They stood waiting anxiously before a great stage decorated with the banners of the First Light. The back of the stage was an enormous screen, dormant but undeniably grand, while Mandalorian Paladins stood at the stage's edge wielding large and fearsome rifles. The centre of the stage was bathed in a foreboding white glow- and then, a great hush spread over the murmuring crowd as the Empress emerged, taking her position under the spotlight.

"Citizens of the First Light," she said, her amplified voice ringing out across the city. "I thank you."

Camera droids buzzed above the crowd, capturing the scene from every angle and broadcasting it across the galaxy.

"I thank you for the courage, the strength, and above all, the faith that you have demonstrated in these treacherous times. You have proven that by remaining steadfast- by trusting only in the Light- a better future is possible. But I stand before you today with a heavy heart, for there are many who do not share our vision."

The screen came alive, depicting the terrible aftermath of the Council Chamber Bombing.

"As the birthplace and training grounds of our valiant Paladins, it was the Light's will that Mandalore be graced with special freedoms. We believed that under the noble stewardship of the Ruling Council, this world could be given the chance to carve its own destiny. But our kindness, our hope, and our trust became a weapon, turned against us by those who have nothing but evil in their hearts. Two days ago, terrorists of the traitorous House Vizsla deployed a terrible weapon against our people. Concordia was shattered, and it was only by the infinite power of the Light that I was able to spare Mandalore the same fate."

Behind her was displayed a salvaged and heavily doctored recording from the Archangel's bridge. The video showed Ahsoka standing alone, holding up the falling moon by sheer force of will. Whispers of awe spread amongst the audience. They had witnessed the miracle- the impossible reassembly of Concordia's scattered fragments, and its equally improbable return to orbit. Some had even seen the aftermath- the Archangel, flagship of the First Light, crashing down on Mandalore's surface. But only now did the pieces come together. Empress Tano- prophet of the Light- had stopped the moon from falling. It was an act of unquestionable divinity.

"As I speak to you, the last scattered remnants of the Children of the Watch are being hunted down by our illustrious navy. But these heretics did not act alone. Those who would rule you- those who would claim to serve you- are just as guilty. With you, the people, as their witness, I shall grant them this chance to confess their sins."

Ahsoka waved her hand, and from the shadows emerged the representatives of almost all of the Ruling Council's Great Houses. They stepped forward in a perfectly ordered line, fully clad in their beskar armour save for their helmets. The Empress stepped aside, letting the Mandalorians take centre stage. There were the representatives from Eldar, Awaud, Rook... and standing prominently among them was none other than Governor Saxon. The crowd broke out into soft murmurs which were quickly silenced by the governor's voice. Despite the circumstances, the man seemed as proud a warrior as ever.

"People of Mandalore... and citizens of the First Light... we, of Mandalore's Ruling Council, have failed you. We've deceived you. And... we've betrayed you. For the past five years, we have allowed criminality and corruption to spread unchecked. We provided intelligence, resources, and arms to terrorists- the very same terrorists who would tear our people apart. And ostensibly, we did it out of loyalty to the Vizsla name and the ideals it represented."

In his decorated armour, with his blaster at his side, one would think this was nothing more than one of Gar Saxon's routine speeches. But there was an unnatural strain in his voice- one that was nigh imperceptible, except perhaps to Ahsoka's Missionaries.

"But in truth? It was greed. We were paid to endanger our people and cripple our defences. We traded your lives and the lives of your families for nothing more than a handful of credits. But after seeing the cost of selling our very souls- after seeing the cost of turning our back on the Light- we can do so no longer. We do not ask for forgiveness. We do not pray for mercy. All we ask is that you learn from our folly. Don't let the temptations of selfishness lead you astray! Pledge your blade to the Empress, whose strength reveals the path. Pledge your soul to the First Light, whose will becomes your own. Pledge your..."

For a brief moment, the facade slipped. His eyes widened in horror- a single tear escaped his eye- but then, his expression turned stoic once more.

"Pledge your faith to the future, where redemption may be found."

Without another word, Saxon drew his pistol. He raised it to his own head. Then, after taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he pulled the trigger.

The sound of the shot echoed across the central square. Then, all at once, the other council representatives followed suit, raising their own blasters and executing themselves. The Empress suppressed a wry smirk. She'd wanted to make a statement- and judging by the stunned silence of the endless crowd, she'd certainly achieved her goal. The spotlight shifted back to Ahsoka, rendering the fresh corpses of the Ruling Council all but invisible in the darkness.

"As much as it pains me to take this step, I cannot allow our noble citizens to fall to the same kind of sinfulness which has corrupted the best of us. That is why I've made the difficult decision to indefinitely suspend Mandalore's independence. Make no mistake- this is not the end of Mandalore's story. This is simply a new beginning. Henceforth, the First Light will be taking a more proactive role in the governance of this system. We will help Mandalore heal from the wounds of war, and from the atrocity that shattered your moon. We will forge upon this planet a bolder, brighter future- for you, and for the galaxy! We will make Mandalore strong again- we will make Mandalore safe again- and never again will we allow the wicked to subvert the hearts of our people!"

Ahsoka drew the darksaber from her side, ignited it, and raised it to the crowd.

"But the enemy we face is bigger than any one world. So, to the systems who have refused the invitation to join our great empire- to you, who have decided to live in darkness- that choice is yours no longer. For years, we have tolerated your savagery, even as you acted as safe havens for the vile and the wretched. For years, we have extended our hand in friendship, only to have it slapped away. In harbouring the sinners, the selfish, and the cruel, every Faithless system has been complicit in the atrocity that shattered Concordia. You have allowed your insidious ideas to spread unchecked, infecting the pious and faithful people of the First Light. No more. Your options are now graciously simple."

The Empress' expression darkened into something deathly serious.

"Pledge yourself to me, and you may yet be redeemed... defy me, and you will be crushed beneath my heel."

She switched off the darksaber, returning the hilt to her side.

"...may the Light guide your judgement."

With that, Ahsoka took a step back. Sensing her speech was over, the crowd began chanting.

"All hail Empress Tano!"

It started quietly at first- sporadic, and disorganised. But before long, it had become an overwhelming wall of noise produced by an utterly awestruck crowd.

"All hail Empress Tano! All hail Empress Tano!"

Were it anybody else, Ahsoka would have been more delicate with her rhetoric. But today, she'd spoken to Mandalore first and the galaxy second. She knew that her antagonistic, righteous indignation would resonate with the warrior spirit that had embedded itself so deeply in Mandalorian culture. And she knew exactly how to weaponise that spirit against those who would threaten her. Ahsoka stretched out with the Force, amplifying the zealous euphoria of the crowd into something truly transcendent. Her audience would never forget it- the sense of joy and fulfilment and purpose that most wouldn't experience again for the rest of their lives. She'd created a single moment so potent that it may win her the devotion of generations.

She watched as the faceless mass grew increasingly fanatic.

She listened as they continued to praise her name.

And for the briefest moment, Ahsoka couldn't help but chuckle.

Even as the smell of burned flesh lingered behind her.