I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 21: Familiar Faces
The capital city of the Outer Rim world of Mandalore, Keldabe was located forty-five degrees north of the planetary equator and was situated at the top of a flat hill made of graniteat a bend in the Kelita River.
The river bend nearly encircled the city in its entirety, forming something of a natural moat around Keldabe that only widened as time went on; a number of bridges were constructed to pass over the Kelita, allowing travellers to enter the city on foot.
Taking its name from the Mando'a word keldab meaning 'citadel' or 'stronghold', Keldabe sat atop the granite outcrop as an example of a large Mandalorian hill-fort town.
A durable stone balustrade was erected as a barrier between the city's raised outer edge and the sheer drop from the hill top into the fast-moving Kelita River below.
At one point, a sluice gate was constructed in the lower parts of Keldabe nearest to the river level, but it was eventually removed and the stone archway at the end of the alley that had led to it was railed off. Spray from the Kelita soaked the Keldabe alley with water, leading to dark green frond-grass growing abundantly among the cracks in the stone arch, and its out of the way location made the alley a perfect place for private contemplation, a secret meeting with a lover, or simply hiding out.
The air around Keldabe smelled of the sweet woody scent of resin trees.
Keldabe was a densely packed city, with its numerous buildings erected in close quarters to each other. The architecture was varied in its design from one building to another, as were the materials used in their construction, ranging from stone and wood, to plastoid and durasteel.
The city's layout defied conventional standards of town planning and was considered by some to be cramped and disorganized with streets that were narrow compared to those of Coruscant, and alleys that were often overhung by surrounding buildings. Portions of the city were left unchanged for centuries, allowing old wood-framed buildings of plaster to be found side by side with industrial warehouses and polished granite towers.
Keldabe boasted an assortment of tapcafs offering refreshments and a variety of shops, selling an array of goods including tools, machine parts, blasters and bladed weaponry, holozines, toiletries and wine.
A number of tapcafs and shops could be found lining the length of Chortav Meshurkaane known as 'Gem-Cutter's Street' in Basic.
Twice a week, on Keldabe's market days, Chortav Meshurkaane was filled with market stalls selling items ranging from precious metals and gemstones to leather goods, including gloves, belts and kamas. One end of Chortav Meshurkaane opened onto an ancient paved square that during market days was often filled with stalls selling food, attracting a heavy presence of drinkers and shoppers, who flocked to the numerous merchant stalls that sprung up around the city.
Nadia let out a sigh of relief as she came out of the Keldabe Spaceport.
The 32 year old woman wore a light cyan blue dress with a few lĂnea coloured light green, a light blue diadem and light blue boots. There was a triangular collar on the top of her dress. Her raven black hair was short with a center parting and neat eyebrow-length bangs. There are two pieces of hair looped under the ear, and two more pieces of hair looped on two sides of the head. On the top of the back of the head, there are two circular bands of hair.
Next to her was RG-G1.
RG-G1 let out a beep as he and Nadia walked around Keldabe.
With the Republic troopers stationed on Mandalore, the peace did not last long and Gar Saxon and Clan Saxon, who were loyal to the newly formed Galactic Empire, betrayed Kryze when she refused to obey the Emperor and the Empire besieged the planet which fell to the Empire.
After the fall of Mandalore, Saxon swore allegiance to the Empire and as a reward for his loyalty, Darth Sidious made Saxon the Imperial Governor of the now military occupied Mandalore with the Imperial Super Commandos serving as his enforcers.
The Empire turned the Royal Academy of Government into an Imperial Academy on Mandalore for training military cadets.
"Stormtroopers are now patrolling almost every planet in the galaxy, but the last thing I want is Satine's people to suffer."Nadia thought with a frown."But even after the Siege of Mandalore, the planet immediately had fallen to the Empire's grip."
A bright smile appeared on Nadia's face when she caught sight of Satine waiting for her.
Satine Kryze was now a woman in her late 40s. She wore a long light blue shirt with dark blue pants and dark blue boots. Her blonde hair was in a bob hair cut and had a few white streaks.
Nadia and Satine gave each other a hug, happy to see one another again.
"Satine."Nadia remarked.
"Nadia."Satine chuckled lightly."It's so good to see you again."
RG-G1 let out a beep, earning the former Duchess of Mandalore's attention.
"Yes."Satine replied and gently stroked RG-G1's head."It's nice to see you as well, RG-G1."
The two women went to a restaurant to drink mugs of shig; a hot Mandalorian beverage that had a citrus flavour and soothed the stomach of anyone who drank it.
"The first time I was in Mandalore I had to say it was paradise, but it was as rough as a bantha's backside and half as pretty."Nadia complemented with a frown."Though I see now it has become darker since the Empire took over."
Satine let out a sad sigh.
"That I can agree deeply, my dear."Satine responded, agreeing with her foster daughter."My home world had also been overrun by slavers sanctioned by the Empire and they had turned Mandalore into a conscription center for slaves needed to work the factories, farms and mines what kept the Imperial war machine running."
A disgusted look appeared on Nadia's face.
"They allowed slavers to your home world as well?"Nadia retorted."So the Imperial Viceroy and Governor of his homeworld of Mandalore is just as bad as the people say he is?"
Satine let out a scoff.
"Gar Saxon only desires power for himself."Satine complemented as she placed her mug down."Any Mandalorian, who serves the Empire and has collaboration with our enemy is actually a traitor to their home world."
Suddenly, a male figure approached Satine and Nadia.
"And hasn't got much honour for Mandalorian tradition."the figure added.
Nadia lowered her mug of shig from her lips and her eyes widen in surprise at seeing Korkie.
Korkie Kyrze was now a 31 year old man donned Mandalorian armour with blue, white and yellow colour combinations and black boots.
"You've become uncommonly handsome, Korkie."Nadia joked with a smug look.
"Thank you, Nadia."Korkie responded, giving his one-time crush a casual smile."Though Ferus won't be too fond to learn you said that."
Korkie sat next to Satine.
"Right."Nadia sneered and changed the subject."So how is Bo-Katan doing?"
"After the Empire took over, my younger sister refused to obey the Empire and she was betrayed by Clan Saxon and forcefully abdicated from her place of power."Satine stated with a frown."But she and her Nite Owls are against the Empire."
Nadia glanced at Korkie.
"What about you, Korkie?"Nadia questioned.
"I've actually joined my Aunt Bo's warriors to resist against Clan Saxon and the Empire after getting Aunt Satine's approval."Korkie exclaimed with a firm look."I immediately saw what the Empire stood for despite the Emperor claiming his rule would be a safe and secure society. He has offered Mandalore a future of cowardice and fear."
Satine took a sip from her mug of shig.
"What's worse, the Super Commandos attend to use an Arc Pulse Generator weapon named after me that targets beskar alloy used in Mandalorian anrmour and disintegrate the soldier inside."Satine declared with a grim glare.
A startled look appeared on Nadia's face.
"That's terrifying."Nadia complemented."Was Gar Saxon the one who created the weapon?"
Korkie shook his head.
"We don't really know."Korkie replied."But the rumours say it was someone from the Imperial Academy that was a member from Clan Wren."
Nadia became silent for a moment at what she just heard.
"How about you change your armour in case the Empire attends to target the Nite Owls?"Nadia suggested.
Satine and Korkie shared a glance with each other.
"Nadia, the armour you see, Mandalorian warriors, wear is 500 years old."Satine declared.
"The battles, the history, the blood, all lives within it and the same goes for every Mandalorian."Korkie added."This armour is part of our identity. It makes us Mandalorians who we are."
A worried look appeared on Nadia's face.
"You will wear still?"Nadia asked."Even if the Empire has a dangerous weapon that can wipe you out?"
"If the Empire is scared of Mandalore rising against it, they're cowards."Korkie declared."But I rather wear something that marks who I am than wear something that doesn't fit me at all."
Satine gave Nadia an assuring smile.
"And if this weapon becomes known to the other clans, I'll be sure to contact you as soon as possible.
Nadia gave her foster mother a small nod despite her worries.
"I understand, Satine."Nadia replied and thought in concern."Clan Wren? As in Sabine's family? She did she was a cadet on Mandalore's Imperial Academy. But she couldn't have made such an atrocity that would hurt her people. Would she?"
The raven haired woman snapped out of her thoughts when Satine spoke up.
"Say, Nadia."Satine responded."May I give you some advice?"
"Sure."Nadia insisted.
"Everyone deserves a second chance. Even Obi-Wan."Satine admitted kindly."Even if you have trust issues with him now, it is far better to forgive than not to at all."
A small smile appeared on Nadia's face.
"I'll think about it, Satine."Nadia stated."Thank you."
Next chapter will be Zachary and Gwendolyn meeting the Clone Troopers who had been close friends to their parents!
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!
