So, I am getting close to closing this opening arc on Chief establishing himself in the Mandalore sector and leaving his mark on it.
Now we get to see the last obstacle that stands between the Chief and the freedom to move around the Mandalorian system unhindered.
Also, quick warning, some parts will have sentences with pure Mando'a. A directory plus a full translation will be at the end of the chapter if you are having trouble following along.
Anyway, with that out of the way and without further ado let us get on with it, and as always, all rights credit for this idea goes to World, and a big thank you to everyone that's supported me this far, as I wouldn't have gotten this far without your support.
Also as always, all rights go to their owners as I own nothing!
PS: I'm still looking for a beta reader, if you are interested, PM me and we can discuss details.
He knew it would come to this, but just not in this way.
As the head of Clan Dyre had originally hoped that by allying himself to some of the other Clan who had grown curiosity with the stranger that the Historian had seemingly taken under his wing, that would be able to capitalize on whatever had caught the attention of the old man and used it in hopefully restoring Mandalore to what it used to be.
Because from the speech that the onetime jetii, the now Count Dooku, it was obvious that war was once again coming to the galaxy at large, and Demir alongside his allied Clans had been planning to make use of this to hopefully set Mandalore back on the right path.
That was before one of their junior partners had thrown a Kriffing hydrospanner into the works. As some laser brain had the bright idea to test the Chief to see if he would actually accept their challenge.
But by doing this the Kriffing hut'uuns had provoked the Chief into action. As the Spartan in less than a standard week had brought most of the small, disorganized Clan on this side of the moon under his influence.
Demir knew why he was doing this and knew that it was now down to him to clean up the mess.
But Demir knew that in all likelihood he wouldn't be able to, because as much as it might pain the old alor to admit, he knew that he could not win a fair against the Chief. As after seeing him in action, it was obvious that the Spartan was a prodigy when it came to combat.
As even in the videos he had seen, Demir could tell that the aruetii was holding back on his opponents.
A fact confirmed by one of the people he had rescued from the Bloody Talon, as they told them of how the Chief had punched handholds in a docking hatch, after which he had forced open a with his bare hands.
There were also more rumours going around about the Spartan as well that Demir know about. As his sudden and completely unexpected rise from seemingly nowhere had caught the attention of most major Clans on and around the moon.
A fact not lost on him, as they had been trying to make contact with him. He had turned down those requests thou, as he knew doing so would only make an already bad situation worse.
"Kriffing barves," Demir then muttered under his breath as he then heard the door to the room open.
Turning to face it, Demir was then greeted by the sight of a small boy with salt and pepper-coloured hair.
"Ba'Buir!" The voice of Damir's seven-year-old grandson called out to him.
Damir then turned to find the young boy out of breath, as it had been obvious that he had been trying to find him.
"What is bu'ad?" He asked the boy.
Even though he knew what he was probably going to tell him.
"Buir said something was approaching the house!" The boy then told him.
"Let's see who it is then," Dyre said as he then went over to one of the view screens installed in the room.
As this screen was connected to the compound's closed security system. Allowing them to monitor the perimeter of their compound.
Damir then ran a hand through his graying hair as he waited for the display to boot up. All the while guessing what this thing coming towards them was. Not that he really had to think that hard, as Damir knew it could only be one of three things.
But each one of those three posted their problems; still out of the three Damir hoped that it was Satina's people. As they could be at least reasoned with, as for the other two, not so much.
'You know what's come, don't Kriffing kid yourself.' Damir thought to himself as the display finally powered on.
Which on closer inspection showed a speeder coming to the front entrance with its solo occupation.
The fact he came alone said volumes to the old man, as the Spartan then stopped his speeder and started to make his way to the entrance.
"Tell your biur to have our guest wait for me in the inner courtyard. I'll be preparing for what's to come." Demir replied, to which his grandson nodded.
As he watched his grandson run off Damir could not help but reflect as to, they had gotten into this situation in the first place. For it had finally seemed that they might have found someone who could take the mantle of Mandalore.
If given the proper education and support from the major Clans, Damir could easily see the Chief becoming Mandalore with their help.
But that was also where he saw the main weakness in their plan, for it had assumed that the Chief would go along with it once they 'explained' the situation to him. But given the Spartans' reaction once their junior partner had sent someone to test him.
Well, needless to say, Damir was quite certain that even if they had managed to get him into the position of Mandalore. That the aruetiise would not stay their puppet for long.
"Kriffing sleemos," Damir muttered one last time as he then made his way to the armoury.
As Damir needed to gear up for what he knew was to come, as knowing that this was most likely the last time he would be doing this. As his Clan had made it a tradition of seeing any challenge that was issue towards them was to the death.
Demir did not know which of his ancestors had started this, but as the head of Clan Dyre, Damir was honour bound to continue this custom of his Clan.
Still, Demir knew that by doing this he was essentially courting death, for he had seen the Chief in action. And from what he saw he knew that his only chance of winning lay with his long-range weapons, rather than his physical strength; as the Spartan had already proven that he was unmatched in close quarters.
So, if he had any chance of coming out of this the victor, Demir needed to keep this fight at range.
At least then he would have a chance, even if that chance wasn't exactly a high one.
"There it is," Demir said as he then grabbed one of the older jetpack he had been looking for.
Though this model stretched back to around the times of the Great War, Clan Dyre had seen to keep such models around for the simple reason that they were designed to take a blaster blot right into the fuel tank and not explode.
That and the fact that this model, unlike most others, sacrificed flight time for durability. A fact that Demir had to take into consideration, as he knew the Spartan had good aim and could seemingly make impossible shots with alarming regularity.
Thus, instead of his usual beskar'gam, Damir instead opted for an older set that gave him better overall protection. As he knew that he was going to be hit, but in heavier armour meant to counter this also meant that he was going to be slower as well.
But he already had plans to compensate for that; as Demir then spent at least ten standard minutes building his kit that he would use for this fight.
With a heavy emphasis on range and firepower, as he finished gearing up and started making his way to the courtyard where he knew the Chief would be waiting. But on his way, there he then caught sight of someone he had fully expected to see here.
"Su cuy, ori'vod I knew that you would be here," Demir said as he saw the old man making his way towards him.
"I only wish that it were under better circumstances." The Historian admitted, as he finally reached him.
"For the record, we only wanted to ensure that…" Demir started to explain before he was cut off.
"Ori'vod we both know why you did this. Because despite our differences both wanted the same thing," The old man assured him.
As it had been Demir himself that had provided the Historian with the old mine to use as his museum.
"Now it seems that we must see as to who's way will be the one forward." The old man said.
Because he saw this as a test to see which one would be the one to lead the way forward. As his vods plan lay with the Chief or their fellow Mando'ade. For the Chief had already proven himself to be a major factor if he was motivated to do something.
"This would seem to be the case ori'vod." Damir dipped his head in acknowledgment of this fact.
For he had hoped that by talking with him that they would be able to avoid such an outcome. Despite their differences, they both wanted the same thing, but it seemed that the Historian had chosen correctly in this case.
'He always seemed to have that kind of luck.' Damir thought to himself.
As the old man had been lucky to only suffer a leg injury that had forced him into retirement. This allowed him to avoid the chaos that had followed after the Jango had taken over the True Mandalorians.
Especially with that business on Galidraan, the Historian as he had come to call himself could easily calm to have the best interest of Mandalore at heart. For he had the scars to prove it.
Many, including himself, respected him for that, but still, there was one other thing on Damir's mind.
"Ori'vod, if you don't mind me asking...?" Damir left the question open.
As the old man would know what he was worried about.
"No, it will be just me and those of your Clan that will be overseeing this." He assured him.
As the Historian had asked the members of Clan Spar to stay behind, as he knew that only he would be needed for this last battle.
"Jate, aruetiise enteyor Me'bana," Demir said, as there would be some things that would happen during and after this fight that were best left unknown to those outside of the Clan.
Demir already knew how this fight would end, and that was indeed the case. Then well, it was probably best that only those who he trusted explicitly were there to see this. And perhaps if fate, force or whatever they called it gave him a chance, then Demir might be able to make his last wishes known.
It was not common for these fights to end this way. But Demir could only hope this one would be the exception, as the Historian then spoke up.
"You know, their teams of this fight are up to you. It's in your power to change them." The Historian then said, in one last attempt to stop what he knew was going to happen.
As he did not want to lose another close companion of his. But from the moment that Damir placed his helmet over his head and looked away from him. He knew that there was nothing he could do to change his mind.
"It isn't," Demir stated simply as they both entered the inner courtyard.
The courtyard itself was cut clean from the mountains that became Clan's main base in the region. Within the courtyard, Damir could see that most members of his Clan that were planet side were in the courtyard already, as he would occasionally catch the straggler that came running into the yard.
But that was not what caught his attention, as Damir finally caught sight of the Chief in his strange armour. For the holos did not do the man justice. For he was a head taller than most of those standing there, and still Damir could imagine this man towering over some Wookiees.
This realization only helped to hammer in the point, that he could not affect to get into a melee range with him. For to do so would be to lose the battle.
"You, okay?" The Historian then asked.
Damir then realized that he had been standing in the entryway for over a minute.
"It's just, you know…" Damir trailed off.
As they both knew what was about to happen. Because no matter what happened or who can out victorious, one of them did not leave the arena. So, in a way, they both lost no matter who won this contest.
"I understand, Ori'vod." The old man lowed his head as he said this.
The Historian understood the traditions of Clan Dyre all too well, for they were one of the few Clans that had allowed him to learn their history. And through it, he had learned of Rohlan Dyre, the black nerf of their Clans history.
Seen as a stain that would never be washed away, as Dyre was both seen as an inspiration, for his unmatched will and an embarrassment, for the fact he had questioned and even gone against the Mandalore word and even deserted multiple times from the crusades.
The Clan had of course distanced themselves from Rohlan after this, going as far as to outright disown him. Something that was rarely done, but it had happened.
Thou most of the galaxy did not know this, for this had taken place shortly before the battle of Malachor V. Thus, ensuring that no one other than the few survivors of Clan Dyre knew what had taken place.
After the battle details of what happened to the Clan became rather sketchy, with their history only really becoming coherent once they entered the times of the new Sith Wars.
In which Clan Dyre had recognized themselves.
Thus, leading to the situation, they were in now. As the two Mandalorian stood at the top of the stairway leading to the courtyard.
"Ori'vod," The old man then looked Damir squarely in the visor, "taylir gar miit, ja'hailir ner aliit," Damir said this in Mando'a mostly because he did not want the outside to understand what was being said.
"Elek, ruug'la burc'ya," Those were the only words that the Historian could bring himself to say.
A pang of guilt ran through the Historian as he said this. As he knew that he was responsible for what was to come, and after talking with Damir he knew that there was no way for him to back out of this now.
Knowing this, the Historian could only take comfort in the fact that without his council, Clan Einhherjar would probably be nothing more than a memory.
As for how Damir saw this situation, he merely saw this as a consequence of his own choices. As it had been him that had lent his Clan's support to his fellow Mandalorians in the hopes of getting things into place that would allow them to set their home back on the right path.
But this was not the first time he had made such a choice either, as it had also been under his watch when Damir had chosen to strike that deal with the 'New Mandalores', as he wished to maintain control over what few operating Beskar mines that were left on the moon.
For he knew that without them the Clan would fall apart. But not only that, Dyra knew that his Clan was the only reason why Mando'ade in the area could get a reasonably priced set of Beskar'gem.
As the New Mandalorians had most of the major mines under their control. And by that extent the shabbing Republic's, as it was no secret as to why the kriffing, dar'manda in power after the Civil War.
Because it seemed to Damir that the Republic seemed to have it out for the Mandalorians.
But this was something that Damir probably wouldn't be able to speculate as to why this was much longer, as he knew what was most likely to happen in the next couple of minutes.
"Ori'vod, let's go," Damir stated simply as he started making his way over to where Chief and the members of Clan Dyre were currently standing.
But as they approached them, the head of Clan Dyre could not help but wonder what the Chief thought about this whole situation.
John watched as the head of Clan Dyre, Damir Dyre and the Historian made their way over to them; all the while the two of them seemed to be in some sort of conversation the nature of which was unknown to him.
"Would you relax you big gorilla? It's obvious that they know one another." Cortana said as she knew that John was feeling rather uneasy.
As John was in was, he and any other Spartan would coin as enemy territory, the fact that the other members of Clan Dyra were trying to chat him up left John rather uncertain as to how he should proceed.
For most of the topics that came up were mostly out of his realm of expertise. Still, John did his best to talk where he could and would fall silent when he decided he had had enough.
Something which Cortana had noticed as well.
'At least it's progress,' She thought to herself.
As she was at least happy that the Spartan was at least trying to make an effort in talking, even if it ended up with him shutting down the conversation. Which was another thing that she would have to work on with him.
"He should've told us this beforehand," John stated into the privacy of his helmet.
"John, this isn't the military. He's not your commanding officer, so situations like this will happen from time to time." Cortana informed him.
As she was trying to get it through his thick skull that situation like this was a common occasion in civilian life. As people tended to have such things slip their minds, or not think that it was that important to mention at the time.
"I would've rather he told me that he had a past relationship with him," John stated.
Because as John saw it, it would have been invulnerable to interview the Historian to learn more about his opponent, rather than rely on what they had been able to gather from both the Holo-net and word of mouth.
But for him to hold back this information from him, bothered the Spartan greatly, even so, there was nothing he could do now, as John watched as the two men made, they're towards him. At which point he moved out of the crowd to meet them in the middle of the courtyard.
At which point, a Mandalorian who Chief assumed would be overseeing this challenge came and stood between them.
"Please state your name!" The man then asked the Chief.
"The Master Chief," John stated simply.
As no one here other than Cortana knew his real name.
"Chief, you have come here to Challenge Clan leader Damir Dyre to a dual to bring Clan Dyre into your Clan. Damir Dyre, as head of Clan Dyre you stand in opposition to this." The man then asked.
"That I do, as Clan Dyre fought for Mandalore against those in the Civil War against the Kyr'tsad, aruetiise, and dar'manda. None shall ever rule over Clan Dyre!" Damir said with all the conviction he could muster.
For he would do everything in his power to prevent this from becoming a reality. Because despite his doubts about the outcome of this contest, Damir would do what he always did when faced with a seemingly impossible challenge.
He would face it head-on, as any true son of Mandalore would.
"Very well, as Damir Dyre has requested this will be a fight to the death. Knowing this, do you wish to abide by this request?" The man asked, giving Chief one last opportunity to bow out.
As John knew that he could not ask them to change this, for doing so would be as good as declining the challenge.
"Yes, I accept those conditions," John stated simply.
As this was his very reason for being here. And John was not about to back down now, not when he was so close to completing his mission.
"Very well, verda take your positions!" The judge said as the two combatants made their way to the marked area in the courtyard.
All the while Damir went over his battle plan. Knowing what little information, he had on his opponent worked to his disadvantage, so he would have to try and figure out a way to defeat the Chief during the fight.
Probably the worst-case scenario considering who he was facing. Especially given how much he did not know about him, as the two of them reached their positions at the opposite ends of the marked area.
Damir's mind raced as he then turned to face the Chief. Despite trying to read him to get a sense of what he was thinking. But much to his frustration, Damir could not read anything from his opponent. As it was like trying to read a duracrete wall.
'I only wished that you weren't here.' Demirs thoughts then turned to his grandson.
For he knew that what was probably going to happen was going to scar the boy. For despite everything they had taught the boy he still looked up to and admired his ba'buir.
But now he was in all likelihood about to learn the harshest lesson of them all.
That even your heroes can die, as he then hears the ref begin his countdown.
"3!" Demir prepared himself as his hand balled up.
"2!" At that moment, the memories of his Clan flashed before him, giving him strength for what was to come.
"1!" And finally, as in every man who knew that they were about to die, Demir saw the faces of his late mother and father.
"Akaanir!" The words had just left the ref's mouth as Dyra immediately activated his jetpack and made some distance between him and the Spartan.
Because even if Damir knew that he probably wasn't going to make it out of this, that did not mean that the head of Clan Dyra was going to make it easy for the Chief, as he then opened fire with his twin repeating blasters.
Mando conversation translation:
Jate, aruetiise enteyor Me'bana: Good, outsiders must, be obliged to what happened?
Or'void, taylir gar miit, ja'hailir ner aliit: Old friend, keep, Your word, watch over my family
Elek, ruug'la burc'ya,: Yes, old friends
Mando'a Dictionary:
Alor - leader, chief
Buir - father
Bu'ad - grandchild
Ba'buir - grandfather
Beskar'gam - armour
Hut'uun - coward (worst possible insult)
Jetii - Jedi
Su cuy'gar oe Su cuy - Hello - lit. *You're still alive.*
Ori'vod - means big brother, older brother, special friend
Jate - good
Aruetiise - traitors, foreigners, outsiders
Enteyor - must, be obliged to
Nakar'mir - not know
Me'bana - What happened. Note this is usually said at the end of a question
Taylir - hold, keep, preserve
Miit - word
Gar - your
Ja'hailir - observe, watch over
Ner - my, mine
Aliit - family
Ruug'la - old
Burc'ya - friend (also used ironically)
Kyr'tsad - Death Watch (lit. Death Society) - breakaway Mandalorian sect
Dar'manda - one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and his soul as a Mandalorian - Regarded with absolute dread by most traditional-minded Mando'ade
Vod - Brother
Verda - warriors (archaic plural)
akaanir - Fight
That is all she wrote, sorry for the short chapter plus the cliffhanger, but I wanted to save this battle and its aftermath for the next chapter.
Still, this will be something a bit different than I usually write so feedback will be appreciated. Also, apologize for the large amount of Mando'a in this chapter, but I did try my best to ensure that you can follow along within the dictionary that is provided.
So, give me your thoughts regarding this, as I will consider changes given the feedback. Anyway, that is it for now and in the next chapter we get to see the fight between Damir and the Chief.
So, until next time, have a good one.
Also, a quick little bonus given the fact that we have gotten past 1,500 followers on the story, I hope you enjoy!
"With the unexpected resistance against your forces, I'm authorizing you to put the subjugator heavy cruiser into production Lord Tyranus. As Operation Durge's Lance must succeed, even with the Republic PDF getting the influx of new equipment from the Mandalorian's"
"Do you wish for me to hand this issue personally Master?"
"No, I will have an opportunity arranging for General Grievous during the operation to ride us of this issue,"
"We made a kriffing mistake taking this course of action," One of the men in the room commented.
"That is an understatement, as the aruetii single handily change the balance on the whole kriffing moon," The other man pointed out.
"There is nothing we can do about that now. Instead, we should figure out whether we should support the Chief, or do we throw our support behind any opposition that arises to challenge him?" The leader of this group then asked.
As everyone there started mauling over this impotent question.
Because depending on their answer, it would shape the balance of power in the Mandalorian sector for years to come...