It hadn’t taken very long for Ralin to crack the access codes and get the system up and running.  However, it was taking forever to link up with the proper ship…

The holo image of a PK officer came into view.  ”This is Lt. Commander Farr of the Overlord’s Shadow; who am I speaking to??” he demanded. 

Finally…  “I am Ralin Drakus.  I believe you're looking for me.”

Ralin could see the officer hesitate before starting again.  “You are wanted for the crime of treason against the Imperial Order.  If you turn yourself in, we may be more inclined to be…..”

Rain knew the Imp was just buying time, and cut him off with a wave of his gloved hand.  “Save your techs the time of tracing me.  I am in your former base on the planet Mandalore.  I am only contacting you to make one thing clear.  The inhabitants of Mandalore in NO WAY assisted in the destruction of your base.  It is me and my party you want…find us if you can.”

”I….. Farr was cut off by a disturbance in the background, out of sight of the holo projectors.  A fiercely angery voice filled the com receptors from the starship’s bridge.

”HOW DID YOU LET STARJAMMER ESCAPE???” demanded the voice. 

”Inquisator…..he……he wasn’t identified as hostile until he was approaching our outer fighter patrols” answered an older, terrified voice.  ”The fighters were unable to penetrate his shield or outer def…”

As Farr stepped from the holo transmitter, his hand reached for the mute button, and the screen flickered for a moment, but his attention was outside the viewer’s range and he failed put Drakus on hold.

”EXCUSES! roared the unseen voice.  A sick, crunching sound could be heard, and then a heavy thud.  ”Prepare Task Force One to jump to lightspeed, we are following Starjammer…….NOW.  You are in command, ADMIRAL Farr.”   

”YES MY LORD!  One of the Mandalorians who worked for Starjammer, Drakus, is on the holocom sir.  He reports that he destroyed our base on the planet Mandalore, but that the locals did not assist.  What shall I tell him?”

There was a slight pause.  ”Was that not Starjammer’s course?”

”Yes My Lord!”

”Tell him to say goodbye to his friends then…..”

Ralin stepped back from the terminal, a sick feeling in his stomach like he’d not felt since he’d seen the last member of his clan cut down........... I have done this…….I have brought this upon my own people……

“Don’t move” came a female voice from behind.

Lost in his emotion for a moment, he had allowed the gray armored female he thought might have been following him before to sneak up on him.  Slowly turning, he held up his hands in submission.  “You heard what they said?”

Holding her blaster at the ready, the warrior moved into the communications room.  “Yes.  I’ll take you in and stop what’s coming.”

“Starjammer was one of their highest leaders.  If he is running now, it can only mean a new Sith has taken his place.  This new Sith will do all in his power to destroy Starjammer and anyone he thinks is in league with him.  And as the former Emperor showed, the Sith enjoy destroying worlds to prove to the galaxy how strong they are. Nothing will stop them…….”

“Nothing?”

“No……but that will not stop me from trying.  If you wish to join me, follow me.  If not, leave or use that blaster……”

*You can post if you like Mel, but I’m assuming you’ll come along.  Rev, you can post next if you like; have Fenn starting to get serious with his ‘questioning’ when I march is with an announcment like “We’re going to have company” or something*

Kell was sitting at a table next to Cabur. Fenn Shysa turned, looking at them again. "Where is he?" Kell shrugged, he didn't feel any danger from them right now, he doubted that they would kill him or Cabur. Solus was in another booth, out of view. "Where is he?!" Fenn yelled, turning quickly and slamming his fists on the table. Just then the door bust open, a mandalorian had been shoved through, and he fell to the ground. Hard. Ralin came in as the others whirled, leveling their guns. "The empire is coming. And turning us in wont stop them from glassing Mandalore."

As the SuperCommando collected himself from the dirty cantina floor, Ralin and Tealani, as the gray armored Mando’s name turned out to be, slowly walked into the cantina, their hands risen slightly.

Fenn held out his hand to his team, who lowered their weapons.  Stepping up to Ralin, the Commando leader stared hard into Ralin’s dark T-Visor.  “Care to explain that??”

“It’s not us they’re coming for now.”

“And why not??  You JARE’ are the ones who started all this!”

“Starjammer, Skywalker’s high inquisitor, has fallen from favor.  “He’s coming here; and the Sith are following him.”  Starjammer’s name caught the attention of Ralin’s team. 

“How do you know this?” asked Fenn, his temper cooled by the scope of the situation.

“By chance.  Their bridge com was left on when I tried to contact them; the new Inquisitor is hunting Starjammer and seems to think we are giving him refuge.”

Fenn looked to the female at Ralin’s side.  She nodded at the truth of the statement.  “Then it’s simple; we will intercept him and turn HIM over to the Sith.”

“Not so simple.  This Sith will be looking to make a statement to the rest of the galaxy; a statement that he is in control.  What better statement then to crush even the slightest sign of rebellion.  They are coming……..and they will destroy Mandalore.”

Fenn eyed the dark Mando.  “What do you plan?  To run??”

“Not while I live.  You should send the children and most of the women and helpless on transport off-world.  Anyone else may choose, flee………or die fighting.”

Fenn thought for a moment.  Turning, he scanned his brother Commandos who’d sworn oaths to protect Mandalore all it’s children.  All stood strait, fists tight around their weapons.  “You’re right; if Mandalore falls, the Mandalorian’s must live on.”  Fenn turned to his lieutenant.  “Confiscate all worthy transports for the evacuation; all children and youths 15 and younger will leave.  All their mothers are to be advised to go with them.?

“Yes Commander!”

Turning to another of his troopers, Fenn ordered, "Summon all Mando'a who are not leaving to meet in the Hall of Warriors."

The trooper nodded and ran out.

Turning to Drakus’s team, Fenn noticed they were all standing, hands waiting to feel their weapons.  “What say you?”

“We are here to the end!” Cabur nearly shouted.

Ma’ryk’s  hands were balled into tight fists.  “My Clan is gone; I have nothing left but my home and what I carry.  They shall not take my home while I live….”

The others nodded in agreement.

Fenn returned the gesture.  “Give them back their weapons.”  The commandos quickly obeyed.  Fenn then turned back to Ralin.  “We have much to do…….come with me.”

The roar of departing transports could be heard through the ancient walls of the Warrior’s Hall.  The massive structure was held up by the rib bones of a great Mythosaur killed by one of the first Mandalores.  This hallowed hall had held the war counsels of every great Mandalorian era since it’s construction in the ancient times.  Standing behind Fenn on the high ivory thrown overlooking the thousands of Mando Warriors seated at the long outstretched tables below, Ralin felt a pride for his home-world as never before.  All was quite as Fenn raised his hand.

“We’re called here for the most dire of situations, my vode.  The Empire is comin’……… we believe to destroy us.”  Fenn stood firm, yet a slight touch of emotion could be heard in his unaltered voice, his helmet cradled in his hand.  “I, as leader of the Mandalorian Defense Command, have ordered the evacuation of the children and their mothers.  There aren’t many transports left.  Each of you now has a choice; will you run?  Or stand here with us and face this enemy?”

The hall remained silent.  Nearly all stood firm with the exception of a few in the back ranks who slipped out, trying not to attract attention.

“Mando'ade! Tsikador kote!” came a shout from one of the warriors through the silence.  Many turned, and some put their arm and responded “Ahhhh Ooooo!”

Ralin quickly unslung his sniper rifle and leapt to the highest point on the elevated thrown.  “I DIDN’ HEAR YOU!!!” he shouted out to the masses below.  “MANDO’ADE!!!  TSIKADOR KOTE!!!!!!!” Ralin yelled as he held his rife up over his head.

“AAHHHH OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” roared the assembly back, their unified sound sending a vibration down the spine of all, both literally and emotionally.  Watching the back, Ralin could see many of the Mando’s who’d walked out coming back it.

Slowly stepping back down, Ralin turned to Fenn.  “We’re ready.  Do we have a plan?” 

Fenn turned and grinned slightly.  “I’ll show you…”

*Ok, as I see it next posts should be V_M, then Si.  V_M, the commandos would be waiting for you.  Get intercepted by some SuperCommando StarVipers and get escorted to see Shaysa at a secret landing sight out in the jungle.  He and the rest of us will be along in my next post.  If you have a plan, PM it to me so I can post some of the dialog in case I don’t see you tomorrow *today, w/e*   Si, you can just land in Keldabe.  Claim to be a Mando and join the other Mandos as they pack up and march out into the jungle.

And yet, I totally stole the AHHH OOOO! From the movie 300.  If you think that’s madness……….keep your thoughts to yourself or don’t go near the Sarlacc pit   

Oh, and btw, this is my 750th post   *

((This is madness!

Madness? THIS IS MANDALORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!))

Name: Marcus Starwind
Occupation: Mando Merc
Ship: Pulse
Background: Your typical Mando. Raised and trained on Mandalore, watched his 3 brothers killed in combat, is the bitter type, currently works in Hutt space.

Going into hyperspace, the message of recalling all Mandos back to Mandalore replayed over and over in Marcus's head. Finally getting into some real action, he activated his secret booster jets, which were only used when needed. Or, as in when he felt they were needed.

Aliyah Onasi reentered realspace relatively close to Mandalore in her haste to arrive before the Imperium ships did. Someone else must have known something big was going to happen besides her because it was obvious to even her that the space traffic around the planet was not the usual. She didn't know where she needed to land to talk to someone that could make the best use of her knowledge and skills, so she just thought to land in the capital city Keldabe.

Aliyah touched down gingerly, not knowing what to expect from the Mandalorians. She had only heard stories and tales of their people out on the asteroid and had never made the accuaintance of one of the armored warriors. But they were enough to fill Aliyah with respect and awe. She lowered her boarding ramp and lightsaber in hand walked down into the landing dock. "So far so good" she thought to herself as she made her way to the street. The city was practically deserted, the signs of people leaving in a hurry all around. The she heard the voice through the helmet. "Freeze Sith"

And sure enough a team of Super Commandos had followed her down the street and now surrounded her, blasters raised in her immediate dierection.

"I'm not a sith." Aliyah replied as calmly as she could under the circumstances. "I am a jedi knight, come here to aid in the defense of Mandalore. The Imperium fleet stands to glass your world. I am here to help"

"The Jedi were vanquished over 20 years ago. How can you claim to be one of them? Only Sith now bother to carry those, arachic weapons, you call lightsabers."

"I will not fight you Mandalorian. I am Aliyah Onasi, trained by jedi Garen Mulin and Feris Olin. I have spoken with Leia Organa of the Rebel Alliance, and I am determined to fight the Imperium and restore justice and peace." And with that she placed her lightsaber on the ground and kicked it toward the most apparent leader of the group, the one that had so far done all the speaking.

There was silence for a moment. It appeared to her as if the Super Commandos were talking to each other inside their T shaped visor's helmets. The Commando picked up the saber hilt and attached it to his own belt.
"Fine we shall take you to Fenn. But I do not trust you." With that he approached Aliyah and bound her wrists with a pair elctro- binders, placed a blind fold over her eyes and the team began leading her toward the secrete comand bunker.

(( I hope I have not dissapointed you ALor))

Aliyah accepted the blindfold and the binders, hoping to bolster trust between her and the Mandalorians. She felt them load her on a transport of some sort. She felt no fear, although perhaps she should, due to the fearsome reputation Mandalorian Warriors. The ship went up into the air, paused, flew in a few ciricles, obviously trying to confuse their blinded passenger before flying toward the base. It was only a matter of moment before they set down again. The pulled Onasi off the ship and took off the blindflold. The was an imposing figure waiting for them on the landing pad, armor all black. The commando that held her lightsaber walked up to the black armored warrior and handed the hilt to him, before returning to the ship and taking off.

Ralin gauged the weapon in his hand for a moment.  He remembered his father’s stories of the Mandalorian Wars and the battles where Mando battled Jedi for control of the entire galaxy.  With such a delicate thing, Revan defeated Mandalore…….

Ralin held the weapon behind his back as he shifted his gaze to the bound woman before him.  “Why are you here Jetii?”

“I’ve come to help; in anyway I can.”

“This is not your battle; why would you join it?” he probed. 

“Because the Sith are a stain on the galaxy.  They destroyed the Jedi Order and murdered it’s knights; I have been trained since childhood to fight them by one of the few who escaped.  Release me if you have no use for me and I’ll fight them on the next world they try to vaporize.  Else remove these bonds let me join you.”

Ralin leaned his head back slightly as he estimated the young Jedi’s resolve.  This one has spirit……..  “Release yourself; I know you can, Jetii.”

The Jedi cocked her head slightly, not expecting the Mandalorian to be familiar with the subtle tricks one could play with the Force.  With little effort she quickly manipulated the locking mechanism inside the cuffs, and they fell free.  Just before the hit the surface she used the Force to catch the cuffs, lift them back up in the air, and slowly sent them floating to the Mandalorian.  “I believe these are yours” she smirked.

In a single quick motion, Ralin snatched the cuffs from the air with his left hand while his right ignited the Jedi’s lightsaber and  swung it around near the startled Jedi’s throat.  “And this is yours” he hissed.  Holding the humming blue blade very near, he leaned a little closer.  “Know this, Jetii, the time for games is over.”  Leaning back, he deactivated the blade and held out the hilt to it’s master.  “Join us if you wish, or return to Keldabe for your ship and leave us.  We have a battle to prepare.” 

Gingerly taking the weapon, the Jedi seemed unsure what to say or think as Ralin stepped away and started after Starjammer and his party, who were all following Fenn to the bunker’s entrance. 

As he walked, Ralin muttered, “It’s a shame the ancient art of Battle Meditation seems to be lost to your kind…..”

Looking after the Mando, the Jedi called after them.  “I am skilled in Battle Meditation.”

Ralin stopped cold.  He slowly looked back over his shoulder, his T-visor gleaming in the harsh Mandalore sunlight.  “Really now……”

Ben griffin had been on his vacation prior to his last mission, he had also been promoted to sergeant.
he stood on the bridge of an old imperial star destroyer. his rifle slung over his shoulder and his helmet hanging in his left hand.
the destroyer was part of the fleet heading to destroy some rogue inquistitor or something. he didnt know the details, he just knew there was gonna be fighting and a nice bounty for some mandal what ever people they where called, silly names! is what he thought! he looked over his shoulder to see his elite commando squad prepping the gear. there ETA was unknown so they had time to relax, but griffin wouldnt let them. these people with silly names where good fighters, some said they where the best. but the sheer force against these.....silly named people was unmatchable, the silly named people where outnumbered.
Griffin didnt trust the inquistitors one bit. anyone who has a lightsabre cant be trusted unless its your boss! or someone well really that saying is really stupid......
"Dam it griffin stop talking to yourself" his female corporal, amanda said
"ooops sorry!" griffin shyed away
"Orders are to prep the equipment and men for maybe a planetary assault and capture, see to it corporal!" Griffin responded

Ralin held one of the handrails and stared out from the gunship as it soared over the treetops.  Recovered somehow by the SuperCommandos, the old LAAT/i was in prime condition; even better then prime with the upgraded Mandalorian weapons and higher tech integrated into it’s systems. 

The sky was dark and gray, despite the morning hour.  The first rain drops began to strike Ralin’s T-visor as he leaned outside the craft and watched the approaching mountain range.  The two ridgelines came into view threw the mist, allowing him to see their V shape where they connected to the great mountain beyond.  Just north of Keldabe, the cold, dark embrace of the mountain’s off-shooting ridges would be where his people made their stand.  The ridges would protect their flanks, while the mountain protected their rear, while also cutting off their retreat; not that any would run.  A single river ran down the center of the of the opening between the ridgelines, and wound it’s way down to Keldabe.

Arriving at the battle line, even Ralin’s keen helmet assisted eye could only see a few Mandalorian warriors below.  The pilot hovered, over the trees, sliding back and forth trying to find a place to land.  But the high, thick jungle wouldn’t allow it.  After a few minutes, Ralin gave up waiting and leapt out, using his jetpack to land.  Even this proved difficult, as the tangled canopy proved very dense.  Hitting the ground and cutting his pack’s engine, Ralin reviewed the landscape.  The jungle will be MOST useful.  No chance of AT-ATs or even AT-ST’s operating in this, and will force any close air support to be called off for fear of hitting their own troops.

A black and green armored SuperCommando stepped out of the undergrowth and nodded his helm.  “Captain Drakus, my name is Jex.  I am to be your second.  All units are prepared for their orders; we are yours to command.”

Ralin swelled with pride at his new rank, personally appointed to lead the ground defense by Fenn himself for his experience leading large formations during his time in Wild Space.  Nodding back in respect for the fellow warrior who was placing himself under a new commander on the eve of battle, Ralin waved him to follow.  “We have much to prepare.”

Mandalorian Command Bunker

Fenn Shysa gazed down on the indicator lights on the holo projection of Mandlore and the space around it.  The blue unit indicators were all in position, and now it was time…….

With a deep breath, Fenn activated his helmet com to one of his lieutenants.  “Titan is go for launch.”

”As you command, alor.  Oya Manda!”

“Oya Mando’ad”

Turing to the master defense console, Fenn nodded to its operator.  Removing the safety shield, the armored console operator pressed a large red button.  Deep in the bowls of the underground complex, three separate generators went live. 

Looking back to the holo display of Mandalore, Fenn watched as a blue, translucent sphere appeared over the planet Mandalore.

Letting out a deep breath he’d been holding, Fenn stepped over to the communications center.  “To all units, Titan is a go and Defense Phase One is under way.  Mind you’re vode and fight with Honor……..and for our Jetii allies, my the Force be with you.  Fenn out.”