Chapter 60 - Remember Mandalore [Finale] (1/2)

Part 8

Mandal Motors HQ

Sundari

Mandalore

”It's funny. I don't feel different. I expected something more...” I trailed off and looked at my wife who was standing next to me and gazing through the windows.

”Congratulations, Delkatar.” Bo paused and smiled. ”Mandalore.” She savored the word. ”I can't say I really expected this when I met you back on Ryloth.”

”Nonsense. All the histories will claim you knew my greatness the moment you laid your eyes upon me. They'll add something about love at first sight too.” I quipped and earned myself a poke in the ribs.

”As long we're the ones who get to write them.”

”The alternative is not acceptable.”

”No. It's not.” My wife agreed.

It was a bit touch and go, but in the end I did get just enough support to earn the title and everything that went with it – which was a greatly increased workload.

”My sister isn't too pleased with your decision.” Bo informed me.

”The best thing for her is to be away from here. Many will blame her for the devastation.”

”She was in charge. Had been for more than a decade. In the end it was Satine's responsibility, even if she had less control overall than many would like to believe.”

”True enough. We need a new ambassador to the Republic and given her connection with the New Mandalorians and overall pacifistic nature, the Senate will love her.”

”If she plays her cards right, they will never see her coming. It's a pity it took this to open her eyes.” Bo sighed as she stared at the devastation.

I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.

”At least she sees it now. There are some who wouldn't open their eyes even after something like this.”

”Are you talking from experience?”

”Yeah.” I sighed.

Hopefully, once she awoke, Amidala would be sane and her eyes would be opened too. If the bio-attacks on Naboo couldn't do it when combined with her current ordeal, nothing was going to cut it.

”Besides, that way you'll be able to keep her near Kenobi. Those two need some chilling out.”

”The Jedi Council's reaction to his marriage might put a damper on their honeymoon.”

”What about ours? Satine's a big girl, she'll have to improvise.”

”I want you to lead my personal strike force. Small, elite, geared for rapid deployment and facing Force Adepts. Incidentally, that would keep us quite close.”

”Can't keep your hands off me already?” Bo chuckled, before becoming serious. ”How many men and is there any special equipment you require?”

”Besides your personal arms and armor, I'll be providing access to top of the line Republic gear as well as whatever specialized equipment money can buy.”

”Does that include Basilisks? Speaking about them...”

”They're quite sturdy and might have survived even if we have to dug them out. And yes, our unit will be equipped with them once sufficient numbers can be produced. As for numbers – I want at least a platoon.”

”I'll see to it.” Bo nodded. ”You know some of the Clan Leaders will be trouble even among those who supported you, right?” My wife changed the topic. ”And I don't mean challenging you to a single combat.”

”Undermining my authority and trying to ȧssassinate me you mean. Yep, I'm expecting it, though they just have to join my fanclub just like the rest.”

Some people didn't really like me taking charge and issuing running orders moments after I was given the title, even if they expected it.

Step one was consolidating here on Mandalore – eliminating Death Watch remnants and whatever CIS forces made it to the ground, all the while executing SAR. Once that was done, Skirata who would be running thins for me here was going to storm Concordia and clear it from DW elements.

Step two was for Yomaget, Awuad and their colleagues kicking up the industry in high gear as well as implementing radical expansion. They would be opening new factories, building new shipyards and working on building a brand new navy as well as producing the heavy equipment for a whole army.

It was a tall order, one that they couldn't do without outside help.

That was step three and for me to worry about. My black ops units would be funneling both funds, equipment and specialists this way, while I had to not only make the call for the spread out Mandalorians to come home but also plan the incorporation of this whole sector under our rule.

All that was just the beginning too and on top of my other duties.

”It will be a few days before we leave for Coruscant. I want you to select your men as well as ȧssist Kole as much as possible.”

”I'll do all I can to help him.” Bo nodded.

I made Ordo the one in charge of the Mandalorian Protectors – the formal name of the local police and non-military security forces. That had the benefit of giving him a lot of resources for locating his daughter.

I was careful not to mention to his face that she might not have survived the bombardment and even if she did, it was likely that her Death Watch kidnappers killed her and made themselves scarce.

”I'll get to if it this is all.”

”Yes. I'll see you tonight.”

”And I'll have you all to myself then.”

”Is that a promise?”

”If you're a good Mandalore.” Bo pulled me closer and gave me a searing kiss before winking and sauntering off. ”I'll let you do the boring stuff.”

I watched her retreating form until she left the office I had commandeered for my own use and shook my head. I've forgotten what married life used to be and didn't know how much I missed the little things until now, even if I knew it would be different with Bo.

All right, what was the next thing on the agenda? Damn it, I needed another aide or two. At least I'll be getting Piett back soon.

Ah, yes – choosing people to head education, medical and civilian infrastructure from the New Mandalorians, then I was going to interview Bralor for internal minister or something in that vein. Kriff it, I've forgotten how much work was setting up a new government after the previous one got vaporized.

At leas this time I didn't have to deal with newly conquered world so I there would be less issues than Balmora and Alderaan, right?

Kriff it, who am I kidding? It was just a matter of time before something went to hell just to be a massive pain in my ȧss.

I had to get myself into gear, because in less than an hour I would be meeting Awuad to discuss the standard equipment for the planned Mandalorian army. Once that was done, Thang, who was to be my deputy financial minister and Yomaget the actual financial minister would be both on my case to figure out how the kriff we were going to pay for rebuilding after the attack, creating a brand new navy and army, not to mention the industrial expansion.

That wasn't going to be fun.

Note to self – see if I could capture high ranking members of the Banking Clans and blackmail them for copious amounts of money.

=RK=

Part 9

Hunter flight

Great desert

Obi-Wan paid bȧrėly any attention to the Commando squad strapped beside him in the passenger compartment of the Mandalorian fighter-transport. The Jedi was busy contemplating everything that happened lately and the ways it affected him. He toned out the Clone's banter and the whɨnė of the engines, focusing on his issues.

Kenobi felt drifting, lost.

Less than a day ago, he – a Jedi Master, practically trampled on the Order's rules and millennia of tradition by following his heart. Worse, he hadn't really thought about all consequences, despite he felt sure he had considered the ramifications of his decision. The inevitable confrontation with the Jedi Council he expected and it would be something to deal with in just a few days.

Spending the rest of his life with Satine – he simply loved that idea.

Even becoming a Mandalorian hadn't sounded too bad as long as he didn't act as the stereotypical brutes as whom the average Mandalorian had been portrayed across the galaxy. Things weren't so simple and clear cut after all.

Obi-Wan could very well imagine being a Mandalorian and yet doing his best to protect the Republic from her enemies. Those things weren't mutually exclusive after all. Besides, strictly speaking, there wasn't something within the core of Mandalorian culture that forced someone to become a murderous bastard.

He should know – after all, Kenobi did go over a refresher course of Mandalorian history and customs while contemplating if marrying Satine was a good idea.

What he found hard to reconcile within himself was how the love he felt towards his wife was affecting him as a person. Merely admitting it to himself hadn't been too hard, despite how it felt at the time. Marrying on the other hand… It was different – a proof of his commitment to Satine. A step he simply couldn't, wouldn't want to take back even if he was offered the choice.

”The things we do for love...” Obi-Wan whispered too quietly for the Clones to hear.

That was the crux of the matter, wasn't it? Ultimately his marriage was a choice between what he believed in as a Jedi and what he wanted as a man in love.

If he had to be honest to himself, Obi-Wan chose to be selfish and that changed him. It subtly shifted his priorities and make it easier to disregard his nature as a Jedi when making a decision.

His mind drifted back to the bunker…

A week or two ago, Obi-Wan was sure he would have confronted Veil violently over the murder of the two medics. He still wanted to do it. That wasn't a necessary kill in the heat of combat, it wasn't an understandable military decision that lead to those deaths.

Morally, Kenobi knew what was the right thing. Legally too, even if it wasn't really his place to place judgment in that context – strictly speaking that was for the local security forces to deal with even if it was now probably a moot point. Veil was busy making his bid for Mandalore and if successful, the worst he was going to face would be a personal challenge or two from family or friends of those men.

As a Jedi… yesterday Obi-Wan truly saw what a Sith in control of the Dark Side looked like. He knew his duty then.

Kenobi was ready to fight an enemy he had been trained to smite ever since he could remember anything.

Instead, Veil started talking and Obi-Wan stayed his hand long enough to listen. At the beginning, it wasn't because he believed that Delkatar could persuade him not to attack. It wasn't even because Kenobi was pretty sure he couldn't win. He would have fought anyway.

No. What stayed his hand was Satine's presence. There was a part of Obi-Wan buried below all his training as a Jedi that simply refused to expose her to an all out fight between him and a Sith Lord.

Yesterday, Obi-Wan refused to even think about that, yet the thought was in subconsciousness. It was in his heart.

Kenobi was afraid of dying without spending more time with his wife. He was afraid of what would happen to her if Veil had to cut him down, even if Satine was the Sith's sister in law.

So he listened, prepared for his last stand, yet his heart dėsɨrėd for a way out.

When Veil offered it to him… Obi-Wan's hands became clutched fists.

Even worse, Kenobi could see that he did the right thing in that bunker. Dying there wasn't going to achieve anything. After Windu's actions during the Jedi Temple's attack, an attack against Veil by another Jedi Master executed without proof for betrayal against the Republic was going to damn the Jedi Order in the eyes of the galaxy.

”Well played.” Obi-Wan muttered.

”Sir?” Niner, Omega Squad's leader asked.

”Nothing, I'm just thinking aloud. Carry on.” Obi-Wan dismissed the Clone's question.

The Jedi Master hadn't thought about that in the bunker. Kenobi had acted out of reflex borne of his training, of the way he had been taught. The right thing to do seemed so obvious then and he never thought about the consequences beyond either somehow succeeding or his much more likely death.

Obi-Wan wanted to think that he knew Veil somewhat. The Sith simply wasn't going to tolerate another attack upon himself by the Jedi. At best, the man was going to wait until the war wasn't hanging in the balance before retaliating, at worse a confrontation between the man commanding all Republic combat troops and the Jedi was going to lead to a short and brutal civil war that would have damned the Republic.

The worst thing was that even now, Obi-Wan wasn't sure where exactly Veil stood. While he had his suspicions, he wasn't sure about Delkatar's long term plans. Ultimately, was the Sith an ally to the Republic or would he see it fall once the war was over? Would he continue with his live and let live policy towards the Jedi? Would Veil try to corrupt them or simply offer another way?

What was the truth and what were lies spun by a Sith Lord?

Kenobi shook his head and concentrated. His mind was wandering, avoiding a topic he feared to contemplate. It was something Satine asked him shortly after they arrived at Mandal Motors HQ.

”What would have you done in Veil's place?” Obi-Wan's wife had asked. ”I know what I should feel. He did kill two of my people, yet he saved my little sister.”

Obi-Wan was afraid to face that question, even if Veil did ask it too, back in the bunker. He had done his best to dismiss it. After all, a Jedi's answer was obvious, was it not?

It was anything but, even if you didn't bring morality into the question.

At the time, Satine was the leader of Mandalore's government. She still was unless Veil was already chosen as Mandalore. That by itself warped the question – because of her position, Satine was more important than two regular medics. Sacrificing them to keep her alive and hale would be more than a fair price to pay.

Doing so would have been the correct decision on many levels and a proper Jedi would likely agree… even if doing so came dangerously close to flirting with the Dark Side.

However, when he was asked that question, Satine's status didn't matter. It was about what Obi-Wan would do to keep his wife alive.

Now he knew the lengths Veil would go to.

Not to long ago, he saw what Anakin would to for a very long shot at helping Padme, his now not so secret wife.

What was Obi-Wan Kenobi going to do to keep Satine safe?

The Jedi was afraid of that question. It made him shiver as if the Dark Side itself was touching him when he thought about it.

However, giving an answer – that simply terrified him.

Because, Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Master, simply didn't know. He might simply uphold his principles as a Jedi… or do anything in his power to keep Satine safe.

Just as he had no compunction of going after Grievous, not because it was his duty as both a Jedi Master and a Republic general, but because his wife asked him to bring the Confederate general to justice.

Obi-Wan sagged in his seat and wondered what was he supposed to do.

In his agitated state, he missed the Dark Side's gentle touch that offered salvation.

=RK=

”Look alive boys. Target sighed. Ten K out.”

Obi-Wan's self reflection was interrupted by the pilot.

”Is he alone?” Kenobi was grateful for the distraction.

”I'm seeing a handful of commando droids and a few of SBs.”

”Drop us behind the closest dune and strafe them a few times. I'm dealing with Grievous, you take out his guards.” Obi-Wan ordered.

”Yes, general.” Niner answered.

The pilot's confirmation came in the form of him opening up with the craft's laser cannons.

”Scratch some droids. Be aware, enemy is splitting up. I'm dropping you on Grievous' right flank.”

Kenobi submerged into the Force and let it revitalize him. A moment later his worries were erased and replaced by unrivaled clarity.

A minute later, Obi-Wan dropped from the hovering transport with the Clones landing around him.

”Target's breaking to the right of your position. Good hunting.” The ȧssault transport screamed away to avoid any potential AA fire.

”Go.” The Jedi Master ordered and sprinted after Grievous. He had no problem sensing the cyborg presence in the desert.

Within seconds, Kenobi had the CIS general in sight. Grievous was busy climbing up the next dune and unfortunately for him, the Jedi was in no mood for a protracted chase. Obi-Wan raised a hand and pulled back the cyborg, who gave out a strangled cry and tumbled down amidst a small sand avalanche.

Kenobi jumped down and drew his lightsaber.

”Grievous.” The Jedi stated blandly and activated his weapon.

The cyborg stood up and drew a pair of stolen lightsabers.

”Kenobi?” Grievous looked surprised seeing the Jedi wear Mandalorian armor.

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. He recognized those lightsabers. They belonged to friends of his, who were now dead. Murdered by the being in front of him.

Just like that, the calmness Kenobi felt since letting the Force flow freely through him, vanished.

This thing… it was responsible for the death of millions, probably billions. It murdered Obi-Wan's friends… and it bombarded Mandalore making Satine feel awful.

It was Kenobi's duty to put an end to that abomination and that's exactly what he was going to do.

Obi-Wan shot forward, without even thinking. He was acting on instinct, reinforcing his body with the Force without even thinking, yet she obeyed.

Grievous parried the first strike, yet stumbled back surprised by the strength behind the Jedi's attack. The cyborg tried to retaliate with his other blade, but his slash was parried with contemptuous ease before Kenobi's saber struck again forcing the other general to retreat another step.

It took all of Grievous mechanically ȧssisted strength and speed to keep Obi-Wan's azure blade from striking it. Despite that and all of his training, the cyborg was forced into a relentless retreat.

That confused the Confederate commander. He had fought Kenobi before and was aware of how good the human was.

This was something quite different – the Jedi was attacking with savagery he had never displayed before. Worse, the attacks were coming much faster and stronger than ever.

Obi-Wan's blood sang. He fell into a rhythm of ceaseless attacks and found that for the first time in his life he really enjoyed a battle. Kenobi found himself pouring all his frustration, uncertainties and fear into his strikes and it was liberating.

That thought made him falter and gave Grievous a chance to jump back so he could take a breather. The Jedi frowned. He couldn't really feel the Dark Side trying to influence him. There was no anger to feed her, even if he was frustrated.

Yet there was fear.

The cyborg counterattacked before Kenobi could think about it all. The Jedi easily fell into a Soresu form and started deflecting the incoming attacks. They were much easier to read than ever before. Anticipating them was simpler, natural.

”You're different today, Kenobi.” Grievous spoke. ”For a moment there you fought almost like a Sith.”

Obi-Wan's eyes widened at that declaration and it almost cost him everything. The cyborg used that brief surprise to explode into motion and did his best to dismember Kenobi.

Only a last ditch shove using the Force kept the Jedi intact.

Grievous stumbled back and laughed.

”Did I hit a sore spot? Did you enjoy my little performance? Granted it was interrupted before the best part...”

The mechanical menace went silent when Obi-Wan went on the offensive.

This time Kenobi felt anger. Grievous dared joke in his face over the murder of countless people. Satine's people…

Obi-Wan's people now.

It was Grievous and Vizsla who planned the attack and almost got Satine's sister murdered. Tried to kill them all with orbital strikes and only failed because of Pellaeon's last stand and the death of the Mandalorian navy.

It dawned on Obi-Wan that he was facing one of the people that almost murdered his wife yesterday.

Kenobi's anger boiled and his composure simply shattered. A cold wave washed over Obi-Wan as he fell upon the cyborg and he felt more powerful with every strike he delivered at Grievous.

The combatants blurred as they engaged into a flurry of blows and then it was over.

A metal hand flew away – separated at the elbow. Obi-Wan continued his onslaught and slammed his lightsaber into Grievous' remaining blade again and again. The third strike was too much and it broke the cyborg's guard. The azure blade flashed down and severed Grievous other hand at the shoulder.

The two generals glared at each other for a long moment.

”I won't yield!” Grievous screamed. ”I won't be put into a kriffing jar again!” If he was physically capable of it, the cyborg would be foaming at the mouth at that point.

”Surrender?” Obi-Wan asked calmly.

There was no trace of anger in the Jedi's voice.

Kenobi felt cold. He could sense the Dark Side's touch upon him. Despite what he expected, she wasn't tempting him. Wasn't demanding that he strike down Grievous.

The Dark Side simply waited – ready to follow his directions.

”You did escape the last time.” Kenobi reasonably pointed out surprised by Grievous' reaction.

”I wont' be held again!” The Cyborg shouted and lunged at the Jedi.

Obi-Wan raised a hand and picked up Grievous using the Force, suspending him in mid-air.

”What am I to do with you?” The Jedi wondered aloud.

Grievous' decided to stay silent at that point and simply balefully glared at Kenobi.

”You know, my wife want you brought to justice.” Obi-Wan repeated Satine's request.

There was silence, before Grievous' laughed.

”Wife? The Jedi's poster boy is married? Was she here yesterday? Did I get her?” The cyborg sneered in an obvious attempt to provoke Kenobi.

”She was. In fact, we married yesterday. This is her world you wrecked.” Obi-Wan snapped.

”Good.”

Kenobi could imagine Grievous' smile and the very thought made him snarl. Below his helmet, Obi-Wan's eyes got bled into yellow.

The Jedi's hand gripped his lightsaber harder.

”You know, there are probably a lot of good reasons why I should bring you in right now. Intelligence among other things. After all, you should stand trial for my crimes.”

”Crimes?” Grievous laughed. ”My only crime is that I've been a more successful general than all of you Jedi put together! It took a Sith being in charge of your forces to stalemate us!”

”No matter how loath am I to admit it, you're right about that.” Obi-Wan noted. ”In the end, we Jedi are diplomats and peacekeepers, not soldiers or proper generals.” Kenobi sighed. ”A Jedi in my position would capture and bring you back.”

Grievous' glare intensified and he started struggling into the telekinetic grip.

”As I am now, I no longer have the right to call myself a Jedi.” Obi-Wan stated in contemplative tone. ”I chose love over the Jedi Order. It's hard to admit it but today I'm on a path that one day might make me chose between Mandalore and the Republic.” Kenobi paused. ”I'm pretty sure I'll take my wife's lead on that one.” Obi-Wan smiled, even if Grievous couldn't see it.

”So what?”

”It's funny you know. I've walked away from all I knew and I didn't really realize it up until now. I've already made my choices. All I needed was to understand why.”

Obi-Wan took a step forward. ”If I continued to consider myself a Jedi, I would have been torn apart by divided loyalties.”

Another step and Kenobi was within a hand's reach of the cyborg.

”I didn't really get it until we crossed blades. If you were anyone else besides Vizsla, I might have failed to understand. Yet, fighting you – a man who tried to murder my wife… It was a revelation.”

”What the kriff are you talking about, Jedi?”

”I'm rambling, am I not? Feeling free… It's strange, you know. Liberating.” Obi-Wan stared at Grievous.

Kenobi raised his lightsaber and brought it down in one swift motion, then he released the cyborg.

Grievous fell on the ground in two pieces.

It was strange. Perhaps it was because Obi-Wand didn't strike down in anger. He didn't feel the Dark Side falling upon him. Didn't feel like falling after executing Grievous in a cold blood.

Instead, Obi-Wan felt at peace now that a threat to his wife was removed from existence.

”Niner, status report. Do you need ȧssistance?” Kenobi activated his comm.

”We're just wrapping up, general. Grievous?”

”He won't trouble us ever again.”

”Good work, sir.” The Commando congratulated him.

”Hunter flight, come and get us.” Obi-Wan ordered their ride to collect them.

On the flight back, Kenobi would have time to contemplate his actions and the conclusions he reached.

=RK=

Part 10

Industrial Sector

Sundari

Mandalore

I've been Mandalore for two days and I already hate the bloody job. Endless meetings, most of which with people you could hardly stand, enough bargaining and deal making to make a CEO of an interstellar corporation jealous, what felt like everyone in the government shoving their problems up the chain until you had to deal with them personally… and those were only the highlights.

Pro tip – if you intent to go into politics and raise up to the top, think long and hard if succeeding is going to be worth it. Pro tip the second, it's much better to be the power behind the throne instead the one actually having to do all the bloody work.

I couldn't wait to wrap up the most immediate troubles and leave Skirata to deal with this shit even if that was going to mean I would have the handle the senate with all that entailed.

On the bright side, Piett arrived lats night with reinforcements from Geonosis and some good news – operations there were complete. All ground forces were extracted, the Navy had recovered or blown up every wreck we left after the space battle and all our units had pulled out for either some R&R or to reinforce various positions across the galaxy.

Even better, he came on the same ship with Aria and HK, who I immediately sent to find Vizsla – dead or alive I wanted him brought in front of me. He and the Death Watch were going to serve as great scapegoats for everything wrong on Mandalore – it was going to be mostly true too.

I had what survived from Satine's government PR department point out at every opportunity who exactly allied with the Confederacy and invite them here, preferably just before or after the latest casualty report went public.

Meanwhile, I was playing the role of the good and concerned Mandalore – visiting the worst hit parts of Sundari, when there were journalists around to show everyone I actually cared. That's why right now I was visiting the industrial sector – it was last on my list after checking up the heavy hit residential districts. I used every opportunity to promise bloody vengeance to whoever was listening – and there were a many pissed off Mandalorians who loved the idea.

At lest this time I wasn't suffering alone – Thang Auwad was with me, showing the flag so to speak. He had his hands full too after his wife didn't survive the attack and had to ascent as both a Clan Leader and a CEO of their consortium. In fact, at least a third of the factories lost in the capital were either owned or worked with Auwad in weapon manufacturing.

”We should have sixty percent of the damage fixed within the week.” Thang informed me after we spoke with the reporters.

”That sounds reasonable.” I looked at the rows of large buildings strewn around us. While a significant section of the dome had collapsed in the area, the weapon factories were built with the expectation of such shenanigans. Most were superficially damaged and could resume production once the area was cleared of debris and the rail networks used to shuttle resources and components in were certified safe for use.

”The rest would need up to a few months of repairs with at least two factories being a write off...” Auwad trailed off and pointed in the distance.

My eyes followed his hand and I saw what used to be a factory. Most of the building was simply gone with only twisted parts of its metal outer walls remaining. It was obvious that the facility had taken a direct hit during the bombardment and that was something it simply wasn't built to handle.

While a lot of the weapon and munitions factories on Mandalore were excessively armored and otherwise protected, that was primary as a safety concern pushed by Satine's government. Most of the manufacturing centers simply weren't expected to handle even limited orbital bombardment if both the planetary shields and the theater one covering the capital were down.

”Do you have numbers on the recovery costs?” I asked.

”Do you really want to know?” Auwad sighed. ”The preliminary cost I gave you during out last meeting is going to rise. A third of the cargo subways are down with some tunnels collapsed. Fixing that will take both time and money. We'll be able to partially sidestep the issue by using small cargo vessels to deliver resources to the surviving factories, but most of them simply weren't designed to work that way. Not to mention that doing so would be logistically troublesome.”

”Solutions?” I asked.

”A lot – all requiring more time and money than might be practical.”

It all came back to Mandalore simply lacking enough money to do everything I wanted in a reasonable amount of time.

”Your plans are good, Mandalore. Most of us like them quite well in fact. It's feasible to turn Mandalore into an industrial powerhouse that can build us both a powerful navy and a respectable combined arms army. We can even do it in the time-frame you require. We just can't do it with the money and resources at our disposal. The best we can manage is to start on the initial stages of the build up.”

”You and Yomaget made me well aware of that. That's why we'll be meeting tonight. There are some decisions to be made about the future, but this isn't the time or place to discuss it.

=RK=

Death Watch Safe house