Ky'ram's Blog

Kom'rk Squad | Chapter 2

2010-07-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Voda Fellan glanced over her shoulder nervously, her gaze focusing on the door. It was then that two Republic Commandos entered the cantina, their sinister T-visors glowing blue. She turned back, sweaty, and took a sip of her ale. They were after her, she knew it. She got up, and walked toward the exit, trying her best to appear unalarmed as she passed the two commandos. They glanced at her as she passed, holding her lightsaber inside her robe. She exited the cantina, then turned back as two clone troopers trotted down the alleyway which housed the cantina exit. She tried her best to enter the cantina discreetly, but the troopers noticed her, and opened fire as she ducked into the cantina. She darted into the shadows, and blended into them.

"Republic Police, everyone down! We are looking for a Jedi! Surrender her now, and we can avoid bloodshed!"

The patrons did as they were told, flattening on the floor. The one left sitting stood, and lowered the hood, and pulled a metal cylinder from her belt, and pressed a button, a green beam of light extending from the cylinder.

"Well, there's our Jedi. Now what, Womp?"

"Hey, shinys!"

I turn around to look at the two clone troopers looking at me and Tracyn.

"What?"

"See that Jedi over there? Well, according to Order 66, she's an enemy of the Republic. Kill her!"

I look at Tracyn, and he nods. I return the nod, and we rise from our seats, and open fire on the lightsaber-wielding female. She blocks most of the bolts, yet one slips through the butterfly flurry, and she stumbles, the blade shorting out. The clone trooper, Womp, who bore the markings of the 501st, steps up to her, and presses down on the trigger, the bolt disfiguring her face. She crumples to the ground, and the clones step over her body, making their way to us.

"I'm CT-1977, or Thex. This is CT-2944, Womp. You are?"

"RC-3000, or Kotyc. He's RC-2999, or Tracyn."

"Nice to meet you."

"What's this about Order 66? The Jedi have done nothing wrong."

Womp steps up to Thex's side, and shares the latest information straight from Intel.
"Apparently the Jedi have tried to overthrow the Republic and assassinate Chancellor Palpatine."

"Bantha poodoo."

"Hey, don't blast the messenger."

Tracyn puts his hands on his hips, and looked around as the frightened denizens returned to their seats and ales.
"We came here looking for shelter. The LAAT/i transporting us got hit, and we plummeted to the ground. One of our guys is hurt. Any place we can go?"

Thex puts his hand on my shoulder pad.
"With us."

~Wampa Barracks~

"So, Kom'rk Squad, you need a place to stay?"

"That's right, sir."

The mongrel officer sits back in his chair, and places his feet on the table.

Rude sha'buir.

"Well, the Republic is dead. Welcome to the Empire, IC-3000 and IC-2999."

That's not what I intended, but okay.

Two medics cart Ram'ser into the medbay, and we follow it, meeting up with Bar'uur.

"Well, Bar, apparently you're IC-2998 now."

"Sha'buire, what for? I know old Palps was a fan of shuffling the divisions, but assigning us new prefixes? What for?"

"The Republic is dead."

"You're mad."

"No, Palps declared the Republic null and void, and set up the Empire."

We walk into the barracks, and look at the former Republic Commandos who have changed their destiny.

"Is that Delta Squad?"

"Yeah. It is. Trust me, we won't be here long."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll desert on the next mission."

Bedtime Stories: Behind The Scenes

2010-06-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Ah, Bedtime Stories. My first major story. In it, I track Victory Squad through the Clone Wars and the months after. It's a bit outdated now, but I still regard it as canon. In this post, I'll provide commentary to each part.

CHAPTER I:

Ah, Chapter 1. The beginning. In it, the first moments, the trip to Geonosis, and the landing.

CHAPTER II:

Chapter 2 marks the death of Tripzer. And the trip back from Geonosis, plus an introduction to the replacement, Rancor!

CHAPTER III:

Chapter 3, or the 'Omigosh, so many cameos' chapter. I included Omega Squad from Karen Traviss, Alpha Squad, Hound Squad, and Kal Squad from Brothers All. And if you're wondering, Kerbs is indeed the one with the scanner in the previous chapter.

CHAPTER IV:

Here I introduced the romantic interest/forbidden love character, Jedi Master Tisha Santorini. Also, I introduced how on earth the Republic knew about Teth from the Clone Wars movie. Also, this is my longest chapter EVER, due to the addition of Order 66.

CHAPTER V:

The actual desertion, and setting up love (cue cheesy 90s love music). Plus the clan put together completely.

CHAPTER VI:

The wedding, a bounty, and then the shocking announcement of pregnancy. Also, Manda'yaim prepares for war!

CHAPTER VII (known as Epilogue):

The inevitable Battle of Mandalore. With the introduction of an Imperial garrison on Mandalore, and their interest in beskar, you could see this coming a mile away. Also, the final chapter.

Bedtime Stories: Epilogue

2010-06-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Star Destroyer lands and a battalion of stormtroopers marches down the ramp, reinforcing the Imperial position outside Keldabe. The Mandalorians had put up stiff resistance, wiping out three battalions in one day. They were well-supplied, motivated, and had better armor than the Imperial infantry. The only thing not on the Mandalorian side was men. The Mandalorian forces number 2,500 independent mercenaries. The Empire: 100,000, with a massive fleet of twenty five Star Destroyers in orbit. The motivation for the Imperial takeover of Mandalore was the deposits of beskar, which the Emperor planned on using to make new armor for his troops. It was rumored that Darth Vader himself would lead his troops.
Fenn Shysa stepped in front of the 2,500 assembled Mandalorians at midnight, and began talking.
“Good morning, vode. As you know, the Empire is after our beskar. We will drive them away. We have chosen the battleground. We have set up so the Imperial scum will have to funnel through a mountain pass. We have crippled their starfighters under cover of night. This will strictly be a land battle. We have left our ships at home. They will come to us.”
The Imperials had struck first, sending in a massive wave of stormtroopers through the narrow pass known as Manda’lor’s Mouth. They had been beaten back, however, by the impressive work of the elite Wampa Squad, which had set up in the mountains surrounding the pass. Another key group was Falco Clan, which had been the first line of defense. Clan Murraan, led by Spanner Murraan, had been key in sabotaging the Imperial ships under night’s cover. But the mastermind behind this had been Novall Talon, who had been hired by Fenn Shysa as General. Novall had met with the leader of each clan, assigning duties to each man.
The death tally for day one had been substantial losses, 5,000, for the Empire, and only minor wounded for Mandalorians. Day two, however, would be vastly different.
I lie with Victory Squad on the ridge immediately to the right of the command center. Sushiri, fresh from rehab, joins us on the ridge, missile launcher over her shoulder. We look through our macrobinocs at the Imperial movements. It was six o’clock in the morning, and they were already attacking. The tired Mandalorians were retreating, a devilish trap in mind. The women of Mandalore were lined up along the ridges, lining up giant rocks on the edge. Novall gives the signal as the last Mandalorian passes through a gate, and the women push the boulders off of the ridge, and send them tumbling into the unaware stormtroopers below. The men turn back, and slaughter the remaining troops. The battle rages for several hours, the most climactic point being when Lord Vader had tired of his troops being slaughtered, and went in himself, flanked by Imperial Commandos. He cut down several front line troops, and moved on. A lone figure with a jetpack jets down in front of Vader, bes’kad drawn. The figure transpires to be Xan, eager to strike the Sith Lord down, even at the cost of his own life. Vader attacked first, his lightsaber glancing off of the double-reinforced beskar. Xan had prepared for this encounter by taking his ancient bes’kad, layering it with three extra layers of beskar, and weaving beskar fibers into his flightsuit. It made him twice as heavy, but he didn’t care. He jetted up to the top of one mountain, Vader on his heels.
The day ended on a low note for both sides. The Mandalorians lost a total of 100 men, but was overshadowed by the Imperial loss of 25,000 men.
The next day, we attack first, sending the Imps reeling. Ky’ram runs to Novall with an update from Firaxan Squad.
--“We’re detecting a fleet exiting hyperspace. It’s not Imperial, it’s…Rebellion! Let’s let them attack.”--
“Very good, Ky’ram. We’ll retreat into the city.”
“Yes sir.”
Ky’ram says, trotting to his position. He motions, and his entourage follows him to a waiting speeder. The remaining 2,400 Mandalorians retreat into a heavily transformed Keldabe. Beskar sheets cover windows, and a barricade blocks the main entrance. The Mandalorians split into two groups, one moves to the tops of buildings, armed with sniper rifles. The rest get into a position to eliminate both forces.
Rebel cruisers enter the atmosphere, and fire at the Star Destroyers resting outside Mand’alor’s Mouth. They explode, and X-Wings begin tearing through the Imperial ranks. At the same time, the Mandalorians open up, slaughtering the remaining 50,000 troops. Small forces of the remaining 2,000 stormtroopers attack the city from all sides. Three forces break through the initial lines, and begin trying to plant charges in the city. They are stopped by the snipers, however, and the battle abruptly ends, with the Mandalorians losing a total of 250 men, and the Empire losing all 100,000 troops. Darth Vader had withdrawn, and no beskar had been extracted.

2,250 voices ring out in the Mandalorian victory song of Vode An, marveling at the impossible victory they had just accomplished. It came at an expensive price, however: 250 men lost. The remaining troops pile the bodies onto a massive funeral pyre, and watch as Manda’lor Fenn Shysa steps up to it, pulling his tibanna lighter, and lighting the pyre. The Mandalore night sky is lit up with the flame.

Bedtime Stories: Chapter VI

2010-06-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

*Plains of Enceri, Mandalore*
The bes’bev begins playing a soft tune, a rejoicing tune; as if the tune knew that the woman who was descending down the path made by the chairs that the attendees sat in was the bride-to-be. The player of the bes’bev, Jai’galaar Bralor, nods at the officiator, Venku Ordo. He gestures, and everyone else in attendance, including Adenn Ordo and his brother, Burun Parjai'Kote, Streak Ordo, Venku’s son, A’den Parjai’Kote, Adenn Parjai’Kote, Bralor Parjai’Kote, and Jag Parjai’Kote, stands.
Tisha, clad in her new set of Mandalorian armor, which featured purple plates with a violet border on a grey flightsuit, steps up to the platform, where the officiating crew, Venku Ordo, Ky’ram Parjai’Kote, Jai’galaar Bralor, and the rest of Victory Squad, clad in their new Mandalorian armor, stands. The ceremony rituals commence, and soon end, climaxing in the moment when we kiss. We do, and turn to face the audience. They stand, and clap, cheering wildly. We step off of the platform, and walk down the path, beaming. We step into a speeder, and fly off into the setting Mandalore sun.
*Two mornings later*
“I’ve gotta go. It’s urgent. The planet Cerezio is undergoing a major revolution, and I’ve been hired by the rioting faction’s leader to assassinate the prime minister.”
“We got married two days ago, and you’re running off on a mission?”
“The pay is 500,000 credits either way, an extra million if I succeed.”
“Wow. I still don’t like it how you’re risking your life this early into our marriage!”
“I’ll be fine. If I do get hurt, I have my vode to take care of me.”
“Vo-day?”
“It means brothers in Mando’a.”
“One of these days, you’ll have to teach me this…Man-dough-ah.”
“I will cyar’ika.”
“I think I know what that means…sweetheart?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I assume you need to leave…cyar’ika.”
“You’ve got it!”
The ship lands, and Sixer steps out, clad in his Mandalorian armor that bears the same paint style as his Katarn armor.
“Let’s go!”
*Several days later, Cerezio system*
I set my scope, and place the bipod of the Verpine Sniper Rifle on the edge of the building. I pull the trigger, and a round forces its way into the prime minister of Cerezio’s head. He falls, and I walk into the ship, and we take off, headed back to Mandalore.
*Mandalore*
“Cyar’ika? I’m back! Cyar’ika? Cyar’ika! Where are you?!”
“Cyar’ika, I’m here!”
“Good, I thought—“
“Cyar’ika, I—I’m pregnant.”
“That’s…wonderful!”
“I know.”
---------------------------------------------------
*9 months later*
I walk into the crude hospital room where Tisha, now officially named Sushiri Vhetin, holds a newborn baby boy. She notices my presence, and holds out the boy. I take him, and I sit down, gazing at the newborn. He puzzles me, looking so much like me, yet so much like Sushiri. Brown hair with a shock of black on top, and eyes as brown as chocolate uj’aylaj. He smiles, and grabs my nose.
“Hah, he takes after you, Sushiri.”
He laughs, and then burps, laughing afterward.
“He takes after you, Ky.”
“Ha ha, very funny.”
I hand him back to her, and walk out of the room, where Ky’ram, Venku, Adenn, and the rest of Victory are sitting.
“He looks like me, yet so much like Sushiri. It’s weird.”
“That’s how babies are, ner vod.”
Ky’ram says, putting his hand on my shoulder.
Adenn asks,
“What are you going to name him?”
“I think…Kom’rk.”
“That’s a perfect name.”
Sixer comments, walking into the room to hold Kom’rk.
I sit down, thinking. My mind wanders from the joyous thoughts of our marriage and the birth of Kom’rk to the sad thought of the death of Tripzer. As I reflect, a high-pitched whine radiates through the home. I snap out of my thoughts, and run to my room to grab my sniper rifle. I run out, and aim at the ship that is hovering over. I recognize the sound as the sound my squad craved many times in the heat of battle: a Laat/i gunship. The gunship lands, and a man in clone pilot armor steps out of the cockpit, opening the troop bay.
“Flyboy?”
“It’s me, and I’ve brought some visitors along, if you’re up for them.”
“Sure, who are they?”
“A Mandalorian captured by the Empire, Mia Getal’mesh, the pilot Hush, and Kerbs.”
“Wow.”
“I also brought in Xan, the Mandalorian mercenary.”
“Interesting.”
“They want to use your homestead as a base of operations, due to its tactical value.”
“I’m sure Ky’ram won’t mind.”
“Good.”
“I trust you’re staying?”
“Of course, I can’t resist ferrying you lot around. Too much fun.”
“Ha, well, make yourselves at home, the condos are that way.”
I say, pointing to the east.
Flyboy follows me into the main house, and is greeted by Ky’ram and the crew. The other visitors make their way in, and are also greeted.
As everyone sits down by the fire, each talks of their background, Mia of her bounty hunting and capture, Xan of his fame as a bounty hunter, and how he was on the hunt of Darth Vader, an incident stemming into his childhood, when Count Dooku had led Separatist troops against his homeworld of Vletania. Dooku had killed his mother and father personally, and had ordered his troops to fire on Xan, nearly killing him. The reason he was on the hunt was that Xan was very close to killing Dooku, and Vader, then Anakin, had killed Dooku.
Kerbs talks of how he had been with Bacara when Order 66 had been issued, and feigned death by jumping off of the bridge. He had been spared when a stray ARC-170 was lifting off. He had killed the pilot, and taken off for Mandalore.
Victory Squad walks into the living room, and greets each of the new arrivals.
Burun Parjai'Kote returns from a trip to Keldabe, hardly waiting to tell the assembled men of the recent Imperial garrison sent to Mandalore.
“Frak. Well, this isn’t going to end well. There’s going to be a fight, and it’s obvious. It will be soon, so we better be reinforcing our armories and making a bunker of this place.”
Ky’ram says, standing and leaning on the stone fireplace.
*1 month later*
--“Tensions are growing as Imperial troops pour onto the planet, gearing up for an attack on Mandalore. Manda’lor Fenn Shysa said in an official statement: ‘We, as Mandalorians, must band together and defeat the Imperial troops on our soil. We must unite under the banner of the Manda’lor, and tear down the Imperial banner old Palps is trying to force up our sheb’se. That is all.’ The Manda’lor is gathering troops at Keldabe. This has been Mandalore Holonet Station, oya, vode.”—
“Well, as the Resol’nare says, “Heed the call of the Manda’lor”. Let’s go visit our good old Manda’lor.”
---------------------------------------------------

Bedtime Stories: Chapter V

2010-06-30T18:59:00.001-07:00

*Centax 3*

“There’s his ship. Let’s load in.”
“Sir? There’s a Republic Larty headed toward us.”
“Prep your weapons.”
The Larty lands in front of us, and clone troopers with 501st markings step out, aiming their weapons as their commander moves to the front of the group.
“Deserters, surrender now, or we will be forced to take you down with…well…force!”
“You’re not funny. Now THIS is funny.”
Sixer says, shooting the commander in the middle of the visor, in between the eyes. The troops fire, and our squad scurries into Ky’ram’s YT-1930, Victory’s Revenge.

*Somewhere in the Kuat system…*

“We’ll stop for fuel here.”
Ky’ram says, pulling a lever that slows the ship into real-time.
“Wait, that’s…no…yeah…that’s a Jedi Interceptor! It’s damaged…better check it out.”
Ky’ram steps into the hangar, seals his helmet, and steps out, jetpack activated. He maneuvers over to the damaged ship, and looks inside.
Meanwhile, our squad watches as the camera feed from his helmet shows a female Jedi slumped over in the cockpit, but still breathing.
“That’s General Santorini! Buir, I’ll maneuver the ship closer to you, and you can pull her ship into the hangar. We’ll get her into the medbay.”
--“You got it, ad’ika.”--
The Jedi Interceptor lands in the hangar, and Uno opens the cockpit, picks up the petite female, and carries her into the medbay, and places her on a bed. I summon the meddroid over.
“She’s been out for several hours. It looks like all she got was a contusion, and shrapnel in her left thigh.”
--“I will begin operating, Master Ky’ram.”--
“Good.”
*Later…*
“Wha…who are you? Wait a parsec, you’re those clones I led on Teth! Where am I?”
“The medbay of our father, Ky’ram Parjai’Kote.”
“Sounds Mandalorian.”
“He is. Don’t worry, he doesn’t hate Jedi. Much. He hates them only because they used us as infantry on Geonosis. But now that they’re mainly dead, any anger is probably gone.”
“I’m sorry for being such a jerk on Teth, I felt so puffed up because I was recently promoted to Master. I lost that feeling when the clones turned. Seeing your comrades go down deflates your ego, doesn’t it?”
“Now you know how we felt after Geonosis. The meddroid says you’re completely healed. Do you want to stay, or do you want us to fix up your ship so you can go?”
“I think I’ll stay. Your clone DNA is too much to get around. I sorta like you.”
“…So do I…sorta…”
We share a laugh, and walk out of the medbay, into the cockpit. Ky’ram turns, and an expression of mixed animosity and confusion graces his face.
“You’re a Jedi?”
“Yes. Former Jedi Master Tisha Santorini. You are?”
“Ky’ram Parjai’Kote, father and mentor to these boys. But I sort of like you. I’ll let you stay.”

Ky’ram gets up, and leads Tisha to her room to recover.

*Several hours later, Parjai’Kote homestead*
I wake up, the smell of grilled nerf overwhelming my senses.
I walk into the kitchen where Ky’ram is standing, staring out the window at the Mandalore landscape before him.
“Buir, you know Tisha?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I…like her, so does she, we talked last night, could we…?”
“To answer your question, yes. I’ll get it arranged with Venku.”
“You mean Venku Ordo? Shab, yeah!”
“Your breakfast is on the table. But call your brothers and fiancé.”
“Vode, Tisha, food!”
Three clones careen into the dining room, and collide with their breakfast at the table. Tisha walks in, and shyly sits down next to me. I begin eating my food, and look over to see Tisha’s plate completely empty.
“Hey! Not fair! You used the Force!”
I look down to see my food gone, and I hear a burp from Tisha.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, hotshot.”
She says, laughing. I smile, and begin to laugh. We move out onto the patio, and stare at the rising Mandalore sun.
--------------------------------------------------------------
“So THAT’S how you and mom met!”
“Yeah, but it’s time for bed for you. Good night, Kom’rk.”
“Good night, Buir!”
--------------------------------------------------------------

Bedtime Stories: Chapter IV

2010-06-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Beta Company Barracks, Centax 2
Commander Ahsoka Tano steps into the room where my squad is sitting, waiting for our briefing. Null-7, or Mereel, stands up, and offers Tano his seat.
“Victory Squad, your next mission is to recon for the invasion we will commence. We will be attacking Teth, in search of Rotta the Hutt. Your Jedi for this mission will be Master Tisha Santorini. That is all you need to know. Go gear up, and good luck.”
“Yes sir!”
I say, saluting as I stand. We move into our rooms, and begin to gather our gear for the journey to Teth.
“Why do we need a Jedi? We’re perfectly capable of doing recon ourselves.”
“That’s the way they want it, we’ll have to put up with it.”
We finish gearing up, and walk into the hangar, where CT-0424, Flyboy, helmet off, is polishing his “baby”. His face is scarred and rough from Geonosis, and his eyes show a burning hatred for anything Separatist. He wears a flame across his chest, a battle droid burning in the midst.
“So, I’m stuck with you again, I guess.” He says, not turning.
“Yeah, this time it’s Teth.”
“Okay, hop in. Just let me get in.”
We step into the troop bay and Flyboy fires up the engines. We lift off, and ascend to the ship above us.
One day later…
“Alright, guys, out ya go. Don’t forget to wipe your feet when you come back.”
We jog toward the RV zone, where General Santorini landed.
“General. We are ready to begin recon.”
“Very good, Seven-Five. Follow me.”
I switch to squad comm.
“It’s Ky’ram.”
“Don’t get your shebse in a bind, ner vod. Generals do it all the time.”
Sixer says.
I switch out of comm, and watch as General Santorini leaps up a stone wall, and looks over the ridge.
“Here is a perfect spot to recon. You can see for miles up here.”
“Squad, cables.”
We attach our cable launchers to our Deeces, and lean back. Four cables propel from four launchers, and hook onto the ledge.
“Ascend.”
The cables pull tight, and four commandos speed up the wall.
“Alright, let’s get shelters set up. Grab the tents from your backpacks, and Uno, grab the extra one they gave you.”
“Yes sir.”
In ten minutes, five tents are set up, and a fire illuminating the ridge.
“General, permission to begin recon?”
“Proceed.”
I pull my binoculars from my belt, and begin probing the area.
“Squad, I’m not alone, grab your binocs and start observing.”
“Aw…come on, Sarge.”
“Do it.”
“Yes sir.”
My squad joins me on the ridge, and begins to scan the landscape.
“Sir, I got something.”
“What?”
“A monastery, over there. And there’s a ship landing.”
“What kind?”
“Looks like a…solar sailor…Dooku!”
“Let’s take him out!”
Tisha says, igniting her lightsaber.
“General, we’re only here on recon. Not to kill anyone, only if they attack us.”
“I…I guess you are right.”
“Let’s contact Centax Base.”
---“Centax Base, this is RC-1875. We have Dooku here. Begin invasion.”---
---“What of the recon?”---
---“Sending.”---
---“Received. Sending a Laat/i. Coordinates.”---
---“Received. RC-1875 out.”---
A Larty lands at the ridge, and we step in.
-----------------------------------------------------
“What happened next, Buir?”
“Well, ad’ika, after that, we went on many more missions. But they’re boring. Let’s skip to the near end of the war.”
“Okay…”
-----------------------------------------------------
“Victory Squad!”
“Yes sir?”
“General Skywalker would like to speak to you now.”
“Yes sir!”
General Skywalker walks toward us, and I catch a gleam in his eye that is very different from what I’m used to seeing.
“Gentlemen, Operation Nightfall is in effect. Order 66 has been issued. Before you try, I’m not a Jedi any longer.”
“What of your Padawan, Ahsoka?”
“She’s joined me. Now, we’re attacking the Jedi Temple, and executing the traitorous Jedi.”
“And our job is?”
“Take as much data from the data center as you can, and change a code signal to what Appo will send you.”
“And if we encounter any Jedi?”
“Take them out.”
“Yes sir!”
We jog toward a speeder, and a clone looks back, waving.
“I’m taking you guys to your position!”
“Very good. Squad, let’s hop in.”
My squad sits in the speeder, and the drives accelerate. As we approach the Temple, a high-pitched whine resonates in between the buildings.
“Sixer, that you whining again?”
“No sir…hey!”
“Sir, missile dropping, right on top of us.”
“Everybody out!”
We jump out of the moving speeder as it explodes, but Rancor slows in getting up.
“Rancor?”
“I’m fine sir.”
“You better be. We’ll set up a sniping post for you on the balcony, a demolitions post for Sixer, and Uno will be hacking. I’ll be defending the door.”
“Yes sir!”
We kick down the door, an old, shabby, wooden one, and move into the data center.
“Uno, go. Sixer, use that side of the balcony as a demo post. Rancor, use the other side as a sniper position. I’ll get here. Our strategy will be, if we see any Jedi moving toward us, Rancor begins sniping, I’ll start firing, and if that doesn’t stop them, Sixer will fire an AA round, hopefully killing them. If not, vibroblade them.”
“Yes sir.”
They move to their positions, and wait for Jedi to find us. One Jedi looks over, and spots Uno.
“Stop! That is a restricted area! Even to clones!”
“Begin firing.”
Sniper and blaster rounds fling themselves toward the Jedi, only to be deflected by the Jedi’s lightsaber.
“Sixer, now!”
A chunck is heard, and an explosion envelopes the Jedi.
“Taken care of. Uno, update?”
“75% done, sir.”
“Alright. Stay alert.”
Uno finishes hacking the data, and we rush out of the Temple, just as a massive explosion tears through the massive structure.
“Everyone okay?”
“Yes sir.”
“Yes sir.”
“Yes sir.”
“Alright, then, let’s bang out.”
A Larty lands, the one piloted by CT-0424 Flyboy.
As we step in, I switch to squad comm, and announce to my men that we are headed to Mandalore.
“Just drop us off at barracks, Flyboy.”
“You got it. And I got a question for you. Why did the Jedi turn on the Republic?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t concern me, so I don’t worry about it.”
As we arrive at the barracks, I say,
“Let’s find an empty Larty.”
“Found one, sir.”
I send Uno into the cockpit, and the rest of us step into the troop bay.
I comm Ky’ram, and ask him,
---“Can you meet us at Centax 3? We’re deserting.”---
---“Sure, ad’ika.”---
“Alright. Uno, take us to Centax 3.”
“You got it, sir.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
“What happens next, Daddy?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow night. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Okay.”
--------------------------------------------------------------

Bedtime Stories: Chapter III

2010-06-30T18:56:00.001-07:00

One month later…
“Victory Squad, this is Beta Troop: Hound Squad, Alpha Squad, Kal Squad, and Omega Squad. Feel free to introduce yourselves, and good luck.”
Said the holo of General Zey, finally disappearing. The troop bay of the Laat/I, an ordinary one piloted by one of the most daring pilots in the Army, CT-0424, or Flyboy as he wanted to be known, became filled with an awkward silence. Flyboy had flown Victory in on Geonosis, and gotten his Larty blown out from under him. After barely surviving, Flyboy was given another Laat/i.
“Shall we introduce ourselves?” RC-1309, Niner, says, breaking the silence.
“Well, this is Victory Squad, I’m RC-1875, Ky’ram, that’s RC-2312, Rancor, he’s RC-1001, Uno, and that goofball over there is RC-1876, Sixer.
“We’re Hound Squad, I’m RC-1137, Pikt, he’s RC-1751, Fringe, that guerfel is RC-1380, Jeboe, and he’s RC-1909, Nomad.
“Alpha Squad, I’m RC-4223, or Top, that mir’shebse is RC-2319, or Breeze, he’s RC-2501, or Diver, and that’s RC-3629, or Mack.”
“You guys know us, we’re Omega Squad.”
“We’re Kal Squad, I’m RC-1990, Ram’ser, he’s the wise-crack, RC-1737, Ve’vut, that’s RC-1985, Slice, that’s RC-1987, or Fixer.”
“Well, great to meet you all.”
“Two minutes until drop. And by drop, I mean a HARD drop.”
The plan was to free fall out of the Larty, and use a wingpack to glide into position. As I look out of the window, feeling the cold, Slice, Diver, Jeboe, Atin, and Uno gather into a group and begin talking about how to hack through a Holonet circuit. Fixer, Breeze, Fringe, Darman, and Sixer talk about jury-rigging the device they are going to use to blow up the supply depot.
“Okay, boys, drop time!”
The back hatch of the Larty opens, and the biting wind of 14,000 feet above the snowy surface fills the troop bay.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Hound Squad jumps, then Alpha, then Kal, the Omega, and finally Victory jump, the door shutting behind them.
“And…eject wings…now.”
Wings sprout from the backpacks of 20 clones, and the commandos face toward the ground, rapidly approaching the ground.
“Move into gliding formation…now.”
The troop changes position, and begin a slow descent toward the ground.

When we reach the ground, we spread out into an arrow formation.
“Alright, there’s the depot. Dar, Fixer, Breeze, Fringe, Sixer, begin jury-rigging. I’ll contact the man in charge.”
I key in the comm code for GM-0352, recently promoted to commander of the Galactic Marines, immediately under Bacara.
“Kerbs, this is Ky’ram, we’re beginning jury-rigging sequence.”
“Beta Troop, nice to speak to you again. Okay, we’re moving into formation to attack the base. When you blow the base, we’ll begin our attack while they’re confused.”
“Got it, sir.”
“And it’s warm out there. A nice and cozy negative 30 degrees.”
“Hah hah, thankfully, we have temp controlled suits.”
“See you soon.”
“You too.”
I close the comm, and check on the men working on the bomb.
“We’re good sir. Might wanna back up, though.”
Sixer says, tossing me a detonator.
“Agreed. Let’s move back.”
We move several hundred feet back, and I press the det. A flash morphs into a rumble, and the depot explodes. Several minor explosions occur as tanks, fuel trucks, and ammo carts explode.
“Let’s take that base.”
We run toward the base, passing flaming wreckage.
“There are the droids! Take ‘em out!”
Pikt yells, placing the anti-armor attachment onto his DC-17m.
“Oya vode!”
I yell, almost in synch with Niner, Top, and Ram’ser.
The snipers of Beta Troop open up with their sniper rifle attachments, as the demolition experts begin pounding the droids with shells. The sergeants and the hackers open up in eight bursts of blaster bolts, providing cover for the rest. A Galactic Marine trots up to me, and greets me, Mando style, and says:
“Good to see you, Ky’ram. It’s me, Kerbs, and we’re breaking through the droid defenses. We can take it from here. I’m sending in a Larty to pick you up.”
“Please tell me it’s not that nut job Flyboy.”
“No. It’s a guy named Hush, a new pilot. He’s bringing in some ARCs, and picking you up.”
“Huh. Interesting. Okay, well, we’ll keep it up until he gets here.”
Several minutes later, the wonderful sound of a Larty pierces the barricade of noise we built up.
“Alright, you di’kute, I’m here, now hoist your shebse up, and I’ll take you to HQ.”
“You must be Hush.”
I say, motioning for the troop to stop firing.
“Yes, that’s right.”
We step into the troop bay as a squad of ARCs, led by a yellow trimmed ARC and a silver and blue camo ARC, step out.

Bedtime Stories: Chapter II

2010-06-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

“Daddy? What happens next?”
“I’ll tell you, ad’ika.”
~~-------------------------------------------------------~~
“The lift is this way. Come on.”
“I see Geonosians coming toward us.”
“I know, Tripzer.”
“They’re firi—Ack!”
“Tripzer! Uno, get him revived!”
“Yes sir!”
Replies RC-1001, Tripzer’s pod brother.
“I…can’t…get him…revived!”
“Shab, c’mon! Move into the elevator, bring Tripzer. We’ll work on him as we go!”
We drag the body into the elevator, close the door, and frantically begin pumping the chest of our fallen comrade.
When we reached the floor of the AA battery, Tripzer had died.
“Grab something as a memorial from his armor. I’ll get his helmet for records sake. Gentlemen, this commando is the first ground casualty of the Grand Army of the Republic’s Special Operations. Honor him well.”
As I finish my speech, the lift doors open, and we begin firing, and laying cover for Sixer as he places his payload, a gigantic bomb, on the ground in the center of the AA platform.
“We got one minute, 30 seconds until this puppy blows.”
“Let’s go.”
We step into the lift, and will the elevator to descend faster. Uno begins ranting wildly, crazed by the loss of Tripzer. I try to calm him down, but he just pushes me away. The doors open, and we run toward a little outcropping, which should protect us from the spire’s destruction.

We hear a low rumble, which transforms into a gigantic ball of flame, consuming the spire, and all of its inhabitants, including Tripzer’s corpse. Our mission complete, we turn, where a Larty lands, and opens its doors.
“All aboard! Wait, aren’t there supposed to be four of you?”
“It’s a…touchy subject.”
“I’m SO sorry. Now, do you mind shifting your behinds? I have a schedule to keep.”
We step into the gunship, and stare out the slits in the window, the Geonosian atmosphere disappearing as we head toward the Star Destroyer, a respectful and mournful silence filling the air.

“Alright! Shift it, people! Head toward CT-0352, and prepare to be processed!”
We funnel out, and a clone with a scanner scans my squad.
“You’re missing RC-1000. Why?”
“Died.”
“Where?”
“Geonosian spire.”
“Thank you. Sorry for your loss. Move along.”

We report to our rooms, and I begin to sob, breaking into full tears.

30 minutes later…

The door opens, and a clone stands in the door frame.
“RC-2312, Rancor, SIR! I lost my squad in the battle, and have been reassigned to your squad, SIR!”
“Welcome to the squad. Let me get the rest of the squad in here.”
I say, pulling my comlink out, and wiping the tears away.
--“Uno, Sixer? Come to my room, our replacement’s here.”--
They funnel into the room, and smile at Rancor, greeting him in the Mando fashion.
“Great to meet you, ner vod.”
“Thank you, Sarge.”

We welcome him into the fold by going to the mess hall, and partying the night away. Satisfied, we stumble back to our rooms, and fall asleep.
The next morning…
“Victory Squad, your next mission is to travel to Rhen Var. I'm sending 4 other squads in with you to destroy a supply depot.”
“Yes sir!”

Bedtime Stories: Chapter I

2010-06-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

“Tell me a bedtime story, Dad!”
“Okay, son. How about one from when I was a kid?”
“Yay!”
“Okay, so, there I was, I was just born, on Kamino…”
~~-----------------------------------------------------~~
“Welcome, little one. This is your first day. Your designation will be RS-1875. We expect great things from you. You have been born into dangerous times…”
What? Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here?
I looked around the transparisteel cage I called home, staring at the Kaminoan in front of me. Taun We continued talking, and I looked to the sides, seeing thousands of tanks like mine in row after row.

22 BBY
0000 days before Geonosis
0005 hours before Geonosis

I stood with my squad in the mess hall, laughing as RC-1000, Tripzer, made an obscene joke. Another commando, RC-2212, or Mirdan, stood up and yelled,
“Vode An, anybody?”
Various shouts fill the giant room, and a company of clones, 100 men, stand up, and begin singing the epic Mandalorian song their heritage, Jango Fett, had taught them.
“Kote!
Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Coruscanta a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal kote, darasuum kote,
Jorso'ran kando a tome.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an…”
The one hundred baritone voices rang out, but they were interrupted by a Kaminoan.
“Beta Company, your training is now complete. You will be sent to Geonosis, to save the Jedi. You will go behind enemy lines, and take out targets imperative to the success of your brothers. Should you fail, you will probably die. Now, move to your rooms, prepare your armor, and report to the Laat/i gunships.”

0000 days before Geonosis
ZERO HOUR

“Alright, move it, help your brothers in, close the doors, off ya go!”
“Tripzer, c’mon!”
“Yes sir!”

The doors close, and the gunship descends, out of the Star Destroyer. Black changes to reddish-brown, and a hologram appears.
--“Victory Squad, this is CC-1205. Your mission is to infiltrate a Geonosian spire containing a massive AA battery, which is raining haran on our forces. I trust your grey behinds, so move out. CC-1205, out.--
“You heard the man, let’s go. Objective has been loaded into your HUDs.”
The pilot, CT-0424, calls from the cockpit,
“Five minutes until we’re at the LZ.”
“Roger, Flyboy.”

Five minutes later…

“Landing! Thank you for riding Larty Starlines, we hope your flight with us was satisfactory. Please, ride with us again.”
“Oh, shove it.”

My squad and I jump out of the Larty, only to have a Hailfire Droid fire on it, the Larty disappearing in a ball of flame.
“Shab, everyone okay?”
“Yep.”
“Yes sir.”
“Fine as a knife blade.”
“Let’s move then.”
I direct my squad toward the door to the spire, and motion for RC-1876, Sixer, to blow the door.
“My pleasure, sir.”
The door explodes, and we burst into the spire, mowing down everything in our path.

Kom'rk Squad: Chapter I

2010-06-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

We're gonna die.

I look around at my squadmates who are holding themselves up as much as they can as the gunship falls. I am wedged into a closet, and I look into the cockpit. Our clone pilot is slumped over, blood trickling out of his helmet. I force myself out of the closet and stumble toward the troop bay door, passing RC-2999, Tracyn, on my way there. I look out the narrow slots of the door, and see the Coruscanti skyscrapers rapidly passing us as we drop past them. The nearest building, an all-transparisteel banking building, comes even closer as we drift toward it. Suddenly a gust of wind pushes us into the building, sending me, RC-3000, or Kot'yc, into the other troop bay door, making me black out for a moment, and sending shards of glass into the bay. RC-2998--Bar'uur--supports the fourth member of Kom'rk Squad, RC-2997, or Ram'ser, as they both fly toward the back of the LAAT/i. The gunship flips over, and we all lose balance and bounce around the troop bay, our Katarn armor protecting us from the brunt of the blows. I hit the roof, and then all tumbling stops as the LAAT/i hits the ground, breaking and creaking metal and crushing the corpse of the pilot.

I wake up as Tracyn shakes me violently.

--"Sir! Sir! Kotyc! Shabla di'kut...oh."--

He raises me to my feet, and I stagger toward the flaming wreckage. I look down at my armor, where burn marks and dents adorn it.

"Shab...what happened? Where's my helmet?"

--"I don't know, ner vod, but I'm glad you survived. I wouldn't want to be the only one left."--

"What do you mean?"

--"I couldn't find Bar'uur and Ram'ser."--

"We need to look for them, after making some shelter. How bad was the impact?"

--"Pretty bad. It threw me pretty far."--

I push a flaming chunk of the troop bay door away, and find Bar'uur, a hole in his chest armor.

"Bar'uur! Are you alive?"

Bar'uur coughs, and blood collides with his visor, and seeps out the bottom, staining the neck seal.

"Bar'uur!"

--"Y-yeah...it's me...hold yer applause, ladies."--

"Yep. It's Bar'uur, alright. Tracyn, come help me move 'im!"

We move Bar'uur under the crude shelter Tracyn had erected underneath some piping.

There's a whole bunch of pipes around; we've gotta be in the Works.

"Now we've gotta find Ram'ser."

I notice smoke billowing from a nearby building, as I run a scan on my surroundings, I realize that the building we crashed into was the CrediCorp headquarters building, and the flaming building is none other than the Jedi Temple. A Jedi Interceptor darted overhead, and an ARC-170 pursued it.

"What the shab? Hey, vode, look at this, Jedi and clones dueling it out."

--"No way. Gotta be a sim."--

"Gonna disagree with you there, Tray, the Temple's on fire."

--"Shab..."--

A moan floats through the air, the source a pile of rubble. Tracyn and I dig frantically until we uncover Ram'ser.

"Ram? Tell me you're alive...Ram!"

I tear off the chest plate and start delivering CPR, when Ram'ser vomits, the warm juice interacting negatively with my hand.

"Di'kut, you better live, 'cuz I'm gonna throttle you."

"Ooh...someone's fiesty."

"Sha'buir!"

Ram'ser opens his eyes.
"Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?"

--"He doesn't have a mother."--

Tracyn pushes me away from Ram'ser as the now conscious Bar'uur walks over to check Ram's condition. I look back at the still-flaming wreckage, wondering if anyone saw the gunship.

"What'll we do? The shelter we've made won't support all four of us. We've gotta find a cantina or something."

--"I'll stay here with Ram'ser, and you and Tray scout it out."--

"Alright, Bar."

Pursuit of a Fugitive

2010-06-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

Run. Run. Run. Cover. Where's cover?

The figure dashed across the waving wheat field, the full moon illuminating it as well as covered it in shadow, and looked over its shoulder. Its pursuer was treading calmly through the undulating sea of grain, trailing it. The figure stumbled into a sleepy little town, kicking down the first door it could find. The dim light lit its face more clearly, and the figure morphed into a ragged middle-age woman, her wet hair hanging down over her face. Her tattered shirt clung to her body, and she clambered up the stairs as her pursuer stepped into the two-story villa which contrasted with the rest of the town. The sinister helmet gleamed in the light, and reflected into the woman's eyes as she turned to her right, crashing into the bedroom. She dove into the sheets, and her heart beat wildly, as the deliberate footsteps resounded up the stairs and into her brain.

It's over. My life as a lawbreaker is over.

The door swished open, and her pursuer, clad in his Mandalorian armor, raised his rifle, and pulled off a shot.

The woman felt the bolt singe the pillow next to her, and she darted from the covers, darting past the bounty hunter, and aimed at the panoramic window taking up the wall. She collided with the transparisteel, shattering it. The sharp blades of metal gouged into her arms, legs, and body, and she stumbled onto the deck. She felt the heat from another bolt burn her arm, and she screamed in agony, falling back onto the railing. She turned back to look at her pursuer. She peered into the reflective yet concealing T-visor, and climbed onto the railing.

"D-d-don't make...me!"

She pitched her body weight over the edge, but all conscious thought ceased when a bolt seared through her spine.

Her last experience was a cold collision with the wet ground two stories below.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Mandalorian knelt over the pale body sprawled in the rain-soaked mud.

"Ney Byufurd. Pity she ran into the law so violently."

Boba Fett, galaxy-wide renowned bounty hunter and Mandalorian, stood up, and jetted away.

The Battle of Mandalore | Epilogue

2010-06-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Kom'rk stood with Beviin over a crater in the desert.

"I'll be fried gihaal. That's beskar, right?"

"Pure beskar."

"Weren't we running out of this stuff?"

Beviin leaned on his phrik sword, and turned toward the 30 year old man.
"There were rumors. Not anymore, though. We'll have enough to armor your grandchildren onward!"

"Anyone told Fett about this?"

"Not yet. But I'm sure it'll make it to his desk in no time."

"You need to consider changing to beskar, Beviin. That phrik stuff's good and all, but it doesn't beat beskar. And with a fresh lode of this stuff, someone might even get a set for Fett."

"The funny thing is this stuff will outlive even me!"

Kom'rk was sure that Beviin meant it seriously, but that didn't stop him from laughing his gett'se out.

"What?"

Kom'rk looked up at Beviin from his position, stooped over with his hands on his knees, and stared into the T-visor of the roughly 70 year old man staring just as quizzically into his T-visor, and laughed again.

When he stopped laughing, he straightened up, and sighed.

"Nothing, Beviin. We need to see about Keldabe."

As they strolled through the mostly ruined city of Keldabe, Beviin took the time to notice the quirks in Kom'rk's behavior. Even though the man was a generation from the man Beviin had known and worked with, he still carried many of the mannerisms of Ky'ram the eleventh, who had grown up unjustly in the gestation tanks of Kamino. The gait, the waving of the hands a certain way when he explained something, the astonishing resemblance to his great-grandfather who was unfortunately quite dead, and the same urge to live up to the expectations of his role model.

"...This building here needs serious repair, the Oyu'baat sustained minor damage..."

Kom'rk pointed to scorches and gouges in the aging stone of the equally aging cantina. The place was still a hive of Mandalorian gossip and activity, like always. Beviin remembered the stories Kom'rk had told him of how his father had met his mother in this very cantina, and courted her, married her, and then wept for her as she suffered a stroke and died. She was dead by the time Kom'rk was seven.

Now a new wave of rehab and recovery faced the ever-strong members of the Parjai'Kote Clan, and Beviin would help them through it as long as he lived.

Which he knew wasn't for very long. Beviin chuckled to himself and patted the youngster on the shoulder pad.

"I think we should get home. I've got to see if my cavern made it."

The two split ways, as the sun set on a ruined and bruised Mandalore. But the sun would rise again, after a brief period of bas'lan shevla.

The Battle of Mandalore | Chapter 2

2010-06-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Morning dawned on the sleepless Mandalorian defenders grappling for that ever-evasive bit of sleep. The defenders had stayed mostly alert throughout the night in their trenches, watching for a surprise Vong attack. It had not come, and the Mandalorians now faced the prospect of not being able to fight at 100 percent, due to their vigilance the night before.

At about ten o'clock, a rumble shook the entire planet. The Mandalorians loaded their weapons and prepared for a fight. Beviin Atin Eparavu unsheathed his phrik swords, and stared at the Vong ships on the horizon. The ships suddenly left the ground, and lifted off toward space. They were retreating. A massive roar erupted from the defenders, down 100,000 from their 500,000 plus troops at the beginning of the battle. The civilians had arisen from their relatively peaceful sleep, and had come to hear what the commotion was about. The uproar turned into various stanzas of Vode An, Dha Werda Verda, Gra'tua Cuun, and others, when they were interrupted by several loud whines from space, ultimately converging into one high-pitched scream. An eerie red glow illuminated the overcast skies, foreshadowing the horrendous act about to follow.

Red beams of pure plasma pierced the clouds, crashing into the ground with loud cracks, causing explosions wherever they hit. The orbital bombardment continued to rain down pure haran on the unsuspected Mandalorian populace, killing many, leveling buildings, and causing fires in the brushland near the Kelita River which ran through Keldabe.

Kom'rk dove for cover in a trench, dragging his wounded wife and son into it. Beviin piled in next to him. Sa'rad, who had been separated from them in the beginning of the bombardment, ran toward them. But when she was only five meters away, a beam hit exactly where she was, cooking her in her armor. Senaar screamed in agony as she watched her precious ten year old daughter killed unmercifully before her eyes. Both Kom'rks restrained her from rushing to grasp the armor, but Beviin dashed toward the body, bringing it back into the trench.

The hell-beams continued raining down, leveling more buildings, but not killing many more people, for they had all hunkered down to wait it out. Abruptly, the bombardment ceased, and the Vong ships pulled into hyperspace. The weary Mandalorians arose from their bunkers and trenches, and began piling and counting the dead.

Senaar, held up by her remaining child and husband, collected the helmets of Sa'rad and Kotyc, and Beviin pulled out a piece of nuna meat, and a slimy beast as old as Beviin, the strill known as Nou, clambered lazily toward the sand and grass colored Mandalorian who was fortunate enough to survive the hellish battle. Beviin led the beast past the rows of bodies, and followed the weeping Parjai'Kote family. They walked past street after ruined street of crumbled and crumbling buildings, until they reached their homestead outside Keldabe. The homestead was relatively untouched, but the outside wall was crumbled.

Kom'rk placed his wife on the couch in the karyai, and went out to meet Beviin.

"Well, Beviin, we made it. Sadly, it came at the price of two of my wonderful children."

"It's a price some people have to pay, Kom'ika. Your grandfather had to pay the same price."

"Really, Beviin?"

"Yeah, first he lost his old squadmate, Tripzer, back on Geonosis, then he lost Uno on a mission to Hoth after the war, and as a result, Rancor, Tripzer's replacement, committed suicide and wounded two others."

Kom'rk lowered his head.
"I hadn't heard that."

Beviin put his hands in the air, palms-out, in an I-don't-know gesture.
"I heard it from Ky'ram."

"My great-grandfather?"

"No, your great-great-grandfather."

"See, it's confusing sometimes, why we name each other Ky'ram and Kom'rk."

"Tradition can be confusing, Kom'rk."

"How many men do you think we lost, Beviin?"

"I'll say about 100,000 in the battle, and about a million five hundred thousand in that bombardment."

"It's amazing what people will do to get rid of us, eh, Beviin?"

"We're impossible to get rid of, like a pesky Mustafar lava flea, tiny buggers."

"Tiny? Those things are huge!"

"It's all in how you look at it, young Kom'rk."

"Whatever, old man."

"I'm not old, just...more experienced."

"Right, and I'm a youngling," Kom'rk said, laughingly as he turned to walk back into the house. His fighting days were over for now; it would take him everything to get his household and Manda'yaim back to normal.

The Battle of Mandalore | Chapter 1 | Part 2 of 2

2010-06-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Kom'rk hugged his mother, Senaar, as he pulled himself painfully from his brother's body. Sa'rad embraced the two, but was interrupted as pounding on the door sent resonating bangs through the Mandalorians gathered in the tunnels. The pounding matched the pounding of Kom'rk's heart as adrenaline rushed through his veins. These Vong had invaded his planet, and now had killed his younger brother. They would pay. He looked up as a restraining hand placed itself on his shoulder. The brown armored glove belonged to a brown armored gauntlet, which in turned belonged to a brown and green armored flightsuit. The edgy brown and green helmet completed the elderly, yet still capable, Mandalorian known as Beviin Atin Eparavu. No one knew where he came from, who he was, they just knew that he was the last thing you wanted to come across. He had befriended the Parjai'Kote Clan in the glory days of the Empire, and had endured hardships with them as well.

"You're about as giddy as a Naboo sun-stone. Lighten up, kid."

"They killed Kotyc."

"I know, but that gives you reason to kill more Vong."

"Whatever, Beviin."

Suddenly the fierce Mandalore sunlight of Nau'ur, the sun, pierced through the tunnel.

"They're here!" "Charge your weapons!" "Where is the alii'gai?"
The cries of commanders and other figures in command echoed through the cavern, accompanied by the cocking of weapons, the unsheathing of swords, bes'kade, bes'bevs, and bi'kadiniri, and various noises. The door burst open, and Vong and Mando alike opened fire, the screams of the dying and sickening slashes and slices filled the tunnel as the bio-organic galactic invaders marched forward, steadily pushing the Mandalorians back. But for every inch, fifty Vong died. But on the reverse, ten Mandos were eliminated.

"I'm hit!"

"Who? Where? Is it one of my aliit?"
Kom'rk said, spinning around momentarily. He noticed his mother stumble, scarlet blood seeping from a wound in her leg. Kom'rk turned to find a Vong warrior towering over him. He unsheathed his bes'kad, jamming it in the bio-suit's chink, a small gap between the chest plate and backplate. The Vong wailed, then swatted the fifteen year old Mandalorian into the wall, shattering bone. Kom'rk promptly passed out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 32 year old Kom'rk rallied beside Beviin as Sa'rad took care of his wife. She had taken shrapnel to her thigh, and he cursed for not crafting her a thigh plate.

Oh well, he thought, Mandalorians aren't perfect.

He fired at the horde of Vong, falling back steadily. They had to make a stand here, if they wanted to protect the civilians.

Then, an idea struck him right as a thud bug hit a Mando beside him in the neck.

He keyed in the link to Command, and explained his idea.

--"...and that's why you need to shut the emergency doors right now!"--

--"Alright."--

The comlink clicked off, as a click sounded from the emergency doors. They snapped shut as a Vong leaped through, slicing him in half. Muffled screams came from the other side of the door as gas wafted through the sealed off compartment, killing most of the Vong. The doors opened, and a fresh hail of fire rained down on the remaining several Vong. The Mandos raised their weapons in victory. They rushed the opening of the tunnels, and quickly reclaimed the mountains and surrounding areas, and began to dig trenches.

Day one of the battle of Mandalore had ended.

The Battle of Mandalore | Chapter 1 | Part 1 of 2

2010-06-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

CHAPTER 1.5

Kom'rk, the younger Kom'rk, and Kotyc dismounted from their speeder bikes, and walked the short distance to where about 500,000 Mandalorian men, with more streaming in, stood, listening to their leader, the legendary Boba Fett, brief them.

--"The Vong invaders are here to destroy us, but they have gravely underestimated us. We are Mandalorians, and we have the advantage of terrain. We have the motivation. We have strategy.

"Now, your main commanders will be Dinui Beskaryc, A'den Skirata, Taglar Dreskk, and Novall Talon. You'll split into groups of roughly 100,000, and then be split up from there. I'll ask each leader to come up and name general clans to come up."--

The Parjai'Kotes soon learned that they were assigned to Dinui, and the three men, now joined by the women and Kom'rk's father, Kom'rk Parjai'Kote the first, moved to the mountains, where Dinui would direct the defense of the pass.

The pass, known as Manda'lor's Mouth, was the major pass through the Atin Mountains, and it was also known as the gateway to Keldabe. It separated the desert from the grasslands, and the Mandalorians were certain that the Yuuzhan Vong would land in the desert, a logistical error that big armies almost always made when attacking Mandalore. Mandalore had been attacked about 20 times in the history of the galaxy, and all of those times the home bolo-ball team had won, so to speak.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kom'rk lay in a prone position on a little outcropping in Mount Dral, one of two mountains which formed the pass. All around, snipers sighted the faint forms that were approaching through the desert. His sons were on Mount Dral as well; Kom'rk above him and Kotyc below him. His link to his sniper rifle flashed, alerting him that he was in range.

--"Ram'ser Traat'aliit She'cu, trac'yar mav!"--

Those in Sniper Squad Nine opened fire on the Vong hordes, cutting them down while they were still a klick out. The Vong responded by firing thud bugs at the Mandalorians, eliciting minor casualties from the armored warriors. The main sniper groups opened up, killing more Vong, until they were 200 yards from the pass.

--"This is Dinui, retreat! Phase one is completed! Retreat to the tunnels!"--

The Mandalorians fled from their positions, and traversed over rock into tunnels underneath Keldabe and the surrounding areas. Group two, led by the legendary A'den Skirata, led the defense of the tunnels until all of the citizens were inside.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kotyc fell from his position on a boulder as a thud bug hit his backplate. He tumbled down the mountain, landing at the bottom. The silver-armored Mando attempted to get up, but he looked down at the twisted clump of bone and flesh that once comprised his leg. He screamed in agony, but his screams were muffled as the sharp end of an organic amphistaff stabbed through his side, impaling his lungs, and piercing the ground. Kom'rk turned to look at his brother, who was now pooling blood on the ground as the Vong warrior pulled his weapon from the body. He sighted his rifle in rage and fury, pulling the trigger. The Vong's head disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Kom'rk scrambled toward the body, dragging Kotyc into the tunnel as the door closed. He sobbed uncontrollably as his father and grandfather kneeled next to him.

The Battle of Mandalore

2010-06-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Battle of Mandalore is a project I'm working on, and this post is the place for every piece of information you need to know about the Battle.

The Battle of Mandalore was fought in 29 ABY. Boba Fett, the Mandalore of the Mandalorians, led the defense against a Yuuzhan Vong invasion fleet. Though the Mandalorians initially allied with the Yuuzhan Vong in exchange for being spared invasion, Fett realized that the Yuuzhan Vong would break their word.
Unlike other planets which the Yuuzhan Vong invaded to conquer and "Vongform", the attack on Mandalore had one goal only— to destroy the Mandalorians. The Mandalorians' fighting ability, as well as the use of underground tunnels and mountainous terrain, won them the battle. However, one and a half million—or nearly a third of the planet's population—died in the battle and the subsequent orbital bombardment from Yuuzhan Vong ships in orbit.
Even as of 40 ABY, neither the planet's infrastructure nor population had recovered from the invasion. While this was partially due to the Mandalorian nomadic culture, it was largely due to the lack of Galactic Alliance rebuilding assistance.
Ironically, craters from the Vong attacks revealed deposits of Mandalorian iron, used in the remilitarization during the Second Galactic Civil War. The Bes'uliik starfighter was made from this iron.
--From Wookieepedia

Dramatis Personae

Beviin Atin Eparavu (old acquaintance of the Parjai'Kote clan, adopted member)
Nou (Beviin's strill and loyal partner)
Kom'rk Parjai'Kote I (oldest fighting Parjai'Kote)
Boba Fett (Manda'lor)
Mirta Gev (granddaughter of Fett)
Kom’rk Parjai’Kote II (son of Kom'rk the first)
Senaar Parjai'Kote (wife of Kom'rk the second)
Sa'rad Parjai'Kote (daughter of Kom'rk the second)
Kotyc Parjai'Kote (second-born son of Kom'rk the second)
Kom'rk Parjai'Kote III (first-born son of Kom'rk the second)

Here's the household:

That's all you really need to know right now, but I'll edit this with more information.

The Battle of Mandalore | Prologue

2010-06-24T07:54:00.000-07:00

The door hissed shut as a black armored figure stepped through.

"I'm back!"

Another figure, clad in red, turned from her spot at the kitchen sink.

"How was Keldabe, cyar'ika?"

The black figure replied,
"Fine, but, I've got some bad news."

"What?"

The shadowy figure finished his walk toward the female Mandalorian, and gave her a gentle Keldabe kiss, in which the two helmets pressed together, simulating a kiss.
"Manda'lor has declared a state of defense against the Vong. They've entered the system, and they've already ravaged Kalevala. They're on their way here. He wants all men from 13 onward to meet his staff at Manda'lor's Mouth."

"How many do you expect to be there?"

"Everyone. I don't know specifics but it's going to be a lot. Are Kom'rk and Kotyc awake?"

"No. They need to be awake, though."

"Great, I'll go wake them up now."

The female put her hand on her husband's shoulder, restricting him from forward progress.
"Kom'rk. Wait. I can't stand being alone."

He turned to look at her, peering into her T-visor.
"You won't, you'll have Sa'rad with you."

"No, I mean I want to fight. So does Sa'rad. The rest of the clan, minus your father, can't fight. We'll move them underground, and me and Sa'rad will meet you at the Mouth."

Kom'rk hesitated, a sigh escaping his lips, then answered.
"Fine. You can come. Bring buir when you do."

"Alright."

"Bye, Senaar."
Kom'rk said as he turned, and walked into the narrow hallway, turning right to enter his two sons' room. They were asleep, until Kom'rk shook them gently to wake them up.

"Ad'ike, I've got to talk to you."

"What, Buir?"

"I've told you about the Vong, correct?"

His younger son of 13, Kotyc, answered.

"Yes."

"Well, they've invaded Kalevala, and are on their way here. They intend to kill us all."

His eldest son who bore his name, Kom'rk, of 15 years, didn't answer, but instead stood from his bed, and walked to the closet which led to the armory. Kom'rk picked up two helmets, one matching his paintscheme of all black, a tribute to his greatgrandfather, and handed the other to Kotyc. Kotyc slipped his on, and his scheme of silver armor pieces on a black flightsuit was completed. Kom'rk stepped back into the closet and grabbed two Verpine Sniper Rifles which had stood the test of time.

"Great. Load up with plenty of ammo, grab your bes'kade as well. One WESTAR each as well. I'll be packing my stuff."

The elder Kom'rk walked into his bedroom, and turned into the closet which was his gateway into the armory, the center of the house. All of the rooms in the house splayed around the armory like petals on a Naboo rose, and the closets of each transferred into the armory. Along the way, the Mandalorian going through it could don their armor, the traditional beskar'gam, and end up in the armory, an impressive stash of weapons, grenades, and ammunition.

Kom'rk put his helmet on, then, as he stepped through the door, his vision was enhanced by several filters, as well as icons with the core functions of the suit. Cool air wafted through the helmet, blocked from going out by a neckseal which covered the neck. His health was measured by sensors, and his ammo was measured by an as of then deadlink to his Verpine.

He entered the armory, and picked up his Sniper Rifle, the deadlink turning into a live one. Under the health bar was an ammunition gauge, giving him a heads-up on the level of ammo.

He also picked up two bes'kade, machetes that could slice bone. His were rather blood-stained, fo they were the do-it-all blades of the Mandalorian. He slid them into their holsters, noting that they stuck as he slid them in. He armed himself with a WESTAR pistol, very similar to the ones the legendary bounty hunter of almost a century ago, Jango Fett, carried. Kom'rk reflected that it was Jango's son, Boba, that was Manda'yaim's current Manda'lor. He stepped out of the armory, and checked up on his sons. His sons were almost as tall as him, and bore similar weaponry to him. The three of them walked out of the hallway, and past their mother, acknowledging her with a hug and a goodbye. The Mandalorians climbed onto their speeder bikes, and rocketed off toward the very narrow pass in the Atin mountains, a mountain range spanning most of the planet.