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Galdraan looked like many inclement climate worlds, banded and dotted with blue water, gray mountains, green forests, and white snow. Beautiful, but not exceptional; except that it was not as bright in the Force as one would expect. There was a low buzz of fear and discontent, muffling the verdant song of the Forests and population centers. It spoke of a much longer standing woe than the Mandalorians they were sent to deal with. If all went well, he would see about looking into that.
As the leader of the Jedi judicial team, Yan Dooku decided he should take this time waiting for landing clearance to check on everyone. Ace Moria was fine, focused but relaxed as she oversaw her Padawan, Reen, in the pilot's seat; they would be staying on the ship so the only concern there was of a young pilot still early in his learning. In the galley he found the other two Masters, Kinsk and Tash, calmly puttering about the kitchen to make tea for the group of young knights who were still trying to get their emotions under control in a group meditation. In the cargo bay come salle was Yan's own Padawan, Komari, who was brimming with inappropriate excitement as she warmed up for a fight Yan hoped to avoid; even if it seemed inevitable, given their opponents.
As the only combatant to have never encountered a Mandalorian in battle, Komari failed to grasp the threat they faced. There were few cultures better prepared or suited to fighting Jedi than Mandalorians, and the recording attached to the reports showed a band of merciless killers. There was a reason he had tried to bar her from this mission, only to be overruled by his own master. He'd be tempted to follow the ol’ Frog's advice and send her to investigate a Shadow-case lead they'd been unable to follow before, if she wasn't so terrible at that sort of thing. There was a very good reason he'd steered her toward the Emergency Response track instead of Diplomacy like her brothers; the only time Komari should interact was civilians was when she was saving or protecting them.
Attention
The Force pinged across the ship, making them all stop and take notice. Something was happening...Outside the ship...not on the planet...yet......it was bad.
"Master Dooku to the bridge," Moria's voice cracked across the intercom.
"What is it?" Yan barked, bursting into the cockpit.
"Device just beyond the Karmen line," she reported, agitation making her lekku twist as she pointed out the red blinking object. "80 meters to port."
"It's flight path took it right past us," Reen reported, pincers clicking in alarm behind his mask as he matched it's course. "We couldn't see it until it armed!"
"Armed?" On of the knights yelped from the door.
The scanners beeped and Tash squeezed past the others to reach the station. "Oh Force," she gasped, going pale green. "It's a Sith construct. Lord Pavor Era."
The Scorched Earth era, as some academics called it. The time when the Sith realized they could lose their war with the Army of Light and attempted to destroy what they could not hold. Their desperation and infighting made them careless, and the Jedi were able to disable the worst of it. But they always knew they didn't find it all.
As they gained on the object it resolved into a dodecahedron, made of matte black pentagons lined in glowing red. It was roughly the size of a speeder bike, large enough to carry a dangerous load but small enough to be missed in the void of space. Along several panels were Sith spells of obfuscation, making it slippery in the Force as well. Yan was just about to ask after their options to collect it when-
Move!
The Padawan lurched them away. The object violently separated. The sides shoot out from an explosion, trailing dust. The dust glimmered in the Force.
Dust should not glimmer in the Force.
LAND!
"Land!" They all echoed, but Reen was already pitching them into a dive.
Moria grabbed the console as they screamed through the atmosphere, bolstering their heat shields with the Force. The com crackled to life. One of the knights scrambled to answer air control. Yan didn't listen, focusing on trying to find where they were needed. But the Force wasn't pulling him to just one place. There were 4- no, 10! 13!
"Oh, Stars," Master Tash breathed, reading the external sensors. "There's dozens of them. We can't stop them all, there aren't enough of us."
"We do what we can," Kinsk said, touching his former padawan's shoulder. "Focus on the population centers we can reach."
"Plotting fly-by over the towns around the capital," Moria reported, fingers flying over the console. "We'll have to jump."
"Good thing we all know how to land," Komari said from the back of the group, trying to keep the shake from her voice.
"Once we level out everyone to the hatch," Yan called, braced as the green ground resolved into a forest. "Jump as the Force calls and report once it's clear. We'll assess damages after."
"Yes, Master," They chorused.
"May the Force be with us."
~*~
Jaster was having an unusually pleasant day, which of course meant something terrible was about to happen.
"Mand'alor![1]" Someone shouted, storming into the command tent. "Ship just hard-dived into the atmosphere."
"Ruusan," Jaster called as the verd dove for the scanner on the holo table.
"They've pulled up," they announced, bringing it up above the table. "Flying low. Computer's running the model."
"They're air dropping people over the towns," Vhonte announced from the comms table. "No chutes or jetpacks sited. Executions?" Quick but horrifying
"It's a Jetiise[2] ship," Ruusan declared, answering Vhonte's question. "A carrier, made for up to 20 beings."
"A strike force," Jaster concluded, alarmed. "What are they doing here?"
"Aside from pulling jaro[3] stunts?" Vhonte huffed, agitated.
"Alor, we have a dozen contacts breaking atmo," Ruusan called.
"Where?" Jaster asked.
"Everywhere. It looks like a meteor shower," they reported, typing at the controls. "But there's no debris cloud this side of the sun. And at those angles...Oh ka'ra[4]," their blue skin went white. "They're too steep, most of it won't burn up in atmosphere. They're going to hit! 5 minutes!"
Jaster hit the emergency broadcast. "All verd to ships! Mass stellar impact in 5 minutes! Seal hatches and activate shields! Do not launch! Move it, Mandos!"
They burst from the tent to chaos, verd dropping everything to sprint to the ships. There was no time to head for their own, just reach cover. The shields and plating of Haat'ade[5] ships could take a stellar impact, but only if they were active.
Jaster headed for the speeder corral.
"Are you crazy?" Vhonte shouted, grabbing his arm to stop him.
"Kal took Jango into the city," He said, trying to rip free. "I have to find him."
"There's no time, alor[6]," Ruusan shouted from the Legacy's ramp. "It's seven minutes away, even by ship."
"He's my ad!" He shouted.
"And you're our Mand'alor," Vhonte snapped, kicking his bad knee.
He fell with a shout. Vhonte lunged for his middle. He rolled into a tumble to dodge. She pivoted, catching his pauldron. He threw an elbow, aiming for her knee. She buckled but reeled him in and grabbed his other shoulder. He tried to shove her off, but she took them to the ground.
"We're running out of time!" Ruusan shouted at the grapplers.
The roar of engines filled the clearing, making them freeze. Above, the Jedi carrier passed, a lone figure jumping out. Black robes billed as the Jetii slowed their descent, landing not two meters from them. They didn't even look at the Mandos, instead twisting around to face the impending danger.
A terrible boom rent the air as the meteorites ignited above them. They glowed, dozens of them, screeching down in a terrible rain of destruction. Two lights grew brighter, heading right for them. Jaster felt he couldn't breathe. The Jetii lifted their hands towards the meteorite. Were they going to try to stop them? Impossible.
Around them meteorites struck, bright explosions that made the ground shake. Still the Jetii held out their hands. Even as trees fell, topping around the clearing, the Jetii stood firm. Jaster gaped as the two meteorites slowed down.
Their lights grew dim as they neared the Jetii. Dimmer, dimmer. Slower, slower. Until they were two, gently glowing pebbles, smaller than a credit shit. They drifted like leaves in the wind into the Jetii's waiting hands.
No one moved as the meteorites continued to fall. They waited, hearts pounding, to see if they were safe. To see if the Jetii could repeat the miracle a third time. As the meteorites boomed around them Jaster realized why the Republic depended on the Jetiise so much. They willingly gave away their children. Why their Senate acted like they were untouchable. How could you do anything else with such beings on your side?
It was another six agonizing minutes until the last impact struck, with no more aiming for their base camp. The Jedi released a shaky breath, shoulders unwinding as they turned. They were human-seeming, tall, probably only a few years older than Jaster, and male presenting at a guess. He was striking, with high cheek bones accented by a neat beard touched with silver, wind swept by the fall. his lips twitched in an approximation of a smile, relief in his eyes.
"Are you injured?" He asked, voice pleasantly deep.
"No," Jaster croaked, a slightly hysterical laugh escaping him. "Are you?"
The Jetii opened his mouth to answer, and then seemed to consider the question. "No," He said, stumbling over to a crate to collapse.
Jaster and Vhonte struggled to untangle themselves, Jaster rushing to the Jetii as Vhonte looked to the ship.
"Ruusan!" She barked. "You di'kut[7], you didn't close the ship!"
"Kark[8] you!"
Jaster sent a ping to Kal, asking for a check in, as he reached the Jetii; hopefully, his son had had a lucky encounter too. "What's wrong?" he asked the man.
"Backlash," he said, breathing deeply. "I am not used to using the Force in such a way and it overwhelmed me. I'll be fine, but it may take a while to regain my full strength."
Jaster nodded. "Did you know that would work?"
"...No," He sighed. "Everything I have ever read of the Force says stopping a meteorite is impossible. But, as my old master is wont to say, through the Force all things...are......" He trailed off, examining the stones that nearly killed them; one was glowing. "Oh dear. This is Kyber."
Jaster flinched, horrified. "That would have punched straight through our ships like wet flimsy." Their eyes meet as they both realized how near death they had all come. "My verde[9] and I owe you a debt, Jetii," he told the man firmly, his honor demanding it even with their ancestral enemy. He offered his hand. "I am Mand'alor Jaster Mereel of the Ha'at Mando'ade; the True Mandalorians."
"Jedi Master Yan Dooku," the Jetii replied, allowing Jaster to maneuver them into a Mandalorian handshake. "High councilor of the Coruscant temple, and a Jedi accepts no debt. It is our duty to help where the Force calls us. And the Force was very clear I protect you and your people," his brow pinched in a confused scowl. "Which raises several questions."
"Like what a Jedi strike force is doing here?" Vhonte called, returning with Ruusan and two squad captains; around them the verd were leaving the ships and badly pretending not to stare at their savior. "We counted seven air drops, but I'd guess there's more."
"The governor requested we rescue his planet from a band of Mandalorian raiders killing civilians," He answered bluntly. "I'm inclined to doubt that report, as I do not believe the Force would call me to protect child killers in favors of civilians."
"That shabuir[10]," Ruusan cursed, kick a rock in rage.
"The governor hired us to deal with a group of what he claimed were domestic terrorists," Jaster reported, furious. "But instead we've been finding political protestors trying to remove him from office for corruption. He must have realized we were on to him and called you in to deal with us before we could bring it to the courts. It's illegal to purposely mislead mercenaries in Manda'lase[11]."
"And a federal offense to use any force against peaceful protests," Dooku replied, scowling at the trees toward the capital. "I formally request you join me in meeting with the Governor. Once we send an aid request to the Jedi we can address these...inconsistencies." Vhonte snorted.
Jaster nodded. "I accept. I have several squads here and on standby who are trained in disaster recovery ready to start work while we wait for your people. I'd also like to check on my son; he went with my second, Kal Skirata, to speak with a potential whistle blower in the governor's mansion. If the rest of your team were able to...catch the meteorites too-" it still felt insane to think about, even if he would never forget it "-he should be fine, but I'll feel better once I can see him."
"I understand," Dooku said, allowing Jaster to help him stand and shuffle to the speeders. "My padawan is here as well, and while I can sense she is alive, I doubt I will feel at ease until we reunite."
Ah, so being a Jet'baji[12] was like being a buir[13]. It made Jaster feel better about their temporary alliance. Though, he should probably see about making it less temporary given...everything.
As they reached the speeders Dooku's comm chirped, repeatedly. He checked it and his shoulders relaxed a bit.
"My fellow Jedi are reporting in," he informed Jaster and he climbed in too. "It seems most of them achieved similar success." Jaster put form official alliance even higher on his to-do list. "However, my padawan..." His comm started buzzing. "...is now calling," he huffed.
A pretty, young woman with a long braid appeared in blue, slumped in a café chair and clearly as tired as Dooku. She gave the older man a jaunty salute and tired smile, making him scowl; irreverent brat, looked like.
"Hey, master," she said, pulling something from her pocket. "I made it to the capital in time. I caught like four of the..." She looked at her hand and her jaw dropped. "Oh shit, that's a kyber crystal."
"Komari," Dooku sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Right," she said, shoving the stone back in her pocket and turning back to him. "Sorry; I'll freak later. Uh, one of the meteorites hit the Governor's mansion. Half the building is gone. I was going to see if I could help, but my legs gave out. Are you okay?"
Jaster's heart was in his throat. No. Nonononono!
"I am fine," Dooku said, tension ratcheting his shoulders straight. "As soon as you're able, get to the mansion. I will see if I can send you help."
"I've sent a squad of emergency responders in a medical ship," Ruusan said from the co-pilot's seat. "ETA 7 minutes."
"A squad of mandalorians are on the way, work with them," Dooku relayed.
"I thought we were supposed to fight the Mandalorians," Komari said, levering herself to her feet; a local man ducked into view to help her.
"I have strong reason to believe the governor was misleading us," he replied. "But that is a matter for later. We must help the people here."
"Yes, Master," she said, signing off.
Dooku pulled up another call as Vhonte got the speeder moving, a startled kel dor boy helping an older twi'lek into a ship seat. "Padawan Reen, Ace Moria, Are you alright?"
"Yes, Master," the twi'lek answered, sitting down heavily. "Just some exhaustion. You?"
"Fine," Dooku brushed her off. "Are you capable of piloting?"
"I am," the boy said, hopping into the pilot's seat. "I didn't have time to...catch any of the meteorites." His voice shaking, as startled at the idea as Jaster was. "Where do you need us?"
"The Governor's mansion. One of them impacted there and he is known to have a collection of Jedi and sith artifacts. They've been declared harmless, but if the meteorite was a kyber crystal that may no longer be the case. Use the ship’s sensors to check and make the med-bay available. A Mandalorian emergency response crew will meet you there."
"Yes, master," Reen said, getting the ship running. They signed off.
Jaster's com beeped. "Jango!" He burst, seeing their tag. "Kal!"
"All clear, alor," Kal answered.
"Here, buir," Jango answered, voice quiet and echoing in his helmet. "There was an explosion in the Mansion's administrative wing. We're fine, it didn't affect the residential wing or servant's chambers. Searching for hostiles now."
Jaster breathed, panic finally ebbing. "No hostiles," he told them. "It was a freak meteor shower."
"I'm afraid not," Dooku interrupted, looking grim. "It was a Sith scorched earth device. We witnessed it detonate above the atmosphere."
"Osik," Jaster cursed. "Kal, there're Jetiise headed your way to help. Their leader says it was a Dar'jetii[14] Shuk'uvet[15]. Clear out all civilians and assist the Jetii where needed. Helix Squad and the Baar'cabur[16] are in bound."
"Yes, alor," Kal answered and signed off.
"K'oyacyi[17], buir," Jango called.
"K'oyacyi, ad," Jaster replied.
Dooku's comm buzzed again.
"What now?" Ruusan whined.
"Master Dooku," a voice panted quietly. "Kinsk and I have found the Mandalorians. They've taken a village hostage, but one of the meteorites struck their ships and they're in a panic."
Dooku raised an eyebrow at Jaster, who shook his head. "The governor insisted we stay in the clearing we landed in, and my code bans my people from putting civilians in danger." He leaned toward the comm. "What color is their armor?"
"Yan?" The voice asked, cautious.
"Answer, Tash," Dooku ordered.
"Mostly matte gray with blue accents and flight suits."
"That's kyr'stad," Jaster explained, furious. "The Death Watch. They're a terrorist group we were hoping to track down with the Governor's information." The ge'hutuun[18] was probably working with them. Tricking the Jetiise into killing his enemies sounded just like the cowardly, underhanded thing Tor Viszla would do.
"Tash, I'm on my way with a group of friendly Mandalorians," Dooku informed his people.
"We have varied colors and mythosaur skulls on our armor," Jaster called. "And we'll be shooting the bastards in gray."
"Understood," Tash replied, sounding relieved. "Kinsk and I will scout the village and meet you at the western edge in ten minutes."
"May the Force be with you," Dooku intoned, sounding more like a prayer than their famous greeting.
"And you, Master."
"Ruusan, get our ships in the air," Jaster ordered. "We're going after Viszla."
[1] Mand’alor: supreme ruler of the Mandalorian people
[2] Jetiise: Jedi, plural; Jetii=singular
[3] Jaro: death wish, insane act of reckless stupidity
[4] Ka’ra: stars, the ruling council of fallen kings
[5] Haat’ade: short form of “Haat Mando’ade” or “True Mandalorians”, Jaster Mereel’s mercenary company/faction
[6] Alor: leader, chief, boss
[7] Di’kut: idiot, useless individual
[8] Kark: universal swear word
[9] Verde: soldiers, warriors
[10] Shabuir: extreme insult - *jerk*, but much stronger
[11] Manda’lase: The Mandalorian system
[12] Jet’baji: Jedi master, lit. Jedi teacher
[13] Buir: parent
[14] Shuk'uvet- world break [from "to break" and "World"]
[16] Baar'cabur- Guardian Healer [from "Medic" and "Guardian".]
[17] K’oyacyi: Cheers! Hang in there! Come back safely. (lit. Stay alive!)
[18] Ge’hutuun: bandit, villain, petty thief - can also mean a serious criminal you have no respect for - abusive