THE SOUTH IS BURNING
"The law of conquest is a cold law, but it is the supreme law."
There was nothing about this day in particular that said momentous change was coming.
And yet, as dawn rose on Mandalore, urgency filled the air. A command had been issued from the Sole Ruler - and thus, Mandalore and its Empire would hasten to obey. For many months, their nation had contested the Diarchy. For many days, their expansion was dedicated to snatching advantage away from their northernmost adversary. Now that the Diarchy had been slain, Mandalore was rich in lands and resources once loyal to its adversary. Worlds that were directly part of the Diarchy, or territories that were sympathetic to its existence, were now exploited to fuel the Mandalorian machine.
With but a word, that exploitation came to an end. With but an utterance, the Mandalorian positions moved inward. Frontier outposts were shuttered, mining operations were concluded, and all armed personnel were called home. Yet the return did not stop solely at the Empire's frontier. Soon, even dignitaries who were stationed across the stars left their posts and returned at once. The Galaxy might blink with confusion. The Empire's clients might ask what is going on? But Mandalore did not answer with words...only action.
And yet, as dawn rose on Mandalore, urgency filled the air. A command had been issued from the Sole Ruler - and thus, Mandalore and its Empire would hasten to obey. For many months, their nation had contested the Diarchy. For many days, their expansion was dedicated to snatching advantage away from their northernmost adversary. Now that the Diarchy had been slain, Mandalore was rich in lands and resources once loyal to its adversary. Worlds that were directly part of the Diarchy, or territories that were sympathetic to its existence, were now exploited to fuel the Mandalorian machine.
With but a word, that exploitation came to an end. With but an utterance, the Mandalorian positions moved inward. Frontier outposts were shuttered, mining operations were concluded, and all armed personnel were called home. Yet the return did not stop solely at the Empire's frontier. Soon, even dignitaries who were stationed across the stars left their posts and returned at once. The Galaxy might blink with confusion. The Empire's clients might ask what is going on? But Mandalore did not answer with words...only action.
48 HOURS...
Hypergate Sarka and Hypergate Rishi roared to life.
The totality of the recalled military might? Those forces that had been devoted to holding the territory torn from Diarchy hands? They had been reorganized and sent to the Galactic South. Now, the pocket of Mandalorian Supremacy in the region had new teeth. Now, the region that was held for ancestral purposes evolved into a beachhead. Somov Rit was the first to hear the Mandalorian herald. Up until this moment, the world had been an unremarkable footnote in the region.
However, it had immense potential to serve as an agriworld. With modest investment, it would have the means to feed numerous worlds in the region and beyond. Thus, it had drawn the attention of Mandalore. Sadly, the Empire was not the first to arrive on Somov Rit. An enclave of Lightbearers, loosely affiliated with the neighboring democracy, had taken up residence there. Their mission? The persuade the leaders of Somov Rit to accept their direction and to serve as a beacon of humanitarian efforts in the sector. Together, there was so much good that could be wrought across the cosmos.
Or so they had hoped.
As was Mandalore's custom, the herald descended with the offer: kinship or conquest. Somov Rit could choose to surrender to the Empire and retain its identity, its leadership, and its soul. Or. It could resist...and in doing so, guarantee that someone else would be raising its children. Were reason at play? Somov Rit would have made the choice that so many others had. Were reason at play? Somov Rit would have continued on in its peaceful existence.
But the Light does not reason.
By the Lightbearers' council did Somov Rit choose to take up arms. The herald, shockingly, was struck down as a sign of defiance. The Light painted a picture of hope by resistance. After all, rebellion was built on hope, was it not? Sadly...Somov Rit had fallen victim to the honied words of a serpent. Mandalorians knew the truth: that the Light was a serpent and that the Dark was a scorpion. It was in their nature to lead others to damnation. And in but the span of hours, the planet was tamed.
The paltry resistance was put to the sword. The Lightbearers whose honied words had led to this damnation? Their forms were crucified without mercy. And their children? Their younglings? Their Padawans? They were taken to Mandalore to be...re-educated. In time, they would make fine Mandalorians who would not hesitate to put down the Light.
The totality of the recalled military might? Those forces that had been devoted to holding the territory torn from Diarchy hands? They had been reorganized and sent to the Galactic South. Now, the pocket of Mandalorian Supremacy in the region had new teeth. Now, the region that was held for ancestral purposes evolved into a beachhead. Somov Rit was the first to hear the Mandalorian herald. Up until this moment, the world had been an unremarkable footnote in the region.
However, it had immense potential to serve as an agriworld. With modest investment, it would have the means to feed numerous worlds in the region and beyond. Thus, it had drawn the attention of Mandalore. Sadly, the Empire was not the first to arrive on Somov Rit. An enclave of Lightbearers, loosely affiliated with the neighboring democracy, had taken up residence there. Their mission? The persuade the leaders of Somov Rit to accept their direction and to serve as a beacon of humanitarian efforts in the sector. Together, there was so much good that could be wrought across the cosmos.
Or so they had hoped.
As was Mandalore's custom, the herald descended with the offer: kinship or conquest. Somov Rit could choose to surrender to the Empire and retain its identity, its leadership, and its soul. Or. It could resist...and in doing so, guarantee that someone else would be raising its children. Were reason at play? Somov Rit would have made the choice that so many others had. Were reason at play? Somov Rit would have continued on in its peaceful existence.
But the Light does not reason.
By the Lightbearers' council did Somov Rit choose to take up arms. The herald, shockingly, was struck down as a sign of defiance. The Light painted a picture of hope by resistance. After all, rebellion was built on hope, was it not? Sadly...Somov Rit had fallen victim to the honied words of a serpent. Mandalorians knew the truth: that the Light was a serpent and that the Dark was a scorpion. It was in their nature to lead others to damnation. And in but the span of hours, the planet was tamed.
The paltry resistance was put to the sword. The Lightbearers whose honied words had led to this damnation? Their forms were crucified without mercy. And their children? Their younglings? Their Padawans? They were taken to Mandalore to be...re-educated. In time, they would make fine Mandalorians who would not hesitate to put down the Light.
24 HOURS...
The devastation of Somov Rit sent ripples through the region.
So much so that the next herald found much more compliant responses upon arrival. Wherever the freshly-mustered force went, it found worlds eager to accept Mandalorian Supremacy.
Each, like a domino, succumbed - one after the other. And each, true to Mandalore's word, were permitted to live as they once had. Who they were was intact. Who they would become remained in their grasp. Where one chose the folly of the Light and was punished, six others chose true reason. And for that, they were rewarded.
So much so that the next herald found much more compliant responses upon arrival. Wherever the freshly-mustered force went, it found worlds eager to accept Mandalorian Supremacy.
Hanoon. Leritor. Argovia. Shiffrin. Kothlis. R-Duba.
Each, like a domino, succumbed - one after the other. And each, true to Mandalore's word, were permitted to live as they once had. Who they were was intact. Who they would become remained in their grasp. Where one chose the folly of the Light and was punished, six others chose true reason. And for that, they were rewarded.
PRESENT DAY
Now, a mere seventy-two hours after Mand'alor the Iron issued his decree, the presence of Mandalore is felt anew across the stars. The heart of the Empire is mustering new forces with each passing hour. The hypergates burn with militant activity. The international silence is deafening. While there are endless questions about what Mandalore may do next, one thing is certain...
The Future is Mandalorian.
