A New Junction [Mandalorian Empire dominion of Feriae Junction]

[Gilamar Skirata]

Hawke frowned and looked first to Gil, then back up at the strange helmet looking down at him.

"That's actually pretty close to what I expected Gil and Strider to drop in on. Maybe a pleasure yacht if Strider were flying," He put his hands on his hips and shook his head "But not in a damn Battlecruiser." He gave the pair a shrug and turned around.

"Though mine is better," He said playfully.

He began walking towards the door finally and led them through the spaceport to what could only be his office. The trip was done in silence as Hawke chewed on what Yasha had said. His office was several stories up a turbolift and overlooked the entire city of New Junction. The walls were a plain but pristine white and the floor was a star speckled black. The room was littered with old battle worn Sith, Mandalorian, and Republic relics from armor to lightsabers. The display was neatly arranged with battered battle flags hung like tapestries from the three factions indicating what relics sat below.

It was like walking into a small museum. One item in particular made Gilamar cringe. He was no fan of Dark Jedi, but Ember Rekali and his clan had been valuable allies for many years and he knew that if Ember were alive to see this he would be in a fit or rage, because there sat right next to one another were the battered and broken armor of Rach Kol-Rekali, Martyr of Mandalore. He grit his teeth but sat down when the invitation was made.

"Quite the collection you've got," he said through grit teeth. That armor belonged to Clan Rekali, and Hawke knew it. Hawke simply smiled as if he'd just won a prize from a carnival game before turning his gaze to his clasped hands.

"We are aware that the Sith have been...Moving. Their tactics have been increasingly...Grim." Hawke tapped a button on his screen that displayed the horror of Mon Calamari. Images of the black oceans, slick with the oil from the dead sea life. The bodies of Mon Cala, Quarren and a variety of other sea life bobbed on the surface. The image flashed to transports taking away surviving Mon Calamari in chains. Gil stared at the images appalled. He'd heard the Sith had taken the world and its shipyards but not...Not like this.

"But we are not those weak willed merchant fish," he said sharply, almost as if they insulted him with their mere presence. "We're proud warriors here and we fight just as well if not better than you lot. We've been watching your slow progress reaching out to our old worlds...Reestablishing connections with them and as a friend I promised I would hear you out so. Let's hear it!" Gil began to speak but Hawke stopped him.

"No, I want to hear from her...This new Mand'alor."

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Miri O'Hare]

"You ever have Port in a Storm?"

"Can you fight?"

"How long did you race?"

"Have you ever met Jorus Merill?"

These questions always came when she tried working with a small crew for smuggling jobs...
And she hated it. As the Aquarius dropped out of hyperspace and the stars took their rightful place in the black Miri looked to her feline co-pilot and shot her a sharp look. Somehow this furball had asked her every single one of those questions and more. About her family (specifically her eight brothers), about sailing, and even about her...condition. Miri didn't exactly try to keep it a secret. Her medbay was packed with serum and a medical talkative medical droid that she really should have put a restraining bolt on months ago.

"Listen, if you ask me one more question about the Five Sabers, my family, this ship, hell even about Six," she jabbed a thumb over at the maintenace droid floating through the common area just beyond the cockpit, "I will jam your hairy arse right out the nearest airlock! ARE WE CLEAR LASSIE?" When she got angry her Pamarthen accent thickened to astronomical levels. Her face was flushed now and her hair was in a mess and so her Cathar co-pilot just stared and nodded her head. Miri grunted and turned back to the dash.

"This is Tegaanalir freighter Aquarius, requesting permission to dock," A low growl from a wookie nearly set her off again. "WHAT?!"

"I think hessss looking at the two battlecruissssersss that are between ussss and dropping off our goodsssss." The smuggler turned to the viewport to see two massive battlecruisers hovering over the planet. An Alor-class battlecruiser and another she didn't quite know, which was odd for her. Either way...Their little smuggling job just got a whole lot messier...

New Objective! Stop the Smugglers!​

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig continued to quietly follow Yasha and Gil, and only became more aggravated with Hawke. Ok, he could understand the dislike of a battlecruiser just showing up, but he had to know Mandalorians wouldn't come unarmed, right? Either way, the Force sensitive Mandalorian tried to keep his mouth shut. It was then that he boarded the turbolift, and was soon greated by the museum-like office. Alor Gred couldn't help but be in awe of the sight. Everything from armor to lightsabers, the latter being the most interesting to Mig. He could almost feel the crystals in them. He then noticed the armor of Mandalorian. Mig didn't recognize it, but Alor Skirata sure did.

Mig was quick to take a seat when offered, though he took the farthest seat available. So apparently Hawke did realize that the Sith were moving. It was then that he showed them a gruesome sight. The world of the Mon Calamari and Quarren, just... decimated. So many just... killed needlessly. It made Mig's stomach turn. And then Hawke said something that triggered the Mandalorian. He spoke like the Mon Cala and Quarren were somehow beneath him. Mig was somewhat happy he had a helmet that kept his initial reaction hidden, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "It may not be my place, but you speak about the engineers of some of the best starships in the galaxy like they're nothing more than garbage." Ok. This probably just hurt things, but Mig couldn't handle that sort of attitude usually.

[member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Beth Australis-Mantis"] [member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Negotiate
Allies: [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Quoron Mantis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"]

Was she late? Maybe a hair. She knew the time – and knew the others were probably already in the negotiation rooms. But how could someone superimpose on cooking lizards? Not to mention, her general nerves – she hadn’t been on any type of diplomatic mission in months. It was… Good, and felt right, but she was out of practice. Nevertheless, she could only hope for the best.

Unlike the other Mandalorians present, Cassi aimed for a less combative attire. Like in most situations, Cassi tended to be on the ‘less intimidating but will still kick your arse if needed’ looked. Granted, maybe a business styled dress with a simple ponytail didn’t exactly scream that either but whatever.

“Hurry! I’m already late,” she muttered to the others in the room. What looked like a table floated a few feet off the ground with a variety of items on top – it had more to do with the environmental terraforming of Mandalore, and other such tech across the galaxy. Cassiopeia would be coming in with the idea that Mandalorians are not just war, war, war but that they promoted, developed, and protected their worlds. Whether it was a good approach or not, who knew.

At last, the cart was finalized – there was some goodies, too, including some tihaar although the more agricultural products were towards the ‘back’. After all, trade was a major part of any type of alliance or annexation and the Mandalorian Empire had valuable trade products. Products that aren't necessarily weapons and ammo and armor, but good food stuff, good drinks, and in general good consumer goods.

With a deep breath, Cassiopeia heaved out with the cart towards the Mand’alor, Gilamar Skirata, and Hawke.

Upon arriving, Cassiopeia gave a pleasant smile towards the group. She hadn’t quite made the pleasure of meeting the Alor of Clan Gred, but time would eventually come. She cleared her throat at what seemed to be a moment of awkward silence, “Hello, I’m Cassiopeia Australis. I sincerely apologies for my tardiness. I have brought a sample of gifts to provide, mostly regarding our terraforming technologies and innovations – along with reports, et al, of the results, continuing ecosystem stability and so forth. The Mand’alor, the Empire, all wish to provide this as a gift to the Red Legion.”

She glanced at Yasha, who it seemed was about to begin speaking, and her face gave a quick 'so sorry!'

 

[Amun]

Location: Junction
Allies: Himself
Enemies: Mandalorians | Red Legionnaires | [member="Gilamar Skirata"] | [member="Yasha Cadera"] | [member="Mig Gred"] | [member="Cassiopeia Australis"]
Objective: Assassinate

Junction and the Mandalorians. Two things the Kyuzo was indifferent about, yet he had encountered with the Mandalorians on one occasion on Corellia. Something of a war droid and a Mandalorian rider. He engaged mainly because he was paid handsomely by the Sith to help escort Sith-Imperial personnel off the planet. The credits and other currency given to him by his employers were one to behold, and so it was incentive to look for more jobs of its caliber. To his luck he came across a warrior of Mandalorian heritage, a renowned man that was either praised or despised depending on the person one was talking to.

By the name of Munin. With that name alone Amun knew what he was dealing with.

The job was rewarding as dangerous it sounded. The Warlord wanted a blow against the Mandalorian Empire, damage their ambitions and goals. Though how could a simple bounty hunter accomplish that? The answer wasn’t assets, but rather authority figures. People with influence and power that controlled the politics of the Mandalorians. Not only just Mandalorians, but also people that they established alliances and other mutual relationships. Those were the people that needed to be disposed of by whatever means necessary. Something that Amun could do, thus accepting Munin’s offer. He didn’t care why the man wished to attack his own people, though he could muster an idea on why.

Standing tall on top of a building, looking out to the military starport that a Mandalorian vessel entered. The ship, no doubt, came from the cruisers that the Mandalorians brought to Junction. It was the only ship coming from them which meant this was the delegation that would negotiate with the central figure that was in command. Someone from the Red Legion as Munin gave him every inch of information on Junction. What he knew of these Legionnaires was that they were trained by the Mandalorians, warriors that didn’t join the ranks of their mentors; rather they were mercenaries that helped the Mandalorians with battles such as the last war fought by the coalition of the Republic and Mandalorians against the Sith.

Potentially dangerous, but Amun would have to see for himself.

With his target on sight the Bounty Hunter was on the move. He moved by jumping to nearby buildings, using his dense muscles to leap farther than a human could and using grappling hooks when needed. He did all this with his armament and equipment on him too. Which wasn’t as heavy what a Mandalorian or a Sun Guard used, but he had seen results and success in his methods of combat and bounty hunting.

The Kyuzo would trek more buildings and infrastructure just until he was close to the spaceport, and when he did he would have to scale whatever building he was on to get an aim on his targets. It was convenient for him to assassinate from range, but if it came down to close quarters...well, he’d figure it out.

 

[Deadeye]

Location: Junction
Allies: Mandalorian Empire
Objective: Assassinate Pirate leaders.

It was pitch black, rain thumped down hard on the flat stone rooves of the nearby buildings. Deadeye and three other Mandalorians sat stacked up against a wall, the only visible lights being the pale gold lights from the inside of their visors, barely visible in the whipping rain, and the dim light of a basic apartment across the street. The Mandalorians talked amongst themselves, their voices barely audible over the wind.

"Martinez is inside. We got five minutes people. Load your weapons."

There was a series of clicks and booting noises. Deadeye, crouched in front of the group, readied his weapon before resting it on his knee and raising his fingers. Three, two, one, all his fingers went down in the short countdown. The man in the back with his pistol tapped the shoulder of the woman behind him, who shifted her rifle and tapped the man in front of her. When Deadeye felt the tap on his shoulder he grabbed the grip of his rifle and sat up onto his legs. While still crouching he began to move across the street towards the run down apartment building. As he crossed the street, deadeye looked up. The sky was green through his nigh vision, and the glare from above signifying a light of some kind verified that someone was in the building.

The group stacked up on the doorway to the apartment. Deadeye looked back and then motioned to move. The group single file followed him into the building. Inside was dark and plain. Tile floor and basic walls, not to mention littered with trash. It wasn't optimal conditions to say the least. The group approached a door to the left before the main stairwell, quickly deadeye held his first and the team halted. He held up two fingers then flattened his hand and motioned forwards. The Man behind him in grey armor with a wolf on the helmet and small cloak moved forwards. He quickly stopped next to the door, turned on the lamp attached to the barrel of his rifle and leaned in. He scanned the entire room and then turned his head back to deadeye. He nodded.

Deadeye nodded in response and motioned once again to move forwards. He started forwards, the man got right behind him and the two others followed. The team fast and silent moved up the stairwell to the second level. Quickly the team moved right up against the wall and began to slowly move forwards. The team moved a couple steps before stopping again. There was a man in a tunic and light vest standing in the hallway with a dlt-19. Deadeye slowly drew his knife from the sheath on his right his breastplate and slowly crouch walked behind the man. He grabbed him, covering his mouth and held him down before cutting his throat. The man fell limp and deadeye slowly and quietly pulled the body back and pushed it into a dark room. The team began to move forwards, visually seeing the light beaming out into the hall from the room just a few meters ahead.

The Mandalorians slowly approached the opening in the wall. Deadeye slightly peaked. The room was a big banquet hall by the looks of it, nothing too fancy, but quite a few smugglers were standing guard, and in the center of the room sat Martinez, sipping on a fine alcohol at a table and eating some kind of meat at a table. Deadeye looked at the team, he motioned for members three and four to move forward to the other side of the opening to the room. Deadeye, still peaking around the corner, aimed his rifle at the man. He turned a dial on top of his scope, adjusting the sights, and then squeezed the trigger. The bolt ripped through the silent room and struck the man in the head. He quickly flipped back in his chair from the force of the bullet. Quickly deadeye and the team moved in. Bolts began flying down range towards the bandits.. Pack member two moved up to a table and placed his own dlt-19 on it's bipod. He began firing from his mounted position at the shocked bandits. A few rounds were returned, but the men were slaughtered rather quickly. Deadeye lowered his blaster and began to walk up to Martinez.

"Hell of a job ladies and gents." Deadeye lowered down to the body of Martinez and lifted his shirt. From his neck lay a lavish necklace with a kyper crystal charm, Deadeye pulled it from the mans neck and stood. He looked at the team. "Drinks on Tod when we get back."

Pack member two rested his heavy rifle and laughed lightly rolling his head to the side, "Hey Eric, you ask, you pay."

Deadeye took a few steps towards the door before a blaster bolt whipped towards him from the corner, quickly and instinctively the golden blade of a lightsaber ignited and deflected it.

"Marissa, Get that bastard!"

The man in the corner of the room quickly turned and jumped out the window behind him, landing on a platform just below. Marissa in blue jumped and two boot boosters kicked on, along with her jetpack. She rocketed forwards and through the window with ease. She spotted the man running. He was on a lower section of the roof.

"Spotted the target."

Marissa dived downwards towards the room and her jetpack powered down, she quickly hit the floor and rolled, drawing her pistol and stopping on one knee, she shot the man in the head and he fell off the roof. There was a scream and then a loud thud before lightning lit the sky and thunder rumbled.

"Eric, I got him."

"Got it, rendezvous back at the apartment, Serena (AI) has called down our fighters, we are going to move to New Junction and join up with some more of the Mandalorians."

"Copy." Marissa tapped the coms on her ear and then took off into the darkness of the suburban night.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Watch Gil Work. Negotiate.
Allies: CoM [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Deadeye"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

“I was not about to arrive at an important diplomatic summit standing beside a stripper pole. You ought to see mine.” Yasha whistled in her buy’ce, a trilling sound as augmented by her audio processors.

“Rekali…” Yasha stopped in front of the emblems of Clan Rekali, taking a reverent moment to see the broken armour, and artifacts of those she’d only met in death. Shadows of Ember's family greeted her, spoke and entreated with her in her rise from Hell. Not her death, but theirs. “I sat at the feet of Ember Rekali. He taught me everything I know of those mysteries best left beneath the soil… yet you display his Clan’s emblems. Were they your lovers? Aliit? Or the prizes of battles survived and respected?”

Something about the way Gilamar spoke shifted the tone of the room. The Rekali armour affected him. He again was about to speak, when Hawke stopped him for this 'new Mand'alor'. The taunts about Mon Cala played.

“No. You’re not weak fish. Weak fish are easier conquered and more adequately controlled. The weak fish of the Galaxy are worth taking, for their skills and their slave-heads to add to Bastion’s plenty. The Sith Empire has use for fish. Especially such engineers as they collect, as Alor Gred reminds us.” Yasha was as impervious to the images as she was most horrors. She stared in near-apathy, focussing more on the reactions of her peers and Hawke, than on the fate of Mon Cala. Speaking in Basic, Yasha’s Panathan accent was as jarring as her armour. Walking the room, Yasha came to a stop at a respectful distance from Hawke.

The sunlight spilled behind her.

“But you.” The wolf-helm’s ruby eyes cast directly at the Regent. “You are not weak. You are so strong that the precarious position of your borders do not effect your peoples’ backbones, or cause the children fear at night. You are strong. We are warriors, you and I. And there is nothing more dreadful for a regime built upon terror than going against a warrior race. So the Sith will come, as they often do. But they will not take your resources and your people as they did on Commenor or to the dregs of the Galactic Alliance. The Sith will have one option in dealing with those they know in a battle they cannot defeat without unbearable loss. They will glass this world to naught. They will not fight a war of attrition, or lead troops to battle. They will come with the Goliath, and the Behemoth, and they will level you to dust from a distance. They will turn this world into a bauble hanging from the Empresses’ jewels. All to have easier access to the weak willed, but useful, fish.”

Cassiopeia rocked in with her table of goods, and the tone changed. Yasha smiled beheath her helm, glad to see her friend at last. The wolf-helm tipped for Cassie, an apology well accepted.

“Cassiopeia, thanks for joining us. This is the other side of Mandalore, Regent Hawke. I began the terraforming of Manda’yaim before I even became Mand’alor. We did so with the use of our engineers, businesses like MandalMotors, Westar, MandalArms and RID. In those worlds, where certain skills are apparent, we celebrate them. Releasing the cost of education by giving freely of resources so all who wish to gain equal opportunity receive it. To those, who receive private education, we cover those costs as well. Culture, economics, they are as important as internal stability, agriculture and military machines.

I am a realist. I want plenty and self-sufficiency for my People. I want you to be part of the Mando’ade, so together, we can ensure that our unique cultures and our children have the opportunity to grow and eventually replace us. Do not make this a planet of ghosts. You do increasingly well here, but you do not have the resources of an expansive empire, open for you and your peoples’ perusal. That is not a dig on you, but a sense of scale. I know it can be done, for I saw where we started.

I’d try the irli jam… mmh. Maybe a sandwich.”

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

Hawke frowned at Yasha's statement. Whether or not that had been her attempt at humor he couldn't tell. It seemed that the young warrior lacked discretion or modesty on top of an apparent lack in diplomatic skills, though that was a field many Mandalorians struggled in. There were other ways to gallivant across the galaxy collecting allies than showing up with enough firepower to reduce a continent to dust.

"There are plenty of smaller, less threatening ships a leader could have brought to what is supposed to be a diplomatic meeting without bringing the firepower to wage a full campaign while not being the equivalent to a junk hauler or...stripper pole. But I digress,"

Her question about his artifacts brought a playful grin to Hawke's lips as the strangely armored Mand'alor inspected Hawke's small tribute to Mandalorian war and conflict. He was a little confused at her cryptic comment about Rekali though. Every military leader worth their salt knew that Ember had been dead for years now. He cast Gil a quizzical look but the old man's black visor stared back at him, giving him nothing in the way of confirmation or closure.

His brows raised as his smirk turned to a wistful smile as he thought back to his younger days.

"You could say a little bit of all of that," he replied about her inquiry on Rekali's symbols. And then the guard spoke, unannounced and frankly un-needed. He wanted to retort but again Yasha began to speak and he decided it was more to his benefit to listen to her than worry about the loose tongue of a guard. Sitting in his chair the woman towered over him and he felt himself tense up as she spoke down to him, her tone grave. Much of what she said was true. An Alor-class was formidable, able to take the brunt of an assault from multiple warships on its own and when supported by some of the other smaller ships and station emplacements, Junction could prove a difficult world to take with conventional means.

The mere mention of the Sith Empire's flagship drew a reaction from Hawke and he started to think that maybe Gilamar wasn't crazy for bringing Yasha along. It was good to see potential partners true colors and he had a feeling he was getting a glimpse of her's. But her height was beginning to get to him and so he started to stand when the meeting was again interrupted by someone he wasn't sure should be there. He stood quickly, years of combat and war and survival kicking in...Only to see a rather beautiful young woman with a tray of...what he could only assume was food enter. He stood and listened to the Mand'alor, all the while trying to judge if the Mandalorians had truly gone soft. In other words, examining the young blonde woman with a look of confusion and intrigue.

"Hrmm...Maybe the Mando'ade aren't lost," he said quietly but loud enough for all to hear.

[member="Yasha Cadera"] @Amun @Cassiopeia Australis [member="Mig Gred"]

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig sat back, honestly shocked he wasn't chewed out. Well... at least not yet. The alor knew he was cocky sometimes, but he wasn't fond of belittling other species because they didn't fight the same way. It'd be like saying a sniper or pilot was a coward because they stayed farther from the fight. Either way, the Mand'alor was definitely giving a good first impression, or at least seemed to be. The mention of how the Sith fought seemed to peak Hawke's interest. Maybe he was just a nervous warrior, not willing to fully trust others with the safety of his home. The man seem to be interested in what Yasha was saying. Then someone else came in.

Mig turned and saw a new person come in. A blonde woman that called herself Cassiopeia Australis walked in with a plate of food. He didn't quite recognize her, but he did notice that she brought in a plate of food. He didn't need the Force to see that this didn't sit well with Hawke, especially when he considered that the Mandalorians may have lost their edge. The sword wielder's hands flexed a bit, trying to keep from looking too annoyed by the mans comment. But then something else hit him. A sense that something was going to happen. Something bad. Mig's Force senses were trigger by something. Osik! Would that Hawke even understand this one? He did have lightsabers, and Jedi were involved in the previous battle. The mando'ad'jetii quickly looked around, before speak again.

"Something doesn't feel right. Mand'alor, regent, we may need to finish elsewhere."

[member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Amun"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Negotiate
Allies: [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Quoron"] Mantis [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

Cassiopeia mentally was relieved at the nod from Yasha. Whew, she hadn’t just messed anything up – despite the delay. On the tray was samples of variety of Mandalorian dishes, along with a much information on terraforming. In goal, it was to show that Mandalorians weren’t just warriors – but also caretakers, defenders, of not only themselves but of their worlds.

The general ‘feeling’ seemed pretty intense, though. The intensity made her a little squirmish although she did a pretty good poker face. Once Yasha had finished her speech, Cassiopeia moved the cart so the others could begin taking a look.

She perked a brow at Hawke’s comment, not quite sure how to take it.

Carefully, she decided to speak. “You’ll note that many of these data pads hold valuable knowledge of terraforming, the results of such, and the continued environmental preservation on various planets, particularly Mandalore. While warriors are needed, valued, and honored – an engineer who builds your ships, a teacher who teaches your children, and a scientist who ensures your food and water is not being poisoned, is perhaps of great value, if not equal value. This is just a small show of the sciences that have evolved under Mand’alor the Infernals rule.”

Cassiopeia was not a warrior in sense – sure, she could fight, shoot a gun, etc but her passion was in education and biology. She taught the science, performed the studies, and became even more common as her employment as a the Professor of Biology & Genetics and genetic researcher at Ramikadyc’yaim.

While she had no idea Hawke's feelings on it, or really any of the others in the room. In general, it was a shame that many people did not see the strength in education and science. The benefits were extreme.

But, her thoughts were cut short when Mig spoke. Something didn't feel right? Well, to Cassi the entire situation was fairly intense. Maybe he was just anxious? Either way, Cassiopeia stepped back for the others to take a look at the science first, food second.

 

[Amun]

Location: Junction
Allies: Himself
Enemies: [member="Gilamar Skirata"] | [member="Yasha Cadera"] | [member="Mig Gred"] | [member="Cassiopeia Australis"]
Objective: Assassinate

The classic scenario of an assassin on the peak of a building, gazing at another complex on the opposite side that held his prey. Through his electrobinoculars he could make out some people. The incumbent Mand'alor, the Regent of Junction and commander of the Red Legionnaires, a seasoned veteran of Clan Skirata who's face matched his age, and the rest were people the Kyuzo had no knowledge of. He was unfamiliar with Gilamar until Munin passed him information on potential targets that were praised in the Mandalorian Empire's society. He would pick which one would be shot first out of the known three, as the trio held great authority and respect from their respective people. 


His eyes settled on the Chief of Clan Skirata. The Mand'alor and the Regent would come later.


No doubt Munin wanted the Mand'alor dead first, but he found it more important to kill those in her circle first, especially a man such as Gilamar. Who had seen more battles between Yasha and Gilamar? Who held more wisdom between the two? The latter of course. It would be a devastating blow to both Clan Skirata and the rest of the Mandalorians.

He unslung a verpine shatter rifle from his shoulders, opting it more than his bowcaster that was also with him. No way his bowcaster would deal much damage than an advanced rifle made by the Verpines. Lightweight, little to no recoil, accuracy, and best of all power. Simple blasters couldn’t pierce Mandalorian Armor by one shot. Neither could projectiles, but they would feel it. Especially from Verpine Shatter Rifle. Amun looked into the scope of the rifle, easing his breath and balancing the weapon all eyes on Skirata. He was looking for a weakness in the man’s armor. The visor perhaps? Or maybe a gap between the beskar plates? Munin gave him information regarding Mandalorian armor, known its strengths and weaknesses. Durable it was, but in some armors warriors gave up some coverage from the plates for mobility in return.

He focused, now knowing where to shoot. Cross hairs lined up on Gilamar’s visor and then his finger flexed on the trigger, firing a single slug at the Mandalorian. After that he aimed his rifle at the sitting Regent and fired some slugs at him, not knowing whether Skirata was struck from the slug. This would give enough time for those in the meeting room to react and take cover. If he could get the Mand’alor in his crosshairs, she’d get some slugs coming at her way.

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

Mig's comment drew both Gil's and Hawke's gaze. Hawke cared little for these scientific achievements. Junction was not a world devastated by ecological disaster like Mandalore. In fact, it was relatively safe, functional, and modern. They weren't a verdant garden world by any means, it didn't have any major exports except old Mandalorian weapons and war artifacts. The occasional Mandalorian, Sith Imperial, or Republic helmet. Hawke had heard rumors of people finding lightsabers out past the walls of New Junction, but other than that it mostly imported goods and exported labor and some minor minerals.

But the people were happy, safe, and satiated. He didn't need the Mandalorians to show him their harvests, he needed to be sure they weren't going to abandon the planet again...And that he would keep power here himseslf. Before Hawke could say anything to either Mig or Cass Gil stood up to address the rather talkative guard. He'd had time to read up on Mig on the way planetside. There were rumors that he was force sensitive but the old man cared little for "feelings" and other mysticism.

"Mig, let me speak to you for a moment outs-"

He didn't finish his sentence. While the shots would miss the visor because he stood, the shots from the rifle shattered the transparisteel of the window in dramatic fashion. Gil whipped his head towards the window to check if Yasha and Hawke were alright, but found his vision turning upward quickly. Suddenly his face was on the cool star speckled black tile and he had no recollection of falling. His breathing was labored and his head was throbbing. Through a cracked visor he looked down at his armor which was already slick with blood. Slugthrower? No, it was too quiet for a slugthrower. A shatter rifle of some sort, probably Verpine.

He winced.

"Get cover," he croaked loudly just in case anyone was too shocked to move. The shot had hit him somewhere in his torso between the creases in his armor and a second shot had cracked him in the head, leaving a dent in his helmet and his visor cracked. He could feel blood dribbling down from somewhere on his head. Until he got to a medbay there was no telling exactly how serious the wound was, but he'd been shot enough times to know this one was bad. His armor didn't have any sort of triage systems in place. For now all he could do was reach into his utility...

Darkness clawed at his vision and the sounds of the office and claxons began to fade out in his left eye and then the right. Gil was down.

---------------------------------------------------

The shots through the window rained transparisteel down on the group. Luckily it had been designed to not fall in large shards and fell harmlessly as little nuggets and pebbles, though a few of them did scratch his face under his beard. His arms went up and he turned his back to the large pane of glass to protect himself from further cuts and he leaped to his left so as to not run into Yasha. He felt a shatter rifle round clip his shoulder. It lodged itself in the armor with a crack, the force of which threw off his leap. The second one cut an artery in his leg. It didn't hurt much, but he was losing blood fast.

The man barked out a curse and started tapping buttons on his wrist mounted controller. Without anything to bite on he groaned as inwardly as possible as the bodyglove underneath his armor began to tighten and reform, creating a tourniquet. After that he couldn't feel his right leg, not a good sign, but he had one good one.

"Initiate shut down! Find the assassin!" Immediately after that, two red legion commandos burst into the room. They both went around the room in opposite directions in a sweep. The one closest to Hawke helped him up and acted as his crutch. Alarms blared throughout the spaceport.

"Gil has stims in his utility belt usually, get one in him now," the older man barked at the three other Mandalorians if they hadn't been wounded. "Get him up we need to go!"

[member="Amun"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Watch Gil Work. Negotiate.
Allies: CoM [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Beth Cadera"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

“I had... an unorthodox childhood...” It wasn’t often Yasha remembered her circumstances were odd. The look on Hawke’s face was enough to remind her. “In… ah… muffin?”

The Infernal stood beside the offered chair. Was it an imposing tactic? Possibly, if not for the attempt for the pregnant Epicanthix to both hide her state via her cloak, and avoid the utter embarrassment of sitting and eventually rising in a human-proportioned chair with a belly and birthing hips. More than likely, the woman would stick to the chair, if she didn't break it getting out.

“All the foodstuffs you see here are from Mandalorian grown harvests. We brought them to show you we're not limping survivors clinging to a loaf of stale reserve rations. The weapons and tech are creations of established and new Mandalorian businesses, which would be able to rendez-vous with your govern…”

The situation was bound to fall even further into the awkward, if not for Mig and his wit. His timing. Yasha backed immediately away from the windows and shielded Cassiopeia. Even a single twitch was worth the potential faux pas of a false alarm. The shot rocked through Gilamar. Pinged on Hawke.

Yasha raised her arm and triggered her M1-Personal Shield, standing in the path of any verpine shot, which rocked for Hawke and Gilamar. Her fingers opened, as if waiting.

Calling.

“Cassie, Sovereign Hawke up! Mig, get that hutuun and bring me its’ limbs. Gilamar, keep breathing or so help me I will personally walk into Manda and drag you out like Ginnie Dib. Kain’ik! Plan Betna.”

A war hammer veered through the remains of the window in Hawke’s office, thundering into Yasha’s outstretched hand. The Rekr Karyatesa crackled with electric sparks, as Yasha slung it on her back webbing. She knelt on one knee, took one of the bacta shots from her thigh pocket and plunged it into Gilamar's neck.

“Breathe, Gil. I'm going to carry you. Don't flail. Ambrose. Swing around and help Mig. Tuulu, stay on our shadow.”

Tossing one to Hawke, Yasha picked Gilamar Skirata up as if he were no heavier than her children. She felt the brush of the wind as in a corner of the room, a monstrous beast morphed from the secret state he’d been in.

“I can carry him, Mand’alor.” Tuulu’s voice was a growl and guttural chitter in Mando’a. The creature, for Tuulu was no humanoid-skin in such a dangerous moment, clanked his jaws.

“Protect us, first. I'm pregnant, not an invalid. He's light as chersilk. Hawke, lead the way. I’m assuming that wasn’t your sniper and this entire thing isn’t a massive double-cross.”

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: AHHHH
Allies: [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Quoron"] Mantis [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

Cassiopeia tried to hide the frown that was trying to form on her face. The reaction from Hawke wasn’t what they hoped. She bit her lip, trying her best to not let out a sigh. The science was amazing. What the Mandalorians did to rebuild Mandalore, particularly in the timeframe, was astounding. At best, it showed the dedication the Empire went to rebuild, to correct where they went wrong. It showed loyalty, dedication, and an ecological understanding most nations either ignored or didn’t emphasize enough. At worst, at least they cleaned up their messes.

Cassiopeia said nothing more, however, and just nodded along as Yasha spoke. Cassiopeia knew something was about to hit the fan when Yasha moved to cover Cassiopeia. In only seconds, the glass was shattering and Gilamar was laid out on the ground. A ricocheting (or she assumed, unless one managed bullet pierced her right shoulder, the force throwing her back, with her right arm now relatively limp. The noise from the bullet hitting the bone, however, nearly turned Cassiopeia's stomach upside now. The pain was excruciating, but it wasn’t the first time she’d been shot. The shock of it all kept the pain relatively minimum, too. Still, one hand went straight to the wound as blood began to exit the wound. Hopefully it didn’t hit a major artery or anything…

Cassiopeia immediately pushed the hovering cart in front of them, to hopefully cover Gilamar (and herself), at least from any ricocheting bullets, until reactions could happen. Whether it could actually cover them (or not get penetrated), particularly during a rainstorm of bullets, she didn’t really know.

She tried getting to Gilamar’s utility belt until she realized what Yasha was doing. That would be significantly more effective than any bacta shot.

Then, Yasha picked him up. Thank goodness that she was an epicanthix. Made things sooo much easier. And with that, Cassiopeia carefully angled herself behind Yasha with her armor. Although, a glare was sent towards Hawke. Indeed, it better have not been a setup.

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig flinched for a moment when Gil got up, but bit wasn't until he saw the man got knocked over that he new his senses were correct. Osik! That had to be a shatter rifle! No sound. Heavy impact that could crack Beskar. No other weapon came to the Mando'ad's mind that could do that. It happened so fast. Hawke was soon hit as well, and Mig ignited the lightsabers of his Trayc'kad. He probably couldn't block these rounds, but at least it'd show the shooter who he was dealing with. The Force welder looked around, about to help Gil and Hawke until he heard Yasha's orders. Find that piece of osik that shot Gil and Hawke, and bring back the "gift" of his limbs. "Elek Mand'alor (Yes Mand'alor)!"

Mig quickly ran over to the blasted out window and jumped, probably scaring anyone who didn't know him well enough. The lightly armored Mandalorian used the Force to push on the ground just before impact, slowing himself before landing then eyeing the direction from where the shot came from. He had to get there soon. The Mandalorian ran towards the buildings looking high and low for the person who took the shot. Using the Force to try and find him. There was no way he'd let the guy go without payback.

[member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] @Amun

 

[Ambrose Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Watch Gil Work. Negotiate.
Allies: CoM [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Beth Cadera"] [member="Yasha Cadera"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

The word resounds with the sound of verpine shot. I pounce out of the cover myself and my gurlanin took to protect the Mandalorian delegates, and transform in mid-fall, vast black wings replacing forelimbs, as my hind legs become talon-ending legs.

I swoop into the air and take off, letting loose a caw shrill enough to cause a wince to the ears of those, in earshot. It is, of course, a sign. And Kaine Australis is pleasant enough to give me a distraction.

While he and Mig are engaged with the sniper, I let my raptor-eyes scan the city, looking for anything ‘off’. If there are more, I am ready.

 

[Amun]

Location: Junction
Enemies: [member="Gilamar Skirata"] | [member="Kaine Australis"] | [member="Yasha Cadera"] | [member="Mig Gred"] | [member="Cassiopeia Australis"]
Objective: That’s all folks

The alarms cried out, notifying New Junction’s citizens of a peril occurring to their lives after Amun took his shots on his targets. The main objective was to assassinate the leaders of the Mandalorians and the Red Legion, but at distance they had a better chance of survival when in armor. The only person that was unconscious was the old man he shot first. That would appease Munin. Even if his targets weren’t truly killed, the Mandalorian did instruct him to do something.

Make the Empire look incapable of capturing a single Bounty Hunter.

Humiliate them in front of the Red Legionnaires, make them look weak.

Would be difficult to hide on this rock until he could get an opening window to escape. Star ports would close, delaying departures and arrivals and those that dared in getting a vessel out in the air without permission would probably be shot down. Something that an adept smuggler with a renowned ship could get by and get out with success. Probably would have to hire one while waiting out here.

A couple more shots were fired from his Shatter Rifle at those in Hawke’s office. The bodyguards, the higher ups, everyone was a target. Kill as many one can before retreating. Just then he saw one light armored Mandalorian jump out the office and land on the ground with ease without a jet pack. Probably a Force User. He heard a great deal about them in Mandalorian Space from Munin, something the Warlord scoffed at and belittled.

Now was the time to retreat. Coincidentally another Mandalorian joined the fight, only thing was he was on the exact roof where Amun was with some distance between the two. Heavy armor and pistol aimed at him. The Kyuzo could take them on, but not here. No, too much exposure. Below on the ground was ideal which had many benefits such as being able to disappear amongst the crowd or using the Jenny as meat shield. With a plan in mind, the Kyuzo acted but slowly. His back was still turned on Australis which helped in getting a thermal detonator from his bandolier without being seen in what he was doing. The detonator attached itself to the Shatter Rifle and primed just before turning around and throwing the rifle at Australis with his strong, dense muscles. Perfect for a distraction and maybe causing some harm towards the Mandalorian. The Assassin then ran towards the edge and jumped off the roof. He’d use another grappling hook to grab on to something without falling to his death.

Once he’d got to the ground he’d again sprint off with his gadgets and weapons. He did not wear any armor as he despised it, his only protection was a personal shielding and elite armorweave-bodyglove. He had some gadgets to help him from his pursuers especially the holographic disguiser that Munin supplied him with. Much as he didn’t rely on or liked technology, there were some tools he’d use when performing a dangerous assignment as this. When he’d have the time he would use the holographic disguiser to hide himself as a Mandalorian in armor. Hopefully that’d be enough to breathe calmly for some time.

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig continued to try and locate the assassin. This guy could be almost anywhere in the city by now, but maybe he wasn't thinking straight. After all, he did just try to kill Mandalorians. Not a smart move for anyone, even a well trained bounty hunter. The alor had quickly moved further into the city before he heard Kaine sound off. The Mando'ad looked around, sighing a bit. "Ok. Kaine. I'll stay close, just in...." It was then that the swordsman heard an explosion, turning and seeing the traces of a Thermal Detonator. He then eyed a Kyuzo. He then realized something. Osik! "Kaine! Please tell me you aren't dead!"

Before getting an answer, the mando'ad'jetii ran for the bounty hunter. He wasn't getting away that easily. Mig quickly chased him, hoping to catch the assassin before he ran, but he soon lost sight of him. Mig closed his eyes and concentrated, but he was to stressed to really home in on him. He did notice a vod though. He walked up, quickly speaking. "Ganar gar haa'taylir beroya? (Have you seen a bounty hunter?)"

[member="Amun"] [member="Ambrose Cadera"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Yasha Cadera"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

Objective: Survive the attack!
Allies: [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Ambrose Cadera"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Yasha Cadera"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

The bacta flowed through him like a cool river. The darkness eating away at the corners of his vision slowly began to recede, but then the side effects of the bacta began to kick in and his eyelids fluttered closed and locked him in darkness. The limp body of Gilamar was heavy, but probably not as heavy to the large amazonian woman. The red clad guards moved with the Mandalorians as they moved from the room. Hawke limped along with help.

"There's a med bay, 12th floor. He looks bad, we need to get him into a tank ASAP, he's loosing too much blood under all that armor," Hawke's voice rasped. Despite thinking of the older man first, Hawke was in no better shape. The warrior struggled against the sedative laced bacta stim he'd received. The bleeding had thankfully been stopped because of his armor, Gil on the other hand hadn't even seemed to have a chance to activate his own internal tourniquet and was dripping blood between plates.

They could find the hunter later, or maybe not. After all, they had all survived the attack. But it had gotten Hawke thinking...Who had hired the killer? Who wanted to weaken Junction so badly as to assassinate himself and the Mandalorians? Maybe the Sith were already at his door and he just didn't realize it.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Junction
Objective: Watch Gil Work. Negotiate.
Allies: CoM [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Strider Garon"] [member="Kaine Australis"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Aedan Miles"] [member="Cassiopeia Australis"] [member="Beth Cadera"] @Yasha Cadera [member="Ambrose Cadera"]
Enemies: [member="Amun"]

“Cass, you copacetic?” The scanners in Yasha’s HUD showed increased blood pressure, heat signature shifting. Blood. Yasha tossed Cassiopeia her last bacta shot. Tuulu roared and searched the skyline. Nothing.

“Asap. Elek.” Sensations from Ambrose told Tuulu the bounty hunter was on the track. Settled that the immediate danger was over, the Gurlanin rushed to Cassie and tied a tourniquet around her shoulder and arm.

Yasha put her hands on Gilamar’s wound. Crimson stained his armour, splashed to the floor like the rain of her childhood. Beneath her mask, Yasha’s face was marred in horror. Not Gil… She couldn’t lose him.

While Gilamar never accepted being close to the Infernal, Yasha craved the chance to learn at the Builder’s feet. Gilamar couldn’t die. The battlefield around them was a comforting din, its’ chaos infecting Yasha with calm. This was her element, and the only place she knew what to do absolutely.

Not the only Mandalorian her mother ever liked. In the back of her mind, Yasha heard her mother Aditya’s voice proclaiming yet again her ‘little failure’ was losing again. Just like she’d lose everything in her life. Just like she lost her parents. Yasha’s eyes stung, covered by beskar.

“Hold on. My men will find the threat… Hawke, the Sith won’t stop. We’re better together.” Looking down to the twelfth floor, Yasha let her HUD map out the zones of the building. She set Gilamar on the floor as gently as she could and grabbed her hammer. There was no time.

Keying up the repulsers in her Rekr Karyatesa, Yasha focussed the shockwave down to the floor. A concentrated strike. Not disseminate across the floor but in that single point.

A roar echoed through her helm, as Yasha thrust her hammer down in a severe arc. The floor shattered under her hammer in a six foot diameter, floor after floor, after floor. All the way to the 12th. Throwing her hammer to her back plate, Yasha rocked back to Gilamar, scanning his body for the weakest points. Ginger arms picked him off the ground. Cradled, body supported.

“I’ve got you, Gil. Keep breathing… Kad, keep breathing.” Yasha took a step off the floor, her repulsor boots controlling her descent down to the 12th floor medical bay. The maneuver saved time, as Yasha laid Gilamar down. As she stripped the armour away from his torso. The Infernal worked silent and swift. Cleaning his skin. Checking the armour for an exit wound.

There. Hawke’s medics rushed the medi-bed, and Yasha glanced up, then rocketed back to pick up Cassie, or Hawke, whomever hadn’t gotten down in the intervening time.