Gambit's Fall

[Yasha Cadera]

Yasha stood in what used to be the throne room, and now contained the round table all business was done around. There was no throne here, not since [member="Tal Vizsla"] broke it on that fateful day.

She rubbed at her belly, staring at the spot where [member="Darth Carnifex"] and his son Ancius stood before the rockets went off.

Those dashed rockets.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]’s petition unsettled her spirit, or, as some said, what was left of it. A war between the Mandalorian Empire and the Sith Empire would lead to mutually assured destruction. It would kill billions, rape the planets fought over, and leave fleets in scrap, bodies atomized under the thrall of their guns.

“You know who can answer those questions in your head, pup.” [member="Ambrose Mantis"] returned from escorting the Jetii to his ship, keeping the council room empty of all who demanded their moment of Yasha’s time.

She looked to the middle-aged gurlanin and quirked her lips. “I’ve asked enough of his table, Ambrose.”

“A holo-call. Get your answers and see if what the Jetii spoke was truth or lies. Carnifex cares more of the dust under his boot than he cares of you, Yasha. He has no benefit to lying, you know where you stand in his eyes.” Ambrose set his rifle down and brought out the comm-transponder, which projected directly to [member="Darth Carnifex"]. Inherited from Ra, it was the best option and Yasha knew it.

Sometimes it was better to be the lower on a mighty man’s view. Yasha stood on the holo-pad, and waited for the chime.

“Emperor Zambrano, I would bow to give you deference, but…” Yasha rubbed her very pregnant belly in her armour and gave a small curtsey as was the Panathan way. “Mandalore repopulates, one at a time.”

A curt smile, and Yasha sighed, respecting his time enough to get down to business. “A curious visitor petitioned my Empire to join in a war against yours. He has no affiliation with a galactic power, no armies of which I am cognizant. His name is Cedric Grayson, and he was ill pleased at my refusal. It seemed you and he had history, and he mentioned genocides, slavery and a threat to my Empire from yours. May I ask of your knowledge of this man and his companions?”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

He could feel the rumble through the durasteel deck, his callous eyes catching the vibration of the transparisteel as the heavy machinery rumbled on in its task. Massive sheets of armor plating were being transported across the webwork of the dockyards that spread out before him, construction droids and manned tractor beam tugs maneuvering each piece into position over the skeleton of a massive battlecruiser nearly five kilometers in length. Sparks, rising up like fireworks, spewed out from where the constructions droids began to weld the massive pieces of metal to the alusteel frame, the interior slowly being built as the outer levels were applied.

It was a grand symphony, the war machine of the Sith Empire on full display for his pleasure.

The Emperor of the Sith was overseeing the construction of a new Imperial warship, soon to finish initial production and join the expeditionary fleets as the Empire spread across the Tingel Arm. So it was a surprise to him when one of his adjutants intruded upon his solitude, bringing news of an awaiting holocall from the leader of the Mandalorian Empire, [member="Yasha Mantis"].

"Send her through."

Yasha Mantis' image was then projected out of a concealed holoprojector built into the floor, conjuring her image in her exact height and dimensions with a translucent cerulean glow. Emperor Carnifex turned, eyeing the image of the Mand'alor curiously as she began to speak. He listened patiently, never interrupting or appearing disinterested in what she had to say, though his expression did darken as she spoke of the Empire's foes, Cedric Grayson and his fatuous lot.

"You were right to dismiss him, Yasha, and to tell me of his duplicitous scheming. Cedric Grayson is a charlatan, a con-man who travels the galaxy to beguile the weak-minded into his service. He was once the Archlord of a government called the Dominion, whose capital was at Ession deep in the Outer Rim. Through trickery, he and his lot attempted to unlawfully subjugate the Sith Worlds and Imperial Space with an ideology that combined the worst of the Sith and Jedi creeds." It was blasphemous, that was all that needed to be known. It was an aberration to what both sides stood for, even the Dark Lord could see how bastardized it had become. That was why it had to be destroyed, the Dominion's heresy ripped up by the roots and thrown into the fire.

"That is not all. Many moons ago the Dominion, led by Cedric, attempted to enslave and shackle Mandalore with a Dar'Manda war band at their beck and call. They would have succeeded too, were it not for the resistance of the Death Watch in driving them back. Had the Death Watch not humbled their armies, I fear the Dominion's destruction would not have been as swift as it was. The Sith made sure they died on Krayiss II, and their kind has been hunted across our stars. I see now that to destroy this cancer, the head of the beast needs to be removed from its body."

 

[Yasha Cadera]

The Emperor loomed over the mutual projection, twice taller by a head than even the Epicanthix Mand’alor. He was as ever imposing and perilous, a man few would call friend and even fewer would call for council. Yet there was an odd comfort, which many of her councillors would call naieve and dangerous in itself, for the Epicanthix woman to see the God-King of Panatha.

“I would not bring war between our Empires, Emperor Zambrano. We can be, at least, good neighbours.” Yet, with the sheer amount of hate he could wield at Yasha’s form, he still listened patiently. He still took heed of her, and educated where knowledge was needed over the ignorance of new faces. That slim connection alone was enough. [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s shift to a glowering expression was enough to know that this Cedric Grayson was indeed a thorn in the Dark Lord’s side.

“Sith and Jedi? How is it possible to build upon both foundations, when they are so opposite?” Yasha’s head tilted to the side, as it entertaining a single whisper.

“The Dominion.” A grim nod was Yasha’s response, as she kept her amber eyes on the Dark Lord. “I have heard tell of that government, yet not in detail. Ra made sure of it… how this man decided coming to Mand'alor's presence to ask that we bleed for him is beyond me. I will not be party to one who my own Death Watch rebuffed. Had I known his past, I would not have entertained him as long… alas it is to all our benefit that I did. You now know of the potential for invasion along your borders and I can keep a vigilant eye to avoid an attack on mine.”

Sometimes it was useful still to entertain those of differing points of view. How much more was the velvet of diplomacy to be used in its’ plenty by the young Mand’alor?

“So, one who once attacked my people now petitions us to fight by his side… thank you for your assistance, Kaine. I knew it was to our mutual benefits to open the lines of communication on this matter. He spoke of slavery by the millions. Of entire systems being sold to the highest bidder.”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"That is how his kind operates, Yasha. Through exaggeration and deceit. He would prey upon your youth to mislead you into inciting a war that would destroy your people, leaving Mandalore weak enough to be felled by his own forces. For a divided people is easier to destroy than one that stands united." Truthfully, it had been a tactic that the Emperor had employed against lesser nations that stood a chance of resisting the Empire. Seed their populace with insurgents, fan the flames of revolution through mind-controlled thralls, and then swoop in once they had sufficiently destroyed themselves in a pointless manufactured conflict. He doubted that Cedric truly wished to conquer the Mandalorian people, but the Dark Lord could ill-afford to let his neighbors be swayed against his Empire.

Luckily the fool Grayson had dug his own grave with his past actions, giving Carnifex plenty of ammunition to turn Yasha against him. And he didn't even need to stretch the truth or lie, he simply told her what had happened all those months ago.

"I greatly appreciate your vigilance, Mand'alor. I will likewise alert my sentries to scan our borders for this fetid band of terrorists. I would also extend to your people an enticing sum of credits and raw materials for Cedric Grayson's destruction, I am sure they will be quite eager to destroy a man who had actively attempted to take advantage of the Mandalorian plight." The Emperor would also keep an ear out for his contacts in the criminal underworld, and would re-open communications with [member="Taeli Raaf"] to see if Grayson had operated within Alliance space as of the past few months. No doubt the Lady of Secrets would have something for the Emperor to work on.

Better to rip out this weed before it has a chance to take root.

"This is but another test of our bonds, Yasha Mantis. Our enemies will stop at nothing to undo our alliance."

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“So few in this Galaxy can be trusted. Odd that those proclaiming moral high ground have so many lies attached to their names.” Yasha spoke with her eyes directly on the Dark Lord. While she was not blind to [member="Darth Carnifex"] and his known infamies, Mand’alor the Infernal trusted him. She trusted him to follow his own nature, and ultimately do what was in the best interest of his Empire and his own.

The thought that this Cedric had attempted to conquer Mandalore previously filled Yasha with bile. Independence was the lot of the Mandalorian Empire, young in its’ dominion of its’ planets and people, it fought to maintain sovereignty against any who would encroach upon or place tarrifs and foreign rules upon the Mando’ade’s collective backs.

Her brow quirked as Kaine spoke of a fantastic sum. How dearly had this man aggravated the Dark Lord? “He must have been a thorn indeed if you are willing to offer so much for his removal from our universal spheres. I will pass along your request to my warriors, and no doubt some will take up on the offer, as we have intent oft to do.”

A hand brushed along the top of her pregnant belly, rubbing idly at the armour-clothed bump. “Mandalore is waking up, Kaine Zambrano. They see us now as we are, and they would use my people to save their own. If Mandalore is to fight a battle, it will be of our making, for our survival and purpose. I cannot expect a good turn from Mandalore to be paid in full by others, I cannot afford to be so naive. What assurances I have come from experience, and my experiences with you and our alliance tell me enough. I will not turn against you… this talk of slavery does my heart ill. Mand’alor the Undying taught me to hate slavers… I trust the talk of millions enslaved in your Empire is a false accusation?”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor laughed, a short chortle.

"It is the destiny of the strong to impose order upon the weak, Yasha. But yes, this talk of my Empire enslaving millions and selling off entire systems is unsubstantiated. However, that does not mean that my Empire does not impose some measure of servitude. Household servants are common among the elite, myself included, and one may pay their debt to the Empire through menial labor and other laborious tasks. You should know that the institution of slavery is a hallowed tradition among the Epicanthix, Yasha, I am merely holding true to our people's ancient ways. It is but the nature of the galaxy, after all."

He did not mention Kol Huro or his Graug war horde on Belkadan, where chattel slavery was a much more common occurrence than what would be found in the Empire's other territories. Such anti-slavery convictions were weak and unfounded, but the Emperor held his tongue.

"But that does not matter. It has been a long time since we have spoken, even longer since we have seen each other face-to-face. How fares your pregnancy?"

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“So once the debt has been repaid the indebted is freed… Ra spoke of slavery as this unconscionable evil, yet I know part of that was his past. One who felt the Master’s whip is want to prevent others from the same indignity… I suppose your model is no different from my Atrisian and Panathan Household. I assume as well although slaves are held in austere surrounds, they are given access to the necessities of life? They have their joys as well as their labours? Mother always taught me treating one’s servants well was best for Master and Servant alike… of course Father and Ra taught me we are all equal. It is strange, then. These warring ideals.” Slavery was a tradition of the Epicanthix. Yasha remembered her mother’s stories of Panatha, when [member="Aditya Mantis"] was a girl. Was [member="Baiko no Kaho"] not her servant, before taking [member="Kaden Mantis"] as her adopted son? Yasha thought of the Artisans who followed Aditya from the crumbling Empire to Mandalore. They did not acclimatize to the Mandalorian ways, but kept their own. They had what they needed, and creating plenty in Aditya’s companies meant more to go around. Was this not the way in the Sith Empire?

Any who came to Mandalore were proclaimed free. Any slave or servant coming into the Mandalorian Empire had but declare their freedom to obtain it. It was the law of Mand’alor the Undying, and one Yasha would never terminate.

Cin Vhetin. Virgin snow. ​

Yet Baiko stayed regardless of the Mandalorian way of allowing all to be freed of their bonds. [member="Darth Carnifex"]’s admonition required further thought, and the young Epicanthix took all of it in to inspect at a later date.

“None of the doctors here are familiar with how an Epicanthix carries, and my mother is dead. My compatriot women, mothers all, commiserate but none are Epicanthix… I had yet to recover from the Nether when I conceived. As far as we are aware it goes well… or as well as can be expected, when there is less rest to receive and my Household is on the same rations as all Mando’ade currently living on Mandalore. I would have no comforts if my fellows are not also given them.” Hands on her belly, Yasha wondered for a moment of some of the disquiet in her heart.

“I have had… curious strangers take note of my belly… as if my death to the Force is not complete with my firstborn inside… A Jedi Healer sent a gift, an offering to Mand’alor… some form of healing crystal. Yet, when I held it my child unsettled. Fluttered and… it was uncomfortable. As if… as if my little one panicked. Her heartbeat is strong, as are her kicks. Strong enough to bruise me, so that gives great comfort. A strong warrior for the future, eh? How is your family? Are your wives well?”

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"That pleases me to hear, Yasha. A strong child is a good omen for the future, may the gods Nussyn and Immus bless the birth."

Though not a religious man, the Emperor was not above invoking the ancient gods of his ancestors in the company of his fellow Epicanthix. His sister was a deeply devoted fanatic of their religion, having risen to the position of Grand Archimandrite in the Adherents of the Faith. She had remained behind on Panatha to ensure that the veneration of the Zambrano family was never broken by the First Order occupation, and though she chafed at their presence she still served Queen [member="Ara Zambrano"] as an advisor.

"And my wives are well." His expression darkened, "Though Ancius' mother still mourns, for he was her first-born. It is not an easy thing to overcome, the loss of your first child. I have often found her kneeling at his shrine, weeping and clutching the pendant he had made for her when he was a young child." Carnifex did not mourn, however. He had long since passed the ability to feel sorrow for the dead, even if they were of his own bloodline. Ancius had willingly sacrificed his life, and for that, his name will be remembered and immortalized in monument within the palace gardens at Ravelin. The tomb in the Iron Mountains now held his physical remains, where they will remain for all eternity locked away behind blessed stone.

Nor did the Emperor blame Yasha for what had happened, not any longer at least. It had been his mistake to bring Ancius, his mistake to believe that he could forge another familial bridge with another prominent family like he had done before. This failure humbled him, and he had grown wise from its lessons.

He would not make the same mistake again.

"But she will learn to cope with his absence, her other children will fill the void."

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Thank you, Kaine.” Yasha bowed her head, conscious of the religious connotations of even a small blessing. “She will be a worthy warrior, of that I have much faith. My husband and I are glad for her coming, I am at the time where I wish only that she’d hurry up and be born. I’m tired of not being able to see my feet… among other things.”

Yasha’s lips pursed at the mention of Ancius. What a black day, the worst in her years. She survived the horrors of war and hell to come back to the death of a promised husband. Dark times, of which Yasha had nothing but regret. “I wish I knew more of Ancius. I know there is nothing I can do to decrease her pain, but I can assure you the search for Ancius’ killer continues. The last my hunters were able to ascertain, he was conducing clandestine business on Coruscant, then disappeared. Can you not return him from the Force, as you did Ra? I am as ever, ignorant of the ways of the Force and know not your limits, great Emperor. Forgive me if I speak out of turn. In my experience, it is better to rectify the loss than linger within it. I have had to do the same with my Mother, and my brother.”

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"It is not so easy."

Even the Dark Lord of the Sith had limitations to his powers, as much as he loathed to admit. Though he possessed great knowledge and understanding of the Netherworld of the Force, he knew that to recklessly meddle with the fabric of that realm was to court disaster. "Bringing back a soul from the Netherworld of the Force requires great sacrifice, energy, and preparation. It is not an act that one conducts whenever they wish, it is something to be sparingly used. Ra Vizsla was one such instance."

He gestured with his hands, indicating the Warlock Gate on Dathomir and a living person, "To walk between the realm of the living and the dead while still drawing breath is simple enough, there are gateways all across the galaxy that facilitate such travel. The living are not bound to the Netherworld like the dead are, the dead belong there. To rip them from the afterlife is to potentially upset the natural fabric of death itself, the consequences of which cannot be known." Not that Darth Carnifex ever had a problem with bending the fabric of reality to his own will, but even he knew the dangers of going too far in manipulating the Netherworld of the Force.

"That is why Ancius and so others remain dead, and Ra was given a second chance."

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​

 

[Yasha Cadera]

While she stood on the holopad, image projected across star systems, Yasha focussed on condemning her bottom lip for its’ treacherous wobble. Blaming it on the hormones of pregnancy, and her fatigue, Yasha pursed her lips to staunch the motion.

Being told of the ways of death and the Force from the Master of the Sith Arts was a Masterclass worthy of note. Yet, the lesson was soul crushing for the young woman, who clung to a slimmer and slimmer hope of her mother [member="Aditya Mantis"]’ resurrection. The first time Yasha exited the Netherworld, Aditya was still breathing.

Barely.

The call of the Netherworld never left Aditya, knowing what it cost her daughter to salvage her. Yasha’s chin tilted down and to the side, eyes momentarily shutting to block out the sinking realization.

Aditya Mantis would never breathe again.

It was time to let any hope of her mother’s presence in her life go.

A cleansing breath drew in and out. Her face yet again displayed the mask of the Mand’alor. [member="Shia Kryze"] told Yasha enough of the rifts and tears in the fabric of Manda’yaim, the psychopomp hounded by the deaths of the Cataclysm to this day. Even Shia, while willing to make an attempt, was cautious.

“Do you still feel it? In the quiet or the dark… I remember Ra sitting in the quiet. Like a lingering strain of music in his mind.” Yasha shook her head with a sordid tiny chuckle. “I shall burden you no further. You have been kind once again to allow me answers for my questions. I see your work must avail your time and I must advise my officers to watch my borders for this… Mandalorian bane. Thank you for your time, Kaine…and your advice.”

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"A truly great leader hearkens to the advice of their councilors, Yasha Mantis, and is not afraid to take heed of words that they would loathe hearing." The Emperor himself surrounded himself with capable advisors, including the ever forthwith [member="Darth Saarai"]. They often kept him from making rash decisions and were experts in fields that the Emperor had little to no knowledge in. They showed him alternate paths that he might not have thought of and proved to be utterly instrumental in the successful governance of his vast interstellar Empire. He was not so proud, so blinded by his own arrogance, that he would dismiss his trusted council just because they offered viewpoints that contradicted his own.

That would have been the hallmark of a decadent and failing leader, something that Carnifex strove to never become.

"I bid you glory and fortune in the years to come, and for the eternal good health of your unborn. Farewell, Yasha." The Emperor then disconnected the communication line between himself and the Mand'alor, her image fading alongside his own from her end. Pleased with the outcome of the conversation, the Emperor turned to leave the message chamber to continue governing his Empire.

[member="Yasha Mantis"]​