I Pledge Allegiance...

[Keira Priest]

Maridun​

1200 Local Time​

​

With the events of Alderaan it seemed to Keira that her involvement as an intermediary and member of the Republic had dwindled. She had spoken for the clones and in part the Republic after Roche, and had come forth again as a representative in order to smooth over the acceptance of the treaty that had been dictated. There had been the trial of the former Supreme Commander as well, but even that had slowly transitioned out of the realm of politics so far as her role. At some point she was allowed to phase out of that facet entirely, shifting back into her role as a soldier rather than that of a negotiator. It was a change she welcomed, and one that allowed her to get back into what she knew.

Not long after the events of Alderaan she had been contacted by [member="Isley Verd"], one she had spoken to briefly before in regards to her place within the Mandalorians as a whole. He had wanted to discuss her allegiances, or so she had been told, and she had invited him to Maridun at a time of his own convenience. The implications of the request didn't concern her in the least, and in some sense she welcomed his arrival, if just to hold conversation with one who seemed to be of a like mind from all she could discern of their previous talk. No matter what came of this, it would be an eye-opening experience for the both of them, she had a feeling, even if she already knew where her true loyalties lay.

For the moment all she could do was wait, and it was that she did, seated in the beaten down grass around what made up an improvised sparring circle in which two of the clones were currently honing their skills in hand-to-hand combat. Most anything went so long as extensive injury wasn't allotted, but they each knew each other's limits intrinsically enough to be aware of exactly when enough was enough. No armor had been donned by any of them, and for her own part she wore dark jeans worn and ripped from nothing more than continued use and a sleeveless shirt that was obviously handmade, boots laced on her feet. Her same weaponry was still on her person, something that shouldn't have surprised anyone.

A contented smile remained on her lips, one that wavered just slightly as a vague tremor stirred in the Force, one that heralded a new arrival. She didn't rise immediately, instead conversing quietly with a few of her men, granting them permission they were already fully aware of having that they were able to go about life as usual regardless of what company arrived. Certainly she respected the man that had decided to join them, if just for the day, but this planet belonged first and foremost to the clones. Eventually she pushed herself to her feet, momentarily considering the scratched and bruised knuckles of her right hand as consequence of her own bout. With a measured pace she moved to the edge of the gathering, again conceding to wait.

 

[Darth Metus]

Alderaan had left a rotten taste in the Mandalorian's mouth.

Although it was well known that politics were often corrupt, Isley had trusted in the heart of his vod. He believed that the Vereen Alor was perceptive enough to see through the bog of manipulation. He had faith that the agreeing to go to Alderaan would be a fruitful venture. And so he went, alone into the throne room. Isley stood before a delegation of Republic senators and played his role. He argued the sovereignty of Alderaan. He shut down the paltry offers of the Senate. He...played right into the hands of [member="Arianna Organa"]. You see, even after the Queen herself said that Alderaan was to continue its secession...nothing happened. As Isley made his way home to Manda'yaim, he noticed no change in the Republic borders. He noted no difference between the present and the past.

At first he wanted to believe that the HoloNet was simply unaware of the goings on. He trusted that his time on Alderaan had not been wasted; and that he had not been used. Alas, this was not the case.

Days rolled by...and the borders changed all about the Galaxy. Some expanded, some shrank, yet Alderaan remained unchanged. It was for this reason that fury erupted within the Mandalorian's heart. It was for this reason that he cursed the name Organa. You see, in his eyes this was now all an act: a well-played trump card deployed by the Alderaanian Queen. She had concerns about the treatment of her world by the Republic and called upon Mandalorian assistance in making her point. She used his people, used him, as a threat to get her way. Now Alderaan remained within the territory of the Republic...and Isley was certain that the Senate was whistling a new tune when it came to the world.

Thus did Isley, infuriated, venture forth to meet one [member="Keira Ticon"]. She was a Mandalorian who saw herself apart of the Republic: as if it were still possible to walk both paths. As such, Isley thought it proper to assess where her truly loyalties lie. Was she a vod? Would she stand for her people being used? Or was she just another Republican. Upon disembarking upon the clone-dominated world, Isley thought hard on what he would say. She wasn't the one who had pulled the wool over his visor, so he would greet her like a vod. Treat her like a vod. Until such time as he was given a reason to do otherwise.

"Greetings, sister." he said, upon nearing the sparring circle. He removed his helm and offered a warm smile. "Let us talk."

 

[Keira Priest]

While both Keira and the clones had lived among the Mandalorians and held themselves as part of the Clans for quite some time, an individual clad in full beskar'gam was still something to behold, and a few of the clones were given pause in order to watch with some curiosity as he stepped forward. Despite prior knowledge that there would indeed be a visitor on the planet, the sight of one outside of their own self-made clan was still an anomaly. "Udesii. Pay us no mind. As you were, vode." She wanted to make it clear that they had nothing to fear from he who would be considered kin. All of them were Mandalorian in some respect or another, all of them equals. That would never change, regardless of who they were among.

Taking in his armored form she returned his smile, nodding once in greeting. "Brother. It's good to see you." There was no point in inquiring after just how he was, given the results of Alderaan. The presence of the Mandalorians in the throne room had been reduced to uselessness, and the Republic had proven themselves poor negotiators as well, from her perspective. In every respect it had been a disaster. "Perhaps I came underdressed. I didn't think to wear my armor." Her full arsenal of weaponry was another matter altogether, and it was something that would be long in leaving her presence, if it ever did at all.

With one hand she gestured about them, indicating the open field that surrounded them. "If you'd like we can talk in the barracks, but after spending so much time on the battlefield and in active duty I wasn't much for remaining inside. They all need a day to simply exist as the individuals they are, not the simple clone soldiers everyone sees them as." Stepping forward a few paces so they were out of earshot even of the keen hearing of the men, she sat cross-legged in the grass, motioning for him to do the same if he saw fit. For a few moments she remained silent, drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly from between her teeth, bleeding the tension from her form so that she might focus entirely on their conversation.

"I'll say it now so it doesn't weigh on our minds any longer. Alderaan was nothing short of a waste of time on the part of our people, our efforts amounting to nothing. I know that just as well as you do." She spoke with a conviction in her voice that was evident but not quite easy to place. Neither were here to discuss what had transpired in that throne room, and she was content to leave discussion of those proceedings at just that. Mandalorians might have had long memories, and she was just as capable of holding a grudge, but that wasn't the focus. "I can sense your uncertainty about where I stand from here." The comment was made offhandedly, but the awareness in her eyes as she looked to him told a different story. "Please, let's talk."

[member="Isley Verd"]