Faction &nbsp; [ME/TIC] | Solving the Mandalorian Question

Marlon Sularen · Sunday at 3:24 PM

S O L V I N G_T H E_M A N D A L O R I A N_Q U E S T I O N

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
CHOLGANNA, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

Sularen raised his eyebrows as the Mand'alor spoke of a "King" within the Imperial Confederation. Perhaps he was referring to the Empress, who a couple of weeks ago had been removed from her position which effectively left the throne vacant. This left the Imperial Ruling Council as the de facto ruling authority of the Confederation with only two individuals currently seated within the Council, that being the Supreme Commander himself and the Exarch Karl von Strauss.

"If the 'King' you were referring to was our former Empress then she is currently not available. Last time i checked she was placed under house arrest." Sularen blatantly responded. "As such the highest authority within our Confederation is the Ruling Council which is currently comprised of only two permanent members that being the Exarch Karl von Strauss who has yet to join the summit and myself."

Having established himself as the highest authority amongst the Confederation's delegation (pending the arrival of Exearch von Strauss), the Supreme Commander proceeded to continue speaking "I will admit you are correct with your assessment. So far this meeting has been extremely unproductive, with all the circular arguments. I think at this point we both have a clear understanding of each others grievances and concerns so i think it's appropriate we move the topic of discussion to finding solutions to our mutual problem. Governor Visconti has already offered some options which i believe would be a good way to start brainstorming a potential compromise that will settle the matter once for the foreseeable future."

Tags [TIC] |

Her |

Karl Von Strauss
Tags [ME] |

Aselia Verd

Aether Verd · Sunday at 3:42 PM

MANDALORE - HOLOCALL

"An Empire with a caged Empress? What a sight to behold."

Mandalore would place its full attention on Sularen.

"As you speak for the Confederation, until your better arrives, I will have words with you alone."

Aether then raised one finger.

"Understand this. The Crucifixion did not occur because your Confederation took a step towards the Diarchy. The Crucifixion occurred because of the actions of the Diarchy alone."

A second finger.

"Your fear is...distinctly Imperial. I would recommend that you do not allow it to cloud your judgment so thoroughly. We have stated what our relation with the Sith is and what it isn't - if you interpret it for what it is not, that failure may have consequences in the future."

A final finger.

"My Wolf's question was unanswered in the mire of Imperial posturing. So speak plain Councilman. What is the exact nature of your relationship with the Diarchy? What terms have been set in stone as of this moment?"

Marlon Sularen

@ Rohnar Tane,

Aselia Verd , Ze'bast Verd,

Renn Vizsla , Vytal Noctura,

Adelle Bastiel ,

Siv Kryze ,

Itzhal Volkihar ,

Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory ,

Her ,

Karl Von Strauss ,

Onrai ,

Raum Varad · Sunday at 4:23 PM

NO KING?

Raum paced the security room, bouncing off walls like he had too much blood and nowhere to put it. The cigarra stayed lit between his fingers, smoke trailing wherever he went. The sentries were pretending not to notice. Pretending badly. He leaned in as the voices sharpened. The bug showed herself. Yellow. Clicking. Talking down to Mandalorians like she had teeth to back it up. Raum grinned, slow and mean. In his head, he corrected himself. Yeah. No. Bald guy could wait.

"Oh," he muttered aloud, eyes glued to the screen, "I've changed my mind. I wanna squash that yellow bug."

One of the sentries sighed. The other muttered something about ash near the console. Raum flicked anyway. The call kept spiraling. Words stacking on words. Threats pretending to be policy. Raum laughed under his breath. This was it. This was how it always started. Too many mouths. Too much pride. Finally, some battles on the way. His fingers twitched. He could already feel it. The rush. The proof. He was tired of mops.

"These Imperials got it coming," he said, bouncing on his heels. "Been a long time since I earned my keep."

Then the Mand'alor asked for their king. Raum froze. He leaned forward so hard his nose almost hit the screen. The bald one answered. House arrest. Ruling council. Two people. Two. Raum blinked. Once. Twice. "Wait," he said, voice climbing. "Did he just say they arrested their own leader?"

Inside, something delighted and horrified at the same time. A coup. Or worse. Idiots in charge pretending it was fine. He barked a laugh. "Oh this is beautiful," he said. "We're talking to insurrectionists. Two-man council. That'll end real clean."

He glanced at the sentries, eyes bright. "You think our Mand'alor crucifies them together or one at a time?"

He pointed at the screen. "I say bald one first."

Raum grinned wider. "Anyone wanna place bets?"

Marlon Sularen · Sunday at 5:13 PM

S O L V I N G_T H E_M A N D A L O R I A N_Q U E S T I O N

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
CHOLGANNA, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

The Supreme Commander listened carefully as the Mand'alor shifted his attention towards him, giving another statement and asking a couple of questions. It was clear that how Sularen responded would set the tone for how the rest of the summit would proceed. Even the slightest mistake could confirm the Confederation's worst fears and concerns, and it was imperative that he choose his words carefully.

As such once Verd had finished speaking, Sularen spoke in turn. "Like i said earlier our relationship with the Diarchy is rooted in past rivalries and a current mutual desire for reconciliation. The predecessor factions of the Confederation, the Dark Empire and the Empire of the Lost both clashed with the Diarchy over their hold of Bastion, a world that held immense value to Imperials just like Tython has to the Jedi, Mandalore to the Mandalorians and Korriban to the Sith." Sularen began.

"Since the foundation of the Confederation, we have acknowledged the Diarchy's rule over Bastion and have worked to bury our past animosity through reconciliation. As of now there aren't any terms set in stone between us although we are currently in talks regarding potential cooperation against the Galactic Empire given the threat it poses to both the Diarchy and the Confederation." he added.

"Our issue with your relationship with the Sith lies primarily in the potential ramifications that come with it. You have a mercenary contract with Srina Talon and Quinn Varanin is the Queen and Warden of Eshan. Both Talon and Varanin in turn are high-ranking members of the Sith Order. If Talon leverages her contract to get the Mandalorian Empire to support the Sith Order against us, that creates a conflict of interest where Mandalorians would find themselves fighting against Imperials, not to mention Varanin could leverage the resources and manpower of Eshan to further assist the Sith Order against us while the contract with Talon is active."

"Even if the Crucifixion was a response to the Diarchy's actions alone, the timing of it and the contents of the messaging is what concerns us the most. You issued this broadcast shortly after we initiated diplomatic talks with the Diarchy and included threats levied towards the soldiers and civilians of the Diarchy along with anyone that would view them as allies which given how we're seeking to align ourselves with the Diarchy against the Galactic Empire, could be perceived as a veiled threat against the Confederation itself. It's as you said earlier, timing and optics matter."

"I hope this explanation is as clear as possible for you to understand. Those are our concerns and we'd like to address them without further escalating tensions or creating any form of animosity, it's as simple as that."

Tags [TIC] |

Her |

Karl Von Strauss
Tags [ME] |

Aselia Verd

Her · Sunday at 5:38 PM

Lianna, Lianna City;
The Neyrix, Vūm.
Tags:

Marlon Sularen |

Her observed the proceedings at play.

Two differing ideologies, which overlapped in some similarities, and yet were distinctly different in the other more important areas that signified their respective cultures. Imperials appealed to reasonability, diplomacy and advantages. Concepts in how they perceived the galaxy, and therefore they operated under the assumption that others would deal with their warped sense of view when it came to state, foreign or economic matters that were put on the table today.

These views were epitomized through the right to self-determination via the retaliatory strike against the Sith after destruction of the Tion system; a trade agreement signed with the Warden of Concordia which had seen to the establishment of several Siv Kryze-class salvage stations interconnected by N&Z technology; and how a breakdown of the current working relationship between these two star empires (with the end result of war) would be a catastrophe that ought to be avoided through this arranged diplomatic summit between both sides. It was an expectation, and not something to be taken for granted, that the Mandalorians should consider these matters first and foremost above everything else.

It was at odds to the Mandalorian contingent. In their own way they held the same status quo of being reasonable and diplomatic while acknowledging the advantages posed by joint Imperial-Mandalorian relations that were juxtaposed beside an (almost) century long history that had taught them to be cautious of getting into bed with the wrong people, particularly, when they were privy to diplomatic relations with a foreign hostile force responsible for the deaths of the Mandalorian people on Taris and the other small-scaled conflicts dotted throughout the Outer Rim Territories with The Diarchy.

The summit met further complications that were awry through the revelation that their mercenary contracts to the Sith Order were, specifically, with the sitting reigning monarch Srina Talon of the Eleventh Sith Empire.

These agreements, which were bound by credits (and Mandalorian honour) positioned the proclaimed 'galaxies greatest warriors' as potential adversaries in the Thandon Star Nebulae at the next incursion as the Imperial Confederation planned to continue their adopted a hostile foreign policy with the vassal state bound to the rule of Empress Talon. It's elimination was not only desired and courted by the likes of Sularen, von Strauss and Her but also by their mutual associates across Imperial space. Therefore the idea of Mandalorian mercenaries contracted to defend or attack with the Sith military was not beyond the scope of reason given that Mand'alor the Iron and his warriors were forthcoming and honest about this relationship with the Sith Empress who undoubtedly did not want her vassal state to be annexed by their Imperial adversaries.

Also, according to a dossier provided by the Imperial Secret Service, it was set in stone that Eshan is to be annexed by their Mandalorian neighbours which exposed a new political development between the Sith-Mandalorian governments that went beyond mercenary contracts and credits there were rolled out to pay for their services. The Imperials suspected a cunning coo had been orchestrated, perhaps, by Talon, Varanin, or by a member of the Dark Council from Jutrand to court further influence with the Mandalorian Empire. After all, the Imperial Confederation had experienced their duplicity and cunning first-hand which had been a contributing factor to their attack on Brosi in the first place. How else were Her's associates supposed to perceive the new Echani Queen, a known Sith Lord, as she begun her reign over a star system taken by the Mandalorian Empire?

Her quietly took a moment to consider the numerous factors and variables at play which served to only confound the objectives of the clandestine project to eliminate the Sith vassal state at Thandon. As she thought to themselves Her considered whether or not to use their influence to further complicate the situation, or, elevate tensions between the Mandalorian Empire and Imperial Confederation.

On the one hand Her knew that their associates had been courting an alliance with The Diarchy ever since the formation of the Imperial Confederation. It stemmed back to when the Imperial Sector Authority had been formed: an Imperial remnant of the Empire of the Lost who had considered joining their former associate (Maldor Sancetti) as he joined the Diarchs on Bastion. They had eventually made alternatives plans which had resulted in the formation of the Confederation and it's government on New Aldera. Yet, the allure of inter-relations between both sides had persisted while they recovered from the Sartinaynian Crisis and the Fifth Wing incident knowing that it had been a Sith Lord codenamed 'LAETOR' that had been responsible for the false-wing attack.

The ideas behind the Imperial-Diarchy alliance were alluring for a reason. Connecting the star sectors occupied by the Imperial Confederation to the Braxant Run (as it was under the control of the Diarchs) was a great economic concern. It was certainly something that the N&Z Umbrella Corporation courted as they sought to connect both markets to each other in which they were the primary players in. Another idea included mutual military pacts against the Sith threat presently occupying the Thandon Star Nebulae as the Imperials looked to cement their position in the Outer Rim systems without the fear of continued sabotage, espionage and, as evidenced by Tion, outright annihilation by the Eleventh Sith Empire.

Pax Astrum, a religious belief upheld by The Diarchy, served as the basis for this mutual co-operation against the Sith given that the Lords of the Diarchy believed that they were destined to save the galaxy from their tyranny. These beliefs, combined with the establishment of their own star empire, had been analysed and considered by a multitude of organisations within the Imperial Confederation which had led up to the recent reconciliation and diplomacy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say. Now, the Imperials were forced to juxtapose these positions against the Mandalorian Empire, whose grievances with The Diarchy were not going to go away, and whether or not an alliance with one side would create an enemy with the other.

Yet, the Imperials were in their own advantageous position as they found themselves caught between the Mandalorian-Diarchy dichotomy. Could they have the benefit of choosing a side after-all?

Silently, the Imperial Corrections Directorate begun to stir. The machinations of this security apparatus, as a branch of the C.O.M.E.C.I, had long been under the influence of Her as their Warden Primus, and now they were put into action to affect these proceedings in order to gain leverage in these negotiations. It was apart of the preparations for this summit to have the I.C.D in position to acquire an advantage over both her associates from the Imperial delegation and their trading partners from the Mandalorian Empire.

As the negotiation continued to flow earnestly, with confrontation threatening to simmer up from beneath the surface, Her enacted measures that were disguised under the blanket of security. I.C.D shuttles, which carried contingents of Stormtroopers, escorted by TIE fighters, emerged from hyperspace to initiate warrants that subjected N&Z, Mahporeem and Mandalorian crew or personnel on board Siv Kryze- class and Khonshu-class stations in Imperial space to an almost immediate detainment, and confinement.

The orders were written by Her and signed to read as the following:

WARRANT

STARDATE: 180126.

Under the direct orders of the WARDEN PRIMUS, the IMPERIAL CORRECTIONS DIRECTORATE are to begin procedures to secure all Siv Kryze-class Light Salvage and Khonshu-class Path Stations across the IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION effective immediately.

All N&Z, MAHPOREEM, MANDALORIAN, or other ulterior personnel / crew (pertaining to Imperial organisations), are now under the jurisdiction of I.C.D security forces. All stations established under the agreements created by during the 'ANVIL OF CONCORDIA' summit are now under the control and authority of the IMPERIAL CORRECTIONS DIRECTORATE under the discretion of the WARDEN PRIMUS.

All stations are hereby CLOSED and their occupants DETAINED FOR INVESTIGATION.

Signed,
THE WARDEN PRIMUS.
IMPERIAL CORRECTIONS DIRECTORATE, NEW ALDERA.

In one fell swoop Her acquired a litany of political prisoners belonging to both the Mandalorian Empire and Imperial Confederation. Transmission black outs reigned across the stars, and in their silence, it threatened to ignite the powder-keg which led to war as the undercover Sith Lord (under the disguise of the I.C.D's Warden Primus) established leverage over these proceedings without ever ushering a single word.

Jonah · Sunday at 5:56 PM

THE PRIME HAUL - SIZ-CLASS LIGHT SALVAGE STATION

The Warmaster of the Nite Owls was present onboard one of the recently-created Siv-class Light Salvage Stations. It was a routine operation, kicking the tires and reporting back to the Mand'alor.

Of course, routine went out the window when the boarding began. The station lurched as unannounced entries began to occur. Armed personnel bearing Imperial Confederation colors stormed the bridge when Jonah and a cadre of his Nite Owls stood.

One of the assailants pointed their blaster at Jonah, prompting him to raise his hands.

"What's the meaning of this?" he inquired, his helm silently beginning to record and broadcast to his younger sibling directly.

"By order of the Warden Primus, this station is closed and all personnel are to be detained. Come quietly and no one needs to be harmed!"

"Did they ever inform you that Mandalorians never come quietly? It's why the ladies love us so much."

At once, the Nite Owls and their Warmaster cloaked - getting away wouldn't be much of an issue, but the wider ramifications had Jonah curious. Who was the Warden Primus? And why attempt to detain them now? Had the negotiations gone that badly?

Her

I'm posting on mobile, I know you're all watching this thread, sue me

Ronhar Tane · Sunday at 11:05 PM

FLEET ADMIRAL VORIN ZONILL
[REDACTED]
MAHPOREEM

Zonill could only watch on in horror as the meeting continued to devolve into little more than a shouting match.

The accusations were flying left and right, with both the Imperial Confederation and the Mandalorian Empire levying the blame for this whole situation on each other, each side refusing to back down in the slightest. Zonill was genuinely surprised that no one had quit the meeting in protest by this point, but with the way things were going, he was sure that was going to start happening sooner rather than later.

At least one person seemed like they wanted to find an actual solution to the conflict that the Mandalorians and the Confederation was having, that of course being

Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory , the Chief Executive Officer of the N&Z Umbrella Corporation. The proposal that she had put forth was entirely reasonable in Zonill's opinion, and it should have been the "jumping off point" for negotiations to begin in earnest. Unfortunately, what she had said have been drowned out by the combined voices of

Aether Verd and

Marlon Sularen , though to his credit the Supreme Commander had mentioned what Amalia had said to the Mand'alor.

Yet it was seemingly all in vain, for

Aether Verd was apparently uninterested in talking to anyone but the Exarch himself,

Karl Von Strauss . He had remained silent so far, and Zonill truly wished that he would speak up at some point, because with the way that things were going, war was going to break out by the end of the conference!

In particular, Zonill was especially worried about the fate of the various Siv Kryze-class Light Salvage Stations that the Imperial Remnant had spent so much time and effort on constructing for the trade route between Mahporeem and the Anvil of Concordia. Even if a peaceable solution was reached here today, those stations would continue to be in grave danger of being seized by the Mandalorians or worse, the dreaded Sith!

This could not stand. Mahporeem had invested to much into its future to allow its stations to go to waste.

Zonill started going over the options he had at his disposal in his head. Direct military action, at least at the moment, was out of the question: after all, if he started sending Mahporeenian military assets to seize those stations by force, then he might as well draft up a formal declaration of war to go alongside with the attacks. Negotiating with the Mandalorians to further split up ownership of the stations could work, but Zonill would be loathe to give up even a single one of them, especially after the perceived insult that he had received from

Aether Verd . There was always the self destruct sequences that he could activate aboard the stations, but that would take time and risk both Mahporeenian lives and the wrath of the Mandalorians.

As Zonill continued to mull things over, he thought of one other solution that he could try, though it was still a risky move to play. While he personally couldn't seize those stations without risking the ire of both his allies and the Mandalorians, he could secretly ask a certain someone else to do it for him, and then pretend to be outraged when the illicit theft of the stations was inevitably discovered. This way, he and the Imperial Remnant could avoid any blame for whatever transpired next while denying the Mandalorians the ability to use the stations in the future, keeping alive the possibility of eventually bringing the stations back under Imperial Remnant control.

It wasn't going to be a perfect solution by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the best alternative that he had, as poor a choice as it may have been overall. Zonill silently nodded to a figure out of frame as

T'zarna Khab continued to hurl insults at the Mandalorians, hoping it would keep everyone distracted enough to not see what he was doing. That nod of his head was a signal to send a confidential message out to a certain someone, the one and only Warden Primus

Her -self! It was a gamble, to be sure, but Zonill felt that he didn't have a choice.

Naturally, Zonill had no way of knowing that the Warden Primus was already in the process of trying to secure his stations. Had he have known that, then his final choice may have turned out differently. But he didn't know that, and the message was dutifully sent out.

Negotiations continue to go poorly. Drastic measures must be taken to ensure that our adversaries do not gain the upper hand. Should something happen to our Salvage Stations while no one is looking, the Imperial Remnant may just be willing to turn a blind eye. Further details to be discussed. Loss of Mahporeenian life will not be tolerated under any circumstances. May the galaxy be with us.

TAGS:

Aether Verd

Marlon Sularen

Jonah

Raum Varad
OPEN

Karl Von Strauss · 2026-01-19T01:18:19-0500

Aether Verd said:
We endure. We survive. We remember.

ZZZZzzzrrrtttt... (Rewind Sounds)

Aether Verd said:
We endure. We survive. We remember.

ZZZZzzzrrrtttt...

Aether Verd said:
We endure. We survive. We remember.

The sound of the recording echoed loudly through the chamber, as it was rewound and replayed again and again. After the third time, Karl von Strauss materialized. The Exarch was sitting in a high-back leather chair, his right leg over his left, his gloved hand resting while holding a small recording device. He rewound it again.

ZZZZzzzrrrtttt...

He pressed play, but instead of only listening to the words, he calmly echoed them.
"We endure..."

"We endure..."

"We survive..."

"We survive..."

"We remember."

A click; silence.

"We remember." He echoed, setting the device aside, just out of frame. He brought back a glass of water and took a sip from it before setting it back down. "These few words, expertly spoken, remind me why I admire Mandalorian society. No matter what age we are in, Mandalorians, be they mercenaries, insurgents, or unaligned, stand as a paragon of honor and duty. But memory cuts both ways. To remember is to drag the weight of old wars through new ones; it anchors us to wounds when the present demands clarity."

He shifted, looking directly at one of the blades at the Mand'Alor's side, "Aselia of House Verd, if I am correct, to your point: Srina Talon is Sith. Quinn Varanin is Sith. Sith is not a costume or a contract; it's a current. Light and dark, Ashla and Bogan, different banners for the same river. And contracts do reflect an alignment, even if only for a season. When you take a commission, you lend your blade, your code, and your consequence to another. That is not a criticism, it is the Mandalorian way."

The Exarch lifted his hand and gestured to the Mand'Alor, "So I will speak plainly, since plain speech is a currency you value: I have no desire to kill Mandalorians. None. I've said as much to the Diarchs as well. We aligned with them because the galaxy is darkening, and they answered when we called. Just as we answered when you called for commerce and trade."

Karl leaned forward in his seat, the leather creaking as his weight shifted, "We petitioned you for Mandalorian aid once, out of desperation and need. We never received the courtesy of refusal." He clicked his tongue, his tone sharpening, not in hostility, but in honesty. "And I will admit this once: if not for Sith coin being as endless as their body piles, I fully expected you to side with the Galactic Empire during Atrisia. Had that happened, I believe the galactic map would look very different than it does now."

"We are at a crossroads." The Exarch began, "A two-front war between our peoples would serve no one. It would not be honorable. It would not be profitable. And it would not be remembered kindly by history. I am not above you, nor am I beneath you. I am here, across this channel, because I would rather speak as equals than bleed as fools."

TAGS:
TIC:

Her |

Marlon Sularen

ME:

Amelia von Sorenn

Sorry if I missed anyone. This is a stacked lineup.

Jonah · 2026-01-19T01:36:08-0500

HYPERSPACE
A few moments, and an ass-kicking, later...

The stars blurred as the corvette dove into hyperspace. Jonah sat at the bridge of his vessel, finally allowing himself a sigh of relief. Around him, his Nite Owls stood, each with voices alive across their secured channels.

His right-hand approached the command throne, saluting, before rendering her report. "Our head count is in. The Stations were confiscated, but all vode are accounted for."

Jonah smirked from behind his helm. "Can't say I'm surprised. These diet Imps couldn't catch a cold." he began. "Consolidate everything and send it up the chain. The GHA, the Wolves, the Wardens...they're gonna get a real kick out of this."

The Nite Owl before him thumped her fist upon her chest before setting about her task. In mere moments, all of the Empire would know that the Confederation cast a net and couldn't snag a single fish.

Her

Aether Verd · 2026-01-19T02:25:49-0500

Wearing:
Beskar'gam - Darksaber

MANDALORE - HOLOCALL

Mandalore listened.

The warrior homeworld listened to the Imperial response in full, to the careful phrasing and the veiled threats, to the posturing dressed up as concern. But beneath all of it, beneath the contradictions and the rehearsed restraint, there was something far louder than any accusation.

Fear.

Aether’s gaze settled first upon Councilman Von Strauss as he entered the exchange, if it could even be called that. His words collided headlong with those spoken moments earlier by Sularen, each claiming a different truth while attempting to stand upon the same ground. There were no formal terms with the Diarchy, yet there was solidarity. There had only been conversations, yet somehow those conversations justified confrontation. A two-front war was undesirable, yet it was spoken aloud as leverage.

The message fractured itself in real time.

The absurdity of it drew the faintest twitch of amusement to the Mand’alor’s lips, gone as quickly as it appeared. If not for the transmission from his Warmaster arriving at that exact moment, he might have believed the galaxy incapable of irony.

“I agree with one point...” Aether said at last, his voice steady, resonant, and carrying the quiet authority of someone already finished weighing outcomes. “We are at a crossroads.”

His visor lifted slightly, the glow of its T-shape fixing on the Imperials as a whole rather than any single face. “One voice claims there are no formal ties with the Diarchy, that what exists is nothing more than conversation and mutual opposition to the Galactic Empire. Another voice speaks openly of a two-front war. This is the danger of rule by committee. Your message is fragmented. Your clarity is muddied. And through that confusion, you endanger the very cause you claim to protect.”

The Mand’alor’s hand rose, indicating Sularen without hesitation. “You say there are no binding agreements, no signed compacts, no oaths exchanged. And yet, somehow, your government decided that the absence of terms equated to standing with our enemies. A single five-minute holocall would have resolved this. Instead, my people were summoned here only to be accused, insulted, and treated as suspects rather than partners.”

His hand shifted, now turning toward Von Strauss. “And you speak of the futility of a two-front war while your own Warden Primus holds Mandalorians at gunpoint and attempts to detain them without cause. That sort of duplicity is something I expect from the Diarchy, not from a nation that claims to value cooperation.”

Aether exhaled slowly, the sound controlled, measured. “Understand this plainly. Mandalore is not intimidated by the prospect of a two-front war. We have lived under pressure for generations and war is our way. If you and the Diarchy choose to bleed together, then Mandalore is prepared to meet you both.”

His tone hardened, iron threading through every word. “Do not mistake that confidence for bravado. Mandalore does not require allies to conquer either of you. Not separately. Not together. A war with Mandalore will break you. It will hardly challenge us.”

The Mand’alor leaned forward just enough for the motion to be unmistakable, though he never rose from his throne. “And while you struggle to survive a conflict against us, the Sith Order would not politely wait beyond your borders. They would come. They would smell the Imperial blood in the water. Your empire would fracture under the pressure you created at Brosi. All this...because you mistook Mandalorian restraint for weakness.”

Aether’s gaze sharpened. “It is clear that this summit was never about peace. It is a clumsy attempt to sway Mandalore away from a contract you dislike, without offering a single concession in return. Worse than that, you strangled the last remaining ties between our nations with your own hands. You attempted to detain my people. You seized joint-commercial stations built in good faith. All while insulting Mandalore to its face.”

A nod was rendered to persons beyond his gaze. A new hologram erupted beside his form: a recording displaying his Warmaster's encounter with the Confederation's forces.

Then, Aether straightened, with his voice settling into something final and immovable. “So hear this Mandalorian clarity and do not pretend later that it was not given. If the Imperial Confederation chooses to throw away its warriors defending Diarchy soil, Mandalore will allow it without reprisal. We will watch. We will remember. But should your fleets cross into Mandalorian space alongside the Diarchy, if your banners enter our worlds as invaders rather than guests, then the Cross will await you, exactly as promised.”

Silence followed. Mandalore offered restraint, despite how hard the Confederation begged for consequence. As before, their actions would determine their fate.

Aether’s gaze drifted away from the council then, turning slightly as if another presence within the throne room had drawn his attention. The pause stretched, deliberate, heavy with implication.

“Empress...” he said evenly, no longer addressing the Confederation at all, “what do you make of this conversation so far?”

A new hologram ignited beside his own, resolving into the unmistakable visage of

Srina Talon , Empress of the Sith Order. Her presence alone was enough to shatter any remaining illusion of isolation.

Only then did Aether return his attention to the summit, a thin edge of courtesy entering his voice. “Forgive the interruption. It would be rude not to introduce my client.”

His visor fixed once more upon Von Strauss and Sularen alike. “Imperial Councilors, you now stand before Empress Srina Talon. Let us continue, with all cards finally on the table.”

Her ,

Srina Talon ,

Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory ,

Ronhar Tane ,

Onrai ,

Aselia Verd ,

Renn Vizsla ,

Raum Varad ,

Amelia von Sorenn ,

Karl Von Strauss

Srina Talon · 2026-01-19T11:00:12-0500

Location: Mandalore [Somewhere near

Aether Verd ]

____________________________________________________

From the moment the Crucifixion moved across her desk, she had traveled the stars anticipating some sort of reprisal from one sanctimonious entity or another. It was a surprise that the Imperial Confederation was the first to make bleating appeals toward their perceived notion of proportional response…And yet, completely on brand for a nation that lived and breathed by its ability to hide within plain sight. It made perfect sense that they wouldn't want the gaze of the Mand'alor to turn on them in an unfavorable fashion. Or at least it would have…

If they hadn't openly referred to Mandalorian representatives as dogs and levied thinly veiled insults instead of asking the grand favor this was all about. In a single holo-call, the Imperial Confederation had shattered their image and any perceived leverage. Their lack of knowledge about the words

Diarch Rellik had spoken, the acts of war, he had unsuccessfully tried to purchase from the Black Sun Syndicate were startling. It wasn't the content that was surprising, really, as all despot leaders rewrote history and made outrageous claims—Including using back-handed prose to throw a tantrum and threaten her daughter…

But the fact that the Imperial Confederation was entirely, willfully, in the dark. They were incorrect about so much that it actually caused her eyebrows to raise from her silent position nearby. It was a feat of significant magnitude for anyone to break her composure, and for that, credit was due. She was surprised by their lack of decorum, their lack of information, and the whole premise of the call. It was preposterous.

Her head shook slowly while she listened on, though she would not interrupt without invitation. She did not make decisions for Mandalore, no more than any other business contract might have sway. The sharp click of a tongue calling for attention, like they were children, was a razor running on her spine. The want to bare teeth, to snarl, at the disrespect burned deeply…But she refrained. In all her years serving and working with varying galactic powers, Srina, had always thought that her skill in diplomacy was lacking. Her inability to read certain social cues and the calm, standoffish nature of her birth often painted her as off-putting. She had thought, truly, that no one in the galaxy was worse at brokering deals.

Now—She knew better.

When

Aether Verd called for her…She simply was. The air around the hologram seemed to dim, almost like the Light itself had learned caution. Silver-white hair fell loosely over one shoulder, unbound, in a deliberate breach of courtly perfection. The faint scent of jasmine and rain would bleed through the projections as if they were filters, not images, grounding her presence in something sensory and real. She was not just an empty portrait.

Not a ghost in the machine.

Her gold-hewn eyes remained pale, unblinking, regarding the assembly with neither hostility nor warmth. When the Mand'alor strung up their enemies and crucified them? Travel bans. Stern, little warnings. Perhaps a time out of the playground. When Srina did the same? War. She could smell the hypocrisy…But that had always been the way of the galaxy. Sycophants, high on their own fumes…And hypocrisy.

There was a certain patience in her. Not forced…But natural. The dangerous kind.

"So much time…", the Empress trailed off at last, her voice low and even, threaded with a resonance that would make every chamber feel smaller. "…Has been spent debating what I am. Who, I am. You could have asked…"

Her gaze drifted, slowly, across the Imperial delegates, but not remaining long enough to grant any one of them significant importance. "I would have told you."

There was another gentle pause that most of them would probably loathe…But she was in no hurry to spit out words without thought. "You speak of the Sith as though we are one single body, a single will, a single inherited guilt. You have gathered every atrocity you can name to lay it at my feet, while insisting, without embarrassment, that you are your own entity. Should we not blame you, Imperials, for Atrisia?"

The faintest curve touched the kiss of her mouth, not a smile, so much as a bit of irony that she couldn't quite make sense of. If she was responsible for ALL deeds of every Sith in the galaxy—Did not one Imperial share the same blame as another? Did they not share the same authoritarian ideals? "…Imperials who deny being imperials…Is this not the pot, lecturing the kettle?"

Her attention sharpened, then, eyes drifting back toward

Aether Verd with distinct curiosity. He had already mentioned how their tales did not follow the same path, but she too, found cracks in the speeches and overtures of…What were they? Heroes? Saviors of the Galaxy? Teaming up with the Diarchy to push back the Galactic Empire? Only…It was the Sith who were dealing with the Galactic Empire. Currently. "You are infallible bastions, and yet, your house is fractured with voices that contradict one another. You court the Diarchy who dabble freely in the Dark when it suits them and call it reconciliation. You recoil from contracts while pretending your alliances are moral acts rather than strategic…I won't claim to understand it, but it is, as they say…None of my concern."

She looked away from Aether…Perhaps, contrite. He had asked what she thought, and more than anyone, he knew that the Dread Queen never looked at anything in shades of black and white. Everything was touched with a stain of grey because the galaxy was not made with clean lines. "Speaking as a client of the Mandalorian Empire…I protect my children."

"It is not rhetoric or posturing, but fact. The Mand'alor is my nephew. My godson. Mandalorian aid to me is bound by contract because his people require such a thing to be formalized in coin. We have had our own reconciliation, but I respect that history is slow to forget the sins of our predecessors. It would be to your advantage to understand that my aid to him is not so limited. If the Imperial Confederation threatens my children, I will come."

If keeping her design in motion required bodies piled high? So be it. The Sith may win, the Sith may lose, but they would never stop. The Sith Order could crash down as they spoke, and it wouldn't stop that wheel from turning. Sith were Eternal. "When I call…The Mandalorians will answer. Not because I compel them, but because their word is their bond and they honor their agreements. I have paid for my services in full, and then some, while you have insulted them and attempted to dictate their justice. And when the conversation displeases you…You dare to detain Mandalorian citizens and pretend that this is still, somehow, in good faith."

It took only the speed of communication to know what the Imperial Confederation had allowed to take place. Srina leaned back in her chair. Impassive and still as stone. She knew what she was in the way only monsters truly could, not through whispers, but through long…long, familiarity. Through the quiet accounting of choices made when gentler paths were available. Through the knowledge that when others recoiled…She never would. She would bear the weight of blood, of death, and destruction because it was her duty to do so.

Srina Talon was every bit the monster they thought she was. Likely, worse.

"It is the opinion of your humble client…That the Mand'alor has been too kind. I have never seen a ruler swallow such…behavior…and still offer such graceful terms."

Mandalorian citizens had JUST narrowly escaped being detainment during a negotiation for some kind of lopsided armistice. It wasn't as if they were warring before, they had a working relationship, trade, but at the eleventh hour…This?

The Mandalorian Empire was no longer a doormat. Their reputation of being sniveling, weak, and easily broken was fading away with every passing day. She knew this to be true because she did not treat, with weaklings. This entire event was based on the premise that the Mandalorians feared the Imperial Confederation and the Diarchy enough to capitulate to laughable terms.

From her estimation…There was no "Mandalorian Question" to speak of. Just an answer:

Mandalore was not afraid.

Her |

Onrai |

Marlon Sularen |

Aselia Verd · 2026-01-19T13:05:36-0500

When Mand’alor turned the floor over away from the Confederation, away from fractured councils and contradictory claims and acknowledged their aunt, Aselia’s posture did not change. But the meaning of her silence did. She understood, with perfect clarity, that from this moment forward, nothing said by the Imperial Confederation would matter. They had shown their hand, brazenly.

Aselia did not move when the Empress spoke.

She did not need to.

Every channel she was threaded into told the same story ICD warrants executed under diplomatic cover, joint stations seized mid-summit, Mandalorian crews targeted while their leaders were deliberately distracted by rhetoric and delay. This was not miscommunication. This was not fear.

It was premeditated.

Jonah’s signal had already reached her all vode clear, no captives taken. Infrastructure was lost, yes but Mandalorian lives were denied to them. A small mercy, and one she suspected had not been intentional on the Confederation’s part.

She said nothing as her Aunt dismantled the chamber with calm precision. Aselia had long since learned the difference between fury and inevitability, and this was the latter. The kind of quiet certainty that preceded outcomes, not arguments. When the Empress spoke of contracts, of family, of protection that transcended coin, Aselia felt the words settle like weights locking into place. Not commands. Not threats.

Statements of fact.

“This is why they refused to meet in person” a message silently composed and sent directly to

Aether Verd
Her gauntlet flexed once, subtle. On the Mandalorian military net, alert status shifted. Not to war. Not yet. But readiness climbed, fleets informed Mandalore was on alert. And when Mand'alor called, they would answer.

TAG:

Ronhar Tane

Adelle Bastiel · 2026-01-19T13:34:28-0500

Mandalore, Throne Room

Adelle watched.

The whole ordeal was a test of patience and endurance. Endurance because of the pressure from proximity to the black hole in the Force near Aether. The throne room held an unnatural chill that her beskar’gam couldn't keep out.

Patience because of the conversation at hand.

Words flowed freely like water from a broken dam, with little substance behind it. She noted that her request for plain speech had been ignored. Directness had a way of cutting out all the osik that could muddle meaning and hide deception. Something she had admired about the Mandalorian warriors she fought before she herself swore the Resol’nare.

Insults and derision followed. Adelle stared at the projection flatly, the t-shaped visor betraying nothing. They were a worse diplomat than she was. What purpose did bringing them to the summit serve the Imperials? She could only think of provocation. A means to set Mandalore on edge.

This was why she wasn’t a diplomat or politician.

Reason tried to reassert itself and Aether agreed, asking to speak directly to the Emperor--or Empress, she reminded herself, aware of the pressure in the Force currently in the throne room.

Except they had none.

Ruled by a council with only two permanent members.

Ironic. Adelle thought only the Sith followed the Rule of Two.

The Mand’alor began again, speaking directly to the Confederation’s asserted authority. The amusement at the shade he threw faded quickly. Adelle had begun to zone out when her HUD pinged and flagged an incoming broadcast. Data tagged it as coming from the Nite Owl Warmaster. Her blood began to boil as she watched, a trooper demanding the Mandalorians stand down and be detained.

Prisoners.

While the Confederation were in the middle of so-called negotiations for peace.

How was it that she knew diplomacy better?

Then the Nite Owl Warmaster said something about Mandalorians never coming quietly and for the second time in that meeting, she was incredibly grateful the helm contained sound until she needed to speak otherwise. Her snort of laughter was absolutely inappropriate for this kind of meeting.

She hardly heard the ongoing conversation, watching the broadcast, making sure Mandalorian lives were not lost in this backhanded move. It wasn’t until the Mand’alor finally introduced the black hole in the Force to the call, the Sith Empress Srina Talon, that she finally returned her attention to the conversation.

And Force help her, she hated even admitting this to herself, but she found herself siding with Talon. Agreeing with her reasoning.

“It would be to your advantage to understand that my aid to him is not so limited. If the Imperial Confederation threatens my children, I will come."

For once, Adelle was glad of their contract to the Sith Empress. To be on the receiving end of that wrath . . . Whills help the poor souls.

Adelle quietly tapped out a message on a datapad to Aether, giving her verdict.

::They’ve said nothing. They’ve offered nothing. This is pointless.::

She received an alert through the Iron Wolves channel. A standby. Not war, not yet. Readiness.

And in her humble opinion, it had been earned.

Tags:

Siv Kryze |

Srina Talon |

Her |

Raum Varad

Raum Varad · 2026-01-19T13:58:34-0500

BEND THE KNEE

Raum had acquired food somehow. One second his hands were empty, the next he was crunching on something fried and salty behind the sentries. They flinched every time. He did not care. Eyes locked on the holo, jaw working, smoke curling up into the vents.

The room shifted when she appeared. Even Raum felt it, he didn't have to be force sensitive to name it. Just pressure. Weight. He swallowed, then grinned around his bite.

"I'd fight a war for her," he said aloud, completely sincere. "Sheesh."

Inside, his thoughts ran faster. These Imperials were done. They just did not know it yet. Detaining Mandalorians mid-talk? Bringing knives to the table and acting surprised when blood followed? Idiots. Brave, stupid idiots. The kind history buried under phrases like tragic miscalculation.

He leaned closer to the screen as the Empress spoke, crunching again. Each word landed like a sentence being read aloud. Raum felt almost bad for the Confederation. Almost. He pictured fleets breaking, councils screaming, men who thought themselves important begging for terms they no longer controlled. Good. That was how lessons stuck.

A soft chime hit his bracer. Military channel. Standby.

His breath caught. Then his pulse kicked hard, heat flooding his limbs. Adrenaline made the room feel smaller, sharper. Real. He laughed under his breath. Finally.

Raum straightened, wiped his fingers on his thigh, and leaned between the sentries like they were old friends. His voice dropped to a fierce whisper, electric with joy.

"It's happening, boys."

He tapped the console once, eyes bright.

"Finally."

Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory · 2026-01-19T16:49:46-0500

TAG: 
			 
		Karl Von Strauss
 | 
			 
		Her
 | 
			 
		Onrai
 | 
			 
		Marlon Sularen
 | 
			 
		Aether Verd
 | 
			 
		T'zarna Khab
 | 
			 
		Ronhar Tane
 | 
			 
		Amelia von Sorenn
 | 
			 
		Aselia Verd
 | 
			 
		Renn Vizsla
 | 
			 
		Adelle Bastiel

There was only a bitter sigh of defeat, a disagreeing nod coming from the holographic depiction of Amalia as she had tried to cool things down, tried to offer the Mandalorian ruler a possibility which in her opinion would have been a satisfactory road to take. Yet with every new Imperial, with every new Mandalorian popping up in the conversation, the threats grew bolder, the insults harsher and obviously the distrust itself became palpable. Inavertedly, even 
			 
		Karl Von Strauss
 wasn't capable of soothing the aching tension in the conversation.

Holding her forehead in her right hand, rubbing her left temple with her left hand's index and middle finger, the CEO of the N&Z Umbrella Corporation could only suffer through the very indignation that was this failure of a meeting. These weren't even close to being diplomatic talks, they were very much the opposite, nearly as good as a declaration of war.

Yet she couldn't give up, not now... the Mandalorian Empire was important...too important. He had specifically pointed out that their principles, their tenacity and their strength was of vital importance to His plans. They were the raw material upon which he wanted to build his new foundation. Not even 
			 
		Tertius C. Nargath
  would deny it, trading with the mandalorians was of the utmost importance. After all, they were warriors, they knew quality and could give vital input with their demands.

The worst thing was yet to happen though, as she suddenly got reports of several N&Z assets, telling her that several of the stations operated or supported in their operation by the N&Z had been taken hostage, with the ICD having ordered immediate detainment of any and all mandolorians and their sympathizers on board of these stations.

This single act was enough for Amalia to jump up from her seat, yelling at someone out of the image of the holotranseiver. "They what!?"

In desperation she dropped back into her seat, biting hard upon her right index finger, before letting out a long and deflated sigh. She knew WHO was behind this, the ICD had grown too bold these days. They would have to be brought to heel before He'd come to know about this failure. 

"KING"

If there was anyone who could call them all to heel, who could make all the imperials step back or kneel down, it was Him. yet he wasn't here now, he had gone to deal with something of great importance, so now it was all up to Amalia...and quite frankly, even though she was certain she could get them all to shut up if this was a meeting in person, the fact that they were all using holographic images had emboldened them, to the point of lunacy perhaps. And that blasted Warden Primus had seen an opportunity to make herself known as the more... strict imperial, the more brutal one among what should have been a bastion of civility...at least outwardly.

"What do I do...what the hell do I do now?" Again, she rubbed the sides of her head, her eyes finally showing a mixture of emotions; fear, frustration, anger and panic, all perfectly mixed into one single expression. Fear to fail her lord, frustration at how the preceedings went, and anger that she couldn't effectively curtail the other imperials properly. 

To make matters worse, the sudden revelation of the Sith Empress now taking part as well almost completely broke the woman's spirit. That woman was dangerous, something she knew down to her core, even her Lord did not disregard 
			 
		Srina Talon
 , He did not hate the empress, simply saw her as one of the most dangerous obstacles for his own plans and position. Amalia would agree with this assessment of the empress, even far removed from her, just seeing her through a holographic transmission, Amalia could understand the difference between that woman and everyone else in this meeting.

She wanted to cry out, curl up in a ball, she wanted to crawl underneath all the towers, buildings and layers of rock Corvus had, and yet, she knew even then she'd still find herself too close to the very threat looming over her head. As soon as she thought about this, she could feel it...that cold, unexplicable feeling that what she dreaded the most was going to happen. The imperial incompetence and breach of THEIR deal had most likely reached his ears by now...the one man whose attention you did not want, and the attention of the one woman you didn't want... This was not good at all.

Onrai · 2026-01-19T19:19:08-0500

Tags:

Karl Von Strauss

"Perhaps the behavior comes from the lack of understanding."

Vanessa Vantai had watched the back-and-forth display of the remaining Imperial leadership and, for the first time in a sufficient period, found herself plainly and explicitly disappointed with her peers. Both Karl and Sully had taken the steps forward on seeking to lead negotiations with the Mandalorians - negotiations she had sought to open galas ago - and now the two galactic powers stood at a precipice of total dissolution of whatever cordial relationships they had managed to muster. Moreso, they stood at a precipice with the very Empress whose rituals she had sought to dissect the last time the two had made their presence known on the same world. Neither of them was going to have an answer to what Srina had said, and it was time for Onrai to take a step of her own explicit volition. So it was that she gave the single-lined answer to Srina before turning her attention back to Mandalore himself.

"With respect for my colleagues amongst the leaders of the Imperial Confederation, none of them have an understanding of the Sith the way I do." She spoke. And it was true - when the post-Gulag Sith had been at the pinnacle of their power and authority, she had been there under past guises, perennially present and attentive to circumstance. "I can think of a myriad of atrocities that were undertaken during my service to a host of emperors and empresses. Even atrocities done to your people when Yasha Cadera stood in your place decades ago." She said succinctly. The latter were atrocities she had particularly loathed, but she had reluctantly followed the banner of the then-Emperor as he severed such a relationship.

"But the galaxy moves on." She said. "It moved on when Graug imploded the first Empire that such great names as Desmius and Moridin commanded, an empire that has never had full reunification of its elements after its destruction. It moved on when the Galactic Alliance took center stage after Mandalore had been devastated by the Empire that succeeded that. It even moved on -" She eyed

Marlon Sularen - "After the planned death of Ignacious Korvan and the disappearance of Solipsis once more." Such a disappointment that had unfortunately been, an opportunity to do much with galactic expansionism that could yet have been beneficial.

"You asked what the relationship of the Imperial Confederation with the Diarchy is. It is the relationship of two powers born from the fragmented remains of an Empire, figuring out a means of guaranteeing neither exterminates the other. Frustration with the old order and a desire to move forward as it presently stands. No more, no less. And evidently, things need to be made plainer, given the prior inflection of my compatriots." The only thing they had succeeded at doing so far was being indecisive in the Confederation's positions - both with the Diarchy and with the Mandalorians themselves.

She cleared her throat before eying

Her . She knew what the Warden Primus had done, and it was to say the least a mistake that Vanessa intended to rectify as soon as possible. "We are not aligned with the Diarchy against the Mandalorians and have no desire nor intention to waste precious manpower on both our sides in a fruitless war that accomplishes nothing for either of us - and by us, I mean the Confederation and the Mandalorians. We are eager to pursue contractual negotiations with the Mandalorian Empire for cooperative agreements in trade, defense, and other things as they come. And in fact, given the circumstances, I can think of one thing in particular we could easily cooperate on." The implication was plain. Mandalorian and Confederation assets were currently both being endangered by the actions of an actor who had already sought to shift Imperial power to Her stead in the wake of the Empress's deposal. A calculated move, a deliberate move intended to bring the two parties into more direct conflict.

A move against those in Onrai's own sphere, which she herself could scarcely tolerate regardless of the parties involved.

Her image before the Mandalorians stepped away from the holoprojector plinth - what she had been presenting was far more tangible than a simple hologram, hence its more vivid and true-to-life coloration. The only indication of something unusual occurring to the others would likely be when a second Vanessa appeared on the call's holoprojectors - any other images from Vanessa's side would remain seemingly present if lacking in acknowledgement of her seeming doppelganger from the Mandalorian holoprojector.

"I believe you've likely received the information of what I refer to." Said Vanessa, the blued image on the holoprojector repeating her words to the others even as her more fully-colored "projection" still remained watching, silent. She turned her head, looking at

Aselia Verd . The manifestation present at the Mandalore's chambers had not been ignorant to the transmissions of the Mandalorians who had been nearly snared by the ICD, their Mahporeemian and N&Z compatriots having proven not as lucky in escaping detention. "I for one am not supportive of it and I believe both the Exarch and Grand Admiral would concur. If we seek a more mutually beneficial relationship, perhaps resolving this... unwarranted act would be a positive first step."

Given her relations with both

The Lord of Hunger and

Ronhar Tane , the preservation of her cohorts' assets being pretext to a positive shift in diplomacy with the Mandalorians seemed like an unorthodox gambit whose results could yet snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

She would have to thank Her later.

Aselia Verd · 2026-01-19T19:49:03-0500

Aselia did not raise her voice.

She did not need to.

The throne room had gone quiet in the way only Mandalore could make quiet heavy, expectant, every word suddenly expensive. Aselia remained at Aether’s right, helm forward, posture still, but her attention sharpened as the newest voice finished speaking.

Another alleged authority. Another perspective. Another attempt to reframe what had already been said, undone, contradicted, and acted upon.

Aselia spoke at last, her tone level and unadorned, cutting through the chamber without effort.

“Let me be certain I understand the Imperial position,” she said, not looking at any single hologram, addressing the whole fractured assembly at once.

“You called this summit for clarity. You sent us accusations. You denied alignment while invoking consequences. You claimed restraint while authorizing detentions. You spoke of peace while acting under cover of diplomacy.”

“Your Supreme Commander speaks. Your Exarch speaks. Your corporate representatives speak. Your intelligence directorate acts. Now you speak.”

Her head tilted a fraction, buy’ce reflecting cold light.

“Which of you speaks for the Imperial Confederation?”

She allowed a brief pause..

“Because from where I stand, you are not speaking with one voice. You are not acting with one hand. And you are certainly not negotiating in good faith when new participants keep emerging to reinterpret what was already said by the last. Mandalore is of one will, you are disjointed.”

She finally turned her helm slightly, not hostile assessing.

“I was under the impression that authority rested with the Supreme Commander and the Exarch. That is how states function. Yet every time Mandalore addresses one, another corrects them. Softens them. Reframes them. Or disowns the consequences.”

Her tone cooled further.

“This is not diplomacy. It is noise.”

She shifted her attention back to

Aether Verd alone now, her voice dropping just enough to make the distinction clear.

“You asked for clarity. They have offered commentary,” she said. “You asked for terms. They have offered explanations. You asked for accountability. They have offered distance.”

A subtle flex of her gauntlet.

“They attempted to detain Mandalorians during negotiations. They seized joint assets while claiming neutrality. They hid behind jurisdiction and now ask us to believe it was an aberration while standing in a room full of people who supposedly weren’t responsible.”

Her head inclined, once.

“If you wish to continue this, Mand’alor, I recommend you do so privately. One channel. One counterpart. No audience. No disjointed chorus.”

A pause then, quieter, final.

“Otherwise, we are not talking to the government. We are listening to a crowd and it is a waste of time.”

Aselia fell silent again, resuming her place at Aether’s side.

The message was delivered. Whether anyone on the other end was capable of hearing it was no longer her concern.

TAG:

Ronhar Tane

T'zarna Khab

Onrai · 2026-01-19T20:42:41-0500

Tags:

Karl Von Strauss

Aselia Verd said:
"Which of you speaks for the Imperial Confederation?"

"Which of us is standing here before you in person?" Vanessa eyed

Aselia Verd . "It was implied earlier that the reason none of us came to this meeting directly was because of some pretext of manipulation. Of a desire to undermine the cooperative efforts of members of your people with members of our own. This implication is, to say the least, far from correct." Whether Aselia would understand that what spoke back to her was very much not a hologram malfunctioning, but in fact a being whose physical presence could be very tangibly tested in theory was irrelevant to the circumstances at hand - time was ticking away. The form of Vanessa momentarily turned to address the Exarch and the Grand Admiral.

"For clarity, my fellows, Imperial Corrections Directorate personnel appear to have moved unilaterally against a number of salvage stations operated by the Mahporeem Remnant, N&Z, and the Mandalorians in concert with one another while the Confederation leadership is present on this call. The best explanation I can give is that this move was done deliberately to incite conflict between us during a tense diplomatic moment. As for accountability, the Warden Primus is the only one who could have given them the order to make such a move. Perhaps we should discuss our next course of action." Once more her eyes focused on

Her , before her manifestation before Mandalore stepped out of range of the holoprojector's sight-and-sound recording, an offer made directly to

Aether Verd person-to-person while whatever discussions concerning this revelation were made plain amongst the other parties on the call.

"So here are the Confederation's terms. As I'm the only one who's actually present to offer them, I might as well. Come with us to our space to help remove these miscreant individuals from their unduly seized assets and bring the ICD personnel who've defied the Confederation's will, seeking now to turn our negotiations to turmoil, to heel. Let's neutralize this mutual threat. And once said threat is no longer an issue, let's write out a formal contract regarding trade and a formal position of military neutrality between the Mandalorian Empire and the Imperial Confederation. No more wasted back and forth. No more opportunities to parties seeking to destabilize whatever relationship we could yet form. Just firm, solidified agreements, with no vagaries or questionable queries. What say you, Mandalore?" She said, looking directly at the form of the man she had crossed paths with at the gala a good deal of time back.

Ronhar Tane · 2026-01-19T21:16:12-0500

FLEET ADMIRAL VORIN ZONILL
[REDACTED]
MAHPOREEM

This...was not what Zonill had expected to happen. At all.

He had expected for negotiations to have broken down to the point that the Mandalorian Empire formally declared war on the Imperial Confederation. He had expected that the Warden Primus seize total control of all the salvage stations owned by the Imperial Remnant, and he had expected a lengthy negotiation process to get them back under Mahporeem control. He had finally expected to send a message off to

Diarch Rellik informing him that the Imperial Remnant was in possession of a number of Mandalroian based designs, and that the Diarch himself should come to the negotiation table so that they could strike some sort of mutually beneficial deal.

None of that had transpired.

Instead,

Onrai , through a brilliant political maneuver, had single handedly resurrected Confederation hopes of striking an agreement with the Mandalorians at the expense of the Warden Primus

Her -self, though it remained to be seen if the Mandalorians would be willing to agree to

Onrai 's terms. Normally, this would have been seen as something fantastic: after all, nearly everyone was getting what they wanted in the end with no loss of life, except of course, the Warden Primus.

Which left the Admiral with one tiny problem: the secret message that he had sent.

Denying it would be easy enough. He had made sure that the Holotransmitter had deleted any evidence of his conversation with the Warden Primus, and deflecting blame away from him and onto

Her would be a simple matter. Even if the Warden Primus brought up the message that he had sent or provided the meeting with copies of it (which Zonill did not doubt for a second existed), he could just claim it was all a fabrication, and excuse that the Warden Primus had concocted to justify her attacks on the stations, and that Zonill had no knowledge of what had transpired. That was exactly what he was going to do if the Warden Primus brought it up.

Still, it was a bad situation to be in, and Zonill somehow doubted that this would be the end of

Her . She was a survivor, and she would undoubtedly be vengeful toward Zonill's betrayal of

Her . But what choice did he have? It was either his head or

Her head, and Zonill had quite a bit of living left to do before he left this galaxy for good.

Therefore, he would have to give the performance of a lifetime, while somehow trying to give the Warden Primus an out. He straightened his posture, took a deep breath in, and without any warning...

...he slammed his fist against the Holoprojector as hard as he could, the veins on his forehead clearly bulging in anger and rage. That was a neat little trick he had picked up over the years, anything he needed someone to understand the gravity of his anger toward them. He remained silent for quite some time, as if he was struggling to find the words to say in the face of the Warden Primus's "unexpected" betrayal. He dramatically looked up at all those faces, and begun to speak once more:

"If I may be frank, I am struggling to find the right words to say in this moment", Zonill hissed through clenched teeth as the man tried to work himself up into a rage. "To have a member of your own alliance attack your assets under the notion of derailing a diplomatic meeting is...inconceivable. The Governor makes an excellent suggestion, one I would normally support with every fiber of my being. However, given the importance of those stations to both the Confederation and the Mandalorian Empire, forcibly taking them over with violence may not be in the best interests of any party involved. Perhaps the Warden Primus will agree to withdraw on

Her own, after which the Confederation and the Mandalorians can instead conduct a simulated operation to retake those stations?"

"You must understand that serious time and effort has been put into their construction, not to mention that fact that tens of millions of tons worth of salvaged and reclaimed materials are at stake of being damaged, destroyed, or otherwise lost? Besides that, there remains the fact that such an operation is likely to incur casualties on either side, an outcome I imagine all of us might want to avoid? With all the Beskar that was provided for the construction of these stations, the destruction of even one of them could result in unauthorized parties getting there hands on that most precious material."

"That is why I sincerely hope that the Warden Primus will make the most wise decision to withdraw

Her forces and retain all detained personnel to their respective sides, perhaps with an apology as well?"

There was no way in the galaxy that Zonill thought someone as proud as the Warden Primus would ever apologize for what she did, but he had to at least try. Plus, he desire to keep the stations unharmed was genuine, and Zonill couldn't be sure if the Warden Primus knew about the Self Destruct Mechanisms installed aboard each station. If she didn't, Zonill would most definitely want to keep it that way.

"Of course, I say all this only if the Warden Primus stands down. If she does not, well, then we must do what needs to be done. Personally though, a simulated exercise would prove far better while still providing us with valuable data regarding the defense of these stations, no? If it is blood and action you're after at the end of the day, well, the Imperial Remnant has no shortage of droids and other live fire targets for us to use if needed."

Oh hell Zonill, what did you get yourself into?!?!

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Aether Verd

Marlon Sularen