First Reply What Was Left Behind | Mandalore, before Old Scars, New Steel (Open to ME)

[Lander Stalwart]

Mandalore, before Old Scars, New Steel
Tags: Open to ME

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
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The Mandalorian Enclave had chosen to leave Mandalore behind in favor of Kestri, a product of the genocide brought by the followers of Carnifex. When Mandalore was free once more, they chose not to return. It was these Mandalorians that Lander had fought when he served in the Galactic Alliance Defense Force, a fresh transfer from the military of the Corellian Sector who shoved off to fight an enemy that rivaled the strength of a Jedi. In retrospect, he had been lucky to walk away without more missing parts. An arm was generous all things considered.

To that end, it was rather fascinating to be on Mandalore proper. Despite the scars that their capital held, there was a notable beauty to the architecture. Angular and complex, more than the expressionless militarism that many had come to know. Of course, the remnants of siege after siege were visible. It was not hard to imagine what had forged the modern landscape of the Mandalorian people, even if it did not always justify the actions of certain groups amidst them.

What Lander needed more than anything was to clear his mind. He was preparing to step into a high-tension diplomatic situation with no clear answer for if they would actually see peace or not. To that end he wanted to be present on Mandalore a little before-hand, if not to let himself become familiar with the air.

He had found himself a good public bench to sit down and think. It would be rather clear to anyone looking that he had a lot on his mind given his posture, but the visiting Senator from Sacorria didn't much bother himself with that right now. He just needed a moment to be alone with his thoughts and doubts. After all, he had experienced what was the most stressful month of his life thus far. A food crisis on Sacorria after an ecological disaster occurring right alongside his election to the Senate was the perfect storm. All while he struggled with the worry of defining Sacorria as an independent entity, unique from the Corellian Sector it sat within. Now the matter was the future of two intergalactic nations that filled his troubled mind.

Needless to say, he certainly had the justification to look sad on a bench for a while.

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

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Kandosii's spurs jangled as he left the nearby Protector station, newly registered within the Empire's ranks. He'd never been a super zealous Mando, never pounded his chest and shouted war cries or charged with great armies against their foes, but Mando he still was. He still had a sense of right and wrong, and he knew that just like the Enclave before them, the Mandalorian Empire would need lawmen like him, who served with a steady hand and a quick draw.

Over on a bench nearby Kandosii spotted a well-dressed man sulking, likely deep in thought on some matter or another. Far more well-dressed than anyone he had ever dealt with, save perhaps the odd crime boss. But whoever this man was, he clearly didn't have the air of a crime lord about him.

With the spurs, it'd be hard to not hear the Mando approaching. His bucket was under his arm, but he placed it beside himself as he sat down on the bench with Lander Stalwart , a respectful distance away. Tipping his Morellian hat to the man, he said "Howdy there, stranger. Somethin' eatin' on yer mind?" Kandosii spoke with a thick drawl, like a gunslinger on a pulpy old holovid. "An' what brings a well dressed feller like yerself to little ol' Mandalore?"

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[Lander Stalwart]

Mandalore
Tags: Kandosii Ka'rta

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
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"Ah... I suppose that's a rather complicated story..."

The people were rather respectful here to, even if they weren't really sure who he was. That was to be expected. Lander wasn't really anybody, just a fresh-faced politician who was sort of thrown into the deep-end. Things seemed to be moving so quickly now. How had even wound up here?

"I'm here in advance for a diplomatic meeting from the Core," he stated. "Mand'alor the Iron has opened his court to the Alliance. I felt as though it would only be fair to allow myself some time to experience Mandalore before that meeting occurs. Diplomacy only works of you are able to wash away your preconceptions..."

That was surprisingly open, but Lander was in a bit of a lucid state. It was an outlet to speak his mind and a stranger he didn't know. Perhaps that meant that whatever he said here wouldn't have to follow him.

No knives left behind to slice his back.

"I suppose one doesn't need much elaboration on why that might eat at anyone," the Sacorrian chuckled. "Not that I wasn't already being whittled away before..."

It had been a rough couple of weeks.

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

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Tag: Lander Stalwart

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Kandosii scratched his jaw, nodding. "Sure. I can see why that'd be a mighty big burden on any feller. Ain't ever met a diplomat before. Never been to the Core, neither. But nev'r mind me, " he said with a chuckle. " 'S mighty noble of ya, plenty'a politicians don' care t'do much but ride around in their shiny shuttles an' wine'n'dine an' argue about taxes n' such. I commend ya."

The Morellian Mando took a canteen from his belt, taking a sip of water before offering it to the finely-dressed diplomat. "So where y'from, partner? I imagine Mandalore here's a far cry from the Core Worlds." Kandosii himself had always tended to stick to the Outer Rim and beyond himself, that was where folk like him were needed the most. Hells, this was the first time in a while he had even been to Mandalore. Most of his time of late had been spent stamping out spice gangs and slavers, and only now was he getting some time to rearm and take a breather before charging back out into that brutal frontier.

Not to say he didn't like it that way, of course. Out in the field was where men like him belonged.

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Mandalore
Tags: Kandosii Ka'rta

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
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" 'S mighty noble of ya, plenty'a politicians don' care t'do much but ride around in their shiny shuttles an' wine'n'dine an' argue about taxes n' such. I commend ya."

"I guess I'm a bit unusual for a politician," Lander admitted with a slight laugh.

Most politicians didn't grow up on a farm and march out to war. Perhaps that was the sort of thing that changed your perspective when assuming a position of power.

He didn't know if that was true or not, but perhaps it had some merit.

"I'm from Sacorria," he explained. "Agri-world in the Corellian Sector. Not quite as built up as some of our big city planets... Sure isn't a Coruscant."

They didn't have cities that got to the size of the one at Mandalore's heart either. If not for the sprawling fields of agricultural development, Sacorria would probably be hard to tell apart from some backwater nowhere planet. It sort of was, in a way. The tucked away corner of the Core. A small fish in a sea of giants.

"Lander Stalwart," the Sacorrian offered. "Pleasure to meet you. Even if I'm not all that presentable at present."

He'd get over that with a little time to clear his mind, he imagined.

"Senator of Sacorria as of... well, three weeks ago now."

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

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Tag: Lander Stalwart

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Kandosii chuckled, brushing off Lander's comment about being presentable. "Aw, don't worry 'bout it. Most'a the folk I meet ain't half as presentable as yerself and the ones that are, are usually so crooked if'n they swallowed a nail, they'd spit out a corkscrew." The Mando cowboy held out a gloved hand for a shake. "An' I'm Kandosii Ka'rta, Mandalorian Protector as of about five minutes ago," he said with a laugh. " 'Course, I've worn a badge fer a lot longer 'an that." In all likelihood, he'd been a lawman for at least twice the time this fella had been alive. Before that...best to leave that in the far past.

"Pleasure t'meet ya as well, partner. Agri-world, eh? I'm from Morellia m'self, if'n ya couldn't tell by my manner'a speakin'. Ball of sand, snakes'a both sorts, and sixguns, way out in Wild Space. Truth b'told, I've only been t'Mandalore a handfull'a times m'self. So I s'ppose this is a new experience for the both of us."

He paused for a moment, considering Lander's words. He looked young, though he knew the stress of his job would likely change that sooner than he'd like. "Three weeks? Can't imagine the pressure yer feelin'. If'n ya need any help while yer here, I'd be happy to oblige. Much as I crack wise, I know how stressful yer job can be."

 

[Lander Stalwart]

Mandalore
Tags: Kandosii Ka'rta

Lander's Blaster Pistol, Lander's Prosthetic Arm
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"Three weeks? Can't imagine the pressure yer feelin'. If'n ya need any help while yer here, I'd be happy to oblige. Much as I crack wise, I know how stressful yer job can be."

"That's mighty kind of you, but I think I'll be alright," Lander remarked. "I expected such when I set out to become the representative of my people. Just gotta get through the growing pains."

Growing pains... that was a good analogy. That was something he'd have to keep in his pocket for later.

"Mandalore is a beautiful place," he noted. "Despite the damage. It reminds me a little of Taris. Forced to rebound from absolute zero. I can certainly respect that. I'm not sure how many cultures can say they came back from total annihilation."

The history of the galaxy was so complicated. Lander remembered hearing from his brothers about their time in the hyperspace war. The force of the Sith was terrifying. It only took one ritual for Exegol to be rendered a shattered husk, and that was their own planet they took. It was simply an action not to give the enemy the satisfaction of total victory.

And then he thought about how long the Kainites had been kicking around the galaxy and it made his stomach turn.

"You mentioned being a Protector?" the senator recalled. "I believe that's what the regime before the Crusaders called themselves. I imagine it's a name with history then?"

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

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Tag: Lander Stalwart

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Kandosii nodded. "In one form or 'nother, the Protectors've existed fer hundreds o'years. Now, I can't exactly speak fer the previous regime, on account of me being with the Enclave and their Karjr, but the Protectors have typically been law enforcers tryin to keep the peace an' protect Mando interests."

After a pause, he continued. " 'Course, let's not pretend that half of the rebuildin' wasn't 'cause of some civil war 'r another. If there's one thing Mandos'r better at killin' than saber jockeys, it's each other," he said with a chuckle, crossing one spurred boot over the other with a slight jingle. "That bein' said, I try t'keep my nose outta politics. Easier fer me that way. I know how to sling a gun and shoot scum, so as long as they seem like decent folk I don't pay too much 'ttention to what flag they're wavin'. I'm a simple man, my friend." At one point in time, he probably would've been called dar'manda when he didn't come to the call of war from the Mand'alor of the United Clans those years back, but that didn't effect him much. If anything, being Mando made it harder for him to find business back then. Folks didn't exactly have a great opinion of Mandos back when the United Clans were around.

"My apologies, friend, I ain't 'xactly the best case for a cultural ambassador of the Mando people. I was nev'r one o' them zealous types, never shouted war chants or crusaded against our foes. S'ppose I always felt my place was out on the fringes and in the seedy underbelly."