- 38 BBY -
- Bonagal -
Above the planet Bonagal, of the Mandalore system, a significant space battle was going on between Petyr's troops of the True Mandalorians and the Mandalorian Clan Eldar. It might seem weird that Petyr's side of the conflict, which envelops all of the Mandalore sector, could even raise enough manpower for all of this. And from an outsider's viewpoint, this question does make sense. The truth is, Petyr hasn't got nearly enough manpower for a war of this scale. He does, however, have a limitless supply of duplicates of any kind. So, he simply duplicated the former True Mandalorians he had fought beside, before they died, and then duplicated them as many times as necessary.
*BOOOOM*
The True Mandalorians are using Fang-class Protectorate fighters. These fighters were custom-built for starfighter combat, and the vessel's narrow attack profile and pivot-wing technology enabled unmatched agility, making the Fang fighter well-suited to executing deadly head-on charges.
[Picture]
Fang-class fighters were supposed to be created in the last few years of the Galactic Republic. But Petyr had taken over MandalMotors in all but name and had allocated resources to advance the fighters his men would use, in preparation for wars to come. He had a nearly limitless base of things to go off on, and he was personally involved in creating the Fang fighter. Since he is in Star Wars, Petyr naturally copied the skills and abilities of several scientists and researchers to create his own starships, speeders, and the like. It was a hobby of his, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Needless to say, Petyr's fighting force was doing very well in this war.
Kom'rk-class fighters of Clan Eldar were trying to keep up with the True Mandalorians and their ridiculously agile Fang fighters. In theory, the Kom'rk-class fighters were 100 kph faster than the Fang fighters. Still, there was nothing that they could do about the agility, the ridiculous amount of weaponry Petyr had fitted on the Fang fighters and the mentality of fighter pilots.
[Picture]
Petyr's men were alive, but they didn't fear death at all. They were duplicates and 100% loyal to his cause, so dying was nothing to be feared. As long as the enemy died, everything was fine. That showed in the way they fought and flew their craft.
Arla, the only non-duplicated human present among the True Mandalorians, was doing well. She pushes the lever down and twists through a series of blaster fire, giving her a better angle at the fighter in front of her. The Fang fighter's S-foil wings house the majority of the starfighter's weapon systems, which consist of a pair of forward-mounted laser cannons. In the case of the True Mandalorians, though... Petyr added something special.
"Enemy fighter before me. Cover my right!" Arla commands her squad and takes up position.
She presses the button and fires her laser cannon forward.
*PEPE-VROOOM*
An intense laser beam shoots out of the Fang fighter's laser cannon and cuts through the enemy Kom'rk fighter, causing it to explode.
*BOOOOOM*
Instead of the standard laser cannon fitted to starfighters and the like, Petyr thought it smart to try out a new type of laser cannon and created prototypes among the Fang fighters, which Kyber Crystals powered. He used the war as a test, and after a few mishaps and explosions on their side, the final product was ready. It was deadly and nigh impossible to protect against it. Energy shields of larger crafts could block the initial charge, but it sucked power like nothing else did. The only downside is that the True Mandalorians had to be strict when it came to formations. The enhanced laser cannons were impartial when it came to who was hit.
[Direct hit, Lady Arla.]
"Good, let's head for the final batch and then move in to take out the defences of Clan Eldar. The Mand'alor will be pleased with our success here," Arla commands.
[Affirmative.]
Arla had become a deadly and skilled warrior. Whether it was hand-to-hand combat, using weapons like blasters, slugthrowers, disruptors, or close-quarter weapons like swords and electro-staffs, Arla could use them all. She was immensely strong for a human female, thanks to Petyr's training and her use of Chi. Now, all that was left for Petyr to teach her was politics, which she didn't like very much and leadership. That's why Arla was leading these battles. From the very beginning, Petyr wanted Arla to be the one to call the shots.
She didn't like it at first and was beaten quite thoroughly, resulting in he loss of the True Mandalorians in the early years of the war. Petyr was there to help her get back on track when her failure bogged her down. He took care of her by ordering his troops to essentially keep her safe, rather than winning the fight. She was the most important person in Petyr's life, whatever that meant at the moment.
The Fang fighters arrange themselves next to Arla and protect her from incoming enemy ships. There were no capital ships involved in the Great Clan War, as it was not their style to use them. The Mandalorians were a special warrior breed; even the Duke of House Kryze, Adonai Kryze, had gotten a great reputation and gained the respect of his enemies, and even the Death Watch had to admit he was a skilled warlord. However, things had turned for the worse, as Adonai had died just recently.
"Fire," Arla commands.
They unleash their combined might of all the laser cannons and destroy the remaining crafts in the air, finishing the aerial battle and moving in to attack Clan Eldar's capital city. The anti-air cannons proved ineffective against the massively powerful laser cannons the Fang fighters used and were taken out very soon. After they are done, having fired at the city and destroyed many of its buildings, the True Mandalorians land, and Arla contacts Petyr.
"Mand'alor, we are done on Bonagal. Clan Eldar has been defeated."
[Well done, Arla. Your skills have truly grown immensely over the years. I'll arrive shortly.]
Hearing the praise makes Arla happy. True to his word, a TIE/D Defender Elite arrives, and Petyr steps out. He looks around and nods his head.
"You have done very well, Arla. How was the fight?" he asks.
"It was a simple matter. I am getting used to the command, as you wanted, and the Fang fighters are superior to the fighters the others have access to. And if we add the superior laser cannon, then there is nothing that could stand against us in the air."
"I am already in the process of creating a new model. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it."
"Another one? Already? Does MandalMotors have the funds for this? Or does this come from... You know?" Arla asks.
"A bit of both. MandalMotors is under my control already, and I use a combination of both legal funds to start projects, and then create anything necessary myself to create new equipment and weapons. After a project is finished, I fund the materials to create the finished product with MandalMotors' funds."
"I still can't comprehend how that works," Arla says and shakes her head.
"Don't worry about it. Now, as for the Chief," Petyr says and approaches the chief who is walking out of the building.
They approach one another until they stand a few feet apart with their men behind them.
"Chief Kumani," Petyr greets the man.
"Mand'alor. An impressive display your fighters showed today. But it's not hard to win with superior technology," Kumani says.
"Preparation is just as important as the execution of a battle. Don't whine, Chief, it doesn't suit your position."
"I wasn't whining. However, it has become increasingly apparent that you aren't fighting in this war. I am wondering, why that is."
"Do you accept defeat, Chief Kumani?" Petyr asks.
"No, I-"
*BANG*
Petyr fires a disruptor at Kumani, killing him. He places the gun back and looks at the men of Clan Elden.
"Are there any among you who wish to continue this fight?" Petyr asks.
One by one, the clan members throw their weapons to the ground, submitting to Petyr and the True Mandalorians.
"Good. Then let us get to reorganising Clan Eldar and think about the future of Bonagal."
.
- Coruscant -
- Jedi Council -
"What are we to do about the situation on Mandalore, Grandmaster Yoda?" Qui-Gon Jinn asks.
"Seen the war on Mandalore, we have. Decided to support Satine Kryze for peace, the Council has. Sending you, we will, to protect the young one," Yoda explains.
"The young Duchess? Why would she go to Mandalore during these times?" Qui-Gon asks.
"The Duchess has already left the school she was studying at and has expressed her desire to return to support her family, House Kryze and also the New Mandalorians. Her belief and conviction in peace have found a lot of support among the Republic and the Jedi Order," Mace Windu says.
"What about the current Mand'alor of Mandalore? What is his stance on the matter? As Duchess of Clan Kryze, the young Satine will have a strong claim to rule Mandalore, won't she?"
"Indeed, she does. We are not aware of any stance from the Mand'alore at this time. He is an elusive man and doesn't concern himself with matters outside of the Mandalore system."
"Decided to send an emissary, we have. Master Windu, accompany you, he will. Find out his position and feelings on the matter, we shall," the Grandmaster says.
"So we are to follow the Duchess around?" the young Kenobi asks.
"Obi-Wan."
"Sorry, Master."
"There should be a lot of Mandalorians who are after the young Duchess at this time. Her position is weak right now. Her father was a respected warlord, but she herself has no training whatsoever. It stands to reason that the remaining Mandalorian clans will try to take her out," Ki-Adi Mundi says.
"Protect her, you must," Yoda says.
"We will, Master. You can rely on us," Qui-Gon nods, and they leave the Council Chambers.
The Master and his Padawan arrive at the Jedi spaceport, with their shuttle standing ready. The Duchess and two Mandalorian guards of House Kryze stand ready for them. Unlike the proud and confident Satine Kryze of the future, this one is still very young and inexperienced.
"Duchess Satine. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are to escort you back to Mandalore and protect you for the near future, until the war in your system has come to an end."
"Greetings, Master Jedi. I'm afraid that to end the war on Mandalore, you will have to make the current Mand'alor agree to it, or take him from his position," the young Duchess says.
Kenobi has lost his voice, seeing the young woman staring at her and almost drooling.
"Obi-Wan, where are your manners?"
"Uhhh, oh right! Uh, my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, nice to meet you."
The three of them enter the Jedi shuttle and start the engine, getting ready to get to Mandalore. Qui-Gon moves the shuttle into the sky and towards the hyperspace lane, jumping into hyperspace a few minutes later.
"... and you can do all of that?" Satine asks Obi-Wan as Qui-Gon walks into the room where they are staying.
"Well, not yet, but Master Qui-Gon will surely teach me how to do all of that," Kenobi says.
"Oh, Master Jinn, are we on our way?"
"Indeed, Duchess. I would like to talk about the subject you mentioned earlier. What do you know about the Mand'alor? What type of man is he?" Qui-Gon asks.
"Mand'alor, Petyr Baelish is a man of unknown depth. I have only met him once personally, and everything else I know, I was told by my father. Father was a well-respected man, even among his enemies, even among the Death Watch. He was never scared of anything. But when the Mandalorian Clan Wars started, he grew weary. He was sure that the New Mandalorians could survive the times, as long as the Mand'alor was not actively planning on removing them."
"He holds such power?" Qui-Gon asks.
"I asked my father the same question, but he couldn't answer me. There was something that unnerved my father about Petyr Baelish, which he never could place, and from what I have heard, it was getting more obvious during the war right now."
"So what is it that your father told you?"
"My father told me that he only knew one thing. We are not to mess with the Mand'alor. Any plan we would make, any political manoeuvre or strategic move during the war, would all be either countered or prepared for by him in advance. His political, strategic and most importantly, financial means were what unnerved my father and made him very weary about dealing with the True Mandalorians," Satine reveals.
"True Mandalorians? I thought there were none left," Obi-Wan say.
"There are two True Mandalorians left. And the Mand'alor is one of them."
"But do you think he will look to remove you, Duchess? Will he be a threat?" Qui-Gon asks.
"No, I don't think so. I am sure that he is not responsible for my father's death. The True Mandalorians are not like the Death Watch. They have values and live by a code. He is dangerous, but I don't think he will try to assassinate me. If he wishes to get rid of me, he will launch an attack."
"That doesn't make it any better."