Remembrance and Reconciliation

[T.J]

Blood and fire.

It seemed these things were the only constant for anyone who called themselves Mandalorian. Once a proud warrior race reduced to vermin hiding in the shadows, their way of life had been nearly completely extinguished in a single instant. Survival had become paramount. The old ways of honor and glory seemed to have been eradicated. Burnt to ash along with the rest of the Mandalore sector. So many dead, countless souls extinguished before they could even cry out, before their chance to fight back. Many of those who had lived through the destruction were content on fading away, forsaking who they were at heart so that they could survive. Delmon could not be counted among those men and women. He had steeled himself as he watched his homeworld burn, tempered his resolve in the rage that burned in his heart for those who had let loose the hammer of destruction upon his kin.

He was not alone in this mindset however. A select few shared his vision, and his thirst for vengeance. One such man was Sisk Renelo, a man Delmon had known for most of his military career within the Mandalorian war machine. He had shown Delmon that there was more than just glory when fighting under Mandalore's banner. That duty and integrity ranked higher than personal prestige, and that protecting and preserving his peoples way of life was paramount to any honor gained in battle. Delmon took these things to heart as he progressed in life, using what he had learned when the call to lead came upon him. As Alor of clan Ordo he strove to keep his people safe and to ensure they had a future to look forward to. This remained even as he and his clan were forced to leave their ancestral home of Dxun, watching helplessly as the Imperial fleet sent to destroy it reduced the once lush jungle moon to nothing but wastes and glassed earth. Delmon owed Sisk, he had been one of the few the Mandalorian considered a friend. To hear that he had been killed to say the least struck a cord. Delmon did not loose his stride, Mandalorians were not known to mourn after all. Death was an inevitable outcome, a continuation of the cycle of life in the galaxy. The fact that Sisk had been killed by the very same Sith that had murdered his wife stung somewhat however.

Now the word was that a new Alor had risen to take the reins of clan Renelo, a man by the name of Ral Aran. Though the name sounded familiar to Delmon he was sure he had never met the man in person. This news was why Delmon found himself waiting in a desolate and rundown cantina on a back water planet knee deep in the outer rim. Such meetings were dangerous, especially with the Sith Empire putting rather large bounties on anyone claiming to be Mandalorian. Every two bit gangster looking to earn his keep was on the lookout for the iconic t shaped visor and hostile disposition. Being so far outside of Imperial controlled space alleviated this threat somewhat, allowing Delmon to wear his armor with little scrutiny; though he still chose the seat situated as far back as possible in the cantina to avoid prying eyes. Out of the blue he had received word from Ral that a meeting would be mutually beneficial for both parties involved, a way to reaffirm the bonds between their clans. The meeting place had been Delmon's choice, a condition and a precaution should it turn into an Imperial ruse. Being a high ranking member of the Rebellion and the Alor of one of larger remaining clans had a way of putting a big target on your back after all.

His helmet's visor'd glare faced the door, perched atop the dirty wooden table that separated the booth he sat at. A half empty glass of the local flavor of liquor was situated beside it, leaving a ring on the table as condensation formed around its surface. The building, though it could hardly be called that with galactic standards, was more of a run down shack than a cantina. Homely came to mind, a real dive by every sense of the word. The interior was as run down as the outside, sparsely populated bu the local color, and covered in a layer of grime that seemed to be permanently affixed to the surface on everything within. His eyes scanned the thinly spread crowd, on high alert for both Ral and any potential threat that might rear its head. Delmon didn't survive as long as he had by being reckless, he had taken the necessary precautions to ensure that he would be able to fight through an Imperial ambush in the event of one. All the exits had been accounted for, and the barkeep had been payed off to turn a blind eye should things go sour. Delmon only needed to wait, something he was quite familiar with.

 

[Ral]

Another meeting on a backwater planet somewhere in the Outer Rim.

This pattern was becoming increasingly common, if it persisted they would end up finding hordes of Imperial bought mercs waiting for them in orbit around every backwater planet from Endor to Nar Shaddaa. Overhead the planet's sun beat down on the gunmetal armor that Mandalorian Ral Aran was wearing. Luckily, the suits limited environmental system kept him moderately cool in the heat. His feet kicked up a fine powder of dust and dirt as he walked through the uneven street towards the "cantina" that he was supposed to meet Delmon in. With his rebreather sending cool, filtered air into his helmet for him to breathe, Ral was constantly reminded how he disliked its taste. Keeping his eyes open, the relatively young man kept walking forward until he came to the entrance of the shack that would be the meeting place.

Inside, Ral expected to meet the man known as Delmon Skyblade of Clan Ordo. Ral had heard about him during the Claimant Wars, along with several others like Sisk Renelo and Echoylir Bralor; it was hard not to after all. After starting off on his own Ral didn't hear about a lot of the former clan leaders for some time, especially after the firebombing and the Genocide as most of the surviving Mandalorians went underground to avoid extermination from the Sith. Then when he joined up with the Rebellion, Ral ended up meeting several other Mandalorians, eventually meeting Sisk and becoming someone he trusted. Until he died, of course, or perhaps got himself killed. Ral wasn't sure which, but getting into a duel with the Sith who kill your wife for revenge sounded an awful lot like the latter. Ral couldn't hold it against Sisk, but it was that kind of action that was going to ensure the extinction of their culture, something Ral was hoping to avoid if at all possible. So, here he was, hoping to speak with Delmon about reestablishing a friendship, or at the very least a dialogue, between the two clans which they led and represented. He hoped that he could convince Delmon to join the Confederacy with Ordo, they'd still fight for the rebellion of course, but they'd also help in rebuilding their shattered culture. And actually rebuild it, not just talk about it, or charge headlong into the guns of the Imperium, not without the Rebellion on either side of them of course.

The clans needed to reform and leave their suicidal tendencies behind. Sure, they were warriors, warriors would die now and then, but throwing their lives away needlessly or wastefully is what Ral was hoping to change with the Confederacy. Turn it into something who only attack those they could defeat, and gain the trust and recognition of those who they would manage to save from the rule of corrupt governments, warlords, despots, mercenary gangs, pirates, and the like. At least that was the speech Ral practiced over and over in his head before coming here to talk with Delmon; he only hoped it would be enough, that it would be enough for the man to buy it and join or at least consider being an ally. With a measured breath, Ral reached out for the handle of the door; he was as ready as he was ever going to be.

Opening the door to the cantina, Ral stepped inside and his eyes adjusted to the difference in lighting in the small shack. Inhaling once more, Ral's eyes gazed around the room taking in everything there was to see. The Mandalorian spotted his counterpart fairly easily, it's not like he was exactly trying to hide, just trying his best not to be noticed, a wise choice given how hard the times were for the Mandalorians with the Sith bounty on their heads. Though, the bounty was often less appealing for mercs far outside of Sith space, and many wouldn't be willing to risk getting gunned down in a firefight, which means they always came in groups or that a few close calls would scare them away. Giving the man a nod, Ral stepped up to the bar to order a cold drink before proceeding over to the table where Delmon sat. Placing his drink down he asked courteously, "Mind if I sit down here, vod?" Assuming the answer was "yes" Ral would extend a hand in greeting before sitting and say. "You must be Delmon, yes? I am Ral Aran, I'm glad you decided to answer the message I sent you. I suppose there are some things you wish to talk about before we get started?"

 

[T.J]

It wasn't hard to spot Ral as he entered the small dimly lit room, between the two of them wearing their respective armors they looked like two peas in a pod. Shifting in his seat to lean more towards the table, he did his best to seem a bit more inviting. Crossing his arms atop its scuffed and marred surface he eye'd the man as he approached, being sure to take note of anything on his person that might be of some relevance later. One could never be too careful after all, especially with the current volatile climate the galaxy had. He looked like a man who had seen his fair share of combat and suffered his own tragedies. Most Mandalorians that still lived had, a sad truth perpetrated by the Sith and their Empire. Robbed of their lives whether they fell in combat or not, slaves to an endless war they had brought upon themselves.

Placing his dominant hand atop his helmet's domed surface, he used it to raise himself to a near standing position so that he could return Ral's handshake. Giving the man a reassuring nod, he dropped back into his seat and waved his hand over the table to gesture for his guest to take a seat. He sat silently for a moment, glaring into Ral's helmeted visage searching for words that wouldn't end the conversation outright. " You are correct. " He said simply, answering both of Ral's questions with a single response. " You've come seeking a man who has been in this very same situation more times than I'd care to admit. " Leaning closer his eyes remained locked to the t-visor opposing him. " Why do you think you're any different? "

 

[Ral]

Shaking the man's hand, Ral then proceeded to take a seat where he removed his helmet and placed it on the table. Settling into the seat across from Delmon, Ral cupped his hands and smiled politely as he listened to what he had to say. It was the basic bit, the young Mandalorian had expected something similar to what Delmon was saying, though not the exact words. When he was done, Ral couldn't help but chuckle very softly as he looked down at his hands for a few moment, studying the grooves and creases in in his gloves as he thought about what to say. After a few seconds he looked up into the other man's eyes. "Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't think I can answer that question. I don't know all the previous times this has happened to you and who it has happened with. All I can say is that I'm willing to make it work. I'm not going to let the grudges of the past stop me from making a place for the Mandalorian people."

Ral paused for a second as he grabbed the drink he had ordered and took a sip of it, placing it back down on the table in front of him before he continued. "Sisk left some rather big shoes to fill, and while he never said it, I feel like it's my responsibility to continue his work of uniting the clans. I've already had a meeting with Echoylir, and together we decided to 'bury the hatchet' between the two clans. He's a friend now, and just as willing to make this work as I am. I've also become quite... friendly with the leader of a large group of Kelborn. She is a trusted ally, and our clans have worked closely on more than one occasion already. I've also done a lot of work with the Rebellion, and am on very good terms with Arya Atin'al."

"Now, I should start this off by saying that I'm not looking to become Mand'alor. Becoming the sole ruler of a few shattered clans and a handful of clanless Mandalorians has no appeal to me, moreover I think the title is cursed. There has been too much death surrounding that title for me to take it of my own volition, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I'd even want the job. No, what I want is simple, unity, and safety. Unity for our clans, safety for our people, and hopefully through that we can become strong once again. I'm not going to force you to join with me, it's optional of course, but I would personally be very grateful for you to join with us. We already have a small group, and with your help I'm sure we can grow."

It was at this point Ral paused and waited to see what the other man would say.

 

[T.J]

" More like a giant hole... " Delmon scoffed as he picked up his own glass and brought it to his lips, pausing briefly to speak before taking a sip. " I hate to say it but the Sisk I knew died a long time ago. " Taking a long swig he placed the glass back down and begun spinning the cup against the surface of the table while it remained in his grasp. " Way back before the civil war- before Vencu went and got himself killed, and before Sisk got himself all caught up in his... delusions of grandeur. He was a good man, who cared about his people and our way of life above all else. " His gaze was caught by the liquid in his glass as it swirled around, mimicking the memories circling around in his mind.

" When I was just a young pup fresh on the field he showed me what it really meant to be Mandalorian. To be apart of something... bigger. I remember seeing him lead the memorial on Mandalore after the siege of Coruscant just before we went to take Kuat. The sorrow in his eyes... It was like he held himself wholly responsible, like the weight of all those dead souls rested on his shoulders. I didn't see the man again until after the civil war ravaged our people. " Looking up from his cup Delmon's eyes met Ral's once more, a twinge of pain behind the stone front. " He was so full of hate, so bent on scraping us back together so that we could throw ourselves once more at the Sith that he didn't stop to think of the cost. He still spoke of preserving our people, but his actions showed different. Time and time again he tried, and each time brought disaster to our people. He pushed the blockade and in doing so brought it in closer to our borders. His attempt to bring the clans together brought the Sith's attention to us. His fury against that snake Vereor during the summit meeting brought near extinction to our people, and his claim to the title of Mandalore preceded his untimely death. "

" You must understand then why I am apprehensive when a Renelo comes speaking of unification. Not that you are the only ones, plenty of others have tried as well. Orar comes to mind... Regardless. I do want to help you, truly I do. But I need more than words. I cannot commit Ordo to your cause, not yet. Not until I know history isn't once again repeating itself. I can however ally myself to your cause. So that I might see for myself if your words ring true. Only then will you have Ordo's blades at your side.

 

[Ral]

Ral half-hummed, half-snickered with a tone of amusement. He smirked at Delmon, and nodded understandingly. Well, his answer wasn't a no, which was a good start. But much like Echoylir, he needed more than just words, more than what Ral would be able to give him at that moment. He knew this was likely to happen, and unfortunately, there wasn't anything he could do about it but sit there and be honest and polite. Opening his mouth, he spoke again, his voice calm and reserved. "Aye, I understand where you're coming from. Truth be told I'm not much of a Renelo, I came into the clan just before Sisk died. And I will not deny Sisk had his faults, one could blame him for what had happened to our people, though it seems that he wasn't the only one on whose shoulders we should place that weight. Now, I know why you are reserved, and quite honestly I would not want you or anyone to join me just because I said I seek unification. Words are too easily spoken and then recanted when things go awry. If you want action, if you want results, you shall have it. If you offer your blades, I shall accept, and off those of my own."

Inhaling deeply, Ral grabbed his drink and took a deep gulp before placing it back down and looking off towards the bar for several seconds. "I don't believe there is anything I can give you at this moment, but with an alliance you may find the results you seek. We have established an outpost on Roon once more, and we have the planet the Kelborns have settled; a quaint place near Hutt space. It'll be a good place to return to our roots. Other than that all I can tell you is my plan. Outside of operations with the Galactic Rebellion we are both full members of, I don't plan on attacking the Sith; it's just too dangerous and to be frank, suicidal. We are too few, too scattered, and too weak to be a serious threat to them. It would be best if we did not draw their attention unless we do it with the Rebellion as well. The other part of my plan is to return to our roots of being warrior nomads while looking for new worlds to settle and establish homes and outposts on."

"I want our people to have a home to go to, and opportunities for the young ones to prove themselves out on the fields of battle. Ways for our people to stay sharp and not become complacent. To this end I think it would be best if we took up our raider heritage again, but only attacking when it is smart and wise, not rashly or to prove a point. And then when we are done with raiding whatever convoy, or disposing of whatever warlord or pirate king, we'll return to our homes where ever we decided to settle them, and have kids and teach them the ways of the Mando'ade, and the lessons of our past. With any luck they will be wiser and smarter and not destroy themselves like we have. That is my plan, and it may take my whole life to see it come to fruition, but if you're willing to be patient with me on my journey, than I promise you that you shall get the proof you need," Looking back at Delmon, Ral gave the man a nod. "If all you can offer me is an alliance at this time, I shall take it, and know that I shall be there when you call for aid. We're all in this together, it's best we start acting like it."

 

[T.J]

Ral's answer seemed sincere enough, his intentions echoing those of the men and women who had tried the same endeavor in the past. It was a noble cause, but as they said the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Delmon only hoped that putting his lot into it would somehow steer it from the course to ruin. Leaning back in his seat he folded his arms across his chest, he let out a discontented sigh. " I suppose that will have to do then... I can agree with your end game. Ordo has already carved out a new home on our adoptive homeworld. It's no Dxun, but I doubt anything ever will be... I have ensured my clans survival, regardless of the wars outcome. " Nodding in approval Delmon leaned forward to retrieve his glass and finish it off, placing the empty cup back onto the table afterwards. " Clan Ordo is not as it was under Apollo. Under my guidance we have become like the shadow warriors of old, efficiently deadly in small numbers. I have no intention of assaulting the Sith outright with or without the Rebellions help. When hunting bigger game it is essential that you weaken it. Chip away at it until it can no longer support itself before striking the killing blow. That, is my goal. Their empire will fall right out from under them. Then, and only then, will I strike openly and aggressively. " He brought his fist down into his opposing palm to emphasis. " I care too much about my people to throw their lives away in pointless skirmishes. "

 

[Ral]

Nodding, Ral pursed his lips as he listened to what Delmon had to say, slightly pleased that the man could at least agree with his goals. At the very least that was a good sign. When the man had spoken, Ral nodded thoughtfully as he frowned. His eyes scanned the cantina for a moment before looking back to Delmon. "That would seem rather wise to me, at least you have a fallback plan. I am hoping the same can be done for my clan, for the Confederacy. And I can understand your reluctance to strike at the Sith outright, your strategy of sustained attrition is the wise course, one I plan to put into use myself, but I cannot ignore our friends in the Rebellion. If they ask for our aid I will of course do my best to help them; I won't suicidally give my life for them or the lives of my men, but I will help if I can. Perhaps in that way we can chip slowly away at the Empire from the shadows."

Pausing, he looked down at his beer before finishing it with one long gulp. Setting it back down on the table, he looked back at Delmon, "We both have that sentiment, Delmon. I would not send any of my warriors to die if I could help it, but some missions will come with that risk, and as much as I hate putting my people in danger sometimes we must risk it in order to rebuild. Though, I hope that out we will be able to one day not have to worry about such a risk. I look forward to the relationship our clans will have in the future, Delmon, perhaps Renelo and the others can learn something from the example you have set with Ordo."

 

[T.J]

" I have every intention of aiding the Rebellion in their endeavors, but do well to remember this. A little over a mere decade ago they were our peoples sworn enemies. We brought them low, shattered their world much like the Sith did to ours. Such animosity cannot simply be forgotten. " Picking his helmet up off the surface of the table, he placed it back atop his head. A slight audible hiss could be heard as it sealed to his suit. From then on his voice sounded tinny and hollow as it came through his helmets external speakers. " Aid them how you see fit, a galaxy without the Sith and their Imperial dogs will be a better one. Keep a knife close to your chest, once the Sith are routed the Rebellion is sure to try and tie up loose ends. "

Pulling a few credit chips from a pouch on his belt, Delmon tossed them onto the table as he stood. " I suppose our business is concluded then. " Sifting through a pouch Delmon produced a small datapad and handed it to Ral. " Comm. frequencies and coordinates. Use them and you'll find me. " Giving Ral a hard pat on the shoulder he nodded in approval as he continued. " You would do Sisk- the Sisk I knew, proud. May our people thrive under our unity. "