The Snake in the Skull

[Retroboy]

Mandalore.

The crown of the the people who bore its name. Beautiful, but dangerous. A representative of everything that the Mandalorians had fought for these past few years. It had been hard won, after a lot of struggle, but with the right leadership the Mandalorians were able to re-establish themselves as a proper force here with this as their capital. A testament to their strength and resourcefulness, a reminder that the warriors could not be so easily cast aside and forgotten.

It was natural that Apophe was nervous. She had seen many planets before, but had never been this deep into the Galaxy. She had always lived at the periphery of things, on the edge of the Galaxy. She had ventured further in, before, of course, but never this far from home. She was out of her element. She was meeting with a Mandalorian duke, one of Clan Ordo. The prospect made her as anxious as much as it excited her, for the Imperatrix of the Void Serpents had always held the Mandalorians in high esteem but she knew that angering them was especially unwise. Apophe had her pride, of course. She still had to be on her best behaviour.

She walked forward to the Ordo citadel, attendants in toe. She had decided to be spare with her guards, if only as a gesture of trust. Only three walked with her, dressed in their best armour with vibro-axes in hand. As a sign of diplomacy, they had tied red ribbon around the blade to show that they did not intend to use their weapons. Apophe herself carried a ceremonial blade in a scabbard on her hip. Behind her, two servants carried with them a gilded box holding a gift for the Duke. She hoped he would like it.

She had dressed to the nines, wearing a long, velvet red dress marked with royal blue arabesques and gold trim at the hem and collar. She wore her strawberry blonde hair in an updo, crowned with a golden circlet twisted into the form of an ouroborous. She didn't want to wear her full crown because it seemed to be a bit too imperious. On her hands was a ring on either ring finger. On her right, a golden wedding band with a fat sapphire on top, and on the left, her signet ring that she used to sign royal documents. She had temporarily disposed of her fearsome, mechanical looking limbs, and replaced them with proper synthflesh. The only hint that they were not real was their total state of apparent perfection, without scar or blemish.

A hand drifted to her belly. She wondered if appearing like this, three months in with child, was going to lessen respect for her. She could not do much to uphold her fearsome reputation, especially with how tired she had become lately.

No, she thought. Even Mandalorians breed. I'm being silly.

She looked to one of her guards, who raised a horn to his mouth, and blew upon it to let the Duke know that the Imperatrix of the Void Serpents had arrived.

@Prudence

 

[Prudence]

Sundari sparkled like a jewel in the sun, a beacon of the hope that the Dominion provided to billions, but also of their strength to crush those that stood in their way. While at the heart of Sundari stood the Mandalorian Palace, the seat of which was currently occupied by a Vizsla, Ordo found its home in this city as well, and the Ordo citadel. Sundari was a city of academia, intelligence, and industry - much like House Ordo. Duke Kalan Ordo had been informed when the shuttle containing the Imperatrix of the Void Serpents entered Mandalorian air space. He had readied his personal guard, two Mandalorian SuperCommandos dressed in the typical grey and black armor of House Ordo. Kalan himself wore a matte gray tunic, and a matching pair of trousers. The outfit had a militaristic aire to it, and on the chest of it was imprinted the sigil of the Dominion. He had shin high black leather boots on, and at his waist was holstered his Sunspear pistol, alongside an extendable vibroblade, and the lightsaber he'd taken from a Sith that he had personally killed.

From within the Citadel Kalan could hear the sound of the Serpent's horn, announcing their presence. The massive doors to the structure swung out, and from it marched the trio. The Mandalorians had their weapons lowered in an unthreatening posture, and simply flanked Kalan as he approached the Serpent delegation. His face was haggard, the effects of the long past 5 years that he'd experienced. His mouth twisted into a confident but welcoming smile as he slowly descended the marble stairs leading from the Citadel to the plaza that the Imperatrix found herself upon.

"Madam Apophe." Kalan said, taking the towering woman in, even as he descended to a point lower than her height. "It is a pleasure to welcome you to Mandalore. I am Duke Kalan Ordo of House Ordo, please, follow me." With that he spun on his heels and began towards the citadel.

 

[Retroboy]

There was a definite martial air to the Duke that Apophe could not deny. It seemed to her now, from this first impression, that the man was much more of a soldier than a warrior. The distinction wasn't one many might appreciate but it made all the difference to someone as martially minded as Apophe. As Imperatrix of the Void Serpents and Queen of the Yahm, she cultivated both. She needed more soldiers these days however. Warriors were all well and good but sometimes you needed something with more discipline.

She followed after the Duke, walking gracefully. She had been practicing moving with her new legs, trying to become more used to them so that she wouldn't embarrass herself by tripping over her own feet in front of the Duke. That was one thing she didn't need.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you, Kalan," she said. Given her royal title, it seemed appropriate to be on first-name basis with the Duke. "I've heard many good things. Truth be told I've always respected the Mandalorians... Seeing this city, I'm even more impressed than I was before."

 

[Prudence]

The sight of the Imperatrix approaching him was quite a striking one. She was quite a bit taller than he, an experience that Kalan was not used to. Her features were striking, all too perfect. They almost looked real, but Kalan could tell the all too familiar appearance of synthskin and prosthetics. The prosthetic nature of the Imperatrix cast an impressive image, one of a woman who had seen far more than she let on, and yet she had come out the victor. She carried poise and class about her, but there was an all too lethal feeling to her. He had no desire to test her in combat, as despite his confidence in his military prowess, there were some fights that not even the victor walked away happy that it had occurred. Fortunately, it did not seem that such would be the case. The two were here on Mandalore to discuss an alliance that would bring both parties to their respective goals, and shape the future of the galaxy as a whole.

Kalan cast a confident smile towards the woman as she called him by his first name. Technically it wasn't the proper way to address his rank, but Kalan had never been a man that was hung up on politics and titles. She was marking her territory a bit, which he could understand. She was not on her territory, nor was she armored, and to be perfectly fair Kalan had done the same to her. "As have I, Apophe. You're too kind." He jerked his head towards the doors and his guards stepped forward and opened them for the pair.

"I have heard quite a bit of your group's operations, despite its distance from Mandalore. I must say, I am impressed. You surely have been causing waves." His smile sharpened a bit more, "Now let's see if we can bring those waves a little closer to home."

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe smiled warmly at Kalan. The knowledge that her people were known to forces outside of the fringe they inhabited made Apophe a very happy woman indeed. Although, if the Mandalorians were aware of them, then so were other forces like the Sith, which created an altogether more disturbing prospect. Despite however formidable the Void Serpents might be to smaller enemies, such large states had the resources to trample the Void Serpents no matter how valiantly they fought. Eventually, skill and valour in battle were eventually outmatched by numbers.

She followed after the Duke, making sure to pace herself so that her long strides did not outmatch his. Her guards behind her walked in lock step, honed by years of drill. Some of the guards there had served with her on Zakuul and had become close companions to the Imperatrix. The gift bearers puffed as they climbed the stairs, silently wishing that they could have instead been born into a less strenuous position in life.

Apophe began to notice that the new weight in her belly was making climbing stairs a bit more of a chore for herself. She tried not to let that show to her host or her servants. She couldn't let them know she was slowing down already, for her dignity's sake. She watched Kalan as he moved and silently envied him. He would never have to go through things like this.

But it was my choice, she thought. So why am I sulking about it?

"A lot of things have changed over five years," she said. "I believe meeting with you here is a step into a future where both Mandalorians and Void Serpents prosper, and yeah, make lots of very big waves."

@Prudence

 

[Prudence]

In an impressive sight, the seemingly pregnant Imperatrix walking alongside Kalan was able to climb the stairs with the same amount as ease as he was. Whether it was a front to not look weak, or a testament to the woman's true strength he didn't know. It was only a short trip on the stairs before the group reached Kalan's personal office. It was a rather large office, with two ornate doors granting access to the room. It had a high ceiling, and several practical and modern looking couches decorating the walls, and the space in front of his desk. Kalan's desk was also a sight itself, made of solid matte black metal, and curving around his tall backed gray leather chair to allow maximum usage of the space.

Kalan stepped around the desk, sliding into the chair and leaning forward onto the desk - steepling his fingers before him. "I do quite agree with your assessment. The Dominion has fared rather well in the past five years, and that leaves us in a rather unique position. I am not sure how aware you are of the power structure within the Dominion, but allow me to shed some light on it. We are not a single people, under a single leader. Instead the Dominion is made up of 5 Houses, each of which has a host of clans beneath it. The Houses are constantly vying for power amongst each other, and I personally speak on behalf of House Ordo, as their appointed Duke. Now, where do you see yourself fitting into the Galaxy as a whole, Apophe?"

Kalan had an idea of the answer to his question. He saw the Void Serpents as the soil and the grass that fills in the cracks between stones. They seemed to have no desire to rule the galaxy, rather to profit from it. To slip into its dark crevasses and exploit what was forgotten about, and left behind. If this was the case, Kalan was quite sure their forces would be mutually beneficial.

 

[Retroboy]

Apophe stood in the office of the Duke, and could not help but admire it. Apophe didn't really have an office - her severe dyslexia made the prospect of reading documents difficult in and of itself and so that wasn't going for her, and it was traditional among the Yahm to instead hold court in the throne room. If things were especially important or needed to be private, she had her chambers or the garden. Maybe she needed an office after all.

"We're not entirely different," she said. "The Void Serpents are three tribes, perhaps soon to be four depending on how my associate receives the proposal I have for her... We are different in that I am the leader of them all, officially. Queen of the Yahm, Liberator of the Unchained and Speaker of the Free. That said our tribes also have freedom to operate as they choose so long as they do not break my laws."

She considered how exactly to answer the next question before deciding to go with something of a longer answer.

"I'm not into the idea of Galactic Conquest," Apophe said. "I don't think it's feasible. Even if one government manages to take it all it's only a matter of time before their enemies resurface or politics within them breaks them apart again and throws the Galaxy back into suffering and pointless bickering. However, I want to see my people prosper. There's an entire part of the Galaxy that's been ignored, and I am looking to form a place for my people there. Wild Space. We've made moves to take Zakuul and we're hoping to expand further... And maybe profit off of the chaos a little bit."

She waved her hand in a rolling gesture.

"That said, I'm not stupid," she said. "I'm coming to realize even if I don't want to rule the Galaxy, I do have to play in its politics. That said, I'm grateful there's at least one force around I can respect. The Mandalorians represent a warrior ethos I think is dying, one we need as sapients or else we'll become weak. I want the Void Serpents to keep the same spirit alive in our part of the Galaxy. That's why I'm hoping to ally with House Ordo and if the fortunes are good, the whole Dominion."

@Prudence

 

[Prudence]

The Imperatrix had the right words for this deal. Her view on galactic politics fit very closely to his own, and provided a perfect harmony to his own melody. The Void Serpents weren't trying to compete with the Dominion for their territory, nor their control. Instead they wanted to carve their own section of the galaxy out for themselves, which was admirable. Their workings were, to some, primitive, but to him it was perfectly understandable. They were no Republic or Empire, they were little more than a group of thieves, bounty hunters, and mercenaries, living all under one roof. They were misfits, but they were useful misfits.

"Your view on Galactic Conquest is admirable, especially from someone as far removed from the inner working of politics as yourself. Those I am surrounded by could learn much by even a short conversation with you." Kalan brought up a star chart on his desk, zooming in on the Zakuul system as she spoke. It was far removed from their own territory, and of no threat to them. He zoomed in to the surrounding systems and began to survey, finding that, buy and large, the surrounding systems were barren, or sparsely occupied.

Looking back up to the Imperatrix he steepled his fingers and leaned back, "War, few can escape it, even fewer can come out unscated. It will catch up to you even in the most remote section of the galaxy. The true question, Imperatrix, is what do you hope to gain from this alliance?"

 

[Retroboy]

"Naturally, I'm not doing this just because I like you," she says. "I know war is coming. I want to know I have a strong, resolute ally for when it does come, and furthermore I want to make sure that the Mandalorians remain around. The Jedi and the Sith, they will strangle the way of the warrior. They might fight wars but that's only a small part of it. There's no honour, no glory. If the Jedi win, we'll see the Galaxy go soft again, become weak and arthritic, while if the Sith win we'll just see the Galaxy degenerate into a society that only exists to support its overlords' decadence."

Apophe's hand once again drifted to her belly.

"I'm pregnant with twins. Don't know if they're going to be boys or girls or both yet," she says, looking at the Duke with determination in her eyes. "What I do know is that I want to secure a future for them where they don't have to bootlickers to a Republic that will strip their culture from them in the name of playing things safe, or be enslaved by a bunch of depraved lunatics. So I want to ally with you to secure that future."

She grins.

"The Void Serpents are willing to work for this, too," she said. "This won't be one-sided."

@Prudence

 

[Prudence]

Kalan's lips found themselves in an amused grin as the Imperatrix replied back that she wasn't doing this because she just liked him. He appreciated her sense of humor, even in this serious time. "I couldn't have said it better myself, Apophe." Kalan leaned forward in his seat, looking into her deep eyes for a moment, before returning his gaze to the star charts. "This is certainly something that we can facilitate, my dear. The Dominion is quite interested in keeping cultures such as your own very much alive and prospering, and we would lend our aid in order to ensure that you remain secure during this conflict, and that your children find a future far better than the one that we have for ourselves."

He stood from his seat and paced away from the desk a bit before turning back and looking at her, "Out of this exchange we would ask you to aid our efforts as well. We stand at the edge of a war more fierce than this galaxy has ever seen. Within the year Mandalorians will be locked in combat with both the Jedi and the Sith. We are the large threat that they see looming, which leaves ample opportunity for a... smaller threat to strike swiftly at key times. We would like you to be that smaller threat." He turned away once more and walked towards the large mantle situated on the wall opposite of his desk, and motioned for her to follow him. Reaching above the mantle he retrieved an ornate looking sword, in good condition but clearly having seen battle before. It's blade was painted dark gray, the color of House Ordo, and its hilt was inlaid with gold and other shimmering metals. He handed the blade to her with a respectful smile, "It's made of Mandalorian metal, inlaid with phrik to withstand a lightsaber. Consider it a... baby-shower gift I think is what they call it? And let it seal this alliance between us. I believe we will both prosper quite will, Imperatrix."