Blood and Stone [Mandalorians]

[Mia Monroe]

The beskar mines and the spaceport of the Iron City were packed full of refugees, those that weren't busy reinforcing both and preparing for a war that would reach them soon enough cast dark glances in the Liberator's direction as she limped through the mines.

You did this to us.

Mia didn't look back at them, to do so would have only have only invited them to act upon their rage. Her time would come, whether at the hands of Ra or at their hands, Mia would pay for her crimes on way or the other. But Ra represented something they did not believe in, he threatened to take their freedom, to discriminate against those that were gifted with the force and assume complete control. Mia was the lesser of two evils for the future of the Mando'ade.

She ducked into one of the larger chambers of the mine, a table roughly constructed of crates and great slabs of beskar to serve as a command centre of sort. She'd called them all here to discuss their next move. They had to hit back and fast, the sooner the war was over, the sooner they could rebuild.

[member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Alkesh"][member="Kal Kandossii"] [member="Ordo"] [member="Arla Balor"] [member="Mira Rekali"] [member="Rekali the Hutt"] [member="Vila Sayne"]

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

When Mia entered Gil's back was to her. He seemed to be speaking to someone via his helmet com and whatever it was it also seemed private as his helmet had blocked sound from escaping. His dull brown armor looked almost black in the dimly lit cavern. Mandalorians scurried all around with various parts and crates, most likely moving towards the old Ori'ramikade facility built beneath the Cold Iron Spaceport. He noticed Mia limp in and chuckled.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" He knew rest could wait. The mountains and treacherous tundra surrounding the great Cold Iron City was all that was keeping Death Watch from bearing down on them at any moment. Like many Mandalorian cities, even destroyed the icy place was easily defended but more and more scouts were spotted every hour. It worried him that this place wouldn't be held for much longer.

[member="Mia Monroe"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

"Probably." she replied with a shrug, the movement tugging at the stitches in her side. She winced and placed a hand over them. "I'll rest when we win or I'm dead. Whichever comes first."

Fething snipers.

"You fix my bes'uliik yet?"

[member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[H3xle]

Vila stepped in silently, a spector in armor and armed as any time anyone here had seen her.

When on Manda'yaim, you didn't leave arms and armor behind, they might end up as someone elses once your corpse was picked over. According to what she had been told, it hadn't always been that way, there had been times when Mandalorians could walk unarmored down the streets if they chose. Vila always shrugged that idea off, she kept her armor clean, but wore it as religiously as any Mandalorian should.

Vila's helmeted head pivoted around the room, nodding to both Gil and Mia. Once she was sure the area was relatively safe, she removed her helmet and set it on the edge of the beskar slab cum table.

Her eyes went straight to Mia, as she leaned her hands on the table top.

"How is your child?" Ever the focus of her loyalty to Mia's cause, it was also the first thing Vila ever asked the woman about.

[member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Rekali the Hutt]

Those with a keener sense of smell would detect the scent of a slimey hutt entering the scene. Hutts didn't sweat, they secreted a sort of mucusey oil. Survival adaption, made the Hutt's harder to get a hold of. It made slithering around in armor quite unpleasant however.

"Apologies for not arriving sooner Mand'alor." Rekali the Hutt said to one [member="Mia Monroe"] as he arrived. "The Hutt of Clan Rekali is here to serve." He said, as the Mand'alor spoke with [member="Gilamar Skirata"]. [member="Vila Sayne"] was nearby as well, and asked the status of the Mand'alor's child. Rekali put out a small sigh.

War was supposed to be simple. Yet here he was fighting vod, serving the Mfand'alor who'd wrecked the homeworld. The Mand'alor who'd just had a baby. Was this war one of honor, survival, or ideals? Perhaps it was for history to decide. Rekali the Hutt certainly did not know.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla came in and looked around at all who had gathered here. It wasn't safe out there anymore for anyone even seen in the company of [member="Mia Monroe"] and Arla couldn't even explain why she was here.

Where was her buir [member="Ordo"] he was one reason she needed to know he was safe. Avrum was so far safe with Rianna at the field hospital but it wasn't a given that would last for very long. She walked a bit slower looking to see if anyone needed help.

She nodded a greeting to everyone - [member="Rekali the Hutt"] [member="Vila Sayne"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] but yes the whole reason that they had stepped in how was Mia's child? She would listen for the answer as she found something old and worn to sit down on. Her green eyes stared out the T of her visor.

 

[Arage Bao]

Strange how a tight collection of a handful suddenly had the addition of another.

Where had Alkesh come from? Few knew, even fewer cared.

All they knew was the story, how he had taken out six and rescued survivors from burning wreckage, while everything around them turned to shet. Instead of boasting the hunter let it wash over him with a shrug and impassive neutrality. From there it had been logical to include him- there were constantly outnumbered when compared to the tide of the Death Watch and here was an able gun. One that held no fear and cared little for his own life.

Supposedly anyway.

His neo-crusader helmet (some said salvaged from a blood duel, others whispered it was the helmet of one of Ultimate's ancient war chiefs) sat to the side and Alkesh watched the procession.

Strange to him how one such as Monroe could inspire such fanatic loyalty. Willing to do whatever it took to prop her up, her, the Butcher of Mandalore. There was no figure in their history that had done as much damage to their people as her.

Not Revan, not the Sith, just Mand'alor the Liberator.

But Alkesh didn't really care about that, it fascinated him, yes. But... that was the end of his emotional involvement there.

"Our people are restless, Mand'alor." Alkesh finally pointed out. "Their hands will run out of tools soon and if the Watch ain't here, they might look inward to resolve their pain."

[member="Arla Balor"] | [member="Rekali the Hutt"] | [member="Vila Sayne"] | [member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Gilamar Skirata"]​

 

[Mia Monroe]

Galeth.

Her son's face flashed across her mind a Vila's question and she smiled sadly. She'd not seen him for days, agreeing for Ordo to send him as far away as she could get him, at his homestead on Okyaab VI. It wasn't safe for her son here. While there were those like Vila that would die to protect him, they were outnumbered by those who would happily see the son of the butcher dead.

"He's safe and well. Thank you." she replied softly. If we survive this, she promised silently, I'll let you all meet him. She turned her attention to the Hutt that joined them, offering an incline of her head. "Your apologies are not needed, Rekali. Late is better than never." It was Ra's declaration againat force users that had riven Rekali to her side, had he not, Mia had no doubt they would be facing each other on the battle field.

The lesser of two evils.

Mia looked round as Alkesh spoke up, a man who'd come out of nowhere in truth, but was welcome none the less. She's take every willing gun, sword or axe she could get her hands on. She placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. "They won't be restless for long because we're not going to wait for Death Watch to strike again." She tugged a holoprojecter from her belt and slid it to the middle of the table where it flickered to life, depicting a great city contained in a dome.

Sundari. The Death Watch stronghold.

"We're taking the fight to them."

[member="Alkesh"] [member="Arla Balor"] [member="Rekali the Hutt"] [member="Vila Sayne"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[The End Narrator]

Everything felt to Mira.

These cladestine-esque meetings, being a part of something bigger once again and fighting for a cause.

The last time she was apart of anything was the Galactic Alliance, and the New Jedi Order and to her, that felt like a millennia ago.

She approached with apprehension, not because of the purpose behind it all, but because she knew no one. She had been known through familial ties, like her grandfather Ember Rekali and her mother Aaralyn – but that served no purpose for the ruby eyed girl who moved through the masses of refugees who sought protection from Death Watch. Mira sighed softly as she held her buy’ce beneath her arm and moved beyond the comfort of anonymity and into the spotlight of recognition. She entered the room amidst discussion of invading other points, and striking back.

Mira didn’t bother to say anything or interrupt, instead opting for the silent approach to lean cautiously against a wall and observe. She glanced over the individuals’ present, taking note of Gilamar and Mia – the two individuals she was acquainted with, eyes glancing over her “cousin” [member="Rekali the Hutt"], a smile creeping upon her facial features as she watched his interactions with the rest of those present.

‘Always interesting.’ She mused softly to herself.

[member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Alkesh"] | [member="Arla Balor"] | [member="Vila Sayne"] | [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Atin Kandossii]

Sundari, recent stage of a battle between vode. The faces were covered with grime, smudged with dirt. The cold bit hungrily into the men, women, and children he passed. Eyes refected the horror of war, not just any war but one with their own people. Aliit against aliit, a true brother versus brother. He walked through them all impassive.

Moving within he headed to where an impromptu meeting was to take place. While he wasn't specifically invited, nor did he care to be there, his brother had chosen a side. In a war that was not theirs. Clan Kandossii separate from most of the clans, not even on Manda'yaim any longer. The bigotry against force users were well known. And while he had fought with the mando'ade he felt that separation was needed for them to prosper and grow. So the Kandossii Clan stayed a silent recluse.

That was until Kal had been caught in the cross fire and several of the Clan had been killed during the battle in Keldabe. Killed by Death Watch.

The man entered the room, his matte black armor drinking in the light. Reaching up he removed his buy'ce and hooked it to his belt, green eyes scanning the room. Older then his brother, Atin had seen many things in his life, been many things. Today Atin would become something else.

A brigand against Ra.

[member="Mira Rekali"] [member="Mia Monroe"] [member="Alkesh"] [member="Arla Balor"] [member="Rekali the Hutt"] [member="Vila Sayne"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"]