So about Last Night

[Laira Darkhold]

//To: [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]
//From: Shukalar, Alderaan
//Re: Illum

I've been made aware of what happened. My wife and I extend our condolences to the loss of the Younglings. It was a tragedy, and something I would like to keep from repeating.

I have some things from Illum with me on Alderaan you may want. Come by and pick them up, or send a subordinate if you must. I understand why you would be apprehensive. Just know that if you do come, you have my word, and more importantly the word of Queen Organa, you will not be harmed in her sovereign system.

Draco Vereen
End.//

Draco typed out the message and looked out of the wood structure. Frost was beginning to set in, the wooden building was small, built with a dozen other small structures around it, all of wood. A single Kom'rk-class was parked behind the settlement, and maybe thirty Mandalorian men, women, and children lived in the vicinity. They were out in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around for miles.

[member="Arrbi Betna"] would awaiting a response, not that he would like what he got told. He was responsible for the Raid, even if Raxis had usurped his authority and battlefield etiquette as often as the youngster could. Draco didn't like that one, too preachy, too certain everyone else had to conform to his idea of what it meant to be Mandalorian. To Draco, that meant freedom to choose your path, to take the hard road at every turn just to prove you can, to stand up and be heard, and actually hold your ground. But to others, it meant killing Jetti from all ages.

Regardless, Draco's on personal feelings meant he could never truly support the killing of children, nor the taking of slaves. He understood that both would happen to some degree, and accepted that, but that didn't mean it wasn't something to fight against.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

Mr. Vereen-

Thank you for your offer and your guarantees. I have to decline your offer, though that has nothing to do with your word of honour or that of your wife. My reasons are as follows:

If you have materials from Ilum, you were there or associated somehow with the raid, and you understand how hard it is to control motivated Mandalorians. I've placed a bounty on Arrbi Betna's head: half a million credits, plus a custom Force artifact. I'd imagine any number of Mandalorians could have motive to make that bounty go away.

My crew and I were injured and are in seclusion.

I'm Force-sensitive and I would prefer not to see or hear things that might damage my ability to avoid the Dark Side. I'm also the heir of some of the galaxy's largest corporations, and I don't spend frivolously. A serious fraction of me wants to hang some Mandalorians from the nearest tree and hire every private army in the universe to burn Mandalore. You may be able to give your word of honour that my trip wouldn't endanger me; I'm not sure I can say the same about endangering your wife's planet. It's best for all concerned if I stay somewhere calm and out of the way.

My regards to your wife, and thank you again for your humanitarian aid to Coruscant.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

//To: [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]
//From: Shukalar, Alderaan
//Re: Illum

I was on Illum, but I was not with the Raiding party. Myself and a friend had decided to hunt wild gorgodon on the tundra instead of messing with abandon relics in an empty temple. Hindsight has proven that I was very mistaken, and that will weigh heavy on my shoulders.

I understand your apprehensions, but... Having suffered the corruption of the Dark Side before in my life, somethings are better spoken about and handled, than let fester. I've been there myself, having struggled with it, still struggling with it. When I lost one I held dear to me, I became corrupted, and it took a great deal of effort, and a great deal of help to pull myself from the maw of the Dark Side. Someone once told me "If you are struggling with the Dark Side, seek friends, seek guidance, and seek fond memories." I would urge you to do the same.

As for lynching Mandalorians, I'm afraid that would only increase the likelihood something like this happens again. We are working towards dealing with Betna and the two who caused this travesty, understand they will not go unpunished, but also understand that killing two more youngsters solves nothing. Redemption is something I know, and something many in the Mandalorian Clans understand. I believe it is best if we pursue that course of action before adding to the body count.

I have the personal effects of those lost at Illum, and would like to ensure they are delivered to the appropriate Jedi to take custody of them. Whom should I deliver them too?

Vereen
End.//

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

Master Vereen-

Help me understand what happened here. Did Arrbi Betna order the evac ship shot down? Did the flanking party in the tunnels exceed his orders? What orders did he give about the children, or did he just stay silent and let the tunnel fighters make their own decisions? Were Gray Raxis' negotiations just window dressing for deniability's sake? Were the killers part of your United Clans or from Verd's Crusaders?

I don't know where you should send the personal effects of the dead. That enclave, as far as I know, wasn't affiliated with any of the current Jedi orders or councils. I only knew them for a couple of days. In your shoes, I would probably donate all those bloody Padawan lightsabres to the Silver Sanctum, to try and mend the bridges I just scorched for you.

Mara Merrill

 

[Laira Darkhold]

//To: [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]
//From: Shukalar
//Re: Illum

He did not order the ship shot. His orders were specifically only to use Deadly Force as necessary and to spare the younglings. He was not made aware the evac ship existed until after it had been fired upon. He ordered the Tunnels secured so that the rest could scour the temple. His helmet's recordings confirm as much, and do not appear to be tampered with. Its of little excuse, but it was not ordered or intended by the alor.

Raxis... I have no idea about. One minute he's preaching to us about how honorable the Crusaders are then the attacks on Mimban spiral out of control with their Black Ties, and he's condemning them saying he was the first to condemn them. He may have been sincere, he may not have known what the feth was happening. He may not have even known what planet he was on.

It hardly matters which, since then the Mandalorians have since been united and order is working to be restored. They were Mandalorians. All swear fealty to Mand'alor Vizsla now. All are held to the same code of conduct now, and they were not then.

As for the effects, I will see them taken care of. Dantooine's enclave is being rebuilt by hard labor by these three men. They have been sentenced to work for the very people they have wronged in hard larbor for every one slain. Reprimanded to and made to work for their redemption. I don't expect you to forgive them, but it might do you good to try.

Vereen
End.//