"Neither will you stupid underling," Tyrannus spat, "You have no shou, no respect for those that are mightier than you." He glared at Virul. He then spoke in the third tongue of Avalon, one that was like death on the ears. "We'll see who is mightier. He lived longer than the ancient Sith Lords. He was a Sith Lord. When he comes so will the other, the Guardian."

**********

Greea reacted quicker than she ever had before and dodged the lightening. She could feel the slight burn of it as it nicked her as she moved away. She stood in a defensive position watching the intruder. She said, "You ask to be taught yet you don't learn. A poor student you make."

**********

Tiye laid a hand on Komad to tell him to step back. She said to the intruder, "So you come coward with a grenade in your pocket and others waiting. For what? To catch a Jedi?" She smiled coyly and added, "There are no Jedi here. Only Avalonians."

Andros had to carefully control his features along with Alkéa for they knew that was utterly silly yet true. Avalonians, especially those gifted in the Force did not call themselves Jedi and since the Kaltas family were on one of her planets, they were not called that either. Andros thought that Tiye was being rather bold for saying that in a coy manner. He then remembered on a visit with his dead mother a conversation...

Andros looked sadly and with love at the woman whom he barely remembered. He had long ago forgiven her for the binding of his memories of her and his father. She had given him the greatest gift she could: life and protection. He smiled and said, "You look as you always do Mother. Beautiful."

Ashira-Li Starlighter, looking as she did the day she, died smiled at her grown son. He had inherited the gift of summoning the Jedi and beings long gone at will. Her gift as well along with other things. She said, "You've grown my son. Tell me, what troubles you?"

Andros replied, "How did you know something troubled me?"

"That is the only reason you ever ask for mine or your father's help."

Andros gave a lopsided grin. He knew that too but couldn't help but ask. He then said, "Mother, what has been plaguing our family is still chasing us."

"I know. One I killed before you were born during the Clone wars. It seems that there is one always willing to assume the spirit that fought our ancestor."

"I sense that Amshrey may be a part of that again."

"Yes. Back to where a new union was formed and dark places still remain." His mother looked disconnected.

"How can I ask the people to join in to fight a war that I might bring to them?"

"They will fight," Ashira-Li replied, "They will fight because they have their honor. The tribe of Mandalore remembers friendship and honor. His daughter will help.
"Selene is like her father: honorable warrior and one never to give up in a fight. She has her father's blood."

Andros thought about that. His mother had been right but it had been Tiye, who had taken over leadership of her people. She was like her father as well, the Mandalore of the Republic in the days of the Exile. She had taken up her duties and accepted war stating that it was a matter of honor between friends. He watched as she stood defiantly looking at the intruder. He decided to back her up and added, "She is right. There are no Jedi here."

**********

Jun-la and Tulre led the way deep into the forest away from the compound. They didn't slow their pace but kept a steady gait that seemed unnatural given the terrain. When they stopped, they looked around to make sure that no one followed.

Jun-la looked at Kalla when she asked her question. Before she said anything, she gave a strange udulated whistle. She looked at young Andros, calmly watching, Tonatius who was keeping an eye out and then Matton who looked bored but was actually on alert as well. Feeling her spine heating up, Jun-la looked away and replied, "Rendevouz point. They will come."

Garrick stared straight at Komad and chuckled.

"Areutiise are nasty liars, but I believe that you are not one of the outsiders, are you?" said Garrick as he shifted his gaze towards the Mandalorian women.

"There are Jedi here, maybe not in name, but in ability. In the end, it is all the same," Garrick pointed at Komad.

"Komad Kaltas, I am a Mandalorian named Garrick Derekil, and I am here to take a bounty for the Clan of Derekil."

Garrick's cortosis knives slid out with a loud SSCHHLIIKK. He stared at Komad's lightsaber and laughed jocularily, as if no threat was presented.

"I see in your faces fear, fear that has no bounds, and betrays everything you've said. Now come easily, Komad, and your Jedi bretheren needn't die."

Garrick took a step forward and brandished his black blades.

Wrath placed his vibrosword on his back once more and looked over at the soldiers with a smile. He picked up his second thermal detonator and threw it at them as he had did before. Then he pulled out the saberdart and fired it, aimed at her chest. To finish his deadly move He fired behind him with another force push, pulled out the sword once more, and swung at both her sides.

((Sounds a little improbable Cyborg Ninja but I'll play along))

Greea was not prepared for the move but she did another backflip to back away. She saw that one of the downed soldiers saw the thermal detonator and managed to grab it and through out into the lava of Mustafar. She held up her lightsaber to counter the extra swipe. She grinned as she heard the bang of the detonator. "Willing to give up?"

**********

"Depends on what you mean by one of them," Tiye replied, her graceful figure sliding back into a defensive position. Her blade was at her side but that didn't mean she had to take it out at every fight.

Andros patiently said, "What we say is true. There are no Jedi. You wish to attack that which is not your target?"

Alkéa stood listening and with her eyes motioned for Komad to not do anything. Apparently, Andros and Tiye were trying to buy time. She wasn't an expert on the Avalonian/Mandalorian dialect but she figured that Tiye must have called for back up. It had been hard to hear since the syntax was different and there were words she didn't know. Her hand reached for her saber and held it unlit in her hand.

"Clearly you misunderstand, Mandalorians never mistake their target. We will pursue until the target is caught, or eliminated."

Garrick took another step forward and looked the Mandalorian women in the eye.

"It has been a long time since I've had a worthy opponent..." Garrick said.

That has got to be the most ridiculous line in history thought Garrick.

"...do not dissapoint me, if you are truly of Clan Ordo."

Garrick dropped his flash grenades on the ground in an attempt to blind everyone temporarily for the final strike.

Garrick leaped towards the women, blades poised for stabbing.

"DEREKIL!" shouted Garrick.

To Gerrick's ultimatum, Komad simply responded, "No. I will not be intimidated by you, and neither will they." He then used the Force to separate Gerrick from his jetpack, evening the playing field.

"And I am the Dark Lord of the Sith. I have power beyond you, not even death can destroy me." Virul replied. "Perhaps I should kill you now so I don't have do listen to your constant criticisms." He then started to Force Choke Tyrannus, lifting him into the air.

"More Avalonian forces? We could do with a few Republic Star Destroyer here." Kalla commented.

Tiye stood with her fists ready but they looked limp. She replied, "Clan Ordo had led this place for millenia. We know our worth. True Mandalorians don't stoop to bounty hunting." It was a barb and she knew it.

Andros added, "And we speak the truth. Avalonians do not lie. It is outsiders who don't listen." He watched as Komad separated the jetpack from the intruder and was ready to do something to prevent needless bloodshed. Perhaps a bounty hunter may prove good leverage.

**********

Tyrannus felt his throat close up as if an invisble hand were around it. He didn't struggle and it didn't hurt. Indeed the last encounter with that had been done by a Jedi. His enemy no less. He kept a calm countenance that belied his anger at the fool Virul. It was then he felt the rumble and the chokehold being released.

From the shadows came a rumbling noise, almost like an animal but not quite. Then a gravelly voice that reeked of death said, "You are nothing puny Virul. You are not the Dark Lord of the Sith."

Tyrannus had fully been released but then was blown back by a very powerful Force push. His feet flew up from beneath him. He managed to see Virul getting harsh treatment by that as well. Tyrannus knew that he had been watching. He had been listening and he was fed up with it. It was the Blood King.

***********

Jun-la smiled in an amused way at Kalla. She replied, "Not Avalonian but some old friends."

No sooner as she spoke than the leaves began to move. From the shrubs came a group of furry creatures. They spoke in a strange tongue that was not Avalonian. Jun-la smiled and replied in their langiage. She then explained, "Shreyites. Been with us since my father arrived."

Tulre explained her comment, "My sister meant our ancestor Kirabaros."

Garrick nearly flinched from the Mandalorian women's comment. She was actually right, and Garrick knew it. But if there is anything the Derekil Clan was known for besides being the best, it was their stubborness. And strangely, Garrick seemed to like the women, but he slapped himself mentally back into combat mode.

"Well, if you think I have the wrong target, then there is no need for bloodshed, I will simply take what I need."

Garrick extended his right arm and pointed his armored gauntlet at Komad. He pressed a small button and a cortosis elastic rope shot out, in an attempt to entangle the target.

Komad then reflected the rope back at Gerrick through the Force. "I warned you." He said, activating his second lightsaber. He didn't want bloodshed, but he refused to give the bounty hunter what he wanted.

"So you finally reveal yourself. You're shorter than I expected." Virul commented, not fearing the Blood King's wrath.

Tiye barked an order in Avalonian and out of nowhere soldiers sprang up with their weapons focused on the bounty hunter. Meanwhile Andros gave an undulated whistle and tons of furry creatures came out of the brush brandishing weapons. Tiye said, "Taking what you think is yours is a bad idea."

*********

The Blood King was taller than classic Avalonian height of six feet yet the puny imp in front of him dared to say otherwise. He thought it amusing and said, "Your humor though lack of wit and originality is commendable but you have no knowledge. For your glorified dreams and delusions of grandeur to occur, you need three. Not yourself."

**********

"Why are the Shreyites meeting us Master?" young Andros asked. Like his sister he thought it would be Republic soldiers or Avalonian warriors.

Jun-la replied, "They know the land better than we do and they will give use refuge. Particularly to the governor's daughter." She then turned to ask, "Is that agreeable, cousin of Almalexia?"

Garrick looked down at himself, tangled in his own cortosis wire. Then he looked at the soldiers surrounding him and at the small furry creatures, eyeing him as if he was their next meal. He sheathed his cortosis blades back into his guantlets and sighed angrily. He activated his comlink.

"Barek, go back to Mandalore and prepare for my return, I'm in a little of trouble. Obey this order at once, or I may die, brother."

Barek understood immeadiatley what Garrick meant and he answered carefully," Yes Garrick, we will wait for you, but do not be long, you have the clan to lead."

"No worries, until next time, Barek, su'cuy gar." Garrick turned off the comlink.

He looked at Komad and his Mandalorian bodyguards. And he could swear they were smiling.

"Mandalorians are not ones for surrendering, but I know when to stop my attack. I admit that you've won, but not honorably, do not expect mercy when next we cross eachother in battle."

"I, as a daughter of Mandalore, know what is honorable," Tiye replied, "You launched an attack and it was countered." She brushed a lock of hair away from her ears to reveal the distinct points. Even with Mandalorian blood in their veins, her people were Avalonian. She looked with a stern expression at the intruder. "You are caught and you will answer questions." She barked an order and two of her men came to lock binders on the bounty hunter. "Escort him to holding."

Garrick bowed his head in respect, but also in shame of being outsmarted by a plan so simple in comparison.

What a Warrior I am turning out to be... thought Garrick.

The guards removed the cortosis wire and clamped binders on his wrist. Binders that were meant for a much smaller person, judging by the decrease of circulation to Garrick's hands. He brought his head up again and looked at the his Mandalorian captor and gave a sharp nod. The guards escorted Garrick away, probably to some holding cell inside Komad's bunker.

You may think this the end, but in fact, it is only the beginning of a larger battle. Garrick let a small smile crease his face as he was led down the hallways for incarceration.

"Yes, that would be best, as long as Kalla comes with me." Andorra replied. She then gave a quick look at Kalla, to which Kalla nodded in agreement.

Komad was wondering who would put a bounty on his head. He had few enemies in the Republic, and the New Empire would more likely send their own assassins after him. Though the New Empire wasn't as well organised, and would be more likely to resort to bounty hunters than the Republic.

The Bridge of the Mand'alor's Marev
Outer Space above Amshrey
Shortly after Garrick's capture...


"Admiral Barek, sir, your orders?"

Barek looked at the short ensign in his gray battle armor. Barek looked back at Amshrey.

"My brother is di'kula shabuir for going in unprepared. But we must leave, prepare the course for Mandalore, we're going home."

The ensign bowed low and did an about face across the loud bridge that faintly looked like a bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Something came to Barek's mind, "Ensign! Tell Captain Durrel to prepare the first platoon of Mand'alor's guard for surface deployment. After that, commence the fleet's retreat. We're not letting go of my brother so easily."

The ensign bowed again and went to obey his orders. Barek looked out again at the planet Amshrey, and not five minutes into his stare did he see Captain Durrel's ship leave for his special "retrieval mission." Barek smiled.

We'll find you Garrick, thought Barek.

Komad walked into the detention area and up to Garrick's cell. "I want answers. Who hired you and what do they want with me?" He asked. He then asked Tiye, "Has there been much fighting between the Mandalorian clans recently?"

"A triumvirate of power? The last time I worked in a ruling triumviruate against the Republic, only one member survived, and it wasn't me." Virul commented on the Blood King's statement.

Garrick sat quietly in his cell, looking at his weaponless armor. Garrick actually felt slightly sad without his weapons. Komad asked his question, but Garrick had no intention of answering, but seeing as Komad didn't know about the recent conflicts, he spoke.

"Well, Kaltas, there have been several wars lately in the clans. Unification Wars, wars that will combine the clans under one banner. Mine."

"And reduce the Mandalorians to petty thugs? Acting honourably and acting aggresively are two very different things. At least I know that neither Clan Ordo nor Clan Vel would join you. I suppose you've never heard of the Mandalorian Jedi, have you?" Komad replied, having doubts that the Derekil clan could unite the Mandalorians.

Garrick arched an eyebrow under his black helmet.

"Who is this Mando'a Jeetai? Such things do not occur in the clans."

Garrick sat back in his chair, readying himself for the answer.

"Her name was Kalla Vel, she died twenty years ago. She trained me in the way of the Force. And trust me, she was both a Mandalorian and a Jedi." Komad told him. "Thanks to her I know what honour is, even to a Mandalorian, and you are not honourable."

Garrick leaned back into his seat and frowned. There were many ways to define honor, but Garrick knew that Komad was probably right about his lack of honor, and somewhere in Garrick's memory, Kalla Vel rang a bell.

"I'm familiar with that name, but I cannot remember exactly. Do not measure my honor, Jedi, that is up to a Mandalorian to decide. Also, in case you must know, most the clans have been united, they await the coming of Mand'alor. Our little Unification Wars will help us to become better, not degrade us."

Garrick tried his best to maintain his inhuman tone of no emotion, but the comment of honor's wound still stung in Garrick's chest. He had yet to find out what honor truly was.

"Unfortunately for us both, neither one of us can give up at this point."

Wrath's words were true. If she were to give up she would be taken captive and would possibly be tortured by Lord Virul. If he were to give up then he would be tortured and killed by Lord Virul. Wrath put the vibrosword back on his back and looked at the rodian.

"I must know something, during this fight you have not attacked once nor have you been nervous, why is that?"

"It is because your feeble mind cannot contemplate exactly what it takes to rule if you want the galaxy." The Blood King had a way of making even the most competent of thugs feel like a buffoon. "Besides the galaxy holds more secrets that outnumber one. Three is often better."

**********

Tiye didn't answer the question but rather listened to the chatter. After the intruder gave his bit and Komad reveal his about Kalla Vel, she spoke, her iron grey eyes like steely glints and her Avalonian ears making her face look forbidding, "You want unification? No shou is what you will have."

Andros interrupted in his gentle manner before Tiye let loose on her special dialect of the Amshrey Avalonians, "Intruder. You serve another, one who wants what he cannot have. You know who that is and we wish to know the answer. Please tell us."

Alkéa had to kept from rolling her eyes. Andros' speech may have been effective bu that polite request at the end made him seem weak. She couldn't fault him though since Avalonians by nature were polite even when they were angry. She had seen it frustrate enemies who couldn't understand why Andros wouldn't be goaded. She only hoped that Andros' nature wouldn't betray him.

**********

Jun-la knew that there would be a time when the two would have to separate. She could only hope that they would be able to bear it. Kalla would fight in a battle that could decide the balance of the Force and Andorra would be left behind. It would be a consuming thought Jun-la knew but it was better to address it when the time came. She replied, "It is for all of us. Those that follow the intruder will come and we shall have advantage." She held her hand in the symbolic gesture of trust.

**********

Greea didn't power her lightsaber down immediately. She waited while the intruder put his weapons away in gesture of somewhat goodwill. She deactivated it but kept it in her hand. She replied, "Jedi value all life and when one is in tuned with the Force, they can hear what often gets taken for granted."

Garrick couldn't keep a straight face, not only did he know that he could unite the clans, the other man near the cell just said the most ridiculous thing ever.

Garrick cracked, "BUH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The group interrogating him were taken a bit off guard from his laugh. Garrick calmed himself down a bit.

"Are you Mandalorian? If that's the case, I don't want you in the clan, please tell us? Oh, that's rich, my brother will love that one! Heheheh!"


Drop-off point Alpha
30 miles from last known positon of retrieval subject 1
0800 hours


Captain Durrel crouched in the deep undergrowth with his squad of highly trained Mandalorian commandoes.

Durrel checked his chrono, "I got 0800 hours on mine, Krek, what do you have?"

A commando in deep red armor stood, "Sir, I have 0800 as well, right on schedule, sir."

Durrel nodded and slung his HRL-750 assault rifle over his shoulder.

"I think if we start now, we can reach the objective's postion ETA this time tomorrow. Krek, prep the troops for double time march towards these coordinates."

Durrel transferred the coordinates via helmet-to-helmet comm transfer. Krek nodded and went off to get the other commandoes ready for their mission. Durrle's orders were simple, find Objective 1 and eliminate and identify his Mandalorian captors.

"So it begins..." Durrel whispered to himself.

(I suppose I should probably tell you a bit more about my plan for Andorra. I'll PM you about it.)
"Let's try something else." Komad suggested. He then walked over to Gerrick, waved his hand in front of his face, while saying. "You want to tell us who you serve." He was unsure as to whether a simple Jedi mind trick would be enough, but it was worth a shot.

"Have we had any other contact from the Republic yet?" Kalla had to ask. A Mandalorian attack on Amshrey was something the Republic should intervene in.

Alkéa couldn't help but flinch at the laughter directed at Andros. He had suffered much and now he was being laughed at for his pains. She wanted to say something but it was Tiye who replied first, "That is why you have no shou. You cannot look at respect in the eye without laughing at it."

Andros didn't flinch at the laughter. Hell by the four moons of Yavin he had been called worse things and mocked for being what he was. It did bother him to a degree but he used it to an advantage. It often upset potential resistant parties in that he was not forceful but polite. In his mother's journal she wrote that each of her children must have been blessed by a Jedi who had died. Andros was more like his father's master, his sister like someone named Tahl and the twins were like her adopted brothers. Later he found out that Tahl was a close friend of his father's master. He wondered if there was purpose in that but the Force is what it wills.

Andros listened to Tiye's response and calmly tried to prevent a loss of temper, "Your kin want you back but I should warn you it is foolhardy to try to force your way on this world. This world knows who walks its earth and it doesn't take kindly to strangers."

**********

Jun-la motioned for the group to follow the Shreyites deeper into the forests. In response to Kalla's question, she replied, "The Republic knows but this world holds many secrets that know when to reveal themselves."

((To ease confusion, shou is actually a Chinese word and roughly means respect. It is used in the same context here but often it refers to honor as well))

Garrick felt a slight influence to tell Komad what he wanted to know, but a Mandalorian such as Garrick is far too smart for a trick like that. The feeling was waived off and Garrick relaxed back into his chair and listened carefully to what the other Mandalorians were saying. They obviously not interested in joining for the grand crusade. And oddly, they seemed sentimental, the way they spoke, not a good sign of character, for Mandalorians that is.

Garrick took a breath, "I assure you, we have no intention of force our way upon the people of Amshrey, of course not. The Empire tried to force his beliefs, he's dead. The second empire, dead, and now this third empire will meet the same fate."

Garrick watched his captor's faces closely for reaction, "It is the way of things, and the only way to avoid such destruction is not to force an ideal, encourage more like, but forcing would bring about a most un-timely demise."

He adjusted his helmet so it was more comfortable, "May I know your names? It would be good to know them for communication."



Waypoint 7
27 miles to Objective 1
1000 hours

"Captain Durrel, what should we do about these dead creatures?"

Durrel looked at the furry creatures that had attacked them and met their fate.

"Pile their corpses and burn them."

Krek looked surprised," Sir, wouldn't that warn the enemy of our locations and movements?"

Durrel smiled and began walking down the forested paths again.

"Yes, it will, but do it, you'll see why when we get to the objective."

Krek nodded and started piling the bodies.

"So you want a name," Andros replied, "You know names have power. Knowing someone's name could give an advantage." It was a lesson he taught his children when he taught them to defend themselves. Even though he was there for them growing up, there was a chance that he could be taken away from them through death and he tried to make them as prepared as he could. Sometimes he wondered if it had been the right thing to do. It was on his mind when he spoke to the intruder, "You ask for a name and that implies trust. You think we are too sentimental, well at least those who walk this world. Why is that?"

"How did you..." Garrick shut up abruptly. It was a surprise indeed what the man said, and what he said shockingly made sense. This man has experience, some experience that perhaps Garrick couldn't match with two decades of warfare and bloodshed.

"Sentimentality is a dangerous trait in Mandalorians. It causes unnecessary feelings that get in the way during combat, these warriors are not as efficient as those who try to be inhuman. They lack the killer edge needed in battle."

Garrick felt strange about what he had said. He knew that what he was saying he didn't always believe, but he said it anyway to keep going. This conversation wasn't going to be good for Garrick's killer ethics.

Wrath stared at her as she deactivated her lightsaber as well.

"I see, I'd like to know why you've deactivated your lightsaber as well as why you would assume that I would keep mine deactivated as well."

Though he called himself out on it he still planned to keep his saber deactivated.

"When warrior blood pulses through your veins along with those of the wisened ones, it makes one perceptive," Andros replied. He knew that the intruder was feeling discomfort at his response. He fought in wars before and knew things that he prayed the Force his children wouldn't have to learn but it looked as if it would be so. "Twenty years is a long time to see bloodshed but when you add a few more to that, you see a lot more."

Tiye had calmed down by this time and spoke Avalonian to her people to be ready for possible invaders. She clicked to the Shreyite representative in his language and he scurried off to do what she suggessted. She heard the bit about sentimentality and commented, "And what is killing if not an attack of the soul?"

**********

Greea was not sure of the intruder's intentions so her sense were on alert. Still she kept her saber deactivated. She replied, "Formal parley must be met with equal measure."

Garrick twitched an eyebrow. This man knew too much, too much for any one Mandalorian, and Garrick knew that this man and many of the Mandalorians in the room, were not average. He was probably dealing with force-users to all of Garrick's knowledge. They definately knew how to make Garrick feel uncomfortable with their words. Garrick tried his best to recompose himself into an inhuman again.

"Your bloodline of the wise serves you well..such information is hard to come by, provided the user isn't force-sensitive. Perception may have some to do with what you say..."

Garrick leaned back into his chair, and he slipped a had behind the chair's back. Garrick listened to the comment on the attack of the soul.

"Killing is not the slaughtering of souls. That form of warfare is ineffective those who chose to have no feelings, only you sentimentals have such weaknesses. I am invulnerable to such an attack, now please this conversation bores me."

Garrick eased back into his chair and gripped something inside his glove.

"Indeed so, but most Sith won't return the favor," Wrath said as he placed his lightsaber at his side once more before continuing. "Fortunately I consider myself a General and not so much a Sith Lord, so you have my word the fighting shall not continue for now."

Wrath looked over at the soldiers watching the fight in front of them.

"Tell me wife of the legendary Komad Kaltas, do you have any children? I suggest thinking about this answer before directly coming out and saying it."

"You hear her words but you do not listen," Andros replied, "To kill others is to kill your own soul. If you had listened perhaps you wouldn't be so quick to judge." He stepped slightly into the llight to allow shadows cross about his person. His eyes glinted green with a slight gold tint to them. He then said, "I wouldn't attempt what you intend to do with that glove if I were you." He shifted his position to allow the light to fall across the katana attached to his belt. His lightsaber was hidden in the shadows.

Alkéa couldn't help but be startled at what Andros said. She had watched the prisoner move a casual move yet Andros had been able to detect intent. how was a mystery. She communicated to her brother in their Force bond way, How does Master Starlighter do that?

Tiye wasn't surprised that Andros had caught the intentions. It only confirmed that he had not lost his gift of reading auras even though it appeared that way at crucial times. Then later he revealed that it had been intentional in order to make the enemy feel they had an advantage. She watched as he shifted position. She then said, "You are clever Mandalorian but as I said before you have no shou. Perhaps your kin doesn't either if all they care about are credits."

**********

Greea didn't put her lightsaber back on her belt but lowered it to a point that made her look relaxed. She still didn't trust the intruder's intentions and she kept her guard up. She was surprised to hear the question asking her about her children. She wondered if it was a gamble to make her lose focus.

Greea knew that to answer in the affirmative could place her children in danger. Yes Jun-la and Kall would watch out for her son but still it was a mother's privilege to worry. She evaded the question by saying, "Children are a blessing aren't they?"

Garrick had to admit, he was stunned. But he also knew something new, he was obviously in the presence of a force-user, no regular being could detect the situation. Garrick sighed, trying to keep his anger under control. He slipped off his glove, revealing that he was holding thermal detonite. He put the object on the ground and slid it to his captor's side of the room.

"Perhaps I should have thought clearer about this..."

He looked at the faces of his captor's, he couldn't read anything or any emotion, besides a faint feelimg of what could've been satisfaction.

"Now then, if you think that killing will somehow eat away at the soul, I'll drink to that. The soulless fight best."

He put a hand in his pocket and produced one of his cigarra's. He lit it and stared at it for a time, watching it's heat glow.

"We do not care only for money, we have other things we care about. The clan is one of them, you want to know why I hunt? I hunt to get money for the clan, to feed its people, to fund its war machines. I seek to build up my comrades so they may survive. I find that honorable, so do my Bretheren, though I will admit I'm confused, and that is why I am not on Mandalore, leading my people. I must find a way to stop the confusion of my mind before leading, otherwise I would hinder the progress of Mand'alor."

Garrick frowned at himself as he admitted something that would further break down his killer ethics. He took off his helmet and put the cigarra in his mouth, awaiting his captor's answers.

Sensing thoughts and emotions are not that difficult for Force Sensitives, and intent isn't much different from basic thought. Komad replied. Sensing intent wasn't that hard. He had done it himself a few times. It was simply a matter of determining why. "So the ends justify the means to you." He commented.

"They should come anyway. The Republic doesn't need another enemy in this war." Kalla replied. Fighting the Mandalorians as well would prove mutally destructive to all sides.

Garrick turned his head toward Komad, "Yes, I believe they almost always do. I would wipe out a village if it stood a threat to a larger and more important plan. But then, that is where I am confused...."

Garrick put the cigarra on his lap and stuck his hand into his pocket again.

Andros had picked up the thermal detonator and looked at it. The Mandalorian was clever and reminded him of the paces Selene put him through when he trained. He then agreed, "A lifetime of war can cloud the eyes. However to attack a people who did no harm to you is cause for saying you have no shou."

Andros looked at the Madalorian, "Justification through victory was once the motto of the father of the people that walk this earth. Time shows that there is more to life than conquering."

Tiye listened intently. She had heard of her ancestor's history and how Clan Ordo and the Mandalorians gathered under him changed their view of things. They still had Mandalorian traditions but they knew that war was not always the answer. Part of it was the Avalonian heritage. She listened to the conversation.

Andros then said, "The soulless do not fight best. They have nothing tying them to life so they might as well be dead."

Alkéa was talking to her brother through the Force, Perhaps it is that strange thing that some AValonians do, reading auras, the physical manifestation of emotions. ANdors always said emotions are easier to read than thoughts.

**********

Jun-la didn't answer until the little Shreyite led them to a clearing. Then almost as if it were magic, Belosian warriors appeared out of the forest along with Republic troops. They approached the group and barked in a strange dialect that Jun-la readily answered.

The male who addressed her, much to Matton's dismay, grinned and gave Jun-la a big bear hug. She then turned to Kalla and replied, "As I said the forest reveals its own secrets. This is my cousin Tahl of Belos and I am sure you know that these are Republic soldiers. Surprise are you not?"

"Canderous was right when he spoke of victory as the reason for all means. His words echo of that of Mandalore the Ultimate, also known as Gir'rak Derekil, leader and ruler of the Mandalorians..."

Garrick slid a gloved hand over his short dark-brown hair. He then stubbed out the cigarra and put his helmet back on.

"The soulless fight purely for the fight, for the victory. There living death is then justifyable. To Mandalorians, through the ages, victory is all. That victory is what keeps the soulless alive."

Garrick sat straightened his back and tried his best to make eye contact with everybody in the room. He tried his best to keep from showing any emotion whatsoever. But no matter what he did, Garrick knew that his captor's would still probably know his feelings. It was an uncomfortable thought.



Amshrey
A random Forest Clearing
Checkpoint Chorrel
2300

"Captain Durrel!"

Captain Durrel turned to face his squad of twenty and his lieutenant, Krek.

"What is it, Krek?"

"Scout squad 1 reports troop movements to the southeast in the target zone. Troop movements, sir, not natives. I have a video link on-helmet."

Krek transferred the video to Durrel's helmet. Durrel watched the video closely to identify the soldiers moving. Their uniforms couldn't have made them clearer. Durrel smiled,"I do believe Admiral Barek's plan is working. We have caught Republic troops in the act. Prepare a tracking movement. I think we've goaded these Republics long enough."

Durrel loaded another clip into his blaster rifle and signaled for his squad to follow.

Wrath nodded at her response before responding himself.

"Indeed they are, its one thing I never do, harm children that is. From your response it sounds like you have them and if that's the case we can both walk away from this situation alive. I will see to it your children will not be harmed nor taken captive, all I need you to do is help me with your brother Dar."

"Victory that keeps the soulless alive is an empty victory," Andros replied. He was aware this conversation was making the prisoner uncomfortable. "Empty victory becomes meaningless ad the already dead become dead. He saw this long ago."

**********

Greea had not heard of or from her brother since he turned. Still familial ties held strong. She asked, "And why did you not attack your quarry?"

Garrick leaned forward, "Surely, if you are truly Mandalorian, you should know the importance of victory! It is what makes us what we are, it is the only way to survive, is through victory in battle, we all become one of the Glorious Dead someday, it is our destiny!"

Garrick tried his best to keep his feelings true to his cause of victory, and how lack of emotion and soul bring about better victory. But he knew that he was slipping in this conversation, and he was beginning to understand his captors.

"Canderous the Preserver was wise, yes, but how could he have left the clans in dissarray like this, without our sense of honor and victory! Tell me, why have you fellow Mandalorians gone this way?"

"I'm impressed. Covert ops, I take it?" Kalla inquired. She was unaware of any major Republic prescence in the Amshrey system, despite it being a prime target for the Rashikians.

"Clearly views on honour differ." Komad commented. "But whose view is right? Perhaps both, perhaps neither. Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. How do you really know?"

The question caught Garrick completely off guard. All he could do was lean back into his chair and gawk under his helmet. Garrick just couldn't think of an answer. He knly knew that he had kept his faith in what he believed in for the longest time, not questioning it.

Garrick nodded his head and thought carefully about what was said.

"Its one of the reasons my master wanted me to capture you. I don't have to capture you if you can stop Dar or something along the lines of this. As I said your children will never be harmed and we both walk out of here alive."

Wrath looked down at the floor and then looked back up.

"Besides your kids must be getting a little nervous as to where you are."

Andros was amused at being called a Mandalorian. Selene would be proud to hear that of her. Her people took a special pride in their heritage. He listened intently as Komad gave his answer. He watched the Mandalorian think and could guess what he was thinking. HE said, "Easy it never is to hear that what is called tradition could be wrong. Part of learning it is."

**********

Jun-la looked at Tahl for a moment before replying, "More of your aunt's doing. She figured that since Belos and Amshrey have the heaviest concentration of warriors, it would be best if Republic troops learned from them. More it was a training thing."

"When we picked up Mandalorian vessels, we sent a signal to the fleet," Tahl added, "Surprising what can slip by unnoticed."

**********

Greea thought for a moment. She did not like having herself being backed into a corner by anyone or anything. She didn't want to endanger her children but she didn't really trust the intruder before her. "And Dar figures into this?" It was a fishing expedition but better to get information than to walk in blind with none.

Garrick looked back up at his captors and sighed.

"The what do you think is the right thing to do...what is honorable?"

Garrick leaned back into his chair again to think on what he said. His confusion had greatly increased with this conversation. And Garrick knew that by the end of it, something would've changed. For the better? Garrick may not know for a long time.


Attack point Bleret
Random Forest
0100

"Durrel, sir, we're in position for the attack."

Durrel put on his macro-binoculars and zeroed them in on the Rpublic troops. They appeared to be talking with the natives. Possibly some sort of exchange.

"The natives are obviously friendly with the Republic. We need to be quick. Kill all the Republics before they get out a signal, start your jammers. We're headhunting tonight."

He shouldered his assault rifle and zeroed its cross-hairs over one of the Republic soldier's temples. He brought the scope onto his eye. He raised a hand, the signal was to attack when he brought it down. He could see from his radar that his men were all arrayed in an ambush position. If everything went right, the Rpublic troops would all be dead without knowing what hit them.

Durrel sighed and raised his hand a little higher.

Andros gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. Personally he thought it a trick question considering that he had been on enough worlds to know that the meaning differed. He replied, "My homeworld believes that honor is what is inside you. It is something you know and is not defined by skills as a warrior or how many bodies you can rack up."

Sensing the Mandalorians, Kalla said to the group, "Get down!" She then motioned for Andorra to get to the back. They didn't need someone else important being held for ransom.

"Don't let others decide for you what it means." Komad commented. He was never fond of blind acceptance of anything, not even his own ideals.

"PO'SHOYA'TANAR! We've been seen! Attack!!!" shouted Durrel.

A hail of blaster shots rained down upon the group of Republic soldiers, dropping at least two of the enemy troops. Durrel fixed his bayonet onto his rifle and stood up. He fired a red flare into the air, and simultaneosly, the battalion under his command charged. The Mandalorians had been revealed to Amshrey in dramatic fashion.



Garrick listened to the Jedi's words. He nodded carefully and noticed something blinking in his helmet. His radar was signalling that combat had begun with fellow Mandalorians involved. He couldn't help but smile. He stayed still and said nothing maintaining his composure and staring directly at Komad.

"Wise words, I have yet to find that is what is inside me, I'll find the answer, by the proper means."