Concord Dawn: In Response to a Call

[Nicole]

As he was putting the finishing touches on his new saber and it's compartment, Mia's comlink chirped. The countdown to real-space had begun. He attached the lightsaber to the pop-out arm and used the Force to press a button to take it into his right arm. He stood still as the repair bay attached the arm to his socket and smiled.

He pressed a button on his comlink and sent a message to Leia. "Reversion to real-space in three minutes. I'll meet you at the bridge."

The Fifth fleet exited hyperspace outside of Concord Dawn. While within effective comm range, it also stayed away from the gravity well of the planet. The ships in the fleet did not power up shields, prep weapons, or launch fighters. It moved slowly toward Concord Dawn and waited for communications.

The Viscount-class Cruiser Balrog dwarfed almost the entire fleet that came with it. A lone ISDII, a duo of MC80s, 15 MC40s and 25 Carrack-class vessels glided through space. All had sensor sweeps going, but showed no hostility whatsoever.

Mia turned as the doors behind him whooshed open and smiled again as Leia entered. "We're here, it's all up to you, Princess."

[Nicole]

As soon as the Fifth fleet exited hyperspace it was immediately pinged by the sensor network which had been installed throughout the sector. Minutes later a few dozen squadrons of bombers lept into weapons range of the same fleet, weapons hot, and using the targeting data provided from the sensor network they took up their targets and held position, effectively forming a wall of fighters between the fleet and Concord Dawn, allowing it to move no where. A scan of the bombers would show they were armed to the teeth with ordinance and some hefty stuff at that, high yield torpedos and missiles, just ready to bomb that fleet into oblivion.

No hostility? Jumping a battle fleet in orbit of a planet which had recently been bombarded was a touchy thing to do, especially to a race of people who normally shot first and asked questions later.

There came a signal directly from the lead cruiser in orbit of Concord Dawn, the one which was taking up it's own position in orbit.

"Alliance vessels, this is Admiral Oburade of the Mandalorian Navy. Resol Vrei and Mand'alor Khandrr have been informed of your arrival. You are ordered to remove your fleet from known Mandalorian Space to a distance of fifty-klicks from it's periphery. You will be allowed visa for one vessel of battleship size or less in our space. Any failure to comply will be considered an act of aggression. You have ten minutes, there will be no further warnings." with that the angry Mandalorian on the other end disappeared from view as the message ended.

Shortly thereafter a few corvette classed vessels of unknown configuration jumped in behind the fleet a few hundred kilometers away and a duo of Keldabe Class battleships to another side, allowing the fleet only one clear direction. Out.

[Nicole]

"Sir, we have multiple ships showing up fore and aft. Mostly starfighters, a few cruisers."

Mialaca turned to the Lieutenant. "Interesting. Let's see what they do."

"Incoming transmission. It's from the Mandos."

"Thank you Lieutenant, put it on."

"Alliance vessels, this is Admiral Oburade of the Mandalorian Navy. Resol Vrei and Mand'alor Khandrr have been informed of your arrival. You are ordered to remove your fleet from known Mandalorian Space to a distance of fifty-klicks from it's periphery. You will be allowed visa for one vessel of battleship size or less in our space. Any failure to comply will be considered an act of aggression. You have ten minutes to comply." with that the angry Mandalorian on the other end disappeared from view as the message ended.

Mialaca almost laughed. Apparently they couldn't read their board very well. Perhaps their sensors had been malfunctioning, as they were sitting at about five thousand kilometers out.

"Are they threatening us, Princess?" He turned to Leia. "Odd that we come to offer assistance... perhaps you forgot to notify them we'd got their message."

He turned back to the comm operator. "Inform all ships, shields up. All crew to battlestations, do not prep weapons. We can take a beating if needed. All engines dead stop."

"I hope you're prepared, Princess, this looks like it's going to be fun."

[Nicole]

Zev was awakened by an irritating chirping from the comlink situated in his gauntlet. Resting beside him was the peaceful Ranah. A second chirping rose from her comlink, wailing in the stillness of the night as Zev with a practiced calm shifted from the bed and onto his feet. Picking up his gauntlet in one fluid movement he was walking towards the window, silvery hues looking out over the vista below.

A shimmering image of a Mandalorian appeared, “Mand’alor! An Alliance Battle Fleet has arrived on the outskirts of Concord Dawn!” The man would continue to report the contents of the Alliance fleet. The Viscount was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Not one, but two, two FUCKING Command-class ships had been dropped on his planet. Cutting the Mandalorian operator off, his voice filled the room as a low rumbling growl, “You tell them that the Mand’alor has told them to remove that fleet to the boundaries of our sector and then another 50 additional klicks. They will be allowed to return on a vessel no larger than battleship. They have ten minutes to comply or we will consider this intrusion an act of aggression. Admiral Oburade knows what to do. Tell him the Mand’alor is on his way.”

Zev didn’t even spare a look at his wife, the Resol, back to reality for them. She would have heard the news from her own sources. Silently clicking and clanging into his gear, it took him less a minute before he was fully suited and armored. The communication uplink established with the base in Keldabe, he finally addressed the Resol – “I will address the people here. They have already alerted every planet in the system; the Civilian Defense fleet is on high alert and will be protecting our rear. You and I will deal with this Alliance personally.”

---

Exactly seven point eight minutes later the first transport arrived outside of the estate. With it came the equipment that would be needed to transmit the image of the Mand’alor to the Mandalorian sector. Standing in the grand hall where Ranah’s father had held so many important meetings. The Mand’alor stood with his back to the giant hearth that took up the end of the hall. A roaring fire casted and ominous glow to his crimson clad form, opting for the Mask of the Mandalore he was completely cut off from the situation over Concord Dawn. Time was of the essence, but it was more important to rally the people, to tell them the cause of this disturbance.

“Mandalorians by now you have all been apprised of a battle fleet that has appeared over Concord Dawn. The Alliance has shown up weeks late to an invitation by the Resol and myself. This slight will not go unpunished. The rumors of an alliance with the Federation and the Alliance have not been unfounded as they so recently announced. I consider this a threat to all Mandalorians.”

Zev never moved. The most eerie thing about him was the way he seemed so absolutely in control and yet so inconsolably angry. His voice seemed to fill the hall, a great booming voice that hinted at the utter disgust he felt at being threatened.

“You repelled the Vong invaders! You rose up like a swarm of locusts and beat back the horde where no one else could! I tell you now Mandalorians! Rise up with me and together we will crush this Alliance fleet!” Raising his red gauntleted hand, at the word crush he clenched his fist to add emphasis to his desire to repel the Alliance fleet should they not heed the warning to exit Mandalorian space and respect their sovereignty.

“Remember the atrocity of Concord Dawn Mandalorians! Remember the Federation who so vainly tried to control you – we will never let that happen again.” Drawing his fist down he stepped closer the image closing in on his masked face, the T-Visor glowing orange in the reflection of the flames, but no doubt lost in the holographic representation.

“To battle Mandalorians! Over the skies of Concord Dawn we will erase this rabble called the Alliance! Strength and honor Mandalorians – lets show these dogs what Mandalorians do best!” The transmission faded out. Routed through the base on Keldabe and broadcasted throughout the entire Mandalorian sector, even the Alliance fleet would get the feed before it was cut off.

---

Every planet that was capable raised their planetary shields. Those who could not fight or where injured from the fighting with the Federation where ushered into many underground bunkers. Those who could fight took to the stars, those who were in the stars gathered in their individual clans. Their ships painted in their sigils and other marks of honor and pride. They would begin appearing over Concord Dawn in the intervening minutes, frigates, corvettes, a spectacle of glittering ships, shields up, weapons powered as they began scanning the Alliance fleet that so boldly decided it would stay its course.

The Civilian Defense fleet remained over their planets, vigil in their defense. Shields powered up and weapons at the ready. The sensor network was running at high efficiency and would jingle with even a hint of incoming traffic.

---

Meanwhile around Zev there was a flurry of action. Any update on the tense situation above Concord Dawn was repeated to him via the operators at Keldabe base. Zev’s intention wasn’t to start a war, but to prevent one by looking like a target that would sooner tear your face off than let you march in disrespectful as you please. The gathering Mandalorian’s over Concord Dawn would not fire unless provoked and even then, their training and discipline which started from the day they were born would kick in; they would wait for their Mand’alor to lead the charge.

Should it come to a slugging match out there in the cold void of space, Zev was more than confident he would be the victor. While the Command ship looked intimidating, it could be swarmed. While the Mandalorian’s seemed as insignificant as ants, even ants could swarm over a larger adversary. People sometimes forgot just who and what a Mandalorian was. The finest fighting force in the entire galaxy. It was no wonder that the Republic had once chosen a Mandalorian as their clone template in the Clone Wars.

With Ranah at his side he exited the shuttle that had brought them to the orbiting Adenn Naast. Making for the command tower, he exited a few short minutes later on the bridge. Having already set a course for Concord Dawn the ship and its two escorts made the micro-jump to Concord Dawn. The Providence-class Adenn Naast would exit hyperspace seconds later with two Munificent-class frigates on either side.

Taking the lead in the configuration right next to the MC-90 cruiser Alor, the two frigates fell further back into the attack formation. All around them tiny pricks of lit signaled the arrival of even more ships. Ships from all around the Mandalore sector continued to pour in. Ranging from simple fighters to battle scarred frigates. Every clan had turned out for the call of the Mand’alor.

“Hail the Command ship. I want to know why they haven’t left my space.” Having patience the Mand’alor sat in his chair, going over the tactical readouts from their scans. Shields and weapons where powered up, targeting uplinks had shared the information from the assembled ships. Fighters launched from their berths adding to those squadrons already acting as a cushion between the two fleets.

A direct transmission was sent to the Balrog showing Zev garbed in his red battle suit. Arms crossed behind his back, the Mand'alor cut an imposing figure. "This is the Mand'alor and I demand to know why you have not done as you've been asked? Remove your ships from Mandalorian space." The voice would be cold and calm. A man entirely in control of his senses and deadly serious about the repercussions of staying in Mandalorian space.

The Mandalorian’s numbers only continued to grow. And instead of being a disorganized and mismatched blob of ships, the newly arrived ships would fall in line with their counterparts, forming for a pincer maneuver. These where battle hardened vets, Mandalorians; nothing and no one would intimidate them.

[Nicole]

"Mmgh." came a groan from Ranah as she stirred awake - and here she had been sleeping so peacefully in her own bed for a first in a long time. Her eyes squinted in the dim Mandalore light as she watched Zev's silhouette by the windows. She brought her hand up, rubbing it across her face as a small groan issued.

"Zev?" she began to question overhearing much of his conversation. She twisted, extending her hand towards her chronometer to view the time. It was late - or early. Depending on exactly how one looked at it. No sooner than she'd viewed the time she saw the flashing indicator of an incoming channel sent to her. She keyed it, watching the holographic figure appear before her, hovering over the bed as a Lieutenant informed her of the Alliance fleet in orbit of Concord Dawn. Ranah shook her head, it was a foolish move for the Alliance and it drew a scoff from her before she glimpsed over towards Zev and then back to the officer.

" Understood. The Mand'alor and I will be arriving soon."

Ranah was soon to her feet and getting dressed in her own armor, Zev had already stormed out of the room, she could sense the man's boiling anger. There would be no talking him out of what he would do, she could only stand by his side as he led his people, their people. There was a reason the Resol followed the Mand'alor in times of battle, Zev knew what he was doing, and Ranah trusted him. He'd not led her astray when the Federation had been there, nor she captive on a Federation planet.

Ranah stood silently off to the side as she listened to Zev's broadcast to the people, her eyes focused right on him until the transmission had ended and then she placed her helmet upon her head, she was tapped into the same information feed that Zev had, the readouts, the locations, the fact that the Alliance fleet had not left Mandalorian space was a sign of aggression. They had been warned, and they were ignoring that warning.

Ranah, for once said nothing much of the time. She had her few orders to make, including the raising of the theater shields over the civilian sectors on all of the sector's habitable cities. She simply could not allow for the genocide of their people. That the Alliance seemed geared to complete what the Federation had started was frightening - though fear wasn't something Mandalorians expressed well. It was expressed with a fist.

Ranah's arm looped with Zev's on the shuttle ride to the A'denn Naast, subtly conveying her support for what he was doing, though soon touch was parted as the two stepped off the shuttle onto the old cruiser and moved to their positions. Zev would no doubt end up on the bridge in his usual commanding position while she stood off the platform and to the rear, watching and surveying all that occurred.

When the trio of vessels appeared in orbit of Concord Dawn, Ranah closed her eyes, unseen with her helmet on she calmed the anger brewing in her and opened herself up to the invisible weave of life that bound them all together. Zev and the people were ready for war this time, but no doubt would lose even more good warriors if a battle broke out.

Ranah could sense the power radiating out from the Alliance fleet, centered around a few key beings. The most focusable was that of Leia herself, Ranah kept that focus as she opened her eyes and glimsped towards Zev.

"I'll be in the holofield room." she told him, turning away and stepping off the bridge into a room at the rear of it. Her head tilted towards the two officers with a display of the Alliance fleet in the center of the room. "Leave." she commanded, the two Mandalorian officers saluted and left, the doors hissing shut behind them as Ranah stepped down and proceeded to the tank controls, a few keyed toggles had a channel open to the lead Alliance vessel.

"This is Resol Vrei of Mandalore. I require a secure channel with President Lightbringer immediately."

[Nicole]

Leia had finished her meditation through hyperspace. She was completely in tuned with the force. She had just gotten dressed and was fixing her hair at the mirror. She mused at well Mialaca had done creating a comfortable room for her. He had made sure she had everything she needed. He was as close to her as any brother.

"Reversion to real-space in three minutes. I'll meet you at the bridge." Mia’s voice came over the comm.. Leia finished pinning up a few loose strands of her long curly brown hair and smiled.

“See you there.” She answered and she stood in front of the mirror giving herself a once over. This was a very important meeting and Leia wanted to be sure everything was prepared and ready. She breathed in slowly letting the force calm her nerves, but there was some anxiety that wouldn’t go away, some warning.

Leia met Mialaca on the bridge he was wearing his trim white Admiral’s uniform and Leia smiled he looked very fine, ready to go and play diplomat even though Leia knew he detested the job.

“Charming” Leia teased knowing he wasn’t looking forward to this. Just then a message came through on the comm..

"Alliance vessels, this is Admiral Oburade of the Mandalorian Navy. Resol Vrei and Mand'alor Khandrr have been informed of your arrival. You are ordered to remove your fleet from known Mandalorian Space to a distance of fifty-klicks from it's periphery. You will be allowed visa for one vessel of battleship size or less in our space. Any failure to comply will be considered an act of aggression. You have ten minutes, there will be no further warnings." with that the angry Mandalorian on the other end disappeared from view as the message ended.

Mialaca almost laughed. Apparently they couldn't read their board very well. Perhaps their sensors had been malfunctioning, as they were sitting at about five thousand kilometers out.

Leia was shocked as she looked out the viewport and saw the sudden movement of ships. In the post Vong war era it was customary to bring a fleet, even when they had met with Darth Varya on a neutral planet they had brought a fleet larger than this and thankfully as the Vong had shown up. It was a matter of safety, not aggression. Perhaps, this was what the force had been warning her about.

"Are they threatening us, Princess?" He turned to Leia. "Odd that we come to offer assistance... perhaps you forgot to notify them we'd got their message."
“No, they knew we were coming right after our appointment with The Federation. Perhaps they don’t like waiting?” Leia said as more of a colorful statement to keep the mood light. She really was astounded by this course of action.

“I do believe they are threatenting us.” Leia shook her head as the clock was winding down toward the end of their 10 minute window.

He turned back to the comm operator. "Inform all ships, shields up. All crew to battlestations, do not prep weapons. We can take a beating if needed. All engines dead stop."

"I hope you're prepared, Princess, this looks like it's going to be fun."

Leia let the force flow through her sensing the fear coming from the planet, especially from the powerful signatures of those in power.

“I am prepared my brother. It is they who are not. They are crippled by their fear.” Leia stated feeling the miasma of dread, fear, and anxiety surrounding the war torn planet. Leia knew that Mialace could feel it as well.

This was not the way to handle fear, for now the Mandalorians had deeply offended the New Galactic Alliance’s offer of peace and assistance. Do not bite the hand that feeds. Leia frowned, she had wanted to help Concord Dawn, but this treatment was appalling. Leia understood that the Mandalorians had been hit hard, which is why she had made the special trip out here and put her own diplomatic missions on the back burner, but there was no excuse for this aggression.

"This is Resol Vrei of Mandalore. I require a secure channel with President Lightbringer immediately."

Leia looked over to Mialaca and shrugged.

“Get us out of here Vice Admiral. I think our ten minutes is coming to an end.” Leia said as she walked off Mialaca’s command bridge and into a private room.

“This is Princess Leia Organa-Lightbringer, President of the NGA. We are leaving and wish to do so without any further incident. Is there anything else I can do for you Resol Vrei of Mandalore?” Leia asked not trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

[Nicole]

Even as Leia began her transmission to the Resol, Mia began sending his own comms.

"All ships, rotate, z axis, 180 degrees. Vent waste and make for hyperspace. If they do not move... well, set up an alternate course and get out. Balrog will stay until all forces have left. Get moving."

The ships broke apart and flipped upside down away from Concord Dawn. As they rotated, garbage and waste floated out of their vents and the ships began their runs to hyperspace. Balrog made speed but would wait to enter until the communications had ended.

[Nicole]

Scanners showed the back pedaling fleet and their haste to make it out of the system by the time the clock ran its course. Zev had been tense as those final seconds whittled way. Releasing that tension he eased back into his chair. “Tell all ships to stand down. Keep the targeting data. Shields up and weapons ready to fire. Broadcast that to the militia as well. It seems these are no allies of ours.”

Zev had not missed Ranah’s departure. Knowing her, the Resol would be up to something. Checking over the communications he found the secure channel and was glad his helmet concealed the grin. Did she even know they were both working towards the same goal? Switching off the feed, he left the tactical overlay up and studied the Command ship that remained behind while the other ships exited the system in haste.

“Capture the IFF of this ship and its ion signature.” He would have to study the designs later, weasel out the secrets. The New Galactic Alliance had allied with their despised enemies and hard turned tail at the simplest of requests. Zev shook his head. “Cowards.”

All ships would hold their present position, only the Sterlings moving back and forth. The fleets remained separated, ready for a pincer maneuver on the remaining ship. Their shields remained up and weapons trained on the various hard points of the vessel.

[Nicole]

Ranah not only saw the disappointment in Leia's eyes, but she felt it through the Force. Unfortunately things had come to this, and as Ranah stood patiently in the room by herself, reviewing the display which showed the fleet breaking apart and proceeding to leave, she also saw the indicators of the garbage waste being deposited in their space.

"I believe you are uniquely unaware of the situation your fleet has placed upon my people. Perhaps your new allies, the Federation, neglected to inform you that a monthly cycle ago their fleet took up orbit over Concord Dawn and bombarded it into ruins. With such a turn of events.." Ranah stated, continuing..

"It would be well for your government to consider that having your ships and ours, your fighters and ours, in such proximity... is inherently DANGEROUS. Wars have begun that way, Madam President. " Ranah stressed that point.

"At such a time the Mandalorian people are no longer in need of the friend of our enemy's assistance. " she concluded, " But there is one last thing that you can do for us, as your ships have vented their garbage into our space, you could see that it's taken with you on your way out. I'd hate to have to send a vessel to collect it and deposit it in another system, perhaps the Alderaan system as an example."

With that Ranah stepped away from the holo-emitter, no longer interested in this woman whom she'd grandly misjudged as a woman of morals and principles. A deep exhale of her own disappointment filled the inside of her helmet as she headed back out onto the bridge of the Adenn Naast.

[Nicole]

Leia walked back to the bridge with a quirky smile and approached the Vice Admiral.

“Well, the was the shortest diplomatic mission in the Alliance’s history.” Leia said with a giggle looking up at the Vice Admiral who appeared every bit as amused as she was.

“The Resol wants us to pick up that garbage, but I would leave it. If she wants to haul it all the way to where Alderaan once stood, than let her be our guest, a lot of draining of resources if you ask me.” Leia said with a slight wave of her hand.

Leia was amused by this whole thing. It was the first time she had ever been asked for aid and then been turned away while trying to give it.

Leia turned to the Vice Admiral suddenly serious.
“Drop the crates full of food, blankets and other core survival items, just because Mondalor’s leaders are ignorant doesn’t mean their people should be made to suffer.” Leia said and the Vice Admiral nodded.

At the very least leaving some of the assistance behind would serve as an example of the NGA’s honesty and willingness to help. Innocent people should not have to suffer just because leaders don’t know how to lead, or apparently watch the Holonet.

If they had they would have known that the NGA did not form an alliance with the Federation. They simply signed a peace treaty after a decade long war with the Vong and diminished resources. It was a good political move, and not meant to threaten other organizations that might need help from the Alliance.

The crates containing food, blankets, clothes, water and generators for the parts of mandalor that were left without power were left behind amongst the garbage that had been dropped. Would the Mando’s foolish pride and quick ignorant temper keep them from providing for their people, or would they dig through the trash to get to the goods?

Leia didn’t care, she shrugged as the fleet made it’s way back to Almania.

[Nicole]

Zev had been monitoring the communications between the Resol and Princess Leia. So far the Mand’alor was not impressed. Nor where those assembled – the NGA Fleet had come into sovereign territory posing as a humanitarian relief fleet when in fact it had come under false pretenses. No doubt the ‘care packages’ they had dropped contained poisoned or rotted foodstuffs, judging by the garbage they left it with. Zev shook his head in bewilderment. Just like the Republic they had failed the Mandalorian people. The people who so valiantly helped throw back the Vong invaders. This is how you treat those who fought and died for you?

Zev was severely disappointed in the actions of Princess Leia. Famed diplomat and public figure head of this new Alliance. All of it turned out to be lies. “Monitor that ship, all the way back to where it came from.” Keying a switch he tapped into the room Ranah occupied, his T-Visor the only thing showing in the holographic representation. “Resol your Mand’alor has need of you – first you will make good on your promise to pick up the trash and dispose of it in the Alderaan system. From there you will make contact with the Imperial Remnant. I have gotten reports from incoming Mandalorians of strange happenings on Rendili, inquire there first. It is time we got ourselves some real allies instead of being betrayed by those we helped. I’ll want a report back on Mandalore.” The image faded after his message and he returned his attention to the retreating command vessel.

Keying in an wide band broadcast he hailed the assembled clan vessels, the militia that had sprung up and still continued to gather on the far side of the system. “Mandalorians the threat has passed. Remain vigilant as you return home. There is no telling if these Alliance dogs are wanting a fight. A fight which we were willing to oblige in, but as you see, they are cowards, let them flee I say. We will have our reckoning as we have so many times in the past.”

The system wide alert was still in effect and would remain so until it was absolutely certain there was no attack fleet inbound.

[Nicole]

Leia went to the quarters that Mialaca had made up for her and commed Vincent. She needed his guidance on this matter.

She let Vincent know all that had transpired at the meeting.