Mandalore: Keldabe City

[Nicole]

The roar was deafening, the sheer resonance of it was felt miles away. Those who weren't in the capital city and were outside of it heard the sound in the distance. The sheer sound pulsated over and over. It was the sound of the people shouting. Screaming. Yelling at the top of their lungs.

"MAND'ALOR! MAND'ALOR! MAND'ALOR!"

It was an impressive display with the formations of civilian ships arrayed around the massive granite plateau. It was snowing over Keldabe, but the temperature was well temperate and humid, the snow came in tiny squares of paper confetti being dropped over the people. Having a still operational Providence-Class Destroyer was impressive enough, bringing it into the atmosphere in a perfect display as it launched ordiance sans shrapnel over Keldabe in a brilliant display of fireworks that thundered through the entire mountain range, only to be eclipsed as the roar of the crowd grew louder, igniting through the people. If the people had not loved their Mand'alor before, they certainly did now.

The Adenn Naast came to a perfect hover over the cliffside the city was perched upon, it's starboard side lined up perfectly with a dock that stretched out for trade vessels and other craft. Ranah stood silently at the bay that opened out onto that dock, her arms were clasped behind her back as her full battle armored body turned to glimpse towards the approaching figure of Zev.

Once he was there to her she reached her gloved hand up, clasping onto his helmet as she stepped towards him and tilted her head forward, resting the forehead of her helmet against Zev's in an embrace, her other hand resting on his arm as she held her mate for time longer before stepping back and tilting her head towards the dock.

"Your people call for you Zev. This is your celebration, your time of honor, not mine. Go be with them, I will return late tonight, hopefully with word from the Remnant." she moreso told him than urged.

"I never had any doubt you'd be less than the amazing warrior I knew you to be. Our people will be safe in your hands. I'll be aboard the Shereshoy." she told him, taking his hand and bringing it up between them, level between their chests as she squeezed her grip more and turned about, heading towards one of the shuttles in the bay that was prepared for her departure to orbit and the Keldabe-Class that she'd be taking.

[Nicole]

Even with the hull between them and the city roaring with tumultuous cries of MANDALOR! Zev could hear the noise, a rumbling and resounding ebb and flow of thousands, no millions of voices crying out as one unified voice. The multitude screamed for their leader. In his clarity he had been talked into making a spectacle of his descent to the planet’s surface. The Resol had decided wisely he decided as the massive destroyer had been maneuvered into its new berth.

Sharing this moment with her, Ranah’s helmet pressed to his, they shared a moment of tender love and affection. Holding him in place, he grinned behind his gray T-Visor and wrapped his arm around her slender frame. Giving a tight squeeze, they held each other, lingering in those moments before she told him what he was. A leader, what the people needed, their protector, their sword and shield. Ranah was right, he wouldn’t fail them.

Bringing his hand up between them and squeezing it, he didn’t let go when she made to turn away, instead he pulled her tight against his battle suit. Longing to kiss her, he instead spoke like the leader he was, he was never one to forget those who helped him. “Our hands Ranah Vrei, together nothing will impede us – nothing will intimidate us. Together with our shared guidance, we will lead the Mandalorians to glory and beyond.” He let her go then, watching her the entire way.

Behind him an honor guard would form up. Ceremonial shock spears in place of rifles. That wasn’t to say the Mand’alor would be completely undefended in his open topped speeder, he would have guards dispersed throughout the crowd as well as armored cars on either side of him. While Zev saw no reason for it, clearly his people loved him, his security officer though otherwise.

“I’ll see you tonight Ranah.” He wished A’den where here to send along with his wife. He did not like what his senses told him. They should’ve been back by now. Focusing in on himself he, he quieted his thoughts and emotions. Watching them bleed away he looked to his honor guard and motioned them forward with the first step taken towards the platform that held the waiting escort and speeder that would take him through the cheering crowd.

Sparing one last glimpse to his beloved, he marched ahead with his guard falling in step. The sound of their thudding feet dulling that of the rancorous crowd outside, stepping into the speeder he took his place on the elevated platform that had been erected. All around him the guard formed and then the procession began. The Mand’alor had a duty to do and he was doing it, waving and offering words of encouragement to those they passed. At least Keldabe was looking more like a city now than the blasted out ruins they had started with.

[Nicole]

"To glory and beyond Zev Khandrr." she told him, her eyes right on his despite not being able to see them through his visor, she could feel the gaze of her partner, she lingered with him till he let her go, proceeding across the deck towards the shuttle that sat in wait for them. She wasn't blind to Zev's feelings, perhaps she knew them more well than any, since she could actually sense what he was feeling when she didn't simply know right off.

It took no sooner for her armored boot to touch the lowered ramp before she paused and twisted, her head turning to look back to Zev readying himself to leave. Her eyes met with his once more, lingered before she pushed herself on up the rampway into the shuttle, she took her seat in the rear compartment before she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, exhaling out.

"Depart." she told the pilot as the shuttle proceeded out the other side of the bay and up into the atmosphere, through the cloud of ships that were in orbit, some too big, or incapable of landing on the surface. There amongst them one of the largest, the Shereshoy sat in wait, prepared to take their Resol on her way. As they left the gravity pull of Mandalore, the Shereshoy lept to hyperspace for a brief micro-jump to Concord Dawn where it would rendezvous with the cargo vessel Umtiph which had just finished tractoring the last of the collected garbage into it's hold.

Soon the two were off for a brief jump to the Alderaan System, or the remains thereof. It may have been a waste of fuel, but it was more than that, it was a bold political statement. The Alliance had used their space as a garbage dump, it only fair they return it to a place that packed just as much a statement.

[Nicole]

In that moment they shared it was clear to Zev. While he couldn’t read minds or use Force tricks to sense the thoughts of others, he thought he knew his wife pretty well. The feeling is mutual, he thought to himself as he stepped onto that speeder. Zev had a duty to complete however and that was the last thought he could devote to his wife. For now he had to concentrate on their people: the Mandalorians. Those who had rallied to his call, those who now cramped the byways of the capital, others in ships as a live holo feed of the event was being broadcasted far and wide over the holonet.

The Mand’alor would have to give a grand speech to match this celebration. A speech that would direct their enthusiasm for war and destruction, funnel it into a constructive project. Every last one of them was spoiling for a fight. The Alliance, the Federation or the Vong, it made no difference. They where beset by enemies on all sides. Contemplating this as he looked over the masses. The Mand’alor waved and offered words to those brave enough to venture close enough to the slow moving speeder.

Soon enough they reached the erected podium. All around droids captured the moment on holovids that would broadcast large and wide to the rest of the galaxy. This was the type of moment to share with the galaxy at large. The most feared fighting force in the history of the galaxy was returning to its roots after years of stagnation and betrayal at the hands of the Republic. Those who fought so valiantly on the front lines, not as mercenaries but as Mandalorians doing their part for the Republic only to be pushed aside like so many others before them.

That time had come to end. No more! The Mandalorian voice would reach far and wide and the repercussions of nearly a decade of betrayal would be felt. Taking his spot behind the podium he waited for the millions of Mandalorians to quiet around him. Resplendent in his crimson battle suit he turned his voice amplifier up, knowing it would be picked up and threaded throughout the entire galaxy.

“Today you have witnessed what this so called New Galactic Alliance has to offer those of you who have fought so bravely in this bitter war. A debt was owed, a debt was not paid. Mando’ad draar digu! These so called friends of ours allied with the Federation. They would deny it Mandalorians! Boldly they declared their ‘peace treaty’, trying to hide the word alliance beneath a confusion of words. Mandalorians, I tell you now, when militaries are training together, when militaries are mingling, you know as well as I do – that they are allies! Where the Mandalorians not the Allies of the New Republic? Did they not die in the battlefields all across the war torn galaxy? Did we not repel the Yuuzhan Vong? Was our sacrifice in vain? Mando’ad draar digu!”

Here he had to stop as the roar of the crowd overtook his amplified voice and drowned out his words. The chant that rose up this time wasn’t the one he had heard on the procession. Zev looked out over the multitude of those assembled. A myriad of shapes and sizes, all of them armored, fists in the air. What they were shouting wasn’t at first clear, but after the second time of hearing the chant, Zev couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction. Nu draar the people were screaming, demanding the galaxy understand their plight and pain at being backstabbed by those they fought and died for. Not ever, not on your life would they ever forget.

This jester’s dance was over.

“The threat is far from over. Remain vigilant while we rebuild what the Vong and Federation have destroyed. But let it be known that we will not be messed with. We will not be disrespected and mistreated any longer. You come into Mandalorian territory; you respect Mandalorian law and orders.” At this point a holo feed of the Alliance war fleet fleeing in the face of the overwhelming response of the Mandalorian people, was shown. What was also shown was all the garbage they first jettisoned and then the ‘relief rations’ which where more than likely contaminated by the trash that had been jettisoned by the retreating ships. When the feed faded, the armored Mand’alor would appear once again.

“Closer together, to the edge, we have risen through the ashes of our martyrs. Blood for blood, this has always been the Mandalorian way. Mando’ad draar digu!” Stepping back from the podium he let the roaring of the crowd flow over him. The Mandalorian populace was pumped up, their tension broken and directed twofold – rebuild and never forget the atrocities committed. Federation, Alliance, same frellin thing – as of now, another feed of Princess Leia’s speech would play only once before Zev stepped back up to the podium. Most of it was edited out, what was left was told through Leia's own voice so there could be no mistaking the source:

“There is no formal alliance between our organizations but a common goal of peace and building a better future, one more capable of driving out invading forces such as the Yuuzhan Vong.”

“This alliance made out of necessity but is kept strong and valuable out of desire for peace and justice.”

“I ask you, High Admiral Vincent Lightbringer of the New Galactic Republic, where is the justice? Where is the peace? The Federation raped the Mandalorian people because we were too busy fighting your battles! What have we gotten from you High Admiral? You couldn’t even bring yourself – you insult the Mandalorian people! You insult us even more with this drivel. Mando’ad draar digu!”

“Our justice is that of blood. Our peace is that won through battle. We will plant our banners in the corpses of the Federation, which will be your peace High Admiral. But it will be our justice!” Stepping away from the podium he gave a wave to those assembled, the holonet feed would end.

There was the irrefutable proof of an alliance between Federation and the New Galactic Republic. Bury it in as many fancy words as one might, the word alliance more than sealed the fate. Zev pondered this as he stepped into the speeder. While they had averted war for the moment, it was always on the horizon. He longed for the Vrei estate and his wife more than ever. Waving and shaking hands with those who cheered him, those who looked to him as the might warrior-leader he was.

[Nicole]

A few hours later the Shereshoy let back into orbit over Mandalore. Ranah had made good on her promise to return the garbage back to a more appropriate place. With the behemoth of a battleship lumbering into orbit over the planet, it wasn't long before a shuttle departed and ventured back into the atmosphere, down to the still bustling Capital city. Mandalorians would be partying long into early morning hours, passed out, drunk, and having some of the best damn sex in the galaxy.

Ranah was pleased to see that the Adenn Naast was still in port, her shuttle returned to it's berth aboard the massive destroyer lumbering there and Ranah exited it into the throng of people, with no announcement, no grand fanfare, she wasn't a hero this day, Zev was, and she'd not take any glory away from their beloved Mand'alor for herself.

She simply kept her eye on the flashing little dot on her visor's readout, the one that was leading her to Zev, her breathing calm as the woman stepped aboard a speeder and soon found herself racing over the busy streets towards his location, entirely expecting to find her husband well on his way to a hangover.

[Nicole]

Zev had found himself talked into visiting the Oyu’baat after the celebration speech he had given. The place was packed, wall to wall Mandalorians, all of them helmetless and enjoying frothy mugs compliments of their Mand’alor. Security was light given the political figure Zev had become, but to him he was surrounded by his men, his brothers and sisters. Having gone through several mugs of the thick and dark Mandalorian lager he was surprised he could still stand and walk a straight line for the most part.

His vision was cloudy around the edges. A haze he couldn’t quite shake no matter how many times he shook his head. Thoughts had grown sluggish, as did his movements. Stumbling from one patron to the next, shaking their hand, offering them promising smiles and a firm nod of the noggin, Zev remembered each commitment even in his drunken stupor. These men wanted to help wherever they could, to rebuild the mighty Mandalorian nation of old. Another full mug of ne’tra gal was placed in his hand and shoved towards the only cu’bikad board in the cantina.

Which is where Ranah would find him, his battle suit easy to pick out amongst those gathered, the players had been divided into two teams of two people each, Zev’s partner happened to the be the bartender Cham Detta. Before the game had begun they had removed their armored gauntlets. Each had one short handled knife and in the center of the table was the checkerboard which they would begin stabbing in a succession of plays marked to score points against their opponents.

By the third game Zev had multiple cuts on each hand, some of them deep and gushing blood, the second way to win was to make your opponent pass out or tap out, so far it was a fierce competition, each side had one once and it was only going to get more rugged as Zev launched a series of deep cuts into the wood, beginning the third and final game.

[Nicole]

Ranah intermingled through the crowd, stopping to talk with a few who recognized her after she'd placed her helmet amongst the massive collection of helmets on pegs on the wall. A few guided her towards where Zev was playing cu’bikad. Ranah shook her head with a slight chuckle, a uttered comment about how she never could leave Zev by himself. She ended up behind Zev soon enough, weaving through the cheering crowd as she bumped herself into his side some, looping an armored arm around the back of Zev's shoulders as she watched the game, smirking.

"If you wanted to bleed, I could always beat your ass in the ring again." she commented to him with a smirk, a few 'oooohs' chuckling around.

[Nicole]

The game had grown intense. Lightning quick reflexes where the only thing that saved Zev’s hand from another vicious slice across the top of it. Moving deftly and as quickly as his intoxicated brain could handle he initiated a series of counterstrikes. By this time Ranah had made her presence known, Zev never broke his concentration. Lips set in a firm line, tiny beads of sweat descended in rivulets through the scarred tissue of his eye.

“So eager to get your ass kicked again?” he slurred out, nudging her in the ribs with an elbow as he contemplated the last of his feint and Cham won the game for them. Stumbling back he raised his arms, the knife still stuck in the board. A ragged cheer had gone up, replacing those ‘ooohs’ with chants of ‘Mand’alor’! Nodding his head, a large drunken grin plastered to his face, he growled in excitement and took his wife into his muscular physique. Wrapping those bear like arms around her and lifting her in the air for all to see.

Letting her down after a few twirls of his obviously shaky footing, he caught her lips full on, not caring as the jeers surrounded them. Zev couldn’t help it. He was a man, she was a beautiful Mandalorian, the most radiant he had set his eyes on tonight. Clapping his partner on the shoulder as he passed, a path cleared for them as Zev guided Ranah towards a closed off balcony on the second floor, having it all to themselves.

The cantina had been so pressed with bodies that emerging from the inferno like heat into the nighttime lows of Mandalore felt like being on another world. Breathing it in, he kept his arm around Ranah’s slender waist, “So how did your mission go?” He stumbled over the words, eyes glazed over as they tried right the ever turning world.

[Nicole]

Ranah smirked at Zev as he elbowed her and then won the game moments later. He was good at that game, it'd only taken her one round of playing it with him in the past to know that he wasn't someone she wanted to lose to in that game at least. She was suddenly caught up in a drunken spin of Zev's before he pulled her back down and kissed her hard, she could taste the alcohol on his lips but she stayed with them nontheless, even letting her head tilt slightly as she grasped at his jaw, forcing it harder before she shoved him back to a bit of laughter.

She was lead with Zev up to the second floor, to the balcony where she guided Zev to one of the chairs and pushed him down to sit on it before she took her perch on his lap, facing him, her arms looping around his shoulders as she looked to her big drunken mate with an adoring grin of affection. He'd been having a good time, and she was more than pleased.

"The mission? Garbage was dumped in Alderaan Space, I gave the captain of the Umtiph all that scattered Alliance junk they dumped with it in exchange for the use of his ship." she added, lightly tracing her fingers along his jaw before she leaned in and took a brief kiss from him.

"And just how is the sexiest Mand'alor in history doing tonight?" she asked him, smirking some as she pulled his hand up, examining it.

[Nicole]

It didn’t take much to carrel into the berth of a chair. Resting easily the big Mandalorian easily accommodated his slender wife. The blood had begun to cake and flake as he moved one of his hands to the end of the armrest, while the other remained coiled around his wife. Eager to taste her again when that brief encounter came Ranah would find him lingering into it. Zev was enjoying himself, a war had been reverted, the Mandalorian people rejuvenated from their shellshock from the previous two wars. While they where a warlike people, they were still people.

Even Mandalorians needed a break from the constant strife. While some may question Zev’s hostility towards would be friends, Zev had done what he had to. Let one Nation trample all of your sovereignty and a billion more would be lining up to do the same. Stormy hues perked at her question, like a child he leaned his back and laughed, “This ‘ol mug? Stuff of nightmares,” growling to add emphasis the grin faded away, the relaxed posture remaining in its stead as he gazed into her golden eyes.

“Doing better now that you’re here and I’m glad to know the mission went without a hitch.” They had been feeding him drink after drink all night and the toxicity of the alcohol was beginning to take its toll on the leader. Loosening that usual tight lipped man, “Nasty business back there with the Alliance. I don’t think anyone caught on to me Ranah. I just couldn’t condone letting people who would align themselves …” he shook his head.

Balling his hand into a fist, he rose it in anger over the armrest. “I hate them. The Federation, all of those bastards for what they did to our people, to Concord Dawn,” slamming his fist down she would feel her Mandalorian tighten and writhe with his seething hatred. “How could we be so misguided as to actually treat with this Galactic Alliance? What do we really know of them except for what we’ve seen in the vids?”

[Nicole]

Ranah nodded to Zev, " Me too. " Her fingers toyed along the neckseal around his neck as she glimpsed her golden eyes down and then back up to his. " I know you said go to the Remnant and get an alliance, but right now I'm not certain if we should. I thought this Alliance was going to be the answer to our problems, but they only made it worse." she commented.

Her attention was drawn to Zev as he expressed his anger and frustration, she placed her finger to his lips and nodded, looping her arms back around his shoulders as she rest against him a bit more comfortably. "I know. What the Federation did to our people is unforgivable. They killed millions of our people, how some Mandalorians can even remain loyal to them is beyond me. " Ranah stated, shaking her head a little, she could tell Zev was intoxicated, and she'd probably need to get him to a bed soon enough.

"I guess that's part my fault. " Ranah glimpsed down, letting out a small sigh, "I thought this Leia Lightbringer was a great diplomat, everything in her service record seemed to indicate she knew what she was doing and yet when she showed up.." Ranah trailed off, " Forgive me Mand'alor, when I told you she was a Great Warrior my information was flawed."

[Nicole]

Shaking his head when she spoke of the people, he broke contact with her and looked to the balcony floor. “I don’t know how they can either. Traitors.” Zev’s muscular arm squeezed around her lithe waist, head shaking again, loose strands of dark hair swaying with each violent torque of his neck, “No, nothing to forgive Resol … We were both deceived by what we’ve seen and heard of her exploits. If anyone is to blame it is the Federation.”

Sighing he was still drunk but the buzz had worn off. That grim, haunted look filled his eyes briefly before he righted himself and brought that hard look back to his face. All compassion draining away as he mulled over what she had told him. Turning it over in his slow churning mind, letting it roast, for the moment he couldn’t see any better option. The Mandalorian people didn’t need anyone to help bolster them. While the aid would have been nice, he sighed again. “You’re right the Remnant may not be the best option right now. It was my idea to bring the Alliance here, ultimately that disgrace falls at my feet as Mand’alor. The Remnant could be worse, they don’t owe us anything.”

Shifting beneath the Resol he looked up at the night sky, trying to will his thoughts away. “I think it’s time to go home Ranah. We’ve had a long and trying day.” They had been up since the early hours of the morning to respond to the sudden arrival of the Alliance fleet. The sounds of the celebration still reverberated all around them. Let them revel while he plotted with his wife to save them all.

[Nicole]

"It was me that contacted and invited them though." she told him, gliding her fingers along his face, looking into his eyes, " That part falls on me." she told him, leaning forward and kissing him as that haunted look filled his eyes. She shook her head away, biting onto his chin and growling at him, " No more talk of work tonight. I forbid it." she told him sternly.

"The Alliance had you this morning, your people this evening, and now, my husband, tonight, you are mine." she smirked, pushing at his chest, squishing him into his chair a bit more before she rose up to her feet, "Our shuttle is on the Adenn Naast, we can go back home." she told him, though she lingered for a moment in thought.

Home with Zev.

[Nicole]

How weak and feeble the Gods made men. So easily sidetracked was his mood by her simple insistence that he not be worrying about the problems of tomorrow when he had pleasures to enjoy today. Looking back into her eyes he relaxed with the long exhale of all the tension he had been building up since this morning. “Contacted them at my bidding, we can play this game all evening Ranah. I’ll take my half, you take your half, but lets both agree right now not to rush into something so blind again. Relying on people to pay their debts, “the big man growled and grinned feeling the dulled pain of her bite. Before she could rise she would find those bloody calloused fingers grasping her jaw and pulling her forward into bruising embrace.

Letting her go a few moments later, the grin remained as he struggled to his feet and waited to reorient himself. “Leave the shuttle in. Let’s take the bike. You’re driving.” A long drive through the city, the city that already grown so much since the restoration project started, to rest in their own bed on the Vrei estate, which was where he wanted to be with Ranah. Pressed close against his wife beneath the blankets, trying to shut out the cold Mandalorian night; anything less and they wouldn’t have a happy Mand’alor on their hands.

“Let’s go,” he called over his shoulder ramming through the packed crowds, making for his helmet and forgotten gauntlets. Once outside he would toss the energy key to Ranah and point to the nearest bike which was still covered in confetti from the parade earlier.

[Nicole]

Ranah feigned a small struggle to Zev's grasp, though calming right before he parted it she smirked at him, then gave him another little shove back into his chair before she got on up. She'd wait for Zev to rise and then she'd join his side, looping her arm around his back as she helped to steady him, and guide him where they needed to go, though no sooner than they'd made it to the bottom of the stairs Zev had parted to gather his things and then plow his way out. She tossed her departure wishes to the people before she stepped out into the brisk Mandalorian night, tucking her helmet she'd retrieved beneath her arm she caught the key Zev tossed her, eyeing him and then looking to the bike. She gave a nod and a smirk.

"Too bad it doesn't have a side-pod. Try not to fall off." she commented to him before she took her seat, pulling her helmet on and then shoving the energy stick into the port, bringing the bike to life before she would be joined by Zev and then the two would head off back through the city, out the towering grand gates, and down through the suburbs and off into the mountainside, the number of ruined but rebuilding houses giving away more and more till they were all alone out there, even then it took some time before they were both back home. Ranah stored the bike in the hanger and went about working her man to their room where she helped strip him down and then push him into the bed where she'd spend the night showing him how to have an even better time.