The Shape of An Alliance (Open to Rebels and Jedi)

[Cortan]

Green Base, The Forest Moon of Endor

Often, Donkur could struggle to remember what it was he fought for.

Some part of that was simply down to age, the mind dependent on the body to remain healthy enough for recollection. Another, more immediately relevant part, stemmed from seeing those things which he espoused as good or ideal, the beacons by which civilisation should be guided, cast into uncertainty and shadow.

The Jedi Order was one such beacon, that indeed it was assumed to side with the light by nature, and deep in his heart, Donkur hoped it would always be so. Even when others doubted, called into question those protectors of the people and of peace and prosperity born of virtue and not oppression, he had held his heart firm in his beliefs. Yet now, as the Quasar rested in orbit, and the Vor was far beneath it upon the surface, he had to question. He gazed off, from a half-hidden balcony, opened only because it was safe to do so, towards the distance, in the vague direction of the Second Death Star's remains. For months now, the Rebellion and his allies, including the Jedi, had sought to rebuild here. Make safe haven here. Prepare for the fight that, whether it was in a year, or ten, or a century, would come. He had watched and heard from afar as those men and women and all others tried to overcome past grievances to eke out the beginnings of a brighter tomorrow.

And what now? From what sounds of it that Donkur had managed to hear, they'd called together a 'meeting' and turned it into a contest of speeches, a debate floor for a change in leadership, and then a battlefield. They had found a way to honour the name of the weapon that had laid all about them, damn the power they so claimed to serve if it had driven them to do so.
For a moment, Donkur almost found such a thought blasphemous. But then, if the Force was as either Jedi or Sith claimed it to be, it probably didn't care much for blasphemers.

Green Base, whilst not expecting enemies from the sky, was otherwise on high alert. Bad enough they'd had to deal with some psychotic droid with a genocide complex, but dozens upon hundreds of Jedi with reason to be pissed? That was the fear of all their critics made real, and the Rebels had to consider that in their response. Those Jedi that they admitted to the base, after passing them through several security screenings and under strict supervision, were to be escorted at all times, with the only lack of surveillance to be in their most private of matters - biologically determined, not at their whim. Anyone they'd heard bad news about was driven back as best could be managed, for even a Jedi had to beware superior firepower. And when the local competition generally amounted to Ewoks, even the Rebellion qualified for that much.

Still, they weren't unkind to those they took in, permitting medical treatment and psychological care as required and could be afforded. Some unfortunate padawans looked like they'd been forced to survive the forest alone, and even safer than it was previously, that was still a harrowing experience for the unprepared.

And there Donkur was, contemplating it all. It was known that he was there, and that he was likely to have... mixed words to say, and if anyone wanted to come and find him, well...

 

[TheSilentWind]

Some of the Jedi had practically behaved like Sith according to Korra's description of the events that had occurred in this so called 'meeting' that took place. Aura however was happy the Jedi had not destroyed the enclave that was here, otherwise, she would have really began to hate the so called 'peacekeepers. Luckily, Korra would not go through all this security measures since she was at the Rebel Dawn.

Aura could feel the tense situation that was going on here. Various Jedi had come to the Rebel base, all of them visually looking confused, some even mad. While the ARES Member felt sorry for them, she would not hesitate to pull a blaster at a Jedi who threatened a member of the Rebellion. After various months of missions being conducted by both factions, it seemed in the Mandalorian's opinion that tensions could begin to rise, after various Jedi and Rebel members had worked hard to reduce the tensions.

Aura wanted to know why they were here, she also wanted to know what she could do to help. Most of her wanted the Jedi to leave, due to their unstable condition. That however didn't mean that a small part of her wanted to them to stay, mostly because Korra was now a Jedi. As she began thinking about what to do, she quickly remembered that Commander Donkur, someone who she had served alongside with on a mission.

The Mandalorian Rebel decided to move, her sole purpose of finding the Commander. As she looked around, she decided to ask someone where the experienced Commander was. The person she asked willingly gave her the Commander's location, but he also checked her to see that she didn't have a lightsaber with her. That was an example of how cautious the Rebel's were with the Jedi.

When she was given his location, the ARES Member went toward where the Commander was, and personally spoke to him. She felt very nervous about speaking to someone of higher ranking than her. In addition to that, Aura had only served alongside him once. Nonetheless, she needed to conquer that fear, so she went ahead and approached him.

As she approached him, the ARES Member walked slowly, an indication of how nervous she was. She then went, performing a salute before kneeling before him. "Hello Commander, I am Aura, someone who served alongside you in the Arkanis sector. I would liek to ask why the Jedi have been allowed here. While I understand that we need to help those that are medically and psychologically wounded, the Jedi can prove to be a dangerous group that can destabilize security here." Aura stated, quietly shaking inside since she was talking to someone of higher ranking than her. The Mandalorian was well aware the Commander had taken all the factors into consideration, but she still needed an answer. Why were they here?

 

[T.J]

Stepping lively through the dense forest, Delmon took a deep breathe as he over looked the Rebel base below the ridge line he had perched himself upon. His helmet hanging from his waist, he took in the sweet smells of the wilderness around him. Up until that point most of his deployments under the Rebellion had been on industrialized planets or barren rocks unfit for any higher forms of life. Endor reminded him of his home, giving him a brief respite from the fact that he would never see it again. The feeling was short lived, and left the Mandalorian as hollow inside as he had been prior. Lifting his helmet and placing it firmly back atop his head, he made his way back down towards the base. The recent negative activity on behalf of the Jedi had drawn Delmon to the forest moon. Who better to warden Jedi than a warrior who had fought and bested them in combat in the past? There was little point in wasting the man power of several soldiers to guard a single force user when only one Mandalorian was required after all. He was under no such orders for the time being however, his shift had recently ended and he had decided to use his free time to scout the surrounding area and explore the base a bit.

Returning from his trek, he moved through the base unhindered by the others within. Though he did his best to prove his alliance was true, many still saw him and any other Mandalorian as one of the many causes for the galaxies current state. It was a fact that did little to bother him, being on good terms with others he was working with only made for a more cohesive environment. He never lost sleep over the perceived ire of others. The Mandalorian did not stroll aimlessly through the rebel base however, Delmon was searching for someone. When the Sith rained down fire on his people and home, not many rose up to come to clan Ordo's aid. The Rebellion, or more specifically a particular high ranking officer did however. Commander Donkur had answered Delmon's call for assistance for his clan personally and had offered shelter and aid when the fleeing Mandalorians needed it most. It was a gesture Delmon would never forget, one that he never got a chance to properly thank Donkur for. Knowing the Vor commander had been acting authority on the base proved all the more reason to take up the escort mission in the first place.

Making his way into the command center, he stepped past a girl kneeling before the reptilian captain. Giving the girl a quizzical look from within his helmet, he side stepped her and slammed his fist into his armored chest in a traditional Mandalorian greeting before addressing Donkur directly.

" Greetings Captain. It is good to see you still alive and well. "

Delmon's voice was metallic and hollow as it drifted through his helmets external speakers. He glanced towards the girl as he spoke, his helmet's gaze unwavering in Donkur's direction as he did so.

" Vor entye. I thank you. I never got the opportunity to do so... Ordo still draws breathe in large part because of your actions. "

 

[Cortan]

"I remember you, Miss Aura." Donkur straightened slightly, pulling at wrinkles in his poncho-like uniform. It had been impossible to make a regular uniform fit on a being like him - the wingspan meant that even trousers couldn't be made to fit. He turned to face the young woman, sighing slightly as he found her kneeling before him.
"I'd ask you to stand before I answer your question. Kneeling is for Kings, Empresses, and all other manner of Lords - and I am none of those." He gestured towards Aura, though he took a moment to consider what she said. Reasonable concerns really, that his own thoughts had echoed moments prior. But where he could have considered those things personally as his own man, outwardly, he had to do so through the lens of a Commander of the Rebellion, which may not have seemed what some thought it to be.
"I do try to squeeze a few extra years out of this frail frame, Alor." Donkur then greeted the leader of the Ordo clan with a nod, Skyblade perhaps among the strangest in the list of allies that the Rebellion had drawn in.

"I hear the settlements are going well. I apologise that we cannot do more for the moment - even as we try to expand our operations in places like this, we're seeing setbacks. Eventually the Ordo colonies are going to have to become self-sufficient, possibly establish trade with the Bespin efforts, as we try to recoup from our losses in the Skywalker search. Still staggers me that someone ordered such a mission, when we needed those ships. Just as it staggers me that someone out there in those woods decided that the Jedi Order just hadn't had enough in-fighting for a decade, when we need them - or at least, could certainly benefit having them - fighting the Sith on the ground." The winged reptile gave out a sound, a bitter screech. Had he sworn in his native tongue? Whatever it was, it seemed to stress his vocal cords, as he entered a small coughing fit, alleviated only when he managed to extract a pill from the box on his chest, and pop it into his mouth.

"Ah... that, is your answer Miss Aura, if you were still wondering. The Jedi are... still technically our allies, and they were in need. Where else would they go?" Donkur gave a groan as he leaned back, trying to rest on the railing behind him.
"...Your concern is understandable though. If I must confess, I have deeper worries about this. We have already seen what can happen when a secret slips - and where it may put the Empress in scandal, it puts us at severe risk. Now with this... disagreement within the Order, how do we know that someone won't throw in their lot with the Imperium, and give away the location of our bases? That they won't enter into our care waving a false flag? Trouble comes in threes, they say, and this makes the second disaster of recent weeks. What next?" His last words were mostly a small mutter under his own breath, before he looked to Skyblade.
"I don't believe anyone the location of the Ordo settlements has been formally disclosed to the wider Rebellion as of yet though. So your people should still be safe."

 

[T.J]

" You need not worry about Ordo Commander. We are survivors, we always have been. "

Delmon said in a matter of fact tone as he leaned against the wall closest to him, crossing his arms across his chest as he did so. It seemed whatever had happened within the ranks of the Jedi had been more serious than he had previous thought. He couldn't help but smirk, to him the whole lot of saber jockeys deserved whatever came their way regardless of what side they chose to fight for. Their kind had been the bane of the galaxy for nearly all of recorded history, seeing them knocked down to every one else's level always brought a smile to his face.

" Are there any more still wandering the forest? I can organize a hunting party if so, I'd hate for harm to come to innocent men due to some damned rouge jetii. Best to nip such troubles in the bud... So to speak. "

There was a tinge of excitement in his voice that the Mandalorian simply could not hide. The warrior had been sitting on his haunches for far too long, the itch for real combat started to become harder and harder to ignore. He was a predator after all, and a predator needed prey to hunt.

" If we let them deliberate amongst themselves the war will be over before they come any kind of conclusion. "

 

[TheSilentWind]

"Apologies." she stated, surprised by the Commander's gentle statement, and tone. Aura was happy that she got of easy with such a mistake, although she knew that she would beat herself up for committing such an idiotic mistake. As Aura got up, she began to think of the idea of bowing to someone, like a King. The thought began to dwell deeper into her mind, until Aura imagined herself bowing to the Empress. No!, her posture showing that nothing going on. The Mandalorian Rebel would never bow to the monster, not even if it meant her own life.

As the Mandalorian stood up, she could see the Rebel Captain speak to someone who had arrived at where they were. After further hearing the statement of Donkur, Aura concluded that this man was a fellow Mando'ade. At first, Aura wanted to talk to him in Mandalore, or at least reveal that she was also a Mandalorian as well. While few people knew she was a Mandalorian, she did not mind revealing it to people, and she did not care if people hated certain Mandalorians for what they did on Coruscant. Aura had been a Mando for many years, but she didn't join the planet.

"Su cuy'gar ner burc'ya." she stated, speaking in a language that was only known to a few people in the galaxy. The ARES Member nodded at him, to show a sign of respect. This all occurred after the conversation between the Ordo Leader, and Donkur was finished.

"Sometimes I wonder if the Rebels can create their small little force team, such as the Imperial Knights." she stated. Aura had began to think of the Jedi as bad people, or at least people that couldn't be trusted. Luckily for her, her Teras Kasi barriers protected her thoughts, and her emotions from being truly revealed.

"I don't know much about the Jedi, although I did hear that their Grand Master had defected from the Order. Who is to say she herself didn't go rogue." she stated. "Are any actions going to be taken on this matter?" she asked.

 

[Cortan]

"Thankfully, simple mathematics says that if there's any still out there, its maybe half a dozen at most. Odds are, poor fools who weren't able to get a lift back off world after getting on it. We tracked the descent of so many ships... This base was built with the aid of the Jedi, and part of the point had been to foster better relationships after the animosity of the prior decade." Donkur restrained from shouting, likely to strain his throat if did so. But it was clear that he wanted to. To yell for all the forest to hear his frustration, as if doing so would draw a response from the force itself. Knowing their fortune, it would bring the Empress forth from the ether, and not so Donkur could press a blaster to her chest.

He listened to the Mandalorians as they too espoused their views of their circumstance, and how they might respond. Even a year prior, Donkur would have placed much of his critical weight upon the fact that, well, the Mandalorians of a long list of biases, as most people did, with regards to the Jedi. It was somewhat inevitable that a culture that prided itself on conflict - and had many times gone to war because it was bored - would be at odds with the sometimes self-proclaimed, sometimes appointed defenders of peace. Both sides saw the arrogance of the other, and rarely without any apparent sense of humility. But where Donkur might have glossed over the Jedi's imperfections, now more than ever, he did truly have to consider them: And few other groups had such an experience to colour their views.

"From what I have heard, the Grandmaster's departure was with regards to how she had handled the conflict, not that she herself was suspected of going rogue. Another Jedi, however, was apparently accused of... disturbing, behaviour, and people subsequently picked sides. I do not know if such a man would go to the Imperium, rather than forge his own path, but that is very much a possibility that exists..." His arms were folded as he mused, letting out a light humming sound. Something that reminded of a home that he had not seen since he was but a small child.
"We've scarcely built Green Base, and cannot afford to lose it so quickly. Security is going to have to remain high, and if possible, we will have to track any defectors as best as can be managed. If they do tell secrets, then we have to know before an Imperial fleet has time to cross half the galaxy and unleash an army of Sith upon us." From what he'd understood, that had been the mistake of the Jedi themselves, and it had cost their temple on Arbra, and other worlds besides.

Briefly, his gaze turned to the Alor, old eyes clearly considering something, before he spoke again.
"I do think... that perhaps we might prepare our troops, in case of such incidents. Not to the extent that they creep into paranoia and fear of each other, but... reasonable measures, driven by reasonable caution. I doubt we have either the correct cultural values, resources, or sheer time to give everyone at Green Base, let alone the Rebellion, training in such techniques that the Mandalorians use to deter the Jedi, but whatever can be spared would be... appreciated. At the very least, we might use such techniques on the Sith, either way."

 

[T.J]

Delmon's helmet gaze drifted back to the girl as she spoke to him in their shared language. It had been a time since it had heard it spoken aloud, as many other Mandalorians he had come into contact with during his time with the Rebellion had chosen to use basic primarily instead out of necessity. Giving her a nod, he chose to continue using basic in his response, not wanting to give Donkur the impression that they were speaking in a different dialect to keep him from hearing what they were saying. He was a paranoid man after all, growing up on a planet where anything and everything literally tried to eat you tended to do that to people.

" Greetings. It warms my heart to see another Mando'ade alive and well. "

Turning his attention back to the Commander, standing back to full height the Mandalorian moved closer to the railing so that he could gaze out upon the forest beyond the walls of the compound.

" I would be honored to teach the men and women defending this base what knowledge I have to offer. The fundamentals at the very least, as you say it seems we are short on time. "

There would be no doubt Delmon knew what it took to fight toe to toe with force users. A gleaming cylinder half wrapped in some sort of exotic leather hanging from his belt was proof of this fact. It was a prize from Coruscant, when he had been on the wrong side of the war.

" I have a small handful of my warriors at your behest should you need them. "

 

[Andrewza]

Jake walked through the jungles of Endor wondering allowed to him self. "Now where did I park that ship." Jake was hardly worried, the force told him to go this way so he went this way. Though he did not remember walking this far. So when the Forrest cleared Jake was some what surprised to find the rebel base. He was even more surprised by the heavy security and down right shocked when they want his lightsaber.


"What do you mean, I am a threat. Do you think if I was a threat I would use the main gate. Or maybe I would of and I would just make you let me in."


The commotion seemed to be attracting a fare bit of attention. With more and more rebels appearing.

 

[TheSilentWind]

"If you need any help teaching recruits about protecting their mind from the Sith, count me as a teacher." she stated, this statement being one of the few moments in her life that she volunteered to do something. If their was someone that could teach recruits to protect their minds, it was Aura. Having trained herself in perfecting her Teras Kasi barriers was something that took her nearly two decades, but she learned to do it through perseverance, and sheer will.

"It is also nice to see a fellow Mando." she stated,continuing to speak. It was nice to see her people were still surviving. They would always survive. After all, that was the Mandalorian way.

"Teras Kasi, and some other martial arts have proven to be very useful in fighting the Sith. My experience travelling the galaxy, and learning more about Teras Kasi has made me believe it would very helpful in fighting the Sith, both mentally and physically." she stated.