Ask Mandalore Ex cinere

[M.D. Blec Croncu]

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Out of Ashes...

Spoiler: Music

Dim light caught Blec's eye as the automatic blinds softly opened, revealing the Sun "Taris" and the similarly named planet reflecting light into the bedroom. Lying in bed, Blec felt the pleasant numbness in his limbs slowly drift away as he stretched, gazing at the stunning morning view. With one eye open, he looked out of the window... "Man, I love my new life," he thought, grinning at the memories he had already made and the experiences he had enjoyed.

"Well then, time to get up," he said, tossing the blanket onto the other half of the bed.

The blast door leading to the hallway softly opened as "Dopamine," Blec's astromech, chirped happily. The ship's sound system translated: "Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?" Blec replied, "Yep, I'm excited to see what today brings. Give me 15 minutes; I'll be right down in the staff galley, then you can report to me." The door closed behind Dopamine as Blec, leaving the room bathed in red, orange, and yellow light, entered the refreshing area to get ready for the day. He got dressed and went to the staff galley, where a tasty breakfast awaited him.

The air was filled with the aroma of space waffles and 9-Egg-Stew. Next to it, Blec's favorite item: the Blue Bespin Breakfast Bar with a caf.

Sitting down and enjoying the caf and the Blue Bespin Breakfast Bar, Blec's attention soon shifted from gustatory to auditory sensations as Dopamine asked if he was ready for the report. Nodding in enjoyment of his simple breakfast, Blec listened as Dopamine reported that the night had been uneventful, except for a request from Rancor Squadron for assistance.

"Well, if it had been urgent, you would have woken me, so what do they need?" he asked, taking a bite of the Blue Bespin Breakfast Bar. Dopamine explained that they needed help establishing a hospital to restore critical infrastructure on Mandalore.

Blec grinned and leaned back on the bench. He had just been invited to Mandalore to help rebuild a part of it, a great honor for him. "Ok, send them our current location and that we're on the way. Oh, and add an ETA and a request for escort, otherwise the arrival might be tricky," he instructed while finishing his breakfast. Just before Dopamine left the room, he added, "And please calculate the best route to Mandalore. We'll start in 20 minutes. Tell the other droids to recharge."

Dopamine confirmed the orders and left. Thrilled about the request, Blec couldn't stop smiling throughout breakfast. He then cleaned up the table and headed to the cockpit, ready to jump into hyperspace.

*** 18 HOURS LATER ***

Spoiler: Music

Blec exited hyperspace and arrived at Mandalore's orbit. At first glance, the planet appeared uninhabited, with no space traffic in sight. Mandalore so far truly lived up to Blec's expectations. Gazing at the planet's surface, not much was visible, just a blend of dark green, dark blue, and hints of yellow glimmering through the clouds.

So, he waited to be escorted by the Rancor Squad.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Mandalore would never be what it had once been. Hauron still wished he could have seen the planet at its heights in history and considered now one of its lows. But that would change with time. While scared and forever altered from wars uncountable and forgotten, Mandalore could still flourish once again. The Solus still had hope for the world.

A world was only a planet and while the Rally Master valued it greatly, he considered the spirit of his people and their welfare more important than land that only held sentimental value. Since its devastation from the Empire during the Night of a Thousand Tears. the planet was rumored to have some sparse populations of mandalorians here and there with subsistent farming and hidden warrens. Hauron had lived much in the same way on Krownest during his upbringing among other planets.

Mandalore was a home to every Mandalorian. The Group Leader of Rancor Squadron had called his forces to gather and make a pilgrimage that would be a first for many. Sundari was already seeing merchants gather and members of other mandalorian groups return to the world as word spread. Hauron Solus had lit the Great Forge only a few days prior and now there was excitement in the air. A new age of industry and prosperity was on the horizon.

Even without outside hostilities, there were still dangers that lurked across Mandalore. Giant monsters had been awakened in recent times. Hauron himself having witness a mythosaur was an event he still was processing. It was this and more that made him reach out to @M.D. Blec Croncu .

Rancor Squadron kept their presence hidden for the most part and very few people traveled to Mandalorian space these days unless they were lost or knew exactly where they were going. Rancor Squad did not like to advertise their strength and also were rarely given an opportunity to hang about. It was a large galaxy and there were many clients. But despite that, in time the Doctor might see a surprising amount of activity once he arrived on the surface.

A pair of osprey class interceptors were waiting for the Synapse when it exited hyperspace. The two starfighters circled to take up position on either side of the rambler class freighter and follow all safety protocols as they guided the medical ship safely to Sundari.

With nine capital craft making up their fleet that alone allowed Rancor Squadron to move massive amounts of cargo from one location to another. This of course was being put to use in reconstruction efforts for Sundari. The building of infrastructure and simple needs for habitation were where it started and they were going from there. Binary loader droids and hover sleds, construction equipment and materials were all bustling about in pockets of Sundari. It was unmistakable what had once happened but the people were rising from the ashes and persevering.

Standing among his people, clad in his armor, was Hauron Solus. His gravity hammers were affixed to his belt and trappings from working the forge were likewise on his person. The smell of soot and superheated metal radiated off of him along with the faint scent of sweat. A chirp in his ear prompted him to glance at his wrist and then tap a button to have the line open. One of his lieutenants rellayed the update that Blec was arriving momentarily. <"Thanks. I'll go meet him.">

@JoeWing

 

[M.D. Blec Croncu]

Blec was thrilled as he gazed upon the Osprey Class Interceptors, marveling at their blend of danger and artistic elegance.

He transmitted the updated code for "The Synapse" (VCX-350) to ensure their safe passage, guiding them smoothly towards the planet.

As they descended, thick, dark clouds shrouded their path, yet occasional sunbeams pierced through, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow. Emerging from the clouds, the once-glorious city of Sundari, now partly in ruins, came into view. However, calling it merely "ruins" would be an understatement. Parts of the city were being actively rebuilt, signaling a determined resurgence. "Finally," Blec murmured, heartened by the rebirth of this once-mighty civilization.

He followed the escort's directions to a newly constructed landing platform. "Ok, Dopamine, prepare 'CARGO-1' and 'FACILITY-1' for construction support until I need them," he instructed. Dopamine acknowledged and executed the orders promptly, positioning themselves at the cargo lift for deployment.

"Dopamine, you're with me. We'll oversee the project's organization," Blec announced, exiting the cockpit to don his Emergency Uniform, repurposed today for construction work.

The uniform, comprising a heavy-duty jacket and trousers adorned with IR- and light-reflective stripes for visibility in darkness, was practical yet distinctive. Clad in white trousers, jacket, and a rescue helmet—all bearing his name and logo—Blec headed to the cargo lift, ready to join the droids and immerse himself in the task at hand.

Upon reaching the ground, Blec stepped off the lift, eager to reunite with Hauron. He greeted his old acquaintance with a warm "Long time no see" and a firm handshake.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

The Mandalorian clearly noted the arrival of the doctor and extended a gloved hand to shake Blec's in turn. "Good to see you again, Doctor Croncu." Usually people saw doctors like Blec if they were injured but for this occasion he was here to repair a planet and not a physical body. The Solus wondered if the doctor enjoyed the change of pace.

"Thank you for making the trip. Have you done construction before?" The mandalorian was skilled at craft tools and armor but larger structures were still new to him. Engineering in a vacuum for something like a starship was notably different than terrestrial buildings as well. But this project would be highly educational for him. Civil engineering was not exactly his specialty which was why he had put together a team of professionals. He hoped Blec would be able to provide some insight for the benefit of future Mandalorian healthcare.

@JoeWing

 

[M.D. Blec Croncu]

As Hauron inquired about Blec's construction experience, he replied with a laugh, "Haha, well, I've reconstructed spines, if that counts... but no, I haven't built a building before. However, I can assist in designing it and provide contacts for medical equipment. I can also help with staffing and organizing wards, ORs, ICUs, ERs, or whatever else you need."

Blec was enthusiastic about lending a hand. His engineering experience was limited to his time in Newton's Laboratory, surrounded by seasoned engineers, making this a markedly different venture. Yet, he was already contemplating crucial aspects of hospital security: "Where do you source your water? What kind of power plants are available, and how much power can they generate? Is there an established sewage system? How many people reside in Sundari? What materials are you planning to use for the hospital? And do you have a total budget for this project?"

These were complex but essential questions. Their answers were vital for Blec to provide effective advice and support for the project.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Rancor Squadron had its own limited medical corps being made. Blec was also responsible for training a portion of Rancor Squadron's existing medical specialists and related staff. The Doctor was quickly becoming indispensable to the mandalorians. "That will be a great help. Thank you!"

The future architecture would mirror that of what Sundari used to look like with some updates and alterations. The city lacked the great dome it once possessed and a lot of the stalactite like towers were now rubble to be excavated, recycled and moved from the ground below. The Group Leader would be able to source architects from the Mandalorian population or otherwise hire independent contracts and even droids for the task if necessary.

Hauron slowly tilted his head to the side as the doctor asked no less than six questions in rapid fire. The mikkian gestured ahead of them. "Allow me to show you." Hauron did not expect to have satisfactory answers to any follow up questions if he even knew the answers to what Blec was asking now. What he did know was that there was a holographic table with probably the information the Doctor was looking for.

A holographic image of Sundari sat hover over the table with different colored portions indicating various projects and points of interest. Most notably for Blec was where the old Sundari Hospital used to reside. There was water treatment plants being constructed and shipments being brought in by ship. The water on Mandalore was non-toxic for the most part and Hauron could confirm there were various tunnels and underwater catacombs with reservoirs as well as seemingly endless rivers.

A great deal was still being built or otherwise improved. There were isolated septic tanks or private sewage systems from independent clans but nothing in terms of shared infrastructure yet. "We have lots of gonk droids." Hauron said enthusiastically. There were also ship reactors that could be syphoned off to power nearby assets temporarily. "I'm not sure about an exact number. I would say a few thousand." It was hard to tell since mandalorians were capable of picking everything up and leaving at a moment's notice. Those that chose to stay on Mandalore through thick and thin even retreated beneath the surface or face destruction. They had their ways of escaping the city quickly should it be attacked again or if they needed to maneuver tactically to defend their home.

"Some of those questions might be better answered by someone who knows city planning. I think for the most port things will be in place where they used to be. I hope to get a shield generator either for Mandalore as a whole if possible or at least for Sundari. The dome it used to have provided protection and it will take a long time before the city will be rebuilt that far." He also did not like the idea of them building the city up only for it to be blown away by a few star destroyers. "I'm will to make considerable contributions to the rebuilding of this city. Money is not an issue." He had looted a museum on Coruscant containing several fortunes and Rancor Squadron had been doing well in terms of business. Plus they had deals with various organizations so would be able to source materials as well as afford them. If Blec was looking for specifics Hauron could have them drawn up in a few minutes and shared via datapad.

@JoeWing

 

[M.D. Blec Croncu]

Blec's enthusiasm was palpable as he discussed the rebuilding of the hospital with Noth Zurt, a 45-year-old Mandalorian architect who had come to Mandalore inspired by the reignition of the great forge. Zurt, motivated by the hope of restoring the planet's former glory, found common ground with Blec on the essential infrastructure needs.

The consensus was to maintain the original style of the building while acknowledging that the design might need to adapt, given that much of the city had yet to be rebuilt. Their shared vision was to honor the past while building for the future.

Blec, with a thoughtful scratch of his chin, outlined his vision for a hospital capable of accommodating the fluctuating population of Mandalore. "Well, since the numbers of people living here are fluctuating, we can agree that we'd rather build a bigger hospital than a smaller one. I would recommend building a hospital with a total capacity of 150 patients. This way, we can ensure that the future hospital has the capacity to address the growth of the population, which hopefully will be noticeable over the years or decades to come."

He further detailed his plans for the hospital's facilities: "Also, I'm thinking about 7 OR theatres, with a recovery room capacity of 10 patients, ICU with 8 beds, 4 bacta tanks, ER with 1 trauma emergency room and 1 septic OR theatre... With a total capacity of 16 patients... that should seem fine... I'd recommend installing 5 wards with a patient capacity of 30 patients each, of course with their respective medical specialty... Do you guys have any questions regarding this project?"

After presenting his comprehensive vision, Blec turned to Hauron, curious to see if he had any additional insights or suggestions to contribute to the project.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron could not help but smile as he saw and heard the enthusiasm in the Doctor's actions. This energy seemed to be shared by many others. The Solus hoped the trend would spread to others. The Group Leader of Rancor Squadron remained quiet, knowing architecture was not his professional specialty. The only time he had studied buildings was when trying to break in or out of them, usually involving destructive methods one way or another. It was nice to be a part of building something and not just destroying stuff.

The Mikkian made no objections to the decisions made by Doctor Croncu or Noth Zurt, approving of retaining the Mandalorian architecture while making improvements for the modern era. This was not Taris or Coruscant, they did not need the same degree of medical services as highly populated worlds. But Hauron still wanted to make Sundari an enticing place to resettle and live. Part of him worried that having a small hospital might disuade mandalorians from returning. But Hauron also knew that making something too large would be a mistake and costly. They could not bite off more than they could chew so he shook his head when the Doctor asked if there were questions. It was a good start and hopefully there would not be a need for larger facilities until there was an actual populace to support.

"It sounds good to me. Let's start get started right aw-" The man was interrupted as he felt a tremor rumble underneath his feet. The reverberation would make the Mikkian's hair stand on end if he had any. Then a loud rattling as the quake intensified briefly before subsiding.

Hauron's concerns rose but he knew it could not be an earth quake. As far as he knew, Mandalore lacked any tectonic activity. The mandalorian wondered if they were under attack or if something had blown up. But his worries were answered as one of his Lieutenants ran into the room. "Group Leader, a Trinitaur has been spotted! It's head towards Sundari!"

It seemed their architectural planning would be put on pause for now until they dealt with the most pressing issue. A Trinitaur was a gigantic reptilian, supposedly just as large if not bigger than a krayt dragon or even a mythosaur if rumors were to be believed. Mandalore was far from a dead world. This brought up an important issue that Hauron would have hoped to deal with later but it seemed it could not be avoided.

There was little time to think. He did not want to kill the creature. Hauron was not even sure if he could. "Doctor, I suggest you either follow me or evacuate the city to a safe distance. If you have any ideas on how to incapacitate or drive away a capital ship sized reptile I'm all ears." The defenses that used to keep Mandalorian cities safe from the dangerous fauna had long ago been disabled. But maybe the medical professional had some ideas on how to deal with such an animal.

@JoeWing