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Primary Magazine, Ammunition Storage, Level Ad'eta, Taung-class Star Dreadnought Mandokar, Somewhere on the fringes of the Trilon Sector, Wild Space
Corden stood just below a raised platform, eyeing the Mandalorians congregating before him. The long, wide chamber they now occupied had been designed for ammunition storage, but those stores had long since been emptied and distributed throughout the fleet. Distance made the far end of the chamber barely visible and were it not for the smooth durasteel-reinforced permacrete that made up the walls, deck, and ceiling, Corden could see how the place could be mistaken for a cool, dimly lit cave. Other than the CIC, this was one of the safest, most secure places aboard the Mandokar. It had been designed that way out of neccessity, but now it served another purpose entirely. It had become a gathering place and a safe haven; neutral territory for leaders on both sides of the civil war. Several hundred leaders had answered Corden's call. If need be, the corridor could hold hundreds more.
After the battle of Fenris and the numerous skirmishes that had followed, the Separatist war machine had been poised to strike at a number of key Loyalist strongholds simultaneously. The heart of Loyalist resistance, Roon, had been among those worlds targeted for a swift, merciless assault. Corden had issued a ceasefire only three days prior to that campaign and within the first standard hour, Separatist forces had abruptly withdrawn from combat operations across numerous theaters. Entire battle groups floated silently above war-torn worlds and along key hyperspace lanes. They waited to hear if the war would continue or if peace between the Clans had indeed been brokered. Now that leaders from both sides had finally arrived and assembled here, the fate of the Mandalorian Clans, be they divided or united as one, would be decided.
"Oya!" Someone nearby shouted above the din of unfamiliar voices, calling for the gathering to begin. A hundred other voices echoed the call before the chamber finally fell silent.
Corden gazed out over the sea of armor as he addressed the Loyalists in the crowd, "Ner vode... You're fighting someone else's war now. It began because of the actions and beliefs of a select few... they claimed to speak for you. Some Mando'ade followed them blindly. Others questioned them from the sidelines. Few stood up to them as I did. Now, as I feared, they've left you to fight their war for the same reasons I've always despised them. They are cowards. They are weak and corrupt. That's why we find ourselves fighting eachother, because some of us got tired of it... and that's why we've gone to such extremes in recent months, because those select few were tarnishing what it meant to be Mandalorian. We couldn't stand for it."
Corden continued without pause, his speech gradually building in tempo as he gained momentum. He could already see helmeted heads nodding in agreement, but most remained transfixed.
"None of you began this war. None of you chose it. You inherited it from poor leadership. Leadership that led you astray. Leadership that betrayed your trust... Now I'm asking that you rise above their legacy. Cast off the shackles they've bound to you and your clans. Let us become a united people once more... Let us learn from this war and reforge ourselves into a stronger, more resilient people... Let us revive our reputation as the galaxy's finest warriors! Let us be united in cause and spirit! What differences remain we will settle in due course, but not through in-fighting. We must be strong! We must have unity! Join me, ner vode... let me lead our people into a new era!"
Corden paused for a moment, eyes still sweeping across the crowd as he allowed his words to sink in.
"I am Mand'alor te Vencuyan. The Sustainer. The Preserver. The Protector. I will not lead you astray. I will not betray you. I will uphold our traditions, our legacy, and our honor... Together we will forge a brighter future for all our people. Never will we become the slaves or puppets of aruetiise. We will forge our own destiny. This I swear to you."
Corden stood just below a raised platform, eyeing the Mandalorians congregating before him. The long, wide chamber they now occupied had been designed for ammunition storage, but those stores had long since been emptied and distributed throughout the fleet. Distance made the far end of the chamber barely visible and were it not for the smooth durasteel-reinforced permacrete that made up the walls, deck, and ceiling, Corden could see how the place could be mistaken for a cool, dimly lit cave. Other than the CIC, this was one of the safest, most secure places aboard the Mandokar. It had been designed that way out of neccessity, but now it served another purpose entirely. It had become a gathering place and a safe haven; neutral territory for leaders on both sides of the civil war. Several hundred leaders had answered Corden's call. If need be, the corridor could hold hundreds more.
After the battle of Fenris and the numerous skirmishes that had followed, the Separatist war machine had been poised to strike at a number of key Loyalist strongholds simultaneously. The heart of Loyalist resistance, Roon, had been among those worlds targeted for a swift, merciless assault. Corden had issued a ceasefire only three days prior to that campaign and within the first standard hour, Separatist forces had abruptly withdrawn from combat operations across numerous theaters. Entire battle groups floated silently above war-torn worlds and along key hyperspace lanes. They waited to hear if the war would continue or if peace between the Clans had indeed been brokered. Now that leaders from both sides had finally arrived and assembled here, the fate of the Mandalorian Clans, be they divided or united as one, would be decided.
"Oya!" Someone nearby shouted above the din of unfamiliar voices, calling for the gathering to begin. A hundred other voices echoed the call before the chamber finally fell silent.
Corden gazed out over the sea of armor as he addressed the Loyalists in the crowd, "Ner vode... You're fighting someone else's war now. It began because of the actions and beliefs of a select few... they claimed to speak for you. Some Mando'ade followed them blindly. Others questioned them from the sidelines. Few stood up to them as I did. Now, as I feared, they've left you to fight their war for the same reasons I've always despised them. They are cowards. They are weak and corrupt. That's why we find ourselves fighting eachother, because some of us got tired of it... and that's why we've gone to such extremes in recent months, because those select few were tarnishing what it meant to be Mandalorian. We couldn't stand for it."
Corden continued without pause, his speech gradually building in tempo as he gained momentum. He could already see helmeted heads nodding in agreement, but most remained transfixed.
"None of you began this war. None of you chose it. You inherited it from poor leadership. Leadership that led you astray. Leadership that betrayed your trust... Now I'm asking that you rise above their legacy. Cast off the shackles they've bound to you and your clans. Let us become a united people once more... Let us learn from this war and reforge ourselves into a stronger, more resilient people... Let us revive our reputation as the galaxy's finest warriors! Let us be united in cause and spirit! What differences remain we will settle in due course, but not through in-fighting. We must be strong! We must have unity! Join me, ner vode... let me lead our people into a new era!"
Corden paused for a moment, eyes still sweeping across the crowd as he allowed his words to sink in.
"I am Mand'alor te Vencuyan. The Sustainer. The Preserver. The Protector. I will not lead you astray. I will not betray you. I will uphold our traditions, our legacy, and our honor... Together we will forge a brighter future for all our people. Never will we become the slaves or puppets of aruetiise. We will forge our own destiny. This I swear to you."
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