Rallying the Clan (open to clan leaders)

[Nirvana]

Leaning against one of his arms he watched the small polyhedron that he was spinning around, to some a small item such as this didn't hold much meaning. But it was different with him, to him it meant something. Though how much it meant to him he wouldn't tell anyone, but it meant enough to him that the person who took it would be in a world of pain. A low chuckle could be heard from him as he stopped spinning the polyhedron, and let it rest on the table for a few seconds before pressing in a combination that would initiate one of the many holograms that had been stored within. The hologram that was beings shown right now was just a picture, but it was dear to him. It had been taken the same day as he and his siblings had arrived on Manda'yaim, on that picture he was held in the arms of Ge'carta while being asleep. A warm smile could be seen on his face as he looked at the hologram, even if he hadn't been awake at the time, it was precious to him.

Looking towards the door his smile faded away, the people that he had called upon had yet to arrive to the meeting. Those that he had called upon was the other clan leader amongst the mando'ad, along with the Mand'alor. They needed to know what would happen, he had to inform them of what would happen. With a low sigh and a sad face Cabur deactivated the holo, and lifted it up with his right hand. Inspecting it while thinking about things that had happened. About having seen so much suffering through conflicts, internal and external. Fighting during wars between warlords for money, and loosing people that you care about because of such conflicts. And then two years ago the civil war broke out, forcing vod to kill another vod, something that he didn't want to happen once more. But with how the situation looked now, with the Aliit'alor of clan Ordo being away fighting for the empire, that could become a reality once more.

Because of this Cabur felt that it was his duty to keep this from happening, that it was his job to prevent the clan from falling into chaos while their Aliit'alor was gone. This was something that he wouldn't allow, he would not allow that something like this caused his clan, his family to fall.

 

[Vencu]

Some ten or fifteen minutes after his arrival aboard Cabur Ordo's flagship, Corden's guide stopped just ahead of an open blast door and shuffled off to the side to allow him passage. Corden thanked the warrior, then stepped into the chamber with his helmet tucked under one arm. When he spotted Cabur, he gave the other Mandalorian a firm nod of recognition, then headed straight for him. As he walked up, he raised his right hand, gripping Cabur's forearm in the traditional embrace of vode.

"I hadn't heard anything from you in a long while, vod. I was beginning to think someone had finally gotten the better of you. Me'vaar ti gar?"

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Sisk had taken a break from his duties aboard The Brave Blood and come to answer a call from Cabur Ordo. The message had been vague, but it was weighted with several lines of importance, and so Sisk had felt a need to come. The flight had been a short one, and Sisk had taken the time to dispatch several squads to hot spots that needed a firm hand, and had checked the reports of his hunters on contracts. All seemed to be going well, but a Protector had to be ever vigilant.

Now, Sisk walked the halls of Cabur Ordo's flagship behind his escort, his helmet hung from its clip on his belt. His black armor was unencumbered except for his armored Kama, and it seemed to absorb all light as he walked. The cybernetic eye that had replaced his left whirred and clicked, as it recorded every aspect of his journey to be studied at a later date. His boots rang hollowly down the long corridors, producing a tinny sound as they echoed back to him.

His escort opened a door and stepped back, and before Sisk stepped through he nodded at the young warrior. He spotted both Cabur and Manda'lor, clasping arms and trading pleasantries, it seemed, and walked with an unhurried walk towards them both. As he approached, he spoke, with a friendly tone.

"Manda'lor, Cabur. It seems that we cannot meet unless war is at hand. I wish we could meet under more... Pleasant circumstances."

 

[Kiro]

Following close behind the Mand'alor was Corden's right-hand, and a Clan Leader herself. Carien Bralor. Her rise through the Mandalorian ranks had been a strange one. At first she had been a mere Verd, fighting alongside her brothers and sisters, and the next, she was Mand'alor. And just as quickly, she had returned the title to the man whom now stood between her and Cabur Ordo. But even then, it hadn't been a dive straight down to the bottom. No, Corden had named her his Solyc Al'akaan, his War Master. And with her father having fallen ill and feeling the predations of old age, Carien had been forced to take up the mantle of Clan Leader as well.

Pulling her wolf-marked helmet off, Carien nods to the man whom was second in command of Ordo, a Clan that had long had an... interesting, relationship with Bralor. They had been friends and enemies on and off through the thousands of years that was the shared Mandalorian history. "Cabur." She states simply, crossing her arms over her chestplate, her camouflage cloak still draped over her shoulder, helmet magnetically sealed to her hip. She then turns her attention to Renelo, a member of her own Clan, and now the chief of the Protectors she founded during her brief time as Mand'alor. "Su'cuy, Sisk."

 

[Mars]

A rhythmic thud of Beskar on durasteel announced the entrance of fifteen of Ordo's finest. The A'den be Ordo had arrived with their leader at the helm. For the last few months the Ironfists had been working alongside Imperial and Mandalorian forces to secure the fall of the Core worlds while Cabur maintained the homeworld. From what Apollo's knives in the dark told him, Cabur had grown restless and ambitious while the Aliit'alor was off fighting, and this created an issue. Word had reached his ear of a rally that invited both the Mand'alor and his right hand, Carien Bralor, two of Apollo's closest allies. As a ghost, the Aliit'alor of Clan Ordo had returned.*

The unified steps of the Ironfist squad came to a stop as one, just behind Corden and Carien while Apollo stepped forward, removed his helmet *and offered his hand to Carien, his words lighter than a whisper such that only she would hear.*

"Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur."

Apollo then then turned hard on his heel to face Corden, Sisk and Cabur while bringing his right fist to his chest, just above the Ordo clan insignia.*

"Mand'alor. Protector. Cabur."

He nodded to each in turn as he spoke, the dull lighting glinting off his polished black Beskar'gam. A SOCR-2 rifle strapped to his back and a pair of ripper pistols on his hips. Feet squared and arms open, Apollo spoke to the assembled.*

"So, what're we all doing here? I certainly had not expected to return to a party."

 

[Nirvana]

When the sound of the door opening reached his ears Cabur turned to look and see who it was that had arrived first, a soft chuckle could be heard from him as he saw that it was Corden that had arrived first. A good man that he respected, he stood up as soon as he saw that Corden started to walk towards him. Putting down the small holo-projector in one of the pouches on his belt, even if he respected the man he wouldn't want him to ask questions about such trivial things like the holo-projector. A friendly laughter could be heard from him as he gripped Cordens forearms with his right hand, that someone had gotten the better of him.

“But as you can see, I am still very much alive ner'vod. Naas.”

It had been a few ups and downs since the war started, but nothing that would bring him down to his knees. Following closely behind Corden was a familiar face that he had meet more then a few times, Carien Bralor. Once just a verd, but she had risen through the ranks and had become mand'alor for some time until Corden had returned. But even after that she had remained close to the top, as Cordens right hand and war master. Nodding slightly towards Carien he smirked for a mere second.

“Su'cuy gar, Solyc Al'akaan Carien."

When the door opened once more Caburs eyes turned to see who arrived this time, so it was the leader of the Protectors this time. He had only meet the man once or twice before this meeting, one time was during a mission where he acted quite foolish. While he remembered it, he wouldn't let it weigh heavy for this meeting. A light nod was given to him at first.

“It would seem that way Sisk”

Letting go of Cordens arm now Cabur was about to ask of them to take a seat so that they could talk, but then the door opened once more and another person entered. Someone that he had believed to be on another front fighting for the empire, someone that had neglected the clan. Apollo Ordo, the former Solyc Al'akaan. How the man even had heard that this meeting would take place was something that troubled him, especially since no one knew that it would take place besides those that he had called upon. But he would continue the meeting as he had planned, even if Apollo had showed up. Paying little attention to what Apollo asked Cabur spoke once more.

“Now, if you all could take a seat so that we can get along with this.”

He said with a calm voice before doing a motion with his right arm towards the table, before moving to take a seat himself. Glancing towards the Bes'marev that had followed with Apollo, he spoke again.

"Apollo, there is no need for the Bes'marev to remain in this room. I would ask of you to order them to remain outside."

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

"Su'cuy, Carien. Any idea what's going on?" Their conversation was interrupted as Apollo came in. Sisk bristled at the sight of the Ironfists, slightly turned away to hide his actions, raised his wrist mounted comm close to his lips, and opened a one way link to his gunship. //Prepare a complement of warriors and ready them to disembark. Only on my order are they to leave the ship.// His Crusader Gunship carried a full group of warriors, 150 men. Blooded Protectors all, they were some of Sisk's most loyal and capable troops. If this got ugly, he would need them.

"Apollo. Back from the glory-seeking, I see." Sisk had made no secret of his disdain for the campaign against the GA, and had put forward the stance that the Mandalorians would be better off protecting their own borders, strengthening their existing worlds, and building their warriors.

Cabur had motioned towards a table, and had seated himself in one of the chairs. Sisk moved towards it, and positioned himself in front of a chair. Before he sat, he pulled his helmet from his belt, and placed it on the table, a millennia old Mandalorian tradition that signified his willingness to talk. He placed his cybernetic right hand on the table, and lowered himself gracefully to the seat.

When Cabur posed his delicately worded order to Apollo, Sisk tensed, unsure of the Clan Leaders reaction.

 

[Vencu]

"Ke'luubid." Enough. Corden said the word calmly, but there was just enough murder in his tone of voice that those gathered would know he was in no mood to play games, "Draw a weapon and I'll shoot you down where you stand. Keep your petty squabbles to yourselves. Save your energy for fighting the real enemy, not your vode."

Corden took off his buy'ce and set it on the table with an audible thunk, then glared toward the doorway, where the fifteen Ordo warriors stood in silence. Out. He didn't need to say it. They left the room in an orderly fashion, taking up position just outside in the corridor. The blast door remained open and he let his eyes sweep over those that remained in the room.

"Tayli'bac?" Got it?

It was obvious that even the slightest hint of an internal struggle between vode put Corden on edge. Such a reaction was clearly a product of the civil war, even if he failed to see it himself.

 

[Kiro]

To Sisk's question Carien could only shake her head in response. Cabur's arrival to the warfront with his flagship had been quite the surprise to the War Master. She and Corden had been busy trying to sort out the battle plans for the invasion of Anaxes and Alsakan when the Ordo second had arrived, demanding to speak with them and the other Clan Leaders. "No, and considering where we are, I hope this won't take long." She replied, her arms crossed over her runed breastplate, and shot a meaningful glance over at Cabur. Not the most subtle of hints.

As the Clan Leader of Ordo arrived however, she gave the man a smile and clasped his hand firmly. The man was a veteran warrior, and had once held the title that she now possessed. Thankfully, there was no ill will between them, and Carien at least considered the Echani halfbreed her friend. And he was quite likely one of the few whom could beat her in an unarmed fight. The whispered words in Mando'a made her grin and shake her head. "Isn't it always, Ordo?" Just as she was about to turn back to Cabur, the Ordo second and Mand'alor had ordered the famed Ordo Ironfists out of the room, which made the only Bralor there quirk an eyebrow.

But like Sisk and Corden, Carien pulled her wolf-marked helmet from her belt clip, and sat it down by a seat at the table, before turning to face the group once more. "Right, you want to explain what the haran you are doing here Cabur, and why you've called all of us here too? We should be killing aruetiise and putting the shabla Jetii to the flame, not having a damn party."

 

[Mars]

"But a moment, Corden."

Apollo raised his right hand towards the Ironfists, motioning for them to move forward, revealing a small case that was vacuum sealed but transparent. It contained a small object no bigger than a blitzball or helmet. As the two men carrying it, Marcus and Aleks, got near and placed it before the Mand'alor it would become obvious what it was. A head.*

Akela the Dar'manda's head.*

"Kyr'orar and I killed him on the fields on Brentaal. The planet was taken swiftly, as expected, the Nightmen and Ironfists have no equal in the Alliance ranks."*

With that Apollo took a seat next to Carien as he dismissed the remaining members of the A'den.*

"To answer your question Sisk, I've returned briefly from the glory seeking. The Jedi need a break every once in a while. It's no fun shooting fish in a barrel and they represent about as much challenge."*

Apollo shrugged after he spoke, turning his pale-blue eyes onto Cabur.*

"So, my trusted second, why have you called us here?"

 

[Nirvana]

Cabur just nodded towards Corden after he had finished speaking, he understood very much that they shouldn't be fighting amongst themselves. But this was something a matter that needed to be solved, and one that could potentially destroy a clan is things went wrong. He hoped so as well that this wouldn't take long, but even if one hoped that such would be the case. It was rare to see it happening, things had a tendency to become more complicated then they actually were.

Instead of answering Carien's question right away, he waited for Apollo to speak his piece first. He still had respect for the man, but it was the respect that someone held for another warrior, and a brother. Looking at the box that was brought to the table Cabur frowned a bit, the man known as Akela had been killed. The name Akela would be forgotten in time, and so would the memories within Cabur's mind about him.

Trusted second, those words only seemed to make things worse then they really were. Here he had called the leaders of the mando'ad together, just so that he could tell them that he wanted to take up the role of leader for clan Ordo to keep them from falling apart more then they already had.

“Why, because I wish to take command of clan Ordo for now.” Cabur started, he both wanted and didn't want to tell them how the situation looked back on the planet. But as things was right now, he had to tell them.”If you think that I do this for my own gain you are wrong, I want to do it because of how things look within the clan right now. Clan Ordo is scattered, and they need someone to bring them back together. I think that I am capable of doing that.”

With that he leaned back in the chair and waited for their reaction, how they would react to him saying something like this. And most importantly, how Apollo would react to hearing something like this. It would be interesting to see how they reacted to it, to hear that clan Ordo was scattered because of the war.

 

[Vencu]

Corden pulled a chair away from the table, just within reach of his helmet, and backed it up against the nearest bulkhead. It wasn't until he sat down that he spoke up.

"I don't know if this is a power struggle or a genuine attempt to set things right, but it has the potential to harm more than just Aliit Ordo. You two need to settle this here and now. The last thing we need is a division within one of the largest clans. The rest of us can bear witness to what is said, but the leaders of other clans aren't going to fix your problems for you."

 

[Kiro]

"Osi'kyr!"

The exclamation forced it's way out past Carien's lips involuntarily upon hearing Cabur's reasons for gathering them all there, stopping her from taking a seat. This was war. A war they were winning. And yet a war against a deadly adversary, which had dangerous powers and operatives. And the man whom was the Ordo second, and now desired to become the leader of the Clan, had dragged them away from that war, and gathered the Mandalorian leadership in one location, making them a highly tempting target, just for some posturing and self-agrandizement?

"You've got to be shabla messing with me... Now? Of all times?" That the War Master and leader of Clan Bralor was less than amused by the situation was rather clear and obvious to anyone gathered in the room. "We're just about to make our biggest push into the Core for well over five thousand years. We're poised to tear out the heart of the Jetiise, and you decide to leave Ordo, travel all the way to the Core and find our fleet, make all the influential leaders of the Mando'ade gather on one ship... just so you can get an ego boost?" The dark eyes of the woman who's name in Mando'a spelled night soul, and frequently went by the monicer of "Krayt", glared at the man they called Cabur. Protector.

"Did you even consider for just a second that the Jetiise might take advantage of this? That they might have agents within our ranks? If dar'manda hut'uune like Akela can take a dump on their heritage and join the aruetii, what's stopping others from aiding them from inside our ranks? What's to say there aren't Jetii on this ship, using their freakshow powers to hide, just waiting for a moment like this so they can vent this compartment into space, or detonate the hyperdrive core, and destroy our leadership?" With a great amount of willpower and effort, Carien finally manages to turn half away from the Ordo second, her eyes instead resting upon Corden, her friend and Mand'alor. She listens to him speak his piece, and as she does, she takes a deep breath, trying to cool down the rage that was building inside her.

"You heard Mand'alor, Ord'ike. Get it over with."

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Sisk leaned back, his fingers steepled with his elbows resting on the arm rests and his nose touching the tip of his index fingers. He breathed deeply, allowing his mind to settle. He listened to Carien and Mand'alor speak, and allowed silence to reign over the room before he spoke. When he did, he stood, and picked up his helmet, tucking it under his left arm.

"I cannot in good consciousness stand by and watch this waste of time. Good vode are dying, Cabur, and more of them are dying while we sit here and listen to this! And you want to play politics? So your clan is scattered? All of our clans are scattered! We're spread across the width and depth of the galaxy, fighting this war on every front, and no clan except Ordo seems to be having this problem. It makes me wonder, Cabur, if it's an effect of the distance or maybe dissent being spread among the ranks." Sisk stepped back from the table, and moved away from the squabble. It was his way of removing himself from this hut'uunla meeting.

"Mand'alor, I wish to remove myself from this ridiculousness. I will stay and observe the outcome, and offer opinions if asked, but we should be better than this. There's an enemy to fight, and we're here, discussing this like it actually needs to be considered."

 

[Nevermore]

Vodinh exhumed a heavy and lengthy sigh, his armored hands reaching up to grasp the helmet of his beskar'gam. He was late for his first clan meeting, all because of frivolous nothings raised within the clan when he ascended to the position of alor. It was a welcoming reprieve, escaping the duties of his leadership, but his heart churned with anxiety knowing that it likely wasn't going to last. A meeting of leaders, to his understanding, was never for enjoyment but rather for more work. He was obligated to comply, and in truth a fraction of him wanted to. He just hoped the discussions and work that were to follow would be easier quelled than in the turmoil of his dwindling clan.

The Mandalorian stopped several dozen paces away from the congregation, as if he were awaiting permission to approach. His helmet rested within the cradle of his arm, the right corner of his lips curling up into a faint half smile. Brown eyes scanned the room, straying to each individual briefly to grasp who all was here. Undoubtedly the rest of them had been on time, and he wasn't entirely sure whether or not his fellow leaders would understand the trivialities tacked on with the day of your promotion. Perhaps they did, perhaps some of them had forgotten, but the fact of the matter was that he was here now.

There seemed to be an air of tension hovering in the room, and Vodinh had a fleeting moment of assuming he had arrived at a bad time. Leadership issues, from what he had briefly eavesdropped of the conversation. Terrific. If they were discussing leadership problems, he had a nostalgic feeling that someone wouldn't hesitate to remark about his punctuality. The stubble on the man's jaw twisted as he grit his teeth and slanted his lips, pondering the situation. It was too late to turn back now. He was already here and he planned, despite the foreboding feelings lurching in his gut, to stick it out to the bitter end.

"Su cuy'gar," he spoke to his brothers, not at any particular one of them. He stood firm his ground, still awaiting permission to approach the table of disgruntled Mandalorians. A leadership role was new to the Fett, but he knew that he would grow accustomed to it with time.

 

[Vencu]

Corden looked to Sisk first, aiming a curt nod in his direction, "Go if you want. No one will hold it against you." He said it truthfully. He honestly couldn't blame the Sol'yc Cabur or any of the other leaders for seeing this as a waste of time. Corden was conflicted himself. On one hand, he wanted to ensure the issues were resolved and an internal struggle avoided. On the other, he felt they were wasting valuable time that could be used to prepare for the battles ahead or to finish those that still raged on Brentaal.

Vodinh entered the room a moment later. Corden was glad to see the newly risen Fett leader was still alive and well, but he dreaded telling the other warrior what he had been recalled from the front to witness. Carien and Sisk were right. The timing of this debacle couldn't have been worse and it reflected poorly on the Ordo leadership for allowing it to come this far. Still, he would stay and listen, even if it did make his blood boil. There was too much at stake for him to leave it all to chance. The Clans couldn't afford to lose their unity now or ever, especially not on the brink of victory in the Core.

"Su'cuy, Vodinh. Welcome to... whatever this is..."

 

[Mars]

"You wish...to take command..of clan Ordo."

Apollo's head snapped up, as did his posture, ice blue eyes frozen in place as he locked orbs with Cabur. His expression a mixture of malice, confusion and an incredulous grin. The words were a light whisper as the Warmaster and Protector's leader verbally tore into him. Apollo stood and slammed both hands onto the table after Corden spoke, the crushgaunts bending the metal.*

"You wish to take command of Clan Ordo? Let me make sure that's exactly what the hell you just said."

Apollo was rarely roused to such anger. The last time was during the tournament, when he took apart the Vencu second-in-command, and since he had kept an icy calm. Today that broke.*

"I've been on the front lines for months trading blaster fire and blade strikes with the Galactic Alliance. I fight alongside the Mand'alor and our Solyc Al'akaan. Tell me Cabur, would you say they've abandoned their clans? Would you say they deserve to be removed from their post?"

Apollo took but a second to breathe before speaking again.*

"While I fight with our Clan and the other Aliit you were trusted with the well-being of the clan. You highlight only your failure if the clan begins to crumble. The clan is spread across the galaxy as we fight the Galactic Alliance. Are you an incompetent warrior as well as an incompetent leader? So narrow minded that you cannot understand how we could be spread out because of a WAR?"

Apollo's eyed never wavered, nor did his voice, as he lit into Cabur. He didn't wait for a response.*

"No, you will not be taking command of Aliit Ordo. My only failure is thinking you could lead in my stead."