Re'turcye Mhi, Manda'yaim

[Vencu]

"Dawntreader, this is Starskipper. Your nav computer will select the next three jump sites randomly, then an encrypted packet I've installed will reveal the fourth and final set of coordinates. You may commence jump sequence when ready. Safe journey, Sergeant."

 

[Brand]

The whine of hyperspace klaxxons sounded on the ship, breaking Jericho out of his thoughts. "Stay with the kids," he told his wife before hugging her quickly and jogging out of the cargo bay.

The Lieutenant was standing in the doorway, and the two men nodded once to each other. Entering the bridge, Jericho knew it was time.

"Helm, prepare to engage random nav jump one in five," rattled off the Lieutenant as both took their seats.

"Four...

three...

two...

one."

The stars blurred into spectacular lines as the transport lurched forward, throwing itself into the awe of hyperspace and light years away from Mandalore. The moment before the plunge always stirred Jericho's stomach, but not this day. An eerie calm had washed over him as they set out to forge a new life in the barrens of space and one day return home.

 

[Loco]

"I've just sent the coordinates in an encrypted audio stream. It's in dadita." The voice continued without pause, though the bustle of activity and the occassional word or two in Mando'a could be heard in the background, "Make sure you have plenty of firepower, ori'vod. You and I both know how important this place is... MandalMotors can provide quite a few of their newly christened prototypes, crew and all. Gather as many as you can and get out there as soon as possible. Our Kushari contact is low on oxygen. He's been in that kriffing cockpit for over sixteen standard hours now. I'll contact you again soon. Vencu, out."

Out. Conversation complete. Damri monitored the encrypted audio stream download, then played it through his helmet speakers, recording it manually, then deleting the original file and all it's embedded identifier information. Now, even if the coordinates were intercepted when he re-transmitted them, there would be no indication of their origins or significance.

"Kaleb, ibic Damri. Me'vaar ti gar?"

"Jate, Damri. A bunch of those Corporate ships are heading toward our rendezvous site...." There was a pause, but the transmission had not ended yet. Damri waited for a few moments, hearing muttered curses on the other side of the line "I'm having trouble with our docking bay, brother. Even if you can fit that puddle jumper in here, I can't get the doors open- must have hit something with that kriffing forklift."

"Copy, Kaleb. I'll be sending you an encrypted data transmission when we reach the rally point. Stand by. Atin'al out."

They were still a few minutes from the prearranged meeting site. His ships engines were not the most powerful- it was a patrol ship, not a capital ship or interceptor, and some larger vessels began to pass them up. Damri began to prepare the data transmission, inputting the proper encryption protocols to hide it from prying eyes... A thought struck him, and his eyes flickered to were the Sith Observers were sitting- no attempt at being covert or inconspicuous. Damri deleted the original message, and replaced it with a set of coordinates just outside the system. Close, but far enough from prying eyes... And sensors.

"We're at the rally site now Dam. One of the captains here says his hold has plenty of room for you. Kom'rk-class, name on the Hull is 'Haat bal Skira'... Fitting, eh?"

Truth and Vengeance was the direct translation- though the actual meaning was a little different, deeper, originating from an old fable. Very fitting indeed, Damri though.

"Got it. I'll transmit coordinates from their bridge. Out."

--------------

It took the better part of 20 minutes to find, communicate with, and initiate docking procedures with the 'Haat Skira'. The ship was rather impressive, Damri thought, compared to the smallish patrol and border ships he was accustomed to- modified freighter and transports, a few fighters and drop ships. Damri dropped his ramp and the three Atin'als swept down into the hangar. His host was waiting to greet them

"Su cuy, Al'verde Atin'al. Well met, vod." said a rather young human male, Damri thought. "I am Alor'ad Zachariah Shysa. Olarom 'Haat bal Gra'tua'!" Shysa shook Damris hand, then Orun and Arya.

"Vor'entye, Alor'ad." Damri replied with a nod. "I've got coordinates to send out..."

"The bridge is this way, Atin'al. We were told to expect you." Shysa interjected, turning and motioning for the Atin'als to follow him without further delay. The walk to the bridge was relatively wrong, and they saw much of it. The ship had a strong feel- a proper warship. They entered into a bustle of activity- The bridge was a wide, semi-circular affair, packed with monitors, control panels, a massive holo display, and an even more massive viewscreen. "Over here Al'verde." Shysa said, motioning towards a communications panel with a young togrutan warrior sitting at it. Damri approached and leaned over the console, laying his hand on the boys shoulder.

"Copy these coordinates, and distribute them to the ships in the vicinity. Encrypt the data file, and give them a rally time of ehn'eta minutes from now, where they'll stand by for further instruction."

"Elek, vod."

The young warrior replied, his hands moving furiously over the console. Damri turned to the rest of the bridge crew.

"Pilot, match course with the one being transmitted by communications. Send the order for everyone to strap down and get ready for a jump to hyperspace!"

Damri stopped, turning to Shysa, "N'eparavu takisit, Alor'ad." He said embarrassedly.

Captain Shysa shook his head seriously, "It's your bridge now, Al'verde."

Damri nodded.

"Coordinates set. Jump now, Al'verde?" The helmsmen asked.

Damri glanced back at his brother and sister, and Alor'ad Shysa beside them. They didn't move, waiting for his command. He turned back to the front, gripped the railing with both hands, and looked out the view screen at the array of over a dozen ships in front him. Manda'yaim was visible on the bottom edge of the screen. He hoped this was not the last time they would see each other.

"Slanar."

And with that, the pin pricks of light in the distance seemed to elongate, and the ship was quickly enveloped by the incredible achievement that was hyperspace. The evacuation of Manda'yaim was now behind them.

 

[Vencu]

Coro had spent another two hours on the surface of the planet before he had been informed that he was indeed the last Mandalorian on all of Manda'yaim. Under any other circumstances, it might have been unsettling, but the lush world that the Taung had claimed as their home so many thousands of years ago was finally at peace, even if it was only temporary with the Sith soon to arrive. Now that the evacuation was complete, Coro welcomed the relaxing calm that had settled over the planet. Taking a deep breath, he finally climbed the ramp of his shuttle, comitting the smell and feel of the cool air to his memory. Pre-flight preparations complete, the pilot of the armored shuttle took off without further delay, sending the vessel rocketing into orbit to join the last few transports that would soon depart for the rally point.

----

Command and Control, Combat Information Center, Kom'rk-class Destroyer Mandokar, High Orbit, Mandalore

"Open a tight beam, encrypted communication line with the Red Dawn." Corden ordered as he took stock of the Mandokar's impressive command bridge, his eyes focusing on each station in turn, "Spool up the hyperdrive and have the computer randomize our first three sets of jump coordinates before departure. We'll be leaving soon enough, vode."

---EDIT---

Twenty standard minutes later...

As soon as he had coordinated with the remaining Kushari vessels and ensured that all Mandalorian and Kushari transports had successfully jumped away, Corden gave the order to initiate their own jump sequence. As one, the last Mandalorians and Kushari in the sector disappeared into hyperspace, leaving Manda'yaim far behind.