Chapter 29 by Caesar25

What's next?

Offer Satine role in the government

{if Pre = false}

Lana: I am not going to kill you. There has been enough bloodshed already.

Obi-Wan: You have made the right choice, Lana!

Satine: So you would rather have me humiliated and imprisoned or exiled? Thanks, but I don't need that kind of mercy!

Lana: No, I have other plans in mind. However, you are not going to be the ruler of Mandalore, regardless.

Satine: That is the same as killing me!

Lana: What would you say if... Let's say, you were offered a role in rebuilding Mandalore?

Satine: What do you mean?

Lana: I would grant you a certain amount of influence, which could be used to put your ideals into practice, just like before. Under my leadership.

Satine: I cannot imagine how that would be done.

Obi-Wan: Satine, let her explain, I'm certain Lana has good intentions!

Satine: Whatever you say, Obi-Wan. I'll give it a thought. So, let's hear your proposal.

You turn around and look at the many followers you have freshly gained. They are quite the colourful bunch, and it's not their armour cosmetics you mean. Glory seekers, credit driven bounty hunters, zealots, revengists, relatives, terrorists, to only mention the major clans... And you haven't ordered Satine's House Kryze and its vassal clans to be eradicated either. If you could convince them all to cooperate, Mandalore would be stronger than ever. It will be no simple task to keep them united for more than a week without them killing each other though.

Lana: Mandalorians! First things first, we must clean up this mess in Sundari. Take Pre Vizsla to honour him with a proper burial. He was a great man who deserves no less.

Leader of Clan Harangir (stepping forward): But Mandalore, he opposed you! Why give your enemies such glory?! That would only incite more rebellion!

Lana: I will honour those who deserve it, be they enemies or friends. Honour does not pick sides.

He humbly bows his head and steps back in the line.

Lana: We are going to have to rebuild Sundari after the massive destruction and casualties the city suffered after our liberation. I want cleanup units organized to gather the corpses of both the defenders and attackers. They too deserve to be buried in the city and their homeworld since they all died fighting, like heroes. This is where they belong. This is the way.

Mandalorians: This is the way.

Satine (rolling her eyes): Pfff... "Liberation"...

Lana: Furthermore...

You look at the door leading to the room, two Mandalorians enter, carrying a third, wounded one on their shoulders. It's Rantar and he's alive!

Rantar (joking): I hope I haven't missed all the fun...! Heard through the comlinks what happened here... Couldn't stay in the medbay and not salute the new Mandalore personally!

Lana (relieved): Father! You are alive!

Rantar (sarcastically): Have you ever had any doubts about that? Our clan is tougher than any other!

Leader of Clan Varad: Hah, care to back that up in a challenge?

Rantar: Don't think I couldn't beat you right now, even in my current state!

Leader of Clan Varad: Very well! I'll see you in the cantina in an hour and we'll see how much Ne'tra gal you can drink before throwing your feet up!

Ranter: Black ale? Don't be childish, I'm drinking only Tihaar, kid! Clean, no water!

Leader of Clan Varad: Hm, well said, you old hound, see you on the battlefield of bottles!

Lana: Khm. I am planning some significant changes on Mandalore. I am going to organise a government, where the heads of all the major clans will have oversight of different branches of government. This should keep you all reliant on each other, whether you like it or not. So you all better get started on improving relations with the rest of the clans! This is what you could be a part of Satine. Let's say, a minister of internal politics. You could continue your policies, make the lives of the every day Mandalorians better the way you have been for years. How about that?

Satine: A minister or internal politics? Hmm...

Leader of Clan Harangir: A government...? You would really trust these good for nothings with doing something important besides fighting?! Not to mention the duchess's pacifist weaklings! They could barely hold their rifles straight!

Satine: Solving problems without drawing your blasters out straight away requires more than you could possibly imagine, warmonger!

Leader of Clan Fett: Speak only for yourself, Harangir! "These good for nothings", have been leading their respective clans for decades now. They might have some insight to managing things. But we at least know now that you are definitely not fit to be a part of it all! Though, this idea is greatly unorthodox... Pragmatic, but greatly unorthodox.

Leader of Clan Harangir: You two dare question my abilities?! How about testing them against both of yours?!

Leader of Clan Fett: Name the time and place.

Satine: I have no time for such pitiful squabbling!

Lana (rising your voice): Silence! No more infighting until I say so!

Leader of Clan Dar'Manda (laughing): But Mandalore, a government?! For real?! We need only one Mandalore to lead us! Or are we going to pay taxes too to upkeep this, "government"?!

Lana: Don't worry, there will be salaries too!

Leader of Clan Dar'Manda: Then why didn't you say that?! We support the decision!

Satine (kneeling): Alright Lana, I accept, not as if I had too many options to pick from anyway. If I must bend my knee to serve my people best, then so be it. But I am uncertain how the work with my future "colleagues" will be done...

Lana: I am certain we will find a way for all to find a common ground.

Leader of the Children of the Watch: Common ground?! With a pacifist?! Fools! Such decisions will ruin our culture and traditions!

Satine (rising her voice): Maybe your "culture and traditions" are not worth preserving in the first place! We were greatly well off without any of them for hundreds of years!

Leader of the Children of the Watch (pulling out her vibroknife): Watch what you say, or my knife might end up scratching your throat from the inside!

Satine (pulling out her mini pistol): I am not afraid of oppressors, I have my own ways of self-defence!

Lana (**** pulling them apart): That's enough ladies, save your energies for the reconstruction of the city!

They both put away their weapons and turn away from each other with words better left unsaid.

Leader of Clan Fett: I see no point in arguing with some moderate reforms of our society anyway. If Mandalore wants it, so be it.

Leader of Clan Ha'rangir: My clan has no reason to object, we obey the command of Mandalore!

Ursa: Clan Wren as well!

Tiber: My brother died fighting you, because he thought you to be unfit for this job. Maybe he was right... We shall see.

Leader of Clan Varad: Your brother was weak, just like your clan, and the weak must obey!

Tiber (gripping his vibrosword): You want to check how "weak" we are?

Lana: That's it, it's settled then. First things first, I am going to need an overseer who will help me keep everything under control. An arbiter, who will be my voice and ear in any temporary absence of your Mandalore. I name Rantar Ordo, my father, the arbiter of Mandalore. Follow his words as if they were mine!

Rantar: Thank you, Mandalore, it is an honour to be your arbiter!

Leader of the Children of the Watch: Already delegating power away? Maybe we were too hasty in following you... You might not be ready for this responsibility yet.

Ursa: She has defeated all who dared to challenge her, she has the right to lead us, regardless of our approval or disapproval!

Leader of the Children of the Watch: Our traditions were formed for a reason! We shall see if she is up to the task of following them...

Satine: Or, if she is brave enough to make a difference at last.

Leader of Clan Fett: Only the strong has the right to dictate, if you lack the strength to **** your will onto others, you are just a complaining child. We are Mandalorians, we follow the strongest, no matter what!

Leader of Clan Varad: That's right, but don't forget the Mandalores, who were only strong in arms, not in their heads! They might have ruled, but only briefly!

Leader of Clan Dar'Manda: Hey, I'll follow anybody regardless of the political staff! As long as I get paid well, of course!

Lana (somewhat sarcastically): Thanks, that is quite reassuring, all of you! I will do all I can to lead you well, if I fail, well... You know what happens to the Mandalores who are defeated in a challenge. But until then...! If any of you have objections against my decisions, come and make them up with me. If there are alternatives, we will find them, if not, my words will stand. That would be all for now, let's get this place cleaned up.

{endif}

{if Pre = true}

Lana: I am not going to kill you. There has been enough bloodshed already.

Pre: What?!

Obi-Wan: You have made the right choice, Lana!

Satine: So you would rather have me humiliated and imprisoned or exiled? Thanks, but I don't need that kind of mercy!

Lana: No, I have other plans in mind. However, you are not going to be the ruler of Mandalore, regardless.

Satine: That is the same as killing me!

Lana: What would you say if... Let's say, you were offered a role in rebuilding Mandalore?

Satine: What do you mean?

Pre: A role?! A minute ago she was our sworn enemy! You can't just invite her over to our side like this!

Lana: Pre, please, just hear me out! Satine, I would grant you a certain amount of influence, which could be used to put your ideals into practice, just like before. Under my leadership.

Satine: I cannot imagine how that would be done.

Pre: Neither do I!

Obi-Wan: Satine, let her explain, I'm certain Lana has good intentions!

Satine: Whatever you say, Obi-Wan. I'll give it a thought. But working together with Pre...

Pre: The feeling is mutual.

Satine: Whatever, first, let's hear your proposal.

Lana: Mandalorians! First things first, we must clean up this mess. Gather all the dead from both sides, Mandalorians, clones, peacekeepers, everyone. They all deserve a proper burial, we were all brothers and sisters, even if somewhat distantly related to some of them.

Leader of Clan Fett: With all due respect Mandalore, the clones were no Mandalorians! They may have been created from one, but being one is not determined by birth, it must be earned.

Boba Fett just stands quietly behind him, observing the upcoming argument with interest, especially as it is closely related to him.

Lana: That is correct. I did not say they were Mandalorians merely because of Jango's DNA in them. I meant they fought well enough to be buried respectfully. Have they not been a match for dozens of our well-trained warriors? Has Clan Fett not lost any man to the clone defenders in close quarter fighting?

Pre: I must say, they were worthy opponents, indeed. Not as skilled as we are, but skillful nonetheless.

Leader of Clan Fett (backing off): Point taken.

Leader of Clan Harangir (stepping forward): But Mandalore, they opposed you! Why give your enemies such glory?! That would only incite more rebellion!

Lana: I will honour those who deserve it, be they enemies or friends. Honour does not pick sides.

He humbly bows his head and steps back in the line.

Mandalorians: This is the way.

Satine (rolling her eyes): Pfff... "Liberation"...

Pre (pointing at Satine): If you have a problem with that "your highness", take it up with me!

Satine: A girl has just beaten you, are you certain you would try your luck with another so soon?

Pre: You daughter of a...!

Lana (rising your voice to silence them): Furthermore...!

You look at the door leading to the room, two Mandalorians enter, carrying a third, wounded one on their shoulders. It's Rantar and he's alive!

Rantar (joking): I hope I haven't missed all the fun...! Heard through the comlinks what happened here... Couldn't stay in the medbay and not salute the new Mandalore personally!

Lana (relieved): Father! You are alive!

Rantar (sarcastically): Have you ever had any doubts about that? Our clan is tougher than any other!

Leader of Clan Varad: Hah, care to back that up in a challenge?

Rantar: Don't think I couldn't beat you right now, even in my current state!

Leader of Clan Varad: Very well! I'll see you in the cantina in an hour and we'll see how much Ne'tra gal you can drink before throwing your feet up!

Ranter: Black ale? Don't be childish, I'm drinking only Tihaar, kid! Clean, no water!

Pre: Tihaar?! Hah, I'll beat you both in a drinking contest!

Leader of Clan Varad: Hm, well said, you old hound, see you both on the battlefield of bottles!

Lana: Khm. I am planning some significant changes on Mandalore. I am going to organise a government, where the heads of all the major clans will have oversight of different branches of government. This should keep you all reliant on each other, whether you like it or not. So you all better get started on improving relations with the rest of the clans! This is what you could be a part of Satine. Let's say, a minister of internal politics. You could continue your policies, make the lives of the everyday Mandalorians better, the way you have been for years. How about that?

Satine: A minister or internal politics? Hmm...

Pre: A fellow minister?! Her?! This is outrageous!

Satine: I alone handled Mandalore better for years while you were only the governor of Concordia! And you even failed to be good at that! Let the real politicians rule our home!

Pre (pulling his blaster out): That's it, I'm shooting her!

Obi-Wan (for pulling his lightsaber and activating it): Stand down Pre!

Satine (calmly standing still): Go on, prove how good you are at reasoning! Certainly, all problems could be solved with a blastershot, once you are one of the overseers of Mandalore! What a bright future awaits them, under your guidance!

Pre (pointing at Satine, ready to pull the trigger): Not all, but most could be solved! This is a fine example of them!

Lana (**** pulling the blaster out of his hand): Nobody dies here, unless I say so!

Pre: Grrr!

Satine: Lana, if you expect us to work together, keep him on a shorter leash, will you?

Pre: Careful, or you will be hanged by my leash!

Leader of Clan Harangir (interrupting them): Forgive me Mandalore... A government...? You would really trust these good for nothings with doing something important besides fighting?! Not to mention the duchess's pacifist weaklings! They could barely hold their rifles straight!