Downfall: Rough Draft/Deleted Scene #1
... scratched for canonical inaccuracy ...
(Feel free to tell me about spelling errors and such. Thank you.)
Prologue: Plans of Conquest
...Mandalore System, Mandalore...
...3,995 BBY, prior to the Mandalorian Wars...
Mandalore the Ultimate stood at the head of the large table centered in tne middle of the room. He took a quick glance at the few Mandalorian clan leaders spread along the length of the table. This is what he had fought so hard for; this is what he had earned. To see his people waiting to hear what he had tp say; eager to obey his command. At last he was their leader: an immovable, indomitable rock.
Mandalore gripped the edge of the table. "So this is what remains of the great Mandalorian Clans," he began in a rather disappointed tone.
The Mandalorians in the room shifted, glancing at each other. The Great Sith War had taken its tool on the Mandalorian clans. There had been dire casualties for both the Mandalorians and their Sith allies; especially during the Mandalorian's last climatic battle. Even the previous Lord of the Mandalorian Clans had been lost in the aftermath.
But that was the past. No one could change that. However, they could change the future, and Mandalore planned to do just that. After all, it had been he who had recalled the scattered clans back to the birthworld of the Mandalorian species, the Taung. But as he took in everything around him he realized... he had hoped for more.
Mandalore looked over at one of his most trusted advisors, the very Mandalorian who had supported him since the beginning. "How many warriors do we have left, Cassus?"
Cassus counted the Mandalorian clan leaders in his head and shrugged. "Maybe a third of them if we're lucky, my Mandalore..."
Mandalore sighed. The Mandalorian Clans had challenged the Republic itself during the last war. They had once consisted of countless warriors on numerous planets. Now they were but shattered remnants. It took that knowledge to make Mandalore truly realize just how much they had lost in the last war.
"A small army..." he sighed, talking to himself more than the other Mandalorians around him. He shook his head. "So the great Mandalorians are defeated?!" he shouted suddenly, pouding his fists on the table.
The entire table shook from the force and the Mandalorians all stiffened their posture. It was a rhetorical question they knew. The Clans had been defeated in the last war. But they all abruptly realized that this new ambitious new Mandalore refused to accept defeat. Not while a single Mandalorian warrior still breathed. It made them proud.
Mandalore took a deep breath as he looked around at the Mandalorian leaders. Cassus, meanwhile, stood without comment -as the clan leaders did -allowing his mind to wander for just a moment. Mandalore had plans for the Mandalorians. Brilliant plans. But it seemed as if these battle-hardened warriors had become soft veterans. Mandalore was noticing this as well. In the end they would have to prove their worth to him, or risk being stripped of their honor and cast aside.
Cassus turned his attention back to Mandalore who also glanced in his direction at the time. Cassus gave a simple shrug. Mandalore turned his attention back to the other leaders.
"We are now expanding our recruiting effors..." he said suddenly. "Beyong the Taung."
The Mandalorians in the room began murmuring to each other. The Mandalorians had survived for so long by following a strict code. Allowing only members of the original Mandalorian species into the Mandalorian ranks was a highlight of that code. It was to protect the Mandalorian culture; their heritage, their language, everything they knew.
It was dishonoring to speak against Mandalore but to go against tradition was... outrageous to say the least.
"But Mandalore-" Jora'e began.
The Mandalorian stopped midsentence as Mandalore glared at the aged warrior from behind the infamous mask worn by countless Mandalores before him. Mandalore knew what the old clan leader was going to say before the man himself did. "so you would rather see your people dwindle away and be overthrown than uproot some irrational tradition, Jora'e?" Mandalore asked with distain.
Jora'e was a wise man, 'twas true; but the old veteran was too tied down by tradition to realize that the Mandalorians needed fresh warriors, and that their own species could not provide them with such. But Mandalore... Mandalore saw what he would have to do to rebuild the Mandalorians; what he would have to do to make them better. And no one would stand in his way...
"You do not see that the Mandalorian Clans are not waht they used to be. This last war had left us almost completely defenseless. Our species is frail and it will take decades to rebuild it to its past glory. We cannot look to it to provide an army as worthy as the one we had. So what do you propose?!"
It hurt Mandalore to know his own people would question him; would question not only his leadership but his honor as well. To know they thought he would bring about their ruin, would do this for any other reason than for the good of his people. It hurt more than anything else ever would.
"You all stubbornly refuse to see that we are vulnerable... and what you fail to realize is that we still have enemies out there -even now -waiting for their chance to strike! They will see our vulnerability as an opportunity... and you are all fools if you believe they will not seize it! We are expanding our recruiting efforts," Mandalore enforced with an edge in his voice, glaring at Jora'e.
Jora'e seemed the fool even to himself. But his own honor and sense kept him from defending his wounded pride. Mandalore was right? And even if he hadn't been who was he to question Mandalore? Jora'e felt ashamed. He backed down, leaving his outburst unfinished.
"I don't care what species they are," Mandalore began. "If they accept and follow our Code, and if they are able to survive to claim their titles as Mandalorians then I say let them be Mandalorians!"
The leaders in the room nodded in agreement. It was what was best for the Mandalorians as a whole. It would help ensure that the Mandalorian culture would not die out, even if it did pass onto outsiders. And perhaps it would help ensure that the Mandalorian species prospered as well. It was worth a shot. Mandalore stood and formed a fist with his right hand, placing it over his heart. Mandalore watched as the leaders, including Jora'e, did the same.
It was, in ways, a Mandalorian salute; a sign of their allegiance to Mandalore and him only. Mandalore nodded and the leaders slowly began to leave the room. That is, all except for Cassus Fett. As the last leader left Mandalore turned to Kyr, the Kal'e Mand'alor captain, and told him to take the guard and stand watch at the door. Kyr and his soldiers saluted and did as ordered.
Mandalore leaned on the edge of the table once more as the doors closed. Cassus moved and stood beside him.
"Our ranks will swell in a matter of days," Cassus commented. "Thousands upon thousands will heed your call to become Mandalorian Crusaders. To conquer the galaxy! We'll have an army larger than that of your predecessor."
Mandalore nodded. "Yes..." After a moment of silence Mandalore continued. "Mistakes are made so that we may learn from them, Cassus. If we do not learn from them we are doomed to repeat them and we will fail as well. My predecessor made mistakes. But I will not make the same..."
... unfinished ...
Mandalorian dictionary:
Jora'e- pronounced jo-RA-ee
Kyr- pronounced keer
Kal'e Mand'alor- pronounced kahl-E MAHN-dah-lor : meaning- Blade of Mandalore (Mandalore's bodyguard)
(Story may be used at a later date...)
) through it. And I'm gonna let all of you enjoy the ride. ^_^ So here I start my Path to Redemption series, a four part mega-series that takes us on Revan's complete path to redemption with four series including Downfall and Awakening.
