- 58 BBY -
- Concord Dawn -
(3rd Person POV)
While Petyr rescued Arla Fett, the sister of Jango, he joined the Mandalorians as they regrouped in a nearby town to stage an ambush on the Death Watch and catch Tor Vizsla off guard, who was still thinking that the True Mandalorians had died. The Death Watch move through the town in a celebratory raid, about to rape and pillage the town for what it was. Suddenly, however, they are attacked and shot at from the windows and other hidden places.
"Mandalorians!"
"Kill them! Open fire!" Tor Vizsla commands, and the fight ensues.
In a building, Jaster Mereel observes the fight and gives off commands as the fight drags on.
"This is Jaster. Phase one was successful. Move to phase two," he says. "Montross, open fire."
From the rooftops, Montross opens fire and takes all of the Death Watch's attention. This allows Jango to move in without being seen. He runs across the street from his hiding place and moves under the armoured tank. There, he plants an explosive charge and activates it. He runs away and gives the signal.
"I'm done! Blow it up!" he says into his mic.
*FWOMPBOOOM*
The tank explodes and takes a few of the Death Watch soldiers with it.
"Phase three complete. Pick off the stragglers." Jaster says, and the True Mandalorians pick off the few remaining men.
In the midst of the fighting, Jango comes across the Death Watch soldier who killed his father. He points his blaster at the man, who is still recovering from he large explosion just now.
"You killed my family."
"Casualties of war, kid," the man says and secretly unsheaths a vibroblade on his gauntlet.
He swings at Jango and cuts through his shirt, narrowly missing his face. Jango falls on his back and reacts instinctively. He aims the blaster towards the Death Watch soldier and pulls the trigger a few times, killing him.
"You came through, Jango. But we have to go now." Jaster says.
The fierce warrior bends down and carries Jango in his arms.
"He's dead," Jango says.
"Yes. Feel any better?" Jaster asks.
"No... I don't know... not yet."
"Good. Welcome to the Mandalorians. Montross, we are leaving!" Jaster says.
On another rooftop, Petyr stands, who has arrived with Arla. They look at the fight Jango just had and how he killed the one responsible for the death of their parents. It was important for Arla to see this.
"Did you see, Arla?" Petyr asks.
"He's... dead. Father and mother..."
"They can rest easily now. But what is important was how your brother reacted and managed to pull through, killing a grown man, with decades more experience than he had."
"But, Jango... got the blaster, he didn't-"
"How he did it doesn't matter. If you want to become strong, you have to be ready for anything in life. Jango killed him, and that's all that will be remembered of him. How he did, doesn't matter."
"Why... why are you showing me this?" Arla asks.
"Because I will teach you how to avoid such a fate and how to become even better than your brother will. In time, you will be one of the fiercest and most dangerous women in the galaxy. Trust me."
"Ok."
"Good. Now, let's go. Time to get some food."
.
- 52 BBY -
- Carrier ship, over Korda 6 -
Over the past 6 years, both Jango and his sister Arla have been trained. Jango was trained by Jaster, Montross, and a few others, while Arla was trained by Petyr alone. It wasn't that Arla wouldn't be trained otherwise. As a woman, she didn't enjoy fewer privileges than others, especially since Petyr rescued her and she was Jango's sister. But usually females were expected to have the same martial skills as males and were responsible for teaching their daughters. This would have been a problem, since there weren't any females among the True Mandalorians, but Arla refused to be trained by others and only wanted Petyr to teach her things. Petyr told her never to decline someone willing to teach her something truly, but she didn't listen. That was the only time she didn't listen to him.
Arla was born in 72 BBY and was 6 years older than Jango, who was born in 66 BBY. This meant that she was stronger, at least initially, but as Jango entered his teenage years, he grew taller and stronger, and under normal circumstances he would surely surpass Arla in terms of physical strength at some point. But that wasn't going to happen, ever. Arla had just reached 20 years of age, and Jango 14. Petyr had taken it upon himself to teach Arla seriously and build her strength from the ground up. She also knew how to fire a blaster, but didn't enjoy it. But after her parents were killed, and Petyr took her in, she changed gradually.
Petyr taught her the usual Mandalorian martial arts at first, but then rather quickly stopped and taught her kung fu as he knew it from Tai Lung. A good base was everything, so Arla was made to train her body for hours. Then, when she couldn't move, Petyr would have her read things to study on Mandalorian history, the history of the galaxy, the most important political players, politics in general, the different planets, important trade routes, hyperspace lanes, languages, everything about weapons and many more things.
Arla had grown into a strong and dangerous woman, who was beautiful in Mandalorian eyes. There were a few advances from the men amongst the True Mandalorians, but since Petyr was there, no one truly dared to make advances openly. No matter what, Arla only cared about two men nowadays. And one of them was her brother Jango.
"Where are we going, Petyr?" she asks as they make their way towards the command centre.
"Jaster has called a briefing. It would seem your brother has been given command over a squad finally." Petyr says.
"Truly? I'm glad. He has been working hard." Arla says.
"As have you. In fact, I haven't received an answer from you yet. Jaster has offered you the position of squad commander for years now."
"I thought it was clear that I don't want it," Arla answers.
"And why is that? I can see a leading position for you amongst the True Mandalorians, Arla."
"Because I will stand by your side, and as a squad commander, I can't do that."
Petyr stops walking and looks at the young woman he basically raised and then tortured for 6 years. Having her under his command was initially motivated by political and other reasons, but it had changed slightly. Despite knowing she was precisely that for now, he no longer treated her as a simple chess piece. He took care of his subordinates and treated them with respect as long as they did what they were supposed to. A bad chess piece was sacrificed, and a clone would take its place, but doing that was not challenging, so Petyr didn't do it all the time. He had copied all the True Mandalorians and would use them, once they died, as a personal army.
But he wouldn't do that with Arla. It wasn't love or anything as dramatic as that, but she had surpassed others in his eyes, and until he knew what she meant to him, he would make sure she was taken care of.
"I see. Very well, Arla. Let's go."
The two reach the command centre, where Jaster is standing with Montross and Jango. Seeing that Petyr has arrived, Jaster starts the briefing.
"Listen up! Since this is Jango's first mission as a squad commander, we're keeping it simple. The job's a routine extraction mission. Our employer: the Korda Defence Force. Our target: a rookie security squad pinned down by hostile locals on Korda 6. Korda recon suggests only minimal resistance. The natives are poorly armed and have no standing army. The security squad is holed up near our landing zone. Coordinates have been uploaded to your helmet targeting systems. This should be easy credits. Montross has your assignments." Jaster says.
"We're dividing into four units. Those of you with flight experience have been assigned to the Vertigo Company. We're hitting them high. Jango's Grunts will provide covering fire and keep the extraction point clear. Headhunter Company, you'll follow Jaster to the recovery site. Kill anything that gets in your way. And finally, Littlefinger Company, you'll follow Jango's Grunts and add covering fire. Otherwise, you are free to do as you normally do, and send the enemy into chaos." Montross says.
Petyr has called his own company the Littlefinger Company. It was amusing to him to act like he was weak and harmless when, in truth, he was the most dangerous in any room. The True Mandalorians knew about his skill and power, and he was respected for it. This, combined with his seeming lack of a higher position among the True Mandalorians, gave Jaster a lot of personal freedom. And it was good that he did, because Petyr and the Littlefinger Company were the most effective, even if it was the most chaotic one. They specialised in hit and run, and were known for their ability to confuse their enemies and cause massive chaos, at times even having the enemy kill each other.
"Move it! Move it!" Jango orders his company.
"Make me proud, Jango," Jaster says as he walks into his own transporter.
"Yes, sir, Jaster."
"I think sometimes he forgets that you're not really his son. Hnh, that's dangerous. Clouds his judgement and yours." Montross says. "One day, Jaster will choose his successor, and he'll need a clear head for that."
"Jaster will do what's right for the Mandalorians. He always has. And besides, it will be either you or Petyr. I am nowhere near old enough to take over as leader anyway." Jango says.
"Haha, if Petyr were interested in leading the True Mandalorians, he would already be doing it. And let's be honest, we're all glad he doesn't want to. Can you imagine what would happen?" Montross says and then walks away.
.
"Petyr, Jango's Meteor-class Q-Carriers were under heavy Ion cannon fire. They were hit and had to crash land," one of Petyr's men says.
"Check where they land and where the fire is coming from. Then land a distance away from both of those areas." Petyr orders.
"As you wish."
Petyr observes the situation below on a screen. He sees Jango's men coming under intense and coordinated Kordan blaster fire and being hit badly.
"A trap."
"Indeed, Arla. Are you prepared for it?" Petyr asks.
"Always."
"Good. Get us on the ground, roughly one kilometre to the right of that hill. And do it fast, I don't want to waste this moment." Petyr orders.
Their Q-Carriers land in formation to protect them from the blaster fire and get out. As they were taught, different squads of Petyr's men swarm out in different directions. Petyr created this tactic to confuse an enemy who might be waiting for them. There is no fire just yet, but they make sure nonetheless and check for traps.
[Petyr, there's a lot of movement on that ridge in front of our position. Montros is heading into a hailstorm and doesn't listen to my command. How far out are you?] the voice of Jaster is heard over the comms.
"We took the long route, so 5 minutes if we don't encounter any resistance, but I doubt it. This was a massive set up and we walked right into it."
[Agreed. The question is-]
[Jaster, this is Jango. The Death Watch is here. I'm betting they armed and trained the locals, then planted the false recon data.] the voice of Jango is heard over the comms.
[So it's true. You're right, Petyr, I should have checked it out for myself first. Jango, any sign of Vizsla?]
[...]
[Never mind. We found him.]
"3 minutes till we meet up. Hold on." Petyr says.
The Littlefinger Company is suddenly fired upon as they are about to enter the same wood where Jango is fighting the Death Watch soldiers. But they are ready for this. Several soldiers walk forward and open up an energy shield, blocking the blaster fire and giving the others cover. From another direction, the different squads approach the Death Watch and open fire.
*PEW PEEEWW*
[All clear.]
"Move!"
They finally reach the hill, where Tor Vizsla is firing upon Jaster and Montross.
"I won't let you escape this time!" Tor Vizsla's voice is heard across the battlefield.
"Montross! Airlift! Now!" Jaster shouts as he is caught between the blaster fire. But Montross has other ideas.
"Sorry, Jaster. I'm through taking orders from you. But I'll take good care of the troops." Montross says and flies off using his jetpack.
Petyr and his men rush forward, taking out all other Death Watch soldiers who are still alive on the battlefield. In that moment, Tor Vizsla shoots several blaster shots through Jaster, taking him down. All the other Death Watch soldiers are killed, but before Tor Vizsla can be dealt with, he flees the battlefield, having achieved what he came here to do. Arla walks up to Petyr and looks in the direction from which Tor Vizsla fled.
"Why did you allow him to die?" she asks, knowing her teacher by now.
"Because it is time to change the course of the True Mandalorians. While we play mercenaries here, the New Mandalorians are slowly growing their influence and establishing new forms and regulations. I am also an enemy of the clan system. But she wants to turn Mandalore into a pacifist people." Petyr says.
"She?"
"The leader of the New Mandalorians. If we want to keep our way of life and have something to say, we must take some of the remaining pieces. Otherwise, we lose our leverage and will have to take what remains. Which will be nothing."
"I'm not sure I understand, but I trust you," Arla says.
"You will understand soon," Petyr says and walks towards Jango.
"You did well, Jango. Do you want to carry him back?"
"Yes."
They make their way back to the Q-Carriers, where Montross was just about to have his men leave Jango behind.
"Jango, Petyr, what should we do?" someone asks.
"This is your chance to do right by Jaster, kid and Petyr as well. I should be in command here-"
*PEW*
"Wha- Why did you do that?!"
"Betrayal will be punished by death. He disobeyed Jaster's orders and left him on the battlefield to die alone. If someone has a problem with what I did, then tell me." Petyr says.
"Who will lead us now?" someone asks.
"I will take command of the True Mandalorians. But Jango will take on a leading role on the battlefield, searching for Death Watch and Tor Vizsla. It is time that we made our case back home on Mandalore, before we forget what we're fighting for here." Petyr decrees, and everyone agrees with that.
"What do you say, Jango?" Petyr asks.
"I am fine with that. I'm still very young and have little experience in leading. And you were always the best choice."
"Very well. Time we dealt with our problems."
So, Petyr becomes the Mand'alor without any bloodshed and without anyone opposing him. A smooth takeover. The next step will take more time and preparation.