"I imagine you've had quite an eventful time on Mandalore," Steve said as he and Matt Murdock stood in the cargo hold of the Coronet, the elegant Mandalorian diplomatic vessel they were currently aboard.
Matt shrugged with tired resignation. "I expected it to be challenging, though not quite to that extent."
"Well, when you're dealing with people who are completely committed to an ancient warrior culture..." Natasha didn't finish the sentence, though the implication was clear enough.
"What can you tell us about this Duchess Satine?" Steve asked, leaning against a large storage container in the ship's cargo bay.
"She has very strong personal convictions and isn't afraid to defend them vigorously," Matt said diplomatically. "Complete pacifist, absolutely unwavering in her beliefs."
"Ah, one of those people who want to put us out of work," Natasha joked, nudging Steve with a knowing smile on her face.
Matt suddenly tilted his head to the side, his enhanced senses detecting an approaching presence. "Anakin's coming."
Natasha and Steve looked toward the entrance just as Anakin Skywalker walked toward their group.
"You don't need to be so formal with me, Murdock," Anakin said with his characteristic easy smile. "Just call me Anakin."
Matt simply nodded in acknowledgment of the more casual approach.
"What's the situation, Anakin?" Steve asked with professional interest.
"My clone commanders just reported back to me," Anakin said, gesturing toward the clone trooper behind him. "I had Echo handle the briefing. The last thing any of us need is Hardcase getting all of us hyped up for unnecessary action."
Steve smiled knowingly, well aware of Hardcase's tendency to charge enthusiastically into battle at the first opportunity. What really pleased him was seeing the distinctive shield emblem that the clone trooper wore on his left shoulder—a symbol Steve had personally designed to represent protection and defense.
The group heard several characteristic beeps and whistles and looked down at Anakin's personal astromech droid, R2-D2, who was apparently trying to communicate something important.
"Yes, go ahead R2, you can begin your security patrol of the ship," Anakin said, interpreting the droid's electronic language. "Come on, the Duchess has requested a formal meeting with our delegation."
"This should be diplomatically interesting," Natasha said with slight amusement as they entered the turbolift where Kenobi, Rex, and Cody were already waiting for them.
"It's genuinely good to have you both with us, Steve, Natasha," Kenobi said, looking each of them in the eye with obvious relief.
"Oh, I see how it is—I'm not good enough, apparently," Matt said with mock offense, causing Obi-Wan to smirk briefly at the lawyer before a more serious thought crossed his mind and he crossed his arms, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"Everything alright, Obi-Wan?" Steve asked, easily detecting the Jedi's subtle change in demeanor. "You seem unusually concerned about something."
"Is this about the Duchess?" Matt asked perceptively, and Obi-Wan's telling silence essentially confirmed their suspicions.
"The Duchess couldn't possibly be safer than she is right now," Anakin assured them confidently.
"Yes, I'm well aware of that," Kenobi said quietly, though his tone suggested that security wasn't his primary concern.
"Then why the obvious worry..." Anakin began, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"It's nothing significant," the Jedi Master said quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Everything happened a long time ago."
"Oh? So you two have a personal history?" Anakin said with growing curiosity.
"I knew her when we were both much younger. Different circumstances, different lives," Obi-Wan said evasively.
Anakin was initially confused by his Master's defensive reaction, but when he noticed the knowing expressions on the Avengers' faces, the situation became immediately clear. Natasha gave him a mischievous, knowing smile, while Steve rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
Matt remained diplomatically silent, though his enhanced hearing was picking up various unfamiliar mechanical sounds from throughout the ship. All these new acoustic environments were still foreign to him, and he needed more time to adapt and learn to identify what he was hearing in this alien technology.
Meanwhile, in the ship's main conference lounge, Duchess Satine sat on a raised platform addressing the assembled senators who had gathered before her.
"War simply cannot and will not be tolerated!" Duchess Satine declared with passionate conviction. "We have been systematically deceived into believing that we must participate in this galactic conflict. I say that the moment we commit ourselves to violence, we have already lost everything we claim to be fighting for."
Tal Merrik, one of Satine's supporting senators, took a sip from his beverage before respectfully addressing the Duchess. "Forgive me, Your Highness, but are you suggesting that we should oppose this war purely on humanitarian and philosophical grounds?"
"I oppose it because it represents a fundamental insult to life itself," Satine said with fierce determination. "As the elected leader of over 1,500 star systems, I speak on behalf of thousands of worlds whose populations have specifically asked me to allow them to remain completely neutral in this destructive conflict."
"However, some military strategists might argue that the strongest possible defense is often a swift and decisive offensive action," came a new voice.
Everyone in the chamber turned toward the Jedi and Avengers who had just entered the room.
Obi-Wan walked deliberately up the steps toward the platform, and Satine's eyes immediately locked with his in a moment of electric recognition before he offered a respectful nod.
"You've achieved the rank of Master now, haven't you, Master Kenobi?" Satine said with carefully controlled calm.
"Forgive me for interrupting your important discussion, Your Highness. I intended no disrespect to you or your colleagues."
"Really? Senators, I believe you should be introduced to this collection of half-truths and strategic exaggerations commonly known as Obi-Wan Kenobi," Satine said with barely concealed condescension.
"Your Highness is exceptionally kind in her assessment," Kenobi replied with diplomatic politeness that carried a slight edge.
"You're absolutely right—I am being kind," Satine said with obvious displeasure.
Anakin and the Avengers found themselves glancing back and forth repeatedly between the Duchess and the Jedi Master, unable to miss the obvious tension and unresolved history between them.
Obi-Wan cleared his throat professionally and gestured toward his companions.
"Allow me to introduce my fellow Jedi, Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. "It's truly a pleasure to meet you, Duchess."
"Accompanying us are members of the Avengers: Natasha Romanoff, Captain Steve Rogers, and Matt Murdock."
"I'm already quite familiar with Mr. Murdock from our recent collaboration," Satine said more warmly. "But regarding your other colleagues—if I'm to judge from reputation alone, these are the Avengers I hear discussed most frequently in diplomatic circles."
Steve and Natasha exchanged meaningful glances.
"What exactly have you heard about us, Your Highness?" Natasha asked with polite curiosity.
"You represent something entirely unprecedented in galactic history. You all possess skills and abilities that reportedly rival or even exceed those of the legendary Jedi Knights," Satine said with obvious fascination. "Is it actually true that one of your members can increase his size to that of a building?"
"Scott Lang?" Steve identified the Avenger she was referencing. "Yes, that's... quite remarkable to witness firsthand."
"So this is genuinely true?" Satine was clearly intrigued by the possibilities. "May I ask what you do with these extraordinary abilities?"
"We protect others who cannot protect themselves," Steve said with unwavering conviction. "As a team, we take on threats that no single individual could possibly handle alone. We fight so that innocent people don't have to."
The other senators regarded Steve and his fellow Avengers with obvious impressed approval—a sentiment that Satine seemed to share, at least partially.
"What exactly are you fighting to protect people from?" Satine asked with slight challenge in her voice.
"Tyrants, demagogues, megalomaniacal gods from other dimensions intent on conquering our world, artificial intelligences designed to eliminate all organic life," Natasha said matter-of-factly. "You know, typical stuff. Similar mission to the Jedi, but with different methods and resources."
The others in the room could only stare in mild bewilderment at this casual description of cosmic-level threats, except for one Twi'lek Senator who smiled approvingly at the trio. Steve noticed the man's positive reaction, recognized him, and nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.
Anakin listened thoughtfully, while Satine appeared somewhat taken aback by the scope of threats they described.
"I remember a time when Jedi Knights were not military generals commanding armies, but simply peacekeepers maintaining order," Satine said, though her words seemed directed primarily at Obi-Wan.
"We remain protectors first and foremost, Your Highness," Anakin pointed out diplomatically. "We fight specifically to preserve peace."
Satine scoffed softly. "What a fascinating philosophical contradiction."
"That is not a contradiction at all, Duchess Satine," the Twi'lek Senator interjected respectfully. "I am personally all too familiar with that precise concept myself."
"Spare me the lecture, Syndulla," Satine said with a slight frown of annoyance. "If you truly believe that Jedi are peacekeepers, then why do they consistently resort to warfare to enforce their beliefs?"
"Master Skywalker is simply explaining that we are operating under direct orders from the Senate to protect you from Death Watch terrorists and Separatist agents who fundamentally disagree with your neutrality stance," Kenobi interjected with controlled patience.
"I requested no such protection," Satine said sharply, her eyes flashing with anger.
"That may be technically accurate, but the majority of your member systems certainly did," Obi-Wan countered with equal firmness.
To say the atmosphere in the chamber had become tense would be a significant understatement.
"I don't recall you being someone who typically hides behind bureaucratic excuses," Satine said with a cutting sneer.
"I don't remember you being someone who shirks fundamental leadership responsibilities," Kenobi shot back, his voice carrying a note of genuine pain and disappointment.
In a diplomatic effort to defuse the rapidly escalating situation, Cham Syndulla stepped physically between the two arguing leaders. "That's quite enough, both of you. We are not here to engage in counterproductive personal arguments. Duchess Satine and General Kenobi have both demonstrated that there are legitimate perspectives on both sides of this complex dilemma. Let's leave the matter there and allow the Senate to make the final determination through proper democratic process."
"I suspect many senators are going to find this debate quite divisive," Satine said with obvious concern.
"You have no idea how accurate that assessment is, Duchess," Cham replied with knowing humor. "Nevertheless, we must give our elected representatives something substantive to debate in their spare time."
Obi-Wan quietly shared his observations with Anakin and the Avengers while standing behind Cham.
"There may indeed be two valid sides to every political dilemma, but the Duchess seems determined to acknowledge only her own perspective."
"Really?" Natasha said with unmistakable sarcasm. "I honestly can't tell."