58 Mandalorian Twilight

Part 1: Behind the Mask

Command bunker

Royal Palace

Sundari

Mandalore

"What a kriffing mess..." I hissed quietly.

"We need the datalinks back up and running!" Obi-Wan snapped to one of the on duty techs in the room.

I should have known better, made more contingency plans. A grow escaped my lips and I shook my head in irritation. At that moment, keeping my rising fury in check was all I could do. Kenobi gave me a wary glance, opened his mouth to say something, however he thought better of it and just pointed behind me.

The constant presence of the Dark Side laughed in the back of my head and it was no longer possible to simply ignore her whispers as if they weren't there. She was taunting me - with the truth of all things.

I snapped my eyes shut with a grunt as various flashbacks darted through my mind…

Suddenly I was back up in the Palace, telling goodbye to the last of our guests when a sense of foreboding fell around the place. I felt the amusement of the Dark Side – how eager it was for a bloodshed that was all but imminent. I almost fell to my knees as a vision struck me.

For an instant I was back home, kneeling in the grass and cradling Ashara's corpse.

It lasted just a heartbeat and I was back on Mandalore. As Force Visions go, this one was quite blunt, let me tell you.

Then I was moving – enhancing myself with the Force and using it to locate Bo. As my awareness expanded to cover the Palace, I found what was wrong, or so I thought. I could sense half a dozen groups of people moving with a purpose. Their emotions were subdued, almost non-existent – a result of training for those versed in the art of hunting Force Adepts.

I should know – I've had to deal with a lot of those back in the day – both Republic and Imperial. I've trained some of them too.

That shouldn't have been a surprise. Not here, on Mandalore. If there was one place where warriors were still trained in those arts, it would be here.

I blinked as my perspective changed. I was sprinting down a long corridor after raising the alarm. Bo was close, coming back after bonding with her Basilik… and she was about to run straight into two squads worth of the intruders.

About the same time alarms started blaring and all hell broke loose…

The laughter of the Dark Side grew louder – echoing through my mind. For a moment I was able to disregard it as I turned around and looked through the open door of a small med-bay built in the bunker.

Bo was on a metal table, tended by medics and a medical droid. A respirator unit covered her face, helping her breath. Satine was hovering behind them – just far enough not to be in the way. The Duchess was starring at her sister with a haunted look on her face and muttering quietly under her nose.

I looked down and my wife. Her armor was charred, even melted in places and fused with her skin on the right side of her chest. The medics were busy feeding her Bacta capsules, stimulants and anti-biotic while the droid was cutting her armor out of her.

My fury was coiling around me like a living beast. The Dark Side's laughter was becoming crescendo, doing its best to drive all other thoughts out of my skull.

I almost lost my wife, again.

I grit my teeth. I fought my emotions, which were doing their best to slip the leash I usually had on them and experienced just a moment of clarity.

I wondered at my fury. This was a marriage of convenience. I was fond of Bo at best. It wasn't like I loved the woman!

The Dark Side's laughter changed – now it was a howl of triumph!

Another vision of the past flashed in front of my eyes. It lasted only for a heartbeat and I was back on Dromund Kaas, listening to my Master. The vision was gone then, but Baras' words echoed through my boiling mind.

"The Dark Side gives us many gifts, Apprentice." His voice echoed through my mind. At least it silenced the laughter for a bit. "It hides us from others in its shadows. It allows us to present a Mask to the world around us." Baras paused the and looked at me.

"Through Alchemy, those who bother tho learn the craft can shape their very appearance on a molecular level. It could hide the truth of who they are from both Jedi and Sith when combined with sufficient skill in concealing their Force Signature."

"That's not the most important feature, is it?" I asked then.

Baras chuckled in approval and nodded. "The Dark Side sometimes allows us to become the Mask we are wearing. It allows us to hide from even ourselves. Especially from ourselves."

It was my turn to chuckle darkly. Say what you will about Baras, but he earned his place on the Dark Council. No matter what his colleagues said, including my other real master – Zash, there were few people who knew the Dark Side better than him.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. My feelings, my very thoughts, even the Dark Side – despite its glee at what I was doing – fought me every step of the way as I searched for the moment I put on the mask I've been wearing for years. I glided through my memories until I found the oneI was looking for.

I was back in the one place my heart called home. Behind me, marines were busy policing the corpses of the Jedi and Republic Commandos who murdered my wife. Their presence was muted, irrelevant.

All I really knew then and there was the funeral pyre I built with my own hands. It was blazing with orange flames, which were eagerly consuming rows of woods. On the top of the pyre, the fire danced over Ashara's corpse.

This was the Jedi funeral she wanted and I loathed every moment of it. As the fires slowly consumed her, all I wanted was for the world to burn. To murder the fuck of everyone who had the tiniest connection with my wife's murder.

There was just one little problem with my overwhelming desire for vengeance… When all was said and done, I was nearly the top of the list.

I stared at the dancing flames. My fury burned much hotter than them. It was almost a physical force that was slowly dragging me over the edge of my sanity – and I didn't care.

Vengeance… Heh, what else did I have left?

The Jedi, their precious Republic – I wanted to see them all gone. I wanted to stand above the corpses of my enemies in the ashes of the Jedi Temple, while Coruscant burned! I needed to march there right now and slaughter them all!

Yet… I wanted to live long enough so my vengeance would be complete…

That thought stopped me cold as my sanity was about to snap and I was on the verge of losing myself to the Dark Side.

I almost took that last step anyway. The Dark Side promised me that she could make the pain stop, that it could fill the void where my heart used to be… and it wasn't a lie. Not really.

I would fall and I would no longer care. That's what she promised I and I knew she could deliver.

It was damn tempting.

I continued to stare in the flames. I should know better. I knew better. The Dark Side was a treacherous mistress.

Yet, as I was… I was going to snap sooner than later. My fury burned too hot to be denied – and I didn't want to deny it anyway. I was eager to throw myself against the Jedi until the sound of combat drowned everything.

It's what I wanted, what I craved and it was going to get me killed sooner than later. My vengeance would remain unfulfilled. Those who engineered Ashara's murder might get away from it.

That particular outcome was unthinkable. Not something that I could ever allow to happen…

I snarled and fought to control my fury. To bring the Dark Side back under heel…

By the time Ashara's pyre had gone out, I've succeeded – more or less. The madness was at bay – for now, though I didn't know how long it would last. I needed some way to preserve long enough to see my vengeance done, so I went through everything I've been taught about the Dark Side seeking for a way to keep myself together long enough.

Eventually I remember a certain lesson from Baras and in the scattered ashes of my murdered wife I crafted a Mask for myself.

Then I became that Mask.

My eyes snapped open and I was back in the present. The medics were still working on my wife and they hadn't make much of a progress. I heard Kenobi shouting something as I raised my right hand, concentrated the power of the Dark Side over my fingertips before I drew my fingers over my face.

A veil I didn't remember existed tore asunder and set me free.

…

Huh. The pain I felt when I lost Ashara was still here, yet… It was lesser, manageable. The void in my chest was smaller, if by no means filled. I could sense a handful of lesser Force Bonds where my connection with Ashara used to be.

One of them, the smallest and most tentative led to Bo – it was like a shimmering string that I could almost see.

Honestly, that left me confused. A part of me was relieved. What I felt right now, it was proof that I could recover from Ashara's death, that I could live again and not simply exist thanks to Force related shenanigans.

On the other hand – I was terrified. If I allowed myself to love again and she died… I knew that would drive me straight into the hands of the Dark Side and I won't come back. I wouldn't want to.

It would be so easy. Craft myself another mask and ensure that my heart couldn't be wrenched out of my heart again.

I snorted as a thought came unbidden. Many Sith believed that love was one of the worse things that could happen to us. Some of them thought it was because that emotion could lead to mercy – which for many of my kind was supposed to be the absolutely worst thing we could do.

It wasn't until this moment that I finally understood.

Mercy had nothing to do with it. We Sith are selfish creatures and love… There were very few things that could break as like a love lost, and none of them were something we could chose for ourselves. Love – it was a weakness of our own making and losing it – a highway to being consumed by the Dark Side.

It was weapon against us – just like Sidious and company used Padme against Skywalker.

I raised a hand and stared at Bo. It would be so easy to just stretch through the Force and stop her heart. It would remove a possible weapon against me.

The Dark Side surged through me in anticipation, eager to obey.

I stared at our Force bond. It was so small and fragile – no surprises there, my wife wasn't a Force Sensitive. Yet, it's very existence was surprising.

Such bonds didn't form without some kind of emotional attachment, no matter what some Jedi believed.

My gaze returned to Bo's broken form and I wondered what I felt for her. Was it just respect, fondness and lust? My lips twitched in amusement.

I knew I didn't love her. Not yet.

However, there was the promise for something more. A chance that the void in my chest might be filled.

When all is said and done, I'm a selfish man. It should be obvious – I was a Sith after all. And right now, with my mask gone, I wanted to feel whole. So I took a chance…

Behind me, Obi-Wan was shouting something. I could feel him gathering the Force around him.

It didn't matter. Not yet. The Dark Side was around me like a mantle. We were connected on a level I hadn't experienced from before Ashara's murder.

I formed a fist with my raised hand and picked up the medics, shoving them away from my wife. Satine gasped and took a step back in fear – smart girl. A moment later I was next to Bo and placed my other hand on her chest.

With a thought I tore away the melted parts of her armor, which took away the burned and blackened skin it had fused with, leaving Bo's side a weeping ruin.

I felt Obi-Wan try to shove me away using the Force, but his attack merely splashed harmlessly on the cloak of power that was the Dark Side around me.

Ignoring the Jedi Master for the moment, I siphoned the very life out of the medics and transferred that power into Bo, guiding it to heal her. I could sense her injuries – wounds that would have already killed a lesser woman – seal as I poured more and more energy into her body. The burns reversed in front of my eyes. I went deeper, fixing her cooked right lung, using raw power to deal with the fluid gathered in it.

Once the internal injuries were fixed I went back to the surface. My wife's torn side closed up – stopped weeping blood and other fluids. The blackened, dead skin fell from her body. Fried muscle was soon replaced with tender, hale flesh.

Another burst of power and Bo's skin was knitting together, leaving her side no worse than a mild sun-burn. Another thought and the respirator was gently removed. A moment later, Bo gasped as she took a breath for herself. Her eyelids fluttered open and my wife looked around.

"What did you do?" Bo asked in a tired voice, that didn't judge.

I glanced at the two shivered mummies that were the medics and left the fall on the floor.

"I made a choice." I told her the truth.

"I see. I did marry a Sith Lord after all." Bo muttered in almost a whisper. "Thank you."

"VEIL!" Obi-Wan's shout shattered the moment.

I sighed and turned around to face the Jedi. He was glaring at me with cold eyes and had an ignited lightsaber in hand. The Jedi Master was backed up by a squad of palace guards who had their blasters pointed at me.

"Kenobi." I shot back. This was going to be a delicate matter to handle if I was to get Obi-Wan on my side.

I could feel Satine stiffen behind me. Oh, yeah. The Jedi Master was family now. How to play this, I wondered?

Bo slowly got off the examination table and dragged herself until she stood next to me, while I stared down Kenobi. Yep. That might work. I smiled at the Jedi Master and started talking.

Part 2: Unmasked

Command bunker

Royal Palace

Sundari

Mandalore

Obi-Wan was still trying to wrap his head around how everything could go so wrong so fast. He had a quiet moment with his Satine, his wife – something he still found hard to believe being true – and in the next alarms were roaring to life, doing their best to deafen everyone in the palace. The announcement that everyone should head towards the underground bunkers that followed were even more concerning.

The Jedi felt the Force tremble with the promise of immediate danger and wasted no time doing as instructed after telling his wife that he could feel the danger in the air.

Everything went worse juts a few minutes later when Obi-Wan sensed the Dark Side gathering nearby. However, it wasn't until they reached the command bunker that he found out, at least in part, how bad the situation was – an unknown CIS fleet had just jumped in orbit, both the planetary and primary capital shields were disabled and the palace itself was under attack with the targets being the theater shield generators meant as a last ditch defense.

It shouldn't be a surprise that everything went straight to the Nine Corellian hells afterwards – the datalinks connecting the bunker with the palace above were cut just moments before Veil arrived carrying his grievously wounded wife.

Kenobi glanced at the small medcenter, where a pair of medics were frantically treating Bo-Katan, with Satine hovering behind them. Then his gaze drifted to Veil and the Jedi Master flinched. He could see the Force shivering as it distorted the air around the Sith and it wasn't the gentle soothing feeling of the Light Side he could feel.

It was like the Dark Side itself was trying to physically manifest around the Sith Lord as the man numbly stared at his wounded wife.

Everything Obi-Wan was taught, all his Jedi training beckoned him to draw his blade and cut down the Dark Sider in front of him. His hand fell on the hilt of his saber, yet Kenobi didn't act.

He wasn't sure what exactly happened. How Bo-Katan got hurt. What Obi-Wan knew was that it could have very well been his wife. Satine.

Kenobi's eyes darted towards his wife, drinking her appearance. Even around the boiling cauldron of fury, fear and worry that was Veil, Obi-Wan could feel Satine. She was beyond furious too and scared for her sister.

The Jedi Master's attention sprang back to Veil, who was practically engulfed by the Dark Side. The Force was screaming warnings in the back of Obi-Wan's mind – as if he didn't know the danger they all were in right then. If Veil snapped, Kenobi doubted he would be able to stop him right now.

The raw power surrounding the man… It made the Jedi afraid. Even worse, he could almost hear the Dark Side whispering to him, even if he sensed that most of its attention was centered on Veil. That power, the promise it held…

Kenobi shook his head and took an involuntary step back. His eyes hardened and he drew on the Force, seeking solace in the Light Side, pulling it around his body as a shield. The moment he did so, a pressure he was unaware of was lifted from his mind. He could feel the Force itself pulsing around him, centered on Veil. The Sith appeared to be engulfed by a hurricane winds made by the Dark Side itself. The sense of danger spiked, forcing Obi-Wan to draw on as much of the Force as he could in order to protect himself.

Obi-Wan tensed, ready for anything, yet his attention was divided between Satine and Veil, who separated Kenobi from his wife. In that moment, all the Jedi wanted was to get Satine somewhere safe, away from the explosion he knew was coming.

Veil raised a hand and Obi-Wan almost drew his blade, yet something stilled his hand. He could feel a part of the Dark Side's attention shifting towards him as if daring him to make a move. He heard a faint laughter in the back of his head.

Then Veil dragged his finger over his face and the storm of Dark Side energy collapsed upon itself. It hardened for a lack of better word and surrounded the Sith Lord like a mantle.

For the first time since meeting Veil, Obi-Wan had sure beyond any shadow of a doubt that the man was a Dark Lord of the Sith. What's more, he knew why the Sith were to be feared. The Dark Side surrounded Veil like a living cloak, acting like a pet eager to obey its master.

A moment later it proved it too. Veil raised a hand and the Force itself trembled as the Dark Side itself shook in anticipation to be commanded.

"Veil! That's enough!" Obi-Wan shouted. He could feel that something was about to happen. Whatever Veil was about to do, it was going to change things. The Force's warnings had become a dull scream shacking his mind.

Suddenly, without any warning, the medics were wrenched away from the still form of Bo-Katan. It was a moment later that Kenobi felt Veil's actions through the force, as if he was watching events unfold with a lag.

The Sith strode towards the wounded woman and Obi-Wan acted on instinct. His arm snapped up and he used the Force to wrench Veil back.

Kenobi's attempt had no effect. His telekinetic pull simply slid over the Dark Side cloaking the Sith Lord as if it was no more tangible than mist trying to impede the progress of a freighter.

What followed, stunned Obi-Wan with a combination of disbelief and sick fascination. He watched as Veil literally wrenched away the life force of the two medics and used it to heal his wife. Even worse, he could sense the Sith's feelings – murdering the two men didn't really register to him. It was as if snuffing their lives didn't matter at all. There was not a shred of remorse or regret.

All Kenobi could feel coming from the man was satisfaction and relief.

The Jedi knew his duty. At that moment he had a revelation.

It was all about this moment. All his training, his life as a Jedi. They led to this place and time.

Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber and ignited the azure blade.

"VEIL!" Kenobi shouted a challenge.

The Jedi Master knew what was going to happen. What had to happen. He couldn't allow Veil free reign. He should have acted earlier. Perhaps on Ryloth. Certainly on Geonosis.

The Light Side pulsed around him in tandem with his racing heartbeat and he could sense the Darkness around Veil answering in kind.

What Obi-Wan knew, right at that moment, was that this was perhaps the last chance he would ever get to stop Veil from dragging the Republic into ever darker, bloodier path.

"Kenobi." The Sith shot back.

Obi-Wan tensed, preparing to meet any attack. The Light Side apparently agreed, as he drew more and more power in order to protect himself against the inevitable assault.

What the Jedi Master didn't expect was for Bo-Katan to drag herself from the examination table and stand beside her husband. Obi-Wan could feel an attack coming, coiling to parry with either blade or the Force.

Instead, Veil started talking.

=RK=

Part 3: Between twilight and dawn

Command bunker

Royal Palace

Sundari

Mandalore

"That won't be necessary, Obi-Wan." Veil spoke and his lips curled in a grim amusement.

"Necessary?!" Kenobi couldn't help himself after starring at the man incredulously for a few heartbeats. "You just murdered two men in cold blood!"

"That's one way of putting it." The Sith admitted without any sign of remorse.

That only pushed the Jedi's determination even further. He couldn't allow that man to remain in charge of the GAR. Doing so would stain both the Republic and Jedi beyond redemption. The death toll on Geonosis alone… Obi-Wan flinched at that thought. He had felt millions die on that world and yet did nothing to stop the madness… He couldn't allow such madness to continue.

"I did what I had to do to heal my wife." The statement was delivered calmly, without a shred of regret.

For a split second, Obi-Wan's eyes flickered to Satine, before refocusing on the Sith – something that Veil undoubtedly caught. Kenobi couldn't help it but wonder wonder what would he do if he was in the same position. The Jedi in him knew what was the right answer. The newly wed husband disagreed.

Then the Sith bastardsmiled as if he knew what Kenobi thought.

"What do you expect to happen here, Obi-Wan?" Veil asked.

"You have to be stopped." Kenobi answered automatically. The Force was continuing to scream of immense danger, yet the Sith Lord simply stood there – relaxed and smiling. That was throwing the Jedi Master off. That behavior flew in the face of everything he had been taught about the Sith – just as almost everything that Veil usually did.

"Stopped?" A curious expression appeared on the Sith Lord's face. "Pray tell, why is that?" The infuriating man asked in a fake innocent tone.

"You just drained the life of two people and ask me what's wrong?!" The words were out before Obi-Wan could think. That damned man was keeping him off-balance. Deliberately too, he was sure of it!

"If you want to play it like that..." The amusement vanished from Veil's face. "Let's get the unimportant part out first – legally I'm set. Diplomatic immunity. Realistically… If anyone believes that I wouldn't do anything within reason to keep my wife alive and happy, then you don't know me at all. If a Mandalorian has a problem with what I just did to heal Bo, they're welcome to challenge me to a single combat and express their grievances. I stand by my actions and I will gladly face them on an even footing."

This time Veil glared back.

Obi-Wan was about to offer an angry retort, when he felt the guards behind him calm down a bit. He glanced at the armed men, who were lowering their blasters.

Then it dawned on the Jedi Master – Veil was speaking as much to him as he was to the Mandalorians – and he knew them and their culture better than Kenobi ever did. Further, he saw Bo-Katan giving a grim nod – one of agreement with her husband. While Satine was glaring at the Sith, she chose to remain silent, which was almost worse than a verbal agreement…

Suddenly, Obi-Wan found himself the center of attention. He could feel everyone's eyes boring holes in him. That gave the Jedi pause. It took him mere moments to comprehend exactly how he had been outmaneuvered. Oh, Veil would have problem with the Mandalorians over what he did – though those would most likely materialize as personal challenges – something the man was going to enjoy.

Perhaps not many if the Sith succeeded in becoming Mandalore and that might very well be a disaster for the Republic and the galaxy as a whole. It was just a feeling coming through the Force – that Veil in a position of power would lead to oceans of spilled blood and burning worlds. That very thought made a frosty hand grip Obi-Wan's spine.

"This madness needs to end." Kenobi spoke. "I can't let you throw the galaxy in darkness."

"Me? You resident Sith Lord already did that before I arrived." Veil had the audacity to chuckle. "Dooku told you the truth back on Geonosis when the war began. The Republic has been under the control of a Sith for more than a decade."

That stopped Obi-Wan cold. He could sense no deception coming from Veil. Nor could he believe him – deception, lies and half-truths were within a Sith's arsenal.

Kenobi gripped his blade more tightly. Part of him screamed that he had to attack – to end it one way or another. Yet, there was another part of the man. One that listened and agreed. That was the same part which was grateful to the Sith for the opportunity to marry Satine. It was a selfish part of Obi-Wan's being. One he had been denying for decades.

That dissonance left the Jedi torn, confused and vulnerable.

Apparently Veil knew that too…

"I understand." The Sith nodded in sympathy. "On one side, you feel obliged to follow the Jedi teachings. To oppose me because I'm an existential threat to the Council's neat tidy narrative."

"It's not like that and you know it!" Obi-Wan shot back. His anger was steadily growing as Veil proceeded to twist his words and his very thoughts!

"Isn't it? I'm supposed to be the enemy. Yet what have I done since I arrived? I could have left dozens Jedi to be slaughtered during the Temple attack. I could have thrown all GAR units on Coruscant against the Jedi after Windu practically committed treason!" Veil snapped.

It was true. On the face of it, all the Sith did was to prove himself as an ally of the Jedi Order. Yet, those same actions were tearing the Jedi from within. Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder if that wasn't Veil's plan from the start. He was afraid that they all were playing on the man's tune ever since he joined the GAR.

"That's one way to look it. I'll agree that you did a lot for the Jedi. For me." Kenobi paused. "At the same time you're personally responsible for the current state of the Order – which is getting closer and closer to a civil war."

"That tends to happen when the Jedi are confronted with reality and not given the opportunity to delude themselves any longer. It usually happen during a galactic war. I can't take credit for your impending civil war, no matter how amusing I find that thought. You can blame the way you have been taught about both the Force and the galaxy at large about that." Veil sounded awfully smug.

"I find that hard to believe." Obi-Wan told the truth. "You're walking a path I cannot follow. One that I have to prevent."

Veil sounded so convincing. So sincere. Even worse, Obi-Wan could detect no deception. Yet… Yes, Veil had a good chance to burn down the Jedi Temple and to even turn the Jedi into hunted outlaws. However, what was happening right now was perhaps worse. The Order was on the verge of tearing itself apart. If that happened, many Jedi might fall. Was that Veil's goal?

Unfortunately, there was a part of Obi-Wan that felt that Sith might be correct. Perhaps that was what stayed his hand so he could listen to the man.

"Do I? Perhaps. Then it's a good thing I don't want you to follow me." Veil smirked.

"Oh? You want me to kneel then? To swear allegiance to Darth Veil? Or is it Vael?" Obi-Wan glared at the infuriating Sith.

For all Kenobi knew, Veil was trying to turn him. Unfortunately, there were very few sure things as far as that man was concerned.

"Not really. I don't expect you to chose me over the Republic. Perhaps over the Jedi if you ever fully open your eyes." Veil gave him what appeared to be a genuine cheerful smile. "All I ask you to do is to chose her." He pointed at Satine.

Kenobi tensed at the obvious threat and was a heartbeat from jumping at the Sith, when Veil gave him a disappointed look.

"Oh, get over yourself. I won't be attacking my sister in law because you're being an idiot."

It was as if Veil was reading his mind. Again.

"Earlier tonight you became a Mandalorian by marrying my sister." Bo-Katan interrupted them, making everyone look at her.

Obi-Wan saw Veil giving her a fond smile and a small nod.

The woman stared at the Jedi Master and continued speaking. "Either get over your Jedi hang ups or solve this like Mandalorian warriors." Bo-Katan snapped. "However, if you chose the kriffing Jedi over my sister," She pointed at her husband, "He'll be the least of your problems."

She was serious too.

"Choosing between the woman you love and your duty as a Jedi." Veil mussed. "It's never easy for your kind."

"And all too easy for you." Obi-Wan snipped back.

The Jedi in him didn't want to admit that all he wanted was to be with Satine. Only his sense of duty kept him from doing so.

"True. During the Great War I chose love and never regretted it. I made the same choice tonight and I would never regret it."

At that, Bo-Katan's lips curled into a smile. Even Satine gave the Sith a nod of approval despite him murdering two of her men just a few minutes ago.

If he had to be honest to himself, what Obi-Wan wanted to do was obvious – he wanted to choose Satine, no matter what.

That's when he truly comprehended why the Jedi were forbidden to marry. Forbidden to love. For doing so, shattered their loyalties and left them drifting.

At that moment, Kenobi could feel smug amusement practically radiating from Veil. It was infuriating.

"It's a very good thing I'm not asking you to become a Sith. Nor to turn on the Republic or the Jedi." The Sith Lord sounded awfully happy and pleased with himself – something that was ringing all sorts of alarm bells within Obi-Wan's mind.

"You're still a GAR general, sworn to protect the Republic, are you not? As it happens so am I – as you're well aware. If I wanted to kriff up the Republic all I had to do was lose the space battle above Geonosis. With the other side under competent leadership it would have been all too easy to engineer such a disaster."

He couldn't rebuff those arguments. A loss above Geonosis would have been a strategic setback from which the Republic would have been unlikely to recover. Yet, the issue was never Veil's skills as a general.

"You might very well lead the Republic to victory. At what cost, I wonder? How many worlds will burn? How many will die because of your tactics and strategies?" That was the crux of the problem. Veil was all to willing, eager even, to spill blood and wreak destruction.

"More than you fear." Veil admitted. "Still it would be much better outcome than a Separatist victory. Besides, you miss the most important point, Obi-Wan."

"What is that?" The Jedi was almost afraid to ask.

"Under my command, the enemy would be doing most of the dying instead of loyal, innocent Republic civilians. When you talk about galactic wars, that's the best you could ask for. Besides, I think it's high time to get off your high horse." Veil glared at him. "Do I have to remind you of Christophsis? The most populated world that saw army scale clashes since the war began with an enemy blockade too?"

That stopped Obi-Wan cold. He spent the first months of the war on that world and presided over a bloodbath of incomprehensible magnitude. Between open warfare, destroyed infrastructure, the blockade in orbit, logistic disruptions and disease, at least a trillion of the locals died before the CIS forces were forced to either surrender or withdrawn.

Obi-Wan still had nightmares about what happened on that world and he would carry them to his dying breath.

"That's what I'm trying to prevent!" Obi-Wan could no longer keep his anger in check and shouted. "If you're left on your own devises we'll see the same madness on dozens, perhaps hundreds of worlds!"

"That's going to happen with or without me. This war will decide the fate of the galaxy, Obi-Wan. Neither side can accept anything but victory. The CIS made sure of that. After the shenanigans they pulled, their leaders need to win or it would be their heads on the chopping block. Victory will give them everything they ever wanted and most of them won't hesitate to see the galaxy burn in order to win."

"So we need to stoop down to their level? Is that your plan?"

Veil gave him an exasperated look. "Do I look like a kriffing imbecile? The Confederacy kriffed by the numbers with their terror attacks. Responding in kind would simply stiffen their resolve."

"Yet you did so on Geonosis. I felt all those people die, Veil!"

"If I wanted to respond in kind, I would have burned every major settlement on that planet and then poisoned the surface. What I did was the bare minimum to knock Geonosis out of the war for the next few years without wasting troops and fleet assets on an occupation we can't really afford. Unfortunately doing so required wrecking major portions of the infrastructure and as a side effect either directly or indirectly killing millions."

"That's unacceptable!" Obi-Wan all but roared, his composure shattering.

"If you believe so, I'll accept your resignation from the GAR right here and now. We aren't playing games, Obi-Wan. We aren't peacekeepers seeking a peaceful resolution of a minor conflict. We're soldiers who have to do what's necessary for the survival of the Republic. Because if we flinch, if we prosecute this conflict with silk gloves, then the Confederacy will win. We both know if that happens they will unleash a reign of terror upon the galaxy the likes of which no one has seen in at least a millennium."

=RK=

I looked the Jedi Master in the eyes, hoping that my gambit was going to work. Ever since I started speaking, I've been doing my best to keep him off-balance. Distracted, torn between his hearts desire and duty as a Jedi.

"However, that's not what I want." I spoke quietly, making my tone as earnest as I could. "I don't want you as an enemy, Obi-Wan. Nor as a minion. I need you as a friend. As an adviser, who might keep me from going too far." That was even true, from certain point of view. However, I didn't add that no one was going to keep me from doing what I deemed fit in order to prepare the galaxy for the Vong and whatever else might decide to come knocking on the door.

Judging by Obi-Wan's expression, that threw him for a loop.

"You know I've been against what happened on Geonosis from day one!" Kenobi actually growled. I might have been pushing him a bit too far, too fast.

"The alternatives were to either burn the whole world, occupy the damn dust bin or invade it again next year. Neither of those options were viable alternatives." I repeated. I tried to be reasonable, though as the conversation progressed, the need to slap Kenobi upside the head – repeatedly – with something heavy, was becoming hard to resist.

"There was not a single Jedi or other GAR officer who presented me with a single viable alternative. We both know that most of the GAR personnel would have loved nothing more than seeing Geonosis burn instead of invading the damn place for a second time!"

"We have a different definition on whats acceptable." Obi-Wan grumbled.

"That's rich. I though that after Ryloth you were done with the peacekeeper mentality." I snorted.

"Don't twist my words!" Obi-Wan glared at me.

"Fine. No more games. Obi-Wan, you have to make a choice. The Jedi. The Republic, Mandalore, your wife. Unless you decide, you will be torn apart between your duty and your heart."

There was a long moment of silence, before Kenobi answered.

"You didn't mention yourself, Veil." For the first time since we began our verbal spar, Obi-Wan looked relaxed, almost serene. The Force surrounding him settled down as his emotions subdued.

"I'm doing what I can for Mandalore, though it might not be enough. If the situation gets sufficiently kriffed up I might be forced to order the orbital bombardment of this world so the Death Watch and the CIS wouldn't be able to us it as a base of operations. I'll see the Republic to a victory in this war, because any other alternative is much worse in comparison." I told the truth.

"The Republic? Or whatever replaces it?"

"I don't want to rule the galaxy as an Emperor, if that's what you ask." Another truth. Now, being in charge of the army and keeping whoever ran the galaxy from messing up my plans for the future – that was something quite different. Besides, the plan to turn the Republic into a Galactic Empire wasn't mine. I merely entertained the idea of co-opting it once Sidious was dealt with.

"You actually believe that, don't you?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise.

"I've ran planets before. That was enough of a pain in the ass to dissuade me from any ideas of galactic domination."

Besides, it was much better to be the power behind the throne. That way some other sucker could deal with the day to day shenanigans of running the whole bloody galaxy.

"He's right you know. Actually ruling Mandalore is anything but pleasant or fun." Satine decided to add her two credits. "It's a duty, though one I don't relish."

"Listen to your wife." I nodded, earning myself a pair of dirty looks from the Ken obis.

"Aren't they cute?" Bo snorted, lowering the tension a bit.

"Indeed, dear. Let's cut to the chase. Kenobi, I don't want to turn you into a blood-thirtsty Sith. Nor am I going to send you to burn down the Jedi Temple, corrupt younglings or do something else idiotic."

I conveniently didn't mention that if there was another Windu type stunt things would get ugly either because I would lose my patience with the Jedi in general or because Palpy would be able to use such an accident to clean up house earlier than planned.

"I must be mad." Obi-Wan muttered. "The path you're walking..." He shook his head. "I don't know if it's one I could follow." Huh. Wasn't that a reversal.

"If it's a path that any Jedi could follow." Kenobi continued and looked at his wife with a pained expression on his face. "However, I can't walk away from Satine. Not even for the Order." He added quietly.

I smiled. That was all I wanted for now. The rest would follow, probably sooner than later.

"Let's hope they won't force you to choose." I gave Kenobi a reassuring smile, even if I didn't believe this would be the case.

"We both know that is a forlorn hope. After what Anakin did..."

"Your former apprentice acted as an idiot. We both know that there was no antidote on Geonosis. The whole ploy was aimed at discrediting him and Amidala. If that mess is mishandled even further it could easily lead to his fall, which was the point." I sighed.

I still could hardly believe that Anakin fell for such an obvious ploy. Neither the Separatist leadership, nor the Sith actually in charge wanted Padme to recover – she had been a thorn in their side for more than a decade. Breaking Skywalker might very well be a bonus to taking out the former Queen instead of the primary goal of that particular operation.

A grim chuckle escaped Obi-Wan's lips. "Anakin and Padme proved that a Jedi marrying is a mistake, yet I did it anyway… and I don't regret it." Kenobi lowered his lightsaber. "I should be attacking you with everything I am. I should be doing my best to rid the galaxy from an enemy of the Jedi Order." His anguish was delicious. It reminded me why making Jedi fall was so much fun, even if doing so wasn't on the agenda.

"Ah. Even if I was an enemy of the Jedi, am I your enemy?" I smiled. "All I want is the freedom to live my life as I see fit beside my wife. However in order to do that, this war has to be won. Decisively."

"Through victory thy chains are broken." Kenobi muttered, surprising me.

Huh. He's been reading on the Sith of my era and might be starting to understand where I was coming from. I was sure of it.

"That's the point Obi-Wan. At least for those Sith who haven't allowed the Dark Side to consume them. Passion, conflict, power, strength – they're all means to an end. Assets that gives us victory. And thus the Force frees us." I smiled.

"It sounds so simple." Bo stated and gave me a questioning look.

"Of course, it's never that simple. Or perhaps it is and most people overlook it because of that. While I am a master of the Dark Side, that by itself wouldn't guarantee me a future with you. Only a victory in this war would do so and I will do anything I have to in order to achieve it." I turned my attention back to the Jedi. "That's why I want you by my side as both a comrade in arms and adviser. Help me end this madness, Obi-Wan." I repeated my proposition and threw back his words at him.

He wanted to end the conflict? Let him help me do it then. Though I carefully avoided certain snags we would have to face.

It's true I wanted the war over without destroying too much infrastructure. Doing so would make preparing for the Vong easier. Unfortunately, I couldn't allow the conflict to simply be over before I was in a reasonably secure position to survive not only a direct confrontation with Sidious but dealing with whatever contingencies he had in place. Because if there was something I knew about Sith, someone in Palpy's shoes would have backup plans to see as much of the galaxy burn as possible if he fucked up and got himself killed.

However, for the time being, Kenobi didn't need to know any that.

"Someone must keep you from causing too much trouble." The Jedi Master sighed and deactivated his saber. His anguish flickered and disappeared, replaced by acceptance and then affection when he turned his gaze upon his wife.

"Live to enjoy a honeymoon with Satine. I'm proud of you!" I beamed at Kenobi.

"We still might make a proper Mandalorian out of him." Next to me, Bo sighed in relief and smiled.

Well, now Obi-Wan was on track and if I could keep myself from kriffing up too much he would be firmly on my side when it was time for the endgame.

Part 4: Eclipse

CIC

Republic Cruiser Chimera

High orbit above Mandalore

Gilad Pellaeon was in his domain. The CIC was a hive of activity as Commando units augmenting the Mandalorian authorities raided Death Watch criminal enterprises all over the world bellow them. The operation was coordinated from the Chimera, with the Embassy and the Security Service HQ in Sundari acting as secondary C&C centers.

While he had people to do the actual coordination – both Intel operatives and GAR officers from the ground ponder contingent upon his ships, the Commodore kept a close eye on the situation, though most of his attention was concentrated on the enemy navy elements in system.

So far neither the CIS battle group or the small Death Watch flotilla had made any suspicious move and they both kept their positions – above Concordia and between the moon and the planet itself.

Frankly, Pellaeon didn't really expect much problems from them – especially when the Sep command dreadnought left a few days ago – when it was recalled along with the enemy commander. Or at least that's what the Intel folks figured out. It was another confirmation about the apparent upheaval among the enemy leaderships, something that was hopefully a good thing. Any delay between now and the next major CIS offensive meant less time before the next major flight of ships was completed in the various Republic shipyards; less time before the enemy would lose the temporarily advantage they would be gaining shortly.

The Commodore returned his attention to the data pad he had in hand and skimmed the reports in it. They more or less summarized the strategic situation. In short, in the last few months GAR had performed excellently, gaining two major strategic victories, which in turn allowed both the navy and ground ponders to stabilize their positions across the galaxy. Frankly, those victories were vital, because the situation was going to get worse before it improved.

It was all about economy and logistics, something that when combined with the enemy strategic surprise at the start of the war was going to bite everyone in the republic on the ass.

When all was said and done, while the Republic had largereconomy, it meant little until it was transferred towar footing. That was the short term case anyway. After all, it took at least a year to complete a proper capital ship. Usually year and a half, perhaps even two years for most cruisers… and that was without any bottlenecks in either resource appropriation, component manufacture and their related the enemy on a war footing when the hostilities started… It was a miracle that the Separatists simply didn't overwhelm the Republic in the first months by going after the major political and industrial centers.

Even now, a little more than a year after the conflict began, the situation was grim. The GAR scored some outstanding victories that shifted the initiative and strategic situation. Unfortunately, despite that, the economic realities were about to rear their ugly heads and soon. Simply put, most capital ships that the CIS laid when the conflict began would be ready before the same was true about the Republic. That would very soon give them a strategic advantage and allow them to regain the initiative by launching one or more major offensives; heavily reinforce various theaters where both side were stalemated too.

It would be one of the best chances the enemy would have in winning the war – if they could cause enough damage before the Republic's own construction came online.

What rubbed Gilad and most GAR commanders wrong was the fact that after the victory at Geonosis, they simply lacked the assets to launch another major offensive before the enemy was ready. Oh, he knew that there were at least a few large raiding forces doing their best to wreak havoc on the enemy logistics combined with the efforts of various special forces units inserted behind enemy lines. Yet, the CIS did respond in kind and he doubted that any side would be gaining much advantage that way.

No, the Republic armed forces were in for a few very interesting months. The only silver lining was that if they could hold the line and avoid suffering catastrophic losses, soon enough the advantage would shift in their favor.

Then again what was that saying? If wishes were speeders… Or was it starfighters?

Gilad shrugged and marked the overall strategic overview as read. There was nothing new in there, which at least meant no bad news.

Next he checked the situation on the ground again – everything was going more or less according to plan, though there were some locations where resistance was heavier than expected and things were getting bloody. Unfortunately, most of the troubles were in places where orbital support was impractical and for the moment sending regular troops was out of the question. The current intervention was explosive enough without sending the cavalry.

Ironically, this was the night the General was getting married for the local ruler's sister and if the scuttlebutt was correct, general Kenobi was doing the same with the Duchess herself. That at least more or less guaranteed that Mandalore was for some fun times in the next few days. There were few things screaming political alliance more loudly than marriages after all.

In fact, the ongoing dual weddings were the primary reason why Pellaeon's squadron was on high alert with Veil's surprises on stand-by.

No one really believed that the Death Watch would go quietly in the night. The only question was what exactly were they going to do to ruin everyone's day. There was a long list of contingencies prepared for precisely that outcome.

"Multiple new contacts! Four light seconds out, between us and the Hostile One!" The Sensor operator shouted.

"Identify!" Pellaeon snapped an order without thinking and turned around to look at the main tactical plot. "Kriff." He added a moment later, once the large cluster of gray dots registered.

"Multiple power spikes! We're being targeted!"

"Profiles match CIS units. Multiple Munificents and command dreadnoughts!"

"Evasive maneuvers! Launch all small craft. Target the closest Munificents for missile strikes. Comms Contingency Purple. Release Guardian in automatic mode..."

"We're being jammed! Long range comms are out!" The Comm operator stated a moment later.

"Purple one. Execute." The Commodore added after a split second delay. "Contact our hosts and coordinate with them. We'll need their help."

He knew that within moments one of the escorting frigates was going to go into Hyperspace and call the cavalry. Then all Nine Corellian hells were going to get lose.

The plot shifted – the gray icons turned into bright red color. Two small windows appeared next to the swarm indicating force composition. A hundred Munificents and counting plus at least four command dreadnoughts. It was a full Separatist fleet all right. Probably part of their strategic reserve if not most of it. Acting this bold probably meant that the Confederates would be ready to jump back on the offensive a bit sooner than the Intel types expected.

Not good at all, but all Pellaeon was really interested in right now was keeping his forces more or less intact until Veil's ace in the hole arrived.

The plot blinked as a real swarm of angry red dots left the enemy fleet and headed toward his battle group.

"We're in contact with TF 1!" The Comm operator announced.

That was the closest Mandalorian cruiser group – four Keldable Flight One cruisers and twelve Crusader class corvettes.

The other friendlygroup on this side of the planet – TF 2 made of five more cruisers and ten escorts – was right above the Capital of Sundari, which almost below them due to the planetary rotation. It would be in effective weapons range of the enemy within the hour… if the newcomers didn't shift position.

Realistically – just a few minutesif they could take out the friendly forces in the area.

"TF 1 will be taking position between us and the capital. They report no contact with the Royal Palace."

"Try to raise GeneralsVeil or Kenobi."

"No joy. We're detecting ground-side jamming from the Palace area."

"Deploy QRF to Sundari. They're to secure the generals. Shift orbit and bring us above the Capital. Coordinate our movements with the Mandalorians."

"Status change. Hostile One and the DW squadron are moving. Calculating heading..."

As this was going on, Pellaeon's eyes never left the plot. One hundred sixty three Munificents and five command cruisers.

"TF 1 Actual is in contact with TF 3. They will be executing two hyperspace jumps and hit the enemy from behind."

TF 3 was the third and final loyalist part of the Mandalorian defense fleet. Four more cruisers and eleven corvettes.

On paper that combined with the defense satellites should have been enough. The Keldables were supposed to be formidable ships… and the planned Block II upgrade would make them at least equal to a Venator. There even were whispers among the Intel agents on board that Mandal Motors had plans for a Block III that would be a partial rebuild with enough firepower and defenses to rival the Star Destroyer prototypes Kuat was currently playing with.

Unfortunately, the current iteration of the Keldable cruisers was simply put an inferior piece of hardware – primary because the Mandalorian defense fleet never received the funding to bring them up to speck.

=RK=

Part 5: Twilight

Bridge

CIS Command ship "Death Bringer"

Between Mandalore and Concordia

General Grievous narrowed his eyes at the tactical display once it refreshed with the data from the sensors. Three clusters of closely knit icons appeared near each other designating the expected enemy forces – no surprises there. For once the Intel appeared to be correct. There had to be another group of the Mandalorian fleet on the other side of the planet, but they weren't of immediate concern.

If everything was going according to plan, Death Watch operatives and CIS agents on the ground should be assaulting the capital's shield generators while others went after the planetary shield itself.

Even if they were unsuccessful, the mere threat would force the enemy fleet assets to converge above Sundari in order to protect the domed city.

"Primary target is the Republic task force. Battle groups one through three chose a Venator and take it out. Four and five – concentrate on the Mandalorian loyalists. Task Force Seventy three is to take out the defense satellites and commence orbital bombardment on all pre-designated targets." Grievous shot out a rapid sequence of orders. "Launch all fighter craft. Sixty percent are to engage Republic and Mandalorian small craft. Twenty are to remain as CAP. The rest will escort the troop transports once the defense satellites are taken out."

A veritable swarm of Vulture droids exploded from the hulls and hangars of the Separatists fleet. For a few seconds it appeared that Grievous' command suddenly combusted and blew away in a storm of high-velocity debris.

If he could, the CIS general would have smiled at the sight – though he lost that ability when he was captured by the never sufficiently damned Jedi and Republic soldiers. He was going to see them all die screaming for what they did to him and he was going to start with Mandalore.

Even better, this time there were just a handful of Republic capital ships. Even their vaunted Guardian system wouldn't be enough to stop all the Vultures he had to throw around. For the first time in months the damned pieces of junk might actually prove useful as something more than target practice.

"Someone call our alliesships and order them to engage the Republic scum." Grievous added as an afterthought as his eyes ran over the icons representing the small Death Watch battle group. "Have the fleet advance towards the gap between the Republic units and the Loyalists above the capital. Ahead third."

That should have the enemy moving in the right direction or they would risk letting his forces in bombardment range of the capital. Incidentally, if they moved to intercept his fleet, Grievous would have them where he wanted them – in position to be overwhelmed by his superior numbers and firepower.

The general didn't pay much attention as small dots representing concussion missiles separated from the Republic cruisers, nor did he particularly care that they were lunching their small craft compliment while doing their best to evade his long range fire.

It didn't really matter. The distance was shrinking by the second and the enemy couldn't afford to decline battle. That left them with the option to stand and die – something Grievous was more than willing to accommodate. It was just too bad that most of them wouldn't live long enough to see him burn Mandalore.

Speaking about the planets – there were icons rising from the surface – squadrons of the Mandalorian vaunted fighter/transport hybrids. Some had the Death Watch IFF, though most were the security forces QRF squadrons.

A glance revealed that the enemy fighters wouldn't make orbit before TF 73 blew up the satellites in range and opened up on them while the small craft were busy clawing their way out of the atmosphere. The conclusion was foregone – most wouldn't make it and the survivors would have to content with overwhelming number of Vultures.

Grievous dismissed that distraction out of his mind and concentrated on the more dangerous enemy. Just a few seconds later, one of the Republic frigates vanished. For an instant, the general thought that a lucky shot got it but he immediately dismissed that idea. His whole fleet was concentrating their fire on the enemy cruisers.

Ah. The jamming produced by his ships ever since exiting hyperspace. The Republic commander undoubtedly sent for help. Unfortunately for the bastard, Intel was sure that the closet Republic reinforcements were at least a couple of hours away and even those were just a handful of Venators with a light escort. Not enough to change the tide here.

"TF 73 is commencing bombardment on designated targets." One of the B1 droids crewing the bridge announced.

That particularly message got Grievous attention and his eyes shifted towards a side screen near his seat. He pressed a few buttons and his eyes started drinking the sensor feed from TF 73. Another button press later and the image shifted to that of a camera showing the bombardment in all its glory.

Mandalorian security space ports, airfields and the few dedicated military bases in range simply ceased to exist under barrages of rail-gun projectiles and turbo-laser fire.

The best were the targets near or within populated areas – seeing them burn made Grievous feel a bit better, even if all that was merely a taste of things to come. Most importantly - the successful first strikes demonstrated that the planetary shield was down. With a bit of luck it would stay down for a few more minutes and then his fleet would be in weapons range of the shield generators themselves.

Soon enough Sundari was going to burn and Veil with it.

=RK=

Force composition above Mandalore:

Republic Battle group /Commodore Gilad Palleaon Commanding/:

5 Venators; 15 CR90 Frigates;

Mandalorian Loyalists:

TF1: 4 Keldable Cruisers; 12 Crusader Corvettes;

TF2: 5 Keldable Cruisers; 10 Crusader Corvettes;

TF3: 4 Keldable Cruisers; 11 Crusader Corvettes;

Total: 19 Cruisers; 15 Frigates; 33 Corvettes;

Death Watch Squadron: 3 Keldable Cruisers; 15 Crusader corvettes;

CIS Forces:

Hostile One/TF 71: 1 Command Frigate; 12 Munificent frigates;

Grievous Fleet /General Grievous commanding/:

5 Commnand Dreadnoughts; 163 Munificent Frigates;

Total: 5 CD; 3 Cruisers; 1 Command Frigate; 175 Munificent Frigates;