On board the X-70BP, Petyr and Arla are getting closer, as the holocram signals an incoming call, stopping whatever might have happened. Petyr sighs and takes it.
[Greetings, Mand'alor. I am sorry to disturb you, but Jedi Master Mace Windu has requested to meet with you. I have informed him that you are not present, but he won't leave. I have refrained from forcing him out at this point, considering our political situation, but I am uncertain what to do.]
"You have done well, Silas. That particular Jedi believes himself to be more than he is, so his reaction makes sense. Tell him that I'm off-world and will return within the fortnight. Make sure he won't snoop around."
[Understood.]
The hologram turns off.
"A member of the Jedi Council has arrived on Keldabe. Must be serious then," Arla says.
"The Jedi believe all of their business to be serious and important. But I can't be bothered. What is he going to do?"
"As you said, he may try to find out more and sneak into different facilities."
"He would have to get around our True Mandalorian security, and that's just impossible, is it?" Petyr says. "You trained them after all."
"And what about the mind trick? The use of the Force?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure about that. Now that I told him to keep him from sneaking around, it would be considered betrayal if they succumb to the Jedi Mind trick. They are truly loyal to me. I'll check the security camera to make sure."
"Will you tell me where we're headed now? We have a war going on back home," Arla says.
"Well, we are on the Hadiyan Way, so technically, we're on the right track. Anyway, the destination we're headed to is Akiva in the Akiva system," Petyr reveals.
"Really? That's very close to the Mandalore Sector, isn't it? What are we going to do there? I don't remember Akiva having anything of value."
"It doesn't yet, but that's the appeal of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Akiva is, as you said, nothing special. It's a hot, humid, jungle planet in the Outer Rim, and that's pretty much it. But the location is what I am interested in, and the fact that it has such a loose planetary council."
"What type of government does it have?" Arla asks.
"It's called the Satrapy of Myrra, Myrra being the capital city of Akiva. A Satrap is more or less one of the rulers, a governor if you will. They have palaces, while the rest of Myrra lives in sprawling, choked messes of strange-angled buildings that emerged from the jungles around them. What is interesting, though, is the system of catacombs that runs under the city."
"In what way is it interesting?"
"Because soon, a few years from now, the location of Akiva and the presence of the catacombs will make it into a valuable place for a confederacy that will emerge and challenge the Republic."
"That's the Great War you talked about. We are going to fight the Republic? I don't think Mandalore can survive another war this early. And we are still in the middle of one now, in case you forgot."
"I haven't forgotten, Arla. But that's the beauty of it. Mandalore, if I get to twist things to my liking, will remain neutral in the galactic war that is to come," Petyr tells her.
"I see. So while Mandalore stays neutral, you will work with this... confederacy to fight the Republic. And for what reason? Will Mandalore prosper?"
"Well, sure. But Mandalore is too divided at this point. The Great Clan Wars happening now aren't helping in that regard. Taking out all our opposition would require me to kill off over 80% of the population. The war will only make the New Mandalorians' side stronger," Petyr explains.
"Well, I agree Kalevala won't side with us at all, since that's the home planet of Clan Kryze. But there are others in the Mandalore Sector that you will take over, no?" Arla asks.
"True. Bonagal is under our leadership and will serve us well. Shukut, we are already planning to take over as well, and all of its thirty moons, of course. Werda isn't heavily populated, so it is technically ours already. Mandallia is only interesting in terms of the Mandallian Giants. Akaan is uninteresting and Nog as well. We are close to reaching all we can do at the moment and will have to wait for others to act."
"I see."
"By the way, we will have to use another ship and new looks, now that we play a role," Petyr says.
"What did you have in mind?" she asks.
Petyr smiles.
.
A T-2 Ramsidian-class yacht exits hyperspace and flies towards the Myrra spaceport. The spaceport is situated adjacent to Myrra's Market District, featuring three large landing pads.
[Picture]
After the yacht starship lands, it gathers the attention of almost all people present at the market district. The hatch opens, and Petyr and Arla exit. Petyr has taken another form, using the skills he copied from the Faceless Men years ago. He adopted a stern look, which conveys authority, military skill, and power, skills he would utilise in the Clone Wars to rise in the ranks.
[Picture]
Arla, meanwhile... is simply wearing the new armour, which Petyr copied from another reality and recreated using the best materials available in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian guards are also armed differently.
[Picture]
"How did you manage to create this again? And why is it so light?" Arla asks as they walk forward.
"It's made of Quantum-crystalline armour. Quite durable, considering I made that out of it. Also, it's not actually light, you are stronger than normal."
"Must be all that training you put me through."
"Yes, and your growing skill in Chi."
"And what's with your look and the look of our men?"
"There are few things as intimidating as the Death Korps of Krieg. I'll eventually get there."
They walk through the Market District, along the Satrap's Promenade, being observed as they go along. They don't bother about anything and walk right towards the Satrap's Palace, where the Satrapy of Myrra is located. Going along with his new look, Petyr uses his intimidating presence to complete the look, which allows their group to walk into the Satrap's Palace without being stopped.
"Uhh, greetings... how can I help you?" the man standing behind a desk asks.
"We wish to speak with a Satrap. We are interested in acquiring land," Petyr says with a deep voice.
"Right away, sir. And who might I say you are?" he asks.
"Lord Marshal Varnan Dreir."
The man runs off, leaving them standing there.
"Lord Marshal, seriously?" Arla asks.
"It's all about making the story believable. Go along with the story," Petyr says.
After a moment, the man returns with a fat middle-aged man, wearing rather expensive clothes, but cheaper shoes. He tries to smile seeing Petyr and the others, but has difficulty doing so.
"Welcome, dear guests. I am Satrap Drommuk Beren. I was told that you are interested in acquiring land here on our beautiful Akiva, is that right?" he asks.
"Correct."
"And, if you don't mind me asking, how would you... pay for all that?" the Satrap asks.
Without answering, Petyr places a small metal bar and a small sample of spice on the table. The Satrap looks at the metal, and his eyes widen. But not as much as they do after he sees the spice.
"Glitterstim!! And Doonium? Where did you acquire this?"
"From underground."
"On your planet, you mean?"
"Yes."
"... Aha, and if you don't mind me asking, what planet are you from?" the Satrap asks.
"I do mind. Our planet is not to be known, to protect us from outside interference," Petyr continues to answer stoically.
"So then, is there anything you can tell us?"
"Civil war broke out on our planet, and much of it quickly fell to the rebels except for one large city, which was under the command of Colonel Jurten of the 83rd Guard regiment. Under strict orders not to let our planet fall to rebel control, but in the knowledge that no fleet on the scale needed to relieve us was available, Jurten decided that our planet would either belong to the lawful citizens or to no one. On a day we now know as 'the Purging', Jurten unleashed a counter-attack of atomic cleansing. For days, our planet was engulfed in a sea of nuclear fire, resulting in a total collapse of its ecosystem and subsequent nuclear winter; however, the civil war dragged on. The survivors from the Purging have fought on but were forced to exist in underground bunkers or deep in the radioactive chem-wastes, as their descendants do to this day. From the self-annihilation of our homeworld, our loyalist troops slowly retook our world inch by inch for the past 500 years."
"..."
The Satrap looks at Petyr with an open mouth, shocked at the ridiculousness of the story.
"We have heard that these resources carry some value. That's why we are interested in using the resources we have found underground to acquire some land on your planet," Petyr finishes his story.
"Ahh... of course, of course. Well... well, yes, these resources hold 'some' value. Not the most valuable thing, but if you would follow me, I am sure we can come to an agreement."
.
The Satrap brought Petyr to the Satrapy Council Chamber, where a meeting was called. There, the samples of the valuable resources Petyr had presented were on display, and the politicians began discussing whether it would be a good idea to allow Petyr to purchase land, considering the violent and destructive history of his supposed home planet. However, in the end, greed won out, and they decided to agree. Naturally, they tried to cheat Petyr, but he refused and told them that he would find another planet that would not try to cheat them of the only resources they had.
The Satrapy grew fearful and apologised, agreeing to give Petyr whatever he wished. And little do they know, this is the start of Petyr's slow and legal takeover of the entire planet Akiva; they simply don't know it yet. The place Petyr chose to create a large mansion was near Myrra, in the jungle.
[Picture]
But that wasn't all, Petyr also started to buy land in the capital city, Myrra. He planned to take over the entire Market District slowly in the future. And for that to happen, he would make use of the presence of the Pyke Syndicate and cause problems for the Satrapy, playing both sides against one another.
So, Petyr started with the construction of the mansion he had planned. It was supposed to be a sign of power and wealth, which would be important later on. Arla approaches Petyr holding a holoprojector in her hand.
"It's Silas. The Jedi has tried to sneak around," she says.
"Silas, what's going on?" Petyr asks.
[Greetings, Mand'alor. We have found the Jedi Master snooping around and trying to enter restricted places. He even tried to use the Jedi Mind trick on the guards, but it didn't work as well as intended. Our security has captured the moment, and should you choose, we will release it into the holonet.]
"I see. You did well, once again. Please send me the footage so I can review it as well, but don't release it just yet. Where is the Jedi now?"
[He wanted to leave, but we apprehended his T-6 shuttle after the incident. No starships will leave Keldave. He first refused to comply, but didn't have a choice. We have him under house arrest. We have, however, caught an emergency signal. We assume back to Coruscant.]
"A good decision, Silas. Very well, I'll ensure that things proceed as intended here and will return to Mandalore soon. Keep the Jedi contained, I'll take care of the Jedi Council and make it clear that I don't take such things lightly."
[Of course, Mand'alor. Silas out.]
"What do you want to do? You won't kill him, will you?" Arla asks.
"No, but someone has to teach the Jedi Order that they are mortals as well. Wizards or not, a slug through the skull and they all die," Petyr says.
"And you will do that how, if you won't kill them?"
"By beating him to a bloody pulp, of course. The arrogance of Mace Windu will give me the opportunity. You'll see."
"I can't wait."