🛡️ This is the Way.
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║ ⚔️ MANDALORIAN CONTRACT BOARD ⚔️ ║
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║ Objective: Launch the story into hyperspace ║
║ Reward: Extra chapters for the crew ║
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║ Review Bounties: ║
║ • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = +1 bonus chapter ║
║ • ⭐⭐⭐⭐ + ⭐⭐⭐⭐ = +1 bonus chapter ║
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║ 2–3 lines is enough: ║
║ • "I loved ___ because…" ║
║ • "Best scene so far was…" ║
║ • "My theory is…" ║
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║ Thank you for backing Max Vizsla and the ║
║ rise of Mandalore. ║
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This is the Way.
"All right. If there's a bright center to this universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from." — Luke Skywalker once described Tatooine (Tatooine; star chart coordinates: R-16) to C-3PO like this.
At 16:00 on July 23 of Galactic Standard Year 4, the five warships of the Mandalorian Armed Forces Navy First Fleet dropped out of hyperspace from the Corellian Run and appeared near Tatooine.1
Tatooine orbits a binary star system. It's a desert world in the Outer Rim. From far out in space, the planet appears a bright golden-yellow because of the high sodium content in its sands—so bright that many people have mistaken it for a luminous star, only realizing up close that it's actually a desert planet.
Under the harsh glare of two suns, Tatooine is dry and scorching, its surface blanketed by deserts. At first, no one would believe life could exist on a world so hostile.
But in truth, because of its special orbital position in a binary system, Tatooine developed a stable climate. Even though it's arid and hot and has less than 1% surface water coverage, there is still a relatively habitable region in its northern hemisphere where many species survive and reproduce.
There, people built moisture farms through technological means, extracting water from the air for industry, agriculture, and daily life, gradually establishing settlements. Over time, some settlements grew into towns, and eventually even a few cities emerged—such as Tatooine's largest spaceport: Mos Espa.
At 17:00 on July 23 of Galactic Standard Year 4, in Tatooine's geosynchronous orbit, a T-6 shuttle departed from the Vast Silence.
Inside the T-6, Max—dressed like a Jedi—issued orders to the Wind Team of the Mandalorian assault unit, who were likewise dressed as Jedi: "Top secret mission."
"Snap." Led by Christopher Reign, the three members of Wind Team snapped to attention.
"Objective: search Mos Espa and the surrounding area. Find a human woman named Shmi Skywalker."1
"Copy. We will complete the mission."
Shmi Skywalker—Anakin Skywalker's mother—was a gentle yet unbreakable woman, a loving and great mother. Her death buried a seed of darkness deep in Anakin's heart. It later gave Palpatine an opening to lure him into the dark side, indirectly leading to Anakin's tragedy and the galaxy's tragedy that followed.
("Anakin, this is for you! Galaxy, this is for you!") Max silently recited, righteous and solemn.
In reality, the true motive behind Max's trip wasn't nearly as noble as the mental script he was feeding himself—"To save a lost soul, for peace and justice in the galaxy, I'll risk it"—made it sound. Deep down, his real thoughts were far more utilitarian.
"Anakin could be used by the Jedi Temple in the original timeline, and later by Palpatine. Now I'm here. Do a good deed, build a goodwill connection—there's no reason he can't be used by me, by Mandalore, later." That was the true thought in Max's heart. The smooth success of recent months had already begun to inflate him—arrogance creeping in.3
That said, the self-suggestion on the surface level did reflect that emotion was also influencing his decision. Max wasn't some saint—but he also couldn't stand certain kinds of human tragedies.6
("I'm here. The galaxy's future won't be the same.") "Hiss—" The hatch opened. Max unconsciously clenched his fists. "Move."2
After parking the shuttle in a concealed spot and doing some basic camouflage work outside, the three of them didn't set off immediately.
"Phase objective: enjoy Tatooine's sunset."2
"This is the Way."
They intended to wait until both suns fully dipped below the horizon and the sky truly darkened before moving out.
Adaptation note (Chinese-culture reference removed): the original text quoted a line from a Chinese classical poem describing a desert sunset. I replaced it with an in-universe-appropriate English line that evokes the same imagery without the Chinese reference.
With that, Max looked out at the spectacular twin sunset and couldn't help murmuring, "A lone smoke column stands straight in the endless sands; the setting sun hangs round on the far horizon."
"Boss… is that some kind of spell?"2
"Heh. Yeah. A blessing—so this operation goes smoothly, and we all get home in one piece."
Twin suns set. Sparse stars rose.
Under the cover of night, the three of them moved soundlessly toward the direction where cooking smoke had just begun to rise.
"J-J-Jedi?" Staring at the three figures that appeared like ghosts, the Mos Espa city hall duty clerk instantly started stammering.
"XIU—hmm—XIU." Max ignited the yellow lightsaber and shut it off again. "Classified mission. Don't talk."1
The clerk nodded like crazy.
"We're looking for a human woman named Shmi Skywalker."
After a round of frantic searching—no match.
"Master, our system has no record of anyone named Shmi Skywalker. Are you sure that's the spelling?"
"S-H-M-I. S-K-Y…" As Max checked letter by letter, something occurred to him. "Remove 'S-K-Y.' Search only for S-H-M-I."
"S-H-M-I. Confirmed. Oh—found it, found it—Shmi Lars." The clerk blurted excitedly. "Right, right, this must be the Shmi you mean. Before marriage she was a slave—didn't count as a person—so earlier…"
"Enough." Max motioned for the clerk to stop. "Search her current address. Be specific."
"Sure! Got it—Cliegg Lars Moisture Farm."
"Copy. Thanks." Max paused, then continued, "This is classified. Either you keep it secret yourself, or we help you keep it secret. Which do you choose?"1
"I-I-I…" The clerk started stammering again. "I'll keep it secret myself—myself, Master."
"Good. May the Force be with you."
"Master, may the Force be with you."
("Right—Shmi Skywalker's former owner, the Toydarian Watto, gambled himself into near ruin. Not long after the Naboo incident, he was forced to sell Shmi. Later, a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars fell in love with her—he's the one who bought her freedom. I almost forgot that.")3
"Destination: Cliegg Lars Moisture Farm. Move out."
"Copy."
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-🛡 Star Wars: The Rise of Mandalore
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