CAP XTRA Jacob_Johnson_3750 THXXX
🛡️ This is the Way.
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║ ⚔️ MANDALORIAN CONTRACT BOARD ⚔️ ║
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║ Objective: Launch the story into hyperspace ║
Galactic Standard Calendar Year 4, October 25th. Cloud City received an unwelcome visitor.
"Bzzz—" Max Vizsla accepted the call. "This is Max Vizsla. Go ahead."
"Boss, reporting an urgent situation."
"Thirty minutes ago, a Consular-class Republic yacht dropped out of hyperspace at the edge of Bespin's gravity well to the northeast, then proceeded straight toward Cloud City. Per regulations, the Army Air Corps Enthusiasm Squadron's Z-95 starfighters initiated an intercept immediately and made visual contact with the target three minutes ago."
"The opposing captain claims the ship departed from Coruscant and is carrying envoys from the Jedi Temple and the Galactic Senate on a diplomatic mission. They are requesting permission to dock at Cloud City."
"Report complete. Awaiting orders."
Why did this sound so familiar? Max scratched his head on instinct. Great—don't tell me this is going to turn into a Cloud City "capture operation" 2.0.
"Grant docking permission. Order Enthusiasm Squadron to provide escort and guidance."
"Yes, Boss."
After ending the call, Max Vizsla immediately opened a channel to Michael Saxon.
"Boss, this is Michael Saxon. Orders?"
"Chief of the General Staff: order the entire Mandalorian Armed Forces to enter Level-One combat readiness, effective immediately."
"Yes, Boss."
"Also—assign an infantry platoon to me as an honor guard."
"Yes, Boss. Mythosaur Squad will report to you at once."
After ending the call with Michael Saxon, Max looked at Christopher Rane.
"Boss, all Mandalorian commandos are in position. Orders?"
"Secure the high ground overlooking the port district. Watch my perimeter."
"Yes, Boss."
"Bzzz—" Max accepted another call. "This is Max Vizsla. Go ahead."
"Boss, this is Elden Awood, commander of Mythosaur Squad. Mythosaur Squad is assembled. Orders?"
"Bring your people. You're coming with me to the port district to form up and welcome the visiting envoys."
"Yes, Boss."
So… who was it going to be?
…
Two blue people—two blue people Max knew very well.
"Hiss—"
The diplomatic passenger hatch at the front of the Consular-class Republic yacht opened. The Jedi Temple envoy, Jedi Knight Aayla Secura, and the Galactic Senate envoy, the representative senator of Ryloth (star chart coordinate: R-17), Orn Free Taa, descended the ramp side by side.
Max Vizsla stepped forward with Elden Awood to meet them.
"Welcome to Bespin, Jedi Master, and Envoy, sir."
"This armor… then you must be Mandalore the Max. Sorry to keep you waiting." Aayla Secura extended her hand, smiling like a blooming flower.
Not bad investigative work. Max's mind tightened. He took her hand and exchanged formalities. "You flatter me. There's no 'Mandalore the Max.' Please—call me Max."
"Lord Vizsla, you flatter me as well—I'm no Jedi Master. Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. I'm pleased to meet you."
The blue, heavyset man also offered his blue hand. "Lord Vizsla, I am Orn Free Taa, representative senator for Ryloth in the Galactic Senate. A pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, Senator Taa." After shaking Orn Free Taa's hand, Max Vizsla turned and invited both envoys to inspect Cloud City's honor guard. "This way."
Under normal procedure, the Consular yacht's captain should have reported the envoys' identities to Cloud City ahead of time. But during the Naboo incident, the massacre of Brightpoint Seven—blown apart by the Trade Federation—had left the captain deeply shaken. When Enthusiasm Squadron's starfighters closed in to intercept, he panicked and completely forgot to report who the envoys were.
The Republic wasn't short on highly professional captains and crews. But captains assigned to fly diplomatic ships carrying Jedi Temple and Senate envoys were, these days, rarely the best of the best—key positions across every sector had become packed with connections hires.
…
"Lord Vizsla, the Jedi Temple and the Galactic Senate sent the two of us for peace. As you can see, our ship is unarmed. We bring only sincerity and goodwill. You truly don't need to be so tense."
After the review, on the ride to Cloud City's administrative district in a ground speeder with Max Vizsla, Aayla Secura spoke gently. She could feel the tension and hostility everywhere in the city.
"Ms. Secura, you know my family name. You recognize this armor, yes?"
"Max Vizsla." Aayla looked at him, her eyes shining the way a starstruck fan looks at an idol. "The Thornflower clan's Iron Thorn. The Mandalorian Demonblade. The undefeated legend of Concordia. Your fame may be far beyond what you imagine."
"Oh?" Max Vizsla removed his helmet, turned it around, and set it on his knees, looking at the thornflower emblem. "You know the Thornflower. But do you understand it?"
Before Aayla could answer, Max answered his own question.
"Growing in the direst places, blooming in suffering—that is the Thornflower."
"More than seven hundred years ago, the Jedi Temple and the Galactic Republic—under the banner of 'peace for the galaxy'—carpet-bombed Mandalore from orbit. Mandalore was blasted into wasteland. The Mandalorians were nearly wiped out. Black, white, and gray armor symbolizes a Mandalore drained of color. The red thornflower symbolizes Mandalorian blood."
"Lord Vizsla…"
Max cut her off, lifting his gaze from the helmet to the Jedi Knight. His original plan had been simple: press the moral high ground, land a few lines on the so-called 'Jedi Flower,' and take a little advantage into the negotiations. But as he spoke, something older—something in the blood—stoked real heat.
"Today, an uninvited Jedi—an uninvited Jedi waving the banner of peace—dares to question why I'm tense? Shouldn't I be tense? Shouldn't I worry about another Mandalorian Purge 2.0? Shouldn't I worry that the 'guardians of peace' will reduce Cloud City to rubble and leave the Mandalorians here nearly extinct?!"
"L-Lord Vizsla…" Orn Free Taa rose shakily, trying to smooth things over. "The Jedi of seven hundred years ago are the Jedi of seven hundred years ago. Ms. Secura is Ms. Secura…"
Aayla Secura stopped Orn Free Taa.
…
Postscript:
Ryloth is an exception in the Outer Rim. Located at the far end of the Corellian Run hyperspace route, Ryloth has been a member of the Galactic Republic since 10,000 BBY and holds its own independent Senate seat.
P.P.S. Reiterating: the name "Thornflower" and its symbolism are original additions by this story's author. Official Star Wars material does not name or define the meaning of the Vizsla clan emblem.
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