In the long run, Ordos believed, this would dilute Mandalorian culture into something their ancestors would not even recognize. Whenever there is great change, there is great fear. For these reasons, most of the Ordo clan—including Marcus—tended to stay on their world; it was their sanctuary from the changes happening all around them. There, on Ordo, they continued to live their simple, agrarian lifestyle. They taught their own children, rarely participating in Bralor's new academies (the resol'nare, after all, commanded that children be raised as Mandalorians, not aruetiise). They also trained their own armies, and tended their own fields—they had released all of their Imperial laborers, or bartered them to other clans.

All things considered, the Ordos had done quite well for themselves. Bralor's acquisition of worlds created new demand for crops, which the Ordos were happy to provide. There was even some mining on their humble world, on the condition that the Ordo clan had a share in the companies involved, and that all jobs would go to locals, not aruetiise. They were content with their way of life, and had little interest in spreading it elsewhere.

The peace treaty, however, had been difficult to bear, especially for Marcus. He had lost one of his sons, his daughter, and his wife to the Imperials, and even though the New Republic had seemed susceptible to arasuum (or, "stagnation"), the Mandalorians had always believed that they would still be there with them in the fight against the Remnant. Most of them had fond memories of the Princess Leia with pistol in hand, standing beside them on their home planet in its darkest hours of Imperial subjugation. And yet it was the Princess herself who negotiated the treaty. It was done—the Republic had turned its back on Mandalore. The wind was gone from their sails.

Bralor was correct in his assessment that few Mandalorians believed, in their hearts, that they could fight and win against the Remnant now. Not alone. The Mand'alor made it known that his plans for "conquest" were still on the table, but few Mandalorians, if any, took it seriously. Bralor was chasing a dream. He was also correct, however, that many Mandalorians had lost their appetite to fight as a consequence of his reforms. The aruetiis had imported their decadence to the manda. The obvious exception to this, of course, was Ordo—they were still willing, and ready, to fight (albeit, they would require some reasonable assurance of success).

Marcus Ordo stood outside of Bralor's home in the town of Norg Bral, on Mandalore. He looked up into the heavens, his eyes narrowed, trying to see Ordo from here. The sound of a shuttle landing nearby—probably delivering another of the clan leaders—brought his attention back to the moment, and he entered upon the foyer. One thing he always enjoyed about visiting Bralor was the man's family; it reminded him of his own, and many of the Bralor children still considered Ordo to be an uncle to them. He'd even come with gifts: the tusks of a sand boar, for the children, and the rest of the sand boar for dinner. He, his sister, her husband, and their son greeted the Bralors as they entered. It had been a long time.

Bralor then move to the living room and addressed Ordo in winged words. "Marcus!! It has been ages since you graced our presence." He smile a bearded grin and rushed the man, embracing him in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground, laughing all the while, and then putting his feet on the earth of their ancestors.

"How is everything on Ordo my friend?" Bralor asked while accepting the gifts from Marcus's sister. Isko began to greet Ordo's family as well and made them feel at home.

On Concord Dawn, Ja'boa Mereel exited a tent. Within it was every chieftain of the planet, gathered for their monthly meetings. They did things the old way...by old way, that meant several thousand years ago. Concord Dawn, since its unification nine years ago, was stuck in the ways of the Crusaders. While they accepted the fight against the Empire, the group they believe was the true Republic, the group that they had fought for thousands of years, which was proven right in their actions of oppression during the Galactic Civil War and occupation of Mandalore, for no other group could possibly unleash that level of oppression against the Mandalorians, especially after their bombardment of Mandalore several hundred years ago. Yes, the Empire was indeed the hated Republic, and this group of Rebels, now calling itself the New Republic, were at first valuable allies...and helped in the recovery of Mandalore, to where now it was its former self...but they turned into traitors of the worst kind. The Empire, a group the clans of Concord Dawn had pledged holy war against, the Republic decided to broker peace and become allies with. That day, the Republic became his enemy...his people's enemy. And more and more, Mandalore the Reformer kept outsourcing their culture, their people, their responsibilities...he maintained his alliance with the traitors. And Ja'boa, and the people of Concord Dawn, were angry. He had remained quiet, because his people and chieftains remained quiet. But now, it was at a breaking point, and the most emotional and fiery Gathering since the first one, led to his mission...his mandate given to him by his people for this meeting that the Mandalore wished to have.

[[Let's go.]] he said to the two Mereel warriors that stood watch. They were of the Taraq'Qualim, a name for an ancient, elite commando unit...that he was now reviving. They wore the typical armor of the Mereel clan, identical to Jaster Mereel's of many years ago, and adorned crimson kamas and capes. He himself wore his trademark golden armor, with all symbols replaced with that of the Mereel Clan, also known as the symbol of Jaster Mereel's True Mandalorians during the Mandalorian Civil War. All on Concord Dawn believed that civil war, was about to have a sequel. The level of which put the first to shame. What side they would be on, none knew. This meeting, would determine that. But several believed either Mandalore had to straighten out his act, or that they should go their own way. An AIAT/i was awaiting him outside the tent, loaded with its pilot, three Air Assault warriors, current acting as its secondary crew, fifty Shocktropoer warriors, their largest, strongest, and fiercest warriors, armed to the teeth in weaponry, and then there was his Chief Warrior, Rao'si, and four Taraq'Qualim, two of which walked aboard with him. [[Head for Mandalore right away. Land in Norg Bral.]] he ordered to the front. He was responded with the ramp quickly closing and the ship taking off. The AIAT/i Gunship, adorned with the clan symbol and a red, black, and gold pain scheme, exited hyperspace over Mandalore within two hours. They immediatly landed, disregarding any traffic control in place, and headed straight for Norg Bral, damn the consequences; their transmitter was automatically broadcasting all of the information.

In Norg Bral, they landed, and quickly the troops disembarked, setting up a camp, outside the town, where they had landed, and set up a security system for the ship. Rao'si oversaw the action atop a Basilisk War Droid, which had been carried here by the gunship. Ja'boa himself, strode into the town, flanked by the four Taraq'Qualim. He walked up to the Mandalore's home, remembering it from his last visit. He walked in, noticing a young Mandalorian standing outside, but not resembling any of the Clan Bralor warriors. He disregarded the young one, and entered the home, seeing Marcus Order, Chieftain of the Ordos inside already. At this point, Ja'boa and his men removed their helmets. The men stood by the door, at intimidating heights of six foot six inches, each of them, and carrying two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. Ja'boa himself was of the same stature, only having five more pounds on his guards. He gave Marcus a respectful nod, remembering his clan's contributions to the Crusades, and then walked into the home to Zuthus, giving a slight bow. [[Mandalore.]] he said to him, as he did so.

The General nodded to the Mereel'alor as he entered in his ostentatious golden armor, showing the man as much respect as was required of a Mando'ad, but no more. Marcus largely kept to himself, it is true, but he still kept abreast of recent events—he knew of the disaffection of Concord Dawn, and its grumblings of civil war. He could relate to the disaffection, but as far as he was concerned the grumblings were those of a besom. It was, at best, poor manners for Jabo'a to arrive at the meeting with what appeared to be the finest of his warriors. It was, at worst, a sign of disrespect. Even the children took notice of it.

Marcus did not recognize the woman who entered a moment after Jabo'a, but he'd have to be blind not to notice her. His brow furrowed in thought as he regarded her. Beyond her striking features, there was something else about her that commanded his attention—something familiar. It was then that one of the children assembled around Marcus seized his arm and the whole of them disappeared into the atrium for another of his stories. He would rejoin the other leaders, later, as they receded to discuss the issues for which Bralor had summoned them.

The engines were revved up, and within minutes, Anubis had taken off and blasted out of Concord Dawn's atmosphere. The coordinates for Mandalore were being dialed in. The Firespray had finally entered into hyperspace. It won't be long before he reach Mandalore.

Added (20 Feb 2010, 11:01 Am)
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The Firespray had dropped out of hyperspace, seeing the planet Mandalore. It has been a while since Anubis had visited Mandalore. He had hoped that the Mandalorian Empire would reach a decision where they would press on to battle the Remnant. The odds may not be in the Mandalorians' favor, but isn't that what it's all about? A challenge to defeat an enemy without needing someone to back up. In this case, that would be the Republic. If the Republic didn't sign the Bastion Accords, Anubis believes that they would be more than capable of finishing the Remnant off and his people would love to help hasten that result. The Remnant knew they couldn't win, and they decided to try and convince the Republic to sign a peace treaty. This was a dumb move by the Republic, as the Remnant could secretly be building armed forces to take back the galaxy. Anubis considers the Remnant dishonorable. Even though he has hatred for the Empire for what they have done to his people, at least the Imperials should have fought down to the last man. This makes him want to kill Imperials even more.

The Mandalorian would request a landing clearance, hoping that they would allow him to land. That, and he hoped for some actions against the Remnant. If the Mandalorians did not decide to fight the Remnant, he'd have to take the fight elsewhere. Maybe he'll find people willing to fight no matter how big the odds are stacked against them.

After shaking hands with Marcus Zuthus's eyes was greeted with the image of Jabo'a, an image not hard to miss given all that gold...

Despite being cognizant of the talk of civil war the feelings of seeing Jabo'a again after having been in battle alongside him during the fight against the Remnant was overwhelming. Zuthus at once lept from his position. In yet another Bralor show of affection the 5'10 Bralor lifted the 6'6 Jabo'a with minimal effort in a Mandalorian show of affection. Hugging the dear life out of him as he did to Marcus Ordo. Indeed there were times when people thought Zuthus was crazy. But after seeing him in battle few questioned his sanity. Perhaps because few would dare...

"Jabo'a munit ca'nara nayc haa'taylir!" Zuthus exclaimed. Slowly he noticed the tenseness about Jabo'a body. "You are unhappy with something I take it?" he asked while still holding him up off the ground.

After the warm reception, which was overbearing to Ja'boa, the three Taraq'Qualim left the room. Once he was on the ground, he merely nodded to Zuthus. <Indeed, it has been, Mandalore.> he said, before stepping away from the side of the Duchess, much like a wolf, unsure of what to think of some strange thing that he did not understand. <My people are uneasy. Concord Dawn has decided that it will no longer accept your reforms, many going back to the old teachings from the times of the Crusades. While I have privately practiced such, entire clans are now doing so. Concord Dawn has come to believe you have lost your fire...your will to fight for us. And then there's...> he said, stopping for a moment and turning to the Duchess. He didn't recognize her and continued. >And then there's the Republic's treachery in bring about this bastardized peace. It's all an insult to us and our people's suffering.> he said, trying to contain himself as the two minor warriors walked in. Mercenaries. Bounty Hunters. They were the reason the Mandalorian culture had fallen apart; the ones that shouldn't be allowed to mate...let alone live. The clans were no longer respected, although that was changing once more, which led to the situation. If a Mandalorian was to go to war, enter combat...the Mandalorian people should stand behind him, not no one. And to war, Ja'boa hoped to see his people go today...as one. He was certainly ready to lead those that were willing if Mandalore did not though.