Tales of the Mandalorians

[Dieter Schprokets]

Ge'tel Gratua and Briikase Uj'Alayi entered the darkened hanger. They had been summoned by the Mandalore.

He was not here. The whine of HVAC equipment and other devices made a constant background noise. No voices though. The mechanics had finished early, and had gone home.

"Sa racir, vode?", Briikase asked his companion. Roughly translated, "Where the hell are the lights?"

Ge'tel just shrugged.

Briikase switched to English; "Do you know why he brought us here?"

Ge'tel, never one for words, shrugged again and murmured "Va'kion." Meaning all the Mandalore had told him was that he had information for them.

A spotlight lit up the far end of the hanger. Two spotlights. Centred on two ships.

Tridentes. Outcast Gunships. In beautiful condition.

The Mandalore stepped out of the shadows between the men and the ships and beckoned them forward.

"They are almost new.", he said. "And we got a good deal on them. We do good work for their makers, after all."

"This one", he pointed left, "I have christened Mandokar. She is yours, Ge'tel."

"And the other is yours, Briikase. Her name is Aay'han."

The two men were speechless for a time. Briikase spoke up first.

"Mandalore, it is my understanding that only Consuls may use the Tridente."

Billy frowned for second. "Oh, right. I'd forgotten."

He smiled. "Guess I just have to promote you both. LIGHTS!". The last word was shouted.

The hanger lit up, revealing men who had hidden in the shadows; Mandalorian pilots who now applauded and cheered, grinning."

Mandalore Bishop stepped forward to the men and held out in each hand a signet ring, with the ancient emblem of the Mandalorian Consuls, inscribed in it. The two men took their rings. They both looked amazed.

Billy gestured at them, and told them to put the rings on.

"You have any idea how hard it is to keep something like this secret?"

The men walked as a group to the hanger door. The other Consuls, Diana Blane, Dha Piruna, Kandosii, and Kal Vergebuir joined them.

The Barrier Gate bar was busy that night.

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