In the space far above Nau'ur, a Kom'rk-class Assault Ship dropped out of hyperspace and began cruising towards the planet. On board, Cassandra was in the aft section of the ship fast asleep in darkness. Slowly the lights began to rise and an automated voice similar to VODO’s, the Taldryan AI, spoke over the comm system.
“LADY SECOND, WE ARE ARRIVING OVER NAU'UR. WE WILL BE LANDING SHORTLY.”
She slowly opened her eyes and turned onto her back as she sat up on the bed. With a turn, she placed her feet onto the ground and stretched her arms out. It had been a considerable trip to get here, even with the speeds that her ship was capable of attaining. It made sense though, this was a place that the Regent would want to protect and keep away from regular eyes and travelers. At least, that was her thought.
With a change of clothes, she was out of her traditional robes and into a more athletic-style top and leggings with a comfortable pair of workout shoes. While she did not know what laid ahead, she wanted to be ready for anything at all. That said, once dressed she went to the floor and began doing push-ups to start warming herself up. Initially beginning with two arms, after about ten minutes she progressed to her right arm only with her left behind her. Ten minutes after, she switched.
The ship rumbled as it progressed through the atmosphere and downwards towards the surface about another 20 minutes later, at which point she was doing fast and successive sit-ups with right and left twists at the peak.
“FIVE MINUTES TO ARRIVAL AT DESIGNATED COORDINATES”
At that point she stood up and wiped off her face with a nearby Taldryan-emblazed towel and progressed towards the front ramp. The ship descended through the skies and landed in a small clearing surrounded by trees and an ancestral-looking temple. Cracks lined the stone, along with vines, grown grass, and moss. Once it fully touched down and the engines disengaged, the ramp lowered and she progressed down it, carrying over her shoulder a large bag.
During the time since his departure from Kasiya some nights ago, the Regent of the Brotherhood and Mandalorian General of the covert that housed the remainder of Clan Bes'uliik had already and directly made his way to his adoptive homeworld of Nau'ur. The ancestral home of Clan Bes'uliik prior to their decimation at the hands of an Imperial Remnant faction, the temple that the Taldryan Supreme Chancellor Consul arrived at had been there for centuries. It was left unscathed by the war between the Grand Army of the Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems forces during the Clone Wars, and later was miraculously spared through sheer dumb luck from decimation during the main Imperial-Mandalorian conflicts - including the Night of a Thousand Tears. The temple had stood as a beacon and training ground for numerous Naur'alors such as the Dathomirian Foundling that Zxyl started out as, training them in the sacred art of forging beskar and acting as spiritual leaders for the Mandalorian people.
In current times, the temple was mostly empty. The once great Clan Bes'uliik destroyed, it was now the home of a Mandalorian covert protected by the Mandalorian General, who also served as its only Naur'alor - the last remaining member of its former occupants. While it was once in pristine condition, the sometimes harsh rain storms of the planet Nau'ur had punished the location and begun its slow decay. The flora were intentionally left alone, giving the first impression that the location was abandoned. Less than four dozen true members of the Mandalorian religion occupied its large complex, making it easier for them to hide and shield themselves from prying eyes.
The Regent of the Brotherhood has briefed his Mandalorian brethren on the arrival of their visitor - a member of the same organization he had joined during his time as a mercenary, the same organization he now controlled the vast galactic-spanning mega conglomerate corporation of in order to protect them. Few were skeptical, of course, but they trusted the wisdom of their Naur'alor and his intentions. If Cassandra Tyris, proclaimed ruler of the Taldryan Republic and Supreme Chancellor Consul of Clan Taldryan did indeed wish to give herself to the Creed, and proved as such, they would be there to assist the former Foundling in ensuring her success and were prepared to welcome them into their covert upon such a thing - should she wish.
While joining their covert likely would not quash the conflict between the Dathomirian-Mandalorian and Epicanthix due to their overlying positions of power, there was a chance it would help sooth the flames and smooth out further interactions and conflicts.
On this day, a light rain washed over the temple as the Kom'rk-class Gauntlet descended and landed in the small clearing immediately outside the temple grounds’ main entrance, a large arch, with thick clouds obscuring any sunlight from reaching the planet’s surface. The Regent of the Brotherhood and Scion of Taldryan as always was fully armored in his now trademark pure beskar armor, with his hands held together behind his back and red cape flowing lightly in the breeze as he waited for the red-headed Equite to make her descent from the craft once it powered down. He was accompanied by the Mandalorian Force-sensitive warrior Sol Kast, a man who believed himself to be a direct descendant of the Manda'lor Tarre Vizsla - his custom crossguard Darksaber-inspired lightsaber clipped to his belt. Bes'uliik, though he hadn’t yet revealed to the rest of the covert, and Sol Kast were the only two Force-sensitive members of their covert, and had the most interest in seeing Cassandra succeed in her endeavors and training.
As the woman descended, Kast a sideways glance at the Naur'alor for some sort of physical reaction, but there wasn’t any. Zxyl stood stoic and steadfast, waiting for the woman to fully approach before shifting his weight slightly and addressing her.
“Consul Tyris,” he started, of course using the official name for the leader of a clan and not the titles given to her by the Taldryan Republic, “Welcome to my homeworld, Nau'ur.”
Of course, he was a Dathomirian. But he did not consider Dathomir to be his true home or the place of his birth. It was here, after being cast aside into the wastes by his brothers and sisters, fellow children of Dathomir - and forcibly taken from his loving mother, who later had his half sister Izrina Kotjra - that the Foundling that became known as Zxyl Bes'uliik received his indoctrination and training in Mandalorian culture, customs, philosophies and lore. Where his skills as a Naur'alor truly began, and the place where he had fashioned the beskar and cerakote alloy horns that adorned his head.
“I trust you did not have trouble finding this place thanks to the encrypted data disk that I gave you - which I here and now ask you to destroy so that it may remain a secret and this covert protected. There is much history to Nau'ur, and there will be much to learn, but first: let us show you around a bit, find you a bed to occupy, and answer any questions you may have before your training begins. Before we leave, though, I must ask you to relinquish your lightsabers until you have gained at least the partial trust of the covert. They will be returned to you in time during your training, or immediately should an adversary discover this place or you decide to end your learning early, and kept in my personal quarters until any of those times arise. All of which are likely. I also ask for the safety of yourself and the Mandalorians that occupy this temple that you refrain from calling upon the Force.”
The Mandalorian General reached from around his back with a single hand, extending it in her direction and hoping she would surrender the tools of a Jedi amicably. While the Regent did not want or seek to strip her of her core personality and previous training, one could not begin proper indoctrination as a Mandalorian while subconsciously holding on to their other roles in the galaxy, and letting those roles affect their training. Such things would lead to failure and inability to integrate as a true Mandalorian and follower of the Mandalorian Creed.
Without so much as a word of protest or a physical sign of resistance to his request, she brought the bag up around her shoulder and sat it down in front of her. While the contents were unknown, it hit the ground with a loud THUD. She pulled the zipper open and reached into the bag, moving items around until she came across her lightsabers. She pulled them out, zipped the bag back up before standing again and placing both directly in his hand.
The sabers all but mirrored each other in design, primarily white in color with a black grip, golden bottom with a belt clip, and a silver emitter at the top. Surrounding the white casing on the upper half, was a golden sigil representing Taldryan.
“I can easily when it comes to the physical force. I will do my best to avoid using the force passively, however I have no skill in suppression when it comes to my senses and being able to read people, as it’s more of a passive trait for me. I will, however, stop myself if I detect it occurring. Will that suffice?” she asked as she raised the bag up and slung it back over her shoulder once more.
At that point she briefly closed her eyes as she, attempted at least, to reign in her more passive force powers. It was considerably difficult, almost extremely for some, given how second nature some of them were especially when it came to diplomatic negotiations. Being able to interpret ones intentions, thoughts, and the meanings behind the meanings was critical for her. It was almost second nature at this point, which made it all the much harder.
Bump.