In Jorval's absence, Nicci abandons the Death Watch

[11:16] Jekai Rau descended onto the Dxun fortification, and alighted with an armored boot in the soft grass. The Mand'alor would adjust his gauntlet, and make his way towards the bunker where Nicci Ordo frequently resided. The man would state his business with the nearby guards, and wait for her outside.

[11:19] Nicci Ordo had been repairing the communications array when she had seen the blip on the scanners showing an incoming vessel.  Identifying it as mandalorian, she shut down the orbital cannons to allow it to pass.  Once her guards informed her of the visitor, she set down her tools and walked outside to meet him.  "Su cuy'gar," she greeted, in her usual emotionless tone.

[11:24] Jekai Rau nodded to her. "Su'cuy, Ver'alor be aliit Ordo.", he says. For the sake of brevity, his author would type in English, but the posting would remain ICly in Mandalorian, since some words do not translate over and it's slightly annoying him. "I beat the prior Mand'alor in combat, and am going around to garner the support of the clans. I would like your pledge, or a date in which you can honor duel me to the death, at your nearest convenience of course.", he says. "I do appreciate your time, and know that things are busy here.", the man remarks.

[11:24] Jekai Rau adds. "Naturally, I would ask Jorval, but he seems unavailable. Until I can, you are the next point of contact." [11:32] Nicci Ordo raised an eyebrow.  She didn't even know who the last Mand'alor was. She was having trouble keeping track of them all.  Times had certainly changed since the era of The Reclaimer.  She too replied in mandalorian, "I will hear your petition of support.  A duel to the death may not be necessary.  Care to join me in the bar for a mug of netra'gal while we discuss this...development?"

[11:37] Jekai Rau gave a nod. He removed his helmet, and placed it under his arm. The Mandalorian would walk with her in the direction of the bar, as soon as she turned, allowing her to lead the way. He ran a hand through his hair, wiping off a bit of sweat from the humid air.

[11:40] Nicci Ordo nodded.  She did not immediately remove her helmet.  It was always raining on this moon.  Always.  Though particles and lag made it annoying to actually put rain here, the dense foggy mist windlight was supposed to at least make it seem like it was.  She didn't want to get the inside of her armor wet and have her shoes squish for the rest of the day so she waited until they arrived before removing.  "You look...paler than I remember...I think,"she commented on the way down. [11:47] Jekai Rau nodded. "A lot of my time is spent in the armor, and very little time out of it.", he says. Dark circles run under his eyes, with a small amount of crows feet just beginning to adorn the corner of them. He appeared relatively young, moreso having risen through the ranks of out surviving so many others. His voice was hallow, without much emotion in it. Strangely, he'd been lucky enough to avoid many circumstances that would grant him scars. His appearance was, otherwise, decently maintained and clean. The rain, as it was, left the top of his sealed undersuit a bit wet, but otherwise no worse for wear. The Mand'alor would place his helmet on the bar. "Bad time to tell you I don't drink, isn't it. Water for me."

[11:52] Nicci Ordo snorted at the very idea of a mandalorian not drinking, but didn't bother to question it.  "Lucky for you, water is something we have in abundance on this moon." she replied.  She went behind the bar, pulling a heavy lid off a barrel with purified rainwater inside.  Grabbing a ladle she dipped several scoops of water into a pewter mug.  "Do you want ice and lemon like the aruteii drink it?" she chuckled.  While she awaited an answer she filled the same sort of pewter mug with netra'gal for herself, until it reached a foamy head. [11:57] Jekai Rau shook his head. "No. It'll be fine as is, ma'am.", he replied with a sheepish smile. He'd wait for her to pass it across. "I usually go for apple juice, funnily enough.", he only half jokes. The Mand'alor takes a seat, and waits patiently for her to get situated. Most minor social situations had eluded him thus far in his life. The man had joined for the fight, and just happened to live long enough to reach the stations he'd garnered. One may have even mistook him for a common soldier, at first glance, if not for the Jaigs, scratches, and repair welds on his kit. "Has been a while since I've seen you. Can't recall what it was about, but we've met before.", he says.

[12:01] Nicci Ordo smirked at him, sliding the mug of water across the bar and going back around it.  She straddled one of the barstools and sat, leaning over the bar briefly to retrieve her own mug.  The most minor social situations had also eluded her.  Probably in the opposite way.  She was often way too harsh and never thought she was being that way.  She took a long deep gulp of the black ale before she replied.  "I do not remember either.  Was probably one of the many times you proclaimed me Kyr'tsad or said I do not do anything.  Which...brings me to your petition of acknowledgment as Mand'alor.  Why do you even want such a title when it has brought only death to those before you?  What makes you more worthy?" she asked.

[12:10] Jekai Rau drank his water. "Well. I've never proclaimed anyone anything, and have mostly minded my own business. You likely should have rallied to the last Mand'alor, but that news likely passed over a remote place like this.", he says. He regards the water for a moment. "I may not look like much, but I've killed inquisitors on my own, the Imperial Viceroy, the last Death Watch Overlord, and the Mand'alor. I was head of the protectors for around a year, in which I oversaw the reconstruction of Mandalore's infrastructure following the phobis incident.", he replies. "The Jaigs are for making double ace over Jekallia, as well as several men I killed at a time with my spade shovel.", he adds. "That's not to ego. That's because you asked. Usually it never comes up. As for why? People are directionless. Activity is picking up near Chandrilla. When the Republic gets moving, the Sith do too. We'll find ourselves in a war soon enough, and I want to keep a technological edge on our enemies, as well as keep our forces honed."

[12:10] Jekai Rau  he replies. "It's not a petition. I've garnered the position already. The rest is assuring the other clans fall in line, politely of course. I'm no bully. I like to carry myself in a professional manner if at all possible.", the Mand'alor says, finally. [12:18] Nicci Ordo shrugged, "There have been so many of them, by the time there is news of a new one reaching me, he is dead already.  Usually.  And yes, I did ask.  It is important to ask is it not?  Rather than just immediately challenging you to the death and prejudging you as unworthy, I'd like to think the wise route is to look at your accomplishments and what you can do for the clans and decide from there.  And it is a petition.  It is a petition for support from my clan of your position.  I have not...seen...our Alor for some time.  I am not even sure if he carries interest in ever returning.  So I must make a decision that I think is right, and one that carries the ideals of our clan.  Your accomplishments seem straight forward enough, and we are most certainly directionless.  What's more, we are diminished.  We need a Mand'alor who cares enough to strengthen us once more.  We face extinction now, as ancient prophesies foretold, whether you believe in such things or not, my clan will never forget it.  There is [12:18] Nicci Ordo  something I need from you in order to throw in Ordo's support.  And that is to respect the fact that we support the old ways of the warrior.  One is not Kyr'tsad unless they proclaim themselves such.  Our Alor was...young and...felt backed into a corner by certain mandalorians about his beliefs.  He bowed to pressure to join the Kyr'tsad.  I have since brought the clan away from that, and he has not protested.  I do not want to feel backed into that corner ever again simply because we believe Mandalorians are destined for something greater than bounty hunting." [12:24] Jekai Rau thought on this a moment, before he spoke. "I accept the need for you to expand, and to conquer.", he replies. "I accept that others may be taken, by force, to join your ranks, as that is the way most Mandalorian clans grew in the past. The only exception I will not make is the killing of unarmed individuals, which you would see as dishonorable anyway--and the enslavement of individuals for manual labor that yields them no chance of progressing to your status.", he says. "If you can agree to those conditions in return, we will have found common ground to continue operations in conjunction with our people." [12:27] Jekai Rau added. "Slade Kryze was also the overlord of the Death Watch, which your alor followed, and he managed to take the position as Mand'alor following the rightful clan system. I'd like to add that before his death, he disbanded the Kyr'tsad. Jorval followed Kryze. I killed Kryze. By Jorval's own code, he'd be following me." [12:31] Nicci Ordo scowled, "As I said, I am not and never have been Kyr'tsad.  I have not and will never fight the unarmed.  I never approved of Jorval doing such.  I do not even approve of taking others by force to join our ranks.  To be Ordo one must have a passion and drive like no other.  Taking one by force carries no benefit to this clan and none of the traits we seek in our warriors.  Myself, and my clan, simply wish to see Mandalorian people grow strong again.  To be once again a force that people fear angering.  We simply wish to be the warrior culture we always were, but with the honor code that has always made our people Mandalorian.  Jorval led the clan with that nonsense.  He defeated me in combat at the time, so I conceded to following him.  However it became clear to me the more I spoke with him that he did not really wish to be kyr'tsad.  He was merely going along with Slade.  As I said, pressure.  He was always called Kyr'tsad by other mandalorians so I can see why he would just say kriff it and be what [12:31] Nicci Ordo  everyone accused him off.  He is not around now, and that is not the way I wish for the clan to be any longer.  I will follow you.  And if ner Alor has a problem with it when he returns...well then he can just fight me again."

[12:34] Jekai Rau drank a sip of his water, before responding. "I appreciate your support and understanding. I trust that you'll lead Ordo with honor in his absence. Should he worry that I'll persecute him, the war is over. We all won. Defining us from this point onwards is what matters most.", he replies. The Mand'alor stands to his feet, and offers Nicci a warriors embrace at the forearm.

[13:04] Jekai Rau , with that, would depart. Not long after, they would see his fang fighter- 'Two for Flinching' kicking off into orbit.