The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire/Part 9

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9

## Chapter 25

*Kashyyyk, 19 BBY*

*The* Streller *has left Hyperspace and is in orbit above Kashyyyk. Jonax Frostwalker is in his cabin loading his WESTAR Scattergun and checking his weapons.*

FROSTWALKER: K. So I got my Scattergun, the mods, vambraces, knife, obviously Ravager, WESTAR 35s. Anything else?

*Astrovious loads his new pistol, holsters it on his hip, and holsters his A-180 to his chest.*

FROSTWALKER: *(fires Scattergun at targets)* Perfect.

ASTROVIOUS: Might wanna conserve that ammo of yours, slug rounds aren’t as cheap as you’d expect, neither is ammo for scatterguns.

FROSTWALKER: Just a test run to see if it works. And it does. *(slings weapon over shoulder)*

ASTROVIOUS: I trust my handiwork, not my first firearm made, so, we gonna head down to the surface? Guess we need Grid for that though...

FROSTWALKER: Yeah. Considering that he doesn’t trust me with his ship. I’m still a good pilot.

*A few minute later, Gridlock goes to the cockpit and lands the ship on Kashyyyk.*

FROSTWALKER: Finally, I can stretch my legs.

GRIDLOCK: Cool

ASTROVIOUS: Finally, we headin out?

TRACINYA: Finally.

GRIDLOCK: Yep

FROSTWALKER: Good.

*The crew walks out onto Kachiro Beach.*

GRIDLOCK: We should find this Jibacca.

TORRA: *(comes out, yawning and somewhat disoriented)* Everybody still here? Anybody dead yet?

FROSTWALKER: I’m still here. The beach looks beautiful.

GRIDLOCK: It does.

FROSTWALKER: I should warn y’all that Jibacca is mute and hates other beings. Apart from me. He was banished to the Shadowlands and deemed a Mad-Claw.

TORRA: He's mute? You could have told us that!

FROSTWALKER: Yes he is mute. I told Astro that. Guess he didn’t tell y’all.

TRACINYA: Well, that should make things interesting.

FROSTWALKER: Astro, should we head to the village first? I remember you said something about that.

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, I should know most of the Wookiees here, or at least the tribe.

FROSTWALKER: Then we start there.

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, then we’re off.

*The Sons of Mandalore start walking across the beach, towards a nearby forest of wroshyr trees. Gridlock stays behind on the beach to guard the ship and provide backup in case of an emergency.*

TORRA: I've never met a Wookiee I didn't like. I have a feeling that's going to change, today.

ASTROVIOUS: Neither have I, but I’ve never met a Mad-Claw either.

FROSTWALKER: Trust me. Just let me do the talking when we get to the Shadowlands.

ASTROVIOUS: And I’ll do the talking in the village, I trust you, you trust me, let’s see if it ends better this time.

FROSTWALKER: You got it.

TORRA: I only speak three languages. Shyriiwook is difficult.

ASTROVIOUS: Well uh, I should say, me and the tribe didn’t exactly leave on good terms...

FROSTWALKER: Why?

ASTROVOUS: Well uh, the tribe was split in two, I chose a side, tried to help them, that side lost, though I knew some on the other side. It wasn’t a peaceful exchange either...

TORRA: This will be fun. *(straps on his utility backpack)*

FROSTWALKER: Yup.

*The group reaches the edge of the ominous-looking forest.*

TRACINYA: Alright, since Astro knows where we're going, I guess I'll bring up the rear. Don't want anything sneaking up on us.

ASTROVIOUS: It’s fine, I’ve still got friends on the other side, but expect at least me to be... held captive... unless you can talk them out of it, I’ll be stuck under Wookiee supervision.

*They cautiously make their way through the forest, following Astrovious' lead, until he signals that they are near the Wookiee village.*

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, weapons down, but ready, don’t want them to think we’re hostile.

TRACINYA: Okay. Verd, heel...

FROSTWALKER: Right. *(holsters WESTAR-35s and straps WESTAR Scattergun on back)*

TORRA: I never got mine out so I guess... yeah.

ASTROVIOUS: *(calling to the empty-looking forest)* Alright, acworo! huac... ahaoc racaorcoohoahoohuc! ahhowo rcwoaohurcwhwowa, rac ra wwrcahwowhwa! (Hey! uh... it’s Astrovious! I’ve returned, as a friend!)

*No Wookiees appear, friendly or otherwise.*

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, we should be good, as long as they don’t take me for a threat.

FROSTWALKER: I hope not. Wookiees are one of my favorite species. I hate to kill one and I’d never forgive myself for doing that.

TRACINYA: *(to Astrovious)* Maybe take your helmet off, it does look intimidating.

ASTROVIOUS: *(takes off helmet)* Good call.

TORRA: Breathe the beautiful Kashyyyk air!

*Torra, Tracinya, and Frostwalker also take off their helmets.*

TRACINYA: It's kinda musty, but still good to be in an actual forest again.

TORRA: Good thing it's impossible for a Kel Dor to have allergies. The pollen is so thick, it's visible!

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Frostwalker)* We aren’t killing Wookiees, whether we want to or not.

FROSTWALKER: I’m just saying. I’d never forgive myself.

*Wookiees start to appear in the trees, watching the group of Mandalorians.*

TRACINYA: *(looking around warily at the trees)* Okay...

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, ignore the ones in the trees, keep walking, we’re almost to the village.

TORRA: *(to Wookiees)* Hey, fellas!

FROSTWALKER: *(sneezes)* Karking pollen allergies.

TRACINYA: You have an intimidating sneeze, Jonax.

FROSTWALKER: It's not that intimidating. *(sneezes again)*

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, we’re almost th- *(a Wookiee drops down in front of him)* oh, hello Rhoorh.

FROSTWALKER: That is one big Wookiee.

*Torra flicks his backpack release, just in case.*

ASTROVIOUS: Yeah, so you all know how I said the tribe was split, this, is the second in command, of the other tribe, the victorious tribe...

*Rhoorh grabs Astrovious, just as other Wookiees come down and surround the group.*

## Chapter 26

FROSTWALKER: *(sneezes)* These karking allergies. Can’t we just head inside or something. *(sees Wookiees surrounding the group)* I can wait.

TORRA: *(puts finger under Jonax' nostrils)* Hold it.

FROSTWALKER: Thank you.

ASTROVIOUS: *(gasping in Roorh's grasp)* Alright, gah, so if you all will, *gasp*, follow them, they’ll *gah*, take you to the village.

*Tracinya grabs Verd's muzzle and holds it shut to keep the strill from growling. It still manages to growl.*

TRACINYA: Uh, all righty then...

TORRA: Sure. Why not follow a bunch of random carpets? *(laughs as he begins walking)* Why the kriff not.

ASTROVIOUS: Don’t insult these ones, they *gah* are more primitive and tribal than most.

FROSTWALKER: Ok. *(as a female Wookiee grabs his arm and marches him into position behind Roorh)* Can someone get her off of my arm?

TRACINYA: *(picks up her squirming strill as another Wookiee reaches for her)* I guess we let ourselves be grabbed...

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Roorh)* Uhh... akanworacwo rhwo oararcwowwhuan, scro oaooscrcrawawoc acrahowo waoowhwo whooaoacahwhrr, waoowhao acrarcsc aoacwosc. (Please be careful, my comrades have done nothing, don’t harm them.)

*A Wookiee picks up Fej Torra in a fireman's carry, with the Kel Dor bent around the Wookiee's neck, and the Wookiee holding tightly onto Torra's arms and legs.*

TORRA: Ow! What the—?

FROSTWALKER: *(uncomfortable with the Wookiee holding his arm)* Astro, why is she still on my arm? Is this normal?

ASTROVIOUS: *(nervously)* I tried, that one, that one, I believe her name was Orrarcwowh, may have attempted to kill me, multiple times, so that may be why.

FROSTWALKER: Tell me that she won’t kill me.

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, she won’t kill you, yet...

*The group of Wookiees starts marching the party towards the village.*

TRACINYA: I guess this is them taking us to their leader. *(as Verd continues to wriggle, hissing and glaring murderously at the Wookiee holding its owner)* Shut *up,* Verd.

FROSTWALKER: Yet?! Well, I don’t see a killer look in her eye. *(as Orrarcwowh holds his arm tighter than before)* Ow! Son of a Kath Hound.

TORRA: I am no sack, Wookiee!

Wookiee: *(to Torra)* Scro whrascwo ahc Rararcrracooohoooo!

TORRA: Astro? What did he say?

ASTROVIOUS: They just said their name was Aarghowoo, I would’ve expected a death threat, they seem to like you for some reason Fej.

TRACINYA: Maybe because he's not the one who's sneezing or holding a hissing strill.

TORRA: Ah, nice to meet you, Aarghowoo? *(as Aarghowoo releases their pressure)* Ah, that's nice. I'm still wrapped around your neck, though. It's actually pretty comfortable! You're softer than the other Wookiees. *(to Tracinya)* Hey, why isn't anybody carrying you, Aroa?

TRACINYA: I dunno Fej, but I have two Wooks holding onto my arms and a third is giving me nasty looks. They don't seem too fond of the strill. *(to Wookiees)* I'm holding onto it, see? ...for now...

FROSTWALKER: *(as Orrarcwowh starts carrying him like a backpack)* Ummm... this isn’t normal. Not normal. Why am I being carried like this?

ASTROVIOUS: I... I don’t know, she tried to kill me, so she won’t talk to me much...

FROSTWALKER: Kriff. Well, I guess this is my life now. Welcome, Backpack Jonax.

*The Wookiees bring their prisoners up a series of pathways higher into the trees, until they reach the tree platforms at the edge of the village.*

TRACINYA: Oh look, we're at the village. Looks nice. *(forced cheerfulness intensifies)* Is this the part where we become the main course?

FROSTWALKER: I’m too cybernetic to be eaten!

TRACINYA: Yeah, well my knives would be rather sharp, and I don't think Verd would go down too well... Astro, can you figure out what's going on?

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, I don’t know, they wouldn’t eat us, give me a sec... ohacraaorc rooohurc akanrawhc ohahaoac huc? (what’r your plans with us?)

*Roorh and the other Wookiees remain silent.*

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, they aren’t talking, this is bad, real bad!

TRACINYA: How are we going to get out of this one if they won't *shabla* communicate?! Do I let Verd loose? They'll probably just snap its spine!

ASTROVIOUS: Uh, I wouldn’t do that, just remain calm until we get to the village.

TRACINYA: We're in the middle of the village, I think. I mean, I see what look like treehouses on all sides, so...

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, well, it’s getting hazy for me, since he’s holding me by the throat and all, but uhh, Chief Cworawh should be on the way soon.

*Just then, Gridlock, who had been left behind at the ship and recieved a distress signal from the party when they were captured, arrives via jetpack and lands on a platform in front of the Wookiees and their captives.*

GRIDLOCK: Hey guys! What happened to you guys?

*A big, silver Wookiee walks over, as if on cue.*

CWORAWH: Ah aoacoohurracao ah aoooanwa rooohu whwohoworc aooo rcwoaohurcwh, oorc wwraoawo aoacwo oaoowhcworqhuwowhoawoc racaorcoohoahoohuc. (I thought I told you never to return, or face the consequences, Astrovious.)

GRIDLOCK: Hi Wookiee!

ASTROVIOUS: Grid, you missed a lot, let them grab you, don’t resist them, these aren’t nice Wookiees.

GRIDLOCK: Ok? ...There are a lot of wookies though.

ASTROVIOUS: They won’t harm you if you don’t attack them, these Wookiees are extremely tribal, more so than the other tribes, almost savages.

GRIDLOCK: Do you guys want some Ronto Wraps?

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, we’re kinda held up at the moment. *(points out how everyone is currently being held by at least one Wookiee)*

GRIDLOCK: I could fly to the ship and get some Ronto Wraps.

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Wookiees)* Uhh, oaoohuanwa rooohu warcooak huc whoooh? akanworacwo? (Could you drop us now? please?)

*The Wookiees drop everyone.*

TORRA: *(falling on his backpack)* OHHHHH, ow.

AARGHOWOO: Coorcrcro.

FROSTWALKER: *(falls on back)* Ow! Son of a Kath Hound! That actually hurt!

*Gridlock, seeing that the party has been released, quickly flies back to the ship to grab Ronto Wraps for the Wookiees.*

FROSTWALKER: Astro, you’ve got some explaining to do. Why take us prisoners? Do they want to kill all of us? Or just you?

ASTROVIOUS: How so, I said everything I’ve had to, I said I knew them, not that I was their friend.

FROSTWALKER: Right, but you didn’t answer my questions.

ASTROVIOUS: Uhh, they may just do it cause you're with me, and they may still want to kill me.

*Gridlock returns and hands the Wookiee chief Cworawh a platter.*

GRIDLOCK: *(to Cworawh)* Here is a platter of Ronto Wraps as an offering.

FROSTWALKER: Oh my.

TORRA: *(to Aarghowoo)* Aarghowoo? Don't kill us!

*At that moment, a Star Destroyer appears in the atmosphere above Kashyyyk.*

## Chapter 27

*As the Star Destroyer appears, Wookiees and Mandalorians alike look skyward, startled.*

ASTROVIOUS: Well, here’s our chance to show ourselves as friends.

FROSTWALKER: Can’t you do something? *(right side of face becomes Ravager like and starts burning him, but he sees the Star Destroyer and perks up)* Well guess we can prove ourselves. FOR MANDALORE!

GRIDLOCK: For Kashyyyk and Mandalore!

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Wookiees)* Acworo, aoacwo woscakahrcwo! Ohwo oarawh acwoanak rooohu, anwoao huc wwahrracao wwoorc rooohu! (Hey, the Empire! We can help you, let us fight for you!)

TORRA: Okay, why do Star Destroyers keep on showing up? This new Empire seems to be a great nuisance!

FROSTWALKER: You’re telling- *(groans from the turning sensation, he transforms into Ravager)*

RAVAGER: -US, Fej!

ASTROVIOUS: *(to Torra)* I may have a theory, but that’s for another time, if it’s not proven this time, as to why they find us, we may just find out.

GRIDLOCK: Do your Wookiees have an expendable transport that can fly up to the Destroyer?

ASTROVIOUS: No, these Wookiees hate technology, don’t even use bowcasters, they use ancient Wookiee weapons!

RAVAGER: Guys, we need to get up there somehow.

ASTROVIOUS: *(eyeing Ravager askance)* No, they’ll come to us, trust me.

RAVAGER: *(grinning unnervingly)* Jonax and I trust you.

GRIDLOCK: I know how to blow one up, but I need some way to get up there, we aren't sacrificing the Streller.

TORRA: Well, they did have those Raddaugh Gnasp fluttercrafts!

RAVAGER: That would be a stupid idea.

GRIDLOCK: Wait, I could steal one of the Imperial transports.

ASTROVIOUS: Alright, we need to form a defensive line, prepare for transports to land, Grid, when they land, you can steal it, try and take some Wookiees up, and take the fight to the destroyer.

*Torra, Tracinya, and Gridlock draw their weapons and move to reinforce the Wookiee tribe's warriors. Astrovious and Ravager move to a forward position.*

RAVAGER: *(loads WESTAR Scattergun)* Let’s rumble!

ASTROVIOUS: *(draws slugthrower and blaster, converts blaster to sniper configuration, and looks for transports)* Five transports, coming in, V formation, this isn’t gonna be easy.

RAVAGER: Not as easy as it used to be.

ASTROVIOUS: Nope, now, we wait, seems like 20 seconds until they land. *(converts blaster back to pistol form)* Haha, this is where the fun begins.

RAVAGER: You ready?

ASTROVIOUS: You know it, five seconds, be ready! 4, 3, 2, 1.

*The Imperial transports land in a row along one of the platforms and start opening, far left and right first, slowly moving towards the middle.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* CHARGE!

*The Sons of Mandalore start running forwards just as the middle transport opens, and stormtroopers flood out, with a grey Nautolan behind them.*

*Ravager takes the lead, firing his WESTAR Scattergun and using his symbiote tentacles to grab Stormtroopers and toss them around like rag dolls. Astrovious remains behind, firing his blaster and slugthrower, until he sees the Nautolan, who takes a staff off his back, and ignites one end, a red blade flowing from it, and charges towards Astrovious.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Focus fire on the Nautolan!

*Astrovious holsters his guns and draws the lightsaber from inside his jacket. Ravager charges the mysterious Nautolan warrior, only to get burned by his lightsaber.*

RAVAGER: AHHHH! *(switches back to Frostwalker)*

FROSTWALKER: SON OF A KARKING KATH HOUND!

*Frostwalker, now in cyborg form, retreats to a safer distance and uses his WESTAR 35s to open fire on the Nautolan. Astrovious charges the Nautolan and blocks the first couple of hits, barely handling the power. He rushes in and attempts to stab the Nautolan, but the blade shears off to the side. He jumps back and regains his guard position.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* He’s got beskar!

FROSTWALKER: *(adds full auto Mod on WESTAR Scattergun)* Alright, buddy... SUCK LASER!!! *(opens fire)*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Jonax, you deal with the stormtroopers, I’ll deal with this... hunter.

*Astrovious attempts another rush, but this time, instead of allowing Astrovious to get close, the Nautolan uses the staff portion of his saber pike to hit Astrovious, knocking him to the ground.*

FROSTWALKER: *(over comms)* Fine. *(to stormtroopers)* Alright you sons of Kath Hounds... SUCK LASER!!

*Frostwalker goes full auto using his WESTAR Scattergun, supporting Torra, Tracinya, and Gridlock as they tackle stormtroopers alongside the Wookiee tribe. A moment later, Frostwalker glances back at the duel to see Astrovious on the ground.*

FROSTWALKER: Astro!

*Blaster fire hits Frostwalker's cybernetic right arm, and he takes cover. The Nautolan uses the Force to stop approaching projectiles in midair, moves them out of the way, and lets them go. The projectiles hit a Wookiee. Astrovious charges again, jumps over the Nautolan, and attempts a leg sweep with his saber, only to be blocked and Force pushed back.*

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* We may need to retreat!

FROSTWALKER: *(over comms)* Maybe to the Shadowlands? I’m open to suggestions here, man!

*While Astrovious and Frostwalker retreat from the Nautolan and plan their next move, Gridlock slips away from the battle and flies up to a high platform near the top of a wroshyr tree. Just as he starts looking for an Imperial ship to hijack, he sees 50 stormtrooper dropships come out of the Imperial Star Destroyer. One shoots a laser which hits Gridlock's tree, and he falls off the platform.*

TRACINYA: *(over comms)* Grid!

FROSTWALKER: *(seeing Gridlock fall)* GRID!!!

ASTROVIOUS: *(drawing the saber from his jacket and activating it)* Grid!

*Gridlock screams as he falls through the trees and unsuccessfully tries to get his jetpack to start.*

FROSTWALKER: Astro! I’m going to fall back and take up sniper position!

TRACINYA: *(over comms)* The Force comes in handy, times like this -

*Astrovious uses the Force to try and catch Gridlock, but he is too far away. Gridlock gets his jetpack working at the last moment and crash lands on one of the lower platforms. Meanwhile, Frostwalker climbs a tree and adds sniper mods to his WESTAR Scattergun. Torra is leading Wookiee fighters on the frontline, and Tracinya and Verd are dismembering stormtroopers off to the side.*

FROSTWALKER: Come on.. a little bit closer.. *(shoots and hits a stormtrooper)*

GRIDLOCK: *(over comms)* I'm ok. The jetpack broke my fall. I think it's beyond repair. I'll bet my leg is sprained.

ASTROVIOUS: *(over comms)* Got it, sorry. I tried to help, but it was too late, just try and stay safe, we’ll save you after the attack.

*Moments later, a platoon of troops lands near Gridlock, sees the wounded Mandalorian, and captures him. The stormtroopers force him onto their ship.*

FROSTWALKER: *(still sniping stormtroopers)* Guys, we may need a new plan! We are going to get overrun!

ASTROVIOUS: Alright.

*Astrovious leads the grey Nautolan out of the Wookiee village, stabbing and cutting stormtroopers in his path as he runs from platform to platform. The Nautolan uses a Force leap to catch up to him.*

ASTROVIOUS: No, no!

FROSTWALKER: Kriff. *(attempts to snipe the Nautolan, but the bolts get deflected back at him and he loses balance, screams and hits the ground)* Ow!

*The Nautolan activates his lightsaber pike and throws it like a spear at a nearby Wookiee, then Force pulls it back, and starts hunting down Astrovious.*

FROSTWALKER: *(gets up and notices that his armor is damaged)* That was too close, I’ll have to make repairs.

*Frostwalker removes his gun's sniper mods, slings the Scattergun over shoulder and pulls out twin WESTAR-35s.*

*At the edge of the village, Astrovious blocks the Nautolan's first attack as it reaches him, an overhead swing which pushes Astrovious into the platform with the force of it. Astrovious takes another hit, and another, the wood of the platform starting to buckle and snap under him.*

*The Knights of Mandalore: Rise of the Empire*
Chapters 1–3 | Chapters 4–6 | Chapters 7–9